The Miami Hurricane: December 12, 2017

THE

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NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

HURRICANE

How is UM recovering from Irma?

By Amanda Herrera News Editor news@themiamihurricane.com @_amandaherrera

It’s been more than three months since South Florida, including the University of Miami, was ravaged

by Hurricane Irma, leading to a disrupted fall 2017 academic calendar and extensive recovery efforts. Months later, Director of Emergency Management Matthew Shpiner describes the university’s ongoing recovery process.

The Miami Hurricane: It’s been months since Hurricane Irma ravaged South Florida. Is the University of Miami still recovering from damages sustained in the storm?

Matt Shpiner: Recovery is a long-term process, especially when you face a disaster like Irma when there were actual impacts sustained.

So, in our case, we’re very lucky that our infrastructure and our buildings held really strongly during the storm.

In our case, there is also a significant amount of financial recovery for the university. So that’s where a lot of work is being done right now.

Administrators are pulling together the paperwork associated with the storm and submitting that to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to request cost reimbursement for costs that were incurred by the institution.

TMH: How much did Hurricane Irma cost the university?

MS:

I don’t have an exact number, but it’s in the millions.

TMH: How long will it take FEMA to reimburse the university?

What is the process?

MS: It’s a very detailed and long-term process, which, depending on the nature of the expenses, the reimbursement rates tend to be between 75 and 90 percent.

There’s different reimbursement

Tommy Fletcher // Multimedia Editor PLANNING AND PROACTIVITY: More than three months after the University of Miami was hit by Hurricane Irma, leading to millions in damages and weeks-long closure, Director of Emergency Management Matthew Shpiner speaks about how the school is still recovering from its impacts.

rates for different types of activities, everything from debris removal to additional police officers working the roadway to evacuation center staffing. The university spent a lot of time in our plans, making sure that we follow the requirements set forth

by FEMA to maximize the potential for reimbursement. It is likely to take anywhere from six months to two years, and when you have this many large-scale disasters happening in the United States ... There are a lot of these types of claims being made to FEMA, so that may slow down the process.

for weeks were still trying to clear their debris. There are still some minor repairs being done. If you look around the Coral Gables, Marine and Medical campuses, unless you have a side-by-side picture, you wouldn’t be able to see the difference of the storm. That’s a positive thing. We did, unfortunately, lose a lot of trees.

That will be longer term, in terms of finding the right trees to replant.

There are still minor infrastructure repairs that we’re still doing. They are very minor in what was the potential impact that we could have faced.

TMH: Is there any debris still being picked up around the university campuses?

TMH: Looking back, what have you learned from the experience of Hurricane Irma?

MS: The debris removal was completed in almost a record pace, especially when you look at the university versus surrounding cities and counties, which you could see

MS: Part of the process that we do after any hurricane is we go through our Action Review and Improvement Plan. In the case of Irma, with how large scale it was,

that’s a longer-term process. So the things that we were able to identify that went really, really well ... There was no major injury that was reported by any UM employee or student, and that is really important, that we keep people safe ... That there was nobody that got hurt. The university units did a great job of coordinating information. There are so many different individual departments in the university that you don’t want wrong information going out to the university community. Some of the things that we recognize we could get better is we have a policy that relates to essential personnel …

In the case of Irma, we ended up being shutdown even for essential functions, so, because of safety concerns on the Coral Gables campus, we didn’t really want any employees that weren’t essential to be on campus until we knew the campus was safe. We have to update our essential personnel policy to identify

that we actually have three categories of employees, where previously we had two categories. We also want to keep getting better from a recovery process. We always want to be able to do it faster, in a cost-effective manner.

TMH: Now that hurricane season is over, what is the Office of Emergency Management working on?

MS: While hurricane season is over, the planning process really has to be almost ongoing on an annual basis, especially in light of the experience with Irma. While hurricanes are number one hazard of threat that we would prepare for, it’s certainly not the only one. In the off-season, we’ll continue doing active-shooter response training to make sure that we have a prepared and engaged community for potential threats that we could face.

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

3

HURRICANE

Students feel lingering effects of hurricane season

By Amanda Herrera News Editor news@themiamihurricane.com @_amandaherrera

South Florida and Caribbean islands were witness to an active hurricane season this year. Puerto Rico was ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes while Miami saw one of the strongest storms in its history barrel through the city. Several University of Miami students are still recovering from the lingering impacts of the storms.

Senior Annie Louk spent the beginning of her semester worr ying about her family’s well-being after Hurricane Maria barreled through Puerto Rico Sept.

20 as a Category 4. The hurricane left the island without access to basic resources, including water and food. It also caused the island to lose electricity.

For Louk, the semester has been stressful, especially for the first few weeks following the hurricane when she wasn’t able to get in contact with her parents.

Louk, a double major in English literature and criminology, said for those weeks it was very hard to concentrate on her classes. Though she is now able to have regular contact with her family members, she has not been back to Puerto Rico since the summer.

Next week, she’ll be back in her native country for the first time.

“I honestly don’t really know what to expect when I go back,” Louk said. “All I hear is that there’s a lot of traffic sometimes and the power is flaky, so things aren’t really back to normal.”

Louk said she’s concerned about retur ning to a Puerto Rico still suffering from the

repercussions of the storm. She said the major problems in Puerto Rico revolve around “getting back to normal.” UM students returned to classes after a 20-day hiatus because of Hurricane Irma. For students studying in Puerto Rico, Louk said the recovery process is slower and ongoing.

“We were able to go back to campus but over there, there are still problems with electricity,” Louk said. “It comes and goes. It’s just a very slow recovery process.”

Senior Virgilio Capote, a Miami native, said he is still adjusting to the revised academic schedule, including deadlines for projects and assignments being “crunched” into a short time span.

UM administrators decided to extend classes until Dec. 20 and opt out of holding a traditional final exam period by having finals during class times, at the discretion

of faculty.

“That time in between assignments and finals that is normally given really does help out, but if you have a class where everything is due at the same time as another, it puts more pressure,” said Capote, a communications studies major. “I imagine it’s the same situation for other students.”

Capote, a university student employee, also said the storm affected him financially, as he was out of work for weeks.

“When it came to the semester, it’s been kind of hard getting into the groove of things,” he said. “There were also weeks where the checks weren’t where you wanted them because of the hours. For the most part, it was slow.”

