Distraction Magazine Winter 2024 Issue

EDGE OF GLORY

A football season that caused a storm RENAISSANCE

Throwback to ye olden times

EATING FOR THE SEASONS

When it’s fresh it’s the best

Dungeons Delinquents

Intrepid heroes in the Magic City

Throwback to ye olden times

EDGE OF GLORY

A football season that caused a storm

DUNGEONS & DELINQUENTS

Intrepid heroes in the Magic City

RENAISSANCE

Throwback to ye olden times

EATING FOR THE SEASONS

When it’s fresh it’s the best

FOR THE E ATING

DUNGEONS & DELINQUENTS

Intrepid heroes in the Magic City

EDGE OF GLORY A football season that caused a storm RENAISSANCE

Throwback to ye olden times

EDGE OF GLORY

A football season that caused a storm RENAISSANCE

Throwback to ye olden times

EATING FOR THE SEASONS

When it’s fresh it’s the best

Dungeons Delinquents

Intrepid heroes in the Magic City

ABOUT US

W!e magazine is produced four times per year, twice a semester. City Graphics and Bellack Miami printed 2,000 copies of the magazine on 8.5 x 11 inch, 60-pound coated text paper 4/4. !e entire magazine is printed four-color and perfect bound. Most text is nine-point Minion Pro with 9.8 points of leading set ragged with a combination of bold, medium and italic. All pages were designed using Adobe Creative Suite CC so ware InDesign with photographs and artwork handled in Photoshop and Illustrator. For additional information, visit distractionmagazine.com. Questions and comments can be sent to 1330 Miller Drive, Student Media Suite 202A, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, dropped into SSC Student Media Suite Suite 200 or emailed to distraction305@gmail.com. All articles, photographs and illustrations are copyrighted by the University of Miami.

WE LIKE YOU

When it comes to contributors, we’re not picky. Whether you’ve found your niche in a biology book, you’re notorious for doing “nothing” at the comm or business school or you’re halfway into your college career and still wave that “undeclared major” ag, we want to hear what you have to say. Distraction is an extracurricular/volunteer operation made for students, by students, and covers the full spectrum of student life here at !e U. If you want to get involved or have any questions or concerns email us at distraction305@gmail.com.

design_lizzie kristal.

hether you are reading this issue virtually from your family home during winter break, or physically while surrounded by the mess you made unpacking back into your dorm, thank you for taking some time to get Distracted. It’s readers like you that keep us doing what we do. Sure you guys might leave the Dooly magazine racks a mess, but at least you’re taking magazines!

!is issue we are traveling back to ye olden times, where art and intellect was at an all time high. Not the 2000s, but a little bit further. !e Renaissance. Despite being a couple hundreds of years away there is a lot back then that can be compared to modern times. We wanted to use this special section as a way to highlight some of those similarities.

From how the artists of now are still drawing inspiration from the renaissance in both music and media. To how makeup in the renaissance isn’t that much more toxic than what we are selling now. So do the time warp with us, and lets get medieval!

-My liege

THE GUIDE

“ !e

Welcome to your roadmap — from the how-to’s to the best-of’s, The Guide covers it all. Ready to kick-start your career? Discover UM’s best resources for landing the internship of your dreams. Archive those fish pics with an Insta crash course just for guys. And if you’re and art lover looking for what Miami has to o!er, look at what Art Basel brings to the beach. Whatever you’re looking for, let us guide you.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini

Nativity, with God the Father Surrounded by Angels and Cherubim” c. 1470

Picture this: you’re at the dinner table, recounting your semester with relatives, when someone asks you the dreaded loaded question, “What will you do after graduation?” Maybe you have it all planned out, and perhaps you don’t. Either way, wherever your career development journey takes you, you will need some help. Luckily, the University of Miami provides students with many resources to find jobs, network, and position themselves to potential employers in the best way possible.

CAREERS 4 CANES

Handshake

Handshake is a platform students and alumni use for career development, whether they are registering for career fairs, networking, or applying for jobs. Over 200,000 employers use the platform, and all UM students automatically have an account created for them upon enrollment. O en, employers use the platform to identify and connect with students whose quali$cations align with the roles they post.

Rachel Amezcua Bahadue, Assistant Director of Career Connections at UM’s Toppel Career Center says she reccommends students take time to complete a full pro$le.

“Having a fully completed Handshake pro$le is super important because Handshake curates the opportunities it shows on your landing page based on the information included in your pro$le,” said Bahadue. In completing a pro$le, Bahadue recommends students include a professional headshot atop the inclusion of their work experience and upload their resume.

As for Handshake’s job opportunity database, Bahadue has tips for students who want to stand out and reach out to whoever posted the job listing. “When you see a post on Handshake, if there is someone listed on the pro$le for that job as a contact, $nd them on LinkedIn or Cane2Cane and try to interact with them.”

LinkedIn

One cannot speak of career development platforms without mentioning LinkedIn, which is basically social media but for professional purposes. LinkedIn allows professionals across all industries to connect and share their insights and accomplishments and even shows job listings catered to users’ areas of expertise.

“I recommend you follow the companies you are interested in working for on LinkedIn,” said Bahadue to students looking to use the platform to connect with prospective employers.

In addition to connecting with companies on a larger scale, students can use LinkedIn to leverage UM’s alum network, with the ability to view and direct message UM alums who work at the companies they envision themselves at.

“I have tried to reach out to UM alums over LinkedIn and ask about job openings,” said Logan Tridel, a junior triple majoring in business technology, legal studies, and human resources management. Tridel says that many alums have been able to connect her with recruiters for the positions in which she is interested.

“Using LinkedIn is hit or miss with responses, so a lot of times I look up the companies’ email codes and email alums to say ‘hi, I’m a UM student and saw you were an alum,’” said Tridel of other e%ective means to message alums.

Cane2Cane

For students looking for a more ‘U’ centric networking experience, Cane2Cane provides a virtual network of exclusively UM students, alumni, or ‘friends of the U. Students can create pro$les with the option to sync data from their LinkedIn pro$les so they do not have to re-input their information. From there, they can also input more personal information, like their hobbies and key motivators.

Using the Ask-A-Cane feature, students can ask career-related questions, which will be sent to real professionals with relevant expertise within Cane2Cane’s network. Need help coming up with a good question? !e Ask-A-Cane features AI-generated question templates, so all students have to do is input their respective information.

“Cane2Cane is speci$c to the UM community as opposed to LinkedIn, where you are with the entire world,” said Bahadue. “Using Cane2Cane, you are more likely to get a response or speci$c feedback and information.”

Career Fairs

Looking to network face-to-face? !rough Handshake, students can register for career fairs where they can connect with prospective employers, with the opportunity to pitch themselves as quali$ed candidates and learn more about how to position themselves to land the job. Along with career forums geared towards speci$c career paths, Toppel hosts a larger-scale career fair in the fall and spring.

words_caleigh russo. photo_ethan dosa. design_sal puma

“We bring in recruiters from top companies to meet with students so they can ask for feedback on their resumes, LinkedIn pro$les, and elevator pitches,” said Bahadue. “We even have an event called Employer Practice Interviews and Critiques – EPIC – which happens each semester a couple of days before the career expo and helps students to prepare.”

With nearly 100 top employers at the Fall 2024 Career Expo, students can form lucrative connections and receive valuable feedback from recruiters on their resumes and elevator pitches.

“We try to make our career fairs very open to all majors and career standings,” said Daniel Perez, a senior majoring in International Studies and Political Science. “You could be a sophomore, and we have things in terms of internships. You could be a senior, and we have options for full-time employment,” added Perez, who has worked as a career coach for Toppel for two and a half years.

Drop-In Advising

Toppel o%ers drop-in advising in-person or via Zoom Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for students with a pressing question about their professional development. Whether one needs resume help, someone to look over an application to their dream job, or conduct a mock job interview, the Toppel career coaches are there to help.

“By coming in (to Toppel), we maximize our time with students just by giving them all the input they need – from skills to achievements to how to position themselves as a good applicant on their resume,” said Perez.

“You can meet with a career coach who can help you with your resume’” said Bahadue. “ !ese sources are all trial and error. We are always here to help the students. !ere may be a mistake with the length of your resume and how to word your accomplishment statements, so it is important to have people review them before applying for opportunities.”

Interview Prep

Toppel provides students access to Big Interview, an online platform where students can access thousands of mock interview questions, view a curriculum detailing the job-landing process, and use the Answer Builder tool to build answers step-by-step.

!e platform also has a practice interview feature where students can $lm a mock interview from their chosen industry and get feedback from a career coach in three to $ve business days. Students who prefer to simulate their big interviews in person can visit Toppel during drop-in hours, where a career coach will conduct a simulation interview.

About the mock interviews he conducted, Perez o%ered advice to students going through the job interview process. “Just be yourself, think of the interview as a normal conversation, and a lot of people overprepare themselves for an interview and sound like a radio,” said Perez.

Forage

Looking to get ahead? !rough Toppel, UM students can gain industry experience by completing short, real-world companybacked online projects.

“ !ese virtual experience programs range from 3-7 hours in total and help students build valuable career skills and give students an idea of what it would be like to work for that speci$c company within that industry,” said Bahadue.

!is article only scratches the surface of the career-development resources o%ered by the school, but these are some of the most valuable ones.

If this article listed each and every resource on HireACane.com, it would be more like a short novel. For more information, go to HireACane.com or stop by Toppel Career Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Dont ju&t focu& on alumn, conn-ct,on& Make sure to connect with people in your classes, and even see if you can with your professors and teaching assistants. Just like any social media, the bigger your following the better!

’gram for guys

A grainy profile picture with shadows over half your face, a poorly-cropped picture of you holding up a freshly-caught fish, a bio that reads: UMiami 26’ — emphasis on the apostrophe in the wrong place. The reality is simply that a lot of guys don’t know how to use Instagram. If you feel like you have this problem, you’re not alone. We’re here to let you in on some of the golden rules of a good Instagram feed. words_jay moyer. photo_ethan dosa. design_sal puma.

short and sweet

Whether it’s your username, your bio or your number of posts, less is more. You want your pro$le to be memorable. No one’s going to remember that corny celebrity quote you chose, or the names of your 50 story highlights. Instead, try to keep it punchy and unique.

Posting every once in a while — anywhere from once or twice a month to once a year — emphasizes quality over quantity. You might want to come across a little bit mysterious, or at least not log every day of your life on the pro$le grid.

Be careful not to keep it too short. You should be conveying your personality in some way, even if you’d rather face away from the camera, or link a song you like in your bio instead of using your own words.

consistency is key

One of the best ways to stand out on Instagram is to single in on your style. Take a look at your posts. Is there a color scheme you gravitate towards? Do you like to show

o% your out$ts? Do you take really good outdoor photos?

Figuring out a theme that suits you will instantly elevate your pro$le. Even if it’s something as simple as a light or dark color palette, consistency makes your posts feel more intentional.

rule of thirds

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take an eye-catching photo. !e rule of thirds is something of a buzzword for the Instagram girls, but it’s pretty much the foundation of the perfect shot, and it’s probably the easiest way to up your game.

To follow the rule of thirds, turn on the 3x3 grid on your camera — on an iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Grid, and turn on. You should see two vertical and two horizontal lines over your screen. Line up the horizontal lines with the horizon: this will give you a straight photo with no need for adjustment.

!en, look at the points where the lines intersect each other. Whatever your subject is

— the most important thing in the photo — have it fall on one of these points. !is keeps the rest of the photo open, and naturally draws the eye to where the subject is. You can experiment with putting your subject on the right or le side, or maybe even one of the corners of the picture. !at way, not everything is dead-center, and your feed won’t be too monotone.

silent posting

!e silent post is an Instagram veteran’s best-kept secret, so keep this between us. If you want something to put on your pro$le grid, but don’t want to make a big deal out of it, here’s what you do: hit “post”, then “archive” as fast as you can. !is makes it disappear from everyone’s feed. A er a few days have passed, go into your archive — tap the three lines in the top right corner of your pro$le to $nd it — and return the post to your pro$le.

!e point of the silent post is to add to your pro$le grid with something that doesn’t deserve a spotlight for itself. !e best silent

W.-n mak,ng a po&t try to use all of the tools in the app to make it special. Add a location, choose a snippet of a song, and tag everyone and everything you can. Makes it feel a little more lively than just some pictures.

posts are single pictures, usually casual, like a sunset, or a page from a book you’re pretending to read. It says something about your personality, it’s a little mysterious and it gives your curated gallery of posts a little more variety.

the

art of the photo dump

!ere used to be a time, in the dark ages, when posting meant agonizing over the one perfect photo to post. Now you can post ten, even twenty slices of your camera roll all at once. It’s almost overwhelming.

A photo dump isn’t as careless as it sounds. It really takes a certain level of cra , but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it.

Here’s the essential components of almost any great photo dump: a solo picture, a candid of your friends — something totally in the moment, unstaged — a food picture, a nature picture and of course, a silly one. Whether it’s a relevant meme from your camera roll or a particularly un attering pic, save the funny moment for the end. And don’t tell us to “swipe for a surprise” — that makes it not a surprise, doesn’t it?

Of course, this isn’t a formula you have to stick to. But if you post ten slides of you and your boys lined up and mogging at the camera without any variety, most people are scrolling past a er slide three. !e photo dump is where you can show some personality with something other than pictures of your face. Don’t feel pressured to include all twenty slides, either. Again, less is more, and there’s nothing more boring than $ller.

if you need some more

Now that you have hopefully learned the basics of account upkeep you can start posting. Though that can be a problem if you don’t have anything to post. Getting photos that look Insta worthy are hard no matter what type of vibe you’re going for. Even if you don’t have an eye for photography there are a bunch of ways to get started.

They say imitation is one of the best forms of flattery, so feel free to take inspiration from other posts. Whether its the

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Laguna Beach, California

pose that someone is doing, a unique angle, or even the type of edits they did to the photo’s color and lighting.

If you need it spelled out for you there are a bunch of accounts out there that are aimed at new users to show them the ropes.

Pinterest is also a great place to go looking. The entire website is set up as a font of inspiration so why wouldn’t it be. From di!erent types of highlight icons, interesting ways to layout your stories, and a bunch of photos

for you to look at. Just add “instagram inspo” to the end of basically any search and you’re bound to find something.

Do keep in mind, you don’t have to become a scholar just to use instagram. If you make a post that’s just pictures you like that’s fine too! A little artistic spice here and there is just like dorm decor, something to make the bleak white boxes a little cozier. But even the nicest dorms are a little messy, so as long as you’re enjoying posting that’s all that matters.

B SELARTSEL

Art Basel Miami Beach has been a major international art world event since it first launched in 2002. Created to connect the art scenes of North and Latin America, the art expo has evolved into a much larger celebration of contemporary and modern art, becoming a cultural moment that reflects South Florida’s unique energy and ever-changing creative landscape.

words_noah cueva & leo gordon. photo_wes lucas. design_marita gavioti.

Every December, artists, collectors, gallery owners and art lovers from all over the world come to South Florida for Art Basel Miami Beach – a bustling mix of exhibitions, pop-up shows, satellite events and exclusive parties that take over the area for an entire week. !e fair, which sets an artistic vibe in advance of the holiday season, provides an iconic cultural escape for locals, tourists as well as students.

Over the years, Art Basel’s artistic and social hub has been the scene for established art patrons as well as emerging young artists. And since it is a happening as much as it is an art fair, high-pro$le $gures from the art world have shared the city with A-list celebrities, fashion icons and social in uencers. Some namedroppers: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, 50 Cent and Cardi B.

Art Basel Miami Beach arguably is the most exciting of Art Basel’s four annual venues. !e $rst event took place in 1970 in Basel, Switzerland. !e inaugural fair, launched by three gallery owners from Basel, included 90 galleries from 10 countries, attracting 16,000 art collectors and enthusiasts.

For the next two decades Art Basel became the ultimate art collectors’ paradise. And when fair organizers thought of expanding beyond Switzerland, they thought Miami Beach. According to news stories published prior to the $rst Miami Beach festival in 2002, Miami Beach, with its art

deco glitz and international base of locals and tourists, was an easy sell. !e event featured 160 galleries from 23 countries, drawing 30,000 attendees. A er Miami Beach, Art Basel continued to expand, taking on two other sister fairs -- Hong Kong in 2013 and Paris in 2022.

!e Miami Beach show dates this year are Dec. 6-8 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, where 283 galleries representing 34 countries and $ve continents will be on display. Playing to South Florida’s population and location, 60% of the galleries are from Latin America, said Julia Debski, an Art Basel public relations representative based in New York.

“We had 63,000 people last year partnering with the Bass Museum, and this year we are trying to push the envelope even more,” Debski said.

!e show will be divided into key sections that categorize the works by their origin and creation.

!e Galleries will be featuring established and emerging art galleries from around the world. Similar in size, the Meridians will showcase large-scale works.

