What a second Trump term means for Americans

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Americans made it clear on Election Day that Donald Trump’s first presidency was far from a fluke, signaling a clear nationwide shift to the right. Now, the country and the rest of the world are witnessing history as Trump’s second term kicks off.

In his farewell address, former President Joe Biden warned of an impending oligarchy that could threaten American democracy and freedoms. In part, he was referring to the power wielded by ultra-wealthy MAGA supporters. Many of Trump’s initiatives will be detrimental to the people of the United States, especially the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plan, disregard for climate change and tariff increases. 

The DOGE plan and Elon Musk

The DOGE is a non-government agency created via executive order by President Trump and led by tech mogul Elon Musk.

The main goal of DOGE is to decrease the size of the government, reduce costs for the government and decrease taxes for the people. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, a billionaire businessman who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination and left the department soon after Trump took office, also cited their disdain for the massive federal bureaucracy. They claimed that since these officials are unelected and hired on the basis of merit or experience, this bureaucracy is “antidemocratic and antithetical to the Founders’ vision.”

However, this bureaucracy is necessary for the country to function properly. If these departments shrink in size, it will undermine the smooth functioning sectors of this country. Neither the president nor his direct leadership have the knowledge or skills to be able to manage every narrow subcategory within their respective departments. Instead, they manage the civil servants, such as scientists, teachers, and lawyers, who do have these qualifications as experts in their respective fields.

There is also a concern about DOGE’s legality. Multiple lawsuits filed on the day of Trump’s inauguration claimed that it does not comply with federal transparency rules. The Treasury was sued by various unions claiming that sharing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and bank account details to DOGE violates the Privacy Act.

Another goal of the DOGE plan is to decrease taxes by cutting costs and decreasing the federal workforce. An Association for Psychological Science research article found that progressive taxation, a system in which tax percentages increase as income increases, is “positively associated with the subjective well-being of nations”. 

Although paying less in taxes generally sounds appealing to Americans, higher taxes cover public and common goods, which improves society’s living standards. With higher taxes, the quality of education is higher and the price of health care for the consumer decreases. 

Furthermore, Elon Musk, the richest man on the planet, has significant stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and now X, formerly known as Twitter. He currently owns about $152 billion in shares (as of January 26, 2025) of Tesla, or 12% of the entire company. 

Why should a man who has such a significant interest in the market have such a prominent influence on the national government? This is a clear conflict of interest, as his business ventures may take precedence over the needs of the nation. Tesla shares jumped up by 14.8% the day after Trump won the presidential election, showing how closely related the interests of the two men are.

Climate issues

On his first day as president, Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, a treaty signed by 196 countries to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. He cited that this agreement drains taxpayer dollars and in turn does not benefit the American people and that it does not “reflect our country’s values.” If American politics dictated by Trump and his administration continue on the path of disregarding climate change, the low-lying state of Florida is especially at risk of being underwater. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that by the end of the century, Florida’s sea levels may rise by 3.84 and 8.56 feet. The NOAA sea level rise model shows that an increase of just two or three feet may consume significant parts of Key West, meaning that in a few decades, the iconic UM tradition of spending the weekend at Fantasy Fest may be no more. 

Tariffs 

One of President Trump’s main campaign promises was to impose large tariffs on imported goods, especially from China. One of the ideas is that it will encourage domestic purchases, thus promoting the domestic market. 

In the only presidential debate between former Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, when cross-questioned by ABC anchor David Muir, Trump claimed that Americans will not have higher prices because of tariffs. On the contrary, according to the Wall Street Journal, “Deutsche Bank estimates Trump’s proposed 60% tariff on imports from China and 10% across-the-board tariff would raise consumer prices by 1.4% to 1.7%.” 

According to taxfoundation.org, imposing tariffs on major trade partners will increase both taxes and consumer costs for Americans. The effect of these proposals on American consumer prices depends on whether the demand for the products is inelastic or elastic. If the product’s demand is inelastic, including necessary items such as medicine or gasoline, then American consumers will pay the majority of the price increase. Conversely, if the demand is elastic, including luxuries such as high-end watches or cruises, then the price for American consumers will not change much. The firms will pay the majority of the price difference. 

