The Daily Gamecock 9/23/10

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dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Thursday 95°

68°

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VOL. 104, NO. 30

SINCE 1908

USC plans $45 million center Trustees approve facility to replace outdated Thomson building

Friday 93°

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Josh Dawsey and Sara Hartley NEWS EDITORS

Since 2004, there’s been new talk of a student health center at USC. At least that’s when the Student Government A s soc iat ion f i r st approved t he projec t concept. But following last Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, the fi rst phase of a new 100,000-square-foot, all-inclusive health care facility will soon be underway. In a unanimous vote, the board approved the use of $682,500 in capital reserves and

bond money to plan and design the center. The total cost is expected to be $45.5 million. The project must garner state approval in upcoming months. “The new facility will bring all our providers, educators, services and programming together in one centralized location, making it easier for our students to seek out and receive optimal care,” said Deborah Beck, executive director of Student Health Services. “It will remove barriers.” The center will be constructed on the same site as the present one, said Vice President of Student Affairs Dennis Pruitt. It will CENTER ● 2

Jeremy Duncan / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

The new facility will be constructed in the same area as the Thomson Student Health Center.

McKinley, campaign codes dominate Senate

Giles to transfer Sophomore tailback Jarvis Giles has left the USC football program and will transfer.

Body honors fallen receiver, discusses finance rules for next election season

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Taylor Cheney STAFF WRITER

The Mix Tape The Mix Editors Jimmy Gilmore and Colin Campbell share the five fall movies they’re o b s e s s i n g a b o u t th i s week.

Courtesy of Alicia Baldo

Mud Run participants take on the challenging 4.2 mile course in support of the U.S. military. This year’s event, held on Saturday, Sept. 25, will be the largest of its kind in North America.

Mud Run hits SC

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Participation reaches 14,000 in annual event to support US military, families Not a Junior Columnist

Elizabeth Keniston

THE DAILY GAMECOCK

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law has dishonorably discharged members of the armed forces and Austin Jackson promotes Third-year injustice. political science student

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(803) 777-3914 (803) 777-7726 (803) 777-7182 (803) 576-6172

There aren’t many times you get to see hundreds of men and women running, covered head to toe in mud. The United States Marine Corps Mud Run this Saturday gives runners a chance to get down and dirty, while supporting the U.S. military. O v e r 3, 6 0 0 t e a m s , o r 14 , 0 0 0 participants, are expected at this year’s event. This number is nearly double the participants of last year’s challenge and reached maximum capacity a month prior to its start. The Mud Run, which was started in 1993 by the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation, gives runners an opportunity to compete in a challenging obstacle

course only military personnel usually have the chance to encounter. Civilians and enlisted personnel compete alongside one another during the entire course, testing their strength and stamina for 4.2 miles. The run, which is the largest event of its type in North America , has more than 30 mud holes, walls, trenches and water-filled obstacles to challenge participants. Individuals and teams from throughout t he Sout heast come ever y year to get dirty and push themselves through great physical challenges. The best part about the run, organizers say, is that it benefits a nd prov ides sig n if ica nt suppor t for military families in the Midlands of South Carolina. Aid from the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation takes the form of scholarships and support for Marines and their families in the Columbia area who have been wounded or killed while on active duty. The course has a new location, known MUD ● 2

There’s no place to go but up for the USC men’s golf team, which is coming off a rough last place finish its last time out.

Online @ www.dailygamecock.com

SG ● 3

BLACKOUT: A GOOD IDEA? Students plan all-black T-shirt student section for Alabama game, receive opposition

Golf looks to improve

Members of Student Government bowed their heads Wednesday night during a moment of silence for the late and former USC wide receiver Kenny McKinley. According to SG Sen. Kevin Tangen, the No. 11 will be retired for the Gamecocks, and the Alabama game on Oct. 9 will be played in his honor. “Tonight we are recognizing a tragedy,” Tangen said. “We are doing this so current and future students will honor him for years to come.” SG President Pro Tempore Matt Ungar said council members should continue to show support for the McKinley family. Upcoming SG elections were also the focus of Wednesday’s meeting. Sen. Justin Cromer proposed a bill to change future campaigning methods for SG elections. Currently, candidates are not allowed to spend over $1,000, which is collected from their own savings, but Cromer said the funding codes need to be repealed, and candidates should be able to spend freely if it benefits their party. “We should eliminate all codes, and they should be able to spend their money on whatever t hey want to spend,” Cromer said. “It is impossible to spend less than $1,000 if you wish to put out banners and pins and stuff like that.” Sen. Brad Maxwell was in disagreement with Cromer’s legislation and does not consider funding to be vital to a candidate’s success. “Why is someone spending less and winning bad?” Maxwell asked. The decision will be made today at 6 p.m. in the SG office and Ungar expects lots of discussion over the amendment. “As someone who ran for Student Government vice president two years ago, I know how difficult it is. I think it puts a lot of pressure on the Elections Commission to keep track, which makes it hard to enforce,” he said. “Students will have to obey the honor code in terms of their spending.” Sen. Andrew Graczyk also presented a bill

Taylor Cheney STAFF WRITER

Armani Hammond wanted to unify the student section and build up excitement for the Alabama game. So last Monday, the third-year sports and entertainment student created the “Student Section Black Out Alabama Game” Facebook event for the Alabama vs. South Carolina game on Oct. 9. The event asks students attending the game to wear black shirts. In less than a day, the attendees went from the creator’s friends to about 500 people. Now, it has more than 5,000. “I just started it at work one day, thinking it was cool,” Hammond said. “I didn’t think it would hit more than 50 people. I was so surprised by the numbers.” After receiving requests for T-shirts, Hammond and the other event

administrators collaborated with a local printing company to create the shirts that read “Welcome to the Cockpit.” The idea was inspired by a student’s sign that designer and third-year business administration student Samantha August saw at one of the football games. The T-shirts cost $10 and profits will go toward the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, Hammond said. The blackout has sold about 75 shirts at the time of publication and predicts to sell about 200 shirts. “This is a perfect opportunity for students to get rallied up,” said the one of the event’s administrators Ed Simmons, a third-year marine science student. But not everyone thinks so. Although the group has a record number of over 5,000 attendees, it has also entertained negative attention. Facebook users have posted their complaints and commented on others’ opinions, mostly concerning the legitimacy of the event and where the funds from T-shirt sales are going. Others have more superstitious views, commenting that the last time USC had a blackout for the Florida game, the Gamecocks lost. BLACKOUT ● 3


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