Miami Hurricane, September 10, 1991

              VOLUME 69, NUMBER 1
ALL NEW AND IMPROVED
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER IO. 1991
DAVE BERGMAN/Special to The Hurricane
HERE THEY COME AGAIH
Some so-called experts expect the Hurricanes to falter this season. Others say Miami could continue to dominate college football. Our new magazine examines the team and gives you everything you need to know about the 1991 season.
■ HURRICANE MAGAZINE — Inside
A SYMBOL OF HOPE
Marc Buonocoti represents strength and ambition to 500,000 Americans that suffer from paralysis.
■ Accent — page 14
NEWSBRIEFS
Students robbed at gunpoint walking back from Grove
Two male UM students were stopped and robbed, reportedly at gunpoint, by a black male while walking back from Coconut Grove on U.S. Highway 1 Saturday night, according to Coral Gables Police records.
The suspect, described in police reports as a black male who is 6-feet tall, 145 pounds, and wearing a dark blue shirt with white lettering and dark shorts, approached the two, asking them to "stop and look at something." The two students immediately ran away from the suspect, only to have him approach them again - this time on a bicycle. As they continued walking, the suspect asked the students if “they had ever been shot.” When the students said “no,” the suspect told them to either stop walking or he would shoot them with what he claimed was a .25 caliber handgun, which was covered by a white rag.
At that time, the suspect stole a gold necklace and two gold rings from one of the students and a wallet containing $5 from the second.
- PAMELA WILFINGER
Center gets $2 million grant
A $2 million grant was awarded to Jose Szapocznik, a psychologist with the School of Medicine’s psychiatry department to launch the Center for Family Studies for five years.
Black, Hispanic and Haitian families will get guidance from center psychologists to keep their kids clean.
Szapocznik, who will direct the center, received the American Psychologist’s Association’s Distinguished Professional Contribution Award last month.
Honors program gets new director
John Masterson is the new director of Honors and Privileged Studies and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs.
Masterson, formerly assistant dean in the School of Communications, succeeds John Fitzgerald who is away on sabbatical.
Eileen Campbell, who has served as administrative assistant of the Honors office for nearly ten years, is now assistant director.
The Honors office has relocated to the second floor of Building 21Y, 5606 Merrick Drive. The phoce of Substance Abuse Prevention.
TODAY'S FORECAST
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er the summer, the University of Miami spent 507 on landscaping around the Merrick nq The trees and plants purchased Included the following:
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Master Plan awaits zoning board’s approval
ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE
CHRISTOPHER CARLISLE/ Photo Editor
STROKE: Billy Squire performs for UM students on the University Center Plaza. The concert was part of Orientation '91, and was sponsored by Hurricane Productions.
By BETH JAHREI8
Hurricane Staff Writer
An investigation is currently being conducted into allegations that a former University of Miami employee knowingly falsified Pell Grant applications on behalf of UM students, in particular student-athletes.
The investigation, which is being coordinated by the economic crimes section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, began early this summer. The FBI and the U.S. Department of Education Inspector General’s Regional Office have also participated in the investigation.
According to a University press release, UM administrators immediately began an internal investigation after discovering “a number of current and former students may have filed inaccurate federal financial aid Lieberm&n applications [which may have resulted in those students] receiving some federal student aid funds to which they were not entitled."
A preliminary investigation, conducted by a private investigative firm retained by the University, revealed “an individual who had been employed for two years [by the University] participated in the completion and submission of inaccurate information to the U.S. Department of Education.”
The investigation further revealed as many as 30 students may have been involved in the submission of fraudulent Pell Grant applications.
Diane Cossin, executive assistant to the U.S. Attorney, South District of Florida, would not comment on details of the UM case, because the investigation is pending, although she did say no charges have been filed and no suspects have been named.
“We are investigating allegations of theft of government money including falsified Pell Grant applications,” Cossin said. “It is expected to be a lengthy investigation.”
According to David Lieberman, UM senior vice president, it is suspected only one former University employee was involved in the submission of fraudent applications. “We think this is the action of an individual who was doing something that was misguided and not part of his job description,” Lieberman said.
The employee at the focus of the investigation has been identified by The Miami Herald as Anthony A. Russell, former assistant academic coordinator with the UM athletic department. Russell was fired by the University on May 28.
According to a story in the Sun Sentinel, Russell is being investigated for allegedly receiving $85 in kick-backs for each grant.
Lieberman said approximately 1,800 Pell Grants are awarded annually by the government to UM students
Please see page 5/PELL
strong neighbor opposition in three areas.”
Each of the three locations for redevelopment will, according to residents, bring more traffic to residential areas. If approved, apartments will be erected on Granada Boulevard and Matero Avenue, and a two story parking facility will be contructed on Campo Sano Drive.
However, in an attempt to reach a compromise with residents affected by the plan, UM representatives deferred plans on the proposed Granada apartments, which would have been a 92-unit complex. According to a memo from the Facilities & Planning Department, “the land will be reserved for future use.”
