The Miami Hurricane, Dec. 9

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The Miami Hurricane takes a look back at the fall 2013 semester.

Pages 6-7

April 18 - April 20, 2011

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

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STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Rhythm Nation brings variety to performances Dance organization wins competition

BY ASHLEY MCBRIDE SENIOR NEWS WRITER

Rhythm Nation, a new dance organization, is making waves on campus by encompassing not only dance, but a variety of aspects of the performing arts.

As president of Rhythm Nation, junior Kenthia Farmer led the organization to its first win as a competitive dance team at the International Dance Competition (IDC), a yearly competition hosted by the Council On International Student Organizations (COISO).

“I was excited that the members were excited,” Farmer said. “For them to have the patience and dedication and excitement for the organization and feel the reward of working hard this semester was the most rewarding aspect for me.”

Not all members of Rhythm Nation are dancers, however. The group tries to

recruit members who embody all elements of performing and is also open to makeup artists, costume designers, stage managers and hair stylists.

For many members of Rhythm Nation, being in the organization meant a new sense of belonging in a group distinct from other dance groups on campus.

“It’s given me a lot of opportunities to grow and dance and try different styles and be a leader as well,” sophomore Kenya Tay said.

Members of the organization also aim to promote diversity and acceptance of everyone, regardless of talent. Sonny Huynh is a sophomore who specializes in popping and electric dancing.

“I’ve been dancing for a few years now, and I wanted to join a group, but the others were too uptight,” he said. “Rhythm Nation is for everyone, even if you don’t know how to dance.”

For students who want to get involved, Rhythm Nation holds auditions at the beginning of each semester.

NEWS BRIEFS

HALLEE MELTZER // STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY: Senior Tonisha DeBrito, junior Kenthia Farmer, senior Ayita Verna and junior Victoria Hernandez perform with Rhythm Nation at the Finals Fiesta on Thursday night at the Hecht-Stanford Bridge.

PHOTO BY KRISTI TOWNSEND // CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER BOOKS FOR BENEFIT: Sophomore Briana Scott decorates an ornament at the Winter Wonderland on the Green on Friday night.

BOOK ARTIST The French Embassy Cultural Services and Richter Library’s Special Collections will present Didier Mutel, a book artist. He specializes in “old-school” techniques of designing books, using acid painting, calligraphy and bookbinding. The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the eighth floor of Richter Library. The general public is invited to attend. Parking is available on Memorial Drive in the lot behind the library. For more information and to RSVP, email asc.library@miami.edu or call 305-284-3247.

COMMENCEMENT Miami Heat President and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Pat Riley will speak at the

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NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Dec. 9, 2013 - Jan. 15, 2014

fall commencement ceremony. Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Dec. 19 at the BankUnited Center.

The ceremony is only open to graduates and their guests. For more information, visit miami.edu/commencement. The ceremony will be webcast live and archived on this website.

COURSE EVALUATIONS Course evaluations for fall 2013 do not close Monday and will instead end Dec. 23. Students were sent an email that shared the wrong deadline.

Course evaluations can be accessed via this email or CaneLink. Responses are anonymous, and instructors do not have access to results before final grades are posted.

OIL SPILL A University of Miami RSMAS-led study to understand the path of oil and other pollutants in coastal areas began in Walton Beach, Fla., last Monday. In the Surfzone Coastal Oil Pathways Experiment (SCOPE), scientists will deploy

GPS-equipped drifters and other instruments to study ocean currents along the coast to understand how oil moves onshore in the event of a spill. This research is made possible by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI).The GoMRI is a 10-year, $500 million independent research program established by an agreement between BP and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon incident and the potential associated impact of this and similar incidents on the environment and public health. The SCOPE Experiment is a project of the UMbased CARTHE. The CARTHE program includes 26 principal investigators from 12 research institutions in eight states. These scientists are engaged in the development of a suite of integrated models and state-of-the-art computations that bridge the scale gap between existing models and natural processes. For more information about CARTHE, please visit carthe. org or on Facebook at facebook.com/ carthe.gomri.

Alexander Gonzalez may be emailed at news@themiamihurricane.com.

