Although by the end of the year 2002, campus crime reached its lowest point in the last 10 years, in just the first three months of 2003, there have already been nearly half as many crimes as those reported for the whole of 2002.
“2002 was a spectacular year,” Henry Christensen, director of Public Safety, said. “For the 30 years that I have worked here I have never seen a year with fewer reported crimes, but we cannot expect the same for 2003.”
According to the 2002 Annual Uniform Crime Report provided by the Coral Gables Police Department, there were 268 total crimes reported for UM that year. So far there are 131 cases for 2003.
But Christensen explained that, while the number of criminal incidents reported to date do suggest a slight increase in crime from last year, these first three months are not very good indicators for what the total crime might be at the end of the year.
“There are not the same number of crimes every month,” Christensen said. “You also have to keep in mind that during summer and winter breaks there are less students on campus and less crimes reported.”
Nonetheless, while there were only two motor vehicle thefts reported in 2002, by the end of March more than four vehicles had been stolen from campus grounds. Two of these were stolen from Walsh Avenue, and three of the four thefts were reported between 2 and 4 p.m.
From 2001 to 2002, however, auto theft decreased from a total of 22 to only two, the lowest number since 1995, when, according to Christensen, around 92 cars were stolen.
“In 1995, the University of Miami was a target area for auto theft,” he said. “Of course, you have to keep in mind that in 1995, all of Florida led the country in auto theft.”
Not including auto theft, over 57 percent of all campus crime reported for the year 2003 is related to theft. Overall, there were 19 burglaries and 57 thefts between January and the end of March.
“Theft is our greatest problem on campus,” Christensen said, adding that last year there was a big problem with bicycle theft.
According to the Coral Gables Police Department, a total of 72 bicycles were stolen last year. So far eight bicycles have been stolen for 2003.
“Currently it’s mostly unattended property that’s stolen,” Christensen said, adding that the most common items stolen are laptops, books and book bags. “These are what we call crimes of opportunity.”
So far this year as well, there have been 17 reports for criminal mischief, eight for battery, seven for harassment and one for stalking.
In order to keep campus crime low, Christensen said that Public Safety has deployed police and security officers at key areas to reduce the opportunity for someone to commit a crime and go undetected. In order to reduce the number of bicycle thefts, they have put together a continuous improvement team that provides constant surveillance to highly targeted areas.
Christensen said that to reduce auto thefts, Public Safety has studied data over the past years to determine the “hot spots” on campus and provide increased security to those areas.
Although Christensen was unwilling to reveal the location of some of these “hot spots,” he did say that all of the big parking lots on campus are highly targeted areas and made specific mention to the lot by the School of Communication and the Pearson Residential College area.
According to Public Safety’s daily crime log, only three of the 131 cases reported for this year have resulted in arrests.
“In most of the car thefts, the cars are returned to the owners, maybe not in one piece, but the cars are found,” he said.

Andrea Alegria can be contacted at neaalegria@aol.com.

