The Daily Gamecock 6/28/17

dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

VOL. 109, NO. 31 ● SINCE 1908

Tuition up 3.46 percent next year Med student Mike Woodel

@GETHISDOGONETOO

The steepest tuition hike in years has been implemented into USC’s 2017-18 budget following Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

Unveiled in front of the board’s

$27,644

$27,644

$27,644

$11,158

$10,816

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

$27,644

$27,644

$27,644

$12,262

$11,814

$11,482

found dead in Peru

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NON-RESIDENT

RESIDENT

$10,488

was voted on in the full meeting, originally scheduled for 11 a.m.

Friday. When a vote was called, five members voted against.

The presentation brought before the Executive Committee named

E xec ut ive Com m it tee Fr iday morning, the proposed 2017-18 operating budget called for a 3.46 percent increase of resident and non-resident undergraduate tuition for the coming academic year.

After receiving the approval of the Executive Committee, the budget

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

Professor receives state grant to study dyslexia in S.C. children

Courtesy of the Thomas family

Seth Thomas was working with a Peruvian women’s health non-profit at the time of his death.

Mike Woodel

@GETHISDOGONETOO

John Warrington / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Dr. Scott Decker (far left) became interested in researching learning disabilities as a young student.

John Warrington @JMDUBS6

I n Sout h Carolina, there is no uniform way for schools to determine wh ich st udent s a re affl icted with dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a language-based lea r n i ng d isabi l it y w h e r e c h i ld r e n a n d adults can have extreme

difficulty reading and learning how to read. It affects about 5 percent of the global population or roughly 350 million people worldwide.

The vast disparities in dyslexia identification and intervention among school dist ricts in South Carolina have led to many children going

e it he r u nd i a g no s e d , or b ei n g d i ag no s e d , but not receiv ing t he proper help that they need. Of ten, schools turn a blind eye to these students, since special education is costly and these students receive feedback t hat t hey a re “st upid” or have “behavioral problems,”

says Dr. Scott Decker, a school psychologist and professor at USC. This can lead not only t o a d v e r s e le a r n i n g results, but to mental health problems as well.

“If we just ident if y these kids when they’re young, put the SEEDYSLEXIAPAGE4

Siemens in-kind grant brings $628M in software, hardware Mike Woodel

@GETHISDOGONETOO

Two prominent USC schools will receive a hefty contribution of hardware and software from German conglomerate Siemens C or por at ion , a s a n nou nced Thursday at USC’s aerospace education center.

The i n-k i nd g ra nt was announced at USC’s McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research Thursday mor n i n g w it h G o v. He n r y M c M a s t e r, U S C P r e s id e nt Harris Pastides and dean of the USC College of Engineering and Computing Hossein HajHariri in attendance. Valued at a commercial value of $628 million, t he grant will allow

USC’s College of Engineering and Computing use of Siemens’ product lifecycle management soft ware and automation and controls hardware inside t he McNAIR Center.

“Today’s announcement of a partnership between Siemens and USC advances our state’s g row ing reputat ion as a top destination for manufacturing,” said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster in a Siemens press relea se. “By demon st r at i ng that South Carolina is home to one of the most highly-skilled engineering and manufacturing workforces in the world, we can attract even more companies who have yet to discover what we all already know — that there is no better place to do business

than in South Carolina.”

Founded in 2011, the McNAIR Center is named in honor of Ronald McNair, an astronaut and South Carolina native who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986. The school is the only one in South Carolina to offer postgraduate degrees in aerospace engineering and engineering management.

Recent re sea rch topic s at McNA IR include t he desig n and manufacture of composite materials and parts and design optimization, in conjunction with partners such as Boeing R&T and Lockheed Martin.

A ccord i ng to t he relea se, Siemen s c u r rent ly employ s nearly 500 people in the state of South Carolina.

The body of Seth Thomas has been found in Peru two days after the USC medical student was last seen, according to university officials.

USC chief communications officer Wes Hickman revealed in a statement Sunday that American and Peruvian officials had notified the university that Thomas’ body had been found. Few details are available, but Hickman said it is believed that Thomas died in a hiking accident.

Thomas, a second-year medical student, attended Dutch Fork High School in Irmo and graduated from Clemson University in 2015 before enrolling in USC’s School of Medicine. He was working with a Peruvian non-profit women’s health organization as part of a program run by Augusta University at the time of his death. The State reported Sunday afternoon that he was last seen Friday while hiking in the Andes Mountains.

Hickman’s statement included a reaction by USC President Harris Pastides to Thomas’ death.

“It is so tragic that someone who was dedicating his life to help those in need was a from us before he could achieve his life’s dreams,” Pastides said Sunday.

Hickman said Sunday that on-campus counseling is available to any USC personnel or students.

The Thomas family also released a statement Monday, saying they were “deeply touched” by the outpouring of prayer and support they received in the aftermath of Seth’s disappearance.

“Seth was a beautiful person and we have been blessed to have been a part of his life,” they said.

“Seth’s love of God, his deep desire to help others, and his wish to make the world a better place is how he would like to be remembered.

“He would want everyone who was touched by his life to show compassion for one another and be at peace.”

The Thomas family confirmed Monday that they are working on having Seth’s body flown back to the United States and thanked the School of Medicine for their assistance and understanding in the matter.

Alexa Triantis, community director for Byrnes and Lever resident halls at Clemson University, was Thomas’ supervisor during his time as a Clemson resident advisor. She remembered Thomas as a superb friend and co-worker and recalled his amazing passion for music.

“Seth was an amazingly unique, reflective, kind hearted soul who dedicated his life to serving others,” Triantis said. “During his three years as an RA, he listened to students and developed numerous events and activities to engage students with all different types of interests and passions.”

Triantis went on to describe Thomas as a “wonderful role model” and recalled the crowds he would draw when playing the violin during nights on call as a resident advisor.

“He was a wonderful asset to the Clemson Home team and will be greatly missed,” Triantis said.

State funding fulfills 10.4 percent of 2017-18 university budget Mike Woodel

@GETHISDOGONETOO

Sarah Supan / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

T he a l re ad y dw i nd l i ng portion of USC’s operating budg et f u l f i l le d b y s t at e funding will be even smaller in 2017-18.

