UM En Pointe Ballet Club prepares to bring  ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to life

Alejandra Chavez
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UM En Pointe Ballet Club prepares to bring  ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to life

From the Cheshire Cat to the Queen of Hearts, the University of Miami’s En Pointe Ballet Club is set to bring “Alice in Wonderland” to the stage on Saturday, April 18. Performances are scheduled for 4:00 p.m and 7:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Auditorium.

From choreography to costumes, the student-led production reflects both artistic creativity and extensive planning. The club, which was founded last fall, has spent weeks rehearsing while managing the logistical demands of staging a full ballet.

“We started working on it in December,” said Emily Huffman, the club’s treasurer and public relations director. “We have auditions at the beginning of the semester, and then about 10 to 12 weeks of rehearsal before the show.”

Rehearsals have required a major time commitment from both dancers and leadership. Huffman said she personally spends eight to 10 hours a week preparing for the production, which includes coordinating the venue, organizing production and helping design costumes.

“It’s a pretty all-encompassing process,” Huffman said. “We do everything from booking the venue to sewing parts of the costumes ourselves.”

While the technical side of production plays a key role, dancers are also balancing rigorous rehearsals with academic and extracurricular commitments.

Dani Vega, who plays Alice, said the cast has rehearsals with long sessions dedicated to both technique and character development.

“We prioritize rehearsals on Sundays for about four hours,” Vega said. “The first hour is class, and the last three hours are just drilling choreography.”

For Vega, preparing for the lead role goes beyond mastering choreography. The character-driven nature of “Alice in Wonderland” requires both emotional expression and technical precision.

“It’s not just about dancing as much as it is about acting,” Vega said. “She has so many emotions, so it’s been fun to channel that in rehearsals.”

The production also highlights the club’s collaborative nature, with dancers of varying experience levels coming together to create a cohesive performance. According to Vega, the club’s inclusive environment encouraged her to return to dance after stepping away.

“I saw how inclusive the club was and how it was open to everyone regardless of experience,” Vega said. 

Behind the scenes, one of the biggest challenges has been managing costs. While the University provides funding for production elements such as the venue and lighting, costumes require additional creativity and fundraising.

“We have about $2,500 for the whole year for costumes,” Huffman said. “With 25 dancers and multiple roles, it doesn’t go a long way, so we reuse costumes and add accessories where we can.”

Despite these challenges, the club is using the production as an opportunity to push creative boundaries. This version of Alice in Wonderland incorporates a mix of dance styles, including contemporary, jazz and even tap.

“We’re trying to push the box a little more,” Huffman said. “It’s a really interesting variety, and it makes ballet more accessible for people who may have never seen it before.”

For both dancers and organizers, the performance represents the culmination of months of work and a chance to share the arts with a wider audience.

“I think it’s so important for people to be exposed to the arts,” Vega said. “Tickets are free, so this is the perfect opportunity for students to come see something new.”

Students can follow the club’s Instagram, @enpointe, for updates on the show and even joining.

Miami therapists offer guidance for students during finals week

Gaby Collazo
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Miami therapists offer guidance for students during finals week

The beginning of May marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, educating the public about mental illnesses and stigmas, and providing necessary resources for well-being. 

Mental health plays a critical role in daily life, especially for college students. As young adults enter unfamiliar environments and adjust to new surroundings, emotions can run high, particularly during stressful periods like midterms and finals. 

To help manage these challenges, therapy serves as a meaningful and impactful resource. In Coral Gables alone, there are hundreds of therapy-related specialists and offices. 

Among them are Anne Josephson, Jordanne Sculler and Jordyn Dooley, who work with students in the Miami area who are navigating academic pressure, financial stress and the broader challenges of life in college. 

“I grew up in a home where both of my parents were therapists, and I always appreciated the kinds of conversations we had around our dinner table,” said Josephson. “They also taught me an invaluable lesson: How to tell the difference between situations that are truly unsafe and those that simply make me anxious but are manageable.”

Those early conversations sparked Josephson’s interest in therapy. After working as a teacher, she realized she wanted to support her students’ emotional needs and returned to school to become a therapist. When working with young adults, Josephson acknowledges that college is both fun and challenging. 

