The Miami Hurricane: March 27, 2024

Remembering Daniel Bishop

One student whose life impacted hundreds of others

News // Page 2

‘Vibra Cubana’: A celebration of Cuban culture by FEC

News // Page 8

Rain or shine, ULTRA goes on A&E // Page 12

Katie Meier ends record 19-year run as WBB’s head coach

Sports // Page 16

UM student wears a pin and bandana on their backpack in remembrance of fellow student Daniel Bishop who passed on on March 4, 2024. Taken

The Hurricane chose to refer to Daniel Bishop by his frst name throughout these articles.

Editor’s note: On March 4, 2024, senior mathematics and psychology major Daniel Bishop was struck and killed by a car while riding a scooter to campus.

Daniel was an infuential part of the University of Miami campus and the loss was felt tremendously, including among The Miami Hurricane staff. To see hundreds of students turn out in his memory online and at memorials has felt bittersweet. His death was also a shock that has been hard to process. As journalists, we turn to storytelling in hard times and have found comfort in hearing the memories dozens of students shared with Daniel.

In response to the grief felt in the newsroom and on campus, we chose to dedicate this edition of The Hurricane to Daniel.

We understand that we have a responsibility and privilege to share who Daniel was, not just through his involvements, but through his one-ofa-kind spirit that never seemed to waver.

We appreciate everyone who has shared their thoughts and pictures with us and entrusted us with capturing him.

Daniel always brought fun to campus, whether it was checking in a brand new ’Cane to orientation or throwing a HP event. We have chosen to represent the way Daniel lived his life, full of energy and warmth.

We acknowledge these next few pages could never fully encapsulate Daniel, but we hope those who knew him can fnd comfort in the way we have chosen to remember him.

A complete gallery of photos and memories can be found online at themiamihurricane.com.

Daniel

Bishop

Tragedy and the coming together that follows

BY LAUREN FERRER MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel Bishop was many things — Chair of Hurricane Productions, President’s 100 tour guide, Orientation Leader, It’s On Us ambassador and math tutor.

But Daniel, who passed away on March 4 at the age of 22, was best known for his infectious energy and compassion that impacted many students on campus.

Whether he was your orientation leader, tour guide, math tutor or even just spotted running around at one of HP’s various events, Daniel was known to be heard singing from across the room surrounded by laughter that could only be attributed to one of his many pop culture references.

Daniel was a senior majoring in mathematics and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. He was an exceptional student, having earned a spot on the President’s Honor Roll almost every semester.

Passionate about the subject, Daniel was known to say that anyone could learn math, but many of his friends attest to the fact that it was only because he was the one teaching it.

Daniel started his own math tutoring business in high school, an endeavor he continued throughout his time at UM.

Comments saying “You weren’t just a math tutor, you were a friend to me and I’m glad to have known you” and “You were the reason I started enjoying math and understanding it. I truly can’t ever imagine how hard school would have been if you hadn’t come along to help me” were left on Daniel’s Instagram in the days following his passing.

Teaching was one of his many talents and he was set to begin his post-graduate career at Gulliver Preparatory in the fall to teach mathematics.

Those who knew him, know that he paced his life at 100 miles a minute. From his daily workout routine on the stairmaster to interactions on the steps of Shalala mid-power walk from Dooly Memorial to the HP suite, his friends knew him to be busy — but never too busy to stop for a laugh or quick hello.

His interests and hobbies were just as vast as his many involvements on cam-

pus. He was a Swiftie and Broadway enthusiast with an intense infatuation for the Miami Heat, often attending games and events with friends.

As the chair of Hurricane Productions, Daniel led the University’s largest student programming board with a unique compassion and goal to help students make memories.

Daniel was an Orientation Leader for the 2023-2024 ‘Cane Kickoff cycle, where he helped welcome thousands of students and families to the University of Miami.

“Whether it was a 7 a.m. shift or a 10 p.m. event, he came to everything with a smile on his face and a motivation to foster an environment that people can enjoy and relate to,” Sara Ebrahimi, a junior who currently serves as a ’Cane Kickoff program coordinator, said. “His energy was infectious.”

Daniel was also an exceptional tour guide and representative of the UM admissions offce.

“He was the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be a P,” the President’s 100 said in a statement posted on Instagram. “His passion, humor, leadership, enthusiasm and joy inspired all those around him.”

The day after the accident, Dr. Patricia A. Whitely, the senior vice president for student affairs and alumni engagement, and Dr. Guillermo “Willy” Prado, the interim executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, sent an email, informing the student body of the tragic loss.

“He was a student leader who would rise by uplifting others. Whatever he did was with authenticity and he cared for everyone he interacted with and tackled each task he undertook with determination,” the statement said.

The Day After

The day after Daniel died campus was quiet. There were no P100s in orange polos teaching wanna-be students how to throw up the U, the trivia lovers traded in pens and paper for candles.

Daniel kept campus running, and without him, everything seemed to have

stopped. For the entire week, every HP event and P100 tour was canceled.

Within hours, a candlelight vigil was planned by It’s on Us and held for Daniel on the evening of March 5. Hundreds of students, faculty, old friends and counselors gathered on the second foor of the Whitten University Center.

During the vigil, students came forward to reminisce about Daniel’s impact on their lives. From impromptu bursts of song to sharing how Daniel single-handedly saved math grades, everyone agreed that Daniel was a friendly face and an infuential presence more than anything else.

The evening concluded with a walk around the lake, as friends of Daniel walked with candles in hand, in memory of Daniel’s life and impact.

On Thursday, March 7, P100, Hurricane Production and Category 5 joined together to host an event for their members to remember Daniel. In the center of the room, a banquet table was flled with bandanas, a staple accessory of Daniel’s, as well as fowers and paper to write messages to his family on.

The next day, Daniel’s family invited his friends from campus to attend his funeral. The Department of Student Activities and Student Organizations organized a bus to transport students to Weston, where the funeral was taking place.

In the days that followed, friends of Daniel took to social media to share their love, gratitude and shock in losing Daniel.

The Department of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement, P100, It’s on Us and HP posted photos and statements on their respective Instagram accounts, expressing their gratitude for Daniel’s contributions to their programs.

Friends fooded Instagram feeds with heartfelt photos, videos and comments, showing Daniel in his truest form, smiling with friends.

“I love and miss you so much Dan. You were one of the most incredible people I ever met.” UM student Julian Ramos said in a comment on Daniel’s Instagram. “It was an honor to know you. Rest in peace.”

All too soon: Grappling with the loss of my friend Daniel Bishop

BY CAROLINE VAL NEWS EDITOR AND FRIEND OF DANIEL

The day I found out that my close friend Daniel Bishop had died, I found myself paralyzed in front of a pile of black clothes that laid on top of my bed.

By this time, it was mid-afternoon, only a mere few hours after an email from vice president of student affairs Pat Whitely announced that Daniel had passed away in a fatal scooter accident.

When I read the name “Daniel Bishop,” I thought, “Surely not.” This was not my sophomore year next-door neighbor in Lakeside Village, not the friend whose birthdays I had helped plan, not the Miami Heat enthusiast, not the beloved on-campus math tutor. It couldn’t be.

And then I kept reading.

Mathematics major. Senior. Scooter. Hurricane Productions. It’s On Us. President’s 100.

That’s when I lost it. I think even an audible “What?” came out of my mouth as I cried, confused by this cruel prank I thought the administration was trying to pull on the student body.

But it was far from that. My frst call went to Monica Gupta, a mutual friend of mine and Daniel’s who was especially close to him. She didn’t pick up the frst time, and I sent her several texts to call me as soon as possible.

“It’s about Daniel,” I wrote.

She called me right back, and we spoke no words. We sobbed into our phones. The release of pain and confusion was our only communication.

I had only just seen Daniel about a week prior. We had picked up a nice habit of running into each other on the frst foor of Shalala, where I would be leaving the newsroom and he would be heading up to the HP suite. We had talked about how stressed we were with school, stressed with our extracurriculars, but we expressed that it had been nice to run into each other so often despite being so busy.

When I frst met Daniel, I had just transferred to UM my sophomore year, learning about him through a mutual friend. He lived in the dorm right next to mine, all on his own in a single suite. I was impressed by his cleanliness and distinct decor – iron-pressed button-ups hanging in his closet, to-do lists with scheduled tutoring appointments and plenty of Miami Heat paraphernalia. He was also the type to have some unnec-

essary but captivating purchases sprinkled throughout his room, usually impulsive buys with the money he had saved from starting his own math tutoring business at UM. My favorite was a $400 touch-screen toaster he had on his kitchen countertop.

Though I had known for only a short amount of time, I immediately knew Daniel was special, like so many students know now. He already seemed like someone I knew I would have to put my best foot forward to keep up with, and this was well before he committed himself to so many campus organizations.

I was never a STEM person, so when I learned Daniel was a math major, I remember being astonished. I couldn’t say I had met any other person at UM who was not only good at math, but loved it as much as I loved Joan Didion and Gayle King.

His mind seemed to run a mile per minute, and I had to do my part to make sure I got every TikTok and Broadway reference he made, which also challenged me since I thought I already knew quite a bit about pop culture.

Despite his dumbfounding intelligence, he was still just a kid the way any of us fnd

ourselves to be. It made him a walking paradox at times, like if Albert Einstein carried Trader Joe’s ice cream sandwiches and a cereal bar with stale Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops in his apartment.

He was a picky eater, not only because of his gluten allergy and lactose intolerance, but he often just rejected any mention of a vegetable.

He was a theatre kid at heart, even serving as a counselor at a summer theatre camp in between sophomore and junior years. We would send messages on Snapchat during his time there, with him often supplying fun updates in his counselor gear. I distinctly remember passing by his dorm room several times my frst year in UM to hear him belting out “Defying Gravity” from Wicked or some other show tune in the shower.

He had a notable love for Chipotle, hosting a couple of Chipotle-themed birthday parties. He loved nothing more than the Heat, and if you just so happened to knock on his door to hang while he was catching a game, he would do his best to convince you he was “busy.”

And yet he made time for absolutely everyone, no matter who they were or how

busy his schedule was. He was the type of person to invite you over if you had a fnal the next day and tutor you until 2 a.m.. I would sometimes text him late at night to make time for me if I had boy problems or math problems, and he would always make the trip to my place to chat.

I had the absolute privilege of being at almost all of his birthdays during our time together here at UM, from a Venezuelan restaurant I recommended him (where he notably only ordered white rice and chicken), to hanging out in his Gables Ponce apartment with his roommate Parker and all of his HP and P100 friends.

We spent holidays from Easter to Holi together and shared meals at the dining hall. He met my parents, and I met his sister, Julia, who I could tell was especially close to him.

As time went on, he got more and more involved with campus leadership, and I tried to bother him less and less.

But it’s also what attracted so many ‘Canes to him.

He was the most involved individual you can fnd on this campus, and often in the organizations that had the most reach. Whether it was helping freshmen acclimate to college life as an orientation leader or helping to put together the latest HP Homecoming Concert, it was virtually impossible not to run into his smiling face and upbeat personality.

