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Symposium at UM recognizes Ethiopian Revolution, 50 years on

Rachel Petrovich
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Symposium at UM recognizes Ethiopian Revolution, 50 years on

Students and scholars alike met in conversation this past weekend to share research, differing opinions and international perspectives in a reflection of the Ethiopian revolution ahead of its 50-year anniversary in February.

“The Ethiopian Revolution of 1974: 50 Years On” symposium took place Jan. 26 – 27 at the Frost Institute for Chemistry & Molecular Biology, welcoming 20 scholars and upwards of 200 attendees, both traveling or tuning in virtually from the U.S., Ethiopia and all over the globe.

Speakers ranged from local researchers and professors at UM, to international scholars in African academia.

Also in attendance were multiple graduate students in the department of history, all who helped facilitate and organize the conference.

“This is the first international symposium that we’re doing in regards to African history, and we feel that this will allow us to provide more of a space for scholars within this area to present their work and to engage with others in the field,” said Giltrecia Head, a fourth-year Ph.D student who has been a part of the organizing committee.

Bright Petiafo, a native of Ghana and a second-year Ph.D. student in African History studies, also played a role in the organizing committee and is studying under the supervision of Dr. Edmund Abaka alongside Head.

“I thought I knew a little bit about the revolution coming from Africa, but meeting scholars and essentially primary sources on Ethiopia has been a whole new learning experience for me,” Petiafo said.

This was a common takeaway for symposium attendees, as new learning experiences, varying perspectives and engagement with differing research projects defined the conference.

“East African history is a region of research that is fairly new to me, and this has given me a better understanding of the multiple components that are a part of such a prolific time within Ethiopia’s history,” Head said.

The symposium was the creative vision of professor of African history, Etana H. Dinka, and was brought to fruition with the help of the UM College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of History and the Center for Global Black Studies.

“I crafted this project two years ago when I was at James Madison University, and I was well aware that the Ethiopian Revolution will turn 50 years in 2024. I was born and raised in Ethiopia, and lived through the legacies of that revolution,” Dinka said.

The intention of this conference, Dinka shared, was to bring multigenerational scholars in conversation, delving into a number of topics surrounding the revolution and capturing an analysis of what led to, what happened during and what occurred after the Ethiopian revolution of 1974.

“Ethiopia experienced considerable social evolution that overthrew the monarchy and brought to power a military government,” Dinka said. “That put Ethiopia on course for decades of transformation that resulted in state reconfiguration and transformations in the social status of citizens and Ethiopia’s role in the region and globally.”

While the symposium was a celebration of being able to share historical and cultural analysis in conversation with one another, it was also an act of defiance by taking place in Miami, Florida, where book-banning and efforts to erase Black history from public education have swept the sunshine state.

“If we want to teach, we must expose our kids, our society to competing ideas, not by suppression,” said Dinka. “When you suppress historical consciousness, or certain types of historical interpretation, it will find its way to express itself somehow.”

As graduate students, Head and Petiafo echoed this sentiment as they themselves are navigating the ever-changing waters of academia in Florida, despite being able to house a safe space for this conference with UM being a private university.

Head highlighted how this event is meant to be a catalyst for maintaining conversations and engaging fruitfully in preserving and analyzing history, allowing for personal opinions and ideas to be valued.

“For me, when political upheaval happens throughout history, I immediately try to understand the position and location of the U.S. in all of it. This symposium provides an argument to try to override and challenge, in a way, laws that try to push back against us understanding these types of histories,” said Head.

Extending beyond Florida and into countries around the world, volatile political atmospheres and struggles against injustice are in constant motion, with Petiafo emphasizing how the term ‘revolution’ itself continues to strike a nerve.

“The revolution has not ended. The current political happenings in Ethiopia stems from the Ethiopian revolution. We remind ourselves how important the revolution is by having these conversations, and what we learn from it.” Petiafo said.

Poor shooting dooms Hurricanes in road loss to N.C. State

Luke Sims
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Poor shooting dooms Hurricanes in road loss to N.C. State

The Miami Hurricanes have nobody to blame but themselves.

During a late-night showdown in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Hurricanes had a chance to stretch their win streak to three. Instead, the Hurricanes came out of PNC Arena with a 74-68 loss on Tuesday evening.

With no Matt Cleveland due to a lingering hip injury for the second straight game, coach Larrañaga inserted freshman Kyshawn George back into the starting lineup.

