Alexandra Fisher // Photo Editor
Cuban-American icon Gloria Estefan’s music has soundtracked the lives of Latinos all over Miami and beyond. Not only is she an eight-time Grammy Award winner, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and the frst Hispanic woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, she is also a Miami local and University of Miami alumnus. With hits including “Conga,” “1-2-3” and “Get On Your Feet,” Estefan’s career opened the door to a new era of Hispanic music and paved the way for other Hispanic artists to do the same.
The Queen of Latin Pop returned to campus on Sept. 16 for a screening of “Young Frankenstein” at the Bill Cosford Cinema. Before the event, Estefan sat with The Miami Hurricane and spoke about the importance of education, embracing your culture and fnding your passion.
The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
TMH: Tell me about your time at the U, and what it is about those experiences that keeps bringing you back?
Gloria Estefan: Well, I’m also on the board of trustees so that also keeps me coming back.
I did college work-study in the summer of ‘75 and started [that] September here at the U. I had taken a test called the CLEP, and started as a sophomore because I had a really good prep school, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, and I got 30 credits. I was on National Direct Student Loan and a lot of scholarships.
The U was still expensive back then, but it was my dream school — after the Sorbonne,
which I had been accepted to in France. And I was going to go, but then I met this guy and played for his band, the Miami Latin Boys, and well you know what happened there, things got a little complicated.
I loved every minute of coming here, but at the same time I was coming here I had two other jobs and then three when I joined the band. I was carrying a full load from eight in the morning to noon. I would change in my car on the way to my job at the airport as an interpreter, because French was my minor. I was in customs and immigration translating six days a week from one to nine at night. Two nights a week I taught community school guitar at West Miami Jr. High from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Whenever I wasn’t sleeping, I was doing homework.
I couldn’t really participate in the social aspects of the school that all my friends were enjoying. In Miami Latin Boys we played at the Rathskeller, and we also played outside in that patio, I don’t know if it looks the same but it was by the pool. And that was a blast.
It was a lot of hard work I remember at that time. I studied psychology and communications, the communication school was just starting. But it helped me a lot.
Every time I come back here, I’m blown away by how it’s changed. But it’s all beautiful memories, really.
By continuing to pour back into the U, what is the legacy that you hope to leave on this campus?
Well, I hope that they realize how important education is. Before, if you had your B.A. you were good. Now, I would suggest that everyone get a Mas-
ters, at least. And if you can go for a PhD do it. Learn as much as you can. Involve yourself in as many activities as are good without messing up your academic record. And just have a great time. This is a wonderful university. It’s grown in leaps and bounds. It’s incredibly respected. We are now one of only 62 schools included in [the Association of American Universities]. And we live in paradise. If you’re not from here, enjoy it while you’re here. And if you’re from here, aren’t we lucky?
Knowing that Miami has always served as a hub for Hispanic, specifcally Cuban culture, what do you feel is the importance of continuing to see that representation and presence?
It’s important to keep your culture to stay connected to your roots and who you are. In any instance, it only makes you stronger, better able to communicate with more people in the world.
The U.S. is an amazing tapestry of cultures from everywhere in the world, we’re built by immigrants and continue to be pushed forward by immigrants. Be proud of where you’re from, and don’t ever negate it because it just makes you a much more interesting person, more diverse, more well versed to be able to speak to a plethora of people all over the world.
Since the beginning of your career you’ve embraced your culture, even when others told you otherwise, and that’s paved the way for many others to do the same, what is your advice to young hispanics today facing similar challenges?
I’d say frst, fnd your passion.
Because you’re going to spend most of your waking hours working. And if you can do something you love, it doesn’t feel like work.
Again, your culture is a strength, not a detriment. But you have to sharpen your skills. If you’re in this country, you have to know English, know it well, be able to compete. That gave me an edge because I could go all over the world and sing both in English and in Spanish.
We live in a country that allows us to do anything that we dream of. Work hard. Work hard at everything that you love.
Your music has always served as a vehicle to lift spirits, inspire others and shine light on darkness. Can you talk about what you do to channel that positive mindset amidst life’s chaos?
I have two amazing women, my grandmother and my mother, who were amazing examples that we [women] do it all, because they did. I never grew up thinking “Oh, I’m a woman. I’m limited.” No, I think we can do everything.
When I got the opportunity to make music for other people, it was a huge responsibility and a privilege. To have a platform where I can share my thoughts and ideas with people that I might never meet, to me is the most incredible blessing that I could have.
Whenever I do make music, I either do it to entertain you just so you can have fun and forget about your worries, or give you words, like in the love songs, for situations where you may not know what to say to somebody, and maybe one of my songs can say it for you. Or to empower you and songs like “Get On Your Feet” and
“Reach” and there’s “Always Tomorrow” to remind you that we all go through stuff. “Coming Out Of The Dark,” which was a big thank you to everybody that prayed for me after my accident, and I felt that energy. It felt like I was plugged in. I really learned what the power of prayer is all about in that moment.
That’s the kind of things that I want to share. I’ve written things that have come from dark places that I haven’t shared because they were just to purge [out]. I don’t want to make people feel that.
It’s a beautiful privilege. And I thank God every day in my life that I’ve been able to make a life of music.
Tell me about what Young Frankenstein means to you and why you chose it for tonight’s screening
Young Frankenstein marked a before and after in my life. And I’ll tell you why.
It was Emilio and I’s frst date. And I found out later he didn’t really go to movies. So he asked me “What do you want to see?”
It was playing at the Trail Theater on Eighth Street and 57th, and I told him I’m a huge Mel Brooks fan. He didn’t know who Mel Brooks was. “Oh, yeah, me too.” Right. And I go “Great, this new new movie is coming out, Young Frankenstein. I’d love to go see it. Let’s go.”
We go to the movie, and when we walk outside, he looks at me and he goes “I didn’t fnd it that scary.” I knew I was gonna marry that man that day, because I looked at him and I go, “What parts did you fnd scary? Because it’s a comedy!”
It was our frst date, so, it holds a very deep memory and meaning in our love story.
The University of Miami is now #67 in the newly released 2024 U.S. News & World Report National University ranking, dropping 12 spots from last year’s report.
Previously at place #55, UM shares the #67 ranking with fve other universities including Villanova University, University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst and George Washington University.
The change, in part, refects an update to the U.S. News ranking methodology that dropped fve “longstanding” categories and emphasized socioeconomic elements
as well as graduate outcomes, U.S. News said.
“More than half of a school’s rank is now comprised of varying outcome measures related to schools’ success at enrolling, retaining and graduating students from different backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduate success,” U.S. News reported.
These updates include the addition of frst generation students’ graduation and performance rates and an assessment on if college graduates are making more than high school graduates (all totalling to 10% of the overall ranking).
In a statement to the Board of Trustees, President Julio Frenk said,
“University rankings, as we have long agreed, are a means for driving success and continuous improvement, not an end in and of themselves.”
In regards to the changing algorithms, Frenk pointed out that only two indicators from last year held the same percentage weight, including the academic reputation score, based on peer assessment, which increased for UM. He also stated that the shift to stress diversity and social mobility inherently favors public institutions.
“In Florida, for example, every public institution improved in the rankings, while every private institution declined. These trends hold nationally, with only one in four private
universities retaining or improving their 2023 ranking, favoring those that have large endowments,” Frenk said in his statement.
Florida State University, one of the public universities that tied with UM last year, moved up in the rankings to spot #53. Other universities previously tied at #55, including Rutgers, Santa Clara and Pepperdine University moved to spots #40, #60 and #76 respectively.
“It is something disheartening to see because our tuition is so expensive,” junior neuroscience major Ann Sia said. “There are a lot of benefts to being a private school, but I was still really sad to see that the ranking is lower this year.”
The drop in the rankings follows a consistent decline since the 2012 report that ranked UM at #38 and as the best university in Florida. Despite the nearly 30 place drop, UM remains confdent in their abilities to serve students and the wider UM community.
