MHMC- Commercial Template Doc Size 11.25” X 14” Image Area 10.375 x 11.75 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 1 The Miami VVol.ol. 888,8, IIssuessue 5511 | DDec.ec. 2 - DDec.ec. 114,4, 22010010 HURRICANESTUDENTSTSTUDUDENE T NEWSPAPERNENEWSWSPAPAPEP RRO OFOF THET UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, SINCE 1929 TThehe sstarttart ooff a nnewew eerara Shannon fired, Hocutt seeks replacement BY JUSTIN ANTWEIL | SPORTS EDITOR he Hurricanes need a big splash and a leader who will dramatically change the complexion of the UM football program. The theme of Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt’s press conference on Sunday was that the Hurricanes need “to be nationally relevant.” Hocutt is confident that the identity of the football program can Tchange rapidly. “There are brighter days ahead and the U will be back where it belongs at the pinnacle of the college football world,” Hocutt said. Randy Shannon shined as a terrific linebacker, a great defensive coordinator and an outstanding recruiter, but after four years as head coach, Hocutt felt a new leader was needed. “[The USF] outcome did not determine this decision,” Hocutt said. “It was not made on 60 minutes. It was made with the total body of work in mind.” Shannon’s well-known relaxed demeanor proved ineffective at maximizing the talent of his players. His 16-16 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference accurately reflected his mediocre performance. With the hiring of a new football coach, Hocutt and UM President Donna E. Shalala know they need an eye popper, a wow-factor, someone who exudes confidence, exhibits passion and oozes swagger. Quarterback is the most important position in football and right now Miami does not have a definitive starter. Miami has two quality quarterbacks in freshman Stephen Morris and junior Jacory Harris. “It’s going to be competition,” interim head coach Jeff Stoutland said. “I think that we have two really good quarterbacks and I think that they are very bright and I think they know this offense.” The next coach must be able to handle this dilemma. Filling the seats at Sun Life Stadium is a must. Miami had just over 25,000 fans at the USF game last Saturday and despite it being Thanksgiving weekend, that was not an acceptable turnout for Hocutt. “Was I pleased with the crowd at the game? No. These young men deserve better than that and we are going to move forward,” he said. SEE COACH SEARCH, PAGE 22 CCOMMENCMENTOMMENCMENT OORR BBUSTUST MORE PEOPLE ARE GRADUAT ING FROM UM LINDSAY BROWN // Photo Editor THAN EVER BEFORE PAGE 3 ONE LAST LOOK: Recently fi red football coach Randy Shannon stands on the sidelines of the Hurricane game against North Carolina Oct. 23. DDON’TON’T BBEE A GGRINCHRINCH TTHISHIS YYEAREAR GET A HEAD START ON YOUR SHOPPING WITH OUR GIFT GUIDE PAGE 13 MHMC- Commercial Template Doc Size 11.25” X 14” Image Area 10.375 x 11.75 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2 Check out what’s Silent partying to occur at Richter exclusively available at Second finals fete TheMiamiHurricane. com. to ease stress BY KYLIE BANKS CONTRIBUTING NEWS WRITER Though the Richter library sees plenty of students come through its doors, most are there to work- or at least pretend to work while browsing Facebook. But at midnight next Wednes- day, students will put down their books and boogie for a few hours at the second annual Silent Dance Party. Junior Michael Salazar is the head of the event, which pre- Ernesto Suarez miered last semester during finals covered this week in week. Salazar stressed that the Hurricane sports. party will be much different this time. Bijal Mehta is “Last year it was scheduled ready for this spring's for five minutes,” he said. This UGalilee study year, the party has been extended abroad. Read all to 15 minutes. COURTESY MICHAEL SALAZAR about it in her story. The dance party will take Students dance their stresses away at the Silent Dance Party last DANCING IN THE WHITE LIGHT: Want to get to place on the first and second May. This semester, it is scheduled for Wednesday and will take place on the fi rst and second fl oors. floors of the library starting at know the Hecht midnight. Greeks Advocating the Faculty Master? spot at the event. some, as well as assorted friends “I saw a whole bunch of Mature Management of Alcohol Bolton Lancaster's got Sophomore Michelle Penk- and Silent Dance Party event co- Facebook videos from people who (GAMMA) will be providing cof- the inside scoop. rot remembers how much fun the ordinators, to join him at a special went, and it looked fun,” she said. fee and food for the party, which first party was and plans on being VIP room. Almutairi stressed the impor- Are you a already has about 1,500 potential KiK there for