Rebekah Chung, a South Florida native and Capote’s fiancée, has been through her fair

share of hurricanes. However, she said she has had a hard time managing her classes. This semester, she dropped one of her classes, opting to take it another semester.

“We’re tr ying to tr uck through it given the nature of our circumstances,” she said.

Chung said the hardest part has been getting back into the swing of things after new arrangements in the academic calendar were made. She said in some of her classes, professors have decided to cram many assignments together and make assignments originally scheduled to be in-class into homework assignments.

“We’ve had to readjust and realign ourselves with the material,” Chung said. “It’s been a bit more stressful than usual.”

NEWS BRIEFS Pancakes with Pat The last couple of weeks of school are hard for many people. If you’re looking for an energy boost, fuel yourself with free pancakes and hot chocolate with Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Whitely. She will be joined by members of Student Government, Omicron Delta Kappa and ‘Canes Care for ‘Canes. All food and beverages are free.

WHEN: 9-10 p.m. Dec. 13 WHERE: Space between Shalala Student Center and Food Court

K[no]w More An initiative created by UM students Evelyn Mangold and Maddie Xilas, the K[no]w More campaign will look to bring hundreds of women on campus together to wear matching shirts with the slogan K[no]w More. The campaign seeks to demand the university do more to support and educate the community about sexual assault. There have been nearly 300 orders for shirts which will be distributed on Dec. 12 in the UC Breezeway. Extra shirts will be available for purchase.

WHEN: Dec. 13 (Shirt distribution noon to 5 p.m.

Dec. 12 in UC Breezeway) WHERE: University of Miami campuses

PAMM Free Community Night: Tech Takeover The PAMM will host a showcase of Miami’s tech startups. The night will include presentations from different businesses using technologies to transform the community, such as Breeze Creative, an interactive experience design company, and Code/Art Miami, a nonprofit organization working to increase the number of girls studying computer science. The event is part of a weekendlong tech takeover seeking to merge art and technology.

WHEN: Pérez Art Museum Miami WHERE: 6-9 p.m. Jan. 4

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NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

CAMPUS LIFE

Why are the ducks on campus?

By Tej Joshi Contributing News Writer

Wi l l i a m S e a r c y i s a professor of ornithology at UM, specializing in behavioral ecology and animal communication.

Although the campus ducks might be a charming yet strange element of UM life, Searcy is no stranger to analyzing wildlife. He received his doctorate in zoology from the University of Washington in Seattle and has had a long and decorated career in ornithology.

In 2014, he was awarded The Exemplar Award, given to individuals who have made major contributions to public policy by “valuing the knowledge resident in academia and using research and analysis” to craft solutions to policy problems, according to the Animal Behavior Society.

He shared insight on birds and other wildlife on UM’s Coral Gables campus, including during the removal process of a number of the Muscovy ducks in 2016 due to health and safety concerns. Searcy said the removal of the ducks would have no major impact on the campus ecosystem.

Now, he tells more about his profession and the wildlife on the campus.

Tej Joshi // Contributing News Writer BIRDS OF A FEATHER: William Searcy is a professor of ornithology at UM, and specializes in behavioral ecology and animal communication. Searcy studies birds and other wildlife on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus, including the invasive Muscovy ducks.

specialize in ornithology and not a different aspect of zoology?

amount of wildlife on UM’s campus?

WS:

WS:

Well, it was through a class I took when I was an undergraduate at UC-Berkeley. I took a class called natural history of the vertebrates, a very famous field course. And part of that was looking at birds out in the field, and I really fell in love with it, and it all followed from there.

In large part, it is because you can observe them [birds] so well in nature. They are primarily visual and auditory, so their two main modes of communication are by sounds and by sight. Also, they are very active in the day, while mammals are often mostly active at night when they are hard to see.

You can watch birds and follow their communication behavior in a way that you can’t with mammals or fish.

I’d say we sort of fall in the middle of the distribution. It is true that we have some really interesting bird species on campus, and the lake especially attracts a variety of birds. But there are other campuses that have larger numbers of birds. Those are campuses that are more rural.

TMH:

TMH:

Why did you decide to

How would you describe the

The Miami Hurricane: How did you first get involved in ornithology?

William Searcy:

TMH: How would you generally describe the types of species on UM’s campus?

WS:

Miami in general has a lot of invasive species, and there are some invasive birds on campus that are really cool. The blue and gold Macaws are quite spectacular.

There are a whole lot of invasive lizards on campus, and they are at very high densities, so that is very fun.

TMH:

TMH:

Can students interact with wildlife on campus?

What about the Ibis and Muscovy ducks? They seem to be everywhere on campus.

WS: Well, the Ibis are great. They are beautiful and they are native.

The Muscovy ducks are a little different in that they are an

invasive species in Florida. South Florida has a whole lot of fresh water marshes, and the Ibises like salt water marshes. What’s different about the Ibis is that they flock together, and we often have flocks of Ibis on campus.

WS: In general, it is best not to interact with wildlife. I’d be surprised if you could actually pet any of these birds. But people do feed ducks, and having small children feed ducks is fine.

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

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INTERNATIONAL

Students with ties to Haiti reflect on TPS program while end looms

By Zach Grissom Senior News Writer

Emmy Petit’s story is similar to that of many other young people in South Florida. Petit was born to Haitian immigrants and raised in Miami. Her parents, like many immigrants, came to the United States looking for better opportunities than their home country could offer, such as employment and education.

More than 200,000 Haitian immigrants reside in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, accounting for the largest concentration of Haitian immigrants in the country, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2015.

Petit has family members still in Haiti who she hopes will be able to come to the United States one day, she said. But that possibility seems bleak now.

The Trump Administration announced in late November the termination of Temporary Protected

Status for Haitians looking to leave the island. TPS is a humanitarian program that was signed into law

by George H. W. Bush in 1990. The program grants temporary residency to nationals of countries affected by ongoing conflict, natural disasters or other “extraordinary and temporary conditions.” TPS was extended to include Haitian refugees after an earthquake devastated the island in 2010.

Approximately 60,000 Haitians have been allowed to work and live legally in the United States since 2010 and have been immune to removal under TPS, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The program is set to expire on July 22, 2019.

