Miami Hurricane, April 03, 1998

              CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA	*	SINCE 1927
VOLUME 75, ISSUE 44__________________________WWW.HURRICANE.MIAMI.EDU	FRIDAY, APRIL 3,1998
MIH THE RIVALS
■ Florida State University plays host to the Hurricanes this weekend.
SPORTS, page 4
FISH GOTTA SWIM~
■	Find out what to expect if you'r^planning on taking a ride on Showboat.
ACCENT, page 6 KOZLOFF ON COLOMBIA
■	Is the United States training Colombian mercenaries?
OPINION, page 10
news briefs
STUDENTS GIT REFUND FROM FRAUDULENT COMPANY
Students who file complaints against Impressions & Gifts, Inc. Academic Investment Money by May 1 may be eligible for a refund.
AIM preyed on college students seeking financial assistance for college tuition. The company claimed to help students locate and obtain college grants and scholarships. Students paid AIM fees ranging from $70 to $100.
In order to receive a refund, students should file a written complaint, with supporting documentation, to Susan Bieber, New York State Department of Law, Bureau of Consumer Frauds, 120 Broadway, New York, New York 10271.
EXIT INTERVIEWS BEGIN
The office of student account services will conduct exit interviews for graduating students who received student loans on Apnl 16 and April 17 in UC Flamingo Ballroom from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For more information call 284-6430, Option 5.
today's weather
Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 80s and evening lows in the mid 70s. Surf temperature 84.
- National Weather Service
Speaker asks ‘Can you afford a DUI?’
■ Greek Week event focuses on safety issues
By VICTORIA BALLARD
Associate News Editor
BACCHUS and Greek Week ‘98 sponsored a DUI education program entitled “DUI: Can You Afford ItT on Wednesday, April 1, with guest speaker, Judge Ellen Sue Venzer.
Venzer is a UM graduate who currently works in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Criminal Justice Division. She also premiered die “Courts in the Classrooms” program in the county, which brings an entire trial to a classroom. An actual defendant is tried in the classroom.
Venzer’s presentation was preceded by a small speech by Assistant Dean of Students Allison Gillespie, who is also the advisor for BACCHUS. “DUI is the most senseless, useless death in the world," she said. “It is an issue that impacts us all.”
The presentation took the form of a question-and-answcr session.
The purpose of BACCHUS and the program is to educate the and disseminate information so people do not endanger themselves or others. Gillespie read the poem Death of An Innocent.
Venzer began by asking the 45 students, “Who can hold their liquor die best?" A male and female volunteer wore the “Fatal Vision” glasses. Neither were able to walk the line taped on the ground. The person is required to walk nine steps forward, pivot and then return. The steps must be heel to toe.
BACCHUS focuses on safety issues around alcohol, said Gillespie. “Drunk driving, sex, financial
See DUI • Page 2
|.|. GAMA - LOBO / Photo Editor WALKING THE LINE: Students wearing the "Fatal Vision" glasses try to keep it straight.
New blue-light phones go up near Frat Row
■ Senate bill calls for six phones to be installed in next two weeks
By CHRIS SOBEL
Hurricane Staff Writer
With SG’s new executive board in place and campus security heightened, senators this week discussed safety issues and announced the addition of a new blue-light phone along Fraternity Row.
The new blue-light phone will be installed between the Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Epsilon Pi houses, according to new University Affairs Chair Heather Kellett, within the next two weeks, along with five other new blue-light phones.
“There have been some unfortunate situations but we're ready to deal with them.” said President Andrew Paul, referring to SG's commitment to student safety.
“We have senators who are very interested and will be working on this situation in the next four weeks,” said Senate Speaker Racquel Russell.
Student Government last semester passed a bill to install four blue-light phones to be placed in the Memorial
parking lot, Stanford Circle, between Richter library and the UC, and between the Business School and Mahoney/Pearson.
Sandra Redway, director of Parking and Transportation, said that in addition to the blue-light phones SG asked for, the University decided to install one in the Metro North lot.
“I was really surprised at how poor lighting along Sam Amaro is and glad I was in a large group when we did it,” said Kellett, one of several SG members who took a lighting tour Tuesday night with Major Henry Christensen, director of Public Safety.
Kellett said University architect i Barbara White was to meet with Coral Gables officials to impiovej street lighting along Sam Amaro.
Kellett said that when SG mem-j hers took the lighting tour, city-operated street lights were out^
“We may be able to get thinj done on this issue without passingV bill through the Senate because (htf just takes time," said Paul.
Richard Walker, SG advisor director of Student Life and the U( said the Women’s Resource Centi is looking to co-sponsor a Safer and Security Week with SG durir
See SC • Page 2
Foreign Language Department awards 1998 scholarships
UM to build new soccer stadium
■ Students recognized for their study efforts
By CHRISTY CABRERA
Assistant News Editor
Students who thought there were no real benefits to studying a foreign language may want to rethink their
decision.
