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‘Canes pull out OT win

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Convocation Center drought comes to an end
By
Hurricane Sports Writer
After losing their first two games in the brand new Convocation Center, the Lady ‘Canes basketball team got a tough victory, beating Virginia Tech 67-66 in overtime Tuesday night. Despite hitting just one of 13 three-point shots, missing 16 of their 26 free throws, getting out-rebounded 55-43, and shooting a paltry 25 percent from the field in the first half, the ‘Canes managed enough defense to come out victorious.
The Hokies only scored 18 points in the first half and didn’t lead until the 11:13 mark of the second half. Although V-Tech shot 25 percent in the first half, they found a way to beat the ‘Canes defense and score 36 points in the second half.
Riding on the shoulders of their 6-2 junior center Shaquana Wilkins, who led the ‘Canes with 19 points, the ‘Canes extended their largest lead of the game to nine points with only 3:11 left to play in regulation. From that point on the ‘Canes would only score one more time as they let the Hokies chip away at their lead and eventually tie the game.
Head Coach Ferne Labati, who fell over as she jumped in frustration on the sideline, said, “Shaq [Wilkins] came through really big for us, especially in the second half. She’s a very stable person who you know you can depend on because she’s very personable.”
Freshman phenom Tamara James and Yolanda McCormick both missed the front end of one-and-one free throw attempts with less than two minutes to go, giving the Hokies confidence and the chance to come back. Virginia Tech freshman Carrie Mason, who scored a game-high 24 points, hit two foul shots with just over a minute to go, pulling the Hokies within three points.
On the Hokies next possession, Mason calmly came down the court and nailed a three pointer to tie the game at 54 points with 25 seconds to go. The ‘Canes had one more shot at winning the game when the Hokies fouled James as she drove to the basket. Miami’s free-throw woes continued as James missed her free-throw attempt. Virginia Tech got the rebound but failed to get off a shot before time expired.
Halfway through the overtime period, James hit two free throws to put Miami in the lead for good. The Hokies did however come very close to making another comeback.
After building a five point lead with a little over two minutes remaining, the ‘Canes allowed the Hokies to pull within one point. Again the Hokies resorted to fouling the ‘Canes. James missed two foul shots that could have extended Miami’s lead, but the ‘Canes defense came through as Meghan Saake blocked the next Hokie shot. The Hokies fouled Saake and she too missed both of her foul shots.
With only five seconds remaining the Hokies made a mad dash down the floor to attempt a last second shot but Chanivia Broussard stole the ball to end the game. Broussard, who led Miami in points her first two seasons made her first start against Virginia Tech.
The ‘Canes host Villanova tomorrow night at the Convocation Center.

You can reach Nate Johnson at NPJ44@aol.com.

