Miami Hurricane, October 01, 1991

              VOLUME 69JUMBER 7
BIGGER THAN USA TODAY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1,1991
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
This year’s Festival Miami aims to draw the communities of the world together through an international feast of musical variety.
■ Accent —page 6
SECOND SEASON
An opportunistic Hurricane defense forced four turnovers in Miami’s 34-10 victory over Tulsa.
■ Sports — page 8
NEWSBRIEFS
Naked woman found on campus
A University of Miami student was approached by a woman — later described as “psychotic" — who asked to use the telephone because she claimed she had been raped, reports from the Department of Public Safety said.
August Bremer, a member of Army ROTC, said the woman was not wearing any clothes from the waist down, and he gave her a blanket to cover herself. Bremer immediately called Public Safety.
The woman, 18-year-old Diane Demaris, who had a blood spot on her right leg, told the Public Safety officer that she had been sexually abused, Public Safety reports said.
After further questioning, Demaris changed her story and said that she had not been raped, but that she was menstruating.
When asked why she was partially naked, Demaris told paramedics that she was “running away from hell and that she wanted to reveal her sin.” Paramedics from Rescue Unit Three of the Coral Gables Fire Department examined Demaris and were told that she was under psychiatric care with Dr. Francisco Cruz and taking medicine.
After confirmation from Dr. Cruz, it was found that Demeris had been released from Mercy Hospital three weeks ago. Cruz advised paramedics to transport Demeris to Mercy Hospital where she was readmitted for further evaluation.
— PAMELA WILFINGER
Ibis gets All-American rating
The 1991 Ibis yearbook received an All-American honor rating with four marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP).
Brad Broker, editor of the 1991 book, could not be reached for comment.
“Last year’s book was excellent,” Dave Bergman, editor of the 1992 Ibis, said. “1 hope we can continue to improve and build upon our strengths.”
The NSPA-ACP annually critiques college yearbooks. The All-American rating with four marks of distinction is the second-highest rating possible.
Annie Witta, critical services manager for the NSPA-ACP, said about 90 yearbooks annually are evaluated by college advisors and other journalism professionals. One person critiques each book.
TODAY’S FORECAST
SHOWERS
HIGH: 87 LOW: 78 Chance of Thunderstorms
HIRAM HENRIQUEZI Graphic Artisl
Fire destroys room in Hecht
Investigators: Ashtray maybe to blame
By MARY LEA HARDE8TY
Associate News Editor
A fire ignited on the eighth floor of McDonald Tower in Hecht Residential College early Saturday morning. According to Coral Gables Fire Department reports, the fire was most likely started from an overturned ashtray.
“At this time, the only evidence is that the fire appeared to have started at floor level, beside the bed,” said Robert Lowman, an inspector with the Coral Gables Fire Department. “There was an ashtray turned over, and that was what we called the point of origin, or the base of the fire. The fire is believed to be accidental. Apparently the ashtray was knocked over. We also looked at the different electrical wiring, and there was nothing to indicate it was purposely set.”
According to Lowman, the four people in the room during the fire, Alexia Morosco, Drew Campbell, Jennifer Gattegno, and Pamila Freixas, were taken to the doctors hospital for smoke inhilation.
"One of the students woke up and jumped out of the room. They realized there were people on the top bunk, and went back in to get them out. There were reports that someone put water on the fire,” Lowman said.
Three students saw the flames through the eighth floor window and immediately called campus police. Justin Karjala, Robert Taukus and Jeff Claudy were sitting on an Eaton Residential College fire escape when they saw the flames coming out of the window. They reported
‘In situations like this one, there are hardly ever any survivors. It was a very near tragedy.’
Robert Lowman, CG Fire Inspector
the fire to security personel in the HRC lobby.
Karjala said he called campus police, while the others went up to the eighth floor. The building was then evacuated as the fire alarm was sounding.
“We thought everyone was still asleep because all the lights were off and there were no signs of life. No one was walking around outside,” Karjala said.
Lowman said the resident assistants in the building, as well as the University of Miami Department of Public Safety officers did an outstanding job in evacuating the building.
“Essentially, the fire broke out, the alarm was eventually pulled, and the UM police officers responded to the call quickly,” Lowman said. "They basically extinguished the fire for the most part and deserve a lot of credit. They jumped in quickly, searched the room, made sure everyone had gotten out, and used firehose equipment.”
Lowman said the entire incident was an incredably close call.
“In situations like this one, there are hardly ever any survivors. It was a very near tragedy," Lowman said.
UP IN SMOKE:
The fire that caused the evacuation of students Saturday morning at the McDonald Tower in Hecht Residential College damaged the doorway and interior of room 811. The fire was put under control by the Coral Gables Fire Department.
Firemen locked out by security system
By MARY LEA HARDE8TY
Associate News Editor
The fire alarm on the new Card Access System in the residential colleges was not complete when Saturday’s fire occurred in Hecht Residential College, according to John Geeslin, director of facilities construction. Because of this, Coral Gables fire fighters could not enter the building without someone opening the door for them.
According to Geeslin, if the new security system had worked properly, the doors would have opened automatically.
