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Miami drops five set grudge match to Clemson, 3-2.

Gates Fox
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Miami drops five set grudge match to Clemson, 3-2.

Following a gritty win against North Carolina State on Oct. 6, the Hurricanes traveled to South Carolina to face the Clemson Tigers (12-7,3-4 ACC) for another tight conference match. While Miami (11-6, 4-3 ACC) carried the momentum from their last game, beginning with a quick first-set victory over the Tigers, the game soon shifted away from Miami as they dropped the conference game over a close 5 set match.

The Hurricanes tied the game at 8 in the first set with a block from sophomore Flormarie Heredia-Colon and junior Ashley Carr. The ‘Canes began to run away with the set, maintaining a significant lead that secured them the first set win 25-15.

As the second set began, the two teams remained close until there was a shift favoring Clemson. The Tigers would go on a 6-0 run, making their lead even more significant at 22-13. However, Heredia-Colon answered for the Hurricanes, beginning a small ‘Canes comeback with back-to-back kills; yet it was too little too late for the second set as Clemson would go on to win 25-18.

Using Heredia-Colon’s momentum, Miami responded, winning a neck and neck third set. As the two teams went back-and-forth with four lead changes early on, the score reached a tie at 10 when freshmen Grace Lopez and Heredia-Colon, who both lead the team with 17 kills, went on to have 4 and 5 of those kills, respectively, showing the Hurricanes to a close 25-21 win.

The back-and-forth nature of the match continued in the fourth set as Miami began with an early lead as fifth-year setter Savannah Vach, who would finish the game with 50 assists, set her teammates up for success, assisting in 10 early kills, keeping the ‘Canes close to the Tigers. However, with the score tied at 14, the Tigers responded with a 9-4 run to win the set 25-19.

With a tied match heading into the 5th set, Clemson came out fast, holding on to an early lead, which the Hurricanes could not counter, ending with Miami dropping the set 15-10, giving the Tigers the 3-2 victory.

The Hurricanes will look to bounce back from this close loss as they head to Atlanta, GA, to face off for their next conference game, Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against Georgia Tech on Oct. 15.

“A complete nightmare:” A gas leak, mold and delayed repairs at the Cloisters

Lauren Ferrer
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“A complete nightmare:” A gas leak, mold and delayed repairs at the Cloisters

Two months since The Cloisters Miami was set to open, parents gathered outside their children’s incomplete units to voice complaints about the growing list of problems and inhospitable conditions on the property.

While some residents wait for repairs to be completed, others have moved into new apartments with hopes of breaking their lease.

Ongoing problems at the Cloisters including a gas leak and alleged mold sightings continue to fuel families’ and residents’ concerns about the habitability of the complex.

Delayed repairs

The residents of the four previously vacated units at the Cloisters were notified on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. to extend their Airbnb or hotel accommodations to Oct. 10 because of the ongoing repairs to the first-floor vacated units.

Two parents, who requested to remain anonymous, expressed frustration as they have consistently been emailed with little notice or time to plan for the inconveniences. This notification was sent the night prior to their scheduled move-in.

On that morning, Gianna Rettew, a Cloisters resident in one of the vacated units, correctly anticipated a delay and began searching for a new Airbnb. Rettew is currently paying for a second Airbnb out-of-pocket in addition to her rent, as she is yet to receive reimbursement from the Cloisters.

As of this moment the residents are yet to be made aware of the extent of the problems being addressed in their units. They were told that workers would be present to fix the pipework in the first-floor units, but are unsure if any other issues reported are being addressed.

Darby Steineger, another resident from a vacated unit, has opted to move into a new apartment complex, instead of extending her Airbnb stay. She stated that she does not expect to get reimbursed for the cost of her stay as she is not returning to her unit. Her family has hired a lawyer to write a lease termination letter, but expect the Cloisters to reject the request considering the circumstances.

After parents visited the site on Oct. 7, torn up floors and broken windows have made them question when the true completion date will be. One parent specified that a member of the construction staff said that the expected completion date was set for Oct. 18.

The gas leak

On the evening of Oct. 4, a gas leak in a unit in building one of the Cloisters drew law enforcement to the property and required gas to be shut off until further notice.

“The fire department knocked on my door around 10:30 p.m. I looked through the peephole and saw two men not suited up in firefighter uniforms and they kept knocking so I only opened the door slightly,” Amanda Mohamed, a sophomore studying broadcast journalism and media management, said.

“They then explained what happened and I saw that their shirts said Miami FD. But to have two strange men knock on your door late at night when there are approximately 389,894 other things wrong with my apartment is extremely scary.”

Out of caution, the Cloisters shut off the gas in Building one, alerting residents the following day that it will remain off for two to three business days. As of the evening of Oct. 9, the gas remains shut off. Residents have expressed frustration over having been unable to use their gas stove and oven, and some are hesitant to use other appliances.

Alleged mold

On the same day, an anonymous member in the Facebook group posted a photo of what looked like mold on their unit’s ceiling. The photo raised concern, causing parents to continue to question the habitability of the complex.

“I have not found any mold in our unit. I did have someone come out but won’t have those results until tomorrow,” Dina Russel, a resident’s parent, said. “I was taking precautions and wanted peace of mind with everything else going on in the complex, but everything else has been a complete nightmare.”

