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october 2012
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THE ECONOMY, UNEMPLOYMENT, GAY RIGHTS
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In the Margins
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The Political Issue
THE GUIDE
5 Food Nation
By Claudia Aguirre
6 All-American Restaurants
By Lyssa Goldberg
7 Velvet Rope
Secrets
By Christine Keeler
8 The Election Playlist
By Claudia Aguirre
9 Igniting the Young Vote By Katherine Guest
IN THE LOOP
10 Cycle For A Cure By Nicole Vila 11 Candidates of Tomorrow
By Elizabeth F. Gallagher
12 College Republicans vs. Young Democrats: Gay Rights By Rachel Kliger
13 Pop Culture
October 2012
Politics Quiz By Nicky Diaz
SPORTS
14 Life and Death of An American Rivalry By Patrick Riley 16 Why the Miami Sports Fan Is Not As Different As You Think
By Will Gretsky
FASHION
18 Swimming With Pride
our onl OUT in culture e calend ar!
By Ernesto Suarez
17 Sitting Down With Sofia Johansson
CHECK
By Ana Calderone and Gabrielle Mottaz
25 Campus Style By Ana Calderone
MAIN EVENT
26 20 Issues You Need To Know In 2012
By Alexandra Solano
30 Occupy Twitter
By Ashley Brozic
By Christian Smith
By Stephanie Parra
34 Estamos Unidos 36 Capitol ‘Canes
END NOTES
40 My Favorite Thing About America Is By Alicia Walker
RED, WHITE AND BLUE. On November 6, make sure to exercise your right to vote and determine the future of our country. The Political Issue
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Letter from the Editor
October 2012
distractionmagazine.com WHY ARE YOU VOTING IN THIS ELECTION? Editor-in-Chief _Jonathan Borge Executive Editor_Ashley Brozic Managing Editor_Claudia Aguirre Art Directors_Sophianna Bishop and Ivana Cruz Photo Editors_Kelly Smith and Raquel Zaldivar Copy Chief_Alexandra Solano “I’m in the 1 percent, The Guide & End Notes Editor_Christine Keeler and I intend to keep it In The Loop Editor _Nicole Vila that way.” -S.B. Sports Editor_Patrick Riley Assistant Sports Editor_Kristen Spillane Fashion Editor_Ana Calderone Assistant Fashion Editor_Gabrielle Mottaz “This will be the first The Main Event Editor_Christian Smith election in which I Web Master_Rosa Orihuela will be old enough to “The choice is Culture Blog Editor_Kristen Calzadilla vote, finally!” -M.F. obvious. I want Music Blog Editor_Hyan De Freitas to make sure my Photo Blog Editor_Maggie Fragel candidate wins Video Editor_Kappes Chatfield our crucial swing Co-Public Relations Managers_Rachel Kliger state.” -M.C. and Casey Gasinowski Assistant PR Managers_Justin Borroto and Morgan Chicchelly Social Media Editor_Jonathan Fernandez Business Manager_Natasha Ramchandani Advertising Sales Representative_Alexandra Hurtado Advertising Sales Representative_Michael Synder Faculty Advisor_Randy Stano Contributors Ela Apa, Photographer Zachary Beeker, Photographer Holly Bensur, Photographer Marchesa Bergman, Writer Natalie Colburn, Designer Zachary Devito, Photographer and Writer Nicky Diaz, Writer Karli Evans, Photographer Elizabeth F. Gallagher, Writer Nan Gallagher, Designer Lyssa Goldberg, Writer Will Gretsky, Writer Katherine Guest, Writer Melanie Haschek, Sales Rep Anna Hicks, Designer
Megan McCrink, Writer Erin Meagher, Designer Carlos Mella, Illustrator Kacie Nelson, Photographer Shadia Olarte, Sales Rep Stephanie Parra, Writer Scott Rose, Photographer Kimberly Sabbagh, Sales Rep Shelby Schoensee, Writer Ernesto Suarez, Writer Ian Thompson, Photographer Alicia Walker, Writing Haoyu Wu Wu, Illustrator Alicia Walker, Writer Ernesto Suarez, Writer
When CNN’s Soledad O’ Brien visited our campus last year, I asked her if she still believed in the American dream. “Yes,” she said. I found myself disappointed in her answer, though. How could the American dream still be alive when our country is suffering from one of the worst economic setbacks since the Great Depression, and our position as the world’s reigning superpower is always in question? I assumed her answer was rehearsed; She was then still promoting the memoir she penned, “The Next Big Story: My Journey Through the Land of Possibilities,” and obviously had to relay the same optimistic tone of her book’s title. Soon after, I was unable to watch O’Brien on TV without wincing, and opted for Anderson’s debonair on-screen arrival, or waited for Piers Morgan’s British charm. But as November rolls around, the O’Brien wound is healing and I’ve chosen to agree with her. Yes, the American dream is very much in tact. For college seniors, our final year feels like one never-ending wait in line. Some of us don’t mind the wait, while the rest are eagerly skipping forward. This notion of being in a line, anticipating a next step, a tomorrow, a future, is deeply rooted in American beliefs. Regardless of new nationwide crises, we always have the luxury of choice – the ability to dream, plan, chase opportunity and open new doors. It’s because of choice that I agree with O’Brien’s opinion. Come November 6, whether you’re voting for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, just think of all the choices you’ve been able to make thus far –– all thanks to our ELECTION American dream. Cheers,
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WE LIKE YOU
When it comes to contributors, we’re not picky. Whether you’ve found your niche in a bio book, you’re notorious for doing “nothing” at the comm or business school, or you’re halfway into your college career and still wave that “undeclared major” flag, we want to hear what you have to say. Distraction is written for students, by students, and covers the full spectrum of student life here at The U. If you want to get involved with us or have any questions, email our editor-in-chief, Jonathan Borge, at j.borge@umiami.edu and he will get you in contact with the right people. October 2012 Distraction is dubbed “The Political Issue.” The magazine is produced four times per year, twice a semester. City Graphics and NU-PRESS Miami printed 6,500 copies of the magazine on 8.5 x 11 inch, 60-pound coated text paper 4/4. The entire magazine is printed four-color and saddle stitch bound. Most text is nine-point Minion Pro with 1.8 points of leading set ragged with a combination of bold, medium and italic. All pages were designed using Adobe Creative Suite 5 software InDesign with photographs and artwork handled in PhotoShop and Illustrator. For additional information please visit distractionmagazine.com. Questions and comments can be mailed to 5100 Brunson Dr., Coral Gables Fla. 33146-2105, dropped into LC150-A or emailed to j.borge@umiami.edu. All articles, photographs and illustrations are copyrighted by the University of Miami.
