Vol. 96, Issue 14 | January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
UM administration unveils plan for new housing village NEWS // Page 5 Government shutdown reveals harsh reality OPINION // Page 7 Hernandez remains sidelined due to eligibility concerns SPORTS // Page 14
NEW YEAR, NEW U NEWS // Page 6
DINING DECOR: The Hecht-Stanford Dining Hall located beside the freshman residential dorms gets a fresh look with a large new decal placed beside the main entrance.
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January 22 , 2019 - January 28, 2019
PROFILES
Alexandra Martinez brings “non-stop energy” to UMPD By Rebecca Goddard Editor-in-Chief
You get to be a social worker, a psychologist, a counselor,” said UMPD Crime Prevention Officer Alexandra Martinez on the meaning of police work. “You get to be a superhero.” Alexandra Martinez knew exactly what to do when her police department received a call from a teenager whose friend had just sent him a text with her location and an alarming message: “I’m going to be raped.” As a veteran Pinecrest Police Station detective, Martinez was familiar with the area and rushed to the location with her fellow officers. Upon arrival, the police they found a group of young men attempting to flee from the guesthouse. The victim was nowhere in sight. The officers stopped the suspects from leaving and immediately fanned out to search for the missing girl. After a while, one of Martinez’s colleagues called out — there was someone hiding in the bushes. Hearing sniffles coming from the thick shrubbery, Martinez rushed over. Through the darkness, someone grabbed her hand. “It was like all my hairs stood up,” Martinez said. “There was the girl.” The young woman, who was 18 at the time and a recent high school graduate, kept pointing to the owner of the house, a 21-year-old man. She was crying too hard
Photo courtesy Alexandra Martinez SEBASTIAN SELFIE: Alexandra Martinez shows off her UM pride with Sebastian the Ibis.
to speak. For Martinez, connecting with and comforting victims is one of the most rewarding aspects of police work. “You get to be a social worker, a psychologist, a counselor,” she said. “You get to be a superhero.” Martinez, who joined the University of Miami Police Department in 2017 to head the Crime Prevention Office, is wearing all of those hats but without the official title of police officer. As a programs manager, she is part of UMPD’s administrative team, a role that allows her to be a part of the police force, minus “the never-ending back to back” of attending court hearings, organizing photo line ups and responding to active situations. Still, her civilian position offers new opportunities and challenges each day, Martinez said, pointing to a whiteboard in front of her desk that has meeting dates, appointment times and various other reminders scribbled across its entire surface. Also the department’s public information officer, Martinez, 45, runs UM’s bike program, serves as an ambassador for United Way and sits on several committees with UM administrators. UMPD captain Bill Gerlach said Martinez has the “non-stop” energy required to tackle her hefty workload. Gerlach said there’s one word that sums up Martinez’s work ethic: bountiful. “She just seems to be everywhere all the time,” he said. “She’s always on top of things.” He cited her detective experience as a major asset to the department, saying that her investigation and communication skills make her more beneficial than any civilian candidate. “She’s just a wealth of energy, and she has the follow through to get it done,” Gerlach said. But Martinez said she wants students to know that she’s not the only hardworking UMPD employee— the organization is full of officers who are always willing to help. “You guys have a really good police department,” she said. “You have officers who are very dedicated. Most come with years of experience.” Police work at a university is less about jumping fences and catching murders, Martinez said. It’s more about mentoring
students and teaching them how to protect themselves. She said campus cops recognize that college students are still learning and maturing. Gerlach echoed this idea. “We’re here to for everybody,” he said. “We’re here to help in any way we can.” Sophomore Celine White said she appreciates UMPD’s attitude towards policing on campus. “College students, at the end of the day, are going to be college students, and it’s better to create an environment where they feel safe and comfortable, versus one where they’re afraid of coming forward in instances when they need help,” said White, a broadcast journalism student and residential assistant in Pearson Residential College. White said her interactions with UM police officers have always been pleasant;she said she trusts that they’re looking out for her. “It’s very clear that their goal is not to incriminate students or get them in trouble,” White said. “It’s really just to help them and keep everyone safe.” But although Martinez said she loves her job at UMPD, she still misses being a detective. Most of all, she misses “the hunt” of tracking down criminals. But she definitely doesn’t miss being on call 24/7. Martinez served as Pinecrest PD’s public information officer for nearly eight years, and said she was rarely able to enjoy any holidays, birthdays or family events in peace. “You start feeling it,” Martinez said of always being on call. “It’s mentally and physically exhausting.” Anytime the police department needed to address the media, Martinez had to be ready to deliver a statement. As a result, she missed out on a lot of family time. Ultimately, Martinez left Pinecrest PD in search of more normalcy. She didn’t want to give up her fast-paced lifestyle, but she wanted to spend more time with her kids. Now that Martinez has a more regular work schedule, she can spend time with her husband, who is a local firefighter, and her two teenage kids. On the weekends, she said she likes to enjoy the outdoors with them. “My kids know a lot about police work, so I try to make them feel like they’re a part of what I do,” she said. “That way, they know that if I’m not with them, it’s
Photo courtesy Alexandra Martinez WELCOME ABOARD: Alexandra Martinez, left, and student UMPD employees embark on a ride-along with Coral Gables Marine Patrol Dec. 10, 2018 for UMPD’s student appreciation dinner.
