81.9 F
Coral Gables
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Newspaper Archive
March 5 , 2026
Subscribe to our Newsletter
type here...
Home Blog Page 2054

Black, Rebellious, Beautiful

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

Where have the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club been for so long, when music has needed them so bad?

Well, doing the usual things young outlaws do: finishing their high school education, gigging at San Francisco and Los Angeles clubs, and listening extensively to Velvet Underground and Stone Roses albums.

A couple of years have passed and now it’s the perfect time for America and the rest of the world to get to know the B.R.M.C.’s fresh rock and roll. They are still young, rebellious, and severely influenced by Brit pop and N.Y.C.-style rock, but now they also have a debut, self-titled album out under Virgin Records, who unlike with most artists, have allowed them almost complete control over their music production and recording.

The San Francisco trio started playing together in November 1998, when high school friends guitarist and singer Peter Hayes, 23, and bassist Robert Turner,22, united with British drummer Nick Jago, 22. Soon enough, what was briefly given the title “the Bay Area’s best kept secret,” the B.R.M.C. started receiving calls from record companies and appraisals from recognized musicians like Oasis’ Liam Gallagher and The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, due to their 1999 independently-produced 13 song demo and their local shows.

After signing with Virgin Records and recording their debut, they were immediately invited to join the Dandy Warhols on tour throughout the U.S. and also played in the 2001 Sundance Festival with other accomplished acts.

Mere days after the band finished mixing their self-produced debut, they were asked to join the Dandy Warhols on several U.S. tours. They were also invited to play the 2001 Sundance Festival alongside some of the most interesting acts in the business.

The B.R.M.C.’s music takes the best of different genres and combines them in a melodic, ominous noise. They resemble a mix of the 1970s hard rock of Led Zeppelin, 1990s Brit pop, like the Manic Street Preachers, to a slight New Wave influence from Joy Division and Depeche Mode.

“We make the music we like and enjoy, and hope people will give it a chance,” says Turner. That should not be a concern for B.R.M.C. Like fellow new artists The Strokes, they have rapidly gained a large following, a lot of media attention and critical acclaim. Currently the B.R.M.C. are supporting Spiritualized on their April U.S. tour.

‘Panic Room’ shows smarts

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

David Fincher’s Panic Room doesn’t really bring anything new to the suspense genre, but it does bring something that many directors of this genre have recently forgot: how to keep a viewer on the edge of their seat.

Most of today’s so-called thrillers contain the same labored and arbitrary setup, a series of implausible events leading up to a final shootout where (A) you can’t tell half of what goes on, and (B) it doesn’t matter because you know exactly what’s going to happen. Panic Room thankfully cuts through most of the lame setup, getting to the suspense earlier, and more importantly, prides itself on being a plausible and smart thriller, up until the final two scenes.

The little setup is this: Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) embark on a tour of a large brownstone in West Manhattan. This isn’t just your basic home, though, as Meg would find out when she discovers the “panic room,” a small cubicle designed to keep invaders astray, equipped with steel doors, more than a dozen security cameras and supplies that allow occupants to spend some quality time there if need be.

That night, the burglars intrude the Altman’s new home. There are three of them: Burnham (Forest Whitaker), who spent 12 years “working on rooms like this specifically to keep out people like us,” Junior (Jared Leto), the man with the information, and Raoul (Dwight Yoakam), the man with the gun. We already know that this will be a smart film when, rather than the usual unconventional ways of breaking in and making noise, the burglars are careful to enter unnoticed.

The burglars hear of a $3-million treasure in the home. Problem is, the treasure is in the panic room. Meg and Sarah, who were quick to realize that there were invaders, hide in the room. But the burglars cannot get into the room and the two camps are confined to a chess game, as they try to outsmart each other.

This situation brings up a challenge for Fincher and screenwriter David Koepp. We know that the burglars are not going to kill Meg and Sarah because they wouldn’t be able to get into the room. So, how do you create pure suspense and terror when you know the heroes lives are at stake?

I won’t say much, although I will say part of the problem is solved by spending a lot of time with the burglars.

Burnham is the smartest of the three, yet the most insecure of his actions. Junior seemed to be useless after supplying the information, and Raoul is simply a wildcard. This is a film that not only creates real characters for the bad guys, but also makes us unsure of their motives– and them unsure of their own.

