The Miami Hurricane -- January 23, 2012

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The Miami

HURRICANE Vol. 90, Issue 28 | Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

com

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STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, SINCE 1929

Land of the last

Website dubs Miami worst-run city in the nation PAGE 3 MOVIE MADNESS PAGE 8

BASKETBALL BEATDOWN PAGE 10

MARLENA SKROBE // Photo Editor

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Spring semester sees several changes on the horizon New programs, mixers to come

Check out what’s exclusively available at TheMiamiHurricane. com.

BY LYSSA GOLDBERG ASSISTANT EDITOR

Student Government (SG) will be working to implement new academic programs, reintroduce umbrella rentals and host events for the student body during the spring semester.

Students will soon be able to design a new class by proposing an idea, writing a syllabus and finding a textbook and faculty adviser. Design-a-Course will be ready in the 2012 fall semester, SG Press Secretary Michael Piacentino said.

The Office of Assessment and Accreditation is currently working with SG to ensure that these courses will be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and that they will count toward graduation.

“Allowing students to design their own courses, create their own majors, and really take control and ownership of their coursework at UM will set this university even further apart from other universities around the country, ” Piacentino said.

This program is modeled after a similar, successful initiative at the University of Virginia. At Virginia, the faculty adviser officially grades the courses, but students do much of the administrative work, reported The Daily Progress, a publication from Central Virginia.

These courses at UM will also be student-led and available for registration on myUM by next semester.

Check out Cayla Nimmo’s photo brief of the candlelight vigil for Christopher Benchley, a UM student who passed away during winter break.

Missed the last men’s basketball game? View Zach Beeker’s photo slideshow.

MARLENA SKROBE // Photo Editor

LET IT RAIN: Student Government plans to implement new academic programs this year along with the return of umbrella rentals, which were available during previous SG administrations.

“I ’ve never heard of making up classes before, ” sophomore Andres Morfin said. “I ’d be interested to see what sort of results we get. But then again, you have to have standards, so you don ’t have really useless classes. ” SG is also still working with the administration to establish the Create Your Own Major program that would also allow for more student involvement in the academic process.

Umbrella rentals, which were available on campus during previous SG administrations, will be brought back to campus after the logistics are worked out. Students

will most likely pay a refundable deposit for the umbrellas. Taking into account changes to the reservation and info desks, SG has yet to decide what location will be the best option in the long run.

“You can never see out the window if it ’s raining or not, so you have to go back upstairs to get your umbrella and then you ’re late for your lecture, so I think umbrella rentals will be really good, ” junior Zoe Shoosmith said.

SG is also hosting a Welcome Back I-Lounge Mixer for members of all student organizations that have offices in the I-

Lounge and University Center as a way for students to gather after the break. It will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday night and feature food, music and group activities.

U-Factor, a UM spinoff of the popular reality-TV show the X-Factor, will take place on Mar. 21 on the UC Patio and will allow all performance groups on campus to compete and showcase their talent.

Groups will pay a refundable deposit to secure their position and those that are interested should email Melissa Guller at m.guller@umiami.edu.

NEWS BRIEFS

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Want to know more about sports at the U? Check out Ernesto Suarez’s blog.

Want to get a step ahead on the red carpet? Read all about it in Nicky Diaz’s blog about the Oscars.

Check out Austen Gregerson’s column on Republican presidential candidates.

Have a question for V? Ask at dearv@ themiamihurricane. com.

TWITTER ACCOUNTS

HALFTIME PARTY

COOKING CLASS

SAXOPHONE QUARTET

Come out to the women’s basketball game this Thursday for a halftime party in the Hurricane 100 Room. Grab some food while watching the Canes take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Student leaders of organizations can win a $25 gift card if they bring 10 club members to the game. Tip off is at 7 p.m.

Join Chef Lori for an Italian cooking class. Prepare turkey and goat cheese meatballs, fish fillets and more. The class is Jan. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Wellness Center classrooms. The cost is $20 for UM students and Wellness Center members, and $25 for non-members. To register, call 305-284-5433.

A saxophone concert will be held on Jan. 30 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Gusman Concert Hall.

For more information, call 305-669-0203.

@MiamiHurricane @Dear_V @TMH_Photo @TMH_Sports

Lyssa Goldberg may be contacted at lgoldberg@ themiamihurricane.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

facebook.com/ themiamihurricane

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NATIONAL NEWS

Miami named the worst-run city in America MIAMI 400,892 Number of people living in the city of Miami

68.2 Percentage of the adult population that graduated from high school

Bank Co.

credit rating: 1234 5678 987 Valid Thru

12\23

Stable

5432

Sebastian Ibis

MARLENA SKROBE // Photo Editor

FLASHING LIGHTS: According to 24/7 Wall St., an online financial news and opinion forum, Miami is the worst-run city in America.

Factors include crime, education

BY LYSSA GOLDBERG ASSISTANT EDITOR

An online financial news and opinion forum, 24/7 Wall St., named Miami the worst-run city in America.

