The Miami Hurricane - Feb. 19, 2015 by The Miami Hurricane

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The Miami

Vol. 93, Issue 35 | Feb. 19 - Feb. 22, 2015

com

HURRICANE

STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, SINCE 1929

Campus elects ‘For U’ ticket

NICK GANGEMI // PHOTO EDITOR ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Surrounded by supporters, Ishtpreet Singh, Brianna Hathaway and Robert Renfro celebrate their ticket’s Student Government executive board win. The “For U” platform contains short and long-term initiatives, including expanding shuttle stops, improving Wi-Fi and introducing hand scanners at Cane Card swipe points. Page 2

LGBT TASK FORCE

FRIDAY SERVICE

OSCARS 2015

CAMPUS SCORES LOW FOR LGBT FRIENDLINESS PAGE 3

SHALALA TO HOST LAST ‘SHABBAT SHALALA’ EVENT AT HILLEL PAGE 4

FILM ENTHUSIASTS PREDICT WINNERS PAGE 7

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

CONSTRUCTION

‘For U’ wins election

Landscape changes in works

Campus voting reaches all-time high BY ALINA ZERPA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The “For U” ticket is the newly elected 2015-16 SG executive board. Brianna Hathaway was elected president with 60 percent of votes, Ishtpreet Singh as vice president with 60 percent of the votes and Robert Renfro as treasurer with 58 percent of the votes. Student Government (SG) election results were announced at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the Rock. This year brought a recordbreaking amount of votes in University of Miami history, with a total of 2,934 votes in comparison to last year’s 1,951. Along with executive board decisions, a referendum to increase the student activities fee by $1 for Scientifica, UM’s science magazine, was disqualified because the required forms were not submitted by the Wednesday morning deadline, said Aqeel Khanani, SG elections chair. Scientifica is appealing the decision, and a hearing will be held Thursday night, Khanani added. If the disqualification is reversed at the appeal, then the voting results would be taken into effect. Eight students were also elected to serve on SG Senate. Byron Hazzard and Manish Kuchakulla for the College of Arts and Sciences, Tomas Cacicedo for the College of Engineering, Zoe Kafkes for the School of Com-

munication, Katie Thompson, Rachel Mesa and Candice Johnson for the commuters, and Kierin Mukerjee for the School of Business. They will be sworn in next week. “For U” candidates and supporters were excited to find out the news. “It’s an incredible achievement for us all, and we couldn’t be happier to have been chosen as the next student leaders to implement new initiatives and positive change for the University community,” said Ishpreet Singh, vice president-elect. “Being elected by students to represent them in interactions and meetings with higher administration and official University capacity is an incredible honor.” Treasurer-elect Robert Renfro shared similar sentiments. “I was very nervous up until the announcement,” he said. “My legs are still shaking and I’m really excited for next year.” The other ticket on the ballot was “Upgrade.” Juniors David Storch, Reem Najjar and George Spohr ran for the positions of president, vice president and treasurer, respectively. Storch says he plans on getting involved with SG to help make a difference. “I think there’s still a lot of improvements to be made on campus,” he said. “However, ‘For U’ will make a difference and maximize the potential of our school. I’m very excited to see what they do with the school.” Erika Glass and Alexander Gonzalez contributed to this report.

NEWS BRIEFS

first pieces that need Construction to to beThe laid down are the lake enhancements and a finish by 2020 pathway pedestrian bridge connecting BY WILLIAM RIGGIN STAFF WRITER

In an unassuming, boxshaped building just off of the University of Miami campus, a team of university employees are planning what the campus will look like in five years. By 2020, the Campus Planning and Development Department envisions a pedestrian bridge by the Lakeside Patio, a parking garage next to Pavia Garage, a resedential hall near the BankUnited Center and a wider walking path around Lake Osceola. Janet Gavarrete, Associate vice President of Campus Planning and Development, explained how she and her team make changes depending on what has worked in the past and what the campus needs in the future to create “a more livable, enjoyable, practical and safer” campus. But planning so many projects involves multiple moving pieces and is puzzling to Gavarrete and her colleagues.

ROAD CLOSED FOR FROST DEDICATION Due to the dedication of the new Frost Studios of the School of Music, Miller Drive will be closed to traffic from noon on Thursday, Feb. 19 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. To access the Purple Lot, traffic must go through Memorial Drive and Robbia Avenue. The speed limit on internal campus roadways is 15 MPH; proceed with caution. To contact Parking & Transportation, call (305) 2843096.

WISH MAKERS NICK GANGEMI // PHOTO EDITOR STRUT YOUR STUFF: Professional drag queen “Pusilla” from the South Beach club “Twist” hosts the “DragOut” 2014 drag show held at the Rat. UPride’s “DragOut” 2015 will be held 8 p.m. Thursday at the Rat.

