It was the lyrics from Angie Stone’s song, “Brotha,” that inspired Sigma Gamma Rho president, Alecia Gail Gray, to initiate the first Brothers’ Appreciation Day at the University of Miami.

Sponsored by the sorority, Brothers’ Appreciation Day is centered around an essay contest that seeks nominations for the Sigma Gamma Rho Man of the Year.

“This is a general celebration where we appreciate, recognize, and acknowledge significant black men in our lives,” Gray said.

Any black male affiliated with the University may be nominated, she said, and the nominator is required to write a one-page essay about how the subject is a positive role model.

Stephanie Floris, 18, freshman, heard about the contest at a United Black Students meeting and nominated a close friend.

“He helped me to stay focused and get through my freshman year,” Floris said. “Plus, he has accomplished so much academically.”

Karla Cato, 19, sophomore, said she was not planning to make a nomination this year, but that if she did, it would be to honor Daniel Best, advisor for the business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi.

Best, now a data control clerk in the Office of Financial Assistance, was the first minority to join the chapter when he was a student at UM.

“He is very inspirational and takes risks in life,” Cato said. “He was the first to suggest allowing women to join the fraternity.”

The winner will be announced at the appreciation day ceremony at 7:22 p.m. next Tuesday at the Rathskeller, Gray said.

The black sorority uses 22, she added, because it was founded in 1922.

Graduate members of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority will judge the essays anonymously.

Members of the UM chapter will not take part or have any influence on the judging, Gray said.

The grand prize for the contest is dinner for two at the Cheesecake Factory; two movie tickets for second place; and a Blockbuster Video gift certificate for third place.

The sorority will provide the prizes from fundraisers that the members have previously sponsored.

This included a $12 singing Valentine, whereby the sorority sisters serenaded the recipient and presented him or her with a rose and a balloon. A picture, capturing the person’s expression, was then delivered to the person who purchased the Valentine.

Gray, a senior majoring in business management and organization, said she hopes this will be the first of many Brothers’ Appreciation Days.

“It is something people will appreciate and enjoy,” Gray said, “and I hope it turns into an annual event.”

Today is the last day that nominations will be accepted. Applications are available in the United Black Students office, located in the University Center, Room 215.

 Cultural extravaganza today
COISO is holding a “Cultural Extravaganza” today at 8p.m. at the Wesley Center.

 COMMUNICATION BUILDING TO BE SCENE OF MOCK BIO-TERRORIST ATTACK
The School of Medicine’s Center for Research in Medical Education will be filming a mock bio-terrorism attack on Saturday, February 23 at the School of Communication’s Frances L. Wolfson Building. The event will be videotaped
as part of a training program to teach pre-hospital workers (firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians) how to manage incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Once complete, the program will be
distributed to fire and emergency service providers throughout Florida
Parking and Transportation
With an important enhancement of the easy system, Parking & Transportation Services announces that as of Friday March 1,2002, Commuter and Residential students may apply for current standard spring term parking permits via EASY. For more information contact David Voorhees at 305-689-5021.

Black Awareness Month

today
Communication Week & Greek Week

Fri 22nd Feb
Opening ceremonies for Greek Week at the Rathskeller from 4-8p.m.

COISO is holding a “Cultural Extravaganza” today at 8p.m. at the Wesley Center.

Friday Groove from 11:30a.m.-1p.m.; “Tower of Power Ensemble”

Happy Hour at the Rat with a DJ from 4:30-8p.m.

African Students Association will have their General Meetings every other Friday for all students interested in being apart of their organization. Come learn about African Culture. Next meeting is today at 5p.m. in the UC room 241.

Black Alumni Homecoming Weekend from today to Feb 24. More information available at the Ibis Office UC215.

BAM’s “Hot on the Block” at Eaton Residential College from 3-5p.m.. Alumni and students are invited to participate in this stimulating, interactive discussion on the current issues affecting Black students, past and present.

BAM; Keynote Address: “Constructing Race: Unity in the ‘Black’ Community” featuring Dr. Oscar Dathorne, MBA/MPA ’83 at the Storer Auditorium. A Jazz reception will follow.

BAM; Comedy Jam. After keynote speaker, and jazz reception, kick back and relax at the Rathskeller with an evening of entertainment and laughs from 10p.m.-12a.m. .

