The Miami Hurricane: Dec. 6, 2023

Vol. 94, Issue 8 | Dec. 6 - Jan. 24 Vol. 94, Issue 7 | Nov. 15 - Dec. 5

What is health in your 20s?

The Medical Edition

How the unregulated influencer industry is taking advantage of science and students

Injuries don’t stop when the game ends: A conversation with Lance Leggett

A quick fix at what cost?

Body image in the age of Ozempic

News // Page 2

Sports // Page 13

Opinion // Page 7 Roberta Macedo // Graphics Editor

NEWS

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December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

THE SORTING THROUGH NOISE Image Credit // Instagram , TikTok

How microbiome science helped launch diet influencer culture and how 20-year-olds can make sense of it all

BY JENNY JACOBY

However, Dannon was also accused of overstating the benefits of probiotics in its yogurt in a 2009 lawsuit, later settled for Ella Caggiano, an Instagram fitness $35 million. These heavily-marketed false influencer with over 150,000 thousand promises are used throughout the probiotic followers, refuses to post a “what I eat in a industry that remains unregulated by the day” video.

FDA. “I’ve never posted one before. I never will,” “When it comes to the entire probiotic she said. “Eat like me, you’newsre not going industry, I think that it’s a classic case of the to look like me.” industry taking advantage of the ignorance of Even if a follower were to copy Caggiano’s consumers to sell useless products,” she said. exact meal plan and workout routine, they For every study suggesting the positive would inevitably, always look different. results of probiotics, another claims its “Everyone has different lifestyle factors that uselessness.

Not a solution to be written off go into achieving the results that you want,” yet, the “Wild West” of unregulated probiotic Caggiano, the recent University of Miami shelves, is also not one to be promoted until exercise physiology graduate, said. more studies are done, McAuliffe noted.

“There’s a million ways to achieve results, Still, probiotics have infiltrated the a million ways to be fit, a million things that recommendations of many influencers you could do to be successful in your fitness including Caggiano.

She suggests specific journey. But at the end of the day, one thing supplements or probiotics to aid in digestion, might work for you and something else might but only after natural remedies have been work better for someone else.” pursued.

This is not a revelation Caggiano came to Probiotic Promises “I am a very big proponent of making on her own. The idea is backed by several Alongside microbiome discoveries came a sure that your nutritional needs are decades of research in what may be the mostwave of interest in probiotics, supplements being met through food before you go to exciting new wave of science – microbiology. that introduce “good” bacteria into the gut supplementation because a lot of people microbiome to enhance health. Studies rely on supplements in order to fix problems Over 50% of you, is not really you. revealed probiotics could do everything that could be fixed with their nutritional Microbiology is the study of the thousands from prevent osteoporosis to lower levels of protocols,” Caggiano said. of microbes, commonly known as bacteria, depression.

Probiotics are only at the surface of this new that make up more than half of cells in the Companies like Dannon ran with this data health obsession. Since the start of 2019, the human body. and probiotics became the marketable product term “gut health” has tripled in Google search “Every single nook and cranny of your body of the microbiome and solution to gut health. popularity and related products have become The probiotic industry is now forecasted to a leading trend for consumers.

– inside and out – is inhabited by microbes, exceed $70 billion in market size before 2030. but their densest of all in the gut. Here they EDITOR IN CHIEF

produce vitamins our body cannot synthesize, aid in digestion, fortify the immune system and even play a critical role in modulating our moods,” Kathleen McAuliffe, an adjunct professor in the Ecosystem Science and Policy Program and a book author who writes on biomedical topics, said.

It was not until two decades ago though that the human microbiome began to be recognized as a critical component of wellbeing. Between 2007 and 2012 alone, the number of journal articles published on the microbiome increased by almost 250%.

Since their discovery, microbes have been linked to a variety of diseases including Parkinsons, Irritable Bowel Disease and obesity. The field shows promise for potentially treating these chronic conditions, but medical research is a slow process. In the meantime, the limited information has been adopted by a far faster moving field: the online wellness industry.

When new science meets social media The influx of microbiome studies and probiotics on the market hit consumers in the late 2000s. At the same time social media, especially with the 2010 launch of Instagram, was on the rise.

This overlap allowed influencers, most untrained in fitness and nutrition, to take control of the microbiome narrative, leaving not only probiotics unregulated, but also the people endorsing them.

Soon emerged 5-minute workouts that could take 3 inches off your waist in days, supplement obsessions and new forms of miracle diets that could transform the body overnight.

“Most of what you’re hearing on social media is one size fits all, and everything we’re learning about the microbiome is telling us exactly the opposite,” McAuliffe said.

Sophomore psychology major, Austin Schulman, is training to compete in a body builder competition next summer. He follows an extensive regime, but not the one most influencers tell him to.

“There’s a lot of people who are like researchers first fitness influencers second, but, if you go to the people who are fitness influencers first, they’re just trying to make money, They’re just trying to convince you, not tell you the truth,” he said.

To continue reading on how influencers incorporate the microbiome into their content and how students can interpret it please visit themiamihurricane.com.

December 6, 2023

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

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SURVEY

90% of college students at UM are sexually active, how many are safe?

BY LIA MUSSIE AND LAUREN PRENAVEAU STAFF WRITERS

It isn’t a secret that many students start to experiment more with their sexuality during their college years. Though society has progressively become more interested in safe sex practices, there is still a general void in comprehensive sex education before many students move onto a college campus.

In an effort to assess how students at the University of Miami implement safe sex practices themselves, The Miami Hurricane circulated a survey among the student body to get a better understanding of the atmosphere on campus.

This survey attracted a diverse array of students from all colleges at the University, gathering over 130 responses.

The largest number of student respondents came from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Miami Herbert Business School and School of Nursing and Health Studies.

The responses also represent various class years at UM, with the majority of responses coming from the classes of

2024, 2025 and 2026.

Sixty-six percent of respondents also identified as female, followed by about 30% identifying as male and 2% identifying as non-binary. In terms of sexual orientation, most of the students surveyed identified their sexual orientation as either straight/heterosexual (67.7%) or bisexual (18%).

Since starting college, the majority of students have had between one and five partners, but some respondents marked having as many as over 21 partners during their time in college.

Frequency of sexual intercourse was inconsistent, spanning from everyday to 1-3 times a week to 1-3 times a month.

Some significant number of responders noted they wait for the right partner, with an even smaller percentage stating they have not had sex since starting college.

The most predominant form of contraception used among students of both sexes are condoms (58%), the pull-out method (32%) and birth control (30%).

Although a group of students consider the pull-out method a form of contraception, the method can still spread STIs and is not proven effective against

Ashley Puritz // Contributing Graphic Designer

preventing pregnancy.

These forms of contraception were used every time or almost every time with around 70% of responders who are sexually active. A notable portion (9%) of surveyors marking that they do not use contraception.

“If I am with a hookup or non-exclusive partner, I use a condom, but with my current partner, I do not,” one anonymous responder said.

Testing for sexually-transmitted infections is lacking according to the survey results, with over 70% of responders stating that they are not testing at all or only once a year.

Considering a statistically significant number of students are having regular intercourse and engaging without any form of contraception, this can become a risky situation.

Infected people may be unaware of their infections because STIs are often asymptomatic or unrecognized, which is why the University advocates for consistent and correct use of condoms to reduce the risk of transmission.

Free condoms and other safer sex supplies are available at Student Health

Ashley Puritz // Contributing Graphic Designer

and other areas of campus. STD/STI screenings are available for all eligible students by making an appointment at MyUHealthChart.

“I didn’t know you could get STIs/STDs from oral sex until I was a sophomore in college,” a student said, speaking to the lack of knowledge around safe sex and preventative measures some might have.

Respondents were also asked to indicate the amount and quality of sexual education they received prior to attending college. The choices varied between a comprehensive, abstinence-only or lack of formal sex education.

The vast majority of students (65%) indicated that they received some form of comprehensive sex education, while 16% indicated that their sex education was primarily abstinence only.

“In school, I did receive a comprehensive education on how to have safe sex, but abstinence was still heavily pushed,” another student said.

