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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Miami Hurricane
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Re: What exactly is in the C-Store? (18/11/03)

So, my fellow freaks and I were sitting around the information desk and we happened to come across an article in the November 18, 2003 issue of the Miami Hurricane. The article was titled “What exactly is in the C-Store. ” We had several problems with this article.

First of all, the people at the information desk are the same people that work at Ticketmaster. Even though we are greatly appreciative of the advertisement, we thought we would clear things up. Ticketmaster’s hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-3:00, which is clearly stated above the window (not Sunday as referred to in the article). The Ticketmaster on campus also only accepts cash. The article stated, “On the way there, there’s a Ticketmaster in the middle – it’s just a tiny window where some freak works all day.” The problem with this is that although Ticketmaster is in a small window in that exactly location, there are many people that work in the Ticketmaster office, not just some “freak.”

Second of all, there are many things to do around the University Center and it is very sad that any student, let alone a junior, has never stepped foot in it. Some of the things that happen around the UC on a regular basis are concerts outside in the patio and club meetings upstairs. That’s in addition to the pool, billiard tables, ping pong tables, newspaper and yearbook offices, Sbarros, Storm Surge, travel agency, copy center, Credit Union, the C-store, the base of many clubs on campus, computer lab, and let’s not forget the very talented jugglers that come to the breezeway every Thursday night. Oh yeah, not to mention, the main attraction: the Ticketmaster and the information desk, where all the freaks work.

Finally, if you’re ever in the UC and have a question, the information desk is there to help. If you need a ticket to a concert, game or other event in Florida, you can buy your tickets at Ticketmaster. So, feel free to come talk to us. Although we may be weird, we certainly aren’t freaks.

P.S. The C-Store does carry Lifestyle condoms.

Justin Diamond

EDITORIAL: Standing up for the Palestinians

The Miami Hurricane
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Question: Do you support terrorists?

Answer: I don’t know.

The above dialogue characterizes the recent presentation given by Lauren DeSalvo, the 26- year-old activist from the International Solidarity Movement who was brought to campus by the Islamic Society, OASIS (Organization of Arab Students Instituting Solidarity), and Amnesty International. Her presentation was a first person account of her three-month mission to promote the well-being of the Palestinians living in the West Bank. On a daily basis, DeSalvo would travel to Israeli checkpoints in Gaza and negotiate with the soldiers there for the passage of different Palestinian civilians. She participated in symbolic events, such as passing roses through different portions of the security fence that Israel is erecting around its territories. She also tore down roadblocks that impeded the movement of Palestinians to their homes and workplaces.

These groups had noble intentions when bringing DeSalvo to campus. The President of OASIS stated that: “We were motivated to bring an International Solidarity Movement speaker to UM because we believe that educating the students and faculty about the current situation in the Palestinian Occupied Territories is essential to understanding the conflict.” But the description of OASIS is “to promote the Arab people, their history, culture, problems and aspirations.” And at second glance, the presentation by DeSalvo did not advance the understanding of the conflict or try and promote a peaceful resolution; instead, it gave a skewed impression of the mistreatment of Palestinian Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Throughout the hour and a half lecture, the word “peace” was not mentioned once. The presentation consistently mentioned tearing down the “apartheid wall,” but DeSalvo did not even attempt to refute the reason for its existence – to control terrorism that came from the population it is being built around. Indeed, DeSalvo placed emphasis on the repressed Palestinian population, but when questioned at the end of her lecture about how terrorists develop within Palestinian society, she responded with a “I cannot comment on that” beyond the ISM’s official policy of recognizing the Palestinian’s right to armed struggle and supporting that policy. DeSalvo could have made a case for herself had she said, “I am staunchly against the use of terrorism to achieve peace.” Instead, she invoked a double standard by rebuking the military tactics used by Israel but in essence supporting the violent tactics used by Palestinian suicide bombers. In doing so, she lost her credibility and lost part of her case for Palestinian apartheid.

When questioned about how the Palestinian Authority and Arafat were responsible for the failure of peace in the Middle East, DeSalvo said that her presentation was about the inhumanity of roadblocks and the fence, and that she felt it was less important for her presentation to highlight those issues.

