The Oct. 15 Student Government [SG] Senate session began with a presentation by Dr. Robert J. Redick, director of the Department of Residence Halls. Dr. Redick presented the 2003 ACUHO-I/EBI Resident Study. He discussed the implications of the study’s results and fielded questions concerning the data. The study indicates that the top predictor of resident satisfaction with the residential colleges is “interaction with others in the hall.” Dining services is the second predictor and personal space is the third.

Redick also announced that in the summer of 2004 the University plans to finish sealing and painting the towers and Mahoney residential college. UM also plans to change the locks to the bathroom doors in all of the suites. He explained that the current bathroom locks pose the risk of an individual being trapped inside the bathroom. The removal of the locks will bring the suites up to compliance with 2003 city fire codes.

Redick also announced that the University is working on a system to register for on-campus housing via the EASY. A date for the installation of this system is in the works.

Following Redick’s presentation, Reed Heinrich was sworn into office as the new Athletics Council senator.

The Arts & Sciences and the Architecture Senate seats remain open. Applications are available in the Student Government office.

The next order of business was a bill to create a Senate ad hoc committee, authored by Carlos Echeverri, speaker of the Senate, and sponsored by Christian Wilson, senior senator.

There was initial opposition to the bill out of concern for respecting the rights and responsibilities of the Supreme Court. In discussion, it was clarified that the rights and responsibilities of the proposed ad hoc committee would not overlap with those of the Supreme Court and that the Supreme Court favored the bill because it promotes efficiency. The bill passed.

The ad hoc committee will serve the purpose of recommending amendments and revisions to the UM SG constitution. It shall serve as one of the committees that each senator is required to attend in order to fulfill committee attendance requirement and shall exist until the end of the Fall 2003 semester.

The session concluded with committee updates:

The academic affairs committee announced plans to re-vamp the FEX course curriculum. The public relations committee announced that SG will be tabling in the UC breezeway next Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..

They also announced “Speak up, Speak out” sessions in the dorms in the upcoming weeks. The special events committee made a reminder that UNICCO appreciation day was planned for Nov. 17.

Additionally, the Cabinet representative announced plans to create an online survey for commuters, and the executive board announced that President Scott Sadowski will give his State of the University Address on Oct. 29, 2003 at 4:10 p.m.

The board also announced plans to install a northbound left turn signal on the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Stanford Circle.

The students, faculty and administration at UM will be witness to a real-life storybook on campus in observation of the Council of International Students and Organizations’ [COISO] UN Day celebration, Oct 22.

In accordance with the national theme of literacy for other UN programs, COISO has chosen to make this year’s UN Day a Cultural Storybook.

But unlike most storybooks, this one will have numerous authors and span the entire world as its setting.

Each of COISO’s 30 organizations will produce one page of Sebastian’s Travels, a storybook tracking the journey of our mascot across the world.

The pages of the storybook will be laid out for all to see, along with a cultural exhibition from many of the University’s cultural organizations.

“Since this is COISO’s first major event of the year, we want to showcase all of the organizations on campus. Hopefully students will find something they are interested in and become more involved in that organization,” Rasha Uthman, UN Day co-chair, said.

President Shalala and Sebastian the Ibis will be on hand for the opening of the event at noon, on the Green in front of Richter Library.

“It’s on the Green this year, which will definitely be a change from having it at the UC,” Aaron Carter, COISO vice president, said.

In years past, UN Day was entirely contained on the UC Patio.

The new site provides both size and accessibility, hopefully allowing more students to participate, said organizers.

Uthman believes that UN Day has something of interest for every UM student and should therefore take its place among the major events of the year.

“From food to clothing to dances to art, UN Day appeals to everyone,” Uthman said. “I want people to stop while they’re walking by the green and take a stroll through the storybook.”

Vivek Patel can be contacted at vivpatel2001@yahoo.com

In an effort to clear up misconceptions and educate others, the Islamic Society at UM [ISUM] held a crash course in Islamic religion on Wednesday. The event, entitled Islam 101, was held in the UC I-Lounge and was open to students and community members alike.

