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Lutz: Matthew Cleveland is the dynamic piece Miami needs

Carter Lutz
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Lutz: Matthew Cleveland is the dynamic piece Miami needs

“Cleveland for the win … It’s good! Matthew Cleveland stuns Miami!” exclaimed a television broadcaster as then-Florida State guard Matthew Cleveland hit a shot from mid-court as time expired to cap off a 25-point second-half deficit and beat Miami at the Watsco Center.

This was most of the Miami faithful’s introduction to Cleveland. Fast forward about eight months later, and he is the talk of the town in Coral Gables.

“My main thing entering the transfer portal was to go somewhere I can win,” the big offseason addition for Miami said during UM’s media day.

Heading into the 2023-24 college basketball season, the theme for the Hurricanes is all about keeping momentum. There is a lot of hype surrounding the program after coming off of its first Elite Eight run in 2022, followed by a trip to the Final Four last season.

Miami lost two key contributors from each run in ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong and 15.3 point per game scorer Jordan Miller to the NBA draft. The loss of star talent begs the question: how will Miami keep it going? Head coach Jim Larranaga followed that up with the recruitment of Cleveland.

Miami’s new tar was welcomed to UM in May and has been the epicenter of conversation heading into the new season. A guy who played just up i95 in Tallahassee last year, Cleveland is a 6-foot-7, 208-pound wing with incredible size and athleticism. 

“The biggest thing I saw was the success they have had with transfers,” Cleveland said. “Year-to-year, the transfers here have been successful.”

In Miami’s first three games of the season, Cleveland has been a main reason for the team’s successful 3-0 start. Cleveland recorded a 16-point double-double against N.J.I.T., followed by a fantastic defensive effort against UCF that included three steals and two blocked shots.

His most recent game against FIU brought out the star potential Miami sees in Cleveland. On Monday night, Cleveland recorded 23 points on 80% shooting and went three for three from beyond the arc.

It has been a long road for Cleveland, but it finally feels like the right spot for a guy with exponential potential.

Cleveland’s game makes him one of the most fascinating players to watch in the country. At his size, he can practically play any role on the court. Cleveland uses his size to attack downhill quickly, and once he decides to rise up to the rim, it is not so wise to jump with him. In just three games, Cleveland looks to be a very nice fit alongside scoring guards Wooga Poplar and Nijel Pack.

Cleveland’s length and quickness make him an elite defender that can guard all five positions, something Miami has been missing the past two years. The versatility of Cleveland as a positionless defender and his rebounding ability are vital for the Hurricanes as the season progresses.  

Rewinding back to high school, Cleveland has always been a name to watch out for. As a five-star recruit, Cleveland was the 27th-ranked player in the country, according to 247Sports. Cleveland always showed a lot of potential because of his size combined with athletic ability, but he did not reach his full potential until he truly started to grow into himself. Cleveland started at Cambridge High School in Milton, Georgia before transferring to the well-known Pace Academy, and that is where things ramped up for him.

At Pace, Cleveland led his team to two 2A state championships, averaging over 22 points per game in his two years and a double-double in his senior year. He chose Florida State as his home over the likes of North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas and Kentucky.

Cleveland’s skillset was on full display out the gate, making an immediate impact as a true freshman. He started eight games and averaged 11.5 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and shot 45% from the field. He followed that up with an even better sophomore season, starting every game and averaging 13.8 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game and a drastically improved three-pointer, something that continues to improve.

Unfortunately for Cleveland, Florida State’s program had been struggling immensely, and he wanted to play somewhere else.

The switch to Miami seemed like a no-brainer. The Hurricanes were in major need of a player with the style of Cleveland.

Cleveland truly is the best player Larrañaga could’ve added to this system and will be implemented into the lineup in multiple different ways. Defensively, Miami needed a player who could defend multiple positions, and that is one of Cleveland’s strong suits. He has the size to guard down low, and if he is on a guard and gets blown by, he has the athletic ability to recover for a block. Working alongside forward Norchad Omier down low, the ‘Canes will have a strong defensive presence in the paint throughout the year.

Cleveland’s ability to run the floor is going to fit in perfectly with Miami’s transitional game. Expect Cleveland’s offensive game to continue to fit nicely for fastbreak buckets. On offense, Cleveland can play alongside Omier in the post, bring the ball up the floor or even be a pure wing if he needs to.

Miami’s style under Larrañaga is the type of environment where a sensational athlete like Cleveland is going to shine. It will be exciting to see how the coaching staff can creatively incorporate the versatility of Cleveland into the game plan.

Through its first three games, Miami looks sharp and polished on both sides of the ball, with Cleveland leading the way.

“This is definitely the most talented team I have been a part of … I want to win,” Cleveland said.

Miami has gotten a taste of college basketball glory, and the time is now. If the Hurricanes want to take another big step this season, it is going to take difference-makers. Cleveland can be that difference-maker who can take over a game. 

Takeaways from Miami’s undefeated first three games of the season

Luke Sims
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Takeaways from Miami’s undefeated first three games of the season

The Miami Hurricanes have kicked off the season with a 3-0 record. Their hot start has come from convincing wins over their first two opponents, NJIT and UCF, and a tight win over in-county rival FIU. Miami sits first in the ACC while ranking 12th in the AP Poll. Soon, the ‘Canes will depart to the Bahamas to take on big-time opponents in the Baha Mar Classic. Before the ‘Canes head off to paradise, let’s review their first three games at home.

Matthew Cleveland is Making a Big Impact as a Transfer

Miami made a single addition through the transfer portal in the off-season. Junior Matthew Cleveland came from the Panhandle to South Florida to play for Jim Larrañaga and the ‘Canes and wasted time making an impact on his new team. Currently, Cleveland is second on the team in points, scoring 17 a game, second in rebounds with 6.7, and tied for second in assists with 3.7.