Jacqueline Salcines, a local attorney and UM School of Law alumnus, advised those with mold to write an 83.51 7-day letter to address the issue in writing.

Section 6a of the lease, the “mold disclosure,” signed by residents states that the Cloisters will not be held liable for mold damages.

“The landlord shall not be responsible for any injuries or damages to resident or any other person relating to mold caused, in whole or in part, by resident’s failure to clean and maintain his or her unit or the unit common areas as herein required, or to promptly notify landlord of conditions in need of repair or maintenance,” the lease reads.

Parents meet up to see units for themselves

During Family Weekend, parents of residents gathered at the Cloisters on Saturday morning to see the state of their children’s living facility for themselves.

The parents of the Facebook group, “The Cloisters Cluster,” gathered to speak to local media in hopes of bringing attention to the inconveniences and frustrating living conditions they have faced for the past few months.

“Every day it’s something else here and their excuses can only get them so far,” the parent of one resident said. “They shouldn’t be surprised and upset that families are taking legal action.”

The parents TMH spoke to requested to remain anonymous as most are pursuing or considering legal action.

Follow TMH’s ongoing coverage of the Cloisters here.

Jenny Jacoby contributed to the reporting of this article.

Sims: Takeaways from Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech

Luke Sims
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Sims: Takeaways from Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech

99.9%

That was Miami’s winning probability on ESPN with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. A dumbfounded crowd at Hard Rock Stadium saw what happened afterward in the plays that followed. Whether Donald Chaney Jr. fumbled or not, that was the call. Kamren Kinchens then bit on a double move by Georgia Tech wide receiver Christian Leary that allowed Leary to haul in his only reception of the game, which proved to be the game-winning touchdown.

Miami should have never even been in that position. Taking a knee and the game ends with Miami remaining unbeaten. This was a catastrophic ending to a game that played out on national television.

All that aside, there was still almost a full four-quarters of football played before that infamous sequence of events. Let’s jump into some takeaways from the other 58 minutes of the game.

Miami’s defense is not to blame; this one’s on the offense

The offense had been averaging 43.8 points per game through the first four games of the season. But against Georgia Tech, Miami was only able to record 20 points. 20 points to a team that let up 38 to a much weaker opponent in Bowling Green the week before.

Miami’s three turnovers in this game were the most it’s had this season in a single game.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King came into the night averaging nearly 300 yards through the air, but Miami held him to just 151 yards. King was not efficient either. He completed 12 of 25 passes, along with two interceptions.

The Yellow Jackets’ leading rusher and receiver were held to less than 50 yards on the night. Georgia Tech converted only five of its 13 third-down attempts. The ‘Canes defense only let up 250 yards of total offense. Miami’s defense allowed just 14 yards in the first quarter and shut out Georgia Tech in the first half.

While the blunders by the defense late in the game were detrimental, it should have never been in that position. The offense kept putting the defense in unfavorable situations, and eventually, the whole team paid the price.

Tyler Van Dyke came back down to Earth

Van Dyke quadrupled his interception total on the season with a trio of picks against Georgia Tech. All three of his turnovers came when Miami was knocking on the door or when Georgia Tech would have great field position. The Yellow Jackets were able to score ten points off of those turnovers.

Van Dyke had been one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, and while he put up an okay stat line, his turnovers kept halting Miami’s momentum. He’ll have to show out next week against one of the top NFL draft prospects in North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

Xavier Restrepo stayed hot

There were a few bright spots for the ‘Canes offensively. Van Dyke’s connection with Restrepo remains elite. Restrepo was able to haul in 12 passes and rack up 123 yards. This was his third time going over 100 yards this season.

The bye week is a problem, no matter who is at the helm

The games after a bye remain a massive problem for Miami. The ‘Canes are now 2-7 since 2017 in regular-season contests following a week off. The Hurricanes have a week-by-week mindset and for whatever reason, the bye week throws a wrench in their flow. Luckily for Cristobal and the ‘Canes, Miami does not have a bye week the rest of the year. Miami to reset and shift its focus to next week like it’s done all year.

Even after everything – the interceptions, the slow start on offense, and the three points in the first half – the ‘Canes were in a position to win the game. The game was over. All they had to do was kneel down and the game would’ve ended with a UM victory.

The ‘Canes will try and flush this embarrassing loss with a tough test next week in Chapel Hill against the 12th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Kick-off for that primetime matchup is set for 7:30 p.m.

UMPD should do their job so that we can do ours

Editorial Board
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UMPD should do their job so that we can do ours

The University of Miami Police Department’s mission is “to maximize the safety and security of the Coral Gables campus.” Recent events have led The Miami Hurricane’s editorial staff to ask how UMPD plans to do that without effectively and promptly responding to questions from the community it is sworn to protect.

Over the past nine months, UM’s Coral Gables campus saw a sudden increase in dead and injured cats. The possible crimes didn’t even become public knowledge until UPurr, a campus organization that aims to “care for and help the cat population in Miami-Dade,” posted on Instagram about its ongoing frustration with UMPD and the lack of communication regarding the issue.

