Miami Hurricane, March 02, 1979

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The '€ye of the Hurricane' Focuses on Music
You'll Find It In Today's Special Hurricane Insert
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Security Nabs Tuition Thief
By Lori Barrist
Hurricane Newt Writer
A UM student related to a University employee has admitted that he is responsible for the theft of more than $38,100 in cash and checks during spring registration.
The money was discovered missing from the cashier’s desk at the Ashe Administration Building Jan.10. A cashier noticed that the money, stored in a bag with the amount printed on it, was missing when she returned from delivering supplies to the Registration area.
An investigation conducted by UM Security Detective Sgt. Rusty Clusman turned up nothing. Then Sgt. Clusman and Coral Ga-
bles Police Dept. Detective John Holmes asked several people who were in the Bursar’s Office at the time of the theft to volunteer for polygraph tests.
“They afforded ten people a polygraph examination given by Sgt. Don Eckhert. Most of the volunteers were employees; the subject was not,” Jack Ackerly, Director of Law Enforcement at UM Security said.
Of the ten people who volunteered, one failed the test,
“A suspect was developed,” Ackerly stated.
The subject was then questioned by Holmes and Ackerly. On Feb.20, the student admitted his guilt.
The student, who had no previous record, made restitution of the $4000 in cash and destroyed the $34,000 in checks.
According to Ackerly, the student said that he didn’t know why he stole the money.
“And he only spent $125 of the money. He had it for over a month. It must have been terrible on his conscience,” Ackerly said.
A warrant for the student’s arrest on charges of grand theft will be served.
“We have recommended that he . be released on his own recognizance since he has been cooperative,” Ackerly stated.
According to Ackerly, the Uni-
UM Junior Seeks Office In Florida Legislature
JANE L. MARCUS
Hurricane News Writer
At the age of 22, Andres Menen-dez, a junior at UM, is a candidate for a special election for State Representative of District 106 on March 22.
The seat became vacant three weeks ago, when State Representative Gwen Cherry was killed in a car accident in Tallahassee and Go-vorner William Graham announced a special election.
According to Menendez, District 106 encompasses the Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Liberty City and the NW Miami Areas.
“People have asked me about my age," Menendez said. "I have been involved in the community for a long time and it’s a very natural thing and age is very insignificant; it is the individual that makes the position."
Menendez transfered to UM last spring from Miami Dade Community College where he was involved in the Florida Association of Community Colleges, whose function was to promote community college’s in order to receive more funding; committee to study the Status of Women (which is a campus and country wide committee) and was a staff member for the Community Services Division and Student Development for over two years.
“I have worked with the Kiwa-nis, an InternationalService Organization for six years," Menendez said.
According to Menendez, Kiwanis is generally composed of businessmen in the community.
”1 am the youngest member to join the organization in the community.” Menendez said.
Menendez is presently pledging Phi Delta Theta, working with Common Cause, an off-campus consumer group composed of citizens that lobby and have headquaters in Washington and Miami, and is a member of the Students Right Agency
He told the Hurricane that he knew some of the issues he would be faced with, if elected.
Menendez would like to see the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
passed in Florida, and he stressed the importance of funding to public schools.
“This year the legislature gave more money to public schools,” Memendez said, “and I feel we should continue that trend.
"1 would like to see where funds are allocated and look at it (the state budget) and see if there are any of the discrepencies I have heard about in the past."
Menendez is looking for students who would like to help out in his campaign.
"I will be all around the district next week talking to residents and giving out literature,” Menendez said.
The first primary is on March 13. the second is March 20, and the final runoff will be on March 22.
"I have received a lot of positive feedback encouraging me to run. however, anyone running especially at my age is in great need of contributions,” Menendez said.
As of Monday there were four people qualified to run “and I know' there will be more".
. "Of the four canidatcs. several have run before and lost, and then
versity will not take any action on the matter until the court action is finalized.
“I am happy that UM Security and the Coral Gables Police Dept, have been able to solve the case and recover a portion of the funds," Bursar Paul Costello said.
Costello stated that the $4000 in tuition money that the suspect returned “goes right back where it came from - the University bank account."
The subject has been questioned about the other envelope of money notice missing from the Guidance Center in Jan.
“But he is not considered a suspect in that case.”
Hurricane
Elections
Applications are available in the Student Publications Business Office, Room S221 of the Student Union, for those wishing to run for the position of Hurricane Editor and Business Manager for the Fall, 1979, semester.
Deadline for filing is noon Friday, March 16 in that office.
All applicants must be screened in advance by Communications Professor George Southworth.
The editor and business manager both receive tuition remission for one semester and a stipend of $350.
Applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduate students and have at least a 2.0 grade point average.



..

