Construction builds better campus future By William Riggin News Editor
F
ences enclose work zones full of dirt and concrete. A crane is towering over Ponce de Leon Boulevard. A bridge stretches farther across Lake Osceola each day. The University of Miami’s physical makeup is being reshaped and augmented in all corners of its 239-acre campus in Coral Gables. While none of these changes alone will impact student life as profoundly as the Donna E. Shalala Student Center when it opened in the fall of 2013, the brand new buildings and bridges combined with countless renovations are part of one of the most significant waves of physical change in the university’s 90year history. The largest and most expensive of the construction projects is The Lennar Foundation Medical Center, home of UHealth at Coral Gables, on the southern part of the campus. The 206,000-squarefoot ambulatory care and outpatient center had its ceremonial groundbreaking in September, 2015 and has risen quickly. Its concrete and steel skeleton
Shreya Chidarala // Staff Photographer
MODERNIZING MEDICINE: Construction of the Lennar Foundation Medical Center, located on the Coral Gables campus, makes headway as completion is projected for fall of 2016. already casts a large figure between the Flipse Building and Dickinson Drive. “It’s moving along at a very nice clip,” said Janet Gavarrete, associate vice president of campus planning and development. She said completion is scheduled for November 2016, as was originally planned. The newest member of the UHealth system was given the Lennar name following a $50 million lead gift from The Lennar Foundation, the charitable arm of The Lennar Corporation. At the time of the groundbreaking, UM Senior Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer told The Miami Hurricane that the lead gift offset enough of the project’s $145 million
total cost and that it could be done in one stage rather than in phases. The building is LEED-certified and will provide the services of the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and University of Miami Health System, including outpatient surgery and urgent care. Cancer care, including chemotherapy and radiation oncology, will also be available. The center will also operate branches of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. The school plans on moving student health services over to the new center.
WHAT’S INSIDE
Page 3: Protesters return to address sale of pine rocklands.
Page 8: Students study the chemistry of food.
Page 9: Backup running backs show promise for Hurricanes football.
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NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
September 10 - September 13, 2015
JUMP FROM COVER
ACADEMICS
UM falls in national ranking By William Riggin News Editor
Nick Gangemi // Editor-in-Chief
CONNECTING CAMPUS: Construction of the new 210-foot long bridge, connecting Eaton parking lot to Lakeside Patio, is slated for completion next month.
Bridge, UC pool near completion “For our UM community – students and faculty and staff – having a facility like this will be a game changer as it relates to how easy it’s going to be to get to cutting-edge healthcare,” Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Miller School of Medicine Dr. Pascal J. Goldschmidt told The Miami Hurricane at the time of the groundbreaking. Connecting the medical center to the adjacent Ponce de Leon Garage will be two vehicular bridges and one pedestrian bridge over the canal that separates the garage and medical center. One vehicular bridge and the pedestrian bridge will span the canal in front of the center and garage, while another will span the canal behind the buildings. The permit application for the construction of the bridges showed a total cost of over $1 million. Patients and staff of the medical center will park in the Ponce Garage, so student parking will be moved to the under-construction Merrick Garage that will mirror Pavia Garage between Pavia Street and George E. Merrick Drive. Upon completion, which is supposed to be by fall of 2016, the garage will have about 860 parking spaces, bringing the total number of parking spaces in the two garages to around 1,700. Although they have separate names, the two garages will be connected. “It really will be a very large parking resource. It is not like you go in it and you can only go up and down, you can also go across
on the first and third floor, making it very appealing to manage,” Gavarrete said. Just north of those garages, past the Eaton Residential College parking lot, the new Lake Osceola Bridge will take students across the lake in front of the Whitten University Center. The 210-foot bridge is slated to finish construction by homecoming on Nov. 5 and has a cost of $1 million according to the original permit application. “The reason why we did it is because it makes a really direct connection into the heart of the campus,” Gavarrete said. “When I stand out there and look at it, it is like this belonged here all along. There are some things that happen, and they fit so well.” The bridge allows for a quicker walk to the north side of campus, eliminating the need to go through or around the Whitten UC to get to the Donna E. Shalala Student Center. Next to the Lake Osceola Bridge, the Whitten UC pool is being renovated with new plumbing, a new deck, new lounge furniture, new starting blocks and slightly redone locker rooms. The renovation will cost more than $1 million, according to Executive Director of the UC Daniel Westbrook, who said they hope it will be reopened in late October, before homecoming. “That has been given the highest priority,” he said. “We realize how badly students need that back and we promise that will be open as soon as possible.” According to Gavarrete, the other renovation happening on campus is at the Ungar Building, which is “getting a new skin,” a hurricane-resistant glass that is still being installed now.
