The Miami Hurricane: Sept. 25, 2021

Vol. 99, Issue 1 | August 24, 2021 - August 31, 2021

FALL SEMESTER AT THE U HOPING FOR A NEW NORMAL

Julia Sanbe // Design Editor

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News

CAMPUS LIFE

The race against the variant: UM will rely on vaccination efforts this fall

Jared Lennon // Staff photographer MASKED UP: Two students have a conversation before the start of the President’s Welcome and Canes Take Flight orientation programs in the Watsco Center on Aug. 19, 2021.

BY RACHEL SULLIVAN CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR Last year, the University of Miami was one of the mere 30% of universities and colleges nationwide to open their doors for in-person instruction. Now, UM is welcoming the largest freshman class in the university’s history to campus.

This will be the most densely populated year for residential students since the late ‘80s, with 5,250 students living on campus.

These record numbers come amid peak infection rates in South Florida and the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

As of Monday, Aug. 23, there are 52 combined active isolations due to positive

COVID test results among both residential and non-residential students, according to the university’s COVID dashboard. The dashboard, updated twice daily during the semester, shows 110 active cases among students and employees on the first day of the fall semester.

“Last year I thought that it would have been the most challenging time, but if anything I think we’ll have more challenges this fall than what we could have anticipated,” said Student Government President Landon Coles. “We have 3,000 more students on campus this year than we did last year, we have fewer policies in place as a result of the city of Miami lifting the curfew, and many mask mandates are being dropped as a result of the city of Miami being

wide open. Now we’re all back and that in and of itself is going to compound the challenges.”

In conjunction with an indoor mask mandate, which is not enforced throughout Miami-Dade county, the university has made its first line of defense clear: get vaccinated.

During a town hall on Aug. 11, university administrators spoke on both what’s to come this fall and the importance of vaccination, particularly among students.

“We have not only a year of experience under our belt, but now we have the most powerful tool in our arsenal, which are the vaccines,” President Julio Frenk said.

“Vaccines are the tool that will end the pandemic and we will do everything we can to encourage students to get vaccinated.”

Under Florida law, no educational institution may block nor compromise a student’s access to education on the basis of their vaccination status. Because of this, the university cannot mandate that students be vaccinated to return to campus. However, the university is within their right to mandate that faculty and staff are vaccinated prior to their return this fall.

“Our choices are very much constrained by legislative reality, but we are strongly encouraging our students to get vaccinated,” said Erin Kobetz, a public health expert and the vice provost for research and scholarship at UM. Kobetz, who serves on the university’s COVID-19 response team, said in an interview with The Miami Hurricane that the spread of the delta variant adds new complications for managing infections on campus.

“The delta variant is so unbelievably contagious and it accounts for over 90% of all of our new cases across our university health system,” Kobetz said. “Optimally vaccination happens in these first couple of weeks of school when the delta variant is so extraordinarily prevalent and we’re sort of at the peak of this newest surge of infection. This is when vaccination matters most.”

As the delta variant rages across South Florida and infection rates continue to climb, vaccination rates have slowed. Dr. Roy Weiss, chairman of the department of medicine at the Miller School of Medicine and chief medical officer for COVID-19, explained during the town hall how variants are produced and why vaccination is critical.

Variants occur as a result of genetic mutation when the coronavirus is spread from person to person. In the case of the delta variant, these mutations lead to worse symptoms and enhanced transmissibility.

When the coronavirus finds a group of individuals who are not vaccinated against the virus, it gives it more opportunity to mutate, which can yield yet another variant.

Weiss says that it is essential that people get

THE MIAMI HURRICANE vaccinated to both protect themselves against the coronavirus and the delta variant as well as prevent the potential of further mutation.

“We’re following the science. The science is very clear,” Frenk said. “We know it is a highly effective and extremely safe vaccine so we are going to require it where we can.”

The university teamed up with Walgreens to deliver COVID-19 vaccines on Aug. 17 to Aug. 20 and Aug. 23 through Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Storm Surge Room at the Hurricane Food Court. Although unvaccinated students are in the minority, reaching them is the key to returning to normality, student leaders say.

“That is the number one thing, encouraging those who we have left to get vaccinated,” Coles said. “Although we do not have official numbers, we do know that a majority of individuals, students, have been vaccinated” The university’s COVID-19 dashboard, although created to track infections on campus, will soon be updated with the number of students, staff and faculty fully vaccinated, Kobetz said.

The university is incentivizing students to

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get vaccinated through a raffle system where vaccinated students have the opportunity to win prizes ranging from hotel room getaways to cash prizes.

“State leadership, which is limiting local municipalities from having mask and vaccine mandates, is really tying the hands of those local institutions,” Coles said. “Instead of sitting around and complaining I think its better to think around those challenges, so I think the vaccine incentive program is a great way to think around these challenges in the Florida landscape.”

Although UM is making every effort to encourage students to get vaccinated, the grim reality is that infections and quarantines on campus will continue until they do. Kobetz says that they have adapted their quarantine policy in accordance with both CDC guidelines and in recognition of the danger of the delta variant.

There are separate quarantine procedures for those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.

If a vaccinated individual is exposed, they will be contacted by the UTrace team and tested on both day one and five after their exposure.

Recently infected students are also urged to pay closer attention to COVID protocols and sanitization.

If an unvaccinated individual is exposed, they are contacted by the UTrace team and required to quarantine for one week. They will be tested on day five and if the results are negative, they will remain in quarantine for the full seven days. If they are a residential student and need a place to quarantine, the university will provide an off-campus hotel room.

It was previously announced that the cost of off-campus quarantines would have to be paid for by infected students. However, the university recently announced they would be paying for the cost of housing during quarantine and providing students with a debit card for food.

“Given that we’re seeing new infections in some of our vaccinated individuals, we felt like it was overly punitive, therefore we changed our stance,” Kobetz said.

Classes will be recorded for students who are unable to attend lectures during quarantine.

Ultimately, the university’s ability to

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contain infections while still offering inperson instruction is limited.

“I think it’s unrealistic for us to expect that UM as an institution can control and dictate the behaviors of every individual who walks this campus,” Coles said. “We as students have to have peer leadership where we are encouraging one another and holding our friends to account when engaging in activities out of campus’ view.”

The UM community had hoped this year would more closely resemble years prior to the pandemic. Even in light of the current circumstances surrounding the coronavirus, administrators and student leaders continue their tireless efforts to provide a safe and engaging year.

