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■ SURVIVOR Continued from page 1 Sumatra, where ships carrying cargo from Europe, India, Africa and the Middle East steam toward Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Many ships passed by Ari’s small boat, barely noticeable in the vast carpet of water. He was sure one of them would notice him sooner or later. “But after five days,” he said, “I began to lose hope.” By then, the fishing boat was listing badly, the leak worsening. The sun was harsh and it burned his skin. “But I never got angry,” Ari said. “I was grateful to be alive.” His thoughts turned to his beloved soccer teams, Manchester United and Real Madrid. He replayed scenes from his favorite Indian movies — Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something Happens) and Mann (Soul) — in his head. He’d been drifting for seven days when he spotted a large, unmanned raft with a hut on it. Abandoning the sinking fishing boat, he swam to the raft and found a gallon bottle of water to slake his thirst. Coconuts were still plentiful in the sea. On the 15th day, Ari awoke to the sight of the bow of a container ship looming over him. It was close, too close to miss him, he thought. The A1 Yamamah, a container ship heading from Oman to Malaysia, eased past his raft, leaving in its wake a foamy slurry of sea water. But then the ship slowed down, came around and sounded the klaxon three times: Poom! Poom! Poom! “When I heard that I knew I was saved,” Ari said. John Kennedy, the New Zealander who captains the A1 Yamamah, did not expect to find anyone alive on the raft. After all, it had been more than two weeks since the tsunami. “To our surprise, a frail-looking man emerged,” Kennedy told reporters. The crew threw Ari a line, and he climbed aboard, certain that his survival is a gift from Allah. INTERNET Continued from page 1 their schedules since it was the first day of classes,” Mengler said. Both Wilson and Mengler depend on the residence hall network, as they use their computers for schoolwork, communication and entertainment. South recommended students consider signing up for the Computer Services listserv. The listserv updates students about planned maintenance on critical USC sites as well as other news concerning computers and the Internet on campus. To find out how to join this listserv, students can visit http://www.sc.edu/studentIT/listserv.sh tml. Luckily, South said, the network has been much safer this year than past ones. With Smart Enforcer mandated on network computers, the campus network has not experienced a virus problem such as it has in past years. While Computer Services is working on determining exactly what triggered the network breakdown, South said she does not expect the problem to occur again. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu ■ FUND Continued from page 1 faculty and staff. “We are extremely excited about this,” Hudson Akin, Vice President of Advancement, said. “They must be close to doubling their target, which is unheard of, but as much as the money is helping, it is good to have a lot of people involved.” Mauer said with a tradition of giving already established at the university and a good year projected for this term, the fund’s future looks bright. “I think the campus is excited about the things university leadership are talking about,” Akin said. “Lola (Mauer) and her team have done a good job making sure this happens, and when you give someone like her a task, you see good results.” Mauer said USC handles faculty member donations not only to itself but community charities such as the United Way, as well. “I would like the faculty and staff to know that it is not too late to donate,” Mauer said. “And they can be a pan of the tradition of giving here at USC. Every dollar makes a difference.” To make a contribution to the USC Family Fund, contact the Annual Giving Office or fill out a form online at the school Web site. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu ■ TRAIN Continued from page 1 they cannot return to their homes. “We will not tolerate anyone filing false insurance claims or attempting to do so,” Stewart said Tuesday. DHEC and Department of Natural Resources officials continued to assess the reported fish kill at nearby Langley Pond. Water sampling conducted Monday found that chlorine levels in Horse Creek have returned to normal levels and Langley Pond contains a very low concentration of chlorine. The wreck happened when a Norfolk Southern train slammed into another train parked on a side track. Federal investigators are focusing on whether the crew of the parked train failed to flip a switch to route trains back to the main track hours before the wreck. The track through Aiken County lacks electronic signals that could have alerted the crew in time to stop the train, government and railroad officials said. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockneTvs@gurm.se. edu ■ REFORM Continued from page 1 give Bush a chance to cut guaranteed benefits and question how setting up personal investment accounts will fix the system’s solvency problem. Bush said he realizes some lawmakers see “too much political danger” in changing the nation’s retirement system. With renewed political confidence after re-election, Bush has said he will try to give cover to those who support an overhaul and make it politically risky for those who oppose him. “Members who will work, constructively work with us will be able to look back and say, ' I did my duty. I came to Washington to be more than just a place holder,’” Bush said. “Some are afraid to touch it, some don’t want to touch it, some provide excuses not to touch it,” he said. “I know, I’ve heard it before. But I believe that the president has a responsibility for setting the agenda.” He said members of Congress have “an obligation to confront problems head on.” Bush’s town hall meeting was akin to some events during his re-election campaign. But those were conducted in swing states, designed to win over general election voters. This forum was held about a mile from the Capitol and targeted at lawmakers who will decide the fate of his plan. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., told reporters in a conference call that his first priority is 4to “prevent the Bush administration from wrecking what is really the bedrock of income security protection.” “They do it by diverting money to private accounts and by cutting guaranteed benefits,” Levin said. “And that would wreck a program that’s now providing secure income ... to 48 million people.” Bush’s opponents have criticized him for repeatedly saying the Social Security system is in “crisis.” He used the word only once Tuesday. toTim STUDENT GOVERNMENT File In days! File for candidacy Jan. 24-25 Office of Student Gov't Russell House 227 www.sg.sc.edu 777.2654 _ O What do you know about v MID The 43rd Civil Support Team • Weapons of Mass Destruction (CST-WMD) is a member of the SC National Guard that supports state and federal first responders hi the event of a HAZMAT emergency. 1 Lt Daniel Femtagfich of the 43rd CST will be discussing ther role in HAZMAT response within the state and will demonstrate some of the equipment used by the team. Join us for the first In i lai of the new year! This interactive presentation will feature a mobile analytical laboratory system along with other HAZMAT detection and sampling equipment. (Lunch will be provided!) Supporting CM First Responders in the State of South Carolina... 43rd Weapons of Mass Destruction CM Support Team — L. .. - > —