University of Miami students, like college students throughout the nation, are seeking help in record numbers for a variety of mental health ailments including eating disorders, anxiety and academic problems.
Since 1989, the number of students counseled at UM jumped from 467 to 964 in 2001-2002 – an increase of over 100 percent. Students consulting a psychiatrist for help showed even a bigger increase – soaring from just 35 students in the 1989-1990 school year to 276 in 2001-2002.
“Mental health issues have been on the forefront for years now,” said Dr. Malcolm Kahn, director of UM’s counseling center. “More and more students are seeking help for their problems, and the variety of problems has also changed over the years.”
The situation at UM mirrors recent national studies, which also reveal dramatic increases in the number of students seeking treatment for various mental problems.
College students frequently have more complex problems today than they did over a decade ago, including both the typical or expected college student problems – difficulties in relationships and developmental issues – as well as the more severe problems, such as depression, sexual assault and thoughts of suicide, according to a study conducted by the Professional Psychology: Research and Practice journal.
The February study looked at 13,257 college students attending a large midwestern university that sought help from 1988-2001 (before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks).
In that study, some increases found were dramatic. The number of students seen each year with depression doubled, while the number of suicidal students tripled and the number of students seen after a sexual assault quadrupled.
Up until 1994, relationship problems were the most frequently reported client problem, according to the study. But since that time, stress and anxiety problems were reported more frequently than relationship problems, with dramatic increases seen in the number of students seeking help for depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual assault.
The study revealed that seven areas, including relationship problems, stress/anxiety, family issues, physical problems, personality disorders, suicidal thought and sexual assault, showed dramatic increases at the beginning of the survey but leveled off toward the end.
Depression, grief and academic and development problems increased throughout all time periods of the survey. Substance abuse, eating disorders, legal problems and chronic mental illness showed no change.
“If these observed patterns of change prove to be consistent with those at other counseling centers, then it is evident that therapists in counseling centers are seeing students with more critical needs than a decade ago,” the study said.
Meanwhile, UM seems to be following that same pattern. The UM counseling center says some of the leading issues plaguing UM students are:
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Academic problems
– Family problems
– Loss of significant relationship
– Social and dating problems
– Eating disorders
– Low self esteem
– Academic anxiety and grief reaction.
The increase in the number of UM students seeking help for mental health problems does not mean things have gotten out of control, Dr. Pamela Deroian, assistant director of UM’s counseling center, said.
“The increase in students over the years has risen significantly, but it’s not necessarily because more students have more problems,” she said. “The changing times is what I believe is the cause for the increase.
“The 1980s brought about a different dynamic. In the ’80s you saw a lot of changes. You saw the change in the American household as the divorce rate hit 50 percent, mothers started going back to work, counseling became much more acceptable and that was also the time when all the medications you see now started to come out.
“I don’t see it as a growing problem. I just see it as a byproduct of the changes back in the 1980s. In addition, I think the counseling center is doing much more outreach on the campus, which raises awareness and which I think also raises the number of students who come in and seek help.”
Other reasons for the increase can be attributed to parental pressure and stress in the form of financial problems, terrorism and substance abuse, she said.
But of the biggest concern and the greatest increase is anxiety and depression, said Deroian.
“I do know that depression is definitely a very, very common issue that people are presented with,” she said. “I do know that stress is another common problem. Anxiety as a result of stress can develop. If you can’t handle stress than you can develop lots of different types of problems.
“If I had to say the two of the most common things students come to the counseling center for, it’s depression and stress-related reactions. I think just trying to maneuver college life can be very stressful. The rise in mental health problems has caught the attention of the University administration, which is working on finding an effective way to help combat the growing issue and give more resources for the student body to take advantage of.”
Dr. Patricia Whitely, vice president for student affairs, said she has been concerned with this growing trend and has worked with the counseling center and other groups in order to find a way to alleviate the problem.
“Student mental health is a major concern of ours,” Whitely said. “It’s an issue we have to deal with as a result of the culture. As more people grow up with it, we have to figure out more of an awareness campaign, education and doing things differently.
“I think 10 or 12 years ago it was also a bigger deal to go to the counseling center, but I think now students grow up with now, ‘Hey, if I need help, I’m going to go find it.’ I also think there’s a consumer mentality, ‘I pay for the service, I might as well use it.’ That is good. It’s a positive. I think it’s great. Everyone can benefit from therapy here and there.”
And experts point out there is some good news. Despite the soaring increase in students seeking help over the last decade, numbers seem to be leveling off, and the number of suicide attempts related to mental health has shown a decrease.
“We see everything,” Whitely said. “There’s everything from attempted suicide to drug overdose, to psychotic behavior. This year, especially in the spring semester, we’ve been delighted to see a decrease in the number of hospitalizations and the number of students who have withdrawn from the University. And actually, our counseling numbers, while not decreasing, are not increasing at the rapid pace that they were.”

Jordan Rodack can be reached at j.rodack@umiami.edu

Next issue: programs at UM to help students deal with their mental health problems.

