Miami Hurricane, November 11, 1980

              Readers Respond to Criticism Of Homecoming Organizer Rodriguez
— In EDITORIALS page 4
THE /WIA
Stephanie Mills Helped Wrap Up
The Week-Long Homecoming Festivities
In ENTERTAINMENT page 6
Volume 56, No. 22
Tuesday, November 11, 1980
Phone 284-4401
Friday Festivities End With A Bang
Miami Hurricane/BILL AUGUSTUS
Fireworks Were An Added Attraction At This Year's Homecoming
. . . displuy was sponsored by the Rathskeller Advisory Hoard
By MARTHA MARTIN
N«*l Writer
To top off a rousing night of Homecoming spirit, the annual boat burning took place on I.ake Osceola last Friday night, after the pep rally on the patio.
As an extra attraction this year, a fireworks display was added to the festivities. "We wanted to make it a little more special this year," said Melanie Solomon, chairman of the boat burning committee for Homecoming. “This was a culmination of a big week."
Candles were distributed to the crowd of about 2,500 people. “We knew it was going to be a big crowd, but we didn’t expert as many as we got," Solomon said.
To attract more people, the band paraded outside the Rathskeller, through the dorms, and all around the lake. “I think the students showed a lot of spirit,” Solomon said.
Traditionally, the burning boat signifies the opposing team in the Homecoming game. If the mast of the boat sinks, the Hurricanes are assured a victory.
This year, a pirate contest was also featured. "We wanted the most tyrannical, diabolical, meanest-look-ing pirate,” said Solomon. "It could be made out of paper mache or anything.”
The seven entries were judged by Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger.
The winner was chosen at the pep rally, where an award for most spirited football player was also pre-
sented. The award was given to defensive backs Jamie Boone and Fred Marion, and was presented by Solomon and Holly Byer, a member of the Homecoming Committee.
Once the pirate contest had been judged, the winning entry was placed on the boat by Solomon and John Stolfi, student advisor to Homecoming, and taken out to the middle of Lake Osceola. Students and the Band of the Hour surrounded the lake and watched the boat go up in flames, and the mast sink to the bottom.
"It looked great from where I was on the boat, with all the candles lit around the lake," Solomon said. “For me it was very moving because I’d put a lot of time and effort into it."
Usually, the chairman of the committee, and other members, build the boat, but this year four architecture students put it together.
"We wanted something special and I think the architecture students did a super job," Solomon said.
Once the fireworks display started, “oohs” and ‘’aahs" could be heard all around the lake.
"The fireworks cost about $1,000, hut Homecoming didn’t spend any money on it,” said Bill Esteviez, chairman of the committee. "It was sponsored by the Rathskeller Advisory Board."
“Fve had people come up to me and say they thought it was all very exciting and powerful," said Solomon. “I think the student body really enjoyed it, and we’d like to keep it |the fireworks display | as a tradition.”
Fire Forces Evacuation Of Towers
By JONATHAN WINSON
Nawl Wrlltr
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 2:08 a.m., there was a fire in the 960 Complex, and the two towers were evacuated. According to Ed Danow-itz, director of the Complex, the fire originated downstairs in the trash chute, and eventually spread out to each floor of the Complex.
The residents waited outside for 38 minutes while the Coral Gables Department searched the towers.
The incident was the third fire this semester at 960. The Complex has also had “countless" false alarms, according to residents.
When Danowitz contacted the fire department, he was informed that there was no chance that the fire cauld have been ignited by a cigarette.
Instead, it was suggested that “it was, in all likelihood, a burning material," such as a cloth or a piece of clothing. Danowitz said it could have been arson. .	»
According to Danowitz, there was an act of arson at the Complex earlier this semester. The perpetrator tore up a few phone books for ignition fuel, and set the south elevator into a blaze.
The wood paneling on the elevator was destroyed. At this time, the wood paneling has still not been restored on the elevator. The perpetrator has not been apprehended.
According to Danowitz, there is also a major disciplinary case currently being processed which involves a resident of the Complex. He is being charged with arson. There were no other details available on the case.
One of the major problems in trying to solve incidents of arson, according to Danowitz, is that the Departments of Residence Halls and Public Safety encounter apathy among the residents of 960.
Danowitz said that students will not get involved even if they know who is setting a fire, or pulling a that
false alarm. He said dents will not inform
the stu-authorities
about these events because they fear retaliation, such as their car tires being slashed, or a fire being ignited in their room.
“By law, there must be one fire drill a semester,” said Danowitz. The Complex administered one fire drill to the residents earlier in the semester. So, in effect, when the alarm goes off now it is either a false alarm or a real fire, he said.
Danowitz said that there have already been three fires in 960 this semester. There have been two trash chute fires, and the incident in the south elevator.