The study, which looked at the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., took violent crime, poverty rate, credit rating and the proportion of high school graduates among the adult population into account. This review of “the local economies, fiscal discipline and standard of living ” in each city was used to determine how well each is managed.

“Worst run city is a euphemism for the negligence and criminalization of poverty, and no one does that better than Miami, ” English professor Richard Simpson said.

Detroit, commonly viewed as one of the most dangerous cities in

the nation, took the second spot in the race, while Virginia Beach, Va., was named the best-run city in the U.S. Neighboring Hialeah, Fla., placed 10th in the worst-run rankings, making Miami-Dade County the only county to have two cities on the extensive list.

Miami residents have the fourth-highest domestic purchasing power in the world, but also the second-highest income inequality rate nationwide, according to a report in the Miami Herald.

This wealth gap plays a large role in fiscal issues.

“We get this perpetual municipal negligence toward those who make up the city ’s local population, who are also the group that fall within the highest percentage of households living below the poverty line, ” Simpson said.

One of the most important distinctions between the best- and worst-run cities is their economic standing. The analysis demonstrated that encouraging job growth and

the success of local businesses is the most important role of local government, 24/7 Wall St. reported.

In fact, nine out of the 10 worst-run cities rely on shrinking industries, like Detroit ’s automobile-driven economy. The Motor City is known as the world ’s automotive center; thus, it comes as no surprise that a city that depends on an industry in which two of the largest American companies were bailed out would also have the highest poverty rate in the country.

Miami ’s problem seems to stem from its significant housing foreclosure problem. It has the fifth highest percentage of housing vacancies and has been ranked among the 20 weakest-performing metropolitan areas in the country with regards to recovering from the recession. This is due in large part to the crash of its housing market, according to 24/7 Wall St. “It ’s titles like ‘The WorstRun City ’ that make you wonder why private entrepreneurs and city leaders don ’t jump to address avail-

ability of affordable housing, livable minimum wages and public school graduation rates, or even simply sponsor and support Miami ’s incredible nonprofit organizations, ” Simpson said.

This list will be compiled annually from data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Moody ’s Investors Services, the FBI ’s Uniform Crime Report and the U.S. Census Bureau ’s American Community Survey, according to 24/7 Wall St. However, political science professor Joseph Uscinki said he was skeptical that some of these measures gauge how well a city is run.

“City management may have little to do with the unemployment rate, the violent crime rates and the poverty levels, ” political science professor Joseph Uscinki said.

He suggested measuring corruption by determining “waste and duplication in terms of unnecessary levels of government, ” and comparing the outcomes of taxpayer money paid to different local governments.

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

Credit ratings reflect a government’s ability to pay back its loans and bonds

32.4 Percentage of the population that lives below the poverty line

11.08 Number of people in Miami per 1,000 that are victims of violent crime

SOURCE: 24/7 WALL ST., GRAPHIC BY CARLOS MELLA AND AMILYNN SOTO

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

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CORAL GABLES

Program allows submission of anonymous tips to police Citizens, police can hold a conversation

BY JACKIE SALO STAFF WRITER

With the help of a new program called TIPSOFT, anyone can send anonymous tips via text message or online to the Coral Gables Police Department.

As the first municipality in Miami-Dade County to offer this program, the department can now respond to residents who send a text message to “CRIMES ” (274637) with the keyword “GABLES ” from a mobile phone.

There is also a free application, TipSubmit, for iPhone and Android users.

“If you have some sort of information about drug activity or something suspicious, you can put the city where you are in, and the phone will verify where you are at and will tell you the closest agencies, ” said communications operator Nicole Puig, who is in charge of the TIPSOFT program. “It will give you classifications such as homicide, drugs and burglary. ” Citizens are given a unique login ID on-

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NEWS

line to ensure tips remain anonymous and are offered the option of uploading a photo with their submissions.

The one-and-a-half-month-old program was introduced by a lieutenant who attended a software meeting about various 911 texting programs.

“He talked to different administrators and got feedback, ” Puig said. “They really liked it. ”

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

MORE INFORMATION TipSubmit is available as a free app for all iPhone and Android users.

The app can also be used to submit tips to crime agencies across the country as well as federal agencies.

For more information, visit tipsoft.com or call the Coral Gables Police Department at 305-460-5401.

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

The police force decided to adopt the program after receiving mostly positive reviews from other users.

The NYPD, LAPD, Department of Homeland Security and more than 600 other institutions use TIPSOFT, which was created by the company CrimeReports.

The City of Coral Gables is hoping this initiative will prevent, reduce and solve crime, according to a press release.

Citizens are urged to report non-urgent activities such as vandalism, theft, the sale of drugs and unsolved cases.

“We haven ’t been receiving a lot of tips yet since it is new, ” Puig said.

Some students hope this will reduce crime on campus.

“I think it would be helpful to campus life because people wouldn ’t be as afraid to give the tips since it is anonymous, ” freshman Taylor Lombardi said.

Junior Kim Blum feels that the system removes the stigma of reporting an incident to the police.

