For an everyday person, there are a plethora of things to do with a billion dollars. For the University of Miami, having $1 billion means better students, better faculty and better standards.

Since late 2003, the University leaders have been engaging in a comprehensive billion-dollar fund-raising campaign. The Momentum Campaign, as it is called, has had a wave of major donations recently. So far, $922 million have been pledged.

According to the campaign’s website, the three priorities of Momentum are “strengthening endowment support for faculty and students, funding construction, renovation and other capital projects and enhancing annual giving.”

In other words, the fund plans to allow the University to recruit and retain better students, athletes and teachers, improving the University reputation and ranking as a result.

“The goal of the Momentum Campaign has always been the same: funding scholarships, professorships and faculty chairs, as well as building new facilities,” Sergio M. Gonzalez, vice president for university advancement, said.

This fundraising effort is coordinated by many people within the University community, including the Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, alumni, donors and students, all joined in achieving one goal: $1 billion by mid-2007.

The campaign has had a huge success to date. Most of the current total comes from alumni, local corporations and individuals who have great affinity with the University of Miami.

Among the biggest donors are Phillip and Patricia Frost, and the late Leonard Miller. As one of the first benefactors, the Frost family gave $10 million to benefit the School of Music. Miller, the biggest donor to date, contributed $100 million to the School of Medicine. As a result of his generosity, the Miller School of Medicine now carries his name with honor.

How the funds will be divided among the schools and programs is already determined. Usually, the decision of where the money goes is made by the donor, who may have a passion for a particular program of the university.

For example, donors Marta and L. Austin Weeks funded the building of the Marta and L. Austin Weeks Music Library because of their appreciation for music and education.

The Music Library is not the only new building on campus. Another current construction project funded by money from the Momentum Campaign is the Nursing School.

In addition, a new students’ activity center is being planned to be built, which would include renovating and expanding the current University Center.

Students, as well as administrators, feel optimistic about the future of the University when they learn about the campaign.

“It’s great that the University is getting more money,” Andrew Barrett, junior, said. “A billion dollars is a huge sum of money to accomplish.”

In fact, Momentum is one of only 24 billion-dollar university fund-raising campaigns nationwide. To reach the goal of a billion means much to the university and its supporters.

“We have a lot of success with alumni as well as non-alumni,” Gonzalez said. “We’re very appreciative of families and friends of the university who helped.”

Bryce Pham can be reached at b.pham1@umiami.edu.

For those days when you’re missing momma and her home cooked meals, there is a fresh alternative to flying home. A new restaurant just opened this summer, located across campus, and this one is co-owned by one of UM’s students.

JJ’s American Diner, which closed 11 years ago, re-opened this summer after senior Jeff Howard, Jr., a finance and entrepreneurship double major, and his father decided it was time to bring back the family business.

Not much changed over the years-on a weekend, Howard’s mom can sometimes be seen greeting customers and wearing a purple apron with the word Mom on the front. In fact, she’s at the restaurant almost as much as he is.

“I moved out three years ago,” Howard said, “but now I see her almost every day, working on menus and talking to customers.”

The restaurant originally opened in 1984, when Howard was only a 1-year-old. The city of Coral Gables loved it so much the restaurant turned itself into a small chain. Unfortunately, while the original diner flourished, the others did so poorly that all of them had to close by the early 90s.

Howard grew up hearing people talk about the restaurant’s closing and how they wished it would come back. Many spoke of it as one of the only places to find old-fashioned American food such as meatloaf, mashed potatoes and French toast. After working as a manager at Johnny Rockets, Howard was presented with an opportunity to reopen JJ’s and discussed it with his family.

“We decided to do it because this was fitting a need people felt, a place to go that had old-fashioned food and atmosphere,” he said.

They made an offer to the owners of The Diner, which was up for sale at the time, and the transformation quickly took place. The new restaurant sprang into full swing in August, with a jukebox in the front, TV screens set up on the walls, a new bar, oldies played during the day, and plans for student deals and discounts in the works.

While many students on campus don’t know much about JJ’s yet, some have heard about its opening. Many have noticed it driving by on U.S.1 or in an advertisement on thefacebook.com.

Those who haven’t heard anything yet seemed excited about a new convenient location to hang out around campus.

“If you live on campus, especially in the towers, you only have a couple of places to go and you get bored after a while,” Vanessa de la Portilla, junior, said.

Already the family-owned restaurant has a large following from returning customers and Howard hopes that as people try the food they’ll continue to keep on coming back. But when I asked whether the family would ever consider expanding this JJ’s American Diner to a chain, Howard quickly said no.

