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UM helps City of Miami with its bid to become location for Amazon’s second headquarters
Funding strong public transit network is essential for South Florida’s future
$34M philanthropy, small-scale crowdfunding pave the way for indoor practice facility
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NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
ACADEMICS
Hunter Crenian// Visuals Editor THE CUTTING EDGE: (From left) Alumnus and Johnson & Johnson engineering fellow Charles “Chip” Tomonto, College of Engineering Dean Jean-Pierre Bardet and UM President Julio Frenk cut the ceremonial ribbon for the new 3D printing lab called, “The Collaborative Laboratory”. The University of the Miami partnered with Johnson & Johnson to create the laboratory which opened Oct. 23 for donors and students to tour.
3D printing lab moves College of Engineering into 21st century By Zach Grissom Contributing Writer
The College of Engineering hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 23 for its new “Collaborative Laboratory,” a 3D printing lab that the University of Miami partnered with Johnson & Johnson to create. The university will now have one of the most advanced university-based 3D printing labs in the United States and the technology to take engineering education into the 21st century. The ceremony, attended by faculty, donors and alumni, marked the end of a nearly two-year project. UM President Julio Frenk said at the ceremony that this laboratory will enable the academic leaders on campus to create new, challenging, forward-thinking curriculum for students.
“It’s one of the best things that could have happened to the school,” said German Acosta, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering. Acosta started working in the lab over the summer and is one of six interns who will work alongside Johnson & Johnson engineers throughout the year. The interns will get firsthand experience with professionals and help with manufacturing approved projects for outside students and professors. “There is a lot more you learn from being on the job with people who know what they’re doing – and have done it for a while – than you do in the classroom,” he said. All engineering students will be able to use the printers for work related to academic projects. “The fact that it’s an open resource to get anything printed for your project
is already a valuable resource in itself,” said Jose Lardizabal, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Future UM engineering students can expect to use the collaborative laboratory as early as freshman year, College of Engineering Dean Jean-Pierre Bardet said. From there, students can move on to more complex projects, such as designing joint replacements and facial reconstructions, as they become more skilled. “Our world was basically limited to very simple shapes,” Bardet said. “With the 3D printing, you can manufacture all kinds of shapes which were not possible.” UM alumnus Joseph Sendra serves as vice president of manufacturing and engineering technology at Johnson & Johnson and was one of the people who developed the partnership to make the state-of-the-art lab a reality. “There’s none like it anywhere else
in the world,” Sendra said. “The ability to develop materials for 3D printing in conjunction with our engineers that will be based here, that’s an exciting prospect for our company, and it’s an exciting prospect for the students and faculty.” Oct. 23 marked the first day that UM donors and students were able to tour the new laboratory. Frenk said the lab will offer a place for the top scholars the university has recruited over the past few years to be experimental with their work. “The university has focused over the last three years on being a magnet for talent,” Frenk said. “Now we are poised to move forward by empowering these top talents with the tools and resources they need to redefine the traditional boundaries of scholarship and research.”
October 24 - October 30, 2017
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
NEWS
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NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
CAMPUS LIFE
Parking and Transportation to implement new permits in spring 2018 By Annie Cappetta Managing Editor managing@themiamihurricane.com @acmcappetta
Throughout the week, after drivers find and squeeze into parking spots and head to class or work, it’s a common sight to see campus parking enforcement officials patrolling and dropping tickets on windshields for people who have somehow violated a myriad of parking policies by taking those spots. One of those violations – failure to properly display a parking permit – will soon no longer warrant a ticket. The university’s Department of Parking and Transportation will be implementing new policies in spring 2018, including digital parking passes. Going fully digital will rely on license plate recognition technology already in use since spring 2016. Currently, parking enforcement vehicles are equipped with scanners that read license plates and notify parking enforcement officers which permit
the car is registered under, without having to look at the physical parking permit. Director of Parking and Transportation Richard Sobaram said because students have already received physical parking permits for the year, the plastic permits will still be seen on cars around campus. But come fall 2018, physical parking permits will be a thing of the past. When students register their cars for the next school year, they will not receive a physical permit. “Your licenses plate will be your permit,” Sobaram said. The new initiative will allow students to register more than one car per permit. However, only one car per student will be allowed on campus at a time. If a student has two cars registered, only one can be on UM’s premises within a four hour period at a time. Sobaram said the main reason to go digital is safety. “It helps as parking officers become better eyes for UMPD,” he said. “It helps us that any unwanted vehicle on campus is reported.”
Sobaram said the university will save nearly $50,000 on costs of printing and mailing an estimated 10,000 permits every summer. However, he said the biggest benefit is convenience to students by not having to worry about displaying a parking permit at all times. Kyra Williams, a senior studying English, commutes daily from her apartment about 3 miles from the Coral Gables campus. Although she said she’s never received a citation, she welcomes the idea of a virtual parking permit. “If one day you didn’t have the hanger from your car, it would be super annoying to get a ticket since you have a pass, so I think the digital parking permits would actually be helpful,” Williams said. However, not all students see the new initiative in a positive light. “Digital parking will make it a lot easier to get parking tickets and will not really improve the experience,” said junior Andrea Trespalacios, an international studies major. With the implementation of one new policy comes another. Florida is one of
18 states in the United States that only requires a license plate in the back of the vehicle, meaning that any vehicle parked backwards cannot be scanned. So starting in spring 2018, cars will not be allowed to park backed into the parking spot. Students and faculty with larger cars who prefer to park backwards must visit the Parking and Transportation office to obtain a front plate to attach to the front of their cars with the sequence number of their permit. The license plate will cost between $15 and $20. If a car is parked backwards without permission, the owner of the vehicle will receive a warning and an email to remind them of the new policy. If the vehicle is found in violation after being warned, the owner will be issued a citation. “In two to three years from now, we would be behind in the times if we didn’t do this,” Sobaram said. “This is the trend in parking ... Technology is moving now. This is the way of the future.”
