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Welcome to the Gables: Making the most of Miami

Charlotte Schuyler
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Welcome to the Gables: Making the most of Miami

The best UM experience stretches far beyond the boundaries of campus.

You do not need a perfectly planned Miami itinerary or an expensive dinner reservation to start exploring. Sometimes, you just need to know a few popular places to meet other college students.

Sunset Place

For the easiest first outing, start close to campus. 

Sunset Place is only about a 15-minute walk from UM and, while it might not be the first place you hear about as a freshman, it is seriously underrated. You can catch a movie at the AMC, stop by Honey Veil, take a class at Fuze House Yoga or just walk around when you want to get off campus without making an entire day out of it. 

Coconut Grove

A little farther away is Coconut Grove, just a 10-minute drive from campus and home to some of the most iconic student spots. Grab a sweet treat from Go Greek, try the must-have pizza at Mister O1 or walk around CocoWalk for a more relaxed afternoon. 

The Grove is perfect for almost anything, whether it is a Sunday coffee run, shopping with friends, showing your parents around when they come to visit or a weekend night out.

For sophomore Lucy Sanford, getting off campus helped her feel like Miami was really her home.

“Exploring everything around UM was honestly one of the things that made me love the school so much,” Sanford said. “There’s so much to do right outside of campus, and once you start exploring, Miami starts to feel a lot more like home.”

Beach trip

Of course, exploring Miami would not be complete without a beach trip. Sophomore Nina Wagner, a member of UM’s scuba club, recommends one that freshmen might not even realize they have access to. 

The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science sits right on the water on nearby Virginia Key, giving UM students a waterfront escape away from the more crowded Miami beaches.

“Rosenstiel is probably one of the most underrated places for UM students,” Wagner said. “It feels like having our own little beach away from everything, and so many students don’t even know about it.” 

Getting there is easy, too. UM offers a free Rosenstiel Shuttle that picks up students at Miller Circle on the Coral Gables campus and takes them directly to the Rosenstiel School on Virginia Key, making the trip easy without a car or an Uber.

Key Biscayne is one of the easiest beach escapes from Coral Gables and a good option when you want something beyond sitting at the campus pool. 

That being said, do not underestimate the pool. On a sunny weekend, the UC Pool can look like half the student body independently had the same idea. If you want a chair, get there early. Consider this your warning.

Brickell

Your first semester should also include at least one trip to Brickell, about a 20-minute Metrorail ride from campus. 

With skyscrapers, waterfront views, restaurants, shopping and nightlife, it feels like the center of modern Miami. Walk around Brickell City Centre, grab lunch or dinner, explore the shops or come back for a night out. 

And getting there is easy: take the Miami Metrorail for a cheap and convenient way to explore beyond Coral Gables without constantly paying for Ubers.

Little Havana

For a different side of Miami, Professor Nicole Hospital-Medina, a UM alumna and writing professor, recommends heading to Little Havana.

“Little Havana is such a vibrant place to explore,” Hospital-Medina said, pointing freshmen toward its small shops, restaurants and Domino Park. 

Her advice is to work your way outward rather than trying to see the entire city at once. Start with walkable South Miami, she said, then branch out to Coconut Grove and Brickell before exploring farther from campus.

Game day

During football season, there is one freshman experience that should be nonnegotiable: go to the games.

Yes, Hard Rock Stadium is far. Yes, Miami will probably be unbearably hot. Go anyway. Get on the student bus, wear orange and green and experience a football Saturday at least once.

But making Miami feel like home is not just about how many places you can check off a list. Professor Hospital-Medina said one of the most important things freshmen can do is establish a routine of their own.

“You no longer have that rigid schedule laid out for you in college,” Hospital-Medina said. “It’s easy to get off track or feel homesick, so you need to make your own routine. Step outside the campus a little bit here and there slowly so you don’t feel overwhelmed.” 

The biggest mistake freshmen can make is treating Miami like somewhere they will explore “eventually.” Four years sounds like a long time until it isn’t.

So go to Key Biscayne. Spend an afternoon in the Grove. Get to the pool before all the chairs are taken. Take public transit somewhere you have never been. Go to Hard Rock.

Get off campus, explore and take advantage of the city you get to call home for the next four years.