“For every one slide in a PowerPoint that detailed methods of contraception, there would be a subsequent slide that said ‘but the only 100% effective method is abstinence’.”

Ashley Puritz // Contributing Graphic Designer

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December 6, 2023

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Its all about the.... healthcare?

BY PATRICK MCCASLIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Approaching a time of family and Manny Diaz, the former head football coach, was the University of Miami’s highestpaid employee during the fiscal year ending in May, 2022.

He made a base salary of $3.4 million. Between high profile football games and a previously passionate fan base, there’s little surprise that he’s the top earner.

The same goes for the third highest earner, Jim Larrañaga, the current head basketball coach who led the ‘Canes to the Elite Eight during the 2022 fiscal year.

Lesser known in the list of top earners though are three names who make more than Julio Frenk, the UM president. All three are professors at UM, hold administrative roles in UHealth and made an average salary of $2.58 million in 2022.

For those unfamiliar with these numbers, it is not unusual to pay a doctor, especially a high-ranking one, this amount of money, nor for a doctor to double as a university professor. It is unusual however, that UM, foremost a university, pays them. For comparison, the highest 10 earners at nearby University of Florida are all top administrators for the university.

“That is pretty surprising. I would have assumed most of our money would be spent on academics at the university,” said Alex Miller, a junior studying microbiology and immunology with a minor in health management policy.

Over almost 70 years, UM has built a web of medical services, spanning from internationally renowned eye care to a compre-

hensive cancer center. In 2008, UM consolidated its network of university-based medical entities into the University of Miami Health System, also known as UHealth.

The relationship is unusual, and it shows in UM’s tax filings. In the fiscal year ending in May, 2022, UM had a revenue of $5.47 billion, the 12th highest of nonprofit universities in the U.S. according to ProPublica’s database. For reference, the nationally top-ranked Princeton University made less than that at $5.02 billion.

Yet, Princeton boasts a $35 billion endowment, contributing to $3.33 billion of investment money made in 2022. That number dwarfs UM’s endowment.

Ownership of UHealth helped UM generate $2.94 billion of revenue just through healthcare services in 2022. UM could then spend $1.16 billion of its expenses on academia, nearly doubling what attendees paid for in tuition and fees. But, this $1.16 billion is only 26.5% of UM expenses. Over half of UM dollars were spent on health care services, a category that does not even exist for the majority of universities.

Based on spending, UM is a health system first, then an academic institution.

Indeed, in UM’s mission statement to the auditor, it writes, “Founded in 1925, the University owns and operates educational and research facilities as well as a health care system. Its mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge through innovative research programs, to provide service to the community and beyond and to pursue excellence in health care.”

That final tenet has grown to

become part of the core of UM operations since the inaugural class started at the Miller School of Medicine (MSoM) in 1952, then known as the University of Miami School of Medicine.

In the same year that the medical school began operations, Miami-Dade County established an official relationship with the University of Miami through Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH). The facility is owned and operated by the county, but UM provides all medical teaching and most training and care through its medical faculty. JMH has existed alongside the development of UHealth as another outlet for academically-oriented doctors.

Dr. Yehuda Raveh, an anesthesiologist at JMH and associate professor of clinical anesthesiology at MSoM, is one of the many who has worked as a professor and clinician at UM and JMH respectively.

“I was interested in academic work,” he said. “And because that’s what I like, I did not seek to go to a private practice.”

He noted that the financial compensation at a private practice may be higher, but the University offers “wonderful benefits,” including tuition assistance for his children and health benefits. His job also builds academic work into his weekly schedule, allowing him to stay engaged in education.

Within Raveh’s contract, one of every five days is devoted to administrative duties, which includes teaching.

“We do the whole teaching, the actual management of the patient, how we sedate the patient, monitor the patient, how we handle the airway, how we do the intubation. They sometimes get to participate with the

Roberta Macedo// Graphics Editor

procedure if they already saw,” Raveh said.

On the clinical days as well, Raveh is continually teaching and training residents and nurses. As a still practicing doctor, Raveh can help advise students in their medical careers, specifically as it pertains to anesthesiology.

According to Raveh, the education done through JMH provides an important opportunity to While JMH doesn’t contribute in the same way to university finances, it provides an academic opportunity through its healthcare that may go unnoticed when considering the financial audit. In fact, the only

nod towards JMH in the audit is a note that the agreement contains terms for “mutual reimbursement of services.” At the time of publication, The Miami Hurricane did not have access to this agreement.

Studying under a professor who practices medicine is an important step for medical students to learn how medicine works beyond the classroom.

“The more experience you have, the more knowledgeable you are, that’s natural, and you have maybe a wider horizon about changes and where medicine is going,” Raveh said.

“We are teaching as we work because that’s what they learn, medicine.”

December 6, 2023

NEWS

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“Land is medicine”: How indigenous practices shape modern healing

BY RACHEL PETROVICH STAFF WRITER

Society continues to emerge at the end of various global health crises with improved approaches to medicine that have revolutionized our health and well-being. Yet, the Native American influence on the origins of modern medicine is often overlooked.

Indigenous culture traditionally holds a deep respect for nature, and the use of medicinal plants has a centuries-long history within many indigenous communities.

Dr. John C. Burnett, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Miller School of Medicine and a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, discusses how deeply ingrained this natural approach to medicine is within indigenous roots like his own.

“In our tribe, medicines are considered sacred and should only be shared with fellow citizens — in some cases, exclusively with citizens from the same tribal towns or clans,” Burnett said. “I have a Muscogee

friend who is a PhD ecologist, and she says, ‘Land is medicine.’ I think this is a common attitude of Native people, especially those who grew up on reservations or in rural areas.”

The natural world and its resources have been the foundation for various life-saving medical advancements. Medicinal plants, which contain natural therapeutic properties when properly harvested, have been used as remedies all over the planet.

According to Frontiers in Pharmacology, over 80% of people around the world rely on an aspect of medicinal plants within primary care, and roughly 40% of pharmaceutical drugs found in Western medicine derive from these plants.

For instance, salicin, most often found as salicylic-acid in face wash or Aspirins, is one of the most common ingredients used today that originates from a medicinal plant.

Salicin has traditionally been extracted using the Native practice of chewing on willow bark for pain relief.

UM expands HIV community outreach on World AIDS Day

BY CAROLINE VAL NEWS EDITOR

In 1981, the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) marked a devastating global epidemic. Despite progress in research and treatments improving the lives of those affected, Miami-Dade County now stands as the epicenter of new HIV cases in the U.S., comprising one-third of the current 1.2 million cases.

In response to this alarming trend, the University of Miami (UM) is taking proactive steps to provide care for those disproportionately impacted by HIV or AIDS. On World AIDS Day, December 1, UHealth unveiled a fleet of mobile units at the U Innovation Building, specifically targeting high-risk communities in Miami-Dade and Broward.

Led by infectious disease experts from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, these mobile clinics offer comprehensive services, including testing, rapid care, and wound care.

The latest addition to UM’s mobile fleet, the CONNECT Mobile Unit, focuses on enrolling and retaining individuals in the

university’s HIV research studies. Dr. Maria Alcaide, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Miller School of Medicine, oversees this initiative.

Additionally, Dr. Susanne Doblecki-Lewis leads the RAW Mobile Unit, extending UHealth’s PrEP program and Rapid Access Wellness Clinics to areas such as Miami Beach, Liberty City, Broward, Hialeah, Florida City, and Miami Gardens.

Dr. Hansel Tookes, associate professor of infectious diseases, heads the IDEA Exchange Mobile Unit, a needle exchange program addressing syringe reuse in underserved neighborhoods with higher susceptibility to drug use. Collaborating with Dr. Erin Kobetz at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Doblecki-Lewis initiated the Game Changer Van, providing sexual health and wellness screenings and marking the beginning of Dr. Doblecki-Lewis’ mobile PrEP Program.

As UM renews its commitment to the fight against HIV, the recent event served as a platform to spotlight the impact of these mobile outreach programs.

The development of baby formula, which serves as a replacement for breast milk for mothers, can be attributed to the Iroquois tribe. This ancient formula used the crushed natural ingredients of corn, water and nuts to feed infants.