ABOUT US
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Distraction
Masthead
Jonathan Borge P.S. Look out for the gold sticker above to find election-specific stories across the entire issue.
the
magazine of the students of
the university of miami
october 2012
WHY
DONNA SHALALA
4CANES
SHOULD RUN FOR
CAPITOLBOUND
On the Cover
E L IN N O OW
N
The red Solo cup is unarguably 8 AMERICAN emblematic of college life in + America. With our 17 country’s flag in the background and the cup up front, the cover is designed to depict the fun, carefree lifestyle of college students with the urgent nature of the presidential election. design_sophianna bishop and ivana cruz. photo_kelly smith. PRESIDENT
EATERIES
THE ECONOMY, UNEMPLOYMENT, GAY RIGHTS
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distractionmagazine.com The Environment: Why is No One talking?
Eating House on the Art of American Cuisine
Warmer winters don’t seem to be on Rombama’s mind. But should they?
Meet head chef Giorgio Rapicavoli and his take on American dishes.
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As owner of Seacoast Mortgage & a financial planner, I will offer you the best rate on your loan & assist in attaining all your financial goals. Rhode Island loans, Massachusetts loans and Connecticut loans are why we are here. We are here, so we can get you there: "In YOUR new home". Mortgages are our secondary concern. The client is our primary concern. Loans are our business and clients are for life. I have been in the lending business for over 15 years. I am also a financial planner and possess series 6, 63 AND 65 licenses. Your loan closing is our top priority.
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“It might sound lame, but your “Cool Jobs” story made me slightly less paranoid about graduating. People can break the mold and still be successful.” -Jaclyn Sarnese, Senior
“In “Miami’s Best Kept Secret”, I liked how you mentioned bars worth knowing about that aren’t really known yet, like Blackbird Ordinary. At a school where people go to the same bars and clubs every week, it’s nice to spread the word about other options.” -Tamara Leibovich, Junior
“I’m a huge online shopping addict. The “Digital Style” piece in the last issue suggested some really
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Rhode Island Massachusetts Connecticut Florida Office (401) 4751600 Ex 306 Cell (508) 2431190 Fax (401) 4751441 www.seacoastmortgage.com
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The Guide
The
FALL
T g 2012
gu i de AMERICA: FOOD NATION Combo Platter, Sparky’s Roadside Barbecue
If it’s fried and smothered in grease, it’s probably American. Put your fears of fat aside and dip into the world of fries, cheese and bacon. Regardless of what some renowned chefs may say, we all know deep inside that there is nothing like homey, American comfort food. After all, there must be a reason why so many TV shows, songs and poems have been dedicated to the world of deep-fried chicken. Here goes to celebrating the world of true American food, a symbol of nationhood, often imitated but never duplicated.
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G food
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YARDBIRD: Sweet Tea-Brined Southern Ribs
BIG PINK: PortobelloGoat Cheese
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02 FRONT PORCH CAFÉ:
Crabcake
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ALL-AMERICAN 02 RESTAURANTS
served in a stainless steel tray.
words_lyssa goldberg. photo_ holly bensur. design_sophianna bishop. Whether you’re looking for the best burger and fries or an authentic plate of barbecue, we’ve served up the eight best all-American joints to feed your proud and patriotic self.
THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRINK & PROVISIONS 5132 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305.758.9559; thefederalmiami.com Celebrating nothing but American integrity, The Federal tops our list as a prime place to sit down for an all-American supper. From the New England lobster roll to the creamed collard greens with bacon bits, the menu covers classic dishes from coast to coast, albeit with a twist.
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BIG PINK 157 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305.532.4700 With plates as massive as the colossal menu and an all-day breakfast, this is a Miami diner icon. You can order the oversized Carolina Pulled Pork omelet made with five eggs at 2 a.m. on a Friday night. You’ll also find American staples like the 10-oz. Big Pink Burger or traditional Big Pink Meatloaf. For a fun, six-part meal, order the TV Dinner that’s
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The Guide
YARDBIRD SOUTHERN TABLE AND BAR 1600 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach; 305.538.5220; runchickenrun.com Named one of the country’s 50 Best New Restaurants in 2012 by Bon Appétit, Yardbird proves that Miami is part of the South with a heaping selection of fried meats and vegetables sure to comfort your inner countryman. The chefs here use local ingredients, like produce from Homestead’s Paradise Farms. All the deep South bases are covered with the restaurant’s Blue Plate Special: flavorful fried chicken, chilled watermelon and buttermilk pancakes. SPARKY’S ROADSIDE BARBECUE 204 NE First St., Miami; 305.377.2877; sparkysroadsidebarbeque.com A casual barbecue joint in Downtown, Sparky’s offers traditional barbecue fare. The pulled pork sandwich is a favorite and the sides, which range from very cheesy mac and cheese to sugary baked beans, get barbecue just right. Tyler’s Pressed Sandwich is a must-have. It’s like a good ol’ grilled cheese with a combo of beef brisket and pulled pork. With a handful of different homemade barbecue sauces, from apple cider vinegar to a spicy XX, there are a ton of ways to liven up your meal. SERENDIPITY3 1102 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.403.2210; facebook.com/serendpity3mia
The Frrrozen Hot Chocolate here is gigantic, since Americans always do things big, and there are sundaes, cakes and pies as well. Not to be ignored is the Guinness World Recordsetting Golden Opulence Sundae, which at $1,000, is the most expensive sundae in the world. Ingredients like Tahitian vanilla beans and 23-carat gold leaf must be imported, so this order can’t be too serendipitous – the restaurant requires notice 48 hours in advance. JERRY’S FAMOUS DELI 1450 Collins Ave., Miami Beach;· 305.534.3244; jerrysfamousdeli.com A South Beach giant that has welcomed celebrities for decades, Jerry’s Famous Deli is a Sobe staple. And like a good deli should, the menu offers over 600 traditional deli sandwiches and diner favorites. We suggest you look straight to their most authentic (and gigantic) sandwich: the Sky High Combo. It features piles of hot pastrami and corned beef served with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. Can it get any better? BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ 901 S. Miami Ave, Miami;· 786.360.3650; brotherjimmys.com Brother Jimmy’s just opened this summer and has already become a local favorite. While you can’t miss out on the classic fried green tomatoes, try some of the more adventurous options like candied yams with walnuts or fried Brussels sprouts (they’re not the worst vegetable on the planet – we promise!). Brother Jimmy’s BBQ has certainly accomplished its mission of bringing Southern home-cooking to Miami.
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FRONT PORCH CAFÉ 1458 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.531.8300; frontporchoceandrive.com Front Porch Café is located on, well, the front porch of the Z Ocean Hotel on Ocean Drive. Feel free to grab a popular Porch Burger for lunch or a pan-seared snapper for dinner. While the orange-zested French toast and sausage-laden Sicilian omelet are big breakfast hits, you’ve got to order the Beach Breakfast Deluxe. Add in a cup of Joe and there’s no way to make your morning more American than that.
