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Echevarria might not be Frenk’s academically, but his appointment brings optimism

Ethan Mannello
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Echevarria might not be Frenk’s academically, but his appointment brings optimism

Joe Echevarria’s appointment on Friday morning was unprecedented. The full-time president position was filled internally and had only been vacant for four months.

Echevarria was unanimously endorsed by the Board of Trustees and has strong support from the rest of the UM community, according to the university, but he still has massive shoes to fill. 

Former President Julio Frenk left an irreplaceable mark on the university, with an impressive record of academic achievements.

While Echevarria is no Frenk when it comes to academics, he has an impressive background that sets him up to serve UM well. His leadership and familiarity with the university are also undeniable. While his lack of academic experience is concerning, especially since the university has struggled in academic rankings recently, the community should be optimistic about Echevarria’s appointment.  

Frenk’s shining moment was leading the university through the pandemic with a steady hand. The university offered both in-person and remote instruction during the 2020-2021 school year, which only 30% of higher education institutions did. His protocols and precautions also resulted in no recorded cases of “in-classroom transmission of the virus” through that entire academic year, according to News@theU. 

He raised over $2 billion for his Ever Brighter campaign and earned the university membership into the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious research group composed of only 71 universities.

This raises the reputation and prestige of this university tremendously, gives UM access to more research funds and grants. The AAU website states that AAU members perform the majority of federal funded academic research and development and were awarded more than $31 billion for it in 2021.

While Frenk was succeeding in the background, he had almost no on-campus presence with students. In my three years under Frenk, I never once met or spoke to him and I was unaware of any events he hosted to get to know him.

Both Patricia Whitely, the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Guillermo Prado, the interim provost, hosted multiple events interacting with students during each school year, but Frenk never made these efforts. 

Echevarria is already drawing a strong contrast to this as he was in the locker room after the football team’s win over Louisville this weekend, something Frenk would never do. Echevarria may not compare to Frenk in terms of academic accomplishments, but he brings a different skillset to the table. 

After graduating from the UM in 1978, Echevarria worked his way up the ranks at Deloitte LLP, one of the largest consulting firms in the world. After over 30 years at the company, he took on the role of CEO in 2011, leading the company for three years until his retirement. 

As CEO, Echevarria managed one of the “Big Four” accounting firms, overseeing many of Deloitte’s about 200,000 employees at the time. This alone speaks volumes about his leadership and loyalty qualities, but he also knows the “U.” 

Echevarria returned to UM as an alumni to sit on the board of trustees in 2012. He then held multiple advisory roles to Frenk before being appointed CEO of UHealth in 2020. Two years later, he would become CEO of the whole university, a role Echevarria was the first to hold. 

“Joe Echevarria, our exemplary CEO and an incomparable leader, has been absolutely essential to navigating every crisis and challenge we have overcome during my tenure as president,” Frenk said after stepping down. 

This is a ringing endorsement of Echevarria but also shows a reassuring trend. Echevarria worked closely with Frenk, giving him not just familiarity with running the university, but also hands-on experience with the leader who helped bring the university to where it is today.

Echevarria’s business expertise could also be a skill of his that proves invaluable. UM is more of a business than most universities, receiving more than 60% of revenue from UHealth and medical professional practice according to the 2023 president’s report. Echevarria has not only been the CEO of UHealth since 2020, he has expanded UHealth tremendously. 

UHealth just recently opened a new medical center in Doral and will open up another medical center in North Miami in 2025. It is also expanding the UHealth tower and UHealth Boca Raton in coming years, among many other growth initiatives. Leaders on the UHealth side of UM have spoken highly of Echevarria throughout the selection process and commended his selection at the recent Board of Trustees meeting.

His expertise doesn’t just help with managing the business aspect of the university, but also making it more efficient. UM is more popular than ever, but while applications are rising and acceptance rates are dropping, the university has many inefficiencies. 

The Miami Hurricane has documented multiple different issues the university has faced over the past couple of years including lack of housing, financial aid and communication from the University. A president who has experience running a large private firm could be exactly what UM needs to make it more efficient and fix these problems.

Besides UHealth, Echevarria garnered broad support from most other faculty and leadership. This support included the General Welfare Committee of the Faculty Senate and the student trustee according to UM professor and first vice chair of the faculty senate Scotney Evans, but not everyone is onboard. 

His biggest drawback is he has never worked in higher education or academia before being appointed to the board of trustees and some are concerned.

The Miami Herald reported that some professors, speaking anonymously, are worried about how his lack of an academic background will affect his leadership. It is not hard to understand why. The business world is much different than the world of education, a point Benjamin Ginsberg, a political science professor at John Hopkins, argued in a 2016 New York Times op-ed.

“First, most business people believe in a management hierarchy, while universities function best in a state of managerial anarchy.” said Ginsberg, “The purpose of a college or university is to promote new thinking, new ideas and new perspectives. In this way, innovation and hierarchy are incompatible.”

Ginsberg also highlighted the fact that most business leaders have a “pseudo-practical orientation,” meaning they are focused on where an activity can take you, not what it gives you. 

For example, when choosing a major, business minded-students are more focused on what jobs the major sets them up for as opposed to the skills it helps them build. They choose majors like accounting and finance, that can lead to jobs that are directly related, as opposed to a philosophy major, who is learning how to think, but has no set career path. 

Still, university presidents who come from outside of academia and higher education are not uncommon. In 2018, Inside Higher Ed reported more than 40% of university presidents had never held a tenured or tenure-track-eligible position in academia. 

A 2023 Arkansas State University study found that university presidents with business backgrounds are often more business and turnaround-driven than their academic counterparts. 

This means they are often hired to help their institutions financially or “try something different.” They also treat the university as a business. The students are the customer and the education is the product.

But the study also found these presidents to be driven by the mission of the university when they have ties to it, as Echevarria does. These presidents feel a “love” for their institution’s mission, study body and faculty. They never had a desire to become president, but feel the need to give back. 

