Carolina Insider 2021

CAROLINA INSIDER

WELCOME BACK, GAMECOCKS!

The fall semester is one of the most exciting times on a college campus – and we are glad you are here! 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. Students are challenged academically to think beyond the page, 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 compliment your journey as a student. Here are a few tips as you plan your year back on campus.

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 nonpro t 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 di erent 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 to welcome all students back to campus and look forward to helping you create the experiences that will help you achieve your goals and make our community better through 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

CAMPUS RECREATION

By Matthew Goins & Parker Blackburn

As students return to campus this fall, Campus Recreation — “one of the biggest entities on campus,” according to coordinator of tness Jonathan Almond — will be in normal operations with all tness and sports programs returning. Additionally, the o ce is ready to premiere some new activities along with facility expansions and upgrades.

Almond said he believes that being active and staying t is a key to student success.

“We know that if we can get students to interact with us, they’re more likely to succeed, more likely to stay at the university and more likely to be healthier both mentally and physically,” Almond said.

The headquarters for campus tness is the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, located beside the Greek Village. Inside, Strom is home to three oors of activities including multiple weight rooms, racquetball and basketball courts, a swimming pool, a 52-foot climbing wall (the second largest in the SEC) and an indoor track that measures one-seventh of a mile. Outside, the complex includes another swimming pool, a large deck with lounge chairs, sand volleyball courts and multiple elds for outdoor intramural and sport clubs.

The Blatt Physical Education Center, located on Wheat Street south of the South and East Quad residence halls, provides more weight and cardio equipment, rooms for group exercise classes and squash and racquetball courts. It also houses the Outdoor Recreation (ORec) Hub where students, faculty and sta can rent equipment for outdoor recreational activities such as kayaking and visit the Bike Shop for basic repairs and assistance with bicycles.

During the abnormal 2020-2021 academic year Campus Recreation made some long-awaited updates to the facilities due to COVID-19. New equipment was installed in Strom with the refurbished equipment moved to Blatt.

Campus Recreation is working on a project to make outdoor tness an option at Strom. This project, expected to be nished midway through the fall semester, will transform the facility’s balcony into an outdoor tness area with cardio equipment, dumbbells and other functional tness on the re nished turf balcony overseeing the pool and Columbia skyline.

In addition to tness rooms and equipment, the recreation facilities are home to several group exercise programs with various formats, such as cardio, strength, mind-body and indoor cycling. A new BODYFLOW class (a yoga/ Pilates-style workout created by Les Mills) will debut this fall along with new indoor cycling variations. Students can buy an all-access pass for group tness classes and reserve their spots through the IMLeagues online system.

For students looking for personalized help with their tness, campus recreation has nationally certi ed personal trainers with lower-than-average prices ranging from $25 to $30 per hour.

Alongside the advanced gym facilities, Campus Recreation o ers an array of options to participate in team sports or take advantage of the extensive outdoor recreation opportunities in Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Club and intramural sports “show you the kind of community that Carolina is,” sports programs coordinator Justin Furlough said.

Intramural sports give students the opportunity to tap into their competitive side through athletics, even if they’ve never played the sport before. Intramurals are open to everyone with a CarolinaCard, with over 20 sports o ered each semester, including soccer, ag football, pickleball and more.

Chase Mullets, third-year sport and entertainment management student, said he enjoyed the “no-pressure environment” that intramural sports provide.

This year, students can purchase an individual pass for $15, which permits them to participate in an unlimited number of sports for the

semester. There will also be oneday tournaments for various sports including non-traditional sports such as spike ball and foursquare.

Tryouts are not required for intramural sports, and intramural leagues o er 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 signups begin on Aug. 1, and competition starts in early September.

Campus Recreation also o ers intramurals such as goalball and

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATTHEW TAYLOR / CAMPUS RECREATION

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RACHEL MELTON/ CAMPUS RECREATION

seated volleyball for students with visual and mobility impairments and physical disabilities.

“This is a great way to try and take this great uni er, which is sports and make it true for everyone who is here,” Furlough said.

Campus Recreation also has about 50 to 65 active sport clubs, which are student-run organizations that sometimes compete against club teams at other schools.

Sport clubs are usually more competitive and “tend to be more of a time commitment” than intramural sports, according to Lauren Martini Olsen, associate director for Campus Recreation, though some o er opportunities for players of all levels. South Carolina Club Gymnastics, for example, has two teams depending on experience and skill level.

“I think our club is extremely special in that we welcome everyone,” gymnastics club member and senior Ryan Booth said. “Whether you’ve been doing gymnastics all your life and want to compete against other schools with our competitive team or you’ve never touched a piece gymnastics equipment and want to join our recreational team, we have a home for you here.”

Students can nd a full list of sport clubs and information on tryouts on GarnetGate.

For those who’d like to take the adventure outside of the facilities or teams that Campus Rec provides, Outdoor Recreation o ers 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.

In addition to participating in the trips, serving as a trip leader is another way to get involved with Campus Recreation and even get paid to have fun.

“In my opinion, being a trip leader is one of the best jobs on campus,” said Grable Walls, assistant director of Outdoor Recreation. “You’re getting paid to be outside and lead other fellow students in outdoor sport activities.”

Students can apply for employment with Campus Recreation through Handshake. Other opportunities include facilities management and group tness instruction.

Whether you’re interested in scaling a mountain, swimming a few laps or playing in a table tennis tournament, Campus Recreation has something to o er.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MATTHEW TAYLOR / CAMPUS RECREATION

CHLOE CAUDILL/GARNET MEDIA GROUP

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE

By Mafe Balthaazar

The O ce of Fraternity and Sorority life works to transform life at USC through advising and supporting 49 Greek organizations across four councils.

This o ce 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 di erent areas.

Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Jarod Holt said he encourages students to be informed consumers in deciding to join an organization that supports their values and endeavors.

The 49 organizations that comprise fraternity and sorority life at USC each have distinct goals and missions, but all intersect under four common values: scholarship, leadership, friendship and service. With this foundation, members in Greek life have a sense of belonging and empowerment within a group that has “an understanding of where you’re at and is continuing to push you to grow in a lot of ways,” said Caitlin Burke, student intern with the FSL o ce.

Joining a Greek organization can help make the university feel like a smaller community for students. Each of the four di erent councils within Greek life provide students

opportunities to grow and enjoy their college experience. The four councils include the College Panhellenic Association (CPA), the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

The College Panhellenic Association supports 13 sororities on the South Carolina campus while 22 fraternities fall under the Interfraternity Council. Twenty of these 35 organizations are housed in Greek Village, which serves as a hub for Greek life relationships and residence for approximately 700 members of Greek life.

Five culturally based Greekletter 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 comprised of historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, o en referred to as “the divine nine,” only eight of which exist at the University of South Carolina. These organizations provide leadership opportunities for members and promote their well-being through the cooperative action of members across the board.

These organizations o en partner in a series of events during Greek

Week and Homecoming and hold their own individual events throughout the year. The social component of Greek life “helps provide that home away from home feeling,” Burke said.

In addition to opportunities within each chapter, Greek life o ers 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 Experiences and Greek Ambassadors. Students can further serve in leadership positions through committees and executive boards within their chapters.

Intake and recruitment for each council di ers. 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 lookout for Intake Orientation and membership intake programs organized by each chapter.