The do-it-all guard is playing more as a big this season in Miami’s small-ball style. Cleveland is often seen crashing the boards on offense and has been doing a terrific job generating second-chance points. Typically, Cleveland has not had to be as physical as he’s been so far in his time at Miami, but Cleveland has been putting up great numbers in his third season of college basketball in his role.

“He’s been a great addition to our program,” said coach Larrañaga. “One of the nice things about having Matt Cleveland is he knew who we were before he transferred. He had interest in us because he’d played against us. He said, ‘Hey, I think I fit into your program’.”

The Georgia native has not just fit in; he’s excelled. Cleveland was named player of the game in the tightly contested contest against FIU. Without Cleveland’s clutch shots in that game, the ‘Canes may have let that one slip away. The FSU transfer is doing a tremendous job replacing Jordan Miller in the ‘Canes offense.

Role-Players From Last Season are Stepping Up

During Miami’s Final Four run, Isaiah Wong and Miller led the team, while Wooga Poplar and Bensely Joseph played roles as complementary players. This season, Poplar and Joseph have been the stars.

Poplar is the team’s leading scorer with 20.7 points per game and has been deadly accurate from three-point land – hitting 70 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. That’s almost unheard of. The Philadelphia native is playing the best basketball of his career and has set new career highs in two of his three games.

“[Wooga]’s an incredible three-point shooter and incredible pull-up jumper, he can make his free throws, he’s great going to the basket,” said Larrañaga after Poplar’s career-high 23 points against UCF. “As long as he stays in control of his own abilities, he’s going to have a sensational year.”

Joseph has turned into a necessity on both ends of the floor. The Massachusetts native was considered an elite on-ball defender last season but lacked confidence on offense. Joseph has been fearless in letting it fly this season and has had success with his shots – hitting 60 percent of all of them and 64.3 percent from three-point range.

“He’s (Joseph) great. He’s playing with a lot of confidence,” said Larrañaga. “The thing is, he keeps focusing on his defense. You let the offense come. You don’t focus on the offense cause then you get distracted and don’t play good defense. But, he’s really engaged himself on the defensive end of the floor and just let his offense materialize.”

Turnovers and Fouls are Persistent Issues

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the undefeated ‘Canes. Coach Larrañaga is not pleased with the amount of turnovers that the team is producing. Miami has been sloppy with the ball on offense, and it almost came back to bite them against FIU. In addition to the turnovers, Larrañaga is frustrated with the foul trouble Norchad Omier is getting himself into.

“Do I like him (Omier) sitting on the bench next to me for half the game? No,” said coach Larrañaga. “He’s got to be more self-disciplined.”

Larrañaga has talked about these issues after every single Miami victory. In all three post-game press conferences, Larrañaga has brought up that Miami has been careless with the ball on offense and that Omier has been getting into foul trouble.

“Sometimes the game comes down to very simple things… the two things I really don’t like, when we’re on offense I don’t like turnovers and when we’re on defense I don’t like fouls.”

These problems can become a significant concern as Miami takes on stricter opponents in the coming weeks.

Catch the ‘Canes in action this Friday as they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Bahamas. The ‘Canes will look to move to 4-0 before a ranked matchup with SEC powerhouse and college basketball blueblood Kentucky Wildcats. Tip-off for this matchup is set for 3:30 P.M. and can be seen on CBSSN.

Miami volleyball falls 3-1 at Florida State despite career day from freshman Lopez

Ian Graves
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Miami volleyball falls 3-1 at Florida State despite career day from freshman Lopez

Coming off a tough loss against No. 6 Pittsburgh, Miami was looking for a bounce back win on the road in a rivalry rematch versus Florida State (20-8, 14-2 ACC). The ‘Canes fell short and dropped the match 3-1.

Set one began with both teams trading runs back and forth. Leading the offense early for the ‘Canes was freshman Grace Lopez with five kills and redshirt senior Angela Grieve with four kills.

This trading eventually ended late in the first set when UM pulled away, going on a 4-0 run thanks to three attack errors by the Seminoles to make the score 21-18. However, FSU did not go away without a fight and managed to bring the set to within one point at 24-23.

Luckily for the Hurricanes, a Lopez kill finished off a much-needed victory in set one by a score of 25-23.

Set two was a completely different story than the first. Rather than going back and forth, the Seminoles (20-8, 14-2 ACC) jumped out to an early 12-5 lead. That lead forced Miami (16-9, 9-6 ACC) to be in comeback mode for the entirety of the set and proved to be enough as the Hurricanes dropped the set, 25-21.

Despite the loss in set two, the ‘Canes saw good play from sophomore Flormarie Heredia Colon with five kills and fifth-year setter Savannah Vach with two kills, along with a handful of assists.

Set three began similarly to set two, as it saw the Seminoles jump out to a quick 10-5 lead, but unlike the second set, the Hurricanes managed to take that lead back in the middle of the set following a kill by graduate student Janice Leao.

Florida State responded to the ‘Canes comeback with two quick points of their own and was content to trade points for the rest of the set. The ‘Noles did exactly that, resulting in a two-point victory in set three, 25-23.

Set four was tightly contested, with many lead changes. Miami can attribute most of its offense in this set to Lopez, who racked up an outstanding nine kills in this set alone. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Seminoles went on a run at the end of the set, winning 25-21 and defeating Miami 3-1 in the match.