The Greek Apple Polishing ceremony honored Greek scholars last Thursday at the Wellness Center by the outdoor courts.
The event is sponsored annually by the UM Greek community to recognize both outstanding administrators and outstanding faculty members on the UM campus.
Additionally, fraternity and sorority members who have excelled academically the previous semester are honored. At the event, students with a 3.5 GPA or higher were presented with a certificate of achievement by other members of the Greek community.
The event was started to honor members of fraternities and sororities for accomplishments outside of the Greek community.
“Greeks are involved in every aspect of the University,” Kate Devlin, Delta Gamma sister, said. “Apple polishing is an important event because Greeks take part in so many activities outside of their sororities and fraternities. It’s good to honor them for their other achievements.”
A long-standing tradition, the event was originally intended only for members of the Panhellenic Association. Then, in 1998, the administration decided to make the event more encompassing of the rest of the Greek community.
“I changed the event format that year to make it more inclusive of all Greek organizations in an effort to recognize our students for their academic accomplishments,” said Greg Singleton, associate dean of students, who works with the Greek organizations.
During the event, Ms. Maria Fallon of the Office of Admissions was honored as Outstanding Administrator of the Year; Dr. Howard Marmorstein was named Outstanding Professor of the Year.
According to many of those associated with the Apple Polishing awards, the recognition focuses on an equally important part of Greek life that may otherwise be overlooked.
“It’s a very aces event because it highlights an aspect of Greek life that is rarely recognized,” Jay Wetzel, who was honored for his high GPA this past semester, said.
To nominate a teacher or administrator for next year’s Apple Polishing awards, contact Dean Singleton at grsing@miami.edu.

Jaclyn Lisenby can be contacted at jlisenby@umsis.com.

TODAY
Frank W. Abagnale was a master of deception, and he was always one step ahead of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who made it his prime mission to capture Frank. If you haven’t figured it out by now, this is the movie Catch Me if You Can, with Leonardo Di Caprio and Tom Hanks. CAC will be showing Catch Me if You Can at 8 and 10:30 p.m. at the Cosford Cinema.

FEC for Three Days of Cuban Culture hosts a domino competition at 2 p.m. on the UC Patio. Pay $5 a pair and play against the older generation of domino players from the legendary Calle Ocho park as you sip Cuban coffee. Winners get a prize. Also, pass by and pick up a freshly rolled Cigar as you play.

Award-winning novelist N

When people wearing Seminole jackets beat the ritual drum on the Rock in front of the UC, everyone on campus knows that the Iron Arrow Honor Society, UM’s oldest tradition and highest honor, has accepted new members.
Creating tradition is the focus behind this esteemed organization, from its beginnings in 1926 by UM’s first president, Bowman Foster Ashe, just one month after the University opened.
“There are five criteria that need to be met in order to be accepted into Iron Arrow: scholarship, leadership, humility, character and love for alma mater,” Cie Chapel, chief of Iron Arrow, said.
According to Chapel, the fifth female chief in the entire history of the organization, only students can be officers, and there are many rituals that are kept secret amongst the tribe.
Induction into Iron Arrow is known as tapping, a ritual that involves marking the foreheads of tappees with orange, white and green stripes.
Every inductee into Iron Arrow has a different initiation story.
Joseph Fernandez, senior, was tapped in his Finance 431 class in the School of Business.
“The amazing part is that my class is on the fifth floor, so it’s sort of amazing to see everyone there, knowing they had to climb five stories to come get me,” he said. “Needless to say, I had no idea who they were getting in my class when they walked in. When they came and grabbed me, I was shocked and a bit confused. It still really hasn’t hit me.”
Stefanie Hernandez had a completely different story.
“I was told that I had an emergency meeting in Dr. Whitely’s office regarding all senate projects and legislation that have occurred within the last year – I figured it was important because I was called the night before and told that it was very important because President Shalala had asked for an emergency meeting to discuss Student Government.”
Hernandez said she woke up at 7 a.m. to make it to the Ashe Building by 9 a.m.
“As I was walking on the pathway from the rock to Ashe, rushing and clanking my heels with my hands full of important documents, I had to walk right by the Iron Arrow line, which was on its way to tap me,” Hernandez said. “I had no idea, but I remember feeling embarrassed that my heels were clanking in the middle of their procession.”
“I was shocked for most of the tapping,” Hernandez said. “I felt honored, humbled and proud.”
Iron Arrow was founded by Bowman Foster Ashe, UM’s first president in 1926, only a month after the University opened.
Iron Arrow was originally intended to be a male-only organization until 1985, when women finally become eligible for selection.
In an article published in the UM 75th anniversary edition of Miami Magazine, Roy Berger [’74], the editor-in-chief of The Miami Hurricane in 1973, recalls a 1973 editorial in the Hurricane that called for an end to the male-only discrimination policy that Iron Arrow had become identified with.
“I was editor-in-chief of The Miami Hurricane when that editorial ran in the fall of 1973,” Berger said. “I was later confidentially told that my candidacy, which was denied due to that editorial, was at the time the longest candidate eligibility debate in Iron Arrow history.”
Once an individual is inducted into Iron Arrow, he or she is a member for life.
For more information on Iron Arrow, visit www.miami.edu.

