Florida International University FIU Digital Commons

FIU Magazine Special Collections and University Archives

Spring 2002 Florida International University Magazine Spring 2002 Florida International University Division of University Relations

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/fiu_magazine

Recommended Citation Florida International University Division of University Relations, "Florida International University Magazine Spring 2002" (2002). FIU Magazine. 9. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/fiu_magazine/9

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 FIU Magazine by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPRING 2002

F l o r id a International U n iv e r s it y For alumni and friends otFIU Miami’s public research university www.tiu.edu/orgs/fi^magl 1 GET READYTOROAR

Strock and Golden Panthers preparejo launch FIU Football I

ALSO IN ^ ISSUE: ^

New Board of Trustees advances FIU agenda

Chapman Graduate School of Business dedicated

Eradicating lead poisoning in the inner city Don Strock Fill Head Football Coach EDITOR’S NOTE It usually takes some time for new expressions to find their way into J A everyday conversation. We barely notice F l o r i d a I nternational U n i v e r s i t y that terms like “surfing the web” have Miami’s public research university entered our vocabulary. The latest term IN BRIEF...... 2 is “9/11 ” - although instead of slowly College of Law preparing to open in Fall 2002...... 11 filtering into our speaking, it suddenly Outstanding faculty and administrators have been recruited for the new law school. and traumatically became part of our New FIU Board of Trustees advances FIU's agenda...... 12 speaking and much, much more. 9/11 With the dissolution of the state Board of Regents, the FIU Board of Trustees — the University’s is a dividing line, a moment defining new governing body — is determined to secure equitable funding for the institution. life before and after. New Chapman Graduate School of Business dedicated...... 16 Sometimes it appears as if life will Named after Alvah H. Chapman Jr., one of the greatest leaders in the history of Miami, the school never be the same after we experience will spearhead the drive for the business school to become one of the best in the nation. tragedy. But slowly, in most instances, FIU campuses expanding, maturing to meet its mission...... 18 time heals and life resumes. Like other The University is in the midst of a $214 million construction program. communities throughout our nation, Coach Strock and team prepare to launch FIU football...... 22 Excitement is growing throughout FIU as the countdown continues toward the first kickoff on students, faculty and staff' throughout Aug. 29, 2002. The announcement of the second recruiting class and the formation of the our FIU community joined together to marching band are among the latest developments. grieve and share their experiences of Alumnus builds Fox Sports Net news operation...... 26 Grammy Award-winning Steve Tello is senior vice president of the channel that reaches more than 9/11. And then, individually and 70 million homes. collectively, we moved forward. MFA student to have poetry book published...... 27 The major stories in this issue look Jay Snodgrass, a student in the Creative Writing Program, will have his thesis project, Monster Zero, forward. With the dissolution of the state released later this year by Elixir Press of Minneapolis. Board of Regents, the FIU Board of Perspective: Don't let terrorists set the agenda...... 28 Tnistees is now the University’s governing Mohiaddin Mesbahi, FIU associate professor of International Relations, discusses how Sept. 11 body, and they re aggi'essively seeking more marked the end of the gulf between global and local politics. equitable funding for the institution. MBRS Program boosts entry of scientific research students..... 30 The new Graduate School of Business, The federally program engages students in hands-on research. named after Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., one Perspective: To clone or not to clone?...... 32 Rene Herrera, associate professor of Biological Sciences, probes the science, history and ethical of the most esteemed leaders in Miami issues involved in stem cell technology and cloning. history, is forging ahead with plans to Public Health professor strives to eradicate lead poisoning...... 34 become one of the best of its kind in the Janvier Gasana, conducts research on the preponderance of lead poisoning in the inner city and nation. And on August 29, the Golden established a foundation to combat the problem. Panther' football team, led by head coach FIU receives world's largest Cuban music collection...... 36 A gift to the University, the Cristobal and Marisa Diaz Ayala Cuban Music Collection contains Don Strock, begins its first season of some 100,000 items that span the history of popular Cuban and other Latin music. intercollegiate competition. How socially responsible investing pays off...... 38 In several respects, this year represents Karen Paul, professor of Management and International Business, helped establish the Domini 400 the start of a new era for FIU and marks Social Index, one of the oldest and most successful investment funds that is limited to socially the approach of its 30th anniversary in responsible corporations. fall 2002. The events of recent months Journey from Faculty Scholar to Circuit Court Judge...... 40 Alumna Cecilia Altonaga, who has served on the bench since 1996, explains why there’s “no higher (and FIU’s 30 years) remind us that ive privilege than to be a judge.” are shaped by a past we cant change. FIU alumnus leads the 'City Beautiful'...... 42 With vision and determination, however, Don Slesnick felt that the politicians weren’t listening to the people — so the political neophyte ran we can change the future — something for his city’s highest office and was elected mayor of Coral Gables. FIU has proven time and time again. ALUMNI...... 44

On the cover: Golden Panther Edwin Pierre it85, Tight End • George Valcarce, Photographer Todd Ellenberzo Editor www.fiu.edu/orgs/fiumag TN BRIEFnews

FIU MAGAZINE sible throughout the day and evening, and health pro­

EDITOR fessionals with the Employee Assistance Program DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS were also available. The Academy for the Art of Todd Ellenberg Teaching provided faculty, via univmail, with an out­ ASSISTANT EDITOR line that offered guidance in leading classes the day Karen Cochrane after the tragedy. All the University's athletic events DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS Bill Stahl were cancelled for the week. A host of student organi­

WRITERS zations have been raising funds for relief efforts. Todd Ellenberg Karen Cochrane President Maidique issued a universitywide email Susan Lichtman Michael Malone urging against unwarranted responses against Arab or Alexandra Pecharich Muslim fellow students, colleagues and other mem­ PHOTOGRAPHER/ bers of the University community, noting the "diver­ PHOTO EDITOR Michael Upright This memorial service at University Park concluded with the release of sity that makes this University and this nation strong." ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT balloons in memory of those who perished. The Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and EXTERNAL RELATIONS Pauline W inick Citizenship Studies, the Transnational and Compara­

DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED FIU COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO tive Studies Center, and the Center for Leadership MEDIA GROUP Todd Martinez-Padilla Simmons AMERICA'S CRISIS Development and Civic Responsibility organized a teach-in and roundtable discussion on terrorism. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL It was a day of successive nightmares beyond Several ceremonies also were held to honor those UNIVERSITY anyone's imagination, a series of unprecedented lost in the attacks. A candlelight vigil was held at PRESIDENT moments and images that have forever changed our Biscayne Bay Campus and memorial services were Modesto A. Maidique nation and the FIU community. held on both campuses. At the University Park PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Sept. 11, 2001, is a day that will remain forever event, attended by a standing-room-only crowd of ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Mark B. Rosenberg etched in the memories of all those who lived through more than 600, words of comfort and patriotic

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT it. Throughout the morning, the Media Relations hymns highlighted the service, which concluded BUSINESS AND FINANCE Paul D. Gallagher Office, where a bank of televisions and VCRs record outside with the release of hundreds of red, white media coverage of the University, was filled with and blue helium balloons in memory of those who VICE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND employees and students watching the attacks of the perished. "I think these tragic deaths occurred so all UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES Rosa Jones World Trade Center and Pentagon in shocked disbe­ of us, all of the nations of the world, can be free of

VICE PRESIDENT lief. Comparable scenes took place throughout the terrorism," President Maidique said, foretelling the RESEARCH Thomas A. Breslin University. In the coming days, many members of the historic international campaign against terrorism

VICE PRESIDENT FIU community learned of the loss of family or friends that has unfolded since 9/11. STUDENT AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RESOURCES as a result of the events. FIU alumnus Army Lieutenant Patricia Telles-lrvin Colonel Dennis Johnson, who graduated in 1986 with VICE PRESIDENT a master's degree in Hospitality Management, was HCET ASSISTS IN WORLD TRADE EXTERNAL RELATIONS Dale Chapman Webb one of those who perished in the Pentagon attack. CENTER CLEANUP

VICE PRESIDENT The FIU community immediately responded to UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Howard Lipman the tragedy with activities to mourn the victims, help Deactivation and decommissioning engineers those in need and mobilize for the future, including from FIU's Hemispheric Center for Environmental FIU magazine is published by the Florida International University blood drives, memorial gatherings and psychologi­ Technology (HCET) responded to the call from Division of External Relations. Reproduction in whole or in part cal services. Frank Hanley, general president of the International without written permission is pro­ hibited. Distributed free of charge Before noon on the 11th, FIU President Modesto Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), to support to alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the University. Postmaster and A. Maidique released a statement on the national operating engineers involved with the cleanup of others, please send change of tragedy and announced the immediate closing of address information to FIU Maga­ the World Trade Center site in Manhattan. zine, Office of Publications, PC the University. Flags at the campuses were lowered HCET's engineers collaborated with the IUOE in 515, Miami, Florida 33199. to half-mast. By the next day, a flurry of activities their efforts to support operating engineers working at Copyright ©2002, Florida Interna­ tional University • Equal Opportu­ were in motion. "ground zero." The Southern West Virginia Emer­ nity/ Equal Access Employer and Institution. • This document was The University's Health Care and Wellness Center gency Response Unit of the IUOE National Hazmat produced at an annual cost of $43,550 or $1.74 per copy to hosted an emergency blood drive at FlU-University Program, arrived at the site September 18th to support inform the public about a universi­ ty program. Qualified individuals Park and hundreds of students and faculty rolled up the rescue and cleanup workers. The unit provided with disabilities as defined under their sleeves and answered the call. Subsequent blood the Americans with Disabilities Act industrial hygiene and safety expertise, personal pro­ who need special accommoda­ drives were scheduled for both campuses. FIU Coun­ tions for any FlU-sponsored event tective equipment, and a 24-hour toll-free emergency can request assistance by calling seling and Psychological Services Centers were acces­ response hotline with safety and health professionals. the number listed in association with the function. The request must be made five working days before the scheduled starting time. TDD, via FRS 1-800-955-8771.

2 VNJmagazine "Like all Americans, at FIU we are anxious to in advanced research, having served as director of the help in the recovery effort/' said FIU President Air Force Office of Scientific Research/DARPA Con­ Modesto A. Maidique. " I can't think of a better way sortium for Crystal Growth Research, a multidiscipli­ to support the efforts of Mr. Hanley and our partners nary research initiative of the Department of Defense in IUOE than by putting to work the expertise we supporting a consortium of six U.S. institutions. have developed through years of research at FIU." In addition to the Air Force, supporters of his The National Hazmat Program and the HCET research include both public and private funding team helped to protect workers from asbestos, dust sources, such as the National Science Foundation, and other potential hazards that may be encoun­ GT Equipment Technologies and IBM, among oth­ tered as the mountains of debris and rubble are ers. He is an elected fellow of the American Society moved away from the site. of Mechanical Engineers and a member of the "I'm grateful that our team has the opportunity to USRA Microgravity Science Research Council that help in the wake of this horrific tragedy," said Ali reviews NASA Programs in Fluid Physics, Combus­ Vishwanath "Vish" Prasad Ebadian, director of HCET. "With the long road that tion and Materials. lies ahead for this project, the rescue and cleanup "The College of Engineering at FIU has a tradition workers will face significant challenges. If we can of leading FIU's advanced research initiatives," said help prevent any further injury or loss of life to Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic those who have already displayed such selfless Affairs Mark B. Rosenberg. "Dr. Prasad will provide courage, our involvement will be well worth it." leadership to enhance its role as the University's www.hcet.fiu.edu lead research unit, and he will improve the quality and breadth of engineering undergraduate educa­ tion programs." SUNY-STONY BROOK'S PRASAD www.eng.fiu.edu NAMED NEW DEAN OF ENGINEERING

Vishwanath "Vish" Prasad, associate dean of SIX FIU ALUMNI AND STUDENT Research and Graduate Studies in the College of PART OF PULITZER PRIZE TEAM Engineering and Applied Sciences of the State Uni­ versity of New York-Stony Brook, is the new dean of Five FIU alumni and one graduating senior from the College of Engineering at Florida International the FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communi­ University. Prasad, who joined FIU last summer, was cation (SJMC) were part of the team of journalists at also named a distinguished professor of Engineering. The Miami Herald who received a Pulitzer Prize last A 1983 doctoral graduate (Mechanical Engineer­ year for their breaking news coverage of Elian Gon­ ing) of the University of Delaware, Prasad played a zalez's seizure by federal agents and the raid's after- key role in the expansion of engineering education, math. The Herald won its 17th Pulitzer - the most research and partnerships with the private sector at prestigious award in U.S. journalism - for its cover­ Stony Brook. He assisted in the development of his age of the event. college's new graduate programs in Bioengineering, continued on page 4 Mechatronics Engineering and Information Systems, and the proposed undergraduate program in Chem­ ical Engineering. While he was associate dean, sponsored research increased by almost 50 percent to more than $16 million, and Stony Brook now works with more than 100 private firms through New York's Program of Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence. With research interests that include semiconductor wafer manufacturing, convective heat transfer, heat transfer in porous media, materials processing and crystal growth, Prasad holds two patents (both with other collaborators) and has published numerous symposia volumes, articles in edited books and pro­ fessional journal papers. He has significant experience

FIU Pulitzer winners: Liz Balmaseda, Johnny Diaz, Eunice Ponce, Mireidy Fernandez, Jasmine Kripalani (student) and Manny Garcia. Spring 2002 3 IN BRTF.F news

The five graduates who covered the event are Eunice Ponce '00; Mireidy Fernandez '98; Manny Garcia '90; Liz Balmaseda '82; and Johnny Diaz '96. The student was Jasmine Kripalani, who gradu­ ated last May and was named SJMC's 2000-01 Out­ standing Journalism Student. Two of these alumni previously won a Pulitzer (Balmaseda) or shared in one (Garcia). To date, eight Pulitzers have been won, in whole or in part, by SJMC graduates - a phenomenal number, considering FIU's journalism program was founded just over 20 years ago. In contrast, larger journalism FIU President Modesto A. Maidique and UM President Donna E. Shalala schools that have been around for decades have fewer graduates who have won Pulitzers. European Commission. Leading the effort to secure "We have known for some time that we have an the funding were the School of International Studies outstanding student body, and the success of our at UM and the Center for Transnational and Com­ alumni have confirmed the exceptional education and parative Studies (TCS) at FIU. career preparation they receive at our school," said Ralph Clem, director of FIU's TCS and professor SJMC Dean J. Arthur Heise. "Nevertheless, this latest of International Relations, and Joaquin Roy, Interna­ achievement by six of our alumni, who were awarded tional Studies professor at UM, are heading the new the most coveted prize in journalism, is very rare and center. Joseph Jupille, professor of Political Science truly exceptional. It demonstrates the superb work of at FIU, and Vendulka Kubalkova, professor of Inter­ our faculty, which produces such outstanding per­ national and Comparative Studies at UM, will serve formers, and the continuing progress of the SJMC." as associate directors. www.fiu.edu/-journal The funding specifically provides for the develop­ ment of new courses on the EU; financial assistance to graduate students and faculty pursuing research on FIU AND UM PARTNER ON related topics; academic conferences on EU-related EUROPEAN UNION CENTER issues; public lectures; and outreach workshops for educators, journalists, media professionals and the The inauguration of the FlU/University of Miami greater Miami business community. A multilanguage (UM) European Union Center, a prestigious "think web site, apprising the community of events and tank" focusing on economic, political and social issues concerning the EU, is now operational. issues related to the European Union (EU), was held Other universities selected for the European in September at FlU-University Park at a ceremony Union Center awards were: the University of Cali­ that both university presidents attended. fornia at Berkeley; the University of North Carolina "The European Union Center is significant to both at Chapel Hill, the University of Michigan, the Uni­ of our institutions because it gives Miami's two versity System of Georgia, the University of Okla­ research universities a new opportunity to work homa, the University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse together on a project of significant importance to University, Texas A&M University, the University of our universities and our country," said FIU President Washington (Seattle), the University of Wisconsin at Modesto A. Maidique. "The Center will strengthen Madison and a consortia of universities in New our institutions' research capabilities and interna­ York City and the Washington, D.C. area. tional outreach efforts at a time of increasing global www.miamieuc.org/en interdependence. W e're privileged to be able to collaborate directly with our counterparts in the United States and Europe." FIU'S FIRST FRATERNITY HOUSE OPENS Founded in 1998, the network of EU Centers at U.S. universities seeks to promote advanced study In yet another landmark reflecting FIU's matura­ of the EU to build stronger ties between Europe and tion, FIU's first fraternity house was dedicated last the United States. FIU and UM were among 15 uni­ September. Phi Gamma Delta, also known as FIJI, is versities in the United States to be awarded a leading the way for what will eventually become $425,000 grant for a European Union Center by the "Fraternity Row" at FIU.

