Carolina Insider 2022

Ca rol i na I n sider ‘22 ‘22

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Gracie Bryant

LEAD DESIGNER

Savannah Nagy

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA

Sarah Scarborough

ASSISTANT

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA

Sydney Patterson

ART DIRECTOR

Krista Larson

CREATIVE SERVICES

Beth Bryerton

Will Frame

Shai Nixon

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kaylin Daniels

Rachel Jackson

Emily Okon

Mariah Perry

Tyler Sprague

COPY EDITORS

Jade Crooks

Anne Heiler

Kate Robins

WRITERS

Mafe Balthazar

Kaylin Daniels

Sarah Fulwider

Rachel Jackson

Will Kelly

Madison Lee

Tyler Sprague

ADVERTISING

REPRESENTATIVES

Nourhan Abdelrahman

Mitchell Hall

Donovan Ouzts

Christian Rodriguez

Kara Shelmire

Whether you are a new student, returning student, graduate student, parent or family member, alumni or a community member who dropped by to see the excitement of campus – we are glad you are here! The Gamecock experience is truly one of a kind! Students arrive to campus ready to engage, learn, lead, serve and grow. They are challenged academically to be curious about learning and ask questions that might present complicated answers. We know that learning happens all around us, and we are proud of the integration of beyond-the-classroom experiences that complement each student’s journey. Here are a few tips for the year ahead:

1. Take advantage of at least one new opportunity this year. Join a student organization, attend a lecture or dialogue on a topic of which you know nothing (or very little). Attend a concert, a theater production or athletic event. Maybe you will explore study abroad experiences, work a campus job, join an intramural team. There are so many options for you! When you try something new, you learn something new – maybe a new concept, new perspective or skill. Learning something new each day will set you on a path for success!

2. Find a way to serve others. Participate in Service Saturday, volunteer as a Pantry Pal or engage in regular service with a local nonprofit in Columbia. There are short-term and long-term service opportunities available. We make it easy for you – or a group of your friends – to get plugged into our community and give back.

3. Be curious. Curiosity plays out all around us in the questions we ask in class, in research labs and with each other. Understanding why systems work the way they do, how they can be improved and why it matters to others are all questions that can be applied to many different settings. Take advantage of the expertise around you, ask questions, research possibilities and share your knowledge with those around you.

Be ready for a transformative experience as a Gamecock! We are excited you are here and look forward to helping you create the experiences that will help you achieve your goals and make our community better in the process. Welcome (back) to Carolina and I look forward to seeing you this fall on campus!

Anna Edwards Associate Vice President for Student Life

Student Tickets

by Rachel Jackson

MAKE THE MOST of your student experience with the unique opportunity to cheer on nationally renowned Gamecocks athletics alongside thousands of towel-waving and high-fiving classmates — all for no added costs.

Free tickets to sporting events are included in tuition for full-time undergraduate students, and part-time and graduate students can pay an optional athletic event fee to receive the same benefits. Being the only school next to Vanderbilt in the SEC that offers free student tickets, it’s a major perk to take advantage of throughout your time as a UofSC student!

“I love the comradery at Carolina games, it is a feeling unlike any other,” second-year sports and entertainment management student Catherine Stoerker said. “I feel so connected to my school and classmates through the passion we share for UofSC. Go Cocks!”

Most sports can be attended just by showing a valid CarolinaCard, but students must complete a request-and-claim process for football, baseball, and basketball. The Gamecock Student Rewards App is the go-to resource for seeing upcoming games, getting free tickets, and monitoring rewards points that will help increase the odds of receiving in-demand tickets.

Rewards points are used to determine who receives tickets to football, basketball and baseball games when the number of requests exceeds the number of available student tickets. Requests are ordered by the number of rewards points, and tickets are allocated accordingly until none are left. Students are first allotted rewards points based on their year in school: freshmen receive three points, sophomores receive four, juniors receive six and seniors receive eight points.

However, it’s important to continue gaining points to get the best tickets available. Students can earn additional rewards points by attending any athletics event and joining the Student Gamecock Club. At the end of each year, 10% of a student’s previously earned points are rolled over to the next year. Soccer and volleyball games get started early in the fall and can provide an opportunity to earn rewards points to help lowerclassmen get tickets to early-season football games.

The process for claiming tickets varies per sport, and more information can be found on the Student Tickets website at sc.edu/ studenttickets.

The Football Claiming Process: This year the football ticketing system is changing. There is no longer a claim period.

Instead, requests start a week before the game at 9 a.m. Friday and will end Tuesday at 3 p.m. On Wednesday at 10 a.m., students who requested and qualified for a ticket will receive their ticket via the SC Rewards App. These tickets will either be for lower-level or upper-level. Lower-level tickets are based off of reward points and are awarded until all tickets are distributed. If a student does not receive a lower-level ticket, they have the opportunity to receive an upper-level ticket located in sections 508 and 509.

The on-demand period begins the Thursday before the game starting at 3 p.m. Students who did not receive a ticket are able to claim any available tickets that were not awarded or were returned by students. The on-demand period will close at kickoff.

If you cannot attend the game, you must return your ticket before Friday at 5 p.m. If the student repeatedly does not return their ticket, their ticketing privileges for football will be taken away for the remainder of the season. Students who wish to bring a guest are able to purchase a guest ticket in addition to their student ticket during the request or on-demand period. However, guest tickets will always be in the upper-level. The price and availability for guest tickets varies game by game.

The Basketball Claiming Process:

1. Claim your ticket through the Gamecock Student Rewards app.

2. If you have an iPhone, select Manage Tickets and make sure you click “Add to Apple Wallet” under the barcode for easier access to the stadium.

3. Bring your phone and present your barcode for admission. Enter through the College Street entrance. You must enter the arena and scan your ticket before halftime in order to receive points for attending.

The Baseball Claiming Process:

Once you claim a ticket through the Gamecock Student Rewards app, a barcode will be delivered to your phone which will serve as your admission ticket into the game.

AS STUDENTS RETURN to campus this fall, Campus Recreation is back in full swing. All fitness and sports programs will be back in action, in addition to some newly available sports and classes. Having this program back in full swing has many excited, especially Mitch Nettesheim, director of Campus Recreation.

“I humbly believe that campus recreation is the most important service on campus,” Nettesheim said.

“It has been long understood that physical activity is critical to our health and wellbeing, but there is increasingly more evidence that exercise also increases intellectual capacity.”

To promote health and wellbeing, all UofSC students are given free access to both the Wellness and Fitness Center and Blatt Physical Education Center.

The Wellness and Fitness Center is the headquarters for campus fitness and includes three floors of activities ranging from weight rooms and

by Tyler Sprague

swimming pools, to racquetball courts and a 52-foot climbing wall. There are also sand volleyball courts and fields outside to take advantage of on the warm Columbia days.

The Blatt Physical Education Center provides more weight and cardio equipment, rooms for group exercise classes and squash and racquetball courts. It also houses the Outdoor Recreation Hub where students, faculty and staff can rent equipment for outdoor recreational activities, such as kayaking, and visit the Bike Shop for basic repairs and assistance with bicycles.

Campus Recreation is planning to continue expanding their offerings in the upcoming year.