The day I found out about his passing, still standing there in front of my sprawling black options of clothing, I made a plan to attend a local church that I had often visited with my family on trips to Miami. It was where I went with my mother to mourn the loss of my father just a year ago, and the only thing I could think to do was light a candle for what was yet another major loss.

It was the frst of many candles that were lit that day for Daniel, as later that evening a touching vigil was quickly put together by It’s On Us, one of the many organizations Daniel was a part of.

Over 100 people turned out to UC Whitten to honor his memory, and I was inspired to see others gather to share what Daniel meant to them, whether they had met him just once or whether they were his closest confdants.

But while so many candles were lit and placed next to a picture of Daniel, beaming as bright as ever in his orientation leadership photo, there was no doubt campus certainly felt a bit darker that day.

‘An inspiring leader’

“Daniel was, in every sense of the word, radiant. When you walked into a room, you could always tell he was there, even if there were 1,000 other people present. He had this incredible ability to connect with anyone and everyone - whether you’d known him for two years or two weeks, he was one of your best friends. He had such a bright aura about him, and every exchange I had with him was one in which I came away either smiling like an idiot or holding my stomach from laughing too hard. He truly embodied what it means to be a Miami Hurricane

- I’ve never seen someone so spirited or zestful about life.

His enthusiasm and laughter was infectious, and everywhere I go on campus I’m reminded of the fact he was truly one of a kind. I won’t again ever be able to hear his “WOO” from halfway across fate bridge, or excitedly chat about his 18 million endeavors on the Shalala stairs, or give him a quick hug near Dooly as our paths cross for the frst time in weeks, all exchanges that would leave me the happiest I’d felt in weeks.”

- Emily Danzinger

“Daniel was an avid and passionate Miami Heat fan- if you looked up the word fanatic in the dictionary, his picture was right next to it. The day we met Max Strus back in Nov 2022 was one of the happiest days of our lives. We could not stop talking about how lucky we were to meet him. And thus Heat Nation was born, our group chat solely dedicated to stressing and celebrating the Heat. It was so fun, our little group geeking out for every regular season and playoff game. I’m going to miss that. Now I know he gets to sit courtside at every game, living out his dream.”

- Kiera Fielding

A collection of stories and memories remembering Daniel Bishop’s legacy

“Daniel will be remembered for truly being the best of us always- a star that will forever continue to shine in our hearts, one whom I will always love and miss”

- Niloy Bhattacharyya

“Daniel was one of the most passionate HPers I have met. When he entered a room, you knew. He was flled with energy and passion. He was always wanting to help out fellow HPers whether it is the executive team or general body members. One of his favorite HP traditions was HP snaps — he would be so very excited for Monday nights to read the HP shout-outs and laugh with the entire organization. When HP thrived, Daniel thrived — he was always so eager to attend the events, check out the merchandise and plan the behindthe-scenes.”

- Aris Montero

“Danny exemplifed and truly lived the ‘Canes Care for Canes’ motto each and every day”

- Dr. Whitely

“Within our department, Daniel was a shining example of the values we hold. His unwavering commitment to welcoming others with open arms, expressing genuine appreciation and motivating those around him made him an invaluable asset to our team. He embodied everything we aspire to cultivate in our leaders. As we mourn the loss of Daniel, let us also celebrate the profound impact he had on our lives and the legacy he leaves behind. Let his memory serve as a reminder of the importance of kindness, compassion and camaraderie within our community.”

- OCSI Statement

“My best friend! The funniest person I know, would make me and everyone around him laugh and smile. He made everything so fun and I will always remember our friendship and all of our memories from these past four years.”

- Monica Gupta

“I never met anyone whose inner light shined as bright as Dan. You could immediately tell what his passions were—math, teaching, being a loyal friend. I always felt so comfortable around him. He was relatable and funny. I’ve never met anyone who was able to connect with as many people as he did. He had so much energy, and he used it to help people learn and become the best versions of themselves— that is the best gift anyone can ever give.

My favorite memory was when he introduced me to a video of Taylor Swift harmonizing with herself as a concert in Sydney, Australia. “Sydney!” Became our catch phrase and unoffcial greeting. Dan was a big Taylor Swift fan. He was so hard working but also embraced his goofy and funny side. Every single interaction I had with him always nourished my soul.”

- Alejandro Bolívar-Cervoni

All photos pages 2-5 are contributed, fnd full details online.

Students bear the brunt of UM fnancial aid error, left confused

BY PATRICK MCCASLIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The University of Miami frst warned Sophia Plancich that she was in violation of the University’s fnancial aid policies on the morning of March 6. Plancich, who is a frst semester senior double majoring in international studies and ecosystem sciences, was told fve of her ECS classes are not in her program of study.

Plancich was one of many to receive such an email, sent out by UM to students who could have been impacted by “FACA,” which stands for Financial Aid Course Audit.

“As part of our commitment to your success, we regularly review student academic records and fnancial aid packages to ensure alignment with degree requirements and institutional policies,” the email read. “In keeping with our policies and the terms under which fnancial aid is awarded, it is crucial that students enroll in courses directly contributing to their degree completion,” it continued.

Plancich was confused. She thought she was within the University’s requirements because she had never received an email claiming otherwise. Since last spring, she had pursued her second major of ECS and met the GPA and credit minimums mandated in the University’s federal aid requirements.

“This must be a mistake. Like, those are degree requirements for me,” she replied to the email.

In a separate email, not sent to Plancich, but instead students in the Marine & Atmospheric Science Program, the department indicated that “UM will be launching a new program called Financial Aid Course Audit” and that “students will have to fulfll certain requirements to remain eligible for fnancial assistance.”

The email Plancich received made no mention of a new program aside from using “Financial Aid Course Audit” as the subject line. Instead, the email alludes that she should have known students must “enroll in courses directly contributing to their degree completion” to receive federal aid.

“For this semester, we are issuing a warning only,” it reads in bolded text. “Starting with the next academic term, fnancial aid adjustments will be implemented for enrollment in courses not required by your degree program.”

The policy in question can be found on UM’s online “Terms and Conditions” of fnancial assistance page. Near the top, there is a tab titled “Courses in Program of Study / Course Audit,” which now reports that students who pursue minors or second majors

may not receive federal or state aid for the courses that are not needed for their primary degree. That is a rule set by the federal government that UM must comply with.

Yet, as recently as March 3, three days before she received her warning, UM’s published “Terms and Conditions” of fnancial assistance made zero mentions of this policy.

In fact, on another UM page, the University encourages prospective students to “pursue double majors or a combination of majors and minors across all of our nine undergraduate schools and colleges, especially in unrelated academic felds,” with no reference to this federal aid policy.

Plancich, who had now pursued her ECS major for a year, should have received a notifcation from the school that she was not in compliance with federal policy a year ago, when she began taking courses outside of her primary international studies major.

Plancich could still pursue the remainder of her second major, but would not be able to use federal or state aid to help pay for it.

The situation became even more confusing for Plancich when she reached out to the school for clarifcation. In a reply following the initial warning, Daniel Barkowitz, the assistant VP of Financial Assistance and Employment, informed her that “fnancial aid” would not cover courses outside of her frst degree of international studies.

When she contacted ‘Canes Central, UM’s student services provider, they told her this

policy would not affect her because it only applies to “double degrees” not “double majors.” Another of her advisors shared that they had heard a variety of conclusions from different students.

The Miami Hurricane contacted Barkowitz three times over the course of a week regarding these updates, but received no response.

Plancich shared that she was still unsure whether she could continue taking her ECS major.

“I think that it is so incredibly unfair, especially just the timeline of it, the inconsistency in communication and having young people make decisions that would impact their ultimate careers and future because of an institutional change that they can’t do anything about,” Plancich said.

UM provided a statement to The Miami Hurricane indicating that their published policy, which now complies with U.S. federal policy, only applies to students receiving state or federal aid.

“Courses taken outside of the degree requirements will not count for establishing a student’s enrollment status for federal or state fnancial aid, and will not be considered in payment of federal or state fnancial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work study,” UM said. “Students who pursue minors or second majors should be aware that this restriction applies to courses not needed for their primary degree and therefore may impact their federal or state aid as well.”

Based on a defnition of “Undergraduate student” put forth by the Department of Education in 2007 and buried in title 34, section 668.2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the student must be “enrolled in an undergraduate course of study that usually does not exceed four academic years,” or “enrolled in a longer program designed to lead to a frst degree at the baccalaureate level.”

At UM, the “course of study” part of the defnition refers to the schedule outlined in UM’s academic bulletin. When a student fulflls all of the credits allotted in their degree’s academic bulletin program, their courses are no longer eligible for federal or state aid.

Some majors, such as Pancich’s primary major of international studies, give students ample fexibility. After completing 30 credits of international studies classes and another 42 credits of university requirements, students may take 48 more credits of classes from any department.

That does not leave enough room for her ECS major, but would allow for a political science major, for example, that still keeps her within her primary major’s credit requirements.

For Daniel, a junior majoring in microbiology and immunology who preferred to only go by his middle name, completing a second major would be impossible. His degree only offers 17 credits of electives. But, by taking more than fve classes per semester, completing credits during the summer term or receiving college credits in high school, Daniel could pursue a second major.

He chose to graduate early instead. If he had chosen to pursue a second major, he would have discovered on March 6 from UM that federal aid will no longer cover his studies.

BE ADVISED:

“I’m not allowed to explore or enrich my knowledge outside my major, or, if I choose to, I’ll be fned with a very massive bill that UM expects me to pay,” Daniel said.

In its statement to The Miami Hurricane, UM did not report the number of students affected. But, using data provided by the Department of Education and by a study conducted at UM in 2020, the Hurricane estimates that about 10% of students receive federal aid and are pursuing two majors. This estimate assumes that the decision to pursue two majors is independent of receiving federal aid. Some of the 10% of students may be pursuing two majors that allow them to remain within their primary course of study bulletin.

“If a student has questions about their particular circumstance, they should start by reaching out to their academic advisor,” UM said in their statement to the Hurricane.

Rain on the Ultra parade: Friday washout cancels Miami events

BY ETHAN MANNELLO STAFF WRITER

Thunderstorms swept through Miami this past weekend, delaying some of the weekend’s most sought after events.

The Miami Open, the MiamiDade County Youth Fair and Miami Music Week’s Ultra Music Festival were all delayed and canceled on Friday due to the inclimate weather. Miami’s International Airport was also impacted as fights on Saturday morning were delayed for hours.

The storm, which raged throughout Friday afternoon and into mid-day Saturday, brought torrential downpours and heavy thunderstorms across the area, leaving music fans and locals equally drenched.

The National Weather Service issued multiple food and tornado warnings for not just MiamiDade County, but all of South Florida.

Ultra, a massively popular electronic music event annually held in Miami, was shut down Friday night around 9 p.m.

The festival had begun at 4 p.m.

earlier that day, but after violent rain and wind plagued the frst four hours of the event at Bayfront Park, it was shut down. Organizers cited lightning and strong winds as their reason to halt the festival for the night.

Ultra has never had to stop due to weather conditions since its inception in 1998.

“I’m defnitely upset they shut it down. I was really looking forward to the set on Friday night,” said Jess Bucello, a junior chemistry major at the University of Miami. “It was a complete mess though, so it was probably the safest idea.”