Irwin Raij, Student Government president, spoke at an SG senate meeting supporting UM’s plan. He said the longer the plan is stalled, the more it hurts the students.
“I think its important that students show support for UM’s plan. Money is already in the bank for facilities, such as the Ziff Tower, the School of Architecture and the School of Music. And the longer they prolong the plan, construction costs will continue to go up, which will cost the school more money,” Raij said.
Raij will also be addressing zoning board members at tomorrow’s meeting, explaining the significance of the Master Plan.
“At this point its anyone’s game,” Raij said.
David Lieberman, senior vice-president of the University, said UM has attempted to meet face to face with each of the neighbors and listen to their concerns about the proposal.
“This plan is not something that was dreamed up,” Lieberman said. “It was led by a firm - Dober, Lidsky, Craig, and associates - in which Mr. Graber himself and his firm spent two days in the Brockway showing slides of the proposed land and invited comments of debate.” He said he would like to reach a compromise with the neighbors, but he said he felt that it would be virtually impossible to do that at this time.
Resident Doris Steils-Glazer, 1241 Campo Sano Drive, said the construction of the parking lot, which would directly face her house, would only cause more problems.
Please see page 2/PLAN
UM investigated for falsifying Pell grant forms
■ The U.S. Attorney’s office has begun to audit every Pell Grant application submitted by UM students.
By MARY LEA HARDESTY
Associate News Editor
The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Coral Gables will meet tomorrow to decide the fate of the University of Miami’s Master Plan.
The plan calls for a massive redevelopment of the main campus, which will double the size of the academic buildings, as well as of the meeting we have had. We will present additional alternatives,” Foote said.
The University’s plan was officially submitted to the City of Coral Gables June 7, and on Jjuly 10, the city deferred any decisions until Sept. 11.
“The planning staff from the city saw our proposal and recommended it for approval,” Rafael Peruyera, director of Facility Planning and Design, said. “We went to the planning ana zoning department on July 10, and there was a
MASTER
PLAN
UM beautification expands
By RICARDO J. BASCUAS
Contributing Editor
The first phase of the Facilities Administration’s plan for maintaining and beautifying the University of Miami’s main campus began this summer with the planting of 120 sable palm trees and assorted foliage and the repainting of several campus buildings.
“We are trying to make a visible improvement on the campus for the students,” Mike White, director of Physical Plant, said. "President Foote has asked us to look at the campus with fresh eyes.”
Victor Atherton, assistant vice president for Facilities Administration, said, to pay for
the improvements, he accrued money for summer projects over the last two years until a plan was developed. “Up until about a year ago, we had no physical plant director. I had maintenance money within our budget and I held it because 1 had no real plan.”
Approximately $500,000 was spent on waterproofing buildings to prevent structural damage from the elements, roof replacements and other miscellaneous projects, according to Atherton. Eleven buildings were waterproofed, including the Merrick Building, the Ashe Building, the Ferre Building, the Jenkins Building and the Art Annex. Roofs were Please see page 2/CAMPUS
Students: Access system flawed
$200,000 card readers fail to limit accessability
By CONNIE PILOTO
Assistant News Editor
The new 24-hour Card Access System recently installed in the residential colleges, is receiving mixed reviews from students.
"The security system at night is pretty good, but during the day it’s pointless,” Tricia Phelan, freshman, said.
Card readers have been installed next to the main exterior doors, and interior doors leading to the elevators and student rooms. The doors open when residents of the residen-
tial college slide their Cane Card through the readers.
The main entrance doors are unlocked between 8 a.m. and midnight, allowing anyone to enter the lobby areas of the colleges. The doors are locked at midnight until 8 a.m. and only the residents of the dormitories, and guests are allowed to enter.
Nighttime security assistants check each student’s identification card before entering
Please see page 7/SECURITY
IFC introduces new greek alcohol policy
By FRANK RECIO
Managing Editor
A new campus-wide alcohol purchasing ordinance preventing any organization from purchasing common alcohol containers such as kegs, party balls and punches containing hard liquor, was passed early this summer.
The rule, which applies to the entire campus, is expected to have the greatest impact on greek organizations.
“We had been getting requests from 10 out of the 12 national fraternity chapters to look at our alcoholic policies,” James Walker, associate dean of students, said.
Under the new rules, any fraternities or sororities wishing to have alcohol at an event must use a BYOB [Bring Your Own Bottles] type system.
“Our fraternities were caught in a 'Catch 22’ because they were insured by the nationals which did not allow alcohol purchases using chapter treasury funds, and Uni-
WALKER: Policy is response to requests from fraternities.
versity of Miami rules which did not allow students to bring alcohol into parties,” Walker said.
“The new system shifts the liability to individuals,” Walker said. "Because the organizations were
i Please see page 7/BYOB
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