Miami Hurricane, September 26, 1989

              Late night at UM
CLAST failures could increase
Passing score will be raised
By ANA VALLE
Staff Writer
The number of University of Miami students failing the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) might be higher this year than last year.
According to some UM administrators, the usual failing rate of 5 to 8 percent of the approximately 900 students who take the CLAST could increase due to an increase in the required passing score.
Some of the passing scores have already been raised for the upcoming Oct. 7 test date.
Students must now receive at least a 285 on the math portion, 295 on the written English and the reading, and a 4 on the essay section.
Because of this, David Wiles, UM’s manager of testing, and Kenneth Lingswiler, assistant director of developmental studies, are speculating that more students will run the risk of losing their state financial aid.
“It’s a state regulation. If students fail any part of the CLAST, they have to take remediation courses or their aid will be revoked,” said Marty Carney, associ-ate director of financial assistance
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‘It’s a state regulation. If students fail any part of the CLAST, they have to take remediation courses or their aid will be revoked.’
Marty Carney, associate director of financial assistance services
fail to take it.
For some, this situation is familiar.
Edward Villareal, a senior architecture major, said he took the CLAST in February and passed three of the four subjects.
"I took remediation courses for two weeks and then stopped. I registered for the next CLAST, but didn’t take it. They cut my financial aid,” Villareal said. "You have to keep attending at least one class a week to keep your finanicial aid. I learned the hard way.”
Villareal had to find another way to pay for that semester.
Lingswiler suggested students take a preparatory program in
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Essayists win trip to London
New VP plans to promote SG
By JENNIFER GONZALEZ
Stall Writer
The winning essays of two University of Miami sophomores landed them a weeklong trip to England.
Merren Armour and April Koes-ter, winners of the Dade County Red Ribbon essay contest on drug abuse, represented Dade County at a “Say No To Drugs” seminar, which was held last week at Westminster Central Hall in London.
During their stay, they visited schools, Scotland Yard and a drug dependency unit.
Along with Koester and Armour, four other students from Dade County went on the trip.
"It was a time to understand how other countries deal with the drug problem and what they are doing to
By ROBERT MILLER
Assistant News Editor
In an effort to promote awareness of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome on campus, the Student Government Senate will introduce a bill at tomorrow’s meeting proposing condom vending machines be placed in all of the residential college public restrooms, according to SG Attorney General Max Adams.
If the bill is passed, it must first be approved by the University ad-
combat the problem said Koester.
The theme for this year’s contest was," My Choice: Drug Free.”
Both students said that it was a topic that interested them and also one which they were concerned about.
While Koester’s essay concentrated on her personal view? about drugs, Armour’s essay emphasized the problem of sports and drugs.
In her essay, Armour emphasized that, instead of winning at every game, people should concentrate on winning the "greatest game of all—the game of life” and keep not just sports, but other aspects of our society drug-free.
“So much emphasis is on winning, that athletes will do anything to win, like taking steroids. I wanted to write an essay about sports and drugs because I thought people
ministration before any actual action is taken.
According to Adams, before the bill is put to a vote, he will give a short presentation on AIDS awareness and explain the details of the bill to the senate and the members of the administration who were invited to attend.
Adams said any students who would like to attend and voiçe their opinions on the bill are encouraged
to do so.
Even though the senate is enthusiastic about the bill, Adam: said it
would listen since it was coming from a fellow athlete,” said Armour, a guard for the UM women’s basketball team and a native of Canberra, Australia.
Koester wrote her essay about the effects drugs can have on a person’s life.
“Every time you use drugs, it’s like tying yourself up to a tree,” Koester said in her essay. “You are completely useless in accomplishing any of your goals."
According to Koester, the biggest problem that the other countries have is with the use of heroin. The heroin problem in other countries is the equivalent of the crack problem here in the United States, Koester said.
In addition to their scheduled itineraries, the students had an af-
will not be easy to get the machines into the residential colleges because of a lack of administration support.
"I know it’s going to be a tough fight,” Adams said. “It could end up being a yearlong thing, but by the end of the year we could have the machines.”
Adams said his immediate goal is to raise awareness and get people talking about the problem. He also said one impetus for the proposal was a recent study of college stu-
Armour Koester
ternoon of free time. Koester visited the National Gallery, and Armour visited Harrods Department Store.
Armour also got a chance to visit Oxford University. The trip to London was a great reminder of her home in Australia.
