Island Styles 2005: The Filipino Student Association’s Mag Ka Isa (“to be one”) dance troupe begins its annual cultural show with traditional tinikling, during which members dance in moving bamboo sticks. Among the other performances in the Saturday night show, which was put on in Gusman Concert Hall, were Bulaklakan and Maglalatik (other popular dances), singing, spoken word and belly dancing.
HIV-positive women share stories of hope
The Women and AIDS U.S. Tour made one of its five stops in the nation at UM last Saturday with a panel of women from all over the world sharing their stories and awareness of the AIDS epidemic. Each panelist shared her personal story about HIV/AIDS, discussing her dedication to the cause and answering questions from the audience.
Princess Kasune Zulu is a native of Zambia and an AIDS educator for the World Vision Hope Initiative. In 1997, Zulu became one of the first women in Zambia to obtain an HIV test, which concluded that she, like her family, was HIV-positive.
“I shall not die before I am dead,” Zulu said. “In the midst of this hopeless situation, there is still hope.”
Twenty-three-year-old Indonesian Frika Chia Iskander was diagnosed as HIV-positive four years ago and has been ostracized from her family and her Asian community ever since.
Iskander hopes that the University and other organizations keep the issues of HIV and AIDS on the forefront, talking about it throughout the year.
“It is interesting that it takes a tsunami for people to join together in a supportive effort,” Iskander said. “Let’s do the same for HIV and AIDS.”
The next panelist to speak, Michaelle Soliman, a 24-year-old Haitian woman whose parents died of AIDS, said that she had been one of the few fortunate orphans to be raised by a foster family.
“I had the power to decide what I want from my life. I am one exception because I found a family who gave me love, support and attention,” she said. “This is not a reality in Haiti. People with HIV need the same support from others in the world.”
Soloman also illustrated the dire situation of those with HIV.
“When you compare people who have access to treatment with those who don’t, it is like a tear drop in the ocean,” she said.
Gracia Violeta Ross Quiroga, a 27-year-old Bolivian woman, is an advocate for Latin American women. She openly spoke about being raped when she was a teenager, and she introduced the idea of counseling and testing rape victims.
“Many HIV positive women don’t have the self-esteem and courage to search for a better life,” she said. “It is so difficult to challenge the culture surrounding us.”
Dr. Kathleen Cravero, a key advocate for action against AIDS worldwide, was the fifth panelist.
“Young women are becoming an endangered species in many countries,” Dr. Cravero said.
She added that in the 15 to 20 year old age group, 75 percent of infected people are young women.
“We need to promote solutions that work. Women are caught in a paradox of low risk and high vulnerability,” Dr. Cravero said. “Risk can be controlled, but vulnerability cannot.”
Tanya Aquino, junior, moderated the discussion.
“The ABC message_abstinence, be faithful, use condoms_that is constantly advocated may help control the epidemic, but it is not enough,” Aquino said.
President Shalala, who opened the event, summed up the message of the tour.
“The battle against AIDS, in my judgment, is a battle against racism, sexism and homophobia,” Shalala said. “We pledge our solidarity with our sisters around the world.”
Shalu Patel can be contacted at s.patel16@umiami.edu.
Crammed up to your ears in cream corn
Dear V,
I recently found out that one of my classmates is in a very well know pornographic magazine. I’m kind of weirded out about this for some reason, if not just genuinely shocked. I don’t know if I can look at her the same anymore. Also, how does one go about getting involved in porn? I’ve heard that the cash is good.
Sincerely,
Bunny.
Dear Reader,
So, I guess that you no longer have the same kind of dorky sympathy for this classmate. Was it really that out of the blue? Are you sure that the pictures aren’t crappy? I mean, not everyone can take a good photograph. Don’t be jealous! Maybe your classmate was super desperate for the attention and the money. Hopefully, you don’t just think of her as the “porn girl” playmate whenever she reads in class and completely write her off. There have to be a few brain cells knockin’ around underneath the boobs.
But, since you were wondering about getting involved in the porn industry, I dug up a few basic facts on what kind of career you can expect to lead. According to a source, “porn is very demanding both mentally and physically,” and is not just for the average crazy bored kid looking for a good taped time. The big magazines, on the other hand will pay you a ton of cash-anywhere from $500 dollars to $20,000 dollars for a layout -if you make their cut. Obviously, you need to have an awesome body and the brains to not let yourself get out of hand or into trouble. The jury is out as to whether or not porn is a sincere art form, as opposed to an explicitly graphic medium void of all artistic entity, yet a score of high profile celebrities have taken the opportunity to strip down, if that’s any credence to the “porn as art” argument. Furthermore, I’m assuming that just like any other type of entertainment job, there are a whole host of open casting calls you can visit in order to get started. However, before you get started, be very aware of the limitations a porn career can have on future aspirations. People get into a lot of beef with employers (think Miss America, Vanessa Williams-style) family and friends when they find out what you’re really doing with your time.
