It's been a while...

I've been slacking. I admit it. The last time I took photos was at the last Orange Bowl game pep rally...and...well...here are the photos...

Click here for the rest of the album...

While the game itself was...what it was...everything else surrounding the fact that the OB is no longer going to be home of the Hurricanes...was awesome.

I also found this great tribute to the Orange Bowl -- a photo slideshow project completed by Visual Communication students in the School of Communication. You can't help but notice that everyone is smiling and cheerful in the beginning of the slideshow -- and then towards the end -- it gets a little melancholy. But oh well. Our school spirit is still very much in tact.

Click here for the slideshow - http://www.viscom.miami.edu/orangebowl/

The campus is emptying slowly but surely as students migrate back home for the Thanksgiving break. I hope that everyone out there has a safe and delicious Thanksgiving holiday! We'll see you when you get back. I promise to stop slacking on the photos.

United Nations Day - October 24

United Nations Day is one of our biggest campus events. The event is organized by the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO) along with about 30 international/multicultural student organizations.

This year's theme was "Fight For Your Right" -- and each organization had an educational display board to show others what the theme means to them and their culture or country.

I thought it was the best U.N. Day ever put together at UM. Congrats to COISO on a job well done!


>>Click here for more photos of the event...

Road Trip Nation: The Miami Dream Team

Last Spring, three UM students were selected by Road Trip Nation to complete an internship in the summer. The Miami Dream Team, Tim McNaught, a video/film and Spanish double major, Sean Murphy, a biomedical engineering major, and Christina Padis, an English and pre-med major, embarked on a five-week North American tour on which they explored different career options and interviewed 30 professionals and notable figures including CEOs, actors, politicians, artists, and architects.

Their RV and the rest of the Road Trip Nation crew were parked at Stanford Circle to showcase the experience that our three UM students had. I wish I'd known about it when I was a student! The whole idea of going on a road trip and talking to interesting people...is definitely something I would have done given the chance.

The RV definitely smelled and looked "lived in". The walls had messages from all sorts of people -- advice to future road trip nation people -- advice from people they interviewed, other people they met, and people who had lived in the RV before they did.

I had one of our student assistants in the office, Josh, come check out the RV with me and one of the Road Trip Nation crew members, Kristen, interviewed Josh about what he thought of the entire effort (and of course, for them to get some plugs in for their sponsors). But I'll plug for their sponsors too -- Adobe, State Farm and PBS -- because this is a worthy cause in my book.

>>Check out my other photos
>>Visit the Road Trip Nation website

Yep -- I'm crushing on a bird

I guess I was lazy this week in trying to find photo opps -- but at least I know I can always count on Sebastian. He cracks me up. He always makes for a fun photo.

There he was...leading the Pep Rally this week...we play Georgia Tech this weekend. I'm crossing my fingers for the Hurricanes!

You know who to cheer for! Go 'Canes!

>>More Photos from the pep rally...

Dean Grogg, AASA and Salsa

This is a short post. There was alot of rain this week. Okay - well there was alot of rain at the beginning of this week. I stayed indoors mostly. I think I'm going to buy galoshes as a permanent part of my UM wear. Oh well. At least I know I can look forward to later in the fall when the weather gets to be...well...perfect.

I sat in on a class with the Dean of the School of Communication, Dr. Sam Grogg. It was a Motion Pictures course that focuses more on the marketing of films. During this class, Dr. Grogg discussed movie posters and their role in a successful film/movie. I wished I could have stuck around for more classes. Maybe I'll take one of his classes in a future semester.

I don't know if I mentioned that I'm the Asian-American Students Association Advisor. I guess if not, then I just did! I have been for the last three or four years. I enjoy having a connection with students and this is a great way for me to be involved even if I'm not a student anymore. Here's a picture of their second general meeting. I didn't get to take alot of photos here, but I will take more at the next meeting.

And right when I was leaving the AASA meeting, I heard the familiar sounds of Salsa. Ah...Salsa Craze meets on Fridays! The UC I-Lounge (2nd floor) fills up with Salsa dancers of all levels. The Salsa Craze club teaches the Rueda style.

It's an awesome sight to see. Maybe next time I'll join in! ...Or not. I should leave the dancing to the professionals.

>>Click here to see the entire album from this week...

Showing you our "other" season...

This week started off lots of gloom in the air. What a way to start a Monday! It's a fact that Miami has two seasons - sun and rain. I realized that not many of our brochures or any place on our website do we show you the "other" season.

Odd, I know, but it's how I decided to start this week's post. Thankfully, even when it's gloomy outside, people are still smiling...Check out more "rain" photos...


This week was also a time where upperclassmen volunteer to see how the members of the freshmen class are doing. I sat in and eavesdropped and made a few calls myself. I couldn't help it! It honestly sounded like people were having fun talking to the new students. So I joined in.

Maybe you'll consider volunteering as an upperclassman. Check out a few more photos of our volunteers...

Wilbert Tillman (Tree Top) has been an active performer on the music scene for close to sixty years. He has played with local bands such as Dyzzy Jones, Frank Desbordes and Chuck Jason. He played with back-up bands for the Apollo in the 1960s. His band, Tree Top and the Soul branches, rocked the music scene for about a decade. Since then, he has become a one-man band. He has played all over the world and was playing in Europe when Hurricane Andrew hit.

Tree Top performed on the Patio late last week as a part of the Africana Studies - African Diaspora Music Festival. Dr. Abaka is the head of the Africana Studies department and he's showing students the Diaspora through music. This guy rocked some originals and some oldies.

More photos of Tree Top...

We're playing Duke this Saturday and I went to the pep rally at The Rock (UC). We let some students let off some steam by showing Duke what we plan to do this Saturday! I have some friends who are Duke alums. While I adore them dearly, I have to say I'm rooting for my alma mater.

Go Canes!!!!! (Poor paper mache likeness of the Duke Mascot).

More photos of the pep rally...



On the other side of the UC, on the Patio today, was this kid rockin' out for our Thursday Patio Jams. I wish I had my voice recorder. I don't know what the name of the band was, and I don't know the genre, so I'm trying to find that out and I'll update you when I find out.

I was just getting a kick out this kid. He looked so comfortable on stage and just lost in his music. The music was sort of this mix of rock and country, with lots of twang, and minimal instruments. Music lovers are probably rolling their eyes at my poor description of a music genre, but I'll find out what's really going on here and let you know what I find.

More photos of the kid rocking the Patio...

I forgot! Photos from President's Picnic

I forgot to post an album from Orientation 2007 -- the President's Picnic. How could I forget? Anyhow, you'll get to see President Shalala's house (okay, mostly her lawn) and how she manages to host the entire freshman class for this picnic.

Click here to see the entire album.