Match leaders for the ‘Canes were Lopez with a career-high 27 kills, good for ninth all-time in program history in a single match, Leao with four blocks, Vach with 54 assists and junior Yaidaliz Rosado with 17 digs.

Next up for Miami, it will head back home for Senior Night on Friday at 7 p.m. to face a tough No. 11 Georgia Tech (21-4, 12-3 ACC) team that it swept on the road in Atlanta earlier in the season.

UM students attend third GOP presidential debate in Miami

Lauren Ferrer
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UM students attend third GOP presidential debate in Miami

UM students were given the unique opportunity by NBC News to work and attend the live broadcasting of the third Republican Presidential debate in Miami on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Whether they were working as production assistants in the days leading up to the debate or sitting in the live audience, University of Miami students got to hear what the five front-running GOP candidates had to say in their final debate before the Iowa caucus on Jan. 15, 2024.

“All week I had this vision about how the debate would go, what the candidates would say, and all the things that could go right and wrong.” said senior broadcast journalism major Charly Hill.

“Before this, I had never watched a Republican debate, I’d only seen clips on social media of the highlights of the super dramatic moments. Although there were those super dramatic moments, I also paid attention to the little things that might go unnoticed or not spoken about a lot.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took the stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center, battling for the spotlight and presenting their stances on former president Donald Trump, TikTok, abortion and anti-semitism on college campuses.

“The discourse on abortion was by far the most interesting and varied with candidates like Scott encouraging a 15-week ban and Haley opposing a federal ban while respecting the decision of pro-choice states,” said junior international studies and economics major, Bryn Prosser.

“Haley has been rising in the polls while DeSantis will be slipping, so in the next couple weeks we will see whether Haley’s strong performance boosts her standing in the polls or leaves it unchanged.”

Twenty students from UM and Florida International University worked as student production assistants completing small tasks like setting the stage and preparing the candidates and moderators backstage rooms. Students were also given the opportunity to fill in as stand-ins for the candidates and moderators for mock run-throughs of the debate. This allowed technical crews at NBC to make sure their technical equipment was functioning properly before the broadcast.

“I was moderator Kristen Welker’s stand-in and Zachari Levy was Chris Christie’s stand-in.” Hill said. “We had to act as if we were actually them so I was reading Welker’s scripts while Zachary responded as if he was Chris Christie.”

The hands-on broadcast experience gave the aspiring journalists a taste of what a future in political media could look like.

“The experience of working the debate was something unique for me,” junior political science major Zachari Levy said. “Seeing the extensive preparations that go into a two-hour broadcast made me realize that it takes a lot of effort to run these marquee events smoothly.”

Watching the debate live gave in-person audience members a look into what the five-minute highlight reels released the next day failed to show.

“My biggest takeaway from seeing the debate in person was to watch actions as well as words,” junior broadcast journalism and political science major Billie Brightman said. “By paying attention to hand gestures or facial expressions, you can really tell how a candidate would run the country as commander in chief.”

Whether it was receiving TV etiquette instructions from “NBC Nightly News” anchor, Lester Holt, or watching the candidates engage with their families after the cameras shut off, the live audience was able to pick up much more than what is seen on TV.

“It was quite interesting to see the candidates interact with each other on stage during the commercial breaks after criticizing each other just moments earlier,” Levy said.

After listening to the candidates’ responses to questions asked by moderators Holt, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker and Salem Radio Network’s Hugh Hewitt, students left the debate with a newfound motivation to pay attention to the decisions driving voters to the polls for the 2024 Presidential election.

“I absolutely need to pay attention and be an informed citizen on what candidates are saying, because next year one of these people might be running our country.” Hill said.

Democratic victories and abortion rights win big on Election Day 2023

Caroline Val
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Democratic victories and abortion rights win big on Election Day 2023

Democrats celebrated notable victories on Election Day 2023, showcasing their strength in national debates on key issues, most specifically in regard to abortion access. The outcomes provide a snapshot of the political landscape heading into 2024, with major implications in key states.

In Ohio, the passing of one ballot measure secured abortion access and vows to protect the right in the state’s constitution.

“I’m really happy to see that there is still so much support for access to safe abortions, especially in elections that weren’t during the main election cycle year,” said Alex Trombley, a senior from Ohio. “It’s also kind of surprising from where I’m from since I know how conservative some people can be, but it gives me hope that maybe this could influence other states to at least not be so strict.”

In the Virginia statehouse, Democrats also gained the majority, blocking potential efforts from Republican state legislators to pass restrictions on abortion.

It became clear that abortion dominated as the topic of concern in these key state elections, highlighting the prominence of the issue across various states after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade.

“I had an abortion my first semester of senior year at UM,” said Jade Iovine, a UM alum and podcast host.

“I’m from LA, so I was lucky enough to have a community to go back to where something like this was really destigmatized. But after that Supreme Court decision, I’ve just been worried for other women who have been in my position or in a more compromised one where there is no access whatsoever. Abortions won’t ever stop, but it’s a matter of helping women find ways to do it safely.”

Among these decisions, other historical milestones happened as a result of this election cycle. Gabe Amo, who formerly served as the deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Biden administration, made history as Rhode Island’s first-ever elected Black member of Congress, and Cherelle Parker was elected as the first female mayor of Philadelphia.

“It’s nice to see people who look like me or share some of my experiences represent my city,” said Perinne Codaccioni, a recent UM grad pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania. “I think this only pushes you to want to keep pursuing your goals, which is always a nice boost.”

Though most predictions came to fruition about certain campaigns this election year, there were some races that came to an end.

Democrats campaigned heavily in Mississippi, but incumbent Republican Governor Tate Reeves retained his seat. Glenn Youngkin, also seen as a potential GOP candidate for the 2024 presidential election at one point, did not see decisive decisions in his favor during Virginia’s legislative elections.