“I really thought last spring, not that it was going to be over, but that it was the beginning of the end,” Kobetz said. “These are not political decisions, they are informed by the best that public health has to offer. And so, I continue to cling to my training as a public health expert and to believe in the potential of science and each other. Together we are better and stronger and we shall overcome, right?”

COMMUNITY

Medical school Dean leads UM’s response to deadly Haiti earthquake

BY JESSICA DIEZ CITY NEWS EDITOR When Dr. Henri Ford first learned that his home country had been struck by yet another deadly disaster, it was difficult for him to feel anything other than despondency and dejection. But in the week following a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck western Haiti on Saturday, Aug. 14, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Dean and Port-au-Prince native quickly shifted his focus to the resilience of the Haitian people, and their desperate need for aid.

“We know that wherever there is hope, then there is the certainty that we will emerge victorious, and that’s what always amazes me about the Haitian people,” said Ford, who has helped facilitate Zoom calls with nongovernmental organizations and Haitian officials in order to get essential medical supplies to the regions most in need. “They never lose hope, there is never a sense of despair, even in the face of such a severe calamity.”

The natural disaster has affected over 1.2 million Haitian inhabitants, mostly in the southern region of the island, with many living out of tents due to the destruction of

homes. With over 2,000 deaths and 10,000 injured in a country sorely lacking medical supplies and health care practitioners, the growing need for aid has led to fights over essential supplies.

Ford and Dr. Barth Green, the Miller School of Medicine Executive Dean for Global Health and Community Service, have worked on behalf of the medical school’s Global Public Health Institute to mobilize resources and execute a coordinated relief effort to help those affected.

“We are working to make sure that our efforts are well coordinated with those of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning to prevent unnecessary duplication and to ensure that whatever help is delivered

Photo courtesy of University of Miami Miller School of Medicine HUMANITARIAN AID: Miller School of Medicine Dean Henri Ford performs surgery in Haiti in 2019.

is destined for the regions most affected and the people that are the neediest, which was a problem after the 2010 earthquake and again after Hurricane Matthew five years ago,” Ford said.

The Haitian government would like the University of Miami, through the Global Public Health Institute, to coordinate the contributions of non-profit organizations to ensure that there is no duplication or deficiency of aid in the neediest regions, which Ford said was a problem during the country’s response to the 2010 earthquake.

The efforts of the Global Public Health Institute are primarily focused on supplying Haiti with medical resources, Ford said, including antibiotics, intravenous solutions, painkillers, anesthetics and various other tools and medications.

Ford provided medical support after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and has since performed numerous surgeries in Haiti, including the

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have to have the resiliency to continue.

This is why I remain undaunted, even facing what seems to be a terrible prognosis, because resilience is part of the fabric of the Haitian people. It is absolutely intrinsic to their DNA, so that’s why we don’t give up, we don’t give in and we never quit.”

Other students and faculty at the University of Miami with ties to Haiti have spent the days since the earthquake, which had a higher magnitude than the 2010 7.0-magnitude earthquake that is widely believed to have killed over 200,000 Haitians, wondering how one country can withstand so many tragedies.

“I was shocked and sad that we really have to go through event after event and that people are suffering on different fronts,” said Laura Francois, a senior majoring in public health and French and the co-president of Planet Kreyol, UM’s Haitian student Veroneeka Dorval // Contributing Photographer organization. “It’s not just socioEARTHQUAKE EFFORTS: A group of Haitians work to clean up the remnants of a destroyed building in Western Haiti post earthquake. politically and economically. but environmentally as well,” . country’s first ever successful separation of home country’s population.

After overcoming momentary disbelief “I think that hope comes from the conjoined twins in 2015. upon learning of the disaster, Francois, In his effort to contribute to Haiti’s genetic makeup of the Haitian,” Ford said. whose family immigrated to the U.S. before recovery, Ford has been motivated not only “I think that’s part of what defines who you she was born, worried both for the safety of by the overwhelming need for supplies, but are, because from infancy to adulthood, you her family members in Haiti and the rest of also by the character and bravery of his never seem to cease to face calamity, but you

the Haitian population.

“It’s sad the way that I live in safety and I can’t fathom my own immediate family out there living in the same conditions,” she said. “It seems like an endless cycle and it’s disheartening to hear people that you love, even if it’s people that I don’t know but share a culture with, suffer.”

Other student members of the Haitian diaspora, like Veroneeka Dorval, a senior majoring in health sciences and criminology and co-president of Planet Kreyol, have spent the last week grieving with their family.

“I was in Washington D.C. in a hotel room and my mom started crying,” Dorval said. “If you have any Haitian friends or peers, just ask if they’re okay. Words of encouragement are really important right now.”

Irwin Stotzky, a UM law professor who has represented Haitian refugees in cases centered on human rights issues, says he felt similarly shocked at the seemingly neverending pattern of tragedy endured by a single country.

“I felt sick to my stomach because nothing good ever happens in Haiti. It’s almost like someone’s put a curse on the country,” Stotzky said.

WEATHER

‘An element of the unknown’: Hurricane season at the U

BY PARKER GIMBEL MANAGING EDITOR On autumn weekends in Reading, Pa., a young Brian McNoldy spent his mornings glued to the living room TV scanning VCR recordings of The Weather Channel in the hopes of catching his favorite show.

The hourly tropical update rarely carried forecasts for McNoldy’s hometown, but in 1985, the 9-year-old’s fascination with hurricanes kept him eagerly waiting for the next big storm.

“There’s always an element of the unknown when dealing with predicting nature, and hurricanes are no exception,” said McNoldy, now a senior research associate at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. “For any researcher or person interested in hurricanes, I guess the question is what makes them tick?”

For emergency personnel at the University of Miami, however, the June 1 start of Miami’s yearly hurricane season signals something very different from the

return of a beloved show, as they continue their work to prepare campus for a storm that may never come.

“If you think about it similar to looking at insurance policies, well, you don’t have insurance policies and then end up disappointed that you weren’t involved in a car accident and didn’t have to use that policy,” said UM’s Director of Emergency Management Matthew Shpiner, who leads an expansive team of emergency professionals tasked with preparing the university for disasters like hurricanes or active-shooter situations.

The Office of Emergency Management was created in October 2010, partially as a result of the growing fear from universities across the country after a series of oncampus shootings at U.S. universities like Virginia Tech, said Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Patricia Whitely.

Since then, however, the department has dedicated much of its time and resources to planning and preparing for the impact of a warm core, low pressure system, or hurricane, like 1926’s “Great Miami

Hurricane,” which maintained winds of over 145 mph and flooded areas of the city with a storm surge of over eight feet, virtually destroying the inchoate university later rebranded to commemorate the storm’s magnitude.

