The Miami Hurricane - Feb. 22, 2016

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Shreya Chidarala // Staff Photographer

DUELING DANCERS: University of Florida’s GatoRaas takes the stage during the UM Indian Student Association’s annual Miami Mayhem garba and raas dance competition Saturday evening at the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater.

UM Indian dance group hosts national competition By Jackie Yang Opinion Editor

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n Saturday night, the stage at the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater echoed with sounds of clattering metallic sequins, rhythmic pounding of feet against the floor and wooden batons cracking against each other, all set to the beat of vigorous Indian music. The ninth-annual Miami Mayhem dance competition, which took place this weekend in North Miami Beach, spotlighted garba and raas

dance teams from schools around the nation. Garba and raas are high-energy, rhythmic Indian dance forms from the Gujarat state in western India. Miami Mayhem is just one of many competitions on the national intercollegiate raas competition circuit. This year, the Mayhem committee selected eight teams out of 36 auditioning schools. The final lineup consisted of GatoRaas (University of Florida), Dirty South Dandiya (University of Texas, Austin), GW Raas (George Washington University), Ricochet Raas (Virginia Commonwealth University), Drexel Dandiya (Drexel University), EntouRAAS (University of Maryland, College Park), UMBC Raascals (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) and RU Raga (Rutgers University) to compete for cash prizes totaling $3,000. Special guest performers at the event included Georgia Tech’s fusion a capella group (Taal Tadka) and the University of Central Florida Bollywood-fusion dance team (Knights Kangna),

as well as Tufaan, UM’s own fusion a cappella group and the Hurricane Bhangra dance team. Mayhem is a bid competition for the Raas All-Stars (RAS) National Championship, the final competition that invites 18 of the best teams from around the nation. Points earned at Mayhem will count toward eligibility for the championship. The judging panel consisted of intercollegiate raas alumni from NYU, Purdue and UM’s own garba and raas team – SwaggeRaas. “We’re usually one of the most selective competitions,” said UM junior Karthik Narayanan, one of the event-registration chairs. “The field is historically very, very strong. Those are the teams we attract.” Past winners of RAS Nationals have included UF GatoRaas and GW Raas. The weekend-long event, which consisted of social mixers between the dance teams on Friday and the official competition on Saturday, was organized by a committee of 54 UM students. The event also had the support of community sponsors like Kaplan, TV Asia, Desh Videsh maga-

zine, Insomnia Cookies and KIND Snacks to help cover the total event costs, which totaled upward of $15,000. “Because we accommodate so many people from so many different places, keeping people together and making sure everything’s running on schedule is very hard,” said Poonam Patel, one of the Mayhem executive chairs. “That’s something that’s been a challenge every year. We have buses going from the hotel to the performance venue and there’s always traffic in Miami.” The visiting students were impressed by the accommodations provided at Mayhem. “The best thing about Mayhem is the hospitality,” said Akshita Singh, a senior at UT Austin and team captain of Dirty South Dandiya. “Everyone’s here to work hard and play hard, and that’s one of the best things – they know that we’re here for a specific goal but they also understand that we’re here to have fun. And everything that’s been happening backstage, like there’s an emergency crew that’s there to help us – it’s just great.”

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NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 22 - February 24, 2016

CAMPUS LIFE

Performances highlight diversity of African cultures By Alexis McDonald Senior News Writer

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Evelyn Choi // Staff Photographer

RHYTHMS OF AFRICA: Freshman Valerie Francillon performs during the House of Black Culture event Thursday evening in the Activities Room of the Shalala Student Center.

variety of cultures from the African diaspora were celebrated Thursday night as part of House of Black Culture, deviating from past years when the focus was on African-American culture. Every February, the University of Miami’s United Black Students (UBS) hosts a number of events during Black Awareness Month, commonly known as Black History Month. House of Black Culture featured art from

black culture around the world, such as songs and plays. Students from the African Students Union, Planet Kreyol and UBS performed a play that illustrated the different struggles that black people face as well as the strength exhibited through their triumphs. “House of Black Culture is very unifying. A lot of times people think I’m just black, Caribbean or African,” said Imani Callan, chair of Black Awareness Month. “We all have similar experiences and we all have different experiences. But those different experiences we can bond over, come together and rise up.” In addition to showcasing the talents unique to each region of the African diaspora, House of Black Culture described the various experiences of black women. The singers ref lected the different journeys they have taken. Chair and Director of House of Black Culture Nigel Richardson assembled a group of four women to sing a rendition of singer-activist Nina Simone’s 1966 song “Four Women.”

“Simone was able to create black female characters with stories that span the many experiences of black women in America and abroad. I thought it was especially important to highlight that for this performance. I believe [the song] is deeply powerful and moving,” Richardson said. To demonstrate how the lyrics are relatable to people of any ethnicity, the performance featured a singer who was not of African descent. Raneem Al-Buaijan is a junior from Kuwait who has been a part of UBS since her freshman year and is the current public relations co-chair. Al-Buaijan sang the song of “Sweet Thing,” a woman who was a prostitute, in “Four Women.” “I feel that any woman can relate to that feeling of, ‘Who am I?’” Al-Buaijan said. The message of the show was to convey the unity of all people of African descent in the spirit of the South-African philosophy of Ubuntu, “I am who I am because of who we all are.”

