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Today is National Unplugging Day—Here’s why you should join in

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February 23, 2021

Today is National Unplugging Day—Here’s why you should join in

National Day of Unplugging, a holiday created to bring awareness to the hold that technology has on the everyday person, is next Friday, March 5. A holiday you may not have heard of, participants in this annual tradition bathe in a digital detox for 24 hours– no cell phones, no laptops…just mindfulness.

The holiday originates from a Jewish nonprofit called ‘Reboot,’ an organization that started in New York City but is rapidly growing in cities across the country. If you’re thinking, “I’m not Jewish,” don’t worry. The holiday is for everyone, regardless of religious affiliation.

In recent years, the event has had hundreds of thousands of participants nationwide, and it is looking to be a major hit again this year. According to the celebration’s website, it aims to help participants “start living a different life: connect with the people in your street, neighborhood and city, have an uninterrupted meal or read a book to your child.”

Audrey Cleary, a University of Miami licensed clinical psychologist, spoke with The Miami Hurricane about why putting your phone down for a bit to focus on the world around you might not sound as bad as you think.

“Mindfulness can be as simple as becoming aware of what is around you– experiencing the sounds, sensations and your senses as a whole,” she explained. “You can deliberately become mindful in the moment with effort, but in general, focusing on one thing helps. Also, focus on gratitude and appreciation. Take time to focus on what you’re appreciative for. It can improve your happiness and overall well being.”

Cleary also spoke about the negative side effects of cell phone overuse, often seen in college students across the nation.

“Cell phone usage can be too much when it starts causing problems in your life. The distraction from academics it brings, and conflict in relationships. Not being present with the people around you can be a sign,” she said. “Social media can also bring on negative comparisons to other people. You don’t want to compare yourself to the negative, edited versions of someone else.”

According to Cleary, the benefits of unplugging can be monumental. Breaking the habit of always having to check your cell phone over and over again for notifications can be a positive experience. Yes, technology has provided many benefits into everyday life, but no one should want to feel locked down by their cell phone.

“It can be healthful to not have to focus on your cell phone and other technology. Kicking away that demand on your attention can help a person get reconnected with their natural environment. Getting aware of your emotional experiences can make the urge of your cell phone less powerful. Even just being present and aware of the negative emotions in your mind like sadness or anxiety can help you feel better about them since you know they are there.”

She continued to list the specific benefits of unplugging, saying that the awareness and physical contact with other people around you to be especially powerful. She says that when you are face to face with a person, your communication can often feel way more authentic. According to Cleary, an improved sleep schedule is another benefit worth mentioning.

Psychologists and researchers have begun identifying disorders that exist when individuals are unable to go lengths of time without their cell phone. One such disorder, known as ‘phone separation anxiety,’ is a struggle that many students deal with every day.

This disorder may sound funny or peculiar, but according to Cleary, it is not a joke. It is defined as “a sense of fear and panic when separated from a mobile phone and the overwhelming fear of anxiety coming from the inability to immediately respond to a notification or have your device in your hand.”

“If having immediate contact with your cell phone is something you’ve learned to depend on, it’s definitely real,” she explained. “If students are feeling anxious about not having their cell phone, it’s important to really think about why. Identify what the fear is, and challenge your fears associated with the phone.”

She listed several questions that students who think they may have this disorder might want to consider in order to try and cure their separation anxiety.

“What do you think you’re missing out on? Do you feel like you’ll really miss out on those things? Are the consequences really as bad as you think they are?”

Whatever the case is, she assured that phone separation anxiety does not have to be permanent. It can be overcome with a little cognitive work.

So, whether you unplug or plug in, make sure to think again about your technology habits. While 24 hours away from a cell phone may not immediately cure problems, everyone has to start somewhere.

Featured image from flickr.com.

UPurr leads animal cruelty investigation after 6 cat injuries, 9 deaths over past year on campus

Caroline Val

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September 26, 2023

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UPurr leads animal cruelty investigation after 6 cat injuries, 9 deaths over past year on campus

Disclaimer: This article contains graphic content and images.

Over the span of a single year, ABM employees and students have found 15 of UM’s beloved feral cats dead or maimed throughout the Coral Gables campus.

In an Instagram post recently uploaded by UPurr, the student organization that facilitates the care and adoption of cats on UM’s property, the group’s executive board shared that they filed an animal cruelty investigation on April 19, 2023 with the UM Police Department (UMPD) and later with the Office of the State Attorney Animal Cruelty Unit.

Supplemental documentation of each cat affected on-campus was also included in the post, with the first record logged on Jan. 22, 2022 and the most recent record logged on August 29 of this year. Six cats total were found injured with paw lacerations and fractures, and nine were found dead or later euthanized due to severe injury.