THE
The Hidden Gem EXTRA EDITION
AMERICAN GRAFFITI
E MOR E! N I L ON
We interviewed Eating House’s head chef Giorgio Rapicavoli about his take on American Cuisine. How does Eating House differentiate from tradtional American Cuisine? “We always change what we do. There is no classic American cuisine. Miami’s such a big mix of people, in the same way, we’re just a big mix of food.” For an in-depth profile and interview on the restaurant, check out our Culture blog at distractionmagazine.com
G to do
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L LO
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Tips From Barracuda’s Bouncer
words_ashley brozic photo_raquel zaldivar
KILL YOUR IDOL
THE BAR
HAVEN
TOWN
VELVET ROPE SECRETS
Good Drinks, Good Times, And A Good Chance of Getting In words_christine keeler. photo_kacie nelson. design_sophianna bishop.
SEGAFREDO
1421 S. Miami Ave. Miami; 305.577.9809; sze-brickell.com Segafredo is a trendy Italian cafe in Brickell that turns into a house-pumping lounge at night. Well known by students for its bi-weekly “French Kiss Tuesdays,” Segafredo offers great drink specials and has delicious strawberry champagne. They rarely bat a lash when youngsters order here, but, please, compose yourself. Segafredos is more upscale than the Grove.
THE BAR
172 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables; 305.442.2730; gablesthebar. com The Bar is close to campus and with a happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, it’s the perfect spot for some post-class refreshment. Fridays are the night to go, though, as ladies receive free drinks until 7 p.m.
RICOCHET
3250 First Ave., Ste. 122 B, Miami; 786.353.0846; ricochetlounge.com Ricochet is an intimate, chic bar in Midtown that is conveniently placed next to cheap and delicious eateries. The bar has a unique triangle shape to it and the bathrooms are scribbled on with chalk. You can walk in with no problem, submerge yourself in the crowd and sway to their live band on weekends. Oh, and there’s a $1 parking garage nearby in case you’d like to tip off your DD.
TOWN
7301 SW 57th Court, S. Miami; 305.740.8118; townkitchenbar.com
Known for their Champagne special on Thursday evenings, this eatery offers a complimentary cocktail and wine menu for ladies on Mondays. They do ask for some form of identification though, but they won’t press you on it too much. This place is ideal for a dinner with friends, however, don’t expect to make a night out of it. It’s at most a pre-pregame for the Grove.
HAVEN
1237 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach; 305.987.8885; havenlounge. com Haven is a high-tech, modern lounge at the end of Lincoln Road. The digital, full-screen walls glow as the music plays, providing video and audio entertainment while you indulge in the bites and cocktails. The crowd can get a bit pretentious, but that’s to be expected in this area. It’s expensive, so come prepared.
KILL YOUR IDOL
222 Espanola Way, Miami Beach; 305.534.1009 A hipster favorite, Kill Your Idol is a dive bar on Espanola Way in Miami Beach with great drink specials and a funky and relaxed atmosphere. There is a 3-D statue of Bruce Lee behind the bar, which lends a badass vibe to an otherwise oldschool hotspot. Dress is casual, as is the door policy.
CAFEINA
297 NW 23rd St., Miami; 305.438.0792; cafeinamiami.com Cafeina is tucked away in Wynwood, but once your GPS is able to find it, you’ll be thankful. There is a gallery in the back if you’re into curating fine art and you can also enjoy $5 appetizers during happy hour. Getting past the velvet rope easily is a hit or miss, but so is their choice of live bands.
If you’re a frequent Grovegoer, you have definitely met (and were possibly rejected by) Charlie, the infamous doorman at ‘Cudas. He has been turning down IDs at the Grove for over 20 years now, so we did a little investigative research as to how he can spot the ‘reals’ from the ‘fakes.’ What are three tell-all signs that give away an underaged person?
“1. The person’s height. 2. The hologram on the ID and the style. 3. Getting called by a different name than what’s on your ID.” What is the craziest ID you’ve ever rejected? “The craziest story? A black guy gave me an Asian ID once. He didn’t get in.”
Any advice you have for the next generation of bar hoppers? “Don’t piss off your door guy and quit acting like an amateur.”
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G music
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same criteria. The Dixie Chicks surged into political controversy in the ‘00s due to their public announcement declaring opposition of the Iraq War and the Bush administration. Bruce Springsteen was widely active in supporting the 2008 Obama campaign and even performed at the President’s 2009 Inaugural Ceremony. Springsteen has sat out for the 2012 campaign. In 2012, it is difficult to find popular and politically inclined musicians. The general consensus is that music today is simply not what it was three decades ago- cue dubstep and Carly Rae Jepsen. This can be a conclusion that is far too simplistic, because although artists singing about summer nights and love at 18 populate the top charts, there is an exception to every rule. Jay-Z has continued to express his support toward the Obama campaign. Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Jason Mraz have also participated in charity work and have aligned themselves politically. Candidates understand the power music has when translating ideas into lyrics. Perhaps we need more songs about peace and revolution. More Woodstock and less Ultra. This all goes to show that music can actually be used as a measure of how much, or how little, our generation has politics on our minds.
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THE ELECTION PLAYLIST: LESS RIHANNA, MORE BEATLES words_claudia aguirre. photo_karli evans. design_sophianna bishop.
Politics and mainstream music are not two concepts we put together intentionally - at least not today. Although recent events, such as the arrest of the band Pussy Riot in Russia, seemed to have reawakened music’s infamous controversial and fighting spirit, the force of their movement remained in another hemisphere. It appears that it is “All Quiet on the Western Front” in regards to music and political activism. Surprisingly, the 2012 campaign has not revitalized the political identity of American musicians. The reality is that music is not as political as it was just four years ago. The amount of musicians that have officially endorsed President Barack Obama has decreased by over 50 percent from 2008 to the current year. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney adopted “Born Free” by famous right-wing performer Kid Rock as his official campaign theme song- a song that had been released two years prior. Other than Kid Rock, few musicians have chosen to publicly endorse the Republican candidate. Yet being politically active in music has a historical legacy. Although the ‘70s are known as a decade for musicians to write about LSD and other drugs, it was a time when music and politics shared one characteristic: they stirred people. This gave rise to names such as British punk rock band The Clash, which became representative of the turbulent and unstable socioeconomic environment in Britain under Thatcherism in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Like them, bands such as The Beatles and The Sex Pistols wrote lyrics intended to speak liberally about the war, politics and activism. U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” followed along the
SOUNDS LIKE POLITICS words_zach devito.
Distraction sat down with WVUM DJ Ashley G and asked her opinion on records of
8
Distraction
political significance. MARVIN GAYE – “WHAT’S GOIN’ ON?” (1971) “This is a song that’s fairly timeless,” Ashley said. “Politically, there are so many connotations to
The Guide
things that were going on when he wrote it – what with the 60s and segregation and the government that also reflected what his family was going through and his family couldn’t afford very
much. It’s crazy and scary how it transcends time and is still relatable to our economic disparity today.” BOB DYLAN – “THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING” (1970)
“Bob Dylan was just a giant ball of political activism. The times are really changing… all the time. These songs are all similarly related to social changes that are happening right now.”
