University of South Carolina Scholar Commons February 2009 2-25-2009 The aiD ly Gamecock, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2009_feb Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009" (2009). February. 3. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2009_feb/3 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2009 at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in February by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009 VOL. 102, NO. 103 ● SINCE 1908 Weather TODAY ROSS, STROMAN WIN ELECTION HIGH 61 ° SG runoff elections closest in recent memory after TONIGHT increased voter turnout LOW 37 ° Josh Dawsey Election Results STAFF WRITER Meredith Ross is the new Meredith Ross and Alex student body president. Ross TOMORROW Stroman captured USC’s captured 52.47 percent of the HIGH 69 ° Student Government’s highest vote in the runoff elections, two positions Tuesday night in narrowly clipping Drew a runoff election that garnered Kirchhofer. almost 600 more votes than Inside the general election. 2031 The required runoff pitted ROSS SPORTS Ross against Drew Kirchhofer and Stroman against Taylor 1842 Cain, and both races were among the closest in the KIRCHHOFER university’s history. Alex Stroman is the new Elections Commissioner student body vice president. Amanda Byrum said the Stroman won 50.16 percent of increased attention to the the vote, edging Taylor Cain by race from students and the 12 votes. commission increased the turnout. 1886 “Controversy always helps STROMAN runoffs as they get more attention,” Byrum said. “We’ve 1874 The Gamecocks battle the been off campus as well, and Kentucky Wildcats tonight we’ve been able to put people CAIN at 7 p.m. for the No. 1 on Greene Street. We’ve done Keri Goff / THE DAILY GAMECOCK — Compiled by Staff Writer our best to get more students spot in the SEC East. President-elect Meredith Ross hugs Student Body President Andrew Gaeckle Tuesday. Josh Dawsey to vote. See page 10 Ross, after capturing the presidency with 52.47 percent that we keep doing things best friend in the Senate,” of the vote, was tackled by like Cocky’s Caravan and the Stroman said. “She is an almost a dozen members of farmer’s market we currently awesome person and a hard THE MIX her campaign staff as soon do,” Ross said. “I want to be a campaigner. We both knew it as “Meredith” came out of strong and present voice for would be extremely close, as Byrum’s mouth. our students in the budget we gave it everything we had. “I told my campaign staff process as well.” But we told each other that last night that no matter what Kirchhofer, who currently before this started, we’d be happens tomorrow that this has serves as a member of Student friends when it was over.” been a wonderful experience,” Senate, said he planned to be And when Cain finished Ross said. “I will always be active in the future as well. hugging her mother, tears thankful for what I’ve seen and “This was a close race, dripped down Cain’s face as the people I’ve met.” and I have tons of respect she embraced Stroman for at Ross closed a seven percent for Meredith and Carmel least 20 seconds. defi cit from last week’s general Matin,” Kirchhofer said. “I “I think we did everything election, where she came in don’t know what I’m going we could,” Cain said, refl ecting The guys who brought second to Drew Kirchhofer. to do from here. I’m going to on the experience after she you “Jizz In My Pants” Ross will become the first reevaluate my options, but I’m gained her composure. “It release their fi rst album. female student body president open to the idea of running in goes to show that every vote in six years. the future.” matters. People sometimes But is it really worth what And while many of her Alex Stroman won the don’t realize how much they you pay for it? supporters said they always student body vice presidency can do with their vote.” believed she’d be student body Tuesday night, capturing The fi nal runoff tally might See page 7 president, Ross said she didn’t 12 more votes than Taylor be the closest race in the think so. Cain in one of the closest SG university’s history. Stroman “Before I ran for student elections in the university’s captured 50.16 percent of the VIEWPOINTS body president, I had to make history. vote to Cain’s 49.84 percent. sure I was the right person But soon after the results Vote tallies from years for the right time,” Ross said. were announced, he didn’t past were not immediately Are you “I didn’t even know until look happy. He stood less available, but Jerry Brewer, really upset December