A love letter to Mahoney-Pearson

V's Take
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A love letter to Mahoney-Pearson

It’s impossible to miss the cranes and piles of rubble that trample over where our beloved Mahoney-Pearson residential halls used to stand. 

We may not live there anymore, but we will never forget all the things that really made it feel like home.

I mean, seriously, what would we have done without the water dripping from the vents above our heads while we slept? Or the occasional hospital visit from mold poisoning?

And nothing screamed “you look great” quite like the green or fleshy pink bathroom tile. No matter how good you thought you looked before walking in, one glance in that mirror was enough to make you question whether you were coming down with something … again.

Maybe MP’s greatest gift of all was the sense of community that came from knowing we were all in it together. Centennial Village may have shiny new rooms and no mold, but we had each other and superiority complexes built entirely around being “more social.”

But it was true. Doors were always open, music was always playing and people were always around to lend you a going-out top or some snacks.

Then there were the gliders. 

During the day, they were the perfect place to sit outside and pretend to do homework. At night, they became the spot to recap everything that happened while eating Taco Bell you definitely did not need.

And who can forget the time the outdoor ceiling collapsed right where many of those gliders used to be?

On the weekends, there was nothing better than making the trek to late-night dining in pajamas and slippers with your friends. It wasn’t glamorous, but neither was MP — and that was kind of the point.

Mahoney-Pearson may officially be rubble now, but for everyone who called it home, it will always be the place where some of our best college memories began.

So, goodbye MP. You were outdated, questionable and occasionally hazardous to our health, but you were ours.

Photo of the Month – August 2026

Brian Mulvey
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Wes Fleischer Contributing Photographer // The sun sets over Centennial Village on Thursday, Aug. 20th, 2026

Photo of the Month – August 2026

Brian Mulvey
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Wes Fleischer Contributing Photographer // The sun sets over Centennial Village on Thursday, Aug. 20th, 2026

A love letter to Mahoney-Pearson

V
-
0
A love letter to Mahoney-Pearson

It’s impossible to miss the cranes and piles of rubble that trample over where our beloved Mahoney-Pearson residential halls used to stand. 

We may not live there anymore, but we will never forget all the things that really made it feel like home.

I mean, seriously, what would we have done without the water dripping from the vents above our heads while we slept? Or the occasional hospital visit from mold poisoning?

And nothing screamed “you look great” quite like the green or fleshy pink bathroom tile. No matter how good you thought you looked before walking in, one glance in that mirror was enough to make you question whether you were coming down with something … again.

Maybe MP’s greatest gift of all was the sense of community that came from knowing we were all in it together. Centennial Village may have shiny new rooms and no mold, but we had each other and superiority complexes built entirely around being “more social.”

But it was true. Doors were always open, music was always playing and people were always around to lend you a going-out top or some snacks.

Then there were the gliders. 

During the day, they were the perfect place to sit outside and pretend to do homework. At night, they became the spot to recap everything that happened while eating Taco Bell you definitely did not need.

And who can forget the time the outdoor ceiling collapsed right where many of those gliders used to be?

On the weekends, there was nothing better than making the trek to late-night dining in pajamas and slippers with your friends. It wasn’t glamorous, but neither was MP — and that was kind of the point.

Mahoney-Pearson may officially be rubble now, but for everyone who called it home, it will always be the place where some of our best college memories began.

So, goodbye MP. You were outdated, questionable and occasionally hazardous to our health, but you were ours.

Miami volleyball seeks sixth straight tournament appearance

Max Diaz
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Miami volleyball seeks sixth straight tournament appearance

UM’s volleyball team dominated the courts last season, playing one of the best seasons in program history, going 27-6 (ACC 16-4) while also winning three ranked matches against Pittsburgh and North Carolina twice in last year’s campaign. 

Their regular-season success earned them a bid to the NCAA tournament for a fifth consecutive year. In the postseason, UM won their first-round matchup against Tulsa, but fell to Kansas in the next round. 

Last season will not be forgotten, but the Hurricanes, along with head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara, who is heading into his 14th year at Miami, are ready for this year — seeking a sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance. 

With the season around the corner, here is how the team is shaping up.

