Miami Hurricane, April 10, 2001

              Football team competes in scrimmage
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Students improve life in the Grove
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The Mimi hiirricme
Coral Gables, Florida
Volume 78, Number 46
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www.hurricarìe.miami
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
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LIBRART
Since 1927
Tuesday, April 10,2001
Event
benefits
undergrad
research
By Ambar Hernandez
Hurricane Staff Reporter
The University of Miami receives $100 million in research money, said Joy Yoshina, public relations officer for the student organization Inquiry.
“Undergraduate students should also benefit from this research moneyr Yoshina said.
On April 19, Inquiry will be hosting Undergraduate Research Day (URD) in the Lower Lounge of the University Center (UC). The event, open to the public, will showcase research projects conducted by undergraduate students.
“URD fulfills a need at the University of Miami. More students need to be aware of what they can do at an undergraduate level,” Yoshina said.
URD is sponsored by Sigma Chi; the Office of Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs T)r. Pern Lee Roberts; and Dr. Dan DiResta.
IJRtif was specifically designed as a forum'Where students can present their retftani), while gaining experience in discussing the elements of their work anil shaking with members of related fieids.ll also exposes undergraduates to thfywffi of their peers and constructive criticism from experts, DiResta said.
The panel of judges will include faculty members from the sciences, Engineering and Psychofogy throughout the University of Miami. Judges are to include but are not limited to as part of their assessments originality, effort, poster presentation, independence and interaction with judges.
To participate, entrants must undergo an application process and submit an abstract summarizing their project and stating their conclusions. There are no registration fees to enter.
For those students interested'in conducting a research project it is advised “to speak to those who know,” said Yoshina. That is, professors, advisors and graduate students who can provide guidance tor research project. They can refer students to other people who might be working in related research or invite undergraduates to join them if they are currently working in a similar project, Yoshina said.
On Friday, April 20, an awards luncheon will be held in Dr. Michael Fischl’s master apartment when the judges will announce the winners. Participants will r. Iso be allowed to speak to professors about possible future research, sugges tions to perfect their research projects, and other helpful information.
The winners will be awarded gift certificates from the UM Bookstore and plaques.
Inquiry has plans of expanding URD, Yoshina said. The club wants to increase the events popularity and to bring aboaid more undergraduates who have conducted research or have plans of doing so. This year’s number of entrants is expected to be about 24, Yoshina said.
“Here at UM, undergraduates are actively involved in research, we arc just not aware of it,” said Veronica Segarra, URD co-chairperson.
Inquiry hopes to reward the undergraduate researchers with recognition frqrt} ptgvt and professes a|i*e, Seg*r| g said. •	- •*
“We want for our peer undergrads to tied, and to know, that this event is theirs,, regardless of their participation in research or not," said Segarra.
International Week
By Rachael Henriksen
Hurricane Staff Reporter
The clouds and windy overcast weather last Friday did nothing to dispel the enthusiasm of the student organizations representing Asia Day on the University Center (UC) Patio, they said.
International Weeks Opening Ceremonies took place at noon and Asia was the first geographical area to be represented out of the more than 40 that will be showcased throughout the week, organizers said.
“International Week promotes the idea that people should gather together to expose culture. Often on our campus, culture is overlooked and lost in the shuffle of going to classes,” senior Jay-Jee Coong said. Coong organized the Malaysia display. He also said he thinks that this oversight is also reflected daily not only in Miami, but throughout the world.
The start of this festival of cultures is a fantastic way to open up the eyes of all students that arc willing to participate in the festivities, organizers said.
Each tent in the UC Patio represented a different country and under each one there were a variety of things to do, pictures to look at and ethnic cuisine food to tempt taste buds.
“I-Week is a great chance to express Indian culture,” said Additya Vora, president of the Indian Students Association.
Under the India tent mehndi—a type of non perma nent tattoo-— was being skillfully drawn onto the stom achs and other body parts of a UM students. Indian food, clothing and jewelry was also sold.
