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Work-free weekends should be mandatory, it’s science

Katie Karlson
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Work-free weekends should be mandatory, it’s science

Opening Blackboard at the end of a long week of classes to find a new assignment due Sunday can feel soul-sucking. Many students spend the whole week looking forward to relaxing and enjoying fun weekend plans, but instead often find themselves calculating how many hours of the break will be eaten up by work.

The expectation that students should be available to do schoolwork around the clock not only frustrates students, but plenty of scientific studies indicate it can detract from their quality of life and harm their short and long-term mental health.

I’m not suggesting that students blow off responsibilities or disregard any and all work over the weekend, but it is within reason to ask for more notice of due dates and due dates that make sense. Of course, students should still plan on dedicating a few hours over the weekend to writing a paper or brushing up on their presentation notes, but large, last-minute assignments can – and should – wait.

Students and professors alike should receive the courtesy of time away from school over the weekend. Especially when you live on campus, separating your work from your personal life can be challenging, and this boundary could help.

Last semester, one of my professors consistently assigned large modules throughout the week, giving us only one or two days to complete them and frequently making the deadline Sunday night. Why should I turn in an assignment at that exact moment if it will not be needed until class?

While establishing a Saturday or Sunday due date doesn’t necessarily force students to only begin working on the assignment over the weekend, it pushes the assignment down the priority ladder. Unable to prioritize these modules over other obligations and assignments due throughout the week, my roommate and I spent many Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings working our way through the assignments. While our professors might have been enjoying their weekends, we crammed these new assignments into our schedules at the expense of planned beach trips and other long-term projects we could have been working on.

Classrooms filled with people and technology can be incredibly overstimulating, and weekends should be a time to take care of yourself and reset. According to a study at the National Library of Medicine, “hard fascination,” or constantly refocusing to tune out nonstop stimulation, can cause brain fatigue. People relax in natural environments due to “soft fascination,” where the surroundings capture your attention while causing joy and allowing them to recenter.

Not only does nature provide a reprieve from stimulating environments, but the Cleveland Clinic indicates that being outdoors reduces cortisol levels, leading to tangible health benefits, including decreased inflammation, cardiovascular relief and a lower risk of mental health struggles. Too much cortisol can damage the structure and function of the hippocampus, leading to possible memory impairment.

Ironically, one of the times I felt most relaxed through all of the fall semester was right before finals. My friend and I made time to paddleboard at John Pennekamp State Park, and I didn’t have any modules on my mind.

Even while paddling for five miles into the wind, I felt calm and at ease. I happily embraced the lack of fluorescent lighting and whiteboards, instead watching the stingrays and nurse sharks swimming beneath my board. Instead of tuning out computers whirring or dragging my attention away from the crossword someone was filling out two rows in front of me, I could just enjoy my environment.

Another study published by the Journal of the National Sleep Foundation found that the time students dedicated to homework and studying on the weekends correlates to more severe symptoms of depression than work during the week.

These emotions are hard to pinpoint and quantify in studies, but I think that the longing to socialize and enjoy the day has something to do with it. No matter how much a student likes their classes, burnout is real and everyone deserves some time to spend how they please.

When put into perspective, ensuring students complete an assignment by Sunday at midnight seems inconsequential compared to the long-term impacts of extreme stress on the brain and body. Balancing school, homework and life takes getting used to, but if professors would truly give students the weekend off I am confident that most students would effectively reallocate their time.

Next time you see that dreaded Sunday night deadline, I challenge you to email the professor and kindly ask to extend the due date to the beginning of class. You and your hippocampus will thank me later.

Katie Karlson is a freshman majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology and minoring in sustainable business.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard needs to leave TikTok

Anna Hanonick
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Gypsy Rose Blanchard needs to leave TikTok

From growing up with an abusive mother to getting convicted of second-degree murder, 32-year-old TikTok star Gypsy Rose Blanchard has lived many lives.

In July 2016, Blanchard was charged with second-degree murder for devising an elaborate plan with her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill her mother and abuser, Claudine (Dee Dee) Blanchard. She was sentenced to 10 years but was released on parole on Dec. 28 after completing 85% of her sentence.

Today, Blanchard is TikTok’s newest hyperfixation. It seems as though many online users have taken her side. In just a month, Blanchard acquired a combined total of 17.9 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

The controversy of her case makes the media a dangerous place for her. Blanchard must get off TikTok and stay away for her safety and sanity.

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Blanchard’s immediate, post-release presence on social media

Users on social media anticipated Blanchard’s return to society, creating video edits and even showing up at Chillicothe Correctional Center for her release. Shortly after, she joined TikTok.

On Jan. 17, 2023, Blanchard posted a video on TikTok explaining her purpose and intentions with her platform.

“I wanted to kind of bring things back to the point of why I am on social media, to begin with, so the whole point is to spread awareness of Munchausen by proxy,” Blanchard said.

Healing should be the first priority

Blanchard grew up in an unstable home environment. From infancy until the age of 23, her mother subjected her to medical abuse, lied about her health conditions to doctors and subjected her to unnecessary treatments.