It isn’t hard to see why some may be hesitant about this appointment, but Echevarria is more than qualified. As the “U” turns into its second century and is growing more and more, a business-minded president could be exactly what the University needs.

Why Joe Echevarria will continue to set UM on the right path

Kyle Bolton
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Why Joe Echevarria will continue to set UM on the right path

University of Miami students were shocked by the sudden departure of university president Julio Frenk this past summer. As UM approached its centennial year, students were left in a frenzy with no president to lead us through this pivotal period. Despite initial worries over who would take the reins of president, Joe Echevarria stepped in as interim president and has done a superb job. He was appointed full-time president on Friday, and he is more than deserving of his new role as UM’s seventh president. 

No one is more suited for the job than Echevarria. As a UM alumni and working under Frenk, Echevarria is equipped with the passion and dedication UM needs to achieve its goals. This opportunity is a special chance for Echevarria to continue the legacy former presidents left behind him. 

Being a UM alumni is meaningful to Echevarria, as he genuinely wants UM to succeed. His care for the school cannot be replicated due to his willingness to offer his time and will to UM during a time when others would typically retire. Instead of focusing on his own time, he wants to continue his legacy at UM and further advance its achievements. Over the last decade, he has already made meaningful changes that have improved student life. 

Echevarria’s work serving in various advisory positions to President Frenk and his time on the Board of Trustees since 2012 underscores the substantial impact he has already had on UM. Notably, Echevarria assisted President Frenk during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most challenging times for higher education institutions across the country. Echevarria observed how UM navigated through difficult times, which is crucial if the university were to experience another crisis. 

“Joe Echevarria, our exemplary CEO and an incomparable leader, has been absolutely essential to navigating every crisis and challenge we have overcome during my tenure as president,” said President Frenk. 

Echevarria enters during a critical time for UM. As the university approaches its centennial year, it has set ambitious goals for improving the university, such as continuing academic excellence and compelling technological innovation. 

President Frenk led an exceptional tenure at UM that created an inclusive environment, fostering student growth and productivity. Having an individual who was close to him during important decisions at UM is essential for continuing UM on its path to completing a successful centennial year. Echevarria’s familiarity with the groundwork President Frenk set at UM will allow the university to continue on a stable trajectory, whereas bringing in a brand new face could disrupt UM’s progress.

“In his role as the University’s CEO and acting president, Echevarria has already compiled an impressive list of achievements—among them, investing in basic science, working with the faculty on enhancements to compensation, advancing the institution’s strategic plan, and developing a financial model for the University’s schools and colleges,” said Robert C. Jones Jr., a senior editor at UM. 

Echevarria also has an extensive business and professional background. He served as the CEO of Deloitte LLP from 2011 to 2014, dedicating 36 years to the company and holding several senior positions. Deloitte is regarded as one of the top financial firms in the world, and Echevarria was tasked with leading the helm of this elite company. Through this experience, Echevarria has gained invaluable skills that will be beneficial as he transitions to a position of such magnitude as president of UM.

His background will serve UM well, providing a repertoire of experience and knowledge in numerous fields that are essential for student development and campus productivity. 

“Echevarria’s leadership is undeniable,” said third-year student Donald Siudmak, majoring in biology. “I did my research on him when he was announced as interim president, and I am very happy that he is the seventh president of the university. I hope to see him on campus and listen to him speak.”

Echevarria is tasked with carrying on a great legacy during a crucial year. During times of such dramatic change, it is common for there to be some difficulty involving a smooth switch. These challenges can make some speculate about UM’s ability to accomplish its centennial year goals during an unexpected midsummer presidential switch. 

Despite these concerns, Echevarria is undoubtedly the right successor to President Frenk. With his experience and knowledge, he can lead UM to an excellent centennial year and pioneer innovations that will pave the way for future achievements for which UM is bound. 

You should care about our new president

Janay Blakely
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You should care about our new president

In case you missed the announcement on Friday Oct. 18, the University of Miami officially has a new president – Joe Echevarria.

If the name sounds familiar, that is because it should. Echevarria has been active in UM leadership for over a decade and became interim president after Julio Frenk stepped down in June. 

Many are asking questions about his top priorities for the University and if his business background qualifies him for the job. But, why should we as students care who the president is?

While we as students most likely will have few face-to-face interactions with the president, his decisions ultimately still affect us. If you are invested in the general direction and culture of the University, then you should care about who is running things for accountability’s sake. It is impossible to praise, critique, or make requests of leadership when you don’t know who they are.

According to the U.S. News, the primary responsibilities of a college president involve deciding on and implementing overall leadership strategy, fundraising/budgeting and helping set overall campus structure. — all of which are very important, but don’t necessarily impact the day-to-day life of the average student.

The University of Miami in recent years has worked to distinguish itself from other institutions of higher learning. On June 1, 2023, our University became one of the newest members of the esteemed Association of American Universities. Additionally, UM continues to aid the local Miami and global communities through medical innovations, receive top-tier accolades for our athletics and have resources that help support our multicultural student body. 

All of these things are, of course, carried out by the hard-working leaders, faculty, staff and students of our campus but the vision that sets them into motion comes from our president. 

Part of the reason why we come to UM, aside from the education, is the plethora of opportunities, such as access to a huge network as well as internship and employment connections, that are made available because we belong to this community. Many of those doors are accessible because of the actions of UM’s leadership, which is now spearheaded by President Echeverria. 

As we approach our 100th year, the University has lofty goals identified in the ‘Roadmap To Our New Century’ ushered in by former President Frenk. Items such as new and improved housing, and greater academic resources and support do not happen without the backing of the President.

If you are dedicated to the success and culture of the university and want to hold people accountable for what does and doesn’t get accomplished, then Joe Echevarria matters to you.

Hurricanes and global warming: separating fact from fiction

Diana Moschetti
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Hurricanes and global warming: separating fact from fiction

With the Florida peninsula being struck consecutively by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, residents are questioning whether human-driven factors play a role in these types of events.

