Vol. 97, Issue 18 | February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
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Vote i gove n studen t rn elect ment NEW ion S // s Pa EDIT ORIA ges 8 & 1 L // P 0 age 6
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Design by Julia Sanbe // Art Director
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NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
News
COMMUNITY
10-mile-long park set to open under Miami’s MetroBY PARKER GIMBEL Staff News Writer The Underline is a new project that aims to effectively use the area underneath the Metrorail. This will ultimately function as a bike path, living art installation and open space for those looking to escape the chaos of Miami roadways. It will pass straight under the University Station stop, offering a unique opportunity for University of Miami students to take a break between classes or go for a run amongst a bevy of foliage and art created by Miami natives. This year, the project broke ground, and the people behind the Underline have marked June 2020 as the opening for the first of it’s five sections. The rest will be built over the course of the next five years. The Underline will start in Downtown Miami, pass straight through Coral Gables and end in South Miami. Daly said she is hoping it will increase Miami’s walkability while also giving people a safer option for travel. “These roads aren’t safe because they’re not designed to be safe,” said Daly. She also underscored the importance the Underline will have on pedestrian safety and comfort. The Underline will also work to make the area surrounding UM more attractive. “All of the great schools I can think of have a great front door,” said Daly. “We’ve been speaking to architects and teachers at the University of Miami, and a lot of them agree that not having that
front door sort of makes it feel separate from the community.” The Underline’s central walkway will be surrounded by new spots for people to stop, shop, eat or just hangout. Daly said she hopes this will drive further growth in surrounding areas and offer Miami residents an urban experience more similar to walkable cities like New York. “If you’re in New York or Chicago, what happens is that the street is so interesting, you’re passing things along the way so that you don’t feel like you’re going from here to there,” Daly said. “There will be a lot of things built alongside [the Underline] so that if you’re walking or biking, you’ll also be seeing places that you can stop and shop and eat or hangout. It really makes it a destination and an experience.” In addition to new retail spots, the Underline will be a hub for local art. Each leg of the living art installation will pay homage to its respective district by commissioning local artists to use the strip as their canvas. People can expect an array of modern pieces ranging from sculptures to paintings. “The people who work and live near UM are a lot different than the people who work and live downtown,” Daly said. Tailoring the Underline to the each specific constituency has been a crucial part of their mission. “As we build or design each phase we will have public input. We listen, so that we really
understand their priorities. The design is really built around public preference and priority,” she said. University of Miami faculty and students alike say they are excited at the prospect of a more inviting city scape. Miami streets are loud and not necessarily tailored for pedestrians, so to have a park that is made for active people is exciting. Professor Joanna Lombard of the UM School of Architecture cited Martin Luther King Metrorail station as one such area that would welcome a more walkable city scape. “Twenty-seventh avenue gets pretty rough to walk up, it’s kind of like walking along U.S. 1” Lombard said. “The capacity for the underline for the underline to provide this kind of safe space is huge.” “What excites me is the sort of reinvention of the city and reclaiming our streets. Giving our kids the option of not having to be driven anywhere and ultimately feeling safe taking public transit,” said Lombard. Nhadya Lawes, a second year majoring in English literature, said she believes that “the Underline is a really innovative way of using urban space.” She said she also believes that if it is made in a sustainable fashion, it will “be a space where all Miami residents can connect and come together.”
Image Courtesy of Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce
Pedestrian Perfection: The underline is supposed to be a refuge for those who prefer walking
Image Courtesy of Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce
10 Miles: This map shows the stations that the Underline is projected to run through.
For more news coverage, visit themiamihurricane.com
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
Former UM administrator elected mayor in South MiBY INES EISENHOUR Staff News Writer On Feb. 11, Sally Philips, former chair of South Miami’s planning board, defeated her opponents to become South Miami’s next mayor. This campaign cycle included 5 different mayoral candidates including two UM alumni and Philips, the former director of Miami’s Employee Assistance Program. According to Philips, she is not a politician by trade. In fact, she has no interest in moving up the political ladder according to a 2012 interview for Miami’s Community Newspapers. At that time she was running for South Miami’s Commissioner seat in group 3. Philips had previously run for a commission seat but lost that election to incumbent Josh Liebman in 2018. She is currently Chair of South Miami’s Planning Board and served on the Zoning Board, Budget & Finance Committee, Retirement Pension Board, City Manager Selection Committee, Police Officer’s Board of Trustees as well. Voter turnout was 27.7 percent, a historically high mark for an election that includes only one municipal election on the ballot. Philips won 34.02 percent of the vote, with a 11.23 percent lead over the runner-up, former mayor Horace G. Feliu. In terms of her qualifications compared to those of her opponents,
Philips said, “I do not think that any one of the other candidates has served the length of time nor gained the depth of experience in the governance of the City of South Miami as I have.” Philips has lived in South Miami for over 21 years and her campaign is very community focused. Among other community centered concerns, Philips says the downtown area needs work to be more inviting and walkable to improve foot traffic and residential inflow. “To get people to walk, we need to build apartments and residences downtown. But I want to keep residential and singlefamily homes at a low height.” Tomorrow, South Miami comes back together to govern the city as neighbors and friends. I am glad to be inheriting a city in as good shape as it is, and I look forward to a cooperative and productive two years rallying the Commission to address South Miami’s needs and challenges. Among other initiatives, here is a selection of Philips’ priority policy ideas: -Build a new police station on SW 70th Street for quicker, safer access to the City and local schools. -Keep an affordable grocery store in our downtown. -Continue improving our parks and look for opportunities to add new
parks. -Support our ongoing initiative to build a safe pedestrian bridge over US1. -Explore ways around the County’s restrictions on neighborhood trafficcalming. -Support diverse housing options to welcome young families and keep retirees in South Miami. -Partner with the State & Feds to fund septic-sewer conversions (to protect our city against rising water tables and keep harmful nutrients out of Biscayne Bay). -Keep South Miami a national leader among sustainable cities. -Work with partners to make our section of the Underline a world class linear park. -Support South Miami’s tradition of community involvement and familyfriendly neighborhoods. Philips earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Cornell University, received her undergraduate degree in 1967 and earned a doctorate in counseling psychology and counselor education from Boston University in 1982. Philips moved to Miami in 1982 while working for Met Life insurance. At UM, Philips ran the Employee Assistance Program and taught courses as an adjunct faculty and had roles in several university behavioral health programs.
