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Women make history at the 2024 Grammy Awards

Andy Acuna
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Women make history at the 2024 Grammy Awards

The 2024 Grammy Awards was full of drama and surprises, history was made at the annual awards ceremony. Women dominated the event, sweeping the Big Four awards for the seventh time in the Grammys’ 66-year history.

Most of the live performers were female artists, and for the first time, every televised award was won by a woman or group of women.

Even Grammy host Trevor Noah acknowledged the historic night during his monologue.

“There’s a band that has already won today called boygenius — it’s three women. That’s how good a year it is for women,” Noah said.

Read more about some of the female artists that made history at the 66th Grammy Awards:

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift, once again surprised everyone with her achievements. The Recording Academy awarded her with Album Of The Year for “Midnights,” her 10th studio album released in late 2022.

This win makes her the only artist to have won this category four times. Her previous albums “1989,” “Fearless” and “Folklore” also won this award, positioning her amongst the best female artists in history.

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Miley Cyrus

A lot of people were surprised to hear that Miley Cyrus had never won a Grammy before. With her hit “Flowers,” Miley took home the award for Best Pop Solo Performance.

In her acceptance speech, she mentioned that her award was not going to change anything because her life was beautiful before it.

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Karol G

Colombian artist Karol G became the first-ever woman to ever win Best Música Urbana Album for her song “Mañana será bonito.” A traditionally male-dominated category, Karol G broke this pattern and shattered the perception that reggaeton is an exclusively male genre.

Her humbling speech touched the audience, leaving them with a good impression of her and her music.

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Paramore

Paramore became the first band fronted by a woman to win Best Rock Album with their 2023 studio album “This is Why.” They took home two more awards, bringing their total win count to three Grammys. Even though Paramore isn’t an all-female band like boygenius, they still showed that women can lead a rock band to success.

Women made history at the 66th Grammy Awards, and they have one message for the Recording Academy: don’t underestimate women. They are capable of so much and are finally being acknowledged for it.

News Brief: the Florida ballot, baseball and King Charles’ Cancer Diagnosis

Isabella Martinez
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News Brief: the Florida ballot, baseball and King Charles’ Cancer Diagnosis

THIS WEEK AT THE U

Miami Hurricanes baseball is coming back in full swing


The Hurricanes are back in action, warming up for the upcoming season with an Alumni Game at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on Saturday, Feb. 10th..

Although the official baseball season begins on Friday, Feb. 16, with an opener of a four-game set against New Jersey Institute of Technology, the Hurricanes are getting into shape by playing against their very own as previous Miami Hurricane players make their way back to the field.

‘Canes Baseball fans can check out this upcoming season’s schedule and buy tickets here.

IN CASE U MISSED IT

Abortion and Marijuana on Florida’s November Ballot

Floridia constituents will be able to vote on an amendment legalizing abortions as well as the legalization of recreational marijuana in November.

Amendment 4, would provide a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability, around 24 weeks, or when necessary to protect the patient’s health which is determined by their healthcare provider.

The passing of this amendment will be a win for pro-choice voters, as the current laws make abortion illegal after 15 weeks.

DeSantis also signed a 2023 ban of abortion after six weeks. Yet this law has not gone into effect as abortion providers and the state Supreme Court are currently challenging the current 15-week ban.

However, this amendment impacts more than just Floridians, as Florida is one of the last states in the South with abortion access.

“If the amendment passes, pregnant people would have an additional 9-18 weeks (2-3 months) to decide if they want an abortion. Women in nearby states who could afford to travel to Florida for an abortion would also gain extra time,” said Louise K. Davidson-Schmich, a University of Miami Political Science professor who teaches a class in Gender and Politics.

Marijuana is also making an appearance on the ballot. If this statute passes anyone 21 or older will be allowed to use marijuana recreationally as well as possessing three or less ounces of marijuana.

The legalization of marijuana will showcase a positive step in Florida’s drug reform.

“This should have a positive effect on communities of color because people of color are disproportionately singled out for drug arrests now. Although they use and sell marijuana at similar rates to whites, African Americans are four times as likely to be arrested for possession. Large numbers of immigrants are deported for possession each year as well,” said Schmich.

King Charles Diagnosed with Cancer

King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and will be taking a step away from his public duties, according to a statement released on Feb. 5th.

This diagnosis comes a week after the 75 year old was discharged after a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

The royal palace released a statement, declaring that during the procedure a separate issue was found, and after tests a form of cancer was identified. The type of cancer has not been released to the public.

Although the King will be stepping away from the public eye, he will continue administrative work from home.

Weekend recap: Miami men’s tennis goes 1-1 against fellow in-state opponents

Blake Stern
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Weekend recap: Miami men’s tennis goes 1-1 against fellow in-state opponents

Miami tops USF in back-and-forth battle

On a chilly Thursday afternoon in Coral Gables, The Miami Hurricanes men’s tennis team earned its sixth match win of the season with a 4-3 victory over the USF Bulls.