With his documented support of terrorist organizations and his inability to compromise with the Israelis through several rounds of peace negociations, Yassar Arafat has been recognized as one of the greatest impediments to peace in the Middle East. How can a person so dedicated to achieving peace abstain from commenting on one of the primary obstacles to it?

Voicing an opinion about the inhumanity of suicide bombings and the sadistic nature of Arafat would not have clouded her message of Palestinian suffering at all. While important to recognize the forces in Palestinian society that have not been conducive to peace, it is also important to recognize the many civilians that she spoke of who genuinely oppose violence and are looking to end the conflict quickly and civilly. Israeli military rule and the neo-Berlinesque wall do not discriminate between those who are dedicated to a peaceful resolution to the problem or those who are dedicated to terrorizing innocent Israeli civilians. Military rule is not fair to those who support peace, or fair to those Palestinian civilians who are just trying to get on with their lives.

Unfortunately, military rule is the present reality. Israel cannot risk the lives of its population by toning down its presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. By completely disregarding the politics and the reasoning behind the vivid explanations of Palestinian suffering, De Salvo did little for the case of why these people should be liberated. Which is unfortunate, because those Palestinians who are interested in a nonviolent peace resolution – the people that she worked with – are indeed deserving of liberty.

HURRICANE HEALTHWATCH: Help available for smokers trying to quit

The Miami Hurricane
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Dear Hurricane,
I graduate and enter the workforce in May. Unfortunately, I smoke; however, I am considering quitting. I understand smoking is not permitted in workplaces and I am concerned how it will look to my new bosses if I take regular cigarette breaks. I realize community smoking cessation services can be quite costly. A couple years ago I tried quitting cold turkey, but it didn’t work. This time, I’m thinking about getting some help. Are there resources on campus to help students quit?

Sincerely,
Smoky Joe

Dear Smoky Joe,
Smoking is becoming more and more of a hassle for smokers. Fortunately, you are in luck. UM has several smoking cessation options for students. The Wellness Center offers the BeSmokeFree program.
BeSmokeFree is a six-week, seven-session comprehensive smoking cessation program that includes various activities, guest speakers, and complimentary therapies (hypnosis, acupuncture, massage, etc.). If you’re not interested in sitting through a program, free half-hour peer-education sessions with quit kits also are available.
Further, the Wellness Center’s STRIKE team regularly provides outreach with tips on quitting. The Health Center provides nicotine replacement therapy, i.e. patch and gum, as well as prescription medication, and provider counseling sessions. Once thought to be a crutch, research now supports the use of nicotine replacement and prescription therapies. It will make the quitting process much easier for you. My suggestion to you is to combine the services of both departments.
However, if you don’t have the time to seek these services or think you may succeed best by just quitting on your own, the following tips may help. Tips for Smoking Cessation:
1. Select a quit date.
2. Prepare for the quit date by telling everyone you know that you are quitting.
3. As you get closer to the quit date, reduce the number of cigarettes and/or switch brands to a light brand or one with lower nicotine/tar. Begin throwing out smoking paraphernalia such as ashtrays and lighters.
4. Try figuring out what your smoking triggers are and changing your behavior to avoid triggers. For example, if you always light up at a particular stop sign on your way to school, try changing your route.
5. Eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, exercise and get adequate sleep.
6. If stressed, attend the Counseling Center’s Stress Management class, held every Tuesday at 1 p.m., or consider signing up for yoga classes.
Many people in the process of quitting smoking are concerned about weight gain. The Wellness Center has several programs to help prevent this. My advice is to sign-up for the CHAMP program. The CHAMP program is a free fitness and lifestyle assessment.
A peer educator will review the assessment and make recommendations and referrals based on your results. Follow the CHAMP program with the free ‘Cane Quick Fit Program that sets students on a fitness program in the fitness room. Lastly, consider using our nutritional educational services.
For more information on any of these services, call 305-284-6524.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Pruchniewski

Jennifer Pruchniewski is a senior majoring in marine biology. She works in the Wellness Suite and is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.