Miami had every opportunity to win this game. Miami shot an abysmal 19 percent from 3 in the first half and a subpar 36 percent overall. Despite this, Miami had a chance to win the game and even took the lead down the stretch. This lead was short-lived, however, as they only led this contest for a total of 1:48.

“We just didn’t shoot the ball very well,” said coach Larrañaga. “A lot of credit to their defense, but some were point-blank shots, wide open, right at the rim and we missed.”

The team was lucky to be in the game after nine first-half turnovers. But even with their best efforts to give the game to N.C. State, Miami trailed by only four at the half.

Junior forward Norchad Omier played well in his second game after he returned from injury. The Nicaraguan native notched his Division 1 leading 11th double-double of the season as he paced the ‘Canes with 12 rebounds to go along with 18 points.

If not for the efforts of junior point guard Nijel Pack, the ‘Canes would have had no business being in this game. Pack shot a heinous 7-13 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc to keep the ‘Canes in the game with his 23 second-half points.

There needed to be more than the combined efforts of Miami’s stars. The ‘Canes missed too many scoring opportunities, which kept the Wolfpack lead out of reach. N.C. State did just enough to survive and capitalized on Miami’s mistakes.

The ‘Canes had a tough time containing the Wolfpack’s Senior guard, DJ Horne, who was the leading scorer for the Wolfpack coming into the game. Horne burned the ‘Canes last night to the tune of 24 points, leading all scorers, including 16 in the second half.

On a positive note, Miami was able to dominate on the boards for once. The team put forth a much better rebounding effort than in games past. The ‘Canes grabbed more boards than the Wolfpack, a tally of 46-31.

While injuries are an excuse the ‘Canes can hide behind, inconsistent play still haunts this team. Miami is running out of time to keep their NCAA tournament dreams alive. Their next few games are almost must-win.

Miami returns home to face off against the Virginia Tech Hokies next Saturday. This ACC matchup will tip-off at noon local time and air on ESPN/ACCN.

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

Miami Marathon inspires runners to “go one more”

Grace Tylee
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Miami Marathon inspires runners to “go one more”

Even the blistering heat of the Miami sun couldn’t compete with the 18,000 participants reaching the finish line last weekend for the annual Life Time Miami Marathon and Half.

This past Sunday Jan. 28, participants geared up for the 26.2-mile race that began at the Kaseya Center and snaked through South Beach, North Miami, Brickell and Coconut Grove with a finish line at Bayfront Park.

People gather at the finish line of the Miami Marathon at Bayfront Park on Jan. 28, 2024.
People gather at the finish line of the Miami Marathon at Bayfront Park on Jan. 28, 2024. Photo credit: Alexandra Fisher

Alex Westover, a student at UM studying Marine Biology and Ecology, participated in the full marathon after previously completing his first full Ironman race, a long distance triathlon race, this past November.

“I did the marathon because my mom used to run marathons when I was younger, and it has always been a dream of mine to achieve,” Westover said.

“My favorite memory is writing the motto ‘Go One More’ on my arm before the race which was inspired by Nick Bare, the founder of Bare Performance Nutrition in Miami, in response to his mother’s passing,” Westover said. Nick Bare is an athlete himself and inspires many to achieve their goals through the sale of wellness supplements that support athletes.

He was shocked to see that a handful of other participants had the same motto or championed his dedication.

Miami juniors Jack Norman and Simon Greenstein stand together and hold up the U after completing the Miami Marathon on Jan. 28, 2024.
Miami juniors Jack Norman and Simon Greenstein stand together and hold up the U after completing the Miami Marathon on Jan. 28, 2024. Photo credit: Alexandra Fisher

A marathon requires a significant amount of endurance to complete, and participants usually go through extreme amounts of fitness training and meal planning to ensure that they reach the finish line.

Westover had been working with his coach since last August, making sure his running mileage was high enough to participate. He also partnered with a nutritionist to practice a healthy diet and got regular blood tests.

Although planning for this event is crucial for personal success, there are factors to consider outside of the athlete’s control.

This year, the weather was one of them. According to Westover, Miami brought out extreme temperatures of over 85 degrees at the peak of the race. Even through the thick of the heat, participants were ushered by a rallying cause.

