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"Fighting
is so immature. It's high-schoolish at best."
Gus
Abalo,
SG Vice President
Fighting fans get attention during game
By JENNIFER RAMACH
News Editor
Twelve students were ejected from the Orange Bowl for “disorderly conduct” Saturday during Miami’s 21-2 victory over Virginia Tech, said Jerry Houston, associate dean of students. The students were asked to leave during a series of three or four fights in the student section of the stadium.
“It sets a bad example for anybody to be fighting,” Houston said. “Some things are to be expected. Fans get rowdy but people have to be responsible for their actions.”
“I think it looks terrible for students to be fighting during games,” said Adam August, president of Student Government. “I don’t think there's ever an excuse for a fight. People will be people, but it’s time we all grew up -we’re college students.”
SG vice-president Gus Abalo said he knows first-hand how eager students are to fight. Abalo said he was asked to leave the Orange Bowl after he tried to help prevent a fight from starting.
DARREN ARNS/Statf Photographer
■ CANE FEVER: When students are packed together, tempers can flare. Fighting between students characterized Saturday’s victory over Virginia Tech.
“Basically there was a discussion in the bathroom between my friends and these other guys,” Abalo explained.
Abalo said he got hit in the face while trying to convince his friends to stop fighting.
“It's kind of a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Abalo said. “I think it’s pretty sad that students can’t go out and have a good time
without fighting.”
During the University of Florida’s victory over the University of Tennessee, there were more than 60 students ejected from the game, said Matt Adams, editor of the Alligator, a student-run Gainesville paper.
Adams said he didn’t think the number of ejections was unusually high,
considering the rivalry of the game.
”1 don’t think there's anything to be done about it,” Adams said. “College students are probably freer about their emotions than at any other lime in life. They take games seriously.”
Larry Wahl, senior associate athletic director, said he hadn't heard about the ejections during Saturday’s game.
”1 don’t think what goes on in our student section is any different from what goes on in other student sections," Wahl said. “I’m not sure people are even aware of it.”
“I don’t know if people at home can see it, but some alumni or trustee in the stands is going to see it," Abalo said. “Students are supposed to be united. Fighting is so immature. It’s high-schoolish at best.”
Students in the stands said the three or four fights that broke out made the game less enjoyable to them.
"I was just standing there watching the game and all of a sudden 1 was pushed out of my chair. The guy that pushed me down ran back up and started pushing another guy and then a fight started,” said Sophomore Jennifer Spiegel. "I think people should just grown up. I don’t think there’s really much to fight about during a football game.”
"There should be a special student section for those people who are drunk and don't behave themselves properly," said Carlos Amorin, sophomore.
Group attempts to halt anti-discrimination laws
By KIMBERLY WEISSMAN
Hurricane Staff Writer
Homosexual rights at the University of Miami may tie threatened if a campaign by the American Family Association is successful, said Katherine Driskell, spokeswoman for the UM chapter of National Organization for Women.
If the AFA collects 429,248 signatures in the next year, a referendum limiting anti-discrimination laws in the categories of race, age, sexual preference, gender, religion and marital status would be included on the November 1994 ballot.
Jerry Houston, associate dean of students, said that UM’s current anti-discrimination laws includes anti-hazing rules and the rule that no citizen can be excluded from any UM program.
“In a private institution we make our own rules of conduct, but we are still subject to public law,” Houston said. "We will pretty much stay the way we are now. We will protect our students who come here."
Floridians United Against Discrimination said the amendment
would prohibit the passage of any future homosexual rights amendments in Florida and that a statewide constitutional amendment like this would overturn all legislation across Florida.
Larger communities like Key West, Miami Beach and West Palm Beach have passed legislation guaranteeing protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Safeguarding American Values for Kveryone in Dade is an organization formed to counteract the proposed amendment by the AFA.
"Do you want to know what special rights the AFA oppose — the special right to get a job, the special right to marriage, and the special right to walk down the street and not be harmed on the basis of sexual preference,” Driskell said. "These are the special rights that the gay and lesbian community are hopelessly and desperately fighting for.