Bucello is among the many university students who attended the festival Friday, but were ultimately left in disappointment. Her friend, Sophia Giovannone, a junior at the College of Charleston, had similar feelings.

“I came all the way down here for Ultra, got the three-day pass, then one of the days gets canceled? That’s not right,” Giovannone said. “I also don’t understand why they didn’t prepare for the rain.”

On Friday, festival-goers not only had to battle rain and winds,

but also mud and sludge created from the park grounds. These problems persisted when the festival was shut down, as thousands of attendees fooded into Biscayne Boulevard trying to fnd their way home.

In anticipation of problems at Ultra, the University of Miami’s senior vice president of student affairs, Pat Whitely, sent out an email early in the week imploring students attending the event to take proper precautions.

“We want to remind you that it is vital to remember that ‘‘Canes Care for ‘Canes’ by looking out for one another and asking for help if you need it,” read the newsletter. “If you are planning to attend Ultra, create a plan to keep you and your friends safe.”

Whitely also advised students to hydrate, travel in groups and leave their valuables at home, among other tips for the weekend. Whitely was prompted to write the letter because of the many problems UM students have had at Ultra in recent years, including a student’s death in 2016.

Ultra resumed the next day at noon and organizers decided to extend the festival into that

night to make up for the previous day’s shut down. The festival then completed its fnal day on Sunday with no weather interruptions.

The Miami Open, a fan-favorite tennis tournament hosted at Hard Rock Stadium every year, was in its 5th day of competition when rain also brought the anticipated event to a halt. While the day’s competition was planned to begin at 11a.m. Friday morning, the event was delayed until 5 p.m. It was able to resume play at 5 p.m., but two hours later, the

tournament had to be shut down for the night. The remaining matches were moved to Saturday, which would also be subjected to a three hour delay, but after resuming and extending play, the tournament is now fully caught up.

The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair, which has been set up in Tamiami Park since March 14, didn’t attempt to wait out the weather at all and was promptly canceled Friday morning. Organizers resumed the annual fair at 3 p.m. the next day.

Landmark Properties to build new complex in University Plaza

BY ETHAN MANNELLO STAFF WRITER

Landmark Properties, the owners of popular off-campus student housing facilities The Cloisters Miami and The Standard at Coral Gables, are in the process of acquiring University Plaza for a new student housing complex.

The plaza, located across from the University of Miami on South Dixie Highway, contains the Bagel Emporium, Sushi Sake and Baptist Urgent Care, all frequented by UM students.

The proposed project, called “The Mark,” is planned to be

a mixed-use apartment complex containing retail and restaurants on the ground floor. There will be 146 one-bedroom units, 99 two-bedroom units and 151 three-bedroom units in two eight-story towers. The towers will be connected by a bridge on the fifth floor.

“The Mark” will be built on a 3.2 acre lot,last sold for $4.2 million in 2015.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $70 million, and there is currently no timeline for its completion. The proposal also details no plans of what will happen to current tenants

at properties like the European Wax Center.

Landmark Properties, along with the architects of the project, Behar Font and Partners, presented the project to the Coral Gables Development Review Committee in June 2023. The two architects have received preliminary approval from the Coral Gables Board of Architects.

The next step is for the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board to look over the project, a meeting that will take place on April 10.

The project is proposing to

change the zoning district of the property from a mixed-use one to a mixed-use two. This change, according to the Miami-Dade Standard Urban Center District Regulations, would allow the building to be over five stories and contain live and work units, which allow business owners to live upstairs and work their business below.

The submission of this proposal coincided with the opening of Landmark’s newest student housing complex, the Cloisters. This complex welcomed hundreds of UM students last fall, but many complaints and

problems led to The Miami Hurricane publishing five articles detailing student’s housing horrors.

On top of opening late and moving students into hotels, many tenants were subjected to gas leaks, mold, sewage overflows and delayed repairs, causing many to break their lease and move out.

Both the Coral Gables government and Behar Font and Partners refused to comment on the project and Landmark Properties did not reply to a request for comment.

Julian Ramos // Contributed Photograph A sign at Ultra’s mainstage tells audience to exit festival due to showers on March 23, 2024

IN ENGLISH

‘Vibra Cubana’

Una celebración de la cultura Cubana por FEC EN ESPAÑOL A celebration of Cuban culture by FEC ‘Vibra Cubana’

POR ISABELLA MARTINEZ & LAUREN WHITESELL STAFF WRITERS

No hacen falta arcos de globos ni música salsa en directo para sentir la presencia de la cultura cubana en Miami. Pero una vez al año, la organización estudiantil Federación de Estudiantes Cubanos, destaca la rica historia y cultura de Cuba que ha hecho de Miami lo que es hoy.

Del 18 al 22 de marzo, la FEC organizó su Semana de la Cultura Cubana, este año bajo el lema “Vibra Cubana”, un juego de palabras con el popular festival de reggaeton “Vibra Urbana”.

“Organizamos la WOCC anualmente para educar sobre la cultura cubana y difundir la conciencia de lo que está sucediendo en Cuba hoy en día,” dijo Daniel Fernández, presidente de FEC. “FEC quiere dar a cada estudiante cubano en la Universidad de Miami un hogar y un lugar para sentirse bienvenido”.

La semana comenzó con una llamada a una tradición popular cubana. Los ‘Canes se reunieron para jugar en el tradicional torneo de dominó en el Rathskeller. La competición enfrentó a equipos de dos por la oportunidad de ganar tarjetas regalo para el bar deportivo del campus.

“Una de nuestras tradiciones favoritas del WOCC es el Cafecito on the Rock, en el que entregamos a los estudiantes certifcados de “cubano honorario” mientras responden a trivialidades cubanas y disfrutan de pasteles cubanos,” dijo Fernández.

En colaboración con Category 5, el grupo de espíritu estudiantil, el FEC también regaló sudaderas exclusivas en el partido de béisbol entre la Universidad de Miami y la Universidad Internacional de Florida que tuvo lugar esa misma tarde en el Mark Light Stadium.

El resto de la semana contó con programas educativos, como la colaboración de la FEC con el Museo de Arte Lowe para un panel de artistas cubanos, “Cafecito Talks” en el Auditorio Lakeside con varios oradores invitados y una visita a la Colección de Herencia Cubana en la Biblioteca Richter, que alberga la mayor

colección de archivos cubanos fuera de Cuba.

“Miami está muy infuenciada por la cultura cubana. Compartir esa cultura con la comunidad de la UM es importante para nosotros, porque muchos estudiantes de la UM, aparte de los que viajan diariamente, no están familiarizados con ella,” dijo Aylin Xenes, la presidenta cultural de la FEC.

“Al llegar a la UM y unirme al FEC, enseguida me vi rodeada de gente que pensaba que ser cubano no era algo de lo que avergonzarse, sino que había que celebrarlo.”

FEC se unió más tarde al grupo de eventos estudiantiles Hurricane Productions y a su Comisión de Artes Cinematográfcas, para proyectar “Before Night Falls” en el Cosford Cinema.

La película se basa en la historia real de un autor cubano que tuvo que enfrentarse a muchos problemas legales por ser gay en Cuba antes de trasladarse a Nueva York, y ofrece una visión única de la compleja historia de la inmigración cubana.

Tras un cambio de ubicación debido a las inclemencias del tiempo, el FEC concluyó la Semana de la Cultura Cubana con su Ceremo nia de Clausura en la Shalala Student Center.

El grupo de salsa “Luna y sus rumberos” ac tuó en la ceremonia y Camp Kesem, una orga nización que organiza un campamento de verano para niños af ectados por el cáncer de uno de sus padres, también par ticipó en el acto con una iniciativa de servicio.

Lea la his toria comple ta en línea en themiamihurricane.com

BY ISABELLA MARTINEZ & LAUREN WHITESELL STAFF WRITERS

It doesn’t take balloon arches and live salsa music to feel the presence of Cuban culture in Miami. But once a year, student organization Federación de Estudiantes Cubanos, spotlights the rich history and culture of Cuba that has made Miami what it is today.

From March 18 to 22, FEC hosted their Week of Cuban Culture, this year themed “Vibra Cubana,” a play on the popular reggaeton festival “Vibra Urbana.”

“We host WOCC annually to educate on Cuban culture and spread awareness to what’s going on in Cuba today,” said Daniel Fernandez, FEC president. “FEC wants to give every Cuban student at the University of Miami a home and a place to feel welcomed.”

The week started of with a call back to a popular Cuban tradition. ’Canes came together to play in the traditional domino tournament

joy Cuban pastries,” said Fernandez.

In partnership with Category 5, the student spirit group, FEC also gave away unique sweatshirts at the University of Miami vs. Florida International University baseball game that took place that same evening at the Mark Light Stadium.

The rest of the week featured educational programming, like FEC’s collaboration with the Lowe Art Museum for a Cuban artist panel, “Cafecito Talks” in Lakeside Auditorium featuring several guest speakers and a tour of the Cuban Heritage Collection in the Richter Library, which is home to the largest collection of Cuban archives located outside of Cuba.

“Miami is heavily infuenced by Cuban culture. Sharing that culture with the UM community is important to us, because so many students at UM, aside from commuters, aren’t familiar with it.,” Aylin Xenes, the cultural chair of FEC said.

“Coming to UM and joining FEC, I was quickly surrounded by people that thought being Cuban wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, and should be celebrated instead.”

Cuban’ certifcates while we have them answer Cuban trivia and en-

FEC later joined student events group Hurricane Productions and their Cinematic Arts Commission, to show “Before Night Falls” in the Cosford Cinema.

The flm is based on the true story of a Cuban author who faced much legal trouble for being gay in Cuba before moving to New York City, giving a unique glimpse into a complex Cuban immigration story.

After a location change due to inclement weather, FEC fnished out the Week of Cuban Culture with their Closing Ceremonies in the Shalala Ballrooms.

Salsa band “Luna Y Sus Rumberos” performed at the ceremony and Camp Kesem, an organization that raises money for and hosts a summer camp for children afected by a parent’s cancer, also took part in the event with a service initiative.

Read the full story online at themiamihurricane.com

Daniel Fernandez // Contributed Photo Sebastian the Ibis holds up the Cuban fag at Lakeside Patio during the opening ceremonies of Cuban Culture Week on March 18, 2024.

EN ESPAÑOL IN ENGLISH

Cuba en crisis

El país insular ve estallar nuevas protestas por alimentos y electricidad

POR CAROLINE VAL & GRACE TYLEE

CO-NEWS EDITOR & STAFF WRITER

Manifestantes salieron a las calles de Santiago de Cuba para protestar contra el gobierno cubano por la continua escasez de alimentos y los cortes de electricidad. Esto se produce como consecuencia de la crisis económica en Cuba, la peor desde el fnal de la Guerra Fría.

Los cortes extremos de electricidad duran hasta 18-24 horas al día en la isla. El acceso limitado a alimentos y medicinas ha dejado a los cubanos en una situación desesperada.