Fincher’s camerawork is masterful, reminding us of early Brian DePalma. This is a director (The Game, Seven, Fight Club) who always has control of his revolving camera, showing us every detail of what goes on. I’m always grateful for films that actually show us how the burglars go about their process, and Panic Room offers the best details of a robbery since last summer’s highly underrated The Score.

Everything leads to a conclusion that stays true to the setup, up until the last scene, where someone’s surprise motive creates the most implausible event in the movie.

Another obligatory shot, probably added on by the studio, is flat and unconvincing. Yet, for the rest of its 112 minutes, Panic Room is a creepy thriller that is more intelligent and technically polished than most of its counterparts. Fincher takes familiar material and puts his own touch on it, one where the audience is forced to become involved in the mystery in order to get the full impact. Panic Room is the type of film that will hopefully show Hollywood that smart thrillers can still be made.

Sports Briefs

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

SWIMMING AND DIVING

The University of Miami placed swimmer Manon Van Rooijen and divers Michelle Davidson and Katie Beth Bryant on the Women’s All America Swimming & Diving Team for the 2001-2002 season. Van Rooijen, the 2002 Big East Outstanding Women’s Swimmer, placed sixth in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events at the championship meet in Austin, Texas this past weekend. The sophomore from Westdorpe, Holland currently holds two individual school records and three records in the relay events. The 2002 Men’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships are scheduled for March 28-30 at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. Miami will send four divers to the competition including senior Imre Lengyel, senior Stefan Ahrens, junior Kyle Prandi and freshman Miguel Velazquez.

MEN’S
BASKETBALL

The Miami Hurricanes finished the 2001-2002 season ranked 21st in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The Hurricanes finished the season with a 24-8 record, and a 10-6 mark in the Big East, which was good enough to earn them their fourth NCAA Tournament Appearance in the last five years. The NCAA berth also marked the ninth time Head Coach Perry Clark has guided one of his teams to the postseason in his 13 years of the coaching. The Hurricanes were upset by 12th seeded Missouri 93-80 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

WOMEN’S ROWING

University of Miami varsity women’s rowing won four of five races vs. UCF, Connecticut and West Virginia on Saturday at the Hurricanes’ home course on Indian Creek in Miami Beach. The women’s varsity eight, , opened the days racing with a first-place finish over Connecticut (7:30.65) and West Virginia (7:41.71) with a time of 7:22.75. In the last race of the day the UM varsity eight (7:09.54) came away with another first-place finish over West Virginia (7:10.88), UCF (7:21.42) and UM (JV) 7:30.54. The Miami junior varsity eight defeated UConn head-to-head by a time of 7:39.29 to the Huskies’ 7:50.29.
The Hurricanes will next row at the San Diego (CA) Crew Classic, April 6 and 7.

Roberson returns to form after two year recovery

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

Hurricanes’ pitcher Troy Roberson has started seven games this season after missing almost two full seasons due to Tommy John surgery.

The Hurricanes junior from King’s Academy high school is now focused on staying healthy and being better than ever. In 2000, Troy had seven total appearances where he posted a 2-0 record and a microscopic 1.88 ERA before his injury. It is this form that Troy Roberson thinks he can get back to, and perhaps eclipse.

“I feel good. I have to think that I can come back and be better than ever,” said Roberson.

Despite red-shirting last season and being on the road to recovery, Roberson was taken in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers.

However, Roberson chose to come back to Miami and work out his injury problems while trying to help the Hurricanes repeat as national champions.

Roberson is on the long road back to being a dominant pitcher after his surgery. His 5.12 ERA and 1-1 record in seven starts so far this season has been the beginning of his quest.

Roberson has been on a pitch count in each outing so that he does not work too hard too fast. He has logged just 27 innings so far this year.

“Right now we are just taking it slow. We don’t want to rush back into it too quick. I want to get back and play a full season, since I have never done that.” said Roberson.

The 6-2 203-pound ‘Canes pitcher and liberal arts major is putting his injury prone past behind him and moving forward.

His goal is to be the pitcher he was before his surgery early in the 2000 season, where Troy was off to a great start.