The match was initially scheduled for Sunday afternoon but was postponed to Thursday due to weather issues.

Both teams fought hard in the doubles courts, with the Hurricanes winning the No. 1 doubles and the Bulls taking the No. 3 doubles. On court one, UM’s #30-ranked duo of Vladislav Melnic and Adrien Burdet defeated South Florida’s #17-ranked duo of Alvin Tudorica and Erik Grevelius, 6-3. On court three, the ‘Canes pair of Martin Katz and Nacho Serra Sanchez dropped a set to USF’s Oliveira and Hudson, 6-4.

With the doubles point coming down to court two, the Hurricanes doubles team of Antonio Prat and Sam Baumgartner triumphed in a tiebreaker over the Bulls Tom Pavlekovich-Smith and Agustin Cuellar, 7-6 (5).

Taking the 1-0 lead into the singles courts, Miami’s Antonio Prat quickly notched a second point for his team, beating USF’s Pavlekovich-Smith in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

The match’s momentum rapidly shifted, with the Bulls taking the 3-2 match lead by winning three straight courts. On court one, USF’s #35-ranked Alvin Tudorica took down ‘Canes No. 1 Vladislav Melnic, 7-5, 6-0. On court six, USF’s Elijah Cham defeated Sam Baumgartner, 7-5, 6-2. The Bulls took the lead with a dominant win from Bruno Oliveira over UM’s Adrien Burdet, 6-3, 6-1.

However, the ‘Canes would not go down without a fight. On court five, Nacho Serra Sanchez tied the match with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Tom Pisane.

With the match on the line in the No. 2 singles, Miami’s Martin Katz came up with a substantial three-set victory over USF’s Erik Grevelius, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-0.

The Hurricanes moved to 6-1 on the season, tying their best season start through 7 matches under head coach Aljosa Panic.

Hurricanes fall to UCF in early season away test

Shortly after claiming their sixth win of the year, the University of Miami men’s tennis team traveled a few hours north to Orlando on Sunday to face the UCF Knights. The Knights ended up coming away with the 4-3 victory, marking the ‘Canes second loss of the young season.

Miami took early control by sweeping the doubles courts, taking a 1-0 match lead. Martin Katz and Antonio Prat defeated Santiago Giamichelle and Francisco Llanes, 6-3, on court three, being quickly followed by Nacho Serra Sanchez and Sam Baumgartner winning 6-4 over Liam Branger and Lleyton Cronje on court two.

As the team transitioned to singles, UM’s Martin Katz continued the ‘Cane’s great play with a straight-set, 6-4, 6-4 victory on court two over UCF’s #100-ranked Cronje.

However, like in its last match, Miami’s opponent stormed back just minutes later and took the lead with three straight singles victories, all coming in straight sets.

UCF’s Yassine Dlimi defeated Vladislav Melnic, 7-5, 6-2 on court one, while Santiago Giamichelle beat Adrien Burdet, 6-3, 6-3, on court three. Court six was a closer affair, with the Knights’ Paul Colin still winning despite Miami’s Sam Baumgartner pushing the first set to a tiebreak, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Hoping to mirror his performance on Thursday, UM’s Nacho Serra Sanchez tied the match with a straight-set win over #120-ranked Mehdi Benchakroun, 6-4, 6-4, tying the match for the Hurricanes.

It all came down to the No. 3 singles, with Miami’s Antonio Prat and UCF’s Francisco Llanes splitting the first two sets, 6-4 and 1-6, respectively. In the final set, Llanes claimed the 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory, clinching the match and sending the Hurricanes home with a loss.

The men’s team returns to action on February 23 when they host the UTSA Roadrunners.

Even if it’s disappointing, the government is functioning as it should

Ethan Mannello
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Even if it’s disappointing, the government is functioning as it should

With the 2024 presidential election less than 10 months away, public trust in the government is nearing historic lows. In a survey done by Pew Research Center, about 20% of Americans say they trust the government to do what is right. It has been almost seven decades since trust has reached these levels.

Pair this with the American political divide that the Pew Research Center calls “exceptional in its nature” and which Axios reports as only getting deeper, it’s easy to worry about the future of our country. Especially as the last two presidents have had trouble fulfilling their campaign promises.

In former President Donald Trump’s case, most of his main promises fell by the wayside. He failed to lock up Hillary Clinton as he promised his supporters and never left NATO. His vow to build a border wall failed miserably, as he struggled to obtain funding from Congress.

Trump’s attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare sputtered out on Capitol Hill as well, despite the GOP’s control of both chambers for the first half of his term.

President Biden has also had a disappointing presidency. He promised to overhaul immigration policy, and what little he’s done has led to an awful border crisis. Opposition in Congress has stalled efforts to address gun violence, student loans, paid leave and the minimum wage.