Estas protestas tienen su origen en un problema de mayor envergadura que ha dejado sin resolver el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la economía cubana. El Presidente de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, culpó a Estados Unidos de incitar los disturbios, tachándolo de “intervencionista” y acusando al embargo de ser una de las causas fundamentales de las revueltas.

Cuba es una nación aislada económica y políticamente, en gran parte debido al embargo impuesto por Estados Unidos y otras naciones, que prohíbe las relaciones comerciales y limita sus recursos internacionales.

El ex decano de estudios internacionales y cofundador del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubano-Americanos de la UM, Andy Gómez, sostiene que algunas prácticas permitidas bajo el embargo estadounidense con Cuba no explican las severas limitaciones económicas de la isla.

“Incluso aquellos que tienen dólares estadounidenses tienen difcultades para encontrar cosas como agua embotellada en La Habana, la capital,” dijo Gómez, “Cuba acaba de comprar millones de dólares en alimentos a Estados Unidos, lo que está permitido bajo el embargo. Así que la pregunta es: ¿adónde van a parar esos alimentos?”

La crisis económica de Cuba se ha agravado con la infación, devaluando su

moneda y dejando los salarios en mínimos históricos. En los últimos años, los cubanos han huido del país, y ha provocado el mayor éxodo masivo de emigrantes de la isla a Estados Unidos desde el éxodo del Mariel en la década de 1980.

Estudiantes de UM también han sido conscientes de las protestas y de su impacto en UM y en la comunidad de Miami-Dade, donde residen miles de exiliados cubanos.

“Ver las protestas en Cuba por la grave situación en la isla me hace sentir más orgullosa de mi pueblo,” dijo Aylin Xenes, miembro de la junta ejecutiva de la FEC.

“Me preocupa la situación actual por la falta de información reciente, pero sé que mi pueblo prevalecerá.”

En enero de 2024, Cuba abrió su nación a las pequeñas empresas privadas, pymes, para estimular su economía, una acción sin precedentes en la estricta economía cubana, controlada por el Estado.

Díaz-Canel también visitó las Naciones Unidas a fnales del año pasado para pedir a los países que invirtieran en la nación, al tiempo que criticaba las sanciones económicas impuestas por Estados Unidos a la isla.

Según Gómez, mientras que muchos exiliados sostienen que el cambio democrático debe implementarse en la nación, él argumenta que la historia de Cuba con gobiernos totalitarios deja poco espacio para que la reforma democrática tenga lugar en la isla a corto plazo.

“Cuba, como muchos otros países de América Latina, no está preparada para la democracia. Lo que estamos viendo en la isla es una frustración por el fracaso de un gobierno que no es capaz de satisfacer las necesidades primarias de su pueblo,” dijo Gómez.

“Esto no es de patría y vida,” continuó, refriéndose a la popular frase anticomunista que refugiados cubanos dicen en señal de protesta y que signifca “patria y vida.”

“Es de vida.”

Lea la historia completa en línea en themiamihurricane.com

Cuba in crisis

Island nation sees new protests erupt for food, electricity

BY CAROLINE VAL & GRACE TYLEE CO-NEWS EDITOR & STAFF WRITER

Demonstrators took to the streets of Santiago, Cuba, to protest the Cuban government due to ongoing food shortages and power outages. This comes as a result of the economic crisis in Cuba, the worst since the end of the Cold War.

Extreme power outages last up to 18-24 hours of the day on the island. Limited access to food and medicine has left Cubans in dire straits as a result of the government’s increasing economic instability.

These protests stem from a larger issue left unresolved from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Cuban economy. The President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, blamed the U.S. for inciting the unrest, labeling it as “interventionist” and accusing the embargo as being a root cause for the uprisings.

Cuba is economically and politically isolated as an island nation, largely because of the embargo placed upon it by the United States and other nations prohibiting trade relations and limiting their international resources.

Former dean of international studies and co-founder of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at UM, Andy Gomez, argues that some practices allowed under the U.S. embargo with Cuba do not explain the island’s severe economic limitations.

“Even those that have American dollars have a hard time finding things like bottled water in Havana, the capital,” said Gomez. “Cuba just bought millions of dollars of food from the United States, which is allowed under the embargo. So the question is, where’s that food going?” Cuba’s economic crisis has worsened with inflation, devaluing its currency and leaving wages at an all-time low. Cubans

have been fleeing the nation due to the economic struggles in recent years, leading to the largest mass exodus of migrants from the island to the US since the Mariel boatlift exodus in the 1980s.

Students on campus have also been aware of the protests and their impact on the UM and the greater Miami-Dade community, where thousands of Cuban exiles reside.

“Seeing the protests in Cuba over the dire situation on the island gives me further pride in my people,” said Aylin Xenes, a member of FEC’s executive board. “I worry about the current condition due to the lack of recent info, but I know my people will prevail.”

In January 2024, Cuba opened up its nation to small private enterprises, known as pymes in Spanish, to stimulate its economy – an unprecedented action from Cuba’s strict state-controlled economy.

Diaz-Canel also paid a visit to the United Nations late last year to plead for countries to invest in the nation while criticizing the U.S.’s economic sanctions on the island.

According to Gomez, while many exiles argue that democratic change should be implemented in the nation, he argues that Cuba’s history with totalitarian governments leaves little room for democratic reform to take place on the island in the short term.

“Cuba, like many other countries in Latin America, is not so prepared for democracy. What we’re seeing on the island is a frustration of the failure of a government not being able to meet the primary needs of its people,” Gomez said.

“This is not about patría y vida,” he continued, referring to the popular anti-communist phrase most Cuban refugees say in protest which means “patriotism and life.”

“This is about vida.”

Read the full story online at themiamihurricane.com

UM must communicate consequential fnancial changes with students

BY JENNY JACOBY EDITOR IN CHIEF

The University of Miami has updated its financial aid terms and conditions to comply with federal aid requirements. This update will take state and federal aid away from students who take classes outside their primary degree, potentially affecting the 28% of UM students who receive federal loans, according to the Department of Education.

It’s a significant change that will cost select students thousands of dollars they weren’t prepared to spend. Yet, no email was sent from the University to the general student body informing them of the update required under FACA. Notices have exclusively been sent to students who were already in violation of the “terms

and conditions” of their aid, something they had known nothing about. More concerning is that no university-wide forewarning has been sent to students who might violate these new terms in their final semesters at UM after surpassing the 120 credit graduate requirement.

In my case, I received an email warning that I was in violation of the University’s financial aid policies while sitting in class. Like anyone reading an email that threatens to cut the aid and scholarship they need to be a student, my stomach did about three somersaults.

So I started asking a lot of questions.

It took an advisor appointment, a call with ‘Canes Central, two discussions with professors, a conversation with Provost Prado, a voicemail to

Daniel Barkowitz, the Assistant Vice President in the Office of Student Financial Assistance & Student Employment and one final phone call with Barkowitz to get an answer to my questions. Along the way, I was told a variety of information: that my entire scholarship was in jeopardy, that I would have to retroactively file cases with the Office of Financial Aid for each class that I was charged for and that it did not impact me. All of this turned out to be wrong.

In the end, we determined I would lose approximately $5,000 of aid from my Bright Futures Scholarship, since it would only qualify to cover the remaining 2 classes in my major requirements.

This $5,000 cut isn’t enough to make me graduate early, but does take away about three months of rent money. Other

students are set to lose a considerable amount more and they deserve a clear explanation of what this new policy entails and why it has changed.

UM has an obligation and responsibility to share this consequential information with all of its students. To neglect a fully transparent approach violates the unspoken contract between students and the University of supporting one another.

When the Free Application for Federal Student Aid changed its application process, the Office of Financial Aid held information sessions for students and their families to help them understand and adjust to the change. UM needs to do the same for the new FACA standards.

This information is critical not only for students trying to complete their degrees on fed -

eral aid, but also for those who came to UM on the assumption that they could easily double or triple major.

The ability to take on many majors has been a selling point of UM for years. When I received my admission offer as a Foote Fellow I was encouraged to take on as many majors or minors as I wanted. In one early Zoom information session, a student ambassador proudly announced he was taking four majors. It was one of the main reasons why I chose UM.

If this school can no longer allow students to take on federally-funded ambitious schedules, they deserve to know and not

Deconstructing “just a girl”: we’re deconstructing ourselves

BY LAURA MARTELLA STAFF WRITER

TikTok trends are trendy for a reason: they’re relatable, short, entertaining bits of comfort that humanize us in a world where community is sought digitally.

While social media helps our generation learn to navigate young adulthood through shared experiences, it can also become so saturated that one trend can vary meanings from one day to the next, like “girl dinner” and its endless variations.

Social media is brimming with videos poking fun at “girl dinner” and “girl math”— informal terms referring to a lesser expectation of the way girls and women approach certain activities.

For example, “girl dinner” refers to plates with lighter, smaller portions of food based on the stereotype that girls are supposed to eat less or be more concerned with their weight than boys. At frst, these videos were being circulated for fun. But, as internet jokes do, these girl qualifer ‘jokes’ quickly got out of hand, and have since evolved into a broader stereotype in regards to the way

women approach life.

“Girl math” turned into the idea that girls aren’t as skilled in math as boys by implying that we take a more simplifed, airheaded approach to the subject. While they appear to be innocuous terms on the surface, the core of popular “girl” trends like this one are subtly reinforcing the infantilization of women by perpetuating harmful stereotypes that limit our autonomy and potential as a whole.

Whether it’s “girl math,” “girl breakfast” or virtually any other phrase with the “girl” qualifer positioned before it, one thing is certain: despite being originally lighthearted, mockery remains mockery.

I’m no stranger to microtrends; in fact, I feel like I can associate memories from pivotal parts of my teenage years with what social media trend was popular at the time.

The effects that these feeting trends can have on women, especially young women and girls, are long-term.

Research has found that the scale of association between social media and depressive symptoms was larger for girls than for boys, and that girls are more likely to experience negative mental effects from social media in regards to online harassment, sleep quality,

and poor self-esteem. It doesn’t end there, as both young women and girls suffer the reallife consequences of subscribing to these harmful notions.

According to Lindsay Allen, a registered dietitian nutritionist, “Young women are especially prone to the negative effects because they are still developing and they need extra nutrition.” With adolescence being a major period of vulnerability in any woman’s life, it’s crucial that we remain conscious of the discourse we engage in online.

I’m not going to act like I’ve never mindlessly taken part in making jokes like this too, but at some point, we have to stop letting the internet mock us. It’s not helpful for women, nor is it conducive to everything feminist advocates have so fercely advocated for in the past, like freedom with fnances for example.

I don’t think these microtrends are created with malicious intent, but at the same time, we must examine the language we use when we engage with “girl” trends. Sharing discourse with other women online is a feminine pastime of the digital age. Subtly undermining the power of the female gender should not be.

By labeling activities with “girl” qualifers, the implication is now that women need “special” or “simplifed” versions of things, undermining our capabilities. By sending the message that women are not as competent as men in these areas, it’s discouraging, and leads to a self-fulflling prophecy where women then avoid these subjects “not meant for them.”

It’s essential to think twice before sharing the things we see on social media and challenge them. While the world is gradually becoming more progressive towards women, women continue to be at a social disadvantage, and it’s our job to combat this.

