Home Blog Page 2008

Red Stormed out of Coral Gables

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Miami women’s basketball head coach Ferne Labati becomes the 39th NCAA Division I coach to earn her 400th career victory as the Hurricanes beat visiting St. John’s, 69-54, Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Miami wins its sixth straight game over SJU improving to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in Big East action. The Red Storm fall to 8-14 overall and 2-9 in conference play.
Despite the victory, Labati found several areas that her team needed to improve in.
“We still turned the ball over too much,” Labati said. “In order for us to beat great teams, we have to do a better job boxing out and keeping up our intensity.”
Labati in her 24th season has compiled an overall record of 400-288. She is in her 15th season at Miami with a record of 264-166.
Freshman Tamara James led Miami with 18 points, while Chanivia Broussard added 16 points in 18 minutes of action.
The Hurricanes dominated the first 20 minutes of play opening the game on a 23-6 run.
The Hurricanes continued to build on the lead taking a 43-19 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
“We played really well in the first half,” Labati said. “Our bench was able to come in and score a lot of points.”
Meghan Saake scored all 11 of her points in the first half. She finished the game with seven assists and four steals.
Miami had its largest lead of 31 points (62-31) with 8:14 remaining in the game. St. John’s made a 12-0 run over the last four minutes of the game but could not overcome its first-half deficit. Still, James thought the ‘Canes could have done a better job in the second half.
“We were a little less focused in the second half,” James said. “We set a certian amount that we were going to hold them to, and they went over that amount.”
Miami leads the all-time series 16-6. The Hurricanes shot 43 percent from the field compared to 36 percent for the Red Storm. Shemika Stevens led SJU with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Miami travels to face West Virginia Saturday at 2 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va before returning to the Convocation Center next Wednesday to face No. 1 Uconn. Although the Huskies game looms large, James is quick to point out that the focus is on Miami’s next scheduled opponent.
“We definitely take things one game at a time,” James said. “We have to play every game like it’s our last.”

-Compiled by the Sports Information Department. Jon Sanford contributed to this article.

Hurricanes upend No. 10 Texas A&M

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Tennis fans treated to pleasant Sunday surprise
Sunday turned out to be a historic day for the UM tennis team as the Hurricanes beat national powerhouse Texas A&M for the first time ever, 4-3 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Sophomore Todd Widom, ranked ninth in the country, led the way for the ‘Canes, as he beat Ante Matijevic 6-3, 7-6 (5) in No. 1 singles. Widom moved Matijevic all over the court using a serve that Matijevic had lots of trouble handling. Matijevic shifted the momentum in the second set with a few big rallies that forced the match into a tiebreaker that Widom would eventually pull out.
“I served really well in this match,” Widom said. “I went down 4-1 with two breaks, but tennis is tennis and you just have to keep fighting.”
Earlier in the day, Miami’s Andrew Golub and Colin Purcell defeated Cameron Fenner and John Nallon 8-4 in doubles play. The win, complemented by an Aggie, forfeit sealed the doubles point for the Hurricanes. Texas A&M also forfeited the sixth singles match, something Aggies’ head coach Tim Cass said came as a result of players “breaking team rules.”
With Widom’s victory and the two forfeits, Miami only needed one more point for the win. The Hurricanes received that point when freshman Eric Hechtman defeated Fenner 7-6 (7), 6-3 in No. 5 singles.
“This feels great because I heard last year there was a lot of rivalry between our team and their team,” Hechtman said. “I just wanted to take it to them.”
Texas A&M’s Khaled El Dorry topped Golub 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in an intense second singles match. The visiting Aggies also tallied wins when Luis Manrique defeated freshman Matt Loucks 6-3, 6-1, and John Nallon beat Purcell 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3).
Despite these losses for the ‘Canes, head coach Bryan Getz was pleased with the final result.
“This was big, especially with all of our young kids able to get an experience like this in the third match of their college careers,” Getz said. “It’s just huge.”
The team chemistry among the Hurricane squad also fueled some positive energy through the Neil Schiff Tennis Complex.
“I saw Todd winning and it just fired me up and at the end I was just real aggressive,” Hechtman said.
Miami remains perfect on the season at 3-0 and will likely move up in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings. The undefeated record will be tested Friday, as the ‘Canes head to Gainesville to face No. 5 Florida.
“Florida is actually on another level than [Texas A&M] so we are going to have to fight even harder,” Getz said.
Miami’s players, like Widom, realize the talent that UF’s players offer, but thinks that the ‘Canes can match up just as well.
“I know what they are going to bring to the table and I know what we are going to bring to the table,” Widom said. “It’s going to be a great battle.”