CAMPUS LIFE

Iron Arrow taps 31 inductees in ceremony By Marcus Lim Staff Writer

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s they sat in meetings on Thursday after being invited by friends and colleagues, 31 unsuspecting University of Miami students and faculty members heard the banging of a tribal drum as the prestigious honor society Iron Arrow approached them to tap them into their ranks. Inductees were taken to the Iron Arrow mound by the Foote Green and later to the Rock. Inductees’ foreheads were marked with three lines of green, orange and white paint before they participated in a 24-hour drum vigil, taking turns rhythmically beating a drum and stoking fires on the Iron Arrow mound. Considered the highest attainable honor at UM, the society inducts those who have shown exemplary leadership, love for the alma mater,

great character, good scholarship and humility. All inductees are nominated by a member of Iron Arrow and are approved by the rest of the tribe. Junior Aalekhya Reddam was the first undergraduate student to be tapped in on Thursday. Reddam has shown leadership as the Student Government executive at large-internal, organizing the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO) and also working as a residential assistant in Stanford Residential College. “This still feels like a dream. For the longest time I’ve admired all the people who have been part of this organization and being selected feels very surreal,” Reddam said. “Being the first to be tapped in meant I could see everyone else get tapped and re-experience the emotions I felt all over again – their happiness and shock of being inducted.” Heather Stevens, the advisor to Student Government and coordinator in the Office of Vice President for Student Affairs, organized a meeting with an unaware Reddam. “While it is an honor and privilege to be a part of Iron Arrow, I was a part of the different organizations because I loved it,” Reddam said. “Being tapped doesn’t change anything and I

will continue to give my 100 percent to any role I commit and will continue to love UM.” Among the other 30 people tapped in were the School of Communication Department Chair and Associate Professor Samuel Terilli, Student Government Treasurer-elect Morgan Owens, Energy and Conservation Organization (ECO) Chair Nika Hosseini, Student Government Elections Commission Chair Aqeel Khanani and Student Government Speaker of the Senate Jeffrey Sznapstajler. “I’m so happy and it feels great,” Sznapstajler said. “I have worked so hard for this campus these past four years and being tapped into Iron Arrow is a great honor to go along with it.” The new members will don their colorful Iron Arrow jackets for the next two weeks while on campus to honor what they have accomplished. Iron Arrow was founded at UM in 1926 by nine members dubbed the “Founding Nine.” The mantra they created still serves as a guiding statement to who is deemed worthy to be part of the tribe: “[S]he, who would know the Arrow, must as an irrefutable rule, have openly and without thought of reward, shown obvious love of Alma Mater.”

IRON ARROW INDUCTEES: Farah Barquero, Sophie Braga de Barros, Nicole Chabloz, Leen Dahman, Kayla Derby, Colton Freitas, Brian Goldenberg, Kenneth Goodman, Nika Hosseini, Abdul-Hadi Kaakour, Quinlan Kasal, Aqeel Khanani, Sarah King, Joshua Kronenfeld, Manish Kuchakulla, Adam Lawrence, Kara McCormack, Morgan Owens, Jeremy Penn, Matthew Phillips, David T. Poole, Aalekhya Reddam, Janyl Relling, Dennis Scholl, Briana Scott, Jeffrey Sznapstajler, Deandre Tate-Drummer, Samuel A. Terilli, Albert J. Varon, Stephanie Wagner, David Wyman The list of the 31 inductees was provided by Johann Ali, who is part of the Iron Arrow Council of Elders.


February 22 - February 24, 2016

NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS

ACADEMICS

Course covers Black Lives Matter movement

Engineering Week

By Israel Aragon Contributing News Writer

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hat started out as a mass movement following the controversial killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has become the bedrock of a new era of dialogue among college students nationwide. Africana Studies (AAS) 290, also known as the Black Lives Matter class, is a two-part course offered this semester that aims to contribute to the growing wave of national conversation by informing students about the movement and its historical antecedents. The course is taught by Director of Africana Studies David Ikard, who was motivated to educate students on the movement’s background following last year’s campus protests in the wake of the police-related killing of Michael Brown. “I was asked to support the students and their cause and I was more than happy to do so,” Ikard said. “It became very clear to me that there was a desire for the students to understand the history and politics of the Black Lives Matter movement. I wanted to provide them [with] a cultural, intellectual and political context through which they can understand that movements like these have happened before.” As a professor in African-American literature, Ikard prepared a curriculum in which he could address the “issue of white supremacy” while highlighting racial disparity. According to its syllabus, the class aims to introduce students to a number of theorists and activists while analyzing entries culled from an extensive list of works designed to elucidate U.S. race relations from statistical and personal viewpoints. “We talk about everything from James Baldwin essays to whiteness studies while seeing that a lot of the things that students are experiencing now are unfortunately not terribly new, [these things are] actually part of a much more longstanding conversation about black liberation in the U.S.,” he said. Antonio Mercurius, a sophomore majoring in health science, took the course the first semester it was taught in

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Erum Kidwai // Staff Photographer

CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS: Director of Africana studies David Ikard talks to his Black Lives Matter class (AAS 290) about the social movement and its historical antecedents. the fall of 2015 and recounted his experience. “This was a very different course from everything else I’ve taken,” Mercurius said. “This was one of the first classes where I was challenged to think critically. It truly taught me how to argue on a whole different perspective.” The Black Lives Matter movement has made itself present numerous times on campus in the form of panels, rallies and marches in response to the police-related killings of African Americans across the country. Since then, subsequent campus task forces and initiatives have garnered mixed responses from portions of the student body who have feared that the movement was anything but inclusive. “Somehow, it seems as though any sort of challenge to whiteness is somehow threatening, but the irony is that the Black Lives Matter movement isn’t about overthrowing white supremacy but simply about responding to abuse toward the black community,” Ikard stated. “Anyone who’s concerned that the movement or class is exclusionary is clearly not aware of the whole point. Some people called Dr. King a hatemonger, but today we see how he is revered as a civil rights pioneer. For anyone who’s afraid of the course because of its name, I would invite them to take the course to participate in

the intellectual labor of looking into the politics and culture of this issue.” Having taken part one of the twopart Black Lives Matter course, Antonio Mercurius emphasized the need to encourage further dialogue. “The course really engages what it is like to be black in America and the struggles African Americans have gone through and continue to go through today,” Mercurius stated. “I recommend people take this course because it will not only promote critical thinking but also encourage empathy.” Flyers promoting the class have been spotted all across campus, detailing the course’s goal of engaging the movement “as an extension of the civil rights movement.” “I believe that knowledge is power and I believe that any time people are heated about this issue, they need to understand how to process their outrage and harness it to promote the kind of change that will actually bring about social equality in this country,” Ikard said. Section Q of AAS 290, known as “Special Topics” on CaneLink, is a threecredit class currently taken by 19 students. It will be offered again in the fall semester of 2016, according to Ikard.

The University of Miami Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers kicked off Engineering Week with the U-Hack 24-hour Hackathon that ran from Saturday morning to Sunday night. The week will continue Monday with a networking session hosted by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at the McArthur Annex from 7-8 p.m. Recent graduates who are now entrepreneurs will talk about finding careers after graduation. The American Society of Civil Engineers will try to make concrete canoes float on Lake Osceola on Monday, Feb. 22, and on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 1:45 p.m., teams will use duct tape and engineering skills to try to stick a teammate to the wall for the longest at

the College of Engineering. The National Society of Black Engineers will host a forum on the importance of minority representation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers at the UM Faculty Club on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Dean JeanPierre Bardet of the College of Engineering and President Julio Frenk will speak at the forum. Hundreds of girls from South Fla. will come to the UM Coral Gables campus on Thursday, Feb. 25 for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. They will hear from speakers and participate in activities. For information on these events and others happening during Engineering Week, visit coe. miami.edu/eweek.

Greek Week The opening ceremonies of Greek Week will be held at 3 p.m. on the Lakeside Patio. Events throughout the week include a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day from Feb. 22-24 in the Shalala Student Center, Philanthropy Day from noon until 4 p.m. on Thursday on the Foote Green and the Rock, and the Greek God and Goddess competition from 7-10 p.m. on

Wednesday, Feb. 25 on the Lakeside Patio. The week also features O-Cheer on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:15 p.m. on the Lakeside Patio and athletic competitions during Olympic Day on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m. on the Intramural fields. For more information on these events and other happenings during Greek Week, visit umiamigreekweek. org.

William Riggin may be emailed at news@themiamihurricane.com.

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NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 22 - February 24, 2016

JUMP FROM COVER

Event proceeds aid communities, support education in India “Mayhem’s been going on for so long and it’s so organized,” said Dhruv Shah, one of the captains of RU Raga and senior at Rutgers University. “We can always count on the team liaisons. They are the best.” More than 400 spectators were in attendance on the night of the performance along with around 200 competitors. All proceeds from the event went to Aahana India, a non-profit organization that works in both the U.S. and India to provide educational resources to disabled children and to empower communities in India. “This year, we’re proud of just being able to give back to our community and where we’re from, and raising awareness about Indian culture over here at the same time,” Patel said. “In the future we’d really like to give more and maybe even bring some of those kids over here so they can see what we’re doing for them.” Looking to the future, Patel also hopes that next year the competition can

increase publicity on campus to attract more UM students to watch the performances. The teams, who compete regularly in the national competition circuit, put in hours of physically strenuous practice each week to perfect the routines they exhibited Saturday night. According to UM SwaggeRaas Captain Richa Panara, many competitive teams practice between 11-28 hours per week. The routines are judged on choreography, execution and artistry. The dance style requires great precision and energy, incorporating high kicks, jumps, sharp arm movements, dandiya twirling and synchronized group formations. Quite literally, the dazzling performances came at the cost of blood, sweat and tears. The Canes Emergency Response Team (CERT) was on duty at Mayhem, administering ice to exhausted dancers. One performer was temporarily unable to walk due to back pain. Another stepped on a stray shard of glass onstage. Yet despite the physical strain, the performers still carried on. “We’ve seen people dancing with fractured ankles, shin splints and broken toes over the past two competitions we’ve worked,” said junior Anthony Yao, CERT vice president of logistics. The stakes were high for all teams at Mayhem. “All of the strongest teams want to come here because we’re one of the last

competitions before the big national competition,” Narayanan said. Panara expressed her admiration for the quality of the performances. “Being creative and bringing something new to the stage, either through formations, artistic elements or a theme, is really hard,” she said. “Regardless, every year, every team that comes to Mayhem does just that. Overall I think it’s just really important to bounce ideas off of other teams and keep a good morale in the competition circuit.” At the end of the night, RU Raga took home first place and a $1,500 cash prize. UMD EntouRAAS and VCU Ricochet Raas took second and third, respectively. “It’s been a while since we’ve won first place at any competition,” Dhruv Shah, captain of RU Raga and a senior at Rutgers, said while his team exchanged excited hugs and photos with the trophy behind him. “Last time we won was two years ago in Baltimore, so this was definitely a milestone.” Shah cited a relaxation of previously strict team rules and the members’ love for the team’s success. Despite the stress and hard work, the dancers are also looking forward to enjoying their visit. Tulsi called Mayhem one of the “most fun competitions of the year.” Many of the teams planned to explore Miami Beach and to enjoy the warm weather for the rest of the weekend.