Perhaps the most critical medical creation

by Native Americans is the syringe, which was originally constructed with hollow bird bones and animal bladders for the injection of natural remedies.

Indigenous practices also place a large emphasis on achieving balance in life through a harmonious relationship between the body and mind. The belief that healing physically can be done by way of spiritual healing is a pioneering factor of mental health.

Various Native tribes around America take part in traditional healing ceremonies, which promote this sentiment and reinforce the unified approach of healing in a community setting.

Dr. Raymond I. Orr is a professor of political science at UM and the co-director of the Native American and Global Indigenous Studies Program (NAGIS). He is also a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, and reflected upon the Native belief of community healing as opposed to isolation.

“A body of compelling research shows that meaningful and regular social ties are protective factors against many of our widespread maladies and early death,” Orr said.

“These connections will likely generate a richer existence.”

Without actively searching for where modern medicine originated, Native assistance in Western medical development falls unseen.

“Native peoples are rarely acknowledged as contributing to our contemporary world,” Orr said.

The overshadowing of their ancestral contributions, paired with a systemic undervaluing of Native peoples within the U.S. healthcare system, reflects a failure to uphold the obligation that the federal government has for the Native American population and its descendants.

“This is called ‘the trust responsibility’ and goes back nearly two hundred years when Native lands were taken without equal compensation,” said Orr. “Health is a key part of this.”

A 2022 data release by the National Cen-

ter for Health Diseases stated the life expectancy of American Indian and Alaska Native people is over 10 years shorter than the national average. Alcohol-induced deaths remain among the most frequent, and indigenous communities experienced the largest uptick in suicide rates from 1999 to 2017.

These rates can be attributed to a history of lost community ties and land as a result of European colonization, as prior to their forced removal from their land, alcohol was primarily used in a ceremonial and sacred context. Suicide rates have increased due to social detriments, such as pressure to assimilate and grow further from their heritage.

Accessible health clinics remain underfunded within Native communities as well, and they are often hard to find in proximity to reservations, pushing Native residents to move to urban areas in order to find support.

“It’s no surprise that physicians aren’t lining up to work on reservations, but there is also a failure to get tribal citizens into the healthcare workforce,” Burnett said. “The only way to reach Native communities is to improve the numbers of Native students in the biosciences and healthcare.”

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic having a disproportionate and heighented impact on Native communities, their sense of community allowed for a strong response to the virus.

“My parents were able to get the vaccine at a Muscogee Tribal clinic before they could have elsewhere in Oklahoma, simply because the tribes acted quickly and efficiently to distribute their inventories, while the same states, particularly with COVIDdenying governors, dragged their feet,” said Burnett.

Barriers to health and medical resources – such as underfunding and scarce access to health clinics in tribal communities – prevent Native citizens from experiencing their ancestral contributions to modern medicine.

Recent pushes for improved care of Native Americans have been made, with national advocacy reflected in the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts for better overall resources in these communities. Although there is still work to be done, these recent strides are paving the way for a more accessible future for Native communities to reclaim their place in the medical field.

OPINION

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A note from the editor

BY JENNY JACOBY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At the beginning of the semester, the editors of TMH sat down to discuss our special edition ideas for the year. In our discussion, we realized there was a lack of information on what proper health is supposed to look like when you are 20 in mainstream news, but an abundance of information on social media. To help students sort through all this information we wanted to make a guide to student health.

As a student with an autoimmune disease, navigating diagnosis and a new lifestyle while starting college was a challenge. We also wanted to highlight students with disabilities or injuries who continue to pursue their passions despite the unique struggles they face. Our last goal was to address the overall health system at the University of Miami and look into UHealth accomplishments . This edition marks the coming together of our current staff’s commitment to special editions and vision for unique coverage at UM and in Miami. Please read our complete coverage at themiamihurricane.com or follow us on social media.

December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

The medical community needs to have a serious debate about the ethics of gene editing

BY ETHAN MANNELLO STAFF WRITER

In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui claimed that under his supervision, the first human germline gene-edited twin babies were born and that his team had edited the genome of the twin embryo to give the fetuses resistance to HIV before birth. These claims sparked global outrage because Jiankui sidestepped the silent agreement many in the medical community had to not experiment with germline genome editing until ethical principles could be created.

A year later, Jiankui was imprisoned in China for “illegal medical practices.” Jiankui’s claims and the birth of these babies fueled public fear about the possible future implications of human genome editing.

After a 3-year prison stint, Jiankui recently proposed a new research project involving human germline gene editing to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. His newest proposal should be a warning to policymakers.

Even if not publicly accepted, without regulations, progress in human germline gene editing will continue. Scientists and researchers are too curious to stop researching innovative technology.

Therefore, the medical community needs to come out with regulations and laws limiting research and experimentation into human germline genome editing.

Unfortunately, little progress has been made in creating guidelines and laws for human germline genome editing since Jiankui’s imprisonment.

The latest protocol came from the 3rd international summit on human gene editing in March 2023 where researchers presented studies documenting gene editing’s potential to cure once incurable diseases. In the concluding statement of the conference, the organizing committee

made sure to put these findings in the proper context.

While these studies showed the amazing benefits of human genome editing, those benefits are strictly limited to somatic cells, or cells that won’t be inherited by your offspring.

The committee declared that “heritable human (germline) genome editing remains unacceptable at this time … Governance frameworks and ethical principles for the responsible use of heritable human genome editing are not in place. Necessary safety and efficacy standards have not been met.”

This ruling is insubstantial, to say the least. The committee made their recommendation very clear, but also established the fact that there are no ethical principles of governance frameworks in place right now. If a scientist was to begin a human germline genome editing program, it is unclear what the medical community can do to stop them. This is a massive issue as many around the world are concerned about gene editing and its effects.

According to a 2022 Pew Survey, Americans are concerned with any type of gene editing. 55% say widespread use of gene editing to reduce disease risk would create more income inequality and 84% believe that even if used ethically most of the time, people would still use it for unethical reasons.

A 2022 Dutch study just focusing on human germline genome editing also showed that while 68.6% of the population supports using heritable human genome editing to prevent severe genetic diseases, that support drops to 39.7% to protect against infectious diseases and 8.5% for genetic enhancement.

These concerns are valid, as once human germline genome editing begins, its effects are unknown.

Human germline genome editing’s main benefit prevents offspring from getting diseases they would inherit from their parents. Because of it, future generations will never have to worry about the diseases being cut out.

On the surface, this sounds great, but there is a medical risk associated with turning off a gene. Turning off a gene for one individual could prevent a chronic genetic disease from plaguing them their entire life, but as that genetic makeup is passed down, it could have a different effect on future generations.

About 385,000 babies are born a day, therefore tons of different genetic makes are produced. Once gene editing begins, the effects of what will happen to babies created from parents who have edited genes are completely unknown.

Human germline genome editing isn’t just capable of disease prevention, it can also genetically enhance individuals. This means before a baby is born, doctors will be able to manipulate his genetic makeup and customize it. This is obviously the biggest societal concern of human germline genome editing.

Genes show up in many obvious areas like height, hair color, or weight. But they also influence intellectual ability, mental health risk,

and personality. The ability of genetic enhancement is currently unknown, but if properly advanced, it could allow parents to pay for their children to be taller, smart, and happier or whatever combination they see fit. The implications of this on the social inequality gap would be massive. If genetic enhancement is allowed, children of the upper class will begin their lives miles ahead of those who are unenhanced.

The debate around human germline genome editing has been pushed off for long enough and the medical community needs to finally address it. During this debate, the medical community needs to consider public opinion and create a strict code of conduct for germline genome editing.

The science and technology of genome editing is far too advanced for the flimsy ruling passed last March.

Left to their own rules, doctors and scientists will continue to research and experiment, regardless of ethical consequences.

Sophie Toledano/ Staff Graphic Designer

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December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Reshaping more than waistlines: Medicine in the age of Ozempic

BY LIA MUSSIE STAFF WRITER

Oh-oh-oh, Ozempic.

Not since Botox has a drug brand become so popular so quickly.

Currently FDA-approved for the treatment of type-2 diabetes and clinical obesity, Ozempic and other similar GLP-1 receptor agonists provide life-saving medication.

