<p>I think CofC and USC are both very southern schools. CofC is more of …the coastal southern. It’s weird, but there’s a bit of a distinction that I don’t know how to describe. I guess the difference stems from the fact that CofC is in the lowcountry and USC is in the midlands. The culture, though very similar in that it’s southern, is a bit different.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call CofC a non-southern school though. It’s definitely got its southern roots, they just happen to stem from the Charleston culture more than the midlands culture.</p>
<p>It’s hard to explain. XD I guess when I think of Charleston culture, I kinda think of stuff like The Notebook. (Though that’s kind of a bad example for this purpose…)</p>
<p>But I do think it’s important to visit each school. They’re similar in some ways, but very different in others. I have several friends at CofC and Clemson, but I wouldn’t go to either for my own reasons. So yeah.</p>
<p>It’s Christmas Eve and after returning from Church we got the mail. Son got his acceptance letter to the USC Honors College!! What a great Christmas Present! Now we wait for scholarship announcements and hope he gets one of those!!!</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone else awaiting their letters!</p>
<p>And nicely, it’s SNOWING here in South Carolina. On Christmas Day none-the-less! Started about an hour ago here in the upstate. I heard that Charleston got about an inch and that the entire state (including Columbia) has been blessed with snow.</p>
<p>I’m not completely sure about if other parts of the state have gotten snow, but it definitely is snowing here. =) I’m about 90 minutes north of Columbia, so I wouldn’t doubt it if they had it too.</p>
<p>I was also accepted to the honors college today, hope to get some McNair notification later in the month! Congrats to everyone else who has heard.</p>
<p>I got my Honors College letter today, I’m happy. </p>
<p>So this probably means I’m going to get an in-state scholarship? Cool. </p>
<p>Still not 100% sold on USC, I have not visited, but it sounds like it has a beautiful campus and I’m interested in majoring in IB, so that would be cool.</p>
<p>If some of my reaches and/or my expensive privates don’t work out, it will probably come down to USC and Ohio State. </p>
<p>Right now OSU holds the slight edge, but I’ll have to take a trip down to Columbia.
Though, I’m honestly not too thrilled that the school named the rec center after Strom Thurmond…</p>
<p>So, you believe that you DESERVE in state tuition and a scholarship to USC…but you’re not too sure about the school because they named a building after a man who dedicated his life to his state, his country and expanding access to the university system that you want to attend… </p>
<p>Q) Do you even know anything about the man or do you just not like his politics?</p>
<p>FYI- James Strom Thurmond was born on December 5, 1902, in Edgefield, South Carolina
He attended Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Thurmond graduated in 1923 with a degree in horticulture. He was a farmer, teacher and athletic coach until 1929, when he became Edgefield’s superintendent of education, serving until 1933. Thurmond studied law with his father and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1930. He served as the Edgefield Town and County attorney from 1930 to 1938. In 1933 Thurmond was elected to the South Carolina Senate and represented Edgefield until he was elected to the Eleventh Circuit judgeship.</p>
<p>In 1942, after the U.S. formally entered World War II, Judge Thurmond resigned from the bench and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army, rising to Lieutenant. He was an officer in the 82nd airborne, landed a glider in the Normandy invasion and was wounded in action. During his service in WWII he was awarded 18 medals and decorations including the bronze star for valor and the purple heart. He went on to the long political career that most of us are familiar with…
I believe that most reasonable people can agree that this man spent his life in service to his state and country and deserves the name on the front of that building…</p>
<p>Now the question for you “wildandyoung” is… what have you accomplished thus far in your life?</p>
<p>Yep, I realize I came off like that and I honestly do not know a whole lot about Strom Thurmond, other than his stance on segregation, that he was one of the Southern Dems to switch to the Pubs, and he was Senator for a long time. </p>
<p>I realize the school probably did name it after Thurmond based off other accomplishments other than his record filibuster to block civil rights legislation, but at the end of the days its still Strom Thurmond, the man who was such a passionate segregationist he filibustered for over a day. Good grief. </p>
<p>I don’t even think USC will be that big of a cultural mismatch for me. Yes I am from the North, but I have family in the South and don’t really have a problem with day to day life in the South. There is a difference, but it’s not really a big enough deal for me.</p>
<p>However seeing Strom Thurmond’s name plastered all over USC brochures was a little bit of a surprise to me. Everyone from the South tells me everyone has moved past the segregation and racism crap, but lo and behold, there is an impressive and beautiful fitness center named after a man who was prominent in the fight against equal rights and pro-segregation. Seems a little bizarre to me, but whatever. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I never said that, do not put words in my mouth. I said:
" I got my Honors College letter today, I’m happy.