Thus, due to Trump’s tariff increases, it is likely that inelastic items will abruptly increase in price.

Although President Trump’s plans may appear to benefit Americans, they will actually do more harm than good. In addition to policies that may steer the country in the wrong direction, Trump and his ultra-wealthy circle will continue to act in their own best interests. Americans should do their own research to determine how they will be affected by these policies and band together to create change.

Money talks: the importance of campaign finance reform

In the op-ed “Confessions of a Congressman,” former Congressman Steve Israel revealed why he decided to leave Congress. Spoiler alert: it’s because of “a fund-raising regime that’s never been more dangerous to our democracy.” Comparing political action committee fund-raisers to panhandling, Israel laments about the campaign finance system. 

In a democracy, every citizen should have a say. In America, certain voices are being drowned out by a campaign system that prioritizes funds from millionaires and corporations over the support of everyday people. To combat this, policies such as donation matching and “democracy vouchers” should be used nationwide. 

As a whole, the people who elected officials have to beg for money from are strikingly similar to each other. Just 3% of the U.S. population has over $1,000,000 in wealth, but 45% of congressional donors giving more than $5,000 are millionaires. While 63% of the U.S. population is white, 92% of federal election donors in 2014 were white. In 2014, men, who make up slightly less than half of the population, accounted for 66% of donors. To top it all off, less than 1% of Americans donate more than $200 towards a political campaign.  

This is a problem because money inflates the influence of certain people at the expense of everyone else. Research shows that the better-funded candidate wins the primary election almost all of the time. Furthermore, according to a study published in the American Journal of Political Science, campaign contributions are proven to facilitate access to congressional officials, as “senior policy makers made themselves available between three and four times more often” for donors. Prioritizing donors means less time addressing the concerns of the majority of the population, whose interests often differ from those of the donors. For example, 39% of large (1,000+) donors supported the Waxman-Markley clean energy bill, compared to 63% of non-donors. In addition, 48% of large donors supported the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, compared to 74% of non-donors. This disparity in support between large donors and the general public highlights a larger issue: the influence of money in politics

Studies done by the Pew Research Center reveal that 59% of Americans believe that “reducing the influence of money in politics” is a top priority, and 77% of Americans support limits on political donations. It seems intuitive that large campaign donations can lead to corruption.

Does this mean that we should limit campaign spending? Not necessarily. The 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruled that banning large donations violates the First Amendment right to free speech since campaign donations are a form of political expression. Additionally, money helps challengers level the playing field when running against incumbents. Instead of limiting campaign spending, we should prioritize efforts to boost funding from everyday citizens.

This is where small donor public financing comes in. In New York City, eligible donations are matched by public funds eight-to-one. Therefore, a $10 contribution from a NYC resident to a candidate running for municipal office could become $90 for that candidate. That way, elected officials can rely on support from their neighbors instead of from wealthy special interest groups. 

Portland, Ore. utilized a similar donation matching system, and it resulted in a more even mix of donors from low-income and high-income neighborhoods. When this matching program was implemented in Berkeley, California, the average contribution was 62% lower than that of the previous election, indicating that smaller amounts were being donated by a larger amount of people.  
Another potential solution was carried out in Seattle, where “democracy vouchers” allow residents to fund local candidates. Candidates participating in the program agree to follow certain campaign spending limits. In 2019, residents assigned over $2 million in vouchers to candidates of their choice. Despite corporate expenditures against those candidates with community support, the publicly funded candidates won four out of the six city council races that year. If these policies are implemented on a larger scale, they will limit the influence of large corporations and very wealthy individuals in politics. Having wealth shouldn’t be a requirement for having a voice in our democracy.

