The Daily Gamecock 8/24/17

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VOL. 109, NO. 39 ● SINCE 1908

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017

Convocation initiates Class of 2021

CLASS OF

2021

MOVE-IN MADNESS

56% FEMALE

Adam Orfinger/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Hectic move-in day brings bittersweet excitement 28

Larissa Johnson @LALARISSAJ

SETS OF TWINS

The sun is barely above the horizon on move-in day as Terri Cox waits out side of t he Honors Residence Hall, watching over a pile of r ugs, br ight ly colored bag s and tall teal drawers. Her daughter, Tessa, is just about to start freshman year at USC as a Palmetto Fellow. But t h is isn’t Terri’s f i rst move-i n at t he

Un iver sit y of Sout h Carolina — Tessa is her t h i rd c h i ld, a nd she’s following her two older brothers to USC. “ I f e e l l i k e t h e y ’r e building a family legacy,” Terri said. I t ’s a n e m o t i o n a l experience to have her last child leaving home, but she feels more secure having them all in the same place. “I was probably going to come here any way,”

Tessa said. “I love t he entire city.” A ll across campus, students are rushing to beat the heat and settle into where t hey’ll call home for the next year. Some have only been to campus for orientation, while others, like Tessa, h ave v i s it e d USC f or years. Starting college comes w it h a w ide r a n g e of emotions: excitement for SEEMOVEPAGE5

70 VALEDICTORIANS

700 STUDENTS FROM 2016 Adam Orfinger / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Emily Barber / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

*Statistics are estimations

Lordo leads charge for student vote on Board of Trustees Mary Ramsey @MCOLLEEN1996

Student Body President Ross Lordo isn’t shying away from a fight no one’s been willing to take on since t he mid-1990s. It wou ld requ i re a n ac t of t he General Assembly to make the Board of Trustees’ student representative a

voting member, and a bill hasn’t been introduced to make that change since 1995. That bill never made it out of committee. The legislature is also already one year in to its two year term, cutting in half the amount of time to get the job done. But L ordo ha s a l ready worked to get a bill introduced in the state Senate, and he says to expect a bill to be introduced in the House as soon as its back in session. “Our goal right now is that we can push for it enough to get it out of committee to one of the chambers or get a hearing on it,” he said. As student body president, Lordo i s a l s o c u r r e nt l y t h e s t u d e nt s ’ r e p r e s e nt at i v e o n t he B o a rd of Trustees. He attends all Board of Tr ustees meet ings and can sit in on most closed executive sessions.

However, he ca n be bar red f rom certain closed executive sessions, and he cannot vote with the rest of the board. I n L o r d o ’s m i n d , t h a t ’s b a d for st udent s a nd t r u s tee s a l i ke. He believes that adding a st udent vote would foster more t r ust and accountability. “It equips students and a student body of over 50,000 in t he ent ire system with the abilit y to have an opinion that is recorded for others to see,” he said. Lordo addressed the issue in front of t he 23 vot ing t r ustees at t heir August meeting, and he’s hopeful that if nothing else a substantive legislative battle will push university officials to give an official opinion on the issue. SEEVOTEPAGE4

Adam Orfinger / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

ECLIPSE TAKES OVER COLUMBIA NEWS PG 4

Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

SPORTS PG 12

Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Mary Ramsey @MCOLLEEN1996

The Class of 2021 spent their fi rst morning on-campus getting a crash course on college full of pomp and circumstance. Incoming first-year students, transfer students and their families and friends gathered for their first formal assembly, the likes of which most won’t experience again until their graduation. Dean of Students Dennis Pruitt told the Class of 2021 “today ... you start your personal odyssey to become a full-fledged Carolinian.” Administrators like Pruitt and Provost Joan Gabel touched on the long history of the University and encouraged new students to utilize all the opportunities presented to them in college. “We are all gathered here ... on your behalf to express our collective high expectations for your college years,” Pruitt said. “This is where the workforce of tomorrow is skillfully trained and prepared for that first job, for graduate school, for that 50-year career, or to be contributors to their community,” Gabel added. Cliff Leaman, the 2017 Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year, offered “practical advice” on how to handle the new fou nd independence t hat comes with starting college. “Eat well and get your sleep ... take good care of both your bodies and your brains ...,” he said. L e a m a n i s a p r of e s s or of saxophone within the School of Music. He also emphasized the importance of not being afraid to get assistance.

“Much like at Hogwarts, help will always be given at USC to those who ask for it,” he said, referencing the Harry Potter series. Universit y President Harris Pastides did not attend this year’s Convocation due to a scheduling conflict, but he did address the c r owd v i a a v id e o m e s s a g e on Colonial Life A rena’s new videoboard. “I look for ward to meeting each and every one of you all over campus,” he said. In addition to hearing from campus leaders, Convocat ion i nt ro duc e s ne w s t udent s t o many of the University’s formal traditions. Attendees were led in a rendition of the alma mater, and student body president Ross Lordo presented the Carolinian Creed. “The Carolinian Creed is our guiding light here ... it serves to remind us of our responsibilities and call us to action,” he said. “Each tenet becomes a sacred promise bet ween you and the University.” First-year management science student Kennedy Corley accepted a ceremonial copy of the Creed from Lordo on behalf of the Class of 2021. The University Mace and gonfalons, banners representing each of USC’s colleges and schools, were also on display. For those spending their very first days on a college campus, like first-year sport management st udent M ason Mc G owa n, the grandeur and tradition of Wednesday’s ceremony was both welcoming and exciting. “I thought there was a nice sense of welcoming, especially with the alma mater at the end,” he said. “There’s a sense of anticipation, and now that I’m here I’m ready to just get into it.”


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Thursday, August 24, 2017

About The Daily Gamecock Editor-in-Chief ADAM ORFINGER Managing Editors EMILY BARBER DEBBIE CLARK Design Director LOGAN ZAHNER Copy Desk Chief ERIN METCALF Social Media Editor GILLIAN MUNOZ Photo Editors VICTORIA RICHMAN Assistant Photo Editors YANGXING DING SARA YANG News Editor MARY RAMSEY Assistant News Editors MIKE WOODEL T. MICHAEL BODDIE Arts & Culture Editors MATTIE HIBBS Assistant Arts & Culture Editors SHAYLA NIDEVER SAM BREAZEALE Opinion Editors LINDEN ATELSEK DAN NELSON Sports Editor CARSON MASON

Senior Designers MARIELA RODRIGUEZ Assistant Copy Desk Chiefs JOY BRANTON ATHENA MAROUSIS Senior Copy Editor MADELINE COMPTON Copy Editors CAITY BURNHAM TH0M BARNES Faculty Advisor DOUG FISHER Student Media Director SARAH SCARBOROUGH Social Media Manager SYDNEY PATTERSON

Creative Director EDGAR SANTANA Creative Services WANDA FELSENHARDT ELIZABETH JENNINGS EMILY LOR ASHLYN MURPHY Student Advertising Manager DREW THIEL Advertising Representatives CAITLIN DINGLER ERIN LEE FOSTER SNIPES CAMERON WHITE

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

“They’re trying to take away our culture. They’re trying to take away our history,” — President Donald Trump on the removal of Confederate monuments while speaking at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona

The Daily Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published in print two times per week in the fall and spring semesters and weekly 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 Offi ce 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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Charleston couple marries during eclipse totality One Charleston couple won’t have a problem remembering the date of this year’s solar eclipse. Terran Travis and Lexi Greenleaf were married during the period of totality, and a photograph of the couple beneath the covered sun garnered national attention. The couple’s photographer, Nicholas Gore, called the occasion “absolutely insane” in a Facebook post sharing the viral picture. — Compiled by Mary Ramsey, News Editor

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Solar eclipse totality excites, darkens USC campus Mary Ramsey @MCOLLEEN1996

Victoria Richman / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Students gathered at events across campus to watch the eclipse.

