Over 160 undergraduate and graduate student research projects were on display in the University Center for the 2004 Citizen Board Research and Creativity Forum.

The forum assembled original research spanning 13 different disciplines, from psychological studies on “the pursuit of intimacy goals in couples’ daily interactions” to architectural undertakings in designing a new building for the Miami Art Museum.

April Compare, a first-year graduate student, exhibited artistic prints – accomplished through relief, silk screen and lithography methods – of tiny dead lizards placed in jars and boxes. She describes the idea of her artwork as a collection of something that has personal value that can be observed with a novice-type of scientific curiosity.

Compare also appreciates to exhibit her work to others.

“Students who might not make it over to the art department are really getting a chance to see what we’re doing over there,” Compare said. “It’s great exposure.”

For many, the Forum is either a culmination of months of intensive research and experimentation or simply a preparation for further research endeavors.

For senior Lisa Ramsay, whose research encompassed the development of an ideal technique to get DNA isolation from cultured cells, it was both.

It took Ramsay at least 15 hours a week over a period of nine months to gather the data necessary for her study. After it all, Ramsay says the experience has been both a learning tool and an effort essential in reaching the full potential of research studies in the future.

“To be able to contribute to UM research studies during my undergraduate career is something I pride myself in,” Ramsay said. “And you never know in doing your research where it’s going to lead you and maybe others.”

Caroline Caperton, project chairperson, agrees that students participating in the Forum are providing information necessary to the future of academia.

“It is absolutely crucial that these students get recognized because they are representing the future of quality in research and are a reason why UM is at the forefront of research,” Caperton said. I

The UM Convocation Center is the largest multipurpose venue on the Coral Gables campus. With 7,000 seats and 25 suites, the Convocation Center is a $40 million success of UM and the Athletic Department.

Since it’s the first venue on the UM campus to seat more than 1,000 people, the Convocation Center has changed the college experience for students, who can now walk to men’s and women’s basketball games from class or from their rooms. The facility also serves the campus as the new site for commencement for all schools at UM, which, prior to the completion of the building, were held outdoors on the university green.

Incoming students can take advantage of all the events that are held at the Convocation Center, some of which are free and others which may be available at a discounted amount for students. Artists such as Ludacris, Coldplay, and Good Charlotte have graced the stage. Maya Angelou and Michael J. Fox have spoken in the Convocation Center during commencement ceremonies. With the new athletic conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference, champion teams such as Duke, North Carolina and rival FSU will all play on the basketball court. The Convovation Center, in its second full season of completion, remains an exciting place to be on the university campus.

Students attending events at the Convocation Center have quickly come to appreciate its many amenities, including concession stands, promotional counters and portable concession stands surrounding the main concourse level. Everything is positioned for easy access from any area of the building to avoid traffic congestion on the concourse level during events. Concessions run from the traditional hot dogs, popcorn and nachos to Papa John’s pizza, Dipping Dots ice cream, chicken sandwiches, and Miami favorites such as empanadas, churros, and arepas.

“I love going to the basketball games now. The new Convocation Center makes the whole experience better,” Blair Sprout, senior, said. “We used to not go to games just because of how far away they were. Now my friends and I come all the time and just walk back to the dorms after the game.”

During the basketball games all UM students have the opportunity to join the Hurricane Force Reward Program, created by the Category 5 student organization. As part of this program, all Hurricane Force members will receive an official Force t-shirt and reward card. Force members who attend Hurricane Basketball games will have the opportunity to receive free rewards such as retail discounts and food products provided by Miami Hurricane Corporate Sponsors. Membership to the Hurricane Force Reward Program is free for all students with a valid ‘Cane Card.

This fall semester will be unlike any other; the Convocation Center will host the upcoming Presidential Debate, the Dalai Lama and many other events.