However, these drugs stand as a new landmark in our diet-obsessed culture – revolutionary medicine that can actually help people lose their stubborn excess weight, unlike the fad diets and supplements that have inundated our lives and that mostly fail.

The problem is not Ozempic itself.

There’s no doubt it can save the lives of those who need it by decreasing the risk of disease and increasing longevity. The problem is the misuse by people looking for fast solutions to cosmetic concerns without addressing the root of the issue.

Also, these miracle drugs are likely to distract from more seriously addressing our society’s stigma and shame around fatness, a social disorder that cannot be remedied by simply popping pills or injecting a medicine.

The Ozempic injection contains semaglutide, and works by stimulating insulin release to lower blood sugar levels and slow digestion, so users feel satiated for longer periods of time. Because it also subdues the user’s appetite, some seek out the drug to slim down.

Developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and approved by the FDA in 2017,

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Ozempic is one of several new medications used to treat obesity. When doctors noticed that patients were losing weight as a side effect, Novo Nordisk began clinical trials on obese and overweight individuals to confirm the observations. A higher dose semaglutide remedy specially to treat obesity, called Wegovy, was then marketed to treat America’s obesity epidemic, as about 40% of adults in the U.S. are obese and an additional 30% are overweight.

Ozempic was not originally intended as a quick fix to get thin. Medical discretion is used to prescribe it to those who require it, such as those who are obese or overweight. However, in some cases, patients who do not meet the criteria are still getting their hands on it.

The drugs have taken Hollywood by storm, forcing its unrealistic beauty standards to manifest themselves in stars taking extreme measures to keep up youthful appearances. Aesthetic procedures like cool sculpting, injections and Brazilian butt lifts allow celebrities to dictate trends, shape beauty standards and influence entire generations.

Ozempic and other similar drugs have become the subject of conversations about weight loss and thinness in Hollywood. An easy, painless and near-instant remedy is appealing, especially in the realms of fashion and entertainment where looking a certain way is a professional requirement.

All this is happening despite a significant change in the popular discourse on bodies since the end of the 20th century, when a slim figure was celebrated and sought after. We began to embrace body positivity and representation in curvy and plus-size models and influencers on social media.

When the craze for drugs began, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jenny Jacoby

ASST. A&E EDITOR Morgan Fry

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Ferrer

SPORTS EDITORS Luke Chaney Zachary Macer

NEWS EDITORS Sydney Billing Caroline Val OPINION EDITOR Pari Walter

PHOTO EDITORS Alexandra Fisher Cecilia Runner GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR Roberta Macedo

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR COPY CHIEF Ashley Sewall Layomi Adeojo

WANT TO WORK FOR US?

countless celebrities started to lose noticeable amounts of weight. Which celebrities are using Ozempic became headline stories, as seen with Kim Kardashian losing 16 pounds in three weeks to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s dress for the 2022 Met Gala.

Only a select few have openly admitted to using these medications, as Elon Musk did about Wegovy.

The appeal of weight-loss drugs has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the average American adult gained 29 pounds .

Losing excess weight could increase one’s life by decreasing risk of high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, having a stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and more.

“People still believe that it’s a personal choice and a lifestyle choice that somebody makes, and this is at fault for their obesity,” said Dr. Scott Butsch, director of Obesity Medicine at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.

Should obesity be perceived as a personal failing, a lack of adequate self-control and self-discipline? Or is it a chronic disease whose prevalence and severity are largely outside individual control?

BIPOC and low-income communities disproportionately experience higher levels of obesity, but lack the ability to pay out-of-pocket for medications such as Ozempic when insurance won’t contribute. How can we ensure access for those with a greater need for these therapies, rather than widening existing disparities?

A month-long Ozempic injection pen costs approximately $900 before insurance. Wegovy, only approved to treat obese/overweight patients or those with a coexisting condition related to weight, is more than $1,300 for a month’s supply. These costs can PRINT EDITORS Anaya Jhaveri Katie Stute

Roberta Macedo//Graphics Editor

be made cheaper with qualifying insurance, but coverage can be hard to come by.

Hollywood elites, however, are willing and able to pay the full cost out of pocket, exhausting demand, overwhelming pharmacies and making it difficult for people who actually need the drug to get their prescriptions.

We also don’t understand how these drugs will impact users in the future. Common side effects users experience include nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain and more. Severe allergic reactions, hypoglycemia and pancreatitis can also occur.

For those who only look at the immediate effects of these drugs, they are neglecting the risks associated with long-term usage, including how easy it is to regain any lost weight after treatment. These risks should only

be taken if it is meant to protect your health, as recommended and prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner.

People tend to not change their habits when on these drugs, which can bring long-term adverse consequences for the short-sighted.

Although Ozempic has been approved and prescribed since 2017, Hollywood’s wholesale adoption of the drug turned it from being an essential medicine to a status symbol, advertising that dramatic weight loss is at our fingertips, readily available for those who can afford it.

Weight loss isn’t always a cure for all ills and can be a distraction from real issues. Unfortunately, fatphobia continues to pervade society and as long as it exists, there will be a market for miracle medicines that help make people thin.

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BUSINESS MANAGER Patrick McCaslin FACULTY ADVISOR Antonio Mora FINANCIAL ADVISOR Steve Priepke SENIOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANT Michelle Starbeck

Visit themiamihurricane.com/apply or email editor@themiamihurricane.com.

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academic year and is edited and produced by undergraduate students at the University of Miami. The publication does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of advertisers or the university’s trustees, faculty or administration. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Miami Hurricane’s Editorial Board.

Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Miami Hurricane are located in the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

8

December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

FEATURE

Blind Frost student learns music production in UM alum’s audio workshop

BY LAYOMI ADEOJO A&E EDITOR

Sophomore Silvio Plata lost his eyesight as an infant. Despite his blindness, Plata leaned into his musical talent, learned to play several instruments and earned enough scholarships to study vocal performance on a full-ride at the Frost School of Music.

A new opportunity for Plata came during a chance encounter in March 2023, when he met Frost graduate student Camilo Salas while grabbing coffee at the food court.

“He helped me find where the line began at Vicky’s, because that’s always a little bit of a challenge,” Plata said. “So we just started talking from there.”

As the final project for his master’s degree in media scoring and production, Salas created an audio workshop for visu-

ally-impaired musicians that teaches the basics of music production. The project sets itself apart from audiobooks with its slow pace, attention to detail and interactive moments.

“There is no technical or practical guide for visually-impaired musicians to go baby step by baby step, learning how to click and start the process,” Salas said.

“This specific audio worship takes the time to do that.”

After Salas told Plata about the workshop, the pair met again, and Salas got to see his work in action as Plata went through most of the workshop.

“He gave me his approval for the project, and that was so motivating for me to finish it, polish it and send it out as my final project,” Salas said.

Voiced by UM alum and producer partner Erik Gunarrson, the workshop’s 13 chapters cover every part of the produc-

Let’s COPE: What the UM student counseling organization can do for you

BY SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

According to the Mayo Health Clinic, 44% of college students struggle with depression, but only 25% seek guidance — UM’s Counseling Outreach Peer Education (COPE) organization aims to increase that percentage of students asking for help.

COPE works to destigmatize mental health and save lives through educational outreach programs. COPE’s peer educators work alongside the University’s counseling center to help students face demanding workloads and adapt to college life.

“Some of the biggest mental struggles that we see at the counseling center from my perspective include experiences with anxiety, academic distress, difficulties coping with a breakup, as well as experiences with depression,” said Elvin Blanco, a licensed therapist with the counseling center.

To ease these struggles, COPE promotes mental health awareness and education by commemorating national observances, providing self-care tips on social media and being a personal pathway between students and UM’s counseling center.

The organization guides students to find self-care practices, like therapy or meditation, that suit them.

“We understand that [therapy] may not be the best course of acting for everybody,” COPE Chair Emily Goldstein said. “Our motto is to meet students where they are.

We really just want to put out all the resources for students, and then they can take what they want from it.”

National observances like Suicide Prevention Month in September and Mental Health Awareness Month in May offer COPE the opportunity to normalize discussion of mental health disorders.