that I wanted to do than 10 feet away from Taylor associate vice president for about rising this.” Cain, waiting for her to fi nish student affairs, said no race tuition and After the inauguration, Ross embracing her mother. has been this close since his said her top priority will be He knew she was taking arrival to the university in Keri Goff/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK budget to continue initiatives from the loss hard, and he knew it 1980. Top: Vice President-elect Alex Stroman stands with his cuts? How MICHAEL Andrew Gaeckle’s presidency. could have just as easily been “No, I do not remember campaign manager, Hakeem Jefferson, as he calls family about we BAUMANN “I want to make sure we him. and friends to announce his win. Bottom: Meredith Ross Fourth-year have a smooth transition and “Taylor Cain is my RESULTS ● 4 and Alex Stroman discuss working together in the future. try going on political strike from science school? student See page 4 Mrs. USA talks body image Gunter discusses eating disorders Online Exclusive as treatable mental illnesses, offers SG campus resources, information Sarah Peterman 09 THE DAILY GAMECOCK Mrs. USA spoke to a small crowd Fabio Frey / THE DAILY GAMECOCK Tuesday evening in the Health Sciences Steel plates, traffi c and roadside construction make Building about body image issues and NEWS ONLINE driving diffi cult as city works to update water pipelines. eating disorders, and over half the Check out an exclusive audience said they knew someone who had reaction video from all suffered from an eating disorder. four executive candidates. Dr. Gariane Gunter’s platform is Leah Robl / THE DAILY GAMECOCK City waterline repairs decreasing the stigma of mental illness. Mrs. America speaks to students Tuesday “These are not extreme diets,” Gunter night about body issues and eating disorders. Staff Writer Josh Dawsey increase safety, traffi c said. “Eating disorders are deadly.” talks about covering the Gunter’s style was informal and creates and perpetuates false expectations interactive, and she continually engaged of beauty. results Tuesday evening in Motorists deal with construction traffi c. the audience. “Stereotypes are being fed to children an audio slideshow. This traffic is a trade Gunter said eating disorders, such before they’re even aware of what’s going conditions as offi cials for what could be a major as anorexia and bulimia, are common on,” Gunter said. “There is no normal, VIEWPOINTS ONLINE work to improve roads increase in public safety. and fall under the category of mental but there is healthy. You’re not trying to The construction is illness, because there is a psychological fi t some mold because there is no mold.” Check out our online- part of Columbia’s water component that goes along with a person’s Gunter was also sure to highlight ways only columns from Aaron Chris Curtis main rehabilitation and fi re desire to control their eating habits. to identify signs of an eating disorder. She Gadbury and Travis May. THE DAILY GAMECOCK hydrant improvement project Eating disorders have the highest said noticing the subtle signs and helping along Assembly Street and mortality rate of any mental illness, your friends to get help early are crucial. Drive through Columbia throughout Columbia. It including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia She also highlighted campus resources, www.dailygamecock.com along Assembly Street and involves cleaning out and and obsessive-compulsive disorder. such as the counseling center and the one will pass over many black relining existing waterlines, Gunter used images of G.I. Joes and registered dietician, who can help people metal plates and may sit in ROADS ● 4 Barbie Dolls to illustrate how the media IMAGE ● 4 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009 pageTWO Who said it? PIC OF THE DAY • An Ash Wednesday service sponsored by Carolina Campus Ministries will be held today in the Rutledge Chapel at 12:15 p.m. The interdenominational “I want it to be very clear service will include that I do know how hard I readings, prayers and the imposition of ashes. make it to appreciate me, often.” • The deadline for submitting nominations for students to qualify for A) Lindsay Lohan Senior Awards is today at 4 B) Michael Moore p.m. and application must be submitted by March 6 C) Sean Penn at 4 p.m. Nomination and D) Gov. Mark Sanford Dustin Glendinning / THE DAILY GAMECOCK applications are available at IHOP celebrates its annual Free Pancake Day in which anyone could receive three www.sg.sc.edu/apps.htm.