-Ben Wolf can be reached at DerBepo2@aol.com.

OT proves to be Miami’s worst enemy

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Opportunity lost against ‘Nova
Miami unable to score late, fall 72-67 to Wildcats
Youth and inexperience has continued to haunt the Hurricanes during close games all
season. In contests decided by five points or less, the ‘Canes have won only
three while coming up short on eight different occasions.
That troubling pattern continued Saturday night as the ‘Canes (9-10, 2-6 Big
East) lost in overtime, 72-67 to the Big East leading Villanova Wildcats
(13-8, 6-2).
“This one just hurts,” head coach Perry Clark said. “It would have been a tremendous victory for us, but instead it’s a devastating loss.”
Miami fought back from a 38-26 half-time deficit to take a one-point lead with just over a
minute remaining. However, the ‘Canes let the game slip away by missing clutch free throws and getting the shaft on some controversial calls.
Darius Rice led the second half comeback with 19 of his 26 points there, including five three pointers. Rice scored 16 points during two separate 8-0 runs, the second of which tied the game at 50 points. But even with Rice providing some heroics, the ‘Canes still managed to make enough mistakes to let the Wildcats run back to Philadelphia with a win.
The Hurricanes had control of the ball with 18 seconds left when Allan Ray
fouled Miami’s freshman point guard Armondo Surratt. The freshman point guard, who came into the game shooting 52.4 percent from the foul line, missed both foul shots that would have put the ‘Canes up by three points.
The Wildcats proceeded to take the ball down court where James Jones got called
for his fifth foul. The foul allowed Derrick Snowden to tie the game with a free throw, and send the game to overtime
“If we made our foul shots, then it takes us out of harms way,” Clark said. “That was in our control, the other stuff was not and we didn’t do what we had control to do.”
The ‘Canes badly missed Jones’ presence in the paint in overtime as Villanova repeatedly made several lay-ups to take the lead. Ricky Wright sealed the victory for the Wildcats with four free throws in the last 18 seconds.
“It was just another one of those nights,” Rice said. “We had the game won and we didn’t pull it off. We had ourselves in a position to win the game and we shot ourselves in the foot again.”
The loss drops the ‘Canes below the .500 mark for the first time since the 1993-94
season. That year was also the last time the ‘Canes had two freshman starting for
them. Miami now sits in the cellar of the conference’s East Division and its record in overtime games this season stands at 1-4.
“It’s just very disappointing,” Clark said. “We have to find a way to bounce back and right the ship.”

-Nate Johnson can be reached at NPJ44@aol.com.