Super Sunday for Sapp

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Outspoken personality has made Sapp a winner in NFL
For the first 20 years of their existence, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been considered the laughing stock of the NFL.
In 1995, during the tail end of their drought, the ‘Bucs selected University of Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp in the first-round, in what was considered a risky move. Tampa Bay personnel, however, saw Sapp as a building block for a future Super Bowl team.
Eight years later, Sapp and the Buccaneers finally put an end to decades of frustration, as Tampa Bay defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21 Sunday in the Super Bowl. The former Hurricane, a longtime vocal leader in the Tampa Bay locker room, forced a fumble, and helped spearhead the Tampa Bay defense that caused all sorts of problems for Rich Gannon and the Raiders’ offense.
“We emerged from the ridicule and heartbreak put upon this organization, to evolving into a playoff team that no one thought could take the next step,” Sapp said. “We took that next step, and now we are world champions, and that is something nobody can ever take away.”
Known for his outspokenness, Sapp originally wanted to be a lawyer growing up, using his ability to talk his way out of anything to his advantage. Sapp did not even begin to play football until his sophomore year in high school. However, those few years were enough to alter Sapp’s career plans.
“Getting to know people like yourself, meeting hall of fame players of the game you really admire, gives you that good fuzzy feeling all over,” Sapp said. “It’s really a game of relationships and building friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Sapp enrolled at the University of Miami and quickly became a prominent player on the team. Originally, the 30-year old arrived in Miami as a tight end, before head coach Dennis Erickson moved him to defensive tackle. In three years with the Hurricanes, Sapp recorded 19.5 sacks and 176 tackles, while forcing and recovering four fumbles.
Those numbers solidified Sapp as one of the nation’s best defensive players, and also opened the door to some recognition as well. Sapp became UM’s first Lombardi Award winner in 1994 as the nation’s best interior lineman, and was announced an All-American his junior season. Sapp also took home the Bronko Nagurski Award as college football’s top defensive player.
After joining the ‘Bucs organization in 1995, Sapp picked the number 99, sharing it with one of the players he looked up to most, Jerome Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles, a player whom Sapp often drew comparisons to. One of Sapp’s fondest memories was the day Brown came to visit.
“It was a dream come true,” Sapp said. “When I answered my door, I stumbled back for a moment taking in the sight of the great Jerome Brown coming to visit little old me at Miami.”
This season, Sapp earned a spot in the Pro Bowl for the sixth consecutive year, a feat only matched by Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks, and Lee Roy Selmon in the history of the Tampa Bay organization. He has also been named to the All-Pro team by the Associated Press each of the past four seasons. Now, Sapp has his ultimate piece of hardware: a Super Bowl ring. “I think this championship validates us all as a defense, because for the last six or seven years we’ve been the staple that you must measure up to. ‘Can you play defense like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?'” Sapp said. “The Purple People Eaters and the Fearsome Foursome are not talked about in the same light as they do the Steal Curtain. They were champions, and championships are the key factors that define you in this league.”
Sapp finished second on the team with 5.5 sacks, and led Tampa defensive linemen with 78 tackles. Although Sapp’s sack totals haven’t been as high over the past couple years, the former ‘Cane still has found a way to break through opposing offensive lines on a regular basis. This season, Sapp had two multi-sack games against Cincinnati and Cleveland and also reached a milestone of different sorts, starting his 100th career game in the season opener against New Orleans.
While Sapp has great respect for his teammates, no one has earned the defensive tackle’s stamp of approval more then head coach John Gruden.
“He has to be our messiah,” Sapp said. “We gave up four draft picks, four million dollars, and the team even considered giving up me. He’s got to be the man to take us where we need to go, and here we are.”
In addition to winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history, the ‘Bucs defense has been called one of the greatest in NFL history. Sapp expects his team to stay on top for more than just one year.
“Not many people can say they came into a ball club, stayed on the same team for their whole career and ended on top of the list,” Sapp stated. “If I’m on my game, we’re awfully hard to beat.”

-You can reach Dana Strokovsky at Hoopg1rl6@aol.com.

Still alive in the Big East

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After a disappointing loss to Syracuse on Sunday, the University of Miami men’s basketball team desperately needed a win to stay in the hunt for the Big East title.
Thanks to the timely scoring of Darius Rice and the rebounding and defense of freshman Gary Hamilton, the ‘Canes escaped the Convocation Center with a 60-57 win over Providence College Wednesday night. Rice led all scorers with 26 points, including 21 in the second half, and iced the game with 9.9 seconds to go by hitting two free throws.
Romuald Augustin led the Friars with 15 points, and Ryan Gomes contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.
Meanwhile, Hamilton made his presence felt through hard-nosed defense against the Providence big men, pulling down 12 rebounds.
“Gary played huge for us today, especially for a freshman,” coach Perry Clark said. “He gave us key rebounds and handled their big men very well.”
Hamilton had some incentive to have a big game against the Friars, as the 6’10” center was ready to commit to Providence last year before a fallout occurred between himself and the school.
“I was almost committed there but they ended up backing down,” Hamilton said. “I was motivated to have a big game against them.”
The first half of the game seemed like a horror show for both Miami and Providence. The two teams combined for 21 turnovers (UM 10, PC 11), and each squad had trouble shooting from the field, as the ‘Canes shot 33 percent and the Friars shot 35 percent.
“I think we worked them too hard the past couple of days and they came out sluggish because of it,” Clark said. “We didn’t expect their zone defense early on, and we weren’t sharp at all.”
The second half opened with better shooting and fewer turnovers by both squads. The ‘Canes tied the score for the first time (39-39) on a Robert Hite dunk with 13:05 left in the game.
Miami then captured the lead (47-46) when Rice broke out of his first half slump, hitting three-pointers on consecutive possessions. The junior was able to overcome his slow start and improve his shot selection in the second half.
“Early on I wasn’t getting too many touches,” Rice said. “I was more active in the second half and my teammates were setting better screens for me.”
An Eric Wilkins steal and dunk with 1:35 left gave the ‘Canes a 57-55 lead. Following an Armondo Surratt turnover, James Jones came up with a clutch steal, leading to a Surratt free throw to make it a 58-55 game with 37 seconds left.
After Gomes converted on a lay-up, the Friars were back within one point (58-57) with 13.5 seconds left. But Rice came through with the two free throws, making the score 60-57 in UM’s favor. A Donnie McGrath 3-point heave at the buzzer came up short, and the Hurricanes escaped with the win.
“This was a victory we needed,” Clark said. “With the way we have improved defensively, I would give us a chance against anyone in the league. But we all know how tough the Big East is. No one in this league is an easy out.”