“The Haitians that are here, they see a possibility of creating a life,” Petit said, a graduate student in the School of Communication. “But when they think of going back, they don’t.”

Petit’s uncle and three of her cousins reside in the United States

on the TPS program. The program has allowed her family members to live in the United States without fear of deportation. However, with the termination of the program for Haitians, TPS recipients must make plans to return to Haiti by July 2019.

Otherwise, they will risk deportation.

A recent statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security declared that Haiti is “able to safely receive traditional levels of returned citizens.”

However, Petit said Haiti still has “a lot of work to do to create a stable environment for its citizens.”

Haiti is the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, with 60 percent of its population living in poverty, according to the CIA’s World Factbook.

Junior Diane Petit-Frere voiced similar concerns about the ability of Haitian refugees to return to a stable Haiti. Petit-Frere, who last visited Haiti in 2014 and still has family members there, said that the lingering effects of the 2010 earthquake are still visible on

the island.

“There are still people living in tents who lost their houses; there are still roads that haven’t been constructed yet,” said Petit-Frere, a double major in political science and English.

Mirza Tanis, a junior majoring in finance from Port-Au-Prince, last returned to Haiti in 2015. For Tanis, the Trump Administration’s decision is a blow to those on the program, but also to the economy of the island nation, since so many HaitianAmericans and Haitians living in the United States were sending resources to their families on the island.

“You are taking away the ability for Haitian refugees on the TPS program to provide for their families back in Haiti, and also for them to take care of themselves,” Tanis said.

Remittances account for 29.4 percent of Haiti’s GDP, meaning that the deportation of Haitian individuals in the United States would likely strike another blow to the world’s 18thpoorest economy in terms of GDP

per capita.

Even so, a common theme among the Haitian community at UM is the ability to persevere, along with the dream that one day all of their family members will be able to come to the United States legally.

“On our flag, what it says is, ‘l’union fait la force,’ which means, ‘unity creates force” Tanis said. “So at the end of the day, we still have to pick ourselves up.”

For Petit’s cousins, earning full U.S. citizenship is a dream that may never become a reality. Petit’s cousins have exhausted the legal channels to citizenship, applying for residency but spending years waiting for their applications to be processed, a wait that continues to this day. For her family members who were not born in the United States, “residency would be a dream,” Petit said.

“The majority of immigrants that I know from Haiti are hardworking,” Petit said. “They see themselves having a future here.”

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NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

ADMINISTRATION

Dean Holmes breaks down decisions throughout fall semester

By Amanda Herrera News Editor news@themiamihurricane.com @_amandaherrera

Ryan Holmes, former assistant vice president for student support at the University of Texas at El Paso, was named the University of Miami’s new associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students over the summer.

Throughout the first semester of his tenure, Holmes has faced tough decisions.

The Louisiana native obtained his master’s degree in counseling and personnel services in 2004 from the University of Maryland, College Park, as well as one in bilingual-bicultural studies from La Salle University in 2008. In 2014, Holmes received his doctoral degree in educational leadership and administration from UTEP. Holmes sat down with UM student media leaders last month to discuss a variety of different studentrelated topics, as well as how he handles the pressure of being in charge of a student population of approximately 16,000.

University first impressions Holmes has been working in higher education since 2002 and has held various positions at several universities, including graduate coordinator for Black Student Involvement & Community Advocacy at the University of Maryland, director of off-campus communities at La Salle University and assistant dean of students and director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at UTEP. He said UM is different and “tame” from what he’s used to in his extensive career of student oversight. He said the categories of student concern at UM are not that different from what he’s seen before, though he said he’d like to see a decline in the number of alcoholrelated incidents.

However, he said the university’s numbers could be because of a unique semester.

“Our university here is

different, but we’ve also been impacted by the hurricane,” Holmes said. “We’ve seen some activities that are connected to a reset period.”

Holmes said, in his experience, incidents requiring disciplinary action are more likely to be reported toward the beginning of the semester as “everyone is trying to get to know themselves.”

With Hurricane Irma, students’ trends were interrupted. So with two “beginnings” to the semester, numbers increased during those time periods. However, as midterms and finals approach, students tend to get into the normal flow of the semester and disciplinary numbers decrease.

On tailgating culture Holmes and his staff are present at every home football game. Holmes said he had been warned about the tailgate culture at UM. Traditionally, parking lots nine and 10 have been reserved for student organizations to tailgate at Hard Rock Stadium. However, in October, Holmes met with Greek organization leaders to announce major changes in tailgating procedures. He said the decision was made after weeks of meetings and observations.

Holmes said the first time he saw what “everyone had warned” him about was at the MiamiGeorgia Tech game where he saw the lots filled with “1,500 to 2,000 students all in one place.”

Holmes then called a Greek leadership meeting to brainstorm ways to ensure that the types of behavior exhibited would not occur again. Holmes said each organization came up with different stipulations and presented them to their members. However, the numbers for the following game against Syracuse doubled from 11 to 21 incidents, at least two medical transports and five ejections.

“Once we realized that the numbers had gone up after giving students a chance to curtail the situation, that’s when I met with Pat Whitely and I told her that there were some things I’d really like to put in place,” he said.

Amanda Herrera // News Editor CALLING MIAMI HOME: Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Ryan Holmes Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Ryan Holmes sits down to talk with UM student media leaders during a roundtable in November. In his first semester at UM, he has had to address tailgating safety concerns and a major hurricane hitting South Florida.

Holmes said he once again met with the same individuals in Greek life and told them the unsafe behaviors could not continue.

“The only thing that I told them was ... ‘Please make sure that you do everything that you possibly can to make sure the behaviors are not repeated and that students are safe,’” Holmes said.

Lots nine and 10 reservations for student organizations were then lifted.

The following home game agains Virginia Tech saw a decrease in number of incidents from 21 to six.

“Students made the actual changes; we never really had to come in to do anything, even though we would have,” Holmes said. “We were prepared to.”

On Greek Life Florida State University is just one of the many universities in the country that has suspended all Greek life on its campus indefinitely following a student death due to a hazing incident. Holmes said his office is ready to act accordingly if

such incidents were to be brought to light at UM. “We’re going to do everything we possibly can as a university to make sure all students, regardless of Greek affiliation or not, are safe,” he said.