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures recently awarded their 1998 scholarships, proving that learning a foreign language can be beneficial.
“It's meant to be a recognition of their efforts,” said Celita Lamar, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures chair. “We want to honor as many students as we can.”
All students studying within the department were eligible for the awards, which have been given annually since the 1960s.
“They are given away to encourage students to study foreign languages,” said Jane Connolly, a member of the committee which chose the awards recipients. “There are awards specifically for French, Spanish, German and others for any language studied."
Connolly said that each of the awards was different. Some awards required applications while others were awarded by the faculty.
The majority of funds for the awards were donated by members of the community, Connolly said.
“Some awards have stipulations," she said. “Some of the awards were specifically for students studying Spanish, some were for students of Hispanic origins."
Some of the scholarships awarded were the Wilson Language Scholarships. The Wilson awards were given to a sophomore, junior and senior and required an application.
Applicants had to request a letter of recommendation and maintain a high overall GPA.
Sophomore Shani Ospina, who is
studying both Italian and German, said she decided to apply and see what would happen.
“I thought I might have a chance to win and there was nothing to lose,” said Ospina. “I was really happy when 1 found out I won. I knew the competition was fierce."
Other recipients of the Wilson Awards include junior Sabina Sabharwal and senior Andrew Georgiadis.
Another of the awards handed out included the John and Melanie Rohrer German Student Scholarship. The Rohrer award has been awarded each year to a graduating senior who has the highest average in a German major or minor.
For the recipient of the Rohrer award. Kevin Fernandez, winning came as a surprise.
“It's really great," Fernandez said. “I feel very honored. I’m not sure what I'll do with the money. I'll make that decision at a later date.
Another scholarship winner was Jack Freelander, who won the Jose A. Balseiro Hispanic Literature Student Scholarship.
Freelander said he and his classmates were encouraged to apply, and that he decided to enter a paper he had written for one of his Spanish classes.
"It makes me feel good to win,” said Freelander. “1 try hard in Spanish and it's very nice to have your accomplishments recognized."
The scholarships are valued from $50 to $1,000. Winners are encouraged to use the money to continue their foreign language studies, said Connolly.
“I will probably use the money to take German classes in Italy," said Ospina.
Other scholarship winners include Michelle Alvarez, D.H. Redfem Estate Scholarship; Sho Akimoto, Machler German Language Award; Paola Pilonieta, Ann Colbert Memorial Award; Patricia Katri, Dtsmukes Huguenot French Award, and Mary Davis, Outstanding Senior Award.
■ Cobb, longtime trustee, donates money
By KELLY RUANE
Editor In Chief
The University of Miami’s soccer and track teams will have a new stadium come fall.
University trustee Charles Cobb donated the money to build the Cobb Stadium for Soccer, Track and Field on the Coral Gables campus. The University will reconstruct and expand the current facilities, located next to the Hecht Athletic Center. Groundbreaking will take place April 21.
The stadium, which will seat up to 500 people, is expected to be ready for next fall. The University will make (he stadium available to host soccer and track and field events for local schools and youth groups.
Athletic Director Paul Dee said the stadium will be beneficial for all teams involved.
“As we elevate women’s soccer to a varsity sport, we want to give them an opportunity to compete at the highest level,” Dee said.
The building plan will affect some of the parking by the Hecht Athletic Center. Dee said he does not expect this to be a problem for students.
“They will lose some spaces, but [the administration) has just recently completed a 78-car parking lot (behind the Sigma Chi house) which should make up for the spaces we’re losing,” Dee said.
The stadium will also take up some space on the football practice field. Dee said this will not affect the team's practices.
“The track is going to intrude onto the football practice area about 25 feet, but we've re-engineered the location of the football field,” Dee said. “We're re-doing the football fields and those will be ready for
play August I
Cobb, who has served on the Board of TYustees for over 20 years, is no stranger to making donations.
He paid for the fountain in Lake Osceola, and has endowed other scholarships, as well. The stadium project is close to his heart, Cobb said, because he coached his sons in \ both soccer and track when they were children.
Cobb himself was captain of the Stanford University track team and a member of the 1960 United States Olympic team as a high hurdler.
Cobb said he is “very proud” of the University’s progress over the last 20 years that he has been associated with it.
“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished, students, trustees and faculty, all of us working together,” Cobb said. “We’ve increased SAT scores, athletic programs, fund-raising, and so together we have created > a much greater University.”
|.|. GAMA - LOBO / Photo Editor
THE BEST A MAN CAN GET: The Gillette company brought its 'Get into the Action World Cup '98 Soccer Skills Tour" to the University of Miami UC Patio on Tuesday. The tour featured interactive activities, such as the "Right Guard One-On-One Soccer Challenge," music and prizes.
BEEFCAKE