“The University of Miami continues to draw accomplished scholars, researchers, and clinicians to South Florida, and we were recently chosen as one of the newest members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a national organization of leading research universities,” Jacqueline R. Menendez, vice president for University Communications, released in a statement.
On the 22nd anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, University President Julio Frenk and Dean of Students Ryan Holmes sat down at UM Hillel to discuss their trip to Israel with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), generating different opinions among some students on the day of remembrance.
Project Interchange, the AJC program in which the University’s leaders participated, hosts these educational trips each year for global diplomats, policy makers and university ambassadors to deepen their understanding of Israel “beyond the headlines.”
However, some students expressed confusion about the date and location selected for the event given the topic’s proximity to the Israeli-Palestinian confict.
“I do feel it was weird to hold the discussion on 9/11 – it puts one side at an advantage,” said one student of Palestinian descent, who chose to remain anonymous due to the subject’s controversial nature.
“I think it’s a great effort on the
part of the University to start trying to open the conversation. I genuinely wish I could speak freely about where I’m from, but the reality is that there are various individuals that target people for speaking up. Not only is it mentally draining, but opens me up to very hurtful and hateful speak.”
Briana Schwarz, the executive director for UM Hillel, opened the evening’s conversation by drawing attention to the selected day of the event, recalling her own memory of the tragedy that claimed thousands of American lives.
“As I watched the world change before my eyes that September morning, I remember a strong desire to be surrounded by my Jewish community,” said Schwarz.
“I want to emphasize the strength of our own Jewish community at the U, as we are in a unique position to be proactive about antisemitic education rather than reactive to antisemitic attacks.”
During the conversation, both President Frenk and Dean Holmes emphasized their mutual goal to bring back valuable insights for opening
constructive conversations among students of diverse backgrounds on campus, especially those of Jewish and Palestinian heritage.
President Frenk, who has visited Israel in the past to connect with his own Jewish culture, emphasized his effort to return to the country after the pandemic to view its current educational innovations. However, he also visited the Middle Eastern state to evaluate peace efforts in the region.
“The most impactful lesson of this trip is that it allows you to be removed from this idea of one camp being against another,” said Frenk. “We had many opportunities on the ground to see Palestinians and Jewish citizens of the state working together to conduct their day-to-day life. You see people wanting to be united by the common desire for peace and for creating a better future for their families.”
Some students who attended the event found the conversation to be a refreshing take on the current state of Israel.
“I actually got the opportunity to travel to Israel last year with Hil-
lel,” said Doménica Núñez del Arco Abad, a third-year Ecuadorian student. “I found it incredibly interesting to hear from a leader like President Frenk talking about an experience I was also immersed in thanks to the University. It’s more than just a week abroad – it’s a mindset that you have to keep engaging with even beyond your time there.”
However, other students argue that the picture painted at UM Hillel is not entirely representative of Palestinian and Arab experiences in the country.
“It is very possible that these individuals share a common desire for peace, but they also share a common desire to survive,” the student of Palestinian descent said. “There are various organizations and individuals that target people for speaking up. Palestinians living in Israel do have a certain privilege, but they also feel that lack of vocal freedom when they do face discrimination.”
Dean Holmes, noting his background in history, discussed his desire to visit the country to draw his own conclusions independent of the images of geopolitical confict in the
mainstream media.
“My history journey really started with me wanting to do a study of oppression,” Holmes said. “I also went in with my lens of confict resolution, and I learned that the more you speak and the more you enter into a space with a heart to hear rather than a heart to deliver, more can be done.”
According to Frenk and Holmes, their visit consisted of stops in areas such as Tel Aviv and Ramallah, dividing their time between watching presentations on educational advancements to speaking with Israeli and Palestinian business owners.
Though both President Frenk and Dean Holmes acknowledged the complexity of the night’s discussion, they each made their commitment to understanding students and fostering safe environments within UM clear as the evening came to a close.
“This is an educational space, but also a space of healing and exchange that we hope our students emerge from better,” said Holmes. “I truly believe this trip helped me to understand how to better assist them in the right ways and keep the conversation going.”
BY RACHEL PETROVICH STAFF WRITER
Amongst the sea of diverse communities that define South Florida, Little Haiti is one that has had a historic prevalence in the nation’s history, housing the largest population of Haitian Americans in the United States.
The neighborhood is a cultural and artistic mecca for the Haitian community in Florida, yet has recently been the target of climate gentrification, the process of people moving to areas less exposed to the effects of climate change, as defined by the Environmental Law Institute.
These populations are often wealthier and move into areas predominantly occupied by lower-income residents. Because of institutionalized practices like red-lining, these lower-income communities are often communities of color subject to less funding and resource allocation from the government.
With rising sea levels and heightened weather events due to climate change, Little Haiti is the premier in-land target for developers.
Housing affordability has been a significant struggle for the residents in Little Haiti, and according to a Florida International University housing market analysis in 2015, the majority of these residents rent their homes.
To support the financing of new housing and properties of incoming Floridians from the coast, rent is continuously being raised, causing the displacement of generations of Haitians in the area.
“One of the bigger issues –it’s like this in most cities but the City of Miami especially – is there’s no income tax,”
Theresa Pinto, UM professor of ecosystem science and policy, said. “There’s no other forms of revenue except property taxes, so they’re reliant on that money. There’s no incentive either to try and stop this kind of process from going on.”
Approval of housing proj -
doesn’t value the culture and just views the community as a property enterprise.”
Gentrification in Little Haiti is nothing new. Since the 1980’s, there have been turnovers in investors who purchase property in the area in an attempt to sell to developers once the value has gone
promising $1 billion toward building an 18-acre project coined the Magic City Innovation District.
struction of a Cirque du Soleil pop-up theme park in the area, dismaying residents.
ects and revenue from higher-priced properties are not reinvested into the community, thus exacerbating the displacement of individuals, especially in an area like Little Haiti where over 40% of individuals are reported living below the federal poverty line. Low investment into resources and community programs harms the necessary culture and history that flourishes there.
“I believe that we are often overlooked by the City of Miami,” senior nursing major and North Miami local Kimberly Dacius said. “I feel as though the City of Miami
up.
“The City of Miami itself, where Little Haiti is located, is very resistant to considering the community voices.” Pinto said. “I’ve been to public hearing meetings where commissioners are yelling at community members and quieting them because they don’t want to yet deal with the issue.”
Climate gentrification falls into the hands of local governments, yet local leaders have demonstrated a lack of prioritization of people and the health of the planet, over profit.
In 2022, Miami commissioners passed a substantial and controversial zoning project,
The plan would enable developers to construct highrise buildings to surround the neighborhood’s primarily single-story homes. The project seeks to revitalize the community, yet has been met with both endorsement and resistance from residents and neighborhood leaders.
Residents that endorse the plan do so under the premise of new job opportunities, and during a hearing for the Magic City project, commissioners agreed to promise a $250,000 scholarship fund for students seeking higher education in the area.
The resistance from community voices targeted the fact that funding for the new development bypassed muchneeded investment into existing infrastructure and historic buildings. The project also included approval for the con -
“A lot of times what happens is the structures aren’t really suitable for the wealthier populations. They’ll apply for an upzoning, so they’ll go to the local government, the local permitting office, and ask if they can build something bigger, something more expensive, and it’s often granted.” Pinto said. “Meanwhile, people in the community are trying to do additions also, and they don’t get the same consideration.”
The displacement of the Haitian community from their historic homes not only impacts the older, settled residents but also the youth in the neighborhood.
Frantzline Guadard, a senior studying nursing and treasurer for Planet Kreyol, UM’s Haitian Student Organization, emphasizes the need for a neighborhood that brings Haitians together.