It’s 2024, and now more than ever, it’s time to do our part in remaining conscious about the trends we’re subscribing to, the vocabulary we’re using daily and the harmful effects they can reap on our own community as women.

HUMOR: Toppel Center, more like I’m toppling

BY CALEB CHAPMAN STAFF WRITER

While my resume is a disaster and my bank account is overdrawn by 23 cents, I am sick and tired of receiving emails from the Toppel Career Center. My issue isn’t with their intentions. If they want to help me find someone stupid enough to hire me, that’s fine.

Before I get into the pressing topic at hand, I want to offer a disclaimer. Toppel is a last name and I have nothing but respect for the Toppel family.

I know how inconvenient a last name can be. When I was in high school representing a face riddled with pimples, I embarked on my accutane adventure and landed the nickname “chapped lips.” My last name is Chapman and my lips were shedding, and maybe if my last name was different or I moisturized as part of my morning routine, I could’ve slid under the radar.

That being said, the obvious dilemma here is because of their name: Toppel. I’m already not particularly interested in joining the workforce next year assuming I pass my classes, and with a name like Toppel, I’d rather keep firing off job applications to jobs which I won’t receive a rejection letter from until I’ve

completely forgotten I applied there.

Toppel sounds like the day we graduate and see President Frenk for the first time, they’re going to push us off the stage as we topple down the stairs and into a 9 to 5.

Why isn’t it called something more encouraging, like the Next Step Center? Or Securing the Bag Depot? Or Chasing the Bread Express (their slogan could be “time to start breadwinning”)? Call me crazy, but I’d bet all negative 23 cents that the name

Toppel Career Center is the reason people get their master’s degrees in areas where a master’s degree won’t make them any more money.

For instance, much to my parent’s dismay, I’m studying broadcast journalism. Because I refuse to parade into the Toppel Career Center out of fear and potential embarrassment that I have nothing of quality to put on my resume, there is a possible scenario where I will have to get my masters in broadcast journalism.

No matter which way I spin it, if I go down that road, I will still have to live in Nebraska and make $5 an hour. The only difference is, I will have spent more money and time on learning how to look good on camera, which is a lost cause as it is.

But in an alternate universe, where Toppel is called something more welcoming, like “The Long Road to Retirement with a Vacation Here and There

Junction,” I will go in there with my 3 short-term jobs and my subpar GPA from the School of Communications and I will ask them where I can sign up for the Law School Admissions Test.

With all my free time from not having a job or friends, I did a Google search. I looked up the word topple. And in .30 seconds, which is the amount of time I approximately spent deleting Toppel’s emails, Google offered me two definitions from the Oxford Dictionary.

And if there’s anything I know about the Oxford Dictionary, it’s nothing. I’ve always been more of a Merriam-Webster kind of guy. Anyway, both definitions were verbs, and neither motivated me to journey through the hot scorching sun to the career center.

Option one: “Overbalance or become unsteady and fall slowly.” And while “Falling Slowly” from the hit Broadway musical “Once” is objectively one of the greatest songs ever created, I

don’t know what it means to be overbalanced as I imagine you can never be too steady.

Option two: “Cause to become unsteady and fall.” Enough said. The truth is, in life sometimes we need to fall in order to get back up. It’s one of the only ways to build resilience. Could it be the whole time Toppel was just trying to teach us this lesson?

While they almost certainly were not trying to teach us anything, and I could not be more sure that Toppel is simply the name of the person who donated the building or the name of the person the building was named after, I will try to frame it as if it is meant to inspire.

I will one day galavant into the Toppel Career Center and put my resume, desolate of any meaningful work experience, on the table, and ask for a job working for them. As Kevin Durant proved by joining the Warriors and ruining basketball back in 2016, and as the saying goes: “If you can’t beat them, join them.”

The Miami Hurricane is published biweekly 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

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Rain or shine, Ultra goes on

Music festival pulls through amidst heavy rain day one

BY OSVALDO ESPINO STAFF WRITER

The University Metrorail station near campus was fooded with UM students covered in glitter, studs, hair decor, bead bracelets and rain ponchos on Friday, the frst day of Ultra Music Festival.

As early as 3 p.m., stations from Dadeland South to Government Center were crawling with students as they made the pilgrimage to Bayfront Park. Friday’s weather forecast called for heavy rain, but there was no stopping students from experiencing the biggest festival in Miami.

“It felt like a community,” said Sharron Lou, a senior advertising major. “The metro security was so helpful in helping guide everyone, and they gave out free Redbull at the station.”

In its 24th year, Ultra was set to feature the return of renowned DJ Calvin Harris to the festival for the frst time in 11 years, as well as the introduction of the Chris Lake and Fisher collaboration, Under Construction.

Peggy Gou, the hottest DJ in techno, was set to headline Ultra’s RESISTANCE stage along with acts like Eric Prydz and Camelphat. Martin Garrix, Excision, Hardwell, Afrojack, Steve Aoki and more were set to take over the main stage.

By the time many made it to the main stage on day one, the rain had made a muddy mess all over the area, causing people to slide around and end up covered in mud in the early hours of the festival’s opening.

Issues like rain and mud didn’t stop acts like Nostalgix from playing in unfavorable conditions to a crowd of headbanging ravers at the Live Stage. Headbanging and dancing in the rain was certainly the vibe as the crowd only continued to grow.

Tiësto, one of the all-time great dance and EDM DJs, was bumped to an earlier-than-usual set that was

supposed to take place amidst a typical Miami sunset, but the gray sky and dark clouds had other plans.

As he played some fun tracks like his latest Karol G collaboration, “Contigo” and “The Business,” the downpour began. This didn’t seem to bother the DJ — instead, he responded with “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele, one of the last songs he played before the rain got too heavy and disrupted the equipment.

Around 8:30 p.m., the rain became too heavy and the entire festival was evacuated. Mass chaos ensued as people frantically tried to get out. Wet, distraught attendees were still trying to leave the downtown area around 11 p.m.

“I was devastated when it ended early on Friday,” said Aris Montero, a junior creative advertising major. “I feel like the crowd was energetic, especially with people that aren’t particularly big fans of EDM.”

Nevertheless, Ultra announced on its social media platforms that they would delay the festival’s opening on day two to ensure a safe reopening. Online users were dissatisfed as they realized that a lot of great acts would have their sets cut short or completely removed.

Fans refused to let this happen to Dutch producer Hardwell, an Ultra favorite playing a special 10thanniversary set. After outcry his set was rescheduled to the slot before Excision, creating a series of allstar-level performances Ultra fans had not expected because of the last-minute changes.

Montero was glad that Hardwell was rescheduled for Saturday.

“I was a big fan of the freworks and pyro that he had on display for his show. It was worth it to change him out for other main stage acts,” Montero said.

At this point, the soggy dancefoor had become a part of the festival ex-

perience. The mulch thrown around festival grounds did little to help the drying with rain carrying on through most of Saturday. Still, the remainder of day two proceeded as planned, with Ultra even extending its closing time to 1 a.m. in order to ft as many day one and day two acts into the evening.

One of these acts was Martin Garrix, who had one of the weekend’s best sets, playing his classics “Tremor” and “Animals,” as well as international hits like “In the Name of Love” and “Scared to Be Lonely.”

He accompanied his set with one of the more unique stage designs, including an LED cross behind him and an elevated stage. It was clear to see why Garrix was looked to as the coheadliner of the festival.

Sable Valley boss, RL Grime, and signee Knock2 are a popular duo among EDM fanatics at UM. Together, the two put together an hour and a half of some of the hardest bumping bass, trap and dubstep.

“Knock2 doing a back-to-back with RL Grime is easily one of the biggest highlights of the festival for me,” said Asha Shah, a senior studying creative advertising. “It was crazy and chaotic, but I think that’s a good thing for fans of harder EDM.”

The last day of Ultra went mostly as planned, apart from some minor schedule changes. The mud was halfway dry by the time that most of the crowd began to appear at around 4 p.m., and the festival began to look like its usual self.

Amazing sets from Andy C, Camelphat, Eric Prydz, Eli Brown and more kicked of Sunday, but the excitement for those sets paled in comparison to Calvin Harris.

Harris has not played Ultra Miami since 2013, before albums like “Motion,” “Funky Wav Bounce Vol 1” and singles like “This Is What You Came For” were released.

Meaning, he had plenty of hits to share on Miami’s biggest stage this past Sunday.

Harris came onstage at 9 p.m. and broke the 10 p.m. curfew to give the people what they wanted. An hour and ffteen minutes of all-time classic hits combined with a bit of pyro, freworks and trippy visuals had the crowd bouncing.

Opening with “This Is What You Came For” — complete with an LED projection of Rihanna — Harris was on the nose for the crowd who had long been anticipating his return after an 11-year wait. Spinning hits like “Summer,” “Blame”

and “We Found Love,”, Harris teased the crowd with classic favorites and groovy… whatever you said. The crowd was enamored for the entire set.

For the last song — his collaboration with Elle Goulding, “Miracle,” he started with the track’s studio version before switching to the Hardwell remix.

The beat dropped one fnal time as the last pyro show began and freworks rained all over Bayfront Park.

Ultra left festival goers with a fnal message: “Thanks for coming and we hope to see you next year for the 25th anniversary of Ultra!”

Photo Courtesy of Rudgrcom Calvin Harris performing during Ultra Music Festival on March 24, 2024.

Photo Courtesy of Alive Coverage Armin Van Buren and surprise guest John Bon Jovi perform during Ultra Music Festival on March 24, 2024.

Acapella group starts GoFundMe to compete on international stage

BY ANDY ACUNA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Frost acapella group BisCaydence is headed to the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella fnals after placing frst in the semifnal round. The group has since started a GoFundMe to send its 16 students to compete in New York City.

The award-winning a cappella group beat 450 other groups in the semifnal round to advance to the international competition, which takes place in NYC on April 27. With this win, BisCaydence becomes one of the top 10 groups in the entire world advancing to fnals.

Unfortunately, the funding deadline of March 1 passed before the team made it to the fnals. Not wanting to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity, BisCaydence members started the GoFundMe to help pay for their trip to New York.

Currently, they have 87 donors and have raised $10,000, exceeding their initial goal of $9,600.

“It’s almost been a full week at

this point, but it still hasn’t fully set in,” said Logan Sandefur, a Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship major in the Frost School of Music. Sandefur has been the Music Director for BisCaydence since last May.

After being accepted into the ICCA, BisCaydence placed at quarterfnals and won two special awards. Members Josh Mims and Amanda Bencomo received the “Outstanding Soloist” for their duet of “Apologize” by OneRepublic, and Logan Sandefur won “Outstanding VP” for the whole set.

The ICCA is an international competition run by Varsity Vocals dedicated to showing the art of student a cappella and providing feedback through highly qualifed judges. From its beginning to now, it has grown to include 450 groups in nine diferent regions of the world, including the U.S. and Europe. Groups must participate in quarterfnals and semifnals to get the chance to go to fnals.