Shreya Chidarala // Staff Photographer

MIAMI MOTION: Dhruv Shah and Sahil Chandi perform with RU Raga from Rutgers University during Miami Mayhem Saturday evening at the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater. RU Raga placed first in the competition.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Experts discuss future of humanmachine collaboration By Marcus Lim Staff Writer

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esigners, content strategists, web developers, scholars and students all came together at the University of Miami on Saturday to talk about the future of information architecture on World Information Architecture Day. The event was held at UM for the first time and was co-hosted by information ar-

chitect Diego Baca and the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism Alberto Cairo. Hosted in 57 locations in 28 countries across six continents, World Information Architecture Day is an annual celebration of information and the variety of ways it can be used and presented. The keynote speaker was Richard Saul Wurman, a world-renowned architect, graphic designer and the founder of the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Conference. Wurman suggested to Cairo that he should push for the university to host the event. “He sent me an email one day and asked why we don’t hold World Information Architecture Day,” Cairo said. “We have a fantastic line-up with a lot to offer.” Juhong Park, an assistant professor in the School of Architecture, talked about a human-machine collaboration: how machines and robots can help humans achieve new occupational heights.

“Not all of us can be the next Mozart or Michelangelo,” Park said. “However, when working with machines, we may be able to.” Park concedes that artificial intelligence is substituting human intelligence, which means robots are gradually replacing human workers. But he also contests that human workers should work with robots instead of competing against them. Drawing on his experience in architecture, Park has used programs to help him create variations to craft the perfect building. “These softwares can create the same result as an architect. This shows that by using machines, we can produce great results,” Park said. Among the other speakers was Arturo Castellanos, a Ph.D. candidate in the Florida International University College of Business. He explained how proper data designs could be used to help the healthcare system.

“With a user-friendly design, we can help the patients who will find it easy to utilize the necessary and relevant information that they need,” Castellanos said. He also said that the system would not only help patients, but doctors, nurses and administrators as well. “A patient’s worry is not whether they have a disease, it is whether they can get well,” Castellanos said. “Patients do not use information unless it is necessary. Their only goal is seeing what the outcome is. If the outcome is to get well, what tasks must they perform to get there?” He stressed that there is a need for reliable and timely information for users, showing an award-winning design for electronic medical records (EMR) by designers in Chicago. This EMR has helped patients access their medical records in a userfriendly way.


February 22 - February 24, 2016

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

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COMMUNITY

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Saturday, March 19 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Newman Alumni Center

Amanda Herrera // Contributing Photographer

HELPFUL HURRICANES: During Saturday’s Black Awareness Month Day of Service, freshman Kyra Freeman works with students at the Overtown Youth Center.

Students volunteer in Overtown for annual day of service By Amanda Herrera Senior News Writer

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tudents headed to the Overtown Youth Center Saturday morning for a day full of education, service and fun as a part of Black Awareness Month (BAM)’s annual Day of Service. Last year, children were brought on to UM’s Coral Gables campus. This year, UM students traveled to another environment – an element that sophomore and Recording Secretary for BAM Day of Service Christa Anderson said would “make a difference in the child’s experience.” “We wanted to make sure that this year we were the ones reaching out to them,” Anderson said. “It’s important for the kids to be in their own environment. It makes it more intimate.” Organized by United Black Students, the service day included a smaller number of UM participants this year compared to the last, with just more than 75 student volunteers and 110 children from local community centers. The children were paired with student mentors for the day. Together, they took part in different activities, including math, English and nutrition lessons. The day was also spent playing a game of freeze dance, playing basketball and jumping in a bounce house. Throughout the day, mentors and children moved from room to room in the center. Each

different station provided them with tools to equip them for the future. In one room, kids were encouraged to act out what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some discussed their future aspirations to become doctors, newscasters and marine biologists. This particular activity emphasized one of the main goals of this year’s day of service – to “empower the youth” and show them that college is a possibility, according to BAM Day of Service Chair Keion Farmer. “We want them to know that we come from probably very similar circumstances and we still made it to the University of Miami,” Farmer said. “They can do the same.” Other student organizations also participated in the service day. UM’s Multicultural Nursing Student Association held an activity room centered on the impact of proper nutrition. Through dancing and coloring, undergraduate nursing students helped the children to understand the importance of exercise and a balanced diet. Nursing student and senior Geydis Pupo said that the importance of the day for her was to become a more “well-informed, well-rounded cultural nurse” and to use her future profession to give back to the community. Throughout the day, students and their partners danced, sang and played their way through activities with smiles on their faces. Anderson said this was the whole purpose of the day – for students to remember that they were once that age, to help to give back and empower children. “Once in our lives, we were all around this age. It’s important for us to go back into that mindset and help bring up the leaders for tomorrow,” she said.

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OPINION

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 22 - February 24, 2016

Opinion

HURRICANE Founded 1929 An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper BUSINESS OFFICE: 305-284-4401 FAX: 305-284-4404 For advertising rates call 305-284-4401 or fax 305-284-4404.

