Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 9-5-2014 The Beacon, September 5, 2014 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, September 5, 2014" (2014). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 780. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/780 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. 26, Issue 11 fiusm.com Friday, September 5, 2014 109 Tower opens across the street for the University CAMILA FERNANDEZ The complex was if one person decides space on-campus. Asst. News Director designed, according to to leave, the others can “There was no camila.fernandez@ Williams, to add value to continue to live in the on-campus housing,” said fiusm.com student education while same bedroom apartment. Spriggs, which limited still providing a home The tower will have her options. This fall semester, element. community assistants According to the the private off-campus The current 12-month that act like University University’s 2010- apartment and condo lease term runs from resident assistants. 2020 Campus Master building 109 Tower has August 21 to July 31, Dasia Spriggs, a Plan’s draft, a major finally opened its doors— 2015, with rental rates sophomore biology issue is overcrowding at but only to the FIU ranging from $785 for a major, said she is happy the Modesto Maidique community. four bedroom and four with her decision to live Campus— which is Tailor-made to fit bathroom apartment to in the complex, since she why the University is the needs and likings of $890 for a two bedroom had a positive experience interested in off-campus University students, the and two bathroom living in another EdR private partnerships high-rise urban tower is apartment. building out-of-state. to provide housing for owned and managed by With a monthly $30 “I have experience incoming students. the Education Realty Trust cap per person, all rates with [EdR] elsewhere In a previous interview Inc., not the University. include water, sewer, at the University of with student media, Jim Standing just across the trash, utilities, digital Cincinnati in University Wassenaar, director of street from the Modesto cable, and high-speed Park Apartments,” she Facilities Planning and Maidique Campus internet. said. “The staff is just Operations, said that entrance on 109 Ave. and The apartments are superb.” off-campus housing built Southwest 8 St., residents also fully furnished However, living at by private developers will of the tower pay to enjoy including a 42-inch flat- the tower comes out a continue to increase. modern-day luxuries screen TV, full-sized bit pricier than living in “We’ve been such as a fitness facility, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, one of the on-campus supportive of private a movie theater, a pool, washer and dryer and a residences. partnerships because we 24-hour study rooms, free stainless steel kitchen. Parkview Hall’s rate, believe the Sweetwater Wi-Fi and cable. Pets are not allowed. for example, is $3,900 community should “I think the beauty Students have the per semester for a fully embrace the University as about the 109 Tower is option to join the furnished four bedroom a full partner,” Wassenaar how we’re really adding roommate matching apartment with two said to the student housing service that bring together shared bathrooms. Another issue for here at FIU,” said Davica residents according to For some students, the the tower’s residents is Williams, 109 Tower’s lifestyle preferences. CLINTON WALJKER/THE BEACON decision to move in across parking limitations. leasing and marketing Each person must pay The 109 Towers, located on SW 8th St. and SW 109th Ave., the street was mostly due There are only 20-25 manager. their own lease so that opened this semester to FIU students at 99 percent capacity. to the lack of residential SEE TOWER, PAGE 2 University faculty senate VP of Engagement leaves discusses The Miami FIU to become provost NICOLE MONTERO an even more important responsibility in that Herald access controversy Staff Writer the nation is going to be looking at us to see [email protected] what we’re doing to get minorities interested CAMILA FERNANDEZ The University claims Thus, the game was not in successfully completing STEM careers,” Asst. News Director that the beat report, David covered properly, she said. In a society where women and minorities Becerra-Fernandez said. [email protected] Neal, who had covered FIU According a letter to are underrepresented in the fields of science and Now she is saying goodbye to FIU to for about three years, had the editor Gonzalez-Levy technology, one of the University’s STEM role continue rising as an academic leader as the Members of the University been interviewing its athletes wrote to the Miami Herald, models, Irma Becerra-Fernandez, has worked to new Provost and Chief Academic Officer at St. community received an without consulting media the University had brought make a difference. Thomas University, starting Oct. 1. explanation about the recent relations, Gonzalez-Levy up concerns about Neal’s “It’s hard to believe that, when I went to As a female engineer, Becerra-Fernandez has conflict with The Miami said. “antagonistic interactions” school, there were more women in these fields frequently given talks about women in STEM Herald over media access at The Miami Herald with athletes, coaches and fields – particularly in computer science. In the Faculty Senate meeting. reported that their Managing staff. recent years, she has observed that the percentage After the University Editor Rick Hirsch sent Gonzalez-Levy said of women in computer science and information decided to deny media an email to FIU’s Athletic disrespectful coverage technology fields has declined. credentials to the beat reporter Director Pete Garcia, of athletes had happened I want to send a message of “This is a really alarming issue because we last week, the newspaper took asking for evidence of numerous times, and that encouragement to all our students. have observed that whenever you have diversity a stand and did not cover the unprofessional treatment. Neal had an attitude. Everybody can do it. in a field, the field is strengthened,” she said. Saturday football game. Garcia did not respond. Although he was not You can be successful. As prior Vice Provost of Academic Senior vice president of After the ban on Neal, the credentialed, the reporter Affairs, Becerra-Fernandez was involved in Irma Becerra-Fernandez External Relations Sandra newspaper decided to call was allowed access the FIU interventions to help students succeed in STEM Vice President Gonzalez-Levy attended the out the University for their Stadium as a member of the fields. She lead a task force that looked at how Office of Engagement Faculty Senate meeting on decision in an article and public, she said. to improve the success rate of students taking Tuesday, Sept. 2 to explain did not cover the University Later that Tuesday, after college algebra. the University’s reasons for football season opening the meeting ended, the “We observed that the passing rate was about banning the reporter. game, even though other Miami Herald reported that than there are now,” she said. 30 percent, so two of every three students would It is a rule by the athletics Miami Herald reporters the University had decided She was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in fail the class,” she said. department for media to received credentials. to credential Neal for the engineering at the University and rose to become According to Becerra, the findings of the task consult its the office of Media “It is unfortunate because remainder of the season. the vice president of the Office of Engagement, force was to make an initiative to teach college Relations before athletes are the game and our student “The fact is, we never helping the University reach recognition for their algebra using a new pedagogical intervention, allowed to be interviewed, athletes, they really left want to go against the ink,” contributions to the community, according to a which involved the math lab – where students she said, and most colleges their heart out there on the Gonzalez-Levy said. “Who Sept. 2 memorandum from University President go every week and do an online component of and universities have this field on Saturday,” said controls the ink, right?” Mark Rosenberg. type of rule. Gonzalez-Levy. “FIU, as a minority-majority university, has SEE STEM, PAGE 2 2 The Beacon – Friday, September 5, 2014 NEWS fiusm.com NATION & WORLD Tower offers modern living BRIEFS Obama: Video of slain with uncomfortable parking journalist is authentic, U.S. TOWER, PAGE 1 said Vice President of Governmental Other Florida schools that have Relations Steve Sauls. nearby EdR residencies include the won’t be intimidated parking spots available in the building In the meantime, the CATS shuttle University of South Florida, University due to the grounds that were available stops in front of the tower 33 times a of Florida, University of Central U.S. intelligence officials have verified the for construction. day, and the Sweetwater trolley is also Florida, Florida State University and authenticity of a video showing the beheading Amer- This leaves students parking at PG-5 available for residents.