Jason Maxwell, spokesman for the College Republicans, said he supports the AFA’s line of action.
“If you give a small group special rights that no other group has, that would allow elitism in our society,” Maxwell said. "And since every
_________see AMENDMENT, page 2
Debate focuses on disabled seating in OB
CHRIS BERNACCHI/Ptioto Editor
■ STUCK 4N THE END ZONE: No decision has been reached in the lawsuit concerning disabled seating at the Orange Bowl. Disabled Hurricanes tans are trying to obtain a better view of the game, and students are fighting for seating in the student section. Lawyers from both sides met Thursday to discuss details.
Learning communities offer alternative to traditional classes
By DEBBIE ARNETT
Hurricane Stall Writer
Maybe your statistics class is not everything you thought it would be. Or maybe* it's just that there are 500 people in the class and the professor seems to drone on. Or maybe the professor has just taught that class too many times.
If you’re ready for something new, learning communities may be
the thing for ■ Masterson
you. Offered through the residential colleges, learning communities will offer classes based around one theme, which differs in each residential college. The clas-
ses are scheduled to begin next semester.
Benjamin Webb, master of Pearson Residential College, said he remembers classes where chemistry teachers bored him beyond belief.
"I hate boring classes,” Webb said. "This is the direct answer. With the learning community, students can understand different disciplines and the professors, working together, can break down jurisdictional walls between the programs.”
John Masterson, vice provost for Undergraduate Affairs, is coordinating the learning communities.
“We think it’s time to experiment with some new educational models,” Masterson said. "The world is not divided according to academic disciplines. We’re trying to build more collaboration into the whole enterprise - to try some new
models that may be more rewarding and educationally sound for both students and faculty.”
Learning communities are designed to encourage interaction between students and teachers and to eliminate some of the fragmentation between educational disciplines. Learning communities are already established in 12 universities.
"There are courses that have been taught the same way for 50 years and nobody has the guts to change things,” Webb said. "We can teach more today because we have more flexibility. If you’re not bored, then the professor won’t be bored.”
Pearson’s theme is wellness, meaning one class period may address, for example, sports medicine and education, with an emphasis on how the subjects are related.
“This will simulate new think-
ing,” Webb said. “We’re moving education forward instead of simply standing still.”
Hecht Residential College courses will involve service and learning experience, including the honors program and volunteer services.
“I would be interested - it would be cool to have teachers who know what the others are doing," said Debbie Bernard, a junior who lives in Hecht.
Maria Llabre, master of Mahoney Residential College, said Mahoney will offer two courses: psychology and statistics.
“In a learning community what you learn in a course is not isolated,” Llabre said. “It’s a totality. We plan to link additional topics later.”
Eaton and Stanford Residential Colleges have not decided on themes yet.
"We think it's time to experiment with some new educational models."
John Masterson, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs
"We want the students to gain a closer attachment to each other and the residential college and we want the curriculum to be inter-related among the disciplines,” said Paul Lazarus, master of Eaton. He said social opportunities are an important part of the experience.
If it rains outside, it pours in Stanford
By JODY JACKSON
Assistant News Editor
Stanford Residential College has been plagued by maintenance problems since the beginning of school, residents say.
Rainwater leaks into the hallways and, consequently, into students’ rooms. Carpets have been soaked, dried out and been soaked again.
Students also say they are concerned with their physical safety. Rusting metal on stairs, water on floors and flickering electricity are a daily reality.
Dana Raymond, a Stanford resident, slipped and fell in the hallway of Rosbor-ough Tower’s 11th floor.
“There was water in the hallway, and I slipped and sprained my elbow,” said Raymond.
Alan Rose, a supervisor at Physical Plant, said the standing water in the hallways is caused by a flaw in the design of the towers.
“The catwalks are pitched into the building so that water seeps in,” Rose said.
Rose says the problem is being corrected and will be remedied in the next two
weeks.
“Contractors are working on sealing the building, and relief holes are being drilled,” said Rose.