After freeing herself from her abusive environment, Blanchard was immediately taken into custody and imprisoned for eight years. And while Blanchard reported having a good experience in prison, it is nowhere near a stable environment.

Some UM students, Like junior marketing and legal studies major Caroline Mueller, wonder what effects incarceration could have on mental health.

“I think being in prison is a very difficult environment to be in, regardless if some prisons may have better environments than others,” Mueller said. “It is also so isolated from the real world. I can’t imagine the shock ex-prisoners experience when they get released.”

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Damaging effects of social media use post-trauma

While TikTok may seem less harmful than Blanchard’s childhood home or jail cell, the platform could be a toxic, unstable place for someone with a history of abuse and complex trauma.

Bella Haham, a senior biochemistry major, remarked how the critical nature of TikTok could be difficult to navigate for Blanchard if she loses support.

“People get death threats for posting innocent dance or outfit videos,” Haham said. “Gypsy may seem like she has a lot of love and support now, but I don’t even imagine what would happen to Gypsy if her audience were to switch up on her.”

The National Library of Medicine explains that social media presence following a traumatic event is associated with a higher burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Social media will likely not do much to help Blanchard’s condition, and may even have damaging effects on her trauma.

Will Blanchard return to jail?

Since Blanchard was released on Parole, she is still subject to strict conditions of supervision, which could land her back in prison if violated.

On the “Disrespectfully” podcast interview with actress and TV personality Katie Maloney, Blanchard allegedly denied her contribution to her mother’s murder, leading individuals online to believe she may end up back in prison.

“I don’t associate myself as a murder, because if you think about it, yes, I had a part to play in it. I requested — I asked Nick for help,” Blanchard stated. “And then the plan kind of formed from there. But he’s the one who did the actual kill, not me.”

If Blanchard believes she is not guilty, then Blanchard’s true beliefs could cause her parole to be revoked — leading to an additional two years in prison and potential consequences for her social media presence.

Hurricanes Come Up Just Short In Close 66-61 Battle against No. 20 UNC

Carter Lutz
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Hurricanes Come Up Just Short In Close 66-61 Battle against No. 20 UNC

Finishing off a difficult stretch of four straight ranked ACC opponents, The Miami Hurricanes (12-6, 2-5 ACC) Women’s basketball team played tough in a 66-61 loss to the no. 20 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (15-5, 7-1 ACC).

Despite the loss, coach Meier and her squad have plenty of positives to take away from the conference road test.

Miami came out in the first quarter flat shooting 3-12 in the frame compared to North Carolina’s 8-13 shooting. The Hurricanes trailed 8-22 after one.

North Carolina led by as much as 19 in the first half, but a second quarter surge led by the bench unit kept the Canes’ in the game.

Ally Stedman and Lashae Dwyer combined for 10 second quarter points, and after hitting her 100th-career three-pointer earlier in the game, Shayeann Day-Wilson hit another big tray to cut the deficit to 8.

Reniya Kelly (10 points) and Deja Kelly (11 points) led the attack in the first half for North Carolina as the score read 28-38 heading into the break.

Miami came out of the half with a spark. Two quick points cut the Tar Heel lead to 6, but a poor shooting effort in the rest of the quarter put North Carolina up 17 by the media timeout.

Going into the fourth quarter, Miami trailed by 13. The transfer Day-Wilson caught fire in the fourth. The Hurricanes starting guard knocked down a big three, as well as a miraculous three-point play to get Miami within three with just under a minute to go.

A quick scoop and score bucket from Lashae Dwyer brought Miami within one with 28.5 to go.

North Carolina knocked down two free throws to take a three point lead. Miami went down the court with a chance to tie, but the Tar Heels got the stop and the conference win.

The Canes’ will be back Febuary 1st for a white out game in Coral Gables against Duke. Sunday will be Shayeann Day-Wilson’s first game against her former team. Tipoff set for 2 p.m. from the Watsco Center.

A look into the new-look Miami QB room

Luke Sims
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A look into the new-look Miami QB room

It may have taken some time, but the Miami Hurricanes landed one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal: Washington State’s Cam Ward. Along with the Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger, the Miami quarterback room looks much better than it did just a few weeks ago.

In total, the ‘Canes will carry five scholarship quarterbacks heading into next season: Ward, Poffenbarger, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown, sophomore Emory Williams and freshman Judd Anderson.

Both Williams and Brown played in games this past season.

Williams led the ‘Canes to a big victory over the Clemson Tigers in his first collegiate start on Oct. 21, 2023. While that victory was not a result of the excellent play of Williams, he was able to manage the game responsibly. That’s a good sign for a quarterback in his first primetime action.

Williams struggled against the Florida State Seminoles a few weeks later, where he started over Van Dyke. Williams eventually left that game with a season-ending injury after completing only 34.8% of his passes.

The Florida native showed maturity in big moments. He was not perfect by any means, but he flashed potential for the future. Williams may miss spring ball because of the arm injury sustained against the Seminoles but is expected to be ready to go by the fall.

