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Football loses The Student Newspaper to Division I-A of Florida team. 8 International University THE BEACON Vol. 17, Issue 16 WWW.BEACONNEWSPAPER.COM October 21, 2004 Democrat says Bush policies ignore Latinos By C. JOEL MARINO News Editor As the war in Iraq makes the American public turn its attention to the Middle East, many feel U.S. policy has ignored other regions of the world in the last few years. In a lecture on Oct. 18 in the Uni- versity Park’s Graham Center Ballroom, Robert Menendez, Democratic congress- man for New Jersey, stated the ignorance of other world regions to be a major election year problem, especially when it comes to policies dealing with South PARTY ANIMALS: Christian Torres (center) of Panamanian band Rabanes performs at the annual Latin Fusion Explosion concert. America and the Caribbean. JEFFRIEY BARRY/THE BEACON The son of Cuban immigrants, Menen- dez is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus and the third-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. House. Invited to FIU by the Cuban Research Institute Latin bands rock BBC and the Latin American and Caribbean By MONICA LOPEZ ton, infl uenced by everything from dance Bull for SPC to organize the event. Blue Center, the congressman avidly sup- BBC Editor to oldies. Admission was $5 for students, Cafe also played a big part in the event, ports Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry though some were admitted for free with catering during the press conference that for President. The music could be heard from across the purchase of a Vitaminwater from the took place on Oct. 14 and hosting the Jorge Ramos, anchorman for Noticiero campus along with the cheers and laugh- FIU Bookstore. event’s after party on Friday night. Univision, introduced Menendez. Ramos ter of students swinging to its beat. Many students agreed that, on Friday Though it took many people to get the began by saying that, even though the Latin bands from across the country night, the Wolfe University Center Ball- concert going, Rafael Zapata, associate fi rst presidential debate of this election and abroad joined together at FIU’s room was the place to be. The event director of BBC’s Campus Life, saw to its year was held in Miami, neither candidate Biscayne Bay Campus on Oct. 15 for began at 9:00 p.m. and lasted until 2:00 overall planning. He is also the brother mentioned issues relevant to the Hispanic the Latin Fusion Explosion concert, a.m. of the concert’s host, Nelson “Sabrozzo” minority. organized by the Student Programming “If you weren’t dancing, you could Zapata, founding member of the band “When the candidates came to Miami Council not only to entertain, but to defi nitely feel the fl oor shaking,” said Proyecto Uno. … we expected them to talk about Latin promote Hispanic heritage. Mauricio Hernandez, a junior. Performers included the Miami band, America, but something happened. We This was Latin Fusion’s sixth year, and It took three months, a staff of Van Solo, Taboo Bambu and Notch as expected them to address our issues, but it featured six performers that played a approximately 30 people and help from “fusion” of rock, ska, reggae and reggae- such sponsors as Toyota Scion and Red See FUSION, page 2 See MENENDEZ, page 2 Program brings diversity awareness to students By GRETEL SARMIENTO give their opinions at the The fi rst is a poster contest, Contributing Writer end of the discussion. in which students design Students will also be posters related to food, No matter what ethnic able to see “The Bath- people or any other topic background a student tub,” a 25-minute play dealing with diversity. might be, all are welcomed created by Ami Domini The second contest is a to celebrate diversity on and performed by Diane writing contest, with the Oct. 21 at the Wolfe Newman, a professor at theme of “The Impact of University Center Ball- the School of Hospital- Diversity in the United room at the Biscayne Bay ity, and Dina Wagner, States.” The first prize Campus. an eighth grade student will be $100. Winners of Sponsored by the Stu- dent Government Associa- tion, Diversity Awareness Day is an annual sym- We can visit the whole world WORLD CUISINE: Students and faculty taste dishes representing different countries posium now celebrating “right here...we want students and cultures at last year’s Diversity Awareness Day. COURTESY PHOTO