Why ‘brainrot’ is bad for Gen Z

On this week’s episode, Jamison and Makayla discuss how “brainrot” has affected them and why it isn’t a good thing for Gen Z ‘Canes.

MBB tops Syracuse in thrilling 91-84 victory earning second conference win of the season

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“Game by game,” is the mantra Miami’s interim head coach Bill Courtney will continue to live by following UM’s 91-84 victory over Syracuse on Tuesday night.

Senior guard Matthew Cleveland scored seven of Miami’s first nine points as the ‘Canes led by one going into the game’s first media timeout. A couple of buckets and a made three from sophomore guard Paul Djobet extended Miami’s lead to eight with a little over 11 minutes left to play.

Cleveland was able to get to the line, knocking down two free throws and extending Miami’s lead to nine with 1:50 to go in the first half. Syracuse’s senior guard Lucas Taylor knocked down a three to close the half, cutting UM’s lead to six (43-37). 

Cleveland posted up a monster 15 first half point performance, and both Bethea and freshman guard Divine Ugochukwu closed the half with seven apiece.

SU’s senior forward Jyare Davis kicked the second half off with a make from beyond the arc cutting Miami’s lead to just three (43-40).

The ‘Canes extended their lead back to eight, but a quick seven points from Syracuse’s former ACC freshman team honoree JJ Starling and a three from Kyle Cuffee knotted the score up at 52.

The Orange took the lead with just above 13 minutes left of play, but a 6-0 scoring run and a steal and slam from Ugochukwu put the ‘Canes back up by four (58-54).

After losing the lead once again and trailing by three, the Hurricanes bounced back in a big way knocking down back to back to back threes to regain the lead.

Syracuse’s Jaquan Carlos knocked down a late game three cutting UM’s lead to three, but a quick Djobet three and fastbreak layup extended Miami’s lead to eight with under just five minutes to play.

The Hurricanes could not close this one out easily giving up a score and a foul to Starling who cut the lead back down to five.

Bethea scored a big time and one at the 1:30 mark stretching Miami’s lead to nine, tying its largest lead of the game.  

Syracuse put the pressure on trapping Ugochukwu on the baseline forcing a turnover which led to Starling getting fouled and knocking down two free throws.

On the other end, Bethea got fouled, then confidently knocked down two free throws of his own and ultimately sealing Miami’s second conference win of the season.   

Cleveland was outstanding in UM’s win posting up a career high and his second 30+ point game this season. He finished with 32 points, three rebounds, and led the team with five assists.

“He’s playing at the highest level he’s ever played in his career, and he’s had an incredible mentality over the last month,” said Courtney.

Bethea also had a career night scoring 21 points and leading the team in rebounds with six.

“I was just confident today, I saw the ball go in once and all my other shots just mirrored the first… I just have to keep making the game simple for myself,” Bethea stated.

Syracuse’s senior center Eddie Lampkin gave the ‘Canes a lot of trouble down low posting up 22 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Starling added a game high 25 points for the Orange.

The Hurricanes will hit the road to take on the University of Pittsburgh Panthers for another ACC matchup on Feb. 15 tipping at noon.

People who are pro-life and people who are pro-choice should work together

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In Florida, Amendment 4, a proposal to expand abortion rights in the state constitution, failed to pass by just 2.8 percentage points, highlighting the significant divide among Florida’s population on the issue of abortion

However, advocates on both sides are driven by a shared commitment to enhance the welfare of our society. The pro-life cause argues that the human rights of the unborn should be protected. Whereas, the pro-choice cause argues that women should have the right to make medical decisions without government intervention and does not believe in the full personhood of the unborn.

Despite their contrasting ideologies, members of these two groups can and should find common ground. Greater access to contraception and comprehensive sex education is in the best interest of everyone and has the potential to create a society with less need for abortions.

Data published in The Lancet shows that abortion rates are not correlated with the legal status of abortion. Instead, differences in abortion rates worldwide are associated with a country’s given stage of development, coinciding with the fact that modern contraception is more readily available in developed countries. 