The other returning signal-caller to make a start was Brown. The Georgia native started in Miami’s bowl game loss to Rutgers. Brown was one of the only bright spots on a gutted Miami team that day. Brown came out of the gate slow but eventually eased into the offense and was able to use his arm and running ability to keep drives alive for the ‘Canes.

The former four-star recruit is known for what he can do with his legs, as he rushed 15 times for 57 yards and two scores. What was less known was how good he could be with his arm. Brown completed 65% of his passes with a touchdown and an interception. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has a lot to work with in Brown. The talent and skills are there for Brown; now it’s about refining it.

Anderson, a 6-foot-6-inch Georgia native, is ranked as a top 50 quarterback in the class by 247Sports. The incoming freshman has a big arm that will need some development. Luckily for the ‘Canes, he’ll have plenty of time to develop it.

The first of the two incoming transfers to commit was Poffenbarger, who led the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in passing yards with 3,603 and passing touchdowns with 36. The Maryland native led the Great Danes to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs this past season. The redshirt junior got it done on the ground and in the air, as he accounted for 42 total touchdowns last year.

Poffenbarger did throw 13 interceptions last season and will have to adjust to the speed of the ACC. Poffenberger’s size may limit him at this level, but it did not stop him from putting up gaudy numbers for Albany. Look for Poffenbarger to be the first off the bench in case something happens to Ward, who is the presumed starter for Miami in 2024.

Ward comes to Miami after a long road that saw him play two seasons at the University of Incarnate Word and two more after transferring to Washington State. Ward has improved every year, with this past season being his best. Ward completed 67% of his passes for 3,735 yards, and 25 touchdowns.

It was not just his arm that was dangerous, as Ward rushed for eight more touchdowns. The Texas native stepped up in the biggest games Washington State played. Some of his biggest passing days were against teams ranked in the top 15 like Washington, Oregon and Oregon State. Dawson and Miami’s offense should be much more dynamic with Ward under center next fall.

The ‘Canes have a good mix of experience and potential in this group and are well set up for the future in the wake of Van Dyke’s departure to Wisconsin. There’s no real elite starter outside of Ward at the moment, but all of these quarterbacks have the potential to grow into that role.

Despite an initial announcement that indicated he’d be declaring for the NFL Draft, Ward decided on Miami. The presumptive starter for the ‘Canes this year found his way to Coral Gables for his final college season. The dual-threat quarterback will bring a different element to the ‘Canes offense, and is a true reflection of the room as a whole. While Brown may excel with his legs and Williams with his arm, Ward is the whole package at the QB position.

This is a group that shaped up very nicely for head coach Mario Cristobal. With Ward in the fold, the ‘Canes can get another year of development for Brown and Williams before having to decide on a starter between those two and Poffenbarger for 2025.

Miami expected to lose running backs coach Tim Harris Jr. to UCF

Luke Sims
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Miami expected to lose running backs coach Tim Harris Jr. to UCF

It’s not just players in the transfer portal that are leaving Miami. The Miami Hurricanes running back coach, Tim Harris Jr., is expected to head up the coast to join Gus Malzhan and Central Florida (UCF) as its offensive coordinator, according to a report by 247Sports’ David Lake.

Harris was only in Miami for one season but did an excellent job with the running back room. Harris helped to transform the running game from 2022, in which the ‘Canes ran for 1,538 yards and 12 touchdowns. Then, Harris stepped in to elevate the room to 2,251 yards with 24 touchdowns during the 2023 season.

The individual efforts of Miami’s running backs were much improved as well. Miami was able to have an incredibly deep running back room. Harris helped to make sure any Miami back was ready to get carries. This led to guys like Donald Chaney Jr., Henry Parrish Jr. and Ajay Allen having their best season in college so far.

The development of freshman phenom Mark Fletcher Jr. can also be greatly attributed to Harris. Fletcher was able to break 500 yards and five touchdowns in his freshman season. That, along with a pair of 100-yard games, led to a stellar freshman year for Fletcher. Harris was key in helping the young back transition.

Harris also played a major role in helping the ‘Canes land running back signees Jordan Lyle and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey.

While Harris is physically leaving Miami his legend lives on. Harris’s name is etched in Miami track and field history. The record in the 800-meter event for Miami track and field is Harris and Harris’s alone.

Harris had previously served in co-offensive coordinator roles with UCF in years past and now he gets a chance to be an offensive coordinator for the first time in his young and promising career.

A student’s guide to the 2024-2025 FAFSA updates

Rachel Petrovich
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A student’s guide to the 2024-2025 FAFSA updates

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, is a long and notoriously puzzling process ahead of every school year.

In an attempt to simplify the process, recent changes have been implemented to the form for the 2024-25 academic cycle yet have been a point of frustration for some students and families.

The FAFSA is for any student seeking federal financial aid, such as through receiving grants, accepting loans and obtaining work-study positions. These options provide significant financial relief for those struggling to fund a higher education.

Information such as bank history, tax filing and personal and parental income are required components to the form and are key determinants to how much – or how little – one is eligible to receive.

Sporadic accessibility times, a limited user capacity and delays in the application opening date have plagued the “soft launch” of the new form since its launch on Dec. 31.