its fifth year, bringing together students of all to be able to understand each learn about other cultures students’ involvement in been invited to attend the backgrounds and races. other. and to help them expand this event. event. The event is open to the Arminda Pravia their views and knowledge Flyers have been dis- Pravia hopes students entire FIU community. It Diversity Program Chairperson through interaction with tributed all over campus, will take advantage of this will begin at 10:45 a.m. ” other students. and with the cooperation day to gain a better under- and continue throughout “In celebrating [diver- of volunteers and the sup- standing of foreign tradi- the day. Phillip Milano, from the St. Rose of Lima both competitions will sity], we bring aware- port of committee mem- tions and customs they author of “I Can’t Believe School. For sociable stu- be announced during the ness to the people,” said bers, such as BBC Provost might not be aware of. You Asked That” and cre- dents, a luncheon will be celebration. Arminda Pravia, accoun- Raul Moncarz, around “We can visit the whole ator of the online ethnic served from 12:45 p.m. to According to SPC, tant for Campus Life and 250 visitors are expected world right here,” Pravia discussion board, the Y? 1:30 p.m. to taste cuisines the event’s purpose is to chairperson of the diversity to attend the symposium said. “It’s a learning expe- Forum will be holding a from all over the world. make students aware of the program. this year. rience ... we want students lecture. Students will be In addition, the event benefi ts of cultural diver- This year, SGA has cam- All BBC clubs and to be able to understand able to ask questions and has two contests lined up. sity, to stimulate them to paigned hard to promote organizations have also one another.” No end to construction frenzy, Pg. 3 Dim sum craze arrives, Pg. 4 Volleyball wins match, Pg. 6 10-21-04.indd 1 10/20/04 12:55:44 AM 2 The Beacon – October 21, 2004 NEWS www.beaconnewspaper.com NEWSFLASH Latin American issues INTERNATIONAL said to be ignored EDITORIAL BOARD Polio may be extinguished by 2005 ALEJANDRA DIAZ EDITOR IN CHIEF ignored by the Bush According to researchers, polio could be elimi- From MENENDEZ, page 1 JOHN LOVELL MANAGING EDITOR nated worldwide by next year. administration. instead, something hap- “Why has this hap- From India to Nigeria, an army of vaccinators C. JOEL MARINO NEWS EDITOR pened: nothing was said,” pened?” Menendez asked began in mid-October what they hope will be the JULIA MARCHESE LIFE! EDITOR Ramos said. the crowd. final push in a 16-year-long effort to wipe the crip- ALICIA BUSTAMANTE OPINION EDITOR After the introduc- To answer the question, pling disease from the face of the earth. HARRY COLEMAN SPORTS EDITOR tion, Menendez took the he quoted Colin Powell’s Polio, which ran rampant in 125 countries NATALIE CHEEVER NEWS PAGE DESIGNER podium, giving a brief recent press remarks, “With when the campaign was launched in 1988, has LEONCIO ALVAREZ OPINION PAGE DESIGNER introduction in Span- respect to Latin America, been reported in 16 countries this year, but JENIFFER GALASSO SPORTS PAGE DESIGNER ish before moving on to we reduced the amount of health officials say it remains a serious local risk LUIS NIN COPY EDITOR/CARTOONIST directly attack the Bush funding because we have in just six countries—India, Pakistan, Afghani- SAMANTHA QUIÑON COPY EDITOR administration’s lack of other priorities.” stan, Nigeria, Niger and Egypt. In each of those, CHERYSH BLACKMAN ST. JOHN COPY EDITOR thousands of local leaders have been recruited to acknowledgment of South T h e c o n g r e s s m a n American and Caribbean argued that any candi- make sure every child younger than five receives JESSICA STELLA ADVERTISING MANAGER issues. date’s top issue should be the vaccine. HATZEL VELA BUSINESS MANAGER “In the last four years, to oust Fidel Castro. But stamping out the stubborn virus has proved ALFREDO SOTO ASST. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA the Bush administration Backing Kerry, Menen- elusive and expensive—$3 billion to date. ROBERT JAROSS DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Still, with persistence, the vaccinators may yet has had no policy on Latin dez said the senator’s succeed. This year, India has had only 68 cases, America,” he said. “Any position on the Cuban INFORMATION the fewest ever at this point in the year.