However, the main issue is not the frequency of these events but rather the way both swiftly escalated in intensity. Both systems underwent rapid intensification (RI) in the Gulf of Mexico, a process that allows hurricanes to strengthen significantly over a short period. 

Michael Fischer, an assistant professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, points out that warming ocean temperatures are crucial to understanding just how powerful hurricanes can get.

 “That’s kind of their main energy source, drawing heat from the ocean,” Fischer said.  

Higher water temperatures increase evaporation rates, which provides storms with additional moisture to their intensification. 

“We’re lengthening the window over which we can potentially see tropical cyclones,” Fischer said. “As well as raising the ceiling for how strong these storms can get.” 

Sophia Galindo, a senior majoring in ecosystem science, explained that these changes are reflective of a worsening climate. 

“The water isn’t just getting warmer to make beach days more enjoyable — it’s the biggest warning sign that things are going south,” Galindo said.

Global warming is occurring, but it’s unclear whether it directly accounts for this spike.

In early 2023, the Atlantic Ocean began experiencing a rise in water temperatures, with no definitive explanation yet. While many have been quick to question if this is linked to climate change, there is not enough research to confirm that claim as a fact.

“There’s a very slowly growing change due to global warming, but this is just a big jump up,” said David Nolan, an atmospheric science professor at the Rosenstiel School. “Nobody has a documented published reason for that at this time.” 

“Very very fast intensifications have happened before,” Nolan said. “I don’t like it when you look at Hurricane Milton and say ‘Wow, that intensified. . . .  because of global warming.’ That could’ve happened 50 years ago.”

Rainfall patterns and storm surges are directly influenced by global warming

When systems accelerate, they tend to produce more extreme conditions. Specifically, storms that rapidly intensify are more likely to experience elevated rainfall, storm surge and wind speed, creating a range of safety hazards.

“It is well established that a warmer atmosphere is capable of holding more water vapor that could lead to heavier rainfalls,” said Micahel Fischer. “And so it makes sense that as the atmosphere warms, you potentially see more storms like Helene that produce devastating events.” 

In addition to heavy rainfall, rising sea levels due to global warming heighten storm surge risks, leading to more severe flooding and coastal damage. In recent years, sea levels have risen between six inches and a foot — an increase that may seem small but can be crucial. 

 “If it’s the difference between whether ocean water comes into your house or not, you know that’s a big difference,” said Nolan. 

Looking ahead, hurricane intensification is expected to rise due to global warming.

“Knowing how climate change is going to affect us certainly gives me some anxiety,” says junior ecosystem science major Alexa Smith. “As students at the University of Miami, many of us are fortunate enough to have resources to remove ourselves from these unsafe situations; many people in Florida don’t. I know that students will joke to make light of situations like these, but we also need to remember to have empathy at this time.” 

“Based on climate models, there is a general consensus that with climate change, we may experience fewer storms overall, but they may be more intense in the future,” said Samantha Nebylitsa, a Ph.D. student at the Rosenstiel School whose research focuses on RI. 

With Hurricane Milton demonstrating a record-breaking drop in pressure before landfall, it’s possible that warming waters may contribute to how future systems evolve.

 “If we’re raising the theoretical ceiling for how strong storms can get, we could maybe see more storms like Milton that are like the top five lowest pressures that we’ve ever measured,” Fischer said.

The Electoral College safeguards democracy

Lazaro Chavez
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The Electoral College safeguards democracy

The Electoral College, originally created as a compromise between the founding fathers, consisting of 538 electors is America’s unique way of selecting its commander in chief.

Though a national popular vote might seem like a natural choice, given how much Americans tout about their freedom, American democracy has been preserved because of the Electoral College. The Electoral College is far from being outdated, despite what some may believe. Instead, the Electoral College ensures that every state, regardless of size and population, has a voice and prevents the loud voices of a few from overpowering the voices of many.

Although the Electoral College has been discussed as flawed by its critics, the founders had their reasons for not installing a more “democratic” system.

It was James Madison, a founding father and the nation’s fifth president, who warned in the Federalist Papers about the dangers of a pure democracy, citing that these have historically been plagued by unrest and conflict. He noted that, although pure democracies foster free and open discourse, they have often gone down the path of totalitarianism where the minority of people have little to no protection from being overpowered by the majority. 

The results of a popular vote system could be a disaster. Densely populated states like California, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania hold roughly 50% of the nation’s population. These states alone could decide an election in a national popular vote system, leaving smaller states to virtually have no power in who leads the nation. In the electoral system, however, they make up only 131 of the 538 electors, allowing for more than just these five highly populated states to have the final say. 

This issue pushed Nevada and Maine to not join the The National Popular Vote compact in 2019, an agreement between the states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote nationwide rather than their states.

“Once effective, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact could diminish the role of smaller states like Nevada in national electoral contests and force Nevada’s electors to side with whoever wins the nationwide popular vote, rather than the candidate Nevadans choose,” said then Democratic Governor of Nevada Steve Sisolak.

The Electoral College forces candidates to direct their policies to more states than just the most densely populated. While Democrats have a hold on states like New York and California, the Electoral College requires them to pay attention to the other states that are not in their secured column. The same applies to Republicans: they hold heavy power in states in the south like Alabama and Arkansas but also focus their attention on battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan. 

The Electoral College gives citizens in some of the more diverse states like Wisconsin and Georgia a chance to be heard, even if the issues most important to them are not being touted nationwide by the candidates.

A counterargument many opponents of this system have pointed to is that it is simply undemocratic. Chris DeRosa, chair of the Department of History and Anthropology at Monmouth University, argues that big states have less value than small states and by value, he means votes. 

DeRosa used Washington D.C., which is not a state but is treated like a small one in the Electoral cCollege, as an example. “More people live in D.C. than in Wyoming, the least populous state in the union; but they both get three electoral votes,” DeRosa said. 

In addition, five times in the nation’s history a president has been elected that the majority of Americans did not vote for. The first time was 1824 with John Q. Adams and was most recently with Donald Trump in 2016. 