!e Nova section is dedicated to galleries presenting new works created within the past three years. To further highlight new art, the Positions section showcases solo projects by emerging artists.

!en for those interested in the art of the past, the Survey section has a focus on art historical projects and established artists from di%erent eras.

Each year, Art Basel brings something fresh. In 2024, expect a focus on digital art and NFTs—non-fungible tokens -- blending physical and digital experiences. An NFT is

a data $le, stored on a type of digital ledger called a blockchain, which can be sold and traded. !e NFT can be associated with a particular asset – digital or physical – such as an image, art or music.

Festival-goers also likely will see environmental art pieces that address climate change and sustainability, said Debski, who highlighted the Carmo Johnson Projects, an artist collective from the Brazilian rainforest called MAHKU. !e artists include members of the Huni Kuin Indigenous group from the Brazilian Amazon.

“All of the art proceeds go back into buying acres in the forest, so they do not get pushed out from their home,” Debski added.

!e festival also gives University of Miami art students a chance to latch onto the Art Basel’s artistic coattails, said UM Gallery Director Milly Cardoso.

“We have our own show in honor of Art Basel featuring graduate students during Art Week,” Cardoso said.

“New Works,” which showcases the artwork of nine Master of Fine Arts students, will be on exhibit during Art Basel at the University of Miami Gallery, Wynwood Building. !e exhibition, which runs Dec. 2 through Jan. 17, features a diverse range of mediums, including printmaking, ceramics, painting and photography, Cardoso said.

!e festival, which takes place just as the fall semester is ending, is not just for the wellheeled collectors. Students, many of whom take advantage of student discounts, also can view the exhibits, people watch and party.

Sophomore $nance and legal studies major Emma Yanagi attended last year.

“Going to Art Basel during $nals week was awesome and I’d de$nitely go again,” Yanagi said. “I was able to enjoy all the art, and I got to see Rüfüs Du Sol at an a er-party while still balancing my academics.” !e Australian indie dance band performed at Factory Town, an events venue in Hialeah.

Don’t ju&t walk t.roug. -ac. -x.,b,t, take some time to read the descriptions which each piece and get a better sense of what you’re looking at. Chances are you paid for the experience, might as well get your money’s worth from it.

Before You Go

If you’re looking to add to your art collection, the main Art Basel show at the Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, is the place to be.

You’ll $nd pieces from international galleries, and you can chat with gallery owners about potential acquisitions. Other great spots for buying include satellite fairs like NADA and Untitled Art Fair, which focus on up-and-coming artists and galleries.

While there’s no o&cial dress code for Art Basel Miami, participants will notice that designer clothing and high-end attire are the norm. If you own pieces that re ect an artistic style, this is the place to wear them. However, comfort is key—you’ll be on your feet most of the day, so choose clothes and shoes that allow you to explore the exhibitions comfortably.

Miami’s weather can be unpredictable, so be prepared for both indoor air conditioning and the heat outdoors.

Art Basel will o%er an artist-made gi shop this year. Coloring books, Rubik’s Cubes, sneakers, and handbags are among the more a%ordable purchases.

!e 2024 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach will be open to the public 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 6-8. !e exclusive preview days, which are typically open to VIPs and art collectors, will be held on Dec 4-5.

Tickets costs range from $85 to $3,500. Day tickets are $85 and reduced day tickets are available for students, veterans, Miami Beach residents and senior citizens for $65.

P-Art-y Basel

Art Basel Miami Beach is known for its vibrant nightlife and exclusive parties. Many exclusive a er-parties are also hosted by top galleries, art collectors and fashion brands. Some of the best places to party during the week include:

Faena Miami Beach

3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

Known for its luxurious parties and live music performances.

The Miami Beach EDITION

2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

Stylish parties o en featuring A-list DJs and surprise performances.

1 Hotel South Beach

2341 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

Known for hosting eco-friendly and chic parties.

Beyond Basel

Public art is a key component of Art Basel Week, with installations appearing throughout Miami and Miami Beach. Satellite fairs provide a more intimate experience compared to the main Art Basel show.

The O!cial Miami Art Week™ Pop-Up Show

https://www.miamiartweek.org/events

Artwork exhibits, artist talks, seminars and presentations.

photoMIAMI™

https://www.miamiartweek.org

Miami Art Week’s only photo-centric photography show. Exhibits, photographer talks, seminars and presentations.

AfriKin Art Fair

https://afrikin.art/

!e AfriKin Art Fair 2024, themed “ !reads of Life in Fragments of Time,” spotlights artists from approximately 33 countries.

Aqua Art Miami

https://www.aquaartmiami.com/

Aqua Art Miami is the premier destination for art a$cionados to procure works by young, emerging and mid-career artists.

Art Beat Miami

http://artbeatmiami.com/

Art Beat Miami, is an annual satellite art fair presented by Little Haiti Optimist Club, Welcome to Little Haiti and Chefs of the Caribbean showcasing emerging and renowned artists from Haiti and around the world.

CONTEXT Art Miami

https://www.contextartmiami.com/

CONTEXT Art Miami is dedicated to the development and reinforcement of emerging and mid-career artists.

NADA Miami Art Fair

https://www.newartdealers.org/programs/ nada-miami-2024/introduction

NADA Miami 2024 (New Art Dealers Alliance) will showcase a diverse selection of approximately 150 galleries, art spaces and nonpro$t organizations spanning 37 countries.

Scope Miami Beach

https://scope-art.com/

Scope Art Show is the premier showcase and incubator for contemporary art with emerging galleries and artists from around the world.

HAPPENING

“

Happening tackles today’s hot topics and inspiring innovators. Dive into the heated debate over banned books and their place in academic settings. Swipe smarter with our breakdown of which dating apps match your goals. And if you’re feeling the buzz on campus, relive your Hurricane pride and tap into the renewed sports spirit after our recent triumphs. We bring you the latest and greatest Miami has to o!er.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini

!e Nativity, with God the Father Surrounded by Angels and Cherubim” c. 1470

Forbidden Pages

First Amendment rights in the “land of the free” only seem to be getting more specific, despite them being a part of our country’s legal upbringing from its mere beginnings. Censorship continues to make its way back into the red, white and blue, and sparking debate in academic institutions, specifically with book banning. But why has book banning been a prevalent issue for so long, and how will it shape the future of learning? One thing is clear: the battle over banned books is not just about literature—it’s about shaping the future of free thought because the right to read is the right to learn. words_amanda mohamad. design_sal puma.

D,&cla,m-r: is article refers to books that mentions suicide, sexual assault and other potentially sensitive topics.

It Started Way Back Yonder

While modern media makes book banning seem like a newer concept, this form of censorship actually spans centuries. Take William Shakespeare: in your high school English classes, you either leapted at the chance to show o% your iambic pentameter reading or dreaded the plethora of “thine” and “ye” and just looked forward to the day you saw young Leonardo Dicaprio as Romeo in Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet. !ese mixed feelings are not exclusive to today’s readers.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, editors attempted to remove Shakespeare’s puns and sexual innuendos from his plays. One English physician — yes, physician — !omas Bowdler, published a “family-friendly” version of “ !e Complete Works of William Shakespeare” in 1818, where he cut close to 90% of the original stories. Some of his changes included making Ophelia’s death an accidental drowning instead of a suggested suicide in “Hamlet” and changing “God!” to “Heavens!” in “Macbeth.”

!roughout the 20th century, almost all of Shakespere’s most famous works were removed from a local or school library. Whether someone complained aboutit glori$ed drugs, sex, and suicide like in“Romeo & Juliet,” explored homosexual relations like “Twel h Night,” or featured the “sin” of witchcra like “Macbeth,” the literary works we grew up reading continue to be banned. But how does book banning work?

The Public Fuels the Process

Despite the push to censor in Florida with bills like “Don’t Say Gay” and House Bill 1069, which bans Florida public school libraries from holding books with “sexual conduct” or “is inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used,” the government has no say in the removal of books from local, public libraries. In fact, all it takes is one person to “challenge” or complain about a book for it to be banned. Whether it makes it through to banning is entirely situational.

For example, if a citizen $nds a sexually explicit book in the children’s section of a public library and challenges it, the complaint is evaluated by the library’s administration. Perhaps this sexually explicit book was misplaced by a visitor and belonged in a more appropriate section: this does not call for the library to permanently ban it. Moving the book to another section classi$es it as a “partial ban.”

However, suppose a sexually explicit book is appropriately placed in a young adult or adult section, and visitors are still challenging it. In that case, the library may feel obligated to remove it from shelves, fully banning the book.

Nonetheless, when one library bans a book, others do not have to follow. However, in areas with like-minded and socially similar residents, books challenged at one library will likely be challenged nearby. As for public school libraries, the implementation of HB 1069 alone in 2023 took over 700 books o% the shelves in Florida schools, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Speci$cally with young adult novels, sexually explicit content is o en coupled with important life lessons for younger generations to be accepting of their peers, regardless of how they identify in sexuality, race, etc.

Lauren Fralinger, the Head of Learning and Research Services for the University of Miami Libraries, says she fears the next generation, especially in the state of Florida, can potentially become close-minded to minority groups due to government initiatives.

“ !ere is an adversarial climate in Florida right now against diversity e%orts and books o en are an expression of diversity. !ey carry stories which generate empathy towards people that others may be combative with or adversarial to, so there is an attempt to control what people are reading so they do not have empathy or understanding for these kinds of groups,” Fralinger says.

Fralinger works with Richter Library on UM’s Coral Gables campus to display frequently banned books for “Banned Books Week,” which was started in 1982 by the American Library Association and Judith King, a First Amendment and library activist, takes place across the US during the last week of September. Fralinger’s display, which stays up for two weeks a er Banned Books Week on the $rst oor of Richter, showcased almost 90 banned books in 2024.

However, the impacts of book banning can reach the national level as soon as Inauguration Day in January 2025. With Donald Trump as the president-elect, initiatives like Project 2025, created by his supporters, may potentially go into e%ect, including for any literary works that feature sexual content and classifying all LGBTQ+ books as pornography.

!e proposed project speci$cally reads, “ !e people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex o%enders. And telecommunications and technology $rms that facilitate its spread should be shuttered.”

For library employees like Fralinger, the future of book banning could truly determine the course of her career and life.

UM: Uncensored and Unstoppable

Here at the University of Miami, student organizations like Sigma Tau Delta—Phi Mu chapter—, the English Honor Society open to all majors—advocate for the right to read.

Junior Dylan D’Alessandro, president of Sigma Tau Delta, recognizes the repercussions book banning has on public and private educational institutions at the K-12 and collegiate levels.

“I’m lucky to attend UM, a private university where we can publish this article. Public colleges need funding from the state government to keep their doors open. High school teachers are being $red and sued for talking about book bans in their classrooms. !is is no partisan political issue; it’s a violation of our constitutional rights. !at should scare people,” D’Alessandro says.

Sigma Delta Tau also held its own events during Banned Books Week, organized by

junior Andrew Ashton, vice president of the honors society. !ese events incorporated minority student organizations and school departments such as the LGBTQ+ Center, the Alliance of Latin American Students, United Black Students, and Multicultural Student A%airs.

“We invited many other organizations and hope to have even more in future years. Even if speci$c minority groups were not being targeted, which they are, we as lovers of stories and literature do not think that governments or groups should have the ability to hinder freedom of thought and information,” Ashton says.

Students are not the only ones encouraging the community to learn about banned books.

For the spring 2025 semester, English professor and author John Funchion is teaching a course called Literary !emes and Topics: Banned Books—class code ENG 210 —. !is course is open to all majors and can even be used towards UM students’ required Arts and Humanities cognate.

“I think it’s important for University of Miami students to think about what it means to be in a place like this and recognize the kinds of protections that we have. We’re not directly beholden to elected o&cials… !e institution might feel pressure, force or pressure to change its position on certain things. But it doesn’t have to,” Funchion says.

While censorship in the “land of the free” is nothing new, extremist administrations on the state and federal levels show us that our $ght has just begun. Fighting against book banning is no longer just a $ght for First Amendment rights. It’s a $ght for knowledge, a $ght to learn, and most importantly, a $ght for future generations to grow up knowing right from wrong.

Most Frequently Banned Books of 2024

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Banned for: LGBTQ+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson

Banned for: LGBTQ+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Banned for: LQBTQ+ content, sex education

Flamer by Mike Curato

Banned for: LGBTQ+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Banned for: DEI content, rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Banned for: LGBTQ+ content, drugs, rape, claimed to be sexually explicit

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas Banned for: profanity, violence, and antipolice messaging

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Banned for: rape, claimed to be sexually explicit

DATING APP VIBES

words_ariella green. illustration_andres alessandro. design_lizzie kristal.

The ‘swipe right or le ’ phenomenon took o% a er Tinder’s launch in 2012. What started out as a shower thought from founder Jonathan Badeen has becometurned into a core feature of the modern dating scene. Within seconds, users are faced with the decision: do they swipe right or le ? Is it possible for these apps to foster real connections, or are they simply a gateway for quick hookups?

Surprise! You just turned 18. Along with the excitement of voting, buying a lottery ticket or serving on a jury, college brings another new choice: Do you dive into dating apps or stick to meeting people in person?

College is one of the few times in people’s lives within life with minimal responsibilities and endless possibilities, making it a popular environment for exploring dating apps. Meeting people online is more common than ever, especially for college students. Sometimes, the person you pass on the way to class might later show up on Tinder as you swipe le or right.

Among the most popular dating apps, Hinge and Tinder o%er distinct experiences and cater to di%erent vibes. Known for its “hookup culture” reputation, Tinder allowshas users to swipe quickly based on photos and short bios. Hinge, on the other hand, appeals to those seeking more serious connections, o%ering pro$le prompts that allow for thoughtful answers whichand o en lead to more meaningful conversations.

Surprise! You just turned 18. Along with the excitement of voting, buying a lottery ticket or serving on a jury, college brings another new choice: Do you dive into dating apps or stick to meeting people in person? Is it possible for these apps to foster real connections, or are they a gateway for quick hookups?

From Billok’s experience, he’s said he’s noticed that a er hee’s matched with someone on Tinder, they never respond. However, with Hinge, he’s noticed he’s gotten more replies to his messages.

“On Hinge, you could probably have a boring conversation for two or three days before someone decides to stop responding,” said Billok said. Billok shares how common it is to get ghosted on the apps, but sayssaid you can’t take it personally—even if it sucks.

Junior psychology major Krystina Slanker, a junior majoring in psychology, says she downloaded Tinder as a joke with her girlfriends in high school. She didn’t take the app seriously, knowing Tinder’s reputation, but she also downloaded Hinge and began to view it di%erently a er hearing a success story.

“Actually, there was this couple that came over to my house for dinner, and they came over for Shabbat dinner with my parents and stu%,” said Slanker said. “ !ey were saying that they actually met on Hinge. !ey were a successful couple that got married and everything. And I was like, wait, people actually $nd their person through this app? So, I was kind of curious. I had the app at the time, but I was like, well, maybe I’ll take this a little more seriously and see if I actually $nd someone that I’m interested in.”

!at summer, a er her freshman year, Slanker matched with her current boyfriend on Hinge. Initially, she ignored his messages, but when they returned to campus, he messaged her again, and they set up a date.

A er turning 18 in high school, sophomore $lm major Sam Billok says he followed his friends’ leads, downloading Tinder and Hinge ed the lead of his friends and downloaded Tinder and Hinge. Billok said he downloaded the apps out of curiosity to see what the hype was about. A er having the apps for two years, Billok said he prefers Hinge to Tinder.

“[On Tinder,] you really just look at someone and you swipe right or le ,” said Billok said. “When you match with them, it’s a lot harder to start a conversation with them, because a lot of times when you match with them, it’s in a fake way.”

“I think it was the second week of school and he asked me on a date and we got sushi,” Slanker said. “We went to Moshi Moshi in Brickell. It was really good. I was surprised because it’s funny, I remember leaving for that date and just kind of thinking, ‘Oh, this is justthis another date,’ You know? Like it’s not going to be anything special. Dating is fun, but also just some parts are okay. I wasn’t really expecting us to hit it o% that quick honestly.”

Slanker hadn’t formed any other deep connections through dating apps before meeting her boyfriend, who was the $rst guy she introduced to her parents. She says she feels that Hinge allowed them to connect as people rather than just focusing on hookups.

Senior public relations major Laura Martella, a senior public relations major, downloaded Hinge and Tinder a er coming down to Miami from Philadelphia for school to meet new people. One of the reasons that made it more comfortable for her to download the app was doing it with friends.

“I de$nitely wouldn’t download a dating app if I didn’t know anybody else on one, just for comfort reasons, but I would say that de$nitely, the people around me who were also on them made me more comfortable in downloading one,” Martella said.

Martella saysid she recalls her freshman year as very much of a hookup culture life, which matched Tinder’s reputation.

“I feel like you’re matching with everybody in your dorm as a freshman, so it makes your $rst year kind of funny, almost walking around campus and seeing the faces of people that you’ve matched with because there’s so many other freshmen also on the apps,” Martella said.

