The Daily Gamecock: Pieces of Home 8/14/20

If you have COVID-19 questions or concerns, call the 24/7 Coronavirus Phone Bank at 803-576-8511 of visit sc.edu/coronavirus.

STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 Follow these guidelines to protect yourself, your friends and the Carolina community

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COVID-19 tests available on campus and in the community

Practice physical distancing indoors and outdoors

COVER UP

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Put face covering in classrooms, buildings and outside when physical distancing is not possible

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KEEP YOUR DISTANCE

WASH YOUR HANDS Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap & water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

STAY HOME IF YOU’RE SICK Contact your healthcare provider for guidance

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DISINFECT SURFACES Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your residence hall rooms and off-campus apartments

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Cov e r ph ot os : Law s on e stridg e, ka ilee ko kes, j a m es m o tter, va nessa p urp ura C over p ho to illustratio n: Va nessa P urp ura

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Letter from the editor: Carolina is home

Julian Williams continues activism as USC’s first vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion

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Guide to socially distanced hang outs this fall

Online community building is essential for mental health, experts say

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Soda City brings community to vendors, customers during COVID-19

Black-owned businesses in Columbia

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Column: Use this semester to leverage virutual resources in your student organization

Column: Don’t move on from activism, move forward

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Column: Masks are constitutional

Saluda’s, Blue Marlin, Bourbon keep Southern food culture alive, support local farmers

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Gamecock Esports builds community for gamers

Rooted in riots: USC’s nationally recognized University 101 program was born out of student rebellion

Column: Students need to party safely during the pandemic

A sneak peek into the life, tradition of Sir Big Spur

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Take advantage of landscape at your universtiy

How to pack your fall picnic basket full of flavor

Villa Tronco fosters family, community through food

Column: Don’t memorialize losers

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Coping with quarantine: Students connect with family, friends during pandemic

Personal protective fashion: Mask everything but your style

Columbia takeout near campus

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Lexington couple starts Sweet Dreams Edible Cookie Dough Company

‘Fiercely dedicated to student success’: William Tate begins term as provost

Cotton Gin rebrands bar, Twitter

Campus organizations foster political involvement, action

CarolinaLIFE program helps students with disabilities pursue ‘big picture’ in college

58 Campus scavenger hunt

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Letter from the editor: Carolina is home E r i n S l o we y

“I

want to go home.”

Every time I am not in Columbia, I find myself saying this. Home used to be my hometown, but now even my Google Maps says otherwise.

Home is USC. I was in Columbia all summer. I probably ate at Corner Blend close to 40 times. I tubed down the Congaree River. I played board games and did paint nights with my friends.

The city has seen dozens of protests, battled the coronavirus pandemic and prepared for students’ returns.

And one thing has remained clear: USC is not the same without its students, faculty and staff.

Central to our stories, students, faculty and staff will drive the conversation on campus and in the community whether we are in person or online.

Even though we will no longer produce a weekly print edition, we will continue to report and inform our readers digitally through our social media, newsletters and website. This special edition is just one of two we are planning for this semester.

‘Pieces of Home’ celebrates the Carolina community — its people, places and cultures. From local Black-owned businesses to the history of U101, our reporters, photographers and designers told stories that encompass what it means to be a member of the Carolina community even in the middle of the pandemic.

Here’s to health.

P ho to : Wa rd J O lles

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Julian Williams continues activism as USC’s first vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion Ho l ly Poag

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ulian Williams was “one of the few Black students” in most of his classes as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan.

At the time, Michigan was in a legal challenge with the Supreme Court because of opposition to the recruitment of Black students and other students of color, a case that led Williams to become a student activist.

“There were some on campus that felt like students like myself had stolen or taken a spot that was somehow somebody else deserved or we didn’t live up to the academic standards of other students. And that really shaped me as an undergraduate,” Williams said.

His passion for advocacy lies at the heart of his career: On June 15, Williams became USC’s first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.

He said the transition has been good and “folks have been extremely welcoming.”

Williams has gone straight to work in his new position. In a student meeting on June 18, President Bob Caslen said he would form a committee with Williams and student leaders to address 2020 Revision, a list of demands to the university from student leaders to address diversity and inclusion.

“I think we’re on a good path,” Williams said.

“I think at this time, students are asking more from us as a university. They want us to really come to close the gap between our vision and our words, and our mottos around inclusion and diversity.”

Williams said he is excited to be doing this type of work during the “biggest civil rights movement of our time.”

“It just adds a sense of urgency to the

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work, but also for me synthesis and optimism because there’s so much momentum around looking at issues of racism and inequities and all of those things,” Williams said.

Jemia Williams, Williams’ wife, said she believes he is a great person for the job because of his relatability and unique talent to connect with students.

She also said his background working as vice president of compliance, diversity and ethics at George Mason University would help him at his new position at USC. “When we were at Mason, he was able to get their science and technology building named after Katherine Johnson,” Jemia Williams said.

Katherine Johnson was an African American mathematician at NASA whose calculations were critical to U.S.-crewed spaceflights’ success.

“That really made the connection to the students, students of color, Black students, women,” Jemia Williams said.

Julian Williams said at George Mason, his office worked to diversify the faculty ranks to better reflect what the students were asking of him and his colleagues, specifically their students of color.

“Now looking to hopefully do the same at the University of South Carolina, which has some different sort of issues that are facing the university, I think, but the opportunity to join a flagship university at this time was just one that I’m still really excited about,” Williams said.

Wendi Manuel-Scott, a professor at George Mason University, worked closely with Williams during his time at GMU. She said he is the type of person who “wants to make sure every student, faculty member or staff

member can show up fully and be respected for their full selves.”

“I think that Mr. Julian Williams’ open spirit and his willingness to dialogue, willingness to engage in difficult conversations is exactly the type of executive administrator that will be welcomed right at [USC],” Manuel-Scott said.

In addition to the 2020 Revision student committee, Williams already has plans for his new position at USC. Williams said he’s been working to set up meetings with students and faculty members.

Initially, he had an “onboarding plan” to go out and meet people, but because of COVID-19, he wasn’t able to do that.

He plans to focus on building inclusive classrooms and teaching methods and supporting diversity leaders in academic units.

He also wants to continue Dive-In Lunches to promote conversation with Caslen about diversity on campus.

“I do envision this event continuing, albeit virtually, in conjunction with other engagement opportunities as ODEI adds staff and resources to support the critical work of diversity, equity and inclusion on campus,” Williams said.

Williams calls for USC students to challenge themselves to “de-normalize racism, sexism, xenophobia, ableism, etc.”

“We must actively work against these issues through empathy and listening,” Williams said. “We can’t be afraid to question our longheld beliefs and must continue to challenge ourselves, our friends and our community to leave their comfort zones and engage with others around issues of equity and social justice.”

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Gamecock Esports builds community for gamers S e b a s t ia n L e e

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rom competing in national tournaments to weekly game nights, Gamecock Esports is home to a large community of both competitive and casual gamers.

Gamecock Esports is technically considered a sports club at USC, and while it might be less physical than most clubs of its category, it is structured similarly to other sports. Within each of the different competitive games, there are coaches, team captains, A-teams and B-teams and weekly practices which involve reviewing replays of previous games and scrimmages with other schools. Teams even travel across the country to compete in tournaments.

“It’s like a travel event,” said Gamecock Esports president Rodney Davis, a fourth-year sports and entertainment management student. “We go play in events, stay in a hotel, maybe play the next day maybe not, but overall it’s a lot of fun.”

Currently, Gamecock Esports has competitive teams for “Super Smash Bros.,” “League of Legends,” “Overwatch,” “Rocket League,” “PUBG,” “Fortnite,” “Heroes of the Storm,” “Rainbow Six Siege,” “Magic the Gathering” and “CS:GO.” Many

of those teams have found success, with the “League of Legends” team finishing in the top 100 of the nation, “Overwatch” finishing as high as top 10 and “Rocket League” and “Super Smash Bros.” both finishing in the top five multiple times.

The “Rocket League” team even has its own star player, Ryan Keith. “Rocket League” team captain Jared Stephens said Keith is “on the bubble” of the professional scene, meaning he has the skill to go pro but needs to have his “lucky break” in a game or tournament.

According to Stephens, a grad student studying information science, Keith is “one of the best players in collegiate ‘Rocket League.’”

In a recent game, the “Rocket League” team managed to defeat No. 2 in the nation, the University of Oregon. Stephens says said the game was a best of five series, with Gamecock Esports winning with a “blow-out” victory in game five.

Despite finding such success, Stephens feeks that Gamecock Esports doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

“For a team that makes it as far as we all do, but to have no recognition outside of just ourselves, it’s kind of disappointing,” Stephens said.

Unlike USC, other schools such as Akron have official esports programs with directors similar to athletic directors.

Colleges such as UCLA and University of South Carolina Aiken even have dedicated practice facilities for esport activities.

Gamecock Esports hopes to have its own practice facility in the future, and while not much has been finalized, it was working on developing it before COVID-19. As of now, the plan is for it to be a gaming cafe with priority or exclusivity to club members.

However, aside from its competitive portion, Gamecock Esports has a large casual community. The club hosts weekly game nights featuring games outside of their competitive teams, and even include board games in the Honors residence hall.

“If anyone’s ever interested, even the slightest bit, in games, not even if they want to play it at the highest level, being part of the esports club is a great way to make friends and really broaden the spectrum of interests you might have in gaming,” said Cameron Maund, fourthyear student and “League of Legends” head coach.

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Rooted in riots: USC’s nationally recognized University 101 program was born out of student rebellion Illustration: nicole frazer

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Nick sullivan

niversity President Thomas Jones watched from the second floor of the Osborne Administrative Building as the National Guard cleared protesters from the Horseshoe. It marked the first and only time tear gas was used on campus. Something was terribly wrong.

Students were dissatisfied — dissatisfied with the Vietnam War, dissatisfied with plainclothed policemen in Russell House, dissatisfied with student massacres at Kent State and Orangeburg. Everything came to a head in May 1970, when they took over the Russell House and, four days later, the Osborne building.

Jones was trapped upstairs alongside the board of trustees and Student Body President

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Michael Spears after protesters broke into and vandalized the first floor of the building.

Students were angry, and Jones wanted to know why.

He would assemble a team of faculty and students to diagnose and address the problems, and from the clouds of dust and tear gas emerged the country’s number-one freshman seminar program: University 101.

The riots The university was suffering from “growing pains,” the result of a rapidly increasing student population, according to university archivist Elizabeth West. Enrollment had nearly tripled over the course of Jones’ presidency, and a

disconnect arose between administrators and students, who felt there was a lack of communication and understanding.

On May 7, 1970, student protesters joined hundreds of schools across the country in an organized strike.

“The majority of those demonstrations were on more liberal campuses: Columbia, Berkeley, Harvard, University of Wisconsin Madison,” John Gardner, the founding executive director of University 101, said. “When the students at USC decided to demonstrate, let me tell you what, that was big news because USC is in Columbia, the capital of one of the most conservative states in the country. This, some said, was the buckle on the Bible Belt.”

trustees, resulting in the National Guard being called in and tear-gassing the Horseshoe.

Dormitories were also tear-gassed when students defied a 9 p.m. curfew. According to Bursey, students who had previously been against the protests began to shift sentiment when they were beaten, tear-gassed and arrested outside their dorms.

“There’s a point where the oppression makes your point,” Bursey said.

The legacy

Courtesy of university archives

The National Guard tear-gassing the Horseshoe on May 11, 1970. This was the first and only time tear gas was used on USC’s campus.

The strike was proposed to Student Government May 6, though memories surrounding the details are foggy. According to Brett Bursey, a lead protester, Student Government supported both the strike and the proposed takeover of the Russell House, which he said was no more than a coordinated effort to book rooms through the proper channels and host “teach-ins” on the war. Spears, however, said Student Government never approved of the takeover and only supported a “‘strike’ for academic freedom and protest of Kent State.”

Regardless, any potential approval was ultimately revoked when the South Carolina Highway Patrol was called in to arrest the students in Russell House.

“I announced that what was going on was not supported by Student Government, that all noninvolved students were asked to temporarily leave the Russell House, that more than likely law enforcement was on the way, and if you’re still here when they get here, you will be accused of being a mob,” Spears said.

Bursey, who had been banned from campus after vandalizing a draft board, communicated with protesters via walkie-talkie from Longstreet Theatre. There, he saw the highway patrol arrive.

“They were carrying shotguns, and I picked up and found an empty box of military issue, which is a little brown box with only a few shells in it, of what’s called 00 buckshot... which is to kill large mammals,” Bursey said.

“These people were loaded for bear.”

Forty-one students were arrested in Russell House that day, with Bursey making 42. The protests only escalated.

Osborne was taken over on May 11 during the arrested protesters’ hearings with the board of

In the aftermath of the riots, Jones reasoned that if students could learn to love the university, then future transgressions could be prevented.

“Jones, who [the students] locked in his office, was realizing that students were not coming to the university angry, but something about the experience was causing them to get angry, and also realizing that faculty didn’t understand students, and students didn’t really understand faculty,” Dan Friedman, the current executive director of University 101 programs, said.

his reputation sustained as a result of the protests, Jones soon after lost a vote of confidence from the board of trustees and resigned in 1974.

The future of this fledgling course was up in the air. Jones’ successor, President William Patterson, announced he would evaluate several of Jones’ initiatives, including U101.

