Commentary: Team’s slow growth places coach on hot seat
By: Jonathan Ramos / Staff Writer For coach Sergio Rouco, it must feel like winning is much easier said than done after he had this to say before the season: “If everything stays the course and we don’t suffer major injuries, there is no reason why we can’t finish among the top four teams in [the Sun Belt Conference],” he said. To sum up the first 19 games of the Golden Panthers season, things haven’t quite stayed the course and it hasn’t been injuries that have derailed the team. FIU has followed up its 12-17 performance last season with a 6-13 start to this year and a deep hole to overcome if it wants to…
For a few hours, fiu Held the attention of the political arena: Lieberman stumps for McCain at FIU
By: Chris Towers / Asst. News Director Mere hours before former New York City mayor and Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani made a highly publicized appearance at the Graham Center Ballrooms, another prominent politician was drawing crowds at University Park. Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman slipped into the conference room in GC 243 for a personal appearance on behalf of Arizona Sen. John McCain, who is seeking the Republican nomination. Compared to Giuliani’s hyped appearance, former Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidate’s event was a casual affair. Lieberman briefly discussed McCain’s candidacy before taking more than 25 minutes worth of questions regarding both his and McCain’s views on numerous issues. Among the issues he took questions on…
HYBRID HYPE: New vehicles use electricity, reduce emissions
By: Olivia Sarracino / Staff? Writer The automobile industry is going green, or better yet – hybrid. With the decade coming to an close, leading auto manufacturers such as Toyota and General Motors are introducing a new kind of hybrid: an electric plug-in slated for 2010. According to The New York Times, Toyota’s President Katsuaki Watanabe announced at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show that the company will launch the first plug-in hybrid as a series of “environmental steps” intended to curb global warming. Toyota and other automobile companies are not the only figures in an emerging trend involving efforts to go green. There have been new organic foods and “green buildings,” as reported in The…
Americans should demand solidarity for Palestine
By: Matt Luciano / Contributing Writer One and a half million Palestinian men, women and children live within the Gaza strip; a region that borders Israel to the north and east, Egypt to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Currently, Israel controls Gaza’s borders, airspace and access to water. On Jan. 20, Israel shut down Gaza’s only power plant just days after sealing off its borders. Within the past several weeks, dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more wounded due to what the Israeli government calls “retaliation” for rocket fire directed at a southern Israeli town. This punishment has resulted in the death of innocent people. Demonstrations were held throughout…
Election 08: McCAIN, CLINTON WIN: Amendments may affect education
By: Chris Towers / Asst. News Director Late campaign pushes by former Massachussetts governor Mitt Romney and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, Ariz. senator John McCain was able to cement his status as the front runner for the Republican presidential candidacy following a Florida primary that saw him take 36 percent of the vote and all 57 of the state’s delegates. On the democratic side, N.Y. senator Hilary Clinton took 51 percent of the vote, defeating Ill. senator Barack Obama who came in with just 31 percent of the vote. Florida’s democratic delegates, however, will not be seated at the party’s national convention in Denver following a disagreement over scheduling. Despite the national…
Film festival inspires true love across nations
By: Kassandra Pool / Staff Writer As February begins, some students are likely racking their brains trying to figure out what special gift to give their boyfriend or girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. Hosted by the French Club and French Honor Society, the Romantic Film Festival will commence Feb. 4. The festival begins with a screening of “I’m Not Here to be Loved,” a French film about a 51 year old man unhappy with his life until he meets a young woman named Françoise, who is about to marry another man. The film will be shown in the Graham Center room 150 at 7 p.m. The festival is free and open to the FIU community. The…