A father and son watch for family at the finish line of the Miami Marathon on Jan. 28, 2024.
A father and son watch for family at the finish line of the Miami Marathon on Jan. 28, 2024. Photo credit: Alexandra Fisher

“It was so nice to see comradery from a community I didn’t know was as big as this, showing that whenever life gets challenging, no matter the adversary there is always a reason to keep pushing,” Westover said.

With the long distance and strong heat, the Miami Marathon proved to be a test of mental and physical strength– but was uniting for all involved.

“Realizing in a world where there is a lot of negativity- there is pure comradery for the 4 hours, 14 mins and 43 seconds, where everyone is there to support you and shine positivity back into the world,” Westover said.

J.D. Arteaga and new-look ‘Canes eager to prove themselves and kick off the season

Ian Graves
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J.D. Arteaga and new-look ‘Canes eager to prove themselves and kick off the season

While certainly not new to the program, with 21 years spent as the Hurricane’s pitching coach and four years as a player at UM, Arteaga will assume a new role this season as the team’s head coach. He looks to lift the squad over the hump after a disappointing exit in last year’s regionals, with his sights set on a trip to Omaha and a national championship.

Arteaga said this year’s team will have a new look in his media availability last Friday. The departure of standout guys like third baseman Yohandy Morales and first baseman CJ Kayfus will shake up the lineup. Still, Arteaga feels that this will lead to the emergence of some up-and-coming stars and great competition at practice for those open spots.

“It’s a lot of new faces, but it’s an exciting team. So many positions are wide open right now when we lose a guy like Yoyo Morales and you know you lose (CJ) Kayfus and you lose your shortstop and your right fielder and closer and two set-up guys and a couple starters … it creates a lot of competition, so our practices are really game like, game speed,” said Arteaga.

With the loss of so many starters from last year, the Hurricanes will have less hitting power than last season, and the media appears to agree. Miami was left out of the preseason top 25 rankings on all the major college baseball sites after heading into last year’s regionals ranked no. 9 in the nation. However, the players seem to feel that losing those stars will give every player a more significant role and a chance to win games as more of a team than it did last season.

“I think we are going to be a more complete team this year. You know last year we had guys like Yoyo and guys like Kayfus we kind of relied on for our offense and I think we are going to be more complete … we’ll do the little things right,” said outfielder Dorian Gonzalez Jr.

As for the strengths of this year’s team, Arteaga loves the starting rotation, headlined by the return of Friday night starter Gage Ziehl, who posted a 4.30 ERA with a team-high 92 innings pitched. Having a veteran guy to lead the rotation will be vital as the ‘Canes will try to strike first in every series, winning that pivotal Friday night game one.

And for a weakness, Arteaga believes this year’s bullpen is a big “question mark.” The ‘Canes bullpen had a massive loss this off-season with the departure of star closer Andrew Walters, who picked up 12 saves with an incredible 1.12 ERA. Inning eaters like Alejandro Torres and Carlos Lequerica also left for the pros, leaving massive holes in the Hurricanes’ pen that Arteaga will look to fill with new guys.

Arteaga and Miami will have time to settle on an opening-day lineup before kicking off the season in about two weeks with a home weekend series vs. NJIT at Mark Light Field.

New and improved changes brought to the Herbert Wellness Center this spring

Lauren Whitesell
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New and improved changes brought to the Herbert Wellness Center this spring

The Herbert Wellness Center has always been a popular destination for the University of Miami community, but $x renovations have made the gym-going experience even better.

The renovations were mostly completed over winter break, but Wellness Center staff have been preparing the gymnasium for renovations for several months, replacing some equipment over Thanksgiving break.

The most recognizable changes to the Wellness Center are the additional power racks used for benching, deadlifting and squatting.

“This was a drastic improvement to the two combination racks that we had previously,” said Angus Bonoan, a junior majoring in legal studies and a personal trainer at the Wellness Center. “Now even during busy times, there is essentially no wait time to get what you need to get done, done.”

Most of the 20-year-old equipment at the Wellness Center was swapped out during renovations, including each of the free benches, dumbbells, racks, select-prized cable machines and plate-loaded machines for new, state-of-the-art equipment.

Cosmetic changes to the gym were made as well, including the student desk being removed from the center of the main floor and all secondary equipment to the front of the gym.

Some students heard about the renovations that would be taking place, while others were completely unaware of the changes prior to arriving back on campus.

“I didn’t know much about what they were changing except for the layout,” said Lani Cowan, a sophomore majoring in architecture.