Shpiner and his team communicate daily with hurricane experts like McNoldy, who works out of the RSMAS Key Biscayne campus, and organizations like the National Hurricane Center to monitor the activity of tropical storms and hurricanes in order to determine the risk to the UM community and weigh possible courses of action ranging from observation to evacuation. The decision making process in advance of potential threats is a delicate balancing act, Shpiner says, which requires careful attention, swift action and most often, restraint.

“Emergency management is just as much about very thoughtful and deliberate monitoring and identifying the trigger points for action versus falling or being susceptible to this urge to start making decisions before decisions really need to be made,” Shpiner said.

Storms like Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which prompted the cancellation of three class days despite a model-predicted shift far north of South Florida, force Shpiner to weigh his decisions based primarily on the worst possible outcome. He must adapt to the ever-shifting “cone of uncertainty,” which approximates the range of potential courses for any given storm.

McNoldy explained this uncertainty by using this summer’s Hurricane Grace as an example. Grace, which eventually developed into a category three hurricane and made landfall in Mexico’s gulf coast city of Poza Rica early Saturday morning, may have hit South Florida during orientation week if it had taken one of the other courses among the possible tracks predicted by hurricane models, McNoldy said.

“That’s an example where it was kind of a high nervousness level, because if we actually did have the other possibility happen and we were at risk on Wednesday into Thursday, well, there’s student moveins happening this week, and you can’t stop a hurricane from coming if it’s going

THE MIAMI HURRICANE to come, but it sure makes things messy,” McNoldy said.

The process of tracking storm systems can range from long term forecasts of a several month season, based on variables like regional ocean temperatures, to the operational forecasts of active storm systems provided by the National Hurricane Center and other organizations that Shpiner and his team rely on McNoldy and other experts to interpret. These forecasts are adjusted as possible outcomes are eliminated over the course of a storm’s journey.

“Think of it like a tree of ifs,” McNoldy said. “The further out you are in time before the impact time, you just increase that chain of ifs.”

McNoldy, despite his passion for the study of natural phenomena, says he loathes the feeling that comes when a “chain of ifs” that could impede a storm’s march toward Miami ticks down to one likely conclusion: impact.

“Not good, those would be my two words,” he said. “It’s not like there’s anything I can do about it; I’m just relaying what nature is doing.”

During what McNoldy says is an above average 2021 hurricane season, the responsibility of knowing what to do to prepare and respond falls instead on Shpiner and his team at UM, the Miami Dade County Office of Emergency Management and other university signees of the National Intercollegiate Mutual Aid Agreement, which provides for the exchange of resources between colleges during isolated emergencies.

UM, Shpiner says, was the first university to activate the agreement, with emergency managers from St. Edward’s University and the State University of New York traveling to Coral Gables to assist UM’s recovery effort after 2017’s Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Irma forced the cancellation of three weeks of classes and led to the bussed evacuation of the last 150 students left on campus to a Red Cross shelter in advance of its impact.

Despite a steady stream of strong hurricanes since 1992’s devastating Hurricane Andrew, which left over 4,000 combined students and parents on campus for orientation week stranded in dorms without electricity, running water or functioning toilets, Whitely says that structural damage to on-campus facilities has been minimal during even the strongest storms. In the years since, Whitely says, UM has built a formidable emergency response team with the resources to maintain safety during even the strongest hurricanes.

“Just because you haven’t had a category five in 29 years doesn’t mean you aren’t prepared for one,” Whitely said. “We have such better infrastructure, greater support.

Before I thought sometimes we were too siloed, but to have a department on campus with the sole responsibility of responding to major emergencies, I think it’s been a great change for us.”

The Office of Emergency Management recommends that all students download the University of Miami app, which provides access to the U.S. emergency guide and other action guidelines for disaster preparedness. Students should also enter

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Photo courtesy of University of Miami communications EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Director of Emergency Management Matthew Shpiner meets with President Frenk during Hurricane Dorian.

their phone number on Canelink to receive emergency alerts and prepare an evacuation plan with their family members in the case of a category three or greater hurricane, with more information from the office’s website.

The university has systems and people in place, Shpiner says, to alert students to any storm that may pose a threat to South Florida.

“My body clock is quite literally set to the National Hurricane Center advisories at 2 o’clock in the morning and at 2 in the afternoon,” Shpiner said. “There’s nothing that catches us off guard.”

With McNoldy exchanging his childhood VCR for two supercomputers and an office overlooking Biscayne Bay, and Shpiner

monitoring every storm like it’s bound for Coral Gables, undecided business major and first-year Miami Hurricane James Zully has a message for incoming storms.

“We’re not scared of hurricanes, they’re just something that happens here.”

What is the University Hotline?

Some examples of allegations that should be reported to the University Hotline include (but are not limited to):

The University Hotline is a confidential and secure platform used to report serious allegations of fraud, abuse and misconduct.

How do I report?

- Fraud and Financial Issues - Privacy and HIPAA Violations - Discrimination and Harassment - Sexual Misconduct - Student Health and Safety - Medical Student/Resident Mistreatment - Athletics / NCAA Issues - Non-Compliance with Regulations - Misappropriation of University Assets

You may file anonymously at 877-415-4357 Or online at, university-hotline.ethicspoint.com

The University Hotline is administered and hosted by Navex/EthicsPoint, an independent third-party provider.

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OPINION

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Opinion

The Miami

HURRICANE Founded 1929

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Isabella Didio MANAGING EDITOR Parker Gimbel ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Rahul Kumar CAMPUS EDITOR Rachel Sullivan CITY EDITOR Jessica Diez ASST. CAMPUS EDITOR Veronica Porges ASST. CITY EDITOR Emma Dominguez OPINION EDITOR Rachelle Barrett ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jarrod Houseknecht

ASST. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Layomi Adeojo SPORTS EDITOR Daniel Toll ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Wyatt Kopelman PHOTO EDITOR Josh Halper DESIGN EDITOR Julia Sanbe COPY CHIEF Hannah Ebrahimi SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Natalie Abrahantes FACULTY ADVISOR Antonio Mora

To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page.

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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.

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August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021

EDITORIAL “We had all hoped that fall 2021 would look much more like the pre-pandemic campus life of years past. Yet, our experience has taught us that one of our most valuable traits is adaptability,” said President Julio Frenk in a video message to students on Aug. 2.

The past two years were the stuff of apocalyptic nightmares.

