Student government [SG] is finally getting the requests they have fought to materialize for years: more cable channels on campus and Caller ID in the dorms. Also, stricter rules have been implemented to deter fire alarm disturbances during exams and in the middle of the night.
Mike Johnston, SG president, is excited about the additional cable channels.
“This was one of the issues on my platform last year,” Johnston said. “I’ve always believed that these types of amenities are just what the students want in an on-campus community that is always growing.”
“We will be able to pick up all the stations that all past student governments have wanted and be able to provide them to students,” said Robert Redick, director of resident halls.
The new cable channels will include HBO, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, The History Channel, MTV2 and ESPN.
“It’s about damn time,” laughed senior Laurel Smith, a resident at Hecht. “It’s about time people pay attention to the inside, where students must live and study, instead of beautifying the outside.”
“There’s a slight chance the expanded cable, except for HBO, might be in before the semester is over,” Redick said.
Comcast, the UM cable provider, has 60 days after signing the contract to provide all services, meaning that all channels will be available by Sept. 1.
According to Redick, the Caller ID service will be provided by TeleComm.
“Telecomm has found a way to provide, at a reasonable rate to resident students, lines with Caller ID,” Redick added.
Students will either need a phone with Caller ID capability or will have to purchase the small Caller ID device separately.
Redick says the costs of the two new amenities will be covered by an increase in dorm room rent for next year: a threeand-a-half percent increase for double rooms and a four percent increase for single rooms.
The rent increase, however, will also be used to cover the increased prices for operating costs such as property ownership, insurance, utility and electricity.
Currently, SG is also working with UM faculty to find new ways of decreasing the number of false fire alarms in the residence halls, especially at night and during exams.
“About 50 percent [of the alarms pulled this year] were because of human involvement,” Redick said. “But that does not always mean malicious involvement.”
According to Redick, the other 50 per-cent of the cases were due to different types of mechanical errors, which have been addressed.
UM offers a $1,000 award for information leading to the identification of a person involved in the pulling of a fire alarm. SG has also talked of putting plastic covers over the alarms so they cannot be accidentally pulled, or spraying ink that will identify the person who has intentionally pulled an alarm.
As of press time, neither idea had been finalized.
According to the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, if an individual is caught pulling an alarm, their housing contract is immediately terminated and they are forced to move out within 72 hours.
UM then takes disciplinary action against the individual[s] responsible and works with Coral Gables Police and Fire Departments to decide whether further legal action should be taken.
Johnston says that UM administration has been supportive of the changes and they have worked hard to see them materialize.
“It’s been a privilege working with the administration,” Johnston said. “They’ve been an unbelievable asset in the actualization of these plans.”
For more information regarding the new changes, contact The Department of Residence Halls at 305-284-4505.

Kathleen Fordyce can be contacted at K4Dice@aol.com.

Amid Kosher pizza, Bibles, KFC and hip-hop music, over a dozen on-campus religious groups at UM sought to expose students to the religious options that exist at UM at the semi-annual Chaplain’s Association Fair, held Tuesday on the UC patio.
“We want to let students know that we care for them,” said Father Frank Corbishley of the Episcopal Church Center. “These [religious] centers should be students’ home away from home.”
The Wesley Foundation, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Catholic Campus Ministry and the Hillel and Chabad Jewish organizations were among the groups that shared worship service times, community service activity ideas and social events that are planned for the semester.
According to organizers, the groups have agreed for years to put aside their differences and come together whenever possible to benefit UM students, despite the diversity of the organizations and beliefs represented.
“We involve ourselves in the day-to-day activities dealing with faith and life, heart and mind,” says a portion of the mission statement of the Chaplain’s Association.
“We try to talk about issues relevant to students’ lives and scripture,” said Silvia Tarafa, director of the Campus Catholic Ministry. “We want to reach as many people as possible.”
Some UM students who are affiliated with the religious groups assisted the leaders and organizations in talking to others.
“I, as a student, am trying to raise campus awareness about the Baptist College Ministries,” said UM student Becky Varreth. “Some people don’t realize that the Baptist College Ministries is located on campus. We’re letting people know.”
“I’m a freshman and I’d like to see more new students like me getting involved. We eat, hang out and talk about important things,” freshman Cynthia Jeyapaul said. “These groups are a great alternative to the Miami ‘party scene.'”
Students are encouraged to contact the organizations in which they are interested.

Jacklyn Lisenby can be contacted at j.lisenby@umsis.Miami.edu.