Ashley G hosts her weekly rotation show every Monday from 3 to 5 p.m., and her specialty show “Electric Kingdom” runs every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. Tweet her at @ashh_gonzalez.
G student life
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THE ROOKIE VOTE. CanadianAmerican student Katherine Guest holds up the Canadian flag. This will be her first election season as an American voter.
TION EC
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IGNITING THE YOUNG VOTE As a young adult on a college campus, the question arises every voting year: why should I get to a poll and vote? The population on campus is already so huge, let alone in the city. Even if I were to vote, it would never make a difference, right? Wrong. With the countdown to the 2012 presidential election ending, candidates are looking to win over young voters. There is never a better time than an election to voice our opinions as young adults and influence our futures in the job market, the economy and our tuition fees. In fact, a vote is the most powerful tool any one person has to voice an opinion. Rather than posting and publishing opinions about taxes, school fees, the economy and job security on social networking sites, students are being encouraged to use their votes as an outlet. If you don’t think your vote will make a difference consider this. In the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and President George W. Bush, the results ended up being determined solely by the state of Florida and every vote made a difference. “In the candidate speeches, issues that they plan to address [if elected] are being outlined,” said senior Caitlin Morrison. “The candidate
that addresses retirement savings issues for my parents might not be addressing jobs for me. I think voting is important especially for students.” Since the last election in 2008, focus and pressure has increased on the young voters of America. It has become clear that the Democratic Party’s utilization of social media and outreach to young voters had a significant contribution to President Obama’s success in 2008. But why are the candidates so interested in the young vote this year? The young population of America is very much wanted and needed by Romney and Obama. Both parties are yearning for the attention of young and upcoming voters, and with such a close race at hand, the pressure to voice our opinion, if only on a ballot, has increased rapidly. But instead of registering and voting due to the added pressure of a close election, we should see this as an opportunity for our voices to be heard and to have an influence on our future. The polls will open on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and they will be the ear for the government to hear your voice. A democracy is only true if everyone is involved, including the leaders of tomorrow.
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words_katherine guest. photo_maggie fragel. design_sophianna bishop.
I have been a dual citizen of the United States and Canada for years. My mom was born and raised in Florida and my dad is from Toronto, where I have lived for the majority of my life. Growing up watching my mom fill out absentee ballots for American elections, it never occurred to me that I would one day also be taking part in them. It really wasn’t until I moved to the U.S. for university that I had a proper grasp on the polarity of American politics, especially the role that the media coverage plays in it. The issues covered by candidates in each country vary slightly. Regardless, I think that they should choose the party that promises to meet their needs and interests best. I think it is also important to remember that a government is meant to speak for the people, but that it is not just the president making every decision. A government is made up of many others. Young people must take advantage of our privilege to vote. I am ready to use my voice as a member of the electorate on Nov. 6.
We’re just like you... we go to ULTRA, LIV, South Beach more than we should... but there are those less fortunate than us...
HELP US HELP THEM “Best Sports Vacations,” an IMG sales representative, is teaming up with IMG Academies home of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and David Leadbetter Golf Academy, and privileged families in Poland to help raise funds to build a home for 30 orphans in Poland, our home country. We will host an ongoing charity auction and will auction off ONE OF A KIND experiences at events like the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne, goodies from top IMG athletes including professional tennis players Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and much, much more! “FRIEND” “BestSportsVacations Portal” on Facebook and register with “Best Sports Vacations Charity Auction“ for details as they develop or contact us at jhaschek@gmail.com for more information regarding the auction, event, donations, or IMG.
The Political Issue
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CYCLE FORWARD. The event’s leaders hope to use Miami’s sunny backdrops to their advantage as cyclists take the streets in an effort to tackle cancer and raise funds for the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. There are different types of rides that participants can register for, differing in location and distance length.
FOR A CURE The Dolphins Cycling Challenge celebrates its third year raising funds for the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. They believe in tackling cancer one mile at a time.
10 Distraction In the Loop
Michael Mandich never imagined that his athletic father would be diagnosed with cancer, but he chose to take a stand when he found out. Now acting as the newly appointed CEO of the Dolphins Cycling Challenge (DCC), Mandich has teamed up with the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to raise funds to find a cure. The DCC will take place Saturday and Sunday Nov. 3 and 4 and will include nine different cycling routes ranging from 30 to 170 miles. Now in its third year, the organization hopes to raise over $1,070,000 - the amount it raised last year. There are several things that set the DCC apart from other philanthropies, the most important of which is the fact that 100 percent of the funds go directly to the cause. Mandich also
mentioned that this is a ride designed more to “find a cure” than to raise awareness. But why should you get involved with the DCC? If pride and love for our university are not enough, it is a great way to give back to our community. Mandich believes we can create a habit for the rest of our lives and build an integral part of our character by giving to others. Not to mention, you’ll have loads of fun riding around Miami in beautiful weather. Mandich assures that cycling is not hard on the body and that 30 miles is not difficult to complete. Best of all, Donna Shalala and Al Golden will be at your side, cheering you on. The DCC has accomplished plenty in just two years. Let’s help make the third year even better.
words_nicole vila. photo_scott rose. design_ivana cruz.
HOW TO RIDE
The Patti and Allan Herbert Wellness Center is hosting its own “Spin-A-Thon” on Nov. 3. Join other UM students in the atrium from 4 to 10 p.m. as they support the Sylvester Cancer Center. All you have to do is form a group, choose a team captain and register as a virtual rider at rideDCC.com. This event is limited to 35 groups, each expected to raise a minimum of $2,000. Each team will have one rider on the bike at any given time throughout the six hours. After, all the riders can eat in the dining hall where the winning team will be awarded a prize. TO ESTABLISH A TEAM, contact Dean Steven Priepke at spriepke@miami.edu. FOR PARTICIPATION QUESTIONS, contact Connie Nickel at cnickel@miami.edu. TO REGISTER AS A VIRTUAL RIDER, visit ridedcc.com/dcc/register/register.asp.
Candidates of Tomorrow
words_elizabeth gallagher. illustration_ivana cruz. design_natalie colburn and ivana cruz.
Ellen DeGeneres It is difficult to turn on the TV and not dance or laugh along with DeGeneres. With her warm smile and quirky humor, she has the ability to get even the most sluggish Americans moving. She’s able to identify with more than one particular race, gender or age group and that could ensure bipartisan enthusiasm and satisfaction. After all, who doesn’t agree that the White House would be much more exciting if there were more music, dancing and laughing?
Lil’ Wayne In our great nation, overcoming childhood adversity to become a multi-millionaire with three houses and a personal blunt roller before age thirty is an actual possibility. Besides, what is more American than founding one’s own company? Oh right, the freedom and right to gun ownership (check!), the right to remain silent (check!) and of course, the right to an attorney (double check!). Dwayne Carter III also released a track last fall entitled “President Carter.” Patriotism lives!