Proponents claim that these men have been able to win because of this flawed system; therefore it enables people who don’t have a majority of support to become president. But that’s not necessarily the case, after all our system allows us to replace the president every four years. 

Adams lost reelection four years later in 1828, as did Trump in 2020. The candidate who lost the popular vote can also do a good enough job during their first term, they end up becoming the “people’s choice.” President George W. Bush won the popular vote and a second term in 2004 by roughly 2% over Senator John Kerry after losing the popular vote to Al Gore in 2000 by the same margin.

In addition to that, in 54 out of 59 elections; the candidate that has received the most votes nationwide has won the election. In the cases where this didn’t happen, the margins between the candidates were between 2% and 1% or less, with 1824 being the exception with roughly 10 percent between Adams and Jackson. 

Others have argued against the Electoral College because of the disaster that can happen when there is a tie. When this happens, congress is tasked with picking the president rather than the people. This has only happened twice, in 1800, and more notably in 1824 when Andrew Jackson won the popular vote and most of the electoral votes, but not the majority required to win. The House of Representatives were forced to choose who would be the next commander in chief, and they chose Adams, who came in second both in the popular vote and the electoral college.

While this was an obvious exception to the people’s will, The Heritage Foundation, a think tank based in Washington D.C., noted that that the Electoral College has done a good job protecting the country from the “tyranny of the majority.” It argues that it has preserved the ideals of federalism that are core to our country, by ensuring that everyone from all walks of life, backgrounds and states get a say in how our nation is run, creating a federal government that people can get behind. 

They also warn that a national popular vote election could result in one vote from a single person anywhere in the country could shift the results of an election, which has the same problem that many claim about the electoral college, where someone that the majority of Americans didn’t want ends up with the job.

Imagine if that system were in place for this election. As of Oct. 14, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Trump are neck and neck in the national polls. With a national popular vote system, given how divided the nation’s politics are today as Pew Research Center has discussed, a recount of such a race could be a disaster, possibly taking longer than the month-long recount in the 2000 presidential race. 

In a national popular vote system, every vote nationwide would be recounted, meaning that the nation could be without a president for an extended period of time. In addition, there could be potential issues that the nation could face during this time, such as national security threats. 

The 9/11 Commission had found that part of the reason that the terrorist’s plans had gone unnoticed was because of the 2000 election. Neither Gore nor Bush had the time to plan for their possible national security advisors nor get key positions filled, which is why the attacks were not caught until it was too late. 

The Electoral College has ensured that all states have a voice regardless of size. Protecting the nation from the fears of the founding fathers regarding tyranny of the majority, upholding the principles of federalism. 

Get to know the six amendments on Florida’s ballot

Martina Pantaleon
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This November, Floridians will vote on six proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution, including referendums on abortion and marijuana usage after more than a year from their approval and over 900,000 signatures each. All proposed measures need to win 60% support from voters to amend the constitution. 

Amendment Four: Limit Government Interference with Abortion

Reproductive rights have been a point of contention since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, and 21 states have banned or restricted abortion, including Florida, which has had a 6-week abortion ban in place since May 1, 2024.

“Amendment Four is working to stop the harm that’s been done by Florida’s extreme abortion ban. It’s trying to take the government out of my body,” said Nora Engel, a freshman majoring in English. 

“People have been getting different kinds of abortions for the longest time. Back alley abortions are not new. When people are not able to go to a medical professional, they just find other ways. And those ways are more likely to harm than help,” Engel said.

Amendment Four would prohibit the state of Florida from interfering with a woman’s decision to have an abortion up to viability, known as the stage 24 weeks into fetal development where a fetus can survive outside of the womb with standard medical procedures. If the woman and her medical care provider decide that an abortion is needed after viability, then the state would not be able to interfere either. 

This amendment would not override the 2004 ruling that requires parental notification for minors seeking an abortion.

“All this amendment is doing is recognizing that a strict law against abortions is just going to lead to more harm. There’s a lot of misinformation about Amendment Four and people need to get educated cause this is about more than just abortions it’s about control,” Engel said.

Associations such as Floridians Protecting Freedom, a group of organizations partnering to ensure that all Floridians are able to choose what is best for them, support Amendment Four.

 “We believe that the people of Florida should have the freedom to make their personal health care decisions – including abortion – without interference from politicians,” the Floridians Protecting Florida website says.

Other organizations, such as Florida Family Voice, a Christian organization whose mission is to protect life, marriage, family and liberty through education, oppose it.

On their flier, Florida Family Voice warns about the amendment’s language. “This broad and undefined language would invalidate and repeal almost every commonsense law in Florida regulating abortion, making abortion the only medical service almost completely exempt from any legal health and safety regulations that could be deemed to ‘delay or restrict abortion.’”

Amendment Three: Marijuana Legalization Initiative

With over 1 million citizen signatures, Amendment Three seeks to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults over 21, as Florida is already one of 14 states that allow the medical use of it. If the amendment is passed, personal possession would be legal up to three ounces and medical centers would be able to sell it with added tax value.

Supporters of the amendment, including Smart and Safe Florida, point to the state’s estimated $195.6 million annual tax revenue and income from tourism as reasoning that Florida could benefit from this amendment. 

Those who oppose it, such as My Florida Green, an organization that works alongside physicians to help patients obtain their Florida Medical Marijuana Cards, argue that recreational marijuana should not be mixed with medical programs since it will cause confusion. 

“It’s not fair for a recreational bill or movement to step on the heads of the people who are sick, who are debilitated, who are funding these dispensaries. Those dispensaries are taking that money to foot a bill to create a recreational movement to create a profit,” said Nick Garulay, founder and CEO of My Florida Green, in an interview with Fox 4.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned during a press event in Davie, “This state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and counties. It will reduce the quality of life.” 

Vote No on 3, a coalition formed by parents, teachers and law enforcement officials among others, says that big corporations spent over $75 million to sponsor the bill and ban homegrown marijuana to increase their profit. 

