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The NCAA is grossly unprepared for the New Era of College Football

Omar Pinto
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The NCAA is grossly unprepared for the New Era of College Football

The NCAA’s interim NIL policy took effect on July 1, 2021, starting the process of turning college football from an amateur sport into something resembling a professional league.

Fans never thought they would see the day that football players tried to leave the NFL for a college roster, but, strangely enough, that’s what’s happening.

Hundreds of former collegiate athletes flocked to the court system in search of temporary restraining orders that grant them an extra year of eligibility — including former Hurricanes like Wesley Bissainthe and Alex Bauman.

Arguably, the face of the recent chaos has been former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright.

Wright dressed for a preseason game with the Browns on Aug. 22, was cut on Aug. 23, and then committed to and enrolled at LSU on Aug. 24. 

In doing so, he became the first player to ever return to college after being on an NFL roster.

Now, Wright can still play football at a high level and could make more through NIL than he would as an NFL rookie.

So, how did the sport get to the point where going back to college can be more financially attractive than playing professional football?

After years of receiving indirect endorsements, on July 1, 2025, following the House v. NCAA antitrust settlement, Division I schools were allowed to provide direct financial benefits to athletes through a new revenue-sharing system, turning student-athlete life into more of a full-time job.

Now, the best college players are getting paid well north of $5 million, while the NFL rookie minimum is $885,000.

David Lebowitz, Photo Editor // Redshirt Junior Quarterback Darian Mensah leaps into the air as he comes onto the field versus Stanford on Sept. 4, 2026 at Stanford Stadium

The transfer portal has become a free agency.

College players rotate from school to school every year based on money, coaching and team fit, factors that used to be the main influence for only pro players. The Hurricanes have arguably embraced this situation better than anyone else, reaching into the transfer portal to pluck their last three quarterbacks, with an estimated roster cost north of $40 million. 

Not only can players quickly switch schools, but they can now move from professional football back to college.

College athletes deserve to be paid for their play, but so far the NCAA has handled the situation poorly.

The NCAA’s new five-year eligibility plan has already led to lawsuits, and courts have temporarily allowed certain players from the 2022 recruiting class to regain eligibility. 

In opposition to the courts, the SEC and Big Ten have sought to prevent players who have signed professional contracts or declared for the professional draft from returning to college. Judicial courts have pushed back against those restrictions.

If college football conferences can’t control who plays, then who’s in charge?

Thanks to NIL and the changing economics of college football, fans have also seen the death of the Power Five, with more conference realignment seemingly inevitable. The talent pool is becoming increasingly lopsided, leaving many fans worried about the future of a sport once built on school pride and passion.

However, NIL isn’t all bad; it has also allowed these players to capitalize on their value and take more control over their careers.

NIL hasn’t ruined college football; it has simply revealed that college football is operating like a professional business without professional rules.

A few years ago, the path was simple: play college football, get drafted and become a professional. Now, we’ve seen players bounce around from school to school, in some cases for nine years, go from college to the NFL, only to then potentially decide that college is the better financial option and return to it.

The old definition of college football no longer exists. If the NCAA doesn’t get a handle on the sport it governs, football fans could see it spiral further out of control.

Photo Credit: David Lebowitz, Photo Editor // Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe celebrates a pass breakup from cornerback Xavier Lucas in the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss on Jan. 8, 2026

More than just light: The crucial role of UM’s Blue Light Phones

Vivien Hudec
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More than just light: The crucial role of UM’s Blue Light Phones

Scattered across campus, those tall, glowing blue poles do far more than light up the night. The Blue Light Emergency Phones serve as an immediate lifeline to campus police at the press of a button.

Blue Light Phones have been on college campuses across the country since the 1990s. They are designed to ensure student safety by providing access to the local police department and emergency services. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Special Report on campus law enforcement, 100% of private universities have implemented them.

And, although you may not have needed to use one, the Blue Light phones have a real impact on keeping students safe. 

Last year, sophomore Joseph Sollitto was walking back to his dorm in Mahoney Residential Hall after visiting his friend’s apartment. While walking back from the metro, he noticed a tall figure keeping a rigid, uncomfortable distance behind him. 

As Sollitto sped up, the footsteps behind him matched his pace, turning what felt like a paranoid hunch into an unmistakable threat. 

“My heart was absolutely pounding because every time I changed direction, he kept following me,” said Sollitto.

Spotting the familiar glow of a Blue Light phone near the metro, Sollitto said he made a decisive turn, hit the emergency button, and stood under the illuminated fixture. His follower fled as soon as the blue light began flashing and the dispatcher’s voice broadcasted across the speaker. 

“The dispatcher stayed on the line with me the entire time, making me feel safe,” he said.

The phones can be identified by their tall blue poles or wall-mounted boxes with glowing blue lights on top. All a student has to do is press the red emergency button, and they will be connected with the University of Miami Police Department in a matter of seconds.

According to Lorena Urgelles, a crime prevention specialist, students should use a Blue Light phone in situations like their phone dying, if they are lost, or if they need a safety escort. 

The Blue Light phones not only connect students with a police officer but also capture the student’s exact location, so that help can arrive as soon as possible. The location-tracking feature is especially helpful in an emergency where a student is unable to speak. 

However, if a student is in immediate danger and cannot stop to talk, Urgelles advises calling 911 so they can run with their phone.

You can find the locations of the Blue Light phones on campus here.

Researchers look for solution to sargassum piling up on Miami Beach

Joe Lizzi
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Researchers look for solution to sargassum piling up on Miami Beach

Beaches across Miami-Dade are seeing piles of seaweed stack up faster and thicker than usual, and scientists at the University of South Florida say this season is one of the worst on record.

Sargassum is a brown seaweed covered in small, berry-like air bladders that float in large mats across the open ocean. In moderate amounts, it plays a useful role by providing fish and other marine life with places to feed and hide. 

The increase in sargassum mats has been building for more than a decade, but this year’s was especially severe.

