MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
UM vs. The British Debate All Stars
7 p.m.
Storer Auditorium
A parliamentary-style debate on the proposition, “This house believes that political advertising distorts democracy in the United States.” The University of Miami debate team will favor the motion. There will be audience Q & A following the debate, which will follow a formal organizational structure.

The Presidential Debate Film Series
7:30 p.m.
Bill Cosford Cinema
A screening of Mike Nichols’ Primary Colors, starring John Travolta and Emma Thompson will be shown as part of the Presidential Debate Film Series. Admission is free for all UM students, faculty and staff.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

A Personal Conversation with Ralph Nader
4 p.m.
Bill Cosford Cinema
The Council for Democracy and the School of Communication host independent United States Presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who will discuss the major points of his campaign platform and then answer audience questions. Refreshments will be served.

UM vs. The British Debate All Stars
7 p.m.
Rathskeller
A town hall debate on the resolution, “This house would put an end to presidential debates.” The UM debate team will oppose the motion. The debate will follow a less formal town hall format with audience participation encouraged.

The Latin Factor
7:30 p.m.
Bill Cosford Cinema
The Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, Council for Democracy, and the UM School of Communication are proud to host New Jersey Congressman Bob Menendez and a yet to be determined Republican congressman for a discussion of Latin Americans’ influence in American politics. For more information, visit www.CouncilforDemocracy.org

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
The Latino Vote: A Game Plan for Victory?
11:30 a.m.
Storer Auditorium
A panel discussion on the role of the Latino vote in the 2004 election and beyond. Sponsored by the National Council of La Raza.

Smackdown Your Vote!
8 p.m.
Maurice Gusman Concert Hall
WWE and UM present this forum where critical issues facing Americans under 30, and solutions proposed by the Presidential candidates, will be discussed.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Covering the Campaign
10 a.m.
Studio C, School of Communication
Moderator: Darcie Lunsford, vice president of the South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
A panel presented by the Society of Professional Journalists will discuss the Presidential campaign from the journalists’ point of view. The discussion, which will be followed by a question and answer session, will focus on the differences in covering the election this year from previous years.

Climb aboard the C-SPAN School Bus
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
School of Communication
Take a free tour of the award-winning C-SPAN School Bus, a 45-foot mobile television production studio and demonstration center. Come aboard and learn about C-SPAN’s coverage of the 2004 Presidential Debate and its overall coverage of the upcoming election.

Debate Watch Party
7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Rathskeller Plaza
The Watch Party will provide students, faculty and staff with a unique opportunity to take part in the Presidential Debate. The Rathskeller Plaza will be turned into a grand block party, showcasing the live debate at the UM Convocation Center.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1

The View from the White House
10 a.m.
Studio C, School of Communication
Speaker: Bill Plante, CBS News correspondent
Bill Plante will discuss his work covering the President and the election campaign for CBS News. His talk will offer the perspective of a highly experienced network news
correspondent.

Rock the Vote
12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
UC Patio
Rock the Vote will be bringing its message of youth voter registration to UM. This message will be conveyed through an interactive educational festival and a concert featuring some of today’s hottest up and coming artists.

Presidential Photography Exhibit
Whitten University Center (lower lounge)
Sept. 20 through Oct.1, 2004
The School of Communication Visual Communication Program has organized a photographic exhibition in coordination with the Presidential Debate. Through the archives of the Pictures of the Year International (POYI) held at the University of Missouri, a selection of presidential images from the Roosevelt administration through the present administration have been selected and designed into a freestanding exhibition.

Declare Yourself
Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, 2004
Whitten University Center (lower lounge)
History will be made as a rare original copy of the Declaration of Independence goes on display at the Whitten University Center. This free viewing of the Declaration is presented by “Declare Yourself,” a national non-profit, nonpartisan young voter registration campaign founded by famed television producer Norman Lear.

It’s Debatable: The Political Cartoon Art of Chan Lowe and Jim Morin
Through Oct. 17, 2004
Lowe Art Museum
Two of South Florida’s most lauded political cartoonists are featured in an exhibition focusing on the 2004 Presidential election and issues of national concern.