“It’s very important for the Haitian community to have its own neighborhood because it helps retain Haitian culture in the area, which helps others explore our culture but also for the youth to know what it means to be Haitian,” said Guadard. “It gives the Haitians that live there a home away from home.”
Climate gentrification has long-standing implications for the communities that it impacts.
“It’s a huge problem that doesn’t really have an easy solution, and may never really have a final outcome.” Pinto said. “It’s a process regardless of whether it’s racially based or just income based– it will always have a role in our system.”
As researchers and scientists rush to salvage what is left of the world’s coral reefs, a recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed the drastic consequences of a dredging project right here in Miami.
The project, conducted by the Port of Miami in 2015, has damaged over 278 feet of coral reefs along the Port of Miami Entrance Channel.
The NOAA data revealed that “moderate to severe” coral impacts extended approximately 1,100 meters north of the channel and 600 meters south of the channel.
Dial, Cordy and Associates Inc., an environmental consulting frm, was tasked with monitoring the coral reefs adjacent to the Port of Miami before and during the project. University of Miami Senior Research Associate II, Martine D’Alessandro, was involved in this monitoring effort.
“[Dredging] is essentially just removing the sediment and digging deeper. And what that does is it creates this plume,” D’Alessandro said. “[Dredging]
could cause them to be buried under the sediment, which is damaging and stressful to the coral and, if it’s covered with sediment long enough, it could kill them,” said D’Alessandro.
According to the study, sedimentation covered an average of 42% at assessment locations, compared to 7%seven percent at reference sites.
The dredging project aimed to deepen the port channel for larger ships to pass through the Panama Canal.
The study by NOAA was prompted by concerns raised by various partner, regulatory, and action agencies after satellite images depicted sediment plumes over areas of coral reef during the dredging.
D’Alessandro, who participated in coral tagging and monitoring, described the process of documenting its effects on the coral reefs.
“We would get a baseline so before the dredging even started, we could know how these ecosystems, how the seagrass, and how the corals look to then know the impact of dredging on these animals and on the seagrass,”
D’Alessandro said.
The report’s fndings underscore the urgency of addressing the signifcant consequences of the Port Miami dredging project on Miami’s coral reef habitat, andwhich only emphasizes the necessity of establishing an environmental baseline for future projects in the area.
At the University of Miami,
reefs with the hope that adding more coral to that site will attract more fsh and jump-start the ecosystem that has been steadily declining over the last several decades,” Alessandro said about the Lirman lab. This helps protect coastlines from erosion and preserves biodiversity, supporting economic activities like fshing and scuba diving, which rely on healthy reefs.
“When waves are crashing over the coral, it reduces the impact of waves against the shoreline. So that protects our coastline and reduces the amount of erosion,” D’Alessandro said, adding that healthy reefs also give economic benefts from the recreational activities they provide, like fshing and scuba diving.
D’Alessandro said that dredging is not the only threat to healthy reefs.
ecosystems.
“My goal, along with many of my professors and fellow classmates, is to make sure that we don’t lose these ecosystems and their tremendous amount of biodiversity,” Ssophomore and marine biology major John Yudt said.
The NOAA report has prompted a reevaluation of current and upcoming dredging projects, including the Phase IV expansion of PortMiami, which is currently in the planning stage.
Offcials have not yet estimated the potential impact on corals for this project, which will have has a signifcantly larger footprint than Phase III.
Meanwhile, the Port Everglades’ dredging project, further along in its progress, anticipates a direct impact on approximately 449,000 corals, with extensive coral replanting planned along South Florida’s coast.
D’Alessandro works at The Lirman lab which focuses on coral propagation and reef restoration in Florida and the Caribbean through in-water and offshore nurseries.
“We can continuously go to these nurseries, collect corals, and then we plant them onto
“Climate change is a huge stressor for corals. It’s causing oceans to warm and become more acidic, and it’s changing the actual water chemistry.”
As the topic of coral reef preservation grows among students, they are increasingly eager to contribute to safeguarding these
The NOAA report concluded with a stark warning: “Future port expansions cannot further contribute to the downward trajectory of the condition of Florida’s Coral Reef and must be in the public interest.” It called for a thorough examination of lessons learned to prevent similar damage in the future.
“Future port expansions cannot further contribute to the downward trajectory of the condition of Florida’s Coral Reef and must be in the public interest.”
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries ServiceRoberta Macedo // Graphics Editor
of the county uninhabitable.
The conventional wisdom is that in less than a century Miami will be swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean as climate change fuels rising sea levels.
Climate change already poses an existential threat to Miami, its constituents and the environment, and its effects will only linger until no one can reside here. Climate gentrifcation puts disproportionate burdens on people of color.
A report by XDI’s climate risk specialists found that outside of China, the state of Florida is the most vulnerable province in the world to economic damage caused by climate change, largely due to the state’s geography. According to a report by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission, Florida has over 1,200 miles of coastline and a majority of its 18 million residents live within 60 miles of either the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.
As coastlines become riskier investments, higher rates of gentrifcation and displacement are occurring in once “undesirable” socioeconomically lower neighborhoods. Even as more money is allocated in the name of “climate resilience”, little viable change is possible or feasible, especially without addressing the root of climate change and its harmful effects.
Sea levels across Florida are as much as 8 inches higher than they were in 1950, and according to studies conducted by the Florida Climate Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the rate of sea level rise is accelerating. In South Florida, another eleven inches of sea level rise is possible by 2040, and up to seven feet of sea rise by 2100 is likely and would be catastrophic. If these forecasts become reality, the sea levels would displace about 800,000 residents in Miami-Dade County and make a large portion
Research group Climate Central projects worst-case scenarios for 2100 in Downtown Miami and nearby residential neighborhoods to experience near-constant street and frst-foor fooding. According to Zillow, 26% of all U.S. homes at risk from sea level rise are located in Miami-Dade county.
Intense storm surges and saltwater intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer are already causing issues with drinking water sources and drainage and septic systems, and tide encroachment into Miami from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Everglades will only worsen.
Despite being vulnerable to hurricanes and sea level rise, waterfront properties are still some of the most desirable and expensive real estate in South Florida.
The popular waterfront entertainment venue, the Wharf Miami, is emblematic of the youngadult social scene in Miami. With themed events, food and drink options, and an open-air concept, the Wharf Miami has hosted many thousands of guests since its opening in 2016.
The establishment closed Sept. 16, and will be replaced by Riverside Wharf, a 10-story structure covering over 200,000 square feet, including a hotel, a range of restaurants, nightclub, rooftop day club and marina. While this new construction would bring the Wharf’s Breakwater Hospitality Group increases in revenue, the development brings with it a multitude of environmental detriments, and will increase real estate values in the area.
“The external environment of the Wharf … there are a lot of homeless people, a lot of garages and parking lots … people sleep on the street outside of the Wharf,” senior marine affairs and international studies major Jacob Esquivel said.
“It isn’t a very developed part of town, and I am curious to see how they react to the displacement of homeless people.”
The massive multi-year, $185-million project is expected to
include a public riverwalk and sea level rise initiative as a contribution for the community, but it will increase housing and living costs. Thishas also been happening in the Downtown Miami and Overtown neighborhoods, now sought after by contractors looking to develop inland for higher ground to escape the effects of rising sea levels. The risk of climate gentrifcation is increasing with the cost of housing, pushing out poorer residents living in higher and drier neighborhoods to make way for wealthier renters and buyers who want a home that’s safe from fooding. The increasing inequality highlights the need for water management and climate change mitigation strategies.
Miami has a rate of inequality similar to that of developing countries, with 40% of the households in Miami-Dade County considered working poor, and 20% living in poverty, according to Florida International University’s Miami Urban Future Initiative.
Neighborhoods surrounding Downtown Miami including Overtown have become areas of interest and are considered valuable, but the proximity of low-income neighborhoods predominantly inhabited by people of color poses an obstacle.
