In this exclusive debate for Catch Up Canes, two University of Miami students discuss whether vaccine mandates should be in place, following the state of Florida’s announcement to drop its vaccine mandates.
No. 18 Miami volleyball’s win streak ends at 15 after 3-1 loss to No. 10 SMU
Miami volleyball’s impressive 15-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday, as the No. 18 Hurricanes fell 3-1 to No. 10 SMU.
Miami had been on a historic run, sweeping its first four ACC opponents and reverse-sweeping the No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers last week. But, that grueling test against Pitt seemed to have taken the wind out of the Hurricanes, as SMU were able to take the game by the reigns from the first set to the last.
The ‘Canes kept up with the Mustangs to start the first set, having led 5-4 after the first nine points. Yet, from this point on, SMU controlled the opening set with relative comfortability, eventually winning it 25-12.
The second set saw Miami come back into the game with a sense of renewed energy and fight. Miami was consistently one point behind SMU, but never let the set slip away, repeatedly finding ways to stay in contention. Ultimately, at the 20-20 mark, the ‘Canes dug in deeper than the Mustangs and battled towards a 25-21 set victory, tying the match at one set each.
Miami initially carried this momentum into the third set, taking the first four points consecutively. However, an eight-point streak from the Mustangs saw the scores flipped to 4-8, a lead that SMU refused to drop, as Mustangs took the set 25-14.
A pattern had emerged by the final set, as despite a strong opening by the Hurricanes, their impetus did not persist. SMU clawed themselves back into the set, showing the same edge that they had displayed throughout the contest, winning the set 25-21, and the match, 3-1.
Although any loss is a disappointing one, Miami’s historic run had to end at some point, and given SMU’s higher ranking, the Mustangs were not a lousy opponent by any means.
Senior Flormarie Heredia Cólon continued her solid form, with the outside hitter leading the team with 19 kills. Meanwhile, setter Ariana Rodriguez again displayed her playmaking proficiency, achieving 25 assists this game.
The ‘Canes remain tied for third in the ACC with No. 6 Stanford and No. 4 Pitt, all of whom are 5-1 in conference play.
The Hurricanes will now seek to bounce back against the California Golden Bears, who are on a four-game losing streak. Miami will go back on the road for this fixture in Berkeley, which will take place on Thursday, Oct. 16. First serve is set for 10 p.m. ET.
Miami’s midseason report cards: How every unit grades out
Coming off the other side of Miami’s final bye week, the first half of the 2025 campaign is officially in the rear view as the Hurricanes get set to gear up for seven nonstop weeks of ACC conference play. Now at the halfway point of the college football regular season, it’s time to dish out the midseason report card for each UM position group.
Standing at 5-0 heading into Friday night’s contest against Louisville, Miami’s start thus far has been an overwhelming success. In less than two months, the Hurricanes have re-established national powerhouse status, ascending to No. 2 on the AP Poll and conquering the state of Florida amid one of the toughest schedules in the country through seven weeks. Statement wins against Notre Dame, USF, Florida, and FSU have echoed nationwide among the college football landscape and catapulted Miami to being legitimate title contenders.
From elite offensive playmaking by the likes of Carson Beck and the legion of skill players at his disposal to the game-wrecking defensive front headlined by Reuben Bain Jr. that has terrorized opponents at the line of scrimmage, standout performances on both sides of the ball have been the sparkplug of the team’s undefeated run.
Let’s take a deeper look into the driving forces behind Miami’s dominance by assessing the various position groups before the Hurricanes enter the final half of the season.
Quarterback: A
Beck arrived at Coral Gables in January under lofty expectations and doubts from critics who failed to see the full picture of his time at Georgia. Within ten months, the sixth-year signal caller has silenced every naysayer, reversing the narrative and asserting himself as the Heisman favorite seven weeks into the season. As the trigger man behind offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s high-powered offense, Beck has already exhibited the traits of an NFL-caliber quarterback.
The marquee 2025 transfer currently ranks in the top 10 for completion percentage and grades as one of the best QBs in the country when in a clean pocket. But beyond the statistics, it’s the intangible qualities he possesses that have vaulted him into the spotlight. Beck’s overall leadership, poise, and competitiveness have been the backbone of Miami’s success, proving to be the decisive factors during the Hurricanes’ most crucial moments.