Two out of three ain’t bad

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Miami takes two out of three in first series of season
After a pair of blowout wins to start off its three game series with the Campbell Camels this weekend, the Hurricane baseball team seemed to be on its way to an easy sweep. The Camels had other plans for Saturday’s series finale, however, as they matched the ‘Canes blow for blow — pulling out a 12-9 victory in 10 innings at Mark Light Field on Saturday. The Camels torched the six Hurricanes pitchers for 12 runs on 17 hits, blowing a 4-0 lead, but coming back to tie the contest in the ninth, and pulled away with five runs in the tenth.
Head coach Jim Morris was impressed with the Camels effort on Saturday after they lost 13-2 and 10-3 in the first two games, respectively.
“Campbell did very well and you have to give them credit for coming back,” Morris said. “It takes a good team to come back from two tough losses.”
Shortstop Tom Rispoli, who had the game’s only home run and went 3-6 with three RBI, paced Campbell’s offense. Rispoli was aided by catcher Jason Brown, who went 3-4 with three runs batted in, and third baseman Derek Barrows, who chipped in with three hits and a pair of RBI.
The Hurricanes were led by centerfielder Danny Figueroa, who had one of his best games, going 4-4, while scoring twice, and catcher Erick San Pedro, who broke out of a minor slump with two hits and three RBI.
“Figueroa did a good job of getting on base today,” Morris said. “We needed him to make things happen at the top of the order.”
With the exception of Figueroa, Miami had trouble hitting Campbell’s starting pitcher Matt Kleweno, who stifled the Hurricane batters for the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth.
“Their starter did a good job of changing speeds and using breaking pitches,” Morris said. “He kept us off balance.”
It was in the sixth inning when UM’s bats came alive. The Figueroa brothers, Paco and Danny, both were able to get on base to start the rally. San Pedro capped it off with a bases-clearing double, giving the ‘Canes a 6-4 lead at the end of the sixth.
“I was frustrated after my first two at-bats,” San Pedro said. “I wanted a chance to make up for it and I was able to.”
Miami pitcher Ryan Dixon struggled in his first career start – lasting just 2.2 innings while giving up four runs on six hits in the process. The ‘Canes received mileage from their bullpen, as Marcelo Albir, Shawn Valdes-Fauli, and J.D. Cockroft combined to surrender just a run over the next five innings. The relievers, particularly Cockroft, started to wilt in the ninth inning as the Camels were able to score twice to make the score 7-7 and force extra innings.
“We’re missing our closer right now and that is forcing us to use many different guys,” Morris said. “Cockroft gave us some good innings but he got tired towards the end.”
The Camels exploded in the tenth inning, scoring five runs off reliever Tom King. The ‘Canes managed to score twice in the bottom half but their rally came up short in the end as a Brian Barton fly out sealed a 12-9 win for the Camels.
“We just have to pitch better late,” Morris said. “Our offense was productive, but our bullpen needs to keep us in the game.”
The first two games of the series were dominated by the ‘Canes who outscored the Camels 23-5 in the victories.
Thursday night’s victory featured homeruns by freshman Gaby Sanchez, junior Jim Burt, and sophomore Paco Figueroa. Barton contributed a pair of hits and three RBI, while designated hitter Adam Ricks added a pair of hits and two RBI.
The ‘Canes received six scoreless innings from sophomore starter Vince Bongiovanni, who only allowed one hit and struck out 10, earning his first win of the season.
Friday’s game featured another strong outing for a Hurricane starter, as Brandon Camardese threw five solid innings, surrendering only two hits and a run, while striking out eight Camel batters. The offense was provided by Sanchez (3-4, two runs, three RBI), Ricks (2-3, two runs), and Burt (3-5, two RBI.).
The Hurricanes will now travel to Gainesville for a long-awaited rematch with the Florida Gators who the Hurricanes shocked in last year’s regionals. The team hopes to get a couple of confidence-building wins in Gainesville.
“When you have a series at home, you want to sweep it,” Morris said. “When you go on the road, especially to a place like Gainesville, you will be happy just to win the series.”

-Eric Kalis can be reached at elk777bc@hotmail.com

Now is the time for the sleeping giant to wake up

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America has grown arrogant. I was raised by parents who truly believed–and still do–that our country is invincible: the sleeping giant. But perhaps that will be our tragic flaw–we’re still sleeping.
My parents would shun this column, labeling me as a defeatist, but I ask you: wasn’t Russia a superpower once too? How are we so sure that we will once again be victorious? How can we beat people who have more to gain in death than in life?
A famous man once said that the greatest enemy is the man who has no fear. Well, when you’re flying a kamikaze plane into an American landmark because your family will finally be relieved from the impoverished condition under which you’ve spent your entire life, I’d say that’s cause for concern. I’m not saying defeat is imminent, but I am saying it’s a possibility; a possibility that will become ever more likely the less we consider it as such.
In retrospect, it was necessary for all previous empires to fall in order for us to achieve our status, and what great empire considers itself fallible? Who gets up in the morning and thinks, “today, I will be struck by lightning?” So, who’s to say that it’s not our turn?
Within the past two years, we’ve been thrust into a sort of existence never experienced in America before. Men and women blow themselves up in restaurants and subways all the time in other countries. But it’s so far away, and so foreign to the lifestyles to which we’ve grown accustomed, that it couldn’t possibly happen to us–could it?
But it already is: racial profiling, increased airport security, suspicion over one-way tickets and an economy under serious duress. Still, we turn the other cheek; turning off the television, playing CDs instead of radio, for fear of hearing a newsbreak that we just aren’t prepared to hear.
Where is this all going to lead? As we draw closer and closer to war with Iraq, we send troops overseas and thus leave our own borders less protected from domestic attack. I wonder what will be next and when will we wise up to the possibility and increasing likelihood that life is going to change very drastically.
This war will be different. This war won’t be so far away that we’re able to turn it off with the flick of a remote. And our patriotic ignorance isn’t going to help at all–it’s only going to make us more prone to infiltration from enemy sources that are plotting, plotting, plotting away while the arrogant giant is still sleeping.