“[We] are not in the restaurant business, we’re in the JJ’s American Diner business, and that’s it.”

Candice Castaneda can be contacted at c.artemis@umiami.edu.

Dr. Annette LaGreca, professor of psychology at the University of Miami, has published After the Storm, a resource for parents and educators to help children cope with the psychological impact of hurricanes. The manual is available for download free at psy.miami.edu.

In addition, Dr. LaGreca has authored several other publications to disseminate information on how to help children cope in the aftermath of disasters, including Children Experiencing Disasters: Prevention and Intervention.

August marked the second year that the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has offered calling cards that provide a critical message about preventing rape. DOH’s “Rape. Talk About It. Prevent It.” campaign proved successful last year, with more than 125,000 cards distributed to Florida college students both on campus and at spring break locations.

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 represent more than a fifth of all victims of rape and sexual assault, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The National College Women Sexual Victimization Study estimated that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women experienced completed or attempted rapes during their college years.

The miniature cards feature the words, “Rape. Talk About It. Prevent It.” The free minutes of local or long-distance air time can be used through any phone service provider. When students activate their cards, they hear a 30-second message about sexual violence prevention, as well as a toll-free telephone number to local programs providing victim services and prevention education.

The University of Miami pumps $3.9 billion into the local South Florida economy, according to a study conducted by the Washington Economics Group. With more than 10,000 employees, it is now the largest private employer in Miami-Dade County and the sixth largest employer overall.

“The University of Miami is inextricably linked to this wonderful and diverse community-and as a key intellectual and economic force, we are committed to its continued advancement,” said University President Donna E. Shalala.

In the city of Coral Gables, the University of Miami is the most important economic enterprise, with a total impact of $1.1 billion. Approximately 40 percent of the University’s total payroll budget is paid to employees who live in the city. In addition, the University enhances the quality of life for residents, inviting neighbors to participate in athletic, educational, and cultural activities on its suburban, tropical campus.

Daphne Robboy had a freshman college dorm experience for exactly four days.

Robboy, a 17-year-old native Miamian, traveled to Loyola University New Orleans two weeks ago, planning to get acclimated to her new city during the week or so before classes for the fall semester were set to start. She met her roommate, set up her dorm room and bought her books before Hurricane Katrina changed her plans.

On Saturday, Aug. 27, as a strengthening Katrina approached the Gulf coast, Loyola students were told to find a way to evacuate the city on their own. If they could not leave, they would be evacuated to a Baton Rouge shelter the next day.

Robboy managed to leave with her mom’s best friend to Memphis, Tenn. She packed one bag when she evacuated, comprising two pairs of jeans, five shirts, a couple of changes of underwear and her laptop. Her other possessions remain in her fifth-floor New Orleans Garden District dorm room.

“Everything I use is over there,” Robboy said. “I’m going to have to go back eventually to get it all back.”

From Tennessee, Robboy bought a one-way, $700 ticket to fly from Memphis to Miami, with a layover in Atlanta. She expected to be home only for a few days, as Loyola students had originally been told that classes would resume Sept. 7.

As the images from Hurricane Katrina started appearing in the media, however, Robboy began to worry about her academic future. It wasn’t until Florida International University placed an ad offering enrollment to Gulf coast students in The Miami Herald last week, though, that she said she realized she was going to have to find a new school.

“I had all these amazing plans for college and nothing has gone through,” Robboy said.

After visiting FIU and being overwhelmed by the number of people looking for help, Robboy turned to UM, where she was able to enroll as a non-degree seeking commuter student taking nine credits. However, most of the classes she wanted or needed to take were full. Robboy, an international business major at Loyola, is now taking political science, finite math and a business-related computer course.

But, because she cannot enroll as a full-time student, Robboy’s Florida Bright Futures financial aid, for example, is not valid. She said her family is paying around $13,000 for her to take nine credits at UM. The tuition she had already paid at Loyola, as well as her $13,000 scholarship, does not apply at UM but will roll over for the Spring semester, when Loyola hopes to reopen.

Loyola stayed in touch with its students largely through the website of the Association of Jesuit Colleges, which listed the contact information of the other 27 Jesuit schools-as well as Louisiana State University-that were prepared to take in students like Robboy. Loyola’s tuition would transfer to these colleges, and the credits earned by students there would be easily transferred back to the university in New Orleans. When Robboy called these schools, however, she ran into one problem: housing. None of the schools could offer her a place to stay, and Robboy has no possessions to take to a new dorm room. Robboy said Loyola Chicago offered emergency funds, made available through charities, to buy sheets and other necessities, but neither she nor her family wants to depend on those funds.

