ISSUE 3
OUR 97th YEAR
www.thescsucollegian.com TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Customer Service still a wreck BY JONATHAN WHITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Great customer service is not one of the best things at South Carolina State University. From rude staff workers, to receiving the run around, students claim they are not happy about the way they are treated by staff members at SC State. “I can’t begin to tell you how I’m treated here by the workers at this University,” said a sophomore student who wished to remain anonymous. “The sad part is, I’m paying thousands of dollars in tuition to be treated like trash,” he said. Freshman Criminal Justice major Michael Baizar agreed. “It’s hard enough dealing with stressful days from school work, but to come in the cafe and receive complete rudeness from workers who should be doing their job, really gets annoying.” Director of Quality Assurance Ellen Ricoma, states that after reviewing recent surveys submitted by students in regards to Customer Service, service areas such as the Washington Dining Hall, The Pitt and Accounts Receivable were ranked the lowest. “Some of the main complaints that we receive from students are that they receive the run around and bad attitudes,” she said. The quality assurance function, which addresses
Photo by Eric Smith/The Collegian Actual student in The Pitt, dissatisfied while waiting for service
customer service issues, is an arm of the Student Success and Retention Program (SSRP). “It seems like every time I go to Accounts and Receivables, I can never get what I need done, without receiving some sort of attitude from the workers,” said Junior Fashion Merchandise major Julie Mays. “I could see if I was exhibiting a bad
attitude, but I come in with a smile to receive nothing more than a frown and a piece of paper telling me that I need to pay the school,” she said. “Day after day, I come into the Café’ and watch the same rude worker talk to students any kind of way, and do things that a customer service worker shouldn’t do, such as stopping in the middle of fixing plates to fix himself something to drink,” said a junior who wished to remain anonymous. “I sympathize with the workers when they need to take breaks, but when you have a whole line of students waiting to eat, it’s not time to sip on your Sprite and stare at us, as if we’re the problem.” One of the staff workers in Washington Dining Hall commented to The Collegian, but didn’t want her name disclosed in the article. “Sometimes I wish students could understand the fact that we do have bad days. Is that too much to ask for?” According to Ricoma, it is. “People have different personalities, but the cross of governing yourself as a Customer Representative, is to be nice, pleasant, greet people, listen and be personable,” she said. “They should do all they can to help that student, by going out of their way to help them; even on a SEE CUSTOMER SERVICE ON PAGE 3
Are Students Going to Far to Impress Greeks BY BRITTANY BROWN STAFF WRITER
It seems like almost everyone wants to be a part of an organization that provides sisterhood, brotherhood, lifelong friendships and a bond that not many students get to experience. Some students at SC State may feel that the best way to get this bond, is by becoming a member of a Greek organization. In a recent poll conducted by The Collegian, 95 percent of students surveyed reported they couldn’t wait to pledge a one of these organizations. Many also indicated that they weren’t sure how to go about the process. “When I look at the Greeks, they seem so close. I wish I had that type of bond, and I would love to become one of them,” said a student
who wished to remain anonymous. Freshman Jamal Kent had similar feelings. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of the Divine Nine and be known around campus,” he said “So, I do my best to show my face at every event, but I’m not exactly sure that I’m going about it the right way.” Like Kent, many students are asking the same question. “I feel like I have to do whatever it takes to get my name out there,” said another student who wished to remain anonymous. “Everything about Greek life is so private. I just want to put myself ahead by showing them how much I SEE RECAP ON PAGE 5
Mid Elections: Why it’s important to Vote BY DONOVAN MALLOY STAFF WRITER
Photo courtesy www. blogs.rsvp.com Once again, it’s that time of year when the leaves change color forming bright hues of orange, yellow and red; while football reigns and the weather is cool and crisp. It is also the time for all citizens to exercise their rights by going to the polls to vote. The fall of 2008 was such an amazing time. The citizens of this great country elected the
first African American President, Barack Obama. Now, the democratic candidates of 2010 are facing the backlash for supporting this choice. The rally cry of the newly formed Tea Party screams loudly that they must “take their country back.” Well, the question is simple. Take it back from whom? Do they want to take it back from citizens who believe in health care for all? Do they want to take it back from those of us who feel that President Obama’s stimulus plan was necessary, in order to save the country from further economic turmoil caused by the failed policies of the previous administration? “Personally, I feel that they want to take it back from those of us who are of color,” said Freshman Brandon Davis. “Democratic candidate and Senator for Camden Vince Sheheen, is clearly the best candidate for Governor, if you support public education. Public education should be very important to SCSU students and employees,” he said. Voting for candidates such as Nikki Haley who are running with the Tea Party movement, would make it more difficult for SC State to progress. What is scary, is that there are so many people who are jumping on the Tea Party bandwagon. It’s clear to see that the supporters don’t SEE ELECTIONS ON PAGE 3
An example of students admiring Greeks in the Plaza.
Four Loko: Drunk and Dangerous BY COURTNEY ADAMS STAFF WRITER Authorities are debating the health concerns of the caffeine laden alcoholic brew “Four Loko;” which is also called “blackout in a can” and “liquid cocaine.” Four Loko is a 23.5 ounce canned drink available in 10 flavors. It contains caffeine, guarana, taurine and 12 percent alcohol. One can of this potion, which is available for $2.67 (tax included), is equivalent to a six-pack of light beer and a 12 ounce cup of coffee, according to ABC News. Theoretically, one Four Loko, would be enough to legally intoxicate someone. Five years ago, Phusion Projects LLC creators Chris Hunter, Jason Freeman and Jeff Wright, all graduates of Ohio State University (OSU), created this malt liquor to be distributed in local convenience stores near their university. These
gentlemen were inspired to create the drink after observing their counterparts mixing alcohol with caffeine in local taverns. Four Loko is currently being sold in 47 states. Should a company be blamed for misuse of a product? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating whether or not Four Loko is safe for consumption. The FDA has never approved adding caffeine to an intoxicating substance. Certain institutions such as Central Washington University (CWU) and Ramapo College, New Jersey, have banned this drink from their campuses. Rob McKenna, attorney general in Washington State is also working on trying to get Four Loko banned from stores. But, Chris Hunter, managing partner of Phusion Projects disagrees SEE LOKO ON PAGE 4
Inside this Issue Simona Says “You cant please everyone”
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Sigma Lambda Gamma hosts Speed Dating
Meet this month’s GQ and Beauty of the Week
Kanye West Runaway Video Review
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OP/ED
The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Simona Say’s: “You can’t please everyone.”
Q A
With Homecoming being over, it seems like everyone would be tired and ready to get back to their books. However, my friends are making a huge deal about how I chose to spend my time during the past week. My best friend came from out of town and I truly delegated the majority of my time to her, while my other friends did their thing. Simona was I wrong?
I can understand your dilemma, and so can many others. How can you divide your time between your friends and sometimes even your family members? There are many ways to evaluate this situation. First, was there a reason why you felt your best friend couldn’t hang with your school friends? Secondly, are your school friends your true friends? Last but not least, would you have done things differently? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you have taken the first step to admitting that you may have been wrong in the situation, and maybe, you could have done things differently. As humans, it is in our nature to satisfy either ourselves or others or both. If you are a self pleaser, you tend to do things that benefit you, but if you are a people pleaser you tend to watch out for everyone else’s feelings and opinions before your own. To me, it seems that you are a people pleaser and with your best friend coming into town, you wanted her to have the best time that you could possibly show her, while assuming your school friends would be fine without you. Now that things have simmered down, the opinion of your school friends is sitting on your shoulders. I can go on and on, and tell you how you could have done things differently, but the bottom line is, YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE. All in all, no, you weren’t wrong! Everybody views things differently; if they are your true friends this situation will blow over, and if not, at least you know their true colors.