The world has been held hostage by a grave and deadly virus; record-breaking natural disasters like California’s still-burning Dixie Fire, the largest single wildfire in state history; and widespread racial tension sparked by George Floyd’s murder, along with a series of political scandals and calamities.

As social polarization accelerates faster than ever and UM students emerge from a pandemic that will go down as a defining event in their lives, it is important that we take control of the opportunity we have been given. We have no choice but to take COVID seriously, again.

While we advocate vaccination for all people for whom it is available, the decision, ultimately, is yours.

But for university students, safety in education depends on a commitment to following safety protocols.

One week before the beginning of their fall semester, three Broward county educators died within 24 hours due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. As schools across the country open for the academic semester, many teachers have no financial options but to work during what is still a deadly pandemic, while

more at risk of developing serious complications after COVID feel safe. For all students, wearing masks indoors and following proper hygiene in the classroom is the best way to safeguard against unknown carriers that may expose students and faculty to infection.

While university faculty and staff are required to be

“While we advocate vaccination for all people for whom it is available, the decision, ultimately, is yours.

But for university students, safety in education depends on a commitment to following safety protocols.”

others are at an advanced risk of serious infection due to their age.

For those still unvaccinated, wearing a mask inside buildings on campus will not only help protect the student body, it will help faculty and staff who are

vaccinated, breakthrough cases of the delta variant leave them open to exposure from students.

They are not held to the same standards because of a Florida law advocated by Governor Ron Desantis that made it illegal for schools to require that students

get vaccinated for COVID. In fact, schools face fines of $5,000 per instance of mandatory COVID vaccination prior to enrollment..

Professors at UM stuck by us through the difficult transition to online classes. COVID forced them to adapt and drastically change the way they taught so we could continue to receive a great education and UM could continue to function as an institution. We, as a student body, have a responsibility to look out for teachers in the same way they have looked out for us.

Of course, those of us who have experienced the normalcy of college pre-COVID miss our freedom. Those who have not enjoyed that luxury hope to someday. But in order to depart the COVID era, we must take care of our fellow Canes, and ourselves, by using common sense to guide our day-to-day decision making.

This takes commitment, a commitment that is usually found in the shadows of temptation and dreams of better days. But we Canes are better than selfishness and vice, and a future that seems distant and unattainable is ours for the taking. We just have to take COVID seriously again.

Interested in writing a letter to the editor? email us at: editor@themiamihurricane.com

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CAMPUS NEWS

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OPINION

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Op-ed: The university made a mistake in hiring Alex Azar

BY THOMAS KENNEDY & SCOTNEY D. EVANS CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS

Thomas Kennedy

Scotney D. Evans

Alex Azar was hired by the University of Miami as an adjunct professor and a teaching and policy researcher after resigning from his role as the Health and Human Services Secretary under former President Donald Trump in January 2021. The opinions in this op-ed, written

by UM professor Scot Evans and recent graduate Thomas Kennedy, should not be interpreted as those of The Miami Hurricane.

Hearing that the Miami Herbert Business School hired Alex Azar, former President Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, we both reacted with a mix of horror, disgust and sadness. With all the amazing, diverse and socially responsible policy experts out there that can really motivate and inspire students into “ethical citizenship and service to others” with “a respect for

differences among people,” as stated in UM’s mission statement, they choose this guy? There are a lot of important reasons why Azar should be unemployable by any reputable organization that values common humanity and equal rights for all.

Trump’s family separation policy is one of the most shameful stains on the moral character of this country in recent years.

Stephen Miller, a former senior advisor for policy and director of speechwriting to Trump, and other Trump cronies like Azar helped enforce a policy that resulted in children being ripped from crying mothers’ arms to be placed in facilities where sexual abuse and mistreatment were rampant.

Unaccompanied minors who were coming to this country looking for a better life did not fare much better, as they were also placed in detention facilities in which they were routinely denied hygienic products and basic necessities. Our very own community became a flash point during the Trump years because of an infamous detention center for migrant children in Homestead, Fl. I (Thomas) have worked on campaigns to close and prevent the reopening of that detention facility and heard firsthand the awful conditions that children were subjected to, including a military style regimen in which they were not allowed free movement, afforded very limited call time, given inadequate access to lawyers and were mistreated and abused by staff. The

for-profit detention of immigrant children under horrid conditions outraged many of us, but unfortunately, those who were involved in implementing these horrible policies have not suffered repercussions.

Azar was complicit in implementing these detention policies during the Trump era, and was responsible for the administration of immigration detention centers, including the one in Homestead.

This hire directly contradicts the university’s espoused commitment to racial justice. You can’t be against racism and hire Azar. In addition to being complicit in the racist Trump policies described above, he also botched the COVID-19 response that disproportionately harmed and killed Black people, and he tried to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid which greatly benefit people of color. Being antiracist as an institution means taking a strong stand against racist policies and those who have a hand in creating or upholding them.

Alex Azar was directly involved in creating, implementing and rationalizing racist discourse and policies while employed by the Trump administration.

This hire reminds us of the saying – “don’t listen to what they say, watch what they do.” University statements against systemic racial injustice are meaningless without decisive action against racist policies and the public figures who propagate them. Frankly, we’re dismayed that more faculty, staff and students have

not strongly vocalized opposition to this hire. Are faculty in the business school on board and willing to ignore Azar’s role in toxic policies? Is the harm that Azar helped cause simply being waved away and whitewashed under the guise of welcoming a diverse “marketplace of ideas”? As University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Professor and activist David Shih has suggested, the marketplace of ideas fails when we cannot make objective choices about racism.

We believe in free discourse and think our campus benefits from a variety of beliefs and opinions to encourage a healthy and diverse learning environment. We also believe that people make mistakes and should be afforded opportunities to repent.

But Azar was complicit in some of the most horrific policies enacted during the Trump era. His hire was a huge mistake.

Thomas Kennedy is an elected Democratic National Committee member representing Florida and a graduate student at the University of Miami. Twitter: @tomaskenn.

Scotney D. Evans is an associate professor in the School of Education and Human Development and president of the UM chapter of the American Association of University Professors (UMiami AAUPAlliance). Twitter: @evanssd & @umaaup..

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT HEALTH

The best ways to stay healthy in college

BY LAYOMI ADEOJO ASSISTANT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR As another semester begins, students are figuring out their class schedules and getting back into a routine. With the excitement that the first week brings—and the hectic energy of a new semester—it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget to prioritize your physical and mental health.

Here are six tips from The Miami Hurricane to help you feel great physically, mentally and emotionally. .

