Miami Hurricane, March 09, 1999

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Since 1927
Volume 76, Number 37
WWW.HURRICANE.MIAMI.EDU
Tuesday, March 9,1999
DAVID GARCIA / Humane Staff Photographer READY OR NOT: The University's Y2K financial aid strategy is available to students in a brochure.
University prepares for Y2K dilemma
By DAVID H. GARCIA
Hurricane Staff Writer U.S. House of Representatives Government Management, Information and Technology Chairman Stephen Horn was passing out the new grades for handling the millennium bug.
A grade of an “A-” was given on the most recent report card last week to the Department of Education.
This represented a great leap for the department and its contingencies, which was given a “D” in May, an “F” grade in August and a “C-” grade in November.
“We have a great advantage of being above everyone else,” said Martin |. Carney, director of financial Assistance Services at the University of Miami. “This
certainly gives us and students the security of being on the safe side."
Possible concern now lies with the School of Medicine as one of the most affected areas at UM. Students first saw financial aid as the biggest problem.
“The affects felt by the Y2K won’t be any major ones,” said financial aid specialist Bob Ilukowicz, president of American College Savers. "Because of the government’s concern on education, that makes the financial aid disbursement a priority to all, not just students.”
Ilukowicz’s organization is based in Smithtown, N.Y., where thousands of students and parents have received advice on ways to save money throughout the financial aid process, without being
caught up in government delays.
“We are focusing on action, not hysteria or panic," said Terry Moneo, UM’s project analyst for Y2K.“It is possible we will have disruptions across the institution and the city but less aggravations if we prepare for now."
“I’m not worried about it one bit,” said sophomore Joseph Kestnei. “The University has dealt with bigger problems in the past.”
But not all students share this idea, and many still have doubts on the new “fixes,” that are supposed to take care of the problem.
“Students should have a hard copy of their records, whether financial aid or not,” said Ilukowicz.
Ilukowicz said he urges both parents and students to be aware as the new school year begins.
“Meet all deadlines on time and keep yourself updated with the media,” he said.
The question on some students’ minds is how it will impact them. Moneo said it probably would not be a factor.
“Both commuters and on-campus residents will definitely be out on a holiday break," said Moneo. “So if problems do occur, they will definitely be notified whether to continue attending the University or not.”
Students who want more information about how the University will handle the Y2K situation should check on the Web at http://www.year2000.miami.edu.
CHRIS MELCHIONDO / Layout Editor
WINNERS: Members of Delta Gamma, overall winners for sororities, await results at Sunday's Closing Ceremonies.
Ball, awards end Greek Week
Last years fight at social event prompts UM officials, greek leaders to make improvements
By BETH NEUMANN
Hurricane Staff Writer
Only a short time after sophomore Taryn Wolf entered the Greek Ball last year, she and fellow greeks were asked to leave.
According to Wolf, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, she waited into the Ball and people were standing in a circle, which she later learned was a fight that had started in the ballroom. The Hyatt staff asked University of Miami officials to end the event one hour early and leave the hotel.
However, this year’s Greek Bail, held Friday night at the Wyndham Hotel, went off without a hitch, organizers said.
“1 was very impressed with the initiative the student leaders took,” said Greg Singleton, associate dean of Students and advisor to the greek system.
Singleton attended the event, along with seven
other staff members, six graduate assistants for the fraternities, one graduate assistant for the Office of the Dean of Students, and three security officers. When combined, the amount of faculty from the year before was tripled.
Wolf attended the Ball again this year and said she found it better organized and more under control.
“We knew that everyone would have to act responsibly or there would be no Greek Ball for years to come. People heeded this. The general feeling among the greeks was more unified,” Wolf said.
Junior Karen Maerovitz, Greek Ball co-chair with junior Matt Schmanski, said she was also satisfied with the night. “It was kind of iffy at first because of the problems last year but 1 think it went really well. We had more of a turnout than expected.”
This time last year the future of the Greek Ball was in question.
Singleton met last spring with seniors Eric Paul and Jenna Chiesa, Greek Week co-chairs, to discuss criteria that students must follow for the event to take place again.
Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Whitely also held a meeting in the fall with Schmanski and
Maerovitz, co-chairs of the Greek Ball, and students compiled the guidelines.
Other criteria included the checking of IDs at the door and the use of wristbands for those drinking at the Ball. Tickets had to be bought in advance and all entering the ball had to have a ticket. Doors closed at 10:30 p.m. and only organizations participating in Greek Week were allowed to attend. The Greek God and Goddess, who were previously announced at the Ball, would be announced at Greek Week closing ceremonies.
If a group caused problems, 100 points would be deducted from their Greek Week total and disciplinary action would be taken. If the problem involved the date of a greek, the person who the date came with would be held responsible.
Before the event, Singleton said, “I’m not anticipating any trouble. The students are being very proactive to prevent any problems tonight.”
Greek Week ended with Closing Ceremonies on the UC Patio Sunday. Lambda Chi Alpha won overall for the fraternities and Delta Gamma won for the sororities.