Brain Teaser: A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven’t eaten in 3 years - Which room is safest for him? Answer: The third. Lions that haven’t eaten in three years are dead.
Where In the World is Osama Bin Laden? BY SHANAYA EDMUNDS STAFF WRITER I know you all are wondering where this man is. He has to be the world’s best hide and seek player ever! I mean really! They’ve been looking for this man for what seems like forever, and just when they think they might know on which hill he’s hiding, this dude comes out with another mix tape like “You thought you were about to catch me---Yeah right think again!” I mean, when you think about it, it’s actually kind of funny. We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t find one guy on the ground---interesting? Maybe he’s apart of Iraq’s witness protection program, and it’s just a really good program. Everything would lead me to believe that this man is really that good at hiding, and maybe we should just give up, but I know better. We probably haven’t found Mr. Bin Laden, because the U.S simply isn’t looking for him and maybe they never were. HERES THE TRUTH! Bin Laden is not on the run and he’s not even an enemy of the state. He’s somewhere in the middle-east relaxing with his feet up, with not a care in the world. I believe him and his people are not a threat and never have been. Honestly, He’s a fall guy. When things go wrong, we have to have someone to blame and he just so happened to be that someone, because things have clearly gone wrong.
Photo courtesy www.telegraph.co.uk But what about Google? Everyone with access to a computer has one time or another used Google maps to look at their house. I think it’s a tad bit odd that we can pin point a person’s exact location from outer space but this “terrorist” is still playing cat and mouse with the U. S. C’mon son! Maybe it’s just me-----Nope------I doubt it. Seriously though, the U.S staged three hijackings that claimed thousands of innocent lives, declared war against terror, named Bin Laden and his crew public enemies, invaded the wrong country (on purpose), took out Saddam Hussein and destroyed Iraq’s government and still, no Bin Laden……… Seems pretty odd to me.
Bin Laden is not the world’s greatest hide and seek player and he’s not a threat. (At least not to this country) I bet it is hard to find someone you’re not even looking for! Despite what news reports say about the war on terror, if you’re going to fight this battle you must know exactly what the word means. Terrorism: the systematic use of terror (fear) especially as a means of coercion. Common definitions of terrorism refer to only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal, deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians), and are committed by non-government agencies. Terrorism has been practiced by a broad array of political organizations to carry out their own agendas. So before we all go invading countries and pointing fingers, start looking for answers at home---right in your own backyard and see what you find. Check out Zeitgeist- The Movie: The World Trade Center on YouTube if you want to know who the real Terrorist are.
“We can put a man on the moon but we can’t find one guy on the ground---interesting?”
Acting as a College Student BY ALEXANDER LEE STAFF WRITER
Photo courtesy www.edydurosier.com What does it really mean to be an actual college student, to have graduated from high school, and to now be on the road to a higher education? For the most part, the majority of the students here seem as if they have good intentions, especially on that first day of class, when the teacher asks the same routine questions, like why you are here, and what do you plan to do in the next five to ten years. Some students have an idea and some may not, but they all knew they came to college for a reason. Some people came for better jobs, better financial opportunities and lives better than their parents, but
in a way, we all came to better ourselves point blank. For me, I think that there are three parts to being a successful college student, including speech, manner, and appearance. One part of bettering yourself is being aware that there is a time and a place for everything. The same way you would and talk to your friends, homeboys, roommates etc. would not be the same way you would talk to your professors. Slang should be used in privacy, not in a professional environment, in which words should be properly pronounced. We as students have to remember the workforce is a competition. You do not want to let the other person get an upper hand over you only because you said “yo”, “skrate,” “skrong,” “bo,” “ain’t,” etc. The bad part about it, is when someone does talk properly, people tend to tell them they sound white. Why is that? So, basically they’re saying, if you’re talking right, you’re talking white, and if you are talking improperly you sound more like a black person? Just think about it like this, if you were a president or a CEO of a company, would you really want the guy who could barely communicate with customers representing your company? No! So why don’t we perfect this dimension now, so later it does not prevent us from excelling in life. Along with speech, manner and how you carry yourself is very important. Regardless if you notice it or not, people are watching. From teachers, professors, fellow students, and even visiting companies, you’re impression is left on them. It definitely does not hurt to refer to an adult as ma’am or sir. So many times I see young people on
campus still behaving as if this is still high school and because nobody is here to hold their hands, they behave any old kind of way. WRONG! Whether you realize it or not, these years you spend on this institution are investments. Every year you spend here, you should be doing something to make it better than the last. There should be no upperclassmen here still talking and acting the same way they did their freshman year. Like I said in the first paragraph, we are here to better ourselves so do not waist the opportunity of college. As far as appearance, I should not really have to go in on it, but from what I see, somebody has to say something. You should not be wearing what you would wear to the club to class. Teachers ask you to dress a certain way for a reason. The atmosphere of college should be profession. Of course we are all students, but we will not be students forever. Now when I say this, I do not mean a suit and tie or slacks and khakis every day, but have some sense of pride. Sagging to the point where your underwear is showing or your back pockets are on your knees is unacceptable. Sure everybody has their own swag, style, swayver, etc. but when you approach a professor looking as if you just got out of a music video, how do you expect him or her to respond to someone who looks like a wanna be thug? You are representing this school every time you step foot off this campus, why would a employer want to waste time with someone who looks as if they are wasting their own.
Quote of the week: “ Never give up because once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.” -Vincent Lombardi
GET OUT AND VOTE!!
