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There’s too much plastic in the food court

Peter Kellogg
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There’s too much plastic in the food court

For many, a busy day on campus includes stopping by the food court for a quick bite. Yet whether it’s just for lunch or a coffee between classes, nearly every option comes packaged with single-use plastic. 

There are tons of lids, cups, straws, utensils and containers thrown away on campus every single day. Multiply that by an entire school year with  19,000 students, and the waste quickly becomes staggering — far more than a university committed to sustainability should feel comfortable producing.

UM has a real opportunity to lead in reducing plastics, just as other universities already have. Tulane, Stony Brook and UC Berkeley, ranked the top three universities in the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index for sustainable dining, have proven that plastic-free dining is possible. 

They’ve replaced disposables with reusable or compostable alternatives, and use sophisticated software to monitor their waste stream, which generates insights that reduce more waste. Notably, UC Berkeley adopted a campus-wide policy to eliminate all non-essential single-use plastics by 2025 and UM should take similar steps.

With all these advancements, plastic persists in our food court. The UM Roadmap to Plastic-Free ’Canes, composed and managed by ECO Agency, provides part of the explanation. 

National retail chains like Panda Express and Subway operate under franchise requirements, making it difficult for UM to require plastic-free standards without the state passing legislation. The city can play a critical role — Coral Gables has already passed bans on plastic bags and styrofoam, catalyzing the removal of these items on campus. But the state of Florida has pre-empted these laws in both cases. This means that if we want limitations that stick, they need to come from the state. 

The roadmap also highlights a critical challenge: Miami-Dade does not have an industrial composting facility. Many compostable alternatives require high heat to break down, so even if UM switched to compostable plastics for packaging and utensils, much of it still will not break down. 

When it comes to promoting sustainability in the food court, UM’s long-time contracted dining partner Chartwells works together with the auxiliary department and the office of Green U. They want to be green, but they are also pragmatic. 

“My goal is not to save money, it’s to be cost neutral when implementing a new program that is a green initiative,” said Ana Alvarez, assistant vice president of UM Auxiliary Services. “Over the years, we have taken initiative to reduce single use plastics substantially, but there will continue to be barriers for it all to be completely abolished.”

Ana Alvarez has been working for the Auxiliary department for 23 years, and she has been part of the effort to remove styrofoam and plastic bags on campus. When it comes to plastic utensils in the food court, she emphasizes that UM dining is open-minded.

“We have worked with students over the years on plastic utensil alternatives. The issue is students don’t follow through or they graduate without educating or informing a successor to finish out the project,” Alvarez said. “Currently, we are planning on introducing a hybrid model of metal reusable utensils for dining in and plastics for take-out because we have the ability to properly clean reusable utensils in the food court.” 

This issue is compounded by a county-wide waste crisis. Since Miami-Dade’s waste-to-energy incinerator burned down in 2023, local landfills have rapidly reached capacity. As a temporary fix, the county is now shipping trash to landfills in Central Florida at significant financial and environmental cost. 

Reducing plastic waste on campus isn’t just about the university image, it directly affects the region UM calls home.

“I think with more restaurants making initiatives to cut down on plastic use the university should follow these progressive steps and implement sustainable alternatives, especially because we have such proximity to a natural resource, like the lake and river system” said Arianna Helmer, orientation leader and waste diversion chair of student government ECO Agency. “I largely observe plastic lids and straws discarded on the walkway and ending up near the grassy steps by the lake.”

Still, a zero-waste food court remains within reach. The UM is not starting from zero; in fact, it’s already a leader, holding an impressive Gold rating from the AASHE — the second-highest rating after Platinum.

Data from Green U’s FY25 waste diversion efforts shows that 31,134 pounds of used cooking oil have been recycled into biodiesel and beauty products, 17,831 pounds of food have been donated to the Miami Rescue Mission, and over 23,000 bottles and cans have been recycled at the food court’s reverse vending machine (RVM).

According to Teddy Lhoutellier, sustainability director of Green U, the campus-wide food waste program — a partnership with composting company Compost for Life—has diverted 243,907 pounds of food waste. According to statistics from Compost for Life’s tracking system, this is equivalent to 241,514 miles offset, 6.4 million smartphones charged, and 10,955 gallons of gasoline offset.

Student leadership is stepping up as well. UM’s Student Government ECO Agency encourages students to carry reusable utensils and frequently hosts food sustainability events.

This October’s Fair Food Fair featured organizations focused on composting, food recovery and sustainable consumption, helping students understand both the problem and their role in its solution.

“We are hoping to mainstream the mobile reusable utensils and help student organizations fund alternatives to single use plastics,” said Margaret Todd, president of ECO Agency. “It’s such an easy alternative to take on and we want to assist in any way we can.”

But despite progress, single-use plastic remains a constant presence in the food court waste stream for now. 

This persistence of waste, despite student efforts, is exactly why the University’s institutional leadership is so critical. As the second-largest employer in Miami-Dade County, UM has both the responsibility and the capacity to take steps in waste reduction as other universities are pioneering sustainable dining on campus. With the University’s centennial anniversary, this is an opportunity to define the next hundred years that will benefit both the campus and the community.

A zero-waste food court is not only possible, but it is the kind of bold, forward-looking step that a University of Miami’s stature should be leading.