Only 10.4 percent of the $1.6 billion USC will spend in the coming academic year will be provided by the state of South Carolina, slightly down from 10.5 percent in 2016-17, less than half the 23 percent figure presented

to the board a decade ago.

Over the same period, South Carolina t rails only t hree states – Illinois, Louisiana a nd A r iz ona – i n c ut s to h igher educat ion f u nd i ng over the past decade. Higher education funding is down 37 percent in the state since 2008.

Toney J. Lister has been a member of USC’s Board of Trustees since 1994. A n attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit and a 1974 graduate

of the USC School of Law, Lister has held his seat on t he b oa rd t h rough t h ree universit y presidents, f ive head football coaches and the introduction of ice hockey as a club sport. Thus, Lister was wel l-seasoned when discussion of dwindling state funding for higher education began at Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

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About The Daily Gamecock Editor-in-Chief ADAM ORFINGER Design Director LOGAN ZAHNER Senior Designer MARIELA RODRIGUEZ Copy Desk Chief JOY BRANTON Photo Editor LISA FALTA News Editor MIKE WOODEL Arts & Culture Editor JENNA SCHIFERL Opinion Editors LINDEN ATELSEK DAN NELSON Sports Editor ADAM ORFINGER Contributors MARY RAMSEY BRAD DOUNTZ TAYLOR HARRISON JOHN WARRINGTON VALENCIA ABRAHAM ZOE NICHOLSON NICK SEMBRAT SARAH NICHOLS MATTIE HIBBS

“Paul’s primary focus was always directed at domestic Ukrainian political campaign work, and that is reflected in today’s filing.”

— Jason Maloni, spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, following Manafort’s registration as a foreign agent Tuesday

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The Daily Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Daily Gamecock are the author’s and are not the university’s. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Daily Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper’s parent organization. The Daily Gamecock is supported in part by student activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from Student Media.

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Courtesy of Tribune News Service

“The higher traffic fatality rate found on rural, non-Interstate routes is a result of multiple factors, including a lack of desirable roadway safety features, longer emergency vehicle response times, and the higher speeds traveled on rural roads compared to urban roads.”

—A

Tuesday report released by transportation research group TRIP which named South Carolina as having the deadliest rural roadways in the nation with 3.82 deaths per 100 million miles driven Courtesy of Tribune News Service

“With the 48th pick in 2017 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Sindarius Thornwell from the University of South Carolina.”

— NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum Thursday night.

Thornwell was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers only minutes later.

Victoria Richman / Daily Gamecock

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

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DYSLEXIAPAGE1 support in place so that they don’t develop these [negative] outcomes, put t he right interventions into place so they learn to read ... to a threshold where t hey can adapt to t he nor ma l read i ng dema nds of society, you’re helping this huge group of kids become productive citizens,” Decker said.

Decker or ig i na l ly beca me interested in learning disabilities after he himself had trouble learning in early grades before ultimately winding up in gifted classes. He was recently awarded a $738,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of E duc at ion t o det er m i ne what each school district in the state is doing to help students with dyslexia and to describe associations of different models w it h educ at iona l outcomes.

His research team will also be looking at how a 2007 federal law for distinguishing children with learning disabilities has a f f e c t e d t he p e r c e nt a g e of children that are diagnosed with dyslexia.

T he pu r p o s e of Dec ker ’s research is multifaceted. Decker hopes that his research will help to inf luence policy on a state level by answering questions such as what practices lead to the most children being correctly

STATEPAGE1 “ We have been forgot ten at the Statehouse,” Lister said prior to passage of USC’s thenproposed 2017-18 operat ing budget of $1.6 billion.

St udent Body Pre sident Ross Lordo said the increase w a s ne c e s s a r y t o k e e p t he university’s revenue stable, as tuition and fees will comprise 48.8 percent of USC’s budget in 2017-18.

“The difficult yet unavoidable decision for a modest tuition increase is necessary to maintain t he world-class educat ional

identified as dyslexic and how to begin helping those students.

O n a more f u nda ment a l level, Decker is using electroencephalograms (EEGs) to visualize the interconnected net work s w it h i n t he bra i n s of ch i ld ren w it h lea r n i ng disabilities. With this research, h is goa l is to f i nd com mon patterns of brain activity within these children and, by singling out these commonalities, it may be easier to correctly diagnose learning disorders earlier in a child’s life.

“Each person has a capacity to learn that’s different from another person. Each person has strengths and weaknesses in their learning prof ile so I was always kind of interested in why ... some people learn things really fast but st r uggle w it h other things,” Decker said.

Decker believes that one of the biggest impacts of his research is helping the students that work in his lab. He has had several Magellan Scholars and students from numerous fields including biomed ica l eng i neer i ng a nd computer science. He strongly encou rages t hat st udent s i nterested i n u nderg raduate research reach out to him or any other professor on campus to get involved.

environment we, as students, experience at the University of South Carolina,” Lordo said in a Friday u n iversit y press release announcing passage of the 2017-18 budget.

Board of Trustees chairman John C. von Lehe divulged as much in the same release.

“It’s an unfortunate reality that in the absence of additional state funding, tuition increases are one of t he on ly tools available to cover rising costs a nd en s u re USC cont i nue s to prov ide a world-class educational experience to its students,” said von Lehe.

THE

TUITIONPAGE1 projected 2017-18 tuition figures as $6,131 per semester for resident undergraduates and $16,181 per semester for non-resident undergraduates, increases of $204 and $540 per semester, respectively.

The tuition hike is projected to generate $12.9 million in new revenue for USC in 2017-18.

The hike will likely place USC a s t he t h i rd-most expensive public university in the state behind Winthrop University ($14,510 for instate undergrads in 2016-17) and Clemson Universit y ($14,318 in 2016-17) this fall.

Winthrop and Clemson are both yet to confirm tuition rates for 2017-18.

USC has increased tuition every year since 1987.

Student body president Ross Lordo reacted promptly w it h a Friday af ternoon s t at e m e nt i n w h ic h he referred to the tuition hike’s passage as a “difficult yet unavoidable decision” in the face of plummeting levels of funding from the Statehouse and ongoing construction projects, including a new student union on the USC campus.