This rocky start has been a cause for concern for University of Miami students, with around 64% of UM undergraduates receiving financial aid through grants in 2021, according to Data USA.

“The new FAFSA was a bit difficult to get into at first,” said John Ham, a sophomore studying industrial engineering.

However, the University of Miami provided a virtual information session covering the changes to the FAFSA on Nov. 9, 2023 for families and students to help ease the transition.

The session was led by associate vice president of financial assistance and student employment, Daniel T. Barkowitz, who gave applicants crucial context regarding why such changes were occurring.

In an overview of the changes, Barkowitz noted that this was the first major change to the FAFSA since 1992.

The shift in the application opening date from the typical Oct. 1 date to Dec. 31, gives less time for students to complete the form, as the priority deadline for UM remains Feb. 1.

As applicants rushed to open the form as soon as it became available, they were met with a long wait time, pauses for site maintenance and confusion on whether their progress on the form has been saved.

Like other colleges, UM has a limited amount of aid available to delegate across its student body. Applicants are incentivized to submit the FAFSA early to have a better chance at receiving more financial aid, but difficulty in accessing the form has students fearing they’ve already fallen behind.

Despite initial complications, these changes are in tandem with a quicker and more simple way of filling out the form, including a reduction in the number of questions from 108 to 36.

“After being able to access the form, my father and I had no problem finishing the form quickly,” Ham said. “The form is definitely more efficient and easier to understand than previous years.”

Alterations to the 2024-2025 FAFSA application are the outcome of the FAFSA Simplification Act (2021), an attempt to streamline the application process and make it easier for students and families to complete.

“The wording was still confusing on some questions, like the one about if your parents are ‘not unwilling’ to do their taxes. But overall it was an easier process than prior years,” said Chris Enriques, a junior studying music education.

Changes to the form can also be attributed to the FUTURE Act of 2020, which authorizes funding for minority-serving collegiate institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and increases the allocation of Pell Grants for those students.

For families with multiple children getting a higher education, a new change in this year’s FAFSA will shift how the parental income is viewed across their children and calculated into federal aid.

This is due to a modification in the need analysis formula, which has replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation with the Student Aid Index (SAI) for the 2024-2025 school year.

Parental contribution will no longer be divided between students in a family, possibly decreasing the amount of aid a student receives, as less of a need will be reflected.

In terms of UM’s role in the federal financial aid process, a student’s need-based grant and merit scholarship from the University are intended to stay the same if no changes in their financial status are shown in a student’s application.

Students seeking financial assistance and support heading into the 2024-2025 school year can begin the FAFSA application process at studentaid.gov.

UM lecturer lawsuit reveals unequal, low pay for faculty

Caroline Val
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UM lecturer lawsuit reveals unequal, low pay for faculty

By Caroline Val and Jenny Jacoby

Dr. Laura Sherman, the head of the harpist department at the Frost School of Music, has quietly settled a lawsuit she filed against the University of Miami, arguing that female faculty members were being grossly underpaid compared to their male colleagues.

It is the third lawsuit of its kind to be brought against the University in the past five years.

Prior to her hiring as a full-time lecturer at UM in 2019, Sherman played for national orchestras such as the New York City Ballet and American Symphony Orchestra, spent 15 years on Broadway as the harpist for “Wicked” and toured internationally with Barbra Streisand. She holds four degrees between Queens College/CUNY, the University of Michigan and the Yale School of Music and has taught at two other universities.

In her first year at UM, she was only paid $30,000, according to the Miami New Times. As of 2022, her annual salary was reported to be $44,500. For comparison, Florida’s state legislature brought minimum base salaries to $47,500 in 2020 for full-time K-12 classroom teachers with only a bachelor’s degree.

Sherman’s most recent salary is approximately $22,500 below the national average for instructional staff salaries at private nonprofit institutions, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2022-2023 Almanac report. It is also $17,772 below UM’s own female lecturer base salary average of $62,272 according to UM’s 2019 Faculty Salary Analysis report.

This report also revealed a large disparity between male and female lecturers, with males earning over $6,000 more on average at UM and $9,424 more within the Frost Music School. The gender wage gap was consistent across all faculty ranks from instructor to tenured professor with a max differential of $68,000 between male and female non-tenured associate professors.

This disparity became the basis of Sherman’s lawsuit and two other lawsuits recently filed by or on behalf of female staff at the UM.

The first was filed by Sung Hee Joo, an assistant professor of environmental engineering, in 2018, and was settled a year later in 2019. This was followed by a lawsuit filed in support of political science professor Louise Davidson Schmich. The case went to trial in 2022 and was sided in favor of UM.

All three professors are Ivy League-educated and hold a doctorate in their respective fields.

Though factors such as length of time and daily tasks each of these professors performed compared to their male colleagues has not yet been confirmed by The Miami Hurricane, court documents allege that often these factors were the same between male and female professors.

