The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 10, 2005, Image 1
I I
unow.dailygamecock.com MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2005_ Since 1908
FLOOD
of support
Student organizations pledge to support relief efforts for victims of tsunami
By TAYLOR SMITH
STAFF WRITER
'X ith worldwide aid estimaced at
over $3.45 billion, the tsunami
disaster in the Indian Ocean is
“ receiving attention from charitable
individuals as distant as the USC
campus. .
Although numerous student
organizations have vowed to join in
what is being called the largest
international-relief effort in history,
none have pledged money yet, due
to the inactivity of each organization
over the winter break.
“I have seen this campus come
together quite well before, Adam
Hark, president of the Residence
Hall Association and fourth-year
history student, said. “I have no
doubt that this campus community
can come together to help those in
need.”
Hark said RHA is motivated to
help with the relief effort, but the
association is going through some
“restructuring,” so they will be
unable to initiate any programs
devoted to the relief effort until a
programs chairperson is appointed.
“Not sure this has held us back
yet, but would like to fix it before it
does,” Hark said. “For all I know, we
will get involved head first with this
when we head back, but 1 can’t
promise it will happen.”
Student Government is also
looking to help with aid to the
region by possibly working directly
with other student organizations to
contribute monetarily to the victims
of the tragedy.
“Our first meeting is
Wednesday,” Zachery Scott, Student
Government president and fourth
year political science student said.
“One of the topics to be discussed is
any assistance with another student
organization on campus to help out
with the Tsunami relief fund.”
Nicki Desai, president of the
Indian Cultural Exchange and
fourth-year pharmacy student, said
her organization has not had an
opportunity to meet, but expects
support for a fund-raising effort
because of moneys that already
been pledged by a local Hindu
temple that also supports the
Exchange.
“We probably will donate and
work with the Hindu temple here,”
Desai said. “But we definitely feel
that there will be a number of
organizations that will help.”
Although, Holly Birkelien,
president of the Columbia Global
Community and third-year
anthropology student, said that
though attendance in her
organization has dropped 50 percent
because of the semester change, she
plans on proposing fund-raising
operations for survivors as well.
“I have not heard about a tragedy
this big in a long time and with so
many countries involved,” Birkelien
said. “That warrants anyone’s
attention to help and give.”
Charitable giving inspired by the
disaster is not limited to the USC
campus, though. Several Columbia
non-profits have already joined in
the relief effort.
Serendib organized “Charitable
Giving Drive for Tsunami
Survivors” to provide water
purification systems for the regions
in Asia struggling to provide basic
amenities to tsunami survivors. The
event was held at the Rosewood
Market on Dec. 31, and the funds
were contributed to Water Missions
International, a Charleston
organization with experience in
water purification systems.
Students are also encouraged to
donate to local or national Red Cross
chapters in order to ensure money
goes to fill critical needs.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocknews@givm.sc. edu
Tsunami death toll continues to rise
At least 150,640 people have been reported dead from the tsunami
that ravaged the shores around southern Asia and East Africa.
Tsunami death tolls BflNG o 250 m
SAUDI INDIA 2 0 250km '
ARABIA OMAN ^ 1°022 , * *"YAN'
YEMEN SRI - I'Iq1;
LANKA
ETH Indian Ocean , 30,721 ,,
i ..SOMALIA i 4fcV? MALAYSIA j
298 MALDIVES | 68 *
82 -L INDONESIA
?ENYA 104.055
As of 5 p m. EST
k TANZANIA 10 Sunday __ - ^ j
SOURCE. ESRI Apj
Graniteville
train wreck
hits home for
USC student
By TAYLOR SMITH
STAFF WRITER
Thousands of South Carolina residents heard of an
Aiken County train wreck and chlorine spill on
Thursday, but few were close enough to the disaster to
discuss evacuating their homes.
But first-year accounting student Warren Felkel,
sleeping in his Graniteville home two miles from the
crash site, was awakened at 7 a.m. His father told him
a train carrying poisonous gas had crashed into parked
railroad cars nearby, but that the wind was carrying
the fumes away from the Felkel’s house.
“I was half-asleep,” Felkel said. “And, when I got
up that morning and checked the news, it didn’t really
occur to the authorities that a huge amount of it could
get out and cause a problem.”
Since Thursday morning, the Aiken County
Sheriff s office has confirmed nine people dead and
more than 50 hospitalized.
“I thought it was a dream. You don’t expect to hear
about something like that at all,” Felkel said. “They
started moving people out within a 1-mile radius.”
Felkel said that he was surprised when he learned he
had slept through the crash, which occurred at 2 a.m.
Ordinarily, he said, he could hear the wailing horns of
passing trains, but that morning was different.
“It was kind of weird, because I didn’t expect
something that big to happen at a town this small,”
Felkel said. “It just made you feel sorry for the people
in Graniteville.”
Although relkel s home was only two miles away
from the crash site and its toxic fumes, he said the
topography of the region saved his home from
contamination.
“I was more concerned for the people who live near
there,” Felkel said. “It is a hard thing to deal with
because it has affected people’s lives and the local
economy.”
Felkel said he expected an influx of vehicles and
aircraft to the scene. But on the busy stretch of road
where he lives, he saw nothing.
“It was kind of an eerie feeling not seeing any one
I around,” Felkel said. “Usually in that area there are
tons of cars flying to the scene, but there weren’t any
that day.”
Felkel said that his parents discussed whether to
evacuate, but decided against it and even ventured
♦ Please see WRECK, page 11
E-mail used
by spammers
to steal >
By JON TURNER
NEWS EDITOR
Students and other users of eBay, a popular online
auctioning resource, have become the victims of an
increasing number of identity theft scams embedded
in spam e-mails.
The eBay Web site depicts identity thieves in
colorful metaphor. “Some thieves on the Internet,” it
says, “simply go fishing, or ‘phishing,’ as the practice
has come to be known, trolling the sea of online
consumers in hopes of netting unsuspecting victims.”
The site goes on to explain the pan consumers play
in such a scam. E-mails, often bearing the eBay logo,
.claim that their recipients’ account information has
been lost or has become obsolete. Such information is
easily intercepted by identity thieves.
“We regret to inform you that your eBay account
could be suspended if you don’t re-update your
account information,” claims a recent mailer,
threatening account termination, “financial obligation
or legal liability.”
♦ Please see SCAM MED, page 8
I ■
•N THIS ISSUE
♦ SPORTS
Gamecocks have
roller-coaster
winter break
The USC basketball team
falls short in upset attempts
of «hree top-10 teams*
Page 6 '
♦ THE MIX
Stealin’ the
spotlight
All Good Citizens returns
from its Battle of the
Bands win with a
performance tonight at
New Brookland Tavern.
Page 14
I I WEATHER
_ .. _
* IUUAT
High 74
Low 5 1
FOR EXTENDED F<
♦ lULa.
High 77
Low 5 8,
(RECAST, SEE PAGE?.
INDEX
Comics and Crossword..... 16
Classifieds..19
Horoscopes.16
Letters to the Editor..13
Online Poll..13
Police Report...V