Affected by tumultuous Jim Crow laws, discriminatory red lining and highways construction, these minority neighborhoods are disproportionately concentrated with waste sites, heat islands, incinerators and trash facilities, affecting air quality and community health.
In Overtown, as in most lowincome communities of color, the issue of housing is crucial, especially as affordable housing is threatened and land for development is limited.
South Florida’s housing market is increasingly infated as demand increases and supply shortages remain, according to a study from Florida Atlantic University and FIU. It shows that Miami residents pay an almost 39% premium for a
typical home.
Middle-class residents are also at risk. Many residents have most of their savings tied up in their home’s equity and face seeing generations of wealth accumulation disappear when the property market crashes due to rising sea levels.
Short-term solutions to these problems include spending hundreds of millions of dollars on climate mitigation efforts.
According to Miami’s Stormwater Master Plan, plans to combat rising sea levels will cost at least $3.8 billion in the next 40 years, but wouldn’t even be enough to keep every neighborhood safe.
Fla. Governor Fla. Ron DeSantis’ attempts to fund solutions to this problem include allocating hundreds of millions of state and federal funds to protect Florida, some of the largest investments made to install new pumps and drains, convert septic tanks to sewer lines and elevate food-prone buildings. These efforts are minimal and are not likely to result in signifcant change.
The political divide between the left and right is stark, especially
as elected offcials continuously refuse to address the root cause of climate change. Political divisions are preventing serious efforts to promote the common good.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if emissions can be reduced and global warming kept to an average of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, we will still experience intense effects from climate change, but the onslaught from rising seas will be far more manageable. If we fail to do this, all that resilience spending in Florida is a waste.
Every time a disastrous weather event hits Florida we hear the chorus of “Florida’s going to be underwater soon”. But why don’t we ever do anything about it?
While climate adaptation spending that can prolong the environmental viability and economic vitality of Miami is important, most of this resilience spending seems to be little more than a Band-Aid, a feeble levee that can’t block the swell of problems that Miami faces and that soon will collapse.
BY ETHAN MANELLO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Most people who grew up with the internet have taken part in an online challenge at one point or another. I remember as a young kid, I decided to dump a freezing bucket of ice water on my head in support of a disease I had never heard of. At the time it wasn’t a huge trend yet, but within months it would become the worldwide phenomenon of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and enable The ALS Association to increase research funding by over 180%. While I defnitely supported the fght against ALS, I did the challenge because my other friends were doing it. I wanted to be a part of the internet trend, just as most people my age did. This trend was harmless, but many aren’t.
In 2008, the viral “Blackout Challenge” claimed the lives of over 30 young children, according to Women’s Health Mag. The challenge, which has recently resurfaced on TikTok, encourages children to choke themselves with household items until they black out.
Last week another challenge claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy in Worcester, Mass. Harris Wolobah was given a chip by a friend and was challenged to do the viral TikTok trend, the Paqui
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brand 2023 One Chip Challenge. The challenge dared participants to consume a singular chip created by Paqui that is favored with the Carolina Reaper and Naga-Viper pepper. The website claims the chip doesn’t have a Scoville Rating (rating to measure spicy), but the peppers are two of the hottest in the world.
Wolobah left school early after fainting and died in the emergency room hours later. Wolobah had no pre-existing conditions and the cause of death is still unknown, but the chip has been recalled.
With this recent death, it is time to more closely examine how the internet is regulated regarding children. After researching proposed regulations and social media site policies, it is clear that internet regulation needs to increase. However, concerns of privacy and restriction of government overstep through the First Amendment pose a legitimate argument.
According to the US Children’s Online Privacy Act (COPPA), children aren’t allowed to sign up for social media apps until they are 13, and most sites claim to require age verifcation at sign-up. The issue is that apart from asking for the user’s birthday, most sites do nothing to verify age.
According to Axios, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok, only require users to submit their birthdays and refuse to allow them to change their
Sta
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previously submitted birthdays. Meta, however, has been testing a new verifcation software for Instagram and Facebook that had a 96% success rate in catching teens who falsely state their age.
Aside from Meta’s software, which has yet to be widely adopted, these policies and verifcation methods are weak, and lawmakers are beginning to take notice. In April, Utah passed two laws requiring parental consent for teens to use social media apps, as well as in-app parental controls and time limits. Many states followed in Utah’s steps, and now a bill called the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act has been proposed on the federal level.
According to CPO magazine, “the bill would require social media platforms to stop taking prospective users at their word and build in an age verifcation system that may or may not rely on people providing their government-issued IDs to websites.”
The bill is the correct next step in regulating social media platforms as it requires platforms to thoroughly and accurately verify users’ age, but there are many privacy concerns and legality issues.
Privacy advocates from the Electronic Frontier Foundation have claimed there is no way to enforce age verifcation besides requiring all users to submit a form of identifcation and that is a major privacy
concern. There is no way to be sure what all this data from verifcation will be used for. “Once information is shared to verify age, there’s no way for a website visitor to be certain that the data they’re handing over is not going to be retained and used by the website, or further shared or even sold. While some age verifcation mandates have limits on retention and disclosure of this data, signifcant risk remains,” said a representative from the EFF.
EFF’s claims are backed by recent Supreme Court rulings and a Sept. 8, 2023, decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court reprimanded the U.S. Surgeon General, CDC, FBI and White House for pressuring social media
sites to regulate content relating to COVID-19 and the vaccine, holding that their actions were a clear violation of the First Amendment. So, on top of concerns about privacy, the government may not have the constitutional right to enforce a social media age verifcation law. None of this should stop the fght to regulate social media. Legislation and precedent serve an important purpose, but are meant to be challenged by lawmakers, organizations and citizens as the world we live in evolves. Most Americans would likely be willing to give up some privacy rights if it meant protecting children. The fght to regulate the internet is an uphill battle that has just begun and is worth pursuing
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BY PATRICK MCCASLIN BUSINESS MANAGER
other people. That’s when he came to love it.
He learned to prepare sushi via classes and ran with it, becoming a chef in his home of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In his city, sushi was fairly popular and poke was on the rise.
“That’s the most special thing: when you make it fresh, the taste is really good,” Zozo said.
A few years later, in 2022, the owner of Sweet Blenz promoted Zozo to become the manager of Poke Smash, putting nearly all the operations of their tent in his hands.
When Victor Rodriguez Zozo, the manager of Poke Smash, was a teenager, he had what he called a “big problem.”
“I didn’t know . . . why am I good?” Zozo said.
He had always been somewhat of a cook as a child, but didn’t feel passionate about it. He started cooking instead to make his parents happy. With time, though, he began to see how his food brought joy to
He began experimenting with creating poke before leaving his home for Miami in 2019, when infation in Argentina reached a 28 year high of 53.8%. Despite few connections in Miami, he quickly discovered Poke Smash, a partner company of Sweet Blendz which is another popular stall at UM’s Wednesday market, and continued creating poke.
The dish is native to Hawaii, but lends itself to lovers of raw fsh.
Zozo prepares the bowl with freshly-caught fsh, bringing out the other favors, which may include serrano, avocado, green onions, kimchi and even plantain chips over a bed of rice.
Two people approach Marlene Apostolopoulos’ Wednesday market tent with a debate: is it gyro (GI-ro) or gyro (YEE-roh)? It happens often, and the “kids,” as Apostolopoulos calls them, treat it as a contest to see who can say it right. She loves working with them. She has regulars who will ask about her family or her most recent vacation, who she comes to miss when they inevitably graduate.
“They’re very diverse and interesting,” Apostolopoulos said. “You got people from all over the place so there’s always something to talk about with them.”
She’s been talking with students for the past 10 years as she
“Working with the money and everything is a challenge because if you don’t sell enough, you don’t make money to take to your house,” Zozo said. “When you work as a regular employee, you make money no matter what.”
The UM students and customers continue to return, something that makes Zozo quite happy.
“When people come back to see our food, that’s the most special thing,” he said.
