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Research CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 the fuel cell center’s industry advisory board, sees great po tential through the center. “The industry consortia that I have seen formed in other states typically creates a critical mass,” said Goodman. “Companies that want to bene fit from the research, the access to faculty and to the students coming to the university, tend to migrate toward that critical mass,” he said. It will be “several years, if not much more” before the results of fuel cell research become mainstream in society, but Dr. T/Wm \7ort *700 TT.QP rhomiral pn gineering professor and director of the center believes that this research center will make that a reality much sooner. Van Zee presented the formal announce ment along with Sorensen and Goodman. The research center will “blur the lines of a threefold mission,” said Sorensen, and combine sci entific discovery, learning and outreach through the universi ty. Undergraduates and gradu ates will be working side by side. “The benefits to society are monumental and immeasura ble,” said Sorensen. This decision, a culmination of a two-year cooperation effort, will not only work for fuel cell research but also develop the skills of graduate and under graduate students. Fuel cell re search supports more than 35 Ph.D. students. “It is important that we edu cate these students, said Van Zee. “Not for tomorrow, not in technology, but in the basic sci ence which will allow them to make contributions 30 years from now in this emerging tech nology.” With a 35 percent increase in research funding throughout USC’s eight campuses, Sorensen’s evolution seems to be comine into a reality. “Hopefully in the next 12 months you’ll see even more ex amples,” said Sorensen. m In his State of the Union ad dress in January, President Bush said “ With a new nation al commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome ob stacles to taking these cars from labratory to showroom, so that the first car driven by a child bom today could be powered by hydrogen and pollution-free.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com USC student working for presidential hopeful Keriy BY WES WOLFE THE GAMECOCK When U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign came to South Carolina for Dem Weekend 2003 in May, he wasn’t just look ing to go to the expected places like the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, the Democratic State Convention and the debate. He was also look ing for people to join him on his campaign. Fourth-year USC student Craig Swaisgood was drawn to the Kerry candidacy. He is now work ing with Kerry’s senate office and the presidential campaign in Washington, D.C. Swaisgood is active in the USC Young Democrats and said that he wanted to work for Kerry because he believes Kerry is the best can didate out of the nine Democratic contenders. “I think Senator Kerry gen uinely wants to help people,” Swaisgood said. “Also, he has the most experience and cares about equal opportunity for everyone, not just the wealthy.” Swaisgood is currently help ing in a major bipartisan agree ment on Medicare that Kerry is involved in. He is doing research for Kerry on prior work Congress has attempted to do with pre scription drugs and the involve ment of private health plans to compete with Medicare. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Sen. John Kerry talks with ex-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. When he works for the presi dential campaign, Swaisgood mans the phones, calling people to make sure they’re going to their respective state conventions and assisting with a database of vol unteers and activists. There are many opportunities this summer and later in the year for students like Swaisgood to be come involved in the presidential election. Because South Carolina is an important and early primary state for Democrats, all nine can didates are looking for a good showing here and are seeking in terns and volunteers. Currently, U.S. Sen. John Edwards, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt and U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman have staff in South Carolina. Kerry’s Columbia office will be fully operational around June 23. President George W. Bush does not currently have a Republican primary challenger and therefore will not likely open a South Carolina field office, since South Carolina is considered a state that the Republicans can easily win next year. The South Carolina Democratic Primary will be held Feb. 3,2004, and the presidential election will be held on Nov. 2,2004. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com m E*”1 n'rTi'iiip'n.n A Large Selection of Swiss Army and other fine Luggage EQUIP YOURSELF FOR LIFE'S ADVENTURES 1111 Lady Street (803) 765-9010 Take Kaplan. Score higher. Reserve your < *711 w seat today! Classes are starting soon! 1717 Gervais Street World Leader in Test Prep .Te 1-800-KAP-TEST kaptest.com ii names are registered trademarks Of tt*e«r respective owners