You couldn’t pay me to go through sorority recruitment again

Tori Lopes
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You couldn’t pay me to go through sorority recruitment again

About three years ago while I was an undergraduate student, I participated in formal recruitment as a sophomore. Joining a sorority was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I made lifelong friends, participated in philanthropy and gained skills that I will carry for a lifetime. 

But going through rush? You couldn’t pay me to do it again. 

This upcoming recruitment is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5, 2026. The current formal sorority recruitment model does not set up Potential New Members, commonly referred to as PNMs, for success. It is not realistic for creating true connections throughout the week, leaving many PNMs stressed and unhappy. 

For the purposes of this article, all three women quoted wish to remain unnamed. The first two do not wish to disclose their current sorority affiliations. Unnamed member No. 3 is a current member of Zeta Tau Alpha. 

“The freshmen going into rush literally have no idea what they’re getting into,” says unnamed member #1. “It is the fakest, most overwhelming procedure I have been through in college.”

Unnamed member No.1 felt that clarification about the recruitment process was not given when asked, leaving her with feelings of anxiety and confusion.

“You legit can’t make genuine connections, especially in the first few rounds,” she said. “You’re in an insanely loud sorority suite in heels and your hair curled, and you’re struggling to speak to the member you’re paired with, questioning if she even remembered your name. Nobody can get to know you in two and three minute rounds. By 6 p.m., the members recruiting you are absolutely exhausted and look like they want to be there as much as they want to get their oil changed.” 

A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that the recruitment process has negative effects on a PNM’s mood and social support with “all participants reporting an increase in anxiety during recruitment.”

Current sorority members have also expressed their dislike of the recruitment process and the toll the recruitment process takes on their bodies and minds. Unnamed member No.3 recalls her experience recruiting PNMs and how she wished the process looked different.

“PNMs have zero clue how much sororities put into rush until they recruit themselves. Work week kicks off with 10 to 12 hour days, with social media content and recruitment practice, right into 14-hour recruiting days for seven days straight,” she explained. 

The same University of Pennsylvania study found that social media has a significant influence on modern sorority recruitment. Researchers concluded that the process often benefits women who already possess strong social networks and higher levels of well-being, rather than those who might gain the most from joining a sorority. 

This connection between social media presence and recruitment outcomes raises questions about how fair and equitable the process truly is for all PNMs.

In sorority language, this form of social media searching can be known as “dirty rushing,” which is highly against the rules. 

“I’ve definitely heard multiple times here at UM of other sororities looking girls up on Instagram before recruitment begins, a friend from another sorority even confirmed it,” says Unnamed member No.2. “We even hear it from PNMs right before recruitment, that they get an influx of followers from different sorority members then unfollows, obviously trying to see their Instagrams.”

Unnamed member No. 2 went on to explain that her little was exposed to this treatment during the most recent formal recruitment. 

“She told me it was painfully obvious that certain sororities had no interest in talking to her in the first two rounds while other sororities were over the moon for her to be there, the same ones she got Instagram requests from,” she said. “Like, what’s the point of formally rushing after knowing that? Knowing some sororities pre-pick their members before rush even starts?” 

While formal recruitment is the mainstream way to join a sorority, Continuous Open Bidding, commonly referred to as COB, is an alternative that many sorority members love due to the ease of the process. 

“Of course, some sororities have COB, but I would still love a different version of formal recruitment. One where we can still have a single week of recruiting, but way less intense,” said Unnamed member  No. 2.

I have to agree with her. Personally, I can’t get to know someone in an uncomfortable dress, in a room I can’t hear them in, with the thought of having been pre-judged already. 

Sorority PNMs are currently required to rush all eight of the houses. In my perfect world, rush would be exactly like the fraternities: one event per day, more casual attire and the power of choice! Currently, if you rush a fraternity, you can choose the number of frats you’d like to rush. This would lead to a more equitable and tranquil process for both PNMs and current members. 

“I remember girls losing their voices left and right, having absolutely no break in between parties. It’s lowkey an organized dumpster fire every year. We’re exhausted. Frats get the luxury of seeing fresh PNMs for one event a day. We don’t,” agreed Unnamed member No.3. 

Rush week shouldn’t leave women questioning their worth, but instead should remind them of it. The laughter that comes from late-night bid day talks, the comfort of having friends who feel like family, that’s what sorority life should be. 

I still believe in what sororities can offer, but I also believe we deserve a better way to begin. Because no woman should have to earn belonging.

“Go look up ‘Why I dropped UM rush’ on TikTok. You could probably scroll through all of the dirty rushing stories for a good 20 minutes. And that should speak volumes,” says an alumna of Chi Omega. 

 

Still alive: Miami’s full path to the College Football Playoff

Liam Hickey and Gus Aspillaga
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Still alive: Miami’s full path to the College Football Playoff

After a heart-wrenching overtime defeat to SMU on Nov. 1, it felt as if Miami’s dreams of reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff were shattered.

The Hurricanes had been at the mountaintop of the sport for the first seven weeks of the season, going undefeated in that span whilst being hailed as a national championship contender. But in just 15 days, everything unraveled for UM, as it went on to suffer two losses in three weeks to Louisville and SMU – a stretch that appeared to all but kill its chances of reaching the postseason. 

But against all odds, Miami’s playoff hopes are seemingly still alive, albeit hanging on by a thread. 