the second one. Junior Thamer Almutairi, tance of the party for all students. freak? Check out attendees on its Facebook event “Everyone came to the li- the public relations officer for the “As a student majoring in Nicole Adlman's page before Thanksgiving break. brary and at about midnight event, would not give any details electrical engineering, I spend review. According to the page, stu- people started dancing,” she said. about what the VIP room would many hours studying in the li- dents who want to participate “The whole first floor was packed entail. brary,” he said. “This makes for a Nick Maslow should bring their own iPods, with people.” “It will be amazing,” he said. great study break, especially dur- interviewed Christian MP3 players and headphones. Another difference in this Sophomore Katie Morrison ing finals.” Bale and Mark Students are also encouraged to year’s event is the addition of a is planning on attending the party Wahlberg about wear Santa hats and arrive early VIP section. Salazar invited UM because of the publicity from last Kylie Banks may be contacted at their new fi lm “The to ensure that they have a prime groups GAMMA and UR Awe- year’s event. [email protected]. Fighter.” Laurie Charles has a profi le on the chair of Hurricane NEWS BRIEFS Productions. Subscribe for the and humanitarian efforts have aided victims tra. The Knight Foundation grant has been e-mail edition of the DEAN HONORED of natural disasters and spinal cord injury, will matched with a $500,000 cash contribution by University of Education Dean Isaac newspaper at www. give advice to graduates at the University of Mi- philanthropist, business leader and UM trustee Prilleltensky is the recipient of the American themiamihurricane. Psychological Association’s John Kalafat Ap- ami’s fall 2010 commencement ceremony on Adrienne Arsht, bringing total new funding for com/subscribe. plied Psychology’s Practitioner Award, as well Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. at the BankUnited Center. the HMI: Outbound program to $1,000,000. as the first ever “Education Catalyst” award from the Miami-based Human Services Coali- INSTITUTE AWARDED HOLIDAY BUILDING tion (HSC). The Catalyst award honors some- The University of Miami Frost School of UM Habitat for Humanity presents a gin- one that has been a change agent in the edu- Music’s Henry Mancini Institute was awarded gerbread house building contest for teams of cation field. $500,000 by the John S. and James L. Knight one to four people on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Webmaster’s note: Foundation in conjunction with the 2010 Eaton classroom 148. There will be a $20 per The malware Knight Arts Challenge. This award will be used team pre-registration fee or $24 at the door. warning has been GLORIA ESTEFAN to produce “HMI: Outbound,” a new community Gloria Estefan, a multiple Grammy Award- Compiled by Parker Davis who may be removed from our winning performing artist whose charitable outreach program to engender a new cultural niche in South Florida, a cross-genre orches- contacted at [email protected]. Web site. 2 NEWS THE MIAMI HURRICANE December 2 - December 14, 2010 MHMC- Commercial Template Doc Size 11.25” X 14” Image Area 10.375 x 11.75 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 3 The road to a diploma can be a bumpy one An inside look at graduation rates BY LAURA EDWINS AND LINDSAY BROWN OF THE STAFF Vanderbilt With December commence- 90.68% ment right around the corner, some are celebrating an early graduation, while other super seniors buckle down for another semester in Coral Gables. For UF most, it’s not a question of if they will get their diploma, but 82.23% when. Overall, graduation rates at GW UM have been on the rise since 81.20% the 90s. In 1991, 58 percent of the undergraduate class earned their degree in six years or less, UM while in 2003, 80 percent gradu- 80% ated. This increase puts UM far above the national average of 55 Graduation rate percent, but also begs the ques- tion, how hard is it to graduate from the University of Miami? “A lot of students don’t finish in four years for what- ever reason,” Provost Thomas J. LeBlanc said. “Students who don’t graduate in six years prob- ably won’t.” According to LeBlanc, the three most common reasons why students at UM don’t finish their degrees are academic, fi- nancial and personal struggles. LeBlanc said that the university Years has been working to address stu- dent’s academic and financial GRAPHIC BY DEMI RAFULS issues by using higher academic COMPARE AND CONTRAST: All statistics are from the respective university’s Web site. The private universities were chosen based standards for admission to the on their total undergraduate populations, their academic records and their tuition costs.