Over the past year, several construction sites have emerged throughout campus. From the School of Communication to the School of Music, it seems that every building on campus is being revamped in some way.

The most recent groundbreaking was near the Wolfson building on Oct. 18. This $9 million project is for the future site of the School of Communication student center, to be completed in Oct. 2005.

The center will be five stories high, with classrooms, computer labs, lecture halls, copy rooms and faculty and graduate students’ offices.

A similar improvement has been taking place at the School of Music over the past year.

The music school’s technical center and library was a $10 million endeavor that started December of last year and is set to be operational by Jan. 2005. The technical center will have different labs like computer and recording labs. The library will have such aids as a listening library, a reading library, as well as its own stacks.

For some students, especially those who may not be receiving direct benefits from the construction, the changes are more of an inconvenience than anything else.

“I don’t like that they have taken away parking spaces, because it makes things even more difficult, but I guess in the end it will be better in improving the school,” Jessica Pouza, a commuter student, said.

Napoleon Santos, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the improvements seem to be unfairly distributed.

“In my opinion, we need a new Cox Building,” Santos said.

According to Sergio Rodriguez, vice president of Campus Planning and Construction, the projects are not allocated in preference to one school over another. It depends on the source of funding for each project. The current construction sites are primarily funded through private donations.

Other sources of funding include a business plan set up by each school, in which the amount already designated for each school’s budget is evaluated as a construction source. For example, the Cox Science Center will be adding labs with money specifically saved by the College of Arts and Sciences for such a project.

The Momentum fundraising campaign, set to raise $1 billion by 2007, is an additional source of income for scholastic expansions. The money raised will go toward the construction of buildings, faculty, scholarships and research centers.

This money raised in the campaign will be used for such prospective developments as an alumni center, new Student Activities center, Richter Library expansion, Wellness Center expansion, Cox Science Center renovation and additions to Hecht Residential College and the Lowe Museum.

Camille Cohen can be contacted at c.cohen@umiami.edu.

On Wednesday, November 24, the 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Ibis Ride shuttles will be taking students from the University of Miami campus to Miami International Airport.

Last Tuesday, the UC patio was center stage for Native American Day. The University hosted guests, including high school students, from tribes all over the country to spend a day on campus. The cultural show was marked by colorful, traditional costumes, music and storytelling.

UM President Donna Shalala opened the program. She welcomed the Native American community to campus and encouraged the visiting students to finish high school and consider applying to UM.

One of the guest students on campus was JoJo Dakota Osceola, 17, from Davie, Fla. Chosen as Miss Seminole 2004-2005, her role is to travel around the country and make people aware of Native American culture, especially of the Seminole tribe.

“It’s amazing that the University took an interest in this,” Osceola said. “Ignorance hurts, and it’s important to make people aware of the culture.”

The Red Feather Dance Company told stories through Native American dances. The show also included a presentation by Storyteller, as well as an open mic poetry event.

Table stands with Native American handcrafts, ceramics and hand-made jewelry adorned the patio.

Mario Matus Villa, a UM graduate student in creative writing who is of Apache descent, displayed Navajo crafts from the Lowe Art Museum Teaching Collection.

“We are hoping to spark people’s interest in the culture,” Matus Villa said. “It’s sad that we do not have a Native American student association, considering the Miccosukee base here.”

Guests were treated to a campus tour, a visit to the Lowe Art Museum and an optional tour of Hecht Athletic Center to watch a Hurricane football practice.

“It’s a very nice and real experience,” Victoria Hernandez, a student from Ahfachkee High School, said. “There are not a lot of colleges that reach out to us. I really want to come here.”

The Native American Cultural Show is part of the effort by the University to recruit more Native American students. Currently there is no Native American student association, and only 16 Native American students are officially enrolled at UM.

“Native American students are the minority of the minority,” Nikki Chun, admission counselor at the Office of Admissions, said. “Hopefully the cultural show will encourage the students to create an association of Native American students, since there isn’t one.”

According to Chun, the staff at the Office of Admissions recruits students of all ethnicities, but they reach out to those communities whose students may not look past high school.

“We are recruiters – we reach out to communities,” Chun said. “The University reached out to native Hawaiian students in the past, which is one of the reasons I am here. We are trying to model this after that effort.”

The staff works with high school students to help them with the application and essay-writing process. They’ve also reached out to Native American high schools to give students an opportunity to explore the facilities on campus and majors that the school has to offer.

“I greatly encourage this school to continue trying to reach out and encourage Native American students,” Johann Lewis, freshman, said. “It’s hard for any race to feel uncomfortable when there is a good mix of people from different ethnicities.”