The Filipino Students Association (FSA) served lumpia—a type of fried egg roll—and tarun, a traditional Filipino dessert, in their stall
According to FSA president, Quang Ion,“International week is the best chance we have to represent their culture. It seems like the main idea here is culture.
“It is so important not to overlook the festivities that are going to be taking place during all of Internationa! week. International week promotes a new kind of understanding and respect for all who take part in learning about the culture of others.”
An infusion of culture
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SONJA CHRISTOPH / Hurricane Staff
BODY ART: The first event of International Week, Asia Day, offered students mehndi body art, Asian cuisine and performances.
“International Week promotes the • idea that people should gather together to expose culture. Often on our campus culture is overlooked and lost in the shuffle of going to classes.”
Luau whisks students away to islands of Asia
By Aubrey Andel
Hurricane Staff Writer
Last week was the first time in 76 years that Asian American Awareness Week was celebrated on this campus.
Hula and fire dancers mesmerized a crowd of 100 people on the UC Patio during an event called The Islands of Asia sponsored by the Asian American Students Association (AASA) last Thursday as part of the week’s cultural events.
Torches, flower leis and virgin pina coladas put everyone in a tropical mood for the evening, onlookers said.
The highlight of the night was a Samoan fire dancer, who stunned the crowd with his amazing stunts involving two wooden sticks that were lighted on both ends.
“Oohs” and “wows" were exclaimed as the fire dancer tossed, twirled and tumbled with the fire sticks.
“The fire guy was awesome,” said junior Max Alvarez. “I respect any man who performs with a fire stick”
“Get ready, this is sophisticated hula,” said a member of the Drums of Polynesia, a group that was hired to perform at the event.
Two young women took center stage wearing flowers in their hair, coconut brassiere tops and short yellow hula skirts. The dancers displayed their expertise before recruiting 12 audience members to join them on stage for a hula lesson.
Ttoo male hula dancers followed and entertained the women of the audience by gyrating their hips and shimmying
across the stage to the rhythmic music.
“The backdrop was a perfect setting,” sail senior Bijoux Wong, whose aunt was one of the performers. “I felt like 1 was on a tropical island.”
Junior Ajay from St. Croix, who will emcee for tonight’s Pacific Night, said the performance was amazing. “The Polynesian culture is out of sight.” Asian American Awareness Week has been a work-in-progress for the past three years, said AASA President AmmirVayani.
“We’re a true minority on this campus and this is the first time that we’ve celebrated our culture and our heritage as Asian Americans,” Vayani said.
The events of the week included Japanese Animation Night, A Window to Asia, India Day, Asia Day, One Night
of Asia, and Stars of Asia Banquet. Free food, yoga instruction, mendhi, movies and cultural performances were featured throughout the week.
Vayani said the events were Americanized and had an East-West touch to them.
“Our whole intention for the week was having interaction with students and faculty from all different cultures and having interactive activities," he said. “1 think that’s what we’ve achieved.”
The Islands of Asia event was made possible through the support of Hurricane Productions.
“Thus was totally sponsored by HP and we’re very grateful to them,” Vayani said. The other events were financed with AASA funds.
Solutions hosts women and writing conference
By Francesca Vitale
¡» Hurricane Staff Writer
In pursuit of intellectual stimulation, both faculty members and students gathered last Wednesday afternoon in the University Center Flamingo Ballroom to attend the first session of a three-part conference sponsored by the student organization Solutions.
Reflecting on the design of the Conference itself, exposing differences was one of the main intentions, organizers said, . „
•4‘ V‘The organization is striving to create an intellectual forum, comprised of both members of the faculty and of the student body, through annual conferences and other weekly activities," said Asma Uddin, president of Solutions.
A panel of four female faculty mem-
bers spoke on the topic of Writing Women while Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Rita Deutsch, acted as moderator.
