The Beacon, February 22, 2007 Florida International University
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 2-22-2007 The Beacon, February 22, 2007 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, February 22, 2007" (2007). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 45. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/45 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]. Our View: Board of Trustees should review unanswered issues, Page 5. A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 19, Issue 50 www.beaconnewspaper.com February 22, 2007 “Green” NO DIRECTION HOME buildings in the works KELLY POVEROMO Contributing Writer Sounds like a futuristic movie: environ- mental friendly buildings that use natural lighting and non-toxic carpet and paint. Well, think again, because it’s not that far from the future. This is how FIU could look in a few years, once the new Ad Hoc Building and Environment Committee implements its plan to build “green buildings” at the University. Approved last summer by the Faculty Senate, the B.E.C. hopes to change stan- dards of on-campus construction to be more environmentally friendly. John Stuart, associate professor in the School of Architecture and chairperson of the B.E.C., describes how the committee came to be. “Our committee was founded by Bruce Hauptli, the chairman of the Faculty Senate. He formed the committee and said our fi rst task was to look at the master plan of the Students show solidarity University—where all the new building and issues of planning the campus were,” Stuart said. through mock shanty hut The B.E.C.’s offi cial mission includes to review and impact University plans and BETSY MARTINEZ The modestly built policies, including the University master News Director cardboard and wood plan, as they relate to the physical envi- structure stands just a ronment; to educate the community about Chris Daley’s been living a nightmare few feet tall amid the issues of the University’s physical environ- since May of last year. towering buildings on ment; and to receive and distribute funding A Jamaican immigrant who is studying campus. to pursue its plans. political science at FIU, Daley says his “We’re bringing a After learning their objective, the B.E.C. North Miami-based employer, Furad Indus- glimpse of poverty,” said began deliberating on methods to provide tries, refused to pay for his work-related Andrew Santa Lucia, a safe environment for FIU. Ideal methods medical bills and fi red him from his position a member of Critical such as using non-toxic carpet and paint, as a box lifter. Awareness for Social adding recycling facilities, and using less Due to certain immigration problems, Inequality in Society. lighting and air conditioning have all been he does not receive fi nancial aid and has to “This is what poverty discussed and are being worked into future borrow money from his family and friends looks like.” construction plans. All buildings with these to pay tuition. But their means of new standards will be considered “green “Coming to school takes away the expression had students buildings.” burden,” said Daley, who was elected as like Natalia Valenzuela The B.E.C. met Feb. 16 to discuss the president of the political science society Feb. confused. current status of the committee. At this 19. “It alleviates the nightmare.” “I guess they’re meeting, the committee mentioned their However, Daley acknowledges that there trying to make students goals as of this semester. are some who may be worse off, including understand that there are “[We want to] encourage the production residents of Liberty City’s Umoja Village. a lot of homeless people of green buildings on campus, encourage The village is a collection of about 40 out there,” Valenzuela non-toxic approaches to landscape main- shantytown homes. Many of the residents said. PHOTOS BY CHRIS CUTRO/THE BEACON tenance and to follow FIU master plan and who live there have been kicked out of However, Meagan SWEET HOME: Pablo Avendano (right) and Rebecca Ludin, building developments,” Stuart said. their original homes, a controversy that has McGill – who also (left) are some of the students who camped for three days According to Stuart, these goals will attracted student activists like Daley. observed the mock in the shanty hut built at University Park. The hut was built to be set towards new buildings such as the His fi rst visit to Umoja was Feb. 18 and shanty hut – felt she spread awarenes about the shantytown in Liberty City, and stadium expansion and the international although he knows Umoja means unity in understood what the the lack of affordable housing in Miami-Dade County. The studies and medical center buildings. There Swahili, he says the circumstances that led students were trying hut will be taken down and the materials will be used to has also been word of a new “green” resi- to the commune are the opposite of that to do. build a library at the Umoja Village. dence hall. The B.E.C. has been focusing sentiment. “The sign says it all,” McGill said, referring to both on University Park and the Biscayne “It was a slap in the face with aware- Sonja Swanson, president of the Bolivarian the spray painted orange and black phrases Bay Campus. ness,” he said. Youth, an activist group on campus. on the hut that read, “In every 1st world “[In the meeting] we talked about places But it wasn’t until August 2006 that After their three-day stay, the goods col- country there are 3rd world ghettos,” and for students to gather on the Biscayne Bay Daley joined Act Now to Stop War and End lected were transported to the actual Umoja “Less homes = homeless.” Campus,” Stuart said. “[We want] the Racism, one of the FIU groups involved in Village. Although temperatures dropped as low Biscayne Bay Campus to be identifi ed as a the protest of creating a mock shantytown There, they hope to use the books they as 40 degrees and sprinkler water showered campus focused on the environment — it hut at FIU. gathered to teach the village residents how the protestors on their fi rst night, several has a beautiful setting on the water.” About 50 students, including those from to read and possibly obtain GEDs. Toiletries students called the hut home for three con- Since the committee is relatively new several South Florida colleges and members and food are also being collected. secutive days. and construction of a new building is a of the community, gathered behind the Not even the wood used to build the hut at Graham Center at University Park Feb. 18 “We’ve gotten donations of sweaters and ENVIRONMENT, page 3 to begin building the hut. food, and I think someone has a heater,” said HUT, page 2 2 The Beacon – February 22, 2007 NEWS www.beaconnewspaper.com NEWSFLASH East meets West in philosophy club FIU Expert on Chinese regionalism and development BEN F. BADGER JR. Nelson Abreu, Philosophy club member lectures on the Chinese frontier myth AND MARIA CHERCOLES Timothy Oakes, expert on Chinese regionalism and Beacon Staff “I think people can learn from each other. The club meetings economic development, will explore the role of the are an opportunity to fi nd the strong and weak points of the frontier myth in China’s national imagination when Last semester, close he lectures at FIU Feb. 22. friends Stephanie Mora different philosophies. As China opens up to international tourism and and Elizabeth Chang felt looks for ways to capitalize on its history and geog- they needed a way to share from each other,” said senior debate the issue that was know we can’t go wrong,” raphy, its government is looking for inspiration from their favorite interest with and club member Nelson brought up by the quote, or Mora said. the lore of its frontiers. other students: philosophy. Abreu. “The club meetings simply talk about the issue, But the young philoso- Following the country’s recent marketing model, In order to do this, they are an opportunity to fi nd the not trying to prove any one phers don’t just keep their dubbed “Open to the West,” Oakes will compare founded the Philosophies strong and weak points of side right or wrong. discussions within campus China’s frontier myth to that of the United State’s in of the East and West club, the different philosophies.” “Everyone brings their walls. the 19th century, during the Wild West experience. an organization that encour- From Buddha to Socrates, own grain of salt to the The club, which has Oakes’s current research, supported by the U.S. ages students to think about Mora or one of the club offi - table,” said sophomore about 10 members, is plan- National Science Foundation, examines the cultural subjects such as the meaning cers picks out a quote from a Francisco Surace, who is ning a barbeque in March, and ethnic politics of heritage tourism in China. of life and the history of philosopher to read aloud. also a club member. although an offi cial date and He is also currently co-editing The Cultural philosophy. During their last meeting, Other mediums for dis- place haven’t been set.