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CAMPUS LIFE/NEWS The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. Host Speed Dating THE COLLEGIAN Full to capacity. That was the sign posted on the doors of the Bulldog Lounge this past Wednesday night. The new multicultural sorority, SC State Colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., hosted a speed dating event that SC State students couldn’t resist attending. Around 7:35pm the line for the event was around the corner of the hallways of the student center in front of the Bulldog Lounge and Garnet and Blue room. The packed event allowed for male and female students to converse for one minute per person and if sparks flew they exchanged number. Many students left the event having fun. Freshman
Business Management major Morgan Williams said, “ I liked it. It was more people than we expected to be there, but we had fun. It wasn’t always someone to talk to but we had fun and met lots of new people.” The president of the SC State Colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., Kirsten Pratt, had to say, “We were surprised by the turnout of the event. It was way more people than we planned for but we made it work. In the end, we were glad people had fun and hopefully found a new boo for the winter season.” The SC State Colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma said SC State should look out for more events from the Gammas (the organization member’s nickname) in the near future. Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. is
Limewire Is No More ROMA RUSH COPY EDITOR
“This is an official notice that LimeWire is under a courtordered injunction to stop distributing and supporting its file-sharing software. Downloading or sharing copyrighted content without authorization is illegal.” -Legal Document The widely known P2P file-sharing strong-hold Lime Wire has officially discontinued its availability of free downloads. After a legal battle spanning four years, an injunction was released by U.S. Supreme Federal Court Judge, Kimba Maureen Wood ordering Lime Wire to disable its “searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and/or
file distribution functionality. In August of 2006, several music recording labels and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sought legal action against the file-sharing program for copyright infringement. They claimed that by providing software that allows users to swap songs online, Lime Wire was the cause of millions of dollars lost in record sales and the a driving force behind “massive” copyright infringement. Furthermore, the RIAA decided to seek compensatory damages of at $150,000 per song traded on Lime Wire software. Lime Wire isn’t the first P2P file sharing program to come under legal action. In 2005
ELECTIONS CONTINUED completely understand that the Tea Party’s agenda will not benefit those who are in the working class. However, they seem to enjoy the rally cry, “we must take our country back.” Sometimes I wonder if its race related. Would those particular followers be as vocal if our current President was white? Many seem to think that it is CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTINUED Students also commented on the workers. “I think we all have bad days, but that should never get in the way of doing your job,” said senior Political Science major Jamal Wright. “I totally disagree with the comment,” said freshman Elementary Education major Shania Blake. When you are working in a service area, it is a given that there is no other way to deliver great service, unless you are pleasant. Most day’s, it’s impossible to get a hello out of these workers.” Despite how some students may feel, others disagree. “After working at a fast food restaurant over the summer, I saw how stressful it was to deal with customers all day,” said freshman nursing major
Metro-Goldyn Mayer Inc. sued peer-to-peer file sharing company Grokster, the provider of the p2p program Morpheus. The issued decision in the case held that p2p file sharing companies could in fact be sued for copyright infringement. As a result, on November 7, 2005, Grokster discontinued its peer-to-peer sharing services. Grokster’s discontinue was also followed by $50 million dollars of compensation fees the company had to pay to music and recording industries. In a recent statement, Lime Wire CEO, George Searle said, “Naturally, we’re disappointed with this turn of events. We are extremely proud of our pioneering
history and have, for years, worked hard to bridge the gap between technology and content rights holders.” Searle continued in saying that LimeWire would find a new direction with “a completely new music service” ; however, he did not reveal details on any new ventures. Although the disabling of Lime Wire as a free peer-topeer software program seems like a major blow to the to file sharing arena, the statement where there is a will, there is a way remains especially true. Numerous p2p programs similar to Lime Wire are in existence and more are continuing to be created. This generates the question: Is trying to eliminate free file sharing programs such
cool or the “in thing” to be Republican. “Last time I checked the Bill of Rights stated “we the people” not some of the people,” said sophomore Daniel Green. “Someone needs to remind the Tea Party that this country belongs to everyone, so there is no one they can take it back from. They should be reminded that we all love this country, and want what is best for all of its citizens,” he said. It is more important than ever that we exercise
Brittney Walker. “Sometimes, the customers expect you to be nice, when they are some of the rudest people anyone could ever meet. I’m sure most students here are the same way.” “Students are rude to me,” said a staff worker in Accounts Receivable. “They come in here frustrated because of finance issues and expect us to deal with it. I’m sorry, I try my best to put a smile on my face and be pleasant, but it gets challenging at times. They want us to be nice, while they aren’t.” Ricoma explained that customer service works both ways. “Students should also practice being respectful if they expect proper service to be delivered,” she said. Aside from some of the bad reviews
Two SC State students chat during their time in Speed Dating. a new sorority to SC State’s campus, however; it has over 100 chapters and 30 colonies throughout the nation with this colony being the first in the state of South Carolina.
as Lime Wire practicable? Whether it is or not, we shall wait and see which filesharing program will soon rise to take the throne Lime Wire once held.
Photo courtesy www.adannews. com
our rights by voting in record numbers. So, they want their country back? Well, they cannot have it back! Slavery is over. The pride everyone should feel everytime they hear the national anthem is too strong to sit back and not vote on election day. The spirit of those SC State students of the 60’s who fought and died is alive and pleads with all of us to stand up and vote!
students gave these service areas, some others received top reviews. The top five customer service providers on campus according to the student survey are: the SC State Bookstore; the Career Center; Miller F. Whittaker Library; the Counseling and Self-Development Center; and Academic advising (students rated their own advisors), in that order. “I feel like the best place in regards to customer service is the Bookstore, because they greet everyone with a smile and they are very friendly,” said freshman Undecided major Steven Bradford. So what can students do when they have a customer service issue? “Students can do one of two things,”
Ricoma explained. “One, contact me, the employee’s supervisor, or Mrs. Marilyn Scott in Student Affairs. Mrs. Scott’s title is Ombudsman. Her office is in the student Center, and she can be reached at 803-516-4966.” Students are also invited to fill out the Customer Service survey at the end of each semester. The first time doing the survey in the spring of 2009, there were 197 respondents, in fall there 274, and spring 2010 there were 157. “We would definitely like to increase these response rates,” said Ricoma. She stated that all surveys and comments are taken into consideration.
How Do You Feel About Midterm Elections? LIT TERAE THESARUM EST
ESTABLISHED IN 1914 The Collegian P O Box 8124, 300 College St. NE South Carolina State University Orangeburg, SC 29117
<<“I feel the midterm elections are just as important as the presidential elections. The people who are elected during the midterm elections are the ones who make up congress and can help or hurt the presidents’ agenda.” -Kionna Rhabb, Freshman Political Science major
STAFF Editor-In-Chief/News Editor Jonathan White Managing Editor Danielle Jordan Circulation Manager William Champy Jr. Copy Desk Dervedia Thomas Staff Writers C. LaCreatcia Adams, Brittany Brown, Teiya Campbell, Preston Drayton, Shanaya Edmunds, Simona Falana, Jessica Grayson, Danielle Jordan, Nkosi Kennedy, Alexander Lee, Dayan Martinez, Charisma Owens, Princess Rainford, Jasmine Ravenell, Brittany Providence, Marcus Woodson SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY President Dr. George E. Cooper Vice President for Institutional Advancement Anthony Holloman Director, University Relations and Marketing Erica Taylor Adviser, Office of Student Media Rolondo Davis Associate Adviser, Office of Student Media
The Collegian is a student produced newspaper under the direction of University Relations and Marketing at South Carolina State University. The newspaper is distributed free to all students, faculty and staff members at various locations on campus. Editorial views and letters submitted to the editor express the opinions of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of South Carolina State University nor those of The Collegian staff as a whole.
“I feel that the midterm elections are very important because students should know they have the power to vote. Also, because this is a chance to shape the government to the way they feel will benefit them, not only as students, but also as citizens of that area.” -Nick Vance, Sophomore Political Science major
“I feel midterm elections are highly important because it will determine what party is going to have an advantage in congress. It can also determine what Obama can get accomplished for the remainder of his term and ultimately determine if Obama will get re-elected. !” -Andre Davis, Sophomore Political Science major
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FEATURES
The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Random Bulldog: Brandon Sigler BY ALEXANDER LEE STAFF WRITER
HBCU.
Q:Where are you from and what brought you to SC State? A:I am from Mobile, Al and I decided to be a student here as a place to start over after sitting out of school for about 2 years.
Q: If there was anything you could change about the world, what would it be? A:If I could change anything in the world, it would definitely be international relations. The relationships amongst the various countries and nations, we need work to promote world peace.
