The Miami Hurricane: Nov. 15, 2023

Vol. 94, Issue 7 | Nov. 15 - Dec. 5

Former student charged by DOJ for running multimillion dollar fraud scheme

’Canes hoops looks to build off 2023 dream season

NEWS // Page 2

Road to the 2024 presidential election NEWS // Page 8

SPORTS // Page 13

Fourth-year junior guard Nijel Pack and fourth-year junior forward Norchad Omier defend an attempted shot by Kjell de Graaf in Miami’s game against NJIT at the Watsco Center on Nov. 6, 2023.

Alexandra Fisher // Co-Photo Editor

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NEWS

Former UM student charged

by DOJ for running a multimillion dollar fraud scheme

BY LAUREN FERRER MANAGING EDITOR

A 21-year-old formerly enrolled at the University of Miami has been charged by the Department of Justice with conspiracy to commit computer and mail fraud and substantive mail fraud.

According to a recently unsealed indictment, from December 2021 until April 2022, Matthew Frederic Bergwall gained unauthorized access to compromised employee accounts of an unnamed multinational shipping, receiving and supply chain management company.

If convicted on all counts, Bergwall, also known as ‘MXB,’ faces a maximum penalty

of 45 years in federal prison.

“The Dean of Students Office is aware of the allegations,” Dean Steven Priepke said in a statement by DOSO to The Miami Hurricane. “The person is not a currently enrolled student at the University of Miami.”

The indictment includes mentions of coconspirators but does not name them or disclose how many were involved.

Bergwall and his co-conspirators used the accounts to enter fraudulent tracking information for merchandise transported by the shipping company on behalf of victim retailers located across the nation, according to the indictment.

This allowed the group to get full refunds from the retailers while holding onto the physical items, that included high-end elec-

tronics, jewelry, designer clothing and other accessories.

The indictment states that Bergwall received a full refund for a $41,000 Rolex President Day-Date watch, a $600 TeamGee H2O Electric Skateboard and other items while still having them in his possession.

According to the indictment, the group offered this service for sale, which was marketed as FTID (Fraudulent Tracking ID).

Bergwall’s FTID fraud scheme submitted around 10,000 fraudulent returns and resulted in at least $3.5 million in lost product and sales revenue to victim retailers.

Bergwall was a junior at UM pursuing a BSBA in computer science and business finance at the Miami Herbert Business School.

According to students at UM that knew Bergwall through friends, some expressed that the charges seem out of character, while others can see them lining up with Bergwall’s luxurious lifestyle choices.

“I’ve seen him around at the library and sometimes at parties too, and just social

has caused drastic environmental consequences for Florida’s wildlife and had a huge impact on local communities, oftentimes resulting in hundreds of thousands of aquatic creatures and wildlife being killed and washed onto shore.

Even more dangerous, toxic contaminants in the water are entering aquifers that are responsible for providing communities clean drinking water.

Exposure to these chemicals in communities has been posing health concerns, especially for vulnerable communities as toxic runoff in water can lead to waterborne diseases and critical health issues among residents.

Economic wellbeing of Florida communities dependent on tourism, fishing and other water industries may lose their businesses or months of revenue without access to clean water.

According to Lasse, Florida’s Right to Clean Water Campaign aims to combat the damaging effects of pollution by drafting an amendment that will force the state to take action.

“We would like to make the right to clean water be something that everyone has access to, regardless of socioeconomic status,” said Lasse. “Everybody should have that as a basic right, just as they have the right to free speech.”

Requiring 900,000 petition signatures by the end of 2023 for ballot inclusion, the amendment explicitly outlines actions and omissions that are a detriment to water quality.

The amendment defines “clean and healthy waters” and recognizes the fundamental right of the people to have access to this resource.

Providing an inclusive list of relief violations, it describes potential remedies to restore waters to their normal conditions.

Granting legal remedies for violations, the amendment would enable residents, nongovernmental organizations or government entities to uphold and safeguard these rights by legally challenging state-backed industries.

For Floridians, the amendment will also enable the implementation of Basin Management Action Plans (BMAP) to control pollution levels in their water. BMAPs set limits for how much pollution runoff is allowed to be released into the environment.

Biscayne Bay is one community that has been of concern among residents because of the lack of BMAPs. Without regulation on how much one can pollute, the bay continues to be legally flushed with pollutants and toxins that are harmful to humans and the environment.

In August 2020, the effects of the unregulated toxins in the bay showed just how much of an impact it has on wildlife. With a combination of several environmental factors, the effects of climate change and unregulated pollution, over 27,000 marine creatures from 56 different species were killed, making it the largest recorded fish kill in Biscayne Bay history.

November 15, 2023

THE MIAMI HURRICANE media in general, but I just did not expect that of him.” said junior neuroscience major Micheal Robinson.

Andrew McCleskey, a senior political science major, told TMH that although he only knows Bergwall through friends, seeing him live large did stand out to McCleskey as odd.

“I also do remember at one point he bought himself a Tesla that had some form of matte pink wrap. And I always would just ask myself, “Who’s paying for this?” McCleskey said. “I understand that rich people go to this school, but I don’t know how many parents are buying their kids matte wrapped Teslas and sending their kid and his girlfriend to Dubai, Mexico and Spain for like a week at a time. It always just seemed a bit off to me.”

TMH is investigating the case and will continue to provide live updates.

This article was updated on Nov. 12 to reflect information obtained by the Dean of Students Office. A previous version of the article stated that Bergwall was an enrolled student at UM.

Flowing towards change: Florida’s pursuit to clean water

BY LAYLA GRAVELLE STAFF WRITER

Though Florida might be the state surrounded by the most water in the mainland, the right to access clean drinking water is not a guarantee for many Floridians.

Home to several prominent industries from tourism to urban development, the state’s executive branch arguably favors industries that engage in pollution by enabling lenient regulations and weak legislative measures, according to Florida residents like Cheryl Lasse.

“Most people would be surprised to learn that Floridians do not have a right to clean water,” said Lasse, the director of information management for Florida’s Right to Clean Water Campaign. “It’s a huge economic, quality of life and public health issue.”

Many of these industries that contribute to the pollution problem are involved in industrial activities where excess waste and toxins are released as byproducts into nearby bodies of water.

With substantial population growth and heightened precipitation from climate change, the over 30-year-old wastewater treatment plants have become too small for the required wastewater volume. Their capability is limited, processing only a select range of chemicals. Those that are not processed are released into waterways, leading to increasing levels of toxic runoff.

This toxic runoff entering the water supply

As these stats highlighted the consequences of toxic water and the dire need for regulation and improved infrastructure, Florida’s Free Water Campaign proposed this amendment to have a significant impact on the restoration of the bay and its ecosystem, along with improving water quality in various other locations in the state.

“Everything from the beach, to the canals, to the water we drink can be cleaner, “ said the Student Government’s ECO Agency chair Ainsley Hilliard. “The act is so important for all Florida residents to be aware of, because we are the one’s holding the power to make a difference.”

According to Lasse, passing this act will allow for the people to hold the Florida Department of Environmental Protection accountable and create implementations of BMAPs so that areas like Biscayne Bay in South Florida and several other locations in the state can be restored and protected.

Florida’s Right to Clean Water Campaign ultimately aims to take the first step to protecting the state’s most valuable resource and addressing the effects of Florida’s wastewater issues. With the potential to enact meaningful change, Lasse argues it is up to Floridians to unite and stand up for their rights as residents.

“The current system protects polluters,” said Lasse. “It puts a lot of vulnerable communities in harm’s way. Our amendment is going to fix that and create much-needed equality.”

November 15, 2023

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

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Miami Wilds, the not-so-wild water park, faces community opposition

BY JENNY JACOBY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A group of protestors stood at the entrance of the University of Miami, demanding the UM Board of Trustees buy back the 88 acres of pine rockland forests sold to developers for $22 million.

That was in 2015.

The forest was eventually bulldozed to make room for a Walmart.

Eight years later, zoo employees, environmental groups and citizens of all ages gathered outside Zoo Miami, protesting again to save the pine rocklands. This time, they say they won’t lose.

“I have kept a sign from the [Walmart] construction site in my room for six years. I look at it when I want to remember what happens when we lose,” said Zachariah Cosner, a UM graduate and organizer of the Let Them Thrive Rally held on Nov. 4, 2023.