COMMUNITY
Miami submits proposal to become Amazon’s HQ2 with university’s help By Amanda Herrera News Editor news@themiamihurricane.com @_amandaherrara
The City of Miami submitted a bid to become home to Amazon’s second headquarters, with the help of the University of Miami. UM, along with Miami-Dade College and Florida International University, worked with the city’s Beacon Council – Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership – to submit a proposal to delivery giant Amazon Oct. 18. Provost and Executive Vice President Jeffrey Duerk said the university was part of an academic commission alongside other Florida schools that produced information to submit in the proposal. The university’s main role was to provide data to appeal to Amazon on what the city and university can offer the company, Duerk
said. He said the university “crafts talent” from which Amazon could benefit. “The quality of our students and academic programs is what makes us competitive,” Duerk said. For Gabriel Wadsworth, a graduate student studying finance, Miami becoming Amazon’s second home base would be an opportunity for students like himself. “It’ll be amazing for the economy,” Wadsworth said. “If Amazon has a big office, it’ll benefit the university in students actually being able to get jobs and also for the surrounding community. It’ll be a lot of high paying jobs.” Amazon’s proposal submission deadline was Oct. 19, and the company received 238 proposals from cities across North America, including Chicago and Atlanta. Seattle is currently home to Amazon’s only headquarters. According to the Amazon HQ2 website, the company’s investments in Seattle have generated “an additional $38 billion to the city’s
economy” in six years. Amazon said it’s expected to invest over $5 billion in construction and create an estimated 50,000 “high-paying” jobs in its HQ2 city. In September, Amazon released its preferred criteria, which included “a metropolitan area with more than one million people,” “a stable and businessfriendly environment” and “urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent.” UM President Julio Frenk was a part of the academic council alongside Duerk. Frenk said it’s the city’s location that sets it aside from any other in North America. “It’s one of the most global cities in the United States,” Frenk said. “It is, of course, at the crossroads of the Americas, but beyond that, it’s on the Eastern Seaboard ... It’s one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the United States.” Though Amazon started as an internet-based retailer, it has turned its attention to technological advancement. In
2016, the company introduced Amazon Prime Air. The new service provided customers orders within 30 minutes. The deliveries were made using drones – a first for an online retail company. For Frenk, Amazon’s innovative vision would pair well with a research university like the UM. “Every successful innovation hub has a comprehensive research university, and that university is the University of Miami,” Frenk said. “It’s just a very rich ecosystem that offers a lot of global company that obviously focuses on technological innovation like Amazon.” Amazon is expected to make its final decision in 2018. “The mix of the most privileged geographical location ... With a strong business and government and civic leadership, our own innovation and the presence of a top 50 research university like ours, I think makes a very compelling case,” Frenk said.
October 24 - October 30, 2017
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
Report finds great inequality in obtainment of care, pain relief By Amanda Herrera and Tommy Fletcher News Editor & Digital Producer news@themiamihurricane.com
Two life experiences inspired Felicia Knaul, UM professor, director of the University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas and first lady, to look into a global health crisis: losing her father to cancer and meeting a woman at a hospital in Mexico. At the age of 18, Knaul’s father died of stomach cancer. During his illness, she said she struggled to get sufficient pain relief medication to alleviate his anguish. Fast forward to 2012, when Knaul met a woman at a secondary level hospital in Mexico who had brain metastases. “We had nothing to offer her, the health system had nothing to offer her,” she said. During this same time, Knaul was working on “Closing the Global Cancer Divide,” a book outlining some of the major issues in cancer treatment, including global cancer care and control. She said one of the key problems with cancer turned out to be access to morphine, a pain reliever. “I didn’t believe it was true until I saw with my own eyes all over Mexico that we didn’t have what we needed, even for children with cancer,” Knaul said. The Lancet Commission Report on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain, chaired by Knaul, was released on Oct. 12. For three years, researchers focused on studying accessibility to opioids in 172 different countries.
The study found that nearly 61 million people a year need palliative care and pain relief from illnesses such as HIV, cancer and heart disease, but only a small fraction, approximately 15 to 20 percent, receive it. “The magnitude of the problem – enormous,” Knaul said. According to the report, there are 298.5 metric tons of morphine available worldwide. However, across the globe, only 10.8 metric tons are distributed in low- and middle-income countries, and only 0.1 is in low-income countries. UM President Julio Frenk, a senior author of the report, called the findings “disturbing.” “It revealed one of the most extreme inequity instances across countries that I had ever seen in 20 years in global health,” he said. Frenk has done extensive work in public health through the years, most notably as Mexico’s minister of health and at the World Health Organization. Though the report found most countries around the world are suffering from an opioid disparity, the United States is suffering from an opioid epidemic, with the heart of it being right here in Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 12.5 million people misused prescription opioids. The United States has an opioid surplus – nearly four times as many opioids needed to satisfy medical needs. “You obviously don’t market to patients, but this is not an area where any forprofit entity should be pushing to expand the
market,” Knaul said. “This is one where you need to have medically-designed, evidencebased guidelines that are managed by public policy.” Knaul said one of the biggest problems the United States faces is the lack of universal health coverage. She said if countries like the United States leave people without health insurance, they’re going to get poor care, especially those with complex conditions, mental health issues, chronic pain and the like. “They’re going to be pushed in directions that are sub-optimal,” Knaul said. “And one of them is to provide them with too much prescription pain medication.” People in need of pain-relief medication in low- and middle-income countries can obtain morphine tablets for 16 cents per 10 milligrams. In high-income countries, people can obtain morphine for 3 cents per 10 milligrams. The commission recommends a package of palliative care to be part of health systems worldwide. Knaul said in order for low- and middle-income countries to have morphine available to them at the same price as higher-income countries, it is necessary “to close the access abyss.” This would cost an estimated $1 million a year. “One million,” Knaul said. “In any budget of any institution, it’s tiny. It’s $145 million to close the gap. To put that into context, that is a fraction of the annual operating budget of any medium-sized hospital in the United States.”