because I’m doing work. It’s not because I don’t want to be there.” Martinez said she loves reading novels and watching romantic comedies in her free time. She joked that she’s seen “Pride and Prejudice” more times than she cares to admit. Martinez is also passionate about selfdefense. As crime prevention officer, she teaches a class at UM with the goal of encouraging students to take their personal safety seriously. She said it’s important for everyone to be their own heroes. This is a message that Martinez has been preaching for a long time. While presenting at a middle school career fair as a Pinecrest detective, Martinez gave this very advice, not realizing the impact that it would have one of the young girls in the crowd— the same girl who Martinez would pull out of a bush years later. A week after the incident at the guesthouse, the victim told Martinez that they’d met before, and that the words “be your own hero” rang in her ears when she arrived to her friend’s house, expecting a party, but found that she was the only girl there. When the hosts started to get aggressive, the young woman locked herself in the bathroom, sent a text to her friend and ran out of the guesthouse when one of the men forced his way through the door. She hid in the bush until Martinez pulled her out. “She saved herself,” Martinez said. “She knew what was going to happen; she followed her gut; she didn’t wait around to see if she was wrong.”
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January 22 , 2019 - January 28, 2019
CAMPUS LIFE
Tunnel of Oppression interactive exhibit returning to UM
Reese Pitts // Contributing Photographer RAISING AWARENESS: The Tunnel of Oppression’s education exhibit explores education systems around the world and highlights the struggles of marginalized groups in society today, such as poverty, child marriage and education. By Reese Pitts and Kiki Aderoju Contributing News Writers
“These are issues that are actually happening in the world right now, and not a lot of people talk about them, and that’s something that should change,” said sophomore Naomy Lelis, who has been working on the “race” room this year. Enclosed in a small room with curtains for walls, several SpectrUM students scramble to pin up posters, make a bed, and decorate the make-believe bedroom of someone who is queer, suicidal and reaching out for help. This room was just one of the several packed into the Shalala Student Center Ballrooms for Tunnel of Oppression last year. Tunnel of Oppression has become a yearly tradition at the University of Miami, a “social justice haunted house” that aims to educate its visitors on the ways in which various forms of
oppression manifest themselves in society. Each exhibit is set up inside the ballroom as an individual room constructed within the confines of four black walls. Lights and images are often projected onto the black walls and scenarios are recreated using a variety of props. Visitors will also be given headphones that allow them to listen to accompanying songs, poems and newscasts – anything to shed light on the many issues at hand. Rooms will cover topics such as religion, gender, sexuality, racism, the environment, education and immigration. “These are issues that are actually happening in the world right now, and not a lot of people talk about them, and that’s something that should change,” said sophomore Naomy Lelis, who has been working on the “race” room this year. Emma Lam, the president of SpectrUM, has worked on the
Tunnel of Oppression for the past two years. “The goal is to foster empathy and acceptance,” said Lam, a junior majoring in psychology. “For example, how can we show somebody who doesn’t experience certain types of oppression to understand them?” For Lelis, the goal is to inspire action and tangible change. “Something I’ve really enjoyed has been finding different ways of getting people’s emotions out and a reaction, because once there’s a reaction, your body tends to think about that reaction you had and you’re like, ‘wow, this really touched my feelings and I really should do something about it,’” Lelis said. Last year, Tunnel of Oppression attracted over 600 guests. Junior Sharnikha Saravanan was then a first-time visitor. Now, she’s designing the immigration room. “I loved designing this room especially since I am an
immigrant, and it gave me a chance to show the parts that are not usually seen by people,” Saravanan said. “The focus was to get people to look at the facts and reality of life for immigrants around the world instead of the myths that they hear from people they know or the media.” At the end of the exhibitions, the interconnectedness room
provides a space for attendees to learn about local opportunities for involvement and to speak to community partners that deal with these issues. Tunnel of Oppression will take place Jan. 22-24 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Shalala Student Center Ballrooms. Students can volunteer to work during the event.
Reese Pitts // Contributing Photographer WORKING HARD: Students begin work on the Tunnel of Oppression, which will take place Jan. 22-24 in the Shalala Student Center Ballrooms.
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January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
NEWS
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‘What Matters to U’ committee announces date for new discussion series By Olivia Ginsberg Staff News Writer
The planning committee for What Matters to U, an interactive discussion series, announced Jan. 14 that their inaugural event will be held Feb. 7 in the Shalala Student Center Ballrooms. Keegan Gibson, the chair of the planning committee and a junior biomedical engineering student at the University of Miami, said the idea for a new discussion series arose after the committee members realized the need for an event on campus that personally engaged students. Gibson said they wanted to introduce speakers who not only taught through a lecture, but who also interacted with students and answered their questions. “Part of going to college is having the opportunity to see really cool, high profile speakers
and we want to bring that here to the University of Miami,” said Gibson. “We wanted to do so in a way that wasn’t just the typical lecture, we wanted to do so in a really unique way.” The committee worked throughout the summer to decide on a speaker that coincided with the objectives it created in conjunction with UM President Julio Frenk and Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education William Scott Green. Members said their main goal was to find someone who would pique the interest of UM students while also touching on global issues. “We really thought, what do students want to talk about and not to play on the title but what matters to them,” said Gibson. “We wanted to think of who can address these topics, but also who is someone that has a stage
presence and someone that has a platform that can address these topics.” Two student moderators have been chosen and will be announced at a date closer to the event. The moderators will be tasked with connecting the speaker to the audience and facilitating the conversation. Students will have an opportunity before the event to submit questions online, giving them the power to steer the discussion. Jack Camoratto, a member of the planning committee and senior biomedical engineering student, said there’s lots of excitement among the few people who know the identity of the first speaker. “This is an event the student body does not want to miss,” said Camoratto. “I wish we could tear down the walls of the ballroom
and make it three times the size. I feel bad for anyone who can’t get their hands on a ticket.” Space will be limited to around 1000 seats. Tickets will be distributed through Eventbrite on the What Matters to U Facebook
page starting Jan. 28 at 12 p.m. Giveaways in the weeks leading up to the event for upgraded seats and opportunities for a VIP meet and greet will also be posted on the Facebook page.