At UM, nearly 25 percent of the student population is involved in Greek life, according to the UM Fact Book. Holmes said students are the ones who probably know more about what’s going on around campus than he does at a given time.

“We can’t be around every single student population at once,” Holmes said.

He said his office is operating under four S’s: “safety, service, success and support.” He said if a student feels as though things aren’t being addressed the right way, students should bring their concerns to his office.

“We’re not perfect but we need the community’s help to know exactly the areas that people think we can improve upon so we have no excuse but to work and deal with that,” he said.

Student oversight Holmes has been in the business of student oversight for more than a decade. He said it is because of his extensive time in student affairs that he is able to handle the responsibility of being dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs.

“It’s easy for me to sleep and turn it off,” he said. “I say ‘turn it off ’ kind of loosely ... I wouldn’t say I’m desensitized but I understand what my role is. I understand what I mean to the university and what the university means to me.”

Holmes, a father of two, said his motivation to address current issues in student life is so students in the future don’t have to, including his 5-year-old daughter.

“If we don’t necessarily get some of the things right now that the folks in the ‘90s didn’t get right back then ... That the folks in the ‘60s didn’t get right before, they’ll still be here,” Holmes said. “When I look at her, I just hope that whoever the dean of students is at her college ... I hope they get it right.”

The Miami

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

Opinion

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Was 2017 the ‘year of the woman’?

Was 2017 the “year of the woman?” Will 2018 be? Energized by changing tides, some, such as MAKERS’ newsletter, have made those claims – but with so much left to work on, doing so feels like a premature pat on the back.

Of course, we can’t understate the strides that have been made. This year saw victims of sexual assault come forward, courageously sharing their stories to shine a light on rampant abuse – the full extent of which, no doubt, has yet to be seen – and, more importantly, being listened to and believed, and their aggressors facing consequences.

It has been a painful, necessary move toward accountability and – hopefully – the kind of world where less and less people will have to say, “me too.”

Politically, too, promising changes are afoot. As we head into 2018 and look toward elections, 354 House and 38 Senate candidates are women, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers. In the Senate alone, that’s twice what we saw at this time two years ago.

But we can’t forget that so much of this momentum, of women speaking out and running for office, happened in response to the very things that made 2017 not the best for women.

When President Donald Trump slashes birth control coverage, that’s bad for women.

When he derides Sen. Elizabeth Warren and calls her “Pocahontas,” that’s bad for women. When he endorses Senate candidate Roy Moore, accused of sexually assaulting underage girls, that’s bad for women, too.

When someone that influential acts with nonchalant

sexism in his highly-publicized life, it doesn’t do much to dissuade others from following suit. Sure, celebrities and beloved actors are coming forward with stories of their abuse and that is good, but what happens to those women who are unknown, who work quietly under the shadows of domineering men and suffer their abuses in silence because their livelihood depends on it?

When there are women still being assaulted, taken as sex slaves and child brides, and stripped of their dignity on the basis of gender, that is a problem. When female genital mutilation is still rampant and marital rape was just labeled a crime in some nations, there is a long way to go. When more than 60 million girls worldwide are unable to get an education, what are we celebrating? When there are women – especially trans women, especially trans women of color – being abused and murdered by strangers for turning down “compliments” or more commonly, by domestic partners, there are pervasive issues to be addressed.

Even in our everyday lives, sexism abounds. The exclusivity and “bro culture” of certain malecentric workspaces, such as STEM, keeps women from considering going into those fields. Pay disparity plagues working women and the gap grows wider as they grow their families – or simply reach the age when they’re expected to grow a family. And these issues are only made worse still if the woman is a person of color or part of the LGBTQ community or lives in a place with a scarcity of resources or oppressive leadership, or any combination of these factors. To see the true picture of the “year of the woman,” we must look outside

our narrow worldview and see the systemic misogyny plaguing every region of the globe.

These problems are still present in 2017, so why should women remember this year with any fondness? What’s more, the idea of calling any single year the “year of the woman” implies a sort of fleetingness. When four women were elected into the U.S. Senate in 1992, that year earned a similar nickname. That was a huge achievement, but does it mean that good years for women are limited?

Are there only so many to go around, with one coming every 25 years, saving the rest for men? Or do they come in rotations, like the zodiac?

It’s healthy to celebrate the movements that made a difference in a year. How else would we mark our progress? But adding a label like this likens women’s achievement to a calendar, or a contest which you can only win every so often.

When a football player wins MVP, they’re lauded for it – but the award is treated like something to savor, a special moment that has no guarantee of being repeated. The same holds true for defining years – embrace steady, positive progress instead of one or two-time awards.

Not only is naming a year shortsightedly ineffective; it’s a superficial, potentially misleading gesture. The words, however unintentionally, convey a sort of decisive “win” for women, a façade of success that might encourage the uninitiated observer to kick back and relax because their work is done – when in reality, it’s just getting started.

However you refer to this year or the next, the momentum that’s been generated is undeniable. Use it. Follow it through. Make 2018,

and the following years, even better for women by continuing to talk openly about women’s issues and advocating for change in meaningful ways.

The increase in women running for office is a smart place to start. Get to know the candidates, and familiarize yourself with their plans, their ideas. You don’t owe them a vote, just the chance to hear a voice that’s long been silenced.

On a social level, men and women ought to speak up when they encounter even casual sexism.

When a woman calls another woman a derogatory term in a malicious way, or even when a woman tries to make herself more palatable by saying she is “not like other women,” it propagates the sexist expectations that are already unduly placed on women by society. Get more creative with your criticisms. When a man (or woman) criticizes sexual assault, only to put his concerns in the context of being a brother, cousin or boyfriend to a woman, his friends can step in and remind him that women have a worth that’s all their own – not one that’s dependent upon her relation to a man.

It remains important not to get too comfortable with the state of things. Let the strides made in 2017 be a drop in the bucket, the roots of a movement you can proudly take part in, not the be-all, end-all of women’s achievement – we can definitely do better.

Unlike bell-bottoms or the envogue “millennial pink” of 2016, positive change that creates a more equitable world does not need to be a passing fad.

Editorials represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.

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OPINION

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018 PERSONAL FOCUS

CAMPUS LIFE

What do we take for granted while studyingat the U?