Organization Contact Information
Athletes in Action
Steve DeBardelaben
305-667-5530

Athlete Ministries
Girard Middleton
305-773-1142

Baptist Collegiate Ministry
Chris Price
305-667-1066

Campus Crusade for Christ
Troy Coons
305-720-8193

Chabad
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Fellig
305-206-4013

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship
Rev. Joe Lortie
305-742-5442

Christian Science Organization
Dr. Carol Warburton
305-667-0703

The Episcopal/Anglican Church Center
Fr. Frank Corbishley
Phone: 305-284-2333

Hillel Jewish Student Organization
Rabbi Samuel Bregman
305-665-6948

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Jamie Johnston
305-381-6344

Lutheran Campus Ministry
Pastor Arnold Perry
305-444-0425

St. Augustine Church/Student Center
Fr. Bernard Kirlin
305-661-1648

The Wesley Foundation
Delano M. McIntosh
305-661-1695

Pat Mitchell visits the University for UMTV interview
Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of the Public Broadcasting Service [PBS], shared her vision for the future of television programming and personal tips for success in a UMTV interview that featured a student audience on Tuesday.
Mitchell is the first woman to lead PBS and has recently been named one of Washington’s “Most Powerful Women” by Washingtonian magazine.
“I always look at the accomplishments I’m trying to make now and in the future,” Mitchell said. “I’m looking forward, not to the past – we find the ways to make public broadcasting viable in today’s world – we are the only media outlet in this country that works to make your life better.”
Among Mitchell’s major beliefs is that the public should be more involved with, and have more control over, the programs that are aired on television.
“I define the purpose of reality television to be shame and degradation – our programs are better than that,” Mitchell said. “How good is over 100 channels when they are controlled by the same ventriloquist? Public TV is still your voice.”
Previously, Mitchell has worked as president of CNN Productions and Time, Inc. Television for Turner/Time Warner. Programming produced under the direction of Mitchell won over 100 major awards and received two Academy Award nominations. She has also initiated an international strategy for licensing documentary programming to global broadcasters.
Mitchell is also a former print and television journalist, a network correspondent and a community leader.
“I spent a long time on the commercial side of media,” Mitchell said. “I did not want to go where commercial media is now going. I can use the skills I learned in commercial media and bring it to PBS, which serves a public good.”
Currently, PBS provides programming, educational services and distribution to over 350 local public television stations. The organization’s website, PBS.org, is the most visited dot-org site in the world, and PBSKIDS is a leader in educational programming for children. This year, PBS programming won more awards for journalistic excellence than any other media company.
“Awards recognize that the work has had an impact on people,” Mitchell said. “That’s why they are so rewarding. The very best producers, writers, journalists, etc. want their work to air on PBS.”
“I firmly believe that PBS has the best programming in the country,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell encourages all broadcast journalism and media business and management college grads to begin to look for jobs and internships in smaller markets first.
“In a smaller market, you get to do a lot of more work that better prepares you,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also believes that learning to fail is one of the first steps to attaining success.
“The single most important strategy [of success] was my willingness to fail,” Mitchell said. “You have to be willing to take jobs in which you know you may not succeed.”

Brian Poliakoff can be contacted at b.poliakoff@umiami.com

President George W. Bush used Tuesday night’s nationally televised State of the Union Address to push his administration’s platform on domestic and foreign policy matters that are perceived to be of great importance to many American citizens.
The speech was broadcasted live on the big screen at the Rat, part of an evening program called “Is Bush Effective?” sponsored by the student organization Council for Democracy.
According to law, Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution requires that the President deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the start of every legislative session every January. The speech is a pivotal and highly publicized annual event, where a President is supposed to present the status of America.
Bush focused his speech on tackling the major issues of Iraq, the economy, healthcare and homeland security.
Bush elicited much laughter in the crowd at the Rat when proposing $1.2 billion of tax money toward developing “clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles.”
“The simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen produces only energy and water,” Bush said.
Bush also vowed to “pass a law against human cloning” and “end partial-birth abortion.”
He also spoke lengthily about “confronting the man-made evil of international terrorism.”
The largest laugh of the night came when Bush proposed $6 billion in research and production for “Project BioShield,” a series of “effective vaccines against anthrax, Ebola and plague.”
Bush received dozens of standing ovations from the members of Congress, but he didn’t get any applause in the Rat until his final message: “May God continue to bless the USA.”
Council for Democracy President David McCombie has been with the group since it was organized and registered as a student group in October 2002.
“Council for Democracy is not advocating anything in particular,” McCombie, a second-year Economics major, said. “We just want to sponsor a healthy debate.”
Student protesters of the anti-war group, Not In Our Name, Miami, were visible at the front entrance of the Rat before the address, distributing literature and educating passersby of the truth behind Bush’s policies.
They displayed various signs, including one with a quote from Albert Einstein:
“You cannot prevent and prepare for war at the same time.” Many viewed this as a critique of Bush’s seemingly hypocritical positions on international peace and war against terrorism.
“We didn’t liberate the Afghan people – their country is in ruins,” said freshman Richard Haigin in a rebuttal to Bush’s declaration that America may proceed with action against Iraq without international support. “We’re not going to do that to Iraq.”
Following the hour-long speech by President Bush, Professors Juliet Gainsborough and Pete Moore of the Political Science Department issued their criticisms of Bush’s address.
According to Gainsborough, Bush presented a balance of domestic and foreign issues, much more balanced than one would expect in this period of international tension.
“Bush needed to show the American people that he cared for domestic issues,” said Gainsborough, who specializes in urban and domestic politics. “It was intriguing to me that the first part of the speech was dedicated to domestic policy.”
“We don’t have a very good record in the developing world of liberating countries,” Moore said. “In fact, we’ve been terrible.”
“We need to find out whether our administration is talking about disarmament or about regime change,” Moore continued. “If the policy is regime change, then nothing will get [Iraq] to disarm. They will hold their weapons as a last resort.”
The public reception for the address drew well over 100 people.
“Anything that gets political dialogue on campus is good,” Gainsborough said. “I like seeing activism on campus – I think it’s exciting.”
Council for Democracy is planning a forum in the spring with Dean Wyche of the College of Arts and Sciences on “Politics of Medical Research.”
For more information on Council for Democracy visit
www.councilfordemocracy.org.

