University of South Carolina Scholar Commons October 2008 10-28-2008 The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2008_oct Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008" (2008). October. 4. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2008_oct/4 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2008 at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in October by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Mix Sports ‘Man on Wire’ is a Ray Tanner is signed on tightly wound tightrope to coach baseball until tale. See page 7 2013. See page 10 dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28. 2008 VOL. 102, NO. 54 ● SINCE 1908 Ocean Isle: Rising from the ashes Survivor of beach house tragedy recalls events of one year ago, celebrates lives of friends, roommate FOREVER TO THEE: CAROLINA REMEMBERS Sean Gruber STAFF WRITER Fallon Sposato remembers how to realize it was for real,” Sposato amazed she was by the house where said. “I grabbed my blankie and ran she stayed at Ocean Isle Beach, out the front door. I had a room N.C., last October. near the front of the building, so I “It’s funny. I called my Dad when was fortunate.” I got there to tell him I was alright,” At the time, it didn’t occur to the third-year accounting student Sposato that she would be one of said. “I remember telling him how the fi rst ones out. But as she stood Travis Cale Allison Walden Justin Anderson Lauren Mahon big and pretty the house was, and he outside the burning building, she The 19-year-old, fi rst- The 19-year-old, The 19-year-old, The 18-year-old, fi rst- second-year exercise said, ‘Don’t break anything.’” knew the situation was much worse year business student second-year student year business student science student from After ordering pizza and hanging than she thought. from Greenville from Greenville from Simpsonville was was member of the Chagrin Falls, Ohio was a member of the out with the other 12 students at the “The house was engulfed,” a pledge of the Delta Sigma Alpha Epsilon was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon beach on Saturday, Sposato went to Sposato said. “We knew that seven Delta Delta sorority. fraternity. He went to Delta Delta Delta fraternity. He went sleep at around 3 a.m. Sunday. Her others were still inside. And when She went to Hillcrest J.L. Mann High School sorority. She went to to J.L. Mann High High School and aspired thoughts revolved around her digital I saw the building, I realized if they and was the boyfriend Chagrin Falls High School. camera, which she had lost. weren’t standing next to me at the to be a real estate agent of Emily Yelton. School. and lawyer. “I thought that I would wake up time, they were not coming out.” the next day and find it, and that Fallon Sposato, a member of the everyone would make fun of me for Delta Delta Delta sorority, was one making such a big deal out of it,” of the six survivors of the Ocean Sposato said. “Everything was just Isle fi re. Six USC students and one typical. It was a typical weekend.” Clemson University student died in But instead of friends and cameras, the blaze. Sposato woke to the fi re alarm and “We were all close friends,” smoke. She would never think of Sposato said. “We were a tight- this weekend as “typical” again. knit group. We pretty much did “I remember hearing it in my sleep, and it took me a few minutes SURVIVOR ● 4 Cassidy Pendley William Rhea Emily Yelton The 18-year-old, fi rst-year The 18-year-old, first-year The 19-year-old, second- chemical engineering student student from Florence was a year student at Clemson from North Charleston was member of the Sigma Alpha from Greenville was a a pledge of the Delta Delta Epsilon fraternity. He went to member of the Delta Zeta Delta sorority. She went to Trinity Collegiate High School sorority. She went to J.L. Fort Dorchester High School where he played baseball and Mann High School and and was voted best smile in golf. was the girlfriend of Travis high school. Cale. On the morning of Oct. 28, 2007, a tragic beach house fi re took seven young lives in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. USC students Lauren Mahon, Cassidy Pendley, Allison Walden, Travis Cale, Will Rhea and Justin Anderson, along with Clemson student Emily Yelton, perished . Survivors of the fi re, along with the victims’ friends and families struggled to pick up the pieces. The Daily Gamecock’s coverage of the one-year anniversary aims to honor those who died and to give an account of the refl ection the USC Logan Wallace / The Associated Press community undergoes today. The university, along with their family and friends, will