Miami Hurricane, September 22, 1981

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Big Foot Stomps Cougars
Full Wrap Up In SPORTS
Volume 58, No.8
Tuesday, September 22, 1981
Phone 284-4401
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Cat Burglars Stalk Pearson Residents
By JEAN CLAUDE de la FRANCE
Head News Writer
As thieves rings go, they are not much of one.
For all anyone knows, they may be pranksters with tendencies toward kleptomania and a penchant for entering women’s dorm rooms.
In any case, the University of Miami Public Safety Department is investigating a rash of break-ins into several women's dorm rooms at Pearson Hall during the past two weeks.
Meanwhile the "Cat burglers" seem to be coming and going at will.
According to police reports, they have been seen on the outside window ledges of the second, fifth, sixth and seventh floors of Pearson Hall
Some of the incidents range from bizarre to serious:
A seventh floor resident of Pearson who gave only her initials, S.Y., said that while she was out two weeks ago one of the suspects waltzed into her empty room and cooly took a shower.
The alleged burglar knocked on the suite next door and thoughtfully told her suitemate to “not come in here. I am going to take a shower." He took his shower and left without taking anything, according to the girls.
"It is very strange. I was very uptight about it,” said the Pearson resident.
"I did not call the police because I really did not have anything to say,” she said, “but I went downstairs [to the complex desk| and I told them."
"We are not dealing with average thieves,” said UM Public Safety Department Sergeant Pat Condon, who is chief of investigation "These people are brazen.” Seventh floor Resident Assistant Cindy Gabel reported seeing a man on the ledge of her window at around 7 a m. last Tuesday. Gabel said it was too dark and all she could see was a silhouette.
A male witness who requested anonymity told police that he had bottled up « <*««-pect in the stairways last Wednesday, and had then alerted security. But the subject, he said, managed to escape before the police arrived.
Originally, the police put out a "be on the look out” poster for a white male aged somewhere between 18 to 25, with blond curly hair set in afro style. The suspect, who reportedly wore gray shorts and no shirt or shoes, was described as being about six feet tall and of medium build.
However, conflicting descriptions from witnesses have lead the police to believe
that more than one person is responsible for the incidents.
Now, police are also looking for a lightskinned black male of the same age, also with an afro, who was similarly garbed. A Latin male, police believe, is also involved.
The Modus Operandis of the burglars bears a striking similarity to that of group of thieves who burglarized the dorms last May, according to Condon.
In both cases, the burglars “use the window ledges [to gain entrance into the rooms|, as opposed to walking the halls and breaking in through the doors."
Except in one instance, all of the rooms burglarized had been occupied by females, Condon said.
According to Condon, the arrest of a Chilean national towards the end of the first summer session halted the first string of burglaries. In the current rash of break-ins, unlike the earlier burglaries, nothing so far has been reported stolen.
"In the previous burglaries, a combination of cash and jewelry was taken, and one case resulted in physical assault,” Condon said.
The current burglars are not students, nor are they “by any means professionals,” Condon said.
“They are hangers-on around the campus, maybe were alumnus, or they know students, and therefore are familiar with the way the dorms are set up,” he said.
This familiarity with the residence halls would explain how the thieves know in which rooms female students reside, Condon theorized.
"We do not have too many students who are into that type of thing,” Condon said. Some students, however, were getting into the act for pranks, he said.
Public Safety received a call at 6 a m. last week but “it was just a couple of kids fooling around A couple students thought It is funny, being on the ledges and tapping on one another’s windows," he said.
•What we are dealing with is a legitimate cat burglar with three subjects involved, and on other hand a bunch of kids playing games," he concluded.
Female students have taken extra precautions to make their rooms safer, according to Cindy Gabel. She said she is advising students to take the handles off the windows, making it nearly impossible for the thieves to get in unless they break the windows.
Others have put in work orders to have their windows bolted, according to Terri Samuels, another RA.
inflicting descriptions from their windows bolted, according to Terri • lead the police to believe Samuels, another RA
Foote Hell is Launch
For United Way At Luncheon
By GEORGE HAJ
News Writer
With President Edward Thaddeus Foote II at the helm, the University of Miami launched its annual United Way campaign at a luncheon F riday
The luncheon, attended by representatives of various departments and organizations on campus, was provided to acquaint the faculty and staff with the goals and needs of the United Way.
Foote told the group that they hold a great deal of influence with the people they work with and asked them to "make sure that everybody in the University is at
least asked” to contribute to the effort.
Calling the United Way the most important thing that goes on in any community in the United States, Foote said that "what we can do is to make sure the message gets across” of the great need that exists in this area.
Also speaking at the luncheon was Frank Skinner, the general chairman of the United Way. Skinner urged the group not to consider this as “just another United Way campaign."
“I can assure you," he said, "that |for| countless members of this community, literally thousands of people, this is not just See page 3/WAY
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l M President Tad Foote (Second From Right) Listens \s Students Kxpress Ideas
Views Exchanged At Dialogue
By AMY JACOVES
News Writer
Administrators and students, in a meeting billed as "Dialogue *81," discussed last Thursday a variety of issues that affect the University.
The goal of the dialogue was to open the lines of communication between administrators and students.
"This is a really good chance for faculty and students to meet together and discuss issues that concern us all," said Undergraduate Student Body (USBG) President Bill Mullow-ney in his opening remarks.
The issues discussed ranged from registration to campus security, from how the administration deals with the USBG Senate's legislation to President Edward Thaddeus Foote's relationship with the student body.
"I hope that communication is good. That doesn't mean that I’m always going to agree with you or you with me. but at least we can try to understand why," Foote said. "Administrators are at this University to make the life of students as enjoyable as possible."
Al Lipay. USBG secretary for university affairs, proposed to the administrators that a Tuition Review Board, which would be composed of administrators and students, be es-tablshed. The purpose of this board, he said, would be to allow students to know "how the |University s| money is being spent.”
“It is an attempt to open up some channels of communication and to provide for more input and communication," Mullowney said.
David Lieberman, vice president for financial affairs, said that "a proposal like this really needs to be put on paper so it can be criticized rationally.” Other administrators agreed.
“We ought to talk about it," Foote said.
Another issue reviewed was the future of the Computer-
ized Advance Registration System (CARS). According to l.ou Tamares, assistant vice president for information systems, of the $250.000 originally placed in the account to initiate the project, $127,000 remains.
The expenditures which have been made to date were for computerizing the administration of financial aid. Tamares said. Computerizing the financial aid process. Tamares stated, is "one part of the overall registration system. The goal is to have registration totally computerized."
"I think we ought to have it |CARS| now,” Foote said. "I am totally committed to getting it done as soon as possible .... 1 don’t know how long that will be."
Campus safety was also discussed at the forum. Joseph Frechette, director of the UM Public Safety Department, said that “this campus is a lot safer than Dade County or Coral Gables "
“We feel pretty good about the crime situation |on cam-pus|," Frechette said. Except for vandalism and "spurts" of chain snatchings, he said, UM is relatively free from violent crime. "The overall crime picture is down a oit," he added
Frechette said that many new programs designed to prevent crime have been initiated on campus. In addition, the Public Safety Department increased the size of its force by three, he said.
Last year, $15,000 was added to the budget to improve lighting, and $20,000 was allocated to Public Safety to sponsor the Nightwatch Program, which was started by USBG
Administrators were asked whether Public Safety will be given the same priorities next year
"It’s awfully early in the year to see what our priorities are. Last year, it ¡Public Safety| was a priority," Lieberman said.
Aurelio Quinones, speaker pro tempore of the USBG Senate, questioned the procedure that the Faculty Senate used in See page 3/DIALOGUF.
Condition
By TRISHA SINDLER
News Writer
UM's Art Building, located at the north side of the Memorial Building and slightly behind it, is a haven for fire traps, loose floor boards, peeling paint, and hibernating and active insects.
The condition of the building prompted Albert Stellmach, a senior majoring in music, and classmate Margaret Bockai to start a petition which began circulating last Wednesday and will continue for two weeks The petition is being circulated in order "to let the rest of the school know what terrible shape the Art Building is in."
“I can sit in class and see the sky. even though there’s a roof over my head," explained Stellmach "There are water spouts near electricity outlets, and this is obviously dangerous."
Fran Rowin, who teaches art history, explained that the art complex, commonly known as the "the shacks," was constructed during World War II and served as office buildings for army personnel Most classes that used to be held in the wooden shack buildings have been relocated. The Department of Communica-
Petition Calls Attention To Decrepit
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tions. for example, has moved into the Merrick Building
"What upsets people most," Rowin said,"are the moldy ceiling panels which are falling off and hanging over students' heads. Also, parts of the second floor balcony, connected to the first floor balcony, have beams that are warping and hanging a little."
The list of problems, detailed in a 22-page report, is extensive. Although there are ample fire extinguisher boxes, only one extiguisher is housed on the building's second floor. A classroom door window, with two huge cracks and dangling glass, was not repaired by the maintenance department. Instead, it was Scotch-taped
"Last year, I was teaching in the L.C. building, which at the time had no air conditioner," Rowin recalled. ”1 gave my students the choice of sweating in the heat or moving to the Arts Building. Not one person wished to leave."
Rowin also voiced concern that the building is not only a hazard, but also not conducive to teaching.
Art department chairman Dr. William Betsch said the administration had instructed campus repairmen to do only emergency repairs on
wooden buildings.
"Fifty-four buildings on campus have leaks," Betsch noted. “But we've had the longest history of neglect "
Betsch described the art department as being a highly independent one. "All the free labor the chairmen and faculty have put into the building since 1969 would amount at least to $50,000. We’ve been trying to take care of ourselves, but it's about time we got some help."
Betsch explained that the art school is now only regionally accredited. Once the building has been completely refurbished, he plans to petition for national accreditation "But with the facilities in their current state, we could never get it.”
Stellmach would like to see immediate improvements or else construction of a new building
"They say they can’t do repairs until the president's home is refurnished," Stellmach said. “I don’t think the president realizes what a disgrace the building is. Art students feel the atmosphere |in the building| is an unhealthy one and that the University does not care about them. The administration is not doing anything about the problem. And that's really sad ”
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