Hundreds turned out on the gloomy Saturday morning in support of the critical habitat and the at least four federally listed endangered species that call the forest home. Environmentalists, including 40-year Zoo Miami employee Ron Magill, believe the development of the Miami Wilds theme park would severely

threaten the rare ecosystem if approved by county commissioners on Dec. 12.

“When I heard that they want to build this property into a waterfront and it was deemed a critical habitat for endangered species, I said, we can’t do that. It totally goes counter to what we stand for in the zoo,” Magill said.

The water park, 17 years in the making, is slated to take over 27.5 acres more of pine rocklands sitting on county land that currently serves as a free parking lot for Zoo Miami. Less than 2% of the scarce habitat remains outside of the Everglades National Park.

“These are truly irreplaceable resources. There are people that travel the Earth to see the biodiversity that we have right here. So to see the county considering throwing that away for a development that can be built anywhere? It’s really shocking,” said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

The National Park Service initially released the parcel of land to Miami-Dade county for the water park in a 2006 referendum, on the condition that the land was not environmentally sensitive.

“Now, 17 years later, we know it’s environmentally sensitive and that’s tech-

Jenny Jacoby // Editor-in-Chief

Protestors walk to the main entrance of Zoo Miami to demonstrate against Miami Wilds water park

nically a violation of that referendum.”

Lauren Jonaitis, senior conservation director of the Tropical Audubon Society said.

The group is currently suing MiamiDade County over the violation, claiming the environmental value of the pine rocklands should force the county to forfeit the plan entirely.

The pine rocklands entered the spotlight following the rediscovery of the previously thought-to-be extinct Miami tiger beetle in 2007. The beetle received endangered species status with a critical habitat designation in May 2023, disrupting developer plans.

Despite the beetle’s discovery, the water park and corresponding hotel lease was approved by county commissioners in 2020. Problems ensued as a second lawsuit was filed against the National Parks Service for failing to conduct National Environmental Policy Act mandated environmental reviews of the property. NPS admitted to this wrongdoing.

Environmentalists believe that a proper investigation would reveal that a water park significantly impairs the success of the ecosystem.

“Based on how rare the species are here, the impacts of a brand new development could be really species ending for some of these like the Miami tiger beetle,” Bennet said.

Development would put a likely end to the controlled burns needed to make the habitat viable, and exposure to chlorine, from the pools, has the potential to generate noxious bacterial gas looming over the forest, explained community organizer Steven Leidner.

Most importantly, Miami Wilds stands in the way of the success of the Florida bonneted bat, a highly endangered species, that uses the empty parking lot at night to feed.

“This parking lot might be a parking lot by day, but by night is a very important foraging area for critically endangered species who need it to feed, and we’ve got to protect it for them,” Magill said.

The high activity level of the bonneted bats in the area was initially studied by Florida Fish and Wildlife. Once the lawsuit emerged, Miami Wilds park manager

Paul Lambert conducted an independent study with Johnson Engineering that disputed the “high presence” of the bats.

The discrepancy has led to misgivings about how crucial the land is for the species that will need to be determined before construction is permitted.

While fighting the lawsuits, Miami Wilds has fallen behind on its commitments to the county, and is set to miss its Dec. 22 groundbreaking date. According to District 7 Commissioner Raquel Regalado, this is yet another reason to cancel it all together.

“They haven’t applied for a permit.

They haven’t applied for zoning. They do not have a site plan, they owe us rent and they owe us attorneys fees. There’s a million legal reasons to kill the deal,” she said.

“We said either kill it or move it.”

Choosing neither, County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recently pushed to delay the commissioners vote from September to December, so the county could investigate alternative sites.These may include the Homestead-Miami Speedway, whose owners have expressed interest in a water park, Regalado noted.

Lambert has no interest in moving his 300-job facility elsewhere.

“It is net-beneficial for the zoo to have the water park there. Having multiple gates together adds more business for everyone,” Lambert said in an interview with CBS Miami on Nov. 3 2023.

The December vote will allow commissioners to revisit the issue and force another decision pitting development against the environment on the county.

Cosner, left defeated after the construction of Walmart five years ago, feels this outcome will be different. He believes the pine rocklands are not only part of Miami’s heritage, but a representation of the county itself and that they have no choice but to save it.

“What is a pine rockland?” Cosner asked.

“It is the coming together of the species of temperate North America and the species of tropical Caribbean in a novel context that forms its own identity. And, if we cannot save this forest, how are we going to save ourselves?”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

November 15, 2023

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

FEATURE

Despite obstacles, Indigecanes chair works to amplify Native American voices at UM

BY SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Campus organization Indigecanes honors Native American Heritage Month by amplifying Indigenous voices by raising awareness and hosting events. Founded in 2018, the club highlights the importance of strengthening Native voices to counter how the U.S. education system largely romanticizes Native history. “[Indigecanes has been] organizing events and bringing in Miccosukee and Seminole folks who are Indigenous to the land the University of Miami stands on to push forward a narrative that has historically tried to be erased from educational systems,” said Keyra Juliana Espinoza Arroyo, a senior ecosystem science and policy major and Indigecanes chair with Cañari nation background.

Despite applying for officiation and annually organizing oncampus events, Indigecanes is

yet to become an official student organization. In the meantime, the group works with the Native American and Global Indigenous Studies (NAGIS) program to create safe spaces for Indigenous students, professors and faculty.

Arroyo detailed how cultural appropriation, cultural extraction and the glamorization of Indigenous people has spread harmful misinformation.

“People grow up in the educational system learning that the Indigenous people and pilgrims were peaceful [towards each other],” Arroyo said. “It’s completely erasing the actual history of the struggles, colonization and genocide that happened to North Native Indigenous people.”

Arroyo urges educational systems to incorporate more indigenous teachers to teach Native American history.

“I would do a collective effort to meet with other indigenous people to have their insight and what they

think would be essential to teach the younger generation,” Arroyo said.

The organization plans to host a protest demanding that the University properly acknowledge its use of Native American land.

Arroyo describes the University’s current land acknowledgement in plaque form as “a foam board that’s literally taped on a dark wall.”

Another obstacle Indigecanes faces is the presence of Iron Arrow on campus. They feel it works against their mission to promote Indigenous representation. She recalled demeaning phrases directed at her while on campus.

“It’s hurtful to hear all of these things and then see Iron Arrow,” Arroyo said. “You would think it’s only the student body, but there are faculty and staff that also play an important role in this.”

Despite the challenges faced by the Indigenous community on campus, Native American Heritage Month gives Arroyo hope for a

Keyra Espinoza Arroyo // Contributed Photograph

Samuel Tommie and Miss Florida Seminole Thomlynn Billie, both members of the Seminole tribe, speak about the importance of Native American month during Indigiecane’s Native American Heritage Month Kickoff event on Nov. 1, 2023.

greater future.

“When we go out to protests or movements together…it’s just very empowering to see all of us unite,” Arroyo said. “We’re doing all this work for things…that have really dark connotations and it’s very sad, but you can just feel the love when a lot of Indigenous people unite.”

Indigecanes partners with allies and students to fight for greater relations between the University

and local tribes.

To commemorate Native American Heritage Month, Indigecanes invites students to head to the Seminole Okalee Indian Village and Museum in Broward County to see the annual Pow Wow Marketplace from Thursday, Nov. 16 to Saturday, Nov. 18.

Stay up-to-date on Indigecanes’ events by following their Instagram @indigecanes.

UM alum raises allergy awareness with children’s book

BY VIVICA DUNLAP STAFF WRITER

Every day of elementary school, UM alumna KiAnna Nycole Dorsey would sit at the nut-free table by herself. As a young girl, her severe nut allergy made her feel isolated as she navigated birthday parties, school events and other gatherings as the only kid who couldn’t enjoy the treats.

Her experience led her to publish “Food Friendly,” a children’s book that promotes inclusion for kids with allergies. The book tells the story of elementary school stu-

dents who learn about allergies during their lunchtime together.

A Stamps Scholar and Foote Fellow, Dorsey graduated from the School of Communication with a degree in motion picture production. She now works in Los Angeles within the entertainment industry, but her journey from filmmaker to author started during the height of COVID-19.

Dorsey originally developed “Food Friendly” as an animated series for children, but after her funding was cut off due to lockdown, she had to pivot and figure out how to make her hard work

into something worthy of her time.

