The Miami Hurricane - Apr. 22, 2013 by The Miami Hurricane

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The Miami

Vol. 91, Issue 50 | April 22 - April 24, 2013

com

HURRICANE

STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, SINCE 1929

FINDING FANDOMS A LOOK AT THE SUBCULTURES DEFINED BY POP CULTURE xxxxxxxx

See page 8-9

CANNABIS CONTROL

IRON WOMAN

FLORIDA’S MARIJUANA POLICY LOOKED AT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE PAGE 4

TRIATHLON CLUB PRESIDENT EMULATES HER PASSION FOR RUNNING, BIKING, SWIMMING PAGE 13 DESIGN BY MARIAH PRICE

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PHOTO BRIEF

Community unites for Autism Awareness

Check out what’s exclusively available at TheMiamiHurricane. com.

Missed the season finale for “Off The Wire?” Check out Monica Herndon’s photo brief about the last episode. Interested in next year’s housing change? Read what Taylor Duckett thinks about the change in her story. HOLLY BENSUR // STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER FIELD DAY FUN: UM hosted a field day for children and teens with autism Friday afternoon for Autism Awareness Month. UM students joined the UM Center for Autism and Related Disabilities for the event. More than 100 students and approximately 30 autistic kids from the community attended.

PROFILE

GSA president sets sights on program overhaul McNutt plans to foster community BY JESS SWANSON CONTRIBUTING NEWS WRITER

While medical students have their own campus, and law students their own building, the 3,267 students in the UM Graduate School do not have a central hub to call their own. Marcia McNutt, a doctoral fellow in clinical psychology, wants to change that and more. She will begin her term as the president of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) on May 15. McNutt is eager to create a new sense of community for graduate students. “We are hard to define,” McNutt said. “We’re not just students, but faculty, researchers and professionals too. We’re a special and diverse group.” 2

NEWS

After serving two years as GSA vice president under current president Amanda Price, McNutt hopes to build MCNUTT on her predecessor’s efforts. During Price’s term, the GSA office moved from the outskirts of campus near the baseball field to the first floor of the Unger building. Since then, involvement in the graduate school’s appointed student senate has more than doubled. “I like to look at it like a ship,” McNutt said. “Amanda and I spent the last two years building it, setting the policies in place, and now we’re sailing. It’s now my job to steer.” Price hopes to see increased health care subsidies and on-campus housing for graduate students

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

in UM’s future. “Marcia brings experience from other universities,” Price said. “She went to the University of Alabama for undergrad, got her master’s at Emory in Atlanta, and was a student leader there. Her diverse perspective will move us forward.” The university currently covers about 60 percent of a graduate student’s health care. Though UM vowed to increase that percentage annually, the remaining costs are still unaffordable to most grad students, many of whom are older than 26 and no longer eligible for coverage on their parents’ medical plans. Graduate students must also look for accommodations elsewhere and are often forced to sign 12-month leases, and pay as much as 30 percent more than they would if they lived on-campus. McNutt believes that open communication is the answer to ad-

April 22 - April 24, 2013

vancing graduate student’s rights. She has bi-weekly meetings with Brian Blake, the new graduate school dean, to discuss these hotbed topics, and they have been successful. “Dean Blake always tells me to close my eyes and imagine my version of a graduate school utopia,” McNutt said. Blake said he is dedicated to working with GSA to promote not just academic success but also to develop a tangible graduate student community. “In Marcia’s term, I plan to support her in all GSA initiatives but hope she will emphasize the introduction of graduate culture into places where graduate students have not traditionally had high exposure,” Blake said. “It will be important to break down the walls where graduate students and undergraduate students are not seen as us and them.”

Didn’t make it to Friday’s event for Autism Awareness Month? Take a look at Cayla Nimmo’s slideshow. Subscribe for the email edition of the newspaper at themiamihurricane. com/subscribe. Have a question for V? Ask at dearv@ themiamihurricane. com.

TWITTER ACCOUNTS @MiamiHurricane @Dear_V @TMH_Photo @TMH_Sports FACEBOOK PAGE facebook.com/ themiamihurricane

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CAMPUS LIFE

Hecht, Stanford stereotypes shape freshman perspective Rumors circulate on social media BY LYSSA GOLDBERG ASSISTANT EDITOR

