and now, some fresh pickings from the political grapevine. required reading for a course at the university of south carolina is raising some red flags for students there. by calling former president ronald reagan a sexist, and defining conservatives as pessimists, resizisistant to ch. the textbook, introduction to social work and social welfare, paints a less than flattering portrait of the gipper, claiming he, quote, ascribed to women primarily domestic functions and failed to appoint many women to significant positions of power during his presidency. in fact, president reagan appointed sandra day o'connor, the first female supreme court justice and jeane kirkpatrick, the first ambassador to the u.n. the school said it is commitment to academy freedom, quote, our