“Our hope is to innovate every year, introducing new programs and services that serve the community better,” Nettesheim said. “Next year we anticipate more outdoor recreation trips and a selection of new gear at the OREC Hub, we will be introducing new intramural sports including expansion of our E-sport offerings, we will reintroduce learn-to-swim services, we will be adding some new fitness equipment and services, and we also hope to reintroduce guest passes.”

Alongside the advanced gym facilities, Campus Recreation offers an array of options to get involved including group fitness classes, personal training, intramural sports and more.

Group exercise programs include cardio, strength, mind-body and indoor

cycling. Students can buy an all-access pass for these classes and reserve their spots through the IMLeagues online system.

Campus Recreation employs nationally certified personal trainers with lowerthan-average prices starting at just $15 for students looking for personalized help with their fitness.

Intramural sports are a popular involvement area for many students because they provide the opportunity to tap into their competitive side, get to know peers and have fun being active, regardless of their skill level. Intramurals are open to everyone with a CarolinaCard — with over 20 sports offered each semester, including soccer, flag football, pickleball and more.

Tryouts are not required for intramural sports, and intramural leagues offer a free-agency system where individual players are matched with teams that have open spots on their rosters. To participate, students must sign up through IMLeagues by visiting IMLeagues.com/ uofsc. Fall sports registration begins on Aug. 1, and competition starts in late August and early September.

Campus Recreation also has about 50 to 65 active sport clubs. Sports clubs are studentrun organizations that occasionally compete against club teams at other schools. These

Photography by Tyler Sprague

teams are typically more competitive and often require a higher time commitment than intramural sports, though some offer opportunities for players of all levels. South Carolina Club Gymnastics, for example, has two teams depending on experience and skill level. Students can find a full list of sport clubs and information on tryouts on GarnetGate.

“I definitely would recommend that everyone should try and get involved in either intramural sports or sport clubs,” student director of Sport Program’s Marketing and Engagement Team Anthony Balvish said. “We are making a much larger effort next year promoting the ‘nontraditional’ sports that Sport Programs offers … I am making it my primary goal to advertise as many of these special events and tournaments as possible, so that all students feel like they have a place within Sport Programs.”

For those who’d like to take the adventure outside of the Campus Recreation buildings, Outdoor Recreation offers a plethora of opportunities to explore the surrounding landscape through adventure trips.

Adventure trips are facilitated by student leaders on most weekends of the semester and include activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, backpacking, rock climbing and biking in locations around Columbia and the southeast.

Travel and equipment are included for a small registration fee, and online registration is available through the Campus Recreation website or GarnetGate.

Whether you’re looking to hit a few reps on the bench, backpack on the trails or dominate

a racquetball league, Campus Recreation has something for all students.

“We are not just about getting fit,” Associate Director of Campus Recreation Lauren Olsen said. “Through our programs, services & facilities at Campus Rec, people can learn lifelong healthy habits, make friends, be competitive, and have fun. We really hit all the spokes of the wellness wheel.”

Fraternity and Sorority Life

by Rachel Jackson

THE OFFICE OF FRATERNITY and Sorority

Life works to transform life at UofSC through advising and supporting 49 Greek organizations and four councils — College Panhellenic Association (CPA), the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). This office supports the strategic growth and operations of the community and provides resources to prospective members such as a Fraternity and Sorority Guidebook and information about the success of each organization in different areas.

“Before joining any of these organizations, I encourage students to be informed consumers and make sure that the organization they choose aligns with their values and endeavors,” former Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Jarod Holt said.

While the 49 organizations that comprise fraternity and sorority life at UofSC each have distinct goals and missions, all interests fall under four common values: scholarship, leadership, friendship and service. Joining a Greek organization can help make the university feel like a smaller community for students, as each of the four different councils within Greek life provides students opportunities to grow and enjoy their college experience.

“Before coming to college, I was so worried I wouldn’t find my people, but all my worries went away after joining Delta Zeta (DZ),” UofSC freshman Haley Newton said. “DZ allowed me to meet so many girls that shared my values, that were supportive, loving and genuine. I am so thankful to Delta Zeta for introducing me to my forever friends.”

The College Panhellenic Association supports 13 sororities on the South Carolina campus while 22 fraternities are part of the Interfraternity Council. Twenty of these communities are housed in Greek Village, which serves as a hub for Greek life relationships and residence for approximately 700 members of Greek organizations.

Five culturally-based Greek-letter fraternities make up the Multicultural Greek Council. This council promotes a community of diversity and unity among multicultural organizations.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council is composed of historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, often referred to as the “Divine Nine,” though only eight exist at UofSC. These organizations provide leadership opportunities for members and promote their well-being through the cooperative action of members across the board.

“The Zeta Theta Chapter is a small but mighty chapter here at UofSC,” treasurer of NPHC and vice president of Sigma Gamma Rho Asia Turner, a third-year student, said. “We are all so loving and supportive of each other. I really feel like I have spent my whole life with my sorors. Needless to say, to me there ain’t nothing better than Zeta Theta!”

These organizations often partner in a series of events during Greek Week and Homecoming and hold their own individual events throughout the year.

In addition to opportunities within each chapter, Greek life offers service opportunities through GREEKServe and Trick-or-Treat with the Greeks. Leadership opportunities across the organizations include Roundtables, EmpowHER and MoMENtum Conferences, Greek New Member Experience and Greek Ambassadors. Students can further serve in leadership positions through committees and executive boards within the chapters.

Intake and recruitment for each council differ. CPA participates in primary Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment. Students looking to join IFC should look at participating in IFC recruitment. To join MGC and NPHC, potential new members should look out for Intake Orientation and membership intake programs organized by each chapter.

Greek life makes up almost 30% of the undergraduate student body, and student participants in Greek life achieve higher grade point averages and graduate at higher rates than students who are not involved in the community, according to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Organizations across the four councils partner with the Student Success Center and encourage usage of its resources, in addition to academic programming within each Greek chapter.

Participating in Greek life comes with certain responsibilities and expectations, but the memories and friendships found within the councils are moments and bonds that you cannot find anywhere else.

For more information on sorority and fraternity life, visit the office on sc.edu.

Photography provided by Junior Panhellenic Delegates

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THE LEADERSHIP AND Service Center (LSC) is the heart of student involvement, leadership, community service and civic engagement at UofSC. The LSC offers many programs and opportunities to students who want a more well-rounded experience at Carolina through their own initiatives and through the 500+ student organizations it oversees.

Organizations include the Ornithology Club, the Lettuce Club, Food Appreciation Club, Collegiate Curls and so many more. With so many organizations you can truly find one for you!

“Many of our organizations are specific to UofSC, and all are quite individually Carolina, even if they are part of a larger national organization,”

Associate Director for Leadership and Student Organizations Joshua Cauble said.

While GarnetGate is home to all UofSC student organizations’ information, one of the best ways to find all of your options is the Student Organization Fair hosted by the Leadership and Service Center. This event features representatives from UofSC student organizations lined up along Greene Street handing out information, answering questions and excited to meet new students. This year’s fair will take place during the Carolina Welcome Week; specific dates will be announced.

Regardless of what organization you choose to join, the LSC hosts a variety of opportunities for students to enhance their leadership skills.

