Labor Day Kickball Tournament Kicks Off the Intramural Season!
The Intramural Kickball Tournament was held on Sunday, August 31 and the winners were the Ball Kickers. They outlasted the other teams and the heat of the midday sun to become the first champions of the year!
Not only were the Ball Kickers the champions but they also gained a valuable 5 points toward winning the first ever CANE CUP. The Cane Cup is the trophy that all independent teams will play for during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Don’t forget about the Golf Scramble which is being held this year at the newly renovated Miccosukee Golf Course Friday, September 12 @ 1pm. There are still a few slots for you sign up so hurry to the Wellness Center and get in before it is too late! For more information contact Jason Carroll at 284-8518.
INTRAMURALS
Mulvaney proves persistence and training pays off
Matt Mulvaney wasn’t born to run. He didn’t come into the world with a cross-country gene, nor did he go on epic jogs as a child. He became a standout the old-fashioned way: he trained, learning valuable lessons along the way.
Mulvaney, a senior, grew up in the small town of South Hadley, Massachusetts, at the foot of the Berkshire Mountains in the western part of the state. He attended South Hadley High School where, as a member of the track team freshman year, his interest in running grew. Even then, Mulvaney admits that he wasn’t passionate about the mundane feeling of running in circles. One year later he got the approval to start a cross-country team for South Hadley.
“I think cross country is more natural competition…distance races on a track can be pretty heinous,” Mulvaney said. “[With cross-country] the scenery is nice and it feels more natural to be out running through the woods.”
Mulvaney cited his parents as highly positive role models in his life, always willing to support and stand behind him whether it was in athletics, academics, or music. He conveniently combined these three at UM to make his college career more than worthwhile as a Music Business major.
“I think it’s a good experience; I was able to be really involved in the School of Music [and Business], so it’s the best of both worlds,” Mulvaney said.
He hopes to pursue a Master’s Degree in music after graduation this May. As for the future of the team, Mulvaney says he’s not worried.
“There are a bunch of new guys on the team and they’re headed in the right direction,” Mulvaney said. “Coach [Mike] Ward is just awesome, he gives every guy on the team every opportunity to excel.”
Mulvaney spent the summer of 2002 in Boulder, Colorado with some of his best friends, all of whom are members of the Hurricane cross-country team.
“My teammates are great; I have a great time with them,” Mulvaney said. “A lot of them are more than just my teammates.”
When healthy, Mulvaney trains by running between 75 and 80 miles per week. He admits that late summer and early spring are more difficult to run in, thanks to South Florida’s tropical climate, but he prefers the winter weather here to the blistering cold of Massachusetts.
Mulvaney has highly enjoyed his career as a ‘Cane. His biggest goal is to qualify for the national championships.
“Running for Miami is a cool experience because you get to compete at a very high level-it can be pretty intense,” he said.
Mulvaney finds success in limiting variation in his running patterns.
“I guess the most important thing for distance runners is to be consistent across the board,” he said. “That’s probably the hardest thing, trying to be consistent day in and day out.”
Mulvaney appears to have consistency both in running and in his daily life down to a science. He continues to pave the way for those to follow as he leaves his mark at UM on the trail and in the classroom.
Melissa Teich can be reached at melissateich@hotmail.com
BRIEFS
Volleyball
The University of Miami Volleyball team fell to No. 20 Santa Clara, 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Arizona to record their second loss of the season.
The Hurricanes outplayed Santa Clara in nearly every statistical category but could not edge out Broncos in the end. Santa Clara took the first game, 30-27 to jump out early to an early lead. Miami led the second game 28-20 before falling 31-29 to the Broncos. The Hurricanes struck back in the third game, 30-26 and tied the match up in the fourth game, winning 30-22. Santa Clara captured the victory in the fifth game, edging out Miami, 15-13.
“This was a very hard fought match for us,” Head Coach Nicole Lantagne Welch said. “It was disappointing to lose because we had some chances to put it away and we just couldn’t do it. I think we just got a little bit tentative tonight.”
The Hurricanes’ loss was highlighted by the play of junior outside hitter Elizabeth Tyson, who turned in 22 kills on a .308 hitting percentage and collected 16 digs for 24 points.