THE MATURITY COLUMN

Napping pods hit snooze on real solutions

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nick Gangemi

WEBMASTER Georges Duplessy

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t last, mental health is being suppor ted on campus and even getting a monetary boost. However, that doesn’t necessarily By Danny New Humor Columnist mean that the money is going toward the right proponents for this sensitive subject matter. A few weeks ago, Student Government teamed up with the school administration to unveil two napping pods that cost $9,000 each. “Danny, did you just say napping pods?” Yes, I did, oh inquisitive reader. Napping pod: a contraption formed by a protruding green mat engulfed by a white sphere that covers your upper body. Or, an albino Pac-Man sticking his tongue out at you. We have two of these now, one in the University Center and one in the Shalala Student Center, to go along with a brandnew $2,000 massage chair. As far as impacting mental health, I can’t complain too much because these definitely won’t hurt the cause. They will certainly help tired students relax while having their laptops stolen. However, these purchases sound more like something school reps can boast about during a school tour rather than real catalysts for emotional stability. You’re more likely to hear a P100 tour guide proclaim, “We care so much about mental health that we invested in brand new technology called napping pods,” than, “We have a counseling center … somewhere!” Again, it’s laudable that we’re making an effort. I’m glad Student Government is

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trying. As a resident assistant approaching three years on the job, I have seen hundreds of students succumb to stress, ranging anywhere from struggling with organic chemistry to forgetting a towel the one day the Wellness Center checks. But since so many students are stressed out, why not use that $20,000 to buy a lot of something smaller so we can broaden the impact radius? Maybe ... 10,000 moist towels? Or how about installing 100 hammocks around campus? We pitch hammocks during finals, so I know some higher-up believes that they increase morale. Sure, it wouldn’t sound as enticing on the school tour if the guide had to say, “We have 100 hammocks on campus – don’t shine a black light on them.” But at least it could help more than 100 students at once as opposed to just three.

We have 10,000 undergraduate students – we should be thinking numbers here. Furthermore, hammocks – or even more gliders – would encourage interaction between students because they can study together in them or watch the new season of Kimmy Schmidt on their laptops. Napping pods promote tackling stress alone, but 20-minute naps can’t cure stress as well as friendship can. At least we’re taking a step in the right direction in terms of building an arsenal of weapons to combat college stress levels. But it’s just that – you need more than two tanks to fight a war. Danny New is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. The Maturity Column runs alternate Mondays.

The Miami Hurricane is published semi-weekly during the regular academic year and is edited and produced by undergraduate students at the University of Miami. The publication does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of advertisers or the university’s trustees, faculty or administration. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Miami Hurricane’s Editorial Board. Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Miami Hurricane are located in the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200. LETTER POLICY The Miami Hurricane encourages all readers to voice their opinions on issues related to the university or in response to any report published in The Miami Hurricane. Letters to the editor may be submitted typed or handwritten to the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 248132, Coral Gables, Fla., 33124-6922. Letters must be signed with a copy of your Cane Card. ADVERTISING POLICY The Miami Hurricane’s business office is located at 1330 Miller Drive, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200. The Miami Hurricane is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. Newspapers are distributed for free on the Coral Gables campus, the School of Medicine and off-campus locations. DEADLINES All ads must be received, cash with copy, in The Miami Hurricane business office, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200, by noon Tuesday for Thursday’s issue and noon Friday for Monday’s issue. SUBSCRIPTIONS The Miami Hurricane is available for subscription at the rate of $50 per year. AFFILIATIONS The Miami Hurricane is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Florida College Press Association.


February 22 - February 24, 2016

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

OPINION

GUEST COLUMN

Millennials have passion, potential to change nation’s financial future

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he idea that “millennials are the future” has been exhausted in commencement addresses and shouted by politicians. The rest of the world seems to scrutinize our generation under a magnifying glass, waiting to see what our collective next move is. We seem to be criticized constantly for our overuse of social media and incessant texting at By Nika Hosseini the dinner table. Even a Forbes article a few years Guest Columnist back wondered, “Are Millennials Lazy Or AvantGarde Social Activists?” However, the article concludes that the answer is the latter. “They [millennials] actualize their most important values and stand behind them with everything they do to bring about change,” said Brian Solis, an Altimeter Group principal analyst, in the article. Furthermore, the Intelligence Group, a business investigations and intelligence firm, claims that only the president ranks ahead of millennials in terms of those who the group feels can change the world with their daily decisions. There are many things that millennials are standing up and fighting for in order to create a better future for themselves. From climate change

to Occupy Wall Street, millennials are fighting for causes on the front lines. One important issue that has gained more attention recently with the coming election season is the national debt. The current debt stands at $19 trillion and is on the rise. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the total public debt as GDP now exceeds 100 percent. This essentially means that our government has produced more debt than the entire American economy produces in useful commodities each year. As the generation told to “fix it,” I’m worried. With impending environmental crises, human rights issues and the overwhelming national debt, how are we supposed to simply “fix it?” The Up to Us campaign was created as an attempt to take on one of these staggering issues. Up to Us is a nationwide campus competition that empowers students to educate their peers on our long-term national debt, how the debt could affect our economic opportunities and what our generation can do to raise awareness of our fiscal challenges. This is the second year the campaign has been held at UM. Through events, tabling and social media, they were able to reach hundreds of students. Last Thursday, Up to Us held an event where they handed out funnel cake and educated students on the national debt, emphasizing the theme, “Congress is a National Zoo.” Nika Hosseini is a senior majoring in ecosystem science and policy. She is a member of the University of Miami Up to Us campaign.