On March 22, 2000 against Northwestern, he set his career high in innings pitched with five and strikeouts with seven. On that day, ‘Canes fans got a glimpse of how great Troy Roberson really can be.

Roberson is not the type of player to be concerned with stats. His only goals are to stay healthy and to repeat as national champions.

“I never look at stats. Winning games as a team is all I care about. If we win games, whatever else happens will happen, but I like to win games. Of course, I want to stay healthy and keep pitching,” said Roberson.

The ‘Canes will need Roberson to stay healthy too if they want to try to repeat as national champions. Roberson is one of the top starters on the staff and the ‘Canes are relying on him to give them quality outings all season.

If he can do that, he will prove that it is possible to come back from Tommy John surgery without any repercussions.

Men’s tennis triumphs over ranked opponent

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

History has a funny way of repeating itself in the sporting world, and for Tarik El Bassiouni, history repeated itself much sooner than he anticipated.

On Monday, El Bassiouni won the deciding match for the second consecutive day, leading the No. 38 Miami Hurricanes to a 4-3 upset over No. 29 Middle Tennessee at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

El Bassiouni, who on Sunday won in straight sets 6-4, 7-6, defeated Trevor Short 7-6, 7-5, to improve his record to 6-1. More importantly, the win boosted the Hurricanes record to 7-5.

“It feels really good to come out with matches like that,” El Bassiouni said “I’m usually not the last one out there but that’s the way it worked out the last two matches, and I’m glad I was able to come through again.”

Freshman Todd Widom rolled in his No. 1 singles match, defeating Robert Gustafsson in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. Widom said the key to his victory was coming out there with a plan.

“I played a really big server,” Widom said. “I knew he was going to ace me a lot, so I focused on having some solid returns and playing well overall, and I was able to get the breaks I needed.”

Miami lost their No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles matches, as Tomas Smid, Andrew Golub, and Joel Berman all fell in straight sets.

Senior Jose Lieberman defeated Kirk Jackson 6-1, 7-5, and the Hurricanes were able to win two of their three doubles matches to earn the victory.

“Today, I’m happy with the way we played,” coach Jay Berger said. “We came out there fighting hard as a team, and when you do that, it means that you’re going to be doing pretty well.”

Before the match, Widom’s ranking improved to No. 12 in the country. Despite the fact a ranking that high is extremely rare for a freshman, Widom doesn’t feel affected.

“I don’t really feel any pressure at all,” Widom said. “You just go out there, try your hardest, and let everything happen.”

Berger, meanwhile, has been very happy with Widom’s play, and believes that the freshman deserves his status.

“His ranking says he’s a pretty darn good player,” Berger said. “For us, he’s been a real team player. He comes out and practices hard and deserves his ranking.”

“He also earned his ranking solely in the dual match season, which means he’s winning a ton of matches, and that has really helped us.”

This weekend the Hurricanes travel to North Carolina, where they will participate in matches against N.C. State and Duke.

Although the team has improved from a slow start, Berger still thinks there are things they need to focus on improving.

“We’re focusing a lot on our doubles,” Berger said. “We want to win more points in our doubles matches, and we’re also continuing to try and come together as a team more.”

UM baseball wins fifth in a row

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

After a rain soaked one hour and 35 minute delay, the Miami Hurricane baseball team took the field against Northwestern in an affair which saw the ‘Canes come from behind to beat the Wildcats 5-3 on Tuesday night in front of a die hard crowd at Mark Light Stadium.

Since the season began, UM senior left fielder Brad Safchik has quietly worked his way into the starting lineup and has contributed on a regular basis.

In the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game with two outs, the Gulliver Prep graduate went about his business, and simply blasted the go ahead and eventual game winning two-run triple deep into the caverns of right center field.

“It’s great to be able to contribute night after night,” said Safchik. “This is a terrific program and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Safchik told of his eighth inning heroics in a very modest and businesslike fashion.

“I knew I had to get a base hit,” said Safchik.

Safchik’s style of play has been paralleled by most of the team of late. After a miserable start for the defending NCAA champions, the ‘Canes have managed to put together a five-game win streak, and yet nobody really stands out among the players as being the star or the hero.

The ‘Canes are playing like a team and winning like a team.

