BY MORGAN FRY STAFF WRITER
Freshman musical theatre major Ainsley Nelson has fallen in love with the University of Miami: her friends, her professors, the campus. Now, she has to leave behind it all.
Denied on-campus housing and unable to afford the prices of offcampus options Nelson has been forced to apply to transfer. She is not alone.
“It’s not worth the amount of debt and the amount of stress that I face,” Nelson said. “I think that if I had gone back and known this was my situation, chances are I may not have come here.”
Housing is one of the many hardships lower income students like Nelson face at UM, where there is a wide economic disparity among the student body.
In 2017, The Equality of Opportunity Project published a “Mobility Report Card” on the University of Miami covered by The New York Times. The report stated that 36% of the student body at UM is in the top 5% of annual income, with 13% from the top 1%. Additionally, 5.5% of students were from the bottom 20%, evidencing the large amount of economic diversity at the university.
“It’s a very different set of values,” freshman architectural engineering major Blake Gomien said. “There’s just a lot of disconnect.”
On-campus housing for the 2023-2024 school year was limited for many students, and put an extra strain on students who could not afford the high housing costs off-campus.
“I can’t afford to be here because of how my fnancial aid package works,” Nelson said. “The school
has done nothing to help. They’ve done nothing to increase scholarships in order to help students afford on-campus housing. It really feels like they don’t care.”
Form 990 for the fscal year ending in 2020 reported that a total of $458,243,503 in grants and other assistance were given to domestic individuals. U.S. News stated that “The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to frst-year students at University of Miami was $30,859. Additionally, 49% of frst-year students received need-based fnancial aid in fall 2020.”
Nelson applied to be an Residential Assistant (RA) on-campus and has spoken to multiple administrative members about her situation, but has not yet been able to fnd a solution to her case.
“I frst applied to be an RA and I got on the alternate list for that, which was good,” Nelson said. “But I had to get on-campus housing in order to stay here and they took no priority for people with fnancial needs.”
Nelson has fnancial aid that goes toward her tuition at UM, which made coming to school here cheaper than her in-state tuition in Michigan. However, the housing options off-campus are not covered by her fnancial aid.
“There needs to be more affordable housing options,” Nelson said. “It shouldn’t be a war to get housing on-campus. Housing is a basic human need and 18-yearolds shouldn’t be expected to go fnd apartments off-campus simply because the school refuses to house them.”
Gomien grew up in a military family and is attending UM fully paid for by the Post-9/11 GI
Bill. UM accepts education benefts offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. Not all private schools accept these programs, which is ultimately what led Gomien to choose UM.
“I knew that I could afford almost anywhere because I wasn’t having to pay for it,” Gomien said. “When my friends and I were applying to Lakeside, we had to do the suite style because people in my group couldn’t afford the actual apartments.”
The newer housing options such as Lakeside Village and the upcoming Centennial Village freshman dorms, are expensive even for middle-class students.
The new housing developments have also caused the university to raise tuition. The estimated cost of attendance for undergraduate students on-campus has risen from $78,640 in 2022-2023 to $88,938 for the 2023-2024 school year, according to UM’s website.
“I think that especially if we keep raising tuition costs, people aren’t gonna come here,” Gomein said. “It’s just gonna be even more rich kids.”
Gomien expressed feeling outof-place at Miami, as he grew up among lower-class military kids, who are uncommon to fnd at the university.
“No one’s grown up here,” Gomien said. “No one has connections to you. No one from my background or lower classes really comes here.”
Nelson also has experienced diffculties within her friendships, as people’s budgets for going out differ greatly from her own.
“A lot of people I know and a
lot of my really close friends have this disposable income that they can just buy stuff and go places and I’m often like ‘I can’t afford the uber, I can’t afford to go out ot eat, I have to save money’,” Nelson said. “I pay for all my own stuff and I feel like I have to keep up with that.
Nelson said that she struggles to keep up with her social life at a school where many of her classmates don’t have to worry about money as much as herself.
“A lot of people here lack empathy for people with less money,” Nelson said. “They’ve always grown up around people with lots and lots of money. Sometimes I felt ashamed because I haven’t been able to do stuff or pay for things.”
Due to the lack of support Gomien has felt from administration at this school, it has caused him to think of transferring himself.
Roberta Macedo//Graphics Editor“It doesn’t feel like the school cares about the students and our needs as much as they care about profts,” Gomien said. “I’ve thought about transferring a good fve times. I almost applied to transfer to UF but they don’t let you apply until you’re a junior.”
Nelson hopes the administration shows more empathy and transparency in the future as they deal with lower-income students’ stresses in areas like housing.
“We’re not just checks, we’re not just money,” Nelson said. “We’re actually humans and deserve to be taken care of and respected and understood as humans. Even those of us who have less money, that doesn’t make me worth less in terms of being a student.”
The Miami Hurricane reached out to UM Admissions, who failed to respond with a comment.
UM students will experience about a $10,000 increase in the total cost of attendance for the 20232024 school year, averaging about 88K for undergraduate on-campus students.
The total cost of attendance for the 2023-2024 school year for undergraduate on-campus students is expected to be $88,938, but for off-campus students or students living in University Village, this cost of attendance could reach up to $89,804. With university-sponsored health insurance this rises to $93,595 for off-campus students and $92,729 for on-campus.
In 2022, the total cost of attendance ranged between $69,160 and $78,640 depending on if students lived with a relative or off-campus.
According to UM’s Offce of Undergraduate Financial Assistance the total cost of attendance includes direct billed charges like tuition and housing, as well as indirect expenses such as books, transportation, and personal expenses.
Tuition for the 2022-2023 school year was $55,400. For the 20232024 year, this number will jump to $58,102, a $2,662 increase in tuition. The most signifcant shift is seen in the food and housing category for on-campus students, it will rise from $16,530 to $22,064.
UM’s Undergraduate Admissions did not respond to a request for comment on this increase. Students however have not hesitated to express discontent with the rise in cost of attendance.
Marlee Barbour, a sophomore political science and criminology major, struggled to fnd housing once she moved out of her dorm in Pearson Residential College. She says an increase in tuition should be last on the University’s agenda.
“It’s frustrating to see this happening especially when there are not enough adequate living options after your frst year of school,” said Barbour.
Barbour applied to live in Lake-
side Village for sophomore year, but it flled up before she could register. She says it made her hesitant to pay her bills for a school that couldn’t even accommodate her housing situation.
According to US News and World Report, the national average tuition at a private college was $39,723 in 2022, which is approximately 32% less than UM’s new tuition.
Sophomore Biology major Lily Burtner says her tuition here at UM is drastically higher than her friends at other schools.
During the 2020-2021 school year, the average tuition of a private college in Florida was $23,744 according to the U.S. Department
of Education’s 2020-2021 IPEDS survey. This is drastically lower than UM’s current and past tuition rates.
I have friends at schools up north and their tuition is way less,” said Burtner.
Nonetheless, vice president for enrollment management, John Haller says these tuition increases do not affect enrollment. More applicants than ever are applying to UM, with 49,196 newly admitted frst-year students, according to the UM class profle.
“The number of applications has increased more than 60 percent since 2014,” said Haller.
A University of Miami dining hall meal costs $12. That is given the student visits the dining hall three times a day, seven days a week for 16 weeks of the academic semester. Any fewer visits, means a higher cost.
The average UM student may eat closer to 15 meals a week for 15 weeks of the semester. At this rate, a single meal’s cost increases to $18 each.
For the past several years, UM students could choose a “14 meal per week” or “19 meal per week” plan, bringing the single meal cost back down to $16 and $13 respectively.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, UM on-campus frst-years will lose this option.
UM will require frst-years living on campus to purchase the sevenday-a-week, unlimited meals plan, offcially named the “7 Day All Access.” The plan will include the same amount of $250 Dining Dollars, available at most university dining locations; fve guest swipes, a slash from the 10 allotted previously; one swipe per meal period at the Corner Deli and an obliga-
tory 15 minute pause between meal swipes.