Taylor Greenspan, UPurr’s treasurer, was repeatedly told that someone would follow up with her when she asked for updates on the investigation, but her calls were never returned. Hoping to get anyone’s attention, she went to the UMPD office in person. That attempt also went nowhere. She left her contact information, and still, no one followed up.

Our reporters requested a comment on potential leads in the investigation and threats to campus from UMPD on Tuesday, Sept. 26. They did not hear back until Monday, Oct. 2, nearly a full week later. This response came after our faculty advisor, Professor Antonio Mora, Dean Steven Priepke and Dean Ryan Holmes were included in the email thread.

Even then, UMPD said it had no information to share yet, despite opening the investigation in April, 2023. Their full statement can be online at themiamihurricane.com.

In contrast, when TMH reached out to Chief Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Hoague, who opened an investigation after UPurr reached out to the Office of the State Attorney animal cruelty unit, a response was provided the next day with details on the investigation’s prosecutorial process.

UPurr made requests to review campus security footage immediately after UPurr members or ABM employees, the janitorial service providers hired by UM, reported a cat injury or death to UPurr, dating back to Jan. 22, 2022. UMPD failed to respond to these requests until several weeks later. By the time they did, it was too late. Brooke Harrison, UPurr president, was told at an in-person meeting that UMPD’s security cameras automatically delete footage after 28 days, meaning all footage had been erased.

The lack of response to inquiries regarding the cat injuries and deaths constitutes only the latest instance where UMPD has been unclear and cryptic in its response to community dissatisfaction and TMH’s efforts to report on events.

This semester, students have faced problems with police response to repeated hit-and-runs that have damaged cars on campus, and have been frustrated by the lack of security footage in parking lots. These sentiments echo student frustrations that we originally reported on in 2015.

Last semester, one of our reporters covered a car accident outside of the University Village that hospitalized two pedestrians and involved a UM football player. TMH tried to speak to UMPD officers on the scene but were shut down and directed to UM Communications. When TMH called UMPD and the Coral Gables Police Department the next day, we were sent back and forth between the two police departments as we unsuccessfully tried to verify details about the accident.

TMH and UMPD have traditionally collaborated effectively. In 2015 we wrote about the fall in crime rates due to improved security measures and UMPD’s communication and outreach efforts. Through open communication with UMPD, we published articles addressing the pressing problems related to crime, campus safety and UMPD policy. These details reassured the community about their safety.

This is not to say that TMH has shied away from criticizing the actions of UMPD in the past. Even with that level of collaboration, we used our platform to critique the department when appropriate.

Unfortunately, we now seem to be facing a new reality of silence. TMH finds it next to impossible to get any response from our police department, let alone specific answers to the questions we deem important for our community.

More broadly, TMH believes the UM community deserves more transparency and communication from authorities throughout the University.

We’ve shared this concern before when covering the silence that surrounded the SigEp drugging allegations, and we’re tired of seeing little change and concern from anyone. When UM authorities remain silent or dodge our questions, it allows for gossip and rumors to take the place of clear and valuable information.

We ask that UMPD expeditiously and seriously value every case of alleged crimes or misbehavior on UM’s property and any threat to the UM community. Our aim is not to bash the police department. It is simply a plea for more communication and transparency so that UMPD does its job in a way that allows us to do ours.

Editorials represent the majority view of The Miami Hurricane editorial board. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff or entire editorial board. We encourage questions, concerns and responses to be sent to letters@themiamihurricane.com.

Whatever Happened to Respect Your Elders?

V'S Take
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Ah, parents weekend. A time-honored tradition at Universities around the country where parents catch a glimpse of life at the school they pay for while students supposedly clean up their acts for three short days. While this may be true elsewhere it’s not UM without your out of the ordinary parents’ weekend. It’s no secret that our tailgates already look a little different (thank you 45-minute bus ride) but add in your young-at-heart moms, dads and younger siblings and you get a weekend like no other.

While making my weekly journey from frat to frat I saw a few too many friends engaged in activities no one wants to see, much less the people who gave birth to you. There is a big difference between sipping on a room-temperature Kirkland seltzer with your mom versus swapping spit with your sneaky link in the frat pool while your father watches on. I’m sorry but where is the decorum? I don’t care how chill your parents are or if they bought you condoms in high school and let your boyfriend sleep over, you can hold off on making poor decisions with a frat boy for one weekend.

I know what you’re gonna say. Were the parents not getting it on too? The answer is yes. I’m sure we all saw the videos of former frat boy fathers shotgunning on elevated surfaces or hot moms throwing it back on the dance floor. But while these actions may seem out of line for your average 50-something working professional, for most of them this is their weekend to let loose. Personally, I feel that covering their child’s 80k tuition a year plus sky-high bikini shopping sprees and Uber rides home from the club allows them the ability to go a little crazy on campus.

Nonetheless, trust me when I say your parents have no interest in meeting their little girl’s roster to the soundtrack of sicko mode and dry ice cannons. Talk about poor timing for ‘Canes to forget the all-important sneaky aspect of a sneaky link.

After this weekend truly only one question remains: what ever happened to respecting your elders?