A page from engineering professor Sung Hee Joo's 2018 lawsuit against UM listing allegations of unequal pay based on gender. Source: Courtesy of Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court Public Records
A page from engineering professor Sung Hee Joo's 2018 lawsuit against UM listing allegations of unequal pay based on gender. Source: Courtesy of Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court Public Records

For instance, court documents from Hee Joo’s lawsuit state several allegations that UM had “consistently hired men at considerably higher rates than women” and that the increased pay male assistant professors received “was not based on superior skill, education, or experience, or any other legitimate factor.”

Similar claims were made by Sherman who stated she believed she did just as much work, if not more, than her male counterparts.

The Miami Hurricane is continuing to monitor this story.

Hurricanes top Notre Dame 73-61 in Omier’s 33-point outbreak

Benjamin Gerkin
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Hurricanes top Notre Dame 73-61 in Omier’s 33-point outbreak

The Miami Hurricanes bounced back in South Bend with a 73-61 win over Notre Dame after dropping four of their last five conference games. They look to get back on track in hopes of securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament down the road.

The Fighting Irish kept the first half competitive due to the offensive intensity of freshman guard Markus Burton, who scored 15 points in a team-high 36 minutes played. The Hurricanes were able to build a comfortable lead of eight going into halftime.

“Markus Burton is not just one of the best players in the ACC, but he’s one of the three or four best freshmen in the country,” Miami head coach Jim Larranaga told reporters after the game.

The Irish began the second half on an 11-2 scoring run and led 52-49 with 9:28 remaining, though it was all Hurricanes down to the buzzer.

Freshman guard Kyshawn George knocked down a huge three to extend UM’s lead to seven at the four-minute mark. Burton was called for his fourth foul with four minutes to go, which eliminated an offensive threat from the floor. The Canes continued a 14-2 scoring run, and it was Bensley Joseph who hit the dagger three with 1:30 to go to extend the lead to nine. George doubled down and hit again from long range at the 40-second mark to conclude the 73-61 Hurricanes victory.

Norchad Omier shot a lights-out 12 of 14 from the field, scoring his Miami-high 33 points and grabbing ten boards with that. George added 11 points, including two important threes down the stretch, replacing Joseph in the starting lineup.

The 6-foot-7 Swiss guard has a ton of potential, and his impressive skill set has been on display these past three games and was a huge factor today in adding more size to the starting rotation. He’s proven to be a solid second ball handler behind the veteran Nijel Pack.

Pack and Joseph both scored a streaky ten points, while Matthew Cleveland and Wooga Poplar struggled, as they only put up two and seven points, respectively.

The Hurricanes took down the Irish twice this season, taking the season series, and will be back home at the Watsco Center on Saturday afternoon to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Keep an eye on 2024’s most anticipated films

Samantha Rodriguez
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Keep an eye on 2024’s most anticipated films

Cinema has become conversation’s backbone after last years’ blockbusters like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” Grab some popcorn, take a seat and join the conversation around this year’s most anticipated films.

Don’t miss any show-stopping numbers or future award-winning performances from the 2024 lineup.

Photo credit: Roberta Macedo

Dune: Part Two

A star-studded cast composed of Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet and Jason Momoa reunites for “Dune: Part Two.” With Florence Pugh and Austin Butler joining the ensemble, the sequel is looking like another thrilling ride. Follow Paul Atreides’ journey to defeat his father’s killer and a cruel intergalactic emperor.

Hans Zimmerman, the iconic composer behind “Interstellar” and “Inception,” will return to ignite every emotion with his award-winning talent. Enter the desert planet of Arrakis and be ready to shed some tears on March 1.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Chrome. Cars. Chaos. Mad Max returns to showcase a new dimension to an infamous character. See the rise of Furiosa with Anya Taylor-Joy as the battle-ridden warrior.

Chris Hemworld enters the race as warlord Demetus. With a chariot surrounded by moving fortresses, Demetus will make Furiosa’s journey home a bloody spectacle. It’ll be an exciting day when “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” releases on May 24.

Photo credit: Roberta Macedo

Deadpool 3

Follow Deadpool and his band of misfits as they navigate time travel, bromance and the collapse of 20th Century Fox in “Deadpool 3.” Ryan Reynolds returns as the hilarious mercenary to make Marvel’s first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hugh Jackman will make his comeback as Wolverine, and other 20th Century Fox comic book characters, such as Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, are rumored to return.

“Deadpool 3” aims to bring laughter in the face of tragedy as the mercenary battles endless obstacles. Watch the legendary antihero on June 26.

Gladiator 2

Ridley Scott will enter the arena with “Gladiator 2.” It follows Paul Mescal as the nephew of the original film’s despicable villain. Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Pedro Pascal will also join the highly anticipated sequel.

See a warrior’s rise and an emperor’s fall on November 22.

Beetlejuice 2

The dead will rise when “Beetlejuice 2” arrives. Alongside Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder returns as Lydia Deetz with “Wednesday” star Jenna Ortega playing her daughter.

Monica Bellucci joins Keaton’s antics as Beetlejuice’s wife. Director Tim Burton will resurrect gothic architecture as “The Addams Family” composer Danny Elfman sends shivers down your spine with his haunting score. See the iconic revival on September 6.

