The Beacon, October 22, 2007 Florida International University
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 10-22-2007 The Beacon, October 22, 2007 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, October 22, 2007" (2007). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 234. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/234 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Our View: New bill will help students graduate debt free. Page 5. A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 20, Issue 23 www.beaconnewspaper.com October 22, 2007 FREE DANCE MOVES POISON IN THE PUBLIC “SUPER” SOULJA? RIVALRY REVISITED Salsa, ballroom, hip-hop and more Smokers put non-smokers at risk Degrading lyrics propel rap song Women’s soccer falls to UM AT THE BAY PAGE 4 OPINION PAGE 5 LIFE! PAGE 6 SPORTS PAGE 12 Hate crime WITH AGE COMES WISDOM charges dropped MARIA CHERCOLES News Director Prosecutors of the alleged Sept. 23 hate- crime against a black FIU student announced last week that they plan to drop the charges. FIU student Stephen Barrett, 18, who was called a racist slur and later beaten along with two college friends, told prosecutors that the 15-year old accused of the slur did not use the N-word but rather said “nigga,” a less-loaded term rooted in hip-hop culture. ‘’Maybe things got [hectic] because of it ... I don’t believe that they wanted to come after me just because I was black,’’ Barrett said, according to a transcript of an inter- view released Oct. 17, The Miami Herald reported. MELINDA BOONE/THE BEACON However, the fi ve teens arrested in the Haulover Beach Park Marina incident still SUPER NURSE: Willie Pearl Porter, a veteran nurse, (left) speaks with Erika Matthews (right) and Angelina Duquesne (center), two of face charges for battery with prejudice. FIU’s nursing students on Oct. 18 during the Inauguration of the South Florida Nursing Archives in the Green Library. The decision was announced in a Miami- Dade Community Relations Board meeting Oct. 17, meant to ease tensions among black leaders. Act proposes credit restrictions for students Ed Harris, director of the special projects for Miami-Dade’s offi ce of community rela- tions, told The Miami Herald that the case KEVIN SMITH abominable that they couldn’t been referred to the Committee showed that 77 percent of college underscores the danger of the word in all its Contributing Writer rent a car,” Slaughter said in an on Banking, Housing and Urban students used their credit cards for variations. interview with MSNBC Sept. 5. affairs but no decisions have every day personal expenses and ‘’We need to eliminate it. People have died With the number of students Slaughter’s bill, which was been made. reached their credit limit within because of it,’’ Harris said. suffering from credit card debt proposed Aug. 1, is actually an Those who would fall under weeks. Witnesses told prosecutors that the nearly doubling each year, U.S. amendment to the Consumer the Act’s restrictions could have The bill would apply to stu- teen used the word simply because he was Representative Louise Slaughter Credit Protection Act of 2005. their parents co-sign with them on dents such as junior Anthony ``ghetto.’’ has proposed the College Stu- The proposed amendment credit card applications for higher Rodriguez, who received his fi rst ‘’This was a fi ght that involved blacks, dent Credit Card Protection Act, would apply the 20 percent spending limits. credit card when he began his col- whites, Hispanics and Asians. It was not which would limit the credit card restrictions of credit card spend- According to Nellie Mae, a lege career in 2005. Rodriguez a hate crime. It included everyone,’’ said spending of college students to 20 ing only to students under the age major student loan provider, the began charging every day items Miami-Dade prosecutor Breezye Telfair percent of their annual income. of 21. The amendment will also average college student incurs a to his card and quickly racked up during the meeting, as reported by The Miami “It’s astonishing to me to see prohibit students from receiving credit card debt of over $1,843. a $1500 debt. Herald. college students coming out of more than one credit card without The Educational Resources “I was shocked when my The incident took place when Barrett and school with staggering amounts the student presenting proof of Institute, along with the Institute fellow college students Christopher Eden, of debt and credit scores so independent income. The bill has for Higher Education Policy, CREDIT BILL, page 3 18, and Daniel