-You can reach Eric Kalis at elk777bc@hotmail.com.

The British: Our best friends in the free world

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“Who the hell do you Americans think you are?” my uncle, red-faced, raged at me from across the dinner table. Circumstance due to divorce had prevented me from knowing my uncle, the former Don of Oxford University’s Nuffield College, until I started attending the University of Aberdeen two years prior to this heated conversation. “What gives you Americans the right . . .” his remarks were piercing, and too much to bear. They were so out of character for the studied man, steeped in the British tradition, whom I had come to respect. I felt like an outsider in a place I recently adopted as my home away from home.
The topic of conversation that cold summer’s evening in Devonshire had drifted from American accounting practices and the stunning failure of Arthur Anderson, to a possible war with Iraq. What my uncle expressed was a valid, growing view that the U.S. acts too “unilaterally.”
When I returned home to the States later last summer, he mailed me a conciliatory note with a clipping from Britain’s conservative paper, The Daily Telegraph. The article moderately spelled out the differences between European and American views. Europe wishes to see multilateral solutions when conducting foreign policy, as opposed to what Europeans view as the dangerous “shoot first, ask questions later” American way of dealing with the world’s troubles. Being a particularly pro-American newspaper, the article then focused on how Americans dismiss most European actions as “weak kneed” and, using the classic dirty word from World War II, downright “appeasement.” The British have a great way of separating themselves from the continent when they need to.
As the summer wore on, and I readjusted to the American way of life, I read more articles in notable political journals such as The Economist on the “growing divide” between the two continents and Britain’s role in the whole Iraq fiasco. Britain and her prime minister, Tony Blair, are taking a huge gamble on committing to a war in Iraq. It is a motion that is hugely unpopular amongst backbenchers in the P.M.’s own Labour Party and even the Thatcherite Conservative Party’s position is, at best, only thinly supportive. To quote one senior M.P.’s comments to me in a rather candid conversation, “Iraq has nothing to do with us.”
Alas, I am forced to fall back on an expression I heard in my first year, Introduction to International Relations class: “Great Britain does not have permanent allies, nor permanent enemies, only permanent interests”. A botched war with Iraq would give the UK its first taste of the American “Vietnam War syndrome” spelling disaster to our relationship with those who are our best friends in this world.

Gunnar Heinrich is a visiting 3rd year Politics & International Relations major from the University of Aberdeen, King’s College in Scotland.

Reading the picture in the economic tea leaves

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Earlier this month, the president proposed a bold ten-year $674 billion stimulus plan, the centerpiece of which is an elimination of the tax on stock dividends. The idea behind this is to facilitate an increase in business and consumer confidence that would improve the health of the stock market, now in its third year of a decline that began during the final months of the Clinton presidency. The remainder of the Bush plan focuses on a combination of income tax cuts, money to help the unemployed, as well as other tax relief for married couples and parents.
Clearly, only the fates can answer whether or not the elimination of the tax on dividends will actually do what it is intended to do. Nevertheless, IRS data shows that while 25 percent of tax filers claimed stock dividend income, 63 percent of that income went to individuals with incomes of $100,000 or more. This lends credence to criticism that in terms of real dollars, this portion of the plan provides most of the benefit to upper-income households. In light of this, a crucial point is being missed: regardless of the actual benefits of this or any economic plan, a president’s only real economic weapon is the belief by the public that he’s doing something to help, even if that something doesn’t amount to much tangible evidence at all. In this sense, Bush has made a very shrewd political move even if the stock dividend tax remains in place, as it most likely will.
Congressional Democrats for their part have presented a plan of their own which amounts to a $136 billion stimulus package consisting of tax rebates as well as aid to the states, which they claim would all be implemented this year. Quite typically, their criticism of the Bush plan focuses on a traditional “class-warfare” strategy, claiming that the entire Bush plan “unfairly” benefits the wealthy. This strategy is old, tired, and won’t work for them now any better than it ever has. Hidden under all their rhetoric, however, is their real strategy: politicizing the economy for the 2004 election. That’s why their plan only focuses on the short-term economy instead of the long-term as the Bush plan does. Just as in 1992, it’s still “the economy stupid.” Unfortunately for the Democrats, Bush knows this too.
Scott Wacholtz is a senior majoring in Computer Science.