Thanks to a late-season resurgence and some much needed help from losses elsewhere in college football, the door remains cracked open for the Hurricanes if they can continue to dominate opponents in the same fashion as last Saturday and get lucky with favorable results in games out of their control. 

As of this instant, there are two possible ways in which the ‘Canes can earn a spot in the 12-team bracket. They either need to win the ACC title, securing them an automatic bid into the Playoff as the conference champions, or, they can receive entry via an at-large bid. To get selected as an at-large spot, it involves a scenario in which the playoff voting committee decides if they are one of the best teams in the country based off of their regular season résumé and therefore worthy of making it in.

Right now, both paths are stacked against UM. Each one hinges on several teams in front of the Hurricanes losing in order for Miami to climb the rankings.

Although the odds are slim, there is still hope, but one thing remains certain: There is absolutely no room left for error. With two games left to play on their schedule, the ‘Canes need to finish strong with convincing wins against Virginia Tech and Pitt on the road. If they can’t win out down the stretch, nothing else will matter, and they will, without question, be knocked out of playoff contention. 

Ever since Miami’s devastating loss in Dallas, the team has undergone a dramatic turnaround. Over the last two weeks, UM blew out Syracuse and NC State by an combined score of 79-17. Assuming it can continue this trend and finish out the season going 4-0, here is a comprehensive look at the two routes that would lead to Miami playing in the college football postseason. 

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer/Redshirt Senior Keelan Marion makes an impressive catch and run to set the Hurricanes offense up in the redzone on November 8, 2025.

Miami Secures An At-Large Bid

Before diving into the laundry list of results UM needs to swing in its favor, it’s important to remember that by going down this path, Miami’s fate would ultimately rest in the hands of the CFP voting committee. No matter how much we dissect every possibility and scrutinize every detail, Miami’s chances at a playoff spot all boil down to the subjective judgement of a so-called group of experts consisting of former coaches, athletic directors, and longtime college football figures. All of the scenarios outlined below would certainly help Miami’s case in the eyes of the committee, but nothing is guaranteed. 

That being said, here is the full roadmap to how the Hurricanes can possibly clinch their spot in the College Football Playoff via an at-large selection.

Without lifting their conference title, the ‘Canes would essentially need to jump into the top 10 of the rankings, as it appears the No. 11 and 12 seeds will be reserved for the ACC champions and the best team from outside the Power 4 conferences. As of Nov. 18, the Hurricanes are ranked 13th in the college football playoffs, jumping Vanderbilt and are currently behind Utah, BYU, and Alabama.

To get to the No. 10 spot, in addition to winning the rest of its remaining games, Miami ideally needs the teams ranked ahead of them with the same record to lose before the postseason begins.

At the moment, the schools that are realistically competing with the Hurricanes for a committee-selected bid are USC, Vanderbilt, Utah, BYU, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Notre Dame.

USC faces a pivotal Big Ten matchup at Oregon on Saturday. Although the Trojans are currently ranked two spots behind Miami, a win would keep them at just two losses and significantly strengthen their case to make the College Football Playoff, thanks to the quality of the victory and the boost it would give their résumé. Oregon needs to win as the favorites in order to prevent USC from gaining any major playoff buzz. 

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer/Freshman Runnning back Girard Pringle Jr. makes an NC State defender miss on November 15, 2025.

Vanderbilt also needs to lose to boost Miami’s odds. Looking at its schedule, the most likely game it could drop comes on the last week of its regular season schedule, when the Commodores travel to Knoxville and a hostile Neyland Stadium to square off against No. 20 Tennessee. Assuming the Commodores beat Kentucky this weekend, a defeat to the Volunteers on Nov. 29 would push them down to 9-3, giving the Hurricanes a firm advantage in the playoff hunt if they can finish at 10-2. 

This is where it gets tricky for UM. The remaining five teams that would still be in the mix with Miami do not have an upcoming contest they are projected to lose, meaning the Hurricanes must rely on several upsets to have a viable chance. 

Utah and BYU are the two frontrunners for an at-large bid from the Big 12 Conference. Brigham Young holds the edge over its in-state rivals with a head-to-head win and a better record, standing at 9-1, while the Utes are one game behind at 8-2. 

The last formidable opponent left for BYU is Cincinnati this Saturday on the road at 8 p.m. While a loss would leave the Cougars with the same record as the Hurricanes, the committee would be expected to give the nod to Miami because of its equal performance against a tougher strength of schedule.

However, if the Cougars manage to win the rest of the way, their next loss probably wouldn’t come until the Big 12 Championship Game, which will almost certainly pit them against Texas Tech. At that point, in the event that they fall to the Red Raiders in convincing fashion for the second time this season, ‘Canes fans would only be able to hope that the selection committee punishes them for it. 

Meanwhile, barring any unforeseen chaos, Utah is slated to sit at the No. 12 spot for the rest of the season. Despite entering as the overwhelming favorites in both, the Utes need to drop one of their next two games – either at home against Kansas State this week or on the road at Kansas next week – for Miami to pass them. If not, the decision would come down to a true vote, and although both teams would enter the discussion at 10–2 with Miami holding the stronger résumé, Utah still sits higher in the current rankings.

If the College Football Playoff began today, the Oklahoma Sooners would be safely in. After a stunning road upset over No. 4 Alabama last weekend, OU sits at No. 8 controls its own destiny and is firmly in the driver’s seat for a postseason berth, with a playoff spot being theirs to lose. If Oklahoma doesn’t suffer a defeat at home to Missouri or LSU between now and Nov. 29, it will be a shoo-in for a top-10 seed in the final bracket. 