“Elizabeth really had an outstanding match tonight,” Lantagne Welch said. “It was good to see her rebound from a disappointing match last night.”
The Hurricanes will return to action on Thursday, Sept. 11 when they host George Mason at the Orange and Green Challenge at the Knight Sports Complex at 7 p.m.
Soccer
The Miami soccer team fell 1-0 to Central Florida on the road Friday night in Orlando, Fla.
The Hurricanes fall to 2-2 on the season while the Golden Knights improve to 3-0 overall.
Miami goalie Alex Alford made seven saves on the night.
Britney Butcher led the Miami offense taking four shots.
Courtney Baines of UCF scored the lone un-assisted goal of the match 71 minutes into play.
UCF took 10 shots compared to nine for the Hurricanes.
Miami took four corner kicks while the Golden Knights took only two.
Lantagne Welch’s success deserves more attention
Coaching is an integral aspect of every sport. When people talk about the top University of Miami coaches, Larry Coker and Jim Morris are usually the first names mentioned. There is no doubt that they are great coaches, but there is another name that deserves recognition: Nicole Lantagne Welch of the women’s volleyball program.
Lantagne Welch was brought to Miami two years ago to revitalize volleyball as a top UM sport. In her first two seasons, Lantagne Welch has accumulated a record of 44-12. Last season, Lantagne Welch led the ‘Canes to their first ever NCAA Tournament berth and a Sweet 16 appearance. The ‘Canes finished last season No. 23 in the nation.
Lantagne Welch has also recruited brilliantly. Marcela Gamarra, who graduated last season, was a key contributor for the ‘Canes and helped UM get their program going. Last season the ‘Canes also had their first ever Big East Player of the Year in Valeria Tipiana and their first Setter of the Year in Mallorey James. Both of these girls still have two years of eligibility left, which will make the ‘Canes an even better team this season. Overall, the Hurricanes had three first team All-Big East players last season, and they return a very talented cast for this season.
The volleyball team was very young every season under Lantagne Welch. The team boasts just one senior again this season, after having just one senior last season in Gamarra. It is hard to win in any college sport, let alone with mostly freshmen and sophomores, but that is exactly what Lantagne Welch has done the past two seasons.
Lantagne Welch was selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year last season, which shows how much respect she has earned nationally.
Lantagne Welch is a successful coach because she knows the game of volleyball so well. She played four years at the University of Maryland as a setter, and left the school as their All-Time leader in assists, digs, and matches played. These records show that not only was Lantagne Welch a great player, but she has successfully translated her success to coaching.
Her first coaching job was in 1994 as an assistant coach for Maryland, before becoming a graduate assistant coach at Ohio University in 1995. At Ohio University, she earned a master’s degree in Athletic Administration, until she moved on to Texas A&M where she served as an assistant coach for three seasons. Texas A&M finished in the top twenty every year while she was there, including a No. 9 finish in 1999.
Finally, Lantagne Welch has gotten the opportunity to run the show at the University of Miami. The ‘Canes couldn’t have made a better choice, either. Not only has she had success on the court, but she also recruits players with character as well as talent. Every player on Lantagne Welch’s team is friendly, approachable, and hard working. I guess they learned that from their coach, who has been the epitome of class her entire life.
So when people talk about the best coaches at the University of Miami, it is obvious to mention Coker and Morris. However, let’s not forget about Lantagne Welch, who has done a brilliant job with the volleyball program so far.
Career night for ‘Canes
Berlin Reigns Supreme
Saturday’s victory over the Florida Gators was a career game for many Hurricanes, but none more so than Brock Berlin. The junior quarterback overcame two third-quarter interceptions to lead the ‘Canes to the comeback win against his former school. Berlin also recorded his first career 300-yard game in the process. The final numbers for Berlin are as follows: 27 of 41 for 340 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. These numbers are staggering, considering that at halftime Berlin was 8 of 16 for only 62 yards. Head coach Larry Coker seemed to notice a different Berlin toward the end of the game.
“You could tell that Brock had more confidence in him in the second half,” Coker said after the game.