UM starting pitching has been solid, producing a lot of innings and allowing the bullpen to stay fresh and ready. They have responded with near flawless outings night after night.

“I really believe in the bullpen,” said Hurricane coach Jim Morris. “For the young kids, it’s a matter of just getting them out there into these situations night after night and getting them comfortable with their roles.”

Hurricanes starting pitcher Kiki Bengochea had what could have been his best outing of the season. It was his longest, going six and 2/3 innings giving up three runs and four hits including two walks and four strikeouts. A long three run home run given up to Northwestern first baseman Travis Tharp was just about the only blemish on Bengochea’s evening, who left the game with a no decision.

“I think Kiki pitched extremely well tonight,” said Morris. “There is no doubt about it.”

The Hurricane defense is starting to come together as well. UM senior, Matt Dryer, has been an infielder’s best friend on first base, coming up with several nice scoops, nullifying what would be several Miami throwing errors.

Dryer also made his mark in the offensive category in the second inning when he took Wildcat starter Dan Pohlman deep off of the scoreboard sitting over top of the left field wall at the Light to narrow the Wildcat lead to 3-1.

UM was able to capitalize on several Wildcat mishaps to tie the score at three before Safchik’s heroics in the eighth.

The game marked the continuation of the team’s five game winning streak, although it served as an end to two career long hitting streaks by UM catcher and designated hitter, Danny Matienzo, and for ‘Canes’ third baseman Kevin Howard.

“It probably takes some of the pressure off of them going into some of our bigger games,” said Morris. “But I would like to see these guys hit every night as much as they can.”

The bigger games consist of next weekend’s series against Elon College, Jim Morris’s Alma Matter, who will come to Mark Light boasting a record of 15-4.

“These games mean something to me personally,” said Morris. “Elon was a very special place to me.”

After Elon, it only gets harder for the ‘Canes as they have a home and home set of three games series against arch rival FSU.

Friday night’s game against Elon is scheduled for 7pm at the Light.

Hang up and talk: Disconnect and reconnect

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

The following is a transcript of an actual conversation between an employee of a fabric and craft store and a customer purchasing 4.5 yards of taffeta.

“That will be $22.50 ma’am.”

“Just put it in the freezer.”

“I’m sorry?” Store clerk wears a puzzled expression, but continues the transaction.

Customer hands store clerk a fifty-dollar bill.

“You can just put it in little baggies.”

“Excuse me?” Little baggies, he thinks. Do we have any little baggies?

“Under the sink.” Customer points below the counter, to the left.

“Here’s your change, ma’am.”

“Fifteen, maybe twenty max.”

Store clerk recounts the bills, certain that he has made the correct change. Customer seems satisfied with the amount given to her. In fact, she does not even count it, just slides it into the outer pocket of her purse and zips the zipper.

“Have a nice day.” Cordial greetings, he remembers.

“Love you. Bye.” He looks around to assure himself that no one else is behind the counter that she could possibly be talking to.

You’ve all probably witnessed scenes like this yourselves: lone teenagers wildly gesturing in mall food courts, young professionals smoking on park benches talking to themselves.

What our store clerk didn’t see was the tiny wire running from the customer’s ear to a little microphone dangling near her collar to the cell phone hanging from the waistband of her jeans.

It was bad enough when chiropractors had to develop special treatments for permanently cocked necks and emergency rooms began surgically removing cell phones from the earlobes of patients, but now an entire culture is beginning to appear schizophrenic, all because people can’t wait to get home to tell their husbands to separate the hamburger patties and put them up in the freezer.

Is all this talk necessary? Can we really have so much to say?

People used to carry on conversations across tables over dinner or out on the back porch over a glass of iced tea. No longer. Now it’s desperate rants while standing in line at the supermarket and tearful confessions in the middle of Victoria’s Secret.

We are more connected than ever with e-mail, voice mail, snail mail, instant messaging, post-it notes, and that all-inclusive new medium, M-Life, but more people are lonely and depressed than ever before. Why?

We don’t ask hard questions. It is easier to talk about people than ideas, easier to ask someone what they are doing this weekend than what their opinion is on anything.

When is the last time you discussed a truly original idea, asked someone how they were doing and meant it, or sat down and talked to your grandmother about her first love?