Whitney W. Friedrich is a senior majoring in Advertising and English. She can be contacted at witz615@aol.com.

The buck stops here, out of touch with reality

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Do you want to pay money to be miserable? As obvious as the answer may seem, so many students do it everyday–they waste thousands of dollars on classes that they hate, and numerous hours studying extensively, to receive a failing grade each time.
The most miserable students I meet seem to be in some science-related field. Most don’t even crack a smile when they talk about it–if they talk about it. Then I meet pre-law students stressed about their grades to get into law school, and for what? Are these students passionate about organic chemistry or analyzing government?
No, they want to make a quick buck or two when they get out of college. Then they may settle down with something fun later on.
But four to ten years of miserable education never ignited any true talents and interest within them. And they need the miserable job to pay off those student loans. Wait, that new condo isn’t paid for, so maybe they’ll end up keeping the miserable job anyway, plus they’ll need money for retirement. Unfortunately, they reach the end of their lives and realize they never accomplished anything fulfilling, except their wallets.
The other greatest excuses I hear for majoring in something miserable is that “my parents made me” or “my parents are paying for only that.” A sad life they lead, considering their parents aren’t the ones taking those horrible classes and aren’t the ones ending up in therapy after they have a mental breakdown.
I love those students who sneer at the English majors, the fiction wrings hopefuls and the artist-to-be, knowing the chance of living the ideal comfortable lifestyle are improbable in those professions. But I also will love to see those same students 20 years from now envying the art majors because their hearts are in their work.
If students think they can cover up their emptiness and misery with full pockets in the end, maybe they will find more comfort spending their college tuition on self-improvement, and investing in a therapist.
Devotion to the buck makes a tragic ending, unless of course will be able to buy another life in the future.

Marquita K. Bell is a sophomore majoring in Print Journalism and Political Science.

Venezuela’s power-hungry Chavez must resign

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In a country renowned for its beautiful people, Venezuela has a monster for president. Hugo Chavez, formerly an army colonel, revolutionary, and currently elected president of Venezuela, is leading his 24 million people down the road to perdition.
After leading a bloody military insurrection, killing 40 civilians, Chavez served two years in prison, then resurfaced as leader of the leftist Movement of the Fifth Republic Party. Under the guise of cleaning up political corruption and uplifting 80 percent of Venezuela from beneath the poverty level, Chavez won the 1998 presidential election.
Hugo the Horrible immediately wrote a new voter-approved constitution, greatly expanding his power. Chavez’s inherently flawed anti-capitalist economic policies, including land redistribution and steps toward a government-controlled centralized economy, scared off billions in capital investment. Venezuela’s economy contracted eight percent in 2002. Inflation and unemployment currently stand at a staggering 30 and 17 percent, respectively.
The budding dictator allies himself with the world’s worst terrorists. He’s the only democratically elected president since the Gulf War to meet with Saddam Hussein, and regards Fidel Castro as a close friend. He tragically describes Cuba and Venezuela as “swimming together towards the same sea of happiness.”
While the U.S. courageously brings thousands of Al-Qaeda terrorists to justice in Afghanistan, Chavez denounces America for “fighting terror with terror.” Extrajudicial killings, torture of criminal suspects by police and government intimidation of the press are commonplace.
On April 11, 2002, Chavez ordered military troops to fire on peaceful anti-government protesters, leading to a short-lived military coup. In a dramatic display of civil disobedience, millions of Venezuelans went on nationwide strike in protest of Chavez between Dec. 2, 2002 and Feb. 4, 2003. Schools, factories, banks and almost all forms of commerce halted.
The state-controlled oil industry, representing half of Venezuela’s total revenue, still strikes. Venezuela is a founding member of OPEC and the world’s fourth largest producer of oil. The oil strike has driven up the cost of gasoline worldwide and lost Venezuela $4 billion in revenue. A reported four million Venezuelans have signed a petition to force early elections under the constitution.
Venezuela needs an honest leader who will preserve democratic ideals and bridge the tremendous income gap through a completely free-market economy. Foreign capital investment and government-funded literacy programs in Venezuela will bring about jobs, economic growth and self-sufficiency. Hugo Chavez has exposed himself as a corrupt, dictatorial, leftist demagogue. For the good of Venezuela and to prevent further bloodshed, Chavez must respect the overwhelming will of his people and abdicate power.