The rule will apply during the frstyear’s frst semester or until they obtain more than 24 credits.
UM failed to respond to a request to comment on the decision to redesign the meal plans.
“I’m curious to see the reasoing for why they want to change it,” said Hannah Schmitz, a sophomore studying biochemistry and marine science. “I can’t think of a good reason.”
Schmitz used the 14 meal per week plan in her freshman year. On the rare occasion that she ran out of meal swipes, a friend would lend her a guest swipe. She would return the favor next week.
The university tweaks its policies each year, typically increasing the meal plan prices marginally by a couple hundred dollars. This year’s change is the most radical in recent history.
It is accompanied by an apparent discount for the second most expensive meal plan. Instead of a 19 meal per week plan, priced at $3,725 in the 2022-2023 academic year, UM will now offer a “5 Day All Access” plan at $3,500. The plan includes the same features as the “7 Day All
Access” without, of course, Saturday and Sunday availability.
The “5 Day All Access,” though, is only available to upperclassmen.
The 14 meal per week plan has been completely phased out, replaced by a new 125 meal block plan. These allow UM students to buy 125 meals throughout the semester from the dining halls in addition to using $250 in Dining Dollars. The plan costs $2,560.
For Carlos Luengo, a frst-year studying economics, the 14 meal per week plan made sense.
“I have never run out,” Luengo said. “I don’t think it was worth it to have the unlimited one.”
Occasionally Luengo supplements his meal plans with McDonalds but has never lacked the means to eat, even with the smallest possible meal plan.
Jacob Sachs, another frst-year who studies microbiology, agreed. He says only once has he met the 14 meal per week limit and it was the fnal meal before his limit reset for the week.
For him as well, the unlimited plan is not ideal.
“Why would you want to pay more money? Why change it if someone’s gonna have to pay more
money?” Sachs said.
“I kind of would want to know the reason why they’re doing that,” he added.
Rising frst-years who live near campus with family may avoid the requirement by living off-campus, but they should be aware of a potential $300 cancellation fee if they choose to leave their meal plan midsemester.
Students who are not required to enroll in the “7 Day All Access” should also recognize a $40 downgrade fee if they choose to transition to a cheaper meal plan.
First-year, on-campus students with dietary restrictions may still be obligated to enroll in the “7 Day All Access” program, but may also contact umdiningRD@miami.edu to discuss specifc meal plans.
A fnancial referendum led by sophomore Senator Nik Howell, Chair of the Senate Policy and Finance Committee, aimed to raise the student activities fee by one dollar per semester to increase funding for the University of Miami Student Government (SG), but failed to make the ballot after being proposed for a second time.
The proposal lacked student support and failed to meet requirements set by the Elections Commission.
Many students responded with questions as opposed to direct opposition. A lack of information distorted the original purpose of the referenda. The senate committee that proposed the increase failed to make it clear that the increased student activities fee would directly increase the Student Government budget.
“Tuition seems to increase every year,” third year creative advertising major, Isa Lozano said. “This would make paying it harder than it already is, and I don’t really know where the money would be going.”
The student government budget funds SG events including outreach initiatives, elections and giveaways, as well as cosponsoring larger events and celebrations hosted by student organizations. Student government provides supplemental funding that wasn’t received from SAFAC to host these events.
A few times this year SG was not able to serve the large number of students that attend their events due to a lack of funds.
“When we offered chipotle during (De)Stress Fest we ran out,” commuter senator, Katrina Hernandez, said. “More funding would help us better accommodate the amount of students that
come to our events.”
Student government has cosponsored the Asian American Student Association’s Lunar New Year Celebration, Federación de Estudiantes Cubanos’ Week of Cuban Culture and African Student Union’s Taste of Africa.
The initial proposal was piloted by the 2021-2022 SG Treasurer Grace Tenke. The referendum sought to increase the student activities fee to increase the SG budget for initiatives to beneft the student community.
“This would increase our budget by a good amount,” Howell said. “The goal was to increase the budget so that way we can give more back to the campus community, not for our own internal greed, so to speak.”
During election season, any student can write a fnancial referendum that will increase the student activities fee. The funding from this increase will
be allocated to a specifc group or organization of the writer’s choosing. This fnancial referendum was proposed by the Senate and supported by multiple members of SG.
The referendum petition failed to receive the necessary 500 signatures, or 10% of the current UM population. The writers of the referenda then missed the mandatory meeting and the committee decided they would not proceed with the referendum.
“The best way to promote it is very much in a grassroots way, actively going out talking to students, tabling at outreach events,” Howell said. “That’s something I hope that we can improve on next year to bring it back and ultimately make it successful.”
The 2021-2022 referendum struggled with the same requirement. This year, every full time enrolled undergraduate student
received an email promoting the referendum. Although Howell reported that the referendum received more signatures this year than last, it ultimately did not receive the 500 required.
“Two fnancial referenda were proposed to me prior to the campaign period, one from Student Government and the other from an on-campus publication.” Asia Chester, the SG Elections Commission Chair, said. “Unfortunately, neither ft the requirements to be placed on the ballot.”
Student government is considering submitting the referenda for a third try next spring.
“We aim to clarify. We want to make sure that all the information is laid out, as well as our intentions and our goals,” Howell said. “Because ultimately, we’re here to serve students. We’re here to improve the university and create a better campus experience for all students.
Do you know how to pay your taxes? How about investing in stocks? Know how credit scores and interest rates work? Or even how to open a savings account? If you answered no to any of those questions, you aren’t alone. In a 2022 Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse survey, only four in 10 college students called their fnancial knowledge “excellent” or “good.”
As a college student, you are likely dealing with various fnancial decisions, such as paying for tuition, managing student loans, and trying to save some money for your future. However, despite the importance of fnancial literacy in your life, many college students struggle with this topic.
Senior engineering major Emma Malone attributes her lack of fnancial education to a lack of mandatory resources.
“I feel like I know the basics of fnancial management, but when it comes to practical applications, I don’t have much experience … like I know how to budget, but when it comes to investing and taxes, I’m lost,” Malone said.
Financial literacy is the ability to understand and manage your personal fnances effectively. It includes various skills, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit and debt.
“Everyone knows that personal fnance is important, yet my experience has shown that there are a variety of reasons that have attributed to our young adults having a lack of ‘money awareness,’” said Christopher Magnan, Director of the University of Miami’s Money Management Program, a toolbox of resources to help students enhance their personal fnance skills.
Some of these reasons include a lack of early fnancial education in high school, a “fear of money,” that
is fueled by the media or negative experiences, a uncomfortability with talking about money, resulting in students trying to “fgure it out” on their own, a mentality that it is okay to put it off until after they have graduated, and many just lack an awareness about the resources that are available to become fnancially literate.
Having a strong foundation of fnancial literacy is important because it gives you the knowledge needed to manage your fnances wisely. In an effort to improve fnancial literacy among young adults, 15 states, including Florida, are mandating that high school students take a personal fnance course to graduate.
“Financial literacy is an important life skill for a student to have,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after signing the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act in March of 2022. “Ensuring our students have the skills to manage their fnances and perhaps one day own a business will pay dividends for our state. I am
proud to sign this bill to support the future of Florida’s students and ultimately their families and communities.”
A lot of these state initiatives are fairly new and many current college students who weren’t able to reap those benefts still feel ill prepared. In response to this insecurity, UM and other universities across the country offer resources to help students understand and manage their personal fnances. The majority of these resources are voluntary.
“[UM’s Money Management Program] educates students on everything from budgeting, living on their own and early credit development, to mapping out their fnancial Life Plan, investing, and navigating most aspects of real-world fnance, like borrowing, living on your own and buying a frst home,” Magnan said.
One of the best things students can do for their fnancial futures is to take advantage of free resources offered at UM, like the Money Management
Program. The program has several remaining “Money Talks” this semester, which are free sessions covering different topics that will increase your chances of achieving and sustaining fnancial success. Students can fnd the remaining topics and schedules on their website.