Photo credit: Roberta Macedo

Challengers

Zendaya ups the ante as all-star tennis player Tashi Donaldson in “Challengers.” Two young players compete on-and-off the court for Tashi. Fueled by jealousy, betrayal and ambition, the players then challenge one another to the ultimate showdown.

“The Crown” actor Josh O’Connor and BAFTA nominee Mike Faist look to capture audiences with their authentic friendship that’s turned into hatred. Catch the sports drama by the “Call Me by Your Name” director on April 26.

A Quiet Place: Day One

Remember to hold your applause when “A Quiet Place: Day One” hits theaters. A prequel spin-off to John Krasinski’s original story, the film will shed light on pre-apocalyptic life.

Explore the origins of an alien invasion with Lupita Nyong’o from “Us” as the film’s lead. Alex Wolff from “Hereditary” and “American Horror Stories” actor Denis O’Hare will also star as fellow survivors. Head to theaters on June 28 to see the frightening addition to the groundbreaking franchise.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Academy-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck in “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Director and writer Todd Philips will combine horrific crimes and elaborate musical numbers to show the Joker’s deranged mind.

Lady Gaga joins as Harleen Quinzel, Joker’s lover and partner-in-crime. Set photos reveal Gaga will recreate the first film’s iconic dance number on the “Joker Stairs.” Dance along when the sequel drops on October 4.

Photo credit: Roberta Macedo

Inside Out 2

The highly-anticipated sequel to Pixar’s “Inside Out” hits movie theaters on June 14, nearly ten years after its predecessor. Become re-acquainted with the mind of now teenager Riley as her emotional headquarters — run by Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust — make room for new emotions.

Stars Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black reprise their roles while actress Maya Hawke joins the cast as Anxiety. Catch the film in theaters to see what other emotions join the group.

Wicked

Stephen Schwartz’s “Wicked” flies off Broadway and into Hollywood. The Tony Award-winning musical will be divided into two films featuring Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch and Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good.

“Wicked” will soar to new heights with its dramatic story and two new songs. “Defy gravity” on November 27.

Kung Fu Panda 4

Jack Black fulfills his destiny as Po in “Kung Fu Panda 4.” When an evil sorceress threatens to steal his Staff of Wisdom, Po partners with a foxy criminal to save their land.

Awkwafina and Viola Davis will join the voice cast of returning stars like James Hong, Dustin Hoffman and Bryan Cranston. Watch DreamWorks’ gorgeous animation and intense fight scenes on March 4.

MaXXXine

A24’s slasher trilogy ends with “MaXXXine.” Mia Goth returns as Maxine, a massacre survivor trying to break into Hollywood.

As the previous films explored the dangers of obsession and isolation, “MaXXXine” is sure to remind viewers how madness kills. See the thrilling conclusion later this year.

These upcoming films will bring excitement to the new year as Denis Villeneuve enchants with “Dune: Part Two” and Ryan Reynolds’ “Deadpool 3” brings Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine back to the silver screen.

See the future of cinema at your nearest theater and catch every second of these culture-defining thrills and chills.

From Miami to the Emmys: UM alum Geethika Kataru on post-grad life

Layomi Adeojo
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From Miami to the Emmys: UM alum Geethika Kataru on post-grad life
Television Academy interns and Bob Bennett Future Leaders Geethika Kataru (left) and Carissa Liu (right) served as trophy presenters at the 75th Emmy Awards pictured with philanthropist Kelly Bennett (center) before the telecast on Jan. 15, 2024 at the Peacock Theater at LA Live.
Television Academy interns and Bob Bennett Future Leaders Geethika Kataru (left) and Carissa Liu (right) served as trophy presenters at the 75th Emmy Awards pictured with philanthropist Kelly Bennett (center) before the telecast on Jan. 15, 2024 at the Peacock Theater at LA Live. Photo credit: Al Seib/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images

If you tuned into the 75th Emmy Awards on Jan. 15, you might have recognized the face of Geethika Kataru in the background. Dressed in an elegant, floor-length black gown, the UM film alum handed out awards and guided Hollywood celebrities offstage.

Adding “Emmys trophy presenter” to her resume has been her most surreal experience yet since graduating and moving almost 3000 miles to Los Angeles.

“It felt like a side quest,” Kataru said. “Like, this is not my life. This is not my everyday at all, but how fun to do this once, you know?”

She landed the Emmys gig through her internship with the Television Academy Foundation last summer, where she worked in the Original Programming Department at STARZ. Nikki Kaffee, senior manager of the internship program, sent her an email asking if she was available.

“I was like, ‘Girl, yeah, I’m clearing my schedule. Are you kidding me?’” Kataru said.

Though she graduated last May with a degree in motion picture production and was the former president of cinematic professional fraternity Delta Kappa Alpha (DKA), nothing prepared Kataru to be in such close proximity to A-list actors.

“If I had tripped and fallen off that stage, I would have landed right into Ali Wong’s arms,” she said. “She was right there. It was crazy. It truly was just insane to be in the same room as all of these talented people.”

