Miami Hurricane, March 24, 1992

              VOLUME 69, NUMBER 41
YOU GET WHAT YOU SETTLE FOR
TUESDAY. MARCH 24.1992
INSIDE
CROSS COUNTRY
One UM student is attempting to bring more attention to the problems of the I homeless by riding his bicycle from Miami to Washington D.C.
■ Accent — page 6
THE HURRICANE RECOMMENDS
After interviewing the candidates and debating their merits, The Hurricane editorial board makes its suggestions for today's SG elections.
■ Opinion — page 4
Florida leader picks UM finalist
After a year-long search, Florida Leader magazine selected seven finalists, including a student from the University of Miami, for the Florida College Student
of the Year contest.
Meena Lopez, a UM junior majoring in political science and philosophy, said she was thrilled to have been one of the chosen few.
"An adviser, K.C. White, told me to go for it. She said I’d have a good chance. When I got the letter by mail, I was ecstatic,” Lopez said.
As one of the finalists, Lopez will receive two $500 scholarships, subscriptions to various education magazines and will be featured in the special issue of Florida Leader. If she is named the winner, Lopez will receive $1,500 in scholarships, a computer, the subscriptions and a plaque.
Lopez said she intends to use the scholarship money to go to law school here at UM.
If she wins, Lopez said she will dedicate her award to the memory of her uncle Eversley Bahadosingh, who wanted to be a lawyer, but was unable to afford the schooling. Bahadosingh died three years ago in his 40s from a brain tumor.
— PAMELA WILFINGER
SG ELECTIONS
The Student Government spring elections will be held this week. Students will choose next year's SG executive officers, members ot the SG Senate and decide several referenda, including whether or not the University should build a Recreation and Wellness Center with student funds. To vote:
When: From 9 a m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday
Where: The University Center Breezeway and the Memorial Building, by the vending machines
Who: All undergraduates who have paid the Student Activity Fee
Those wishing to vote must bring a valid Cane Card. Absentee ballots can be obtained at UC 240
TODAY’S FORECAST
PARTLY CLOUDY
2n percent chance of showers HIGH: 75 LOW: 63
Sourc«: National Weather Service
w
"J

„ Student Government elections are today and tomorrow. The following is the number of students who voted in the spring elections over the last five years.
1877
1662
FRANK RECIO / The Hurricane
Neighbors sue to stop housing construction
■ Other projects, outlined in the
University of Miami’s Master Plan, will not be affected by the lawsuit, however.
By JULIUS WHIGHAM
Assistant News Editor
Two Coral Gables residents opposed to the construction of student housing on Mataro Avenue are taking the matter to court.
The housing, a part of the University's campus Master Plan, would provide living for 1,120 UM students.
Robert Zahner, city attorney, said he received the petition on March 6 and has 20 days to respond.
“I will be filing a response within the next week,” Zahner said.
Zahner said the lawsuit will have no effect on the rest of the Master Plan.
The University intends to proceed as scheduled with their
‘ The University has done everything it could possibly do I don't think it /the case] has a tremendous amount of merit.'
Robert Zahner, Coral Gables city attorney
expansion plans.
“We don’t think that there are any grounds for the complaint," David Lieberman, UM senior vice president, said. "In an attempt to be a good neighbor, we have made a lot of concessions already.”
Boone Carey, who lives on Mataro Avenue directly across the street from the proposed housing, said he could do without the addi-
tional noise. He along with another Mataro Avenue resident, Joanne Schaffer, are the two plaintiffs listed in the suit against UM and the City of Coral Gables.
"We’re not against the University of Miami,” Carey said. “What we object to is the building of dormitories next to private homes. I want peace and quiet and a quality place to live.”
Carey said he is concerned the new housing would increase crime, noise and parking problems in the surrounding residential area.
“The University has done everything it could possibly do,” Zahner said. “I don’t think it (the case) has a tremendous amount of merit.”
If the lawsuit is unsuccessful, Carey won’t remain in Coral Gables. “My wife owns a piece of land in Delaware,” Carey said. “If we lose the case, then I will move there.”
Zahner said he hopes to move the matter along as quickly as possible.
“I’ll try to get it heard as soon as possible,” Zahner said.
ROBERT MILLER/The Hurricane
PUT ME IN, COACH: President George Bush receives a University of Miami football jersey from UM coach Dennis Erickson, while Gino Torretta, far left, and Athletic Director Dave Maggard, far right, took on. The Hurricanes visited the White House on Friday to receive the president's congratulations on sharing the 1991 national championship in football.
Canes meet Huskies at White House
By ROBERT MILLER
Editor In Chief
WASHINGTON — They finally met.
It wasn’t on a football field, however. It was in the East Room of the White House. And, the two teams weren’t wearing shoulder pads and helmets, as they would have liked. Instead, they were in suits and ties.
The Hurricanes of the University of Miami and the Huskies of the University of Washington were in the nation’s capitol Friday to receive the congratulations of President George Bush, and his wife Barbara, on being the only two college football teams to complete the 1991 seasorAindefeated.
But that was because these two teams never played each other. The teams split the two national championship trophies, but the question over which team was the best in the nation last season remained.
The president jokingly offered to
settle the No. 1 debate by officiating a game on the White House lawn. “Some thought I should take the ball and go outside and try to settle this thing right now,” said Bush with the two teams lined up behind him.