While the outcomes of these elections reflect a complex political landscape with many wins favoring the left, some argue that this year’s off-season election may not be an entirely accurate reflection of what’s to come in 2024.

“Though we’ve seen so many left-leaning decisions this election, I’m not sure if it was what most people were expecting,” Trombley said. “I think the presidential election is still very much going to be a toss-up with so many new developments happening right now – I just personally know of a few people from home who are on the fence about who to vote for. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what happens.”

Richter Library reduces finals week hours amid UM budget cuts, students speak out

Sydney Billings
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Richter Library reduces finals week hours amid UM budget cuts, students speak out

Following a series of budget cuts that have limited access to academic resources, frustrated students at the University of Miami are taking action after the Otto G. Richter Library’s hours of operation during finals week were reduced.

In addition to reducing database subscriptions and high-impact resources for students, a lack of funding to pay employees has led the library to reduce its hours of operation during finals week from 24 hours to 6 a.m. through 2 a.m..

At the beginning of the semester, a statement was published on the UM Libraries website detailing how the recent adjustment would impact collections funding, which is allocated toward student resources and the preservation of historic records at the library.

“Overall, our collections funding to meet that mission remains strong,” reads the statement. “However, a reduction to the Libraries’ operating budget requires us to strategically reduce and realign collections spending on the Coral Gables campus for the coming year.”

Skye Eppel, a senior double majoring in economics and global health studies, is a former employee of Otto G. Richter Library through Federal Work Study.

After four consecutive years of working at the library, Eppel was laid off at the beginning of last week due to the same budget cuts.

On Tuesday, Eppel received an email from a supervisor who announced the adjusted hours of operation. Upon learning of this change, she was furious.

“The school makes billions of dollars a year, and I think cutting these hours is kind of a slap in the face to the student body about where their tuition is really going,” Eppel said. “I think that a library is the most fundamental resource to any education, and for a University of this stature to have to deny students this resource is absolutely ridiculous.

For Eppel, it is the lack of educational resources that will greatly impact students who regularly utilize the library.

“Students, especially those who may not have another space to do work, rely on the library for several aspects of their education,” Eppel said. “The library provides desktop computers, whiteboards, study rooms, chargers, special programs and many more resources that could not be accessed without it.”

Eppel created a petition on Wednesday afternoon expressing her frustration with the announcement.

The petition included information about the budget cut as well as comments from a personal interview with Glen Wiley, the associate dean of access and discovery services at Richter Library.

Wiley, along with Jose Rodrigues, the director of access services and learning commons, are responsible for coordinating the budget for Richter Library.

During this interview, Wiley revealed that in June 2023, the University of Miami announced they would be cutting 10% of the entire UM Libraries budget and 50% of the student budget.

While budget cuts by the University have been gradually increasing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Wiley noted, this recent development appears to be the most substantial budget cut yet.

Upon signing the petition, several students expressed frustration with how administration is allocating the University budget.

“It’s like the administration is forgetting that the whole point of college is to learn,” senior biology and political science major Izzy Sowells said. “It seems as though despite being a tier-one research university, we seem to have forgotten our roots. This should never have even been on the table for an institution that prides itself on research.”

Lydia Buckius, a junior transfer student from Elon University, was surprised at the lack of support for students during an especially busy time of the semester.

“I’m disappointed because I’m a transfer student and my old institution’s library was open 24/7 and even had free snacks during finals,” Buckius said.

While several students are bearing the brunt of these recent budget cuts, faculty and staff members at the library have also expressed hope for change.

A full-time staff member at Otto G. Richter Library, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed their heartbreak for the students who rely on the library for their academic success.

“I struggle to find the words to express how much I would like the students to continue to have a great educational journey. It’s about the future and assisting the students to continue to reach their educational milestones in an efficient manner. And the manner in which we’ve always assisted should continue.”

Students and faculty can read and sign Eppel’s petition here.

Florida’s Rally for Change: How Floridians are coming together for access to clean water

Layla Gravelle
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Florida’s Rally for Change: How Floridians are coming together for access to clean water

Though Florida might be the state surrounded by the most water in the mainland, the right to access clean drinking water is not a guarantee for many Floridians.

Home to several prominent industries from tourism to urban development, the state’s executive branch arguably favors industries that engage in pollution by enabling lenient regulations and weak legislative measures, according to Florida residents like Cheryl Lasse.

“Most people would be surprised to learn that Floridians do not have a right to clean water,” said Lasse, the director of information management for Florida’s Right to Clean Water Campaign. “It’s a huge economic, quality of life and public health issue.”

Many of these industries that contribute to the pollution problem are involved in industrial activities where excess waste and toxins are released as byproducts into nearby bodies of water.

With substantial population growth and heightened precipitation from climate change, the over 30-year-old wastewater treatment plants have become too small for the required wastewater volume. Their capability is limited, processing only a select range of chemicals. Those that are not processed are released into waterways, leading to increasing levels of toxic runoff.

This toxic runoff entering the water supply has caused drastic environmental consequences for Florida’s wildlife and had a huge impact on local communities, oftentimes resulting in hundreds of thousands of aquatic creatures and wildlife being killed and washed onto shore.

Even more dangerous, toxic contaminants in the water are entering aquifers that are responsible for providing communities clean drinking water.

Exposure to these chemicals in communities has been posing health concerns, especially for vulnerable communities as toxic runoff in water can lead to waterborne diseases and critical health issues among residents.

Economic wellbeing of Florida communities dependent on tourism, fishing and other water industries may lose their businesses or months of revenue without access to clean water.