POLICE BEAT: Keep cellulars close by to avoid theft

The Miami Hurricane
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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12
8:45 a.m. 5665 Ponce de Leon Criminal Mischief
1:35 p.m. 5200 University Dr. Burglary

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13

2:13 p.m. 1239 Dickinson Dr
Petit Theft
4:04 p.m. 1200 Walsh Ave. Burglary/ Vehicle

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14

10:37 a.m. 5501 San Amaro Dr. Petit Theft
10:39 p.m. 1228 Dickinson Dr. Criminal Mischief

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15

4:01 a.m. 5639 Merrick St. Petit Theft
10:12 p.m. 1231 Dickinson Dr. Burglary

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16
10:04 p.m. 1550 Brescia Ave. Theft
11:09 a.m. 1241 Dickinson Dr. Criminal Mischief
6:44 p.m. 1241 Dickinson Dr. Criminal Mischief

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17

1:40 a.m. 1231 Dickinson Dr. Burglary
4:45 p.m. 1550 Brescia Ave. Grand Theft
11:49 p.m. 1200 Walsh Ave. Battery

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18

4:54 p.m. 5665 Ponce de Leon Theft
10:20 p.m. 5185 Ponce de Leon Criminal Mischief

The Hurricane is currently working to improve police beat by working with Coral Gables Police Department.
For more information on crimes and crime prevention, contact Public Safety at 284-6666.

SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

The best way to prevent the loss or theft of your cell phone is to keep it with you at all times. If you find that your cell phone is lost or stolen while you are on the Coral Gables campus you must have the following information before a police report can be filed: the name of your cellular service provider, the Electronic Serial Number (ESN) of your cellular phone, and the make and model of your cellular phone. Without this information an officer will not be allowed to write a report for you.
Once you have gathered all of this information call the Department of Public Safety at 305-284-6666 to file a report. If you are on campus an officer will be sent to your location. If you are off campus, you will be directed to the Department of Public Safety offices.

UM’s own student-author publishes book of poetry

The Miami Hurricane
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Heaven’s Gate, a book of poems by UM student Alexander Martin, is inspiring a renewed interest among UM students in contemporary poetry.

Martin, a 23-year-old senior from Miami, is a creative writing major who has experienced personal tragedies that have aged him beyond his 23 years.

The book is a collection of poems that fall under the genre of “urban spirituality” and reflect Martin’s life experiences growing up in the culturally diverse environment of Miami.

Martin’s father committed suicide before he was born. He was raised by his mom and three older sisters in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and always saw himself as destined to succeed.

“It’s truly amazing for a young individual such as Alex to be a student and also to publish a book at the same time,” Cecilia Suarez, junior, said.

Martin started his writing career by publishing an independent newspaper called the Cipher from 1997 to 2001 that focused on the underground Hip Hop scene and urban music culture.

Martin says that the demands of being both a student and an author have forced him to manage his time well.

“Being busy allowed me to improve my time management skills and focus on doing work for classes and spending time on my writing projects,” Martin said.

He wants his book of poetry to reach out to a diverse group of people who seek a deeper level of understanding in their lives.

“I want the poems in Heaven’s Gate to be able to inspire people to reach another level in their personal life,” Martin said.

Martin has performed many of his poems live at open mic nights and at local poetry slams in Miami.

The book has been popular among various sections of the UM student body.

“Alex’s poems take you to a deeper level of thinking and allow you to think outside the box,” Rodney Rouzard, junior, said.

According to Martin, the title Heaven’s Gate was chosen for two different reasons.

“I used the title Heaven’s Gate for shock value so people would be intrigued and come up to me and ask me about the book,” Martin said. “On a deeper level, the title can be interpreted as using your mind to reach Heaven.”

Martin has been selling his book in the UM Breezeway for the past week and has been personally discussing the poems with readers and signing copies of the book, which can be purchased for $5 a copy.

The poems, with titles such as “Silent Love” and “Earth Cannot Contain Me,” have challenged and inspired readers.

“The poem ‘Stolen Souls’ is what intrigued me to buy the book. I love the content – it’s an expression of mixed culture with true moral statements all brought together,” Silvana Marmolejos, freshman, said.

Along with moral and spiritual overtones, Martin’s poems are infused with sexuality and discuss issues that college students can relate to.