One of the more structured opportunities for leadership development is the Close Family Emerging Leaders Program — starting

by Tyler Sprague

with an in-person, seven-week program for students who want to build their leadership skills and learn how to bring change to the Carolina community. Older leaders of junior or senior standing can also attend the Student Leadership Summit to network with other engaged students and brainstorm ways to positively impact campus. The Student Leadership and Diversity Conference, held annually in the spring, is a multi-day conference with workshops, prominent speakers and opportunities to network with other leaders from USC and other institutions.

One of the LSC’s newest programs, returning this year, is Camp Cocky Leadership Retreat, a free overnight outdoor recreation retreat that encourages students without a positional leadership role to network and use their unique skills to improve their team’s cohesion, no matter what that team looks like. This year’s retreat will be held on a Saturday and Sunday in November 2022.

“We’re hoping to announce a new leadership experience this upcoming year,” Cauble said. “We can’t say anything just yet, but let’s just say it will be a magical experience!”

One of the more studentdirected leadership opportunities is Pillars for Carolina. Pillars for Carolina is a student-led summer program that creates a foundation of community and confidence through activities centered around leadership, service and active citizenship to inspire first-year students to leave their mark at the University of South Carolina. “Being a Pillars XM was my first experience with the LSC and is still my favorite,” Campus Relations Executive Yasmen Balogun said. “I was able to impact

other people by just being myself and I think that’s the best part of being a student leader: The confidence and skills that I gained from this experience has helped me be a better leader, a better student and a better person.”

For students who’d like to give back to the campus and local communities through service work, the LSC has options ranging from hosting regular service events, to spending a fall, winter or spring break doing a larger service project somewhere in the state or region. The LSC also encourages student involvement in areas of civic action, such as voter registration drives and the Civic Leadership Education and Action Team, also known as CLEAT. CLEAT is a group of students who plan and execute nonpartisan events and programs that encourage engaged and active citizenship.

Students interested in leadership, service, civic action or anything in between should follow the Leadership and Service Center on social media or check out the information on the LSC website at sc.edu/ leadershipandservice to learn more.

Photography by Tyler Sprague

Garnet Media Group

WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING to work in media or just want an environment that sparks creativity, Garnet Media Group provides handson experience in everything from podcasting, directing a short film, covering news and more.

Garnet Media Group (GMG) is the partnership between the four student-run media organizations at the university including The Daily Gamecock, Garnet & Black Magazine, Student Gamecock Television (SGTV) and WUSC-FM. There are also four supporting teams including advertising, creative services, marketing and podcasting.

“I’m super proud of the work that all of the students do because it is 100 percent studentrun, student-managed,” Director of Student Media Sarah Scarborough said. “They all have 100 percent editorial independence, and every year I’m so impressed with the level of work and quality of work that they do.”

With hundreds of students involved, GMG provides a large network of student journalists and creators alongside practical experience and training in a real-world setting.

“My favorite thing about Garnet Media Group is the passion,” Marketing Director Gracie Bryant said. “Every branch is led and run by student leaders so we’re all in the same boat managing classes, personal lives and GMG work. Every leader and every member is supportive, encouraging and creative. It’s so fun to watch my peers’ passions come to life and see them get excited about what they’re doing.”

by Kaylin Daniels

The Daily Gamecock is a news outlet that publishes daily online content, a weekday email edition and a few special print editions each semester. Students can participate as writers in four content sections — news, sports, arts and culture and opinion — as well as serving as copy editors, designers, photographers or social media content creators.

Garnet & Black Magazine produces two print issues a year (one per semester) and publishes online content throughout the academic year. The team of designers, photographers, writers and editors create longform articles and stories focused on issues of general interests in the Carolina community, with a special focus on social justice, arts, culture and local highlights.

SGTV provides opportunities in a variety of broadcast media, with everything from traditional newscasts and sports coverage to sketch comedy and short films. The student staff of SGTV produces a variety of unique and creative content which airs on the station’s website, YouTube and other social media platforms.

WUSC is the university’s radio station, broadcasted on 90.5 FM and HD-1 Columbia, and reaches a 30-mile listening radius. WUSC is unique in that it is noncommercial and non-Top 40, so you’ll always hear something unique. Student DJs can host free-format shows or specialty shows which can focus on one genre of music or a certain type of content. WUSC also has five offices to get involved with including the offices of station manager, news, public affairs, music and programming.

Garnet Media Group’s partner organizations are accompanied by four support teams: advertising sales, marketing, creative services and podcasting. Each team is primarily led by students, but they are also overseen by professional staff members. Advertising representatives connect clients with the many advertising opportunities with Garnet Media Group including publications and online advertisements. The marketing team focuses on creating informative publications such as Best of Carolina and promoting the work of Garnet Media Group through oncampus events and social media marketing. Creative services is a team of student-designers that provide high-quality graphic design services to on- and off-campus clients. The GMG podcast network includes shows covering topics ranging from social justice to true crime to fashion and style.

“The experience of being a part of GMG’s marketing team is fun,” marketing team member Mariah Perry said. “It has put me outside of my comfort zone and has challenged me to try new things when it comes to writing copy and creating social media campaigns.”

Garnet Media Group is open to students of any major, year or experience level. To get involved, visit garnetmedia.org/join.

Photography provided by Garnet Media Group

Multicultural Student Affairs

by Mafe Balthazar

ON A CAMPUS THAT is approximately 25% diverse in terms of historically marginalized identities, students at the University of South Carolina desire an equal opportunity for success and a positive college experience. The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) aims to “provide support for students of marginalized backgrounds as well as to create a community of inclusive excellence” for all individuals on campus, according to Kimberly Seibles, OMSA’s associate director for diversity and social justice education.

OMSA’s programming and initiatives can be briefly summarized as four main areas: student support, cultural engagement, social justice education and resources for LGBTQ+ students.

Fourth-year biology student Badr Abdullah said being a minority student at a predominantly white institution can be lonely without a strong support system. Programs within OMSA help students find their footing through common ground with other students like them and slowly break down barriers that could potentially hinder their growth.

Abdullah serves as a mentor in OMSA’s Multicultural Assistance Peer Program (MAPP), which pairs first-year students from

historically marginalized populations with older, experienced students. Mentors are usually one of their mentees’ first friends and help them take advantage of all the university has to offer. MAPP holds meetings and social events to establish relationships between mentors and their mentees, as well as academic and professional development workshops.

“When you have that one-on-one connection with someone who has already, you know, gone through the ranks, in a way that person becomes kind of like your first stronghold, your first footing at the university, your first continent,” said Abdullah.

Other support programs for different populations include affinity groups, which are designated safe spaces for groups of similarly identified people; Black male-focused initiatives like Brother to Brother and Cuts and Conversations, an opportunity to talk with other Black men while receiving a free haircut; and Queer Connections, a support group for firstyear LGBTQ+ students that creates “avenues for students to find a family on campus, but also if they need certain things such as, you know, health support or mental health support or just finding a friend,” said Seibles.

Hip Hop Wednesday, a monthly event held on Greene Street, allows student organizations to promote their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and just network and have fun while a DJ plays hip hop in the background.

Identity365, another program within the office, celebrates distinct student identities and cultures year-round through educational and immersive experiences. One prominent Identity365 event is Pridechella, an April event celebrating Pride with speakers, live music, performances from drag queens and opportunities to connect with LGBTQ+ vendors.