“It makes me feel safer that we have this system, ” Blum said. “More people might report things because they are less scared of being a tattle-tale. I would use it if I felt like there

If you have some sort of information about drug activity or something suspicious, you can put the city where you are in, and the phone will verify where you are at and will tell you the closest agencies. It will give you classifications such as homicide, drugs and burglary.

Nicole Puig, Communications operator, leader of TIPSOFT program

was something that needed to be reported. ” However, Blum does not understand the reason for introducing the program.

“I feel pretty safe already, so I don ’t know if we really need that much change, ” she said.

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speak

UP!

What was the best thing you did over winter break?

BRITTANY ARKERSON Sophomore “I went to a shooting range for the first time and got a bullseye on the second shot.”

ANTON SEVERIN Junior “I went to New York.”

”

The Miami Hurricane

HURRICANE

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Founded 1929

An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper NEWSROOM: 305-284-2016 BUSINESS OFFICE: 305-284-4401 FAX: 305-284-4404

STAFF EDITORIAL

For advertising rates call 305-284-4401 or fax 305-284-4404.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexa Lopez

SOPA threatens Internet rights On Wednesday, Wikipedia shut down for 24 hours, Google blacked out their label and Reddit went dark, a virtual protest against the possibility of Internet censorship.

Recently, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) have been making its way through Congress.

If passed, SOPA would give government the ability to take down any international website containing unauthorized copyrighted material.

U.S. House Representative Lamar Smith introduced the bill last October stating that foreign websites are “stealing our profits, stealing our jobs and endangering Americans, ” according to an article in the New York Times.

At the time he presented the bill, Smith had 12 co-sponsors, but no one else seems to be jumping on the SOPA bandwagon. The few proponents for this bill state that SOPA is needed to protect the intellectual property industry and enforce copyright laws. If this bill were to pass, which is a possibility, any foreign website blamed for breaking U.S. law would have 48 hours to appeal the court decision.

If not, American companies like Google, Yahoo and PayPal, would have five days to act upon the court order by removing any hyperlinks, ad-

The Miami

com

OPINION

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The Internet was created to be uncensored, unregulated and free – a modern marketplace of ideas.

BUSINESS MANAGER Isabel Gonzalez

MANAGING EDITOR Demi Rafuls

vertisements and any payments being processed for the website in question.

PIPA, which is similar to SOPA, was introduced in the House, while SOPA is in the Senate.

PIPA was introduced last May by Senator Patrick Leahy and 11 co-sponsors.

Although it is understandable that the government wants to protect businesses and websites from foreign and domestic copyright infringement, debilitating Americans ’ basic rights cannot be the solution. In theory, SOPA and PIPA sound efficient, but in reality, the cost of limiting citizens ’ rights is not the solution.

Censoring the Internet goes against everything we, as Americans, believe in. If Congress allows this bill to be passed, it will open the door to similar legislation and we may be in North Korea and China ’s communist shoes before we know it. The best way to protect businesses is to protect the Internet. The Internet was created to be uncensored, unregulated and free – a modern marketplace of ideas. It promotes communication, economic growth and democracy. And that ’s how it should stay.

Editorials represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.

ADVERTISING EDITOR Demi Rafuls

ART DIRECTOR Allison Goodman

ACCOUNT REPS Melissa Castillo Danica Jones Tara Kleppinger Misha Mayeur

PHOTO EDITOR Marlena Skrobe ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Cayla Nimmo

PUBLIC RELATIONS James Borchers

NEWS EDITOR Alysha Khan

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Maria Jamed

ASST. EDITORS Lyssa Goldberg Alexander Gonzalez

FINANCIAL ADVISER Robert DuBord FACULTY ADVISER Bob Radziewicz

OPINION EDITOR Elizabeth De Armas

ONLINE EDITOR Daniel Cepero

EDGE EDITOR Margaux Herrera

WEBMASTER Amanda Zacharkiewicz

SPORTS EDITOR Ernesto Suarez COPY CHIEF Stephanie Parra COPY EDITORS Spencer Dandes Nicky Diaz Tasha Giuda DESIGNERS Carlos Mella Mariah Price Amilynn Soto

To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page. ©2011 University of Miami

Looking forward to intriguing Olympics LIZZIE GARCIA Sophomore “I went to NYC, saw ‘Jersey Boys’ and went shopping with my little brother.”

JESSICA FIDEL Junior “I went to Lebanon.”

Speak Up answers are edited for clarity, brevity and accuracy.

Check out video Speak Ups at themiamihurricane.com. compiled by

Jennifer Levine

I

t ’s 2012, w h i c h m e a n s the London Olympics are right around the corner. This will be LonEMMA BOWMAN CONTRIBUTING don ’s third COLUMNIST time hosting the summer games, which only come around once every four years.

As a Londoner myself, I went home over the break and noticed that the city has been dramatically revamped and improved for the Olympics.

There are going to be athletes from 204 different nations competing in 26 sports. There may even be some University

of Miami students competing in the games. No matter where you ’re going to be in the world this summer, the Olympic games are a big deal.