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
NEWS
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CULTURE
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
Tips for getting fit the healthy way BY KYLEA HENSELER
Contributing Culture Writer With spring break less than a month away, many students at the University of Miami are already looking forward to beachfront getaways, cruises and staycations in the Miami sun. However, the impending vacation often comes with a pressure to get the perfect “spring break body.” While many students may be tempted to resort to crash dieting to achieve their ideal physique, these methods are often unhealthy. While no one should feel the need to drastically change their body, spring break can serve as good motivation to implement healthier habits. This is a great opportunity for students to jump start sustainable fitness and nutrition habits, with the added bonus of producing noticable results by March 9. Though different people will always have varying fitness goals, one of the most common objectives for young Americans today is fat loss. One month might not be enough time to realistically and healthily achieve dramatic results, but there are plenty of steps students can take to improve their body composition and overall wellness within that time frame. In fact, Dr. Anthony Musto–
a UM professor and director of programming for the Patti and Allen Herbert Wellness Center– said he believes the average person can expect to lose three to six pounds of fat by spring break with the right exercise and nutrition plan. That amount might sound insignificant, but Musto insists that it can result in noticeable change. Students looking to get leaner before break should focus on three key components: nutrition, exercise and perseverance.
NUTRITION
The most important thing students can do to improve their health is take a closer look at their diet. “The biggest bang for your buck is to focus on nutrition,” Musto said. Individuals should clean up their eating habits and focus on making the base of their diet vegetables, fruits and lean sources of protein. In addition, Musto advises fitness enthusiasts to cut down on added sugars and processed foods. People looking to lose weight should strive to eat a caloric deficit, which means consuming less calories than they burn throughout the day. A basic formula (found below) can help individuals find their average maintenance calories– the amount they would need to consume in a day
to maintain their current body weight. An online calculator can be found at tdeecalculator.net. To achieve fat loss, Musto suggests starting with a deficit of 200500 calories per day. Attempting to cut much more, he warns, could result in overly rapid weight loss, overtraining injuries and loss of muscle. Once individuals figure out how many calories to eat each day, they can tailor their intake of macronutrients– proteins, carbohydrates and fats– to fit their needs. The National Academy of Science recommends adults consume 45%-65% of their diet in carbohydrates, 20%-35% in fats and 10%-35% in protein. The exact amounts vary depending on personal preference, but the Academy insists that no individual should be eating less than 1200 calories per day.
EXERCISE
As important as nutrition is, students should remember that exercise is also a critical component of any fat loss plan or healthy lifestyle. And that means more than just Ubering to the gym, hopping on an elliptical machine for 30 minutes and calling it a day. While cardiovascular work is important, many gym goers looking to lose weight overlook the benefits of strength training.
“For overall health and physical wellbeing, resistance training is a necessity,” Musto said. It offers benefits that cardio cannot, such as increasing lean body mass and bettering resting metabolic rate. Musto suggests that new fitness enthusiasts find a strength training plan they can stick to and aim to work each major muscle group two to three times per week. He encourages individuals looking to see results by spring break to engage in full-body workouts, as trying to single out one or two muscle groups per day will not produce results as quickly. He recommends new athletes try out a circuit-style weight lifting workout or even take a few classes in the Wellness Center’s new “Storm Zone.” Cardio may not be the only facet of a fat-loss workout plan, but it should not be overlooked. Musto suggests that individuals looking to achieve serious progress engage in cardiovascular exercise three to five times per week in addition to resistance training. For more experienced fitness enthusiasts, he recommends high intensity interval training.
PERSEVERANCE
Setting a goal and working to achieve it is a great way to make
progress, but individuals looking to improve their long-term health and wellness need to understand that nobody (and no body) is perfect. Musto warns against “burning the candle at both ends” and expressed concern about students who might try to crash diet their way to a “beach body.” There is no magic way to get your desired figure without implementing a lifestyle changes, but students should remember that a few slip ups here and there are not the end of the world. “No one is going to be perfect,” Musto says, “but the thing with diet and exercise is that it’s all about consistency. You won’t gain a pound of fat from one bad meal.” He suggests students take a healthy, balanced outlook on their goals and aim to follow their plan 80 percent of the time. “There’s going to be hiccups,” he continued, “but one mistake won’t ruin your plan.” Ultimately, forming sustainable healthy habits is a lot more important than trying to reach a certain look by spring break. With that being said, following the above tips will lead to notable improvements in a short time frame and the development of a fitter, healthier lifestyle in the long term.
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
CULTURE
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SEXUALITY
Miami therapists talk sex, sexuality BY JORDAN LEWIS Culture Editor
While the internet is filled with “advice” on how to “find the perfect position” and “tips to the perfect handjob,” much of it is baseless and too general to help anyone in actual need of guidance. Plus, the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all, perfect formula to the perfect sexcapade, becoming the perfect sexual prowess or having the perfect orgasm on your first go round. Sex takes slip-ups and embarrassing moments. It takes learning your body and that of your partners. It takes practice. And, even when you think you’ve got it all together, you probably don’t. So, now that the pressure of the year’s sexiest holidays has (hopefully) dwindled, let’s talk about sex. And I mean real sex, with real advice from real professionals. How important is sex in a relationship? According to Dr. Lyndsey Motarefi– Miamibased Clinical Sexologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist– it varies on a case-by-case basis. “Sex serves to fulfill certain needs within a partnership. Some of these needs are attachment, validation, physical intimacy, and connectedness,” she said. “While sex is a great way to satisfy these needs, it is not the only way.”