TMH staff score predictions: North Carolina

Zachary Macer
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TMH staff score predictions: North Carolina

Coming off a disappointing last-second loss last weekend to Georgia Tech, Miami has an opportunity to notch its first conference win of the season against undefeated North Carolina.

Here’s what four members of The Miami Hurricane’s sports section are predicting for Saturday’s ACC battle.

Zach Macer

Inexcusable. That’s what Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech was on Saturday.

However, what the loss brings is a turning point. Either the ‘Canes can use last week as motivation to the point where every player on the field is the best version of themselves, or the loss brings a lack of confidence that will be apparent against the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels next weekend.

Even at its best, Miami will experience a tough match against this North Carolina team – especially with its offense.

It is no secret that UNC quarterback Drake Maye is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and will indeed be heading to the NFL in the next draft. But what is a secret are the weapons that surround Maye.

In the running game, running back Omarion Hampton averages 5.2 yards per rush, and running back British Brooks averages 4.1 yards per rush. These two allow the play-action pass to be a real threat for the Tar Heels.

The pass-catchers that surround Maye constantly threaten to make a big play. Five UNC pass catchers have posted plays of 40-plus yards, and receiver Gavin Blackwell is just short with a 38-yard play.

With Miami allowing 250 yards through the air against Georgia Tech, the UNC offense will have easy success on offense, especially at home.

Prediction: North Carolina 42, Miami 24

Chris Damond

Though less intriguing after Miami’s last-second collapse against Georgia Tech, this game still features two top-10 offenses. Maye is a legitimate Heisman candidate, and he’s one week removed from his best game of the season — 442 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 40-7 win over Syracuse.

But while the Tar Heels are rolling, Miami is reeling after Van Dyke threw three interceptions on Saturday in his worst game this year. It doesn’t help that the ‘Canes are on the road. Miami has played an away game this season — a 41-7 beatdown of Temple — but that was hardly a hostile environment.

How the Hurricanes deal with crowd noise and, more importantly, how they respond to last week’s blunder is what I’ll be watching on Saturday. If the ‘Canes come out with a vengeance and stun North Carolina at home, last week’s loss will be (somewhat) forgotten. If Miami lays an egg in Chapel Hill, Cristobal’s ill-advised decision to run the ball instead of take a knee against the Yellow Jackets will likely become the story of another disappointing season.

Unfortunately for the ‘Canes, I’m going with the latter.

Prediction: North Carolina 34, Miami 20

Elliot Farr

Saturday’s game vs. Georgia Tech was an extremely rough loss for a Hurricanes squad that was showing great promise as a rising ACC contender. Such a defeat, especially in the opener of conference play, is a massive blow to both Miami’s rankings and playoff chances, and it will need to respond with an inspired performance against North Carolina to prove itself and restore its confidence.

The Tar Heels currently sit at No. 12 in the AP Top 25 rankings, and they are no pushover with Maye under center, widely seen as a frontrunner for this year’s Heisman Trophy. The Hurricanes’ offensive struggles and game management were the main sticking points that cost them a five-game win streak to start the year, which will need to change quickly in order to keep pace with Maye and the Tar Heels’ offense. Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson will need major adjustments to compete with UNC after a lackluster showing against Georgia Tech, uncharacteristic of their season so far.

With that being said, I believe that the Tar Heels will ultimately come away with the win on home turf on Saturday. Miami’s outing against Georgia Tech raised serious concerns over the team’s capability in conference play, and North Carolina is a massively tough step up after Georgia Tech.

Prediction: North Carolina 34, Miami 27

Carter Lutz

I don’t see how Cristobal gets his team up enough for a game of this magnitude. After last week’s meltdown against the Yellow Jackets, Miami is in a really tough spot going into Chapel Hill for a primetime showdown. This is UNC’s first real test, and it will bring the pressure at home. I don’t particularly believe in UNC’s defense, but Maye is one of the best passers in all of college football, and the Tar Heels’ offense will control the pace of the game.

Regarding the ‘Canes, Miami has proven the ability to run effectively on most teams but could struggle against UNC’s defense as stopping the run is the strong suit of its unit.

Overall, this should be a somewhat high-scoring, entertaining affair. I think the ‘Canes keep it close at halftime, but ultimately, the Tar Heels pull away in the second half, capturing a 37-24 victory.

Prediction: North Carolina 37, Miami 24

Caleb Shapiro

There’s no doubt that Miami became the clear-cut underdog in this game after getting upset versus Georgia Tech. The outcome of this game lies more on the Hurricanes’ offense than UNC’s defense. The Tar Heels are coming off a 38-7 route of Syracuse, holding their opponent to a season-low in points and building on their momentum. Van Dyke committed three interceptions this past contest, a season-high.

Ultimately, this game comes down to coaching and, offensively, the run game, which has periodically catalyzed this offense. The Tar Heels rank 35th nationally in opponent yards per game, allowing 118 each duel. Score-wise, I think this match will fare similarly to last year’s game.

Prediction: North Carolina 29, Miami 21

Miami looks to bounce back on the road against North Carolina

Quinn Sheehan
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Miami looks to bounce back on the road against North Carolina

On Saturday night, Miami suffered one of its most crushing defeats in school history, as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets upset the ‘Canes, 23-20, at Hard Rock Stadium.