As the season progresses, the Jacksonville native will only continue to improve as he gets more comfortable utilizing his weapons within Dawson’s tailored offensive schemes.
Wide Receiver: A-
What was once a position of uncertainty heading into the fall has become one of the team’s greatest strengths. Miami’s new wide receivers have arguably exceeded expectations more than any other offensive group.
Commanded by the two-headed monster of sixth-year LSU transfer CJ Daniels and true freshman phenom Malachi Toney, the receiving corps has flourished in season-defining matchups against Notre Dame and Florida State, with the pair of wideouts developing into one of the most formidable duos in the nation.
Toney has emerged as Carson Beck’s favorite downfield target, leading the group with 29 receptions for 375 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Daniels isn’t far behind, amassing 269 yards from 23 catches and a team-high five scores. BYU transfer Keelan Marion and freshman standout Joshua Moore have also been making waves, and highly-touted pass-catcher Joshisa Trader will hopefully be unleashed in UM’s arsenal soon after suffering an injury in the season opener.
Aside from seeing little involvement in the game script against Florida, Miami’s wide receiver group has been elite when called upon.
Running Back: A-
A remarkable aspect of the Canes’ refurbished offense this year has been that when one skill group has sputtered, the other has picked up the slack.
This was seen most visibly against Florida, when Mark Fletcher Jr. and North Dakota State transfer Marty Brown combined for 196 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns when the passing game wasn’t moving the needle. Negating the Florida State contest as the only slight blemish, Fletcher Jr. and Brown have been stellar for Miami, taking over the backfield and moving the chains to alleviate pressure from Carson Beck having to play hero ball.
By establishing the run, they have added to a balanced attack that works in tandem with the receiving unit to beat teams in a multitude of ways. Fletcher Jr. has cemented himself as the feature back, accounting for 5.5 yards per carry on 428 total yards, while Brown has carved out a role at the goal line, seeing his bulk of touches come in the red zone en route to four touchdowns.
Jordan Lyle, who entered the year atop the running back depth chart before sustaining an injury in week one, will also look to provide an impact as he slowly ramps up his snap share.
Tight End: B-
The tight end unit has drawn mixed but generally lukewarm reviews up to this point. While the group has paid dividends in the blocking game, their lack of receiving production has stood out as a concern.
Elija Lofton, viewed as the successor to UM’s Elijah Arroyo who was taken in the second round of the NFL draft last year, has only generated 100 yards on 11 receptions. The lack of involvement in the passing game has been due to an unfavorable play design, not a lack of talent.
Between Lofton, Alex Bauman, and Brock Schott, this room has untapped potential that could be highly effective in short-yardage situations if their usage is increased. On the flip side, they have been strong contributors in run blocking and pass protection, opening the doors for explosive plays where the receivers and running backs have excelled.
Offensive Line: A
Loaded with depth and immense talent, Miami’s front five has been the foundation of the entire team. Some have even made the case that this group is the best in the country at the position, bar none.
Anchored by standouts Markel Bell, Anez Cooper and superstar Francis Mauigoa, the offensive line has smothered opponents at the line of scrimmage, allowing Carson Beck ample time to work his magic in the pocket. Against Florida State, the QB was pressured only six times in 30 dropbacks, amounting to a meager 20% pressure rate, which was astonishingly the highest rate they had conceded all season.
Head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal’s reputation for constructing elite units in the trenches has been exemplified through the Hurricanes’ impregnable brick wall up front, who have set the tone for UM to move the ball at will offensively.
Defensive Line: A+ (Valedictorian)
Through five games, Miami’s defensive line has shown why they are unequivocally the best in the country — just watch the film.
Physically domineering and mentally relentless, this front seven behind the ball has suffocated all players in their path, and no team has found an answer to stopping them so far. Leading their reign of terror is the combo of Akheem Mesidor and Bain, two of the best edge rushers in college football who rank among the top three in the nation in pressure rate.
Mesidor leads the team with 3.5 sacks, while Bain has become the best-graded football player in the country. Already racking up multiple defensive player of the week awards, the edge rusher’s performances have lifted him to the No. 1 spot on many NFL 2026 mock draft boards.