Read the full article online at themiamihurricane.com.

tion process, from recording and editing to mixing and mastering. The highlydetailed chapters thoroughly break down each skill, down to what keys to click and where they are located on the keyboard.

“I think it’s very helpful,” Plata said.

“For a person like me who [doesn’t] really have much experience, I think it’s a great resource.”

Plata plans to revisit the audio workshop when he takes music technology next semester, a required course for Frost students. In the meantime, Salas is working on refining the workshop and expanding its reach.

“If this can go a little further, [Plata] is gonna be the first person to get the course,” Salas said. “I haven’t found a way of making it more public, [but] that will be fuel so I can keep going and keep developing, testing other students, making it better.”

The recent UM grad developed a passion for teaching music to visually-impaired students in Colombia, where Salas took a workshop on braille and music while completing his bachelor’s degree in 2018. This passion followed him to UM, fueling his master’s project and motivation to keep teaching music education.

“I believe that visually-impaired musicians have way more listening skills than what we have,” Salas said. “I think in the community, there are potential producers of the year, potential mixing engineers.

They listen way better than us.”

Plata has seen firsthand how support helped him hone his musical skills. The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind — where Plata received therapy at 19 months old and learned to read braille — prepared him for school. At the Doral Conservatory, he received musical training.

“I’m grateful that I had a wonderful support team of music teachers who always helped me hone in on my skills and polish my talents, and get me to where I am today,” Plata said.

The young musician’s talent has scored him outstanding opportunities, like singing with one of his “biggest idols,” worldrenowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who also became blind at the age of 12.

Plata got the chance to show Bocelli

Marcus Iheukwumere // Contributing Photographer

Sophomore Vocal Performance major Silvio Plata stands in front of the Shalala Student Center on Dec. 4, 2023.

how to use a new digital braille reader when he visited the Miami Lighthouse in 2019, but didn’t realize the interaction would lead to a full-on duet.

“I’ve sung at the Marlins. I’ve sung at the Dolphins. I’ve sung in front of so many huge crowds,” Plata said, “but nothing compares to singing in front of that one person who you admire so much.”

He says his Christian faith gave him a fresh perspective on his disability.

“I think God took away my eyesight but replaced it with so many positive things — like my musical talent, my academic merits and talents as well — for the sole purpose to show society that a disability is just not a limitation,” Plata said. “It’s not an obstacle. It’s not in any way a hindrance to success.

The future is wide for Plata, who plans to venture into music production, but also has interests in political science and attending law school. At the end of the day, one question fuels his drive: “Why not pursue my passion and just do what my heart desires?”

December 6, 2023

A&E

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

9

FEATURE

Music therapy program at UM trains the future of healthcare

BY LUCIA MOGLIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ashley Puritz // Staff Graphic Designer

Junior Lily Ezersky takes a deep breath as she prepares her voice to deliver calming melodies to cancer patients at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Ezersky’s singing is accompanied by the strums of her acoustic guitar as she guides patients’ breathing in a meditation exercise.

At the Frost School of Music, this musical performance is as integral to patient treatment as traditional medicine. Here, music therapy merges melodies into medicine to relieve stress among patients.

“Music therapy is the evidencebased use of music as a therapeutic mechanism of alleviating stress and elevating quality of life,” music therapy program director Dr. Teresa Lesiuk said. “It’s used in several different dimensions such as emotional and cognitive areas, sensory motor areas and overall in different health settings.”

The music therapy major is offered at the Frost School of Music under a Bachelor of Music. Students in the program get a unique educational experience characterized by accomplished professors, compelling courses, hands-on clinical opportunities and a bonus minor in psychology.

“When trying to decide which college I would attend, Frost spoke to me the most,” Ezersky, a music therapy major, said. “I was drawn to its emphasis on scientific rationale, the music rationale and how much we prioritize the brain. I think it’s important to actually understand what we are doing.”

Frost’s program prepares music therapy students to work in any one of these areas. Besides the typical undergraduate music courses and major-specific behavioral courses, the music therapy major boasts a comprehensive clinical practice program.

“Starting sophomore spring semester, and every semester after, students are placed in different clinical settings,” Dr. Lesiuk said.

The options for clinical placement are extensive, a testament to the mul-

tiple connections and partnerships that Frost has established since its music therapy program began in 1969. Clinical sites include Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Miller School of Medicine.

In addition to these partnerships, the program’s approach to therapy education has evolved since its founding.

Yani Trevin Rubio, a double ‘Cane who received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from UM — has witnessed this transition firsthand.

“The philosophy, structure and actual curriculum have changed a bit since I was a student,” Rubio said. “When I started in this program, there was a more humanistic emphasis and focus on person-centered therapy. Today, it’s more your neurological music therapy (NMT) based approach.”

As an often misunderstood yet rapidly expanding field, UM’s program ensures that its students are at the forefront of music therapy’s evolution in the world.

“There is a misconception that this field is simply singing to people to make them feel better,” Rubio said.

“We as professionals have to understand how the body works, how muscles work and what parts of the brain are affected by certain techniques and protocols. That is how we decide what elements of music are incorporated into our treatment.”

The amount of research areas within music therapy careers are extensive.

“Some of our students do research as well,” Dr. Lesiuk said. “I have a student right now who’s going to be recruiting people with lung cancer and other breathing disorders for their research project.”

Lesiuk has worked with the Parkinson’s community in collaboration with the Miller School of Medicine. Today, she investigates how brain activity in an individual with mild cognitive impairment or early onset Alzeihmer’s is affected by their favorite music.

“At Frost, we analyze how the brain

functions, and in turn, start to understand how utilizing music can aid a person’s recovery,” Ezersky said.

Music therapists must have an indepth knowledge of different medical conditions in order to determine the best care for their patients.

“They have to know the condition their client has very well because in order to provide the most effective treatment in your therapeutic music experiences, your interventions, your activities that you’re working with, you need to understand the diagnosis,” Rubio said.

Understanding the diagnosis is essential, but it comes with its challenges. Music therapists have a responsibility to help suffering individuals, which often takes an emotional toll.

Frost students are taught to turn those feelings into fuel for their work.

“Something I try to teach my students is don’t see the disability, but see the ability and the possibility,” Rubio said.

The education that UM music therapy students receive prepares them for careers where they can live out their passions while simultaneously making a difference in the lives of their clients and communities.

“This school has helped me gain so much experience in the field,” Ezersky said. “I’m confident in the ways I’m being prepared here both musically and clinically. I’m sure I’ll enter as a well-rounded candidate into the internship application process.”

As the music therapy field grows, Frost’s program is prepared to meet that demand by shaping the next generations of practitioners into wellrounded professionals equipped with the necessary skills to offer the highest quality care.

“As music therapists we are helping people heal, we are helping people recover and we are helping people to strategize so that their lives are easier,” Ezersky said. “Music, as a universal language, facilitates that.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

WELLNESS

Eight tips to prioritize your mental health during final exam season

BY MORGAN FRY ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR

According to a survey on stress in college students from the American Addiction Center, 89% of respondents said they felt stress from exams.

Large stacks of final tests, projects, presentations and essays can be overwhelming for students to take on over the course of just a few days.

Pressure to perform well can take a toll on a student’s wellbeing. Here are some tips to help you prioritize your mental health as you navigate the end of the semester: Get enough sleep We have all heard this piece of advice countless times. However, a good night’s sleep is scientifically proven to help you feel more refreshed and in control of your emotions. According to the University of Michigan School of Public Health, “one night of sleep deprivation can dramatically affect mood the next day.”

Getting inadequate sleep can increase feelings of anxiety, which are already heightened during exam season. Whether it means going to bed earlier or sleeping in later, plan your days out to get your full eight hours.

Plan your study schedule in advance Last-minute cramming for an exam can quickly lead students to feel overwhelmed. Instead, map out what exams you have on each day and plan your study schedule accordingly.

You know yourself best. What subjects do you struggle with the most? Prioritize studying for those exams more. Creating a plan of attack can help make you feel more in control and ready to take on the exams.