Bush makes valid points, sense in State of the Union

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A room full of old and decrepit white men in suits standing and clapping every 30 seconds can only mean one thing. Yes, Tuesday marked one of the most important State of the Union addresses in recent history. The economy is crashing, the environment is sputtering towards collapse, the middle east is crawling with terrorists, and war with Iraq seems imminent. So the question on everyone’s mind was how in the world is Bush going to make all of that seem like a good thing?
Well, Tuesday night I actually found myself clapping for President Bush. For a brief moment, he made me believe that he was more than a buffoon in the pocket of the oil companies. First, although it is no secret that Bush cares as much for the environment as he does for an inmate on death row in Texas, he proposed over a billion dollars to fund the creation of a car that runs on hydrogen and creates water as a waste product. This would drastically cut pollution and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. Hallelujah! The only downside is that the project will take almost 20 years to implement, and by that time we might all be living on the moon.
Then, going against the trend in America and the world, Bush actually had the backbone to say that we must help AIDS victims in Africa. Kudos, President Bush, for taking that bold step and making Africa’s problem our problem! Of course, the cynic would say that he had no other choice. In light of the recent Trent Lott scandal, he had to show that his party really doesn’t hate black people. But still, I think Bush deserves a great deal of credit (did I just say that?).
Finally, Bush talked a good deal about the impending war with Iraq. He gave copious amounts of evidence against Hussein and made it seem like war is indeed necessary. However, I still have a few problems.
First of all, a good deal of the evidence against Hussein was from the 80s and turns out to be less damning than it seems. For instance, remember those metal pipes that Hussein bought and didn’t account for? Well, apparently they were only powerful enough to make rockets, not weapons of mass destruction. So although Bush wasn’t lying, he was bending the truth.
What’s more, I still think that this war is too personal. Without it his presidency has been a failure, so I have a hard time believing that the American people aren’t being lied to just a little bit. It wouldn’t be the first time a president has lied to get America into war.
Travis Atria is a senior majoring in English Literature. His hate mail can be directed to batman7777@aol.com.