VOTEPAGE1 “ I t h i n k t h at c h a l lenge s ou r administrators, our leadership, on what the student voice and student opinion means at the very highest level,” he said. In addition to voting members and the student representative, the chair of t he Facult y Senate also sits on the board as the other nonvoting member. That position is currently held by Marco Valtorta, a professor in the department of computer science and engineering. Va ltor t a emphasized t hat t he Faculty Senate has not discussed the voting issues, though he said they “will discuss this issue in the fall.” But personally, Valtorta cited a study entitled “Statement on Government of C ol le g e s a nd Un i v e r s it ie s” wh ic h a rg ue s “ way s shou ld b e found to permit significant student

The class of 2021 weren’t the only new kids on campus Monday as thousands trekked to Columbia to witness the 2017 total solar eclipse. USC a nd t he su r rou nd i ng area experienced just over two and a half minutes of darkness in the middle of the afternoon. Fou r t h-year adver t ising student Grace Geary was one of the many who came out to witness the event. She joined friends outside Colonial Life Arena, one of USC’s various viewing sites. “Once in a lifetime just kind of says it all,” she said. Ot hers gat hered on t he Horseshoe or even caught a glimpse of NASA scientists doing research on Greene St reet . More t ha n 120 eclipse-themed events were org a n i z ed i n a nd a rou nd Columbia, according to Total Eclipse Weekend. The cit y was marketed as the “eclipse capital of the East Coast,”

participation within the limits of attainable effectiveness.” Valtorta referenced the same study at the August meeting after Lordo spoke. Lordo ack nowledged t hat t he transient nature of the student body president affects the Board position but says he also hopes to combat that problem by changing the timeline of SG elections. Va lt or t a m ade c le a r he s t i l l appreciates the sentiment behind Lordo’s desire to increase student participation. “For what concerns the student representat ive, I appreciate t he efforts of President Ross [Lordo] and everyone in student government to be more involved in governance of the university...Working together, we can accomplish a great deal,” he said. He also ack nowledged he personally would support “consider

boasting the region’s longest period of totality. “I’m from Baltimore and I know people that are coming down from Baltimore to see it,” Geary said. “It just does a lot for the city.” While many were entranced by the disappearing sun, others like second-year hospitality management student Madison Lloyd weren’t as impressed. “It’s just something to do,” she said. Some v iewer s ad m it ted t o a b it of ne r v e s ab o ut such a ra re phenomenon, referencing warnings about the appearance of mythical beings like the “lizard man” during the period of totality. “My phone ha sn’t been work i ng for t he past ha lf hour,” Geary said somewhat jok ingly. “You never k now what could happen during totality.” The Carolina Band greeted the sun’s corona with a special rendition of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Humans weren’t the only

opening all executive sessions to t h e f a c u lt y a n d s t u d e nt b o d y representative.” I n addit ion to increased accountability, Lordo also argues that a voting st udent member is already common within the SEC. LSU and the universities of Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee all have voting student members. “You look at your counterparts at other institutions have various st r uc t u re s , m a ny of wh ich a re voting members,” he said. W hile he is aware of the many challenges in the way of passing a bill, Lordo still has faith in his crusade. The fourth-year public healt h st udent campaig ned on get t i ng st udent s a vot i ng represent at ive on t he Boa rd of Trustees, and he describes himself as “optimistic” when it comes to making substantive progress.

ones t h row n of f by t he daytime darkness. Animals at Riverbanks Zoo reportedly displayed atypical behaviors, according to The State. Even t hough t he eclipse has passed, its effects will linger on campus and around Columbia. Un iversit y move-i n day was purposefully scheduled after the eclipse, making it just two days before the fi rst day of classes. Meanwhile, the economic impact of so many visitors could reach as much as $50 million. Beyond the sheer volume of the numbers, some like Geary found a greater meaning in so many people coming together to witness the same event. “With all the stuff that’s happening in the world ... [I think] it’s just important that we can all come together for this thing that’s kind of crazy.” This was the first eclipse to cross the United States since 1979, and another won’t occur until 2024.

TDG @thegamecock

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

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Adam Orfinger / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Emily Barber / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Larissa Johnson / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

The majority of new and returning students living in on-campus residence halls moved in later than usual due to the solar eclipse that crossed the U.S. MOVEPAGE1 classes to start, fear of the unknown, a nt i c i p a t i o n o f t h e u p c o m i n g football season — not to mention dealing with parents reluctant to say goodbye. “The enormity of it is the most daunting,” Bethany Miller said. Her son, Wesley, had a graduating class of 56 at his small private school in Summerville. Mov i ng i n was a “big c u lt u re shock” for Wesley. “I wish I was here a few days earlier,” he said. The incom ing class of 2021 is about 5,800 strong, a historic high for the university. With about 40 percent of the class coming from out s ide S out h C a r ol i n a , m a ny combined t he move-in t rip wit h an opportunity to watch the solar

eclipse. Sofia Bernardo’s family traveled from Cleveland, Ohio, where the e c l ip s e o n l y r e ac he d ab out 8 0 percent coverage. The early arrival also meant an early move-in time to Bernardo’s room in Capstone. “I’m excited to see her room,” Sofia’s mom said as her daughter waited in line to check in. A t t he c hec k i n de sk a nd a l l around the area are staff with name tags, eager to assist. Move-in day is a huge event for university staff and volunteers, from crossing guards and resident mentors to upperclassmen helping to carry furniture. Br ia n n a Eb erl, a fou r t h-yea r exercise science student, said she’d helped about 50 new residents in just the fi rst 30 minutes of her fivehour shift near Maxcy College. She volunteered to help with freshman

move-in so she could move in early to her room on the Horseshoe, she said. According to Peggy Binette, a full of half of USC students were moved in by 9 a.m. But at that point, the day was barely getting started for staff, many of whom spend the whole day outside from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. answering questions, pushing carts and trying to stay cool. In addition to the student volunteers, about 300 university staff are involved. “I’m so happy it’s not scorching,” s a i d P a t r i c i a D a v i s , U S C ’s c o ord i n at or of s p e c i a l s t ude nt populat ions and bedrooms. The high Tuesday was just 91 degrees with spotty cloud cover, compared to a 96-degree move-in day last fall. Getting an even earlier start than Davis was the University of South Carolina Police Department, which

started to set up traff ic patterns around 5 a.m. Major T.J. Geary said that the eclipse on Monday worked as a practice for the huge move-in crowds, although there were less problems with the overlap than he’d expected. O ver 4 0 of f icers were arou nd campus during move-in, directing traffic and patrolling on bikes to help parents feel secure leaving their children. Most students and their families experience some mixed emotions, especially parents who are excited for their children but sad to see them go. It’s “awful and great at the same time,” Bethany Miller said of her son, Wesley. “I want him to not want to come home.”