Breakout Game for Beard
Kevin Beard exploded in the second half as well for the Hurricanes, hauling in seven receptions for a career-high 164 yards and a touchdown. The senior missed the end of last season, including the Fiesta Bowl, with an ACL injury. His 62-yard reception in the third quarter was a career-high as well. Beard’s 164 receiving yards are the most by a Hurricane since Andre Johnson gained 193 against Virginia Tech in 2002.
An Explosive Start
Hurricane fans were treated to a couple of highlight-reel special teams plays to begin the contest. Freshman Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to begin the action, and Sean Taylor followed his return with a 68-yard kickoff return of his own, the first one of his career. Hester’s return was the fifth-longest in school history. Ottis Anderson returned two kickoffs for 100 yards in 1978, Tim Morgan returned one for 100 yards in 1975, and Tom Sullivan ran back a 99-yarder in 1971. The last time a Hurricane returned a kickoff for a touchdown was on November 30, 1996, when Tremaine Mack ran one 95 yards against Syracuse. Hester’s touchdown came in just his third career return.
Putting the Comeback in Perspective
Miami’s 19-10 halftime deficit marked the first time the Hurricanes had been losing after two quarters since being behind 17-14 at Rutgers last season. The ‘Canes managed to come back and win that game as well, only weeks after rallying from a 17-14 halftime deficit against Florida State to win 28-27 at the Orange Bowl. The 23-point third quarter deficit was the largest at home since a 31-6 loss to East Carolina, this week’s opponent, on October 19, 1996. Overcoming the Gators’ huge lead ranks up with some of the top comebacks in school history, including a 17-point comeback against UCLA in 1998, a 16-point rally in Michigan in 1988, another 16-point comeback against FSU in 1987, and last year’s thriller against the Seminoles.
Notable Facts the ‘Canes Will Want to Forget
Ingle Martin’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Perez was the longest pass play against the UM defense since a 57-yard bomb from Chris Rix to Talmon Gardner of Florida State in 2001…The Gators’ Keiwan Ratliff returned a second quarter fumble 34 yards for a touchdown, marking the first fumble return for a touchdown allowed by the Hurricanes since October 13, 2001, when FSU’s Michael Boulware ran back a fumble for a 73-yard touchdown. The ‘Canes were able to win that game, however, 49-27…UF kicker Matt Leach’s 26-yard field goal was the first offensive points scored by the Gators in the Orange Bowl since 1985.
A Sloppy Game
Despite the improbable victory, Coach Coker was still frustrated with some of the mental mistakes his team made. The Hurricanes finished with 16 penalties, costing them 134 yards and four turnovers. The Gators were penalized 13 times for 93 yards and turned the ball over once. “The penalties are inexcusable,” Coker said. “Many of the young players did some very foolish things. We obviously have a lot that we need to correct.”
Miscellaneous Statistics
Frank Gore rushed 24 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns, marking his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game…The victory gives UM a lifetime record of 63-80-3 against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The last SEC match-up for the Hurricanes was a 26-3 win at Tennessee last season…The win gave the ‘Canes a night game record of 78-17 (.821) since 1980. Since 1990, UM is 41-12 (.774) at night. Under Larry Coker the Hurricanes are 12-1 (.923) at night…UM is now 5-0 against teams from Florida under Coker…Neither team was very successful on third downs, with UF going 4 of 14 and UM going 4 of 11…Florida used three quarterbacks during the game. Chris Leak finished going 9 for 15 for 93 yards, Ingle Martin was 7 for 10 for 114 yards and a touchdown, and Gavin Dickey connected on both of his passes in his only drive for 12 yards.
ON POINT: Berlin leads UM from 23 points down to shock Gators
Junior QB leads Miami to 38-33 victory at the O.B.
By Brian Poliakoff
Editor in Chief
Brock Berlin turned his back on the Gator nation last year when he announced he would transfer to state rival Miami. After a tumultuous first half Saturday night, Berlin stood right up to his former team, leading the ‘Canes to an exhilarating 38-33 comeback victory.