As future members of the Class of 2017 rejoice in their acceptances and interact on Facebook, the rumors about the Hecht and Stanford Residential Colleges are already swirling. “Hecht or Stanford guys?” one high school senior posts, and dozens of comments start to roll in. “From what I’ve heard, Hecht dorms are more welcoming to the party atmosphere, if that interests you,” one comments. “My friend is currently in Stanford and says they’re about equal in partying even though Hecht has more of a rep!” another responds. These comments were taken from a closed group on Facebook for admitted students to the Class of 2017. In an online survey conducted by The Miami Hurricane, only 21 percent of students had no opinion about either dorm before arriving at UM. Three quarters believed that Hecht is the party dorm, and more than half thought that Stanford is the studious dorm. “There’s certainly nothing that we do from a housing perspective to indicate that there’s a difference between the buildings or that there’s a different vibe or feel,” said Christopher Hartnett, associate director for residence life. “I think some of it honestly is some urban myth and urban legend that students have passed down form one year to another.” Although information about average GPA by dorm could not be released, the Dean of Students Office keeps record of disciplinary violations in each building. “From year to year, there are always fewer disciplinary violations in the spring than in the fall, especially with Hecht and Stanford because they’re freshman,” Dean of Students Ricardo Hall said. However, Hall said he is not aware of a significant difference between the social cultures of the two freshman dorms. With each class, it does take on a different identity, he said. “This class is really starting to explore all the options Miami has to offer,” Hall remembered thinking of the 2010-2011 class. In fall 2010, Hecht had 314 violations, and Stanford had 170. This dropped to 142 for Hecht and 61 for Stanford in spring 2011. These range from the most minor incidents, such as noise violations, to the most severe, such as theft or assault, according to Hall. Across the board, violations decreased in the 2011-2012 academic year, with Hecht

having 237 total and Stanford having 177. “We try to figure out what are the reasons behind the differences,” Hall said. Hall said that all freshmen receive the same consistent messages during orientation, and they are exposed to Resident Assistants and Academic Fellows who all have the same training and provide the same services. One factor that Hall said may contribute to Stanford’s lower number of violations is that the Rosborough tower includes substance free floors. “That takes out close to 100 students who are likely not going to have any violations,” he said. Hall expects the numbers to decline and level off between Hecht and Stanford for 2012-2013, straying away from the stereotypes. “I’m sure stereotypes tend to be a product of oral history,” Hall said. “… How would a person even know, unless they heard it from someone?” According to the survey, students gathered information about the dorms’ reputations from current UM students, campus tours and sources on the Internet ranging from Facebook to College Confidential. “I’m not sure how much there is that we can do to combat it prior to them arriving because obviously the online Facebook legend will probably survive,” Hartnett said. Freshman William Cafero, who lives in Stanford, had requested Hecht when he applied for housing the summer before arriving at UM. He preferred Hecht because he thought the building was nicer, with better elevators and lobbies, but he had also heard about the dorms’ reputations in advance. “I heard that in Hecht most of the kids partied and stuff like that, but Stanford was more of a sober dorm,” he said. “That’s what people were saying before I came here, like random kids, Facebook things.” It could also be a matter of perception becoming reality, Hall said. “Sometimes we live up or down to those stereotypes,” he said. This would be in the form of dorm choice. Sixty-five percent of students surveyed said the reputations that they heard about in advance affected their decision. Cafero said this aspect did not affect his choice, however, and after living in the dorms, he does not feel there is a defining difference as far as who works or plays harder. Thirty percent of students surveyed agreed that, after living in one of the dorms, they found there to be no difference between the two. “I think quickly they get here and once they have friends that live in both buildings, are participating in programs together, and they meet friends outside of their floor, I think those perceptions go away,” Hartnett said.

Living the dorm life A look at the role that reputations of the Hecht and Stanford Residential Colleges played in freshmen’s selection of on-campus housing.

ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS

Year lived in freshmen dorms

8% 8%

collected responses 51%

49%

STANFORD

HECHT

48% 35%

2012-2013 2011-2012

2010-2011 2009-2010

DORM PREFERENCES WERE YOU PLACED IN THE DORM YOU WANTED?

18% 82%

IF YES, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS DORM?

STANFORD “More studious students” “I didn’t want a loud dorm” HECHT “More social reputation” “People who like to go out”

Yes

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS BEFORE living on-campus

BEFORE living on-campus

31 respondents said

32 thought Hecht

they “had no opinion about either dorm.”

was the party dorm.

AFTER living on-campus

was the studious dorm.

19 of them thought “Hecht

AFTER living on-campus

10 of them thought

All 57 of them

was the party dorm.”

“Stanford was the studious dorm.”

25 thought Stanford

thought “there is no difference.”