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Historic pool hall Varsity Billiards reopens Jenna Schiferl @JENNASCHIF

M a ny a re fa m i l ia r w it h t he ic on ic Va r s it y Bi l l i a rd s s ig n beneath Firehouse Subs on Main Street. Across the street from the Honors Residence Hall and Jones Physical Sciences Building, the building is hard to miss for those living on campus. To s o m e , t h e p o o l h a l l i s considered a sort of unof f icial historic landmark of the university. It was opened by Tony Patrone, a USC alumnus and former football player, i n 196 4. Accord i ng to Columbia Closings, it was most recently closed in 2010, but has since re-opened this August. T he of f ic ia l g ra nd open i ng of Varsit y Billiards is Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. According to ow ner Mohammad Saadaddin, Mayor Steve Benjam in w ill be in attendance, as well as the original opener, Tony Patrone. S a a d a d d i n e m p h a s i z e d t he historic nature of the business. “I thought of it as a landmark, I thought somebody needed to come back and do it,” Saadaddin said on his decision to reopen Varsity Billiards. “I’m not a pool player, I’ve maybe played three times all my life. But I like the location, I like the campus, and I’ve felt always that something like that needs to stay in function.” One might t ypically think of a pool hall as a grimy and hazy SEEVARSITYPAGE8

Courtesy of RCA Records

Grizzly Bear returns to music scene with “Painted Ruins” “Painted Ruins” Release Date: Aug. 18 Artist: Grizzly Bear Label: RCA Records Duration: 48 minutes

B

Mattie Hibbs @TDG_ARTS

Jenna Schiferl / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Summer’s end brings Soda City Comic Con William Outlaw @JW_OUTLAW

It’s hard to believe that the school year is already back in gear, but what better way to celebrate the first week of classes than with Columbia’s own Soda Cit y Comic Con? This year’s convent ion will again be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convent ion Center on Sat u rday, Aug. 26 a nd Sunday, Aug. 27. W h ile st ill not as p opu la r a s show s l i ke HeroesCon in Charlotte or Dragon Con in Atlanta, Soda City Comic Con has fi rmly cemented it sel f a s a celebr at ion of pop cult ure fandom in Columbia after only a couple of years. The 2015 debut of the con was marred by the infamous

Anna Walker / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

f lood that forced many Columbia residents and college students to leave t he c it y. T h a n k f u l l y,

Soda Cit y Com ic Con doubled in size the next year, and now thousands are look ing for ward

to attending this year’s event. SEECOMICCONPAGE8

Column: Students should focus on meaningful interactions Taylor Harrison @TAYLORM_HARRISO

We l c o m e t o t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h Carolina! Your freshman heart can barely contain it self as you stare out you r residence hall w i n d o w. H o w l u c k y you feel seeing your newly u npacked room a nd f resh ly pr i nted Carolina garb that has y e t t o s ho w s i g n s of fait hf ul wear. You are picturing the potential opportunities currently vei led before you as you hear your peers in constant conversation in the hallway discussing fears and expectat ions that match your own.

Sara Yang / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Just kidding! Everyone is probably on t heir phones — and so are you. The previous

i l lust rat ion, t hough possessi ng h i nt s of a c c u r a c y, i s h i g h l y roma nt icized. Like

toddlers eager to impress their guardians, students SEEMEDIAPAGE8

Three days after the release of the new Grizzly Bear album, the sun and the moon crossed paths in the sky, and t he band t weeted: “The eclipse was brought to you by our new album. Hope you enjoy.” If music could be responsible for celestial phenomenons, I’d believe that Grizzly Bear’s fifth album, “Painted Ru ins,” did in fact bring us a solar eclipse. It sounds ethereal, like it came straight from outer space. It simmers with dark tones and airy vocals, conjuring up the k ind of feelings that fall over you at night when you’re much too tired and conversations are diving much too deep. Since its start in t he early 2000s, Grizzly Bear has made waves in the music industr y in fits and starts — touring wit h Radiohead in 2008, producing the largely successful album “Veckatimest” in 2009, then going silent for a few years. Pa i nted Ru i n s i s t he i nd ie ro c k band’s fi rst album since its 2012 release, “Shields,” which Pitchfork described as their “most compositionally adventurous record.” Grizzly’s Bear’s new music is more contained than “Shields,” but still complex. It is haunting and trippy, a little reminiscent of Pink Floyd. There are long lulls in which the synth covers you. O t her t i me s a black , pu lsi ng undercurrent drags you through the song in a dreamlike state. Each song plays off of the context built by the tracks around it, with riddle lyrics t hat imply t hemes of abandonment, loss a nd chaos. “Mou r n ing Sou nd” communicates these ideas in lines such as: “let love age/and watch it burn out and die” and the repetitive chorus lyrics: “we woke with the mourning sound/it’s the sound of distant shots and passing trucks.” The fi nal track “Sky Took Hold” pulls all of these feelings together, turning the ideas of war and uncertainty inward; the confl ict is now internal rather than external. It is an ominous closing to the album, vibrating with haunting vocal layers t hat ref lect quest ions of selfdiscovery that the song poses: “Who am I beneath the surface?” The layers sound like ghosts of the same person, perhaps a recognition that we all have multifaceted personalities that sometimes contradict one another. “Painted Ruins” will gently tug you into space and send you floating among the stars. And if you believe in the magic of music, you just might have Grizzly Bear to thank for those brief moments on Monday when the sun went black and the earth went dark.


