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Last update - 09:42 29/02/2008 Sapir College licks its wounds after student killed by rocket By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Sapir College, Qassam Rockets  Few students attended classes at Sapir College in Sderot on Thursday, the day after fellow student Roni Yihye was killed by a rocket. But those who did come said they planned to continue at the college. However, Sapir's management has noted a troubling plunge in registration for next year over recent weeks. "It's still early days," said college director-general Dr. Nehami Paz, "but we already have 300 fewer registrations than last year at this time." Advertisement Some 1,300 students started this academic year at the college, a similar number to last year, which was a record year. Until two years ago, when the rocket fire increased, registration rose by almost 10 percent annually. But some 13 percent of Sapir's students in the first semester did not renew their registration for the second term, twice as many as usual, said Paz. An improvised monument of piled stones was set up for Yihye yesterday, and an Israeli flag was hung on a nearby tree. "First the rockets fell only in the surrounding area. But yesterday, it was like a rain of rockets aimed straight at us," said Tal Zur, an industrial management student. "But people also know they could be caught anywhere," he added. "Only two weeks ago, there was a suicide bombing in Dimona." "Only three students attended my lecture [yesterday], out of almost 30," said Hila Tahar-Yitzhak, an economics lecturer. "Some of them were planning to go to Yihye's funeral, others took a day off to calm down. But they know that statistically, the chance of getting killed in a traffic accident is higher. My students asked me to email them the material and said they would return next week." The cafeteria was also sparsely populated, and journalists occupied most of the tables. Neta Lev, a cinema student who works in the cafeteria in the administration building, brought a first aid kit with her. "Now I'm ready to go anywhere if needed," she said. Batel Khoury, a first year technological marketing student, came out of a lecture and hurried to her car to return to her home in Netivot. "I'd rather not stand in the parking lot for a long time now," she said with a nervous smile. Most of the college's classrooms are not fortified, and on order from the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command, some 40 classrooms and a third of the laboratories are not in use, because they are vulnerable to rockets and too far from a protected area. "There's a feeling that the government has abandoned all the residents of the south," said Mordechai Algrabli, a logistics student. "I deeply sympathize with the people who live with it all the time. We see so many social injustices. This situation could only exist in the periphery. That's why nobody gives a damn. And the army's assassination policy is useless." Related articles: Hundreds mourn student killed in Wednesday's Sderot rocket attack Student killed in Negev college as Qassam barrage intensifies Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   What kind of reporting is this? Do all the self-hating Jews 01:46  |  Mefisto 29/02/08   2.   Only Dogs Lick their Wounds 02:12  |  I.M. Knot Fooled 29/02/08   3.   Mefisto, you`re really dumb 05:41  |  Jew with a clue 29/02/08   4.   LICK wound?? Whats wrong with rocketting Hamas University 08:23  |  PETER SM 29/02/08   5.   I.M. Knot Fooled = U. R. DedSheet 15:47  |  Joe 29/02/08

Today Online Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south Responses: 367 Aanalysis: Uncompromising Hamas is in trouble Responses: 199 Bradley Burston: True Islam will spell defeat for the Jihadists Responses: 67 When McCain and Obama face off, Israel may find itself in the eye of the storm Responses: 102 German Jewish leader urges Merkel to back Israel's stance on Iran Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Battle of Ohio: from James Garfield to Hillary Clinton Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 22:59 Ban: Hezbollah hindering talks on prisoner swap 01:54 Senior Hamas munitions expert killed in IDF strike in Gaza Strip 02:24 Abbas calls for halt to IDF strikes on Gaza, Qassam rockets 19:38 Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south 19:55 Two people lightly wounded in Qassam barrage on Sderot 09:45 Jerusalem & Babylon / Ignoring Durban summit not an option 21:22 Woman who said was saved from Nazis by wolves admits fabrications 11:10 ANALYSIS / Uncompromising Hamas is in trouble 17:31 Court rejects petition against ban on Habash memorial rally 15:50 When McCain and Obama face off, Israel may find itself in the eye of the storm 13:27 Britain's Prince Harry withdrawn from Afghanistan due to news leak Previous Editions Select Day 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb

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