Researchers at the University of South Florida traced the influx of the seaweed back to 2010 and 2011, when sargassum was pushed out of its usual home in the Sargasso Sea and into tropical waters. It then found what it needed to thrive: warm water, high nutrients and year-round sunlight.

The problem isn’t that sargassum exists, but how much of it is now piling up on shore. 

“There was a big line right in front of the beach and it stinks,” said freshman Edward Reed. “It discouraged me from going in the water”

Reed is not the only one who was affected by this trend. Global News reported that the smell and unsightly buildup are a real problem for a city that depends on its beaches. Large-scale sargassum events are known to damage coastal tourism and air quality along the shore.

Rose Flannery, a UM architecture student researching the water systems tied to sargassum growth, put the damage in blunt terms.

“It reduces the amount of light coming into the ocean… plants and marine life aren’t getting light,” Flannery said. “It’s also consuming a lot of the oxygen going into the water, so it actually drowns the fish.”

Rather than clearing it; Flannery’s team focuses on the water systems that feed sargassum growth in the first place — namely stormwater runoff. Farm and urban pollution, carried by cars, pesticides and rainwater, builds up nitrogen and phosphorus in local waterways that eventually reach the ocean and becomes one of the nutrient sources feeding the algae’s expansion. 

Her team is working on a solution: permeable concrete designed to let stormwater filter through rather than run straight into storm drains and out to sea. Her team is exploring how to take collected sargassum, heat it and mix it into the concrete itself.

Flannery and the team have been doing their research in the Advanced Materials Research Lab. With the help of the University and Dr. Ali Ghahremaninezhad the research won the VISTA award, a competitive 25,000 dollar grant created by the VoLo Foundation that honors graduate student research.

“We are hoping to use that problem as a solution,” Flannery said.

So now the question isn’t whether sargassum will keep showing up — it’s whether solutions like Flannery’s can scale up fast enough to meet it.

The wait to work out: UM’s struggles to accommodate growing population

Gaby Collazo
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The wait to work out: UM’s struggles to accommodate growing population

Fitness is a major part of life in Miami, ranked the second-most wellness-obsessed city in the U.S. That culture is especially visible at the University of Miami, where working out is a priority for students. 

Within the Herbert Wellness Center, the growing number of gym users — with access now including faculty and the general public since 1996 — has led to overcrowding, making exercise difficult. 

With new freshmen and faculty members on campus alongside returning students and regular gym-goers, the 18,000-square-foot facility has been packed. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, the Herbert Wellness Center has consistently seen high attendance throughout the day. 

“The difference between summer and the school year is pretty significant,” said junior Savannah Flanigan, a personal trainer at the Wellness Center. “ It was very rare that the gym was even at 50% capacity [during the summer], but once students came back, there was a very noticeable increase in attendance.” 

The increase in attendance is most noticeable during peak workout hours, when students fill the equipment area and wait for machines to become available. What may normally be a quick stop at the gym can turn into a longer commitment as students move from one machine to another, searching for an open space. 

Nearly every machine has been occupied, and the gym has been packed with lines of people waiting for their turn. For students, trying to fit in a workout with classes, work and other commitments, the added wait time can make it difficult to complete their routine. 

“It is very crowded usually with at least one person or even a line for most machines,” said senior Aaron Joe. “It can take two to two and a half hours for a workout that should take one and a half hours.” 

For Joe, the long wait times have turned normal workouts into much longer time commitments. Depending on schedules, some people do not have the time to wait for each machine they want to use and either have to shorten their exercise plans or skip the gym entirely.  

“I typically have a rule of thumb; the more crowded it is, the less I stay,” said senior Sierra Stiff. “It is absolutely crowded … I feel stuck when I’m standing around waiting for a machine, as this is the part of my day I can put some music on and flow into a workout.” 

To see how busy the gym is, the Wellness Center uses an app called “Waitz.” The mobile app displays real-time occupancy and capacity data from sensors that detect Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals emitted by cellular devices in the area. It then translates the signal activity into a percentage to show how crowded the area is. The app also compares the previous week’s numbers to the current week. 

Although many hope the crowds will die down after the first few weeks of the semester, the Wellness Center struggles to accommodate during peak workout times. As UM’s undergraduate program steadily grows, so does the demand for campus facilities, making overcrowding an issue beyond the initial wave of new students. 

As of fall 2026, the school admitted 11,961 students out of 54,218 applications, raising the acceptance rate to 22%. In 2025, the school only admitted 10,205 students. This increase in student enrollment means basic facilities like dining halls and the gym will start to see greater demand. 

“I just think that the square footage of the equipment area on the first floor is not sufficient to as many students as our University contains and is growing beyond,” said Stiff. 

For Flanigan, who works at the gym and sees the demand firsthand, the solution needs to involve increasing the number of fitness spaces and equipment rather than just rearranging what is already there, which does not solve the problem. 

The gym’s solution to the high number of students is to raise the price of guest passes and offer more exercise classes, but these are only temporary fixes. Long-term solutions are needed to accommodate the flow of people, and one option could be to open earlier.  

“Opening earlier could help spread demand across a longer period of the day,” said Flanigan. “There is already a rush of people waiting when the doors open at 6 a.m., and I personally started using an off-campus gym partly because the Wellness Center doesn’t open early enough for me to work out before my clients.”

Another idea is to expand the exercise space within the Herbert Wellness Center. In 2011, the center added an 8,000-square-foot expansion to the main gym and exercise area. The cycling and Pilates studios were added as part of the growth, along with two more multi-purpose rooms, bringing the total to four. Yet those major additions were made 15 years ago, when the number of admitted students was 10,157; now it is 11,961, a 17.8% increase. 

While the Wellness Center has added programming and made adjustments to accommodate more users, the physical space available for students to exercise has remained largely unchanged since the 2011 expansion. With more students now competing for the same equipment and workout space, some students believe another expansion may be necessary to meet the University’s growing demand. 

“I think building a bigger building would be the best way to go,” said Stiff. “Adding onto the existing space might be one solution but to accommodate everyone, I believe it would be best to build another building towards the other side of campus if space allows.” 