Thursday, August 24, 2017

Calendar of events: Aug. 24 - Aug. 30 Mattie Hibbs @TDG_ARTS

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 Event: Coffee and Biscuits on Greene St Time: 8-11 a.m. Location: Greene Street Event: Carolina Productions Presents Back to Class Bash Kickoff Concert Time: Doors open at 5:30p.m. / Show runs 6 -7 p.m. Location: Russell House Theatre, Russell House Patio, Russell House Patio Stage E v e n t : M o o n Ta x i w i t h B i g Something Time: Doors open at 8 p.m. / Show starts at 9 p.m. Location: Music Farm Columbia

Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017 Event: Soda City Comic Con Time: 10 a.m - 4 p.m. Location: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Ev e n t : G a l l e r y To u r : T h a t 70’s Show: Cool A rt from t he Collection Time: 2 p.m. Location: Columbia Museum of Art Event: International Welcome Week Picnic Time: 1 - 4: 30 p.m. L o c at io n : D a v i s F ie ld I I — L ong st reet , T homa s Cooper Library sides

Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 Event: Opportunity Knocks Job Fair Time: 1-4 p.m. Locat ion: Russell House University Union, ballroom and nearby rooms Event : C a rol i n a P ro duc t ion s P re s e nt s B ac k t o C l a s s B a s h Midnight Movie: Logan Time: 12-2:30 a.m. Location: Russell House Theatre

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 Event: Colu mbia Firef l ies vs. Asheville Time: 7:05 p.m. Location: Spirit Communications Park Event: Jonah Canepa EP Release Show with Caving, Safe Bet and Coma Therapy Time: 7 p.m. Location: Wired Goat Vista Event: St udent Media Interest Meeting Time: 7 - 8 p.m. Location: Russell House 304

Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 Event: Soda City Comic Con Time: 10 a.m - 4 p.m. Location: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Event: Soda City Market Time: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Location: Main Street Event: 2017 Wells Fargo Mai n Street Latin Festival Time: 11 a.m - 10 p.m Location: Main Street

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017 Event: Student Organization Fair Time: 4-7 p.m. Location: Greene Street Event : C olu mbia Fi ref l ie s v s. Asheville Time: 7:05 p.m. Location: Spirit Communications Park

Moon Taxi August 24

Barns Courtney September 1

Abbey Road Live! - Beatles Tribute September 9

Judah & the Lion September 14

Yelawolf September 22

Eric Gales September 23

Your STUDENT LIFE journey starts here!

WAYS

to get involved on campus right now!

1

Learn the process for requesting student tickets to athletic events.

2

Sign up for the Multicultural Assistance Peer Program (MAPP).

3

Visit the Leadership and Service Center to get plugged into community service.

4

Join one of our 40+ fraternities and sororities!

5

Meet with a leadership coach in the Leadership and Service Center.

6

Be a part of the conversation through Student Media.

7

Spend time at the Russell House!

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Join one of Carolina’s more than 400 student organizations.

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Make a difference on campus with Student Government.

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Stay in shape, play a sport and have fun with Campus Recreation.

www.sa.sc.edu/stlife

@UofSCStuLife

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Jenna Schiferl / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

After closing in 2010, Varsity Billiards has reopened under new ownder Mohammad Saadaddin, who hopes that the pool hall will become a haunt for students. VARSITYPAGE6 room fi lled with the smell of cheap booze and cigarettes. But Saadaddin decided to t ake a new approach and create a space for what he calls “clean fun” — a space for students and families to relax and socialize. “ We ca me i n w it h a d if ferent at t it ude … it is catered for t he students,” Saadaddin said. The hall has 13 pool tables, as well as various electric arcade games and even a modern jukebox.

Varsity Billiards serves traditional American food including hotdogs, hamburgers, wings, cheesesteaks and ice cream, as well as healthier options such as grilled chicken and salads. He said he hopes one day the business will offer free ice cream to USC freshmen. Saadaddin also highlighted his desire to give back to the Columbia commu nit y. He said he plans to organize and host pool tournaments and to donate the proceeds to a local charity.

He ment ioned t hat he enjoy s hearing nostalgic stories from adults who previously frequented Varsity Billiards when they were students at the university. “It ’s a maz i ng, t he stor ies I’m getting ... When I saw these people it made me feel good about what I have done,” Saadaddin said. He noted that the business will event ually dedicate t he interior lateral walls of the building to USC related sports memorabilia. He also mentioned the possibility of inviting

Anna Walker / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Anna Walker / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

women’s basketball coach Daw n Staley to the opening reception. “It’s so hard to get in touch with her, [she’s a] busy lady,” he said with a chuckle. Saadaddin also said he is in the process of ma k i ng t he busi ness accept CarolinaCards as payment. He hopes that Varsity Billiards will cont inue it s legac y as a popular place for students to congregate on campus.

COMICCONPAGE6

MEDIAPAGE6

W hile comics are a significant focus of the show, the “exhibit hall will feature a plethora of vendors and artists with pop culture favorites to satisf y the diverse interests of all attendees,” according to founder Donald Brock, Jr. A s Brock told The Daily Gamecock last year, “There will be something at the show for every single person.” Vendors from all around t he S out he a s t , i nc lud i n g Columbia comic shops like Cosmic Rays and Apocalypse Com ics, w ill be on t he showroom f loor selling all sor t s of nerdy goods, but Soda Cit y Comic Con will also host a number of special guests that are sure to appeal to numerous people. From comics legends Roy William Thomas, Jr. (who served as St a n Lee’s f i rst successor at Mar vel Comics) and Vic Carrabotta, to W W E Hall of Fa mer Ji m “ H ac k s aw ” Duggan, fans will have the opp or t u n it y to meet p op culture icons along with local talent. Some of the panels at the show include “101 Questions on ‘T he Wa l k i ng Dead,’” featuring a couple of Negan’s Sav ior s , “ Joh n Wo o d a rd: Costume Making” and even an “Anti-Bullying Workshop.” A d d i t i o n a l l y, f o r t h o s e interested in showing off their cost u me-ma k i ng abil it ies, Soda Cit y Comic Con will host bot h a n Adu lt a nd Children’s Cosplay Contest. A s st udent s ret u r n to Colu mbia af ter su m mer break, Soda City Comic Con will provide a nice “welcome back” to the many of us who love “Batman,” “Star Wars” a nd “G a me of Th rones” equally. Before too long, Soda Cit y Comic Con might be a t hree-day af fair. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are available online or at the door.

a re relent lessly f ight i ng to prove t heir importance and status in the social world. But instead of toddlers, it’s budd i ng adu lt s; i n stead of guardians, it’s other wannabe independents. Despite the fact that the hearts of college students desire to find their place in this great big world, their attention is placed less on the people in it and more on the imaginary content beneath a piece of glowing glass. However, this observation is nothing new. M i l len n ia ls have become desensitized to the phrase, “Get off your phone!” The words are meaningless now that social wor t h is deter m i ned by a n extensive media presence rather t ha n t he abi l it y to i n it iate a n d m a i nt a i n m e a n i n g f u l conversation. It is difficult for a college student to see above the wall that is social acceptance and focus on the pathway over it leading to his or her dream career. Honestly, employers aren’t look ing for a specif ic GPA . They’re barely looking for a specific degree. Companies are in desperate need of talented individuals who can connect well with clients. Relationships build trust and loyalty. Loyalty provides a faithful profit. If you are someone who can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth — or simply trust your marketing and representation capabilities — you’re in! Remember: Success follows passion. Make people your ultimate mot ivat ion. If you are more enamored by t he consistent ring of not if icat ions rat her than the opportunity to help meet a person’s needs, you are replaceable. Don’t let the temporary desire for acceptance take precedent over a bigger picture: growing in order to serve others. You are here for a reason and have been accepted with confidence. Don’t blow it.