We erect an edifice of words yet rarely say what’s really on our minds, much less our hearts. We talk until we run up a cell phone bill the size of the GDP of some small nations, but we don’t say anything we’ll remember tomorrow.

It’s time to pull the hands-free cell phone out of the ear of our society and try to do something innovative: communicate.

Angie Henderson is a graduate student in the School of International Studies.

Athletics no excuse for second-rate diploma

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

When I was twelve years old, I fully believed I would become a major league baseball player. At twenty, I find myself in a position where I haven’t thrown a ball for at least four years and if I have to walk up a flight of stairs, I get winded. My point? Everyone believes they are going to go pro, but merely a miniscule percentage of the amateur sports world ever actually does.

This brings up the question: should high schools and universities hold athletes to a lower academic standard than other students simply because they have a chance at becoming professionals? Some would argue that they should. Take our football team for example. I have heard many people say that players such as Andre Johnson should not be expected to perform well academically, but only to perform well-exceptionally well-athletically because this is a pit stop before they make it to the NFL. Yes, I have heard it in conversations with all types of people: Many find nothing wrong with the fact that from the high school level through college, athletes are simply passed along and are held to embarrassingly low academic standards.

Schools that perpetuate this system should be ashamed at the way they are running their operations, and I include the University of Miami in the list of shameful schools. It is hard to swallow how skewed our priorities are when education means nothing if you can run a good 40 yard dash. What message are we sending to students when academics come in second at a university?

Not only is it wrong, we are also doing these athletes an immeasurable disservice. Imagine that the star football player is about to graduate and turn professional. Now say in a fluke at practice, he tears a major muscle and can’t play again. What does he do? What can he fall back on? Certainly not his diploma from this university.

Or here’s a more plausible scenario. Imagine that I am on the football team, but am not one of the starters who are good enough to play professionally. Where do I go after college? The point is, there are so many athletes who will never make it into the professional arena that when they get into the real world with no chance of playing football, there won’t be any one to simply pass them along to a good job.

I cannot say it enough times. The purpose of a university is to educate. Being able to catch a pass should not be a viable substitute for being able to get a diploma. I challenge the university to put its priorities where they should be. But since I sincerely doubt that will happen, I have to question if my own diploma will really be worth anything.

Travis Atria is a sophomore majoring in English

literature.

Focus on Johnson undeserved

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

The topic is closed to discussion, or at least it should have been. I still stand by my belief that it is nobody’s business to begin with, but since it is already out there I might as well address issues relating to it.

One of my main complaints is that the leak even occurred in the first place. Unfortunately, I can not change what has already occurred. The claim that the public has a right to know, that no one should be hiding behind anything, even a federal law, is absurd.

Herald columnist Dan Le Batard asked a disturbing question of his reader on Sunday, “Johnson gets to be public only when it suits him?” Who is anyone to say that a mere college student has no right to a private life. Who are we to expect something more than an excellent football game? Just because Andre Johnson is a great wide receiver, does not mean he chose to have every part of his life scrutinized. Just as a person’s credit report is confidential and only accessible with written or spoken permission, the Buckley Amendment provides the same security over someone’s college academic records. Johnson has no responsibility to the public or the student body to explain himself, just as the administration has no right to explain their actions concerning his case without consent from Johnson.

Many reporters are taking a direct attack on the administration of our school, saying that the administration is hiding behind the Buckley Amendment, hoping that all this will blow over. Whereas I believe that overturning the honor council’s original rule was poor judgement on the part of the review board, I also recognize the pressure that the review board was experiencing in making that decision.

I am not sure whether the outrage I feel is over the administrations’ decision or society’s criticism of how the issue was handled. Many would claim that the administration deprives players of the education that they deserve by ignoring that a cheating problem exists, but no one makes these players cheat or tells them that they need not try. There are examples of excellent student athletes, even a few football players, who do not cheat, who put forth every effort as both an athlete and a student. Society sets the standards for these individuals. The need for higher standards is evident, but until those standards are set by everyone involved, not only by the athletes, but by administrators, coaches, parents, friends etc., there will be preferential treatment of players in similar situations. I would also like to see the “normal” student devote 70 hours a week to practice, team meetings, weight training, and school. If we do not hold our students to a standard of excelling on the field, why should we have the right to hold our athletes to a standard of performing better than average in the classroom?