Find a study spot that works for you A good study spot is crucial to your productivity during this time. Whether you like to study in one spot or vary your locations, a comfortable environment is important for your success.

The second floor of the Richter Library and the stacks offer silent studying environments, while the first floor is more social. When Richter gets crowded, the law library and music library are solid alternatives.

The Shalala Center, Lakeside Village, the Aresty building in the business school and Cox Science building all have quiet tables and places to sit. Additionally, the gliders and tables around campus are great options, if you prefer to be outside.

WebMD, studies show that people who exercise regularly benefit with a positive boost in mood and lower rates of depression.

Your mind is going to be extremely active during finals, and so should your body. Hit the weights or take a hot girl walk at sunset. Whatever your physical activity of choice is, be sure to keep it up during finals season. Even if you listen to a crash course while you walk on the treadmill, it’s important to balance studying with exercise.

Exercise Release those endorphins!

According to

Eat healthy meals Food is nourishment for the body and the brain, so be sure to nourish your body with clean foods that make you feel good. Never deny yourself a little treat to reward yourself for all of the studying, but be sure to balance them

out with some fruits and veggies.

A long study session is not an excuse to skip out on meals. Be sure to give your body the nutrients it needs to power you through the long days.

Make time to socialize with friends Your friends are your support system at school, and chances are, they are experiencing the same stress as you. Get together to debrief the whirlwind of emotions you are going through and plan some fun activities to get your mind off of the stress.

DIY a craft, bake, host a movie night or go out for lunch. Whatever you like to do with your friends throughout the semester, continue during finals season. Your people will be sure to brighten your day.

Get a dose of Vitamin D A lot of other university exam seasons are filled with dark, cold days, but one of the perks of attending school in Miami is the gorgeous winter weather.

Spend some time sitting outside by the lake or at the UC pool for some Vitamin D, which is known to help you feel more awake, alert and energized. According to Bloodline, to maintain healthy blood levels, aim to get 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week.

You’ll need the energy to fuel your long study sessions.

Attend University-sponsored events UM puts on a variety of different events to help students during finals weeks. A petting zoo, hammocks, midnight breakfast, massages and free merchandise are a few of the experiences UM students can take part in.

Stop by De-Stress Fest, hosted by Student Government, which will take place on Dec. 6 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lakeside Patio.

Take advantage of free food, massage chairs, therapy dogs and giveaway items.

Be sure to follow @univmiami on Instagram for announcements and updates on free finals week events.

Gianna Aprea // Staff Graphic Designer

December 6, 2023

A&E

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

11

WELLNESS

Feeling under the weather? Follow these remedies for college sickness

BY XIMENA HIDALGO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As college students, we’re no strangers to the infamous frat flu and the annual semester sickness, but what do you do when you’re miles away from home and mom can’t make you her miracle chicken soup? Here is a stepby-step guide on what to do when you’re sick in college.

Be honest. Can you really go to class right now?

Your health should be your top priority.

According to the CDC, Rhinoviruses, or the common cold, are spread by simply coughing or sneezing. By staying home to get some rest, you protect yourself and others as well.

Allowing yourself one day of rest could restore the strength you need to continue your daily activities. Don’t ignore your body’s need to rest — resting allows your body to put energy into healing instead of fighting the illness. The CDC says, “Most rhinovirus infections are mild, but they can cause severe illness, especially in people with weakened immune systems, asthma, or other underlying medical conditions.” Your body works hard on a daily basis, you owe it to yourself to care for your health.

Don’t panic. Plan.

If you feel overwhelmed with your responsibilities, make a list of everything you will miss out on while recovering. Email your professors to let them know you’ll miss class and reach out to classmates for notes and important information.

Read the syllabus. Most professors include an absentee protocol to follow.

Nicole Knopfholz // Staff Graphic Designer

On a scale from one to Student Health Center visit, how bad is it?

Assess your symptoms. Movement can help alleviate symptoms like congestion and fatigue but don’t exert yourself or do more than you can handle, as your body is in a fragile state.

If you don’t notice your symptoms subsiding after a few days of rest and self-care, use your resources! Consider scheduling an appointment at the Student Health Center at https://umiamihealth.org/en/myuhealthchart.

lection of products for your sick needs.

Another option is the Pharmabox vending machine in the Merrick Building.

If your temperature matches the 100-degree Miami weather, take Tylenol for your fever.

Medicine with ibuprofen like Advil can help relieve pain and inflammation. If congestion is making your voice sound like a bad impression of Kermit the Frog, decongestants like Mucinex D or Afrin nasal spray work well.

As you hear in the commercials, consult with your primary care provider if these medications are safe for you to take.

“Mom, I’m sick and lonely.”

Being sick and alone in your dorm room is not fun, so call a friend or family member to take your mind off of how awful you feel.

Who knows? They might bring you a freebie from the pop-up giveaway that conveniently appeared on campus the second you fell ill.

A quick conversation with a loved one can lift your spirits, and an improved mood can speed up the recovery process.

Vicks VapoRub. Enough said.

Hydration. We know — unheard of for college students.

No, energy drinks and overpriced Starbucks lattes don’t count as hydration.

Drinking liquids can help you replenish the fluids you’ve lost while releasing mucus and can help balance the temperature in your body if you have a fever. Water is fine, but also consider drinking something with electrolytes like Gatorade or Emergen-C, which contains vitamins for energy and immune support. Liquid IV drink mix is also a great option for electrolytes and extra hydration.

Other fluids, like tea and soup, can have benefits other than hydration. The classic hot tea, lemon and honey combo can soothe a sore throat and you can never go wrong with soup — chicken or bone broth can help your immune system fight the common cold.

Manifesting won’t help you now, darling — take some medicine.

You do not have to leave campus to stock up your medicine cabinet. The Market next to the Hurricanes Food Court sells a variety of over-the-counter options, and the Walgreens inside Student Health holds an even larger se-

Prepare for next time.

Your abuela’s secret weapon is no joke. This ancient legend is not just chisme. The substance is a miracle cure for the common cold.

Vicks VapoRub is a topical cough suppressant that you can rub on your chest, throat and even under your nose to relieve common cold symptoms and minor body aches.

You have a valid excuse to oversleep and binge-watch shows.

This is a perfect chance to catch up on the sleep you lost during those midterm all-nighters. Greg Richter writes for UPenn Medicine News, “During sickness, cells are under stress, and organisms experience sleepiness to promote sleep and recover from the cellular stress.” Being sick exhausts your body, so a long nap might be your best medicine.

When you find yourself in between naps, capitalize on the opportunity to go through your watchlist and cross off those movies you told your film major friend you would watch but never did. For a binge-watching session, tune into shows like “Gilmore Girls” or “Seinfeld” on Netflix, which are easy to follow and full of the best medicine: laughter.

It’s time you become the health authority for both you and your roommates. You can’t survive on two sips of water and two-ounce bags of Doritos forever. Your body will respond eventually, so put these preventive measures in place to combat the inevitable.

No more empty medicine drawers — stock them with the aforementioned over-the-counter remedies, herbal tea and cough drops.

Carry around hand sanitizer and wash your hands often, not just when you use the bathroom. Basic hygiene goes a long way.

Consider purchasing an air purifier. Communal living means sharing not only a space but air and bacteria with other people. The Levoit Core 300 or a Blueair by HERPA are high-quality options that are compact, perfect for the limited space you have in a college dorm.

Consider wearing a mask or face covering if you have a lingering cough or start to feel under the weather. The CDC says this is useful “for example, in household settings when someone is sick or in crowded indoor settings such as public transportation when respiratory disease activity is high in your community.” It’s a great way to keep yourself healthy and care for your fellow ‘Canes.

12

SPORTS

December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

FEATURE

Diana Khodan’s journey from player to coach after injury a screeching halt. Teammate Maya Tahan was now without her long-time doubles partner, and true freshman Tatyana Nikolenko had the tall task of filling that void.

Tahan and Khodan always loved playing together, and that chemistry translated to the court, where they peaked at No. 14 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association doubles rankings in 2021.

After her injury, Khodan immediately thought of Tahan.