With the competition expected to ease up over the next seven weeks for the ‘Canes, expect Bain and the defensive line to continue brutalizing opposing offensive lines in unimaginable ways.
Secondary: B+
While not perfect, the secondary’s grade shows marked improvement from last season’s flunking disaster. Under the coaching of former defensive coordinator Lance Guidry in 2024, the defensive backs and safeties could not contain the explosive play, and they were frequently torched in man coverage as a result.
But under the new management of defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, this unit has completely transformed from an alarming weakness into a net strength. The group underwent a major overhaul during the offseason, highlighted by the splashy additions of defensive backs Jakobe Thomas, Keionte Scott and Zechariah Poyser via the transfer portal and the recruitment of ballhawking true freshman Bryce Fitzgerald, who has already nabbed three interceptions on his own.
Altogether, the secondary has produced nine turnovers, a strong positive that may help in overlooking their fourth quarter collapse against FSU.
Special Teams: A-
Consistency and reliability have been the main takeaways from this year’s special teams unit. FAU transfer kicker Carter Davis has been phenomenal, nailing field goals and PATs with 100% accuracy and drilling pivotal kicks against Notre Dame and Florida. Davis’ turnaround from last season has been extraordinary after entering Miami’s program 4-for-11 on field goals in his career and going 2-for-7 in 2024.
Punter Dylan Joyce has also enjoyed a strong start, shanking a punt at Florida State that tanked his average distance but otherwise remaining steady on the year. In the return game, specialist Keelan Marion along with Malachi Toney have flashed promise. Their best moment came against South Florida, when Toney almost ran a punt back for six had a teammate not fell into him seconds before breaking free of the pile. Overall, Hurricanes fans have yet to see any head-turning or awe-inspiring moments, but there haven’t been any major disasters either.
Miami falls 1-0 to Syracuse on senior night
The University of Miami Women’s soccer team narrowly lost to Syracuse after conceding a late 77th minute goal, spoiling the ’Canes senior night.
Syracuse was able to earn its first conference win of the season (5-6-4, 1-5-1 ACC), while Miami remains winless in the ACC (6-5-3, 0-5-1 ACC).
The game was a defensive chess match, as both teams struggled to generate offense on a soggy field which had been battered by rain all day leading up to the match.
With the game tied up late, the ‘Canes pushed for a late winner in an effort to cap off their senior night on a high note.
However, their aggressive approach backfired, as Syracuse was able to notch a clinical counter attack. After a failed clearance by a Miami defender, Syracuse’s Mia Klammer found herself through on goal, where she calmly slotted a shot into the bottom corner for the game’s lone score.
The Hurricanes were unable to equalize, despite outshooting Syracuse 16 to 13 and earning 12 corner kicks compared to Syracuse’s six.
Miami’s standouts on the day were goalkeeper Emily Bredek, who had two saves and held a clean sheet before being subbed off at the half, and Crosby Nicholson who had four shots on the day.
Miami’s home stand will continue when they host the California Golden Bears on Oct. 16 with kickoff set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
No.18 Miami tames the No.4 Pitt Panthers in reverse sweep
It was absolute bedlam at the Knight Sports Complex on Friday night when the No. 18 Miami Hurricanes (15-1, 5-0 ACC) defeated the No. 4 Pitt Panthers (12-3, 4-1 ACC), a night that ended with a ceremonial court-storm.
The Hurricanes’ 15th straight victory came after their opening loss to Indiana and marking the team’s best start since Miami began 15-0 in 2002.
The first set was tight, with the two teams tying the set on 11 separate occasions, along with five lead changes. With the score at 23-23, Dalia Wilson recorded a kill off an Ariana Rodriguez assist to give Miami set point. UM then dropped three straight points to lose the first set, 26-24.
The second set was all Panthers. They started hot, scoring six straight points and extending the lead to 9-3. The margin grew to as many as 11 as Pitt closed out the set, 25-14. This left Miami trailing 2-0 and marked the first time this year the Hurricanes had to fight back from a 2-0 deficit.
Although the third set was again largely even, Miami pulled away late, winning its first set of the night, 25-22. The Hurricanes hit .500 in the set. Flormarie Heredia Colón tallied seven kills, highlighted by scoring four of the final five points of the frame to close it out. Her last kill of the set clinched set point as it resoundingly deflected off the fingers of the Pitt block.