Thursday, August 24, 2017

9

GAMECOCKS FIRE UP ‘2001’ ENTRANCE

Luke Baker / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

The Gamecocks unveiled pyrotechnic additions to their “2001” entrance at student-open practice on Tuesday, including four new units with 20-foot flames.

Carson Mason @CARSONANNMASON

One of the most beloved Gamecock footba l l t rad it ions is get t i ng a n upgrade this season. The University of South Carolina At h let ics Depar t ment has added py rotech n ics to t he G amecock s’ “2001” pregame entrance in an effort to fi re up fans before the game. The pyrotechnic additions include four new units that produce 20-foot flames as players run onto the field to the theme song from “2001-A Space Odyssey.” Eight carbon dioxide jets were also added, creating suspense with 20- to

25-foot smoke columns. T he US C f o ot b a l l t e a m f i r s t d i s pl a y e d t he up g r ade d “20 01” entrance at its practice at WilliamsBr ice St ad iu m on Tuesday. T he at hlet ics depar t ment opened t he p r a c t i c e t o U S C f a c u lt y, s t a f f a nd upperclassmen i n a show of appreciation. According to Pyrotechnico FX show producer Justin Pruett, the Gamecocks are the only NCA A team utilizing pyrotechnic effects on a massive scale for football games. Similar equipment is mostly used in the NFL, Pruett said. “What makes a great entrance is everything that South Carolina does

when they come out of that tunnel,” sa id SEC Net work a na ly st Mat t Stinchcomb. “They’ve got a fantastic soundtrack in the ‘Space Odyssey.’ The fans get wound up and they’re into it. It’s got really everything you’re looking for in a great entrance. It’s almost as if wrestling took its cue from South Carolina.” A long w it h t he f ier y ent rance, students got to listen to the new instadium DJ, who blasted energetic hip-hop music through the sound system. The DJ’s boot h was near section 10 in the right corner of the lower-deck bleachers, but his bassbumping tunes could be heard all

around Williams-Brice. “It won’t take away anything from what our band does at the game,” head coach Will Muschamp said of the DJ. “Our band does a fantastic job with the excitement they bring to our football team and to our game-day experience. It will not affect anything that our band does on game-days. It’s more of a pregame activity for our players, which we played music in those situations anyway.” Gamecock fans who weren’t able to attend practice Tuesday will be able to see the in-stadium upgrades in the home opener against Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.

Changes coming to Memorial lot

Adam Orfinger / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Anna Walker / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Carson Mason @CARSONANNMASON

T he Memor ia l t a i lg at i ng lot h a s b een a tailgating tradition for University of South Carolina football games. This season, it will be under new ownership, changing from Morrison Memorial, LLC to Viral College Entertainment, LLC. With new ownership comes changes, and The Daily Gamecock sports staff caught up with new operator Alex Waelde to explain them. Q: Why did Memorial Lot change ownership? “Last year’s memorial was a ... disaster with the line ... I operate the fraternity lots as well. So when I heard all of the disaster stuff going on with Memorial, I basically put my name in the hat so to say and I was like ‘if ya’ll want me to take this over, I can take this over and run it like the fraternity lots’, so they liked that.” Q: What are the changes to Memorial Lot this season? “For starters, last year I think there was like seven bathrooms on the property. Something like that. I’m putting a minimum of 15 this year. Quite frankly, they won’t even know which one SEEMEMORIALPAGE13

Four Gamecocks receive preseason All-SEC honors Carson Mason @CARSONANNMASON

With the first Universit y of South Carolina football game of the season in just over a week, preseason predictions are in full swing. The Gamecocks had four players selected to the 2017 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Teams, which were announced on Aug. 23. T i g ht e n d H a y d e n Hurst and linebacker Skai Moore were named to the first team, while offensive lineman Zack Bailey and w ide re c ei ver De eb o Samuel were named to the third team. Samuel was selected not only as a wide

receiver but also as an all-purpose threat. Reigning SEC champion Alabama led the conference with 15 selections, while eight schools have five or more. Last season, the Gamecocks

had two players — Mason Zandi and Elliott Fry — selected to the coaches’ preseason teams, but finished the season with zero players selected by the coaches to All-SEC teams. Hurst was also selected to the preseason Athlon’s All-SEC first team and is a second-team selection by the media. The 6-foot5, 250 - p o u nd j u n io r compiled 616 receiving yards on 48 passes last season, averaging 12.8 y a rd s p er c at c h . H i s longe st c atc h wa s 47 yards, tying Samuel’s for the longest on the for the season, and came against Florida on Nov. 12.

Yangxing Ding / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

SEESECPAGE12


10 Thursday, August 24, 2017

Bojangles’ Southern 500 becoming tradition among USC students

Courtesy of Darlington Raceway

Representatives from Darlington Raceway will be in front of the Russell House on Thursday to provide information to students on the Bojangles’ Southern 500.

Carson Mason @CARSONANNMASON

For many students at the University of South Carolina, the start of September means the start of a new college football season. But it also means the return of the Bojangles’ Southern 500 — an annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stock car race at Darlington Raceway many students enjoy attending. Representatives from Darlington Raceway will be on campus Thursday to provide information to students on a special college ticket offer for the race on Sept. 3. Along with the representatives, a booth and pace car will be outside the Russell House Student Union on Greene Street from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The offer includes reserved seating, up to 50 percent off for college students, with tickets as low as $25 on the back stretch and $35 on the front stretch. “This program that we offer to the college students has really grown,” Darlington President Kerry Tharp said. “Last year, we had about 1,600 college students attend the race. We’re hoping to

eclipse that number this year. A good many of those students are from Carolina. We’ve found a lot of the fraternities and sororities like to come together as groups.” The race distance is 501 miles long, consisting of 367 laps. Driver Jeff Gordon has the most wins at the track with six, while Hendrick Motorsports has the most team wins there with 11. According to Tharp, the raceway appeals to USC students because it is only about an hour’s drive from Columbia and has a designated college zone, which includes live entertainment, various games, a tailgating area and costume contests. Tharp also believes the timing of the race on the day after the Gamecocks’ season opener presents a good opportunity for students to take in a variety of sports over Labor Day weekend. “It makes for one heck of a sports weekend if you go up to Charlotte for the football game on Saturday,” Tharp said. “Once we beat NC State Saturday afternoon, either stay up in Charlotte or come on down to Darlington and get ready for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on the next day.”

As he was a USC associate athletics director from 1985 to 2005, Tharp has deep ties to the Gamecocks. He started at Darlington Raceway in 2015, taking the place of former president Chip Wile, who left to serve as president of Daytona International Speedway. Students aren’t just the only Gamecocks who have experienced the track, nicknamed “Too Tough to Tame.” USC head football coach Will Muschamp visited the track in May and drove a few pace car laps, Tharp said. Reigning national champions Dawn Staley and the USC women’s basketball team are also planning to attend, as they’ll be honored in a pre-race ceremony. “ We ’r e g o i n g t o h o n o r t h e i r n a t i o n a l championship,” Tharp said. “I’ve got a lot of ties to Carolina. I’m good friends with Coach Tanner and I’m just really really excited about what’s going on with the program there. We invite all Gamecocks after Saturday’s football game to head over to Darlington.”