With 33 seconds remaining and the ball, Miami simply had to take a knee and escape with a hard-fought victory, but the Hurricanes ran the ball, which resulted in a fumble by running back Donald Chaney Jr., followed by a 44-yard game-winning touchdown for the Yellow Jackets. As a result of the loss, Miami (4-1, 0-1 ACC) dropped from No. 17 to 25 in the AP Poll this week.

Such a deflating loss would be a difficult task for any team to bounce back from, but to make it even harder for Miami, it will have to travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to square off with the No. 12 University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels (5-0, 2-0 ACC).

The Heels boast a deadly offense, with the engine behind it being their Heisman candidate quarterback, Drake Maye.

UNC’s offense is second in the ACC in total yards per game, only behind Miami, and although Maye’s counting stats do not look as impressive as last year, he has been making all the plays needed of him and more to lead the Tar Heels to their undefeated record so far this season.

According to UM senior defensive tackle Branson Deen, Miami needs to make Maye uncomfortable in the pocket to slow him down.

“We got to do the same thing we did a few weeks ago,” said Deen. “Hit him, make him uncomfortable, move him around and if he makes some plays, we can’t think about it we have to go to the next one.”

In a battle between two of the best offenses in the country, Miami’s unit will need to rebound from its performance against the Yellow Jackets and look more like it did through its first four games. After averaging 43.75 points per game through the first month, the Hurricanes only mustered 20 points against Georgia Tech.

The ‘Canes also had trouble holding onto the ball, as quarterback Tyler Van Dyke threw three interceptions. Van Dyke and the Hurricanes’ offense had been excellent at limiting turnovers through the first four games, so they will look to get back to that style of play against UNC.

Miami’s offense and defense will need to bounce back to help the ‘Canes grab a crucial conference victory on the road. The importance of this game cannot be understated for Miami, as it may decide who will play in the ACC Conference Championship Game in December.

After the devastating loss at home to Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes need a statement win to cement themselves as contenders in the ACC among the likes of North Carolina and Florida State.

Head coach Mario Cristobal believes in Miami’s resiliency and ability to rebound from a tough loss.

“Go and fix all the things that we can do better, realize the opportunity in front of us,” Cristobal said. “The guys are very eager to get back to work and prepare for this weekend’s opportunity.”

Kickoff for Saturday’s matchup against the Tar Heels is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will air on ABC.

United Nations answers Haiti’s call, launches mission to combat gang violence

Rachel Petrovich
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United Nations answers Haiti’s call, launches mission to combat gang violence

The United Nations Security Council started off the first week of October with a successful vote to deploy military forces, led by Kenya, on a mission to counter violent gang activity in Haiti.

The mission is a response to the countless calls for international support from the Haitian government as the terrorizing nature of the gangs has made it difficult for the Haitian National Police (HNP) to maintain peace.

The mission, Resolution 2699 (2023), was adopted on Monday, Oct. 2. Thirteen nations voted in favor, while China and the Russian Federation abstained.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti made his final plea for military aid in late September, reiterating the intensity of the humanitarian crisis.

“In the name of the women and girls raped every day, the thousands of families driven from their homes, the children and young people of Haiti, who have been denied the right to education and instruction, in the name of all a people who are victims of the barbarity of gangs, I urge the international community to act quickly,” Henry said in an address to the UN General Assembly’s 78th session.

Foreign Prime Minister of Kenya, Alfred Mutua, is promising to deploy 1,000 police officers to aid in the stabilization of peace in Haiti, along with training and equipping the HNP with better peacekeeping strategies.

The mission is set to take place over a 12-month period, with a review after nine months by the Security Council. It will be supported by voluntary funds, with the United States pledging $100 million to the Kenyan-led force.

Gang violence in the Caribbean country has displaced upwards of 200,000 residents, and has been responsible for the death of 3,000 and the kidnappings of 1,500 Haitians this year alone.

“Seeing it, it’s really sad. I’ve never been to Haiti, so that’s always been a goal of mine. Hopefully at some point I’ll be able to go, I really want to see where my parents grew up and everything,” said Brandon Mirvil, senior music composition major and member of the Haitian community at UM.

Though most attacks are at random, a significant portion of those targeted are women and children, who are raped and tortured as they are held for ransom.

The number of Haitians that fall victim to gang violence continues to grow without international intervention.

“Whether or not this resolution will solve the current security problems plaguing Haiti remains to be seen, especially given that the outside police forces are not expected to arrive on the ground until early 2024,” said professor of international studies John Twichell. “However, it must be considered a step in a more favorable direction for the peoples of Haiti in normative terms.”

The reasoning behind the vigilante movement is a fight for control of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

Gangs currently control an estimated 80% of the capital, with the primary gangs being G-PEP and G-9. There is constant conflict between the two groups in a fight for power in Port-au-Prince, with residents held hostage in their homes as ceaseless shootouts fill the streets.

With the country’s economic instability, inadequate healthcare system and food insecurity that is one of the highest levels in the world, Haitians are perpetually unsupported by their government, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to gang violence.

“In the case of Haiti, we see an incapable government under immense pressure to hold a presidential election to restore some semblance of national political legitimacy, yet violent gangs and other organized criminals impede this process because democracy would be contrary to their own criminal interests.” Twichell said.