Pete Trombadore is a freshman majoring in Business Administration. He can be contacted at petetrombadore@hotmail.com.

EDITORIAL A month for segregation

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Welcome to Black History Month. Have you enjoyed it? What does it mean to you? We’ve seen dance and music shows on the Rock and the UC Patio, activists tabling in the Breezeway and documentaries hosted by James Earl Jones or Denzel Washington on the History Channel.
Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson first founded “Negro History Week” in February, which in 1976 came to be known as “Black History Month,” to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Woodson strategically placed Negro History Week so that it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Now that it’s a whole month long, it also coincides with Oprah Winfrey’s national television debut in 1986, which was, interestingly enough, listed on The Association for the Study of Afro-American History and Life’s website as an important historical event.
Before the establishment of Black History Month, the field was barely studied or even recognized in history books. Historians largely ignored the Black American population, and when Black history was documented, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.
The establishment of Black History Month was obviously necessary earlier in the last century. The study of American History was racially biased toward the White, upper-class majority. However, the texts have changed, and are coming to incorporate the true stories of racism, inequality, inhumanity, and injustice that make up American History.
Proponents of a segregated Black History Month often ignore the more important task of explaining why certain social conditions evolved and why they continue. They intend those brief sketches of prominent historical black figures to serve as quick emotionally satisfying rebuttals to centuries of bad history that presented Americans with African ancestors in a negative light. Their motives are good. Still, the results often are harmful, because they trivialize the group’s role in American history.
Is the segregation of the appreciation of cultural diversity beneficial to the destruction of cultural and social biases which have been present in societies since the dawn of history? The separation of cultures, expressed through such events as Black History Month or Hispanic Heritage Month, perpetuates the distinctions that we’ve been trying to rid ourselves of, culturally, socially, and psychologically, since we learned a long time ago that it wasn’t cool to distinguish others on a superficial level. Just like a dad feels left out of a child’s love on Mother’s day, any event or period which focuses on and praises one culture inherently discriminates against all the rest, and may deter us from our long-sought goal of just loving everyone for who they are as individuals, for their differences, oddities, and histories which they can’t help but have.
We humans are all by-products of the same ancestors and despite our myriad of different ancestries and origins, we are only different because we choose to be different from each other. Individual differences may arise from race, sex, and heritage, but they are expressed by and only by the individual.
Perhaps we could benefit from a unified Civil Rights Month, so that everyone could recognize the struggles different classes have overcome in America, while conceding that the progress made was done mostly because of the conjoined efforts of people of all races with a social conscience.
Where’s the solution? It’s too cliche to say that everyday should be a celebration of cultural diversity because it already is. From the diversity of foods, music, skin color, language, dress, and filial obligations, is born the American culture.