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Considering the history of celebrities gone politician, it is safe to say that any individual with good credit could potentially be running the country within the next four to eight years. So who, exactly, would be a perfect fit for this job?
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Ryan Seacrest
Anderson Cooper
Angelina Jolie
Is there anything this man doesn’t do? It is impossible to turn on the television, cable or not, without seeing those beautiful porcelain veneers and gaudily frosted blonde tips of his. Hollywood is the entertainment capital of the world and Mr. Seacrest runs through Tinseltown like it’s going out of style, although he’d be the first to tell you that it definitely is not. I mean, he owns “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and we all know that those reality stars rack in a pretty penny or two. This is capitalism at its finest.
He could easily redefine American politics with his “Silver Fox Party.” Cooper is open to a multidimensional approach on politics with the goal of reaching a happy medium. His smoother than silk voice could definitely help our relations overseas, not to mention keep us feeling cool and calm during difficult times. He is also open and honest with his sexuality which, let’s face it, is quite rare in the White House. Rest assured, there will be no secret affairs during his presidency.
How about Jolie for Queen of the World 2012? A sincere advocate of education and improving the lives of impoverished children overseas, a pioneer for environmental conservation and an advocate of human rights to all individualsgay, straight, single (or confused)- Angelina Jolie is indeed one of the most powerful, hypnotic and sincerely emotional women on the face of the earth. Don’t even pretend you don’t fantasize about those lips. Or those legs. Or those eyes.
Donna Shalala
Oprah Winfrey Oprah is charitable, hard-working and, most importantly, makes us all believe that she actually cares about our pressing “first world problems” (such a giver!).
Barbie A true inspiration to all women, whether soaring through space, preparing a four-course meal or caring for animals, Barbie always graces the world with poise and style. Girl power!
Shalala could easily be mistaken for Wonder Woman. As a pioneer for inclusive health care and Bill Clinton’s former right-hand-woman, she has triple folded our university’s academic reputation, was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame last year, was awarded the nation’s most prestigious civilian award in 2008 and transformed herself into Spongebob last Halloween. If that’s not jaw-dropping, I don’t know what is. The Political Issue
Distraction 11
RIG
In 2008, Florida had its highest young voter turnout in history, so it is expected that the state will make a big difference this November once again. Given UM’s diverse and socially active student body, gay rights has become an issue of prevalence for many students on campus. Distraction sat down with Jordan Lewis (Young and College Democrats) and Alex Yoder (College Republicans), leaders from two of UM’s most politically engaged organizations, to talk gay rights and the future of America. Distraction: What is your stance on gay rights? Lewis: The Democratic Party and the College Democrats stand unequivocally behind equality and believe that the Constitution does not give any room to discriminate against any people. Yoder: The Republican Party opposes marriage equality. However, College Republicans is a very welcoming organization and we tend to distance ourselves from the social policies of our national party. Fiscal issues are what our members are most concerned about. And on the national stage, increasing numbers of Republicans are supportive [of gay rights]. D: Who do you believe opposes gay marriage? Lewis: The social conservatives, especially in the southern United States. We’ve seen amendments to the constitution in Florida, North Carolina and I would say the majority of states have amendments against gay marriage, which is unfortunate. But I think the tide is changing. We just saw opinion polls saying that gay marriage has nationwide approval and civil unions have over 70 percent approval. Yoder: It is the religious right that opposes gay marriage and civil unions.
12 Distraction In the Loop
D: How has the issue affected each candidate’s campaign? Lewis: Obama has had an evolving view on gay rights since 2004. In the last four years, however, society has changed a lot and Obama has always been positive toward gay couples. Right away, he tried to get rid of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. I thought it was time for him to evolve and I wish he had evolved sooner. In regard to his chances of reelection, I do believe his support for gay marriage will gain him a lot more votes. Yoder: Voters for whom marriage equality is the most important issue were already going to vote for Obama because his view has always been further to the left than that of Romney’s. And while I personally support the President’s so-called evolving position, I believe that if he had real courage, he would have run for President the first time with this message. He supported gay marriage many years ago, but then backtracked when entering the national stage. Because Miamians live in such a culturally diverse city, we asked these two leaders how they think our surrounding culture has shaped our views on gay marriage. Both Lewis and Yoder agree that the cultural influence on the younger generation has made the gay marriage issue almost a norm. With all the national media coverage and social media outlets, it’s almost impossible not to develop an opinion. They believe that we are growing up in a progressive era and society is continuously changing, so the idea of gay marriage to
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words_rachel kliger. photo_ela apa. design_nan gallagher.
E G E L L O C BLICANS REPU UNG O Y . vs MOCRATS DE Y A G N O HTS
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FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT. Although the two students pictured are not members of Young Democrats or College Republicans, they represent our generation’s view of gay marriage.
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us is not as shunned upon as it is to older generations. The University of Miami is, for the most part, friendly to lesbian and gay causes and promotes gender equality. Organizations such as SpectrUM support “friendship, education and acceptance” regardless of sexual orientation. Of all the hot button topics of this election, the issue of gay marriage seems to sizzle. For this 2012 election, grab your partner, whoever that may be, and make sure your opinions are heard. While the state of our economy may be rocky, we are on a smoother road toward becoming a more accepting and open society.
IN FLORIDA
...CAN THE DEBATE GET ANY HOTTER? • Under current Florida law, samesex marriages and civil unions are not recognized. • Until October 2010, Florida was the only state with an outright gay and lesbian adoption ban. • According to recent polls, 67 percent of Florida voters support legal recognition of same-sex couples. • Florida has the second highest gay and lesbian population in the U.S.
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POP-CULTURE QUIZ
FIND YOUR MATCH
Take the quiz below to determine whether your pop culture favorites skew more liberal or conservative. words_nicky diaz. design_ivana cruz.
Favorite color?
T STAR HERE
Red
Do you think Russell Brand is funny?
What team are you on?
Blue
Bennifer
Brangelina
YES
Favorite singer? Lady Gaga
Bar hopping with Bill Clinton?
Taylor Swift
YES
Who is your news source? Anderson Cooper
Bill O’Reilly
NO
Fred Armisen’s Barack Obama
Which male artist do you listen to?
NO
Michael Buble
Selena Gomez
Do you watch “Modern Family”?
YES
NO
YES
END HERE
Patrick Dempsey
“Project Runway”
Conservative
“19 Kids and Counting”
Which animal would you rather pet? Elephant
Liberal
Dixie Chicks fan?
YES
NO
Which ‘90s boy band singer is still your favorite? Which show would you rather watch?
George Clooney
Adam Sandler
NO
Adam Lamber
Favorite TV doctor?
Ellen DeGeneres
Jay-Z
Would your perform a duet with Elton John?
Favorite American Idol? Kelly Clarkson
Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin
Favorite comedian?
Which pop princess do you prefer? Miley Cyrus
What is your favorite “SNL” impersonation?
Do you have more than one Madonna song in your ipod?