Miami carried the momentum into the fourth set. After the score was tied at 4, the Hurricanes strung together a 7-1 run, prompting a Pitt timeout. The Panthers could not reestablish themselves, as they did not tie or reclaim the lead in the set. This was Miami’s first match that went five sets since Sept. 10, when the Hurricanes defeated Ole Miss.
In the fifth set of contested action, kills from Heredia Colón and Jazmin Vergara gave Miami an early 10-6 lead. Returning the favor, Pitt’s Olivia Babcock tied the score at 11-11. Down the stretch, two Heredia Colón kills, a Rodriguez ace and a final Panthers service error encapsulated a massive upset in Coral Gables.
Miami completed the reverse sweep behind Flormarie Heredia Colón’s 38 kills, a program record, and Ariana Rodriguez’s double-double with 46 assists and 12 digs.
The Hurricanes will have another top-ten matchup when they face No. 10 SMU at home on Sunday at 1:30 p.m., looking to continue their hot streak.
Hurricanes Football Mid-Season Position Grades with UMTV’s Luca Mucciardi
Zach and Liam break down Miami’s 28-22 victory over Florida State University with Luca Mucciardi. The crew gives out mid-season grades, discusses the new schedule format, and more.
Miami Beach’s rainbow crosswalk is the latest “political” road art to be removed
Efforts to remove Miami Beach’s iconic rainbow crosswalk from Ocean Drive’s entertainment district began Sunday afternoon, and by Monday morning, the intersection was entirely paved over in asphalt.
Miami Beach officials fought against the state order, but lost their appeal just two days prior to the removal.
The repainting comes two months after a federal directive to remove “political” or “non-uniform” art from Florida’s roads.
The removals began in late August when an Orlando crosswalk, which served to honor the victims of the Pulse shooting, was painted over. Florida’s queer community fought back by recoloring over the charcoal, but the Florida Department of Transportation continued repainting the crosswalk black.
The Ocean Drive crosswalk was a marker of the annual Miami Beach Pride parade — a beloved tradition for many UM LGBTQ Center student assistants and Pride Ambassadors.
Courtney Hartung, president of SpectrUM and a self-identified biromantic-asexual woman, recalled many fond memories of the intersection during the Miami Beach Pride parade. She called the removal of the crosswalk “heartbreaking.”
“It represented the LGBTQ community here in Miami,” Hartung explained. “It showed our contributions to the community. To me, it just meant representation; it meant visibility.”
Growing up in Florida, Hartung shared that she had never felt unwelcome or unsafe due to her queer identity until recently, with legislation such as the Parental Rights in Education Act also known as the Don’t Say Gay Bill and restrictions on gender-affirming care.
“As laws are being passed, it feels very much more unsafe to be a Florida resident,” said Hartung. “It feels like we are not wanted, because that is what the legislation is saying — that our existence does not matter to them. It feels like it’s becoming harder and harder to live here when this has been home for me since birth.”
Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez and more than a dozen protestors held signs across the street from the repainting. They chanted, “Miami Beach, forever proud.”
To Fernandez and the greater Miami queer community, the walkway represented queer liberation and unrelenting strength.
“This is the story of people’s lives. We’ve suffered decades of injustice, of inequality of discrimination,” said Fernandez. “Then we overcame that. That was the story being told by these bricks. We can’t lose it.”
The commissioner shared that city public works employees collected all of the removed rainbow stones so they could one day be repurposed.
Sports Brief: Volleyball Dominates, Football Glory and more
Pablo is back with another packed TMH Sportscast, breaking down a massive week for the Hurricanes.
Miami Volleyball continues its red-hot run as it gears up for huge matchups against Pittsburgh and SMU. Soccer looks to bounce back at home, while both the men’s and women’s basketball teams prepare for nationally televised seasons full of must-watch matchups. And in football, the Canes swept FSU and Florida for the second straight year.
Gorfin: Foundations for Miami to have success over Syracuse in must-win game
UM Women soccer’s 3-0 loss to Florida State University last Friday saw the Hurricanes left winless in the opening five fixtures of their 2025 ACC Campaign.
