Study hard, bank easier. Study hard, bank easier.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editor-in-Chief Jenna Swenson encourages students to embrace change.
The criminal records of seven Columbia civil rights activists were cleared in an expungement ceremony on Oct. 25.
Darla Moore School of Business released a study describing the economic impact of USC on the state and Columbia.
For a quick break between news stories, try a USC-themed crossword puzzle.
The board of trustees approved the first phase of a STEM Innovation and Research Center.
USC’s board of trustees received updates on several ongoing campus projects.
A comic about A.I.’s integration in the classroom and a fun spin on the Editor-in-Chief.
16 DAWN STALEY
Head coach Dawn Staley becomes the highest paid coach in women’s college basketball.
18 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Find the eight differences between the two locker rooms featured in the illustrations.
21 GAMECOCK FOOTBALL RECRUITMENT
The Gamecocks land multiple new commits, with developments in the offensive line, defensive line and wide receiver rooms.
23 TRACK ATHLETE
Sophomore sprinter JaMeesia Ford is coming off of a promising freshman year and hopes to continue to break records.
The Bands Not Bans event brought together local bands and advocates to support reproductive healthcare.
31 ENERGY DRINK
Energy drinks are popular among students, whether they’re used to maximize efficiency, pull all-nighters or for enjoyment.
Sports betting, especially online, can become a dangerous addiction for USC students.
34 FREE SPEECH
Meta has an obligation to protect free speech, and the choice to roll back biased fact-checking has potential.
37 PHOTO OF THE MONTH
The Daily Gamecock highlights key moments through its most memorable pictures from January.
38 ALL NIGHTERS
Even though pulling an all-nighter may be beneficial to schoolwork, students should avoid these sleepless nights.
With the help of transfer portal additions, the South Carolina football team had a historic 9-4 season, finishing 4th in the SEC.
The women’s ultimate frisbee team aims to make the sport available to everyone by having two teams of differing skill.
COVER PHOTO BY: Taylor Kitchens
L o c a t i o n , L o c a t i o n , L o c a t i o n
U n i v e r s i t y H o m e s a t U o f S C
U n i v e r s i t y H o m e s C a r o l i n a . c o m
L e t u s f i n d y o u y o u r p e r f e c t h o m e !
T h e i d e a l s t u d e n t h o u s i n g !
Everything happens for
a reason: Don’t be afraid of change, to change
Jenna Swenson | Editor-in-chief
When I first came to the University of South Carolina I thought I knew what the next four years of my life was going to look like: excelling in class and kick-starting my career in marketing. But here I am in my last spring semester without a 4.0 GPA, still searching for my first internship before I graduate in the fall. As we enter the second semester of the 2024-25 school year, it’s important to remember the fundamentals of change. Change is constant, change is a surprise, change is necessary.
I’ll be honest, I had no idea USC had a campus newspaper as a freshman. I had no prior journalism experience, no real desire to enter that career field — I was intimidated when I joined my sophomore year to say the least. I was surrounded by students who had the basic fundamentals of journalism ingrained in their minds since their freshmen year. I, a mass communications student, had barely skimmed the surface of journalism from my courses. Throughout my three semesters with The Daily Gamecock I have had to constantly adapt to develop my journalism skills, a career I now find myself passionately pursuing.
It’s important to remember that everything happens for a reason. The ways you grow and the steps you take to develop are necessary in order to become the best version of yourself. It’s also important to remember that it’s never too late to change. If you’re not feeling satisfied in your current major, change it. If you’re thinking about joining a club that seems interesting, but has no direct connection to your field of study, just do it. Do not shy away from change, accept it. College really is too short to pass up opportunities that may seem irrelevant. Life is too short to not do what you want to do.
So I say to all of you, accept the changes that are occurring in your life. Embrace the new opportunities that present themselves to you. Recognize the ways you can use these changes to your advantage. If you spend time fighting what’s changing, you’ll never grow as a person.
Change is inevitable, and as cheesy as it sounds, you just have to go with the flow.
Sincerely, and forever to thee,
Jenna Swenson
Photo: sebastian godun
Columbia clears records of seven civil rights activists
In 1960, seven Columbia civil rights activists were convicted of crimes related to protests against racial inequality. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning their convictions from in 1964.
In a formal ceremony held in October at the Fifth Judicial Court Solicitor’s office, the activists’ criminal records were expunged, erasing the charges from nearly six decades ago.
The ceremony recognized Charles Barr, the Rev. Simon Bouie, and the five deceased, the Rev. David Carter, Johnny Clark, Richard Counts, Milton Greene and the Rev. Talmadge Neal. The University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research served as a community partner to the event.
Bobby Donaldson, executive director and founder of the center, led efforts to recognize the history of the incident and initiate the expungement process, which has been in the works on and off since 2013.
The original criminal cases date to sit-ins in March 1960. Bouie, at the time president of Allen University’s Student Movement Association, and Neal, president of the Benedict College Student Movement Association, led over 200 students in non-violent protests against racial segregation and Jim Crow laws in Columbia.
Bouie and Neal were arrested on March 14, 1960, for refusing to leave the luncheonette booth at Eckerd’s Drug Store on Main Street.
The following day, five more college students, including Barr, were arrested for participating in another sit-in at the Taylor Street Pharmacy’s luncheonette counter. The two privately owned businesses had signs prohibiting service to Black customers at the counter, only allowing food to be purchased to eat elsewhere. The students were convicted of trespassing and breach of peace, which carried a sentence of a $100 fine or 30 days in prison. Bouie was additionally charged with resisting arrest.
Bouie v. Columbia and Barr v. Columbia’s case lawyers appealed the charges to the United States Supreme Court after continuous affirmations in South Carolina courts.
In mid-October 1963, over three years after the original incident, the cases were argued in Washington D.C. to the Supreme Court.
Two of five cases selected by the Supreme Court to review were Bouie and Barr’s, along with similar cases from Maryland and Florida, all of them student defendants.
“The percentage of cases that the Supreme Court agrees to review is extremely small, so to have these two cases selected from South Carolina is an indication of the prominent role South Carolina played in the Civil Rights Movement,” Christopher Frear, lead researcher at USC’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research, said.
The Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn the convictions on June 22, 1964.
Ten days later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed into law. This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
“I didn’t realize at the time the impact it would have by us going down there,” Barr said in his speech at the expungement ceremony, referring to the 1960 sit-ins.
During the decades between the present year and the overturned convictions, the seven former students’ criminal records remained. The records were responsible for various obstacles throughout their lifetimes. Bouie’s record prevented him from serving in the United States military.
“Today’s ceremony is more than a formality, it is a public acknowledgment of the rightful place these men hold in our history,” Donaldson said at the event.
According to the center, only within the past year had any significant progress on clearing their records been made. Through willing coordination with the solicitor’s office and South Carolina law enforcement, a formal request for expungement could be made to the court.
Donaldson became aware of the prevailing criminal records around the time he organized ColumbiaSC 63 in 2012 Fraer said.
ColumbiaSC 63 is a project to recognize smaller southern cities with great civil rights history. On Main Street in Columbia, a civil
rights walking tour can be found, which was developed through the project.
Donaldson and the Center for Civil Rights History and Research’s focus is to preserve and educate students on the history on and around campus not long ago. Numerous resources and community exhibitions have been made more accessible through their work.
Working with the university, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research spent $500,000 to expand the digital databases for civil rights history research.
“This puts the University of South Carolina on par for research with Harvard, Yale, Emory and other leading research universities,” Fraer said.
The center’s goal is to collect as much information and personal testimonies from the time period that can still be obtained.
News video footage of Bouie’s arrest and audio recordings of the proceedings in the Supreme Court can be accessed through USC’s library databases.
JULIA MOULTON | NEWS WRITER
PHOTO: ALEXIS GOLDSTON
A sign honoring the 1960 Civil Rights sit-ins in Columbia, South Carolina, sits at the corner of Pickens and Taylor streets on Dec. 3, 2024. The monument commemorates the protests led by students against segregation in Columbia.
‘It’s truly a statewide impact’: USC’s economic influence shown in study
COLIN ELAM | NEWS EDITOR HAYDEN DAVIS | ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR CONNOR BOGAN | NEWS WRITER
The University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business released a study in January that analyzed the economic impact of the university on Columbia and South Carolina.
The USC system produces $7.4 billion in economic benefits for South Carolina annually, with USC’s flagship campus in Columbia contributing $3 billion to this amount, according to the study.
This is a 35% increase in economic benefits for the state from the most recent study conducted eight years ago.
“The University of South Carolina has been vital to the growth and prosperity of the Palmetto State for two centuries and continues to demonstrate its role as a leader in boosting South Carolina’s economy and workforce,”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a press release.
The university system’s impact reaches across the state, Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist at the Darla Moore School of Business and developer of the study, said.
“[The $7.4 billion] supports nearly 62,000 jobs statewide and about $3 billion in labor income for South Carolinians and about 63 percentage of USC’s in-state alumni currently live and work outside of the Midlands region,” Von Nessen said. “So it’s truly a statewide impact.”
USC’s flagship campus provides $4.2 billion of economic output annually in the Columbia metropolitan area, according to the study. Additionally, one in 10 jobs in the Midlands are supported by the university.
The Daily Gamecock spoke with experts, local businesses and students to illustrate the impacts of the university on the city of Columbia.