GRAPHIC BY AMILYNN SOTO

April 22 - April 24, 2013

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

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NATIONAL NEWS

Strict cannabis policy faces growing opposition Laws lag behind public opinion BY SPENCER DANDES SPORTS EDITOR

In Colorado and Washington, it’s recreational. In 16 other states, medicinal. But in Florida, marijuana is still unacceptable – for now. New laws that acknowledge the benefits of medical marijuana, and even some that approve nonmedical cannabis use, are becoming increasingly common. When Washington passed its groundbreaking legislation, some experts estimated the state could gain $9 billion in tax revenue per year. Others suggest that demand for legalized weed could diminish as the novelty wears off, an effect known to economists as the “forbidden fruit.” But financial potential aside, the perception of marijuana as a recreational or medical commodity has shifted. Polls show that the public’s eagerness to address legalization is higher than ever. “There’s been a sea of change,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) said in an interview with The Atlantic. “I’m absolutely convinced that in the next four or five years, it’s going to pass the point of no return.” Blumenauer’s statement reflects major support for new legislation, which has grown across social and party lines. The Miami Herald conducted a poll in January that said that 7 in 10 local voters are in favor of legalization. This could lead the government to consider options such as a tax-and-regulate measure that treats marijuana like alcohol. On campus, the UM chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) advocates for more reasonable laws. Alfred Kilzi, president of

No illegal substances were used for this illustration. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CAYLA NIMMO BANNING THE BOWL: Students for Sensible Drug Policy works alongside organizations like the Florida Cannabis Action Network to advocate for new marijuana legislation.

justice system.” In some respects, cannabis could be considered equally or less dangerous than alcohol. “The physiological effects of marijuana are less harmful than alcohol,” said Jan Sokol-Katz, a UM sociology professor. “It’s rare to get under the influence [of cannabis] and get into a fight, or a domestic assault.” By that logic, Sokol-Katz is “saddened, but not surprised” that Florida’s HB1139/SB1250 fizzled when it reached the state senate this past March. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and Rep. Katie Edwards (D-Plantation), would establish

the “Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act.” The bill’s namesake is a 63-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whose marijuana use erased the need for eight of her nine medications. James said the bill hadn’t “risen in interest” before the senate session opened. However, FLCAN helped draft the medical marijuana provisions, and she feels “real faith” that significant reform is on the horizon for 2014. “Hopefully, we will have a bill ready to begin the committee process by September,” James said. “And by the March 2014 session, I believe Florida will have medical marijuana legislation.” Hannah McKool, a UM stu-

18 { NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Alaska California Connecticut Washington, D.C. Delaware Hawaii Maine Massachusetts

Michigan Montana Nevada New Jersey New Mexico Oregon Rhode Island Vermont

April 22 - April 24, 2013

States that allow recreational pot use

{

Colorado Washington

dent from Texas whose opinion on drug policy has shifted, believes more tolerant laws could cause more problems than they solve. “I agree with medical marijuana legalization, but I don’t think it’s necessary for recreational use,” McKool said. “It could lead to more abuse.” SSPD member Nick Stevenson believes Florida has fallen behind the tide of states to reform their marijuana laws, but is optimistic that change is on the way. “If the Florida government can at least start considering the welfare of people who actually need cannabis to function due to health problems, then I say we are definitely on the right track,” Stevenson said.

Florida Legislation Supported by Sen. Jeff Clemons and Rep. Katie Edwards

States that allow medical marijuana

FAST FACTS 4

SSDP, said that the club “doesn’t condemn or condone” drug use, but works on initiatives to better regulate marijuana, a Schedule 1 drug. “I remember being told in D.A.R.E. that cannabis is just as bad as cocaine, heroin and other drugs,” Kilzi said. “But then in high school, the class president, AP students – a lot of those kids used cannabis. It’s disillusioning that we use our justice system as a weapon against these people.” The federal government classifies Schedule 1 drugs as those with no recognized medical benefits but with a high potential for abuse. Teaming up with agencies like the Florida Cannabis Action Network (FLCAN) and People United for Medical Marijuana, SSDP aims to change this label on cannabis. “There are really sick people in this state, some losing their sight and their senses, who will live through the next year if they can access medical marijuana,” said Jodi James, director of FLCAN. Cannabis has been used in a pharmaceutical capacity to treat chronic muscle or joint pain, anxiety and neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis. But broad language of previous bills has hindered their progress and increased skepticism among voters and legislators. For example, voters are more comfortable with medical marijuana regulation when they know which specific ailments would be targeted for acceptable use. Aside from the medical benefits, James and other Florida advocates take issue with the arrest rates for marijuana possession, and the use of government money to charge those individuals. “It costs too much to prosecute adults [for possession],” James said. “And it’s not like we’re rehabilitating them or doing them any favors – we’re putting them into the criminal

HB1139/sb1250 failed to gain steam in the senate this past March. A new bill will be drafted for 2014.

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OPINION speak

UP!

What are you the biggest fan of?