At the intersections of Dickinson Drive and Ponce de Leon Boulevard., and Merrick Street and Ponce, traffic signals were recently installed. The Braman Miller Center for Jewish Student Life and Sigma Chi Fraternity house are among renovations that are on campus yet not under the school’s administration. The Braman Miller Center renovation is the first major renovation to any religious house on campus, according to Gavarrete. The Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house, which was originally under construction for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, is also still undergoing work. Future construction is planned for the Tom P. Murphy Design Studio Building at the School of Architecture, and a simulation hospital for the School of Nursing is going through permitting as well. Gavarrete expects to have a better idea of the date for the simulation hospital’s groundbreaking by January 2016. New housing next to the Pavia and Merrick garages won’t start construction for at least another year, though it does have a name: Ibis Village. The establishment will feature two halls called Gables Hall and Merrick Hall. As for the U.S. 1 pedestrian overpass that had its own groundbreaking on April 24, the pile of dirt from the ceremony still remains with no construction. According to Monica D. Cejas, senior professional engineer at Miami-Dade Transit, the overpass is officially in the construction stage and “contractor site mobilization is pending ‘Maintenance of Traffic Plans’ approval.” Once that occurs, construction will begin.
Wednesday morning US News World & Report released 2016 Best Colleges List and the University of Miami landed at No. 51, falling three spots from last year’s ranking. It is the first time the school has fallen out of the top 50 in the rankings since 2009. UM was tied at No. 48 with the University of Florida, which moved up a spot to No. 47 and is now the top-ranked Florida school. In a statement, UM said: “The 2016 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranking continues to affirm the value of a University of Miami degree among the top research universities nationally, while recognizing our ongoing focus on student retention, graduation rates and fundraising. The University of Miami’s graduation rate is 81 percent and freshman retention rate is 92 percent. Additionally, alumni giving improved this year and is ref lected in the ranking. Our unprecedented $1.6 billion Momentum2: The Breakthrough Campaign for the University of Miami reached its goal in May.” Princeton, Yale, Harvard and Colombia made up the top four spots in the rankings, respectively.
COMMUNITY
Families awarded damages after death of two students By William Riggin News Editor
O
n Tuesday a jury awarded $8.6 million in damages to the families of two international students from China who were attending UM when they were struck and killed by a car on Oct. 16, 2013. Ying Chen and Hao Liu were crossing Kendall Drive and Southwest 68th Court in Pinecrest on the way back to their apartment when Milady Pequeno struck the students with her Porsche. In 2014, Pequeno was found guilty of careless driving and had her license suspended for two years. “Even though there are verdicts, the charges are fair and just, the family is kind of upset because their two young lives have gone and their children will never come back,” family-friend Kai Zang said, according to WSVN.com.
September 10 - September 13, 2015
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
NEWS
3
ENVIRONMENT
Pine rocklands protests resume By S. Molly Dominick Multimedia Editor
E
Kawan Amelung // Contributing Photographer
nvironmentalists and members of the local community continue to protest the University of Miami’s handling and sale of land containing an endangered pine rockland habitat. They rallied in front of the university’s main entrance on Stanford Drive this Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Protesters gathered facing U.S. 1 wearing butterfly wings as a reminder of the endangered and rare Florida Atala butterfly species that lives in the habitat. Other endangered species like the bonneted bat call the habitat home as well. They held signs, some reading “Shame on U” and others with depictions of the U logo holding a bag of money. They chanted “Save it, don’t pave it” to the sound of a trumpet in a continued effort to encourage UM to buy back the land. UM sold 88 acres of the habitat to Ram Realty Services (Ram) for about $22 million in 2014. Ram plans to develop establishments like a 158,000-square-foot Walmart, a Chili’s restaurant and about 900 apartments on the land. “I think UM as an institution has a responsibility to sustainability,” said Rebecca Garcia, a UM student who attended the protest. “They sold it. So, they should be responsible for whether or not that will impact the environment.”
The protest was organized by the Miami Pine Rocklands Coalition (MPRC), an organization dedicated to preserving the pine rockland habitat. Al Sunshine, president of the MPRC and a UM alumnus, said the university has made three land deals but it has not sold all the land needed for development yet. He said he hopes to prevent these sales and to encourage UM to buy back land it has already sold. Sunshine will also hold a meeting with President Julio Frenk to discuss the issue, joined by others involved with opposition to the land sale like Timothy Watson, an associate professor in the English Department who circulated a petition to students and staff opposing the sale that was delivered to former UM President Donna Shalala last year. Sunshine said he has “no expectations” for this meeting, but “just want[s] Frenk to know our side.” The university released a statement maintaining that “the University of Miami is committed to the protection and preservation of our community’s natural and historic resources,” and that it “has acted in good faith and in compliance with all rules and regulations in its handling of the South Campus property.” According to the statement, UM also “jointly submitted a Habitat Conservation Plan for review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” The MPRC organized a similar protest in the same location last February. According to Cully Waggoner, board member at large for the MPRC, the protest continues this academic year because the group has not yet succeeded in their mission. “The job’s not done,” Waggoner said. “Until the land is saved, we’ll be out here as many times as we need to be.”
Giancarlo Falconi // Assistant Photo Editor
ROADSIDE RALLY: Students, faculty and the local community continue to rally against UM’s sale of the pine rocklands. The land, which houses endangered flora and fauna, was sold to a development firm in 2014.
EVENT MAKES WAVES
SPLASH DOWN: Freshmen Chris Coyne and Michael Goldstein ride the water slides on the Green at this year’s Wet N’ Wild event hosted by Hurricane Productions (HP). In addition to the water slides, HP provided a dunk tank, surf board riding experience and free smoothies from
Smoothie King on the Rock. HP hosts a variety of events throughout the semester including Thursday’s Patio Jams, Cosford Cinema screenings, Canes After Dark and Canes Night Live. Their next event is a football watch party Friday at the Rathskeller as UM takes on FAU.