According to Lasse, Florida’s Right to Clean Water Campaign aims to combat the damaging effects of pollution by drafting an amendment that will force the state to take action.

“We would like to make the right to clean water be something that everyone has access to, regardless of socioeconomic status,” said Lasse. “Everybody should have that as a basic right, just as they have the right to free speech.”

Requiring 900,000 petition signatures by the end of 2023 for ballot inclusion, the amendment explicitly outlines actions and omissions that are a detriment to water quality.

The amendment defines “clean and healthy waters” and recognizes the fundamental right of the people to have access to this resource. Providing an inclusive list of relief violations, it describes potential remedies to restore waters to their normal conditions.

Granting legal remedies for violations, the amendment would enable residents, non-governmental organizations or government entities to uphold and safeguard these rights by legally challenging state-backed industries.

For Floridians, the amendment will also enable the implementation of Basin Management Action Plans (BMAP) to control pollution levels in their water. BMAPs set limits for how much pollution runoff is allowed to be released into the environment.

Biscayne Bay is one community that has been of concern among residents because of the lack of BMAPs. Without regulation on how much one can pollute, the bay continues to be legally flushed with pollutants and toxins that are harmful to humans and the environment.

In August 2020, the effects of the unregulated toxins in the bay showed just how much of an impact it has on wildlife. With a combination of several environmental factors, the effects of climate change and unregulated pollution, over 27,000 marine creatures from 56 different species were killed, making it the largest recorded fish kill in Biscayne Bay history.

As these stats highlighted the consequences of toxic water and the dire need for regulation and improved infrastructure, Florida’s Free Water Campaign proposed this amendment to have a significant impact on the restoration of the bay and its ecosystem, along with improving water quality in various other locations in the state.

“Everything from the beach, to the canals, to the water we drink can be cleaner, “ said the Student Government’s ECO Agency chair Ainsley Hilliard. “The act is so important for all Florida residents to be aware of, because we are the one’s holding the power to make a difference.”

According to Lasse, passing this act will allow for the people to hold the Florida Department of Environmental Protection accountable and create implementations of BMAPs so that areas like Biscayne Bay in South Florida and several other locations in the state can be restored and protected.

Florida’s Right to Clean Water Campaign ultimately aims to take the first step to protecting the state’s most valuable resource and addressing the effects of Florida’s wastewater issues. With the potential to enact meaningful change, Lasse argues it is up to Floridians to unite and stand up for their rights as residents.

“The current system protects polluters,” said Lasse. “It puts a lot of vulnerable communities in harm’s way. Our amendment is going to fix that and create much-needed equality.”

UM alum raises allergy awareness with children’s book

Vivica Dunlap
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UM alum raises allergy awareness with children’s book

Every day of elementary school, UM alumna KiAnna Nycole Dorsey would sit at the nut-free table by herself. As a young girl, her severe nut allergy made her feel isolated as she navigated birthday parties, school events and other gatherings as the only kid who couldn’t enjoy the treats.

Her experience led her to publish “Food Friendly,” a children’s book that promotes inclusion for kids with allergies. The book tells the story of elementary school students who learn about allergies during their lunchtime together.

A Stamps Scholar and Foote Fellow, Dorsey graduated from the School of Communication with a degree in motion picture production. She now works in Los Angeles within the entertainment industry, but her journey from filmmaker to author started during the height of COVID-19.

Dorsey graduated from the UM School of Communication in May 2023 with a degree in motion picture production.
Dorsey graduated from the UM School of Communication in May 2023 with a degree in motion picture production. Photo credit: TMV Visuals

Dorsey originally developed “Food Friendly” as an animated series for children, but after her funding was cut off due to lockdown, she had to pivot and figure out how to make her hard work into something worthy of her time.

“One thing about me is that if I want to do something, I’ll get it done. I’ll find a way no matter what,” Dorsey said.

After getting a suggestion to turn her show into a children’s book, she dove into the process and learned all she could to make it a reality, from talking to artists and developing the visuals to writing the text.

“The only thing I knew going into it was the story,” Dorsey said. “That was the only thing I knew I felt comfortable with was the story and the characters, because that’s what I study.”

The cover of KiAnna Nycole Dorsey&squot;s book "Food Friendly," illustrated by Titus V. Thomas and Syr-Ivan Bennett.
The cover of KiAnna Nycole Dorsey's book "Food Friendly," illustrated by Titus V. Thomas and Syr-Ivan Bennett. Photo credit: Contributed graphic

The story Dorsey paints is one of her own life: a girl struggling with an allergy and wanting to hang out with other students her age. She doesn’t want to be left out due to her disability, an experience that Dorsey relates to.

“I thought I was gonna be the only person with an allergy, like I just constantly felt different and it would have meant the world to just have a book with a character who looks like me,” Dorsey said. “At the end of the day, I just wanna build some awareness in my audience. Whether you resonate or you don’t, you walk away with something.”

A self-published author, Dorsey has sold over 100 copies of her book so far — an impressive feat for a recent college graduate.

“My long-term goal is to continue to make stories that cause people to think and build compassion and have a message…that’s what I’ll be happy with,” Dorsey said.

Students interested in reading Dorsey’s story can purchase the paperback version at Barnes & Noble or Amazon and follow her on Instagram @foodfriendlyproject.

Hip-hop dance team KAOS on growth and “making space” for creativity

Vivica Dunlap
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Hip-hop dance team KAOS on growth and “making space” for creativity
KAOS at the Spring 2022 showcase
Hip-hop dance team KAOS at its Spring 2023 showcase. Photo credit: Instagram @umiamikaos

Electric dance choreography took center stage at the Rock Plaza last Thursday as hip-hop music reverberated through campus and a crowd of students cheered their peers on. This synchronized group of dancers known as KAOS — UM’s only coed hip-hip dance team — lit up the Rock at their fall showcase on Nov. 9.