However, this Saturday’s game against last-place Syracuse provides a more-than-promising opportunity for the Hurricanes to grab their first ACC win of the season.
The fact that Syracuse and Miami are level in the ACC on one point, with both having tied against SMU, could suggest that they are of the same standard. However, Syracuse has played three home games in contrast to Miami’s one, and currently ride a five-game losing streak. The Hurricanes have shown strong performances against difficult sides in Louisville and Duke, while Syracuse was convincingly beaten by every tough team they have faced.
Most of all, Miami has bright sparks, namely Teegan Melenhorst and Ciara Alarcon, that give the Hurricanes the technical edge needed to win this game.
Syracuse was dominated in all of their last three fixtures, having been outshot 16-5 by California, 36-5 by Stanford, and 31-10 by Clemson.
Meanwhile, Miami was defensively sound against Duke and Louisville, showing the capability to put in industrious performances against highly-rated teams. Still, Miami must improve at defending cutbacks, as in every one of Miami’s competitive fixtures, there has been a lapse in focus in marking second-runners when the opposition squares the ball from out wide. While Syracuse are unlikely to punish Miami to the same extent that the attacking powerhouses of FSU and Wake Forest did, the Hurricanes need to work on this issue if they wish to have a strong second half of the season.
Furthermore, Miami should emphasize funneling attacks through Melenhorst and Alarcon. Prior games against Wake Forest and Duke required structural solidity and quantitative overloads to try and pinch results against these highly organized and technical sides. Conversely, Syracuse lacks the same organization and individual ability as previous opponents, making them less threatening offensively and weaker defensively. Therefore, placing onus on utilizing the qualitative superiority of the Canes’ midfield will be effective in breaking down Syracuse’s 4-5-1 formation.
Most of all, there must be a focus on finding the Hurricanes’ midfielders in the right areas, as Miami’s insufficiency in getting the ball in and around the penalty area has resulted in lower quality chances. The 4-4-2 diamond Masuhr has recently deployed works at getting Melenhorst on the edge of the box, but this narrow formation sometimes restricts Miami’s ability to stretch the opposition’s defense, reducing the faculty for the ’Canes deeper midfielders to play. Therefore, an adaptation to a 4-2-3-1 could potentially solve this issue while keeping Melenhorst in her best role.
With this idea in mind, Miami could set up as follows:
Defense – #0 Bredel, #14 Maxwell, #4 Morella, #2 Simpson, #25 Kaye
Midfield – #13 Nicholson, #8 Alarcon, #12 Melenhorst
Attack – #7 Hood, #11 Akguel, #15 Serlenga
In this setup, Nicholson would be the primary defensive outlet while Alarcon would occupy the more progressive role in the double pivot, aiding movement of the ball up to Melenhorst in the #10 role. Miami’s recent goal drought has produced the belief that some changes in attack should occur, but rolling substitution rules mean that this frontline would be subject to change throughout the game.
Ultimately, this game is firmly in Miami’s hands. The Hurricanes have benefitted from over a week of preparation, and the home advantage of playing at Cobb Stadium will only add to the team’s growing sense of impetus to win on Oct. 11th, at 7:00 p.m.
The college fast-fashion epidemic
Being a University of Miami student means constant involvement in events, like football tailgates, Greek life parties, a night out at Space and so much more. With everything students have going on in their life, it always boils down to one question: “What am I going to wear?!”
These events and social media pressure call for an intense need for more outfits which can become very expensive. For some, cheap “one-time wear” outfits have become a necessity to keep up, and many have turned to fast-fashion for answers.
The term “fast-fashion” is a hot search item on social media, and refers to cheap clothing that is mass produced, sometimes using harmful methods. Popular fast fashion brands include Shein, Forever 21, Cider, PrettyLittleThing and H&M.
Fast-fashion pressures students into constant overconsumption, but normalizing outfit repetition offers a practical solution that reduces financial strain and challenges the influence of social media.
It’s no secret that social media is a huge part of Miami culture. Everyone has it, everyone is always active and most have let it drive their decisions, like the outfits they wear in order to post. And God forbid someone saw you with the same outfit in a different post!