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NEWS
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
ADMINISTRATION
CAMPUS LIFE
Frenk to host town hall meeting By William Riggin News Editor
I
n President Julio Frenk’s inaugural first-year students’ address on Aug. 19, he told students that “these are the sorts of values we want to model for the larger society: learning to listen, learning to engage and learning to be respectful of each other.” On Thursday night, he will put those into practice as he takes part in a historic town hall event at the BankUnited Center (BUC) that will include an introductory talk from the president as well as a question and answer session that will last around an hour. President Frenk officially began as president on Aug. 16 and said he would spend his first 100 days in office listening to the UM community. This event, expected to last slightly over an hour, is his biggest chance yet to hear from the community. The president’s Chief of Staff Rudy Fernandez said on Tuesday that the event will be President Frenk’s first introduction to the UM community. “President Frenk is looking to listen to the UM community,” he said. “What challenges do students, faculty and staff feel they are facing? He also wants to hear what they think makes UM the great community that we all love.” Fernandez said that the section of seats closest to the stage would be for students in order to give them the first opportunity to get up and ask questions. Along with questions from the audience, the school has been accepting questions over social media with the use of #AskFrenk. The BankUnited Center will be at half capacity, ac-
September 10 - September 13, 2015
Llenas
cording to Fernandez. The moderator for the event will be Fox News correspondent and 2010 UM graduate Bryan
Llenas. “I was kind of surprised when they asked me,” he said. “To be a small part of a historic moment for a school I love is an incredible opportunity. I think this is a smart, fantastic way to do it; [Frenk] is new to the family, and in order to become acquainted, he needs to listen.” Both Llenas and Fernandez said that President Frenk views the event and his “listening tour” as an important aspect to approaching the last decade of the school’s first 100 years. He has taken over in the school’s 90th year and views this decade as crucial to advancing the school into its second century. “When I spoke to him, I got a sense of what makes him tick … I love that he sounds really excited about the school’s future; he doesn’t want us to rest on our laurels.” Tickets for students are free and must be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis. Using a valid Cane Card ID, students can get one ticket per person at the Whitten University Center and Student Center information desks from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the Rosenstiel School campus, tickets can be acquired at the graduate studies office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On the Miller School of Medicine campus, students can pick up tickets in the Office of Student Activities and Student Organizations or Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building. Faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community can acquire tickets online at Miami.edu/frenktownhall.
Show spotlights business style By Isabella Cueto Assistant News Editor
T
oppel Career Center (TCC) and Macy’s held the first “Dress For Success” fashion show, complete with music by WVUM, free ice cream and a business suit giveaway, Wednesday at noon on the Lakeside Stage. The event celebrated TCC’s 20th anniversary and publicized the Career Expo on Sept. 18. Joy Taylor from 790 AM’s “The Ticket,” hosted the show as six models walked across the stage in professional attire, courtesy of Dadeland Mall’s Macy’s. Betty Zambrano, assistant director of career events at Toppel, said working with the Macy’s events team was an ideal partnership because of their interest in attracting University of Miami students to the stores, specifically at the Dadeland location. Macy’s offers affordable fashion, such as the ones worn in the show, as well as other complementary services for students to take advantage of. “They have a free styling service they offer for professional looks, so it just seemed like the perfect partnership,” Zambrano said. According to Zambrano, Toppel directors brainstormed ideas for promoting the Career Expo and Graduate School Fair, and she thought of arranging a giveaway. Toppel kept boxes in its office for students to enter the suit giveaway and about 200 entries accumulated before the “Dress For Success” event. Ikem, who is an international business major, emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the resources the university offers before entering the job market. He graduated from the University of Central Florida and faced difficulty finding a job once he graduated, which brought him back to graduate school. Now, however, he said he knows better. “With the job market how it is in this day and age, you really want
Isabella Cueto // Assistant News Editor
BUSINESS MODEL: Tedley Joseph models professional attire at the Macy’s “Dress For Success” fashion show, hosted by Toppel Career Center Wednesday afternoon. to make sure that you’re doing what you have to do so you have a job,” Ikem said. Learning how to dress professionally is of utmost importance, according to Toppel’s Director of Career Education Edward Cruz, because it plays a critical role in shaping a first impression. “You can make a first impression, but it can be positive or negative,” Cruz said. “We provide these guidelines so that when a student comes through, when they walk away from that employer that they’re talking to, they’re being remembered for the right reasons.” The fashion show was designed to give job seekers outfit ideas depending on their prospective careers. Similarly, Toppel offers resume critiques, workshops and events, advising and other resources to empower students to network and pursue their ideal job or internship. Together with Student Government, Toppel recently launched Sebastian’s Closet to offer rentals of professional clothing to degree-
seeking students for use in careerrelated events such as job fairs and interviews. Cruz said many students think career events are only for juniors and seniors, but he challenged students to plan career goals and start working toward them as soon as possible. “Outside of our fun T-shirts, outside of our fun events … we want students to engage with us so that they can start thinking earlier on about what their career is going to look like,” Cruz said.