“Everybody thought he was going to kill this program. He became an advocate for it because he believed in evidence,” Gardner said. “And we had evidence.”

Upon evaluation, Patterson discovered University 101 was generating a higher retention rate.

University 101 continues to generate evidence today. It was named the No. 1 freshman seminar program by U.S. News & World Report in 2019. The retention rate for those who took U101 in 2017 was 89.2% compared to 85.8% for those who didn’t, and excluding Honors College students, the difference was 88.9% to 82.9%.

The six-year graduation rate has also increased, showing a difference of 76.1% to 73.3% in 2012, the last year the data was available.

“University 101 was a response to a current situation,” Friedman said. “But we rebuild this course now every five years to make sure that it is responsive to the needs of the students and to the institutional priorities.”

Three weeks before his death in 1981, Jones invited Gardner to his home. At that point, U101 was on its way to becoming a national model for other universities.

“Everybody thought he was going to kill this program. He became an advocate for it because he believed in evidence.”

Spears and Student Body Treasurer Julianne Still Thrift worked with Jones in a series of retreats to discuss student concerns and how to better orient incoming freshmen. According to Spears, Still Thrift had “remarkably adult ideas” and led the conversations.

“When students like me were murdered at Kent State and the SC National Guard arrived on campus, my eyes opened. They never again closed,” Still Thrift said in an email interview.

“Very different from today’s Carolina leadership, our Carolina President was a thoughtful scholar.

Dr. Tom Jones was large in every way. With the Southern accent of his childhood, he loved us students and pointed us toward lives greater than our dreams.”

From these retreats sprang the idea for U101.

In July 1972, Jones officially proposed the first version, a course devoted to easing students’ transition into college, and the faculty senate approved it for a one-year trial.

Gardner worked with Jones and 24 others in designing the course, and after it was approved for additional years, Gardner was appointed as U101 director. Unable to recover from the damage

Courtesy of university archives Thomas Jones was the president of USC from 1962-1974.

“He took both my hands with both his hands, and he said, ‘John, I want you to promise me one thing.’ And I said, ‘Yes, Dr. Jones, anything,’” Gardner said. “And he said, ‘I want you to promise me you will never give up this work.’”

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COLUMN:

Students need to party safely during the pandemic Gav in C uff

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mid one of the worst regional COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, USC students need to find a way to party safely this fall, and the lively bar scene that USC is known for may pose a danger to the health of the campus community.

The bars and restaurants that dot the streets of Five Points are notoriously crowded. An average Friday or Saturday night, in the case of bars like The Cotton Gin or restaurants like The Salty Nut, means being packed in small quarters with potentially hundreds of others for an extended period of time.

It’s no surprise that those circumstances aren’t helpful in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and the indoor setting, poor ventilation and numerous uncleaned shared surfaces inside these bars only serve to make the problem worse. Five Points may be hard to give up this fall, but all signs point to it being a hotbed of COVID-19 transmission, meaning students should be ready to abstain from the bar-hopping – at least until the problem improves.

A better idea might be having a small party – but how can students party safely?

To start, take the recent headlines of deaths and infections from “COVID-19 parties” in Texas and

Alabama seriously. The final words of the 30-year-old man in Texas who died after attending a “COVID party” were, “I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.”

If you’re invited somewhere and you know you’ve potentially been in the vicinity of someone who has the virus, don’t endanger everyone else by going.

If you’re going to have a party, keep the guest list small. Try to invite people you’ve been seeing on a consistent basis and try to have a rough idea of where everyone has been.

Additionally, keep the parties outside if possible. In the open air, the droplets that transmit COVID-19 “disperse more quickly than they do inside,” according to Melissa Bronstein, director of infection prevention and control for Rochester Regional Health. Keep congregations outdoors, where there is enough space to spread out a bit and enough ventilation to help dissipate airborne droplets carrying the virus.

This might go without saying, but, even while you’re at a party, wash your hands and don’t touch your face. Vox reported that soap — any soap — “absolutely annihilates viruses like the coronavirus,” making it the easiest and most effective way to stop the spread.

Another tip is to avoid shared

surfaces. This means that everyone should have their own cups, cans, bottles, plates, food, vapes and anything else that could be shared.

Vox also reported that one of the most important parts of socializing safely is “avoiding these surfaces or taking steps to clean them before you touch them.”

Additionally, Vox suggested partying with a “closed circle” of friends that you see often and who have agreed to abstain from seeing many others. This lessens the risk that one or more of you contracts the virus elsewhere and brings it back.

Startlingly, the number of COVID-19 cases in individuals under 30 is approaching half of all cases in South Carolina. According to WYFF News 4, “since June 1 there has been a 436.5% increase in newly reported cases in the 21-30 age group in South Carolina.”

This makes it pressingly important that USC students, who are among the demographic in which the number of cases is exploding right now, take the threat seriously and make the right choices to protect themselves and their peers.

College kids will party, and that is unavoidable. What is avoidable, however, is contracting COVID-19 in the process. Be safe, know what is at stake and do your part to keep USC healthy and secure.

Illustratio n: Sa b rina ha m p to n

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SIR BIG SPUR Paige Davoren

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P ho to : C o urtesy o f Ro n A lb ertelli a nd M a ry Snelling Ron Albertelli and Mary Snelling pose with Sir Big Spur during Christmas time. Albertelli and Snelling have been Sir Big Spur’s caretakers for the past 22 years.

hile many Gamecock fans know to look for Sir Big Spur on the sidelines during a Saturday football game in Williams-Brice Stadium, most know very little about the history of how the Gamecock became a mascot.

“We see that as a large part of what we have done and continue to do is to educate Gamecock fans about their mascot,” Mary Snelling, one of Sir Big Spur’s owners, said.

Snelling and Ron Albertelli have been the proud owners of Sir Big Spur, who represents South Carolina at sporting events year-round, for about 22 years.

Snelling’s father first got her a gamecock in the 1990s. At the time, Ray Tanner was still the head coach of South Carolina’s baseball team, and Snelling and her father won a contest allowing them to have dinner with Tanner.

Shortly after, Tanner allowed the Snellings to begin bringing the gamecock to each game they attended. At the time, he was named Cocky Doodle Lou to honor former Gamecock football coach Lou Holtz.

Now, the mascot attends home baseball games, in addition to home and away games

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during football season.

On a typical Saturday in the fall, Sir Big Spur can be found in the midst of all the game day action.

About two hours before kickoff, the mascot joins his owners outside Williams-Brice.

Albertelli and Snelling answer questions from fans about Sir Big Spur and allow people to take pictures with him.

One hour before the start of the game, Albertelli and Snelling head into the stadium and set up by the flagpole near the student section and the band.

When Sir Big Spur first began attending football and baseball games, he was brought onto the field in a dog carrier. The addition of a goal post came a little bit later.

“That goal post had to have an 80-pound counterbalance weight on the bottom of it to keep it from tipping over, so that was quite an effort to walk down George Rogers Boulevard every Saturday,” Albertelli said.

Sir Big Spur now has a motorized, remotecontrolled cart that was built by Albertelli in an effort to make transportation easier on game days. The design for the cart was created

by a few students in South Carolina’s College of Engineering and Computing.

The Old English black-breasted red gamecock currently lives on a 28-acre farm in Aiken, but that will soon change.

Albertelli and Snelling will soon be handing the tradition over to Van and Beth Clark, who are both graduates of South Carolina and avid Gamecock fans.

“They invited us to the first football game last year to see exactly what they do,” Van Clark said. “My wife, Beth, loves animals, so taking care of animals is not a problem.”

Sir Big Spur will make the move to a 16-acre farm in Edgefield, South Carolina, where the Clarks already own several other chickens.

Despite a few setbacks in the transition process due to coronavirus restrictions, the Clarks are anxious to take over and carry on what Albertelli and Snelling have started.

“We really want to make it one of the best mascot programs in the country and really invest in it and try to move it forward and make it a model for other universities,” Van Clark said.

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Guide to socially distanced hangouts this fall

L ily S ha hida

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his fall will look different from any semester we’ve ever seen. From tailgates to study groups, social distancing and safely hanging out with friends will pose a challenge to Gamecock social life. Here are some suggestions for hanging out with friends this fall while staying safe and doing our civic duty.

If you have a picnic table at your dorm or a balcony at your apartment, outdoor dinner parties or potlucks are a perfect and safe social outing. Challenge your friends to a bake-off, fill up on pizza or each bring your own takeout — just stay six feet apart. For a virtual twist, video chat a few friends and each cook the same recipe, followed by comparing the outcomes for a fun and competitive evening.

During this time, it can be hard to find anything to talk about other than the current state of the world. That is where a fun game can be the perfect antidote to dull conversation.

A favorite after-dinner game prone to inappropriate jokes, the website version of Cards Against Humanity can be just as laughable

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through a computer screen.

The online game, just as in person, is best played with a large group, especially if you share your screen to watch each others’ reactions.

Many of us have watched plenty of television during quarantine, but though you might be tired of spending countless hours behind a TV screen, Netflix Party ranks high on our list due to the creative replication of watching movies with friends. The chat function and interactive GIFs make watching “Tiger King” from home almost as entertaining as it is with friends.

If you feel like you’ve watched every series Netflix has to offer over quarantine, it might be time for something different, such as a book club.

Book clubs are equally as engaging as Netflix Party but with a different angle. Assign chapters weekly and schedule video chats to discuss the latest readings with your group.

While TV marathons might be fun for awhile, there comes a point where we need to get off the couch and move. For many of us, quarantine has seemingly

zapped all motivation to stay active and get fit. Those who thrive off mutual motivation will love collaborating in online workouts. Zoom with a friend and screen-share Chloe Ting videos or meet on the Horseshoe and spread out yoga mats around a YouTube class — the options are endless.

Even though we have all spent more than enough time away from our friends, it can still be beneficial to take some time alone to recharge. Putting in the effort to socialize these days can sometimes seem more tiring than enticing, so if you need a new activity to perform from the solitude and comfort of your bed, online art classes are a great idea. YouTube tutorials cover anything from DIY picture frames to how to paint almost anything. This can also be done with friends virtually or physically distanced.

Friday nights will undoubtedly look different this year. Heading to Five Points after a long week is almost a USC tradition, but for the foreseeable future, it’s probably not the best idea.

Instead, try playing distant drinking games with friends.

Look up the “Never Have I Ever” iPhone app or search “Buzzed Drinking Game” on TikTok to find fun games that are easily screen-shared over Zoom.

If you’re comfortable using Zoom, but aren’t in the mood for a party, a regular Zoom hangout is a happy median.

With a maximum call capacity of 100 members, Zoom is a fan-favorite platform for virtual hangouts. To make things more interesting, take advantage of some of the lesser-known features, such as screen annotations and custom backgrounds, or coordinate plans for a spirited dress-code.

However you choose to spend time with friends this semester, make sure that you make it a priority to keep yourself and others healthy.

There are tons of ways to socialize without putting people at risk.

I llustratio n: Va nessa P urp ura

Online community building is essential for mental health, experts say N atal ie Hun t

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he semi-virtual return to campus this fall might pose a challenge to fostering deep connections with one another, but no student is alone.

A hybrid semester means reliance on a community that can exist online and continue to support mental health.

Casey Lee, a licensed professional counselor and relationship expert, said stress will arise “in a new environment with unfamiliar people,” particularly as the university transitions into a different format. Relationships factor into this.

“Distress in a relationship adversely affects our immune system and hormonal system and even our ability to heal,” Lee said in an email interview.

Meanwhile, the feeling of loneliness can lead to emotional isolation and raise health concerns by raising blood pressure frequently, Lee said.

Rejection and exclusion also trigger emotional and physical responses to separation.

Nurturing mental health is critical and could lead to a more pleasant experience this fall by embracing certain times of independence and understanding the human need for connection.

“It’s rare that so many people experience a shift in the world at the same time, but we’re all going through this,” Ambra Hiott, the director of the Leadership and Service Center, said. “If we’re starting to feel heavy, then that means that others are likely starting to feel that, too, and that should be the invitation to reach out and connect to others instead of isolating further.”

There will be many approaches to being social in this new world.

In attempting different paths, students might face uneasiness and hardship.

“We are entering uncharted territory,” Lee said.

“These potential experiences of rejection, abandonment, resentment or bitterness can threaten our mental or emotional health.”

No student has experienced Carolina this way, so Hiott said she recommends becoming more curious.

“Now’s the time to rise to the occasion, to develop yourself, increase your own selfawareness,” Hiott said. “Get started and recognize it’s not going to be perfect at first.”

According to April Scott, associate director of Mental Health Initiatives at Student Health Services, being part of a community is key to combating loneliness and isolation. Hiott said community and connection have “always” been “core to the student experience.”

“We are reimagining how to create those connections from a staff perspective, but, as always, we need students to also be seeking out those connections,” Hiott said.

Courtney Buzan, assistant director of Campus Programs, said one goal this year is to acknowledge that campus will feel different.

She said she encourages students to “build community within the means” they have.

Each student’s means might be different than those around them, but their shared vulnerability can serve as a source of comfort among all the discomfort. It will take “intentional” efforts to “maintain the momentum” to “push past the discomfort,” Scott said.

“You gotta start somewhere,” Kaci Latimore, a third-year university ambassador, said.

Lee said it’s fine to

struggle with making connections online.

“Sometimes the demands of everything is so great you may just want to isolate yourself,” Lee said. “Keeping up with a lot of people can be exhausting so start small and aim to connect with a few people.”

