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Miami basketball lands big-time center Ben Ahmed

Shea Mcdonald
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Miami basketball lands big-time center Ben Ahmed

With just weeks before basketball season tips off for the Miami Hurricanes, they are continuing to bolster the future of their roster. Ben Ahmed, rated as a four-star center and ranked in the top 80 nationally of the 247 Composite Rankings and second in the state of Connecticut, has committed to Miami’s class of 2025.

Ahmed had offers from several other high-major program, including two ACC teams – Georgia Tech and California. Miami beat out finalists Xavier and Cincinnati for his commitment. He was originally in the 2026 class but recently reclassified to the 2025 class.

At Putnam Science Academy (Conn.), Ahmed has been a force in the paint. Last year, he became the team’s all-time leading rebounder at 677 and did so in 14 less games than the previous record holder – Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate. Ahmed did it averaging 15 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game last season.

Ahmed’s huge frame has helped him put up those gaudy numbers. Standing at 6-foot-9 and 300 pounds with a nearly 7-foot-3 wingspan, he is a massive player, and according to 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein, there are both benefits and drawbacks to that. This was his evaluation of Ahmed back in July 2024.

“Ahmed’s limitations are with his mobility away from the basket and his lack of lift at the rim. He’s strictly a drop coverage pick-and-roll defender at this point and essentially anchored to the paint at all times. That’s rarely exposed in a grassroots or prep game, but will become more of a liability at the next level. He’s not much of a rim protector, unless directly challenged, albeit an obvious physical deterrent in the lane. He also requires a slower pace at this point in order to keep up with the tempo of the game.

“Where Ahmed thrives is on the glass. He takes up so much space, has such an extended reach, and magnetic hands. He’s a high-volume rebounder and consistently puts up double-doubles. He’s also a true scoring threat with his back to the basket. He maximizes his size and physicality to get to point-blank range whenever possible.”

Though he has some flaws in his game he seems driven to improve and his decision appears to be motivated by a belief in Jim Larrañaga’s coaching staff to develop him.

In an interview with CaneSport, Ahmed said, “They let me know what I had to work on and showed me players just like me that they’ve put in a better situation from when they got there and throughout their stay there, which stood out to me.”

Though he has room to grow with time he could prove to be an impactful presence for Miami.

Just last year, the ACC saw North Carolina State’s DJ Burns, a big with a very similar build to Ahmed, not only dominate the conference but also March Madness, leading the Wolfpack to the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Miami rosters one listed center in Lynn Kidd but, going into his fifth year, he will be departing, and UM will need to again fill the void of a true five that it sorely lacked last year. Projecting Ahmed’s impact to go that far might be a stretch for now, but at the very least, he will likely provide intriguing depth and potential at a position of need for the ’Canes.

Ahmed joins 247Sports top 40 prospect and shooting guard Matthew Able to make Miami’s class ranked 18th nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. With the decision of the Boozer twins reportedly coming soon and Miami in the mix, this class could shoot into the top 10 very quickly.

Campus crash course: The unseen hazard of e-scooters on campus

Eftyhia Fillas
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Campus crash course: The unseen hazard of e-scooters on campus

Walking on a campus as beautiful as the University of Miami’s should be a peaceful experience, not one that involves constantly having to dodge people operating scooters. Throughout the school year, all kinds of students use scooters to get from class to class without the hassle of having to walk. However, almost no one who uses them has sufficient experience to properly operate them, highlighted by the numerous on-campus pedestrian reports about run-ins with them. 

To avoid similar occurrences in the future, UM needs to implement scooter lanes and restrictions on who can scoot around campus. Some may argue that the university already has plenty of these regulations in place, but the only real regulations in place are where the scooters can be parked and which buildings they are allowed into, which are not helpful in terms of injury regulation. 

Scooters cause the most pedestrian injuries of any form of transportation. According to the personal injury law practice RA&M, research determined that the rate of injuries caused by e-scooters is 115 injuries per million trips, far greater than that of the national injury rate for cars (eight per million trips) and motorcycles (104 per million trips).

“I was walking by Smoothie King when all of a sudden a scooter comes flying towards my family and I at full speed making no effort to slow down.” Said sophomore Maddie Darby. “The girl slammed into my step-mom’s left side and didn’t even stop to check if she was ok. Instead she raced off and  my step-mom had a huge bruise on her arm the next day.” 

Medical Professionals have compared the severeness of the injury to, “being tackled by a football player,” sometimes even resulting in fatalities. On a more severe note, research reports have also shown that fatalities have been on the rise as the use of e-scooters has increased, with a total of 27 fatalities reported from 2017-2019.  