Greek life makes up approximately 27% of the undergraduate student

body. According to the o ce, student participants in Greek life achieve higher grade point averages and graduate at higher rates than students who are not involved in the community. 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 members have “a very broad range of experiences that they can take advantage of” as part of their student life at the University of South Carolina, Holt said.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

CROSSWORD

39 Fodder holder

40 Cheap booze

42 Opposite of NNW

43 Kept in the loop, in emails

44 Fluctuates

45 Dallas NBA team

46 Aired again

47 Actress MacRae who played Alice

Kramden on “The Jackie Gleason

Show”

50 Pro

51 Role in “Son of Frankenstein”

DOWN

1 Door frame segment

2 R&B vocalist

India.__

3 Conscience

4 Captain’s records

5 Works by Swiss cubist Paul

6 Thomas __ Edison

7 Martial artist Bruce

8 Come and go, e.g., grammatically

9 Major condition

10 Kindle download

11 Carpentry wedge

12 Chaplin of “Game of Thrones”

14 Essential worth

18 Cordial flavoring

23 “The Greatest”

24 Promote big-time

25 Sporty sunroofs

26 Teensy amounts

27 Church assembly

28 Greenery in suspended

54 Dog breeders’ group

56 Go off the board

57 ESPN MLB analyst

58 Military divisions

59 Range component

60 Hardy’s “___ of the D’Urbervilles”

61 Tolkien creatures

62 Greek sandwich

baskets ... or, phonetically, what 3-, 8- or 14-Down is?

29 Perfectly timed

30 Agreements

36 Brewpub orders

37 Unowned, freeranging pooch

39 Weigh station?

41 Galley implement

45 Gives a hoot

46 Beats but good

47 Three-handed game

48 “Psst! Over __!”

49 Grandson of Eve

50 Move like a bee

52 Finished

53 City near Tahoe

55 “Inside Politics” airer

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY

Complete the grid so each row, column, AND 3-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

CROSSWORD AND SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGES 49-50

STUDENT TICKETS

By Brianna Rao

Make the most of your student experience with the unique opportunity to cheer on nationally renowned Gamecock athletics alongside thousands of towelwaving and high- ving classmates — all for no added cost.

Free tickets to sporting events are included in tuition for full-time undergraduate students, and parttime and graduate students can pay an optional athletic event fee to receive the same bene ts.

“We are the only school next to Vanderbilt, I believe, that o ers free student tickets, so it’s included in that Carolina experience,” said Patrick Flynn, student ticketing manager and interim director of communications and marketing for the Department of Student Life. “There’s no reason not to take advantage of it.”

Attending games provides students the ability to make an emotional connection to their new home, pave the way for new friendships and integrate into the community.

“The Gamecock experience is one that really bonds our students together,” Flynn said. “They are the heart of the stadium for all of our athletic events … It’s really one big Carolina family.”

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 to baseball, basketball and football and monitoring rewards points that will help increase the odds of receiving in-demand tickets.

Student are allotted rewards points rst based on their year in school: freshmen receive three points to

start, while sophomore receive four, juniors get six and senior get eight points. All students can earn additional rewards points by attending any athletics event or by 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.

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 reward points and tickets are allocated accordingly until none are le , so those with the most points are virtually guaranteed tickets.

“It’s not a lottery,” Patrick Flynn said. “It’s not random at all.”

Soccer and volleyball are examples of sports that get started early in the fall and can provide an opportunity to earn reward points to help lowerclassmen get tickets to early-season football games. Joining the Student Gamecock Club also gives students three extra rewards points.

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:

Beginning at 9 a.m. every Monday during the football season, tickets can be requested by using the Gamecock Student Rewards app. The deadline to request is Tuesday at 4 p.m.

From Wednesday at 9 a.m. until Thursday at 4 p.m., students who were awarded tickets can claim their ticket to guarantee admission into the game.

If the ticket is not claimed by Thursday at 4 p.m., the ticket becomes part of an on-demand claim period. This allows those who requested a ticket but did not originally receive a ticket another chance to claim a ticket.

Students must cancel their ticket by 5 p.m. on the Friday before a game if they cannot attend.

If a student has a ticket but does not attend the game, they’ll lose ticketing privileges for the rest of the season.

For football, students can be given a ticket for either the lower deck or the upper deck. For the 2021 season, a designated student section will be created in the upper deck for the rst time.

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 at 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 hal ime 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.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE CENTER

By Holly Poag

The Leadership and Service Center is the central home for involvement, leadership, community service and civic engagement at USC. This year, the LSC will o er many returning and revised programs and opportunities to students who want a more well-rounded experience at Carolina.

For students looking to get involved on campus, the LSC is the o ce that helps oversee the 500-plus student organizations at USC. One of the earliest and most visible events the LSC holds, the student organization fair, features representatives from di erent organizations giving out information and answering questions from potential recruits. This year’s fair will be held in person on Aug. 25, in two sessions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m., on Greene Street.

The Leadership Center also provides educational workshops and one-on-one coaching for student leaders “so that they continue to grow their organizations, recruit students, retain those students, and really make an impact on campus,”

according to Joshua Cauble, the associate director for leadership and student organizations in the LSC.

One of the more structured opportunities for leadership development is the Close Family Emerging Leaders Program, or CFELP, which is an in-person, sevenweek 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 Leadership Center’s new programs is Camp Cocky Leadership Retreat, an 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.

“Students are able to come do some outdoor programming like ropes courses, climbing wall, kayaking and canoeing, but just engage with one another and learn how to be team members and do high-functioning teamwork,” Cauble said.

For students who’d like to give back to the campus and local communities through service work, the LSC has options ranging from connecting with dozens of community partners to hosting regular service events to spending a fall, winter or spring break doing a larger service project somewhere in the state or region.

One LSC initiative that provides a service to students alongside opportunities to serve the community is the Gamecock Pantry, which allows any students, faculty or sta with

a CarolinaCard to receive up to 15 free food and toiletry items per week in an e ort to help and bring awareness to food insecurity on campus. In addition to this ongoing resource, the Leadership Center plans to host a Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November, including a campus-wide donation drive called “The Great Food Race.”

The LSC also encourages student involvement in areas of civic action, such as voter registration drives and the Civic Leadership Education and Action Team, or CLEAT for short. 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.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

GARNET MEDIA GROUP

By Stephen Pastis

Whether you’re creating a podcast, directing a short lm, photographing a fashion shoot or covering the news, Garnet Media Group provides opportunities for hands-on experience in any area of communications, journalism or the media industry.

Garnet Media Group is the collective partnership between the four student-run media organizations at the university — The Daily Gamecock news outlet, Garnet & Black Magazine, Student Gamecock Television (SGTV) and WUSC-FM — and the four teams that support their work.

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

While Garnet Media Group does have professional sta members who support and advise students, most of the work is done entirely by students of all ages and majors.

“The quality and the volume and … what comes out of this area — I think it’s pretty amazing that it’s all student-created, studentmanaged and student-run,” Sarah Scarborough said, director of student media.

The Daily Gamecock is a studentrun news outlet that publishes daily online content, a weekday email edition and a few special print editions each semester that are distributed throughout campus and in the Columbia community. Students can participate as reporters and writers in four content sections (news, sports, arts & culture and opinion), and copy editors, designers, photographers or social media content creators.

“Through joining The Daily Gamecock, I’ve been able to gain a lot of great leadership experience, which is something I knew that I wanted when I went to college,” Lily Shahida said, arts & culture editor for The Daily Gamecock. “I’ve also been able to make a lot of great friends.”

Shahida said she has been working with TDG since she joined as a freshman.

The student-led magazine, Garnet & Black, 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 interest to the Carolina community, with special focus on social justice, arts & culture and local highlights.