She continued, saying “what’s more important than the frequency of sex, is that the couple feel similarly in the importance of sex and how often they engage in sexual activity with their partner.” Motarefi insists that couples should maintain an open dialogue regarding needs and how they prefer them be met. She often has her clients complete a “sexual inventory” to tackle such needs, addressing gaps or mismatch within desire, frequency, initiation and more. On the other hand, Dr. Victoria Elf Raymond– a UM alum, Clinical Sexologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Lotus Counseling Center– maintains that sex is an integral component of any romantic relationship. “Research studies have shown that sexual satisfaction is linked with happiness in a relationship,” she commented. “Sex also has numerous physiological benefits (improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, contributes to better sleep) and is simply a pleasurable
act to experience with your partner.” She did, however, echo Motarefi’s sentiment that sex is much more than just the physical. “It is important to remember that honesty, communication, respect, and consent (always!) are vital parts of a healthy sexual relationship,” she advised. “It should feel comfortable and safe.” Where should a young adult with little to no sexual experience start? For those lacking in sexual experience, Motarefi emphasizes the importance of getting comfortable with yourself, your body and your pleasures before involving anyone else. This, she says, will make you more confident speaking up during sexual activity as well as increase your ability to relax when the time comes, an important factor in being able to reach orgasm. Elf Raymond agrees, encouraging young adults to “take the time to experiment with themselves and proposing questions like “What do you like? What feels good? What makes you feel sexy and confident?” As for how to answer these questions, Motarefi recommends two things: “Look at your entire body (including your genitals) in the mirror, and share some affirmative words aloud about what you see,” she said. “This will help to solidify a
positive self-image of you as a sexual being and increase both comfort and confidence during partnered sexual activity” Second, she encourages the ever-so-taboo act of masturbation. “Learning how to stimulate yourself into having an orgasm will help you to understand what that build up of sensation feels like,” Motarefi asserted. “It will also assist you in guiding your partner in terms of what type of touch, pressure, and speed they can utilize to help you achieve orgasm.” Are their better sex positions for different relationship statuses? Motarefi says that there is, in fact, no such thing. Rather, she believes that sex positions “reflect certain levels of connectedness, intimacy, or rawness that, depending on the person, might elicit a threatening, vulnerable, and or aversive response.” She continued, citing “doggy style”– or penetration from behind– as one position that allows for detachment, space or anonymity that can allow certain people to feel more relaxed. For others, she says that missionary– often involving more intimacy with eye contact and kissing– may feel more pleasurable, including
those in long distance relationships looking to foster a deeper sense of connection. Long-term relationships, she says, benefit from variation including “watching pornography with your partner, role play, costumes and or different outfits, change of or inclusion of foreplay, switch in who initiates, different positions, a new location, introduction of sex toys” and more. This stems from research that shows that, over time, we respond with less arousal to repetitive stimuli. “For new relationships,” she finished. “It is less about positions, and more about being as honest as possible with your partner regarding what your sexual preferences are. This will help you in obtaining mutual sexual satisfaction.” Dr. Mortarefi can be reached on both psychology today and her personal website, relationshipwell. org. More information on Dr. Raymond can be found on drvictoriaraymond.com.
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OPINION
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
The Miami
HURRICANE Founded 1929
An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper NEWSROOM: 305-284-4401 editor@themiamihurricane.com BUSINESS OFFICE: 305-284-4401 FAX: 305-284-4404 For advertising rates call 305-284-4401 or fax 305-284-4404. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rebecca Goddard MANAGING EDITOR Anna Timmons SENIOR EDITOR Jaime Harn NEWS EDITOR Esther Animalu OPINION EDITOR Kay-Ann Henry CULTURE EDITOR Jordan Lewis SPORTS EDITOR Isabella Didio PHOTO / VISUALS EDITOR Jared Lennon
DESIGNERS Austin Lent COPY CHIEF Suzy Aghedo BUSINESS MANAGER Austin Furgatch SALES REPRESENTATIVES Maxi Bonito FACULTY ADVISER Tsitsi Wakhisi FINANCIAL ADVISER Steve Priepke SENIOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANT Demi Rafuls
ART DIRECTOR Julia Sanbe
To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page. The Miami Hurricane is published weekly during the regular academic year and is edited and produced by undergraduate students at the University of Miami. The publication does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of advertisers or the university’s trustees, faculty or administration. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Miami Hurricane’s Editorial Board. Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Miami Hurricane are located in the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200. LETTER POLICY The Miami Hurricane encourages all readers to voice their opinions on issues related to the university or in response to any report published in The Miami Hurricane. Letters to the editor may be submitted typed or handwritten to the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 248132, Coral Gables, Fla., 33124-6922. Letters must be signed with a copy of your Cane Card. ADVERTISING POLICY The Miami Hurricane’s business office is located at 1330 Miller Drive, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200. The Miami Hurricane is published on Tuesdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. Newspapers are distributed for free on the Coral Gables campus, the School of Medicine and off-campus locations. DEADLINES All ads must be received, cash with copy, in The Miami Hurricane business office, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200, by end of the business day Friday for Tuesday print. SUBSCRIPTIONS The Miami Hurricane is available for subscription at the rate of $50 per year. AFFILIATIONS The Miami Hurricane is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Florida College Press Association.
WANT TO WORK FOR US? Visit themiamihurricane.com/apply or email editor@themiamihurricane.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
Opinion
We need to stop attacking Iron Arrow Every time I open a copy of the Miami Hurricane nowadays, it seems another member of our Canes family is attacking the Iron Arrow Honor Society. Some claim the use of native traditions and symbols in IA ceremonies is racist and “cultural appropriation.” I can understand the need to point out important issues, however, I can’t help but feel that these sentiments are not only ignorant but also divisive in nature. The facts present a much different picture of the situation. Iron Arrow was founded on respect for the Miccosukee tribe of Miami, a tribe whose history
is deeply intertwined with this city. The entire purpose of the society was to honor Miccosukee culture and preserve it while honoring the greatest leaders and changemakers in our academic community. Calling the society’s traditions “exoticizing of native culture” and racist is a complete denial of concrete fact. The Miccosukee tribe itself sanctions and participates in the dissemination of these symbols and traditions. Referring to these actions as “play acting” or fetishizing native culture is disingenuous, considering they aren’t misinformed parodies of native traditions. Are we to un-
derstand that a sovereign nation cannot decide for itself whether or not such actions are racist? Are those outside of the Miccosukee nation somehow authorities on what is and isn’t offensive? Who are we to police how sovereign nations share their culture? The truth is, we have no right to do so and acting as if we do is patronizing at best. Nothing about Iron Arrow is an outlet for white racists to act as the “others” they apparently seek to commit genocide against. In actuality, Iron Arrow is a society that holds Miccosukee culture in such high esteem, they based the
highest honor at this university after it. We as a Cane community need to step back and recognize that not everything we disagree with is racist or evil. Participating in and learning about other cultures is a beautiful thing, and Iron Arrow’s goal above all else is respect. We must stop this ignorant, hate seeking rhetoric immediately, as it serves no purpose but to divide our community further. Sofia Diaz is a freshman studying finance and broadcast journalism.