Q: Are you a member of any organization? A:I am a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (Mu Xi chapter), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc. (Nu Iota chapter), Concert Choir and UVOC
Q: If you win the lottery today, who would be the first person you tell and why? A:If I won the lottery my mom would be the first person I would tell. She is better at holding money than I am, and I trust her first before anyone else.
Q: What do you think of the school so far compared to your previous education institution? A:The school seems to be cool. It is a lot different from any school I have ever been to. This is my first
Q:In one word, how would you describe yourself? A:Different
SC State Gets New Sorority Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, THE COLLEGIAN Also since this is in the beginning stages of the first possible chapter in SC, our names will forever be apart of history with Sigma Lambda Gamma nationwide and Sigma Lambda Gamma at SC State.
A new sorority is on campus! The Collegian spoke with the President of this new organization, Kirsten Pratt, to learn more about their goals and mission.
Q: Are you considered a Greek sorority? A: We are a Greek organization. On the campus of SC State. We are able to run under just organization rules, however; we are considered Greek. We have calls, hand signs, and step just like any other Greek social sorority.
Q:What is Sigma Lamda Gamma National Sorority, Inc? A: It strives to be the premier organization committed to promoting the mechanism of empowerment to all women. Q: When were they founded? A: April 9, 1990 on the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Q: Why did you decide to bring SGL to State’s campus? A: I was introduced to the lifelong sorority while on National Student Exchange at Towson University. I was not able to join the organization at Towson because of time issues, so the Gammas there encouraged me to try to find interest and expand on my home campus. When I returned to SC State last Fall, others were interested and now here we are. Q: How did you do it? A: I looked for interest through creating a similar organization and from there, people interested found more interested persons. After getting approved with National Headquarters and SC State Student Life, we can begin the process of becoming a chapter of the organization. Q: What date was the SC State colony founded? A: March 16, 2010 Q:How many members are apart of the SC State colony? A: We went from 11 colony members to 4 colony LOKO CONTINUED stating that “the singling out or banning of one product or category is not going to solve this issue. Consumer education is what’s going to do it.” Are students ingesting multiple cans of Four Loko or consuming other liquor drinks along with it? According to multiple sources, students across the nation are consuming a substantial amount of alcohol, therefore, their Blood Alcohol Levels (BAL) are going beyond the legal limit, ranging from 12 to 33 percent. Dr. Peter Mercer president of Ramapo College, said in a New York Times article that a student “admitted to drinking three cans of Four Loko and several shots of tequila in just over an hour,”which caused the student to have a BAL of .40 afterwards. The legal level is .08 percent. Is Four Loko more dangerous for those who are nonexperienced drinkers? Underage drinkers, are prone to be at a higher risk, because of the fact they do not know their limit. As well, Four Loko is considered to be an alcoholic energy drink. A freshman USC
GREEK CONTINUED want it.” Despite their desire to become Greek, members of these organizations say that some students are going too far. The Collegian spoke to members of The Divine Nine about these students. “Sometimes people try too hard to impress me,” says President of Alpha Phi Alpha, Benjamin Jackson. “People go out of their way to speak to me, sometimes too far. I may go out to a party and people offer me drinks, etc; they feel like they need to put on their A-game instead of being themselves.” President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated Janae Sweeney agreed. “I noticed that a lot of girls started randomly saying “Hi” to me after I crossed. I have also noticed that some people go out of their way sometimes to speak to me. I’m always polite, so it’s nothing for me to just wave back or greet them as well.” Greeks are seen all over campus, involved in events, volunteering in the community and doing what we all love to see; party hopping. These things are exciting, but were these students always put on a pedestal? Senior, Kelly Benjamin, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. says there is a big difference in how he was treated before and after he became a member. “I’m from Maryland,” he explained “So coming here was like stepping into something totally new, with no friends. After I crossed, there were a lot of people who knew my face. Because of my Letters, people who knew my LB’s felt like it was an opportunity to make their presence known to me, and to speak to me.” Senior, Josh Ivey, member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. had a similar experience. “Before I was Greek, I was a chill guy on the football team and I had friends, but I don’t think it was as extreme. Being a football player, we are pretty much already known around campus, but after pledging, I’ve gotten a little more attention. At
Q: What are your colors and symbol? A: Shocking Pink and Majestic Purple, Flower: Pink Rose, Mascot: Purple Panther, Stone: Amethyst. Q:Does the sorority have a call and party hop? A: Yes and yes. You can check out some of the Gammas YouTube videos. members currently. Q:Why are you guys called colonies? A: A colony is the last step before becoming a chapter. We are apart of the national sorority, we just don’t have all the necessary things Nationals requires before we can function as a chapter. Q: What do you guys stand for? A: Our principles are: Academics, Community Service, Cultural Awareness, Social Interaction and Morals and Ethics. Q: How does it feel to be the first in SC? A: It’s another option for women to chose from when it comes to identifying with a lifelong sorority. Student quoted in The Daily Gamecock said,“It was the worst hangover I ever had.” When does the responsibility fall on a person? Creator Chris Hunter said in a statement that “we have seven spots on our labels that identify it’s an alcoholic product,” and “we go above and beyond industry standards.” Is Four Loko more dangerous to AfricanAmericans or Caucasians? A Survey results conducted by the National Institute of Health in 2008 show that Caucasian females and males are more likely to abuse alcohol than their AfricanAmerican counterparts. Also, there have been no reports of Four Loko related alcohol poisoning on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This would point out that any Four Loko abuse is taking place away from the demographic areas of SC State. In conclusion, when the topic of “consumption of alcohol on an institution of higher learning,” there will never be a true solution to the problem, because a high number of students in college are of legal age, and therefore, should show responsibility
parties it’s different. Before the “Bruhs,” it was just a normal party, after the “Bruhs,” you are able to get away with a lot more than you would have before.” Those who go out of their way to get attention from Greeks are often called groupies. They’re seen everywhere, sometimes wearing everything from symbolic nails to shirts that they make themselves; making posters and putting pictures on Facebook; attending every frat party and letting it be known that they are one of the frats’ mistresses. Yes, SC State has seen it all. Why is it that students crave this attention? Are they doing this so they can get closer to the sororities, to possibly get a good word in with them? Fraternity members said they have had this experience. Omega member Ivey said “Oh Yes!! I never really heard anybody say [admit] it, but they would ask, how do the Deltas do this, and that, but it’s no point, because messing around with the Bruhs only makes your reputation bad, and you don’t want to be that female at the interview that they label as NOT WANTED in their sorority.” Jackson of Alpha Phi Alpha has also had this experience. “I have run across a couple females here who have approached me, and told me that they were about to be my sisters,” he said. “I’d look at them kind of confused, then she [one in particular]
Q:Are you proud of the progress the sorority is making? A: I am very proud of the progress. I had doubts in the very beginning of whether there would be interest, but look at us now. However, I know God has been there since the very beginning and is continually moving us along. Q:Will guys have membership intake this year? How can someone join? A: We are looking to have a line next semester. One can look out for informational flyers to learn more or email at scsu_slg_info@yahoo.com. This isn’t an organization for everyone, so I encourage interested women to do their research before expressing interest. This is an organization for every woman of morals and ethics from any and all backgrounds and cultures. A Gamma woman is a woman of distinction.