“There’s a little bit of something for everybody, so it’s a neat place to come explore and make friends,” Scarborough said. “It’s your voice for the student body, which is pretty cool.”

SGTV provides opportunities in all kinds of broadcast media with everything from traditional newscasts and sports coverage to sketch comedy and short lms. The student sta of SGTV produces a variety of unique and creative content which airs on campus TV channel 4.1 and the station’s website, YouTube and Facebook.

WUSC is the university’s student-run radio station broadcasted on 90.5 FM and HD-1 Columbia. It reaches a 30-mile listening radius. WUSC is unique in that it is noncommercial and non-Top 40, so you’ll always

hear something new — not the same 10 songs being played on every other station. Student DJs can host free-format shows or specialty shows, which can focus on one genre of music or a certain type of content, and they can also participate further by working in one of the four o ces within WUSC — news, public a airs, music and programming.

Garnet Media Group’s studentrun 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 sta members. Advertising representatives connect clients with the many advertising and sponsorship opportunities in Garnet Media Group, and the creative services team provides high-quality graphic design services to on- and o -campus clients. The GMG podcast network includes shows covering topics ranging from social justice to sports commentary to fashion and style, and the marketing team focuses on creating informative publications and promoting the work of GMG.

Gracie Bryant is the marketing director of Garnet Media Group, and during her time here has gone from curious applicant to national award winner. A er a year leading the marketing team, Gracie earned second place for best marketing manager in a nationwide contest for student media outlets. She said she feels that Garnet Media Group is a great place to both build a resume and experience while also having fun and nding things to be passionate about.

“The biggest thing about Garnet Media Group is that you’re working and having fun,” Bryant said. “I think that’s where Garnet Media Group stands out: It’s fun, and it’s really exciting, but it’s also — at the same time — going to bene t you in the long run.”

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

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

CROSSWORD

70 Artist Chagall

71 Leg joints

72 Break loudly, as a twig

73 Not fooled by DOWN

1 Prince of Darkness

2 Nimble

3 Send payment

4 Latin “that is”

5 Baseball bat wood

6 Waves-againstdock sound

7 Divided land

8 Disbursed

9 Confirm, as a password

10 Against

11 Wally’s little bro, in old TV

12 Prado display

13 Mix, as salad

18 Court figure, briefly

22 Josh

24 Homes for bears

27 Had too much, briefly

29 Garr of “Tootsie”

30 Poetic black

31 Cod or Hatteras

32 Half of seis

33 Sources of much spam

55 Rent-a-car biggie

56 Industry bigwig

57 Movie critic Roger

58 ’70s music genre

59 Pitcher’s false move when on the rubber, e.g.

60 Persia, now

61 Beer for dieters

62 After the deadline

63 Comedian Carvey

67 Talk and talk

53 Crease-resistant fabric

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY

Complete the grid so each row, column, AND 3-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

CROSSWORD AND SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGES 49-50

MULTICULTURAL STUDENT AFFAIRS

By Mafe Balthazar

On a campus that is only 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 O ce of Multicultural Student A airs (OMSA) aims to ”support and advocate for historically marginalized identities” and make the community a welcoming environment through “education and opportunities for diversity and social justice for everyone on campus,” said Shay Malone, director of the O ce of Multicultural Student A airs.

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

For students, being part of historically marginalized groups “comes with its own set of doubts and problems,” fourth-year math student Nainaa Oberoi. Programs within the o ce “make it clear to them that no matter who they are, they’re going to succeed,” she said.

Oberoi serves as a mentor in OMSA’s Multicultural Assistance Peer Program, one of the longest running mentorship programs on campus, which pairs rstyear students from historically marginalized populations with older, experienced students. Mentors are usually one of their mentees’ rst friends and help them navigate their rst year of college. MAPP holds meetings and events to establish relationships between mentors and their mentees.

“It really is a family, you know, they make it a point to make the students feel like they’re at home,” Oberoi said.

Other support programs for di erent populations include a nity groups, which are designated safe spaces for groups of similarly identi ed 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 rst-year LGBTQ+ students.

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 hiphop beats in the background. Starting in 2021, a Luna Latina Monday, a similar event to HipHop Wednesday, will take place in partnership with Multicultural Greek organizations.

Identity 365, another program within the o ce, celebrates distinct student identities 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.

Malone says the o ce aims to create “safe spaces, not hiding places.” One of those safe spaces is the Intersection Multicultural Student Lounge, located in the lower level of Russell House, which serves as a physical space for conversations and connection within and between a nity 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 di erent identities, OMSA also strives to educate the broader Carolina community on

@omsaatuofs

important social justice issues. One of the ways the o ce 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.

OMSA provides more than 30 educational programs on subjects such as social justice and diversity, including a weekend-long 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 di erent identities, make a di erence in the community and become accomplished 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.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

OFF-CAMPUS LIVING AND NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS

By Mafe Balthazar

Moving o -campus can be a challenging task for USC students in a city that is as much college town as it is a small metropolitan environment. The O ce of OCampus Living and Neighborhood Relations facilitates students’ moving experiences and encourages the preservation of ties to the USC community and student experience.

Students are mostly required to reside on campus their freshman year, and most move o -campus following their rst year due to limited on-campus availability and personal preference. Students face a variety of options and challenges in this venture, which the o ce addresses through educational outreach.

Helping students nd viable living options o -campus is one of the o ce’s goals. A 20-minute OCampus Living Module provides an overview of the sometimesoverwhelming transition. Areas and neighborhoods surrounding the university include downtown Columbia, Cayce, West Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Northeast Columbia and Lexington. Living options within each can be found on a convenient resource that’s speci c to USC and Columbia: GarnetLiving.org. This robust listing site, which also allows students looking to sublet their living spaces to post for free, includes apartment complexes, duplexes, houses and other options.

Tools on the o ce website include a crime map and walkability score that help narrow down housing options for students. The crime map populates criminal activity in a speci ed area and the walkability map details a place’s proximity to

campus, shops and restaurants. In transitioning to an o -campus location, these tools help students keep safety and accessibility in mind.

Moving o -campus means students must interact and create living agreements with new individuals. Roommate compatibility can be a big factor in living experiences. Many students decide to live with friends a er their rst year. Those in need of nding new living companions can utilize the o ce’s message board to connect with other students in the USC community. Subleasing and short lease opportunities are also found through the message board.

Students o -campus may also communicate with landlords, other tenants and maintenance teams as part of their new living situations. In navigating these relationships, con icts that arise can be addressed with the help of Student Legal Services if needed. These services are included in tuition and are commonly used to review leases proactively to avoid con icts in the future.

Of the many factors that come with moving o -campus, not being under the umbrella of direct university supervision is one that comes with a lot of responsibility.

“Once you kind of move o campus you’re no longer just representing the university, now you’re kind of a community member at-large,” said Assistant Director of OCampus Living Blair Boozer. The o ce emphasizes the importance of upholding the Carolinian Creed and abiding by the Student Code of Conduct as Columbia residents.

The o ce’s website lists tips for creating positive neighbor relations and reporting problems within the community. In addition to students’ rights and responsibilities the o ce lists parking, trash and recycling, budgeting and safety resources.

The O ce of O -Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations, in partnership with Garnet Media Group, o ers housing fairs and expos throughout the year as opportunities for students to being their search. It also holds a yearly panel with property managers to connect them with resources regarding students’ well-being and a smoother o -campus transition.

Close collaboration with the Columbia Police Department, neighborhood associations, Student Conduct O ce and Student Government provides students a comprehensive guide on how to successfully manage moving ocampus. The unit o ers in-person consultations in the basement of Russell House in addition to online resources.