The Intersection Multicultural Student Lounge, located in the lower level of Russell House, serves as a physical space for conversations and connection within and between affinity groups. Students can hold meetings, work on group projects or just hang out in the multipurpose space.

In addition to providing support and celebrations of different identities, OMSA also strives to educate the broader Carolina community on important social justice issues.

Photography provided by Kimberly Seibles and Kim McMahon

One of the ways the office accomplishes this goal is by empowering students to educate each other through the OMSA Peer Educators program. Peer educators host workshops for students, lead small discussion groups on relevant topics and generally support OMSA’s work across campus.

The office also partners with different departments across campus, such as the office of sustainability, to lead discussions on current issues such as environmental justice. “We pretty much partner with everybody who has shown a real key interest in trying to improve diversity, equity, inclusion on campus,” said Seibles. OMSA provides educational programs on subjects such as social justice and diversity, including a daylong Carolina Diversity Retreat and ongoing Diversity Dialogues, to help students be advocates and activists for topics they are passionate about, from

environmental social justice to the LGBTQ+ community. Through OMSA’s many programs, students learn to interact with those of different identities, make a difference in the community and become accomplished and aware global citizens upon graduation from USC.

Learn more about the many opportunities to get involved and help by visiting OMSA’s website at sc.edu/multicultural.

CHOOSING A FIRST APARTMENT is hard and always brings its challenges, and it’s no different for students at UofSC. While most students are required to stay on-campus their freshman year, they typically move off-campus during their upperclassman years due to personal preference or limited availability of nonfreshmen housing. The office of Off-Campus Living & Neighborhood Relations helps create a bridge between UofSC students and local housing options, as well as helping alleviate student stress when it comes to finding a future housing situation.

“Our office is here to help students identify offcampus housing options and safely transition to their new environment,” Assistant Director of Of-Campus Living Blair Layman said.

The office is there for students from the beginning to end of their housing process. When beginning your search, a great place to start is with the 20-minute Off-Campus Living module. The module gives an overview of all the local neighborhoods near Columbia students frequently choose to live in. These include Cayce, downtown Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Lexington, Northeast Columbia and West Columbia.

The office also offers educational materials including a crime map and a walkability score of each neighborhood around campus to narrow down your preferred living areas. The crime map shows crime activity within the student’s desired area. It’s not meant to scare anyone, but to make students feel empowered about their decisions, according to Layman. The walkability map shows how far a neighborhood is from specific shops, restaurants and places on campus.

While most students choose to live with friends they made during their first year at Carolina, those who are in need of roommates don’t have to worry. The office supplies a message board so students can connect with each other to find leasing options that fit their needs.

Student Legal Services are also available to you before you sign your lease. The services from this department are covered in tuition fees and are most commonly used in the reviewing of contracts for leases. If you have any questions or need help understanding a document before you sign it, this office is a great place to start. It can also help if conflicts arise in a student’s new home with landlords, for example.

Once a lease is signed, the Off-Campus Living office’s website becomes a key resource for information including how to properly report issues within the community, and the rights and responsibilities of the students in their new homes. It also provides information on needed utilities such as parking and trash, how to budget for rent and safety tips.

With moving to an off-campus space, students lose the direct university supervision they once had, which for some becomes more of a burden than it does for others. The office of Off-Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations highlights the importance of upholding the Carolinian Creed and following the Student Code of Conduct not only in their school work, but in their outside lives, because it encourages students to understand the responsibility of representing UofSC.

The office also partners with Garnet Media Group to produce housing fairs typically once a month throughout the school year. These fairs allow student housing properties from across Columbia to visit campus and interact

with students, answer questions and give out branded merchandise.

“I would describe (the fairs) as one of the best ways to really get to know and experience offcampus housing options without having to visit them directly,” Garnet Media Group event coordinator Tyler Sprague said.

The office of Off-Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations also holds an annual panel with property managers in order for them to connect with students and answer any questions they might have.

In collaboration with the Columbia Police Department, the Student Conduct Office, Student Government and representatives from local neighborhoods, the office also puts out a comprehensive guide on how to move off-campus. There are also virtual and in-person appointments to ask specific questions and receive individualized help in the housing search. The office is located in the Russell House West Wing. Everyone in the office understands this process is overwhelming and they are more than happy to help students through their individual situation.

“We want all of our students to enjoy an exceptional and safe living experience on and off campus that will ultimately support their success as students and community members,” Layman said.

Photography by Mariah Perry

Russell House

by Kaylin Daniels

CENTRALLY LOCATED ON Greene Street between Sumter and Bull Street, Russell House is the student union that serves as the beating heart of the Carolina campus, constantly filled with students looking for food, friends, events and more.

Food is a top reason to visit Russell House. With a variety of dining options from exclusive restaurants with Italian and Mexican dishes, to popular chains such as Chick-fil-A, Panera and Einstein Bros. Bagels, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. True Balance is a new addition that offers healthy dining options of made-to-order grain bowls, salads and acai bowls. Fresh Greene’s is another new restaurant, providing a buffet of healthy options. If you’re looking for something a little less healthy and a lot more sweet, Carolina Creamery has delicious dessert options to liven up your day! All dining options offer both meal swipe and debit/credit card options.

Other than food, students can find a variety of services and resources throughout the union. Russell House basement includes a variety of resources including Student Postal Services in the basement for package pick-up and U.S.

passport applications, the CarolinaCard office, printing services and a newly renovated event space, Russell Underground.

Russell Underground is an event space managed by Russell House Events. It will host numerous events throughout the year and it will also be available for student reservations.

“(Students) can program anything they want in this space. One night we can do a karaoke party, one night we can do a dance party, one night we can do a formal spoken word event,” Associate Director of Russell House Events Ryan Gross said.

The ground floor of Russell House is home to the Barnes & Noble USC bookstore, lounge areas and several dining options. The second floor offers a variety of dining options, Russell House ballrooms and meeting spaces, Russell House Theater, a campus branch of Founders Federal Credit Union, and the Leadership and Service Center.

The Leadership and Service Center helps students gain experience with leadership development, civic engagement, community service and getting involved in student organizations. It’s easy to walk in and speak with a student leader about these options.

“My favorite part about the center is my coworkers. And we really focus on leadership positions and we offer consultations,” Leadership and Service Center student ambassador Katie Owens said.

The third floor includes a large lounge area, additional meeting rooms, the Carolina Styles Hair Salon, Office of New Student Orientation, Garnet Media Group and Gamecock Entertainment. Outdoors spaces surrounding Russell House such as the patio, Davis Field and Greene Street are also available for reservation and to be used by the Carolina community.

Regardless of whether you’re looking for lunch or a space to hang out, Russell House is a great place to start.

Photography by Mariah Perry

Parent and Family Program s

by Tyler Sprague

THE OFFICE OF Parent and Family Programs can help families of UofSC students find all the information they need to help stay connected throughout their student’s time in college. According to Director of Parent and Family Programs Leena Holt, the office is a one-stop shop for families of undergraduate students.

“I have seen the breadth of opportunities and resources our university offers its students,” student leader and Office of Parent and Family Programs Intern Cecelia Tatro said. “It has given me a greater appreciation for the intentionality that our university staff pours into programming. It is a rewarding experience to share it with our Gamecock parents and families.”