On foreign policy, he fulfilled his vow to strengthen U.S. relations with NATO and pulled out of Afghanistan, but the withdrawal was chaotic and led to the deaths of hundreds, including 15 U.S. service members. Instead of the safer world he promised, the U.S. is now involved in two brutal international conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

This is a roundabout way to say that Americans are valid in their concerns about our government. Our last two presidents have struggled to deliver on many of their biggest promises and have had even less success reaching over the aisle and making deals with the other party.

Many of Biden and Trump’s failures can be attributed to the deep ideological divide within Congress. The Pew Research Center found that Congress is more ideologically divided than it has been over the past 50 years. Republicans and Democrats have been moving away from the ideological center since the 1970s and now a little over 10 moderate Democrats and Republicans hold seats in Congress. Because of this, it is very difficult for either party to pass any impactful legislation they have advertised like replacing Obamacare or overhauling immigration.

While this may be frustrating, the government is actually functioning the way that it was intended to.

As the Heritage Foundation wrote, “the Framers (of the Constitution) tried again, creating a system of government that did not deny the pursuit of self-interest, but instead helped to direct it toward compromise and consensus.”

One of the main goals of the Constitution was to promote compromise and only allow major change when a majority agreed. In doing this, they added both the separation of powers and checks and balances to the Constitution. These additions not only prevent one section or party in the government from gaining too much power but also make it difficult for our government to function when it is divided.

Because power is diversified throughout the government and each body has a check on the other, one party rarely gains complete power in the government. This means compromise is needed to create any major change within the country, and compromise is almost impossible with the current division in our government.

The government’s current lack of major action is just the government functioning as it should. The founding fathers had a vision for a country that only changes when a majority agrees and compromise can be reached. They also feared rapid, harmful change that more authoritarian regimes could pull off.

Our government isn’t making great progress for a reason, and that reason is an important one.

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

As layoffs become more common in media, student journalists begin to worry about their future

Isabella Martinez
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As layoffs become more common in media, student journalists begin to worry about their future

By Isabella Martinez & Anya Weller

The University of Miami is in the top 10% of colleges in America for communication and journalism, making it a hot spot for high achieving students. As students have traveled across the world for an opportunity to study at the U, the recent layoffs and cuts in world-renowned news organizations have shaken students as they are looking to life after graduation.

“I think it’s a bit daunting thinking about post-grad life, because thinking about how competitive the job market for journalism is there’s a bit of tension when looking into if this is a sustainable career choice,” Darrel Creary, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism and political science, said.

Creary is not the only student at UM who is doubting the sustainability of journalism as a future career. Some have even taken steps away from journalism due to the limited number of students who turn into full-time professionals in the industry.

Thalia Vlahos arrived at UM as a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism; however, after a year and a half with the major, she decided to move towards advertising.

“I loved journalism and broadcasting, and it’s still a passion project of mine. The journalism community is so strong at UM, and with my participation in UMTV I still have a strong tie to journalism, but it didn’t make sense for me in the long run. It’s a demanding profession with little to no recognition and it can be extremely difficult to get a job, and it’s just getting harder now,” said Vlahos.

In Jan. 2024 alone, over 500 journalists were laid off. Many of these writers are employed by major newspapers, such as the New York Times and The Washington Post. The layoff has not only caused financial instability for journalists, but has decreased the amount of people working on a story at a given time. Inevitably, this affects the quality of journalism.

“The newsrooms were always these symphonies where, you know, you had these great writers, and all these people came together and made this beautiful work,” Patrick Farrell, a Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist for the Miami Herald and a part time faculty and the University of Miami’s School of Communication, said.

In the last month, Sports Illustrated has announced that they are laying off 100 staff, NBC News has eliminated 75 jobs, and the LA Times has cut their staff by 20%. This is just the beginning. According to a study published by Northwestern University, one third of the U.S’s newspapers and two thirds of its journalists have been lost since 2005.

“Newspapers and journalism in general are not supposed to be a money-making endeavor. It is supposed to be for the wellbeing of society,” said Hiram Henriquez, a two-time Pulitzer prize winning for Team Reporting and lecturer at the University of Miami’s School of Communication.

Students like Vlahos are making these adjustments in their academic lives in order to have other potential careers in the media regardless of whether or not a future in journalism is possible

“Moving to advertisement doesn’t feel like something I had to do but it was just another way for me to continue expressing my creativity in the media,” said Vlahos. “I constantly use my knowledge in journalism in my new field of study. But I also didn’t completely let go of broadcasting, instead I declared broadcast journalism as my minor.”

Although Creary continues as a broadcast major, he has made sure to specialize his studies in several valuable ways.

