Students in the School of Architecture are reaching outside of the classroom and into the community to restore the history and sense of community in the West Grove area.

The work of the University of Miami Initiative for Urban and Social Ecology [INUSE] aims to promote the social, economic and physical revival of the West Grove neighborhood by designing and building affordable housing and schools for its underprivileged residents.

Justin Ford, a graduate student, is just one of the individuals involved in the INUSE project.

“I heard about the project because there are courses offered to upper level students,” he said. “The students get to pick between several projects.”

Samina Quraeshi, UM’s Henry R. Luce professor in Family & Community, guides the project with the participation of other University departments.

“I was originally brought in as the Luce professor of interdisciplinary studies. I attended a lot of classes and met with deans and students,” Quraeshi said.

“There is so much [improvement needed] in Miami, and the West Grove area was just poised for change,” Quaraeshi said. “We hope [this project] will eventually snowball to others outside the community as well.”

The project has drawn both undergraduate and graduate level students from the School of Architecture as well as from other schools within in the University.

“We have architecture students designing the plans, but we also have law students coming up with the building codes and communications students taking pictures of the progress,” Quraeshi said.

Students from the departments of history, fine arts and education have also been employed to take part in this community progress.

The INUSE course is listed as ARC 607; currently there are 14 students enrolled in the class.

“We started out documenting housing types all over South Florida and the West Grove area; we just started the actual design process a week ago,” Ford said. “I’m taking a lot out of this studio class – as an architect, I have to think of the development from beginning to end.”

Two final designs will be chosen with seven people working on each design.

Eventually, a carpenter will use the two designs to build the houses on lots on Frow and Oak Avenues.

“It’s a good idea for architecture students to go out in the community to do actual work,” freshman Gina Marie said. “The experience that you get is more than what you could learn in the books and design studio – it’s hands on.”

The West Coconut Grove area is 1.5 miles from the UM Coral Gables campus and is a community comprised of an estimated 6,000 residents.

Historically called the “Black Grove,” this is one of Miami’s most historic communities, boasting its sixth generation of descendants from the first Bahamian settlers.

According to INUSE, members chose this community as their focus not only for its historical background and proximity to the UM campus but also because of the people that live within the community. They hope to restore the synonymity of families and community involvement, they said.

“In a way I feel like I am giving back to the neighborhood,” Ford said. “We’re only helping two families, but it could eventually be more people [owning their own homes].”

“Also, by owning their [own] home, it will motivate people to upkeep the neighborhood,” Ford said.

Funding for this project has come from the School of Architecture as well as from the City of Miami, The James & John L. Knight Foundation and HUD (Housing and Urban Development Agency).

“This is an ongoing project because a community transformation takes time,” Quraeshi said. “It has been going on now for three years and will run through 2004.”

“I never knew that this project was going on,” Dia Flores said. “It’s impressive that students are taking the time and effort for such a humanitarian project.”

Development of this project has been captured through photographs and written documentation and is now on display in the Lowe Art Museum.

The collection is entitled “The Living Traditions of Coconut Grove.” The exhibition will continue through Nov. 3.

Professor Quareshi will be holding a lecture on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about INUSE call (305) 284-3438.

Family Weekend 2002 gave students the chance to show over 1,400 University of Miami parents how great it is to be a Miami Hurricane.

The events kicked off Friday afternoon with the Parent Involvement Luncheon, sponsored by the Alumni Association.

“We try to have a lot of activities on Friday and have less on Saturday and Sunday,” said Webb Morgan, assistant director of student life. “This allows parents to spend the rest of the weekend with their sons or daughters.”

Also, parents were invited to participate in two Faculty Forums.

Among the speakers were Dr. Maria Galli Stampino, assistant professor of Italian and French who spoke about Italian theatre, and Dr. Richard John, who spoke about the history of architecture.

“The forums were very informative,” Mauricio Rodriguez said. “Many parents decided not to attend, but I really got a lot of information out of the discussions.”

Academic Deans from all over the University presented parents with recent accomplishments and future plans for their child’s particular school or college.

“I was able to learn about my daughter’s classes and what kind of things she would be doing in the future,” Mary Donahue said.

Tours were also given throughout the weekend.