Another Stanford resident, Andrew Unterlack, said he knows first hand how damaging the water is. His carpet was ruined when water leaked into his room.
“There’s a space under the doors that allows water to come into the hall, and then it comes into the rooms. I was in the same room last year and didn't have this problem. They re-tiled over the summer and caused this," Unterlack said. "They came and drilled a hole outside, but that’s just going to dump the water on the floor below.”
Unterlack said he has had problems getting someone to fix things.
“I’ve had problems with Camille at 1284-CARE], I had holes in the corner of my room that I’ve called about since the first week of school - they were just fixed," Unterlack said.
Keith Meadows, residence coordinator at Stanford Residential College, said the wa.er problem is under repair.
“When we get a hard rain, the water
comes through the fire doors because they’re in bad shape. We had a problem with the manufacturer, but it’s solved and the doors will be replaced in the next few weeks.”
Rose said the doors leading to the outside of the building are eroded by the salinity of the lake. He said Physical Plant plans to replace them.
But Stanford has more than just water problems. Jasmine Mitchell, a resident of Walsh Tower, reported a bug problem almost three weeks ago.
“I called three times for someone to come and spray for roaches. They say they have to call other people to do the job,” Mitchell said. Mitchell also complained of an excessive amount of water in the hallway.
Meadows said complaints are not unique to Stanford.
“We have our fair share of complaints. We're trying to improve service and fix problems in a more timely fashion,” said Meadows. “The transition of Physical Plant out of Residence Halls to a centralized location hasn’t been the smoothest.”
Volunteering may help pay tuition
By LYNETTE MALINGER
Editor in chief
WASHINGTON - The National Service Initiative is a promise come true. When President Bill Clinton campaigned for the Oval Office he seemed to have a program geared to every group of people in the US.
The Service Initiative, which will be signed into law this morning, is one such program, targeting those in search of a higher educa- ® Clinton tion. This bill will offer financial assistance to all participants. The bill also targets a nation in need of help.
Basically, students will work full-time for in a community service agency in exchange for college aid.
“I think its a great, great program,” Mickey Rubenstien, volunteer services coordinator, said. “We have got a lot of calls from people asking to be informed on the |bill 1. Not just students, but people from other departments.”
Congress last week approved a scaled-down version of Clinton's original plan. Participants will get a post-stipend of $4,725 per year for a maximum of two years. This money will go directly toward college costs.
Unlike much traditional financial aid, the bill will not be distributed on a need-only basis. All students are eligible to apply, regardless of income, academic record, age or race. Students in the program receive $7,400 for living expenses each year.
"I can see where the challenge is going to be in getting people to participate, but I can see how it will be very beneficial for students who want to go into a community service area.” Rubenstien said.
For those looking for a cushy job, think again. Participants would work an average of 40 hours a week for 42 1/2 weeks - 1,700 hours per year - in an authorized community service program.
Initially, 20,000 volunteers will serve. During the second year, 33,000 will be eligible; 47,000 in the third year. However, there are presently 17 million college students in the US.
"If [studentsl want to go to an institution that costs $20,000, it won’t be as cost beneficial as if they go to an institution that costs $6,000," Rubenstien said.
"It’s really hard because the money won’t make a big difference at UM,” Carrie Edmondson, director of volunteer services, agreed.
The National Service Initiative has been approved for three years and will cost an estimated $1.5 million. A new Corporation for National Service will administer funds and coordinate the bill.
Funds will be divided into thirds, two-thirds controlled by state commissions and one third will be distributed federally for nationally based organizations. States will have to compete for funds.
While there are draw backs to the program, overall it will bring more money to volunteer service agencies, Edmondson said. Agencies will have full-time help, which will allow them to do more programs.
“Overall I think that community service as a whole is going to grow,” Edmondson said. "It’s going to be more sophisticated. People will want to get involved in the agencies."
DARREN ARNS/Statt Photographer
■ DANGER ZONE: The stairway in Stanford Residential College poses a threat to barefoot students using the stairs, ’usting metal on the stairs is only on# maintenance issue about which residents are concerned.