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Wishmakers on Campus will be hosting a volleyball tournament where all proceeds will be donated to the

February 19 - February 22, 2015

the Lakeside Patio to the area by the Eaton Residential College parking lot. “We need to plan well in advance, because when we have more people living on campus, we’re going to have more people walking on campus, and so we’re going to need more room to walk, just like we need more room to teach,” Gavarrete said. Gavarrete added that a pedestrian bridge is treated “like a facility for the campus – like a building.” The broader pathways, which the department hopes to expand to about 15 feet around most of the lake, and new bridge are “vital” for the campus. The wider pathways and bridge are expected to be complete by the start of 2016. Without them, the next planned project (the Merrick Garage that will stand next to Pavia Garage) would be impossible. The Merrick Garage will add approximately 860 parking spaces. They are needed so

Make-A-Wish Foundation. It is $40 for early registration for teams of 5-7 and $45 at the door. Individuals without a team will be placed with other single players. Food and prizes will be provided. The tournament will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the main gym in the second floor of the Wellness Center. To register, contact UMWishmakers@gmail.com

DRINK THINK PROGRAM Greek Week will be welcoming Rick Barnes to empower students to achieve their highest potential concerning alcohol use. “Rick’s Drink Think” program is a fun, interactive, yet serious discussion about alcohol use on campus. Those participating in Greek Week must have 50 members at-

that patients of the under-construction Lennar Foundation Medical Center can park at the Ponce de Leon Garage next to the Flipse Building. Students who park at the Ponce de Leon Garage would start parking at the Merrick and Pavia Garages, which would increase the amount of foot traffic from those garages to the University Center and Student Activities Center. The garage is slated for completion in 2016. The new residential hall by the Fieldhouse and Rhodes House will add around 1,000 beds for students, bringing the total number of students living on campus to 5,200. The campus houses about 3,600 students live throughout the five residential colleges: Eaton, Mahoney, Pearson, Hecht and Stanford. Gavarrete hopes to have housing finished by 2018. This five-year development plan will then allow the Campus Planning Department to take down the Hecht and Stanford residential colleges, which house first-year students, in its next five-year plan.

tending to achieve points for this event. Free and open to all students, the event will take place at 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 in Storer Auditorium.

YING YANG TWINS #ATTHERAT The Atlanta-based hip-hop duo, Ying Yang Twins, will be performing at the Rat at 10 p.m., sponsored by Hurricane Productions and the Rathskeller Advisory Board. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. and free giveaways will be given to the first 100 people to arrive. To enter, students need their Cane Cards. Re-entries and large bags will not be allowed. Students can only bring one guest who must be at least 18 years old and have an ID. Alina Zerpa can be e-mailed at azerpa@themiamihurricane.com.

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LGBT

Task force calls for gender-neutral options Campus calls for more inclusion BY ERIKA GLASS MANAGING NEWS EDITOR

When senior Thomas Iglesias was applying to college, he searched for schools that were lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) friendly. He chose to attend the University of Miami, he says, despite the lack of services for LGBT students. “I’m from Miami, so I had the choice about whether or not I wanted to live in the freshmen dorms,” he said. “Looking into it back then, I was completely uncomfortable with the idea of being required to live on a floor of 40 freshmen guys.” Iglesias, who is also the UPride senator for Student Government (SG), is not alone. In 2013, an LGBT task force was created to evaluate LGBT friendliness on campus, according to Gail Cole-Avent, executive director of student life and assessment. The task force proposes institution-wide initiatives like gender-neutral bathrooms. As part of this evaluation, the task force sent a spring 2014 campus climate survey to students. The survey revealed that 30 percent of self-identified LGBT students at UM do not feel safe at the university due to their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The same survey showed that 35 percent of students have experienced negative or insulting comments because they identified themselves as LGBT. In 2013, Col-Avent and task force co-chair Andrew Wiemer, who is also director of the Butler Center for Service and Leadership, got the ball rolling when Patricia Whitely, vice president for student affairs, suggested the task force’s development. Col-Avent said that both she and Wiemer assembled a team that represented all sectors of campus – undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff – “with the ultimate goal of developing recommendations for consideration which we would then present to Dr. Whitely and president Shalala [Donna E. Shalala, UM president].” The first step in that process was to submit a questionnaire for an evaluation from Campus Pride Index, a tool used to assess the progress of LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices on college campuses.

Results from the 2013 rankings showed that of the top 50 schools in the US, the University of Miami ranks lowest in overall LGBT campus friendliness. Cole-Avent has already submitted the 2014 questionnaire and is awaiting the results. After receiving the Campus Pride assessment, the task force began working on recommendations that would tackle the problem areas within UM’s score, Cole-Avent said. The Campus Pride score is broken down into eight categories: LGBT policy inclusion, support and institutional commitment, academic life, student life, housing and residence life, campus safety, counseling and health, and recruitment and retention efforts. Though the university scored highly in LGBT counseling and academic life, one of UM’s lowest-scoring areas is housing and residential life. UM scored a two out of five in the category. According to campusprideindex.com, this score is the result of not offering LGBT housing options, an option for transgender students to be housed with their gender identity or expression, or gender-neutral restrooms in on-campus housing. Students like Iglesias believe that it is important for first-year students to have the option of genderneutral housing because some are often intimidated by living on gender-specific floors with others who may not accept them. “Not every student at UM has the housing option that will make them feel the most comfortable,” he said. “A gender-neutral housing option … would allow LGBTQ students to live and learn in a more inclusive, comfortable and diverse environment.” Iglesias also mentioned that this option would bring us up to par with the 32 top 50 universities that already offer these services. The top-ranked universities include Ivy League institutions, MIT and Duke University. James Smart, executive director of housing, says that though there is no gender-neutral housing option, the department has always been willing to accommodate students with special needs. But Iglesias says that there should be no wait in implementing gender-neutral housing as an option for first-year students. First-year students who opt to live on campus are required to spend at least two