Latimore said if students try now, the effort can domino into more than a single connection.

Intentions can be big or small, but they will require showing up physically, whether that’s in a small setting or on a Zoom call, mentally participating and considering following up with what feels right.

“The key is for students to absorb that and reflect, and figure out what they want to do, and how they want to live their student life at Carolina and to take that first step,” Hiott said.

There are many first steps to take at Carolina.

Buzan said the opportunities for virtual programming are limitless and that Garnet Gate is a “one-stop shop” for getting involved.

“It doesn’t just always need to be a big scale event for you to have a reason to get out of your room,” Buzan said.

Getting involved with one’s environment, online community and peers can help lead the way to a more positive experience this fall.

Scott said students should set time aside to continually interact online, ask someone to hold them accountable and “lean heavily” on what resources the university has to offer.

“We all need to have the resources at Carolina on the top of our brains so that we can refer ourselves or our friends if we feel the need to use them,” Hiott said. “The key is to just be there for one another.”

Maintaining connections is a useful skill to keep conversation and relationships going regardless of one’s place in the world.

“There’s [an] African proverb, “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,”” Lee said. “We are stronger together.”

I llu s t r at i on : Nata lie Hunt

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Take advantage of landscape at your university N atal ie Hun t

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he beautiful campus here at USC is yours to take advantage of. As the great outdoors remains a safer option for groups to gather, the fall is the perfect opportunity to hang out and explore a variety of green spaces just steps away from your classroom buildings.

University landscape artists contributed their favorite spots to create an outdoor guide to hanging out.

T h e Ho rse s ho e The Horseshoe is the “centerpiece” where most students go to socialize, according to Tom Knowles, the director of grounds management.

“The lawn of the Horseshoe is used all the time for eating lunch and picnicking,” Knowles said.

Knowles recommends getting off the “beaten path” and exploring the “pockets” and gardens on either side of the Horseshoe.

“You can take a nap on the lawn under beautiful, mature trees; study by yourself or with a group of friends for exams; play frisbee; pet dogs; walk around the rose garden,” Sustainable Carolina garden manager Andrew O’Flaherty said.

R o cky br a nch cr e e k Shade and trees are something to look out for with the Columbia heat. Spots located near water might provide a cooling breeze.

“I’ve gone to eat lunch down a few times down at the Blatt fields, where [Rocky Branch Creek] runs under the railroad tracks,” Knowles said.

He said it is a quiet place scattered with picnic tables along the creek.

Across from Blossom Street, the creek runs by East Quad with open spaces to enjoy under the shade of trees, which Jones said is good for a bigger group, especially those students living in the quad area.

Spots like these can offer an escape from the busy campus grounds, and the presence of water can be soothing.

T h o m a s co o pe r l i br a ry “Of course a lot of people like the reflecting fountain and the pond out in front of Thomas Cooper Library,” Knowles said.

The library terraces have ample seating surrounding the building, and located in front is the Richard T. Greener Garden.

G i b b e s G re e n Gibbes Greene is the area just east of the Horseshoe. According to Emily Jones, the university’s landscape architect, it is one of campus’s highlights. She says people use this lawn area for frisbee golf and to sit on blankets.

A C m o o r e ga r d e n Jones said the AC Moore garden is a “very underutilized open space,” perfect for residents of South Tower and Patterson Hall to hang out in a gazebo adjacent to the pond.It is located at the intersection of Blossom and Pickens.

F o u ndat io n sq ua re Toward the other end of campus, the Greene Street fields are open along with Foundation Square. The square includes over 120 new trees, a canopy cover, tables and chairs and a city blue bike rental station.

Wi l l i a m s -br i ce fi e l d s Another place Latimore suggested to hangout and possibly play sports is on the soccer field right across from Williams-Brice Stadium.

There are so many locations on campus to disconnect from your computer and gather openly that offer opportunity for whatever your day has in store. There are plenty off-campus spaces close by as well.

Gamb re l l ha l l patio University ambassador Kaci Latimore recommends the third floor of Gambrell Hall’s outside patio for a spaced-out area.

“So if you want to have that cool setting just to look up on top and then see everything that’s going on over in the humanity side of campus, that would be one way just to interact with your friends out there,” Latimore, a third-year broadcast journalism student, said.

M axcy G re g g pa rk Maxcy Gregg Park is right across the street from the AC Moore Garden,” Jones said. “It’s a city of Columbia park that goes along Rocky Branch.”

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R i ve r wa l k Pa r k Latimore said the Riverwalk is a very “chill” spot and includes hammocks. be ne fi t s “Research has proven that spending time outside has significant and wide-ranging health benefits such as improved motivation and mood, reduced stress, and reduced risk of health disease,” O’Flaherty said in an email interview.

Combining the outdoors with some healthy recommendations from chefs on campus, you can boost your mood, get connected and enjoy the fall flavor.

P ho to illustratio n: va nessa P urp ura P ho to s: Ka ilee Ko kes, Va nessa P urp ura , C era Ha nsen

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he South Carolina fall is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors over a uniquely flavored picnic basket.

To start building your basket, George Hendry, the director of the McCutchen House, said he recommends the classic Palmetto cheese spread.

“You could always take crackers or bread and spread that on, or something like guacamole and chips,” Hendry said.

Potential appetizers include hummus and pita chips, cheese sandwiches or other foods that are “easy to pick up, finger food-wise,” Walter Jackson, the production chef for the McCutchen House, said.

For a starter, Jackson said he recommends a chicken tarragon salad or a fried green tomato BLT slider.

“You can actually buy frozen fried green tomatoes that are already breaded, fry ‘em up, they come out really nice, they hold up well, and just maybe on a slider bun with a couple of strips of bacon,” Jackson said. “That Na ta li e Hu nt holds up well.”

Jackson said a pasta salad with feta cheese and veggies topped off with a golden Italian dressing or a sliced avocado and fresh fruit salad with an orange vinaigrette also both hold up well.

“I have a black bean and rice salad that has a little bit of a bite to it ... You have the black beans, which are extremely healthy, and rice and beans make a complete protein,” Hendry said. Peppers can be added for extra flavor.

For a “fancier” option, a smoked salmon pinwheel, which is salmon rolled up in a flour tortilla with cream cheese or mascarpone cheese on it, might work. Jackson said the smoked salmon is “a little expensive” but holds up even at room temperature.

Most people think of chicken for a main course, Hendry said, and he suggested serving fried chicken cold or serving wings.

“You can do any kind of an assortment, from a hot wing to a barbecued wing to sweet and spicy wings,” Hendry said.

It is important to consider food temperature, ingredients and your environment when planning in order to avoid all risk of a foodborne illness. In dishes

such as pasta salad, it is especially important to avoid the use of mayonnaise, as this will enter the danger zone, or the point when bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses grow quickly, relatively fast. Hendry said eating refrigerated food sooner than later is the best way to avoid it, even if you’re using ice packs to keep it cold.

If you don’t have time for a full picnic, then try snacks that can “keep [you] going.”

Hendry said cheese cubes, pepperoni, red, yellow or orange peppers and almonds are options for onthe-go nutrition, in addition to legumes, beans or quinoa, which can also serve as toppings or sides to other food you might bring. He said he recommends taking advantage of local produce because it is not only less expensive, but you will be getting better flavor.

Some local flavors to consider during the fall are peaches, honey glazed carrots, roasted butternut squash soup and barbar pumpkin pie.

“With fall harvest coming around, if you can buy sustainably, locally sourced foods, that would be helpful for the community,” Jackson said.

The Sustainable Carolina Garden is an intersection of green space in our community and the foods we enjoy.

“The Sustainable Carolina Garden produces organically grown foods while regenerating soil and building biodiversity. No pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers are used,” Andrew O’Flaherty, Sustainable Carolina’s manager, said in an email interview. “Students sell these foods at the local farmers market and to USC’s dining services.”

The garden is “a beautiful place” where students and community members can learn how to grow produce and contribute to campus sustainability, O’Flaherty said.

Il l ust r at ion: Va ne ssa Pu rp u ra

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Villa Tronco fosters family, community through food Rita naidu

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n 1940, Italian soldiers were being shipped into Columbia to go to Fort Jackson, most of them hungry and homesick. Nestled just across the street from the Greyhound bus station, Sadie Tronco was there to feed them.

Originally a fruit store, the founding of Italian staple Villa Tronco was spurred by the presence of immigrant soldiers in South Carolina during World War II. “[The soldiers] really begged [Sadie] to make spaghetti and meatballs and pizza,” granddaughter Carmella Roche said. “She said, ‘Well, this is what I think they want, so I’m gonna do it.’ So, she discontinued the fruit business.”

Today, Roche co-owns the restaurant with her husband Joe, though Grandma Tronco’s The back dining room at Villa Tronco showcases the history and culture of Italy presence can still be found with its furniture and artwork. in the restaurant’s classic recipes and the black and white photos that line the walls of the dining rooms.

One of Villa Tronco’s most popular dishes and Roche’s personal favorite is the chicken soup, but it isn’t just regular chicken noodle — it’s made with pastina.

“My grandmother, anytime we were all sick or we had a new baby in the house, she always fixed pastina,” Roche said. “If you weren’t feeling well, that was the soup that you went to — you know, just a comfort soup.”

Roche herself was raised in the restaurant, and it’s the only job she’s ever worked. She started with taking telephone orders as a young girl, and in high school she progressed to waiting tables. When she married Joe in 1972, Roche and her husband took a more active role in the business, managing day-today operations.

“This is something you have to want, have to love,” Roche said. “Every business is difficult, but this is very challenging with all the things that would come up with employees, equipment, just day-to-day operations.”

The biggest challenge, Roche said, is finding

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employees who are dependable and will stay longterm, in part because of the volume of restaurants in Columbia.

However, Roche maintains a strong connection with USC’s campus, and many of the waiters and waitresses she hires are USC students.

“They all stay in touch with us, so that is very rewarding for us that we help these young people get through their college years here at Villa Tronco. They made enough money to pay their rent, or their college tuition or things like that,” Roche said.

Michal Talley, a USC graduate student, is one of the few who worked this summer after the pandemic limited Villa Tronco’s business. Talley is currently living with her grandparents who used to golf with Roche and her husband.

“We were trying to find a job for the summer before school started, and my grandma came by here and she wrote ‘Judy Stiles’ granddaughter’ on the application and they called me the next day because they knew my grandma,” Talley said.

Roche said she considers her staff like family, from the short-term servers to the longstanding kitchen staff, including chef Nate Skipper. Skipper has worked for Villa Tronco for 12 years and said the atmosphere is very family-like.

“We’ve all been involved in each other’s marriages and weddings and stuff like that, so it goes beyond the restaurant,” he said.

During Christmas, Roche said there is an internal party as a thank you for the work that year, and sometimes the Roches even buy tickets to Fireflies games for the staff.

This past May was Villa Tronco’s 80th anniversary, but planned festivities had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Though Roche said she was disappointed, she’s also determined to bounce back.

“My family worked so hard through the years to build our business and to make it such a successful business,” she said, “We’ll do everything we can to come back and make it right.”

A chef at Villa Tronco prepares dough to make bread for to-go orders.

P ho to s: C era Ha nsen

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COLUMN:

Don’t memorialize losers H a l e y B o ro w y

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enaming buildings on campus or taking down statues shouldn’t be hard, yet here we are.

Before it was taken down on June 24, the statue of John C. Calhoun towered over Charleston at 115 feet. Every time I went downtown, it was uncomfortably hard to miss. It made me uneasy, seeing the monument depict a guy who thought slavery was the coolest thing before sliced bread. Nearby, a street still bears his name.

Now what does it say if I, a white person, find that uncomfortable? Worse, what does it say if, since its erection in 1896, the city of Charleston decided Calhoun was the best person to have the most visible statue of?

Changing the names of buildings and monuments is not erasing history, but rather it is illuminating the parts that have always been there and quieting the parts that we, as a society, have agreed to find repulsive. This state is home to so many people on the right side of history, so one should wonder why we honor slaveholders, segregationists or those who, at the bare minimum, had terrible professional ethics.

Regardless of what some say, naming a building after or having a monument of someone is not simply “remembering history.” It is honoring someone, glorifying both them and their beliefs and actions. That is what naming something after someone or erecting a statue of them means. So why must we remember people who, by all modern accounts, are losers?

Because that’s what people who experimented on enslaved women, who advocated for or actually fought in a war for slavery; who, in the most anticlimactic of all of these, refused to let women play in their golf club, are. They’re losers: They lost the battle for dominance over how society views certain things.

Ignoring any moral argument, losers should not get statues or buildings.

The Heritage Act was created only as a compromise to remove the Confederate

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flag from government buildings in the 2000s as a way to ensure that statues of racists and surrenderers — literal losers — would be permanent.

Those who say it is impossible to find an “unproblematic” person to replace statues or building names with are right, to a degree. People are complex and multifaceted; it is a question of how much their good deeds outweigh the bad ones. However, there are an infinite number of trailblazers and heroes whose main and most significant beliefs, values and actions reflect what we as a society have deemed, at some level, brave and respectable.

Why name a recital hall after some dead Georgian who refused to let women into the Masters when it could be named after the first African American player in the U.S. National Championships and Wimbledon, who also happened to be a woman? Althea Gibson is a South Carolina native. Or what about Lucile Ellerbe Godbold, who broke the world’s record in eight-pound shot put and was the first woman inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame?

