The 2005 Celebration of Involvement awards were presented at a luncheon on Monday. The following students were recognized for service and leadership:

UMNEWS – Third provost candidate visits campus

Dr. Thomas J. LeBlanc, the third provost candidate being interviewed for the position, visited campus Tuesday. Dr. LeBlanc is currently vice provost and dean of the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering faculty at the University of Rochester. He received his B.S. in computer science from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1977 and his Ph.D. in computer science in 1982 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where UM President Donna Shalala was a tenured professor and chancellor at the from 1987 to 1993.

The provost search committee presented its findings on the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate to President Shalala Wednesday, and a decision is expected by next week, sources close to the search have said.

Researchers question lethal injection as a form of capital punishment

A letter written by researchers at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and published in the April 16 edition of The Lancet, a prestigious international journal, raises serious questions about lethal injection as a form of capital punishment. They obtained autopsy toxicology results from 49 executions in Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and found that 43 of 49 executed inmates had post-mortem blood anesthesia levels below that required for surgery. The researchers point out that physicians are ethically prohibited from participating in an execution, so adequate anesthesia cannot be assured.

Elsewhere – Iowa State U. solar car team unveils entry for race from Texas to Canada

(U-WIRE) AMES, Iowa-It may look like a spaceship or a giant futuristic surfboard on wheels, but in reality, PrISUm Fusion is the newest solar car designed and created by Iowa State University’s Team PrISUm.

During the unveiling ceremony in the atrium of the Molecular Biology Building on Saturday, Mark Kushner, dean of the College of Engineering, said the car would be entered in the North American Solar Challenge.

Team PrISUm’s adviser, James Hill said he was the adviser to the first Team PrISUm when it was started in 1989.

The team goes to public events such as the Iowa State Fair to look for smaller sponsors.

“I think they have a good car and a good chance of doing well,” he said.

ETC.

A petition for an overpass on U.S. 1 and the corner of Mariposa Avenue for individuals to safely cross the heavy traffic area has been written. To support this cause, students can sign this petition at the front desk of all Residential Colleges, the Student Government Office (UC 214) and the Smith Tucker Involvement Center (UC 209).

UM GRADUATION BLING: The first UM class ring ceremony was held Wednesday on the University green. About 300 people, including guests and alumni, attended the event, where 150 students received rings from UM President Donna Shalala. Local NBC affiliate anchor and UM alumna Jackie Nespral spoke and received as ring, as did Shalala, who is shown above right with her ring and Sebastian the Ibis. Students with 60 or more credits had previously ordered and paid for the rings, which were customized with a UM logo for the first time. Above left, some of the ring recipients show off their new piece of jewelry. The University hopes to make the ceremony an annual tradition.

UM boasts of more than 200 registered organizations, each with a unique purpose to make the UM community a better place and give students the opportunity to express themselves outside the classroom. What would happen if the leaders involved on campus were to come together to make a change at the University?

This question led to the development of I.M.P.A.C.T., or Individuals Meeting Potential and Creating Tomorrow. The Volunteer Services Center, Multicultural Student Affairs, Student Government, the Department of Residential Halls, the Center for Student Leadership and key administration and faculty joined together to create a program that would seek out involved students with strong potential to become leaders, educated them and let them define and work on weak areas in student involvement on campus.

More than 75 students were nominated to be participants and 17 were nominated as facilitators during this weekend. After being nominated, they were asked to fill out an application and go through an interview process. At the end, about 30 participants and seven facilitators were invited to attend the three-day experience.

“We chose predominantly first and second year students as participants, but there were a few upperclassmen that made good impressions,” Keith Fletcher, resident coordinator in Hecht Residential College, said. “The goal was to identify the blossoming leaders whose potential was yet untapped.”

The group boarded a bus and went to Key Largo for three days with little knowledge of what was before them. Opening activities centered on team building and creative ice breakers that helped the group get to know each other. Lessons were taught through various tasks and speakers, including David Coleman, the “date doctor,” and were based off of the five practices outlined in The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes Posner.

On the last day, five groups were formed with specific ideas that were to be developed. Each of the ideas pertained to leadership on campus and how to get more students involved. While the ideas have not yet been released, they are tangible concepts with intended start dates that have a high probability of being implemented.

Participants and facilitators quickly realized the strength the group possessed as one and the almost instantaneous bond between them.

“Before participating in I.M.P.A.C.T., I never would have guessed that spending a weekend with 30 strangers would essentially become one of the most memorable experiences of my life,” Jessica Gentile, freshman, said. “I will definitely take the skills that I learned through I.M.P.A.C.T.’s programs and apply them to various areas of my life, and I will always remember the group of people who have contributed to my newfound strengths.”

Plans are under way to open I.M.P.A.C.T. to more students by having a Fall retreat aimed at sophomores and a Spring session for freshmen.

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

An alleged sexual battery is part of the ongoing investigation of the Epsilon Omega Chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at UM, police said.

The incident was reported to the Coral Gables Police Department on Saturday, March 26, and allegedly took place early that morning. Later that week, the University suspended the fraternity indefinitely pending an investigation.