“We’re looking forward to bringing events to the University of Miami Convocation Center that will draw the interest of the students and the South Florida community as a whole,” said Patrick McGrew, general manager of the UM Convocation Center. “We’re working to build a strong relationship with all our neighbors.” I

>> For more information about the C-Center call 305-284-8686 or visit www.umconvocationcenter.com.

Christi Soltz and Vikas Johari contributed to this article.

The University of Miami is introducing AlcoholEdu for College, a Web-based alcohol prevention program being used at more than 350 colleges and universities around the country. The program uses the latest prevention techniques and science-based research to educate students about the impact of alcohol on the mind and body. Whether or not you drink alcohol, AlcoholEdu for College will empower you to make well-informed decisions about alcohol and help you better understand the drinking decisions and behaviors of your peers.

Every incoming first-year student will be required to take AlcoholEdu for College and pass the course’s Final Exam before arriving on campus. Because it is available online, you need only a computer with Internet access and audio capabilities to take the course. The course is offered with Flash technology, so it compresses media files to decrease download time.

The AlcoholEdu Support Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simply click on the “Help” button located in the upper right-hand corner of every AlcoholEdu screen to access Customer Support Representatives through a toll-free phone number, live chat or trouble tickets. You do not even have to be logged in to access this help.

Be on the lookout for a letter during the first part of August with log in information and timeline requirements. I

>> If you have additional questions about AlcoholEdu or the University of Miami’s Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education programs, please contact Pier 21 at (305) 284-6120, or pier21@miami.edu.

The Academic Resource Center [ARC] at UM is the place where students come to enhance their academic success. Successful students can be identified as students who utilize every available resource to acquire knowledge, develop understanding, and get the best possible grade. Success is not defined by perfection; it is defined as the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.

The ARC is the resource to help students manage their success. It offers programs to enhance textbook reading skills, demonstrate organizational management tools, and provide insight into establishing effective lasting relationships with professors and instructors, as well how to begin to prepare for life beyond the baccalaureate by taking control and being responsible for today.

Programs to enhance textbook reading skills, demonstrate organizational management tools, and provide insight into establishing effective lasting relationships with professors.

Peer tutoring is available at no cost to students. All UM students can take advantage of peer tutoring to develop deeper understanding through additional, special, or corrective instruction in almost any subject for two hours per week.

This year, students can also take part in unlimited asynchronous on-line tutoring, a new service at the ARC. Small group supplemental instruction is also available for some of the most difficult science courses.

The UM Experience program offers courses through the ARC with the needs of entering students in mind. This course brings the university to life for the student by illuminating pathways for navigating their tenure at UM and by sharing the traditions of the university. In addition, discipline-specific information is imparted to the students by prominent faculty and administrators.

For students with documented disabilities, within the ARC resides Disability Services. Accommodations are assigned on a case-by-case determination and are subject to documentation review.

The ARC welcomes all students to visit the center and take advantage of the services offered there. Its sole purpose is to assist students in achieving success. I

>> For more information about what the ARC can offer, visit www.miami.edu/adc or call 305-284-4790 or 304-284-2800.

In the sometimes-chaotic world of college life, it is important to develop the skills needed to sustain your academic and social education throughout the next four years. The transition from high school to college, or from college to college, brings forward many issues for all students. You can breathe easier knowing that UM has support services in place to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The UM Experience (or Freshman Experience, FEX) is a course developed to blend academics, leadership, learning, networking, and community building skills to enrich your collegiate years. Building a solid foundation during the first year is key to a successful college career.

“This course helped me learn the strategies and techniques to be a successful college student,” Chris Igtiben, a former FEX student, said.

In small class settings, with prominent faculty and administration members as mentors, new students receive one-on-one instruction. One of the objectives of FEX is to provide students with a working knowledge of the university’s academic requirements, advising system, various degree programs, and policies and procedures of the institution. Specifically, students are exposed to campus leadership opportunities, academic and career planning, UM traditions, study abroad opportunities, and personal wellness programs, just to name a few activities.