Sam Lockhart can be contacted at s.lockhart1@umiami.edu.

TODAY
Come out and party with young Arab-Americans featuring DJ Nile spinning the latest and hottest Arabic and international music at the Rathskeller. Argeela Night is from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Email oasisofum@yahoogroups.com.

Resident Assistant applications are due at the Department of Residence Halls Office in the North wing of Eaton Residential College by 5 p.m.

Sportsfest, the three-day competition between the residential colleges and apartment area, kicks off at the Rat at 5 p.m.

Come laugh till you cry at the Rathskeller from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Hurricane Productions present Belly Bust featuring Leon Rodgers.

Women’s Tennis vs. Florida Atlantic at 4 p.m. in the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1

Take a FREE GMAT, LSAT, TOEFL or MCAT practice test at Kaplan’s Test Drive. To enroll, call 305-284-0090.

Watch the Women’s Basketball team take on Villanova at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 3

Interested in a 2-Ball competition? Preliminary rounds begin today and run until Thursday at the Wellness Center. Contact Jason Caroll at 305-284-8518 to sign up.

A mandatory Student Government Elections meeting will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Whitten University Center, room 211. The meeting is a mandatory referenda writing workshop as well as a candidate informational meeting.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Atlanta Public Schools will be conducting on-campus interviews.
For more information, and to submit your resume if you qualify, log on to CaneTRAK at www.miami.edu/toppel or call Toppel Career Center at 305-284-5451.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5

Missing Students: Columbine Revisited presents the Untold Story. Come hear about the extraordinary life of Rachel Scott. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in Gusman Auditorium and is free to everybody.

Sigma Gamma Lambda hosts an informational session at 8 p.m. for all interested at the Rathskeller in the Lewis Room. For information contact ProudlyStand@yahoogroups.com

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

Attention all graduating seniors: the deadline to apply for May graduation is today. Applications must be done through the EASY system.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11

Are you in the process of selecting a major or considering a change of major? Are you possibly interested in adding a major? Toppel Career Center will have a Majors Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Whitten University Center Lower Lounge. Come talk with faculty representatives from these schools and colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Communication, Education and Nursing. The Pre-Law and Honors Programs will also have representatives to whom you will be able to talk.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar Chapter will hold an Alumni-Mentor Reception at 7 p.m. in the UC 233. Direct any questions to RA8046@students.law.miami.edu.

FEBRUARY 17-20

The Wellness Center will be hosting preliminary rounds of a 3-Point contest. To sign up contact Jason Caroll at 305-284-8518.

Attention all international students: You are invited to Kaplan’s GMAT Thursdays. Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can take a FREE practice test. For more information call 305-284-0090.

Don’t miss TOEFL Tuesday at Kaplan, the World Leader in Test Prep. Every Tuesday you are invited to take a FREE practice test from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to sign up call 305-284-0090.

Join the Wellness Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12 between 5 and 7 p.m. in the Atrium for Healthy Heart Day. The event will provide you with information to protect both your physical and your emotional heart.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Fortunately, certain types of heart disease can be controlled, even prevented, by applying basic principles of wellness such as stress and weight management, exercise and proper nutrition. The event will include free smoothies, condoms, blood pressure screenings and body composition checks. Information will be available on nutrition, healthy relationships and preventing STDs and sexual assault. For more information, contact 305-284-6524.