A 2022 Forbes article stated that 72% of college students shopped fast fashion that year, with a recent Uniform Market article stating that fast fashion became a $150.8 billion industry in 2024, with the number on the rise in the coming years.
So yes, having 30 “going out” tops from Shein is considered a problem. Fast-fashion raises serious ethical labor and environmental sustainability concerns. The BBC recently released a piece on Shein’s suppliers’ use of child labor in foreign countries to produce their clothing. Environmental impact, labor exploitation and financial strain are still often overlooked by students in the rush to stay trendy.
“I see so many UM girls here that have brand deals with FashionNova or PrettyLittleThing, so it’s pretty difficult not to see fast-fashion everywhere on our social media,” says UM junior Mia Farnesi. “In Greek life too, we always have so many themed events, so unfortunately getting one-time outfits is sometimes necessary.”
It’s clear that digital culture, and maybe Miami culture as well, is driving college students toward fast fashion pieces. A large reason can be due to “micro-trends” that come and go within weeks, pushing students towards cheap, disposable clothing to keep pace. Another can be our surrounding city of Miami in general, which is notorious for its party scene and luxury living. And the social pressure is real, as a 2023 Corporette article highlighted that close to 50% of women ages 18 to 25 felt required to wear a different outfit every time they went out, especially if they were taking pictures that might be posted on social media.
But even with the social pressure and ethical concerns of excessive fast-fashion among college kids, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Some may argue that with fast-fashion pieces being cheap, having “more” for “less” is justified, rather than finding staple pieces, to which I say, this is the perfect time to head a change!
With sustainable and financial alternatives on the rise, especially a climb in thrifting popularity, the so-called “necessity” of consistent overconsumption can be combated. Or a simple fix: rewear your clothes, people! We have washers and dryers on campus for a reason! Breaking the fear of rewearing your clothes will shorten the need to constantly need new ones.
By shifting toward more mindful shopping habits and embracing rewear culture, we as students can begin to resist the social media-driven push for constant consumption and redefine what it means to be fashionable on campus.
‘Canes volleyball continues historic run with road sweep against Wake Forest
On Sunday afternoon in Winston-Salem, the No. 18-ranked Miami Hurricanes volleyball (14-1, 4-0 ACC) took down the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-8, 1-3 ACC), continuing a historic run.
The Hurricanes’ 14th-straight victory on the season marked the team’s longest win streak since 2002, when the ‘Canes went 15-0 to start. Miami has not lost a set in five matches, sweeping every opponent in the ACC thus far.
UM’s dominance was on full display as they took the court at Reynolds Gym, opening on a 7-0 run fueled by setter Ariana Rodriguez. The redshirt sophomore earned three aces as the Hurricanes took an 11-4 early lead.
Building on their previous momentum, the ‘Canes secured another 7-1 run, this time leading the way with two blocks by senior Dalia Wilson.
Leading by 12, zero errors by the Hurricanes and a .478 hitting percentage was what ultimately sealed the deal in a 25-11 first set victory.
Though the first set indicated a smooth sailing match for Miami, the Demon Deacons fought back throughout the remainder of the game.
Following two aces by senior Naylani Feliciano, the ‘Canes led the second set 9-6.
Answering back, Wake Forest made a 5-1 run of its own, tying the game at 13, and eventually taking a 20-17 lead behind 12 kills in the set.
Another pair of aces by star setter Rodriguez along with 15 kills by the frontline pushed the Hurricanes just ahead of the Demon Deacons, securing the second set 25-23.
Moving into the third and final set of the night, the Hurricanes looked to secure both the sweep over Wake Forest, and the No.18 spot in the ACVA Rankings.
It was the Demon Deacons this time that stepped on the gas fast, accelerating to a 7-4 lead over the ‘Canes to start set three.
Taking over the game by herself, Senior Flormarie Heredia Colon led the way for the Hurricanes with four straight points. The six-foot outside hitter tallied one kill, one ace, and two blocks to propel Miami’s comeback.
Heredia Colón continues to make her presence felt during Miami’s 14-match win streak, being named ACC Co-Offensive player of the week. The Santo Domingo native currently leads the NCAA and the ACC in points per set and leads the conference in kills per set, total points, total kills, total attacks, and is second in the ACC in aces per set and total aces.