After my friend got hit by a scooter, he said that he “felt sore for days” and he “couldn’t even walk without being in pain.”

In order to prevent further accidents the university should consider solutions proposed by ConsumerReports.org. The researchers suggest bike lanes and allowing the e-scooter drivers to operate the scooters on “smooth well-maintained surfaces.” Additionally, Fort Lauderdale city leaders are looking to ban scooters from busy sidewalks, leading to the possible formation of e-scooter lanes. 

Even if you’ve never actually been hit by a scooter, you most likely have been the victim of a near-miss on campus. RA&M researchers reported that these pedestrians who dodge these almost-accidents “…may be traumatized by the near-misses that leave them afraid to walk their normal route again.”  

I myself have been here for only six weeks and have lost count of the number of times I have been a victim of this. Everytime a scooter turns in my direction, I flinch. So in addition to causing physical harm to victims, constant run-ins with these micromobility devices can induce mental trauma as well.

Most near misses are due to the instability of the e-scooters and the fact that the operator of the scooter doesn’t have sufficient experience when it comes to driving the e-scooter, which is no fault of the pedestrian.

Torklaw.com claims that new scooter riders in general don’t have extensive experience as they are operating a foreign vehicle. On top of that, new riders are further challenged as scooters have the tendency to “lock up or become wobbly, especially when a rider suddenly swerves or applies the emergency brake.” Additionally, while the university does have pretty paths that are perfect for a good stroll, roadway defects are inevitable. These defects add on to the probability of accidents caused, as “they could cause a motorized scooter to lose control, and fall or be thrown from the vehicle.”  

While they are efficient methods of transportation, not everyone needs to be using e-scooters on campus. Student athletes should be one of very few exceptions. 

Athletes use e-scooters to recover from high-endurance exercises or training and cut out transit time from practice to class. ​​UC Health professionals have proven that the process of muscle recovery only occurs when athletes are resting. Scooters let their muscles have this much-needed break, prioritizing their health and performance. 

While e-Scooters are an effective way of getting around, regulations need to be put in place at UM to avoid any further injuries or mishaps in regards to e-scooter use. E-scooters are already unstable to operate, but when combined with lack of experience they become dangerous to the user and to surrounding pedestrians.

Campus pop-up shops promote overconsumption

Keira Faddis
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Campus pop-up shops promote overconsumption

I’ve seen, on average, one campus pop-up shop every week since moving in at UM. 

Days before classes started, dozens of pop up shops came to give away products, all for free. I’d never seen anything like this before. A walk to the bookstore felt like a free shopping spree due to all of the freebies being promoted by different brands. 

I expected all of that to be over by the time the parents left their kids at school, but to my surprise, the pop-ups kept coming back.

At first, I was really excited about getting so many free products and clothes. After voluntarily spending over an hour and a half of my Monday morning waiting in a pop-up line, I got back to my room and realized that I had more problems than losing my valuable morning study time. 

I had no space for the bag I had gotten from the pop-up and no idea what I was going to do with the new makeup products I just got since I don’t wear makeup. Then, I had to rush to class without eating breakfast because I spent my whole morning waiting in line. 

Most of the items I’d gotten from the pop-ups were left to collect dust around my room. I ended up giving all of the items away to family and friends who would use them, but I started feeling guilty about the amount of free items I’d been hoarding. 

After this realization, I stopped grabbing the freebies and I think you should consider it too. I know you might be hesitant, after all it’s free, but do you really need more tote bags and branded t-shirts, or does it just feel nice to get new things?

Most people like getting new things and they like them even better if they’re free. It goes without saying that UM students are no strangers to getting things for free with all the pop-up shop visits. While they may seem harmless, the trend of pop-up shops promotes overconsumption to students. This is bad because overconsumption leaves detrimental impacts to our environment and even to society. 

According to UM, the school hosts about two or three large pop-ups per semester and about 10 smaller pop-ups from clothing brands, thrift shops, jewelers, etc. Brands are charged a facility rental fee and the university often benefits from the social media engagement. While there are about 14 weeks in the school year, so almost a pop-up a week, the University does have a vetting process to determine who is allowed on campus.

In a comment, the University stated that “in collaboration with campus partners, the Student Center Complex reviews requests from third-party marketing companies that represent various brands to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest with existing partnerships.” 

UM might have more pop-ups requests than we even know, so it is on us to stop the overconsumption. Now, what exactly is overconsumption and why is it bad? 