By Summer Singh Contributing Columnist

Too many times, we get so caught up in our daily schedule that we don’t appreciate our unique campus. Obviously, it’s great to be a Miami Hurricane, but what aspects of The U do we actually take for granted – and not realize until our days at UM have come and gone?

One such feature is the

school’s ambiance. For some, it’s the serenity: the view of the lake from the second-floor terrace in the Shalala Student Center, sitting in the shade of the orange umbrellas on the UC Patio or relaxing on the moss steps on the edge of Lake Osceola. Since we live in Miami, we’re also able to take advantage of the sunny weather year-round and enjoy gorgeous sunsets every day. That is, when it’s not raining.

But for some reason, even during the hurricane season’s torrential

downpours, our campus still looks just as gorgeous.

Our campus has a unique culture.

We’re friends with international students, we hear foreign languages as we walk to class and we see the hustle and bustle of the always-packed, aromatic farmers market on Wednesdays, which comes rain or shine.

Summer Singh is majoring in public health.

a

junior

What impression do freshmen have of campus so far?

By Andrea Illan Contributing Columnist

During O-week, we all sat in the Watsco Center with the people who would soon become our beloved roommates, classmates, friends and, for some, significant others. We were taught spirit chants, told about the greatness of UM, and, most importantly, learned that “your education belongs to U.” We sat wide-eyed, pondering

the possibilities of this new chapter – but we never imagined that a major hurricane would hit and force us to leave our new home just a few weeks after we arrived. We didn’t we think the term “hurrication” would become an essential part of our vocabulary. One (almost) undefeated football season and an A$AP Ferg concert later, we were able to overcome the effects of Hurricane Irma and make the most of our first semester at the U. As we prepare to take on spring

semester, it seems impossible that it was only four months ago that we first left our homes to become adults. For the UM Class of 2021, the unconventional nature of this semester has made it that much more special, while simultaneously reminding us that it’s great to be a Miami Hurricane, regardless of the situation.

Andrea Illan is a freshman majoring in journalism and political science.

What items should be on every UM student’s bucket list?

By Dana Munro Contributing Columnist

Let’s not sugarcoat it: college can be stressful. We have grades to maintain, more extracurriculars than elements on the periodic table and no parents around to advise us that 10 successive all-nighters might not be the wisest study strategy.

To counteract stress, I have been composing a bucket list chockfull of unproductive activities that are nevertheless completely

worthwhile.

First, go to a shelter and spend some time petting dogs and cats.

I checked this one off early on this year, and it was wonderfully therapeutic. Being surrounded by toucans, flamingos and toddlersized iguanas certainly has its charm, but every so often, it’s nice to be with the sweet, domesticated animals we know and love.

Second, drive to Orlando and visit Disney World. Is there anyone at UMiami who doesn’t have this on their bucket list? Shamelessly love Disney and spontaneously take the

four-hour drive to see Mickey while you’re still young, if you can afford it. Florida residents get a discount.

Lastly, explore Miami Beach.

Flooded with Cuban music, fried plantains of all varieties and crystal blue waves, there is truly nowhere else like it.

When schoolwork and exams are at their peak, go and explore all this region has to offer. It just might do you more good than that 11th all-nighter.

Dana Munro is a sophomore majoring in musical theater.

A new kind of home for the holidays It’s a given: everyone wants to be home for the holidays.

The media

By Alexandra Aiello Contributing Columnist depict people racing and rushing through traffic to make it back home, while others wait for their significant others under the mistletoe. The season’s most popular schema is a loving family huddled together a living room by a fire and an oversized Christmas tree, menorah or other festive symbol to represent this special time.

However, as a college student, being at school for a large portion of this jolly time of year can feel a little different. Your family is not around to bake holiday cookies with you or to bring you hot chocolate.

You can’t walk outside to be welcomed by a snowy, winter wonderland.

For many students, the holiday season was always celebrated at home with friends and family – that is, before college. Now that we spend a significant portion of this season at school – even more so because of Hurricane Irma – how does this affect one’s views on the “home for the holidays” tradition?

It’s strange becoming an adult and realizing that you’re going to have to achieve that sense of “home” in a whole new place. I have been dealing with this realization for a while, but it’s not necessarily

a bad thing.

I went to boarding school throughout high school, so a large portion of the holiday season was spent away from home.

When you live and develop relationships in a new community, it becomes your home as well. You come to foster a new sense of family and belonging.

My roommate and I have decorated our room to celebrate the holidays, and friends and I are planning on doing a Secret Santa gift swap. We are all here to support each other. If you do not feel that you have established a strong enough sense of home here yet, go reach out to those around you. Engage within your community, whether it be your floor in your dorm or the larger Miami community.

Go to holiday-themed events to meet some new friendly faces. There are countless community-wide activities, such as gingerbread decorating events in the dorms, which can make your holiday experience at college a lot more welcoming and warm.

We are all growing up, and as this happens we make homes for ourselves, meet important people in our lives and find new senses of belonging. So whenever you are down about having a shortened time in your hometown for the holidays, remember that you have a home and a huge family, all in the same position as you, here at the U. Alexandra Aiello is a freshman at the University of Miami.

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

OPINION

9

CULTURE

Cash-strapped students can give back, too The season of giving is upon us, and we hardly have enough pocket change for one measly

By Dana Munro Contributing Columnist packet of ramen.

Something tells me donating $3,000 to Doctors Without Borders is not in the cards for broke college students. We admire these noble institutions and want to make contributions, but we barely have enough to scrape by ourselves.

So how can we give back for the holidays?

Maybe we don’t need a

deeper wallet – just a little creativity.

In my mere 20 years, I’ve witnessed a myriad of seemingly small, kind acts that have made a larger impression than the giver could have fathomed. From one friend walking across campus in the dark to get my backpack that I left in Dooly, to another simply asking how I was feeling after having spent the year with a chronic illness, I know the power of going the extra mile.

Have you ever been in the Starbucks drive-through line and the barista told you that the previous customer paid for your drink? If you have, you were on the receiving end of the “pay it forward” campaign at Starbucks, an initiative that

began in Zhuhai, China, when a barista gave a frequent customer, Mr. Tong, a size of coffee larger than he ordered. Overwhelmed by gratitude, he paid for the next 500 drinks purchased at that Starbucks.