IF YOU GO WHAT: Career Expo and Graduate School Fair WHEN: Friday, September 18 2-6 p.m. WHERE: BankUnited Center Network with employers from more than 100 organizations from across the country and more than 1,000 students. For more information and to register visit hireacane.com.
September 10 - September 13, 2015
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
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6
OPINION
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
September 10 - September 13, 2015
Opinion EDITORIAL
Ranking not reflective of campus reality The 2016 U.S. News & World Report’s National University college rankings were published Wednesday morning, and the University of Miami has experienced a disappointing slip. We have long prided ourselves as the best university in the state after consistently ranking above other Florida schools, but that reign ended today as the University of Florida rose to a three-way tie at 47 and UM fell from 48 to 51. The school’s ranking has steadily been dropping since its peak position of 38 in 2011. Now, for the first time since 2009, UM is no longer among the top 50 national universities. This decrease will
no doubt be a challenge for the school’s public relations and admissions. Many students and families rely heavily on college rankings when making decisions about where to apply and where to enroll, and the seemingly small decrease that places UM just outside the top 50 could make a world of difference to prospective applicants. Yet the ranking, which was heavily based on perceived academic reputation, student retention and graduation rates, and faculty resources, seems at odds with the changes happening on the ground here in Coral Gables. In these past two years, the new Frost Music Studios have been opened, another $1.6 billion has been raised through the Momentum2 fundraising campaign, a new president has been recruited from the nation’s best school of public health,
and the new UHealth Lennar Foundation Medical Center is scheduled to be finished by next year. In addition, higherquality student housing is in the works, and improved residential colleges will no doubt attract more students and increase student satisfaction. The university has clearly built a strong foundation for long-term improvements in academics and student life, and perhaps this underlying trajectory cannot yet be ref lected in short-term rankings. However, if these many investments do indeed pay off, we can expect to see UM’s ranking rising once again in the coming years. Editorials represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board.
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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.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nick Gangemi
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To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page.
CULTURE
True art requires breaking of cultural barriers
I
nnovation lies in the gray area between technical facility and passion. Many of us see artistic mastery as the end product of intense practice, which is widely true. However, creativity is entirely different. It is both emotional and intellectual, spontaneous and welldeveloped. But more than anything, creativity is raw, unpolished expression. It often shows up in the By Mackenzie Karbon most unexpected places. Culture Columnist In jazz music, innovation is a product of improvisation – “soloing,” or making up notes and phrases that work within different chord progressions. This concept isn’t specific to jazz, however, or even to music in general. I recently saw a video that challenged my understanding of how creativity manifests itself in our everyday lives. Blue Note Records, arguably the most significant jazz record label of all time, collaborated with New York footwear chain DQM for Vans to make a line of shoes that celebrate the conjunction of two art forms: jazz music and skateboarding. In the project’s short promotional film, President of Blue Note Records Don Was says, “What the skateboarders are doing is exactly what the musicians are doing. It’s raw. Raw emotion.”
This obvious similarity can be lost in the sea of discrepancies between these two different art forms. One is seen as intellectual, even inaccessible, while the other is often stigmatized for its burnout “punk” culture. What these two disciplines share, however, is a crucial reliance on the artist’s technical skills, not only to achieve a finite goal, such as playing a melody or getting to the store, but also to engage in culture. We do not often consider human interaction to be “improvisation,” but this kind of casual collaboration truly is the root of the creative process. In Was’s words, “It [doesn’t] matter if your instrument is a skateboard, or a bass, or a drum set … you go with what you can do, and you make that something new.” What came from this project are two styles of shoes: “The Blues” and “The Colors.” Each shoe sports the Blue Note label and images of landmark albums by artists such as Kenny Dorham, Sonny Clark and Art Blakey. What’s more than the aesthetic appeal of the shoe is the symbolism of the article of clothing. Shoes facilitate action. We create rhythms with them. We use them as a medium of expression. They grip the surface of a skateboard and amplify the sound of one stomping on the ground. Discipline, movement, productivity, expression – conceptual elements that shape both the realms of jazz and skateboarding – share one common, physical characteristic: the use of shoes. They are the instrument of the non-artist, the everyman’s “ax.” They accompany us through our endeavors like an extension of our own bodies. Only by disregarding the constructed differences between various cultures and instead building upon their shared characteristics can we begin to create great art – art that defies categorization and compartmentalization by forcing us to expand the limits of human expression. Mackenzie Karbon is a freshman majoring in jazz performance.
©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.
September 10 - September 13, 2015
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
OPINION
7
POLITICS
Kanye sees presidential vision in 2020
K
anye 2020. Kanye West Wing. Kim K for first
lady. A new political phenomenon rocked the nation during last week’s By Annie Cappetta MTV Video Music Political Columnist Awards (VMAs). Ever since then, Kanye West has been consistently trending on Facebook and Twitter. Meanwhile, Yeezus himself has been flying under the radar after his big announcement, besides the beautiful flower bouquet he sent to Taylor Swift. However, it’s never too soon to start seriously considering what a Kanye candidacy would look like.