Tintypes
Sept. 29 through Oct. 9, 2004
Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
A tuneful, high-spirited brew of popular songs from 1890 to 1917, performed by characters of the period including the outrageous President Teddy Roosevelt. Featuring lovable old melodies such as “In My Merry Oldsmobile,” “A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight,” “Hello, Ma Baby,” and “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” Tintypes is a spirited and patriotic salute to America.
Source: www.miami.edu/debate04

September 29 -30,
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY
CNN will be broadcasting live from the UC Patio.
Various morning shows, including NBC’s The Today Show, will be broadcasting live from UM.
MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews will be filmed live on the Rock.

University of Miami student Braden Ray died Saturday afternoon after falling from the twelfth floor of Rosborough Tower in Stanford Residential College. According to Miami-Dade Police, the death has been ruled a suicide. There is a possibility of alcohol and/or drugs as a contributing factor. The results of a toxicology test are expected sometime next week.

Ray, 19, was in attendance at a party in Stanford Residential College on Saturday afternoon when he called 911, police say. According to Detective Joseph Giordano, witnesses reported that Ray was acting erratically in the time before he placed the call. At the time of his fall, Ray was speaking with a 911 operator, Giordano said. Police plan to release the tape to the public.

A vigil was held on Sunday night outside Stanford Residential College. Over 100 faculty, administration and students paid tribute to Ray.

“We are all heartbroken,” Dr. Pat Whitely, vice president for Student Affairs said. “University resources, including University chaplains, the Counseling Center, and the Health Center are available to students at all times.”

Students may walk in to the Counseling Center, located in Building 21-R, or make an appointment by calling (305) 284-5511. Students requiring immediate assistance may contact their Resident Assistant or call Public Safety at (305)284-6666.

The Hurricane will continue to provide updates on our website, www.thehurricaneonline.com, as more information becomes available.

Leigha Taber can be contacted at ltaber@miami.edu.

Grammy Award nominee Vanessa Carlton and Grammy Award winner Jill Scott have just been announced as the musical guests at the Debate Watch Party at UM on Sept. 30. The party is scheduled to be from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the UC Patio and at the Rat and will include free food.

The party will be hosted by WWE Superstars Mick Foley, Mark Henry and Chris Nowinski. Rock the Vote President Jehmu Greene will also be attending.

The fun will continue on Friday, Oct. 1 with a Rock the Vote concert on the UC Patio from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The show will feature Dan Dyer, Sara Hudson, Wylde Bunch and Ben Jelen.

Last fall, the Lamda Deuteron Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi [AEPi] was kicked off campus. Out of its ashes rose the X Pi Alpha Chapter [XPi].

While XPi and its members are not officially recognized by the Interfraternity Council, the organization’s leaders continue to model their group after its fraternal roots.

XPi was created last spring by Jacob Burch, former president of AEPi at the University of Miami, after AEPi’s international board of directors ordered a cease of all active chapter operations, placed the chapter’s charter on dormant status and changed the status of all undergraduate members to alumni.

According to university and AEPi officials, the chapter lost its charter because it violated university, International and House Corporation rules and regulations. Members of XPi believe there was more to the story.

The history page of the XPi website does state the fraternity received alcohol and party violations. However, it continues on to accuse the nationals of AEPi of using these violations as an excuse to close down the chapter because they were not recruiting enough Jewish students.

“The real reason we were kicked off campus is because our nationals only wanted Jewish members,” states the website. “There were rumors that if we wanted the house to be fixed up, we needed 10 Jewish kids rushed in the fall of 2003. We got one Jew-actually, two halves-and that was that.”

The AEPi International Headquarters, who say they have heard these accusations before from XPi, fully deny the allegations.

“We have several chapters that have no Jewish members. We don’t judge chapters on how many Jewish members they have,” Adam Aronin, director of risk management for AEPi Fraternity, said. “[At UM] there was a seven year history of violations. When the university brought us the history of the chapter, we had no alternatives.”

Regardless of why AEPi lost its charter and fraternity house, the members of XPi continue to hold on to their brotherhood.

“Anytime a fraternity is kicked off campus, there is still a huge group of kids who feel they are part of the fraternity and are bonded to each other,” Reid Heidenry, XPi president, said. “We didn’t join AEPi to be part of AEPi – we joined for each other. When our name is taken away, that means nothing to us.”