Student reactions to the refurbishment have been overwhelmingly positive.

“The newness of the equipment combined with the improved availability and spacing has created a much-improved environment,” Bonoan said. “When I came to UM and experienced the old Wellness Center for the first time, I honestly felt like it left a lot to be desired.”

Bonoan’s favorite additions to the Wellness Center are the hammer-strength plate-loaded machines.

“We currently have enough machines to complete a full back and chest workout, targeting all essential parts, which is super convenient,” Bonoan said.

According to some students, the renovations were a necessary change to bring a new and improved feel to the building.

“It is really great to see a much needed makeover of the gym and all the students being able to find enjoyment as well with the new equipment and look,” Chap said. “It definitely felt a little lackluster before renovations, but now it definitely feels like a world-class athletics facility.”

Despite the encouraging feedback the Wellness Center has gotten, other students believe there is still room for improvement, such as purchasing even more equipment to compensate for the popularity of the Wellness Center.

“I wish they would have more choices for the pulley machines,” said Marley. “They should get more grips, like more split ropes. I also wish they would have added more smaller dumbbells for smaller muscles and rehab.”

The upgrades to the Wellness Center follow UM’s recent commitment to giving campus a facelift —-from the recently completed Knight Center for Music Innovation to the currently being constructed Centennial Village.

“These new renovations really shed a new light on the importance of fitness, and UM’s commitment to the health and wellness of their community,” Boanon said.

‘Canes swimming sweep in Houston

Shea Mcdonald
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‘Canes swimming sweep in Houston

In Houston on Friday afternoon, Miami’s swimming team shined in its tri-meet, dominating the hosting Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls.

The ‘Canes swept both schools despite being without their diving component, 165-129 over Houston and 193-68 over Rice.

It was a meet that brought out the best of Miami’s swimmers. 14 recorded a personal best, one a school record and seven broke Miami’s top-10 list.

Miami was strong from the jump, opening the 200-yard medley relay with the top two spots and finishing with the top spot with a time of 1:38.33, with its second team only a couple of seconds behind.

Later in the 200-yard freestyle, Miami got a 1-2-3 finish, with Talia Bates, Adrianna Cera and Jane Fitzgerald taking the top three spots. The star of the event was Bates, whose efforts led to a new school record in the event with a time of 1:45.71. Cera (1:46.08) and Fitzgerald (1:48.07) also recorded top-10 times.

A 1-2-3 finish was common for Miami, as it occurred several more times over the day.

In the 100-yard backstroke, Emma Shuppert, Leah Treglia and Sarah Sensenbrenner took the top spots. In the 200-yard backstroke, Sensenbrenner, Mary Kate Kelly and Emma Lunn finished as the best three.

Bates, Fitzgerald as well as Jacey Hinton took the top spots in the 100-yard freestyle. In one of the few times Miami didn’t have the top three spots, it still had the top two, with Bates in first and Hinton in second for the 50-yard freestyle.

Giulia Carvalho took the 100-yard butterfly, and Cera added another victory in the 500-yard freestyle.

With a record of 9-1, Miami will host its First Chance Meet on Feb. 16 before going to Greensboro, North Carolina for the ACC Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 20.

Weekend Recap: Miami falls to USC and Vanderbilt

Luke Sims
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Weekend Recap: Miami falls to USC and Vanderbilt

The Miami Hurricanes women’s tennis team suffered a pair of tough losses to two tough opponents this past weekend during the Women’s Tennis ITA Kickoff Weekend.

On Friday, the ‘Canes had a matchup against No. 18 USC. In the first matches of the afternoon, the Trojans were able to beat the ‘Canes in doubles.

Miami seniors Isabella Pfennig and Leonie Schuknecht fell to Parker Fry and Grace Piper of USC, 6-3. In the next match, USC secured the doubles point, 6-2, as junior Alexa Noel and sophomore Xinyi Nong couldn’t pull the upset on USC’s No. 10 Erin Cayetano and Emma Charney.

Things did not improve for the ‘Canes as the match continued. In singles, USC kept up its high level of play. No. 83 Cayetano defeated Miami’s Nong, 6-0, 7-5, while Schuknecht fell to USC’s No. 66 Piper, 6-3, 6-4. USC now led 3-0 in the match.