With a professional wardrobe fitting and makeup done by an Emmy-award winning makeup artist, she called it “the best I’ve ever looked [and] the best I will ever look again.”

UM alum Geethika Kataru presents a trophy at the 75th Emmy Awards on Monday, Jan. 15 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
UM alum Geethika Kataru presents a trophy at the 75th Emmy Awards on Monday, Jan. 15 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Photo credit: Al Seib/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images

Waking up to a flood of encouraging messages from friends and family on Jan. 16, the reality of LA life hit her.

“The very next day, I had to do my two jobs like nothing had happened,” Kataru said.

The coincidence was not lost on me as she smiled from my laptop screen. There she stood in the kitchen of her LA apartment, recounting celebrity sightings while making breakfast and preparing for her part-time shift later that afternoon.

During her internship, Kataru received professional and financial support from the Bob Bennett Future Leaders program, a new initiative funded by Kelly Bennett and the Robert M. and Margie Bennett Foundation. The scholarship awarded 10 interns with $3000 for living costs.

“That truly changed my life over the summer,” Kataru said. “It allowed me to do my internship well because I wasn’t forced to get a second job.”

Now, the aspiring producer works remotely as an administrative assistant at Women in Animation (WIA), a nonprofit organization founded by professionals in the animation industry that aims to increase female representation and provide greater access to resources and support.

“I wanna go into live-action TV and film, but it’s really cool to learn about this whole other side of the industry,” Kataru said.

Her other job? Working part-time at Trader Joe’s, which she confirmed does not train its employees how to flirt, contrary to popular opinion.

Parts of LA — like the diverse cultures and bad drivers — remind the St. Augustine native of Miami. She now lives a quick drive away from the Warner Bros. Studios Lot with two fellow UM and DKA alumni.

“I’m getting the best of both worlds where I’m getting the city life and I’m able to afford rent,” Kataru said.

Though she’s now comfortable with post-grad life, staying in LA wasn’t always the plan.

“I came back home for, like, two weeks, and then immediately moved back,” Kataru said. “I knew that if I didn’t move then, I never would. Especially following the momentum of my internship, I was like, ‘if there was ever gonna be a time that I would do this, it should be now, when I have all these connections.”

Her internship cohort calls itself the “strike babies,” entering the film industry during the SAG-AFTRA strikes, a time when writers weren’t writing and actors weren’t acting. With productions halted, the day-to-day tasks of her internship looked different from prior years.

“You’re taking this huge risk post-grad to move out here and put your name out there,” Kataru said. “And there’s just nothing for even the super-experienced people who have been doing this for years to be doing, so who would take a chance on somebody new?”

Her Hollywood dreams didn’t always exist, though. Entering UM as a biology major on the pre-med track, she didn’t have the same drive of other students destined to be doctors, but taking film classes and joining DKA inspired her to change her major.

“I felt like now I had a team of people that I could work on projects with together,” Kataru said, “that really wanted to see my project succeed and who I felt invested in their projects. It was a really nice community in that way.”

She credits CCA 465, Creative Producing, as the class that solidified her goal of working in production. UM film professor Rechna Varma, who also wrote her letter of recommendation for the Television Academy internship, taught the course and inspired her to pursue a film career.

And with the historic strikes coming to an end, agreements reached and productions back in motion, the future of filmmaking is brighter than ever.

“Things can only move up from here. I’m hoping that this brings positive change, you know, and allows new people like me to break in and be comfortable breaking in,” Kataru said.

Eight events you won’t want to miss this semester

Morgan Fry
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Eight events you won’t want to miss this semester
EQ Collective President DJ Gr33n Juic3 smiles during her set at the Afterglow Music & Arts Festival on Saturday, April 29, at the Foote Green.
EQ Collective President DJ Gr33n Juic3 smiles during her set at the Afterglow Music & Arts Festival on Saturday, April 29, at the Foote Green. Photo credit: Allie Fisher

Rave to Electronic Dance Music (EDM), cheer on the ’Canes as they make women’s basketball history and show off your best outfits at Formula 1 this semester in Miami. The spring semester is busy with activities, and you won’t want to miss anything on campus or in the city this spring. Here is a list of must-do activities this semester:

Miami Marathon

This year’s annual Life Time Miami Marathon is taking place on Sunday, Jan. 28. Brave UM students take their shot at the half or full marathon every year. Whether you’re participating in the race or cheering runners on, the hype EDM music paired with breathtaking views are sure to make for an unforgettable event.

Find out more on the Miami Marathon website.

Athletic Events

It’s been said that UM is now a basketball school, and spring semester is the basketball teams’ time to shine. Attending basketball games at the Watsco Center is a great way to show some school spirit and take away from the stress of classes.

Also, head to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field for the famous milkshakes at the baseball concession stand.

You don’t have to stay on campus to enjoy Miami sports. Check out the Miami Heat professionals play at the Kaseya center on Biscayne Blvd.

Black Awareness Month Events

February is nationally recognized as Black Awareness Month, derived from the previous Black History Month. Every semester, the Diversity of Equity committee plans events on campus to celebrate and bring the UM community together.