He says he appreciates the friendliness and patience at the UM markets and takes the customers’ joy in his food as a compliment, a call back to what he frst came to love about cooking.
sells gyros out of her Wednesday market stand, Gyro-licious. For each Wednesday market, she arrives with her team by 6 a.m. and prepares the pita, bell peppers, onions, marinated chicken, lamb and Greek salads in Miller circle for their 9 a.m opening. Apostolopoulos prides herself on the food’s freshness.
She describes the gyros as “Greek tacos” where the flling may be marinated chicken, lamb, vegetables or even beef. The flling is wrapped in pita bread with the option of add-on cheese or other vegetables.
She and her Greek husband initiated their dessert/gyro business
out of boredom, shortly after they both retired from their careers.
Apostolopoulos described their frst day together at the market hosted at Miramar Memorial Hospital as disastrous.
“It rained from the beginning, from the minute we got there to the minute we got out of there. The foor was fooded,” Apostolopoulos said. “It was a terrible, terrible day. I don’t know why I even wanted to ever go back and do a market in my life.”
Apostolopoulos didn’t have much of a choice. With about $70,000 invested in their business, they persevered with the market.
“I wasn’t about to give up so eas-
ily,” Apostolopoulos said.
Soon after, they began selling at UM’s Wednesday market and the MSOM Thursday market, and the rest was smooth sailing.
“Never have any problem at the college,” Apostolopoulos said. “Never.”
Apostolopoulos’ husband passed away during the life of Gyro-licious, pushing the business into the hands of her son, then her nephew. Apostolopoulos remained on the operations side of the tent.
Her husband’s legacy lives on amongst her customers who still ask after him and within the gyros, which remain popular with the students.
During the early to mid 2010s, Korean restaurants began to sprout up around Miami-Dade county. Amid little Korean representation in the county (0.15% according to Zip Atlas), the eateries contributed to a growing wave of Korean culture in Miami.
Neungpyo Jeon was a pioneer in this movement, selling his now popular bulgogi bowls out of his stall, Authentic Korean Kitchen, at farmers’ markets throughout the county.
“We can spread our culture and we can spread our good food,” Jeon said.
As a kid in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Natalia Mendel, cofounder of Saucy Lips, always had a red or green sauce in the fridge.
11 years ago, after Mendel had gone off to college at University of California, Los Angeles, and her mom, Gabriela Salazar, had moved to Arizona, those sauces began to make their way across Arizona’s farmers’ markets in the form of “Saucy Lips.”
Her mom made a weekend habit of selling them.
After the frst day of selling her sauces, Salazar made back her investment. As she traversed Arizona, she repeatedly sold out, realizing she had tapped into a demand for healthy sauces, dressings and marinades.
“They all have a touch and that’s something I always appreciate from my mom,” Mendel said.
Her mom always had an attention to detail, whether that be in the type of oil used or the sweetener. When Salazar can, she’s creative, using ingredients that one could grow, but not manufacture. To thicken her sauces, for example, she has used potatoes instead of cornstarch. To
make it sweet, she’s used mango instead of added sugar.
“They’re good for people that want something really clean and tasty,” Mendel said. “She’s always been a super creative person.”
With Salazar’s initial success, Mendel and her brother joined in to help her scale the company. The three of them moved to Miami in 2019 and early 2020 where they joined the array of South Florida farmers’ markets and began talks with Whole Foods to sell their product off of grocery store shelves.
The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with their launch date, buoying their sales as grocery stores sold out of every item. They later moved into ShopRite, Sprouts and Walmart, pushing their locations to about 2,000 stores nationwide.
With each contract, the team had to choose an aisle for their product. General marinades was accurate, but ignored the Mexican roots of the sauce. At the same time, Saucy Lips had noticed the food in the Hispanic section would be more along the lines of “Tex-Mex,” an American take on Mexican cuisine.
“We want to represent that we’re
He and his wife had fallen for South Florida’s farmers’ markets but noticed there was a lack of Korean cuisine tents. Jeon’s best friend, who had his own açai bowl business, inspired him to push into the markets while Jeon still worked full time as a sports journalist.
“I didn’t think there was gonna be that much people who loves our food,” Jeon said. “A lot of people visit us every day at the market, so I feel very thankful and proud.”
Jeon began to split his time to pursue the markets and saw his business and the bulgogi bowls
balloon in popularity.
“There was so many people asking, ‘What is Korea? ‘How’s it taste like?’ Now people don’t even ask questions. They just come back,” Jeon said.
At Authentic Korean Kitchen, Korea tastes like bulgogi bowls, which Jeon specializes in. He keeps his dishes largely “authentic,” taking the recipes from Jeon’s parents who raised him in Korea, with only the modifications of added noodles and combining the ingredients in one bowl.
Jeon prepares his own sauce as well, close to the traditional
Mexican and we saw a void in grocery stores,” Mendel said. They reframed their sauces, ensuring each stayed true to the health-conscious core values, while embracing the sauces’ origins. Their product remains fully natural, gluten free and keto certifed.
Now, at UM’s Wednesday markets, they cook tacos to see which of their Mexican-style sauces the students like. Salazar is there, selling and cooking, ensuring the product is up to her Saucy Lips par.
style but with his own spin. The rest of the bowl includes beef or chicken, an assortment of vegetables that depends on the dish, rice and sweet potato noodles.
“We love to go to UM and we really feel that all the young people like our food,” Jeon said. “We get very great energy from UM.”
With his love for UM, Jeon hopes to open a physical storefront in the campus’ food court and eventually other physical restaurants throughout the county.
The Alliance of Latin American Students (ALAS) — in collaboration with several campus organizations — kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with an opening ceremony on Sept. 18 at the Lakeside Patio. The event featured live music and Hispanic student clubs tabling and offering students chances to get connected.
An annual celebration, Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Several UM organizations have been preparing to provide opportunities for students to celebrate Latin communities and culture around the world.
The nationwide celebration was established in 1988 during the Reagan administration, though it originated as a week-
long festivity back in 1968. This year’s theme in the U.S. is “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.”
“To me, the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month is more than just celebrating culture, but rather the diversity of all our cultures and how we can still come together and feel like we are a community,” Stephan Rasco, a senior studying economics and political science, said.
Rasco is the leadership chair of the UM Latin Leadership Council (LLC) and co-president of the ALAS. ALAS and LLC will be expanding their collaborators this year by partnering with student organizations like Hurricane Productions (HP) and the Counseling Outreach Peer Education (COPE) program.
ALAS, with LLC, will host a Latin cooking night with the Association of Latino Professionals
For America (ALPFA) on Sept. 20 from 6-8 p.m. in the Wellness Kitchen room 232. There will also be a Cuban Heritage Collection tour on Sept. 21 from 2-3 p.m., a “Real Talk” hosted by the Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) offce on Sept. 25 from 6:30-7:30 p.m., a game night social on Sept. 26 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Association of Commuter Students (ACS) offce and a BIPOC radical healing circle held by COPE on Oct. 5 from 12-1 p.m. in the Wellness Center.
Catch the Real Talk hosted in collaboration with the United Human Rights Foundation (UHRF) on Oct. 3 from 7-9 pm., then head to the Rathskeller on Oct. 4 for a karaoke night hosted by HP from 6.30-8 p.m.
The MSA program provides services through cultural student organizations to support
the personal development of ethnically diverse students on campus.
“No matter how intersectional our tities are — Afro-Latino, indigenous, or “No-sabo” — we all feel at home with each other and feel immense pride in our roots, and I think that is what makes Hispanic Heritage Month beautiful,” Rasco said.
Isabella Villaverde, a senior majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, psychology and Spanish, said that Hispanic Heritage Month allows her to further express her Cuban culture.
“I love being able to talk about my culture and engage in activi-
Isabella Lozano // Contributed Graphicties related to it, like cooking Latin food,” Villaverde said.