“Alex’s book is off the hook. It has an uplifting spirit and something for everyone,” Junkori Davis, junior, said. “My favorite track is a sensual poem titled ‘Body Talk.'”

Martin used his own company called Origin Omni Media to handle the design and publishing of Heaven’s Gate.

Martin plans to promote his book at Florida International University this semester and is working on his next book, a yet-untitled collection of new poems and short stories that he hopes to sell nationwide.

Ben Enfield can be contacted at b.enfield@umiami.edu

FACULTY SERIES: Political science professor shares seasoned legal career with students

The Miami Hurricane
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At first you would think he’s just a funny guy. But then you start to hear little bits and pieces of his past and he starts to drop obscure trivia mid-sentence, and you begin to wonder about the breadth of his experience and the depth of his knowledge.

As it turns out, what you might have guessed is not too far from the truth.

There is a lot more to Mr. Benton Becker, J.D., than meets the eye.

This man who sits in his office in the quiescent corner of the Jenkins Building teaches about the Constitution, having had firsthand experience as an advisor to Congress in judicial affairs.

He teaches the science of politics, having knowledge that comes from his positions close to some of the biggest political names in American history. He teaches about the law, having owned and operated large, successful firms in both Miami and the nation’s capital.

Becker is a professor at UM in the Department of Political Science in the School of Business, teaching two sections of Political Science 211 and Constitutional Law I – IV.

Without fail, every section of his classes fills up within the first few days of registration, and he writes overrides on a routine basis.

“He takes a personal interest in all of his students,” said Elisah B, Lewis, Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Career Options Counseling. “He provides a wealth of knowledge from his brilliant legal career which he shares with all of his classes.”

Part of his teaching excellence comes from his background.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Becker finished in the upper five percent of his law school class at American University and went on to work for the U.S. Department of Justice as a criminal trial lawyer.

There he made contact with Gerald Ford, at that time the minority leader in the House, through a criminal trial involving a committee of which Ford was a member.

When Becker stopped working for the government and opened his own law office in Washington, D.C., Ford was one of the first clients to contact him for his legal services. During the first term of Nixon’s presidency, the two men had a professional lawyer-client relationship.

But when Nixon’s Vice President resigned, Becker began involving himself more heavily in White House affairs and took a leave of absence from his practice.

“I was very concerned with protecting the Vice President Ford so that he could remain outside the battle,” Becker said.

When Nixon resigned, he left all of the tapes and papers dealing with his investigation at the White House. The Attorney General and Becker had a heated dispute about the legality of keeping the papers or returning them to the former President.

Becker felt very strongly about making the papers public knowledge. So when Ford considered a pardon deal for Nixon, Becker asked to negotiate the release of the papers to the public along with the pardon.

“So now you can go and look up any congressional record, and you can listen to just what this man was up to,” Becker said.

It may seem debatable to some whether Becker takes more pride in making these papers available to the public or teaching students at UM.

“In terms of a lasting effort, I think that teaching does that,” he said. “I get to make you interested in what I think you should be interested in.”

Becker worked at the School of Law for three years upon leaving the White House and then spent two years as senior trial lawyer in Janet Reno’s office when she was State Attorney for Dade County in 1978. He then returned to UM to teach undergraduates.

Becker said he receives information from law school representatives that his constitutional law classes put students “light years” ahead of other pre-law students.

“He epitomizes what you want in a professor,” said Don Donelson, junior, who is currently taking Constitutional Law I. “He is immensely knowledgeble in his subjects, energetic in class and willing to go the extra mile beyond the classroom to make the University of Miami a great institution.”

Jillian Bandes can be contacted at jillianbandes@hotmail.com.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Miami Hurricane
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Israeli Hebrew course to be offered for spring

A new Hebrew course, Israeli Hebrew for Heritage Speakers, will be offered on Tuesdays from 3:05 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in the spring semester. This course is designed to develop the Israeli communication skills of semi-native heritage speakers of Israeli, bilinguals and South-American Israeli-Spanish or Israeli-Portuguese bilinguals, who have received little formal education in the Israeli language This course will also strengthen their speaking, writing, reading and listening abilities through learning about Israeli style and idioms, contemporary slang, recent grammatical developments, literature, music, film, newspapers, politics, lexicology and other aspects of the language. The course emphasizes oral communication and is conducted in Israeli. For more information, contact Dr. Ghil’ad Zuckermann at 305-284-8561 or gz@miami.edu.