Miami was able to swing some momentum back to its side before ultimately falling 4-2. Senior Audrey Boch-Collins beat USC’s Lily Fairclough, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 25 Noel took down No. 33 Han, 6-2, 6-3, before No. 22 Charney beat Miami’s No. 90 Pfennig to clinch a USC victory.

This then set Miami up to play in the consolation match with Vanderbilt.

On Saturday night, the ‘Canes lost the double point once again. Miami’s Pfennig and Schuknecht fell 6-1 to Vanderbilt’s Holly Staff and Sonya Macavei. In turn, No. 17 Celia-Belle Mohr and Anessa Lee beat Miami’s Noel and Nong, 6-2, to put the ‘Canes in an early hole.

The singles courts proved to be more of the same for Miami. Fifth-year senior Balzert lost to Vanderbilt’s No. 24 Stammel, 6-1, 6-2. Nong was also unable to defeat her opponent, No. 95 Staff, as she fell 6-3, 6-4. Vanderbilt went on to secure the 4-0 victory as No. 75 Ray beat Schuknecht 6-1, 7-5, 6-6 to secure the Vanderbilt win.

The Hurricanes get a little break before playing host to the Texas A&M Aggies on Feb. 2.

REVIEW: “May December” is proof that performances matter

Vivica Dunlap
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REVIEW: “May December” is proof that performances matter
Photo credit: Ashley Puritz

“May December” is a film propped up by lead actresses Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. But it’s the breakthrough, big screen performance of Charles Melton (“Riverdale”) that leaves audiences breathless.

Loosely based on the infamous Mary Kay Letourneau case, “May December” is about up-and-coming actress Elizabeth (Portman) who is slated to portray Gracie Atherton (Moore), an adult woman who served prison time after having an affair with a 14-year-old Joe Yoo (Melton).

23 years after the highly-publicized scandal, Elizabeth gets into character by spending time with the pair — who married after Gracie’s release from prison — and their three adult children.

The film’s content is dark and could easily become overwhelming in the wrong hands, but Director Todd Haynes approaches the subject matter with a humanistic point-of-view.

Moore plays Gracie in her fifth collaboration with Haynes, one that started with the movie “Safe.” Moore is Haynes’ muse, and her ability to make such a problematic character so complex proves why she holds this honor.

Moore portrays her character as childlike, having a lisp and being prone to crying sessions, which helps provide an understanding into her relationship with Joe. But the moments where she decides to break this facade and plays her as a grown-up makes the plot that much more fascinating.

Joe is awkward, but surprisingly mature for someone who endured such a trauma at such a young age. He seems to be the more responsible one in the marriage. An equally complex character, he steals the show when he breaks down and reveals his internal grief.

Portman and Moore are dynamic, critically-acclaimed actresses, but Melton holds his own and at times, blows them out of the water with his performance. His trauma and loss of innocence at such a young age is inhabited, not over-acted or flippantly performed.

While Moore and Melton are allowed to be a little more indulgent in their performances, Portman is forced to restrain herself in the most subtle performance of the movie as she flits between inquisitive and invasive when investigating their inner lives.

The script — which is currently aiming for Best Screenplay at the Oscars — shapes the relationships between the main and supporting characters, a move essential to the film’s success.

Joe’s interest in butterflies helps support themes of change and growth, as Joe and his children experience their own transformations throughout its two-hour runtime. Even the children are respected as side characters and fleshed out properly.

Haynes’ most recent film examines the human psyche, why we choose to do reprehensible, morally-wrong things and the grief that we cause along the way.

Rating: 5/5

Miami survives last-minute scare, defeats Panthers 72-68

Caleb Shapiro
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Miami survives last-minute scare, defeats Panthers 72-68

“Poise down the stretch.”

That mantra has lived in practices, timeout huddles and the most tense situations throughout Miami’s basketball history. It’s one that head coach Jim Larranega continues to preach.

“From an offensive standpoint, the last message to our players for the last forty years has been the same sentence,” Larrañaga said following the Hurricanes’ nail-biting victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers, 72-68.

It’s a Quadrant 2 win that propels Miami (14-6, 5-4 ACC) to over .500 in conference play and drops Pittsburgh (12-8, 3-6 ACC) three games below .500, a rough look for its resume come March. For those watching, however, the final score was much closer than anticipated.