Gangs have a long-standing presence in the Caribbean country, with the earliest inklings of organized crime groups emerging during the reign of populist dictator François “Papa Doc” Duvalier in the 1960’s.

The latest uptick in gang violence in Haiti is correlated with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Today, there are no elected government officials left in the nation.

“If the UN doesn’t do anything, it’ll just stay the same – more murders, more kidnappings – we really need to take this out of Haiti, so I’m really glad that at least something is being implemented.” Mirvil said.

Kenya stepped up to lead the mission’s multinational forces in July 2023, when UN discussion on the matter was still in its introductory stages despite the Haitian Prime Minister making his first plea in October 2022.

Although the resolution maintains multinational support as well as backing by the Haitian government, critics in both Kenya and Haiti have expressed concern over the mission.

In Haiti, a past history of sexual abuse and contribution to a deadly cholera breakout following a 2004 UN peacekeeping mission leaves some Haitians skeptical of the foreign aid.

In Kenya, some opposition lawmakers argue that it is a violation of the Kenyan Constitution to bypass parliament approval of the mission before sending officers.

However, local Haitians have reflected a cautiously-hopeful sentiment following announcement of the mission, expressing how international support is their only option.

“From an outside point of view it’s really sad, but I know we will make a change. It’ll get better,” Mirvil said.

Cindy Munro, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, steps down

Isabella Martinez
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Cindy Munro, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, steps down

After six years as the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, Cindy Munro has decided to step down.

During her time in the role, Dean Munro has spent her years at the University focusing on funding for medical research as well as boosting the ranking of the school. To her, the school is meant to be a place for both academic excellence and community, and she often calls the nursing school a home for both students and staff.

Cynthia Foronda, professor and Assistant Dean for Innovation, Clinical Research and Scholarship for the School of Nursing and Health Studies, has formed a close mentorship with Dean Munro.

“Dean Munro has positively impacted my career in many ways,” said Foronda. “Her support played a critical part in my ability to receive the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Faculty Scholar Award.”

The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Award was created to foster the career of educators in medicine and nursing. Scholars receive financial support to execute a project in their institution, which Foronda credits Munro in helping her secure.

“She offered her time as a mentor and she assured that I was fully prepared to succeed in the high-stakes interview that was part of the process. Even now, long after the project has been completed, she offers her time to continue this mentorship,” Foronda said.

Reflecting on her time with Munro, Foronda states how this mentorship has allowed her to flourish as a professional, leading her to chase after opportunities that she otherwise would have been hesitant to go after.

“Dean Munro has demonstrated a consistent focus on mission-centered leadership. She firmly believes in the system of faculty governance and has involved faculty to help develop, shape and carry out the mission of the School. With the mantra of Novel, Optimistic and World-Changing (NOW) she has personally expressed how her decisions and actions center around trying to make the world a better place,” said Foronda.

Munro’s impact goes further than her relationship with her staff. She leaves behind a flourishing School of Nursing and Health Studies, and many of her colleagues accredit this to her hard work and leadership.

Willy Prado, interim executive vice president for academic affairs and provost professor of nursing and health studies, was the chair of the search committee that assisted in hiring her. After years of working together Prado describes Dean Munro as thoughtful, humble and a leader.

“Dean Munro has been a great member of the leadership team at UM. She has worked to elevate both the School of Nursing and Health Studies and the University, she has worked diligently on elevating the research portfolio of the school. The SONHS should be among the top 20 nursing schools in NIH funding,” Prado said.

With a long list of accomplishments trailing after her name, Munro has left a positive impact on her colleagues and her students. She is seen as a brilliant researcher and a hard worker, as she continues to inspire other women in her field.

“Dean Munro will leave behind the legacy of mission-driven leadership. She formulated goals and would assure communication of these goals with faculty, so that together, we could achieve them,” said Foronda. “During her tenure, she was able to recruit and hire faculty to increase the amount of research dollars brought in through competitive federal funding. At this point in time, the school is flourishing in research and scholarship like never before.”

Dean Munro plans to take a year of sabbatical after stepping down from her role in May of 2024, at the end of the academic year. With her future retirement in view, this next phase of her life is to focus on her and her family after all she has given to the field of nursing and UM, according to Prado.

Abriendo el sector privado en Cuba: Un sueño o una realidad?

Caroline Val
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Abriendo el sector privado en Cuba: Un sueño o una realidad?

Con las dificultades económicas que han afectado a Cuba durante mucho tiempo, hasta la dramática disminución en el desarrollo económico provocada por la pandemia global, el gobierno cubano lucha por la necesidad de revitalizar su economía. Otra vez, ha surgido una visión audaz que busca desbloquear el potencial del sector privado en la isla.

Un aspecto clave de la transformación económica de Cuba es la creciente prominencia de las pymes, un acrónimo que significa “empresas pequeñas o medianas.” Estos tipos de negocios, propiedad de cubanos, han surgido como una fuerza vital en la nueva economía que se está desarrollando en Cuba.