Senior Amanda Szaro says that if it wasn’t for her fnance and business technology major, she wouldn’t be half as confdent in her fnancial literacy skills.
“The business school has prerequisites that I believe gave me a better background on certain things like taxes and the time value of money. Honestly, I think the only reason I am fnancially literate is because of my fnance major. I did see that the school recently sent out an email about the Money Management Program which I do think students should take advantage of… I even think I could learn a lot from those resources and plan to look into it. ” said Szaro.
In the face of America’s least affordable housing market and the debilitating price tag of a private education, some University of Miami students are struggling to make ends meet.
To get by, many student’s hold on-campus jobs. These positions frequently pay just above Florida’s minimum wage. UM’s Student Government(SG) was on a mission to raise these wages, however, their efforts have been brought to a halt.
In 2020, Florida voters approved a mandate to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2027 and now, as of Sep. 2022, Florida’s minimum wage is $11 an hour. UM’s student employees are frequently paid $11.40 an hour.
In light of this, SG recently passed a bill to increase student employee wages. However, the bill was later rejected by UM Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, Patricia Whitely. The bill did not specify the amount by which the minimum wage for student employees should be increased, only that it should be increased “in accordance with the needs of the undergraduate student body.”
SG Student Employee Senator Angel Viola-Cruz says this was done deliberately.
“The bill was purposely made very vague,” said Viola-Cruz. “I did that in a sense, because I knew going into it a bill of this nature, and this magnitude needs to be vague in order for the university to decide how to implement it and how to go about it.”
Prior to being elected to office, Viola-Cruz ran on a platform that looked to increase student wages. The senator strongly believes that this bill would have been a critical step towards helping students afford
tuition and cope with the current inflation, which is at a 40year high and has led to a significant rise in consumer prices across the board.
“I think having an increase in minimum wage would have definitely helped alleviate that burden and kind of help facilitate that a little bit better,” said Viola-Cruz.
According to the Student Employment Office, student employees make an average of $11.40 an hour. The bill states that with the “average cost of attendance at the U set at $46,000 it would take a student who works 20 hours a week over 100 months to pay off 1 year at the U.”
In a letter responding to the bill, Whitely noted that the university currently follows the state’s minimum wage, which is $15 per hour for non-student workers, and that student wages are dictated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a law that establishes federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards. She also expressed concerns about the implications of the wage increase.
“Changes to student wage have larger implications on wages for regular and temporary non-student wages … It is challenging to set a standard across all departments as each area manages their own budget in accordance with central budgeting,” Whitely wrote.
Whitely emphasized that the university remains committed to fair wages for student employees. She also acknowledged the financial burden that many students face and the need to address it in a sustainable way.
The bill aimed to increase the student employee minimum wage in accordance with the needs of the undergraduate student body. It cited various
reasons for the wage increase, including the high cost of living in Miami and increased tuition, as well as the need to address the housing crisis at the university.
The bill also highlighted other universities that have recently increased their minimum wage, including Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia and Duke University. It noted that while these universities are not in Florida, they serve as examples of how universities can prioritize fair wages for their student employees.
“What we have noticed is that if another university makes a substantial change, it gives UM more of an initiative to follow suit. [UM] is always trying to find something to make us a staple, to make us more of
a name brand, and to stick out from other universities,” said Viola-Cruz.
The rejection of the bill has sparked a debate about the financial challenges facing students at UM and the role of the university in addressing them. Some students feel that the university has a responsibility to ensure that its student employees are paid a fair wage that reflects the high cost of living in Miami.
Dharma Proctor, a senior studying ecosystem science and policy, works at the front desk of the pool. Proctor said she feels disheartened by the lack of initiative from administration to ensure their student employees are living comfortably in a city and on a campus with an increasingly high cost of living.
“I work hard to try to support myself here in Miami while also pursuing my education,” Proctor said. “I understand the complexities that refrain the dean from passing this bill but I also wish there could be an outline for how this issue is going to continue to be addressed.”
Viola-Cruz feels similarly.
“I think a statement released on [the division of student affairs’] behalf would be a good first step, just to show the student body that they are committed to this cause,” Viola-Cruz said. “It would show the student body that they’re committed and kind of to hold them accountable as well, because then we have kind of a trail, and we can kind of check up on it as we go.”
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BY SABRINA WILSON STAFF WRITERThe spring semester always arrives with a multitude of tasks to be completed — meetings with advisors, enrolling in classes and securing housing somewhere in Miami. But this year, many students face an especially hard financial reality that has left them asking an important question: Can I afford to come back next year?
I am among the many students who have struggled to answer that question since the minute we returned to campus in January. The University of Miami projects that the cost of attendance for the 2023-2024 academic year could soar by $10,000. When my parents and I revisited our college budgeting spreadsheet, we discovered that the drastic increase was not the only problem.
As none of the costs for the 2023-2024 academic year have been finalized and information about financial aid has not been released, we were forced to guess how much tuition, din -
ing and housing costs would rise. We have no way of determining the accuracy of our estimates, and therefore no way of telling whether a future at UM is feasible.
With the student debt crisis growing, every slight increase in direct costs warrants attention. Furthermore, not having access to the financial details we need hurts the ability of students and their families to make fully informed and wise financial decisions, especially when deadlines to apply to other schools’ priority scholarships pass in February.
UM does its students a disservice by not making financial information available until the last minute. While this problem is not unique to UM, the principle is wrong. Students deserve to know what their direct costs for the next school year will be so they have ample time to make decisions about the future of their education.
The estimates UM has provided for next year’s costs are beneficial, but only to a point.
The 3-4% increase in tuition is typical of most universities, so it is something students can anticipate. What have been most jarring to students are the food and housing estimates. Compared to this year’s costs, the combined cost of food and housing for students living on campus next year appears to increase by approximately 33%.
The estimated costs for next year are based on “the weighted average housing charges for on campus residence, and 21 meals a week through the campus dining plan.” What most
students do not know is that this year’s housing and dining costs were based on the price of a standard freshman double and a 21 meals a week dining plan. The costs for 2023-2024 look significantly higher because the costs of all residential areas are factored in with the exception of the University Village (UV).
Understanding the distinction between how housing and food costs are calculated year-to-year is crucial for students. The website does not make clear that all residential colleges were not included in cost of attendance in previous years. Lakeside costs are significantly higher than other residential areas, which drastically increases the estimate. Even though students still have to work with hypotheticals of exactly what each room costs, knowing that the increases will not be as radical as the website portrays makes a world of difference.
I learned this after months of questioning about how much housing costs are going to raise per area. Knowing this information earlier would have been very beneficial for myself and other students as we attempt to anticipate our costs. It could be the difference between someone choosing to transfer or stay at UM.
With Lakeside prices accounted for, it is clear that the costs for many students living on campus are comparable to the projected rates for students living off campus. The cost of housing in Miami is 42% higher than the national average.
While the current school year’s prices showed students living on campus (not including the UV) saving approximately $4,600, the estimates for next year only show an $866 difference. Since sophomores’ only option for on campus housing is Lakeside, they will bear the burden of this increase.
Students can try to minimize their costs by selecting the cheapest housing options, but with a shortage of space on campus, there is no guarantee that getting a room within their price range is possible.
The university’s Housing and Residential Life website states that finalized “rates for the next academic year are typically available mid-spring semester of the preceding year.” By June 1, students are responsible for paying their housing costs for the following year whether they remain enrolled at the university or not.
It is difficult for students to initially make choices about where to live without specific costs, even with traditional increases. This is one of the many hypothetical factors that make it impossible for students to anticipate how much their cost of attendance will increase. Additionally, not releasing the information until late in the semester creates a rushed and stressful environment for students and families, especially when considering to stay at UM or transfer elsewhere.
Another problem is that asking these important questions often leads to contradictory responses or non-answers.
I personally opened cases with ‘Canes Central and housing and found that they could not provide information beyond the website’s estimates. While the website states housing rates will be out mid-spring semester, I was told via email the housing numbers won’t be out until May, and in person I was told it could be June or July.