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

TODAY
Today is the last day to have your picture taken for the ’05 Ibis Yearbook in UC 237. Seniors should go to www.mcgrathstudios.com, password: Ibis and make an appointment between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Underclassman can show up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, please call 305-284-6385 or email IbisEditor@aol.com

To wrap up SABOR’s week of Puerto Rican culture, it will host Fiestas Patronales, a celebration including an 11-piece band, food, and typical dances in the UC Patio from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Food is $2 for students with a student ID.

To spread AIDS awareness and prevention, A Week For Life is hosting a “Look. Listen. Learn,” barbeque at the Rock at 12 p.m.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council [NPHC] is hosting a skating party at Super Wheels, 12265 S.W. 112th St., from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in celebration of NPHC Week. The cost is $7. For more information, contact NPHC at umnphc@yahoo.com.

SATURDAY
Today is the last day to catch Quantum Entertainment’s production, Hair. For more information, visit http://www.gotoquantum.com/hair.

Tri-Beta is hosting a trip to the IMAX Theater and Museum of Discovery and Science to watch the new movie “Polar Express” in 3-D. For more information, e-mail Liz at tweetye18@aol.com. RSVP by noon on Nov. 19.

MONDAY
** President Donna Shalala and Sebastian the Ibis will be in the UC Lower Lounge from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. signing copies of the Ibis yearbook. Prizes will be awarded.

SG gives students ride to airport for Thanksgiving

Student Government and Student Affairs recently announced that the 2nd Annual

Thanksgiving Ibis Ride shuttles will be running for the University of Miami campus to Miami International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Shuttles will be departing from three locations on campus: Mahoney and Pearson Residential Colleges, Eaton Residential College and Stanford and Hecht Residential Colleges. They will be operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shuttles will be arriving at their pick-up locations every hour throughout the day. In order to reserve a seat on the Thanksgiving Shuttle, students must contact Parking and Transportation at 305-284-3096 (option 1).

The FBI Visits Campus

Students discover job opportunities as FBI agents

UM students were given a chance to mingle with agents from one of the top agencies in the United States last Tuesday. As part of UMagine’s public relations campaign project, the Federal Bureau of Investigation visited students in the UC lower lounge, explaining different career and internship opportunities, from becoming an FBI special agent to becoming a member of their Professional Support team. Free food, beverages and give-aways were provided. UMagine is an agency created by students taking a public relations campaigns course in the School of Communication. Its goal is to carry out an on-campus recruitment campaign for the FBI, learning the different aspects of public relations along the way.

(U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. – More than 20 teams will be competing to make the best chili at the University of Oklahoma Gamma Phi Beta Chili Cook-Off Monday night.

This is the 16th year the sorority has held the event, which gives awards for the best chili, the hottest chili and the most spirited team, said Kari Culp, Chili Cook-Off chairwoman and public relations sophomore.

Culp said that having the hottest chili is something that many people look for.

“A lot of the guys get really into it; last year people were crying because the chili was so hot,” she said.

Jennifer Zarate, public relations sophomore, said this is her first year participating in the Chili Cook-Off.

“I’ve heard that the fraternity guys try to see who can make the hottest chili,” she said. “It’s supposed to be really funny to watch them try to eat it.” Last year, Alpha Chi Omega won the award for best chili and Pi Kappa Phi won for hottest.

The theme this year for Chili Cook-Off is “Set Your Taste Buds on Fire,” Culp said. Two local fire stations will be present at the event along with their fire trucks to add to the atmosphere, she said.

Culp said she hopes people will come out and enjoy themselves at the cook-off.

“This is the most fun philanthropy on campus,” she said.

All proceeds from Chili Cook-Off will benefit the United Way of Norman, Okla., Gamma Phi Beta’s local philanthropy. This is the main fund-raising event during the year that the sorority hosts for the organization, Culp said.

Culp said she expects more than $6,000 to be raised during this year’s event. Gamma Phi Beta raised $4,000 last year for the United Way.

“It’s great that we can give so much money to the United Way,” Zarate said.

Tickets for the event are $5 at the door or $4 in advance from any member of Gamma Phi Beta.

“We’re raising money for a good cause, and everyone should come out,” Culp said.

The end of the presidential elections has steered many political organizations on campus in a new direction since Nov. 3, when political campaigns stopped airing commercials and news stations stopped announcing who was leading in national polls.

“It’s funny because there was so much fervor and excitement and now everything just dropped,” Melany Valverde, junior, said. “You still see signs up but I think they just forgot to take them down.”

Many political organizations on campus, like the Council for Democracy, are shifting their focus for the upcoming semester and preparing for the changes.

“Our goal is to get students to be involved in politics by getting their hands dirty,” Edward Martos, president of Council for Democracy, said. “The youth vote came out in the same number this election than in the past, which was somewhat disappointing.”