Now that Sims is officially having its name changed, we could name it after Dr. Matilda Evans, the first Black woman licensed to practice medicine in the state, and who was the only one in the country to head a state medical association in 1922.

Why must Thornwell Residence Hall, Harper College, Wade Hampton in Women’s Quad or Preston Residential College be named after ardent supporters of slavery?

Sarah Grimké and Angelina Grimké Weld were sisters whose parents were wealthy

Illustratio n: Step ha nie A llen

slave owners and who grew up to become ardent abolitionists. Joseph Hayne Rainey, a South Carolinian as well, was the first Black U.S. Representative to take his seat.

Do the histories of Gibson or Godbold or Evans or the Grimkés or Rainey deserve less honor or attention than those for whom whole buildings are honored, when they present far better moral values to not only USC students but anyone, from anywhere, that may come on our campus?

We walk past the names of these buildings every day. We have class in them for hours, we live in them, and some of us even work in them. Why not make them actually stand for something?

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Soda City brings community to vendors, customers during COVID-19 Ka i l e y C o ta

Tashana Jamison created Carolina Clutches in 2015 for people who didn’t have a cute bag to hold their belongings in at tailgates. She is a Soda City regular.

Andy and Jessie Natusch stand in front of their Soda City stand.

Andy Natusch started the company in 2011 with the goal of producing better quality shirts and sustaining the environment.

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Ph ot o: Cou r t e sy of Ta s h a n a Ja mi s on

P hot o: Cou r t e sy of A n dy a n d Je s s i e N at u s ch

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SC students might be living life differently than they did in 2019, but at least Columbia’s Saturday morning staple remains intact — Soda City Market.

With new rules to keep everyone safe, customers can get back to shopping and vendors can make their livelihood.

USC alumna Tashana Jamison landed on a problem she wanted to solve when she noticed that college girls didn’t seem to have a cute purse to hold their belongings in at tailgates. She started Carolina Clutches in 2015, and Jamison has worked as owner, designer and seamstress full time since 2018.

Now an evergreen vendor, or someone who consistently sets up shop, Jamison has been coming to Soda City since 2016.

“Soda City was crucial for me growing my market here in Columbia because before me going to Soda City, no one knew about me,” Jamison said.

While Jamison found her muse in Columbia, another Soda City vendor, Shana Bertetto, had inspiration strike in South America, where she decided to travel after she graduated from USC. While she was there, the locals taught her a jewelry technique called micromacramé. The technique uses South American gemstones and wax-coated strings from Brazil.

Bertetto ties thousands of tiny knots to make each piece.

She started her own company, Hermana Luna Jewelry, in 2016.

Bertetto spends half the year in Columbia and lives in Peru, making jewelry with her partner, Víctor Manrique, the other half of the time. “[Our jewelry] was really well received, our stuff, ‘cause our style’s pretty unique,” Bertetto said. “The Soda City Market is just so cool. It really resembles street markets in other countries, you know; it’s super diverse, and the energy’s so high.”

Like Jamison’s business, the idea for Artisan Tees came when

one of its owners, Andy Natusch, wanted to solve a problem.

His wife, Jessie, said he “loved graphic T-shirts” but thought good quality graphic tees were hard to find — his shirts would wear down after barely being worn. He started Artisan Tees in 2011 with the goal of producing better quality shirts, while helping sustain the environment, through the use of “water-based, eco-friendly ink” in all of his products. The company also plants a tree for every website sale.

Jessie Natusch joined Artisan Tees full time about three years ago. The business has been an evergreen vendor at Soda City for nearly eight years, she said.

They also set up shop most Sundays at Charleston’s Sunday Brunch Farmers Market.

Each of these vendors said they love different aspects of Soda City, and they all agree the people are what make it special.

From a business perspective, the largeness of Soda City and its ability to attract customers is a draw for vendors.

“I found that Soda City has such an influx of people,” Jamison said. “It was just neat to see that all these people would … come to Soda City just to shop and see the local handmade vendors that were there.”

Its size also gives vendors the chance to make friends. Natusch said it’s “a nice community.”

“Farmers markets … just bring out the best people,” Natusch said. “The other vendors usually just become like family. You see them every week and you talk about your whole life and you get really close.”

Bertetto said she loves the diversity of Soda City and the conversations that come with meeting different people. One of her favorite topics to tell others about is her partner, who is unable to travel to the United States.

“That’s really, also, a nice dialogue to have about immigration; just realizing how hard it is for, you know, just

regular people from poorer countries to come to the U.S.,” Bertetto said. “I see people admiring his jewelry and buying it, and I send him money, so I’m able to support him.”

The recent global challenge of COVID-19 caused Jamison to pivot her business from producing handbags and accessories to producing masks. At the beginning of the pandemic, one of Jamison’s customers asked her to make a face mask she could wear while traveling. After it was a success, she said she realized she was “ahead of the game” and got to work.

Jamison said establishing a market base at Soda City allowed her to prove her business to Columbia locals. Now, people all over the country are aware of her work.

Hollywood actress Meagan Good found out about Carolina Clutches in April. She posted a

tagged video of her wearing an animal print mask, which drew more than 775,000 views.

Jamison gained thousands of followers and was able to hire her mother and two other employees to help her make face masks. She said she is looking to hire a student intern, too.

While Carolina Clutches flourished during lockdown, the owners of Hermana Luna Jewelry and Artisan Tees said they believe there isn’t a replacement for market days. “[Markets] are kind of our bread and butter,” Natusch said. “I think when people can just see the shirts in person and can touch them, they just sell so well that way.”

Soda City implemented several safety measures to ensure people can shop while staying healthy. In accordance with Columbia’s policy, all vendors and customers are required to wear face masks and

maintain social distance.

Additionally, Soda City posted a public safety plan that outlines new guidelines, such as extra staff, alternating booth spacing and temporarily stopping busking and street entertainment. All vendors also signed the Resilient Columbia pledge, which is a commitment to helping reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

In addition to following these guidelines, Jamison, Bertetto and the Natuschs provide hand sanitizer for customers that want to touch any of their items.

“As a business owner, if we aren’t healthy, we cannot operate,” Jamison said. “I just pray that the customers that I have ... are very intentional and careful about protecting themselves as much as they are about me. You understand? It’s just kind of having that mutual respect.”

P ho to : C o urtesy o f Sha na B ertetto Shana Bertetto shows one of her handmade bracelets made with a micro-macramé technique. Here she uses the bumblebee jasper stone.

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BLACK-OWNED Businesses in Columbia Gourmet fair food joint Greedy Rascals invites customers to ‘stay greedy’

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N i c k S ul l iva n verybody is greedy.

At least, according to the owner of Greedy Rascals, which he described as a “gourmet hotdog premium casual restaurant” located on Rosewood Drive.

“Everybody has a hunger for something,” Brandon Johnson said. “My hunger was always food, so I consider myself as always greedy.”

The restaurant caters to overindulgence through its menu of offerings that Johnson said can’t be found anywhere else: salmon burgers, vegan slaw dogs and donuts smothered in fruity pebbles. The Bucky burger — which, like the restaurant’s name and logo, is a nod to “The Little Rascals” — is sandwiched between two donuts. Even a regular hot dog brings something special to the table.

“You can get a hot dog anywhere, so I come with the brioche buns. My buns, you never see nowhere around,” Johnson said. “My chili is out of this world. It’s homemade. Everything is homemade.”

Donuts and waffle dogs are made-to-order, allowing customers a variety of toppings to choose from, including powdered sugar, syrups, cookies, cereals and fruits.

Johnson likens the selection to gourmetstyle fair food that is well-suited for college students and their wallets.

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“Just because you’re in college, you still want to go somewhere nice, but cheap, but still be able to take your girlfriend with you P ho to : va nessa P urp ura and she won’t say Owner Brandon Johnson and his oldest son, Brandon Brown, stand in front of Greedy Rascals. you bummin’ out,” Johnson and his son make up the entirety of the location’s staff.

Johnson said. “[When] my dad told me he had his dream, USC students can add a free bag of chips I was gonna be the first one there to support and a drink to their meals when they show their CarolinaCard. The most expensive him,” Brown said. “Just knowing that we’re item on the menu is $7.50, but everything is doing something together, and it’s successful, displayed and dressed up in a way that feels it really means a lot.”

Working with his father has taught Brown like a five-star experience, Johnson said. how to talk to and deal with customers, he He has a long history of working with food said, which is the aspect of the job Johnson and experience to pull from. Before opening enjoys most. his business, he’d worked as a caterer, and Where customer service is concerned, before that at his family’s soul food restaurant.

Johnson compared Greedy Rascals to a According to his mother, Diane Peters, “secondhand Chick-fil-A.” They’re always he used to wake up early as a child to make smiling and making sure they serve their food breakfast for her and his older brother. His correctly, and they take Sundays off as a day interest in cooking began at home. of rest.

“He kind of hung around the kitchen when Greedy Rascals offers the best customer I cooked and also when my mother cooked,” service around, he said. The hot dogs are also Peters said. the best, as is the chili.

Johnson is now passing his skill down to his For customers looking to try something oldest son, Brandon Brown. Together, the two new, Johnson has one piece of advice: make up the entirety of the location’s staff.

“Whatever you do, stay greedy.”

The Groove brings old-school smoothies to Columbia Ni ck S u l l i va n

“You can see the personality in Ph ot o: va n e s s a Pu r pu r a the individuals, Owner Darius Johnson blends together “The Groove” green smoothie made with spinach, kale, banana, mango, pineapple and chia seeds. and you feel it when you’re oughly a decade into his military career, here. It’s part of Darius Johnson was ready to mix things up. the experience,” Harris said. “You have individuals He’d always pictured himself running a who come here just to listen to the music or, you business, but he wanted to bring something know, to enjoy the music or dance a little bit while new to the market. His work needed to have they’re waiting on their smoothie to be made.” purpose, and for him, that purpose came in Even before The Groove moved into its the form of ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s music. building on Garners Ferry Road, Harris was a part Now, when he isn’t training with the South of the conversations about what the business Carolina National Guard, he is blending should look like. “She’s been a great asset,” smoothies at his old-school music-inspired according to Johnson, who said assembling his smoothie and juice bar, The Groove. team of committed employees was essential in “I used to deliver the newspaper growing getting his business off the ground. up, down in a little small town called Bamberg, Johnson is one of three co-owners alongside South Carolina, and my dad would always play Corey Giddeon, a fellow National Guard the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Johnson said. “Listening to veteran, and Wes Bellamy, who met Johnson old school music kind of gave me a good idea, while the two attended South Carolina State and it taught me a lot at a young age just about University. Together, Johnson said, the three soul music, music that meant something.” combined their ideas and “made it happen.”

Those same songs still “put [him] in a good “He’s a really artsy person,” Harris said place” when he hears them today and serve as the of Johnson, who approached the other coinspiration behind The Groove’s menu: Smooth owners with the business idea. “He’s a very, Operator, Juicy Fruit, Midnight Train to Georgia very big visionary, and he is a lover of the and Sweet Love are just some of the drinks arts, so he had an idea of things being bold named in honor of his childhood favorites. and having a place that was very similar to a According to Andrea Butler, The Groove’s Starbucks, like an internet cafe type of feel.” social media manager, the store playlist includes For Butler, being a part of a Black-owned all of the songs the drinks are named after. business team has been “refreshing” in today’s “I just always want my customers to feel political climate. like the smoothie shop is an escape for them “We’ve always been a Black-owned to be able to get away from reality and just business, but now it’s, it seems like it’s listen to some good music and enjoy some acceptable to say, and where we can finally be healthy vibes,” Johnson said. “I want people to proud of who we are,” Butler said. “We can’t sing the songs as they’re ordering a smoothie.” change the way that we were born, but now Store manager Kimberly Harris said that people are accepting of us, they’re willing the shop has a “welcoming feel” that falls to support us, even just spreading the word, a somewhere in between a typical mom and simple share on Facebook, all of those things pop shop and a big corporation.

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matter to us because it shows that you’re supporting us in any way possible.”

As his business settles in after its November opening, Johnson has gotten his daily motivation from his daughter, to whom he has been a single parent since her mother was deployed. He wants to be remembered for something, he said, and he wants that something to have a positive impact on his daughter’s future.

“I want to build the army up, and I want to build the National Guard up, but I also want to build myself up,” Johnson said. “I want to have something nice for my child 30, 40 years from now and her kids.”

“We’ve always been a Black-owned business, but now it’s, it seems like it’s acceptable to say, and where we can finally be proud of who we are,” An d r ea B u tl er | The G r o ov e

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Erin slowey

P ho t o : van e s s a P ur p ur a Jessica Reese sits in the entry of her salon, PYNK Butterfly.

essica Reese was the girl who did everyone’s hair and makeup in college. Now, her clientele includes Dawn Staley and the USC women’s basketball team.

“I love making women feel beautiful,” Reese, owner, operator and stylist of PYNK Butterfly salon, said. “I love doing hair and empowering. I love all of that, so I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”

At 30 years old, Reese quit her corporate job and enrolled in cosmetology school. But at that point, she was not thinking about opening her own salon.

“As I got closer to my graduation date, I realized that there was really no place here that I necessarily wanted to work and/or bring my clients to provide the type of atmosphere that I wanted to provide,” Reese said.

Melanie Jones, a client and friend of Reese’s for 13 years, said her experiences at the salon have been personal, professional and transformative.