Inevitably one of the most talked about and anticipated events to take place in London this year is the men ’s 100-meter sprint, where the world eagerly awaits to see if the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt, can top his incredible world record of 9.58 seconds.

More than a million people have requested tickets for the men ’s 100-meter final. At the moment, reports claim that it ’s going to cost a minimum of 27,000 British pounds, which is equivalent to more than $40,000 for a seat.

It ’s safe to say that watch-

ing Bolt this summer, as he reportedly attempts to win four gold medals, is going to be an iconic moment that is not to be missed.

The Olympics have been the backdrop for many historic moments over the years, from the 1936 four gold medal win

by African-American athlete Jesse Owens in Berlin, to the unforgettable race in 1992 when Derek Redmond ’s father ran on to the track to help his son cross the finish line after the British athlete tore his hamstring.

As the Olympics approach, I eagerly await July 2012 and hope that London will live up to its expectations.

Emma Bowman is a sophomore majoring in mathematics.

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

The Miami Hurricane is published semi-weekly during the regular academic year and is edited and produced by undergraduate students at the University of Miami.

The publication does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of advertisers or the university’s trustees, faculty or administration. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Hurricane’s Editorial Board.

Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Hurricane are located in the Norman A. Whitten University Center, Room 221.

LETTER POLICY The Miami Hurricane encourages all readers to voice their opinions on issues related to the university or in response to any report published in The Hurricane.

Letters to the editor may be submitted typed or handwritten (please make your handwriting legible) to the Whitten University Center, Room 221, or mailed to P.O. Box 248132, Coral Gables, FL, 33124-6922. Letters, with a suggested length of 300 words, must be signed and include a copy of your student ID card, phone number and year in school.

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Newspapers are distributed free of charge on the Coral Gables campus, the School of Medicine and at several off-campus locations.

DEADLINES All ads must be received, cash with copy, in The Miami Hurricane business office, Whitten University Center, Room 221B, by noon Tuesday for Thursday’s issue and by noon Friday for the Monday issue.

SUBSCRIPTIONS The Miami Hurricane is available for subscription at the rate of $50 per year.

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OPINION

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What guys need to know I haven ’t h a d a lot of boyfriends.

That ’s not to say I h a v e n ’ t been hit AJ GRAHAM CONTRIBUTING on quite COLUMNIST a bit, but don ’t jump to the wrong conclusion! They aren ’t the ones who lose interest.

I can personally vouch for my charm and wit.

Instead, it is I who pulls the plug on the conversation over and over again, even though I semilong for someone to call my own ... and why you may ask? Most guys suck at making a move.

I should edify a previous sentence. “Most guys ” is only representative of my world. I ’m an American girl and American boys have, thus far, disappointed me. Factor in the physical limitations of gathering a fair sample size, therefore, very few have made it past my standards. One of which, and perhaps the most important, is a good first impression.

When I complained about this to my friend, she spoke of how the guys in Argentina are so confident. When they see you,

they want you and they come up to you and they tell you they think you ’re beautiful and they ask you to dance. “And if you are already with someone or you ’re not interested, they just say ‘thank you ’ and leave you alone. They are not afraid of rejection, which is the most attractive feature for me, ” she said in her adorable accent. “American boys ... they do not impress me. ” It could be just bad luck, but I think that maybe there ’s a link connecting American boys. I began writing this to vent, but I ’m an optimistic person and I don ’t like to end on a bad note. I ’ll go through the steps again, just to make sure you know them. The acronym I ’m going to offer is AAA: approach, ask, advocate.

Approach You don ’t have to have the reputation of a musician or a well-oiled guido ’s arrogance to approach a girl. Just find something that ’s unique about her, besides her looks.

To be a stud, you need to harness and capitalize on what you observe. You will need to alternate your words and strategy with this integrated information.

You should also be armed with an opener in mind.

Next phase of Occupy should aim for a new type of protest

Ask

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She ’ll like a drink. It ’s the quickest, most logical question you can ask that gives you a flash of insight about the lady you ’re dealing with. If you find you share a mutual interest in wine, say something classy like, “tchin tchin, ” and clink her glass. Don ’t be afraid to study her.

he Occupy m o v e ments, which began in New York ’s Zuccotti Park near Wall Street, garnered massive media PAUL LEVY CONTRIBUTING attention, both COLUMNIST positive and negative. People in the U.S. and around the world, specifically the younger generations, have become dissatisfied with the fiscal inequality that exists and the political horseplay that has plagued Congress.

At the same time, other Americans believe that the protestors feel entitled to rights and opportunities that they have not earned, and should merely work hard if they wish to improve their status.

Regardless of one ’s opinion of the movement, the eviction of the Occupy Wall Street protestors and the dwindling media attention for the movement has made it clear that a new phase of protest must begin if change is to be enacted in any appreciable way.

The movement still remains without definitive leadership or any figure head, and its demands still are ambiguous. I believe the grassroots movement that it has developed can be parlayed into something meaningful.