Best of Luck!
V.
Dear V,
My roommate is a big weirdo. She is obsessed with cream corn! She hordes the stuff at the grocery store and keeps at least 100 cans in the room. This wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that she is also a huge slob. She’ll eat like 10 cans each day, but never throw out the empty cans! Our room smells awful! It has gotten so bad in there (the smell, the smeared corn on the carpet, the cans all over the place) that I’m pretty much living down the hall. I feel really bad, cause she’s a nice girl, but I think that I’m going to have to tell our R.A. Is this a good idea?
Sick of Corn.
Dear Reader,
Please tell your R.A., and save your roommate from a life filled with social isolation. Her habit is disgusting. Not only is it repulsive to eat more than one can of creamed corn in a lifetime, but her behavior might be an indication of some type of underlying OCD-ish condition. Keeping 100 cans in the room a tad excessive, don’t you think? Is it possible for you to physically restrain her arm when she reaches for the corn at the grocery store? If at all feasible, just don’t even let her go down the aisle!
Likewise, you shouldn’t have to live in such a dirty environment. Set up a time with her to clean the room up and set down a few ground rules about tossing out the garbage. Maybe you should also let her know that her behavior has affected you in such a profound way that you’ve taken to living with someone else.
Best of Luck!
V.
Fact O’ The Day…Wood blocks, sea sponges and lemon halves were three of many creative contraceptive options back in the day…
Dear V is published every Tuesday and Friday. All submissions, comments and questions are kept completely confidential and can be directed to DearV@hotmail.com.
EXTRA
Scammed
As the craze for game shows continues, four people have been jailed in Spain for hosting a game show in which callers trying to solve a simple riddle were left on hold for an extended length of time, forced to pay the fee of one euro ($1.30) per minute. The company, Telesierra, was apparently making about $6.5 million until complaints came in.
Island for Sale
What is the world coming to when Mel Gibson can buy Mago Island, a part of the Fiji Islands, from the Tokyu Corp. for $15 million? Although Mel has his own island estate villagers are upset as they saw their ancestors were forced off the island. Lawsuit, maybe?
Deaths
For those of you who didn’t know, esteemed author Hunter S. Thompson died two weeks ago. Last week, his wife claimed that he committed suicide while she was on the phone with him.
Mundo is a full dining experience
World-class chef Norman Van Aken is known for his superb dishes, delectable tastes and full dining experiences. His latest restaurant, Mundo, located in the garden area of the Village of Merrick Park, is exactly that: the perfect spot for dinner out.
A combination marketplace, bistro, fish bar and wine bar, Mundo has something for every diner’s needs. Among the high-end retail stores Mundo stands out with its rich colors, comfy booths and long bar where chefs make fresh bread and music plays above the echoing voices of conversing diners.
| Mundo Village of Merrick Park 4251 Salzedo St. Coral Gables, FL (305) 422-6787 |
Dimly lit without needing a candle to be able to read it, the extensive menu offers an array of choices, engulfing diners in the richness of the reason you go out to eat-good food. Aside from the food on the table, those that would like to get a behind the scenes view can even see food being prepared in the kitchen on a giant plasma TV.
Reasonably priced and well worth the phone call for a recommended reservation, Mundo serves up delicious tapas, wood-oven pizzas, pastas with incredible, atypical sauces and desserts oozing with whipped cream and innovative presentation.
Above all, if diners can’t stop to enjoy the atmosphere while feasting, there’s always the Mercado, where almost everything on the menu is available to take home.
Joanna Davila can be contacted at j.davila1@umiami.edu.
The Keys to becoming Legends
At the second stop for Diary Tour, piano-playing singers Alicia Keys and John Legend brought their music to the sold-out crowd at the James L. Knight Center Friday and proved that they will be legends years down the road.
A few years ago, Legend was playing piano on albums like The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but with the success of his debut album, Get Lifted, Legend is winning over the hearts of millions.