Continuing her solid first season with the ‘Canes, freshman hitter Amina N’Diaye added key third-set kills to accompany the Hurricanes’ powerhouse.
As the final point commenced, it was Miami’s wall at the net by Wilson and Heredia Colón that earned the Hurricanes the match victory, 25-22.
This road win both secured the Hurricanes’ top-20 position in the ACVA Rankings, and sealed the deal on a historic run for the team.
Returning home for a two-game stint, the Hurricanes will take on Pitt on Oct. 10, and SMU on Oct. 12, before returning to a set of road games on the West Coast.
Understanding the 2025 government shutdown
The federal government shut down Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m. after the Senate failed to pass funding for the upcoming fiscal year after back-to-back votes.
When Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on a spending proposal, they each block the other’s stopgap spending proposal.
This time, the disputes primarily occurred over health care subsidies and proposed medicaid cuts. Republicans also suggested cutting government funding, like the extension of tax credits making health insurance cheaper.
Specifically, the Republican’s bill did not extend Obamacare subsidies or restore Medicaid funding, while the Democrat’s bill added over $1 trillion in spending.
In an effort to create a continuing resolution with some adjustments, the House passed a short-term funding bill through November 21, but the Senate rejected it.
As a result, thousands of federal workers will be furloughed, or temporarily laid off without pay.
The agencies that are being hit the hardest are the Environmental Protection Agency, with 89% of their employees furloughed, Education with 87%, Commerce with 81%, Labor with 76% and Housing and Urban Development with 71%.
Just these agencies alone are furloughing over 64,000 federal workers.
While the government is shut down only mandatory spending programs and essential services may continue to function.
Federal grants and loans, like Pell Grants and FAFSA, are considered mandatory spending, so they will continue unaffected. However, since the Department of Education is furloughing 87% of its workforce, delays can be expected in customer service at FAFSA help centers.
“I don’t think there is going to be that much of an impact,” said a University of Miami student who wishes to remain anonymous. “If anything, maybe withdrawal of certain disbursements of financial aid. That might happen, it might not happen. It depends on what this government is going to consider as an essential service of the government.”
Payments for on-campus student jobs are tied to school-administered funds, but if a school relies on federal staff, payment reports could be delayed. Private institutions like UM, are not federally funded and do not rely on federal staff. Therefore student employees payments will continue to be reported.
However, students interning at federal agencies may be furloughed.
“I have heard that people have had federal jobs lined up and then they were taken away, so I think that is going to cause problems,” said a UM student who will remain anonymous. “I’m also curious how this is going to impact federal work study, as a federal work study student.”
A federal work study is a federally funded program that provides part-time, on-campus jobs for both undergraduate and graduate students on a need basis, to help pay for their school expenses.
The effects of a government shutdown on the federal work study program depend on how prolonged the shutdown becomes. Students will continue to receive paychecks for the current semester, but if the shutdown continues, students risk disruptions for the upcoming semester, as well as delays in program administration.
Research programs will experience paused grants and a freeze on approvals. The shutdown also limits research visits to national parks and access to federal library archives.
The shut down might also cause travel delays and longer TSA lines due to FAA furloughs. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, this could affect those with travel plans for the upcoming fall break.
“I’m not very worried about flying home over this fall recess. I have a strong belief in our government that we will figure out a policy in place within the next week, so I’m very confident that everything will go very well with the TSA in two weeks, said Luke Ryan, a UM student.
For the time being, airports will remain open, student loans will continue, National Parks will remain partially open and Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits will continue at least to the end of the year, but nothing is certain with a government shutdown.
The last government shutdown was under the Trump administration’s first term in 2018, becoming the longest government shutdown in history lasting 35 days, and cost the U.S about $600 million per week.
This shutdown was caused by disputes over funding for the wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. After lots of debate, it finally came to an end when Trump reached a temporary deal with congressional leaders so that the government could reopen for three weeks while negotiations continued.
Trump claims this government shutdown is a great opportunity to cut programs and people that Democrats like. According to The New York Times, Trump said that “A lot of good can come down from shutdowns.”
The government has been shut down for six days and it is unknown how long the shutdown will last. The government reopening depends on how willing the parties are to compromise and Congress’s eagerness to act.