FEX is designed to provide students new to UM with effective strategies for academic success and enriched opportunities for understanding the variety of human cultures, values, and perspectives that a university offers. The course seeks to assist students toward self-actualization and integration into the life of the campus community. Sebastian the Ibis, the UM mascot, has been known to drop by unexpectedly.

According to Academic Resource Center staff, high school is a teaching environment in which you acquire facts and skills, whereas college is a learning environment in which you take responsibility for thinking through and applying what you have learned. College life is a balancing act, and there are many resources at UM to help students succeed – FEX was created to help students make good decisions along this road.

Perhaps the most important perspective on FEX comes from the students who have participated in it first hand. Kelli DeDecker took FEX in the fall of 2001.

“I was a new 17-year-old freshman at the University of Miami,” DeDecker said. “Learning how to navigate my way through the campus seemed like an impossible task. I found myself constantly trying to balance class time, study time, library research, Hurricanette practice, sorority activities, and academics all at once. Though challenging, I found the solutions I needed in FEX. The course made what was supposed to be a difficult transition from high school to college easy.” I

The Cuban flag that draped the coffin of legendary artist Celia Cruz during her memorial services held in Miami and New York City was given as a gift from the Municipios de Cuba en el Exilio to Cruz’s family. The Celia Cruz Foundation and Pedro Knight than donated it to the Cuban Heritage Collection [CHC] at the Otto G. Richter Library for permanent preservation and display.

“Celia was, and is, a Cuban idol,” Anamaria Guerrero-Machado, who was at the event, said.

In the summer of 1999, Cruz received an honorary doctorate degree from UM.

“Celia is the kind of person that you meet and you feel you’ve known her your whole life,” Raquel Padron, who met Celia when she received her honorary degree, said.

Cruz’s career in music and film spanned over five decades. She recorded over 70 albums and was featured in several movies and novels throughout her life.

“Celia is life,” Alex Penelas, Miami-Dade mayor, said. “Through this flag and collection, the thousands of students that come to the University of Miami every year will be able to learn more about the Cuban people and community.”

Jorge A. Plasencia, vice-president of the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, said he recalled that Cruz had once mentioned that when she died, whoever was organizing her memorial services needed to find a funeral home with a lot of parking.

Plasencia said that not even Cruz could have imagined it would take over 20 parking lots and an entire Metro-Rail system to accommodate the thousands upon thousands of fans that came to visit Cruz during her memorial service held in Downtown Miami.

“Celia’s goodbye was one of the largest and most memorable in the history of America,” Plasencia said. I

>> For more information on the Celia Cruz collection, contact Richter Library at 305-284-2210, or visit the Roberto C. Goizueta Pavilion on the second floor of Richter Library.

University Village, a proposed student apartment residential village community planned for the San Amaro Drive area of campus – in the works for over a decade – will soon become a reality, now that the City of Coral Gables Commission approved the plan agreed upon by neighbors and the University. Construction for University Village will begin in fall 2004 and an expected completion date is 2006.
“On-campus student housing is in great demand at the University,” Sarah Artecona, UM spokesperson, said. “University Village will provide 800 upper-class, graduate and law students on-campus living facilities in an apartment-like setting.”
The village is a critical component in the University’s plan to recruit and retain top-tier students, and it will reduce the student commuter population. Currently, on-campus housing is available for only 27 percent of the entire student population. Housing 800 students on-campus will decrease commuter student trips during peak traffic hours.
University Village has been on the table since 1991, when the City of Coral Gables approved the original plans for the area. Those plans were halted as a result of the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.
UM met several years ago with neighbors to review

Blending poetry with song, Maya Angelou — poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director — gave graduating seniors some words of wisdom during the first-ever Graduate Convocation.

Angelou was invited to UM through the President’s Lecture Series, which features prominent leaders and thinkers from around the world who share their experiences.