EDITORIAL Same old politics as usual

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As George W. Bush strutted into the chamber of the House of Representatives in his navy suit and cornflower blue tie, he wasn’t surprising anyone.
His State of the Union speech was everything that the analysts had predicted it to be: an emphatic domestic reassurance that America isn’t going down the drain, and a vigorous appeal to the American people to support his administration’s policy toward Iraq and terrorism.
He appealed for bipartisan cooperation on foreign and domestic issues to two crowds in the same room: the enthusiastic and power-comfy Republicans on the right side of the chamber who nodded along to every bit of Bush’s predetermined platform, and the demoralized and disintegrating Democrats on the left, who often refused to applaud the president’s main points.
He repeated promises about the economy. He repeated promises about healthcare, homeland security, and his self-sponsored war on terrorism. He had to put on his routine and make Saddam seem like the bad cop. Tonight was his opportunity to start the year off differently.
But we get more of the same, and worse. Firstly, Bush is granting tax relief that we, as a union, do not need. He ranted about tax cuts, about reducing the marriage penalty, about the ending of the double taxation of dividends, and about “giving back to American families.” All this with budget deficits predicted in the billions of dollars.
We face rising unemployment in this Union (2.7 million Americans lost their jobs this past year ), and more vocal concern about the economy. Bush suggested that granting corporate tax breaks and spending more than we earn is the solution to escalating economic instability.
Bush romanced the common American citizen with pledges of money in every pocket, and widespread economic security, yet he has to date delivered very little.
The president refuses to believe that a national healthcare system will help everyone get adequate medical coverage. But he also calls for the power of healthcare to go back to the doctors and the patients. It seems like he’s temporarily appeasing the distressed medical professionals in this country, who face rising malpractice insurance rates and lawsuits, but he doesn’t really care for the individual doctor or patient, or for complete national medical coverage at all.
His agenda all along has been to attack Iraq. He can’t hide that anymore. In his address Bush neither overtly called for war nor extensively urged military action. But he did reassure us, just in case we forgot, that his administration lost patience with Saddam Hussein right after Papa Bush couldn’t topple his regime.
Bush is no longer riding the popularity wave of post-9/11 American public opinion. His union is far more cynical and hard to convince than it was just a year ago. His approval rating has dropped from a staggeringly high 80 percent down to 55 to 60 percent. Most of what he’s given America is more reasons to be concerned: a worrisome economy, a troublesome environment, and a bothersome healthcare system.
A year ago Americans gave the president the benefit of the doubt when it came to running this country; they were too confused and frightened after the year that 2001 was. But as of today, Americans have seen very few benefits, and have many more doubts.
How Bush and his fellow politicos have succeeded, in just one year, in diverting America’s attention, anger, and anxiety from Afghanistan to Iraq, from bin Laden to Hussein, is one of the smoothest political magic tricks in history.
The state of the nation is tense. The trifecta threats of war, terrorism and recession blind and bewilder the American citizen from three sides.
“Our union is strong,” George W. Bush said, and no one really believed him.

SG enhances dorm amenities at UM

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Student government [SG] is finally getting the requests they have fought to materialize for years: more cable channels on campus and Caller ID in the dorms. Also, stricter rules have been implemented to deter fire alarm disturbances during exams and in the middle of the night.
Mike Johnston, SG president, is excited about the additional cable channels.
“This was one of the issues on my platform last year,” Johnston said. “I’ve always believed that these types of amenities are just what the students want in an on-campus community that is always growing.”
“We will be able to pick up all the stations that all past student governments have wanted and be able to provide them to students,” said Robert Redick, director of resident halls.
The new cable channels will include HBO, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, The History Channel, MTV2 and ESPN.
“It’s about damn time,” laughed senior Laurel Smith, a resident at Hecht. “It’s about time people pay attention to the inside, where students must live and study, instead of beautifying the outside.”
“There’s a slight chance the expanded cable, except for HBO, might be in before the semester is over,” Redick said.
Comcast, the UM cable provider, has 60 days after signing the contract to provide all services, meaning that all channels will be available by Sept. 1.
According to Redick, the Caller ID service will be provided by TeleComm.
“Telecomm has found a way to provide, at a reasonable rate to resident students, lines with Caller ID,” Redick added.
Students will either need a phone with Caller ID capability or will have to purchase the small Caller ID device separately.
Redick says the costs of the two new amenities will be covered by an increase in dorm room rent for next year: a threeand-a-half percent increase for double rooms and a four percent increase for single rooms.
The rent increase, however, will also be used to cover the increased prices for operating costs such as property ownership, insurance, utility and electricity.
Currently, SG is also working with UM faculty to find new ways of decreasing the number of false fire alarms in the residence halls, especially at night and during exams.
“About 50 percent [of the alarms pulled this year] were because of human involvement,” Redick said. “But that does not always mean malicious involvement.”
According to Redick, the other 50 per-cent of the cases were due to different types of mechanical errors, which have been addressed.
UM offers a $1,000 award for information leading to the identification of a person involved in the pulling of a fire alarm. SG has also talked of putting plastic covers over the alarms so they cannot be accidentally pulled, or spraying ink that will identify the person who has intentionally pulled an alarm.
As of press time, neither idea had been finalized.
According to the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, if an individual is caught pulling an alarm, their housing contract is immediately terminated and they are forced to move out within 72 hours.
UM then takes disciplinary action against the individual[s] responsible and works with Coral Gables Police and Fire Departments to decide whether further legal action should be taken.
Johnston says that UM administration has been supportive of the changes and they have worked hard to see them materialize.
“It’s been a privilege working with the administration,” Johnston said. “They’ve been an unbelievable asset in the actualization of these plans.”
For more information regarding the new changes, contact The Department of Residence Halls at 305-284-4505.