“Since I’m pursuing videography, I have the added protection of my branch of creativity. Weaving a story through video is something software, at least for now, simply cannot do. Only humans know what we need to see to grab our attention to something, and videographers have the element to balance everything out,” Creary said.

An additional circumstance that has many weary of the future of journalism is the use of artificial intelligence and the possibility that it may soon take away the limited jobs for many in the media.

“Media corporations that lay off their writers in favor of including more AI models will see these repercussions eventually, but for now, script writers and print journalists are the ones at the highest level of risk,” said Creary.

“We’re essentially moving towards dehumanizing stories for profit. Having a human element to connect audiences through emotion and sympathy is the only thing that can connect us to stories distant from us.”

These developing concerns from journalism students come from the current headlines regarding journalist layoffs.

The journalism industry is no longer seen as a public service. This is caused by the owners of newspapers who have put their companies in the stock market with profit percentage objectives.

“What happens with that is that you’ve got to make your stockholders happy, you’ve got to show a good profit. The only way they are hitting those targets is not that they are selling a lot more papers or more advertising, they are cutting staff,” said Henriquez.

Many experts say that revenue is driving the recent surge in journalist layoffs. The increasing number of apps that display news has made the journalism industry far more competitive. As a result, newspapers such as the New York Times are making significantly less revenue from advertisements.

“Where is the revenue going to come from? I’m certain that’s what triggered it. These companies are owned by big corporations that want to make money. I don’t know if they’re really in it for the consumer as much as they’re in it for the profits,” said Farrell.

Although this cut in writers at distinguished organizations concerns working journalists and students, some are trying to see the positives with this new dynamic.

“When I was working all those years, somebody was giving me assignments and I went out and did them. Now, writers can be more creative,” said Farrell.

Journalists often write for multiple publications, giving them more creative freedom.

“I didn’t have the luxury to actually pursue my interests and the stories I wanted to do. And so that’s a benefit to me. In this generation, if you can figure out the revenue stream, you can do the stories you want to do,” said Farrell.

Even with these hardships on the cover of every news outlet, students at UM believe that the art of journalism is not lost and instead are finding ways to have a secure future while continuing to follow their passions.

“The success stories of UM students before us mean everything to me, and I feel privileged to go to a school with top-notch resources,” said Creary. “I just feel that listening to professors and pushing ourselves into the right spaces will be the final mark to determine if we can stand on solid ground in the job market or can become adaptable to anything that can come our way.”

Hurricanes make it two in a row, fight back to topple Georgia Tech

Caleb Shapiro
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Hurricanes make it two in a row, fight back to topple Georgia Tech

The Miami Hurricanes are building an identity as a third-quarter team, and they showed it again Sunday, rallying to defeat the Georgia Tech (GT) Yellow Jackets 62-60.

Miami got back on the road after a one-game stint at home, an overtime defeat of Clemson, where UM tied its second-largest halftime comeback in program history at 18 points.

A desolate first half saw the ‘Canes struggle to find their footing. Sophomore Kyla Oldacre connected on all three of her shot attempts, a highlight in the midst of a frame where UM shot under 31% from the field.

Regardless, defense covered for the poor shooting as Miami (16-7, 6-6 ACC) held the Yellow Jackets to 33% shooting from the field, holding GT’s leading scorer Kara Dunn to 0–of-7 in the process.

However, the ‘Canes were still fighting an uphill battle.

Early in the second quarter, Georgia Tech (14-11, 5-7 ACC) got out on an 8-0 scoring run, propelling its lead to nine. Miami covered partial ground and entered the breakdown seven.

A third-quarter eruption by Miami seized momentum.

It was transfer Jaida Patrick who dropped in two tough buckets to open the third. One of which she corralled off an offensive rebound and laid the ball in. A possession later, Patrick drove, spun and knocked down a fall-away jumper over the outstretched arm of Dunn.

“In the third quarter we just got up and it started with Jaida, just like the start of the second half against Clemson when we were down,” head coach Katie Meier said.

A series of finishes, including a jump shot from junior Shayeann Day-Wilson and free throws from forward Jasmyne Roberts, brought the ‘Canes within two.

The ‘Canes gained their first lead off a three from Day-Wilson, putting them up 38-37, the second of a pair she connected on in the third. She had 10 points in the quarter and 17 in total to lead the ‘Canes.

After junior Ja’Leah Williams went on a solo five-point spurt, UM entered the final frame with a 49-44 cushion.

Over the last four games, Miami has outscored its opponent in the third quarter by eight points or more. This time, UM outscored its opponent 27-15.

The fourth quarter saw the ‘Canes extend their lead to seven. Miami held on with Day-Wilson knocking down clutch free-throws; however, its lead was trimmed to as little as two off a layup by guard Tonie Morgan with three minutes to play.

Morgan led all scorers with 24 points.