Local small businesses
For Columbia’s Five Points district, the impact of the neighboring university is critical, according to several small business owners in the area.
Woody Jones is the manager of Papa Jazz, a record store on Greene Street. He has been in Columbia for almost 25 years and is a USC alumnus. Five Points’ geography and proximity to the university draws in non-student customers, he said.
“The students are a big part of the retail culture down here,” Jones said. “By extension, there are just people in general who come in the store, who aren’t necessarily students, but they’re coming because the university is here.”
Kailey Cunningham and Roger Caughman run Godspeed, a pop-up coffee shop sharing a building with the Boyd Innovation Center on Saluda Avenue. In addition to the direct impact of the students and faculty frequenting Five Points businesses, events like football games bring in potential customers from out of town, Cunningham said.
“It’s a hub,” Cunningham said. “It’s like a neighborhood where all the stuff is, so people know to go there. They all get funneled into this little area.”
The traffic from the university helps to support a variety of similar stores, compared to areas like Lexington, South Carolina, where the duo is from, Cunningham said.
“There was like one singular coffee shop that was not Starbucks,” Cunningham said. “But here there’s maybe 15 of the same thing and all of them get the love just because of the demand.”
According to Caughman, the increase in the number of nearby coffee shops challenges the stores to improve their quality. Without the nearby university, the standards for the shops’ products, ambiance and customer service might be lower, he said.
All Good Books is an independent bookstore in Five Points. One of its owners is Ben Adams, a USC graduate. The store receives bulk orders from USC and individual departments within the university, Adams said. These sales with
bulk orders from local stores make up 5 to 10% of All Good Books’ total business, a critical amount, he said.
“That five or 10 percent does make the difference between us staying in business,” Adams said. “We’re a small enough business that, if you took that out, we go out of business next year.”
Overall, the overlap between USC’s community and that of the bookstore is beneficial, Adams said.
“The university and the bookstore are like kindred spirits,” Adams said. “The same kind of people end up in both places, and we both have similar values, so we work well together.”
Real estate and housing market
USC’s flagship campus has impacts on both student and non-student housing and rental markets in Columbia, according to Butch Smith, an assistant clinical professor of finance at USC. The student housing market in Columbia is booming due to a housing shortage for students. New student housing complexes are under construction in the city, including Gateway 737 and VERVE Columbia. Students also rent homes in and around Columbia.
Some student housing complexes affiliated with the university have increased rental costs in recent years. 650 Lincoln’s semesterly rental costs have increased from $5,050 in fall 2020 to between $6,369 to $6,719 in fall 2024, according to USC housing’s rates and fees page.
Non-student housing may also be impacted by the university. A 2019 study from the Journal of Big Data found that public universities have an impact on housing prices and rents, Smith said.
“[The study] also said that public universities, which USC is a public university, those tend to have a higher positive effect on average home prices and average rent,” Smith said.
The same study analyzed median home prices and rent price data from thousands of various zip codes to reach its conclusions. It also found a trend in the demand for small homes near universities.
Smaller homes near the university tend to have higher demand due to students wanting to live in them, Smith said.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF USC ON THE MIDLANDS
Source: The Economic Impact of The University of South Carolina on the Midlands region annually."
The process of students moving into neighborhoods is called studentification, an effect that can raise rental costs, Smith said.
“So, you know, students got to live somewhere. They want to live [as] close to university as they can usually, especially if it’s walking distance, you get a premium for rents,” Smith said.
Where students plan to live
USC retains 40.7% of its graduates in the Columbia area in the first five years after graduation, according to the study.
If this Columbia-area retention rate improves by as little as 1%, that would provide $18.8 million in new economic activity for the Midlands region, according to the study.
The Daily Gamecock interviewed 34 students about where they plan to live after graduation.
A total of 62.9% of USC graduates end up living and working outside of the Midlands, according to the study.
Only two students reported that they plan to live in Columbia after graduation. A total of 13 students said they plan to live in South Carolina after graduation. They reported reasons including proximity to family and plans to go to law or medical school.
First-year art education student Katelyn Guingrich said she plans to remain in Columbia after graduating.
“It just depends on where the most opportunities are, but I’m liking exploring the city,” Guingrich said.
First-year nursing student and New York native, Jack Wall, said that he plans to live in South Carolina post-graduation and work wherever he can get a job.
Six students said they plan to live in cities outside of South Carolina, such as New York and Charlotte.
First-year undecided student Mia Cinque said she hopes to go to New York or New Jersey.
“I don’t really like the South, to live in,” Cinque said. “I’m going into the marketing space, so I think there’s a lot of opportunities.”
First-year political science student Anna-Claire Tillman said she wants to return to her roots in Charleston after graduation.
First-year public health student Layla Foster said she is interested in going to medical school in South Carolina.
“I’m planning to attend med school, so it’s really kind of up in the air,” Foster said. “But I would like to stay either in Columbia or go back upstate.”
$40,248 $2,047,374,440 $4,158,933,338
Continued economic growth may be at risk due to multiple issues. The increasing age of South Carolina’s residents and a labor shortage may stunt future growth, according to the study.
USC’s programs may alleviate these issues through their appeal to talented people both in and out of South Carolina, Von Nessen said.
“Because of its many internationally recognized programs, USC is regularly attracting talent from within South Carolina as well as across the United States,” Von Nessen said. “And provides Columbia and the Midlands, especially with a significant high-skilled labor pool for employers.”
INFOGRAPHIC: KATE SHEPHERD
A unit of health serving departments dedicated to meeting the emotional, mental, and physical needs of the Gamecock community.
CAMPUS RECREATION
With a focus on physical wellness, we offer a variety of services, programs, and facilities to inspire an active and connected USC community, providing opportunities to stay engaged and healthy.
COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRY
Prioritizing mental health, we recognize its crucial role in overall well-being and academic success. Our dedicated support is readily available to assist you through any challenges you may face on your personal journey.
EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING
HEALTHY CAMPUS INITIATIVES
Our team provides diverse health education, outreach, and prevention services through peer mentorship, wellness coaching, a licensed dietician, and other resources.
STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
Providing comprehensive healthcare services, our clinic supports students with routine check-ups, specialized treatments, and empowering skills for lifelong wellness, ensuring a healthy campus community.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION
Dedicated to promoting healthy, low-risk behavior and a safe Carolina community where students' academic and personal success is not impaired by substance misuse.
COMING THIS MONTH…
DESIGN: KATE SHEPHERD
New STEM Innovation and Research Center approved
HAYDEN DAVIS | ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
USC’s board of trustees approved a new STEM Innovation and Research center during a meeting on Dec. 17. The project is a part of the USC Next master plan.
The five-story building will be located on the corner of Greene and Main streets, according to University Architect Derek Gruner. The space is occupied by a parking lot for faculty and staff of the Science and Technology building.
The upper three floors will be dedicated to research. USC needs the additional space for its expanding research programs, USC Vice President for Research Julius Fridriksson said.
“Our research, just overall, is growing very fast,” Fridriksson said. “Our funding last year was up $309 million last year. Most of that is for research. It happens here on campus, because it’s growing, we just need to have more space to do that research.”
Although the specifics of what research will be conducted in the center are not yet available, Fridriksson said it is “very likely” researchers will use the building for coastal erosion and flood mitigation research.
“We have major coastal erosion, which is a problem,” Fridriksson said. “We also
know that every time there’s a flood in South Carolina, it causes all types of trouble. So, we want to solve those problems in that building.”
Research in the center will be interdisciplinary, bringing together students from multiple fields to solve problems, Fridriksson said.
“I think this space will provide an opportunity for more interdisciplinary and collaborative research, which is really a future of research, which is answering important questions, not from a single disciplinary background, but looking across disciplines,” Fridriksson said. “And I think that is exciting both in terms of the impact of the work that will be done there and in terms of opportunities for students.”
The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Joel Samuels, said he is excited about the opportunities for students. He said students in biology, chemistry and other natural sciences will likely see the greatest benefits from the center.
But students in non-STEM fields may also find opportunities. The building’s design and the ethical considerations of the research are
two examples of non-STEM involvement in the center, Fridricksson said.
The lower two floors will host a space focused on entrepreneurship and innovation, according to a press release by University Spokesperson Collyn Taylor.
Students will be able to work on research with companies that partner with the university in the space, Fridriksson said. He said the innovation space will provide a valuable, hands-on experience for students in STEM fields.
“For example, if you’re in engineering, you’re already doing something on campus that when you take your first job, you’ve done it,” Fridriksson said. “If you go into a high-tech company that does some of the same stuff, you already have that experience.”
The innovation space will feature a common area and labs visible to the street, according to Gruner.
Gruner’s plan shows a plaza with a cafe and gathering space in between the new center and Science and Technology building. The roof, or fifth floor may host a greenhouse that can be utilized for research.
according to Gruner.
Gruner requested $1.5 million in institutional funds for phase one of the project. The board of trustees approved the funding.
The budget for the project will be approved when Phase I is done, then it will go back to the board of trustees for approval, Taylor said in a statement.
No date has been announced for the beginning of construction or the opening of the center.
Fridricksson said he is confident the center and additional projects will generate benefits for more than just the university and its students.