Robboy hopes to get involved in activities at UM, even though she may only be here one semester. For now, however, she is more concerned with settling in.

“I signed my membership to the gym, and that’s about it,” she said.

She has spent the past few days canceling nonrefundable plane reservations and buying new textbooks.

Robboy said that, if students can’t return to Loyola by next semester, she will transfer to Loyola Chicago.

For now, though, she said she appreciates having somewhere to study.

“Even though I’m going to be two credits behind, I’m very lucky,” Robboy said.

Patricia Mazzei can be contacted at pmazzei@miami.edu.

The University will be participating in many fundraising and volunteer initiatives in order to bring aid to the Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina. The following is a list of the many ways that students, faculty and staff can help.

UM Convocation Center teams up with WFYI-Y100

Local radio station Y100.7 FM will be broadcasting live from the UM Convocation Center all day today, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., to raise donations to be sent to the Gulf Coast. Monetary donations will be collected for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and Florida’s Blood Centers will also be accepting blood donations to address the medical needs of those affected by the disaster.

UM-FSU football game

The UM Alumni Association (UMAA) Pregame Celebration was on site at Monday’s game to collect gifts and donations from anyone attending. The UMAA also coordinated relief efforts with the Florida State University Alumni Association to collect cash and check donations to the American Red Cross at gates around the Doak Campbell Stadium and the Florida State campus.

Presidential message

In addition to the relief efforts on site at Monday’s game, University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala recorded a public service announcement that aired during the broadcast of the game urging the community to support hurricane relief efforts.

University faculty providing assistance

The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science continues to provide high resolution satellite images from its Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS) to government officials and the news media.

Medical personnel from UM’s Miller School of Medicine are aiding Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fl-5 Disaster Medical Assistance Team. These 35-member teams support medical facilities incapacitated by disaster, bringing their own medical and logistical supplies and equipment. In addition, two surgeons have been deployed to the area as part of the South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2.

Fundraising

Fundraising initiatives are being coordinated through the University’s United Way Campaign office. Employees and students may direct their contributions to any nonprofit organization, such as the American Red Cross, through a United Way gift.

The University Bookstore is accepting donations at each register, with 100 percent of it going to the American Red Cross.

Volunteering

There will be a meeting today at 9:30 p.m. in the Flamingo Ballrooms A and B of the Whitten University Center for all students interested in assisting with hurricane relief.

TODAY

Any students, faculty, staff or student organizations interested in assisting with the University’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts should attend an open meeting today at 9:30 p.m. in the University Center Flamingo Ballrooms A and B.

Filing for candidacy in the Student Government elections begins today. Election packets can be picked up in UC 209 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Filing ends on Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.

Panhellenic formal recruitment begins today.

wednesday

Quantum Entertainment will hold auditions for Closer, A Twist of Fate and a dance show. Auditions are open Wednesday, Sept. 7 through Friday, Sept. 9, from 7 to 10 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the UC. Please prepare a one-minute dramatic or serio-comic monologue if interested in Closer. Auditions for student short film, A Twist of Fate, will also be held at this time. No preparation is required for the film audition or the dance audition. Please wear appropriate dance attire and jazz shoes. All ages, majors and experience levels are invited to audition for any or all three productions.

Cosford Cinema will be showing The Sandlot at 8 and 10 p.m.

thursday

The Cuban Heritage Collection at the Otto G. Richter Library welcomes Celia Cruz’s photographer. Presentation of book and photographs by author Alexis Rodr

The University of Miami is accommodating as many students displaced by Hurricane Katrina as it can, University President Donna E. Shalala announced Thursday through a letter emailed to all students, faculty and staff.

These students, from universities such as Tulane, Loyola New Orleans and Xavier, are being enrolled as non-degree seeking students who can take a maximum of nine credits at the University. They are also paying tuition for those credits, and the tuition is being put into an escrow account that will go to the students’ home institutions.

“We’re not stealing them from their home campuses,” Dr. Shalala told The Hurricane in a phone interview Friday. “We’re not going to benefit financially. The most important thing for us was to be ethical.”

Because the students are unable to produce a transcript, UM is accepting any type of ID from the Gulf-coast universities affected by Katrina, from the equivalent of a ‘Cane card to an acceptance letter. The students are also filling out a short application to the University.