The easiest way to connect with all the resources the Office of Parent and Family Programs has to offer is to download the office’s mobile app, as it consolidates all the information and gives families what is most important. Within the app, users have access to information on academic calendars, move-in procedures, financial aid and tuition payment, campus safety and security, maps and options to contact the office for more individual help. Simply search “UofSC Parent & Family Programs” in the app store or head to the office’s website at sc.edu/parents to text the link to a mobile device.

The app is also the main gateway for all things Family Weekend, a signature event that takes place over an entire weekend during the fall

semester. For the event, students invite family members and parents to see campus and experience what it’s like to call Carolina home. In addition to reuniting with their students, families have a chance to connect with others who also have loved ones attending the university.

This upcoming Family Weekend will be held from Sept. 23 to Sept. 24, 2022, featuring signature events such as the President meetand-greet Friday afternoon, Rock the Roost on Friday evening and the Family Tailgate Party on Saturday prior to kickoff for the Family Weekend football game.

“My favorite parts of Family Weekend are the events tailored for family bonding,” Tatro said. “The Family Tailgate party prior to the football game on that Saturday is a great time for students to share their love for Gamecock football with their families. Families can feel the energy and excitement of a Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina. There is food, music and space to enjoy the time together. It is a truly special day when a parent gets to experience their first ‘Sandstorm’ with their student.”

Parents can join the dues-free Parents Association either through the app or through subscribing on the office’s website to receive monthly communications with updates on student life and campus news.

In between newsletters, parents with specific questions or needs can always contact the Office of Parent and Family Programs through email at scparents@sc.edu, or by phone at 800868-6752 or 803-777-3008, for individualized support.

Parents who would like to support USC and its initiatives can also contribute via the Parents Annual Fund, which currently supports the university’s Dinner Dialogues program. Dinner Dialogues allows students to meet with their professors and get to know them in an informal and fun setting: dinner at the professor’s home. Students can learn more about their professors and other students in their class, allowing for more relationship-building and networking that could pay off down the line. Parents can donate to the fund online and find additional information on resources and programs that will support them on the Parent and Family Programs website.

The Office of Parent and Family Programs has many opportunities for students and families to truly take advantage of their time here at UofSC in a stress-free way. Parents and students can find all of these services and more through the gateway on the Parent & Family Programs app or on the website at sc.edu/parents.

Photography provided by Leena Holt

GAMECOCK ENTERTAINMENT, the university’s events and programming group, is a student’s main source for all things free and fun to do both on and off campus, according to the organization’s GarnetGate profile. Gamecock Entertainment hosts several classic events such as Tiger Burn, UofSC Homecoming and the Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive, while also hosting a variety of student-favorite events throughout the semester.

Gamecock Entertainment is a group composed of several popular student-run organizations such as Carolina Productions — which brings live shows like carnivals, comedy shows and other unique events to campus — and Dance Marathon, which was voted the Best Student Organization in Best of Carolina 2022. Dance Marathon has a philanthropic focus in which they raise money for local children’s hospitals.

UofSC Homecoming is an annual week of exciting events, all planned and executed by a student-run commission, that concludes in a home football game. The Homecoming Commission partners with several organizations such as the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Dance Marathon to help connect people of different backgrounds and communities.

Homecoming is a time for students, alumni, staff members or just fans to come together and remember the school history and traditions, celebrate current students and build excitement for the future of the university. The 2022 Homecoming will take place Oct. 2429, concluding with the football game against Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 29. The time of the game will be determined closer to game day.

The weeklong celebration will include the annual Cockstock concert the night before the football game. While the artist for Cockstock has not yet been determined, previous entertainment has included Young Nudy, A$AP Ferg and Daya. Students will also be able to enjoy some entertainment at Spurs and Struts, a dance competition hosted by the Homecoming Commission, Intrafraternity Council (IFC) and

by Madison Lee

College Panhellenic Association (CPA), as well as the annual step show hosted in partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

While “It’s Saturday in South Carolina” has been a UofSC saying for years — getting everyone excited about game day — the 2022 homecoming theme, “Everyday is Saturday in South Carolina,” aims to bring that excitement beyond Williams-Brice Stadium.

The theme comes from a fan-favorite way to conclude the promotional videos played before the football team takes the field each game day: with the phrase, “It’s Saturday in South Carolina.” According to Homecoming Commission President Julianna Tyndall, the theme was chosen as a way to highlight all aspects of student life.

“Saturdays here are truly like nothing else. Between Soda City and Gamecock athletics and fun events happening around campus, there is something for everyone to enjoy,” Tyndall said. “With this theme, we want to bring that fun, spirited atmosphere to campus every day for a full week, and build excitement and school pride leading up to the Homecoming game on Oct. 29!”

While Homecoming brings together alumni and other supporters, it also connects current students, who plan and execute the week and all its events. The student leaders plan events, do advertising, contact vendors and run each individual event during the week.

“I got involved in Homecoming Commission last year and fell in love with the organization. It’s so fun to host a whole week of events that brings the campus alive and to see so much spirit in all my peers at USC,” Marketing and Communications Vice President Marianna Mast said. “I stayed involved in Homecoming so I could continue the great tradition we have at UofSC and to make a positive impact on campus!”

Any and all students are encouraged to get involved and can apply to be a part of the Homecoming Commission. Applications typically go out towards the middle of the fall semester — right after the Homecoming celebrations end — and can be found on Homecoming’s GarnetGate page or on Gamecock Entertainment’s UofSC website.

Another organization, the Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive, is a 38-year-old tradition that allows UofSC students to compete with our rival while giving back to the community.

Spanning over 100 years, the Carolina-Clemson rivalry is one of the oldest in the nation, but it goes beyond football. In 1984, both campuses came together and hosted concurrent blood drives in order to help South Carolina during the start of the holiday season when blood donations are typically at their lowest point of the year. The desire to help paired with the raging competition between the schools proved successful and sparked a tradition.

The 2022 Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive will take place Nov. 14-18. The main collection point will be in the Russell House ballrooms, but there will be several donation buses across campus to give easy access to students. The collection is done in partnership with the American Red Cross and The Blood Connections, which bring buses and set up stations all around the campuses. In addition to donating blood, students can donate their time or money by volunteering or participating in percent nights.

Like other areas in Gamecock Entertainment, the event is organized mainly by students, specifically students who are passionate about giving back. The blood drive committee works year-round to plan and fundraise and hosts the event when the time comes. The desire to beat Clemson and help those in need spans across UofSC’s campus, drawing in students from Student Nurses Association, Dance Marathon and other student organizations.

The donations from the blood drive go and help people in the Columbia area in local hospitals and blood banks around the capital city.

Students can sign up to donate anytime through the American Red Cross and Blood Connection websites, but walk-ins at the drive are always welcomed. The student leaders planning the drive encourage everyone to participate and to come together as a student body to help save lives but to also beat Clemson.

Gamecock Entertainment also plans recurring events throughout each week for students to enjoy. Thursday After Dark, or TAD, is a Thursday night event series that gives students the opportunity to get the most out of the

student experience on and off campus. TAD events include goat yoga, escape rooms, minor league baseball games and bowling. Gamecock Picture Show is an outdoor movie theater experience hosted in various locations including the pool deck at Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center and Williams-Brice Stadium. Tiger Burn, one of the oldest campus traditions taking place the week of the Carolina vs. Clemson rivalry game, features a giant tiger — built by UofSC engineering students — being burned down to represent us defeating Clemson.