“The universities create economic growth, and I think that as we increase our research effort with things like the STEM building, with the new house sciences campus building, the new hospital that we’re thinking about building, these things will be a catalyst for both our students to get better training opportunities but also just for economic growth for the area,” Fridriksson said. “The sky’s the limit for this stuff.”
PHOTO: BRILEY BRYSON
The location for the newly approved STEM Innovation and Research center is pictured on Jan. 15, 2025, on the corner of Greene and Main streets. The innovation space will feature a common area and labs visible to the street.
Across Greene Street from the center is the site of the proposed new university bookstore,
USC’s board of trustees receives updates on campus infrastructure, considers hospital governance
COLIN ELAM | NEWS EDITOR
USC's board of trustees were updated on ongoing campus projects and considered the leadership structure of the new hospital during its annual retreat on Jan. 24.
The board also approved a contract extension for head football coach Shane Beamer and heard from Jeremiah Donati, whose contract as director of athletics began on Jan. 2, 2025. Plans for a committee to study artificial intelligence and discussions about a center for students studying American civics were also announced.
UPDATES ON CAMPUS PROJECTS
University Architect Derek Gruner presented USC’s progress on many projects included in the USC Next master plan, which was released in August 2024. The presentation also included potential logistical challenges stemming from trends in the construction industry, sourced from the construction company Gilbane and statistics from government and industry associations.
Overall, the university expects the cost of construction to escalate by 4 to 5% annually. High demand for construction in South Carolina and supply chain volatility are two factors in these rising costs, according to the presentation.
Another obstacle is long lead times for specialized equipment, especially electrical components. Lead time refers to the time between placing an order and receiving the item. For instance, the lead time for electrical transformers can range from nine to 26 months, according to the presentation.
The ongoing expansion of Russell House’s dining services is scheduled to be completed in fall 2025. However, Gruner had previously been concerned that the building’s transformer would need to be replaced, which would have likely made that deadline impossible to meet, he said.
The recent trends in the construction industry are unique, Gruner said.
“It’s been an interesting five years,” Gruner said. “It’s been unlike anything I’ve experienced in my career now, which is north of 35 years.”
The Russell House renovations began on Jan. 2, 2025, and the project is set to add six to seven new food stations and 522 new seats, according
to the presentation. The project will also include new restrooms, a new convenience store and an expansion of the Chick-fil-a.
Meanwhile, McBryde Residence Hall is scheduled for demolition in spring 2026. Together with an expansion to the Honors College, the project is to be completed in 2028.
The Honors College component of the project is the addition of a third wing, housing around 150 beds. Gruner said the amount of beds in McBryde will reach a minimum of 500. The combination of these two numbers is the source of the current estimate of 650 beds, which is supported by the project’s $125 million budget. The final number of beds may change in the future.
Prior to construction, McBryde has 260 beds according to USC’s website.
Gruner also announced that an architect has been selected for an upcoming renovation to Thomas Cooper Library. In addition to transitioning the use of the space away from book storage towards studying and collaboration, the project aims to improve ventilation and humidity control.
The first phase of the library’s renovation is expected to start in summer 2026.
HOW DO YOU GOVERN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL?
Huron Consulting Group led a presentation on different governance models seen in university hospital systems. The questions about governance come after the board of trustees approved funding for a new neurological hospital in October 2024, the first of its kind in South Carolina.
Key issues include reporting relationship between hospital and academic leadership and the mix of academic and clinical functions in such a facility, according to the presentation. The consultants contrasted models where the hospital structure is more independent from the academic side of the university and models that are more integrated into the regular leadership structure.
While no decisions were made at the meeting, the board of trustees and USC President Michael Amiridis' work with the state government on the project is an argument for a more integrated model, Thad Westbrook, chair of the board of trustees, said.
USC is working with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on the new project, according to an October 2024 press release.
A lot of the reasons why this is happening and where we’re going in this partnership with state government is because of the trust they have in us and the president,” Westbrook said. “I think that makes it incumbent upon us to maintain a level of control.”
However, USC’s board should also consider creating a professional board for the hospital, Westbrook said.
“I start to think it lends itself to kind of a hybrid board that is a mix between trustees and those outside the university with the right kind of experience,” Westbrook said.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
During the retreat, Westbook announced the creation of a joint committee to study artificial intelligence. The committee will look into AI’s applications to institutional operations, as opposed to issues of academic integrity or academic research. The committee will return to the board for a check-in in April, before the budget is set and will deliver a final report in August, Westbrook said.
“I think we need to be ahead of the curve in higher ed, on how AI can better be used by the university to serve our students, to serve faculty, to work with our staff,” Westbrook said. "There are applications that are out there that can improve the way we fulfill our mission.”
PHOTO: SEBASTIAN GODUN
FILE — University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis introduces the new Vice President for Information Technology, John “Brice” Bible, at a board of trustees meeting on March 18, 2024. Amiridis is serving as the university’s 30th president.
COMICS
Year in review: South Carolina football defies 202425 pre-season projections with 9 win season
Maya Ambuehl | Sports writer
The South Carolina football team entered the 2024-25 season with low expectations after a 5-7 campaign in 2023.
Head coach Shane Beamer said he knew the talent and coaching in the locker room could translate into something more than a 5-7 record.
“We’ve got a heck of a team, and we are going to go work our butts off and leave this program better than we left it after the ‘23 season,” Beamer said. “Since they’ve come back in January, they’ve been unbelievable.”
Multiple seniors decided to come back for the 2024-25 season.
“What we’re doing this year is the reason why a lot of guys came back,” redshirt senior defensive tackle Alex Huntley said. “We knew what we could have, we knew what this team could be, so we just trusted each other, trusted the coaches, trusted the game plan.”
The Gamecocks started the 2024-25 season with a win against Old Dominion that showcased the team’s newest editions.
Redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw two touchdowns the following week at Kentucky, with the defense holding the Wildcats to only two field goals on the afternoon.
Beamer said he saw potential in his team after the Kentucky game.
“I remember walking off the field that day thinking, ‘Okay, we got a chance at being pretty good just because of the way that we can play defense,’” Beamer said.
ESPN’s College Gameday came to Columbia for the first time in a decade for the Gamecocks’ second home game against then-No. 16 LSU. The Gamecocks lost its first game of the season after a missed field goal from senior kicker Alex Herrera sealed the LSU win 36-33.
Two games later, the Gamecocks would lose again in SEC play, falling 27-3 to thenNo. 12 Ole Miss.
Having a 2-0 start to the season, the Gamecocks found itself at 3-3 entering
the toughest stretch of its schedule after another close loss to then-No. 7 Alabama.
“I just remember one, the frustration after the Alabama game, and I meet with a group of our leaders of each position,”
Beamer said. “I usually start each meeting like, ‘What’s on y’all’s minds?’ ... And they didn’t say a word other then, ‘Win out. There is no other option.’”
South Carolina traveled to play the Oklahoma Sooners. The Gamecocks rode a 21-point opening quarter featuring two defensive touchdowns to the 35-9 win over the Sooners.
The Gamecocks took its victory back home to Columbia to play then-No. 10 Texas A&M. South Carolina defeated the Aggies at home, marking the team’s first win against a ranked opponent this season.
South Carolina opened the final month of the regular season against the No. 23 Missouri Tigers. The Gamecocks took the lead in the final 15 seconds of the game after a touchdown pass from Sellers to senior running back Raheim Sanders. The play would ultimately win South Carolina the game 34-30.
The win officially marked Beamer’s first winning season in conference play as the head coach of the Gamecocks and the first time the Gamecocks won over AP ranked opponents in three consecutive weeks.
After extending its winning streak to five games with a home victory against Wofford, South Carolina was set to finish the season against No. 12 Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl.
The Gamecocks found themselves down 14-10 with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter. Sellers scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown on third down for South Carolina to win the game 17-14, the biggest moment of the season for the Gamecocks.
Following the win, the Gamecocks were sitting at 9-3, on the cusp of making the College Football Playoffs, ranked 14th in the country.
“I get it. The committee has a really tough job. They have to choose the 12 best teams, but I get it. We got three losses. I understand that,” Beamer said. “But it’s hard for me to sit there and say that we’re not one of the 12 best teams in the country.”
The No. 13 Gamecocks fell short of a playoff selection and were later selected to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Illinois on Dec. 31.
South Carolina fell to Illinois but the team still had a historical turnaround season that saw Beamer take the record for most wins in his first four seasons as the Gamecocks coach with 29.
The rise of LaNorris Sellers
The 2024-25 season was Sellers’ first time starting for South Carolina as he sat behind current New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler a year prior.
After his performance against Missouri this season, Sellers’ name started to rise in the media. He finished the game completing 21 of his 30 passes with 353 yards passing with five touchdowns.
By the end of the season, Beamer said he believed Sellers is the best player in the country and a Heisman candidate. He said he has had an amazing progression as a young quarterback with the potential to be one of the most exciting names in college football.
Sellerswas named the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, finishing the season with 2,534 yards passing with 18 touchdowns, along with 674 yards on the ground with seven rushing touchdowns.
Success in the portal
South Carolina used the transfer portal going into the 2024-25 to its own advantage. The team had over 20 transfer recruits commit to play for South
during the playing of the school’s alma mater after defeating No. 10 Texas A&M on Nov. 2, 2024 at Williams-Brice Stadium. Students and fans rushed the field after the game ended, celebrating the football team’s upset win.
Carolina, many of whom played key roles for the Gamecocks.