As the number of students on campus continues to grow,  the gym is not the only facility facing increased demand. Dining halls, on-campus housing, outdoor seating areas and classrooms will eventually have to accommodate the growing student population. The crowded gym can be an early warning of what happens when the student population outpaces the spaces built to serve it. 

A semester later, has UM fixed its Wi-Fi problems?

Hope Mallon
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A semester later, has UM fixed its Wi-Fi problems?

After semesters of University of Miami students reporting slow Wi-Fi connections across campus, the University continues to make changes in an attempt to improve the connections. 

Now, as students return this fall, the question remains whether those changes have made a difference.

New fixes, same Wi-Fi problems

University of Miami Information Technology has been focusing on updating the network’s infrastructure, security and troubleshooting.

UMIT introduced Wi-Fi Tune-Up Stations to help students who are having trouble staying connected to the network. Students can bring their wireless devices to the stations at the Student Technology Help Desk in the Ungar Building or at Richter Library, where they can have their device updated for optimal performance and report connectivity problems.

UMIT has also made changes to the security behind UM’s wireless and wired networks. Students may receive a notification asking them to ‘trust” an updated security certificate when connecting to the network.

Despite those changes happening behind the scenes, students are still experiencing challenges with the Wi-Fi.

Leila Milos, a sophomore who works at Richter Library’s front desk, says that although she has noticed fewer students coming to the desk this semester with Wi-Fi complaints, she is still experiencing issues in her residential dorm. 

“I live in Eaton,” said Milos. “[The Wi-Fi] can sometimes be a bit spotty.”

Milos and her co-workers emphasized that reliable Wi-Fi is crucial in the library because much of a student’s academic work is now done online.

“The library is where everyone comes to do their work,” said Milos’ co-worker who wishes to remain unnamed. “Most classwork, or like homework, is online. Everything is online, to be honest. I think it is crazy how much we pay in tuition, that there are still so many issues with connection.”

Josephina LaBore, a junior who works at the front desk of Shalala Student Center, said students’ Wi-Fi experiences can also depend on the device they are trying to connect to. 

“It wouldn’t let me connect my laptop, because it wasn’t Apple,” LaBore said. “No matter what I did, it would not connect for my whole first semester here.”

She went on to say how her peers believed that MacBooks were the easiest to connect, while other brands like Lenovo or Dell faced more issues. 

Three bars but still no connection

For students, the real measure of the University’s Wi-Fi is not necessarily the number that appears on the speed test. It is whether they can sit down on campus and study without switching to cellular or submit an assignment without worrying if the connection will drop.

Last year, The Miami Hurricane reported widespread Wi-Fi complaints. Students described connections that would slow down or stop working altogether. Some said they had to use cellular data to study in the library, or that network issues interfered with class presentations.

“IT representatives meet bi-weekly with Student Government members on the topic of technology at the U and discuss any areas of concern related to Wi-Fi on campus,” the University said in a statement to The Miami Hurricane last February.

The University also said it had invested in upgrading access points across campus and conducting onsite assessments in areas where students reported connectivity problems.

At the time, The Miami Hurricane tested Wi-Fi speeds at several locations across campus using Fast.com, which is owned by Netflix. The test measures the download and upload speeds of the Wi-Fi your device uses, in megabits per second (Mbps). 

According to Astound, 25 to 100 Mbps is a good middle range, while 100 to 500+ Mbps is high and supports higher quality, like 4K videos.

Whitten recorded a download speed of 140 Mbps, while Cox recorded 150 Mbps. Shalala had a faster connection at 320 Mbps. In the residential colleges, Pearson recorded 290 Mbps and Coral recorded 270 Mbps.

Those numbers provided a snapshot of the network, but they did not necessarily match what students were experiencing. Despite relatively strong speeds, students continued to report unreliable connections.

This semester’s connection test reveals varied Mbps

To see how the network compares now, The Miami Hurricane conducted new Wi-Fi speed tests.

At Whitten University Center, the test recorded a download speed of 380 Mbps; at Cox Science Center, 285 Mbps; and at Shalala Student Center,130 Mbps.

At Richter Library, the speed test recorded 107 Mbps, the slowest result among the locations tested. In residential areas, Coral Residential Village recorded around 290 Mbps, while Lakeside Village recorded 260 Mbps.

The results show that Wi-Fi speeds across campus can vary significantly depending on location. Compared with testing conducted last year, Whitten and Cox showed substantially faster speeds, while other locations produced slower results.

The testing also cannot provide a complete picture of the student experience. Wi-Fi speeds can change throughout the day depending on how many people are connected to the network and where a device is specifically located.

The locations tested also changed slightly from last year’s testing. Mahoney-Pearson is no longer a residential building, so Lakeside Village was tested instead.

Still, even a brief Wi-Fi problem can have consequences for students trying to get to class, join a meeting or meet an assignment deadline.

LaBore said reliable Wi-Fi is important because students depend on it for nearly everything they do on campus.

“I often walk into work, and the Wi-Fi won’t connect so I am not able to clock-in right away,” LaBore said. “That causes me to be marked as late, even though I am actually here”

She also said connection problems can affect students when submitting assignments.

“I’ve had assignments that I thought were submitted and then I later realized they didn’t submit,” LaBore said. “So, then they were marked as late or incomplete.”

For college students, a strong Wi-Fi connection has become as essential to campus life as a CaneCard. 

With classes, assignments and communication increasingly dependent on the internet, students do not just need Wi-Fi that sometimes works; they need to know it will work when it matters.

Former UM urologist, professor arrested on sexual battery charges

Katie Karlson and Vivian Amoia
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Former UM urologist, professor arrested on sexual battery charges

A former University of Miami urologist and professor was arrested on Aug. 20 after allegedly performing unnecessary procedures on students and employees. 

Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy joined UM in 2015 as the Miller School of Medicine’s director of male reproductive medicine and surgery and an assistant professor of urology. In 2020, he became an associate professor.