“Once they arrive, they’re expected to manage food, friendships, housing, and academics on their own, all while adjusting to newfound freedom,” said Josephson. “ It’s so valuable to have a positive first experience with a therapist who provides evidence-based care and understands the demands of student life.” 

Independence can also bring difficulties. With newfound freedom comes academic and social responsibilities that many students are not prepared for. Josephson most commonly sees issues of anxiety, depression and attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder among students. 

Sculler, who always felt drawn to the profession, saw therapy as something distant after graduating from college and starting a career in marketing. However, after experiencing family trauma, Sculler’s perspective changed. 

“I felt a strong sense of purpose and clarity about the work I was meant to do,” said Sculler. “Within a month, I left my marketing job and began taking the necessary steps to apply to the program I was determined to join.” 

She enjoys working with young adults, notes that leading conversations with a direct, challenging approach resonates well, as real processing, growth and change happen when they lean into uncomfortable but honest conversations. 

Social pressures are a significant issue Sculler sees among college students today. The pressures that can appear in personal life, relationships and friendships can lead to overthinking, self-doubt and trust issues with others.

“Part of the work in therapy is helping them reconnect with their own values and build confidence in making decisions based on what feels right for them, rather than what they think others expect,” said Sculler. 

Dooley took a less direct path into the field. After studying English for her undergrad, she initially planned to attend law school. But after graduating from college early and feeling burnt out, she felt directed off her path and onto a different one to experience life more fully. 

“My own experiences of searching, growing, and navigating uncertainty led me to this work,” said Dooley. “They allow me to show up authentically and sit alongside others as they discover their own paths, knowing that the work we do together is meaningful and deeply human.”

Like her colleagues, Dooley views college as a unique period of transition, marked with learning and adventure, but also alongside stress and uncertainty. 

Dooley most often sees students struggling with anxiety, depression, uncertainty and stress, noting that anxiety is especially prevalent and often tied to academic choices, while depression can appear as low motivation, feeling stuck and a loss of direction. 

“Underlying all of this is a deeper process of identity development [and] this can be incredibly destabilizing,” said Dooley. “With the right support, students can move through this uncertainty in a way that leads to greater clarity, confidence, and a stronger sense of self.”

As finals week approaches, college students face mounting pressures, not only from academic demands but with uncertainties about the year ahead — returning in the fall or graduating and stepping into what comes next. 

These therapists encourage students to privatize their mental health, seek support when needed and remember that challenges during this time are both common and manageable. 

Josephson is partnering with The Matcha Bike at UM on Wednesday, April 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students can stop by to meet Josephson, enjoy a complimentary “therapeutic” matcha and pick up limited-edition merch — perfect for getting into a positive mindset ahead of finals.

Triple Cane works to raise awareness about sea level rise

Katie Karlson
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Triple Cane works to raise awareness about sea level rise

Water laps at Miami’s edges as sea levels continue to swell, and UM alum and eco-artist Xavier Cortada is determined to raise awareness. 

Miami’s population is the fourth most vulnerable to sea level rise in the world, according to the World Resources Institute. Predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that with “high greenhouse gas emissions and rapid ice sheet collapse,” sea levels for the U.S. will rise more than seven feet by 2100. 

For areas like Miami Beach, which has an average elevation of 4.4 feet above sea level, this data is staggering. 

Cortada was born in New York and moved to Miami at the age of three. After spending the majority of his life in South Florida, he graduated from UM with three degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in 1986, a Master’s in  public administration in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from the School of Law in 1991. 

He launched “The Underwater,” a series of interactive public art installations, in 2018 to spark community interest and conversations about sea level rise. 

“My time at the University of Miami was foundational. That interdisciplinary training shaped how I approach problems — connecting knowledge across fields and applying it in the real world,” Cortada said. “Just as important, being embedded in Miami made the climate crisis tangible.”

In 2020, Cortada collaborated with UM’s ECO Agency and Climate Reality Project on the “Underwater Vote” installation. Signs reading “vote” and others featuring the number of feet an area was above sea level were placed in three locations across UM’s campus: Lakeside Village, the “U” statue and the Foote Green.   