The O ce of O -Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations serves as a liaison between students and opportunities for living o campus, in e orts to help students “have an exceptional living experience,” Boozer said.

uofsco campus @UofSCO Campus

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

RUSSELL HOUSE

By Stephen Pastis

Russell House, the University of South Carolina’s student union, serves essentially as the beating heart of the Carolina campus. Located centrally on Greene Street between Sumter and Bull streets, it is constantly lled with students looking for food, friends, events and more.

“This fall, the former glory of this building — the high tra c and excitement and energy like that — is going to be back, and the real student experience that takes place in this building will be present for students to enjoy and engage,” Courtney Buzan, assistant director for campus programs, said.

Food is a top reason to visit the union. Russell House features a smorgasbord of dining options from exclusive restaurants with Asian, Italian and Mexican dishes to popular chains such as Chickl-A, Panera and Einstein Bagels. Healthy options are available at True Balance on the second oor,

and sweet treats are an option at Carolina Creamery on the rst oor. Restaurants switch out and change relatively o en to keep things fresh — such as with Fresh Greene’s, a new all-you-care-to-eat option on the second oor of the west wing of Russell House.

Other than breakfast, lunch and dinner, students can nd a variety of services and resources throughout the union. Student Postal Services, in the basement, includes package pick-up and U.S. passport applications. It is located across from the CarolinaCard o ce, where students can buy and replace IDs. Printing Services and a newly renovated event space, Russell Underground, are also located in the basement, along with the Intersection Lounge.

The ground oor of Russell House includes the Barnes & Noble USC bookstore and gi shop, and many of the lounge areas and dining options. The second oor

o ers a variety of seating and dining options, and access to the Leadership and Service Center, the Russell House ballroom and other meeting spaces, the recently renovated Russell House Theater and a campus branch of Founders Federal Credit Union.

The third oor includes a large lounge area, additional meeting rooms, the Carolina Styles hair salon, and the o ce of New Student Orientation. The third oor of Russell is also home to Garnet Media Group, the university’s student media outlets; Gamecock Entertainment, which hosts campus programs and events; and the senate chambers for Student Government, which is otherwise located in the Leadership & Service Center. The fourth oor is generally not open to students and is the home of Student A airs Technology Services.

Russell Underground, the newly renovated event space in the

basement of the union, will play host to numerous Gamecock Entertainment events throughout the year, including karaoke, standup comedy, dance parties and e-sports tournaments, and it will also be available for reservations.

“It’s going to be an awesome event venue that’s kind of unlike anything else on campus,” Buzan said. “It just has so much potential for what’s coming.”

Outdoor spaces such as the patio, Davis Field and Greene Street will also be available for reservation and use by the Carolina community.

“There is no building on campus that is more [for students] than the Russell House,” Ryan Gross, associate director for Russell House events, said. “If you’re ever looking, if you ever nd yourself saying, ‘There’s nothing to do,’ come to the Russell House; there’s something to do.”

PARENT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS

By Brianna Rao & Stephen Pastis

The O ce of Parent and Family Programs can help families of USC students nd all the information they need to help and stay connected throughout their student’s time in college.

The easiest way to connect with all the resources the O ce of Parent and Family Programs has to o er is to download the o ce’s mobile app. Simply search “University of South Carolina Parents” in the app store or head to the o ce’s website at sc.edu/parents to text the link to a mobile device.

Within the app, users have access to information on academic calendars, move-in procedures, nancial aid and tuition payment, campus safety and security, maps and options to contact the o ce for more individual help.

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.

“Campus will be lively,” Leena Holt, director of parent and family programs, said. “There’s a real opportunity to build a community, and by coming to Family Weekend, we create the atmosphere and the space for it to happen.”

Though the weekend can be particularly meaningful to rstyear students and their families a er the rst few months of being on their own, upperclassmen also participate with some families

attending the weekend every year their student is at USC.

“Family weekend is not just the rstyear experience,” Holt said. “I hope that folks recognize that they can come all four years if they want to. It’s just a place to have that Carolina tradition and be a part of that pride that we have at Carolina, especially around the football game.”

Parent and Family Programs hosts a tailgate party for attendees during Family Weekend, providing food, fun and family time before fans ll the stadium to cheer on the Gamecocks. This year’s Family Weekend will coincide with the football game versus the Kentucky Wildcats on Sept. 25.

Information on the Parent and Family Programs app includes event dates (Sept. 24-25), a registration link with package options, the calendar for scheduled events such as the tailgate party and Rock the Roost event and football ticket and gameday information. Registration closes Sept. 6.

Parents can join the dues-free Parents Association either through the app or through subscribing on the o ce’s website to receive monthly communications with updates on student life and campus news. In between newsletters, parents with speci c questions or needs can always contact the O ce of Parent and Family Programs through email at scparents@sc.edu or by phone at 800-868-6752 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 o down the line.

“We know that at a large university like ours, it is important to create opportunities for building and sustaining relationships,” Anna Edwards, associate vice president

for Student Life, said. “The Dinner Dialogues program provides an opportunity for students to get to know their faculty members in a di erent way and build relationships and community.”

Since 2006, the Parents Annual Fund has supported over 1,100 Dinner Dialogues meals. Parents can donate to the fund online and nd additional information on resources and programs that will support them, on the Parent and Family Programs website at sc.edu/ parents.

@UofSCParents uofscparents

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

GAMECOCK ENTERTAINMENT

By Holly Poag

Gamecock Entertainment, the university’s events and programming o ce, is “the main source of free and fun stu to do” on and around campus, according to the group’s uno cial motto. Alongside classics like Tiger Burn and Homecoming, GE will also bring in some new events to present to students this fall.

Courtney Buzan, assistant director for campus programs, said students can anticipate a semester similar to pre-COVID conditions.

“The basis of this semester is that it is your traditional calendar of fun,” Buzan said.

Buzan recognizes that Gamecock Entertainment has hurdles to overcome as they strive to spread the word about the events they plan to hold this semester.

“We know we have a challenge ahead of us to just inform students that might have not caught wind of GE over the last year, especially our [sophomore] students that just had a very confusing rst year,” Buzan said.

Gamecock Entertainment is primarily comprised of a few student-run organizations: Carolina Productions, which brings concerts, comedy shows, and unique events like foam parties to campus; Dance Marathon, the largest studentrun philanthropic organization on campus, which focuses on raising money for Columbia’s local children’s hospital; the CarolinaClemson Blood Drive, which will be celebrating their 37th year of giving back to our local community; and Homecoming, a group of students who plan a week of fun to celebrate the university’s legacy.

Ella Mays, president of the Homecoming Commission, said the theme this year is “Around the World, Destination: UofSC.” Mays said they chose this theme to promote inclusiveness during Homecoming. Mays said she is looking forward to welcoming students back onto campus and reconnecting with students who have missed out on some of the typical college experiences.

Gamecock Entertainment also manages a few recurring events and programs for student enjoyment: Thursday A er Dark (TAD), a Thursday-night event series that provides always-free entertainment like bowling nights, skate nights, and escape rooms at local Columbia venues; Gamecock Picture Show, an outdoor mobile movie theater that hosts free movies at unique venues like the pool deck at the Wellness & Fitness Center; and Tiger Burn, an annual Rivalry Week pep rally in which a giant wooden tiger constructed by mechanical engineering students to represent Clemson is burned down in a blaze of glory.