In a two-and-a-half-hour presentation, four student speakers carried out the orientation on Islam and the Muslim world. The speakers were trained and certified by the Islamic Speakers Bureau [ISB] of South Florida, a free resource that aims to orient others about Islam.

In a PowerPoint presentation, the speakers addressed the fundamental beliefs and practices of the Islamic religion. Islam, which comes from the Arabic root word “silm,” means peace and teaches peace through submission to God. For followers, however, Islam is more than just a religion.

“Islam is something that encompasses all of your life,” Amir Zaher, one of the speakers, said. “It’s not just something you practice for a couple of hours a day or a couple of days out of the week – it’s a way of life.”

The presentation also gave a brief history of Muhammad-whom Islam teaches to be the last prophet-and why it’s important for a Muslim to make a pilgrimage to Makkah sometime during their lifetime. The presentation also pointed out the fact that over 1.2 billion people, or 20 percent of the world’s population, are Muslim and touched upon some common religious practices including the importance of fasting, daily praying and the Qur’an.

“I’m taking an introductory religion course and the event was publicized in class,” Layla Aldousany, freshman, said. “Islam is going to be covered later on in the course, so I thought it was a good idea to come.”

At one point, the presentation was interrupted so Muslims who were present could carry out an after-sunset prayer, one of five daily prayers. Many students looked on as the practice was carried out.

“I came tonight to gain a deeper understanding of what worship means to a Muslim,” Craig Shoeyink, a graduate student, said. “I think it’s important to understand and know how it differs from what I believe in as a Christian.”

Once the formal PowerPoint presentation was concluded, the speakers were able to answer audience questions. Clarification was given to many controversial topics including the term “jihad,” the issue of peace in the Middle East and the way Muslims and the Islamic religion have been portrayed in the media.

“Ever since 9/11, people have been flipped out,” Rick Kennedy, a graduate student, said. “I just wanted to come tonight to find common ground between Americans and those from the Middle East and common goals between different groups and religions.”

Whatever the reason students chose to attend Wednesday’s event, there was a general consensus that the presentation was informative and well done.

“I thought they did a really good presentation despite the time constraint,” Jessica Serrano, senior, said.

Angelique Thomas can be contacted at aperivale@aol.com.

The Presidents’ Lecture Series kicked off its inaugural event in Cosford Cinema with special guest Howell Raines, former executive editor of The New York Times who resigned this summer as a result of the Jayson Blair plagiarism scandal.
This was his first public appearance since his resignation. No mention of the incident was made throughout the moderated program.
Dr. Bruce Garrison, of the School of Communication journalism department, encouraged all of his students to attend the event and was disappointed that the issues involving the Jayson Blair case were not discussed.
“Howell Raines is one of journalism’s leaders – his experiences in covering public affairs, particularly politics and the civil rights movement, are extraordinary and we can learn much from him,” Garrison said. “I was, however, extremely disappointed that he would not address the issues involving the Jayson Blair case – I felt short-changed.
“Those of us present were not even offered an explanation.”
In addition to Raines, the students and faculty in attendance heard the whit and wisdom of former UM President Dr. Henry King Stanford, who served in that position from 1961-1981.
Mr. Raines was introduced by Stanford, who praised him for his long and distinguished career.
“I feel very honored that President Shalala would invite the distinguished journalist sitting with me here to be the first speaker in this series,” Stanford said.
Raines began his career in 1964 as a reporter for the Tuscaloosa Press and the Birmingham Post Herald. Before joining the Times in 1978, Raines served as print editor for the Atlanta Constitution and The St. Petersburg Times. He won a Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1992 for his book, Grady’s Gift.
Raines became executive editor of the Times just prior to Sept. 11 and served in that position until his resignation in June 2003.
During the event, Raines mentioned that on Sept. 11, as he saw the towers burning, he came to the realization that this would be the last moment that he would witness this act as a citizen, and would very shortly be involved in the news coverage of the event.
“I thought, ‘I’m now going to go into the news cocoon,'” Raines said. “And for the rest of the time I would be making journalism about this momentous event.”
Raines recounted one of the things he’s always loved about the newspaper business.
“A newspaper is a daily birth,” Raines said. “It’s an act of creativity that I think is magical.”
Relating some of the difficult decisions involved in covering Sept. 11, Raines recalled a controversial photo of a man committing suicide by jumping off one of the burning towers rather than succumbing to the flame.
“While I respect the argument that says you shouldn’t show that kind of image, my response is: we’re there, journalistically, as witnesses to history,” Raines said. “There are certain events so momentous they can only be captured with images or words of a very strong kind.”
Mr. Raines responded to questions from the audience that ranged from what advice he could give for future journalists to issues dealing with a newspaper’s responsibility to check the assertions of political leaders.
Many students and faculty who attended the event thought it was very enjoyable and informative.
Junior Meaghan Franks thought that an inside look at the operations of a major newspaper were very informative.
“It gave one an inside look at how decisions are made and what makes news,” Franks said.
Junior Jenny Rodriguez found it to be informative as well.
“It was enjoyable, especially the question and answer part,” Rodriguez said. “The students really offered a lot of good questions.”