A 2012 study shows that providing free birth control reduces unplanned pregnancies. Every participant in the study was given free birth control, and annual abortion rates among participants ranged from 0.44% to 0.75%. This is 62 to 78 percent less than the national abortion rate of 1.96% in 2008, the last year for which figures were available at the time that the study was published.

Additionally, a study showed that women who received a free 1-year supply of oral contraceptives were less likely to have a pregnancy than women who received three cycles of pills or one cycle of pills. This demonstrates that even a few additional months of free birth control will make a difference in preventing unwanted pregnancies.

Issues relating to cost and accessibility prevent many women from acquiring contraception. 20% of uninsured women ages 18-49 say that they had to stop using a birth control method because they couldn’t afford it. Additionally, 33% of hormonal contraceptive users say they have missed taking their birth control because they were unable to get their next supply on time. This issue disproportionately affects low-income individuals, who were a larger share of the 33%. 

People on both sides of the abortion debate can agree on the importance of decreasing unwanted pregnancies. By promoting greater access to educational resources and more equitable and affordable access to contraceptives, this goal can be achieved. According to research done using geographic information systems, contraception deserts, or regions where contraception is inaccessible, are present throughout the U.S. In fact, 17 to 53% of each state’s population lives in a contraception desert.

Although randomized controlled trials (RCT) evidence is mixed, observational studies consistently show a correlation between comprehensive sex education and lower pregnancy risks and an increased probability of contraceptive use. 

Furthermore, states with abstinence-only sex education have higher teen pregnancy rates than those with comprehensive sex education. Evidence shows that abstinence-only education as a state policy may actually be contributing to the relatively high teenage pregnancy rate in the U.S.

People who are pro life and pro choice can find common ground on the importance of access to contraception and comprehensive sex education. If both sides join together, with more people and more funding being put towards this cause, there will be an even greater impact.

Miami WBB massacred in 90-49 loss to Duke

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The Miami Hurricanes kicked off yet another losing streak as they fell on the road 90-49 to the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon in Durham, NC. Coming off of a tough loss against a tough Georgia Tech team one week prior, this defeat comes as a wakeup call to the ’Canes. 

Haley Cavinder started the game with an impressive contested layup, leading the way for a back-and-forth scoring battle that would last a majority of the first quarter.  While both teams seemed to be neck and neck, the Blue Devils began picking up speed as time ran out, going on a 10-2 scoring run and tallying an impressive 61.54% field goal percentage for the quarter.

After a rocky end to the first quarter, Duke got hot from the three point line and began burying Miami in a score deficit that they could not come back from. UM entered the half down 37-22, looking to close the gap and stage a comeback win.

While Haley and Hanna Cavinder attempted to use their speed to earn points back for their team, the Blue Devils’ unmatched teamwork proved to help them secure their win.

Throughout the game, the Hurricanes lacked an outside shot that was crucial in Duke’s play. Miami only went 4-18 from the three point line, while Duke was 8-22. 

Cameron Williams led the Hurricanes’ leaderboard with a solid 14 points and 9 rebounds, and went 4-4 from the free throw line. Her performance was not enough to stop Duke’s team effort, and the ’Canes ultimately lost 90-49. 

The Hurricanes head back to North Carolina on Thursday night to face NC State for a chance to change their season’s trajectory.

Kygo’s sunset rhythms: A musical concert at the Palm Tree Club

The Palm Tree Club in Miami pulsed with electric energy as Kygo delivered a mesmerizing sunset DJ session that transformed an ordinary afternoon into an mythical musical experience on Feb. 3. With doors opening at 3p.m., the venue quickly filled with an eclectic mix of music enthusiasts, eager to immerse themselves in the Norwegian DJ’s signature tropical house sound.

The afternoon kicked off with sets from DJs Kaskade and X A N D R A, setting the stage for Kygo’s headline performance. 

From 6 to 8p.m., Kygo commanded the stage, weaving through a setlist that showcased his trademark blend of melodic beats and emotional resonance. The crowd erupted as familiar tracks like “Whatever,” “Higher Love,” and “It Ain’t Me” filled the breezy Miami venue.

