Miami Hurricane, March 06, 2001

              Men victorious in regular season final
SPORTS page 5
Nine Days performs on campus
The Miami Dii
Coral Gables, Florida
Volume 78, Number 39
WWW.HURRICANE.MIAMI.EDU
Since 1927
, March 6,2001
Speaker a no-show, but program goes on
James Randis ideas still expressed through conference
By Danielle Scott
Assistant News Ecftor
James Randi, also known as the “Amazing Randi”, was the keynote lecturer scheduled for the Friday morning opening session of the 18th annual Intercultural Communication Continence (ICC200I) held this year at the University of Miami
In fact, Randi, a professional skeptic, was unable to speak because of an unforeseen illness. Three guest speakers, who were supposed to present at the following session, substituted for him.
Thomas Steinfatt, director of the conference and a UM Communication professor, played master of ceremonies for the session, apologizing to the crowd on Randi's behalf and familiarizing the audience with the objectives of 1CC2001. This year’s theme was “Human Rights-
fnfrastructurr of Humanity or
Western Cultural Invention?”
The people at Randi’s office were very apologetic that the professional skeptic was unable to attend, Steinfatt said. However, Randi, 72, is going to be fine, he reported.
“They said, T)h my God, this has never happened. Tell the audience we’re really, really sorry’,” he said.
The University of Miami’s School of Communications sponsored 1CC2001, and there were over 50 speakers from different parts of the world and differ-
ent universities presenting during the weekend-long event.
“We’ve got all kinds of presenters from all different cultures and all walks of life,” said Gayle Remer, conference coordinator.
The theme of the opening session was changed from “Manipulating Public Opinion”-Randi’s area of expertise-to “Human Rights and Intercultural Communication.” This was also the theme of the following session.
UM’s Dean of Communications, Edward Pfister, broke the ice with a few comments on the sunny weather that morning which held no threat or hope-of rain, he said.
“When you leave South Florida, because I understand you may not want it to rain while you’re here, but if you are a prayerful person pray for rain, and if you are not, please think rain! We are in desperate need of rain,” Pfister told the guest speakers present.
Pfister went on to give a brief histo- •. ry of the School of Communications and how far it has come in the fifteen years since its institution.
“The School of Communications is
the sole creation of this man, Dean Hdwaid Pfister,” Steinfatt added.
Michael Prosser, Dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia and Kern Professor of Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology lectured on the United Nations (UN) view of human rights.
Hssentially, Prosser said, the UN perspective is the western perspective. Prosser gave various definitions of
See icC2001 • Page 4
JORGE GALVEZ / Photo Editor
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Thomas Steinfatt moderated this year's Intercultural Communication Conference.
Art Department gets splintered - What next?
By Paloma Helm	wittmer.
Hurricane Staff writer
Rumors have been running rampant in the Art Department this semester as confused students and faculty search for answers to their many questions regarding the department’s division into five locations for the upcoming fall semester.
The main Art Building was condemned last semester due to dry rot and will either be torn down or remodeled, either of which means that the department will be forced to splinter into five different physical areas at least temporarily, said art department chair, Marcilene
Wittmer explained that the art photography and graphic design programs have now been relocated to the LI Building-commonly known as the “photo shack”-which was already occupied by the communications photography and film programs.
The two latter programs will be relocated to the new Wolfson Communication Building after its completion 3>n March 26, leaving more room for the art programs.
Art history classes were taught on the second floor of the Art Building
See ART • Page 3
TIME TO SHAPE UP
RUSSELL WOJTUSIAK / Photo Editor
LET’S GET PHYSICAL: Shane Weaver, Student Government president, and Jessica McNei participate in the CHAMP Program held at the Wellness Center. This free, one-hour analysis offers students a chance to see how physically fit they are.
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Planet Kreyol brings Haitian experience to the forefront at annual culture week
Haitian traditions explored though events this week
By Priya Idiculla
Hurricane Staff Writer
Planet Kreyol, the Haitian students' organization at the University of Miami, is sponsoring a Haitian Culture Week from March 3-9. This year’s theme is “Exploring the Newest Haitian Paradise.”