“One thing about me is that if I want to do something, I’ll get it done. I’ll find a way no matter what,” Dorsey said.

After getting a suggestion to turn her show into a children’s book, she dove into the process and learned all she could to make it a reality, from talking to artists and developing the visuals to writing the text.

“The only thing I knew going into it was the story,” Dorsey said.

“That was the only thing I knew I felt comfortable with was the story and the characters, because that’s

what I study.”

The story Nycole paints is one of her own life: a girl struggling with an allergy and wanting to hang out with other students her age. She doesn’t want to be left out due to her disability, an experience that Dorsey relates to.

“I thought I was gonna be the only person with an allergy, like I just constantly felt different and it would have meant the world to just have a book with a character who looks like me,” Dorsey said.

“At the end of the day, I just wanna build some awareness in my audience. Whether you resonate or you

don’t, you walk away with something.”

A self-published author, Dorsey has sold over 100 copies of her book so far — an impressive feat for a recent college graduate.

“My long-term goal is to continue to make stories that cause people to think and build compassion and have a message…that’s what I’ll be happy with,” Dorsey said.

Students interested in reading Dorsey’s story can purchase the paperback version at Barnes & Noble or Amazon and follow her on Instagram @foodfriendlyproject.

November 15, 2023

A&E

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FEATURE

Hip-hop dance team KAOS on growth and “making space” for creativity

BY VIVICA DUNLAP

Where does your passion for dance come from?

Electric dance choreography took center stage at the Rock Plaza last Thursday as hip-hop music reverberated through campus and a crowd of students cheered their peers on. This synchronized group of dancers known as KAOS — UM’s only coed hip-hip dance team — lit up the Rock at their fall showcase on Nov. 9.

Since 1995, KAOS has shared hip-hop choreography with the campus community through performances at sporting events, open dance clinics, Homecoming Week’s O-Cheer competition and their end-of-semester dance showcase.

The Miami Hurricane sat down with Jayda O’Neill, a biomedical engineering senior and president of KAOS, to talk about her passion and love for the organization.

O’NEILL: For me, dance is a passion that I’ve always had. It’s my sanity. Aside from doing all the hard work with my major, dance is my mental break. So, for me, it was really important that I found a team that was able to understand that school’s first at the end of the day and also had practice every week.

STAFF WRITER

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How do you choose choreographers?

O’NEILL: I ask at the beginning of the semester who’s interested in choreographing and it used to be one person a week. So on Tuesday, they would teach and then on Wednesday, they would get our dance ready to go perform on stage.

But as membership has increased in numbers, so has the interest in choreographing, and I find it very important not to turn anyone’s creative ideas away. I want to embrace everyone’s creative ideas because that’s what makes KAOS, KAOS. So, instead of saying, “Oh you can’t choreograph because we don’t have enough space,” we have just made more space for everyone.

Can you elaborate on how dance is a release for you?

O’NEILL: When we dance, it is physically an emotional release, because we are moving all of that stagnant energy. We’re moving it, we’re releasing it, we’re feeling something positive and we’re putting that energy into positive motion.

I could go through whatever during the day, but as soon as I walk in that studio and I’m dancing with my teammates, it’s gone. Even if it comes back when I leave the studio, it’s gone for a while and I feel supported and safe there.

of dance, but when we’re inside the studio, we’re all there for the same reason. We’re all there to grow together as dancers, and we’re all a family. We support each other inside and outside of the studio. We’re all communicating with each other — It’s the healthiest dance environment that I’ve ever been a part of.

How do you make the environment welcoming to newcomers?

O’NEILL: We like to promote that there is no need for a dance background. There have been many people on our team before who have never danced and they

and we all learn from each other.

It’s a very safe environment for people to just come and explore and see if dance is something they want to be a part of.

we’re now a team of 27. It’s the biggest the organization has ever been and we are the cleanest group of dancers that I’ve ever seen since being on the team.

How do you promote a healthy dance environment?

O’NEILL: Communication is something that I always think is really important. We’ll have bonding events outside of the studio, so we’ll go to dinner, then go around the table and say our favorite thing that’s happened so far, our favorite memory or something positive. At practice, sometimes we’ll do a short warm-up, get into a circle and go around the room asking questions like “What did you do last week that you’re proud of?” [or] “What’s something you’re excited for?”

It’s just a really great way of starting the day off with open communication where everyone feels like they’re seen and heard for who they are in and outside of the studio.

What’s your favorite thing about KAOS? O’NEILL: My favorite thing is seeing the growth of the dancers individually. Newbies become vets and then the vets become even better than they believe that they would ever be able to become.

To watch us as a team get synchronized because we’re dancing together, it’s like we’re more of a family than friends.

Everyone dances and feeds off of each other and it’s a really great environment.

“When we dance, it is physically an emotional release, because we are moving all of that stagnant energy.”

How does KAOS combat the exclusivity in dance culture?

O’NEILL: I’m very familiar with the different types of cultures that can be found in the dance environment and how cliquey and toxic it can become. As president, I made it one of my missions to make sure that we are an environment that includes everybody. There are no cliques.

I don’t care what you do outside

How has the team grown since you first joined?

Jayda O’Neill O’NEILL: When I first KAOS President joined, it was a pretty small organization.

There was about a max of 15 just had the courage to show up people, and then COVID hit and and the passion for it. We don’t it got really hard.

We had to do even look for technique and we practices online, a lot of people don’t look for things that make you a perfect dancer. What we do ended up dropping out and we got look for is what you have that we to a team that was under 10 people cannot give you, like performance at one point.

We came together and we were quality. What energy do you bring very determined to build the to this stage?

It’s really not about how good team up to be a professional club of a dancer you are at the end of organization. After the past three the day. No one in that room is years of really grinding to make perfect — we all make mistakes the organization as great as it is,

What legacy do you want KAOS to leave?

O’NEILL: Our name, what we do, our involvement on campus and our reputation. Seeing us on stage, you can see and feel the professionalism, and something that I want to continue is that level of work ethic and hard work.

Everyone’s the same amount of committed and it’s not like half the team’s growing every week and half the team’s not. We’re growing together.

Is there anything else you want to say?

O’NEILL: Everyone has their own different training backgrounds and that always plays a part in how you choreograph. Having people on our team from all different backgrounds, all different dancing experiences and all different places really brings diversity.

There’s no two dances that are the same, so we’re constantly given the space to continuously learn, to continuously grow. Live, love, KAOS.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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November 15, 2023

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EVENTS

2023 Art Week events welcome global audiences to Miami

BY MORGAN FRY

ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR

What is already a colorful and vibrant city truly comes alive during Miami Art Week. Artists, designers, tourists, locals and creative minds alike all come together for this annual event.

From Dec. 6-10, Miami Art Week will host one-of-a-kind events, exhibitions and fairs where attendees can learn about the ideas, cultures and visions of featured artists. Check out some of this year’s Miami Art Week attractions below.

Art Basel Head to the Miami Beach Convention Center from Dec. 8-10 to immerse yourself in Miami Art Week’s premier international contemporary art fair.

What started in 1970 in Basel, Switzerland has expanded to Hong Kong, Miami Beach and for the first time this year, Paris. Miami is the only U.S. city to host this exclusive event, drawing in crowds from across the country and around the world.

Now entering its 21st year in Miami Beach, the event is scaling back from the massive 283 galleries displayed at the 20-

year celebration in 2022.

However, you won’t want to miss the 2023 lineup, which will feature 277 art galleries from 33 countries and territories, including 24 new exhibitors. The event will be divided into six sections, each with its own focus.

Galleries: These include works from leading art galleries. Consider this the “main area” of Art Basel, with the most popular artwork.

Meridians: This is Art Basel’s unique platform for showcasing non-traditional, large-scale projects including video projections, live performances and large sculptures and paintings.

Positions: This section is dedicated to emerging artists. This year, it will feature 16 solo exhibitions by up-and-coming international artists.

Nova: This area hosts works created within the last three years. This year, Nova will highlight 22 presentations from 22 galleries.

Survey: Works in this section highlight pieces with historic relevance. Sixteen galleries will showcase pieces created before the year 2000.

Kabinett: This sector provides galleries with the opportunity to feature curated

Mikey Mok // Contributing Photographer

Art Basel exhibition from the 2022 Miami Art Week.