Four years later, the 45-year-old left the University for a consultant urologist position at the Jumeirah American Clinic in Dubai. 

The United Arab Emirates does not have a formal extradition agreement with the U.S., but following an investigation by the Miami Police Department, Ramasamy agreed to return to Miami to surrender. Authorities arrested Ramasamy at Miami International Airport and, shortly after his arrest, he attended bond court.

In a statement to CBS News Miami, Ramasamy said, “I never performed any unnecessary medical procedure. I never assaulted anyone. I never sexually assaulted anyone, never.”

Ramasamy posted a $120,000 bond and is currently on house arrest. He was ordered not to have contact with any of the alleged victims.

At the time of publishing, Ramasamy’s Florida medical license (ME123131) is listed as “Clear/Active,” and his New York license (249812) shows as “registered.” 

According to the arrest warrant, the earliest allegations against Ramasamy date back to 2016.

Arrest warrant cites multiple victims 

According to the arrest warrant, Ramasamy targeted male students and employees ranging from their late 20s to early 40s. 

The warrant includes statements from six alleged victims, but only three are connected to sexual-battery charges. The others are mentioned as “other bad act” witnesses. A “bad act witness” is when someone’s past bad behavior is used to challenge their credibility on the witness stand.

The first alleged victim was doing postgraduate work under Ramsamy and served as his chief of staff in 2020. He claims that after a few months of working together, Ramasamy began asking questions about his personal life.

After telling Ramasamy he was having struggles with his relationship, he was recommended to undergo lab work, which returned completely normal.

Still, Ramasamy then recommended a semen sample from the victim, which he willingly gave in the lab. 

According to the victim, semen test results typically take about 20 minutes, but after just two minutes, Ramasamy claimed one of the results was “extremely low.”

He would need to have weekly scrotal ultrasounds, according to Ramasamy, which were performed over the course of two to three months but he did not feel improvement. 

During an examination in 2021, the accuser claims Ramasamy digitally penetrated his anus and stroked his genitals until he ejaculated. The alleged victim did not consent to this procedure. 

A urology expert — who was cited but not named in the arrest warrant —reviewed the alleged victim’s medical records and statements and determined that there was no clinical reason to perform the procedure described. 

The second alleged victim was a medical-student research fellow who worked for Ramasamy in 2022. 

Ramasamy allegedly asked him to give a semen sample for a research project, to which he consented. He says he was later told he would need a rectal prostate exam for further evaluation. 

The victim says his examinations were significantly longer and more aggressive than those he had seen Ramasamy perform on patients. He says he didn’t consent to the “unique maneuvers,” in which he was forced to ejaculate. 

For over six months, Ramasamy allegedly performed prostate “massages” on the victim. The warrant also states that these procedures were performed alone and after normal business hours.

During one exam, Ramasamy allegedly performed a digital rectal exam without consent from the victim. 

The alleged victim explains he went along with these procedures because he was in fear of disrupting their professional relationship. The relationship continued through December 2023, when the victim consented to surgery by Ramasamy to remove something that’s redacted from the warrant. 

An unnamed urology expert analyzed the second victim’s records and statements and says there was no clinical reason for the first semen sample and the rectal procedures that followed.

The third alleged victim connected to the sexual battery charges was a student of Ramasamy’s in 2016. He says he was asked to give a semen sample, after which Ramasamy suggested a second sample and additional testing.

He agreed to become Ramasamy’s patient after he was told the second sample was worse than the first and that he had a condition that could cause fertility problems.

The results of the sample are not documented in the alleged victim’s medical records, according to the warrant. 

In March 2017, Ramasamy performed surgery on the victim and later recommended routine STD testing. In October of the same year, Ramasamy began performing prostate “massages” on the victim to make him ejaculate as supposed “tests.” 

A urology expert reviewed the records and statements and said that Ramasamy performed an invasive surgery based on undocumented semen analysis results and used a false STD test to suggest additional exams. 

The expert also states that there was no medical reason for weekly exams and that this practice violates the standard of appropriate medical practice.

The warrant also states that Ramasamy performed a cystoscopy, a bladder and urethra examination, using a lighted tube with a camera, without consent from the victim.

Title IX complaints had been filed with UM, sources claim

The Miami Hurricane interviewed a resident in the UM urology department while Ramasamy was a faculty urologist there. 

According to the source, who wishes to remain unnamed, a Title IX investigation was filed with UM against Ramasamy in the spring of 2024. The source also claims to have known the accuser and details about the alleged assault that occurred in 2016.

A post on X by Dr. Alex Tatem on February 22, 2026, supports the source’s statement. Tatem — a private practice urologist in Indiana — claimed that UM knew about the ongoing sexual assaults. During the interview The Hurricane conducted with him, Tatem said he sat on the same boards as Ramasamy and frequently interacted with him at urological events.

Within the post, Tatem included an email sent on April 1, 2024, from Maria Sevilla — UM’s deputy Title IX coordinator — regarding the complaint filed against Ramasamy.

In the email sent to people involved in the investigation, Sevilla wrote that “certain of the allegations have been corroborated” and Ramasamy would not be returning to UM. The email also read that UM would “submit the required disclosure” to the Florida Department of Health. 

The source provided similar information, stating that UM had claimed it would file a formal report with the FDHL following the Title IX complaint. 

But when the source began making calls, they realized that no report had been filed.

On May 4, 2024, the source filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Health against Ramasamy, citing their knowledge of sexual assault “under the premise of medical research.”

The Hurricane reviewed and verified this complaint. The Hurricane also verified communication between the source and the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners and the Texas Medical Board.

The Hurricane reached out to the University for comment but has not yet received a reply.

Existing culture exaggerated these issues, source says

Within the urology department, the source said there was a “bro mentality,” and the men competed with one another to see who had the highest sperm count. 

According to the source, it did not seem odd when Ramasamy asked for semen samples because he frequently requested samples for this competition.

The source said they knew of a victim in 2016 — aligning with the arrest warrant — but that the victim was unwilling to report the assault and needed a more complex understanding of urology to understand why what Ramasamy was doing was wrong. 