Graphic courtesy What Matters to U
Centennial Village to provide modern housing for future freshmen By Natalia Rovira News Editor
The Stanford and Hecht Residential Colleges have been home to generations of University of Miami students since 1968. Soon, the towers will be torn down to make way for a transformative new era of oncampus housing. Centennial Village is expected to open in 2025, a tribute to UM’s 100th anniversary from its foundation in 1925. The total project cost is estimated at $260 million, and construction will begin in the Summer of 2020. Four new residential towers will stand in place of the Stanford and Hecht buildings by the completion of the project. Construction will begin with Stanford Residential College, the replacement of which will open in 2022. Work on the Hecht tower will follow and the second stage of this multi-layered plan will become available to students in
2024. Eaton Residential College is also included in the plans for renovation and is expected to have an entirely new interior by 2025. The 552,000 square foot complex will present UM’s new approach to comfort living to 1,728 freshmen. Various innovative features are aimed at offering residents a living and learning environment that enriches their on-campus experience. In addition to double rooms and an increased amount of single rooms, the new residential colleges will feature private bathrooms, kitchenettes, resident lounges, a learning hub, classrooms, a meditation room, indoor and outdoor spaces and a recreational gaming room, all along the edge of Lake Osceola. Freshman Matthew Morrison said he believes that such a level of comfort could place a limit on a student’s ability to adjust to
college life. “It’ll be so much easier for [first-year students] to be separated from others because everything will be so comfortable that they won’t want to leave their dorms,” Morrison said. These planned amenities emphasize UM’s goal of providing an enhanced living and academic experience to its students, according to Patricia Whitely, vice president of student affairs. Whitely said this effort is parallel to the mission behind the Student Housing Village that is currently under construction. Sterling Corum, a sophomore resident assistant in Stanford Residential College, said she’s excited about the new housing project. “I think it’s nice to have a more central housing location that has more amenities,” Corum said. “I think it is a really interesting project.” Jim Smart, executive director
for Housing and Residential Life, told News at the U that the village will “provide students with a blend of individual, group, and community-wide spaces to aid in their transition into University life.” The Centennial Village is also a part of UM’s green initiative. The project aims to create sustainable structures through state-of-the-art building systems and durable materials. In accordance with the University’s
commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and protecting the environment, the village aims to attain a LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. UM contracted Virginiabased VMDO Architects and Zyscovich Architects to blueprint the project, while Grycon LLC is involved in pre-construction services. Isabella Didio contributed to this reporting.
Graphic courtesy UM Communications LAKESIDE LIVING: The Centennial Housing Village is set to completely replace the Hecht and Stanford dorms for freshmen by 2025.
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January 22 , 2019 - January 28, 2019
What’s new around the U
Students may have noticed some small changes during the first week of classes. UM Facilities was hard at work over the winter break with many renovations around campus.
Hunter Crenian // Photo and Visuals Editor Hunter Crenian // Photo and Visuals Editor Students and faculty of the Herbert Wellness Center returned to a redecorated lobby with new and colorful couches for the members to use. New turnstiles were added to the entrance of the Herbert Wellness Center that light up depending on the validity of the gym membership card.
Alexia Casalins // Contributing Photographer Hunter Crenian // Photo and Visuals Editor Hunter Crenian // Photo and Visuals Editor Freshmen, Brianna De La Osa, right, and Lauren Bausley, left, catch up University of Miami snack shop, formerly known as “Outtakes” but now called “The Market,” gets its floors Construction began over winter break on the exterior of one of the architecture buildings beside Lake Osceola. Wednesday while sitting in the Hurricane Food Court’s new booths. renovated and the snack concession stands moved as one of the multiple updates inside the food court building.
