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(02/18/14 6:17am)
Over the last year, the student senate has focused much of its attention on itself and on Student Government. Rather than discuss the issues facing the student body, senate spent countless hours on internal issues.
(02/18/14 6:17am)
In politics, you have to be able to communicate, period. From lowly intern to U.S. Senator, if you can’t make yourself be understood then you’re not going to be around for very long. In the end, our decision to support Ryan Harman for student body treasurer came down to his communication skills, as well as his composure and experience, both of which were impressive on their own.
Put together, they are the qualities that a treasurer needs to function on a day-to-day basis.
(02/12/14 3:16am)
Columbia’s getting a new permanent police chief, and whoever is chosen, he’ll bring a fresh perspective to issues in the department and the city. The current interim police chief, Ruben Santiago, is not a finalist for the job, and only one candidate is even from South Carolina.
After going through six police chiefs in seven years, the department will be hiring someone from well outside the department. They could be displeased with what their department has recently produced, or maybe they’re just interested in change for the sake of change. Either way, the chairman of the police chief search committee has said he’s impressed with the group of finalists.
Unfortunately, not everyone else is on board with excluding Santiago. Some loyalists think Santiago deserves a chance as a finalist.
We aren’t necessarily in favor of leaving Santiago out of the picture, either. He is responsible for refocusing the police’s focus away from underage drinking and onto violent crime, after all. That said, his tenure has faced its share of issues, from a tragic, high-profile shooting in Five Points to an investigation by the state police.
Santiago deserves a look for the position, and we trust that the search committee gave him a fair shot at taking over permanently. We can also appreciate the search committee’s preference to hire an outsider.
Tradition does provide a sense of security, but looking for solutions to Columbia’s crime struggles from the outside does show a promising yearning for progress.
Who the city chooses as chief could mean a great deal to students, especially in light of crime issues just off campus and in Five Points over the past few years. Five Points is obviously a hot topic for the city and the USC community, but it’s a difficult situation that we don’t expect to be completely remedied anytime soon.
Maybe a fresh perspective is just what we need to get the streets cleaned up once and for all.
(02/11/14 5:25am)
Proactive Gamecocks who brought themselves to the Russell House expecting a candid debate among prospective Student Government candidates were likely very disappointed Monday night. The candidates themselves sure seemed appealing, but there was little of the verbal jousting that provides deeper insight into the candidates’ ability and beliefs. In fact, it wasn’t really a debate at all.
(02/07/14 4:41am)
Sometimes going to a school as big as the University of South Carolina can be intimidating. When there are 30,000 or so students, walking to class is like navigating an ocean of unfamiliar faces; something students that previously went to small schools are unaccustomed to.
Thankfully, there is one benefit of attending a large school that’s excellent at making the campus seem smaller: student groups. Large schools seem to have more positions in the community than there are students, so you might as well get involved in one way or another. If making new friends and expanding your social circle isn’t reason enough, then maybe the recognition that our Relay for Life team and the upcoming swab drive are getting will convince you to get active.
(02/05/14 4:46am)
Two lucky classes got to have former Vice President Al Gore speak to them about the future of American politics via Skype on Tuesday. Gore admitted that no one knows exactly what the future will bring, but it sounds like smart students can speculate and adapt accordingly.
(02/04/14 4:24am)
“It’s about time,” is what you’ll probably overhear most J-school students muttering in response to the college’s decision to move into a historical Horseshoe building. After over 40 years in the monolithic Carolina Coliseum and what’s likely been 40 years of complaints regarding the setting, they’re finally migrating to what’s said to be a more inspiring environment.
(01/28/14 3:55am)
Classes are canceled, and the triennial “snowpocalypse” is upon us. Students cheer, professors palm their faces in concern over their course plan, and Northerners mock the state’s massive overreaction to the weather. A school cancellation over freezing temperatures and a meager amount of snow may seem farcical to those who grew up walking to school uphill both ways and in three feet of powder, but there is plenty of merit to this weather-imposed decision.
It’s no secret that southern states unaccustomed to snow are ill equipped to handle the rare cold snap. As a result, the school must play it safe and call off classes.
(01/21/14 4:20am)
We’ve written about Pets Inc. before. They’re a West Columbia animal shelter that continues to fight against hard times as it grapples with debt, a short staff, and more puppies than they know what to do with.
(12/06/13 4:28am)
Finals week is always a brutal reminder just how hard college really is. You’ve made it this far into the semester, and hopefully, your grades are still intact, but you’ve got that last stretch of papers and exams before the stress is over. Throw in a job, internship applications and all the rest, and you’ve got the makings of a difficult time.
(12/05/13 4:20am)
USC will be kicking off the New Year on the right note, or so it thinks, by helping everyone make the right choice. Come Jan. 1, 2014, Tobacco Free USC will take effect and all tobacco products will be banned from campus.
(11/26/13 7:49pm)
Five score and 17 years ago, Old MacDonald thrust his lofty pitchfork into a ravaged post-bellum farm field, striking an arbitrary rock.
(11/20/13 4:58am)
The Proving Ground, USC’s competition for entrepreneurial students and their startups, concluded last night in a live presentation of the finalists.
(11/19/13 3:34am)
Among USC’s countless service events is the annual Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive, which kicked off again Monday. While it’s easy to see the immediate effect of volunteering at a soup kitchen or adopting a pet from a shelter, too often, donating blood falls to the wayside.
(11/15/13 4:05am)
Peter McCausland made headlines two weeks ago after his generous $10 million donation to USC’s largest school, the College of Arts and Sciences.
(11/13/13 5:17am)
While the USC has an array of environmentally friendly and self-sustaining facilities, No Impact Carolina Week turns the focus to the student body and their adoption of similarly green practices.
(11/06/13 5:47am)
Columbia residents clearly support Mayor Steve Benjamin and the rest of the city’s leadership, considering they all won convincing re-election bids Tuesday. While these votes of confidence show that Benjamin and his colleagues have broad support, they should not lull leaders into complacency; the city needs strong decision-makers more than ever.
(11/05/13 5:22am)
Chicken Finger Wednesday not withstanding, USC is apparently pretty healthy. The university was recently ranked as the No. 26 fittest college in the nation by The Active Times. The award is judged based on fitness, health and wellness, and included evaluation of athletic facilities, team sports participation, campus eateries and overall quality of student life.
(10/30/13 3:45am)
Pets Inc., a West Columbia no-kill animal shelter, is facing closure as it battles debt, an undermanned staff and a stock of animals far beyond its capacity.
(10/24/13 3:19am)
Student senate last night divvied up money to student organizations, using its current system for the last time.