IDENTITY
The diary of an African immiBY KIKI ADEROJU Contributing Columnist
Plenty of African immigrant children or first-generation Americans know the internal struggle that comes with finding a comfortable middle ground of where they fit in. These are usually children who didn’t fit in with the white kids but would find themselves not fitting in with the black kids either. They felt like Africans in America more so than they felt like African Americans. Many times, their culture, their traditions manifested in completely different ways than for African Americans. As someone whose family emigrated from an African country to the United Kingdom, there are surely differences between my experiences and those of my Afri-
can friends who grew up here in the states, but nevertheless, I still relate to them. They have stories of feeling like they didn’t belong no matter how hard they tried to fit in. They have stories of being laughed at when their parents came to pick them up from school and spoke to them in the native tongues. They have stories of their own parents telling them not to talk about being African because of the stereotypes that would inevitably follow them around. These are stories I know all too well. Those times were harsh but they built character. With our generation gradually beginning to embrace our African heritage, these sentiments are beginning to spread in an effort to prevent our narratives from being forgotten.
There seems to have been a sudden rise in the celebration of African culture. Black, white or otherwise, people are listening to us. People are interested in our cultures, our traditions, our stories. They’ve watched “Black Panther” at least three times. Six out of the last seven winners of the “Best World Album” Grammy Award have been African, and Zozibini Tunzi just won the title of Miss Universe 2019, representing South Africa. The times of hiding our Africanness at all costs are over. The history of African immigrants to America is in some ways woven into the broader umbrella of black history. The experiences of the “African American” may not mirror those of the GhanaianAmerican, the Ethiopian-Ameri-
can or the Angolan-American. Regardless, when the white man sees us in the streets, they see a black man. They see a black woman. They see a black child. The separations between us cease to exist. It will always be important to celebrate our individual cultures. Creating divisions between ourselves will yield no progress. African immigrants and their children are finally feeling like they belong without feeling like they are sacrificing a part of themselves. As Kwame Nkrumah said, “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.” Kiki Aderoju is a junior majoring in international studies and journalism with a minor in English.
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OPINION
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
OPINION
STUDENT STUDENT GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS ELECTIONS
EDITORIAL
We want U to vote I f yo u h ave b ee n h a n g i n g o u t by t h e l i b ra r y o r S h a l a l a Ce n te r i n t h e l a s t fe w wee k s , t h e n yo u k n ow o u r s t u d e n t gove r n m e n t e l ec t i o n s a re co m i n g u p. Fro m Fe b. 17 to Fe b. 20, e l ec t i o n s fo r exec u t ive a n d s e n a to r p o s i t i o n s w i l l b e ta ki n g p l a ce a n d t h e ed i to r i a l b o a rd i s h e re to re m i n d yo u t h a t i t ’s i m p e ra t ive fo r s t u d e n t s to p a r t i c i p a te i n t h i s p ro ce s s . Liv i n g a n d go i n g to s c h o o l i n M i a m i m i g h t m a ke t h e c u l t u re o f o u r ca m p u s m u c h m o re l a i d b a c k t h a n o t h e rs , b u t t h a t d o e s n’ t m e a n we s h o u l d g ive i n to t h i s i m a ge a l l t h e t i m e. Wi t h a s c h o o l o f o u r ca l i b e r, t h e u p kee p a n d m a i n te n a n ce o f i t s a c t iv i t i e s i s a p ro ce s s a n d ta ke s i nvo lve m e n t f ro m e ve r yo n e, i n c l u d i n g d o n o rs a n d s t u d e n t s . Vo t i n g i n s t u d e n t b o dy e l ec t i o n s i s n o t o n ly i m p o r ta n t , b u t i t ’s our right. Whether or not yo u ’ re p ay i n g fo r t u i t i o n t h ro u g h f i n a n c i a l a i d , l o a n s o r t h ro u g h fa m i ly, U M co s t s a l o t . T h e l e a s t we ca n d o wh i l e p ay i n g s o m u c h i s to t r y e ve r yt h i n g t h a t t h i s s c h o o l h a s to o f fe r, a n d t h a t i n c l u d e s vo t i n g fo r o u r
s c h o o l ’s exec u t ive o f f i ce rs a n d s e n a to rs . T h e m o re we p o u r i n to s t ud e n t gove r n m e n t , t h e m o re t h e y p o u r b a c k i n to u s . T h e p eo p l e we e l ec t to t h e exec u t ive te a m h ave t h e a b i l i t y to a dvo ca te fo r u s to h i g h e r a d m i n i s t ra t i o n a b o u t t h e i s s u e s t h a t we ca re a b o u t . S t u d e n t s co n s ta n t ly h ave co n ce r n s a b o u t f i n a n c i a l a i d , t h e m a i n te n a n ce o f o u r d o r m s o r n eed i n g m o re re s o u rce s fo r a p a r t i c u l a r m a j o r. T h e s e a re t h e to p i c s t h e ca n d i d a te s a re ca m p a i g n i n g o n , a n d s t u d e n t s s h o u l d b e p ay i n g a tte n t i o n to t h e m wh i l e vo t i n g t h i s wee k . Fo r t h i s ro u n d o f e l ec t i o n s , we h ave t h ree s t u d e n t s r u n n i n g fo r s t u d e n t b o dy p re s i d e n t . A b i ga i l Ad e l e ke a n d Ra n dy Fi tzge ra l d , wh o a re t h e s p e a ke r a n d s p e a ke r p ro te m p o re o f S e n a te, a re r u n n i n g o n o p p o s i n g ca m p a i g n s . We a l s o h ave t wo s t u d e n t s r u n n i n g s e p a ra te i n d e p e n d e n t ca m p a i g n s w i t h A n d r é s E s ca n d ó n r u n n i n g fo r p re s i d e n t a n d A s h e r Wa l ke r fo r Vi ce P re s i d e n t . T h e ca m p a i g n s o f b o t h Ad e l e ke a n d Fi tzge ra l d a re r u n n i n g o n p l a t fo r m s t h a t e n co u ra ge i n c l u s iv i t y a n d d ive rs i t y. Al o n g w i t h h e r r u n n i n g m a te s Ja s o n P e rez , p ro s p ec t ive v i ce p re s i d e n t , a n d A m a n d a Ro d r i g u ez , p ro s p ec t ive t re a s u re r, Ad e l e ke ’s ca m p a i g n