With 10 minutes to go, the Panthers trailed 60-41, yet Pittsburgh saved its best play for last. Catalyzed by freshman guard Jaland Lowe and senior forward Blake Hinson, the Panthers rode their offense back into the game. By the two-minute mark, the ‘Canes held just an eight-point advantage. With 15 seconds left, Miami led 70-68 as Lowe brought the ball up the court.

Though Hinson would finish with 21 points and Lowe with 17, their efforts came up short as Miami big man Norchad Omier rejected Lowe’s potential game-winning three-pointer, securing the win with freshman Kyshawn George sealing it by knocking down two free throws.

Freshman guard Kyshawn George shoots a three-pointer in the second half of Miami’s game versus Pittsburgh in the Watsco Center on Jan. 27, 2024.
Freshman guard Kyshawn George shoots a three-pointer in the second half of Miami’s game versus Pittsburgh in the Watsco Center on Jan. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

A week after suffering a buzzer-beating loss to the Syracuse Orange, the Canes have put their woes behind them, in large part due to the return of Omier.

The junior came back from a one-game injury absence against Notre Dame on Wednesday, where he dropped a season-high 33-point double-double, following it up on Saturday by reaching his season average of 18 points and 10 rebounds. It’s no understatement to say his return has been monstrous.

Following an intense game in which Miami nearly capsized, Omier reiterated the idea of poise down the stretch.

“Everybody’s head was up, nobody was down, everybody looked confident,” the Nicaragua native said.

Junior guard Bensley Joseph celebrates as Pittsburgh calls a timeout in the second half of Miami’s game versus Pittsburgh in the Watsco Center on Jan. 27, 2024.
Junior guard Bensley Joseph celebrates as Pittsburgh calls a timeout in the second half of Miami’s game versus Pittsburgh in the Watsco Center on Jan. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Charisma Jones

Adversity has been nothing new for the ‘Canes this season, as injuries have plagued them frequently. Against the Panthers, transfer Matthew Cleveland sat with a hip injury.

“You know this season hasn’t been good to us with injuries,” Omier said. “Everybody who came off the bench, they played hard.”

That includes freshman Paul Djobet, who earned his first minutes since the ‘Canes played North Florida in late December. Djobet was an x-factor in ways that won’t immediately show on the stat sheet. He recorded the highest plus-minus for Miami at plus-13, meaning the ‘Canes outscored the Panthers by 13 points when he was on the floor.

“He’s been practicing all season long, he’s got a great attitude, a great work ethic,” Larrañaga said.

Freshman center Michael Nwoko celebrates a dunk in the first half of Miami’s game versus Pittsburgh in the Watsco Center on Jan. 27, 2024.
Freshman center Michael Nwoko celebrates a dunk in the first half of Miami’s game versus Pittsburgh in the Watsco Center on Jan. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

Miami outrebounded Pitt 41-37, held the Panthers to just a 38% clip from the field, had four starters score in double figures, including George, and led for nearly the entire game.

“The regular season is not a sprint; it’s a marathon,” Larrañaga said.

Miami takes on North Carolina State on Tuesday at PNC Arena. Tip-off is at 9 p.m.

Day-Wilson leads the way against her former team as the Canes sink the Blue Devils, 64-58

Luke Sims
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Day-Wilson leads the way against her former team as the Canes sink the Blue Devils, 64-58

White-out lights out.

Former Duke Blue Devil and current Miami guard Shayeann Day-Wilson led the Hurricanes to a 64-58 victory in front of a raucous crowd dressed in all white at the Watsco Center Sunday afternoon.

The junior guard finished with 17 points to lead the ‘Canes in scoring. Day-Wilson also led the team in assists with three. This was the fifth game in a row where Day-Wilson has scored in double figures, the third in a row of at least 17 points.

“Honestly, I kind of treated this like any other game,” said Day-Wilson. “Confident, my team had my back and it was a really special win for us. They are my former teammates but it’s love always, it’s the game of basketball. After the game, we were friends and were cool but when it’s in the ballgame it’s business.”

The Canadian guard spent two seasons at Duke before transferring to Coral Gables this past summer. Day-Wilson led the impressive Miami shooting performance from three-point land. Miami shot a remarkable 42% from beyond the arc. The ‘Canes got big shots from junior guards Ja’Leah Williams and Jasmyne Roberts, who finished with 16 and nine, respectively.