Jorge Arauz can be contacted at xxarauzxx@yahoo.com.

Led by Sebastian the Ibis, UM cheers were reverberated by 300 fifth graders who gathered at the Rock last Friday as part of the Kids ‘N Culture mentoring program, which places UM student mentors into the elementary school classroom to educate and encourage inner-city students to continue on with higher education.
“Most of these kids don’t even make it to high school,” Paco Castellon, junior and co-chair of the Kids ‘N Culture event, said. “This is the perfect time to talk to them about college.”
Kids ‘N Culture began five years ago as an organized event under LINK, a volunteer program board that has become the birthing ground for a multitude of community service events.
This semester, mentors visited Flamingo and Charles Drew Elementary Schools, two minority schools in Miami, during a six-week period.
“The kids essentially spent a day in the life of a college student by visiting some of the college classes and eating in the student cafeterias,” Mark O’Connor, sophomore and chair for the campus visit, said.
Upon arriving early Friday morning, the kids were greeted at the Rock by Sebastian, President Donna Shalala, Vice President for student affairs Pat Whitely, Dean Yarger from the School of Education and representatives of the ROTC.
Dr. Tegan Eve of the chemistry department then put on a “magic show” for the kids by proving that science can be fun and showing the type of chemistry kids most enjoy – combustions and explosions.
The 300 kids then broke off into three groups. Twelve UM students were designated as group leaders.
“We had double the amount of kids than usual, but the event went so smoothly,” Azuree Ashby, an advisor at the Butler Volunteer Services Center who helped with the Kids ‘N Culture event, said.
Some of the events that were organized for the kids included a tour of the Lowe Art Museum and the opportunity to get involved with International Week by learning hula and Indian dancing in the UC.
“It’s an amazing program,” Castellon said. “Some of these kids never get to see the Coral Gables area, and now they have it in the back of their heads that they can get to college.”
According to organizers, by 2 p.m., the kids had experienced a bit of college life and were boarded on their school buses and headed out to their respective schools.
“We were in the office passed out dead after the event, and a kid called to say that he a great time on the field trip,” Castellon said. “That was cool because we never had a kid call before. It’s an amazing program and the kids are great, and it is so much fun.”
The Kids ‘N Culture executive board are hoping that, in the future, they can organize an event in which the kids read donated books during the six-week mentoring period and then have discussions of the selected book during the campus visit.
“Devoting your time to children is one of the best services you could do,” Tanya Aquino, freshman, said.
LINK will also be having its “Stop, Drop and Run” event, in which drop boxes will be placed in the residential halls during finals so students can donate all of their unwanted school supplies. The supplies will be donated to various agencies that will then distribute it to school children.
For more information on Kids ‘N Culture or LINK, call 305-284-GIVE.

Angelique Thomas can be contacted at aperivale@aol.com