University of South Carolina Scholar Commons February 2008 2-21-2008 The aiD ly Gamecock, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2008_feb Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008" (2008). February. 7. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2008_feb/7 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2008 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]. Sports The Mix Opinion..................7 Puzzles....................10 Columnist Austin Smallwood looks to Ed’s Editions embraces book lovers Comics.....................10 the NBA to break the bleakness of across Columbia—from casual fans to Horoscopes...............10 Classifi ed...............14 winter sports. See page 11 afi cianados. See page 8 dailygamecock.com THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008 VOL. 101, NO. 98 ● SINCE 1908 Brown Senate appeals honors election Payne decision Commendation of former SG presidential Student Body President candidate fi ghts passed on Wednesday against fraud fi nding Kara Apel Brad Maxwell THE DAILY GAMECOCK NEWS EDITOR A resolution commending Alesha Brown appealed former Student Body her election fraud conviction President Nick Payne was before the Constitutional passed during a Student Council Wednesday after Senate meeting Wednesday. nearly 30 minutes of trial Sens. Lee Cole, Jonathan statements. Antonio, Brent Dubay, The four-person council Robert Sinners and DeShawn said deliberations could Mitchell introduced the stretch late into the night. resolution, which was written “We haven’t come to a by Sen. Cole. decision but we plan on Special to THE DAILY GAMECOCK Cole, a third-year political having our opinion written Dancers, like these shown at the 2007 Dance Marathon, will dance for a full day to raise money for charity. science student, thought it by tonight and available at 8 was appropriate to honor a.m.,” said Ben Ortiz-Colon, Payne for his service to the a council justice and fi rst-year university. political science student. Dancing for a “I thought it would only be Brown, a third-year proper to honor him for his political science student, was achievements,” he said. charged with election fraud ● Monday for raffl ing off a $50 miracle SENATE 2 Blackberry cell phone using “Vote Brown for President” raffl e tickets. The code the Elections Commission said Brown USC alumni, students dance 24 hours violated prohibits “procuring, by the payment, delivery or to raise money for children’s hospital promise of money, or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or Sean Gruber measure at any election.” STAFF WRITER Justin Williams, a fi rst-year law student, who made the Natalie Kenner, a Columbia resident and USC alum, case that a promise was not sits on a red couch in Gambrell Hall, shuffl ing through a exchanged between Brown’s plastic bag. The bag is full of her child’s fi rst clothes. campaign and students, Kenner pulls out a folded piece of cloth decorated with represented Brown. Williams pink elephants and green giraffes. When it’s folded, it is Brown’s cousin. fi ts neatly into the palm of Kenner’s hand. Unfolded, it’s “Alesha would have gave the size of her hand. J-School up the cell phone, the student “This was McKayla’s fi rst diaper,” Kenner said. “It was would give up the vote. That too big for her. You could pull her right out of it when is not what happened here,” she had it on.” looks for Williams said. Kenner goes back to the bag and pulls out a sock. It’s He said the exchange was dwarfed by Kenner’s thumb. an “offer for a phone” not a “This was McKayla’s fi rst sock,” Kenner said. “They director “promise for a vote.” looked like boots when we put them on her.” Chief Justice Cassidy Evans, Today, McKayla is a healthy 6-year-old, living like any a third-year international other child. But when she was born in 2002, doctors did Special to THE DAILY GAMECOCK studies student, asked more not expect her to live. She was born 5 and a half months Dance Marathon helps children like McKayla Kenner. Search committee questions to Williams early. looks for new leader concerning the value of the Friday, Kenner speaks at the annual Dance Marathon too. cell phone. at USC to help raise money for the Palmetto Health for department “We’ve fi nally gotten where we want to be, and the “That’s why this case is Children’s Hospital, where her baby was delivered. This only place to go is up. We’re hoping for exponential before us,” Evans said. will be her third year speaking. increases in the next few years, and to solidify ourselves Cassity Brewer When Williams argued “Money raised from the Dance Marathon went to as a major donor to Palmetto Health,” Wade said. “It’s a THE DAILY GAMECOCK that many other candidates update the equipment and training for the Labor and little to give for those who give so much more, to those gave out candy and bottles NICU units that I was treated by,” Kenner said. “I didn’t who need it most.” The School of Journalism of water, Evans said, “a cell know that the money I raised as an undergrad at USC Kenner said she hopes the Dance Marathon can reach and Mass Communications phone is way more than a would ever benefi t me as an adult. I feel like the hospital it’s goal of raising $125,000. has received nearly 15 piece of candy.” has done so much for us. I have to pay them back.” “You never know how much of a difference it will applications for director, Brown said after the trial The USC Dance Marathon is a 24-hour dancing event make in someone’s life, you might even benefi t from it following Director Shirley that other candidates were that raises money for the Palmetto Children’s Hospital yourself,” Kenner said. “We do it for a great cause. Every Staples Carter’s resignation raffling too. Former vice and the Miracle Children Network. The donated money time you take a step in the marathon, that’s another announcement in October. presidential candidate Chris is used to buy new equipment for children’s hospitals dollar for helping a child.” John McDermott, McNamee, a third-year and health charities. The dance marathon will also be Kenner can still remember the day of McKayla’s co-chair of the director political science student, had donating money to help construct a new free-standing birth. search committee, said the students guess how many children’s hospital in Columbia. This year’s marathon “She looked like a Barbie doll, so thin and with long committee will narrow the jellybeans were in a jar. The will begin Friday at 7 p.m. and continue through arms and legs,” Kenner said. “My fi rst thought when I search to the final three winner received a $25 Wal- Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Strom Thurmond Fitness and saw her was ‘I had meat in the freezer that weighs more candidates by mid-March Mart gift card. Wellness Center. than she does.’ She was only 14 inches long. She could fi t and bring them to campus “I don’t understand the Ryan Wade, director of USC Dance Marathon and in her father’s shoe.” for interviews. They expect difference between me a fourth-year experimental psychology student, said McKayla came home on Valentine’s Day in 2003. to make a final decision by having a raffle and Alesha the program, now going into its 10th year, has become Despite the doctor’s predictions, she survived her July 1, in time for the fall having a raffle,” McNamee a family to him. He said the program not only affects ordeal and developed none of the psychical or mental semester. said after the trial. “Everyone people like McKayla, but students working behind the disabilities associated with premature birth. McDermott said he hopes gives something out in hopes scenes as well. “They said she would develop cerebral palsy, have the candidates will have an of people voting.” “Dance Marathon has always been something close to brain damage, become blind and be confi ned to a wheel opportunity to meet with Brown also said after the the hearts of those it affects the most — the families, but chair,” Kenner said. “And now she sings, plays the piano students. meeting that she felt there never do we truly realize the impact it can have on those and models. She’s one of the brightest and most vibrant “This is the best time for were confl icts of interest both that it does not directly benefi t until we put a year of our personalities I’ve ever met.” students to make concerns on the Elections Commission blood, sweat and tears into it,” Wade said. heard,” he said. and in her prosecution. He also said the event has increased both in popularity and support over the years, and this year is looking great Comments on this story? E-mail [email protected] BROWN ● 3 DIRECTOR ● 4 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008 CAMPUS PIC OF THE DAY [ WEATHER [ [ [ [ HIGHLIGHTS TODAY This week 11 a.m. The Human Race Machine Russell House second fl oor lobby Today 58 44 8:30 a.m.