Course teaches about German exiles in WWII

Do you need a humanities credit? Need a writing credit? Consider taking GER 310, Voices from Abroad: German Exile Culture, 1933-1990. What happens when people are forced to leave their homeland for an unknown place – with an unfamiliar language, new traditions and none of the family and friends they once knew? Can they still call their birthplace home, even after its government or people demanded that they leave it for good? When Hitler took power in 1933, scores of authors, painters and filmmakers were among those forced out of Germany and Austria and into exile. Jews, Communists and others persecuted by the Nazis fled for their lives, scattering themselves around the globe. From Palestine to New York, Sao Paulo to Shanghai and Cuba to Auckland, these artists struggled to continue their work in often unfamiliar, alienating, lonely and impoverished circumstances. This course will examine the works and lives that bear witness to this struggle to survive. Course and texts are in English. For further information, contact Dr. Michele Ricci at mricci@miami.edu.

SART needs volunteers

The University of Miami needs volunteers to serve on the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Warm, empathic and mature faculty, staff and graduate students are needed as advocates for victims of sexual assault. The SART Program is organized under the direction of the Student Counseling Center. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer member of this important team, please call 305-284-5511 for more information.

Basketball season & Hurricane Force begin

Opening Night for the men’s basketball team is Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. as the Hurricanes host Lubbock Christian. They return to action on Sunday, Nov. 23, against Louisiana-Monroe at noon. Opening Night for the women’s basketball team is Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. against cross-town rival FIU. Beginning this season, all games will be played at the Convocation Center. For the first time ever, all UM students will have the opportunity to join the Hurricane Force, the new name for the Convocation Center student section and a program designed to reward students for attending Hurricane basketball games. As part of this program, all Hurricane Force members will receive an official Force t-shirt and reward card. Each time a member attends a home basketball game, he or she will receive a stamp on a reward card. When a Force members reach certain stamp levels they can receive retail discounts, food products, and merchandise and even become eligible for several grand prizes, including guaranteed tickets to the 2004-05 basketball season (the ‘Canes first season in the ACC), hotel stays and round-trip airline tickets. To sign up for the program, stop by the Hurricane Force Reward Center located outside the student section at the Convocation Center during any regular season Hurricane basketball game or call 305-284-2400 for more information.
ATTENTION UM STUDENTS: THE STUDENT TICKET POLICY HAS BEEN CHANGED BACK TO THE “FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE” POLICY FORMERLY USED WHEN THE ‘CANES PLAYED AT THE MIAMI ARENA!

Food donations sought for Stop, Drop & Run

Stop, Drop and Run is coming to a dorm near you. Going away for winter break and need to get rid of the food in your dorm room? Donation boxes will be set up in each residential college to donate unwanted foodstuff so that it can go to the needy of our community for the holidays. Help LINK feed the community!

New sorority sells Latin food to raise funds

The ladies of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. will be selling Latin food in efforts to raise money for their newly established chapter at UM. They will collect pre-orders Nov. 21 through 26. Each plate will cost $5 and include chicken, rice, plantains, salad and soft drinks. All food will be delivered by noon on Dec. 1. To place an order email wcp_UM@hotmail.com.

Gifts wanted for Holiday Hope Tree

The Butler Volunteer Services Center is celebrating all the Holidays by giving you a chance to buy a disadvantaged child a gift for the Holidays. Holiday Hope Tree information can be picked up at the University Center Information Desk.

CALENDAR

The Miami Hurricane
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TODAY

There are many poetry slams on this campus, but Afrocentria is the only performance slam where everyone is welcome to share all talents, in all languages, from all over the world with no anxiety. It is the only place to find food, performances and a local band that performed at this year’s World Series, all for free.
Don’t miss it at 7:45 p.m. on the UC Rock. For more info visit www.miami.edu/studorgs/asu.