President Donna E. Shalala envisioned a lecture series where students and members of the University of Miami community come together. Students would have an opportunity to be challenged, enriched, and inspired by these influential and inspirational leaders.

Each year, Shalala and the President’s Lecture Series Committee invite lecturers to UM. The Committee, comprised of students, coordinates all of the details of each speaking engagement.

Past speakers have included: Howell Raines, Pulitzer Prize winner and former Executive Editor of The New York Times; Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and Phat Farm Clothing; and Patricia J. Williams, renowned author and law professor at Columbia University. Angelou was the final speaker of the 2003-2004 school year through the lecture series.

Angelou painted the image of rainbows in the clouds – the people who quietly influence our lives, causing a domino effect of good deeds and success – for the audience with her rhythmic words and life experiences.

It didn’t matter whether people in the audience were familiar with Angelou’s work. She mesmerized everyone who listened.

Angelou said her grandmother was one of the brightest rainbows in her life, always telling Angelou she was meant to inspire.

“My ‘momma,’ with her fifth-grade education, told me I’d be a teacher one day,” Angelou said. “And look at me now.”

Angelou has earned 56 honorary doctorate degrees and was awarded a lifetime membership to the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002. She has also authored 12 best-selling books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

“She takes the young generation back to the old school and comes right back into the present,” says Dinah Berry, events coordinator at the UM RSMAS campus. “She’s right up there with Oprah Winfrey and other inspirational women of our time.”

Angelou left the audience – especially graduating seniors – with words that will echo in their hearts as they pick up their diplomas and move off into whatever awaits.

“You are all the dreamers of UM who dare to keep a rainbow in the clouds.”

Future speakers in the President’s Lecture Series include James Carville and Mary Matalin, who will speak at Freshman Orientation about their experiences as Democratic and Republican strategists. I

>> For more information about the President’s Lecture Series, visit www.miami.edu/pls.

Jorge Arauz contributed to this article.

Last fall, UM President Donna Shalala launched “Momentum: The Campaign for the University of Miami.” This one billion-dollar comprehensive fundraising campaign is the most ambitious and wide reaching in the University’s history.

“It’s an opportunity for those who care for the University of Miami to step up and help us accelerate progress, empower learning and discovery, and intensify our impact on people in our city, across the country, and around the world,” Shalala said.

The goal of the campaign, to raise $1 billion by 2007, makes Momentum the largest campaign announced by any university in the state of Florida. UM is one of only 25 universities in the nation seeking that amount.

To date, the campaign has raised over $600 million. The remainder of the $1 billion will be raised through various channels to attain the goal by 2007.

The overall goals of the campaign are to recruit the most promising students and provide scholarship opportunities; to create endowed teaching chairs; to attract the most gifted professors, scholars and technicians from around the globe; to endow new interdisciplinary centers and institutes; and to enhance research initiatives across the University’s campuses.

“This is a campaign about people, a campaign to enhance the University’s investment in our students, faculty, and staff,” Shalala said.

At the launch event, UM celebrated its benefactors by inducting them into honor societies and announced the creation of two new honor societies.

Drs. Phillip and Patricia Frost were recognized for their individual gift of $33 million to the School of Music, which was renamed The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music in their honor.

“I can honestly say the University is what attracted me to Miami. I came here in 1965, when I was recruited to join the faculty of the medical school,” said Dr. Phillip Frost, chairman of the UM Board of Trustees and chair of The Campaign for UM. “It was an important turning point in my life, providing me with tremendous opportunities — I feel as though I owe the University something in return.”

Other donors shared Frost’s passion for the university and its contribution to their lives.

UM alum Sheikh Tarek Al-Fassi and his family were inducted into the George E. Merrick Society for those who have contributed $1 million or more.

“I have to give something to the university for the great job UM did for me,” Al-Fassi said. “For someone like me, who comes from outside the United States, UM has a great potential to be an international school. You see people from all over the world, but they feel that UM is their home.”