There are 298.5 tons of opioids in morphine worldwide. 110.8 metric tons are distributed to ar low and middle income counties. 0.1 metric ton is distributed to low income countries
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NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
ACADEMICS
Students working multiple jobs play balancing game with school, work By Amanda Herrera News Editor news@themiamihurricane.com @_amandaherrera
Bouncing between classes and his job is just a normal part of junior Jorge Banegas’ everyday schedule. For Banegas, a computer science major, balancing two jobs and five classes has become part of his college experience. Banegas spends 30 hours of his week working at the University of Miami’s School of Business at the IT Service Desk, where he troubleshoots with computers or technology, and at the Gables One Tower troubleshooting remotely. Banegas said every week, since his freshman year, he has been averaging the same number of hours per week. Adjusting to working while keeping up with classwork was a struggle initially, Banegas said. However, now two years into his routine, he has found a way to make it work. “During my freshman and sophomore year, I had trouble balancing out everything,” Banegas said. “But now, I think time management and not just letting the day go by
and allocating the right time to assignments has become more natural.” He has a set lifestyle and has adjusted his expectations accordingly. Part of that lifestyle is little sleep, but that’s something he said is “normal as a college student.” Banegas doesn’t work two jobs just because he feels like it. He works two jobs to make ends meet. Both jobs are part of his financial aid package. He works as a Federal Work Study employee. Federal Work Study is a need-based program that offers eligible students opportunities to work part-time jobs on or off campus. “I work because I need the money to pay for school – to pay for my personal expenses and bills,” he said. “I have to pay the small amount I owe left after scholarships.” On average, Banegas said he spends more than half of his monthly earnings on fixed expenses. Out of the $850 he earns a month, he spends $400 of it on leisure. Banegas said the most important thing for him to remember is to plan ahead. Even though he is used to his routine now, he said he still
sometimes gets behind in his classes. Federal Work Study jobs can include internships outside of campus as well, such as the Special Olympics organization. Sophomore Angelica Fromer has spent the past year and a half working with the Special Olympics as a public relations intern. She said she spends the majority of her time doing graphic design and working on social media accounts for the organization. Fromer said she typically works about 16 hours a week. However, during some weeks throughout the year, the organization holds special events throughout Miami-Dade County, for which she works 12-hour days. Though these long days are unusual, they become a challenge when paired with school. “I find that it really doesn’t work out,” said Fromer, an international studies and public advocacy double major. “I have to be all there for studying but, at the same time, all there for my work as well. It sucks that it all comes crashing down at once.” Fromer, similar to Banegas, said she needs to work. She said she typically spends between $1,200 to $1,300 a month. Of that amount, her rent eats up $900.
She said she made about $8,000 last year. Fromer said she’s recently been going onto Chegg, an online tutoring company, to make extra money. Living in Miami isn’t cheap, and her employment provides her the opportunity to remain at the university. “It was so crucial to my freshman year,” the New Jersey native said. “Without that job, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to stay at this school. I underestimated how expensive living in Miami would be.” Fromer said balancing classes while working was a tough adjustment during her freshman year. She said she adjusted her spring 2017 semester schedule to take only night classes – that way she could go straight to work in the morning. Though it hasn’t been easy, Fromer said she wouldn’t change the opportunity Federal Work Study has provided her. “A lot of people struggle when you get a job,” she said. “Sometimes they’re not really resumé boosters. I was lucky enough to find a Federal Work Study that has been an extremely beneficial part of my college experience.”
MID-AUTUMN MAKEOVER:
Alyssa Rosenfield and Melanie Xia have their hair braided and decorated in the faji style during the UM Lantern Festival on Oct. 17. The festival was hosted by the School of Architecture along with participating student organizations COISO and Asian American Student Association, among others. Students were able to participate in traditional Chinese and Japanese crafts, try different Asian cuisine and sing karaoke. At the end of the event, students released water lanterns onto Lake Osceola. For some students, the event brought a sense of familiarity. “It’s like finding a part of my home away from home,” freshman Arnina Zeng said. Vanessa Gonzalez-Gomez// Gonzalez-Gomez// Contributing Photographer
October 24 - October 30, 2017
The Miami
HURRICANE Founded 1929 An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper NEWSROOM: 305-284-4401 editor@themiamihurricane.com BUSINESS OFFICE: 305-284-4401 FAX: 305-284-4404
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE
EDITORIAL
Amazon HQ efforts fruitless without investing in talent Amazon is on the hunt for a location to build its second massive, job-creating headquarters, and even the University of Miami helped with Miami’s bid to attract the company. However, realistically speaking, Miami just isn’t the right place. Miami isn’t the first city that comes to mind when we think “tech-giant headquarters.” However, Miami has one special advantage – Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, is from Miami. If any long-shot city has a slightly shorter shot than the rest, it’s the city where the CEO spent his formative high school years. Even a tech genius like Bezos might have a soft spot for his own community, especially in terms of helping the impoverished pockets and speeding up development in Miami. Amazon has definitely left a mark on its first headquarters, Seattle. It provides new retail spaces and public outdoor recreation areas, employs over 20,000 locals and sponsors many community events and initiatives, according to an Amazon press release. But the changes haven’t all been pleasant. Housing prices in Seattle have risen dramatically over the past five years, far surpassing the national trends. Highly-skilled Amazon employees have moved in with six-figure salaries and, as one Reuters columnist complains, have established a new culture dominated by predominantly white, male, recent college graduates. Miami has the potential to become a forward-thinking, technologicallyadvanced city – and maybe even home to a tech giant – but we do not have the
infrastructure, location or business climate to support this venture right now. For a world city, Miami is too far behind in infrastructure to attract any tech or finance industries. Public transportation is inefficient, and roads are worn out and easily congested. The Amazon move – which would create as many as 50,000 jobs and take up to 1 million square feet of space – would only aggravate current problems, unless CEO Jeff Bezos wants to also plan an overhaul of Miami infrastructure and investment. Despite expansion of the tech sector in recent years, Miami has a long way to go before it can even be considered a mid-level technology hub. Increases in venture capital are undeniably helpful, but we have yet to see the venture capital levels similar to those in cities such as Seattle and Washington D.C. Beyond Miami being unprepared for Amazon, the headquarters of a tech superpower could destroy the culture of mom-and-pop shops. Small business is at the heart of Miami, and that culture could be radically changed if Amazon moves into town. Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado met with commissioners in late September to discuss a potential location for the site, and he said Overtown would be the best location. “It has to be in an urban setting,” Regalado said. “The only place is Overtown.” Politicians see Amazon’s second headquarters as an opportunity for economic growth, which could help lift up one of the poorest neighborhoods in Miami. In reality, placing a massive high-tech campus in the middle of
