The Pendulum
NEWS
Thursday, September 11, 2003 •Page 7
Breaking through the bubble
U.S. troops face turmoil from al
Qaeda fighters in Afgiianistan
KABUL, Afghanistan - The United States’ top commander in Afghanistan has con
firmed reports that Taliban fighters have been returning to the country from Pakistan.
According to CNN reports, the al Qaeda-trained fighters have been trying to regroup
and regain control of Afghanistan for nine months. They were removed from power in
2001 by a U.S.-led coalition. Pakistan has been accused of harboring the exiled militants
and allowing them to organize.
U.S., Afghanistan and coalition forces have been fighting as many as 1,000 Taliban
fighters in the province of Zabol in what CNN describes as the most vicious fighting in
more than a year.
Afghanistan officials said they foiled a Taliban attack on the Pakistan border hours
before U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Kabul.
The increased violence in Afghanistan and Iraq led President George W. Bush to seek
an addition $87 billion to continue to battle terrorism in the Middle East.
3 and out: Florida high schoolers no
longer need four years to ear diploma
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Thanks to a new law passed by Florida voters, seniors
may no longer rule the school. In an effort to cut class sizes, students can earn a high school
diploma in three years.
The fast-track graduation law was passed this spring by voters and sets caps for every
grade, with no more than 25 students per high school class by 2010, according to CNN.
Students can graduate with six fewer credits as long as they earn four English credits
and study a foreign language for two years. They may skip certain electives, such as phys
ical education, art and life management.
Florida is the first state to implement such a program, and critics claim it will make it
harder for students to do well in college. These students will also be too young to enroll in
the military after graduation, limiting options for some graduates.
Following Columbia disaster, NASA
vows to hold itself more accountable
WASHINGTON - According to CNN, NASA has developed a “return to flight” plan for
future shuttle missions and is aiming for a retum to space by March.
The report shows the steps the organization has taken to comply with suggestions made by
the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, which has been studying the crash of the
Columbia spaceship after it exploded during re-entry in February.
However, for nine of the 15 recommendations made by the investigation board, NASA has
not committed itself to making any definite changes to its existing policies and procedures.
NASA has agreed to a partnership with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, as
well as several others, to provide satellite camera images of the ship as it speeds through
space.
An individual advisory group will assess NASA’s progress as it implements the investiga
tion board’s suggestions. Former astronauts Thomas Stafford and Richard Covey will lead the
group.
- Compiled by Ellis Harman -
CAREER CONNECTION: Yo„r link to the Elon Career Center
SENIOR RESUME BLITZ
September 8-12, Elon Career Center, Duke 101
Hurry in - only two days left for you to come by the Career
Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to have your resume reviewed.
No appointment needed for this week only. First come, first
servedl Don’t miss itl
SENIORS, REGISTER for Interview Day -
JOB FAIR 2003!
Come by the Career Center at Duke 101 from September 15 -
September 19 and submit a resume for each company with
whom you wish to interview. Deadline: Friday, September 19
at 5 p.m.
Fall Graduate School \^orkshop
Tuesday, September 30, 4-5:30 p.m.
Moseley - Room 215
Find out about the Peace Corps!
Come talk to a Peace Corps representative TODAY, Thursday,
September 11. The rep will be in Moseley at a table from
about 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Need to find an internship or part-time job?
Then email walldebb@elon.edu to get on the careerinfo list-
serve. You will receive information on internship and job
opportunities - and find out about other activities sponsored
by the Career Center.
Looking to earn some extra money babysitting?
The Career Center has a babysitting list that we provide to
parents in the community who need babysitters. Just come by
Duke 101 and sign up on the list.
www.elon.edu/careers - 101 Duke - 278-6538 Flours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.