Teams around ‘Capital City’ witness total eclipse

Valencia Abraham / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

The football team enjoyed the total eclipse before practice Monday on the bleachers of Williams-Brice Stadium.

Carson Mason @CARSONANNMASON

W hile Columbia was in the path of totality during Monday’s eclipse, sports in the capital city didn’t totally stop. The USC football team gathered on the bleachers of Williams-Brice Stadium to watch the first transcontinental solar eclipse in 99 years before getting ready for open practice later that night. The players listened to the USC gameday tradition “2001,” while exchanging “Game! Cocks!” chants with tailgaters in the adjacent parking lots.

When asked if the team would alter its practice plans for the eclipse at USC’s Media Day in late July, head coach Will Muschamp wasn’t sure what all of the hype was about. “We’re practicing,” Muschamp said. “Are you kidding? No, what day is the eclipse going to happen? Do we all have to shut our eyes when it happens? I have no idea, I’m not very good with that kind of stuff.” So, how did other Gamecock student athletes celebrate the solar phenomenon Monday? The USC men’s and women’s soccer teams teamed up to watch the eclipse at Stone Stadium,

while the USC volleyball players grabbed their glasses and watched it together outside the Carolina Volleyball Center. Reigning national champions A’ja Wilson and the USC women’s basketball team came together to watch the eclipse outside the student-athlete residences at 650 Lincoln, while the men’s tennis team enjoyed the event from the outdoor tennis courts in the Athletic Village. Meanwhile, the Columbia Fireflies set a new single-game attendance record in their day game against former Gamecock Marcus Mooney and the Rome Braves. A record crowd of 9,629 fans gathered at Spirit Communications Park, witnessing two minutes of total darkness during the eclipse and a Fireflies’ walk-off win in the ninth inning. The previous single-game attendance record was 9,228 fans, set on July 4, 2016. Monday’s crowd also helped the Firefl ies surpass 300,000 total fans for the season. “The Columbia Firef lies’ Total Eclipse of the Park was a day-long celebration at Spirit Communications Park,” Firefl ies president John Katz said. “Visitors from 34 states and from points across the globe enjoyed ... two and a half minutes of totality under sunny skies. The players from both Columbia and Rome took in the eclipse from field, joined by the front office and assembled media.” Two ot her m inor leag ue ballpark s in t he Palmetto State saw the eclipse, including the Charleston RiverDogs and Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League. The RiverDogs made their pregame celebrations more science-focused, partnering with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to educate fans and launching a weather balloon into the air. “The eclipse has been a national spectacle that has shined a light on the Lowcountry and the state of South Carolina as a whole,” said RiverDogs president and general manager Dave Echols. Echols said he was “thrilled” with the number of local and national fans who came to Joe Riley Park for the “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”


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12 Thursday, August 24, 2017

Adam Collins / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

SECPAGE9 “For me, I just try to do what the coaches tell me,” Hurst said. “I try to be that reliable target for Jake [Bentley] whenever he needs it. I tell him ‘Whenever you’re in trouble, just give it to me. I’ll kind of bail you out.’” Like Hurst, Moore will return to the field this season with high expectations. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound redshirt senior missed the entire 2016 season due to a surgically-repaired herniated disk in his neck. He is the most decorated player on the USC team, being named to the 2015 All-SEC second team by the Associated Press and Coaches. Head coach Will Muschamp is not only excited about the return of Moore’s talent, but also his leadership skills to help guide the younger linebackers. “Skai and Bryson Allen [Williams] are two guys that have played a lot of football,” Muschamp said. “They are two experienced players and productive players as well. In order to be a leader, you got to be a productive guy. You can’t be a guy running your mouth all the time but not make any plays. Those guys do lead by example by how they prepare, how

they practice and how they go about their business, but they are very productive.” Bailey, who is known as the Gamecocks’ top offensive lineman, was a member of the Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team in 2015 and was named to Athlon’s Preseason All-SEC third team this season. After making 15 starts in a row at the left guard position, the 6-foot-6, 311-pound junior is slated to start at right tackle this season. Similar to Bailey, Samuel put together a standout season in 2016. As a sophomore, he led the Gamecocks with 783 receiving yards on 59 passes, along with six rushing touchdowns. Compared to his SEC counterparts, Samuel ranked second in all-purpose yardage per game with 132, third in receptions per game with 5.9 and fourth in receiving yards per game with 78.3, per GamecocksOnline. “He’s very dangerous with the ball in his hands,” Muschamp said. “He has really good lower body strength. He can run through tackles, much like a running back with a ball in his hands. We’ve got to find different ways to target him in the game. He needs to be touching the ball 10-15 times.”

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

MEMORIALPAGE9 to pick to go to. ... The owner of Chick-Fil-A is a friend of mine, so we put Chick-Fil-A in the lot this year. We’re going to be selling a limited menu, including Chick-Fil-A sandwiches for $5 —cash and card. They’re going to have a full tent set up and everything, like fresh sandwiches.” Q: How can people access the lots this year? “We did away with the wristband policy, so basically we’re doing pre-banding. Again, I’m running this the same way I run the fraternity lots where the fraternities get their wristbands ahead of time and they just hand them out to everybody they want. So what we’re doing is this year, with spot owners, I’m doing the same thing. The spot owners are just going to pick up wristbands and they can give them out to whoever they want. That way, when you’re coming up to Memorial Lot, whenever you decide to get there, you’re not waiting in a line. You can just hold up your wrist and walk right

in. Again, identical to how they do it in the fraternity lots.” Q: What will the law enforcement presence be like? “There is gonna be law enforcement there. Probably two to six officers. But I mean, that’s nothing compared to the riot squad that was there last year. Granted, also, half of them were dealing with the ... line. The line going away is the big thing that’s going to alleviate all of the pressure. We kept the spots at the same spot price, too so they’re still $350. I think they were like $360 or something last year. There was no price hike there.” Q: Are there still spots left in the lot? “We sold 180 spots in 12 hours. When I tweeted out that the spots were on sale, literally the website crashed. Like the server crashed. ... I think we have 30 spots left. I think the last time I checked it was like 31. We’ve still got a month before the first home game. ... We’re about to fill up and when we’re full, we’re full.”