6 6 TIPS TIPS TO TO STAY STAY HEALTHY HEALTHY 1. Eat enough to keep yourself going.

If you are a first-year student experiencing the freedom of college, it’s likely the first time no one is dictating your diet. Without home-cooked meals and parental guidance, its easy to overeat or rely on junk food. To avoid this trap, take advantage of various dining options on campus to ensure you get a variety of nutrients.

On the other hand, stress and a busy schedule can lead to skipped meals and unhealthy eating habits. To prevent not eating enough to fuel your body, ensure three well-rounded meals a day and keep snacks in your room for on-the-go.

2. Stay active.

While walking around campus is already a workout, there are many ways to stay active. For gym veterans, try switching up your routine to keep your exercises engaging.

For those who enjoy social activities, consider a fitness class at the Wellness Center or joining a UM club sports team. Even simple tasks like stretching or choosing stairs over the elevator can keep you moving and feeling better.

3. Sleep!

Maybe you ran on no sleep and Starbucks coffee in high school, but a few hours— or none at all— is no longer cool, let alone manageable.

The occasional all-nighter or late night out is fine, but this habit will increase your risk for sickness, depression and even burnout. A regular sleep schedule will prevent these

outcomes and improve mood, memory, productivity and concentration.

4. Keep your space clean.

Balancing college life can leave little room for anything else, including cleaning.

However, clutter piles up quickly, and having a dirty room will only elevate stress.

And with the pandemic still around, regular cleaning is a necessity to ward off germs and disease.

5. Prioritize self-care.

Schoolwork can take priority over everything else in your life, including your wellbeing. While self-care can look like a face mask or the gym, it can also be as simple as lounging around for a day

or not responding to emails after a certain time. Whatever your personal interpretation, it’s important to designate time for yourself.

6. Listen to your body.

If something feels off, it probably is. And with the added complication of COVID-19, it’s difficult to discern between a cold or something more severe. To stay on the safe side, visit the Student Health and get tested to rule out that possibility.

This mindset applies in every aspect of your life. If you feel pain anywhere, avoid overworking that area. If you feel tired, quit studying and rest. If you’re stressed or overwhelmed, schedule a therapy appointment or call a friend.

Your body will thank you.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE ART

August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

11

From the Museum of Graffiti to the Bass Museum of Art, Miami is a haven for art lovers

BY AMY BRODY POLIAKOFF STAFF WRITER

It’s no secret that Miami has evolved into a leading city in the art community. A big part of Miami’s emergence into the forefront of the art scene is Wynwood, one of the most artistic neighborhoods in America.

Wynwood, once an industrial warehouse and urban district, is now a neighborhood dedicated to murals, street art and galleries. Developed by Tony Goldman in 2009, the Wynwood Walls are a staple example of bringing graffiti art to the public.

The “Walls,” now the central point of the new arts district, has become an international tourist destination.

The neighborhood exhibits over 50 international artists showcasing street and graffiti art on over 80,000 square feet of building exteriors. Goldman Global Arts, an art dealer with a gallery in the district, curates the constantly changing murals of the Wynwood Walls featuring the work of Shepard Fairey, Phase 2, Kenny Scharf and more.

What makes this neighborhood more exciting is the world’s first ever museum solely dedicated to the evolution of graffiti art.

The Museum of Graffiti, located on NW 25th street, is an experience that includes indoor exhibition space, eleven exterior murals, a fine art gallery and a world-class gift shop dedicated to the world’s most talented graffiti artists. Founded by Alan Ket and Allison Freidin, the museum focuses on graffiti’s evolution from underground train and subway cars into a respected art movement.

Wynwood is not just a home for the graffiti world but a central hub for galleries and private art collections. Oliver Cole Gallery, located on 3rd Ave, is dedicated to bringing the best in modern and contemporary works of art to the community. Oliver Cole, the founder and chief curator, has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. With a stunning 1,800 square foot space, extensive website and 52,000 followers on Instagram, the gallery is committed to a dazzling experience not just in person but virtually.

With galleries of this regard lining

the streets of Wynwood, other art collections have followed, including the Rubell Family.

The Rubell Family Collection/Contemporary Art Foundation debuted in 1993, pioneering a new model for sharing private collections with the world. Different exhibitions and art from their 7,200 works by more than 1,000 artists are showcased at their collection that is open to the public for tickets.

Outside of Wynwood, Artechouse showcases a new type of art driven by technology. Artechouse, located on Collins Ave in Miami Beach, debuted in 2018. It is the nation’s first innovative art destination dedicated to the intersection of art, science and technology. A fully immersive experience with projections, this museum redefines the way we are visually stimulated by art.

For those seeking a traditional museum, Miami has established itself as home to some of the best, like the Perez Art Museum and the older Bass Museum. In 2013, the new Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum opened its doors to the public. Having existed for over 35 years prior, the museum reopened

in a new space located between Biscayne Bay and American Airlines Arena. The museum is a prime example of representing not only contemporary art but reflecting the city’s plurality of communities. With stunning ocean views, the museum is a seaside oasis featuring a bayfront restaurant.

The Bass Museum is one of Miami’s older staples. Although the programming of the museum is dedicated to contemporary art, it is rich in history. The Bass, founded by the private donation of John and Johanna Bass, presents mid-career and established artists reflecting the spirit and international character of Miami Beach. Including aspects of design, fashion and architecture into its programming, the museum aims to expand its definition of contemporary art.

Whether you’re an art connoisseur or new to the art scene, Miami’s rich culture has something for everyone. Be sure to visit some of these incredible galleries and museums this semester.

ENTERTAINMENT

Events you won’t want to miss this fall

BY JARROD HOUSEKNECHT

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Nothing screams Miami more than flashing strobe lights, sweaty bodies and the pulsing beat of music being played to thousands of concert-goers. Finally after a year on hold, many of Miami’s events are set to return this fall. From music festivals to celebrations of art, Miami’s cultural scene has something for everyone.

Below is a list of festivals and events you won’t want to miss.

III Points The Miami experience would not be complete without the city’s incredible music festivals. Hosted annually, lll Points is one of Miami’s best, as it incorporates interactive art installations and visual stage designing with a traditional music festival experience. lll Points will be hosted at Mana Wynwood on Oct. 23-24, with headliners including indie-rock band The Strokes, electronic hiphop producer Kaytranada and Swedish house disc jockey Eric Prydz. Tickets, starting at $149, can be purchased on the III Points festival website.