The aggressive Miami defense stifled the Duke offense as the Hurricanes forced six first-quarter turnovers by the Blue Devils. Miami was able to carry the lead they created with their points off turnovers into halftime, where they led 33-23. The ‘Canes held their sizable lead for almost the entire second half. A few key defensive plays down the stretch sealed the win for Miami.

“Jaida (Patrick) and Z (Lazaria Spearman) I thought were just battling, really battling in the paint,” said coach Katie Meier. “[Duke] were trying to post up our guards and so it was the Jaida’s and the Jaz’s and the Z’s and the Kyla’s that were helping the guards as they were fighting. We said your teammates are going to help you, and when they went after Shay, we said your teammates have your back.”

A furious rally by the Blue Devils forced Miami to tighten up towards the end of the game. With a full-court press and consistent shot-making in the fourth, Duke was able to come within one possession of the ‘Canes.

Miami did a solid job of holding Duke’s leading scorer, junior guard Reigan Richardson, to just 10 points on 3-10 shooting. Freshman Oluchi Okananwa provided a spark off the bench for the Blue Devils as she led Duke with 13 points. Duke head coach Kara Lawson spoke very highly of Okananwa.

“Oluchi changes the game for us and she has done it all year,” said coach Lawson. “One of the best scorers off the bench in the league. Certainly one of the best rebounders, especially on our team. She does everything with great efficiency and she also does a tremendous job of igniting the energy, it feels like she’s everywhere. It’s really helped our group to have a player like that who can change the game.”

Despite a late comeback by the Blue Devils, the ‘Canes escaped with the upset win, their first win against Duke since 2019. This was a massive game for Miami as they were coming off a loss to 20th-ranked UNC. With this win, the Hurricanes are 3-5 in the ACC and 13-6 overall.

On the first of the month, the ‘Canes pack their bags and head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to take on the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. Tip-off for that ACC matchup is set for 2:00 P.M.

All stats and data via ESPN or StatBroadcast unless otherwise noted.

How student ambassadors are making accessibility a focus on campus

Sarah Perkel
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How student ambassadors are making accessibility a focus on campus

As diversity, equity and inclusion become increasingly hot-button issues both on and off-campus, one organization is out to remind students that disabled students are also part of the conversation.

“A lot of the times when we’re talking about DEI, we’re forgetting about disability within that inclusion,” said Anais Moyal, a senior majoring in biochemistry and co-vice president of Disability Ambassadors.

Disability Ambassadors, a student organization founded at the University of Miami in 2022, has spent the past two years working to provide a safe space and increased accommodations for disabled students on campus.

“Our main goal and the reason that we created this organization is to bring the disabled population together,” Moyal said. “That was something that we never had on campus before. Everyone was their own island when it came to students with disabilities. We lacked that sense of community and communication between one another.”

A network of support is key for students with disabilities, according to Moyal.

“When you’re a person that has a disability, you really do lean on your support system,” Moyal said. “When you’re in college, you’re not only coming in as a disabled student, you’re coming in as a student that’s maybe leaving home, and that’s being exposed to all of these new things, and you’re not finding a community that can truly relate to you.”

According to sophomore Luna Plaza, outreach chair for Disability Ambassadors, UM still presents challenges that make it difficult for disabled students to navigate campus.

“Even with accommodations, things aren’t perfect around campus,” Plaza said. “Not every professor is very accommodating for disabled students, for example, so we just have that space for students to be able to also just vent about it. It can be very hard living with a disability here on campus, and just in general.”

According to senior biology major Izzie Childress, who sometimes uses a wheelchair, steep ramps, broken door-openers, and the narrow architecture of older buildings can all act as obstacles as she makes her way to class.

“You’re expected to be in class and all these things, but you’re already fighting chronic illness, or whatever your issue is, which means you don’t have a lot of energy,” Childress said. “People who don’t typically have a lot of energy – we have to spend all our energy trying to get ourselves to class, and then we can’t even function in class.”

According to Childress, UM does allow students to rent out wheelchairs, but rentals must be renewed in person every day. This doesn’t make sense for those who are already struggling with mobility, Childress said, and that she wishes more assistance was available to those with mobility issues.

“For example, the athletes get touted around in golf carts and they are so physically fit that they are competing,” Childress said. “And then me, I’m trying to push myself in a manual wheelchair. That doesn’t make any sense to me. There have been many, many times where I’ve had to take incompletes because I’ve had a flare up in my chronic illness and I simply cannot get to class.”

