Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 7-7-2010 The Beacon, July 7, 2010 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, July 7, 2010" (2010). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 753. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/753 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]. A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 22, Issue 82 www.fi usm.com Wednesday, July 7, 2010 Basketball: new recruit Frost Art Museum shows Adult fi lm industry avoids ignores naysayers international art topic of AIDS SPORTS, PAGE 3 LIFE! PAGE 5 OPINION, PAGE 7 THE BEACON INTERVIEWS UNDER CONSTRUCTION Vote for Webb unveils ‘Green Astroscience Energy’ building fee passes RUSSELL QUINOA Contributing Writer ALEXANDRA CAMEJO Asst. News Director After working for over 15 years to bring a new astronomy center to students, FIU students demonstrated Dr. James R. Webb has succeeded. support for Constitutional changes Webb, an astronomy professor at and the Student Green Energy Fund FIU, has been one of the driving forces after passing both issues during behind the new building coming to the the June 30th Student Government Modesto Maidique Campus. Now that Association referendum. FIU has received $1.6 million in Public Sponsored by SGA, this refer- Education Capital Outlay funds along ESRA ERDOGAN/THE BEACON endum was necessary to approve with other private donations, Webb’s First year Athletic Training Graduate students Kate Jochimsen, Kimi Daniel and Gina Hen- revisions recommended by last dream of bringing a new observatory drick note the new School of International and Public Affairs building on MMC campus year’s judiciary to the SGA Consti- tower to the Modesto Maidique Campus on Thursday Jul. 1st. tution. In order for these changes to has fi nally come true. be cemented, a vote from the Student The Beacon interviewed Professor Body as a whole is the fi nal consent Webb, who discussed the details behind required. the center. Physical Th erapy student Student Media contacted SGA for offi cial voter turnout results, but Beacon: What is the name of the they were unavailable to the public Center and what will it entail? wins Minority Scholarship as of Monday, July 5. Webb: The Offi cial name for the Despite the approval for Consti- facility will be the “Stocker AstroScience tutional changes from the previous ences was when she organized a health clinic Center”. Mr. Stocker donated $800,000 MIGUEL CHATELOIN administration and Senate, a number in Nicaragua. to build the facility which is why it will Contributing Writer of current FIU students voted ‘No’ “The main focus of what we’re trying to bear his name. It is effectively an obser- on the modifi cations, including SGA do on these trips is bringing the community in vatory where we will teach introductory There are no visible bags under Michelle Vice-President at Modesto Maidique and have them feel pride for their community astronomy classes and laboratories, and Ramirez’s eyes and according to her, she Campus, Nick Autiello. His uncer- and then make it sustainable,” Ramirez said. have offi ces for FIU astronomers and doesn’t lose a wink of sleep. tainty over the changes stems from After returning from their trips, she and astronomy students, a small reception Though this physical therapy student prob- his concern that the proposed revi- her fellow members go the extra mile to make area/museum for astronomy exhibits, ably should, given that she puts 40 hours a sions are not complete and require sure their efforts were not in vain. “When we and a large telescope located in a dome week into her internship, studies every day for a more thorough review for such leave, we keep up with them. We get pictures on the roof. her board exam, does community service here changes to be made. back and we see that they’re continuing,” she Beacon: What role did you have in and outside of the country, and still maintains “We need to have a much more said. “You want to make sure that what you’re securing funds for the new center? a 3.96 grade point average. open process of debating what should doing there, that you’re Webb: I have been trying to get this It all paid off recently when the Amer- be included in a new constitution, sweating for 10 to 14 days facility for over 15 years. To make a long ican Physical Therapy Association recognized involving all members of the execu- in the sun with these people, story short, our old observatory plat- the 25-year-old Cuban-Colombian’s achieve- tive, senate and judiciary, not just the that it’s continual when you form atop the CP building was rendered ments by giving her the Minority Scholarship, leadership as has happened in years leave.” useless by building renovations and we granting her $6,000 for tuition and loans. past, and come to a consensus that In addition to her proj- received no replacement facilities, thus With only seven recipients nationwide, we’ve got a document that looks far ects with Service for Peace, we had no real facilities to teach our Ramirez did not expect to get the scholarship. into the future instead of just fi xing Ramirez volunteers regu- astronomy labs. She notes that the competition is stiff and that problems as we go along,” said larly at Camillus House After many years of no progress in made her feel “pretty amazing” when she RAMIREZ Autiello. and Dorothy’s House, two getting replacement facilities, I person- found out she won. Among the changes passed were homeless shelters in Miami. ally organized a fundraiser entitled Dr. Marlon Wong, one of Ramirez’s profes- Article XII, which was created to Her compassion is what friends and “Guitars under the Stars” at the confer- sors, says he was thrilled and couldn’t think enable the Student Body to amend colleagues say makes Ramirez stand out from ence center on BBC campus. We of anyone more deserving of the award. “Not the Constitution if deemed neces- other medical students. “She genuinely, genu- collected several thousand dollars, but many students are as focused, dedicated, and sary, and Article V, which extended inely cares for people,” said David Coloa, a most importantly a pledge from then gifted academically,” Wong said. “Fewer still a justice’s term to two years. friend from Service for Peace. president Maidique that the university match her passion and dedication for charity Aside from the Constitution modi- Ramirez has always had an interest in would match any funds I could raise for [and] community work.” fi cations, the referendum contained helping others but her passion for physical the observatory. Ramirez attributes the award not just to a vote on the Student Green Energy therapy was born not too long ago out of – I was subsequently contacted by her scholastic achievements, but also to her Fund—a student led initiative aiming ironically enough – an injury. a writer for the VIP Miami maga- involvement with Service for Peace, an on- to give students a right to vote on a Before she tore an anterior cruciate liga- zine who ran a story about me and the campus organization that takes trips to impov- fee that would generate funds to ment in her knee, she used to play soccer need for the observatory to educate our erished areas in South American countries to create an energy effi cient campus. for Appalachian State University in North students. A potential donor who saw the help rebuild communities. Members renovate FIU’s Students for Environmental Carolina, during her undergraduate years, article, a local retired physics teacher, and build schools, set up clinics and provide Action (SEA) have campaigned to back when her life was “eat, sleep and drink contacted me and subsequently donated jobs for residents through construction work. get the fund approved since student She has gone on three of these week- soccer,” and sports medicine was her back-up government general elections in the long trips during her graduate study at FIU, ASTRONOMY, page 2 and says one of her most memorable experi- SCHOLARSHIP, page 2 REFERENDUM, page 2 2 The Beacon – Wednesday, July 7, 2010 NEWS www.fi usm.com ‘Not the appropriate time’ for fee, says Autiello REFERENDUM. page 1 In spite of a large amount of students agreeing with the approval of such a fund, spring. Due to a late submission, however, a there are a concerned percent that do not feel vote on the fund had to be delayed. it is necessary to burden students with fees According to SEA, major Florida univer- in the midst of harsh fi nancial times. SGC- sities such as FSU, UF, UCF, USF, NSF, MMC’s own, Nick Autiello, has openly and FAU have all voted in support of this expressed his disapproval of the Student fund aiming to promote research in renew- Green Energy fund. able energy and reduce a campus’s energy “This is not the appropriate time to be consumption. Huge supporters of the fund assessing fees on the student body for things such as Soraya Lopez, sophomore, voted that the university should be doing anyway,” ‘Yes’ on the June 30 ballot.