Issues such as reform policies, security and the economy are still a concern to the organization, which hopes to encourage student involvement and discussion through new committees and activities such as CafE Conversation, a weekly meeting at a coffee shop in which students and professors discuss current events in an informal setting.

Other organizations, such as the College Republicans, have shut down for the rest of the semester.

“We worked very hard to build up for the elections,” Scott Wacholtz, chair of the College Republicans, said. “I feel like everyone should take a step back, take a break and enjoy the victory.”

The College Republicans not only enjoyed the victory of President Bush in the elections, but other Republicans such as Mel Martinez and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who were elected to the Senate and Congress from Florida, respectively. “Elections are what the business of politics is all about,” Wacholtz said. “Now that that’s over, 2005 will be a low period.”

The UM Young Democrats, however, have a different opinion.

“Terrorism is still a threat, and rising healthcare costs and a sluggish economy didn’t stop on the morning of November 3,” Luke Kosar, president of the UM Young Democrats, said. “However, the general thinking behind the Democratic Party’s positions and platforms should change, and we feel we need to play an enormous role in that change.”

According to Kosar, since about 66 percent of votes cast in the UM precincts were for Kerry, many students feel disappointed with the results of the election.

“We should now be more determined than ever to get involved and make sure our party moves on and grows,” Kosar said.

Organizations like Get Out the Vote [GOTV] aimed to bring out the youth vote, though reports say that the amount of voters between the ages of 18 and 24 was not significantly higher than past elections.

“On our campus it was a bit different. The turnout was incredible – it was a true test to democracy,” Pamela Scheiss, director of GOTV, said. “Everyone wanted to participate. Even when Florida was called for Bush students still came out [to vote].”

What GOTV is most concerned with are the problems that some students faced while voting at the Convocation Center. Many waited in line for up to four hours due to a shortage of voting booths. Fixing these problems in time for this spring’s Coral Gables elections is a top priority, Scheiss said, as is registering students to vote in that election.

UM President Donna Shalala has started planning to prevent these problems from recurring. Supervisor of Elections Constance Kaplan issued an apology to the University for the issues that arose during the Presidential election, and has agreed to meet with various student leaders to discuss how to improve the situation in future elections.

Natalia Maldonado can be contacted at n.maldonado@umiami.edu.

Over the last several months a coalition of students has joined together to advocate the creation of a Middle Eastern and Asian studies program.

This is not the first time such an effort has been attempted, but it is the first time that the major effort has come from the students with a leading role being played by Student Government [SG].

“This is specifically a program that was based on demand from other students,” Mike Levine, College of Arts and Sciences senator, said. “We really feel that there is a wide range of people that this [program] would service.”

Levine, who is chairman of the SG Senate Academic Affairs Committee, first became aware of student demand for the program through Naveen Bellam, former president of the Indian Students Association [ISA].

“After we met a couple of times, we sat down and drafted a resolution for a Hindi language class,” Levine said. “The resolution passed unanimously and then we sent off the resolution and student signature pages to the administration.”

The proposed program is quickly becoming a popular endeavor.

Paula Georg, junior class senator, cited the program as her main reason for joining the Academic Affair Committee.

“Knowing more about the culture of the Middle East and Asia works in our benefit,” Georg said. “We can’t seclude ourselves from Eastern culture any longer.”

Georg feels the program would serve to dispel many of the inaccuracies inherent in mainstream media coverage of the Middle East and Asia.

“The more I learned about the subject, the more I realized I was making uninformed decisions,” Georg said. “With this program we wouldn’t need to rely just on the media.”

Georg focuses on gaining the support of the Greek community and in assisting the development of the Asian studies portion of the curriculum with other students and faculty.

Arjun Parasher, College of Arts and Sciences senator and ISA member, is one of the students working with Georg.

“I think this program is important not only for us to learn about our own culture and heritage,” Parasher said. “The Middle East and South Asia are becoming increasingly important to the lives and way of life of every American.”

Parasher added that the regional importance of these areas is not only related to terrorism and war, but is primarily economic.

“In the future this region is the new budding area for corporations,” Parasher said. “Any American economic and political relations are going to have to deal with that.”

Support for the program among the general student body seems almost universal.

“Regardless of whether this is going to be your major field of study, it’s important to study it,” Jacki Waksman, junior, said. “Cultural awareness is beneficial so as to understand people’s differences and avoid clashes in the future.”

Senior Mike Garcia agreed.

“Any time you have the opportunity to blend in different points of view of the different cultures into one curriculum it’s a big plus for everybody,” Garcia said.

SG is currently working to gather student signatures and more support for the program, after which the discussion will be taken to the administrative level. Administration was unavailable for comment.

>> For more information, email Mike Levine at SGA-Ssenator2@miami.edu or visit www.miami.edu/studorgs/sg.

Scott Wacholtz can be contacted at s.wacholtz@umiami.edu.