Berlin overcame two interceptions and one lost fumble that was recovered for a touchdown to throw for 340 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-42 passing. Miami scored 28 unanswered points to finish the game, overcoming a 23-point third quarter deficit.
“My emotions are just sailing right now,” Berlin said after the game. “I’m just so thankful I am here at Miami. It’s unbelievable.”
Berlin’s fourth quarter performance will go down as one of the best in UM history. On the game-winning drive, Berlin marched the ‘Canes down the field in an 11 play, 89-yard drive that was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown run by Frank Gore (127 yards rushing and two touchdowns) with 1:44 remaining in the game. The drive was extremely intense as Berlin ran six yards for a first down to the Florida 28-yard line on a fourth-and-one with just under three minutes left in the game. Berlin then immediately went down with cramps, forcing Miami to call a timeout. On the next play Berlin returned to the field and connected with fullback Kyle Cobia on an 11-yard strike. Gore would scamper into the end zone three plays later to give Miami a 38-33 lead. The ‘Canes were unsuccessful on a two-point conversion attempt.
“Brock became the leader in the second half,” Gore said. “He kept telling us to keep fighting and we sure did.”
UF had once last chance, as they got the ball back with 1:37 remaining. After driving the ball down to the Miami 20, freshman Florida quarterback Chris Leak (nine-of-15 for 93 yards) was intercepted by UM defensive back Al Marshal. Berlin and the offense came onto the field to take a knee. Berlin proceeded to throw the ball up in the air and turned to the Gator fans in the bleachers and mocked the Gator chomp.
“It was a great football game,” head coach Larry Coker said. “You throw out the records when you have a great rivalry like this. I’ve been around coaching a long time…I don’t know if I’ve ever seen character displayed like I saw tonight by our football team…we never gave up.”
UM was fortunate to come out of the half only down nine points, and things got worse at the start of the second half. UF tailback DeShawn Wynn ran past the entire UM defense for a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter. Berlin then threw two interceptions on the ‘Canes’ first two possessions, one of which led to a four-yard score by UF running back Ran Carthon. UF was up with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“Kellen Winslow told me were going to win it,” Coker said. “It didn’t look like we were going to win it at that time.”
Much to the dismay of the booing Miami fans, Coker stuck with Berlin after the Carthon score. Berlin came out possessed and played like a different player than what was witnessed by 79,932 fans earlier in the game. Berlin led the ‘Canes on a nine play, 85-yard drive that culminated with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Berlin to Kevin Beard (seven receptions, 164 yards). After a successful two-point conversion pass to Ryan Moore, Miami found themselves only down 15 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The UM defense forced a three and out on the next Gator possession. Berlin and the rest of the offense wasted no time finding the end zone as Gore scored from a yard out after a Beard 62-yard reception set up the score.
After another Florida three and out, Berlin marched the ‘Canes right down the field again, this time connecting with Moore (three catches, 29 yards) on a six-yard touchdown pass that finished a nine play, 70-yard drive with 11:08 left in the contest. A Moore excessive celebration penalty forced UM to kick the extra point, cutting the UF lead to 33-32.
On the subsequent drive, Florida Head Coach Ron Zook put redshirt freshman quarterback Gavin Dickey into the game for the first time. Dickey led a drive into Miami territory, but the Gators were then forced to punt. Berlin took charge of the offense once again leading the ‘Canes to the game-winning score.
“We never second guessed our ability to comeback and win the game,” middle linebacker and team captain Jonathan Vilma said.
UF entered the game having lost nine of the their last 11 contests against Miami, and it looked like they would continue that trend early.
Miami true freshman Devin Hester began the game with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Yet, UF’s Andre Caldwell returned the next kickoff to Miami’s 38, setting up a Matt Leach 26-yard field goal cutting the Hurricane lead to 7-3. Miami would add a Jon Peattie field goal on their next possession. UF dominated the rest of the first half.
Berlin’s comeback heroics now put him on the map. Similarly, Ken Dorsey put his name on the national scene with a huge game as a sophomore when he led Miami to a thrilling 27-24 win over FSU in 2000. It looks like the entire country knows the current UM signal caller now too.