Makena Wong, Photo Editor, Sixth-year redshirt senior quarterback Carson Beck hands off to freshman running back Girard Pringle Jr. for a run play on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

After suffering a shocking loss to Oklahoma at home on Saturday, No. 10 Alabama’s standing as a playoff team isn’t set in stone. The Crimson Tide are favored in its final two games of the season, but crazier things have happened.

Alabama ends the season on the road in an Iron Bowl matchup against its arch rival Auburn, a team that would love nothing more than to take down its in-state rivals to prevent it from making the playoffs. If the Crimson Tide fall to the Tigers, the chances Miami can make the playoffs increases significantly.

Lastly, and most controversially, is Notre Dame – the final team standing in the way of Miami and a trip to the College Football Playoff. The Hurricanes and the Fighting Irish are even on record, each with eight wins and two losses. For UM, it would take nothing short of a miracle for Notre Dame not to reach 10-2 at the end of November.

The Irish’s last two opponents are Syracuse and Stanford, who together have a combined record of 6-14 and rank 17th and 14th respectively in the ACC. What ‘Canes fans should instead be hoping for is to climb within three spots of Notre Dame within the next two weeks, in which case, according to the CFP committee, they would then be able to factor in Miami’s head-to-head victory in the first week of the season. This would give the Hurricanes the best shot at claiming a place in the College Football Playoff over the infamously self-titled “Catholics” from the Midwest. 

Miami Automatically Qualifies by Winning the ACC

As for the ACC path, it is very different for Miami as it is not up to the decision of a committee. Coming into Week 12 of the College Football season, Miami came into the week with just a 4% chance of making it to the ACC championship game.

As it stands, the Hurricanes have a better chance of making the College Football Playoffs through an at-large bid, but they are still alive in the ACC championship race.

Following losses from Duke and Louisville, Miami sits at No. 5 in the ACC, sitting behind Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and SMU.

With all of this happening, Miami’s percentage has grown to a 8% chance of making it to the championship game. As the format of the conference championship allows the two best teams making it, the Hurricanes would need to be the second team in.

For this to happen, they obviously would need to win out, as well as two of the three scenarios to happen: 

Georgia Tech to lose this week to Pitt, Virginia to lose next week to Virginia Tech, or SMU to lose to both Louisville and Cal. Due to Miami playing Pitt, that would take care of them.

There is one other scenario that could involve a four-way tiebreaker that gives the edge to the Hurricanes and Cavaliers to make the ACC Championship game.

This involves Georgia Tech losing to Pitt this week, Virginia losing to Virginia Tech next week, SMU losing one of its next two games, and Duke losing one of its two last games. This would pave the way for Virginia to claim the top spot in the ACC and Miami to get the second spot by way of a four-way tiebreaker with Georgia Tech, Pitt, and SMU that Miami holds.

If all of that happens, Miami will be playing in the ACC championship game for the second time ever, and the first time since 2017.

Miami has to handle its own business, as the Hurricanes head north for a matchup against rival Virginia Tech. Saturday’s matchup at Lane Stadium is set for noon and will air on ESPN.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer/ Freshman wide recievers Daylyn Upshaw (15) and Malachi Toney (10) celebrate after a big play on November 8, 2025.

UM reveals plans to demolish Mahoney-Pearson

Katie Karlson
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UM reveals plans to demolish Mahoney-Pearson

UM revealed plans to replace Mahoney-Pearson Residential Colleges with a new residential complex called Gables Village. The construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026 and end by mid-2029. 

Gables Village will be made up of two towers connected on the ground floor and include amenities like study rooms, wellness areas, recreational lounges and collaboration spaces. The project is expected to span 573,804 gross square feet. 

The building referred to as “residential college one” will have 222 units and 735 beds spread across nine floors. “Residential college two” will have 207 units and 723 beds across 10 floors. The total of 1,458 beds is 32 more beds than Mahoney-Pearson’s current 1,426 beds. 

The plans are pending approval from the City of Coral Gables. A meeting with the Coral Gables Development Review Committee discussing the construction is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21, at 9:30 a.m. 

Phase two of Centennial Village, which includes three new buildings, will open for students in August 2026. These three residential colleges will have 1,150 beds in total and, once completely open, Centennial Village will have approximately 2,025 beds. 

The demolition of Mahoney-Pearson and the opening of Centennial Village Phase two creates an expected loss of 276 beds for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Hurricane has contacted the University for comment and has not yet received a response. 

The Gables Village buildings will have double suites, single suites and single rooms. Single suites are the most common room type across the two towers. 

Floor plan of level two of Gables Village as designed by Arquitectonica.

UM also intends to build a new 9,898 square foot “Central Energy Plant” next to the Mahoney-Pearson parking garage. The garage will remain operational, but the entrance will be relocated to the south side and can be accessed via Ponce de Leon Boulevard. 

Future plans about replacing the Mahoney-Pearson dining hall are also in discussion. The new dining hall will have seating for 700 and span 24,046 square feet. 

The filings show plans for other buildings to be demolished in the future, including Whitten Learning Center. 

According to a letter of intent written by Jessica Brumley, the vice president for facilities operations and planning, this construction is the next part of UM’s “Housing Master Plan,” following Lakeside and Centennial Village. 