never forget Firefi ghters work at the scene of the Ocean Isle Beach house that them. burned and resulted in the deaths of seven students on Oct. 28, 2007. — Compiled by Assistant News Editor Kara Apel and News Editor Liz Segrist Victims’ lives not forgotten Students who died in been caused by a discarded of both South Carolina cigarette, according to universities to pick up the accidental house fi re are offi cials. pieces as family and friends Dr. Thomas B. Clark III, mourned the devastating loss remembered a year later a North Carolina medical of seven unique individuals: examiner, said alcohol was Justin Anderson, 19, Travis Derek Legette found in the systems of Cale, 19, Lauren Mahon, 18, THE DAILY GAMECOCK all but one of the victims, William Rhea, 18, Cassidy ranging from .16 percent Pendley, 18, Allison Walden, Exactly twelve months to .29 percent, and that 19, and Emily Yelton, 19. ago, a fire started during although it was not a direct Justin Anderson’s friends the early morning hours at a cause of their deaths, it may thought he had a great sense fi ve-bedroom beach house in have been a contributing of humor, and many enjoyed Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. factor. his presence. Anderson, a The fi re reduced the house “Alcohol impairs judgment, second-year student, was to mere ashes, claiming the slows reaction times and involved with Sigma Alpha lives of seven young adults affects coordination,” Clark Epsilon and loved soccer, and leaving behind six said. “Alcohol intoxication wrestling and Carolina survivors in its wake . Six of would lower the probability football . those who died were USC of a person getting out of a Travis Cale was known for students, and one hailed from burning house and may also always helping people and Clemson. The six survivors have contributed to starting for playing baseball, all while were also USC students. the fi re.” keeping a smile . Cale was Although the exact Prompting vigils to be a pledge member of Sigma cause of the fire was never held, memorial services to Alpha Epsilon and a first- Christine Galligan / The Daily Gamecock uncovered, the accidental be attended, and university year business student. fi re that started on the back counselors to be available, the A student signs a tribute book to be given to the family of Cassidy Pendley at the benefi t deck of the house may have tragedy left the communities OCEAN ISLE ● 4 concert for victims of last year’s Ocean Isle Beach fi re. Sports Viewpoints Opinion............... 6 TODAY WEDNESDAY Crime report............ 2 USC coach Spurrier discusses the See who The Daily Gamecock Puzzles................ 9 ongoing Smelley-Garcia quarterback editorial board endorsed for the Comics................ 9 Classifi ed.................. 12 debate. See page 10 presidential election. See page 6 56 35 59 37 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28. 2008 pageTWO Q & A with PIC OF THE DAY Red Cross Week Administrator of the 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Greene Street Bake Sale for Pets, Inc. eek 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. W Greene Street Brothers of Nubian Descent Dianne Dixon, a clinical 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. instructor and director of the Russell House, Room 302 External Clinical Practicum Freshman Council 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. RH, Room 315 Q: What are your plans for RHA Senate meeting 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Halloween? Currell 107 A: None. Pastafarians meeting 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Christine Galligan / THE DAILY GAMECOCK Leconte 112 Q: What was your last big purchase? Elena Gonzalez works in the ceramics studio on her ceramic box assignment in the Green Career Fair A: I replaced my car, if you’re talking McMaster building. 7 p.m. Green Quad Learning really big. Center, Room 101 Local National World GAMMA meeting An attorney’s “uneasiness” ONWAY, Ark. — A shooting JERUSALEM - Israel 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Q: What is your usual coff ee order? over a prospective juror’s that left two students dead at moved closer Monday to a RH, Room 305 dreadlocks was a racially the University of Central bruising election campaign A: Black and strong. motivated reason for striking Arkansas did not appear that will decide the future the man from serving on to be random, authorities of peace talks, as polls Budget Forum Student a car accident case and not said Monday as the school’s showed the moderate foreign Government suffi cient to keep him off the president pronounced the minister, Tzipi Livni , in a 7 p.m.