From an environmental standpoint, overconsumption is when humans use more resources than we have available. Overconsumption is not only extremely wasteful but dangerous. According to netimpact.org, the rate our society consumes resources is unsustainable, meaning we are using more than can be replenished. A study by the World Wildlife Foundation determined that our Earth will not be able to provide for the population by 2050.

When asked about the impacts of the pop-ups on students, UM answered, “The Student Center Complex works to ensure that the brand activation will provide a space for brands to interact with the student body in a positive way.”

Socially, overconsumption is a way to fill the extreme need to follow the newest trend. People hop from trend to trend, trying to keep up with the latest fashion and social fads by constantly buying more products. This is wasteful and promotes harsh societal pressures and expectations, because many people don’t have the money to constantly spend on new clothing hauls or different types of hair products. 

The hair products are the biggest overconsumption issue I’ve noticed from the pop-up shops. During orientation week, Papatui, Dwayne Johnson’s men’s care line, had a few different pop-ups distributing shampoo, conditioner and bodywash. Just a few weeks later, MONDAY Hair Care visited and distributed their shampoo and conditioner. The third hair brand to visit was Ouai, about a month after MONDAY.

I don’t know about you, but it takes me much longer than one month to go through bottles of shampoo and conditioner. According to Hair.com, hair products can expire, even when unopened, after three years. While the pile of shampoo bottles grows underneath your dorm bed, they come closer and closer to the expiration date.

While students are not forced to wait in line at these pop ups, they can be hard to ignore. Giant trucks situated in the busiest areas of campus are covered with branding and attract lines of over 100 people. While some of these pop-ups may give out products that students actually use, at the rate the companies currently show up, it’s excessive. 

Overconsumption is not just a problem here at UM, but many college-aged students fall victim to marketing and pressures to follow trends. If you’re anything like me, you didn’t realize the true impact of overconsumption until certain trends hit TikTok. 

The biggest overconsumption trend I can think of that affected people my age and younger was the Stanley cup craze. Thousands of people rushed into stores to collect countless of these reusable water bottles, completely disregarding the purpose of them, to reuse them.  

This trend may have started on TikTok, but it is now shown at UM. The campus bookstore has a large Stanley cup section right at the front. If you look around campus, you might even notice that the newer Owala water bottle fad is beginning to replace the Stanley cups. The university’s official instagram page even acknowledges and pokes fun at this dangerous behavior by posting a photo of a mousetrap baited with an Owala and Stanley cup with the text “this would catch a lot of ’Canes.” 

To combat one extreme, the “underconsumption” trend also went viral on TikTok. People showed videos of their kitchen cabinets containing only one or two old reusable water bottles, a stark contrast to those who have giant collections of Stanley cups. They would also show their shower or skincare routine, using only a few different products. 

Underconsumption is more than just minimalism. It is the complete opposite of overconsumption. Jumping from one extreme to the next is extremely unsustainable. 

If you don’t want to contribute to either extreme of overconsumption or underconsumption, a great way to start is just committing to using up what you already have before going to buy more. Think more of a minimalistic approach. Don’t go and throw everything away, but also allow yourself to get new things every once in a while. Minimalism is a great way to ‘de-influence’ people from product hoarding, and I believe it’s the best thing to be trending and encouraging.

The next time you feel the need to attend one of the pop-ups on campus, remind yourself that you don’t actually need all of the junk the vendors are offering. Use up what you already have, the planet will thank you.

Miami flips Florida wide receiver commit Joshua Moore

Shea Mcdonald
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Miami flips Florida wide receiver commit Joshua Moore

While the Miami Hurricanes’ football team is on a bye, that has not stopped Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and his recruiting staff from staying hard at work. On Tuesday night, wide receiver Joshua Moore, ranked as a four-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite Rankings, announced that he has flipped his commitment from the University of Florida to the University of Miami.

Moore had originally committed to Florida back in June.

Moore has been a major standout at his West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. In just 21 varsity games for the Bobcats, he’s posted 100 receptions, 1,869 yards, and 20 touchdowns. This production as well as his high character have made him one of the nominees for this year’s CBS Miami Nat Moore award.

Moore’s physical attributes and skills profile him as a typical boundary X receiver. Measured at 6-foot-4 and weighing 205 pounds, he still has room to grow.

Here’s what 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins said about Moore in a March 2024 evaluation:

“Attacks leverage with a galloping stride and will sink his hips before changing course. Charges towards the football and will use firm hands to secure the prize while boxing out defenders. More of a one-speed route runner at this stage that has to capitalize on his release as a lack of a true top-end gear can make it difficult at times for him to create separation at both the intermediate and deeper levels. Dealt with an injury as an 11th grader, but has still put up big numbers while playing for one of South Florida’s non-traditional powers.”