CAROLINA MAZZER FRESHMAN “I’m the biggest fan of ‘The OC’ because I’m really attached to the characters and their development. I’ve been a fan since I was very young.”

ANDREW ZIKE SOPHOMORE “I’m a fan of horror movies they’re really creepy, really fun to watch, and they make you really scared.”

REUBEN TORENBERG JUNIOR “I’m a big sports fan. My three teams are the Jets, the Trailblazers and the Yankees because I’m from New York. I’ve loved sports ever since I was 8 ...” Speak Up answers are edited for clarity, brevity and accuracy. Check out video Speak Ups at themiamihurricane.com. compiled by

Daniel Cepero

“

The Miami

HURRICANE

... this reform is passionately supported by members across student government – but your voice is still needed.

”

Founded 1929

Austin Sedaghatpour, Contributing Columnist

Fans ﬁnd comfort in communities They fit right in. It isn’t just belonging to a fandom that creates this sense of commonality among us. Being a fan of anything, whether you’re part of the fandom, still allows you to form connections with other fans. Everyone has something they are passionate about. No matter where your interests may lie, following books, people and shows through social media has become an innovative way to express yourself. Part of the appeal is that it allows us to immerse ourselves in our interests and to experience something different from our everyday lives. It’s deeper than knowing every detail of a pop star’s life or every line in a book, it’s about relating to other people. These interests represent

themes that we hope to carry out in our lives. And in many instances, these interests represent what we aspire to be. “Gossip Girl” fans love Blair Waldorf and admire her ability to be independent, strong and fashionable. Harry Potter fans admire J.K. Rowling’s creativity and the friendship Harry, Hermione and Ron share. These pop culture interests are an excuse to come together in a more personable, real and riveting way. So grab your wands, your trendy headbands and whatever makes you beautiful, and stay true to who you are. Editorials represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.

tees by the seat that they were elected into; by taking this action, this ensures that the student voice is being heard equitably. Officers of the Executive Branch will be integrated into standing committees to keep the lines of communication open. Even though Senate will be more structured, all senators will have the opportunity to make their opinion and experience heard both in standing committees and on the Senate floor on all matters. This was inspired by the failure of communication between the legislative and executive branches, a sense of hubris among senators, and lack of vocal representation of the student body. Undertaken and planned by members of both the legislative and executive branches, this reform is passionately supported by members across student government – but your voice is still needed. Come to the UC Ballrooms C & D at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday for the opportunity to enact these changes. We encourage you to contact your senator by going to the SG site or, even better, come and voice your opinion so that your voice will be heard in the future. Austin James Sedaghatpour is the College of Arts and Science senator. April 22 - April 24, 2013

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Demi Rafuls

BUSINESS MANAGER Tara Kleppinger

ART DIRECTOR Mariah Price

ACCOUNT REPS Halima Dodo Kristyna Fong Jaydev Hemrajani Carlos Parra

PHOTO EDITOR Cayla Nimmo ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Monica Herndon

ADVERTISING EDITOR Demi Rafuls

NEWS EDITOR Stephanie Parra

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Daniel Cepero

OPINION EDITOR Elizabeth De Armas

ONLINE EDITOR Alysha Khan

EDGE EDITOR Margaux Herrera

DESIGNERS Ali Fishman Carlos Mella Amilynn Soto

SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Dandes

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Rob Finn

ASSISTANT EDITORS Lyssa Goldberg Alexander Gonzalez

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Isabel Vichot

COPY CHIEF Nicky Diaz

FACULTY ADVISER Bob Radziewicz

COPY EDITORS Jordan Coyne Erika Glass Ashley Martinez

FINANCIAL ADVISER Robert DuBord

New structure fosters student voice ast Wednesday, a paradigm shift was presented to the Student Senate. Collectively, new and veteran senators alike support this face lift to the way the Senate will function and consequently the Student Government (SG). You would think the Senate AUSTIN SEDAGHATPOUR would serve as the voice of the CONTRIBUTING student body. Yet too many senaCOLUMNIST tors represent their own personal interests over their constituencies and as such, communication between the executive and legislative branches of SG have soured over the past few years. It has been envisioned that by making changes to the standing committees of Senate and the elections of senators that this will bring a greater amount of clarity to the legislative process. These changes will enhance the credibility of senators by reworking the standing committees of Senate. A revamping of these forums will better allow senators to follow up on specific initiatives. Furthermore, senators would be organized into relevant standing commit-

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STAFF EDITORIAL

The world we live in assumes that our generation is not connected to anything but technology. But social media has changed how we connect with our interests – our favorite television shows, celebrities, bands, movies, anime and sci-fi. Fandoms allow us to find like-minded people on sites like Twitter and Tumblr. This sparks more than just an obsession over our passions. It creates friendships and a community in which we can feel OK about our interest, which other people may not relate to. This subculture of fandoms creates an outlet in which people don’t have to worry about what appeals to others. These communities ensure people don’t have to explain why they like One Direction, Harry Potter or “Gossip Girl.”