“I was thinking most of all [about] doubles, about my partner and stuff because we were so close,” Khodan said. “She’s Raul Maristany // Contributing Phtographer my best friend from the first day because University of Miami Graduate Student and Women’s Tennis Coach, Diana Khodan speaks we started together, and we basically went with former University of Miami Women’s Tennis player Maya Tahan. through everything together.”

Unable to take the court, Khodan still Khodan refused to give up, even after

BY CHRIS DAMOND supported her team from the sideline, STAFF WRITER tearing her ACL. She still wanted to be traveling to Indiana for Miami’s match there for her teammates, so she decided to against Notre Dame just three days after It was perhaps her best performance of try something new — coaching. tearing her ACL. Nikolenko registered her the season — a resounding straight-sets “I still wanted to be involved,” Khodan first collegiate singles victory, but the Hurvictory — and came against Columbia in said. “I still wanted with [my team] to go ricanes weren’t able to beat the Fighting the first-ever collegiate tennis match at the through all the ups and downs and try to Irish.

Miami Open. do my best and give some of my experiStill, Khodan’s coaching career had Four days later, Khodan fell during ences, my stories and how I started to new begun, and she gained more experience practice. The third-year sophomore ran to kids.” during the rest of the season. Her reaction return a ball with her backhand, like she’d Khodan didn’t want to coach at first, but to one Miami victory left an impression on done so many times before. she couldn’t deny she had all the qualificaPfennig.

But this time was different. tions. She started playing tennis at only 7 “There’s this picture where she’s jumpShe slipped, shifted her entire body years old and was competing in Internaing,” Pfennig said. “She was not supposed weight onto her right knee and felt imtional Tennis Federation tournaments at to jump with her knee, but you could just mediate pain. just 14. see how happy she was. And you could “I still remember that moment,” teamWhen it was time to go to college, Khobe like, maybe she’s not as happy because mate Isabella Pfennig said. “I was playing dan turned down offers from powerhouse that should be her playing, but I feel like next to her the last five minutes of pracschools like Florida, NC State and Texas that just said a lot about her.” tice. All of a sudden she goes down and to play for head coach Paige YaroshukKhodan was upset, but she spoke with starts screaming. I’m like, ‘Oh my god.’”

Tews at Miami. But just three matches into Yaroshuk-Tews about being a positive Teammates and coaches swarmed Khoher collegiate career, she tore cartilage in presence in front of her teammates. She dan, whose knee was swollen. An MRI her left wrist that required season-ending wanted to show them that she was okay. soon revealed the damage — a seasonsurgery.

Khodan had surgery on April 25, 20 days ending ACL injury. It was another blow to Khodan returned as a second-year sophoafter tearing her ACL, and it took nine an already difficult past few months. more and solidified a spot in both singles months for her to fully recover. She joined In February 2022, Russia invaded Khoand doubles by her third season in Coral the University of Miami women’s tennis dan’s home country of Ukraine. Her famGables. staff as a student assistant coach in August ily still lived there, and she worried her She boasted a 19-9 singles record during 2022 — four months after her injury. father and brother would go to war. the 2022 season before her ACL injury, During her first season on staff, Khodan “If I’m on the team, I have to fight,” which included a seven-match winning helped the Hurricanes to a 16-8 record and Khodan said of her mentality following streak, and Miami ranked No. 6 in the a NCAA Team Championship appearance. the invasion. “Especially [because] I knew country. my people in Ukraine [were] fighting for When Khodan went down, it seemed like Miami finished the year ranked No. 16 in the country. freedom and everything, so I have to do the Hurricanes’ momentum had come to However, the transition from player to the same here.”

coach wasn’t always easy. Khodan had trouble developing a professional relationship with her former teammates, who were also her best friends.

Now with a year of coaching experience under her belt, Khodan feels much more confident. She always brings positive energy to the court, according to Pfennig, who has learned a lot from Khodan’s response to adversity.

“Sometimes I look at her and I’m like, ‘Wow,” Pfennig said. “There were so many things [that happened] in the span of three months, but she was still coming out here with a smile. So I feel like that’s just really taught me that there’s always something you can be happy about, and you have to make the best out of it.”

Currently a fifth-year senior, Khodan doesn’t know what the future will look like — back home in Ukraine, or in Coral Gables — but she hopes to keep coaching at Miami. Regardless of what happens, Khodan will stay positive. It’s what she’s been doing during her entire collegiate career.

Jared Lennon // Senior Staff Photographer

Third-year sophomore Diana Khodan celebrates after winning the sixth game in the first set of her match versus Seminole redshirt senior Kianah Motosono at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on March 11, 2022.

December 6, 2023

SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

13

FEATURE

Injuries don’t stop when the game ends: Lance Leggett talks life after PCL don’t have to live like this anymore.

My dad always trained me growing up and training with my dad, he knew how to Former wide receiver Lance Leggett train me so I never had injuries. My dad played for the Miami football team from knew how to work me out. He knew when 2004-07, using his special combination to back off and he knew when to say, “Alof speed and skill to start as a freshman. right, we gotta rest for a little bit.”

Leggett tore his posterior cruciate ligament College is not like that. They say, “We (PCL) in his knee after his junior season. have this structured workout plan and Despite not fully recovering from this everybody has to do it.” injury, Leggett spent two years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

Are there any things that changed Now, Leggett is a successful entreprefrom working with your dad to how you neur with his company Taste One Boiled worked in college?

Peanut Company. However, the injuries that Leggett sustained during his time in When I was there we had Coach Swasey, Coral Gables and with the Miami football and he was one of the best in the nation. team still affect him to this day.

But, he couldn’t tailor a workout just for The Miami Hurricane spoke with Leggett me. about his time at Miami, football career But, with my dad, he knew me. He knew and the pressure he felt to keep playing when I didn’t look right. He knew when football, despite his injury. to back off. It was not like that in college.

In college, it was go time. You gotta go all Editor’s Note: This conversation has the time. And I was cool with it, don’t get been edited for length and clarity. me wrong, but that’s how I think I got a lot of my injuries, just fatigue.

How did the knee injury happen?

Do you feel like you could have gone It was in practice, I was running a go to the staff and said, “I need to take it a route or a nine route, and I ran past the little easier”?

DB, nobody was touching me, and then bam. You look at the video and it looked I was never afraid to speak my mind no like someone shot me. matter who it was. But, it was more like When my knee popped I did not take one this is just what you got to do. more step. I fell straight to the ground and Football was the thing I was on scholarI’ll never forget that moment. ship for, so I had to put my priorities there I’ll tell you what, I had not felt any knee and listen to what they were saying.” pain before that, I just think my muscles were fatigued.

Do you feel like you were pressured at all whether it was by the coaching staff, In your rehab process, how much of the medical staff or yourself to get back it was you working with UM staff, and on the field? how much was working on your own?

I didn’t give a damn what they said. I’m All of my rehab was with UM staff. They gonna go when I’m ready, they weren’t did a real good job, but not good enough going to make me go out there. because my knee still hurts. They did some I was going because when you get inreal good stuff for me and I busted my ass jured and come back, you’re at the bottom trying to get right because I had a goal of of the depth chart. So, it was more like I what I wanted. got to get out here and play.

I had a child, I felt like I was the man of the house, and I had to provide for my How did playing again go after your family. That was my thing like I told my PCL injury? mama, “When I make it to the NFL, we

BY LUKE SIMS STAFF WRITER

I rehabbed like hell after my junior year, and I thought I was ready to go. I did play but I had to wear a knee brace. It was so hard to wear that knee brace.

lock up on me. They kept me for two years on a bad knee because I was still killing them in practice. No one could guard me.

I knew I had a short time up there because my knee was done. But, I was not Do you feel like that knee brace limited telling them that. I was going in for treatyou to not being able to do what you ment and they had to do a plasma injection used to do? in my knee but I knew it was done.

I was just trying to get some money for Hell yeah. At one point I just snatched my family. that thing off during the season.

Everyone knew I was fast, but I had lost When did you know your knee was some speed on that leg. going to be affected for the rest of your life?

How did you go about pursuing your NFL dreams after your time at Miami?

