Miami Hurricane, February 01, 2002

              trami
Pop is dead.. ACCENT page 3
The Miami Hurr
Coral Gables, Florida
Since 1927
Volume 79, Number 29__________WWW.HURRICANE.MIAMI.EDU___________ ______Friday.February 1,2002
Shalala adjusts well to university life
Presidents first semester at UM was challenging and rewarding
By Ernesto Londono
Hurricane Staff Writer
A dazzling'(X) CANES’ logo slapped in green letters around the cement pillar that supports the roof under which President Shalala works, is perhaps the most visible sign of the changing times.
Gone arc the heavy oak-wood bookstands that kept former president Tad Foote’s favorite reads in place Filling in tor them: myriad plaques, awards and distinctions that Shalala, former
Secretary of Health and Human Services tor the Clinton administration has netted throughout her career in education and public administration.
Six months into the job, the president is still hesitant to get into specifics when asked to spell out her vision for the University.
“I’ve been listening - haven’t done a lot of acting yet,” she told the Hurricane. “I need to know a lot more about the institution.”
However, last semester was certainly
not the time tor passive leadership.
September’s terrorist attacks, their repercussions on Muslim students at UM, and the on-campus drowning of freshman Chad Meredith required Shalala to take a number of tough on-the-spot decisions and stand behind the proverbial podium to offer comforting words when the community at large was speechless.
She aced the test according to Student Government President Jose Diaz who was on the committee that led the nation-wide hunt for Foote’s successor.
“The way she handled September 11 and other difficult moments last semester was notable,” said Diaz, who
met Shalala four years ago when she accepted an invitation to speak at the Business School.
When Muslim students reported incidents of stigmatization as a result of September’s terrorist attacks, Shalala recurred to no euphemism in expressing her determination to halt that type of behavior by issuing bold statements-’’freedom of speech also means that we can answer back.”
When reporters asked her about the circumstances that surrounded Meredith's death on Nov 5, Shalala was able to put a face to the name, making reference to a conversation the two had had earlier last semester. “He talked about majoring in political science and
history - he wanted to be a lawyer,” she said.
The incidents revealed a president who could be as firm as stone one moment, and playful the next.
“She treats you like a friend," said Diaz about the president’s leadership style. “She’s the type of person who’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty,’’he added.
Dirty or not, the president got her nails done in orange for her inauguration.
Indeed, Shalala has taken a number of peculiar steps to befriend students, such as sitting with them during football games.
“My rule is that I sit the first quarter
of every football game in the stands with the students, and the last quarter too. In between, at half time, I usually have guests in my box upstairs that I have to go schmooze with. My preference would be to be outside for the whole game but presidents have responsibilities,” Shalala told the Palm Beach Post last December.
The president’s next important test is likely to be the multi million fund raising effort that lies ahead amidst times of economic uncertainty.
“I expect fundraising to be down the next few years because of recession in the economy,” Shalala told the Hurricane, adding that scant fundrais-
See Shalala • Page 2
Hurricane Productions promises ‘huge’ rock act
Laser tag and fashion show slated for spring
by Dana Szpunar
Hurricane Staff Writer
billowing Uudacris’ blow-out performance in the pouring rain during homecoming weekend last semester, everyone is wondering who will be involved in the big Hurricane Productions |HP| act for this semester.
Unfortunately, only a few members of the HP team are privy to this i. formation. And although Graham Micone, head of the concerts department, is not yet ready to release this confidential information, he assures the student body that “it will be a rock act, and they will be huge."
While rumors carry names such as No Doubt and Uinkin Park, students will simply just have to wait and see until the spring headliners are officially announced
While the spring music act is still clouded in mystery, students can plan now for other HP events, including the Source Fashion Nation Tour and a team laser-tag tournament, which will be part of the upcoming HP schedule.
The laser-tag tournament, which takes place on Feb. 28th, will allow 32 five-member teams to compete tor fame and gkiry in a single-elimination con-
test. The matches will be held between 4 and lUp.m.on the campus cuuut.
The following day, the school will play host to a hip-hop fashion show, where students can audition to model clothes (jeans) from various designers such as Sean John and Pepe
Pop-culture director, John Waters, is the featured guest speaker this semester. This visionary director of such films as Pink Flamingos and Pecker will be featured on April 18th.
The HP staff has become an association of students who take it upon themselves to plan entertainment of all sorts at the university throughout the year.
Every semester, HP plans blockbuster film screenings, heart pounding musical acts, first-rate guest speakers, and an assortment of intriguing special events with this semester being no exception.
Although some students are quick to criticize the HP staff for its decisions on events, most do not realize how much effort it takes to get first-rate entertainment to come to UM, especially because of the small funding allowance, taken from the students’ activities fee, said the HP staff.