Screenshot of UPurr's logged records of recovered dead cats obtained by The Miami Hurricane. Photo Credit: Caroline Val

All were found near the Whitten Learning Center and Panhellenic suites, Mahoney-Pearson Residential College, the School of Law and Allen Hall.

“Our cat feeders, some of whom have been working with us for four or five years, have almost never found an injured or dead animal, let alone so many in one year,” said Brooke Harrison, president of UPurr.

“We know which cats there are on our campus, and we monitor the cats to make sure they’re okay. These past few months, with all of these deaths, it just doesn’t add up. It’s an alarming amount.”

According to Harrison, requests to review campus security footage were made to UMPD immediately after feeders or ABM employees reported a cat injury or death to UPurr. UMPD did not respond to these requests until several weeks later, telling Harrison that the security footage is “automatically erased after 28 days.”

“It disgusts me how hard we have to fight to be taken seriously,” Taylor Greenspan, UPurr treasurer, said. “The evidence we have presented is undeniable. I was told multiple times throughout this investigation that someone would follow up over the phone. They never returned my calls.”

A black cat was found in the utility road near greenhouses. Photo Courtesy of Brooke Harrison — A black cat was found dead in the utility road near greenhouses. Photo courtesy of Brooke Harrison

As reported by The Miami Hurricane in 2020, UMPD commented on the use of reviewing security footage and surveillance, stating that the University’s 1,338 cameras record 24/7 and can be reviewed for forensic or security purposes.

“There’s only six or seven cameras that we’re monitoring at any one given time, but all cameras can record. So if something bad were to happen, we can go back and forensically look at video footage to see if we could possibly identify what happened and who committed the crime,” Chief UMPD Officer David Rivero said to The Hurricane in 2020.

“The policy is that only UM police employees can look at the video footage. If anyone wants video footage of an incident, they have to submit a request. It has to go through proper channels. We just don’t willy-nilly hand over footage or a camera to anybody that asks for it.”

One of the most recent incidents, as reported by UPurr’s Instagram, includes the death of Father Cat, a brown male cat found by ABM janitors in the Allen Hall courtyard on July 31 at 7 a.m. He was last seen by UPurr feeders on July 30.

According to the documentation provided by UPurr, the feline’s body was first sent to the Miami Lakes Veterinary Clinic for a necropsy, an autopsy performed on animals, on the same day. The clinic’s veterinary expert recommended the necropsy be done at the University of Florida, where forensic pathologist Dr. Adam Stern could review the cause of death.

On August 3, the UF report revealed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

“[These cats] were not found in parking lots. They were not hit by cars,” Greenspan said. “They were found in the middle of campus. They were murdered.”

"Father Cat" found by facility employees in the Allen Hall courtyard on July 31 at 7 a.m. Photo Courtesy of Brooke Harrison. — "Father Cat" found by facility employees in the Allen Hall courtyard on July 31 at 7 a.m. Photo courtesy of Brooke Harrison.

With the trend of incidents currently under investigation, UPurr is encouraging those with details about potential motives to contact them immediately. Many of the injured animals are also up for adoption through UPurr.

“People should keep their eyes out and report to us if they see any suspicious activity,” said Harrison. “I know some people don’t even give the cats a second glance, but I hope that these occurrences will make people give it a look and make sure that the cats are okay.”

A similar incident took place at Florida International University (FIU) in 2020, in which it was discovered that the university was funding the extermination of its feral cat population by contacting a third-party to take the animals to a local shelter.

In contrast, the violent nature of the animals’ deaths and injuries at UM has prompted significant concern among students and UPurr’s organization, with some citing the incidents as a threat to student and community safety.

“How can we overlook the possibility that whoever is hurting the cats isn’t a danger to students as well?” said Greenspan. “If someone’s dog, or other small animals were found brutally killed on campus, they would have solved it by now. I guarantee it.”

For those with additional information about the incidents, contact UPurr (upurrclub@gmail.com), the Office of the State Attorney Animal Cruelty Unit or UMPD.

The Miami Hurricane has contacted the state attorney’s office and UMPD Chief Officer David Rivero for comment. This is a developing story, The Hurricane will continue to provide updates.

Nearly 30 parents move to sue the Cloisters living facility over unlivable conditions

Lauren Ferrer

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September 26, 2023

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Nearly 30 parents move to sue the Cloisters living facility over unlivable conditions

Feces in the bathtub, broken air conditioning and no internet connection are just a few of the horror stories new tenants of the Cloisters Miami experienced at move-in this weekend.