Carolina Productions, another part of Gamecock Entertainment, provides an exclusive on-campus streaming platform called CockyTV+ to students. Done in partnership

with the Residence Hall Association, the service allows students to watch hundreds of movies and TV shows for free while being connected to the university Wi-Fi.

Gamecock Entertainment also hosts live events in the Russell House Underground, a newly renovated space in Russell House basement. Events include trivia nights, comedy shows and performances put on by fellow students as well as board and video games. The space is also available for student organization’s projects, meetings and bonding.

Gamecock Entertainment can be found on GarnetGate as well as Instagram and Twitter for those who want to explore upcoming events and get involved.

Photography by Emily Okon

Spiritual and Religious Life

by Will Kelly

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE of way to explore spiritual and religious life at UofSC. According to the director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Shay Malone, there are over 30 currently active spiritual and faith-based organizations on campus as of Spring 2022.

These groups include Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Hillel Foundation, the C.S. Lewis Student Center and many more organizations spanning across multiple religions and spiritual beliefs. The C.S. Lewis Student Center, an Anglican chapel located on College Street across from Capstone Residence Hall, serves as a “home away from home” to the students who frequent it, according to Father Paul Sterne.

In addition to UofSC’s spiritual and religious organizations, there are prayer and meditation spaces across campus available for students, including suite 470 in the Close-Hipp building and Russell House room 309.

“The purpose is to make sure that students have a space to practice their beliefs so that their faith and spirituality are affirmed,” Malone said.

Additionally, many religious affiliates in the Columbia area have a presence on campus, so if a student feels as if their specific beliefs do not line up with any student-led organizations, they will still be able to join an organization that will match their beliefs.

Carolina Welcome, a celebration that occurs at the beginning of each academic year, will have an InterFaith Fair to provide an opportunity for students to learn about the variety of religious organizations and join if they wish. Many organizations and affiliates will also host cookouts and barbecues during Carolina Welcome for students to visit, meet others involved in the organization and determine their best fit.

Every religious and spiritual organization can also be found on GarnetGate, where students can learn more about what each organization does and find contact information to get involved.

Photography by Emily Okon

Student Government

STUDENTS INTERESTED IN being a representative for their fellow Gamecocks at the University of South Carolina should consider getting involved in Student Government, as the organization provides opportunities for student voices to be heard and ultimately improve life at UofSC.

Student Government consists of a variety of involvement opportunities including positions as executive officers and within the Executive Cabinet, Student Senate, Freshman Council, Constitutional Council, Elections Commission, Communications Team, Government Relations and as members of university committees.

The Senate is made up of 50 senators corresponding to their respective colleges within the university, who are elected each year at the same time as the executive officers. The number of senators for each college is based on the number of students who are enrolled in the college. Senators draft, amend and vote on legislation that affects students and faculty on campus.

Freshman Council is exclusive to firstyear students who want to represent their

class through committees and make a change on campus. Students interested in joining Freshman Council are selected after undergoing a rigorous interview process from a diverse selection of candidates. Students do not have to join the Freshman Council in order to be involved in Student Government.

One way that students can go about making changes on campus without joining Student Government is by connecting with other students on the specific issue they want to see fixed, according to Director of the Leadership and Service Center Ambra Hiott. Then, they can bring those concerns to a member of SG.

The Constitutional Council is the judicial branch of Student Government that maintains the rules and procedures of the body and interprets the rules when there is a dispute on their meaning.

Government Relations consists of three lobbying councils. The Congressional Advisory Board meets with members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, the Legislative Action Network advocates for the UofSC student body to the South Carolina General Assembly and the City Advocacy

by Will Kelly

Commission works with the city council of Columbia. Each lobbying council works to progress student and university interests.

Student Government also has multiple initiatives that can be seen across campus. These initiatives include Garnet & Vaxxed, which tries to mitigate the effects of the pandemic for students; free airport shuttle service from campus to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport on fall break, Thanksgiving break and spring break; Carolina Closet, which loans up to 10 free professional or business clothing items to students every year; Stigma Free USC, an initiative that works to raise awareness of mental health concerns and encourage students to take care of themselves; and Swipe Out Hunger, which allows students to donate unused meal swipes to other students who are afflicted by food insecurity.

If students are interested in getting involved in Student Government, then they should visit the office’s website on sc.edu.

Photography by Mariah Perry

THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER (SSC) serves as a resource for students seeking any variety of assistance at UofSC. Whether a student is falling behind academically, feeling unorganized or struggling with prioritization of finances, the SSC can provide guidance.

While the SSC is particularly useful for freshmen seeking assistance when transitioning from high school to college, any student can benefit from a consultation. Some of the most utilized offerings include course-specific consultations, early intervention, population-specific support and academic engagement initiatives.

Course-specific support includes peer tutoring, supplemental instruction sessions and the peer writing lab. A peer tutoring session is a one-onone meeting with a tutor who has successfully completed the specific course. There are tutors

by Sarah Fulwider

for over 150 courses and an option to request a tutor for any course not already included. Supplemental instruction sessions provide an opportunity for students to join study groups, which are also led by a peer who succeeded in the course. Any paper, presentation, speech or written assignment can also be brought to the peer writing lab for help from students experienced in editing.

Early intervention options include the ability for professors and other faculty to make a report on a student they think could benefit from SSC assistance. Population-specific support and programming include consultations tailored to transfer students, sophomore students and more. Academic engagement initiatives have ranged from opportunities to establish connections with faculty, to sharing information about studying abroad.

Beyond those four main areas of support, the SSC also offers general advice. Students can come in looking for help in building their study skills, creating a productivity plan or attend a consultation in success through money management.

Success Center consultant Blaire Browne encourages all students to utilize the resources they are lucky enough to have here at UofSC. She recommends shadowing those that are more experienced, which might include UofSC professors and graduate students. The Student Success Center helps students to make those connections.

Regardless of major or what exactly you are struggling with, the Student Success Center is available to advise and help you succeed!

Gamecock Recovery supports ALL pathways of recovery. Whether you're trying to cut back or working the steps. Drug-free for years or sober-curious. You are welcome here.

Photography by Mariah Perry

Career Center

by Rachel Jackson

STUDENTS DECIDE TO ATTEND the University of South Carolina for many reasons. Some want to stay in-state, some want to go out of state, some come for their major, some for the SEC atmosphere and some come because UofSC has been rated one of the top first-year experiences out of all public universities in the country. The first-year experience is rated so highly because UofSC is dedicated to helping its students succeed. One program UofSC uses to help with students’ success is the Career Center.

The Career Center supplies students with resources that help them advance professionally, build lifelong developmental skills and help them create mutually beneficial networking relationships with other job seekers and employers. The center seeks to help students be successful in every step of the job or internship search, including career coaching, resume reviews, networking and preparing for an interview.

Some majors have job pathways that aren’t always clear, so the Career Center works to get students to think about jobs and opportunities they never would have thought about before. Throughout this process, Career Center staff members guide students through a variety of exercises to determine students’ values, ambitions and career interests to help students take steps toward the major and the career that is right for them.

