Category Archives: U.Miami

Polymath Robert Waldman, who lives in Italy, educates me about Coral Gables, the town I live and work in. In Presidential Candidates in Coral Gables, he outlines Coral Gables's connection with William Jenning Bryan, and simultaneously transforms my understanding of The Wizard of Oz:

William Jenning Bryan was the model for the cowardly lion, who was not a caricature of draft dodging hawks. This is demonstrated by Hugh Rockoff in an article belaboring the obvious point that the Wizard of Oz is an allegory on monetary policy (Journal of Political Economy Vol 98 pp 739-760.

It will never be the same…

TalkLeft: Blogging the Miami Debate, written by a UM student living in the dorms.

A little taste:

Secret Service will be searching my apartment and the apartments surrounding the Convocation Center on Thursday morning, so I have to wake up early so they can do their jobs; but with my paranoia I'm taking my lap top and all personal documents out of my room just because well, that's just me.

Since basically none of us can get tickets to attend the debate being held here on campus Thursday night — all the tickets go to the press, except for a handful that go to students — it might as well be happening on Mars…except for the fact that we get three emails a day warning about Draconian security measures and a ban on parking on this side of the State line.

The Miami Herald pretty much captures the exicted atmosphere on campus in the first paragraphs of today's front-page story, Security is tight on a laid-back campus (obnoxious reg. req):

Security at the University of Miami tightened Monday as the presidential debate loomed: Barricades and fences appeared. Police cars prowled back roads. Students were warned to wear IDs around their necks — or face being booted off campus.

And, yet, there was undergrad Amy Pearlman, at the lip of a campus lake, sitting on a blue towel in her bathing suit, brow furrowed, studying a psychology textbook.

Her student ID? It was in her purse.

“I didn't want to get a tan line,” she said, shrugging.

In addition to this pix of a typical student, hard at work studying, please note, the Herald provides a link to the UM student debate blog … which seems slashdotted at the moment.

The Herald has two puffy but not inaccurate articles about how UM snagged the first presidential debate, and what it hopes to get out of it.

• Bush-Kerry debate's real winner is UM

• Q & A WITH DONNA SHALALA: `I'm looking for steady progress'

The University of Miami Libraries and the School of Communications are sponsoring a live Webcast from the UM Convocation Center of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's speech A Human Approach to World Peace beginning at 3 p.m. today. Visit www.miami.edu/dalailama.

Snippet from Official Email in my inbox:

As a security measure, the University has decided that from Monday, September 27 through Thursday, September 30, all faculty, administration, staff, and students must wear their University ID while on campus.

This is the announcement the University has made, on [URL]:

“All University of Miami faculty members, staff, and students will be required to wear their UM identification ('Cane Card) at all times while on the Coral Gables campus from Monday, September 27, through Thursday, September 30. Faculty, staff, and students without proper identification may be stopped by security personnel and asked to leave campus. Faculty, staff, and students who do not have a 'Cane Card are strongly urged to obtain one now in Allen Hall, Room 111.

“There is no charge for an initial 'Cane Card. If you have lost your 'Cane Card, a replacement costs $15. Lanyards will be distributed at various locations on campus, including University of Miami parking garages, parking lots, the food court, and events attended by UM faculty, staff, and students. In addition, individual University departments and divisions also will distribute lanyards with plastic holders to employees. “

You should also check [another URL] for additional information.

From which I conclude two things. First, the media/blog hoo-ha about how GW hasn't agreed to any debates yet is a waste of time. He's coming. Second, this will be a good week to work at home.