Finish reading the column at themiamihurricane.com

2016 Commencement Ball April 2, 2016 Fieldhouse at the BankUnited Center Miami.edu/CommencementBall

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EDGE

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 22 - February 24, 2016

5 local restaurants offer diverse tastes By Haley Walker Staff Writer

SUSHISAMBA Coral Gables

A little on the pricey side, this pick boasts Japanese-Brazilian fusions and tasty tapas. The Coral Gables location sits just off of Miracle Mile in the Westin Colonnade hotel. Since this spot is far from South Beach, you won’t see the crowds of the Lincoln Road location and you won’t need reservations. The best small plate is the crispy yellowtail taquitos topped with a spicy aji panca foam. Finish with a few rolls: Samba Coral Gables, El Topo, Sao Paolo, Hamapeno and Viva Samba, which are the fan favorites.

Swine

If you’re looking for revamped southern comfort, choose Swine Southern Table & Bar. Just off of Miracle Mile, this pick has a rustic atmosphere and a menu that’s generous with bacon. You may be tempted to get one of everything, but if you don’t order the angus burnt ends or the green apple brussels, you’re missing out. Finish off the night with the toffee-andbourbon cinnamon roll if you can spare another bite. Swine Southern Table & Bar is located at 2415 Ponce De Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables.

Threefold Cafe

For brunch, you can’t beat Threefold. This unassuming spot off of Miracle Mile boasts healthy fare like avocado toast and granola as well as decadent pancakes and French toast. The mason jars and floral arrangements make it Pinterest-worthy. Threefold Cafe is located at 141 Giralda Ave. in Coral Gables.

Buns & Buns

Located just a few minutes from campus on Sunset Drive, this rustic gastropub is affordable and great for friends. Sit down to steampunk decor and a big-screen TV while you watch the chef cook in an open-concept kitchen. As the name suggests, this pick is great for bread lovers. The steamed pork belly buns are the best thing on the menu and the cheesy spinach poofs are a close second. Buns & Buns is located at 5748 Sunset Drive in South Miami.

Sawa Restaurant & Lounge

Right down the road in Merrick Park, Sawa is the perfect place for an outdoor date. Sit in the open-air lounge and try their flavored hookah. The food is Japanese-Mediterranean fusion, so you can order anything from sushi to baba ganoush. The two top dishes are ham croquettes and Asian-glazed baby back ribs. If you’re a coffee drinker, they have the best cortadito in the Gables. Sawa Restaurant & Lounge is located at 360 San Lorenzo Ave. #1500 in Coral Gables.

Photos by Victoria McKaba // Assistant Photo Editor

SUSHISAMBA is located at 180 Aragon Ave. in Coral Gables.

SPECTRUM HOSTS ANNUAL DRAG SHOW

SHOW-STOPPERS: TLo Ivy (left) dances at SpectrUM’s annual DragOut at the Rathskeller Thursday night. The event, hosted by Palace drag queen Tiffany Fantasia, also featured professional drag queens Ivy and Noel Leon. UM faculty and students competed in a contest for best amateur drag queen act. The participants were judged on creativity, costumes and

overall performance. The winner, freshman Elizabeth Fusco (drag name Justin Saine) (right), received a prize from Miami’s LGBT youth center, Pridelines. Proceeds from the event went toward fundraising for SMART Ride, a twoday, 165-mile bicycle ride to help those affected, infected or at risk for HIV and AIDS in Florida.

DESIGN BY AMY MELTZER


February 22 - February 24, 2016

Sports

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

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BASEBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Miami beats Rutgers 8-1 to finish opening weekend sweep

Hurricanes overwhelm Hokies in overtime, win 67-56 By Tej Joshi Staff Writer

By Mark Singer Sports Editor

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or the fourth time in five years, the Hurricanes opened the season with a sweep against Rutgers. The No. 6 Canes finished off the Scarlet Knights with an 8-1 win on Sunday afternoon in front of 2,888 fans at Mark Light Field, making it 14 consecutive wins over the squad from New Jersey. The Canes (3-0) benefitted from another great outing by the starting pitcher for the sweep. Junior Danny Garcia, pitching on his 22nd birthday, only allowed two hits and one walk in seven scoreless innings during the first weekend start of his career. Before Garcia on Sunday, senior Thomas Woodrey and junior Michael Mediavilla also had impressive outings against Rutgers (0-3). The stats for the Canes’ starters over the weekend: 18 innings pitched, nine hits, two walks, 15 strikeouts and one earned run for a combined 0.5 ERA. “I thought we played team baseball, like we did the last two days. We pitched well. Of course, Danny Garcia pitched outstanding,” Miami Head Coach Jim Morris said. The bullpen also performed well for the Canes. Freshman Frankie Bartow and juniors Cooper Hammond and Bryan Garcia ended the first two games without giving up

T Victoria McKaba // Assistant Photo Editor

SCARLET SWEEP: Redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher Keven Pimentel throws a strikeout to clinch the sweep against Rutgers during Sunday afternoon’s baseball game at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park. The Hurricanes won the game 8-1 and start the season 3-0.

