Miami Hurricane, March 26, 1999

              Coral Gables, Florida	Since 1927
Volume 76, Number 39	WWW.HURRICANE.MIAMI.EDU	Friday, March 26,1999
m
ortar board tapping
Mortar
Board
Tappees
Maria Angella Joaquin Biaya Karen Chuang Esther Cornfield Joseph Cozzi Pat Delvecchio Jodi English Manuel Garcia Maria Saladrigas Nick Gramsky Heather Kellett Julie Kemp Kathryn Krueger Jamieson tesko Martha Mora Arturo Ortiz de Zevallos Jeff Popovich Andrew Rebholz Racquel Russell Matthew Schmanski Kristine Schmidt Nicole Sosa Mark Walker Joanna Wasserman Heather Wiles leanne Yeaton Evelin Young
Honorary
Members
Michael Gage Linda Saumeli Bob Rosen
BELLA SAWKAR / Hurricane Staff Photographer SURPRISE!: Senior Deanna Green taps junior Maria Teresa Garcia-Saladrigas on Wednesday as classmates look on
Senate elects new speaker
Trustee
donates
$130,000
Music school programs benefit from Pearce Foundation gift
By CHRIS SOBEL
News Editor
The majority of a $130,000 donation by the Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation to the University of Miami will support programs sponsored by the School of Music, said William Hipp, the school’s dean.
Pearce, a Miami philanthropist, physician, banker and investor, is a graduate of UM’s School of Law and donates money to the University each year, said Hipp.
Pearce also serves as an elected member on the University’s Board of Trustees.
“Dr. Pearce’s generosity continues to make it possible for the UM School of Music to pursue its qualitative goals,” said Hipp. “This gift will enable many talented students to participate in some of our best programs, including students who, because of financial concerns, might not otherwise be able to.”
Half of the $100,000 designated to the School of Music will support a five-week classical program held each summer in Salzburg, Austria, said Hipp.
The program is in its 13th year and usually has 40 to 45 singers and pianists who participate, said Hipp
Some participants in the Salzburg program are University of Miami students. However, many participants come from other parts of the United States, as well as other countries, he said.
The School of Music has designated the other half of its gift to support orchestra, opera and string performance programs that focus on the late classical and romantic periods in music, an era that Pearce has a noted interest in, said Hipp.
The remaining $30,000 of Pearce’s donation has been delegated to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the George A. Smathers Wellness Center in memory of Frank Smathers, and the School of Medicine in memory of Dante Fascell.
Frank Smathers, a longtime benefactor to the University, served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1944 until the time of his death in March 1998.
Fascell, a former U.S. Congressman, UM graduate and Board of Trustees member, died in November 1998.
The UM North-South Center was renamed for Fascell a month before his death.
By GINA
MORISSEAU-LEROY
Hurricane Staff Writer
The Nu Kappa Tau Chapter of the National Mortar Board Honor Society tapped on Wednesday new students who were selected to join the Society’s ranks.
Current members tracked down new members, many of whom were in classes, and announced the nominations to the group.
Like many other clubs, the Mortar Board has its own distinct way of tapping new members.
“It’s a surprise,” said senior Eric Paul, Mortar Board president. “A mortar board is a graduation cap. So after we go to the [new member’s] class, we say a little speech and then one of us runs up and whacks the |new member! on the
head. So it’s sort of a shock because you don’t really expect
it.”
The Mortar Board tapping tradition is not the only way in which this organization is unique. Mortar Board members are only members for one year.
“The only way to get in is to be a junior going to be a senior,” Paul said. “So there is no continuity. Every year there is a new group of students. The people 1 got in with are all going to graduate and the people we are tapping are going to be in it next year.”
To be selected for the Mortar Board one must be nominated. Nomination forms are placed in different areas around campus including the colleges, Athletic Department, and the other student organizations.
Mortar Board, a seniors-only honor society, taps new members
Then, as the end of the school year approaches, the current members get together, review the applications, and select the new members based on their superior scholarship, leadership and service to the University of Miami. The required GPA is based on the top 35 percent of the class.
“I think the Mortar Board is a nice way of being recognized for years of hard work and service to the school,” Paul said.
Some of the other Mortar Board activities are a volunteer project with the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO) and campus service organization LINK, a service organization, called Kids in Culture, an alumni event during Homecoming and fund-raisers throughout the year.
By DAVID ANESTA
Associate News Editor
The Student Government Senate voted Wednesday to elect School of Business Senator Shane Weaver as the next speaker of the Senate.
Weaver, who could have graduated at the end of this semester, will continue as an undergraduate to serve as speaker.
