NEWS 1
dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
EClubSC assists local businesses
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015
VOL. 106, NO. 33 ● SINCE 1908
Protesters demand change
Patrick Ingraham @PATTYMILLS11
How does one go about developing a business or enterprise idea in today’s world? What steps does one need to take in order to get started in the entrepreneurial world? The University of South Carolina Entrepreneurship Club, or EClubSC, is one of the places where students can find answers to these questions. Club president a nd fou r t hyea r ma nagement a nd ma rket i ng student Tony Klor says the club, in conjunction with the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator and the Faber Entrepreneurship Center, is trying to promote local start-up companies in the Columbia area and help students promote their own ideas. “We’re so open to new ideas and doing new things,” Klor said. “I feel like in the past the club hasn’t really taken advantage of all the opportunities we have. There are so many entities in our start-up ecosystem that are doing such spectacular things so it’s great we’re working so hands-on with them ... and really we’re just trying to improve the Columbia start-up community.” According to Klor, the club helps do marketing and promotion for events such as The Proving Ground (USC’s annual entrepreneurial competition), E n g e n u i t y S C ’s I g n i t e ! v i d e o competition and other events during Nov. 16 to 22 Global Entrepreneurship Week in Columbia. In addition to promoting these events, Klor also says the club helps local start-ups, such as Push for Pizza and Tradeversity, table their ideas and develop and optimize their social media presence. Fou r t h-y e a r m a n a g e me nt a nd marketing student Vincent Felix is a member of the organization who has developed his own start-up, which he operates on campus. Felix’s Mr. Penguin Designs partners with local student artists to create one-of-a-kind protective cell-phone covers. Felix makes the cases in his apartment and sells them through his website (http:// mrpenguindesigns.com/) or through retail partners in the state. “O u r m i s sion i s to help t he se students not only gain exposure for their work but also provide them with residual income throughout college,” Felix said. Had it not been for the Entrepreneurship Club, Felix stressed, he would not have had the chance to do the things he wanted. “The EClub has played a pivotal part in my success,” Felix said. “The ability to meet like-minded individuals both on campus and in the community has opened many doors that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. Tony has led the effort to link our organization with the start-up community here in Columbia, and by doing so, has opened my eyes to all of the opportunities Columbia has to offer.” K lor ment ioned t hat t he club is always open to new members and stressed that it is definitely not exclusive to business or entrepreneurial students. “I’d say we’re a rou nd 25 to 30 members,” Klor said. “We’re looking to get more members … collaboration is huge because we really want to bring as many inter-disciplines together as we can. The best teams that are start-ups are [for example] one coder, one business guy, one design guy, etc. Different perspectives just helps things grow and just brings new light to the conversation.” Even recent additions to the club, s uc h a s s e c o nd-y e a r ho s pit a l it y management student Jesse Horine, are seeing the effects of the club. “Thus far, the club has allowed me to meet dedicated students … I’m still new to the club so I’m excited to start planning our future events and goals,” Horine said of the opportunities the club has allowed him. “People t a l k t hemselves out of fantastic opportunities,” Horine said. “My advice would be to get involved — whether it’s pushing forth an idea, joining the E-Club or figuring out your next steps — and good things will happen. Doors will be opened.”
Leland McElvand / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Protesters gathered on the State House steps to seek justice and change in local police departments.