Advocate What ’s your cause? If you were a celebrity, what charity would you donate to? Somehow, in the midst of your conversation with her, advocate your cause.

Think about something special and important in your life that connotes themes of love and loyalty.

The points are simple. The acronym is simple. However, I will give a last A for …

Advice If you see a hot girl but you ’re going to circumvent, be too metaphoric with, or have nothing substantive to say in your come-on, don ’t try it. As Lincoln said, “It is better to remain quiet and be thought a shallow hot guy than to open one ’s mouth and remove all doubt. ” AJ Graham is majoring in film and psychology.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW FLOORS IN PAVIA?

10%

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It's unreal that I have to park 20 minutes away from my classes until February.

OPINION

31%

This is a great idea!

34%

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

The parking system shouldn't even have changed from last year.

9%

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

This is why I park in the red or purple zone.

16%

I don’t care

TOTAL VOTES: 58

Say the movement sought to focus on one single problem, campaign finance, for example, an issue that many have pointed out as a fundamental problem in modern politics. With the distaste for the current election system - long election cycles, billions of dollars spent in hateful attack ads that help no one but those seeking election - a grassroots base like that of Occupy could help create change if it were to establish leadership and develop a media campaign.

However, perhaps there is a deeper lesson to be learned from the protests and subsequent social conversation that the movement started.

The public ’s opinion is not so black-and-white, suggesting that both sides have merit. In our increasingly globalized and transparent world, governments around the world will likely not be able to get away with their recent actions that suppress many of their citizens. At the same time, with more developing nations around the world, hundreds of millions will have access to resources and the modern lifestyle that they have been denied.

Our world is finite, meaning that the lifestyle many are used to may have to be altered to accommodate the rise in quality of life for millions. We must find happiness in more than the opulent, and make do with less.

Paul Levy is a freshman majoring in physics.

WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE? TAKE OUR POLL AT THEMIAMIHURRICANE.COM.

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Don’t be a goy!

Check out the 2012 Miami Jewish Film Festival, which will take place until Sunday. For more information, visit miamijewishfilmfestival.com.

NEWEST ADDITION TO OVERTOWN A 12-foot hill has been built from crushed concrete, providing a panoramic view of downtown Miami.

The park includes 250 trees including slash pines, oaks, royal palms, red maples, cypress and sweetgums.

CAYLA NIMMO // The Miami Hurricane

A WALK IN THE PARK: Grand Central Park, the latest addition to Overtown, is expected to provide its surrounding neighborhoods with a greater sense of community. The first event, the Budweiser One Love Nutrifest, will be held Feb. 18.

BY JONATHAN BORGE SENIOR EDGE WRITER

Grand Central Park has come to Overtown, giving the area a new, open space that will provide a safer, welcoming environment.

It is the neighborhood ’s first ever “instant park, ” part of a phenomenon cropping up all over the country. Construction for the park began last October, a remarkably short time frame for park construction.

Just across from Grand Central, Miami ’s popular live-music nightclub, the park is expected to provide the Downtown and Overtown neighborhoods a greater sense of community, while promising a pedestrian-friendly area.

“It really is just about activity and people using it and coming back there, ” said Brad Knoefler, the owner of Grand Central and founder of the park. “There was no reason to

come back there before and now there is one. ” The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday marked the beginning of what many hope to be the revitalization of the nearby, once decaying Overtown community.

Last January, the Miami Community Redevelopment Agency awarded $200,000 to the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association (OPRA), the group primarily responsible for the park ’s fruition, allowing construction on the park to begin last October.

Since then, the open space has been rapidly transformed from the debris-filled area that once home to the Miami Arena, into a biological hub covered in native South Florida plants.

Also, several features like rainwater ponds will be installed in the near future.

“This is a concrete example of what happens in Miami when local government works together with the community, ” said Knoefler,

who is also the president of OPRA. The park, however, is meant to be temporary with a 36-month contract.

The park ’s opening last week featured a live performance by Miami-based group Elastic Bond and music from local DJs. Families and city residents received free admission and were able to dine from nearby food trucks.

On Feb. 18, the park will host its first event, the Budweiser One Love Nutrifest, celebrating music and environmental sustainability. It will also be home to bike-in movie screenings, farmers markets and other public events.

“Grand Central Park is bringing activity and jobs to the neighborhood, ” said Mark Lesniak, executive director of OPRA, in a statement.

“Providing long desired green space to Overtown and Park West can only make Miami ’s downtown islands into a community. ” The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

The oval plaza is meant to generate enough money to maintain the park through concerts, festivals and markets.

Microclover ecofriendly grass covers the ground.

Microclover provides nitrogen to the ground, which can eliminate the need for fertilizer.

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MOVIE GUIDE

MIAMI BEACH

Foreign, indie films don’t disappoint

Study art at the Bass Museum

BY MARGAUX HERRERA EDGE EDITOR

Some days there isn ’t a single movie out in theaters that seems remotely entertaining. Netf lix ’s instant streaming selection leaves much to be desired. Blockbuster is disappearing, and Red Box and Blockbuster box rentals at grocery stores have even slimmer pickings.

