Did winning the SEC Tournament do enough to put the Gamecocks in a good position for the big dance? See page 8.
dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
VOL. 110, NO. 16 ● SINCE 1908
‘SHOT GIRL’ INSIDER BY ANONYMOUS
The first time I ever stepped foot in a strip club, I applied for a job. The three o’clock sunshine vanished with the shutting door, and I entered a self-sufficient little world, sealed totally from the outside. All at once it was dark and loud, and I felt the particular way club music jars the body. A man in a three-piece suit led me over garish hotel carpeting to an office just big enough for two standing adults. “Does your significant other know about this?” he asked me. “Yes,” I said. “Your parents?” “No.” He checked the appropriate boxes on my papers. “You’ll start this Friday at 10. At night.” He smiled at me kindly. For three months during my senior year of college, I drove to work at 9:30 p.m., toting a duffel bag that held, variably, black miniskirts, booty shorts, fishnet stockings, garters, and, always, a white corset and a set of patent black heels. At the club, I would skirt invisibly through a packed nightclub to the locker rooms, where naked women smoked cigarettes and trimmed tampon strings. There I stashed my thrift store jeans and Doc Martens, and picked up a fluorescent serving tray for the night. I told everyone I was cocktail waitressing at a strip club for the money, which was not totally true, although I suppose I believed it then. My moneymakers were rare anyways, the older men who were from out-of-town and came alone and sat quietly. These were the ones who left me business cards wrapped in hundred dollar bills. Besides those, it was hit-or-miss most nights — the other girls who had been there for years told me business these days was not like it used to be. Pick up a copy of Garnet and Black or check out their website to read the full story.
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VP-elect Hayes driven by passion for people, family T. Michael Boddie @THEHUMANBODDIE
Extroverted. Caffeinated. Wearing red. These are some of the things one might see in or about student body vice president Mills Hayes when interacting with her. When Hayes was growing up in Lexington, SC, she was not even sure that she would set foot on USC’s campus as a student. As her town is so close to the university, many people around her would end up attending, but she wanted to stand out. But af ter she d iscovered St udent Med ia a nd t he S c ho ol of Jou r n a l i s m a nd M a s s Communications, it was a “no-brainer.” The third-year broadcast journalism student describes herself as curious about people. She
aligns this curiosity and passion with her drive to be a journalist. “I get my energy from other people. When I’m around positive, fun-loving people I just—it makes me feel so much better about my life and about myself,” Hayes says. “That’s kind of what I want to also be like toward other people, is I want them to feel good after leaving an interaction with me.” The same passion for people that drive Hayes to a career in reporting is what led her to consider trying her hand in Student Government. She was senior class president in high school, and she felt that it was only natural to apply for freshman council once she got to USC. Hayes did not end up on the council, though. She focused her attention on journalism with SEEMILLSPAGE3
Treasurer-elect Odagis finds his voice, hopes to influence others Larissa Johnson
high school. At Owen J. Roberts High School outside Philadelphia, that meant being student treasurer. Emerson Odagis’s four-year At USC, it’s meant being treasurer plan when he first stepped onto of Preston Hall freshman year and USC’s campus had getting elected now chair of the student senate student body treasurer scheduled finance committee. for senior year. When he got to “What draws me to the fi nance know treasurer Stinson Rogers, aspect is ever ything,” he said. he put a Post-It on the treasurer’s “Everything f lows through the computer that said, “I’ll be here in money.” three years.” As a double major in finance and “He just sent me a text saying, global supply chain operations and ‘You’re here in two,’” Odagis said. management, Odagis wants to be a “I guess I have to reevaluate what consultant and help businesses else I want to put in my plan.” improve their efficiency. He’s His path to treasurer was already got experience with anything but certain, though. the hands-on aspect of business In the Feb. 28 election, he came working as a landscaper at his in second place to Wilfredo uncle’s business over three A nderson, who was only .45 summers. percent away from a win. He mowed and weed-wacked “I sat down on the phone with from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the my mom for an hour that night summer heat. But at night, he and I was like, ‘I don’t know stayed with his grandma. She what else we can do,’” Odagis had the same positive and said. “She told me, ‘You never supportive attitude as his Zachary McKinley / THE DAILY GAMECOCK know what you can do until you mom, and before she passed do it.’” Emer son Odagis wins t he r un - of f SG in August, he talked to her Jackie Odagis is a fi rst grade treasurer race on Wednesday, March 7. multiple times a week. teacher and the daughter of “That ability to influence Dutch immigrants. She’s also her the performance. others around you in such a positive While the rigors of campaigning son’s best friend. They talk every way is something that hopefully I day and she’s his biggest role model, for an executive position might can take forward in the treasurer’s have been new to Odagis, being a he said. office,” he said. “Being able to have “Her ability to stay calm at all treasurer certainly won’t be. Odagis those memories is something you times is something I look up to,” has aimed to become the treasurer can always look back on fondly.” Odagis said. “She’s someone that is of every group he’s a part of since
@LALARISSAJ
always pushing forward.” During the campaign, Odagis had to push to f ind his voice, especially for class and organization visits. He also said that he felt he didn’t perform his best at the debate. “I mumble and I don’t talk loud,” he said. Odagis practiced giving his speeches over and over, especially where to get louder and emphasize cer t a i n words. H is campa ig n manager Colin Hungerpiller was the guinea pig and helped perfect
Sara Yang / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster holds a town hall at USC on Tuesday, March 6.
SC governor holds open town hall Larissa Johnson @LALARISSAJ
Gov. Henry McMaster managed to connect an anecdote about his bulldog to Samsung’s expansion in South Carolina, all in response to a question about improving higher education. He met casually with a group of about 50 students, mainly members of the College Republicans, in Russell House Tuesday night to talk about his career and answer questions on major state and local issues. “College students are at the perfect age to get involved in ... public policy and government,” McMaster said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to encourage people to get take an interest in it.
INSIDE
SEEGOVPAGE3
Ethan Lamb / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
A&C
SPORTS
Columbia City Ballet premiers new show
Junior Chris Silva picked up his first postseason SEC honors.
Page 5
Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Page 10
SPORTS
Sara Yang / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Junior Adam Hill threw two strong games to earn national recognition. Page 10