No, no, it’s not what you think. We would never think of running pictures like this just to increase our readership — the young lovely above has a pertinent, timely reason to be in our paper. She’s Joan Lombardi, and she is representing U\1 in the Miss Florida-USA pageant. The pageant started Thursday and will wind up on Sunday. Good Luck, Joan’.
Menendez
again we have candidates w'ho are very qualified," Menendez said.
Menendez told the Hurricane that he felt he was a unique canidate for this race because of his age and his new’ness to Florida politics.
“I would like to believe that there is room in the Government for someone so young and honest. I have always been involved in public service jobs and I feel that I can relate to people very well,” Menendez said.
II as Alabama's Issislanl 11)
Thornton Named to AD Post
By BOB KNEELEY
Sports Editor
Dr. John Green. Executive Vice President in Charge of Administration and Finance announced the signing of Charley Thornton to the post of Athletic Director for the
University of Miami on Monday.
Thornton, for the past 15 years Assistant Athletic Director at Alabama. was named to the spot left vacant when former Athletic Director and head football coach Lou Saban left to take the head coaching
Student Jogger Gets Mugged
By LORI BARRIST
Hurricane News Writer
A UM student was mugged last Tuesday evening (Feb. 20) at ap-proximitely 8:30 at the northeast corner of the athletic field.
The student was walking back to the dorms after jogging at the track, when two black youths allegedly hit him in the face, knocked him down, and robbed him of an $1100 bracelet and $90 in cash.
According to Dennis Kronkiewicz, Public Information Officer at the Coral Gables Police Department, two males in their early twenties jumped out from behind a garbage dumpster and threw the victim to the ground, scraping his hands and knees.
When he tried to get up. one of the assailants pushed him down again and held a hunting knife to is neck shouting. .“Give us your money, honky-motherf-------
The muggers then fled on foot tow’ards San Amaro Drive.
"It seems to me that these two guys were waiting for him,” Jack Ackerly. Director of Law Enforcement at l M Security said.
Ackerly explained that since many joggers will run at the same time each night, the assailants may have noticed the victim’s bracelet at an earlier time.
“It was a very impressive piece of jewelry.” Kronkiewicz stated
The jewelry was described as a gold chain-link bracelet with the name "Billy" engraved in diamonds.
How'ever, the victim disagrees that the muggers had been planning to rob him. "1 was jogging earlier that evening than usual so that 1 could go to the Rat, I usually jog at 12 or 1 a m.”
The victim explained that the reason that he was jogging with an $1100 bracelet was that since he was not sure whether it was insured, he didn’t want to take a chance losing it.
As to the loss of the bracelet, the victim figured that "they probably needed it a lot more than I do."
"The assault was bad, but he could have been even more badly hurt," Ackerly said.
In the struggle, the victim lost one contact lens.
According to Ackerly, UM Security has no suspects at the present
time.
However. Kronkiewicz said that the Armed Robbery Division of the Coral Gables Police Department is presently working on suspects.
Kronkiewicz believes that at least one of the muggers may he a UM student since one of the youths was wearing a Class of ’82 UM T-shirt.
Plus/Minus Grades Put to \ ote
Firsf in a Series of Five Articles
By MICHAEL J. WEBER
News Editor
The question of whether or not to implement the “Plus-Minus” grading system may finally get an answer — from tlie students.
The proposed change from a straight A/B system to one that included plusses and minuses was originally brought up in the summer of 1976 and was scheduled for implementation last semester.
Discrepancies in the proposal, however, were brought to light by USBG Secretary for Academic Affairs Diana Joseph.
Joseph brought her claims to the Faculty Senate who voted to postpone implementation of the new grading policy on November 26, 1978.
”1 didn't feel there were enough bases covered in the original decision,” said Joseph,“to implement the plus-minus system.
"A lot of people didn't do their homework.”
The latest development in the fate of the plus-minus system came on Mondav when the USBG Senate 4
passed a bill which called for the plus-minus issue to be placed on the Spring Election ballot.
In an unusual decision, the Senate voted to place the referendum on the ballot as a three-part question instead of the usual yes or no format.
The three choices that the students will be asked to decide upon are as follows.
•	The standard grading system will he maintained.
•	The Plus-Minus system will be implemented, but it will be "grandfathered," that is, only incoming freshmen will be subject to the new policy.
•	The Plus-Minus system will be implemented starting next fall and will affect all students.
“I think that this is a major decision that affects all students,” said Joseph, "and therefore, there should be a provision made for all the students to participate in the formulation of that decision "
That is the logic behind placing the matter on the Spring ballot.
The vote does not guarantee, however, that the student consensus will be final. The Faculty Senate and the Administration have the
final word on the matter.
According to Joseph, the student vote will count heavily when the Faculty and Administration make their decision.
"The Faculty Senate and the Administration are willing to give a responsible student referendum their full consideration," Joseph said.
job at Army.
Howard Schnellenberger was named as the head coach last January.
Thornton, who will begin work next Wednesday, is a 43-year-old native of Fort Smith, Ark. His assistant, Ron Fraser, was named two weeks ago and will be in charge of ail minor sports, which constitutes baseball, soccer, tennis, swimming and golf.
Thornton began his career as a sportswriter in 1954. and since 1964 has worked for Alabama.
Some of his other posts included Executive Assistant to the Director of the NCAA (1963-64) and Assistant Athletic Director at Tulane (1960-63). He also served in a dual role of Sports Information Director and Assistant Athletic Director at Alabama.
A graduate of Arkansas State University, Thornton comes to Miami with the experience of working with one of the most successful athletic programs in the nation. the Crimson Tide.
His credentials for the Athletic Director’s job are as follows;
•	Knowledge and expereince with a successful program such as Alabama's.
•	Experience in Sports Information and working with the media, promoting athletes and programs. He is a member of the Sports Information Directors Hall of Fame.
•	Broad administrative experience including working with budgets and personnel.
•	Promotion and development of an effective ticket sales program for major sports.
•	Public Relations background should make him an effective fund raiser for UM.
•	Realizes the necessity of an education and degree for an athlete and the academic counseling that must be provided.
On The Inside
"Downtown" Defeats SAC, Tal^es IM Hoop Crown.
For Other IM Results, Turn to .....
Page 8
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Hispanic Fesr on SW 8th Sr...............Page 3
'Fielding Brickbats”.................... .Page 4
Tom Jones Still Makses Them Swoon.......Page 6
Interview With Isaac Bashevis Singer....Page 6
.Page 12
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