So this week, why not check out some of the indie and foreign films playing in smaller theaters? If not, you might just get roped into watching “Alvin and the Chipmunks. ” “Tomboy” “Tomboy ” is a film about a young girl who wants to be a boy. The film explores gender identity as 10-year-old Laure, who is

COURTESY COMINGSOON.NET

new to the neighborhood, passes herself off as Michael to her new acquaintances.

The film is screening at the Cosford Cinema starting Thursday at 7 p.m. The first screening will be followed by an audience discussion featuring Steve Butterman, UM ’s director of women and gender studies, and Geme Perez-Sanchez, associate professor in the department of modern languages and literature.

“The Artist” The Golden-Globe 8

EDGE

winning silent film is a French production, but don ’t worry about subtitles – there is no sound, after all. George is in love with Peppy, but does not want to cheat on his wife.

The two are actors, and the film follows the stories of their careers as George becomes a has-been and Peppy becomes a star.

It ’s not easy to engage an audience without words, but “The Artist ” is reminiscent of the era of Charlie Chaplin, and black and white films – it finds a way to keep you hooked.

“Le Quattro Volte” (The Four Times) This Italian film is deep without being melodramatic. The Cannes Film Festival winner explores the cycles of life: mineral, plant, animal and human.

Director Michelangelo Frammartino follows a charcoal kiln, a tree, a goat and a herder in a film that ’s scenery is as beautiful as the message behind it.

The film opens Saturday at the Miami Beach Cinematheque and runs through Wednesday. For more information, visit miamibeachfilmsociety.com.

“Splinters” A documentary on indigenous surfing in Papau New Guinea sounds like a hard sell, but the story is a fascinating one.

In the 1980s, an Australian pilot left a surf board behind and in the years since the sport has exploded.

The film follows the top surfers in the country as they compete to be on the national surfing team, showing the audience just how high the stakes are.

“Splinters ” opens at O Cinema on Thursday and runs through Sunday. Student tickets are $9. Visit ocinema.org for showtimes.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

PHOTOS COURTESY BASSMUSEUM.ORG

ARTFUL AFTERNOONS: Miami Beach’s Bass Museum of Art hosts a weekly art club, which features a discussion that takes place every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. The museum also offers free art classes.

BY ALEXANDER GONZALEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

Miami Beach ’s Bass Museum of Art not only features an array of historical and contemporary collections, but also hosts a weekly art club in which enthusiasts and novices alike meet to discuss all things art.

Every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m., the art club features a different event that helps attendees understand and navigate the art world. At the beginning of each month, Director of Education Adrienne von Lates offers lectures on art history.

“The mission of our art club is to create a fun, social atmosphere where adults can get together and explore art from all periods, ” Lates said.

The next set of Thursdays includes contemporary art lectures, free art classes on painting and films about an artist or certain period, according to Kylee Crook, education program manager.

In February, Lates will give a lecture on “Modernist Forms-Political Content, ” focusing on humor and the pathetic aesthetic. March will follow with topics like “Creating Mythologies ” and “Sex and Desire. ” Free art classes cover mediums like painting and sculpture. Courses range from sculptures in studio mixed media to pop art, and are taught by Andrea Robbins, a Savannah College of Art and Design graduate.

The program is free for all museum guests. Admission to the museum is $8 for general admission, $6

for students and seniors, and free for Miami Beach residents.

Aside from the art club, the Bass Museum contains a historical and contemporary blend of art exhibits, a concert series that recently hosted flamenco dancers, and a children ’s creativity center that promotes the arts at an early age.

“In comparison to other museums like the Miami Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Bass is a nice departure from that aesthetic, ” said freshman Natasha Mijares, who majored in art.

Located at 2100 Collins Avenue, the Bass Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit bassmuseum.org or call 305-673-7530.

FOCAL POINT: Miami Beach’s Bass Art Museum of Art offers free art classes for all museum guests.

The program covers mediums like painting and sculpture. The museum also has numerous exhibits.

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

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SPORTS 46

number of seasons Joe Paterno spent as head football coach at Penn State, before being fired in November

409

number of wins Paterno recorded as head coach, an NCAA record

MEN’S TENNIS

ZACH BEEKER // The Miami Hurricane

BATTLING THE RATTLERS: Sophomore Gabriel Flores strikes a backhand during his doubles match with fellow sophomore Diego Soto on Sunday. Flores and Soto played a dominant match and won 8-1. The Hurricanes defeated Florida A&M 4-3, with Soto clinching the victory in his 7-5, 6-2 singles win later in the day.

Canes beat Rattlers with strong singles Men head to Gainesville for ITA Kick-Off Weekend KRISTEN SPILLANE STAFF WRITER

The University of Miami men ’s tennis team finished its first homestand of the spring season with a last-minute, 4-3 victory over Florida A&M. Strong singles play from freshman Wilfredo Gonzalez and sophomore Diego Soto secured the UM victory in the final matches.