Legend kept his 40-minute set simple, leaving little room for distractions and enough to let his voice stir goosebumps on your skin. Backed by a band and two singers, Legend gave the crowd his all, starting with a raspy tenor performance of “Get Lifted.” After segueing into other cuts like “She Don’t Have To Know” and “Alright,” the choir-director-turned-soul-singer went solo as his band members left the stage.
As the chords to “Ordinary People” played, the audience sang along like Baptist church congregations in the Deep South. For his finale, he performed “So High” as the band came back on stage to help finish the song. Legend walked off stage to a standing ovation.
Then, Keys, a nine-time Grammy winner, made her performance into a “theatrical” event as the audience was taken back to the 1930s to a club called Uptown Saturday Night.
Keys opened with a jazz-inspired version of “Karma.” She rearranged some songs to fit the show’s setting, but it didn’t always translate into success-some in the audience longed to hear the songs the way they remembered.
As Keys made her way to her Yamaha, she performed her hits “Fallin’,” “Diary” and “If I Ain’t Got You,” proving that her voice only gets better with time. On the latter track, which she performed at this year’s Grammy Awards, she had everyone on their feet by the last note.
As the show concluded with Keys receiving her own standing ovation, I couldn’t help but be proud that I was able to witness two legends in the making in one night.
Marcus Washington can be contacted at m.washington2@umiami.edu.
Marley Fest marks Bob’s 60th b-day
The Marley family celebrated what would have been Bob Marley’s 60th birthday during the 12th annual Bob Marley Festival at the Bayfront Amphitheater in Miami. The festival, primarily a day of rejoicing and recognition of Marley’s impact on millions across the world, was at times a misrepresentation of what Marley stood for.
The show kicked off with a few local artists giving lackluster performances. Up next on the bill was Cuban rapper Pitbull. Making sure the audience enjoyed his set list, he performed regional hits like “Culo,” “Dammit Man” and his current single “Toma” along with all of the expletives. Although it was not a major concern of the audience, I was a little disappointed that an artist would perform in such a manner knowing the occasion. Pitbull’s performance was followed by Atlanta rapper T.I., who is enjoying the success of his newly certified platinum album Urban Legend. The same that was said for Pitbull could be said for T.I., except the latter had to add salt to the wounds by feeling the need to strip himself of his clothes and prance around the stage with his boxers showing.
As the show moved from the rap portion to the dancehall segment, there was an hour and a half delay that has to be mentioned. As the crowd eagerly awaited the arrival of Beanie Man (who had security concerns), the crowd had to suffer during a painfully agonizing performance from a random hype man. Basically, the DJ played all of the current reggae songs and the hype man sung over them. Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, it rained-a recurring theme of the night.
Beenie Man finally made his way to the stage dressed in an all-white suit that had Jamaica’s colors down the collar. On the back of the suit was the album cover photo of Marley’s album Legend. Back by a live band, Beenie Man performed songs from his catalog such as “Who Am I,” “King of the Dancehall” and “Romie.” As his time onstage approached to 45 minutes, Beenie Man’s intensity never left him. The crowd got another dose of energy from another dancehall artist, Elephant Man. Known for setting trends with his unique sense of style and electrifying performances, Elephant Man ended his set with an unexpected song: “We Are the World.” Although his intent was well, his falsetto wasn’t. Instead of a moving performance, it seemed more like a mockery.
To conclude the night on a better note, Stephen, Damian, Julian and Ziggy Marley all converged onto one stage and sung the songs that made their father a legend. As each took the mic performing songs such as “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Get Up, Stand Up” and “Rat Race,” it was amazing to hear the vocal similarities each shared with their father. At times, I felt it was Bob singing on stage through his sons. As Ziggy took the mic for the last performance of the night, he introduced the song by first letting the audience know that this was his father’s favorite song. Singing “One Love,” with tears in his eyes, the rain fell from the sky. One couldn’t help but think that Bob was doing the same thing-crying tears of joy.
Marcus Washington can be contacted at m.washington2@umiami.edu.
Briefs – BASEBALL
Baseball
Miami freshman catcher Alex Garabedian drove in three runs and senior Brendan Katin hit an inside-the-park home run to lead the Hurricanes baseball team to a 9-7 win against the Florida Marlins in an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium Tuesday afternoon. It was UM’s first win against a Major League team since a 7-6 win against the Baltimore Orioles on March 10, 1982 and second win overall against a MLB club.
UM tagged Florida starter Dontrelle Willis for six runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. Miami threw the whole kitchen sink at the Marlins, using eight pitchers for the win. Only freshman Raudel Alfonso, who also picked up the win, pitched more than an inning for the Hurricanes. Sophomore Danny Gil picked up the save.