YES
NO
Lance Bass
Nick Lachey
Who would you prefer to have dinner with? Paul Ryan
Joe Biden
Donkey
The Political Issue
Distraction 13
LIFE
d ) n a (
DEATH OF AN AMERICAN RIVALRY words_patrick riley. photo_courtesy of hurricanesports.com. design_anna hicks.
Author Jeff Carroll called the two teams “perfect rivals,” wide receiver Tim Brown compared their games to war and most other people remember them competing in some of the best games in college football history. Notre Dame versus Miami was a rivalry defined by intensity, drama and most importantly, animosity. It captivated a nation for almost a decade and continues to fascinate fans to this day. Let’s embark on a journey through time and look back at the heyday of one of America’s greatest rivalries.
EYE OF THE STORM. On Nov. 25, 1989, UM quarterback Craig Erickson and his ‘Canes snapped a 23-game Irish win streak.
H UG ES O R G TH E A H T
14 Distraction Sports
As Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer approached the 50-yard line, where his center Mike Heldt was awaiting him, he turned to his left, then to his right and then all the way around to give some final instructions to his teammates. He bent down to position his hands beneath Heldt, glanced across the line of
11/30/1985
11/28/1987
Score: 7 - 58 “One of the worst defeats ever administered to Notre Dame.” - Brent Musburger, Sportcaster for CBS Sports at the time
Score: 0 - 24 “They play with no class. But that’s the way they feel the game should be played.” - Notre Dame wide receiver Tim Brown to SI’s Ralph Wiley
Notre Dame at #4 Miami
#10 Notre Dame at #2 Miami
scrimmage one last time and snapped the ball. And as he lunged forward for a gain of about three yards, the final chapter of one of college football’s greatest rivalries had been written. It was then, on Oct. 20, 1990, that America mourned not only the death of a fierce and heated rivalry that more often than not decided who would win a national championship, but also the end of a series that had defined college football in the ‘80s. Miami versus Notre Dame was the Stones versus Beatles of sports. You could only like one or the other. But everybody watched. “It was old-fashioned college football at its best,” former defensive lineman Kevin Patrick said. “It was a great matchup, great rivalry, just something special.”
>> TWO HEAVYWEIGHTS ON COLLISION COURSE
How special was it? From 1983 to 1990 the ‘Canes and Fighting Irish combined for four national championships with the team that won the regular season contest, going on to be crowned champs all four times. In that same time period, Miami and Notre Dame attained a combined record of 149-43. The two programs ruled the college football universe. Although the teams first met back in 1955 they didn’t play each other on a regular basis until the ‘70s when the Fighting Irish dominated the Hurricanes, winning all nine contests. Then, in 1981 under the reign of legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger, Miami finally beat the Irish 37-15. The ‘Canes went on to win two of the next three, but the rivalry didn’t reach its full potential until one sunny Saturday afternoon in 1985. The visiting Fighting Irish and their head coach Gerry Faust, who after little to no success with the program, had announced his resignation earlier that week, had traveled to Miami to face the ‘Canes for the last game of the regular season. While the season was pretty much over for Notre Dame, the fourth-ranked ‘Canes were still very much in the running for a national championship. Led by charismatic head coach Jimmy Johnson, Miami had won its
10/15/1988
#1 Miami at #4 Notre Dame
Score: 30 - 31 The Brawl in the Tunnel – Police had to step in as Hurricanes and Fighting Irish players clash even before the ball was kicked off.
last nine games, often times steamrolling the competition. And they were about to do the same to the Irish. In a pregame locker room speech that was captured by CBS’ cameras, Johnson made it clear that he wanted his team to set the tone for the contest: “A game like this, as emotional as it is, be prepared for the sudden change. A break goes against you? Just fight your rear end off. Let’s reach down and get something extra. Let’s offset the psychological uplift that they’ll have. We get a break, things go our way? Let’s pour it on and don’t let them up! Play with class. Play with poise. Do whatever it takes.” And boy, oh boy, did they pour it on. The ‘Canes led by 20 at halftime and blew the game open in the second half. Even with the second stringers receiving considerable playing time, the final score would end up being 58-7 in favor of Miami. Former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Belles (1985-1990) was on the sideline as a redshirt freshman and remembers the game all too well. “Even though I didn’t play, it was a horrible feeling…and Jimmy Johnson didn’t mind rubbing it in our face,” Belles said. For Belles it is clear that Johnson was running up the score. “Well, we didn’t stop them. Let’s put it that way,” he said. But it wasn’t like he was just trying to run the football and run the clock down. He wanted to put it on Notre Dame and he did.” The two teams didn’t meet again until 1987 when Miami once again beat Notre Dame with a score of 24-0. And so the Fighting Irish had to wait ‘till 1988 for revenge.
>> ANIMOSITY REACHES AN APEX
Enter Catholics vs. Convicts I. “When you think of Notre Dame, you think about when we went up there and they had the T-shirts ‘Catholics vs. Convicts’, ‘Angels vs. Assholes,’” former Hurricanes strong safety Hurlie Brown said. “That’s the image that I have in my head of Notre Dame and because growing up you hear about Notre Dame, you hear about the Catholics, you hear about the great tradition and just hear about Notre Dame
men and how they carry themselves with the prestige of this university. And then to see something like that...it was an eye opener.” When the top-ranked ‘Canes arrived in South Bend, playing in Notre Dame Stadium for the first time in four years, then freshman Brown soon realized that when it came to football on Saturdays, Notre Dame fans were just as rabid as any other college football fan base. “People… they shot the finger at you and stuff like that, but you know, it’s a hostile environment and...we were used to it.” Brown said. “You go to Florida State, you’re going to get the same thing, you go to LSU, you’re going to get the same thing, and it’s just that growing up we thought that they were different. But when you get up there and you see that they’re not, it’s still two acres and a football.” With the fans fired up and the stage ever so bright as No. 1 faced off against No. 4, the emotions ran high. Even well before kickoff. The infamous pregame fight between ‘Canes and Irish is known as “The Brawl at the Tunnel.” But while there is no dispute over the name of the battle, the discussion over who the instigators were still rages today. “I was actually already up in the tunnel when the brawl took place,” Brown remembered. “But...we never went into a game looking for a fight...We weren’t going to back down from one, but we never went into a game looking for a fight. Everywhere we went and even Notre Dame, it was as if those guys had to prove to themselves and everybody else that they weren’t afraid of us.” Belles on the other hand recalled the incident quite differently: “We’re all lined up in the back of the end zone and once again Miami with no respect for Notre Dame decided to, instead of going around, they wanted to go right through where everybody was standing...and you know melee ensued.” After the fight was finally broken up, in large part thanks to the police stepping in, the players were able to turn their attention towards the playing field where Notre Dame would win a close one 31-30. But just like before the game,
there was plenty of controversy afterwards with the referees ruling that Miami’s Cleveland Gary had fumbled at Notre Dame’s one-yard line. The Irish would recover the fumble and thus go on to win the contest. Brown took the tough loss as a lesson. “You know, it’s easy for us to sit back and say ‘Yeah, they screwed up the call’ and stuff like that, but if you look at the overall game, there were a bunch of opportunities that we had that we could’ve put the game away and we just didn’t take advantage of them,” he said. For Belles, the tables had turned. After two tough losses in ’85 and ’87, he was finally able to celebrate a win over Miami. “It was probably...considered the best home win in Notre Dame history in terms of excitement and everything that you want,” Belles said. “It was a good feeling. It put us on the road to winning the national championship that year.” In the following season, Miami would win 27-10 in front of a packed Orange Bowl and eventually go on to capture its third national title.