“It’s corporate greed, not freedom,” says the Vote No on 3 website.

Amendment One: Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards

Amendment One would cause school board elections to follow the guidelines of other local office elections by including political party labels on the ticket alongside each candidate and requiring Republican and Democrat primary elections to nominate them.

Only registered voters affiliated with a party would vote during School Board elections, excluding the 40% of Americans who currently identify as having “No Party Affiliation”. 

“For me, it’s about transparency, and I simply believe that we have an obligation to give voters as much information about a candidate as possible, and let them make a decision about vetting a candidate,” said Rep. Spencer Roach, the sponsor of the amendment.

Opponents wish for school boards to remain non-partisan and highlight the number of people who would not be able to vote if the amendment passes. Among them is the Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit research institute that explains the impact of policies on Florida residents and businesses.

According to the League of Women Voters of Florida’s website, “Schools should not be politicized and everyone should be welcome at schools regardless of party affiliation.” 

Amendment Two: Right to Fish and Hunt

Amendment Two would protect the state constitutional right to fish and hunt and categorize both activities and all methods of performing them as a public right and the preferred means to manage fish and wildlife populations. This would not limit the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which focuses on protecting and managing wild animal life.

Humane Wildlife Consulting of South Florida, American Ecosystems Inc. and Animal Wellness Action, among others, state that this amendment would endanger biodiversity and allow hunters to intrude on private property.

However, for organizations such as the American Sportfishing Association, All Florida and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, maintaining the tradition of fishing and hunting and protecting it from future bans is essential.

Amendment Five: Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions

Amendment Five would base the tax exemption of homesteads valued between $50,000 and $75,000 on the Consumer Price Index instead of giving homeowners a flat $25,000 bonus. CPI stands for the average price change of a basket of goods and services purchased per household. As the CPI changes annually, the amount would be adjusted. School district taxes would not be affected.

The Revenue Estimating Conference predicted that $22.8 million would be deducted from non-school local taxes in 2025-2026 and could go up to $111.8 million in 2027-2028.

The majority of the Florida Legislature supports Amendment Five, saying that it would encourage homeownership and lead to more savings for those applying for homestead exemptions.

Opponents to the bill, such as The Florida League of Cities, claim it would take revenue away from local governments and force them to tax elsewhere.

Amendment Six: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement 

Currently, the Florida Constitution states that candidates for statewide office will receive public financing for their campaign if they adhere to spending restrictions. Under Amendment Six, this would be removed.

Supporters include the majority of the Florida Legislature and State Senator Travis Hutson. They argue that Florida’s general fund would be better spent on projects such as education or infrastructure.

“I think it’s absurd that anybody would be able to use taxpayer dollars for the purposes of campaigning,” Hutson told the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections.

Opponents to the amendment, including Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of Florida, state that it would decrease the diversity of candidates by removing essential funding and encouraging the coercive influence of wealthy corporations.

The Electoral College needs to be buried

Daniel Gregor
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The Electoral College needs to be buried

UM students who aren’t from Florida face a tricky decision this voting season: where to register to vote. This conundrum is largely because of the unique system of presidential election in this country, the Electoral College.

The Electoral College is a group of 538 delegates, called electors, who cast their vote for president. When citizens vote for a candidate, they are technically voting for a candidate’s preferred electors. The candidate who wins the popular vote in each state is awarded all of the electors in that state, except for Maine and Nebraska.

Because of this system, it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote, which occurs when a majority of citizens across the country vote for said candidate, but lose the Electoral College, thus losing the election.

This has happened 5 times in U.S. history, most recently in the 2016 Presidential Election, where Republican Donald Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton with 304 electoral votes to 227, even though Clinton garnered 2.8 million more individual votes. This was largely due to Trump’s success in key swing states, including Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania. 

The Electoral College undermines a truly fair and competitive election. For example, a republican vote in New York has virtually no impact on most elections, as that state hasn’t been won by a Republican since 1984. Similarly, a state like Kansas has committed all of its electoral votes to Republicans since 1968. However, for the several swing states that emerge in each election, each vote matters more.

In a smaller and simpler America, when the Constitution was created and people lacked resources to educate themselves on politics, the Electoral College was an ingenious compromise. However, nowadays, no matter how educated people choose to be, the idea that low-information voters should not be able to make choices is anti-democratic. 

A democracy should always represent the will of the people, otherwise it ceases to serve its purpose. The Founding Fathers also had to appease the Southern states’ reliance on slavery, which is no longer an institution today. An Electoral College (with the Three-fifths Compromise) gave the South more influence than a potential popular vote. 

The Electoral College is severely outdated, it is time to bury it and use a new system of the popular vote.

James Wilson, one of the Founding Fathers, believed that a popular election was the ideal voting method. He trusted the average American, claiming that they were naturally good and would selflessly pick the best leader. 

The other Founding Fathers had a different idea. They thought that Americans would not have enough information to intelligently pick the best candidate, so they created the Electoral College, entrusting the final choice of the president to electors. 

This is not the case today. We now live in an information age — everything is accessible at our fingertips. Social media and news sources relay breaking news that can even be less than minutes old. Access to information and becoming an informed voter is not a problem in our elections anymore and people make the choice if they want to be informed or not — a luxury many in the era of the Founding Fathers didn’t have.

When the Founding Fathers debated the ideal voting system, the Southerners objected to a popular vote as well, worrying they would have less power. About 40% of the South’s population were slaves who could not vote, and the number of free white men in the South was far less than in the North.

At the time, slave labor was the backbone of the economy in the South. As James Madison famously quoted, “The right of suffrage was much more diffusive in the Northern than the Southern States; and the latter could have no influence in the election on the score of the Negroes.”

This problem resulted in the Three-fifths Compromise, or for purposes of designating representatives and calculating taxes, slaves would count as 3/5 of a person. 

We no longer live in a time of slavery. Since the structure of the Electoral College was based on numerous compromises regarding institutions that no longer exist — namely the Three-fifths Compromise — it is flawed and there is no need for it anymore.