Miami Book Fair

An outdoor street festival, the Miami Book Fair is an eight-day long event that’s one of the largest literary celebrations nationwide, with hundreds of thousands of attendees. The fair brings together more than 400 authors to promote their work and celebrate literature.

The 2021 festival is to be hosted at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami from Nov. 14-21.

Vegan Block Party Advertised as the “plant-based party of the year,” Vegan Block Party is an all-day celebration at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. It’s an epic event combining a day at the beach with the best plant-based food options the city has to offer.

Complete with music, entertainment, and even animal adoptions, the party starts on Oct. 16 at 12 p.m. Tickets can be found online at veganblockparty.com/tickets.

Art Basel Art Basel is a historic Miami tradition lasting more than 40 years. The event integrates the beauty of the city’s beaches with hundreds of artists from across the globe. With other locations in Hong Kong and Switzerland, Art Basel is attended by the

elite of the art community, as well as many celebrities and influencers.

The Miami Beach-based celebration is to occur from Dec. 2 - Dec. 4 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Miami Beach Pride Miami Beach Pride is an incredible week of festivities that uplift and celebrate the culture of the LGBTQ+ community. The multi-day event is filled with international entertainment, large parties with immaculate Hunter Crenian // Staff Photographer food and drinks and an SPECTACULAR SINGER: SZA performs at III points music festival elaborate parade sequence on Ocean Drive along the Art traditions and heritage combined with Deco district. dancing and stunning fashion.

The party launches between Sept. 10The parades, concerts and fanfare occur 19 and attracts hundreds of thousands of this year between Oct. 7-10 at the Central visitors annually.

Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale Miami Carnival and the Miami Dade County Fairgrounds.

Every year on the week before Columbus Attendees have the option of acting as a Day, Miami hosts its spectacular Carnival. spectator, watching from the sidelines, or An enormous bash celebrating Caribbean joining in on the fun! culture, Carnival embraces art, music,

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021

SPORTS NEWS

Back in the game: Students allowed at UM sports

BY CHRIS DAMOND CONTRIBUTING WRITING UM sports are back in action, and after an unprecedented year in which most sporting events weren’t open for students to attend, the 2021-2022 school year shows promise to restore some normalcy to the college sports world.

During the first full year of the pandemic, the University of Miami enacted a number of safety measures and protocols that were universally implemented throughout the campus community, from the classroom to the gridiron. Masks were enforced in all indoor and outdoor settings and daily symptom checkers were used to identify symptomatic individuals and slow the spread of the virus.

However, with the rollouts of numerous vaccines during the spring and summer, COVID-19 policies on campus have been significantly reduced in both number and intensity, if not entirely eliminated.

These easements have also extended to UM’s sports facilities and venues, where the Miami Hurricanes look to welcome fans in greater quantities throughout the next year, which has students buzzing with excitement.

“I’m way, way more excited than last year,” said Erik Lamm, a sophomore who missed out on the traditional freshman sporting experience due to the pandemic, said. “Seeing sports happen but not being able to go to them was really frustrating.”

He’s looking forward to getting a taste of that trademark UM atmosphere at the games, which are widely known for having an

abundance of school spirit.

And at Hard Rock Stadium, home to both the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Dolphins football teams, capacity is no longer limited. In 2020, fans were seated in socially-distanced pods or clusters, both of which are now a thing of the past. Fans will also be allowed to tailgate and enter the stadium once the gates open, as opposed to the staggered entry time system implemented last season.

However, Hard Rock Stadium remains adamant about following health and safety protocols from the CDC. All fans are still strongly encouraged to adhere to CDC guidelines with regards to maskwearing in indoor settings and large gatherings.

To secure tickets to football games, students must open their Student Ticket Account through the Miami Hurricanes’ official website. Once at the login page, register your account with your account number, which is your C Number - found on Canelink - with the number nine in front of it.

After logging in, click on the Students tab and click on Football Tickets, which will show you a list of upcoming games. Similar to last year, tickets will be digital and touchless security scans will be present at all gates. Students must obtain student tickets the week of the game, but getting one does not guarantee admission. Located over a half hour away from campus in Miami Gardens, it’s best to allow plenty of time to get to the stadium prior to kickoff. Once there, students must show their ticket and CaneCard to enter the stadium

Jared Lennon // Staff Photographer CANES MISSED U: Canes fans throw up the U during Miami’s game versus the University of Virginia on Oct. 11. 2019 at Hard Rock Stadium.

from the Northwest Student Gate.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams play at the Watsco Center, a 200,000 square foot, 8,000-seat facility located on the western half of the Coral Gables campus. At the Watsco Center, the student section is situated right behind the Miami team basket and consists of sections 116 through 119.

Men’s basketball only has season tickets purchasable at the moment with no student discounts, but single-game tickets - when available - must be claimed the week of the game. Similar to football, a CaneCard and ticket are required to enter the student section, which consists of sections

116-119 and is accessed from the Northeast Student Gate.

For access to women’s games, however, only a CaneCard is needed. Their student section comprises sections 117 and 118, and fans must enter from the Watsco Center’s main entrance on its southern end.

Canes Baseball, which plays at Mark Light Field on the southwestern edge of the UM campus, does not have tickets available yet. When they’re accessible, student tickets will be ready to claim the Thursday before each game, where students can access up to two tickets on a firstcome, first-serve basis.

On the student-ticketing

website, football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball are the only sports listed for ticket purchases or claims. However, if fans are interested in attending Olympic sporting events, like track meets or volleyball, tennis or soccer matches, those can all be accessed with a CaneCard.

A return to normalcy has been a long time coming in the sports world, but with every passing day, glimpses of the past are slowly being restored. When Canes Football begins their home schedule against Appalachian State on Sept. 11, the team and the fans will look to take a big step in that direction.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021

SPORTS

13

FOOTBALL

‘The only starting quarterback we have’: D’Eriq King remains Miami’s undisputed leader

BY WYATT KOPELMAN ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR When D’Eriq King went down with a torn ACL and meniscus in Miami’s bowl game last December, Canes fans feared the worst. The prized transfer quarterback was out indefinitely.

Now, seven and a half months later, King is out on Greentree Practice Fields juking out his defensive teammates in fall practice. And those teammates, they are absolutely jubilant to have their undisputed leader back on the field.

“Looks like the same old D’Eriq to me,” redshirt junior safety Bubba Bolden said. “He didn’t lose a step. He might have actually gotten faster.”

As for King, his knee feels “pretty good right now.”

“They felt good, it was a big relief,” King said after his first couple of run plays in practice.