Replacing a program legend

Perhaps the toughest challenge the Canes had during the offseason was finding a replacement for outside hitter Flormarie Heredia Colon. 

Heredia Colon was selected No. 10 overall in the 2025 Major League Volleyball (MLV) draft, and the legacy she left behind at the “U” is immense.

In her four years as a Hurricane, Heredia Colon littered her name all across the program record book — holding nearly every program record for kills.

To put her historic kill count into perspective, nine of the top-ten performances in program history came from her during the 2025 season.

In short, the 2025 All-American and All-ACC First Team recipient was a dominant one-woman scoring machine. 

Sophia Metzner, Staff Photographer, senior Flomarie Colon jumps for a spike versus Indiana Aug. 29 2025

Senior outside hitter Flormarie Heredia Colon goes up for a spike in the 2nd set of Miami’s 2-3 loss to Indiana at the Knight Sports Complex on Friday, Aug. 29th.

Many new faces join

The question remains as to who will take Heredia Colon’s role for the 2026-27 Hurricanes, especially with Miami’s next three kill leaders last season no longer with the program. 

In total, UM lost nine players, including the majority of their core six.

The Hurricanes have filled that void in the roster with five transfers: sophomores Asia Harvey and Jovana Zelenovic, seniors Avery Bain and Lal Akin, junior Adrianna Bridges and four freshmen.

All nine will be battling for a spot in the starting lineup that has been left wide open after last season.

Who will the starters be?

The only guaranteed pick for a spot in the starting six will be setter Ariana Rodriguez. 

The redshirt junior is returning from a career season in which she tallied the second-most assists in a season for Miami (1265) and was named to the All-ACC First Team.

Besides Rodriguez, the rest of the lineup is seemingly up for grabs. 

A top pick for one of the two outside hitters is Zelenovic. Standing at a towering 6-foot-7, the Serbian brings power to Coral Gables as she led Kansas last year in both kills and service aces, along with being named First Team All-Big 12 as a freshman.

As for the other outside hitter, Bain brings the most experience as a senior, but one of the younger players could still secure the spot. 

Three players could get significant playing time next to the net in a middle blocker position. 

Junior Logan Wiley played major minutes last season for Miami, while transfers Akin and Bridges bring both experience and proven success.

Finally, sophomore Olivia Durst is the likely pick at libero, as she is the only libero on the roster who played any sets last season.

A quick overview of the schedule

Miami landed just outside the preseason top 25, receiving the most votes for a team not in the poll. 

As the Hurricanes hope to prove they not only belong in the rankings but also near the top, they have many tough challenges this season to showcase their skills.

In total, seven of Miami’s opponents were listed in the AVCA preseason poll: No. 17 Florida (Sept. 9), No. 14 Minnesota (Sept. 11), No. 11 SMU (Oct. 16), No. 4 Pitt (Oct. 18), No. 7 Louisville (Oct. 25), No. 5 Stanford (Nov. 6) and No. 19 North Carolina (Nov. 20; Nov. 27).

With a schedule as tough as theirs, a successful season could potentially bring a tournament regional to Coral Gables.

The season officially begins on Friday, Aug. 28, as UM heads up to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans.

Head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara gives directions to his team on Saturday, April 20 at the Knight Sports Complex. Photo Credit: Jason Hill

Miami Hurricanes eye 2026 title chase after CFP run

Omar Pinto
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Miami Hurricanes eye 2026 title chase after CFP run

Last season brought the most success the Miami Hurricanes football program has seen in more than two decades. 

The shine and intimidation the “U” logo held on the field during its dominant periods in the 80s and early 2000s felt like it had returned as Miami took the nation by storm with its College Football Playoff performance.

The Canes soared to a program-record thirteen wins on the year, including their first bowl win since 2016 and their first-ever CFP appearance, but fell just shy of their sixth national championship in a 27-21 loss to Indiana.

Miami’s playoff run highlighted the renewed culture around the program.

UM entered arguably the most hostile environment in college football, Kyle Field, to upset the Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 in round one, followed by dramatic wins over Ohio State and Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.

Despite a heartbreaking loss to Indiana in the final game, the Hurricanes had finally brought themselves back into the national spotlight after more than twenty years in hibernation.

Following their historic season, it’s time to look at what’s to come as the Canes have sky-high expectations for their 2026 campaign.