On the other hand, a switch to a popular vote would drastically alter the dynamic of presidential campaigning. Candidates generally invest far more time, money, and effort into campaigning in certain swing states than in states that are solid blue or red. For example, in Pennsylvania, a swing state in the 2024 election, Donald Trump spent $132.1 million in advertisements (March to September 2024), compared to $31.2 million in the rest of the country. 

With a popular vote, candidates are likely to visit densely populated areas, such as cities, in order to reach the most people at once. They are less likely to campaign in rural areas where there are fewer people, thus making residents of these areas feel underrepresented, but that is not the case. Rural areas and smaller states are actually overrepresented and switching to the popular vote would move everyone to an equal playing field. 

The number of electors each state has is equal to the sum of their seats in the House plus Senate. The number of seats in Congress was decided by the Great Compromise of 1787, which created a bicameral national legislature: one that had an equal number of representatives (as requested by the smaller states) and one that had representatives proportional to its population (as requested by the larger states).

Therefore, the Electoral College gives residents of smaller states significantly more voting power than residents of large states. Due to the partition of electoral college votes, a singular electoral vote represents 195,000 people in Wyoming (the least populated US state), but more than 700,000 people in the most populous states of Texas, Florida, or California. In other words, a vote in Wyoming has 3.6 times more power than a vote in California. 

How can all Americans be treated equally if the vote of one holds more significance than the vote of another? They can’t. 

The Electoral College was an ingenious idea in the 1700s, however, it was made for a society that is far different than it is today. A better way to elect a president would be with a popular vote, equally valuing every American’s voice.

Hurricanes’ defense must step up in pivotal home matchup versus FSU

Andrew Schwartz
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Hurricanes’ defense must step up in pivotal home matchup versus FSU

The ‘Canes come into their rival weekend against an underwhelming Florida State team as hot as can be. Miami’s offense still ranks number one in the country in scoring, passing yards, scrimmage yards per game, and much more. The problem with the offense, at least through the first six games, was the lack of production in the first half, and overall rushing offense. 

Miami’s offense scored 17 points and took a 24-17 lead into halftime last week in Louisville, the first time they did that against an ACC opponent. Miami also averaged 5.5 yards a carry with Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher both running for over 70 yards against Louisville. While the offense fixed their highlighted issues, the defensive struggles have continued to keep Miami in close games against tougher opponents.

Through the first four weeks of the season, the defense ranked top 10 in total defense and looked very elite against much weaker opponents, even without their dominant edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. That dominance through the early weeks statistically has hidden Miami’s struggles as they are ranked 21st in the country in total defense as of week eight. However, in the past three games against ACC opponents, Miami has allowed an average of 39 points and 404 total yards a game. That is the highest points allowed out of all ACC teams through only three games.

The problem with the defense has been its inability to stop explosive plays throughout the entirety of football games in both the run and passing game. Just last week they allowed 15 plays of 10 yards or more which includes seven plays going for over 20 yards. The pass rush has been as good as advertised however, Reuben Bain led the country last week with 10 quarterback pressures and the Canes’ had three sacks on the day. Bain told the media after the game, “I feel like my production was pretty decent, nothing crazy, expecting a lot more out of myself”. Opposing receivers getting open too quickly has plagued Miami’s pass rush and has held them back from recording monster stats.

Fortunately for Miami, they play a homecoming game infront of what should be a packed Hard Rock Stadium against a bottom 25 team in Florida State. The timing of this game seemingly couldn’t be more perfect for the struggling defense to get back on track before their end of season playoff push. FSU has the sixth worst run game out of all 134 FBS teams this season averaging only 73 yards a game. Their passing offense isn’t much better, they average 203 yards a game, which ranks them at 83rd in the country.

The ‘Canes can’t fall asleep in what feels like a trap game this Saturday, Coach Cristobal talking about the game said, “We never look at the record, whatever the record of any team is in this rivalry, you’re going to get the best version of them, and they’re going to get the best version of you”.  With Florida State’s defense ranking 75th in the country, the number one offense in the country should have a field day. Assuming the Seminoles are forced to play from behind, it will be up to Miami’s secondary, players like Ja’Dais Richard, Daryl Porter, and O.J. Frederique to step up and shut the game down. 

Numbers aside, the matchup this week at Hard Rock should be electric for the Hurricanes. The team has called for a complete orange out and Miami fans are eager to see their new, dominant team try and break the Seminoles three game win streak. Coach Cristobal spoke about his anticipation for the game, “Such an insanely awesome rivalry like we’ve always had with Florida State but at the same time keeping the main thing the main thing.” 

All the momentum and talent is in Miami’s favor, and as long as they stay focused, Miami’s 2024 dominance should continue against their conference rival, but the defense will need to step up to make that happen. 

REVIEW: ‘Nobody Wants This’ except for everyone who watched the series

Marissa Levinson
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REVIEW: ‘Nobody Wants This’ except for everyone who watched the series

Opposites attract. It’s been said before in real life. It’s been done before in your typical rom com. In Netflix’s new series, “Nobody Wants This,” opposites don’t just attract. They fall in love.

The show, created by Erin Foster, is a modern-day love story. In its half-hour long episodes, it explores the common consequences of unexpectedly falling in love with someone who doesn’t necessarily fit the mold for the direction of your life. In this predicament, you can’t have it all; sacrifices have to be made.

Kristen Bell stars as Joanne, a confident, non-religious woman who shares a suggestive podcast with her sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe). While on the hunt for a non-toxic relationship, she meets Noah (Adam Brody), a reserved rabbi who feels unfulfilled by his current romance. 

Both their lives quickly change for the better. The chemistry is immediate, but the connection is gradual. 

Though the two characters are presented as opposites, on a deeper level, they are more alike than they seem. Although in two very different forms, both of their careers serve to advise people. In Joanne’s case, she appeals to her podcast listeners, and in Noah’s, his temple’s congregation. 