Though 2020 is still five years away, Mr. West has actually articulated some more cohesive policy positions than many of the 2016 candidates. First off, Yeezy sticks to his liberal roots when he tells this parable about the ineffectuality of charitable giving: “The church want tithe, so I can’t afford to pay/Pink slip on my door, cause I can’t afford to stay/My fifteen seconds up, but I got more to say/’That’s enough Mr. West, please, no more today.’” Here, Kanye takes on the role of his younger, struggling self reaching out to a pastor for help. West seems to be saying that poverty is a systemic problem best dealt with at a causal level rather than having churches and private charities bandage the symptoms. On the other hand, he has some pretty conservative messages on making college tuition more affordable. In his 2004 track “We Don’t Care,” ‘Ye rapped the lines, “Cause ain’t no tuition for having no ambition/And ain’t no loans for sittin’ your ass at home.” It should be noted that over a decade has passed since that song dropped, so maybe West has evolved on this individualistic stance. He may not have a lot of political experience, but ‘Ye has proven to be a renais-
sance man in other areas, taking on the fashion industry in addition to his thriving music career. With candidates like Donald Trump and Ben Carson polling so well, West’s lack of political experience may be a boon. I predict Mr. West would gain wideranging support, from the religious folks he won over with his insanely popular ode, “Jesus Walks,” to the Black Lives Matter movement with his frequent criticism of race relations in his song “New Slaves.” He definitely already has the endorsement of rapper Big Sean, who once dropped the line, “’I know Kanye a jerk,’ how could you say that?/He rode me and my mama ‘round in his Maybach.” A lot can happen between now and the 2020 race. Either way, the 2015 VMAs will go down in history as the point Kanye West eclipsed the reputation left behind by his 2009 VMAs outburst and becomes an icon of thoughtfulness, creativity and the American spirit. The real question is: what will be his campaign anthem? Annie Cappetta is a sophomore majoring in political science. Silvana Arguello // Staff Illustrator
ENTERTAINMENT
Film industry needs diverse voices behind camera
I
n recent weeks, a blog created by actor Dylan Marron has been making waves in the online film community. The blog, titled “Every Single Word” (ESW), features major films edited down to only the moments when non-white actors speak. The edited films clock in around 30By Andrew Allen 40 seconds when edited down, exhibitStaff Columnist ing just how consistently actors of color are pushed to the sidelines and denied substantial roles in film. While many notable big-budget blockbusters made the list, like the Harry Potter movies and “The Lord of the Rings” (the edited version of which is a brief and embarrassing montage of POC actors in grotesque monster makeup snarling and howling), the videos really start to get interesting when they scrutinize popular independent movies. While the big-budget studio offerings still had smaller roles for actors of color, the independent films fared just as badly, if not worse. Sometimes, independent movies did not have one single line delivered by a non-white
actor, even when the stories took place in locations and time periods in which a racially diverse cast would be realistic. Now, amidst recent racially oriented debate surrounding the big summer tentpole franchises, most notably the films of Marvel Cinematic Universe such as “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (where the lead cast was uniformly white and the supporting cast uniformly nonwhite), and, recently, Warner Bros. Picture’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (a completely white cast), it’s easy to see this issue through a purely studiooriented lens. The race disparity in Hollywood has long been chalked up to money-grubbing studio executives refusing to cast anybody but “attractive” and “marketable” (read: “white”) actors in leading roles. But what ESW’s treatment of notable indie movies reveals is far more foundational. The analysis shows an uncomfortable but self-evident tendency of the film industry: even when granted the complete creative control of independently produced cinema, the overwhelmingly white creatives behind the camera are more likely to exclude actors of color than they are with studio oversight. Say what you will about Marvel (and I could say a lot, because I’m not a huge fan), but those in power at Marvel Studios make it a point for each of their movies to have at least one memorable role for an actor of color. The same cannot be said for undeniably talented indie directors such as Noah Baumbach, Wes Anderson and Darren Aronofsky.
Now it’s easy to vilify these artists for being racially exclusive, and there’s no doubt that their films deserve scrutiny, but the solution to this racial homogeneity may not be so simple as forcing white directors to hire actors of color. One of the worst grievances an artist can endure is being forcibly pressured to accommodate a social agenda that is removed from his or her personal priorities. Art, of all kinds, is self-expression, and if racially diverse casting isn’t part of an artist’s film, forcing a race or ethnicity quota onto a director will not only harm the quality of their work, but it will also surely not bode well for the quality of roles and direction that actors of color would receive. The change that needs to occur is not a concentrated effort to change existing director’s voices, but to add more voices to the table. We don’t need all the white directors to hire more black, Asian or Latino talent, though that would be nice. What we need is more directors of color telling stories that matter to them. Diversity in art is, first and foremost, a concern of racial minorities. It hurts to see ourselves largely excluded from stories that we love, which can result in a low sense of self-worth when exposed to whitewashed media from a young age. Since diversity is more important to us than anyone else, we need more of us making stories for the screen. If we want to see a more diverse array of people gracing our TV’s, we need more diversity behind the scenes among those writing, directing and producing. Andrew Allen is a junior majoring in communications.