You can implement the paying it forward mentality, too.

When you have the means to give a little extra, do so. Next time you’re in the Starbucks line, if you have just $5 to spare, offer to pay for the person behind you.

Think of the incredible chain reaction you are catalyzing.

Perhaps someone behind you in line has just had a loved one pass away, and maybe someone else just broke off a longterm relationship. You never know. The notion you’ve done

something nice and made some sort of impact might even make your day, too.

Of course, you don’t need money to give back this season.

Hold the elevator open for someone carrying a large object, or help them carry it to their destination. If someone spills something in the dining hall, help them clean it up. If there is a person or people you have always admired for whatever reason – their attitude, talent, intellect – send them an email, text, phone call or tell them in person what you admire. If you’re with a group of friends and they begin to gossip about someone, assert yourself and avert the topic of discussion. Some acts of kindness call for a little bit of bravery.

We should also take this season of giving to recognize what’s been given to us: the luxury of attending this university, and the luxury that we are able to give back at all. So many worthy young adults don’t have the means to attend a school as beautiful as ours, or any school at all.

There are no bounds to the ways we can give back to our community. Even though these gestures are less costly than a hefty donation, we can help incite a spirit of generosity this holiday season.

Dana Munro is a sophomore majoring in musical theater.

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EDGE

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

Photo courtesy Katie Gibbs SWEET TREAT: Those with a sweet tooth line up in front of the Museum of Ice Cream in Miami Beach during Art Basel. The museum, which features dessert-inspired art exhibits and plenty of photo opportunities, is open to the public until February 2018.

Instagram-able Museum of Ice Cream opens in Miami Beach

By Shellie Frai Edge Editor edge@themiamihurricane.com

“We love ice cream, let’s celebrate it,” Manish Vora said, co-founder of MOIC. The museum is inspired by a passion for ice cream, experience and art.

The first MOIC location opened in New York City last summer and gained popularity from there. UM senior, Robyn Shapiro, missed her

chance to visit the museum in the Big Apple.

“I heard about it when it was in New York and I really wanted to go, but all the tickets were sold out,” Shapiro said.

For those who missed it in NYC – or at its other previous locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco – and wants to journey through the magical wonderland of sweet treats and funfilled, interactive rooms, it officially opens to the public in Miami Beach Dec. 13 at 3400 Collins Ave.

Each room has a different ice cream theme, ranging from milkshakes to banana splits to sprinkles.

Throughout the tour, there are delicious samples, including milkshakes, frozen bananas, milk cartons filled with “melted ice cream” and Miami’s own flavor: key lime pie.

One of the most Instagram-able features in the museum is a bananashaped swing placed amongst a group of tropical banana trees. The sprinkle pool (yes, it is literally a pool filled with sprinkles and yes, you can

actually swim in them) also holds great potential for a fun and playful Boomerang.

But with the museum’s many colorful props and backdrops, along with your own imagination and personal flair, the sky is the limit for photo-ops.

“What is the creativity you are bringing inside the museum?” Vora said. “What are you wearing?”

But the museum is about more than social media; it’s about the whole experience.

“The purpose of this experience is to get you off your phone and get you interacting with each other,” Vora said.

“Getting you to be like, ‘Wait, you’re my best friend, and I don’t know what your favorite ice cream flavor is.’ That’s insane!”

Tickets are not sold out yet but are going fast. You have to buy tickets in advance, so head to museumoficecream.com through February to get yours. Tickets cost $38.

Check out the Museum of Ice Cream before it melts away in the Miami heat.

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

EDGE

11

‘Little Women’ sends powerful message about gender roles

By Alexandra Rothman Staff Edge Writer

The curtains opened in the Cosford Cinema for the first performance of the CaneStage Theatre Company production, “Little Women,” on Dec. 7.

CaneStage is a theater club under the umbrella of Hurricane Productions. Unlike the Ring Theatre, the club’s cast, director, actors and live band are all students and have organized the play themselves.

“Little Women” is a family drama that follows the life of a girl named Jo and her three sisters during the Civil War. Jo, an aspiring writer, is torn between her love of adventure and fitting into the societal norms her aunt and mother try to force on her.

Each of the four sisters, Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth, face heartache and adventures together as they

teeter on the brink of womanhood.

Briana Earhart, a senior theater arts major, was cast as Amy and felt a deep connection to her role and the play.

“I think this play is timeless,” Earhart said. “The message is so sweet. If you continue to pursue your passion, you can accomplish anything, even if hardship comes.

Sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”

The production of “Little Women” was accompanied by a live band that played the soundtrack as all of the actors performed their songs.

The band played emotional ballads as well as upbeat songs. “I’d Be Delighted” was one of the plays more up-tempo songs, while “Some Things Are Meant To Be” was slower and more emotional.

Melissa D’Albora, a masters composition major, was one of the violists in the band of the play. She has participated in a CaneStage

production before, previously performing in “Into the Woods.”

“I always prefer live music,” D’Albora said. “I actually think it’s

a traditionalist who constantly criticizes Jo for her lack of “sophistication in society.” The sisters are constantly torn between

“The message is so sweet. If you continue to pursue your passion, you can accomplish anything, even if hardship comes. Sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”

BRIANNA EARHART easier for the singers because now they can take their time with their lyrics and be more expressive.”

The exceptional singing and great instrumentals kept the themes of the 1869 novel lively and contemporary.

The girls’ aunt March is

their personal desires and the expectations of their mother, aunt and older neighbor.

Brielly Roy, a masters of professional science graduate student, played Meg, one of the sisters. She said this play was very important for young women to see

and understand today because of its emphasis on women having the right to go out into the world and follow their ambitions. This is something Roy learned the hard way when she experienced double standards as a STEM student.

“People shouldn’t try to stop us from not falling into those gender norms and traps,” Roy said.

“I’ve experienced those kinds of persecutions myself, and it is really disheartening. But to see a story such as ‘Little Women’ and see Jo March go out there and pursue her dreams and goals and become a writer is phenomenal. I am so blessed to be able to bring that message to our audiences.”

The audience had a positive response to the performance. Kelsey Blackstone, an audience member and a theater arts major, was surprised and happy to see the gender roles dominate the discussion, given the current national discourse.