“I was begging them to give me a pull read. I wanted to run the ball so bad and just feel it out. It was a good feeling.”

When asked if he was ready

to name King his starting quarterback, Miami head coach Manny Diaz said, “That’s our starting quarterback, that’s the only starting quarterback we have. It’s August 6 and he was without restriction today. It’s not my choice, he’s not going to let me not start him at quarterback. He’s going to run out there the first play, it doesn’t matter who else we put out there at quarterback.”

King exhilarated his teammates, coaching staff, and all who had patiently awaited the dual-threat signal caller’s return to the Greentree Practice Fields.

“It looked like nothing had happened,” Diaz said of King’s mobility. “You see the guy spin some of the throws in there and what I actually really liked was — and I felt like he was intentional a couple of times — he took off and he ran. You could see he wanted to go and know he could go, and back up what he had done with our training staff and our physical therapy staff and our strength staff in the summer.”

King restored the wellestablished connection with senior receiver Mike Harley, the

Hurricanes’ leader in receiving yards last season, with 57 receptions, 799 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

“I think my first completion, the first play today was to Mike,” King said. “Me and him really got a good connection, it was good being out there with him. Everything felt like normal, like how it did in the season towards the end of the year, so it was really good throwing him the ball again.”

King will make his return to the playing field in the season-opener on Sept. 4 in Atlanta against the Alabama Crimson Tide, in what will be the 12th start of his Miami career.

Last season, King passed for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 64.1% in what was his first season at UM after transferring from the University of Houston, where he played four seasons. In all five seasons of his collegiate playing career, the former Maxwell Award semifinalist has never faced Alabama.

“I watched them a bunch in the offseason, and I think I’ve watched every single game they had last

Josh Halper // Photo Editor KING IS BACK: Redshirt senior quarterback D’Eriq King practices on Greentree Practice Fields

year,” King said. “Obviously, I had a lot of down time when I was hurt, so I watched a lot of their

games and I just kept watching it throughout the year.”

FOOTBALL

Schedule preview: After improved 2020 campaign, Miami looks to take college football by storm this fall

BY RISHI DESAI CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Miami Hurricanes have been far from perfect since head coach Manny Diaz took over after the 2018 season. In 2019, they finished with a 6-7 record, including three straight losses to close out the regular season. Last year the Canes showed significant improvement, finishing with an 8-3 record and putting up a fight

in the Cheez-It Bowl, falling to the Oklahoma State Cowboys 3734.

Circumstances aside, the Hurricanes are 0-2 in bowl games under Diaz, and pressure is mounting for him and his staff to have a successful season this year. With a healthy starting quarterback and Diaz calling plays for the defense, Miami will look to take a step in the right direction and push to doubledigit wins in 2021.

Alabama vs Miami Since 2009, Alabama has six national titles and has been a perennial top team in all of college football. All eyes will be on Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young, who only has five game appearances. Young is a dual-threat quarterback who delivers accurate throws on the run. It will be vital that the offensive line can slow him down and keep him in the pocket as much as possible.

On offense for the Hurricanes, a big question mark looms over King’s return and how he plays will be crucial in determining how Miami competes. If he’s able to use his dual-threat ability to keep Alabama’s linebackers and safeties on their toes, it will help open up the offense and spread the field.

Appalachian State vs Miami Miami will make its 2021 home debut a week later against

Appalachian State. Although the Mountaineers may seem like an easy opponent, last year they went 9-3 and have been in and out of the top 25 rankings for a few years.

App State’s offense entails lots of motions and option plays, and they spread these packages inside and outside. The Canes will have to rely on linebacker and safety play to be successful on defense.

Offensively, Miami can maximize the run game against a team that failed to crack the top 50 in run

14 SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021 Last year, Miami faced quarterback Joey Yellen when starting quarterback Kenny Pickett was out with an injury.

This year, Kenny Pickett is back for the Panthers’ offense. Pickett hasn’t put up mind-blowing numbers against the Canes, but he has given them some trouble in certain situations. Although he isn’t seen as a top-tier dualthreat, he has wheels. If he gets outside the pocket, he will be able to keep Pittsburgh in the game.

Georgia Tech vs Miami

Jared Lennon // Staff Photographer CANES MISSED U: Canes fans throw up the U during Miami’s game versus the University of Virginia on Oct. 11. 2019 at Hard Rock Stadium.

defense last season. With Don Chaney Jr. returning from injury and Cam’Ron Harris coming off a strong year, Miami should be successful.

I in the Football Championship Subdivision and the Blue Devils haven’t played since the 2019 season due to COVID-19.

Virginia vs Miami

Michigan State vs Miami Although last year didn’t offer a large sample size of games, Michigan State went 2-5 and finished last in the BIG Ten East.

Their two wins came against Michigan and Northwestern.

This season redshirt sophomore Payton Thorne and Anthony Russo are fighting for the starting quarterback spot.

On defense the Spartans allowed 35 points per game last season.

Playing in the hot Miami weather against an up-tempo Canes offense is going to be challenging.

If Lashlee calls a diverse game by mixing in RPO’s, play-action and misdirection, Miami’s may be too tough for the Spartans to handle.

Central Connecticut State vs Miami This game shouldn’t be a real concern for Miami, but every year it seems there is a crazy upset that derails a big team’s season.

Miami will have to prepare for this game just like they prepare for their Week 1 game versus Alabama. The team is in Division

The Hurricanes have won four of the last five against Virginia, but the Cavaliers have been a tough opponent the past few years. Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong is a dualthreat QB, which has proven tough for Miami to defend.

However last year, they only put up 14 points per game. There are some solid skill players on offense, but the Cavalier offense isn’t deep enough to provide a real threat to the experienced Miami defense.

Miami at North Carolina What happened the last time these two met deserves no reminder. But, it’s a new year and the Hurricanes will come into this game off of a bye week, which will be beneficial because Miami will need all hands on deck to compete with the preseason No. 10 Tar Heels.

UNC lost running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter to the NFL draft this offseason.

Quarterback Sam Howell, though, is entering his

junior year and has had another full offseason to develop.

Considered one of the top quarterbacks in his class, Howell has a strong and accurate arm, which will require Miami’s cornerbacks and safeties to play well.

North Carolina State vs Miami Last season, the Canes pulled off a miraculous fourth quarter comeback to win 44-41 against NC State, but Miami had 12 penalties totaling 101 yards of field possession.

Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary is a redshirt junior entering his first year as a definite starter.

