Three Student Governments in South Carolina have united to beg their Governor to change his mind regarding a bill that would raise taxes in order to pay for infrastructure improvements at universities in the state.
In a press release, the SGA presidents for Clemson University, University of South Carolina and College of Charleston asked Gov. Henry McMaster to change his opposition to House Bill 3722, which is better known as the “bond bill”.
The bill would raise around $250 million that could be spent by state universities to keep up with crumbling infrastructure and physical campus improvements.
McMaster has said that he opposes the bill and would rather spend the money on fixing roads in the state.
SGA presidents Ross Lordo (South Carolina), Killian McDonald (Clemson) and Michael Faikes (College of Charleston) issued a joint statement that tried to explain why they believe the bond is important to the state.
From the joint statement:
“The $250 million in funding that would be authorized by HB.3722 would allow fifteen public colleges and universities across the state to make critical renovations and repairs to facilities that simply cannot keep up with South Carolina’s rapid population growth. The last bond bill was passed over sixteen years ago. That timespan has allowed our state’s current students to graduate from their elementary schools and make it all the way to the colleges they attend today. Yet these past sixteen years have also taken a toll on the classrooms and buildings that have educated sixteen classes of graduates. Failing to make improvements to our schools now will only lead to larger, more extensive, and ultimately more expensive costs farther down the road. As governor, you have pointed out our state’s roads have suffered similar neglect and disregard, bringing the need for road repairs “from important to critical to urgent.” We should not allow the facilities at our state’s institutions of higher learning to suffer the same fate as our roads.”
Read the whole letter below:
Bond Bill Letter by Andrea Lashay on Scribd
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Cover Photo Credit: Henry McMaster/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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Eddie Murphy Tells First On Stage Jokes In 28 Years And Its About Bill Cosby
Eddie Murphy made fun of Bill Cosby at an awards ceremony Sunday night and that’s a pretty big deal.
Murphy reportedly hasn’t preformed on stage in 28 years.
Murphy was being honored with the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center Sunday night when he made the comments, which included an impersonation of Cosby.
You can watch Murphy’s comments in the Associated Press video below, starting around the 2:20 mark.
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Miami Beach’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Has Opened
What’s News In This Story?
–Surterra Wellness opened their storefront Monday at 1523 Alton Road after a “big effort” to get it opened.
–It is the company’s first South Florida dispensary and one of only a handful in the region.
–The shop technically opened on April 20 (4/20, duh)- but was forced to relaunch on April 23.
–Florida is one of 29 states have legalized medicinal marijuana.
–A petition drive to get a measure to fully legalize marijuana for recreational use on the November ballot failed earlier this year.
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There’s A Secret Buddhist Temple In This El Portal House
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Breaking Down How The Undefeated Carolina Panthers Have Gone 13-0
By David Brown
As the Carolina Panthers continue to extend a somewhat improbable undefeated season, the team has already clinched a playoff spot in the NFC with three weeks left to play and sit at number one in the power rankings.
After making the playoffs in a weak division in the 2014-2015 season, the Panthers went 7-8-1 where they lost in the second round to the Seattle Seahawks. Low expectations stuck with the Panthers through the offseason as sport analysts and writers doubted their legitimacy as real contenders.
The players and coaches responded accordingly.
With the team on the rise, head coach Ron Rivera is now a legitimate contender for coach of the year after the teams longest win streak in franchise history. Rivera’s offense has been deadly to opposing teams this year sitting at number one in points per game with 31.
Cam Newton’s play has been a determining factor in Carolinas undefeated season as he has stepped up significantly as a leader on and off the field. Newton is sixth in touchdowns thrown this year and is tied for sixth with seven rushing touchdowns.
Being nearly impossible to defend in the red zone, Newton has proven to be more than reliable this season in the passing game. The progress made has earned him a contending spot for MVP, although his stats aren’t at the top of the league, he has still been a clutch playmaker that has led his team to thirteen straight wins. Pretty hard to argue against those results.
As the offense is dabbing on the sidelines, the Carolina defense has shown elite status on the field as well.
Jonathan Stewart has also been a key contributor in the Panthers high scoring offense. Stewart is third in the league with 989 rushing yards and is second in the league with 242 attempts. Stewart has racked up five touchdowns and averages 79.2 yards per game and has continued to be a workhorse for this offense. It is worth noting that Stewart was injured last week with a sprained foot. He’ll miss the game this Sunday against the Giants but is expected to be fine for the playoffs.
Greg Olsen, one of the top tight ends in the NFL, leads the Panthers and all NFL tight ends in targets, being thrown the ball 107 times. Olsen leads the team in receiving yards with 969 and has pulled in six receiving touchdowns, second in the league among tight ends.
Throughout these 13 games the Panthers are first in the league in points per game and are second in the league for most rushing yards per game.
As the offense is dabbing on the sidelines, the Carolina defense has shown elite status on the field as well. Carolina’s D is third among yards per game and fourth in rushing yards per game. This defense is most dangerous in its turnover ratios.
The Panthers lead the league in takeaways with 33 total. With one of the top linebacker cores in the NFL, Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly lead the team with a combined 119 tackles and 17 turnovers. Both with high expectations to make the Pro Bowl. This defense only gives up an average of eighteen points per game, the lowest in the league.
This Carolina team’s surprise breakout year has led many to believe the squad as Super Bowl material. They seem to have all the components to be considered a Super bowl team and have proved that through their undefeated season.
As the season wraps up this team’s future is still a debate and it will be interesting to see them in the playoffs. Will the Panthers go undefeated? Could this be Carolina’s time to bring home the Lombardi trophy? Has Cam done enough to earn the MVP award? The Carolina Panthers proved everyone wrong, and yet, have so much more to prove.
Cover Photo Credit: Mike Morbeck/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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