Since 1995, KAOS has shared hip-hop choreography with the campus community through performances at sporting events, open dance clinics, Homecoming Week’s O-Cheer competition and their end-of-semester dance showcase.

The Miami Hurricane sat down with Jayda O’Neill, a biomedical engineering senior and president of KAOS, to talk about her passion and love for the organization.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How do you choose choreographers?

O’NEILL: I ask at the beginning of the semester who’s interested in choreographing and it used to be one person a week. So on Tuesday, they would teach and then on Wednesday, they would get our dance ready to go perform on stage.

But as membership has increased in numbers, so has the interest in choreographing, and I find it very important not to turn anyone’s creative ideas away. I want to embrace everyone’s creative ideas because that’s what makes KAOS, KAOS. So, instead of saying, “Oh you can’t choreograph because we don’t have enough space,” we have just made more space for everyone.

Where does your passion for dance come from?

O’NEILL: For me, dance is a passion that I’ve always had. It’s my sanity. Aside from doing all the hard work with my major, dance is my mental break. So, for me, it was really important that I found a team that was able to understand that school’s first at the end of the day and also had practice every week.

Can you elaborate on how dance is a release for you?

O’NEILL: When we dance, it is physically an emotional release, because we are moving all of that stagnant energy. We’re moving it, we’re releasing it, we’re feeling something positive and we’re putting that energy into positive motion.

I could go through whatever during the day, but as soon as I walk in that studio and I’m dancing with my teammates, it’s gone. Even if it comes back when I leave the studio, it’s gone for a while and I feel supported and safe there.

How does KAOS combat the exclusivity in dance culture?

O’NEILL: I’m very familiar with the different types of cultures that can be found in the dance environment and how cliquey and toxic it can become. As president, I made it one of my missions to make sure that we are an environment that includes everybody. There are no cliques.

I don’t care what you do outside of dance, but when we’re inside the studio, we’re all there for the same reason. We’re all there to grow together as dancers, and we’re all a family. We support each other inside and outside of the studio. We’re all communicating with each other — It’s the healthiest dance environment that I’ve ever been a part of.

How do you make the environment welcoming to newcomers?

O’NEILL: We like to promote that there is no need for a dance background. There have been many people on our team before who have never danced and they just had the courage to show up and the passion for it. We don’t even look for technique and we don’t look for things that make you a perfect dancer. What we do look for is what you have that we cannot give you, like performance quality. What energy do you bring to this stage?

It’s really not about how good of a dancer you are at the end of the day. No one in that room is perfect — we all make mistakes and we all learn from each other. It’s a very safe environment for people to just come and explore and see if dance is something they want to be a part of.

How do you promote a healthy dance environment?

O’NEILL: Communication is something that I always think is really important. We’ll have bonding events outside of the studio, so we’ll go to dinner, then go around the table and say our favorite thing that’s happened so far, our favorite memory or something positive. At practice, sometimes we’ll do a short warm-up, get into a circle and go around the room asking questions like “What did you do last week that you’re proud of?” [or] “What’s something you’re excited for?”

It’s just a really great way of starting the day off with open communication where everyone feels like they’re seen and heard for who they are in and outside of the studio.

How has the team grown since you first joined?

O’NEILL: When I first joined, it was a pretty small organization. There was about a max of 15 people, and then COVID hit and it got really hard. We had to do practices online, a lot of people ended up dropping out and we got to a team that was under 10 people at one point.

We came together and we were very determined to build the team up to be a professional club organization. After the past three years of really grinding to make the organization as great as it is, we’re now a team of 27. It’s the biggest the organization has ever been and we are the cleanest group of dancers that I’ve ever seen since being on the team.

What’s your favorite thing about KAOS?

O’NEILL: My favorite thing is seeing the growth of the dancers individually. Newbies become vets and then the vets become even better than they believe that they would ever be able to become.

To watch us as a team get synchronized because we’re dancing together, it’s like we’re more of a family than friends. Everyone dances and feeds off of each other and it’s a really great environment.

What legacy do you want KAOS to leave?

O’NEILL: Our name, what we do, our involvement on campus and our reputation. Seeing us on stage, you can see and feel the professionalism, and something that I want to continue is that level of work ethic and hard work.

Everyone’s the same amount of committed and it’s not like half the team’s growing every week and half the team’s not. We’re growing together.

Is there anything else you want to say?

O’NEILL: Everyone has their own different training backgrounds and that always plays a part in how you choreograph. Having people on our team from all different backgrounds, all different dancing experiences and all different places really brings diversity.

There’s no two dances that are the same, so we’re constantly given the space to continuously learn, to continuously grow. Live, love, KAOS.

Miami Wilds, the not-so-wild water park interrupting critical habitat, faces community opposition

Jenny Jacoby
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Miami Wilds, the not-so-wild water park interrupting critical habitat, faces community opposition

A group of protestors stood at the entrance of the University of Miami, demanding the UM Board of Trustees buy back the 88 acres of pine rockland forests sold to developers for $22 million. That was in 2015.

The forest was eventually bulldozed to make room for a Walmart.

Eight years later, zoo employees, environmental groups and citizens of all ages gathered outside Zoo Miami, protesting again to save the pine rocklands. This time, they say they won’t lose.

“I have kept a sign from the [Walmart] construction site in my room for six years. I look at it when I want to remember what happens when we lose,” said Zachariah Cosner, a UM graduate and organizer of the Let Them Thrive Rally held on Nov. 4, 2023.