Weaver said the reason for continuing his tenure as a University of Miami student is that “the Senate and the position mean so much to me. 1 foci that whatever price it will end up being, it is worth it. I see that the Senate is so close to accomplishing great things and I want to be there to help see them through.”
“I think it is great for Shane to give an extra year for Student Government,” said Racquel Russell, out-going speaker of the Senate. “To me. that is very commendable"
Weaver said he brings to Senate a knowledge of procedure, respect for the principles of Senate and a clear vision.
“My vision is to make our Senate more efficient by making sure all vacant seats are filled, and enforcing the absentee policy,” said Weaver. “We must focus on getting constituent feedback, be it through e-inail or student forums.”
Getting to know all of the administrators will be one of the toughest challenges he faces, said Weaver.
“1 think he will make an excellent speaker,” said Russell. “He has the experience and all of the qualities a
See SENATE • Page 2
Coordinator says program compliments most students' majors
By JENNIFER MILLER
Hurricane Staff Writer The School of Education believes leadership can be learned and will provide undergraduates with a 15-credit minor next semester.
“We’re on the cutting-edge with this," said program coordinator Susan Mullane.
Seven other universities have welcomed the minor into their curricu-lums, according to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Mullane said the courses compliment most majors. Classes include
Magazine honors 1998-99 SG
By DAVID ANESTA
Associate News Editor
The University of Miami Student Government was named the best private college and university student government in Florida in a special “Best of Florida Schools” issue of Florida Leader magazine this month.
The magazine honored SG for “zeroing in on student safety and strengthening school pride,” as well as for acquiring for the first time money from the Student Activity Fee Allocation to co-program with other student organizations.
“We did a lot this year that we are very proud of,” said Racquel Russell, out-going speaker of the Senate. “I think that all of the things we were able to accomplish like co- program-mmg, the shuttle to Sunset Place, the improvements in the dining halls and dealing with safety issues as they had arisen helped us to get the honor.”
Russell said that University of Miami’s SG stands out from others in the state of Florida because it does more than just allocate money to student organizations.
“The people at Florida Leader were really shocked that we did not serve the function that SAFAC serves,” said Russell. “In most schools, the SG does all of SAFAC allocations. We are just another organization.”
Essential Leadership and Management Skills, Motivation and Leadership and Ethics and Contemporary Issues in Leadership.
Student Government President Andrew Paul, now promoting the minor, said he took some of the required classes and supports the minor.
“Students learn skills about working as a team," Paul said. “The classes allow you to learn about other leadership styles and when you understand them, you can work better in situations.”
The leadership minor helps students gain experience through
Sèé MINOR • Page 2
Education school offers new minor
■ Freshmen get forum Tuesday
School administrators will be available to answer questions and communicate with students at the Freshman Forum, which will take place Tuesday. March 30, at 7 p.m in the UC Flamingo Ballroom Topics will Include residence halls, parking, extracurricular activities, campus life and academics
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Refreshments will be served All freshmen are invited to the Student Government-sponsored event. In addition, a free pool party open to all students will take place Saturday, March 27, from 12-4 p.m. at the UC pool The party will features Power 96 and Smoothie King.
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■ Live Out Loud author to speak
Myra MacPherson, the author at She Came To Live Out Loud. will speak and sign books Monday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the master's residence of Pearson Residential College Formerly a reporter for The Washington Post and The New York Times. MacPherson has written several books includ-
ing Time Passing: Vietnam and the Haunted Generation and The Power Lovers. She Came To Live Out Loud talks about dealing with me death of a terminally ill friend or family member MacPherson is a member of The International Group on Dying, Death and Bereavement
■	Nursing gets $25,000 grant
To improve health-care access for Mami-Dade County families enrolled in the Home Instruction Program, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation gave a $25,000 grant to the School of Nursing The grant will allow the School of Nursing to give 150 families access to health education and help families with
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early detection of diseases such as asthma, lead poisoning, communicable diseases, and delayed growth The R.R. Motor Elementary School community health center and Agape Women 's Home already receive help with primary hearth care from the School of Nursing Last spring, 24 senior nursing students made home visits and conducted health education classes for HIPPY families
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■ Reception to honor seniors
Sentof Week, sponsored by Student Government and Mortar Board, will take place April 5-9. A Senior Reception will be held April 7 and will recognize seniors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, Mortar Board members and those with leadership Seniors are asked to turn m resumes
for the reception by Wednesday, March 31, to the Student Government office in UC 214. If seniors turn in a lisumd, they secure a reservation for themselves and guests to attend the awards. A talent show will also be held during Senior Week. Monday. April 5, on tne UC Patio at 7 p.m.
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