“Now, more than ever in

our 216-year history, the university will depend more on st udent-f unding than state-funding,” Lordo said.

“The f lagship institution f o r t h e s t at e of S o u t h Carolina must rely on its students and parents to fill the financial void our state legislature has decided not to fund. As Carolinians, we must continue to lobby our representatives on behalf of all students – past, present and future.”

A fee to pay for c o n s t r u c t io n o f a n e w student union was one of the platforms Lordo ran his campaign on this winter.

According to his Friday statement, the fee is included in the 2017-18 tuition hike.

Student reaction to the hike has not been as warm as Lordo’s, with most current Gamecocks lamenting yet another tuition increase and others wondering where the extra $12.9 million will go. “ Fr a n k l y, I ’m a l w a y s against pay ing more for somet h i ng t hat I got at a cheaper price t he year before,” said Ryan Davis, a third-year computer science student. “So if anything, I just want to k now what’s changing to warrant yet another increase in tuition.”

M ichael Vinzani, a second-year biology student, was similarly interested in where the new funding will go.

“If it’s all put to a necessary cause,” Vinzani said, “then the increase is needed. If it’s not then it’s denying individuals the opportunity to learn at a university.”

Anna Ripley, a fourth-year marine science student, was even less conciliatory.

“I think it’s unfair for universities to continue to raise prices with a college educat ion becom i ng a s t a nd a r d f o r m a n y j ob requirements,” Ripley said.

Further revenue will be generated through increases in academic unit fees for 2017-18, including a doubling of the Greek Village student fee to $250 and a tripling of the fee paid by first-year law students to $1,500.

Tr a d i t i o n a l h o u s i n g plans will also be bumped up 3.9 percent to $2,665 per st udentand USC satellite campuses in Aiken, Beaufort and Spartanburg will see a tuition increase of approximately 3 percent in the academic year to come.

E d itor-i n- ch ief Ada m Orfinger contributed to this article.

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Getting Groovy: the new exhibit at CMA celebrates all things ‘70s Brad Dountz @TDG_ARTS

T he Colu mbia Museu m of A r t is currently showcasing an exhibit that touches upon one of the most misconstrued time periods in history: the 1970s.

Titled “That ‘70s Show,” the exhibit has pieces of art from some of the best known artists of the decade like Andy Warhol, Colleen Browning and Phyllis Sloane.

“That ‘70s Show” curator Catherine Walworth sat down with The Daily Gamecock in the middle of the exhibit floor on some puffy bean bag chairs to discuss her inspiration behind coming up with such a niche concept for an exhibit and the importance of what was said then, and how it can be used to enlighten us 40 years later.

The art on display comes from the museum’s own collection, and all the interior design work was hand done to fit the era.

“There are things that have been waiting decades in the basement for this show because they’re fabulous, but they just scream the ‘70s and that’s not to everybody’s taste,” Walworth said.

SEE’70sPAGE7

Courtesy of Phyllis Sloane

Summer volunteer opportunities available in Columbia Jenna Schiferl @JENNASCHIF

Courtesy of Katie Alice Walker Communications

Artistic rendering of the new laser light installment

Laser art piece to light up Columbia for 10 years Jenna Schiferl @JENNASCHIF

A one-of-a-k i nd laser light installment w a s j u s t a n nou nc e d to lau nch over t he Congaree R iver in mid-August.

The project, t it led “Southern Lights,” was created by artist Chris Robinson, a professor at t he Un iversit y of Sout h Carolina School of Visual A rt and Design.”Southern Lights” consists of a combination of lasers and strategically placed mirrors t hat create a light show that spans bet ween t he Ger vais a nd Blo s s o m St r e e t bridges over the river.

Robinson has created dozens of ot her large-scale ar t pieces, i nclud i ng a notable collaboration w it h Rock ne K rebs, which was displayed at t he Nat ional Mall in Washington, D.C. “My i nst a l lat ions c reate a sc u lpt u ra l structure, draw a t t e n t i o n t o i ntere st i ng a spec t s of t he su r rou nd i ng env ironment and illuminate the distinctive qualit y of laser light,” Robinson said via a press release.

“The Congaree River is special and unusual in that it is relatively dark in the middle of an urban environment and the beams can go bot h u nder and over t he br idge s a nd t he viewers.”

This art piece is the o n l y i n s t a l l at io n of its kind in the United St ates. St a r t i ng on Aug. 19, as part of the highly anticipated solar e c l ip s e c elebr at ion s throughout Columbia, “Southern Lights” will illu m inate ever y day at dusk for the next 10 years. Depending on where a n i nd iv idu a l stands, the lights will appear differently due to the location of the mirrors.

The long-term installment highlights t he architect ure present in Columbia, as well as the work of Charles Tow nes, t he South Carolina native that created scientific theories that ultimately led to the development of laser technologies.

The project was made possible through What’s Next Midlands a nd Engenu it ySC , a s wel l a s nu merou s orga n izat ions t hroughout R ichland County.

Summer is a great time for relaxing, taking summer courses or working. However, with a less rigid course schedule and more free time, summer is the perfect time to take advantage of some incredible volunteer opportunities throughout Columbia. Not only does volunteering often provide i nd i v id u a l s w it h a s e n s e of purpose, but it can also look great to potential employers.

Here a re fou r way s to get involved in community service t h roughout Colu mbia t h is summer.

If you work well with people, and are interested in women and gender studies...

Lea r n more about: Sex ua l Trauma Services of the Midlands STSM is a nonprof it organization that advocates and assists survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence. They aim to educate the communit y on how to educate and prevent sexual violence. Volunteer advocates at STSM help by accompanying victims of assault to the hospital and prov iding necessar y i nfor mat ion a nd suppor t. I n addition, they answer the 24-

hour crisis hotline. This is a great opportunity for those looking to volunteer but have nontraditional schedules and availabilit y and that work well with others. After submitting an application online, volunteers must complete a total of 25 hours of training, to ensure proper conduct and treatment.

If you love animals but can’t commit to one of your own...

