Best Buddies Group Changes Lives Program Developed to Form Lasting Friendships Between Volunteers, Disabled
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University of South Carolina Scholar Commons April 2007 4-3-2007 The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2007_apr Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007" (2007). April. 20. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2007_apr/20 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2007 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 THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007 VOL. 100, NO. 130 ● SINCE 1908 Best Buddies group changes lives Program developed to form lasting friendships between volunteers, disabled Rebecca Wilson THE DAILY GAMECOCK USC’s Best Buddies group pairs students with intellectually disabled people and Alisa Cooney, associate director of Student Judicial Affairs, is convinced it does more than enhance the lives of those who take part in the program. “It’s really had a positive impact in my life and on the students,” she said. Cooney has been advising Best Buddies for the past fi ve years and said she plans on continuing in that role for as long as she can. “You couldn’t drag me away from this organization,” Cooney said. For Kara Loth, a first-year pharmacy student and vice president of Best Buddies, being a part of the program is “a great opportunity to build a friendship that otherwise would not be built.” Best Buddies pairs up one volunteer with one intellectually Special to THE DAILY GAMECOCK disabled person and encourages a Best Buddies sponsors activities each month like bowling, dances and picnics to keep the newly formed friendships growing. relationship to grow from there. Cooney said students are paired good hearted.” a great group of male students contact, such as a phone call or an At the beginning of each year, with a buddy for one academic Cooney said many of the volunteering this year. email, Cooney said. Cooney said there is a “Match year, and they hope a relationship volunteers come from the exercise Loth has been a part of the “It’s time consuming because Party,” where students and buddies will grow so the pair will continue science department because organization since her freshman you have to commit, but you are are given clues to fi nd their buddy to be buddies into the next year. there are many ties to physical year, and has had the same buddy going to do something you wanted for the next year. “We look for students who are rehabilitation. There are also since her sophomore year. to do anyway, like go see a movie Cooney said one of her favorite not afraid of working with people plenty of volunteers from other “I love my buddy,” Loth said. or go to dinner,” Cooney said. memories from this year’s Match who are different than them,” departments. Although there “She is like me in so many ways.” USC Best Buddies sponsors Party was with a pair who had Cooney said. “Who have that are usually more girls who help Volunteers are expected to have an event each month, including been buddies for years. They desire to enhance people’s lives, than guys, Cooney said there is two outings a month and weekly picnics, dances and bowling. and who are well-intentioned and BUDDIES ● 2 TWO KILLED Student What’s the weirdest job you’ve had, and what did you like about it? ON Pulse JARED BLAIR CAROLINE CHRIS CHARLES MOREHEAD BRACKIN RAY SCOTT BROWN COLLEGE First-year First-year First-year Second-year First-year music economics business business economics student student student administration student CAMPUS student “I’ve just been a lifeguard. “I was a stable boy. I “I worked at a bridal shop. “I helped make signs, like “I guess pushing carts But at one of the pools I like horses and animals, I didn’t like it very much, the Alltel signs that light up at Wal-Mart. I got a Man, woman die worked at, there wouldn’t so it was fun being around but it was cool trying on the on buildings. It wasn’t that work-out out of it.” be any chlorine in the water, in murder-suicide, the animals.” dresses.” fun, but I liked the money.” and I’d call my manager and investigators say he’d say to open it anyway.” Curt Woodward Th e Associated Press USC student owns local valet business SEATTLE — A man and a woman were shot to Criminal justice major says motivation required to be successful, balance full class load with hectic work schedule death in the University of Washington’s architecture Ryan James Supply and Bona Terra. he sometimes has to work can’t use slang really. You up more restaurants, more building Monday in an ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Bansch transferred to when he’d rather be doing have to be very nice to the parking lots. Everyday I apparent murder-suicide, USC last year and said other things. customers. You have to look for new aspects of university police said. Many USC students are he couldn’t get a job as a “Sometimes I have to baby the car. It’s not your things to do,” Bansch said. Officers responding to employed in Columbia, but server. He began valet work when I’d rather go to car, and some people don’t Wrecks are a constant reports of gunfire found not many can say they own parking after seeing an ad a football game or go see a understand that. You can’t source of concern for the two and a handgun in a business that employs in a newspaper. movie. If I have an employee accelerate off. It’s not your Bansch, as one accident an offi ce on the fourth fl oor other students. Balancing work and call out, I have to go show car to mess with. You drive could theoretically put him of Gould Hall, Assistant Brendan Bansch, a school has never really been up on the job,” Bansch it like you’re driving your out of business. University Police Chief Ray fourth-year criminal justice a problem for Bansch. said. “Sometimes I’d like grandma’s car,” Bansch “You have to look at Wittmier said. student, owns his own valet “I am pretty good at to enjoy the college life of said. every day as your last day The female victim, a parking company, Access micro-managing my time drinking at the tailgate, but Owning a business in business,” Bansch said. 25-year-old university Valet. between school and the I know that I can’t because is no walk in the park, As for the future, Bansch employee, had a restraining Bansch started working valet company,” he said. in three hours, I have to be Bansch said. It requires said he hopes to become order against the man, who at Capital City Valet in “It’s mostly taking school at work, so I have to refrain considerable motivation a South Carolina state “almost certainly” shot September 2005. He said his first, the valet company from doing that.” and persistence. trooper when he graduates her and took his own life, boss asked him to become a second, and if I have time Bansch said the main “As far as wanting to in May, but also continue to Wittmier said. partner in the business last left over, I enjoy the college thing he looks for in an own your own business, run his business. About six shots were fi red, June. Access Valet services life.” employee is people skills. it’s a lot of hard work and “I’m actually a criminal and the only people involved Restaurante Divino, Mr. Working demands “You have to know how dedication. Columbia is a justice major, not a were the woman and the Friendly’s, Diane’s, Motor sacrifi ce, Bansch said, and to talk to people. You growing city. I hope to pick ● man, who was in his 40s, JOBS 2 SHOOTING ● 2 Sports The Mix Local News.............2 TODAY Tomorrow Opinion..................4 Mitchell and USC’s passing game improve this week Crime Mob’s latest release “Hated on Mostly” Puzzles...................7 at spring practice. See page 8 matches up to previous releases. See page 5 Comics....................7 Horoscopes..............7 Classified...............10 84 63 84 47 PAGE 2 TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007 Councilman pleads guilty, faces 1 year of jail time Seanna Adcox Th e Associated Press A former Orangeburg County councilman who pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion charges was sentenced Monday to just over a year in prison. John Rickenbacker, 55, also will pay fines and be on probation for three years. He faced a maximum sentence of 30 years. “I don’t know what came over me your honor,” he told Judge Margaret Seymour, his head down. “I just know that I’m very sorry.” Rickenbacker pleaded guilty to one count each of bribery and extortion Mic Smith / The Associated Press in December after federal prosecutors said he took The Morris Island lighthouse in Charleston has been washed by the surf at high tide and will fi nally get some much-needed repairs next month. $50,000 in bribes from an agent posing as a consultant for a company interested in buying a local hospital. Repairs begin on historic lighthouse The former chairman, who led the council for more than half of his 22 Taylor Brothers Marine island.