According to the source, Ramasamy also singled out women, creating a hostile environment with the intention of excluding the women so he was only surrounded by men. 

Ramasamy faces three felony charges of sexual battery.

At the time of publishing, Ramasamy is scheduled to appear in court to set a plea on Sept. 17, according to Miami-Dade County court records.

International students stressed, outraged over new visa restrictions

The Miami Hurricane Staff
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International students stressed, outraged over new visa restrictions

The Department of Homeland Security announced new student visa policies in July, one of which adds a hard deadline to how long international students can stay in the U.S.

The change replaces the flexible “Duration of Status” policy, which allowed students to stay for the entire duration of their degree, with a strict, four-year maximum, “Admit Until Date.” This puts jeopardizes international students who were hoping to take advantage of the Optional Practical Training program to get an extended visa that would allow them to work in the U.S after graduation.

OPT is an extension to F1 visas, which permit students to enter the U.S. to pursue full-time academic studies. OPT gives students the opportunity to work for up to 12 months — or 24 months, if the job is STEM related — in their field of study after completing their degree. 

In addition to the new federal restrictions, the University of Miami has tightened authorizations for Curricular Practical Training, the process that allows international students to have internships, following a warning that government agencies will more closely monitor the program. Moving forward, fewer international students might be accepted into the program.

New visa guidelines

The final DHS rule was published on July 16, 2026, but UM students were not immediately informed of the change. 

The University did not respond to questions relating to why students were not told of the new federal policies sooner.

“It caught me off guard,” said Student A, who wishes to remain unnamed. “There was no news in the media about it. I never thought they would do this to international students.”

The updated nationwide guidelines will take effect on Sept. 15, less than a month after ISSS — UM’s International Student and Scholar Services —  informed international students through email on Aug. 21 and 26. 

International students will now have a strict four-year limit on their visas with a 30-day grace period — decreased from 60 days — to leave the U.S. after completing their academic program. 

People who will need more than four years to finish their programs will have to apply for an Extension of Stay through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. They are exempt if the regular length of the program is over four years, like architecture. 

“Students admitted to academic programs whose normal length exceeds four years, such as Architecture and certain doctoral programs, are not automatically required to file an Extension of Stay (EoS) when they arrive in the United States,” The University said in a statement to The Hurricane. “The program length reflected on their Form I-20 or DS-2019 is used to determine their authorized stay. Because individual circumstances can vary, students are encouraged to consult with ISSS regarding how the new regulations may apply to their specific situation.”

UM recommends students consult ISSS about their specific case.

One of the new policies also states undergraduates cannot change majors or schools during their freshman year, while graduate students cannot change their program at all. 

Once they complete their programs, students can only move to higher-level education, meaning from a bachelor’s to a master’s, not the other way around.

How UM students are impacted

Every year, international students make up 7% to 8% of the admitted class at UM, totaling more than 800 people. The updated guidelines affect every one of them, not only the ones arriving after September 15. 

Despite the impact on their lives, none of the half dozen international students interviewed by The Hurricane felt comfortable being named for fear of backlash from the current administration. 

Just last month, a federal judge in California ruled that the Trump administration has unconstitutionally deported students. UM students did not want to be named and risk their visas being revoked as well.

“It definitely changed my plans completely,” said Student B. “Now I plan to try and look for schools or employment opportunities in other countries.”

International students who exit the U.S. after Sept. 15 will receive an updated I-94 form at reentry that reflects the new AUD guidelines.

Unless they apply before March 18, 2027, students seeking Optional Practical Training work permits after graduation will have to apply for an Extension of Stay. UM recommends applying for OPT 90 days before program completion, and as soon as someone is eligible.

These new restrictions put a barrier on an already difficult process.

“Not many companies accept OPT; you’d be auto-rejected a lot,” said Student C. “And you need that broad experience. It helps your resume.”

The consequences for traveling while OPT applications are pending are also still unknown.

“If there is only one application pending with [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] and not two, it is easier,” said Kristin Pongé, the Associate Director of UM’s International Student and Scholar Services, on an ISSS-hosted webinar. “There is always a certain risk associated with travel. Since this is very new and we haven’t seen students travel since OPT is pending, I would caution against it.”

Students’ response

On top of the national restrictions, UM received a “reminder” from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program on Curriculum Practical Training eligibility on Aug. 12. International students are only authorized to do CPT if it is part of their Academic Bulletin, meaning every student must do it to complete their degree.

ISSS has halted processing of CPT applications that are not necessary for degree completion until further notice. Everyone approved for a Fall 2026 program before this change will, however, be able to complete it.

“Based on this guidance and consultation with legal counsel, ISSS will process CPT authorization applications only when the off‑campus practical training is required for program completion as specified in the Academic Bulletin,” according to an email international students received from the University on Aug. 21.

The new nationwide rule, released in the Federal Register, makes no mention of “substantial changes” in CPT aside from the “admission and extension” period. UM’s decision was triggered, according to a statement to The Hurricane, by the Student and Visitor Exchange Program’s indication that it would “increase its review of CPT applications.” 

However, UM specified that the guidance issued is “not specific to Florida or The University of Miami.” Regulations on CPT apply to all U.S. universities.

“It’s already been difficult to find an internship because of all the other policies that were changed in the last [two] years, but now the fact that it’s legally impossible makes it a huge source of stress,” said Student C, who wishes to remain unnamed.

Banned from “non-required” internships, international students fear they will be at a disadvantage moving forward if they manage to remain in the U.S. to work. While not necessarily required, internships can make someone’s resume more competitive and increase their chances of getting a job.

“If we’re legally not allowed to have an internship in this country anymore, of course post-graduation employment becomes almost impossible to find here as a result,” said Student D, who wishes to remain unnamed.

Resources UM is offering

During this uncertain time, UM is offering resources to help international students.

“The University of Miami recognizes that changes in federal immigration policy and guidance can create questions and additional stress for international students,” said the University in a statement to The Hurricane. “International Student and Scholar Services is providing individual advising appointments and informational webinars for students.”