“I love this campus; it is so beautiful,” Richard Zippin said.

Other activities included a barbecue, a comedy show, a 5K Fun Run/Walk and a tour of the Lowe Art Museum.

“The barbecue was a great way to meet other UM parents,” Donahue said.

“This is the second year doing the Fun Run,” Morgan said. “We doubled our participants from 50 last year to 100 this year.”

On Saturday morning, a local historian, Dr. Paul George, presented parents with a historical bus tour of Coral Gables.

“The tour brought us throughout Coral Gables,” said Doug Clark. “My favorite part was Coco Plum.”

The highlight of the weekend was the UM vs. University of Connecticut 48-14 victory at the Orange Bowl. Families were able to purchase tickets and attend the game in the parents’ section.

Parents and students took part in a Pep Rally at the Rock sponsored by Category 5 to get ready for Saturday’s football game against UConn.

“It was a lot of fun going to the game with my family,” sophomore April Johnson said.

The United Black Students and the Woodson Williams Marshall Association hosted a brunch for the families of black students at the UC.

Religious services were offered at various times and locations on Sunday for those who wanted to participate.

Besides participating in the events of Family Weekend, parents were able to partake in everyday activities.

“I saw the TV show ‘Canes Gone Crazy which I thought was a great success,” Zippin said. “It’s a great thing for this campus.”

“I just got back from Publix. Now we’re going to do some much needed laundry,” Donahue said.

Some students were eager for the weekend to end.

“I missed my family, but I was glad to see them leave,” freshman Mark Sheen said. “It was a long weekend but I guess we had fun.”

“Life Begins After Andrew,” according to the vivid pictorial display on the walls of the Richter Library.

The exhibit honors those who experienced Hurricane Andrew a decade after it devastated the South Florida community.

“I went out to do a set of record photos after the storm and realized that the signs were very interesting,” said Dr. Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr., a professor in the School of Education and organizer of the exhibit.

The photographs were taken at the Country Walk housing complex by Provenzo shortly after Hurricane Andrew left 13 dead and 250,000 homeless and caused 1.3 million to live for weeks without electricity.

Hurricane Andrew was one of the nation’s most costly national disasters, racking up $20-$30 billion in damage.

According to Dr. Provenzo and Donner Valle, a senior in graphic design who helped in the creation of the library exhibit, the signs from the photographs were stretched to make them as close as possible to the original image, and the words and phrases survivors had painted on their homes were spray-painted onto the exhibit’s walls.

“For many of us, the memory of the storm was constantly with us in the first year or two after the storm, but after a decade, the memory begins to slip away,” Dr. Provenzo said.

“I think looking at historical sources, like the photos, makes us go back and think again about how events like Hurricane Andrew so importantly shaped not only our personal lives but also the history of our community,” he said.

The photographs have elicited mixed emotions.

Many students feel that the display serves as a necessary reminder of the devastation that can result from nature.

“Being Miami people, Andrew’s a big deal because everyone was affected by it,” junior Gabby Zadoff said. “It’s good to have it up to remind people that a hurricane is not just a party to get out of school.”

Senior Amanda Brooke agrees.

“After living in Florida for so long, you forget how damaging hurricanes can be; you get numb,” she said. “I think it’s always good to be reminded of how powerful hurricanes are.”

Some students, however, feel the display is merely dredging up disturbing memories.

“People don’t want to remember that – it’s the same thing as Sept. 11,” senior Angela Barrios said. “We just want to move on with our lives.”

“A lot of people come up to me and say that they don’t like it and that it’s kind of ‘cult-ish’. I think it’s interesting,” said Leslie Lao, who works at the front desk in the library. “It makes an impact on the tenth year anniversary. It’s definitely shocking.”

“I went through the hurricane so it’s kind of traumatizing to see these pictures,” sophomore Susie Acosta said. “People who don’t know what a hurricane is can learn from those pictures.”

Other students felt that the idea of the exhibit should be used for other issues occurring throughout campus.

“[The display] gives a medium for both students and non-students, and not just in the library, but wherever they have blank space,” sophomore Edward Maros said.

“Art exhibits are always going to upset someone; here we are, criticizing artists on what is supposed to be a liberal campus,” Maros said.