Cortada designed this project to “engage students directly.”

“We installed yard signs across campus marking elevation above sea level to make climate risk visible in a place students experience every day,” he said. “The project encouraged civic participation, asking [students] to consider thinking long-term about the future they are inheriting and shaping when casting their votes in elections.”

The majority of the yard signs were placed at elevations ranging from seven to ten feet. If NOAA’s predictions are accurate, these elevation levels mean that parts of UM’s campus will be underwater by 2100. 

“The Underwater” is made up of three more installations: “Underwater HOA,” “Underwater Florida” and “Underwater Gulf.”

“Underwater HOA,” based in the Village of Pinecrest, was created in 2018 and was a precursor to the larger project. The installation similarly uses painted intersections and yard signs to mark the area’s elevation. 

Now, Cortada is collaborating with the UM’s College of Engineering’s Structures and Materials Lab to implement sustainable concrete underwater elevation sculptures — part of “The Underwater” installation — across 261 Miami-Dade County parks. 

“This collaboration builds on work I began as a faculty member at UM and as Miami-Dade County’s Artist-in-Residence,” said Cortada. “It was launched as part of the socially engaged art classes I taught when I was a full-time faculty at [UM]. Our students helped deploy and document the early iterations of the project.”

After a sculpture has been installed, the Xavier Cortada Foundation hosts a dedication ceremony at the site. Participants pour water from Biscayne Bay onto the sculpture and promise to work to prevent saltwater from ever touching it again.   

“UM students remain central to the work. Many of our interns are current students or recent graduates, and all members of our team — including leadership — began as interns,” Cortada said. “They help implement projects, conduct outreach, and lead educational programming in schools.”

Xavier Cortada (right) and student team members working on an art piece. Courtesy of Xavier Cortada Studio.

Adam Roberti, executive director of the Cortada Foundation and UM alum, feels that his education at UM shaped how he chooses to communicate about these climate-related issues.

He originally started as a marine biology major, but “decided to shift into ecosystem science and policy and pursue [his] masters, which had a very strong focus on climate communications” after realizing that the biggest threat to the climate was a “lack of political will” to implement available solutions.

Since working at the Cortada Foundation, Roberti and Cortada have made it their mission to keep UM students involved in the cause — including by bringing on students as interns.

For students who want to raise awareness of environmental issues, The Cortada Foundation hosts events to get involved. This semester, interns with the Cortada Foundation are also working to launch the Cortada Climate Collective club at UM.  

“Through it, students will be self-directed in organizing art-based projects to engage students and residents in developing creative solutions to our environmental crisis and expanding the reach of Foundation initiatives like ‘The Underwater,’” said Cortada. 

To join, Roberti recommends that students email Kiki Lopez Nowotny, the club’s president, and Theresa Pinto, the advisor. 

While UM’s course work options are helpful for preparing students for the real world, partnerships like these are also extremely beneficial for students who want to continue being a part of the positive work that the University has done through its alumni. 

“UM gave me the academic tools, but it was engaging with the community that made the work urgent and actionable,” said Cortada.

Alix Earle’s skincare lands on campus

Charlotte Schuyler
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Alix Earle’s skincare lands on campus

It feels like everyone is building something at the University of Miami: a brand, a following and a future. A few years ago, Alix Earle was doing the same thing, just without knowing how far it would go.

Now, the former UM marketing major has turned her social media momentum into Reale Actives, her new skincare line that is already making its way to campus.

Earle first built her audience through her casual “Get Ready With Me” videos that felt more like FaceTiming a friend than watching an influencer. She talked through breakouts, routines and real life without trying to make it look perfect. 

That same energy carries into Reale Actives.

The brand focuses on simple, ingredient-driven skincare that actually fits into everyday life. It is not about ten-step routines or unrealistic results. 

Focused instead on consistency, balance and products that make sense for people who are busy, stressed and still figuring it out; in other words, college students. As a UM alum, Earle’s launch also made its way back to campus in a full-circle moment, especially when its first customer turned out to be a current student.