QB Darian Mensah 

Mensah takes the reins as quarterback for the Hurricanes following a stellar season for the Duke Blue Devils in which he threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns — both good for second in the nation. He also led the Blue Devils to an ACC Championship victory, a title which has eluded the Hurricanes during its 22-year stay in the conference.

Miami is placing a lot of trust in its new signal caller, with On3 valuing his NIL compensation at $6.5 million, marking the highest valuation among college athletes entering the 2026 season.

When asked about his new star quarterback, head coach Mario Cristobal called Mensah “a complete professional,” praising his “great command” of the offense, “arm talent,” “pocket presence” and “great energy.” 

With lots of hype surrounding the transfer, many believe Mensah is the last piece of the puzzle to get the Canes over the hump this year. 

WR Malachi Toney 

The 18-year-old receiver took the country by storm last year as a freshman, being the Canes’ most dangerous weapon on offense all season. 

Toney hauled in 109 catches for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns alongside contributions as a running back and quarterback in Miami’s trademark “Malicat” formation.

The Freshman All-American paced the entire country in receptions and led all freshmen in receiving yards and touchdowns. 

When asked about his thoughts on the season, Toney voiced his confidence.

“This year I feel more prepared because I know what I’m going into,” he said. “Last year, I was a freshman … I didn’t know what I was getting myself into going into the season, but now I know because I have experience from the past season.”

Entering his sophomore year, Toney is expected to maintain his crucial role in the offense as a potential Heisman candidate.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Freshman Wide Reciever Malachi Toney leaps over a Stanford Defender on October 26, 2025.

RB Mark Fletcher: 

Without bruising running back Mark Fletcher, the Canes would not have had a chance in the CFP. 

His 172 yards against Texas A&M were the main reason the Hurricanes pulled off the upset in round one, but his production didn’t end there. Fletcher would run for 90, 133 and 112 yards over the next three games, breaking off crucial runs to swing momentum in Miami’s favor.

Many expected Fletcher to head to the league in the 2026 NFL Draft, but opted to return for his senior season. 

Still, his decision to return for another year demonstrates the culture established at UM by head coach Mario Cristobal — this team wants to win the title.

S Bryce Fitzgerald 

As a true freshman in 2025, Fitzgerald broke onto the scene with six interceptions — tied for second-most in FBS — including the game-winner against Texas A&M in the first round of the playoffs. Fitzgerald only started four games, but still found a way to become one of the Hurricanes’ most important defensive backs with his knack for takeaways. 

Fitzgerald knows that he needs to take the next step as a defensive leader this season, noting his new responsibilities.

“Really just got to stop being a kid. [You’ve] got to change your mindset,” he said. “You’re a grown man now, so really just got to do grown-man things on and off the field.”

This season poses an opportunity for him to transition from a young ballhawk to a superstar safety.

DT Ahmad Moten Sr.

After losing star edge rushers Ruben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, who combined for 22 sacks last season, Moten is being looked at as the new leader of the D-line.

Moten garnered 4.5 sacks, 9 TFLs and 20 quarterback pressures last season, earning him second-team All-ACC honors. 

While Miami’s edge rush talent is still immense, the Canes defensive line might thrive more on the interior.

Assistant Photo Editor Brian Mulvey // Redshirt junior defensive Ahmad Moten Sr. celebrates after getting a tackle against the Florida Gators on Sept. 20, 2025

Key Games:

At Clemson (10/3)

This is where the season starts to get real. 

Miami takes on Clemson in Death Valley in a matchup already being predicted to be the location of College Gameday Week 5. While the Tigers will have home-field advantage, Miami’s defense should stifle a Clemson offense that sputtered in big games last season.

V.S. Florida State (10/17)

Their next game sees the Hurricanes host the Seminoles in their annual rivalry matchup. 

This will be another test for Miami, but once again the Canes are favored and should get the win at home. 

At  Notre Dame (11/7)

After kicking off their season last year by playing one of the most impactful games of the campaign, many expect this year’s edition to carry the same weight. Now scheduled in the heart of the season, if Miami is to lose a game this year, it would be this one. 

Playing away in a hostile environment against a top-5 ranked Fighting Irish team isn’t an easy task, but if Miami plays up to standard, it will be a matchup for the ages.