As Martella is close to graduating in Spring 2025, she said she decided made the decision to delete the apps because she said it’s more of an underclassmen type of thing and the apps can be shallow in her opinion.

WHICH DATING APP

IS BEST FOR YOU?

Trendy apps come and go, but here is a guide to set you up for success based on your dating goals and style. Take the quiz and keep track of your most chosen answer letters.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

a. Cheerios

b. stu!ed omelet

c. avocado toast

d. full English breakfast

How do you spend Friday night?

How many dates have you been on in the last month?

b. 5+

c. 1-4

d. 0

a. does a hookup count?

What is your ideal date?

a. Regatta

b. Brickell bar hopping

c. wine night

d. staying in bed

Do you like to yap?

a. no, the less words the better

b. I LOVE to yap

c. I prefer to listen

d. what is “yap”?

Chose mostly a’s. . .

TINDER

You’re here for the vibes and live by the motto here for a good time, not a long time.

a. Netflix n Chill

c. pottery class

d. comedy show

b. dinner and drinks

What is your type?

a. anything that moves

a. hey

What’s your go-to slide in?

b. someone in the friend group

c. someone who gets me

d. idc, as long as I end up with a ring

Chose mostly b’s. . .

HINGE

You’re a bit of an introvert, looking to meet someone and have a connection with them. You don’t want to waste time with people who don’t add to your life.

b. go o! the profile

c. personalized compliment

d. meaningful quote

Chose mostly c’s. . .

BUMBLE

You like taking matters into your own hands and being honest with yourself and others. You’re a bit of a romantic looking to find someone who shares interests

Chose mostly d’s. . .

OKCUPID

You like going with the flow and are not too serious about dating apps for dating reasons. You’re open to possible hook ups, friendships, or even short or

EGDE OF GLORY

’Canes fans everywhere are cheering, yelling, and still amazed at the turnaround the football team has had during this season. After what felt like years of slumming it the team has started to clean up their act. Whether it’s that their practice has finally payed off, or the absolute godsend that is Cam Ward, Hurricane fans are happy to have a sliver of our glory back words_sumner bradley & sophia orris & lucas de leon & raul aguirre jr. photo_ethan dosa. design_sal puma.

NOTABLE STATS CAM WARD

PASSING TOUCHDOWNS

36

PASSING YARDS

UPASSING EFFICIENCY

171.1

4,123 YARDS PER ATTEMPT 9.48

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE

67.4%

ndefeated for most of the semester, the Miami Hurricanes football team has sparked campus-wide enthusiasm, uniting students, players and fans in a wave of excitement that’s rede$ning the spirit of college football at the U.

From seasoned seniors to fresh-faced $rst-years, students say they are feeling a renewed campus spirit that had been dormant for several years.

Senior Skyler Brotherton-Julien remembers when the enthusiasm for the team was lower.

As a freshman, she attended the games because the experience was new. !en, she lost interest when the Canes were not pulling their weight.

She was not alone.

Hard Rock Stadium, which seats 65,326, saw average home game attendance at 49,714 in 2023, and that was down by nearly 10 percent over the previous year, according to D1.Ticker, which researches and publishes Football Bowl Subdivision attendance.

By contrast, the current average attendance for the 2024 season is 59,076, representing nearly a 19% increase over 2024. And in the Canes homecoming game against Florida State, more than 65,000 fans packed Hard Rock Stadium, marking the $rst sellout since 2022.

“Now, I’m actually excited about UM football,” Brotherton-Julien said.

“It’s not just the game, but the energy, the crowd and the way everyone comes together to support something so big. It’s changed my entire outlook on football,” said freshman

S.out out to all of our &,gn mak-r& !ank you for keeping the stands full of spirit and puns. Great to demoralize the other team, and as a $ller pic in any gameday photo dump.

TOTAL QBR

88.0%

Emma Greaves recalling her $rst tailgate.

“ !e energy was incredible,” she said. Now, more people are staying for the full game, and the excitement just keeps building.”

!e growing enthusiasm is fueled by the university’s student section and Category 5, UM’s o&cial spirit organization.

“ !e energy at football games has been night and day di%erent,” said Category 5 basketball co-chair David Kuper. “With the addition of our brand-new paint line and other traditions, we’re nationally known.”

Category 5 promotes a variety of giveaways and events before and during games, he said.

“We hand out custom merch, organize tailgates and make sure every game feels like a big event,” said Kuper, a junior legal studies and marketing major. “With each game, we try to create an experience that students won’t forget.”

Category 5 Internal Vice Chair Olivia Estoppey has supported the team over the years and feels a powerful surge of school pride with each new win.

“In my $rst season, we lost to Florida State 45-3 at home, which was heartbreaking,” said Estoppey, a junior political science major. !e Canes reversed the loss in October, scoring a 36-14 victory over the Seminoles.

Game days for Estoppey are a mix of work and excitement as she and Category 5 manage “Fan Zone,” the student tailgate, and the “Storm Warning” tradition where they create smoke with $re extinguishers a er the $rst quarter.

“ !en, we get to enjoy the game in the front rows with all the other students,” Estoppey said. “It’s the best because we’re all very passionate about our teams.”

UM’s cheerleaders also have noticed the elevated atmosphere.

“In past years, if we were down by a few points, fans would leave early,” said Penelope Gilbert, a junior broadcast journalism major. “I cheered at the Cal game, where we were down by a lot, but our fans never lost hope,” she said of the Oct. 5 game against the California Golden Bears in Berkeley, California. !e Canes were trailing by 25 points but rallied to win the game 39-38.

“ !ey had faith we could pull o% that comeback, and it was really cool to see,” Gilbert said. “If that was last year, I think they would’ve le by hal ime.”

Gilbert described this newfound fan support as a “game-changer” that both fuels the players on the $eld and energizes her team as she cheers on the sidelines.

Team members say head coach Mario Cristobal’s recent emphasis on reconnecting with alumni has energized the team, with former players Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin showing up regularly to support the Hurricanes.

Lewis played as Miami’s linebacker from 1993-1995 before making his NFL debut in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens; Irvin was the school’s wide receiver from 1985-1987 before being dra ed to the Dallas Cowboys in 1988.

Players say that seeing these Miami greats on the sideline fuels their drive and resonates with the crowd, adding a sense of tradition and pride to each game.

Running back Chris Johnson Jr. also credits this year’s success to a shi in leadership and team chemistry.

“ !e leadership is di%erent,” he said. “You can see it in the way guys like Cam and the transfers have stepped in to lead, he said referring to quarterback Cam Ward. “We’ve all bought into the program, and that’s made all the di%erence.”

Ward, a transfer from Washington State, is a Heisman Trophy contender.

In the Canes’ $rst 10 games of the season, he averaged 3.5 touchdowns per game, leading the nation in passing yards (3,494) and passing touchdowns (32) and total touchdowns (35).

Sophomore running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said other transfers have had a huge impact on keeping everyone motivated. He

Our .om-com,ng comm,tt-- ,& on- of t.- many organ,zat,on& here on campus that capitalized on our streak of success. Hard Rock was electric for this year’s homecoming game.

said defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr., who spent the $rst four seasons of his career at Michigan State, has solidi$ed the defensive line, making key stops that have kept opponents’ o%enses at bay.

Linebacker Tyler Baron, who came from a winning program at Tennessee, has not only bolstered the team’s defense but also brought a winning mentality that’s inspired his teammates to adopt the same mindset.

“ !ey’ve been a big part of keeping us from getting complacent,” Fletcher said. “We’re constantly pushing each other to be better.”

Fletcher said he sees a new sense of “family” among the team as players from di%erent positions are building friendships and encouraging one another.

Despite the Canes’ Nov. 9 loss to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, fans say they are vested in the team’s progress as players tackle the remaining two games of the season.

“We’ve got to stay focused on the bigger picture,” Johnson said.

And Category 5 is committed to keeping fan energy alive.

“We get loud, plain and simple. No matter the opponent, we are there and cheering all the way until the alma mater,” Kuper said.

WHAT THE FORK

“

What the Fork is a foodie’s paradise, stu!ed with mouth-watering recipes and hidden-gem restaurants. Discover why eating a diverse range of foods is key to a healthier, happier you. Embark on a journey through Miami’s vibrant foreign supermarkets exploring global ingredients. And find out how to eat seasonly to get the most out of your groceries. We are serving up the latest dishes, so grab a plate and dig in.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini

!e Nativity, with God the Father Surrounded by Angels and Cherubim” c. 1470

EATING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

From our morning coffee to the weeknight dinner routine, we often choose foods that are predictable, comforting, and safe. But whether it’s trying a new ingredient, embracing a di!erent cultural cuisine, or experimenting with unfamiliar textures, pushing the boundaries of your taste buds can open doors to better health, a more adventurous mindset, and a deeper appreciation of food words_sal puma. photo&illustration_ lizzie kristal.

If you’ve found yourself in a food rut, sticking to the same familiar dishes day a er day, you’re not alone. Much like how everyone has a favorite show or movie they like to rewatch, people tend to have certain foods they eat a lot.

While it can feel comforting knowing that you’ll enjoy your dish because it’s your usual order, maybe it’s time to live a little adventurous. A er all, you can’t be going on a $rst date and be ordering o% the kids menus still.

When starting to broaden your taste make sure not to throw yourself into the deep end. Take baby steps and try to identify what aspect of foods you have tried to stay away

TO TRY

EXOTIC FRUITS: Try fruits that are less common in your regular diet, like tropical varieties or those from di!erent cultures. These fruits often have unique flavors and o!er a boost of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.

SPICES & HERBS: Introducing new spices and herbs to your cooking can dramatically alter the flavor profile of your dishes. Whether it’s a tangy sumac or a rich sa!ron, experimenting with di!erent seasonings will allow you to enhance the complexity of your meals.

PLANT-BASED PROTEINS: Add variety to your protein sources by experimenting with plant-based options like legumes, tofu, or tempeh. These protein-packed foods are often nutrient-dense and can provide a delicious meat-free alternative in many dishes.

FERMENTED FOODS: Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which are beneficial for digestion and gut health. Experimenting with fermented ingredients can introduce new tastes, such as tangy, spicy, or savory notes, while also supporting your overall wellness.

from. For example, if there are certain avors or textures that you dislike, start by slowly trying those in your day to day.

A great way to incorporate new things into your diet is by starting with more adventurous add-ons to dishes you already like. Maybe it’s a sauce or dressing with ingredients you stay away from, or add a new topping to your sandwich at the deli you look over.

Not only do these small additions slowly expose you to di%erent foods, but if you truly don’t like them you can just pick out the toppings or scrape o%

Inversely, when trying a new dish that you’re not sure if you’ll like, add in things that you know you like. Even in the uncharted territory you can give yourself something you’re familiar with.

When trying a new food you don’t usually eat make sure you’re in a stress free environment. It might sound stupid but it is something to keep in mind. Trying out a new type of food at a dinner party might not be the meat move for a picky eater. Last thing you want to do is feel embarrassed for just pushing the food around your plate if you didn’t like it.

Branch out when dining alone or with close friends. And if you can cook it at home $rst, de$nitely try that out. If you don’t like the food you can do whatever you like with it. Turn it into a di%erent dish down the line, toss it with no shame, or possibly a pet friendly snack depending on what you made.

!e act of trying new foods is inherently adventurous. It encourages you to step outside your comfort zone, face uncertainty, and embrace the unknown.

doesn’t just stay in the kitchen; it can extend to all aspects of your life, making you more willing to take risks, embrace new challenges, and experiment with di%erent ideas. Moreover, becoming more adventurous with food can lead to increased con$dence. A er all, if you can enjoy an unfamiliar dish—perhaps one that initially seemed daunting—you might start feeling braver

FOREIGN FOODS & MARKETS

P,ckl-d food&, a &tapl- ,n global cu,&,n-, are great to try across all cultures— whether it’s Korean kimchi, Indian pickled mangoes, or Germany’s sauerkraut, each jar holds a unique avor.

Living in Miami, you have a melting pot of cultures and cuisines at your fingertips. Why not take advantage of the delicious delicacies o!ered right at your doorstep? Venturing past your typical food palette can expose you to authentic Cuban sandwiches, fresh seafood, tropical fruit, key lime pie or all of the above. Why limit yourself when you can find your new favorite food on any given day? Join us as we take a culinary journey, exploring a few different cultural cuisines

From Latin American street food to upscale fusion dining, Miami o%ers unparalleled culinary experiences where food becomes a medium for connection, exploration and self-discovery. Experimenting with international cuisine is one of the easiest ways to learn about and appreciate the countless unique cultures that makeup Miami.

“Food is the best thing in the world,” exclaimed Liming Chang, an employee at Hanna & Tiger’s Asian Mart in Coral Gables. For over a year, she’s watched customers from all walks of life explore her store’s unique o%erings. “From exposure to these snacks, you know the culture.”

Chang’s boss, who originally opened the market to bridge a gap for Asian foods in Miami, echoed this sentiment. “Our supermarket is more than just a place to shop. It’s a bridge connecting Asian culture with the community,” said the owner. By providing authentic ingredients and fostering cultural exchange, they invite locals to experience Asia beyond the borders of Miami.

Just a six-minute drive from Hanna & Tiger’s lies the wonderful Bottega La Dolce Vita. Upon entering this hidden market, a burst of colorful foods line each shelf, each product straight out of Italy and greater Europe. Each customer receives a cheerful “Ciao!” from the front of the store as a sweet Italian woman named Mariangela waits eagerly to help them with anything they may need.

“ !e American people love Italy,” said Mariangela. “When they go for vacation and come back, they want to recreate the dishes they had there.”

Whether it’s guanciale for carbonara or pecorino for a charcuterie board, there’s nothing Mariangela says she loves more than helping customers understand the history and process behind these cherished foods. Coming from Milano, she particularly $nds joy in explaining the history of the grapes and how each one is pressed to create unique juices for the numerous wines her store holds.

“ !e process has to open your mind to know why these people are di%erent from

me,” said Mariangela. It’s about more than just taste. It’s about understanding the traditions and values embedded in every bite.

CULINARY CULTURE

Bottega La Dolce Vita attracts people from all over South Miami, including University of Miami sophomore Jacob Hookman-Vassa, also known as Chef Vass. A passionate cook and aspiring hospitality entrepreneur, Hookman-Vassa credits his parents for exposing him to diverse cuisines early on. “Even when I was little, I never liked eating chicken tenders or mac and cheese. I enjoyed eating more cultural or exotic foods,” he shared.

Chef Vass’ culinary journey accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he began cooking daily for his family. Inspired

words_mikayla reich. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_charlotte deangelis.

A &,mpl- pa&ta

w,t. butt-r or &auc- can bcla&&,c, but there are a bunch of ways to spice them up. Maybe add some basil and burrata to your pasta with butter, or mix in some sausage or soppressata with your sauce!

by shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, the chef says he embraced the idea that food is about more than just a substance.

“Food and culture are so important to personal development. !ey help you gain perspective on everything,” said Chef Vass.

Now, Hookman-Vassa channels his passion into projects like cra ing globally inspired dishes such as !ai Massaman curry, posting food reviews on social media and his most recent endeavor, preparing to cater an upcoming toy drive in downtown Miami.

No matter where he is or what he’s doing, one thing remains true for Chef Vass. “Wherever I cook, I think about the cultural vibe I want to create,” said the chef. For Chef Vass, food is a way to discover new things and connect with the community around him.

Beyond cultural enrichment, eating a diverse diet is a cornerstone of good health.

Nutrition Professor Michelina Witte emphasizes the importance of variety, particularly from plant-based foods.

“Fiber is what our bodies are designed for,” said Witte, adding that diverse plant foods support gut health and contribute to longevity and disease prevention.

“When only one in ten Americans eat the minimum for fruits and vegetables per day,

we know we are living in a $ber-de$cient world,” said Witte. !is de$ciency contributes to chronic diseases and poor digestive health.

But Witte says the solution is simple: “ !e more colors, the more variety, the better.”

Hamid Ebrahimi, owner of Shahs Bazaar, takes pride in his Persian market’s highquality, minimally processed foodst. “Most grocery stores, it’s all… trash,” Ebrahimi bluntly said.

Ebrahimi says that because they o%er products that are “natural, unmodi$ed, and free of seed oil,” he believes his market provides the foundation for healthier eating. From Persian atbreads to ancient herbbased soups, his ingredients showcase the nutritional richness of traditional Persian cuisine.

Ebrahimi proudly provides all the ingredients for his brother’s restaurant, Shahs of Kabob, a popular date spot amongst University of Miami students.

MELTING POT MIAMI

“New foods and restaurants have brought us closer together,” said UM student Lilly Dreyer, who says Shahs of Kabob is one of her favorite date-night spots with her boyfriend, Jacob Moheban. Spending years in Miami as an undergraduate student and now living in an apartment Downtown, Moheban

says he has cultivated relationships with local restaurant owners like those at Shahs of Kabob.