According to Community Affairs Officer Martin Barros, the alleged sexual battery at 5900 San Amaro Drive-the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house-involved two UM students. Police have interviewed the victim, witnesses and alleged perpetrator and are waiting for the results of a toxicology report to send the investigation to the state attorney’s office to see if any further action needs to be taken.

Kip Zurcher, chief operating officer of the national Lambda Chi Alpha headquarters, said the alleged sexual battery was a part of the headquarters’ investigation of the UM chapter.

“The chapter had an event of the house-a small gathering-and we heard allegations of a violation of conduct,” Zurcher said. “We’re sensitive to the police report and understanding of the gravity of it.”

A battery occurs “when a person actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person” or “when a person intentionally causes bodily harm to another person,” according to Florida statutes.

Dr. Pat Whitely, vice president of Student Affairs, said the University does not comment on pending investigations.

Zurcher also said the headquarters has concluded its investigation after working closely with students, alumni and the Dean of Students office. As of press time Wednesday, Zurcher said a response from the Lambda Chi Alpha national Board of Directors was expected by the end of the week.

“We want to be sure we’re providing a safe environment for the students,” Zurcher said. “That’s our top concern.”

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

Everyone knows that the UM community loves to show off its dogs on campus, and that was obvious last Wednesday at UM’s first dog show, as part of “Two Days of Paws and Claw” put on by the Pre-Vet Society.

There was a dragon pekingese with construction paper wings, a friendly hula girl rottweiler, UM puppies in athletic shirts and many others in between.

After a year of preparation, the Pre-Vet Society put on the event in support of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), a rescue and rehabilitation facility for animals, which is in the process of losing its Miami Lakes land. UM President Donna Shalala and Sebastian the Ibis served as judges for first, second and third place, while the audience chose superlatives such as Most Energetic. All participants left with a bag of treats.

Jessica Ramirez, senior and Pre-Vet Society president, came up with the idea to help the animals at the SPCA one day last spring. Since then, the members of the organization have volunteered at the Convocation Center, run car washes and worked hours at rescue centers to raise funds.

Senior Kirah Rahill, Pre-Vet Society vice president, said the event was important “first as a way to help animals in need and also as a way to raise awareness on animal rights.” They promoted the dog show by putting up flyers, banners and spreading news of it through word of mouth. In fact, many people said they heard of the event by being approached as they walked their dogs around campus.

Kalea was brought to the competition by her owner Julia Beverly, senior. Beverly said wanted to adopt a puppy and said that her family always went to shelters when looking to find one. Ashley Beecher, junior, found her dog Britta, a black and white mixed breed, while volunteering at Sabbath Memorial Rescue center, a no kill rescue center by her house. They came as a cow and cowgirl.

The event attracted a number of onlookers, like dog owner Aj Sarcione, who was passing by with his puppy Jada and non-dog owners like freshman Paige Feigenbaum, who heard about the event from people on her floor painting banners.

Members of the Pre-Vet Society hope to make the dog show an annual event on campus. For more information, email UM_PreVet@hotmail.com.

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

TODAY

The Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Hurricane Productions, will take place at the Rat from 7 to 11 p.m. Groups will compete for the title of Best Band in the University of Miami.

“The Roots of Racial Tensions: Urban Ethnic Neighborhoods” will be presented by William Julius Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of the Sociology Department at Harvard University, at Learning Center Room #17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Department of Sociology and is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and will be available as a first come basis.

The Art Students League is hosting the Egal Art Show, put on by artists for artists with a silent auction to raise money for a new art building, from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Painting Annex.

There will be an MFA exhibition by Lucas Blanco at the University of Miami with a closing reception from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This event is free and open to all students and faculty. The CAS Gallery and Conference Center is located at 1210 Stanford Drive.

SATURDAY

“The Role of Ethics in Volunteering and Community Service” will be presented by Jennifer Bevilacqua, coordinator of Butler Volunteer Services Center at 2:00 p.m. in the UC Room 245.

UM Habitat for Humanity will hold a carwash fundraiser between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Taco Bell on US1 (6310 S. Dixie Hwy, South Miami). The suggested donation is $5.

Here are some safety tips from Director Christensen of the Department of Public Safety.
Today, binge drinking is out of control. It impairs your judgment, affects your body and can lead to trouble, but it also is a sign of immaturity to those around you.

* Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses and even blackouts.
* Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer.
* Alcohol affects your self-control. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions and impairs your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, including having unprotected sex.
If you are a victim of a crime, call the Department of Public Safety at 305-284-6666, or if calling from a campus phone, dial 8-6666.

THURSDAY APRIL 14
8:59 a.m. 5821 San Amaro Dr. Theft
6:40 pm 1306 Stanford Dr. Theft

FRIDAY APRIL 15
5:00 p.m. 5100 Brunson Dr.
Vandalism
8:24 p.m. 1241 Dickinson Dr. Theft
11:40 p.m. 1239 Dickinson Dr.
Prisoner

SUNDAY APRIL 17
2:38 p.m. 1245 Dauer Dr.
Aggravated Assault

MONDAY APRIL 18
2:28 p.m. 5183 Ponce De Leon
Vandalism
4:32 p.m. 5150 Brunson Dr.
Vandalism

TUESDAY APRIL 19
12:18 pm 5185 Ponce De Leon Theft