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From the 305 to the Keys: The ultimate halloween getaway

Balaj Raza
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From the 305 to the Keys: The ultimate halloween getaway

For University of Miami, Halloween weekend isn’t just about costumes and candy. Each year, hundreds of students leave Miami behind for a three-hour drive down to Key West, where the annual Halloweekend has become a college tradition.

Many UM students classify this trip as “The Great Migration.” The trip is more than worth it — it’s a unique experience that combines Fantasy Fest, affordable nightlife and lasting memories with friends. Since my first Key West Halloween trip sophomore year, I’ve returned every year. It’s an experience every UM student should have at least once, as it captures the spirit and excitement of college life.

Most students drive with friends, though carpooling and buses are also common options. Some wealthier students even fly into Key West. Affordable housing for the weekend is available through Airbnbs, hostels or shared hotel spaces, but early planning is key, especially during Fantasy Fest when prices can spike. 

“The hotel rooms do get gouged. That’s the one expensive part,” UM senior Gracie Herberholt said.

“The trip is not a place I would typically consider going to, but it’s a lot more geared toward college students during Halloween,” said Kayla Singer, a senior at UM. “It’s just fun to see everyone you know in a new location.”

Most students spend Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday night in three different, over-the-top costumes for the trip. UM students often begin planning their costumes months in advance, going all out to make each outfit memorable. In the past, I have had three costume changes. From Ken in the ‘Barbie’ movie to Cupid, a vampire or even a TY bear, Halloween is my Coachella and I go all out every year with my costumes.

Key West’s Fantasy Fest brings the island to life with elaborate costumes and street parades. Students are drawn to the festival’s wild energy and the fun. While students may not participate fully in all of Fantasy Fest’s adult-oriented events, the parade and street festivities provide a uniquely immersive Halloween experience. 

Meghan Schorr, a UM senior, said “the unpredictability is part of the appeal. From seeing naked old people to even running into fellow classmates, the surprises are endless.” 

Compared to Miami, Key West offers a more compact but affordable nightlife experience. Drinks cost on average $6 to $10 which is insanely cheaper in comparison to Miami’s outrageous prices. The bars on Duval Street cater to college students, allowing for bar-hopping without long walks or expensive cover charges. 

“It’s literally just all bars, kind of giving a bigger version of Coconut Grove, because it’s all upperclassmen, UM kids are basically just drinking and barhopping,” Herberholt said.

Singer added that prices for drinks are significantly lower than in Miami. “As opposed to Miami’s big clubbing scene, Key West nightlife concentrates on one street of bars. I like that because we can check out different places on the same night. It’s a lot more casual, and you never know what you’ll see.”

For many students, the trip also serves as a mini-vacation from campus life. Leaving behind Miami traffic and crowded clubs, the island offers a laid-back vibe where students can explore a new environment.The journey is also about social bonding. Halloweekend gives students a chance to create memories outside of the university bubble. 

For University of Miami students, making the trip down to Key West for Halloweekend is more than just a weekend escape from the city. It’s a chance to experience Fantasy Fest, enjoy affordable nightlife and create lasting memories with friends. The long journey south proves that, for many, the trip is a Halloween tradition that’s impossible to miss and definitely worth it.

Characters we love to hate, but are the actors to blame?

Damian de la Guardia Dominguez
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Characters we love to hate, but are the actors to blame?

We’ve all seen movies and TV shows where the antagonist is just plain evil. Those are the characters we love to hate, but are the actors to blame? Definitely not. 

An article by Variety says that the official ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ TikTok account published a warning in relation to offensive comments and public death threats made to Gavin Casalengo, the actor who plays Jeremiah Fisher, everyone’s favorite Manchild. Situations like this have been happening for many years now. 

Another infamous case that comes to mind was during the time of ‘Game of Thrones.’ Jack Gleason’s performance as King Joffrey was so impactful that the actor also started to receive death threats related to his iconic performance. This affected the life of the actor for a while. It is scary how hatred toward someone or something unites people. They don’t take into consideration how their reactions and opinions can change someone’s life from one day to the other.  He stopped acting all together for around six years. He returned to acting in a small role in the TV series Out of Her Mind. Now, he is starring in Bryon Hedges’ newest show called House of Guiness.