Life Party tonight at 10p.m. at the Rathskeller-come party! They are celebrating Life! There will be music,
food, and fun

Miami Hot: Glass Studio Workshop and Public Lecture Series. You are invited to attend a lecture by Karen Willenbrink a prominent American Glass Artist from Mt. Vernon, Washington tonight at 7p.m. at the Lowe Art Museum. RSVP by Feb 15 at 305-284-2542.

BAM: “For colored girls who have considered suicide…when the rainbow is enuf” by Ntozake Shange is a play consisting of poetry and dance that will be shown tonight at 8p.m. at The Law School, room 309.

Sat 23rd Feb
Athletic Department and Intramurals; Papa John is sponsoring a Celebrity two-ball competition at the Miami Arena today during the men’s basketball game against Notre Dame. Participation is free to all UM students and faculty. Three contestants will be paired with a local celebrity. For more information call Derek Stocker at 305-284-2943.

Olympic Day from 11a.m. on the IM Field.

BAM; “The Right Connection,” Student-Alumni Networking Mixer at the Rathskeller from 11:30a.m.-1p.m.

BAM; Student- Alumni Picnic and Games at Tropical Park from 1:30-4p.m.

Greek Extravaganza ’02 “Step Show” at the James L. Knight Center tonight at 7p.m. Tickets available through Ticket Master for $20.

BAM: “For colored girls who have considered suicide…when the rainbow is enuf” by Ntozake Shange is a play consisting of poetry and dance that will be shown tonight at 8p.m. at The Law School, room 309.

Sun 24th Feb
BAM; Jelly ‘N Jam Brunch at the Wellness Center from 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m.

BAM: “For colored girls who have considered suicide…when the rainbow is enuf” by Ntozake Shange is a play consisting of poetry and dance that will be shown tonight at 8p.m. at The Law School, room 309.

Mon 25th Feb
Body Wise Week at the Wellness Center.

African Students Union is making their contribution to BAM today by showing a short documentary and having an open discussion: “Address African Stereotypes”.

Entry Deadline for Three Point Shootout today (See March 2nd).

BAM: African Student Union is having a brief documentary followed by a discussion and a question and answer session titled, “Addressing African Stereotypes,” today at 4p.m. For more information call Bibi Dublin-Green at 305-669-3125.

Tues 26th Feb
CAC film, “Pulp Fiction”

Public Relations Student Society of America is welcoming Stacy Stern, from the Special Events Group, at 4:30 p.m. in UC Ballroom B. Dues will also be collected.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. is having their Brother’s Appreciation Day tonight at 7:55p.m. at the Rat. The winner of the Man of the Year essay contest will be announced. The first place prize is dinner for two at CheeseCake Factory. (Applications for SGRho’s Man of the Year contest are available in the Ibis Office UC 215.)

Interfraternity Council is having their “Greek lunch on the Patio” today between 11a.m.-2p.m. There will be a special reserved area for Greek’s with entertainment and food specials! Wear your letters and come hang out with other members of the Greek community!

Wed 27th Feb
The 2002 Estelle & Emil Gould Humanities Lecture featuring “Churchill’s First 25 Years,” a lecture by The Honorable Celia Sandys (The granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill) is today at 4p.m. in the Learning Center, room 110. For additional information call 305-284-5735. Light refreshments will be served.

Organized Cheer at 7p.m. on the UC Patio.

Games Night at RAT from 7-9p.m.

Fri 1st March
Friday Groove “Julie Patchouli,” 11:30a.m.-1p.m. on UC Patio

Happy Hour at the RAT from 4:30-1p.m., band/dj
Mystery Event from 6:30p.m. on the UC patio.

Organizers tempted students with food and fanfare to explore the history of Caribbean blacks last Tuesday at the first annual Caribbean Day.

An event extended through the afternoon, with festivities that included Caribbean music, posters and displays of Caribbean heroes, three-dimensional maps of the islands, and homemade island food.

The event was sponsored by the Caribbean Student Association [CSA], in cooperation with the United Black Students organization. La’Vern Browne, senior at UM, president of CSA, and a Caribbean native, came up with the idea to help promote Black Awareness Month at UM.

“I want people to know that African-Americans weren’t the only blacks to go through slavery and forced assimilation,” Browne said. “Caribbeans have a valid and interesting culture that is not often explored or displayed in Miami.”