According to Danowitz, there are plans to reduce the excessive number of fire alarms in 960. He said there is a company that makes fire alarm boxes less accessible.
Currently, if an alarm is pulled, it first goes off at the front desk. Then the general alarm sounds. The new one would buzz immediately when pulled, perhaps enabling the resident assistant to see who the perpetrator is.
“If anyone is caught pulling a fire alarm (when there is no fire), that person will be dealt with very severely by law enforcement agencies and school officials," said Danowitz. “There could be a penalty of expulsion from the University. By Florida law, there is also a mandatory 30-day jail sentence."
The false alarms are also of serious concern to 960 residents. "The number of fire drills we have had this semester is ridiculous,” said Tom Gillingham, a freshman. "Most have been false alarms. However, when we had a real fire on Tuesday, many people did not leave their rooms, believing it was another false alarm.” Gillingham said that in the event of a serious blaze, many students could be killed.
“It’s unfortunate because [as a result of the false alarms] people will ignore further fire alarms," said Ronnie Romero, a junior. “Some day, one of these alarms will not be a joke, and like the boy who cried wolf, a lot of people will be very sorry."
Hurricane Elections
Applications for the positions of Editor-in-Chief, and Business Manager of the Hurricane for the 1981 spring semester are available in the Hurricane office, room 221 of the Student Union.
Elections will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. before the Board of Publications. The deadline for filing is 12 noon on
Nov. 19.
All candidates must be screened by George Southworth, senior advisor of the Hurricane, before the election. Southworth can be reached at x2265.
Any student who wishes to be considered for a position must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5.
Miami Hurricane BILL AUGUSTUS
Friday’s Traditional Boat Burning Ceremony Altraeted 2.500 Spectators
. . . flaming mast went down as a precursor to the Hurricanes' victory
Week Set For Lecture, Debate
By JOHN OUDENS
New, Writer
A lecture on Palestine and the U.S., and a debate on nuclear energy are two events scheduled this week by the Lecture Series.
On Thursday. Nov. 13, Dr. Edward Said, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, and author of various books on Arab affairs, will speak on “U.S. Foreign Policy and Palestine Self-Determination.”
The lecture, co-sponsored with the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO), begins at 8 p.m. in the Ibis Cafeteria.
According to Laura Morgan, COISO advisor, Said’s lecture will be a non-biased one. “1 don’t think he will take a pro-Palestine stand,” Morgan said, "but I think Palestine, and U.S. foreign policy toward it needs to be discussed."
Ushar Rajkumar, president of COISO, said Said was chosen to lecture because "he is a very moderate person."
Said was born in Jerusalem, received his AB from Princeton, and his MA and PhD from Harvard. He has lectured at more than 55 uni versities in the U.S. and Canada and at several universities abroad including the University of Kent the Sorbonne, and various institu tions in the Arab world.
Said's writings have appeared in nine languages, and in many publications, such as the New York Times, and Le Monde Diplomatique
Said is actively involved in the study of Arab affairs. He is editor of Arab Studies Quarterly, a member of the Palestine National Council, and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Arab Studies.
The nuclear energy debate will be held tomorrow on the Rock at 12 noon.
Jacques Moritz, chairman of the Lecture Series, will moderate the debate. Pete Morris, a Westing-house nuclear engineer, will represent the pro-nuclear position: Mar-
tin Hodder, a Miami lawyer, will oppose Morris.
Tom Morey, a member of the Lecture Series Committee, said that the debate should last about an hour. "It will begin with a short introduction followed by 10 minutes |of speaking] time for each side, a 20-minute question-and-answer period, and a five-minute closing for each side," said Morey.
Morey explained how the debate was set up.
“The Westinghouse Corporation
has a program called ‘Westinghouse Campus America,’ ” Morey said, "and this program offered the Lecture Series Mr. Morris, free of charge, for a debate about three weeks ago ... if we wanted him, we had to supply the place, time, and opponent.
"However," Morey continued, “the Lecture Series would have to set up the debate some time between Nov. 10 and 12, as those were the only dates for which Mr. Morris was available."
Thus, said Morey, the Series “really had to scramble to find an opponent ... we usually have much more time." For example, the Series had more than two months to plan the Coretta Scott King appearance.
Morey added that the Series was lucky to have lined up Hodder for the debate. Hoddei. according to Morey, is a prominent environmental and public interest lawyer who has spoken out against nuclear energy.
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V	Miami Hurricane, DENNIS DEBLOiS
The Hurricanes snapped their three-game losing streak with a 23 10 victory over East Carolina on Saturday. Miami dominated the Pirates both offensively and defensively, but the game was not decided until the final seconds. See Sports, page 8. Pictured: Hurricane defenders Jim Burt and Tim Flanagan close in on Pirate running back Reggie Harden.
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