There is an innovative new club on campus – On the Lyrical Tip [OTLT] hopes to create an awareness of popular as well as diverse styles of music through the analysis of song lyrics.

OTLT’s mission is to expose middle and high school students to fresh types of music with the hopes of improving their proficiency in English. Club members will teach students in their homeroom classes how to analyze song lyrics in popular music for both its content and poetic devices. They hope to target group students with low reading skills.

Thus far, tutoring is set up with Ponce de Leon Middle School and Baypoint School, which serves students with special needs.

“I believe in the cause behind the organization, especially its gearing towards underprivileged youth and spreading diversity and literacy through music,” Nupur Verma, OTLT board member, said. “That motivated me to help make this club a reality on our campus.”

According to Melissa Bent, founder and president of OTLT, music is a way of life. It helps to pinpoint questions and to generate expressions of feeling. Her desire to explore musical interests from a young age motivated her to create the club.

Bent said she wanted to expand her interest in music beyond conversations with friends. In a club environment, discussions could be more structured and serious, and members could feel enriched through their volunteer work.

In high school, one of Bent’s English teachers had her write a daily journal in which she analyzed music. The knowledge she gained from this activity inspired her to offer the same opportunity to the current generation of adolescents.

“Music is a big part of our lives,” Bent said, “It affects everybody at each step in their life.”

Little research has been conducted on the effect that analyzing music has on a student’s performance in school. Most studies center on how students who play a musical instrument, on average, do better in school than their peers.

Bent hopes that the activities of the club will serve as a pilot study to demonstrate how students can benefit from examining musical lyrics.

OTLT wants to reach out to the UM community by conducting forums for the discussion and analysis of music. Club members will serve as forum moderators.

Official meeting times have not yet been set, but general member meetings for OTLT will be biweekly. Everyone is invited to check out the club, and for those interested in joining, dues are $10.

For more information about On the Lyrical Tip, contact Melissa Bent at m.bent@umiami.edu.

Reeva Oza can be contacted at r.oza@umiami.edu.

College Republicans host week of political events
The UM College Republicans will be hosting “Elephant Stampede: A Week in Republican Politics” from Feb. 16-19. The week will consist of Republican speakers, a panel discussion on US Foreign Policy, Lincoln Penny Drive to benefit veterans, voter registration and much more. A kickoff “Rally for America” will take place on Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, email umcrclub@umcrnc.org.

Meet your SG candidates
Meet the candidates and Referenda Sponsors of this year’s Student Government Elections on the UC Patio on February 19 from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. The vice-presidential debate is on February 17th at the Rat at 7 p.m. and the presidential debate will be held on February 18 at the Rat at 7 p.m.

Library hours extended
In response to requests from students and faculty, the Richter Library will stay open until 10 p.m. on Saturdays during the Spring Semester. Throughout the semester, use will be analyzed to determine whether Saturday hours need to be expanded on a permanent basis. For information about hours over breaks and at other University of Miami Libraries, please see www.library.miami.edu

2/11 African Storytelling, 7 p.m. UC Lounge
2/12 Discussion Forum, 7 p.m. UC Ballrooms A & B
2/13 Black Love Day
2/14 Passions 2: Valentine’s Edition, 10 p.m.- 2 a.m. The Rat
2/15 Gospel Explosion, 5 p.m. UC Patio
2/17 Black Film Series: Do the Right Thing, 8 p.m. Hecht R.C.
2/18 House of Black Culture, 8 p.m. The Rat
2/19 Mr. and Ms. International, 7 p.m. UC I-Lounge
2/20 Fashion Show, 7 p.m. UC I-Lounge
2/21 Greek Extravaganza, 7 p.m. Hecht Athletic Center
2/23 Black Film Trivia, 8 p.m. TBA
2/24 Ms. Black & Gold, 7 p.m. Clarke Recital Hall
2/25 Brother’s Appreciation Day, 7 p.m. UC Ballroom A & B
2/26 Male Extravaganza, 7 p.m. The Rat
2/27 BAM Comedy Jam, 7 p.m. The Rat
2/28 Royal Heritage Ball, 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. Airport Marriott
2/29 Closing Ceremonies, 3 p.m. UC Patio

Opening ceremonies on Feb. 2 marked the beginning of Black Awareness Month [BAM] on campus, a time when students of black culture can come together to honor their heritage. The United Black Students association [UBS] works throughout the year to plan these month-long events, intended to raise awareness and appreciation of the contributions that black Americans have made, not just in the country, but on campus as well.

“Black Awareness Month. . . allows people of all races to see African Americans in a brighter light,” Marcus Washington, freshman, said. “Through the events thrown on campus by UBS, UM students get a chance to celebrate our culture with us.”

UBS is an organization in which black students can come together to discuss issues and do something for UM. However, they are also enriching their own cultural knowledge.

“There are a lot of things that we don’t actually know. . . and unless it’s passed down from family to family, a lot of things are forgotten,” Jendayi Muntu, BAM African Storytelling Chair and member of the BAM Opening Ceremonies Committee, said. “I think [Black History Month] benefits us by informing us and [keeping] alive the things we do know, making sure [they are] not misinterpreted.”

Although many participate in UBS, a dedicated group of 35 members plans the events for each day of BAM.

“The events that we’re having are an example of how we live, just put on display basically, so that people who are not familiar with our culture can understand what we like, the things that we like to do, things that we enjoy, [and] things we don’t like,” Christopher Lomax, junior, said.

