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Men’s tennis triumphs over ranked opponent

The Miami Hurricane
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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 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
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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”.

International Week shares cultures

The Miami Hurricane
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Ever traveled the world in seven days?

Well, starting April 5 the Council of International Students and Organizations [COISO] offers UM students a chance to experience a variety of world cultures by bringing them to the UC in honor of International Week.

This annual event, according to International Week co-chair, Cory Cain, “provides international students with the opportunity to share their culture with the University of Miami.”

Each day of International Week will feature the presentation and performance of a different culture.

For the entire day, the UC will be decorated with the sights, sounds, and experiences offered by that specific organization.

“We plan on transforming the UC into Asia, for example,” says Cory Cain, “by recreating a fish market, or the daily life of a specific region there. People haven’t been to Asia or India, or any of these places – our goal is to bring these places to campus for everyone to experience.”

Furthermore, each organization will also be focused around a certain theme to promote unity.

This year’s theme for International Week is “United We Stand”.

For the first time at UM, International Week also plans on incorporating American culture-“Hometown USA”, led by James Pascual.

“The idea started off as a joke,” says Cain, “which eventually led to the creation of a scenario on the patio which incorporates everyone on campus”.

“Independence Day” will be Hometown USA’s theme and will include talks about women pioneers throughout American history as well as talks on the development of minority civil rights such as black voting.

While part of the week-long event incorporates debates and speeches on cultural awareness, Cain also emphasizes that International Week is, more importantly, “a culmination of education and fun.”

By fun, Cain means attractions ranging from the traditional display of cultural dances, music, and food, to the not-so-traditional sumo-wrestling event-in which students bump each other while dressed in giant sumo-outfits-or to the assembly of a boxing ring-in which students engage in not-so-physical contact by wearing gigantic, oversized gloves. International Week will also provide a Dunk Tank for students to further “drown racism” in a fun-spirited way.

The week will end with a banquet and an award ceremony that judges the performances and presentations of all the participating cultures.

According to Cain, there are two primary reasons why he believes everyone should partake in International Week: it allows students to go on a trip around the world in seven days just by coming to the UC; and it’s a chance to better understand the world as a whole by interacting with different cultures.

“Our world is in a situation now [in regards to Sept. 11] where we don’t know how to react when our personal bubble is pierced – so COISO wants to pierce the bubble a little bit, and open the gates to the cultural communities on campus,” Cain said.

For further information on International Week, visit the University Center Room 213.

Students learn stress management at o.b.U

The Miami Hurricane
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Tampon University Day?

o.b. tampons held a special stress relief event for women sponsored by o.b.U last Tuesday on the UC Patio.

“The event was created by o.b. brand tampons to increase the visibility of the brand,” said Edelman Public Relations’ Senior Account Executive Jean Landau. “They want to encourage young women to take some time for themselves, spend a few hours hanging out between classes that maybe were stressful. That’s why we offer the event on a weekday afternoon.”

o.b.U was held in a brightly colored tent with several rooms inside.

Upon approaching the tent, students were first offered free smoothies in reusable plastic cups with the o.b. logo and were invited to come inside where they could relax on fluffy beanbag chairs and pillows.

In the next room, students were instructed in kick-boxing life size dummies.

“Kick-boxing is a known stress reliever,” explained one o.b. representative.

A professional instructor was present to make sure no one over-exerted themselves or was hurt.

Students were then guided into a tunnel where black light messages glowed encouraging phrases and arrows directed students along the path.

The third and final room was the arts and crafts room where students were encouraged to write on or decorate the National Confidence Collage.

This huge board was littered with sparkly pieces of paper with brightly colored ink proclaiming things like, “Don’t let anyone take your dreams from you” and “Remember that you are beautiful”.

Students were free to add any messages they chose using the construction paper, scissors, glue, glitter pens, and other art supplies provided.

English and Spanish speaking representatives were present at the event, and were mostly college-age females themselves.

These representatives guided students through the event and offered free samples and coupons for o.b. tampons to passers-bys.

Turnout mostly consisted of female participants, as the event targeted female consumers. However, males were also welcome to participate in the event.

“University of Miami is a great place for o.b.U Day because there are 15,000 students,” said Landau. “And 52% of them are female.”

“We have several hundred people come through the tent every time we visit a college,” said one of the o.b. representatives, as she poured a banana-berry smoothie into a cup.

o.b.U Day toured eight colleges last semester and UM is one of ten colleges to be visited this semester.