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Thursday, August 24, 2017 14

Violence won’t solve North Korean conflict In his recent article on possible solutions to the current crisis on the Korean peninsula, Hayden Blakeney suggested that a first strike on North Korea would be a viable solution for dealing with the naked aggression of Dan Nelson the Kim regime and its rapid expansion of Opinion editor its nuclear weapons @thegamecock program. While it is true that North Korea’s nuclea r prog ra m, specif ica l ly it s attempted development of ICBM’s, poses a significant threat to U.S. interests, the solution is not a first strike on North Korea. Such a solution suffers from a fundamental lack of understanding of the complexities of the Kim regime, of China’s potential involvement and of the nature of war itself. To begin, let’s take a look at the mot ivat ion of K im Jong-u n. One argument frequently used against Kim is that the he is an irrational madman seeking nothing more than war with the U.S. This view, publicized time and time again by various leaders, pundits and writers, is fueled by various exaggerated stories and lacks a realistic conception of the Kim regime. Kim is no idiot, nor is he some sort of supervillain. Kim is a rational actor who understands that any war with the U.S. or a U.S. ally will result in the devastation of his country and his own death. This is the simple reason for North Korea’s nuclear program. As pointed out by comedian and “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver, Kim Jong-un is well aware of what happened to other leaders who scaled back their nuclear programs at the behest of the U.S. — leaders such

as Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein. To date, the U.S. has never attacked a nuclear armed nation and Kim knows that simply having a nuclear program that can threaten the U.S. will help prevent the fall of his regime to outside forces. Fu r t her more, t he rhetor ic a nd brinkmanship coming out of North Korea is not h i ng new. Si nce t he armistice ended the Korean War, North Korea has repeatedly escalated tensions. Not in the name of starting a war, it seems, but rather to make clear that they will not easily succumb to U.S. and international pressure. Chinese involvement with Korea is also a point of contention. For years, China has been the only significant backer of the Kim regime and one of the few outside connections to the “hermit kingdom.” While some view this as China simply propping up a brutal dictatorship, the Chinese position, while adapting to the current situation, is far more nuanced. Put simply, the Chinese abhor the idea of a U.S. ally on its border. Furthermore, the Chinese realize that any war with North Korea would likely result in millions of ill-fed and ideologically brainwashed refugees streaming across its border, destabilizing local areas. China has made it clear to North Korea in the latest round of United Nat ions sanct ions t hat any act of aggression against the U.S. or U.S. allies will result in zero support from the Chinese. In that way, if North Korea engages in an offensive war (rather than a defensive one if the U.S. attacked first), they will be cut off by their main benefactor. This is just another point that brings home the rational actor idea of Kim Jong-un: An aggressive war would place North Korea’s only ostensible ally against it, and there is no

way he’s unaware of that. So, at this point, we can safely assume that war will not be coming anytime soon to the Korean Peninsula. Kim clearly has far too much to lose if he engages in an offensive war: the loss of his only ally, his nation and his own life. Only an irrational madman — which he is not — would do so. However, what’s to stop the U.S. from pre-emptively attacking North Korea? For one, the Chinese. While they have made clear that Kim would lose their support in the case of a war started by the North, their stance on a defensive war is much less evident. At best, we could expect a souring of relations between the U.S. and China. In the worse case, a spiral of escalation with no clear end could occur. Neither are good options for the U.S., as China is our largest trading partner. Furthermore, as previously stated, Kim is a rational actor for whom survival is imperative. As such, he may use the totality of his arsenal if at war with the U.S. They are his only hope for a way out, as any war with the U.S. will most likely result in his death. By inflicting enough casualties on the attacking force, he may hope that the U.S. will view the war as a waste of “blood and treasure” and seek a political solution. This is extremely unlikely, but it would be his only viable option. This rules out the idea of “surgical strikes” against the nuclear program; they would only result in a wider war. Such an approach would utilize his nuclear arsenal, ranging from “dozens” to possibly “30-plus” bombs. Such munitions wouldn’t even need to be launched from the relatively untested “Hwasong-14” platform to be effective. Ot her smaller range rockets t hat threaten major U.S. bases in Japan and Korea may be utilized. Civilian

targets in both countries would also be at risk. Another option would be ground detonations of these weapons along the U.S. path of advance into North Korea. Any of these scenarios would result in massive casualties. Of course the U.S. would retaliate, again resulting in a deadly spiral of escalation. Other concerns lie in North Korea’s shadow y chem ical a nd biolog ical weapons programs. We can assume very little about these programs, but we can say that if they have what defectors claim they do, there will be massive, unimaginable casualties to both soldiers and civilians in any target area. Conventional North Korean arms should not be discounted either. As Mr. Blakeney pointed out in his article, some North Korean artillery can reach the outskirts of Seoul. Additionally, there are other populated areas along the DMZ that can be hit, as well as military installations and front line troops. In either situation, U.S. planners are not optimistic about the speed with which the U.S. and allies will be able to pick apart these artillery positions. They are, after all, well-protected, and combat resources that can engage them — namely aircraft — are limited compared to the sheer number of emplacements. In any case, a war with North Korea would be unspeakably bloody. Such a war would risk confrontation with China and would likely result in massive devastation throughout the Korean Peninsula. On top of this, Kim Jong-un seems unlikely to want war, as it would be the inevitable end of his nation and regime. Don’t get me wrong, Kim Jong-un is a brutal dictator who treats his own civilians worse than cattle. The man obviously has no place in the civilized world. But at what cost?

Don’t armchair diagnose Donald Trump

Linden Atelsek Opinion Editor @lyssamy

R e c e n t l y, y e t anot her Democrat (t h i s t i me , California’s Rep. Zoe Lofgren) has called for Donald Trump to undergo a mental health exam to test his f it ness for t he presidency. In fact, she introduced a bill calling for Pence and Trump’s cabinet to “quickly secure the services of medical and psychiat ric p r of e s s io n a l s” i n order to determine if presidential removal procedures can be

implemented. She’s not the first to try to introduce legislation based on this principle — Rep. Ted Lieu, also of California, has suggested that there should be a White House psychiatrist because of his personal doubts about Trump’s mental health. This is not to mention the ex-legislators who have made similar statements, the petitions that have been written or the groups of mental health professionals who have raised doubts about his stability.

Let’s all get something straight: This isn’t a productive form of resistance. This is yet another way that Democrats like to casually dismiss and prove their contempt for mentally ill people. I’ve written before about their general avoidance of putting forth any effort to actually help people who are mentally ill — this is an extension of that tendency. And when psychiatrists do it, it’s not really any more credible or intelligent; it’s just a way for them to prove that a scientific understanding of something doesn’t extend to a social understanding of something. First: When people base Trump’s unfitness for office on mental illness, they are just giving mentally ill people a bad rap. When mental illness is used as a way to judge competency or intelligence — the way it’s being used when Ted Lieu and Zoe Lofgren put it in their pointless, unpassable bills — the effects of that don’t just stop at Donald Trump. Mentally ill people all over the country hear that, and so do all the people who they have to interact with on a daily basis. Not all mental illness is created equal. The grand majority of people who live with mental illness aren’t the raving lunatics popular media would lead you to believe they are, but they all struggle

every day with that public perception. Trying to further institutionalize that idea in law just helps to prejudice people against a group that already struggles with discrimination in hiring, housing and healthcare. Trump may or may not be mentally ill, and unless you’re a mental health professional who is seeing him, we don’t know. The mental health professionals who are armchair diagnosing him are almost as much in the dark as the rest of us. They may be able to more accurately pick out characteristics that could be classed as narcissistic or antisocial, but watching him in his public persona is no substitute for actually treating him

in a clinical setting. Anyone who hasn’t treated him who’s diagnosing him is blowing hot air — and it’s harmful to people who are actually suffering. Second: If the only thing you can f ind about Tr ump t hat you t hink deserves criticism is his mental health, you aren’t looking hard enough. The ma n is ter r if y i ngly i ncompetent , blatantly bigoted and an all-around embarrassment to the country. If Democrats are choosing to focus on crying “mentally ill” over all of the valid criticisms they could be raising, they’re showing their own incompetence and bigotry.