Still, Childress acknowledges that certain accommodations provided by the university have proved useful. The Office of Disability Services, she said, has always been helpful in renewing her accommodations, as well as addressing instances of ableism she has experienced on campus.

“I felt truly listened to, and they were understanding,” Childress said. “People who are coming here already have so many problems. The last problem we need is another obstacle or somebody to be unkind to us.”

Despite making strides toward greater accommodation, some students feel the University still falls short of true accessibility.

“I think the issue with UM is that accessibility is not at the forefront of any event,” Plaza said. “Things like ASL interpretation, live captioning. Or considering whether the space is wheelchair-accessible. A lot of those things aren’t considered right away, and I think UM needs to start prioritizing disabled people, in every way.”

In addition to providing an inclusive space for its members, Disability Ambassadors also holds events that bring awareness to disability representation and accessibility issues at UM, in an effort to further equity on campus.

Disability Ambassadors, according to Plaza, will continue to bridge existing gaps between those accommodations that exist, and those that are still needed.

“We continue to advocate for a more equitable space for students here with disabilities in hopes that disabled students can truly feel welcome on campus,” Plaza said.

UM News Briefs: burglary at Lakeside Village, extreme cold front and MLK’s son dies at 62

Grace Tylee
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UM News Briefs: burglary at Lakeside Village, extreme cold front and MLK’s son dies at 62

THIS WEEK AT THE U

Burglary at Lakeside Village

Campus safety has always remained a priority of the UMPD, keeping students and faculty safe from crime.

UMPD released a statement on Jan. 19, 2024 regarding an offender that approached a UM female student in Lakeside Village Lobby D, asking if he could walk her up to her residence.

UMPD stated that the male followed the UM student in the elevator and forced himself into the victim’s residence. Nothing was taken from the apartment and the victim was not harmed.The UMPD followed with some crime prevention tips in an email to students to help keep the community safe from further incidents such as this one.

This crime advisory left many students in fear as to the possibility of future break-ins and the safety mechanisms in place on campus. Students across campus have been on high alert that their residence could be next and that this experience was scary to hear for many living on campus. Yet many students also feel safe in their space such as Allie Bishop, a sophomore, who is a resident of Lakeside Village who said that “overall Lakeside is really safe and her apartment and bedroom lock so there is little worry”.

The UMPD has not given the student body any updates nor any formal statement notifying that the suspect has been found.

U KNOW FLORIDA

South Florida braces for a drop in temperature and extreme weather events

Extreme low temperatures, tornadoes and heavy rainfall are set to sweep across the South Florida region in late January to early February, leaving residents reaching for their winter coats and bracing against extreme historical weather events.

People across South Florida counties are typically not prepared for a winter such as this, with temperatures dropping into the 40s in the West Palm Beach area.

While Florida is known for its endless summers, the weather change has already started to bring damaging storms such as tornadoes to the Fort Lauderdale area and heavy rain and strong winds across Central Florida resulting in lower temperatures to many parts of the Sunshine State.

Ashley Fanning, a junior at UM majoring in meteorology, suggests that this phenomenon can be explained by “El Niño,” a climate pattern caused by the unusual warming of waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

According to AP News, 2023 was reported as being the hottest year ever on record for Florida, aligning with the extreme weather patterns kicking off 2024.

As for the continuation of the cold front, the National Weather Service is predicting an unsettling pattern for approximately the next two weeks, with several fronts passing through Florida and higher chances of rain showers.

IN CASE U MISSED IT

Son of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. dies at 62 years-old from a long-time battle with cancer

Son of civil rights legend Martin Luther King, Jr., Dexter Scott King, died on Monday, Jan. 22 at the age of 62 from a vigorous battle with prostate cancer. Dexter King passed away peacefully while asleep in his home in Malibu, California.

With his role as chairman for the King Center, a non-profit historical landmark exhibiting MLK related artifacts, Dexter King felt a sense of duty to carry on his father’s legacy and protect his family’s renowned name.

He became an attorney and aimed to carry with him the attributes that his father embodied as an activist figure and role model.

He stepped down as President and Executive Chief of the King Center in 2003 and became active in the film industry, and even played his father in the “Rosa Parks Story” (2002).

Dexter King’s death comes as a shock and symbol of the continuation of the King family legacy and desire for the beginning of a movement of equality in the U.S. during the 1960s era.

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