Mikey Mok // Contributing Photographer

Visitors explore an Art Basel exhibit from the 2022 Miami Art Week.

exhibitions in a separate location within their booth.

Art Basel has evolved into more than just an attraction to admire and purchase artwork. The international contemporary art fair has become a premier event for influencers and fashion lovers alike.

With many attendees dressing up for the event, stylish individuals should consider showing off their own artistic abilities through their art show outfits. Wear your best attire to analyze and inspect some of the world’s finest artwork.

While there are VIP sections for people interested in purchasing artwork, the average UM student likely won’t make a high-end art transaction. But Art Basel is the perfect time to gather a few friends for a day or two and appreciate the worldrenowned artwork presented just 14 miles away from Coral Gables.

Design Miami This is Design Miami’s 19th addition to Miami Art Week, featuring more contemporary elements including furniture and lighting designs. This year’s theme, “Where We Stand,” examines how design impacts the world around us throughout time and today.

Design Miami will take place Dec. 6-10 at Convention Center Drive and 10th Street, alongside the Miami Beach Convention Center. Head over after enjoying Art Basel to keep the contemporary feel alive.

Art Miami Art Miami is one of the largest Art Basel satellite fairs, showcasing art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Well-known contemporary artists such as Gerhard Richter, Marcel Duchamp, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning will be featured at this event.

Stop by the Art Miami Pavilion to take a step back in time with one glimpse at these pieces.

There are countless ways to appreciate and learn about art during Miami Art Week. Regardless of your art preferences, there is something for everyone. Be sure to attend this iconic Miami event for an unforgettable experience.

For a list of more events, visit the Miami Art Week website for a complete schedule.

November 15, 2023

A&E

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EVENTS

Miami Book Fair celebrates 40 years of literature and culture

BY FAITH JIMENEZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Now entering its 40th year, the renowned Miami Book Fair is once again celebrating literary culture in Downtown Miami from Nov. 12-19.

What started as a dream of independent bookstore owners, librarians and educational professionals has become one of the most successful and inclusive book fairs in the U.S.. With over 500 authors and 200,000 attendees, the annual book fair hosts a wide variety of programs catered to multiple demographics over eight days.

UM, a premium sponsor of the book fair, highly encourages student attendance. Rudy Fernandez, the Executive Vice President for University Operations and External Affairs and Chief of Staff, sheds light on the relationship between the fair and the University.

“We have a mission that consists of three parts,” Fernandez said. “It’s education, it’s research, it’s clinical care. But for education, promoting

reading and lifelong learning is something that we deeply believe in at the University, and I think the book fair certainly promotes that.”

Taking place at Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson campus, here’s what to expect at this year’s Miami-Dade Book Fair.

On Sunday, Nov. 12, the fair kicked off with an Opening Night Block Party. Grammy Award-winning producer Louie Vega played live music ranging from hip-hop to salsa as visitors enjoyed the pop-up market “Smorgasburg Miami” right on the Wolfson Campus Plaza.

Throughout the week, invited award-winning authors like Jada Pinkett Smith, Mitch Albom and Kerry Washington will sit on various panels and share their insights.

These author speeches, including the “Evenings With” series, are ticketed events that range from $30 to $40.

UM faculty members will also be featured in several of these panels, including Germane Barnes, an associate professor at the School of

Architecture, and Phil Harling, director of the Center for Humanities and professor at the College of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to the author speeches are a set of programs catered to the diverse international community of Miami. Book readings, writing workshops and speeches, including “ReadCarribean,” “IberoAmerican Authors” and “ReadingEast,” will give literary insight into different nationalities.

From Friday, Nov. 17 to Sunday, Nov.19, the famous Street Fair will welcome the public to enjoy various book vendors, artisans and other literary events. A diverse set of exhibitors — called the Writers’ Row — ensures that all visitors have something that appeals to them, including sections for graphic novels, Spanish-language novels and books for children.

The Street Fair will feature traditionally-published and self-published authors promoting their novels. Happening at the same time is “Off the Shelf”, a small music festival that

features live musicians and DJs while guests visit the hosted art exhibitions and food spots.

The Street Fair is a ticketed event that costs $10 at the gate, however, visitors on Nov. 17 will enjoy free admission for that day. University of Miami Students are eligible for discounted tickets online, with up to 50% off, when using the code:

UMMBFDISCOUNT. Can’t make it to the Wolfson campus? The Miami Book Fair will employ a hybrid system this year and virtually stream programs on their Miami Book Fair Online service.

A comprehensive guide to the book fair’s schedule and event locations can be found on the Miami Book Fair website.

Ashley Baumgard // Contributing Photographer

UM student Kyle Somelofske browses through books in the Richter Library.

The Soul Soirée: UM highlights Black excellence with elegance

BY LARALYN JACKSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER

On Sunday, Nov. 5, dozens of students and campus organizations filled the ballroom of the Shalala Student Center for a candlelit evening full of polished performances, cultural food and stunning formal attire.

The event, dubbed “The Soul Soirée,” is the first fundraising event for the Black Musicians Caucus (BMC) since it was founded last December.

BMC collaborated with the Tau Rho chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, which was chartered in 2004 and reactivated in Spring 2023.

“The Black Musicians Caucus was started to create a safe space for black musicians,” said Amilyah Robinson, BMC president and percussionist at

the Frost School of Music.

“Our main focus is uplifting Black students and Black artists on campus, both in Frost and outside of Frost,” Robinson said. “We focus on community service, programming and hosting events with guest performers and artists who can spread some wisdom to us. This fundraiser is helping us go towards those initiatives.”

In the days leading up to the Soirée and throughout the night, attendees could donate and enter their name in the running to win an electric scooter.

Junior music industry major Zanaiah Billups is a member of BCM and the treasurer and arts and letters chair of Delta Sigma Theta. She was also a featured vocalist of the night.

“It makes sense for us to build that bridge with Delta,” Billups said. “I know some of the Black students

at Frost were feeling a lack of community because we are a very small fragment of the school’s population.

I thought it would make a great connection and make for a great event.”

The night was decorated with a colorful range of performances. Sydney Myers, a sophomore studying business technology and marketing, gave a stunning vocal performance and senior music composition major Brandon Mirvil played a trombone solo.

Joint performances from Billups and vocal performance professor Jeanette Thompson. Graduate music industry student Sydney “SYENNA” Scott also performed a duet with Caleb Caché, a senior majoring in prephysical therapy with a psychology minor.

Ensemble performances included the Florida band Falling Iguanas,

the Hammond Butler Gospel Choir and the Stamps Jazz Quintet. Performances highlighted a variety of genres, including classical opera, Afro-Cuban jazz, gospel and contemporary classics.

Donations will be split between Delta Sigma Theta and BMC, with proceeds going to aid in the mission and outreach of each organization.

“It was everything, having their support,” Robinson said. “Their main mission is service and leadership, and we kind of have similar missions as far as outreach and uplifting the Black community so we really wanted to come together. It was a big help since the Deltas have a larger platform on campus, so it was great to have this collaboration to put us on the map as well.”

Kiera Barton, a sophomore psy-

chology major, shared her thoughts on the elegant evening.

“From the beautiful voices and tunes of the performers to the flavorful, good ‘ol soul food, this event was too good,” Barton said. “As a minority student attending a PWI (Predominantly White Institution), I can honestly say this made me feel surrounded by people who were all there to do one thing — celebrate Black excellence.”

The Soul Soirée was a remarkable celebration that highlighted the inclusivity, diversity and talent on campus.

It left the audience with memories of a fantastic night and a strong sense of connection and appreciation for the gifted UM community.

Rachel Petrovich contributed to the reporting of this article.

8

November 15, 2023

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Democratic victories and abortion rights win big in 2023

BY CAROLINE VAL CO NEWS EDITOR

Democrats celebrated notable victories on Election Day 2023, showcasing their strength in national debates on key issues, most specifically in regard to abortion access. The outcomes provide a snapshot of the political landscape heading into 2024, with major implications in key states.

In Ohio, the passing of one ballot measure secured abortion access and vows to protect the right in the state’s constitution.

“I’m really happy to see that there is still so much support for access to safe abortions, especially in elections that weren’t during the main election cycle year,” said Alex Trombley, a senior from Ohio. “It’s also kind of surprising from where I’m from since I know how conservative some people can be, but it gives me hope that maybe this could influence o t h e r

states to at least not be so strict.”