When sophomore Jenna Simone became the first customer to purchase from Reale Actives, she did not just get a confirmation email. She got a FaceTime call from Earle herself.

“I was in pure shock,” Simone said. “I didn’t answer two calls from a random Los Angeles number, and then I got a text saying, ‘Hi Jenna, it’s Alix Earle, answer the FaceTime.’ I thought it was a joke … and then I called back and it was actually her.”

Even as her platform has grown, Earle still interacts in a way that feels direct and personal, the same way she started.

For many students, especially young women interested in business or media, Alix Earle’s path does not feel distant. Not long ago, she was sitting in the same classrooms, walking the same campus and figuring things out in real time — just like every other student today. 

“As a UM student, it makes her success feel a lot more personal,” Simone said. “She was in the same position as us not that long ago, so it makes everything she’s built feel more real and honestly really inspiring.”

That is what makes Reale Actives feel different. It is not just another celebrity skincare launch. It is a reminder that something real can grow out of the same place students are in today, from late nights, small ideas and figuring it out as you go.

Why climate change rarely makes it into the movies

Bri Pearson
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Why climate change rarely makes it into the movies

Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of the century, but you wouldn’t know it from watching most movies. Outside of a handful of sci‑fi blockbusters and end‑of‑the‑world thrillers, the crisis rarely appears on screen at all — despite evidence that audiences watch more when it does. 

Research shows climate change is largely confined to speculative genres like “Interstellar,” “The Martian” and “WALL‑E,” while mainstream dramas, comedies and action films avoid the topic almost entirely.

When films or documentaries do address climate issues directly, viewers tend to engage more deeply, especially when well‑known figures help carry the message. Hollywood’s limited approach contrasts sharply with audience interest, leaving documentaries — often fronted by celebrities — to fill the gap.

That gap becomes clearer when looking at how rarely climate change appears in popular films.

A 2025 analysis by Rice University found that only 12.8% of top‑grossing films from 2013 to 2022 referenced climate change. Most of those references came from sci‑fi or disaster titles, which helps explain why the speculative films dominate the conversation.

A broader review from USC’s Norman Lear Center reached a similar conclusion, reporting that climate issues appeared in just 2.8% of more than 37,000 film and TV scripts. Everyday genres — dramas, comedies, romances — almost never acknowledge the crisis.

That scarcity on screen stands in contrast to how audiences think about the issue.

While climate rarely appears in scripted entertainment, audiences are far more receptive to climate themes in films than studios may assume. The Norman Lear Center found that viewers want to see characters who acknowledge climate change, but only a small fraction feel that film and TV reflect their level of concern. The study also notes that people frequently learn about social issues through entertainment, but climate change almost never makes that list.

For many students, that absence is noticeable, and the rare films that do address climate change tend to stick with them.

“Every time I watch ‘The Lorax’ I feel empowered to minimize my carbon footprint,” said UM senior psychology major Kate Sinha.

Other findings suggest that when climate stories reach viewers, they can have a real impact. Films and documentaries can significantly increase awareness and understanding of climate issues when they address them directly. The interest is there, but the content simply isn’t.

Some students say they’ve felt that impact themselves.

Senior ecosystem science and political science major Isabel Mundo said she experienced that impact firsthand. She watched the documentary “Chasing Coral” in high school, and it influenced her decision to pursue ecosystem science. “It really had an impact on me,” she said.

And, when scripted films do include climate themes, they tend to perform pretty well. A recent analysis from Good Energy and Colby College found that movies acknowledging climate change earned an average of 8% more at the box office than those that didn’t, and films featuring characters who recognize climate change saw a 10% boost in performance. The data suggests audiences aren’t avoiding climate stories — they’re rewarding them.

With so little climate storytelling in scripted films, much of the responsibility has shifted to documentaries, where the issue is addressed more directly and often with the help of familiar faces.

The Norman Lear Center notes that climate references appear far more often in nonfiction programming than in scripted entertainment, a trend reflected in the popularity of films like “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Before the Flood,” and “2040.”