Anna Gunn published an article in the New York Times talking about her character Skylar White on ‘Breaking Bad.’ She mentions how surprised she felt at the major hatred people were sharing on different social media pages. 

People went to the extreme of creating a Facebook page called “I hate Skylar White.” She mentions that as an actor, she understands that viewers can have different feelings about the way she portrays the characters. Regardless, she is shocked as a person to see how toxic and opinionated people can be towards her character. She went on and won an Emmy for her performance as Skylar White. 

In reality, that’s the life of an actor; to play someone. If you were the antagonist of the story and your character is not liked by the public, you’re probably doing your job correctly. Yet, that doesn’t mean viewers have to get out of their ways and cross the line by publishing backlash and affecting the private lives of those who have the courage to bring these characters to life. 

If it weren’t for these characters, we wouldn’t be clinging to the edge of our seats.

Effortless “not so effortless” style

Damian de la Guardia Dominguez
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Effortless “not so effortless” style

How great would it feel to wake up, throw on the first outfit you see, and look incredible? There are many celebrities, models, friends or family who, no matter what they’re wearing, look so great that it appears effortless. But, is there really such a thing as “effortless” style?

This is a tale as old as time. It has been a topic in the fashion world where people have tried to determine whether it is a real thing or not. The effortless style is more about finding what you are comfortable with and trying out from there, bringing confidence and the “wow” factor to your already great base.

You will never know what suits your vibe until you try it out. Sure, not all the things you are going to try will work, but rest assured that with some time and dedication, you will figure it out. 

A recent article by Vogue’s Daisy Maldonado talks about the myth of effortless style. In the article, fashion writer and analyst Mandy Lee mentions that “the biggest thing you can invest into your personal style is actually time”.  

The “effort” will always be present, mentions Maldonado. Effortless style goes along with how comfortable the clothes suit you.

Effortless style resonates with simplicity. Cathy Kasterin mentions how Pamela Anderson’s style is “pared-back, simple, cool and effortless”. Pamela goes even more on the “simple” and “effortless” look by not wearing any makeup to red carpets or events since 2023. She mentions in a USA Today article that “She is not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room”. By keeping it simple, and feeling free, she embodies the effortless look.


The WSJ’s guide on how men can master the breezy, effortless style tells readers to “Know the difference between effortless and sloppy”. Personally, I think that men’s fashion has evolved a lot through the years. I feel that we want to make it as simple and as easy as possible, yet keeping it cool or unique. Making a white t-shirt and jeans look good has a lot to do with how you wear them; another advice from the WSJ is playing with accessories. Accessorizing with rings and bracelets, tucked in with a belt, glasses and caps or even eye-catching shoes! Those are elements that help the effortless fit. It comes down to cleanliness, respect, and common sense. 

Overall, the idea of effortless style is finding what you feel suits you the best and always incorporating something different. Taking time and trying different styles will help meet that “effortless” version of you. So, what are you waiting for; go out there and don’t be afraid to bring 15 items of clothing to the fitting room! The worst that could happen is that you don’t like it.

Could there be more languages taught at UM?

AveryRose Ames-Karvounis
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Could there be more languages taught at UM?

If UM really wants to be a global university, it shouldn’t just encourage language learning, it should expand it, deepen it and actually teach more of the languages students care about.

Right now, UM’s Department of Modern Languages and Literature offers a diverse array of language courses: you’ve got Spanish and French majors, minors in Arabic and Portuguese and classes in Japanese, German and Haitian Creole. But after that, it seemingly drops off. There are other languages such as Chinese or Italian that come and go, and if you’re interested in something outside of those, you’re essentially on your own. 

