(U-WIRE) PULLMAN, Wash.-Sung Koo Kim, the alleged Oregon underwear thief, is a Washington State University graduate.

Kim graduated from WSU with a degree in Genetics and Cellular Biology in 2001, according to the Oregonian.

The 30-year old Kim has been accused of stealing more than 3,400 pairs of women’s underwear at Oregon colleges since 2001.

Police caught Kim in his Tigard, Ore., home with the stash of underwear in May 2004. He was charged with theft in Benton, Multnomah, Yamhill and Washington counties in Oregon.

The underwear thefts were reported in at least six Oregon colleges, including Oregon State University, Linfield College, George Fox University, Concordia University and the University of Portland. The thefts were from laundry rooms in dormitories and apartment complexes.

Kim is also faced with child pornography charges in Washington County. Officers inspecting his home computer found child pornography, in addition to over 40,000 pornographic images of women being tortured and mutilated, according to court documents.

There were several reported cases of underwear theft during the time that Kim attended WSU, said Steve Hansen, chief of WSU Police Department. But those cases may not be significant to the Kim case.

Kim is in custody in Oregon. The first trials will take place in Yamhill county, Sassaman said.

The University of Miami’s Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies announced that Gloria Scharlin has pledged $2 million in memory of her husband, who passed away in 2001. In recognition for this gift, the Miller Center patio will be named in memory of Howard Scharlin. The gift will support the Miller Center’s academic programs and community outreach. Mrs. Scharlin has also donated five prized statues of Hasidic rabbis that grace the leafy patio.

“[The gift] seemed like the perfect way to honor his memory and at the same time highlight the ideals of intellectualism and Judaism,” Mrs. Scharlin said, “Howard loved nothing more than to read and learn. He was very interested in Judaism. This is a way to help perpetuate what he was most interested in.”

The gift will commemorate Howard Scharlin’s role as one of South Florida’s most respected philanthropists and leaders in the Jewish and general community. Gloria and Howard often opened their home and gardens for community programs and fundraisers and considered the Greater Miami Jewish Federation their top priority. Together with Norman and Irma Braman, they launched the “I Have a Dream”‘ program through which 118 children at Miami’s Drew Elementary School have the opportunity to attend college. In 2001, Mrs. Scharlin received the Central Agency for Jewish Education’s Community Arts Award. The Scharlin family also has a long history of supporting the University of Miami.

Life after college can be both exciting and challenging. For recent college graduates deciding what step to take next can be intimidating-but it doesn’t have to be.

Jenna Stewart, assistant director for internships and graduate school preparation at Toppel Career Center, noticed while meeting with students that many of them had trouble deciding what to do after graduation.

“After 16 or 17 years of schooling, grad school can be overwhelming,” Stewart said. “Some students are not sure where they want to go in the real world; when graduation comes they might want to do something else.”

This trend was an incentive for the Toppel Career Center to create a series of seminars that will help students examine their choices. The seminars will give students the opportunity to learn about alternate routes available after graduation and other paths that students might be interested in pursuing instead of the traditional job or grad school.

“Programs like this enhance learning and give students an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned,” Stewart said. “It takes courage to take the road less traveled.”

The seminars will be centered on three topics: Travel, Work and Volunteerism.

“Programs like this give you a goal, it gives you perspective, and it allows you to learn more about yourself,” Stewart said.

Travel Seminar: Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 p.m.

A great head start for planning a trip, whether one is considering backpacking through Europe or touring Latin America. This program will include information on planning and financing your trip. Guest speakers will include an STA Travel representative, and resources such as “Rick Steves’ Europe through the Back Door” and “Lonely Planet” website will be discussed.

Work Seminar: Thursday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m.

For students interested in gaining valuable experience before the traditional job or grad school, this seminar will discuss various programs available to students in the U.S. and abroad. The program will tentatively feature a “Teach for America” representative as guest speaker.

Volunteer Seminar: Tuesday, March 29 at 3:00 p.m.

Combine travel and volunteer work, or do it in your own state-this program will discuss volunteer opportunities domestic and abroad. Organizations to be discussed include the Peace Corps, Americorps, Global Volunteers and others. Guest speakers will tentatively feature Leandra Medina, director of the Butler Volunteer Services Center and a previous Peace Corps volunteer.

All seminars will take place at the Toppel Career Center Library, and no RSVP is necessary. Students from all majors are welcomed.

>> For more information contact Jenna Stewart jenna@miami.edu.

Vanessa Krause can be contacted at v.krause@umiami.edu.

Aloha, FunDay! The 24th annual FunDay took place on Saturday, where special citizens and UM students gathered together for a day of celebration and activities. Each student was paired with a disabled citizen from the community to be buddies for the day and spent time partaking in activities with a Hawaiian theme. Buddies got the opportunity to have a dance party on the Rock with a hula show performed by Miami’s Hui Aloha and learn how to hula dance and do arts and crafts. Buddies were separated into different groups and rotated from activity to activity throughout the day.

Freshman Danielle Hastings and her buddy Howard met for the first time Saturday.

“Howard’s favorite part was dancing,” Hastings said. “We went on stage at the Rock in front of everyone and danced to the YMCA song.”

Other activities included a bounce house, a barbeque, music therapy and a mystery theater where Quantum Entertainment performed scenes from Charlie Brown.

“This is the greatest FunDay we’ve had yet,” Walter Fajet, FunDay chair, said. “We’ve had great leadership and came together well, which helped FunDay become such a success this year.”