Photo courtesy www.blogordiepgh.com towards drinking. If some schools establish specific restrictions on having alcohol on their campuses, so be it. But there also needs to be consequences for those underage students who abuse alcohol as well.
pointed to her pearl bracelet. When it comes to sororities, they don’t come to us and ask what we think about this and that, it’s not up to us, it’s up to her to do what she has to do.” Outside of the Greek world, how is it for students who are looking in? Sophomore, early education major Tiara Stewart, is one of those students. “When I walk around campus and see the Greeks interacting with each other, I always wonder what their conversations are like. I observe how close they all are and my friends and I always say it’s probably a secret code they talk in, so no one can know what they talk about. A lot of times, I am afraid to speak to them and try not to walk in their pathways, so I won’t feel like I’ve offended them or challenging their authority. I smile and speak and try to let them see my face, because one day, it’s their decision whether or not I make it into their organization.” Greek members say this is unnecessary, so is always being at the front when the Greeks are doing the party hop, or blatantly sucking up. “I’m no different than you,” says Pitts. “The only difference is our name.” Another Greek member says students need to focus on what they came to SC State to do. “It’s not the end of their life, they came to college to get an education not to pledge Greek organizations or any organizations,” said the anonymous Kappa Alpha Psi member. “That’s our problem here at SC State, we concentrate more on organizations than our goal for being here; to get an education!” These are some of the things you should and shouldn’t do when you are considering joining one a sorority or fraternity. “Do your research,” said Benjamin. “Do not research just one organization, because if so, you have nothing to compare it to, and please, don’t base it all on what you see around campus, your community or second hand information. Furthermore, don’t try to fit any stereotype. Just because you want to be in an organization, doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. BE YOURSELF!”
GQ/BEAUTY OF THE WEEK The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Business Fashion Edition
Mr. Breon Phillips Classification: Senior Major: Elementary Education Hometown: Hampton, SC Zodiac: Aquarius “I’m attracted to a woman’s strength, elegance, power, love, and beauty.”
Ms. Jessica Davis Classification: Junior Major: Fashion Merchandising Hometown: Charleston, SC Zodiac: Aquarius “I’m attracted to a man’s eyes, personality, and personal appearance.”
Meet this week’s GQ and Beauty of the week, I’m sure you will be satisfied with the outcome of these two personified SC State’s students. What is a GQ man? A GQ man is someone who is suave, well dressed, clean cut, and “swagged up.” Beauty can be defined in so many ways. Not only is it someone who is beautiful on the outside, but one who is beautiful on the inside, fun to be around, and very approachable. Think you have what it takes to be featured in this section? Come sign up in the Student Media office, conference room three or Email us at thecollegian@scsu.edu.
FASHION: Fall Fashion Trends
Tall Boots Fitted Jackets
Pearls
Suits
Plaid Leather Bags
Ballet Flats
Hats
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JUST FOR MEN The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Breakup Warning Signs BY THE COLLEGIAN
night is along the lines of; “I’m going to hang out with my friends.”
No one wants to be ambushed by an unexpected breakup. Sometimes it’s pretty obvious when a breakup is on the horizon, but other times, the signs your girlfriend gives that she’s through with the relationship can be subtle. If you can pick up on these hints, you might be able to do something about it before it’s too late and you find yourself dumped. Or, if you’re entertaining the idea of breaking up yourself, you can beat her to the punch once you notice these subtle breakup warning signs. Her friends don’t talk to you You may notice a change in how her friends act when you come around. In the past, they probably talked a mile a minute and you had trouble getting a word in edgewise, but now a strange hush falls over the group when you’re present. If your girlfriend has been talking to them about wanting to break up with you, they are going to distance themselves from you -- whether they realize they’re doing it or not. When you walk into the room, instead of greeting you warmly, they’ll find themselves at a loss for words; it’s a classic, among breakup warning signs.
Photo courtesy www. blogs.rsvp.com Once-mutual friends are now exclusively hers This applies if you get invited to events where her friends invited before you. If she’s thinking about breaking up with you, she’ll probably stop inviting you along when she hangs out with her friends. They may have become mutual friends during your relationship, but when she wants to call it quits with you, they will become hers and hers alone once more. It’s likely a subtle breakup warning sign if her response to you asking about her plans for tomorrow
You don’t fight anymore While fighting constantly may be a more obvious hint that the end of a relationship is near, not fighting at all might be a subtler sign that she’s ready to say goodbye. If the little things that normally drive her crazy and provoke a screaming match between the two of you are no longer happening, it could mean that she just doesn’t care anymore. It’s possible that she has lost all emotional investment in the relationship, so even if you try to get a rise out of her, she won’t take the bait. If she is uncharacteristically calm in situations that used to set her off, it might be a subtle breakup warning sign. Any one of these breakup warning signs on its own may be cause for alarm, but if you’re experiencing all of them, it’s pretty obvious that your relationship is in serious trouble. Decide whether you want to fix it or move on and then take the appropriate action. Allowing your relationship to stagnate in this state, will only allow resentment to fester and guarantee that the inevitable breakup will be ugly.
What A Woman Wants BY JASMAINE RAVENELL STAFF WRITER
Girls today have a very long list when it comes to what they want in a relationship or even friendship. So let’s narrow it down to the main three: friendship, loyalty, and the number one deal breaker honesty. Since that is the base of any of the “ships” with men and women. Many say men and woman cannot just be friends, I disagree. If there is a friendship between a man and a woman, it should consist of the basics honesty, loyalty, conversation, and a good time. Shall we break it down? Friends should be that one person who will not sugar coat or hide anything, in a time of need we all crave that shoulder that we know will not leave. Girls like security, and they like to know that security will always there without a doubt. In a friendship
Photo courtesy www.blogspot.com loyalty is a key. No matter what, you know that a friend will have your back and literally hold your hand through a tough situation. Now, the smart thing to do is apply these exact same characteristics to a relationship. A woman/girl wants something that is absolute, no doubt or uncertainty that someone is going to be there. Preferably a man. Some
women like testosterone to comfort them, I guess it’s one of those “woman” things. Too many times, women are misunderstood when it comes to what exactly they want. Indecisive and difficult is what I hear most often. But the truth is, there are somethings women would like other [men] to figure out on their own. We feel like we shouldn’t have to tell others what we want all the time. After a while you should know the do’s and don’ts when it comes to a friendship or relationship. A girl/woman wants what anyone wants…fidelity. Can you blame us?
Tip: When thinking about approaching a woman, remember to always be yourself. Honesty is key.