But when the players looked like they wanted to take him up on his offer, Bush quickly changed the subject.
“No, no. I don't need this. I’ve got enough problems without getting in the middle of you guys,” he said, adding, “In an election year, I sometimes feel like a football.”
After Bush read a list of both teams’ accomplishments, UM coach Dennis Erickson and Washington coach Don James presented Bush with team jerseys and autographed footballs. “As of now, the NCAA does not” have a playoff system, Bush said. “And yet, in the truest sense, each of you are winners — undefeated, untied, unbowed.”
Erickson said he was “thrilled to share this national championship with a
great football team like the University of Washington: two great football teams, two national champions.”
And James said it was an honor to “be able to be compared to the University of Miami.”
The Hurricanes appeared relaxed and at home in the White House. Perhaps that was because for many of them it was their second trip in three years. UM quarterback Gino Torretta called the day-long visit a “little break until tomorrow’s [Saturday’s] scrimmage.”
The Huskies, however, who had not won a national championship in football before last season, were more quiet and subdued.
“It’s not every day you get to step into the White House and meet the president,” defensive lineman Steve Emtman, the Huskies’ All-American winner of the Outland and Lombardi trophies, said.
UM begins science/debt swap with S. America
By JULIUS WHIGHAM
Staff Writer
The University of Miami is beginning the Cono Sur Initiative, a debt-for-science swap with the countries of Argentina and Uruguay designed to foster scientific and technological research in South America.
CSI, which is being supported by UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, would establish a non-profit program, according to Lourdes LaPaz, secretary of the CSI Inc.
A report issued by CSI and the Uruguayan National Commission for the Cono Sur Initiative, said the program’s main objective is to aid scientific research of the Earth, ocean and atmospheric sc iences in the Cono Sur, or Southern Cone region, of South America.
The biggest challenge outlined in the report, is the task of gaining financial support for the Cono Sur program. Members of CSI have proposed the program be funded by a series of foreign debt repayment programs.
“We have discussed foreign debt forgiveness for Uruguay and Argentina, but the amount that will be forgiven has not been determined,” Rosendahl said.
We’ve been working on it for about two years," Bruce Rosendahl, dean of RSMAS, said. “We hope to have it in place within the next 12 months.”
“We would also receive grants from agencies and banks in the U.S., Uruguay and Argentina,” LaPaz said. “For example, a bank in the U.S. that is owed money by Argentina would let Argentina pay the Cono Sur Initiative instead.”
The Rosenstiel school is combining its efforts with the University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to establish the program.
“The University of Miami is currently the sole member of the corporation, but the University of Hawaii will soon become a member also,” LaPaz said.
Write-in joins SG race
By FERNANDO BATTAGLIA
Associate News Editor “I want to give Student Government back to the individual.” That is how David Dolinsky describes his reasons for running for the office of Student Government resident, olinsky, a sophomore majoring in management and finance, is running for SG president as a write-in candidate.
“The greatest reason why I’m running is because I feel the power that should be in the hands of Student Government, and should be run by students, has been taken away. I feel it’s importan* to take back that power and implement the programs that the student badly wants,” Dolinsky said.
Dolinsky said he didn’t file because of confusion over SG’s
deadline.
According to Dolinsky, however, the going has been hard as a write-in. “The biggest problem as a write-in candidate is the realization of the rules. I've always been aware that my chances are slim, but I’ve never been discouraged in any way, shape or form,” Dolinsky said.
SG election codes state that, "write-in candidates shall not graphically campaign or make any campaign expenditures.”
“The opportunity was given to him to file for candidacy. That’s a very simple process. That would’ve enabled him to graphically campaign,” Todd Curry, SG Election Commission chairperson, said. “If we allowed anybody to graphically campaign, we’d have fivers all over the place.”
According to Dolinsky, his candidacy loses legitimacy because he is not able to circulate his name around campus as a candidate.
"Anyone in an election has a chance to win, but his chances are slim,” Irwin Raij, current SG president, said.
Aristide confident of return
By JULIUS WHIGHAM
Assistant News Editor
Democracy will return to Haiti, said deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide during a speech he delivered Friday at the University of Miami Faculty Club.
"Although we have had a temporary setback, the Haitian people will not return to the past,” Aristide told an audience of legal scholars during the private luncheon.
Aristide, who was ousted from power following a Sept. 30 military coup, said he is confident about his chances of returning to power.
The Haitian parliament is currently considering an accord, issued by the Organization of American States, calling for Aristide's return to power.
"I continue to believe, without military intervention, that we can have democracy in Haiti,” Aristide said. He referred to the coup leaders as "common criminals” who must be brought to justice.
"Over the past 35 years, tens of thousands of Haitians have been subjected to torture and execution,” Aristide said. “Under the leadership of [coup leader Raoul] Cedras, nothing has changed. The greed and the corruption remain.”
Aristide’s speech was part of a three-day international conference on the transition to democracy in Latin America. The conference was sponsored by the UM School of Law and the North-South Center.
ARISTIDE: The ousted Haitian leader believes his people have been forced to flee their country because of the regime in power.
At a press conference held after the speech, Aristide was asked to comment on the recent repatriation of Haitian refugees from the U.S. Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba. Though Aristide did not express support for the repatriation policy, he also refused to criticize it.
"If Haitians are leaving Haiu, it is because they are being persecuted,” Aristide said. “We need to restore democracy in Haiti so that Haitians will want to return to