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EDGE
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
September 10 - September 13, 2015
Course satisfies taste buds, brain cells By Nadijah Campbell Staff Writer
B
eakers, test tubes, chemical processes and food may sound like a questionable combination, but Professor Barbara Colonna brought them together in a tasty class students can’t get enough of. The Chemistry of Food and Taste (CHM 317) combines four semesters’ worth of knowledge of chemistry and the love of eating for a learning experience that’s gaining
CULINARY CONCOCTION: Senior Irene Choi blends ingredients to prepare ceviche in the Chemistry of Food and Taste class taught by Professor Barbara. Colonna.
popularity on campuses across the nation. Colonna’s class is structured around a “play with your food” method in which a new topic is explored and experimented on each week using recipes and, of course, taste buds.
Students said they love the class because it’s a new way to go about the traditional chemistry education. Senior David Song said the course is a breath of fresh air from his other more stressful classes. “The teacher is an amazing teacher and this is a non-hostile environment, so it’s really the best of both worlds,” Song said. This week’s class focused on the changes of the pH balance in fish and eggs. Ceviche, century egg and lutefisk recipes were the three used in the research. The dishes were created using low pH solutions like lime juice and higher pH solutions like sodium hydroxide. Students are looking forward to many upcoming recipes including liquid nitrogen ice cream, homemade bread, pasta and molten chocolate lava cake. Junior Doug Nguyen said the new approach to chemistry has been very beneficial. “In a lot of classes you just learn about concepts, but in something like this, you really get to apply practical applications,” Nguyen said. Before the students start cooking, Colonna leads a discussion on the chemical processes that will ensue and how slight changes in the recipes could ultimately affect the entire dish. “I had students who could not break an egg and they end up doing complicated dishes,” Colonna said. “If you understand what goes on scientifically, you can really change the game.” Before becoming a professor six years ago, Colonna earned a supramolecular organic chemistry Ph.D. from UCLA and later worked as a professional baker at Lyon Freres, a local high-end restaurant in Miami. Nearly two decades ago, Colonna came up with the idea to combine her two loves of chemistry and food for the course. After talk-
EDIBLE EQUATIONS: Chemistry students combine recipe ingredients with varying pH solutions like lime juice and sodium hydroxide. This week’s lesson focused on the changes in pH balance of fish and eggs to craft ceviche, century eggs and lutefisk. ing it over with her friends, she finally gathered the courage to pitch it to UM. For some students like senior Maria Teresa Gallin, Colonna’s class has sparked a new interest. Gallin said after taking Colonna’s class and becoming a teacher’s assistant, she is unsure whether she still wants to attend medical school.
EGG-SPERIMENTING: Food chemistry students work with unusual ingredients like this century egg.
“My mother always made really good bread, but after I had my experience in her class when she brought a professional baker, that’s when I became really interested,” Gallin said. She has since competed in competitions as an amateur baker. Students in the course also have multiple chances to create their own experiments as part of a “Go Well Together” lab and the final project in which they form their own recipe. The “Go Well Together” lab encourages students to create food pairings based on molecular similarities and not traditional recipes. Each semester, students have to choose something that has not been created in the past. Dark chocolate and cauliflower, strawberries and cilantro, lavender and apple, and smoked salmon and dark cocoa are some of the pairings students have created in the past. In order to take the course, students must first pass six credits of organic chemistry, and the course counts towards the chemistry minor. Colonna hopes that the course will continue to grow and is excited that her dream of combining her two passions has been so successful. PHOTOS BY NADIJAH CAMPBELL DESIGN BY AMY MELTZER
September 10 - September 13, 2015
THE MIAMI HURRICANE
Sports 26
By Rachel Cox-Rosen Assistant Sports Editor
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hen asked to describe outside hitter Kelsie Groot in one word, coach Jose Gandara responded with “worker.” Groot’s teammate and good friend Kalysta White said “hilarious.” Evidence supports these two descriptions. During high school, Groot says she had practiced and played volleyball four times each week. She was voted the team’s most valuable player during her sophomore, junior and senior years at Northwood High School in Irvine, California, and the first thing teammate Haley Templeton said about setting for Groot was, “Kelsie is fun to play with.” Groot has already proven she is a player to watch this season. The redshirt junior recorded 19 kills in the final match versus Kansas State at the Hurricane Invitational, which the Canes swept on Aug. 29. Along with demonstrating her offensive skills, Groot showed that she is also a valuable defensive player, finishing the game third on the team in digs. “Kelsie is an all-around player,” Gandara said. “She can play outside and opposite. She is a good passer and server,
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Miami football players who made their Hurricane debut on Saturday night
FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL
Redshirt junior volleyball player shares positive energy with teammates
SPORTS
and she can defend at the net.” Not only are Groot’s skills essential to the success of GROOT the team, she also brings a positive attitude to the court that spreads to her fellow Canes. Templeton, White and Gandara all describe Groot as a great teammate. “She’s always excited for everybody else when they do something well,” White said. “I just really love having her on the court next to me.” Groot’s contagious energy on the court is something all her teammates recognize. It’s no surprise that Groot’s favorite volleyball player is Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings, a three-time gold medalist for the U.S. who competes with an endless supply of energy. While Groot says she would love to play volleyball after college, she has other ambitions as well. The California native is a physical therapy major with an interest in working with elderly rehabilitation facilities after her volleyball career. For now, Groot is focused on her performance this season. “I want to play with confidence, especially with my hitting,” she said. “Even if there is a huge block in front of me, I want to take big swings as if no one is there.” If the Hurricane Invitational is any indication, Groot and the team have a fantastic season ahead of them. The Canes (3-3) play Purdue next in the LSU Tournament 6 p.m. on Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Hurricanes running back duo storms field By Austin Sapin Contributing Sports Writer
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ach time a f lash of lightning strikes, a crack of thunder follows. While Saturday night’s storm brought some inclement weather to Sun Life Stadium, the one-two punch of running backs Mark Walton and Trayone Gray were the “lightning
and thunder” that knocked out Bethune-Cookman. After the season-ending injury to presumed starting running back Gus Edwards, questions began to surface regarding who would take control of the position. While sophomore Joseph Yearby got the start, it was the two backups, Walton and Gray, who showed promise in the season opener. Walton, a highly touted freshman from Booker T. Washington, rushed for 85 yards on 10 carries, including a five-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for his first score as a Hurricane. “It was something that I was waiting on,” Walton said about his first career touchdown. “It was going through my head the
Hallee Meltzer // Photo Editor
PUSHING AHEAD: Freshman running back Mark Walton breaks through a wall of Wildcats for a first down during the second quarter of Saturday’s home game against Bethune-Cookman. Walton rushed for 85 yards on 10 carries in his first collegiate game.