In closing, I would like to add, as Le Batard did on Sunday, that many other student athletes across America are caught cheating all the time, so why focus on this incident? The answer is that the University of Miami football team is the “big deal” at the moment. Anything that is said or done on or off the field is open to criticism. Just as we were once labeled as the “jail birds” when the team was in the rut, we will acquire another label from our enemies or anyone else that will jump on the chance to cut out the good and focus on the bad. It is not fair that Johnson got singled out of a group that includes the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan basketball teams and many others.

Denise Kolb is a sophomore majoring in criminology.

Greeks support the blind

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

The University of Miami’s Delta Gamma [DG] sorority hosted its second annual Grand Slam softball tournament on March 24th at Tropical Park to benefit the blind.

“It’s one day of fun and it’s all for charity, unlike other week-long Greek philanthropy events,” said Shelley Ann Hancock, DG’s Vice President of Foundation.

Kicking off at 1 p.m. in the afternoon, teams from both UM and Florida International University [FIU] tried their hardest to avoid losing twice in the double elimination format.

The fraternities represented included UM’s Sigma Chi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, Sigma Phi Epsilon and FIU’s Pi Kappa Alpha.

The tournament was played over three fields and finished with two championship games between Pi Kappa Alpha and defending champions Sigma Phi Epsilon at approximately 9:30 p.m.

An exciting championship won by Pi Kappa Alpha marked the end to a great day of camaraderie and achievement.

A portion of each team’s $250 entry fee went to Service for Sight and Aid to the Blind, Delta Gamma’s national philanthropy.

Food donations that helped provide energy for hungry players and supporters were made by Outback Steakhouse, On the Border, Chili’s, and Macaroni Grill restaurants along with the parents of one of the sorority members.

All players enjoyed the offerings especially after a number of intense, uniform-dirtying games in which DG sisters could be heard cheering for their favorite teams.

“It’s surprisingly good competition out here,” said Alpha Sigma player Luis Silvestre whose team took an early exit from the tournament.

The event also unofficially kicked off UM’s Intramural Softball season that starts this Monday.

“We’re looking forward to the season after how well we played today,” said Sigma Phi Epsilon co-captain Sam Montgomery.

“More importantly, it brought the fraternities together for a good cause,” said DG sister Megan Kat.

At the end of the day fraternity brothers along with sorority sisters left the softball diamond with dusty cleats, and achy muscles but most importantly with a check that will help to aid over 40 organizations currently helping blind citizens in the United States.

News Briefs

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

 KOSHER MEALS AVAILABLE DURING PASSOVER
Kosher for Passover lunches and dinners will be available at the Hillel Jewish Student Center from today through Thursday, April 4. Lunches are served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and cost $7 for students and $11 for others. Dinners are served from 5 – 7 p.m. and are $9 for students and $13 for others. You can pay by check or credit card, and meals must be ordered and paid for in advance. For more information call the Greater Miami Hillel at 305-665-6948.

 NEW HILLEL ISREAL TRIPS OFFER ADVENTURE,
CHALLENGE
Miami’s Jewish college students ages 18-26 once again have the opportunity to visit Israel for free, courtesy of Birthright Israel and Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. But instead of the traditional trip during the winter break, students will now have the chance to explore Israel during summer vacation.
Hillel has worked with Israel’s foremost outdoor educators to create the Outdoor Adventure Challenge, an exciting program across the country’s beautiful terrain. Bus groups will compete in a series of challenges, similar to those on reality-based television shows such as “Road Rules.” Additional specialty trips include Dig Through the Ages, Israel Eco Encounter, Inward Bound.
Applications are already online at www.israel.hillel.org. Apply now!

 RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSE COURSE OFFERED
AT UM
The Public Safety Department is holding a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course. This 12-hour self-defense course offers basic education from risk reduction and avoidance to basic physical defense techniques designed for women of all ages. The course is from 6:30-9:30 p.m., April 1, 8, 15, 22 at the Wellness Center. For more information or to register, call 954-699-7587.