At the South Semifnals on

March 16, where the group took frst place, several BisCaydence members also received awards for their performances. Angelina Corbin received the South’s Best Soloist award for “Snow Angel” by Reneé Rapp, and Logan Sandefur, Julia Barrist and Jason Fieler shared the award for Best Arrangement for their set, which they named “Frostbite.”

This is the second time the team has made it to the fnals, the frst time being in 2019 when the group placed second.

“BisCaydence took its frst trip to fnals back in 2019, but the group is completely diferent now,” Sandefur said.

Sandefur joined BisCaydence as a freshman in the fall of 2021.

“That year’s seniors were the last remaining members of the 2019 Finals group, and they gave us a lot of insight into what it takes to do well in ICCAs,” Sandefur said.

BisCaydence, which focuses on co-ed pop music, is one of the three acapella groups on campus. It is

joined by Tufaan, which focuses on Hindi-American fusion, and Phoenyx, the most recent acapella group that sings a variety of genres.

Phoenyx and BisCaydence both competed in the ICCA quarterfnals in Orlando on Feb. 17. Though both groups excelled, BisCaydence took home second place and advanced to semifnals.

The group is excited to represent UM at the international level.

“The fact that we get to represent ourselves and the U on the highest stage is absolutely insane to me,” Sandefur said. “It also has been such an incredible opportunity for us to network with some of the country’s top a cappella writers, producers and choreographers.”

‘Are you ready for it?’ New Taylor Swift class arrives for fall semester

BY DIANA MOSCHETTI

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The University of Miami is entering its Swiftie era with the new elective course, STC 290: The Mastermind of the Taylor Swift Brand, coming to campus in the fall of 2024.

The strategic communications class, which will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., is open to all majors.

Taught by Dr. Alyse Renee Lancaster, STC 290 will focus on the pivotal role that social media has played in crafting and amplifying Taylor Swift’s billion-dollar brand.

Throughout the course, students will unravel the strategies Swift employed to captivate her global audience and foster strong brand loyalty for generations to come.

The idea for the class came to Lancaster while she was listening to a playlist of Swift’s songs while exercising. Now, she says she’s “never been more excited” to teach a course in her career.

“Every time I hear one of her songs, listen to one of her interviews or see a photo of her and Travis Kelce, more ideas for the class come to me, and the syllabus continues to evolve,” Lancaster said.

Junior Emma Craig, a biomedical engineering major and diehard Swiftie, plans to register for the course.

“It’s going to be a “Cruel Summer” waiting until fall for the new Taylor Swift class coming to UM,” Craig said. “I’ll be keeping my eyes open on the seats available.”

The class will explore Swift’s powerful storytelling ability, highlighting

how her lyrics connect fans through relatable experiences and emotions.

Delving into Swift’s personal experiences, class discussions will cover key concepts such as freedom of speech, the right to privacy for public fgures and the proliferation of fake news.

Students will get to analyze Taylor’s life experiences, Easter eggs and playful interactions that have allowed her to deepen her connection with fans over the years.

Charlotte Stefan, a sophomore English major, recognizes Swift as an exceptional storyteller.

“She captures specifc moments and feelings,” Stefan said. “Take the whole love triangle thing with “Cardigan,” “August” and “Betty.” I want to watch that movie.”

The class, however, is not lim-

ited to Swifties. Even students who aren’t fans of the artist recognize her ability to sell her brand.

“I respect her as a businesswoman,” said Ariella Green, a freshman public relations major. “I appreciate what she’s done and have a lot of respect for her breaking grounds and going from country to pop and then her own style.”

Some students in the School of Communication look forward to taking the class and applying Swift’s successful tactics to their own careers.

“I think the topic of this class heavily aligns with what I have learned so far at UM, and I am interested in closely analyzing Taylor’s communication strategies and how they have gotten her to where she is now,” said Ava Prinzo, a sophomore majoring in creative advertising.

Though Lancaster recognizes some may see a class on Swift as a waste of time or “dumbing down education,” she believes studying the artist will show the power of brand-building and bring joy to the students in her class.

“It’s impossible to talk about Taylor Swift and not have fun, because spreading joy is, in essence, what Taylor Swift’s brand is all about,” Lancaster said. “And given all of the worrisome things happening in the world today, what’s wrong with spreading a little joy and happiness among stressed-out college students?” Be ‘Swift’ about enrolling for STC 290, as limited seats are available. Students can add the class to their CaneLink shopping cart now, as registration begins on Monday, April 1.

Photo Courtesy of BisCaydence Frost acapella group BisCaydence performs at Choralcopia, a Frost event featuring vocal ensembles, at the Gusman Concert Hall on Oct. 6, 2023.

‘JAMES OUTLAW’

Undergraduate flm students produce sci-f noir flm

BY SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ STAFF WRITER

With only $1,424 in donations, a student-led film crew will create futuristic costumes and sets for

“JAMES OUTLAW: The Epiphany,” their science-fiction short film that begins production in late March.

The crew aims to mimic billion-dollar talent to prove great storytelling doesn’t have to break the bank.

Director Jeremiah Chaparro and producer Megan Marley’s film follows James Outlaw, an ex-police officer grieving over his past partner’s death. He begins to investigate ritualistic crimes connected to a malicious cult’s search for supernatural connection.

The masked vigilante battles paranormal forces besides Detective Korie Kohen. Audiences see Outlaw’s tragic past and road to redemption as the film highlights his inescapable past.

Military veteran and past criminal investigator Cody Sean Morgan plays Outlaw.

“He’s such a dynamic character that has so much more to him behind the mask, and I’m excited to be able to bring the best version of James I can,” Morgan said.

Lauren Parker, an alum of the University Center for the Performing Arts, stars as Kohen. Previously starring in produc -

tions such as “Of Mice and Men” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” she hopes to bring emotional depth and witty sarcasm to her multidimensional role.

Chaparro has been creating Outlaw for years. He recalled making brief sketches of the rugged and stoic avenger during church.

“I’ve been trying basically for the past four years of my life to find out who James Outlaw is,” Chaparro said.

Since transferring to UM from the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Chaparro has crafted a character he finds as human as himself.

“I think he’s someone that I hope a lot of people can get behind and relate to and keep going forward and fnd their own kind of redemption through living with this character,” Chaparro said.

Chaparro remembered seeing people’s eyes light up when describing the project as a mix of “True Detective” and “Blade Runner.”

The passionate filmmakers work to show that science-fiction films deserve Oscar-winning notoriety. Despite the genre creating the most dedicated fandoms, Chaparro noticed that such films are often ignored by Hollywood’s elite.

“If you watch through the Cannes Film Festival or different levels of classes, how often do you see people attempting a high-concept sci-fi and police procedural story?” Chaparro

said. “People are fearful of how it’s executed, fearful of coming across as cheesy.”

Chaparro started writing

“JAMES OUTLAW: The Epiphany” in his advanced screenwriting class. Feedback from Professor Barbara Leibell inspired Chaparro to expand Outlaw’s motivations and personality. As Marley brainstormed the film’s world with Professor Rosario Cuellar, their high-concept vision became tangible.

Marley has also been creating fundraiser ideas and contacting businesses to feed more than 25 crew members, ranging from script supervisors to equipment managers. Creating schedules and location scouting have been some of her biggest challenges.

“As much as we want to go out and do the biggest thing that we can, we have to be realistic,” Marley said. “We don’t have years to do this.”

Renting equipment from the School of Communication’s film equipment room and meeting with professors outside of class became second nature to the filmmakers.

Professor Jon Gorchow’s $200 donation and their GoFundMe supporters empowered the filmmakers to cherish every cent. Contrary to modern productions, they aim to send viewers to a thrilling and fantastical world with practical costumes and sets, not just special effects.

“We demonstrate how we’re going to the future with how people are presenting themselves through their identities, sexualities and preferences,” Chaparro said. “It gets really strange, almost malevolent.”

Mimicking seasoned sci-fi writers’ techniques, the filmmakers will reimagine modern technology to show viewers a possible future.

“I want to ask the audience, is this a world you enjoy seeing? Is this something you don’t want to see?” Chaparro said. “Even a lot of the world-building issues are related to hot topics now.”

Chaparro and Marley encourage student filmmakers to never doubt their stories. As the duo creates their high-concept spectacle, they remind students that they only need to be the best versions of themselves.

“I don’t want to be the next Martin Scorcese. No one should ever be concerned with that,”

Chaparro said. “You’ve got to go for it because if you don’t, then you’re really depriving yourself and others of something that could be great.”

For Marley, intertwining current projects with sparks of personality starts a filmmaker’s path to success.

“Be open to the possibilities of the world and just see what’s out there,” Marley said. “That’s what I like to do in film is to show people what things could be like or where they can go.”

Once filming and pre-screenings conclude in early April, “JAMES OUTLAW: The Epiphany” will hit the film festival circuit, hoping to premiere at the 2024 Canes’ Film Festival.

Supporters can donate to the “JAMES OUTLAW: The Epiphany” GoFundMe and follow their Instagram @jamesoutlawfilm to get behind-the-scenes looks and see where to watch the final product.

Jeremiah Chaparro // Contributed Photo Cody Sean Morgan (James Outlaw) and Lauren Parker (Detective Korie Kohen) flm a scene from “JAMES OUTLAW: The Epiphany.”

Latest campus dining addition offers checkout-free experience

BY LAYOMI ADEOJO A&E EDITOR

The first floor of Whitten University Center recently received a new makeover, thanks to the addition of UM’s latest convenience store, Market NXT.

Opened on March 18, Market NXT carries a variety of graband-go items including freshlypackaged sandwiches, bottled beverages, bagged snacks and more. This newest venture brings cutting-edge artificial intelligence to campus for a checkout-free experience.

“As the first university in Florida, and one of the first in the United States to bring Amazon’s Just Walk out technology to campus, the University of Miami is taking higher education to new heights with Market NXT,” said Michael Ross, Resident District Manager at UM Dining.

Open daily from 8-12 a.m., visitors can grab their Market staples without waiting in the typical long lines. Shoppers simply enter with the Grubhub app or mobile pay, gather their items and exit through the turn gates. After completing the purchase, they receive an itemized receipt via email.

Originally created by Amazon, Just Walk Out technology utilizes generative AI like computer vision, object recognition, advanced sensors and deep machine learning models to accurately determine what products shoppers grab.

This seamless shopping experi-

ence increases service speed and takes on-the-go dining to a new level. Some students, however, are wary of what this tech means for the future of campus employment.

“Although having a checkoutfree market seems modern and ‘better,’ it does make me worried that our campus will lean more

towards this and reduce or cut back on money for employing employees,” said Paris René, a fourth-year architecture student.

“I hope they don’t because a lot of the employees on campus, both students and non-students, are crucial and have helped to make campus life what it is,” René said.

Faye Marcus, director of marketing and guest experience at UM Dining, shared how Market NXT meets the demands of an increasingly-digital world.

“Our students are experts in this new era of technology. They are constantly seeking ways to digitize their experience and simplify the process,” Marcus said.

Born out of a partnership with Grubhub Campus Partners and Amazon, Market NXT demonstrates Chartwells Higher Education’s commitment to innovative dining services on UM.

“Our commitment to elevating the student experience is unwavering, and Market NXT is leading the mission,” Ross said.

