Miami Hurricane, November 22, 1991

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■ Hurricane Magazine — Inside
MOTIVATED
After raising a family of six, Albert Letterbloom, 54, is working toward a nursing degree at UM.
■ Accent — page 6
NEWSBRIEFS
UM doctor receives award
A University of Miami doctor has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Distinguished Achievement award, one the most prestigious awards given by the organization.
Robert Myerburg, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the UM School of Medicine, received the Scientific Council’s Distinguished Achievement Award this month at the annual AHA meeting in Anaheim, California.
The award is given to those in the medical profession who have made substantial contributions to scientific knowledge in the field of cardiovascular medicine.
As a faculty member at the School of Medicine for over 21 years and the chief of the division of cardiology, Myerburg has focused his research on cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
— PAMELA WILFINGER
Menem: ‘Dialogue is key’
Argentine President Carlos Menem spoke to 400 Journalists and invited members of the Miami community at a dinner on Tuesday night at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Downtown Miami.
At the dinner sponsored by the North-South Center of University of Miami and the Argentine-Florida Chamber of Commerce, Menem said “We’ve always blamed imperialism for all our errors and mistakes, and never stopped to think about what we were doing and what we could be doing.
He also said that Argentina has reestablished dialogue with the United Kingdom. “Dialogue is key of free countries. By dialogue, we advance a little at a time.”
Before coming to Miami, Menem had traveled to Houston where met with petroleum industry experts, and to New York where he met Cuban Exiles Jorge Mas Canosa and Carlos Montaner.
UM president Edward T. Foote II, and Ambler Moss, director of the North South Center and dean of the Graduate School of International Studies, were present at the dinner to welcome the head of state.
— FRANK RECIO
TODAY’S FORECAST
PARTLY CLOUDY
20% chance of Thunderstorms HIGH: 83 LOW: 71
Sourc«: National Weather Service
HIRAM HENRIQUEZ / Graphic Aüst
RAISING AWARENESS
Organizers: Successful week hurt by no-shows
Students ask, ‘Should we legalize use of marijuana?’
By LYNETTE MALINGER
Contributing Editor
Four members of the University of Miami Debate Team argued the pros and cons of legalized marijuana Monday at the University Center Rock during Political Awareness Week.
The team opposed to legalization used dark images of kindergarteners smoking pot in the back of the classroom, while pro-legalization debaters attempted to conjure images of a fascist America.
Dale Reed, senior, and Mindy Hervey, sophomore, argued for legalization, while Peter Lee, junior, and Mike Morris, senior, argued for the status quo.
• The team of Reed and Hervey used the right to privacy and the "forbidden fruit” idea as two of their main arguments, citing evidence of decreased usage in the Netherlands, where marijuana is legal.
Morris and Lee argued the inherent harm of drugs, such as lost brain cells, risk of a weakened heart and lung cancer. They also said the war on drugs is a priority in America.
"Marijuana kills brain cells," Lee said. "Drugs are bad. Maybe in an ideal society we could have marijuana legal, but we don’t live in an ideal society.”
“This is nonsense,” Reed said. “It is an idea (that it is bad for you) that has been whipped up by political conservatives to hold our bodies and minds in control.”
There were few seats left on the Rock, as spectators joined in the lively debate. Both sides were heckled during speeches.
Mike Weizman, Student Government chairman of Special Events, said the topic was chosen because he thought that the issue was relevant to college students.
"I felt it was interesting for students because it’s an up and coming issue that ought to be discussed," Weizman said. "I thought it was an entertaining debate for most, and an informative debate for some students.”
Lee said if he had to pick a winner, he would have chosen the pro-legalization side based on the opinion of the crowd.
| “There were some good points,” Kristian Roggendorf, freshman, said of the debate.
Abortion controversy heats up UC Rock
By ALLISON CRANE
Stall Writer
Approximately 80 students gathered at the University Center Rock to listen to Lynn Leight, founder of Florida’s first abortion clinic and Renee Schem-erhorn, an anti-abortionist, debate the abortion issue Tuesday during Political Awareness Week.
“I am not pro-abortion. I am an advocate of pro-choice services. I would support prenatal care, foster care programs and adoption programs. That is what pro-choice means,” Leight said.
Schemerhom said people were misinformed about the abortion procedure.
"You do not know what is involved with an abortion issue. You do not know the devastations involved with an abor-
tion. Women can be scarred physically and emotionally for life,” Schemerhom said.
Schemerhom said she had had an abortion. She said after doing research on the abortion procedure, she came to believe the fetus should be protected by law.
“The bottom line is the unborn child is a living being,” Schemerhom said. “Often, women try to please their male partner by having an abortion.”
Schemerhom said Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling making abortions legal in 1973, took away the right of personhood.
However, Leight said the Roe vs. Wade law never defined human life and did not take away "personhood.” Leight
said the word “life” is different for various religions.