Moore joins another stacked recruiting class for the Canes’, which is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best in the nation. He will be their 15th four-star recruit, with only 5 other schools topping that number, and he joins four-star wideout Daylyn Upshaw as the second receiver commit for the ’Canes.

The addition of Moore is vital for the future of the Hurricanes’ receiving room. Miami could lose several of its current receivers to the draft or graduation. Bringing in Moore along with the continued development of guys like sophomore Isaiah Horton, who has burst onto the scene as Miami’s second-leading receiver, as well as a loaded freshman class of blue-chip wideout prospects, the Hurricanes are set up to have long-term depth in their arsenal of receiving weapons.

Takeaways from Miami’s win over California

McKenzie Eason
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Takeaways from Miami’s win over California

“Nobody played their best ball, so we just can’t put ourselves in these situations to have to come back,” says Miami quarterback Cam Ward, following an incredibly close game against the California Golden Bears.

Spirits were high, as Miami entered the Berkeley Stadium on Saturday night. After traveling across the country to play the Bears, the game had a painfully late start time for hurricane fans on the East Coast. Not only was kickoff late for fans, but the Miami team may have been thrown off by the jet lag. Going into Saturday’s game, the Hurricanes sat at #7 on the AP Top 25 College Football Poll, and have moved up to #6 after clinching the win against Cal. Miami can all the way back to win by a score of 39-38, after the ‘Canes was down 10-35 against unranked Cal in the third quarter. Luckily for the ‘Canes, other top ranked schools were taken down by underdogs this weekend; therefore, Miami’s win pushed them up a spot in the poll, despite the close matchup. 

Cal Capitalized on Miami’s Early Mistakes

Late in the first quarter, on a fourth-and-2 play, Cam Ward connected with Elijah Arroyo, but was stopped by Cal safety Miles Williams, pushing Miami back one yard, resulting in a turnover. This allowed the Bears to begin a dominant stretch against the Hurricanes. During the post-game press conference, Coach Cristobal explained that the hurricanes failed to execute many routine passes and plays. Additionally, Cal’s offense was performing efficiently, as Fernando Mendoza completed a 51-yard pass to Trond Grizzell at the beginning of the 2nd quarter to put the Bears up 14-7. With eight minutes left in the first half, Mendoza completed a 56-yard pass to Jaydn Ott, making the score 21-10. Following this touchdown, Miami made a game-changing play that pushed them into an 18-point deficit; Ward through an interception to Nohl Williams who impressively returned it to give Cal a 28-10 lead. Cristobal added that the Miami team is “beat up,” after playing for six consecutive weeks. Luckily, they will have a bye week to sharpen up on their defense and polish technique in order to be a little more fine tuned in the Louisville game on October 19th. 

Cam Ward had an Impeccable 4th Quarter

As the Hurricanes entered the 4th quarter, everything was on the line. As a top 10, undefeated team, they were down by 25 points to an unranked team, but that didn’t stop Ward and Miami’s offense from making an incredible comeback. Despite making mistakes, such as holding onto the ball for too long in the first quarter, Ward dominated the 4th quarter, proving his reliability as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks this season, as his team rallies around his confidence and execution. With just over four minutes left in the game, Ward scrambled for a 24-yard touchdown, brining the score to 32-38. In a sold-out stadium, Bears fans and Hurricane fans were nervously watching him work his magic to bring the ‘Canes back. With 26 seconds left, Ward threw an 5-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Arroyo and the Hurricanes secured the extra point. Despite coming back from a 25 point deficit, the Bears still had an opportunity to get into field goal range, but the Hurricanes ended their chances of scoring after Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa intercepted a pass from Cal’s Fernando Mendoza.  

This matchup proved that the California Bears can play with the “big dogs,” but Miami proved that they deserve to stay at the top of the ACC. Cristobal said “it’s the best example of resiliency and toughness and just no quit mentality,” giving credit to the team’s ability to stay in the game even when winning seems unlikely.

Miami golf secures top-5 finish at Evie Odom Invitational

Steven Friedman
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Miami golf secures top-5 finish at Evie Odom Invitational

The Miami Hurricanes’ golf team finished in fourth place to secure their third top-five finish in as many tournaments. The Hurricanes overcame a slow start on Friday to continue their stellar season at the Evie Odom Invitational in Virginia Beach, VA.

The Hurricanes got it done by shooting an 861(+21) over 54 holes to finish fourth out of 14 schools.