Paired with midterm season and record heat, fed-up families and students see no other solution but to hire attorneys and pursue legal action.

This follows the multiple move-in delays that forced would-be residents of the Cloisters, an apartment and townhome complex 0.5 miles from the University, into hotels for 30 days while they waited for their apartments to be move-in ready.

Upon arrival, students and families saw unfinished units that were visibly damaged.

“My entire apartment was flooded with sewer water one day after I moved in, in a bathroom I had never used. It leaked into every room, soaking everything.” Higgins said.

Contributed photo of Emma Higgins' flooded apartment at the Cloisters Miami Photo credit: Emma Higgins

Higgins proceeded to call the emergency number provided but received no answer. She later received a text saying that a hotel would be provided for her for the night. This never happened and Higgins was forced to book a room herself.

“The pain, stress and frustration this place has put me through is more than any college student should be handling,” Higgins said in a Google review. “Never live here or [you will] regret your entire stay — mine was one night.”

Isabella Caridade, a sophomore studying health sciences, entered her apartment for the first time through an unlocked door and found construction workers running power cords out of her apartment to power their tools and fans.

“Meanwhile, I pay my electricity bill. I found that very interesting and I got really upset. So that was problem number one,” Caridade said.

After taking a look around the unit, Caridade began to notice other issues including broken air conditioning, an unsealed floor, unfinished trims and broken ventilation in the bathroom, jagged tiling and insects all over the apartment.

Contributed photo of Emma Higgins' unfinished floor tiling at the Cloisters Miami. Photo credit: Emma Higgins

“It says it’s 80 degrees but my thermostat is set at 70,” Caridade said. “I’ve put in multiple work orders over the past few days and no one has responded until today [Sept. 26] when I said that I would take legal action if I felt ill due to the heat.”

Caridade’s mother, like many other parents, joined the Facebook group “The UM Cloister Cluster” to voice her concerns about her daughter’s living situation.

“[Isabella] got back from classes today and there were muddy shoe prints all over her kitchen floor and the thermostat was turned down to 68. Is this their idea of fixing it???!?” Caridade’s mother said in her post.

In the Facebook group, parents have been sharing updates as they reach out to the building developers, leasing agents and representatives from Landmark Properties, the real estate firm developing the Cloisters Miami.

Elyse Zaccarro, the mother of a would-be resident, has been in contact with City of Miami inspectors and local reporters hoping to bring more attention to what her family has experienced in the last two months.

Zaccarro’s son is a third-year transfer student, rooming with an International student from Greece. The family signed their lease with the Cloisters on Aug. 9, only to receive an email that their move-in was delayed four days after.

“Given Landmark Properties’ reputation and the amount of work they do with off-campus student housing, they must have known this delay was happening,” Zaccarro said. “Why would they let us sign these leases?”

After researching their options, Zaccarro, in communication with her son’s roommate’s family in Athens, decided not to take possession of the apartment and move into another complex, even though they are still paying rent to the Cloisters.

As communicated to Zaccarro by Landmark Properties, the only way to break the lease was to find another person to take it over.

“This is an impossibility when the site looks like it does, and there was no move-in day.” Zaccarro said. “What we were told was, if you try to break the lease we [the Cloisters] will bring them to court and ruin their credit.”

In response, Zaccarro felt the only solution was to hire an attorney to move to terminate the lease and release her son and his roommate from their situation.

Caridade is also looking to pursue legal action in response to her experiences.

Jacqueline A. Salcines, a University of Miami School of Law alumnus and mother to two students at the University, got involved with the case after members of the “Cool Parent Group” on Facebook brought the living situations at Cloisters to her attention. Although no legal action has been taken, Salcines began conversations with the developers’ local counsel in Coral Gables and general counsel in Georgia.

“We had a call last Thursday in order to address the letters I’ve written on behalf of about 30 parents that have retained me in an effort to negotiate their terms,” Salcines said. “They received my letter and we had that call on Thursday, but they didn’t really want to discuss the parents that wanted to get out of the contracts.”

The counsel assured Salcines all would be well by the move-in date set for the next day. After hearing the horror stories students were met with, Salcines continued to reach out to the local and general counsel, this time hearing nothing but a one-line response saying that contact was made with an onsite manager.

“I don’t feel that they’re going to be accommodating any of our demands or working with us in any way,” Salcines said. “This will likely end up in litigation. Florida statute 83.51 requires that the landlord provide a habitable property that’s up to code.”

“What we’ve seen in these pictures, with regards to both the interior and outside of the units are not, in my opinion, up to code. I think that we have a strong case, with regards to the unit’s being uninhabitable and untenable.”