“This next phase will provide modern, sustainable housing that enhances the student experience for years to come,” Brumley wrote. 

Arquitectonica, one of the largest architecture firms in Miami, will design the new residential colleges. The firm previously designed Lakeside Village and the Murphy Design Studio. 

The firm has a large focus on sustainability, “developing solutions that balance a modern aesthetic with an environmentally sensitive practice to create value, identity and a sustainable environment.”

A rendering of the ground floor of Gables Village, the new housing scheduled to replace Mahoney-Pearson.

Lakeside Village received a LEED Gold certification rating in 2022 and UM has been working on achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. As of 2024, there has been a 79.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at the Coral Gables and Rosenstiel campuses since 2013. 

The Hurricane will publish updates as we receive more information.

Get your holiday coffee fix at Ricky’s

Alyssa Brown
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Get your holiday coffee fix at Ricky’s

With all the coffee shops scrambling to add peppermint and gingerbread syrups to their menus this holiday season, Ricky’s Cafe – located outside the University of Miami’s School of Communication at 5100 Brunson Drive – has taken a different approach with a bold choice of comfy, decadent flavors. 

Cookie Butter Latte

I had pretty high hopes for this drink, considering that cookie butter is one of my favorite spreads and I could eat it by the spoonful. 

The sweet cream and speculoos crumble combination on top was an excellent touch — it adds an extra layer of sweetness and creamy texture, making the drink more of a dessert than a coffee.

“After only drinking the dining hall drip coffee, I feel as though it is heaven,” Gabby Walsh, a UM freshman, said.

Incredible housemade syrup that tastes just like a biscoff cookie. But if you prefer the flavor of coffee over sweetness, it needs some modifications.

“It’s very sweet, which is good, but I don’t know if I could drink too much of it,” Walsh said.

Cookie butter is a great flavor choice, but I recommend asking for it to be prepared less sweet if you don’t want a headache later.

Pistachio White Chocolate Latte

Pistachio is a great holiday flavor that brings back memories of nutty pies and cakes around christmastime. This drink is super versatile and can be tried as an espresso or matcha latte.

It’s got a strong pistachio taste, but not one of my favorite lattes. I think it needs to be tried again, with less syrup. The pistachio cloud top adds a thick consistency that feels almost like eggnog, which not everyone prefers.

Once again, a great taste, but way too sweet. 

“Pretty sweet even for me, and I love a sweet coffee,” Hannah Valdivia, a Ricky’s regular, said..

Smoked Bourbon Caramel Latte

By this point, I learned my lesson and asked for this latte to be half-sweet, which was a very good decision.

With the syrup not overpowering the coffee flavor, the caramel and bourbon create a warm, smoky holiday flavor.

There’s plenty of toastiness that brings to mind fire-roasted marshmallows, and the salted caramel on a sweet cream top ties everything together.

The syrup was the predominant flavor, but not in an overpowering, way-too-sweet way.

A starry night with Quevedo at FPL Solar Amphitheater

Gabriel Mena
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A starry night with Quevedo at FPL Solar Amphitheater

I didn’t realize how many Spaniards live in Miami until I walked into theFPL Solar Amphitheater on Nov. 15th for Quevedo’s evening concert.

The Latin Grammy-winning artist and Spanish hitmaker Quevedo sold-out his second to last stop of the Buenas Noches USA Tour with an unforgettable performance.


Quevedo brought his fusion of reggaeton, Latin trap and freestyle to an excited American audience for the second time in Miami. Few of us may recall his more intimate and smaller show at Oasis, Wynwood in January 2024. 

This time around fans were treated to a fun set that blended chart-topping hits and fan favorites from his latest album Buenas Noches, including “Buenas Noches,” “DAME” and his global smash “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 52.”

The concert started around 9p.m. when lights lit the stage to uncover a red carpeted staircase in the middle which Quevedo used to descend onto the mainstage like a prince stepping down from his castle to arrive at the dance floor in his white clad suit used in the album cover.

The first medley of songs from his latest album “Buenas Noches” immediately captured the attention of the eager crowd. Fun and danceable tracks like “DURO”, “CHAPIADORA.COM” and “HALO” served as a great energizer for the first segment of the show. 

While the lighting pattern only added to the party, featuring simple but effective cues and changes to match the vibe of the song.

Next, having taken off the suit and sporting a white tank top, Quevedo took us on a journey back to the past. With classics like “DAME”, “APA” and “SIN SEÑAL” the energy in the crowd reached the sky. Groups of friends singing and dancing together as couples shared passionate moments.

For the finale, Quevedo tapped back into his newest tracks like “SHIBATTO”, “IGUALES” and ‘“GRAN VÍA” which are fittingly some of the best songs in his newest album. The crowd felt as if it might explode as the soundwaves lured the audience into a danceable trance that I won’t soon forget.

The final four songs were perfectly selected to induce as much dopamine in our brains as possible. “Columbia”, being the smash-hit it is, took us back to those summer vibes that fall has sneakily made us miss. 

Then came the emotional album title track “BUENAS NOCHES,” Quevedo’s favorite track as he confessed, you could feel they had something grand planned for the final encore.

Quevedo gave us one of the best mashups I have ever heard when he closed out the concert with a mix of “MR. MOONDIAL” and “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 52.”