“For me the trip was like being back home,” she said. “In London, you drive on the left-hand side of the road, and they play cricket and rugby just like in Australia.”
dents that said one out of 300 are infected carriers of AIDS.
“The study said that by 1992, it could be one in 125,” Adams said.
He said his presentation will give both sides of the issue and address some of the administration’s fears, including cost, liability, morality, possible vandalism and quality of the condoms.
Despite the probable opposition from administrators, Adams said the bill is significant.
“If we save one life, it’s worth it,” he said.
By JON LEINWAND
Stall Writer
Student Government Vice President Teesta Sisodia says she wants to act as a liason between the students and the administration and also get the word out about SG activities.
Sisodia, a fifth-year senior majoring in biology and psychology, was nominated by SG President Troy Bell and confirmed by the SG senate as vice president after the resignation of Roxanne Greitz.
Sisodia had run for vice president two years ago on the Vision ticket with Arnie Gurnin. Sisodia had the endorsement of The Miami Hurricane, but lost to Sting candidate Lora Davella.
Sisodia said she is not clear exactly what her position entails since it has changed so much in the past few years, but said she hopes to improve SG’s image.
"I want people to get to know SG better,” Sisodia said. “It seems the reputation has fallen."
Part of Sisodia’s job will be to publicize SG events. She said most people don’t realize how much SG does.
This semester’s programs include tonight's “All Niter” in the Universty Center, a road trip to the Florida State University game and the distribution of Metrorail passes before football games.
“SG accomplishes quite a lot,” she said. "I took it for granted that people appreciated SG.”
Sisodia says she lost touch with SG when she was a resident assistant last year. She added that she 'was glad to see that a lot of new people were in SG, including many freshmen.
“New people don’t know what can't be done," she said. “They also are not tainted by last year’s election controversy."
Sisodia is originally from India, but now lives in Homestead. In addition to SG, she is involved in many outside activities.
She is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, and has also been involved with the Rathskeller Advisory Board, Funday, Orientation, the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, the Indian Students’ Association and the badminton club.
Within SG, Sisodia has been undersecretary for the student affairs committee, secretary for student services, and executive secretary. In the 1986-87 school year, she was named “Outstanding Cabinet Member."
“I like being involved,” she added.
SG proposes condom machines
Sisodia
Precautions may prevent rape
By YVONNE ALVAREZ
Stall Writer
This is the last in a five-part series un date rape.
One in four women will be victim", of rape. Although it is an unpredictable event, experts have provided guidelines to help women avoid being attacked.
Pat Haden, University of Miami crime prevention officer, offers women some tips.
“Women need to know how to say no as vocally as they can.
They need to realize that you can
reject the action without rejecting the person,” Haden said.
Haden suggests women avoid isolated areas and always carry at least a quarter to make a phone call.
“A $10 bill will do you no good,” she said.
Haden also said women need to keep track of the amount of alcohol their date has consumed.
She also emphasized a man's responsibility to accept a woman’s verbal messages.
“Men need to be taught," Haden said. ‘' Even if (a woman |
has had a sexual relationship with them previously, if she says no for some reason, it means no. Anything else is rape.”
Dr Aaron Lipman, a UM sociologist, said, “The solution to rape is education. Men have to be educated that no means no. If a woman says no, no matter how timidly, he has to respect that.” Christine Echroll, a sergeant with the Metro-Dade Sexual Battery Unit, said, “The only way to deal with it once it occurs is to be totally honest and report it right away. Before it happens,
don’t put yourself in a compromising position. I know it is unfair, but women should not be defenseless.”
For students’ safety, UM provides a security escort service. To receive an escort to anywhere on campus, students can call 284-6666 until 1:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Victims of rape can also contact Public Safety for a list of support groups to help them cope.
A world awaits with study abroad
By MANISHA SINGH
Staff Writer
Cultural experiences, academic challenges and new friends are a few of the things to be experienced through the University of Miami study abroad program.
The 38 available programs offer University of Miami students the chance to study at universities abroad and students abroad the chance to study here. They have the option of going abroad for a summer, a semester or a year.
Dr. Steve Stein, the director of the Office of International Programs, said about 80 percent of the students who go abroad go for a full year.
“It takes students almost three months to get used to life abroad, and some of them find that they are returning at this point,” Stein said. “The ones who stay a year enjoy themselves more.”
Stein said UM study abroad pro-
Hlease see page 3/ABROAD