>> THE FINAL CHAPTER
Finally in 1990, Notre Dame defeated the Hurricanes 29-20, thereby shattering Miami’s hopes of winning a second straight national championship. It was the last time the two teams would face each other for over two decades. The end of an era. Miami versus Notre Dame in the ‘80s was truly special not because of the teams’ differences, but because of their similarities: two premier programs, perennial title contenders with some of the best athletes and coaches in the country. And yet, they just seemed to rub each other the wrong way. When asked what the first thing is that comes to mind when he thinks back to those Miami-Notre Dame games, Steve Belles did not hesitate one bit: “Hatred. We hated them.”
10/20/1990
12/31/2010
8/21/2011
8/29/2012
Score: 20 - 29 In what was dubbed the “Final Conflict,” Notre Dame handed Miami its second loss of the season to write the final chapter in a rivalry that first started back in 1955.
Score: 33 - 17 In their first meeting in over two decades, a Hurricanes team that had just gone through a tumultuous season during which its head coach was fired, is blown out by Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl.
“The penalties have to be severe for those who don’t play by the rules. [...] That’s not to say the guys at Miami didn’t want to go to school, but they had other things in mind, too.” - Brian Kelly to ESPN.com
“I’ve always felt like, to have a successful team, you gotta have a few bad citizens on the team. [...] I think Notre Dame is growing because maybe they have some guys that are doing something worthy of a suspension...” - Allen Pinkett
#2 Miami at #6 Notre Dame
Notre Dame vs. Miami
Irish Head Coach on Shapiro Scandal
Controversial Radio Comments
The Political Issue
Distraction 15
MISUNDERSTOOD
words_ernesto suarez. photo_raquel zaldivar. design_ivana cruz.
Why the Miami Sports Fan Is Not As Different As You Think What is the first thing that comes to mind when the phrase “sports town” is mentioned? Probably Boston, Chicago or Pittsburgh: big-time sports-laden cities with plenty of championship history and rabid fans who swear on the holy gospel of a playbook. Then, somewhere near the bottom of that list, you’ll come across Miami. The Magic City, which is viewed upon nationally as a laughingstock of a selfproclaimed sports city, houses four major professional teams, a historic collegiate program (UM) and another one that is seemingly on the rise (FIU) as well as a plethora of high school football programs that showcase some of the best athletes in the nation. Ask anyone in any of the aforementioned “sports towns” what their perception of the Miami fan base is and most of the answers will probably sound the same: The fans never show up to any games, and when they do, it’s always fashionably late. And, oh-by-the-way, this goes for teams who are WINNING. “I think people look at Miami fans - all teams, except maybe the Dolphins - as a lax group of people who don’t really care about sports and are much more about the show and
there something being overlooked? The history of Miami sports is still relatively new. Sure, the Hurricanes have been playing football since 1926, but they didn’t shed their loser image until the arrival of Howard Schnellenberger in 1980. The Dolphins were the first team that the city rallied around and they arguably have the most vocal and participatory fan base in Miami, thanks to back-to-back championships in the 1970s, a perfect season and the legacy of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Unfortunately, since Marino’s retirement, the team has wallowed in mediocrity for almost a decade, and in Miami, if you’re not fielding a winning, or at least boasting an interesting team, you’re going to have a tough time filling seats. “Miami has too many things to do to spend your money on an awful team,” said Adam Rivera, a first-year law student. “Whereas in other cities, there’s nothing else except sports. Miami people are always following the teams to see how they’re doing. We just won’t support an awful team with our money.” This ‘South Beach’ effect implies that there are so many other distractions that sports sometimes take a backseat to. In a city known
“I think people look at Miami fans - all teams, except maybe the Dolphins - as a lax group of people who don’t really care about sports,” -Alex Schwartz
the atmosphere than the actual team,” said junior Alex Schwartz, a native of New Jersey. But are these stereotypes entirely accurate or is
that Miami’s sporting scene has struggled to produce results on the field. The Dolphins have had their issues on the gridiron. The Marlins have earned a reputation of being untrustworthy after continually trading away highly talented, fan-friendly players. The Panthers have been ridiculed in the past, but after making a playoff run for the first time in a decade, their fortunes may be changing now. But just like anywhere else, star power, a shot at winning and a fun atmosphere put fans in the stands. Take the Miami Heat, for example. In 2010, a team that was improving, but had no real championship aspirations, finished 15th in home attendance. After reeling in superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh the following year, they would finish fifth. But while fans flocked to the arena in Miami, the opposite effect was felt in Cleveland. The Cavs, who ranked second in attendance in 2010, plummeted to 19th in 2012. Just two years after that, James left. Doesn’t that go to show that any team, in any city, when not performing up to par, can experience “Miami problems”? Miami is its own unique creature. Just like any other city, there will always be the diehards who lament the wrongful image that is being propagated by outsiders. But Miami has never sought out to please all the traditional powerhouses. Let the fans worry about themselves, because they sure as hell aren’t worried about you.
for its beaches, nightclubs and festivals, it’s much easier to find something else to do, if a team isn’t playing up to snuff. It doesn’t help
HURRICANE PRIDE. The Miami Hurricanes are among the South Florida athletic teams with a recent history of low fan attendance. Others include the Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Florida Panthers, and Miami Dolphins.
16 Distraction Sports
IN RECORD TIME. Johansson takes a break during a practice session at UM’s pool. She broke the record for UM’s 100 breaststroke during the 2011 ACC Championship.
Sitting Down With Sofia Johansson words_will gretsky. photo_holly bensur. design_ivana cruz.