Freshman Sofie Hlinomazova, who grabbed her first collegiate top-10 finish, shot two over par through the 54 holes. This score led the team and had her finish tied for eighth.

Sophomore Barbora Bujáková significantly improved throughout the weekend, ending with a score of 217(+7) and finishing tied for 21st.

Freshman Cloe Amion Villarino rode an amazing Friday where she shot two under par to also finish tied for 21st. She ended with a total score of 217(+7).

Junior Olivia Grønborg improved every day of the tournament to finish tied for 32nd with a score of 20(+10) and sophomore Aada Rissanen shot a 229(+19) to finish tied for 62nd.

Junior Katie Carman played the tournament as an individual and concluded the event with a score of 225(+15) to slot herself into 51st place.

The College of Charleston ran away with first place with a score of 838(-2), followed by second place Furman (855,+15) and third place Sacramento State (860,+20.)

The ‘Canes look to continue their strong season at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate in Knoxville, Tenn. later this month.

It’s hard for college students to have faith in debates

Kyle Bolton
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It’s hard for college students to have faith in debates

The 2024 election will be the first time many UM students vote for a president. In a typical election year, the presidential debates would be an important moment for both candidates to present their policy plans and give voters a sense of who they align with most. Yet, this year, there is only one debate. Making matters worse, this debate seemed more like an argument than a professional and civil discussion on our country’s most critical issues. 

Presidential debates are integral to the American political process, but in the past decade, when many college-age students began watching debates, viewers have seen unprecedented behavior. The increased use of name-calling and insulting the opposing candidate has made the debates seem reckless and confusing, not information for voters. 

For example, Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden’s first debate in 2020 was flooded with interruptions and verbal attacks from both candidates. This made it extremely difficult for moderator Chris Wallace to keep the discussion under control. The unpleasant free-for-all in insulting exchanges sent a terrible image to voters, especially those around our age who hadn’t watched many debates at this scale. The top leaders of our country are unable to debate respectfully. 

“These debates are becoming more of a spectacle than a professional proceeding,” said junior Sidney Cocimano, a computer science and interactive media major. “I feel that especially with the rise in social media, there are now so many eyes on the candidates, and it is almost a matter of who can entertain the (TV) audience.” 

Insults were also a major part of the 2016 Former President Trump and Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton presidential debates. Most notably, Clinton’s attack on Trump’s ability to manage the legal system led to Trump’s “You’d be in jail” comment. These remarks would foster an environment where insults are appropriate in presidential debates. This example demonstrated the start of these debates devolving into heated battles between candidates. 

Another simple, yet significant, part of the debate is the long-standing tradition of shaking the opponent’s hand before the debate. The handshake is meant to promote peace and solidarity between the two candidates. In times of political tension, this refusal to shake hands may only breed more hatred and division in American politics. 

“The handshake, as a greeting, is thought to have been evolved to indicate willingness to start an exchange peaceably,” said Olivia Waxman, a writer for Time magazine. 

Candidates not shaking each other’s hands can make voters feel they have bad temperaments and are unfit to deal with key issues. These candidates are expected to set a positive tone for Americans, and this behavior would only hurt relationships with undecided voters.

During the second presidential debate between Clinton and Trump, instead of shaking his hand, Clinton gave a simple nod and “hello.” 

The transition to a new debate style continued when Biden and Trump debated on June 27, 2024. This was the first debate with no audience since 1960 because Biden wanted a debate without any disturbances such as the audience interrupting with cheers or boos. 

Most people who watched this presidential debate felt unchanged in their political alignment with Biden and Trump, showing how presidential debates may not even be changing people’s minds. These debates are supposed to help voters determine who they see as best fit to run the country, not confuse them even more.

The presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump was a slight improvement due to both candidates’ marginal increase in respect for one another through a cordial handshake. However, it still included difficult moments to watch. Instead of answering some of the ABC moderators’ questions, both candidates focused on other issues and gave surface-level answers to clear questions. 

“She was strongest when she was focused on Trump, and she was weakest when she was trying to sell her own proposals,” said Chuck Todd, a chief political analyst for NBC News. 

If Harris was at her best when attacking another opponent, it shows that her debate strategy was focused on rattling and insulting Trump rather than speaking on policy issues that matter to the American people. 

The Harris/Trump debate did give Americans some optimism. The candidates shook hands for the first time since the Trump/Clinton debate. Also, the rule system established for this debate can be a guidance for future debates to keep candidates in check and promote fairness. 

Harris attacked Trump’s sensitive areas by stating audience members leave his rallies “out of exhaustion and boredom.” Trump countered, saying that people do not even attend Harris’ rallies. He added: “The people that do go, she’s busing them in and paying them to be there.” 