“When you walk in and you’re not just with this client, you’re not a commission client, you’re not a test client, you’re a PYNK client,” Reese said. “So everybody is responsible for ensuring your PYNK experience, from the greeting at the door to superior service.”

Clients have no wait time upon entering the salon and can book appointments up to 60 days in advance online.

Lakeisha Wardlaw, a client since 2014, said when she was getting her hair shampooed and scalp massaged, it felt like she was at the spa.

“I think that is the one thing that I was totally shocked by because I’ve never had a stylist, or someone who washed my hair and actually like massage my scalp so good, like she did it for like a good three minutes,” Wardlaw said. “I literally was almost asleep.”

Arkeya Brown, a client of PYNK since 2016, said the stylists go to the extreme to treat their clients with care, especially women who have health conditions and challenges with hair loss.

“Just observing how they handle those clients and respect their privacy, that really makes me just feel good overall as a person,” Brown said.

In cosmetology school, Reese met Kimeche Spears, who is now one of three stylists at PYNK Butterfly salon. Ada Love, the third member of PYNK, joined about six years ago.

Since 2006, Reese has opened five salons.

Spears helped Reese build her brand: where beauty meets evolution.

Pink is synonymous with pretty, beauty, feminine,” Reese said. “And, of course, the butterfly’s evolution.”

Reese worked with a chemist and manufacturer to create her own products that are weightless. She also teaches classes on styling, cutting and building a business.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the PYNK salon created product packages that included wellness tips and a video showing clients how to use the products.

“It is a salon that is evolutionary,” Lisa Gadson, a client since 2015, said. “The approach is holistic, and it’s mind, body and spirit.”

Nicole Smith went to Reese when she decided she wanted to cut her long mid-back length hair short.

“She really knows hair, and she can really look at her clients and be able to say what looks best on them,” Smith said.

Reese said the stylists go the “extra mile” to make sure clients are taken care of.

“It’s a fun place to be,” Reese said. “ PYNK is where friends meet.”

Mattie’s Thrift Store brings ‘blessings’ to needy A N i ck s ul l iva n s the sun burned to a heat index of 107 degrees, a man lying on the hot concrete asked for help.

His words met no response. Hours went by.

Mattie Canzater spotted him from her building.

“I watched so many people pass,” she said. “I looked at him, and I said, ‘Sir, can I help you?’”

She invited him inside Mattie’s Thrift Store and offered him a cold bottle of water and a cloth to wash his face. They talked. She bought him a meal and asked him about his situation. Once he was finished, he made his way across the street.

And he’s crossed back every day since to express his gratitude.

30 According to Mattie, her thrift store’s purpose

isn’t just to sell inventory.

It’s to bless others.

“I’m not packed every day with 40, 50, 100 people. I’m not, and I’m okay with that. It would be a good thing, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about the ones that God chose to be on my path to come in and be blessed,” she said.

Her 8,400-square-foot building first opened its doors July 13, 2019. Rather than relying on donations, Mattie handpicks her items from storage auctions, private estate sales and other thrift stores.

She’s “about excellence” in the items she brings into the store, her son Alonzo Canzater

said. While customers won’t find a $20 mattress with stains on it, they might find a bed valued at $3000 on sale for $1200.

“If you want junk, don’t come here. If you want bed bugs, don’t come here. If you want smell, stains or roaches, don’t come here,” Mattie said.

“Now if you want something that’s beautiful, that’s nice, that’s reasonable, I got everything you need.”

Robert Canzater, another of Mattie’s five children, said the store caters well to college students because they can buy just about everything they may need in a single stop.

Mattie’s Thrift Store sometimes holds sale in which it will “bless” a handful of customers with

items and care packages. Some parents will also receive care packages with hand sanitizer, tissues, paper towels and more. Hard times are what got her where she is today, Mattie said. She knows what it feels like to have nothing.

Mattie was once homeless, living out of a U-Haul she used for yard sales. She had to give up her home after developing double pneumonia and discovering it was infested with mold. Her family had no idea.

But homelessness wasn’t the extent of her struggles. She’s suffered from three strokes. She’s been ejected from her car during an accident.

She’s watched her teeth uproot during a bout of Bell’s palsy. Mattie was “ashamed” of herself.

“I love everybody, but the problem was, I didn’t love myself. I wasn’t taught how to love myself,” she said. “I was taught how to love others, not myself.”

Once she worked up the funds to purchase a one-bedroom apartment, she said she was

“transformed.” Despite the hardships, she found peace with herself and with God. She learned to let go of the pain.

“I have never seen that woman give up,” Robert said. “I wonder, like, where do you get your script from?”

Mattie decided to meet with Alonzo, and together they made a business plan. Alonzo contacted the landlord for the building that Mattie’s Thrift Store now occupies, and they were given four rent-free months to get her business up and running.

Mattie never saw herself owning a thrift store, but she said she is using the opportunity to help others in need. That’s why she continues to feed, clothe and talk to the homeless she finds sleeping on the loading dock outside, and that’s why she hosted monthly raffles to furnish the homes of people in need.

It’s what makes her happy.

“I look at myself every day, and I am, I can

Columbia woman turns crafting into career

gosh, that’s so nice. Where’d you find that?’” James said. “So all of a sudden it was like, OK, I guess this is working. People like it.”

James has since harnessed her talent for crafting into a career. She opened her own business, Re-Invintage, in Five Points in 2015.

The shop gives pre-owned items “a facelift,” turning the old objects into brand new creations: Old N i c k s ul l iva n doors become tabletops, windows become mirrors and metal pieces become light fixtures.

“Even though one person may not want that piece any longer, somebody else does,” James said.

“Those aren’t throwaway items.”

Deb McLean, a customer of about four years, described James as “one of the most creative individuals [she has] ever met.”

She had a tough time narrowing down what she has bought from Ph ot o: k a i le e kok e s the shop over the years.

Re-Invinatge on Harden Street is home to many thrift flips. Owner Treva “More like, ‘What have I not James said she wants to make sure everyone’s space is their own. bought from her?’ I’ve bought artwork, s a young mother looking to decorate her I’ve bought furniture, I buy — I bought some lamps. home, Treva James had to get creative. She I just got some lamps actually last week,” McLean “loved nice things,” but she didn’t have said. “I bought those candles, amazing smelling much in the way of a budget. Her husband was candles. I buy candles all the time in there.”

James’ creative process is a bit of trial and error. the only source of income for their family.

She may dip into her 75-color paint supply more So, she improvised. than once before an item is finished, though she “I would find pieces at thrift stores or on the said some pieces do speak for themselves. roadside, and I transformed them for our home, “I have started pieces and started it in blue and all of a sudden people would say, ‘Oh my

A

P ho to : va nessa P urp ura Owner of Mattie’s Thrift Store Mattie Canzater poses for a photo on the one-year anniversary of her business.

honestly say that I’m proud of myself,” she said.

“That’s something I couldn’t have said two years ago. I am proud of Mattie.”

and all of a sudden it’s like, ‘That’s not my color,’ and I start again,” James said. “It kind of tells you what it wants to be, believe it or not. You’ll know when things are going right.”

A friend and customer of Re-Invintage, Kimberly Shields first visited the store a couple years ago and “loved everything in it.”

Shields kept coming back until, eventually, she started helping out around the shop with tasks such as painting, cleaning and resetting the display window.

“She has a real good relationship with her customers. Her customers really kind of become her good friends,” Shields said. “It’s a very relaxed atmosphere to shop in.”

According to James, one of her favorite aspects of the job is having conversations with the people who come into the store and getting to know her neighbors.

She also said she loves the satisfaction of watching her customers as they transform their spaces into exactly what they’re looking for.

“You can see it in their eyes,” James said.

“Your space is sacred to you, and everybody’s is different, and it doesn’t have to be some magazine glamour space. It just has to feel good to you. It has to work for you.”

Shields said she wishes James could get more traffic from student customers. The items are affordable, she said, and its close proximity to campus is great for out-of-state students who can’t bring all of their furniture with them.

“Everybody needs to go into Re-Invintage and give it a look,” McLean said. “Once you go in the first time, you will always come back. There’s something for everybody there.”

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COPING WITH QUARANTINE: Students connect with family, friends during pandemic C a m dy n B ruc e

T

hrough the last few months, students have navigated loss, connected with others and tackled new ventures, all through a pandemic that has both distanced and brought them closer to their loved ones.

Class of 2020 graduate Alexis Vetack faced complications during the pandemic when she experienced a death in her family during quarantine.

“My uncle actually died of a heart attack during this time period in New Jersey, and so my dad drove up from North Carolina to go help break the news to my nana, and that was really challenging ‘cause they couldn’t even see the body,” Vetack said. “Not being able to have a funeral and mourn in the same ways that we’re used to, I think, was really challenging for them.”

Fourth-year biology student Naomi Kemp also experienced a death in her family during quarantine when her grandmother passed.

However, she said being quarantined provided a silver lining to the situation.

“To have a service for my grandmother over Zoom was kind of hard, but I felt as though being home before everything happened was great for me,” Kemp said. “It was awesome to have that time with her that I’m sure I wouldn’t have normally, ‘cause I would have been in class and I wouldn’t have been home for that those few weeks beforehand.”

Others have also tried to focus on the positives and have used this period as a time to strengthen their relationships with the people they are close to.

Fourth-year mass communications student Matthew Anderson said being quarantined has brought him closer to some of his family and friends.

“It’s like, you have to make a conscious effort to go talk to people, and even family,” Anderson said. “Your grandmother you might visit whenever — now it’s like, ‘Yo, I got to call her,’ and you can’t, like, literally go over there and see her so you have to call her and be very purposeful and intentional.”

Kemp said the best thing that resulted from being quarantined for her was being able to get closer to her family.

“I’ve gotten a whole lot closer to my oldest sister. She’s seven years older than me, and our

birthdays are really close but she’s been out of the house and out of the state for years now, and so being able to get closer to her has been really nice,” Kemp said.

Unemployment has been high, leaving many people without work and pay. For many, this has resulted in uncertainty and loss, but Kemp’s oldest sister being laid off served as the catalyst that brought the the two closer together. After losing her job, her sister decided to start her own thrift business, Aunt Viv’s Thrift Shop, and Kemp quickly became her partner and helped get the idea off the ground.

“She decided to start the business and was super overwhelmed,” Kemp said. “She didn’t know how to navigate all the different apps and websites, and so I offered to kind of go on board with her, and we’ve been going for a little over a month, and it’s been great.”

Anderson also used quarantine to start something new. He and two friends created a new podcast over quarantine called “Dominate the Decade,” which is about each of the hosts “navigating their individual paths to success,” according to the podcast’s online description.

“With the ‘Dominate the Decade’ podcast that we got started, that actually got started because of quarantine, and one of the guys, Adarius, that’s on it, I didn’t even know him before,” Anderson said. “It just would not have happened. We probably would have just been focused on our own lives.”

Even in the midst of the pandemic, there are still events people want to commemorate.

Vetack said she was impressed by the creative measures people were taking to navigate their challenges during the pandemic. Specifically, she said she liked the way her pre-med fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon, handled

not being able to have a senior night in person.

“Usually we have a senior night within our chapter, and we do gifts and we celebrate the seniors with a slideshow, and so they actually created an Instagram to celebrate and showcase our seniors,” Vetack said. “That was really fun ‘cause each post was kind of like a puzzle, and you would have to guess which senior it was based off the baby photo and the clues that they gave you on the superlative.”

Anderson said his advice for those struggling with how to manage their time during quarantine is to use the resources available to them to learn something new.

“Use the internet,” Anderson said. “There’s a lot of information on the web ... Just get on YouTube, learn something, build something, so therefore when you come out of this, you know more than you knew coming into it.”

Illustratio n: Sa b rina Ha m p to n

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE FASHION: Mask everything but your style L i ly Sha hida

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t’s required to wear a mask in most parts of campus, and some people might be worried about it cramping their style. However, there are plenty of options to complement your outfit, from unique fabrics and bold prints to basic designs that get the job done.

Here’s a guide to our favorite mask styles to complement any outfit.

Day at the pool: What to look for: If you’re planning to be in or near the water, you’ll want something water resistant. Obviously, any mask you wear under water will get wet, but the key is to wear something that won’t get soaked through if you happen to get splashed. Look for thicker materials as opposed to cotton.

What kind of masks: Fabric masks with some lining, preferably a bit padded Where to get: Jaanuu has a large selection of sport-friendly and water resistant masks.

Our top pick: Reusable Antimicrobial Finished Face Mask Adult (5 Pack) from Jaanuu

Work Out:

Class:

What to look for: When you’re exercising, chances are you’re going to sweat. This means you’ll want a moisture-wicking material to allow your skin to breathe. It’s also a good idea to have a mask with ear loops because ties could slip off during high-movement workouts.

What to look for: Most days, students don’t feel like dressing up for class and usually choose to throw on a basic T-shirt and athletic shorts combo. If your style is no-fuss, your best bet for a mask will be something plain and simple that will get the job done. Think solid colors or simple prints.

What kind of masks: Pure cotton mask or surgical mask Where to get: Stores such as CVS often carry cheap surgical masks, but if you’re looking for something more environmentally friendly, cotton masks can be purchased online from stores such as Old Navy or made at home in a few easy steps.

Our top pick: 3 Layer- Adjustable Band Cotton Comfortable Face Mask by Etsy seller LuckyplanetUS

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What kind of masks: Plain reusable cotton mask Where to get: Pleated cotton masks can be easily made at home, but if you are even more minimalistic and want a smoother face covering, unpleated masks can be found online.