Students interested in volunteering for Hispanic Heritage Month events can contact Rasco or the second vice president of ALAS, Angel Aguilar. But more importantly, students are encouraged to attend events throughout the month and show their appreciation for Hispanic culture.
The frst theater production of the fall semester is almost here. The Ring Theatre will present “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde from Oct. 6 to Oct. 13.
A renowned poet, author and playwright, Wilde is best known for his novels “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1891) and “Lady Windermere’s Fan” (1892). From Dublin, Ireland, Wilde was a prominent artist in the aestheticism movement of the early 1880s, which emphasized making “art for art’s sake” rather than focusing on a deeper meaning.
His late 19th century romantic comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” tells the story of two young men — Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing — who utilize the fake name “Earnest” in order to escape the tiresome responsibilities
of their mundane lives. The men fall in love with two women who both claim they wish to marry men named “Earnest.” However, hilarious chaos erupts as their identities are revealed.
Keenan Lyons, a senior BFA musical theatre major, will play Worthing. He is thrilled for students to come see this witty comedy that pokes fun at the societal norms and hypocrisy of Victorian society.
“The rehearsal process has been very rewarding,” Lyons said. “[Our director] Bruce Miller runs an effcient rehearsal which allows us to pay close attention to the intricacies of our relationships, motivations and physicality. Our performance becomes that much more specifc.”
Dominique Karanflian, a senior BFA musical theatre major, plays Gwendolen Fairfax in this production. She explains how the rehearsal
process has stretched her acting abilities.
“Stripping your body of contemporary movements, especially when trying to tell a story, is much harder than I thought,” she says. “I’m having such a fun time learning about how societal status at the time infuenced even small things, like the way you sit down.”
Though practices like sitting in a corset for hours on end were diffcult, the rehearsal process has been memorable and rewarding on many levels.
“My favorite part of working on this show though has to be the use of fans during the time period,” Karanflian said. “There is something so extravagantly expressive about them — nothing provides emphasis to a woman’s point like a good fan wave.”
Lyons is excited for students to see
the scene where Lady Bracknell — Algernon’s snobbish and overbearing aunt — interviews Jack to see if he is a “respectable” candidate for her daughter, Gwendolyn.
”She bombards Jack with a series of questions about his background and family life, all in a very serious manner,” Lyons said. “The formality with which she approaches these mundane questions adds an element of absurdity, and I always look forward to this moment.”
The cast urges UM students to experience the play and join in on the fun while all enjoy a good laugh at Wilde’s timeless comedic writing.
“When it comes down to it, some things never change, and Oscar Wilde’s satire of the extravagant struggles and reactions of upper class issues is one of them, with a fun twist of romance to top it all off,” Karanflian said.
Lyons said that Wilde wants audiences to watch the play and laugh at themselves.
“By following Wilde’s music within the language, it lifts the play from pure realism into a heightened reality that makes it farcical,” Lyons said.
Though Wilde dives into the realm of absurdity, Lyons also noted that the play’s universal themes will resonate with modern-day audiences.
“The play is timeless in a way,” Lyons said. “There are all sorts of societal pressures on each character to play a certain role, just as there are today.”
“The Importance of Being Earnest” opens at the Ring on Oct. 6. Tickets have not yet gone on sale, but interested students can contact the Ring Theatre box offce at 305284-3355. Hours run Wednesday through Friday from 12-4pm.
BY SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Summer blockbusters like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” had Miami residents focking to theaters in hopes of grabbing the best seats before they sold out. Between AMC, Silverspot and Regal, Miami’s plethora of theaters offer varied viewing experiences for everyone. From exclusive snacks and merchandise to affordable prices, here are the best Miami theaters ft for any weekend fic.
Bill Cosford Cinema
What’s better than free? At the on-campus Bill Cosford Cinema , UM students have access to free movie screenings and concessions every Wednesday and Saturday during the semester. No matter where you sit, you’ll get to experience the Dolby sound and luxury color. At each Cinematic Arts Commission screening, you can enter a raffe for a chance to win flm merchandise like Funko pops and T-shirts. The screening schedule is available on the Cinematic Arts Commission Instagram @hpmiami_cac.
AMC Sunset Place 24
A weekend movie-bender can turn into a shopping spree at Sunset Place. The mall surrounding the theater contains a plethora of clothing stores ft for any fashion. When entering the theater, staff members welcome and assist you with any need. Despite not having the most contemporary look, AMC Sunset Place 24 still delivers spectacular quality for a fair price.
Le Jeune Cinema 6
Le Jeune offers a classic moviegoing experience. The historic theater opened in 1989, and its classic seats and carpet bring the audience back to the “Golden Age” of Hol-
lywood.
Le Jeune plays modern flms with afternoon matinee tickets sold at as low as seven dollars. It also offers an assortment of concessions, including personal pizzas, nachos and iconic candy brands. Le Jeune delivers great flms in a theater reminiscent of the birthplace of cinema.
Silverspot Cinema - Downtown Miami
Ultimate comfort for the ulti-
CMX Cinebistro Doral
If you’re looking for a movie paired with a full-course meal, CMX Cinebistro Doral is the place for you. Cinebistro Doral provides comfortable seating and restaurant staff who deliver drinks, food and dessert.
Start with the popcorn trio, a combination of shrimp, calamari and popcorn chicken tossed in a spicy lemon aioli. Finish off with a sweet treat with the movie candy
watch flms from smaller productions, such as A24’s “Talk to Me” and Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn.”
CMX Cinemas Dolphin 19
Looking for the best audience?
Dolphin 19 has you covered. The theater is packed with eager fans on a weekly basis. From cosplayers dressed as various Spider-men for the premiere of “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” to rapid applause for every returning character in “Avengers: Endgame,” Dolphin
Florida. Egyptian gods will greet you as you get Dibs ice cream with a large refllable popcorn and soda combo.
Though this theater is far from campus, the cinematic experience from XD and D-Box screenings is worth the drive. The brilliant screen shows everything from summer blockbusters to independent flms. You won’t fnd this Cinemark experience anywhere else.
AMC Pembroke Lakes 9
From IMAX to Dolby Cinema, Pembroke Lakes 9 has every viewing experience. Upon entering, the walls welcome visitors with iconic flm quotes and celebrities. Rest in the luxury lounge and purchase limited edition snacks and gifts like famingo drink foaties to get in the “Barbie” spirit. Viewers anticipating IMAX flms should be sure to visit Pembroke Lakes 9 to experience them on one of the largest screens in South Florida.
Upon frst sight of the giant jumbotrons and animated posters, moviegoers immediately feel the excitement reminiscent of Times Square as the iconic black and orange carpets and leather seats welcome you. Though seats don’t recline in digital screening, the cheapest ticket still delivers incredible sound and color, inviting you to escape and get lost in the flm.
mate movie viewing experience. With surround sound, each audience member at Silverspot can feel every sound every second. The vast lounge holds crowds as they wait for their flm, each gathering around the bar waiting for their food.
The theater also validates parking, meaning you can spend more on movie treats such as the delicious sweet and spicy wings or crème brûlée trio.
cheesecake or guava cheese empanada. With incredible flm quality and even better food, Cinebistro is the best place for dinner and a show.
AMC Tamiami 18
Indie-flm lovers will appreciate this quiet, comfortable theater. The smaller-scale theater seats audiences with smaller screens, providing an intimate moviegoing experience. This is the perfect theater to
19 rivals a colosseum. With cheap tickets and snacks, be sure to visit this theater to join vocal moviegoers willing to laugh, scream and cry.
Cinemark Paradise 24
This massive theater transports you to ancient Egypt with its pyramids and Sphinx statues. Riddled with hieroglyphics and Egyptian pillars, Cinemark is one of the most beautiful, iconic theaters in South
Other screening variations, such as VIP Regal, provide reclining seats with free snacks and beverage service, including ICEEs. RPX Regal rivals the quality of IMAX with its uncompressed surround sound and laser projection, bringing better sound and color.
