Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 10-12-2006 The Beacon, October 12, 2006 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, October 12, 2006" (2006). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 50. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/50 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University shows poor timing in replacement of athletic director, Pg. 5 >> A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 19, Issue 20 www.beaconnewspaper.com October 12, 2006 Two students die in boat accident, one injured MONIQUE MATTIACE Engineering. wore a bright smile. student, or a classmate, is the loss Contributing Writer He twice served as president “As much as it hurts, I know of a friend and we mourn this loss. and vice president of the Tau she is in a better place watching At the same time, we are praying Two FIU students died last Kappa Epsilon social fraternity, over us as,” she said. for the quick and full recovery of weekend in a boat accident on their members said. Burguera’s wake took place Mr. Perez,” he wrote. way back from the Columbus Day “He was caring, loving and Oct. 9 and she was buried Oct. He also wrote that counselors Regatta in Biscayne Bay. always smiling,” said Shoham 10 in Miami. would be available at the Univer- James “Jimmy” Noel-Pou and Segal, a TKE member. The fra- Burguera was with long- sity Counseling Center to help Monica Burguera, along with six ternity has chosen to celebrate time boyfriend Andres Perez, students through the loss. others, were on a broken-down Noel-Pou’s birthday Oct. 14 and 20, at the time of the accident, Despite several attempts, NOEL-POU BURGUERA rental boat that was being towed remember him the way he was. according to The Miami Herald. Lieutenant Alfredo Escanio from back to land. A 35-foot powerboat TKE members said they have in my heart,” said her friend Dan- He survived and was taken to the Florida Fish and Wildlife hit the group’s rental boat from lost a family member, someone iela Betancourt, a junior majoring JMH where he is recovering from Conservation Commission, the behind causing a fatal accident, that was always willing to give the in art. a shattered pelvis. government agency overseeing according to The Miami Herald. shirt off his back. Betancourt’s best memories FIU President Modesto A. the accident’s investigation, was Noel-Pou, whose body was Monica Burguera, of San Juan, with Burguera date back to a trip Maidique released a statement Oct. unavailable for comment. found Oct. 9 fl oating in Biscayne Puerto Rico, was a 20-year-old they took together a couple of 9 about the tragic accident. As of press time, there was no Bay, was a few days away from business major. She was killed years ago to Universal Orlando’s “All of us in the FIU family are set time for Noel-Pou’s funeral celebrating his 24 birthday. He in the collision, according to The Halloween Horror Nights. deeply saddened by this weekend’s arrangements. graduated in 2005, but was con- Miami Herald article. “We had a lot of fun that night,” tragedy which has touched us However, the TKE-hosted tinuing at FIU as a graduate stu- “She was ambitious and had a she said. deeply. We extend our sympathy to rememberance ceremony for Noel- dent in construction management, full life ahead of her … I will never She described her longtime the families of Ms. Burguera and Pou will be held at 5 p.m., Oct. 14 according to the FIU School of forget her and she will always be friend as someone who always Mr. Noel-Pou. For us, the loss of a in the Graham Center. FIU gets LOOKING BACK new athletic director XAVIER VILLARMARZO Sports Editor In a surprise move, University offi cials announced the appointment of a new athletic director just four days before the anticipated football match between FIU and the Univer- sity of Miami. Pete Garcia, UM’s senior associate ath- letic director for external operations, was introduced as the new director at a press conference Oct. 10 and will offi cially take over the position Oct. 16. “Pete is a truly extraordinary man, who has served [UM] extremely well,” said CHRIS CUTRO/THE BEACON University President Modesto A. Maidique at the press conference. “He is an expert in HEAD HONCHO: University President Modesto A. Maidique (main photo, right) attends a football game with Student Government recruiting [and] is going to lead the Univer- presidents Alfonso “Alfi e” Leon (left) and Camilo Silva (center); he reclines at his University Park offi ce (right photos). sity into a new era in athletics.” Former Athletic Director Rick Mello, who received a fi ve-year contract exten- Maidique celebrates anniversary sion in May, will become associate vice president and executive director of the FIU Athletics Finance Corporation. He will C. JOEL MARINO AND ique said with a broad smile. settled and rarely mentioned again. oversee the $34 million expansion of the BETSY MARTINEZ After 20 years as FIU’s president (his From concerns over the role of the football stadium at University Park along Beacon Staff fi rst day on the job was Oct. 12, 1986), new College of Medicine to land deals with the adjacent $24 million student sup- Maidique seems to have made it his busi- and the terms of his new contract, Maid- port complex. University President Modesto A. ness to stay busy. ique spoke about some of the highs and “[University offi cials] feel like the pro- Maidique is a busy man. Under his leadership, FIU’s enrollment lows of his years at FIU with The Beacon gram can be taken to the next level with Pete Though sitting with The Beacon at rose from 16,000 students in the mid-80s to in an interview that will be serialized as athletic director and me in charge of the his expansive offi ce in Primera Casa at the current 37,000. throughout October. stadium,” Mello said in an interview with University Park, Maidique was quickly Prominent programs such as the College The Beacon. interrupted by an assistant who let him of Law and the recently approved College Q: The College of Medicine was According to a University-wide email know a possible candidate for the dean- of Medicine were established, as well as the fi nally approved by the Board of Gov- from Marcos Perez, vice president of exter- ship of the College of Medicine was founding of a hospitality management and ernors earlier this year. What has the nal relations, the corporation was recently waiting outside. tourism school in China. university done since then, what was “approved and designated by the Board of “Already?” Maidique gravely asked. However, Maidique’s years haven’t been the next step taken? Trustees as a Direct Support Organization Apologizing for the interruption, the without controversy. The fi rst step that we took is to retain for the University to undertake the fi nanc- 66-year-old administrator jogged out In 2004, the Department of Energy found a search fi rm so that that search fi rm ing and construction of the expansion of of the offi ce and returned 10 minutes $50 million in grant money unaccounted for would help us to pick a dean. the FIU football stadium” and new student later. by FIU’s Hemispheric Center for Environ- support complex. “I apologize, but it’s my job,” Maid- mental Technology. The case was quickly MAIDIQUE, page 3 ATHLETICS, page 8 2 The Beacon – October 12, 2006 NEWS www.beaconnewspaper.com NEWSFLASH Honors convocation draws 400 FIU BEN BADGER JR. FIU Alumni Association seeks “Torch Awards” Staff Writer John Kneski, associate honors college dean nominees The sixth annual Honors There“ is something special about today. [It] is the only The FIU Alumni Association is seeking nomina- College Convocation was opportunity we have to see each other as a community. tions for its annual Torch Awards. held Oct. 9, an event meant In 1997, the FIU Alumni Association established to showcase the Honors thing,” said Honors Col- flag,” said Honors Col- There, the flag bearers the Torch Awards to honor the individuals who have College and its students. lege Fellow Martha Baran- lege freshman Eugenio circled the fountain and had a positive impact on their profession, the com- The festivities began ton. “My heart swelled Barreto. listened to the marching munity and FIU. The Torch Awards Gala 2006 dinner with the traditional March with pride.” The parade began at the band play several more will be held March 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the Graham of Nations parade in which The parade also con- Chapman Plaza in Univer- songs including an altered Center Ballroom. Honors College students sisted of Faculty Fellows— sity Park and made its way version of the FIU fight If you or your company/agency is interested in held roughly 80 fl ags from professors that either teach to the housing quad, where song. nominating someone, please log on to www.fi ualumni. various countries and and/or participate in the the FIU marching band “We never get to see com to obtain the form.