The members of XPi still play sports together, have formals and semiformals, throw house parties, go to football games, and participate in other organized activities. Just like the fraternities on campus, they have shirts to distinguish themselves as XPi members. Also, members of XPi attended the Greek BBQ hosted by the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council during Greek recruitment. They were asked to leave.

“Here’s this organization that doesn’t answer to the school or nationals and has no restrictions. That’s dangerous,” Peter Maki, chair of the Association of Greek Letter Organizations, said. “We were worried freshmen who didn’t know better would think they were a real fraternity.”

Leaders of XPi insist they were not trying to confuse students into thinking XPi was a fraternity.

“We were hungry,” Mike Kanatake, Make New Friends coordinator for XPi, said. “We thought it was open to all students.”

While XPi says it does not want to be seen as a fraternity, members did look into becoming an official student organization last year.

“Dean [Gregory] Singleton specifically told us that there is no chance of us becoming a student organization,” Heidenry said. “He said the reason for that was because the condition that the house was left in. We fully understand that and respect that decision.”

Official status may not come to XPi, but it continues to build a group that will be recognized by students on campus. XPi no longer has pledges or rush, but they do still make an effort to “make new friends,” according to Heidenry.

“If there’s a chill guy who’s been hanging out with us, eventually we’ll ask him to come to activities and he might receive a shirt,” Heidenry said. “We want them to prove they know us and what we’re all about.”

Currently, there are about 50 members in XPi. According to Heidenry, it won’t go above that to ensure the group stays “tight.”

>> For more information on XPi, go to www.xpi.bz.

Catherine Howden can be contacted at

c.howde@umiami.edu.

TODAY
As part of Conservative Awareness Week, the Advocates for Conservative Thought are hosting Free-Market Environmentalism Day with speaker Doug Bandow of the CATO Institute at 4 p.m. in UC Flamingo Ballroom A. For more information on CAW, please email Sarah Canale, president of ACT at actmiami@yahoo.com.

SATURDAY,
Join the Baptist Collegiate Ministries to make a child’s day brighter by going to the Migrant Camp in Homestead! Meet at the BCM at 10 a.m. For information, contact Chris Price at miamibcm@aol.com.

SUNDAY
The University of Miami is holding tryouts for the next Sebastian the Ibis! Tryouts will be held at 6 p.m. at the Knight Sports Complex adjacent to the Hecht Athletic Center. All interested students should contact Connie Nickel at (305) 284-2651 for more information.

Interested in joining KAOS, UM’s hip-hop dance team? Tryouts are today at 6:30 p.m. in UC Ballroom C. For more information, contact shocknvibe@hotmail.com.

MONDAY
Beginning today, all students, faculty and staff are required to have their ‘Cane Card ID present at all times.

Join Phi Alpha Delta as they team up with Wall’s Old Fashion Ice Cream to present the Ice Cream Social of the year to help raise money for Guardian Ad Litem. Pass by Wall’s Old Fashion Ice Cream shop at 8075 SW 67th Ave. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Come by the Cosford Cinema at 4 p.m. for “A Personal Conversation with
Ralph Nader,” where the Reform Party’s presidential candidate will answer all f your questions. Free food and drink will be served. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
History will be made as a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence goes on display at the lower lounge in the UC. “Declare Yourself,” a national non-profit, nonpartisan, young voter registration campaign founded by famed television producer Norman Lear, presents this free viewing of the Declaration.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
The Presidential Debate will be held at the Convocation Center.

Come by the Rat from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the Debate Watch Party! The Rat Plaza will be turned into a huge block party, showcasing the live debate at the UM Convocation Center.

Today is the last day students are required to wear their Cane Cards at all times.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1
Today is the last opportunity for students to view a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence in the lower lounge of the UC.

The UM chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars [NSCS] will be hosting their Induction Ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Storer Auditorium. All inductees should arrive 15 minutes in advance, and are asked to bring a canned food item to donate to “Bring a Can.”

Rock the Vote will be bringing its message of youth voter registration to UM, from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the UC Patio. This message will be conveyed through an interactive, educational festival, and a concert featuring some of today’s hottest, up and coming artists.

FunDay Executive Board Applications are due today in UC 240!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
Come by the Rock at 1:30 p.m. for the National Gandhi Day of Service, a large youth-led volunteerism event in the community put on by COISO and LINK with participants from other groups such as UBS and Spectrum.