whole time, trying to get into the end zone. But when I got in there, it was unbelievable.” With his GRAY elusiveness, speed and vision, Walton has already been compared to some of the Miami greats at the running back position. While it’s still early to say the Canes have the next Clinton Portis or Duke Johnson on their hands, the freshman looked extremely poised in his first college action. “Coach [James] Coley and [the other coaches] did a great job of preparing me during camp,” Walton said when asked of his comfort level for the season opener. “I just trust my ability and trust my o-line’s ability and run behind them.” While Walton showed off his impressive speed and agility against Bethune-Cookman, Gray simply bulldozed over the smaller Wildcats. The six-foot-two, 216-pound sophomore from Carol City High displayed his power and strength in the season opener as he rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. After rushing for just 24 yards on six carries last season, Gray has already more than tripled last season’s total and shown he will be featured heavily in the backfield this season. All together the Canes rushing attack racked up 195 yards in a game shortened by ten minutes due to the delay. It’s too early to tell whether Walton and Gray will eventually be added to the list of Miami’s running back legends, but what’s safe to say is you better keep an eye out for “lightning and thunder.”
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE
September 10 - September 13, 2015
9 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Join the University of Miami community for a day of service and remembrance as we honor those affected by the attacks of September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance Event 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. The Rock Plaza Following the Remembrance Memorial: t Beta Theta Pi will be collecting toiletries and personal hygiene items* t National Pan-Hellenic Council will have a table where students can write messages of thanks and appreciation to veterans t The Veteran Students Organization will have a poster that will be sent to FDNY that students can sign to show their support *All donations benefit the Miami VA Hospital In the event of rain, the Remembrance Memorial will be held in the UC StormSurge
DIVISION of STUDENT AFFAIRS
September 10 - September 13, 2015 I feel like something’s wrong. Her boyfriend has been hanging around the freshman dorms a lot – the other night, I saw him sneak out of one of my friend’s rooms. I’m not saying guys and girls can’t just be friends, but something is telling me he’s cheating on her. What should I do?
Dear V, My best friend and I have been close since middle school and are like sisters. I’m starting freshman year at the college she’s now attended for two years. However, we’re not going to be roommates – I wanted to experience campus life my first year, while my bestie is avoiding communal showers and lofted bunks, so she’s living in an apartment with her boyfriend. I’m happy for her, but
Sincerely, Suspiciously Sally Dear Sally, This is the kind of case that takes a true detective to crack. For all we know, your bestie’s boyfriend could’ve been picking up homework from a girl in her math class to take home to your best friend while she was sick with the sniffles, or he might’ve been borrowing the boxed set of the third season of Grey’s Anatomy to binge
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE watch with his girlfriend later that evening. Don’t point fingers just yet. Assuming makes an “ass” out of you and me (just you, really). If you start drama and accuse your bestie’s boyfriend without any evidence, you’ll be seen as the jelly third wheel – or worse, you might get frienddumped yourself. Let’s solve this mystery without it turning on you. You have to find evidence. This involves being sneaky without leaving fingerprints behind, Nancy Drew-style. Whether it’s through Snapchat or wooing the dude in the security room, you’ll have to catch her beau on candid camera – your bestie can deny a witness account, but she can’t deny it if she sees it for herself, albeit pixelated and perhaps with a tacky geofilter added. Swipe some snaps of the cheating convict getting freaky with your
DEAR V
classmates and show them to your homegirl. What comes next? You’re not going to drop this bomb and peace out. Support her no matter whether she decides to dump her dude or to try to work things out. Odds are, she’ll want to put the nix on the whole thing. If you do catch your best friend’s guy cheating, inflate an air mattress for her to sleep on in your dorm while she sorts her living situation out, grab some ice cream and rent some guilty pleasure cheesy movies for you two to binge watch while she gets over the split. Remember, guys may come and go, but best friends and Ben & Jerry’s will always be there for you. V
READY TO REPORT?
Rachel Cox-Rosen’s profile of Canes volleyball player Kelsie Groot. JOIN THE MIAMIHURRICANE!