The ‘Canes have won four of their last five games and are set to take on No. 23 Syracuse in Coral Gables on Thursday. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.

2024 Grammys: Unraveling the night of surprises and controversies

Sofia Davis
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2024 Grammys: Unraveling the night of surprises and controversies
Photo credit: Ashley Puritz

The 2024 Grammy Awards brought together music’s finest in a night filled with surprises, leaving audiences talking long after the final note had played.

Kicking off the night on a high note, Killer Mike walked away with three Grammy Awards, basking in the glory of his wins. However, the euphoria was short-lived when he was shockingly taken away in handcuffs, casting a shadow over his achievements. The abrupt arrest left fans searching for answers as Killer Mike’s night took an unexpected turn.

As the evening progressed, one of the most talked-about moments occurred when Celine Dion made a rare appearance to present the Album of the Year award to Taylor Swift. Dion had largely remained out of the public eye since disclosing her battle with Stiff-Person Syndrome — a rare neurological disorder marked by severe muscle stiffness and spasms.

The legendary singer received a standing ovation from the audience, including Swift. However, Swift’s failure to verbally acknowledge Dion during her acceptance speech left many speculating about a feud.

“I don’t think there was anything wrong with Taylor Swift not acknowledging Celine Dion. It could be that the syndrome prevented Taylor from hugging her onstage,” senior broadcast journalism major Isabella Morales said.

A backstage embrace between the two stars ultimately suggested that any tension had dissipated.

Jay-Z’s win of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award should have been a moment of celebration, but the rapper used his acceptance speech as a platform to call out the Recording Academy for overlooking his wife, Beyoncé.

As reported by USA Today, Jay-Z said, “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than anyone and never won album of the year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work.”

The speech ignited a passionate debate about the fairness of the Grammy Awards, concluding with Jay-Z’s words of encouragement, urging artists to persist in their pursuit of acknowledgement.

Travis Scott’s return to the Grammy stage after the Astroworld festival tragedy in 2021 was a moment of high anticipation. His performance was electrifying, yet it took an unexpected turn when Scott seemed to lose control, tossing chairs and stage props in a frenzy.

While some saw this as a signature display of his energy, his lyrics, “They slept on me 10 times!” hinted at a deeper frustration stemming from multiple Grammy nominations without a win.

“His latest album may not have resonated as strongly with the Grammy voters as his previous works, leading to his surprising lack of wins despite numerous nominations. It’s a reminder of the subjective nature of these awards,” senior modern artist development and entrepreneurship major Ian Fischer said.

From Killer Mike’s arrest to Travis Scott’s onstage meltdown, this year’s Grammys underscored how the music industry’s grand stage is a realm of unpredictability.

Does “pretty boy” Jacob Elordi have a personality? UM students weigh in

Anna Hanonick
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Does “pretty boy” Jacob Elordi have a personality? UM students weigh in
Photo credit: NBC

“I feel like his whole brand is just being hot,” said Caroline Mueller, a junior legal studies and marketing major.

The person in question is actor Jacob Elordi, who got his big break in Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth” and HBO’s “Euphoria,” and has since starred in feature films “Priscilla” and “Saltburn.”

Throughout all of these movies, it seems as though his role remains pretty consistent: he is always the pretty boy.

So when Elordi made his Saturday Night Live debut on Jan. 21, he had an opportunity to show the world that he is more than just his looks. However, his role in the skits saw him playing this same type of character.

“I would have loved to see him showcase his personality more on SNL,” Mueller said. “I feel like that’s kinda the point of SNL — for hot actors to prove that they have a personality.”

Some of the highlights of the night included “Crown Your Short King,” a skit in which Elordi’s height alone secures him a win on a show with otherwise diminutive bachelors. Another skit featured a women’s Alcoholics Anonymous group that accommodates Elordi because he’s a handsome sex addict.

In a role that was on-the-nose, Elordi played a guest celebrity visiting an acting studio, sharing with the students that he has never had to audition for a role or struggle as an actor because of his good looks.

“To be honest, I haven’t even really thought about whether he’s a good actor or not,” junior communication major Murphy Degan said. “I don’t think that that’s what I am looking out for when I’m watching his movies. I also don’t think his roles are complex enough for his talents to show through. Most of his roles are the pretty boy everyone is in love with.”

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Junior biochemistry major Bella Haham thought Elordi “seemed awkward” delivering his opening monologue.

“It was probably scripted, but I mean, some of his alleged jokes were just weird. I expected him to have more substance,” Haham said. “Maybe it’s because he has to preserve his ‘pretty boy brand’ by not being funny, or maybe he’s just not funny at all.”

SNL is a prime place for actors to let their true, humorous selves shine on the big screen and prove to the world there’s more substance to them. Better yet, they can let someone else write them a hilarious script, then pretend they came up with it themselves.

But Elordi fans online seemed to be disappointed by the repeated remarks about how attractive he was.