a run while freshman Andrew Cabezas threw a scoreless inning in his first collegiate appearance. The highly touted freshman out of Coral Gables Senior High allowed one walk with two groundouts and a flyout after relieving Garcia in the eighth. Redshirt freshman Keven Pimentel let up a run in the ninth on Sunday, only the second run of the series for the Scarlet Knights. Miami outscored Rutgers 14-2 on the weekend. “If you don’t have pitching you don’t go to Omaha. You got to play good defense, but you got to pitch,” Morris said. “You can’t outscore people every weekend. You got to pitch and you got to have a good bullpen. And that’s been a secret that’s got us to Omaha 12 times since I’ve been here.” Miami’s bats came alive late on Sunday with the Canes scoring six runs in the final three innings. The team was glad to see the late outburst after struggling on the offensive side the first two games. The

Canes combined for just six runs and 15 hits on Friday and Saturday. Miami scored 48 total runs in last year’s four-game series against Rutgers, including a 25-run explosion for the sweep. Junior shortstop Johnny Ruiz led the Canes on Sunday with a career-high four hits – three singles and a double – in four at-bats. Ruiz was on fire the whole series, going 6-of-9 (.667) from the plate with five RBI and two walks. “This fall, I didn’t hit too well in scrimmages, so I really focused on that this winter break and I’ve been successful and I just want to maintain that,” Ruiz said. “We broke out a little bit there towards the end of the game today, so I think we’re starting to get it together. It was only the first weekend but it’s a good start in the right direction.” Sophomore Jesse Lepore will get his first career start on Wednesday as the Canes play St. Thomas University at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field.

he Hurricanes didn’t flinch when Virginia Tech freshman guard Chanette Hicks drained a jumper to tie the game with seven seconds left in regulation. The No. 18 Canes took care of business in overtime, beating the Hokies 67-56 after a late rally by Virginia Tech knotted the two teams at 50 at the end of the fourth on Sunday at the BankUnited Center. With 30 seconds left in regulation, Virginia Tech’s junior forward Sidney Cook drilled a three-point shot to cut Miami’s lead to one. On the ensuing possession, sophomore forward Erykah Davenport missed two free throws, giving the ball back to the Hokies. After Virginia Tech came up empty on its following possession, Davenport returned to the line for two more free throws. This time she went 1-of-2 from the line, putting the Canes up 50-48. Down by two points, Hicks raced down the court and knocked in a mid-range jumper, tying the game at 50 apiece. The Canes attempted a final buzzer-beater that fell short and the game headed to overtime. The win comes on the heels of the Canes’ worst loss of the season. Miami lost to No. 3 Notre Dame 90-69 last Sunday. “We had to earn our own respect back,” Head Coach Katie Meier said about the loss to the Irish. The squads traded baskets in the early going of overtime with no team taking more than a three-point lead. That changed when junior guard Adrienne Motley hit a three to put the Canes up 57-56, starting a 13-0 Miami run to end the game. With six minutes left in the half, the Canes were down 22-13 and in danger of letting the game get out of hand. But they responded by going on a 14-2 run to end the half up 27-24. The Hokies shot 1-of-7 during

SPORTS

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Points scored by North Carolina on Saturday, the most by an opposing men’s basketball team since January 2008.

the stretch. The Canes’ run was highlighted by back-to-back triples from redshirt sophomore guard Nigia Greene, which was followed by another three from junior guard Jessica Thomas. Motley avenged her weak first half showing with five points in the third quarter. Motley was held scoreless in the first half on 0-of-4 shooting, but finished the game with 12 points. Freshman center Emese Hof, who had been struggling to put the ball in the basket recently, led the Canes with 15 points. “The last couple games, I have not really been myself so I am getting back on it. I think I had to prove something,” Hof said. Before the game, Assistant Coach Octavia Blue had her number retired. Blue played for the Canes from 1994-98 and totaled more than 1,700 points in her playing career. She joined Meier’s coaching staff in 2012. The Canes next play Louisville at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the BankUnited Center.

Hallee Meltzer // Photo Editor

HIGH HOPS: Junior guard Adrienne Motley goes up for a floater against two Virginia Tech defenders Sunday afternoon at the BankUnited Center. The Hurricanes won 67-56 in overtime.


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SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 22 - February 24, 2016

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Hurricanes hope to avoid repeat of Cavaliersʼ last visit By Chloe Harrison Contributing Sports Writer

T Evelyn Choi // Staff Photographer

he No. 11 Hurricanes will host No. 7 Virginia Monday night. Although Miami is 3-4 on the road in ACC play after the 96-71 thrashing by North Carolina on Saturday, the

team is 7-0 at home. Miami sits tied for second in the ACC with Virginia and No. 18 Louisville, with North Carolina holding a one-game lead in first place. Miami is looking to avoid an ending like the last time UVA paid a visit – the Cavaliers left South Florida with a double-overtime win. Virginia also won this season’s first matchup 66-58 in Charlottesville back in January. Virginia is the No. 2 scoring defense in the country, so the Canes will need their stars to perform on Monday. After a 10-point showing Saturday, redshirt senior guard Sheldon McClellan will look to get back to his scoring ways. Miami’s leading scorer at 15.8 points per game also posts the top shooting percentage among ACC guards at 52 percent.