Many of these projects rely on well‑known figures to draw attention. Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Gore and other high‑profile hosts have helped bring climate documentaries into mainstream conversation, a strategy researchers say boosts visibility and engagement. The World Economic Forum also reports that celebrity‑led climate films can meaningfully increase public awareness when paired with clear, accessible storytelling.

Even major blockbusters with environmental foundations — like James Cameron’s “Avatar” franchise, which has earned more than $6.2 billion worldwide — show that audiences will show up for stories rooted in ecological themes, even when they’re set on another planet.

Taken together, the research points to a widening gap between the scale of the climate crisis and the way it’s portrayed on screen. Sci‑fi and disaster films imagine the crisis in broad strokes, but documentaries confront it directly, pulling climate change out of the hypothetical and into the present.

As audience interest grows, the question for Hollywood is less about whether viewers will engage with climate stories and more about when mainstream genres will begin to reflect the reality audiences already see off‑screen.

UM’s Hillel brings a Seder away from home to students celebrating Passover

Marissa Levinson
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UM’s Hillel brings a Seder away from home to students celebrating Passover

“Why is this night different from all other nights,” the first of Passover’s Four Questions asks. 

The Haggadah booklet, a guide to the holiday, rests on every plate at the table and lists the answers: matzah, maror, dipping and reclining.

But, Passover is about more than what takes place at the table; it’s about the people who take a seat. It’s the ones who show up and keep the tradition alive that make the holiday truly special.

Passover is a springtime, week-long celebration in the Jewish religion. For the first two nights of the holiday, the biblical story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt is retold through a variety of traditions at the Seder, from washing hands in silence, to drinking four glasses of wine, to chanting “Dayenu!”

200 people sat down at University of Miami Hillel’s Passover Seder on the evening of April 2, the largest turnout at UM Hillel yet. 

UM students participating in Hillel’s Seder on the first night of Passover, April 1, 2026.

At the event, Rabbi Jason Cook spoke fondly of the community that has been built at Hillel. He called attention to the lack of empty seats throughout the endless rows of tables with boxes of matzah, charoset dishes and a shank bone — all symbols used to tell the story of the holiday.

Rabbi Cook told students brief stories about the holiday’s origins, placing greater emphasis on the prayers, rituals and, of course, the food — steaming platters of brisket, chicken, gefilte fish, vegetables and desserts.

Passover is usually a time for Jewish families to celebrate together. However, for college students, it’s not always possible with the holiday taking place in the thick of the spring semester.  

Freshman Orli Schwartz, the chair of student life at UM Hillel, highlighted the value of campus seders. 

“Seders are really important to keep alive at UM because college is one of the first times people have to decide for themselves what Judaism looks like in their lives.” Schwartz said. 

When home, students typically go to the Seder because that is just what their family does. 

“At school, people make the choice to come,” Schwartz said. “Some people come because they miss home, some come because their friends are going, and some come because they are looking for a Jewish community.”

To Schwartz and many other students, that’s what it’s all about. 

“I love walking around the tables and catching up with people,” Rocio Pelaez, a UM sophomore and Hillel member, said. “It always takes me so long to leave because I want to make sure I say hi to all of my friends.” Pelaez said.

Sophomore Sam Reisch is another leader and Hillel member who attended UM’s Seder this year. He compares his celebration at home to his newfound one in Miami.  

“In a religious sense, my Passover Seder is very similar to the one at Hillel: we ask The Four Questions, hear from the four children [the representations of different types of people’s willingness to learn], and the Seder plate looks almost identical,” he said.

Though at its core it’s still the same holiday, “the main difference is the setting,” Reisch said. 

Although being away from home can be hard for many Jewish students during the holiday, opportunities like these allow a chance for students to form closer connections.

“Although I miss the close intimacy of a small family gathering, being with a couple of hundred other Jews gives me a better sense of community and belonging,” Reisch said.

Shifting from celebrating at home to UM is overall an enjoyable experience for many students due to Hillel’s care for the University’s Jewish students, but there are still some difficulties. 

Reisch recognizes the struggles of keeping Kosher for Passover — avoiding foods considered “chametz” like wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye for the week. 