“Las pymes han llenado, en cierto sentido, la necesidad productiva en la economía de Cuba”, dijo John Twichell, director de estudios Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami. “La creciente influencia de las pymes en Cuba coincide con los esfuerzos intermitentes del país para alejarse de una economía dominada por el estado hacia una economía más orientada al mercado, ocurriendo gradualmente desde el final de la Guerra Fría.”

Según Twichell, empresas estatales tomaron control casi absoluto del mercado cubano después de la revolución de 1959, y ahora están subsidiadas por el Partido Comunista de China (CCP). Sin embargo, la implementación de una resolución legal en 2010 por el presidente anterior Raúl Castro, ha habido un alejamiento lento pero claro del modelo económico comunista en la isla.

Según Michael Bustamante, director de estudios cubanos en la Universidad de Miami, el fracaso de los esfuerzos para compensar las deficiencias económicas en la isla han sido especialmente prominentes en los últimos años, como lo demuestran algunas de las olas de migración más grandes desde la Revolución Cubana.

“Hemos visto números de migración absolutamente históricos en el último año y medio, 350,000 desde finales de 2021 hasta principios de 2022, y personas del departamento de estado me dicen que los números podrían llegar a 500,000 en total,” dijo Bustamante.

“Esta es una migración absolutamente histórica que nunca habíamos visto. Pero si estamos hablando de la migración abordando las políticas fundamentales, cómo podemos ignorar que la economía es parte de la causa fundamental de que los cubanos se vayan?”

Aunque los líderes de Cuba y los empresarios incipientes han empezado a trabajar con diplomáticos y líderes empresariales internacionales, como se vio en el reciente viaje del Presidente Miguel Díaz-Canel a las Naciones Unidas (ONU) y en un panel celebrado con empresarios cubanoamericanos el pasado viernes en Miami, existe escepticismo sobre las motivaciones del gobierno cubano debido a sus alianzas con Rusia y China.

En adición a estas conversaciones ha habido numerosas disensiones públicas en las interacciones del líder cubano con los Estados Unidos, como se vio con las protestas frente a la sede de la ONU en Nueva York durante la visita de Díaz-Canel y el ataque terrorista a la embajada cubana en Washington D.C. poco después de que el líder abandonara suelo americano.

“Hay quienes piensan que nosotros, como estadounidenses, no deberíamos viajar [a Cuba], no deberíamos enviar dinero, que deberíamos cortar todo contacto con ellos”, dijo Bustamante. “Mi respuesta a eso sería que hemos tenido cinco o seis décadas con ese tipo de política en vigor bajo varias administraciones, y no creo que haya resultados.”

Un punto importante de controversia en el camino de Cuba para expandir su sector privado es el debate sobre permitir que los empresarios cubanos abran cuentas bancarias en los Estados Unidos. Según el Miami Herald, la administración Biden ha avanzado en permitir que los cubanos “establezcan y accedan de forma remota a cuentas bancarias estadounidenses para realizar transacciones autorizadas.”

Históricamente, bajo el embargo, se permitía a los cubanos abrir cuentas en los Estados Unidos, pero no se les permitía acceder a esas cuentas una vez que regresaban a la isla.

“Una de las formas en que el sector privado en Cuba ha podido crecer es que algunos de estos empresarios ya tienen una cuenta bancaria fuera del país, ya sea en Estados Unidos, España o México,” dijo Bustamante. “Lo que no tengo claro es qué sistema tendrán los bancos para saber quién es la persona que intenta acceder a esta cuenta desde Cuba y desde una dirección IP determinada. Cómo saben si es un empresario o no?”

Según Bustamante y Twichell, reformar y abrir los caminos por los cuales los empresarios cubanos puedan trabajar con bancos internacionales, especialmente en los Estados Unidos, es la clave para cambiar la conversación de un teatro político a una meta realista.

“La cooperación informal entre empresarios de los Estados Unidos y Cuba ya está ocurriendo, en forma de intercambio de información y asesoramiento,” dijo Twichell. “Sin embargo, la cooperación formal tendrá que esperar a que se eliminen los obstáculos relacionados con el embargo, junto con una mayor apertura y capitalización de la economía cubana.”

A medida que las discusiones persisten sobre si este sueño de libertad empresarial se convertirá en una realidad en la isla, está cada vez más claro que se necesitarán reformas con el embargo americano para comenzar a ayudar a Cuba en este esfuerzo.

En relación con los Estados Unidos, Bustamante también señala que reformar estos caminos económicos y ayudar al crecimiento de un sector privado saludable en Cuba puede eliminar otros problemas polémicos en este país, como la inmigración y el control fronterizo.

“Creo que se puede argumentar que, de hecho, es la ausencia de presencia e involucramiento estadounidense en Cuba lo que deja al gobierno cubano con pocas opciones,” dijo Bustamante.

“El punto más importante aquí es que, si nos preocupa tanto que la frontera esté fuera de control y que los Estados Unidos realmente quiera abordar las causas fundamentales de la migración en países como Cuba, ¿cómo se justifica una política de sanciones que pone el pie en el cuello de la economía de ese país?”

New trolley line connects UM with Downtown Coral Gables

Lauren Whitesell
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New trolley line connects UM with Downtown Coral Gables

Want to explore the city but can’t stand driving in Miami traffic? The City of Coral Gables has the answer — the Downtown Express. The newest Coral Gables trolley route runs to and from destinations near the University of Miami to Downtown Coral Gables.