An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper

The Miami Hurricane is published semi-weekly during the regular academic year and is edited and produced by undergraduate students at the University of Miami. The publication does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of advertisers or the university’s trustees, faculty or administration. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Hurricane’s Editorial Board. Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Hurricane are located in the Norman A. Whitten University Center, Room 221. LETTER POLICY The Miami Hurricane encourages all readers to voice their opinions on issues related to the university or in response to any report published in The Hurricane. Letters to the editor may be submitted typed or handwritten (please make your handwriting legible) to the Whitten University Center, Room 221, or mailed to P.O. Box 248132, Coral Gables, FL, 33124-6922. Letters, with a suggested length of 300 words, must be signed and include a copy of your student ID card, phone number and year in school. ADVERTISING POLICY The Miami Hurricane’s business office is located at 1306 Stanford Drive, Norman A. Whitten University Center, Room 221B, Coral Gables, FL 33124-6922. The Miami Hurricane is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. Newspapers are distributed free of charge on the Coral Gables campus, the School of Medicine and at several off-campus locations. DEADLINES All ads must be received, cash with copy, in The Miami Hurricane business office, Whitten University Center, Room 221B, by noon Tuesday for Thursday’s issue and by noon Friday for the Monday issue. SUBSCRIPTIONS The Miami Hurricane is available for subscription at the rate of $50 per year. AFFILIATIONS The Miami Hurricane is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, Columbia Scholastic Press Assoc. and Florida College Press Assoc.

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OPINION

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Finding a bromance that will last forever very college guy will figure out at one point or another how to pick up that cute girl at the bar for a fun night or lifelong commitment. But more important than finding a drunk hottie is connecting with

KYLE RAMBO CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

a good bro. Cute girls outnumber good bros by a ratio of 5 to 1. If you’re out one night and you’re thinking about working your smooth criminal moves on some Lindsay Lohan look-alike, or the actual Lindsay Lohan, ditch her and chill with that cool bro who met Harrison Ford that one time. Unlike your high school sweetheart, a good bro is something that you will want to hold on to. The difficulty of finding one can match that of catching a rare Pokemon or the Hurricanes being cleared of all NCAA allegations. That’s why there are so many dating sites and zero bro finding sites. If looking, you definitely want to

start your search at a pizza buffet, a special “Star Wars” screening marathon or a Super Wal-Mart. Stay away from Starbucks and Buffalo Wild Wings. False bros are everywhere so do not fall under their spell. Once they start quoting Dane Cook or Instagram their caesar salad, you know they’re not the one. Even if they seem like they might be the perfect fit you’ve been searching for, details like wearing Crocs or driving a Kia Soul will show the super nonbro they truly are. When in doubt just ask yourself the question, “Did this guy ever tryout to be on ‘The Real World?’” If the answer is yes, change the channel on him. A bro’s girlfriend also shows whether they are the dream bro of the Dos Equis guy, or the nightmare bro of the fake-gold-toothed, Sharpie-tattooed, women-fighting Chris Brown. If the girl latches on to him like it’s her life support, you don’t want her third wheeling on your bro time. If you find a bro with a girlfriend that resembles Kristen Wiig, without the obnoxious impressions of course,

then you have yourself the ultimate bro plus one. When searching for a bromate, don’t be anyone but yourself. Trying to impress with an Ed Hardy hat and your knowledge of Michael Bay movies will leave you unsatisfied and wingmanning with someone shallow in the end. Don’t do that to yourself because breaking up with a testosterone-filled bro is 10 times more difficult than an emotionally erratic girl. Bringing them to a fancy Italian restaurant won’t stop a fist from flying toward you once you break the bad news, no matter how delicious the garlic bread is. Nobody remembers those truly romantic couples that stay together forever, but everyone knows a true bromance – Starsky and Hutch, DWade and King James, George Bush and Dick Cheney. Go out there and find the perfect bro for you because the possibilities are endless. Most likely, it will end up like a Miller Lite commercial.