“Al l I n” i s fo c u s ed o n c re a t i n g s p a ce s fo r s t u d e n t gove r n m e n t to i n te ra c t w i t h s t u d e n t s a n d to fo s te r i n te l l ec t u a l a n d e t h n i c d i ve rs i t y. Fi tzge ra l d a n d h i s te a m , p ro s p ec t ive v i ce p re s i d e n t S h i r l e y G e l m a n a n d p ro s p ec t ive t re a s u re r L o u i s S h aw, a i m to ta ke s t u d e n t gove r n m e n t to t h e n ext l e ve l a n d s u p p o r t s t u d e n t s f ro m a l l b a c kg ro u n d s w i t h t h e i r ca m p a i g n “ L e ve l U p” . No t to b e fo rgo tte n , t h e i n d e p e n d e n t ca n d i d a te s h ave p l a t fo r m s t h a t a re d ed i ca ted to i m p rov i n g s t u d e n t co n ce r n s . P re s i d e n t ca n d i d a te A n d r é s E s ca n d ó n i s l o o k i n g to i n c re a s e s t u d e n t i nvo lve m e n t i n s t u d e n t gove r n m e n t a n d i m p rove f reed o m o f s p eec h o n ca m p u s , wh i l e v i ce p re s i d e n t ca n d i d a te A s h e r Wa l ke r wa n t s to e a s e s t u d e n t a n x i e t y by m a k i n g c l a s s s c h ed u l i n g a n d t h e a dv i s i n g sys te m b e tte r. S e a t s fo r t h e S e n a te e l ec t i o n a re o p e n a s we l l w i t h t h e m o s t co m p e t i t ive s e a t b e i n g t h e re p re s e n ta t ive o f t h e t ra n s fe r s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n . Re a d u p o n a l l t h e ca n d i d a te s’ p l a t fo r m s , h ave a ta l k w i t h t h e m , a s t h e y w i l l n o d o u b t b e a ro u n d ca m p u s , a n d vo te e i t h e r e l ec t ro n i ca l ly o r i n p e rs o n . Vo t i n g o n ly l a s t s a fe w d ays , b u t t h o s e wh o we e l ec t w i l l b e i n c h a rge o f s e r v i n g u s fo r t h e n ext ye a r, s o we u rge yo u to c h o o s e w i s e ly.
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020 THE MIAMI HURRICANE December 3, 2019 - January 21, 2020
NEWS
2020
NEWS
Your Your guide guide to to the the 2020 2020 Student Student Governme Government nt Election Election Meet the Candidates BY ANNA TIMMONS
Managing Editor
ALL IN (from left): Jason Perez, Abigail Adeleke, Amanda Rodriguez
LEVEL UP: (from left): Shirley Gelman, Randy Fitzgerald, Louis Shaw
ANDRES ESCANDON
9
ASHER WALKER
The student government elections for executive officer and senator positions at the University of Miami began Monday, Feb. 17 at midnight and will run through Thursday, Feb. 20. This year, there are three candidates running for president. Abigail Adeleke and Randy Fitzgerald, the speaker and speaker pro tempore of the student senate respectively, are running on opposing campaigns, competing to make their visions of campus a reality. Andrés Escandón is running an independent campaign for president while Asher Walker is running as an independent candidate for vice president. The candidates each announced their campaigns on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and have since then been palm-carding around campus and engaging with students at events such as Meet the Candidates hosted at the Rock Plaza on Feb. 6 and Feb. 11 and the student government debate on Thursday, Feb. 13. Adeleke, a junior majoring in journalism and psychology, is joined by her running mates, prospective vice president Jason Perez and treasurer Amanda Rodriguez, on the “All In” ticket. “My team and I are running on a platform of inclusivity, creating spaces for SG to interact with the rest of the student body, and to increase the intellectual and ethnic diversity of SG,” Adeleke said. In doing so, she organized a diverse ticket and group of supporters.
Perez, a junior majoring in political science and communication studies, said that as vice president he hopes to help improve the culture of student government. “I’m looking forward to a great year of getting stuff done and improving the life of UM students in any way that I can. That’s why I’m ALL IN,” Perez said. Both Adeleke and Perez have been involved in student government for three years, while Rodriguez, a junior majoring in business legal studies and finance, and the third member of the “All In” ticket, is involved in several other organizations on campus, including Federación de Estudiantes Cubanos and Camp Kesem. With an outsider’s perspective, Rodriguez stated at the recent debate that she has been able to experience a divide between student government and the student body first-hand, and because of this hopes to prioritize all students’ voices. Joining Fitzgerald in the “Level Up” campaign are vice president and treasurer candidates Shirley Gelman and Louis Shaw. The goal of their campaign is to take student government to the next level, Fitzgerald said. With over 50 initiatives to do just that, the team hopes to provide changes that will benefit students from all backgrounds and from every part of campus. “Different students have different experiences and different students have different needs. And so we wanted our platform to
reflect that there are multiple Miami experiences,” said Fitzgerald, a junior majoring in political science, international studies, economics and history. Both Perez of the “All in” ticket and Gelman from “Level Up” were members of the Freshman Leadership Council their freshman year. If elected to be the next vice president for the 2020-2021 calendar year, one of them will be responsible for leading FLC, a body of 20 freshman student leaders who work on projects during the school year under the mentorship of experienced members of student government. Perez said he is qualified for this role due to his experience in project management as an administrative liaison for the past two years. Gelman, however, is excited to build relationships with the incoming freshman team. “I had such incredible mentors when I was on the Freshman Leadership Council and I look forward to mentoring freshmen as well,” said Gelman, a junior majoring in international finance and marketing and management. Similar to the “All In” ticket, “Level Up” features two veteran members of student government, Fitzgerald and Gelman, and one outsider, Shaw who has spent his time at UM involved in greek life as a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, treasurer of the intrafraternity council and as a member of the club soccer team. Shaw, a junior majoring in finance, said he is in this race to make sure that under-
The Initiatives represented portions of campus are given a voice. “What Level Up really means is representing every single student that is a part of this campus. I think traditionally speaking, I know that there are various communities on campus that don’t partake in student government and that might not be involved in the kind of decisions that are being made by student government and the university in general,” Shaw said. Two groups he said he is particularly interested in reaching are the greek and international student communities. Escandón, a sophomore and the only independent candidate running for president, said he hopes to improve government austerity, increase student involvement in student government and encourage freedom of speech on campus. “Students should vote for me because I have experience working with young people, I will make sure that the student government is important for the students and because I am mature,” said Escandón, an international student from Chiapas, Mexico studying marketing. The other independent candidate, Walker, said in his election bio that as vice president he will aim to make easing student anxiety his top priority. Some of his ideas include improving class scheduling, the advising system and creating defined midterm periods for each semester.