 COMMUTER SURVEY
At the request of President Donna Shalala, the Department of Commuter Student Affairs is conducting a survey of commuter students. The web-based survey will only take a few minutes to complete and your input will assist us in making improvements to the services and programs we currently provide. By filling out the survey, you will also be entered into a drawing for a $200 gift certificate to the Follett Bookstore. You must fill out the survey by Friday, April 12 to be entered into the drawing. Our current administration clearly cares about your issues and concerns, so please take the time to fill out this survey. Just click on the following link: www.miami.edu/commuter-affairs/survey .

The UM bookstore is holding a 25% off sale until Saturday, March 30 on all t-shirts, tank tops, shorts and National Championship merchandise.

WORKS OF MICHELANGELO ON DISPLAY AT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
School of Architecture students will display dozens of drawings and models inspired by the Renaissance figure Michelangelo through April 18 at the School of Architecture Gallery. The School of Architecture Gallery is free and open to the public 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jamaican Awareness Week & Religious Diversity Week

Today
Housing for Apartments continue.

Happy Hour at the RAT 4:30p.m.-1p.m., DJ

THE SOURCE Fashion Nation Tour/ Spring Concert, UC Patio.

OJU Fashion Explosion in the UC-I Lounge from 7-9p.m.

The 2002 Student Organization Achievement & Recognition Awards Ceremony will be held April 25th, 2002 at the Faculty Club. Deadline for nominations is today.

Islam and America: A discussion led by Dr. Muqtedar Khan, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of International Studies, Adrian College in Michigan, in Flamingo Ballroom A from 2:30p.m.

“Good” Friday: “Carrying of the Cross” at Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship-UC Patio at 11:15a.m.; “Good Friday Liturgy” at Episcopal Center at 12p.m. & 7p.m.; “Stations of the Cross” at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church at 12p.m. and “Celebration of the Passion and Death of the Lord” at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church at 3p.m. & 7p.m.

COISO is having a party at Los Ranchos of Cocowalk tonight at 10p.m.

Sat March 30
“Great Vigil of Easter” at Episcopal Chapel at 7:30p.m. and St. Augustine’s Catholic Church at 8p.m.

Sun March 31
“Easter” Sunday: “Easter Morning service” at Episcopal Center at 10a.m.; “Easter Sunday Mass” at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church at 6:30a.m., 8a.m., 10a.m., 12a.m. & 1:30p.m. “Fellowship Supper” at Wesley Foundation at 5p.m. and “Easter Pageant” at Wesley Foundation at 6p.m.

National STD Awareness Month

Mon April 1
Sign-up for Suite housing

Sigma Alpha Mu Penny Wars in the Breezeway from 11a.m.-3p.m. Monday to Friday.

Tues April 2
CAC Film, “Royal Tenenbaums”

The Oscar award winning movie “Into The Arms of Strangers: stories of the kinder transport” will play in Pearson classroom # 101 from 7:30p.m.. Its about how Britain rescued 10,00 children from the Holocaust. For more information call Jamie Kaminetsky at 305-665-6948.

Wed April 3
Craig Karges, Physic/Mentalist, 8p.m. Patio

Open mic at the RAT, 7-9p.m.

Sigma Alpha Mu: Our Bounce 4 Beats Sorority Basketball Tournament will be held today at the Wellness Center. Tip Off is at 9:30.

Fri April 5
Fri Groove (TBA)

Happy Hour at the RAT, 4:30p.m.-8p.m., DJ

Opening ceremonies mark the beginning of International Week at 12p.m. and include a preview of events. This annual, week-long event provides international students with an opportunity to share their culture with the University of Miami community through international cuisine, dances and other performances, and information on other countries and cultures. International Week culminates with a banquet and awards ceremony. Opening ceremonies are open to the University of Miami community. and are sponsored by the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO). For more information please contact COISO at coiso@miami.edu or at (305) 284-3548.

Holocaust remembrance week Shabbath, join us tonight for a special Shabbat service at Hillel beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The brotherhood of Sigma Alpha Mu are holding a week long competition to raise money for their philanthropy, “Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.” Opening ceremony is today 12p.m. at the Rock with special guest speaker President Shalala who will cut the Red Ribbon.

Sun April 7
A trip to the holocaust memorial on Miami Beach today. Carpooling leaves Hillel at 5p.m.