“We had very minor problems, for once,” Paul said of the week.
GREEK
WEEK
WINNERS
OVERALL
sororities	fraternities
1. Date Gamma	t. lambda CW Alpha
2 Kappa Kappa Gamma 2. Pi Kappa Alpha 3. Delta Phi Epsilon 3. Kappa Sigma 0
S0NG
sorortties
1.	Detta Gamma
2.	Detta Phi Epsilon
3.	Kappa Kappa Gamma
FEST
fraternities
1.	lambda Chi Alpha
2.	Pi Kappa Alpha
3.	Tau Kappa Epsilon
For
complete results see page 2
Lecture series brings former U.S. senator
By REBECCA GLAZER
Hurricane Staff Writer
Former U.S. Sen George Mitchell, chairperson of the ethics panel that investigated Salt Lake City’s hid for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, began a three-part series Monday in association with the School of Law.
Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader, will have touched on the Salt Lake City Olympic bribery scandal, impeachment process and peace negotiations in Northern Ireland, by the time he finishes the series Wednesday.
According to Ana Rhodes, a University of Miami media relations officer, Mitchell delivered the Cole Lecture yesterday at the James L. Knight Center at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Miami.
“The main focus of the Cole Lecture is the senator’s recent investigation into the Olympic bribery scandal,” said Rhodes.
Last week, Mitchell’s panel denounced the International Olympic Committee for creating and tolerating a “culture of improper gift-giving, which affected every city bidding for the Olympic Games.”
The committee proposed “fundamental structural changes to increase its accountability to the Olympic movement and to the public.”
The Cole Lecture, sponsored by the Law School and an endowment fund given by the Cole family, is the first public appearance by
See SENATOR • Page 2
Auction aids town damaged by hurricane
By DAVID ANESTA
Associate News Editor
The Department of History raised about $4,500 at an auction Sunday at Coral Gables Congregational Church to help purchase a water pump for the city of Los A mates, Guatemala, after Hurricane Mitch caused drainage problems and poisoned the water.
Added to the about $1,500 it has already raised through a book sale and other events, the Department has succeeded in raising enough money to pay for the $6,000 pump, said Dr. Robert Levine, director of Latin American Studies.
Doug Trefzger, a graduate student studying Latin American history, was studying in Los Amates, a village of about 12,000 people, when Hurricane Mitch '.tit, said Levine.
Levine said Trefzger contacted
him after the hurricane, telling Levine that about 8,000 of Los Amates’ residents were homeless.
According to Levine, the hurricane ruined one of the chief indus-
See HISTORY • Page 2
FOR SALE: A visitor at Sunday’s silent auction examines one of many potential purchases.
■ Ceramic Exhibit
Through Friday March 19. the New Gallery features a ceramic tile exhibit curated by professor Christine Fedenghi with Carlos Alves, Darby Banard, Jill Cannady, Val Carroll, Kim Radatz, Nelson Santiago and DPZ&C Architects. The artists, design ers and architects, some who
have never worked in day. show that tiles can have varied expressions Currently, there is a renaissance In the form of art including the development of new styles, approaches and uses The New Gallery is located in the Art Building and is open Monday-Friday from 9 a m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m For more information. ça« 284-2542.
■ Judaic Play
The Coconut Grove Playhouse, 3500 Main Highway, Miami, hosts Hyam Maccoby s play titled The Disputation Wednesday, March 24, at 8 p.m,, presented by the Sephardic Studies Program of the College of Arts and Sciences and The Greater Miami chapter of The National Conference for Community
Justice. The play stars stage, screen and television actor Theodore Bike! as Rabbi Mosses Ben Nachman. Taking place in 13th century Barcelona. Spam, the production tells about a theological trial in which King James I tried to force Spanish Jews to convert to Christianity. For more information reservations, and tickets, contact 305 284-4735
■ Book Signing
President Clinton's former senior advisor George Stephanopoulos, will sign his new book titled All too Human A Political Education Monday, March 29,at 10:30 a.m. At the White House. Stephanopoulos advised the president on strategy and policy He also worked on both presidential campaigns as a chief strate-
gist Stephanopoulos received a masters degree In theology from the University of Oxford in England, where he was a Rhodes scholar He also has a degree in political science from Columbia University The free book signing takes place in the first floor lobby of the UC and is open to the public
■ Cuban Theater
The School of International Studies will offer a course beginning Wednesday, March 10, called “Cuban Theater between Power and Misery." The non-credit seminar course lasts eight weeks, runs from 7-8 30 p.m. and is taught by Carlos Espinosa Dominguez. A professor at the Escuela de Teatro de la
llntversidad CatoMca in Peru, Dominguez is well known as an expert m Cuban theater During the ekes students will team about the evolution of theater in Cuba from the era of Teatro Alhambra and Jose Antonio Ramos to movements today in South Florida Cuban communities Cost « $150 For more information call Juan Carlos Espinosa, 284-3251.