Dr. Provenzo believes it is important to remember the historical impact of Hurricane Andrew.

“I think it’s important for people to recall what happened and to remember one of the most dramatic and devastating moments in South Florida’s history.”

The temporary walls stay up throughout the Richter library’s renovation period.

Miami acts as a hub of South American culture.

As such, it was only fitting that the the UM College of Arts and Sciences, the Joseph Carter Memorial Fund, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Center for Latin American Studies hosted a two-day symposium on Latin American cities at the School of Business Administration’s Storer Auditorium last week.

“This symposium offers an intimate and concentrated forum in which to exchange ideas about the rapidly changing nature of urban life in Latin America, and that includes Miami,” said Dr. Rebecca Biron, associate professor of Spanish and coordinator of the event.

The symposium is part of the University’s ongoing efforts to support interdisciplinary initiatives and build strong ties with the community through public forums and activities.

According to organizers, the purpose of the symposium was to explore the interdisciplinary approaches to understanding urban spaces and experiences throughout Latin America.

The discussion included scholars from Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile and other locations throughout South and Central America.

The discussions were held in three different languages – English, Spanish, and Portuguese

Located on Brescia Avenue is a microcosmic dwelling that represents all that is Cuba, past and present.

Casa Bacardi, a new interactive cultural center highlighting Cuban history and culture, opened in May of this year as part of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies [ICCAS].

According to organizers, the Bacardi Family Foundation donated $1 million to promote and update the building.

“This is a resource for students to learn about the culture and history of Cuba,” said Jaime Suchlicki, director of the Institute of Cuba and Cuban American Studies. “It also serves as an interactive cultural center that educates students and the public about Cuba in a post-Castro era.”

“We wanted the grand opening of the institute to coincide with the centennial anniversary of Cuban independence,” said Maria Urizar, administrative assistant of Casa Bacardi.

“We want people of Cuban descent who were born here and those who were born in Cuba to learn about their heritage.”

Among Casa Bacardi’s amenities are an exhibit area, a music pavilion, a Cuban information center and a cinema.

“I think Casa Bacardi is a very happening place,” sophomore Alejandro Cardenas said. “It’s a great place to hang out with friends and to learn about aspects of Cuba that we may not have been aware of.”

Currently, the “Smithsonian Institution Photograph Exhibit of Cuba in 1902” is on display in Casa Bacardi. The exhibit features original photos of Cuba taken during the celebration of the establishment of the republic in May 1902.

The music pavilion houses an archive of over 2,000 digital music selections from 19th and 20th century Cuban works.

The pavilion also houses archives of Cuban humor, including jokes by Cuban comedians Guillermo Alvarez Guedes and Luis Carbonell.

“[Casa Bacardi] reminds me of home,” Manny Rodriguez said. “I’ve only been a couple of times, but I definitely plan to bring my friends and family here as soon as I get a chance.”

The Cuban information center, also inside of Casa Bacardi, allows visitors to access historical and current information relating to Cuba.

“The information center allows visitors to take a variety of quizzes to test their knowledge of Cuban history,” Suchlicki said. “This should be the first stop of anybody who is doing research on Cuba.”

“I believe that Casa Bacardi will help to bridge the huge gap that exists between the different generations of Cuban-Americans,” said Jose Flores, a political activist who specializes in issues of Cuban immigration. “Many of our more recent generations don’t have the means to get accurate information regarding their ancestry.”

A temporary exhibit of lithographic paintings on Cuban cigar rings is currently on display. On Oct. 11, Dr. Loyd Glenn Westfall will give a lecture regarding the subject.

“We are always inviting guests to present their books, give lectures and speak at luncheons,” Urizar said. “Depending on the type of event, between the community and media, we usually host between 90 and 100 attendants per event.”

Show times for the cinema are 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Recent movies include Bitter Sugar and Forever Cuba.

Admission is free for UM students and $5 for guests.

For more information on exhibits or show times, call 305-284-CUBA or visit http://www.miami.edu/iccas.

Today
The UM Department of Theatre Arts announces Totally Tuesdays, four performances at the Ring Theatre free for students. The first play, The Laramie Project, starts at 8 p.m. today; theatre doors will open at 7:30 p.m.