Kathleen Fordyce can be contacted at K4Dice@aol.com.

Religious groups reach out to students at Chaplain’s Fair

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Amid Kosher pizza, Bibles, KFC and hip-hop music, over a dozen on-campus religious groups at UM sought to expose students to the religious options that exist at UM at the semi-annual Chaplain’s Association Fair, held Tuesday on the UC patio.
“We want to let students know that we care for them,” said Father Frank Corbishley of the Episcopal Church Center. “These [religious] centers should be students’ home away from home.”
The Wesley Foundation, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Catholic Campus Ministry and the Hillel and Chabad Jewish organizations were among the groups that shared worship service times, community service activity ideas and social events that are planned for the semester.
According to organizers, the groups have agreed for years to put aside their differences and come together whenever possible to benefit UM students, despite the diversity of the organizations and beliefs represented.
“We involve ourselves in the day-to-day activities dealing with faith and life, heart and mind,” says a portion of the mission statement of the Chaplain’s Association.
“We try to talk about issues relevant to students’ lives and scripture,” said Silvia Tarafa, director of the Campus Catholic Ministry. “We want to reach as many people as possible.”
Some UM students who are affiliated with the religious groups assisted the leaders and organizations in talking to others.
“I, as a student, am trying to raise campus awareness about the Baptist College Ministries,” said UM student Becky Varreth. “Some people don’t realize that the Baptist College Ministries is located on campus. We’re letting people know.”
“I’m a freshman and I’d like to see more new students like me getting involved. We eat, hang out and talk about important things,” freshman Cynthia Jeyapaul said. “These groups are a great alternative to the Miami ‘party scene.'”
Students are encouraged to contact the organizations in which they are interested.

Jacklyn Lisenby can be contacted at j.lisenby@umsis.Miami.edu.

Organization Contact Information
Athletes in Action
Steve DeBardelaben
305-667-5530

Athlete Ministries
Girard Middleton
305-773-1142

Baptist Collegiate Ministry
Chris Price
305-667-1066

Campus Crusade for Christ
Troy Coons
305-720-8193

Chabad
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Fellig
305-206-4013

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship
Rev. Joe Lortie
305-742-5442

Christian Science Organization
Dr. Carol Warburton
305-667-0703

The Episcopal/Anglican Church Center
Fr. Frank Corbishley
Phone: 305-284-2333

Hillel Jewish Student Organization
Rabbi Samuel Bregman
305-665-6948

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Jamie Johnston
305-381-6344

Lutheran Campus Ministry
Pastor Arnold Perry
305-444-0425

St. Augustine Church/Student Center
Fr. Bernard Kirlin
305-661-1648

The Wesley Foundation
Delano M. McIntosh
305-661-1695

PBS’ Pat Mitchell talks to UMTV

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Pat Mitchell visits the University for UMTV interview
Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of the Public Broadcasting Service [PBS], shared her vision for the future of television programming and personal tips for success in a UMTV interview that featured a student audience on Tuesday.
Mitchell is the first woman to lead PBS and has recently been named one of Washington’s “Most Powerful Women” by Washingtonian magazine.
“I always look at the accomplishments I’m trying to make now and in the future,” Mitchell said. “I’m looking forward, not to the past – we find the ways to make public broadcasting viable in today’s world – we are the only media outlet in this country that works to make your life better.”
Among Mitchell’s major beliefs is that the public should be more involved with, and have more control over, the programs that are aired on television.
“I define the purpose of reality television to be shame and degradation – our programs are better than that,” Mitchell said. “How good is over 100 channels when they are controlled by the same ventriloquist? Public TV is still your voice.”
Previously, Mitchell has worked as president of CNN Productions and Time, Inc. Television for Turner/Time Warner. Programming produced under the direction of Mitchell won over 100 major awards and received two Academy Award nominations. She has also initiated an international strategy for licensing documentary programming to global broadcasters.
Mitchell is also a former print and television journalist, a network correspondent and a community leader.
“I spent a long time on the commercial side of media,” Mitchell said. “I did not want to go where commercial media is now going. I can use the skills I learned in commercial media and bring it to PBS, which serves a public good.”
Currently, PBS provides programming, educational services and distribution to over 350 local public television stations. The organization’s website, PBS.org, is the most visited dot-org site in the world, and PBSKIDS is a leader in educational programming for children. This year, PBS programming won more awards for journalistic excellence than any other media company.
“Awards recognize that the work has had an impact on people,” Mitchell said. “That’s why they are so rewarding. The very best producers, writers, journalists, etc. want their work to air on PBS.”
“I firmly believe that PBS has the best programming in the country,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell encourages all broadcast journalism and media business and management college grads to begin to look for jobs and internships in smaller markets first.
“In a smaller market, you get to do a lot of more work that better prepares you,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also believes that learning to fail is one of the first steps to attaining success.
“The single most important strategy [of success] was my willingness to fail,” Mitchell said. “You have to be willing to take jobs in which you know you may not succeed.”