This season is crucial for Miami in maintaining the program’s trajectory. They have the coach, the quarterback and the talent across the field to compete for a National Championship. Week one away against Stanford on Sept. 4 will begin to tell the story of the 2026 Miami Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes ready again to face the Fighting Irish during the first game of Miami’s season on Aug. 31. // Photo Credit: Brian Mulvey.

Florida’s hypocritical laws of life

Paulina Barnjak
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Florida’s hypocritical laws of life

Florida carried out its 13th execution of the year on Tuesday, August 18, putting 61-year-old William Silvia to death by lethal injection.

Florida accounts for almost half of all executions carried out nationwide, solidifying its place as a death chamber in the country next to Texas and Oklahoma.

But at the same time, Florida also champions “protecting human life” by passing strict anti-abortion laws under the moral banner of sanctity, fundamental human rights and the defense of the vulnerable. 

These laws are contradictory and hypocritical. How can the state support death one way and not the other? It doesn’t make sense from a “for life” movement standpoint.

When signing into law the state’s six-week Heartbeat Protection Act — which prohibits abortions once the unborn child has a detectable heartbeat – Governor Ron DeSantis said supporting life is an absolute moral imperative, saying, “We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida.”

Yet in the same breath, DeSantis maintained a strict view in defending Florida’s record-setting pace of capital punishment. The Florida Governor offered a different view of Florida’s power over life, calling the death penalty an “appropriate punishment for the worst offenders.”

One cannot claim moral authority on the “sanctity of human life” while operating the nation’s busiest execution site. The state’s stance is fundamentally contradictory.

The criminal justice system is inherently flawed, capable of irrevocable errors and unfortunate racial bias. In fact, Florida holds the alarming record for the most death row exonerations in the entire nation, with 30 individuals on death row cleared of all charges before death since 1973. 

This is partly due to Florida’s lenient sentencing requirement, only needing 8 out of 12 jurors to vote for the death penalty while all other states (besides Alabama) require unanimity from jurors. 

If life is sacred to its full extent — from conception to natural death — then its value cannot be conditional upon crime, convenience or political power. To argue that the government lacks the authority to terminate a pregnancy but holds the absolute authority to kill someone is a severely hypocritical double standard.

This political question is not new and has existed in the Republican Party for some time now. After Roe v. Wade was decided in 1976, the Republican Party split on its values on life. The GOP adjusted its anti-abortion platform, explicitly invoking the Declaration of Independence to assert the “inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life.” 

Therefore, those contradicting GOP values rely on a distinction between innocence and guilt: abortion destroys an “innocent” life, while capital punishment executes a “guilty” life that has no rights through its severe violence.

Florida cannot have it both ways. If it truly wants to stand for a culture of life, it must apply that moral standard consistently across the board, which means abolishing the death penalty. 

Until then, the Sunshine State’s actions remain deeply contradictory. Florida, it’s time we live up to the meaning of the movement for life.

Democratic Socialism is bringing back hope for the American left

Isabella Cely-Garcia
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Democratic Socialism is bringing back hope for the American left

Following the end of Florida’s primary election earlier this month, the one result that seemed to shock the most American voters was the nomination of Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist and state representative from Jacksonville. 

However, for those who have been following election results across the country, her nomination should come as no surprise. 

Democratic socialists have been making strides in key states over the past year. The most notable was the election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City. 

Voters are shifting to support democratic socialists rather than moderate democrats in the primaries to appeal to younger voters, and it looks like it’s working. Nixon’s nomination is a sign of changing sentiments among the American populace towards socialist ideas, as well as a signifier of a shift within the Democratic Party. 

Nylisha Noisette, a UM student and Miami local, felt satisfied with the result. 

“I voted for Angie Nixon and I’m glad she won. In regard to the midterm election, I could see Florida going blue. Especially with everything that’s going on now,” Noisette said. “But at the same time I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t because we are filled with a large older population with money.” 

What Noisette is referring to is the tendency of older voters to lean toward conservative politics. Florida is a top retirement destination for its warm weather and beaches, which is a major factor in its consistency as a red state over the past decade. 