semesters in university housing, usually Hecht and Stanford residential colleges, which only offer genderspecific floors. “This option could be created at no cost for everyone, including freshmen,” he said. “The UV, MahoneyPearson and Eaton already have gender-neutral floors. It’s as simple as moving room assignments around for the same amount of people.” The recently elected SG ticket “For U,” ran with the idea of implementing a gender-neutral housing platform during its term. Robert Renfro, SG treasurerelect, says that the university should push for a more inclusive campus environment. “Gender-neutral has been a conversation of the university for a while,” he said. “But now as students, putting it as a platform on behalf many other students, we have created even more awareness at school on the topic. We have begun the conversation among students, helping them better understand what it means to be a gender-neutral school.” Renfro also said that this platform would allow the new president to see the importance of being inclusive on this campus. Similarly, Brianna Hathaway, SG president-elect, said that Whitely was receptive to working with them on these plans. “We were told gender-neutral bathrooms meaning having more single stall family bathrooms would be a high possibility and feasible and that housing would be something that will take more time,” she said. Though some of the task force recommendations, like the LGBT mentoring program, have already been implemented, Wiemer says that there is still a lot more to be done. “Through the campus survey, you saw that there was support here,” he said. “LGBTQ students felt fairly comfortable here, but there were some who did not, you know, there are some populations of the LGBTQ community who do not feel comfortable here, so we have a lot of work to do.”

Schools across the U.S. have the option of being ranked by Campus Pride Index, a tool used to assess the progress of LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices on college campuses. The star ranking system is based on a five-star continuum. Three stars represent the mid-range score. The overall campus pride score is broken down into eight catergories for comparison purposes. INFORMATION COMPILED FROM CAMPUSPRIDEINDEX.ORG INFOGRAPHIC BY SARBANI GHOSH

To view an interactive information graphic comparing UM to other top 50 universities, visit themiamihurricane.com.

February 19 - February 22, 2015

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

NEWS

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CAMPUS LIFE

Celebration honors Chinese New Year

Shalala to host last annual Hillel visit ‘Gratitude’ theme of special Shabbat BY LYSSA GOLDBERG ONLINE EDITOR

FILE PHOTO BY SARAH HIRTH

Event to feature performances, Kung Fu BY BRIANNA HERNANDEZ CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR

On Monday, the University of Miami will be glistening in red and gold, lanterns will light up the campus, and a vibrant dragon will compel people to follow it into the past. The University of Miami’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association and Asian American Students Association are hosting a Lunar New Year Celebration. The event, titled “Journey Down the Silk Road,” will celebrate East Asian culture and traditions. The event will consist of performances and interactive tents. Students will be able to see their name written in calligraphy, observe a Kung Fu exhibition and play games. There will be tents with Chinese, Korean and Japanese foods, as well as food trucks on site. Planning for the event began in November. Sa Zhang, the logistics director for the event, explained that the biggest challenge faced by the associations was deciding how to promote the Chinese New Year culture to students. Zhang said that there are so many traditions that take place during Lunar New Year that the organizations could only focus on a few. “[There are] fireworks, making Chinese food and watching the biggest TV show of the year, the CCTV New Year’s Gala,” she said. “For this event, we focused on the other traditions that can be comparatively easier to present.” Haiyi Lin, president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, celebrated the new year with her family and wanted to bring that to UM. “It is a time for family reunions. We always have wonderful and huge dinner with all family members,” Lin said. Lin added that her family receives red packet money as presents from family members instead of presents. Red packet money is money in placed in a red envelope and given as a gift to unmarried members of the family. The red wrapping is symbolic and is believed to bring happiness and blessing to the receivers. But Lin says it is impolite to open a red packet in front of the person who gives it to you. “Red packet money means fortune and best wishes,” she said. The host organizations will have a tent for students wishing to learn more about them and how to get involved with on-campus events like this one.

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

When UM President Donna E. Shalala steps down at the end of this semester, she’ll be leaving a lasting legacy. Until then, she’s living out many last moments. One of those lasts is the final Shabbat Shalala this Friday, an annual event held by UM Hillel that is always its largest Shabbat service and dinner of the year. Shabbat Shalala began six years ago as “Shabbat with President Shalala” until it took on a name of its own. It has since been held annually to attract Jewish students and gather supporters of the Jewish community in celebration of the weekly Shabbat holiday. “It was a way for us to honor President Shalala and her commitment to growing Jewish life on campus, and it was a way for us to celebrate Shabbat on a bigger scale,” said Robyn Fisher, assistant director at UM Hillel. Shalala often jokes that the event is “her one time of year to be Jewish.” “She’s Christian Lebanase – she’s a far cry form being Jewish, but she shares this moment with us so intimately that she shares a part of our family,” Fisher said. Shalala said this year’s celebration is particularly important because Hillel is being transformed. “They’re going to have a beautiful facility and great opportunities for our students, so I’m excited,” she said. With the new Braman Miller Center for Jewish Student Life under construction, Shabbat Shalala will be held in the SAC Ballroom, which means there’s room for more people. About 400 guests are signed up, whereas 70-100 attend a typical weekly Shabbat dinner, according to Fisher. The event is primarily organized and run by students, but Shabbat Shalala co-