Right there in Miami. The doctor told me that even if I had surgery, that might make They told me if I came out after junior it worse. year I’d be a third or fourth round guy but if I came out after senior year, they had me How is this injury to your knee still graded as a late first or early second round affecting you to this day? guy.

Then I got hurt in the spring and knew I My knee isn’t healed now. My knee is was not going to get drafted, but I knew I still messed up. It’s bad. I work out a lot was talented enough to make a team and and I can’t really do legs like I want to. If I then I got that call from Cleveland. do too much my knee is going to swell and Cleveland had me up there for two years lock up on me. and they knew I was good but my knee Even when I’m driving in my truck, it’s was getting worse and worse. my right knee and what I do is stretch it Practice would be three hours long or so out over the passenger side so it doesn’t and after about two hours, my knee would lock up.

@JC Ridley // Caneshooter.com

Former Miami wide reciever Lance Leggett catches a pass and runs downfield during Miami’s game agaisnt Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Oct. 28, 2008.

SPORTS

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December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

ROWING

A rower’s journey to starting the first pre-health sorority at UM

BY AALIAH DAWSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Whether Miami’s rowing team is in the locker room blasting music or debriefing practice, you can always find Haley Gross feverishly working on her iPad. A teammate once asked her what she was doing, and she said that she was going through the 73 applications for the pre-health sorority she runs.

Gross is a senior in the pre health track majoring in microbiology and immunology. Growing up, she was always interested in science and wanted to make an impact on people’s wellbeing. In her junior year at UM, she started UM’s first pre-health sorority.

Gross walked onto the rowing team two years ago. In her first year on the team, she had the difficult task of steering the boat down the race course with less than a year of experience.

“Coxswain is usually a little person that yells, steers the boat and tells the rowers what’s going on because the rowers usually can’t see where they’re going,” Gross said. “So you have to be their eyes for them. You also have

to keep them motivated, because you know, it’s a painful process rowing.”

For Gross, her freshman year of college felt very different from her tight-knit, all-girls boarding school, and at the time, she had no interest in joining a sorority.

She received an email one day advertising the rowing novice program and it reminded her of her short-lived experience on her high school rowing team and the community she felt on a team.

The UM rowing team had the characteristics of her high school that she loved: a group of women who interact and work together every day.

When asked about her athletic aspirations, she responded cheerfully, saying that she didn’t necessarily have any but wanted to get better.

“The rowing thing is more of a personal thing,” Gross said. “I wake up at 4:45 in the morning for fun; sometimes it is annoying.”

Being new to the sport and learning as she goes, Gross receives plenty of critical feedback from coaches and rowers alike. As with everyone on the team, people are not afraid to tell her what she needs to improve on.

“In the professional world, outside of college people are going to yell at you especially if you’re a woman, so it’s better to get used to it now,” Gross said.

“I want to be able to succeed because my mom sacrificed so much for me to be here. I can’t really afford to be average, or just another student.”

Haley Gross KGD President

For Gross, joining the rowing team was fulfilling on a personal level, but she had bigger academic and professional dreams.

She knew as a freshman that she wanted to be involved on campus and decided to try and join one of the pre-med fraternities. After rushing twice and being rejected, she had to consider what was next.

“If this isn’t working, what else can I do? Do I try again or do I try to do something that is better,” Gross said.

After additional research, she realized that there was no prehealth sorority on campus. This was the perfect opportunity.

At UM, Gross started Kappa Gamma Delta (KGD), the first pre-health sorority, by herself.

This is the sorority’s first chapter outside of California in 14 years.

The goal was to create something exclusive.

“It is a safety net and support system for them as they go through college with hard classes,” Gross said.

To join KGD, students must have a 3.0 GPA and submit a résumé. In their first year, Gross accepted 22 of the 73 applicants.

Gross credits her private school education and small, yet close-

knit boarding school for her hard-working attitude and love of community.

Her main motivation for being involved on campus is to set herself up well in the future and eventually be able to pay back her mother for what she did for her and her sister.

When Gross’ father died 13 years ago, her mother went back to work to be able to set her two daughters up to go to college.

“I want to be able to succeed because my mom sacrificed so much for me to be here,” Gross said. “Like, I can’t really afford to be average, or just another student.”

She is also involved in the student government Eco Agency.

Gross is the director of the waste diversion subcommittee.

“There is a difference between being involved in all these different student organizations and only being in two and actually having an impact, so two is enough for me,” Gross said.

After this year, Gross is planning on stepping down from her role as president of KGD and will be holding elections for her successor.

RECAP

RECAP

PREVIEW

MBB comes out on top in ACC opener

WBB throttles N.J.I.T., contianues undefeated season

Football to play Rutgers in Pinstripe Bowl

BY JAYDEN GONZALEZ Burton and the Fighting STAFF WRITER Irish offense, limiting it to a 28.6% clip from the In its first ACC game of field. Notre Dame was the season, Miami grinded also held scoreless in the out a victory against final 5:21 of the game.

Notre Dame in a low- Three Hurricanes scored scoring, 62-49 contest in double figures, with on Saturday afternoon. guard Matthew Cleveland The Hurricanes stifled leading the way with 14 freshman guard Markus points.

BY LUKE SIMS STAFF WRITER

Miami dominated N.J.I.T. 87-43 on Sunday to improve to 7-0 on the season. Starting guards Jaida Patrick and Jasmyne Roberts led the way with 12 points. Arizona transfer Lemyah Hylton also

contributed with 11 points of her own. The fourth quarter was Miami’s best, as it outscored the Highlanders by 19 and ended the period on a 16-2 run. Veteran guard Lashae Dwyer scored six of her 10 points during this final quarter.

BY LUKE SIMS STAFF WRITER

Miami football is headed to New York to play in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers. The game will kick off on Dec. 28 at 2:15 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. This will be UM’s second time playing

in the Pinstripe Bowl; the first was in 2018 in a loss against Wisconsin.

Miami is expected to start sophomore Jacurri Brown at quarterback for the first time this season, with Tyler Van Dyke having chosen to enter the transfer portal and Emory Williams sidelined with an injury.

COMPILED BY LUKE CHANEY // SPORTS EDITOR

December 6, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

V’S TAKE

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Frat Flu: The 0.1% of bacteria that Clorox can’t kill The frats on campus are known for many things, one of them being the germs inside.

No, we’re not talking about the brothers (for once), but the place they live in. Taking a page from Sue Sylvester, they’ve created an environment so toxic that it created its own disease. The infamous frat flu.

The sickness has afflicted students all over since the dawn of frats. Nothing good happens at a frat house, and apparently that extends to a chemical level. It just seems that it’s a law of nature that if the letters are Greek, you’ll be sick for a week.

The mere air in a frat house is laced with so many scents it is nauseating. The cloud of AXE body spray and every possible vape flavor creates an atmosphere unlivable to man, and especially to women.

Mixed with the humidity of Florida weather, it is a

breeding ground of sickness. It doesn’t help that each pledge class brings in their own new strain of bacteria, adding to the already chaotic microbiome.

Whether it was from a tailgate, tent party or after you “just went over to study” there is no escape. The virus thrives on a potent cocktail of crappy beer, half-eaten pizza and Zynns. It seems just breathing in a frat’s air exposes you to the disease.

Everyone’s experience with frat flu is a little different, but it always starts the same, with nausea. Oh nausea, the most confusing symptom a woman can feel. Is it morning sickness? A sign of the time of the month? Or was it what you drank from a pong cup shared with 150 other people?

The confusion gives the frat flu time to spread, and before you know it, your immune system is overcome by foreign

bacteria.

Its basic symptoms are as follows: chills that make you shiver even in the Miami heat, a nose running like a leaky faucet and a cough that sounds like a chainsmokers’.

It’s not a “two days of rest” ordeal. You get it and you’re out for a week – minimum.

(If only the brothers were that committed). Soup and a sweet treat can minimize the struggle, but at the end of the day you have to let it run its course.

The thing about the frat flu is that it cannot be cured while on campus. It is not until you crawl home at the end of the semester that you will feel any relief.

Snuggle up in bed, play some Tinder and rewatch the same show you’ve cycled through since high-school. Let’s be honest, you weren’t going to those classes anyway.

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December 6 , 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE