Miami Hurricane, January 30, 1987

              Underground uncovered
INSIGH I takes a look at a student publication that is small but makes an impression.
INSIGHT — page 4
First Act
A UM play production will highlight next week’s Bob Clark New Play Festival.
Accent — page 6
Back in the finals again
After a two-year absence, the Rugby Club wins the chance to compete for the state championship title.
Sports — page 8
Volume 64, Number 28
University of Miami
Friday, Jan. 30, 1987
Detectors to be installed
By PAUL DEAN
Hurricane Staff Writer
The Department of Residence Halls will install new smoke detectors in the Mahoney/Pearson complex, The Residential College and the Hecht Residential College this summer to comply with a new fire safety code.
According to Jack Sargent, assistant director of Residence Halls, detectors will also be installed in the apartment area, "hopefully this summer."
The new fire safety code. NFPA 101 1985, mandates all high-rise buildings to carry smoke detectors.
Sargent said that two detectors will be installed in each apartment in areas that have not yet been
determined.
Currently the apartment area does not have a mechanical alarm system but does have fire extinguishers outside the apartments and in the inside stairways.
George Shoffner, Director of Residence Halls, thinks the installation of detectors is a “good idea."
According to Shoffner, the residential halls have an adequate fire alarm system, but smoke detectors are necessary when there are “a great deal of people in a small area.”
Unlike the detectors in Eaton Residential College, which are only In certain designated areas in the hallways, the smoke detetors will be Installed primarily In each individual room.
“The point is that the majority of the fires are going to start in rooms," Shoffner said.
Shoffner said that the detectors will be “hard wired"—connected to the general electrical system— not battery opperated portables, because hard wired detectors are
‘The point is that the majority of the fires are going to start in rooms.’
George Shoffner, director of residence halls
more reliable and. in the long run, more cost effective.
To eliminate the problems of having the detectors set off an unwarranted general alarm, each detector will opperate independently. Thus, one would have the opportunity to determine the extent of a disturbance before turning on the general alarm.
Disturbances gin the “common areas” will, however, alert the reception desk.
Shoffner added that detectors may eventually be installed in the apartments, but the university will first concentrate on the high rises "because of the critical nature of the facilities.”
Until then, Shoffner advised that students purchase their own detectors.
Fewer problems should arise in the new smoke alarm systems than in the system installed in Eaton Residential College last year. Most of the technical problems there have already been worked out.
Besides smoke detectors, a sprinkler system will be Installed
In the long corridors of the Mahoney/Pearson complex. The installation of this system will be a part of the major renovations taking place in the complex.
According to Shoffner. a sprinkler system will not be necessary in the residential towers because the rooms are much closer to the exits.
Trash chute fire first for dorm
By AMY FTNEGOLD
and
KAREN PLAVE
Of the Hurricane Staff
A trash chute fire on Tuesday night was the first fire at The Residential College, according to Pat Whitely. resident coordinator for The Residential College and assistant director of personnel and training for residence halls.
"We believe that ... someone mistakenly threw something down the chute," Whitely said.
A sprinkler system in the chute automatically turned on and put out the fire, but Whitely said that both towers were evacuated as a “precautionary measure.”
Richard Estape, a resident of TRC. said. “The fire department
came 10 minutes after everyone was (back] in the building."
Whitely explained that UM’s Department of Public Safety arrived immediately with “no problem.” The Coral Gables Fire Department was also called even though she said there was no need for it. and firefighters responded in about 15 minutes.
“Fires in the garbage chutes occur on a weekly basis,” said Lt. Berford Barnard.
The alarm was sounded a second time because residents mistakenly returned inside the building before the fire department and resident staff indicated that they could.
Whitely added that "everyone cooperated."
“I feel the students should be more informed about procedures for fire alarms,” Estape said.
<Xjt
By CHRIS HARVEY
and
GEOFFREY HABRON
Of the Hurricane Staff
Well, it looks like the Lake Osceola Monster has finally been captured.
The Caribbean manatee, a large, gray animal also known as a seacow, was first sighted swimming in the channel behind the Merrick Building
four or five days ago by students walking to classes.
A rescue team from the Miami Seaquarium arrived with a baby sling and nets at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning.
After a 20-minute search, the manatee was discovered submerged and sleeping near a drainage pipe adjacent to the bridge by the Merrick Building and the Jenkins Building.___
A crowd of about 50 or 60 watched as the algae-covered mammal was maneuvered into a sling and then into a truck headed for the holding tank at the Seaquarium.