Next time you’re in the mood for some movie magic, head to one of our recommended theaters for a movie viewing experience you won’t regret.
Miami welcomed the BethuneCookman Wildcats back to Hard Rock Stadium in front of a reported crowd of 40,077 people. The ‘Canes defeated the Wildcats 48-7 Thursday night in Miami Gardens. Just like their last matchup, the ‘Canes sent them packing with a loss.
The ‘Canes recorded almost 600 yards of total offense and had everyone contributing. The starters were out by the end of the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Emory Williams made his second appearance of the season as the backup for Tyler Van Dyke, playing a majority of the second half.
Miami playmakers were showing off on the stat sheet. Jacolby George scored his fourth touchdown of the season in just three games and picked up where he left off against Texas A&M. Running Back Ajay Allen secured his frst two touchdowns as a ‘Cane, along with 68 yards rushing. Running back Don Chaney Jr. accounted for all 55 yards on the touchdown drive that made it 27-0 in the second quarter. Chaney was also the leading rusher for the team on the night, with seven carries for 73 yards.
“TVD operated at a very high level. So did the receivers. Xavi-
er with another great day, Jacolby George played well,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “All the running backs ran really hard. The frst team offensive line, the tight ends, they blocked really well.”
The score was 34-0 at the end of the frst half of football. In the frst frame, Tyler Van Dyke found seven different receivers.
Xavier Restrepo had six catches for 120 yards as the leading receiver on the night. Colby Young and Jacolby George had four receptions a piece for 39 and 47 yards, respectively. Van Dyke himself ended the frst half of the game with a stellar stat line. He completed 19 of his 23 passes, 247 yards, two touchdowns, and a 201.5 passer rating. Van Dyke even opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown, the second of his career.
Bethune-Cookman had a trio of quarterbacks play that all recorded mixed results. Luke Sprague, the starter, was injured early on, and Tylik Bethea came in to back him up. Near the end of the contest, Walter Simmons III led the only Wildcat scoring drive. Simmons was the leader in yards with 62. JoJo Bazil was the leading rusher with 22 yards. Terry Lindsey had two receptions and was the top receiver with 20 yards.
The offense and defense both
executed greatly. Freshman defensive lineman Rueben Bain recorded his frst career sack as part of a stifing performance from the ‘Canes defense. Sixthyear senior Jake Lichenstein had a sack and a fumble recovery in some meaningful minutes.
“It felt pretty good,” said Rueben Bain about his frst sack.
“I’m ready for the next one.”
Williams fnished with 102 yards and hit 9-11 of his passes. The true freshman looked solid in his frst real-time under-center for the ‘Canes. Williams had the Miami offense gain 8.4 yards per play and a whopping 32 frst downs. 70% of Miami’s drives ended up in touchdowns, includ-
ing the frst four consecutively. “He’s been doing it in practice. He’s a very smart decision-maker. He knows where to go with the ball,” Van Dyke said. “His future is very very bright.” Miami dominated in all facets of the game, just as expected. The ‘Canes will travel to face the Temple Owls next Saturday.
The Miami Hurricanes football program landed a monumental commitment. The No. 1 player in the state of Florida and fourth overall, according to ESPN, Armondo Blount has committed to Mario Cristobal and the ‘Canes.
From Miami (Fla.) Central High School, Blount, who is
6-foot-4-inches, 250 pounds, committed to the Hurricanes over football bluebloods such as Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC.
Blount is a member of the 2025 class. His commitment launches the Hurricanes up to No. 6 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings for the class of 2025. Blount joins four-star receiver
Waden Charles, another Miami area native, and three-star quarterback Luke Nickel from Georgia.
Blount is next in line among the five-star lineman recruits that Cristobal has gotten to commit to his program. Offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola were five stars in the class of 2023. Being
able to keep the prized Florida prospects in Miami is huge for the program.
Blount played varsity as an eighth grader. He earned MaxPreps Freshman and Sophomore All-American honors. Blount is known for his speed and plethora of pass-rushing moves. He has the potential to be impactful the second he steps onto a col -
lege campus.
While Blount is the first fivestar recruit in the class of 2025, he probably won’t be the last. Blount is another huge commitment for Cristobal and the Hurricanes’ defense. Blount signifies exactly what Cristobal is trying to build in Coral Gables.
“How ‘bout them Hurricanes!” Mario Cristobal exclaimed to his team as Miami got its frst win against a ranked opponent since the second-year coach took over last Saturday against Texas A&M.
The Hurricanes have started their 2023 campaign 3-0 after wins over Texas A&M and Bethune-Cookman. The undefeated start has the team excited for what’s next. While Miami football has a strong history, the past few seasons, many of which had high expectations, have been underwhelming.
“This program has an unparalleled tradition and an exciting future ahead of it. I can’t wait to compete for championships and help mold our student-athletes into leaders on and off the feld who will make our university, our community, and our loyal fanbase proud.” Cristobal said during his opening press conference as Miami’s head coach in 2021.
Expectations were high in 2021 when Cristobal was hired as the UM’s coach. Recruits piled in immediately, and Miami seemed to have a better-than-average roster already put together. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was returning after an encouraging redshirt freshman season. Cristobal hired Josh Gattis as the offensive coordinator and Kevin Steele as the defensive coordinator. Gattis had just made the College Football Playoff at Michigan, and Steele was regarded as a well-known coach with decades of experience.
Miami started 2-0 in 2022, but after its frst loss of the season to Texas A&M, the wheels started to fall off. Miami ended the season 5-7, with its most notable loss coming at home to Middle Tennessee State.
Miami started 2023 fresh. In February, the Hurricanes hired Shannon Dawson as the offensive coordinator and Lance Guidry as the defensive coordinator. Dawson was an offensive coordinator at Houston in years prior and had success in an air-raid-style offense. Guidry is an aggressive defensive mind who had taken the defensive coordinator position at Tulane before being lured to Miami by Cris-
tobal.
Fast forward through the offseason, and the program started to gain momentum. Miami welcomed a top-10 recruiting class and had productive spring and summer practices. The Hurricanes looked primed to improve heading into Cristobal’s second season.
In the frst game, the offense couldn’t be stopped, and the defense was dominant in a 38-3 rout over Miami (Ohio). Dawson and Guidry looked like an immediate scheme and personality ft for the team. The hype was sparked by a much more exciting matchup in Week 2 against Texas A&M.
The beginning of the game felt a little bit like the start of a game from last season. Miami was down 10-0 in the frst quarter, but the team stayed composed.
“I think last year we would have quit,” Van Dyke said. “We’re a totally different team. The leaders stepped up, players stepped up. We held each other accountable the entire offseason. We told each other we can’t give up on big games like this.”
The Hurricanes roared back against the Aggies, with Van Dyke being the gas be -
hind the fre. Miami’s captain threw for 374 yards and fve touchdowns. Last season, Van Dyke was not able to make changes at the line of scrimmage. This season, there is a completely different level of trust between the third-year starter and his coordinator.
“He had a clear command of where everyone was,” Dawson said about Van Dyke. “His timing, the ball going to the right guy, It just felt like he was in complete control of everything.”
The Hurricanes’ offense has looked completely on the same page. In Week 1, the answer was running the ball, and it
line looks to be the strongest unit on the team.
The weapons were on full display against the SEC foe. The Hurricanes’ receivers racked up 241 yards after the catch and Brashard Smith took back a 98-yard kick return for a touchdown.
Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman was near perfect in Week 1 but struggled against Miami. The Hurricanes’ defense has been aggressive so far this season, and it has paid off. Constant pressure on second and third downs forced Weigman to force throws, leading to a 31for-53 statline.