Salcines has been urging parents to write letters to the landlord to protect themselves and begin building a defendable case to present in court. Florida law states that landlords have seven-days to fix an issue once a complaint is filed.

Some parents have turned to the University for help, as many found the Cloisters on the University’s off-campus resource page.

Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement Patricia A. Whitely provided TMH with a statement regarding the University’s involvement with the situation, as well as the help HRL is providing to students in dire circumstances.

“I have reached out to Landmark Properties on a number of occasions to advocate for our UM students, who have been significantly delayed in moving into the Cloisters and receiving the amenities promoted,” Whitely wrote. “Housing and Residential Life has a few beds available to assist students in their transition on campus, providing these rooms on a per diem basis with no deposit required.”

Tuesday morning the Cloisters posted to their resident’s portal alerting them that county inspectors will be on-site that day.

At the time of publication, TMH has reached out to Robert Fatora, an inspector at the Miami-Dade County Permitting and Inspection Center, but received no response.

The Cloisters Miami has also failed to respond to a request to comment.

TMH will continue to monitor the situation and provide live updates.

All photos in this article were contributed by Emma Higgins, and have not been personally verified by TMH.

Wheeler’s heroic last-second goal lifts ‘Canes soccer over Louisville 1-0

Jayden Gonzalez

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September 25, 2023

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Wheeler’s heroic last-second goal lifts ‘Canes soccer over Louisville 1-0

With two seconds left in the game, defender Reese Wheeler struck a left-footed rocket to the top left-center of the net, forcing Louisville goalie Erynn Floyd to stand by and watch her send the Cobb Stadium crowd into a frenzy as the Hurricanes (3-4-3, 2-1-0) beat Louisville (2-5-4, 1-1-1) 1-0 at the last minute Sunday afternoon.

Wheeler, the redshirt freshman and Florida native, scored her first career goal, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hurricanes. The game was stuck in a stalemate for 89+ minutes before Wheeler broke through.

Miami was pressured throughout most of the match, with Louisville on the attack nearly every possession. The Cardinals shot the ball 13 times and had six shots on target. The Hurricanes had only five shots the entire game.

Despite the constant Louisville attack, the ‘Canes defense stayed poised and defended well under pressure. Graduate student goalie Melissa Dagenais is doing her best of a brick wall, tallying six saves and a clean sheet against the relentless Cardinal offense.

Louisville’s closest chance to get on the board was in the 60th minute, where, after making the save, Dagenais lost possession of the ball in the middle of the open box. Louisville forward Mackenzie Geigle jumped on the chance and put it into the back of the net. Fortunately for Miami, the officials blew the play dead and called for a foul on the Cardinals, claiming contact with the goalie.

With the ball in Miami’s territory for much of the game, the Hurricanes had to capitalize on their few opportunities to get on the offense. Still, with only a few minutes left, things looked like the game would end in a scoreless draw.

Then, with 22 seconds left, the home side was awarded a throw-in on the other side of the pitch. Junior defender Adriana Serna found senior forward Katerina Molina, who took the ball to the edge of the end line before hitting an open Resse Wheeler. Wheeler saw her opportunity and didn’t miss the chance to make the most of it, hitting the back of the net and claiming victory over Louisville with the final whistle seconds away.

The ‘Canes continue their ACC play on Friday, September 29, against Florida State in Tallahassee at 7:00.

Miami volleyball splits first two ACC matches of the year

Quinn Sheehan

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September 25, 2023

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Miami volleyball splits first two ACC matches of the year

Miami entered the weekend with a 7-3 record as they kicked off conference play on the road. The Hurricanes went 1-1 on their road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Friday, followed by a 3-1 win against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Sunday.

The stars of the two matches for the ‘Canes were freshman Grace Lopez and sophomore Flormarie Heredia Colon. Despite the loss, Lopez, just a freshman, notched a career-high 22 kills against Wake Forest. She tallied 14 kills just two days later in the win over the Hokies. Heredia Colon scored double-digit kills in both matches, earning 11 on Friday and 19 on Sunday, respectively. Setter Savannah Vach set her teammates up for success in both competitions, having 50 and 49 assists in the respective matches.

In their loss to the Demon Deacons, Miami took the first set by a score of 25-21 but could not continue that momentum for the rest of the match as the Hurricanes dropped the following three sets and the game. However, the final three sets were tough fought as Miami lost the second and third sets by two and the last by five.

The attacking prowess of Paige Crawford, Ava Carney, and Emmy Ogogor was the primary catalyst to Miami’s defeat. The trio had 17, 15, and 10 kills, respectively, while having two serve aces a piece.