Sixth-year linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. impacted the South Carolina defense in a big way after transferring from Charlotte. Knight finished the season with 57 solo tackles, two sacks, and a game-clinching interception in the final minute against Clemson.
“You look at the guys we brought in from the portal last year, two of the most impactful guys that we’ve had, (redshirt senior offensive lineman) Torricelli Simpkins and Demetrius Knight,” Beamer said.
Sanders made his name known on the offensive side of the ball at South Carolina. He finished this season with a total of 183 carries for 881 yards rushing with 11 rushing touchdowns; he was also named 2024 Comeback Player of the Year.
Fifth-year edge Kyle Kennard showed his talent for the Gamecocks this year.
The former Georgia Tech player finished the 2024-25 season with 20 solo tackles, three forced fumbles and 11.5 sacks, which ranked seventh in the nation. Kennard was awarded the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year trophy for his efforts.
The 2024-25 season was a historic one for the Gamecocks with the help of new additions, stand-out wins and offensive players.
CAMPUS RECREATION
‘This is what she promised and she delivered’: Dawn Staley receives contract extension, continues to push for the growth of women’s sports
Brendan Dougherty | Sports Editor
South Carolina women’s basketball has been fortunate to have head coach Dawn Staley at the helm for the past 17 years.
Staley has three national championships, 462 career wins and a lifelong impact on the growth and popularity of women’s basketball — and she won’t be leaving any time soon.
The University of South Carolina board of trustees announced on Jan. 17 that it would be extending the contract of Staley through the 202930 season. The contract makes Staley the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball.
The contract will have an annual base salary of $4 million, a bump up from the $3.1 million Staley was originally making annually. Staley will make a total of $25.25 million by the time the contract expires, including a $500,000 signing bonus and an annual $250,000 escalator.
For Staley, the new contract does not feel like a gift, but something she earned.
“Rewarded is a hard word for me because it’s earned,” Staley said. “When you’ve done what you’re supposed to do
and well above what you’re supposed to do, you should be paid accordingly.”
Staley’s increase in wage surpasses LSU’s Kim Mulkey and UConn’s Geno Auriemma, who make $3.2 million and $3.1 million, respectively.
Staley’s extension is no surprise, coming off her third national championship in just seven years. She has coached South Carolina to seven seasons of at least 30 wins, and her three championships are tied for third all-time with Baylor University and Stanford University. Only the University of Connecticut and the University of Tennessee have won more championships as a program, with 11 and eight, respectively.
“We play to a certain standard,” Staley said. “I do think when you’re able to get a raise like this, it’s to your standard.”
Staley is perhaps coming off her most impressive season yet, taking the 202324 Gamecocks to a perfect 38-0 record en route to the national championship. The perfect campaign for Staley’s Gamecocks was just the tenth time in
the history of women’s college basketball of a team having an undefeated season.
“She just wins,” said Brad Muller, Director of Content for University of South Carolina Athletics and play-by-play voice of the Gamecocks women’s basketball team. “Wherever she’s been as a player and a coach, she wins, and it’s just been an incredible ride.”
Turning South Carolina into a powerhouse
Staley’s success began well before the University of South Carolina hired her in 2008, during her days as a point guard at the University of Virginia. In four years with the Cavaliers, Staley won the Naismith College Player of the Year award twice, in 1991 and 1992. Staley later entered the Naismith Hall of Fame for her career as a player in 2013.
Her eight-year WNBA career overlapped with her time as the women’s basketball coach of Temple University, where she had winning seasons seven of the eight years she spent with the Owls. Her success with Temple was enough to land her the job with South Carolina.
Since her tenure with South Carolina began, Staley has won four USBWA National Coach of the Year awards, four Naismith Coach of the Year awards and seven SEC Coach of the Year awards.
As for her teams, Staley has led the Gamecocks to three national championships and six Final Fours.
She has also taken the team to the Women’s College Basketball NCAA Tournament every season since she led South Carolina to its first campaign with 25 wins in the 2011-12 season.
“That kind of spring-boarded everything to getting better players,”
Muller said. “That team, to me, really started it all with how they played.”
Current South Carolina assistant coach Khadijah Sessions joined the program as a player in the following 2012-13 season. As a three-year starter for the Gamecocks, Sessions was a member of the first team to make the Final Four in South Carolina women’s basketball history in her junior year.
“It was an awesome feeling just to be a part of history with her,” Sessions said. “To see where this program is now, I knew once we did it once she could get past that and just keep on knocking doors down.”
Sessions also described the impact Staley had on her as a player and how she molded her into the person she is.
“She helped me just grow as an individual person and human,” Sessions said. “To understand discipline and sacrifice and what it takes to grow in this work, and that just helped me on the court as well.”
Staley’s winning ways would not slow down following her first Final Four appearance. Since 2017, Staley has won three national championships, coached two players to the National Player of the Year and sat at No. 1 on the AP Poll for two straight seasons from 2021-2023.
“She’s raised the bar so high that you kind of get spoiled by it. And you don’t want to imagine what it’s going to be like when she’s gone because it’s going to be so hard to follow it up,” Muller said.
“Nobody wants to be the one that follows up greatness, right?”
Staley adds FIBA Hall of Fame to her long list of awards
In addition to her new contract, Staley was announced as a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame class of 2025 on Jan. 16 for her storied history as a player and coach for Team USA women’s basketball. FIBA, The International Basketball
Photo: Jatin Patel
Federation, organizes basketball in the quadrennial Summer Olympics while hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup every four years.
“I don’t become a Hall of Famer without having the teammates that I’ve had,” Staley said. “I didn’t score a whole lot of points … I probably had more assists than I did points. But to be in the FIBA Hall of Fame, that’s worldwide.”
Staley is joined by legendary Team USA men’s basketball coach and longtime Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski as the only coaches to be a part of the 2025 class.
“It’s neat because this won’t be the only time she’s a two-timer in the hall of fame,” Muller said. “When she’s done coaching, she will be in the Naismith Hall of Fame as well as a coach. She’s already in as a player.”
continued efforts, ‘fighting’ for growth of women’s sports
Throughout her career as both a player and a coach, Staley has been an advocate for the growth of women’s sports, more specifically women’s basketball.
Staley said her contract is not only representative of the development of women’s sports but showcasing the capability of women in any professional field.
“I do think it represents what can be in other professions that women, for whatever reason, are not paid for doing the same type of work,” Staley said. “I think this is an example of what it can look like, feel like, sound like, and I hope everybody’s happy about it for what it represents because it’s only the right thing to do.”
In 2023-24, the NCAA women’s college basketball regular season saw a 37% increase in viewership from the year before. The Gamecocks were a part of the most-watched regular season game last season when they traveled to LSU in January 2024, logging 1.6 million viewers across ESPN platforms.
“You can’t put a price on what that kind of attention means,” Muller said. “It’s hard to put a dollar value of what it means to have your program constantly in the spotlight.”
The game continues to grow with the more attention it receives, with more talented players year by year and more excitement following. Muller praised Staley for her ability to keep up with the rapid growth of the sport and keep her team at the top.
“It’s neat to see her succeed at a time when women’s basketball has probably
never been better,” Muller said. “And again, this is what she promised, and she delivered.”
Staley brings her impact on the sport back to Columbia, where she has brought in a top-two recruiting class in the nation four different times. Her most recent top recruiting class was headlined by freshman forward Joyce Edwards, the former No. 1 recruit in South Carolina.
Sessions attributed the atmosphere and the winning culture that Staley creates to the draw for top recruits to come play for South Carolina.
“She lets you know you’re going to be a better person as well as a better player,” Sessions said. “If you want to be a pro, this is the place for you to come.”
Sessions said that the advocacy for the sport is nothing new from Staley and that she’s been “fighting” for growth for a long time.
“She’s been fighting since I met her to take women’s sports to the next level,” Sessions said. “Her story is real, but she’s been fighting before she even had this type of fame with this type of money.”
Muller said Staley’s pursuit for the growth of young women in sports stems from her desire to continue winning championships and growing her legacy as a coach.
“Yes, she wants to win. She’s as competitive a person as you’ll ever see,” Muller said. “But I think just as important as for her team winning is growing the game to create more opportunities for young women.”
Staley remains consistent with that message. She is not the coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team because of the money she makes, but because of her success as a talented coach and her hard work.
“I have never been driven by money at all,” Staley said. “I think money is the byproduct of your success and your ability to work hard and be successful when you’re in your space.”
Photos: Nickolas Hill, Taylor Kitchens, Jazzy Rhodes, Emma Wyatt
Photo: Grace Gustafson
Spot the difference
Can you find the eight differences?
The whistle is angled down, the left basketball is rotated, the two bags have swapped (2 differences), the line on the right jersey’s collar is missing, the shoelace on the right most shoe is untied, there is an extra finger on the foam hand and the jersey numbers are flipped.
Illustration: Olivia Abner
Gamecocks bring recruits, portal additions into football program to address offseason needs
Hunter Burkhalter | Sports Writer
With the 2024-25 college football season officially in the books, focus across the nation now shifts to offseason recruiting as programs wait for spring camp. The Gamecocks’ 2025 recruiting class ranked at No. 19 after a total of 39 commits according to On3’s team recruiting ranks.