Our top pick: American Eagle Reusable Face Mask (20% of this sale goes to Crisis Text Line)

Friend’s night:

FOotball Games:

What to look for: While it’s probably not the best idea to visit Five Points just yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a fun (and less risky) night with friends. If you plan to wear a nicer outfit, you’ll want a mask just as stylish to go with it. Everyone has their own style, but try to find masks with different textures or patterns to start your own trend.

What to look for: The start of football season means incredibly hot game days, but the heat shouldn’t deter you from wearing your mask.

After all, what is school spirit if not protecting your peers? Show off your Gamecock pride with USC masks.

What kind of masks: Fabric masks covered in USC graphics

What kind of masks: Colorful or textured cotton masks

Where to get: Gamecocks Online and Etsy have plenty of face coverings with USC logos and Cocky graphics.

Where to get: Banana Republic and Ulta Beauty have a wide variety of cotton masks in various prints and pleated textures.

Our top pick: Adult Colosseum South Carolina Gamecocks Logo Face Covering 2-Pack from Gamecocks Online

Our top pick: Adult Face Mask (3 pack) from Banana Republic

FORMAL: What to look for: In the chance that you have formal events to attend, you’ll want your mask to match your elegant dress or suit.

Luxurious-looking fabrics such as satin in soft pastel, neutral or dark colors are a good option to complement your look without drawing too much attention away from your clothes.

What kind of masks: Satin mask with ear loops so you have the freedom to style your hair Where to get: Etsy and Claire & Clara offer satin mask options.

Our top pick: Silk Adult Face Mask by Etsy seller masksLab

Il l u s tr atio n s : Van es s a P u r p u r a

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Cantina 76 on Main Stree t

Village Idiot pizz a

Proximity to the Horseshoe: 12-min. walk Delivery Options: Takeout, dine-in Our top picks: Fried chicken taco, BBQ shrimp taco While Tio’s is a good option for the Mexican food most of us are used to, Cantina 76 does Mexican with a twist. Creative taco recipes like the chicken teriyaki and the Peruvian shrimp mix cuisines for an unconventional representation of a classic Mexican meal. Both Columbia locations do takeout orders, and there is also outdoor seating if you want to enjoy the atmosphere but aren’t comfortable sitting inside.

Proximity to the Horseshoe: 18-min. walk Delivery Options: Delivery, takeout Our top picks: Village Special, The Godfather Everyone loves pizza, and Village Idiot is a USC favorite for it.

There are three locations in Columbia, but the Five Points restaurant is closest to campus. If you live in Capstone, you’re in luck — it’s only about a 10-minute walk away. Grab a couple friends to go pick up some pies, or call and order for delivery. Either way, it’s an easy option for an off-campus treat.

THE SOUTHERN BELLY BBQ

Drip Coffee main stree t Proximity to the Horseshoe: 15-min. walk Delivery Options: Takeout Our top picks: Nutella French Toast, Mocha Both the atmosphere and menu lend to the appeal of Drip Coffee. If you’re tired of Starbucks and want high-quality coffee, this is your best bet. While there are two locations — Main Street and Five Points — Main Street is closer and has a funky, music-inspired vibe.

Hibachi House Proximity to the Horseshoe: 6-min. walk Delivery Options: Delivery by third party, takeout Our top picks: Hibachi steak, teriyaki chicken bento box Hibachi House is another takeout option that is ideal for college students. It’s well-priced, and you get a bang for your buck with portions large enough to save for leftovers. If you want it delivered, you’ll need to use a service like Postmates, but it’s so close to campus that picking up food yourself does not require much effort. Just make sure to ask for extra white sauce.

COLUMBIA NEAR CAMPUS L I LY S h a h i da Many people might be wary of dining in at restaurants this fall, but in a city like Columbia, there are so many good restaurants that it’s hard to resist eating out. Luckily, most restaurants now offer pick-up and delivery options so you can enjoy your favorite cuisines without putting your health in jeopardy. Here are some of our favorite Cola restaurants with social distancingappropriate options.

Green olive Restaurant Proximity to the Horseshoe: 6-min. walk Delivery Options: Delivery, takeout, dine-in Our top picks: Chicken shish-kebab, gyro wrap For nights when you’re not in the mood for basic college cuisine, try Green Olive. The Mediterranean restaurant is a little pricier than the average pizza or sandwich, but it’s worth it. You’ll find your palate expanding in no time, and with such a wide menu there is room to play it safe or try something totally new.

Proximity to the Horseshoe: 17-min. walk Delivery Options: Takeout, delivery Our top picks: Traditional sandwich, Southern Belly Dipper You can’t go to school in the South without indulging in barbecue — and The Southern Belly BBQ was deemed the “Best Barbeque” in Columbia. Choose your sandwich and your sauce, and don’t skimp on the toppings. This barbecue will leave you fully satisfied.

Grill Marks

Proximity to the Horseshoe: 20-min. walk Delivery Options: Takeout, dine-in Our top picks: Greenville Hot Chicken Sandwich, Marks Classic Combo Located in the Vista, Grill Marks is a good spot for greasy and filling meals like burgers and fries. While it’s about 20 minutes from the Horseshoe, online ordering from their website makes it easy to get takeout. By the time you walk over there, the food will be ready for pickup.

BEEzer’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop Tio’s Mexican cafe and cantina

Proximity to the Horseshoe: 4-min. walk Delivery Options: Delivery within a 6-mile radius, takeout, dine-in Our top picks: Signature enchiladas, chimichanga A laid-back Mexican restaurant just minutes from the Horseshoe, Tio’s Mexican Cafe and Cantina is the best place to grab a late-night bite after a long study session at Thomas Cooper. Its proximity to campus makes it a good option for last-minute delivery to the dorm.

Proximity to the Horseshoe: 4-min. walk Delivery Options: Delivery, takeout Our top picks: Godfather sub, Great Balls of Fire hot bun Casual recipes like salads or sandwiches are the specialty at Beezer’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop, a small restaurant so close to campus, it’s basically on it. Menu items range from hearty subs to lighter vegetarian sandwiches and are perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.

Illustratio n: Sa b rina Ha m p to n

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CarolinaLIFE program helps students with disabilities pursue ‘big picture’ in college K a il e y C o ta

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cross from Russell House and past the ever-buzzing Greene Street, the CarolinaLIFE living and learning community is nestled away in Woodrow.

CarolinaLIFE is a non-degree program at USC that serves students with “diverse learning needs,” according to its website.

When then-board of trustees member Donald Bailey was able to secure both funding and support in 2007, CarolinaLIFE became the first program of its nature in the state of South Carolina.

“The program has been an amazing experience, and I’m very glad that I get to be a part of it,” fourth-year CarolinaLIFE and special education student Riley Lewis said.

CarolinaLIFE is a four-year program that allows students to take both general USC and CarolinaLIFE-specific classes. Students audit USC classes that interest them so they are still able to pursue a major.

“We are a program for people with disabilities — there is no mistaking that,” CarolinaLIFE Program Director Chelsea VanHorn Stinnett said. “But whether you have an intellectual disability, a learning disability, a developmental disability, it’s more so about the support and support needs.”

Student support needs are met in the classroom by CarolinaLIFE small group classes that develop their independent living skills, such as budgeting, healthy relationships and nutrition.

Outside of the classroom, students work weekly with coaches to help them keep up with their academics. Students also have personal development time with a coach where they can discuss non-school related topics in their life.

CarolinaLIFE provides 24/7 support and its own resident mentors, which spend more time with students than general USC

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resident mentors do. Because of these extra measures, CarolinaLIFE students pay a $1,800 CarolinaLIFE-specific fee in addition to USC’s in-state tuition rates, which all students now automatically receive.

With a 13% acceptance rate, which translates to about four to eight new students each year, CarolinaLIFE is difficult to get into.

“We want to accept individuals who have a clear idea of why they want to go to

My parents, the way I was brought up, they never sheltered me or anything like that,” Lewis said. “They just helped me ... understand that the world is not going to conform to me. So, just take it in stride and go with what I’ve got. college,” Stinnett said. “It’s less about a very tangible idea of what they want their future to be, because that’s what we do — we help people figure out what that big picture is going to look like.”

Lewis has figured out what she wants

her big picture to look like.

“Something I’m passionate about is my major in special education. I love the idea of working with young children who have autism just like I do,” Lewis said. “Hopefully, I can be some sort of hope to these kids who also have it, and aren’t as open about it as I am.”

On campus, Lewis loves to cheer on USC athletics and particularly enjoys football games. She describes herself as laid back and slow to anger, and she says she loves to make people laugh. She feels at home at USC and has never gotten the impression that anyone has treated her differently because of her autism.

“My parents, the way I was brought up, they never sheltered me or anything like that,” Lewis said. “They just helped me ... understand that the world is not going to conform to me. So, just take it in stride and go with what I’ve got.”

Along with Lewis, second-year CarolinaLIFE student Rhiannon Dalosto also hopes to pursue a career in special education. Dalosto, who has a learning disability and is part of USC’s color guard, said she has lots of friends both inside and outside of the CarolinaLIFE program.

“It is one of the best programs to ever go to,” Dalosto said. “For me, it was the right place to choose, and everyone is just so accepting and nice and friendly, and they welcomed me with open arms.”

Stinnett said her students just want to build authentic friendships with people.

“If you want to develop a friendship with someone and you see that maybe they’re a little different, just be patient and reach out to us for support if you need it,” Stinnett said. “But, you know, just be a good human.”

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COLUMN:

Use this semester to leverage virtual resources in your student organization

Me re d it h E d wards

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ight now, instead of focusing on what we are limited by, student organizations should focus on engaging their community and fostering collaboration.

Firstly, student orgs should find ways to keep doing what they’re best at in a virtual format if possible. Since most student orgs are based on people sharing a certain interest, figure out how to best express that interest in a virtual format. For many, this will mean meeting over video call and talking about the interest, but it can also mean virtual concerts where musicians show off what they’ve been working on or playing board games digitally on websites such as Tabletopia. Find a way to still do what brought your group together in the first place.

Once you have addressed how to express your group’s main purpose in an online format, it’s also important to note that you aren’t necessarily limited to only doing your student org’s main thing at all your meetings. This pandemic might just be your chance to foster your community by organizing fun activities to engage it in other ways, too.

Digital interactive games are a fun way to give your group chances to interact in ways that let everyone participate. A good

free option is running trivia matches on Kahoot. Though Jackbox Games has a onetime cost, it can give more varied options.

With Zoom’s functionality, you can get as creative as you like. For instance, the website Nerds Chalk has a tutorial of how to play the classic game Mafia, also known as Werewolf, over Zoom chat.

For more asynchronous community building, GroupMe and Discord might be good options for larger student orgs.

Giving your community a space to talk about what they are passionate about can build deeper connections between your group members and help them feel more supported during this difficult time.

The main goal for student orgs should be getting students truly involved. Find a way to incorporate every student’s contribution and you’ll find that you have a tighter knit community that is able to better themselves, better the campus and better the world as a whole. Gathering submissions for a shared project, such as a compilation video or a student work showcase on Instagram, can show that your organization is still active and working to encourage your members to do their best work.

One more thing to consider is that volunteering doesn’t have to stop because of the pandemic. Sites such as

dosomething.org aggregate opportunities to serve our larger community even if we can’t do so in person.

Seeking new members this year is likely to be difficult; there’s no getting around it.

Your best bets are participating in digital org fairs through USC and being active on social media.

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2019, 18- to 24-year-olds were almost equally likely to use Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, (76%, 75% and 73%, respectively). The age group’s usage of YouTube is even higher at 90%. Being present on these platforms can give your student org opportunities to connect with new and returning students alike.

Make your social media attractive to prospective students by using design apps such as Canva to make graphics giving details for group events and highlighting what students are doing that is relevant to the purpose of the group. A friendly competition that encourages students to post photos or videos can also be used to boost engagement.

Although this semester is likely to be very different for all student orgs, if we really work at it, we will be able to foster similar connections in online platforms without risking the health of those involved.

Illustratio n: Kate B enn

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Co l u m n

Don’t move on from activism, move forward M e r e d i t h E d wa r d s

G

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eorge Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Vanessa Guillén. These are just some of the names that we lifted up this summer, rallying cries to treat people justly and hold individuals responsible for their acts of violence and uncaring towards others.

Whether you care about police brutality, the lack of disease outbreak preparedness or the silencing of sexual harassment victims, there is more you can do than just post on social media.

There have already been some reforms across the States this summer, such as New York increasing transparency of officer misconduct records and Minnesota banning restraints and chokeholds, according to Orion Rummler’s article, “The major police reforms that have been enacted since George Floyd’s death.”

In South Carolina, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said the division is working towards implementing several reforms, including “annual training with regards to racial diversity, implicit bias, and deescalation” and involving social workers as “coresponders” in certain types of emergency calls, such as domestic violence and child abuse in an interview with WYFF News 4.

The first step to making positive change is to identify a specific change you want to happen. Take the time to research the issue, see the changes that have already been made, then look at the potential solutions that have been proposed. For example, rather than deciding to fight the giant issue of police brutality, work toward specific solutions, such as advocating for full funding for body cameras or a ban on chokeholds.

Deciding on a few specific policy goals that you want to support gives you better direction

and a way to measure progress. Having specific policies or acts you support also shows you are not just caught up in the group mentality, but that you truly want to help advance the cause.