Fun Day has become more than just one day of service; long-lasting friendships often develop.

Alumni Cristie Rubin and special citizen Phillip Chai met 12 years ago when she was a student at UM, and the two have been buddies ever since. They have been attending FunDay since 1992, and have built a special relationship-Chai even attended her wedding a few years ago.

“Phillip is an easy-going person, and the most fun thing for him is dancing to music on the Rock,” Rubin said.

Rubin was the chair for FunDay in 1996, and she and Phillip come back every few years to participate in the festivities. The best part of the whole experience for Rubin is seeing the new relationships form between buddies.

“It is always awesome to see college kids meet special needs people for the first time,” Rubin said.

For more information on FunDay, contact the Butler Volunteer Services Center at 305-284-GIVE.

Amy DiLorenzo can be contacted at a.dilorenzo1@umiami.edu.

This May, as Mahoney Residential College bids farewell to an associate master, Hecht Residential College will greet the same man as its new resident master. His name is Vince Cardinal, and he is scheduled to move into Hecht in the fall.

As the Chairman of the Department of Theatre Arts, Cardinal is no stranger to UM. For the past four years, he has not only interacted positively with college students, but has lived among them as well.

Each of the five residential colleges at UM is home to one resident master and two associate masters. Based on the housing systems of Cambridge and Oxford Universities in England, these scholars live within the residential colleges and open their doors to residing students. The resident master meets with the entire residential staff on a weekly basis in order to plan various activities and programs for students residing at the complex.

Cardinal looks forward to his new position because he enjoys being an integral part of campus life.

“Hecht has over twenty years of history, and it has been developed nicely,” Cardinal said. “I hope to build upon that past in order to continue to meet current students’ needs and give them the best college experience possible.”

As chairman of the Department of Theater Arts, he runs the academic department for theater students. He is also the producer at the Ring Theatre and generates five to six productions annually. Cardinal is a graduate of Kent State University and the Yale School of Drama.

Cardinal came to UM because, from a theatrical perspective, “there’s no ceiling-we are able to excel as much as we desire.”

Prior to joining UM, Cardinal was the director of the School of Theater at Ohio University. He was also the Head of the MFA Playwriting Program, and has written many plays. His play The Colorado Catechism has been produced internationally along with the screenplay Paollo Pasta. He served as a writing consultant for The State on MTV and was an assistant to the head writer of the popular soap opera One Life to Live. He also received a regional Emmy nomination for his musical comedy First Day of School.

Tom Recktenwald, sophomore, has had the opportunity to interact with Cardinal as both a theater student and a Mahoney resident.

“Mr. Cardinal is well-versed, experienced, honest and to the point,” Recktenwald said. “His main goal is to take care of his students and ensure that we enjoy what we’re doing.” As a Mahoney resident, Recktenwald adds, “Mr. Cardinal is an open door and a listening ear. He is always there for advice, and I can always talk to him regardless of the issue.”

Cardinal is looking forward to his new role at Hecht.

“It’s a great way to become a part of the intellectual community,” Cardinal said. “As an educator, I love to see students grow and develop, and this is one more opportunity to do so.”

Neha Patel can be contacted at n.patel9@umiami.edu

Hecht Residential College turns 20 years old this month-an age that most of its residents have yet to reach. Home to approximately 900 UM students and faculty, Hecht is known for housing mostly freshman and those select few who can’t get enough of the unique atmosphere.

The building first opened in 1968 and was known as the “1968 complex.” The hall became a residential college in 1984, and in 1986 adopted its current name after Florence Ruth Hecht, an influential donor on the UM campus.

Hecht is known for its friendly environment, commitment to excellence and exciting programs that help create an atmosphere that students enjoy living and participating in.

“What makes Hecht unique are the incredible passionate student leaders that have made a choice to be a part of the community where they live,” Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, Hecht residence coordinator, said. “Also, the faculty that has lived in the building, especially Frank and Maryann Barber, whose openness sets the tone for Hecht and the staff that posses an inherent desire to be more than mediocre.”

Students also notice the difference in the building and take pride in being part of the Hecht family.

“It’s always active and bubbly,” Marielle Assue, freshman, said. “Everyone is friendly and living with other freshman gives you the opportunity to make strong relationships with your own class.”

The 20th anniversary celebration will take place on Feb. 24 in two functions. First, there will be a VIP reception that will primarily involve Florence Hecht and her family, UM President Donna Shalala and other notable figures in the UM community. Following that, there will be a second reception held which will be comprised of student leaders around campus, along with former resident assistants who will have the opportunity to share their stories from Hecht. Both events will be formal, and entrance is based on invitation.

Several changes will be implemented at the end of the Spring semester, including slight remodeling and a change in the resident masters. There will be mailbox, study lounge and laundry room renovations as well.

The Barbers will say their goodbyes to Hecht in May and move off campus for the first time in eleven years. Their decision to leave was met with sadness last semester after the couple served eight years in nearby Stanford Residential College before moving to Hecht.

“The Barbers have shown me what it means to open up your life and to sacrifice in order to help the people around you,” said Kim Schoessow, senior and staff member in Hecht.

While the Barbers will be missed, Vince Cardinal, the newly appointed resident master, is being welcomed with full confidence.

“I know that when we leave, Hecht will be in great hands,” Mrs. Barber said. “He is eager to get to know the residents and be a major part of their experience here.”

Stacey Arnold can be contacted at s.arnold@umiami.edu.