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HURRICANE Founded 1929
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January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
OPINION
EDITORIAL
The harsh reality of our government shutdown For our first issue of 2019, our editorial board had many things in mind to talk about today. We contemplated talking about our holiday plans, this semester’s classes, the influx of spring freshmen and transfer students or even all the community service being done all over the country in observance of MLK day. Instead, we feel almost obligated to discuss what every news outlet has been covering for the past month: the government shutdown. As of Dec. 22, 2018, the federal government went into a partial shutdown after Congress failed to reach a deal to meet Trump’s request of 5.7 billion dollars to fund his infamous campaign promise, a border wall. Now going into our fourth week of the shutdown, irrevocable damage has been done, and there is still much at stake. Take for example the 800,000 government employees that are working and living without pay. That includes law enforcement officials, Transportation Security Administration workers, employees of the Forest Service and National Park Service and border patrol agents. We have all felt and seen the hit airport security has taken as many TSA workers have repeatedly called out of work and are even thinking of quitting. Miami International Airport, at one point, had to shut down a terminal due to the government shutdown. Some national parks have temporarily closed and are depending on volunteers to help clean up. The Food and Drug Administration has halted their routine inspections of seafood, vegetables and other
foods, leaving Americans at high risk for contamination. These workers are deemed “essential personnel,” and even they can’t escape the consequences of the President’s choices. Stories of how the shutdown is affecting federal workers and regular folks have permeated social media to no avail as a quick trip to our President’s
the government, but it also hurts everyday Americans like you and me who depend on the government to run smoothly, or at least something close to that. The longest government shutdown on record is not about effectively securing our border. Democrats and Republicans alike have argued in the past about effective and humane ways
“This government shutdown doesn’t just affect those that work in the government, but it also hurts everyday Americans like you and me who depend on the government to run smoothly, or at least something close to that.” Twitter account only shows him boasting about himself and justifying the shutdown as a way to “finally fix the humanitarian, criminal and drug crisis at our border.” Many of our federal workers are being forced to return to a non-paying job, all while being reminded of the legal notion that their paychecks will arrive when the shutdown ends, whenever that is. Not only are they getting f-ed over, but the people that they serve are. It’s a shitshow. This government shutdown doesn’t just affect those that work in
to draft up sensible immigration policies, and the solution was never to shut down the government for weeks because bipartisanship couldn’t be reached. It’s not about building a concrete wall, the same wall that John Kelly, former White House Chief of Staff, said the administration abandoned a long time ago. Our president can’t say that he cares about good immigration and border policies when there are children still dying in U.S. custody. This shutdown- a display of the President’s pride and garish
political showmanship- is an act of complete selfishness. Trump refuses to see the error in his ways (and tweets). A majority of Americans are not in favor of the shutdown, and even though there are those who think that we have a border crisis, they don’t think a wall is the solution. To end the shutdown early would mean that Trump would have had to do something that he has never done before: He would have had to apologize to all the workers he made work without pay. It would have meant that his opponents who are fiercely opposed to most of the things he does would be right. It would have meant that he had to be wrong, that this wall would not “Make America Great Again”. And so, the shutdown has continued well past its duration. If there’s anything this shutdown has shown us, it’s that we need the federal government open again. Yes, we need the IRS, the FDA and all the departments that aren’t necessarily sensationalized. There’s not much we can do now except protest, call and demand our government representatives take action and hope that Trump gets off the high horse he’s on. Staff editorials reflect the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.
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January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
OPINION
GREEK LIFE
Hazing culture deserves more scrutiny There are a number of experiences that are simply magnetized to the “American college experience” – drinking, football, using a driver’s license with the 1993 version of you. These are all, to an extent, stuck to the four years that one spends at their post-high school institution. However, the most iconic element of the aforementioned experience is Greek life and all that comes with it. The parties, the “popular crowd” mentality, the exclusivity, and the undying love for Brad from Beta and Becky from Zeta give insight into the unique shape of education in the United States while raising a number of seemingly nonexistent red flags. The toxicity of fraternity culture is not something that hasn’t been looked at before, nor is it something that some people aren’t aware of. What I see as the fatal flaw of the American higher education system are a few things: hazing, the lack of an actual hardline on hazing, and the normalization of hazing. There is a culture around hazing that it is seemingly acceptable, encouraged and benign. There is the notion that “everyone does it” so it must be alright, to say nothing of the hyper-masculinity from which it is bred. Additionally, there is the inexplicable social stigma which is so great at colleges just like UM, that even if an individual sees an incidence of hazing and knows that it’s wrong, ratting out the organization is an act of social suicide. Unfortunately, it’s the same stigma which prevents students from speaking out against other students when they see injustice of any type that is deemed to be accepted, including sexism,
and even down to the general douchebaggery that seems to be attached to Greek life or to living in Miami in general. The stigma is so, so strong. Nobody wants to be the rat. I have been a part of Greek life before and yes, I was hazed. Not only was I a subject of hazing, but even I felt the stigma of being the guy who rats out the frat, which is why I refused to speak out about my hazing experiences. I didn’t want to commit social suicide and be called names for the rest of my time at UM. And frankly, who would want to have that on their shoulders for the rest of their college career? I sure didn’t. I had a bright and vibrant college social life and continue to have one—even without Greek life. But the reality is that the permissiveness of the culture surrounding hazing is just too strong at UM and other prestigious colleges around the country. If one looks a little closer, one can see very real examples of hazing every day, right here at UM: forcing students to humiliate themselves by dressing up in embarrassing costumes, conducting “workouts”, branding, being forced to stay up all night, forcing students to take a “vow of silence”, to name a few. The school needs to do a better job of being a fact finder, as many of the acts which were just stated happen right before its eyes yet fail to be investigated. If Greek life is a staple in American colleges, hazing is its lifeline. It’s time for us as a student body to accept our inaction and stigmatizing as crimes against each other, and it’s time for UM to live up to its name as a premier school and to set an example for other colleges
with Greek life, as it has done in so many other categories. I want to see a time when writing opinions like these need not be done in secret – but in public, so that we can come together and recognize the flaws and issues that we face as a student body and as a school, rather than sweep them under the rug and stigmatize those who speak out. I welcome the administration to see this as a wake-up call before we experience another unspeakable disaster – as we did 18 years ago when Chad Meredith, a pledge in Kappa Sigma, drowned while attempting to swim across Lake Osceola while completely obliterated from drinking. Nowadays, no one remembers that – that was long before you or I were even close to being college-aged. But the young men we’ve lost – Chad Meredith, Tim Piazza, Maxwell Gruver, Andrew Coffey – to name a few, should shine a light on the fact that we get to decide the fate of future generations of students. Are we an academic superpower deserving a seat at the table with our brothers and sisters from Harvard and Stanford? Or are we the school that tolerates hazing and fails to take responsibility for our brothers on Greek Row? In my eyes, you can’t have it both ways. Make my alma mater one that I’m proud of. The writer has asked to remain anonymous as so not to face any particular backlash that might come with publishing a story like this. The writer is currently a senior here at the University of Miami.