Overtown would isolate local businesses and gentrify the neighborhood, raising rents, pushing residents out of the area and creating another Wynwood. It would be the impetus behind the same kind of vicious cycle we’ve seen in Miami Beach, Little Havana and Little Haiti. The commissioners should also keep in mind the history of Overtown, which was established as segregated neighborhood and f lourished until Interstate 95 was built right through it, followed by Interstate 395. The bustling community established there was severely impacted by having a massive highway razed through it, and the neighborhood only recently started to regrow its cultural scene with developments such as Overtown Youth Center. It is misguided and tone-deaf to think that luring Amazon to Miami and planting it in the middle of what has long been considered a problem patch of the city will solve the high rates of crime and unemployment. Strengthening a community must start from within. We cannot attract companies of Amazon’s caliber without giving them logistics and structure they can work with because it wouldn’t be smart business for them. It has to start with investing in the local communities without displacing residents. If Mayor Regalado wants to spur job growth and improvements in Miami’s poorest areas, he shouldn’t leave it to an outsider. And it shouldn’t take the curiosity of a company like Amazon to push local and state leaders to make improvements or investments that are badly needed. Editorial represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.
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OPINION
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
COMMUNITY
Miami-Dade must invest in public transit to attract riders, reach its full potential
DESIGN BY EMILY DULOHERY I’m a Little Havana guy without a car. If you ask me how to get somewhere, I can tell you exactly which bus, trolley, metromover or train you’ll need to take to get there. But if you ask By Kevin Bustamante Contributing Columnist me how long it will take to arrive to your destination, your guess is as good as mine. The one consistent thing about Miami-Dade transit is its inconsistency. The inadequacies of our public transit infrastructure are holding Miami back.
Every day I catch an 11 bus to Government Center and then a southbound train to UM. The system is plagued by delays and car breakdowns, forcing everyone to squeeze in together. Part of the reason Miami-Dade transit has so many issues is that it isn’t profitable. With ridership down, it becomes harder for the county to prioritize public transit. But this creates an unfortunate cycle. People don’t use the transit system because they know they can’t trust it, and the transit system is becomes less reliable because it is neglected and lacks funding. This contributes to the ever-worsening traffic in Miami – rated the sixth most congested city in the United States, according to the TomTom worldwide traffic index.
The Metrorail only has a handful of stops, including Brickell, Civic Center and the Tri-Rail, for which the majority of riders use the train. Expanding the line to Miami Beach would greatly boost ridership among people who want to go to the beach but don’t want to to sit in traffic in a car or on a bus. Miami-Dade County voted on Sept. 29 to reverse previous funding cuts to the Metrorail. This development came amid heavy criticism toward Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who once promised to extend the Metrorail routes, reaching places such as Kendall and Miami Beach. Reversing the cuts is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough. To quote “Field of Dreams”: “If you build
it, they will come.” Great public transportation makes great cities. The ability to commute, with and without cars, is crucial to a city’s wellbeing. Just look at New York City or Boston. Strong public transportation systems allow people from different social classes to interact with each other. It develops a sense of unity and identity that can’t exist otherwise. Miami is growing and our road congestion is only worsening. The way to slow it down is investing in other forms of transportation. Kevin Bustamante is a senior majoring in political science and creative writing.
SPORTS
Why aren’t students going to Miami football games? Last week, the Canes broke into the top 10 in the AP poll, coming in at No. 8. The team is on an 11game winning streak that stretches back to November 2016, with notable wins against By Dana McGeehan FSU, Syracuse and Contributing Columnist Georgia Tech this season. They’re sitting comfortably atop the ACC Coastal division and have a clear path to the ACC Championship Game in early December. Why, then, is it so hard to fill the student section at Miami home games? What’s needed is a culture shift; a true change
in students’ priorities. To bring about such a shift, we need to increase awareness of UM’s football history and traditions and keep winning. Students should want to spend their Saturdays at a football game despite their other options. They should feel like being at the football game is the best way to spend their precious time. This is because the sense of community and school spirit fostered by attending a home football game is unique. Though the university has other sports teams, none have the same atmosphere as football. At the most storied football programs across the country, students attend games because they feel that they are more than just spectators; they feel like they’re participating in the legacy. This is what UM needs to build and promote. Category Five’s fan zone is a game-changer with free food, giveaways and the hottest commodity
at Hard Rock on a Saturday: shade. Despite their hard work promoting traditions and making game days more enjoyable, further steps are needed. Any attempts at a culture shift should start with students. The goal would be exposing students to the legacy of the football program and allowing them to feel like they’re participating in the continuation of this legacy, not just watching from afar. This could be done by inviting former players to participate in activities on campus such as pep rallies, autograph signings or screenings of noteworthy games in the program’s history, offering incentives like discounts at the Rat or bookstore for having a game wristband, hosting screenings of Billy Corben’s 30 for 30 films, allowing students to take photos with our national championship trophies and opening the facilities for tours.
These opportunities would serve as long-term investments. If students have positive experiences at football games as undergraduates, they’d be more likely to continue following the team after they graduate. While building more awareness of game day traditions and the history of UM wins may spur greater attendance, the only surefire way to achieve a culture shift is to keep winning. Not everyone views going to a football game as a moral obligation and a huge part of being a student at the University of Miami, and that’s okay. But our continued success will bring a greater number of students onboard, hopefully enough to finally fill the student section. Dana McGeehan is a senior majoring in history and media management.
October 24 - October 30, 2017
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
OPINION
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POLITICS
Politics in Florida polarize, not unite, the state F o r m e r South Miami Vice Mayor Walter Harris proposed a resolution calling for Florida to split into two states – North Florida and South Florida – in By Ryan Steinberg 2014. Senior Columnist The idea of southern counties separating from their northern counterparts is one that is tossed around every now and again. This, of course, is nothing more than a hypothetical scenario. However, its premise that North Florida and South Florida have wholly different needs and priorities is certainly accurate. Because of this polarization, one of South Florida’s most pressing issues, climate change, goes ignored by state
officials. North Florida leans heavily Republican while South Florida leans heavily Democratic. Hillary Clinton carried over 60 percent of the vote in Miami-Dade and Broward counties while Donald Trump dominated the North, carrying as much as 80 percent of the vote in some northern counties, according to Politico. In other words, you can win an election in Florida without strong support from South Florida. South Florida has urgent needs that North Florida does not. South Florida already is and will continue to be severely impacted by global warming. The number of floods in Miami Beach more than doubled from 16 events between 1998 and 2005 to 33 events between 2006 and 2013, according to a University of Miami study, indicating the threat sea level rise poses to the region. Yet, despite the extreme urgency of
this issue, we have a governor who does not believe in global warming. Gov. Scott even banned state officials from using the phrases “climate change” and “global warming.” This is appalling. The governor who is supposed to represent all of Florida does not recognize the force behind the threat to South Florida’s very existence. This has a real and direct impact on policy. Funding is not allocated to properly equip South Florida to respond to climate change, such as funds to raise roads to make them less susceptible to flooding. This shifts the burden to individual cities and counties. Miami Beach is spending $100 million on elevating streets and installing pumps to deal with flooding, only part of their $400-million to $500-million plan to comprehensively address climate change. Cities can only do so much without state and national
government help. However, President Trump, who Gov. Scott endorsed, proposed slashing the EPA budget by 31 percent in his 2018 fiscal year budget proposal. The only reason Gov. Scott gets away with this is because Florida’s polarization enables it. He can get elected without the votes of South Florida. Florida’s geographic size and diversity is not a bad thing; it’s actually great. However, we cannot have a government that completely ignores the needs of one part of the state. We need attention from the state government in a way that is beyond desperate. Our very existence is threatened. Yet our governor could not care less. He avoids the issue and still gets re-elected. This cannot continue for the sake of South Florida. Ryan Steinberg is a sophomore majoring in political science.
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EDGE
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
Photo courtesy FirexSquad SING IT: IT : FirexSquad, a hip-hop and R&B collective composed of friends Justin Pack, Lauren “Lo” Copeland, Tumi Lengoasa and Imari Conway, pose for a photo on the UC Patio stage. The group performed its first showcase of the school year on Oct. 7.
R&B collective FirexSquad brings soul to Patio Jams By Jordan Lewis Contributing Edge Writer
Hip-hop and R&B filled the air as students crowded onto the UC patio to support Justin Pack, Lauren “Lo” Copeland, Tumi Lengoasa and Imari Conway, aka FirexSquad, at their first showcase of the school year. Following the Canes big win against FSU Oct. 7, the show began with the group’s song “Fuego,” which features all four artists. As the performance progressed, the collective highlighted each member’s individual talents with solo performances. The four members met at UM. Founding members, Lengoasa, Pack and Conway came together while filming a video for “Keep Pushing,” a song Conway wrote about the pain of losing his grandmother. Copeland said she entered the
collective a little differently. Conway reached out to her through text message, and Copeland agreed to join and said she never looked back. Three years after the collective began, the members have experienced difficulty and satisfaction in the music world. “FirexSquad is the love child of a few wholesome friendships from freshman year,” Lengoasa said. “It’s been an interesting journey.” Conway flew in from Maryland, his hometown, since he is taking the semester off. He hyped up the crowd, delivering a high energy performance of his song “Sober,” to which many in the audience knew the lyrics. Conway has always been musically inclined, learning to play the piano at only 4 years old. “I grew up in the church and played classical and jazz piano,” Conway said. “I then gravitated toward hip-hop and
R&B. I feel like my fans and friends connect most with my soul music that makes you feel something.” Copeland, whose parents flew in from Chicago to see her perform, slowed things down after Conway’s performance with sweet and intimate love songs. She performed three songs, including “Nicotine,” which she plans to release as her first single. “I don’t remember not making music,” Copeland said. Lengoasa took the stage next – under the stage name “Na’im,” meaning pleasant and tranquil. “Na’im is exactly how I want people to feel when listening to my music,” Lengoasa said. He performed a mixture of rap and dancehall-inspired music that got the audience dancing. “I was probably making music in the womb,” Lengoasa said. “I came from a musical family, I started producing and
playing guitar when I was about 12. The combination gave me a jumpstart to begin writing more of my own music.” Pack closed the show, performing his single “Wave,” which he officially released Oct. 9. Unlike the rest of the collective, he said he didn’t start pursuing music until he was 15 years old. “I started off playing guitar and doing spoken word poetry,” Pack said. “Then I started rapping and fell in love. Music became my everything.” Though each musician has a distinct sound, all members agree the music comes from a very vulnerable place. “When I first started, I got inspiration from a very difficult time in my life,” Conway said. “I needed to share my pain.” Though no one can be sure what exactly comes next, this isn’t the last we’ll hear FirexSquad. “FirexSquad till the day I die,” the members said.
October 24 - October 30, 2017
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
EDGE
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Law students become actors with new interactive theater-based curriculum By Esther Ponce De Leon Senior Edge Writer
The UM Law Health Rights Clinic is revolutionizing the way students and interns learn to practice law by taking an old theater concept called Forum Theatre and applying it to the modern classroom setting. Some undergraduate students may be familiar with the idea from a similar program used during Orientation events, called “Theatre in Action: Bystander Intervention.” Though organized by different groups, the concept is the same: training for real-life situations through theatrical simulations. It works by having students watch a realistic scene play out in front of them. Then, students discuss what happened and what they would have done to intervene. Students then get the chance to replay the scene and enter it themselves to change the outcome. At the Health Rights Clinic, a 6-credit course at UM School of Law, students
begin their first class or orientation with this method. They watch a scene in which a lawyer is representing a client in an oppressive way, all played by other members of the clinic. Then the students can stop the scene and replace the actor playing the lawyer, improving the treatment of the client.
“They’re laughing. We all get a kick out of it. ”
Joshua Mandel By starting with Forum Theatre, students experience first-hand some of the ethical dilemmas they will face when they begin their careers. “It has the elements that you can discuss what’s wrong, so you’re doing a
theoretical approach, and you can practice and force yourself to become involved and find out what’s wrong and correct it yourself,” said Joshua Mandel, a thirdyear fellow in the clinic. Mandel acts as the Joker in the scenes, meaning he narrates and facilitates the scene. He said the theater-based learning is effective because it it creative, innovative and fun for students. “It’s a bunch of peers and a bunch of people who know each other,” Mandel said. “They’re laughing. We all get a kick out of it.” Director of the Health Rights Clinic JoNel Newman and Assistant Director Melissa Swain were first introduced to Forum Theatre in Strathclyde, Scotland, during one of their exchange programs. One of the professors at the University of Strathclyde demonstrated the technique, impressing the UM students. “Everyone else did papers and PowerPoints, but they came up with this cool script that really depicted the ethical dilemmas at both universities, and the
whole audience was able to participate and stop the action and give their own version of how they would handle it,” Swain said. Because of the great feedback they got from students, Newman and Swain brought the technique back to campus for UM Law orientation and the first classes of the Health Rights Clinic. Now they also showcase the technique at conferences around the world in conjunction with the first students and colleagues from Strathclyde. Newman and Swain said they hope to expand the concept of Forum Theatre to other areas of study and to one day take it back to South America, where it began. Newman and Swain have applied to take Forum Theatre to Colombia and perform it in Spanish. “We’re playing with the idea that we’ve done it in English,” Swain said. “Now can we make the transition to do it in Spanish? That would be just amazing. This is something that on the Miami campus we could be running in Spanish and in English.”
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EDGE
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
Festival screens contemporary films to celebrate Italian heritage By Laura Manuela Quesada Contributing Edge Writer
The Whitten Learning Center is now doubling as an Italian movie theater. The center has become the home base for the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures’ seventh annual Italian Film Festival this October. Once a week, for Italian heritage month, contemporary Italian films are screened on campus, free to students, faculty and community members. A professor in the Modern Languages Department and UMIFF founder and coordinator, Manny Rossi, carefully selected four movies to screen. He said he tries to screen films that are controversial and spark conversation, but that are also popular and technically masterful. “One of our goals is to connect the
films to current events, as well as to the audience that is participating,” Rossi said. This year’s films are “Lasciati Andare,” “Non è un Paese per Giovani,” “Scialla (Stai Sereno)” and “Poveri ma Ricchi.” They vary in theme and genre, ranging from serious dramas to lighthearted comedies. These movies are also selected according to their accolades. Many films feature award-winning actors and directors, such as “Lasciati Andare,” which stars Carla Signoris, who won a Nastro d’Argento – an award by the association of Italian film critics – for Best Supporting Actress. The film was also nominated for Best Screenplay. “As opposed to many other Italian film festivals in the city that bring in wonderful classics, such as films by Fellini or Bertolucci, UMIFF concentrates on
contemporary cinema and finding value in what is being made today,” Rossi said. “Lasciati Andare” was the first film the festival screened this year. Directed by Francesco Amato, the film centers on the friendship between a bitter and sullen psychoanalyst, Elia, and an eccentric personal trainer, Claudia. The film was originally scheduled for later in the festival, but organizers decided to kick things off with comedy after the stressful weeks following Irma. “This movie was a great collaboration of wit, humor, compassion, life and Italians,” freshman marketing major Anais Mamery said. “Non è un Paese per Giovani,” was chosen for its depiction of the displacement of Italian youth as they leave home in hopes of a better life. All films are shown with subtitles, so
audience members who do not speak Italian can understand the plot. “It was surprising because, even though I didn’t understand the language, you could still understand the plot,” said Ana Colicchio, a freshman majoring in international finance and marketing. “I thought it was funny and a good way to fully immerse yourself in the language.” Rossi said the festival is a labor of love, but the results are well worth it. “I personally learned to love life watching movies …,” Rossi said. “It’s a wonderful chance for students to look back and reflect, for them to start conversations within the community and experience the richness of where they are living.” UMIFF is screening “Non è un Paese per Giovani” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25, in Whitten Learning Center, Room 140.
Fill your kitchen with fall flavors with perfect pumpkin strudel By Alexandra Rothman Staff Edge Writer
From candles to lattes, pumpkin dominates the fall season. Take a moment to appreciate the sweet and savory ingredient while it’s still in season ason with this easy pumpkin strudel recipe. It can be whipped pped up in minutes, and you may have most of these ingredients in your pantry. Go to your local cal grocery store or try one of the fun n pumpkin patches nearby to get the main ingredient fresh. esh. If you want to o visit a pumpkin patch tch near Coral Gables, here are two of the most famous plots:
Miami: 2807 SW W 32nd Ave., Miami, Fla.. 33133 Pinecrest: 8200 SW 104th St., Miami, Fla. 33156
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS • 1 can (12 oz.) pumpkin or one whole pumpkin • 1/2 or 1 cup sugar • 1 can sweetened condensed milk • 3 eggs • 1 tablespoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. If you buy your ow own pumpkin, pierce the pumpkin all over with a sharp knife. Then, ccut the pumpkin in half, and scoop o out the seeds. Place the pumpkin cut-side down on a parchmentparchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for ab about 45 minutes ((for a 5-pound pumpkin). pumpk Remove from the oven, scoop out the flesh and mash ma or purée in a food processor. Place P purée in a sieve and put a
plate on top to weigh it down. Set it over a bowl to catch the juice. Let the purée drain for 30 to 45 minutes, until thick. In a bowl, combine pumpkin purée, sugar, eggs, vanilla and spices. Mix. Pour into greased 9x9 pan. Sprinkle preferred amount of cake mix over the top. For a heavier crust, use more cake mix. Melt butter and pour over dry cake mix. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, or until you can stick a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean. Can be served immediately, topped with whipped cream or ice cream.