4 FlUmagazine "The students, whether they are FIJIs or not, are are expected to break ground during the coming excited and justifiably so," said Vice President for academic year. Student Affairs and Human Resources Patricia The house's $2 million price tag, which includes Telles-lrvin. "This house symbolizes a coming of the costs of landscaping and furniture, was funded age for student life at FIU." exclusively with private money and received its ini­ Enhanced student life, in this case, means gather­ tial boost from R. Kirk Landon, retired chairman of ing responsibly in a sound environment: the FIJI the former American Bankers Insurance Group. house will be alcohol-free. A few years ago FIJIs Landon, who is a FIJI fraternity brother, Georgia who live in South Florida helped establish the FIU Tech, class of 1950, donated $1.3 million. FIJI has chapter, Fiji's first in the area. It was around that 50 current undergraduate members at FIU; another time that the fraternity's international governing 20 have graduated from FIU in the past three years. board began considering a move to make its houses alcohol-free. The policy went into effect last year. "We're in a new era now," said Ashley O'Kurley, PRESIDENT APPOINTS THREE NEW VPS, a FIJI who graduated from the University of Alberta INCLUDING CIO in Canada and will serve as director of the new house. Although many fraternities had strict rules Over the past year, FIU President Modesto A. regarding alcohol before the 1960s, O'Kurley Maidique has named three new vice presidents and explained, the openness and experimentation of changed the duties of two current vice presidents. that decade kicked off what would become an In January, Maidique announced the promotion increasingly serious problem in later years. of 30-year FIU employee Rosa Jones, formerly vice Like residence halls, fraternity buildings provide provost of Academic Affairs and dean of Under­ housing alternatives for students who would other­ graduate Studies, to the newly created position of wise live off campus. FIU houses 1,500 students in vice president for Academic Affairs and Undergrad­ residence halls on University Park and 300 more on uate Studies. Jones, who received her doctorate in the Biscayne Bay Campus. The second phase of social work from Howard University, initially joined Panther Hall, now under construction at University FIU in 1972 as an assistant professor in the Depart­ Park, will add another 400 beds by 2002. ment of Social Work. "The construction of housing is an important part Dale Chapman Webb - who as vice president for John P. McGowan of our continuing bid to bolster the University's Advancement and Marketing led the $200 million increasingly rich campus life," FIU President Campaign for FIU to completion last year, one-and- Modesto A. Maidique said. "Fraternity houses go a-half years ahead of schedule and $5 million above hand-in-hand with the construction of more resi­ its goal - was named vice president of External Rela­ dence halls, the addition of a football program and tions and is focusing her efforts on the University's our expansion of the existing football stadium. This marketing and public relations activities. Webb now campus is no longer simply a place for classroom oversees Advertising and Brand Management, Com­ learning but a place to live, learn and play in a munity Relations, Marketing, Publications/Print communal, social setting." Design, Media Relations, Communications and Located near the 107th Ave. and 16th Street Interactive Design. entrance to University Park, the two-story, concrete Patricia Telles-lrvin, vice president of Student block and stucco house features 13,500 square feet Affairs and vice provost of Academic Affairs, had of space, including bedrooms to accommodate 34 Human Resources added to her responsibilities. As students and a suite for the house director. The vice president of Student Affairs and Human attractive cream-colored, red tile-roofed building Resources, she continues managing departments represents the first of five fraternity houses currently and programs affecting student life and is charged planned for the campus. As many as three others* with establishing a system of personnel manage­ ment that is commensurate with other state-of-the- art human resources systems at leading universities. Howard R. Lipman, former CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami & the Keys, was named vice president for Advancement and is developing a new capital campaign. He planned and implemented the Red Cross' current $46-million capital campaign continued on page 6

Spring 2002 5 IN BRIEF news

and, as a fund-raiser achieved a $2.4-mi 11 ion devel­ Olivares; Rolando Roig; Jennifer Rubenstein; opment goal for the Zoological Society and secured Khaleel Seecharan; and Felipe Sixto. more than $10 million in gifts for the UM medical Model United Nations (INR 4926) is a three-cred- school. it course offered each spring semester by the Last summer, John P. McGowan, a senior tech­ Department of Political Science in conjunction with nology professional with more than 25 years of FIU's Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and computer-related experience, became FIU's new Citizenship Studies, the FIU Student Government vice president for information resources and chief Association and the College of Arts and Sciences information officer (CIO). The former chief technol­ Dean's Office. Students are drawn from across the ogy officer for the University of Southern Mississippi University and are interviewed before being admit­ — like FIU, an institution that enjoys the highest ted to the class, according to John Stack, director of research university rating from the Carnegie Foun­ the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and dation — McGowan has professional experience at Citizenship Studies. more than a dozen institutions of higher learning. "These students represent the best and brightest He also has experience with such private-sector that we have to offer," said Stack. technology leaders as AT&T, Unisys, Systems & www.fiu.edu/~polsci/mun/index.htm Computer Technology Corp., IBM and others.

CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR TO MODEL UN STUDENT TEAM SPEARHEAD STUDY ON MARINE TOXINS CAPTURES FIRST PLACE AWARDS Florida International University, in conjunction FIU's Model United Nations (MUN) team with the University of Miami, has received a $2.2 returned from last spring's National College Model million grant to study toxins, both naturally occur­ United Nations (UN) Conference in New York with ring and man-made, in the waters in which we i two "Outstanding Delegation" first-place awards for swim and that house the fish we eat. performance and excellence in position papers. The grant, from the National Institute of Environ­ The five-day conference is the oldest and most mental Health Sciences, is the largest in the history prestigious UN competition for college students, of the FIU Chemistry Department. having been created by the UN in the late 1940s. "Toxins in marine and fresh water organisms are | More than 3,000 college students from 122 univer­ a public health threat," said Kathleen Rein, princi­ sities around the world participated, according to pal investigator of the program and assistant profes­ Jeanne Kates, Political Science instructor and direc­ sor of Chemistry at FIU. "One of the things our tor of FIU's MUN program. Sessions were held at research aims to do is to characterize unknown tox­ the United Nations, with closing ceremonies held in ins in these organisms and determine ways to detect the UN General Assembly Hall. and prevent them in order to keep seafood con­ The FIU delegation, representing Turkey, was one sumers from getting sick." of eight schools to receive a first-place "Outstanding Worldwide, there are approximately 85 species of Delegation" award for performance in the simulated marine or freshwater algae that produce toxins that sessions. They were also one of six schools to earn a represent a threat to public health through seafood first-place "Outstanding Delegation" award for consumption or recreational use of the waters. excellence in written position papers. The two first- Most, if not all, of the organisms can be found in place awards are particularly impressive since there Florida's freshwater or coastal ecosystems. Thus, were only three award categories. while the project has worldwide implications, it is "Our students were so professional," said Kates. "I particularly relevant to Florida. was particularly proud of the position papers award Electron micrograph of prorocentrum lima, producer of the toxin because, to me, that represents a high degree of okadaic acid. academic achievement." The FIU delegation included Adela Lopes, head delegate; Frank Fernandez, assistant head delegate; Ricky Astray-Caneda; Susana Camacho; Robert

Castellanos; Melissa Fernandez; Wilfredo Gaitan; BORRONEJAMES Duran Inci; Heidi Marcelo; Sebastian Marino; Paula

6 FIUmagazine The grant, which lasts five years, will fund research and pilot projects as well as workshops, seminars and a facility at FIU to grow some of the microorganisms for research purposes. JACK SC H EPER The interdisciplinary project includes faculty from FIU's and UM's biology and chemistry departments, as well as from FIU's Southeast Environmental Research Center. Current research projects include developing new methods to detect toxin-producing organisms, identifying unknown toxins, and under­ standing the biosynthesis of these toxins. In addition to naturally occurring toxins, one group will be studying the impact of arsenic from chromated cop­ per arsenate (CCA)-treated wood within aquatic environments. Recently, there has been research conducted on what becomes of the arsenic in treat­ ed wood, but the research has not focused on arsenic in aquatic environments. This new research is particularly relevant to South Florida, since most wood docks are made from CCA-treated wood.

NEW CENTER SEEKS TO SOW SEEDS OF SUCCESS Saw palmetto

The fruit of the saw palmetto, a plant that's abun­ "We've tried to create a niche that distinguishes us dant in Florida, is useful in treating benign prostatic from other similar centers throughout the country," hyperplasia (BPH), a ubiquitous disease in males. says Bennett, who is the center's director. "What So useful, in fact, that clinical studies have shown it does that is the ethnobiology, which is the study of works as well as or better than Finasteride, a drug the human uses and management of plant and ani­ prescribed commonly in this country for treatment mal resources. of BPH. The conundrum: no one has been able to "We hope to find out what chemicals are in cer­ pinpoint exactly why saw palmetto works. tain products and determine whether they are safe Yerba mate, a product that's popular in parts of and effective. From that, there may be the broader Brazil and Paraguay, is marketed as a caffeine-free application of new drugs or chemical compounds, coffee and tea substitute. It's said to contain but that's not our primary goal. We'll have a real mateine, a compound similar to caffeine but milder ethnic and anthropological focus on how people and without some of the detrimental side effects. are utilizing plants." Now that it's becoming more popular in the U.S., An estimated one-third of the U.S. population inquiring minds want to know: What's in it? spends at least $3.5 billion on herbal medicines Ethnobotanist Brad Bennett, phytochemist and each year and the use of herbal medicines in the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Kelsey country increased 380 percent from 1990 to 1997. Downum and analytical organic chemist James Plants provide most of the world's medicines, and "Martin" Quirke hope to solve these riddles and 25 percent of the drugs on the market trace their ori­ related issues concerning alternative/herbal medi­ gins to plants. cines through their collaborations at the newly cre5 The center was the recent recipient of a five-year, ated FIU Center for Ethnobiology and Natural $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Products (CENaP). Health to support doctoral and postdoctoral stu­ The preliminary work of the center has con­ dents with the skills needed to investigate pathways firmed the presence of caffeine in yerba mate, so and related issues concerning medicinal plants. The they are exploring now why the product is better training program will include coursework, lab rota­ tolerated in some people than other products con­ tions, field study, original research and attendance taining caffeine. at national meetings. continued on page 8

Spring 2002 7 IN BRIEF I I I I I The center benefits from the affiliation of approxi­ mately 20 faculty members from various disciplines. "There are thousands of plants and animals out there about which we know very little/' explains Bennett, "But we're going to limit our scope to things that have human importance. We're going to concentrate on things that are being utilized by peo­ ple and yet we don't know what's in them." CENaP also is discussing collaborative work with a California firm that manufactures herbal products, as well as local pharmaceutical firms interested in evaluating existing products and developing new products, Bennett said. www.fiu.edu/~cenap

OUTREACH WEB SITE LAUNCHED IN SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE

FIU has launched an interactive and accessible web site to present programs and courses to stu­ dents in Latin America and the Caribbean. FIU offers many programs and credit and non-credit U.S. Geological Survey Deputy Director Katherine Clements, FIU President Modesto courses in these regions (Mexico, Jamaica and Naphtali Rishe, director of the FIU High-Performance Database Research Center, at Bolivia), and now prospective students can visit for the purchase of computer hardware. www.la-U.org, in Spanish, Portuguese or English and obtain information on programs. The site is also FIU UNVEILS BOLD NEW WEB linked to the FIU home page at www.fiu.edu. APPLICATION, 'TERRAFLY'; FIU's student body includes individuals from some COULD HAVE ANNUAL MARKET 150 foreign countries, and nearly 60 percent of the VALUE OF $1 BILLION University's international students come from Latin America. David Grossman, dean of University Out­ TerraFly, a new Internet-based software that reach for FIU, said, "With the continued growth of makes it possible for users to "fly over" vast land FIU, University Outreach seeks to ensure that a gate­ areas using only an ordinary web browser, was way exists between FIU and distance-learning students unveiled last fall by University researchers. by coordinating efforts of the new Latin American and With potential markets ranging from the travel Caribbean web site and offering online courses." and real estate industries to state and local govern­ As Internet access and utilization of personal com­ ments, TerraFly has a potential annual market of $1 puters grows in Latin America and the Caribbean, billion, financial analysts working with the project FIU plans to further enhance the site, making it more say. IBM and the U.S. Geological Survey recently user-friendly, easy to navigate and informative. contributed nearly $10 million worth of computer hardware and data in the development of TerraFly, raising total support for the groundbreaking project to nearly $30 million. "With the generous support of our industry partners, TerraFly is now one of the largest, if not the largest, publicly accessible databases on the web," said Naphtali Rishe, principal investigator on TerraFly and the director of FIU's High-Performance Database Research Center. "TerraFly now includes imagery for the entire United States, and we're excited about incorporating additional areas around the world. The possible uses for this technology are endless."

8 FIUmagazine The grant, which lasts five years, will fund research and pilot projects as well as workshops, seminars and a facility at FIU to grow some of the

microorganisms for research purposes. JACK SC H EPER The interdisciplinary project includes faculty from FIU's and UM's biology and chemistry departments, as well as from FIU's Southeast Environmental Research Center. Current research projects include developing new methods to detect toxin-producing organisms, identifying unknown toxins, and under­ standing the biosynthesis of these toxins. In addition to naturally occurring toxins, one group will be studying the impact of arsenic from chromated cop­ per arsenate (CCA)-treated wood within aquatic environments. Recently, there has been research conducted on what becomes of the arsenic in treat­ ed wood, but the research has not focused on arsenic in aquatic environments. This new research is particularly relevant to South Florida, since most wood docks are made from CCA-treated wood.

NEW CENTER SEEKS TO SOW SEEDS OF SUCCESS Saw palmetto

The fruit of the saw palmetto, a plant that's abun­ "We've tried to create a niche that distinguishes us dant in Florida, is useful in treating benign prostatic from other similar centers throughout the country," hyperplasia (BPH), a ubiquitous disease in males. says Bennett, who is the center's director. "What So useful, in fact, that clinical studies have shown it does that is the ethnobiology, which is the study of works as well as or better than Finasteride, a drug the human uses and management of plant and ani­ prescribed commonly in this country for treatment mal resources. of BPH. The conundrum: no one has been able to "We hope to find out what chemicals are in cer­ pinpoint exactly why saw palmetto works. tain products and determine whether they are safe Yerba mate, a product that's popular in parts of and effective. From that, there may be the broader Brazil and Paraguay, is marketed as a caffeine-free application of new drugs or chemical compounds, coffee and tea substitute. It's said to contain but that's not our primary goal. We'll have a real mateine, a compound similar to caffeine but milder ethnic and anthropological focus on how people and without some of the detrimental side effects. are utilizing plants." Now that it's becoming more popular in the U.S., An estimated one-third of the U.S. population inquiring minds want to know: What's in it? spends at least $3.5 billion on herbal medicines Ethnobotanist Brad Bennett, phytochemist and each year and the use of herbal medicines in the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Kelsey country increased 380 percent from 1990 to 1997. Downum and analytical organic chemist James Plants provide most of the world's medicines, and "Martin" Quirke hope to solve these riddles and 25 percent of the drugs on the market trace their ori­ related issues concerning alternative/herbal medi­ gins to plants. cines through their collaborations at the newly ere-* The center was the recent recipient of a five-year, ated FIU Center for Ethnobiology and Natural $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Products (CENaP). Health to support doctoral and postdoctoral stu­ The preliminary work of the center has con­ dents with the skills needed to investigate pathways firmed the presence of caffeine in yerba mate, so and related issues concerning medicinal plants. The they are exploring now why the product is better training program will include coursework, lab rota­ tolerated in some people than other products con­ tions, field study, original research and attendance taining caffeine. at national meetings. continued on page 8

Spring 2002 7 IN BRIEF m m a ■ ■ * The center benefits from the affiliation of approxi­ mately 20 faculty members from various disciplines. "There are thousands of plants and animals out there about which we know very little/' explains Bennett, "But we're going to limit our scope to things that have human importance. We're going to concentrate on things that are being utilized by peo­ ple and yet we don't know what's in them." CENaP also is discussing collaborative work with a California firm that manufactures herbal products, as well as local pharmaceutical firms interested in evaluating existing products and developing new products, Bennett said. www.fiu.edu/~cenap

OUTREACH WEB SITE LAUNCHED IN SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE

FIU has launched an interactive and accessible web site to present programs and courses to stu­ dents in Latin America and the Caribbean. FIU offers many programs and credit and non-credit U.S. Geological Survey Deputy Director Katherine Clements, FIU President Modesto courses in these regions (Mexico, Jamaica and Naphtali Rishe, director of the FIU High-Performance Database Research Center, at Bolivia), and now prospective students can visit for the purchase of computer hardware. www.la-U.org, in Spanish, Portuguese or English and obtain information on programs. The site is also FIU UNVEILS BOLD NEW WEB linked to the FIU home page at www.fiu.edu. APPLICATION, 'TERRAFLY'; FIU's student body includes individuals from some COULD HAVE ANNUAL MARKET 150 foreign countries, and nearly 60 percent of the VALUE OF $1 BILLION University's international students come from Latin America. David Grossman, dean of University Out­ TerraFly, a new Internet-based software that reach for FIU, said, "With the continued growth of makes it possible for users to "fly over" vast land FIU, University Outreach seeks to ensure that a gate­ areas using only an ordinary web browser, was way exists between FIU and distance-learning students unveiled last fall by University researchers. by coordinating efforts of the new Latin American and With potential markets ranging from the travel Caribbean web site and offering online courses." and real estate industries to state and local govern­ As Internet access and utilization of personal com­ ments, TerraFly has a potential annual market of $1 puters grows in Latin America and the Caribbean, billion, financial analysts working with the project FIU plans to further enhance the site, making it more say. IBM and the U.S. Geological Survey recently user-friendly, easy to navigate and informative. contributed nearly $10 million worth of computer hardware and data in the development of TerraFly, http://wwwJa~u.org/ raising total support for the groundbreaking project A )/J to nearly $30 million. Hem* ©Apple Computer © AppfcSuppert © Appt* Stor* © Microsoft M*>T«pia "With the generous support of our industry partners, TerraFly is now one of the largest, if not the largest, Outreach to Latin Amcrica and tile Caribbean : I0”"” publicly accessible databases on the web," said Welcome to Bienvenidos a Bern VincSoa a Naphtali Rishe, principal investigator on TerraFly and the director of FIU's High-Performance Database Research Center. "TerraFly now includes imagery for the entire United States, and we're excited about incorporating additional areas around the world. The possible uses for this technology are endless."

Florida International University and Miami Florida international University's Home Page: WVCtLfVJJISbi

8 FIUmagazine raFly has generated major support from both NASA and the National Science Foundation. "TerraFly is a wonderful example of the possibili­ ties inherent in our High Performance Database Research Center and of the cutting-edge research being done at our University/' said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. In April, Rishe won The Miami Herald business Plan Challenge for developing TerraFly. www.terrafly.com

FIU BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING INSTITUTE LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE PROGRAM WITH CLINICAL AND INDUSTRY LEADERS

An innovative new partnership between Florida International University's Biomedical Engineering Institute (BMEI), leading South Florida hospitals and prominent biomedical firms aims to enhance the training, research and development, and health care offered by the partners. A. Maidique, IBM Storage General Manager Adalio Sanchez (an FIU alumnus) and The BMEI Academic-Clinical-lndustry Partnership the ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizing the $6.7 million grant received from IBM Program will foster excellence in biomedical engi­ neering education and training; support innovation, TerraFly uses high-resolution imagery collected invention and discovery in medical technology; cul­ by the U.S. Geological Survey. Unlike other com­ tivate biomedical engineering research and devel­ puter systems over which such imagery may be opment; and promote biomedical engineering viewed, however, TerraFly interfaces with such entrepreneurship in South Florida. ubiquitous web browsers as Internet Explorer and The founding members of the program, which are Netscape, allowing virtually any user to "fly" over represented on its advisory board, include clinical imagery in whatever direction and at whatever research centers at three local hospitals: Baptist speed the user chooses. Health Systems Miami Cardiac and Vascular Insti­ What may be TerraFly's most attractive feature for tute; the Miami Children's Hospital Neuroscience commercial use, however, is that it allows for Institute; and Mount Sinai Medical Center's Depart­ graphic overlays, making it customizable for indi­ ment of Research. The biomedical industry partners vidual markets. Real estate firms, for instance, might currently include: Beckman-Coulter, Bioheart, develop overlays that show potential customers list­ Boston Scientific, Cordis, Medcanica, Medtronic, ed homes; the overlays could be further customized Scion, Syntheon, TechGeorgia and Visualization to include asking price, tax information, interior Technology. photographs of the home and other key details. The program is one of the initiatives being estab­ Customers could have a much stronger idea of what lished with a $5 million grant from the Wallace H. properties interest them before driving to visit them, Coulter Foundation. The grant, awarded in 2000, cutting down shopping time. was the largest from a private foundation in FIU's Those customizable elements make TerraFly an history. attractive technology to license for market develop­ The program will pursue its goals through joint ment, say financial experts working with TerraFly, projects and technology transfers; joint fund-raising who have estimated its annual worth to be as much and grant applications; shared resources, lecture, as $1 billion. presentations and joint appointments; gifts, scholar­ In addition to the $6.7 million in computer hard­ ships and fellowships. ware and more than $3 million in data recently Three new programs are being discussed for pos­ donated by IBM and the USGS, respectively, Ter- sible implementation: continued on page 10 I N_BRIEF news

• Young Inventor Award: an award to faculty requests for census bureau files an inventor that will allow him/her to and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data pursue further development of the sets. With seed funding from Sponsored invention. Research, she set up the Library's first • Research Initiation Program: seed GIS computer workstation in 1994. money for research. At the time, FIU lacked a GIS lab. • Master's Design Project Competition: Rather than invest in GIS technology in award to a master's degree student for separate academic units, it was deter­ an innovative/inventive project. mined that it would be more efficient — organizationally and economically — to "While University research can pro­ house it in the library. In 1995, with vide new ideas and knowledge, industry $183,000 in start-up funding, the GIS partners are needed to commercially Center was created. develop findings, and hospitals facilitate During the past year, the center clinical applications of new technolo­ expanded its sphere of activity when it gies," said Richard Schoephoerster, developed two unique web sites that director of BMEI. "We are grateful for the enable users to retrieve GIS information support of our partners and look forward via ordinary browsing software. The first to a productive relationship to develop of these is a specialized search engine excellence in the field." that provides access to geo-spatial data (south of Lake Okeechobee) for South For a WTVJ / NBC 6 story on the Bio­ Florida. Data sets include vegetation medical Engineering Institute, go to coverage, land use/land cover, one-foot www. eng. fiu. edu/bmei. resolution aerial photos, networks and communications, water/sewers, property and tax appraisals and public facilities. CIS CENTER A GROWING The second project is supported by RESOURCE TO UNIVERSITY $375,000 in contracts and grants from AND REGION the city of Miami to the FIU Metropolitan Center and the GIS Center. The center Thousands pass just a few feet from it created and hosts a City of Miami Com­ on any given school day, yet few people munity GIS Web Site, which was devel­ realize that it's one of the strongest uni­ oped as part of the Florida East Coast versity library-based centers of its type in Corridor (FEC) Project, a multifaceted, the country. community redevelopment effort in The FIU Library Geographic Information which the Metropolitan Center is a lead­ Systems and Remote Sensing Center (GIS- ing player. The web site features data on RS), which was established in 1995 with transportation, streetscape design and the support of the Library, Academic demographics of the FEC area. An inter­ Affairs and the Division of Sponsored active GIS mapping interface component ennifer Fu Research and Training, has experienced of the site was created for access to infor­ substantial growth over the past few years mation on land use, zoning, property in its key dimensions of teaching, research appraisals, transportation demographics and training. The center also now supports and one-foot resolution aerial photos. activities from a number of academic units The center is now seeking funding to in the areas of computerized cartography, develop a web site comparable to the GIS, RS, 3-D visualization, and spatial sta­ one for the FEC Project but expanded to tistical analysis and modeling. include all of Miami-Dade County. The center was established thanks to "So far, we've been very successful the personal interest and initiative of Jen­ with local and county grants and con­ nifer Fu, who now serves as coordinator tracts," Fu said. "Now we want to take of the center and chairperson of its GIS the center to the national level and target certificate program. Fu was formerly a federal grants." QQ documents librarian who handled many gislab.fiu.edu

10 FIUmagazine Developing a first-rate law school College of Law preparing to open in Fall 2002

ne day last fall, FIU College of Law Dean Leonard Strickman was being interviewed about preparations for the college’s first Oday of classes in Fall 2002, when he was asked if there was anything else that people should know “Just that the people in charge at the moment are having a whole lot of fun,” replied Strickman with a smile. “We are very optimistic about making this not just an okay law school, but a first-rate law school. With the support and interest we are finding in the community, and with the support we’ve had up to now in the Legislature and from the University, we believe that we will be not just another law school but one that is very special, slightly different and very high quality.” So it is that Strickman and the college’s accomplished coterie of edu­ cators and administrators are guiding the growth of the first-ever public law school in South Florida. The college, which is making its home on the third and fourth floors of the Green Library at University Park until its permanent home is ready by 2005, will enroll 60 full-time and 60 part-time students in each of its first three years. Filling the seats will not be a problem, The College of Law’s founding administrators (clockwise from top left): Alma Miro, director according to Michelle Mason, the college’s associate dean for Admis­ of Admissions and Financial Aid; Scott Norberg, associate dean for Academic Affairs and professor of Law; Michelle Mason, associate dean for Admissions and Student Services; sions and Student Services, who said more than 3,200 individuals Leonard Strickman, dean and professor of Law; and Sarah Hooke Lee, director of Law requested applications prior to the college’s three open houses last year. Library and Information Technology and associate professor. The College of Law will apply for provisional accreditation with the American Bar Association (ABA) at the start of its second academic year and could earn it by the end of that year. Strickman, who has at FIU who will have a joint faculty appointment. Matthew C. Mirow extensive ABA Accreditation Committee experience, said that he and and Aya Gruber were named associate and assistant professors, respec­ his staff have a “good deal of confidence” that the accreditation process tively. The college will eventually have 26 professors, with four others will move forward as scheduled. running its legal skills and clinical program In February, Strickman announced the appointments of the found­ The college’s top administrators are also on board, including Scott ing faculty. Norberg, associate dean for Academic Affairs and a professor of Law; "We've recruited an impressive group of proven law professors, each Mason; Sarah Hook Lee, director of the Law Library and Information of whom brings different areas of expertise to the mix," he said. "They Technology and an associate professor of Law; Alma Ocasio Miro, have outstanding records as classroom teachers and as scholars." director of Admissions and Financial Aid; and Lourdes Aguila Meneses, Among the founding faculty will be Thomas E. Baker and Andrew J. director of Budget and Student Records. McClurg, both of whom hold endowed professorships at the law The core collection of the Law Library is developing under the direc­ schools where they currently serve. Baker is the James Madison Profes­ tion of Lee. The library received a generous gift late last year when the sor at the Drake University Law School. McClurg is the Nadine H. University of Florida law school donated several thousand books that Baum Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little were duplicates in its collection. Support from the legal community Rock. To lead the International and Comparative Law program, has begun to materialize from leading Miami law firms in the form of Strickman tapped Jorge Esquirol, currently a professor at the North­ charitable gifts and scholarship assistance. eastern University School of Law. Previously, Esquirol served as director “We have two distinctive goals for this law school, in addition to the of academic affairs at the Harvard Law School Graduate Program. quality to which all great law schools aspire,” said Strickman. “One is to Jean G. Zorn has been selected as director of the Legal Skills and Val­ build competency in international, transnational and comparative law ues Program. She comes to FIU from the City University of New York for our students, and the other is to make the law school a significant School of Law, where she directed the first year lawyering program for a service provider to the local community and South Florida. We’ve number of years. The other professors are Elizabeth Price Foley, Edib- developed a good deal of enthusiasm among segments of the bar for erto Roman and John F. Stack, a longtime professor of Political Science these goals,” noted Strickman, “and support will come from it.” ESS www.fiu.edu/law

Spring 2002 11 Betsy S. Atkins New FIU Board of Trustees, educational governance system, advance University’s agenda By Michael R Malone

The Board of Regents (BOR) has been abolished So in August 2000, when Gov. Jeb Bush Seated in front of a dark-bronzed statue of and the governance of Florida’s educational sys­ launched the task force to study how best to the emblematic University panther — eyes riv­ tem transformed. With the new system powering enhance accountability, streamline bureaucra­ eted, paws outstretched, body arched forward ahead, FIU’s new Board of Trustees (BOT) looks cy and spur innovation in the state’s educa­ — Maidique gestures with the same intensity to to gain the same per-capita funding that its tional governance system, FIU President a chalkboard on the opposite wall with figures longer-established peers have enjoyed. Modesto A. Maidique seized the day. Speak­ etched for university programs totaling some ing with the voice of the State University Pres­ $23 million. The figure for these pending, lorida International University never idents Association (SUPA), Maidique was the hoped-for initiatives is not coincidental. The fared too well under the old educational first administrator to express “enthusiastic amount roughly reflects the sum that the Uni­ Fgovernance system of the Board of support” for the education overhaul. versity calculates it has been underfunded — Regents. Resources were hard to come by. Pro­ Phil Handy, the head of the task force, from $20-25 million — in per-student funding jects fell on deaf ears. The BOR saw the Uni­ could not contain an emphatic, “Yes!” under the abolished BOR system of governance. versity as an upstart located in faraway urban, “A number of people said ‘Phil, you’re sup­ The 13 appointees to FIU’s Board of polyglot Miami. From Primera Casa, FIU’s posed to be objective about this,’ but the task Trustees, with just four meetings under their administrative headquarters, the view of the force had heard a lot of testimony against it, belts, in the president’s words “have a lot of BOR was that of an overly centralized, highly and we were the first to enthusiastically sup­ bureaucratic work to do” regarding the Board’s politicized body that was biased in favor of the port it,” recalled President Maidique, in an structure, scope and operating mechanisms. state’s elder institutions of higher learning. interview in his office. Yet, its immediate priority is clear: remedy the

Betsy S. Atkins Assembly. President Calderon received his law University of Miami and holds an honorary doc­ Betsy S. Atkins is an independent venture capi­ degree in 1972 from the University of Costa Rica. torate in Public Service from FIU. talist, focusing on investments in early stage, high- tech companies. She was a co-founder of Ascend Communications, a California-based maker of Paul L. Cejas Alvah H. Chapman, jr. telecommunications equipment. She received a Former U.S. ambassador to Belgium, Paul Cejas Alvah Chapman, Jr., one of South Florida's most bachelor's degree from the University of Massa­ is a leading South Florida business and civic prominent business and civic leaders, retired as chusetts and scholarships to Oxford University and leader. Cejas is the chairman and CEO of PLC chairman of Knight Ridder in October 1989 after the University of Copenhagen. Investments, Inc., a wholly owned company that almost 30 years of service. Chapman has been manages investments. Cejas founded CareFlorida chairman of Community Partnership for Homeless, Health Systems, a major HMO firm. He served as Inc. since its inception in 1993, and served, at the Rafael Angel Calderon Fournier chairman of the Miami-Dade County School request of President George H. Bush, as chairman Rafael Angel Calderon Fournier, former president Board, and as a member of the state Board of of We Will Rebuild, the community redevelopment of Costa Rica, is currently the managing partner of Regents he helped establish the FIU School of effort after Hurricane Andrew. He is chairman the Calderon & Associates Law Firm. He also previ­ Architecture. In recognition of his philanthropic emeritus of the FIU Foundation and was chairman ously served as Costa Rica's minister of foreign gifts to the School of Architecture, its new building of the FIU Foundation from 1988-1993. In recog­ affairs and as a delegate to the National Legislative will be named in his honor. He is a graduate of the nition of his service and philanthropic gifts to the

12 FlUmagazine Paul L. Cejas Armando Codina Patricia Frost

Rafael Angel Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. Albert Dotson Sr. Calderon Fournier

funding disparity. a very clear strategy, the big picture in mind equity issue. The group formed a new Gov­ The president envisions an “Urban Univer­ and not micromanage nor try to get in the ernmental Relations Committee, which will sity Equity Adjustment Act,” legislation to middle of administration issues.” An advocate focus on this subject from a Tallahassee per­ redress the imbalance in funding and move of academic freedom, the chairman vowed to spective. Unlike other BOT committees, Gov­ FIU closer toward its vision to be a top urban be “very zealous about making sure that it is ernmental Relations is a “committee of the public research university. no way impaired.” whole,” meaning all Trustees are part of it. At their inaugural meeting, July 8, the board On Oct. 8, the Board convened for a full- At press time, a proposed line item in the elected officers and approved a degree program. day strategy planning session to define the state budget proposed by the Senate included Miami businessman Armando Codina was board’s vision and direction. The chairman funding to “adjust universities below the system unanimously elected to chair the Board and for­ invited the president, who serves as the CEO average.” This is very similar to the equity issue mer ambassador Paul L. Cejas (see accompany­ under the new relationship, to outline the championed by the BOT. The issue, as it cur- ing biographical sketches below) to serve as vice University’s vision. “I wanted to make sure rendy is drafted, represents almost $7 million chair, both for two years with the possibility of that we had the vision of the administration for FIU. The state budget, however, still awaits reappointment. Codina, a generous financial and that we could look down the road five approval by the Legislature, and there is no supporter of the University, addressed the board. years from now and be sure we weren’t mak­ comparable funding in the House budget plan. “I made it very clear that were going to run ing decisions in a vacuum,” Codina said. The sweeping changes that went into effect on time; attendance is important in terms of At its most recent meeting on Feb. 18, the on July 1, 2001, can be traced back to a refer­ governance,” he said. “This board should have Board focused its energies on the funding endum posed to Florida voters in 1998. On continued or 14

University, the FIU Graduate School of Business Albert Dotson Sr. Patricia Frost was named in his honor. Chapman graduated from Albert Dotson Sr., chairman and CEO of Patricia Frost served as principal of Henry S. The Citadel with a B.S. in Business Administration. Puryear, Inc., a consulting firm, is an active Miami West Laboratory School in Coral Gables for 23 civic leader. He was a member of the FIU Founda­ years and as an adjunct professor at University of tion Board of Directors for eight years, served as Miami, Barry University and Florida Atlantic Uni­ Armando Codina president of the Orange Bowl Committee, is a versity. She is a member of the FIU Foundation One of South Florida's leading developers, member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Com­ Board, formerly served as its chair, and has Armando Codina is the founder and chairman of merce Board of Governors, and serves on the worked closely with FIU's College of Education Codina Group, Inc., a Coral Gables-based real boards of Barry University and the Dade County and Art Museum. She is an active South Florida estate investment, development, construction and Fair and Exposition. He received a Doctor of Laws civic leader, vice chairperson of the National management firm. Codina has been actively degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Board of Commissioners of the Smithsonian Insti­ involved in Miami civic affairs. He co-chaired We Michigan. tution and chairman emeritus of the Smithsonian Will Rebuild, and serves on the Orange Bowl American Art Museum. She received her Bachelor Committee and the board of the Greater Miami of Science degree from Colby College, her Master Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the board of of Arts from Columbia University, and post-gradu- directors of General Motors, AMR, BellSouth, FPL ate degrees from the University of Miami. Group and Winn-Dixie. Born in Havana, Cuba, continued on page 14 Codina came to the U.S. in 1960 and was educat­ ed at Jacksonville University. Spring 2002 13 continued from page 13 Nov. 4 of that year, Floridians went to the booths with change on their minds. They Miriam Lopez passed 12 of 13 amendments — the most changes to the state constitution in 30 years. And while they may not have had qualms with the Board of Regents, they were most certainly focused on improving education in Florida. Amendment 6 made education the “para­ mount duty of the state,” and Amendment 8 gave the governor the power to appoint the Board of Education (BOE) a Commissioner of Education and to oversee the state’s educa­ tion system. At his inaugural parade in January 1999, Gov. Jeb Bush actually jogged the first few blocks. He took off running, too, to advance the mandate for education change, and his plan was ambitious: an overhaul of the system Adolfo Henriques David Parker encompassing pre-kindergarten to graduate school. Some critics would later argue that vot­ ers were focused on change of the early years of education. Regardless, on April 4, 2000, the Education Governance Reorganization bill was On July 1, the BOR and other associated Education Secretary Horne serves for an filed with the Florida House, and in August bodies were officially abolished. Its 30-year 18-month transitional period. Legally, an 2000, the governor convened a transitional reign was ended, and a new regime — “a seam­ elected state Board of Education and Educa­ task force and named Handy to head it. less path from kindergarten to graduate school” tion Commissioner, Charlie Crist, cannot be On June 6, 2001, Bush appointed state Sen. — had commenced. On July 23 in Miami, the eliminated until January 2003. At that time, Jim Horne, the sponsor of the bill, as Florida’s seven members of the BOE convened for the Crist must vacate his post and the appointed first Secretary of Education and also signed first time, with Handy as their chairman. The Florida Board of Education will name a per­ Senate Bill 1162, the education reorganization board had some five months to rewrite the manent education commissioner. legislation. He named, too, the seven-member state’s education “code” — a set of education- Yet not everyone backs the new plan. U.S. Board of Education — dubbed the “Super related laws — get its budget approved and Sen. Bob Graham, who has referred to the Board” — and charged it with overseeing the reorganize the state Department of Education. overhaul as a “hostile takeover,” has formulat­ local Boards of Trustees at the 11 state univer­ On Aug. 31, 2001, the Florida Board of ed a team that seeks to challenge the constitu­ sities and, in effect, the education of some 3.5 Education approved the first budget, $12.8 tionality of the new system and even to reverse million Florida students. billion, under the new system. The traumatic and abolish it. Former FIU President Gregory In late June and early July, 143 new trustees events of the fall and the state’s serious eco­ Wolfe called the new system an “experimental, were named. For each of the 11 Florida public nomic downturn, however, forced more than a radical route.” He pointed out that most states universities, a Board of Trustees was created 4 percent cut throughout the state’s entire edu­ have regent-type boards and cited the with 12 trustees and the student president. cational system and an 8 percent cut at FIU. renowned university system in California,

,... -'f'KU at v jyyji' - J

Adolfo Henriques Miriam Lopez David Parker Adolfo Henriques, the CEO of Union Planters Miriam Lopez, president and CEO of TransAt- David Parker is managing partner of the venture Bank-Southern Banking Group, is an FIU alumnus lantic Bank for 15 years, is a leading South Florida capital firm Interprise Technology Partners, L.P., who served on the FIU Foundation Board for the banker. She previously served as a vice president- which makes private equity investments in compa­ past 10 years. He is past chairman of the Greater branch manager with Republic National Bank of nies engaged in the Internet and information tech­ Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and chair­ Florida and assistant vice president of Interconti­ nology sectors. He served as chair of the FIU man of the United Way of Miami-Dade County, nental Bank. She has been active in professional Foundation Board of Directors from 1994 to 1997, and is past chairman of the Financial Oversight and community organizations, serving on the and chairman of the Beacon Council in 1987-88. Board for the city of Miami and the Beacon Coun­ boards of the Downtown Development Authority Parker received a bachelor's degree in engineering cil. A CPA, Henriques received his bachelor's and St. Thomas University. She served as chair for from the University of Texas and an MBA degree degree from St. Leo College and his master's the American Bankers Association Community from Harvard University. degree in Accounting from FIU. Council from 1999-2000, and as 2000-2001 presi­ dent of the Florida Bankers Association. Mrs. Lopez received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barry University and a Master of Business Admin­ istration degree from University of Miami.

14 FlUmagazine The governor did a superb job. This new Victor Romano Herbert Wertheim structure allows a group of individuals who understand very directly their communities and their communities’ needs to provide input into the efforts or programs that the public institutions in their communities pursue.” Given Miami’s political climate, some feared that trustees appointed to FIU’s BOT might exploit the board for specific agendas other than generating a top-notch urban research facility or even that academic freedom might come under siege. Yet in the early going, this has not occurred, and both President Maid­ ique and Chairman Codina insist that bylaws and other institutional guarantees prohibit this possibility. Both have earned credibility, in fact, for their defense of academic freedom. Rosa Sugranes The new system will be both less and more political than its predecessor, the BOR, according to the president. But what’s clear is that it will follow a more business-oriented implementation. where “an eminent BOR looks over the great These people are strong community figures “I have a simple principle in organizational institutions of the state.” with strong influence here and in Tallahassee; design, a president should have one board and “Universities are not like businesses, yet we have more advocates. The University doesn’t a board should have one president. Under the they are. They require very special nurturing. have to go through so many hoops to get BOR there was one board and 10 presidents, If you’re going to build a great university you things approved, but then with the tight years so the BOR could never really feel that any don’t mix them up with community colleges ahead, there won’t be as much money.” university was its university. And that didn’t and kindergartens,” Wolfe said. Rock was concerned that “the new system give any university really strong support in the Critics notwithstanding, the system has was set up very fast, and that causes problems, state. Now we have 143 avid supporters for the lurched forward, and unless Bush is unseated but that’s how the Legislature operates.” 11 different state universities,” Maidique said. in elections next year, the Graham-led chal­ Adolfo Henriques, an FIU alumnus who And how effective will FIU’s BOT be in an lenge is given almost no chance by most news has served in a number of posts on the Uni­ era of cash shortages and budget cuts? Will analysts of succeeding. versity’s Foundation Board, is a new Board the University fare better or worse than under At the local level, Howard Rock, the chair trustee. A former Florida regent, Henriques the old system? of the FIU Faculty Senate, stresses that the admits that the mechanisms for the local In response, President Maidique echoes a BOT is very much in a transitional phase and board and the new system are not well colleague’s critique of the abolished gover­ that many questions regarding its potential defined, but he is not bothered. nance system: “When there was a BOR it was impact are simply unanswerable at this stage. “If you have a board and you select the one (university) against 13 (regents), now it’s “The new BOT has some great possibilities. right people, the board will do the right thing. 13 against the world.” (S3 www.fiu.edu/ trustees

Victor Romano Dr. Herbert Wertheim Victor Romano, president of the Student Gov­ Rosa Sugranes is chairman of the board and Dr. Herbert Wertheim is the chairman and presi­ ernment Association (SGA) at FIU's University founder of Iberia Tiles, one of the largest distribu­ dent of Brain Power Incorporated, the world's k campus, is a senior pursuing a bachelor's tors of ceramic tile, marble and stone in the South­ largest manufacturer of ophthalmic instruments and degree in Sociology/Anthropology. As head of east. She has been a member of the FIU chemicals. Dr. Wertheim received degrees from SGA, he represents the interests of the student Foundation Board from 1995-2001. Her other the University of Florida and the Southern College body and is involved in overseeing and allocating civic activities include serving on the Executive of Optometry of the University of Tennessee. Dr. a $6.5 million budget. Fie has served as resident Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Wertheim is former chair and vice chair of the FIU assistant in University housing and a peer advisor Commerce and on the board of the United Way of Foundation Board of Directors, and served as to incoming students. He will complete his term in Miami-Dade County, and serving as chair of the chairman and co-chair of The Campaign for FIU, May 2002, shortly after graduating from FIU. Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council. which raised more than $200 million. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Barcelona.

Spring 2002 15 Creating a world-class international business school University dedicates new Chapman Graduate School of Business

ecognizing that the best colleges or schools of business in the country affiliated with major universities — Kellogg, Sloan, and RAnderson, for example — are distinguished by their graduate schools of business, the FIU College of Business Administration (CBA) recently established the Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. Graduate School of Business. The Chapman School, which brings together all the graduate and executive education programs the CBA now offers, bears the name of one of the most important leaders in the history of Miami. The Chapman School incorporates programs leading to a Master of Accounting, Master of Business Administration (International MBA, Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA, Evening MBA), Master of International Business, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Management Information Systems, Master of Science in Taxation, Executive Master of Science in Taxation, and Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration. Graduate certificate programs include the Graduate Management Program and those in Banking, International Bank Management, and International Business. “We developed our vision for the graduate school four years ago,” said Joyce Elam, executive dean of the CBA. “Before then, we had focused on providing evening graduate programs to working profes­ sionals living in South Florida. Our vision was to create a more com­ prehensive set of graduate programs for working professionals, to develop full-time programs for traditional students, and build specially tailored programs for executives both in South Florida and elsewhere in College of Business Administration Executive Dean Joyce Elam and Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. the Americas. We knew we had to create unique programs based on our strengths in international business and information technology if we were to be successful. So that’s exactly what we have done. Based on the innovative, market-driven programs we offer today, we see ourselves being recognized as one of the top five international business schools in the next five years. That’s our goal.” Chapman, the former CEO of Knight Ridder, has been South Florida’s most influential business and civic leader over the past four decades — responsible in many ways for Miami’s emergence as an international busi­ ALVAH H. CHAPMAN, JR. ness center. His leadership also has been evident in a wide range of civic causes, most notably the massive We Will Rebuild effort following Hurri­ cane Andrew’s devastation of Miami-Dade County in 1992. Chapman was tapped to head that project by President George H. Bush. As found­ ing chairman of Community Partnership for Homeless, Inc., Chapman CHAPMAN also has led Miami’s nationally recognized program for the homeless. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Chapman has been a major champion of FIU since its founding in FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 1965, seven years before it opened for classes. He was chairman of the

16 YWJmagazine Graduate School of Business

Codina — chairperson of the FIU Board of Trustees and longtime Chapman School as one of the country’s primary institutions for inter­ friend of Chapman — was announced at the event. When combined national business education and research. with state matching funds, a total of $3 million was raised for the new De la Torre brings more than 30 years of professional experience to his facility. Codina is chairing the business school’s fund-raising campaign. new post, with a solid background in management, organizational design, “Mr. Chapman’s leadership within our community is exemplary,” said and strategic planning. At UCLA, he chaired the Strategy and Organiza­ FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “His life’s work embodies the tion area and directed UCLAs CIBER from its inception in 1989 until integrity and civic and business leadership we take pride in instilling in our this past year. He founded the School’s International Business Roundtable students. We’re grateful for his longstanding commitment to FIU. As and co-chairs the Faculty Executive Committee in the Latin America Cen­ chairman of the FIU Foundation, Mr. Chapman did more than any single ter. Before joining the faculty at UCLA, de la Torre served for 13 years on business leader could ever have done to bring an unprecedented level of the faculties at INSEAD, The European Institute of Business Administra­ credibility to our Foundation. His presence attracted many other distin­ tion in France, Georgia State University, and the Harvard Business School. guished Miamians to the board. And, in so doing, he strengthened the “Dr. de la Torre’s depth of experience as an administrator, academic, overall recognition and reputation of Florida International University.” and business consultant makes him the ideal candidate to head the A proven leader in international business education will be at the Chapman Graduate School of Business,” Elam said. “We are delighted helm of the Chapman School. Jose de la Torre, professor at UCLA’s he has decided to assume this position and know he will be a tremen­ Anderson School of Business, was named dean and will assume his new dous asset to the College. We expect to strengthen our graduate pro­ post in July. One of the nation’s leading experts in international busi­ grams and continue movingtoward the forefront of top-rated ness, de la Torre will use his many years as a respected educator and his international business schools.” EB unparalleled knowledge of global commerce to further establish the www.fiu.edu/-cba

A college of rising national distinction Since its beginning in 1972 as one of the founding colleges at Florida International University, the College of Business Administration (CBA) has steadily grown in size and stature. It is now the second largest of FIU’s 16 colleges and schools, enrolling some 3,800 under­ graduate and more than 900 graduate students, and has built a reputation for its high-quality, market-driven programs. Several of the college’s programs, in particular, have earned national distinction. In 2000, the Academy of Management Journal reported that the Management Information Systems faculty was ranked 11th best in terms of their research productivity. The college is one of only 28 business schools in the nation to have received U.S. Department of Education funding to establish and support a Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). A 2001 Executive MBA Council/FGI study, based on student satisfaction sur­ veys from 55 Executive MBA programs, revealed that the college’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program had higher percentages of students ranking the program at the top for overall program performance and for overall program value than did all the programs combined. And, according to a recent student-satisfaction benchmarking study of 76 accredited full-time MBA programs undertaken by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (the premier accrediting agency for business schools) — its International MBA (IMBA) program scored at or near the top in all categories. In March 2002, Hispanic Business magazine ranked the Chapman Graduate School of Business as the nation’s fifth best business school for Hispanic students. The colleges dedicated international faculty of more than 100 scholars, business leaders and teachers have helped build its growing reputation for excellence. They include five Eminent Scholars, six Endowed Professors, and respected authorities in information systems, information technology management, operations research, knowledge management, e-business, financial derivatives, international bank­ ing and trade, consumer research, international management, global marketing and corporate responsibility.

Spring 2002 17 $214 million in construction pro FIU campuses expanding, matur

The Bernard Tschumi-designed building for the School of Architecture, seen above, is being constructed with prefabricated exterior walls.

wo hundred and fourteen million dollars. That's the amount set "Because FIU's classroom, laboratory and office space has lagged aside for current and future construction projects scheduled to so far behind our actual needs since the day the state opened the Uni­ T begin at Florida International University (FIU) within the next 12 versity, we've always had to be extraordinarily creative in how we months. As a dollar figure in and of itself, $214 million is impressive. manage the facilities we have. The result is that we use our space But what it will enable FIU to do — to continue to advance its teach­ more efficiently than any other university in Florida, with classes six ing and research missions — is even more noteworthy given FIU's days a week beginning very early in the morning and stretching late continuing shortage of classroom and laboratory space. into the evening," said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. "I believe "Those of us who have known FIU since it was just an old airstrip our new funding is not only the result of state education leaders recog­ on the outskirts of Dade County truly appreciate the magnitude of nizing the many needs we have, but also their recognition that we what is being done on our University Park and Biscayne Bay campus­ manage what we have very well." es," said FIU Executive Vice President Paul D. Gallagher, who has The focus on serving students and community has been the impe­ been with the University for more than 30 years and oversees its con­ tus guiding the growth of FIU from its earliest days, when FIU's struction program. "The new facilities coming on line now and in the "founding team" moved into an abandoned airport control tower in near future will enable us to do an even better job of serving our stu­ 1969 and began planning a state university in what was then the dents and the South Florida community." largest metropolitan area in the U.S. without a public baccalaureate The windfall in construction monies is a boon for the University, degree-granting institution. officials say.

m

18 FlUmagazine j e c t s underway or on the boards ing to advance its mission

Full speed ahead figuratively — of the continuing maturation of the University. More than 30 years later, FIU's construction program is proceeding Victor Citarella, who arrived at FIU in 1996, is intimately familiar at a pace unprecedented in the University's history. with the University's building boom. As assistant vice president of A list of major construction projects completed since 1996 includes: Facilities Management, it is Citarella; Robert Griffith, associate director of Facilities Management; Richard Hofstetter, assistant director of • Steven and Dorothea Green Library addition, $37.1 million Facilities Management/Facilities Development; Boyce Level, associate • Housing Complex, $23.7 million director of Maintenance & Operations; Daniel Townsend, assistant • Wertheim Performing Arts Center, $13.7 million director of Utilities, and their staffs who are involved in day-to-day • Student Resident Hall & recreational pool, $11.2 million construction, maintenance and operations, making sure that projects • Campus Support Complex, $9.9 million are completed to specification and "never, ever over budget," accord­ • Dolores & Sanford Ziff Education Building, $9.4 million ing to Citarella. • Graham Center addition, $7.9 million "For the number of students that are enrolled, we have the smallest • Parking Garage I, $7.7 million campus among Florida's public universities," noted Citarella. "We've had to shift from building horizontally to building vertically. Many of While not one of the most expensive projects completed since the older buildings are no more than three floors, while all of the new 1996, the construction of the Eighth Street arched "formal" entrance to ones are more than that. It's more expensive to build vertically, but the University Park campus in 1999 serves as a symbol — literally and we've had no other option." continued on page 20

Spring 2002 19 continued from page 19 One of the reasons buildings are being designed "up" rather than "out" is because University officials and planners are intent on pre­ serving the unique character of the landscaping at both campuses. "It's important to acknowledge that the landscape of the University is an integral part of its identity and should not be placed at risk/' said Marta Canaves, director of FlU's graduate Landscape Architecture pro­ Himssasa mm gram. "It serves the University on several levels — it is the fabric upon which the built form rests, it is an identity marker, an educational tool and a place for social interaction." The Art Museum's ArtPark sculpture collection, for example, "has clearly contributed in establishing an important link between the land­ scape and the classroom," according to Canaves. "In this instance, the art pieces as part of the landscape become an outdoor tool for teaching. The art collection attracts and engages visi­ tors from the local, national and international level," she noted. "With­ The completion of the Phi Gamma Delta House, FlU's first fraternity house, marked the start of what eventually will become "Fraternity Row." out the site opportunities offered by the campus, this visibility would not be possible."

Where does the money come from? The majority of the construction budget — 55.43 percent of the University's 2001-2002 Planning and Construction budget — is derived from Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds, which come from bonded revenue via a capital improvement per-credit-hour fee that each student pays, and through a gross receipts tax on utilities. The next largest funding source — 25.05 percent — comes from state bonds that are sold to pay for structures used for parking and housing. Revenue generated from these facilities in the form of rent, parking fees, parking tickets, etc. pay for the bonds. These bonds, as well as other construction funds, can be used for construction only and can­ not be shifted to other areas of the University's budget. At least one building currently under construction, however, is being built with private dollars — FlU's nearly completed $12 million Executive Center. The first state university academic building in Flori­ da to be financed by a college foundation — the FIU Foundation, in this case — the Executive Center will have rent-paying tenants from The Executive Center, the first state university academic building in Florida to be financed by a college foundation, could be the wave of the future as universities use private departments and divisions within the University. The rent monies will sources of construction funds. be used to pay off the mortgage, at which time the Foundation will

The University Bookstore expansion, financed by Barnes and Nobles will expand the current space of approximately 17,000 square feet to approximately 30,000 square feet, in Juding the addition of a 120-seat Starbucks Cafe.

20 YWJmagazine donate the building to FIU. The arrangement could signal a harbinger of things to come as universities across the state seek to come up with alternative sources of construction funds. Current projects and a "wish list" for the future Some of FlU's high-profile projects already underway or near com­ pletion include a Health & Life Sciences complex worth nearly $37 million, $43 million in new residence halls and the Paul R. Cejas School of Architecture, a $16 million facility. In addition to more classrooms and laboratory space, the University is focusing on basic infrastructure needs. Fill's second parking garage, an $8.3 million facility, was completed late last year, and plans are in development for two more. In addition, more than $20 million in maintenance, renova­ tions, utilities enhancements and repairs has been undertaken. Other projects in the current construction program include:

University House, FlU's new events center and President Modesto A Maidique's private • College of Law, $25 million residence, will effectively showcase FIU to guests attending presidential events. • Graduate School of Business office/classroom building, $16.1 million • Marine Sciences Building, $13.1 million • Recreation Center - Phase I, $9 million • Art Museum, $10.4 million • Graham Center renovation, $5.25 million • FlU/Florida Memorial College-joint-use facility, $5 million • FIU Community Stadium expansion, $4 million • Health Care & Wellness Center, $3 million • Kovens Conference Center enhancements, $781,000 • Hospitality Management expansion, $550,000

Future structures that Citarella and his staff have put on a "wish list" include a Social Sciences building, a Molecular Biology building, a Public Safety building, a University Technology Services (formerly IRM) building, an interdisciplinary compound at Biscayne Bay Cam­ pus, and a building for the International Hurricane Center. Although the FIU of today bears little resemblance to the Universi­ ty's original master plan, a document that is updated every five years to map future growth, the spirit of that plan — to ably serve the resi­ Two more parking garages are planned for the University Park campus, in addition to the dents of this community while building a superior institution of higher recently completed Blue Parking Garage (shown here) and existing Gold Parking Garage. learning — is still thriving. B3

Everglades Hall, University Park's newest residential living facility, will be comprised of approximately 400 residential units that will be available to all students.

Spring 2002 21 The countdown to kickoff: Aug. 29, 2002 Strock and team prepare

22 FIUmagazine to launch FIU football

ne of the most critical aspects of a bring alumni back to campus and increase new athletic program is having a FIU's visibility. solid foundation that will enable After much thought and further studies, theO team to thrive. When FIU began its President Maidique and University officials drive to establish a football program, more began the process of creating a proposal to fundamental than a stadium or a field house present to the Florida Board of Regents was the need for a strong leader who would (BOR) to receive approval for the start of serve as the team's foundation. The Golden the program in 2001. Panthers found that in Football Head Coach Part of the proposal process included hir­ Don Strock. ing someone to supervise the operational "Strock has met all of my expectations. aspects of developing a football program He has been doing a tremendous job for and secure needed private support from the FIU," said Rick Mello, FIU athletic director. community. It didn't take long to identify "In selecting a coach for FIU football, my the perfect fit: Don Strock, former quarter­ number one criterion was simply this: If I back of the Miami Dolphins. Strock quickly had a son with the talent to play football, became the catalyst in lobbying the (now would I trust Don to help him defunct) BOR for approval for excel? The answer is unde­ the team, and in May niably, 'Yes I would.'" 2000, the Board And Mello is not acknowledged the alone. The par­ University's care­ ents and families ful planning with of 70 young men formal approval have entrusted of intercollegiate their children's acade­ football at FIU. mic and athletic futures to For years I attended Strock. Since February, athletes chamber of commerce meetings, from throughout Florida and from as far board of directors events and University north as Pennsylvania have joined Strock in functions, and more than any other ques­ making FIU history. tion, I was asked 'When will we be able to When Strock became FIU's director of cheer for an FIU football program?"' said football operations in 1999, efforts to Maidique. "I was very happy last year when launch a football program were already I was able to answer that question with an underway. actual date!" In 1997, FIU President Modesto A. Maid­ The FIU football program, which was origi­ ique — who had been constantly bombard­ nally planned to kick off in 2001, was held ed by the question, "When will FIU have a back one year after its approval in order to football team?" from University students, expand the stadium at University Park, com­ alumm and friends — started investigating ply with the gender equity requirement of the feasibility of introducing the sport at the Title IX and search for a new athletic director. University. He appointed a task force of FIU The new kickoff date became Aug. 29, 2002. faculty and administrators, students, alum­ On the day FIU received the green light ni, and community and FIU Foundation to go ahead with a football team, Strock got leaders to study the issue. The task force's into his car and on the way to a high school report concluded that football would to begin the recruiting process, he changed enhance campus life, build alumni loyalty, from his suit into shorts and golf shirt.

continued on page 24

Spring 2002 23 continued from page 23

"I was really excited that day/' said Strock. use the field with a durable, high-tech playing "It is not that often that you can start some­ surface. It is a grass-like, non-abrasive, poly­ thing from scratch. That's one of the things ethylene fiber matrix filled with special rubber that attracted me to FIU. I was going to be granules that will not compact or become less able to build this program my way. That shock absorbent with age. AstroPlay has been meant that everyone who would work with installed in the New York Giants' indoor prac­ me was going to have to do things my way tice facility and at college stadiums for the FIU toots its own horn — giving the program and our players 100 University of Kansas, the University of Min­ Marching band director hired percent of our time, effort and dedication." nesota, Oklahoma State, the University of Strock quickly surrounded himself with North Carolina and Illinois University. When the FIU football team takes to the individuals who would do just that. Shortly In addition to the field and facility field in the fall of 2002, there will be a full after Strock was named football head improvements, the FIU Community Stadium marching band with some 150 musicians in coach, he hired an experienced and dedi­ will be renovated to expand from 7,000 the stands to cheer it on. Mark Gregory cated coaching staff. Strock brought on for­ seats to approximately 17,000. The expand­ Martin has been charged with assembling mer Dolphin teammate Bruce Hardy to ed facility will include temporary, end-zone and directing the new band, which has been help him steer the program, as well as Car­ bleachers as well as two luxury skyboxes. named “La Banda del Sol.” men Grosso, Greg Briner, Renato Diaz, Hand in hand with the home for the Martin, director of the FIU Marching Steve Hladio, Hurlie Brown, James Colzie team, Strock has now started the training Band, is developing the program from III, James K. Taubert, Curt Wiles and Joe process for his players. Strock and his scratch. He started building a repertoire Barantovich. coaches have put the new players through a and recruiting musicians when he joined Strock and his assistants began focusing rigorous schedule that focuses first on their FIU last August. Auditions are already on finding the best available student athletes academic performance and secondly on underway, instruments have arrived and from among the thousands of high school their athletic ability. uniforms are being ordered. seniors in South Florida and around the "My number one priority is that these Formerly an assistant director of the state. Because of the abundance of talent in young men learn," said Strock. "They are Longhorn Band at the University of Texas - Florida that has consistently provided out­ here to earn a college degree. On a sec­ Austin (UT), one of the most celebrated standing players for nationally recognized ondary level, they are here to compete on the bands in the nation, Martin comes to FIU collegiate programs, few out-of-state players with 23 years of conducting experience. were recruited. When Strock announced his “I have always wanted to start a pro­ first signing class in February 2001, program gram,” said Martin. “FIU has given me the watchers were surprised both that he opportunity to do that in a vast cultural obtained the maximum 30 commitments community that has a unique style and an allowable under NCAA rules and that the energy level that you don’t come across too prospective players included several Bright often. FIU is ripe and ready for a top-notch Futures scholars and a number of all-state, marching band and I look forward to pro­ all-district and all-county honorees. viding that for the school and the commu­ "Our first signees were a welcome sight," nity. The enthusiasm has been amazing. said Strock. "And as the year has progressed Its very exciting; the planning is over with, and these guys actually arrived on campus, and the realization is taking place.” it was the start of the dream coming to life." Martin plans to create a band that incor­ Strock, who is considered by many to be porates Hispanic culture as well as the art the heart of the team, knew that several deco history of South Florida. things needed to fall into place if the team FIU 2002 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 1 “Greg is full of energy and enthusiasm, and was going to be successful. Date Opponent Site that’s just what we need at the School of In order to have a true home field advan­ AUG 29 ST. PETERS Home Music to start such an important program,” tage, FIU had a new field house built and SEP 7 Elon Away said School of Music Director Fred Kauftnan. state-of-the-art turf installed at the existing SEP 14 BUTLER Home Martin, who holds a Master of Musical FIU Community Stadium. SEP 21 Bethune-Cookman Ft. Laud. Arts degree in Wind Conducting from The new 17,000-square-foot field house SEP 28 GEORGETOWN Home James Madison University, has nearly com­ includes: two locker rooms with 120 lock­ O CT 5 Open pleted a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in ers; a 2,200-square-foot meeting area with O CT 12 Western Kentucky Away Wind Conducting from UT. He has also retractable doors for large and small team OCT 19 MAINE Home served as a lecturer in its School of Music. gatherings; a training facility expandable to OCT 26 GARDNER-WEBB Home Prior to joining the UT staff, Martin spent 1,200 square feet; and a 5,300-square-foot NOV 2 JACKSONVILLE Home 14 years in the Florida and Virginia public weight room. The players love it. NOV 9 ALBANY Home school systems and taught at James Madison FIU also dramatically enhanced its field. NOV 16 Open University. He has also served as a color AstroPlay was installed to provide the Golden NOV 23 Florida Atlantic Pro Player guard instructor and marching caption head. Panthers and the area high school teams that Schedule subject to change. All times TBA.

24 FIUmagazine Panthers announce second recruiting class At a February news conference, FIU foot­ defensive back Gentry Jackson, out of Spruce ball Head Coach Don Strock announced that Creek High in Port Orange, FL. Jackson par­ 21 high school student athletes committed to ticipated in the Funcoast Football Classic and accepting grant-in-aid to attend FIU in fall was named first-team all state as a utility back. 2000 in the second high school recruiting “Gentry is a great athlete who played quarter­ class of the Golden Panther football program. back and many other positions in high school. The additions advance the programs develop­ We will use him defensively.” FIU football players Harold Leath (left) and Nick Turn­ ment and preparations for the teams first sea­ bull (right) show off the new FIU football uniforms with Strock’s main emphasis was on the offensive Head Coach Don Strock during the second signing son this fall. line. Signee Patrick Mullen, 6’-8”, 320 press conference. The uniforms, designed and pro­ “The players are sick of tackling each other,” pounds, from Dwyer High School in Palm duced by Nike, feature white jerseys for away games said Strock. “We are ready for the year to start Beach, who is first-team all state and runs a and blue jerseys for home games. and excited about the incoming players.” 5.2 40-yard dash, is one of eight offensive Those players include highly touted quarter­ linemen signed by the Golden Panthers. football field. My coaches and I have begun back Jaime Burke, who turned down Universi­ “We went heavy on the offensive line and to create that balance with our new team. ty of Florida (UF) in favor of FIU with the got a couple of surprises at the end. They will They will go to school, and they will do well departure of former UF coach Steve Spurrier. be raw but bigger,” said Strock. “You can’t go — only then will they play." Burke, 6’-4”, 215 pounds, threw for 2,835 into the season with six or seven linemen and Every day Strock works to instill pride yards and led the state of Florida with 34 expect five to start. We need 10 who can step and confidence in his players. He wants to touchdown passes while playing for Cardinal up and play.” prepare them physically and mentally for Mooney High School in Sarasota. He is the The team will need the newcomers to com­ the pressures of belonging to an intercolle­ first high school player in Florida history to pete when the season starts, and the coaching giate athletic team. pass for more than 500 yards in a single game. staff looked at that when the recruiting season "It's been a lot of fun, there's been a lot to “I’m getting choked up with this one,” started. learn," said Joe Fleming from West Palm joked Strock. “I would like to thank Steve “Our coaches talked to the high school Beach, who will play in the quarterback posi­ Spurrier for taking the job with the Washing­ coaches to make sure the players were able to tion. "I didn't really have a style of offense in ton Redskins. Burke was a little undecided, step up to the next level right away,” said high school, and this is lot for me to learn and when Steve left he went with his gut feel­ Strock. “We expect them to compete.” because I never had to deal with coverages. ing and came down to FIU. He is a great The Golden Panthers play their first game They would just give me a receiver to throw addition to our program.” on Aug. 29, 2002, against St. Peters College to, so this is so new for me." The first name Strock mentioned was at FIU Community Stadium. Strock held four public scrimmages during the fall 2001 semester to show his guys off and to get them used to playing in front of 2002 GOLDEN PANTHER FOOTBALL SIGNINGS their new supporters. Drills and team meet­ Player/Position/Height/Weight/School/City ings have solidified the team and prepared Terrance Allen/DL/6'-47270 Ibs./Merritt Island High School/Merritt Island, FL them for the challenges that lay ahead. Randy Arnold/DB/5'-1071 75 Ibs./FAMU High School, Tallahassee, FL "In the first year of practice it got better Jamie Burke/QB/6'-4"/215 Ibs./Cardinal Mooney High School/Sarasota, FL and better with every practice," said Kevin Timothy Dierks/OL/6/-4"/250 Ibs./Clewiston/Clewiston, FL Timothee, a transfer from the University of Glen Fox/C>L/6'-67270 Ibs./Ft. Myers/Ft. Myers, FL Mississippi who will play defensive back. Titorian Freeman/WR/6'-07185 Ibs./Clades Central/Belle Glade, FL "But we're still not satisfied. We have a lot Isaac Gamble/DL/6/-4"/275 Ibs./Poinciana/Kissimmee, FL of work to do in the off-season." Bill Grant/RB/5'-117185 lbs./Glades Central/Belle Glade, FL In February 2002, the second class was josh Gravitt/OL/6'-37273 Ibs./Hillsborough/Tampa Bay, FL signed (see story on page 25) and the final Brandon Higdon/DL/6'-3"/295 Ibs./Fernandina Beach/Fernandina Beach, FL stage of preparations began for a year filled Gentry Jackson/DB/5'-117175 Ibs./Spruce Creek/Port Orange, FL with anticipation and excitement. It will all Clint ]anis-Smith/DB/6'-27190 lbs./Thomas Jefferson/Tampa Bay, FL culminate on Aug. 29, 2002 when FIU Dravien Jones/RB/6'-2"/222 Ibs./Sebastian/Sebastian, FL plays its first game against St. Peters College Harold Leath/WR/6'-3"/190 Ibs./West Virginia/Tampa Bay, FL of Jersey City, NJ, which will be televised Ed Leverenz/TE/6'-4"/242 Ibs./Seminole/Sanford, FL live statewide on the Sunshine Network. Patrick Mullen/C)L/6'-87320/Dwyer/Palm Beach, FL Be there for all the action and a new era D.J. 0'Neal/0L/6'-47255 Ibs./Clewiston/Clewiston, FL in FlU's history! For season ticket informa­ Josh Padrick/QB/6'-37190 Ibs./Merritt Island/Merritt Island, FL tion, call 305-FIU-GAME (305-348-4263), John Shanahan/OL/6'-6"/305 Ibs./Brandon/Brandon, FL 1-866-FIU-GAME or visit the web site at Ronny Silva/OL/6/-3///320 Ibs./Avon Old Farms School/Avon, CT www.football.fiu.edu. ESI Joe Thomson/OL/6'-47270 Ibs./Dr. Phillips/Orlando, FL A I . IT M N U S___ p r o f i L e

Reaching more than 70 million households Emmy Award-winning alumnus builds Fox Sports Net news operation

and a senior producer for ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, where he coordi­ nated news and special event coverage for all of Europe, the former Soviet Union and South Africa. In the process, he worked on more than 100 broadcasts with Jennings through­ out the globe. SPORTS NE The recipient of five Emmy Awards, he has also worked outside of the news arena. Tello was the vice president of the International Media Center, one of Washington, D.C.'s, largest production facilities, which housed more than 15 international broadcasters including the BBC, Japan's NHK and the European Broadcasting Union.* He was also the president of Speer Communications, Ltd. Broadcasting and Production Divisions, a media telecommunication group with 200 employees based in two digital centers in Steve Tello Nashville, TN and Washington, D.C. Now with nearly 30 years of broadcast and IU alumnus Steve Tello has one of the FIU journalism program as an adjunct profes­ news experience, Tello oversees the Fox nation's dream jobs — he is the senior sor. The TV production and journalism Sports Net news operation, including the vice president for Fox Sports Net, one of course he taught for two years was held at National Sports Report; the One Desk syndi­ theF country's largest sports news television WPLG-Channel 10 studios in Miami to give cation and the Last Word with Jim Rome, networks, reaching more than 70 million the students valuable hands-on experience. where he has spent the last three years build­ homes with a staff of more than 250 broad­ "Living in Miami exposed me to the fast- ing the strong news network. Tello, who looks forward to sitting in the cast professionals. paced world of breaking news," said Tello. "My career's been a professional dream," "News got into my blood and then, experi­ stands for FIU's first football game in fall said Tello, 54. "I have the opportunity to encing the different cultures that thrive in 2002, believes this is a great time for FIU. come to work every day and truly enjoy what Miami, piqued in me an interest in travel. I "The University has grown so much over the I do for a living." knew I had to have a job in journalism that last few years," said Tello. "Football is the A 1979 graduate of the School of Journalism would allow me to see the world." natural progression for the school and the and Mass Communication, Tello grew up in And see the world he has. Tello spent 10 athletic program. Traditionally, FIU has had South Florida and learned to love the hotbed years as the news operation manager for aggressive basketball, baseball and soccer of news that is the Miami news market. WPLG Channel 10, where he helped develop programs; this is the next step." "I was born in Boston, but grew up in South a strategy with the station's attorneys that Tello also believes that FIU will have many Florida," said Tello. "I went to Monsignor resulted in a precedent-setting ruling in the talented student-athletes at its disposal. "South Edward Pace High School (Class of 1966), and Florida Supreme Court. The high court's Florida has no shortage of talented athletes, I realized I had a real interest in journalism." decision allowed television cameras into many of whom have made it to the pros. A lot Tello saw an opportunity to spread that Florida courtrooms, an action that was repli­ of these homegrown student-athletes will want love of news to others, and he began teach­ cated in other states around the country. to stay near families and friends and play for ing one of the most popular courses in the He then spent 13 years as a field producer FIU while getting national exposure." E9

26 FIUmagazine STUDENT

Poetry, the muse and Godzilla MFA student to have poetry book

m published Jay Snodgrass

Godzilla Sits Down to Watch Cable hile virtually anything can provide material or inspiration for literary works, few people would associate science fic­ He flips on the remote and begins to thumb through W tion movie monsters with poetry. Nevertheless, an FIU stu­ Five hundred channels of digital cable. dent has used Godzilla — that's right, the gigantic, fire-breathing Japanese dinosaur who frequently shows up on late-night TV — as a He likes the civilization channel. He hopes to find clues recurring character in his first book of poetry, which will be published To his identity there. He moves past the in fall 2002. Channel that’s airing his movies. By contract Monster Zero by Jay Snodgrass, an MFA student in the Creative He is not allowed to watch them, in fact, Writing Program, was recently named the second-place winner in the By contract, he has no memory of them whatsoever. Elixir Press Second Annual Poetry Awards. As a winner of the compe­ He likes that all the movie channels are arranged by theme. tition, he will receive a $1,000 prize and have the book — his thesis That way he can just go to the Romance Channel for the master's degree program — published by the Minneapolis And hug his large pillows. His pillows are red and publisher. Have Chinese characters stenciled on them. "The book is sort of about Godzilla...l use Godzilla in a lot of He thinks they make a poem but he can’t read what it says. poems," said Snodgrass, a longtime Godzilla aficionado. "Part of the The tag says they are silk but washable. book is about me growing up in Japan." Snodgrass lived in Japan on Sometimes he cries himself to sleep on the pillows and off from 1971 through 1989 when his father, an Air Force profes­ And has to wash them the next day or they’ll melt. sional, was stationed there. Snodgrass said he uses Godzilla in his work as a metaphor for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and, ulti­ Watching a love story is a way he can have feelings mately, his being in Japan. Without breech of contract. Originally from Boynton Beach, Snodgrass pursued his undergradu­ Today he settles on a western, a mystical experience ate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Vir­ He allows himself in secret. He doesn’t want to ginia. He was attracted to FIU by the quality of the Creative Writing Be seen as childish, but he likes it when the Hero wins. Program (ranked in the top ten nationally), his interest in returning to He watches for the showdown scene, the high noon, South Florida and the opportunity to fill a teaching assistant position in The explosion of sunlight on a black and white the program. After he receives his master's this spring, he intends to World. What he imagines every time is that continue with his writing and teach. The gunmen, the good and the bad, will draw "Jay uses Godzilla to explore and illuminate identity," commented And pull their triggers at the exact same instant, Denise Duhamel, assistant professor of Creative Writing That their bullets will be vectored into exact trajectories, and Snodgrass' thesis director. "As an American kid Moving at each other with the same velocities, growing up in Japan in the '70s, Jay always felt bigger than his classmates. This was compounded with I he good growing negative and the bad growing positive residual guilt of the Americans dropping the bomb Until they reach the Zero Point, where everything is nothing, on Hiroshima — thus Jay's identifying with the And they cancel each other out. Godzilla hopes huge destructive force of Godzilla. He gives The world is cut into mathematical light and dark, he imagines Godzilla a soul and innocence and makes the That is the place where he was born. monster a tragicomic likable figure." QQ P K R S P F, C T I V F.

September 11: the end of separation between global and local politics Don’t let terrorists set the agenda by Mohiaddin Mesbahi, FIU Associate Professor of International Relations

The following article is drawn from excerpted remarks made by Mohiaddin Mesbahi, an expert in foreign policy and terrorism issues, at a forum on terrorism co-hosted in October 2001 by Florida International University and The Miami Herald. am one of those profiled: Muslim, Iranian and a citizen of this country. And I live among you. I say this because I recently livedI under a death threat for two weeks — not because of any comments I’ve expressed, but because of my name and my religion. And on a recent Friday afternoon, I met with the person who threatened my life. The police took the matter [a death threat made by telephone] seriously, followed through and found the person. They asked me, “What do you want to do about it? Are you going to press charges?” I said, “No. If he does not mind, I’d like to meet him.” He happens to be a young university stu­ dent. We sat together in my office and talked. It was an emotional meeting. He said that as the towers were coming down, so did his world. And the enemy, he heard, was the Muslims — those living and breathing among us. I told him this: “I carry two burdens. One, I share with you: shock, outrage, anger and a desire for justice. The second, I don’t share no connection to foreign policy and little care same austere bearded men were even compared with you: and that is guilt by association. You about the world outside our borders. Now were to Thomas Jefferson. We supported Saudi and can’t put 1.2 billion people, 7 million of comfortably taking refuge in a “clash of civiliza­ Pakistani efforts to bring the Taliban into whom live in the United States, in the same tions” argument because it makes us feel good. power in Afghanistan, with twin objectives of category with terrorists and political extrem­ It affirms our identity — how good we are and accessing Caspian Sea oil and making trouble ists. What the terrorists did is not Islamic in how terrible and horrible the others are. But we for “bad” Muslims in Iran. Likewise, we went any book. It is ideology. When religion or any ignore the political context at our own peril. to bed with Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, and idea becomes ideology, people begin to argue Do not forget who Osama bin Laden was. when he used chemical weapons against his that the ends justify the means.” His email to He once was the type of “good” Muslim we enemies and his people, the United States sim­ me a few days after was far different than his liked and nurtured. We trained and armed him ply looked the other way. I was there; I saw the original anonymous threat, a message full of and his followers and never had a “clash of civi­ bodies of people who had been gassed to death. hope, compassion and an articulate determi­ lizations” with him when he was killing godless When people are angry, it’s not just because nation for community and peace. Russian communists. We even called him and their identity or religion is different from ours This country has been living in a bubble — his followers “freedom fighters.” Some of the or because they come from different civiliza­ tions. They usually have some political griev­ the streets of the Muslim world where the thy for this country from everywhere, includ­ ances that, rightly or wrongly, are laid at our future lies and where the helpless, voiceless ing the Muslim world, was very genuine. doors. It is not accidental that President Bush and humiliated, now empowered by the dead­ Without being “soft on terrorism” or ques­ now talks about the need for a Palestinian ly certainty of their ideology of despair and tioning the necessary hardware response to it, state. He well knows, as did his father, that the the technological know-how of globalism, act we have to think about foreign policy in the plight of Palestinians has become a cardinal as borderless “sovereign states.” The security long term and about America’s image in the symbol of resentment against the United States and well-being of the people in the streets of world if we want to win this war. We must also and its friends. While no political grievances the Muslim world, and not its dictators, ironi­ face the fact that September 11, in many ways, can be allowed to justify the horrendous acts of cally, is tied to the security of ordinary Ameri­ marked the end of separation between global September 11, it is essential to understand this: cans, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. and local politics. It was an end to parochialism. If we don’t drain the global social pool that ter­ Compounding the negative impact of our There was nothing Islamic in the Septem­ rorism draws from, this is going to be a long foreign policy is the failure to project a true ber 11 acts of terror. The perpetrators killed fight, and I’m not sure we’re going to win it. and honest image of this country abroad. No innocent people, committed suicide and did No military hardware or institutional mea­ country is perfect, but this nation is surely so by conspiracy and stealth. All three are sure, and none of the responses that are so ably being shortchanged by its entertainment-dri­ strictly forbidden by both Islam’s holy book and repeatedly suggested by real and armchair ven media and outdated public diplomacy. and tradition; the perpetrators will not meet strategists in the media, would resolve the their Creator in heaven. The God of Islam is issue. Why? Because we are dealing with peo­ pretty unforgiving when it comes to the tak­ ple willing to transcend the pain and pleasure ing of innocent life. And here, the critical role of this life. We’re also facing an increasingly You cant put 1.2 billion of the Muslim community in general, and of numb social pool that has been desensitized to Muslim religious scholars in particular, is criti­ suffering and promises of punishment. They’re people, 7 million of whom cal in both deterring further atrocities in the not only ready to die, but fully prepared to immediate future and in the long-term fight take others with them. Fear as deterrent is sub­ live in the United States, against the culture of terrorism. The terrorists, ject to the law of diminishing returns. Ask the especially the “sleepers,” if not caught will be Israelis and others who have perfected the art in the same category with deterred only if they can be reached in their of toughness and “physical persuasion” in con­ hearts and minds. Therefore, the logic of their fronting would-be suicide bombers. Thus, we terrorists and political act must be delegitimized on communal and also need to have a “software” approach. And religious grounds thoroughly and unequivo­ one of the elements of this software approach extremists. What the cally by Muslims at large and especially by is to think about the impact of foreign policy men of religion, the Muslim clerics. and the ramifications of our support for dicta­ terrorists did is not Islamic It is here that the profiling of Muslims and torships in the Muslim world. Muslim-bashing are not only ethically and In the war against terrorism, the United in any book. It is ideology. constitutionally wrong, but pragmatically States should not provide license to kill Mus­ counterproductive. American Muslims must lims around the world in the name of anti-ter­ be in the vanguard of the delegitimization of rorism. Nor should this country allow itself to The prevailing image of the United States pro­ acts of terror against innocent people as a tool be drawn into so-called “dirty wars.” Are we jected by Hollywood and the media in gener­ of political expression, and allowed the oppor­ going to be party to Chinese massacres of al, can be reduced to Madonna, McDonald’s, tunity, as well as the responsibility, of safe­ Muslims in Xinjiang? To Russian massacres of Microsoft and aircraft carriers — sex, con­ guarding the integrity of their faith and the Chechens? Linked to the neo-Stalinist rulers sumption and power. It is not about a hard­ security of their country. This vanguard role is of Central Asia or corrupt regimes of the Mid­ working civilization and a good and generous possible not by the sheer will of the Muslims dle East that have suffocated every voice for people who, by the way, happen to be largely themselves, but also by allowing them equality freedom? The tactical needs for access to air religious. No other western and not too many in sharing of the national tragedy. space, ground logistics and political lip service non-western countries’ leaders, politicians, It is important that we not let the terrorists in chasing al-Qaeda must not lead to a strate­ athletes and others invoke the name of God in set the agenda. They want a clash of civiliza­ gic marriage of American norms and values their public utterances as much as the United tions between Islam and the West. They want a with states and leaders whose historical associ­ States. Hedonistic, America is not. Ironically, borderless war. They want to bring every single ation with this country has contributed to the tragedy of September 11 helped humanize country in the Muslim world into this con­ intense resentment against the United States. and normalize the image of the United States frontation, and then they want six, seven, eight Supporting dictators and states that terror­ for the whole world with its accompanying million Muslims in this country to become ize their own populations is detrimental to pictures of perished innocents, torn families, their partners. We can’t let them set the agenda. U.S. homeland security. We have to speak to tears and heroism. The outpouring of sympa­ We mustn’t give them the chance. OSD

Spring 2002 29 'By the time our undergraduate students graduate, they're conducting research at the MBRS Program boosts entry of students into

Ana S. Goyos, undergraduate Biology major, and Larry J. Dishaw, Biology graduate student, work with Charles Bigger (background) through the MBRS Program.

lorida International University's drive to underrepresentation of minorities in these ty and student participation in research, and become a leading public research univer­ essential fields. encourage more minority scientists to partici­ Fsity and the nation's ongoing efforts to FIU is uniquely poised to address this criti­ pate in biomedical research. remain a global economic leader share a com­ cal shortage. With its substantial minority stu­ FlU's MBRS Program began in 1985 and mon, related goal: to advance the fields of sci­ dent population — nearly 70 percent of total along with the associated MARC/U-STAR Pro­ ence and engineering. Historically, most of enrollment — it is an ideal institution to host a gram currently supports and employs 47 stu­ the professionals in these fields have been federally funded Minority Biomedical dents, ranging from freshmen through the drawn from the white male population, and Research Support (MBRS) Program. Estab­ doctorate level, studying biology, chemistry, with the rapidly changing demographics of the lished and funded by the National Institutes of physics and mechanical engineering. All of the American population and work force, the Health (NIH), the MBRS seeks to strengthen students are involved in original research and, nation is faced with a serious problem: the institutional research capabilities, enable facul­ depending on their level, are expected to pre­

30 ¥l\Jmagazine graduate level' scientific research careers

sent their work at professional meetings and university come together nicely." program had a very big impact on me. I found publish results. The program also brings Susan Tibor, a Chemistry major who is con­ it challenging and exciting, and decided to prominent guest speakers to campus and pro­ ducting research on the effects of lutein on eye make a career out of research. ... Although I vides a clearinghouse for students to learn health (in the laboratory of Professor Richard might have had this career path without the about special training programs and career Bone), is one example. "This is a great oppor­ program, the research experience I obtained opportunities. tunity. There are many students who do this allowed me to enter the lab at a higher level." MBRS actually has three constituent parts: work for free, who volunteer their time to get Other FIU alumni of the MBRS Program Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement this experience," she said, adding that she have gone on to study and receive their doc­ (RISE) and Minority Access to Research plans on going to medical school. "I've torates from Massachusetts Institute of Tech­ Careers/Undergraduate Student Training in learned more here (in the laboratory) in two nology and Harvard University, and are Academic Research (MARC/U-STAR), which years than in any classroom." conducting post-doctoral work at Princeton stimulate interest among underrepresented Sean Mandat, who recently received his University and the University of Florida. undergraduate and graduate students in bio­ bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, is While students are the primary beneficiaries medical research; and Support of Continuous continuing his microbiology research at the of MBRS funds, faculty, who act as mentors to Research Excellence (SCORE), which provides University for an additional year before students in the program, have also received support for research projects. In 2001-02, FIU applying to graduate school. "The program considerable support for their research projects received more than $2.1 million for its MBRS enabled me to work immediately in the labs through the program. programs, which includes salaries and stipends and get paid for my lab work," he explained. "Through the RISE program, I put in a for students to conduct laboratory research, "Most students don't get to work in a lab until request to NIH for a research program on com­ tuition for graduate students and MARC/U- after they graduate. I always had to work parative immunology," said Sylvia Smith, pro­ STAR undergraduates, and travel support to outside of school, but this allowed me to fessor of Biological Sciences, whose research attend scientific conferences and meetings. work in my field in the lab. It's what I love, has focused on the immunological and The MBRS program provides benefits on the and it gives you plenty of time to study. I antibacterial properties of shark proteins, pep­ personal, institutional and national levels. The hope to enter a Ph.D. program and have a tides and cartilage. "I originally started out program serves as a major learning experience lab of my own one day." with a research bench measuring seven feet. for students entering research careers and sup­ FIU alumna Cecile Olano, a lab technician Through the MBRS grant I was able to get my ports faculty research. It enhances FIU's con­ at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Subtrop­ own lab in the PC building and then with my tinuing efforts to expand its research agenda. ical Horticulture Research Station in South expansion of the grant, I was able to get a sec­ And it helps alleviate the national scarcity of Miami-Dade County, acknowledges that the ond smaller lab." university-educated minorities in the biomed­ "research experience I received in the (MBRS) Rene Herrera, associate professor of Bio­ ical field. logical Sciences, who has had many MBRS "By the time our undergraduate students Cecile Olano, an MBRS graduate who now works for the students work in his genetics lab (including graduate, they're conducting research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. eight this year), is equally enthusiastic about graduate level," said Charles Bigger, associate the program. professor of Biological Sciences and director of "It's fantastic, it's a tremendous help, FIU's MBRS Program. "They're working because students can work 30 hours a week in alongside graduate students and post-docs. the lab," he said. "It's also prestigious; many We expect the students to learn how to do sci­ universities hunt for people in these programs ence and then do it. It gives students an — they know they're good, they're well opportunity to reach their potential; a lot of trained. They go to the leading programs in students just need a chance. NIH has been the world, to Stanford, Harvard, MIT, very supportive of biomedical research here Carnegie-Mellon. I'm always in the lab with through these programs. It's where their goals them — they're 10 times better than I was at and FIU's goal to become a major research their stage." BQ www.fiu.edu/~bioIogy/MORE/home.htm

Spring 2002 31 Another step in the continuum of scientific progress To clone or not to clone that i

by Rene J. Herrera, FIU Associate Professor of Biological Sciences

n recent times, the controversial issue of genetically engineering stem cells in culture circumstances, any restrictions limiting the stem cell research has permeated popular are only a few of the far-reaching applications number of stem cell lines available for literature worldwide. At the center of this of this powerful technology. In essence, the research will inevitably compromise the rate heated debate are fundamental moral, reli­ mechanisms to mitigate human maladies of scientific progress. Some scientists argue Igious and scientific concerns. The fact that would change dramatically. that the 64 or so cell lines sanctified by Presi­ life is initiated at conception and destroyed in Stem cell technology differs from cloning a dent Bush for federally funded research are the process of generating stem cells provides whole organism since the embryo is utilized not genetically and/or functionally diverse the raw material for the argument. In addi­ when it is a hollow ball of cells before uterine enough, nor are some of them fully devel­ tion, the potential of allowing for the com­ implantation. Of course, in order to clone a oped for sound and thorough research. plete cloning or mass production of human viable individual, completion of pre-natal What is usually forgotten in these argu­ beings for medical or cosmetic reasons esca­ development is needed. In stem cell technol­ ments is that cellular cloning and stem cell lates the debate even further. ogy, cells are harvested in vitro after sperms technology (a practical application of this sci­ Is it morally justified to generate copies of and eggs unite in culture. At this stage, cells ence) are phenomena that have occurred nat­ human organs by stem cell technology or have the potential to be pluripotent, i.e. capa­ urally since the origins of life. For example, even create multiple copies of an individual ble of generating cells that will differentiate every time nature "makes a mistake" and a by cellular cloning? Is the road of scientific into different tissues. The type of tissue human embryo is split shortly after concep­ progress inevitably destined toward the loss of formed depends on the original selection of tion, clones are formed naturally — resulting human dignity? On the one hand, we are con­ stem cells and the environmental signals pro­ in the birth of identical twins. Single-celled fronted with serious ethical and philosophical vided to the cells by the scientists. Humans organisms, including bacteria, protozoa, and dilemmas. On the other hand, we anticipate possess hundreds of different tissues, each yeast, produce genetically identical offspring the infinite benefits promised by embryonic performing essential specific tasks for the through asexual reproduction. These offspring stem cell research and cellular cloning. The continuation of life. Unfortunately, cells, like develop from only one parent and are con­ possibility of harvesting a person's stem cells, people and other living things, are difficult to sidered clones. Plants can also reproduce which are capable of developing into specific anticipate. The technology to directionally asexual ly through a process called vegetative tissues and could be transplanted without the control the developmental pathway of a stem propagation. Every time we cut a branch risk of immune rejection, would revolutionize cell line in order to produce a specific type of from a plant allowing roots and a new plant modern medicine. Pancreatic cells, for exam­ tissue is still at its infancy, and the creation of to develop, we are in fact cloning and using ple, could provide a cure for diabetes, muscle medically useful stem cell lines is more of an stem cell technology. For centuries, these cells might repair or replace a damaged heart, art than a science. To gain a deeper knowl­ techniques have been used in agriculture. and nerve cells could be used to treat edge and understanding of the chemical and The only difference between naturally Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. The repair physical milieu essential for normal and spe­ occurring clones and those generated in a of damaged or cancerous tissue as well as the cific cellular differentiation into a given tis­ laboratory is that natural clones are even prospect of curing genetic diseases after sue, further research is required. Under these more complete since not only the nuclear

32 YWJmagazine but people still come to her to be healed,” he ly said, ‘I’m sorry, you’ve been given public said, shaking his head. health.’ I said, ‘Okaaaay.’ It was very traumatic Gasana’s father and mother encouraged for me, but I had no choice since my education their children’s education, in part because had been government sponsored. I just sat Gasana’s father had been denied an education down and organized the department.” by his own father, who mistrusted the white It turned out to be a perfect fit for the man Catholic missionaries who operated the local who grew up idolizing his grandmother, a school. His father’s loss turned out to be healer, and an older cousin, a teacher. Gasana’s saving grace. After four years on the faculty, Gasana was “My father really admired his best friend, required to pursue an advanced degree, which who was a teacher,” explained Gasana. “He is how he, along with his wife and four chil­ had a nice house, he was able to buy bread — dren (his wife had given birth to triplet sons he was a rich man compared to my parents. in 1987), wound up at the University of Illi­ My dad wanted his children to be educated nois at Chicago. While working on his doc­ like his friend.” torate in public health, Gasana returned to By the age of 15, Gasana, seen here at left with a classmate, After repeating the first grade at his moth­ Rwanda with the triplets to conduct research. had already distinguished himself as a superior student. er’s insistence (“I tell my sons, ‘I didn’t fail the It was during this time that his homeland first grade, I repeated it,’ ” he said, laughing), imploded from a vicious civil war, and he nar­ t’s the memories that linger. Long before Gasana excelled academically and was accept­ rowly escaped getting shot while retrieving Janvier Gasana was an assistant professor in ed into the seminary, where he completed his water samples from the Nyabarongo River, I FIU’s Department of Public Health, he was high school education. It wasn’t long before the source of the Nile River. a boy growing up in Runda, Rwanda. He has Gasana, whose parents had converted to “In a dictatorial regime where most people come a long way from that “little bitty area” Catholicism shortly after his birth, realized in power have not finished grade school, a near Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali, but his that the priesthood was not for him. well-educated person is simply a threat,” said memories of a homeland lost infuse his work After receiving the bishop’s blessing to pursue Gasana, explaining his close call. The narrow today and drive him to greater challenges. a path outside the priesthood, Gasana suggest­ escape was a reality check, and he left the “I grew up in conditions similar to the ones ed three fields he was interested in studying, as country in tears in September 1993 with a ter­ we’re talking about in the inner city. I can is the custom in Rwanda: medicine, economics rible sense of foreboding. Six months later, the relate to them. When I see conditions in this and electromechanics. He was told he would Rwandan president’s plane was gunned down country that mirror those of a poor country attend medical school at the National Universi­ and his army went on a rampage, killing like Rwanda, that has limited resources, I can’t ty of Rwanda, a move he welcomed. 500,000 people in six weeks. Gasana said the sit by and do nothing,” said Gasana, discussing “I had planned on opening a clinic in the victims were mostly educated people (includ­ his work to eradicate lead poisoning in some of capital city when I graduated in 1984,” said ing roughly half of his medical school col­ Miami-Dade County’s poorest communities. Gasana, who had married his college sweet­ leagues), their families and others labeled Born at home in 1956, Gasana and his five heart, Berancille Mugiraneza, and was the “enemies,” most of who were from the minor­ siblings grew up in a nurturing environment father of a son by the time he graduated. The ity ethnic group. that provided plenty of love but few material dean of the medical school had other plans, “I immediately sought asylum in this beauti­ possessions (he wore his first pair of shoes at however, and handpicked Gasana to join the ful land of the United States, where people the age of 14). Hailing from a long line of tra­ medical school faculty, assigning him to the have rights and freedom — tilings that people ditional healers who maintained an interest in public health department. in my homeland have given up on,” he said. Western medicine, Gasana gained an appreci­ “Medical doctors tend to think of public Gasana’s graduate research made him aware ation early on for the art of healing. He speaks health as prevention rather than practice, so it’s of Chicago’s serious lead poisoning problem, lovingly of his grandmother, Asterie, a tradi­ not a specialty many of us are rushing to enter,” and when he moved to Miami, Gasana asked tional healer. “She’s 100 years old and blind, said Gasana. “The woman notifying me actual­ officials at the Miami-Dade County Health drive to eradicate lead poisoning

Department if he could look at their data. What he found disturbed him: Liberty City, Litde Haiti and eastern Litde Havana account­ ed for a disproportionately high amount of the county’s reported lead poisoning cases. After securing money from FIU, Gasana assembled a team of 11 graduate students who visited 121 sites in those targeted areas. Lead inspections were performed and blood sam­ ples analyzed with shocking results: Nearly two-thirds of the sites in the study returned one or more samples with lead levels that greatly exceeded Environmental Protection Agency guidance standards. The national statistics on the problem are starding. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood lead poi­ soning remains a major environmental health problem, with nearly 1 million children younger than six years of age having blood lead levels high enough to adversely affect their intelligence, behavior and development. Poor Janvier Gasana children are disproportionately affected and are rarely screened with a blood lead test, despite longstanding requirements for blood lead seeks to protect Florida children from lead “And even when there’s a physician who knows screening in the Medicaid program. As a result, poisoning. In addition, Gasana is working to test for lead poisoning, it becomes an issue if most children with elevated blood lead levels with FIU’s Hemispheric Center for Environ­ the patient doesn’t have health insurance or the are not identified and do not receive appropri­ mental Technology and The Metropolitan means to pay for the test.” ate treatment or environmental intervention. Center on a $5 million grant proposal to the But Gasana is not a man inclined to give Gasana cannot accept that lead poisoning U.S. Department of Defense on lead abate­ up, and his efforts to eradicate lead poisoning remains a persistent problem in the most ment and asbestos removal. have helped him fulfill a promise he made to industrialized nation in the world — and is FAECLP intends to print and distribute himself on the plane as he returned to the committed to alleviating the condition. educational pamphlets in English, Spanish and U.S. six months before his country was torn “I don’t allow myself to get discouraged,” Creole to residents of low-income areas. Addi­ apart by civil war. said Gasana, who is fond of the Latin saying, tionally, the group plans to facilitate door-to- “I pledged to fight for human rights and to mensa sana in corpore sano — sound mind in door outreach because, according to Gasana, help improve the living conditions of the under­ sound body. the main problem with affected residents is served and underprivileged members of our Help is on the way After published reports “they don’t even know they have a problem” — society,” said Gasana. “As Einstein pointed out, about Gasana’s study appeared in The Miami a matter that hasn’t been adequately addressed we are here for the sake of other humans.” SQ Herald last year, Gasana was flooded with by the medical community. offers of help and, with seed money provided “Medical schools don’t spend much time Those wishing to contribute to FAECLP can call by FIU, subsequently formed the Florida explaining to medical students how important 305-919-5284. “Ten dollars, which is the cost of Alliance to Eradicate Childhood Lead Poison­ an issue this is,” lamented Gasana, who hopes to one child’s blood lead test, can go a long way to save ing (FAECLP), a nonprofit organization that take his U.S. medical board exams in 2002. a child from learning disabilities, ’’said Gasana. A labor oflove and service to the music Authority on Cuban music gives world s largest collection to FIU

IU will soon hold the title of research in Cuban performers — and the producer of epicenter for the serious study of popu­ the CD boxed set 100 Cuban Songs of the Mil­ Flar Cuban music. With the recent dona­ lennium. Diaz Ayala has spoken all over the tion of what is believed to be the largest, most world on the subject, yet never played an comprehensive collection of Cuban music instrument or otherwise formally studied artifacts in the world, the University will serve music. Instead, his heart and his ears received as a Mecca of sorts for both academicians as their first lessons at the tender age of four. well as everyday aficionados who simply want “I was ‘contaminated’ early in life,” admits to learn about the birth and bloom of this Diaz Ayala, who at the time lived in a residen­ unique music. tial hotel near Havanas famed Malecon dis­ A gift to the University Libraries, the trict on the Gulf of Mexico. From his family’s Cristobal and Marisa Diaz Ayala Cuban second-floor balcony, he could hear the out­ Music Collection contains approximately door cafe singers and municipal and military 100.000 items that span the history of popu­ bands performing in nearby Antonio Maceo lar Cuban and other Latin music. Valued at Park. That sparked an interest that led during nearly $1 million, the collection features his late-teenage years to the co-hosting of a 25.000 LPs; 14,500 78 rpms; 4,500 cassettes nightly radio program featuring jazz, swing, containing radio interviews with composers early bebop and the occasional Bing Crosby and musicians; 4,000 pieces of sheet music; song. “A few years after that, I started to listen 3.000 books; and thousands of CDs, pho­ to classical music,” he says. “Musically speak­ tographs, videocassettes and paper files. ing, I am promiscuous.” “FIU will be a major resource for the study The collection reflects Diaz Ayala’s eclectic of international Cuban music — its origins, tastes. The oldest piece is a recording of an diverse manifestations and impact,” says Lisan- Italian tune sung by Cuban soprano Chalia dro Perez, director of FlU’s Cuban Research Herrera that dates back more than a century. Institute. “This [collection] will promote even Other cherished treasures include two wax more work in a period that is really needed.” Cristobal Diaz Ayala The collection stands as the life’s work of one Cristobal Diaz Ayala, 71, an unassuming retired businessman and former lawyer who turned a childhood passion for the music of his native land into a decades-long quest to capture, comprehend and catalog it all. Revered for his knowledge by such luminaries of the genre as the celebrated Cuban-born jazz saxophonist and clarinet player Paquito D’Rivera and others in the music industry, Diaz Ayala has built a reputation for his exhaustive research and solid expertise. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including the first definitive text on Cuban music — a detailed history published in 1981 and credited with stirring a revival of interest

36 FNJmagazine cylinders, precursors to modern-day records, developed contacts within Cuba. The advent the FIU Libraries in hopes of reaching the dating from the early 1900s that captured per­ of the Internet facilitated his long-distance greatest number of scholars and others. formances by Cuban violinist Marta de la relationships, and today he continues to solicit “I want the collection to be more useable to Torre. Among the jewels of embryonic Latin information and, more commonly, answer more people. That’s why I chose FIU,” Diaz jazz are a 1931 recording by Orquesta Her- questions from people all over the world. Ayala says. “Miami is the door to the rest of manos Castro that Diaz Ayala believes is the Uva de Aragon, associate director of the Latin America. It is the city with the biggest first recorded piece of Afro-Cuban music and Cuban Research Institute and a longtime mix of all the ethnicities of Latin America. All jazz fusion, and a 1937 recording by Orquesta friend of Diaz Ayala, understands the com­ of these people need [access to] this collection. Arcano featuring the first recorded bass solo mitment that has gone into building the col­ FIU is the right place.” by the legendary Cachao. He fled Commu­ lection and into systemizing its related data — The library will post a web site dedicated to nist Cuba in I960, after being a law school the names of songs, artists, record labels, etc. the collection and plans to make recordings classmate of Fidel Castro, establishing his own — through cross-referenced indices. available for listening on the premises. Papers practice and opening a small record shop run “In the case of Cristobal, his is an organized and books will also be accessible to patrons. by his wife. Despite leaving his country, obsession. He’s very focused and very knowl­ The Cuban Research Institute has scheduled a however, Diaz Ayala managed to collect a edgeable,” de Aragon says. Assembling the plenary session on Cuban music for its annual body of post-revolutionary materials that pieces “has taken sacrifice . . . a labor of love conference in March, at which Diaz Ayala will experts agree is far more thorough than any­ and service to the music and to his country. I speak. The institute has already taken steps to thing found on the island today. think for Cubans who have lost their home­ secure funding for visiting scholars who will Diaz Ayala and his family have lived in land, the music is probably the most impor­ conduct research on the genre. Puerto Rico the past 40 years, where he built a tant bridge for culture, a way of recuperating Moving the collection to Miami from Puer­ successful construction company, practiced what you’ve lost.” to Rico, where it is stored in its own two-story law and hosted a radio program. In the Several institutions had expressed interest in house, will take approximately three years. 1970s, he began to communicate with collec­ obtaining Diaz Ayala’s collection, approximate­ During that time, Diaz Ayala will make regu­ tors, composers, performers, writers and other ly half of which concentrates on Cuban music lar trips to FIU to meet with library staff and music experts throughout Latin America and and the other half on music from throughout occasionally lecture. Diaz Ayala’s wife of 47 the United States. Through friends he even the rest of Latin America. He made the gift to years, Marisa, with whom he raised three chil­ dren, works closely with him. Currently preparing a 10-volume encyclo­ pedia of Cuban music, Diaz Ayala shows no signs of letting up. Laboring as many as 10 hours a day and still actively acquiring pieces for the collection, he has a drive that men half his age would envy. “I could have bought a jet, traveled around the world or just gambled in Las Vegas,” says the financially secure Diaz Ayala, who confesses to have side-stepped a number of family vaca­ tions in favor of his “hobby.” Instead, the soft- spoken gendeman scholar, whose story recendy appeared in The New York Times, adds simply, “I have had a very pleasurable life with my col­ lection. It has given me much satisfaction. I think I have been useful to the culture.” 021

Spring 2002 37 FACULTY__profile-

'Bottom line' vs 'good corporate citizen' Business professor demonstrates that socially

hen Karen Paul, FIU professor of answer was. But we thought that if that were Management and International the case, it would be nice if investors knew W Business, began teaching in the how much return they were sacrificing." 1980s, there was a continuing debate about Nearly 12 years and $2 billion later, the whether a business should be solely commit­ minds posing that question received their ted to its "bottom line" and investors — or answer: Socially responsible investors do not whether it should take a broader approach as sacrifice financial returns at all. In fact, during Domini-’g] s o c i a l t«v(sr»f«r** f f y * 8 i a "good corporate citizen" responsive to a the period between the fund's inception on A 8 0 U T ! DOMINI INVESTOR S O C IA L & ENVIRON number of stakeholders, including its employ­ May 1, 1990, and its 10-year anniversary in DOMINI I FUNDSSERVICES SCREENS!; ees, customers and the community. 2000, the fund achieved an average annual­ "The question was, do you sacrifice finan­ ized return of 20.83 percent — compared to T h e W a y You Invest /V, cial returns by paying attention to this broader an average annualized return for the S&P of Delivering financial perfornuuw but that's o n ly parto corporate citizenship idea?" says Paul. "There 18.79 percent. were a lot of arguments, but there really was­ At Domini Social Investr meet your financial goai n't any way to get to an answer because no Persistence pays off investing than that. By n After deciding to form their mirror index — and sow empirical data existed for us to measure social corporate k performance. We had to rely on anecdotes to which ultimately became the Domini 400 developmw in need. preach our various points of view." Social Index (DSI), after Amy Domini, a The conundrum proved to be the impetus Boston-area stockbroker who was one of the for a historic experiment conducted by Paul original members of the group — Paul and and her colleagues that changed the way the her business colleagues set about gathering world looks at socially responsible investing. information on the companies. Paul, who was a fellow at the Mary Ingra­ "We discovered that companies were not ham Bunting Institute at Radcliffe College at really going to cooperate with an entity that the time, and a few other individuals, mainly was just an academic venture," recalls Paul. from the Boston investment community, "We decided the most efficient way to get decided to develop an index that would mir­ this thing going was to become an investment ror the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P). company. Their index would have the same composi­ "I know that sounds kind of bold," she tion of S&P companies in terms of size and continues, laughing, "but we set up a mutual industry, but companies in their index would fund based on our desire for an answer to our meet certain social criteria that qualified them question." as good corporate citizens. As the only acad­ A mutual fund requires a $100,000 pledge emic in the group, Paul's role was to develop for three years, and the group "cobbled that Karen Paul the methodology, paying special attention to together" and registered with the S&P as an the soundness of the social screens. Her other index fund. It actually takes $20 million for role, she says, was to "think about how this the portfolio managers to buy a unit of this articles and heard us speak. Four years later, would contribute to our ability to do research particular fund that mirrors the S&P, howev­ when we had raised the $20 million, we about corporate social performance and cor­ er, so the group spent several years raising were able to do a professional job of running porate financial performance." those funds. Along the way, Paul learned a this mutual fund." The DSI has been main­ "By comparing the two indices over time, few things that surprised her. tained by Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini & Co., we could come to an answer about whether "I thought that labor unions and religious a firm that provides social research on corpo­ paying attention to social criteria meant that groups would be very interested in this (fund) rations for institutional investors. you sacrificed financial returns or not," ...but that wasn't the case," she says. "We Paul and her colleagues found that when explains Paul, who has been at FIU since really built this by the interest of individuals their social screens were applied to the S&P 1991. "We really had no idea what the in the community and people who read our 500 companies, about half of them did not

38 FWJmagazine responsible investing pays off

performance — for some reason, that ended ratings of these so-called high-risk loans. So, up being a strong indicator of superior finan­ by using their expertise and our attraction to cial performance." investors, we are developing a methodology The group reevaluates annually the com­ that will enable us to take those so-called panies in the DSI. Companies that stray too high-risk loans and package them for sale on far from the behavior that earned them a spot the secondary market like credit card loans in the DSI are pulled and replaced with other and mortgage loans are repackaged and sold. companies that better meet the social screen­ "If we can do that, than we can develop a ing criteria. whole new stream of capital for inner city "When we started, we were the first and communities and rural areas where the big really only index fund to provide this," financial institutions don't have much confi­ reflects Paul. "I like to say it was a field dence," she continues and then laughs. experiment disguised as a financial endeavor, "That's our new way to change the world, but we kind of had the field to ourselves you know." when we started out. Today, the organization — Domini Social "By working as systematically as we did, we Investments — offers several investment were able to develop a methodology for doing funds. Paul says she had no idea in 1990 that this that made a difference," asserts Paul. "We the DSI would be such a success. were a bunch of amateurs, really, but we "This was an interesting thing that was a devoted ourselves to being methodologically high-risk endeavor. I assumed that it would sound, and we took advantage of professional be another one of those operations where expertise to the extent that we could." you put a lot of equity into it and you learn a The success of the Domini 400 Social Index lot but in the end...I would have been aston­ has not gone unnoticed in the investment ished if you would have told me that we community. There are now approximately would have had this impact, not just in terms 150 socially responsible funds, according to of the success of the fund," she reflects. "That Paul, many of which have certain advantages would have been a surprise, but what is more because they are associated with large main­ surprising is that we've really changed the stream investment houses that have greater way the financial community, the academic economies of scale. "We've done a lot of community and the community at large infrastructure work that these bigger compa­ regards socially responsible investing." nies can hitchhike on now," says Paul. The educator in her couldn't be more gratified. New challenges "I suppose in every professor there is some Buoyed by the success of their initial ven­ kind of motivation to make things better," ture, the group started a bond fund based on reflects Paul. "We were developed from meet the criteria, so they replaced them with the same methodology. The fund partnered monastic orders in the Middle Ages, and we 150 more from the Russell 1000, an index of with South Shore Bank in Chicago, which wear long black robes at graduation because 1,000 companies that has a similar industry Paul §ays is the nation's leader in lending to we are intellectually and philosophically composition as the S&P. low-income areas and small businesses in descended from a religious tradition. So, the "From 1990 to 2000, there were some inner cities — loans that the rest of the finan­ university is a place where, historically, peo­ characteristics associated with being good cial community shuns as high risk. ple have tried to have a positive impact on corporate citizens that actually enhanced "It turns out that this bank has failed loans the world. value," says Paul. "When we examined this that amount to essentially half the industry "I try to do that in my life," says Paul, "and closely, we found that one thing that average," says Paul. "They've developed the I'm really lucky to be able to do that in the enhanced value was good environmental methodology for doing very, very good credit work that I do, too." HI

Spring 2002 39 ALIJMNA___profile

7 can think of no higher privilege than to be a judge Altonagas journey from Faculty Scholar to Circuit Court Judge by Susan G. Lichtman

ncredibly intelligent. Very determined. A person with presence. When asked to Idescribe his former student, Cecilia Maria Altonaga — now a circuit judge with the 11th Judicial Circuit — the adjectives come fast and furiously for FIU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Rosenberg. “Cecilia was so talented,” Rosenberg recalls. “She was one of the best listeners I ever had.” Even though she completed her undergrad­ uate studies in just three years, she took at least five courses with Rosenberg. He remem­ bers her as a disciplined, goal-oriented student who wasn’t afraid to work hard. “Though every alum is different, Cecilia has never lost her passion for FIU. Many alumni find a way to give back and that is certainly the case with Cecilia. FIU was very important to her and she wants to make it so for others,” says Rosenberg, who formerly served as a pro­ fessor of Political Science and director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center. That’s why, even 20 years after graduating Judge Cecilia Maria Altonaga with a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors in Political Science, a minor in Eng­ “We received applications from people vated, privileged position of being able to lish, and a certificate in Latin American and from very well-established law schools,” she observe lawyers doing their jobs,” she Caribbean Studies, Altonaga gives back by adds, “who saw in our law school a chance to explains. Most lawyers perform well, but serving on the advisory boards of FlU’s Col­ get in at the ground level and be part of the sometimes she observes weaknesses, especially leges of Law and of Arts and Sciences, and as a making of a wonderful school.” in young lawyers, which she believes should charter member of the Honors College Advi­ Delighted and enthusiastic at the selection be addressed in the law school setting. sory Board. She also was part of the law of Leonard P. Strickman as the College of “It’s during the three years of law school that school Dean’s Search and Screen Committee, Law’s founding dean, Altonaga calls him we can shape and mold young people to be responsible for reviewing the resumes of dean “dynamic, energetic, and with a limitless professionals, to learn how to address the court candidates for the new law school. source of optimism. FIU was lucky to attract and opposing counsel, and to have integrity in “It was fascinating to be involved in the inter­ such a wonderful human being and such a their work,” she asserts. “I’m very interested in view process,” Altonaga says. “I was so well-prepared and qualified law school dean.” seeing that we produce the kind of professional impressed with the diversity of applicants we that epitomizes what a lawyer should be.” received, not only geographically, but also in A Judge s Perspective A key component of the FIU College of terms of their ethnic, gender and racial back­ Altonaga brings her unique perspective as a Law’s mission is to provide access to the legal grounds. It was very telling that so many people justice to the Law School Advisory Board. For profession through a contemporary, high- responded from such a cross section of society.” one thing, being a judge allows her “the ele­ quality program of instruction. In Altonagas

40 FiMmagazine mind, this is precisely one of the factors that after my first day, I just knew it was not the May 1996. A subsequent nomination by the will make FlU’s new law school stand out. right thing for me.” Judicial Nominating Commission led Gover­ The University’s emphasis on quality is what At her mother’s suggestion, she switched to nor Jeb Bush to appoint her a circuit court attracts and retains a high quality student a political science major. Subsequently, she judge in September 1999, the post she holds body — and that’s what the public has come took advantage of summer study programs in today. She was assigned to the Juvenile Divi­ to expect from FlU’s programs. Guadalajara, Mexico, and Buenos Aires, sion her first year; since January 2001, she “Dean Strickman is an innovator who has Argentina, served as president of FlU’s Latin has been assigned to the Criminal Division, been active in other law school environments American and Caribbean Studies Association, handling an active caseload of about 580 and who is very well versed on the American and received an Outstanding Academic cases, including all pre-trial, trial and post­ Bar Association’s requirements for accredita­ Achievement Award in Political Science. In trial proceedings. tion. I expect the law school to continue to addition, she was a member of Phi Eta Sigma The same skill — listening — that earned have a strong overall emphasis and focus on and was on the Dean’s List every semester. her Rosenberg’s praise, is one she actively uses quality,” she predicts. in her courtroom. In addition to emphasizing quality, Altona­ A Law Career “I can think of no higher privilege than to ga is quick to point out that the law school Upon graduation, she decided to follow in be a judge,” Altonaga states. “As a judge, my will focus on diversity — both in its student her father’s footsteps and become an attorney. goal is to treat lawyers, litigants and the public selection and its programs. Despite a full tuition scholarship offer to with courtesy and respect. I want them to feel “Some of the finest lawyers I’ve seen are Duke Law School, she enrolled at Yale Law that when they come to my courtroom, jus­ those who had to pursue law studies at night,” School, where she served as director of the tice is being done and that their cases are she continues. “Typically, they’re more mature Yale Moot Court Board and articles editor of being heard. I want them to know that they students, many of whom have families and the Yale Journal of International Law. have a judge who’s going to listen, study the children. They may be experiencing career The first FIU graduate to attend Yale Law issues, be well prepared, and render very care­ changes or may be place-bound. Because of School, Altonaga remembers a time when she ful decisions. I want them to see that I’m their life experience, many of them are going had to defend FIU because “unless people doing the job that people should expect a to be that much better at lawyering than were from Florida or South Florida, they had judge to do.” someone fresh out of college. We have to do no idea what or where the institution was.” As she juggles the demands of her busy our best to serve that market.” “As we finished law school, my Yale class­ career with her life as mother to three daughters Finally, FlU’s College of Law, like other mates would ask, ‘Why are you going back to — Natalie, 11; Caroline, 8; and Gabriella, 2 — schools and colleges of the University, will Miami when you can go to a larger, better and wife to George Mencio Jr., partner with capitalize on South Florida’s unique geograph­ city like New York or Chicago to practice the firm of Holland & Knight, Altonaga has no ical location to emphasize international law law?’ I would insist that Miami is where I trouble keeping her priorities straight. and international law-related issues, including wanted to be. I like it here.” “As a working parent, I believe that service transnational business and international trade. As a measure of FlU’s stunning growth over to the community begins first and foremost the last two decades, Altonaga says that today’s inside the home,” she says. “I pick and choose An FIU Faculty Scholar students no longer need to defend FIU or my outside involvements very carefully. I am A graduate of North Miami’s Notre Dame Miami to the rest of the country. “Today, FIU not as active in the community right now Academy, Altonaga entered FIU at age 17 as a is a well-established educational institution of because if I were, it would be at the expense of Faculty Scholars scholarship recipient. This higher learning with a national and interna­ my children. During these formative years, three-year program covered tuition and tional reputation for excellence and quality.” they need me at home.” expenses, provided the student maintain at After returning to Miami, she was a law Yet, in addition to her numerous contribu­ least a 3.5 grade point average. For Altonaga, clerk in the office of Federal District Chief tions to FIU and its programs, she finds time who was eager to breeze through her under­ Judge Edward B. Davis before assuming the to participate in a Florida Supreme Court graduate years, the program offered just what position of assistant county attorney in the Committee on civil jury instruction, serve as a she wanted. Dade County Attorney’s Office. During her judge for the Florida Bar’s mock trial competi­ “Leaving Miami was not an option for me, eight years there, she practiced commercial tions, teach at judicial conferences, serve as an and the fact that FIU had the Faculty Scholars and construction litigation and handled per­ active member of Epiphany Church in program really attracted me,” explains Altona­ sonal injury and constitutional lawsuits, bid Pinecrest, and more. ga, whose two older sisters are also FIU gradu­ disputes, drafting and defense of legislation Disciplined, determined, grounded, bal­ ates, as is her husband. “Most of my courses for the County Commission, administrative anced. Provost Rosenberg has been on the were at night, and I worked during the day, hearings in personnel matters, and more. mark about Altonaga. doing quality control for a cruise line. I did Following her nomination by the Judicial “I’m confident that she’ll be a U.S. not have a clear idea of what I wanted to Nominating Commission, Governor Lawton Supreme Court Justice one of these days,” he study. I started as an accounting major, but Chiles appointed Altonaga a county judge in says. “She has that potential.” 13

Spring 2002 41 AT.TTMNIIS profile FIU alumnus leads the ‘City Beautiful5 Mayor Slesnick preserves principles

IU alumnus Don Slesnick, who was after the election. The rest of the surplus cam­ ments and works with the other commission­ elected last year by a decisive majority to paign money was divided among local cultural ers to do right by the electors, even as bulldoz­ his first term as mayor of Coral Gables, organizations. ers continue to lurk at every turn. doesn’tF seem to know the first thing about In a further break from the pack, Slesnick “For anyone to suggest that we were going being a politician. As a glaring sign of his inex­ purposefully chose to take the high road in to turn this city inside out (concerning devel­ perience, the thoughtful, soft-spoken labor what was turning out to be a closely watched opment), it’s impossible,” says Slesnick, who lawyer built his campaign on an issue that few election. Having headed until last year the makes the point that contracts already signed leaders embrace these days: that public servants Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s and permits already issued must be honored. should actually listen to the people. ethics initiative — a program aimed at attack­ “What this commission can do is try to devel­ Following a tumultuous year during which ing ethical, moral and corruption problems in op a vision of the city with its citizens and voters in one of Miami’s oldest and most business and government — Slesnick figured business community for 2006.” desirable suburbs expressed serious concerns he should put his money where his mouth is. Fortunately, Slesnick, with a distinguished about the future of their city, Slesnick, 57, “I wanted to run an issue-based, upstanding, resume of community service and numerous who had never held political office, decided to ethical campaign. I would not be embarrassed awards behind him, is a man of considerable enter the race after visiting Philadelphia, the by my campaign,” he says. vision. A Vietnam veteran who served as a birthplace of American democracy. Slesnick’s lack of political savvy paid off on nuclear weapons advisor to NATO forces in “We walked the whole grounds of the ‘cra­ election day when he earned nearly 53 per­ Germany, Slesnick returned to Miami in 1972 dle of democracy’ square, saw Independence cent of the votes — a full 14 percent more and took a job as director of personnel and Hall and the Liberty Bell,” Slesnick recalls. than the incumbent, his closest competitor in labor relations for the Miami-Dade County “The docent was explaining that 200 years the three-person race. The new mayor, who Police Department. Trained as a lawyer at the ago we fought the Revolution to give the peo­ essentially serves as one of five commissioners University of Florida, Slesnick welcomed the ple a voice. Here in South Florida, we had the that run the city, was joined in victory that chance to tackle affirmative action issues and same issue.” night by another two successful FIU alumni: the integration of women into the rapidly Slesnick is referring to the reaction of local new commissioners Maria Anderson ’86 and expanding force. Among his accomplish­ activists and ordinary citizens to a surge of Ralph Cabrera Jr. ’82. A third commissioner ments, he eliminated the separate job track for commercial development in the City Beauti­ who did not come up for re-election this year, females and abolished the titles of “policeman” ful. As high rises shot up in downtown and FIU alumnus William Kerdyk Jr. ’85, was and “policewoman” in favor of the gender- contracts for the construction of a new mall tapped by Slesnick for the position of vice neutral “police officer.” were being negotiated, folks felt shut out of mayor. After eventually starting his own law prac­ the conversation, ignored by those in office. A While getting elected might have turned tice and earning a master’s degree in Public proposed multi-million-dollar annex to Coral out to be a little easier than Slesnick first Administration from FIU in 1980, Slesnick Gables’ historic City Hall building further imagined, the job of mayor has certainly been developed a serious interest in historic preser­ exacerbated the situation. harder than expected. The difficulty, as vation, to which he has likewise lent consider­ Like his neighbors, Slesnick had a problem. Slesnick sees it, centers on his strong commit­ able vision. On his resume: founding It was not necessarily the idea of development ment to doing all he can for the city. The chairman, State of Florida Historic Preserva­ that bothered him, but the lack of interest in part-time mayor’s position, which pays less tion Advisory Council; past chairman, Florida what taxpayers had to say. “I was getting frus­ than what a first-year elementary school Trust for Historic Preservation; and past presi­ trated,” he recalls. “I woke up on a series of teacher makes, has taken over his life. While dent, Dade Heritage Trust. mornings and started to think more and more juggling his private law practice — Slesnick “Here I had gone to Miami High School, about the direction of our government.” specializes in public-sector labor law and one of the great historic buildings,” Slesnick With little more than four months to the serves as a negotiator and arbiter for groups says before quoting Thomas Jefferson on the election, Slesnick figured he had no chance of such as the local police and nurses unions — influence of great buildings on great men. “At winning but wanted, at least, to get people he cannot help but give anything less than the University of Virginia, I was surrounded talking. “If nothing else, I would raise issues full-time attention to the city. by one of the great historic sites in the coun­ that would be publicly debated,” he says. “I have found it gets into your soul and try. It had an impact on me.” In another sign of his political innocence, heart,” he says. “You become the mayor of Slesnick and his wife of more than 30 years, neophyte Slesnick shunned professional cam­ Coral Gables so that, if you’re doing it right, Jeannette, who together raised two children, paign organizers in favor of dedicated volun­ you’re doing something for the citizens of have personally experienced the pain and plea­ teers, including a few FIU students, brothers Coral Gables all the time.” sure of historic preservation. Their 1937 in the same fraternity to which Slesnick While the city manager runs day-to-day Mediterranean-style home in one of Coral belonged during his undergraduate days at the operations, Slesnick spends mornings at City Gables’ historic districts is a shining example University of Virginia. The guys even made a Hall meeting with citizens and talking to rep­ of adherence to the principles of preservation. small contribution to his campaign fund, a resentatives of organizations that do business Luckily for the citizens of Coral Gables, pre­ gift the grateful Slesnick was able to return with the city. He fields complaints and com­ serving principles is what Slesnick does best. ES9

42 FIUmagazine

www.fiu.edu/alumni.htm

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE needs are growing ever larger, and Howard has the skills and energy to help us expand our I can't remember a time horizons.” when FIU wasn't, if only as a A graduate of East Carolina University, vision in the distance, part of Lipman began his fund-raising career at the landscape. Today, FIU Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s University before looms large in the setting of moving to the University of North Carolina- national higher education, set­ Wilmington as executive director of ting trends, achieving mile­ Resource Development. He joined the Uni­ stones and garnering versity of Miami School of Medicine nine recognition at a pace to be years ago as director of Major Gifts, leaving envied by older, more estab­ two years later to serve as executive director lished institutions. Physically, of the Oakwood Healthcare System Founda­ our campuses - from West tion in Dearborn, Mich. He returned to Dade to West Broward, North Miami to Miami as director of Development for the South Beach - underscore our ubiquitous Zoological Society of Florida in 1996, and presence in the very fabric of South Florida. then joined the American Red Cross. In theory, FIU was conceived as a local, Among his Miami accomplishments are the two-year, upper-division only venture - a planning and implementation of the Red limited university for students whose col­ Cross’ current $46-million capital campaign, lege choices were also limited by financial the achievement of a $2.4-million develop­ constraints or familial duty. But our stu­ Howard R. Lipman ment goal for the Zoological Society and dents, faculty and administrators had other securing more than $10 million in gifts for plans — and buildings, classes and degree the UM medical school. programs expanded to offer the public an New VP and director “I have watched FIU grow over the past enormous choice of educational opportuni­ years — it’s an amazing institution,” said ties. (We're even working on our parking!) leading fund raising and The most significant force behind FlU's Lipman. “Among the factors that make success is its core mission of educating stu­ alumni activities major research universities great are strong, dents. FIU does more than confer degrees committed alumni bodies, visionary leader­ — we launch careers, develop community To strengthen the University’s focus on ship and significant endowments, which sup­ leaders and foster global expertise. As fund raising and alumni relations, a seasoned port academic excellence among the faculty alumni, you and I are tangible proof of professional with 15 years of development and students. ... We want our alumni to FlU's success. Wherever we are — and experience has been named the new vice presi­ recognize that college is not over for them. we are just about everywhere — and what­ dent for Advancement at FIU. They can still be part of this great university ever we do, we make a difference. Howard R. Lipman, former CEO of the and enjoy all the things that FIU offers: the This fall FIU commemorates its 30th American Red Cross of Greater Miami & the athletic events, the arts and cultural offer­ anniversary, and I invite all our alumni to Keys since 1998, will be developing a new ings, academic programs.” celebrate with us — come to a football capital campaign for FIU, which last year An FIU alumna is now spearheading game, hear a lecture, enjoy an art exhibi­ completed a $205-million fund-raising drive, Alumni Relations: Annette M. Herrera ’92, tion, listen to a concert, take an online class, led by Vice President Dale C. Webb. former assistant vice president of Advance­ even park in one of our two new garages. “Howard’s record of achievement in higher ment and Marketing. “As a graduate of FIU, This is our FIU. education and other non-profit settings made I know what our alumni are looking for from him the excellent choice for this position,” said Alumni Relations. With talented staff Annette M. Fierrera '92 FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “As a behind me, I know we have the right team to Director, Office of Alumni Relations research-extensive institution, our fund-raising make it all happen.”

Stay connected with your alma mater

Keep in touch through cyberspace with the FIU Alumni Association. Starting this past fall, the Office of Alumni Relations began communicating with its alumni on a regular basis through its monthly electronic newsletter, NOW@FIU, which is sent to more than 10,000 subscribers. It is a way to keep alumni informed of the latest campus news, sports, association events and activities. To subscribe to NOW@FIU, send an email to [email protected] with your name and preferred email address. .e a After the pomp and circumstance... Continue your participation at FIU through the Alumni Association Are you a recent graduate of Florida International University? This past December, FIU had 2,400 graduates and more than 1,200 signed up for a free one-year membership with FIU’s Alumni Associ­ ation. As a new member of the Association, you will receive a con­ tinuous flow of communication from the Office of Alumni Relations, the University and your college. By maintaining your membership, keeping in touch with FIU and updating your records at www.fiu.edu/orgs/alumni/address-change.html, you receive the latest news and information on the many wonderful events and opportu­ nities happening at your alma mater. As a member of the Association, a very distinctive community of the University, you will participate in “members-only” events and receive Provost Mark Rosenberg and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, 77. invitations and special rates for many of the University’s cultural pro­ grams, such as events at The Wolfsonian-FIU and FIU Music Festival. With FIU football roaring onto campus on August 29, 2002, you have Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, an FIU the opportunity to purchase Golden Panther Alumni Fan season ticket alumnus, honored by his alma mater packages for $80 per person, and you can cheer on the Golden Panther football team with your fellow alumni at your side. The Department of Political Science and its alumni honored Manny In addition to the benefits of being a member of the FIU Alumni Diaz, mayor of the city of Miami and an FIU alumnus, at a dinner at Association, you will have the opportunity to network with alumni the University Park Faculty Club on Jan. 8. Diaz, who received his ranging from the first class in 1973 to the most recent class of Decem­ bachelors degree from Florida International University in political sci­ ber 2001. Networking is the name of the game for many of you and ence in 1977, was sworn in as mayor of the city of Miami on Nov. 17, there’s no better place to get started than with your alma mater. Your 2001. Association will facilitate these networking events by providing mem- The dinner, hosted by President Maidique, was attended by 70 bers-only Career Services events in conjunction with the Career Plan­ alumni, faculty and administrators. Among the attendees were a num­ ning & Placement Department. FIU and your Alumni Association are ber of political science alumni who are now elected officials, including here to support you throughout your career journeys, and we hope you circuit judge Cecilia Altonaga and Barbara Hill Herrera, a commission­ take us along for the ride. er in Weston. We encourage you to take advantage of all we have to offer. Visit us At the event, Provost Mark Rosenberg reminded the alumni how at www.fiu.edu/orgs/alumni and learn more about the many benefits vital they are to the continuing strength of FIU. Diaz, who was pre­ you will enjoy as a member of the FIU Alumni Association. ES21 sented with an FIU football jersey, reaffirmed his affection and admira­ tion for his alma mater and the Political Science faculty. Alumni BlueGold Weekend a success The first-ever Alumni BlueGold Weekend — a special version of Homecoming — was held Nov. 9-10 as a dress rehearsal of sorts in anticipation of FIU’s Homecoming next fall, which will feature the first season of Golden Panther football. Highlights of the weekend included the FIU Alumni Association Golf Tournament held at Don Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club in Miami Lakes. Alumni and friends came together for a beautiful day on the green and lunch with football Head Coach Don Strock. The weekend came to a close with our own tailgate party, where mem­ bers of the FIU Alumni Association and the Golden Panther Club enjoyed pregame festivities including barbecue, paella, a bounce house for kids, music and a real live panther. The party continued at Commu- nity Stadium where fans enjoyed the BlueGold football scrimmage. Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Florida International U n iv ersity M iam i’s public research university Miami, FL Permit No. 3675 External Relations University Park, PC 519 Miami, FL 33199-0001

Address Service Requested

The Arts at FIU A leading South Florida center Since opening its doors, Florida International University has promoted arts and culture as an integral part of the student curriculum and in offerings to general audiences. In recent years, FIU has emerged as one of South Florida’s major cultural assets, and several of its programs are nationally renownedfor their excellence. The Art Museum at FIU: The Art Museum at FIU has garnered a prestigious reputation for its innovative exhibitions and programs. The Museums Critics’ Lecture Series presents important critics, art historians and artists. ArtPark features the Martin Z. Margulies Collection, one of the worlds finest collections of modern outdoor sculpture.www.fiu.edu/-museum Theatre and Dance Productions: The Department of Theatre and Dance produces a wide variety of live performances. The theatre program mounts several shows each year, ranging from classics to experimental new works to musicals. The dance faculty directs its students in dynamic presentations by choreographers representing a variety of styles and cultures. www.fiu.edu/ "thedan The FIU Music Festival: The School of Music presents an annual fall series of concerts that showcase talent in a variety of genres. The festival features FIU musicians as well as distinguished visiting performers, www.fiu.edu/-music Writers on the Bay: Under the direction of the Creative Writing Program (ranked among the top ten creative writing programs in the country), Writers on the Bay presents noted authors and poets. Guests have included novelists Elmore Leonard, Marge Piercy and Gay Talese, and poets Maxine Kumin and Campbell McGrath (of the programs stellar faculty). www.fiu.edu/-crwritng Miami Film Festival: Acquired by FIU in 1999, the annual festival showcases films from around the world, often attracting the participation of prominent actors, writers and directors. Last year, FIU launched a film studies certificate program. www.miamifilmfestival.com The Wolfso nian-FIU: Located in Miami Beach, The Wolfsonian-FIU promotes the collection, preservation and understanding of decorative art and design from the period 1885-1945. Through exhibitions and programs, The Wolfsonian-FIU investigates the ways design shapes and reflects human experience. Assembled by Mitchell Wolfson Jr., its collection includes more than 100,000 objects, www.fiu.edu/-wollson