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OPINION
THEMIAMIHURRICANE
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
POLITICS
The decline of democracy in the face of furloughed workers Last week marked the beginning of the second month of the longest government shutdown in A m e r i c a n history. T h e By Daniela Perez Staff Columnist standstill hinges on President Donald Trump’s most prominent campaign promise: a $5.7 billion dollar and 2,000-mileslong border wall dividing the United States and Mexico. House Democrats, accompanied by a few Republicans, refused to approve billions for the wall that they find “ineffective and expensive.” In retaliation, Trump has refused to approve funding legislation without the wall’s allowance, partially shutting down the government. As we push through day 31 of the government shutdown, the paychecks of approximately
800,000 federal workers are being held hostage. The amount of workers facing an economic crisis is nearly equivalent to San Francisco’s population. The federal workers affected by the shutdown are crucial employees to American safety. According to the New York Times, our airports, food and security are at high risk. For example, a union that represents Transportation Security Administration officers says that some officers have quit due to financial hardship. Air traffic controllers are calling out, leaving the safety of fliers at risk. Tens of thousands of law enforcement personnel are working without pay. Workers at the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Prisons, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service have resorted to food banks. The Food and Drug Administration has stopped inspecting seafood, vegetables and “other foods at
high risk of contamination.” The aforementioned oversights demonstrate the risk we face as a nation. The $5.7 billion dollar, 2,000-miles-long border wall is a symbol of President Trump’s ego. Stopping short of declaring a national emergency on the southern border to bypass Congress and build the wall is a symbol of our dying democracy. In her first speech on the House floor, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) told a story about her constituent, Yahi Obed. Obed is a Yemeni immigrant raised in the Bronx who had a childhood dream of pursuing a career in aviation. Obed’s childhood dream has been a reality for the past 14 years, where he’s been an air traffic control supervisor at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Last week, Obed missed his first paycheck of the new year. He has two children, a monthly mortgage and responsibility for thousands
of flyers in one of the busiest airports in the United States and in the world. Obed is just one of 800,000 of people facing economic worries, distraction and the liability of thousands, if not, millions, of everyday Americans. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez finished her speech by saying that this shutdown is “not about the wall. The truth is, this shutdown is about the erosion of American democracy and the subversion of our most basic governmental norms.” Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the second House bill to reopen the government. President Trump has blamed House Democrats for the shutdown, despite threatening that he could keep the “shutdown going for months, or even years.” Failure to compromise will continue crippling the lives of hundreds of thousands of federal workers. American lives are at risk. Bipartisanship will face
an even further decline. And President Trump will keep gas lighting the American public over the reality of these implications. As the government shutdown looms on, here are 5 ways you can help furloughed federal workers: donate to a food pantry, donate to repair national parks, support businesses helping furloughed workers, search in your area local fundraisers and most importantly, call your senators and representatives. For District 27, University of Miami’s district, you can call Rep. Donna Shalala at (305) 668-2285. Her D.C. office phone number is (202) 225-3931. For all other districts, search on the official House of Representatives website. You can contact Senator Marco Rubio at (202) 224-3041 and Senator Rick Scott at (202) 224-5274. For all other states, you can search on the official United States Senate website.
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EDGE
THEMIAMIHURRICANE
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
Source: imdb.com
“Happy Face” comedian brings classic comedy to Florida By XXX XXX Contributing Edge Writer
A perfect blend of self-depreciation and sarcasm, comedian Ryan Hamilton– known mostly for his Netflix comedy special “Happy Face”– filled Broward Center for the Performing Arts with laughter, applause, hoots and hollers Saturday, Jan. 19. With the Broadway musical “Hamilton” taking place next door and people dressed to the nines in ball gowns and complex updos, I– sporting my waistlength locs, a striped, culotte jumpsuit, and white Puma sneakers– felt a little out of place at first. Nonetheless, I went in. The show, held in the center’s Amaturo Theater, began at 7:30 on the dot with a opening act from comedian and actor Sarge. Around 8 p.m., Sarge wrapped up and it was time for the main act. Having never heard of Hamilton or experienced his comedy, I was worried. Not only was I concerned about spending the next hour
of my life faking laughter to keep up with my neighbors, I was thinking “wow, please let me be able to write a good article tomorrow.” But, when Hamilton walked onto the stage with the uniform of every good comedian, and every middle-aged dad when their wives tell them to dress up, my anxiety melted away. “A t-shirt with a blazer on top? Dad jeans? Yeah, this guy’s going to be funny,” I thought. I was right. The self-depreciation I had read so much about started right away. “I’m not famous,” Hamilton kept repeating through his own laughter and that of the crowds. He joked about how half of the audience was made up of “fans,” who barely knew who he was, and the other half was made up of the fans’ guests, who had no idea who he was. He even acknowledged that he shares a name with the a famous musical, that it was happening right next door, and that everyone, including himself, would much rather be there. “This is not the Hamilton you’ve been
looking for,” he said. “I am a Hamilton, if that helps.” His set lasted about an hour, each anecdote or joke just as funny as the last. He talked about everyday things– dating, childhood, hot air balloons and how hard it is to cancel a gym membership– and that’s what made it so enjoyable. In addition to the endless laughter, you could see head nods spread across the crowd, as if the attendees were silently saying, “if I could retweet that, I would.” “At first I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never heard of him,” said University of Miami sophomore Zoe Prescod. “But then when I realized he was awkward like me, it made his content funnier and more relatable.” Hamilton’s show was, whether intentional or not, interactive, eliciting frequent feedback from the audience. At one point, Hamilton joked about health insurance and how the thousands of dollars he had spent on it finally paid off when he got his $40 flu shot for free, to which an attendee shouted, “well spent!”