Five of those 39 commits are part of ESPN’s top 300 commits, with star transfers from the portal as well as new signings from high school athletes joining the Gamecocks.
With the addition of wide receivers coach Mike Furrey to the staff before the 2024 season, the recruiting process has gone pretty well for the class of 2025, head coach Shane Beamer said.
“Particularly Mike Furrey coming in and just doing a grand slam job of recruiting receivers. When you look at this receiving group that he attacked and brought in here so we’re excited about what we’ve done there,” Beamer said.
Building around Sellers
One notable wide receiver from the new list of committed Gamecocks is Donovan Murph. Murph officially committed to the Gamecocks on Jan. 2 live on ESPN2 during the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game for High School prospects in DeLand, Florida. The Irmo, South Carolina native is ranked as the No. 182 ranked recruit according to the ESPN Top 300 and the No. 8 recruit from the state of South Carolina according to On3’s industry recruit rankings.
“South Carolina was the school that stayed consistent with me,” Murph said on ESPN2 after committing to the Gamecocks. “All fall they were showing me love.”
Murph was a multi-sport athlete for Irmo High School, competing in track and field and basketball to go alongside his football career. On the gridiron in 2024, Murph had 1,328 yards alongside 12 touchdowns and 13.8 yards per completion. Murph helped his team finish 13-0 in the regular season and advance to the 4A state semifinals for the first time in school history.
The Gamecocks also entered the offseason looking for added depth in the running back room after senior running
back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders declared for the NFL draft.
The Gamecocks will have one new running back joining the roster in 2025 in Utah State transfer running back Rahsul Faison who signed with South Carolina on Jan. 8. During his time playing for Texas A&M, Faison had a total of 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons. Faison also recorded zero fumbles during his time with Utah State.
The Gamecocks also signed Kentucky transfer Jordan Dingle in December after the loss of senior tight end Joshua Simons to graduation. Dingle’s best statistical season was in 2023, totaling 270 yards on the season on 12 catches.
Ohio State transfer Air Noland and incoming true freshman Cutter Woods signed with the Gamecocks in December as the Gamecocks look to build depth around starting quarterback and 2024 FWAA Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, LaNorris Sellers. Woods was named the MaxPreps South Carolina Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024 and led Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina to a 4A state title in 2023.
Rebuilding the trenches
South Carolina will be replacing many key linemen on both sides of the ball after losing players like senior offensive lineman Vershon Lee and senior defensive tackle TJ Sanders to graduation.
“You look at when TJ, and Tonka (Hemingway), and Boogie (Huntley) and we brought in (DeAndre) Jules, they all decided to come back for another year it was ‘Ok awesome these guys are coming back’ but then it also hits you in the face these guys will be gone after ‘24 and that’s a lot of really really good football players rolling out of here,” Beamer said. “Really the heart of the defense right there with those three tackles and then the two inside linebackers.”
The Gamecocks bring in two incoming freshmen to its offensive line in Damola Ajidahun and Shedrick Sarratt Jr. Ajidahun was a four-star recruit ranked No. 195 in the ESPN 300 while the South Carolina native Sarratt Jr. ranked as a three-star recruit.
FILE — Football head coach Shane Beamer runs out of South Carolina’s tunnel with the rest of the team at the beginning of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31, 2024 at Camping World Stadium. Beamer has signed multiple top recruits and transfer portal players in preparation for next year’s season.
The Gamecocks also looked to the transfer portal to fill its gaps on the offensive front bringing in Boaz Stanley and Rodney Newsom from Troy University and Western Kentucky, respectively.
On the defensive front, the Gamecocks picked up sophomore Texas A&M transfer Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, freshman Missouri transfer Jaylen Brown and sophomore Bowling Green transfer Davonte Miles out of the transfer portal. Brown only appeared in two games with the Tigers last season but will have time to grow with the Gamecocks after remaining eligible to redshirt the 2024 season.
Other additions to the defensive line for 2025 include four-star defensive lineman
Jaquavious Dodd and four three-star defensive linemen in Kobby Sakyi-Prah, Anthony Addison, Donovan Darden and Taeshawn Alston.
The Gamecocks built its linebacker room back up through the transfer portal signing Florida State transfer Shawn Murphy and Alabama transfer Justin Okoronkwo.
The Gamecocks also upgraded its secondary with sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse transferring from NC State. In 2024 at NC State, he put up 28 tackles on the season and transferred to South Carolina on Jan. 13.
Photo: Sebastian Godun
Sophomore track athlete JaMeesia Ford looks to build upon award winning freshman year
Jaydon ford | Assistant sports editor
Sophomore sprinter JaMeesia Ford is off to a historic start to her track career, setting school records and becoming the fifth female Gamecock to win SEC Freshman Runner of the Year (Indoor & Outdoor).
Ford’s father put her in track at the age of eight. She said she’s always liked racing others, the competitiveness of the sport growing up and racing her brothers after her father finished coaching football practice.
“At the end of their practices, we used to always race, and I used to always win,” Ford said.
Growing up, the sprinter looked up to former American track and field athlete
Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete ever with 20 World Championship medals and 11 medals at the Olympic Games.
“She just inspires me so much,” Ford said. “She’s a very strong woman … and I like how she inspired others.”
Ford ran track and field for Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina where she earned 24 gold medals across events 100m, 200m, 800m, 400m and the 4x400m. She also earned seven silver medals, six bronze medals and two copper medals.
Ford earned United 8 Athletic Conference Women’s Track & Field Runner of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and United 8 Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference from 2021 to 2023. She was also Jack Britt’s Varsity Girls Track & Field Runner of the Year in 2021.
Ford was ranked second and fourth in her class for the 400 and 200 meter dashes and committed to South Carolina as a fivestar sprinter. Ford said the atmosphere she felt on campus played a role in her decision to become a Gamecock.
“When I came here on my visit, it felt so much like home compared to the other schools,” Ford said. “I felt very welcomed here ... It felt like a home away from home to me.”
Sprints assistant coach Felicia Brown Edwards said Ford is a very coachable runner and a fun player to coach.
“She’s always had a lot of energy. She’s also dancing in practice,” Edwards said. “But when it’s time to focus, she’s able to do that.”
During the indoor season, Ford appeared in seven meets, running the 200m, 300m, 400m and the 4x400m relay. She won every race she competed in during the indoor season while also setting records to start her collegiate career at the Clemson Opener in the 300m and at the Indoor Championship in the 200m and the 4x400m relay.
Her record in the 200m was the fourth highest collegiate 200m and the fastest U20 time in history as she went on to win gold at the NCAA Indoor Championship with a time of 22.34. Ford also became the first Gamecock woman to win the indoor 200m since 2006.
For the indoor season, Ford earned 2024 Indoor First Team All-American twice, 2024 Indoor First Team All-SEC and 2024 Indoor SEC Freshman Runner of the Year.
Head coach Tim Hall talked about her performances during indoor and the outlook of her future as a Gamecock.
“It’s very promising. She’s, of course, 19 (Ford turned 20 after this remark) years old and has done some unbelievable things,” Hall said. “What she’s doing right now is very special, and I think it shows how promising her future is in the sport.”
Ford appeared in nine outdoor meets running the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m and the 4x400m. She won four events (100m, 200m, 400m), with the 400m win being her outdoor debut with a time of 51.16, two wins at the Charlotte Invitational and one win at the Florida Relays.
She finished second in the 200m at the NCAA East Regional. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Ford was the runner up in the 200m with a program record time of 22.08, third in 4x100 relay with a time of 42.63 and sixth in 4x400m relay with a program record of 3:24.26.
Although Ford wouldn’t win an event in the outdoor national championship, she was able to break Felix’s U20 record for the 200m, something she said she felt very fortunate to be able to accomplish.
“Even though I didn’t get first place, I was very happy and blessed that I broke my inspiration’s record,” Ford said.
Her performance during the outdoor season earned her U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Southeast Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year and First Team AllAmerican honors.
Outside of track and field, Ford attended the Gamecock Gala where she won co-Female Freshman of the Year alongside now sophomore women’s basketball guard MiLaysia Fulwiley.
Gamecock Gala is an annual event hosted at Colonial Life Arena that honors
South Carolina’s top student athletes near the end of the school year.
“That was real fun seeing all the athletes there and all of us bonding with each other,” Ford said.
Even with the records and accolades collected in her freshman season, Ford said she is going into her sophomore campaign with a couple of things she hopes to achieve this year, despite not knowing what the future holds.
“I don’t know what God has in store for me, (but) I do want to break some records this year,” Ford said. “And being healthy because I did have some bumps in the road last year.”
Photo: Alexis Goldston
FILE — Freshman JaMeesia Ford wins first place in the 200 meters at the 2024 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Feb. 24, 2024. She set a personal record and the collegiate lead in the event.
‘It installed in me a new level of respect for myself’:
Students balance military service with academics
Simone Meyer | Arts and culture editor
Fourth-year psychology student Asia
Murchison thinks being a soldier takes two things — the will to do it and the discipline to do what's required to fit the uniform.
Murchison is a psychology and philosophy student with a military science minor who plans to go to law school to become an active duty Judge Advocate General, or military lawyer. Murchison exercises through Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Physical Training, goes to ROTC leadership labs and attends ROTC classes, all on top of her school work.
According to the Military Times, USC is ranked as one of the best colleges in the country for veterans and military service members. Whether veterans, ROTC, National Guard, active service or military reserve, USC students find balance between academics and their responsibilities as a soldier.