Learn more about: Pawmetto Lifeline This no-kill animal shelter and animal rescue program is based in Columbia. It houses dogs and cats that were previously abandoned or living in a shelter where they would eventually be euthanized. Since their opening in 1999, the shelter has saved over 25,000 pets. There are myriad volunteer opportunities at Pawmetto Lifeline, from dog walking and cat socialization to transporting animals to necessary medical appointments. If you’re not available to volu nteer at a reg u la r sc hedu le but st i l l want to help, you can foster an animal before they fi nd a forever home. Visit the volunteer tab on Pawmetto Lifeline’s website to find the volunteer application.

If you are interested in education or historic preservation...

L e a r n more ab out : S out h

Carolina State Museum Located i n t he hea r t of downtown Columbia, the South Carolina State Museum is a great opportunity for students interested in history, education, visual arts or astronomy. The museum offers a flexible schedule and free guest passes. Volunteer opportunities include help with summer camps, gallery monitoring or assistance with monitoring public events.

Interested students will start by completing a three hour museum orientation. Contact Jeff Powley at jeff.powley@scmuseum.org for more details.

If you enjoy working with a team...

Learn more about: Har vest Hope Food Bank This organization currently has three emergency food pantries in Columbia, and they rely on volunteers to help sort and pack food as well as manage client i nt a ke. A l l volu nteer s mu st complete a one hour training session that is offered numerous times a month. Other volunteer p o s it io n s a v a i l a b le i n c l u d e administrative staff or product inspection and boxing. Interested individuals can get started by signing up for orientation online.

File Photo: Sarah Hinckley/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK

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Community casting art unites strangers through sculpture

‘70SPAGE5

Jenna Schiferl @JENNASCHIF

You can learn a lot about a person by the state of their hands.

K ara Gunter is exploring t he surprisingly intimate experience of holding a stranger’s hand with her latest project: “Hands-On: A Community Hand-Casting Project.”

Gunter, a studio artist and adjunct professor of fine art at USC, often analyzes and delves into concepts of the archetypal self and its relation to the visceral nature of the human experience. The Lexington native studied sculpture and small metal works at Winthrop University and later received a MFA in 3-dimensional studies and ceramics at USC in 2009.

This project is a conjunct ion between the Richland County Public Library and the Carolina Archive of Storytelling. Gunter has completed six previous casting sessions around Columbia, but on July 1the library will host the largest event thus far, with 12 individuals participating.

For the project, Gunter live casts two individuals hands. A writer sits down with the participates to facilitate conversation, and photographer takes a portrait photo of each individual involved. The end result is a gallery display of the sculptures, stories and photographs to create a unique narrative “package.”

The inspiration for a community casting project came to Gunter after her experience live casting in her own personal sculpture, after casting the hands of multiple generations of women.

“I really loved the experience and I thought it was something that I could offer to other people,” Gunter said.

She started a small business casting t he hands of friends and family members, until it eventually expanded into others in the community.

“It sort of made me realize that we’re all going through our [own struggles].

It made me more compassionate and empathetic toward people, [by] being invited into these very emotional, intimate circumstances,” Gunter said.

Courtesy of David West

She has found that during the 45 minutes that the strangers were required to hold hands as Gunter completed the casting, people start to open up to each other. She noted that after the process was complete, individuals usually chose to linger and continue their discussions.

“I just wanted to see if I could bring that to other people, especially in this climate of division. I wanted to do something positive, I wanted to see if

I could help people look beyond these arbitrary divisions that we draw in the sand,” Gunter said. “I think that people find that we are so much more alike than we are different.”

Gunter aims to unveil the entirety of the project by January of next year, but she posts images and stories to her blog periodically. If you are interested in participating in the project, fill out an interest form at handsoncolumbia. wordpress.com/participate/.

Walworth wanted to get people to remember how much of a valuable time the 1970s was in getting the ball rolling towards how we view ourselves. “ T he ‘ 70 s g e t s o v e rlo o k e d s o much ... It’s the decade when really ever y t h i ng goes, t here’s not one particular movement that seems to dominate. If any t hing, indiv idual voices were creeping in,” Walworth said.

“Art is uniquely qualified to reflect a time period back, but there’s also work to be done on the visitor’s side to go back and look into what that historical context was,” she added.

To go along with all of the artwork, the exhibit is designed with different colored wa l lpap er s , f a r out i n fo plaques, a timeline of the decade and a huge wall with the exhibit’s title emboldened wit h yellow against a cr imson backdrop. The bea n bag chairs are perfect to lounge in.

Walworth was set on the idea of not going too over the top with how to design the exhibit. She knew the art had to take center stage.

“I wa nted to let t he work it self be the experience, but it’s reacting off of these great design elements,” Walworth said.

“The ‘70s to me were the last time we were some sort of weird, primitive people that were not tied to technology and we did everything the hard way and the slow way and I wanted people to slow down in here and just sit and spend some time,” she added.

T h at l ac k of r e ad i l y a v a i l able technology then will only heighten the experience of taking the museum’s “Multimedia Tap Tour” available on their website. This feature lets you explore the background of some of the art pieces in the exhibit with short video or audio clips.

The exhibit opened on June 23 and will be on display through September 17.

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Swearing should become more socially acceptable Linden Atelsek Fourth-year psychology student If you’re a woman, you’ve been hearing for most of your life that swearing is unladylike, because for some reason, we’re supposed to care about what other people think makes us ladies. If you’re not a woman, you’ve just been hearing that it’s impolite and uncivilized.

I think we, as a civil society, need to get over ourselves.

Su re, you probably shou ld n’t b e d roppi ng f-b omb s du r i ng a presentation at work or your thesis defense or some si m i la rly st if f, formal event. It’s been shown that c u r si ng du r i ng a job i nter v iew may ma ke you come of f a s less competent. But t hat doesn’t just apply to swearing. There’s a time and a place for everything — you

a l so shou ld n’t we a r wh it e to a wedding that isn’t yours or tell an interviewer that you just want a job for the money, but we don’t consider those things inappropriate outside of those situations.

But there’s also a time and a place to loosen up. We shouldn’t need to edit curse words out of songs — they’re never as good after bleeping as t he original — or desperately watch ou r la ng uage arou nd ou r families. You should be able to swear without being considered stupid, impulsive or rude.