As changes occur, UM is keeping its faculty informed as well so they can provide appropriate support to students. Student advisors are available to all international students, alongside Cane Navigators.

“The University is also sharing guidance with faculty members, advisors, and program directors who are helping students understand how the requirements may affect their academic programs,” the statement said.

UM’s ISSS website also provides all relevant information on visa policy changes, including the past webinars. Students are advised by The University to contact ISSS at isss@miami.edu if they have any questions.

Students who changed their major should request an updated Form I-20 or DS-2019 — documents issued by the U.S. government, proving a person has been admitted into a full-time academic program and can pay for it— from ISSS as soon as possible. Similarly, students who are expected to finish their programs later than originally expected, should apply for a Program Extension through ISSS. 

“Depending on the timing and individual circumstances, additional steps may be required to maintain an authorized stay in the United States,” the University said. 

For any student having increased stress or anxiety, UM’s Counseling Center and well-being resources are available, including licensed psychologists and online resources.

ISSS also encourages students to look at DHS’ Study in the States for further information, and to “stick to reliable resources.” The University also says it will continue to update students and campus partners with important information.

“If anything is unclear, students are encouraged to contact their ISSS advisor directly for clarification and individualized guidance,” The University said in a statement to The Hurricane. “Information regarding ISSS advising services, including advisor contact information for advising by telephone, email, or Zoom meeting, as well as the ISSS walk-in advising schedule are listed on the ISSS website.”“ISSS is here to help. All of the processes are on our website,” Pongé said as she ended the Aug. 28 webinar on the new visa guidelines. 

Still, international students feel like UM could work with other universities to push back on the new DHS regulations.

“I know we are not the most legally challenging school, so we probably want to stay neutral,” said student E, who wishes to remain unnamed. “So we’re gonna hope other schools [legally] challenge, but I don’t know.” 

UM Homecoming 2026 is being reimagined with 4 major changes  

Brianna Pearson
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UM Homecoming 2026 is being reimagined with 4 major changes  

Significant changes are coming to the 2026 Homecoming schedule, including a reworked competition format and adjustments to long‑standing traditions.

In a statement released on Instagram, the University of Miami’s Homecoming Executive Committee said the changes are part of a broader effort to “better align with [their] core mission” of strengthening campus unity, institutional pride and alumni engagement.

According to HEC, the goal is to preserve the traditions that define Homecoming while introducing new formats that make individual events more flexible and accessible. 

“By honoring our past and building for the future, we are excited to create an experience that reflects the very best of the Canes community,” HEC said on its Instagram.

HEC Chair Raul Valdes said the Committee has spent the past year reviewing how students and organizations engage with Homecoming. 

“In the past couple of years, we have seen a decrease in the number of student organizations competing within Homecoming,” Valdes said. “This year we wanted to focus on increasing student organization participation to make sure that Homecoming remains a campus‑wide event and is as inclusive as possible.”

Some students say they are still learning about the changes and how this year’s schedule will unfold. 

Senior Paige Swarthout said she has historically only attended the more popular events during Homecoming week.

“I have never attended one Homecoming event or activity besides the football game and concert,” Swarthout said.

She added that she often wasn’t aware of when other events were happening. 

“I never knew when other Homecoming things were going on,” she said. “My friends never knew either. We went to the concert our freshman year, but I honestly don’t remember who the last couple of artists were.”

Swarthout said she wasn’t aware of any new changes happening this year, but she hopes the updates will make the schedule easier for students to follow and encourage more people to attend.

The HEC highlighted four important updates in the Instagram post.

No more mandatory organization competitions

First, the Committee has eliminated the cumulative Homecoming competition and its traditional leaderboard. Without a week‑long scoring system, organizations are no longer expected to participate in every event to remain competitive. 

Valdes said the overall competition often favored larger organizations that could attend every event. 

“Now that there isn’t this requirement to be at every event, organizations can compete in what they are passionate about and earn the recognition and prizes for the specific competitions they find themselves in,” he said.

New points system

Instead of earning points across an entire slate of activities, organizations can now compete selectively. Each event will award its own points, meaning groups can choose the competitions that best match their strengths or traditions. 

The shift is designed to make participation more flexible and remove the expectation of committing to the full week.

Canes Spirit Day

The long‑running Alma Mater competition has been replaced with Canes Spirit Day,  a campus‑wide celebration focused on school pride rather than performance, scheduled for Nov. 12. 

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear orange and green and stop by grab‑and‑go activities at the Rock. Valdes said the change is meant to broaden participation and reach students who may not have engaged with performance‑based events in the past. 

“We wanted to make sure that Homecoming was uniting our campus and extending our reach beyond our usual audience,” he said.

Canes Showdown

Organized Cheer has also been reinvented as Canes Showdown, a performance showcase that allows for a wider range of talent. Instead of a single cheer‑based routine, participants can take the stage through live music, lip‑sync performances or dance.

What’s staying the same?

Valdes said several long‑standing events will remain part of the schedule, including Hurricanes Help the Hometown and Homecoming Kickoff. He said the Committee is also reviewing logistics for the annual boat burning ceremony. 

“The boat burning ceremony is one of our favorite events of Homecoming as well, and we are actively thinking of ways to make sure that the entire experience of Homecoming is memorable,” he said.

Valdes also emphasized that visibility is a priority for the Committee. 

“We are always looking for ways to improve Homecoming’s visibility on campus, and part of the changes we are making this year are meant to make Homecoming more inclusive to all,” he said.

Of course, students can still expect a dramatic headliner reveal for the concert, and buzz is also surrounding the recently revealed Homecoming theme: Flip The Script.

UM graduate starts new campus chapter: Campus Creator Club

Beatrice Baialardi Souza De Mello
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UM graduate starts new campus chapter: Campus Creator Club

When Emeline Smith started posting on social media as a University of Miami student, brand deals began filling her inbox. 

She quickly learned that not every offer was legitimate.

Smith had to learn how to read contracts, negotiate rates, file taxes and protect herself from scams on her own.