CAC presents Star Wars: Episode II at the Cosford Cinema at 8 and 10 p.m.

Homecoming: Mr. UM, 7 p.m. @ Rat.

OCTOBER 9
CAC presents a sneak preview of Knockaround Guys at Cosford Cinema at 9 p.m. Pick up passes at UC 206.

Elli Wohlgelernter, Diaspora Affairs Editor for the Jerusalem Post, will be speaking at the Hillel Jewish Center at 6:30 p.m. His talk will focus on “The Middle East, the Media and the Message,” a look at how newspapers, television and radio cover Palestinian violence and Israeli reactions to the violence. Free food and drinks will be served, and the talk is open to everybody.

In Latinos 101, students will be leading discussion on issues pertaining to Latinos in an event moderated by the director of Multicultural Student Affairs, Nanette Vega, at Eaton RC from 7- 9 p.m.

Anti-Hate Crime Candlelight Vigil on the Rock at 8 p.m. Come commemorate everyone that has been lost to a hate crime. President Shalala will be the key speaker, joined by several speakers from different campus organizations.

OCTOBER 10
The UM Counseling Center is participating in National Depression Screening Day. From 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the UC Breezeway, students will be administered a brief depression screening and receive immediate feedback. Information will be available about depression, manic-depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Call Gretchen at 305-284-5511 for more information.

Poet and playwright Jay Wright, recipient of the 2000 Lannan Literary Award for Poetry, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the 62nd Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets, will read from his Collected Poems at 4 p.m. in 427 Ashe. Wright examines history from a multicultural perspective, linking American society to African traditions. He believes that a poem must articulate the vital rhythms of the culture it depicts and is dedicated to a pursuit of poetic forms that embody the cadence of African American culture.

Pianist Luiz Fernando Benedini will jam with cellist Antonio Meneses for a concert of chamber music at Gusman Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students.

OCTOBER 11
The UM Alumni Association invites you to this year’s Audrey R. Finkelstein UM Experience, an interactive educational series featuring UM faculty, alumni and lecture topics. This year’s topics include “Public Health is Everyone’s Concern,” “Music’s Therapeutic Power,” “Diversity and Teaching,” “Surviving Times of Crisis,” “Business is a Contact Sport” and “Questions of Bioethics.” For more information contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 305-284-2872.

OCTOBER 13
The Asian American Students Association will present the fourth annual Run and Gun Football Tournament on the IM fields. Register during the Asian American Students Association general meetings before Oct. 10. Contact Darrel Cabias at aasaum@yahoo.com for more information.

OCTOBER 15
CAC presents Minority Report at Cosford Cinema at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Laser Tag at the Wellness Center at 5 p.m. Call Kevin at Hurricane Productions, 305-284-4606, for more details.

OCTOBER 26
The Department of Multicultural Student Affairs will offer a free practice test for the MCAT, LSAT, GRE or GMAT. RSVP by calling 800-2Review.

OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 2
QuantUM Entertainment will present the Rocky Horror Show at the Hillel Center. Call 786-262-3779 or visit www.gotoquantum.com for ticket information.

Are you free on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.? Be a mentor. Let at risk 4th graders know that they have an opportunity for a college education. Contact the Volunteer Services center at 305-284-GIVE or visit UC 240 for more information.

To acquire a University of Miami collegiate license plate, when you renew your registration at your local tax collector’s office, ask to replace your current tag with a specialty license plate. The UM specialty tags cost $25 more than traditional plates; this money, however, comes back to UM. For more information, contact the Specialty License Plate office at 850-414-2541.

On Jan. 4, 2003, Hurricanes Basketball will play their first game inside the convocation center against the North Carolina Tarheels. The Hurricanes are soon to release the 2002 basketball advertising campaign which, like the recent football television commercial campaign, features state-of-the-art animation sequences.

An NIH-supported research ethics conference, Extreme Ethics, will be held later this October at the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel. One track of the conference emphasizes Foundations: Elements of High Quality IRB Review. The other, from which the course draws its name, addresses exceptionally difficult challenges in research on human subjects and in public health. Topics include genetics, biostatistics and bioinformatics. The conference brochure and program are available online at www.miami.edu/ethics. For more information call the UM Ethics Programs at 305-243-5723.