Because there’s a reason we use expletives. Swearing allows us to e x p r e s s i nt e n s e e m o t io n s l i k e happiness, anger and fear without re sor t i n g to phy s ic a l for m s of ex pression l i ke v iolence. It ca n help us release tension and even allev iate pain. In t he workplace, bet ween coworkers, it has been shown to raise morale and improve teamwork. People who curse may be more truthful, and arguments made with profanity are sometimes more per s u a sive. O t her people v iew f requent swearers as more

trustworthy and loyal. And, contrary to popular belief, how much you swear has nothing to do with your vocabular y or intelligence — in fact, linguists are beginning to view swearing as creative, rather than a sign that we can’t think of another word to get our point across.

Sometimes we do swear to be rude — but the problem then is with the sentiment, not the words themselves.

I’m not really being any more polite if I say someone is useless than if I say someone is f------ useless.

W hy should we v iew swearing itself as uncivilized when it helps us st ay civ il? W hy shou ld it be considered unprofessional if it can improve our work env ironment?

Why should we think of profanity as low-class when it’s such an effective, hard-hitting way to communicate and persuade?

We can’t keep putting the kibosh on cursing the way we do right now.

There are too many benefits to being foul-mouthed to ignore.

Hell, why not come out and say it.

We should all swear more.

Fox News slowly morphing into state media outlet Dan Nelson Third-year public health student

Last Friday, CN N anchor John K ing referred to the popular Fox News morning show, Fox and Friends as “st ate T V ” over t heir rat her lackluster questioning of President Trump on why he chose to lie about having tapes of his and Comey’s conversations. King’s remark, while not totally serious, raises important questions regarding the journalistic independence of Fox News under the current administration.

S t a t e T V, m o r e c o m m o n l y referred to as state media, generally fits a profile of being financially backed or cont rol led by t he government. This, in turn, often resu lt s i n a deg ree of, or tot a l, government control over covered topics and opinions. As a result, a government may be able to shape an otherwise negative narrative into a positive. Perhaps even more sinister, a government may be able to cover up a negat ive narrat ive or stor y

entirely. Such heav y government control over the media is generally a feat ure found in aut horitarian countries with few media and free speech protections. Russia, Turkey and China, for example, all have extensive state media apparatuses.

M e d i a s o u r c e s s u c h a s TA S S , Russia Today, Anadolu Agency and Xinhua all ser ve their respective governments in various capacities, of ten project i ng a par t ic u lar government news narrat ive onto their own people or, in the case of Russia Today, onto an international audience.

O f cou r se, Fox New s doe sn’t exactly fit the profile of state-run media. The constitutional and legal protections allotted to the media and the people in the United States essentially prevents this. However, there are some startling similarities bet ween how t hese st ate med ia apparatuses operate and how Fox N e w s a p p r o a c h e s t h e c u r r e nt administration.

The W hite House has taken an interesting and, frankly, worrisome approach to W h ite House press briefings in recent weeks. W hite House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has, on multiple occasions, banned t he use of telev ision cameras in these briefi ngs. In fact, “spokesmen

for President Trump have allowed quest ion-a nd-a ns wer sessions with reporters to be televised just six t imes in t he past six week s.”

Ba n s of t h is n at u re ef fec t ively prevent t r a n spa rent cover age of t he i nc r e a s i n g l y u np o p u l a r administration.

Furthermore, even when cameras a re a l lowed, Spicer has made it a habit to avoid answering any dif f ic u lt quest ions, par t ic u larly t hose raised by CN N and ot her not-so-friendly-to-Trump outlets.

At the same time, Trump and other senior administration officials give exclusive interviews to Fox News.

Trump also utilizes his personal Twitter account to promote various Fo x N e w s a r t i c l e s a n d c l i p s , essentially playing favorites with outlets that will push his and his administration’s narrative.

This type of activity, quite frankly, is unprecedented. Never before has an administration so wholeheartedly embraced one media outlet. Not just that, but never before has a media outlet been so wholeheartedly ready to take on such a role. So, while Fox News may not f it t he usual profile of a state media agency, it certainly shares some startling and concerning characteristics.

8

Don’t celebrate obesity to be PC Isabelle Carroll Second-year public relations student I am all about body positivity.

In fact, a few months ago, I wrote a column on how it is important to accept all body t y pes.

However, recently I’ve come to the realization that there is a fi ne line between advocating for body positivity and enabling unhealthy lifestyles.

According to the CDC, more than one third of Americans are classif ied as med ically obese.

Obesit y has been l i n ked to a variety of other medical problems, such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and even some types of cancer.

Obesity is hard on the wallet as well as the body. People who are obese are calculated to spend about $1,400 more on medical bills than their average-weight counterparts.

Obesity is even referred to as an “epidem ic” in some public health literature. Obviously, this is a issue that must be addressed.

So where do we draw t he line between supporting people with natural curves and those who are simply overweight?

Yes, I k now, this may sound h a r s h . Ho w e v e r, t he f a c t i s t hat many people are hurt ing t he m s e l v e s b y l i v i n g i n t he shadow of obesity. We need to be careful not to applaud those who are obviously unhealthy for their “bravery” and “body confidence.”

I am not saying to make fun of t he se i nd iv idu a l s or d r aw attention to the fact that they are suffering from obesit y, but we need to stop telling them nothing is wrong wit h how much t hey weigh. Because the fact of it is t hat t hey are in an u nhealt hy state that they are paying for both physically and monetarily.

We must encourage healthy, average weights and do our best to end this epidemic of obesity that is sweeping the U.S. Be kind and empathetic to all, but don’t give praise where it doesn’t belong.

T h is f a l se sen se of hea lt h is harming not only the individual, but the country’s overall vision of well-being.

Body cameras can’t stop police brutality Bryce Wilson Second-year finance student With another acquittal of a police officer who shot a black man, people are beginning to question whether or not body cams on police officers are actually doing anything. In my opinion, the problem is not the body cams t hemselves, but how we are interpreting the data that they provide us.