The campaign will help fund many improvements to UM.

Amongst the anticipated additions to campus, courtesy of the campaign, are new buildings, endowments, and scholarships on all campuses and in all schools.

Dr. Paul Sugrue, dean of the School of Business, told The First Impression that one of the additions would be a virtual library for undergraduate business students, to be completed in Fall 2005.

The last campaign ended in 1990 after surpassing its goal of $400 million. The money funded the construction of the Knight Physics building, established the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and provided $23 million in scholarships.

According to Shalala, Momentum has come at a time when most universities are afraid to try to raise funds because of the economy.

“I am very impatient – I did not want to wait,” Shalala said.

Beginning with the creation of UM in 1926, contributions have helped the University expand to the level it is at now.

“Our University’s growing reputation for excellence has been carved from the astonishing contributions of our faculty and staff, from the impressive achievement of our students, from the inspired leadership of past administrators,” Shalala said. “And from the remarkable generosity of friends and alumni all over the world who, in giving so generously, have given us a margin of excellence.” I

When asking a high school senior what the term “provost” is, most respond with a blank look on one’s face. Most seniors are familiar with principals and deans; however, the university has a couple more terms to learn. There are many definitions for the word provost. One means the chief jailor at a prison; another is Chief Magistrate at Scottish Cities. Not at UM.

Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Luis Glaser is the Chief Operating Officer at UM. All the academic deans report to him, and he has overall control of the university budget.

“My job is to make all programs better, and to do that, I have influence over the money,” Glaser says.

Even though Glaser serves in the position of Executive Vice President and Provost, he also finds time in his daily schedule to inspire the minds of our young university students. Provost Glaser transforms into Dr. Glaser in the Cox Science Building, when he can be caught teaching BIL 255, Cellular and Molecular Biology.

“At the University of Miami… you can learn as much from fellow students as you can learn inside the classroom.” Dr. Luis Glaser Executive Vice President and Provost

“I teach because at the University of Miami, that is what we are all about,” Glaser says.

Glaser feels some of the best times working in a university is when college students grow up.

“It’s great, because they come in as babies, and I am still in touch with many of them.”

Not only is Glaser a proponent of academics, but also Greek Life — Glaser is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Glaser sees many great things in the future for the world of academia at UM.

“We are going to take a different approach to general education,” Glaser says. “We will become less rigid, and we will focus on the students’ ability to process information.” There will also be a significant jump in research activity.

Last year UM announced a one billion dollar capital campaign, one of the largest in the nation. Glaser believes this will have a great outcome with the university. There will be better facilities for education purposes. There will also be more student scholarships available. In the near future, we will see more student on-campus apartments, additional buildings for architecture, completion of the new Weeks School of Music Library, as well as the groundbreaking of the new School of Nursing.

There are three recommendations from Provost Glaser to all new students at UM. First, each student must understand proper time management. Second, experience people outside of the classroom.

“At the University of Miami, we have an extraordinary collection of people. You can learn as much from fellow students as you can learn inside the classroom,” Glaser says.

The third recommendation is to get involved in activities and socialize.

Offering words of advice to all students, Glaser says, “Use the university as a resource. If you do not tell the system your needs, the system will never know. Start a dialogue with the system. Do not be shy, because you will be a better student and a better human being because of that.” I

Dr. Pat Whitely, vice president for Student Affairs, is always on the run. Whether it’s attending meetings with SAFAC, eating lunch with student leaders while they voice their concerns about the University, or taking her daughter to International Week, Whitely’s life is anything but commonplace.

“Every day is different, even though this is my eighth year as vice president. No two days are ever the same,” Whitely said. “The job is intellectually and politically challenging. It’s fun, too – I like working with the students.”

Many appreciate Whitely for her open-door policy and constant contact with students.

“I try to be a good role model. Hopefully I’m seen as down-to-earth,” Whitely said. “I try not to be someone who hides behind the position.”