“We didn’t want to delay getting them into classes,” Dr. Shalala said.

The American Council on Education estimates that up to 100,000 students from more than 30 Gulf-coast colleges and universities have been displaced by the hurricane. As of Friday afternoon, 31 displaced students had enrolled at UM, with 25 more being advised on possible enrollment. Of the 31, around 75 percent are from Tulane, with a couple from the University of New Orleans and the rest from Loyola University New Orleans, according to Margot S. Winick, executive director for media relations.

At UM, each student’s case is being considered on a one-by-one basis by the office of undergraduate admission. Admission to the law and medical schools is being coordinated by the national law and medical school associations, although Dr. Shalala said that some law students are already auditing classes at UM until their home schools tell them how to proceed. The business school graduate admission office is also working with a few displaced MBA students to find out the best way to help them.

Although no exact breakdown was available yet, Dr. Shalala said that more upperclassmen had been admitted than freshmen as of Friday morning. About one-third of the 400 inquiries the University had received by Thursday-it got 200 more on Friday-were from out-of-state students. They were told to apply in the Spring, if need be, and to look schools in their home states for the time being.

The students that have enrolled are from South Florida and are living at home, as the University has no extra dorms.

“We don’t have any room,” Dr. Shalala said, “but we have to do our share [to help].”

The University was trying to place students in the classes they need to stay on track to graduate, even though most classes are not open. Dr. Shalala praised the deans and faculty for their support in admitting students to their already-full classes.

“Faculty are calling to say that they have one or two slots left in their classrooms,” Dr. Shalala said. “They are all being very flexible.”

According to Winick, some faculty have also been calling the administration to offer housing for displaced students.

Dr. Shalala said she thinks UM students will understand the new Gulf coast students’ plight.

“This has been a very traumatic experience,” she said. “I think [UM students] will welcome an extra chair in a class to help a displaced student. Students should be very proud of the University of doing this.”

Dr. Shalala and President T.K. Wetherell of FSU purchased airtime to ask for hurricane relief donations. The commercial was set to air on halftime during the UM-FSU game yesterday.

Patricia Mazzei can be contacted at pmazzei@miami.edu.

When Hurricane Katrina passed through Miami on Aug. 25, she took a piece of UM history down with her. The banyan tree outside the UC, which had been there longer than most can remember, was torn down by the storm’s fierce winds. Clean-up crews were on site during the next few days, cutting away its remnants to the surprise of students, staff and alumni.

Simply known by most as The Tree, it became a trademark of the UM campus and spirit throughout the years. Its disappearance changed the backdrop of not only the campus but of student organizations, such as the Iron Arrow Honor Society, which taps new members twice a year, then brings them back to a mound located next to the tree.

“That ceremony will stay intact,” Alexis Martinez, chief of the Iron Arrow tribe, said. “But a lot of members are upset and concerned because for them, that tree reminds them of when they were tapped. Their memories are connected to that area.”

Fortunately, the Iron Arrow mound was not damaged during the storm.

“I was just recently tapped and just now understood the meaning of the tree. Where it was located is where the mound is located,” Ciara Mohamed, senior, said. “There’s a lot of significance behind it,” she said, adding that much of that meaning is only revealed to its members once they are tapped.

According to Iron Arrow advisor Norm C. Parsons, Jr., members from all of the UM community will feel the absence of the tree.

“That tree is bigger than just Iron Arrow,” he said. “I’ve been here since ’72, and it is a symbol of the strength and vitality of the University. It’s always been there and it’s going to be strange not to have it.”

Efforts to preserve parts of the tree’s remnants are already under way. The administration has saved some of its branches, and in a Senate meeting on Wednesday, a unanimous vote passed for the formation of a memorial built out of the tree’s wood.

“The tree has been there long enough to be in anyone’s memories. It seems like the campus grew up around the tree,” Pete Maki, Student Government president, said. “We want to memorialize it so that people 10, 15 years from now can have something to remember it by.”

Administrators are not yet sure what can be made with the remnants. A bench or a carving was considered at first, but may not be an option due to the type of wood.

“We’re drying it out to see what we’re going to do with it,” Maki said. “We’d like to be able to have a memorial [of the tree] placed where it used to be.”

Administrators and SG will meet again on Wednesday to discuss how the tree’s remnants will be used.

“It’s probably 70 years, if not older,” Parsons said. “We will always look at the spot and, for those of us who remember the tree, will be very saddened. That tree belonged to everybody.”

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