“I remember only seeing a box of Matzah [unleavened bread] in the dining hall my freshman year,” he said. “If there were Kosher for Passover items being served, I was not aware of them.”

Hillel sees students’ struggles and offers free lunch to those seeking Kosher options during the week of Passover. 

“It’s hard not to see the amount of effort Hillel puts in,” Reisch said. 

Jewish people make up 0.2% of the world population, according to Pew Research Center. As a religion that values traditions year-round, building a community is vital, but as a small part of the population, it can be difficult. 

“Whatever brings people [to Hillel], it matters that there is a place for them,” Schwartz said. “I think having a Seder at UM gives people that place.”

During holidays like Passover, Judaism at the University of Miami is not just welcomed — it’s celebrated at Hillel. 

Rabbi Cook traditionally concluded the 2026 Seder with a classic saying; “Next year in Jerusalem,” The phrase promises hope for a year well-spent, before sending students off for Passover until 2027’s seder. 

Pedestrian safety risks persist near UM

Alejandra Chavez
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Nearly 64% of University of Miami students live off campus, relying on surrounding roads and sidewalks to get to class. From cars to the metrorail to scooters, pedestrian safety plays a key role in how students get to campus.

Two years ago, UM senior Daniel Bishop was struck by a car and killed while crossing the street near Lejeune Road and Altara Avenue on his scooter, despite having the right of way. 

Crossing these dangerous intersections is part of daily life for students traveling to campus, nearby restaurants or convenience stores.

“Cars don’t ever stop on South Dixie for pedestrians and, even when you have a walk sign, tons of cars will go into the crosswalk to turn,” said UM junior and off-campus resident Ashton Weissman. “I think the University should add a shuttle stop for the other side of South Dixie. I have a lot of classes that end late at night and if I walk back in the dark it’s even scarier.”

Despite the high use of micromobility devices, Miami-Dade County remains one of the most dangerous places in the country for pedestrians. A recent study by Lemon Law Experts found Miami has the worst drivers in the United States, with aggressive behaviors such as speeding, failing to yield and unsafe lane changes contributing to dangerous road conditions. 

Weissmann highlighted that the sidewalks on the outskirts of campus “are very uneven” and make it difficult for him to get to class.

“The majority of paths I use every day are brick roads with missing bricks that are a nightmare to skate on,” he said. “One little bump can send a skateboarder flying.”

In 2023, Coral Gables ranked sixth in the county for serious crashes, with 57 incidents resulting in 63 injuries or deaths.

Intersections like Southwest 40th Street and 42nd Avenue have been identified as hotspots, while U.S. Route 1 near Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Douglas Road frequently sees severe, high-speed collisions.

Advocacy groups like Bike Walk Coral Gables say that the problem with this intersection where  Bishop was hit rests in the fact that  drivers can legally make a right turn on red while pedestrians have the right of way, creating a dangerous — and potentially fatal — situation.

After Bishop’s death, city officials said they would take steps to make the intersection safer and more pedestrian-friendly. But, two years later, little has changed.

Robert Ruano — a UM alumnus, former director of sustainability for the city of Miami and co-founder of Bike Walk Coral Gables — said the lack of action reflects a broader issue.

“It’s just a litany of inaction, of plans upon plans upon plans, and they don’t do anything,” he said. 

While he acknowledges the city’s efforts to convert the 10-mile stretch under the Miami metro system into a series of parks and pathways through The Underline project, accessing it safely remains a concern.

In response, the City of Coral Gables launched Vision Zero, a data-driven initiative to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries by 2040. The plan focuses on a “Safe System Approach,” prioritizing safer speeds, improved road design and infrastructure that protects all users, including pedestrians and cyclists. 

Ruano thinks that progress has been too slow.

“They can say that, but if you don’t do things differently, people are going to continue to die,” he said.

Trading in the 9-to-5 for Thailand 

Elena Fallow
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Trading in the 9-to-5 for Thailand 

For many students, the end of the spring semester brings about thoughts of summer plans, and for many upperclassmen, postgraduate plans. One South Florida native skipped out on the endless job search and graduate school by choosing to teach abroad. 