“I ’m very proud of the guys, getting through such a hard-fought match, ” head

coach Mario Rincon said. “They showed a lot of poise at the end of that victory. ” The Hurricanes earned their first point with a decisive 8-1 doubles win from the sophomore tandem of Gabriel Flores and Diego Soto. The Rattlers answered with two tough doubles wins to take the 2-1 lead entering singles play.

Quick two-set wins from senior Santiago Nieto (6-1, 6-1) and junior Victor Mauz (6-3, 6-2) fueled Miami ’s intensity and confidence.

“In a hard game like this one, it ’s important to win quick to get your teammates pumped up, ” Mauz said. “We needed these quick matches in singles after we lost those doubles. ”

FAMU ’s Temuera Asafu-Adjaye was too much for Miami junior Marco Stancati, and he earned the 3-2 lead for the Rattlers in two sets, 6-4. 6-2.

Any chance for a Hurricane win hinged on the second and third singles matches featuring Gonzalez and Soto.

Gonzalez maintained composure throughout an important match against FAMU ’s Takura Happy and prevailed in two sets, 6-2, 7-5, to tie the score at 3-3.

Sophomore Diego Soto clinched the victory for the Canes with a come-frombehind first set. Trailing in his first set, Soto rallied for the 7-5 win over Levan Clark and carried his momentum through to his 6-2 set and match win.

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

“In the beginning it was tough, I was decentralized, ” Soto said. “But I knew the team needed my match, that was a huge motivation for me. You feel so much pressure, the work of everybody, from players to coaches to trainers, and in that moment, it ’s all on you. You have to think not about the wins, but just to do your best. ” The Canes now turn their attention to the future. Up next for the UM men is the ITA Kick-Off Weekend tournament in Gainesville, Fla., Jan. 28-29.

“We will face Wake Forest next, a good squad. We have to play our best, ” Rincon said. “We ’ve learned a lot so far and will continue to improve with a lot of work, especially in doubles. ” THE MIAMI HURRICANE

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BASEBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

After long process, NCAA rules catcher O’Brien eligible for 2012 season

Poor shooting dooms Canes as late rally comes up short

Hurricanes gain potent bat and experience behind plate

Loss drops Canes to 1-3 in ACC play

ADAM BERGER SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

DAVID FURONES SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

After a long wait, Peter O ’Brien is finally a Hurricane.

The NCAA informed the former Bethune-Cookman standout that he has been ruled eligible to play baseball for the University of Miami this season, and now the Hurricanes have a legitimate offensive force back at the catcher position.

“It felt like a ton of weight had been lifted off my shoulders, “ said O ’Brien, whose journey back to his hometown of Miami was anything but simple.

After being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the third round of the 2011 MLB Draft, O ’Brien decided to forgo the professional ranks and return to college for his senior season.

Players are allowed to enter the draft a maximum of three times before committing to an organization.

For personal reasons that O ’Brien did not want to delve into, however, his senior year could not have taken place while playing for the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman. He sought a transfer to Miami and pleasantly surprised head coach Jim Morris gladly accepted the veteran backstop ’s request.

“They say it ’s always better to be lucky than good, and this is lucky for us, ” Morris said at O ’Brien ’s introductory press conference in the BankUnited Center. “It wasn ’t something that was designed. Actually, we didn ’t recruit Peter out of [G. Holmes Braddock] High School. We were very fortunate to get him to come here. ” Still, the hard part wasn ’t getting O ’Brien enrolled at UM. The real battle involved getting the NCAA to approve a special waiver request that would allow him to avoid missing the customary year off that is required of a transfer athlete.

O ’Brien came very close to sitting out the upcoming Canes baseball season.

“I turned in my paper work probably in August, maybe early September … around November we got a call saying that I got denied, ” O ’Brien said. “After that we went for an appeal and we actually set up to have a conference call and to talk to the NCAA committee. ” That conference call took place this past Tuesday, and O ’Brien evidently made a good impression. At 11 a.m. on Thursday, O ’Brien received a call from Dan Raben of the University of Miami Compliance Department, informing him that the NCAA had cleared him to play for the Canes in 2012.

“I was speechless at the moment of the call, ” O ’Brien said. “It still hasn ’t really hit me yet. ” From a baseball perspective, O ’Brien gives the Hurricanes an experienced catcher with an above average bat. Miami saw a big drop-off in offensive production at the catcher position last season after losing Yasmani Grandal to the pros.

“We go from basically an inexperienced catcher to a senior that might be the best in the country, ” Morris said.

O ’Brien played in 168 games for Bethune-Cookman and finished with a .336 batting average while slugging 38 homeruns and 154 RBIs. The Hurricanes open the 2012 season at home in a three-game series against Rutgers. Opening night is Feb. 17.

Looking to gain momentum with a second straight conference win, Miami (10-7, 1-3 ACC) fell to NC State (15-5, 1-3 ACC) 78-73 Sunday at the BankUnited Center.

