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.

Week of Sept 17 - History class with Dr. Abaka and a pep rally

I attended Dr. Edmund Abaka's HIS 202, History of Africa II, course this week. Dr. Abaka is definitely one of our (many) star professors. He's passionate about what he teaches and truly takes an interest in what his students learn from him. He's trying a new initiative this semester, to bring Africana Studies outside of the classroom. His program of activities this semester focus on African Diaspora Music. Everyone should take a class with Dr. Abaka. Click here to see more photos from his class.



On the way back from Dr. Abaka's class, I stopped at our pep rally. We played FIU this past weekend. I guess Sebastian worked his magic at this pep rally and the game because we won!

What I thought was pretty neat was that UM student government purchased about 3,000 tickets so that FIU students could go to the game.

It's great...to be...a Miami Hurricane! Go 'Canes! Click here to see more photos from the pep rally.

I decided to post twice today since I won't be in the office next week. This week is a collection of sorts. On Tuesday, I had lunch at "The Rat" with Khiem, the new President of the Vietnamese Student Organization (of which I am proud to say I am the club advisor). You can see him here posing with a Rat menu. I love going to "The Rat" for lunch on campus. I would highly recommend going there if you're going to visit campus. Khiem is a junior majoring in advertising and graphic design. He's going to make a great president. I can tell!

So as I was leaving the Rat, I saw one of my best friends, Cristina, walk by. Cristina (in the pink top) is an advisor in the International Student and Scholar Services office. She helps enrolled international students with...well...everything they need while at UM. She's also the advisor for the Council of International Students and Organizations (affectionately known on campus as COISO). COISO members (and COISO alumni like me) affectionately call her "Mama C" because she cares so much for us like we're her own.

On Wednesday the 29th, student tickets were made available for "Destino 2008" - the Democratic Candidates Presidential Forum being hosted by the University of Miami. Our UM students will be able to witness the historic live broadcast of the first presidential forum to focus on the issues of the Hispanic community. Candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson will all be attending. The line for these tickets stretched the length of the University Center, but I'm sure it was worth everyone's wait!

So I know it's cheesy, but I took pictures of people in line. Here you can see that these students were happy to have their ticekts and be out of the line. People on campus are really looking forward to this forum. And UM is honored to be hosting this!

Check out more photos from this week on my photobucket account:

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee19/umiami_shutterbug/Week%20of%20August%2027%20-%20etc%20etc%20etc/

I'll be back soon and ready with my camera...

Dr. Gaines Biology 150 class

Last Thursday, I got to visit Dr. Michael Gaines' Biology 150 class. The class meets in the Cox Science Center -- so you'll probably see these classes as a student. Sitting in on the class was interesting for me because as an undergrad, I avoided science courses if at all possible. I'm the first to admit that my brain just isn't wired for science.

But as I sat there, I realized I missed out. No, really. I was kind of sad I'd never taken one of Dr. Gaines' classes. People always told me he was a great professor, but I guess you never believe it until you see it. He made sure the class stayed lively, and incorporated class/group activities. I almost started offering answers to his questions to the class.

I'm working on editing a video I took of his lecture too so you can really see what goes on in his class, but for now, I hope you enjoy the photos.

Photobucket Album

Students Discuss Multiculturalism - Orientation 2007

Everyone here - students, faculty, staff, alumni - loves the diversity of this campus. The multicultural environment is what keeps most of us tied to this university. So the Multicultural Student Affairs office, along with a panel of very involved and energetic student leaders--led discussions with incoming students about how multiculturalism impacts life on campus. Pamela "Lala" Jackson, also from Hawaii, is a student leader who taught the entire audience how to hula. I even heard one of the student leaders perform an original Spoken Word piece.

The session made me miss being a student...

Photobucket Album

Student Employment Fair - Orientation 2007

The Office of Student Employment hosted an employment fair for students. Employers from around the university were invited to talk to incoming students about open job positions in their offices/departments. I even met a representative from the medical campus who was looking for student assistants/researchers/volunteers. I also caught Mr. Norm Parsons, the Director of the Student Wellness Center, with a classic face. He knows how to have fun no matter where he is! But he might make me take the picture out of the album when he finds it, so look now while it's still up there.

Working on campus is great for you to gain some work experience...and it doesn't hurt to have a little extra cash in the wallet ;-)

Photobucket Album

President's Brunch for Parents (Afternoon)

Here are some pictures from the afternoon brunch for Parents. Look for a photo of the new Frost School of Music Dean, Dr. Shelton Berg, jammin' (I know, that word is so old, but I'm going to use it) and improvising on the keyboard with the student Jazz trio.

Photobucket Album

President's Brunch for Parents (Morning)

President Shalala hosts a brunch for parents to reassure our Hurricane Moms and Dads that we're going to take care of their sons and daughters. Parents also had the chance to meet their son/daughter's academic dean, meet other parents...and of course, take pictures with Sebastian!

If you know any of the people you see in these photos, please feel free to pass the link on to them!

Photobucket Album

Canes Kick-Off - Orientation 2007

Canes Kick-off is a big tradition for our incoming students. It's the first time the Class of 2011 comes together as a class. President Shalala, student leaders, the Band of the Hour, Sebastian the Ibis, Coach Randy Shannon and Coach Katie Meier were just a few of the people who led the class through their first pep rally.

Photobucket Album