Carolina Productions also provides an exclusive on-campus streaming service, CockyTV+, in partnership with the Residence Hall Association, which allows students connected to university Wi- to stream a large and constantly growing catalog of popular movies and TV shows.

Throughout the year, GE provides events and entertainment in a newly renovated event space in the Russell House called Russell Underground where students can attend trivia nights, comedy shows, and student performances, as well as relax; play video games, pool and ping-pong; or even rent out

the space for student organization events.

Gamecock Entertainment has a page on GarnetGate for students who want to learn more and get involved in the organization or one of its many di erent areas.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

HOMECOMING

By Mafe Balthazar

USC’s annual Homecoming celebration is an opportunity to highlight and enjoy the history, traditions, people and places that make USC unique. Events generally center around the Homecoming Week football game, this year against Vanderbilt University, and bring together sta , faculty, students and alumni for a variety of fun opportunities. School spirit at the university can be observed year-round, but “Homecoming is a week of the year where it’s … ampli ed even more,” said Courtney Buzan, assistant director of campus programs.

Homecoming aims to strengthen the sense of community within the student body. All students are welcome to come as they are and participate with “no strings attached,” according to Buzan. Although the Homecoming Commission partners with certain organizations such as the O ce of Multicultural Student A airs, Dance Marathon and Fraternity & Sorority Life on campus, individual students can also nd ways to get involved.

A celebration that is as much by the students as it is for the students, Homecoming is entirely planned and executed by student leaders of the Homecoming Commission, which is part of Gamecock Entertainment. Student leaders reach out to groups for collaboration, contact vendors, market, plan and run the series of events.

Any student can apply to be part of the Homecoming Commission and partake in the behind-thescenes leadership that shapes the celebrations. The commission will begin recruiting a er this year’s Homecoming ends, and applications can be found on Homecoming’s GarnetGate page. It is an opportunity for any major to gain experience and have a “good time with people,” said

Homecoming President Ella Mays, a fourth-year visual communications student.

Homecoming 2021 will take place Oct. 11-16. The week of events begins Monday with an Olympics opening ceremony-type kicko and concludes with the annual Cockstock concert the night before the big football game. Students can expect to see the Spurs and Struts dance competition and Stroll-O , put on in partnership with the four Greek councils. A special Thursday A er Dark is also on the books.

The 2021 theme, selected to encourage inclusivity, is “Around the World, Destination: UofSC”. The student body includes many di erent identities, cultures and individual experiences. This year’s theme is a way to continue celebrating the tradition of homecoming while highlighting the diversity of the campus. It uni es students from di erent background and walks of life under the commonality of being Gamecocks.

“It’s just nice to live in that sort of optimism and realizing that we have the power to change things, and traditions are fun and important, but we’re sort of adapting the experience for college students as we go,” Mays said.

CAROLINA-CLEMSON BLOOD DRIVE

By Mafe Balthazar

USC students from all walks of life have come together every November for the last 37 years with a common goal: save as many lives as possible and beat Clemson.

The rivalry between the schools is among the oldest in the United States, spanning 112 years. Carolina and Clemson initiated concurrent blood drives in 1984 to give back to South Carolina communities during the holiday season, when blood donation is typically low. The idea of saving the greatest number of lives added a new element of competition to rivalry week and began a tradition of service.

One pint of blood saves three lives. The school that collects the most pints wins. In partnership with the American Red Cross and The Blood Collections, the rival schools’ competition has collected over 47,000 pints of blood, saving around 141,000 lives over the years.

Students “passionate about giving back” are the primary organizers and champions of the drive, according to Courtney Buzan, assistant director for campus programs. The blood drive committee works year-round to plan, fundraise, reach out to potential sponsors and run the drive itself.

“We really just rely on the students,” said Committee Co-President Julia Ballou, a fourth-year studio art student. “We really pride ourselves on that.”

The annual event brings together the student body through di erent channels. In addition to donating blood, students can donate their time or money to the drive through attending CCBD percent nights, volunteering during the drive or joining the Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive Committee. The drive also

partners with di erent campus organizations, such as the Student Nurses Association and Dance Marathon, that support healthcare in Columbia.

As part of a long-standing tradition, the blood drive directly bene ts the surrounding Columbia community. Blood collected through the drive goes into the local hospitals and blood banks of the city. The blood drive is “an opportunity to participate in school spirit and really get involved on campus while saving lives,” Ballou said.

The 2021 Carolina Clemson Blood Drive will take place Nov. 15-19. The Russell House ballrooms serve as the main collection hub, but more than 10 donation buses will be set up across campus. Students who participate or attempt to participate will receive either a 2021 drive T-shirt or a sweatshirt and be entered in a ra e for the chance to win other prizes.

Prior to the rivalry week drive, four mini-drives will take place to make up for the negative impact the coronavirus pandemic had on blood collection. These drives will be Aug. 25, Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2. The blood collected in the mini drives does not count towards the competition, but still bene ts local Columbia blood banks. Students who wish to participate in the mini drives will also be eligible to donate in November.

Students can sign up to donate through the American Red Cross and Blood Connection websites, but walk-ins at the drive are also accepted. Blood drive student leaders invite all students to participate and come together as a community to save lives and beat Clemson.

SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

By Holly Poag

Spiritual and religious life at UofSC comes in a wide variety of options for students. According to Shay Malone, director of the O ce of Multicultural A airs, 43 spiritual and faith-based organizations are currently active on campus.

These groups include St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Muslim Student Association, to Hillel Foundation, a Jewish organization for students, and others.

St. Thomas More Catholic Church, located on Greene Street, serves as a hub for practicing Catholics on campus. The church currently serves a student population of about 200.

One of Father Rhett Williams’ favorite things about St. Thomas More is its mission to provide a safe and stable place for students.

“I love this age; they’re striving to nd their call in life,” Williams said. “This is the most important time, the rst venture into freedom, so we try to provide some stability.”

St. Thomas More hosts a 24-hour chapel that students can visit whenever they please.

“They come in at all hours,” Williams said. “It gives them a safe place where they can come.”

St. Thomas More also hosts lake days, retreats in the fall and spring semester, and mission trips over spring break.

In addition to the 43 di erent faith-based organizations, multiple prayers and meditation spaces are available for students on and near campus, such as the Close-Hipp Prayer Space, Carolina Faith Center and room 315 in Russell House.

Megan Colascione, assessment director for the Department

of Student Life and liaison to registered religious workers, said the Religious A airs Committee, which oversees the religious life programs on campus, is adding a sixth prayer and meditation spot on campus this year.

“The Religious A airs Committee has really taken a turn over the last couple years to be super intentional with the student experience,” Colascione said.

She said the committee did a survey this spring with faith-based and spiritual organization members, as well as international student organization members and received helpful and informative feedback. This semester, Malone is looking forward to hosting more interfaith programming on campus, like the Faith Fair, an event that showcases the many spiritual and religious organizations available on campus. Malone and Colascione want students to know that if they have suggestions for religious accommodations on campus or the desire to start a new religious organization at USC, they can reach out to the Department of Student Life through the website at sc.edu/ religiouslife.