That’s where the Directed Independent Language study program comes in. It’s one of UM’s coolest programs, allowing students to study any language that isn’t already offered as a class. The best part is it is completely free of charge and accessible to all with interest. The fact that it even exists shows that students want to learn all kinds of languages: Swahili, Hindi, Persian, you name it. And they are learning them. But why are these only available through independent study? If there’s a demand (and there clearly is as DILS is so popular), why not turn the most popular ones into actual classes? 

I think about Eastern European languages a lot when it comes to this. There’s no class for Serbian, Croatian or Bosnian (even though those are all essentially the same language, just with cultural differences.) It would make so much sense to group them together into one class and build a program that teaches on Slavic culture more broadly. There’s so much history, literature and politics tied to those regions, and it’s barely touched in current coursework. The same goes for languages like Ukrainian, Bulgarian or even Polish. If UM wants to boost global literacy, this could be considered a huge blind spot.

And it isn’t just about adding random electives here and there. language opens up access to culture, politics, and careers. An example would be if you’re a Latin American Studies major, wouldn’t it be cool to study an indigenous language too, not just Spanish? Or if you’re doing Caribbean studies, why not offer electives in local languages like Patois or even French Creole beyond just Haiti? These pairings would make the cultural studies much more immersive and meaningful to the students and their well-roundedness.

UM’s Virtual Immersion Program is a great example of what’s possible in this scenario. It started with Spanish and Portuguese, and now it’s said to expand to include languages like French, Arabic, and Japanese. What’s so amazing about this program is that you get to speak with native speakers over video, and it feels more real than just memorizing vocab and grammar rules. It gives students a space to actively recall and use the information they are learning. This kind of thing should be happening across the board, especially if UM expands the language offerings and wants students to actually use what they’re being taught.

When it comes down to it UM already has the tools, it already has the student interest, and it already has the flexibility to grow. The university just needs to go for it. Adding more in-class language options, especially for underrepresented areas like Eastern Europe, South Asia, or parts of Africa, would make the university feel more connected to the actual global world we live in. Right now, too much of the language learning is happening outside the classroom, and that’s a missed opportunity.

So while UM is doing a decent job, if it wants to be taken seriously as a global university, it’s time to take language learning in classrooms seriously too.

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ misses the mark

Ava Liber
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Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ misses the mark

I’ve never been a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, but I’ve always respected her as an artist and a business woman. She’s built a career most musicians can only dream of. 

Even if you don’t love her songs, it’s hard to not admire her talent, drive and influence. That’s why her latest release,  “Life Of A Showgirl” feels a little disappointing. It just doesn’t live up to the creative standard she’s set for herself. 

Taylor’s new album definitely carries the weight of her reputation but falls short of the emotional depth and ambition of her earlier work. While it’s fun in parts, it feels more like background music than something that really sticks with you.

The most glaring issue with the album is the lyrics. Once praised for sharp storytelling and emotional honesty, Swift’s writing here often feels flat and overly self-aware. Songs like “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Ruin the Friendship” try to sound deep but end up feeling dramatic instead of emotional. 

“Wi$h Li$t” has a fun beat, but the lyrics don’t say much. It all feels too polished, like she’s trying too hard to sound perfect instead of honest. 

Beyond the lyrics, the album lacks a clear vision. Swift has previously released projects with bold concepts and meaningful rhythms. 

This time, the record leans into a light, fun mood without pursuing anything deeper. That choice results in an album that entertains at moments but rarely challenges or inspires. 

The inconsistency only adds to the frustration. A few tracks stand out, like “Father Figure,” which features an interpolation of George Micheal’s 1987 hit “Father Figure” and tries to blend pop with self reflection, which is an interesting combo.

 But then you hit songs like “Wood” which leans heavily into synth pop and flirtation. The momentum fizzles out from tack to track. The unevenness makes listening feel jarring. 

For longtime fans, the disappointment hits harder. 

“I’ve been listening to Taylor for years, but this just didn’t land for me,” Gaby Shaw, a UM freshman sports broadcasting major, said. “The lyrics felt lazy and some songs were honestly hard to listen to.”