Early beginnings
Murchison comes from a military family. She said being a soldier means something different to her because it took a lot for her ancestors to get her to where she is now.
“It’s honorable,” Murchison said. “Because I know that sacrifices that are made for me to even be in this position, as a Black student on campus, as a Black soldier.”
On the other hand, secondyear public health student and Army ROTC member Noel Suidut said she originally didn’t want to join the military at all. Her brother convinced her to join Junior ROTC (JROTC), and from there she stuck with it.
“I’m not gonna lie, I did not have a I did not have a lot of confidence. (In) JROTC... I started building confidence,” Suidut said. "And then once I got into this program, I started realizing it.”
USC has an Army ROTC, a Navy ROTC and an Air Force ROTC. ROTC is a college program that sets students up to join the military as an officer instead of an enlister, which is a higher ranking. As part of ROTC, students take on a military science minor. They meet weekly as a unit to take
lessons in leadership and military skills and three times a week for physical training between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Benjamin Buchalter, a second-year finance student who is in ROTC and the National Guard, said he knew he wanted to be in the military since he was a Boy Scout in high school.
“I grew up near West Point in New York, and I was always very interested in the military aspect of life,” Buchalter said. “I always knew that I kind of wanted a higher calling when it came, and I always wanted to kind of apply myself in a bunch of different areas.”
Unlike ROTC, the National Guard is a military unit that does not operate within the school and joining requires recruitment. The South Carolina National Guard contains Air Force units and Army units. One weekend a month, members of the National Guard do a Recruit Sustainment Program drill to get
comfortable with the terminology and protocols that are part of guard service, according to the Army National Guard.
Members of the National Guard serve under the command of their state governors and respond to natural disasters and state emergencies, according to the SC National Guard. Eric Davis, a 2024 USC graduate and Army lieutenant stationed in Colorado, said students in the National Guard can get scholarships like the South Carolina Army National Guard scholarship. A transformative experience
Buchalter said ROTC and the National Guard have made him more disciplined and responsible. “I can't be up studying until one in the morning because I have to be up in four hours,” Buchalter said.
“So it allows me to kind of plan my schedule out better, and it allows me to manage my time in a way where I can be successful, both academically, physically,
mentally, in all aspects, military wise and educationally wise.”
Suidut said the hardest part of being a soldier is multitasking because she has a lot of other time commitments like CrossFit and academic responsibilities.
As a soldier, Murchison pushes herself to excel in new standards, such as getting up before dawn and training her body to be stronger, she said.
"I transformed physically, mentally and my lifestyle changed,” Murchison said. “My discipline level changed. It just instilled in me a new level of respect for myself and for my peers, because we're all on the same goal to achieve a certain mission.”
"I failed because I lacked the discipline or the foresight to see the benefits of having a college degree," Clatterbuck said. "So serving on the enlisted side, it gave me that discipline and the foresight to be like, there's better opportunity after you get your college degree."
Transitioning in and out of university environment
Students can serve in active duty or as a reservist for any of the eight branches of service while attending college. Kenneth Custer, assistant registrar for veterans enrollment services, said. Active duty members serve in the military full-time while reservists serve part-time in the military, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Students who are veterans often use the GI bill, which helps veterans pay for their education, and some use the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, according to the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
Fourth-year geography student, Chad Clatterbuck served for 10 years in active duty in the army. He then enrolled at USC as part of that ROTC. Clatterbuck had tried the college route before enlisting in the military but didn't graduate.
illustration: Abby Smith
Most of the time students undergo involuntary mobilization into active duty, meaning they are called up to fill a position or are mobilized along with their unit, Custer said.
If students are mobilized, the Veterans Enrollment Services
Photos: Alexis Goldston
helps them get a military withdrawal for their classes and ensures they get back into them once they come back, Custer said. There are a wide range of deployment time frames. Custer said, often students who are deployed take over four years to get their degree.
“We try to help them through that,” Custer said. “We try to hopefully ease their minds a little bit and let them know that it’s going to be okay.”
The first time a student deploys they often have a lot of questions and concerns, Custer said.
“Obviously it’s a stressful time for the student,” Custer said. “You know you’re already balancing your school life of going to class and handling assignments and exams and everything. And now to have the additional stressor of getting ready to deploy.”
Returning from active duty in a structured military environment to the freedom of school life is also a big adjustment, Custer said.
Custer also said most students acclimate pretty well back into university and are focused on getting their degree as quickly as possible so they can get back into the working world and seek employment.
Next year, Davis said he will return to USC to get his master’s degree in international relations, even as he’s enlisted.
“As a senior leader, I owe it to the people under me to be good at my job and do well and focus on that primarily,” Davis said. ‘So whatever it looks like, I’m going to make sure it works with what I’m doing.”
Community and respect at USC
First-year mechanical engineering student Reaghan Grobe said everyone she’s met at USC holds respect for the military.
“I truly believe that this school is very open to military members,” Grobe said. “I’ve never encountered anybody with a negative connotation of the army whatsoever.”
The military program itself is large and diverse, Davis said. He has made friends and grown his social web in college.
“I had no problem running into lots of people that have become lifelong friends,” Davis said. “Those are the people I hung out with and continue to hang out with.”
Murchison said that while training to be a soldier is difficult she’s doing it with a group of people who have the same ideas and mindset that she does. She said she began building connections when she met fellow military students in military science classes, and is closer to them as a result.
“They know my strengths and my weaknesses, I know theirs, and they’re helping me become a better person,” Murchison said.
ROTC Army cadets plan their ambush during a leadership lab in the woods on campus at the University of South Carolina on Feb. 6, 2025. The training exercise focuses on tactical skills and team coordination in a simulated combat scenario.
Women’s ultimate frisbee team creates lasting bonds on and off field
Suha Ayub | Arts & Culture writer
Illuminated only by field lights, members of the women’s ultimate frisbee team do laps around Bluff Field. The players laugh and chat as they prepare for their evening practice.
After warm-up laps, the members split off into the A team and the B team, with each team doing different drills and scrimmaging based on their goals for the night.
The A team, also known as Scorch, places a strong emphasis on team chemistry and community, Cat Hannah, fourthyear political science student and club president said.
“We’ve done a lot in the past few years to try and create a more inclusive environment,” Hannah said. “I think we’ve done a good job.”
One way that the club has become more inclusive is the establishment of two
teams. The A team is more competitive and driven, and the B team, also known as Pyro, is a more developmental team. This way, there is a place for everyone who wants to join, Virginia Arnold, thirdyear biochemistry and molecular biology student and captain of the A team, said.
“If you’re looking for, a more competitive experience, kind of like I am, there’s a place for that here,” Arnold said. “But if you’re just looking for a place where you can hang out with your friends and get some exercise without having to put in a lot of effort outside of practices, you can play on the B team, and that’s awesome.”
Arnold fell in love with the sport and the community in high school and decided to continue into college, she said.
“Ultimate is very compassionate and uplifting compared to a lot of sports,” Arnold said. “I didn’t do a lot of group
sports growing up because I kind of struggled to find my place there.”
The B team is a more social environment, focused on developing the skills of the members, many of whom don’t have previous ultimate experience, said Macie Anin, fourth-year early childhood education student and a captain of Pyro.
Anin had never played the sport before joining, but quickly found her place on the team, she said.
“I think I was probably the worst on the team,” Anin said. “It was so fun, though. They teach you everything that you need to know.”
In addition to the captains, the team has three faculty coaches, all of whom volunteer their time to the team.
“They’re faculty here, but we don’t pay them or anything,” Hannah said. “They just do out of love. So it’s really awesome to have them.”
Hannah said both teams plan to improve this semester. The A team aims to perform better during tournaments,
the B team aims to develop their skills further.
“This semester, we will play in five tournaments, and there’ll be seven or eight games over the course of the weekend,” Arnold said. “We’ve always done pretty well on Saturdays. We have this historically bad experience of showing up on Sunday, tired, not feeling as good like Saturday and then not performing our best.”
Team Pyro hopes to get better, while building community with each other.
“Our goals for the semester, are just to work and hard get better, have an overall good time... and still keep the positive environment,” Anin said.
Both teams place an emphasis on becoming friends with each other. Members often get together outside of practice to go to football games, host tailgates, study at the library or just hang out at someone’s house, which strengthens bonds between members, Anin said.
A USC Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club team player jumps to catch a disc during practice at Bluff Fields on Jan. 28, 2025. The team practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Photo: Jack Bradshaw
Photo: Jack Bradshaw
A member of the USC Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team smiles as she prepares to throw a disc during practice at Bluff Fields on Jan. 28, 2025. The team aims to promote the sport of ultimate frisbee and the spirit-of-the-game philosophy integral to the sport
Off-campus student living
Bands not Bans event fundraises for reproductive healthcare
Jake Albright | Arts & Culture writer Simone Meyer | Arts & Culture Editor
A member of Planned Parenthood speaks with a patron at the Bands Not Bans charity concert at New Brookland Tavern on Jan. 25, 2025. The event was put on to raise money for the
State Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood.
Saturday nights in Columbia may often be reserved for partying or Gamecock athletics, but as the line at New Brookland Tavern extended into the street nearly half-an-hour before showtime, many residents had something more serious on their mind.