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Thursday, August 24, 2017

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EMPLOYMENT Frankie’s Fun Park in Columbia SC is hiring Customer Service Reps for Indoor and Outdoor Attractions. Apply Online at www.frankies..com or Email mboyd@frankies.com

Sales Associate at Children’s Toy Store Looking for an enthusiastic, charismatic and outgoing individual to join our sales team at a children’s toy store part-time. Availability needed in the afternoons/ evenings & weekends. Job includes assisting customers with purchases, pricing merchandise, displaying new inventory, answer phone calls, running a cash register, and gift wrapping. Must have initiative and enjoy working around children. Email bebeeptoys@yahoo.com Pasta Fresca seeking HOST/ CASHIER & EXPERIENCED SERVERS for evening/ weekend shifts. Apply in person between 4pm - 6pm daily at 4722 Forest Drive, 29206

Retired Couple looking for energetic, attention to detail student to help with weekly house cleaning. We are located approx. 15 min. from campus, Lexington side. Min of 4 daytime hours at a time $12 ph....Please leave message as to what day is best and hours. Tks.. 803-791-0935 Kitchen And Servers P/T Kitchen and Servers. Weekday Lunchtime availability a must. Apply in person. Groucho’s Deli. 611 Harden Street @5 Points. No phone calls. Email mattd@grouchos.com

Aries

Taurus

T h i ng s a re g et t i ng bu s y, a nd tech n ic a l d i f f ic u lt ie s b e come apparent. Find creative solut ions to get t he job done for the least expense or st ress. Prioritize health.

Gemini

Relax, and enjoy the v i e w. U n e x p e c t e d delays or m istakes cou ld ar ise. Look for the humor in the situation. Give in to a physical attraction.

Cancer

Home is where your hea r t is. Domest ic su r pr ise s have you r attention. Make r e p a i r s . Yo u m a y need to make a mess to create somet h ing beautiful.

CAMPUS CHANNEL 4 sgtv.sc.edu

Kennel Tech Looking for hardworking dependable part time help. Must be able to work some weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Apply in person with resume. Dog Daze 1241 Veterans Road 695.0091

wusc.sc.edu

PHD • JORGE CHAM

HOROSCOPES Collaborat ion cou ld get especially sweet. Break free from an old routine that no longer serves. Surprises swirl around matters of the heart.

See Yourself He re.

Leo

Sagittarius

D o n’t e x a g g e r at e t he stor y; i nt u it ion suggests the underlying assumptions. Ask juicy questions. Check from multiple sources. Keep c o n f ide nc e s . K now when to stay quiet.

Watch where you’re going to avoid crowds and traff ic. Set your route in advance. P rov ide a s o ot h i n g voice if someone gets h e a t e d . D ip l o m a c y wins.

You ca n ma ke ex t ra cash by discovering a hidden opport u nit y. A su r pr ise creates market potential. Look for silver linings. Pay at tent ion a nd move quickly to profit.

A s u r p r i s e at wo rk disrupts with confusion or chaos. Watch for bizarre requests. Pat ie nc e k e ep s you c o o l ; a n d t h at ’s important, as losing it would burn.

Advance your agenda carefully. Unexpected personal matters add a layer of conf usion. Breat he deeply a nd slow dow n. Avoid automat ic react ions. You can get what you need.

An investigation heats up. St udy t he clue s and research behind the scene. Follow the t h read s where t he y lead. Reserve judgment. Solve a puzzle.

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Slow dow n a nd l a y low to minimize fuss. K eep t h i ng s si mple and frugal. Relax in a peaceful setting. Get lost in good music or splendid silence.

Capricorn

Aquarius

@thegamecock

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Pisces

Review your resources. Unplanned expenses could jam up t he w o r k s . Wo r k w i t h your part ner to f ind solut ions. Toget her, y ou c a n g e t t h i n g s moving.

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@dailygamecock

8/24/17

1 2 3 4

Solutions to today’s puzzle

© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Across 1 Support financially 5 Hurricane, e.g. 10 Drainpipe section 14 Face cream additive 15 Medicare component 16 Leaping critter 17 Depend (on) 18 Had superior skills in 20 Word on really bright Crayolas 21 Jazz great Montgomery +HOHQ 5HGG\·V “__ Woman” 23 Commentary page 25 Turned out to be 29 Blew hard 32 Way back when 33 Helped start the pot 34 Comic Johnson 36 Big __ 37 Regret 38 Not alfresco, and what this puzzle is vis-à-vis its border answers 41 Craft built in the 2014 film “Noah” 42 Nile snake 43 Yemeni seaport 44 Speed 46 Become resentful 9DPSLUH·V EHG" 50 Painter Manet 51 Sketch material 52 Commuter org. in the Loop 53 __ Butterworth 54 “Wild Blue Yonder” mil. group 58 Waterway between the major islands of New Zealand 62 Leg-covering skirt 63 Green Gables heroine 64 Boardroom prop 65 Part of FEMA: Abbr. 66 Caboose place 67 Broadway platform 68 Fries, for

instance Down 1 Silo neighbor 2 Toward protection, at sea 3 Great Sand Dunes National Park st. 4 Pinnacle of a lecture series 5 Erupted 6 Strained 7 Tolkien henchmen 8 GPS suggestion 9 Feign illness to avoid work 10 Motifs 11 “Far out, dude!” 1RWUH 'DPH·V Parseghian 13 Kennel guest 19 Put on board 24 Spa treatment 25 Big name in stationery 26 Ornamental fabric /RUUH·V “Casablanca” character 28 Pita feature 7HFK FRPSDQ\·V origin, perhaps 30 On the shelf 31 Move in the direction of

34 Threw in 35 Sushi roll topping 39 Tells a story 40 Layered do 45 Takes for granted 47 Lollipop 48 Feed bag feed 49 Once-per-player chess move 51 “Norwegian Dances” composer 53 Tamale dough 55 Scandinavian language 56 Used a hatchet on 57 Cause for alarm

8/24/17

58 Honda or Hyundai 59 Pepsi product WKDW·V DOVR LWV calorie count 6SULQJVWHHQ·V “Working __ Dream” 61 Scoundrel

15


12 Thursday, August 24, 2017


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