“We are open to hear that type of stu because that’s where we can put ourselves to work and help make it better,” Colascione said.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

CROSSWORD

67 Managed

68 Corpulent

69 Router button

70 Texter’s “Yikes!”

71 Bit of hardware

DOWN

1 Michael of “SNL”

2 Spell

3 Summer hrs. at Augusta National

4 Acrobat maker

5 Not as tanned

6 Forget about

7 Crave, e.g.

8 Tenth word of the National Anthem

9 Elementary math subject

10 Lounge around

11 U-shaped river bend

12 King or queen, perhaps

13 Goes after

18 Hold (onto)

21 Part of 46-Across

22 Dover and Edwards, e.g., briefly

23 “Pass the __”

24 __ kick: tricky football ploy

29 Asti product

30 Used up

32 Order to go

45 More angry

49 Detest

50 Fault

51 Musical endings

53 Grand Canyon animal

55 Thins, for instance

56 Rachel Maddow’s network

58 Volcano apex

59 Ore source

60 Strong taste

63 __ Spiegel

64 Legal conclusion?

65 Morning moisture

47 Only even prime number

48 Ka __: southernmost Big Island point

49 “Black-ish” network

52 Weaken 54 Pax __

57 Megahits, and what the interior letters of 20-, 33and 43-Across effectively are?

61 Sported

36 Hearty entrée

41 Classic name in shoes

42 Maker of BILLY bookcases

44 “MacArthur Park” songwriter Jimmy

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY

Complete the grid so each row, column, AND 3-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

CROSSWORD AND SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGES 49-50

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Stephen Pastis

Students interested in experiencing administrative politics and representing their fellow students at the University of South Carolina should check out Student Government. As an organization, SG provides opportunities for students to organize events and initiatives to improve student life on campus.

Consisting of the executive o cers, the president’s cabinet, a senate, freshman council, a constitutional council, an elections commission, a communications team, three lobbying agencies, and the members of university committees, the governing body manages a number of programs and initiatives that have real-world application.

The executive o cers — the president, vice president, treasurer and speaker of the student senate — are elected by the student body each spring semester along with the main legislative body of Student Government: the student senate.

The senate is made up of 50 senators and 10 committees, with the number of senators per college based on that college’s student population. The student senate passes legislation covering non-academic issues ranging from student organization funding to university policies and many things in between and is led by the speaker of the student senate.

The student body president serves as the main representative of students to university administration and supervises the executive cabinet, which consists of over a dozen students focused on various issues a ecting the university. The student body vice president oversees SG’s programs and initiatives on a day-to-day basis. The student body treasurer manages the Student Government budget and allocation of funds to

student organizations, assisted by a team of comptrollers who serve as liaisons to the more than 500 student organizations on campus.

Freshman Council is an entry-level opportunity for rst-year students to represent their class through various committees focused on enacting change and improvements on campus. Freshman Council is one of the main ways for new students to immediately get involved on campus.

Jerome Scott, assistant director for Student Government leadership, said he recommends incoming freshman and current students to check out SG because there’s a variety of positions to suit many experiences and goals, and SG provides outlets for everyone’s voices to be heard.

“My biggest piece of advice that I would say was honestly just to put yourself out there,” Scott said. “I know that’s hard for a lot of students joining something new, no matter what type of group it is.”

Other involvement opportunities in Student Government include the constitutional council, which is the judicial branch of the governing body and maintains the rules and procedures of Student Government, and one of the three lobbying groups that make up SG’s government relations area: one for meeting with members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, one focused on lobbying the S.C. General Assembly, and one that works with the Columbia City Council to advance university and student interests.

Outside of getting directly involved with Student Government in a leadership position, students can see the e ect of SG’s e orts all over campus. Students can donate

unused meal plan swipes to other food-insecure students using the Swipe Out Hunger program, and they can also give gently used business clothing to the Carolina Closet for other students to rent out and return as needed for interviews or job fairs. Stigma Free USC focuses on advocating for mental health care and raising awareness of common mental health issues. The airport shuttle program provides free transportation to and from the local Columbia airport before and a er breaks. And if a student has an idea for a way to improve campus that SG isn’t already working on, SG x YOU is a program encouraging students to submit their ideas, with the best idea receiving funding and

support in order to make it happen. Scott said he’s seen students make major changes to campus during his time, like creating a new green space out of an old basketball court by Woodrow Apartments or establishing a peer mentorship program.

Students can take a more active role in student life at USC by getting involved in one of Student Government’s initiatives or programs, submitting suggestions online at sc.edu/sg, or attending regular student senate meetings on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Senate Chambers on the third oor of Russell House.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVEN TAPIA-MACIAS / DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

By Stephen Pastis

College can be a challenge, but the Student Success Center serves as a one-stop shop that helps students achieve their academic and personal goals, providing support in everything from nancial advice to tutoring in speci c courses.

According to Dana Talbert, director of the Student Success Center, the center sees nearly 50,000 visits in a typical academic year, and roughly 60% of rst-year students use the SSC at some time in their rst semester and year on campus.

The variety of programs generally fall into four main areas: coursespeci c academic support, early intervention, population-speci c support and academic engagement.

Course-speci c academic support includes peer tutoring, supplemental instruction and the peer writing communications lab.

Peer tutoring sessions are one-onone meetings with trained peer tutors, undergraduate students who’ve previously done well in the course they tutor. The SSC o ers tutoring in over 200 courses and has an option to request a tutor for a course that isn’t currently covered.

Supplemental instruction sessions, on the other hand, are study groups that meet regularly throughout the semester and are led by a student, an SI leader, who attends course meetings alongside the students they’re working with. These sessions provide the ability to explore course concepts in an informal and enjoyable setting outside the classroom.

The SSC’s writing lab is another source for one-on-one support, with peer leaders o ering help with papers, presentations, speeches and many other types of assignments.

If a student just needs general support, instead of help with a certain class or assignment, the SSC o ers success consultations with peer leaders to help build study skills and plan for a productive semester.

Certain student populations such as transfer students, veteran students and sophomores might have particular needs or issues to deal with.Individual consultations and programming for each of the special populations are o ered throughout the year.

The Student Success Center also o ers professors and faculty members who are concerned about a student the ability to make an early-intervention report and help that student receive services from the SSC.

Besides academic support, the SSC o ers help with nancial planning and success through money management consultations, which are one-on-one meetings with a peer, and workshops that provide general information to groups or organizations.

Finally, the SSC’s academic engagement initiatives include information on studying abroad through the National Student Exchange and opportunities to establish important relationships through programming that connects students with faculty.

The Student Success Center is open to all, from a student just wanting a good grade on a mid-term to one who is struggling to make ends meet a er an unexpected expense.

“I think for students, it’s helpful to know that everybody goes to something from the Student Success Center at some point,” Talbert said. “There’s so many resources that we o er that it’s

normal for you to come and get the help that you need.”

Talbert said she advises students to come to the SCS “early and o en” because sometimes, by the time students utilize the service, it’s much more di cult to help get them on track.

@UofSCSSC @uofscssc

@UofSCSSC

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

CROSSWORD

49 Silents star Naldi

50 Original “Peaky Blinders” airer

51 Condition

54 Protected space

58 Longtime photo lab supplier

59 “Enough of the pity party!” ... and what appears four times in this puzzle?

61 “I was wrong. So what”

62 Slovenia neighbor

63 Valuable deposit

64 Very French?

65 Sometimes least, sometimes not

66 Super __ DOWN

1 Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse NBAers

2 Level for 4-yr-olds

3 Local tournament

4 Highland hillside

5 Early life stage

6 Cantina condiment

7 Eight bits bill

8 Good argument

9 Mil. branch

10 Chest

11 Chill

13 Enzo’s eight

15 Bed starters

17 Otherworldly

20 Like many supplements

23 Gretzky’s original NHL team

24 Weary worker’s sigh

26 Lith., once

27 It has a big heart

28 Self-serving intent

29 Distant prefix

30 Gather

32 Candle holder

35 “I’ll speak a prophecy __ go”: “King Lear”

37 Basic particle

38 Word with fly or go

39 NFL stats

41 ABA member

43 Wine holders

44 Skip it

45 Chief

46 Dreadlocks wearers

50 Quail gathering

52 Not threatening

53 Luau strings

55 Gothic romance novelist Victoria

56 Word on Irish stamps

57 GPS recommendations

59 Jazz pianist Evans

60 Due-in hr.

CAREER CENTER

By Parker Blackburn

When students pick the university they are going to attend, they usually pick based on a variety of factors. Some pick because of the location, others pick because of their major and some pick based on a gut feeling. Whatever the reason is that brings students to the University of South Carolina, the Career Center supplies students with the resources to help them advance professionally, build life-long development skills, and help build mutually bene cial networking relationships between job seekers and employers.