If not for a handful of errors on the Miami side, the ‘Canes could have pulled off the upset against a 10-2 Wake Forest team. Despite the loss, however, Miami stayed motivated and bounced back on Sunday.

The match against Virginia Tech went the opposite from Friday’s loss as Miami lost the first set before taking the last three to win the game, 3-1. After a 25-17 loss in the first set, the Hurricanes won two close sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-23. With a 2-1 lead and all the momentum, the ‘Canes closed the match with a decisive 25-11 win in the fourth set.

Coming off a key, in-conference road win, the ‘Canes sit at a record of 8-4 overall with an even 1-1 ACC record. Miami will return home to play another pair of conference opponents as they take on the Duke Blue Devils on September 29th, followed by a duel with the North Carolina Tar Heels on October 1st.

Takeaways from Miami’s win over Temple

Luke Sims

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September 25, 2023

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The 18th-ranked Miami Hurricanes moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2017 when they took care of business on a rainy Saturday in Philadelphia, defeating the Temple Owls 41-7. The defense and rushing attack showed up and carried Miami to a swift victory. The Temple offense had a tough time getting anything going, and for the most part, Miami’s offense ran unbridled in the inclement conditions.

Now, onto some takeaways:

The rushing attack can carry the offense

Temple is not known to have a terrific run defense. Still, the ‘Canes ran to the tune of 323 total yards. Henry Parrish Jr. led Miami with a whopping 139 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

“It was really really windy out there, making it a little bit tougher passing the ball,” Tyler Van Dyke told reporters after the game. “Good thing we can run the ball, hats off to the guys up front.”

After this victory, Miami moved to 12th in rushing yards per game (222.5) in the country. Donald Chaney Jr. got the start, and freshman Mark Fletcher Jr. received the second most carries. Both backs went for over 50 yards on the day.

Defensive line depth showed out

Starters Ahkeem Mesidor and Branson Deen were both out, so Rueben Bain Jr. and Jahfari Harvey got the start. Leonard Taylor III recorded one of Miami’s three sacks on the day. The defensive line was integral to holding Temple to 11 yards on the day. Temple was under pressure all day. The defensive line helped force three turnovers without two of its best players.

Tyler Van Dyke can be a rushing threat

It’s been back-to-back weeks where Van Dyke has been able to make plays with his legs. The Connecticut native was able to rush for a touchdown last week against Bethune-Cookman, and this week, again, he made a defense pay by using his legs on a 37-yard first-quarter carry.

“I felt slow but I saw nobody out there and just pulled it,” Van Dyke said. “I wish I could have gotten a little bit more out of that but 37 yards ain’t too bad.”

The big three receivers stayed consistent

Once again, Miami’s trio of wideouts filled up the stat sheet. Jacolby George led the way with 90 yards receiving, averaging 18 yards per reception. Xavier Restrepo was able to add two more touchdowns to go with seven receptions for 41 yards. Colbie Young showed off his athletic ability as he elevated for an impressive touchdown catch in the first half. This was another good day from the receiving core for the ‘Canes.

Other members of the secondary stepped up with Kinchens out

Veteran defensive back Te’Cory Couch was able to haul in two interceptions and was a huge difference-maker for the defense. Jaden Davis, a transfer from Oklahoma, led the team in tackles from his defensive back spot.

This was Couch’s first collegiate game with two INTs.

“I just give credit to all the guys around me, [defensive] line, linebackers, other [defensive backs] in the secondary,” Couch said. “I couldn’t do it without those guys so I just give those guys all the credit.”

Cristobal is not satisfied

“We left some meat on the bone out there,” Cristobal said. “Some good stuff, some bright spots but a lot of stuff to fix.”

Miami’s head coach is not content with the 4-0 record. The former Hurricane player wants more. This message of not being satisfied is reflected in his player’s words and attitudes as well.

“I feel like it gives us a lot of confidence but I don’t really like to look at it like that,” offensive lineman Anez Cooper said. “I just look at it like the next game because if you have too much confidence you feel like you are too good or something so we just focus on us and keep playing game-to-game.”

The undefeated Miami Hurricanes get a week of rest before they face off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Oct. 7th. Kick-off from Hard Rock Stadium is set for 8 p.m.