In the Virginia statehouse, Democrats also gained the majority, blocking potential efforts from Republican state legislators to pass restrictions on abortion.

It became clear that abortion dominated as the topic of concern in these key state elections, highlighting the prominence of the issue across various states after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade.

“I had an abortion my first semester of senior year at UM,” said Jade Iovine, a UM alum and podcast host.

“I’m from LA, so I was lucky enough to have a community to go back to where something like this was really destigmatized.

But after that Supreme Court decision, I’ve just been worried for other women who have been in my position or in a more

compromised one where there is no access whatsoever. Abortions won’t ever stop, but it’s a matter of helping women find ways to do it safely.”

Among these decisions, other historical milestones happened as a result of this election cycle. Gabe Amo, who formerly served as the deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Biden administration, made history as Rhode Island’s first-ever elected Black member of Congress, and Cherelle Parker was elected as the first female mayor of Philadelphia.

“It’s nice to see people who look like me or share some of my experiences represent my city,” said Perinne Codaccioni, a recent UM grad pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania. “I think this only pushes you to want to keep pursuing your goals, which is always a nice boost.”

Though most predictions came to fruition about certain campaigns this election year, some races that came to an end.

In Mississippi, incumbent Republican Governor Tate Reeves retained his seat. Glenn Youngkin, did not see decisive decisions in his favor during Virginia’s legislative elections.

While the outcomes of these elections reflect a complex political landscape with many wins favoring the left, some argue that this year’s off-season election may not be an entirely accurate reflection of what’s to come in 2024.

“Though we’ve seen so many left-leaning decisions this election, I’m not sure if it was what most people were expecting,” Trombley said. “I think the presidential election is still very much going to be a toss-up with so many new developments happening right now – I just personally know of a few people from home who are on the fence about who to vote for. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what happens.”

Roberta Macedo // Graphics Editor

Joe Biden

“I think Biden was a good choice for the 2020 election, however, I don’t think he is the best democratic choice for the 2024 election. I was shocked when he approved the Willow project and that, among other reasons, is why I think those of the Democratic Party should select someone else to represent them.”

“Despite the fact that he wasn’t in attendance, Donald Trump won the debate. This is because there were no “breakout” moments that could help any of the candidates in attendance have a huge surge in the polls to overtake Donald Trump’s massive lead.”

Savannah Smart sophomore, public administration major

Zachari Levy junior, political science major

Donald Trump

November 15, 2023

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

9

UM students attend third GOP debate in Miami, here’s what they thought

BY LAUREN FERRER MANAGING EDITOR

UM students were given the unique opportunity by NBC News to work and attend the live broadcasting of the third Republican Presidential debate in Miami on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Whether they were working as production assistants in the days leading up to the debate or sitting in the live audience, University of Miami students got to hear what the five frontrunning GOP candidates had to say in their final debate before the Iowa caucus on Jan. 15, 2024.

“All week I had this vision about how the debate would go, what the candidates would say, and all the things that could go right and wrong.” said senior broadcast journalism major Charly Hill.

“Before this, I had never watched a Republican debate, I’d only seen clips on social media of the highlights of the super dramatic moments. Although there were those super dramatic moments, I also paid attention to the little things that might go unnoticed or not

spoken about a lot.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took the stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center, battling for the spotlight and presenting their stances on former president Donald Trump, TikTok, abortion and anti-semitism on college campuses.

“The discourse on abortion was by far the most interesting and varied with candidates like Scott encouraging a 15-week ban and Haley opposing a federal ban while respecting the decision of pro-choice states,” said junior international studies and economics major, Bryn Prosser.

“Haley has been rising in the polls while DeSantis will be slipping, so in the next couple weeks we will see whether Haley’s strong performance boosts her standing in the polls or leaves it unchanged.”

T w e n t y

students from UM and Florida International University worked as student production assistants completing small tasks like setting the stage and preparing the candidates and moderators backstage rooms. Students were also given the opportunity to fill in as stand-ins for the candidates and moderators for mock run-throughs of the debate. This allowed technical crews at NBC to make sure their technical equipment was functioning properly before the broadcast.

“I was moderator Kristen Welker’s stand-in and Zachari Levy was Chris Christie’s stand-in.” Hill said. “We had to act as if we were actually them so I was reading Welker’s scripts while Zachary responded as if he was Chris Christie.”

The hands-on broadcast experience gave the aspiring journalists a taste of what a future in political media could look like.

“The experience of working the

shut off, the live audience was able to pick up much more than what is seen on TV. “It was quite interesting to see the candidates interact with each other on stage during the commercial breaks after criticizing each other just moments earlier,” Levy said.

After listening to the candidates’ responses to questions asked by moderators Holt, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker and Salem Radio Network’s Hugh Hewitt, students left the debate with a newfound motivation to pay attention to the decisions driving voters to the polls for the 2024 Presidential election.

“I absolutely need to pay attention and be an informed citizen on what candidates are saying, because next year one of these people might be running our country.”

Hill said.

“I think DeSantis did much better this debate than he’s done the previous two debates. The last two debates, he seemed to me to have taken a backseat, but this debate we got to hear from him a lot more on his stances on various matters. It also doesn’t hurt that the debate was in his home state, which I’m sure made things easier.”

“Although I don’t agree with many of her beliefs, she seems to have a clear vision of bringing conservatism in the Republican party back to the way that it was pre-Trump and was the only candidate that made that abundantly clear.”

Bryn Prosser junior, international studies and economics major

debate was something unique for me,” junior political science major Zachari Levy said. “Seeing the extensive preparations that go into a two-hour broadcast made me realize that it takes a lot of effort to run these marquee events smoothly.”

Watching the debate live gave inperson audience members a look into what the five-minute highlight reels released the next day failed to show.

“My biggest takeaway from seeing the debate in person was to watch actions as well as words,” junior broadcast journalism and political science major Billie Brightman said.

“By paying attention to hand gestures or facial expressions, you can really tell how a candidate would run the country as commander in chief.”

Whether it was receiving TV etiquette instructions from “NBC Nightly News” anchor, Lester Holt, or watching the candidates engage with their families after the cameras

Nikki Haley

Isaiah Moore junior, political science major

Ron DeSantis

10

OPINION

November 15, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Zach Bryan: the ghost of country music past is bringing back the spirit of sound

BY LUKE SIMS STAFF WRITER

Country music of the past decade is often associated with overproduction, catchy lyrics and shallow messages centered around beer, trucks and girls. This was the state of country music in the mid-2010s when popular artists like Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean and Sam Hunt were popular. It was all about having a good time all the time.

The Florida Georgia Line song “Cruise” encapsulates that era of country music. While a song about picking up a girl and driving around may seem pointless to the average listener, the song was the number one song on the Hot Country Billboard rankings for a record 22 weeks in a row and has since been certified platinum.

I’ve contributed my fair share to those streaming numbers. I rolled my windows down when “Cruise” came on. Those songs were fun and people enjoyed them without having to overanalyze the messages they were trying to send.

While country artists found a simple formula to make hits during that time period, the sound shifted again around 2018 to what is known as “boyfriend country”-- sappy pop country music that can be overly sentimental, like the type of music you’d expect to hear over a wedding montage. Artists like Kane Brown, Dan+Shay and Brett Young capitalized off this new era of country music with songs that would become incredibly popular at weddings.

Snap tracks and artificial sounds were the calling card for country music radio while music with twang, fiddles and that “old country sound” were fading from the scene. Record labels did what made economic sense and supplied the people with the pop country tracks that they wanted.

That all changed when a YouTube video titled “Zach Bryan - Heading South” went viral in 2019. The shaky self-recorded video of an unknown man and his guitar now has over 24 million views. A stark contrast from the planned, well-directed, big-budget music videos that country stars of the time were making.

Four years later, the cost of a ticket to see the U.S. Navy veteran in concert is almost $300 and he has almost 30 million monthly listeners. On Spotify, Bryan is currently the 154thranked artist in the world at the time of this writing. The Oklahoman’s latest album was

the number-one album in the world on the Billboard charts. His song “I Remember Everything” with fellow country star Kacy Musgraves was the number-one song in the world.

Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen have largely been considered the kings of country music for the last few years. Wallen’s album “Dangerous” which was released in 2020 has been on the charts for 140 weeks (almost 3 years) and Combs’ album “This One’s For You” which came out in 2017 has been on the chart for over 328 weeks (over 6 years).