The audience, which was primarily pro-choice, was allowed to ask questions of the debaters.
Schemerhom was asked by many people in the crowd what was planned for all the unwanted children if Roe vs. Wade was overturned.
Schemerhom said many families were looking to adopt
An audience member said centers all over Miami were filled with unwanted babies.
“I come from a town where babies are thrown in garbage cans!” a member of the audience yelled.
JAMES W GIBSON/Assistant Photo Editor
CONTRASTING OPINIONS: Lynn Leight, a pro-choice advocate, argues that abortion should remain legal in the United States during an abortion debate at the University Center Rock Tuesday. The debate was sponsored by Student Government as part of Political Awareness Week.
By MARY LEA HARDESTY
Associate News Editor
Political Awareness Week, sponsored by Student Government in an attempt to increase student political awareness, was a success this year, according to Mike Weizman, organizer of the event.
Weizman said there were two purposes for the week’s events.
“The obvious one was the intent to make the student body more politically aware of issues by providing speakers, debate, and various political organizations. The other goal was to somehow increase faculty and student interaction on campus by way of political issues that face all of us,” Weizman said.
Although student turnout was good, few faculty members attended the events, despite personal invitations to professors, Weizman said.
"I don’t feel that the second goal was met, which surprised me.
I saw very few — probably a handful — of professors that came out to the scheduled events, despite personal invitations sent out to each history, law school and political science professors,” Weizman said.
Reaction to the week was mixed among others, however.
According to senior Jason Garner, he has not seen a lot of participation.
“I’d like to think a lot of people are attending. I think it’s a good idea,” Gamer said.
Other people also said they thought that attendance was low.
“I don't think there’s enough student participation,” Amy Klausner, a member of Planned Parenthood Association of Greater Miami, said.
Weizman disagreed. He said he did feel the first goal was met, as shown by the "incredible” turnout at the debates and discussions.
Chill out
Temporary a/c unit to cool off UC
By FERNANDO BATTAGLIA
Assistant News Editor
A failure inside the processor of the main central chiller unit last week forced the installation of a temporary unit to service the University Center, the Rathskeller, Gusman Concert Hall, and a portion of the University of Miami Law School. The temporary air conditioner unit, installed yesterday, will remain in place until a new chiller can be obtained.
In the period between the breakdown of the old unit and the installation of the temporary one, many students, faculty and staff have had to cope with the heat.
"This is hellfire relived in Miami. Thank God it's not summer," Manuel Ochoa, senior, said.
“It’s rough to work with extreme conditions,” said Marc Bebergal, a junior who works at the Rathskeller. "Everybody comes in here and says, 'What’s wrong with the air conditioner?’ ”
"Anytime that chiller goes down, it’s bad,” Fred Remen, assistant director of Facilities Administration, said. “Chillers do fail, but it’s more the exception than the rule."
According to Remen, the University received a federal energy grant one week before the chiller failed. Remen said the grant was going to be used to purchase a new chiller, but there is a 22-week waiting period before it can be obtained and installed.
“I called all over the country to find a machine I could rent on an interim basis,” Remen said. Meanwhile, several portable air-conditioning units were installed in the Flamingo Ballroom and at the Eye in the UC. The Office of Enrollment Services also is renting a unit.
“That’s just part of a temporary solution,” said Carl Fuhri, assistant director for facilities and maintenance in the UC.
Fuhri said everybody has been pretty good about coping with the heat.
Remen located a unit in Lacrosse, Wis. His staff has been working for the last two days on installing the 500-pound temporary unit.
"It’s gonna take a while to cool down the building.' Remen said Thursday. "By (this Friday), everything shouH be back to normal.”
UM reaches United Way fund goal
By MARY LEA HARDESTY
Associate News Editor
Students played a big part in helping the University of Miami surpass its goal of raising $330,000 for the United Way, according to William Butler, vice president for Student Affairs.
"We’ve gone over the top,” Butler said. “The goal was $330,000. As of today we have collected $338,000 and we are still counting the pledges and donations.”
Butler said more money is coming in. “Next week we will have an update, which will be even higher," Butler said.
“The students collected $14,000. They made it possible for us to go beyond our $330,000 goal.” Butler said.
In a game between UM and Oklahoma State University on Oct. 5, 300 students collected $7,304 in the Orange Bowl during the first quarter.
Roderic Teamer, director of resource development of the United Way of Dade County, said UM has achieved an incredible success and is an example for all educational institutions.
"The University of Miami’s campaign is probably one of the most successful student campaigns in the region ’’ Teame1-said.
JAMES W GIBSON/ Assistanl Photo Editor
OVER THE TOP: William Butler, vice president for Student Affairs, adds the last marker on the United Way campaign board on the University Center Rock Tuesday. The University of Miami’s $330,000 goal was surpassed this week, well before the campaign’s last day of Dec. 1.