Whether Elordi has depth beyond his appearance continues to remain a mystery, but regardless, he’s created a successful career for himself. As long as his looks continue to pay his rent, that’s all that matters.

Get in loser, we’re going to UM: Frost School makes appearance in “Mean Girls”

Vivica Dunlap
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Get in loser, we’re going to UM: Frost School makes appearance in “Mean Girls”
Attendees wear the Frost School of Music sweatshirt featured in the "Mean Girls" movie at the Cosford Cinema screening on Wed, Feb. 7.
Attendees wear the Frost School of Music sweatshirt featured in the "Mean Girls" movie at the Cosford Cinema screening on Wed, Feb. 7. Photo credit: IG @frostschoolum

First official movie stills, then the official trailer and the official poster. That’s how the Frost School of Music announced their collaboration with the new “Mean Girls” movie on Instagram, providing little context to what role Frost played in the film.

In their first post, @umfrostschool noted a “special surprise,” while the second and third posts hinted at Frost’s film debut without divulging any details.

The debut in question is a Frost sweatshirt worn by a background “band geek” during the famous cafeteria scene.

“Within this fictional world, maybe that student wants to attend the Frost School of Music, or maybe they’ve already been accepted there. Either way, it’s totally ‘fetch!’” said Stephanie Hernandez, the Director of Marketing and Communications of Frost School of Music.

The truth was confirmed by TMH after reaching out to the Frost School of Music PR team.

“The buzz around the Frost School of Music’s appearance in the film has been celebrated by the school’s students, faculty and alumni,” Hernandez said.

Despite the excitement from Frost staff, some UM students had mixed feelings.

“Very curious as to how they managed to get that in there. I think it would be funny if the School of Music didn’t have any involvement at all and the costume person found it at a thrift store ,and now they’re hyping it up like they had anything to do it with it,” said media management junior Bella Baldessari.

Others echo the same feelings from the Frost School staff.

“It’s good to see the artistic side of Miami being represented like this,” said Jordelle Beja, a junior studying motion pictures.

Even Frost School of Music Dean Shelton G. Berg has joined the conversation.

“It’s only fitting for an iconic legacy brand like the Frost School of Music to be aligned with “Mean Girls,” a film that continues to make an indelible mark on new generations,” Dean Berg said. “It’s just one more way we can convey the promise of a best-in-class education at one of the top music schools in the world with an even greater number of people across the U.S. and the globe.”

In celebration of the partnership, Frost held a special screening of the movie musical on Wednesday, Feb. 7 for Frost students.

And for all students — Frost or not — the sweatshirt featured in the hit film is now available for purchase at the campus bookstore. The school is currently planning a giveaway for this sweatshirt to the students of UM.

“You don’t just need to watch “Mean Girls” to see a student wear a Frost School of Music sweatshirt — just look at the hundreds of Frost School students, alumni, faculty and others who are wearing one, too!” Hernandez said.

Despite how small a moment like this may seem, there is something encouraging about seeing UM on the big screen. Frost has received acclaim from various places, including The Hollywood Reporter, which named it one of the top music schools in the world.

“The industry-leading magazine [called] out the ‘Frost Method,’ which ‘gives students a grip on the technological and business side of a career in music, as well as the skills to excel as an artist,’ and its location in ‘the middle of the red-hot Miami art scene,’” Hernandez said.

Now on the big screen, Frost continues its legacy as a school producing top artists.

Omier and Pack not enough as Miami falls to UNC

Luke Sims
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Omier and Pack not enough as Miami falls to UNC

Despite a valiant effort from Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier, the Miami Hurricanes could not complete the comeback against No. 3 North Carolina as they fell 75-72 at home.

A sold-out Watsco Center was on its feet until the final buzzer. Miami battled to the end and had a chance to tie the game with a Pack three-pointer with just nine seconds remaining. Pack’s three fell short; from there, it was virtually over.

“We came down, and went and played ball screen and saw the switch, I was feeling the rhythm,” said Pack. “Saw (Bacot) kind of retreat back on his heels and I just took the shot.”

Fourth-year junior guard Nijel Pack goes up for a shot during Miami's game versus the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024.
Fourth-year junior guard Nijel Pack goes up for a shot during Miami's game versus the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024. Photo credit: Cecelia Runner

Pack and Omier were the driving force of Miami’s offense, as the junior duo finished with 20 points a piece. The two players combined for 34 of Miami’s 41 points during the first half. The ‘Canes struggled to get anyone going outside of those two.

Miami missed the presence of freshman standout Kyshawn George. The Swiss native is a strong on-ball defender who the ‘Canes could have used in trying to guard North Carolina’s talented guards.

Miami’s second-leading scorer, coming into the contest, had a challenging game. Junior Matthew Cleveland finished with just 7 points on 3-6 shooting. Cleveland could not answer the call in a game where Miami needed someone besides Pack and Omier to score.