After poor experiences with internships, Tyler Wetzler realized that the traditional post graduate route was not for him. 

“I’m literally a corporate puppet and agreeing to join the matrix,” Wetzler said jokingly.

During his junior year of college, he began exploring opportunities to take a gap year with a purpose. One option he looked into was the Fulbright Scholars Program. 

Fulbright is a government organization that sponsors students, university faculty, administrators and researchers to study, teach or conduct research abroad. 

UM political science and international studies professor, Dr. John Twichell, is a Fulbright alumnus. Dr. Twichell applied for the Fulbright Research Grant in 2010 while pursuing his PhD here at the University of Miami.

The scholarship granted him the external funding and student visa needed to conduct fieldwork in Brazil for his dissertation research. 

Dr. Twichell is an avid supporter of the program and encourages all his students to apply. 

“I would recommend Fulbright to students at Miami because the nature of our University community, complete with its culture of diversity and inclusivity, dovetails well with the Fulbright mission, setting our students up well to be competitive applicants,” Twichell said. 

Fulbright was not a perfect match for Wetzler. While the program offers the experience he was seeking, scholarship recipients can only pick a country of their choice, not the city. 

Wetzler was set on going to Bangkok and did not want to risk being placed elsewhere. 

That is when he came across Xplore Asia, an organization that helps certify participants as teachers and match them with schools in participating countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Costa Rica and Spain. 

After graduating from the University of Central Florida in the spring of 2025, he left for Thailand and began teaching in the fall. 

After receiving his teaching certification, Wetzler taught third  through sixth  grade English literacy at an international school in Bangkok. He uses simple reading comprehension packets that require students to find and circle information to meet students at their English comprehension level. 

“Most kids I would say can have a full conversation in English and there are also kids that speak no English at all,” he said. “Navigating that as a teacher is hard.”

But for Wetzler, watching the student’s progress and growth makes the job that much more rewarding.

A semester later, Wetzler has adapted well to life in Bangkok. He shared that adaptability is an important skill, and crucial for success when relocating abroad. 

“Challenge yourself to grow, because you have to,” he said. “You can’t come into a situation like this with any expectations because you are always having to adapt. That’s how it works here.”

COISO celebrates cultural diversity at the U 

Martina Pantaleon
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COISO celebrates cultural diversity at the U 

International Week is a love letter to the cultural mix of students at the University of Miami and the Council of International Students and Organizations’ longest-standing tradition. 

Celebrating its 59th anniversary this year, COISO hosted 700 students — breaking its attendance record.

Connecting with the UM community, especially non-U.S. citizens, is COISO’s main goal. International students move to the U.S. every year to attend UM, with more than 800 international students admitted in the 2025-26 academic year alone.

International  week began on Monday, April 6, with its opening ceremony honoring every featured region. The Middle East and Europe were celebrated on Tuesday, followed by Latin America, Africa, and Asia, respectively. 

During I-Week, Lakeside Patio was bursting with music, lights and the smell of cuisines from around the world. 

“There are international students who don’t get to go home for years,” said Nayonika Choudhury, COISO’s vice president of external affairs. “[Students at COISO] come from a selection of [more than 50] countries but are united in our hopes, dreams and struggles of pursuing a future thousands of miles away from our families and support systems.”

To celebrate this community, COISO took their flagship event literally. The Fate Bridge, which connects Lakeside Village with Lakeside Patio, was lined with flags from all over the globe. For some students,the decorations are more than just symbols.

“For me, I-Week is about representation,” Laraib Salman, COISO’s Asia night chair, said. “It’s a night to showcase the beauty of our cultures and celebrate the diversity that UM has to offer.”

COISO wanted to showcase the variety of cultures at UM and bridge the gap for those finding their place.

“We host I-Week to bring a small piece of our home to the campus,” said Choudhury. “So every UM student, regardless of where they are from, sees a part of themselves, their culture, their identity and their history reflected at UM.”

Student organizations from each region were invited to table and offer culturally based food or activities. The week offered students a place to discover new people and organizations. 