The Career Center o ers primary resources such as resume and cover letter reviews. A er making a career studio appointment, students will be matched with a peer educator that guides students in creating the resume that best suits them. They 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 speci c eld.

“I think that a vital part of my job as a career studio peer educator is resume and cover letter reviews, because you don’t learn how to properly write a resume in any of your coursework,” said Tanya Andrews, a fourth-year English student. “Students are going to want to come get their resume and cover letter checked at least once a year as they gain experience and knowledge, and we’re here to teach them how to take the experience they’ve gained at Carolina and tailor it to appeal to potential employers.”

If students are unsure of the career path they want to take, the Career Center o ers career coaching, a process in which students are matched with a sta member at the Career Center to guide them through the complex process of choosing a career. Career coaches

are then able to give students a career assessment that determines students’ values, ambitions and career interests to help students make steps towards the major and the career that is right for them.

“We want students to engage with us from the very beginning,” said Helen Powers, the director of the Career Center. “We want to talk with you about your goals and validate that you’re on the right path. We want to help you evolve and serve you throughout your growth at USC. You are a student at USC regardless of your background and we owe it to you to give you good information, to train you up, to prepare you to exit this institution being socially and economically mobile.”

The career center aims to be as accessible as possible, o ering appointments online and inperson through their job listing management platform, Handshake. Handshake also allows students with an account 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 network engagements. Job fairs are o en held at least once a semester and can be found on Handshake.

“Some majors have job pathways that aren’t always so clear,” Powers said. “So my job is how to get students to think about jobs and opportunities they never would have thought about before.”

To do this, the Career Center held an event called Explore and Engage, a virtual, hybrid, two-day job fair event. The rst day focused on what recruiters look for in resumes, cover letters and interviews, and the second day focused on students having one-on-one time with those companies to network and ask

any questions about further job opportunities.

Students also have the ability to practice talking to potential employers with the Career Center’s interview preparation platform, Big Interview. Big Interview is a webbased program that can be accessed from any internet-connected computer. Students select their questions and a professional interviewer will appear on their screen to ask them. The Career Center also provides students with in-person practice interviews with a career studio peer educator on Handshake.

This fall, the career center will launch their “Mentorship Hub,” which will match 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 eld.

“You don’t have to know someone who knows someone anymore,” Powers said. “We at the university know people, and they’re here for you.”

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

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAREER CENTER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

What is the best way to nd student organizations?

GarnetGate is the online home for our student organizations. Log in using your UofSC username and password to nd a full list of student organizations and events to get involved with.

How long are the time commitments for many organizations?

Most organizations have exible expectations around time commitments, so you can decide what level of involvement works for your schedule and interests.

Is it best to get involved in your freshman year or can I wait?

Most organizations will accept new members of any class standing, so it’s up to you. The sooner you get involved, the earlier you meet your lifelong friends. No two students take the same involvement path, so whenever you are ready to get involved is when you will create your own unique experience.

Can I get involved in student government as a freshman?

Yes, Student Government has a Freshman Council that serves as an entry-level opportunity to learn more about SG and allows you to build your leadership skills while being the student voice for the freshman class. Applications are open on GarnetGate now and will close on Sept. 2 at 11:59 p.m.

How do I start a new student organization?

WIth over 500 student organizations, odds are good that you’ll be able to nd one that ts

your interests, but if not, the rst step to creating a new student organization is to complete the New Student Organization Intent Form. You can nd this form on the Leadership and Service Center’s sc.edu website.

How do I join Greek life?

All fraternities and sororities at the University are governed by four councils. Depending on which council the organization is part of, recruitment and intake events will begin early in the fall but also may continue throughout the year. The o ce of Fraternity and Sorority Life o ers a guide to Greek life on its sc.edu website that covers the recruitment process in-depth and includes a list of important dates.

What type of radio station is WUSC?

WUSC FM & HD-1 is an all-student run, Non-Top 40, and noncommercial radio station. WUSC focuses on educating both the DJ and the listener about all di erent types of music by not playing songs or albums that have charted in the Top 40 in the last 40 years. Instead of airing commercials, it is sustained by support from local businesses and fundraising in the Carolina community.

How do I nd people who share my spiritual beliefs?

You can check out the Spiritual and Religious Life website on sc.edu. You can also visit GarnetGate and lter the student organizations by a ““Faith-Based & Spiritual” category to narrow the search. A few examples of faith-based student organizations are Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Hillel Foundation, and Muslim Students Association.

How do I nd underrepresented communities like me?

The O ce of Multicultural Student A airs (OMSA) helps represent the historically underrepresented community at the University. They help students create a community of acceptance for individuals as well as nurture an atmosphere of inclusion and positive social change through programming, events and The Intersection student lounge, which is located on the bottom oor of the West Wing of Russell House.

What are the programs OMSA o ers to rst-year students?

OMSA o ers a Multicultural Assistance Peer Program (MAPP), which connects students from marginalized communities with upperclassmen mentors who provide resources and support throughout the course of the program. For LGBTQ+ students, OMSA hosts Queer Connections, an event series focused on creating community and supportive spaces for queer and trans students. Firstyear students can also participate in OMSA’s social justice program, a 10-week certi cate program for students to learn about social justice and how to combat bias and discrimination.

What is Hip Hop Wednesday?

Hip Hop Wednesday is hosted by the O ce of Multicultural Student

A airs. It is a once-a-month event on Greene Street where students, faculty, and sta gather to socialize while a DJ spins new- and oldschool hip hop.

TICKETS

How do my parents get season tickets for Gamecock Football?

A Parent Season Ticket is a package that includes two season tickets to all seven home games, plus a

membership to the Gamecock Club for $750. Additional tickets can also be purchased for $350 each.

Which sports can you earn reward points for attending?

You can earn reward points by attending any Gamecock Athletics event.

CAMPUS

Is it easy to nd my way around campus?

Like any larger, urban campus, it may take a little time to get used to nding your way. Luckily, Southern hospitality means all you need to do is ask someone for help if you’re lost! In addition, https://sc.edu/ visit/ also features an interactive campus map to help you nd your way to and around campus, and a great strategy is to practice your routes to and from class and dining facilities before the rst day of class.

Will I need my car on campus?

This is truly a personal choice that depends on your speci c needs, but rst-year students living on campus commonly leave their cars at home since pretty much anything you could need is available on campus. While there are roads that cut through campus and parking options, walking, riding shuttles, biking and skateboarding tend to be the main forms of transportations across the campus itself.

Is it best to get a surface lot parking permit or garage parking permit?

The type of parking permit that’s best for you completely depends on your preferences. Garage spots are more expensive, but surface lot parking tends to ll up quickly and be in higher demand during the day. Some garages o er rst-come,

rst-served parking and some o er reserved spots. The best resource to help you make a decision on parking permits is Parking & Transportation Services, which is located online at sc.edu/parking.