Combs and Wallen make music that is generally more marketable to the mass audience.

They fuse traditional country with modern rock and pop elements and sing about the experiences of everyday people. Wallen is known to make more “pop-country” while Combs has kept on the contemporary country path.

Bryan’s music is different. The music he makes is country, but it has a raw, vulnerable feel that people resonate with. Bryan’s stripped-down, simple folk music is unpolished and feels more real to many listeners.

That isn’t the type of music you expect to see on the charts or hear on the radio and the stories of a damaged country troubadour shouldn’t be on the radar of any major labels -- but they are.

The way Bryan has been able to spread his message is unlike any person in country music.

The country star makes similar music to those artists mentioned above, but Bryan’s following is incredibly dedicated and has developed at a rapid rate. Part of that could be attributed to the vulnerability of Bryan. There are dark things in Bryan’s past like divorce at a young age and a death in the family. The songs that Bryan writes have a unique way of capturing the hearts of listeners and resonate with his listeners more than any other artist. Bryan’s fanbase often has experienced similar things in their own lives.

Bryan has a beautiful way of channeling that pain that people love to listen to.

Bryan’s last album, “American Heartbreak” peaked at number five and has been on the charts for over a year. He’s quickly making a case to have his name and his music spoken with the same fondness as Wallen and Combs.

His painful, vulnerable lyrics hit home for people. The single that put Zach Bryan on the map was his smash hit “Something in the Orange,” which has over 500,000 streams on Spotify. It’s a story of a man reflecting on a fleeting love as he gazes at an encompassing sunset. The themes of reflection, love, loss, and hardships are all very common in his songs and stories. These themes in country music were not greatly divergent from the popular tropes

Photo by Katrina Paisano, taken on 23 August 2023 at Crypto.com Arena // Wikimedia Commons

of country music during this time. The thing that Bryan changed was the scope in which people heard it.

Bryan was my buddies’ and my favorite under-the-radar artist until he wasn’t. Never did I think Bryan would see the level of stardom he’s at, but his immense popularity is truly a big step for country music. A whiskey-washed cowboy with a checkered past making lowbudget folk music is now the artist that mainstream audiences want to listen to.

“Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line and “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan could not be any more different. Yet, both songs have served as anthems for country music fans. Bryan has changed the narrative of country music for the masses and is bringing it back to its roots.

While Bryan has some skeletons in his closet, he’s not hiding from his past. The Oklahoma native puts his heart and soul into his songs and that’s something I can respect. All he really wants is to be loved, make music and spend time with people he cares about and now Bryan gets to live that dream every day.

Zach Bryan’s emergence has opened the gate for other independent artists to find success. Instead of big productions with high-budget music videos and marketing campaigns, there are videos of guys in the woods strumming their

guitars becoming hits.

Sam Barber, Dylan Gossestt and Charles Wesley Godwin all make music in the same vein as Bryan-- stripped-down, deep songs-and have seen early success. I doubt launches like that could have happened without Bryan first blazing the trail.

Bryan’s music is a harsh contrast to the music of the country’s past. The beautiful lyrics and haunting melodies of Bryan’s songs have opened the mainstream country audience’s eyes to this side of country music that they were not aware of. I’ve been alongside everyone else listening to artists with a more traditional country sound. Artists like Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum and Tyler Childers have all made an impact on the country music scene. Those artists have sold records and sold out shows, but none of those artists have gained public attention like Bryan has as fast as he has.

Bryan is just a messed-up kid like the rest of us. He’s not afraid to admit it, and people aren’t afraid to relate. The Oklahoman son is burning a new trail for country music and something in the orange tells me he’s not done.

Luke Sims is a sophomore studying marketing, journalism, and data analytics

11

November 15, 2023 THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Remembering the importance of community in the age of individualism

BY PARI WALTER OPINION EDITOR

It’s no secret that we’re living in an age of growing isolation. 79% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 24 reported feelings of loneliness in a survey conducted by Cigna. It’s gotten to the point where, last May, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared loneliness the latest public health epidemic.

Humans are social creatures and are inextricably linked to one another. A sense of community provides a person with many benefits, the most critical being senses of belonging, purpose and support which can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. People have traditionally found a sense of community in their neighborhoods, places of worship, jobs, interest organizations or educational institutions. I like to think of your community as the people you accumulate as you go on living.

Murthy credits the decay of institutions like organized religion and extended family relationships combined with the prevalence of social media, societal polarization and the recent pandemic as causes of the crisis.

Beyond these factors, today’s young adults grew up in a time where efficiency and independence rule, and people are rewarded far more for individual achievement than for community involvement.

The recent resurgence of the “selfcare” movement has only further contributed to this culture of self-sufficiency, promoting putting oneself

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first through solitary acts characterized by self-absorption that muddy the line between individualism and isolation.

While we continue to get caught up in the narrative of self-sufficiency and contribute to a culture where individuals routinely “put themselves first,” we stand to gain more by actively investing our time and energy into our community ties and our relationships with those around us.

The U.S. has always valued individualism, but what began as an idea centered around having the freedom to be ourselves and pursue one’s aspirations has been warped into an expectation of self-sufficiency. When faced with adversity, we retreat into ourselves instead of reaching out to others. Living in a state of excessive independence and focus on ourselves can transform into ignorance or egocentrism.

In Democracy in America, French social philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville expressed concern over whether the U.S.’s strong senses of individualism and entrepreneurship would result in a culture of self-interest and lead us to prioritize personal interests over the common good. He wrote that, in such a society, “each man is forever thrown back on himself alone, and there is danger that he may be shut up in the solitude of his own heart.”

Individualism is vital to creativity and progress, and a strong sense of individualism has the potential to serve a positive societal purpose when balanced with a sense of community. There are times when turning to others for emotional or intellectual help will benefit us.

Individualism doesn’t thrive in isolation. It’s important that we all bring something unique to the table, but

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when we do contribute to conversation, our peers’ answers can serve to further develop and refine our ideas.

When someone has the support of a community they can share their ideas and experiences with without feeling insecure, they can incorporate the perspectives of others to create something even better.

As college students, it’s easy to think of our universities as our communities, and while they can be, it’s also important to develop deeper and more personal associations within the complex ecosystem of a college campus. A 2007 intercollegiate study found a positive correlation between forming new high-quality friendships and with how well students adjust.

College students often feel there’s more emphasis on getting ahead and self-starting than there is on building and nurturing relationships or giving back to one’s communities.

When I entered college in 2020, virtual learning was the norm and I couldn’t form in-person connections on campus. Once I did have the opportunity and found the courage to step back into socializing and worked to build a community for myself on-campus, I felt my experience at university improve exponentially. A genuine sense of community among peers has even been connected to increased student retention rates.

The prevalence of technology and the constant connectedness that accompanies it have ironically led to increased social isolation in some aspects. While there is immense value in online communities, especially for people who are geographically far from one another, avoiding in-person interaction has become all too easy.

Research published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2021 PRINT EDITORS Anaya Jhaveri Katie Stute

found that Americans in their early twenties average 28.5 hours per week on their phones, but there’s value in in-person interactions that can’t be replicated via technology.

“There’s really no substitute for in-person interaction,” Murthy said.

“As we shifted to use technology more and more for our communication, we lost out on a lot of that inperson interaction.”

Canceling plans is as easy as sending a text and a skipped meeting can be recapped in a four line email. This is only exacerbated by the “self-care” excuse, where people often justify canceling plans in the name of setting boundaries, but in reality are weakening the relationships that will benefit them in the long run.

Gianna Aprea/ Staff Graphic Designer

Bill Gates advised when speaking to students at Columbia University that “Some friends do bring out the best in you and so it’s good to invest in those friendships. And some friends challenge you about things you’re doing and that level of intimacy is great … it’s really worth the investment to have those people, as you’re always there to help them and vice versa.”

Going it alone might feel more comfortable in the moment, but the temporary awkwardness that accompanies forming new connections pays off in the long term. The complexities and unpredictability of human interaction allow us to build better lives and extend the scope beyond ourselves.