Don’t miss the UM Society of Composers and the Society of Composers National Student Conference concert at 2 p.m. in Gusman Hall and at 8 p.m. in Clarke Hall.

Hurricane Productions presents Belly Bust hosted by Lav Luv and headlined by Finesse at 7 p.m. at the Rat.

Don’t miss a lecture by A. B. Yehoshua, Israeli novelist and author of Mr. Mani and A Journey to the End of the Millennium on his new book, The Liberated Bride, at the Cosford Cinema from 12 to 2 p.m.
The first 100 undergraduates to arrive (with UM ID) will be given a free copy of his new book. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, contact 305-284-2182.

A Week for Life presents LIFE Party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Rat.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22

The ‘Canes Chess Club invites you to participate in a chess tournament in the I-Lounge at 12:30 p.m. Entrance fee is free for members and $6 for nonmembers. Win cash prizes! For more

information, please contact caneschessclub@yahoo.com.
The Indian Students Association presents Diwali, the Festival of Lights celebration, at 7 p.m. at the North Miami Beach Performing Arts Center. For more information or tickets contact Aruna at 305-284-3764.

UM Society of Composers and the Society of Composers National Student Conference present two more concerts at 2 p.m. in Clarke Hall and at 8 p.m. in Gusman Hall.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26

CAC presents Bad Boys 2 at 8 and 10:30 p.m. at Cosford Cinema.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Gay marriage legalized in the state of Mass.

The Miami Hurricane
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0

Heaven’s Gate, a book of poems by UM student Alexander Martin, is inspiring a renewed interest among UM students in contemporary poetry.

Martin, a 23 year old senior from Miami, is a creative writing major who has experienced personal tragedies that have aged him beyond his 23 years.

The book is a collection of poems that fall under the genre of “urban spirituality” and reflect Martin’s life experiences growing up in the culturally diverse environment of Miami.

Martin’s father committed suicide before he was born. He was raised by his mom and three older sisters in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and always saw himself as destined to succeed.

“It’s truly amazing for a young individual such as Alex to be a student and also to publish a book at the same time,” Cecilia Suarez, junior, said.

Martin started his writing career by publishing an independent newspaper called the Cipher from 1997 to 2001 that focused on the underground Hip Hop scene and urban music culture.

Martin says that the demands of being both a student and an author have forced him to manage his time well.

“Being busy allowed me to improve my time management skills and focus on doing work for classes and spending time on my writing projects,” Martin said.

He wants his book of poetry to reach out to a diverse group of people who seek a deeper level of understanding in their lives.

“I want the poems in Heaven’s Gate to be able to inspire people to reach another level in their personal life,” Martin said.

Martin has performed many of his poems live at open mic nights and at local poetry slams in Miami.

The book has been popular among various sections of the UM student body.

“Alex’s poems take you to a deeper level of thinking and allow you to think outside the box,” Rodney Rouzard, junior, said.

According to Martin, the title Heaven’s Gate was chosen for two different reasons.

“I used the title Heaven’s Gate for shock value so people would be intrigued and come up to me and ask me about the book,” Martin said. “On a deeper level, the title can be interpreted as using your mind to reach Heaven.”

Martin has been selling his book in the UM Breezeway for the past week and has been personally discussing the poems with readers and signing copies of the book, which can be purchased for $5 a copy.

The poems, with titles such as “Silent Love” and “Earth Cannot Contain Me,” have challenged and inspired readers.

“The poem ‘Stolen Souls’ is what intrigued me to buy the book. I love the content – it’s an expression of mixed culture with true moral statements all brought together,” Silvana Marmolejos, freshman, said.

Along with moral and spiritual overtones, Martin’s poems are infused with sexuality and discuss issues that college students can relate to.

“Alex’s book is off the hook. It has an uplifting spirit and something for everyone,” Junkori Davis, junior, said. “My favorite track is a sensual poem titled ‘Body Talk.'”

Martin used his own company called Origin Omni Media to handle the design and publishing of Heaven’s Gate.

Martin plans to promote his book at Florida International University this semester and is working on his next book, a yet-untitled collection of new poems and short stories that he hopes to sell nationwide.