Though novel to Florida college campuses, several colleges and universities around the country have also adopted Just Walk Out Technology, with the first opening at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland.

This latest addition follows other major changes to on-campus dining this school year, like the return of Pura Vida and the opening of Halal Shack in the Hurricanes Food Court.

Lil Greenhouse Grill in Overtown serves soul food, gives back to community

BY LARALYN JACKSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER

What started as a humble food truck in Historic Overtown has blossomed into a culinary hotspot. Lil Greenhouse Grill is celebrating a decade of delicious meals and continues to serve as a beacon of resilience and community spirit.

From the beginning, Lil Greenhouse Grill has been more than just a place to eat. The restaurant actively contributes to the community by providing healthy

meals for youth teams at Gibson Park, creating employment opportunities and circulating dollars locally with affordable, highquality comfort food.

It has become a true community champion, embodying the essence of Overtown.

Chef Karim Bryant, the mastermind behind Lil Greenhouse Grill, shared the restaurant’s commitment to sourcing fresh, local ingredients.

“We serve farm-to-table fresh vegetables, collard greens, all of our salads and actually, we use

a farm that’s right here in Overtown for all of our leafy vegetables,” said Nicole Gates, the restaurant’s managing partner and creative lead. “Our meat is specifically and specially butchered by Chef Kareem Ryan here in the restaurant, and we smoke and grill it right here, too.”

From the family-like hospitality to the cost-efficient indulging soulful bites, personal experiences at Lil’ Greenhouse Grill do not disappoint. The shrimp and grits, mac and cheese and collard greens are not only delicious,

but also a testimony to what has made this spot a local favorite.

Beyond culinary excellence, Lil Greenhouse Grill prides itself on providing a positive environment and job opportunities, especially for young Black men.

“When you come here, when you go in the kitchen and see all these talented chefs, well-trained chefs, they’re doing something very positive. It just gives you hope,” one loyal customer said.

Supporting Black-owned businesses that face daily struggles is crucial. Ryan urges the com-

munity to be a part of the change and contribute to the positive transformation.

Celebrating Black history is not confined to February’s annual celebration of Black History Month. Rather, supporting local Black-owned restaurants like Lil Greenhouse Grill is a year-round commitment.

“How you can support is making sure that the good things that happen in neighborhoods like Overtown continue to get shared and the stories keep being told by you,” Gates said.

Emily Rice // Staff Photographer

The new Market NXT in Whitten UC at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, uses artifcial intelligence to eliminate check-out lines on March 25, 2024.

Head coach Katie Meier announces retirement

Jared Lennon // Senior Staff Photographer

Head coach Katie Meier hugs senior guard Haley Cavinder after she scored a career-high 33 points in Miami’s 86-82 win over Florida State in the Watsco Center on Feb. 9, 2023.

BY LUKE SIMS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The winningest coach in Miami basketball history, Katie Meier, has announced her retirement after 19 seasons as the women’s basketball coach at UM.

Meier accrued 362 career victories with the Hurricanes while leading them to 11 20win seasons, 10 NCAA tournaments and the Elite Eight in 2023. Meier had four years left on her deal and will transition into a new role with the school as a special advisor to the vice president/director of athletics.

“Miami is an incredibly special place, and my journey here has been an honor and a privilege. Today is a day to celebrate and refect on the amazing success that was achieved through collaboration with outstanding people,” Meier said in a Miami Athletics release.

The frst four years of her coaching career were spent at UNC Charlotte, where she led the team to the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The rest of her head coaching years were spent in Coral Gables.

Meier was the longest-tenured head coach

in the ACC and is one of just nine coaches to record more than 150 ACC wins. Her nine seasons with 20-plus victories rank 21st among all active head coaches and 12th among active Power Six Conference head coaches.

“Katie has done a remarkable job leading our women’s basketball program for nearly two decades,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Her list of accomplishments speaks for itself, but her legacy extends far beyond the court. She has been an incredible ambassador not only for Miami basketball but for the sport of women’s basketball and for the University of Miami. We are excited to continue working with Katie as a member of the Hurricanes Family.”

It was Meier’s decision to retire and step into a new role within the program to help the school focus on fundraising for women’s programs and be a mentor for many. Now, Miami is set to have a new coach for just the third time in 36 years.

Meier poured her heart and soul into the Miami program and will still be in the building to provide support, just not as the head coach of the women’s basketball team.

The incomparable 19-year run of Miami WBB’s retiring head coach

BY CALEB SHAPIRO STAFF WRITER

On April 19, 2005, Katie Meier sat down for her inaugural press conference as the Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball head coach.

“I just met the players and I tried to share my vision. I’m not scared to dream big, and I let them know that,” Meier said on that historic Tuesday. “My dreams are big, and that has always been the case, but here I see that happening.”

Nearly 19 years and numerous accolades later, Meier stepped up to the podium on March 22, 2024, to deliver one fnal salute as the program’s head coach.

“Nineteen years ago I was offered my dream job to be the head coach of the University of Miami, and while I have absolutely loved living that dream, it is with a heart full of pride and gratitude that I announce my retirement from coaching,” Meier said on Friday.

Meier is stepping down to focus on her

family and take on a new role in the changing dynamic of college athletics. Her retirement comes four years before her contract was set to expire.

Not ready to give up the sport yet, Meier will continue to work with Miami, serving in the athletic department offce alongside athletic director Dan Radakovich as a special advisor and mentor.

The basketball court has been Meier’s home for most of her life. She spent seven of these years as a student-athlete, frst at Duke and then as a professional player in Belgium. Her coaching career has taken her to UNC Asheville, Tulane and UNC Charlotte before beginning her legendary career at Miami.

In 2011, she was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year; two years later, USA Basketball granted her the same honor. As 2017 rolled in, Meier was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2021, 16 years into her tenure, Meier cemented herself in untouched status, winning a home opener versus Jackson State, elevat-

ing her to the all-time leader in wins – men’s or women’s – in Miami Hurricanes basketball history.

Her true accomplishment, though, is the success of her players.

“I’m supposed to encourage and inspire, that’s my job and they need to dream,” Meier said.

Her students have reached incredible heights: six were drafted to the WNBA, 16 were All-ACC honorees and fve were selected as All-Americans. Her role in making players’ dreams a reality is undeniable.

“Every day, she comes in with the best energy, vibes, and attitude. And that inspires you. It inspired me. She was able to touch my spirit, not just on the court, but off the court,” junior guard Jasmyne Roberts said.

“I think what makes [Meier] so special is that she’s just honest with you,” Roberts continued. “I go to her, and she always tells me the truth … She embodied love and spirit. She always instilled confdence in me, and it meant a lot to have that.”

This energy has translated to the legacy

Meier has created at UM. She redefned the nature of women’s basketball, igniting the ’Cane spirit along the way. Her record breaking career was topped off with a historic March Madness run to the Elite Eight that captivated the South Florida community. It also solidifed her position in Miami sports history.

On that Tuesday in 2005, Meier asserted she was up for the challenge, with no way of knowing what the next two decades would encompass.

“I’ll put the pressure on myself. I like pressure; I’m not scared of pressure,” Meier said in this introductory press conference. “We are not going to back down. I told the players we are going to blow the ceiling off this place,’ and I truly believe that. We are ready for this and I think we are going to do something very special here.”

Miami will continue to recognize Meier’s coaching excellence, and Meier will continue to make an impact on athletes at UM.

“I promise to encourage and inspire as long as they keep dreaming,” Meier said.

From the Final Four to the bottom of the ACC

An analysis of the downfall of men’s basketball

BY LUKE SIMS & QUINN SHEEHAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER & STAFF WRITER

At this time last year, the Miami Hurricanes were in the midst of a historic run in the NCAA Tournament, capping off the greatest season in program history with their frst trip to the Final Four.

The ‘Canes ultimately fell short in Houston to UConn, but heading into next season, the future looked bright for Miami basketball. Star players such as Norchad Omier, Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar all returned to Coral Gables with the hopes of leading Miami to another deep run in March.

However, the Hurricanes’ season ended much earlier than most anticipated, as they ended the regular season near the bottom of the ACC and bowed out in the frst round of the ACC Tournament.

With their hopes of getting a bid in the NCAA Tournament offcially dashed, the Hurricanes look onto next season and their 12th-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports, but how did Miami fall from grace so far and so quickly?

Injuries

All season long, the Hurricanes battled injuries, with at least one key player seemingly out every night. With the likes of Pack and Poplar, along with newcomer Matthew Cleveland, in and out of the lineup at all times, Miami was never able to gel as a cohesive unit and build up chemistry as the season progressed.

“I think when we were 100% healthy, we were a very good basketball team,” head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “It’s hard enough to be successful missing one of your key players, but it’s almost impossible to be successful when you have a different guy injured almost every game and you can’t develop the kind of chemistry and bond.”

Another reason why injuries caused Miami’s season to spiral downward is due to the lack of depth on the bench. The Hurricanes ran eight-man rotations for the majority of the year and relied heavily on their starting fve to produce.

Whenever a member of the starting fve was out, Miami often did not have the ca-

pability to replace their production, putting even more pressure on the rest of the starters.

This made Miami dependent on excellent shooting nights from all its stars in order to win games – an unsustainable formula for winning in the long term and a catalyst for why the ‘Canes ended the season on a 10game skid.

Lack of Leadership

While Miami returned the likes of Omier, Pack and Poplar, the team lost its two best players and leaders in Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong.

Miller exemplifed exactly what Larrañaga wanted in a player. Miller was strong defensively, had a smart basketball mind and always gave 100% effort. As a leader on the foor and in the locker room, Miller’s energy was infectious and a big reason the ‘Canes were able to go as far as they did last season.

The quiet confdence of Wong was another huge factor, as he was a perfect role model for other players on the team.

Losing those two role models to the NBA and not having another leader step into those massive shoes made Larrañaga’s job very diffcult. This team was weak when faced with challenges and often found itself unable to get back up after taking a hit.

The lack of team chemistry and locker room cohesion is also evident in the number of players in the transfer portal. So far, Miami has fve players in the transfer portal, including almost all of its bench.

While on paper this Miami team looked similar, the problems in the locker room cannot be overstated. This team was a ship without a sail, and it did not survive the storm.

Lack of Consistency

Poplar started the season on fre, shooting the ball excellently, particularly from behind the arc, and Cleveland seamlessly ft into the Miami offense early on as the Hurricanes reached as high as the eighth-ranked team in the nation in the fourth week.

However, as the season carried on, Poplar and Cleveland cooled off, whether due to injuries hampering their abilities, playing better competition or a combination of both.

While they still both showed fashes of their immense talent and elite play, it was clear that neither of them looked 100% healthy or like the players they were at the start of the season.

Miami’s two most consistent players throughout the season were easily Pack and Omier. Omier was the most healthy out of all of Miami’s stars, putting together a stellar season worthy of his All-ACC Second Team selection. Omier led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks per game while averaging a double-double.

Meanwhile, Pack dealt with a lower-body injury all season and was in and out of the lineup. However, when he was in the lineup, he provided the same foor-spacing and shot-making ability that he displayed last year, albeit on lower effciency.