In order to be the role model that she hopes to be, Whitely has to manage all of her commitments.

“I try not to have a really busy day, in terms of countless meetings,” Whitely said. “I try to be in my office as much as possible.”

Whitely frequently receives invitations to UM affiliated events, both on and off campus. She typically will turn down off-campus events because it takes her away from the students.

“I try not to travel much, especially at the beginning and end of the semesters because that’s when I’m needed most,” Whitely said.

Indeed, turning down those invitations makes a difference to students; Whitely’s presence is felt throughout campus. She is a regular at all of the important events on campus, everything from Funday to Student Government Inauguration.

“A lot of what I do is make good decisions for the students,” Whitely said. “There is a lot of problem-solving in the job. I like being the person who could potentially sway a decision. I like being able to push the straw a little bit more.”

Whitely deals with problems that occur all over campus.

“I work on the culture and climate of the University as well as with fundraising and the trustees,” Whitely said. “I’m responsible for everything outside of the classroom. I help support the academic goals of the institution.”

With the position comes a lot of power, including being the chief appellate officer for the University. Currently, Whitely is in charge of 15 separate departments, including Residence Halls, Multicultural Student Affairs and Wellness and Recreation. She is also involved in the planning for the new Student Activity Center.

“We try to make sure that our services meet the demands of the students,” Whitely said.

In her spare time, Whitely enjoys working out and playing racquetball.

“Exercise is important because the better that I take care of myself, the more energy I have, which helps me do my job better,” Whitely said.

She is also family oriented. The oldest of seven children, Whitely has eight nieces and nephews. She lives with her husband, two year-old daughter and father in Coconut Grove.

Despite the busy and often hectic days, Whitely enjoys every minute of her job.

“I’m a Hurricane and I’m proud to be one,” Whitely said. I

UM President Donna Shalala is excited about the upcoming year and the possibilities for the University’s future. With the first presidential debate of the 2004 campaign being held at UM, the political interests and involvement of UM students have been pushed into the national spotlight.

“I think the issues of war and peace are of central interest to college students,” Shalala said. “It seems to me that this election is going to determine the character of our country and how we are perceived by other people and how we think about ourselves.”

“You can’t make a university better unless the students see the place as their place.” Donna Shalala University of Miami President

During the 2003-2004 school year. UM made a strong push to get students registered to vote under the Get Out the Vote program, which was a success, registering over 1000 students. Combined with the addition of the Convocation Center as a new voting precinct on campus, UM students stand to have a powerful effect during the elections.

“If they vote, students can have a tremendous impact,” she said. “We’ve provided opportunities for students to register either in their hometown by absentee ballot or to vote here on campus.”

Shalala feels that as an increasing number of students are living on campus year round, it’s important to provide an opportunity to vote on campus.

The impending debate has energized the students of UM and is expected to be the biggest event of the year. Shalala’s tireless efforts to bring the debate to UM were only the beginning of what has become an immense project.

“This is just the warm up,” she said. “It gets really intense after the nominating conventions.”

Shalala is looking forward to the new opportunities becoming available to UM students. She believes that the educational experience and environment is what sets UM apart from other universities.

“You get a great research university with small classes,” Shalala said. “It’s a beautiful setting in a diverse community.”

“What the faculty did this year was to offer more flexibility in the selection of courses for students,” she said. “The future is being able to major in a discipline or in a professional school, while getting as broad an education as possible.”

According to Shalala, this represents a paradigm in curriculum selection.

“This will allow people to fulfill their [degree] requirements by being able to put together courses in different ways,” Shalala said.

As a new year begins and students get settled in classes and other activities, President Shalala encourages every student to get involved in helping to improve UM; the university is here for the students.

“You can’t make a university better unless the students see the place as their place,” Shalala said. “It needs to be a place that provides them with a high quality of life and a high quality education.” I