Brian Poliakoff can be contacted at b.poliakoff@umiami.com

Students and faculty assemble at the Rat to critique Bush’s plan

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President George W. Bush used Tuesday night’s nationally televised State of the Union Address to push his administration’s platform on domestic and foreign policy matters that are perceived to be of great importance to many American citizens.
The speech was broadcasted live on the big screen at the Rat, part of an evening program called “Is Bush Effective?” sponsored by the student organization Council for Democracy.
According to law, Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution requires that the President deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the start of every legislative session every January. The speech is a pivotal and highly publicized annual event, where a President is supposed to present the status of America.
Bush focused his speech on tackling the major issues of Iraq, the economy, healthcare and homeland security.
Bush elicited much laughter in the crowd at the Rat when proposing $1.2 billion of tax money toward developing “clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles.”
“The simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen produces only energy and water,” Bush said.
Bush also vowed to “pass a law against human cloning” and “end partial-birth abortion.”
He also spoke lengthily about “confronting the man-made evil of international terrorism.”
The largest laugh of the night came when Bush proposed $6 billion in research and production for “Project BioShield,” a series of “effective vaccines against anthrax, Ebola and plague.”
Bush received dozens of standing ovations from the members of Congress, but he didn’t get any applause in the Rat until his final message: “May God continue to bless the USA.”
Council for Democracy President David McCombie has been with the group since it was organized and registered as a student group in October 2002.
“Council for Democracy is not advocating anything in particular,” McCombie, a second-year Economics major, said. “We just want to sponsor a healthy debate.”
Student protesters of the anti-war group, Not In Our Name, Miami, were visible at the front entrance of the Rat before the address, distributing literature and educating passersby of the truth behind Bush’s policies.
They displayed various signs, including one with a quote from Albert Einstein:
“You cannot prevent and prepare for war at the same time.” Many viewed this as a critique of Bush’s seemingly hypocritical positions on international peace and war against terrorism.
“We didn’t liberate the Afghan people – their country is in ruins,” said freshman Richard Haigin in a rebuttal to Bush’s declaration that America may proceed with action against Iraq without international support. “We’re not going to do that to Iraq.”
Following the hour-long speech by President Bush, Professors Juliet Gainsborough and Pete Moore of the Political Science Department issued their criticisms of Bush’s address.
According to Gainsborough, Bush presented a balance of domestic and foreign issues, much more balanced than one would expect in this period of international tension.
“Bush needed to show the American people that he cared for domestic issues,” said Gainsborough, who specializes in urban and domestic politics. “It was intriguing to me that the first part of the speech was dedicated to domestic policy.”
“We don’t have a very good record in the developing world of liberating countries,” Moore said. “In fact, we’ve been terrible.”
“We need to find out whether our administration is talking about disarmament or about regime change,” Moore continued. “If the policy is regime change, then nothing will get [Iraq] to disarm. They will hold their weapons as a last resort.”
The public reception for the address drew well over 100 people.
“Anything that gets political dialogue on campus is good,” Gainsborough said. “I like seeing activism on campus – I think it’s exciting.”
Council for Democracy is planning a forum in the spring with Dean Wyche of the College of Arts and Sciences on “Politics of Medical Research.”
For more information on Council for Democracy visit
www.councilfordemocracy.org.

Sam Lockhart can be contacted at s.lockhart1@umiami.edu.

Campus Calendar and News Briefs

The Miami Hurricane
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TODAY
Come out and party with young Arab-Americans featuring DJ Nile spinning the latest and hottest Arabic and international music at the Rathskeller. Argeela Night is from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Email oasisofum@yahoogroups.com.