Currently, however, the couple’s mutual obsession is Mexican cuisine. “ !e Latin culture here is easy to $nd,” said Moheban, adding, “like very good and authentic places to get tacos.”

Dreyer says she attributes her adventurous eating habits to her willingness to step out of her comfort zone. “ !e way I even got to most of the food that is my favorite today is by being adventurous,” said Dreyer. !is openness re ects the essence of Miami, a city where Caribbean, South American, and European in uences intertwine, creating endless opportunities to expand one’s palate.

Similar to these ‘canes, 24-year-old Jonah Dross also continues to explore diverse cuisines throughout Miami. A er completing his undergraduate program in 2022, Dross continues his studies at the University of Miami’s School of Law.

“Living in Miami is a great place to expand your palate,” said Dross , highlighting its array of Cuban, Brazilian, Argentinian, and Colombian options. While he says he favors Greek cuisine for its fresh ingredients and balanced avors, Dross also admires the city’s ability to showcase a diverse range of global cultures.

Dross says he views adventurous eating as a direct translation of one’s personal growth. “Pushing your personal comfort boundaries is not only a great way to grow as a person, but is also a lot of fun,” admitted Dross. !is sense of curiosity re ects the heart of Miami’s food scene, where culinary exploration can broaden horizons and bring people together.

Miami’s unique culinary opportunities have profoundly in uenced these UM students and alumni. From Moheban’s taco hunts to Chef Vass’s cooking experiments, each person’s journey re ects a broader narrative of Miami as a place where food and culture intertwine.

EXPANDING YOUR PALLETE

As Hookman-Vassa aptly puts it, “ !ere’s absolutely no downside to trying new things. What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t like it? !en you don’t have to go back to it.”

If you’re hesitant to try new foods, though, you’re not alone. Professor Witte says she acknowledges that college can be a challenging time to diversify your diet.

“O en, it’s people’s $rst time out of the home, choosing foods for themselves,” said the professor. However, one small step forward can prompt three larger ones – in other words, taking baby steps can lead to big changes.

“It takes about ten days to reset your palate,” said Witte.. “If you’re not giving yourself a chance to try something new, you’re not giving your taste buds a chance to adapt.” !e key is to start small.

Ebrahimi agreed, saying, “It’s always good to try something new because you can always go back to what you’ve done.”

Don’t know where to start? For University of Miami students, the opportunities to explore new foods are endless. Stop by Hanna & Tiger’s Asian Mart for authentic snacks and ramen, or Shahs Bazaar for delicious Persian atbreads and light feta cheese. At Bottega La Dolce Vita, pick up artisanal olive oil and pasta with fresh tru e to recreate classic Italian recipes.

On campus, Professor Witte says she recommends visiting the dining halls or joining the Plant-Based Canes for free dinners and inspiration. “ !e chefs and sta% are receptive to feedback,” she urged, encouraging students to ask for cooking classes or diverse food options. Her best advice is, “Make the healthy choice the easy choice,” whether stocking your dorm room or apartment with accessible fruits and vegetables or pushing yourself to try one new healthy snack weekly.

As Mariangela stated, “It’s good for your brain to discover new things, especially in food.” Whether you’re savoring a centuriesold Persian soup or experimenting with Italian wine, opening your palate can transform how you see the world, one meal at a time. Embracing diverse foods is not just about satisfying hunger; it’s a gateway to better health, a broader mind, and deeper cultural appreciation.

FOR THE SEASONS E ATING

While it may be tempting to buy fresh strawberries and blueberries in January or avocados in March, fresher, tastier and healthier selections are available if only shoppers can wait until those items are in season. words_kay-ann henry & tracy ramos. illustration_andres alessandro. design_leah bahamonde. infographic_lizzie kristal

Time was when Americans excitedly awaited the arrival of freshly picked produce from local harvests. Family menus, from dinner to dessert, were planned around what the season would yield: spring berries, summer corn, autumn apples, winter root vegetables.

Now, buoyed by advancements in agriculture and transportation, the fruits and vegetables that we buy from local grocery stores many times are not local at all. !ey are harvested outside of their natural growing cycle from other parts of the country and the world.

Seasonal food – produce that is purchased and eaten around the time that it is harvested – is a better option, said Alyson Marquez, UMDining’s registered dietitian.

“Eating seasonal produce can support our well-being because of its higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and $ber,” Marquez said. “Seasonal produce usually spends less time in transit, which further optimizes nutrient content.”

Eating seasonally means having a respect for nature and knowing that it is OK to eat foods when and where they are harvested, said Mimi Ohno, an artist/educator who maintains a plot at a local community garden in Brooklyn.

“All of us are so removed from growing food,” Ohno said. “Living in modern time, you eat year -round, whatever you feel like in any given time.”

Ohno, whose parents are from Nigeria, said her seasonal garden plot includes plants and herbs that she uses to prepare Nigerian dishes -- basil, oregano, Nigerian greens, garden eggs (eggplant) and tomatoes. Wanting to capture her mother’s zeal for gardening, Ohno took a one-year course

at Farm School NYC, an urban agriculture education course.

Her philosophy: “Eat where you live and in season. !e point is not to have everything, but to enjoy the things that you do have when you have them.”

Niven Patel, chef and owner of Ghee Indian Kitchen, also has a farm, but it’s for his restaurant in Kendall. !e 2-acre farm, located in Homestead in South Dade, supplies mangoes, eggplant, avocados, beets, and many other fruits, vegetables and herbs typically used in Indian cuisine.

“We try our best to have things from the farm and create special dishes,” Patel said. For example, Ghee salads might feature carambola (starfruit) that are switched out with tomatoes when they are in season.

While Seasons 52 in Coral Gables does not have its own farm, it does o%er a “seriously seasonal” menu featuring a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, much of it locally grown.

“It allows us to o%er the best ingredients at their peak avor and ripeness,” said Fernando Orms, managing partner. Over the summer, a Seasons 52 salad might feature a summer spinach and strawberry salad,

“Strawberries are super tasty in the summer,” he said of the salad that includes almonds and spinach. Post summer, the menu featured beets and arugula, and the asparagus side dish was replaced with broccolini. From September to February, diners will enjoy meals made from Brussels sprouts, cauli ower, pumpkin and butternut squash, Orms said.

Seasonal produce is o en easier to cook because the vegetables are picked at peak season, Orms said. !e taste does not have to be enhanced with heavy sauces and seasonings when the meals are prepared.

“We just add a little olive oil, salt and pepper. !at’s all,” he said.

“When things are in season, you can drastically taste the di%erence,” Patel said. For example, mangoes picked locally in South Floria during the May-August peak season will have a better taste than those that appear on supermarket shelves in January from Mexico, he said. Because imported mangoes have to be picked early for shipping, they have not matured. Nutrition is diminished and so is the taste.

From a chef’s perspective, it’s about avor,” Patel said. “One of the most enjoyable things is eating a carrot that just came out of the ground. It’s life changing.”

Many countries in Europe, Central and South America still adhere to seasonal eating habits.

Mirla Irías Carbajal, a junior data science and arti$cial intelligence and mathematics major, said a lot of people in her country, Honduras, have seasonal diets.

“In August they produce avocados more than they do during the rest of the year,” Carbajal said. “ !ere’s so many avocados, so that’s what we eat a lot of in August.”

By contrast, the United States tends to prioritize year-round availability over quality.

!is consistent availability has in uenced Americans so that many are not aware when they eat produce that is out of season. As a result, having a seasonal diet has become an intentional and uncommon lifestyle in the United States.

“When you eat foods in season you get connection to the real world,” Ohno said. “Just because produce is readily available does not mean that you are having what’s best for you.”

Luckily for Florida residents, lots of seasonal options abound. Winter in Miami o%ers the best time to enjoy oranges and tangerines, kale, broccoli and cauli ower, while summer brings tropical fruits such as mangoes and guavas.

Students who want to eat in season don’t have to go beyond campus. University of Miami’s dining hall conveniently creates meals based on seasonal produce and features seasonal-themed meals. Marquez, UM’s dietician, said campus dining uses local produce such as bell peppers, oranges and watermelon.

Alfredo Gonzalez, a Chartwells executive chef, works with dining sta% to create a menu for each season except summer because few students are on campus then.

“Everything we do is within season,” Gonzalez said. “We change our menu every season for that reason.”

In winter, the Mahoney-Pearson Dining Hall serves meals such as tomato basil soup for lunch and savory ground beef stewed with tomatoes, raisins, and olives for dinner. !e Centennial Village Dining Hall boasts meals that include ingredients such as tomatoes, avocados, grapefruit and eggplant – produce that is grown locally in season.

“It’s going to be healthier,” Gonzalez said. “It’s growing in the season it’s supposed to be growing; it’s going to be better for your body.”

farmers’ markets in the area, “seeing what is fresh and local, and tasting the di%erence.” If they are around in summer, check out the many lychee stands that sprout up in South Dade, he said.

Josue Torres, a sophomore media scoring and production major from Orlando, said he has never tried a seasonal diet but might try it in the future.

“I’m still very ignorant of it all but it generally makes sense,” Torres said, “especially if one wishes to avoid preservatives and other added ingredients that o en have a negative impact on people. It doesn’t make sense to eat only the things that you like no matter the season because you could be eating something healthier and more natural for you that is in season.”

AUTUMN Coconuts Cranberries Persimmons Pomegranates Pears

WHEN ARE FRUITS IN SEASON?

Eating a sour blueberry or unripe avocado can be a disappointing experience. Buy your produce when they’re peaking in flavor by following the chart Russell van Kraayenburg

WINTER Kumquats Guava Kiwis Pineapples Dates

South Florida residents and students can enjoy eating seasonally beyond restaurants and dining halls.

Patel of Ghee restaurant advises students during spring semester to check out the various

SUMMER Apples Figs Grapes Mangos Watermelon Tomatoes

YEAR-ROUND

Bananas Passionfruit Citrus

SPRING

Dewberries

Avocados Berries Cherries Melons Plums

AUTUMN WINTER GNIRPS REMMUS

Charlotte DeAngelis

Oat Milk

Chai Latte with Honey

Remi Turner

In a city where iced drinks rule all, don’t overlook the cozier cafe options. Here are the highlights of our sta! ’s go-to orders for hot drinks when Miami dips below 70 degrees. Sweet tooth? Make it a mocha. Not a co!ee fan? Turn to tea. Whatever your caffeinated preferences are, try our favorites. words,illustration&design_lizzie kristal.

Valeria Barbaglio

Matcha Latte with Brown Sugar Syrup

Sal Puma

Oat Milk

Dirty Chai Latte

Amanda Mohamad

Oat Milk White

Chocolate Mocha

Jay Moyer

Peppermint Mocha

Almond Milk Cappuccino

RENAISSANCE

“ !e

This issue’s special section, Renaissance, dives into the rebirth of timeless ideas in a modern world. Discover how to keep chivalry alive without crossing into outdated stereotypes. Reimagine classic fairytales as they’re retold for today’s audiences. Find out that its not just makeup from the renaissance that can do more harm than help. And explore how oldworld melodies echo in today’s music, blending the classical with the contemporary. The Renaissance is now — join the revival.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini

Nativity, with God the Father Surrounded by Angels and Cherubim” c. 1470

Renaissance Remakes

From Shakespeare’s tragedies to the visual masterpieces of da Vinci, Renaissance art and plays continue to inspire modern TV shows and movies. Their themes of duality, ambition, and human complexity shape today’s storytelling. words&design_sal puma. photo_valeria barbaglio.

!e Renaissance, a period of ourishing culture, creativity, and intellectual achievement, has had an enduring in uence on many facets of modern life, including art, literature, and entertainment.

From Leonardo da Vinci’s mysterious Mona Lisa to William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedies, the stories and themes that emerged during this era continue to echo throughout modern media. !e plots and motifs explored in Renaissance art and plays, showcase themes like complex human emotions to the exploration of power, identity, and morality. !ough they’re not just ideas of the past. !e same stories have found new life in the TV shows and $lms in today’s entertainment landscape. Whether through visual style, narrative structure, or thematic depth, Renaissance-inspired storytelling is everywhere, reminding us of the timelessness of human nature.

Stage to Screen

Almost no writer embodies the Renaissance’s fusion of intellect and artistic innovation more than William Shakespeare. His works have been adapted countless times for both stage and screen, serving as the foundation for some of the most popular and iconic TV shows and $lms today.

Shakespeare’s ability to capture the full spectrum of human emotion has in uenced modern storytelling in ways that go beyond mere adaptation. For example, take the complex moral themes explored in Shakespearean tragedies like Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello. !ese plays examine the e%ects of ambition, betrayal, and moral corruption—issues that still can still resonate in any era.

In Breaking Bad, the transformation of Walter White from a

chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin mirrors the tragic arc of Shakespeare’s Macbeth or Hamlet. Like Macbeth, Walter’s ambition drives him to make some morally dubious decisions, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Similarly, the jealousy and destructive passions that propel Othello echo in the power dynamics and betrayals that fuel the interpersonal drama in shows like House of Cards, where political ambition and deceitful alliances de$ne the characters’ motivations.

Even a show like Gossip Girl borrows heavily from the structural and thematic elements of Shakespeare’s works. !e scheming and manipulative relationships between the characters, particularly in the love triangles and betrayals that drive the narrative, have roots in plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and !e Taming of the Shrew.

Cinematic Composition

Renaissance art is renowned for its groundbreaking use of perspective, realism, and human emotion. !ese techniques were revolutionary in the 15th and 16th centuries, and they continue to in uence the way directors and cinematographers make images for the big screen.

One of the most obvious ways Renaissance art in uences modern movies is through the visual composition of scenes. If done right, it can make a few seconds of any work feel like a living breathing museum piece. Filmmakers o en draw on the principles of symmetry, depth, and light—techniques perfected by artists like da Vinci and Raphael.

For example, the use of chiaroscuro, the contrast of light and

Shakespearean Shake-Ups

Here are some must see movies, and what plays they are based o! of:

shadow, in Renaissance paintings like Caravaggio’s !e Supper at Emmaus or da Vinci’s !e Last Supper is frequently echoed in $lms that explore the duality of characters. Directors such as Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott have used light and shadow to create complex visual metaphors for their characters’ internal struggles in their own movies.

In addition to lighting, Renaissance artists paid meticulous attention to human anatomy and the portrayal of the human form, which has also been carried over. !e hyper-realistic body language seen in $lms like !e Matrix or Gladiator, where characters perform superhuman feats of strength or elegance, is reminiscent of the detailed studies of human $gures in the works of Michelangelo and Titian.

Modern Themes

Renaissance works o en grappled with complex, and sometimes contradictory, ideas about human nature, identity, and the con ict between desires and expectations. !ese themes have not lost their relevance, continuing to provide the foundation for some of the most resonant stories in modern television and $lm.

One of the most prominent themes in Renaissance works is the tension between the individual and the state, or personal ambition and social duty. !is is evident in the Shakespearean histories, such as Richard III and Henry V, where characters struggle to balance personal desires with political obligations. A similar con ict drives the central narrative of Game of !rones, where characters like Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen must navigate the complex intersection of their personal ambition and the responsibilities of leadership.

!e Renaissance also saw the exploration of humanism, the belief in the potential of the individual to reason, create, and a%ect change. !is ideal continues to fuel the moral dilemmas at the heart of contemporary superhero movies, such as in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Characters like Tony Stark (Iron Man) or Peter Parker (Spider-Man) face profound questions about the ethical use of power, responsibility, and personal sacri$ce.

Additionally, the Renaissance’s embrace of moral ambiguity has found its way into modern antiheroes. TV shows like !e Sopranos or Mad Men focus on morally complex characters who defy traditional notions of good and evil, much like Shakespeare’s morally ambiguous characters, like Richard III or Iago in Othello.

W.,l- t.- r-mak-& can b- mor- app-al,ng give the source material a try. If you don’t want to try and read a Shakespearean script there are a bunch of movies and professional recording of shows you can watch instead.

Othello

Romeo and Juliet

Much Ado About Nothing Twelfth Night Taming of The Shrew

OLD SOUND NEW

MUSIC

The sound of pop music changes lightning-fast. These days our ears are used to synthesizers and booming 808s, not string quartets and opera singers. But some of today’s music still keeps in touch with the old-fashioned techniques, without sacrificing its modernity. Here’s the rundown on a few artists who still mix the old and the new in unique ways.

words_jay moyer. illistration_sovannreach po. design_marita gavioti.

Apashe

Apashe grew up in Brussels, and his unique sound blends the classical era of Europe with today’s EDM and dubstep.

His 2020 album “Renaissance” showed his talent not only as a producer but as a composer too.

!e two-minute opener simply titled “Overture” is full of dramatic swells of strings and horns. It ends with a few seconds of industrial percussion and harsh bass sounds, hinting at the electronic side of the album.