Junior guard Matthew Cleveland shoots in the second half of Miami's game versus the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024.
Junior guard Matthew Cleveland shoots in the second half of Miami's game versus the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024. Photo credit: Cecelia Runner

Poplar, who came into the game questionable with a lower-body injury, also did not play up to his usual standard. With the injury hampering his game, Poplar finished with 13 points total but just 1-6 from three-point range and 5-13 overall.

The inconstant offense correlated with the inconsistent play on defense. UNC jumped out to quick leads in the first and the second half. In the first half, it was a 15-4 run, and in the second, it was a 15-4 run. Both times, Miami battled back.

“Carolina was able to establish their game very very quickly,” said coach Jim Larrañaga. “They had 15 points in the first five minutes, our defense did get better, and we got back and started scoring. We always play much better defense when we start scoring. Nijel hit some shots, Norchad started attacking the basket and we were able to fight back.”

Junior guard Wooga Poplar dribbles down court in the final seconds of Miami's game versus the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024.
Junior guard Wooga Poplar dribbles down court in the final seconds of Miami's game versus the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Miami took its first lead since the start of the game as Poplar converted an and-one layup to give Miami a 35-33. The Hurricanes were able to carry that lead and that momentum into halftime.

A large section of North Carolina fans made their presence felt to cheer on the road team. There was much to cheer for as UNC’s talented frontcourt duo played well in Coral Gables. Senior RJ Davis, who averages 21.3 points per game, scored 25 points and was an elite 5-11 from beyond the arc. North Carolina’s freshman stud Elliott Cadeau added another 19 points and dished out eight assists for the Tar Heels.

Down low was a different story. Armando Bacot, UNC’s big man who averages a double-double, was effectively shut down when Omier was on the court. Bacot finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds, but Omier did a fantastic job against the senior, who averages 14.3 points a night.

This was a winnable game for Miami. A brutal 14% shooting from three in the second half doomed the ‘Canes. This game was within reach, and Miami was not able to convert.

A fan disagrees with a referee in the final seconds of Miami's 72-75 loss to the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024.
A fan disagrees with a referee in the final seconds of Miami's 72-75 loss to the University of North Carolina in the Watsco Center on Feb. 10, 2024. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

The ‘Canes will take to the road to battle with the Clemson Tigers, who beat UNC last week. The matchup will be the second time Miami plays the Tigers this season. Miami won the first one and will hope to do it again next Wednesday night. Tip-off for this ACC test will be at 7:00 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN2.

All stats and data via ESPN and StatsBroadcast.com unless otherwise noted.

Hurricanes overcome 18-point deficit, win overtime thriller over Clemson

Caleb Shapiro
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Hurricanes overcome 18-point deficit, win overtime thriller over Clemson

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than 18-year Miami Hurricanes’ head coach Katie Meier could’ve seen it coming when she did.

“We found it towards the end of the first half,” Meier said, referring to the ‘Canes offense which overcame a 17-point halftime deficit for a 75-72 overtime win over the Clemson Tigers (11-13, 4-8 ACC) on Thursday.

It was the third-largest halftime comeback in program history.

Miami (15-7, 5-6 ACC) trailed by as much as 18 and looked flustered at times. Many would have doubts before their belief, naturally. But in Meier’s case, believing was never in question.

“At the end of the first half our offense was not bad, we just did not hit good, ‘Miami,’ shots,” elaborated Meier.

However, Miami wasn’t just dealing with cold shooting. In the second quarter, transfer guard Lemyah Hylton went down with an apparent knee injury. The ‘Canes were going to need another gear.

As the second half developed, Miami shrugged off a cold 20 minutes and improved its shooting in field goal, three-point and free-throw percentage in the final frames. In the third quarter alone, UM went 5-of-9 from three, a stark contrast to their 0-for-11 start.

Behind the charge was Miami’s offensive rebounding, catalyzed by sophomore forward Lazaria “Zee” Spearman. Aside from finishing with the highest plus-minus of plus-13, Spearman grabbed seven rebounds, four of which were offensive, to go along with 14 points.

“Zee was very calm, she wasn’t as rough,” Meier said.

It was this even-keeled-ness, which reverberated throughout the ‘Canes demeanor and ultimately won them the contest. There may have been no overtime, however, without the poise of junior guard Ja’Leah Williams.

With a minute to go, Williams made the tying free throw, knotting the game at 61. With under 10 seconds to play, the junior stole the ball off a bad pass from the Tigers’ Harris. Williams finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

The x-factor, however, was forward Latasha Lattimore. The junior collected four offensive rebounds of her own. When she shared the court with Spearman, UM’s size proved formidable. Spearman spoke about the on-court dynamic between her and Lattimore.