Dr. Gregory Bossart, veterinary pathologist at the Miami Seaquarium and on the faculty at the University of Miami Roscnsteil School of Marine and Atmospheric
Science, said the animal appeared in good shape: his only concern for the manatee was the possibility of cold shock.
The manatee is not lost but came into the warmer, shallow waters because of the cool weather. The canal is a good spot for the animal in winter since there is plenty of food and no motorboats in this part of the canal___________________
CHRIS HARVEY/Hurrlcane Staff
The manatee that has been living in the channel was taken to the Miami Seaquarium Thursday.
Manatee rescued from canal
Few students register for CLAST
By KAREN PLAVE
Hurricane News Editor
While the University of Miami Testing Center usually registers over 600 students for the College Level Academic Skills Test, only about 200 have registered for the Mar. 14 exam, according to Dr. Rod Gillis, director of the center.
Students who receive financial aid from the state of Florida must take the CLAST during the semester in which they complete 60 credits.
The deadline for registering for the CLAST is Feb. 13. The exam will be given on the last Saturday of spring vacation.
“There's no way around it," Gillis said. The Florida Department of Education schedules the exam, which is given three times each year.
The next exam will not be given until June, so students who miss or fail the exam may lose their financial aid for the following semester.
Students may have already been notified through the mail by the
Financial Aid Office at Building 37K, but they can still pick up applications at either the Financial Aid Office or in the Testing Center at Building 21V. Additional information may be obtained by calling the center at 284-2450.
The $15 fee is applied to the student's account, so the student will receive a bill from the Bursar's Office.
If students cannot take the exam on Feb 13 because of religious, medical or military reasons, they should contact the Testing Center to find out about a makeup exam.
The test comprises four sections: math computation, reading, writing and an essay. Gillis said that more students fail the essay than any other section. But he added that about 90 percent of UM students pass all sections of the exam
If students fail any section, they can retake It. Until they do, Gillis said they can take a class in the failed subject to save their financial aid. Such classes are available through the Center for Developmental Studies.
Memorial Grand Prix
Christopher Grande is given last-minute instructions by John Fogleson as he prepares to start his engine during the Dodge National, which was held Monday and Tuesday m the parking area near the Memorial Classroom Building and sponsored by Dodge and Goodyear.
RA selection meetings held
By DENISE CORBITT
Hurricane Assistant News Editor
Wanted: a few good students to listen to problems, help ease homesickness and arrange social programs.
Rewards: free room and board, friendship, laughter, tears and self-esteem.
The department of residence halls is currently holding informational meetings for students who are interested in becoming resident assistants.
According to Pat Whitely. assistant director of personnel and training for residence halls, the last day students can pick up an RA application is 8 p m Sunday at the final informational meeting in The Residential College classroom
Prospective RAs can talk with present RAs and take part in group interviews.
"We are looking for students to give energy and enthusiasm to the program — people who can work with faculty and students," Whitely said.
The selection committee for personnel and training consists of faculty, administration and current RA staff
After the initial meeting, prospective RAs meet again in small groups with a resident coordinator and faculty members for a group discussion of many hypothetical situations.
The last day students can pick up an RA application is 8 p.m. Sunday at the final informational meeting at The Residential College classroom.
The deadline for application is Feb. 6. From that date until March 6, applicants will be called in for group and individual interviews.
By April 1. letters will be mailed to applicants informing them of their appointments, according to Whitely
The RA program is a success, according to involved students
The program, instituted to help ease freshmen into their first experiences away from home, has grown into a division of support groups that help RAs as well as their students to grow
“It's a fabulous leadership opportunity for students and a chance to play a vital part in their fellow students' growth and adjustment." Whitely said
Sheila Murman, 21. just began her second semester as an RA, and already, she said, her communication skills have improved.
"I'm majoring in nursing, and it’s really important to have those skills,” she said.
"I've made friends. 1 know 50 people or more here now and the people I work with are really wonderful It’s the best training I've ever received, and the positive aspects outweigh the negative by far."
Murman said she was inspired to become an RA because of her past experiences with an RA as well as the need for a job.
"It doesn’t interfere with my studies. If anything, it helps because when I’m on call, I have to stay in my room and study." she added
Steve Coe, 24, a politics and public affairs major, has been an RA for two years. This year is the best year, he said, because he has a good mix of sophomores and freshmen
“I enjoy taking 15 or 20 people out at night for a movie and organizing beach parties,” he said
Still, he claims, his studies have suffered a bit
"Not so much in the time I have to set aside, but sometimes things just come up," he said.
But, he added, the good outweighs the bad