“We’re hoping to change lifestyles and help women be more confident,” said Landau. “It’s a really a great stop to make during the day, between classes.”

After the tour, the National Confidence Collage will be donated to a non-profit organization.

Although the organization has not yet been chosen, o.b. and Edelman Public Relations Company are strongly considering the Women’s History Museum a worthy recipient of the Collage, organizers said.

SG debates bill to set sanctions

The Miami Hurricane
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During the first meeting of the new Student Government cabinet, SG senators deliberated last Wednesday whether an Honor Council member should establish sanctions based on precedent.

After almost an hour of discussion, council members decided to hold the item until next Wednesday, when a representative from the Honor Council will be present to answer questions about the workings of the judicial panel.

The debate was triggered by the highly scrutinized case of wide receiver Andre Johnson, who received a mitigated sentence from an appellate committee after the student-run Honor Council recommended he be suspended for two semesters.

Upholding that sanction would have kept the football player off the field when the national champions head out to defend their title this fall.

The Athletics Committee within the Faculty Senate is investigating the case, but it is unclear how much influence they will have on Johnson’s case. Administrators have been reluctant to discuss the case, even in generic terms.

Student Government Senator J.D. Barbosa introduced the bill, which would require that Honor Council members refer to past cases in determining sanctions for students found guilty of violating the Honor Code.

“It should have been the case from the start,” said Barbosa, referring to the Honor Council, a group of 22 full-time undergraduate students appointed by the Selections and Appeals Committee, made up of the Provost, the Vice President for Student Services and the President of Student Government.

Barbosa said that using past cases as guidelines would provide a fairer system by enabling Honor Council members to make their decisions aided by the “facts and evidence” of previously settled cases.

The heaviest opposition came from Senator Michael Holt, who argued that the Honor Council should not necessarily mirror conventional legal systems.

“The system has a fairness mechanism built into it,” said Holt, who reminded fellow council members that the Honor Council is not a team of prosecutors but rather a group of students committed to safeguarding “community and academic standards.”

At the heart of the debate lies the Buckley Amendment, a federal statute that guarantees student records remain confidential albeit a handful of exceptions.

Several Student Government members suggested that Honor Council members get access to nameless briefs of past cases, which would provide a more comprehensive framework with which to rule.

The Council currently reviews each case separately in accordance to the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

In a recent interview, Dean of Students William Sandler told the Hurricane that the Honor Council’s rules are likely to change as a result of the Andre Johnson case.

Fashion show seeks models

The Miami Hurricane
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Haven’t quite found your claim to fame in Miami’s fashion mecca yet? Well, here’s your chance.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Friday, representatives from several modeling agencies, including Ford Models Inc., will be on the UC patio conducting a small-scale model search. The 25 male and 25 female UM students chosen to strut their stuff will be the first ever for the Source Fashion Nation College Tour show presented by VISA and hosted by Hurricane Productions.

According to Graham Micone of Hurricane Productions, potential models must first come by during the day to have their picture taken and to fill out an application to be selected for the fashion show that takes place in the evening.

What does it take to become a Source Fashion Show model?

“[Models] are going to be selected on their attitude, their style, how they look, how they can walk and how they photograph,” Micone said.

The students selected will model designer fashions.

“[The clothes] are all from all over the world-Sean Jean, Pepe Jeans, Adidas-it’s a big tour,” Micone said, “[Designers] are going from city to city with all these different kinds of clothes from their clothing lines and letting the models wear them.”

Models will also be considered for an upcoming fashion layout appearing in The Source and a one-year contract with Ford Models.

And for those not interested in modeling, the show promises everything one would expect from The Source and VISA – great music and loads of free stuff.

Headlining the night’s performance will be recording artists Tha Liks, formerly known as Tha Alkaholiks.

The West Coast group, comprised of E-Swift, Tash, and J-Ro, is expected to perform songs from their four previously released albums, including their latest, X.O. Experience, which was released in 2001.

Daytime entertainment will be provided by DJ Aspekt from the UM Hip Hop Club.

DJ Don P, from WEDR-99.1 FM, Miami’s 99 Jamz, will be spinning from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the hour before the fashion show gets under way.

Doors open for the show at 7:30 p.m. The fashion show starts at 8:30p.m., immediately followed by Tha Liks performing around 9 p.m.

This event, like all Hurricane Production events, is free to students. Guests pay $10.

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