Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 7-2-2007 The Beacon, July 02, 2007 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, July 02, 2007" (2007). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 307. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/307 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: Tuition hikes at universities a neccesary evil Page 4. A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 20, Issue 2 www.beaconnewspaper.com July 2, 2007 Column: Model of Health Pg. 3 Registration policy a problem Pg. 4 Web site curbs plagiarism Pg. 5 Athletics’ woes accumulate Pg. 8 PLANNING AHEAD Students urged to suggest, pick Full-year registration lecture speakers SUSANA RODRIGUEZ possible Contributing Writer In past years, FIU students have seen JOSE MAYA a wide variety of speakers visit; includ- Asst. News Director ing Pope John Paul II, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, former White House For the fi rst time in FIU’s Chief of Staff Andy Card and acclaimed history, students will have the fi lm director Spike Lee. opportunity to register for two The Student Government Association semesters at once starting this Lecture Series, which works in collabora- upcoming enrollment period. tion with the president’s offi ce and other The new PantherSoft tool departments and student organizations, is is part of the Classroom Space responsible for bringing these speakers to Utilization Committee’s plans FIU, and is currently looking for student together with the new three-day suggestions for this year’s lecture series. schedule and will launch this Charlie Andrews, former SGA advisor Fall. It will give students the GRAPHIC BY CHRIS CUTRO and current director of Campus Life at Uni- option of registering for Fall “We have consulted them FIU chapter of United Faculty dents the changes via e-mail, versity Park, said that the Student Govern- and Spring semester classes and we’re providing an even of Florida. Bejar said. ment Councils at the Biscayne Bay Campus with only one log-in to the better product to our stu- Faculty Senate chair Bruce “The University will be and at UP adopted the responsibility of PantherSoft system. dents.” Hauptli doesn’t think the working with [the Student organizing and funding the lecture series While the change is not While the new tool is being changes will be all negative. Government Association] to for the benefi t of the FIU community. This mandatory, students who opt to tested, some worry about what “As the system changes, come up with ideas on how to allows the public to have the opportunity register for the two semesters will happen if students fail a it brings some challenges but encompass the entire aspect,” to gain insight from the experiences of the will only have to pay for one pre-requisite or co-requisite, the successful student who said Arthur “AJ” Meyer, vice- visiting speakers. semester at a time. and when they try to register had to wait before now won’t,” president of the Student Gov- “It’s something different and out of your For now, technicalities are for it the following semester, Hauptli said. ernment Council at University everyday routine that gives you a chance still being looked over. the sections are full. According to Phillip King, Park. He added that the SGC to hear someone speak [who] you would According to Assistant Pro- “That unfortunately is the associate registrar for schedul- website is currently being normally see on television,” said Anthony vost of Academic Affairs Eliza- danger,” said Associate Univer- ing, there is a possibility that updated to offer advice on Rionda, SGA’s newly appointed lectures beth Bejar, planning and testing sity Registrar Alex Collins. the new option might not be registration and is expected to coordinator. “It makes them tangible; bring- is being done by the registrar’s Some faculty members pre- ready for the first wave of be ready by mid-July. ing the work students are doing here for offi ce to ensure that the new dict other small obstacles. students who have early enroll- In the meantime, Meyer their careers into perspective.” registration option will run as “I have a feeling that the ment appointments. However, encourages students to contact According to Rionda, the student voice smoothly as possible. learning curve for everyone he believes that the system SGC directly with any ques- helps decide who is invited to speak and he “The ability to plan allows – faculty, students and staff will be ready by the time the tions regarding the changes. encourages students to get involved with the students to better achieve their especially in the registrar’s bulk of students have access to Official registration by committee by attending meetings, partaking goals,” Bejar said. offi ce – will be slow and create registration. appointment will begin Aug. in discussions and voicing their opinions. The new system is already tremendous confusion initially, Students may not hear more 2, and will open for all students “We really want students to take advan- in effect at other universities in but hopefully we’ll all fi gure details on the new option until Aug. 13. Visit http://www.fi u. tage of this opportunity to listen, learn and Florida such as the University it out eventually, ” said Leslie early July, when the University edu/orgs/register/ for more ask questions,” Rionda said. “Our goal is of Florida, Bejar said. Frazier, vice-president of the plans to communicate stu- information. to increase awareness of these events and attendance at the lectures, and through that, increase involvement in SGA.” Universities develop exchange program According to Viviana Jordan, SGA’s director of legislative affairs, lack of student BEN F. BADGER JR. vice president of academic participation is a major set back because the Asst. News Director affairs, the exchange program series depends on student interest and input has been in the works for six for direction. FIU and the University of Miami have years and will be available to “I believe that these lectures enhance decided that it’s better to work together doctoral students only. The students’ cultural and political awareness, – at least off the football fi eld. exchange came into being as a and serve to motivate students and encour- The two universities have entered into result of trial run programs in age them to think about and discuss cultural a new exchange program that will begin Latin American studies, Carib- and social issues that can serve to enrich in the Fall of 2007. bean studies and tropical biol- our discourse both on and off campus,” Administration from both universities ogy. Once it was determined Jordan said. had positive things to say about the new that the exchange program In the past, visiting speakers have been program. could work in other areas, selected by the members of the Lecture’s “This agreement magnifi es the effec- both administrations went COURTESY: UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Committee and based on various factors. tiveness of the curricula at both universi- ahead with implementation in all academic example, since FIU has a larger nuclear According to Jordan, cost is one of ties by building on each other’s strengths,” areas. physics program than UM, students at the top variables. Some speakers are said FIU Provost and Executive Vice Presi- Currently, there is no limit to the UM would have more luck enrolling expensive, and their combined budget of dent Ronald Berkman in a press release. number of students who can participate for classes at FIU, according to Stephan $110,000 must be used effectively to bring “This partnership will allow students in the exchange program, according to Mintz, the associate dean of the gradu- in as many as possible throughout the year. at UM and FIU to take advantage of the Wartzok. ate school. Individually, UP has a budget of $66,000, educational and research opportunities “Over the long run we want an equal To participate in the exchange while BBC has $44,000 to spend according at both institutions,” stated Dr. Thomas number of exchange students at both uni- program, students would sign up for to Rionda. J. LeBlanc, executive vice president and versities,” he said. a generic class such as 0000 UM The funds necessary to pay guests are provost at the University of Miami in a By executing the exchange program, Exchange - exact course names and collected through the Activity and Service press release. both universities will increase the number According to Douglas Wartzok, FIU of available courses for their students. For FIU-UM, page 2 LECTURES, page 2 2 The Beacon – July 2, 2007 NEWS www.beaconnewspaper.com NEWSFLASH Events promote Greek recruitment FIU NEWS EVER CRUZ students will have a chance annually. While formal 500 female students. Sandra B. Gonzalez-Levy appointed new vice presi- Staff Writer to determine whether or rush week does not begin “The purpose of the dent not they wish to become until the Fall semester, pre-recruitment events is Charlene Collazo does involved in Greek Life by sororities have the chance to recruit female students to Modesto A. Maidique announced Sandra B. Gon- it for the sense of cama- participating in a formal to introduce themselves sign up for offi cial recruit- zalez-Levy the new Vice President of University and raderie.