Watch out, Jeopardy:

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During many of the taping sessions for the new season of the UMIQ game show, students working with the show scrambled around scripts, questions, cameras and spotlights, all in an effort to ensure that everything went smoothly and that all of the planned improvements to the show were taking place.
“[Most of the time] we’re looking at a nice 12 hour day,” Lorri Kaye, UMIQ co-host, said.
Some of the major changes for the new season include a completely revamped set, new co-hosts and improved trivia questions that range from general academics to pop culture.
“Our goal is to really make the show something that students are going to want to watch,” Brad Ross, UMIQ co-host, said. “We’re going for more of an MTV look than a cable-access look.”
“There will be a lot of interaction between Brad and myself,” Kaye said.
“I’m going to make my co-host disappear,” interrupted Ross, a professional magician, who plans to incorporate some of his magic into their act.
According to the two co-hosts, Luis Santi, a new addition to the show, spent countless hours developing the graphic appeal of the show.
“He really took the look of the show from a college level to a professional level,” Ross said.
Last year marked the premier production of the UMIQ game show, and the crew has decided to focus on the best aspects from last year’s taping and incorporate them into a new frame while strengthening the areas that were not as effective in the previous season.
“All the work that it took to make them great last year is what drives them now,” Monica Fernandez, associate producer for the faculty, said. “The new co-hosts play off each other really well, we have new directors, new producers and the format has been changed to make it more appealing and much more professional.”
“We’re trying to liven up the show a little bit,” Gabriel Reiter, co-producer of the show, said.
“Last year’s look was more conservative – this year we’re trying to be more creative and flavor it up,” Richard Morrison, co-producer of the show, said. “I try to draw as much as I can from other game shows.”
Executive producer and faculty advisor to the show Sanjeev Chatterjee reflected on the atmosphere of this season’s preparation and credited the students with most of the work.
“I provide resources needed to make things happen and to serve as a sounding board, bringing up standards, whether relating to technical, content, or communication with the larger student body,” Chatterjee said.
Chatterjee says he has focused on encouraging students to think for themselves, rather than relying on direction from him, when making decisions.
Students who are working with the show appreciate Chatterjee’s approach.
“For us, it’s the best experience possible,” Reiter said. “You get to do things more like real life than anything else.”
Last year, UMIQ won the CBI award for best technical production and was a final runner-up for the Telly award.
This year, the show hopes to surpass its previous accomplishments.
“There won’t be a dull moment,” Fernandez said.
UMIQ will air every week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. starting Feb. 17 on UMTV Channel 24 and Channel 96 in the Gables.

Whitney Friedrich can be contacted at Witz615@aol.com.

Time is right to invade Iraq

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(U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. – Since the Persian Gulf War in 1991, Iraq has been the staple of evil for many politicians.
Now that the United States wants to invade Iraq, key figures involved with the 1991 conflict say the timing is almost right.
Ken Levit, president of the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa and former counsel to CIA director George Tenet, said the problems that center on convincing other nations Iraq should be dealt with immediately are in the intelligence. He said the 1991 conflict had a threat that was less complex and more concrete.
“(Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein) had invaded Kuwait in 1991,” Levit said. “Now the threat surrounds the support of terrorism, the possession of weapons of mass destruction and the technology to proliferate the weapons of mass destruction.”
Because of the complexity and security of the intelligence, the case has not been presented to the public but has been made long ago to those with the proper security clearance.
Edward Perkins, former U.N. ambassador and executive director of the International Programs Center, said there are many issues from 1991 that are still around 12 years later. One of them is the resolution to restore the status quo of the area, a resolution he had a hand in forming.
“In a nutshell, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The United States led a coalition to push him back to Iraq,” Perkins said. “It’s reasonable to assume (illegal weapons) are still there. He’s a menace to stability in the Middle East, and there’s no evidence that he’s complied with the resolution.”
OU President David L. Boren, former U.S. senator, was a key figure in the Senate Intelligence Committee during the 1991 crisis. When the U.S. Senate voted to support Bush Sr. in the attack on Iraq, he voted against it. Boren said he voted against the war because the goal was not clearly defined, and there was no effort to remove Hussein.
“I knew that if he remained in power, he would remain a threat to the Middle East,” Boren said. “I believed that we would have to go back into Iraq if we did not remove him.”
Boren said there needs to be international support to enter Iraq, or the United States will lose face among key allies that could keep stability in the Middle East.