In the end, the album feels like Swift playing it safe. There are glimpses of what she does best, but not enough to make the album feel special.  For those hoping for another era-defining release, this one may fall short.

Alivia Clark brings her acting charm to Patio Jams

Miguel Escobar
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Alivia Clark brings her acting charm to Patio Jams

Alivia Clark took on the Patio Jams stage with an electric performance full of charisma on Oct. 2. Clark, who grew up in New Jersey has been involved in the entertainment business for as long as she can remember. 

Alivia always had a natural instinct to perform. She first asked her parents as a toddler to sign her up for voice and acting lessons and shortly after she started singing and acting professionally. 

As a child actress, she appeared in shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “Law and Order,” “Buttons: A Christmas Tale,” and John Oliver’s late night show. 

When it was time to apply to college, Clark had to make a tough choice: should she be an actor or a singer?

“I was faced with this question of having two passions that I loved deeply,” Clark said. “I had no idea how to handle it.”

Clark ultimately decided to attend Chapman University in California and pursue acting route. She quickly realized that the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music was the place where she was meant to be. 

She transferred to the University in her sophomore year for her music career. Clark, now a senior, says it was the best decision she could’ve made.

As an artist, Clark is determined to stay true and authentic to herself through her music. She hopes to be able to create music that makes people feel liberated.

“At the end of the day, what matters to me is just connecting with people through my music,” Clark said. “Whenever I’ve been through a tough time, I’ve always leaned on music.” These moments make Clark fall in love with music again.

Clark’s sound is a mixture of pop, R&B and singer/songwriter. However, she feels that she isn’t limited to a single sound and loves to genre bend and explore different styles based on her mood. She is an innovator who doesn’t put herself in a box. 

Clark said the audiences were in for a real show when she was getting ready for Patio Jams. That is exactly what she delivered. 

The Patio Jams stage felt transformed into the Kaseya Center as Clark sang cult classics such as Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. Originals such as “Slow” and “Imagine That” also captivated the audience. 
Learn more about Clark and her music by following her social media or listening to her songs out on Spotify. Don’t miss out on starting to follow Alivia Clark.

Banned Books Week at the University of Miami

Ana Sofia Rodriguez-Garcia
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Banned Books Week at the University of Miami

As Banned Books Week returns in full swing at the University of Miami, it’s important to remember its importance in reflecting our freedom of speech. 

Being an avid reader myself, I find that exploring diverse perspectives through literature gives us a unique understanding of our world, while also challenging us to uncomfortable truths. Banned Books Week serves as a reminder that we need to advocate for our rights to read freely. 

UM partnered up with the American Library Association (ALA) to educate people on different books that have been banned. The theme for this year  was “1984,” a book notoriously known for its controversy.

Throughout the week, people had the opportunity to participate in a variety of events hosted by the ALA. These events included panel discussions, readings and workshops that help highlight but also challenge why certain books can provoke emotions of fear and resistance. 

By engaging in discussions like these, readers can better understand the forces that seek to limit our understanding of diverse narratives.

Hollywood’s next actress was just rendered

Alyssa Brown
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Hollywood’s next actress was just rendered

She looks like a movie star, doesn’t age and doesn’t need a lunch break: Hollywood’s ideal girl has officially gone digital.

Tilly Norwood is not a real person. She is created entirely from artificial intelligence (AI) by Dutch comedian and actress Eline Van der Velden. A blend of Ana de Armas, Madison Beer and Emilia Clarke, the social media account Impact described her as the entertainment industry’s “dream actress: ageless, can’t give consent and has no agency.” Van der Velden’s company, Xicoia, presented her at the Zurich Film Festival on Sept. 28.

The announcement that Tilly was about to be signed by a talent agency caused strong online pushback from Hollywood actors like Lucy Hale, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Abigail Breslin. Many shared the concern that Tilly is sculpted by eurocentric ideals of women to be young, flawless and passive in the face of objectification. One TikTok user, @smartfella, called it a “Black Mirror episode in real life.”