Gallery: Inter Miami Dominates Toronto, Wins 4-0

Jared Lennon

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September 25, 2023

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Gallery: Inter Miami Dominates Toronto, Wins 4-0

Inter Miami CF defeated Toronto FC 4-0 in their matchup at DRV PNK Stadium on September 20, 2023. Here’s a look back at the action:

Inter Miami fans pose before the start of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Miami forward Lionel Messi and midfielder Sergio Busquets chat during warmups before the start of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Miami forward Lionel Messi stands for the national anthem at the start of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Miami defender Tomás Avilés makes a tackle in the first half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Fans take photos and videos as Miami forward Lionel Messi prepares to take a corner kick in the first half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Miami forward/midfielder Robert Taylor replaces forward Lionel Messi in the 37th minute of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Toronto forward Lorenzo Insigne dribbles downfield in the first half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Miami forward/midfielder Robert Taylor celebrates his goal in the second half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremanshi dribbles past Toronto midfielder Alonso Coello in the second half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Miami players thank the supporters after their 4-0 win over Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Supporters celebrate Inter Miami's 4-0 win over Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023.

Miami dominates in first road game of the season, beats Temple 41-7

Charlotte Snoonian

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September 25, 2023

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Miami dominates in first road game of the season, beats Temple 41-7

The Miami Hurricanes are 4-0 for the first time since 2017 after a massive win on the road against Temple. The ‘Canes won 41-7 in Philadelphia, making this their 14th straight win against the Owls historically.

The No. 20 Hurricanes played a strong game on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke led the offense to 543 total yards, and the defense held the Temple Owls to 279 total yards, allowing only 11 rush yards and causing three turnovers.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal sees how the team’s hard work is paying off and knows the team will continue to improve.

“We’re getting better. We’re working hard. We’re focused on just getting better,” said Cristobal. “I do believe sky is the limit for this offense and this scheme.”

A slow start to the game ended the first quarter with Miami up only 7-0. The ‘Canes picked up speed early in the second quarter after Van Dyke connected with junior wide receiver Colbie Young for a 28-yard touchdown set up by fifth-year senior cornerback Te’Cory Couch’s first of two interceptions.

The second touchdown of the quarter was set up by yet another turnover, this time a fumble by the Owls’ sophomore quarterback E.J. Warner, after junior defensive lineman Thomas Gore forced it out of his hands. Junior running back Henry Parrish Jr. ran the ball in shortly following for a 13-yard score.

Answering their first score, freshman tight end Reese Clark put up six for Temple, bringing the score to 24-7 at the end of the first half.

Parrish started the second half for the ‘Canes with his second touchdown of the night. Temple had the opportunity to make some big plays after a good kickoff return, but a holding call brought the ball back, and graduate tight end Jordan Smith dropped a much-needed catch. An attempted fourth down conversion became Temple’s third turnover of the game after another interception by Couch.

After an incredible game by Couch, he is already focused on what’s to come with the team’s upcoming bye week.

“We can always get better. That’s why we’re using this bye-week to get better for one, and then once we get rolling again, take it week by week, game by game, and only focus on us, cause Miami can only beat Miami,” said Couch.

The ‘Canes lost two-star players to injuries on the same drive in the third quarter. Junior center Matt Lee suffered a leg injury, and Parrish sustained an arm injury, keeping both players sidelined for the rest of the game. Despite losing two players on this drive, Miami scored another touchdown with a 17-yard pass to junior wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. The score made this Van Dyke’s tenth career game with three or more passing touchdowns.

Confidence was a prominent theme for this ‘Canes team tonight, and Restrepo says this mindset is what makes plays happen.

“We’re just super confident. Every time we step on the field, whether it’s run or pass, I feel like our offense has evolved and whatever’s thrown at us, we just try to execute at the highest level,” said Restrepo.

Entering the fourth quarter with a 31-point lead over the Owls, the ‘Canes scored their last points of the game with a 39-yard field goal by junior Andres Borregales. Freshman quarterback Emory Williams took over for Van Dyke with 8:10 left to play in the fourth quarter.

Temple had an opportunity to score a second touchdown after a 28-yard reception by freshman wide receiver Xavier Irvin, a Miami native. However, the drive ended with a punt on fourth down with 18 yards to go.

The ‘Canes come off this big win, entering a bye week with time to recover and refocus. They face off in an ACC matchup against Georgia Tech at home on October 7th.

It’s time to regulate the internet, but are limits legal?

Ethan Mannello

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September 24, 2023

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It’s time to regulate the internet, but are limits legal?

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 definitely supported the fight 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 brand 2023 One Chip Challenge. The challenge dared participants to consume a singular chip created by Paqui that is flavored 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 verification 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 previously submitted birthdays. Meta, however, has been testing a new verification 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 verification 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 verification 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 verification besides requiring all users to submit a form of identification and that is a major privacy concern. There is no way to be sure what all this data from verification 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 verification mandates have limits on retention and disclosure of this data, significant 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 verification law.

None of this should stop the fight 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 fight to regulate the internet is an uphill battle that has just begun and is worth pursuing.