Redshirt senior guard Angel Rodriguez needs to continue his recent upward trend. Rodriguez has scored double digits in nine of the last 10 games while averaging a solid 45.7 percent shooting from the field. However, Miami might be without star sixth-man Ja’Quan Newton, whose status for Monday is unknown. The sophomore guard left the North Carolina game early with a bone bruise on his left shin. The Canes do not have another player that can replicate his production off the bench. The Cavaliers will have had a week’s worth of rest heading into Monday night. Miami must keep an eye on Malcolm Brogdon, who has had 13 games this season with 20 or more points. The redshirt senior guard is averaging 17.8 points

per game on 47 percent shooting from the field this season. The Canes must avoid turnovers and take advantage of scoring opportunities against the stingy Virginia defense. On the other side of the ball, Miami has to lock down the paint. While giving up a season-high 96 points against UNC Saturday, the Canes allowed 50 points inside the lane. A win over Virginia will give the Canes a much-needed boost amid a brutal four-game stretch. After UNC and Virginia, Miami has to face Louisville and No. 19 Notre Dame in its next two games. The Canes play Virginia at 7 p.m. on Monday at the BankUnited Center.

Victoria McKaba // Assistant Photo Editor

BASKET BEELINE: Sophomore guard James Palmer dribbles around a Virginia Tech player during the Hurricanes’ 65-49 win over the Hokies at the BankUnited Center last Wednesday.

RATHSKELLER HOSTS BASKETBALL WATCH PARTY

FAITHFUL FANS: Students gather at the Rathskeller for a watch party to see Miami play North Carolina Saturday afternoon. The event was hosted by Hurricane Productions, the Rathskeller Advisory Board and Category 5. The first 50 students to arrive were served free wings. Ultimately, the Hurricanes’ five-game winning streak was snapped as they lost on the road to the Tar Heels 96-71, dropping their season record to 21-5 and their ACC record to 10-4. The No. 11 Hurricanes will play No. 7 Virginia Monday night at the BankUnited Center.


February 22 - February 24, 2016

He said we’d still be a couple but could both let off steam with nearby people. It sounds like a good idea. I’d like to be physical with someone, but I’m scared of it going wrong ... what if he falls in love with someone he sleeps with? Sincerely, (Mostly) Monogamous Mindy Dear V, My boyfriend and I have dated for three years. He moved for work last year, so we’re in a long-distance relationship now and it’s tough. We talk on the phone almost every day, but it doesn’t feel the same as cuddling with Netflix or, y’know ... intimacy. I joked about wishing we could teleport and have sex together, which gave my boyfriend an idea: an open relationship.

Dear (Mostly) Monogamous Mindy, There’s this cute little thing called oxytocin that’s released in your brain during sex. It’s called the “love hormone” and it’s why random onenight stands can accidentally become long-term relationships. While plenty of people thrive in open relationships, many couples end up broken-hearted or betrayed after welcoming others into the mix. Depending on how many partners you’ve had and how casually you

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

view sex, this could end up strengthening the bond between you two or fanning the flames of jealousy. While V’s known to be “out there,” I’m not so radical as to feel open relationships should replace the conventional practice of monogamy – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But if you feel more progressive than your peers, go for it. My advice? Define what “sex” means to you before spreading it like wildfire. If you and your boyfriend view sex as a casual activity to relieve stress, then by all means, welcome more folks into the herd. But if you believe sex is shared between two people to express love for one another, don’t try to use an open relationship as a Band-Aid for the underlying problem: distance. It’s hard to go without physical contact for so long. We’re humans and we all crave to be close with someone. But before you become jealous and possessive of each other and interrogate one another on who’s booping

DEAR V

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who while you’re apart, consider other ways to be close. We live in a world where technology is at our fingertips. Get seductive on Snapchat, get scantily-clad on Skype, or even go back in time and Tango on the telephone. If that’s not enough, add some luddite flair and bust out handwritten love letters. The goal here is to be intimate despite being miles apart. If you’re not ready for an openrelationship but you both are lonely, don’t beat a dead horse. Take a break until you two can live closer or try moving on and seeing local people. Life’s too short to be unhappy and distance can get the best of any duo.. -V


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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 22 - February 24, 2016

Iron Arrow Honor Society THE HIGHEST HONOR ATTAINED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

We are proud to introduce the 2016 Spring Tapping Class Farah Barquero Sophie Braga de Barros Nicole Chabloz Leen Dahman Kayla Derby Colton Freitas Brian Goldenberg Kenneth Goodman Nika Hosseini Abdul-Hadi Kaakour Quinlan Kasal

Aqeel Khanani Sarah King Joshua Kronenfeld Manish Kuchakulla Adam Lawrence Kara McCormack Morgan Owens Jeremy Penn Matthew Phillips David T. Poole Aalekhya Reddam

Janyl Relling Dennis Scholl Briana Scott Jeffrey Sznapstajler Deandre Tate-Drummer Samuel A. Terilli Albert J. Varon Stephanie Wagner David Wyman

Iron Arrow is “the highest honor attained at the University of Miami.” There are five criteria for selection, which make Iron Arrow such a distinguished honor. These are leadership, character, humility, scholarship, and love of alma mater. In order to qualify for membership, the candidate must be a University of Miami student, faculty, administrator, or alumnus. Founded in November 1926 by the first president of the University of Miami-Bowman Foster Ashe-Iron Arrow is the first and oldest student organization at the U. Iron Arrow is based on the ideals and traditions of the Seminole Indian Nation. President Ashe charged Iron Arrow with upholding the traditions of the University of Miami and to be its living history. This is the mission and duty of Iron Arrow at the University of Miami. For more information on Iron Arrow please visit the Tribe’s website at www.ironarrow.com.

GO CANES!


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