“We are working with middlemen and exclusive agents within a very limit ed budget,” says HP staff member Matt Stover.
Still, HP anticipates the opening of Ryder Center next year where they will be able to accommodate larger musical acts because of the extra space.
They also expect additional funding
from non-UM patrons who will be able
itw uUvhU Ulcjw VA J.v/« 4 «IS_S '
Many students are usually familiar with HP because of the film screenings that take place every Tuesday evening at the Cosford Cinema.
Highlights tor this semester include the films. Shallow Hal, Monster’s Inc., and Pulp Fiction (in February),Ocean’s 11, Harry Potter, and Not Another Teen Movie (in March), and The Royal Tenenbaums, Vanilla Sky, and The Lord of the Rings (in April). In addition to the advertised selections, HP plans to offer a number of sneak previews throughout the semester that will be screened on campus before they are available to the general public.
The first of these sneak screenings is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new movie. Collateral Damage, scheduled for Tuesday, February 5, at 7:00 pm at the Cosford Cinema.
Passes are still available for this screening in the HP office on the second floor of the University Center.
“There will be at least two or three more screenings this semester,” said Chad Peiken, head of the Cinematic Arts Commission |CAC|, the movie department of Hurricane Productions
Many more exciting HP opportunities are sure to dt ’elop throughout the semester. Interested parties can look tor additional information on upcoming HP events at www.um-hp.com or come on up to the H P office located on the UC second floor.
Increases in parking and prices
By Rebeca Oliveira
Humcane Staff Writer
In accordance with last year’s parking management plan, UM is finalizing the groundwork for a massive parking expansion.
By the time construction is finished in 2005, over .3000 new spaces will have been added, said Sandra Redway, Assistant Director of Business Services, t he cost of this project, which will be approximately $20 million, will be funded through parking revenues.
“Our hope is to have a good plan that will minimize inconveniences for students," said Dr. Patricia Whitely, Vice President for Student Affairs. “We want the best plan possible-but that doesn’t mean it won’t be inconvenient "
Permit prices increased 4.5% last year, and will increase 16.5% next year ^d 8% annually' tor the iolkiwing five
years.
Discount parking permits, however, will cost less for the first three years than the current $235 for standard parking.
The new spaces will come from two new garages, new parking lots and various expansions.
Two new tots, Stanford/Granada and Plumer, will be built on the south side of the University Metrarail Station, as well new tots behind the Memorial classroom building.
Another
garage will be--------------------
built close to Mahoney/Pearson Residential halls and two floors will be added to the existing Ponce garage, increasing the number of discounted parking spaces from 200 to over 1800.
"Realistically, the temporary lots won’t be finished until the end of the semester.’’
- Mike Johnston,
UM Senate Speaker
“We want to let people know that there is action being taken,” said Robert Castro, Head of the Student Government Parking Committee.
However, as a result of construction to increase parking, many tots will be ctosed. In response to this, various tern porary lots are going to be opened, among them two behind Fraternity Row
Making for another tot the Sigma Alpha Epsilon area will also be paved.
“This is all in hopes of having ample parking while building," said Mike Johnston, Student Ctovernment Speaker of the Senate.
These tots, however, may prove very inconvemjit for students. While the
RUSSELL W0JTUSIAK / Photo Editor OUCH: The mens’s basketball team suffered its first loss at home and only its third of the season on Tuesday night against BC. They will try to rebound against UConn Saturday night at the Miami Arena. See story on page 5.
Men’s basketball suffers first home loss
AS TRIO ZIN / Humcane Staff
NO SPACES: Parking lot expansion begins Spring Break.
scheduled
Mahoney/Pearson area kits are closed, all the substitute parking spaces will be by San Amaro Drive, making for nearly a two-mile walk.
“We’re in a very awkward position. Should we make peopfe walk from Erat row to Mahoney/Pearson?” said Johnston. “It’s not safe; it’s not convenient.”
Though construction is slated to begin during spring break, it will not be completed until-at the very least-the beginning of the fall semester. “Realistically, the temporary lots won’t be finished until the end of the semester,” said Jonhston.
“The Pavia lot will be closed starting at spring break; the Mahoney/Pearson lot will close sometime in April, and the Ponce garage will only shut down for construction after the semester is ovjtr," added Dr.
Pat Whitely.
The University has also purchased the stretch of Miller Drive between the Ring Theater and the Law School from the City of Coral Gables in order to take over parking in that area and possibly remove the parking njeters.
“We are working on purchasing Stanford Drive from Coral Gabies in order to remove those meters as well," said lohnston.
“The good news is there will be plenty of parking in the future,” said
Whitely.	y