What is the best way to make friends on campus?

Other than attending residence hall events and programming as a rst-year student, the best way to make friends on campus (especially for transfer students) is to get involved. Student Life has endless opportunities to pursue your passions and nd lifelong friends, including over 500 student organizations and multiple fun events and programs each week.

What is the student-to-teacher ratio?

The student-to-teacher ratio depends on the college, school, or particular classes you are enrolled in. General education or 100-level courses will typically be larger, while classes geared toward upperclassmen or speci c to a certain program of study will be smaller. To gure out the ratio for your college or program, go to www.sc.edu and nd your college’s home page.

How do I know if I have enough time to get to classes?

Practice ahead of time! A great way to make sure you can navigate your way throughout campus between classes is to walk the routes before the rst day of class.

What are UofSC’s vaccination and COVID testing requirements?

Unvaccinated students will wear face coverings in all buildings and in crowds throughout campus. Vaccinated students will not have to wear masks except in campus health facilities and on-campus transportation. COVID testing is not required for fully vaccinated individuals, but those who are not yet fully vaccinated must participate in mandatory campus testing.

What’s the best meal plan?

The meal plan selection really depends on if you want more meal “swipes” (speci c combo options at dining facilities) or more “meal plan dollars” (functions similarly to cash, but only in dining facilities). The All Access Plans are mandatory for rstyear residents living on campus and include a combination of swipes and meal plan dollars. To learn more about the meal plans, visit Carolina Food Company’s website on sc.edu.

What kind of laptop do I need?

It’s up to your preferences and needs for your speci c course of study, but the minimum operating system recommendations are macOS Sierra and Windows 10. To nd more speci c requirements regarding technology, visit the Division of Information Technology’s website at sc.edu/ technology.

Will my child be supported?

The university o ers many resources to support students during their time here at the University of South Carolina. Ombuds Services, including the Undergraduate Student Ombuds, Lisa Jerald, assists students with problems, complaints and concerns by o ering resources and referrals. For academic needs, the Student Success Center o ers students support services including tutoring and supplemental instruction.

Will I always get help with advising?

You will meet with your advisor every semester before you register. In the meeting, your advisor will help you de ne the best courses to select and the best way to help you achieve your academic goals. A er your academic advisement, you’ll be able to o cially register for classes. In addition, students who have more complex questions or are interested in changing their major can work with the Exploratory Advising team in the University Advising Center to

consider your options or prepare for an academic advising session.

Where can I use Carolina Cash ocampus?

There are numerous businesses and restaurants that allow you to use your CarolinaCard ocampus. California Dreaming, CVS, Domino’s and East Bay Deli all accept CarolinaCard, to name a few; to nd the entire list, visit sc.edu/ carolinacard.

SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERING

Are there volunteer opportunities?

Yes, the Leadership and Service Center hosts many service projects and opportunities throughout the year, including Service Saturdays and service trips during the university’s fall, winter and spring breaks.

When is the rst service Saturday?

The rst Service Saturday is Aug. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What is the Gamecock Pantry and where is it located?

Gamecock Pantry is a food pantry that was created for students by students. Once registered, students can receive up to 15 food items per week. The pantry is located at McBryde Quadrangle A. The physical address is 1309 Blossom Street.

What is the Carolina Closet and where is it located?

The Carolina Closet is an initiative of Student Government that provides business professional clothes to students at the University of South Carolina. Students can check out ve items with their CarolinaCard and exchange items throughout the semester.

FAMILY WEEKEND

When is Family Weekend? How do I get registered?

Family Weekend is an opportunity for families to visit their UofSC students and experience what college life is like! To register, families must purchase a UofSC student package, as well as a family member package for each individual planning to attend Family Weekend. There are two individual package options for students and two individual family member package options. Online registration is open now and will close Monday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m.

CAMPUS REC

How do I rent equipment from the OREC center?

A ordable rentals are available by the day, weekend, or a full week down at the Outdoor Recreation hub. Canoe rentals are only available by reservation.

What are the hours of operation?

Monday-Thursday 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Do I have to try out for intramurals? Which intramural sports do you o er?

Anyone can play intramurals. All intramural leagues are through imleagues.com. You can create a team, join a team or sign up to be a free agent.

CROSSWORD

53 With room to spare

54 Many a Dickens child

55 Wise, as advice

59 “Ciao!”

60 At a loss for words, and what the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across can literally be?

62 Greenside shot

63 Burn soother

64 Backed, with “with”

DOWN

1 Viral online item

2 Door-to-door cosmetics seller

3 Atlantic __, N.J.

4 “LOL”

5 Buck in a wallet

6 Cybertruck maker

7 Complainer’s “belly” ending

8 Like fresh chips

9 Drill sergeant’s syllable

10 Smart speaker brand

11 Netanyahu’s successor

12 Wombs

13 Poke fun at

18 Stadium sounds

22 Dove sound

23 Balkan native

ACROSS

23 Perceptive person

29 Sweetie pie

24 Only singer to have a #1 single in six straight decades (1960s-2010s)

25 Doomed

26 Spiced tea

27 Double play pair

28 Mild reprimands

65 __ Christian Andersen

66 KGB country

67 See 55-Down

31 Sheep bleat

32 Texter’s “Holy cow!”

33 Once named 35 Yacht propeller

36 Initial poker bet

37 Previously owned

39 “Outta this world!”

40 Victor’s shout 45 “The Last Jedi” heroine

46 Miso soup cube

47 Door fastener

48 Nebraska city

49 Agree to take part

50 GI truants

51 Old iPods

52 Nation bordering Libya

55 With 67-Across, like one who’s been stuck at home for too long, slangily

56 Verdi classic

57 “Oh, wow!”

58 Drain swirl

60 Sigma follower

61 PC “oops” key

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY

Complete the grid so each row, column, AND 3-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

CROSSWORD AND SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGES 49-50

CROSSWORD

46 __ Barton, first Triple Crown horse (1919)

47 iPad launched in 2013

50 Bolshevik foes

52 Allayed

56 Wee ones

57 Features of the answers to starred clues, from a trademarked sports term

60 Brood

DOWN

1 Ampule

2 Legal memo opener

3 *Severe legal penalty

4 Source of windiness, maybe?

5 College dorm figs.

6 NBAer seen in IcyHot ads

7 Machu Picchu’s place

8 Pipe __

9 Equipped with machinery

10 “Shoulda listened to me!”

11 Exxon merger partner

12 Inclined (to)

13 Knight’s horse

21 Moog, briefly

22 __ & Perrins: Worcestershire sauce

24 Departs

63 Setting of Camus’ “The Plague”

64 French friar

65 Return option

66 Abolitionist Lucretia

67 Shaker fill

68 Port St. __, FL

69 Stuns, in a good way

70 Shoe insert

71 Tatted up

33 Sorrowful sounds

35 *Incense-burning implement

36 Hit the ground

37 ’60s-’70s births

40 Brothers’ housing

41 Baccarat relative

44 Audition display

48 Land in l’eau

49 Meal

51 “Whee!”

52 Tiny leaf opening

53 Fling

54 Quite hot

55 Exclude from practice

58 Qualified

59 Chapeau’s place

61 Writer Wiesel

62 Work in the garden

65 First name in pharmaceuticals

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY

Complete the grid so each row, column, AND 3-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

CROSSWORD AND SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGES 49-50

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS

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CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS

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Puzzles provided by Tribune Content Agency ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

19

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SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

Puzzles provided by Tribune Content Agency ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC