Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 5-2-2011 The Beacon, May 2, 2011 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, May 2, 2011" (2011). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 604. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/604 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]. GRADUATION 2011 CCongrats!ongrats! A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 22, Issue 41 www.fi usm.com Monday, May 2, 2011 MEMORY LANE THE BEACON PHOTOGRAPHERS Graduate asserts force on the court and in the classroom RICO ALBARRACIN “Since I changed my major to hospitality, Asst. Sports Director I felt the professors’ were very helpful and also impacted me in a very personal way as fter falling short in the Sun Belt well. FIU has helped me in a lot of ways,” AConference tournament a season ago I’m going to miss the physical said Spenceley. to North Texas in the championship match, As her fi nal days at the University and in the FIU women’s tennis team came back workouts that I have. I’m not gonna the tennis team approach, Spenceley realizes strong this year to capture its second confer- what words of wisdom could be passed down ence title in three years. It is the fi fth SBC work out as hard anymore obviously to incoming students to ease the transition title the team has won as a program. and journey. Many players stepped up to provide a since no one is going to make me. Spenceley added: “I would say know what consistent winning season for the Golden you want. Know what your goals are. When Panthers, including Seniors Maria Spen- Maria Spenceley, Senior I came in, I really didn’t know what I wanted celey and Liset Brito. They formed a good Tennis player and hospitality major and it really affected me and it slowed down tandem as they went 15-8 as doubles part- the process. I would defi nitely say know your ners, including winning nine of their last ten year. I’m grateful that we did it this year, appreciated if FIU goes out more. I feel like goals and follow through with it.” matches. since I’m a senior, and it’s my last year and it’s always a budget problem. We’re not as big Despite the plans she has set ahead of her, With the conference title in hand, FIU is I won’t get this opportunity any more. I’m as the University of Miami in many ways. I Spenceley knows that she will miss her team, practicing and waiting to play in the NCAA really happy for me and my girls for winning don’t why but my hope is that one day FIU is even “all the drama and practices that go tournament. In the midst of preparation for the title this year,” said Spenceley. as big as UM, if not bigger,” said Spenceley. on.” the tournament, Spenceley is gearing up for Coming off the heels of this victory with Majoring in hospitality, Spenceley is plan- “I’m going to miss the physical workouts another event—graduation. her team, Spenceley feels that FIU has an ning to work in the hotel business and pursue that I have. I’m not gonna work out as hard For Spenceley, the title is not only vindica- opportunity, more now than ever, to become a real estate license simultaneously. Off the anymore obviously since no one is going to tion for the entire team, but also a parting gift a stronger presence on and off the tennis tennis court, Spenceley appreciates the guid- make me. But I’ll defi nitely miss the girls the as she graduates from the University. court. ance she has gotten from the University to most. We’re all friends, we’re all family and “It was amazing since we struggled last “I feel that the program can be way more pursue her career. we all love each other,” said Spenceley. 2 The Beacon – Monday, May 2, 2011 NEWS www.fi usm.com Student Government President refl ects on past year Fellow Panthers, To preserve school spirit in athletics, SGA the University facilitated a year-round fund- Even further, SGC-MMC has been instru- created the Panther Rage Committee, a standing raising drive, calling on each FIU student to mental in securing and improving student Almost one year ago today, I was elected committee within the Executive Cabinet for donate $1 of a relief fund that went directly to spaces on campus, amongst them a new lounge to serve as the 38th president of the Student the purpose of continuing the traditions of the providing essential resources to victims of the in the Engineering Center, and improving the Government Council at the Modesto Maid- former governing council. Through collabora- Haiti Earthquake. Law Student Lounge at the College of Law. ique Campus, a voting member of the Board of tions with the Department of Athletics, partic- SGA, in conjunction with the FIU Offi ce of My undergraduate experience at FIU has Trustees of the University and Vice President ipation in tailgates, programming and events, University Advancement facilitated the second been exponentially increased by my involve- of the Florida Student Association. As my term SGA’s Panther Rage Committee has been an annual First Generation Scholarship Benefi t. ment in SGA. From my early beginnings as comes to an end, I refl ect on the accomplish- instrumental aspect of increasing student spirit Started by former SGC-MMC Vice President lower division senator and member of the ments of SGC-MMC in advancing the general in FIU athletics. Mykaelle Figueiredo, the Scholarship Benefi t Senate’s Finance Committee, to becoming welfare of the student body. In Dec. of 2010, SGA sponsored over 70 assists fi rst generation students in Florida pay senate speaker pro tempore, then being elected My administration and the 38th Legislature students to attend the award winning foot- for college tuition and fees. After 50 percent to serve as both at large senator and senate of SGC-MMC had to work collaboratively to ball game between FIU and the University of state matching, the Benefi t raised in excess of speaker, my three years of service in SGA overcome many obstacles and to have many Toledo. $120,000—a 500 percent increase from the University Wide Budget Committee and SGC- successes for the students. SGC-MMC has made signifi cant strides in amount raised after the fi rst Benefi t. MMC Budget Committee in allocating student In the summer of 2010, the SGC-MMC the area of infl uencing state policy. Most prom- After the FIU Football team captured the activity and service fees, and most recently Senate created and established the Grad- inently, in the summer of 2010, Nicholas Auti- 2010 Little Caesar’s Bowl, SGA’s Panther serving as your Student Body President and uate Student Funding Committee, a standing ello and I were members of a team of University Rage Committee, in conjunction with the University Trustee. committee within the Senate whose primary administrators and offi cials who collaborated Department of External Relations and Little I am truly humbled, honored and blessed objective is to allocate funding to over 9,000 for the purpose of ensuring that then Governor Caesar’s, facilitated the Hot-n-Ready Panther to have served in all of my capacities. As a graduate and professional students at MMC. Charlie Christ did not veto a state budget Party—which over 2,000 students attended— student, I would have not traded my experience Over the course of the fi scal year, the GSFC line-item of over $17 million in funding for a as a celebration and show of gratitude to the here at FIU for any others because as the fi nest allocated in excess of $100,000 to the graduate student support academic complex, a future 2010 FIU Football champions. institution in the universe, FIU is an amazing community in support of the scholarly forums project of the University that will improve the Led by SGC-MMC’s Sustainability Coordi- institution that caters to the needs of and invests and other university-wide graduate and profes- student experience at the University. nator, SGC-MMC has been able to effectively heavily in the future of each of its students. sional events, in addition to funding for confer- Since SGC-MMC’s Legislative Session engage the general student body on issues FIU has been and will forever and always ence attendance, support for research and convened, offi cials tackled issues on behalf of regarding sustainability by assisting with the be more than just an educational institution. I professional development. the Student Body include fi rearms legislation programming and helping student organiza- am so grateful to be given the opportunity of Next year the GSFC will change its name and preserving funding for higher education in tions, such as the Kill-a-Watt Program that serving you and to have worked with so many to the Graduate and Professional Student Florida. earned residential student scholarships and on your behalf. Thank you and may God bless Committee to refl ect the true function and SGC-MMC has raised funds on behalf of the Black Out, Green On Party which encour- you all in your endeavors! purpose of the Committee and will have a fi scal two important and compelling causes: student aged residential students to ‘turn off the lights’ budget of $175,000 to disseminate in support scholarships and disaster relief.