To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact

BUSINESS MANAGER Patrick McCaslin FACULTY ADVISOR Antonio Mora FINANCIAL ADVISOR Steve Priepke SENIOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANT Michelle Starbeck

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November 15, 2023

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

PICKLEBALL

College students join the craze; Picklers take over UM courts

BY GATES FOX

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Similar to tennis but also like ping pong and a little bit like badminton, that’s pickleball.

The unusually named sport is sweeping the nation in popularity, played by professional athletes such as Michael Phelps and Lebron James, and actors like Will Ferrell and Selena Gomez. Even some professional tennis players like Jack Sock and Sam Querrey are switching to become professional pickleball players.

However, it’s not just celebrities picking up the new sport, but everyone from elementary school gym classes to 80-year-olds playing at their local courts. Pickleball is permeating through the United States and, it is no surprise that pickleball is the newest club at the University of Miami.

As more and more “picklers’’ emerge, people can’t go anywhere without hearing the game mentioned. That is why junior Brian Kanzer, founder and president of the pickleball club, was surprised that there wasn’t already a club at the University of Miami.

So, Kanzer and two friends started their own. After a two-month approval process, the group has been able to host weekly open play events.

Kanzer mentioned that the original objective of starting the club was not for it to be a super competitive club sport, but something people can look forward to coming to once or twice a week.

Since becoming official and starting to host its open play events, the pickleball club has become one of the fastest-growing clubs at Miami.

“The club has seen exponential growth even in a short amount of time.” Kanzer said.

The club’s membership is on display at the weekly open play events, as each court stays constantly filled

with students playing for 30 minutes or the full two hours.

Even after only a few months, the pickleball club has lived up to its original mission, with club member and sophomore Nicholas Rosato describing the open play events as having a positive and inviting atmosphere.

“I joined after playing pickleball with her friends over the summer and wanted to continue playing,” freshman Jessica Brenner said. “It

any level of experience.

In addition to offering low-stress open play events, the club has most recently extended into having an official team. Although competition was not an original focus of the club, following expressed interest, the pickleball club decided to add a competitive element by organizing a team. The interest in playing in tournaments first came from junior and current outreach chair, Kyle Araujo.

pickleball tournaments.

Per DUPR rules, the team needed to be composed of four members: two girls and two boys. That’s when sophomore Brooke Dugarte and junior Ava Ignatowich came in.

Alongside Kanzer and Araujo, they formed the first ever University of Miami pickleball team.

The team attended their first regional tournament in September.

In Boca Raton, Florida, the teams competed for the top two spotsto

Trevor Castleman // Contributing Photographer

University of Miami students participate in the Pickleball Club’s Open Play Event at the campus tennis courts on Nov. 10, 2023.

was easy to get involved and the environment is really fun and relaxed.”

With their early success, the future seems bright for the pickleball club. The organization serves as an outlet for students on campus who are welcome to play pickleball with

“When I saw that UM finally made a club pickleball team, I knew I had to join it and start competing against other schools,” Araujo said.

The club currently competes through the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), the organization that oversees college

advance to the national tournament, where the top 36 teams in the country compete for the national championship.

Although winning a regional tournament isn’t the only path to nationals, with five teams from across the country receiving a wild card bid,

one of which went to Miami’s team.

“After a strong performance [at regionals], we got a bid for nationals, so over Thanksgiving break we will be flying to Atlanta to compete,” Kanzer said.

With much anticipation around the upcoming national tournament, Araujo says he “likes [the] team’s odds against anybody.”

Hoping to bring home the national win later this month, the club is also looking forward to the future. The next official pickleball season with DUPR begins in January.

With its early success, the team is excited to continue to travel to tournaments in other states and to also compete in more weekend tournaments against teams closer to home.

“With the pickleball club getting so big I think we will have the talent to be a team that consistently plays well in college tournaments and makes it to nationals every single year,” Araujo said.

Keeping in mind the club’s original mission of providing a space for students to take a break from the stress of school and other responsibilities, Kanzer hopes the University will look at putting in more permanent courts, allowing the club more opportunities to host open play events throughout the week.

“Miami has done a good job making the tennis courts now multifunctional but it would be great to have more permanent courts.”

Kanzer said. “Possibly converting the tennis courts by the MahoneyPearson dorms to be strictly pickleball courts since there are already tennis courts at the Herbert Wellness Center.”

The pickleball club has proven to be a valuable addition to Miami’s long list of clubs, providing students a place to unwind after a long day or to represent the university playing against colleges from across the country.

November 15, 2023

13

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

FOOTBALL

Freshman Williams helps lead near-upset of No. 4 FSU

BY ZACH MACER

CO-SPORTS EDITOR

32 times before Saturday, a game in the historic rivalry between the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles had come down to one touchdown. In the 68th game between the two, another one occurred.

With fans doubting the ‘Canes to win at Doak Campbell Stadium, Miami went in and immediately showed desperation to beat the undefeated ‘Noles. However, it fell just one possession short after Tyler Van Dyke threw an interception to Jarrian Jones on the final drive to seal the 27-20 FSU win.

A big reason why Miami came out with true competitiveness was the decision to start true freshman quarterback Emory Williams over a healthy but struggling Tyler Van Dyke. With Williams in for his second career start, the ‘Canes offense seemed rejuvenated, earning themselves 303 yards of total offense when he was on the field.

“Gutsy, tough” is how Miami head coach Mario Cristobal described Williams’s performance. “He played real well.”

However, his night came to a heartbreaking end on the final ‘Canes

drive of the game. On fourth-and-two with the game on the line, Williams ran and dove to cross the first-down marker. In the process of landing, his arm contorted, and he immediately reacted to the injury. “[Williams suffered] a significant injury,” Cristobal said after the game.

“He’s at the local hospital, and we’re waiting on a word from them.”

Williams has been reported to have a compound fracture in his left arm.

He ended the game with 175 passing yards, two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 127.4.

The game was filled with moments that did not go Miami’s way. A crucial one, which received backlash online, came in the second quarter with FSU backed up deep in their territory. Wesley Bissainthe chased down quarterback Jordan Travis and tackled him on the goal line for what looked like a safety. However, the referees called the play down at the one-yard line, even after reviewing the play.

ACC representatives in attendance said that “the [safety] rule is where the ball is when initial contact is made by the defender.”

When asked if he received an explanation for the call, Cristobal said he had not.

The ‘Canes still had a great first half; they had 54 more yards than FSU in the timespan, with 96 of them coming on the ground with an average of 5.1 yards per attempt. However, Miami’s only touchdown of the half came in the air after Williams lobbed the ball over the back shoulder of receiver Jacolby George. The score and a chip-shot field goal with seconds remaining in the half made the score 10-10 at the break.

But it was FSU that came out of it with its guns blazing. In their first two drives of the second half, the ‘Noles drove 136 yards of offense. A massive chunk was a 38-yard touchdown run by junior running back Trey Benson, which extended the FSU lead to 20-10 with 5:46 left in the third quarter.

Although they gave up 322 yards in the game, the Hurricanes’ defense bent but did not break to keep them in the game. In the second half, they forced FSU, the top offense in the ACC, to punt four times and did not allow them to convert at all on their five third downs of the half. FSU was 3-for-12 on third-down conversions in the entire game.

When FSU needed him most, star wide receiver Keon Coleman came alive in the fourth quarter. After a

Miami Athletics // Contributed Photograph

Freshman quarterback Emory WIlliams drops back to pass against Florida State in their 27-20 loss at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Miami three-and-out, Coleman returned a Miami punt 57 yards and then caught the last Seminoles touchdown of the evening just four plays later from Travis to give them a 2713 lead. Travis, highly regarded as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, threw for 265 yards and a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 143.7.

Williams was able to connect with

George for an 85-yard score early in the fourth quarter, but the final drive’s failure sealed Florida State’s third-straight win in the rivalry. The last time Miami won at Doak Campbell Stadium was in 2019.

Miami faces another ranked opponent in No. 11 Louisville next Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Miami takes down UCF on night ‘Canes raise Final Four banner

BY NOAH CUEVA

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Miami Hurricanes and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights faced Friday night in a thrilling basketball game that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The Watsco Center’s atmosphere was electric as the Hurricanes raised their 2023 Final Four Banner into the rafters before tip-off to remember their incredible March Madness run. They kept the night in high spirits as they beat the Knights, 88-72.

“It meant everything. I mean you

know It was really special, but I feel like we still got way more work to do,” junior guard Bensley Joseph said. “We obviously aren’t just satisfied with the Final Four. We want to get over the hump and get to the next step.”