Harris also deflected questions about the Biden-Harris administration on Trump. Although many agree her tactic of attacking Trump on sensitive topics worked, it still left uncertainty over some of her policy decisions. 

Furthermore, the Senator J.D. Vance and Governor Tim Walz Vice Presidential debate on Oct. 1 brought a more positive view of the future of the debates, as BBC claimed it was “the most civil debate of the 2024 election campaign.”

The decline of professionalism in presidential debates began with the Trump/Clinton 2016 election debates. The resentment between both candidates led to a hostile environment where insults became the norm and set somewhat of a precedent debates have followed for the last eight years. But if opposing parties or candidates do not respect each other, how can there be hope for bipartisanship when the country needs to make important decisions and changes? 

Presidential debates have lost their footing and professionalism. While they may be improving, the lack of civility among the candidates will only hurt how undecided voters feel towards presidential debates and undermine their legitimacy. Each party must begin respecting each other’s opinions and putting the country’s best interests ahead of partisan politics. That begins with proper debate etiquette and displaying calm demeanor to the rest of the country when arguing over issues. 

How to manage stress during midterms

Jenna Simone
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How to manage stress during midterms

Now that midterms have begun, stress may start to take a toll on UMiami students. With this stress comes countless hours of studying in Richter, taking notes in Shalala and fueling up at Corner Deli. How can students keep up with studying and calm their nerves during this time? Let’s explore some practical strategies to do so during this busy season.

Tips from your peers

It’s important to remember that we’re not alone in this journey to pass midterms. UM students have valuable insights on managing stress and how to study efficiently. Here are some tips from your peers that can help you stay focused and balanced while preparing for your exams.

“Don’t procrastinate and be proactive with your work. When studying becomes unproductive, stop and take a break. Also, don’t forget to eat still and hang out with your friends because mental health comes first,” Jason Hugh, a freshman studying computer science, said. 


Along with this emphasis on the importance of balance and self-care, UM students also revealed their favorite study tactics.

“Definitely take advantage of the whiteboards in the study room. Rewriting my notes is my favorite study tactic,” Harley Carlin, a freshman studying marketing, said. 

Rewriting notes reinforces understanding and helps with memory retention. With this, breaks can be necessary to prevent burnout.

“15-minute study blocks, if done correctly, always help me,” Lucas Velasquez, a freshman studying computer science, said. 

Stay active and get some fresh air

Another great way to manage stress during midterms is to stay active. Whether you go to the gym, take a workout class or walk outside, moving your body is a great way to calm down, even if it’s just for a short period of time.

Getting some fresh air on our beautiful campus is also a great way to relax. Tanning, walking, running or even just sitting and enjoying the nature around you can feel great.

Get comfortable

Eating some of your favorite comfort food or drinking some hot tea can help. Green and black teas help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.

Listening to your favorite music is a great way to disconnect and take a moment for yourself. Songs with slower tempos can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, releasing the stress from midterms. 

If you’re in your room while listening to music or studying, consider dimming your lights or turning on colorful LEDs. This can create a calming environment.

While your bed may be comfortable, try not to study and do work in it. Instead, head to the library, a study room or outside to avoid getting tired.

Confide in friends and family

One of the best stress relievers is spending time with friends. Laughing can boost your mood and release dopamine. Plan a study break with friends, watch a movie or simply hang out for a little over some coffee. 

Don’t hesitate to vent to your friends or family about what you’re experiencing during midterms. Talking about your stress can help with processing your feelings and gaining outside perspectives. This can make midterms feel less overwhelming and you might even receive helpful advice or support.

Relax your body

After a long day of studying, treat yourself to a long, warm shower. The heat can relax your muscles and calm your mind, creating a soothing transition from study mode to relaxation. It’s a simple yet effective way to refresh yourself and prepare for your next study session.

Put away your phone

Because phones can be a major source of distraction, try putting your phone away when studying. This will help you stay focused and present, reducing the urge to check social media notifications or messages. With this, you can designate specific times to check your phone once a section of your work is complete.

While midterms can be overwhelming, these strategies can make the preparation more manageable. Remember to prioritize your mental health, seek support from your friends and take time for yourself. With the right approach, you can get through this busy season with confidence and ease. Good luck and study hard!

REVIEW: So good you have to say the title twice, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”

Marissa Levinson
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REVIEW: So good you have to say the title twice, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”

With fall just beginning, the leaves’ colors changing and the weather (hopefully) cooling down, it’s the perfect time to take a trip to the movie theater and watch a classic Halloween movie. Though many films of this season fit more into the horror genre and are intended for frights and jumpscares, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a more humorous alternative. 