So this probably means I’m going to get an in-state scholarship? Cool. "</p>
<p>Based off of:
</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Quite frankly, absolutely nothing. So I guess this means I can’t have an opinion or a voice about a prospective university?</p>
<p>The south has largely moved past racism. We had to. South Carolina has more than twice the population percentage of blacks than the rest of the US. Money isn’t black or white, it’s green. And I personally live in a city where the local high school is 70% black and 30% white.</p>
<p>And in case you weren’t aware, Strom Thurmond had a black (well mixed) daughter, who he supported throughout her entire life, including putting her through college. He might have been for segregation, but you also have to remember the times that he came from. If he were born later, he probably wouldn’t have had such a strong stance.</p>
<p>As for the name, I was a little surprised to see that they named it after him, but I haven’t heard a single complaint until now, even from my black friends.</p>
<p>Anyways, I wouldn’t use that building as a reason for not attending the school. Strom Thurmond is a strong part of South Carolina history.</p>
<p>Wildandyoug - you have every right to voice an opinion, men like Strom Thurmond risked their lives to gurantee you that right. You are obviously bright and are seeking to further your education which is commendable. I am a USC (columbia) alum who grew up in CA, but I can still appreciate the people who built SC into the state it is today without whitewashing its troubled history. Remember - political correctness is enemy of scholarly debate. Thurmond was an interesting man who led an extrodinary life and for that I believe he should be honored. Yes, he was a product of the Jim Crow south and led a states rights campaign for president in 1948 and also filabustered the 1964 civil rights act. On the other hand, he moderated his position over time and voted for extensions of the act and for the MLK holiday. Life is full of those contradictions, if you have ever visited West Virginia - you probably noticed that almost every bridge, library and courthouse is named after the late Sen Robert Byrd who you probably know was once a member of the KKK. I don’t believe they will be taking the signs down due to his misguided past - nor should they. As for segregation and racism, neither are state institutions so they cannot simply be rectified by the writ of law - people have to change. If you do decide to attend USC, you can always use the Blatt PE center instead of the Strom Thurmond building… it’s 60+ years old - but it was named for one Thurmond’s early political opponents - if that makes you feel any better!</p>
<p>Can’t go into WV without going across something dedicated to Robert Byrd.</p>
<p>I guess I’ve only had a polarized view/education of Thurmond. All I’ve heard about was his stance on segregation and how passionate he was, and later on never fully recanted his position. I assumed he did some good things for SC, but the bad just kind of blocked that out. To me, the 60s and the battle against civil rights was one of the most embarrassing chapters in American history (obviously along with slavery in general). I’d want to move beyond that, but if people in SC feel he did enough good to block out the bad, then I guess that is ok. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Haha, well maybe, but the Strom Thurmond one looks impressive. </p>
<p>The name is not a deal breaker, it is just something I thought was bizarre, and raised my eyebrows.</p>
<p>Just my opinion… But this sounds like you are just making excuses because you were deferred.</p>
<p>The Strom is named after Sen. Thurmond because of the great things he did for the state of South Carolina, not his political views. I am sure many SC residents do not agree with segregation, but Sen. Thurmond brought a lot of money and jobs to South Carolina during his time on Capitol Hill.</p>
<p>Obviously his filibustering and such is an embarrassing chapter of US history. The poster before who compared it to everything in WV being named after Sen. Byrd is on the money.</p>
<p>Recieved admission letter to Honors College, but nothing about in-state tuition or any possibility of a scholarship. Does this usually come later? Or should I just assume that I’ll need to pay the full OOS tuition if I choose to attend University of South Carolina.</p>