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.

There were many empty seats Thursday night at the Rathskellar as two out of the four candidates showed up to debate issues in the upcoming student government elections.

“I wished this place was filled up – I was trying to make eye contact with people to get my message across, but there was hardly anyone here,” said Vice Presidential candidate Andy Hooper.

Both parties agreed; the main reason for lack of student participation is an even greater lack of communication between the several divisions on campus.

“A greater amount of communication between student government and the student body is needed in order to achieve our goals,” said Vice Presidential candidate Gina Yacone.

Both candidates shared similar objectives.

Yacone and Hooper both opted to increase on-campus apartment security, noting that workers from Papa John’s sometimes use the washer/dryer machines for laundry.

They also plan on promoting awareness and communication towards upcoming campus events, as well as using the Ryder Center as a vehicle to promote campus activity.

Both parties share similarities in their approach to accomplishing their goals. Yacone plans on increasing awareness by handing out monthly flyers, extending Reach-Out-Week [a week in which students, officials, and representatives alike brainstorm for ideas on improving UM], and increasing student voter turnout for the upcoming elections.

Hooper wishes to make a unified Student Government calendar, inclusive of all campus events, activities , and functions for each month.

He also said he wants to promote Reach-Out-Week, but in addition, to hold monthly forums in which representatives from each school can attend to express their concerns.

To further increase awareness, Hooper said he plans on using Channel 13 to bring unity among the dorms as well.

After an hour of debating, the two candidates stepped off the platform, and the crackling of pool balls signaled the return to normalcy at the Rat. The reasons for the absence of the other vice presidential candidates, Justin Levine and Miriam Cortes, went unannounced.

When asked what the general impression of the debates was, one student remarked, “I don’t know man. I came here for the beer.”

This summer, the University will begin the first phase of a multi-year renovation of the Hecht/Stanford Dining Hall.

According to Mel Tenen, Director of Auxiliary Services (which oversees Dining Services), the cafeteria will have an additional 1100 square feet, enhanced booth seating, and a new entryway after the first phase is completed.

The renovation will begin May 15, after the end of the spring semester, and will be finished by the end of summer.

“When the students come back in the fall,” added Tenen, “we’ll have an expanded and advanced new cafeteria.”

The renovation will result in 92 additional seats, for a total of 540 seats; 68 booth seatings, and 472 regular seats.

Overall, the cafeteria will be approximately 4000 square feet, an expansion of about 25%.

The project will include extending out the front glass entry onto part of the existing concrete slab in front of the cafeteria, adjacent to the Stanford towers.

Also, the large clock and the screen in front of the tray disposal will be removed to create additional seating in the already cramped dining facility, Tenen said.

The ‘Cane Card register will be moved further away from the front entrance, so that students will not have to wait in line outside, he said.

Student Government Speaker of the Senate and Presidential candidate Michael Johnston brought to Tenen’s attention the dire need for more seating in the Hecht/Stanford cafeteria.

“Mike Johnston approached me, and asked if the University would consider expanding that cafeteria,” Tenen said.

The project is a joint venture between the University and Student Government, Johnston said.

“Everyone is always fighting for seats,” Johnston said. “People think that Mahoney/Pearson is better just because it’s newer and bigger. That’s not fair to them. The students need a larger place to eat. I’m an engineering major, and I can realize this kind of stuff.”

Johnston said he feels proud to have done his duty as a representative of the students.

“They’ll be able to get in faster, they’ll be able to eat faster, and they’ll be able to get out faster,” Johnston said.

About 55% of total students use the Hecht/Stanford cafeteria, and 45% dine at Mahoney/Pearson.

“Because of its proximity to the Wellness Center, the Intramural fields, the student apartments, and the Hecht, Stanford, and Eaton dorms, a majority of the students utilize the Hecht/Stanford cafeteria, which further lends the need to expand,” Tenen said.

“The University just completed this past summer a 3-year renovation cycle for Mahoney/Pearson cafeteria, but Hecht/Stanford was last totally renovated in 1995,” Tenen pointed out, emphasizing the need to now focus on the Hecht/Stanford Dining Hall.

Greek Week officially begins today with opening ceremonies at the Rathskeller and is expected to have the highest level of Greek involvement in recent memory, said Jorge Lima, Greek Week co-chair and Alpha Sigma Phi brother.

“Just come out and watch,” Lima said. “We have every fraternity and sorority out doing something this year. It says ‘Greek Week,’ but we want it to encompass the whole campus.”

Greek Week unofficially began with the blood drive, which ran Monday to Thursday and benefits the South Florida Blood Bank.

“It’s a way for Greeks to come together to show the community what we can do. We really want to prove the negative hype about Greeks untrue and benefit the community,” Lima said.

Other organizations to benefit from the fundraiser include Families of Freedom-an organization that helps send children of those who died in the Sept. 11 tragedy to college-and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Greek Week’s traditional benefactor, said Mary Clark, Greek Week co-chair and Kappa Kappa Gamma sister.

“We have usually raised anywhere from five to ten thousand dollars for UCP,” Clark said. “We hope it’ll be more this year, what with all of the fraternities and sororities participating.”

This year’s theme is “A Night at the Movies,” each event carrying the theme of a different movie.