“It brings people together from so many different parts of the world,” Vrinda Gupta, president of COISO, said. Her best friend is from Rwanda. They met while volunteering for I-Week two years ago.

Changes are implemented every year to keep I-Week’s welcoming environment.

Entertainment has always been a part of the event, with guest performances from UM students and professionals. This year, attendees are included in the performances through dancing workshops and flash mobs.

Dance groups included Love of Chinese, Korean and Eastern Dances Dance Team, Hurricane Bhangra and students from the Frost School of Music.

“Our goal is to foster an environment of warmth and invitation at UM towards students from all nations,” said Nayonika Choudhury, COISO’s vice president of external affairs. 

Unresolved disappearance of UM graduate possibly linked to serial killer

Martina Pantaleon
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Unresolved disappearance of UM graduate possibly linked to serial killer

When UM alum Beth Kenyon did not return home from her job at Coral Gables High School on Mar 5, 1984, her family knew something was wrong. 

42 years later, her disappearance remains unsolved. But, Australian journalists Andrew Byrne and Mark Llewellyn might have the answer.

In their new podcast “Catching Evil,” Byrne and Llewellyn talk about their cross-country search that could tie Kenyon’s death to Christopher Wilder, a convicted serial killer. Wilder was charged with the murder of 14 women in Florida between 1979 and 1984. 

Kenyon’s abductions fit Wilder’s signature: posing as a photographer to meet young aspiring models and then luring the victims into his car. The UM alum, a former fashion model and a finalist for Miss Florida, was no stranger to photoshoots. 

“There are a lot of Jane Does — unknown victims of Wilder — still in America,” Llewellyn said in an interview with The Hurricane. “The number we are discovering could put him up there and may exceed Ted Bundy in terms of activity.” 

The pair has identified him as the main suspect in more than 50 cold cases. The hunt has not stopped yet.

“It’s kind of bizarre because you have this guy who operated [without consequences] largely for 20 years on two continents,” Byrne said to The Hurricane.

Uncovering the extent of Wilder’s crimes has turned into an eight-year-long project.

It started in 2019 when Llewellyn was hired by Seven Network, an Australian network, to produce an episode of the true-crime series “Murder Uncovered,” a show that tried to solve cold cases. 

The topic was the Wanda Beach murders, one of Australia’s most famous unsolved cases. Two 16-year-old girls had gone missing one afternoon and were found murdered between the dunes. 

Coincidentally, Byrne had written about the case in his book, “The Pretty Girl Killer.” In it, he explained that those two girls were likely Wilder’s first victims.

Byrne’s fascination with Wilder began when Byrne discovered that he lived a block away from Wilder’s childhood home. He was shocked to find the “family-friendly” neighborhood was linked to such a dangerous person.

That neighborhood was the first stop in their visit. Since then, they have gone wherever the cases led. But, their investigation changed once DNA technology was developed in 1986. 

Suddenly, the list of Wilder’s victims started to grow.   

“That’s why the new cases are so important,” Byrne said. “They’ve been left in the back of filing cabinets and police stations and cold case units around Australia and America and completely forgotten.”

Recent evidence suggests that Wilder was operating in Florida and dumped the bodies in New York or Georgia. Byrne theorized that the long trip would have been easy for Wilder, who competed in hour-long car races.

Experts in forensic psychology and former police officers involved in these investigations have helped piece together what happened. 

Family members of the victims have reached out as well, and Byrne and Llewellyn visited each one to get their stories.

The podcast is about much more than solving the cases. At its core, it is a service to those whose stories were forgotten. 

“The philosophy of the podcast is to honor the women,” Llewellyn said. 

Catching Evil is available on all podcast platforms.

Kenyon’s parents passed away without knowing what happened to their daughter. Byrne and Llewellyn want to give a voice to the family members who suffered a similar reality. 

The victims’ mothers, most of all, found comfort in the podcast because it helped them understand what happened.

“They’ve gone to live good lives,” Byrne said. “Damaged lives, but they are still good people. And they’ve built a picture of their loved one that honours her.”

Anyone with information can contact info@catchingevil.com. 

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