As for the Gators, they did prove they could hang with one of the nation’s best teams and did so with a combination of quarterbacks who had not yet started a road game. The three UF quarterbacks (Dickey, Leak and Ingle Martin), combined for 219 yards passing and freshman tailback DeShawn Wynn led UF with a 100-yard rushing performance.
However, UF’s freshman heroics were not enough to withstand a Miami comeback. The ‘Canes extended their nation-best home winning streak to 23 games, keeping their hopes for a second national championship in three seasons alive.
You can reach Brian Poliakoff at b.poliakoff@umiami.edu.
340
Passing yards by UM junior QB and former Gator Brock Berlin.
132
Rushing yards by UM sophomore tailback Frank Gore.
164
Receiving yards by UM senior wide receiver Kevin Beard.
How to define a Democrat except as “anti-Bush?”
If you asked me to describe my ideal candidate for president, all I could really tell you is “Not Bush.” I would say more, but I can’t think of a single candidate who fits my definition of a Democrat. Or, more specifically, I don’t really know how a Democrat is defined nowadays. The Democrats have had an awful time of finding their new niche in post-9/11 America. Although they want to make sure it never happens again, they also want people to be able to still have other rights too. Although they want to increase government spending to aid in the stimulating of the economy, they don’t want all of the increases to be for defense. And most importantly, although Democrats have all these concerns, they don’t want to seem unpatriotic by going against the 9/11 mantra of “safety first.”
While the Bush administration’s rhetoric about patriotism and bringing all the evil trios of countries to justice is deeply moving, it doesn’t immediately make everyone who doesn’t think that way a traitor. The Democrats shouldn’t be afraid to question the way the administration dealt with the terrorism issue and more importantly, shouldn’t be afraid to question how much money is being dedicated to defense when other important programs many Americans enjoy, like Social Security and Medicare, slowly slip into ruin. The only way to effectively challenge the current administration is if the opposition starts acting like, well, the opposition.
Thankfully, a few candidates such as Howard Dean have had the gumption to declare their desire for drastic departure from the current administration’s course. Unfortunately, the party as a whole seems to be testing the water to see if people like Dean are what America really wants before embracing the progressive movement whole heartedly.
Although many tried and true Democrats will always vote Democrat simply because it’s the Democratic Party, name recognition can only get the party so far. If the party hopes to even stand a chance in 2004, I think the Democratic Party would be wise to redefine exactly what it is the party stands for aside from simply making it difficult for Bush get anything passed in Congress.
Elaine Ayo is a freshman majoring in Journalism. She can be contacted at e.ayo@umiami.edu
An interview: UM’s Cuban Transition Project Director
President Ronald Reagan once wrote, “Communism is neither an economic or political system-it is a form of insanity-a temporary aberration which will one day disappear from the earth because it is contrary to human nature.” Dr. Jaime Suchlicki discusses how and when the misery of Castro’s Cuba will end.
Dr. Suchlicki: I invite the U.M. community to Casa Bacardi, open seven days a week at 1531 Brescia Ave. off San Amaro to relax and celebrate Cuban culture through an on-line data base of 2,000 Cuban songs, videos about Cuban life, playing the bongo drums and viewing Cuban photography.
Q: Please describe the mission of UM’s Cuban Transition Project and its plan for achieving it.
A: The objective is to prepare both the Cuban people and the U.S. gov’t for the transition to Cuban democracy whenever it happens. We’re doing a series of studies on various aspects of transition not telling people how the transition should take place but learning from Eastern Europe’s’ lessons. Beyond that, we’re doing databases including Cuba’s political prisoners, laws, foreign investments, treaties, commercial agreements and a general research database. They can be accessed at http://ctp.iccas.miami.edu.
Q: Castro has recently complained to the U.N. that the CTP’s $1M Federal Funding illegally attempts to undermine his government. Your response.
A: The Universal Declaration of Rights discusses the dissemination of information and that governments may not stop the free-flow of information from one country to the other. So I don’t think we’re doing anything illegal. We want the Cuban people to know about our studies and we disseminate them.
Q: Considering Castro has crushed almost all organized resistance to the regime, how will democracy emerge?