Ethan Mannello is a junior majoring in journalism with minors in political science and finance.

Hidden amongst the city: Revealing Miami’s hidden gems

Faith Jimenez

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September 23, 2023

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Hidden amongst the city: Revealing Miami’s hidden gems

Entrance to the Fairchild-Sweeney home located in the Kampong. — Entrance to the Fairchild-Sweeney House located in the Kampong.

From enjoying the Miami Beach sun to experiencing Cuban culture in Little Havana, these popular activities attract tourists from all over to this iconic city.

But what about the lesser-known sites? Here are 5 of Miami’s hidden gems that you should check out during your time at UM.

Madroño Restaurant

Founded in 1998, this family-owned restaurant ensures a delightful dining experience with its friendly staff and delicious food. Rated by the Miami New Times as the best Nicaraguan restaurant in the, El Madroño serves a variety of authentic Nicaraguan foods and drinks, from savory churrascos and pechugas de pollo to nacatamales and fresh cacao. Its simple, classy appearance creates an upscale atmosphere that anyone can enjoy, all for a reasonable price.

Check out their website for more details.

Robert is Here

Nicknamed the Disney World of fruit stands” by VisitFlorida, Robert is Here is a family-owned fruit market located in Homestead within Miami-Dade County. The market has flourished since it began in 1959 and now specializes in exotic fruits such as dragonfruit and jackfruit.

The market is also well-known for its delicious milkshakes, which come in various flavors like coconut, coffee and key lime. Behind the fruit market is a small animal farm and an aviary where visitors can watch and feed animals as they sip their drinks.

Cityplace Doral

Cityplace Doral has successfully cultivated an engaging space that hosts luxury movie theaters, beauty boutiques and a diverse set of high-quality restaurants. The shopping center’s chic appearance is just as impressive, achieved through modern and sleek buildings, illuminated fountains and light fixtures scattered throughout the plaza.

Cityplace Doral hosts countless events throughout the year, including live music, New Year celebrations and end-of-summer block parties.

The Kampong

Located in Biscayne Bay, The Kampong is home to various exotic trees, flowers and other horticultural rarities from over 50 countries. The garden’s enchanting flora and fruit sit upon the nine-acre estate of Dr. David Fairchild, a famous botanist who brought these plant varieties to the United States. The garden also acts as a center for plant research.

The Kampong is the perfect place for nature lovers to discover the diverse beauty of the environment. Guided and self-guided tour information can be found on their website.

The Ancient Spanish Monastery

Dubbed the “oldest building in the Western Hemisphere,” the Ancient Spanish Monastery, originally built in Spain, now stands in North Miami Beach after being moved in 1953. Dating back to 1141 A.D, its stained glass windows, intricately carved columns, statues and enchanting stone arches remain intact, now accompanied by beautiful gardens, courtyards and a museum. Within the museum, you will find many medieval artifacts, including pieces of armor originating from the Crusades.

The Monastery is an excellent way to peer into Ancient Spanish history in metropolitan Miami-Dade.

Hurricanes look to stay strong against Temple

Elliot Farr

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September 22, 2023

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Hurricanes look to stay strong against Temple

After winning their first three games to start their season, the Miami Hurricanes will head to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face the Temple University Owls on Saturday. The ‘Canes will look to start their season with four straight wins for the first time since 2017, where they finished 10-3 and placed as high as #2 in the AP Top 25 ranking during the year. Saturday’s matchup will be Miami’s first road game of the year and their final non-conference game before ACC play begins.

The Hurricanes are ranked No. 20 in the AP Top 25 rankings. They will build on an impressive start to Mario Cristobal’s second season as head coach after dominant wins against Miami University and Bethune-Cookman, especially a decisive upset of then-No. 23-ranked Texas A&M Aggies on September 9.

Saturday’s game will be the 15th meeting between the two schools, with Miami leading the all-time series 13-1. They last met on Oct. 15, 2005, when Miami cruised to a 34-3 victory over the Owls in Philadelphia.

The star for Miami in 2023 has been fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who has shown massive improvement in his abilities after enduring an injury-plagued and lackluster first season under Cristobal’s staff.

Fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke scrambles for a touchdown in the first quarter of Miami’s game versus Bethune Cookman at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 14, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Under the direction of new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, Van Dyke has fit seamlessly into Dawson’s scheme of pushing the ball downfield, greatly helped by the return of many key pieces on offense, namely wide receivers Xavier Restrepo, Colbie Young and Jacolby George. Van Dyke has 822 passing yards and nine touchdowns so far, as well as a stellar 94.0 Pro Football Focus rating that eclipses all other college quarterbacks in the nation.