?

ARE YOU a leader Learn more about being a

RESIDENT ASSISTANT

at a mandatory information session.

Last information sessions of the fall semester!

Dec. 7 • Shalala Student Center Iron Arrow Room • 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 13 • Virtual Information Session* • 12:30 p.m. *Visit the link below for access information

www.miami.edu/housing/raselection

12

SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

54.8%

Malik Rosier has third lowest completion percentage of ACC starting quarterbacks. He is ahead of Boston College’s Anthony Brown and Georgia Tech’s Ta’Quon Marshall.

COMMENTARY

Rosier must prove himself again to start in 2018

By Maxwell Trink Contributing Sports Writer @MaxwellTrink

In 2017, starting quarterback Malik Rosier led the Miami football program to heights it hasn’t reached in years. But he also left the team with a number of questions.

What if he was able to complete one of many deep passes to a wideopen Ahmmon Richards in the loss to Pittsburgh? What if the pass to Jeff Thomas was thrown just a little bit further to give UM a chance to score on the opening drive against Clemson? Would this have changed anything? Regardless, the games were marked by a multitude of missed opportunities on offense.

And that started and ended with the man under center and the struggles he faced.

Regardless of what happens in the Orange Bowl against Wisconsin Dec. 30, the uncertainty surrounding Rosier’s ability to consistently throw accurate passes means there will likely be an open competition for the starting quarterback spot come 2018.

Head coach Mark Richt said “focus, discipline and accuracy” made Rosier stand out in August.

“He showed up focused every day on his job,” he said. “He was disciplined in his fundamentals. He was hitting his targets and he did a very good job.”

While Rosier, who will be a senior next season, did throw 25 touchdowns this season, he completed just 49 percent of his passes in the final six games. That’s just not going to get it done. Accuracy can’t be a problem for a team with aspirations to win the national championship in the near future.

Rosier will have some talented quarterbacks to compete against next fall.

Now, freshman N’Kosi Perry is going to make Rosier work for his

Hunter Crenian // Visuals Editor STAYING SHARP: Miami quarterback Malik Rosier prepares for matchup against then No. 13-ranked Virginia Tech Nov. 4 at Hard Rock Stadium. Rosier completed just 50 percent of his passes during the 28-10 win and threw three interceptions.

starting job. Even though Perry has yet to play a minute in a college football game, his talent and potential to both throw and run the ball at a high level excites Canes fans.

Many believe he will be the dual-threat quarterback to flourish in Richt’s system and help bring Miami back to the top.

Cade Weldon is also a name Miami fans may get used to hearing.

The pro-style quarterback will be entering his sophomore year and has an accurate arm. He is the son of Casey Weldon, runner-up to Desmond Howard for the Heisman Trophy in 1991. Then coaching at FSU, Richt was Casey’s offensive coordinator.

“The young guys need to know what to do and own it for a while before they can compete at a high level at that position,” Richt said.

“But you can see the skillset of Perry and Weldon. You can see them making plays that you are like, ‘OK, this guy not only is smart but he has the ability to make plays.’”

Come 2018, they might reach that level.

The only other quarterback that had playing time in 2017 was sophomore Evan Shirreffs. He was Rosier’s competition for the starting job at the beginning of the season, but his brief moments of playing time weren’t pretty. Shirreffs completed just two of his seven passes for only 16 yards this season.

“Evan knows the system,” Richt said. “He knows our defense.

He knows how our system reacts to our defense. Certainly, that was an advantage.”

Miami will also have incoming freshman and four-star recruit

Jarren Williams. The U.S. Army All-American is rated as the No. 6-ranked dual-threat quarterback by 247Sports.

While Rosier did have problems throughout the season, he had his highlight moments. Against Florida State, he executed the drive to win the game. Playing against No. 3-ranked Notre Dame, his mobility allowed Miami to jump out to a huge lead and go on to beat the Fighting Irish.

But the problem was always Rosier’s consistency. Despite playing a key part in bringing the Hurricanes back into the national spotlight, fans just never knew what to expect, not only from game to game but also from quarter to quarter.

“I missed multiple receivers, and it’s something I’ve got to fix,” Rosier said after the loss to Pittsburgh.

“There are multiple times where we

play lackadaisical in the first half, and in the second half, we explode.

That’s something I’ve got to fix. I got to motivate the guys in the first half, so the second half doesn’t have to be some sort of miracle.”

UM tried this method again against Clemson, and it backfired.

Badly.

Second-half wins were a crucial part of Miami’s season, but reliance on this path to victory really hurt the team in its final games.

The Hurricanes need better, and that starts with the quarterback.

Whoever is chosen as the 2018 starter will have to stay consistent in both halves for UM to have a chance to make the College Football Playoff next season.

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018 FOOTBALL

We just don’t know right now. UM football coaches and players have yet to talk about whether the 2.5-kilogram, 10-karat gold chain will be a continued tradition going into 2018.

But many have already shared their thoughts on whether the Turnover Chain should be back next year. My answer is no.

Miami had a special run this season, one that brought back the type of excitement Canes fans hadn’t felt in years. And throughout that undefeated period of 10-straight wins, the Turnover

Chain led the momentum.

Every interception, every fumble recovery – it created this sense of invincibility.

But then Miami lost ... Twice.

And suddenly, the driving force of UM’s historic season started to feel more and more like a gimmick.

When it comes down to it, the Turnover Chain did its job. It got players and fans excited about playing defense at an elite level again, while also encompassing what Miami is all about.

But think of the chain as training wheels – once they help you learn to ride a bike, you don’t need them anymore.

The Hurricanes have learned to win again – and win with one of the best defenses in the country.

They no longer need a piece of jewelry to show that.

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What was the most important play of the Canes’ football season?

By Maxwell Trink Contributing Sports Writer @MaxwellTrink

The one play that really defined the season for the Canes was receiver Darrell Langham’s game-winning catch against the Seminoles.

Even without Deondre Francois, FSU threatened to hand Miami its first loss of the season and its eighth loss to the Noles in the past eight years.

Down by 3 points, Miami had just one minute 24 seconds left in the final quarter to come up with an answer. An 11-yard third down catch by Braxton Berrios put the Hurricanes in field-goal range to

SPORTS

Feeling Anxious About Food?