“It’s all around us and most people don’t know,” said Browne, referring to the many Caribbean influences in North American culture today, such as performer Wyclef Jean, one of the ‘founders’ of Chicago. Browne also pointed out that steel drum music is native to the Caribbean.

The Organization for Jamaican Education gave a speech dispelling the myths and legends surrounding the Rastafarian culture, which is predominantly practiced in the West Indies.

The main attraction of the day was Haitian guest speaker Guitele Jeudy Rahill, author of the book Violated.

Published in May 2001, the book describes the life of an eight-year-old girl who is ostracized after her family moves to America. The girl is raped, partially because of her ‘foreignness,’ as the book suggests.

In a family preoccupied with voodoo curses and burdened by incest, the girl struggles to assimilate into North American culture. She overcomes her past and-unlike other victims of racism-speaks out for justice, eventually finding her place in the world.

Rahill gave an informative lecture and was available for questions and a book signing session afterwards.

Browne estimated about 75 people stopped by Caribbean Day on the patio.

The organization, she said, is happy with that number.

“We just want to give people the opportunity to learn about the Caribbean and see what it’s about,” Browne said.

Rahill agreed on the importance of educating students about different cultures.

“My book and the Caribbean culture, in general, touches on many aspects of life, including psychology and women’s studies, as well as the obvious cultural issues, like food, ceremonies, and family life,” Rahill said.

CSA plans to make Caribbean Day an annual event. Rahill also hopes to return to UM for a lecture series in 2003.

It was unanimous.

Academics, student life, and communication with administration are the problems UM’s new Student Government president will be spending most of his or her time dealing with.

A crowd of about 30 supporters filled the Rathskeller for the student government presidential debate and all six candidates were present and in good spirits.

Candidates Kirk Hunter and Zehev Schwartz Benzaken-both of whom have not had experience in student government-were up against four longtime SG leaders: Speaker of the Senate, Michael Johnston; University Affairs Senator, JD Barbosa; Speaker Pro Tempro, Stephanie Hernandes; and Chief of Staff, Steve Priepke.

Experienced or not, the candidates knew that working with the administration would be their top duty.

One of Johnston’s top issues is re-evaluating Student Account Services.

“Student Account Services is not always the most efficient. Everything dealing with money I would like for them to be able to answer,” Johnston said, pointing out that almost every student has been frustrated by account services.

“I’m there to communicate what’s happening up above to the students below,” Hunter said.

“There are some big decisions being made without our input,” Priepke said, referring to the imminent dissolution of the School of International Studies. “President Shalala is very quick and if we’re not there, we’re going to get rolled over.”

Hernandez’ platform is centered around “Bridging the Gap” between students and administration and changing the dynamics of student life.

When it came to academics, Barbosa had the most ideas for change.

“The number one issue is academics. We’re having issues with the library; with construction and students not being able to study late at nights,” Barbosa said.

He also suggested an exam-free homecoming week, sample course syllabuses online, and a wider selectiong of Honors classes.

Benzaken was the only candidate to mention the importance of the over 1500 international students at UM.

A native of Brazil, Benzaken said he would like to create a SG senator to represent international students.

Johnston, who implemented the IBIS ride program that shuttles students to Coconut Grove every Saturday night, felt confident that as president he would be able to expand the program to Thursday and Friday nights.

“It’s something I highly believe in,” Johnston said.

Hernandez said she wants to get together with all the student organizations to create a calendar of events that could be publicized on campus.

“I am aware that you cannot make an apathetic student go to events, but if it’s visible and it’s there, students will go,” she said.

“The University is looking for weekend activities. Intramural activities could be it,” Barbosa said, explaining that he did not understand why these events are scheduled only for the spring semesters.

Priepke informed the crowd that next year’s basketball games at the Ryder Center may not be free for students.

“We pay our athletic fee. Why we will have to pay for basketball games is beyond me,” Priepke said.

All the candidates agreed that their job as President would be made easier if more students became involved with student government.

“I am here to help you, not to do your work for you. I am here to help you learn,” Johnston said.

“Only eight to twelve percent of students vote. That’s not a government, that’s a special interest group,” Barbosa said. “Go out and get your friends to vote.”

Elections begin next Monday and end on Wednesday. Each student can vote by going to the election stations in the UC Breezeway.