Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Atlanta police test out new space-age scooters BY ERIN MCCLAM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA — Purse-snatchers be ware: Atlanta police are armed with shiny new $9,000 scooters — and it’ll take at least a brisk jog to get away from them. The city’s finest unveiled a bat talion of Segway Human Trans porters on Tuesday, donning hel mets and topping out at a cool 12 mph on the battery-powered, gy roscope-stabilized machines. Inventor Dean Kamen intro duced the scooters last fall after keeping them secret for months under the code names IT and Ginger. Kamen says the machines, designed for short distances, will revolutionize human travel. Police in Atlanta — a traffic snarled city that never met a mo tor vehicle it didn’t like — are bor rowing six of the scooters from Kamen’s company for a two-month test ran starting this week. The department wants to know whether scooter patrols will be more effective than foot or bicycle patrols, and also hopes to use the machines to boost police visibili ty in the city. A handful of officers showed off their new two-wheeled toys in a brief demonstration downtown, bobbing back and forth and mug ging for TV cameras. “Your initial reaction is to try to balance yourself, but this does it for you,” Officer Jennings Kilgore said atop one of the scooters. “It’s much easier to ride this than walk.” The scooter detects tiny shifts in body weight, rolling forward or backward depending on which way its user leans. Stabilizing gy roscopes inside make it difficult to fall from or topple. The police will use them in pa trols at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and in the downtown business district. The department, awash in debt and “It’s much easier to ride this than walk.” JENNINGS KILGORE ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER searching for a new chief, has not committed to buying any of the $9,000 machines. “Don’t even ask me about the money,” Maj. John Woodard said. A consumer model, expected to sell for about $3,000, is still months away. Atlanta is the first city to give the scooters a broad tryout, Segway officials say. Georgia Power Co. and the city planning commission each bought two, and tourism offi cers who walk around downtown will share six. How the scooters will hold up on the unforgiving streets of Atlanta, where tooth-jarring pot holes sometimes go unfilled for months, remains to be seen. NEW AND RECENT BOOKS 25% OFF OR MORE Select backlist titles STARTING AT $1.00 April 22-27, 2002 Monday — Thursday noon to 4 p.m. Friday noon to 6 p.m. Saturday 10 to 2 p.m. Cash, check, or charge. All sales final. USC Press Warehouse 718 Devine Street, Columbia between Park and Huger Streets (behind Carolina Coliseum) University of South Carolina Press The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs Announces USCs 2001-02 National Fellowshipand SchoiarshipWinners < Since the fellowships Office was established in 1904, University students have won 174awards totaling more than 4million dollars in national fellowship and scholarship competitions. To date, 24 awards and more than 5692,500 for advanced academic study have been won thisyear alone. University faculty members serve on scholarship committees and assist students in preparing their applications Fulbrkht Grant Grants for nine months of research and study abroad. Timothy Powell- PhD Candidate, Musicology Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship These $7,500 scholarships (tovide for undergraduate study in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering. Katie Spurrier- Sophomore, Mathematics Jason Morton, Honorable Mention- Junior, Chemistry Jacob J. J^vris Fellowship Awarded to students of superior ability, with exceptional promise to pursue graduate programs leading to the doctoral degree in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. $130,000 over 4 years. Lauren Bums- Senior, Music James Madison Fellowship These Fellowships are awarded to a select group of graduating seniors who intend to become secondary school teachers of American history. American government, or social studies. Nathan Saunders- Senior, History National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship One of the most prestigious fellowships in mathematics, science and engineering, this fellowship is awarded for three years of support totaling $93,000 for each winner. NSF Fellows: Shawn Carey- Senior, Civil Engineering Nadia Craig- Senior, Mechanical Engineering Travis Meador- ’01 Graduate, Marine Science Karen Daniel- ’98 Graduate, Chemical Engineering NSF Honorable Mentions: Brandon Fomwalt- Senior, Math & Marine Science Jesse Jur- Senior, Chemical Engineering Robert Riggleman- Senior, Chemical Engineering National Security Education Program (NSEP) Grants are awarded for developing expertise in languages, cultures and work) regions less commonly studied. Josh Black- Sophomore, Biology Ann Flardman- Sophomore, International Studies Daniel Nidess- Sophomore, Liberal Arts Brooks Willet- Freshman, Mathematics Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship Awards are for nine months of study abroad and . are valued at $25,000 each. Laura Anderson- Junior, Spanish & Int'l Studies Tommy Gremillion- Senior, Mathematics Rotary International Cultural * Scholarship Awards are for three months of intensive language study and are valued at $12.000 each. Martin Caver- Sophomore, International Studies Jeremy Gahm- ’01 Graduate, Finance Jeremy Wolfe- Sophomore, Physics & Russian Nicholas Young- Sophomore. Finance State Farm Exceptional Student Fellowship Fifty $3,000 fellowships were awarded nationally to recognize campus leaden in business-related fields of study. Joe Maxim- Junior, Accounting & Finance Robin Poston- Senior, Banking & Financial Management * Target "All Around" Scholarships These national scholarships are awarded to well-rounded college students who are committed to community service and education. Ann Hardipan- Sophomore, International Studies Joni Muller- Senior, Pharmacy Sarah Ross- Sophomore, Accounting Morris K. Udall Schourship This $5000 scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who plan to pursue careers related to environmental public policy and Native American or Alaskan Native students who plan to pursue careers in health care or tribal public policy. Holly Tyler- Sophomore, Biology USA Today All-USA AcademkTeam Sixty' outstanding undergraduates, in the nation are selected to first second, and third teams for » their academics, leadership and service. Brandon Fomwalt- Senior, Mathematics & Marine Science The Office op FellowshipsA Schorr Programs Helping students apply themselves for national fellowships and scholarships. iOl Harper College ♦ 803-777-0958 ♦www.sr.hw/oEsp4 USCFEuowsHiPS@(iWM.sc.E0U We’re Giving Away More Than $25,000 in Cash and Incredibly Useful Stuff. Sweeeet. Among the many monthly prizes up for grabs: Ift Collegiate In the past year. CFS has awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarships. In Funding addition, CFS has helped hundreds of thousands of new graduates, just Services *'*te you’ prepare *or Rea* Wor'd by enabling them to better manage their student loan expenses. We recommend that all graduates review ss their stlJdent loan payments before repayment begins so that they can 1-866-922-7667 benefit from lower, in-grace interest rates. Void where prohibited by law. A purchase is not necessary to enter and will not improve your chances of winning. You’re about to enter the Real World, real fast. And as soon as you do, you’ll have a whole new set of priorities to deal with — like finding a job, buying a new set of furniture that didn’t come from a dairy truck, and yes, repaying your student loans. Collegiate Funding Services (CFS) is here to help. Beginning in April and running through November 2002, you can win prizes each month through CFS’ Real World Giveaway. With the Real World Giveaway, there’s nothing to buy and you can enter to win each month. Visit www.cfsloans.com/realworld for details and complete official rules.