Scott Wacholtz can be contacted at aramis1642@hotmail.com.

Locks of Love seeks hair donations

Locks of Love is coming to Campus Nov. 5 and 6 sponsored by LINK and Myra & Company Spa and Salon. Locks of Love is a hair drive for children suffering from permanent hair loss. Appointments may be scheduled through our online event signup, but walk-ups are also accepted throughout the whole event. We will be cutting hair both days on the Rock from 10 a.m.1 p.m. Please visit www.locksoflove.org for more information and sign up for your appointment at www.miami.edu/studorgs/link or contact link.studorg@miami.edu for more information.
Donated hair is evaluated for its usefulness according to the following guidelines:
It must be at least 6 inches in length.
It must be bundled in a ponytail or a braid.
It must be free of hair damaged by chemical processing (no bleach, no recent perms. Dyed hair is okay, as long as it’s healthy. If you’re not sure, ask your stylist.).
This event will benefit Locks of Love, a not-for-profit organization that provides recipients with a custom, vacuum-fitted hairpiece made entirely from donated human hair. The vacuum fit is designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair and does not require the use of tape or glue. Most of the applicants suffer from an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata, for which there is no known cause or cure. Others suffer from severe burns or endured radiation treatment to the brain stem, in addition to many other dermatological conditions that result in permanent hair loss.

The organization, which began in 1997, has helped over 1000 children since its first year of operation. Thousands of bundles of donated hair arrive from around the country as a result of national publicity Locks of Love receives in newspapers, magazines and television programs. Children comprise over 80 percent of the donors, making this a charity where children have an opportunity to help children.

SART is there to listen, 24/7

More than 85 percent of sexual assaults involve acquaintances or friends. Further, 71 percent of all sexual assaults are planned. Researchers link close to 90 percent of all sexual assaults to substances. SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) is the campus resource for relationship violence information. If you or a friend needs more information about sexual assaults, dating violence, or stalking, call SART’s 24-hour hotline at 305-798-6666.

Yearbook taking photos next week

The Ibis Yearbook will be taking underclassmen photos from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and senior portraits from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 through Oct. 31. Seniors are urged to make appointments at www.mcgrathstudios.com password ibis. Senior sitting fee is $20. Furthermore, organization photos are scheduled Oct. 27 through 30 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. by appointment only. To schedule an appointment contact ibiseditor@hotmail.com.

TODAY

The UM Model United Nations Club wants students to choose a nation to represent in UM’s first-ever model UN conference. The preliminary deadline is today; after that, it’s first-come, first-served. Topics range from weapons of mass destruction to guerrilla warfare. Don’t miss out! Contact miamimun@hotmail.com or call 786-246-4404.

Graduate School Week is upon us! Toppel is hosting a variety of programs on applying to graduate school, mastering your personal statement and careers in law, as well as a free practice Graduate Entry Exam. They will be giving away free prep courses courtesy of the Princeton Review and Kaplan. The Graduate School Fair is on today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lower Lounge of the UC. For details on the programs and attending schools, please check out the website at www.miami.edu/gradfair.