Guest artists took the performance to new heights. Justin Jesso’s appearance for “Stargazing” brought a raw, powerful vocal dimension to Kygo’s electronic soundscapes. Parson James’s unexpected appearance to perform “Stole the Show” was a moment of pure musical magic.

Personal moments punctuated the performance. A touching scene unfolded when an older fan, overcome with emotion, received an autograph from Kygo. In a heartwarming contrast, a girl who has been a fan for 11 years presented the DJ with a heartfelt letter, symbolizing the multigenerational appeal of his music.

Kygo’s interaction with fans extended beyond the music. He signed a shoe—a small gesture that created an indelible memory for one lucky attendee. Each song, from “Stars Will Align” to “Wake Me Up,” transformed the club into a collective experience of joy and connection.

The setlist was a journey through Kygo’s musical evolution. “Lose Somebody” and “If I Lose Myself,” resonated with the crowd, each track building an immersive atmosphere that felt intimate.

As the sunset painted the Miami sky, Kygo’s performance was more than just a DJ set—it was a narrative of sound, emotion and community. The Palm Tree Club became a canvas where electronic music transcended mere beats, creating moments of pure, unbridled emotion.

The crowd remained energized even as the final notes of “Firestone” faded, a testament to Kygo’s remarkable ability to craft not just music, but memories that linger long after the last beat drops.

With Ultra 2025’s Phase 3 lineup still under wraps, don’t be surprised if he has one more trick up his sleeve for Miami.

REVIEW: ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ is The Weeknd’s musical farewell

The Weeknd’s sixth studio album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” was released last Friday and took many fans by surprise. This album takes listeners through a dark, reflective journey that marks the end of his career as “The Weeknd.” Fans hope that this will not be his final album, but rather his last one under his stage name. 

This 22-track album is the final album in the trilogy including “After Hours” and “Dawn FM” which explores themes of self-reflection, fame and personal turmoil. 

The album also contains features with many notable artists such as Travis Scott, Future, Playboi Carti, Lana Del Rey and Anitta. 

“Hurry Up Tomorrow,” when listened to in order, flows seamlessly and Mike Dean, one of the main producers on the album, implemented his beats to create a cohesive and immersive experience. 

Dean’s signature synth-heavy production adds a cinematic quality, allowing each track to flow effortlessly into the next. The atmospheric instrumentals amplify the album’s themes, whether it’s the eerie, melancholic tones of “The Abyss”, the fun, pulsating energy of “Timeless” or the hauntingly reflective closer, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.”

The album opens with “The Crowd,” setting a moody atmosphere and leaving listeners with a haunting feeling. This song, along with “Enjoy the Show,” reflects on the deep loneliness that comes with fame at The Weeknd’s level of stardom.

Similarly, “The Abyss” with Lana Del Rey explores themes of a fear of loneliness in love and toxic relationships. He sings “Just hold my heartbeat close to you; Remember how it always beats for you; I’m falling at the speed of light” which could show his fear of being abandoned in love after falling so hard.  

“Red Terror” and “Baptized in Fear” dive into themes such as regretting a life of being extremely self-indulgent and the highs and lows that come with that lifestyle. “Red Terror” is sung from the perspective of his mother, and he fears he let her down with his controversial lifestyle: “Hush, my child, you’re mine (I know, I know, I know, hey); All my life, I try (Sorry, mama, sorry, mama, woah, woah)”. 

In “Baptized in Fear”, he reflects “Trying to remember everything that my preacher said; Tryna right my wrongs, my rеgrets filling up my head; All the timеs I dodged death, this can’t be the way it ends, no,” indicating a struggle with self-reflection. 

Before releasing the album, The Weeknd released the singles “Timeless” with Playboi Carti and “São Paolo” with Anitta, which were both big hits, but did not set the tone for the album. To me, these two songs were outliers from the rest due to their more upbeat tone compared to the melancholic manner of the other tracks.  