The next step is finding groups that are working toward the same solutions. If there are already active movements, find ways to contribute to what they are doing.

One example of a group you could get involved with is Showing Up for Racial Justice. It supports the Breathe Act that has been proposed to shift funding from police to social services it believes will provide the support needed to the community without promoting violence.

If there is not an active movement, you can find resources to start your own. One such resource is the Leadership Conference Education Fund’s New Era of Public Safety Toolkit, which was made to help people develop their own campaign in support of police reform.

Joining the consistent effort for reform on the issues you care about can require a whole lot of effort and time. For some students, that just isn’t feasible. Still, there are some steps we can take to make progress on these issues.

Barack Obama’s article from early last month, “How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change,” says one of the best ways to support progress on the issues brought to light this summer is to vote, not just in federal elections, but in state and local ones as well, because “the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.”

Posting on social media isn’t enough if you really care about and want to support an issue.

Go out, show your support and vote.

45

46

Lexington couple starts Sweet Dreams Edible Cookie Dough Company h ol ly poag

C

OVID-19 has caused many people to lose their jobs over the past few months, but a Lexington couple has used the pandemic to their advantage to start a new business in under two months.

Collen Wallace and Julianna Livatino started their food truck Sweet Dreams Edible Cookie Dough Company on July 4 after seeing how well food trucks did in their neighborhood during the pandemic due to restaurants closing down.

“COVID made our plans. We would have never thought about opening up a food trailer ever unless I saw the opportunity from COVID,” Wallace said. “[Food trucks] were killing it every day.”

Sweet Dreams offers a variety of cookie dough flavors, including chocolate chip, red velvet, sugar cookie and brownie batter.

“We have a chef that makes it for us, and he has all the flavors and the ingredients,” Wallace said.

Wallace said they decided to sell edible cookie dough because “nobody in the Midlands is doing it.”

“Edible cookie dough is kind of like a new thing,” Wallace said. “A friend of mine told me about it about a year and a half ago, and it’s just always stuck in my head.”

Livatino came up with the name ‘Sweet Dreams’ for their food truck after thinking that people usually have something sweet usually around dinnertime.

“Not to mention, edible cookie dough’s like a dream come true, so, Sweet Dreams,” Livatino said.

The food truck is currently visiting neighborhoods around Lexington, Chapin and Irmo to sell the cookie dough and is also making plans to cater to events at Nephron Pharmaceuticals and a children’s activity center along with others.

“Right now, we’re doing neighborhoods, but we do have a few weddings in the books for the next few months coming up,” Livatino said. “We’re not just limited

to neighborhoods.”

In the future, the couple wants to expand to Columbia’s Soda City Market and establish a permanent location in Lexington, Columbia or Chapin.

In addition to their new business, Wallace is an at-home full-time sales representative and Livatino is in online nursing school at Midlands Technical college.

“It’s more of a side business that may turn into a full-time job,” Wallace said.

Wallace and Livatino also have a baby boy.

“We obviously love that we can serve people a product that is so awesome, but we’re also conflicted about being away from our kid so much,” Livatino said. “I have my mom or his mom that helps so much. It’s tough when we’re double-booked and we miss him so much, but it’s also really rewarding when we can bring a product to people that they love.”

Livatino said their customer base has been more “familyoriented” lately due to visiting Photo: Courtesy of Sweet Dreams Edible Cookie Dough Company neighborhoods.

Collen Wallace and Julianna Livatino stand with their baby boy in front of the Sweet Dreams Edible Cookie Dough Company food truck. Wallace and Livatino started their “It’s really been a mix of all age, business on July 4 after noticing how well other food trucks in their area were succeeding. ethnicity, I really couldn’t pinpoint it to one thing,” Livatino said.

Jodie Coward, a resident of one of the sweet treat.”

Livatino said they are “blessed” to have neighborhoods the food truck visited in such a great turnout in the first two weeks of Chapin, said it’s a great investment for their business. neighborhoods with a lot of kids in it.

“It’s been a whirlwind, actually. We were “It’s one of those things where we don’t not expecting the turnout and everything want to take our kids outside of our bubble, so that we have gotten, but we are blessed,” to have them come here is amazing,” Coward Livatino said. “It’s been really busy and kind said. “We’ve been getting a lot of regular food of tiring, but I like it.” trucks for dinner and stuff, but this is one of the only ones other than Pelicans that’s a

47

‘Fiercely dedicated to student success’: William Tate begins term as provost E rin Sl o w e y

F

air warning — if anyone asks Provost William Tate a question, he will respond with a question.

“Before we know it, we’re in this dialog, and you’re going to learn more about really what’s happening than if I just answered your question in a perfunctory fashion,” Tate said. “So to me, it’s the ultimate respect.”

Using the Socratic method, Tate said this engagement helps increase transparency and gives more insight into what he is thinking.

Before Tate was selected to serve as the provost, he was the vice provost for graduate education and the dean of the graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).

The previous year, Tate was one of the finalists for USC’s president position.

Tate took over the provost position at USC on July 1. Tate is the first Black provost at USC and one of the first in the SEC. Up until July 1, Tate was part of the decision-making at WashU while also sitting in on meetings at USC. For the fall semester, WashU chose to stagger students’ arrival to campus with the last day of classes in December. USC is ending face-toface instruction at Thanksgiving.

Tate said that WashU and USC made decisions based on the epidemiological information for each particular region.

“Different decisions were made, but the strategies on how to make the decisions were very similar,” Tate said.

Tate said it will be “fascinating” to see the different strategies unfold, not only as an administrator but also as a parent.

Two of Tate’s children are currently attending WashU, one as an undergraduate and one as a graduate student.

Lori White, president of DePauw University, said that with two kids in college, Tate has a good sense of what the undergraduate and graduate experience is like. White served as vice chancellor for student affairs at WashU

48

when Tate was the dean of the graduate school.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tate’s priorities have shifted. His focus is to stabilize the higher education system.

As an epidemiologist, Tate said there are three stages in a pandemic for the higher education: stabilization, evaluation of what happened and the reallocation of resources.

“The University of South Carolina will exist hundreds of years from now,” Tate said. “What I’m really talking about is how we’re going to make sure we get everybody on campus safe, keep them safe and allow them to study and learn and grow in ways that they may have envisioned or as close to that as we can possibly get.”

As provost, Tate will help carry out the strategic plan the university rolled out for 2023.

It includes increasing affordability for in-state students, cultivating “a world-class faculty and staff” and becoming eligible for the Association of American Universities (AAU).

The AAU is an invitation-only organization that includes 65 “distinguished” research universities.

Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science Family of Journals, said Tate will “move USC up in its level of academic ambition.” Thorp was the provost at WashU when Tate was the chair of the Department of Education in Arts and Sciences.

Affordability is often a barrier to the accessibility of higher education.

“I think that partly what we have to do is double down on how we support residents who have before might not have been able to afford to come to the University of South Carolina,” Tate said.

Part of Tate’s role as provost is to manage the budget. Students want transparency about the cost of education, including additional fees, Tate said.

“I 100% do not want fees or the cost parameters once a student is admitted to prohibit them from fulfilling their dreams,” Tate said.

Barbara Schaal, former dean of the arts and

P ho to : C era Ha nsen

sciences faculty at WashU, and White both said Tate always thinks about the students first when he makes decisions.

“He is fiercely dedicated to student success, particularly students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education,” White said. “So as provost, he certainly will work with faculty to increase access, to identify additional faculty from underrepresented backgrounds.”

To work towards AAU eligibility, Tate said the university will need to support current faculty in their research and think carefully about who is hired.

“The key is hiring good teachers who actually are outstanding researchers, and that is a number one priority for me,” Tate said.

USC will also need to create brand recognition and build on strengths, Tate said.

“We have these interdisciplinary areas that are viewed as the top. We have to use that to leverage our brand, and it doesn’t fit into neat boxes like a department. It’ll be bigger,” he said.

For Tate, understanding the culture and traditions at USC is something he looks forward to most in starting his position.

“It helps you really have a great experience because these jobs aren’t technical. They are 99% cultural,” Tate said. “Understanding what you value in other students in the history and the traditions makes a big difference.”

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50

Cotton Gin rebrands bar, Twitter E r i n Sl o w e y

W

hen Cotton Gin’s general manager decided to rebrand the business during the pandemic, he knew he wanted to center it around two wall murals of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. that have been inside the bar for four years.

“We are going with The Great Gatsby, gangster, Roaring ‘20s, black and white motif because we already have these murals here,” general manager Thomas Dugas, who started his position in January, said.

What he didn’t know was that on Twitter, Cotton Gin would gain over 600 followers in two weeks.

Dugas said he was trying to emulate Wendy’s social media strategy by being “rude” while also showing the renovations.

“I was trying to be funny, but I think it came off in a way that was misconstrued,” Dugas, who runs the Twitter account, said.

Hannah Oliver, a fourth-year marketing and management student who toured Cotton Gin to see its renovations, said the social media rebranding “hyped up” the changes and more people will be interested in seeing it.

One of the changes Dugas is making is to the music schedule. On Tuesdays and Fridays DJs can play EDM music, Thursdays are throwback songs and Saturdays is dancing music. EDM music will never be played downstairs.

DJ Richardson, the assistant general manager, will run the music downstairs.

“I am more of a people person, so I kind of read the room. I like to see people interacting with the music that’s played,” Richardson said.

Briana Deans, a 25-year-old Chapin resident who spent most of her college weekends at USC, said after seeing the renovations on social media, she will be returning to Cotton Gin. “I am definitely excited to go. I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun and I think it will be interesting to see what they have done with it,” Deans said.

Previously, there was one line to enter Cotton Gin and another inside to get upstairs.

Now, there are two separate entrances with two separate lines: one leading upstairs and one leading downstairs. To get between the upstairs and the downstairs, customers have to leave and get in the respective line.

Dugas said the upstairs would be a club experience whereas downstairs will be more laid back with seating and tables.

“I think it was just really important to kind of

P ho to : Ro b b ie G reenwa ld Cotton Gin, seen from the stairs to the second floor, is under remodal and renovation. The popular Five Points bar is going for a Roaring ‘20s theme centerd around murals of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.

differentiate between upstairs and downstairs because they provide and offer two completely different atmospheres, two completely different customer experiences,” Dugas said. “If people are only thinking of Cotton Gin as upstairs Cotton Gin, then they’re really not accurate.”

In a tweet on June 23 from Cotton Gin’s account, Dugas said Cotton Gin’s target customers are “Juniors, Seniors and Alumni.”

The tweet was later deleted.

“I think that it’s all political. I think some of the things that they’ve been doing, some of the things that they’ve been saying,” Terry Trait, a fourth-year broadcast journalism student, said.

“I know one thing that they said, ‘Our target is juniors and seniors people of age.’ And then I was thinking myself that that’s literally what you’re supposed to say.”

Eden Artidiello, a fourth-year political science student, said she would not return to Cotton Gin even after the renovations.

“I only went there when I was 18,” Artidiello said. “And, yeah, it’s just underage kids. I could not see any respectable 21-year-old adult walking in there willingly.”

Dugas declined to comment about the past.

In an interview with The Daily Gamecock on June 30, Dugas said some of Cotton Gin’s tweets were inappropriate.

“It was unprofessional because it doesn’t just

reflect back on me anymore. It reflects back on all of the partners, so that’s where I messed up with that,” Dugas said. “I would love to continue to be a funny Twitter account without upsetting anybody that I don’t need to be upset.”

On July 7, Dugas tweeted “I would rather let 5 people with positive Covid tests sneeze directly into my mouth than wear these masks for one more week.” The tweet was deleted.

“You’re not in any position as a bar to have an opinion on that,” Harrison Purdum, a thirdyear supply chain management student, said. “If you want people to come you need to have a positive stance towards a rule, especially other people’s safety.”

Dugas said the tweet was a joke and he is “all about safety.” He said Cotton Gin will be 100% compliant with the safety measures.

Cotton Gin reopened after the pandemic began on July 30.

The staff will have their temperature taken before the start of the shift and there will be a sanitation station with free masks and gloves.

On July 7, Gov. Henry McMaster announced alcohol sales must stop at 11 p.m.

Dugas said that if the ordinance continues into the fall semester, Cotton Gin will adjust its hours accordingly.

51

Campus organizations foster political involvement, action

Illustratio n: Va nessa P urp ura

W

E m ma d o o l in g hen it comes to political ideologies, students have several clubs to choose from to expand their knowledge and involvement in politics on campus.

Maddie Propp, a third-year political science student and president of the USC College Republicans, said the group acts as an easy way for collegiate Republicans to gather to discuss current events.

“Our goal is to just spread the Republican message and kind of just reach out to other people and make sure people want to be voting and encourage people to vote for whatever they believe in,” Propp said.

Jackson Nietert, a third-year international business and accounting student and president of the USC College Democrats, said his organization’s goal for the year is to help “increase youth turnout in the election and increase voter registration.”

“We exist, as an organization, to be a place for Democrats on campus to gather, for people to get politically engaged and involved,” Nietert said.

Those who feel their political ideals don’t match those of either of these groups have other options.

Ethan Magnuson, a fourth-year geography and political science student and a member of the USC College Socialists, said the group’s democratic beliefs influence its “horizontal” structure and very few members hold “formal titles.”

Magnuson said the organization, formerly called the Young Democratic Socialists, plans to provide opportunities for students who might feel “disappointed with the Biden campaign and are interested in doing some action.”