We have seen in various high-profile cases the introduction of footage as evidence, such as the Philando Castile case. When it comes to documenting their actions, the body cams are doing their jobs.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR REQUIREMENTS

As a result, the defense attorneys have now switched tactics. Instead of v y i n g f or a l ac k of e v ide nc e they challenge the character of the i nd iv idua ls, cont i nu i ng negat ive stereot y pes a nd st ig mas about African-Americans, such as the idea that they are more prone to criminal activities and confl ict with the police off icers. These ideas have created an env ironment where it is more acceptable to kill African-Americans because it is normal to fear that they are “dangerous.”

During his trial, officer Jeronimo Yanez stated that he “feared for his life,” using t h is sense of fear for his safety to justify his shooting of Cast ile. Now, as a police of f icer, Yanez’s job is to protect and serve,

a concept that seems difficult when you have an unjustified fear for an individual. And I place an emphasis on unjustified, because through the video provided by Yanez’s body cam Castile was completely compliant with all of the arresting officer’s directives.

So it’s not body cams that are the problem, because it’s not track ing the police officer’s actions that is the issue.

It is holding t hem accou ntable for t heir act ions. By cont i nually acquitting officers you make their actions acceptable. By not properly punishing them we are encouraging their behaviors. The fi rst step towards eliminat ing police br utalit y is to eliminate the culture around it, which is the idea that they can get away with

Letters to the editor must not exceed 300 words. Students must include their full name, major and year. Faculty and staff must include their full name, position and department. Community members must include their full name and applicable job title. Verifiable statements of fact must include at least one source;

if we cannot verify a statement of fact, your letter will not be published until the writer implements necessary changes or provides reputable sources for any facts in question. Letters are edited for clarity, style and grammar.

it. We cannot do that when we have a side that continues to deny that there is an issue.

Are all police racist? Absolutely not.

But it’s the bad ones that give the rest of them a bad image. We are reliant on good police officers to call out the bad ones.

There is no denying that there is an issue. When African-Americans have more of a sense of fear than a sense of safety around police officers, there is an issue. Body cams can’t fi x this issue, and the government can’t legislate a s olut io n . T he s olut io n c o me s from both sides of the aisle having a meaningful dialogue between them.

That’s how we fi x this issue, and we need to fi x it soon.

Email submissions to opinion@dailygamecock.com or mail them to The Daily Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29225

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

HOROSCOPES

PHD • JORGE CHAM

Aries

Leo

Sagittarius

Get physically involved in a project. Productive results reward practical e f f o r t s . Wo r d s a n d actions come together harmoniously. Inspire and motivate others.

Get moving on a personal priorit y today a nd tomorrow.

Synchronize words with ac t ion. Energ ize t he conversation. Persuade others from your heart.

You’re growing stronger.

Play f u l l out. G et i nvol ve d i n a l a rg er conver sat ion. You’re generating a fascinating buzz, a nd someone finds that particularly attract ive. Blend talk with action.

Taurus

Virgo

Capricorn

Gemini

Lay low and rest through tomorrow. Make plans a nd con nec t ion s for an upcoming project.

Think about how you’d like things to go.

Make reservations and appointments.

Check your map a nd you r schedu le f o r c h a n g e s . Tr a v e l conditions look excellent over t he next few days. Communication channels and traffic flow clearly.

Fix up your place today a nd tomorrow.

Persuade participation.

Coordinate efforts with you r fa m i ly to ma ke common improvements.

Talk and action come together.

Libra

Aquarius

Watch for opportunities at the top. Team projects go well today and tomorrow. Coordinate a g roup conversat ion and manage who will do what.

Grab that low-hanging fruit. A fat har vest is within reach through t o mor r ow i f y ou g o for it. Join forces with anot her to get t he funding.

Romance is a distinct p o s s ib i l it y o v e r t he next few days, if you can avoid squabbling.

M i s c o m mu n ic at io n s frustrate the situation.

Fi nd s weet ne s s w it h patience.

Cancer

Scorpio

Pisces

Yo u a r e s t i r r e d t o take pract ical act ion.

Avoid cont roversy or ex pense. Speak out respectfully. Stand for your community. Move quickly for best results.

Your work and health seem energ iz ed over the next few days. Get your plans into motion.

Communications, shipping and travels flow with velocity.

Romance kindles from simple sparks over the next few days. Fall into a seductive conversation.

Talk about what you’d like to do.

@thegamecock

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6/28/17

ACROSS

Tune in to 90.5 FM or check us out at www.wusc.sc.edu 6/28/17

1 2 3 4

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Column: Dozier, others needed extra year

Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

night, as both point guards left two years of eligibility on the table before going undrafted. Dozier and Briscoe both inked free agent deals and will see summer league action, but they’re far from being sure things to make their respective rosters.

Let me be clear here. When I say that Dozier and Briscoe under-performed, leading them to go undrafted, this isn’t to say that either player had a bad college career. If that were the case, neither would have the opportunity to play in the summer league, and we wouldn’t be talking about this. However, Briscoe was ESPN’s top-rated point guard in the 2015 class, while Dozier was ranked as the No. 19 player in the group, ahead of 2017 lottery picks Luke Kennard and Donovan Mitchell.

I n ju st t wo yea rs, Doz ier a nd Briscoe went from being two of the most coveted players in the country to ranking outside the top 60 players in the draft. Mentally and emotionally, that has to be a tough adjustment, which likely factored into their decisions to enter the draft early. But was it really worth it?

Everyone’s decision is different, and we can’t forget that financial issues can

Adam Orfinger @AORFINGER

The 2017 NBA Draft has come and gone, and the SEC saw four of its players chosen.

Three Kentucky freshmen went in the lottery, as could be expected, while South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell used a strong senior season to earn a second round selection. There was another group of four that was just as intriguing though: the players who came out early, but didn’t hear their names called in New York, three of whom were once five-star recruits.

Each year, a few five-star prospects under-perform, but they often decide to head for the draft any way, and executives often don’t k now what to do with them. Players like Skal Labissiere and Harry Giles had poor freshman seasons, but after being such sought after recruits, their draft stocks remained intact after just one season, and both were selected in the first round.