When inquiring about financial aid, I was informed that they process incoming freshmen first and wait for final transcripts to be released to tell returning students about their aid. Giving priority to freshmen makes sense, but there surely must be some way to give returning students answers so they are not left wondering if they need to transfer or not.
Not only did I receive nonanswers, but in-person I felt talked down to and dismissed, as if my questions about next year were absurd and irrational. Asking questions about financial logistics is anything but irrational; it is something all students should do as they embark on their college career, including at the beginning and end of every semester.
Unfortunately, these difficulties are not uncommon for UM students trying to get answers.
“When I reflect on my experience at the University of Miami, the most stressful part has been navigating financial aid,” senior Cassandra Michel said. “Every year, I dread going to
the financial aid office because I know I will not get clear answers. It often feels like there is no clear consensus among the financial aid advisors at the office. The burden of having to figure out finances every year because the cost of attendance is constantly rising is extreme -
I keep on getting dead ends. The university needs to make it easier to connect with people who can provide help.”
with several people in person, over Zoom and over email and
If there should be one office on campus that is as userfriendly as possible, it should be ‘Canes Central. Grappling with financial information change. Inflation is skyrocketing in
the United States, so it is no surprise that the costs of attending educational institutions is rising. Even with generous scholarship and need-based aid, UM is a highly expensive private institution that can leave students with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. -
ing from aid or scholarship does not determine who this
swers, I realized UM is not the place for me to continue my education. Long waits for tidbits of information that cannot be guaranteed is something I would have to put up with every year, and with that comes high-anxiety and the inability for my family to financially plan for the future.
Realizing that financial information was not readily available here meant I had to rush to apply to other colleges before the February 1 priority scholarship deadline. I discovered most schools provide students with significantly less merit scholarships after they have earned 24 credit hours from one institution. This leaves students like myself with only instate options. Though I know I will find success anywhere, it is hard to realize that what was once my dream school has become the place that limited my options.
Roberta Macedo//Graphics Editorproblem affects. No one should be okay with having abstract financial amounts until the last
After climbing the ladder and finally getting some clearer an -
To the university officials and administration, I implore you to consider the enormous mental and emotional strain it places on students to not know if they can stay here and have no way of discovering that until the eleventh hour. Without ample time to financially plan for the future, getting a degree from UM is not possible for many.
The system is capable of changing, and I hope that starts soon.
The Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami’s on-campus museum, does not assign value to works in their possession other than for functional purposes. This decision to forgo monetary value may seem shady to art world outsiders, but in reality, museums often conceal a work’s monetary value to emphasize and respect the intangible value and nature of the art.
“Our primary mission is education,” said Jill Deupi, the chief curator of UM’s Lowe Art Museum. “I think that talking about the monetary value of something
distracts and dilutes what we’re trying to achieve entirely.”
The Lowe Art Museum discontinued its entry fee in 2020; guests previously paid $12.50 to enter the on-campus museum. In line with their sole mission to educate, Deupi believes this no-cost value should apply to all aspects of the museum.
Museums typically assign a numerical value to a work for two functional circumstances — the accepting of gifts and insurance purposes. The Lowe does not acquire art by purchase, often due to lack of funds.
In 2019, the Lowe reported $210,951 in non-cash contribu -
tions, the donation of money transferred through several methods such as property, collectables and art.
If a museum purchases a piece of art, the director or curator will know the exact value of the piece because they paid for it. Instead, the Lowe accepts gifts and borrows works that are properly vetted and appraised.
Under the U.S tax code, individuals can write off charitable gifts, like artwork, above the $5,000 threshold. In these cases, donors must commission a professional art appraiser to provide a value based on historical market performance and other comparables.
“By law, we can’t recommend anybody. We can’t hire anyone. We can’t give an opinion. It all has to be through a neutral third party or someone who’s hired by the donor because obviously we have some skin in the game,” Deupi said.
Museum directors must also know the price of their pieces to properly insure their collection. However, it would be expensive and time-consuming to adequately appraise all 19,500 objects in the Lowe Art Museum. Consequently, the museum avoids storing its work in one place to spread the risk of loss and consistently insures around 20 of its most valuable items. Even though the price of works is not made public, the Lowe houses works by many recognizable artists such as Banksy and KAWS. The worth of a Banksy averages from $140,000$170,000.
For borrowed works and temporary exhibitions, a list of in -
surance documents that include the numerical value of the work must be filled out by the gallery and the lender to complete the transaction.
In the past, university museums have faced pressure at the hands of presidents and leadership to deaccession, remove, works to fund university endeavors. While this practice is not illegal, unethical use of proceeds goes against rules set by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), an accrediting body who sets the best professional practices guidelines. By deciding to conceal the public release of the Lowe’s monetary value, Deupi is taking steps to protect the museum from external pressures.
“He [Dr. Wetenhall] and I were very worried that with the pressures of the pandemic, and closures and drop in income from museums that there would be this uptick in sales,” Deupi said. “But I’m delighted to say that we were mostly wrong.”
Following a lawsuit against Brandeis University in 2009, Deupi co-authored the Task Force for the Protection of University Collections with Dr. John Wetenhall, the director of The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum.
“It brings together representatives from the rest of the art museum alphabet soup to protect, as the name suggests, vulnerable collections by advocating on behalf of museums and museum directors.” Deupi said.
At Brandeis University, the University president lost his job trying to close the museum
in an attempt to avoid the deaccessioning process. If there was no museum, there was nothing to remove and profits could be used anywhere. This resulted in an outcry from students, staff and the entire community.
The Brauer Museum of Art at Indiana’s Valparaiso University made headlines for deaccessioning works from their collection and using profits to fund new freshman dorms.
The AAMD recently clarified the regulations for deaccessioning. Museums can either use funds to replenish the collection or for direct care of collections.
If museums violate these guidelines, loss of accreditation is at risk. Smaller museums may not have the resources and flexibility to complete the accreditation process. The Brauer Museum of Art, for example, is not an accredited institution.
To the outside eye, the small museum in Indiana had nothing to lose.
Internally, it’s a different story. The museum now has a stained reputation in a world that functions on a system of borrowing and lending.
“The director certainly cares what AAMD thinks,” Deupi said. “His president, on the other hand, I’m quite confident really couldn’t care less. He’s got other pressing issues on his plate.”
According to Deupi, the publicity surrounding prices, value and profit distracts from the educational purposes of a college museum. The Lowe Art Museum values its ability to provide educational exhibits that expose students to various cultures and styles, at no cost.
Love it or hate it, money makes the world go ‘round. So, it’s no surprise that songs about money have spanned decades and are still being produced today.
Here are The Hurricane’s top 20 songs about money that’ll inspire you to chase that bag.
“Money, Money, Money” by ABBA
This 1976 hit song details the fantastical daydream of being rich. Later performed by Meryl Streep as Donna Sheridan in “Mamma Mia,” this song allows listeners to channel their inner determination to one day live “in a rich man’s world.”
“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore ft. Wanz
Macklemore was talking directly to the broke girlies in this 2012 US Billboard Hot 100 chart topper. “Savin’ my money and I’m hella happy that’s a bargain” screams college student on a tight budget. Take notes — you can still be drippy with just $20 dollars in your checking account.
“Money” by Cardi B
Cardi B said what we’re all thinking with this iconic 2018 hit. “Money” is a must-play on your commute to work or as motivation when that degree feels like it isn’t worth it. “Diamonds on my neck / I like boarding jets, I like morning sex / But nothing in this world that I like more than checks.” Beautifully put, Cardi.
“7 rings” by Ariana Grande
Something about this song makes broke students imagine that they have money to spend. A reinvention of the song “My Favorite Things,” from “The Sound of Music,” Grande leaves no doubt that money is indeed one of her favorite things. “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it” is the manifestation saying that we will all be reciting as we close out this semester.
“Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani ft.