After Miami’s rousing win over Texas A&M, Dawson explained his philosophy on offense in simple terms, stating, “When you get conservative, you get beat.”

On defense, a question mark remains as multiple prominent names are yet to officially return to the lineup from injuries from the past two weeks. Notably, defensive linemen Branson Deen, Akheem Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly all sat out against Bethune-Cookman due to injuries sustained, and junior safety Kamren Kinchens, an All-American in 2022, continues to recover after suffering an injury from a big hit in Miami’s win over Texas A&M.

Junior safety Kamren Kinchens runs for a 28-yard return in the third quarter of Miami’s game versus Texas A&M at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

The Temple Owls currently stand at 2-1 and are second in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) to start the season, with their most recent matchup resulting in a 41-9 defeat of the Norfolk State Spartans in Philadelphia. The Owls’ starting quarterback, E.J. Warner, has 760 passing yards and four touchdowns to start his season, along with Temple’s top receiver, Dante Wright, having 185 receiving yards.

The Hurricanes will look to keep their strong start to the season going as they head on the road to Philadelphia and face the Owls this Saturday, Sept. 23. Kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field will take place at 3:30 p.m.

Dominant second half pushes Inter Miami past Toronto FC

Shea Mcdonald

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September 22, 2023

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Dominant second half pushes Inter Miami past Toronto FC

Coming off its first loss since June to Atlanta United, Inter Miami returned to DRV PNK Stadium to face off against Toronto FC. With Lionel Messi, who had been out of the lineup for the last two games due to international play and rest, Miami defeated Toronto 4-0.

Heading into the match, Miami made a change in its system, moving towards a lineup that featured five backs as it sought to free up space for Jordi Alba and Deandre Yedlin and allow them to push the pace. The change seemed to work, allowing Miami to put pressure on Toronto and create several good shots early for Messi and Joseph Martinez, but they were not capitalized on.

While the change had its offensive benefits, it caused early struggles on the defensive end, leaving open lanes for Toronto to get some breakaway chances. This included a moment around the 12th minute when Toronto’s Deandre Kerr had two shot attempts on goal, the second of which bounced off the inside of the right post and out.

Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender makes a stop in the seventh minute of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

While this happened several more times, great plays from defender Tomas Aviles in Miami’s back line as well as some sloppy play from Toronto allowed Miami to prevent Toronto from scoring.

Concern arose late into the first half for Miami as Alba and Messi suffered injuries and did not play for the remainder of the match.

Miami coach Gerardo Martino noted after the game that neither injury appeared to be serious and suggested that they seemed to be fatigue related.

Robert Taylor, who subbed in for Messi, relayed that Miami “had to step up.” He, along with several others from Miami did just that.

In the absence of Messi and Alba, Miami’s depth and youth came out to play, breaking the game open. In the 48th minute, Tomás Romero broke up a cross, but the ball ricocheted, and Facundo Farias sent a strike into the back of the goal to put Miami up 1-0, igniting a crowd that had gone silent due to Messi’s injury and sending Miami into the locker room with momentum.

Miami midfielder Facundo Farías celebrates his goal in the first half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

In the 54th minute, Taylor sent an absolute beauty of a goal to give Miami a comfortable cushion at 2-0. After receiving the pass, Taylor took the ball across the outside of the penalty box and struck across his body and into the left corner of the net.

Miami’s offense did not stop there, as in the 73^rd minute, 18-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi led a run outpacing Toronto’s defense before finishing it off into the left corner of the goal.

Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi scores a goal in the second half of Inter Miami’s match versus Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 20, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Then, in the 86th minute, Taylor sent another strike off the chip from Farias to put the finishing touches on Miami’s rout of Toronto.

The win moves Miami up the Eastern Conference now to 13th but, just five points behind DC United, who currently sits at ninth and holds the final playoff spot in the East. Miami will travel to face Orlando City on Sunday but will be without Messi and Alba as Martino confirmed.

Resilience only goes so far: Why we can’t save Florida

Lia Mussie

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September 22, 2023

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Resilience only goes so far: Why we can’t save Florida

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 gentrification 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 gentrification 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 of the county uninhabitable.

Research group Climate Central projects worst-case scenarios for 2100 in Downtown Miami and nearby residential neighborhoods to experience near-constant street and first-floor flooding. 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 young-adult 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 gentrification 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 flooding. 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 low-income 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 inflated 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 flood-prone buildings. These efforts are minimal and are not likely to result in significant change.

The political divide between the left and right is stark, especially as elected officials 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.

Lia Mussie is a senior majoring in ecosystem science and policy and political science with minors sustainable business and public health.

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