Big names bring big laughs to South Beach Comedy Festival

By: Adriana Rodriguez/Staff Writer For the fifth year in a row, the South Beach Comedy Festival will bring Comedy Central’s biggest names to the many stages of South Beach. The festival, which begins on Jan. 20 and will run through Jan. 23, will take place in four main locations throughout the South Beach area. Performances will be held at the Fillmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, Colony Theater and the Lincoln Road Stage on Euclid Avenue, which is home to the festival’s nightly, free outdoor comedy stage. For the first time, special shows and official events will be held at some of South Beach’s hottest clubs. Kicking off the festival will be Mad…

Reid’s remarks questionable

By: David A. Barrios/ Opinion Editor Senator Harry Reid should be on top of the political world at the moment. The 70-year-old senator from Nevada has been able to navigate a health care bill to the brink of becoming law; a bill bringing significant changes to a flawed health care system. It should be a triumph not only for his party but for himself. Reid is under fire and being called to step down from his position by Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee and other members of the GOP for racist comments made over a year ago that, though show great ignorance, also expose ignorance from his accusers. In the newly published…

Julia Tuttle homeless longing for shelter

By: Odette Barrientos/ Asst. Opinion Editor It seems as though everyone in Miami wants the cold weather to go away. Frankly, I’m starting to get annoyed by the growing number of complaints. There are homeless people out on the streets with no protection from the cold. What’s worse is that some of them are being turned away from shelters. How do you fathom? This is what many homeless sex offenders in Miami have to deal with. Not only are they literally quarantined under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, but now even a night in a shelter to get away from the cold seems perfectly absurd. The Weather Channel reported low temperatures of 38 degrees on Jan….

Women’s basketball prepares for Arkansas State

By: Stephanie Gabriel / Asst.Sports Director The FIU women’s basketball team will look to snap a three game losing streak against Arkansas State on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the U.S. Century Bank Arena. The matchup against the Red Wolves will mark the first for FIU since a two game road trip. Although the Panthers dropped both games to Sun Belt Conference opponents Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, the team is seemingly confident to be back in Miami to play against a team who they’ve gone 10-1 against at home and 16-5 all time. “We’re very tired. This Sun-Belt schedule is exhausting,” said FIU Head Coach Cindy Russo. “It’s was a long trip but they’re tough….

Religion and society class moves to MMC

By: Philippe Buteau / Staff Writer Religion and Society in Israel is being offered as a class at Modesto Maidique Campus for the first time this semester. Zion Zohar, the same professor who teaches the class at Biscayne Bay Campus, is teaching the three-credit elective at MMC Mondays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Religion and Society in Israel is a hybrid class, with in-class lectures and independent online learning. Zohar, director and chair of Sephardic studies, has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and a doctorate in Jewish philosophy and mysticism. He also does research on religious society in Israel. Christine Gudorf, professor and chair of the department of religious studies, asked Zohar to teach…

Campus ban on smoking passes

By: Melissa Caceres / Staff Writer Students and faculty were welcomed back on campus as the Spring term began, but now smoking will not. After beginning its initiative in January 2009, the campaign for a Smoke-Free Tobacco-Free University received approval by the FIU operations committee, executive committee and University President Mark Rosenberg to eliminate smoking on both the Modesto Maidique Campus and Biscayne Bay Campus. The University will become a smoke-free institution, beginning Summer. The formal announcement from President Rosenberg is expected sometime this month. “Many people say that they have a right to smoke, but it’s actually not true. Smoking is a personal choice,” said Jesus Medina, the current volunteer project administrator for the…