Madelyn Paquette’s summary of Miami Spice’s cuisines. Isabella Cueto’s tips for traveling Miami like a local
Part-time Babysitter needed for 5th grader this fall. Coconut Grove. Weekday afternoons from around 3:30 to 6-7 pm. Pick up from school in South Miami. Must drive. Contact Kristina at sellingstuffmiami@gmail.com
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THE MIAMI HURRICANE
September 10 - September 13, 2015
miami.edu/calendar Thursday, September 10
Friday, September 11
Patio Jams ft. Keith Johns
National Day of Service and Rememberance
12:15 pm • Lakeside Stage andPatio Come out to the Student Center Complex patio this Thursday from 12:151:30pm for live music from Keith Johns! As always, there will be free snocones and iced coffee as well to beat the Miami heat. See you there!
12 p.m. • UC Rock Plaza Join the University of Miami community for a day of remembrance and service as we honor those affected by the attacks of September 11th.
UM vs. FAU Football Watch Party
Civic Scholars Coffee Hour 3 pm • SC Vista Room As part of ‘Canes for a Change Week” hosted by the Butler Center for Service and Leadership, come mingle with current Civic Scholars over light refreshments. Come learn about the benefits of the Civic Scholars program and the steps that you can take to become involved.
Ibis Ride Kick-off Celebration 9 pm • Stanford Circle and Coconut Grove
The Ibis Ride shuttle system will transport University of Miami students from the Coral Gables campus to Coconut Grove and back. The shuttle pick up point is located at Stanford Circle and a valid cane card is required for use of this service. The last bus leaving Stanford Circle for Coconut Grove departs at 1:40 AM
8 p.m. • Rathskeller Join the HP Rathskeller Advisory Board and Category 5 “The Spirit Programming Board” as they cheer our ‘Canes onto victory! Free wings for the first 50 students, a halftime competition, and giveaways are also included!
Thursday, September 10 • 6:00 p.m. • BankUnited Center President Frenk will host a special Town Hall meeting for the UM community followed by an exclusive reception where the first 500 student attendees will “Taste the Globe” and sample small bites from different cultures. It is important for all students to attend if they can as you will hear firsthand President Frenk’s ideas and vision for the next 10 years as he leads us to our centennial and have the opportunity for your voice to be heard when he answers your questions. You can even ask the President questions right now using the hashtag #AskFrenk on social media!
CAC Presents: MAD MAX Fury Road 9:30 p.m. • Cosford Cinema Join the Cinematic Arts Commission of Hurricane Productions for an evening of action, fun, and adventure. Furious (Charlize Theron) rebels against a tyrannical ruler in post apocalyptic Australia in search for her homeland with the help of beautiful tormented prisoners, a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max.
Sunday, September 13 Cosford Cinema Presents: PHOENIX 1 p.m. • Cosford Cinema
Saturday, September 12
Cosford Cinema Presents:
“UProv” Improv Auditions 11 a.m. • Dooley 103 Come audition for University of Miami’s one and only improv group! Make sure to wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to play a series of improv games!
MERU 3p.m. • Cosford Cinema
2 p.m. • Dooley 103 Come audition for HP CaneStage’s Fall Shows: 13! and Rocky Horror Picture Show! For 13 please prepare 16-32 measures of a song, for Rocky Horror Picture Show please prepare a 1 minute dance to a song from the show.
Cosford Cinema Presents: PHOENIX 7 p.m. • Cosford Cinema
Cosford Cinema Presents: MERU 9 p.m. • Cosford Cinema
Monday, September 14 RAB & Athletics: Hurricane Hotline 6 p.m. • Rathskeller The Rathskeller will host 560 WQAM’s Hurricane Hotline for the 2015 football season. Fans are encouraged to join fifth-year head coach Al Golden, various assistant coaches and players each week during the 2015 football season. The Hurricane Hotline, hosted by Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr., will air from 6-8 p.m. on 560 WQAM and WQAM.com.
Cosford Cinema Presents: PHOENIX 5 p.m. • Cosford Cinema
CaneStage Fall Show Auditions
Sebastian suggests...
‘Canes Calendar
Town Hall Meeting with President Juilo Frenk #AskFrenk
Game Day Shirt Sales $3 All proceeds to the United Way! Available at the UC Info Desk and SC Suite 206.
Career Expo and Graduate School Fair
Thursday, September 17 • 6:00 p.m. • Lakeside Patio and Stage
Friday, September 18 • 6:00pm BankUnited Center
Category 5 and Hurricane Athletics are hosting a Beat Nebraska pep rally in preparation for the football game against UM’s rival the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The pep rally will also feature performances from the Band of the Hour, cheerleaders and Sunsations dance team. Concluding the pep rally, Category 5 will be distributing free #BeatNebraska T-shirts to students!
This Career Expo is a signature recruiting event of the Topple Career Center which allows students to meet recruiters from a variety of industries. Explore internship options and full-time job opportunities both locally and nationally. Students from all majors and class levels are encouraged to attend. Professional dress is required for entry and students are encouraged to bring at least 20 copies of their resume.
Please submit your information at least two weeks in advance to STUDENT-ACTIVITIES@MIAMI.EDU.
Next week...
UM vs. Nebraska Football Pep Rally