Hamilton, having trouble hearing him from the stage, responded, “Will Smith? Wellsmith? Is that the name of your pharmacy here?” After a brief, yet short enough to be awkward, pause, Hamilton continued through laughter. “I don’t think I belong here right now...You all know something that I don’t know.” I think we’ve all had that moment before. “Well spent” became a running joke for the rest of the evening, attendees shouting it out during every pause. Hamilton delivered an undoubtedly hilarious show with facial expressions and body movements just as awkward and relatable as the jokes themselves, and from the middle of the fifth row, I did not miss a single minute of it. “Broward county, you have been so much fun,” Hamilton said before leaving the stage. “Thank you so much.” I’d say it was nothing less than an evening well spent.
THEMIAMIHURRICANE
10 ways to stay organized this spring By Camila Munera Contributing Edge Writer
Everyone knows the hardest part about a vacation is the end. Our brains are stuck in vacation mode and despite classes starting back, and bringing with them all the stresses and struggles that come with being a college student, getting back into the groove of things can be difficult. So, I have created this list to help all students, especially my fellow hurricanes, stay organized and on top of things this time around. Here are 10 simple yet effective ways to tackle this spring semester: 1. Buy a Planner Using a planner can help you organize all important dates, including due dates for homework and projects. I have been using a planner since before I can remember, and time and time again, it proves to be instrumental in helping me maintain my grades. 2. Use note cards Turning your notes into flashcards is, of course, one of the most tried-andtrue ways to study for any kind of exam. On top of that, rewriting information by hand is proven to help you remember it better, and you’ll have easy access to information instead of having to scan entire documents. There is literally no downside to this trick. 3. Go to the library Our campus, though absolutely beautiful, can be a difficult place to work. The wildlife, the dogs, the constant activity—they can all be very distracting. Claiming your spot in the stacks is a great way to escape all of that. Sophomore Rachael Kravetz says she gets most of her work done at the library because she can’t focus the same when at home. 4. Get enough sleep
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
I know sometimes all-nighters are necessary, but plan ahead to make sure you get in as much sleep as you can. Your brain and body can’t work to their full potential without being well rested. 5. Resist the temptation to skip class Skipping class can be tempting since there’s no one here who can really make you go. However, missing class can mean missing important information. Also, the more classes you skip, the less lenient professors will be. Think about that next time you plan to skip, and remember than 3 hours a week won’t kill you! 6. Keep track of your syllabi I know some students may not think keeping your syllabus handy is important, but it really is. Your syllabus contains key dates to keep you organized and answers to many of the questions you’d otherwise have to ask your professor. 7. Keep your backpack organized Having to sift through an endless pit of unmarked pages at the bottom on your backpack takes time away from the real focus. Buying some 97 cent, two-pocket folders will save you time, stress, and the embarrassment of handing in an old, wrinkly assignment. 8. Turn off all distractions I know checking your phone as a college student is almost instinctive. But, when you’re studying or doing work, disconnecting from social media, texts, emails, etc. is the key to staying focused. A few hours without your phone won’t kill you. I promise. 9. Wake up on time I like to think of it this way: the faster you get up, the faster you can get your work done, and the faster you can lie back down. 10. Listen to calming music There’s tons of pre-generated playlists on Spotify, but my personal favorites are “Study Vibes” and “Focus.”
