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(12/04/12 8:37am)
After being ravaged by Hurricane Sandy’s floods a little more than a month ago, the streets of New York City were ravaged by yet another wave on Thursday. Early that morning, dozens of employees from our favorite fast food brands took to the streets demanding better pay (in hopes of doubling their pay to $15 an hour), benefits (such as health and dental) and the ability to unionize. They claim that their conditions were unbearable and that their wages essentially kept them in poverty. And they’re right, but sadly, their message once again went unheard.
(11/30/12 7:20am)
What does a former NFL wide-receiver, a dignified former assistant principal and guidance counselor, and a bunch of teachers in the mid-South have in common? They’re all cheaters, but then again, so are we.
(11/27/12 8:20am)
(11/20/12 9:30am)
(11/14/12 7:45am)
If you want to make a difference, donate your blood. The American Red Cross always struggles with blood donations, and this year is no different. Our national blood supply is at its lowest level in 15 years, and with the Mid-Atlantic still struggling after Hurricane Sandy, every single blood donation is important. Luckily for us Gamecocks, this week is the 28th Annual Carolina/Clemson Blood Drive. In our effort to beat Clemson this year, blood donation sites will circulating throughout campus during the week. You have absolutely no legitimate reason not to donate blood — unless, of course, you’re gay.
(11/07/12 8:36am)
(10/31/12 7:12am)
Kermit the Frog, of both “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street,” once wisely sang, “It’s not that easy being green.” And he’s right. When it comes to our everyday lives, being “green,” or different, isn’t always so easy, especially when it involves standing out as a minority or trying to blend in with the majority.
(10/17/12 5:38am)
Picture a typical American school’s cafeteria at lunchtime. Once a student enters the room, or maybe once a student buys his or her lunch, that student is faced with a dilemma: Who, exactly, do I sit with? More often than not, students tend to sit with those they feel are most similar to themselves, be it by personality, socioeconomic status, race, gender or some other trait. While this seems innocuous, self-segregation is harmful for several reasons. It closes off people from one another and breeds close-mindedness. This can be linked to the formation of cliques and the overall spread of the bullying epidemic.In order to combat this, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) created a program 11 years ago to help students branch out and meet new people they otherwise wouldn’t have. “Mix It Up at Lunch Day” is an annual, nationwide event on Oct. 30 that literally “mixes up” students at lunch. Instead of sitting at his or her usual table, a student whose school participates would sit and interact with a different group of fellow students. This helps to breed not only tolerance of others among students, but school unity and maybe even lifelong friendships as well.There is absolutely no way one can be against a program created to instill tolerance or unity, right? Wrong. The American Family Association (AFA), an organization that is coincidentally considered a hate group by the SPLC, has been campaigning to fight this wonderful initiative. They say the program promotes a “homosexual agenda” and urges kids to believe there’s nothing wrong with being gay.While “Mix It Up” Day is not a gay-centric event, it emphasizes tolerance and understanding of all people, as it rightly should. It does not promote the mythical “homosexual agenda” like the AFA claims, but it does help to break down troubling thoughts about not only gay people, but people of all different shapes, sizes and colors. When you boil down the argument of those against “Mix It Up” Day, they’re basically saying being tolerant or even accepting of people different from you is bad. Instead of confronting our own ignorance and misguided fears, we should just stay home and ignore anyone or anything that upsets us.In fact, the group has encouraged parents to take their children out of school on Oct. 30 and voice their complaints about the program to school administration. The group has also “bullied” its way by getting some 200 schools to withdraw from the “Mix It Up” Day program. Actions such as these are exactly the kind of bullying that “Mix It Up” Day tries to prevent and stop.It is a sad day in America when one cannot promote peace and tolerance in schools. The actions of AFA are not only deplorable, but downright un-American.
(10/10/12 5:56am)
They are everywhere. They are a fixture in almost every metropolitan area, not only here in the U.S. but across the globe. Due to the recent and continued economic downturn, their population has increased. We frequently pass by them, unaware and unconcerned of their plight and the struggles they face just to survive on a day-to-day basis. The homeless, here in Columbia and all across the state of South Carolina, are a serious problem. From 2006 to 2010, the number of homeless students in South Carolina jumped from 6,033 to 10,820, according to the South Carolina State Board of Education. In the Richland County alone, the county in which the majority of USC’s campus lies, we have approximately 664 people who are homeless, and that only takes into account the people who live in our shelters. Homelessness is an epidemic and we need to start paying more attention to our fellow citizens. To a certain extent, we have done so. We’ve established consortia such as the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless, and we have private, independent groups that are aiding the fight against homelessness. In fact, our own city council recently partnered up with local Christ Central Ministries, a religious organization that is dedicated to helping the homeless get back on their feet through medical, mental, or drug treatment, or even job assistance. But Columbia’s city council has other things on its mind. Instead of trying to help the homeless to become more stable citizens, our government is more concerned about the bottom line and the fears of others. Instead of looking forward and realizing the economic benefit that could come to Columbia by lifting the homeless “up” with various treatments and therapies, our city council has decided to do just the bare minimum: Give the homeless a warm shelter during the winter. While at first glance its seems like it’s enough, there’s a stipulation to the measure. The city is requiring that each person who wants to sleep at the shelter be subject to criminal background checks by the police. The City Council has caved into the demands of the shelter’s neighbors, who worry that criminals will use the shelter as a “hideout” and are concerned for the safety of their area. This stipulation is not only a violation of the homeless’ civil rights and completely unnecessary, but it also demonstrates the narrow-mindedness of this community.. When it comes to safety, there’s no danger. Reported incidents between volunteer workers or the general population and the homeless are rare and almost nonexistent. In fact, the homeless should be the ones causing a stir due to the increased level of attacks against them across the country. There is a difference between being vigilant and being overreacting, and it’s clear which describes our city council best. When Rev. Jimmy Jones of Christ Central said that his “only interest is the needs of the disenfranchised,” I can’t help but wonder why that’s not our government’s main interest too.
(10/03/12 5:24am)
In the history of U.S. politics, states are typically classified into two categories: “red” states and “blue” states. While this concept is relatively new — it first appeared in political vernacular during the 2000 election season — it helps divide the country into two camps: Republicans and conservatives (red) versus Democrats and liberals (blue).
(09/27/12 5:42am)
Deadline expires, campaign sadly doesn’t
(09/27/12 5:08am)
Queer rap duo to promote LGBT music
(09/27/12 1:57am)
Here in the state of South Carolina, we have unfortunately shown we are typically not on the forefront when it comes to meaningful discussions on issues like race and class. As the current presidential election is fast approaching, we will need to confront these, and other issues, head-on, particularly in response to voter identification laws.
(09/20/12 7:41am)
One-year anniversary deserves reflection on defeat of ignorance, bigotry
(09/19/12 9:10pm)
"Big Brother" has found its real-life counterpart in New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Just last Thursday, the New York City Board of Health voted unanimously 8-0 in favor of banning the sale of all jumbo-sized sugary drinks — larger than 16 fluid ounces — in places such as restaurants and movie theaters.
(09/12/12 9:14am)
Today, Sept. 12, is the third day of the Chicago Teachers Union strike. Various disputes in contract negotiation between the union and the school district has left nearly 400,000 students without their usual teachers and with a loss of valuable instruction time. A few months ago, a similar five-day strike between union members and the administration left 11,000 students in Reynolds, Ore., without teachers, too. Teacher strikes such as these only serve to highlight the vast problems America faces in education.
(09/10/12 5:54am)
Youth involvement especially important
(08/28/12 9:20am)
As the new school year begins, many students are beginning to search for something elusive — a job opening.