University of South Carolina Scholar Commons April 2009 4-21-2009 The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2009_apr Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009" (2009). April. 4. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2009_apr/4 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2009 at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in April by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009 VOL. 102, NO. 134 ● SINCE 1908 Weather TODAY Chief justice resigns post HIGH 74° Cassidy Evans plans to fi nish year, requests replacement TONIGHT Courtesy of Chris Tucker LOW 50° Josh Dawsey Students worship at an RUF STAFF WRITER conference held last fall. Constitutional Council Chief Justice TOMORROW Cassidy Evans resigned her post Group aims HIGH 73° around midnight Sunday in an e-mail to Student Body President Meredith Ross. to serve God, Evans will graduate in May, and Inside she’ll be attending graduate school to community get her masters in confl ict resolution SPORTS before attending law school. “It’s more of a retirement,” Evans RUF tries to meet said. In her e-mail, Evans wrote, “I will of ‘spiritual need’ on campus course serve until either I am replaced through Bible studies or I graduate, whichever comes fi rst. As I know you are aware, this will Chris Tucker THE DAILY GAMECOCK leave the Constitutional Council Keri Goff / THE DAILY GAMECOCK with only two acting justices, which Cassidy Evans resigned as chief justice Sunday to SG President Meredith Ross. is not a working number for the A group of Christian Constitutional Council to be able to students at USC strive to properly function.” Constitutional challenge cases fi led by member in the history of the pursue and serve Christ Ross said since the senate will have Kyle Mallinak and Frank Avery during Council and has been paramount through the Reformed Senior Andrew Crisp to confi rm any nominee she appoints, this year’s election cycle. to its procedural formation,” Evans University Fellowship (RUF), has been a leader and Evans will serve until she graduates. “There is accountability within wrote. “This gives him the exclusive an organization which has In the fall, Ross said she hopes to Student Government, and we are knowledge and ability in running the now spread to more than 100 inspiration to his team get a nominee appointed “as soon as serious about it,” Evans said. “As Constitutional Council. Additionally, college campuses nationwide, throughout the baseball possible.” students, we should be in charge of he is extremely well-suited for the according to ruf.org. season. Evans’ retirement leaves only two ourselves in that way. We shouldn’t position based on his composure The ministry was created in justices on the Constitutional Council, turn to the administration to solve our during hearings and his analytical the late 1970s by Presbyterian See page 9 which will leave the body inactive until problems.” and thorough approach to applying ministers in the southeastern another appointee is confi rmed. Ross said SG will miss Evans. the Constitution and Codes to the U.S. RUF is a campus ministry Over her tenure on the “She has served diligently and done questions presented to the Council for that hopes to bring together Constitutional Council, Evans said her job as well as anyone could expect consideration.” college kids in their faith. THE MIX she’s proud of the organization’s anyone to,” Ross said. “It’s not an easy Ross said she’ll consider Ortiz- “RUF is all about Jesus,” positive steps. job. It requires a great deal of maturity Colon if he submits an application for said Nick Farkas, a fi rst-year “I had the opportunity to change and discernment.” the position. business student. “It is about the Constitutional Council into In her final request, Evans asked “I’ll consider an application I receive getting the good news out to something that meant nothing on Ross to appoint Ben Ortiz-Colon to from anyone,” Ross said. people, and letting it work in campus to having some high-profile the position of chief justice. Ortiz- their lives.” cases,” Evans said. Colon currently serves as an associate Farkas, who first learned Evans noted the high-profi le Alesha justice on the council. Comments on this story? E-mail of RUF at a summer retreat, Brown case in 2007, as well as the “He is the second longest serving [email protected] said he has found comfort and trust in those he has met since attending the ministry. Brian Mesimer, a second- Students raise money for Invisible Children year philosophy student, said he too has found comfort in the spiritual formation and Singer-songwriter Matt SAFARI plans ‘sleep out’ for: thousands of children opportunities offered through Duke woos