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” follows the story of Lydia Deetz, a ghost-enthusiast, and her daughter, Astrid. Viewers watch their once-tense relationship develop into a closer bond as truths are revealed about their respective relationships–with both the living and the dead. 

When the opening credits rolled, I recognized nearly every one of the names that faded into frame. Micahel Keaton returned as the notoriously obnoxious titular role, Winona Ryder as Lydia and Catherine O’Hara as her eccentric stepmother, Delia. 

The movie also welcomes new names to the franchise, including Wednesday-actress Jenna Ortega as Astrid, Justin Theroux as Rory and Arthur Conti as revealed-antagonist Jeremy Frazier. 

The star-studded cast adds to the quality of the film and makes for a more enjoyable experience among the audience, since being familiar with and appreciating at least one of the actors is inevitable. 

A sense of nostalgia is used to appeal to an older audience. The chanting of lyrics, “Daylight come and me wan’ go home” from the song “Banana Boat” by Harry Belafonte connects this movie to the 1988 original. 

The younger audience wasn’t forgotten either. Though I recommend watching the original “Beetlejuice” prior to the sequel, it is still easy to follow along even without much prior knowledge of the franchise. 

Directed by Tim Burton, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” possesses similar qualities to his other films. Eerie, unsettling, and uncomfortable, yet simultaneously amusing, intriguing, and entertaining, his movies capture the audience from their opening scenes to closing credits. The movie drew similarities to Burton’s previous haunting works, including Netflix’s “Wednesday” and the animated “Corpse Bride.”

Many movies in this decade are reboots of pre-existing films and lack the creativity of new plots, writing and unpredictability. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” however, is a sequel that pays homage to the first film, while also managing to obtain a story of its own. Even Beetlejuice himself felt more like a supporting character than the star of the movie, proving this film’s distinctiveness. 

Throughout my viewing, I found myself impressed with the film’s details. Everything was carefully crafted by set designers, makeup artists, costume designers and more staff to make the characters and locations come to life. 

The movie’s release will likely influence some popular choices for Halloween costumes this year, considering the proximity to the holiday and how iconic the looks are. 

One theme that struck me in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is love being greater than life. I thought it was unique in the way that it portrayed death. Rather than it being the end, it marked the beginning of the afterlife. The entire movie feels like a euphemism for death–a lighter way to look at something many fear. 

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” debuted in theaters on Sept. 6. With a watchable duration of an hour and 44 minutes and a PG-13 rating, it is suitable for all types of audiences during this Halloween season.

Nicki Nicole stuns Miami with dazzling vocal mastery

Gabriel Mena
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Nicki Nicole stuns Miami with dazzling vocal mastery

Argentinian star Nicki Nicole showed out with an incredible concert at the Fillmore at Miami Beach on Sept. 28. With Argentinian stars like Duki, Bizarap and Trueno getting recognition worldwide, it’s the perfect time for Argentina’s sweetheart to launch her first USA Tour. 

Nicki is no stranger to the Miami audience. Her last performance was eight months ago at the Vibra Urbana Festival at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Grounds. 

After an introductory red and white light show, the LED screen background turned into a green stormy sky as dancers marched onto stage. Nicki struts to the center of the stage as her viral song with Bizarrap, “Nicki Nicole: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 13,” ignited the crowd.

Nicki threw up a heart hand gesture in an act of gratitude and love for her beloved fans. Suddenly,  the distinct high energy from “DISPARA ***”filled the air accompanied by dancers dressed in black overalls and white tops.

The track finished off with a gunshot sound effect as the dancers dropped dead. A back light then shined on Nicki as she says, “Miami muchas gracias, los amo,” to a sold out Fillmore crowd.

Throughout the concert, the band had amazing transitions and gave tracks like “Intoxicao” a boom that enhanced the instrumental. Popular trap track “8 AM” got the performance it deserves. 

As the sun rose on a pyramid in the background, Nicki delivered a flawless vocal display of skill, smoothly transitioning from rapping to singing.

Nicki’s singing did not stop there, as she delivered a beautiful performance of “Plegarias.” The song’s soft piano instrumental demanded the audience raise their cellphone’s flashlights. The visuals on screen overlaid onto a live shot of Nicki gave the impression we were watching an angel singing.

Her fierce stage presence and feminine energy was spectacular the whole night. It was very emphatic during her performance of “Grillz”, “No voy a llorar :’),” “Alumbre” and her cover of “Tuyo.” Again, the band provided an excellent balance of vocals and instrumentals.