Mara Wilson, star of Matilda, asked in an instagram comment, “What about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?”  

Van der Velden has not backed down from her stance that Tilly is a work of art. She posted a statement on Instagram saying, “Creating Tilly has been, for me, an act of imagination and craftsmanship, not unlike drawing a character, writing a role or shaping a performance.”

Tilly Norwood is part of a growing trend of AI-generated influencers and models. Amid the controversy, Van der Velden shared that she intends to create at least 40 AI actors with her company, Xicoia.

“We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman — that’s the aim of what we’re doing,” she stated in an interview.

SAG-AFTRA, an American labor union that represents around 160,000 television and film actors, released this statement: “The union is opposed to the replacement of human performers by synthetics. To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood’ is not an actor- it’s a character generated by a computer program trained on the work of countless professional performers, without permission or compensation.”

In 2023, SAG-AFTRA went on strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The main cause was studios seeking to scan the images and voices of extras to create digital replicas, which could then be used in future projects without consent or fair compensation. 

It was the longest actors strike against the film and TV studios in Hollywood history, taking place from July 14 to Nov. 9. 

Emily Colyer, freshman at the University of Miami, said, “I thought the entire point of acting is to portray the human experience… It’s bad media and it doesn’t even look good.”

Emily Blunt, British actress, told Variety, “Good Lord, we’re screwed.”

Lil Tecca’s DOPAMINE tour in Miami was electric

Vivian Amoia
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Lil Tecca’s DOPAMINE tour in Miami was electric

American rapper Lil Tecca announced his “DOPAMINE: The Experience” tour this past July, following the release of his latest album, “DOPAMINE,” which dropped on June 13. 

The album features 17 tracks, including popular singles, “Dark Thoughts” and “OWA OWA.” While the vibe of the album is still true to Tecca’s upbeat, catchy flow, “DOPAMINE” leans slightly into more hard rap, continuing the trend from his past two albums. “DOPAMINE” even has a track featuring rapper Ken Carson titled “Tic Tac Toe.”

Tecca performed in Miami on Oct. 6 at The Fillmore Miami Beach, which is a smaller theater, with a capacity of around 2,700 guests. 

While the general admission tickets sold online ranging from $50 to $75, the actual seating areas at the venue were pretty confusing. Just because someone purchased general admission didn’t guarantee them a spot in the pit, which was first-come, first-serve. 

The seats in rows behind the pit still gave a great view of the show; however the venue could have been more clear about their tickets. According to a staff member, some people arrived as early as 4 p.m. to be at the front of the pit.

The show was set to start at 8 p.m. with openers, Hardrock and ffawty and Tecca taking the stage at 9:30 p.m. 

His setlist included his old bangers like “Ransom” and “LOT OF ME.” He also played a good variety of hits from all of his albums like “Fell in Love” from “TEC,” “NEVER LEFT” from “We Love You Tecca 2” and “Did It Again” from “We Love You Tecca.”

From “DOPAMINE”, he played “On Your Own,” “One Night,” “Tic Tac Toe,” “Dark Thoughts,” “Boys Don’t Cry” and “OWA OWA.”

He brought out a special guest, Kodak Black, with an intro saying, “Y’all from Miami right?” The crowd immediately went wild when Kodak Black made his way to the stage. 

The two performed their popular single “HVN ON EARTH,” a fan favorite, that was unfortunately kind of a let down on stage. The chemistry from the two performers felt off and Kodak wasn’t even really singing the song, which dampened the moment.

After lots of chanting from the crowd, Kodak performed “No Flockin,” which was so cool to hear as a Kodak fan and honestly such a throwback.

Tecca’s last song, “500lbs,” wrapped up at about 10:30, which was a slight surprise but made sense considering the prices for the tickets. 

On the way out, the merch looked cool, but it was more centered on the DOPAMINE tour and less on Tecca himself, which seemed less appealing to some fans. 