Leary hasn’t always been NC State’s primary option, so his inexperience will benefit Miami.

He is mostly a pocket-passer who isn’t afraid to take a hit and can deliver accurate passes all over the field. It will be on the Miami defensive line to pressure Leary and come out of his spot.

Miami at Pittsburgh Similar to UVA, Pittsburgh seems to pose an underrated threat to Miami every year, but the Canes have taken the last four out of five.

The last two times Miami played Georgia Tech, they lost in close games that came down to the wire, but this year the Yellow Jackets shouldn’t pose as much of a threat as other ACC opponents will.

Sophomore quarterback Jeff Sims returns as the starter for Georgia Tech. Simms is extremely mobile and has an accurate deep ball, but if UM’s defense can force Sims to throw into tight windows and rely o n only his legs, they will be able to limit his production on the gridiron.

Miami at Florida State All Hurricanes fans have this game circled on their calendars.

The FSU-UM rivalry is one of the most historic ones in all of college football, and the teams usually battle in a close game, with last year being a rare exception. The Canes have won the last four matchups, but before that, FSU owned the first half of the last decade.

The Seminoles went 3-6 last year, but upset UNC and showed signs of life at the end of the year. A key part of the issue was inexperience and lack of depth at quarterback. That changed after FSU landed transfer quarterback McKenzie Milton, who took UCF to the Peach Bowl in 2018. He delivers accurately out of the pocket and is a threat to run.

Virginia Tech at Miami Miami has won three of their last four against the Hokies,

including a 25-24 nailbiter last season.

Last year, the Hokies went 5-6, but showed flashes of potential against solid teams.

The defensive line and passrushers will have to make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket and create penetration on running plays. If the defense can take away the most lethal part of the Hokies’ offense and force them to throw against an experienced secondary, Miami will be in good hands.

Miami at Duke Miami has split the last four matchups with Duke 2-2. Luckily for Miami, Duke was horrible last year. They went 2-9 and their only wins came against Syracuse and a non-FBS opponent.

Gunnar Holmberg will take over as starting quarterback for the Blue Devils. He failed to record a touchdown in 25 pass attempts last season and he gets uncomfortable in the pocket.

However, he does like to get the ball out fast, so Miami will have to be good in coverage to cause issues for the Duke offense.

The Big Picture Miami definitely has some tough games this year. The season opener versus Alabama and the revenge game versus UNC will be crucial for UM to win if they want to stay atop the national rankings. Dominating the slate of ACC games will go a long way in securing the Coastal Division as well, but arguably the most important games will take place in the first month of the season.

If the Hurricanes can get off to a strong start with a victory over Alabama, they will then coast into four consecutive games at home, the bulk of which are winnable.

After a bounceback season and circumstances working in their favor in 2021, the Hurricanes are well-positioned to make some noise this fall.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

V’S TAKE

August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021

A Letter to Freshmen V’s Take is The Hurricane’s most controversial and longest-running column. It is a satirical work published weekly 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.

Have a question for V? Email

dearv@themiamihurricane.com.

Like the first hair sprouting from a prepubescent nipple, the first class spent carefully concealing the curving bulge exploding from your jeans or like the first trip to your school counselor for a trial-by-fire lesson on biology and self care, the sudden move from your parents house to life as a private and independent person can be… uncomfortable.

While new students at the University of Miami are unlikely to experience their first boner while walking down the campus Breezeway, they are embarking on a journey of self discovery rivaled in significance only by the first throes of adolescent sexual frustration. And although Sebastian the Ibis, or whoever’s wearing the suit this year, won’t be the one giving you a heartfelt lesson on how to use a tampon after you stain your new white jeans at Oasis, V is here to give you some words of wisdom before you start your journey away from pale and pimpled high school lovers and down the road to anal beads and tan bodies with 4 percent body fat.

Yes ladies and gentleman, V is back with a whole new bag of tricks, dicks, clits and pricks to satisfy all of your genital needs in TMH’s only regular column on all things sex. As we start the first fully-in person semester since the beginning of the pandemic, I would like to take the time and remind you all what I am here for: to answer all the questions that come on the journey from insecure freshman to bonafide dominatrix. Having said that, with a new crop of bright eyed freshmen on campus, I feel it is my duty to highlight the less glamorous aspects of your first weeks at UM. College can seem like an intimidating and unwelcoming place before you realize that all the kids you think have it figured out are likely just as lost and confused as you are. Relationships, sexual or not, are often formed at random based on proximity and looks, and the fight to fit into groups that you might not naturally belong to could drive anyone insane. Couple this with the fact that you are going through one of the biggest changes in your life during a global pandemic, and you can see why so many new students spend their

evenings frantically texting mom to see if it’s too late for a refund instead of awkwardly approaching prospective friends on the IM field. But rather than panicking at this sudden confrontation with the unfamiliar, I urge you to take a big step back and consider why you came to college in the first place: to escape your parents and find yourself. I should probably say to get a degree, but you wouldn’t read V’s take for study tips unless they involved vaginal flash cards.

But really, only after you settle in, move out, and start the process over again can you truly appreciate the fact that every big dude with a tribal tattoo is, whether he knows it or not, just as insecure as the sniffly kid that reports you after your first night out with your friends.

Yes, as hard as it is to believe, your new roommate Zeke, who drives a BMW and wears tinted sunglasses from the dollar store, is fighting to conceal his nerves just as hard as you are. And while his female counterparts may talk a similarly big game, Cindy’s boyfriend from home is much more likely packing footlongs at his local Subway than housing one downstairs. If you find yourself in a struggle to win the approval of someone who doesn’t care to make sure you are happy, then I urge you to step away from the game, take a deep breath, and maybe find a hobby or two that can distract and fulfill you when you are tired of pretending to listen to someone talk about how stressed they are. When you’ve finally climbed the mountain of self assurance and stopped considering what people might think when making decisions about your life, that’s when the door to new friends and passions will open. And while I can preach about being confident and loving yourself, I must add that, perhaps most importantly, when your roommate with a dust allergy and case of water that you can’t touch complains about you coming home too late, consider inviting him out instead of talking shit behind his back. Then, the next time you take a can of ginger ale when he’s not home, he may consider leaving the RA out of it. I know the content of this column wasn’t very sex-centric, but in order to find your erotic self, you must be willing to think about who you are and who you want to be. College is a great time to shift your perspective, and as you enter this new chapter in your life, find what makes you happy and grab it, whether it’s a telescope and a comic book or a big ol’ dick-and-balls Best, V

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

August 24, 2021- August 31, 2021