From the opening tip-off, both teams demonstrated their speed and power. The Hurricanes showed their fast-paced style, and the Knights brought tenacious defense. The first half set the tone for the game as Miami and UCF exchanged baskets in a display of skillful ball movement and precise shooting.

The Hurricanes took an early lead

with a series of impressive threepointers.

Miami headed into halftime, leading UCF 41-27. Miami shot 44% from behind the three-point line, while UCF only shot 18% before the half. However, UCF won the offensive rebounding battle in the first half, beating Miami 7-0.

The second half saw a shift in momentum, with the Knights mounting a comeback fueled by their aggressive defense and strategic offensive plays. They continued to respond to the Miami offense with a gritty defense that disrupted the Hurricanes’ flow and narrowed the

point differential to six points with six minutes remaining in the second half.

The Hurricanes soon regained control, utilizing their speed and offensive precision to extend their lead. Miami, determined to secure the win, responded with composure and exceptional shooting that maintained its lead to the final buzzer.

“It’s a terrific win,” head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “I think Central Florida is going to have a heck of a year.”

Joseph proved to be the player of the game, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, five

steals and four blocks.

Junior Wooga Poplar also had an impressive night, leading the Hurricanes in scoring with 23 points. He also finished with four rebounds, two blocks and one steal.

Junior Norchad Omier showed dominance on both ends of the floor, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, one block and four steals.

The ‘Canes finished the game shooting 51% from the field, 48% from deep and 87% from the free throw line. They also finished with 13 total assists, 29 rebounds, 11 blocks, 14 steals and 16 personal fouls.

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BASKETBALL

Lutz: Matthew Cleveland is the dynamic piece Miami needs

BY CARTER LUTZ STAFF WRITER

“Cleveland for the win … It’s good! Matthew Cleveland stuns Miami!” exclaimed a television broadcaster as then-Florida State guard Matthew Cleveland hit a shot from mid-court as time expired to cap off a 25-point second-half deficit and beat Miami at the Watsco Center.

This was most of the Miami faithful’s introduction to Cleveland. Fast forward about eight months later, and he is the talk of the town in Coral Gables.

“My main thing entering the transfer portal was to go somewhere I can win,” the big offseason addition for Miami said during UM’s media day.

Heading into the 2023-24 college basketball season, the theme for the Hurricanes is all about keeping momentum.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the program after coming off of its first Elite Eight run in 2022, followed by a trip to the Final Four last season.

Miami lost two key contributors from each run in ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong and 15.3 point per game scorer Jordan Miller to the NBA draft.

The loss of star talent begs the question: how will Miami keep it going? Head coach Jim Larranaga followed that up with the recruitment of Cleveland.

Miami’s new tar was welcomed to UM in May and has been the epicenter of conversation heading into the new season. A guy who played just up i95 in Tallahassee last year, Cleveland is a 6-foot-7, 208-pound wing with incredible size and athleticism.

“The biggest thing I saw was the success they have had with transfers,” Cleveland said.

“Year-to-year, the transfers here have been successful.”

In Miami’s first three games of the season, Cleveland has been

a main reason for the team’s successful 3-0 start. Cleveland recorded a 16-point double-double against N.J.I.T., followed by a fantastic defensive effort against UCF that included three steals and two blocked shots.

His most recent game against FIU brought out the star potential Miami sees in Cleveland.

On Monday night, Cleveland recorded 23 points on 80% shooting and went three for three from beyond the arc.

It has been a long road for Cleveland, but it finally feels like the right spot for a guy with exponential potential.

Cleveland’s game makes him one of the most fascinating players to watch in the country. At his size, he can practically play any role on the court. Cleveland uses his size to attack downhill quickly, and once he decides to rise up to the rim, it is not so wise to jump with him. In just three games, Cleveland looks to be a very nice fit alongside scoring guards Wooga Poplar and Nijel Pack.

Cleveland’s length and quickness make him an elite defender that can guard all five positions, something Miami has been missing the past two years.

The versatility of Cleveland as a positionless defender and his rebounding ability are vital for the Hurricanes as the season progresses.

Rewinding back to high school, Cleveland has always been a name to watch out for.

As a five-star recruit, Cleveland was the 27th-ranked player in the country, according to 247Sports. Cleveland always showed a lot of potential because of his size combined with athletic ability, but he did not reach his full potential until he truly started to grow into himself. Cleveland started at Cambridge High School in Milton, Georgia before transferring to

the well-known Pace Academy, and that is where things ramped up for him.

At Pace, Cleveland led his team to two 2A state championships, averaging over 22 points per game in his two years and a double-double in his senior year. He chose Florida State as his home over the likes of North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas and Kentucky.

Cleveland’s skillset was on full display out the gate, making an immediate impact as a true freshman. He started eight games and averaged 11.5 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and shot 45% from the field. He followed that up with an even better sophomore season, starting every game and averaging 13.8 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game and a drastically improved threepointer, something that continues to improve.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, Florida State’s program had been struggling immensely, and he wanted to play somewhere else.

The switch to Miami seemed like a no-brainer. The Hurricanes were in major need of a player with the style of Cleveland.

Cleveland truly is the best player Larrañaga could’ve added to this system and will be implemented into the lineup in multiple different ways. Defensively, Miami needed a player who could defend multiple positions, and that is one of Cleveland’s strong suits. He has the size to guard down low, and if he is on a guard and gets blown by, he has the athletic ability to recover for a block. Working alongside forward Norchad Omier down low, the ‘Canes will have a strong defensive presence in the paint throughout the year.

Cleveland’s ability to run the

Charisma Jones // Contributing Photographer

During the ‘Canes second half 23-2 run against FIU, junior Matthew Cleveland screams in celebration after getting a defensive rebound and sinking a threepointer, forcing FIU to call a timeout.

floor is going to fit in perfectly with Miami’s transitional game.

Expect Cleveland’s offensive game to continue to fit nicely for fastbreak buckets. On offense, Cleveland can play alongside Omier in the post, bring the ball up the floor or even be a pure wing if he needs to.

Miami’s style under Larrañaga is the type of environment where a sensational athlete like Cleveland is going to shine. It will be exciting to see how the coaching staff can creatively incorporate the versatility of Cleveland into the game plan.

Through its first three games, Miami looks sharp and polished on both sides of the ball, with Cleveland leading the way.

“This is definitely the most talented team I have been a part of … I want to win,” Cleveland said.

Miami has gotten a taste of college basketball glory, and the time is now. If the Hurricanes want to take another big step this season, it is going to take difference-makers. Cleveland can be that difference-maker who can take over a game.

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V’S TAKE

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What to do when some good dick comes from an even bigger dick The college dating scene is scary no matter who you’re into. Chances are you’ll end up talking to some unsavory people, and you’ll end up dropping them from your roster. Whether they were bland, obnoxious or even straight up toxic, it’s not hard to find that reason to stop talking to someone nowadays. For a horny college student though, sometimes that drop isn’t always so easy.

For example, say you’ve ​ been talking to someone for a month and it’s sucked. They rarely respond, can be a little judgemental at times and start to harp on you whenever you call them out. Every sign is pointing to no, but you decide to keep them around because “the sex was soooo good.”

At what point should you ​

stop compromising for cock?

Well V is not one to kiss and tell but here’s our educated opinions. ​First off, you have to weigh the negatives in relation to the sex. If they’re just a little annoying, sure you can go back to them, but if they’re lowkey misogynistic maybe it’s time to look elsewhere. It boils down to your dignity and what you’re willing to compromise.

We get it, it’s brutal out there, but you can always do better.

Sample size is also important. One good fuck doesn’t define a person. Who knows?

Maybe they just got lucky. So like any good scientist, conduct a few different experiments to see if the sex really was as good as you remembered it. ​Lastly, always compare them

to the roster. If you spend that much time picking out what life changing toppings to put on your Corner Deli Bowl, you can spend a little comparing your current suitor to the others you are interested in.

The sex might be good but if you have some backups on the bench that are actually decent human beings, maybe stick to them. ​You can’t get too in-depth with your process or else the pickiness can make you just as toxic. At some point, you have to stay true to your heart.

If you’re willing to put up with a douche just for some great sex, power to you.

You’re ruly braver than me.

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November 15, 2023

THE MIAMI HURRICANE