I would rate the overall experience an 8 out of 10. On Tecca’s part, he is a great performer with great music and I especially like how he harmonizes with his backing tracks.

I give points off only because of the venue’s miscommunication about seating and the merch t-shirts priced at $40. I also would’ve liked the show to be a bit longer. 

Still, I would definitely see Lil Tecca in concert again and continue to be a huge fan of him and his music.

Miami volleyball loses 3-1 to No. 5 Stanford, drop third straight

Anirudh Kannan
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Miami volleyball loses 3-1 to No. 5 Stanford, drop third straight

In a tough road contest against the fifth ranked team in the nation, the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes lost their third straight and now sit at 15-4 (5-3 ACC). 

Stanford’s win over Miami marks its fourth consecutive victory, improving its overall record to an impressive 14-3 (7-1 ACC).

The Cardinal jumped out to an early lead, taking the first set narrowly 25-23. 

Miami responded strongly in the second to tie the game at one apiece, but Stanford took the next two sets to clinch a 3-1 victory at home. 

UM senior Flormarie Heredia Colon continued her spectacular season, racking up 20 kills on route to yet another dominant performance for the ‘Canes.

Fellow Miami senior Dalia Wilson chipped in with 10 kills while Ariana Rodriguez put up an impressive 50 assists. 

The first set between the two ACC squads was hotly contested with the score dead even at 23-23 following a Rodriguez kill. However, a Heredia Colon attack error followed by a Stanford kill sealed the set in the Cardinal’s favor.

Lorelei DiSanto @loreleis_lens, Contributing Photographer// Freshman Amina N’Diaye receives SMU’s serve in the second set at the Knight Sports Complex on Oct. 12, 2025.

Miami fought back hard in the second, winning the set 27-25 in another closely contested finish. 

Freshman Mariam Mushkudiani and Heredia Colon put up eight and four kills respectively for the Hurricanes in the second set.

Just like the first two, the third set was also decided by a margin of just two points. Stanford sophomore Julia Blyashov finished off the set with her twelfth kill of the day as Miami once again faltered late in the period. 

Riding their momentum into the fourth, Stanford took the last set convincingly 25-16. The Hurricanes were unable to recover after the Cardinals went on a 6-0 run to make it 19-10. 

Miami will look to rebound back at home this Friday against fellow ACC rival Virginia Tech (9-10, 1-7 ACC).

UM to sport camo uniforms for upcoming Military Appreciation Game against Stanford

Bella Armstrong
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UM to sport camo uniforms for upcoming Military Appreciation Game against Stanford

Miami athletics announced camo-inspired uniforms for the Hurricanes’ upcoming matchup against Stanford Oct. 25. 

This game will be UM’s military appreciation game — a way to honor service members in the Miami and UM communities. For players like quarterback Emory Williams, who is a military child, this stands as a reminder of how vital the military community is to the U.

This is next in a long line of special jerseys that the University of Miami has made with its apparel supplier Adidas, but the camo-inspired jersey represents something even greater: unity.  

The design has green military-inspired camouflage and American flags on the sleeves.

The Honor and Service uniforms not only pay homage to the veterans and the military-affiliated students at UM, but in lieu of the typical last name being listed on the back of the jerseys, it will read ‘HURRICANES.’

It nods to the formidable—and so far, unbeatable—Miami Hurricanes, as well as the inclusive community UM fosters for its students. 

This isn’t the first military appreciation uniforms Adidas and Miami have created together. 

In 2015, special military-inspired uniforms were worn not only for the military-appreciation game but were auctioned for charity after the fact. The tradition continues a decade later, as the Hurricanes will take to the field Oct. 25, unified under the same banner.  

Fans can find and purchase the collection online at adidas.com which includes jerseys, hoodies, t-shirts and more.

This uniform stands as a reminder that regardless of background, to be a Hurricane is to be part of something bigger than yourself.

20sUnfiltered: Social Media

Jadyn Cohee and Sophia Metzner
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University of Miami content creator Sky Solomon joins 20’s Unfiltered to share her story growing to social media fame…

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