The ceremonies, scheduled to begin today at 4 p.m., are coupled with the Greek God and Goddess competition, as aspiring Zeuses and Athenas alike compete for Greek immortality.

“The competition has a resume section, to see what they’ve done around campus, a philanthropy question to test their knowledge, a talent section and a final question,” Lima said.

“The Greek God and Goddess will win a 21-day trip to Europe,” Clark said.

The opening ceremonies and the God and Goddess competition will carry an Austin Powers theme.

“The Rat will be decorated all shagadelic,” Lima said.

And what Grecian event would be complete without a taste of the athletic Olympiad that the Ancient Greeks were so famous for?

Olympic Day, scheduled to kick off on Saturday on the intramural fields at 11 a.m., will have a “Field of Dreams” theme.

“Olympic Day will have football, rowing, relay races, wall climbing, arm wrestling, tug-of-war, pizza eating. It will be a lot of fun,” Lima said.

Six guest speakers will speak to Greeks on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Flamingo Ballroom.

“Three of the speakers are alumni,” Clark said. “It’s going to be a good networking opportunity for older students.”

The talks will deal with Greek life after graduation, Clark said.

Other events include The Patriot themed Organized Cheer on Feb. 27 at 7p.m. on the UC Patio, a Mystery Event slated for Mar. 1 at 7p.m. and a Halloween themed Dance-a-thon/Song Fest on Mar. 2 at 12 p.m. at the Rathskeller.

Greek Week will close on Mar. 3 with its “Night at the Oscars” themed Closing Ceremonies.

A winning fraternity and sorority will be determined by the highest aggregate point total earned throughout the week’s events.

“The philanthropic events are worth the most,” Clark said, “because that’s what Greek Week’s all about.”

The winning fraternity and sorority will be awarded the Greek Week traveling trophy for the year.

“Winning is more of a pride thing than anything else,” Clark said. “It’s more about benefiting the philanthropies.”

After making their way past a few dozen angry students and exchanging a lengthy, heated discussion, the University of Miami Faculty Senate overwhelmingly approved the disintegration of the School of International Studies and the incorporation of its departments into the College of Arts and Sciences.

The 29-4 vote to close the five-year-old school came down a week after UM officials announced they would eliminate the school’s “structural” barriers and administrative costs to improve the quality of the programs.

Six senators did not vote and two abstained.

The dissolution of the school, the second in the school’s 76-year history, may be one of President Shalala’s most controversial measures since she started her mandate last summer.

The decision has outraged and dismayed many of the nearly 500 SIS students and 22 faculty members, who have criticized the administration for excluding them from the process.

Students and faculty worry the move will erode the prestige of the degrees and hinder UM’s ability to recruit professors and students for the programs.

About an hour before the meeting, about four dozen enraged students marched around the campus chanting “Save SIS! Our voices will be heard!” carrying brightly colored placards, which urged faculty senators to strike down the plan.

Shortly after the professors arrived, the protesters crowded the steps of the Storer Auditorium and denounced the dissolution as the faculty senators and administrators were entering.

Two police officers were stationed at the only open entrance of the four double-doors of the lobby.

At one point, the students shouted “Bring Foote back!”

“I would rather not discuss that,” said former UM President Edward T. Foote, a key architect of the school, when asked to comment on the merger.

Present at the meeting were Provost Luis Glaser, who presented the proposal to shut down the school; Dean Gomez from SIS; Dr. Patricia Whitely, Vice President for Student Affairs; about six SIS professors and three dozen SIS students.

Steven Priepke, the student government representative before the senate, addressed the senate on the students’ behalf.

While most of the senators said they welcomed the change, many criticized the administration for failing to inform them on the reasons behind their decision and to provide them with a “comprehensive plan” for the transition.

They said they were concerned with the lack of SIS faculty and student participation in the decision-making process.

Some proposed that the vote be delayed to have more time to review the plan and a committee be created with faculty and students, but their proposals were discarded.

“I was unclear with the motivation behind this [the dissolution],” said Tony Hynes, a marine and atmospheric chemistry professor at RSMAS. “I was surprised that the faculty of that school was not united, vociferous. When you hear a silence like that, you worry they have to keep their mouths shut.”

“The process was clearly flawed,” Hynes said.

Some of the senators also said they worried this would set a precedent for other schools.

“I think SIS was a special case,” said chair of the senate, Steve Green. “It was a very small school with programs that fit well and naturally into another school.”

SIS professor Bill Smith, who said he believes the move will strengthen the programs, said the senate vote was a “correct” one and hopes Shalala puts forth her promises to improve the program “with her enthusiastic support and necessary faculty and financial resources.”

Nuri Haltiwanger, a senior in SIS and one of the students who led Wednesday’s protests, said she was disappointed with the outcome but “was very happy to hear there were professors who were concerned with the way things were handled.”

“We all feel kind of betrayed and violated,” Haltiwanger said.

She also said some SIS students are planning to transfer to another school within UM or to other universities as of next fall.

As, the faculty senate was making their decision, student government was likewise voting, but to pass a resolution, which stated in part, “that Student Government at the University of Miami supports the School of International Studies, and their endeavors to keep their college separate from the School of Arts and Sciences.”

The resolution was passed with a majority of 32 to four opposed, mainly because SG senators felt it was unacceptable that the decision was made without the consent of the student body.