day, and include targeted and unique programs like the Singer Scholar Interview Weekend offered to incoming freshmen with SATs high enough to qualify for full tuition merit scholarships. Because reputations develop with retrospective looks at faculty and alumni careers, decades pass before a school can be seen differently. Unlike most of its 18th and 19th century cohorts, UM is the second youngest private institution in the U.S. News top 50. The work done today should promote positive results down the road. LeBlanc confirmed that the goal of the current strategic plan is for UM to demonstrate the characteristics of a member of the Association of American Universities, the premier consortium of 62 research-intensive institutions by 2020. The benefits will also help students. Eddy Tsing from the Toppel Career Center noted the change even in the past year from the better exposure UM gets to employers. According to Tsing, during the next three years the school will expand outreach to employers in national and international regions where UM hadn’t been familiar. Because UM holds so much potential, campus leaders must do their parts to promote the best student experience, including tackling the enormous long-term issue of student debt. As LeBlanc noted, “If you have a high quality reputation, then high quality people want to be associated with you, and in a university, people are everything.”

t may seem like a panacea for your late night studying – the advertised powerful energy boost used by all hard working people alike – its ease of consumption found innocently at convenience stores. However, these energy RAYMOND LA CONTRIBUTING drinks are no innocuous COLUMNIST substance. Not only are these drinks unregulated health hazards, but their effectiveness may be embellished. As some say, they may very well be our generation’s cigarettes. The insidious advertisements containing such enticing buzzwords as guarana, yerba mate and ginseng, which boost cognitive and physical performance, may be exaggerated. Recent research has shown that the only effective ingredient for improved energy performance is the high dose of caffeine. The doses in energy drinks often exist in dangerously high levels. We have all heard about the adverse health effects of energy drinks in the news. From the changes in blood flow and pressure to irregularities in heart rate, recent reports have gone as far as attributing various energy drinks such as Monster and 5-hour Energy to various deaths. How are all these products still on the consumer market? The fact that these energy drinks are sold as dietary supplements exempts them from FDA regulations and limitations. This is especially a concern regarding the caffeine levels in the drinks. Soft drinks are limited to 71 milligrams of caffeine for a regular 12-ounce can. A comparable energy drink can contain up to 500 milligrams of caffeine per serving, a ridiculous 40 times more caffeine. Those of you who imbibe these energy drinks and feel as if you are immune from the aforementioned risks, have flawed judgment. Lung cancer from smoking develops over a course of several years. In general, many health conditions develop over time as a result of compounding your daily unhealthy lifestyles. Energy drinks deceivingly present a myopic benefit with your late-night study sessions at 2 a.m. Have you ever considered or thought about the natural energy and productivity boosts of having a good night of sleep? If you really crave that energy and performance boost, these energy drinks are not the way to go for the sake of your health. After you put it all in perspective, it really isn’t worth it.

Patrick Quinlan is a freshman majoring in international studies and political science.

Raymond La microbiology.

Kyle Rambo is a junior majoring in education.

Rising national rankings boost UM status his year we witnessed the meteoric rise of coach Larranaga and the men’s basketball team, from starting unranked, rising to as high as No. 2 in national polls and winning the ACC Championship. As the philosopher Aubrey Graham says, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.” This deserves celebration, but in PATRICK QUINLAN the end, even Shane Larkin has to go CONTRIBUTING to class. COLUMNIST On an academic scale, the ranking and reputation of the University of Miami has seen huge gains, but there is still room left for growth. During the Shalala presidency, the university gained in rankings, including the U.S. News and World Report, where the school was once No. 67 nationally and reached No. 38 last year. UM regressed back to No. 44 this year, but expectations remain high for the latest scores to be released in August. The same tool that helped propel the basketball team, quantitative evaluation, is also being administratively used. Provost Thomas LeBlanc pointed to the strategic plan that is yearly accountable to the Board of Trustees and is based on data like the six-year graduation rate and incoming student SAT scores that would keep the university competitive with other premier institutions. These goals address issues of student life, from the incoming class quality all the way through to graduation

OPINION

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Beneﬁts of energy drinks not worth risk

April 22 - April 24, 2013

sophomore

majoring

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April 22 - April 24, 2013

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Social media fosters community among fans BY MARGAUX HERRERA EDGE EDITOR

Buried beneath the fashion posts and inspiring quotes on the blogging website Tumblr is a group of people obsessed with “Harry Potter,” “Sherlock,” One Direction and anime. Sites like Tumblr and Twitter enable fans to bond over their passions and create communities that revolve around their interests, forming what are better known as fandoms. A fandom is a community of people brought together by a common interest who find different ways to celebrate it through outlets like art, live events like conventions or online discussions. These subcultures can be a gateway to finding like-minded people who share not just the same interests, but also many of the same values. For Abigail Lubin, a Ph.D. candidate at Miller School of Medicine, becoming involved in the Harry Potter community online has helped her find open-minded people. “The people I tend to hang out with in the community are very open to new ideas,” Lubin said. “Sometimes I talk with people in real life, and they’re completely thrown by some ideas. I enjoy spending time with people who are not shocked when y o u introduce something new and different.” Sophomore Lauren Siminotis echoed similar sentiments about the online Lady Gaga community, which embodies many of the same beliefs that the singer herself advocates for. “I think that she has a very good message of acceptance,” Simonitis said. “I think a lot of people are drawn to it ... because for the most part it’s a very nurturing environment.” Lubin is an active reader and writer of fanfic-