FILE PHOTO COURTESY UM HILLEL BUMPY RIDE: President Shalala rides a camel on Foote Green during Hillel’s Birthright Recruitment.

chair Jordan Brensilber said she loves that it reaches a larger community. “A lot of students, faculty and community members come, and I know that even for my friends who aren’t necessarily super involved in Hillel, they always look forward to coming to this event,” she said. A lot of Jewish students often bring their roommates and friends who aren’t Jewish, Shalala added. This will be Brensilber’s third time organizing and fourth time attending Shabbat Shalala. She said the night’s theme is gratitude, and Shalala is someone Hillel is thankful for. “Shalala has done a lot not only for the school in general but also for the Jewish community on campus,” Brensilber said. Shalala has always been a great partner of Hillel’s, according to Fisher. One year during recruitment for Birthright – a free 10-day trip to Israel for Jewish students – Shalala rode a camel on the Green. “I’m an Arab American, so camels are not new to me, and I spent two years in the Peace Corps in Iran, so I’ve known lots of camels in my life,” Shalala said. Shalala said that she’s been a supporter of Hillel and other religious organi-

zations because it’s important for students to find their niche on campus, religious or otherwise. “I want to make sure our students find a place where they’re comfortable outside the classroom that makes them feel like they’re at home,” she said. In addition to the usual candle lighting, services and dinner, Shabbat Shalala will feature a debut performance by a new Jewish a cappella group on campus. They plan to announce their group name that evening. Hillel has also put together a memory book of photos, with screens looping pictures of Shalala’s involvement. A special gift will be presented to the president Friday as well. Fisher said that she doesn’t think this final Shabbat Shalala is Hillel’s goodbye to the president. “Even though President Shalala will be stepping down, I know that she will be there to celebrate our successes as we go forward, especially with the Braman Miller Center,” she said. Candle lighting begins at 6 p.m. Friday, and services start at 6:45 p.m. For more information, email info@miamihillel.org.

THEMIAMIHURRICANE.COM

Read about... Men's basketball

Canes baseball's

What midterm

team's victory over

first road game against

season feels like in a

the Hokies by Mark

FAU by AJ Ricketts

UBuzz blog post by

Poulose

February 19 - February 22, 2015

Lizzie Wilcox

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The Miami

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.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Media must stay fact-focused to maintain trust The media industry suffered major setbacks last week. On one end, acclaimed journalists David Carr from The New York Times and Bob Simon from “60 Minutes” passed away. But at the center of these real tragedies, NBC suspended “Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams when he apologized on air for embellishing his experiences reporting the Iraq War in 2003. Williams’ apology sparked a firestorm of criticism. Comedian Jon Stewart, who also announced he will leave “The Daily Show,” joked that Williams caught a case of “infotainment confusion syndrome.” Though a bit exaggerated, Stewart’s point makes clear that Williams may have allowed his public persona to affect his ability to report the news. He is one example of the worrisome relationship between news and entertainment that affects the public’s perception of the media. The public’s distrust of mass media outlets continues to grow. The latest Gallup poll on this subject reported that 40 percent of Americans had complete faith in the media, while 60 percent had the opposite perspective. Williams is also not the first and certainly won’t be the last to make this kind of mistake. He joins the same club as CBS

News anchor Dan Rather and CNN’s John King – journalists who both made huge blunders in covering significant stories involving George W. Bush and the Boston Marathon, respectively. We do not expect journalists to be perfect – they are humans, too. In fact, we were shocked and disappointed to hear that Williams had lied about his involvement in high-profile stories. He had established himself as one of the most credible and personable reporters. Lester Holt said it best in his first newscast after replacing Brian, “Brian is a member of our family but so are you, our viewers, and we will work every night to be worthy of your trust.” For Williams, his pursuit of charisma and charm may have come at the expense of his credibility. He will have to dedicate the rest of his career to making a comeback and once again placing himself in the public’s trust. Nevertheless, the network deserves part of the blame for not addressing the situation. NBC was blissfully ignorant to Williams’ different versions of the same story. And, even when they were made aware by a public apology, they only decided to take action after Williams apologized on air.

Whether or not NBC turned a blind eye to its star anchor, the network should be held accountable for not immediately addressing the situation. NBC should have reacted the way CBS did when they were faced with a similar situation with Rather. In 2004, both the anchor and the network’s president, Andrew Heyward, issued an apology for relying on unverified documents claiming that President Bush received favorable treatment in the National Guard. Major news outlets should prevent their anchors from becoming too recognizable of a figure. They should also stay away from allowing their anchors too much autonomy. Likewise, the anchors should remain level headed and avoid any kind of attention that undermines what should be their sole mission: to report the news accurately and fairly. We believe Williams will get his second chance and return repentant for his actions. Let’s hope all news networks heed his example and prevent this from happening in the future. Editorials represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.