• A pinch each nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice • 1 box yellow or white cake mix • 1/2 stick butter or margarine
DESIGN BY EMILY DULOHERY
October 24 - October 30, 2017
FOOTBALL
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
SPORTS
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Sports
Man behind the Turnover Chain serves as jeweler for more than 900 professional athletes By Carter Krouse and Maxwell Trink Contributing Sports Writers @MaxwellTrink
University of Miami football is 6-0 and has become a talking point nationally as the only undefeated team left in the ACC. But a new fad this season has garnered just as much attention as the team itself, sending fans and media into a craze. It’s called the Turnover Chain. This unique piece of gold jewelry made its first appearance in Miami’s season opener against Bethune-Cookman Sept. 2, and since then has gone viral, being featured on ESPN and Fox Sports. It’s used as a motivational tactic to pump up the team and fans when the Canes make a big play on defense. The Canes started the trend this season. First, a defensive player recovers a turnover, such as a fumble or an interception. Then, as he comes off the field, one member of the coaching staff excitedly awards him the chain. The player gets to flaunt it on the sideline for the following possession. The players love it – it sends the team into an all-out celebration. The fans love it too – the Turnover Chain has received so much nationwide attention that Adidas made T-shirts featuring the chain. However, despite the chain’s popularity, many still have questions about its origin. AJ Machado, owner of AJ’s Jewelry in Cutler Bay, Florida, is the man behind the phenomenon. UM’s athletic department reached out to him over the summer with the special request of creating the chain. “They called us and said, ‘We want to get something like when Alabama uses the wrestling belt after a big play,’” Machado said. “We want to get that swag back – we are Miami.” The day Machado got the call to design the Turnover Chain, Vince Wilfork, a former Miami and NFL football star, stopped by the shop and influenced its design. “Vince said, ‘AJ AJ Machado, owner of AJ’s Jewelry. we have to go with Isaiah Kim-Martinez // the Cuban link,’” Sports Editor
Josh White // Staff Photographer SERIOUS HARDWARE: Canes cornerback Michael Jackson yells in excitement, wearing the Turnover Chain, after intercepting a pass in the first half of a 27-19 victory over the Syracuse Orange on Oct. 21.
Machado said of the chain style. “That is what Miami is all about. I don’t care if you are in LA or any part of the world, it’s called the MiamiCuban.” And that’s when the chain was born, made of solid gold with a gem-encrusted “U” at the bottom. It weighs 2.5 kilograms and took over two weeks to make. Machado said he could not disclose the chain’s cost. Machado, now known as the “King of Bling,” is no stranger to big-name projects – he is the go-to jeweler for more than 900 professional athletes. Many of the most popular players on TV can be seen on Machado’s “Bling of Honor,” the walls of his jewelry shop featuring dozens of pictures of him and the players who have purchased from the store. These star athletes include Floyd Mayweather Jr., LeBron James, Larry Fitzgerald and Odell Beckham Jr. Machado’s jewelry business began in 1993 when he was 22. It took off from the start but didn’t have any athlete customers for the first four years. That changed when former NFL running back Troy Davis, who grew up in the Miami area and played for the New Orleans Saints, came in and made a purchase. From there, talk of Machado’s business spread quickly through word-of-mouth
between pro players. The University of Miami has played a huge part in Machado’s success. “It started a lot with the U – the U has been a blessing for us,” Machado said. Many former UM football players, such as Clinton Portis and Andre Johnson, are repeat customers and have spread the news about AJ’s Jewelry both in college and in the NFL. “In the locker rooms, I think they talk,” Machado said. “’This is the jeweler – he is going to hook you up with good services and good quality. It’s really about reputation.” And what a reputation he has built. Machado said a key part of his business process with those in the sports world is building a relationship with each athlete. This is what separates him from other jewelers. “I don’t just want to sell you a chain or a watch or a ring,” Machado said. “I like to have lunch – a little more building up that edge. I think that is what’s making us grow.” He values relationships with his customers and will do whatever it takes to provide the best service possible. Machado gave an example of how he even flew an employee out to hand deliver a piece of jewelry for a wedding.
“In 24 hours, I’ve done wedding rings and bands,” he said. “I’ve flown over there. I’ve sent my son or one of my employees, and I flew him to Alabama or North Carolina. Whatever it is, we’ve gone the extra mile.” Machado’s business has expanded throughout the NFL – with a total of about 800 clients – and nearly all the players know his name. Despite making jewelry for so many athletes on so many teams, Machado’s heart is still with UM. “Obviously, I have clients on every team and every university, but everyone knows I’m a UM fan – a die-hard UM fan,” Machado said. When it comes to the Canes, Machado is always cheering on his team and hoping the chain is broken out. “I’m such a big fan that I take it personally,” he said. “When they put that thing on, we are looking for a turnover.” The electric atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturdays proves that the Turnover Chain has not only brought extra passion to the players but to the fans as well. “People are excited again about the U, which I feel we lost a few years back,” Machado said.
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SPORTS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017
ATHLETICS
UM football seeks funds to enhance interior of indoor practice facility By Isaiah Kim-Martinez Sports Editor sports@themiamihurricane.com @isaiah_km
When the UM athletic department announced Mark Richt as the new head football coach to lead the Hurricanes in 2015, the goal was to bring the program back to national prominence. Now ranked No. 8 in the country, the Canes are on their way. But to continue to grow and excel as a team and university, UM facilities must improve alongside them. “To be one of the best programs, you need one of the best facilities,” Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development Jesse Marks said. That’s why in September 2016, the athletic department announced plans to build the Carol Soffer Football Indoor Practice Facility, complete with state-of-the-art technology to complement the outdoor Greentree Practice Fields. The university already has more than $32 million of the $34 million needed to cover the costs of the building, and Marks said the department is moving through the construction process and anticipates the facility will be ready for use by August 2018. Miami football misses days of practice each season because of inclement weather, but now the
team will be able to play inside when there is rain, lightning or multiple days of brutal heat. “It’s very hot right now, and if you tell the guys Thursday, after three to four days of hard practice and heat indexes over 100 degrees, ‘Hey, we’re gonna move inside for practice today,’ it really rejuvenates the body and lets them refresh, refocus and refuel in a climate controlled environment,” Marks said. The new facility will cover the south side of the Greentree Practice Fields. It will cover 81,000 square feet and hold two practice fields. Part of the construction is on new space and part is a renovation of previous space. The majority of costs for the structure of the building and its components have been covered, but now the department is planning the building’s interior. While the facility will be available for the team to practice by fall 2018, the outfitting of the interior will be a process. “The practice fields are on one side of the building; that’s the pure indoor side,” Marks said. “But there is a whole football operations side of the building, which will contain coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms and recruiting suites – like a self-contained football complex that will overlook the facility.” The facility will also include a strength and conditioning center and a video center with large interactive touch screens. It will connect to the
Hecht Athletic Center, the Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence and the weightlifting gym, so student-athletes can easily walk right into the indoor fields. “We want to be ahead of the curve,” Marks said. “We are continuing to get better every year, but this puts us in that next level. This facility will be next level above everybody else’s who has already built one because we know exactly what’s going to work here and how to make it the best.” UM’s athletic department received $14 million from its lead donor, billionaire real estate developer Jeffrey Soffer and his family, at the time of the announcement. Richt and his wife Katharyn donated $1 million, and the campaign received seven-figure commitments from strong supporters of the Hurricanes. The department raised more than $30 million through 350 Canes supporters in just 11 months and is now using technology to look for new donors. Miami announced the creation of Give2IPF. com, a crowdfunding campaign focused on outfitting the interior of the practice facility, on Aug. 28 – the first of its kind for UM athletics. In two months, the campaign raised $315,352. “Everybody understands that this is a need for our facility due to the weather,” Marks said. “I’ve spoken to thousands of people about this project and funding this project, and the reason why we’ve
Rendering courtesy Miami Athletics MADE FOR CHAMPIONS: The Carol Soffer Football Indoor Practice Facility is expected to be ready by August 2018. The facility costs $34 million and will cover 81,000 square feet and hold two practice fields.
raised this much so fast is because our supporters understand the need, not only from a competition standpoint but also from a safety standpoint.” The website features simple ways for people to donate to the cause through gifts ranging from $50 to $5,000. The site states the goal is to “ensure proper honoring of our storied Hurricanes Football Program, outfit the new facility with state-of-the-art technologies and equipment and modernize and elevate recruiting services.” “We have such a brand and national appeal, but we only have so many people on our fundraising team that can do face-to-face solicitation,” Marks said. “But with technology, people can virtually raise their hand and say, ‘Hey, I want to support this program.’ People are really supporting at all levels, and that’s how you drive the momentum.” The Carol Soffer Football Indoor Practice Facility is the second-largest athletic campaign in UM history – the first being what is now the Watsco Center, costing around $40 million – and it is being supported fully through philanthropic efforts. “This is coach Richt’s vision – he knows exactly what he needs for this building,” Marks said. “I have seen every facility in our conferences and many others, and I can confidently say that Miami’s will be the premier facility in the United States … The best,” Richt said.
October 24 - October 30, 2017
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
V’S TAKE
15
Why Can’t We Be (More Than) Friends?
Have a question for V? Email dearv@themiamihurricane.com.
Get ready to get intellectual. This week, we’re tapping into V’s serious side. V has answered questions on everything from pregnancy to porn, from dating to d**k size. I was asked a question recently, though, and I don’t think I know the answer. What differentiates relationships and friendships, other than sex? There are probably researchers in an office on this campus who have devoted their whole lives to this topic. Good for them. But they don’t have an answer yet, either – we’d know because we’re the all-seeing, all-knowing newspaper – so I’ll take a swing at it.
First off, V doesn’t think sex is what raises the bar in a relationship. Obviously, it’s a very important part (see: every other column V has ever written), but it definitely isn’t the defining factor in a romantic relationship. I’m “friends” with plenty of people who’ve gotten between my sheets. I use quotation marks are because I think, deep down – like, real deep – I still have an emotional connection. But we’re not going to discuss that right now. I’m not in a relationship with any of them. I wish, but I’m not. It’s fine. I’m fine. I have a friend I could call my “platonic life partner” – we do everything together. We
sometimes even sleep in the same bed without any funny business going down. And it’s great. We have a really strong emotional connection. I love that friend in the same way I hope I’ll love my future real-life romantic partner. Sometimes it even feels like we’re in a relationship, but we’re not. We have similar interests, we understand each other, we support each other and we give each other advice – all components of a great relationship – but there’s something in the gap between friendship and relationship that isn’t tangible. It could be attraction, or it could be intimacy, not just having sex when you’re
drunk, but real passion. Maybe it’s sharing feelings, being expressive and dismissing flaws you wouldn’t otherwise look past. Maybe it’s being able to see a future with them, being compatible on a deeper level. Or maybe it’s as simple as you both affirming that you want to be in a monogamous, committed relationship right at the same moment and going forward with that. If sex defines a relationship, but relationships can exist without sex, what marks a relationship? I still don’t really have an answer. Let me know what you think, and email me at dearv@ themiamihurricane.com.
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE
October 24 - October 30, 2017