tion, in which fans use existing fictional characters to create original stories. “It allows you to explore ideas ... without any limitations or expectations at all,” Lubin said. “It’s such a freeing experience. I love it.” Many online communities dedicated to specific fan-

doms have sprung up in recent years, making it even easier to find people with the same interests. In 2012, Lady Gaga launched littlemonsters.com, a social media site for her fans. Simonitis was among the first to try out the website in the beta testing period. With this platform, she has been able to discuss Lady Gaga and her music in depth. “It’s comforting,” Simonitis said. “It’s just nice to talk about it with people who are as crazily, unhealthily obsessed as I am ... instead of babbling to my friends who don’t really care about it.” But these communities are not limited to the digital world. They date back before even television had been invented. The original Sherlock Holmes fandom is often regarded as the original fandom. According to “The Devil and Sherlock Holmes,” British men wore black armbands in mourning when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed him off, and people in the U.S. started “Let’s Keep Holmes Alive” clubs. The backlash was so intense that Conan Doyle was eventually pressured into bringing the detective back to life. Junior Adam Orshan bonds over the TV show “Doctor Who” with his friends, who introduced him to the program. “For me, it’s much more about my group of friends and enjoying something with them,” he said. Orshan is a member of the UMiami “Doctor Who” Fans Facebook group. He thinks that Whovians are drawn to the show because of the values it fosters. “I find that most people who like ‘Doctor Who’ are good, nice, honest people because that’s kind of what the Doctor is like and that’s what he tries to get people to be,” Orshan said. Freshman McKenna Lyons, who is also a member of the Facebook group, has found herself drawn to people who she later discovered were “Doctor Who” fans. She believes it is because many Who fans have similar personalities. “I think a lot of us have the same manner and thoughts,” said Lyons, who describes herself as shy. “The way we interact with people is different.” Throughout the past decade or so, fandoms have become more mainstream. Superhero movies have become one of the most profitable genres and both “muggle” from “Harry Potter and “whovian,” a word used to describe “Doctor Who” fans, have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Despite this, fandoms still often carry negative stigmas, like that of all major “Star Trek” fans being geeks who still live with their parents. But people within these communities argue that the interactions influence more than they define. “I don’t think being a part of a fandom is exclusively character defining,” Orshan said. “It’s a part of who I am but it’s not all of who I am.” There are people intent on removing the labels altogether. Junior Ashu Joshi, president of the campus anime club, sought out the position partially in the hopes of eliminating the stereotype. “I wanted to remove that stigma from the club,” said Joshi, who has attended anime conventions with the club. “Anime can be open to anyone in the community. It’s meant for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.” Though many people worry about being associated with the stigmas, Orshan points out that the fandoms themselves help to deflect much of the negative criticism. “Who cares if someone else think’s it’s stupid?” Orshan said. “You love it and you have a whole other group of people who love it.”

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Poll results

Professor insights Which categories do your fandoms fall under? Check all that apply.

Do you consider yourself to be part of a fandom?

Professors also contribute to fandoms, and their pop culture passions inspired courses on phenomenons such as Disney and vampires.

Alberto Cairo Fandom: Science fiction “I like the opportunity to visit other worlds and explore controversial ideas. These genres explore how writers envision technology and how it can change the world. Science fiction is normally referred to as a literature of ideas.”

Yes 81%

Favorite novels: “Game of Thrones” by George Martin, “Solaris” by Stanislaw Lem and “1984” by George Orwell Fun fact: Cairo wrote the Spanish introduction for the “Game of Thrones” novel “A Storm of Swords.”

Karen Culver No 18%

Fandom: Disney

Other

Fantasy/ Sci-Fi

What’s a fandom? 1%

41%

71%

Total Votes: 114

Music

33%

Youtube Anime

24%

16%

Total Votes: 98

Do you wear costumes, T-shirts, jewelry or any other merchandise related to your fandom?

Social media

94% Which medium/media do you use to interact with your fandom? Check all that apply.

“I’ve been drawn to vampire novels for as long as I can remember – I read Anne Rice in junior high and I was hooked, even if I didn’t actually like those novels very much. I think I like how mutable the vampire is as a monster – it can be reimagined almost infinitely in order to capture different kinds of desires and anxieties ...”