Expand cultural boundaries with campus events pon entering the University of Miami, students are encouraged to diversify their college experience. Numerous student organizations and events at the University of Miami provide the opportunity for us to do so. Cultural celebrations on campus increase the awareness of diversity within the student body. Such examples include the Lunar New Year, TAYLOR DUCKETT Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History STAFF WRITER Month (observed in February). These organizations go to great lengths to make their programs exciting and impactful, not only for their members, but also for the whole UM community. However, the majority of people who attend these celebrations identify with that race or ethnic group. In order to truly diversify our college experience, we should take advantage of all cultural celebrations on campus. At no other time in our lives will we have the same level of access to

people from every edge of the world. It’s easy to want to keep to ourselves. We are creatures of comfort who like to surround ourselves with the familiar. However, in order to thrive within an increasingly globalized society, we have to be able to easily connect with all types of people. The next time there is an event hosted by United Black Students, Federacion de Estudiantes Cubanos, or any other cultural organization on campus, take a chance and join in. You have nothing to lose by participating in a group that celebrates their heritage. By going to these events, you have the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone in order to experience a different perspective. That, as well as these celebrations, is a great way to meet people and make friendship that you may not find elsewhere. This semester, broaden your mind by participating in a culture other than your own. Taylor Duckett is a senior majoring in business law. February 19 - February 22, 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexander Gonzalez

EDITOR Sherman Hewitt

MANAGING NEWS EDITOR Erika Glass

ONLINE NEWS EDITOR Emily Dabau

ART DIRECTOR Sarbani Ghosh

ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR AJ Ricketts

PHOTO EDITOR Nick Gangemi

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Eddie Sanchez

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Hallee Meltzer

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dakota Orlando WEBMASTER Georges Duplessy

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Alina Zerpa

BUSINESS MANAGER Christopher Dalton

OPINION EDITOR Jackie Yang

SALES REPRESENTATIVES Chris Daniels James Hillyer Chris Hoffner Kyle Stewart Grayson Tishko

EDGE EDITOR Ashley Martinez SPORTS EDITOR Courtney Fiorini COPY CHIEF Julie Harans

AD DESIGNER Michelle Lock

COPY EDITORS Alyssa Bolt Huixin Deng DESIGNERS Emma Deardorff Madeleine Trtan Savannah DeBrosse

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Isabel Vichot FACULTY ADVISER Ileana Oroza FINANCIAL ADVISER Steve Priepke

ONLINE EDITOR Lyssa Goldberg ASSISTANT ONLINE

To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page. ©2015 University of Miami 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.

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OPINION

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Bond can be black, too R

umors about the casting of Idris Elba as the next James Bond, a role most recently occupied by Daniel Craig, have caused somewhat of an uproar on the Internet over ANDREW ALLEN CONTRIBUTING the past couple of COLUMNIST months. Why? Elba would be an African American actor assuming a role that has been historically played by white men. “He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is and was,” said conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh. Race in film is a sensitive, polarizing topic that requires a type of nuance lacking in the Twitter-sphere. Many Internet denizens believe that casting a black actor as Bond undermines the character’s identity. Social media users like @Rob_Simple have voiced their concerns that “Idris Elba WOULD make a great James Bond except for the fact that he’s black and James Bond isn’t.” Some argue that casting Elba would be a gimmick to appease liberal audiences. However, 007, unlike many other fictional characters, is more of a concept than an actual person. He’s an embodiment of suave, British sex appeal mixed with the lethality and thrilling lifestyle of an international spy. It’s not who Bond is so much as what Bond is. And, as we’ve seen over the course of Bond’s lengthy cinematic career, he is not confined to the cultural ideals of any particular era. Bond has evolved over time as our cul-

ture’s ideal of a sexy, skilled secret agent has changed. This transformation illustrates that outside of the basic identity (of a character who is talented, suave and sexually appealing), there really isn’t anything specific that defines Bond. Each actor has brought something unique to the role with their entirely distinct personalities. Even their nationalities have been subject to change (Connery, who originated the role, was the only Scottish Bond to date). For all intents and purposes, Daniel Craig’s Bond is an entirely different person from Pierce Brosnan’s or Sean Connery’s Bond, though they all share those same essential Bond mannerisms. So, in this day and age, why can’t a black man be Bond? Or, for that matter, must Bond even be a man? With concepts of race and gender becoming ever more fluid, perhaps the Bond of today is better off looking different than the Bond of the 60s and 70s. Perhaps, creatively speaking, altering Bond’s race or even gender is the next step in creating a Bond for this modern age. Ultimately, though, the guiding factor in who Bond is should be left up to the creatives assigned to the job. It is an artist’s vision that creates compelling characters and stories. So let the minds behind the wheel of the Bond franchise make their own call, or else we could end up with a more diverse yet creatively inert 007 – an unfruitful trade-off. Andrew Allen is a sophomore majoring in communications. ILLUSTRATION BY // SILVANA ARGUELLO

Lack of diversity in film calls for change in casting

KELLY BRODY ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST

he Academy Awards are trademarked by many things – glitz, glamour, gowns and excruciatingly long speeches. In recent years, the annual ceremony seems to have developed a new trademark: the guarantee that the golden statuettes will be won by

white males. The hashtag #OscarSoWhite began trending on social media upon the announcement of the 2015 Oscar nominations last month, mocking the lack of nominations for females and people of color by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In fact, for the first time since 1995, all 20 acting nominations have gone to white performers. 6