This phase of the concert was a dazzling display of artistry and vocal prowess. Nicki was hitting her stride. With her signature blend of urban pop and Latin trap, Nicki’s voice soared through the venue crystal clear and full of emotion. Her voice demonstrated remarkable versatility, smoothly moving from deep, resonant tones to brilliant high notes that electrified the crowd.

Nicki showed love to multiple genres with performances of cumbias like “Otra Noche” and “Ojos Azules.” A dancer followed Nicki around with a rose which made for a playful dynamic on stage. 

After an energetic performance of “Una Foto,” the dancers striked a pose and broke out into a dance battle of the genders. The dancers split, men and women facing off as Nicki played referee. Then, in a shocking twist, one woman broke the stalemate by grabbing her male opponent mid-battle for an electric kiss. 

Nicki Nicole with her dancers at her performance at the Fillmore on September 28, 2024. Photo Credit // Gabriel Mena Pollock.

She then performed banging tracks like “Ella No Es Tuya,” “No Toque Mi Naik,” “Marisola” and “PERROS&GATA$.” The onslaught of danceable tracks had the arena pulsed with energy as the crowd moved in perfect harmony with the music. 

The entire audience had become one living, breathing entity. They were ready for the final act.

Nicki electrified the crowd with her breakthrough hit “Wapo Traketero.” Her confident flow and alluring stage presence befit that of a seasoned veteran. The audience was captivated by her distinctive voice delivering the catchy lyrics over the trap beat.

The crowd started chanting and begging for “Mamichula.” As suspense built, Nicki walked to the back of the stage and Trueno, Nicki’s ex and Argentine rapper, appeared on screen to which the audience exploded. Nicki’s distinctive blend of trap flow and vibrant energy created a dynamic and memorable performance.

In the final moments, Nicki gave an electrifying performance of “YaMeFui,” featuring a Sci-Fi visual creating an immersive, futuristic backdrop. Dancers twirled glowing light sticks in sync with the pulsing beat. 

Nicki was full of energy, delivering her verses with a fierce presence that had the crowd hooked. I was not expecting such an action packed ending. The crowd was still itching for more as the lights turned back on.

I didn’t expect the concert to be as immersive and action-packed as it was. It was a thrilling experience, blending high-energy performances, captivating visuals and impressive vocal prowess that kept the audience fully immersed from start to finish. Her fierce presence and genre-defying music make her live shows a must-see for fans of Latin music and memorable live entertainment.

Classes go virtual as Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida

Ashley Sewall
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Classes go virtual as Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida

All University of Miami classes will be held remotely starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 10 in response to the threat of Hurricane Milton, predicted to make landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 9 in the Tampa Bay region. 

Additionally, all in-person meetings and campus events scheduled during this time will be canceled. The Herbert Wellness Center, Student Center Complex and libraries on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses will be closed, while dining halls will remain open.

The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Naples and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Naples will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. All other UHealth clinical operations will continue as scheduled. 

While Hurricane Milton is not expected to hit Miami directly, tropical storm wind gusts, 2 to 4 inches of rainfall and tornado warnings are possible.

The University community is encouraged to follow University of Miami Emergency Management social media accounts, @UMiamiENN on Instagram, X and Facebook, for updates on the storm.

Miami volleyball swept by UVA on the road

Brendan Cafferty
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Sunday marked the Hurricane’s fifth loss as division rivals, the Virginia Cavaliers, swept them in three sets at John Paul Jones Arena. 

A match of runs, the Hurricanes began the first set with an 8-5 lead, capped off with a service ace from sophomore Grace Lopez.UVA would answer, tying it at 10 all with a 3-0 run.

The Hurricanes were given life from Senior Paula Guersching’s block, propelling them to a 15-13 lead, but Virginia would come back and win the set 25-21.

The second set proved just as wavering, as the ‘Canes went on a 4-0 run with help from junior Flomarie Heredia Colon’s kill, assisted by junior Milana Moisio, and redshirt freshman Ariana Rodriguez’s following ace.

Colon led the team with 11 kills and six digs, with redshirt freshman Ariana Rodriguez earning an additional two kills and nine digs.

With the set scored at 11-8 in the ‘Canes favor, the Cavaliers would take control, winning 25-22

The final set continued to pronounce UM’s woes, as Virginia held onto the lead throughout, despite the ‘Canes four blocks and 123 kills. The final set went to the Cavaliers, 25-16.

Miami returns for a homestand against conference opponents Notre Dame and Louisville on October 11 and 13, looking to once again climb the ACC rankings.

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