Facing those challenges became part of the mission behind Campus Creator Club, a community founded by UM students Noah Gaudet and Thomas Van Der Leegte to connect college creators with industry resources, opportunities and each other. 

Within CCC, Smith is the community lead and host.

“I really wanted to be able to supply creators with those resources,” Smith said.

CCC started in March 2025 as an extension of the founders’ marketing company, DRFT Marketing, where Smith first joined as an intern.

The team created a GroupMe and recruited student creators through Instagram, connecting them with paid and gifted brand collaborations.

Within months, the GroupMe grew to nearly 1,000 members. By that summer, the team had built and launched its own mobile app to support the expanding community.

“It was honestly really rewarding,” Smith said. “I didn’t realize how quickly it would grow and how many people would be empowered and inspired by it.”

Smith credits that growth to the relationships CCC created among students at different schools.

“I really think community is the core of Campus Creator Club,” Smith said. “We have a lot of students that have been able to become friends with other people that are in universities across the country.”

As members joined CCC, the team saw firsthand the problems student creators were facing. Smith said one student reached out after someone impersonating a legitimate company put her in an uncomfortable situation.

CCC gives creators a layer of support that most lack when starting out in the industry by vetting brand opportunities before sharing them with members and prioritizing safety in monetary transactions.

The organization also exposes students to the financial realities of the industry. Payment can take more than 60 days after a creator completes a job, and available work can change with seasons and social media trends.

“It’s not the most reliable career,” Smith said. “I would always recommend creators to have it in addition to their life.”

Free products, events and money can also attract students to content creation, but Smith believes the value of an audience extends beyond those benefits.

“There is so much power in creating community and inspiring people around you,” Smith said.

CCC is now working to bring those resources back to the place where it started. The organization is seeking recognition from UM for a campus chapter.

The proposed chapter would operate similarly to a business fraternity, with guest speakers, networking and educational opportunities for students interested in content creation.

“Our goal is to be able to connect them with everything that they need to succeed and feel successful as a creator while they are in the University,” Smith said.

Smith said that posting publicly can feel intimidating for students who are not surrounded by others who take content creation seriously. She wants the chapter to give those students a community where they can share that interest and learn from peers pursuing similar goals.

She said having other creators around can make it easier for students to put themselves online and learn from people pursuing similar goals.

For Smith, those resources have become more important as content creation becomes a career path for college students.

“If it’s being called the influencer school,” Smith said, “then the University of Miami should embrace it and really supply the resources.”

UM graduate reimagines entertainment rankings with new app, Cinova

Hanna Himelstein
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UM graduate reimagines entertainment rankings with new app, Cinova

Dylan Rattet graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Miami Herbert Business School in May 2026. After graduation, he had one month before starting his job as a financial analyst for Under Armour. 

He spent that month in Europe, where he came up with the idea for Cinova. 

Cinova is a modern entertainment app that eases the stress of deciding what movie or TV series to watch. The app exposes users to movies and TV series, allowing them to rate what they’ve watched, directly access streaming platforms, read critic reviews and connect with friends. 

“During this month, I was grinding. I was re-learning how to code and figuring out what I wanted to do in this app, what features I didn’t like in the other apps that already exist,” Rattet said. “And with all that, I was just spending countless hours working on it.” 

He also had help from his hometown friend, Ethan Nigrin. 

“He’s a mastery student in mathematics and he helped with the math behind what gets recommended to you on the app,” said Rattet. 

Together, Rattet and Nigrin launched Cinova.

One of the app’s main features is its ranking system. 

“You start by rating a movie or TV show you have watched,” said Rattet.” The app will ask you if this movie was exceptional, excellent, good, mediocre or poor.” 

Depending on what rating the user clicked, the app will cross-reference movies previously rated similarly and recommend movies in other categories.  

Four scores will also be generated for the user: a Cinova score, a friends score, a critic score and an individual rating that can be entered manually or be curated by the app. 

What makes this app different from its competitors — like Letterboxd — is the generation of a Cinova score. The Cinova score allows the user to see averaged out scores of everyone else on the app. Along with the Cinova score, the app includes modernized features that foster entertainment-centered social connections. 

“You can DM friends, send them movies directly and see where to stream them. You can look in the app, see what your friends have rated certain movies and see what the critics’ score is,” said Rattet. “You can see what everyone on the platform thinks about the app, and then just pick a movie straight from it.”

Unlike other apps, Cinova also allows flexibility when it comes time to rate the movie or TV show. 

“On other sites, you are stuck with either rating a movie —  let’s say an 8 or 9, whereas on this app, you don’t have to be stuck with a whole number. You could give a rating of 8.5, 8.2 or something in between,” said Rattet. 

For more personalized recommendations, users can use the Cova feature. Cova allows users to pick a movie or TV show, the genre they want to watch and their preferred streaming services. 

Users can also see their strongest matches according to Cinova, or they can interact with Cova’s swiping feature. 

“It’s kind of like Tinder. You swipe left for not interested, right for interested or up for already seen, and you can click straight into the movies or watch a trailer,” said Rattet. 

For those who enjoy TV more than movies, Cinova offers a unique outlet for sharing thoughts on new and old series. 

“The apps out right now don’t have TV. It’s a super big hole in the market, so, I’m hoping this app helps people find a different platform to rate something they are passionate about,” said Rattet. 

Right now, Cinova is just a side gig, but Rattet is hopeful that it will eventually become his full-time job. 

In terms of jobs, Rattet is also looking for a marketing intern. The internship will focus on running Cinova’s Instagram. 

“I want Cinova to be the future where people discover new movies and also rate them,” he said.

Internationally acclaimed violist David Aaron Carpenter joins Frost faculty

Alejandra Chavez
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Internationally acclaimed violist David Aaron Carpenter joins Frost faculty

After years of performing with major orchestras around the world and learning from renowned musicians, David Aaron Carpenter is bringing his international experience to the classroom.

Carpenter joined the Frost School of Music as a visiting professor of viola for the 2026-2027 school year. 