“Timeless” has a more trap beat and is one of my favorite songs of his. It was my obsession when it first came out, and it still has not gotten old for me.

“São Paolo” is a Brazilian funk track that stands out completely from the rest of the album. In general, the song has mixed reviews, but I think it is a fun take from The Weeknd and is very different from the type of music he typically produces.

Some of my, and many other fans’, favorite songs include “Enjoy the Show”, “Open Hearts”, “Take Me Back to LA”, “Cry for Me”, “Niagara Falls”, and “Reflections Laughing” and many echo back to some of his songs from previous albums.

“Enjoy the Show” with Future has The Weeknd’s classic R&B vibe and reminds me of their previous collaboration on “Double Fantasy”.

“Reflections Laughing” brings in the energy of his debut album “Kiss Land,” while Travis Scott’s feature adds a moving intensity, blending their styles seamlessly for a remarkable moment on the album.

“Open Hearts” and “Take Me Back to LA” bring strong “Dawn FM” vibes with 80s and new wave sounds blended into each song.

“Niagara Falls” has a 2000s sound to it and samples the song “Someone To Love” by Jon B. and Babyface released back in 1995 and is one of the more fun songs on the album.

To wrap up the album and signal a shift in perspective, the closing song “Hurry Up Tomorrow” reflects back on past mistakes and there is a sense of longing to change his lifestyle, signaling the end of his era as “The Weeknd” and moving onto his true self, Abel Tesfaye. 

The Weeknd is also working on a film with the same name as the album featuring Jenna Ortega, Charli D’Amelio, Barry Keoghan and himself. The film is somewhat a reflection of his life in which a musician faces insomnia and is on the verge of emotional turmoil. The release date is set for May 16, 2025. 

The album was overall very well-written, cinematic and an inspiring last production. It was a collection of his past eras and served as a bittersweet farewell, leaving everything on the table for fans to take it all in.

Coconut Grove: a city victim to economic displacement and reduced to relics of its past

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UM students are quite familiar with Coconut Grove and its vast selection of restaurants and bars up and down Grand Avenue. Less widely known is the severe erosion Coconut Grove faces today, driven by gentrification and the City of Miami’s inadequate response.  

If the City of Miami does not make a more significant effort to combat gentrification, Coconut Grove will lose the long-term residents who make the city unique and diverse, depriving the neighborhood of its cultural value.  

As defined by National Geographic, gentrification is a demographic shift that displaces “working-class communities and communities of color in favor of wealthier newcomers and real estate development companies.”

Coconut Grove is one of several cities in South Florida, like Little Haiti, that has been victim to gentrification. The city has become a prime destination for developers to build multi-family apartments and single-family homes at expensive prices.

In areas like West Grove, hundreds of families have been forced out of their homes due to economic displacement caused by new developments that are unaffordable for the local community. The absence of these families and communities leaves Coconut Grove soulless, dulling its cultural identity, diversity and tradition, qualities that make cities unique and appealing to tourists. 

Recent development plans have emerged, such as the “Bimini Block Project,” which continues developing parts of Grand Avenue without any affordable or workforce housing. The ongoing rise in development projects without adequate housing for current residents will ultimately force them to relocate, as they won’t be able to keep up with the escalating market prices. 

“Akinshimaya Nnamdi [a West Coconut Grove Resident] lived at one of many other multi-family apartment buildings located in the West Grove, a subset of Coconut Grove,” said Chelsea Jones, a writer for CBS News. “The neighborhood was predominantly Black and went as far west as Plaza Street and as far east as Margaret Street.”

These neighborhoods are now dwindling and becoming ghost towns compared to the thriving cultural areas they once were, highlighting a lack of appreciation for Coconut Grove’s image that made Miami special to others.

