Announcing the Otto G. Richter Library's Faculty Reading Room
The University of Miami Libraries has opened the Faculty Reading Room on the second floor of the Otto G. Richter Library. The Faculty Reading Room provides a quiet study and research space reserved exclusively for use by the faculty. The Faculty Reading Room is secured at all times with an electronic swipe-card mechanism. All faculty members 'Cane Cards have been pre-programmed to allow entry. If difficulties are encountered with the lock, contact Jeanne Ross at 305-284-3551.

Dalai Lama to visit UM in September
As part of his visit to South Florida, Tenzen Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, will address the University of Miami community on Wednesday, September 22 at 3 p.m., at the UM Convocation Center. His topic, "A Human Approach to World Peace," was specially selected by the Dalai Lama for the occasion. This event is open to UM students, faculty, staff, and special guests only. (This event is not open to the public.) This event is free, but a ticket will be required for entrance. There will be ticket distribution locations on the Coral Gables, medical, and Rosenstiel campuses. The locations and dates of distribution will be announced later this summer. For more information on this event, visit www.miami.edu/dalailama.

The Dalai Lama, whose South Florida visit runs from September 19-22, also will present other public teachings on Tibetan Buddhism at the University of Miami. On Monday, September 20, and Tuesday, September 21, the Dalai Lama will lead a series of teachings on Buddhist spiritual practices at the UM Convocation Center. These teachings are open to the public, and tickets, which are now available through Ticketmaster, are $15, $45, $65, and $95 (an additional $4.25 per ticket facility fee will be added). For suites or groups of 20 or more, call 305-284-8165 or e-mail Christi Soltz. Cameras and video audio recording devices are strictly prohibited. For information on this event, visit www.umconvocationcenter.com or www.dalailamamiami.com. Below is a schedule and topics of the Dalai Lama's public teachings:

Monday, September 20
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. - Buddhist Teaching
"Teachings on the Garland of Instructions on the View," written by Padmasambhava

Tuesday, September 21
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. - Buddhist Teaching
"Long Life Empowerment of the Combined Practice of Amitayus and Hayagriva in Accordance with the Highly Accomplished Master Thangthong Gyalpo's Tradition"
"Long Life Practice: The Glory of Immortality," written by Dubthob Chaksampa

2 to 4 p.m. - Buddhist Teaching
"Teachings on the Garland of Instructions on the View," written by Padmasambhava

The Dalai Lama's visit to the Coral Gables campus will kick off a weeklong series of events that are part of Celebrating American Democracy and Diversity, a university-wide multifaceted effort that culminates with UM's hosting of the first Presidential Debate on September 30. The Presidential Debate at the University of Miami is generously underwritten by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

University-owned home in Coral Gables available for lease
Great location, newly remodeled University owned home available for lease. The home is adjacent to the Coral Gables campus and has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry room, and a two-car garage. For more information, call Mayra Menendez at 305-284-4672.

Free computer training
End User Support (EUS) is offering free computer training to faculty and staff. To view the current training schedule, visit http://www.miami.edu/user-support. To enroll for classes online, visit http://eustraining.miami.edu. The EUS staff will contact each class enrollee with a class confirmation/reminder and notification of class location. For any additional questions on computer training or support, call 305-284-2944.

TIAA-CREF to answer your financial questions
A representative from TIAA-CREF will be on the Coral Gables campus on Tuesday, July 13 and the medical campus on Wednesday, July 14 to conduct individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, visit the Web or call 1-877-267-4510.

School of Nursing information session
The School of Nursing will host an information session from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14. Call 305-284-3666 to R.S.V.P. Bring unofficial transcripts for an evaluation by an advisor. Refreshments will be served.