What a woman wants checklist 1. To feel cherished and loved 2.Security 3. Intelligence 4. Faith 5. Sense of humor 6. Style 7. Grace 8. Share the same interest that she has 9. Honesty 10. Loyalty
JUST FOR WOMEN Post Breakup Syndrome BY BRITTANY PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER
Photo courtesy www.corbisimages.com And it begins! The person you NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS you would break up with has broken up with you. You both go through so many emotions and you both are confused. Well this is normal. I call this Post-Relationship Syndrome. Now, there are several types of this
syndrome, and I’m going to explain all of them. Type A: “Why Jesus?” You feel as though the world is going to end, because you two have ended. Any little thing can trigger an emotional breakdown. You can’t bare to hear their name, see a picture, hear a song, or anything that reminds you of that person. In most cases in this stage, you will do anything to get back with the other person. This stage is a little extreme, but it’s common with people who have been in a relationship for almost a year or more. If you feel this way, and it’s been under eight months, something is definitely wrong you. Type B: “I Hate You!” You feel more angry than sad. Instead of crying at every little thing,
you get angry with everybody around you. You become very bitter. It takes a long time to get past this type of the syndrome. Type C: “What in the World happened?” The only way to explain this is you’re confused. You don’t know what happened or how it happened. You don’t know if it’s really the end or just a break. It’s normal to be afraid in this stage. It happens. Now if it is the end, depending on how it ends will lead to Type A or Type B. But if it ended on a good note… Type D: “It Just Wasn’t Meant To Be.” You’re okay with the way things ended, accepted the situation as it is, and most likely you two still have a friendship. This Type of PostRelationship Syndrome is VERY rare. If you have Type D syndrome, you are
VERY lucky. Type E: “I Gotta Get My Mind Off off This!” This is the “busy body” stage. You feel that you have to be with someone else, so you go through what some will call “serial dating,” hoping that you’ll find someone else, but most likely you won’t, because you didn’t give yourself time to heal from the breakup. So these are the basic categories people find themselves in after a breakup. Now something else that is normal after a breakup, not really a type of syndrome, is not wanting the other person to be with someone else. This is COMPLETELY normal. Now there’s no telling how long this will last, but when you’re COMPLETELY over the person is when it will go away. Well, that’s all I have to speak about on that note.
Don’t Be a Product to a Man BY BRITTANY BROWN STAFF WRITER What we as women think men want from us, sometimes causes us to have resentment and anger toward men, as well as feelings of discouragement in the relationship that was built. What men think we want from them, causes them much of the same feelings and frustration. Many of us don’t have a small waist, or thick thighs and a big butt; we can only work with what we have, and be happy with what has been given to us. We as women and human beings in general, cannot change who or what we are; at least until now. In the year 2010, we as a society have come a long way in science. Women can now have plastic surgery for almost anything, from our stomach to our breasts, from our lips to our butts, to make us happy with the body we create, instead of the body that was given. Instead of naturally taking care of ourselves, some women spend thousands of dollars on something that doesn’t even really attract a real man. To some women, a man’s opinion is everything; how he looks at you, what he says about you, how he introduces you to his family is the most important thing in a lot of women’s lives. What he says goes, what he wants goes, when he wants it goes, and for a woman whose self confidence is very low, how he wants her to look, will be the way she looks. But little do they know, men like women who are self-sufficient, secure, and confident. They want a woman to choose them out of want, rather than out of desperation. A woman who is not confident in herself, will go out of her way to make
sure a man is happy with her appearance, but the question is, is she happy with who she is, and has become for a man she may not spend the rest of her life with? Senior Ashley Scott gave The Collegian her opinion on the subject. “I believe that a woman should not change who she is to attract a certain man, if he doesn’t like the person she is, and how she carries herself day and night, then he is not worth the time. We weren’t made as toys for men to play with; we were made to love ourselves enough for men to respect who we are, and what it is we stand for. We’re not just a chick that’s on his playlist.” If this is the case, what is it that makes a woman feel as if she’s not good enough to be happy and treated like she deserves to be? Why would she continuously ridicule herself to feel and look less happy than she should be? Women today should set standards for men to let them know that they aren’t trophies; that we have brains that function and have morals and goals that if a man can’t meet, then he is wasting his time talking to us. So women, stop letting the media, and what men portray you to be control who you are. It’s okay to doll yourself up every now and then, just don’t put yourself out there as an easy target that a man can control and dictate how he wants you to be for him, because, we weren’t born for men to mold us to be great women, we become great women by our own actions.
Tip: Never be oblivious to something that is obvious.
Photo courtesy www.life123.com
5 Signs of a Controlling Man 1. No does not means no! 2. You have to do everything he likes 3. He ignores your questions, and makes you feel guilty for asking it.
Example: You-“Where are you?” Him-Why are you always’s nagging me?”
4. He thinks Always Right 5. He belittles you.
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SPORTS
The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
Merrill Leads No.17 SC State Over Delaware St. BY SC STATE SPORTS INFORMATION DOVER, DE—Redshirt sophomore Chris Merrill had a career-high 21 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns on the day to lead # 17 SC State (6-2, 4-1 MEAC) over Delaware State(1-7, 1-5 MEAC) 38-21 Saturday at Alumni Stadium. “I’d like to congratulate my team…I’m so proud of all our guys...we brought 60 players and used almost everyone, said SC State head coach Buddy Pough. “Our young group stepped up and our old guys held things together.” The Hornets jumped out to an early 7-0 lead off a 22-yard pass connect from Anthony
Glaud to Justin Wilson at the 11:18 mark in the first quarter. The Bulldogs finally got things rolling when senior Malcolm Long threw a 50yard touchdown pass to tight end Antwanne Kerr to tie the score 7-7 with 5:09 left in the first-half. A 46-yard interception for a touchdown by senior AllAmerican linebacker David Erby gave SC State their first lead of game 14-7 at the 4:18 mark in the second q. SC State kicker Blake Erickson connected on his 11thstraight field goal this season on a 39-yard kick to make the score 17-7 with 13:11 left in the third quarter. Junior Lataris Douglas made the biggest play of the day
blocking a punt and returning it 15 yards for a touchdown with 5:04 left in the third quarter. Running back Chris Merrill took over in fourth quarter scoring both of the Bulldog touchdowns on 23 and 12 yard runs to clinch the victory. Pough stated “I am happy for Chris...we always thought he was good enough to contribute and now with all the injuries, he must carry the load for us the rest of the way.” The South Carolina State offense racked up 464 total yards, while the top ranked defense in FCS Division I-AA allowed their biggest point total of the season 21 against Delaware State. Also, Plough stated “We
finally got something going on offense and I take my hat off to our players and coaches.”Malcolm played well and he did some good things and ran the team well, but we will continue to use two guys (Long & Wiley) and hope it works for us.” Quarterback Malcolm Long finished 18-33 -1 for 200 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 43 yards with his longest being 23. The defense was spearheaded by junior safety Christian Thompson and junior linebacker Donovan Richard with seven tackles each. David Erby and Courtney Ingram also finished with six each on the day. The Bulldogs will return to
R-So. RB-Chris Merrill action on Nov.6, for its final home game of the regular season against Howard University. SC State will also be celebrating “Senior Day” as well as honoring the win ingest coach in school history in Willie Jeffries Day. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.
Broncos Getting Bucked? Is Boise State Getting Cheated out of the BCS Championship? BY THOMAS O’NEAL CONTRIBUTING WRITER Saturday is the only day out the week that people do things together. Some go to the park and enjoy themselves a good old fashioned barbecue. Others sit home and relax from a tiring week of work. But, Saturday at this time of year is COLLEGE DAYS. It is sitting down in the house watching your favorite college team; watching the blood, sweat, and tears of players on the field. Football is coming close to the end and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is busy. They must find out who will be going to their eligible Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowls. Who will be the number one and two teams that are going to the Championship? To find out who goes where, the NCAA has a system in place to rank teams. This system is called the BCS rankings. It is with this system that we tell who will be number one and two. As of right now, the Oregon University Ducks have the number one team in the Nation. This happened after previous teams in the last few weeks had gained and lost that spot. The Auburn University Tigers and Texas Christian University Horned Frogs round out the top three teams in the nation. Meanwhile, the Boise State University Broncos sit at fourth place. But there is only one team that has been in the top three since the beginning of the college season. Boise State has been in the third spot since the first game and stayed there until now. Something is not right with that, isn’t it?