Despite Miami’s poor record, it played in many close games with some of the nation’s best teams, such as North Carolina. What kept the ‘Canes in those games was often the play of Pack and Omier, as the two gave opposing teams fts on the offensive end.

Still, two players can only take a team so far, and with the inconsistency everywhere else, the Hurricanes struggled to take down tough opponents, fnishing with only a single Quad 1 win all season.

Freshman guard Kyshawn George was also on-and-off throughout the season, showing great potential, but also struggling for stretches. This is to be expected from a freshman, especially one that plays guard, but due to Miami’s injuries and lack of depth, George had little time for a learning curve and was thrown into the fre rather quickly.

With massive inconsistency from the majority of Miami’s best players, which can be explained by both injuries and a seeming lack of chemistry due to said injuries, the Hurricanes ended their season in complete opposition to how last season concluded.

The future of Miami basketball is now uncertain, as it is unknown who will remain with the team and who will depart. As an offseason of question marks for the ‘Canes begins, expect them to be active in the transfer portal and recruiting over the next few months.

Let loose, pitcher Rafe Schlesinger is bringing it for the ’Canes

BY LUKE SIMS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Down in the series 1-0 to the rival Florida Gators, Miami was in need of a stellar start. Head coach J.D. Arteaga turned to his junior pitcher, Rafe Schlesinger, to deliver in the biggest game of the season.

Schlesinger delivered.

The southpaw came out and delivered 6.1 innings, holding Florida’s potent offense to only three runs and striking out nine batters in a huge win for the Hurricanes.

“I’m very proud of our team, but especially Rafe,” Arteaga said. “Starting the game with a leadoff double and a walk, he could’ve easily imploded and gotten them off to a really good start. He showed a ton of maturity getting some big strikeouts early and the double play ball. Then, he really settled in after that. It was a great job of setting the tone.”

The junior from Holbrook, New York, has been dominant for the Hurricanes so far this year. Schlesinger is frst among Miami starters in earned run average and opponent batting average and second in innings pitched, wins and strikeouts.

This is Schlesinger’s frst season as a fulltime starter for the ’Canes. In his frst two seasons, the 6-foot-3-inch pitcher was working out of the bullpen. Schlesinger has established himself as a reliable arm in Miami’s weekend rotation along with juniors Gage Ziehl and Herick Hernandez.

“I think physically I was ready for it,”

Schlesinger said. “But mentally, going from pitching like a third of an inning, and now you have to go out here and get seven, eight, nine. When you go in the dugout, you are not done for the game, you have to lock in. That’s kind of a big change but I feel like I’ve made the adjustment smoothly.”

Schlesinger arrived on Miami’s campus as a highly touted prospect. Miami was his dream school and he could not wait to pitch for the orange and green, but Schlesinger did not pitch all that much over his frst two years in Coral Gables.

“The frst two years were rather upsetting for myself,” Schlesinger said. “I expected to have 50 innings each year but I had 10 my freshman year. So now I’m kind of picking up the slack right now, so I’ll be out there as much as you need. I told Laz, I’ll close the mid-week game if you need. He does not allow that but that is what I want. I jipped myself in those frst two years, I let myself down. Now that I’m confdent enough to go out there I want every single inning I can get. If I’m leading the country in innings, and it’s by 30, I want that because I feel like I got slacked out of my frst two years.”

Not being able to pitch was a blessing in disguise for him. This time allowed Schlesinger to develop the mental side of the game, as well as improve his physical tools.

“I started living with him in the dorms freshman year and have really seen him mature,” Ziehl said. “He hasn’t had the easiest road to where he is now, but I couldn’t be

prouder to watch him start every week. He’s a stud and his potential is through the roof. I consider him a best friend and a tremendous leader.”

That development and that potential came from Schlesinger fipping a switch and getting back to what made him a successful pitcher before coming to Miami.

“When I got the confdence that I do belong here, that’s when I started getting angry again,” Schlesinger said. “I never pitched good as a fnesse guy. I was straight up throwing it as hard as you can with the intent of hitting a spot. When I got back to that point of pitching angry which came with confdence, came with success, that’s when I started seeing even more consistent success.”

This anger did not come out of nowhere. Schlesinger has always had a chip on his shoulder, even from when he was a little kid playing baseball.

“On the back of the mound every day, I write the initials ‘PD’. That is the initials of the coach that cut me when I was nine years old,” Schlesinger said. “How I view it is like that kid is my son. I’m protecting that kid, you cut that kid, you piss me off, whenever I’m in a tough position I think about that and look down at that PD and think someone doubted me and I run with that and prove them wrong.”

Now, Schlesinger has found coaches and teammates who support him, not just as a baseball player, but as a person, and that has

led to success on the feld.

“When it came to believing in myself that guy instilled that in me,” Schlesinger said. “From day one he told me that he believed in me. It wasn’t just him telling me that, everyday at practice he makes me believe that I’m the best I’ve ever been. If I get shelled, if I get hit around and my stuff is terrible that day, he’ll come back and say next week they are not touching it. When he tells me that stuff, I run with that and that is something I needed. I needed someone to believe in me and he came around at the perfect time.”

Eight-run ffth inning helps Hurricanes avoid sweep against Notre Dame

BY IAN GRAVES STAFF WRITER

After falling behind 7-1 on Sunday afternoon, Miami baseball made another massive comeback fueled by an eight-run ffth inning to take a 9-7 lead.

Notre Dame made a slight comeback to tie the game at 10-10, but UM put up two runs in the 10th inning to avoid a series sweep, winning 12-10.

The swing of the day for the ’Canes came in the ffth inning when Jacoby Long hit a three-run shot over the scoreboard to cap off the hit parade. The dinger came after two failed bunt attempts, putting Long in a twostrike count.

Miami, which usually does its damage with the long ball, put together the crazy inning with simple swings and plate discipline. The inning saw 11 Hurricanes come to the plate, logging four singles, two walks, a hit batter and the Long home run as the exclamation point.

Another key to this explosive inning and overall great performance by UM at the plate was offensive consistency throughout the whole lineup. Long as well as Antonio Jimenez, Edgardo Villegas, Daniel Cuvet and Dorian Gonzalez Jr. all had two hits each.

Even with the eight-run inning, nine innings were not enough to fnish the job. Luckily for Miami, in the 10th inning, the

offense continued rolling with a Villegas walk, Cuvet single, Gonzalez Jr. single and Jason Torres sac-fy to tack on two runs that were enough to win.

Notre Dame had plenty of offensive frepower itself, with designated hitter David Glancy carrying the load. Glancy had two home runs on the day, both in crucial situations. The frst was a grand slam off of Herick Hernandez in the fourth inning, pushing the Irish ahead by six runs. The second was a two-run shot off of Nick Robert to tie the game at 10-10 and ultimately send it to extra innings.

Hernandez, who had a rough outing against North Carolina last weekend, had another poor outing again on Sunday. Many

Notre Dame hitters looked very comfortable at the plate and feasted on anything he left out over the middle. His fnal line was 5.0 innings pitched, eight hits, two walks and seven earned runs.

Brandon Olivera and Chris Scinta came on after Hernandez, and both did their jobs, combining for two scoreless innings and getting the ball to the closer.

Robert, Miami’s most dependable reliever all season, got roughed up right as he entered the game. Before he could record two outs, Robert had given up three hits and three runs, including Glancy’s game-tying blast.

Robert settled in after the eighth and shut down Notre Dame in the ninth and tenth innings to earn his team-high ffth win.

Freshman pitcher Rafe Schlesinger pitches in the top of the eighth inning of Miami’s game versus the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at Mark Light Field on March 25, 2022.

Jared Lennon // Senior Staff Photographer

Your ULTRA experience based on your major

At our school one of our many traditions is the annual trek to Bayfront Park for ULTRA. You’ve been there, I’ve been there, and most students go to the festival at least once during their time here.

Some go for the music, some for the rave outfts, some for the atmosphere and some just because their friends drag them along.

We all go through it together but have different experiences. Let’s dive into each major and their weekend.

The business major

This EDM festival isn’t just a weekend getaway, it’s a lesson in fnancial management, networking and calculated risktaking.

Analyzing the optimal dosage of festival essentials becomes a priority, as you calculate the budget for tickets and the inevitable splurge on crystal party favors for all your friends. And of course, it is all generously funded by daddy’s credit card.

Running around with your pacifer, you only went for the headliners that are overplayed at your pool parties: Gryffn, Clavin Harris and Chris Lake. Let’s not forget that at David Guetta’s set you let everyone know that you were at his son’s birthday party.

The communications major

You’ve meticulously curated your festival outft for weeks, drawing inspiration from several different Pinterest boards. Nipple stickers paired with a black mesh shirt and futuristic space-themed sunglasses are just the beginning of your ULTRA ensemble.

The DJ you are most excited to see is Martin Garixx, duh.

The architecture major

Hey, so guess who missed out once again?

Yeah, you! You were all talk with your friends, saying you’d go and even promised to buy the tickets. But once again, you faked, just as they expected.

The humanities major

Just like your BFF the communications major, you’ve been planning your outfts for weeks, but being the procrastinator that you are, you’ve ended up paying for overnight shipping Thursday morning.

You’re basically the queen of knowing what’s up, especially when it comes to EDM. And let’s not forget that pash you’re rocking. You want everyone to know you’re THE ultimate raver. Your top two mustsees? Discolines and Zeds Dead.

Fingers crossed your fairy godmother swoops in to save you from those three papers due Monday, or else... yikes, you’re in for a rough ride!

The Frost major

There’s two of you here. I know everyone who actually has a talent and is not just moving a few buttons around did not go to ULTRA.

You’re all about those sweet tunes, not the headbanging 24/7. But I’ll bet you’ve snuck into some secret orchestra gigs and hit up some low-key music week events during the week.

For the other bunch, you’re the type who thinks music is life, but not the ULTRA kind of life, right? But wait, weren’t you the dude slapping up posters around CVC for some random DJ gig at some sketchy club?

Maybe one day you’ll ditch the naked train and headline ULTRA instead!

The RSMAS major

So there you were, all decked out in your mermaid outft, ready to dive into the ULTRA madness. But a quick glance at the weather forecast and… no thanks, you’ll pass. So you sold your three day pass. Saturday night rolls around, and you’re searching the web for a Sunday ticket.

Enter Juan, the online miracle worker, offering up a Sunday GA pass at $90. Ignoring every red fag you approach the festival gates on Sunday morning and disaster strikes. The scanner gives you the cold shoulder, refusing to acknowledge your allegedly legit ticket.

Oh Juan, you internet trickster! But don’t cry, because waiting for you at home is your faithful fsh – ready to offer comfort in your moment of shame.

The pre-med major

Hey there, Rave Mom! How’s life in the ER (aka ULTRA)?

You’re the superhero of your group, always ready with NARCAN, loli-pops, and band-aids for when your friends get a little too wild. You’ve got that trusty water backpack and know where all the water stations are.

Keeping an eye on those veins, you’re making sure your friends aren’t overdoing it on the drugs. This is your moment to shine – all those hours in the library are fnally paying off!