While the people in their lives may not see their similarity, they feel it when they are alone. 

Happiness together doesn’t come without challenges, however. Is a shield of love strong enough for a relationship to survive every external force? A whirlwind of conflict, judgment and expectations puts that question to the test.

While Bell and Brody are the stars of the show, “Nobody Wants This” is supported by the comedic relief “loser siblings,” Morgan and Sasha (Timothy Simons). Other notable characters include Sasha’s wife, Esther (Jackie Tohn), their daughter, Miriam (Shiloh Bearman), and Noah’s former girlfriend, Rebecca (Emily Arlook). 

The incorporation of various cultures between the characters feels natural. It fits their personas and dynamics. Nothing feels forced and the inclusion of a different culture doesn’t feel foreign or beyond the writers’ knowledge. 

The show differs from other romantic comedies in the sense since it is more honest and vulnerable. Viewers anticipate what’s happening, not because they’re interpreting it, but rather because the characters are explicitly saying it and describing their emotions. They navigate their feelings, flaws and every thought on screen, taking viewers through it all. 

It strips rom coms of their ambiguity and prolonged build-up clichés in a way that supports Joanne’s open-book character. It demonstrates how she brings the quality out of Noah, a once more private person.

While it doesn’t mirror every other rom com, it does weave in some aspects, with some of that classic cheesiness and predictability, but in just the right doses.

Aside from the writing and acting, other factors in the show make it all the more entertaining and higher quality, emphasizing the significant moments and characters in every scene. Close-up shots are often used, placing viewers inside the minds of the characters, making the scenes more personal. 

In one instance, a monochromatic frame established a crowd of people dressed in neutral tones and Joanne stood out in a vivid red outfit. Using only visuals, she is proven to be a main character and catches the audience’s attention at all times. 

A stellar, perfectly fitting soundtrack is the cherry-on-top to the show-watching experience. Every song is used at just the right moment to precisely encapsulate specific emotions, from the romantic mood-setting of Rihanna’s, “Love on the Brain,” to Olivia Rodrigo’s jealousy-ridden, “Obsessed.” 

The 10-episode series debuted on Sept. 26 and took the world by a storm. It’s humorous, easy to follow along and exciting. Simply put, it’s bingeable— for many, within the span of one day. Following the immense success of “Nobody Wants This,” Netflix confirmed a season two can be expected.

In the show’s entirety, I was hooked. There was never a dull moment. I was always left wanting more and ready to watch the story continue unfolding in the next episode. I would highly recommend it – I already have – to everyone I know, as a lighthearted break from reality.

Rating: 5/5

The Jewish community comes together to remember Oct. 7 at UM

Spencer Miller
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A year after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, members of the Jewish community came together at the University of Miami to pay tribute to the event and reflect on the past year. It was a packed event capturing the Jewish spirit on campus, with guest speakers ranging from Rabbis to Jewish students, the mayor of Coral Gables, and personal accounts of Oct. 7 and the recent war. The event began with an acknowledgment of the day’s significance. 

Fallon Zemlensky, vice president of Chabad, said, “[Israel] endured the largest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Over 1200 lives were brutally taken, and approximately 254 people were taken hostage. This day will forever carry a heartbreaking weight.”

Some talked about how Oct. 7 empowered them to do more and help their community. 

“We feel for each member as though they are our own blood,” said Betty Srour, President of Hillel at the University of Miami. “We feel deep pain. Pain for our brothers and sisters who don’t know if they are going to live and are tortured every day.”

A local rabbi spoke about the Jewish people’s historical resilience, reminding us of the importance of perseverance and how, in history, Jews had to go through much conflict and persecution, but today, they still persevere. 

“Amid this violence, something remarkable has emerged. The heart of our people, the Jewish nation, is showing its true beauty in the face of horror…Communities have come together like never before. Strangers are embracing each other with love and support.”

When talking about the events on Oct. 7, Ori Ascher, an Israeli tank crew member, shared his accounts of how he felt that day, experiencing shock and disbelief while feeling a strong sense of duty to protect his country. In the days after the attack, he was stationed on the border of Israel and Lebanon, where the tank he was in was hit. Ascher lost his left leg and shared his journey of recovery. 

“My scale of 1-10 of painful stuff has become real,” Ascher said. “And then feels like you don’t want to exist anymore… and you are willing to do anything for this sensation to go away.”

Ascher showcased the importance of resilience, faith, perspective and humor. When he lost his leg, he recalled joking with his commander about disability benefits shortly after suffering his injury. Ascher’s experience highlighted his determination to persevere through adversity while fighting for what he believed in. 

The mayor of Coral Gables, Vince Lago, also attended and emphasized the importance of community in troubling times. 

“In this community, you are not only welcomed, you are loved,” Lago said, emphasizing that everyone, no matter their religious beliefs, is welcomed and loved in the community of Coral Gables. 

While much of the evening was taken to reflect on the grief and trauma of the past year for the Jewish community, the speakers looked to the future with hope. Speaking about the need to advocate for peace and ensure that events on Oct. 7, 2023, will not be forgotten. Many talked about the best way to honor those who lost their lives: to live with purpose and work towards change to a better future where such events no longer occur.

As the event ended, the mood was of reflection, hope, and determination. 

A senior at the University of Miami who served as commander in a combat unit at the border of Egypt, said, “We have to take this community and give it everything. It’s not just about what happened on Oct. 7, but about continuing to show strength, resilience, and unity every day after.”

Miami volleyball sweeps Boston College on the road

Max Diaz
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Miami volleyball sweeps Boston College on the road

Fresh off getting a sweep at Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 18, the Miami Hurricanes volleyball team stayed by obtaining a second straight sweep, beating Boston College 3-0 up in Chestnut Hill, Mass. on Sunday, Oct. 20.

The final scores of the match were 26-24, 25-7 and 27-25, with the ’Canes, in total, tallying 45 kills, 44 digs, 10 service aces and eight blocks. Leading the way was redshirt freshman Ariana Rodriguez with nine kills, seven digs, six aces and two blocks and leading the team in kills was sophomore Grace Lopez with 11.