-All In
STUDENT LIFE:
ACADEMICS:
•
• • •
Create a life skills cognate that will feature courses covering topics such as financial literacy, multicultural competence and public speaking Require teachers to use Blackboard Mock graduate exams on campus for the LSAT, GRE, MCAT, etc. Increase study abroad opportunities
•
• •
Wellness Wednesdays at the farmers market: Incorporate a wellness tent at the farmers market with activities to help students de-stress Start an internship fair for international students Advertise UM events in the shuttles
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS: •
Create a mural wall on campus in partnership with the UM art program Start a hammock rental system Add lighting around campus to improve safety Place a crossing guard in between Red Road and the University Village
• • •
DINING: • • • •
Expand meal swipes options outside the dining hall Open the dining halls for Late Night during finals week Offer smoothies at the dining hall Coordinate a student discount for a grocery delivery service
-Level Up ACADEMICS:
• • •
Extend library hours year-round, initially to 3 a.m. at Richter Make English 105 more accessible year-round for students learning English as a second language Promote diversity among the faculty
STUDENT LIFE: • • • •
Offer jump-start money for new student organizations Create new canes spirit traditions Increase student input in administrative decisions involving greek life Proactively address food insecurity, for example by implementing graband-go options
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS: • • • •
Add more study spaces and gliders to campus Upgrade laundry facilities in the dorms Add printers in the Whitten Learning Center and the Greek Suites Place traction tape in Dooly to prevent slipping
-Andrés Escandón GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY:
•
Decrease waste in the student government suite by removing amenities that aren’t used and aren’t necessary
INCREASE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT: •
Encourage an open-door policy in the student government suite so that students can come and voice their opinions
FREEDOM OF SPEECH: •
Celebrate different ideas by creating on-campus debates
DINING: • • • •
Bring Chipotle to campus Extend dining hall hours Increase vegan and vegetarian options Expand meal swipe options beyond the dining hall
10 NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
Senate Elections BY ANNA TIMMONS Managing Editor
There are eight senate seats up for election this spring and only seven candidates running. Write-in candidates will also be accepted for each race. For the two seats representing the College of Arts and Sciences, Sen. Tuana Yazici is running for re-election alongside newcomer Reginald Aikins. One of Yazici’s current projects is the establishment of midsemester survey for professors. According to this election bio, Aikins hopes to improve the overall wellbeing of students. One seat is open to represent the Miami Herbert Business School
and there are currently no confirmed candidates running. Write-in candidates will determine the race for this seat. Cheerleader Brandi Stevens is the sole candidate running for the open seat representing the School of Communication. In her bio she stated that she will serve her constituents by addressing their concerns. this is an image Only two candidates are currently running to fill three open commuter seats in this election. Sen. Monica MuĂąiz is running for re-election to work on her current ongoing projects including creating a transfer student lounge. Avani Choudhary is also running for a commuter
seat, and if elected she is going to work to get better priority for commuter students in purchasing parking passes. In the only competitive senate race this semester, incumbent Sen. Lara Hopkins and candidate Valentina Neira-Diez are running to fill a single open seat representing the transfer student population. Hopkins is currently working on initiatives including a petition to create an online portal for transfer credits and the creation of a transfer student guide. Neira-Diez is proposing a Pancakes with Pat for commuting transfer students.
2020
SENATE CANDIDATES (FROM TOP LEFT): TUANA YAZICI, REGINALD AIKINS, BRANDI STEVENS, MONICA MUNIZ, AVANI CHOUDHARY, LARA HOPKINS, VALENTINA NEIRA-DIEZ
How to vote BY ANNA TIMMONS Managing Editor
Students will be able to vote electronically until Thursday, Feb. 20 at 11:59 p.m. on Engage either by ticket or separately for individual candidates for president, vice president and treasurer. There will also be in-person voting throughout the week from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Feb. 17, 18 and 20 and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Feb. 19. Students voting on Wednesday Feb. 19 will be able to receive a free Mojo donut in the University Center Breezeway. Election results will be announced at 12 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at the Lakeside Patio. If runoff elections are necessary, they will take place from Feb. 24-25 and those results will be announced Feb. 27 at 12. p.m.
SCAN HERE TO VOTE NOW! Photo Credit//Anna Timmons
CASTING BALLOTS: Elections commissioner Kruti Patel monitors students as they vote for executive officers and senators in the breezeway
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
SPORTS 11
BASEBALL
Canes baseball ranked No. 1 after opening weekend sweep BY ISABELLA DIDIO & AUSTIN PERT
Sports Editor & Senior Sports Writer The Miami Hurricanes received some big news Monday morning, a day after completing their seasonopening sweep of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights: They are now the No. 1 team in the nation. The Hurricanes (30) topped the D1 Baseball rankings after entering the opening series at the No. 3 spot, behind only defending national champions Vanderbilt and Atlantic Coast Conference foe Louisville. But a 4-3 opening night loss by the No. 2 Commodores at the hands of Michigan in a rematch of last year’s National Championship, along with a pair of losses by No. 1 Louisville at No. 25 Ole Miss this weekend propelled Miami into the top spot. Just one spot behind UM are the No. 2 Florida Gators, who are off a weekend sweep of their own against Marshall. The in-state rivals will square off at Mark Light Field this weekend for a three-game series in one of the most anticipated early season series for either side in years. Miami tops the rankings for the first time since April 2016, in a season where they advanced to the College World Series and finished with a 5115 overall record. D1 Baseball rankings are used by the NCAA for official statistical purposes. The Canes also made the Top 10 in other outlets’ rankings, including Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and USA Today.