The notes and lyrics mixed together so perfectly to create something more than themselves: a new euphoric club party anthem that I need to hear online. 

UM’s K-Pop dance team dazzles the audience with their fall showcase

Hanna Himelstein
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UM’s K-Pop dance team dazzles the audience with their fall showcase

UM’s K-pop dance team, LOCKED (Love of Chinese Korean and Eastern Dances), took the stage at the Shalala Student Center ballroom by storm on Nov. 15. 

LOCKED performed their Fall 2025 showcase, “Project: LOCKED,” to a lively crowd of students, families, and community members.. 

The night was filled with free boba drinks, fun stickers and 12 dances that were covers of popular K-Pop songs. The showcase mimicked the process K-POP bands go through on Korean survival shows such as I-LAND and BOYS PLANET. 

For the night, members of LOCKED became trainees competing for a chance to debut. 

In Korean survival shows, trainees that debut go on to form a new K-POP group which kickstarts their career. Once part of the new group, they get to officially release music and perform. 

Sticking to the script, LOCKED introduced every performance with a skit-like video that was dramatic and witty. 

The video presented a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the group’s rehearsals, challenges and final moments leading up to the performance. It drew laughter and great cheers from the audience. 

At the end of the night, the audience scanned a QR Code to vote for their favorite performance. Their votes determined which trainee team would debut.  

After votes were cast, the trainee team that performed “ZOOM” from BOYS PLANET 999 came out victorious. 

“This was my first experience ever attending a K-POP show and it was exhilarating. I loved all the dances,” Ariel Shavit, a first-year student at the University of Miami, said. 

From their opening song “Samidare” to the finale “Wish Mix,” LOCKED captivated the audience with their dynamic dance moves and interactive activities. 

“I thought [the performance] was fantastic. The energy was so good and the choreography was great,” Nikki Desai, a UM senior, said. 

Following their performances, LOCKED capped off the night by honoring their three graduating seniors: Ivy Chen, Jae Lee, and Dolly Coreaga Coleman.

With their skillful moves and love for all things K-POP, members of LOCKED presented an electric performance that left the audience buzzing with excitement. 

For the entire two and a half hour performance, there was no shortage of cheers. 

‘Billy Knight’ brings movie magic back to life

Alice Reich
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‘Billy Knight’ brings movie magic back to life

University of Miami alum Alec Griffen Roth returned to campus to premiere his debut film “Billy Knight.” 

On Oct. 23 students and community members gathered at Cosford Cinema to watch the movie alongside Roth, who was the film’s director and writer, and one of the executive producers, Josh Clayton. 

The movie follows best friends Alex (Charlie Heaton) and Emily (Diana Silvers) as they struggle to make their way as filmmakers. Following the death of Alex’s father he finds a box of his unfinished scripts along with a handkerchief which reads “Billy Knight.” 

This begins a series of peculiar instances for Alex, which tease between fantasy and reality. 

In a desperate effort to bring Alex back down to earth, Emily forces him to attend a party. Though when he gets bored and ventures off through the mansion he finds a theater where he meets the man behind his visions: Billy Knight (Al Pacino).

Alex becomes an apprentice to Billy Knight, who shows him how to get in touch with his creative side. But as he becomes more absorbed and is more trusting in Billy than himself, he starts to lose touch with life beyond the script. 

How far will Alex go to achieve his dreams before the people in his reality begin to fade? 

“Billy Knight” brought back the movie magic that has been lacking in recent years. This film displayed the nostalgia surrounding the love of movies, making it majestical and aesthetically pleasing, allowing viewers to experience the narrative along with the characters. 

The cinematography played into the essence of the movie with the lighting and coloring having the viewer question what’s real. Additionally, it portrays a very real struggle for all young people finding their career path. 

What inspires you to do what you love? And what’s holding you back from jumping and fully immersing yourself in your dream?

Ahead of the official release Roth and Clayton plan to have 40 – 50 pre-release screenings. This isn’t a typical process, but is a way of allowing each audience to have a more personal experience. 

This was definitely felt in the Cosford Cinema as both conversed with audience members before and introducing the movie brought a positive energy. After the screening, there was a loud round of applause.

Both Roth and Clayton took back the stage bashfully and led a Q&A. This opened up a series of fun dialogue from what it was like to work with Pacino to the visual style of the film. 

The director was eager to talk and brought a friendly energy to the conversation. Roth spoke about how it felt watching his film for the first time.

“It’s the most nervewracking thing on planet earth,” Roth said. “Because you want people to enjoy it. You want people to connect to it. And you always want to be able to go do it again.”

Roth described “Billy Knight” as a one day at a time film, highlighting how crucial it is to remember that though your fantasies can be beautiful it’s important to remember the people that are in your life. 

He encouraged those who want to be in the movie business, and those with other visions alike, to not be afraid to send cold emails and go after what they want. That it’s not about getting the job, but getting to work on something you love with those who have similar interests. 

Befittingly Roth’s intended message for viewers is,“remember to fall in love with your dreams and your reality.”

Though the official release is unknown, hopefully this article has left readers excited or at least has inspired you to support a fellow ’Cane. 

Meet Glen Howard, Mahoney-Pearson dining hall’s beloved omelette chef

Birdie Church
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Meet Glen Howard, Mahoney-Pearson dining hall’s beloved omelette chef

Morning omelettes have become a routine for many freshmen at the University of Miami. But in the Mahoney-Pearson dining hall, getting an omelette is a chance to start your day off right with chef Glen Howard.