EveListening to this song is the equivalent of what it feels like to try on Jimmy Choos knowing they’re leagues over-budget. Released in 2004, “Rich Girl” oozes 2000’s nostalgia. Stefani’s unmistakable voice brings back memories of a simpler time.
“No man could test me, impress me / My cash fow would never ever end.” Queen behavior honestly.
“B***h Better Have My Money” by Rihanna
Speaking of queen behavior, Rihanna brought this 2015 hit song back to life as the opening number in her recent Super Bowl LVII halftime performance. “Pay me what you owe me, don’t act like you forgot,” may simultaneously be the best and most intimidating line in Rihanna’s discography.
“Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” by Pet Shop Boys
This one is for the business and entrepreneurship majors. As the Pet Shop Boys sing, there are plenty of opportunities to make bread if you have the right partner. “I’ve got the brains, you’ve got the looks / Let’s make lots of money,” is how I imagine many business partnerships were formed after this song came out.
“Dinero” by Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled, Cardi B
This song is the perfect pump-up, especially for people who work in high-energy environments. J-Lo must have put something special in this song because it makes listeners want to work and dance at the same time. Like Cardi B raps on this track, I’m ready to “Merengue to the money / Bachata to the bank.”
“24K Magic” by Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars let the whole world in on how he spends his money with this 2016 hit. He lives a life of pure luxury, and he does it in style. The line “spend your money like money
ain’t sh*t” goes especially hard when you have none to spend.
“Rich Girl” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
“You can rely on the old man’s money / You’re a rich girl.” I’m sure nobody at UM can relate to this one. This 1976 song serves as a reminder that money isn’t everything, especially if it interferes with meaningful relationships. Sometimes independence and kindness eclipse the allure of wealth.
“Cash Sh*t” by Megan Thee Stallion ft. DaBaby
If there was ever a doubt about Megan Thee Stallion’s expectations in a relationship, she washed it away with this 2019 track. She demands a man who can fund her luxurious lifestyleand she knows she’s worth it.
“He know he giving his money to Megan / He know it’s very expensive to date me.”
“Money On My Mind” by Lil Wayne
Although this song describes somewhat illicit means to make money, its essence still applies to the average listener. I think Lil Wayne directly quoted every working person’s inner monologue when he said “Money on my mind / So money is all I think of.”
“Stack It Up” by Liam Payne ft. A Boogie wit da Hoodie
Liam Payne released this song on his frst studio album after One Direction’s indefnite hiatus. The song diverges stylistically from his 1D days, with Payne leaning into the hip-hop genre. “So I stack it up, man, I gotta work for it / Yeah I got money on my mind.” With a current net worth of about $70 million, I think Payne is all set.
“Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B
Having come from humble beginnings, Cardi B has earned the right to revel in her success. This 11-time platinum single is all about
her wealth and how she doesn’t tolerate nonsense because she makes her own bag. “I don’t dance now, I make money moves” Cardi B raps, referencing her transition into a life of money and fame.
“Old Money” by Lana Del Rey
Though this song does not discuss money directly, it describes the intricacies of family and relationships within old money households. The track is laced with undertones of “The Great Gatsby,” and is the perfect track to fantasize about a romance with some handsome heir to a vast fortune.
“Blue hydrangea, cold cash divine / Cashmere, cologne and white sunshine” are all tokens of a life with inherited wealth.
“Life is Good” by Future
What does it mean to have a good life? For rapper Future, it means being able to afford travel, designer clothing and diamonds on diamonds. Future raps about his struggles and the life he plans to enjoy now.
“Blessings” by Big Sean ft. Drake
In a humble refection on his wealth, Big Sean describes his work ethic and drive to provide for himself and his family as the origins of his success. “Stop worrying about whoever’s next / I am just worried about my mama worrying less” he raps, making it clear that supporting his family comes frst.
With sounds in the background of a clanging register and loose change, this 1973 track describes the toxicity of money in an increasingly greedy world. Pink Floyd condemn avarice, yet admit to their own hunger for wealth. This line sums up the whole song: “Money / It’s a crime / Share it fairly / But don’t take a slice of my pie.”
The vibes of this song are simply contagious. Side effects may include feeling like a baddie and acting like you’re rich even if you’re not. And, fellow Barbz, who better to hype you up than Nicki Minaj herself?
Miami’s diverse cuisine makes the Magic City exciting for food connoisseurs worldwide. However, some of the most popular restaurants are also among the most expensive. With the city’s Michelin Guide, come equally delicious, far more reasonable hidden gems. Here is a list of well-known restaurants and their less expensive, but just-as-good counterparts.
Expensive: Joe’s Stone Crab
For 110 years, Joe’s Stone Crab has served great seafood and hosted pop culture icons like President John F. Kennedy and Barbra Streisand. The generous portion of crab cakes and rich favor work well to rationalize the price. In fact, they are lauded as some of the best the city has to offer.
Price range: $$$$
Joe’s Stone Crab is located at 11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
Affordable: Garcia’s Seafood
Grille & Fish Market
Between the view of the Miami
River and the affordable menu, it is diffcult not to love Garcia’s. For an appetizer, try the scallops, which are seared to perfection and the lemon sauce provides a nice zing. If you’re looking for an entree that’s as good as the view, order the lobster ravioli which also comes with shrimp. The pink sauce compliments the favorful ravioli well.
Price range: $$
Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market is located at 398 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33128.
Expensive: Little Hen
America loves a good tea party — look no further than our founding fathers and their iconic Boston Tea Party in 1773. Today, Little Hen illustrates that America’s love for tea parties is still going strong. The cozy, foral decor of Little Hen will transport you away from the city. However, this is not Miami’s only aesthetically pleasing tea service.
Price range: $$$
Little Hen is located at 3451 NE 1st Ave Suite 100/102, Miami, FL 33137.
Affordable: Tea Room at Cauley Square
Want to have your tea and drink it, too? The Tea Room at Cauley Square is slightly far from campus, but the pastel colors and antique chairs make the trip to this Instagrammable spot worthwhile. The mint green iced tea is a fun alternative to coffee. If you want to emulate traditional afternoon tea, try the cucumber and cream cheese fnger sandwiches — you won’t be sorry!
Price range: $$ Tea Room at Cauley Square is located at 12310 SW 224th St, Miami, FL 33170.
Expensive: Villagio
The Shops at Merrick Park is an upscale mall and the dining options are no different. The Italian cuisine at Villagio is fresh, flling and fabulous.The caesar salad’s quality ingredients will have you feeling invigorated for the next course. Filled with veal and topped with pink sauce, the “tortellini Aurora” is an exciting option for pasta enthusiasts!
Price range: $$$ Villagio is located at 358 San Lorenzo Ave Suite 358, Coral Gables, FL 33146.
Affordable: Pizza Johny’s Pizza Johny’s serves way more than pizza! The menu features everything under the sun, including wings, salad, pasta and spinach pinwheels. Their classic Caesar salad is a must, especially the dressing. For those who love pasta, try the fettuccine alfredo with chicken. The creamy sauce with the good quality chicken makes for a terrifc classic. Pizza Johny’s is small and reminiscent of a typical Northeastern Italian restaurant.
Price range: $
Pizza Johny’s is located at 9529 SW 72nd St, Miami, FL 33173.
Expensive: Michael’s Genuine Crisp and refreshing describes the atmosphere at Michael’s Genuine. This contemporary American restaurant was featured in the 2022 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand and is appropriately located in the Design District. The avant-garde crushed almonds in the slow roasted and grilled short rib add texture and make this a memorable meal.
Price range: $$$$
Michael’s Genuine is located at 130 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137.
Affordable: Arbetter’s Hot Dogs
If you’re craving American food at a fair price, Arbetter’s Hot Dogs is your best bet. Since 1959, Arbetter’s Hot Dogs has provided Miamians with quality meals. From the plain all-beef hot dog to the Zelda dog, which comes with every topping, there is something for everyone! In addition, the old structure and classroom-style chairs make it a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with unique ambiance.