Many Floridians share Noisette’s doubts about Florida swinging toward the Democratic Party, as exemplified by the party’s nominee for governor, David Jolly, a former Republican. 

In contrast, Kara Warren, a nearby Broward County resident and FAMU student, was disappointed in his nomination. 

“I voted for Dayna Marie Foster, and I was honestly pretty shocked that Ms. Foster didn’t win because I high key didn’t hear about the other candidate,” Warren said. “I liked Ms. Foster because I felt like she was very progressive, and reflected the values of my peers and me.”

Florida plays a key role as a big state with a lot of house seats and influential politics. As Florida residents — especially young voters under 30 — push for change, they must still grapple with the state’s key role as a potential swing state in both the midterm and presidential elections down the line.

A guide to going out at the U

Hannah Valdivia
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A guide to going out at the U

While your style, personality or interests may change over the course of your time at the University of Miami, there is one shared interest among almost all students: a love for party culture. 

In a bustling city like Coral Gables, which is only 20 minutes from Downtown Miami, there are endless ways to go out and have fun with your friends on any day of the week. 

Clubbing

If you attempted to list every club in a 10-mile radius of campus, the list would be never-ending. However, there are a few that every student should visit at least once. 

Space is the best-known club around, and not just among students. Influencers and DJs from all over the world have visited Club Space for a night of partying that doesn’t end until well into the next morning. They also offer Saturday morning yoga classes so that you can sweat out any toxins after a long night out. 

Bodega, co-founded by University of Miami alum Jared Galbut, is another popular spot in the Grove and has probably been one of the slides of your Instagram semester dump at least once. Both a taco stand and nightclub, Bodega is the perfect place for dinner and dancing. 

Other well-known clubs in the area include LIV, E11EVEN and Palm Tree Club. There is no shortage of places to go out with friends on any given night. 

To note as you make your weekend plans: while some of these clubs do allow guests 18 and older, several are limited to those aged 21 and older. 

Fraternities 

My favorite way to wear a random costume on a Wednesday night: fraternity-registered parties and tailgates are definitely a highlight of the semester when it comes to going out. 

The different venues and themes make it a great way to meet people while also having a great time. 

During football season, the fraternities will open up their houses and backyards for tailgates, and it’s become what everyone looks forward to on a Saturday after a long week of classes — besides watching our favorite Canes play at Hard Rock, of course.  

“I think part of UM’s appeal is that there’s something for everyone. I can go to a bar, a frat or a club all in one week and know I’m going to have fun,” said a UM sophomore who wishes to remain unnamed. 

Starting in the Grove

If you’re just beginning to explore the Grove, then there are two spots you can’t miss: Sandbar and Oasis. 

These two bars have become a rite of passage for students here at the U, and they are the best way to socialize during your first semester. 

Sandbar hosts what students call  “Thirsty Thursday,” where Canes go to Sandbar in the Grove every Thursday night of the fall semester. 

On Wednesdays in the Grove, freshmen will attend Oasis and can partake in karaoke all night long.

UM’s cost of attendance calculation masks tuition jump, risking poor financial aid

Jennifer Desantis
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UM’s cost of attendance calculation masks tuition jump, risking poor financial aid

Tuition at the University of Miami increased from $63,456 to $66,312 this year. However, the total cost of attendance for on-campus students increased by just $754, going from $98,118 to $98,872 due to decreases in transportation, personal and book expenses.

UM’s cost of attendance is misleading, and the recalculation of expenses hides the real increase in price, risking students’ financial aid. 

To determine financial need, UM calculates the expected family contribution based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and College Scholarship Service Profile information, then subtracts that amount from the cost of attendance. 

Therefore, if the cost of attendance rises only slightly, a similar amount of financial aid will be awarded, despite the nearly $3,000 increase in tuition. 

“When I came here, I basically had a full ride. I’ve definitely had to pay more over the years,” says a UM junior who wishes to remain unnamed. 

The yearly cost of attendance exceeds $100,000 at 16 colleges and universities across the country. It’s very possible that UM doesn’t want to be number 17. It’s also possible that there is a method for calculating discretionary expenses that truly yields lower estimates. 

In any case, UM should be honest when giving an estimated cost of attendance. 