Hannah Treece @H_TREECE
The Black Lives Matter movement organized a protest Saturday at the South Carolina State House in support of the high school student arrested by school resource officer Ben Fields. The event came on the heels of Friday’s student walkout at Spring Valley high school to protest his firing, according to The State. Saturday’s peaceful protest had a different feel than Friday’s student walkout. The protest began with a tribute during which someone would call out the name of a deceased person and everyone would respond by saying, “Ashe.” Among the names called out were the Charleston 9, Martin Luther King, Jr., Trayvon Martin and Harriet Tubman. Several different groups from all over the country put the protest together. While those in attendance had differing goals, nearly everyone interviewed expressed a belief that the high school girl involved was treated unfairly and the school resource officer, Ben Fields, should face charges for his actions. “[We are here] to demand that all charges are dropped against the victim of Ben Fields, that Ben Fields be prosecuted, that Spring Valley School be investigated and the principal and discipline administrator and the teacher be fired,” Efia Nwangaza, one of the organizers of the protest, said. “The major it y of wh ite people have a monomaniacal v isceral hat red of A frican Americans; most of them hate us, and we gotta accept that,” John White, a protester, said. Not ever yone prote st i ng sha red s uch views. There were many high school students in attendance, and they expressed their own experiences in their schools.
“I just feel like we should be able to feel safe in the school,” 15-year-old Jacksonville, Florida, native Yehedit Toure said. “I can’t even speak for all the police officers because there are some who actually try to be friendly and nice and actually try to do their job while at the same time being professional.” Richland County State Representative Joe Neal was also in attendance. Neal was one of the speaking attractions, discussing both the incident at Spring Valley High and a piece of legislation he is introducing soon, which will aim to make changes in the South Carolina school systems and provide further definition to existing laws. “As we gather here today, I simply want to say that it will be my effort come this December to pre-file a piece of legislation that will challenge first this law that says that any child can be charged with disruption of school,” Neal said. “As well, we want to challenge this zero-tolerance policy that has evolved in this state and this country that has resulted in tens of thousands of children running afoul of law enforcement not just in South Carolina, but across this country.” After the protest, many in attendance planned to go to the Sheriff’s Department and hang a full list of their demands on the walls there. One of the more common demands was the removal of all school resource officers from schools in South Carolina, as well as better training for school employees for situations like the one at Spring Valley. “South Carolina needs to lead the way in undoing this damage that has been done in our school systems,” Neal said. “It’s no wonder so many of our children drop out and leave. Because these school systems, these policies, have been confrontational. We need schools who council, guide and discipline, not incarcerate.”
Gamecocks fall short to Aggies Joesph Crevier @JOSEPHMCREVIER
Facing one of the nation’s worst rushing defenses in Texas A&M, South Carolina was presented with an opportunity for a big day on the ground. Instead, the Gamecocks fell to the Texas A&M Aggies 35-28. Interim head coach Shawn Elliott’s emphasis on t he g rou nd game catapulted the team to victory last game against Vanderbilt, and this new strategy appeared to be having the same effect on Saturday. A l l f ou r of t he G a me c o c k s touchdowns came on the ground, including a first quarter touchdown r u n f rom back up qu a r terback Lorenzo Nunez. It was Nunez’s sole appearance against Texas A&M, but that may change next week as Orth had another subpar outing starting his third straight game. Orth completed 15 passes for 192 yards on 24 attempts, but was intercepted twice down the stretch to prevent any sort of Gamecock comeback. The walk-on found no success scoring through the air, but he did contribute with a 66-yard Jeffrey Davis / THE DAILY GAMECOCK rush in the second quarter. On that same drive, Orth rushed for his first South Carolina finished with a total of 445 yards against Texas A&M with 253 of touchdown on the ground since week them on the ground. Wilds led the way with 128 yards on 17 attempts. three. Texas A&M limited star receiver Brandon Wilds’ newfound success. The breakout performances are huge for the Pharoh Cooper from the contest, as he senior topped a career game against dichotomy of this team. He alleviates caught four passes for a mere 22 yards. Vanderbilt by rushing for 128 yards the pressure from the quarterback’s Cooper’s synergy with Orth was simply and two touchdowns on 17 carries. shoulders, a necessity for quarterbacks nonexistent. South Carolina’s offense has suffered with little to no prior experience. The one positive takeaway from t he consequences of a mediocre the game, however, was running back rushing game all season, so Wilds’ SEE FOOTBALLPAGE10