“A lot of people have misconceptions about African American culture. It’s not necessarily prejudice, but misconceptions.” Jason Starr, junior, said. “Black Awareness Month enlightens people, [giving them] a whole new aspect of black culture.”

Events for BAM run through the Feb. 29, with closing ceremonies taking place on the UC Patio. Events include a Black Film Series in the residential colleges, African storytelling, a fashion show and a discussion forum.

“I hope that Black Awareness Month serves as a catalyst for an information type experience where people understand really what African American, black people, are really about, what kind of contributions they’ve made to society as a whole. . . and what we might be able to do in the future,” said Lomax.

For more information about Black Awareness Month, contact the UBS at 305-284-2583.

Christine Dominguez can be contacted at c.dominguez3@umiami.edu.

SATURDAY
In honor of Black Awareness Month, the Caribbean Students Association hosts Passions 2: Valentine’s Edition. Held at the Rat, this party will have DJ Madd Alliance Disco and runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is $5 for non-UM students.

SUNDAY
In honor of Black Awareness Month, the UBS presents “Gospel Explosion,” a Gospel Music Showcase, at 5 p.m. on the UC Patio, featuring singers, praise dancers and more.

MONDAY
Come down to the Rock from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for “Rally for America,” the kickoff for the College Republicans’ “Elephant Stampede: A Week in Republican Politics.”

WEDNESDAY
Spring Career Expo 2004 will be held in the Wellness Center from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Professional dress is required, and bring your ‘Cane Card. For more information, visit www.miami.edu/careerexpo. If you have not updated your resume or uploaded it onto CaneTRAK, you should do it now! Stop by the Toppel Career Center, Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. to have someone critique it for you. No appointment is necessary!

The Cinematic Arts Commission presents The Matrix Revolutions at the Cosford Cinema at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Admission is free with ‘Cane Card.

The Serpentine parking lot [the Snake], located in front of the Convocation Center [C-Center], has been closed to resident students recently during special events. The Miami Hurricane has investigated the situation and found that residents are frustrated with these policies and ready for change.

According to representatives from UM Parking and Transportation, the lot is closed two hours before large-crowd events. Those already parked in the lot prior to the closure are not forced to move their vehicles.

The Snake has 344 regular spots, open to resident students when the Dickinson West Lot [D-West lot], facing the Wellness Center, is completely full. Patrons of the Wellness Center and visitors are also allowed to park at the Snake after 4 p.m.

The D-West lot consists of 273 regular spaces, 14 meters and eight disabled spots. It is open to residents and employees with the appropriate parking permit.

According to Chuck McConnell, director of the Department of Parking and Transportation, UM has sold “just shy of 2,000 residential decals.”

When asked the number of illegal parking tickets given by UM during any given time, McConnell said that he was unable to give out that information.

The Miami Hurricane visited http://www.miami.edu/parking/appeals/, however, and accessed every ticket that has been granted or denied an appeal.

Listed in the Jan. 23 review were 293 appeals of individual tickets dated mostly from December 2003 to January 2004.

In the Dec. 5 review, there were 250 appeals from tickets dated mostly from November to December.

McConnell says the whole campus is “just shy of 9,000 total parking spaces.” In addition, he says, “At any given moment, the Ponce Garage has 300 to 400 open spaces, while the Scodella and Red Road Lots have 250-300.”

Residents living in Hecht, Stanford and the apartment area usually park at the D-West and the Snake.

Some students have brought up the fact that many C-Center patrons sneak past security and park at the D-West lot during events.

McConnell says that is not the case.

“Those attending an event are never directed to the [D-West lot], or any residential lot, for that matter – they’re directed to the Ponce Garage, the Pavia Garage, [the Snake] and the Metro-Rail lots,” McConnell said. “Anybody could technically have access to that lot.”

Nevertheless, parking remains a problem during C-Center events.

“It seems like UM will do anything to make money – including giving parking priority to Convocation Center ticket-holders instead of students,” Trevor Green, junior, said. “Resident students pay a lot of money for parking decals, but what good does it do if there aren’t any spaces available?

“I feel like UM doesn’t care about me as a student – they just see me as a price tag or commission,” Green said.

Green also mentioned that many times, students realize that there is a problem with the C-Center parking rules, but they do not bother to say anything.

“You know how it is – you complain about things with your friends – and then you forget about it or you don’t know who to make a complaint to,” Green said. “Sometimes, even if you do make a complaint, nobody seems to value it.”

Christele Francois, freshman, has a full-year resident student permit valued at $298. She received a ticket for parking in the VIP Lot next to the C-Center, close to Hecht.

“There wasn’t room in front of the towers,” Francois said. “I searched for 20 minutes and still couldn’t find a spot.”

Francois said she eventually parked in the VIP lot because she had never been told that parking there was restricted.

“When I returned to my car four days later, I had received two tickets,” Francois said.

McConnell claims that restricting the VIP Lot from resident students serves a “dual use.” He explained that during the day, the VIP Lot accommodates commuter students, and at night is used for event parking.

“Unlike commuter students or those visiting the C-Center for an event, resident students can park in a spot for days or even weeks, thus potentially preventing space from achieving maximum use in the VIP Lot,” McConnell said. “There’s a trade-off: you can spend a lot of time looking for the closest space, or you can park where there is a greater likelihood of space and a convenience to the Hurry ‘Cane Shuttle System.”

For more information, contact the Department of Parking and Transportation at 305-284-3096.

Fizaa Dosani can be contacted at f.dosani@umiami.edu.