Past events have included a cookout, art exhibitions, music and dance festivals, as well as celebrations of culture at UM basketball games. Last year was also the first Hairology hair show, which showcased models with different hair styles throughout the years. Be sure to stay on the lookout for upcoming events at UM for 2024 Black Awareness Month.

South Beach Wine and Food Festival

Foodies should mark their calendars for Feb. 22-25 when Food Network will host a four-day event showcasing world-renowned chefs, wine and spirits producers and food personalities.

Head to South Beach to sample tasteful dishes with influence from all different cultures and cuisines. Keep your eyes open for celebrity appearances, as people like Guy Fieri might be behind one of the food booths.

Greek Week

During this week, the different Greek organizations on campus team up in sporting events to dedicate a week to service and team building within the UM community. From Feb. 25 to March 2, various events will be hosted to fundraise for different charities that the organizations support. Keep your eye on the IM Fields as your favorite fraternities and sororities go head-to-head in sporting games.

Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout the month of March, and the U celebrates its impactful female leaders during this time. Keep an eye out for conversations and speaker events the University will be holding with strong female leaders. Be sure to thank and recognize the meaningful women in your circles at UM.

The senior vice president for student affairs, Patricia A. Whitely, will be hosting her annual Women’s Leadership Symposium on March 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The symposium aims to empower women through leadership, community and wellness.

Ultra Music Festival

The iconic Ultra Music Festival is taking place on March 22, 23 and 24 and is guaranteed to bring excited crowds to Bayfront Park. UM students traditionally show up and show out to Ultra in elaborate festival wear.

Get your fishnet tights, sunglasses and glitter ready for the rave of the semester. EDM fans won’t want to miss headliners such as Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Afrojack and Adam Beyer.

Formula 1 Miami

Formula 1 is a highly sought out grand prix in any city, and it’s coming to Miami on May 5. The event has become even more than a car race. Celebrities and influencers travel to South Florida and attend in fashionable outfits.

Whether you’re into the cars or the fashion, Formula 1 is sure to be an iconic event this year in Miami. For those who want to avoid the more expensive tickets, be sure to attend earlier in the four-day event.

“We will not wait for the next school shooting”

Letter to the Editor
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“We will not wait for the next school shooting”

Editor’s Note: The following op-ed was signed by over 140 student leaders and published simultaneously across over 50 student newspapers at public and private universities nationwide.

Students are taught to love a country that values guns over our lives.

Many of us hear the sound of gunfire when we watch fireworks on the fourth of July. All of us have heard the siren of an active shooter drill and asked ourselves: are we next?

By painful necessity, we have grown to become much more than students learning in a classroom — we have shed every last remnant of our childhood innocence.

Our hearts bleed from this uniquely American brand of gun violence, and yet we remind ourselves that we love our country so much that we expect better from it.

We believe that our country has the capacity to love us back. There are bullet-shaped holes in our hearts, but our spirits are unbreakable.

We will not wait for individual trauma to affect us all before we respond together — when we rediscover our empathy, we shape the moral arc of this country.

Students in the Civil Rights Movement created the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) that organized Freedom Rides, sit-ins and marches. In demanding freedom from racial violence, this group’s activism became woven into American history.

Students across America organized teach-ins during the Vietnam War to expose its calculated cruelties. Their work, in demanding freedom from conscription and taxpayer-funded violence, is intertwined with the American story.

This fall, UNC Chapel Hill students’ text exchanges during the Aug. 28 shooting reached the hands of the President. In demanding freedom from gun violence, we became one of countless before.

Because for 360,000 of us since Columbine, the toll of succumbing to the cursed emotional vocabulary of survivorship has become our American story.

Yes, it is not fair that we must rise against problems that we did not create, but the organizers of past student movements know from lived experience that we decide the future of the country. The country took note as Congress subsequently passed civil rights legislation, as they withdrew from the Vietnam war, and as the White House created the federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

So as students and young people alike, we should know our words don’t end on this page — we will channel them into change.

We invite you to join this generation’s community of organizers, all of us united in demanding a future free of gun violence. With our prose and protest, we protect not only our lives, but our way of life itself.

Politicians will not have the shallow privilege of reading another front-cover op-ed by students on their knees, begging them to do their jobs. They will instead contend with the reality that by uniting with each other and among parents, educators and communities, our demands become undeniable. Our movement is not just moving away from the unbearable pain of our yesterday — we move toward an unrelenting hope for our tomorrow.

Our generation dares politicians to look us in the eye and tell us they’re too afraid to try.

— Andrew Sun and Alexander Denza, UNC Chapel Hill March for Our Lives

This op-ed was signed by 144 student leaders representing over 90 groups across the nation. See the full signature list here.

This February will mark 6 years since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas took 17 lives only 45 minutes away from the University of Miami. Some students currently at UM were in the high school on that day, and others a couple miles away on lockdown. Many of us never forgot that day and proceeded to walk out of our own schools in protest. We went through endless active shooter drills and watched politicians debate whether or not our lives mattered.

At TMH we stand in solidarity with the March for Our Lives movement and their demands to end gun violence before another one of these tragedies happen.

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