On Sept. 30, the first 2004 Presidential Debate will be held at the University of Miami. Classes will go on as usual, despite some major adjustments in parking and security being made at school for the debate.

Professors have different methods as to how they will handle their classes during the debate.

“We’re all at a loss here,” German Professor Michael Davidson-Schmich says about the UM decision to keep classes open. “The University has done a bad job communicating this to the students, and it’s going to be very inconvenient, especially for commuter students.” Davidson-Schmich plans to continue his classes as usual.

“I’m obligated under contract to teach,” Davidson-Schmich says. “It’s still an unexcused absence, but I’d still be lenient and help my students out.”

Cyndi White, professor of English, will take a different approach. “[The Debate] will be a ‘Library Day’ for my students,” says White, who did the same for the Dalai Lama’s visit to campus. Even though she can’t officially cancel class, what White is offering is tantamount to a “Get Out of Class Free” card. She disagrees with the decision to keep classes open.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” White says. “Students worked hard to be able to see the Dalai Lama, and even harder to be able to attend the debate, so why shouldn’t they get to go?”

Student reaction has been mixed.

Rasheed Al-Marri, junior, says he’d rather go to class.

“I don’t care much for the debate, as I’m not an American,” Al-Marri says.

Jeff Conrad, sophomore, agrees with the University’s decision.

“I always like classes being cancelled, it’s a nice break. I can see why they’re going ahead, though, seeing how we fell behind during the hurricane,” Conrad says. “I’d much rather have classes flow continuously than have to play catch-up later.”

Commuter students, however, are already dreading the debate day.

“It’s very inconvenient,” Kamilah Chajin, sophomore, says. “Parking is going to be horrible, because they’re restricting commuter parking, so I have to park far away from where any of my classes are, and I can’t go back to my car to get my books in between classes.”

Many students agree, however, that the debate coming to UM is a good thing despite the inconveniences it’ll bring.

“I’m glad the debate came to Miami,” Conrad says. “How many people can say the Presidential Debate was held at their school?”

Jay Rooney can be contacted at j.rooney@umiami.edu.

The University of Miami’s College of Arts and Sciences and Coral Gables bookstore Books and Books, hosted author Chuck Palahniuk in The Authors’ Studio Sept. 23 at the Bill Cosford Cinema. Some of his most famous works include Fight Club, Diary and his most recent book, Stranger Than Fiction. To the enjoyment of many literary fans, Palahniuk held a book signing an hour before the event. The aim of The Authors’ Studio series is to provide a space for authors to discuss their work and involves university-wide audience participation. The Authors’ Studio is free and open to the public. For further information, please contact Maureen Seaton, director of Creative Writing at (305) 284-2182.
The Omicron Delta Kappa Society is the national leadership honor society for college students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. Nomination forms for Fall 2004 have been made available, as Omicron Delta Kappa are searching for people who exemplify Scholarship, Athletics, Social Service, Journalism, and/or Creative or Performing Arts. Membership in ODK is a mark of the highest distinction and honor. Current students in Junior or Senior standing, faculty and administration are all eligible for nomination. Individuals should not nominate themselves, nor tell someone that he/she is being nominated. Applications are due in the Student Activities office by Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.

Attention Commuter Students!
During the week of the Presidential Debate (Sept. 27 through Sept. 30), all students, faculty and staff are required to have their ‘Cane Card ID present at all times. On the day of the debate, Sept. 30, no one will be allowed onto campus without their ID. Therefore, the University is providing lanyards to all students to be worn during the week of the debates. Pick-up will be held in the UC Breezeway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting Wednesday, Sept. 15 through Friday, Sept. 24. Lanyards will also be available starting Monday, Sept. 20 through Friday, Sept. 24 at the Information Desk in the University Center Lower Lounge or from your RA.

Having declared it Conservative Awareness Week the student organization Advocates for Conservative Thought [ACT] was out this week adding its voice to UM’s ever-politicizing campus. A relatively new addition to the spectrum of student groups at UM, ACT is taking advantage of the political atmosphere brought on by the upcoming presidential debate to shed some light on its side of today’s hot topics.

“We wanted to do a week of tackling an issue a day,” Sarah Canale, ACT president, said.