"I spoke to the contractor and I have
assurances that the work on the security system will be tested and completed. It is the last item of work in the contract to tie into the old security panel to make the system work. The system is in place, but not tied into the fire alarm. The job ran over,” Jack Sargent, assistant director for physical environment, said.
“There was somebody on duty that let the people in the building. Its only the new doors that have the security access system,” Geeglin said.
David Green, project manager for UM, said the work on McDonald Tower should be completed first thing this morning.
CHRISTOPHER CARLISLE/Photo Editor
WELCOME TO THE GROUP: Sigma Delta Tau sister Sheila Arguello hugs a new pledge on Bid Day as other sisters look on. Sigma Delta Tau had 53 new pledges this fall.
Greek Rush bigger than last year's
By FRANK RECIO
Managing Editor
The initial numbers for this fall's fraternity and sorority rush indicate an increase over last year, according to Richard Walker, dean of students.
This fall, 246 males pledged fraternities, and 308 females pledged sororities.
“I thought rush went well this year. It was more organized than past years,” Walker said. "The registration through the summer mailing, which we had never done before, contributed to the overall organization.”
Walker also said that the percentage of pledges increased over last year.
“This year about 18 percent of the undergraduates pledged. Last year we had only 14 percent,” Walker said.
“I think it was great. We had a very active brotherhood. Everybody participated in the whole process [rushing],” said Stuart Cohen, advisor for Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.
According to the Office of the Dean of Students, Zeta Beta Tau fraternity had the largest rush class with 34 pledges and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity had the smallest class, with 8 pledges.
Walker said there was a “fundamental difference” between fraternity and sorority rush. “Frater-
nities can pledge as many students as they can, while sororities are limited by quotas, based on the number of students registered for rush.”
Zeta Tau Alpha sorority — which is new on campus this semester — had the largest pledge class with 96 pledges. Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Sigma Delta Tau sororities met their quotas of 53 pledges.
"The ideal situation is that all sororities are around the same size,” Walker added. “This year the quota was higher than last year, and any time that happens, it’s a good sign.”
K.C. White, advisor for Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, the newest of the six sororities on campus, said “Zeta has a strong national following, we knew there would be quality women to select from."
“I think there was interest in a new sorority on campus," White said. "People were looking for a new and different way to get involved on campus.”
“Rush went excellently. We did a number of programs over the summer to increase interest in fraternities,” said Adam Apatoff, rush chairperson of the Interfra-temity Council.
Teenager shot for wearing UM shirt
By PAMELA WILFINGER
Staff Writer
A 16-year-old teenager was shot and killed in Augusta, Ga. last Tuesday night, for wearing a University of Miami T-shirt, according to police reports.
Mack Bauknight, a high school sophomore, was walking home with his 16-year-old friend when he was shot to death, said Mark Cohen, Augusta police spokesperson.
While walking through a low-income public housing project, the youths were harassed by a group of men because Bauknight was wearing a UM T-shirt and the group of men did not like it, said witnesses.
Apparently ignoring the remarks, Bauknight and his friend continued walking until they reached nearby railroad tracks. It was then that two men from Augusta, Camel Frasure, 21, and Antonio Cambell, 18, opened fire.
The first shot hit Bauknight in the buttocks, causing him to fall to the ground. As he attempted to get up, Frasure shot him in the back, and killed the youth, police reports said. Bauknight's friend ran away from the scene and called the police.
Frasure was charged with murder and Cambell was charged with being an accessory to murder.
Professors debate court nominee
By DEBORAH L. MOSKOWITZ
Staff Writer
Clarence Thomas rejects the very foundations of what blacks have worked for and should not be supported just because he is black, Irwin Stotzky, professor of law, said during a program about Thomas’ nomination.
The program, held last Thursday and conducted by two University of Miami law professors, was sponsored by the Black Law Students Association.
Stotzky said Thomas’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate would be “the final straw to breaks the camel’s back” for civil rights.
"If Thomas is confirmed, the (Supreme) court will regress to levels seen before the court of Earl Warren,” Stotzky said.
Professor D. Martin Jones, who worked with Thomas from 1984 to 1988 on the Equal Opportunity Commission, said people should not confuse race with racial sensitivity. He said Thomas is not his own man, but instead a political creation who does not share the views of the black society.
Stotzky also argued in favor of Thomas when the professor scheduled to debate for his confirmation failed to arrive.
He said Thomas, a self-made man, does have the qualifications needed to be a Supreme Court Justice. “Maybe we do not need someone who has politically correct thinking," Stotzky said.
Stotzky said Thomas does support civil rights, but does not approve of the methods we are using now to ensure them.
“It’s not enough to say that Thomas doesn’t represent the views of black people. It is not enough to say that he is not in among the mainstream, not with the same time space continuum as other blacks,” Jones said.
“It is important that Thomas, in a meaningful sense, is not black at all.” Jones said. He pointed out that Thomas was accepted into Yale University under affirmative action, yet takes a stand against it now.
Winnie Jordan, president of the Black Law Student Association said the debate was intended to persuade more students to be involved in the political arena and to display some of Thomas’ views.
The Associated Press reported Saturday that the Senate Judiciary Committee was deadlocked 7-7 Friday when they voted on recommending Thomas. The Senate will take a final vote to decide whether Thomas will be confirmed.