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PROFILE

Retiring administrator leaves lasting impression Campus leaders express sentiments

BY ERIKA GLASS | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

BY STEPHANIE PARRA | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As executive assistant for the vice president of student affairs, Sue O’Malley has many tasks to fulfill.

Among them, she helps members of the Student Government (SG) Senate put together resolutions to honor retiring members of the campus community.

On Wednesday, however, she found herself on the other side of the exchange when she was presented with a resolution passed in her own honor due to her upcoming retirement.

A resolution is a statement put together and passed by SG’s Senate that supports the sentiments expressed by students.

“We all collectively agree that Sue should be honored in that way for everything she’s done,” said Justin Borroto, SG vice president. “It’s just a formal document to say what we all think and feel basically.”

O’Malley, who has worked at UM for 12 years, has impacted student leaders’ lives and helped enhance student life on campus.

Borroto worked as a student assistant in her office last year, and has also gotten the opportunity to work with her this year through SG. “It was awesome working for Sue,” he said.

“She was someone who was so knowledgeable about everything going on at UM, and she was so patient. It was refreshing to learn from her and work with her.”

For Borroto, O’Malley is someone who has made an impact in his collegiate experience as well as on other student leaders’ lives. While working in

her office last year, he remembers overhearing her telling administrators what the students would enjoy seeing in the then-under construction Student Activities Center.

“She’s a good go-to person, and she’s always serving as a resource for anything we need,” Borroto said. “When the whole creation of the Student Center was under way and all the offices were under construction, she was really key in making a lot of those decisions.”

For Patricia Whitely, vice president for student affairs, O’Malley has been a “consummate professional.”

Whitely has worked closely with her during the past two years.

“I think that the student leaders and the students that interact with her really enjoy her and love her,” Whitely said. “She really did play a major role in helping out with the student center building and making it a reality.”

In addition to helping out with the construction of the Student Center Complex, she also played a role in the completion of the two murals in the UC (one located by the UC pool and the other in the I-Lounge).

Whitely expressed her sentiments about O’Malley’s retirement.

“I’m super sad, but at the same time I’m very supportive,” Whitely said. “In fact, she stayed two years longer than she had planned and I’m grateful for her for working with me so closely and our staff on getting the Student Center Complex open.”

During her time at UM, O’Malley has dedicated herself to serving students.

“We all know it’s all about the U, but for me, it’s all about you,” she said, referring to her work to help students in any way she can.

O’Malley recalls when she moved to the city in late 2001, when her husband was transferred to

work in Miami. Before arriving to campus, she worked at a college when she lived in Chicago.

She wanted to see if there were any jobs available at UM. She came to campus, interviewed for a position and found herself with a job within a week.

Her original plan was to retire after former Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Walker’s retirement. Whitely, however, convinced her to stay on for two more years to see the completion of the Student Center Complex.

She mentioned that though her title has changed throughout the years from staff associate to executive assistant, the work has not changed much, and she has been given more responsibilities.

“The job title has changed, but it’s just working with the students and student affairs and up until this year all the students were in our building, and so we had so much interaction with all the students back then,” O’Malley said. “To me, the opportunity to work with so many bright and talented students has just been amazing.”

Throughout her years at UM, O’Malley has also amassed several accolades for her work. In 2009, she was tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor attained at UM. Most recently, she was the recipient of the Patricia Whitely Unsung Hero Award at UM, which was named in Whitely’s honor by the SG Executive Board members at the time it was created.

Though she didn’t formally attend UM as a full-time college student, she was able to obtain her Bachelor of General Studies through a Continuing Studies Program on campus. She graduated in 2007.

O’Malley plans to work at the December commencement ceremonies, just as she hs in the past. Her last day of work at UM is Dec. 20.

MONICA HERNDON // PHOTO EDITOR PRIME PROFESSIONAL: Sue O’Malley sits in her office in the UC on Thursday morning.

She hopes to spend her free time traveling to see her grandchildren and visit her family.

O’Malley fondly reflects on her time at UM. “I loved it,” she said. “To me, my leaving is bittersweet … It’s just been so much fun to see the students come in as wide-eyed freshmen and to watch them get involved and see them evolve into the tremendous student leaders that they become.”

PROFILE

Administrator recognized for community engagement efforts Bachin receives coveted award

BY DAVID O’CONNELL CONTRIBUTING NEWS WRITER

Robin Bachin, founder of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, was awarded Florida Campus Compact’s 2013 Community Engagement Educator Award for her involvement within the greater Miami community on Nov. 7.

“I was pleasantly surprised when my name was announced,” she said. “I had shown up to the ceremony without knowing I had won.”

The award recognizes individuals who encourage campus-community partnership

initiatives for faculty and students. Not just a founder, Bachin is the assistant provost of Civic and Community Engagement and has worked on several projects throughout her 17-year tenure at the University of Miami.

She aims to “bridge the gap between the academy and the public by making academic research more available to the general masses.”

Bachin has always been interested in urban design and urban culture because of their sustaining applicability to current problems many community organizations are now facing. Her work focuses on “sustainability and urban design, as it relates to the intersections of urban and environmental history.”

She has created programs such as the Civic Scholars and the Southridge High

School Partnership to encourage students to link service with their academic interests.

Classes offer credits labeled “civic” in the same way there are “writing-intensive” credits.

Bachin is a strong proponent of shared, collective knowledge, and is working with the library and other professors on a massive digitization process where manuscripts and books are reformatted for the web.

According to Bachin, local communities can learn many things from the numerous articles and information stored in archives, such as Richter’s Special Collections in the 8th floor of Richter Library. She believes that the community can benefit from the past, learning from previous mistakes and capitalizing on great past ideas.

Dec. 9, 2013 - Jan. 15, 2014

Bachin has served on the Board of Directors of the Urban History Association, the Good Government Initiative, the Coral Gables Museum and the Urban BACHIN Environment League of Greater Miami.

She was also a past president of the Society for American City and Regional Planning History, an organization focused on merging scholarship with urban planning.

For more information on Civic and Community Engagement programs, email civicengagement@ miami.edu or call 305-284-6636.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

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ACADEMICS

Political science department relocates to renovated art building Move helps centralize related classes

BY ALINA ZERPA CONTRIBUTING NEWS WRITER

The political science department has a new home in the renovated art building behind the Memorial Building, along with the departments of international studies and geography.

The political science department has been housed in the Business School. The move began two weeks before Thanksgiving break and is still a work in progress.

“There were even plans to merge international studies and political science together but for now, we are all just in the same space,” associate professor Louise K. Davidson-Schmich said.

Although unsure what will happen to the newly opened space, Arthur Simon, an undergraduate student adviser, believes the move made sense because the political science degree is no longer a major in the Business School.

Simon said that the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami agreed to renovate the building because it is one of the older ones on campus.

For students, the change will be a positive one. Since many students double

major in both political science and international studies, it will be easier to have both departments closer to each other.

“At least now everything will be in one building,” said sophomore Janelle Rodriguez-Mena, a political science major. “Even though I don’t have any classes there, it’s nice to know that everything is organized into one area on campus.”

Many of the faculty members also teach for both majors, which makes it easier for professors as they do not have to walk too far from their offices, Simon said.

Additionally, the walk to the building is “equal distance” from the renovated building to Memorial and Memorial to the Business School, said Jonathan West, a professor of political science.

“Although students might have to get accustomed to the new location, the walk isn’t a bad thing,” Simon said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION The political science department moved to the renovated art building at 1300 Campo Sano Avenue.

International studies and geography will also be housed in this building.

For more information, visit as.miami.edu/politicalscience.

NICK GANGEMI // ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR ACADEMIC ARTIFACT: The two-story wooden building was built after World War II to accommodate returning veterans.

PHOTO BRIEF

Cute critters HUG AWAY THE STRESS: Junior Shameek Mohile plays with a puppy during Puppies on the Green on Friday afternoon.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS FROM PUPPIES ON THE GREEN ON THEMIAMIHURRICANE.COM. HOLLY BENSUR // STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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OPINION speak UP “I think I learned a lot about myself with regards to academics and social.”

DOMINIQUE FAIRLEY FRESHMAN

“The opening of the SAC. I think it’s a big resource. It brings the community together.”

KENNETH STRANSKY JUNIOR

“Moving to Miami and getting to see Arcade Fire in concert in Little Haiti.”

ELIJAH KIRKLAND-ANDREWS FRESHMAN

“The best thing was Homecoming week and all the events that led up to it, especially the fireworks and boat burning.”

The Miami

It’s OK to be afraid. It’s OK to feel uncertain. But you’re cheating yourself out of life-changing experiences if you think you’re too scared to tackle your fears.

Nicky Diaz, managing editor

HURRICANE Founded 1929 An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper NEWSROOM: 305-284-2016 BUSINESS OFFICE: 305-284-4401 FAX: 305-284-4404 For advertising rates call 305-284-4401 or fax 305-284-4404.

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED THIS SEMESTER?

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Parra MANAGING EDITOR Nicky Diaz

JULIENNE GEDE S E C O N D -Y E A R LAW STUDENT

“Ray Lewis.

Hands down.”

“We beat the Gators.

So that’s pretty good.

It was a fun game.”

KELLY MURPHY FRESHMAN

“I got paid to go to a conference of professional engineers in Indianapolis, and I got a job out of it starting in January.”

SALES REPS Kristyna Fong Michelle Lock Carlos Parra Amilynn Soto ADVERTISING EDITOR Amilynn Soto

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Nick Gangemi

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Erika Glass

NEWS EDITOR Alexander Gonzalez

ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Daniel Cepero

OPINION EDITOR Lyssa Goldberg

DESIGNER Sarbani Ghosh ONLINE EDITOR Alysha Khan

SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Dandes ASSISTANT EDITOR Ashley Martinez

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Amilynn Soto

COPY EDITORS Emily Dabau Sherman Hewitt

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Isabel Vichot

WEBMASTER Morgan McKie

FACULTY ADVISER Bob Radziewicz FINANCIAL ADVISER Steve Priepke

GABRIELA CONTRERAS JUNIOR

To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page. ©2013 University of Miami SPEAK UP ANSWERS ARE EDITED FOR CLARITY, BREVITY AND ACCURACY. COMPILED BY ASHLEY MARTINEZ

Facing fears fosters the greatest memories

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PHOTO EDITOR Monica Herndon

EDGE EDITOR Margaux Herrera

PABLO ESCOBAR SENIOR

n the past three and a half years, I’ve met some of the most incredible people and made memories that I’ll always treasure. Most of my memories aren’t the usual UM student’s. I didn’t attend many football NICKY DIAZ MANAGING games (I went to my first EDITOR one this season), I only went to one Homecoming concert, and I can’t say I know every UM tradition inside and out.

I graduate in less than two weeks, and while ref lecting on my favorite memories, I’ve realized that what made my college experience so amazing were the memories I made in The Miami Hurricane newsroom.

ART DIRECTOR Carlos Mella

BUSINESS MANAGER Tara Kleppinger

I don’t consider anyone on The Miami Hurricane staff as simply a co-worker. I really do see this paper as a family; I know I can rely on them for anything and that’s more than I could ask of anyone. They are some of the most intelligent, talented and – for lack of a better word – amazing people I’ve ever met. I can’t even imagine what UM would’ve been like without them. There’s no doubt in my mind these friendships will continue after we all finish at UM. I’ve changed a lot since I was a freshman: I’ve now realized what I want to do with my life, I feel more confident about my dreams and goals and I’m blonder.

But the most important thing I’ve learned since freshman year is not to be afraid of taking risks. Every single risk I’ve

taken since I stepped foot on UM’s campus has paid off.

It’s OK to be afraid. It’s OK to feel uncertain. But you’re cheating yourself out of life-changing experiences if you think you’re too scared to tackle your fears. If I hadn’t reached out of my comfort zone, I would’ve never interned at The Miami Herald, met my best friends or even have decided to apply to law school.

To quote my favorite singer, “Work hard. Play hard. Be kind.”

Nicky Diaz is a senior majoring in print journalism, and minoring in education and math.After graduating in December, she will attend law school in the fall of 2014.

Dec. 9, 2013 - Jan. 15, 2014

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 Miami Hurricane’s Editorial Board.

Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Miami Hurricane are located in the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200.

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 Miami Hurricane. Letters to the editor may be submitted typed or handwritten to the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 248132, Coral Gables, Fla., 33124-6922. Letters must be signed with a copy of your Cane Card.

ADVERTISING POLICY The Miami Hurricane’s business office is located at 1330 Miller Drive, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200. The Miami Hurricane is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. Newspapers are distributed for free on the Coral Gables campus, the School of Medicine and off-campus locations.

DEADLINES All ads must be received, cash with copy, in The Miami Hurricane business office, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200, by noon Tuesday for Thursday’s issue and noon Friday for Monday’s 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 Association and Florida College Press Association.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

OPINION

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THE SEMESTER IN REVIEW

KENNETH COLE

Spencer Dandes, Lyssa Goldberg, Alexander Gonzalez, Ashley Martinez and Stephanie Parra contributed to this report.

The University of Miami welcomed students with a new $47-million Student Activities Center and renovations to the University Center Patio. But changes to the ibis-covered landscape were not just structural. Students challenged a new smokefree campus; they engaged with prominent speakers from the nation and globe; and

HOMECOMING WEEK

they witnessed the football team defeat the University of Florida Gators. Above all, this semester represented a number of changes that may leave the university community next semester nostalgic for this exciting and active fall 2013. The Hurricane recaps the highlights below.

MONICA HERNDON // PHOTO EDITOR

Sophomore Claudia Perez performs with ACS at O’Cheer on Nov. 6 in the SAC Ballrooms. The University of Miami celebrated Homecoming from Oct. 30 to Nov. 9. This year, students witnessed both old and new traditions – including a fireworks display over Lake Osceola including the new Student Activities Center. Students and alumni gathered to celebrate festivities, which were themed to Dr. Seuss’s books.

CBS CEO SHARES INSIGHT

KARLI EVANS// CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER On Nov. 7 , the University of Miami hosted fashion designer Kenneth Cole at the Storer Auditorium to talk to UM Students and Alumni about how he built his fashion empire, stood by the causes he supports, and offer advice about business and fashion to a generation entering a rapidly changing industry. Cole is celebrating 30 successful years with his production company, and just published a book about the process. He’s wrapping up a book tour with Amy Levin, founder of CollegeFashionista, who sat with him on stage and prompted him with questions to answer to an audience of college students and grads, who he also took questions from at the end. He was well-spoken, funny, and down to earth.

CEO of CBS, Leslie Moonves spoke with student media on Nov. 4 in the School of Communication Studio C. CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves discussed his career in television and shared his insight with students and faculty at the School of Communication. Moonves participated in two forums during his visit about the future of broadcast network television and another on the entrepreneurial spirit at CBS.

GEORGE TAKEI George Takei, noted “Star Trek” actor, visited in December to discuss equality and student activism. On Dec. 3, he shared stories about his childhood, growing up in an internment camp in Arkansas for Japanese-Americans during World War II.

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon addressed the university Dec. 2 at the Alumni Center. Santos Calderon served as Colombia’s First Foreign Trade Minister as well as Finance Minister and National Defense Minister. In 2010 he was elected the 32nd president of Colombia with more than 9 million votes, the highest number obtained by any candidate in the country’s history.

NICK GANGEMI// ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

PRO-SMOKING PROTESTS

FIRED UP FOR FLORIDA

NCAA DECISION

Phillip Dorsett (4), Malcolm Lewis (9) and Tracy Howard (3) celebrate a touchdown during the UF game in September. The University of Miami took on the University of Florida on Sept. 7. The Hurricanes took down the Gators, resulting with an unexpected score of 21-16.

The NCAA finally gave the results of its investigation into the UM athletic department on Oct. 21, signaling the end of an uncertain era in Miami sports. The football team, which had self-imposed postseason bans the last two years, faces scholarship reductions going forward but will play in a bowl game after posting a 9-3 record.

CREATIVE SCIENCE

LISA LING MONICA HERNDON // PHOTO EDITOR

Award-winning journalist and author Lisa Ling spoke at this year’s fall convocation on S. She talked about her book “Open Heart, Open Mind” and shared her stories from her 20-plus year career in media outlets such as MTV, ABC, NBC and PBS.

STUDENT CENTER OPENING Students walk up the staircase at the official Student Activities Center opening on Aug. 26. Since its unveiling on the first day of the fall semester, students have made the secondfloor organization offices their new home, held events in the third-floor ballrooms, and shared drinks at the two-story Rathskeller. Construction wasn’t entirely complete by the time of its grand opening, but the Kornspan Study Lounge opened on Oct. 30 to students who have been taking advantage of the 24-hour quiet study space since then.

Meanwhile, the University Center Patio has hosted a range of events, with performances at the amphitheater. The Student Center Complex was dedicated on Nov. 8 during Homecoming Week.

NANCY CERMENO //CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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SEMESTER IN REVIEW

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NYT Bestselling author Dava Sobel poses for a portrait in the library on Oct. 25. Well-known science writer Dava Sobel came to campus in October to talk about her new book and play, “A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos.” The Humanities Center invited her to speak at a public lecture as part of the Stanford Distinguished Professors series. Sobel is also a New York Times bestselling author known for writing about astronomy and astronomers like Galileo and Copernicus.

OCTOBER SPEAKERS

NICK GANGEMI // ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR UM student smokers protest the new smoking ban on the Rock on Oct. 25. This semester, the university entered into the third and final stage of the Smoke-Free Campus Initiative making the Coral Gables campus completely smoke-free. The previous phases restricted smokers to designated areas on campus and then cut the number of those areas in half in spring 2011 and fall 2012 respectively.

Despite the efforts of the university, students staged a protest against the restrictions by smoking on the Rock in October.

Dec. 9, 2013 - Jan. 15, 2014

UM alumnus Ray Lewis spoke to students during “An Evening with Ray Lewis” in the SAC ballroom on Oct. 2. Ray Lewis, former member of the Miami Hurricane football team and two-time Super Bowl-winning linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens, spoke at “An Evening with Ray Lewis.” Lewis MONICA HERNDON // shared stories about PHOTO EDITOR his disruptive past and his 17-year professional career.

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Must-see shows take audience on emotional roller coaster

BY MADELYN PAQUETTE CONTRIBUTING EDGE WRITER

‘MAKING GOD LAUGH’ Woody Allen once said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” It’s a typically wry quip from the famous director, but nonetheless has a ring of truth to it. The Actors’ Playhouse explored both the humor and pathos in this assertion in its captivating production of “Making God Laugh.”

The play was written by Sean Grennan, which follows an American family through 30 years of holiday gatherings. A decade separates the events of each scene, and though the fashion, cars and careers may come and go, what never changes is the inevitable wisecracking, quarreling and love which mark any family reunion. Just like in real life, the script often turns on a dime from light-hearted teasing to an explosion of hidden tension and then back again as the two parents and three children interact.

The Actors’ Playhouse’s production showcased five brilliant actors and actresses who proved their incredible emotional range over the course of the show. The chemistry between the family members was remarkable, as every actor crafted truly believable and dynamic relationships with each of their fellow cast members. The show as a whole had the feel of an edgy sitcom; a priest, an actress and a jack-ofall-trades return to the home of their conservative parents, and wacky antics ensue.

Each of the children had their own signature brand of humor which combined into a delightful comedic combination. Rick (Gregg Weiner) brought over-the-top innuendo and paranoia, Maddie (Deborah Sherman) was the epitome of dark sarcasm, and Tom (Michael Focas) delivered witty punchlines at a mile a minute pace. In addition, running gags such as their mother Ruthie’s (Angie Radosh) universally reviled “Fantasia Dip” and the taking of a family photo at the end of each scene were audi-

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ble crowdpleasers.

However, in a testament to Grennan’s skill as a playwright, these ongoing jokes return in the second act with a far more poignant purpose.

Ruthie has begun to experience the onset of dementia, and while her children and husband (Peter Hait) display the same charming quirks as earlier in the play, the show’s conclusion is brimming with much subtler emotional resonance than the campy hilarity of the opening scene. The family traditions take on a deeper meaning in light of the situation. It is a testament to the skill of the actors that they were able to find the catharsis in this denouement while maintaining the light-hearted spirit of the show.

Tech played a vital role in creating some of the productions most hysterical moments.

Period-appropriate costumes for each decade were often delightfully tacky (particularly the themed sweaters of Ruthie, and the “trendy” garb of Maddie), and props such as Rick’s 1990s era cell-phone were a hilarious reminder of days gone by. Additionally, music and news broadcasts in transitions helped establish cultural context, while simultaneously covering for scene changes which would otherwise have seemed far too long.

The production is a hilarious expression of the glue which holds even this most fractured of families together: the love they have for each other.

WHERE: Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables

COST: $45 to $53

WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. on Sundays, through Dec. 29

PHOTO COURTESY: ACTORSPLAYHOUSE.ORG

EDGE

For more information, call 305-4449293 or visit actorsplayhouse.org.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

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‘my name is asher lev’ The lights come up on the stage. “My name is Asher Lev,” the actor announces to the audience, flanked by his parents watching from the background. What follows are 90 minutes of exploring exactly what that means; a struggle of identity, tradition and passion which is alternately joyous and devastating. GableStage’s remarkable production of “My Name is Asher Lev” is the rare play which holds its audience utterly spellbound, fully immersed in an eye-opening journey of one man’s search for himself.

“My Name is Asher Lev” is an adaptation

by Aaron Posner of the eponymous 1972 novel

by Chaim Potok. The first off-Broadway production opened in 2012 and garnered tremendous critical acclaim, including the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play. The show follows the character throughout his childhood and adolescence growing up in a Hasidic Jewish community in 1950s Brooklyn. However, Asher is also an artistic prodigy, whose drawing talent is apparent even at the young age of 6. Despite his father’s disapproval, he finds that his urge to create art cannot be denied, even if it flies in the face of religious tradition and tears his family apart.

GableStage’s three-person cast breathed such profound life into their characters that it was easy to forget that they were actors. This achievement is made all the more impressive by the fact that the script demanded vast transformations from all three; the protagonist appears from ages 6 to 18, as well as in the form of an older narrator, and the actors portraying his parents were also called upon to embody supporting roles which were pivotal to the plot.

Etai BenSchlomo gave a passionate and dynamic performance as Asher Lev. He crafted an innumerable string of memorable moments which spanned the emotional spectrum. BenS-

WHERE: GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22

cholomo held the hearts of the audience in the palm of his hand from the start, winning their sympathy as a naïve 6-year-old (no small feat for an adult actor), and then delivering poignant punches to the gut with his anguished revelations in fourth-wall breaking monologues. He wrung every drop of meaning out of the script, to awe-inspiring effect.

Married couple Avi Hoffman and Laura Turnbull were no less superb in their rotating lineup of roles. Hoffman in particular was the consummate chameleon; he brought Asher’s deeply religious father Aryeh Lev, his iconoclastic artistic mentor Jacob Kahn, and even the leader of the Hasidic Jewish community, the Rebbe, to life with equally potent and compelling depictions. Scenes between the Lev family crackled with intensity and an electric chemistry which forced the audience to the edge of their seats. There were audible gasps at particularly climactic moments, the highest compliment which could be paid to the work of the cast.

Every once in a while, a show comes along which has the power to change the way you see the world. “My Name is Asher Lev” is one of those shows, conveying a stirring message about faith, art, family and discovering who you are meant to be. Heartrending and hilarious, GableStage has crafted a production which is an absolute must-see. If you watch only one play this semester, make it “My Name is Asher Lev.”

COST: $15 to $55 For more information, call 305-4451119 or visit gablestage.org.

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wins this season for the Miami women’s volleyball team, which fell to Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Hurricane football players named All-ACC this past weekend, including Pat O’Donnell and Denzel Perryman on the First Team.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Double-digit lead fizzles, Miami falls in OT Shooters slow down after hot first half

BY PATRICK RILEY STAFF WRITER

NICK GANGEMI // ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR OFF THE DRIBBLE: Senior Rion Brown works his way into the paint during Miami’s overtime loss to Virginia Tech on Sunday at the BankUnited Center. It was the ACC opener for the Canes.

After an extended cross-country road trip that included losses to George Washington and Nebraska as well as victories against Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State, the Miami Hurricanes (5-5, 0-1 ACC) returned home on Sunday to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies (7-3, 1-0) in their first conference matchup.

The familiar turf, however, did not propel the Canes to a victory. Virginia Tech took Miami down in overtime, 61-60.

The disappointment on the players’ faces was blatantly obvious as Miami squandered a seven-point lead with five minutes left in regulation.

The Canes were up by as many as 13 in the second half and led the Hokies since midway through the first quarter.

“I thought in the first half we pretty much executed our gameplan the way we wanted to,” coach Jim Larranaga said. “We defended them pretty well, only gave up 23 points. Contested the three pretty well – they still made I think five 3s – which we would’ve preferred it be at one or two less. But offensively I thought we played pretty good.”

It did in fact look like Miami was going to cruise to a 1-0 start in ACC play with the offense clicking early. The Canes were able to get high-percentage looks around the basket, scoring 18 points in the paint in the first half and shooting 45.2 percent from the field.

Conversely, Miami held the Hokies to just four points inside and 30 percent from the field.

Miami then extended its lead early in the second half, but would soon be slowed down by the return of a familiar foe: poor shooting.

“We’re having a hard time making open shots,” Larranaga said. “We need to figure out a way to play better together.”

But while Miami’s second-half Dec. 9, 2013 - Jan. 15, 2014

field goal percentage dropped to 31, Virginia Tech kept fighting and was able to erase the deficit to force the Canes into their fourth overtime game of the season.

Before that, the Hokies had Miami fans and players gasping for air after nearly sinking an improbable buzzer beater off of an inbounds play with .3 seconds left.

The Canes’ scoring woes continued in overtime, but Miami hung tough and was tied with under 30 seconds to go. A Jarrell Eddie jumper then gave the Hokies a 61-59 lead with 20 seconds to play.

“He’s a good shooter,” said senior Rion Brown, who had to guard Virgina Tech’s leading scorer (Eddie, 24 points) for much of the game. “And the thing with him is even when he got the ball and picked it up, he was still looking to shoot, so you have to have great position. And a couple of times he got to the side of us just enough to get it off and he made tough shots.”

After Eddie’s big bucket, Miami still had a chance to tie the game late when senior guard Garrius Adams, who led UM with 14 points, was fouled and sent to the line. Adams, however, missed his second free throw which would seal Miami’s fate.

Teammate Donnavan Kirk snagged the subsequent rebound, but could not score from a tough angle as the final seconds ticked away.

“The one thing I know, all these guys are trying very hard,” Larranaga said. “They’re trying to do the right thing, but it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.”

UPCOMING GAMES DEC. 19 7 p.m. @ Savannah State DEC. 22 3 p.m. vs. La Salle DEC. 30 7 p.m. vs. Loyola (Md.)

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V, DEAR V I need to make it to the finish line ...

So I think I’m going crazy. I’ve liked this guy for a bit but I think I might be getting bored. Also, I’m super stressed and I think that’s adding to it. I keep finding all these flaws in him, but really I think I’m just projecting. What’s wrong with me? What do I do?

Frustrated and Alone

Dear Kris Jenner, We’ve all been there. We’re with someone, we like them and then for some reason it just fizzles out. It’s natural and it happens.

But if I were you, I would re-evaluate why you liked him in the first place. Sometimes we think things are dying down when a boy hasn’t made a move but that’s not necessarily always the case. For some people it just takes a while to get comfortable enough to get close enough to other people.

There’s also something to say about your attitude. If you’re stressed and you’re taking out on this poor guy then you’ll end up sad and alone and you’ll never get any. I don’t mean to be so blunt but if we keep looking for the f laws in other people then we’re never going to be able to get our crap together long enough for anyone to tolerate us.

What you should do is invite him to coffee at Starbucks and take a study break. I don’t care how many orgo tests you have next week, you need to take care of your sexual health.

And you’re right, Bruce Jenner had that weird facelift thing and his hair is thinning so it’s a little gross to look at but he’s an Olympic champion and that’s all that matters.

V

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