!e orchestra on “Lord & Master” transitions so smoothly into a classic dubstep-like bass drop, you would think Skrillex were conducting.

Apashe actually got help from the Prague Symphony Orchestra for this album. !e masterful instrumentation makes the classical side of his style all the more authentic.

Songs of his like “Dead” are clearly more on the electronic side. !e sound of the baroque choir in the background feels almost like any other pulsing synth pad in an EDM song.

But two minutes in, when the curtains are pulled back, these calming piano and string melodies become the focus, like you’ve just wandered from a music festival to a concert hall.

Apashe’s cinematic sound takes inspiration from $lm scores. His music has even been used in a few movies, including “John Wick” and “Fast & Furious”.

Caroline Polachek

Caroline Polachek carries the torch from art pop heroes like Kate Bush and Björk, with a distinctly medieval sound. If you haven’t heard her yet, get ready to be completely entranced.

Her 2019 album “Pang” nailed the timely essence of hyper-pop, with a core that was more folksy and ambient than others. !e lead single, “Door”, meshes a mandolin solo with trancey beats and sci-$ synthesizer hits. It sounds like something Enya would make if she debuted in the last decade.

Polachek’s voice is the unmistakable center of her work. As an operatically-trained soprano, she can morph her voice to $t any musical tradition.

Her characteristic yodel — what she calls “vocal ipping” — is comparable to !e Cranberries’ frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan. She can use the ip to emulate Scandinavian and Celtic vocal stylings while striking an uncanny resemblance to the modern e%ects of auto-tune.

For example, the song “Blood and Butter” has a bagpipe solo that would feel bizarre in most pop albums. But when you notice how well the instrument mirrors her vocal ipping, it makes perfect sense.

!e song “Sunset” might be one of her most adventurous: a amenco song full of bright Spanish guitars and vibrato-rich vocal lines that really bring out her operatic background. Its unabashed eccentricity is a great example of who Caroline Polachek is as an artist: otherworldly and timeless.

Carl

Craig

A er pioneering the Detroit techno scene in the 80s and 90s, Carl Craig brought the orchestra into his music.

He collaborated with the French orchestra Les Siècles and pianist Francesco Tristano on his album “Versus”. !e album includes re-workings of his older songs with a classical air.

!e song “Sandstorms” goes full force with a dark intensity akin to Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, and a dance drum groove that works its way in seamlessly. You’d be surprised how well the woodwinds and horn sections play with the 80s-sounding synthesizers throughout.

Although he mastered the art of techno, he completely subverts the formulaic aspects of the genre in his classical work. !e song “At Les” takes around 3 minutes to even introduce a beat. !e $rst half is a haunting

arrangement of strings that build so slowly, you could be jolted awake by the drums later on.

Some of his songs have more of a classic electronic feel, like the house-inspired “ !e Melody”.

While Craig tends to stay on the experimental side, his wide-ranging discography has something for everyone.

Kara Jackson

She may be young, but Kara Jackson’s profound songwriting and soulful voice show a maturity beyond her years.

At just 20 years old, Jackson was named the U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate. Now she channels her writing into music inspired by classic folk, jazz and blues.

“Why Does !e Earth Give Us People To Love” is her $rst and only full-length album. It owes its success to her clever lyricism, haunting orchestration, and above all, her voice.

!e song “D*ckhead Blues” combines witty, biting lyrics with raw acoustic instrumentation. Banjos, cellos and guitars come together to form something that’s as pining as it is funny. Her phrasing is so timeless that each iteration of the title strikes you with its modern informality.

!at’s part of the thesis of Jackson’s style. Her guitar lines sound like they could’ve been played by Joni Mitchell in the 70s. Her wistful, deep voice embodies the spirits of Ella Fitzegerald and Nina Simone, and sometimes sounds like it’s been $xed on an old tape recorder.

But the same voice delivers lines that could still $t in with contemporary genres like pop and R&B. In the song “ !erapy”, she sings: “He wants me / He wants therapy”.

!at’s the intrigue behind Kara Jackson. You could imagine hearing her at a 1920s speakeasy or an open mic at your local cafe.

If you thought that classical, jazz and folk music was just something your grandparents listened to — think again. !ere’s plenty of room for these traditional styles to fuse with modern music.

Chivalry Isn’t Dead

Four hundred years ago, knights in shining armor wooed their wives with chivalry, acting according to a code of respect, loyalty and honor. But what does chivalry mean today? While the term has evolved, its essence — showing kindness, respect, and consideration — remains ingrained in modern dating culture. Maybe the days of men writing sonnets to their betrotheds are behind us, but rest assured, values associated with chivalry are not.

“

Chivalry is things like being polite and kind and respectful and honorable,” said Professor Victoria Orrego Dunleavy, who teaches an Intrapersonal Communication course at the University of Miami.

“Chivalry is just a way for men to display ‘I’m worth your time — I am worthy of you taking me seriously, and I’m a responsible guy,’” said Professor Michael Beatty, who has been teaching romantic relations at UM for eight years.

!rough simple acts of kindness or showing a genuine interest, people — regardless of gender or sexual orientation — can demonstrate respect and consideration towards romantic interests to foster positive, meaningful relationships.

“We are still human — whether 100 years

ago or now — we are still human, and we still want to preserve connections and act in chivalrous ways to maintain relationships,” said Professor Orrego Dunleavy.

“When I hear the word chivalry, I think of medieval times,” said Will Carello, a senior majoring in international studies and geography and sustainable development. “I think of men doing things out of respect for women — being gentlemen, holding the door open, putting their coat over puddles.”

“Chivalry is a lot less of a $nancial problem,” said Paris Brady, a senior majoring in nursing. “It is more about respect and manners and knowing how to interact with the person you’re dating.”

Chivalry is subjective — it can mean di%erent things to di%erent people. !e most important thing to remember is that

perspective is everything.

UM gender studies professor, Caroline Oueslati-Porter, believed chivalry was historically about gallant knights putting certain women on a pedestal to romanticize and adore them.

“Activities of chivalry are activities that men do for women that are very super$cial — such as opening a door for a woman because she is a woman,” said OueslatiPorter.

Of chivalry within present-day romantic relationships, Oueslati-Porter expressed concern about equality within power dynamics.

“If Chivalry includes things like men who are dating women being expected to pay for the dates, that can be problematic in terms of power in the relationship — it puts women

words_caleigh russo. photo_marra :nkelstein. design_charlotte deangelis.

in a position where they feel like they owe something to the man or the man should have more of a say within the relationship … chivalry is a manifestation of patriarchy in action,” said Oueslati-Porter.

Beatty looks at chivalric practices from a chemical standpoint.

“ !ings like an email throughout the day or bringing home a rose — those kinds of things generate oxytocin in women to make them bond with the guys, whereas the man is doing those things to have her bond with him,” said Beatty.

Beatty said that while oxytocin, the bonding hormone, is generated for women through any act of intimacy, the only reliable means of stimulating oxytocin in men is sex.

“ !ings that would cause an improvement of oxytocin in women do not work on men — men act in those ways to generate oxytocin in women, not in themselves,” said Beatty.

Beatty said people should be cautious, as chivalry can be an opening move.

“What their character is like plays out over time — whether they are responsible, keep their promises, and how they treat other people,” said Beatty

Orrego Dunleavy emphasized the role chivalry plays in maintaining a romantic relationship.

“When we think of chivalry, we think of knights and honor,” said Orrego Dunleavy. “Honoring someone is assuring and respecting the person — I see them as synonymous with respecting and honoring your relationship by treating them with kindness.”

Looking through the lens of Canary and Sta%ord’s relationship maintenance strategy, Orrego Dunleavy said that when people are happy in a relationship, they want to preserve and maintain the relationship, becoming more mindful of how they communicate to sustain love in that relationship. Orrego Dunleavy said some examples of this include assuring their partner of their faithfulness and loyalty, being supportive of one another’s emotions, being open to current and future directions of the relationship, and willingness to spend time with your partner’s friends and family.

In a world w.-r- c.,valry can b- rar-, be the knight in shining armor for your girlfriends. Buy them owers a er a success, or a pint of ice cream a er a loss.

Professor Orrego Dunleavy said she also sees love languages as intertwined with respecting and honoring a relationship.

“We can also see this similarity in love languages. When I thought about chivalry in relationships, we can communicate chivalry by showing your partner respect, whether through quality time, physical touch or acts of service,” said Orrego Dunleavy.

“To be completely honest, I’m not the best example of chivalry,” said Brady. “But I try my best to do simple things like open car doors or get owers or do things that may not be super expensive but are just good simple gestures.”

“Respect is the pillar of a relationship,” said Carello. “I always walk curbside, pay, lend my sweatshirt, hold doors open.”

“To be honest, chivalry is something I consider once I am dating someone,” said Brady. “At a school like UM, I don’t think it [chivalry] is at the forefront of people’s minds unless they try to take a relationship seriously.”

Oueslati-Porter said traditional,

chivalrous values may still exist, but they’re modernly de$ned within the terms of hookup culture.

“Hookup culture is not nearly so invested in old-school chivalry; people form relationships around sexual experimentation. !ere is a lot of sexism in hookup culture, whereas chivalry isn’t as important,” said Oueslati-Porter.

“ !e dating culture at UM is not very serious because it is a very super$cial dating scene,” said Brady. “But that is not an excuse to accept less than your expectations just because other people at UM are in situationships.”

“When you’re looking at polite behavior, you will not see it in 22-year-old frat boys,” said Beatty of hookup culture. “ !ere are exceptions; you may see it in some guys.”

Beatty discussed situationships from a biological perspective, saying that women are usually 17 when their prefrontal cortex develops — which spearheads decisionmaking and awareness of consequences — whereas men can be as old as 25 or 26.

“Men and women have di%erent priorities; women are looking for an upstanding man, and men are looking to get laid,” said Beatty.

Even within hookup culture, which strays from traditional relationship dynamics, Oueslati-Porter said that men are o en expected to guide the relationship.

“Research says that guy in the hookup is the one who is supposed to make the move and say, ‘I think we should see each other more or be exclusive,’ and she is supposed to wait,” said Oueslati-Porter.

“In many of the long-term relationships I know at UM, which are few and far between, chivalry is something that is stressed a lot, so it does still exist,” said Brady.

“If men and women want to be equal and respect each other in relationships, chivalry would be irrelevant because we can all help each other throughout our day-to-day lives by doing things like opening doors regardless of gender,” said Oueslati-Porter

Regardless of relationship status or perspective on chivalry, chivalry boils down to treating the person you’re seeing with respect and kindness.

Dangerous Beauty

Beauty is pain, and in the renaissance it was no di!erent. Many of the beauty trends and products back then were not good for your health in the long run. While you think we left such things in the past truth is, some of our current beauty products are not much safer

words_antonia botta & ava majdanski. photo&design_marita gavioti.

When shoppers approach America’s cosmetic counters, they see an overwhelming array of beauty products – , from lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow and blushes to nail polish, deodorants, makeup powders and fragrances.

!ey see appealing packaging by big beauty brand names – L’Oreal, Revlon, CoverGirl, Estée Lauder – promoted by gorgeous models whose ruby red lips and lusciously long eyelashes say buy this to become me.. But skin-care specialists and scientists see something else -- toxic chemicals laced with dangerous chemicals.

“Fragrances and preservatives are clinically relevant allergens found in cosmetic products,” said Dr. Katlein França, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “ !ey can cause skin sensitization, allergic reactions or skin irritation.”

In their quest to look better and smell better, women in the United States use an average of 12 personal products containing 168 chemicals every day; men use six products containing 85 di%erent chemicals, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nationwide nonpro$t focused on changing industry standards.

In 2022, the average annual expenditure on cosmetics, perfume, and bath preparation products amounted to approximately $211.82 per person in the United States, according to Statista, a German online platform that specializes in data gathering and visualization. Globally, the beauty market generated nearly $430 billion in 2022.

Despite the money consumers pour into beauty products, most customers are generally unaware that their lipstick may contain lead and mascara may hold mercury.Morgan Underwood, a sophomore legal studies major, has been one of those unwitting customers.

“I used to kind of put anything on my skin without looking at the ingredients,” said Underwood, who says she is trying to become more aware of harmful product ingredients.

“I know how bad it is,” said Luis Davila, a junior business major from Puerto Rico. While it is not uncommon for men to use cosmetics, Davila said he prefers to abstain. He said an aunt who is an esthetician warned him about skin care products that are very bad for the skin and that can cause some serious damage.

A family of more than 4,700 synthetic chemicals appears to be the most controversial cosmetic ingredient. PFAS, which stands for poly- and per uoroalkyl

substances, are found in lotions, cleansers, foundation, lipstick, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, nail polish and shaving cream. !ey have been linked to several signi$cant health concerns, including cancers and reduced immune function. Cosmetic company critics say these “forever chemicals” preserve color and are used in makeup to make the skin look smooth and shiny.PFAS have strong bonds that can’t be broken down naturally, so aside from harming your health, when you decide to wash your face before bed, the makeup residue that goes down the drain eventually enters rivers and oceans, a%ecting the environment in the long term.

Parabens, another group of chemicals, are found in some cosmetics, body creams, hair products and sunscreens. !ey can be absorbed through the skin. Some parabens have hormone-disrupting properties and have been linked to breast cancer.

!e U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees cosmetics, but its authority kicks in a er the fact, with unsafe products taken o% the market only a er they have been proven to be unsafe. Even though the agency maintains a list of prohibited and restricted ingredients to prevent the use of harmful

“The U.S. FDA oversees cosmetics, but its authority kicks in after the fact, with unsafe products taken off the market only after they have been proven to be unsafe.”

substances in cosmetics, the FDA admits that it has little to no power over the regulations of chemicals used in cosmetics.

Dr. França points to issues with how cosmetic brands report their ingredients. Many products list “fragrance” on the label, but very few clarify the speci$c ingredients that make up the fragrance, she said.

!e law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval before they go on the market, and the FDA does not require speci$c tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. !e law also does not require cosmetic companies to share their safety information with the FDA. !e United States, the largest cosmetic market in the world, bans only 30 cosmetic ingredients. In contrast, the European Union bans more than 1,300, according to Credo, a beauty supply company formed 10 years ago to o%er safe beauty products.

!is gives cosmetic companies a lot of freedom, leaving it up to the consumer to $nd good-quality products in the market.

Enter clean makeup. Clean makeup refers to products that contain ingredients

that are bene$cial to the skin, o en natural ingredients. Many brands have focused on making ethical products that look good and contribute to healthy skin. !ey use natural ingredients such as botanical extracts and minerals.

!e shi toward cleaner makeup emphasizes a more natural approach to cosmetics, said Alexandra Simeone, a New Jersey makeup artist. “I think it helps people embrace their natural beauty a lot more,” she said.

!e passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the subsequent formation of the FDA werethe $rst national steps in scrutinizing questionable beauty products. However, the concept of clean makeup dates back to the 1970s with the founding of companies such as Aveda in 1978.

Beauty industry researchers list other developments that have contributed to the “clean beauty” timeline, including when Whole Foods introduced aluminum-free deodorants in the 1990s.

As consumers collectively become more focused on what they are putting on their skin, makeup brands are creating cleaner products.

Haus Labs, which has dominated the clean beauty industry in the past few years, was originally founded in 2019 by pop star Lady Gaga. In 2023, the brand underwent a massive rebrand that shi ed its focus to creating clean products.

Sophomore business and real estate major Navya Murthy is a clean makeup convert.

“Haus Labs foundation and concealer has become my go-to for the last few months now,” Murthy said. “I notice that my skin reacts better to water-based products.”

Other companies such as H&M, Sephora and Ulta have taken steps to ban PFAS in their products. “Clean makeup” brands such as Goop, 100% Pure, Ilia Beauty and Alima Pure focus on using natural and organic ingredients that are not harmful to the human body or to the environment.

“I love that Ilia is in Sephora and it is visually appealing,” said Underwood. who began paying more attention to her skin health during COVID. “I have really made an e%ort into incorporating cleaner skin care products into my everyday makeup routine. It has made all the di%erence in contributing to keeping my skin healthy.”

In the past people have viewed makeup as a way to conceal imperfections and blemishes, instead of focusing on the root of the problem, Simeone said.

“ !e new movement has shi ed the focus to skin care much more,” said Simeone. “It is good for everybody, especially the consumer.”

Renais ‘It Girls’

From artists to queens to badass feminist icons, the Renaissance was filled with brilliant women who helped shape one of history’s most pivotal shifts in art and culture. words_ lucy carlson-pietraszek. illustration_sovannreach po. design_charlotte deangelis.

1Artemisia Gentileschi

From only 15-years-old, 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi was producing professional Baroque paintings.. She took her talents all over as she traveled to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples and London to work with highly respected members of European society and artists.

She was sexually assaulted by artist Agostino Tassi and he was brought to trial in 1612 and found guilty. He was then banished from Rome as a small justice for his acts.