The first Haitian Culture Week was in the spring of 1998. It’s objective was to expose the University of Miami community to the culture and traditions of Haiti and its people, said members of Planet Kreyol.
“Our main purpose is to make the
campus aware,” said sophomore (oanne Celestin, who is event chair for the week. “Well, the campus may be aware, but the people are not.”
The week of events highlights aspects of the Haitian experiences which include its history, language, art, music and customs, Celestin said.
“Haitian art from new and old artists are being featured from galleries like Haitian Art Works and the Haitian Art Gallery,” said senior Jimmevans Dragon, who is in charge of the art exhibit “Exploring the Art of Planet Kreyol,” which takes place today in the UC Lower Lounge from 12- 4p.m.
“We have work by a new artist on the Haitian art scene whose name is Ra-Ra,” Dragon said.
Tomorrow Mache Creole will take place.
“A re-enactment of a Haitian marketplace is what Mache Creole is,” said Junior Winnie Eliassaint, who is in charge of the event.
“It will feature the music, the vendors, Haitian games, and merchandise. There will be free food samples and dancing too,” Eliassaint said.
Since Mache Creole will be on the same day as Carni-Gras, Planet Kreyol will be in collaboration with Carni-Gras, Eliassaint said.
“People can take part in both events. Both will be huge events,” Eliassaint said.
On Thursday there will be a “Krick Krak (knock knock)” game day.
“There will be dominoes and other traditional Haitian games, plus there will be a dance competition,” Eliassaint said. “We will be giving away prizes, so it will be a competitive
atmosphere.’'
On Friday, the week ends with closing ceremonies at the Rock and a “Kanaval,” traditionally known as al carnival. “The Rebirth of Haitian Pride” is the theme for the closing ceremonies.
“We want to make the Kanaval as
traditional as possible,” said sophomore Samar Handal, who is in charge
of the event.
“There will be carnival music and dancing. We want to have as much fun as possible,” Handal said.
“Overall, we want to give people a taste of Haiti,” said senior Sandy Boisrond who-is taking part in event planning and publicity for the week.
“It is open to anyone, and hopefully everyone will show up so they can explore the different areas of the • Haitian culture.”
Library’s Cuban Heritage Collection goes digital
Largest collection outside Cuba now found online
By Priya Idiculla
Hurricane Staff Writer
Preservation is the aim for the University of Miami’s Cuban Heritage Collection at the Otto G. Richter Library, head of the Cuban Heritage Collection Esperanza de Verona said.
“We have received two grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to digitize the collection. We will now be able to create a digital database that will represent' some of the unique materials housed in the collection,” he said.
The IMLS helps fund libraries so they can preserve their collections of historical works.
Pedro Figueredo, grants program manager for the Cuban Heritage Collection, said that they have received about $1 million from the federal government through the IMLS.
The Cuban Heritage Collection at UM is the largest collection of Cuban materials outside of Cuba, de Verona said. Since the University’s beginning, there has always been a close relationship with its neighbor to the south, he said.
The collection supports course work and scholarship in Latin American and Caribbean studies, he said, and it includes over 250,000
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items including rare hooks, journals, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, personal papers, postcards, photographs, oral histories, maps and posters. The materials date from Cuba’s early colonial period to the present.
“One component of the grants will be the creation of a web site that will allow researchers to view, search and print files without having to visit the library or to see the originals," said Figueredo. “This will be a great way for UM to share the collection with a wider audience, and because the material will be digitized, it will be preserved for future generations.”
Senior (Ttiara SanfiJippo said, “I really had no idea they had a Cuban collection here. It will be great if they
did do this so people can learn more ‘ about it. It seems like a worthwhile effort,” said Sanfrfippo.
“I think will be a good move,” said sophomore Mave Waters. “People can learn about the heritage of Cuba, and now that everything is on the web, it will be so much easier to access it.” ' Junior Michael Arellini said, “I am from Cuba, and this will be a great opportunity for me to see what the collection has to offer.”
Another upcoming project will be a pavilion on the second floor of the library to house the current collec* tioo.
“The Goizueta Foundation has given- us $2.5 million to complete a pavilion for the collection” »aid de
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