“It is so important to find your passions early on and discover what things you like and do not like in a career,” senior associate director of Student Services Mark Anthony said, encouraging all students to visit the Career Center while at USC.

The Career Center aims to be as accessible as possible, offering appointments online and in-person through their job listing management platform, Handshake. Handshake also allows students to search for jobs and internships vetted by career studio peer educators, attend events such as career fairs and seminars, as well as work on networking skills. Handshake is

frequently updated to guarantee the most upto-date job listings, receiving over 22,000 job and internship postings over the 2022 spring semester. The Career Center is also available to help with the job search by matching students with mentors through a platform called Mentorship Hub.

An exciting new addition to the Career Center, the Mentorship Hub matches students with successful UofSC alumni and career professionals that can serve as a mentor to them and connect and learn from professionals in students’ desired job fields.

To open students up to new possibilities, the Career Center held an event called Explore & Engage, a two-day job fair event. The first day focused on what recruiters look for in resumes, cover letters and interviews, and the second day allowed students to have one-on-one time with companies to network and ask any questions about further job opportunities.

The Career Center also offers primary resources such as resume and cover letter reviews. After making a Career Studio appointment, students are able to meet with a peer educator that will guide them in creating the resume that best suits them. The peer educators will also help students write a resume tailored to the kind of job or internship they are applying to and help students navigate how to best stand out in their specific field.

“My favorite part about being a peer educator is seeing the difference the Career Center makes in the lives of students. By helping them revamp their resumes or cover letters and teaching them good interview skills, students are able to gain better internships and jobs,” fourthyear finance and economics major and Career Studio peer educator Terra Ryder said.

Furthermore, the Career Center offers students the ability to practice talking to potential employers with an interview preparation platform, Big Interview. Big Interview is a web-based program that can be accessed from any internet-connected computer where

students select their questions to practice their interviewing skills. The Career Center also provides students with in-person practice interviews with a career coach on Handshake.

For more information about the Career Center, students can visit www.sc.edu/career or access their account on Handshake to start scheduling appointments. Students can also follow the Career Center on Instagram, @uofsccareers, in order to stay connected.

Photography by Rachel Jackson

SUBSTANCE ABUSE Prevention Education, commonly known as SAPE, is “dedicated to promoting healthy, low-risk behavior and encouraging students to make responsible decisions when using alcohol and other drugs,” according to the office’s website.

The most common SAPE initiative that students interact with is AlcoholEdu. AlcoholEdu is an online education program that all students at the University of South Carolina must complete during their first semester. This online alcohol course measures students’ perceptions of alcohol use and abuse both before they arrive on campus and again after they’ve been on campus for several weeks.

Their office also includes a variety of different resources, including Gamecock Recovery. Gamecock Recovery offers Recovery Coaching,

by Will Kelly

free coaching to students in recovery from substance abuse. This coaching spans across all forms of recovery, from personal substance abuse to a student’s recovery from early substance exposure. These meetings cater to the students’ privacy and confidentiality concerns. According to Nikki Prudé, the assistant director of outreach and communication at SAPE, students do not have to turn on their microphones or cameras in the online meetings because the meetings are designed to work at the students’ comfort level.

STIR, a program through the SAPE office, is an educational tool that provides information on the negative impacts of substance abuse and ways to get support and make a change. Students can refer themselves or someone that they know to this program. The student referred will take a substance abuse assessment

that aims to provide a deeper insight into the student’s relationship with alcohol and other substances. After that, the student will attend three sessions with a STIR coach to offer insight as the student completes the program.

Prudé also mentioned that every student hospitalization from alcohol or substance overdose goes through the SAPE office, and those students end up going through STIR.

SAPE also hosts tailgates before a few of the home football games during the season, offering water and sandwiches to students attending the game — regardless of if they are drinking or not.

Overall, Prudé said, SAPE’s goal is for each student to feel comfortable in their habits when it comes to things like drinking alcohol.

Photography by Emily Okon

UNIVERSITY 101 is a course offered to freshmen here at UofSC that boosts the first-year experience. Often compared to an extended orientation, U101 provides students with resources and advice on academics, campus living, university life and the difficult transition to college in a classroom setting throughout their first semester of college. The goal is to make this transition less intimidating by connecting students to each other, their U101 peer leader and a faculty member that genuinely wants to see them succeed.

According to Executive Director of University 101 Programs Dan Friedman, the top two reasons students take this course are to make friends and to learn about all the university has to offer.

“Students report that their favorite things about the course are those two things. The course is absolutely working to meet those needs,” Friedman said. “People wonder why Carolina feels so small and personal, and this is a big driver of that.”

by Sarah Fulwider

The program is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. During that time, the University of South Carolina has been cited by U.S. News & World Report numerous times as the No. 1 public university in the nation for the first-year experience/University 101 course.

“Much of what the course was about back when it was created is still true today. That desire to make the university a more humane place; a place where students are going to feel a sense of belonging and feel like people are going to know who they are and their story,” Friedman said. “Students have a faculty member and a peer leader that are looking out for them and their best interests. They have the support they need to be successful here and to make the most out of their college experience.”

Given that support, U101 students have a higher retention rate between their freshman and sophomore year than students who do not take the course. Much of this support can be credited to the peer leader program. A peer leader is a rising junior or senior who has taken the course, gone through an interview and

training process and shows a strong desire to make a difference in the first-year experience.

“Over 97% of our first year students note the value of having a peer leader in the classroom,” Assistant Director for Peer Leadership Emma Reabold said. The impact left on students is lasting, but the peer leaders gain a lot from the experience as well. Peer leaders report significant growth in communication and facilitation skills, self-awareness and leadership skills.

“I think there’s a lot to be said for just the experience of having an impact on 19 people,” Reabold said. “There’s a lot for peer leaders to walk away with knowing that not only am I getting a lot from this experience, but I’m also having the chance to impact 19 first-year students, which is pretty powerful.”

Peer leader Steph Orr shared that she keeps in touch beyond the classroom with the students in her U101 classes. Semesters later, they still reach out to her to ask questions about the university or just about life in general. These lasting connections, along with the content taught in the course, present students with more opportunities in the university that they weren’t aware of or didn’t realize they were capable of.

Photography provided by Emma Reabold

In order to make that possible, the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) works with students with disabilities to provide personalized accommodations to ensure success throughout each student’s time here at UofSC.

Academic accommodations include receiving additional time on assignments, taking in-class assignments in a designated distraction-limited environment, early class registration, reduced course load and more. The SDRC also provides a meal plan modification which provides accommodations for eating restrictions such as allergies or food preparations.

There is an application process for utilizing the SDRC resources available to all students on their webpage. Applications are open throughout the semester; however, students are encouraged to apply earlier in the semester so that they can utilize their accommodations as much as possible. After the application is complete, the student must provide official documentation of their disability. From there, a registration meeting is held where the student will meet with their coordinator to review the SDRC policies, discuss accommodations that they have been approved for and learn about software they will use to manage their accommodations. Finally, the office helps the student notify their professors of their needs at the start of each semester.

Faculty, staff, students and parents are also able to submit a student referral form on behalf of a UofSC student if they are concerned about their college experience.

The SDRC is located in the Close-Hipp building. They also offer virtual drop-ins Monday through Friday until 5 p.m., which can be accessed via their website. All additional accommodation information is available on their website as well.