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THEMIAMIHURRICANE
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
TENNIS
Hurricanes tennis team off to best start since 2008 season
Josh White // Sports Editor SUCCESSFUL START: Dane Dunlap, left, readies for a backhand against Mehdi Laalej at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on Monday. Sophomore Adria Soriano Barrera, right, celebrates after clinching the first set against Florida Atlantics’ Jason Legall. No. 21 Soriano Barrera picked up a 6-4, 6-1 victory. By Austin Pert Contributing Sports Writer @AustinPert98
From the first serve to the last point, the Hurricanes dominated the Owls at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Miami outplayed Florida Atlantic University (FAU), picking up a convincing 6-1 win on Monday afternoon to remain unbeaten. “I am very pleased in the way our guys competed today,” said Hurricanes coach Aljosa Piric. “I am very pleased in the way over guys showed up to battle against a tough FAU team. This is a good team that we just beat and it should just give our guys a lot of confidence going forward.” With the victory, Miami (3-0) improved to 23-1 against FAU (33) matching the Hurricanes’ best start to a season since opening
the 2008 campaign. For the third consecutive match, Miami set the tone early, clinching the doubles point. The Hurricanes trailed 1-0 in doubles’ matches, but the sophomore duo of Bojan Jankulovski and Adria Soriano Barrera answered with a 6-3 victory over Gabriel Sidney and Kirac Bekisoglu. Moments later, Dane Dunlap and Stephen Madonia teamed up for a 6-4 win against Mehdi Laalej and Thomas Guy to give UM momentum riding into singles action. “Stephen and I had a lot of energy,” Dunlap said. “We had an early break, and at the end, we just played solid and served it out. It was a good feeling to be able to clinch that because FAU is a good doubles team.” Miami continued to roll over
the Owls in singles play. No. 97-ranked Francisco Bastias cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Sidney on court three. Barrera, ranked No. 21, secured Miami’s third point of the day with a 6-4, 6-1 win against Jason Legall. Argentinian freshman Franco Aubone continued the sharp start to his college career by clinching the match for Miami, topping Ignacio Garia 6-1, 6-2. After notching a doubles victory earlier in the day, Dunlap—playing at the No. 4 singles spot—overcame a second set loss to Laalej to win in tiebreaking fashion, 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (10-3). “The doubles win gave me confidence, knowing today I’m playing well,” the redshirt junior from Canada said. “I started really well in the first
set, second set I let it get away from me mentally, but I didn’t lose confidence in my game and I think the doubles helped that.” No. 35 Jankulovski trailed in his first set, but won three straight games to take the opening frame in his singles match. The Macedonian had an easier time in the second set, riding an early break to a 7-5, 6-2 win over FAU’s Kirac Bekisoglu. “I tried to be more aggressive with my game,” Jankulovski said about his adjusting after the first few games. “I felt like my opponent’s intensity went down in the second set.” FAU gave UM a fight in the final match of the day. Rookie Kaya Gore fell late in a 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 0-1(12-14) to Spaniard Alvaro Fernandez Horta in one of the closer and entertaining matches of the
afternoon. The third set, represented by a tiebreaker to ten points, per NCAA rules when one school already has the match clinched, saw both players receive match point opportunities before FAU registered its point of the day. “It’s imperative in a college environment to have a cohesive unit,” Piric said. “We talk about our guys supporting one another, cheering one another, feeding off one another. I think it’s a learned skill and our guys embrace it.” Miami plays Friday through Sunday in Austin, Texas, at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kickoff Weekend against the University of Texas, Utah State University and the University of Washington.
THEMIAMIHURRICANE
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
SPORTS 13
COMMENTARY
ACC Predictions: UM battles a pair of Northeast By Justin Sobelman Senior Sports Writer
7 p.m. Jan. 23 – Miami @ No. 13 Syracuse
1 p.m. Jan. 27– Miami vs. Boston College
The Syracuse Orange might be the Miami Hurricanes’ biggest test so far in the 2018-2019 campaign.
Boston College (13-6, 2-4 ACC) will be well-rested, as they have a full week to recover from their loss to top-ranked Notre Dame this past Sunday.
No. 13 Syracuse (15-3, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is just the second ranked team Miami (16-4, 4-1 ACC) will face this season. Syracuse rebounds the basketball as well as anyone in the conference with five players grabbing at least five boards per game. However, the Orange have yet to face Hurricanes’ forward Beatrice Mompremier. Mompremier secured her second ACC Player of the Week Honor Monday afternoon, becoming just the fourth Hurricane in program history to win the award multiple times. The 6-foot-4 redshirt junior leads the ACC with 14 double-doubles and is second in rebounding only behind Virginia Tech’s Regan Magarity. Miami should benefit from second and third chances to score on many possessions.
First-year coach Joanna BernabeiMcNamee desperately needs a win to avoid falling into the conference cellar. The Eagles bring a balanced and efficient offense to Coral Gables, with four players averaging double figures. Junior forward Emma Guy leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 13.6 points per contest and 7.5 boards per game. Miami can attack Boston College beyond the arc. The Eagles allow their opponents to shoot 35 percent from three-point range, one of the worst 30 marks in the country. Hurricanes’ guard Mykea Gray, Laura Cornelius, Kelsey Marshall and sharpshooter Sarah Mortenson will have to cash in on the open looks to lead Miami to a victory.
Defensively, Katie Meier’s squad needs to slow down Syracuse junior Tiana Mangakahia, who paces the Orange with 16.3 points per game and an ACC-leading 7.9 assists per game. The Australian averages the third most helpers in the country and leads a top-15 scoring attack that uses their strong depth to wear down opponents.
Additionally, the Eagles are an average shot-blocking team, so this is a game where Mompremier and senior center Emese Hof can feast down low for Miami. It wouldn’t be shocking to see both players pick up double-doubles in this game, and it should be enough to emerge with a victory.
Syracuse have a true secondary playmaker, so Miami must look to cut off Mangakahia’s passing lanes and prevent her from involving her teammates in the offense.
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Prediction: Miami 80 - Boston College
The Hurricanes should also look to capitalize on turnovers, of which the Orange commit more than 17 per game. These teams are evenly matched, but home court should give the Orange the edge. Prediction: Syracuse 72 - Miami 67
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Josh White // Sports Editor BUCKET BOUND: Kelsey Marshall drives to the hoop against Marquette’s Amani Wilborn on Nov. 15, 2018, at the Watsco Center. Marshall finished with eight points and eight rebounds in UM’s 63-55 victory over the Golden Eagles.