UMIQ is a tournament style game show in which teams from the 5 Residential Colleges, the Apartment Area, the Greeks and the Commuters compete in an intellectual contest of wits. If you would like to represent one of these teams, please contact UMIQ@miami.edu for more information.

The University of Miami School of Law will celebrate the life of beloved Professor Robert H. Waters, who died Sept. 2 after a long battle with cancer, with a service at 3 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Student Lounge at the School of Law, 1311 Miller Drive, in Coral Gables.
Having served on the School of Law faculty for 30 years, Professor Waters was an integral part of the School of Law and was an outstanding teacher and mentor to countless students. At UM, he helped found the Woodson-Williams-Marshall Association for black faculty and administrators and began an enrichment program for black students entering law school. He also founded the James Weldon Johnson Summer Institute at UM Law School.
The James Weldon Johnson Summer Institute at the law school was named for the author, lawyer, educator, diplomat, civil rights activist and first African American admitted to the Florida Bar. Plans are under way to rename the institute for Professor Waters, Dean Lynch said.

Muddy grass parking lots around the UC, noise pollution by the Richter and construction every which way one turns has marred the once-pristine University of Miami Coral Gables campus, students say.

“It’s a mess and you can see it right when you come through the University’s main entrance,” senior Andres Ayala said, referring to the temporary parking lot across from the University Center [UC]. “This gives the University a bad image.”

Ayala said that the administration should find another place to accommodate the cars so that it does not disrupt the beautiful campus landscape.

According to campus planner Janet Gavarrete, three “green space” lots were designated to offset the loss of almost 200 parking spaces during the construction of the Pavia parking lot.

There are 120 spaces behind the Lowe Art Museum, 50 next to the Behavioral Sciences Building and 44 across from the UC.

Gavarrete explained that, although the Pavia garage is now open for students, the construction of the additional two floors to the Ponce Garage is not finished, so it is necessary to keep the temporary parking spaces available.

“Allowing students to park on the grass was a matter of convenience for the students,” Gavarrete said. “We are trying to accommodate everyone’s needs.”

However, to some students, these “green space” lots are not as convenient as they were intended to be.

“I know they are temporary, but we still have to pay the full price of the parking permit to park on dirt,” senior Justin Green said. “Students speed through the lot and kick up dust, you get dirty when you come out of your car, you go to class with your shoes dirty and your car gets messed up.”

“Its like off-roading. It sucks!” freshman Anne Durkin said.

Some students said they understand the need for the green spaces.

“I’m sure when people are hauling ass to class they don’t complain about the mess – they just park their cars and go,” sophomore Natalia Lopez said.

Freshman Michael Pelaez agreed, saying he would rather park on dirt when it is convenient rather than take a shuttle every day and that the lots should be made permanent because of their proximity to the UC.

“If it really damaged our cars there wouldn’t be BMWs, Audis and Mustangs parked right here,” Pelaez said.

Another area of concern is the noise caused by the construction occurring to renovate the Richter Library.

“Besides the constant barriers created by makeshift fences and yellow police tape, the noise is very annoying,” junior Lacey Hickle said. “I know we’ll all appreciate the changes once they’re made, but right now, it’s a little frustrating.”

Dr. Patricia Whitely, Vice President for Student Affairs, said she has not received any complaints regarding the issue.

“Construction is messy, but I think everybody is happy with the developments,” she said. “If things never changed there would be no progress.”

According to Dr. Whitely, the construction is a result of a goal to improve the campus and enhance student life.

Once the construction is completed, there will be an additional 1,541 new parking spaces provided by the Ponce, Pavia and Mahoney/Pearson garages.

“The students will feel the difference,” Gavarrete said. “With more parking, more happy people.”

According to Gavarrete, the first floor of the Ponce Garage is currently open and the other three floors should be completed in 30 to 40 days.

The construction work on Pavia Street should be finished by next week, after the installation of a new waterline is completed, she said.

Gavarrete encourages students to remain positive.

“The ‘green space’ lots will be reconstructed and the campus will be beautifully landscaped again when all the construction is over,” Gavarrete said. “This has been an intense summer of construction.”