Photo courtesy of www.opposingviews.com Let’s go back to the beginning. The Broncos were rank third in the nation, while the Ducks and Tigers were in 11th and 22nd place respectively. Four weeks later, Boise is still in third; but guess what? Oregon is up to fourth in the rankings while Auburn went up to 10th place. The next week, all three teams won their games. The result is Oregon went to third over the Broncos and Auburn is in eighth place. Sound weird right? So when Alabama lost to South Carolina, that brought Oregon to second place, Auburn to seventh place and kept Boise at third. In the following weeks, Oklahoma lost to Missouri and the resulting BCS rankings is strange. Auburn is
the new top school in the nation, following Oregon and Boise State still at third. You‘re telling me that one team can move from 11th to first in the nation with an undefeated record? While another team that has the same record and been in the top three since forever never made it past third place? Something does not feel right with that result. Boise State is the most underrated team in the nation right now. The Broncos currently hold the longest winning streak in the NCAA Football with 19 consecutive wins. Also, Boise has a current home winning streak of 26 games. This team has displayed dominant play in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and winning consecutive streak in winning bowls. The BCS system is just now showing the Broncos some respect by placing them in the top three in the nation. But, is that enough? Does Boise State deserve to be second in the nation and given the chance to play in the BCS National Championship? I think so. They have proven themselves week in and week out, year after year. Just because the Broncos are not in the BCS conferences like Pacific 10 (Pac 10), Big Ten, Southeastern Conference (SEC) and others does not mean that they do not deserve a shot at the trophy. I bet that if they go undefeated again this season, they will not get a chance at the championship. Next season, they will be moving to Mountain West Conference (MWC) with Utah, TCU and BYU. If they do not make it to the championship this year, with teams in the conference like TCU and Utah being ranked, they should be able to get that title shot.
NBA Premier Week BY NKOSI KENNEDY SPORTS EDITOR It’s been about a week since the NBA regular season has started. That means the pressure is on and every game goes toward the postseason. We’ve seen all the top teams play at home and away. Now, it’s time to make some statements about our favorite teams. As well as asking some questions in return. The Miami Heat can defend. This has been a very interesting week for The Heat to say the least. Three of their first four games have been on the road. Two of the Heat’s games were against top eastern conference opponents; The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic. In all the last game against the New Jersey Nets, Miami
has struggled offensively. But defensively, the Heat has been nothing but on fire. Miami has the league lead in opponent’s points per game by more than five points. No opponent has scored more than 88 points against the Heat. It may take a while for this team to click offensively; defensively they are a playoff caliber team. Thunder Showing Grit. During the Oklahoma City Thunder’s win against the Chicago Bulls, something amazing happened. The Bull entered the fourth quarter with momentum and confidence. They had gone blow for blow with the Thunder for three quarters, not backing down an inch. In this situation, Oklahoma the young team could have folded. Instead, they turned on the defensive pressure; suffocating a
Chicago offense that included former Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose. Going into this season, the Thunder was known as a young talented team without a veteran mind set. But if this team continues to show they can buckle down with the elite teams, watch out.
league is that Kobe Bryant could be 100% healthy for the first time in two years. Through all of last year, Bryant was suffering numerous ailments including a injury on his shooting hand. If the league was scared of a 70% Bryant in the fourth quarter, what will they do with 100%?
Kobe being Kobe. The Los Angeles Lakers are NBA champs for the second consecutive year. They have one of the best players in the game named Kobe Bryant. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson is also considered one of the best coaches in the game. This team is deeply rooted with talent and they know it. There are not many things to say to a team that knows night in and night out that they can beat an opponent. But the most worrying thing for the
Hope in New York. As of Sunday night, the Knicks are 1 and 2 on the season. Being 1 and 2 is not new for the Knicks, but the hopeful feelings in Madison Square Garden are. The Knicks two losses have been close affairs against very tough competition. Last year, these opponents would have eaten New York alive. Now, they’re being forced the play tough, strong basketball in order to get the win. While nobody is saying that
Photo courtesy of nba.fanhouse. com the Knicks are the new team to beat, the progress they have shown is remarkable. This was a team that worried all about offense and nothing on defense. Now, they’re enforcing opponents to get stops against them. Being one and two never felt so good in New York.
Friday Night is Soccer Night BY NKOSI KENNEDY SPORTS EDITOR On a cool day Friday night at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, a different kind of football was played. One where the field is bigger and no hands are allowed. The goalie is a star and a red flag means more than a challenge. On Friday, the SC State Football (soccer) Club played the University of South Carolina (USC) Football club. The crowd was sparse but energetic, cheering both sides with equal fervor. Occasionally there would be music played, breaking the general silence of
the match. Both teams were dressed in regulation uniforms, showing the organization of this event. The match also had an official referee, marking how serious it was taken. The yellow zebra called the game clean and kept the tempo smooth. When I went to this game, I have to admit I was skeptical at best. I knew that SC State had no male soccer team, so I wondered how good this club could be. Instead of hap hazard motion and undisciplined kicks, I saw only talent held back by inexperience. On the field, people were playing with a passion that is right out of a colle-
giate match. But, the stars of this event weren’t the people on or off the field; it was the event itself. There was no record or school pride on the line, only personal. Nobody had scouts in the stands to impress. This match wasn’t played for the fame or girls. Every one of the players on the field channeled a spirit that you only see when you’re little. The only thing that mattered on that field Friday was the grass and the ball. At the end of the game, everyone left with a smile on their face, just like it should be. Both sides shook hands, exchanging pleasantries along the
way. The SC State men left the fields defeated, but with their heads held high. The score did not matter much, but the experience was worth it. In nothing but a pullover sweater and jeans, I realized I saw something special. For the first time in a long time, I witnessed the pure unfiltered joy of men playing a sport they loved since childhood. While I can’t tell you with 100 percent certainty when the next game will be, I can tell you this. If the crowd and intensity stays the same throughout the year, this team will have one very loyal follower.
Sports Pictures of the Week San Francisco Giants’ Aubrey Huff hits a two-run home run in the third inning of Game 4 of baseball’s World Series against the Texas Rangers Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010, in Arlington, Texas.
Team personnel help Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, center, off the field after he was hit by New England Patriots’ Myron Pryor while throwing during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. Texas.
Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, center, celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass as Oregon offensive linesman Mark Asper, left, and Southern California linebacker Shane Horton look on during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, in Los Angeles. Texas.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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The Collegian • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010
In election’s shadow, rally draws laughs, activism ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the shadow of the Capitol and the election, comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert entertained a huge throng Saturday at a “sanity” rally poking fun at the nation’s ill-tempered politics, fear-mongers and doomsayers. “We live now in hard times,” Stewart said after all the shtick. “Not end times.” Part comedy show, part pep talk, the rally drew together tens of thousands stretched across an expanse of the National Mall, a festive congregation of the goofy and the politically disenchanted. People carried signs merrily protesting the existence of protest signs. Some dressed like bananas, wizards, Martians and Uncle Sam. Stewart, a satirist who makes his living skewering the famous, came to play nice. He decried the “extensive effort it takes to hate” and declared “we can have animus and not be enemies.” Screens showed a variety of pundits and politicians from the left and right, engaged in divisive rhetoric. Prominently shown: Glenn Beck, whose conservative Restoring Honor rally in Washington in August was part of the motivation for the Stewart and Colbert event, called the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. It appeared to rival Beck’s rally in attendance. Colbert, who poses as an ultraconservative on his show, played the personification of fear at the rally. He arrived on stage in a capsule like a rescued Chilean miner, from a supposed underground bunker. He pretended to distrust all Muslims until one of his heroes, basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is Muslim, came on the stage. “Maybe I need to be more discerning,” Colbert mused. He told Stewart: “Your reasonableness is poisoning my fear.” As part of the comedic routine, Stewart and his associates asked some in the audience to identify themselves by category, eliciting answers such as “half-Mexican, half-white,” “American woman single” and “Asian-American from Taiwan.” “It’s a perfect demographic sampling of the American people,” Stewart cracked to a crowd filled with mostly younger whites. “As you know, if you have
Comedians Stephen Colbert, right, and Jon Stewart perform in front of the U.S. Capitol during their Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. too many white people at a rally, your cause is racist. If you have too many people of color, then you must be asking for something - special rights, like eating at restaurants or piggy back rides.” With critical congressional elections looming Tuesday, Stewart and Colbert refrained from taking political sides on stage, even as many in the crowd wore T-shirts that read “Stewart-Colbert 2012” and left-leaning advocacy groups set up shop on the periphery, hoping to draw people to their causes of gay rights, marijuana legalization, abortion rights and more. Organizing for America, Obama’s political operation based at Democratic National Committee headquarters, was mounting a “Phone Bank for Sanity” to urge people to vote Tuesday. Stewart sang along as Jeff Tweedy sang that America “is the greatest, strongest country in the world. There is no one more American than we.” Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow also performed, singing if “I can’t change the world to make it better, the least I can do is care.” Ozzy Osbourne and Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, engaged in something of a battle of the bands as the heavy-metal rocker barged in on the folkie’s hit, “Peace Train,” in a mock clash of music and cultures. Tony Bennett
closed the show by singing “America the Beautiful.” The idea was to provide a counterweight to all the shouting and flying insults of these polarized times. But there were political undertones, too, pushing back against conservatives ahead of Tuesday’s election. Slogans urged people to “relax.” But also: “Righties, don’t stomp on my head,” a reference to a Republican rally in Kentucky at which a liberal activist was pulled to the ground and stepped on. And, “I wouldn’t care if the president was Muslim.” Shannon Escobar, 31, of Bangor, Pa., came with a group of 400 people on buses chartered in New York. A supporter of President Barack Obama in 2008, she said she’s tired of nasty rhetoric from both sides and disenchanted with lack of progress in Washington. “I want to see real change - not Obama change,” she said. “We need a clean slate and start over with people really working together.” A regular viewer of Stewart’s “The Daily Show,” she said she had a dream that he ran for political office, but got “corrupt and dirty.” “I need him to stay pure,” she said, deadpan. Stewart is popular with Democrats and independents, a Pew Research Center poll found. The stage featured entertainers associated with Democratic causes or Obama’s 2008 campaign, but no political sermons from them. Stewart said the day was about toning down anger, partisan division and shouting. “If we amplify everything,” he said, “we hear nothing.” Many of the attendees, sporting stickers that read “Vote Sanity,” said they enjoyed the rally’s positive message, even if the program ultimately stuck mostly to entertainment. In the days leading to the event, organizers had refused to release a full schedule of speakers, leaving fans uncertain about what to expect. “I thought it was awesome, with good music. We came for a rally to restore sanity, and that’s what we got,” said Joe Stroup, 31, of Portland, Ore. “But is it going to bring lasting change? I doubt it.” Comedy Central’s park permit anticipated a crowd estimated in advance at 60,000.
New Kanye West “Runaway” Video Review THE COLLEGIAN Lately, it seems that there is no escaping Kanye West; he is everywhere. Once in a while, some of the attention he gets is actually related to his music; this is one of those rare cases. Recently, West emerged from hiding and caused a buzz when he claimed that his new album cover featuring a painting of him getting drunk and lucky with an armless winged lady Phoenix creature, had been banned in the US (which seems to have been a big fat lie). Then, West appeared in TV interviews promoting his new teeth made of diamonds and gold (West insists these are his teeth, not just removable grillz). Why did he get diamond teeth? Because, as West put it to Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show, “that’s what rock stars do.” Obviously! Over the weekend, Kanye crashed in for a surprise concert at NY hipster hangout Brooklyn Bowl where he was apparently clad in jewels and a bathrobe. Now comes the debut of West’s 35-minute music video/movie for “Runaway,” an epic in the tradition of Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The track is the lead single from his upcoming
probably-not-actually-banned CD, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. “Runaway” stars West alongside Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks, (previously seen in The-Dream’s “Make Up Bag” music video), as an odd couple who meet when West runs over the model–a winged phoenix creature similar to the one featured in West’s “controversial” album cover. After rescuing the creature from the car crash and explosion, West tries to embrace her and introduce her to his world, where others do not welcome her. “You know what I hate about your world?” Asks the mysterious creature, “Anything that is different, you try to change; you try to tear it down.” Directed by West, “Runaway” is none-too-subtle in its aim of criticizing people for being reluctant to embrace new things and for being closedminded—and we’re sure all Kanye haters are considered closed-minded. There is surely a “poor me, nobody understands the complexities of Kanye” message being presented in the clip, but—to West’s credit—the music is almost interesting enough to outshine West’s attempts to sabotage it. “Runaway” is not the only West song presented in the mini-movie, but it is the one that gets the best, most focused performance sequence and, with it’s
Celebrity Look-Alike
A’Deana Simone
Kandi
Photo courtesy www.hollywoodnews.com Gnarls Barkley-esque vibe, it is the album’s stand out track. The references to Michael Jackson included in the clip make it obvious that West is drawing a comparison between Jackson and himself and taking a shot at the world’s/media’s tendency to attack unique people as being wacko—which may or may not be accurate, based on talent levels and the fact that West’s “wacko-ness” seems to be even more carefully orchestrated than Jackson’s was. West’s epic music video debuted Saturday, October 23 on MTV, BET and MTV2 simultaneously and has garnered surprisingly positive reviews so far.
C’mon Son So it seems as though, more and more movies are being made into so called 3D films. Well, how many of these movies have you noticed, actually being in “3D?” This past weekend, I was so excited to see the hit movie Saw “3D” but after watching the movie, I asked myself, “What in the world was in 3D?” I then began to ponder on every movie I saw that was supposed to be in 3D... From Alice in Wonderland, to Avatar: The Last Airbender, even to Jacka**. Aside from a few neater effects, nothing popped at me from the screen, nothing made me tilt my head back, because things were getting to close to me.. Nothing! I remember watching Avatar: The Last Airbender and me being curious, I took off my shades. The only thing that was in a blur were the words. So I’ve come to the conclusion that these movies are nothing more than a scam! We pay three extra dollars for a pair of 3D shades, for a movie that isn’t even 3D! Try it for yourself! And trust me, the next time you see a commercial for a so called 3D movie, you’ll be saying C’MON SON!
Pictures of the week