Cabezas, 18, tried to return in a ferry from a keg party on an island in the Intercoastal Waterway and were asked HISPANIC HERITAGE to get off because the boat was at capacity. After the three students refused to leave, a teen told Barrett, ‘’Nigga, get off the boat,’’ Events raise cultural awareness, interest offi cials said during the meeting. When the FIU students reached the marina, a group of about 10-15 people were ELVIS RAMIREZ Michelle Oria, the vice presi- will continue until the begin- throughout the event. waiting with baseball bats. Barrett was hit in Staff Writer dent of external affairs for the ning of November. It’s more of a celebration of the back of the head but it’s still unknown Student Programming Council The UP council will host a Hispanic heritage, the politi- who did it. The Hispanic Heritage at University Park. variety of events during these cal aspect of the culture is not The Miami Herald reported that prosecu- Committee chose to hold “It’s [Hispanic heritage] not weeks. On Oct. 27, SPC-UP the focus of the festivities at tors might also drop the battery charges. events celebrating Hispanic just one culture,” Oria said. will host Carnaval, an event UP, according to Oria. ‘’No one knows who hit who,’’ Telfair told heritage throughout the month “When most people think of where almost every Hispanic “The Carnaval has been the board. ``Where it stands now, we cannot of October because it is easier Hispanic Heritage they think country and culture will be in the planning stages since prove anything.’’ to represent many cultures of Cinco de Mayo. represented, in Lot 3. Dis- September and is a big event,” Later investigations show that no one with this amount of time, When you look online plays with information on a Oria said. "[The committee had tried to drown Barrett as was previously according to Gabriel Labra- everything about Hispanic specifi c country's culture will planned the Carnaval] so reported. dor, committee chair. heritage is Cinco de Mayo.” be a large part of the event. everyone has the chance to Barrett, Cabezas and Eden refused to com- The committee’s goal was To celebrate Hispanic Her- The event is free to stu- participate in Hispanic heri- ment because of the pending lawsuit. to steer students away from itage Month SPC at both UP dents who are each allowed tage.” The teens must appear in court Oct. 24. the belief that Hispanic cul- and the Biscayne Bay Campus to bring two guests. There will tures are all the same, said planned several events that be food and DJs mixing music HERITAGE, page 4 2 The Beacon – October 22, 2007 NEWS www.beaconnewspaper.com ‘Green’ THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS LOVE YOUR BODY MONDAY • OCTOBER 22 hopes stem Campus Bible Fellowship: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., GC 314 (UP) SPC BBC- Iron Chef Latin America: 2 p.m., class project HM (BBC) Panther Rage General Meeting: 4 p.m., GC 140 (UP) Creativity Workshop by Dr. Jeffrey Stamp: EVELYN DIAZ 6 - 8 p.m., GC Ballrooms (UP) Contributing Writer TUESDAY • OCTOBER 23 Students in professor Yolanda Cal’s Advertising 3200 Creative Concepts Student Government Association- Service class are using their creativity to get Fair: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., GC(UP) FIU students thinking about the envi- Panther Power Meeting: 2 p.m., WUC 157 ronment and ways to “Make Recycling (BBC) Fun.” MPAS- STARS Graduate School Symposium: Presently, FIU seems to lead in 12 - 1:50 p.m., GC 340 (UP) campus recycling among colleges and Campus Bible Fellowship: 7:30 - 9 p.m., GC universities in Miami. 343 (UP) FIU already recycles paper, alu- Dance Marathon Golden Idol Finals: 8 minum, plastics, glass, light bulbs, p.m., GC Ballrooms (UP) cardboard paper, wood pallets, car batteries and trees. WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 24 The University of Miami and Flor- GSA General Meeting: 1 p.m., GC 140 (UP) ida Atlantic University only recycle SPC BBC- Afro-Cuban Celebration: 2 p.m., paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and Panther Square (BBC) aluminum cans, while Miami-Dade Music Saves Lives- General Meeting: 1 p.m., College does not recycle at all. GC 140 (UP) But Cal wants to do more. She Catholic Student Union- Faith Jam Lunch: 1 says she came up with the idea of a - 3 p.m., GC 2215 (UP) group project that focuses on recycling Catholic Student Union- BBQ Social: 6 - 11 because she wants to do a good deed p.m., FIU Apts. Gazebo (UP) for the environment and to offer her Business Etiquette Dinner: 6 p.m., WUC students a hands-on assignment.