Will the Turnover Chain make a return next season?

By Isaiah Kim-Martinez Sports Editor sports@themiamihurricane.com @isaiah_km

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

potentially tie the score with 19 seconds left.

But UM wanted more, and quarterback Malik Rosier found Langham in the end zone for a miraculous catch that sealed the win with just six seconds left.

The perfect way to beat your rival is by leaving them with their jaws dropped, and that is exactly what the Canes did. Miami was almost defeated but pulled off an unpredictable finish that set the tone and momentum for the rest of the winning streak. The curse was broken.

The impact of beating FSU in Tallahassee gave Miami the feeling that it could win the ACC Coastal Division and compete among the best teams in the country.

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14

SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

BASKETBALL

What does the future hold for Miami’s basketball program?

By Cody Brown Senior Sports Writer

In an annual poll for The Miami Hurricane earlier this year, I voted for men’s basketball as the UM sports program with the brightest future for a couple of reasons.

First, the team experienced sustained on-court success, making it to the NCAA Tournament threestraight years. Second, and more importantly, coach Jim Larrañaga had signed a top-10 recruiting class and managed to successfully recruit top high school talent for the first time in the program’s history.

It looked as if he transitioned the program away from his earlier philosophy of piecing together several misfit transfer athletes to field a team. Every aspect of the program seemed to be headed in the right direction.

That is, until the FBI showed up in mid-September to confront Larrañaga and the program about a pay-for-play scandal that rocked the college basketball landscape

and has seen several prominent assistant coaches arrested.

While nothing has been proven and Larrañaga remains adamant that he and his assistants are innocent, the investigation has already hit the program where it hurts. In the wake of these allegations, every major 2018 recruit has committed elsewhere, leaving the Canes with a basically nonexistent class for next season and not a whole lot of hope for future ones.

And even bigger questions remain.

Will Larrañaga and his staff still be intact and at Miami by the end of the next calendar year?

Will the Canes be forced to tear down and rebuild everything from scratch?

The irony of it all is that fans are being forced to ask these questions in the midst of what may be a historic season for the program this year. This season could bring unprecedented success, and Miami can only hope this will also bring at least some clarity for the program’s future.

BASEBALL

Was the 2017 UM baseball season a fluke?

By Josh White Senior Sports Writer @_JoshRWhite

The Miami Hurricanes baseball team missed the postseason for the first time in 44 years last season.

However, it looks like the Canes will be back in the playoffs in 2018.

UM returns a veteran pitching staff and welcomes talented freshmen Alex Toral and Chris

McMahon, who could make an immediate impact.

Junior infielder Romy Gonzalez and senior pitcher Jeb Bargfeldt headline Miami’s returnees who look to make sure manager Jim Morris’ 25th and final year at Miami is a successful one.

Don’t be surprised if the Canes are back to their winning ways of hosting regionals, super regionals and potentially making an appearance in the College World Series.

By Isaiah Kim-Martinez Sports Editor sports@themiamihurricane.com @isaiah_km

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLL The Hurricanes pulled off their biggest win of the season so far in a 65-54 victory over the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats Dec. 10 at the Watsco Center.

Led by freshman Endia Banks’ 12 points and eight assists, UM put forth a wellbalanced effort, with four players scoring in doublefigures. Senior center Erykah

Davenport recorded her third double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Miami held Kentucky to just 32 percent shooting.

The Canes play their final game of a seven-game home stand when they host Alabama State at 7 p.m.

Dec. 15 at the Watsco Center.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Miami received a lot of good news Dec. 11.

The Hurricanes have moved up to No. 6 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, their highest ranking since 2013.

It was also announced that freshman guard Lonnie Walker was named ACC Rookie of the Week after scoring a career-high 26

points to lead UM to a 69-54 win over Boston University Dec. 5.

The Canes will travel to Washington D.C. to face off against George Washington University at noon Dec. 16. The game will be a homecoming for freshman guard Chris Lykes, who is from Mitchellville, Maryland.

WOMEN’S TENNIS UM will kickoff the spring season by hosting the Miami Spring Invite Jan. 19-21 in the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

The competition will give the Hurricanes a chance to show off their skills against some of the best teams in the country.

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

V’S TAKE

15

Staying cuffed while away from bae for the holiday The semester is winding down, and that means V has been getting asked one pressing question again and again: What happens when I’m separated from my bae over break?

This is part of TMH’s Question and Answer edition, which means your favorite sexy sex columnist is going to give you a very questionable answer on this important topic.

It’s been said that distance Have a question makes the heart grow fonder, for V? Email but whoever said that was tripping harder than dearv@themiamihurricane.com. palm tree girl at Ultra 2013.

In my experience, absence rips your heart out, shoots it, runs it over with a bulldozer and then lights it on fire ... multiple times each day.

It starts with missing little things about your bae, then escalates to full-blown FOMO. It may even morph into anxiety about whether your bae is being loyal – all in the span of a few weeks.

Like many students, I’ve been looking forward to Dec. 20 since the post-Irma semester started.

But thinking about leaving makes me want to stay in this end-ofsemester hell forever. It always seems relationships with friends and boos build all semester and

peak two weeks before it ends, and then we just leave it all behind for a month.

So how do you cope with this and make sure you’re not bitter about your bae when you’re reunited in January? Talk about it. You have to talk about expectations and define the relationship if you haven’t already.

There’s nothing worse than hearing about your bae messing around with a hometown hottie over the holidays while you try to channel your inner Virgin Mary, so communication is key.

Text your person 40 times a day to remind them not only that you exist but that you are a charming, delightful gift they can

come back to after the holidays.

Harass them to keep a Snapchat streak going. FaceTime them each night and complain about your family or how depressed your hometown makes you.

Even if you’re not physically with your honey, there’s no reason you can’t make it seem that way.

After all, this is the 21st century.

And even if you made it out of Miami cuffing season shackle-free, this advice applies to friendships, too.

V wishes a happy holiday season to all you ho-ho-hos. If you want to ask V a question, email dearv@themiamihurricane.com.

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 12, 2017 - January 22, 2018

Come enjoy Pancakes and Hot Chocolate with Dr. Patricia A. Whitely,

Vice President for Student Affairs!

December 13, 2017 9:00 PM outside the shalala student center