Price range: $
Arbetter’s Hot Dogs is located at 8747 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165.
Expensive: Diced
Dispersed throughout South Florida, Diced offers Floridians quick, healthy lunches. Customers must order a base, which includes a wrap, bowl or salad. Then, you can pick your toppings — a cut above the average salad bar. For vegans and vegetarians, Diced offers its clientele a veggie option and a “Vegan Chick’n.”
Price range: $$
Diced is located at 9050 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest, FL 33156.
If you want to see a musical comedy about a man pushing his dead uncle in a wheelchair from England to Monte Carlo, look no further than the spring musical.
From April 20 to April 29, students can see “The Lucky Stiff” at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. The show, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, is inspired by 1983 novel “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” by Michael Butterworth.
“The Lucky Stiff” tells the adventure of Harry Witherspoon — a shy,
young British man — as he travels from England to Monte Carlo. When his Uncle Anthony passes away and leaves him a fortune of $6 million, there comes an unfortunate catch: he must take Anthony’s dead body to Monte Carlo. If Witherspoon fails, the money will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Anthony’s lover Rita is also after the money! Talk about a plot twist.
Yash Ramanujam, a senior BFA musical theater major, plays the lead role of Harry Witherspoon.
“The whole premise [of the musical] is pretty wacky, but the story has a lot of heart to it,” Ramanujam
said. “Through the strange adventures [the characters] go on, Harry fnds out how to break out of his shell and really start to live his life.”
Christopher Cline, a senior BFA musical theater major, plays Luigi / Living Anthony in the musical.
“The musical is very light-hearted. It’s goofy and playful and the company brings life and personality to the show,” Cline said. “The songs are catchy and there are a lot of moments that will leave the audience wondering what happens next.”
Though the the show’s cast and crew had less rehearsal time than usual for a Ring Theatre production, they enjoyed the process nonethe-
less.
“The process so far was pretty smooth, actually. We blocked the entire show very quickly thanks to our director John Berst,” Ramanujam said.
“The Lucky Stiff” has it all — talented students, entertainment, humor, drama and, of course, an intriguing murder mystery.
“Having students in the audience makes it that much more fun for us to perform and showcase the work we have done,” Cline said. “It is an opportunity for students to attend something they otherwise would not get exposure to.”
Ramanujam believes that students
should attend the show for a one-ofa-kind experience.
“[It’s] exactly what is needed right now,” Ramanujam said. “It’s a light and joyous production with a lot of hilarious, wacky characters and romance to boot.”
Ticket prices are $27 for regular admission, $24 for senior citizens, UM faculty/staff and alumni and $12 for students. Students with a ‘Cane Card can attend for free on Wednesday, April 26 at 8 p.m.
The Ring Theatre box offce hours are Wednesday through Friday from 12-4pm. Call (305) 284-3355 for more information.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to activities to splurge on in Miami. From day trips to nightlife, there are manyplenty of ways to treat yourself to a day of lavish experiences and luxury goods. If you’re looking to blow off some steam and some cash, look no further than this list of ways to spend lavishly in the Magic City.
Rent a Yacht
Yachts are a Miami staple for the 1%. If you or your family doesn’t already own a yacht–or you haven’t yet met a fellow UM studentsomeone in your classes wealthy enough to own a yacht, you can rent one for yourself! Miami’s charter boat industry is packed with companies offering boat rentals. However, be warned that this activity will cost you a pretty penny — . Wwe’re talking $1400 as the baseline.
Gather somea few friends and split the cost to make this cliche UM boat day come to life. Don’t forget to consider food and beverages if you’re looking for the ultimate day on the water. Check out Yacht Charter & Boat Rentals for rental opportunities.
Dine at the Versace Mansion
Did you know that the Versace Mansion has a restaurant? Guests have the opportunity to experience high-end Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in this stunning dining room. Gianni’s Restaurant offers a grand dining room or poolside deck experience, capped off with high pillars and grand views.
Enjoy a selection of raw oysters and fine wines as you indulge in this one-of-a-kind experience. Not to mention the photo opportunities in this grand
estate. Be sure to weardress the part in resort casual attire for an extravagant lunch or dinner, and take advantage of the photo opportunities in this grand estate. Menu information and hours can be found online.
Shop in the Miami Design District
If you’re looking to solve your problems with a little retail therapy, look no further than the
up with food or drinks. Restaurants like the Baccarat Boutique Bar and Lounge, Cote Miami and the Dior Café are sure to rack up a decent billadd onto the money spent for the day. There’s no limit to opulence at the Miami Design District.
If you fly Those who have flown into Miami, you may be familiar with how magical the
can say!
If you have another $100 to put toward a unique experience, look no further than Miami Watersports for a parasailing adventure. Soar high over the Miami skyline as you take in city and ocean views. This is a great activity to do with other UM students or visi -
While well-made, many of this store’s pieces are around $500. If you’re looking to invest in quality clothing, then this is the place for you! Despite the high price tagsNonetheless, the charming aesthetic of this store is pleasant to walk through, even if you won’t be dropping the equivalent of your UMuniversity housing deposit on onea dress.
Brunch
Caviar, waffles made-to-order and a stunning display of desserts. The Biltmore Brunch appears perfect at first glance, but some may shy away when they see the $120 per person price. If you’re looking to dine near the gigantic hotel pool, or grab a bitefollow-up after a round on the property’s golf course, look no further than this unique restaurant. The outdoor and indoor exterior is extraordinary and the excellent food might just make you forget about the price.
This iconic Miami restaurant has been around since 1913, and for good reason. Seafood lovers have to try the chilled and cracked stone crab claws that put this place on the map. However, don’t expect this establishment to come at an “average Joe” price —. No, this restaurant is more of your “fancy Joe” type of place.
Miami Design District. With a multitude of high-end brands, you’ will have no trouble finding something tothat will max out your credit card. Brands like Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Gucci line the modern streets that make up the Design District.
If shopping wasn’t enough to break the bank, be sure to follow
city looks from up in the clouds. To get a bird’s eye view of the city, consider taking a private helicopter tour. Prices will be at least $100 per person, butso it’s definitely a pricier excursion to participate in. However, if you’ve been saving up, you can tell people that you were in a helicopter in Miami —– and that’s not something everyone
tors as you can sail with two other people. All instruction and equipment is provided— y. You just have to show up and pay!
That cute boutique on the corner of Coconut Grove may deceive you when you look at the price of the clothes.
The crab alone will run you $50-$135. When you factor in delectable appetizers likesuch as stuffed clams or a seafood tower, drinks and dessert, you’llre going to be looking at a pretty sizable bill. Don’t worry, non-seafood lovers willcan also break the bank with the $80 New York strip or the $90 bonein ribeye.
BASKETBALL
Don’t pick us.
This was the motto that the ‘Canes had going into the 2023 NCAA tournament. Even after making its frst-ever Elite Eight in 2022 with a legendary head coach who collected his 700th NCAA win this past season, Miami was still doubted.
When people think about Hurricanes basketball, they often think about Miami’s big guns — an all-star starting fve that led the ffth-seeded ‘Canes to their frst Final Four appearance in school history.
Miami held a pretty stable lineup throughout the course of the year, keeping a constant rotation and not changing the starters very often. All fve of Miami’s starters showed out and were crucial on the Hurricanes’ road to Houston. Every single
one came through with a clutch performance to keep the ‘Canes dancing.
In the Round of 64 against Drake, Miami was on the ropes early. Guards Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong were not having great games on offense. With a strong second-half push and a great performance from forward Norchad Omier, Miami was able to squeak out a win.
Omier showed his immense value to the team by setting the school rebounding record in an NCAA tournament game against Drake with 14 boards, along with 12 points. Guards Wooga Poplar and Nijel Pack added 15 and 21 points, respectively.
Without the contributions from its big man, Miami would have been watching the Final Four from a couch in Coral Gables.
The Norchad Omier game.
In the Round of 32, Miami faced an opponent with an elite
big man in Indiana. Trayce Jackson-Davis is not exactly an ideal matchup for Norchad Omier, but no matter. Omier casually set the rebound record again with 17, and he held Jackson-Davis in check.
That was not the only highlight of the game. Wong, the ACC Player of the Year, decided that he was not going to have a quiet night for two games in a row. Wong exploded for a game-high 27 points, shooting 4-of-6 from deep for a double-digit win by the ‘Canes.
The Isaiah Wong game. Rolling into the Sweet 16, Miami had the daunting task of taking on the second-best overall team in the entire tournament.
The top-seeded Houston Cougars lay in wait, trying to punch their ticket back home for the Final Four.
Miami hung with the Cougars early and even had the lead going into the half. After the break, Houston nipped at Miami’s heels while the ‘Canes only held a two-point lead.
Then Nijel Pack decided the game was a little too close for his liking. In the span of just over two minutes, he drained three triples and put Miami squarely in the driver’s seat. Pack went 7 of 10 from beyond the arc, Wong added another 20 points and the ‘Canes closed out the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, moving on to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.
The Nijel Pack game.
Now, a trip to the Final Four was on the line. Texas, with a transfer point guard of its own in Marcus Carr, stood in the way of the ‘Canes and their frst taste of immortality. The No. 2 seed from Austin came to play as the ‘Canes struggled out of the gate.
Down nine at the half, the second frame did not treat Miami nicely.
Down as much as 13, Poplar got the energy going for the ‘Canes as his creative play on an inbound sparked a Hurricane rally. Poplar threw it off the back of an oblivious Longhorn player and proceeded to scoop up the ball and slam it down with authority. Poplar, along with all fve of Miami’s starters, scored in double fgures.
That lit a fre for the ‘Canes and the comeback was on. Tough defense and good free throw shooting brought Miami all the way back to take the lead and eventually win the game.
Miller iced it with four straight free throws to send Miami to Houston. Miller was not just perfect at that moment. He was per-
fect all game. Miller did not miss from the charity stripe or from the feld. Miller had a game-high 27 points on 7-of-7 shooting, making all 13 of his free throws. The Jordan Miller game. Every member of the Miami starting fve had a signature moment during Miami’s miracle run. There’s a reason they were rarely split up.
Miami fnished the year at No. 3 in the polls, the highest ranking it has ever achieved. The frst Final Four, back-to-back Elite Eights, the greatest year in ‘Canes men’s basketball history, simply from a group of fve that believed in each other and did not want to hear anything else. They asked for it. Don’t pick them.
It was an emotional weekend for the ‘Canes and fifth-year senior, Daevenia Achong, as she played her final two collegiate tennis matches in Coral Gables. In her five years at UM, she has won multiple academic awards, received ACC Player of the Week and reached the finals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament.
The Hurricanes made sure Achong’s final two home matches ended in victories. The ‘Canes dispatched the Louisville Cardinals, 7-0, on Thursday and bested No. 23 Notre Dame, 5-2, on Saturday.
In the match against the Cardinals, the ‘Canes could do no wrong. They didn’t drop a set on the day, leaving no doubt about who the better team was.
In doubles, the No. 52 pair of Achong and fourth-year junior
Maya Tahan won easily, 6-1, on Court 1. On Court 3, junior Audrey Boch-Collins and freshman
Mia Mack closed off the Cardinals (8-12), 6-4, to put the Hurricanes ahead.
In singles, Achong finished first yet again as she flew to a 6-0, 6-1 victory on Court
2. Redshirt sophomore Alexa Noel, the No. 7 ranked player in the country, crushed yet another opponent on Court 1, this time winning 6-4, 6-2.
Freshman Mia Mack ensured victory for UM 13-5), as she won 6-4, 6-3, giving Miami a 4-0 advantage in points. With the season winding down, the coaches opted to push forward with the remaining matches.
Tahan won 6-0, 6-3, on Court
6, Boch-Collins finished her opponent off 6-1, 6-2, on Court
4, and junior Isabella Pfennig closed off the day, winning 6-3, 6-4, on Court 3. There was nothing to critique as the ‘Canes tallied a flawless victory. Next up were the Fighting Irish. Both teams had plenty to prove. It was a top-25 matchup as No. 23 Notre Dame (139) looked to pull off the upset against the No. 14 Hurricanes. In doubles, things did not go as smoothly as they did against the Cardinals. Boch-Collins and Mack fell short on Court 3, 3-6, to give the Irish the lead. Achong and Tahan rebounded, 6-4, on Court 1, giving Achong doubles perfection for the weekend. Notre Dame had the last laugh, as on Court 2 it edged Noel and Pfennig, 5-7, to claim the point.
Down a point, the ‘Canes quickly righted the ship as they rattled off five straight victo -
ries. Tahan bulldozed her opponent, 6-1, 6-0, on Court 6. Next, Pfennig won in reverse order, 6-0, 6-1, on Court 3 to put UM ahead. Boch-Collins was next, as she dominated, 6-3, 6-1, on Court 4. Noel clinched the match on Court 1, as she beat No. 53 Page Freeman to give the Hurricanes the victory, 6-3, 6-4. With Achong and Mack still playing, the teams decided to play on, likely in part because it was Achong’s final singles match at home. Mack won quickly, 6-2, 6-4, on Court 5 to turn the attention to a back-andforth match on Court 2.
After losing the first set 4-6, Achong rebounded with the support of her teammates to force a 10-point tiebreak for the match. She ended up falling, 4-10, to give the Irish their second victory of the day. However, this didn’t sour the team’s mood
as Achong was mobbed by her teammates.
“[Achong] has been an incredible leader for the program. I think she’s been an incredible representative for the school,” Miami head coach Page Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She’s a very hard-working, straightforward student-athlete. She leads the program well. She’s an extension of myself in the locker room and, I think, outside of the locker room.”
All that’s left for UM are its final two road matches of the year, the ACC Tournament, and the NCAA’s. Next up, the ‘Canes head to Death Valley to face off against Clemson. Afterward, UM is off to Atlanta to battle against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
It was a wonderful day for the 19 seniors involved in the track and field program at Miami. Each was allowed to smile and hold up a custom artwork of themselves, a parting gift for their efforts.
This positive attitude turned right around into results, too, as several older Hurricanes impressed at the Miami Alumni Invitational in Coral Gables over the weekend. Graduate student Décio Andrade set the tone on Friday with a 73.01-meter hammer throw on his first try. The throw earned a first-place spot for the meet and broke the program record that he had previously set at last week’s Florida Relays in Gainesville.
“The seniors are a great group and the graduate student trans -
fer brought so much to our team, especially maturity and depth. I’m excited for them, and I think what I like the most is that they’re still here, they’re not looking forward to what’s next quite yet and they’re really bought into what we’re trying to do here and finish the mission,” Miami head coach Amy Deem said.
Taylor Wright helped the ‘Canes with a big performance in the women’s high jump, hopping 1.77 meters to earn first place. Joined by Miami native Rachel Robertson, Wright’s jump was the fifth-best in program history.
On Saturday, the women’s team continued to impress. In the 4x100-meter relay, the team of junior Moriah Oliveira and Nevada native Kennedy Brace locked in times of 52.58 and
53.04, finishing in first and second place, respectively.
The women’s shot-put team also hogged the top of the leaderboard. Throws of 17.39 meters from Hannah Hall, 15.87 meters out of the hand of Erikka Hill and a 15.69-meter release from Selina Dantzler made up the top three in the competition. Additionally, junior leaper Russell Robinson stole the show with an incredible performance in the men’s triple jump. Breaking a program record, Robinson’s distance of 16.73 meters ranks No. 1 in the nation in the competition.
“Coach Jarvis was really excited about him in the recruiting process and believed he could develop and be a great jumper by trusting the process,” Deem said. “Watching the growth, not only physically, but the confi -
dence that’s gaining to step up when it counts, he wants to be against that tough competition and thrive against that tough competition. I think that is great leadership for him as well.”