Ben Enfield can be contacted at b.enfield@umiami.edu

More Press than Protesters

The Miami Hurricane
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The number of press photographers and writers surpassed the number of Gap protesters at “Boycott The Gap” event in South Beach on Monday. The protestors, who traveled from San Francisco (which is ironically where The Gap began), are against The Gap for many reasons. Their primary concerns were the use of sweatshops that exploit laborers and the destruction of the environment through clothing production.
Eventually the protesters stripped off their clothes, saying they would rather wear nothing than wear clothes from The Gap.

Facts (from Boycott The Gap pamphlet)

*The Gap gets its cotton from Uzbekistan, where field workers are among the poorest and most exploited laborers.

*Workers in Gap’s sweatshops make as little as 11 cents per hour.

*If interested in more of the reasons behind the boycott, check out the following websites for more information:
www.gapsucks.org
www.behindthelabel.org
www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatshops/gap/index.html.

Flying a kite as the world ends

The Miami Hurricane
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Is this the end?

The Miami Hurricane
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The Wolfsonian’s Weapons of Mass Dissemination: The Propaganda of War attempts to draw parallels – through posters, house wares, and even children’s books and games – between the propaganda of the past and the audience’s relationship to contemporary propaganda (see a PR-fueled “Campus Living” section in the Hurricane). The methods utilized by dominating forces throughout the World Wars are stark examples of the power of fear and the sly nature of these contagious messages force the actions of the people to reflect the agenda of the government.

Blatant intentions is the most chilling effect of this exhibition. It seems irrational for people to buy into propagandist ideas, but in a time when the entire world is at war, the only thing that seems to matter is survival.

The downward spiral of patriotism to prejudice is a slippery slope that begins with a novel ideal and ends with an ignorant and potentially harmful perspective: the U.S. government encourages people to buy bonds during wartime so deflation and interest rates seemingly do not rob the people of their money when the economy bottoms out; during World War II, after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, a poster that was visibly sponsored by the Kroger Grocery Corporation depicts an Asian man sneaking up to a female child’s room with a knife and reads: “Keep Jap Terror from Your Home. Buy War Bonds.” Of course, the interest here is in that of the government.

Moreover, terrorism is relative to the cause and means by which it is enacted. President Bush Jr.’s administration has promoted the idea of terrorism to new heights by instigating a Cold War Era-esque mentality of “Us vs. Them.” This paradigm of hate is a Machiavellian technique of controlling the people by over-generalizing the effect of the actions of nations.

The complex system of foreign affairs drives political leaders to make decisions based on how his or her own country perceives itself and how other nations judge the actions and propaganda that are exported out of the country. This exhibit references the decisions and actions that nations on many different sides partook in the past to achieve their goals.

The Axis nations during WWII introduced works that claimed that the U.S., Great Britain, and Russia were all involved in a massive Masonic Jewish conspiracy. The winner of a poster contest in the U.S. portrays a Bible with a dagger being thrust into it by a dark arm with a swastika symbol on the sleeve. The bold typed line below it reads, “This is the Enemy.”

The dramatic fashion by which propaganda may drive religious insecurities and passions is utterly disgusting. The same problem exists today between the mostly Muslim Middle East and the mostly Judo-Christian West. In the United States, the masses are worried that there are too many people who are involved in the “extremist” religion of Islam – thus, supporters of violent organizations who are against the West.

In the Middle East, people are worried that the culture of the U.S. has become too pervasive and, like a virus, it has spread throughout the world with immoral means only to achieve immoral ends that will flush away the traditions and values of the region forever. Propaganda that has fired up this argument has and will continue to become more sophisticated as technology and culture do as well. In the future, this exhibit would have to contain more television programs like Crossfire on CNN or more localized examples, such a campus newspaper made to promote its university’s agenda.

The complete extent to how intentional messages of propaganda are reproduced through societies is phenomenal. Nothing is off-limits or too sacred for use by the powerful governments that are set up to believe that they are above the moral law. Even right here, on your campus, there is an administration that wants to suppress free speech and shadily acts behind the curtains. Keep your eyes and ears open, people.

This exhibit is important because the point has become obvious almost to the level of clich

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