While Miami’s contest against BethuneCookman wasn’t much of a challenge, it showed improvement against the Wildcats compared to last season’s matchup. Miami’s defense held the Wildcats to 165 total yards of offense, compared to last season’s 349 yards. The offense did what they needed to in both games, but Van Dyke was a little more sharp in this year’s contest, completing 19 of his 23 pass attempts.
Looking ahead on the schedule, Miami has a road game at Temple and then a bye week before ACC play starts. While there aren’t any big-time matchups for a couple of weeks, it’s crucial Miami stays on its toes and carries momentum.
did so for 250 yards. When the run wasn’t as effective against Texas A&M, Dawson was able to switch it up and consistently roll with the pass.
The offensive line has been a focal point for this Mario Cristobal-led team. This season, UM acquired top transfers Matt Lee and Javion Cohen, as well as consensus-rated fve-star prospect Francis Mauigoa, and these new additions have impressed so far.
Through the frst two games, Miami has run the ball well, and Van Dyke has hardly been touched. The new-look offensive
“We came to Miami because, besides the fact that we love Miami, we knew that when Miami is done the right way, it’s the best one of them all. We are taking steps in the right direction. We are progressing. We are nowhere near arrived. We are nowhere near where we want to be, but today was a big step in the direction we want to go and I’m just extremely proud of everyone in that locker room,” Cristobal said.
Miami has earned its three wins, especially its game against a tough SEC team with loads of talent on both ends. A 3-0 start isn’t an ACC Championship, and it isn’t a college football playoff berth, but it feels like the start of something new, a new era at Miami. This isn’t the old University of Miami football program with the swagger and hype from the 1980s; instead, it is a new swagger and new brand led by Cristobal.
Miami women’s soccer won its ACC opener for the frst time since 2011 with a 2-1 victory over Syracuse on Friday evening at Cobb Stadium. And it was all thanks to freshman Gianna Angelillo, who scored her frst career goal in the 54th minute and forced a Syracuse own goal right before halftime.
The Hurricanes (2-3-3, 1-00 ACC) opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when Angelillo’s cross bounced off an Orange defender and into the net.
In the second half, Angelillo doubled Miami’s lead. Defender Adrianna Serna found forward Tusca Mahmoudpour on a throw-in, and she drove a no-look pass right to Angelillo just outside the box.
From there, the 5-foot-7 midfelder drilled a left-footed shot past the arms of Syracuse goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch.
After a lightning delay, the Orange (2-6-1, 0-1-0 ACC) narrowed the defcit off a penalty kick in the 89th minute by Erin Flurey, but the Hurricanes held on for the victory.
Syracuse outshot Miami 13-7 in the game, but only three of those shots were on goal. The Orange also held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Hurricanes snapped a six-game winless streak against Syracuse and bounced back from a 1-0 loss to crosstown rival FIU last week.
Miami has looked impressive at times this season, with ties over Florida and No. 5 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But the Hurricanes also lost to Georgia Southern and blew a late lead against Mississippi State.
Now, Miami looks to build on its momentum against No. 8 Clemson on Thursday at Cobb Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m..
Coming off a massive victory over a ranked opponent in Texas A&M, the Miami Hurricanes looked to fnish off their early season home-stand with a 3-0 record. On Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium, they delivered as the ‘Canes blew out the BethuneCookman Wildcats 48-7.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke effciently threw the ball, and Miami’s running backs gained 240 yards on the ground to lead the 22nd-ranked Hurricanes to an undefeated start to the 2023 season. Here are some takeaways from Thursday’s win.
Donald Chaney Jr. will be another weapon for the offense. After playing sparingly in 2021 and 2022 due to lower body injuries, sophomore running back Donald Chaney Jr. has played in all three games for the Hurricanes so far this year. While he only had a combined 11 carries in the frst two games, he looked explosive on Thursday, rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown on only seven attempts. This included a drive in the second quarter where almost the entire offense ran through Chaney, resulting in a three-yard touchdown run for him.
“I feel good,” Chaney said after the game. “It just felt good to get out there and do what I do best.”
Chaney adds quickness and physicality to Miami’s already wellrounded running backs room. If he stays healthy and continues to run like he did against BethuneCookman, the Hurricane’s offense, which has looked stellar through the frst three games, will become even deadlier.
The offensive line will be a game-changer.
Last year, Miami struggled on the offensive line, and it showed. The running game was below average,
and Van Dyke and the other quarterbacks were under pressure often.
Head coach Mario Cristobal revamped the offensive line this season with four new starters, headlined by freshman Francis Mauigoa. So far, this group has not disappointed, as it has been elite at opening up space for the running backs and giving Van Dyke time in the pocket.
Miami’s 240 rushing yards and fve-rushing-touchdown performance on Thursday can be highly attributed to how well the offensive line performed. Van Dyke was also extremely effcient, completing 19 of his 23 passes, and it often felt like he had all day to throw.
The offensive line improvement for the ‘Canes this season has been and looks like it will continue to be a primary reason for their offensive success.
The Hurricanes compiled four sacks and ten tackles for loss against Bethune-Cookman and were constantly getting pressure on its quarterbacks all night. It al-
lowed the Wildcats to pass for only 132 yards and rush for 33 yards on 30 attempts.
One of those sacks came from freshman defensive lineman Reuben Bain Jr., who made his frst start for the Hurricanes.
“It felt really good,” Bain said. “I’m still in shock, but I’m just ready for the next one.”
The pressure shows that the defensive line performed spectacularly in Miami’s win. It limited all facets of Bethune-Cookman’s offense and ensured their quarterbacks were constantly under pressure and uncomfortable in the pocket.
Getting pressure and getting into the backfeld will always be critical in winning games. As long as the ‘Canes front seven continues this level of success, Miami can limit any offense they play the rest of the season.
The Hurricanes fy up to Philadelphia for their next game, where they’ll face Temple on Saturday. Kickoff will take place at 3:30 p.m.
In case you missed it (which you probably did) our beloved University dropped to #67 in the U.S. News and World Reports Ranking. Down 12 spots from last year, it’s clear that Alix Earle’s success can only fx some things at UM. I think U.S. News is probably just mad that they couldn’t spend their college days tanning by the pool or drinking at The Rat. While the University desperately tries to redeem itself academically in the eyes of the nation, I thought we could talk about some of the areas in which I know UM defnitely ranks number 1.
It must be a condition of admission that girls stock up on bikinis as soon as they receive their admissions decision.. From class to bare-cheeking it in Ubers on the way to pool parties, some might say barelythere swimwear is the unoffcial uniform of the University of Miami. With the prevalence of bikinis on campus, regardless of the occasion or weath-
er, no school can compete with the ’Canes when it comes to bikinis per student.
Parking on campus gives even the most seasoned of divers anxiety. Staying in the lines is challenging, but is even more harrowing when the car half a centimeter away has a $10,000 paint job. Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren — you name it we have it. Custom wraps and pimped-out interiors are just the norm on campus.
While weekends at most schools are flled with the average tailgate or basement party, Miami weekends wouldn’t be complete without a trip on a yacht. The phenomenon seems to have expanded beyond the rare birthday celebration or end-of-year bash into a normal Friday activity.
I know darties are defnitely not a Miami-specifc occur-
rence, but when you live in paradise, Miami weather allows for a year-round schedule of these classic collegiate events. Sprinkle in a different party for each frat or club and suddenly the number of darties skyrockets. Even our schoolsanctioned on-campus tailgates turn into darties, with pools and smoke guns and confetti blasters.
After Alix Earle and Xandra Pohl’s rise to fame last year, it seems as though a bug has bitten the rest of the student body. Campus is now flled with wannabe infuencers making TikToks and posing for the perfect Instagram photo. Even more amazing than the amount of wannabes is the amount of success stories. It seems an Instagram bio that reads “@ univmiami”may even guarantee at least 100,000 followers. While not the traditional road to high-status employment, if U.S. News considered the monthly income of campus infuencers, UM would be guaranteed top 10.