His relationship with Frost School of Music began before he joined its faculty. Carpenter reached out to Jodi Levitz, the Frost professor of viola, about becoming involved with the school after moving to the Miami area. 

What started by teaching one master class evolved into multiple visits, meaning Carpenter became familiar with students and their progress.

When Levitz decided to take a leave this year, she asked Carpenter to temporarily take over her viola studio.

“I’ve never been in a teaching position before,” Carpenter said. “I’ve only given master classes.”

Taking on this position at UM has allowed Carpenter to bring the lessons of his international career into the classroom while challenging himself in a new role. His teaching is also influenced by the mentors who shaped his own career, including violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman.

In 2007, Carpenter became the first American selected for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, where he studied under Zukerman.

“I would say I’ve been very blessed with the mentors that I have had throughout my career, and I’ve studied with many, many, many teachers,” Carpenter said.

So far, Carpenter’s experience with Frost students and faculty has left him optimistic about the school’s future. He said that the collaborative environment allows students to work closely with accomplished musicians such as conductor Gerard Schwarz, who served as music director of the Seattle Symphony.Carpenter said these opportunities distinguish Frost from other music schools.

 That collaboration is central to the Frost Method, the school’s approach to music education that emphasizes learning through performance and collaboration while preparing students for professional careers in music through taking marketing or business classes.

“I would love to see Frost School of Music just grow and become really the premier music school in the country,” Carpenter said, hoping to contribute to that growth during his time at UM.

Now, having 10 to 11 students, Carpenter can work consistently with the same students and watch their development.

“To see one week to the other, and just telling them a minor tweak here and there,” Carpenter said. “ I can even see tremendous progress in the first week or two.”

Despite joining Frost as a professor, Carpenter has also become a student again by auditing a Japanese course.

The class has presented a different kind of challenge for a musician accustomed to performing before large audiences.

“I never get nervous, ever, on performances,” Carpenter said. “This [Japanese quiz] is stressing me out.”

Learning Japanese has also given Carpenter a new appreciation for the workload UM students balance.

“If it takes me hours, then it’s going to take a lot of other students the same amount of time, but they have another four or five courses,” Carpenter said. “I commend all the UM students.”

His wide-ranging interests align with Frost’s emphasis on developing musicians whose education extends beyond performance. Carpenter said his experiences studying various subjects, from theater to economics, encouraged him to remain curious throughout his career.

Carpenter will bring that perspective to Frost students on Sept. 18 with a talk on entrepreneurship and music at Gusman Concert Hall. The event will explore his career and how his experiences both within and beyond music have shaped his approach to the industry.

That curiosity has also shaped Carpenter’s approach to the viola itself.

Throughout his career, he has worked to expand perceptions of what the instrument can do by performing and transcribing repertoire traditionally associated with other instruments.

“It just shows the capabilities of the viola,” Carpenter said. “It could be like a cello or it could be like a violin. It’s right in the middle.”

Carpenter also believes classical music has an opportunity to reach a new generation. After attending the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, he said he was struck by how young the audience was.

“I’ve never seen such a young audience,” Carpenter said. “I feel like classical music is really coming back.”

 A classical performance offers an experience that differs from other forms of live music for Carpenter. Sitting through a major orchestral work requires patience and attention, but he believes that experience can create a deeper connection between listeners and the music.

As Carpenter begins his year at Frost, he hopes to pass along the lessons he has gained throughout his career while helping shape the next generation of classical musicians. 

“I’m incredibly grateful that I have this opportunity that pushes me to imparting what I’ve known all these years from my mentors and giving it to the next generation, and seeing the level of the musicians here, from the pianist, to the violas, the violinists, cellists, I’m very hopeful for the future of classical music.”

From Sebastian to stand-up: Spencer Wright takes the stage

Charlotte Schuyler
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From Sebastian to stand-up: Spencer Wright takes the stage

Before Spencer Wright was performing stand-up in comedy clubs, he was already making crowds laugh. The only difference? No one could see his face.

Wright, who graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, spent part of his time at UM behind one of the most recognizable faces on campus: Sebastian the Ibis.

“I love UM and was extremely loud about it,” Wright said. “My friends made me audition so I could have a way to show school spirit, while also not being allowed to talk.” 

His first appearance in the suit was at a pep rally at the Ratskeller in 2015, where former Sebastian, John Routh, watched from the crowd.

“He told my boss, ‘he needs to work on his walk, but he’ll figure it out,’” Wright said.

And so he did.

Without relying on speech or facial expressions, Wright learned how to get a reaction from a crowd through movement alone, whether that meant dancing, eating popcorn or kicking his feet up at The Rat. 

“I learned how to be animated and get laughs through just act-outs,” he said.

Some moments, though, he could never have planned.

During homecoming, NFL Hall of Famer and Miami Hurricanes legend Ed Reed put Sebastian in a headlock.

“He whispered in my ear, ‘You’re a legend Sebastian, don’t forget it,’” Wright said. “You can’t tell Ed Reed no, so I just nodded and saluted him.”

After graduation, the bird suit came off, but the performer underneath remained.

Wright began posting comedy sketches in 2020, gaining millions of views across social media. He has since performed stand-up around the country while growing his audience through TikTok and YouTube.

The transition from performing anonymously in an ibis costume to standing alone onstage may seem drastic, but to Wright, the two versions of himself are not that different.

“I think Sebastian was my own personality, but just at 200%,” Wright said. “Now in stand-up, it is still me, just at 150%.”

Before playing Sebastian, Wright said he was interested in performing but never had the confidence to pursue it fully.

Those years inside the costume turned out to provide more than just school spirit. Wright credits Sebastian with giving him the skills and confidence that pushed him to pursue stand-up. 

“After portraying the best mascot in college sports, doing stand-up felt easy,” Wright said. “I wouldn’t be a comedian if it wasn’t for Sebastian.”

Sebastian allowed Wright to do what he loves while keeping his face hidden. 

In the process, he gained the confidence to show it.

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