 Howard’s constant uplifting and happy attitude has a ripple effect among students every morning. With his trademarked phrases like “my man,” and his never-leaving smile, you can’t help but leave the omelette line in a better mood than when you arrived. 

“I enjoy what I do,” Howard said. “I have so much enthusiasm because of tomorrow’s people that I am catering to: the future lawyers and doctors.”

Howard is known for his constant outgoing positivity. As a spiritual man, he credits his uplifting spirit to his “oneness with his creator, the lord,” sharing that he believes his positive energy transfers to those he serves.

Every student who reaches the front of Howard’s omelette line gets greeted with the most joyous “good morning!” To many, this may be just a greeting, but Howard has intention behind his words.

 “When we meet face to face – that good morning has so much positivity,” Howard said. “Own it to whatever you were going through last night and let it dissipate it.” 

Transforming what could be a meaningless interaction, and making connections is Howard’s specialty. Taking actual interest in students’ lives and offering advice on how to go about their issues is not part of the job, but it’s what he loves to do..

With 50 years of experience in food service, Howard has helped in every part of a kitchen. He started off as a dishwasher at a family-owned restaurant. 

“Ever since then, I have just been loving food service,” Howard said. “It does your heart so well when you see people enjoying what you put your heart and soul into.”

After working at Denny’s for eight years, he got the job at UM and he has worked at the UM dining hall for seven years. Until last year he was behind the scenes. 

He was offered the omelette-making position and was more than happy to take it in 2024. He prefers to interact with students rather than cook in the hidden kitchen. 

Howard says he strives to make a positive impact on the University of Miami community as a whole. 

“I hope to give the freshmen a picture of what UM will be like for the next three years.” 

Howard and his wife attended the 2025 UM Homecoming celebration on Nov. 7. Groups of students were approaching him and saying hi. He said that in this moment, his mission to make an impact on students felt fulfilled. 

In every aspect of his life, Howard leads with gratitude and intention. He makes it a priority to remember the small things in life, from the exact number of days that he has been with his wife– which he recalled was 11,422–  to the intricate omelette order of many students at UM. 

Sometimes in life, it is hard to be positive. But Howard always reminds students to at least try to “make it a great day.”

Taste of Africa is a celebration of African culture

Vivian Amoia
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Taste of Africa is a celebration of African culture

The African Students Union hosted their 2025 annual Taste of Africa event on Nov. 13.  It was a night filled with culture, food, dance and fashion. The event has been going on since April 2015.

This year’s theme was Abeye, which means “It shall be successful,” and  was strung throughout the whole event.

ASU President, Janice Darkwah, says that the theme means “It doesn’t matter where you start from,” ASU President Janice Darkwah said.  “You always get to the point of rising up and then finally meeting success.” 

The main event of the night was the fashion show, where models walked on stage featuring fashion from several African designers like All Things Ankara, EZ Clothing and YBI Clothing.

All the fabrics used are African and the patterns are derived from African cultures and countries.Three different walks were featured in the fashion show with their own themes: root, rise and reign. 

The executive board also wanted to incorporate audience engagement into the festivities. The main hosts would speak to people in the audience and even invite people to the stage in between the second and third walks during dinner. 

The food was another very important part of the night. Coordinators wanted to choose dishes from each region or a number of regions, in order to represent all parts of Africa.

The delicious dishes included plantains, tikil gomen, North African meatballs, jollof rice, veggie and beef samosas, fish masala, a chocolate mango pound cake and more.

A plate of food at Taste of Africa on Nov. 15. Photo Credit // Vivian Amoia.

“My favorite part of the show was definitely the food,” Sadie Carroll, a student at the University of Miami, said. “The University of Miami is very diverse, and I think it’s really important to show everyone’s culture.” 

Another key part of the night was the music, which was primarily a mix of afrobeats influenced by African artists and mixed by a live DJ.

Guests were able to enjoy the food, fashion and music while being surrounded by decorations that emulated African culture, like boards on the side of the room with African masks. 

“We try to showcase that we are a group with impact and part of that is shown in Taste of Africa where our culture is literally flowing out of everything,” Darkwah said.

The night ended with the executive board going  on stage in matching outfits tailored by African artists with material from Nigeria.

The executive board played a huge role in organizing the event, as TOA coordinators were in charge of coming up with ideas for the theme, logistics, outreach, food and modeling. 

Darkwah reflects on the challenges of putting together all the pieces of an event of this scale, by getting all of the vendors, the decorators and the designers behind the scenes to work. 

“My favorite part was probably the heart that they put into it, and how much effort and how much you can tell that they really enjoyed being there,” UM student Desiree Dowie said.

Following the final walk by the executive board, they joined the audience, which broke into a large crowd dancing and singing together. 

“It’s an area for all different types of black people to collaborate and be unified. Also people from other countries as well,” Leeilai Hailey, a Taste of Africa attendee, said. “I think it’s really cool to see representation of African culture, black or not.”

While Taste of Africa is ultimately a celebration, it also brings attention to the struggles that occur in the continent of Africa like widespread conflicts, cost-of-living crises and healthcare challenges, especially in Sudan and the Congo.