Gentileschi didn’t give up on her cra , as she created a successful workshop in Naples despite a lack of status and $nancial support from a court or men due to the widespread hate she faced. She o en depicted women in aggressive or heroic scenarios within her paintings, $ghting the stereotypical gender roles at the time and inspired by her assault. !is allowed her to create paintings of women from a woman’s perspective, something many of the male artists were unable to do.

2Caterina Sforza

Caterina Sforza was not just a lady of nobility in Italy, but a 15th-century scientist who specialized in chemistry and medicine. One of her most famous experiments in her manuscript contains a recipe for creating false gold. Sforza recorded 454 recipes for di%erent medicines, cosmetics and alchemy in her book “Experimenti.” She had a brilliant mind and a $erce appetite for bravery. Sforza helped rule over Forli and Imola, two cities in Italy. She proved to be an immensely talented warrior and ruler, and she could also ride horses, $ght and hunt. At seven months pregnant, one of her most famous adventures was saving her family’s reputation by riding a horse to Castel Sant’Angelo to seize power over the papal castle. She then used the castle’s artillery to threaten the College of Cardinals, a Roman Catholic Church. Sforza and her children were captured a er a noble family assassinated her husband. She later tricked her captors to let her into the fortress and then refused to surrender. A er her captors ed without laying a hand on her or her children, she had her men track them down, torture and kill them. Her insatiable quest for righteousness is an inspiring lesson that resonates with people to this day.

3Lavinia Fontana

Lavinia Fontana was best known as a portraitist from 16th-century Bologna. She learned the skill of painting from her father, Prospero Fontana. She was drawn to creating paintings in the Mannerist style, a unique approach to realism as it focuses on colorfulness and creative poses. !e Roman artists’ academy, Accademia di San Luca, welcomed her into their program as the $rst woman. !is helped her become the $rst woman to have a successful art career without being a part of a court or convent. Not only did her career thrive, but she also had 11 children while doing so. Fontana was especially talented in painting jewels and luxury clothing in great detail. Within her career, she created over 100 paintings, some of the most famous being “Portrait of a Noblewoman,” “Minerva Dressing” and “Holy Family with St Catherine of Alexandria.”

4

Lucrezia Borgia

Lucrezia Borgia is a prime example of how a woman’s reputation is dragged in history books because of a man’s behavior, merely by association. Borgia grew her status in society through her three high-pro$le marriages and her father becoming Pope Alexander VI. Her family holds a ruthless and power-hungry place in history as politically ambitious villains. So why is it that for so long, the blame was placed on her, too? Well, she has quite the troublemaker legacy as the daughter of a vicious, scheming pope. She was also sister to a man who was rumored to have assassinated her former husband. To add to the chaos, she was also an alleged attendee of the Banquet of Chestnuts, an orgy of over 50 people hosted by her own brother, Cesare Borgia. Despite her family being the talk of the town, she did not let them dictate her legacy; she later became the Duchess of Ferrara and used her position to attain status and an active member of the arts community. We have the power to write our own history, and Borgia is a reminder of that.

5

Queen Elizabeth I

We know Queenww Elizabeth II — longest reigning British monarch in history. But do you know how she got her name? Queen Elizabeth I was an unforgettably powerful ruler of England and Ireland for 45 years. During her reign, she helped the arts and culture during the Renaissance ourish. Her intelligence showed in her ability to speak uently in at least $ve di%erent languages, including English, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish and Irish, all places where she held power. She was able to help prevent religious wars from breaking out in England by creating a church settlement for her people. In addition, the queen aided explorers’ voyages overseas. !is discovery led to expanding trading in the future by creating the East India Company. She also helped theater thrive by making them accessible and popular. During her powerful reign, she chose never to marry to keep England and Ireland from succumbing to any foreign prince’s ploys in foreign policies.

Fun Fact: She was in attendance for Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night’s” Dream opening night.

6Sofonisba Anguissola

Sofonisba Anguissola was one of the greatest portraitists of her time. Unlike most female artists during the Renaissance who learned art from male relatives, she was taught by famous artists such as Bernardino Campi and Bernardino Gatti. Born into a noble family in northern Italy where she was the oldest of seven siblings, she had plenty of people to model her paintings on. !e court of King Philip II recognized Anguissola’s talent, and she was invited to paint portraits while a lady in waiting in Madrid. Before Dutch painter Remebrandt made self-portraits so popular, So$nisba made quite a few of herself while working as a lady in waiting for the Queen of Spain. In her work, Anguissola showcased the importance of Christianity and virginity to herself through her faith and paintings. She took the time to teach her three sisters, Lucia, Europa and Anna Maria to paint like her and pass down the skill to more women. Anguissola is proof that going against the social norm can be overwhelmingly impactful.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Here is your sanctuary to refuel your body and mind. Plan a fit-girl’s night out at LIV that doesn’t compromise your well-being. Tap into UM’s essential resources for sexual assault support and advocacy. Take a deep dive into the concept of learned helplessness, exploring how to break free from its grip. Keep flipping for the best tips on tending to your health.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini

!e Nativity, with God the Father Surrounded by Angels and Cherubim” c. 1470

Calories Clubbing vs.

Nights out are notorious for blackout anecdotes, deep-fried drunk food and raging hang-xiety. While these rages aren’t always a bad thing, is there a way to find balance among the parties? As an avid health-junkie, I set out on a social experiment to do just that. My main goals included keeping excess calories to a minimum, dancing as a form of exercise, and of course, having fun. Taking meal-prep precautions and calorietracking measures, join me on bringing healthy habits into a Saturday night at Liv.

8:00 p.m. Grub-Up +450 calories

Unlike half the female population of the University of Miami, I always eat before going out for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, I love food. Having a little post-dinner bloat is no biggie, especially since I don’t plan on meeting my soulmate at Liv. Skipping dinner? Unfathomable. Secondly, drinking on an empty stomach is amateur hour. Yes, I could get drunk quicker, but I have a vomit phobia and would like to keep my stomach lining intact for the time being. And $nally, food is fuel. My feet will be o% the ground half the night if the music is bumping, so I’ll need some gas in the tank to keep me dancing.

You might be thinking, “gosh, that looks like a disgusting, naked pizza.” You’d be correct. I can’t digest gluten or dairy — my life is so fun — so I had to make some recipe tweaks. Pictured is my homemade gluten-free protein pizza crust, Rao’s pizza sauce, basil and black olives. I ate a balance of carbs, protein and avor in one recipe to set my night in motion. Some other meal ideas include stir-fry, pasta salad, loaded sandwiches and sushi takeout.

10:00 p.m. Pre-Game Bevs

+245 calories

Pre-game beverage choices arguably can make or break your night. I had two priorities: get a buzz in motion and keep my calories to a minimum. As a ca%eine addict, this looked like a mango-passionfruit Celsius with about two shots of Tito’s vodka. !e mixer — Celsius — gives me a kick from the ca%eine and a pleasant avor to mask the alcohol, all while maintaining a low-calorie pro$le. And as for the vodka, you can’t go wrong with the college go-to handle: Tito’s.

Be warned: mixing ca%eine and alcohol comes with a risk. Ca%eine is an “upper,” and alcohol is a “downer,” so your heart is being pulled in di%erent directions. Only mix the two if you have a tolerance for both ca%eine and alcohol, and even then, do so with caution. White Monsters and Celsius are my guilty pleasures when it comes to a pre-game ca%eine kick, and of course, sugarfree RedBulls are a classic.

12:10 a.m. Arrival & Apple

Watch Start

+0 calories

What the promoter says, goes — Rafael requested us at midnight. We arrived promptly 10 minutes late to the mecca of Miami clubs located in the FountainBleu Hotel: Liv. A er standing amidst women in teeny-tiny clothes and men soaked in ashy cologne, we walked through the double doors at the entrance.

To track my caloric output for the night, I started an AppleWatch workout under the “dance” category. Keep in mind that AppleWatch calorie-counting isn’t always accurate. I consistently track my li ing and cardio workouts using it, so I have a baseline to know if the dance workout will be relatively accurate in comparison to the intensity of my other workouts. Stay tuned for the $nal breakdown.

12:15 a.m. Club Drink #1

+184 calories

Being a girl in Miami has its perks — most notably free entry and free drinks. Atop beloved-Rafael’s table in Liv sat jugs of cranberry juice, pineapple juice, a clear liquid I’d guess was club soda, a bottle of tequila and a bottle of vodka. For the $rst drink of the night, I was o%ered a vodka cranberry. While I can’t exactly infer what brand of vodka or cranberry juice was used or the amounts, the average vodka-cranberry beverage is 184 calories — according to Google.

12:50 a.m. Club Drink #2

+165 calories

Tequila girls are the coolest people I know. Despite all my most dedicated e%orts, I am not one of them. However, when you are handed a free drink at the tables of Liv, you don’t say no. So, with hesitant gratitude, I accepted my second drink of the night from the bottle girls: a tequila pineapple. Cringing with every sip, I $nished it as quickly as I could.

1:15 a.m. Hydrate or Die-Drate

+0 calories

Fun fact: the most common reason behind hangovers is dehydration. Drinking means more peeing, on top of the fact that alcohol is a diuretic. !us, like a mule in the desert, I keep my eyes peeled for any available water sources during a night out. Rafael fetched me a mini Fiji water bottle, and I was able to hydrate in style.

2:00 a.m. Club Drink #3

+184 calories

Intent on keeping the good vibes rolling — or not losing the buzz — I happily accepted another vodka-cran from the bottle girls. At this point in the night, the beverage went down a little too smoothly. Note: I’m not sure when I lost my thumb press-on nail, but it seemed to disappear at some point in my camera roll’s

3:30 a.m. Home-Sweet-Home & Final Apple Watch Check

-412 calories

Notorious to my nights out include leaving at a reasonable hour. I’m not a freshman anymore, and my energy levels have declined greatly with age. !e only thing happening at 6 a.m. in my apartment is sleep. So, I came home with enthusiasm to get at least a few good hours of sleep. While a hangover on Sunday was inevitable, getting as much rest as possible will curve those unsavory symptoms.

Upon arriving home, I ended my “dance” workout on my AppleWatch. !roughout the three-and-a-half hours at the club, I burned a total of 412 active calories. For some context on accuracy, my AppleWatch says I burn an average of 400 calories per hour

4:00 a.m. Snack

& Hydrate

+345 calories

I won’t lie to you; I opened my Uber Eats that seemed to glow in green with an in ating appetite. Late-night fried food was my greatest temptation, and while I o en give in, I opted for healthier choices I prepared earlier in the evening. LesserEvil popcorn, speci$cally the Homer’s Blend avor for my garlic-lovers, was my $rst victim. A serving or two gave my stomach enough volume and carbs. Next I munched on some fresh berries for a make-shi dessert. Finally, I tore open a bag of Drizzilicious pumpkin spice bites, a sweet treat to cap me o%. And not to forget — I chugged from my pre-$lled water bottle. !e key here is to set yourself up for success: prepare your snacks and $ll your water bottle ahead of time. Future — and drunk — you, will thank you.

10:00 a.m. Hydration

Stick & Hot-Girl-Walk

-238 calories

Sunday-scaries are real. As tempting as it was to rot in bed with some “Harry Potter” movies in the background, I motivated myself to touch some grass — literally. I threw on some sneakers and strolled through the neighborhood near the Biltmore golf course. Fantasizing about the beautiful houses was entertainment enough, but I also played some healing music in my Airpods. Over an hour and $ve miles later, my mind and body felt refreshed.

Finally, to curb my headache and dehydration, I poured my favorite hydration brand’s stick into a glass of icy water. Ultima used good ingredients to make quenching avors, my favorites being cherrypomegranate and blue raspberry. !e added electrolytes nurtured my dehydrated-body, and I felt good as new by the a ernoon.

Total Net Calories:

*Note: I eat dinner and snacks whether I go out or not, so not counting that, net calories equal 128. 923

No matter what Red Cup Miami has you believing, it is possible to incorporate health into a night out. Though calories aren’t the only measure of health, let’s examine the total — not including my dinner and snacks that I would’ve consumed on any ordinary night. When strictly looking at drink intake and physical output, a net 128 calories is a relatively low number. Additionally, ensuring my sleep schedule wasn’t completely wrecked and hydrating my hangover away, my body recovered to have a relatively productive Sunday. Let this be your sign that balance is possible even when clubbing.

IT’S ON US

College hookup culture. Hate it or love it, it is impossible to deny that most students will explore romantic & physical connections during their time at university. It is important to keep in mind when things get hot & steamy, that there can be a fine line between consent and sexual violence. To prevent instances of sexual assault, students must take advantage of the resources available to them here at UM, including their Title IX rights and It’s On Us.

The Scary Truth

Attending university is all about trying new experiences, meeting new people, and stepping out of your comfort zone, but exploring any new realm always comes with its threats. For example, most students delve into once foreign sexual activities with new partners while in college. Although getting freaky under the sheets is meant to be exhilarating, and rewarding, safety must be at the forefront of priorities. Ignoring you and your partner’s physical and mental safety in the bedroom can lead to unwanted or dangerous situations.

Statistics prove that college students are especially at risk for experiencing sexual violence. 81% of women will experience some kind of sexual violence in their lifetime, as well as 43% of men. For young people especially, these statistics must be apparent. Out of all survivors of sexual harassment or assault, 54% are victims of the ages 1834. !is range covers the average age for college students, emphasizing the point that

university students require more knowledge on topics of sexual assault prevention and consent training.

Students are required to remain educated on topics surrounding sexual assault and their campus resources in hopes of changing these statistics and fostering a safer community. Feeling lost on what’s out there to keep students safer at UM? Venture up to the Dean of Students O&cein suite 2250 of UC Whitten to inquire about Title IX with dedicated faculty.

Know Your Rights

Title IX rights are most commonly associated with athletics and keeping the balance between the number of male & female teams. !is may come as a shock to many students, but Title IX means much more than ensuring there aren’t more male sports teams than female, or vice versa. Title IX laws protect students, and employees, from discrimination based on sex in educational programs or activities

that receive Federal $nancial assistance. Covered Persons at educational institutions are protected by Title IX — regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, partor full-time status, disability, race, or national origin — in all aspects of the institution’s educational programs and activities. !e sparknotes version of Title IX would go something like, “Title IX protects people based on sex and gender in education.” All Title IX rights not only apply to students and faculty while physically on campus, but also o%-campus, for example, in o%-campus housing or during school breaks.

In relevance to sexual violence involving UM students or sta%, Title IX rights are the protective barrier, and the Title IX o&ce is responsible for handling all sexual misconduct cases. All sexual misconduct cases are reviewed by the Title IX investigator, Dean Chelsea Lopez. Dean Lopez also serves as the faculty advisor for the peer education organization based out of the Title IX o&ce, known as It’s On Us. Dean

words_remi turner. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_sal puma.

Lopez describes a common misconception regarding title IX in stating, “Just because you are coming to talk to me doesn’t mean this will be out of your hands or put into a case without the individual wanting to. We are here to follow students’ wishes and respect their voices.”

Title IX Resources

Despite personal experiences, all university students should be equipped with the resources that exist to assist survivors and bystanders of sexual violence. Unsure of which TItle IX resources are best suited for a situation? !e $rst step is understanding the di%erences between resource options. !e Title IX resources available to all students and faculty are broken down into four main categories: medical attention, con$dential, reporting, and supportive measures.

Seeking immediate medical attention is extremely important. In the event of an emergency, always dial 911. For nonemergency situations, the Roxy Bolton Rape Treatment Center (RTC) and Univeristy Health Services are adequate options. RTC is a non-pro$t, hospital-based sexual assault crisis center located on the Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus. !e center is sta%ed with sexual assault nurse examiners, who provide comprehensive, quality medical treatment.

For those interested in having a con$dential conversation, there is always someone available to listen. Ring !e Sexual Assault Resource Team’s (S.A.R.T) 24-hour anonymous hotline at 305-798-6666. If you want to explore more campus-speci$c, con$dential options, book an appointment with the UM Counseling Center online. It’s On Us ambassadors are also always a con$dential resource. As peer educators of the Title IX o&ce, It’s t’s On Us ambassadors are not mandatory reporters, and are always within easy reach.

Reports help to build a safer community. You may report sexual misconduct to the University, the police, or both (recommended). You can con$dentially report a concern at miami.edu/titleix, call 305-284-8624, or visit Dean Lopez . Filing a report with Title IX does not mean that formal disciplinary action will be taken; it is up to the reporter to decide if and how to participate in the University’s investigative process. Please note that anyone who creates a report through Title IXt, con$dential or not, the individual who $led will be contacted for follow-up. !e reporter can then choose whether or not to forward with an investigation. Keep in mind, reporting with the police is especially important if you want to take legal action.

Supportive measures are administrative actions that can help students and faculty feel safer on campus. Available supportive measures include, no contact orders, facility access restrictions, and change in housing, class, or employment to limit interactions. An example of a supportive measure in action

is, one might seek out supportive measures if they don’t want to go forward with o&cial reporting, but would like to be moved from a class or residential college environment where their perpetrator frequents.

It’s On Us

Ever notice an enthusiastic group of students giving demonstrations on proper condom safety with bananas at a table in the breezeway? Or bubbly individuals dressed in “I <3 Safe Sex,” hats handing out penis straws at Project Public Health’s annual Sex Night? If either of these two events ring a bell, then you’ve already connected with the peer education program on sexual violence at UM, or It’s On Us (IOU).

It’s On Us is a national organization originally founded by the Obama administration in 2014, with chapters across various U.S. colleges. !e University of Miami’s chapter of IOU is one of the top three chapters in America. !e organization takes a lot of pride in hosting cheeky, interactive events and presentations to inform students on topics like consent, safety while drinking, mental health, and Title IX resources. IOU is currently made up of nearly $ y student-ambassadors who volunteer their time to promote safe sex practices and make learning about sexual violence resources a little less daunting. Nico Kujas, a senior here at UM studying Biochemistry and Nutrition, who also serves as a Membership Coordinator for IOU provides her take on the impact IOU can make, “Everything starts with a small change, students must actively choose to stand up for survivors. If we can provide information to just one person who needed upli ing that day, that $rst small change develops into even more change.” !e organization takes on new, devoted individuals twice a year through a mandatory application and interview process.

Each semester, IOU hosts a “week of action,” where ambassadors plan and execute $ve consecutive days of programming with various themes and locations to spread more awareness about their mission. !is semester’s Fall Week of Action included tabling at Sex Night, Hometown Hookup at Centennial Village (where $rst-year students learned how to make conscious going-out decisions when returning to their hometowns for break), a collaboration with Athletics on safe practices at the gym and sexual assault statistic surrounding athletes, Songs for Survivors at Patio Jams, and Take Back the Night.

Besides their ever-changing programming events around campus, IOU also hosts mandatory consent-training workshops for $rst-year Orientation programs and all Greek Life chapters on campus. IOU aims to ensure that speci$c communities like the Greek Life are properly equipt with the necessary sexual violence prevention tools to hopefully decrease rates of sexual assault in areas of campus that experience situations more frequently than others.

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a di!erent outcome. Sometimes, things are just simply out of our control and the desired outcome is just outside our grasp. Repeated disappointments often lead us to develop a tendency called learned helplessness, where instead of trying to rectify the situation, we throw our hands in the sky and give up. And oftentimes, even when the tables turn and we regain control of a challenging situation, we habitually fail to take the reins, leaving outcomes to chance words&illustration_valeria barbaglio. design_sal puma.

Learned helplessness results “when an individual repeatedly faces a challenging/ aversive situation that is out of their control (or perceived to be out of their control) and then stops trying to change the situation even if circumstances change and they do have control over the situation,” said Dr. Dhabhar, a Psychology professor at the University of Miami.

!is psychological phenomenon is likely to “decrease motivation, impair decisionmaking, and have a negative e%ect on mental health,” said Dr. Dhabhar. Moreover, it may add to the development of depression, aggravating symptoms further. !is sequence is a two-way reaction as depression can reinforce learned helplessness symptoms, making it harder to overcome.

Dr. Dhabhar says multiple brain regions and neural pathways are a%ected, including the “medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal raphe nucleus, amygdala, and a few other regions.” Dr. Dhbhar prefaces that while not every structure of the brain is directly a%ected, each region interplays with others for even menial tasks. She says that when engaging multiple brain regions simultaneously, “many other mental and emotional states and disorders” come into play.

Paul Lohman, a senior majoring in business technology and psychology, spoke of

how easy it is to face learned helplessness and task aversion in school because everything is graded. “When I was a kid, I hated math because I was never good at math. Seeing bad grades discourages you and tells you that you’re not doing well,” said Lohman

Lohman says he got out of the cycle of learned helplessness by developing an understanding of what was reinforcing that behavior for him. .”Whether it’s what that negative thing is or why you’re reacting to it negatively, and then trying to turn it into a more positive light, said Lohman of how he identi$es his learned helplessness reinforcers.”

Remedies and Resources

“ !e best thing you can do is not take it personally and be very analytical. Even if you’re only seeing minor improvements in what you do, take that as a victory,” said Lohman. For those facing learned helplessness in an educational setting, the senior says he recommends seeing a tutor, as it can be super helpful for a lot of people, helping them become more con$dent when dealing with educational obstacles.

Cayla Mendoza, a senior majoring in music therapy and psychology, spoke of how high-stress scenarios are where learned helplessness becomes more prevalent.

“Everyone deals with stress so di%erently,” said Mendoza, referring to stress – and potentially learned helplessness – induced by college, $nding a job, transitional life periods, and midlife crisis. !e music therapy major says that these stressful times in ones life can make learned helplessness feel like an unbeatable cycle.

“ !at’s why college is so protected,” said a Mendoza, mentioning the preventative programs o%ered by the University of Miami, which help UM students to evade learned helplessness. . Preventative programs o%ered aim to evade learned helplessness and provide “the ability and foundation to go forward.” Mendoza says that programs like the Sandler Center and Canes Care for Canes help provide students with the ability and foundation to go forward.

Mendoza says she recommends talking to a therapist or objective professional to help, for it’s easier to revert to that negative thinking than to change it. A therapist is able to hold your hand through transitional periods and cognitive restructuring techniques.

Lohman says hypnotists are an option for those who want to, in his words, “try and get their mindset changed.”

!e Hypnotist Training Academy says hypnotism can help to reframe negative

beliefs and past experiences.

Mindfulness and meditation are other helpful tactics when it comes to reversing the learned helplessness loop.

“ !e mindfulness meditation mindset can practice your mind towards openness and open-mindedness, and practicing that muscle can lead you out of learned helplessness,” saidMendoza. While there is no solution, Mendoza says she believes these tactics are good vitamins to take.

Mendoza notes the importance of having a good support system, saying she believes having someone to con$de in aids in breaking the cycle or learned helplessness.“You need that impartial person, or that objective person, to identify the cycle that you keep getting into to help make it clear for you,” said Mendoza. Once it is identi$ed, a way out can be chosen.

“Sometimes you don’t even realize what factors are a%ecting you directly,” said Lohman.

Slippery Slope

With how overwhelming college and other transitional periods can be, unconsciously falling into a learned helplessness cycle is common. As a result, cognition and behaviors can shi without realization.

“One needs to run into a situation where they have a moment of realization that this is not working,” said Mendoza.

While everyone faces setbacks, not everyone develops learned helplessness. Dr. Dhabhar says that each individual has a capacity for resilience, which determines their perception of how they deal with situations.

Personality traits, including a pessimistic explanatory style, low self-esteem, high neuroticism, lack of resilience and an external locus of control can make someone more susceptible to learned helplessness.

Mendoza mentions how “thought cycles, beliefs that come into your head that make you more susceptible,” can augment or diminish the probability of continuing down the learned helplessness sinkhole.

Mendoza says that pessimists have higher probabilities of $nding a tumultuous way down towards being in the learned helplessness situation.

“It’s easier to fall into learned helplessness than it is to do the opposite. It’s always going to be an uphill battle,” said Mendoza. “And so the more positive traits you can garner, the better.”

“ !ere’s no personality trait that can absolutely protect you from learned helplessness,” said Mendoza. Despite the preventative measures and options for professional help, anyone is susceptible to learned helplessness.

Changing people’s minds is very di&cult, so preventative measures are encouraged. Speak with a trusted individual if you think you are experiencing learned helplessness to help overcome the cycle.

Sweet Dreams

Unlock the mysteries of your subconscious through dream interpretation. From recurring symbols to surreal scenarios, dreams o!er a window into your innermost thoughts and emotions. Can you decode their hidden meanings for self discovery? Or are they just all in our head?

People have tried to interpret their dreams for centuries, searching for meaning in these nightly narratives. But does the science of psychology o%er any real answers, or are our dreams simply a collection of random thoughts and images?

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud’s groundbreaking theories on dreams, presented in the early 20th century, signi$cantly shi ed how we understand the unconscious mind. Freud famously referred to dreams as the “royal road to the unconscious mind,” seeing them as a direct link to the hidden, repressed aspects of the self.

According to Freud’s theory, dreams reveal desires, fears, and unresolved con icts, particularly those rooted in childhood.

According to the Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis, “Freud distinguished between the manifest content and latent content of dreams,” highlighting that while the manifest content is what we consciously recall, the latent content contains the more profound, symbolic meanings, o en tied to unconscious struggles and desires.

Freud’s notion of “dream work” further re$nes this concept, suggesting that the mind engages in mechanisms like condensation, displacement, and symbolism to disguise the latent content. !is process, as Freud theorized, occurs to protect the dreamer from confronting painful or unsettling truths.

!e Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis stated, “Freud o en emphasized themes related to sexuality and aggression in his interpretations, as he believed that many of our deepest unconscious con icts revolve around these drives.”

He saw certain symbols in dreams, such as “phallic symbols” (e.g., snakes or towers), as representing repressed sexual desires, while violent imagery re ected unresolved con icts, o en stemming from childhood experiences. !ese themes were critical to Freud’s overall theory of dreams and their ability to shed light on suppressed parts of the psyche.

The Science Behind Dreams

So, what do scientists know about why we dream?

Dreams are an active process in the brain during sleep, and recent advancements in brain imaging have helped clarify their scienti$c basis.

According to !e Science of Dreams, a study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) matched brain activity during sleep to images participants had previously viewed while awake.

!e results revealed that 60% of the time, brain activity patterns from sleep matched the content of participants’ dreams. “ !is means that dreams are created in the brain during sleep,” stated Rebecca Spencer, PhD in neuroscience.

!is research helps con$rm that dreaming is not merely a product of random thought but a structured process tied to brain activity during rest.

During non-REM sleep, the brain replays memories from the day, reinforcing neural connections and moving information from short-term to long-term storage.

!is replay process happens even if dreams are not vividly remembered, indicating that dreaming itself may be an integral part of memory processing. As the brain reactivates learned material, it enhances the ability to recall and retain that information over time.

In addition to cognitive functions, dreams play a signi$cant role in emotional regulation. !e amygdala, active in processing emotions when awake, is similarly engaged during REM sleep.

!is suggests that dreams help process and regulate emotions experienced during the day. By re-experiencing emotions through dreams, the brain may help us work through emotional challenges, leading to improved mood and emotional resilience upon waking.

Popular Dreams: Science vs. Myth

For centuries, humans have tried to assign meaning to common dream themes. Dreams of falling, ying, or appearing in public without clothes are popular across cultures, but do they mean anything universal? Science is skeptical, but it o%ers some insights.

Take the classic dream of falling. According to Healthline, in the popular myth of dream interpretation, “Researchers theorize that this may re ect feelings of helplessness or rejection.”

From a scienti$c perspective, however, the feeling of falling may relate to your body’s transitions in and out of deeper sleep stages.

“Sometimes, there’s an overlap between hypnic jerks and dreams about falling,” Healthline suggests that this phenomenon might have more to do with your body falling asleep than your mind trying to tell you something.

Ultimately, dream symbols remain subjective. What we can conclude, however, is that dreams likely re ect our internal world, shaped by what we feel, fear, and experience.

The Verdict

So, is dream interpretation more science or $ction? !e answer lies somewhere in between.

While scientists have made strides in understanding how and why we dream, interpreting speci$c dream content remains largely speculative.

Neuroscience shows us that dreams are the brain’s playground for memory processing, emotional release, and creative problem-solving.

But if you’re hoping to $nd a hidden message in your dreams, modern psychology suggests that the interpretation will ultimately be personal.

words_emily melissinos. illustration_andres alessandro. design_lizzie kristal.

FASHION

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Fashion is showcasing the best in style, perfect for those looking to make a statement. Uncover hidden treasures at the Magic City Flea Market. Learn how to elevate slide-on shoes from casual to chic. And step into a world where fashionistas reimagine classic characters in style. This section plunges into the cultural significance of today’s trends.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini

!e Nativity, with God the Father Surrounded by Angels and Cherubim” c. 1470

Magic City Flea

Flea markets are where passionate creators, curators and fashionistas come together. And a nearby hot spot for artsy vintage clothes and accessories is right downtown in Miami.

So if you’re a fan of second-hand, look no further than Magic City Flea

words_jay moyer. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_sal puma.

Two years ago, Magic City Flea held its $rst market in Wynwood. Over 90 vendors came together in the heart of Miami’s art district to sell vintage clothes, jewelry, art, photography and more.

Since then, Magic City has stayed consistent with its pop-up events, even though the location sometimes changes. Now, you can $nd this market every Sunday right by Julia & Henry’s in Downtown Miami. Every pop-up is di%erent, with new vendors and new crowds. But there are a few regulars whose artsy, unique styles shape the vibe of Magic City.

Take, for example, Nomi (@lovebynomi). !is hand-made jewelry display will be sure to jump right out at you if you ever swing by. Everything from the cardboard alien sign to the hot pink cheetah-print tablecloth calls attention to the cute and quirky jewelry.

!e artist, Nahomi, makes each vibrant piece herself as a way to get her art out there in the world. !e jewelry includes earrings and necklaces made with painted polymer clay and environmentally friendly materials. Another hard-to-miss jewelry stand is a collaboration between two vintage vendors:

Triple !reat Vintage (@triple.threat.vintage) and 125th Vintage (@125thvintage).

!e Orlando-based entrepreneurs collect anything they can get their hands on from estate sales and second-hand stores. !ey sell an eclectic collection of vintage watches, charm bracelets and necklaces all at pretty friendly prices.

!ey set out to $nd pieces that are timeless, and put together a display which has a little something for everyone.

Sophia Plancich, a senior ecosystem science and policy major, had a few memorable experiences at Magic City. As a big fan of thri ing, she was impressed with the curation there.

“It’s like a modern day mall for gay people — everything you could imagine from mini skirts to c*nty graphic t’s to some random vintage grail stu%,” she said. “I like to think of the vendors as collectors, and each vendor kind of has a personal touch to what they sell.”

Young people like Plancich $nd community in ea markets, where artistic expression is everywhere. No two vendors are the same, and neither are any two shoppers.

!is makes it a hub for not just queer and alternative shoppers, but really anyone with an eye for cool fashion.

“ !e community of cool young people and the eclectic styles is always engaging,” she said. “Community events like Magic City are the reason I want to live in a city; it brings together unique pieces of clothes and unique people for a fun day time activity.”

!at’s why it’s so important to $nd a new fashion-focused activity in the dying days of malls. Maybe ea markets are the new era of shopping. !ey don’t require big buildings and sprawling parking lots, they o%er something di%erent every time and they connect you to the people who make your fashion happen.

Places like Magic City Flea o%er an alternative to the cheap materials and questionable labor practices of fast fashion outlets. !e market is somewhere to discover great local artists who are trying to get their names on the map.

“I think second hand eas are the best places to $nd unique clothing that is one of a kind, good for the environment and not fast fashion,” Plancich said.

Giving grandma or giving fashion? Either opinion is valid, but embroidery has been around for centuries and has shown its face in many di%erent settings. But through all the eras, one thing remains, embroidery brings individuality to your clothes, whether you buy something already embroidered or learn to do it yourself (stay tuned).

People began using embroidery to decorate their clothing in 30,000 BC and have yet to stop. In the early years of this tradition, it was used to symbolize power, status and wealth to have something so intricately personalized. As time went on, it became more common for women to learn embroidery as a skill. But in today’s world embroidery is used by many as a relaxing hobby and a way to easily and a%ordably spruce up an out$t.

Embroidery was common in the early 2010’s, with embroidered jean back pockets and converse. Since then, it has evolved, whether it is a major component of a clothing item or simply a minor detail. Junior Industrial Engineering major, John Ham, provides insight into how embroidery changes the fabric (literally) of how someone presents themselves.“Embroidery adds a sense of personality to a garment. Most garments are mass manufactured and there is no sense of individuality in each piece,” said Ham.

Stores like Zara and Urban Out$tters have recently released many tops with embroidered elements most commonly with owers, leaves, or pretty much anything to do with nature. To get deeper in the world of embroidery, we start seeing beaded embroidery to give a more 70’s boho chic look. !ese start popping up at a higher price range, like in stores like Free People or Johnny Was. Paired with your favorite pair of low-rise jeans and a beaded top is the picture perfect look for a music festival (in real life, or just in your head phones).

Ham says that embroidery can help

people express themselves beyond their appearance and can be viewed as a window to self expression. “Embroidery sets garments apart from the rest and creates a story that goes beyond its physical appearance. It a%ects personal style because the artist can truly embrace their artistic side.”

Houses like Gucci take grandma and high fashion and make it one. For example the Gucci Floral Ru e Cardigan or the Embroidered bouclé mini dress, these designs take embroidery to the next level in a classic way, including a big bulky shimmer or a minimalistic logo on a timeless A-line. Other houses like Prada take embroidery into the future, incorporating hardware elements that make you question, is this jewelry or a shirt? !e Embroidered Ribbed Knit Jersey Top by Prada does exactly that.