“We got the same mindset, we both want to go out there and win or compete every time we get on the court,” the sophomore said. “I feel like just combining that really turned us into a different beast tonight.”’

It was Meier, of course, who elected to play them on the floor together for the majority of the second half. She did so for good reason.

“I thought Zee and [Latasha] really started to talk and compete,” Meier said. “When those two are talking, our defense is a lot better.”

Clemson was led by its graduate tandem of Amari Robinson and Dayshanette Harris, who had 24 and 22 points respectively, to lead all scorers. Shayeann Day-Wilson scored 17 for the ‘Canes.

UM heads to Georgia Tech, where it will take on the Yellow Jackets on Sunday. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.

Sims: Miami MBB is running out of time

Luke Sims
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Sims: Miami MBB is running out of time

38 points.

The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team just recorded its lowest point total in a collegiate basketball game since men’s basketball was reinstated at the school in 1985 with 38 points against Virginia last Monday night.

The game in Charlottesville encompassed everything that has gone wrong for the Hurricanes this season. From start to finish, it was a disaster for Miami. Freshman sensation Kyshawn George was injured right away, continuing the streak of injured UM starters.

The ‘Canes got off to a hot start, leading 7-2, but failed to convert almost anything after that.

“The game. They just outplayed us in every aspect of the game,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga told reporters after being asked what happened after a solid opening to the game. “We didn’t play well. They played really well. Thank you for your attention.”

Larrañaga proceeded to walk out of the press conference, disgusted at the product his team displayed on the floor that night.

This is not the first time that Miami has been outplayed or put forth a poor effort. The ‘Canes have developed some detrimental habits this season that were not seen in last season’s phenomenal Final Four run.

These indiscretions were overlooked at the start of the year, as Miami started 11-2 with impressive wins over Kansas State and then 16th-ranked Clemson. Since that point, Miami is 4-6 without a signature win in that span.

Some of the issues that have plagued Miami are due to injuries. All but one of Miami’s starters have spent time on the sidelines with injuries this season. Juniors Wooga Poplar, Norchad Omier and Matthew Cleveland have all missed time this season, in addition to the new injury to George. The ‘Canes have not been able to be consistently healthy in ACC play. Just when they get back to full strength, the injury bug strikes again.

“For me, it’s very frustrating,” Larrañaga said. “Practice does not look like it should. We miss our starting unit no matter who is out.”

The ‘Canes rely heavily on their starters. With the emergence of Kyshawn George, Miami can have a six-man rotation. Either way, the bench for UM is very thin. Omier leads Miami in points and rebounds per game with 17.6 and 9.8, respectively. The Nicaraguan native also leads the ACC in double-doubles with 12. Cleveland, Pack and Poplar all average at least 13.9 points and are keys to making Miami one of the better offensive teams in the country.

While Miami can score, it has had issues with turnovers. The ‘Canes are third in the ACC with 12.5 turnovers per game. These wasted possessions have led to massive scoring droughts that can put the ‘Canes out of games.

When Miami’s offense is on, it’s really good. But when the Hurricanes offense is off, it’s really off. There have been multiple stretches over the past few games where Miami has gone upwards of eight minutes without a made field goal. For a team that has hopes of making it back to the dance, that cannot continue to happen.

Currently, Miami is tied for seventh in the ACC with Pittsburgh and Syracuse. The ‘Canes are 15-8 overall and 6-6 in the ACC. The Hurricanes have eight games remaining on their schedule before the ACC tournament. All of those games are against ACC teams, including two games against Boston College, a home game versus Duke, and two matchups against the North Carolina Tar Heels. The first of those games happens this Saturday when the third-ranked Tar Heels come to Coral Gables.

It’s tough to find Miami in any projected NCAA tournament bracket right now. A majority of media outlets have four teams representing the ACC in March. The ‘Canes may very well have to rely on a run in the ACC tournament to convince the selection committee that they are worthy of an invitation to the dance.

Still, all of the wins that the ‘Canes can get improve their chances. And that starts this Saturday when the third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels march into the Watsco Center to take on the Hurricanes.

UM has had some time to rest after the embarrassing display on Monday. Returning home, the task does not get any easier.

North Carolina is a powerhouse team, and while they just faltered against Clemson, teams this good don’t lose two games in a row very often. The top team in the ACC this season is led by RJ Davis and his 21.3 points per game. The Heels have four scorers in double figures that aid in their ACC-best 82.8 points per game.

The big-man matchup will be another spectacle. Omier and Tar Heel big man Armando Bacot know each other well after ACC battles over the past two seasons. Both are double-double machines and are leaders down low for their squads.

Miami has their work cut out for them, but with the brief hiatus and a chance to get healthy, this could be an opportunity to collect a marquee win.

It’s a sold-out crowd for this much-anticipated matchup in South Florida. Tip-off for this game is set for 4:00 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN.

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