Under-perform for two seasons, and executives won’t touch you if you decide to come out. PJ Dozier and Isaiah Briscoe learned that Thursday

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certainly play a part in these decisions.

But...

We’ve seen highly-rated players benefit from extra years in college in the past, such as Buddy Hield and Denzel Valentine, a pair of lottery picks in 2016, or even Thornwell, who wouldn’t have been drafted after any of his other collegiate seasons. Let’s not forget that Thornwell was a big-time recruit as well, ranking No. 41 in the 2013 class (ahead of Zach LaVine) with the ability to go virtually wherever he wanted.

Even t his year, we saw players who weren’t content with their draft status return to school in an effort to boost their stock or at least secure the guaranteed contract that comes along with a first round selection.

Miles Bridges, Michigan State’s doit-all forward, likely would’ve been a first-rounder this year after ranking in the top 10 in his recruiting class, but with a loaded lottery, he returned to school. Caleb Swanigan made the same decision last year, and he became an All-American and a first round pick in 2017.

This isn’t all to say that players like Dozier and Briscoe should give up

Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

on their NBA dreams, because they shouldn’t. Players like Udonis Haslem and Ben Wallace have enjoyed great careers after going undrafted, so there’s certainly precedent, even though these guys are behind the 8 ball.

W h at b ot her s me mo st ab out Dozier’s decision is that he had the opportunity to really boost his stock as a junior. Even with Kory Holden eligible for the 2017-18 campaign, there’s not much competition for the ball in the South Carolina back court when it comes to experienced players.

Dozier would’ve had an incredible opportunity to prove himself on a team that still should have some publicity after last year’s Final Four run.

A nd there’s reason to believe he could’ve elevated his stock. In six games without Thornwell last season, Dozier averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. After another summer to develop, what could that have been over the course of the season? Physically, Dozier was more gifted than several players who got drafted, including Thornwell.

We can only wonder what could’ve been for Dozier in the NBA, had he stuck around for one more year.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

11

Two top USC targets to announce in upcoming week Adam Orfinger @AORFINGER

W i t h 10 c o m m i t s already in the fold for t he 2018 cla s s , W i l l Muschamp and t he South Carolina coaching staff are continuing to foc us on br i ng i ng i n top t a lent , a nd t he y could reap the benefits, as a couple of players’ decisions will come in the upcoming week.

Four-star defensive end Stephon Wy n n Jr. w i l l m a k e h i s commitment Saturday, choosing bet ween Georgia, A labama a nd Sout h Ca rol i na.

Clemson, his fat her’s a l ma mater, wa s expected to be in the mix for the Anderson, South Carolina, nat ive, but the Tigers were not in Wynn’s fi nal top three, which he announced on Twitter June 21.

A f ter play ing t hree seasons at T.L. Hanna, Wy n n w ill spend h is s e n io r y e a r at I MG Academy, one of t he most top-notch facilities in the country, where he will play alongside stars l i ke X av ier T homa s, the class’s top prospect.

Wy n n w i l l ma ke h is Saturday decision at the Anderson Rec Center at 1 p.m.

The Gamecocks are g u n n i ng for a not her defensive lineman who will announce later in the week in Jabari Ellis.

The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle is the No. 13 junior college player i n t he class, a nd he’l l b e m a k i ng his announcement on

Tuesday.

Ellis, who is expected t o c o m m it t o S out h Carolina according to 247 Sports’ Crystal Ball, w i l l choose bet ween S o ut h C a r ol i n a a nd N.C. State, becoming the third player to do so in the last two weeks.

Quarterback Dakereon Joy ner a nd defensive tackle Dantrell Barkley r e c e nt l y p i c k e d t h e G a mecock s over t he Wolf pack to join t he 2018 class.

Be yond t h is week , Sout h Carol i na has more high-prof ile targets who could join the class in July. Fourstar cornerback Jaycee Horn will choose between South Carolina and A labama July 15.

T he G a me c o c k s a re the expected leader, and Horn was in Columbia for a June 14 camp, but Nick Saban’s recruiting reputation should have the Gamecock faithful feeling uneasy leading u p t o H o r n ’s f i n a l decision.

Additionally, Dorian G erald, who t weeted t hat he’s “so close to committ ing” on June 22, has South Carolina in his top five, behind on l y Ten ne s s e e. It ’s been six days without a c om m it ment si nc e Gerald’s t weet, but a decision is expected in t he com i ng day s for t he F lore nc e , S out h Carolina, native. Gerald is t he No. 10 ju n ior college prospect in the country, and the second best at his defensive end position.

Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Allisha Gray has gotten off to a hot start in the WNBA, earning a starting role with 12.6 points per game.

Gray, Mitchell vying for first WNBA All-Star berths Adam Orfinger @AORFINGER

As the July 22 W NBA AllStar Game approaches, voting is starting to heat up, as the game’s biggest stars look to secure their trips to Seattle.

A mong t hem a re for mer Gamecocks Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis and Tiffany Mitchell, a l l of w ho m h a v e e njo y e d st rong starts to t he season.

Dav is, who plays wit h Gray on the Dallas Wings, has had a rough st retch of fensively over the last handful of games, which has lowered her averages and will likely keep her from getting recognized in Seattle.

Gray, however, has been the consistent wing that she proved to be at South Carolina, which inspired Dallas to select her w it h t he fou rt h pick in t he draft.

Gray has yet to reach 20 points in a game this season, somet hing Dav is did in t he W i n g s ’ o p e n e r, b u t s h e ’s r e a c he d d ou ble -f i g u r e s i n all but four of the team’s 16 contests, only scoring fewer than eight points once while starting every game.

Just like she was in Columbia, Gray, the league’s Rook ie of the Month in May, has been a jack of all trades in Dallas, averaging 4.8 rebou nds and 1.7 assists per game as well, while playing stifl ing perimeter defense on the other end. She’s struggled a bit as a shooter, hitting just 42 percent from the field and a below average 27 percent from beyond the arc.

The unusually low shooting percentages could hurt Gray’s all-star chances, but they also represent room for g row t h throughout the season.