Down by as many as 16 late in the first half, Miami made an inspired run to cut the deficit to four in the last two minutes, but couldn ’t get the buckets it needed at the end. On one possession both Kenny Kadji and Shane Larkin missed open looks from beyond the arc. Either shot would ’ve made it a one-point game.

The two consecutive 3 ’s that didn ’t connect were a microcosm of the game as a whole. So often a key to the offense, the Canes were an abysmal 2-of-20 Sunday from long distance.

“It was just a tough day shooting the ball offensively, ” DeQuan Jones said. “So we just have to get in the gym and get better. ” Miami played most of the stretch run without Reggie Johnson or Malcolm Grant on the floor.

Coach Jim Larranaga attributes his lineup decisions to the energy and aggressiveness he saw from his bench.

“They really did exhaust themselves and played very hard in the last eight minutes, made a significant difference, ” Larranaga said.

For the first half Miami went back to the same brand of basketball it was playing in its two previous ACC losses. The offense was never in rhythm.

At the intermission Miami was shooting 28 percent from the field, including 1-of-9 from beyond the arc, and registered just one assist and nine turnovers to contribute to a 39-27 deficit.

“We just came out as a team just lethargic, not being aggressive, not attacking the basket, not putting pressure on the defense, ” Jones said.

Though they ended the day with 10 assists, Miami only registered one in the entire first half. The team ball movement was a far cry from Wednesday night ’s, with the 19

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012

ZACH BEEKER // The Miami Hurricane

WOLFPACK WIN: Junior Durand Scorr looks to drive to the basket during the Canes’ 78-73 loss to the N.C. State Wolfpack. Miami shot a dismal 2-of-20 from 3-point range on Sunday afternoon. assists the team had in its lone conference victory against Clemson.

“On offense we ’ve been emphasizing sharing the ball, and at halftime we had one assist, ” Larranaga said. “So we didn ’t really execute what we wanted to do. ” N.C. State, which has five players averaging double figures, utilized that balanced offensive attack to perfection.

Scott Wood led the Wolfpack with 21 points. He answered every Hurricane run with demoralizing 3 ’s that continuously squelched Mi-

ami ’s comeback efforts.

“He has a great tempo about his game, he doesn ’t get flustered if he doesn ’t get the ball for a while, and he ’s always a threat, ” N.C. State head coach Mark Gottfried said.

Wood, who has now connected on 58 straight free throws, broke J.J. Redick ’s ACC record for consecutive free throws made.

The Canes have minimal time to reflect on the loss, as they hit the road to Atlanta this afternoon for a Tuesday night meeting at Georgia Tech.

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dear ...

Dear V: The holidays made my honey not so hot... , Lately, my boyfriend ’s belt has been a bit hard to buckle. He really mashed on the pounds because of his fixation on holiday grub, and I need an easy way to break the news to him. He claimed that he was going to start working out after New Years as his resolution, but it ’s almost been a month and it seems like his belly has been growing rather than shrinking. He really needs to hit the gym, and pronto. How do I tell him and not break his chubby heart?

Wishing the gobblin ’ would stop Dear Ringling Brothers Elephant Handler, The problem with entering relationships sometimes is that one or both people decide to just give up on staying in shape. Once they realize that they don ’t have to look good to pick someone up anymore, the pounds pack on. Before you know it, you go from dating Robert Pattinson to Rob-

ert Reiner. I ’m sure you love him no matter what he looks like, right? You ’re only concerned for health reasons; it has nothing to do with the fact that you might be a shallow wench, correct?

Nah, I ’m just kidding, you shouldn ’t have to deal with Porky Pig roaming around your house in sweatpants because the jeans don ’t fit anymore, so here are a few tips to firm up his mid-section.

You could start buying healthier foods for yourself and drop hints to him about eating healthier. Pretend that you ’re going on a diet and start working out (if you don ’t already) to motivate him. Make jokes about how you think you let yourself go and you ’re trying to get down to your high school weight. You should ask him to be your workout partner, and justify this by saying that without another person to help you achieve your goal, you ’re afraid that you won ’t be able to stick to it. Make it a point to go to the gym and don ’t take no for an answer.

If that doesn ’t work, tell him he ’s gotten fat and you ’re not attracted to him anymore. Sometimes, you have to

bluntly provide your message because some people just can ’t take hints.

Tell him that you will help him lose the extra weight and that you love him, but you hate to see him let himself go like that. Make up some story about how your uncle had a heart attack when he was 34 years old because he was overweight. If you don ’t get on him now, before you know it you ’re going to come home to him sitting on the couch with hot sauce smeared on his white T-shirt, covered in chicken bones and sweat. He ’ll be breathing so heavily you won ’t be able to have a conversation, and the television will be stuck on re-runs of “Mork and Mindy ” on TV Land because he was too lazy to grab the remote from the ottoman that ’s only six feet away. I ’ve seen it happen and it isn ’t pretty.

Remember, hippos are responsible for more human deaths than any other animal in the world.

V

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DEAR V

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Jan. 23 - Jan. 25, 2012