Student Government applications are now available for the following positions: Student Government President, Student Government Vice-President, Student Government Treasurer, College of Arts & Sciences Senator (2 positions available), School of Business Senator, College of Engineering Senator, School of Communications Senator, School of Education Senator, School of Nursing Senator, School of Music Senator, School of Architecture Senator, Commuter North Senator, Commuter South Senator and Commuter Central Senator. Applications can be picked up in the UC room 209. You have until Friday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. to submit your completed application. Elections are scheduled to be held Feb. 24-26 with results being announced Feb. 27 at 5 p.m.

We The Students is a new social/political issue talk show coming to UMTV this spring. Its purpose is to raise student interest and participation on campus about those issues. It will also be a live audience show so students can come watch and participate in it by questioning the guests and panelists. Currently, the program is recruiting students for on-air panelists, production crew and a PR staff. Auditions for panelists are Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 3 and 4, in Studio C of the School of Communication from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. Be dressed in business casual attire and ready to debate the war on Iraq, abortion or the legalization of marijuana for three to five minutes. It’s your choice which issue you’ll debate at the audition.
Sign-up for the show and auditions by the front desk of the faculty offices on the second floor of the School of Communication. If interested or for more information contact Pierre Gaunaurd at 786-586-3845 or umtvwts@hotmail.com.

Goizueta Pavilion opens at Richter
UM celebrates Cuban Heritage Collection’s new library facilities
Over 1,100 were present at a black-tie gala event commemorating the new home of the Cuban Heritage Collection.
The 10,000-square-foot Robert C. Goizueta Pavilion, on the second floor of the Richter Library, is named after the late Cuban-born CEO of the Coca-Cola Company.
The Jan. 28 dedication coincided with the birth date of the Cuban patriot Jose Marti and was made possible through a $2.5 million gift from the Goizueta Foundation.
“Gracias, gracias, gracias for these wonderful gifts,” President Donna E. Shalala said. “The Goizueta Pavilion is a concrete symbol of the University’s commitment to Cuban studies and the preservation of Cuban history and culture,” said University President Donna E. Shalala.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Goizueta family, the Cuban Heritage Collection [CHC] will be able to continue to gather and make accessible materials necessary for the study, analysis and understanding of the Cuban experience for generations to come,” said Esperanza B. de Varona, CHC director. “[The Pavilion] is truly the home of my dreams.”
Javier C. Goizueta, the son of Robert C. Goizueta, thanked all those who helped in the realization of the new Pavilion during a speech to the crowd.
“Your work, your passion, your entire life has been dedicated to a Cuba that once flourished, a Cuba that was once free,” Goizueta said of de Varona. “It would be impossible to recognize at this ceremony the hundreds of people who have helped to make this Cuban collection possible for all of us to enjoy.”
Many of those present appreciated the efforts behind the creation of the Pavilion.
“The whole thing is beautiful,” said Vivian Pacheco, of the Richter Library. “The sacrifices and hard work of many have finally been turned into a reality.”
“This is a great way to preserve our Cuban roots and heritage,” said Alberto Pacheco.
Currently, the CHC is the largest collection of materials documenting the Cuban exile and Cuban-American experience, as well as the largest repository of historical and cultural Cuban materials outside of Cuba.
Many credit the vastness of the collection to the arrival of thousands of Cuban exiles in the early 1960s, who brought with them many artifacts and now-historical documents from the island.
However, it was not until 1998, that the Richter Library’s vast and growing holdings of Cuban, Cuban exile and Cuban-American materials were brought together under the CHC.
“It is a privilege to assist the Cuban Heritage Collection in its important educational and archival mission,” Mrs. Goizueta said.
“It is an incredible honor to know that there is such a large part of UM that shares our culture,” said Cristina Arriaza, vice-president of the Federation of Cuban Students [FEC].
“It’s great to know that such a large part of the community has shown support for the project,” said Yadelene Riesgo treasurer of FEC.
Today, the new Pavilion houses a collection that spans over 400 years and consists of books; periodicals; special materials such as maps, posters and photographs; and collections of personal and corporate papers.
Through a recent grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, CHC has created a Digital Collection which is helping make selected archival materials available online to the general public.
“This is great, especially because it allows us young people to make a connection with the past – with what could have been and what will hopefully come,” Roberto Castro, president of FEC, said.
Many who are close to the CHC hope that students, faculty, staff and members of the local community will donate materials to the Pavilion so that the collection may continue to grow.
“I am sure that there are individuals within the local community who possess historic materials which will be better preserved in the new Pavilion,” said Sara Sanchez, a retired Latin-American bibliographer at Richter. “Whether it be letters or political clippings or items having to do with the revolution, I encourage anyone who may have these types of items to donate them so that future generations can use them, learn from them, and have them readily accessible.”
For more information regarding the Robert C. Goizueta Pavilion, contact the Richter Library at 305-284-4900.

Jorge Arauz can be contacted at xxarauzxx@yahoo.com. Leigha Taber can be contacted at l.taber@umiami.edu.