A little Bahamian and a little bohemian, Coconut Grove reflects the legacy of its original Bahamian settlers and the creative spirit of past generations. As Miami’s oldest neighborhood, its streets continue to resonate with history and heritage. Since the late 1800s, Coconut Grove has been a vibrant haven for tycoons, adventurers, artists and musicians, creating a long-established diverse charm and vibrant community filled with many shops, dining and entertainment options. 

“Gentrification in the West Grove (and Miami) more broadly will push longtime residents out of the city. The Black and Bahamian culture, history, and bungalow-style architecture that characterizes West Grove risks being replaced by white, pill box-style McMansions,” said Dr. Matthew Nelsen, a political science professor at UM. “The loss of yet another (comparatively) affordable neighborhood will further perpetuate the process of Miami being one of the most unaffordable cities in the country in terms of housing.”

Coconut Grove’s rich cultural heritage should be shared with nearby communities, not erased. Long-established cultural communities, rich in family history and deep-rooted traditions, should never be forced out of their homes, as they are the heart and soul of the city’s identity.

The Miami Herald and other local press stations have repeatedly covered this issue, but the public’s persistent disregard signals a deeper concern. The lack of sufficient attention is hindering any meaningful efforts toward a solution. We need to get people to care for and defend minority families who are being forced out of their homes.  

However, it’s hard for people to care when the City of Miami appears to have no issue disregarding the concerns of hundreds of its most loyal residents. 

“A list submitted as a part of the housing complaint lists at least 162 residents who say they were impacted. They’re calling on the City of Miami for changes,” said Jones. 

The issue of gentrification has been ongoing for several years, and sufficient resources have not been allocated to alleviate the consequences. One concern is the lack of funding for a multi-billion dollar project regarding affordable housing that the city has yet to acquire, leaving residents displeased with the city’s response. 

While the local economy may benefit from developing specific areas, a significant portion remains ignored. Despite efforts by local officials, including Commissioner Raquel Regalado’s pledged efforts to provide new housing to displaced residents, community members remain unsatisfied. If you drive before McDonald Street, you will undoubtedly see the deteriorating buildings that were once homes to locals.

Renovation efforts should be consistent across the city, working to improve areas not just of developer interest but also to rehabilitate all neighborhoods and communities. In the face of new development, the City of Miami must strive to maintain affordable housing options and preserve its traditional history. 

If no action is taken, Coconut Grove could lose much of the cultural value it once thrived on. Only a few will soon remember the vibrant cultures that once lived loudly and proudly in the community.

From students to Super Bowls, Orange Umbrella has you covered

What do Super Bowls and UM have in common? As it turns out, ad space. Orange Umbrella, a student-run consultancy based out of the University of Miami’s School of Communication, focuses on providing innovative solutions to an expansive roster of enterprises, including UHealth. This year, they’ve taken on a new challenge: a Super Bowl ad. 

OU entered the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” Contest, a nationwide contest to create a 30 second Doritos ad to be aired during Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. This year, Orange Umbrella decided to take their chance and show off all they had to offer. 

“[Orange Umbrella] brings a unique perspective to the table, combining fresh, unconventional ideas with a deep understanding of current trends,” Ava Prinzo, Orange Umbrella’s public relations vice president, said.  “We have a platform to showcase not only [Orange Umbrella’s] creativity, but also their innovative spirit.” 

They were, “encouraged to brainstorm with team members outside of their own department in order to foster agency collaboration and gain fresh perspectives, a process that is extremely reminiscent of how top-tier advertising agencies operate,” Prinzo said.

UM is also no stranger to student enterprise, as the Miami Herbert Business School is frequented by aspiring entrepreneurs in conjunction with the Launch Pad at Lakeside Village and Orange Umbrella. This is the first time a UM student-led organization, as Orange Umbrella becomes one of only a few with the resources to commit to such a project.

“We are eager to be known as a dynamic group of student-professionals,” Prinzo said.

Though OU’s ad didn’t make it into the finals, Prinzo feels the experience has been invaluable. Watch their ad to see how they stacked up against the competition, and how Orange Umbrella continues to be trailblazers in their field.