The Phi Delta Theta Fraternity will be hosting a panel discussion on ethics in business and government featuring three prominent Miami area alumni. The forum will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Storer Auditorium. Guest speakers include John Dasburg, current chairman of DHL Airways and former chairman/CEO of Burger King Corporation and Northwest Airlines; Chip Withers, the vice mayor of Coral Gables; and William Markham, a Broward County property appraiser. For more information, please contact Dr. Larry Baratta at LGBMDPHD@aol.com.

Stop by the Mahoney Pearson lobby for Progressive Parties at 7 p.m. as part of Alcohol Awareness Week.

The Wesley Foundation hosts a forum entitled Current Happenings on the Internet: Blogs, Bots and News Aggregators. The forum will take place at 7 p.m. in Wesley Center. Refreshments will be served.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22

WVUM and IMAX at Sunset Place present IMAX Fun 101. Don’t miss your chance to see Ghosts of the Abyss and SOS Planet for FREE. The event takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and features free admission, food and drink with your ‘Cane Card. For more information, contact 305-663-IMAX.

Bacchus and GAMMA present guest speaker Marcus Engel at 8 p.m. in the UC ballrooms.

C.A.C presents Finding Nemo at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Cosford Cinema.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 23
HP presents Patio Jams with the sounds of Barely Pink.

Stop by the breezeway from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for pizza and mock-tails thanks to GAMMA and Bacchus.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25
The Men’s and Women’s Hurricane basketball teams would like to invite you to HURRICANE HOOPS DAY from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Convocation Center. During HURRICANE HOOPS DAY, you will have the opportunity to watch an open practice, select your seats for the upcoming season and get autographs from your favorite Hurricane basketball players. HURRICANE HOOPS DAY is free to the public, so bring your friends and family and come on out for an exciting, fun-filled afternoon with the Hurricane basketball teams. See you at the Convocation Center! For more information on HURRICANE HOOPS DAY or to purchase Hurricane season tickets, please call 305-284-CANES.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29

The Wellness Center is celebrating its eighth annual Wellness Expo “Healthy Haunted House.” Everyone is encouraged to attend in costume. Don’t miss the live music by Unison, dance demonstrations, pumpkin decorating contest and prizes for the best costume. For more information, contact 284-6524.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5

Don’t miss Speak Your Truth Campus Forum #1 from 8 to 10 p.m. in LC 110. This all-campus forum explores how racial and cultural stereotypes create division and obscure commonalities. Led by an all-campus student panel with special guests Mihoko Suzuki, Pat Saunders, Lillian Manzor, Steve Clark and Matt Ward.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6

Screaming Monkeys continues with “Who Are You?” a workshop on cultural identity and the creative spirit with UM artists Nick Carbo, M. Evelina Galand, Maureen Seaton and Jose F. Grave de Peralta. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. in the Wesley Center.

Be sure to catch Speak Your Truth Campus Forum #2: “Do you see your story in American History?” The forum will be led by UM’s Asian American community with special guests Sanjeev Chatterjees, Sandra Oh and Helen Zia.

Find out How the Body Screams #1 from 8:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. in the Dance Movement Studio (Hecht 232). This dance workshop with choreographer and activist Pearl Ubungen is open to everyone regardless of experience.

Golden Key Honor Society will be having its induction ceremony at 6 p.m. in the Storer Auditorium. Potential members must have more than 60 credits and a GPA greater than 3.67. If you are interested in applying or would like more information, contact goldenkeyUM2001@yahoo.com or visit www.goldenkey.org.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7

Join R. Zamora Linmark, M. Evelina Galang, Pearl Ubungen and Anida Yoeu Esguerra for a panel discussion titled Change the World with your Art from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Wesley Center.

Screaming Monkeys presents Beyond the Scream: a panel discussion. Marlon Unas Esguerra, Sunaina Maira and Sandra Oh talk about how to process representations and misrepresentations of Asian America.

Don’t miss Spoken Words: A Performance Workshop with National Slam Poetry champ Marlon Unas Esguerra and Anida Yoeu Esguerra.

Screaming Monkeys presents its culmination, Screaming Monkeys: The Show, from 8 to 10 p.m. in Storer Auditorium. The event will feature open mic, readings and performances by Screaming Monkey editors, contributors and members of the UM community.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 10

C.O.S.O presents Spirit of UM: Showing Love for your Alma Mater at 1 p.m. in UC 211.