Hundreds turned out on the gloomy Saturday morning in support of the critical habitat and the at least four federally listed endangered species that call the forest home. Environmentalists, including 40-year Zoo Miami employee Ron Magill, believe the development of the Miami Wilds theme park would severely threaten the rare ecosystem if approved by county commissioners on Dec. 12.

“When I heard that they want to build this property into a waterfront and it was deemed a critical habitat for endangered species, I said, we can’t do that. It totally goes counter to what we stand for in the zoo,” Magill said.

The water park, 17 years in the making, is slated to take over 27.5 acres more of pine rocklands sitting on county land that currently serves as a free parking lot for Zoo Miami. Less than 2% of the scarce habitat remains outside of the Everglades National Park.

“These are truly irreplaceable resources. There are people that travel the Earth to see the biodiversity that we have right here. So to see the county considering throwing that away for a development that can be built anywhere? It’s really shocking,” said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

The National Park Service initially released the parcel of land to Miami-Dade county for the water park in a 2006 referendum, on the condition that the land was not environmentally sensitive.

“Now, 17 years later, we know it’s environmentally sensitive and that’s technically a violation of that referendum.” Lauren Jonaitis, senior conservation director of the Tropical Audubon Society said.

Protestors hold up signs they made at the ReWild Miami Let Them Thrive rally against the development of Miami WIlds on the pine rocklands on Nov. 4, 2023.
Protestors hold up signs they made at the ReWild Miami Let Them Thrive rally against the development of Miami WIlds on the pine rocklands on Nov. 4, 2023. Photo credit: Jenny Jacoby

The group is currently suing Miami-Dade County over the violation, claiming the environmental value of the pine rocklands should force the county to forfeit the plan entirely.

The pine rocklands entered the spotlight following the rediscovery of the previously thought-to-be extinct Miami tiger beetle in 2007. The beetle received endangered species status with a critical habitat designation in May 2023, disrupting developer plans.

Despite the beetle’s discovery, the water park and corresponding hotel lease was approved by county commissioners in 2020. Problems ensued as a second lawsuit was filed against the National Parks Service for failing to conduct National Environmental Policy Act mandated environmental reviews of the property. NPS admitted to this wrongdoing.

Environmentalists believe that a proper investigation would reveal that a water park significantly impairs the success of the ecosystem.

“Based on how rare the species are here, the impacts of a brand new development could be really species ending for some of these like the Miami tiger beetle,” Bennet said.

Development would put a likely end to the controlled burns needed to make the habitat viable, and exposure to chlorine, from the pools, has the potential to generate noxious bacterial gas looming over the forest, explained community organizer Steven Leidner.

Most importantly, Miami Wilds stands in the way of the success of the Florida bonneted bat, a highly endangered species, that uses the empty parking lot at night to feed.

“This parking lot might be a parking lot by day, but by night is a very important foraging area for critically endangered species who need it to feed, and we’ve got to protect it for them,” Magill said.

The high activity level of the bonneted bats in the area was initially reported by a Florida Fish and Wildlife study. Once the lawsuit emerged, Miami Wilds park manager Paul Lambert conducted an independent study with Johnson Engineering that disputed the “high presence” of bonneted bats. The discrepancy has led to misgivings about how crucial the land is for the species that will need to be determined before construction is permitted.

While fighting the lawsuits, Miami Wilds has fallen behind on its commitments to the county, and is set to miss its Dec. 22 groundbreaking date. According to District 7 Commissioner Raquel Regalado, this is yet another reason to cancel it all together.

“They haven’t applied for a permit. They haven’t applied for zoning. They do not have a site plan, they owe us rent and they owe us attorneys fees. There’s a million legal reasons to kill the deal,” she said.

“We said either kill it or move it.”

Choosing neither, County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recently pushed to delay the commissioners vote from September to December, so the county could investigate alternative sites.These may include the Homestead-Miami Speedway, whose owners have expressed interest in a water park, Regalado noted.

But, Lambert has no interest in moving his 300-job facility elsewhere.

“It is net-beneficial for the zoo to have the water park there. Having multiple gates together adds more business for everyone,” Lambert said in an interview with CBS Miami on Nov. 3 2023.

The December vote will allow commissioners to revisit the issue and force another decision pitting development against the environment on the county.

Cosner, left defeated after the construction of Walmart five years ago, feels this outcome will be different. He believes the pine rocklands are not only part of Miami’s heritage, but a representation of the county itself and that they have no choice but to save it.

“What is a pine rockland?” Cosner asked.

“It is the coming together of the species of temperate North America and the species of tropical Caribbean in a novel context that forms its own identity. And, if we cannot save this forest, how are we going to save ourselves?”

2023 Art Week events welcome global audiences to Miami

Morgan Fry
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2023 Art Week events welcome global audiences to Miami

What is already a colorful and vibrant city truly comes alive during Miami Art Week. Artists, designers, tourists, locals and creative minds alike all come together for this annual event.

From Dec. 6-10, Miami Art Week will host one-of-a-kind events, exhibitions and fairs where attendees can learn about the ideas, cultures and visions of featured artists. Check out some of this year’s Miami Art Week attractions below.

Art Basel

Head to the Miami Beach Convention Center from Dec. 8-10 to immerse yourself in Miami Art Week’s premier international contemporary art fair.

What started in 1970 in Basel, Switzerland has expanded to Hong Kong, Miami Beach and for the first time this year, Paris. Miami is the only U.S. city to host this exclusive event, drawing in crowds from across the country and around the world.

Now entering its 21st year in Miami Beach, the event is scaling back from the massive 283 galleries displayed at the 20-year celebration in 2022.