Columbine victim’s father shares her message at UM

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Nearly three years after the Apr. 20, 1999 massacre at Columbine High in Littleton, Colorado that killed twelve students and one teacher, Darrell Scott, father of Columbine victim Rachel Scott, shared her life and message with approximately 400 UM students at Guzman Hall last week.
The free event was sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ and co-sponsored by Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Athletes in Action and Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. It was the first event in which these UM religious organizations collaborated.
Scott’s national campaign, known as “Rachel’s Challenge,” focuses on helping administrators, teachers and students create a safer environment at school by replacing fear and violence with kindness and compassion.
The goal of “Rachel’s Challenge” is to “start a chain reaction” of kindness toward others. Ironically, those were the same words used by Eric Harris, one of the Columbine murderers.
The idea behind “Rachel’s Challenge” was modeled after a poem Rachel wrote for her English class a month before her death. It was entitled: “My Ethics, My Code of Life.” In her poem, Rachel emphasized the importance of showing compassion to everyone and to let people know that they are appreciated while they are still alive.
At Gusman Hall, Scott shared Rachel’s life through a multimedia presentation providing video clips of Columbine, interviews, photographs and words spoken by Rachel.
Scott focused on Rachel’s sincere treatment of those she encountered and how she wasn’t afraid to live her life spiritually and share her beliefs with others.
Freshman Mark Cusick and senior Chris Luzuriaga were moved by Rachel’s life.
“It was very powerful and meaningful to believers and non-believers,” Cusick said.
“It was very emotional to see such a young person show her faith in God and helping other people,” Luzuriaga said.
Scott challenged the audience to follow in Rachel’s footsteps by showing love to those around them.
Tintu George, a junior at FIU, was one of the many students who accepted the challenge.
“Rachel wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives,” George said. “Sometimes I get so caught up in everything that I forget what matters the most.”
“I want to get closer to the Lord and seek His guidance in everything I do,” George said.
Luzuriaga says she also wants to seek a change.
“I want to have God more active than he has been in my life,” she said.
Scott, who has traveled across the nation to various schools, visited with two Presidents and spoken with Congress, loves the effect his daughter’s life has had on people.
“Just to see that Rachel’s life really had an impact on others makes it worthwhile,” Scott said.
To learn more about “Rachel’s Challenge,” visit www.rachelschallenge.com.

Marquita Bell can be contacted at m_bell01@hotmail.com.

UM Idol winner drops Cane Records

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If you were saving your cash for Matt Feld’s new CD, go buy something else.
Matt Feld, winner of Cane Records’ UM Idol competition last November, declined the title after reading the contract Cane Records presented him.
“It had nothing to offer me,” Feld said of the contract.
The contract promised to organize, fund and market at least one
six-song CD for Feld in exchange for five percent of the profits of his next five albums.
Although five percent is a reasonable percentage for a record label to claim, Feld says that the number of albums Cane Records wanted to claim that particular percentage on worried him.
Cane Records has produced and marketed several bands and artists in the past, including Burk, a UM student rapper with a positive message.
No previous artists reported a problem with the contract Cane Records offered.
Although he looked forward to making a short recording of both original and cover songs when he originally entered the contest, Feld maintains that he would have gained nothing from a deal with Cane Records.
“When I looked at the contract, I looked at what it was offering me; [Then I thought], is signing this contract really to my benefit?” Feld said.
Feld also said that he is not willing to negotiate.
“The contract was so stupid and ridiculous that I didn’t even want to waste my time negotiating; it was that bad,” he said.
Cane Records could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Feld plans to write more songs, to continue studying at the UM school of music vocal jazz program and to begin working on a solo project of his own in hopes of getting a bigger label to pick him up.
“I’m working on my own project and getting my own stuff together to present to the labels,” Feld said.
No plans have been made as yet to offer the contract to a UM Idol runner-up.
Cane Records had hoped to run the UM Idol competition every other year, but plans may change since the initial run wasn’t successful.
The Miami Hurricane will continue to follow-up on this issue throughout the course of the semester.

Jaclyn Lisenby can be contacted at jlisenby2001@yahoo.com

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