OPINION

This outrage over the lack of diversity in Oscar voting comes on the heels of the racially charged Ferguson trial and Eric Garner case. Twitter users were quick to point out that when Lupita Nyong’o, an AfricanAmerican actress, won an Oscar last year for her performance in “12 Years a Slave,” she played just that – a slave. Other black, female Academy Award winners have won for performances as abusive mothers (Halle Berry in “Monster’s Ball” and Mo’Nique in “Precious”) and maids (Octavia Spencer in “The Help”). These characters portray African-American women in far from the best light and take advantage of historical race roles. Hollywood has yet to be colorblind in its casting. Speculations surrounding black English actor Idris Elba being cast as the new James Bond caused an outcry from those who believed Bond could not be played by

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

February 19 - February 22, 2015

anyone other than a white man, among them commentator Rush Limbaugh. “I know it’s racist to probably even point this out,” Limbaugh said on his radio program in December, “[but] we had 50 years of white Bonds because Bond is white.” There were disbelievers about the recent Annie remake, as well. Instead of the typical redhead as the title character, AfricanAmerican child actress Quvenzhané Wallis filled the role. The film’s first trailers were met with skepticism. Negative reactions echoed that of Twitter user @stonemegan14, who wrote, “I’m not racist. ANNIE IS NOT BLACK. She is a cute little white girl with curly red hair. She does not have an Afro.” My question about that is, why can’t Annie have an afro? Why not a black Annie? Hollywood needs to diversify itself by offering more roles typically offered to white

actors to minorities. It will be less of a shock when an African American, Asian, or Hispanic actor fills a white role once the premise of a “white” role is eliminated. Movies and television offer the same universal themes, and every character presents the same human behavior and characteristics. Unless it is a period piece, race of an actor should not affect the story line of the movie. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, an African American, responded to the lack of diversity in nominations, saying she would “love to see ... a greater cultural diversity among all our nominees in all of our categories.” When Hollywood diversifies minority roles, awards for actors of all nationalities will follow. Kelly Brody is a sophomore majoring in journalism.

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Local film lovers forecast Oscars BY ALEXANDER GONZALEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Awards season reaches its climactic end with Hollywood’s biggest night. The 87th Academy Awards airs Sunday. Film critics and enthusiasts have been predicting who will take home the awards for best picture, best actor and best actress. Members of the Miami film community weighed in on this year’s probable winners.

Trae DeLellis Cosford Cinema director DeLellis has a passion for cinema so strong that he earned a graduate degree in film studies. He has been the director of Cosford Cinema for three years and has taught courses at the University of Miami in subjects like film history, film appreciation and French cinema. DeLellis is always looking to screen independent and foreign films that are not usually found at AMC or Regal. “I try to make the Cosford a space for interesting and independent voices,” he said.

Best picture: “Boyhood” Directed by Richard Linklater, “Boyhood” was shot over 12 years and uses the same cast of actors. Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and breakout star Ellar Coltrane star in this oneof-a-kind film from an avant-garde director who also created the “Before” trilogy. While he enjoyed the concept more than the film itself, DeLellis positions it above the other nominees in an otherwise “dully year.”

Best actor: Eddie Redmayne for “The Theory of Everything” DeLellis votes for Redmayne and his portrayal of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking in the biopic “The Theory of Everything.” However, it may be a close call between Michael Keaton in “Birdman” and Redmayne – not to mention that DeLellis really hated “Birdman,” finding its filming techniques, like the neverending take, to be “more distracting than anything else.” The Cosford director added that Redmayne should win because people will realize that the former “Les Miserables” actor starred alongside Julianne Moore in “Savage Grace,” a film about an incestuous mother-son relationship.

Best actress: Julianne Moore for “Still Alice” Though DeLellis believes all the performances in this category are excellent, Moore surpasses them. She plays a linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. “It’s a great performance that really elevates the film – which, without her, would be unremarkable,” he said.

Christina Lane Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies director Since 2010, Lane has overseen programming and cultural activities for the Norton Herrick Center, which advances the knowledge of the history and cultural impact of film. The center provides support for research, film preservationists and archivists not limited to the teaching of film at the university. Lane, an associate professor in film studies, teaches courses on film and media history, directors, and gender theory.

Best picture: “Birdman” “I predict ‘Birdman’ will win because of its bold, brilliant approach and technological audacity – not to mention Michael Keaton’s stunning performance,” Lane said.

Best actor: Eddie Redmayne Best actress: Julianne Moore Moore’s “fragile, understated performance” makes her the clear contender for the award, Lane said.

Senior Robert Pinney Cinematic Arts Commission chair The CAC is a student organization that programs 13 weekly films each semester that students can watch for free every Wednesday and Sunday night at Cosford. The commission also screens sneak previews of films that have not been released, like the recent “Hot Tub Time Machine 2.”