Brain power "We thought in the past that after early childhood the brain was hard-wired and once it was injured, that was it. But now we know that the brain is really quite plastic and can modify itself." Jose G. Romano, assistant professor of neurology in the School of Medicine, on a new device that may help improve sight in stroke victims and show that injured brains have the power to retrain themselves. The Miami Herald (June 26) The sea's last frontier "Essentially, it's been out of sight and out of mind. People call the last place they can find something 'land's end'--and that's what this is." Jerald Ault, associate professor of marine biology and fisheries at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, on the Dry Tortugas, an unexplored expanse of water and island that is a critical part of a marine ecosystem that stretches all the way to the Everglades. The Miami Herald (June 27) Taking aim at Athens "Lauryn has got to keep her focus. She's recorded one of the fastest times in the world, yet she's only 20 years old. This is her first Olympic trials. The way we see it, she has everything to win and nothing to lose." Amy Deem, head women's track coach, on University of Miami junior sprinter and NCAA 100-meter champion Lauryn Williams, who will compete in the United States Track and Field Olympic Trials, July 9-18, in Sacramento, California The New York Times (July 6)

July 19 New Treatments for Lower Back Pain. Yili Zhou, assistant professor of clinical anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences in the School of Medicine, will review new interventions for a medical ailment that plagues millions of people: low back pain. The lecture, which is free to the community, is a presentation in UM Sylvester's Conversations About Cancer series. "New Treatments for Lower Back Pain" will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. (note evening time) at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Suite 100, Deerfield Beach, Florida. R.S.V.P. by calling 305-243-1000 or 1-800-545-2292. Seating is limited. For more information, contact Joanne Leahy at 954-571-0107.

July 19 Computer Foundations course. The UM Computer Foundations course is a six-hour introductory course for individuals with little or no experience with computers. This course teaches the fundamentals of computer hardware and software, Windows, simple word processing, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. The course also prepares students for the UM Office Specialist course. Call 305-284-5800 or visit www.miami.edu/ct for more details.

July 27 Oncology Research and Human Subjects. Patricia Thomas, regulatory manager of Clinical Research Services at UM/Sylvester, and Jay M. Sosenko, assistant provost for research standards, will address the timely topic of "Oncology Research and Human Subjects" in a presentation of the Human Subjects Research Seminar series. The seminar will be held at the Mailman Center for Child Development on the School of Medicine campus, Room 3023, from 12 to 1 p.m. Advance registration is required. E-mail MAbraham@med.miami.edu to reserve a space.

(New) Currently running Last Night in Cuba. Written, filmed, and edited by students of the School of Communication's Documentary Unit, this critically acclaimed film examines the question, "What did you experience before leaving your homeland?" For the film, students interviewed 10 people of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, all of whom fled Cuba between 1959, the arrival of President Fidel Castro, and 1963. Airing at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies' Casa Bacardi Cinema all this month, 1531 Brescia Avenue, Coral Gables campus. Shows daily at 2:30 p.m., including Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call 305-284-2822 or visit http://casabacardi.iccas.miami.edu.

(New) July 15 through September 17 The Inner Soul of Cuban Culture
A painting exhibit by Cuban-born artist Cesar Garcia. Garcia's work has been described as figurative in a surrealist style, characterized by a panorama of complex creativity, yet simple presentation of form and composition, touching the inner soul of his Cuban culture. Featured at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies' Casa Bacardi, 1531 Brescia Avenue, Coral Gables campus. For more information, call 305-284-2822 or visit http://casabacardi.iccas.miami.edu.

(New) Currently running The Florida Home: Modern Living, 1945-1965. School of Architecture professors Jean-Francois Lejeune and Allan Shulman are the guest curators for this exhibit currently on display at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, located in downtown Miami in the Miami-Dade Cultural Center. The exhibition, which focuses on domestic architecture in Florida during the post-World War II period, features a reconstructed postwar Florida home complete with interactive rooms that visitors can move through to get a sense of how people lived in their homes 50 years ago. In addition to an analysis of house and interior design, the exhibition studies images of the Florida home in popular magazines and television programming. The exhibit also presents a wide range of architectural drawings, maps, photographs, furniture, and appliances. For more information, call 305-375-1492.