Miami went 3-0 this weekend against Rutgers in a dominant display of both pitching and hitting despite multiple disruptions due to inclement weather. The starting rotation, comprised of redshirt senior Brian Van Belle, junior Chris McMahon and sophomore Slade Cecconi pitched a combined 18 innings and surrendered a total of 11 hits and three runs while striking out a combined 27 batters. Van Belle set a personal best with 10 strikeouts in his Friday night debut, where the Canes won 2-1. McMahon started Saturday night and allowed just two runs on five hits over six innings, while striking out nine batters. Cecconi completed the sweep with an eight strikeout outing on Sunday. The sophomore had a no-hitter going through five and a third innings before he gave up two hits and one run. “I don’t recall a weekend ever in my career where we had weather that was just all over the place, but we handled it,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said. “Thats regional baseball right there, that’s NCAA tournament baseball because a lot of time you get whether in June and you have to make adjustments on the fly.” After a slow hitting night on Friday that featured only a two-run RBI from sophomore catcher Adrian Del Castillo, the Hurricanes flipped a switch on Saturday and exploded offensively. Del Castillo hit two home runs
Josh Halper// Senior Staff Photographer
POWERFUL PITCHING: Redshirt senior pitcher Brian Van Belle threw six shutout innings and led Miami pitchers with 10 strikeouts during Miami’s game against Rutgers on Feb. 14.
on a messy Saturday night game that was suspended in the seventh inning due to rain. Prior to the suspension, junior outfielder Gabe Rivera smashed a grand slam in the seventh inning to give Miami a 7-2 lead that was increased to 8-2 after JP Gates hit a solo home run when the game resumed on Sunday. On Sunday’s regular scheduled game, Miami tallied 13 runs, highlighted by two hits from junior Tony Jenkins, Rivera and sophomore Anthony Vilar. The Hurricanes will be next in action at home on Wednesday at 6 p.m. when they take on Kent State in a single game before turning
their attention to the pivotal weekend series against the Gators. DiMare emphasized the importance of not overlooking this year’s midweek games despite the highly anticipated weekend matchup. “You can’t think that ahead,” DiMare said. “That was a big problem for us in ‘17 and ‘18, we did not play well in mid week games and from my point of view we weren’t ready to play in those game and those games count too. We know the other series of the weekend, how big that is, but we cannot think ahead. So we better be ready to play and I’m sure we will be.”
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12 NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
TENNIS
Perez-Somarriba falls to Coco Gauff in exhibition match BY ISABELLA DIDIO Sports Editor
Estela Perez-Somarriba has played a lot of tennis matches in her life, but Saturday night, the senior played in front of the largest crowd of her career in a unique match against a young tennis star. A little over 24 hours after competing for the University of Miami women’s tennis team at Georgia Tech, PerezSomarriba, the reigning NCAA singles champion, faced off against rising star Coco Gauff in an exhibition match in Gauff’s hometown of Delray Beach. In the first ever match between two female participants at the Delray Beach Open, Perez-Somarriba fell to the 15-year old Gauff 6-3, 6-3 in a match that lasted one hour and 15 minutes. “She’s such an inspiration for every tennis player in what she’s done,” Perez-Somarriba said about Gauff after the match. “She’s shown that you can do it. That you can go on the professional tour and give your best and actually do amazing.” Perez-Somarriba, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the
NCAA singles rankings, had just played both a singles and doubles match at Georgia Tech the day before. For Gauff, the match was the first she’s played in her hometown of Delray Beach since she became a tennis sensation after competing in Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Gauff most recently defeated Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open before falling to Sofia Kenin in the fourth round. “I don’t put much pressure on myself, I just try to go out and have fun,” Gauff said. “Today was relaxed, it was pretty cool.” As a Florida native, Gauff grew up a Miami Hurricanes fan, and the two players were able to chat before the match about the school. “She’s a Canes fan,” PerezSomarriba said. “She’s been to Hard Rock Stadium for some football games, so she was telling me how cool that was and how much she likes the University of Miami.” “I’ve been a UM fan for a long time, so when I found out I was going to play her, it was pretty cool,” Gauff said. While the match was a homecoming for Gauff, Perez-
Josh Halper// Senior Staff Photographer
TENNIS TITANS: 15-year-old professional Coco Gauff and Miami senior Estela Perez-Somarriba hold up the U after their match at the Delray Beach Open on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Josh Halper// Senior Staff Photographer
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Senior Estela Perez-Somarriba stretches to hit a forehand during her exhibition match at the Delray Beach Open on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Somarriba was just glad to get the experience of playing in front of such a large crowd. “I think every competitive tennis player that goes out there always goes out there and tries to give their best and I think that’s what we did today, both of us,” PerezSomarriba said. “Obviously we were having fun, there is nothing important on the line, this was just the experience.” The two players chatted periodically throughout the match, and were heard making fun of their missteps with each other. “I don’t think I’ve ever smiled that much on a tennis
court, honestly,” PerezSomarriba said. The Madrid native emphasized how much the support of her team and coaches in the crowd meant to her, and made it clear that they have played a big part in her success at the University of Miami. “My team was there supporting me. I could feel them in every single point, my teammates, my coaches, the whole department,” PerezSomarriba said. “They have been my family for the last years, and if I’m standing here today it’s because of them and I’m just really happy that they
were able to see me out there smiling, having fun.” As a senior who will likely be turning pro after leaving Miami, this may not be the last time Perez-Somarriba and Gauff face each other. “She’s going pro, so I’m sure I’m going to see her and probably play her in a nonexhibition match when we’re both a little bit more serious,” Gauff said.
For more sports coverage, visit themiamihurricane.com
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020 - February 24, 2020
SPORTS 13
BASKETBALL
Hurricanes collect multiple wins over weekend was held out of the Boston College game with a neck injury. McGusty was dealing with back spasms at the same time that Lykes was injured. Miami will next travel to Virginia Tech on Feb. 19. and the team hopes that they can take the winning momentum into their next few games. “I feel like we just take the momentum we have right now into Virginia Tech and go game by game,” Miller said. “There is still a lot of basketball to play. Win or lose, we just gotta get better and I think we will be just fine.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Josh Halper// Senior Staff Photographer
The women’s team completed a season sweep of Clemson Sunday afternoon after defeating the Tigers 6348 in South Carolina. Mykea Gray led Miami with
17 points, followed closely behind by Kelsey Marshall, who contributed 13 points. Miami used a 26-point second quarter to give themselves a 38-27 halftime lead. Miami (13-12, 5-9) held Clemson (7-19, 3-12) to just five points in the fourth quarter. The win was Miami’s first win in three games. The Hurricanes are still struggling with the loss of star forward Beatrice Mompremier, who injured her foot in early January and has yet to play since then. The senior is listed as day-to-day and there is no timetable for her return. The Hurricanes have only four regular season games left and will host North Carolina State at the Watsco Center Thursday, Feb. 20.