The four panelists were chosen because of their specialized disciplines so that each could make a unique contribution to the discussion on the role of women both as writers and as the subjects of literature, organizers said.
Deutsch opened the panel with a personalized look at the progress of female scholars within the scope of her own career. After acquainting the audience with the scholarly^hjeyerffeflts of rfcih speaker through ¿T(iograpMt*l introduction, the piffelists, Dr. Susan Haack of the Philosophy Department, Dr. Sandra Paquet and Dr. Mihoko Suzuki of the English Department, and Dr. Barbara Woshinsky of Foreign
Languages, each spent approximately 15 minutes presenting a small slice of the “female perspective.”
The novel Gaudy Night by Dorothy Leigh Sayers got the ball rolling as the panelists took turns interpreting its “female perspective.”
Although just this one topic was at the heart of the discussion, each panelist chose their own distinct approach. When invited at the culmination of the event to comment, the panelists openly debated their opposing views with each other as well as with audience meaner * ■ ■"*" fthuojply proUein that the Session I might haw had,” Dr Woshinsky said, “was that students may not have been familiar with the literary material.”
. “Many students feel that they do not have adequate, or equal, interaction
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with their professors. Solutions hopes to foster more frequent and meaningful communication between these two worlds,” Khaleem Mohammed-Ali, conference coordinator, said.
“We also hope to enhance the experience by inviting curious individuals with diverse academic concentrations and interests to join the events,” Uddin said.
If students are interested in extending their own thoughts on these or other books, Solutions meets at the Rat every Friday at noon to do just that.
Topics for the two upcoming ses sioas of (he Conference, which will also he held in Flamingo Ballroom B, arc “Beyond Mars and Venus” and “Testing Women: Sex and Gender in the Lab.”
Patience pays off for Sanjeev Chatterjee
ByTaryn Vanaskie
Hurricane Staff Writer
Dedication and patience have finally paid off for a School of Communication professor.
Professor Sanjeev Chatterjee, known for his work on documentary films, was recently appointed resident master at Eaton Residential College, an interest he first expressed back in 1994 when he began teaching at UM.
“At that time, I was told I had three jobs first: tenure, tenure, tenure,” Chatterjee said.
Chatterjee has since received tenure and will be seen in Eaton next fall, along with his wife and two children. Eaton residents will have to say goodbye to current Resident Masters Dr. Liz and Ash Rothlein while extending a welcome to professor Chatterjee and his family.
He said he looks forward to becoming a part of the Residential College community. “I am really grateful for the opportunity to take some kind of leadership position in a community I believe to be my own,” he said.
Chatterjee, who is originally from India, said he feels the people who define themselves as Indians because they came from there a long time ago share a more artificial bond with him than the one Eaton offers.
“I feel I fall into Eaton’s community much better,” Chatterjee said.
So how exactly did Chatterjee become a resident master?
“Before 1 left for India on sabbatical, I mentioned to Paul Lazarus an interest,” Chatterjee said. This began the whole process.”
Lazarus, a professor in the School of Communication, had also been a resident master in Eaton from 1993-1998. He highly recommended Chatterjee for the position to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Patricia Whitely, and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs Dr. Perri Lee Roberts, the two decisionmakers of the process.
Chatterjee “is the prototype of what the University wants in a resident master,” Lazarus said. “He is a dedicated family man and represents diversity for all different types on campus.”
Lazarus added that the nice part about Chatterjee is that he brings meaning to the word collegial by extending himself everyday, making him a good resident master.”
“Professor Chatterjee is a terrific scholar, role model and advocate for students,” said Whitely. “We believe he will be a wonderful addition to the residential college program.”
Roberts shed some light on the process of choosing the Resident Master.
“There is usually a cycle of approximately three to five years fof the Resident Master,” Roberts said.'W* Mt it was time to make a change."
Roberts and Whitely said they
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