Welcome to FIU’s Spring 2011 semester

Blue-and-gold enthusiasm is building for the Spring 2011 semester. Here is a guide of information with dates and events that will come in handy in the next couple of weeks and beyond.

Monday, Jan. 3, FIU will welcome back to its campuses students, faculty/staff and administrators looking forward to a new year and the official start of the spring semester on Jan. 10.

Panthers have much to look forward to as a new calendar year begins and both Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC), Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC), as well as the Pines Center and the university’s Frost Art Museum and The Wolfsonian-FIU move forward with their commitment to elevate the blue-and-gold experience.

A highlight that took place while we were on break was FIU’s first bowl win when the football team clinched the nail-biting Dec. 26 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in the last 4 seconds of the game with a Jack Griffin field goal that put the Panthers ahead of Toledo, 34-32. “This was a great experience and a great opportunity for our university to shine on the national stage,” said Coach Mario Cristobal.

Among the changes already in effect at FIU? The university has gone smoke free – in fact, as of Jan. 1, smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited on all university-owned properties, including MMC, BBC, the Engineering Campus, recreational and residential facilities, as well as parking lots and garages. (Tobacco use in FIU-owned vehicles is also prohibited.)

By going smoke free, FIU has added its name to a growing trend in the country, and the university continues to offer free tobacco-cessation services, as well as tobacco dependence services to FIU family members who want to kick the habit.

This month, the university’s Hope for Haiti initiative will be at the forefront as we mark the first anniversary of last winter’s devastating earthquake on Jan. 12. Stay tuned for details.

Week of Welcome…welcomes you

Getting a leg up on the official Week of Welcome schedule is the President’s New Student & Family BBQ at the Stadium Club on Jan. 8, from 2-4 p.m. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

The event will serve as a preamble for the basketball double-header at U.S. Century Bank Arena, which will see FIU’s women’s and men’s teams take on South Alabama at 4:30 and 7, respectively.

The President’s New Student & Family BBQ has been rescheduled for Jan. 29.

Folks should still plan to attend the basketball double-header at U.S. Century Bank Arena, which will see FIU’s women’s and men’s teams take on South Alabama at 4:30 and 7, respectively.

Panthers with questions may find answers at various campus locations at both MMC and BBC, where volunteers will man Ask Me tables set up Jan. 10-11, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Here are some of the Welcome Week events happening at both campuses:

• Mon. Jan. 10, noon, GC Pit, MMC: 2011 Peer Advisor Announcement
• Mon. Jan. 10, 6 p.m., GC Ballrooms, MMC: NBC Standup for Diversity Tour – Student Programming Council Comedy Show feat. Kevin Shea and Erik Rivera
• Tues., Jan. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Betty Chapman Plaza, MMC: Campus Life Extravaganza – Learn about getting involved with different councils and positions with FIU Campus Life.
• Wed., Jan. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Panther Square, BBC: Center of Leadership & Service Volunteer Fair
• Thurs., Jan. 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m., GC Lawn, MMC: Community Service/Non-profit Fair – Learn about the different community services available through FIU.
• Fri., Jan. 14, noon, Bay area, BBC: Rec Center Kayaking

For a complete schedule, call 305-348-6414 or click here. For BBC events, call 305-919-5804.

Registration and Payment Important Dates:

Fri.-Sun., Jan. 7-9: Official Housing Check-in.

Sun., Jan 9: Last day to register without incurring a $100 late registration fee.

Mon., Jan. 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (FIU will be closed).

Tues., Jan. 18: Last day to drop courses, add courses or withdraw from the university without incurring a financial liability.

Fri., Feb. 4: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 25 percent refund of tuition.

Coming up on campus

From Jan. 12-19, FIU will commemorate the 20^th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2011 Celebration with events at both MMC and BBC.

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 12 through the end of the month, the Frost at MMC will host the “MLK: Worlds Ahead at the Museum” exhibit. On Saturday, Jan. 15, the entire FIU family is invited to participate in the MLK Day of Service sponsored by the Center of Leadership & Service/Services for Peace beginning at 8 a.m.

Also on Jan. 12, the Student Government Association at BBC will host Dan Savage as part of its lecture series. The author and columnist behind the It Gets Better campaign, which spreads positive messages to the LGBT community about coming out, being gay and a healthy sense of self in the face of bullying, will speak in the WUC Ballroom from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

On Monday, Jan. 17, FIU once again will take part in the annual MLK Parade beginning at 8 a.m. in Liberty City.

A couple of film screenings are set for 7-10 p.m. on Jan. 18 at MMC, while the MLK Youth Forum and Peace Walk will take place from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at BBC the next day.

For more information, call Multicultural Programs and Services at 305-345-2436.

Per tradition, the university’s largest student fundraiser, Dance Marathon, benefiting Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation through the Children’s Miracle Network, will take place Jan. 29-30 at the Rec Center at MMC.

Last year, the event raised a record $160,000 in a dance extravaganza that attracted 150 dancers. The theme for the 25-hour 2011 event, which will kick off at noon on Jan. 29, is “Toy Story.”

“Our goal is to raise $170,000 and we’re hoping to have more than 200 dancers,” said Mari Campuzano, coordinator for the Center of Leadership & Service. “Financially, it’s a lofty goal, but I am confident the FIU community will outdo itself one more time and support the cause.”

To register for Dance Marathon, call 305-348-2149 or e-mail dm@fiu.edu.

