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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2004)
"Hundreds of people are walking around with a better quality of life because of his generosity..." 4A Monday, April 12, 2004 AGGIELI the IUTTaUi A child’s wish My son was one of 12 Aggies to die in the Bonfire collapse. We were devastated when it happened. We knew nothing could bring him back. But his bones and other tissue live on in 50 or more people who would have been crippled by bone cancer or other diseases. Because of Christopher, people can walk, run, and hold their kids. Donation really was a way to honor his generous spirit. -Marian Breen SHARE YOUR LIFE. SHARE YOUR DECISION. Visit us Thursday, April 29th from 9am to 3pm on the Academic Plaza. NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT OR RENTAL OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES CONTEST RUNS FROM MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, (ai A Camden. 5 Living Excellence 9-year-old cancer victim leaves legacy for classmates on his old playground By Jim Suhr THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ST. LOUIS — Battling an incurable brain tumor that robbed him of his sight, 9-year-old Mak Shulist made a dying wish that had nothing to do with meeting with a celebrity, shaking a president’s hand or going to Walt Disney World. Before his death Friday, Mak got the Make- A-Wish Foundation to do something for his friends — build a rock-climbing wall on the playground of Ellisville Elementary School. “It says a lot about the family and the type of person he was — selfless, thoughtful and caring,” said Dave Kites, principal at the 600-student school in suburban Ellisville. “We learned a lesson from a 9-year-old — that even when we’re going through tough times we should be thinking of other people and not ourselves.” Mak’s illness was diagnosed about a year ago. Kites said, when physical education teach ers noticed him losing his bal ance and falling while he ran around the track. Despite chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the tumor came back last fall about the time Mak started third grade. Kites said. Mak last attended school in Ociol* or November. “I thought he was going to wish thatthert was a medicine or something, and he just wished for that,” schoolmate Will Randalltd KSDK-TV. “And l was like, ‘Whoa, he’sni« The family remained private, but abasia appeared outside their home and becamea drop-off spot for well-wishers. “Peoplewoifii put a gift in there every day,” Knessaid. As Mak’s health declined, the Make-a-fni Foundation hustled tobuildik 7-foot-high climbing wall. “From the time the wish granted to the time they wett playing on it was lessthantr weeks,” Knes said. Heestii® it cost the foundationSlO.i; $15.OOO. Volunteers put it together. On Thursday. Knes video taped students scaling theni and describing it in detail (oi Mak ’s benefit, and he rushedi tape to Mak’s parents. “We tried to hit the audiotta ly big for him," the principala: “His mom said he did hear it’ Mak died the next day,siu rounded by family. “Every time I’m goinglott on this wall I think abouthii and what he did for us, "said We learned a lesson from a 9- year-old — that even when we're going through tough times we should be thinking of other people and not ourselves. — Dave Knes Principal, Ellisville Elementary School Document talks of al-Qaida determi nation to launch U.S. attacks CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - A document sent to President Bush before the Sept. 11 attacks cited recent intelligence of a possible al-Qaida plot to strike inside the United States. The White House released the document Saturday. “Clandestine, foreign govern ment, and media reports indicate Bin Laden since 1997 has want ed to conduct terrorist attacks in the US," the memo to Bush stat ed. Bin Laden implied in U.S. tel evision interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would fol low the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and “bring the fighting to America.” The document, declassified Saturday, said that after President Clinton launched missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, “bin Laden told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington.” The memo cited intelligence from another country, but the White House blacked out the name of the country. Efforts to launch an attack from Canada around the time of “Y2K” “may have been part of bin Laden's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the U.S.” the document states. Victoria’s Secret drops fashion show COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Victoria's Secret is dropping its nationally televised fashion show this year, at least partly because of criticism following Janet Jackson’s breast-baring faux pas at the Super Bowl. Ed Razek, chief creative officer NEWS IN BRIEF for the Columbus-based lingerie chain, said Saturday the main reason for the decision was so the company can look at new ways to promote the brand. Still, he said. “We had to make the decision probably six to eight weeks ago when the heat was on the television networks." The announcement came less than three months after the Jackson uproar and a week after federal regulators proposed $495,000 in fines against Clear Channel Communications for sexual material on the Howard Stern show. The televised fashion show has generated criticism in the past from groups complaining about supermodels strutting down the runway in skimpy underwear. Pope presides over Easter vigil service in St. Peter’s Basilica VATICAN CITY (AP) - Looking weak and speaking with great effort, Pope John Paul II blessed the flame of a tall candle at the start of a long Easter vigil service Saturday night in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica. The pontiff baptized peo ple from Europe, Africa and Asia in a solemn, chant-filled ceremony. The pope’s right hand trembled as he poured water from a gold- colored, shell-shaped scooper over the heads of a young man from Italy, a toddler from Togo, two Japanese women in kimonos and three others during baptism. Earlier, John Paul slowly leaned forward in his chair to insert five grains of incense into the cream- colored candle’s wax. John Paul gripped the candle as he was wheeled in his chair up the center aisle of a darkened basilica. Thousands of faithful held small candles whose flarrtes sparked in the darkness.Ate: deacon’s sung phrase, "Lm Christi" (Light of Christ,inlai' rang out through the cm: basilica for a third time, ft lights went on in the basilica 1 : the vigil service, whidilas: about three hours. Parents of ‘WeirMf found dead into FALLBR00K, CalMftP)- elderly parents of Grammyr nmg recording artist "Weirdf Yankovic were found dead: their home, apparentlyvictiirc: carbon monoxide poisoning,r cials said. Nick and Mary Yankovic« found dead Friday in theif ban San Diego home by relate who were worried because ft had not seen the couple inaili Paramedics found Ift Yankovic, 86, in a chair inti front living room. His 81-yeart wife was on the bathroomfto A wood fire had beensetrec? ly in the fireplace, Graysonsad 'The house was full ofs®* when they opened the da? Grayson said, adding that fie ft ily members found theflueclosa “Weird Al” Yankovic, 40 no comment during a pete ance in Mankato, Minn. ' Saturday night. Before the show, a graphic, 1 jected on the screens at theft of the stage dedicated theeven to his parents, KTOE-AMrep® Yankovic also canceled a® and-greet with selected fans A neighbor descri Yankovic’s parents as nicep pie who were proud of theirs:' “Everybody who carnets* neighborhood knew Nick," s John Buehman, who livesatf the street. “They're goingts missed, big time." Come up and ioiniisj You'll love the Still need a science credit? HistoricaJ Geolbgy(!0( satisfies a core-curriculum science requirement \ i