Best picture: “Birdman”

Like others, Pinney says it will come down to “Boyhood” and “Birdman,” but is leaning more toward the latter. “Hollywood voters love movies about Hollywood,” he said. The film’s release date may play a role, Pinney said. “Boyhood” was released in the summer and may lose some of its traction at this point, despite winning the Golden Globes for best drama and director.

Best actor: Eddie Redmayne or Michael Keaton as a “lifetime achievement award”

Best actress: Julianne Moore

TMH Predictions: Best picture: “Birdman” Best actor: Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything” Best actress: Julianne Moore in “Still Alice” Best supporting actor: J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash” Best supporting actress: Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood” Best director: Alejandro González Iñárritu for “Birdman”

February 19 - February 22, 2015

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

EDGE

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Senior produces play without ‘Assistance’ BY MADELYN PAQUETTE STAFF WRITER

There is a beautiful irony about a production of a play entitled “Assistance” being entirely student-driven. For the past month, senior musical theatre major Chris Goodrich and a cast of six actors and actresses have taken on the challenge of mounting an independent performance of Leslye Headland’s 2008 workplace comedy. The student-led show will run at 6 p.m. Sunday at the School of Communication in Studio A. “It’s a story about the personal assistants of a complete nightmare boss, Daniel Weisinger, and the scramble to keep their dream job,” said Goodrich, the director of the play. Goodrich, with the encouragement of some of his conservatory classmates, decided to present “Assistance” as a passion project outside of the requirements of any class or department-sponsored show. He was immediately drawn to the script for this project. “This was the perfect play,” Goodrich said about his decision. “It’s written for young actors, it’s hilarious, and it doesn’t need a ton of tech.” This isn’t Goodrich’s first stint in the director’s chair. He has previously directed a one-act play written by Shel Silverstein and “a dramatic, spy film version of ‘Green Eggs and Ham,’” as well as taken a directing class at the university. However, a larger-scale production like “Assistance” has presented its own difficulties. The cast rehearses weekdays, nights and weekends, which can be exhausting for actors trying to balance daily schoolwork with their “night jobs.”

“The most challenging part is the scheduling,” Goodrich said. “I never want to waste anyone’s time, but that’s inevitable in a difficult rehearsal.” Still, Goodrich strives to create a collaborative atmosphere in rehearsals, particularly because he is working with his peers. “I encourage everyone to bring their creativity to the process,” he said. “I want rehearsal to be fun, but also intense – truly challenging at times so that I can push people to their greatest potential. I try to shape people’s instincts.” While the vast majority of the project has been unsupervised by faculty, Goodrich did enlist a few trusted outside eyes to critique the production in its final stages. “I invited professors to watch rehearsal and give notes,” he said. “... I really respect their input and their understanding of the actors.” With just days before the Sunday performance, Goodrich is confident that his cast has created a production to be proud of. “You should see the fantastic work of a bunch of talented actors,” he said. “This play is all their work, and I’m blown away by it every day.”

IF YOU GO WHAT: “Assistance” WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday WHERE: School Of Communication, Studio A COST: Free

EDGE BRIEFS “The Women,” a mid-20th century play featuring an all-female cast of 20, opened Wednesday at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. The show follows a group of ﬁve friends in the 1930s as they confront the obstacles of Manhattan’s upperclass society and being a woman during the time period. It will run through Feb. 28. For showtimes, visit as.miami.edu/ringtheatre/2014-15-season/.

COSFORD SCREENING This week, the Cosford Cinema will be playing “Match” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Sunday.“Human Capital” will screen at 8:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Sunday. “Interstellar” will play at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit cosfordcinema.com.

ART COLLOQUIUM A Colloquium entitled “Islam, Art, Gender and Sexuality” will take place with professors Amanullah De Sondy and Karen Mathews at 4 p.m. March 2 at the Lowe Art Museum. The event is free, open to the public and will seek to explore the ways in which Muslim men and women deal with issues of patriarchy, freedom of views, pluralism, race and ethnicity, censorship, and exile through gender and sexual expression in the visual arts. RSVP at as.miami.edu/religion/ IAGS. Ashley Martinez may be emailed at edge@themiamihurricane.com.

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THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Classical guitarist comes to campus BY ESTHER PONCE DE LEON SENIOR EDGE WRITER

‘THE WOMEN’

ASHLEY MARTINEZ // EDGE EDITOR TAKING THE LEAD: Senior Chris Goodrich directs a rehearsal of the student-led show “Assistance.” After five weeks of rehearsal, the show will premiere Sunday.

Just two weeks after winning the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo, classical guitarist Jason Vieaux, 41, will perform at the University of Miami Saturday. As a full-time teacher and performer, Vieaux has dedicated his life to music and musical education. He will bring his talents to the Clarke Recital Hall for an intimate performance. Frederico Musgrove Stetson, a first-year doctoral student in the Frost School of Music, worked with the Florida Guitar Foundation to bring Vieaux to UM. “We’re trying to expand our audience, and I do tell people if you go to one concert, you’ll come back for another one,” Musgrove Stetson said. Musgrove Stetson believes Vieaux has great prowess and notes that his winning means a lot for classical guitarists. “Guitars don’t get nominated too often for that [category] because you go against the piano players, or the violin players, these huge people backed by big companies,” Musgrove Stetson said. “I think this is the third win for solo guitars.” The concert will take place in the intimate Clarke Recital hall, which holds 137 people, allowing for the audience to hear everything without the need for amplification. It will last between an hour and a half to two hours with an intermission in between. Vieaux be available to sign CDs and take pictures after the concert, meaning that listeners will get the chance to meet him personally.