A: Slow and difficult. We must distinguish between succession and transition. The succession after Fidel’s death will be quick and smooth. The military under Raul Castro will probably take over. Real transition to democracy and a market economy will be much longer and more difficult than Eastern Europe’s quick turnaround.
Q: Can Cuba achieve a democratic revolution without bloodshed or war?
A: It will be difficult to do. Cuba has deep racial problems, deep economic divisions and great hatred towards the regime for human rights abuses. They will take a long time to solve.
Q: Should the U.S. consider military force against Cuba?
A: I don’t think the U.S. should consider implementing their military option unless Cuba attacks the U.S., the Guantanamo Military Base or their neighbor countries. Instead, the U.S. should continue supporting dissidents and help the move towards democracy in Cuba short of military intervention.
Q: When will democracy emerge in Cuba?
A: After Raul Castro takes power the change will begin to occur as international and internal pressure strengthens.
Pete Trombadore can be contacted at petetrombadore@hotmail.com.
More on Cane booty shorts, more money for UM
If anyone actually read this newspaper last year, then you might know that I wrote an article on those cute cheerleading shorts that girls love to wear. Obviously, the University of Miami is always looking for more products to sell in order to make money. Well, I could say, “Get a pen and paper to write this down.” But for some reason, it may not be necessary. It’s already written down.
First, take the “E” out of “CANES” and it will tell us what we are looking at. I think there ought to be at least a little truth in advertising. After all, we see women’s “CANS.” It shouldn’t be “CANES” because we see “CANS.” The word “CANES” is what results afterwards….
Or, for you prevent-rape people, how about charging your shorts with ten thousand watts of electric energy to deter some predators. You will never know when you just might need those shorts to SHOCK people because they got all aroused by your STUNNING behind.
If that’s not good enough for you self-defense folks, how about the shorts can say: “JAIL TIME.” “JAIL TIME” as in what you will get if you decide to even pinch that underage booty.
It would be funny if they put handprints on the cheerleading shorts. That would definitely send a strong message that someone has fondled you before. Seriously, I would think that at some point in this over-saturated market of clothing inventory in the United States, the idea of being manhandled would be popular. Of course, that is a big maybe. But in the mean time, handprints will do fine.
You could also have the shorts say: “SNEAK PREVIEW.” After all, most people are getting a glimpse of possible coming attractions.
Due to my extreme popularity, I was invited on the O’Reilly Factor on Fox News. My shorts said: “HAIR ON OTHER SIDE SHOULD BE PRESIDENT.” And O’Reilly, during a live taping, could not even believe my work. He constantly criticized me and when I came on his show, he tore me a new one. He called me a “moral degenerate” and that I need to think of families first before I sell sleazy merchandise. Afterwards, I felt bad. So, I recalled all of those cheerleading shorts and brought out a new line of cheerleading shorts. It says: “FOXY NEWS” on it.
Seth Bleicher can be contacted at sethbleicher@yahoo.com.
EDITORIAL: I think I see a Gator!
If you didn’t go to the UM-UF game, then you were probably pretty lonely on an empty campus. However, if you did go, and you were a student, then you noticed how poorly the event was handled, in regards to student admissions and seating.
Lines outside the southeast student entrance of the Orange Bowl were extra-long this past Saturday, and it wasn’t just because state rival UF was playing a tough game inside. Cane Card electronic readers (and operators) were not functioning properly much of the time. Students who have paid tuition and have paid the student fees were turned away from the entrance because of electromagnetic glitches. They had waited for nearly two hours, dressed in UM apparel and wearing orange and green makeup, just to be sent home.
Because most students joined these lines well before 6 p.m. and did not enter the stadium until after 8 p.m., they weren’t happy campers. They chanted, they shouted, they even knocked over and trampled. And they were drunk.
This lovely intoxicated and infuriated crowd then rushed the stands (after kickoff and the opening touchdown, which the students had missed) to find that there were absolutely no seats left. Many seats in the UM student section were filled with orange-and-blue clothed fans. Seats in the upper deck were full. These hot, sweaty, inebriated students (they just wanted to see some football and cheer on their Hurricanes!) had to stand in the aisles, in the stairwells, and in the concourses to catch a glimpse of the field. Then the yellow-shirted Orange Bowl employees told them they couldn’t stand there. These students, who pay the salaries of the football coaches and the administration, were denied access to what they deserved. Not enough student seats, not enough preparation. Oh well, the seats were probably worth more after they were sold to Gators fans, anyways.