Later in the semester, the university will have another chance to give back when the 2011 FIU Relay for Life gets underway March 4-5 at MMC, on Palm Avenue at the 8^th Street entrance to the campus in front of the Ryder Business Building.

This year’s theme is “Playing for ‘Life’” (as in the board game) and organizers have set goals to register at least 80 teams – like in 2010 – and raise more than the $65,000 that was raised last year for the American Cancer Society.

For more information, call Beverly Dalrymple at 305-348-6995.

The Women’s Center’s 5^th Annual Women Who Lead conference will take place March 8 at BBC and March 25 at MMC. Registration begins on Jan. 31. Later in the year, the Women’s Center and the Victim Advocacy Center will partner to promote sexual assault awareness, prevention and safety on our campuses and the community during the sixth annual “Take Back the Night” event on April 12.

For more information, contact Suzanne Onorato at onoratos@fiu.edu.

Let us entertain you

The Wolfsonian-FIU in Miami Beach will continue to offer a full schedule of monthly book club meetings, performances and public talks (featuring the likes of artist and professor Mark T. Smith, World Fair attendee Alan Raynor and preservation activist Betty Gutierrez, among others), as well as numerous special events and tours of the museum’s surrounding Deco architectural landmarks.

Ditto, the School of Music, which has put together a full season of performances that will bring music to FIU’s campuses and the community.

A scene from "The Ruby Sunrise."

FIU Theatre will kick off its spring season on Jan. 20 with The Ruby Sunrise, which will play at the Herbert & Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center at MMC.

Later this winter, theatre enthusiasts should expect on-campus a production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (March 3-13), before the season ends with William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (April 7-17).

The Frost Art Museum’s Target Wednesday After Hours will be back on Jan. 26 with the opening of four exhibitions: “GRAN TORINO: Italian Contemporary Art,” Robert Farber’s “My Eyes Have Seen,” “The Tale of the Unknown Island” by Ester Villalobos and Mar Solis,” and María Brito’s “As of 24-03-07.”

The museum then will present on Feb. 11 its latest speaking engagement in the Green Critics’ Lecture Series, featuring Christo.

Let us hear you roar

On an athletic note, FIU’s basketball programs and cross country/track & field, golf, swimming & diving and tennis teams are in the middle of their seasons. And the baseball team is set to return to the field next month.

For tickets and information on these spring sports, call 1-866-FIU-GAME or click here.

Important Links:

Office of the Registrar: MMC – 305-348-2320; BBC – 305-919-5750; Broward Pines Center – 954-438-8600

Cashier’s Office: MMC – 305-348-2126; BBC – 305-919-5540

Parking and Transportation: MMC – 305-348-3615; BBC – 305-919-5558

Students may now order their parking decal and pay/appeal student tickets online.

Decal enforcement will begin on the first day of the 2011 Spring Semester.

GreenRide Carpool Program: FIU’s GreenRide Carpool Program encourages students to reduce the number of times they drive alone to campus each week.

Public Safety: Police dispatchers are available to take your emergency phone call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MMC: 305-348-5911
BBC: 305-919-5911

MMC Public Safety

Offices located in the Public Safety Tower (11200 S.W. 8^th Street)
Telephone number: 305-348-2623

BBC Public Safety

Offices located in the SO II Building (3000 N.E. 151st Street)
Telephone number: 305-919-5559

Students may sign up to receive Panther Alerts, a text messaging system available to the blue-and-gold community providing everyone with notifications during an emergency affecting FIU. (The service is free, but standard text-message fees from your carrier apply.)

MMC Bookstore: 305-348-2691 (also for information on the bookstore at the Broward Pines Center)

BBC Bookstore: 305-919-5580

Libraries: Green Library at MMC – 305-348-2451; BBC Library – 305-919-5718; Broward Pines Center Library Liaison – 954-438-8608.

Rec Centers: MMC – 305-348-2575; BBC – 305-919-5678

Campus Shuttles: There are two shuttles that travel between campuses: the Golden Panther Express, which travels between MMC and BBC, as well as the CATS shuttle, which travels between MMC and the Engineering Center.

Golden Panther Express tickets are $4 per round trip, $20 for 5 trips and $54 for 15 trips. You can save one of your rides to use at a later time when you purchase a round-trip ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

At MMC, tickets are available at the Department of Parking’s new offices at PG5. At BBC, tickets may be purchased in Room 353 in the Wolfe University Center.

The CATS shuttle is a free shuttle.

Finally, as a student at FIU there is a lot you can do to become involved.

There are many extracurricular university activities to help you enrich your time at FIU, including more than 100 student clubs, an intramural sports program and an ever-growing Greek presence, just to name a few. Here are some useful telephone numbers to keep in mind:

• Campus Life Information Hotline: 305-348-ROAR
• MMC Campus Life Office: GC 2240 at MMC, 305-348-2138
• BBC Campus Life Office: WUC 141 at BBC, 305-919-5804
• Broward Pines Center Campus Life Office: 954-438-8610
• FIU Alumni Association: MARC 510 at MMC, 305-348-3334
• Greek Affairs: GC 2240 at MMC, 305-348-2138
• Kayak on the Bay at BBC, 305-919-4701
• Panther Safety Tram: 305-348-6173

Students may text “FIUSPC” to 41411 to subscribe to the SPC Text Message System and receive updates, announcements and special offers from the Student Programming Council. (Standard text-message fees from your carrier apply.)