Just around the corner you can $nd the perfect pair of jeans to jacket and entirely customize it. Some Levi’s locations like the one in Dadeland Mall have a tailor shop where you can buy a new garment or bring an old one and they will repair and embroider anything your heart desires on a piece. !is is a great way to fully personalize your clothes if you don’t have an artistic hand, and you can determine the price depending on the size or time it takes.

Not looking to break your bank looking for embroidered pieces to spice up your closet? Don’t worry, there are endless a%ordable brands and thri $nds available to you.

Sophomore Marketing & Business Technology, Gates Fox, shared her experience with seeing embroidery coming up more in the recent years, “A lot of it in the baby T trend and also in the trucker hat trend. Also in the luxury and more designer items there has been a lot more beading but also more appreciation for the time embroidery takes which has been really cool to see.”

Fox also shared her experience embroidering a lot of her own clothes as well, she said that it adds much more individuality to her clothes, “I have embroidered a few items. I’ve done a backpack and a pair of shorts and both I really liked to add something personal to the items. I also think I like it more knowing I put some e%ort into it and made it my own unique piece.”

Learning to embroider is not only something that you can use as a fun fact about yourself, it gives the opportunity to give something a personal touch that nobody else has and is a great way to unwind and relax a er a long day.

Embroidery 101:

To start you are gonna need a needle and some thread. A hoop helps too, to properly frame your garment and to give you more freedom with what you can embroider, but it’s not necessary. For beginners, take it slow and start with the basics. Try just doing a line or a star, then work your way up in di&culty.

Running Stitch

Insert needle into the back of the cloth, anchor it with a knot, and “stitch” from le to right. To know that you have done it properly there will be spaces in between the segments of thread.

Back Stitch

Insert needle into the back of the cloth, anchor it with a knot, and “stitch” from right to le with each stitch, closing the gap in between each one. !is way there will be no gaps in thread and it will look like one solid line. !is is great for words or ower stems.

Satin Stitch

!is stitch is commonly used to enclose a large area with one color. !e easiest way to do this is to draw with a pencil the outline of what you want to $ll in, and begin stitching from side to side to $ll in all the space (think like it’s a coloring book).

French Knot

Of all the stitches here, this is the most challenging, but it is great if you want to make polka dots or the center of a ower. To successfully tie this knot, insert the needle in and out of the fabric, so the needle is partially embedded in the fabric. !en take the thread and wrap it around the pointed part of the needle 4 or 5 times, $nish taking out the needle and insert again in fabric to anchor the knot.

With these basic stitches you can essentially create whatever you want, whether it’s a motivational statement or some owers.

SLIP ON STYLE

words_kelsey conrad. photo_marra :nkelstein. design_sal puma.

Comfort collides with the winter fashion scene in a cozy display of Uggs, loafers and clogs. Cast one glance at foot tra c on the University of Miami campus, and you’ll find slide-on shoes have taken the student body by storm. Miami winters hardly experience a Fahrenheit below fifty. Still, January rocks a drop in temperature that inspires students to search for simple comfort in their footwear. So which brands are conquering comfort with their slide-on shoes, and how does one style them?

Brands Leading the Charge

e revival of Uggs has as much to do with cooler temperatures as it does with celebrity icons urging on a Y2K renaissance.

Pop singer Addison Rae was photographed by paparazzi countless times over the past few years while rocking the black Bailey Bow II Short UGG Boots.

Her tiny black shorts and calf-high boots sent out social media shock waves as users praised her Y2K aesthetic.

Other fashion icons like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid followed suit this past year with the Ultra Mini Ugg Platform boot.

Isabella Joseph, senior majoring in media scoring and production, considered the popularity of these shoes on campus.

“Once people see a trend like this, they latch on to it. Seeing icons on social media wearing these types of shoes makes the shoes go viral,” she said.

Uggs solidi$ed their place in the fashion industry as trendy references to comfort and nostalgia.

ey aren’t the only brand leading the charge for slide-on shoe styles, though.

Emily Hamm, store manager at Swap Boutique, said, “I’m eight years or so out of college, but when I was a student, I had lots of Birkenstocks. I chose them over a sneaker for sure It’s funny that almost ten years later, that’s back.”

Birkenstock Bostons are widely popular. Mules satisfy a similarly snug sensation that slide-on enthusiasts look for. MUK LUK slippers are the com$est of these brands to be repped on the University of Miami campus.

Hamm said, “For brands, our store has a couple of Kate Spade ats, a pair of Bottega slides. We’ve had Gucci slides. Everyone’s doing the slide-on shoe.”

!ere are plenty of slide-on options for people in need of an undemanding, fashionable $t.

Confidently Comfortable

Shoes to You is a trendy retail store based in Coral Gables with an impressive collection available to shoe connoisseurs. Kim Stone, creator and owner of this stylish shop, remarked on the store’s success.

“We opened thirty-one years ago. We were basically wholesale and then we went into retail down the road. We’ve actually watched our clientele grow up. People who $rst came into this store as babies are now having babies. We’re very welcoming and friendly.”

Not only is Shoes to You well-versed in the art of customer satisfaction, but their shoe selection also o%ers a wide variety of slide-on footwear that shoppers are dying to get their hands – or rather feet – on.

“Our Maryjane slides are very popular,”

Stone said. “ !e Bing Loafer slides are trending as well. We try to stay very modern.”

Shoes to You’s selection of slippers and slide-ons epitomize versatility. !e leather, o%-white Bing Loafer slides can be thrown on before heading to class, paired with denim and a casual top.

However, they can also be worn to a nice dinner, paired with a slip dress or a leopardprint skirt.

!e possibilities are endless.

Stone re ected on the popularity of slideon shoes. “It’s a combination of comfort and ease. You just slip them on and go. Even I wear mostly slip-ons, like the loafers. I just $nd them so comfortable and so chic.”

Canes’ Closets

Layla-Bleu Jackson, sophomore studying sports administration, always comes to class with fashionable air. Her style cultivates a combination of luxury and comfort, one of her favorite shoes being the Gucci sandal slippers.

Jackson said, “I think the $ve seconds that it takes to put on a slide-on shoe rather than a minute to put on sneakers is what’s making students want to wear them. I like quick, e&cient, get-me-out-the-door shoes because most of the time, I’m running late.”

Slide-on shoes aren’t just products of convenience, though. Jackson pointed out

the potential that this form of footwear has in terms of sprucing up an out$t.

“ !e beauty of a slip-on shoe is you can style it with nearly anything. Shorts, skirts, dresses, you can even wear them with sweats if you’re cute about it. You see this with big brands like Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci. !ey just elevate the same archetype of shoe. I don’t think slide-on shoes will ever go out of style.”

Julie Houth, junior majoring in economics and psychology, said, “I’m just glad slide-on shoes have become more socially acceptable. I love a good oversized denim pant on a Birk clog.”

Over-sized clothing couples well with slide-ons when the out$t is thought out carefully. Don’t be afraid to lean into a more casually composed aesthetic.

Consider an oversized sweater over top a miniskirt, paired with Uggs and crew socks. If you’re feeling more eccentric, wear wideleg pants and a boho blouse with the Uggs instead.

Be bold with a denim on denim look, accentuated by Birkenstock clogs. Stop by Shoes to You and grab a pair of their loafers to add to your favorite athleisure $t.

!e versatility and e%ortlessly chic vibe these shoes promise are excellent reasons to invest in a pair. Just be careful not to slip out when you’re racing to class.

If you’re looking for a new pair of slippers for the cold season, Distraction recomends these pairs!

Lands’ End Fleece Slippers $30-60

Steve Madden Spice Dark Grey Suede Mule $50 Lotta from Stockholm Clogs $89-99

Stuart Weitzman Lennox Mule $595

AndrOgynous RevOlution

Male clothes, female clothes or clothes that just look good? Genderless expression means limitless creativity, and for those of us wanting to amp up our style, that means an iconic fit. There has been a new movement to remove this binary in clothing. Even some brands have stopped marketing pieces to specific genders. It’s a new era of wearing whatever you feel good in no matter how you identify.

words&photo_amber mason. design_sal puma.

Defining The Undefinable

As humans we naturally seek to de$ne the world around us, but we end up doing the same to ourselves; making our identities digestible to those who’d rather limit us than to understand us. But University of Miami junior Hope Matthis chooses to dress in what makes her feel good, no matter who accepts it.

“My clothes don’t re ect women, they re ect me, not anyone else,” she says.

For most college students, university is a fresh start and a school like UM is the perfect place to take risks. From skater kid to yoga enthusiast, the UM campus sports fashion from every corner of the world. With close access from campus to Dadeland Mall, Merrick Park, CocoWalk and thri pop ups every weekend, it’s hard not to join in. However, when expressing yourself means toying with societal norms, it’s easier said than done.

Junior Ava Wehrlin begs the question, “Because I dress this way, what if people already have an impression of me that isn’t actually who I am?”

!e truth is that those who are most comfortable in their individualism are the least judgemental of others.

Sophomore Parker Coady says, “All fashion kind of is already unisex. It’s just more so how people perceive it.”

!e right people will perceive it as it is: a passionate expression through some big ol’ jorts and a funky leather jacket.

Wehrlin explains that despite the initial fear of dressing androgynously, it has dismantled mental blocks for her as well and says “it’s kind of made me come to the point where I really don’t care what anybody thinks of me, ever.”

Making A Unisex-y Fit

Like cra ing any $t, the perfect androgynous ensemble is all about experimentation. !e best part about unisex fashion is that it opens so many doors to the point where maybe it’s not even buying new pieces. In fact, the trick to dipping your toe into the androgynous pool without breaking the bank is being creative with what you have.

Coady says, “It’s kind of taking stu% that I already own and just sort of $guring out what things can I combine.”

Matthis swears by “a capsule wardrobe” with “basics that I would probably argue could be unisex fashion and then you have, just a few rotating, statement pieces.”

Elena Stele, owner and curator of Ben & Giules, a fashion and interior design boutique with locations all around Miami, found inspiration through just that sense of minimalism.

Stele traveled with her family to Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she discovered the “culture of $nding solutions to your problems with what’s accessible to you here and now and how to recycle and repurpose and think outside the box and not

think as conventional as we’re used to.” $t is what you make it, Stele says “if it’s a skirt, maybe the material and the texture and the color is what the masculinity

Here some of our fav pieces to tap into androgynous fashion:

Baggy pants. Jaded London has perfected uidity with their “Colossus Jeans” for a fun tiny-top big-pants moment.

One word. Boots. Cowboy, combat, biker—the options are endless. Really any shoe works, but boots are the perfect staple to pair with a skirt or dress up those colossus jeans you just added to your cart.

Vests are a requirement for layering. I’d love to say leather jackets, but let’s be kind to ourselves here in Miami, ditch the longsleeves and grab a vest. Wear it over a bra or an oversized tee to add dimension.

Graphic tees. Cut them, rip them, write on them. Graphic tees are the perfect piece for self expression and ultimately, $t any body shape. Accessories. Rings, belts, scarves, and let’s not forget hats. You don’t think accessories are that important til you see someone with one of those golden goddess arm cu%s and question why you even try. Stele says, “ All our hats are unisex.

As long as it $ts on your head and it $ts your style, that’s your hat. We’ve had men who buy sparkles and pink, and they look amazing and cool and beautiful.”

Shopping Androgynously

Ben & Giules, as previously mentioned, is the ideal candidate for the face of androgynous fashion. Stele’s stores aunt a timeless, idyllic sensibility embodying the e%ortless minimalism of Tulum. With rows of knit shirts and linen pareos lining the walls, the consumer is guided through a uid exhibition of stylistic expression, inviting them to explore fashion without the con$nes of gender norms.

Another brand traversing the spectrum of androgyny is marco sqrd, co-owned by UM senior Max Marco. While pushing the boundaries of gendered clothing, marco sqrd is also turning the hierarchical nature of luxury on its head through resale.

Marco says his brand is all about making designer goods “more accessible to someone who doesn’t have the biggest pockets, but also keep a bunch of the unique pieces that people don’t see everyday.”

Marco and his brother created marco sqrd as an exclusive brand minus the exclusivity. !ough they run mostly on appointment based shopping and pop-ups, marco sqrd has become more conventional with online drops as well.

Most trends start at the top, with these luxury brands, and trickle down to more mainstream corporations, but unlike Zara and H&M, brands like marco sqrd keep androgyny unique, but also accessible.

Marco sqrd’s ‘Comme Des Garcons AD2015 Stripe Asymmetrical Zip Jacket’-- an iconic unisex layering piece.

If you’re looking for the most a%ordable way to build a uid wardrobe, thri ing is always a good choice.

Buying second hand inherently encourages individualism as Matthis notes “it really ties into the building an out$t from the ground up.”

Unisex Everywhere

With di%erent types of music festivals on the rise, some people are taking on the style of their most beloved androgynous performers and others are just embracing these accepting spaces.

Stele says that “if there are guys looking for men’s clothes, they’ll ask, where’s men’s clothes?” However, when working the local “Art With Me” festival in past years, she chose not to explicitly gender the items she was selling.

“We don’t really need to identify the section. We just have pieces out and they’re all mixed in with each other, ” she says.

Unisex fashion has also made appearances in sportswear. Wehrlin says she embraced her own tendency to dress more masculine when she played sports like basketball and soccer.

“I kind of became more comfortable in looser clothing, maybe more masculine clothing,”she says.

With the roomy shorts of women’s basketball to the singlets in male wrestling, it becomes clear that clothing serves a purpose outside of gendered labels.

Many argue it is a more common practice for women to dress masculine as opposed to men dressing femininely, as it’s simply more comfortable.

But more than that, Stele says, “One of the reasons is women really fought hard and made it normal to wear pants and shirts and blouses.”

!ough it was over 100 years ago when pants were given the approval by the attorney general for women to wear in public, it wasn’t til the 60’s that they were established as an appropriate clothing choice.

Nowadays a pinstriped tie and a collared shirt are staples of the unisex realm, but they weren’t always.

Dressing out of your comfort zone, while a form of expression, doesn’t have to be a demonstration of societal reform.

Unisex fashion can also be just for ease and comfort. No one should have to feel judged for dressing in a way that best serves them.

In any society, the progression of acceptance can be accredited to the innate need for self expression.

Coady says, “Unisex clothing helps break down that barrier and basically invites people to start exploring.”

Expressing individualism is a domino e%ect and as our society continues to march forward, inclusive fashion can serve as a creative vehicle towards further growth.

Dungeons Delinquents

words&design_sal puma. photo_valeria barbaglio & wes lucas.

WHERE WILL OUR INTREPID HEROS FIND THEMSELVES NEXT?

In days of old there were tales of brave adventures traveling the country side protecting towns from bandits and miscreants. But nowadays you don’t recount a story of your perilous trip through the mountains, but instead how you and your friends survived the club. This photoshoot highlights the hero’s you might have in your adventuring party on a night out. So rally the troops and Ubers, we’re going out!

If you want a qu-&t look up

a night out with an adventure.

We followed a group of intrepid heroes on an adventure into the Miami wilds. Lets see how they fared . . .

Miami Bar Crawl Routes. !ey’re a great way to elevate

W.-n t.,& fr,-nd ,& out make sure to be on your A game. You don’t want a bad picture of you to become the next group chat icon or Redcup feature.

Photos Taken

Storage Available

T.-y m,g.t not b- t.- -ld-&t, but the Mom Friend is the spiritual matriarch of the friend group. !ey might be a stick in the mud sometimes, but they’re just making sure you make your 8 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The Mom Friend

Intelligence

Meds in Purse Stress Level

Someone has to bear the burden of being responsible, With a purse full of everything our heroes might need, and everyone’s locations on their phone, The Mom Friend is ready for anything.

The Dynamic Duo

Inside Jokes

These two are inseparable. They can be found gossiping in the corner or tearing it up on the dance floor. Watch out though, they always seem to have some sidequests brewing.

If you n--d .-lp ,d-nt,fy,ng &om-onwhile out at the bar, ask these two. !ey’re like a hive mind of social information. You’ll just have to wait a while for a time to chime in.

The Runner

Sidequests Completed

Ubers Ordered

Blink and you’re too late. Wether its a free spirit or for more nefarious purposes, The Runner loves nothing more than to break a way into the night away from the group. Dexterity

Alway& .av- &om-way to k--p tab& on T.- Runn-r. A Life360 circle, FindMyFriends, or even Snap Map of you’re desperate. !ought maybe invest in a AirTag to slip into their pockets just incase.

Constitution

Functions Missed

Sleepiness

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Calling

Kings and Queens

Join our award-winning staff. We’re always accepting writers, designers, photographers, videographers, PR pros and business-savy sales reps. However you’d like to get into the swing of things, we have room for you. Join our Discord in our Instagram bio to get involved and see whats going on.