Paraphernalia

43%

No 28%

Yes 72%

Media

59%

How long have you been into fandoms? No

Do you feel emotionally connected to your fandom?

11%

86%

Total Votes: 94

4-7

0-3

44%

30%

26%

Total Votes: 91

Thomas Goodmann Fandom: J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium and “The Lord of the Rings” “I was already interested in medieval literature when I read Tolkien. What had hooked me was the strangeness of the language Old English. Tolkien’s fictional world is generated from his interest in languages. One seemed to feed the other.”

YES 8+

Favorite vampire representations: “True Blood,” Brad Pitt in “Interview with a Vampire” and Gary Oldman in Francis Ford Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula” Fun fact: Fox’s dissertation focuses on vampires and other reanimated bodies like mummies. “I love being able to teach classes full of books and films that are creepy and pleasurable and complex ...”

Total Votes: 94

Yes

Fun fact: Culver ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon, attended several Disney pin trading events, and teaches an English composition class about Disney. “I think students are more excited to engage with a class when the professor is excited by what she is teaching,” she said. “So I think professors should be encouraged to bring their fandom into the classroom.”

Fandom: Vampires

40%

89%

Favorite character: Winnie the Pooh and friends

Renee Fox

Live events

Do you generally like the people in your fandom?

“I like that Disney is a media conglomerate that foregrounds imagination, creativity and happiness. It’s a place where adults can ... act like a kid. I definitely have an emotional connection to Disney, in part because I come from a family of Disney fanatics ... I realize that Disney is also mass consumerism, so it’s not all positive.”

NO 14% Total Votes: 91

Favorite scene: “The Fellowship is passing through Moria, past Balin’s tomb and find a bashed book. Gandalf reads the runic letters and tells the group of a dramatic end of a colony of dwarfs. This is not too far from the survival of the ‘Beowulf’ manuscript, an accidental survival ...” Fun fact: Goodmann speaks Old and Middle English, Old Welsh and Old Norse. Information compiled by Alexander Gonzalez

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Sebastian who? UM’s beloved Ibis may be upstaged on Friday by some rubber ducks and a towering Ferris wheel on the Foote Green. For the 10th straight year, Canes Night Live will host Canes Carnival on the last day of spring semester classes from 8 p.m. to midnight. “This event is Hurricane Productions’ largest for the semester,” said senior John Lake, the organization’s chair. College students often reminisce about childhood days when there were no papers to write, presentations to give, projects to complete or exams to study for. So, CNL planners figure that nothing makes students feel more like a kid than going to a carnival. Canes Carnival has become a UM tradition. The event’s 10-year anniversary will be no exception, and senior Alex Achorn, chair of CNL, plans to take it to 10

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a whole new level. After all, “it’s UM’s official end-of-classes celebration,” he said. What will make this year’s “all-out carnival” stand out from previous ones? Achorn said that it probably will be the mechanical rides. “For the past few years, they’ve wanted us to stray away from mechanical rides, but this year is different,” he said. “Since it’s the carnival’s 10th anniversary, they’re letting us do something special.” The focal point will most likely be the 50foot Ferris wheel that will overlook Richter Library. Other rides will include a “Rock-o-Plane” and chair swings. In addition to the rides, there will be inflatable attractions including slides, bounce houses and bumper cars. There will also be a games tent on the Green that will feature classic carnival games, such as balloon darts and ring toss. Games will be hosted by co-programming organizations. “We are trying to include as many clubs April 22 - April 24, 2013

and organizations to help in the games tent,” Achorn said. In addition, students can enjoy free popcorn, cotton candy and funnel cakes throughout the night. The first 300 students will be awarded vouchers to the food trucks. Live entertainment will be provided by three campus bands: “Sirens and Sealions,” “The Big Tasty” and “The Sunbears.” Sophomores Josh Weiner and Alex Carmona are looking forward to the carnival. “It’s pretty awesome how the school brings the carnival to campus,” Weiner said. Carmona agreed. “Josh and I are definitely going,” Carmona said. “It sounds like it’s going to be even better than last year, not to mention it’s a great way to wrap up the semester.” Achorn said there will also be “a bunch of giveaways and ways you can win prizes.” But students won’t have to wait for the last day of

classes to catch the carnival fever giveaways. “There will be promotions going around two weeks before classes end just to market the carnival,” Achorn said. One thing to look for: rubber ducks. Students can pick them out of campus fountains and redeem the prize code on the bottom at the carnival.

IF YOU GO WHAT: Canes Carnival featuring rides, games, free prizes and food trucks WHERE: The Green WHEN: 8 p.m. to midnight Friday The event is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/ canesnightlive.

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