Jose Diaz competes for ‘Student of the Year’ award

The Miami Hurricane
-
0

Out of 144 total applicants, UM’s very own Jose “Pepi” Diaz, is among the seven finalists to compete for the Florida College Student of the Year Award.

This prestigious scholarship competition – founded in 1987 by Florida Leader magazine, Sun Trust Education Loans, and Office Depot – recognizes outstanding campus leaders statewide, honors those who excel academically, support themselves financially, and are involved in the community and on campus.

Diaz, 22, former student body president, and a member of six honor societies including Iron Arrow, the highest honor attainable at the University of Miami, certainly fits these requirements.

“Every single semester that I’ve been at UM I’ve been the president of something,” Diaz said.

Above all, as student body president, Diaz says he feels he has left a mark.

“Students will remember us when they need to go to Sunset Place on a Sunday or to Coconut Grove on the weekends and they can take the shuttle until 3 a.m.,” he said, “and students will always have a vote on the board of trustees.”

Silia Herrera, Chief Justice of the Student Government Supreme Court, believes that getting students a vote on the board of trustees will have an impact on the university community.

“This will be a stepping stone to making Student Government more approachable and visible to the student body,” Herrera said.

After four years of battling with the system in a long and difficult process, getting students a vote on the board of trustees is one of Diaz’s greatest accomplishments.

In 1998 Diaz was the sole creator of a charter, which enabled the Miami SEC Chapter to be the most quickly chartered Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter in history, and re-established the fraternity at UM.

Five years later, Sigma Phi Epsilon is the biggest fraternity on campus.

Also, Diaz said he is most proud of having been able to get women accepted into the order of Omega Honor Society. Since its foundation in 1959 up until 2001, no women had been accepted.

In 2001, as a member of the National Board of Directors and as president of the Alpha chapter, Diaz helped change the situation.

“I’ve always thought that if I’m going to be a part of something, I’m going to make sure that I make the biggest possible contribution that I can,” Diaz said.

Having received over 10 scholarships throughout his college life, Diaz maintains a GPA above 3.5.

“School work doesn’t challenge me,” Diaz said. “I manage my time very well and have a very good memory.”

“I find my challenges outside of the classroom,” he added.

Diaz received as many as 12 prestigious awards during his four years of college.

Some of these include the All-American Student Government Award, Outstanding Philosophy Student Award, Outstanding Achievement in Poetry, and Poet of the Year, as well as the President’s Award for Literary Excellence.

He was also named University of Miami Greek God, Sigma Phi Epsilon Big Brother of the Year, and in 1999 was a Mr. UM Finalist.

“I really don’t need this award,” Diaz said of the Florida Student Leader of the Year competition. “This is going to be more for the university than for me.”

Butch Oxendine Jr., publisher of Florida Leader magazine and also one of the judges for the Florida College Student of the Year award, agreed that this could mean a lot for Diaz personally, but it could mean a lot more for the institution.

“The school would now be known for its recognition in leadership and not only for its football team,” Oxendine said.

Oxendine explained that being named Student of the Year would attract statewide media attention for Diaz and for the school, and said that a special Student of the Year TV show is aired statewide on Sunshine Network.

“This TV show aired at least 53 times last year,” he said.

With this kind of exposure Oxendine said that Diaz can practically name where he wants to go to college next. All doors are open for him.

Diaz, however, has already made the decision to attend law school at Columbia University in New York next fall.

Thirteen honorable mention winners, and seven finalists will share more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes.

The overall “Student of the Year” will not be named until the Awards Ceremony on April 12 in the Capitol Building in Tallahassee.

“Jose may be UM’s finest leader you’ve ever seen,” said Oxendine. “I think he’s one of the top guys”.

1...2,0532,0542,055...2,093Page 2,054 of 2,093

The Miami Hurricane

Student newspaper serving the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

Sections

News

Sports

Arts and Entertainment

Opinion

V’s Take

Multimedia

About Us

About

Advertise

Join our Staff

Policies

Stay Connected

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

LinkedIn

Spotify

Newsletter

Subscribe to TMH Alumni Network

© 2025 The Miami Hurricane is an independent, student-run organization that operates out of Coral Gables, Florida. All material belongs to The Miami Hurricane. This publication or portions thereof may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of The Miami Hurricane.