Resident Assistant applications are due at the Department of Residence Halls Office in the North wing of Eaton Residential College by 5 p.m.

Sportsfest, the three-day competition between the residential colleges and apartment area, kicks off at the Rat at 5 p.m.

Come laugh till you cry at the Rathskeller from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Hurricane Productions present Belly Bust featuring Leon Rodgers.

Women’s Tennis vs. Florida Atlantic at 4 p.m. in the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1

Take a FREE GMAT, LSAT, TOEFL or MCAT practice test at Kaplan’s Test Drive. To enroll, call 305-284-0090.

Watch the Women’s Basketball team take on Villanova at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 3

Interested in a 2-Ball competition? Preliminary rounds begin today and run until Thursday at the Wellness Center. Contact Jason Caroll at 305-284-8518 to sign up.

A mandatory Student Government Elections meeting will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Whitten University Center, room 211. The meeting is a mandatory referenda writing workshop as well as a candidate informational meeting.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Atlanta Public Schools will be conducting on-campus interviews.
For more information, and to submit your resume if you qualify, log on to CaneTRAK at www.miami.edu/toppel or call Toppel Career Center at 305-284-5451.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5

Missing Students: Columbine Revisited presents the Untold Story. Come hear about the extraordinary life of Rachel Scott. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in Gusman Auditorium and is free to everybody.

Sigma Gamma Lambda hosts an informational session at 8 p.m. for all interested at the Rathskeller in the Lewis Room. For information contact ProudlyStand@yahoogroups.com

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

Attention all graduating seniors: the deadline to apply for May graduation is today. Applications must be done through the EASY system.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11

Are you in the process of selecting a major or considering a change of major? Are you possibly interested in adding a major? Toppel Career Center will have a Majors Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Whitten University Center Lower Lounge. Come talk with faculty representatives from these schools and colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Communication, Education and Nursing. The Pre-Law and Honors Programs will also have representatives to whom you will be able to talk.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar Chapter will hold an Alumni-Mentor Reception at 7 p.m. in the UC 233. Direct any questions to RA8046@students.law.miami.edu.

FEBRUARY 17-20

The Wellness Center will be hosting preliminary rounds of a 3-Point contest. To sign up contact Jason Caroll at 305-284-8518.

Attention all international students: You are invited to Kaplan’s GMAT Thursdays. Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can take a FREE practice test. For more information call 305-284-0090.

Don’t miss TOEFL Tuesday at Kaplan, the World Leader in Test Prep. Every Tuesday you are invited to take a FREE practice test from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to sign up call 305-284-0090.

Join the Wellness Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12 between 5 and 7 p.m. in the Atrium for Healthy Heart Day. The event will provide you with information to protect both your physical and your emotional heart.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Fortunately, certain types of heart disease can be controlled, even prevented, by applying basic principles of wellness such as stress and weight management, exercise and proper nutrition. The event will include free smoothies, condoms, blood pressure screenings and body composition checks. Information will be available on nutrition, healthy relationships and preventing STDs and sexual assault. For more information, contact 305-284-6524.

Student Government applications are now available for the following positions: Student Government President, Student Government Vice-President, Student Government Treasurer, College of Arts & Sciences Senator (2 positions available), School of Business Senator, College of Engineering Senator, School of Communications Senator, School of Education Senator, School of Nursing Senator, School of Music Senator, School of Architecture Senator, Commuter North Senator, Commuter South Senator and Commuter Central Senator. Applications can be picked up in the UC room 209. You have until Friday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. to submit your completed application. Elections are scheduled to be held Feb. 24-26 with results being announced Feb. 27 at 5 p.m.

We The Students is a new social/political issue talk show coming to UMTV this spring. Its purpose is to raise student interest and participation on campus about those issues. It will also be a live audience show so students can come watch and participate in it by questioning the guests and panelists. Currently, the program is recruiting students for on-air panelists, production crew and a PR staff. Auditions for panelists are Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 3 and 4, in Studio C of the School of Communication from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. Be dressed in business casual attire and ready to debate the war on Iraq, abortion or the legalization of marijuana for three to five minutes. It’s your choice which issue you’ll debate at the audition.
Sign-up for the show and auditions by the front desk of the faculty offices on the second floor of the School of Communication. If interested or for more information contact Pierre Gaunaurd at 786-586-3845 or umtvwts@hotmail.com.

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