“There are plenty of ways to make real change, like forming unions and things like that, that can happen outside of just voting in Ticket A

52

or Ticket B,” Magnuson said.

Third-year economics, mathematics and statistics student John Ryan is the president of the USC College Libertarians, who “believe in promoting liberty, smaller government, free market [and] individual liberty.”

Ryan said the group is interested in the Libertarian Party’s 2020 presidential candidate, Jo Jorgensen, and “want to get the word out about her.”

Besides weekly meetings, the College Libertarians participate in activism events such as voter registration drives and group presentations on the Pickens Street Bridge.

While they might not be able to maintain their normal routine this fall, Ryan said he wants to keep their operations as regular as possible.

“We plan on continuing to have weekly meetings. Those might be virtual,” Ryan said.

“But, you know, that’s something that we still plan on doing, and we still plan to provide a platform for people who might not fit in with — what I believe to be the plurality of people that don’t fit in with the two major parties.”

The College Socialists also regularly hold events, such as helping organize the campus union that was officially formed over the summer and going on camping trips together.

“One of the most important things about a college club is not just — even if it is a political club, it shouldn’t just be about talking about politics every single day. You have to build a sense of camaraderie,” Magnuson said.

Magnuson said the College Socialists are “planning to operate as normal” in the fall, but their proceedings are “subject to change.”

Nietert said the College Democrats regularly watch and discuss political debates together and will continue to do so this fall, either

in-person or virtually.

Though these groups have contrasting beliefs, they often interact with one another. The College Democrats and College Republicans occasionally hold joint meetings and put on an annual political debate called Carolina Clash.

“We do a lot with the College Dems, in terms of discussing with them. It’s really important for us to get different points of view,” Propp said.

During Carolina Clash, last held in October 2019, the organizations discuss two national policies, one state policy and one campus policy.

“One thing we like to show is that it is possible to find or to come to an agreement. You may not think so, but it is. We often come to agreements on issues relating to USC or even sometimes relating to the state,” Nietert said. “We really like to show our members that it’s possible.”

Propp said she and Nietert are working together to decide how Carolina Clash will be held this year in correspondence with social distancing guidelines.

Both groups also provide opportunities for political internships and volunteer positions.

Nietert said the College Democrats often work with the Richland County Democratic Party and the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Each of these organizations is available for contact through Garnet Gate and social media.

The organizations encourage every student, regardless of their political ideology, to exercise their right to vote.

“Oftentimes, it’s easy to think that, ‘This doesn’t affect me,’ or, ‘There’s so many other people voting, my voice doesn’t matter.’ But, I mean, in reality that’s not the case,” Nietert said.

53

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COLUMN:

Masks are constitutional H a l ey B o ro w y

I

nstead of agonizing over the legality of mask mandates or quarantine measures, perhaps worry about the well-being of your fellow man first.

There is an argument to be made for how the Constitution can limit measures being taken to fight against COVID-19, but it can wait until thousands of people aren’t dying. For months, there have been debates about the legality of COVID-19 measures in the United States, whether online, on cable news, within families or anywhere in between. Most that oppose measures mandating maskwearing, limited capacities in businesses or lockdown orders center their argument around the limits the Constitution imposes on the government and their personal liberties. Or at least, it’s the talking point that is the least inaccurate compared to saying masks are bad for your health or that the coronavirus isn’t that bad.

While there is some merit to be had with this opinion, at least in a hypothetical, legal sense, it is often hijacked by those who see their own sense of self-worth and comfort as more important than the health of others.

This is simply an exercise in debating, and nothing more.

In fact, the debate around “constitutionality” or “legality” has been going on for months and, for the most part, has largely been put to rest by scholars whose job it is to know the Constitution. Most state stay-at-home orders and mask

requirements have been upheld when challenged in state courts.

Plus, even without the presence of stay-at-home orders, courts wanted the legislature to decide on regulations rather than the governor and for churches to not be specifically targeted by occupancy limits.

This is all mostly due to Jacobson v. Massachusetts, a 1905 Supreme Court case that allowed the state to mandate that its citizens receive the then-new smallpox vaccine. It demonstrated that the right of individual liberty is not absolute when the public health is at stake and that the government can take reasonable measures to protect the public health. Were people unhappy with that court ruling? Probably. Did they say it was a ploy by the government to strip away rights? Maybe they did. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

Between mid-1941 and 1945, citizens living on the East Coast were forced to go through blackout drills, as examples of what to do during air raids and U-boat sightings. A totally dark landscape made it difficult for planes to find targets and for submarines to find the shadows of boats against otherwise lit buildings. This is an example of Americans coming together to deal with a minor inconvenience in order to help the greater good and their country as a whole.

While this worked well for Europe, the FDR administration refused to order a nationwide blackout for fear of interrupting

commerce, and Americans resisted state-mandated blackouts, citing drops in tourism. Six hundred and nine boats were sunk, and almost 5,000 people were killed.

Because Americans refused to do a simple but bothersome action, the Germans got their first real success against us in World War II. Because Americans acted selfishly, they shot themselves in the foot.

Does that last bit sound familiar?

Perhaps there is a legal debate to be had about stay-at-home orders, mask requirements and whatever else you have to deal with in regard to the coronavirus, but much of it has been settled in court either recently or 100 years ago. Most importantly, are there not better things to do?

Thousands of people are dying each week in the United States, and many of those who live suffer long-term health consequences such as lung, heart and kidney damage. The main question right this minute should be how to stop the virus and save lives, not the legal standing of every single sentence of every single mandate by every single governor.

If this is not acceptable, consider joining a debate club.

I llu st rat i o n: va ne ssa p u rp u ra

55

Saluda’s, Blue Marlin, Bourbon keep Southern food culture alive, support local farmers Tay l o r B e lt z

S

outhern cuisine in South Carolina started “It supports small farms, which really kind of and nowhere to send it. on small farms with local produce and fresh need it more than ever now ... when you see small “That was incredibly sad to me because, you ingredients. As the food industry has started farms disappearing due to large agriculture,” know, you think about — it’s not like you make to expand in the South, though, many restaurants Niemi said. “We were losing the variety that was something and it’s there, it takes time to get all stopped using local products in favor of getting once found everywhere throughout the South.” that ready to harvest,” Cook said. “We ended up ingredients from bigger farms around the country.

Niemi said supporting these smaller farms selling a lot of his lettuce kind of wholesale. We Some restaurants in Columbia, South has already created a shift in agriculture. use it for salads when we’re doing to-go stuff, but Carolina, find that buying local ingredients is “With small farms coming back due to we also would sell it to people.” an important way to preserve the traditions restaurants and small markets supporting them Horton said Blue Marlin didn’t see much of a Southern food was built on.

— even large markets like Whole Foods and such change in the produce it sourced from local farms.

Saluda’s Restaurant, located in Five Points, — farmers have an ability to grow the things that “The big thing is, everything went to a halt, takes traditional Southern food and combines traditionally grew in the South again, instead of and now you’re just trying to kick start things it with a fine dining experience. Owner growing mass produced products you could find again,” Horton said.

Steven Cook said Southern cuisine can be everywhere,” Niemi said.

Cook said he uses his studies on the origin characterized as a mixing pot of cultures of Southern cuisine to influence from all over the world.

Saluda’s dishes.

Saluda’s sources as many of its “The best food, all the best food you ingredients from South Carolina farms can think of, came from really, really as it can, using these fresh ingredients poor people who had to get really, really to enhance the flavor of its dishes and crappy ingredients, and how are they provide a more homegrown feel to its going to make it taste good?” Cook said. fine dining experience, Cook said.

By utilizing whatever is at hand, in “Obviously, one of the big things in combination with some of the best recent history has been getting back to the ingredients in the state, Cook said roots,” Cook said. “This is not just a Southern Saluda’s can create an elevated menu that thing, but all over, getting back where maintains the tradition it originated from. you’re serving locally grown produce.”

Blue Marlin takes these traditional Blue Marlin, located on Lincoln Street, ideas and expands on them by sticking to focuses on low country, Cajun and Creole simple recipes that combine low country cuisine. It buys some of its produce, such cuisines Southerners know and love with as tomatoes and collard greens, from Louisiana’s Cajun Creole cuisine. local South Carolina farms, according “Everything at Blue Marlin is scratchPh ot o: Ce r a H a n s e n to Maegan Horton, the Blue Marlin’s Blue Marlin’s executive chef Maegan Horton plates the Charleston Crab Cake. made. So, we make everything in-house; executive chef. What it can’t get, it buys Served with Savannah red rice and collards, this entree is a Blue Marlin classic. we don’t buy anything,” Horton said. “The from other local markets, such as shrimp people before me, they’ve made recipes from Louisiana.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the that we follow every day and make everything “Society these days loves for you to feature closure of many restaurants for safety reasons, in-house to give that homemade feel.” local farmers,” Horton said. “Obviously, it helps the smaller farms need support from restaurants Bourbon uses its locally sourced ingredients to environment around us, the culture around us.” and larger markets more than ever. Some make its dishes “the same way” people make it at Bourbon Columbia, located on Main Street, restaurants, including Saluda’s, have found other home in places such as Louisiana and Mississippi specializes in Cajun Creole cuisine from ways to support them. to give it a homemade feel, Niemi said.

Louisiana and Mississippi. Owner Kristian Niemi Freshly Grown Farms distributes “lettuce These restaurants take the traditional dishes said the restaurant buys many of its ingredients and similar-type vegetables” to restaurants such most Southerners experience in their own from local farms. as Saluda’s, Cook said, but after the pandemic homes and expands upon them while keeping Niemi said sourcing ingredients locally is started, it lost two of its biggest clients: restaurants Southern food culture alive by supporting the “incredibly important” to keeping many smaller and farmers markets around South Carolina. The local businesses that helped create it. farms in business. business found itself with a surplus of lettuce

56

Letter to the editor:

Change is our new normal D e b o ra h B e c k

T

he 2020-2021 academic year will be a time of change. The coronavirus will be present in our community, so we must all take personal responsibility for our own health and that of our friends, family, professors and neighbors. It will also be important that we are resilient. Change will happen and we will need to find healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we all view campus public health. It has changed how we interact with each other by requiring us to space ourselves 6-feet apart; wear face coverings in classrooms and buildings; and wash our hands regularly with soap and water. Also, it has changed how we meet in classrooms and labs – whether in-person, virtual or both.

All these changes are our ‘new normal’ at USC. Student Health Services is ready to help you through these changing times by being steadfast in our commitment to provide comprehensive medical and mental health services right here on campus. Throughout the summer, we have worked with university partners, regional hospital groups, our local health department and the CDC to prepare our campus for the coming academic year. Student Health Services will play a pivotal role in the campus

Gamecock Lumnieers

USC Lutheran Campus Ministry

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

(Romans 8:38, NLT) Roommate rumblings, dating drama, online overload, added to Covid-19... sometimes we forget that God loves us as we are.

Do you need a reminder of God's grace, the undeserved love and acceptance we have through Jesus?

Join us on Sundays at 6pm at 1702 Greene Street for worship followed by dinner.

response to COVID-19 by providing ongoing testing, treatment and monitoring and contact tracing.

In addition, we will continue to provide you patient-centered medical and mental health care and wellness programming. This academic year, students will have the ability to be seen either in-person at our facilities or via tele appointments depending on what is recommended by their provider or to minimize unnecessary risk to patients and staff.

The health center will look a little different this fall, but your health, well-being and academic success will be our top priorities.

Yours in health, Deborah Beck, MPA, Ed.D., FACHA Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellness and Executive Director of Student Health Services Photo: c ou rtesy of Ed gar S ANTANA

Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention & Prevention advocates

AVAILABLE 24/7

803-777-8248 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

803-777-4215

After hours and weekends, call UofSC Police and ask to speak to a SAVIP advocate

sc.edu/stopsexualassault

An Accredited Patient-Centered Medical Home

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CAMPUS SCAVENGER HUNT S t epha n ie A l l e n

Use the following clues to find letters from plaques and buildings around campus. Unscramble the letters for a message for your semester.

- Find the statue that stands near T. Coop

The plaque’s fourth and fifth letters will give you the scoop

- Close at hand there’s a special tree On the plaque find letters two and three

- On Greene Street find the hub made for students like you The building’s fifth and eighth letters will give you your clue

- Go

to Greene Street and find the rock with a plaque The second word of the first line will put you right on track

- Our friendly mascot makes our day better For your next clue, look at the the first and second letters

- Near Currell stands our university’s creed The plaque’s fifth and second letters will give you the clues you need

- Across the way find an ode to the Greek

Letters two and seven are the hints you seek

-Find the Slave Quarters on the Horseshoe For your next clue see letters one and two

-

Find the house where Caslen stays Look at the sign’s fifth and eighth letters to go on your merry way

- Near the education building find the big horse The 11th and 12th letters will get you on the right course

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Il l u s tr atio n : Van es s a P u r p u r a

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES Your Medical Home for Primary Care, Women’s Health, Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES

Labs • X-rays • Immunizations • Allergy Shots • Pharmacy Make your appointments at: sc.edu/myhealthspace

sc.edu/healthservices Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Sun. 2-8 p.m. (subject to change)

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HEALTHY CAMPUS INITIATIVES • • • •

Sexual Assault & Violence Advocacy Services Nutrition & Sexual Health Consultations Wellness Coaching Stress Management

An Accredited Patient-Centered Medical Home

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