Newsbriefs

New project, ‘Mt. Trashmore’

A new project called “Mt. Trashmore” is hoping to increase student awareness about the amount of consumption a person expends in a one day period.

The project began yesterday evening with “Mt. Trashmore” being displayed on the UC Rock and it will end today at 5 p.m. Besides the demonstration, informational material will also be displayed to help illuminate the problems with consumption and waste on campus and how it can be reduced.

A group of students started this project after taking an economic development and environment course taught by Richard Weiskoff, an associate professor of international studies, which made them think what the university could do to better the Green U initiative. This is when they decided to undertake a final action project known as “Mt. Trashmore.”

According to the group of students, Green U does not measure up to other campuses with organized recycling, compost gardens and food donation programs.

The group hopes to bring forth a resolution to Student Government next semester to stipulate a lasting transformation.

Tickets on Sale for POWERade Jam Fest

Tickets to the 2009 McDonald’s All American POWERade Jam Fest went on sale Monday through www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets and the BankUnited Center box office. Reserved seats are $15 and the proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.

This is the first time that the event will be broadcast live on national television and it will take place on Monday, March 30, at the BankUnited Center. The qualifying competition will begin at 7 p.m. and the finals will air live at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

The POWERade Jam Fest will feature members of the 2009 McDonald’s All-American high school basketball boys and girls teams participating in a series of high-intensity competitions, including a 3-point competition, slam dunk contest and the newly added skills competition.

Previous winners of the slam dunk contest include LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Baron Davis.

UM Colombian Paramilitaries Conference

The University of Miami will hold a three-day conference called “The Justice and Peace Law and the Demobilization of the Colombian Paramilitaries,” which begins today and will go through Friday at the Cosford Theatre.

Academics, government officials, corporate and social leaders from Latin America and the U.S. will convene during the forum to talk in panels.

The conference opens for registration on Thursday at 8 a.m., after which opening remarks will be given by professors in the Department of International Studies, UM President Donna E. Shalala and Dean Michael Halleran of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The event is free and open to the UM community. For more information on the conference and a complete schedule of the event, visit www.miami.edu/ins and click on Latest News.