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THEMIAMIHURRICANE
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
COMMENTARY
Hernandez’s absence creating problems for Hurricanes By Justin Sobelman Senior Sports Writer
“He is so team oriented and cares so much about his teammates that he’s been on the bench at every home game, cheering like crazy,” Larrañaga said. He’s been at every practice he’s been allowed to attend and working his tail off, hoping for the day when he gets the green light to play college basketball again.” The Hurricanes dropped yet another hard-fought game to a talented conference foe this Saturday, falling 85-76 at the hands of No. 13 North Carolina. Miami (9-8, 1-4 ACC) plummeted to the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings and the absence of junior forward Dewan Hernandez became as evident as ever. With Hernandez sidelined because of questions surrounding his eligibility, the Hurricanes are limited to just seven healthy scholarship players. “There are a lot of really great players in this league, and some Hall of Fame coaches coaching them,” UM coach Jim Larrañaga said after the North Carolina game. “So they’re not so easy to beat. Even if you have a terrific team, they probably have more guns than you do, more weapons, more size, more athletic ability and that was on display. Our guys played as well as we can, but eventually, it’s a battle of attrition.” Miami might not have been expected to compete for a national championship a season after losing Bruce Brown, Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV to the NBA, but Larrañaga crafted a roster with enough talent to compete in the ACC. With the Hurricanes returning Hernandez, guard Chris Lykes and veteran Anthony Lawrence II, while also adding Florida Gulf Coast transfer Zach Johnson, it was reasonable to assume Larrañaga could work his magic and claim a fourth straight NCAA Tournament
berth. Instead, Hernandez’s ongoing suspension has highlighted what was already the team’s biggest weaknesses: a lack of depth and size. Senior Ebuka Izundu, who is 6-foot-10, 232-pounds, is the lone active center on the roster. Redshirt sophomore Sam Waardenburg is also listed at 6-foot-10, but Waardenburg is deployed as a floor-spacing stretch forward. Having only one real center and small guards such as Lykes and Johnson has made rebounding extremely difficult for Miami. The Hurricanes are a woeful 297 of 351 Division I teams in rebounding differential at -2.9. The margin has diminished even further in conference play. Miami has been out-rebounded by 10 rebounds per game, a rate which would rank dead last in college basketball over a full season. To make matters worse, four of UM’s seven players average 30 or more minutes per game this season. Compare that to a team like Miami’s most recent opponent, UNC, which features ten players averaging at least ten minutes and zero players cracking the 30-minute plateau. Even the most talented players in the world get worn down with a heavy workload. The Hurricanes have led in the second half in all but one game this season, with Miami trailing by four points against Penn being the lone exception. The fact that the Hernandez is healthy has incited many Miami backers, including the Miami native himself, to beg the NCAA on social media to ‘#FreeDewan’. “I feel bad for him,” guard DJ Vasiljevic said. “I can tell how much pain he is going through because he wants to back out there with us. He comes in every day, even in the classroom, he comes with a positive attitude. He pushes us in practices. It just sucks, I wish he was out there too.” “He is so team oriented and
Josh White // Sports Editor DEWAN DUNKS: Dewan Hernandez attempts to throw down an emphatic dunk over Florida State’s Trent Forest on Jan. 7, 2018 at the Watsco Center.
cares so much about his teammates that he’s been on the bench at every home game, cheering like crazy,” Larrañaga said. He’s been at every practice he’s been allowed to attend and working his tail off, hoping for the day when he gets the green light to play college basketball again.” According to Hernandez’s lawyer Jason Setchen, Miami is hopeful to receive an update this week regarding Hernandez’s
eligibility. If Hernandez is deemed eligible, Miami’s lineup flexibility would receive a facelift. This would allow Larrañaga to feature two post presences on the floor, giving the Hurricanes’ scoring and rebounding a much-needed boost. Unless a surprise ruling reinstates the former McDonald’s All-American, Miami will have little means to address these
problems. The 2018-2019 season is in danger of being remembered as one full of moral victories, but short on real ones. “We have to bring it every night,” Lawrence said. “Everybody has to bring it because we don’t have a lot. Everybody has to be ready to play, come in, and be ready to attack.”
THEMIAMIHURRICANE
V’S TAKE
January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
V’s break from celibacy Have a question for V? Email
dearv@themiamihurricane.com.
Welcome back, Horny-Canes. V knows what you’ve been up to this past week. And V has participated. It’s like the first week of the fall semester – a f lood of hormones fills campus, like the Boston Great Molasses Flood of 1919. Look it up. It’s the 100 year anniversary of that by the way, and that’s how long it felt like since I had… uh... my storage tank burst – if you know what I mean. As many of you have experienced, heading home for break means a lot less action.
Controlling parents, annoying siblings and temperatures below 60 also means less of a will to live. But I became full of life as soon as I returned to campus to a full inbox of Tinder and Hinge messages. That lead to a fun and active start to the semester. I definitely burned off my holiday calories through some vigorous physical activity, and I’m not talking about a class at the pretty new Wellness center. Break is over, and so is my break from the vicious cycle of f**king then catching feelings.
I am in love. Again. With a boy who will never love me back. He pierced my heart and another body part, and now I want to marry him and have his babies and cook for him. Totally normal, right? It’s tragic because cuffing season is coming to a close, but I do have a little bit of hope. Hopefully this chilly weather means cuddles and catching feelings. Do you want to cuddle and catch feelings? Do you think I’m weird? If so, slide into my DMs like it’s 2002 by emailing dearv@themiamihurricane. com.
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE | January 22, 2019 - January 28, 2019
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