Amongst the newer faces of the team, freshman Sanaa Hebron put together a sharp 56.28 second run in the 400-meter hurdles event, the fifth-best time in program history.
“She has a wonderful understanding of the event. She asks the right questions too, she wants to understand her event and be a student of her event,” Deem said. “She’ll text me after practice, she’ll text me at night about what she can do better.
The maturity and determination that she shows is really fun.”
After staying home for the weekend, the Miami Hurricanes will hit the road again for the
fornia.
“It’s something that we’ve never done. We’ve been in Florida a lot, and I think the excitement of going somewhere that we’ve never been able to go and also competing against great competition. I think they’re all excited. I was more concerned with wthem looking ahead to Mt. Sac and overlooking the current meet,” Deem said. “I think the coaching staff did a great job saying hey, you know, this is the first step to next weekend. We’ll get to see some people that we’ll compete against at the NCAA Championships and also be out of the east coast and see different kinds of athletes. I think it’s going to be a really good weekend for us.”
The Mt. Sac Relays will begin on April 13 and end on April 15.
For ‘Canes swimmer Jacey Hinton, swimming is more than a sport.
In the two years she has been a part of the University of Miami, she has made her mark for the program in the pool, including contributing to Miami fnishing in 22nd place at the NCAA Swim & Dive Championships earlier this month. However, Hinton felt there was more to her than just swimming. “I knew a million other things I wanted to do. Especially when I got older, I realized there was so
much I wanted to do.” Hinton said. She has succeeded in doing all that she wants, and there is a big helping hand in allowing her to do so.
Hinton is taking advantage of her name, image, and likeness (NIL).
On June 30, 2021, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) allowed all of their athletes – regardless of their division –to be compensated for their NIL no matter where they went to school. So going into her freshman season at Miami meant Hinton could have a piece of the pie for herself. But this was not something new
for her. Hinton built a brand for herself throughout high school, giving her the means necessary to participate heavily in the unique NIL athlete experience.
“We were the guinea pigs,” Hinton said. “[With swimming and NIL], I feel like the two spectrums are that you’re good at your sport, or you kind of had some social media presence before, which is what I was in.”
In high school, Hinton got the opportunity to model and grow her social media presence. Brands and people sent her free stuff to advertise on her social media pages. If the NCAA didn’t allow athletes to beneft from their NIL, then Hinton wouldn’t have been allowed to accept and promote products.
“Think about not being able to do it – it’s so weird!” Hinton says. “Doing this is kind of my personality; it’s how I’ve always been. Everyone is like, ‘Oh, you’re like an infuencer!’ I can’t imagine it being taken away. I’ve always known that I’m more than just a swimmer, and I know I’m not going to swim past college, but I’m going to have a social media platform.”
drink Alani-Nu and even having worked with Adidas.
But NIL isn’t an easy task for Hinton.
“You have to be committed to [NIL],” Jacey says. “It is a whole separate job, and you have to make sure it’s all within NCAA regulations, and you have to do taxes on the deals. You are taking on something major, but I love it.”
Not only do the deals themselves work, but getting offers in the frst place is as well.
“I also have always to have to be on Instagram [for direct messages] and checking emails because some stuff goes to spam,” Hinton says. “Sometimes people say, ‘Oh, we’ll be in Miami in two days. Can you do this?’ And if you don’t look, you can miss out on a cool opportunity, so you have to check. You also have to ensure you like and repost the right content. It’s like running your own business. “
she said. “In that aspect, I’m just translating everything I’ve learned from my NIL into real life, except I don’t have the swimmer card. It won’t be that ‘I’m cool because I’m a swimmer,’ it’ll be ‘I’m cool because I am me.’”
However, at this stage of Jacey’s life with her NIL, she connects with other athletes based on the deals or brands they may share. As a result, not only has she grown closer with other athletes at the University of Miami, but she has been able to make new connections throughout the country.
“This one girl actually – she swims for Louisville – we had been talking through TikTok, and then I got to see her at the ACC championships. So to see her in real life was cool. Before, we were just social media buddies. It has brought college athletes together,” Hinton said.
CourtesyHinton has over 14.4 thousand followers on Instagram and has amassed a plethora of NIL deals with its help, including being an ambassador for the pre-workout
Not only is Hinton using her time now to take advantage of her current NIL, but she’s also using the experiences to help her professionally. Hinton is studying broadcast journalism currently and has a role on the University of Miami Television’s sports show, “SportsDesk.”
“If I go into broadcast journalism and be a reporter, then I’m going to be a face of a community,”
Thanks to the NCAA, Jacey has used her own NIL to continue being the person she has always been. She can use her platform as a collegiate swimmer and an infuencer to set herself up for success in countless ways.
“My NIL isn’t because of swimming. I swim at a [Division I] level, but so do many other people. What sets me apart is the platform I have and who I am.”
Coming into their series against the seventh-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, the No. 20 Miami Hurricanes were red-hot, winning fve straight games, including a sweep over rival Florida State. However, all of Miami’s momentum came to a halt against Virginia.
The ‘Canes were defeated 6-3 in the weekend series fnale against the Cavaliers at Disharoon Park.
“They outplayed us,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said. “We didn’t walk a whole lot and we struck out a lot. They are tough at-bats. They are tough outs. They battle, foul pitches off and take you deep into counts. We have to play better on the road.”
Virginia freshman Jack O’Connor picked up the win with a strong three earned runs on 6.1 innings pitched, including nine strikeouts. Meanwhile, Chris Scinta took the loss for
Miami, as he allowed two earned runs in 0.1 innings. Lefthander Jake Berry closed out the game for the Cavaliers, retiring the fnal three Miami batters in order.
Shortstop Dominic Pitelli and third baseman Yohandy Morales each recorded two hits to lead the way for the Hurricanes in their loss. On the other side, Cavaliers third baseman Jack Gelof launched two home runs and drove in four runs to help Virginia secure the victory.
The ‘Canes jumped out to a 2-0
lead in the third inning off a Morales double and a single by right felder Zach Levenson. However, Virginia scored four runs in the fourth, with two coming off Gelof’s frst homer of the game, to take the lead.
From that point, the Cavaliers never relinquished the lead, as they added two more runs on another Gelof two-run blast in the ffth. Gelof’s second home run was the 37th of his career, which tied the Virginia program record.
Miami catcher Carlos Perez
knocked an RBI single in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 6-3, but the Cavaliers held on from there, sweeping the ‘Canes in the three-game series.
The Hurricanes outhit Virginia 8-7, but they were not able to capitalize on their scoring opportunities to the degree that the Cavaliers did.
Miami will now begin a threegame series with the No. 13 North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The series begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
V’s take is The Hurricane’s most controversial and longest-running column. It is a satirical work published biweekly by students and for students. Using our generation’s “colorful” language to address all things sex, love and gossip on campus, V is not for the politically correct or easily offended.
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When did Publix decide that they’re Whole Foods? When did my landlord decide that because my shower makes a weird gurgling noise that they can charge me for an in-unit jacuzzi?
It feels like no matter how strictly I budget, how many off-brand products I opt for, and how many times I avoid the additional $3 peanut butter on my $15 Wednesday market acai bowl, I’m doomed to be pinching pennies in this city. I miss the days when Happy Hour was actually Happy Hour and not a “Sell Your Kidney On the Black Market for a Cheap Tequila-Sprite Hour.” When was that again? 1993? Or was that the last year that a parking permit on this campus didn’t put someone into months of debt?
It seems that I’ve been backed into a corner with nowhere left to turn and only one option remains: Selling feet pics online.
Hear me out.
This little piggy needs to go to the market, and if that means helping some beer-bellied-bro living in his mother’s basement wank off his little piggy, then so be it. I’ve done a lot more demeaning work for a lot less, so what’s a couple of pictures of my dirty dogs? At the end of the day you’re not selling your soul, just your soles. On second thought … How much does a soul go for on OnlyFans?
The crippling cost of living in America’s most expensive city: An argument in favor of feet pics