DRIBBLE & DRIVE: Freshman Guard Isaiah Wong drives to the basket during Miami’s game versus Wake Forest on Saturday, Feb. 15.
BY ISABELLA DIDIO Sports Editor
MEN’S BASKETBALL
For the first time since Jan. 4, the men’s basketball team had a full, healthy roster, and it showed, as the Hurricanes rolled past Wake Forest 71-54 at the Watsco Center Saturday afternoon. The win marks the second straight victory for Miami after defeating Boston College by almost thirty points last Wednesday. “That allows the player himself to play really hard and when you play really hard, you play really well,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said on having a full roster. “When everybody is sharing that responsibility, it makes a huge difference. Hopefully we can stay healthy now.” With nine guys in the rotation, no Miami player played more than 30 minutes. Having rested legs gave
Miami the opportunity to dominate the defensive end of the floor. “When we have these nine guys, its huge,” junior Sam Waardenburg said. “We are able to play good defense with the rotation.” “Big kudos to us for playing well on the defensive end,” center Rodney Miller said. “That team can really score the basketball, so we did well on the defensive end.” Miami (13-12, 5-10) was able to take the Deacons (1114, 4-11) out of the game early on. Behind a 14-2 scoring run over a four minute period in the closing minutes of the first half, the Canes took a 37-25 lead into halftime. Wake Forest committed 14 total turnovers, while Miami collected six steals and was able to score 16 points off those turnovers. Freshman guard Isaiah Wong and junior guard Chris Lykes both led Miami with 13
points and three assists each. Lykes, who has been dealing with a groin injury, made just his second start since Jan. 21 at Duke. Wong, meanwhile, became the first freshman since 2001 to have back to back 20-point games after Miami’s win over Boston College. Wong scored a career high 23 points against Florida State and had 21 points against Boston College and was named ACC Freshman of the Week. “Isaiah early in the year had so much to learn and now his defense is as good as any veteran,” Larrañaga said. “Early in the year he had too many thoughts running through his head and when you are thinking too much, your feet slow down.” Miami also had a healthy Keith Stone, Sam Waardenburg and Kameron McGusty. Stone missed four games in early January with an injury and Waardenburg
Josh Halper// Senior Staff Photographer
GAME FACE: Junior guard Mykea Gray dribbles down the court during Miami’s win over Clemson on Jan. 23.
14 FUN AND GAMES
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
February 18, 2020- February 24, 2020
Fun and Games Across: 3. Current SG president 6. Ranked No. 1 7. New South Miami mayor 8. Last year’s winning ticket 9. Upcoming baseball opponent 10. SG executive ticket Down: 1. SG executive ticket 2. Famous UM email sign-off 4. Who to listen to this week 5. Green Day album 8. Number of senate seats open
Find the answers to this weeks crossword here
Crossword by Anna Timmons
Read, Watch, Listen: Read: “We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Adichie’s sensational TEDx Talk reaches print in this essay adaptation of her speech. Her elegantly presented argument focuses on attaining societal contentment through equality and respect. With humor and levity, Adichie will inspire you to adjust your approach to understanding the social tendency to dampen female success and aspiration. I would highly recommend both reading and watching this presentation. The essay version is great energy to keep on your bedside table, but Adichie’s stage presence at her 30 minute TEDx Talk is empowering and definitely worth watching.
Looking for new content? In honor of Black History Month, check out these recommendations from Hurricane staff member Ines Eisenhour. Watch: “Dear White People,” Netflix Original This show follows a group of students of color at a predominantly white Ivy League university. Black students and administrators are very present in this environment, but nearly overwhelmed by the white history of the institution. While the humor and jokes were more relevant in the world of 2017 than they are today, please forgive that and give this show a proper chance. Most interesting to me is how multiple approaches to race-relations can play out in a university setting. The show is current, culturally in-tune and has one of the best TV soundtracks. If anything, just watch the show for the music.
Listen: “Beautiful Little Fools” by Jorja Smith In her 2016 single, released for International Women’s Day, Jorja Smith explores the hidden grace and strength of femininity. This feminist anthem explores the importance of recognizing and exalting the qualities that differentiate women and make them beautiful. The song references “The Great Gatsby” and its thematic quest for societal goals. Smith denounces expectations with her crooning lyrics illustrating toxic beauty standards and the strength of women who “pick up their flaws.”
THE MIAMI HURRICANE 3,18, 2019 January 21, THE THE MIAMI MIAMI HURRICANE HURRICANEDecember February February 18, 2020 2020 -- February - February 24,2020 24, 2020 2020
V’S TAKE 15
Never been kissed
Have a question for V? Email
dearv@themiamihurricane.com.
Since she looks like your usual college bombshell, you would have no idea that a blonde, sorority sister in fact has a lot in common with that extra virgin olive oil in your cupboard. If virginity in college seems worse than harboring the coronavirus, imagine how people react when learning this perfectly normal sophomore has never even been kissed. It seems reflective of our society that this student has asked to remain anonymous. Even after reassuring me that she was unbothered by her status, I could tell that there was underlying embarrassment. “If I ever started seeing someone, I would never tell them,” she shared. Curious as to what she’s looking for, she unfolded a wish list of qualities. Her standards included physical attributes, (6’4” tall and curly hair), personality traits, (sweet, caring and funny) and even dietary preferences (enjoys Dr. Pepper and eats Chick-fil-A). Even if this man was attainable, it seems that her dating pool would be more of a dating puddle. Refusing to participate in dating apps or set ups, she wants her first kiss to happen naturally. Attempts from past suitors have left her unimpressed and uninterested. “I’ve had guys ap-
proach me. However, I’ve never been attracted to them, so nothing ever happened,” she confessed. Entertaining the efforts of someone who might prefer Sprite doesn’t seem unreasonable, considering she has nothing to lose. Actually, she does have something to lose, but it will never be lost with such tunnel vision. Adjusting standards does not necessarily mean lowering them. When someone opens up about their experience or lack thereof, it is not an invitation for judgement, ridicule or unsolicited advice. My interviewee said it best, “It’s not the end of the world. People make the mistake of validating their self love off of other people. I’m okay with not having my first kiss because I’m happy.” Looking back at my own first kiss, I remember feeling an excruciating pressure to just get it over with. Maybe if I held out a little longer, I wouldn’t have experienced the trauma of a middle school boy’s tongue in my mouth. Just maybe, I’d still be straight. Best, V
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