Senior Brandon Camardese started the game and sent the Marlins down in order in the first inning. Vince Bongiovanni came on in the second and worked his way out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam by forcing catcher Matt Treanor to ground out to third.
The Hurricanes got hits from Danny Figueroa and Jon Jay in the first, but were unable to convert on the base paths. Katin opened the scoring in the second with an inside-the-park home run to center field for a 1-0 lead. Roger Tomas followed with an infield single and was brought in by a triple from Garabedian. Walter Diaz grounded out to first to bring in Garabedian for a 3-0 Miami lead heading into the bottom of the second.
Junior Ryan Braun carried UM’s momentum at the plate into the third with a two-run double down the left field line that brought in Paco Figueroa and Jay. Willis, who was on a 50-pitch count, was spelled by Josh Johnson. Garabedian greeted Johnson with a two-run double to up the lead to 7-0.
The Marlins mustered one run in the third off junior Andrew Lane on a fielder’s choice. Lane pitched his way out of a bases-loaded situation with no outs by getting Miguel Cabrera to ground into a 4-3 double play and struck out Major League All-Star Carlos Delgado to end the inning.
Jay singled in the fourth to score Danny Figueroa for an 8-1 ‘Canes lead. Jon McLean and Carlos Gutierrez pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings for UM. Katin made the defensive play of the day, leaping and coming down with a shot by Jason Stokes that had cleared the fence in right-center to end the inning.
Danny Robitaille pinch-hit for Ryan Braun in the sixth and brought home Paco Figueroa for a 9-1 lead. Florida answered with a three-run sixth off freshman Manny Miguelez to come within 9-4. Joe Dillon hit a three-run home run to left in the eighth off Alfonso to come within 9-7.
Miami improved to 2-23-1 all-time against Major League teams.
Coach’s Corner
Could you talk about what the two seniors, Will Frisby and Brandon Okpalobi, have meant to the team this season?
They have given us leadership. Frisby in particular has given us scoring and rebounding. I am glad he has been able to play a full season for the first time in his career. Brandon has been a solid contributor the whole season and both will be missed.
Is Guillermo Diaz a first-team All-ACC guard? What separates him from the other great guards in the conference?
I think he is. Just look at his numbers alone and what our team has done this year. You can see the importance that Guillermo has had for our team. It will be very difficult for him to get first team because most of the writers are from the North Carolina area.
As it stands right now, does your team have enough of a resume to get into the NCAA Tournament, or do they have to make a deep run in the ACC Tournament?
I think our r
Up Close with Ryan Braun
The UM baseball team enjoyed its best start in years, thanks in part to the play of junior third baseman Ryan Braun. The Hurricane’s Chris Hamilton sat down with Braun as he prepares for this weekend’s series with N.C. State.
The Hurricane: You’re a California guy. With so many great baseball schools in California, how did you end up in Miami?
Ryan Braun: It was a very difficult decision. I had to leave my family and friends and everything that was familiar to me. I had other offers from schools like Georgia Tech and Stanford, but I felt like Miami had the best overall package.
TH: Why did you choose to come to college as opposed to going straight to the pros?
RB: I knew that college would give me an opportunity to mature both physically and emotionally. I figured that if baseball didn’t work out, I wanted to have as much as possible towards a degree.
TH: What round would it take for you to be drafted in to leave UM and play professionally?
RB: To tell you the truth, I haven’t really thought about it much. My focus is on the team and trying to help the team get better.
TH: Are you worried about the transition from using metal bats to wood bats?
RB: I know it will be a challenge. With the wooden bats you have to hit it on the good part, right in the center. With a metal bat, you can away more. Even if you don’t hit it clean, something off the handle of the bat still may drop in.
TH: What’s the transition been like moving from shortstop to third base?
RB: It has been tough. At third you get a lot of different angles you don’t have at short. There is much less reaction time. It’s more of a step and a dive with a longer throw.
TH: What is the biggest weakness of your game?
RB: Consistency. Consistency is the most important. Playing so many games, you have to be able to hit, run and field every day on a consistent basis.
TH: What’s it like facing ace and teammate Cesar Carrillo in practice?
RB: We’ve had some pretty good match-ups in inter-squad games. Facing Cesar is definitely a challenge, but it makes for some good at bats.
TH: If you could break any UM baseball record, what would it be?
RB: Either batting average or on-base percentage. I think those are the two stats that if I do well in gives our team the best chance of winning.
TH: Do you ever get annoyed with hecklers?