February 19 - February 22, 2015

The set list for the evening includes 12 songs such as Mauro Giuliani’s “Grand Overture,” Vieaux’s arrangements of Pat Metheny’s “Always and Forever,” and Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood.” Vieaux has released 11 CDs, including “PLAY,” for JASON VIEAUX which he won the 2015 Grammy award. He will play an array of classical genres, from famous composer like Johann Sebastian Bach to contemporary Brazilian composer Paulo Bellinati. Vieaux tours frequently, but for Musgrove Stetson, one of the most fascinating aspects of Vieaux’s career is his online music school – Online Classical Guitar School with Jason Vieaux. Stetson believes online music schools are the future. “It’s pretty cool because you submit a video and then he looks at it and then gets back to you,” Musgrove Stetson said. “He’s always one step ahead of everyone else when it comes to [music].”

IF YOU GO WHERE: Clarke Recital Hall WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday COST: $30 for general admission and $15 for students

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SPORTS 18-7

Women’s basketball record

68.2

Average points per game for Canes women’s basketball

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Canes score big against Virginia Tech

Companionship strengthens team Canes prepare to face Eagles after only two season losses BY ALEXA PAPPAS SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

NICK GANGEMI // PHOTO EDITOR BOOM CLAP: Junior Tonye Jekiri makes a slam dunk during Wednesday night’s 76-52 win over Virginia Tech at the BankUnited Center. For a full-game recap, read Mark Poulose’s story at themiamihurricane.com.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Victories promise bright future Miami defeats Georgia Tech, advances to take on NC State BY AJ RICKETTS ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR

On less of a tournament bubble than the men, the Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball team faces a critical game Thursday night, on the road at NC State. The Hurricanes (18-7, 8-4 ACC) are coming off of a dramatic victory at home against Georgia Tech. Trailing 59-49 with less than five minutes to play, Miami rattled off a 15-0 to finish the game and boost their tournament hopes. This game followed one of the most impressive efforts of the season for Miami: a 85-67 win on the road

against No. 23 Syracuse, a game Miami controlled throughout. Sophomore Adrienne Motley scored 18 points in the win over Georgia Tech, while Michelle Woods added 13, with 10 of those coming in the final four minutes. The Hurricanes are in a good position, with four conference games left on the schedule. With the solid nonconference performance and notable conference wins, particularly a 15-point victory over No. 4 Notre Dame, the Canes could reasonably win two of the next four and still look favorable The win over Notre Dame was huge – Miami was the first team other than UConn to defeat the Irish in the past two years. A home tilt with Carolina will follow the NC State game, with Wake Forest on the road and Florida State at home on senior night rounding out the regular season.

It has been a relaxing two weeks for UM’s women’s tennis squad, who retains a top-10 ITA ranking for the second week in a row during a much-needed bye week after a grueling weekend at the ITA National Indoor Collegiate Championships. This weekend, the No. 9-ranked Hurricanes take on the unranked FGCU Eagles before ACC play begins on Feb. 27. This is their highest ranking since February of last year. The Hurricanes, who are 3-2 in the spring season, are one of three ACC teams in the top 10. Their only two losses are to teams that have had No. 1 rankings (UCLA and North Carolina). One of their wins was against No. 7 Alabama. “Having played number one, three and seven in the nation [last] weekend just makes a team stronger.” Head Coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews told Hurricanesports.com. “We learned so much about this team and I’m looking forward to an amazing season.” The key to Miami’s continued success lies in the companionship between upper and underclassmen. Breakout freshman Sinead Lohan and Wendy Zhang are ranked No. 36 and No. 98, respectively, and also combine as a No. 57-ranked doubles duo. Their surging triumphs must be matched by veterans such as No. 8 Stephanie Wagner and doubles teams of Wagner and Lina Lileikite, currently No. 10, along with Clementina Riobueno and Monique Albuquerque who clock in at No. 17. The Hurricanes will take on FGCU at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center at 4 p.m this Friday, Feb. 20.

HURRICANES V. EAGLES WHERE: Neil Schiff Tennis Center WHEN: 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 WHAT: The Canes women’s tennis team will come back home and begin their three-weekend home stand.

February 19 - February 22, 2015

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

SPORTS

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Please join us for

Brunch & Dialogue With

Dr. JOHN C. LENNOX Saturday, February 21, 2015 10:00 AM at The University of Miami Faculty Club 1530 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Everyone in attendance will receive a copy of GOD’S UNDERTAKER: Has Science Buried God? by John C. Lennox

JOHN C. LENNOX, MA MMath MA (Bioethics) PhD DPhil DSc, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, is an internationally renowned speaker on the interface of science, philosophy and religion. He regularly teaches at many academic institutions including the Said Business School, Wycliffe Hall and the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, as well as also being a Senior Fellow with the Trinity Forum. He has written a series of books exploring the relationship between science and Christianity and he has also participated in a number of televised debates with some of the world’s leading atheist thinkers.