Students who need it are strongly encouraged to work with the SDRC in order to make their learning experience at UofSC better.

by

Will Kelly

TRIO IS A federal program that is designed to aid first-generation and low-income students. While in high school, TRIO students are exposed to college and higher education programs that help acclimate them to a college environment. TRIO programs give students “personal attention, planning and knowledge to strengthen national and state investments in financial aid,” according to TRIO’s page on the university website.

TRIO’s main goals are to give high school students as much information as possible about college and build their academic skills to help them transition more successfully. TRIO offers services like college tours, leadership training, goal setting, study skill workshops, financial aid workshops, college search guidance, SAT/ACT fee waivers and summer enrichment programs.

There are four programs TRIO offers to younger students and college students: Educational Talent Search (ETS), Upward Bound, Opportunity Scholars (OSP), and the Ronald E. McNair Program.

Education Talent Search encourages middle and high school students to consider college, and Upward Bound is a pre-college program

TRIO

by Kaylin Daniels

providing information and opportunities to TRIO-eligible high school students in Richland County.

Here at UofSC, the Opportunity Scholars Program (OSP) supports South Carolina residents that are federal Pell Grant-eligible, first-generation students at UofSC. OSP offers smaller freshman courses that are taught by a team of instructors that are prepared to meet the needs and concerns of students. Support includes tutoring assistance, academic advising, guidance on undergraduate research, study abroad opportunities, mentoring, workshops and cultural enrichment opportunities, according to TRIO’s page on the university website.

“I love it. We are called a family. There are a lot of events we go to and all of the people in it are in the same situation as you,” UofSC student and OSP program member Madison Bishop said. “We are all first-generation and learn things by ourselves, because our family members have not done it.”

Althea Counts, the director of the TRIO

program at UofSC, said she wants students to have a “global experience” while in college.

“We were able to get our own in-house study abroad experience for our Opportunity Scholars,” Counts said, recounting how students were able to spend eight days in Dublin, Ireland.

The Ronald McNair program helps eligible undergraduates in pursuit of a graduate degree. The program offers faculty mentoring, research experiences and other academic opportunities so the number of first-generation and lowincome Ph.D. recipients will increase. Students enter the program in spring, complete research in the summer and then go on to finish the requirements for graduate school by taking an online course.

The University of South Carolina has been sponsoring TRIO Programs for over 50 years, lending the support of the university in keeping the programs active and helping firstgeneration, low-income students.

Photography by Kaylin Daniels

Crossword #1

Across

1. Frisbee, e.g.

5. Stay fresh

9. Trash collectors?

13. Ready to pour

15. "To Live and Die ___"

16. Apple computer

17. Director of "The Rules of the Game"

19. Strip in the Mideast

20. Alternatives

21. Like clay pots

23. Shorthand on a map of Montreal

24. Jab

26. Sticky stuff

27. "Mystic Pizza" star

32. Sting operation

35. Competes in 10Ks

36. Jack of "Barney Miller"

37. Part of BTU

38. Narratives

40. And others, in shorthand

41. "Catch you later!"

42. Hefty wrestler

43. Chopin's "Butterfly," e.g.

44. Hammett's portrayer in "Julia"

48. Talker's "gift"

49. "... ___ saw Elba"

50. Classified info?

53. "It slipped my mind!"

57. Consumed

59. Vine valley

60. Big-mouthed pitcher?

62. Decked out

63. Humorist Bombeck

64. "Good Times" actress

65. Foul-weather friend

66. New Mexico art center

67. ___ majesty (high crime)

Down

1. Martial arts schools

2. Bumbling

3. It's represented by a star

4. "Pretty please?"

5. Nastassja of "Tess"

6. Roxy Music's Brian

7. "Night" author Wiesel

8. Models of excellence

9. Item that's often stubbed

10. Asian nanny

11. Intense look

12. Read a bar code

14. Support

18. Organic compound

22. Plunders

25. Pierced place

27. Protrude

28. Feel regret

29. Run after Q

30. Pond hopper

31. Dover delicacy

32. Part of a sentence (Abbr.)

33. Single-named New Age singer

34. Dead heats

38. Aviator's craft, perhaps

39. Latin I verb

40. UFO crew

42. Hosiery woe

43. Newspaper bigwig

45. "Sweet Rosie ___" or golfer Mac

46. Sports centers

47. Tail end

50. Bracelet locale

51. Old sword contests

52. Shopping frenzy

53. Cuzco native, once

54. Succumb to gravity

55. Australian gemstone

56. 1/3 of a war film title

58. EPA's concern

61. Medical insurance abbr.

Crossword #2

Crossword #3

Crossword #4

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Sudoku #1063 (Hard)

Sudoku #1063 and #1064 (Hard) - Free Printable Puzzles Puzzles.ca

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles easy to play and the rules are simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and e nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Additional Sudoku puzzles as well as the solution to these two puzzles can be found at the follow https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku

Sudoku #7 (Hard) Sudoku #8 (Hard)

Sudoku #1063 (Hard)

Sudoku #1064 (Hard)

.puzzles.ca/sudoku_puzzles/sudoku_medium_1067.html

Sudoku #1068 (Medium) oku puzzles as w und at the zzles ca/sudoku

Sudoku #1064 (Hard)

Additional Sudoku puzzles as well as the solution to these two puzzles can be found at the follow https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku

Crossword #1

Crossword #2

Crossword #3

Crossword #4

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles

These are the solutions to the puzzles located here

Sudoku #1069 (Medium)

Sudoku #2

Sudoku #3

Solutions for Sudoku #1067 and #1068 (Medium) - Free Printable Puzzles Puzzles.ca

5/24/22, 2:59 PM

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles

These are the solutions to the puzzles located here

Sudoku #1067 (Medium)

Sudoku #4

5/24/22, 2:59 PM

Solutions for Sudoku #1067 and #1068 (Medium) Free Printable Puzzles Puzzles.ca

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles

These are the solutions to the puzzles located here Sudoku #1067 (Medium)

5/24/22, 2:59 PM

Sudoku #6

Solutions for Sudoku #1063 and #1064 (Hard) - Free Printable Puzzles Puzzles.ca

Sudoku #1068 (Medium)

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles

These are the solutions to the puzzles located here Sudoku #1063 (Hard)

5/24/22, 2:59 PM

1070 (Medium) al Sudoku puzzles as well as the solution to these two puzzles can be found at the following web page: www puzzles ca/sudoku

Solutions for Sudoku #1063 and #1064 (Hard) - Free Printable Puzzles Puzzles.ca

Sudoku #1068 (Medium)

Additional Sudoku puzzles as well as the solution to these two puzzles can be found at the following web https://www puzzles ca/sudoku

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles

These are the solutions to the puzzles located here

Sudoku #7

Sudoku #1063 (Hard)

Sudoku #8

Sudoku #1064 (Hard)

.puzzles.ca/sudoku_puzzles/sudoku_medium_1069_solution.html

tion to these two puz

Sudoku #1064 (Hard)

https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku_puzzles/sudoku_medium_1067_solution.html

Additional Sudoku puzzles as well as the solution to these two puzzles can be found at the following web page: https://www puzzles ca/sudoku

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