Sovannreach Po // Graphics Editor

Transportation costs fell from $2,040 to $800, a decrease of 60.8%. According to UM’s website, “transportation costs are based on an average cost of students getting to and from campus,” noting that the estimate is for “domestic students living in the 48 contiguous states.” 

With gas prices in the US up 28.95% and airfare costs up 26.5% from last year, it’s hard to fathom how the cost of getting to and from campus would decrease or be cut by more than half from the previous year. These expenses are indirect costs, meaning they are not paid to UM, but still affect students’ total budgets. 

Personal expenses went from $4,254 to $2,294, a 46.1% decrease. This change also does not seem grounded in reality. 

A recent New York Times article reported that, for the first time, the cost of living in Miami is higher than in New York City. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Miami is now the second most expensive U.S. metropolitan area, after San Francisco. 

Books decreased from $1,326 to $1,040, a 21.6% decrease. Students can enroll in the Canes Course Pack, which provides the required class materials for $445 per semester. 

The Hurricane previously published an article regarding the change in costs, stating that the University did not respond to The Hurricane’s questions about why these costs are so much lower than last year. 

The information provided by UM regarding the cost of attendance for the 2026-2027 school year is deceptive. Although the cost of attendance did not increase by much, tuition still jumped 4.5% and not explicitly showing this is misleading. Current and prospective students deserve accurate, transparent information. 

Unless students are actually paying significantly less this year for transportation, personal expenses and books — as the new cost of attendance suggests — students are absorbing this bulk of the tuition increase.

AI tool that invents languages created by UM professor

Gaby Collazo
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AI tool that invents languages created by UM professor

Artificial intelligence has become a tool for everyday tasks, from answering questions to generating pictures. At the University of Miami, however, AI is being put to the test in a new way: by creating brand new languages.    

Morris Alper, an assistant professor of computer science at UM, is a co-creator of ColangCrafter, a tool for inventing languages from scratch. 

“[With] ColangCrafter, we created a whole framework that would take a large language model, like ChatGPT or [Google] Gemini and use it to create a new language,” said Alper. “[This] means it is creating this kind of summary of language, grammar rules and vocabulary.” 

Rather than translating existing languages, ColangCrafter allows users to create completely new languages. 

The website allows users to outline specific parameters for a constructed language, such as requesting that the language contain no consonant sounds. The AI then generates the new language. 

Since childhood, Alper has had an interest in language. His father, who is fluent in Esperanto — a constructed language, which are languages intentionally created by people for a specific purpose — inspired him to explore the different forms language can take. 

The tool can also help create fictional languages for video games and movies like those featured in “Game of Thrones” and “Lord of the Rings” that make the imaginary worlds feel more realistic and developed. 

The website can also be used to better understand poorly documented languages with limited data. 

By inputting a language that has been lost or forgotten over time — ColangCrafter can help predict words based on existing patterns and grammatical rules, potentially contributing to the revival of a forgotten language. 

“There is a lot of work on systems like Google Translate that aid larger languages with more data, but when it comes to smaller languages like Indigenous American languages, there is not as much,” said Alper. “ColangCrafter works on trying to make better systems for lesser analyzed languages.” 

The project reflects the interdisciplinary opportunities at UM for Alper. As AI continues to evolve, students can explore how technology can be applied to fields beyond traditional usage. 

Students studying computer science, linguistics, communication, film or other creative fields can use ColangCrafter in new ways such as exploring how language affects communication, create realistic languages for movies or video games and use AI generated languages for storytelling, demonstrating how AI is becoming increasingly specialized across different industries. 

But as these capabilities continue to grow, so do concerns about how AI-generated information is created and consumed. As people increasingly absorb media without knowing whether it was made by AI, they can be exposed to inaccurate information. 

The process raises concerns about the reliability of information when algorithmic responses are repeatedly used to generate new information. By feeding AI-generated responses back into AI instead of using human-created information, inaccuracies can worsen, errors can become harder to detect, less original information enters the system and the human perspective is lost. 

. Projects like ColangCrafter show how technology can be used to explore language and research while also raising questions about the reliability of artificial intelligence. 

As AI continues to evolve, its growing capabilities are opening new possibilities for innovation across diverse fields. For UM students, this opens the door to opportunities to explore how technology can transform ideas into a real-world impact.

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