THE BLITZ
USC VS. COASTAL CAROLINA dailygamecock.com
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
VOL. 113, NO. 63 • SINCE 1908
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013
County doesn’t count more than 1,000 votes
‘TWAS THE LIGHTS IN THE VISTA...
Audit finds 3 percent of ballots went uncounted in elections Hannah Jeffrey
HJEFFREY@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM
More than 1,100 votes went uncounted in Richland County elections earlier this month because one voting machine cartridge went unaccounted for. Election Commission Director Howard Jackson said in a prepared statement that one of the personal electronic ballots, or PEBs, from an absentee ballot voting machine was not read on election night, causing 1,100 out of the 30,000 total votes to go uncounted. The realization that approximately three percent of the votes cast had not been counted came after a routine audit was performed by the State Election Commission. “I do sincerely apologize to anyone whose vote might not have been counted,” Jackson said. “The omission of these votes is unacceptable.” According to Jackson, the election staff had procedures in place, but those procedures were not followed on election night. Jackson said the commission will follow all procedures in the Dec. 3 strong mayor referendum vote. An agenda for Thursday’s election commission VOTES • A2
Jeremy Marshall Harkness / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Pieces in the art department’s annual holiday sale include original ceramics, prints and jewelry.
Brian Almond / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
W here were t he light s at t he Vista Light s celebration Thursday night? They glowed in the storefronts of downtown staples like the Carol Saunders Gallery and Urban Outfitter, already dressed for the holidays. They flashed on the trees lining Gervais Street, where silver snowflakes twirled from branches. They were in the eyes of the crowd of people gathered near where Gervais and Lincoln streets meet, when their gazes turned toward the night’s
main attraction. The crowd milled about the oddly rounded Christmas tree and began to count down to the lighting of the tree, the symbolic start of the holiday season in the heart of the city. And then the lights came on. —Compiled by Sarah Ellis, Assistant News Editor
Student wins NASPA fellowship Hammonds takes spot in higher education program Natalie Pita
NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM
INSIDE
M itchel l H a m monds wa s sitting in his car when he got word that he had been selected to be a pa r t of t he Nat iona l Association of Student Personnel Administrators Undergraduate Fellows Program. “I was actually in Greenville for fa l l brea k , sit t i ng i n t he m idd le of t raf f ic on my way to take my godson to his taekwondo practice when I got the email,” the fourth-year visual communications student said in
an email. “It was one of those moments where life just stands still and you realize how great it is to be a student at a university that values students and their potential.” N A S PA i s a p r o f e s s i o n a l organization for student affairs adm i n ist rat ion i n h igher e d u c at io n . H a m m o nd s s a id he v iew s t he recog n it ion a s an opportunit y to explore his options for working in student affairs. “I’m preparing for a career in higher educat ion and st udent affairs, and the undergraduate program with NASPA seemed like a great way for me to connect w it h ot hers interested in t he
A5
career as well as professionals,” Hammonds said. The appl icat ion process involved several essay questions, two letters of recommendation and approval from the university. Hammonds also had to select a mentor, so he chose G av in Weiser, assist a nt d i rec tor of mult icult ural st udent af fairs, who w ill g u ide him while he learns about the profession. Hammonds said he believes that the opportunities USC has offered him played a part in his selection for the program. “ T he Un iver sit y of S out h Carol i na is a g reat place for
Art students sell original works Annual sale prompts students to donate money to organizations Sarah Martin
NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM
For Brandon Paul, a third-year studio art student, selling one of his fi rst pieces of artwork at the USC art department’s annual holiday sale was rewarding. “It’s cool to help out and see everyone else’s stuff,” Paul said. “I like being a part of the art community and getting involved.” However, as rewarding as the experience was, the proceeds from the sale of Paul’s art work won’t be going into his pocket. Instead, he will be giving that money to the printmaking club of which he is a member, as they are trying to raise money to travel to a conference in San Francisco in the spring. Cynthia Colbert, an art instructor at USC, says she expects that all of the student artists will donate proceeds from their sales. “The art department keeps nothing, and most students will be giving about 40 percent of what they make to the organization they’re a part of,” Colbert said. Those organizations each had their own display at the McMaster Gallery, selling ceram ics, vases, jewelr y and handmade scarves. Each student had different pieces ava ilable for pu rchase, a nd t he u n ique collections reflected the students’ interests. Colbert said the annual holiday sale has
NASPA • A3
ART • A3
MIX
SPORTS
VIEWPOINTS
Arts for ARC combined entertainment with charity in the Thursday night student-run event.
South Carolina faces FCS opponent Coastal Carolina this weekend at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Editorial Board: Another bungled election requires immediate change by Richland County.
Friday
Saturday
A4
High 75° Low 55°
High 71° Low 34°
B1
WEATHER