However, you won’t want to miss the 2023 lineup, which will feature 277 art galleries from 33 countries and territories, including 24 new exhibitors. The event will be divided into six sections, each with its own focus.

Galleries: These include works from leading art galleries. Consider this the “main area” of Art Basel, with the most popular artwork.

Meridians: This is Art Basel’s unique platform for showcasing non-traditional, large-scale projects including video projections, live performances and large sculptures and paintings.

Positions: This section is dedicated to emerging artists. This year, it will feature 16 solo exhibitions by up-and-coming international artists.

Nova: This area hosts works created within the last three years. This year, Nova will highlight 22 presentations from 22 galleries.

Survey: Works in this section highlight pieces with historic relevance. Sixteen galleries will showcase pieces created before the year 2000.

Kabinett: This sector provides galleries with the opportunity to feature curated exhibitions in a separate location within their booth.

Art Basel has evolved into more than just an attraction to admire and purchase artwork. The international contemporary art fair has become a premier event for influencers and fashion lovers alike.

With many attendees dressing up for the event, stylish individuals should consider showing off their own artistic abilities through their art show outfits. Wear your best attire to analyze and inspect some of the world’s finest artwork.

While there are VIP sections for people interested in purchasing artwork, the average UM student likely won’t make a high-end art transaction. But Art Basel is the perfect time to gather a few friends for a day or two and appreciate the world-renowned artwork presented just 14 miles away from Coral Gables.

Design Miami

This is Design Miami’s 19th addition to Miami Art Week, featuring more contemporary elements including furniture and lighting designs. This year’s theme, “Where We Stand,” examines how design impacts the world around us throughout time and today.

Design Miami will take place Dec. 6-10 at Convention Center Drive and 10th Street, alongside the Miami Beach Convention Center. Head over after enjoying Art Basel to keep the contemporary feel alive.

Visitors gather outside the entrance to the Untitled Art fair during Miami Art Week 2022.
Visitors gather outside the entrance to the Untitled Art fair during Miami Art Week 2022. Photo credit: Mikey Mok

Art Miami

Art Miami is one of the largest Art Basel satellite fairs, showcasing art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Well-known contemporary artists such as Gerhard Richter, Marcel Duchamp, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning will be featured at this event.

Stop by the Art Miami Pavilion to take a step back in time with one glimpse at these pieces.

There are countless ways to appreciate and learn about art during Miami Art Week. Regardless of your art preferences, there is something for everyone. Be sure to attend this iconic Miami event for an unforgettable experience.

For a list of more events, visit the Miami Art Week website for a complete schedule.

Miami Book Fair celebrates 40 years of literature and culture

Faith Jimenez
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Miami Book Fair celebrates 40 years of literature and culture
UM student Kyle Somelofske browsing through books in the Richter Library.
UM student Kyle Somelofske browsing through books in the Richter Library.

Now entering its 40th year, the renowned Miami Book Fair is once again celebrating literary culture in Downtown Miami from Nov. 12-19.

What started as a dream of independent bookstore owners, librarians and educational professionals has become one of the most successful and inclusive book fairs in the U.S.. With over 500 authors and 200,000 attendees, the annual book fair hosts a wide variety of programs catered to multiple demographics over eight days.

UM, a premium sponsor of the book fair, highly encourages student attendance. Rudy Fernandez, the Executive Vice President for University Operations and External Affairs and Chief of Staff, sheds light on the relationship between the fair and the University.

“We have a mission that consists of three parts,” Fernandez said. “It’s education, it’s research, it’s clinical care. But for education, promoting reading and lifelong learning is something that we deeply believe in at the University, and I think the book fair certainly promotes that.”

Taking place at Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson campus, here’s what to expect at this year’s Miami-Dade Book Fair.

On Sunday, Nov. 12, the fair kicked off with an Opening Night Block Party. Grammy Award-winning producer Louie Vega played live music ranging from hip-hop to salsa as visitors enjoyed the pop-up market “Smorgasburg Miami” right on the Wolfson Campus Plaza.

Throughout the week, invited award-winning authors like Jada Pinkett Smith, Mitch Albom and Kerry Washington will sit on various panels and share their insights. These author speeches, including the “Evenings With” series, are ticketed events that range from $30 to $40.

UM faculty members will also be featured in several of these panels, including Germane Barnes, an associate professor at the School of Architecture, and Phil Harling, director of the Center for Humanities and professor at the College of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to the author speeches are a set of programs catered to the diverse international community of Miami. Book readings, writing workshops and speeches, including “ReadCarribean,” “IberoAmerican Authors” and “ReadingEast,” will give literary insight into different nationalities.

From Friday, Nov. 17 to Sunday, Nov.19, the famous Street Fair will welcome the public to enjoy various book vendors, artisans and other literary events. A diverse set of exhibitors — called the Writers’ Row — ensures that all visitors have something that appeals to them, including sections for graphic novels, Spanish-language novels and books for children.

The Street Fair will feature traditionally-published and self-published authors promoting their novels. Happening at the same time is “Off the Shelf”, a small music festival that features live musicians and DJs while guests visit the hosted art exhibitions and food spots.

The Street Fair is a ticketed event that costs $10 at the gate, however, visitors on Nov. 17 will enjoy free admission for that day. University of Miami Students are eligible for discounted tickets online, with up to 50% off, when using the code: UMMBFDISCOUNT.

Can’t make it to the Wolfson campus? The Miami Book Fair will employ a hybrid system this year and virtually stream programs on their Miami Book Fair Online service.

A comprehensive guide to the book fair’s schedule and event locations can be found on the Miami Book Fair website.

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