Up with smoke
Have you realized the foolishness of the UM administration’s decision to “let students enforce” the new 25-foot smoking buffer zones around residence halls? The simple irony is that this policy has been in effect for almost a month, yet students just heard about it in the last issue of the Hurricane. Thank goodness for free press.
The current Student Government should either follow in the footsteps of former leader Mike Johnston, and enforce the no-smoking barrier officially, or drop the matter. Do not expect students to do your dirty work. Do not try to persuade one shy student to approach another and tell him to stop smoking. If this policy were to succeed, it would need to be enforced 24 hours a day by an informal student police force, and nobody wants to be the traitor by going inside and filling out a report. Unless you pay us. Give us a commission rate on that $50 fine.
This entire buffer-zone idea skirts the issue that smoking is an unhealthy and unattractive behavior. Yes, there are anti-smoking programs offered by the Wellness Center and others. And programs like these are more likely to curb campus smoking and prevent health issues in the future, than this student police force concept. Get it right, SG: you represent us, the students; it isn’t the other way around.
Democratic campaign for president comes to Titanic via internet
More than 110 strangers assembled at four locations around Miami-Dade County Wednesday night to build a grassroots campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, 15 months before the presidential election and more than six months before the Florida Primary Elections.
These strangers were united by a web site, Meetup.com, which allows people with similar interests to vote on a venue to meet and discuss a topic of their choosing.
Still smarting from the losses of Democratic favorites Al Gore and Janet Reno in 2000 and 2002, respectively, Democrats in South Florida are organizing and campaigning for their candidates earlier than ever.
The Titanic Brewery in Coral Gables attracted 30 participants. The crowd included people of all ages and some UM students.
Dean supporters were organized into groups of eight to 10 people to take part in “The Great American Conversation” over food and drinks. People expressed their worries about the nation’s current problems and discussed reasons why they support Dean’s bid for presidency in light of them. The issues most frequently discussed by the crowd included Dean’s stance on the economy, the war in Iraq, universal health care and gun control.
“Dean is a new voice. He’s different from the other Democratic candidates,” Tim Golden, a law student at UM, said. “I voted for Nader in ’00 because the difference between Republicans and Democrats was minute at best then. Dean is more interested in non-centrist ideas.”
“Dean puts forth his own issues rather than finding out what the electorate wants and tailoring his manifesto to meet the numbers,” Kevin Finn, a Ph.D. student in foreign languages and literature at UM, said.
Dean, the former governor of Vermont, campaigned vigorously over the summer and even landed on the covers of Time and Newsweek when polls showed him evolving from a dark-horse candidate frequently labeled as “too liberal” by political pundits to the front-runner, surpassing former shoe-ins Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, North Carolina Senator John Edwards and former vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman. Dean’s nascent success has come along with attacks from the press and critiques within Dean’s own base that his supporters are mostly affluent, white Americans with internet connections.
The Meetup crowd at the Titanic Brewery did give a hint of Miami-Dade County’s diverse ethnic and racial population, but it was far from proportional to the county’s actual makeup. Supporters discussed this issue and asked each other what they could do to spread the word about Dean to people from different socio-economic backgrounds and overcome the digital divide.
According to Dean’s campaign staff, more than 105,000 people signed up to “meet up” in September around the U.S. and other countries.
Miami Dean Meetup organizer Meghan O’Connor said that the crowds at the monthly meetings hovered around 20 to 25 until July when it expanded to 60 and then surged to 100 in August.
“The reason that people come to these meetings is because the more they hear about Dean in the media, the more they feel that he’s looked at the facts about the issues facing our nation, and that he’s not just a typical politician,” O’Connor said.
For more information or specific meeting details, visit www.meetup.com.
Horacio Sierra can be contacted at
h.sierra@umiami.edu.