Mitchell, now in her second

season with the Indiana Fever, has seen a minutes increase, which has jump-started her offense. Now averaging 11.6 p oi nt s p er g a me, good for second on the team, Mitchell has even cracked t he lineup at times this year, rather than playing in her normal role as the sixth woman. Like Gray, Mitchell has also struggled as a shooter, except at the free throw line, where the Charlotte native has been phenomenal, m is si ng ju st one of her 45 attempts.

For a comparison, 2015 AllStar Plenette Pierson averaged 12.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the season, joined by Danielle Robinson, who got t he honor w it h 9.5 points and 5.0 assists per game.

The leag ue d id n’t hold t he event in 2016 due to conflicts with the Summer Olympics.

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017 12

Gamecocks take off for Japan Nya Green

@_NYASIMONE

Nearly t hree mont hs removed from a national championship, the South Carolina women’s basketball team flew across the Pacific Ocean Tuesday morning, setting up a series of exhibition games against the Japan Women’s National Team.

Although these games will be closed to the public, head coach Dawn Staley says that this trip will not only help the ladies improve their game, but also allow them to have the experience of traveling to another country. Staley spoke to the media Monday afternoon and said that she wants to make the trip more educational for her players.

“The game is important just for learning, but it gives the players an

experience like no other, and I think this trip does that,” Staley said.

With international territory comes international rules, which allows the Gamecocks to work on different facets of the game. The differences are subtle, but they include an extended three-point arc and a shorter shot clock of 24 seconds, which resets to only 14 after an offensive rebound.

“We will probably be playing a lot quicker with the shorter shot clock on offensive rebounds,” Staley said of the international game. “I think it’s a great style of playing if you want to have fast basketball.”

Staley also spoke on the five new additions to the team (excluding Alexis Jennings, who practiced last year while sitting out due to transfer rules), who she says will each have to hold their

own on this championship team.

“You get to see who you’re working with a lot sooner than later,” Staley said of the newcomers, a group that includes three of the top 50 players in the 2017 class. “The freshmen don’t know the contributions those players that left made, they’re only worried about what they can contribute.”

St aley also ment ioned t he cont ribut ions lef t by t he former Gamecocks and now WNBA players, pointing out how they were each a huge factor in elevating the program to where it is now, and she believes that the newcomers will be able to carry their own as well.

South Carolina will take on the Japanese national team on June 30, July 2 and July 4 before returning to the U.S. on July 5.

Yangxing Ding / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

In weak group of quarterbacks, Bentley could become diamond in rough in SEC East Adam Orfinger @AORFINGER

T he SEC , c ol leg e footba l l’s be st con ference over t he last several seasons, has run into a problem at t he most prom i nent position in the last few years.

G one are t he days of legendar y SEC quarterbacks like Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel and Cam Newton, each of whom dom i nated the competition on the way to t he Heisma n Trophy. Even with the trio of AJ McCarron, A aron Mu r ray a nd Z ac h Met tenb erger, we had t hree players t a l e nt e d e n o u g h t o lead top prog ra ms while becoming NFL backups.

Now, we have the less storied names of Jalen Hurts, Jarrett Stidham and Jacob Eason under center (well, in t he shotg u n) for t he conference’s premier programs. With Josh Dobbs and Chad Kel ly hav i ng moved on to the NFL, who’s the most experienced quar terback i n t he SEC? That title would go t o M i s s ou r i’s D r e w Lock , who holds a 6-14 record as a starter during his t ime wit h t he Tigers. Granted, he h a s n’t h ad muc h help around him, but that record is far from impressive. A labama h a s Hu r t s , who wa s part of a phenomenal offense in 2016 and may be the highest-regarded quar terback i n t he

conference despite clear flaws.

W it h Hu r t s a nd t he h igh ly-recr u ited Stidham, the SEC West has some ser v iceable signal-callers, including the underrated Austin A llen and Nick F it z g e r a l d . I t ’s t h e East where t h ings get sha k y, feat u r i ng open competitions at Tennessee and Florida i n add it ion to t h ree st a r ter s w it h lo si ng records.

So who’s left?

Georgia’s Jacob Eason and South Carolina’s Jake Bentley, who had v e r y d i f f e r e nt t r u e freshman campaigns in 2016. Eason was pegged a s t he s av ior of t he Georgia program from day one, earning t he starting job over Brice Ramsey and impressing in his first three outings of the season. It was an up-and-down campaign for the highly-touted Eason, who wou ld eclipse 220 yards just three more times for the season. Gamecock fans may remember his atrocious performance in Columbia last season, where Eason completed j u s t f i v e o f h i s 17 attempts for 29 yards (and Georgia somehow won), prompting Will Muschamp’s comment t hat t he Bu lldogs probably threw the ball “17 times too many.”

Bent ley didn’t play in that loss to Georgia, sitting out for the fi nal t i me i n 2016 before Muschamp pulled the t r igger, st a r t i ng t he f resh man who was supposed to be finishing

up his senior year of high school. Bent ley sh i ned i m med iately, leading South Carolina to three straight wins over UMass, Tennessee and Missouri, though he certainly struggled in losses to Florida and Clemson.

Regardless, Bentley g ot t he G a me c o c k s i nto a bowl game (t h e u l t i m a t e g o a l of t he 2016 sea son), ear n ing h im a nd h is teammates extra weeks of practice, which paid off during the trip to Birmingham. Bentley set a Birmingham Bowl record with 390 passing yards while mounting a comeback to force overtime, even though S out h Ca rol i n a wa s unable to seal the comefrom-behind victory.

Now receiving praise from Eli Manning f o r h i s wo rk at t he Man ning Passing Academy, Bent ley is poised to be the dark horse quarterback in the SEC this season, a season where no one has emerged as the clear top dog.

It’s too early to make a case for Bent ley as t he best quarterback in the SEC, with Allen coming off a 3,400-yard campaig n and Hu r t s having just missed out on a national title, but why c a n’t he be t he best in the East? With good weapons and an experienced offensive line, Bentley could be ready for a breakout season, and his division r i v a l s s hou ld b e o n notice.

Yangxing Ding / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Jake Bentley averaged 203 passing yards per start in 2016.

Adam Collins / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

After reclassifying, Bentley led the Gamecocks to a bowl berth after a 2-4 start.