The Downtown Express ran for the first time on Oct. 1. This free route runs on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and includes northbound and southbound routes that run roughly every 20 minutes.

The northbound route begins at Kerdyk Park and continues to The Standard, Red Road Commons, the University Metrorail stop and Life Time before arriving at the Downtown Coral Gables locations of Miracle Mile and Giralda. The southbound route makes all of these stops, except for The Standard stop, in reverse order.

UM sits on the border of Coral Gables, making it convenient for many students and other southern Coral Gables residents to visit locations outside the city rather than going downtown, which the Downtown Express attempts to mitigate.

“You tend to go to places like South Miami or the Grove just because it’s closer, so we wanted to provide a convienent transportation to Downtown Coral Gables where you don’t have to worry about parking, driving or sitting in traffic,” Solanch Lopez, the Marketing Manager of the City of Coral Gables Economic Development, said.

According to Lopez, the Economic Development Department found that 78% of Coral Gables customers were not residents, with most of the credit card data history being tracked back to residents of the greater Miami area.

“We’re missing a big chunk of our own residents that we want to be able to enjoy the dining, shopping and activties that our downtown has to offer,” Lopez said.

Transportation is responsible for 46% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Coral Gables, which was another reason the Downtown Express was implemented.

“We wanted to provide more alternative transportation options to our residents, visitors and students and get them around the city more efficiently,” said Matthew Anderson, Assistant Director of Mobility & Sustainability of the City of Coral Gables Parking & Mobility Services Department.

The City of Coral Gables runs two other trolley routes from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, utilizing seven trolleys during the week, but only had five trolleys running on Saturday, which made the implementation of the Downtown Express possible.

“We had more resources to be able to add and also support the goal of our Economic Development office and bringing people downtown, and we thought the afternoon into evening time on Saturday would be the best time to bring in more people from the southern part of the city,” Anderson said.

In its first weekend, the Downtown Express saw great success with 70 passengers and a positive reception from the community.

“Some of our elected officials have already received emails complimenting the route,” Anderson said.

There was a launch party for the route on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. with the Coral Gables Economic Development and Operation teams as well as Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, commissioner Ariel Fernandez, UM Sustainability Manager Teddy L’Houtellier and UM Student Government President Niles Niseem.

“This new trolley route is being created for a younger audience so that there’s engagement in Downtown Coral Gables and so that people can go and enjoy what the city has to offer,” said Niseem, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and electronic media. “It’s a great opporunity for students to get plugged in with the city and all it has to offer.”

As an incentive for people to ride Downtown Express, Lopez is working with Coral Gables businesses to offer promotions only available to Downtown Express riders.

“We’re going to have the information on the trolley itself, so you have to be riding the trolley to unlock and access those promotions,” Lopez said.

Current promotions include discounts on products at Stem Boutique and Häagen-Dazs, both located on Miracle Mile, with discounts at more stores being confirmed.

The Downtown Express, along with all Coral Gables Trolleys, can be tracked on the ETA SPOT website and app.

“We have a lot of technology in place so people are able to plan their trip effectively and not be waiting at a stop for any extended period of time,” Anderson said.

Free WiFi is also available on the trolley.

Visit the Coral Gables Website for more information on the Downtown Express.

Miami’s swimmers post historic times at SMU Classic

Shea Mcdonald
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Miami’s swimmers post historic times at SMU Classic

Following last week’s dominant home opener against Florida International University (FIU), the University of Miami had a great weekend in Texas for the SMU Classic. Several of the eight swimmers in attendance for the Canes had great performances and impressive times. This included four NCAA “B” cut times and five individual marks that cracked the program’s top-10 leaderboard.

“The weekend was very productive,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “A lot of good things to come out of this meet. Everyone had some really good moments, and everyone had some moments of challenge and moments where we can identify some things to improve on moving forward, which is also great.”

Talia Bates posted two NCAA “B” Cut times in the 100-yard freestyle, where she notched the third-best time in program history. She also completed the 200-yard freestyle in 49.11 seconds, good for the second-best time in school history.

Bates also managed to record Miami’s seventh-best time in the 50′-yard freestyle. Spending her final year in Miami after transferring from Florida and a great career there, Bates has continued to impress as a member of the ‘Canes.

Alongside Bates, junior Giulia Carvalho and senior Emma Shuppert recorded “B”-cut times. Carvalho’s came in the 100-yard butterfly, and Shuppert’s came in the 100-yard backstroke and ranked as the third-best time in school history.

Some other notable performances included junior Mary Kate Kelly’s 200-yard backstroke, which ranked eighth in the program’s history, as well as the 800-yard freestyle team’s 7:14:20 performance.

“I think we took a major step forward being able to do that work at the beginning of the week and follow it up with a meet like we had … our team was feeling some of the work we’ve been putting in in the weight room, and to go as fast as they did was great,” Kershaw said. “We should be very confident about what’s to come.”

UM will attempt to carry this momentum to Illinois in a couple of weeks, where they will race against Northwestern and Southern Illinois on Oct. 21.

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