The first set was neck-and-neck from start to finish, with neither side gaining an advantage greater than four points, which only came once when Miami led 20-16. The score was tied early after a kill by senior Paula Guersching made five a piece. The score was still close for the rest of the set but the Hurricanes obtained some separation late after the two stars of the match, Rodriguez and Lopez, had back-to-back kills to make the score 19-16.

Despite the ‘Canes’ slight separation, the set was tied late at 24, forcing the match to go past the typical 25 to win, so now the winning team needs to win by two. The set ended soon after with Miami taking the set 26-24 to give themselves an early match lead.

The second set was a breeze for the Hurricanes. Miami bursted out of the gates, setting things off strong on 10-0, which featured not one, not two, not three, not four, but five aces by Rodriguez. Guersching also shined during the run tallying three kills. Later in the set, junior Milana Moisio also managed to tally two aces. The Hurricanes simply dominated all of set two with the Eagles never even getting close and the ‘Canes won the set 25-7.

While the third and final set was a hard fought battle, the result was no different for Miami. Things started out strong for the Hurricanes with back-to-back aces by Guersching to give them an early lead of 7-4. The ‘Canes managed to keep their lead until Boston College tied it up late to make the score 21 each. The late tie did not discourage Miami, they closed out the set after back-to-back kills by Lopez to give them both the set win 27-25 as well as the match sweep 3-0.

After the win, the Hurricanes improved to 13-6 on the season with a record of 4-4 in the conference. As for the Eagles, they fall to a record of 8-12 with a tough conference record of 1-7. For their next match, the Hurricanes will travel to Durham, N.C. to face the Duke Blue Devils (8-11, 4-4 ACC) on Friday. After that they will not have to go far as they face the North Carolina Tar Heels (15-2, 7-1 ACC) on Sunday in Durham.

Miami football tops Louisville 52-45 in thrilling back-and-forth clash

Zach Cohen
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Miami football tops Louisville 52-45 in thrilling back-and-forth clash

The cardiac ‘Canes strike again.

Following a bye week and a thrilling comeback win against the Cal Golden Bears, the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes certainly didn’t disappoint against the Louisville Cardinals. On a sunny day in Louisville, Kentucky, the Hurricanes defeated the Cardinals, 52-45 in a shootout to come away with the Schnellenberger Trophy.

After the game, coach Mario Cristobal once again mentioned “One thing that did not hurt us was our effort. We always play hard, we play with resiliency, and made some really key plays when it mattered.”

Midway through the 2nd quarter, Louisville started their drive deep in their territory, on the three-yard line. With the score being 17-14, Miami, this could have been a crucial drive for the Cardinals. Miami’s defense had other plans. Louisville Quarterback Tyler Shough handed off the ball to freshman running back  Issac Brown. Rueben Bain Jr was able to swoop in and pop the ball out of Brown’s hands which led the ball to roll into the end zone. Linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr divided onto the ball to recover the scoop and score a touchdown.

That play was the best of the day for the defense as they missed tackles and underperformed through most of the game. 

Cristobal said, “The lunging, leaving your feet, not coming to balance, that’s the stuff we got to get cleaned up and get better at.”

Miami allowed multiple 25-yard or more passing and running plays including a 43-yard touchdown run by Brown and a 28-yard reception by wideout Ja’Corey Brooks which led to a four-yard touchdown pass to Brooks.

In the third quarter, the Miami special teams unit allowed a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown that was run to the house by kick returner and wideout Caullin Lacy.

By the end of the game, Miami’s defense allowed 342 passing yards and 106 rushing yards which is the most they have given up all season.

Luckily, the offense had a tremendous showing vs the Cardinals.

As expected, Cam Ward put on a show, completing 21 of 32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns.

Ward said simply enough in his postgame presser, “We got one of the best o-line, one of the best-receiving cores…all I got to do is put the ball in play..and they [receivers] make contested catches when they need to.”

Late in the first quarter, Ward rolled out of the pocket and flung a beautifully executed pass 27- yards to wideout Jacolby George in the back of the endzone.

In the second quarter, wideout Sam Brown Jr was left wide open in the middle of the field as Ward tossed a pass to him which Brown took 49 yards for a touchdown. Brown Jr finished the game with three receptions for 125 yards, marking his best game of the season.

When Cristobal was asked about his wideouts after the game he said, “ It’s been someone else’s day you know on each particular game. [Xavier] Restrepo always has a day so he is kind of like the x factor.”

It certainly is always Xavier Restrepo’s day. He moved up to number two in school history for career receptions and overtook Michael Irvin’s spot on the career receiving yards list, currently ranking third.

Restrepo remarked, “It for sure lights a spark in me, it means everything to represent this university and I mean the guys that I am a top of the list with are self-explained.” 

Late in the third quarter, Restrepo caught a nine-yard touchdown pass in the front of the endzone to make the lead 31-17. Restrepo ended the afternoon with seven receptions for 101 yards.

Miami’s rushing game finally came to life as they are a big reason they came away with a victory. 

Mark Fletcher Jr was a workhorse in the first half, having a 23-yard run in the first quarter and an 11-yard run in the second quarter. Fletcher Jr finished the night with 13 carries for 73 yards.

The second half featured an outburst by Damien Martinez, finishing the game with 12 carries for 89 yards. His performance was topped by a 30-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter to extend the lead to 52-38.

After a great performance by Miami’s running back, Martinez said, “ The running back room, we feed off each other’s energy big so you know one person makes a play we all want to make a play.”

Miami has been playing their best ball in many years but the team consensus is that they still have more work to do, Restrepo said, “We are so selfless right now and I feel like that is why we’re playing so well. Again, we haven’t played our best game yet, we’re working towards that.”

The Hurricanes will return to Hard Rock Stadium on October 26th at 7 p.m. to face their longtime rivals, The Florida State Seminoles.

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