The week kicked off with Patriotism Day. ACT was on the Rock distributing yellow ribbons in support of American soldiers abroad, saying solidarity with the troops enables them to accomplish their tasks. The ribbons served to remind the otherwise unaffected that their fellow Americans are placed daily in harms way.

Displaying the group’s expressed non-partisanship, one fervent member told passersby’s in the UC Breezway that you don’t have to support Bush to support the troops.

Pro-Life and Family values were on the ACT agenda for Tuesday. Members of the organization spent the day passing out abortion statistics and emphasizing the priority of family.

“It’s a misconception that we’re the movement of stay at home moms,” Canale said. “We are not trying to regress, just trying to hold on to wholesome values.”

Liberating Cuba was the focus Wednesday when the group exposed the conditions created by communism through a video showing and follow-up discussion. They chose this issue for its pertinence to South Florida and its particular importance to certain members of the organization.

According to Canale, Thursday’s Second Amendment Day was as much but about guns as it was about “rights enumerated in the Constitution.” ACT circulated statistics on this topic that pointed to increased criminality as it results from stricter gun-control measures.

The week wraps up today with a speech by Doug Bandow of the CATO institute on an idea that may be largely unfamiliar – Free Market Environmentalism. The concept puts a conservative spin on environmental sensitivity.

Given that UM’s diversity extends to students political views, ACT has received mixed reception on campus. Freshman Shelby Kimbrough, a member of the Young Democrats describes UM as a liberal campus.

“Especially in this age group, because liberals are open to change,” Kimbrough said. According to Roger MacIntosh, senior, the university atmosphere is conservative, in part because UM is a private school.

ACT welcomes a range of viewpoints; its goals are facilitating dialogue among the UM community, focusing on the issues, and allowing for all sides to be heard.

For more information on ACT, visit www.miami.edu/studorgs/act.

Courtney Patton can be contacted at c.patton@umiami.edu.

The message was simple. Love, compassion, respect, appreciation, a sense of community. Those are the things that bring humans closer. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, spoke to 6,000 people from the University of Miami community last Wednesday on “A Human Approach to World Peace.”

“We welcome him as a man of vision and compassion. We welcome him as a vision of peace,” UM President Donna Shalala said.

Before he began, the Dalai Lama received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from the University.

“Your teachings inspire us to examine our own lives,” Shalala said before turning to the audience. “Please welcome UM’s newest alumnus, the 14th Dalai Lama.”

“I don’t know if I will do anything great, but I assure you that I will not disgrace the University,” he said as he accepted his degree.

Many students felt that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people that it’s a life changing experience. I wanted to experience it for myself,” Chris Wong, first year medical student, said. “It will be cool to tell my kids I saw the Dalai Lama in person.”

The Dalai Lama’s speech was positive, emphasizing inner values and advocating non-violence.

“War is actually a concept of ancient times,” he said. “Use of force to resolve conflict is out of date.”

He believes that the world is more connected today than it was a century ago.

“The whole world is just like one entity,” he said. “Destruction of your neighbor is like destruction of yourself.”

Today, the Dalai Lama said people desire peace. Environmental movements, knowledge of science and the importance of human emotions have resulted in positive changes in the past century.

“Proudly speaking, I think the world is improving, so your future is brighter,” he said. “Humanity is becoming more mature.”

After his speech, the Dalai Lama answered questions submitted by students at an earlier date. The questions ranged from the importance of religion to gender equality.

Jackie Hechtman, sophomore, had her question about terrorism answered.

“It was definitely an honor because a leader of world peace addressed my question,” Hechtman said.

In response, the Dalai Lama said that he wrote President George W. Bush a letter after the tragedy of Sept. 11.

“The best way to counter terrorism is a non-violent way,” he said. “Change achieved through force or fear is only temporary-in the long run it is counterproductive.”

He said the war in Iraq may be helping for now, but he is not sure about the long run. “Only history will show if violence will bring something good,” he said.

At the end of his talk, he spoke directly to the students in the audience.

“While you are developing your brains, there is no point to ignore inner values,” His Holiness said. “Knowledge alone does not guarantee a happy life.”

The Dalai Lama’s final words centered on realizing one’s goals. To him, the only failure in life is losing hope.

“Eventually, you will achieve what you want.”

Reeva Oza contributed to this article.

Megha Garg can be contacted at m.garg2@umiami.edu.