The Bands Not Bans fundraising show, held at New Brookland Tavern on Jan. 25, featured performances from local bands Eighth House, Som’bout and Sunhouse. Proceeds from the show went towards supporting Planned Parenthood and the Palmetto State Abortion Fund.
Attendees heard about issues surrounding reproductive healthcare from state representative Heather Bauer (DDistrict 75) and other local reproductive rights advocates.
Bauer said that South Carolina’s current abortion restrictions is unpopular and has proved harmful to maternal health.
“Since the ban has passed... more woman have died trying to give birth in the state,” Bauer said. “I came here tonight to hopefully show people that talking about it (reproductive healthcare) is
“This money is not only going towards helping individuals who may need an abortion, but it also goes towards people that need Plan B or need ultrasounds,” Adams said. “They offer so much more than just (abortions). They also offer education and they offer community resources to other organizations.”
Audience member Artemis Kipling said the services Planned Parenthood offers have helped her personally.
“I get all of my gender care done (at Planned Parenthood) and I was able to get all of that through them far easier than through private insurance,” Kipling said. “It was super critical for me to have access to that.”
Kipling also said private funding for Planned Parenthood is especially important now, due to potential changes in government funding from the new Donald Trump led presidential administration.
The Trump administration has already reinstated the Mexico City policy, which cuts off aid to any group that provides abortion services or advocates for abortion rights operating in a foreign country.
pregnancy, and backed a bill banning abortions under 20 weeks of pregnancy in 2017.
Laurent Duverglas of Eighth House, who performed at the show pro-bono, said performing at political charity events like Bands Not Bans is very important to the band. Duverglas said they hope more artists speak out about issues like reproductive rights, and that artists have a duty to care about politics.
“(Reproductive rights restrictions are) going to impact people’s lives not just the artists but the people who consume the art,” Duverglas said. “I think more artists should be speaking out about things like this, especially with this current administration.”
Borders said individuals looking to help support the Palmetto State Abortion Fund can donate or buy merchandise from the fund’s website.
Five Point frequenters can be on the look out for more community outreach events, Adams said.
really important.”
South Carolina law bans nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The law has exceptions for pregnancies that are a threat to the mother or fetus’ life or that are a result of rape or incest.
Wayne Borders, the intake director for the Palmetto State Abortion Fund, said the purpose of the Bands Not Bans show was to help build community and open up discussions around abortion.
“If we are going to be serious about being the land of the free, home of the brave, we need people who are willing to have discussions openly and honestly about abortion,” Borders said.
Borders said the funds received from the show will go towards supporting both individual abortion appointments and overall reproductive rights.
T Adams, a third-year social work student at USC and one of the organizers of Bands Not Bans, said education was another main goal of the show. Adams said that Palmetto State Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood provide much more to the community than many realize.
President Trump has also suggested support for a national ban that would restrict abortion access after 15 weeks of
“There is going to be some other small businesses that you will definitely be hearing about in the future that are going to be doing stuff like (Bands Not Bans),” Adams said.
Photo: Jack Bradshaw
Palmetto
Photo: Jack Bradshaw
The crowd at the Bands Not Bans charity concert cheers at New Brookland Tavern on Jan. 25, 2025. The event was put on by the Palmetto State Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood.
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‘It becomes a daily beverage’: Energy drinks are the new norm
for college students
Simone Meyer | Arts & Culture Editor
Celsius. Monster. Alani Nu. Red Bull. This colorful assortment of energy drink cans can be found tucked in student fridges, crushed in campus recycling bins or clutched in the caffeinated fists of college students as they hurry across campus, bleary eyed and buzzing from too little sleep and too much caffeine.
Second-year nursing student, Anne Rechsteiner, said that a high demographic of people drink energy drinks, particularly in college.
“If you haven’t already started, then you probably don’t want to get into it,” Rechsteiner said. “But when you’re in college, you do it. Then, it becomes a daily beverage, for sure.”
Students consume energy drinks for a variety of reasons, said Jack Goldsmith, a clinical professor who teaches biochemistry and nutrition to first-year medical students.
Some may use them to work through the levels of a new video game while others drink them for a boost of energy between a late-night shift and an early morning class — especially when exams and papers begin to stack up, Goldsmith said.
Rechsteiner, a self proclaimed “constant energy drinker,” said coffee doesn’t do it for her. In order to satisfy her high caffeine threshold, Rechsteiner said she usually downs an energy drink, preferably a Monster, in the mornings.
“This morning I drank an energy drink, and I went to the gym,” Rechsteiner said. “But if an energy drink is not had, I don’t think I can go to the gym or do anything active for that matter.”
While second-year sports management student Diesel Knight doesn’t regularly consume energy drinks, he said students tend to “pound” a bunch of energy drinks to get through finals week or to do well in their classes. This creates the narrative of the “exhausted college kid,” he said.
“I think everyone’s exhausted,” Knight said. “I think everyone’s brains are being run dry, so they do what they can to keep whatever energy they can get.”
According to Science Direct, despite energy drinks’ adverse effects, they are marketed to stimulate physical and mental benefits to create alertness and increased engagement in sports.
Rechsteiner said Celsius and Alani Nu are marketed towards the fitness community while Monster is marketed towards “adrenaline junkies.”
These beverages become part of college culture due to peer pressure, Goldsmith said. Students may start with coffee before moving up to things such as Red Bull, Monster and Celsius, he said.
Students can find these drinks at Walmart, gas stations or even on campus, Rechsteiner said. There is a Monster energy truck that delivers free drinks weekly to campus, and many people Rechsteiner knows will wait for it to arrive, she said.
USC registered dietician Katie Graham said students may flock to energy drinks due to additional benefits listed on the can, such as antioxidants, vitamins or minerals. However, Graham said these claims may not be true. Energy drinks are marketed as a supplement, meaning that
any health benefit claims they have on them do not need to be FDA approved, she said.
“Students and other people in the community, the public, thinks that they’re getting these things out of the beverage or thinks that they can get that quick energy from the beverage to kind of get them through their next day,” Graham said. “When (in) actuality, they might get a short spike in energy and probably won’t get — or may or may not get those nutrients.”
Many energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine, with a can of Celsius alone contains up about 200 milligrams of caffeine. While a healthy individual should consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine in a day, college students may push that boundary without being aware of it, Goldsmith said.
For people who aren’t used to caffeine, a drink like Celsius can cause someone to feel tightly wound or jittery, Goldsmith said.
“They can feel anxious,” Goldsmith said. “Depending on what their health is, they
could end up with a fast heartbeat, some things like that.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, overconsumption of caffeine can lead to insomnia, nervousness and physical and psychological dependence on the stimulant.
In Graham’s nutrition appointments, which consist primarily of students seeking help for eating disorders, she has seen some students use caffeine as a way to reduce their appetite, skip meals and forgo sleep. Drinking too much caffeine can lead to malnourishment, dehydration and increased heart rate, Graham said.
Graham also said that it’s up to students to be conscious consumers and be knowledgeable about what they are drinking.
“I think it’s like one of those things, just like with sugar,” Graham said. “Demonizing one specific thing is sometimes not our best route. We just want to make sure that we’re aware of the knowledge and able to go with moderation.”
Photo: Kiley Wagner
A USC student works on assignments and notes while drinking Celsius energy drinks on Jan. 26, 2025. Caffeinated drinks such as Celsius contain around 200 mg of caffeine per can and are what some undergraduates use to stay awake and energized.
Column: Students should be cautious of gambling addiction in the face of online sports betting
Kara Rottmann | Opinion Editor
You’re in an arena watching your favorite team win against its biggest rival. As you watch the ball in action on the field, your eyes wander to the outfield.
There, a massive ad for FanDuel, an online sports book, sits. During the next break in the play, you search it up on your phone after curiosity gets the best of you. You start to bet small, right then and there. But the more you win, the more you’re willing to risk.
In a 2023 survey conducted by the National College Athletic Association (NCAA), nearly 60% of Americans between 18 and 22, college-aged students, have bet on sports and 67% of those students who live on campus place these bets. Furthermore, the survey shows that 4% of these individuals said they bet on sports every single day. Whether they are winning or losing, this is a lot of time and money spent on gambling.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a gambling disorder is “a persistent, recurrent pattern of gambling that is associated with substantial distress or impairment.”
betting may seem easy, but losing money is even easier. After all, many bets placed are based entirely on luck and skill.
In 2018, a federal sports betting ban was lifted — and since then, almost $420 billion have been used to bet on sports.
All of this money exiting the pockets of Americans and being poured into gambling companies begs the question: What are the long term implications of this form of gambling and why is it so widespread among college students?
Let’s face it, sports betting may seem appealing to younger generations.
Online gambling has dominated American media in recent years since it is now widespread and easily accessible. The thrill of being able to win some extra cash might be what motivates students to place these bets.
Yet this form of gambling is highly addictive, and students should be aware of how easy it is to get hooked.
Sports betting is
With just the click of a thumb on a mobile app, a student is able to place a bet on a sports game in real-time. From baseball, to football and even professional darts, thousands of dollars can be won by gambling on games. However, this often isn’t the case. Not every bet placed is going to result in profit. Winning money from sports
appealing to younger generations because of instant results. When bets are placed, students will know if they have won money by the end of the game. Bettors also have the ability to wager at any point, not just at the beginning or during a break in the play, such as a time out. Since many sports books are digital, the idea of being able to make money through a smart phone might drive people to start gambling, including students.