listeners commuting during the night the organization. Some of at State House to educate to avoid being kidnapped these opportunities include with relaxed tunes and as child soldiers for a rebel a large group Bible study thoughtful lyrics. about LRA atrocities group known as the Lord’s meeting once a week, several See page 6 Resistance Army. smaller weekly group Bible Kara Apel The trio made a studies, mission trips and ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR documentary about it, and conferences. since its release it has been “There is a general spiritual At a glance, James Menezes spreading awareness of the need on campus that can be VIEWPOINTS and Chris McLaughlin seem atrocities in Uganda by met through these activities,” Columnist like typical college students, organizing national events to said Mesimer, who also leads a but what separates them from unite Americans of all ages in weekly Bible study. Dan Solley the majority is their activism the cause against the Lord’s “Large group usually has a thinks in assisting the bleeding Resistance Army’s Leader pretty steady 30 to 50 people today’s continent of Africa. Joseph Kony. every week, and attendance Menezes and McLaughlin McLaughlin, a first-year has stayed pretty consistent piracies are two of seven USC religious studies student, said with some people coming and don’t fi ll DAN students who have decided to the documentary tugged at going,” Joseph Scola, a second- the shoes, SOLLEY fi ght for Africa’s affl icted and his heartstrings when he fi rst year sport and entertainment or pegged Th ird-year have formed the organization saw it. management student, said. political Student Advocates for Africa’s “It made me feel like But RUF is not only legs, of the science Regional Improvement I don’t do crap for Africa,” about attending meetings pirates of student (SAFARI) this semester. McLaughlin said. “I realized Courtesy to THE DAILY GAMECOCK and studying scripture. the past. The group’s mission is to I didn’t do anything.” SAFARI has a fundraiser on Friday for Invisible Children. The campus ministry focus on a different charity Menezes, SAFARI’s provides a whole other layer See page 4 every semester and they president, said the idea to form LRA have killed thousands, its newest initiative — The of opportunities to get its have decided to spotlight SAFARI and to fundraise for displaced millions and on Rescue. The Rescue will unite members involved. the organization Invisible Invisible Children came to Christmas Day in 2008, America on Saturday to rally “We have all sorts of Children. the group easily after viewing killed 400 in the Democratic against Kony and demand intramural sports teams, Online Exclusive SAFARI will host its fi rst the documentary. Republic of Congo. Since his release of the abducted movie nights, game nights, fundraising event, a “sleep “It was more Invisible December’s attacks, the children by sleeping outside weekly restaurant visits and POST ONLINE out” outside of the State Children affecting us than us International Criminal Court in 100 different major cities. such,” said Andrew Barber, a House, on Friday night. The looking for a cause,” Menezes has indicted Kony on war The closest Rescue event second-year English student. Have something to night will feature a Battle of said. crimes and is actively seeking to USC is in Charleston This aspect of RUF is say about a story? the Bands and encourages Invisible Children’s most his arrest. and SAFARI has organized primarily where the lessons participants to sleep outside successful and popular Menezes and McLaughlin a group to attend. Anyone and teachings are applied into Visit our Web site the entire night to raise initiative is its bracelet both said they don’t interested can sign up online its family of believers. and be a part of the awareness about Uganda’s campaign. The profits understand why other at www.invisiblechildren.com “It has given me a social dire situation to state from the bracelets pay the students are apathetic about or contact SAFARI via its group, a place to serve the discussion by posting legislators and raise money Ugandans for making the Uganda’s situation. Facebook group. community,” Barber said. your comments. and awareness for Invisible bracelets and go to improving “Humanity isn’t something Menezes stressed the The teachings and Children. Though the event schools in the impoverished that’s regional,” McLaughlin importance of attending both fellowship from RUF have led is free, donations will be nation. said. “There’s no reason for of these events. college students to peace and BREAKING NEWS accepted throughout the SAFARI will be on hand us to not be meeting their “They’re in one of the most contentment by focusing on night.