“Iit shows it in a light where one might be more inclined to [learn about] African issues after attending something like this,” Darkwah said. “It brings more visibility to Africa, which in turn can bring awareness to the issues going on in Africa right now. I feel like that is also extremely important.”

Stairway under the electric sky at EDC 2025

Gabriel Mena
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Stairway under the electric sky at EDC 2025

There’s a moment when the bass starts feeling like a heartbeat at the Electric Daisy Carnival.

Porter Robinson’s “Sad Machine” made the air shimmer. Thousands of voices became one, singing not just to the stage but to each other. 

Somewhere in that crowd, a stranger handed me my first kandi bracelet — a loop of beads that look like candy ravers often trade with each other. It wasn’t just a gift; it was a recognition.

EDC, for all its wonder, isn’t gentle. Navigating the crowd sometimes felt like being caught in a current that forgot where to break — people shoving, not saying “excuse me”, pockets being picked. 

A worrying portion of the festival’s sea was rude and reckless. But then, in that same sea, I found kindness. Strangers fanning each other. Friends dancing together. A guy in a Santa hat and beard gave me a mystery bag, and inside it, I pulled a Star Wars action figure. 

My friend pulled Anakin Skywalker. It made no sense, but it made us laugh.  And that’s the rhythm of EDC: chaos and compassion, dancing side by side.

EDC is about the worlds you stumble into. Casa Bacardí was one of those worlds. I didn’t expect to hear “Gasolina” at EDC, but there it was, blasting under the electric sky. 

“Candy Perreo,” “NUEVAYoL” and other hits brought the kind of Latin energy that turns grass into a dance floor. Unironically, being in Orlando, Puerto Rico carved out a corner of Tinker Field just for us.

And then — the holy trinity of night two: Loud Luxury, DJ Snake and Zedd closing Kinetic Field. Whoever programmed that lineup deserves a medal in emotional pacing. 

Loud Luxury had us grooving, DJ Snake had us screaming and Zedd brought it home with the kind of catharsis you only get when the lasers cut through tears you didn’t plan to cry.

After all that, the sacred owl stage graces us with a drone show and fireworks finale. The crowd roared.

Day three brought rain.. The festival briefly paused, but the crowd didn’t scatter. When the weather cleared, the sky was still gray, but the energy was brighter. 

I ended up back at Casa Bacardí, surrounded by fellow Puerto Ricans, singing to Nuevayol and laughing like we’d been friends forever. That’s the real magic of EDC: you arrive with a wristband and leave with a family.

Dom Dolla’s set was well-rounded and fun, like riding a rollercoaster that was shootinglasers. Knock2’s hardcore EDM set at Circuit Grounds closed out the night and let us release whatever energy we had left. 

That’s where the moshpits thrived and I danced and jumped into the final minutes of the festival as fireworks lit up the electric sky.

EDC Orlando wasn’t perfect. The crowds were rough, the lines for water were long, and the weather bratty. But perfection was never the point. The point is connection. The point is surrender. The point is letting the music remind you that joy can be an act of resistance.

By the final night, I realized EDC isn’t just a festival. It’s a feeling — a place where chaos meets grace, where every drop is both an ending and a beginning.

You’re messy, EDC. You’re overwhelming. You’re everything that makes us human — louder, brighter, faster. And that’s why I’ll come back. Because somewhere between the lasers and the rain, I fell in love with the music all over again.

Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a scary classic greatly reimagined

Damian de la Guardia Dominguez
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Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a scary classic greatly reimagined

Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is a fantastic revival of a well-established classic starring a-list actors Oscar Issac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth. With beautiful sets and intense, gruesome moments, the film tells the tale of “Frankenstein” like never before.

The story follows Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Issac, who grows up without a father figure yet feels pressure to live up to his family name. From a very young age, he wanted to defy life and death due to his mother’s death.

As he matures and becomes a scientist, Victor succeeds in bringing together pieces of dead bodies to create life itself. 

This small experiment led him to his greatest and most terrifying   achievement: creating something, or rather someone, with a life of its own, the Creature, who’s played by Jacob Elordi. 

After bringing Jacob Elordi’s “monster” to life, Victor attempts to educate him. But as desperation and anger builds, he starts to physically and verbally abuse the monster, making him afraid and scared. 

Elizabeth, Mia Goth’s character, the woman Victor’s younger brother is set to marry and with whom Victor secretly loves, plays a crucial part in the story. When she meets the monster, he starts to display real human emotion.

Something that I really liked about the movie was the relationship between the characters. It was fascinating how they were all supporting each other, yet somehow deep down, they were all scared of what they were capable of. 

Oscar Isaac’s performance as Frankenstein truly kept me on the edge of my seat because I didn’t know what he was going to do, or how he was going to react. He was just a man going into the path of insanity.

Performances by Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth were also impressive, and their relationship and interactions with each other were very special.

The second act of the movie shifts to the monster’s perspective. He explores the world, befriends someone who teaches him language and emotion and begins to understand what it means to be human. Though made from death, he yearns for life, love and belonging—a true sense of humanity.

I really like how the movie begins at the end and tells the story from two different perspectives — first from the creator and then from the created. I think it’s a smart way of showing both sides of the coin, and somehow you feel empathy for both characters. 

Overall, del Toro’s rendition of “Frankenstein” is a powerful reimagining of a timeless classic. However, it includes a little bit too much animal violence and lots of gory scenes for me. Still, for fans of the “Frankenstein” myth, this is a must-watch.

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