Companies are aware of how accessible sports betting is and use it as a selling point in marketing materials. When a student first sees one of these advertisements, their first thought may be the money. After all, it’s easy to gain access to. With a log-in, a quick account set up and even a social security number, the world of sports betting is at anyone’s hands. That is, if they are over the age of 18.
The legality of sports betting depends on the
state. In the state of South Carolina, physical sports betting is not legal. But this may not discourage sports gamblers since they still have access to other online betting platforms that are considered “out-of-state.”
Students might even cross into a different state in order to place in-person bets. Or, if they want to use an app that is restricted in a certain state, there are ways around the restriction. A student can use a VPN, or virtually private network. Users are able to protect their data and IP address, completely avoiding the gambling restrictions in a certain state.
Online gambling sites are advertised on social media, the radio and even during broadcasts of the sporting events themselves. Ads for sports gambling are now being showcased in the physical sports stadiums. If online betting isn’t someone’s preference, they might still be able to bet in person depending on the arena.
For many, this may be how gambling starts. This
habit of repetitive gambling is better known as one thing: addiction. Watching sports is easy to love. It is enjoyable, and there is no better feeling than watching a favorite team win a favorite sport. However, imagine how good it feels to also be able to make
money off of that team’s win, or maybe even a specific shot players made during the game. This rush of satisfaction might cause a student’s gambling habits to spiral. Betting is dangerous for college students as they might not have a steady income — or even a career. Students also have other financial obligations to worry about such as loans. Gambling on sports might put them at risk for financial ruin, according to NBC News.
The APA states that an increased tolerance for gambling requires one to gamble even more in order to find satisfaction. This pattern of behavior is extremely similar to a dependency on
and its cultural integration in today’s media, students may not understand and acknowledge the dangers. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the line between fun and addiction can be hard to differ. It is important for students to understand the effects gambling can have on their future since they can potentially lose everything with just the click of a button.
A great resource for students to learn how to healthily gamble is the National Council on Problem Gambling. The organization advocates for responsible gambling, educates on gambling disorders and develops media that promotes responsible gambling. It says that all things are good in moderation, but it is also entirely possible for addiction to overtake what was once a simple hobby.
substances, such as alcohol and drugs. If a gambling disorder is as serious as any other addiction, then why is it not talked about? Why do students continue to sports bet? The answer: Students may not be aware of how easy it is to get hooked.
In order to break a cycle of constant gambling, students should understand how it affects the brain. According to Yale Medicine, the human brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine when we engage in a satisfying behavior, such as eating. Dopamine releases in order to get us to want to eat again, since it is necessary for our survival.
A student may continue to want to sports bet if they are winning as their dopamine levels rise. Their behavior may become more risky as they increase the amount of money they bet on in order to chase that dopamine high, regardless of the outcome.
Even though sports betting is easy to get into because of its accessibility
the Center for Health and Well-Being. The center also has counseling support 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the number 833-664-2854.
Remember, you are not alone.
Illustrations: Olivia Abner
USC’s Center for Health and Well-Being is opened from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is located across from Russell House and takes walkin counseling services at any time.
If you are a student who is struggling with gambling or knows a student who might be struggling with gambling, please reach out to
Column: Great speech comes with great responsibility for Meta
Meta is the parent company of two of the most widely used social media platforms in the world; Instagram and Facebook. On these platforms, millions of people interact, learn and consume information every day.
Rather than enforcing silence, Meta should protect free speech and the free spread of information. Its decision to end biased fact-checking has promising potential.
Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said in the 1927 case Whitney v. California, “If there be a time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, online platforms became known for
pervasive fact-checking and even censorship.
Conservatives in particular felt as though their perspectives were being discriminated against.
Meta was pressured by the Biden administration to silence certain viewpoints by taking down posts and suspending accounts, especially when it came to vaccines— a move the states of Missouri and Louisiana considered a violation of the First Amendment although the Supreme Court ultimately disagreed.
regulations on speech harm the pursuit of what is true and the exchange of ideas. Free speech is essential for the spread of information.
As Meta said in its press release, social media companies should not be the “arbiters of truth.” It is each individual’s job to decide what to believe, hopefully alongside a community where political discourse flourishes. It is also not the government’s job to determine what is true and our Founding Fathers knew that when they wrote the First Amendment.
In an early January press release, Meta acknowledged that there was “too much content being fact-checked” that was actually civil discourse. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized these points in a video accompanying the press release, saying how social media censorship had gone too far and that the Biden administration was wrong to pressure the company.
Ending the overabundance of fact-checking is a significant step in the right direction for freedom of speech and expression on social media. Meta is following in the footsteps of X, which ditched fact-checking for a system of community notes, where users can submit suggestions for additional context on posts that may be misleading. Community notes on X have been a more speech-friendly system than thirdparty fact-checking and censorship. Meta announced they are adopting a similar
oppression of thought, the press and religion in authoritarian countries like China, Iran and other Middle Eastern nations, Northern African nations and Russia. The Internet is a vital forum for the free spread of information and protest against oppression in these nations and pro-speech actions of companies like Meta help people across
After a period of biased political censorship and arbitration of the truth online, Meta is choosing the side of liberty for its users. Americans should be grateful for the speech we do have and continue to fight for freedom of expression. Without a free market of ideas and a voice for truth, the fundamental way to oppose evil, oppression
According to an Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab Survey, 72% of college students said they rely on social media as one of their top three sources for news. Being such a popular public forum,
expression is under legitimate attack around the globe, and Zuckerberg stated he wishes to work with the US government to defend it. In Great Britain, a police commissioner suggested Britain would attempt to punish the online speech of people outside of the country (such as Americans), citizens are being arrested and punished for inflammatory statements and some even convicted for silently praying
Remember: the answer to misinformation and repugnant speech is greater speech.
Elijah Butcher | opinion writer
it’s never it’s never too late too late to sign. to sign.
The Daily Gamecock’s featured photos of the month
Sebastian godun
Senior Guard Te-Hina Paopao comes off the court and is congratulated by fellow teammates during the Oklahoma game on Jan. 19, 2025. The 101-60 score makes the Gamecocks 5–0 against SEC opponents.
Mya Singletary (left), a sophomore at Lugoff-Elgin High School, high-fives first-year biological sciences student Abby Goepel (right) during the Unified Basketball event at Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center on Jan. 31, 2025. Hosted by the USC Special Olympics Club, the event was one of many held year-round to promote inclusivity and community engagement.
Quavo sings into a microphone as he performs for Cockstock at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 29, 2025. Quavo sang a variety of songs, some of which came from his time in the hip-hop group the Migos.
Photo:
Photo: ANNa machado
Photo: Delany kral
Column: Students should stop pulling all-nighters
Kara Rottmann | Opinion editor
It is 3 a.m. A student sits at their desk, hunched over their laptop with several empty energy drink cans scattered around the room. The sun may be rising soon but their essay is almost finished. With an 8 a.m. class on the horizon, sleep isn’t on their schedule for the night. In the morning, they might feel tired and unmotivated. During class, all they can think about is how they can't wait to go back to their dorm and take a much needed nap.
For some students, the perfect way to catch up on school assignments is to stay up all night. After all, these “allnighters” may appear to be a productive way for a student to get classwork and studying done without being interrupted.
Even though allnighters may seem beneficial, students should avoid sleepless nights in order to promote a healthy physical and mental well-being.
All-nighters, or staying awake for 24 consecutive hours, are also known as total sleep deprivation. This is dangerous, as the body’s reaction to this lack of sleep can easily be compared to alcohol intoxication. Going without sleep might impair a student’s reaction time and speed, which can increase their risk for accidents or injury. Pulling all-nighters also places extreme strain on the human body. According to John Hopkins Medical, not getting enough sleep causes a 48% increase in developing heart disease. The immune system also produces essential antibodies for fighting off harmful bacteria and germs during sleep. Skipping sleep might disrupt the body’s ability to fight off sickness. The academic calendar overlaps with flu season, so students need strong immune systems.
short term lack of sleep might increase feelings of pain, anxiety and even cause mental lapses in cognitive function or performance. When students have deteriorating mental health, especially when lack of sleep is a contributing factor, they might lose their ability to do well in the classroom and in extracurriculars.
but students should get a full night’s rest in order to properly take care of their bodies.
Sleep deprivation can also increase the body’s negative responses to stress. There are many stressful factors that students experience in college such as consistent change in routine every semester or even being away from home. Students should healthily cope with these stressors and try not to add more onto their already filled plate.
Let’s face it, sleep is important for various health concerns.
Pulling all-nighters also has a detrimental impact on a student’s mental
Students might hear their peers discuss pulling all-nighters, especially during finals week. It might seem like a smart idea
Little and poor sleep is found to be correlated with symptoms of depression. This means that the less sleep a college student gets each night, the more likely they will experience these symptoms. A student’s lack of sleep can harmfully impact their social and academic routines. Students need these balanced routines in order to flourish at USC.
Students are already balancing a difficult work-life dynamic during the college experience. In order to benefit from their short time at USC and protect their mental and physical well-being, students need to avoid sleepless nights. Instead, they should prioritize time in order to complete school work and other necessary tasks. Sleep should be a priority during the night so students can flourish during the day.
Design: Abby Smith