RB: Tennessee has the best hecklers. Their fans are always yelling at us and it feels like they are right on top of you. At University of Florida, every time you strike out, the crowed yells “left/right” all the way back to the dugout.
TH: Is there anything else in Omaha besides the College World Series?
RB: No. Nothing. [Laughs.] The entire town is totally dedicated to college baseball. It’s pretty amazing; you go there for the Series and pretty much the whole town shuts down.
TH: After your freshman year, Jim Morris said you “look like a Nomar or A-rod physically.” What do you make of those comparisons?
RB: It just an honor and a privilege to be mentioned with those guys. There is still a lot I need to do to get bigger and stronger, but it’s definitely an honor.
Chris Hamilton can be contacted at c.hamilton2@umiami.edu.
Intramural Reminders
Don’t miss out on upcoming intramural events, like softball and sand volleyball-the last events of the 2004-2005 school year-after Spring Break. The deadline for these events is March 23 and April 6 by 5 p.m. in the Wellness Center.
Basketball Playoffs
Men’s ‘B’ Division
Med 3/4 – 63
White Lightning – 37
Knightriders – 56
London Gentlemen – 43
Cash Money Records – 55
Charlie’s Revenge – 39
The Kings – 61
Seven Eleven – 28
Shawn Kemp’s Kids – 32
Force – 25
The Department – 37
Little Lebowski – 31
Men’s ‘A’ Division
The H – 71
R We Having Fun Yet – 45
Big Dawgs – 43
Med 1 – 32
PBR Street Gang – 52
Miller Time – 47
Royal Court – 38
Da U – 28
Hurricanes Hurting
I do not believe that anyone, including women’s basketball Head Coach Ferne Labati, would disagree with the notion that it has been a disappointing season for the Hurricanes.
The ‘Canes were projected to be fourth in the ACC but struggled right out of the gate with a 3-5 record and never really recovered.
One thing that really hurt this team was the loss of forward Melissa Knight for the season. Knight was one of the veterans on this team and the type of player that could fulfill almost any role. She could hit shots when they needed points and clamp down on defense when they needed a stop. Knight would have helped this team significantly because it desperately needed a consistent scoring option besides Tamara James.
James, who was named to the first-team all ACC squad, averaged just under 23 points a game, but only one other Hurricane averaged double figures, point guard Yalonda McCormick (12.9). McCormick, however, shot only 38.8 percent on the season.
Behind James and McCormick, no other Hurricane averaged more than seven points a game, compared to last season when the Hurricanes had four starters averaging double figures. The lack of scoring balance was one of the main reasons that the Hurricanes finished the regular season 12-15 and just 4-10 in the ACC. The Hurricanes failed to eclipse the 60-point mark nine different times this season, scoring only 35 points against George Mason. They were 1-8 in those nine games.
In the pre-season, Albrey Grimsley looked like she was going to be a legitimate scoring threat, but Grimsley struggled with her shot most of the season and never really got on track. She shot just 37.5 percent and averaged 6.3 points a game, which was actually good enough for third on the team.
Another huge factor in the Hurricanes struggles was the lack of a legitimate center or power forward. Last year, Chanivia Broussard and Shaquana Wilkins were post presences for this team on both offense and defense. However, they both graduated and this season the Hurricanes really had no one who could contribute inside. Imani Dhahabu, despite playing over 21 minutes a game, averaged just 5.9 points, while freshman JoJuana Jones and sophomore Amy Audibert never became scoring threats. The good news is that Dhahabu, Audibert and Jones are all young players who will only improve as they gain experience.
Lost in the disappointing season was James, who led the ACC in scoring this season. She was the only player in the ACC to score in double figures in every game this season, eclipsing 20 points an astonishing 21 times. She also broke the 30-point mark on five different occasions. However, one player could not win in the tough ACC conference alone, and the Hurricanes struggled as a result.
Still, there are reasons to be optimistic. James has one more season in Miami, so the Hurricanes will have their leading scorer back next season. The ‘Canes will return most of the roster, minus McCormick and forward Fallon Phanord. Grimsley will be a year older and could show the potential the Hurricanes saw in her this season. Plus, Melissa Knight will be healthy and likely back for her senior season after a medical red shirt.
Overall, it was a disappointing season that will likely conclude with an early exit in the ACC Tournament. Don’t expect this to be a trend, however, because Labati is a great coach who desperately wants to win and will do everything she can to make her team better next season.
Darren Grossman can be contacted at d.grossman@umiami.edu.