“I have no idea how fast my opponents are going to swim, but I want them to feel like if they’re going to beat me they’re going to have to swim hella fast.” -Sofia Johansson
As Lil Wayne hums through her headphones before a big race, senior Sofia Johansson has the focus of a champion, which has made her one of the top swimmers for the Hurricanes. And even though she enjoyed tremendous success a year ago, Johansson knows there is still a lot of work to do. Last season, Johansson set a school record in the 100 breaststroke at the ACC Championships in Atlanta, one of her seven breaststroke victories for the ‘Canes last year. This year the goals haven’t changed much for the speedster from Sweden. She wants to be in the top three in the ACC this year. “I personally believe that we can [do it] and the coaches believe that we can, so that’s a goal for the team,” Johansson said. In order for the ‘Canes to be in the top three in the Atlantic Coast Conference there are a couple of teams that stand in their way. “North Carolina is usually very good,” Johansson said. “Other than that, Virginia Tech is good as well. We were in third [place] for a very long time last year in the ACC. I know we have it [in us]. We can definitely do it and with all the new freshmen this year…it can happen.” The lofty team goals also come with many personal ones for Johansson, a student and athlete who has already accomplished much. Growing up in Ramlösa, Sweden, Johansson had to overcome a huge language barrier when she first arrived in the States. She remembers sitting in
her classes, looking at her professors and having no idea what they were saying. “It was hard trying to focus and someone in the class asked a question and I was like ‘Is that where we were?’ I was completely lost. The culture is a little different, but other than that I was really welcomed [by] the team. It was really nice.” As far as swimming is concerned, Johansson would like to set a new personal record. “I have no idea how fast my opponents are going to swim, but I want them to feel like if they’re going to beat me they’re going to have to swim hella fast,” she said. However, the senior has aspirations that go past swimming. She is a criminology major with minors in psychology and business management. Even though the workload is demanding, the challenge does not scare or elude the star swimmer. “When I want to do something, I want to do it to the fullest,” she said. “I [am not] like ‘Oh, I didn’t have time to study for this test so whatever.’ I don’t settle for average. I want to do more than I probably should.” In addition, she wants to have a good job after she retires from swimming. “I know I need to do this to get there,” she said. “I guess it’s just my personality. I don’t want to give up on anything I do. If I try something, I want to accomplish it.” Drive, passion and dedication define Sofia Johansson and in her last hurrah as a ‘Cane, they may translate into a truly special sendoff.
Fun Facts Distraction: Phelps or Lochte? Sofia: Definitely Phelps. Phelps has character. D: What was your favorite part of the Olympics? S: I have two. Missy Franklin and her facial expressions when she actually won. And the breastroker from Lithuania. D: We know Lochte pees in the pool, do you? S: NO! I don’t. D: Other than swimming, your favorite Olympic event? S: Track and field, especially the sprints.
The Political Issue
Distraction 17
On Nina: Swimsuit, Melissa Odabash. Nic Del Mar. Sunglasses, Elizabeth and James. elizabethandjames.us. Bangles, Vintage. Stylist’s Own.
18 Distraction Fashion
style_ana calderone. fashion assistant_gabrielle mottaz. photo_kelly smith. photo assistant_alexandra piccirilli.
hair and makeup_monicamay bishop. models_nina anakar and colleen kenyon. design_sophianna bishop.
g n i m m i E w
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ks o o l d e r i p s n i . o m r s t i e t r o i e r s t e a th our p h t i w y s p e u d a c g e n i d y e a l h t p o r t o n f i t c p Di perfe The Political Issue
Distraction 19
On Colleen: Shirt, Vintage. Stylist’s Own. Pants, Sugar Lips. Blush Boutique. Scarf, Stylist’s Own. Bangle, House of Harlow. Nic Del Mar.
20 Distraction Fashion
On Colleen: Shirt, Tiare Hawaii. Nic Del Mar. Swimsuit, American Apparel. American Apparel Stores. Hat, Cynthia Rowley. cynthiarowley.com. On Nina: Swimsuit, Juicy Couture. juicycouture.com. Cover Up, Arc & Co. The Dressing Room.
The Political Issue
Distraction 21
Dress, Indah. Nic Del Mar. Bangles, Vintage. Stylist’s Own.
22 Distraction Fashion
On Nina: Swimsuit, Tyler Rose. Nic Del Mar. Pants, Olivaceous. The Dressing Room. Bangle, House of Harlow. Nic Del Mar. Necklace, Lexi. Nic Del Mar.
The Political Issue
Distraction 23
On Colleen: Dress, Ondade Mar. Nic Del Mar. Shoes, Sperry Topsider. sperrytopsider.com. Hat, Echo. Nic Del Mar.
24 Distraction Fashion
Name:
Peyton Pritikin
Name:
Year: Sophomore Major: I’m double majoring in international relations and French.
Gina Git ler
Year: Junior Major: Art Where are you from? Los Angeles Where do you shop in Miami? LF and Urban, but I do a lot of shopping in LA. What’s the last thing you bought? I just got these great purple and blue genie pants from Blush boutique. What’s the last song you listened to? “Flashback” by Calvin Harris.
Where are you from? Chicago, Illinois. Where do you shop in Miami? There is a cute shop in Sunset called Si Belle. They have a lot of cute flowing pieces like my dress. Who makes your vest? Free People.
CAMPUS STYLE
check us out!
umiamimode twitter_@umiamimode facebook_umiamimode
photo_ana calderone. design_sophianna bishop.
Name:
Natalie Pena
Year: Senior Major: I’m double majoring in broadcast journalism and poetry. Where are you from? I was born and raised in Miami. What are you wearing? Romper is BCBG, sweater is Blush, and Chloe bag. Where did you get your sunglasses? My sister’s site, zadenrow.com. They were 15 bucks.
Name:
Meghan Shepard
Year: Junior Major: Spanish
Where is your go to spot to shop in Miami? Steps New York in Dolphin Mall. What are you wearing? Pants are American Apparel, Target shirt, the jewelry is from my mom’s closet and the headscarf was a gift. What’s the last thing you bought? A light up collar for my dog.
The Political Issue
Distraction 25
ELE
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ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW IN 2012 As Election Day approaches, we find ourselves more and more involved in political discussions. Or do we? words_alexandra solano. photo_maggie fragel. design_ivana cruz.
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The reality is that as politics become heated in the real world, we realize that participating in political discussions requires some kind of knowledge of the issues at hand — something beyond what you read on your Twitter newsfeed. Since we, as students, are constantly being ridiculed for being ignorant and inexperienced in the world of politics, it is not a bad idea to know what this election year is all about. If you’re sitting at home watching “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and hoping Kim will provide you that epiphany moment that will make you realize who you should vote for, turn off your TV. It is time to review the issues that will shape your country for the next four years. It is time to make your vote count. Above all, it is time to once and for all silence that obnoxious self-righteous student in your class who brings up politics and claims to have enlightened views about where the country should go. Any person living in the U.S. for the past ten years can see that we are dealing with countless issues ranging from the current state of the economy to Obama’s place of birth. If you want to gain a brief overview of the prominent issues in this year’s election, here is a breakdown to help you understand what your vote will stand for.
unemployment As any student knows,
current state of the economy
Bill Clinton’s hallmark quotation, “It’s the economy, stupid!” couldn’t hold more true at present. Though there may not be a simple solution to every issue the U.S. faces, plans to improve the economy prevail as one of the most important factors in choosing the right president. As students, we don’t want to depart into the real world without knowing that we have a fair chance to be financially successful. Will the government need to increase regulation on businesses in order to ensure that money is being handled fairly? How will job creation allow the economy to prosper? How can both candidates ensure that they will leave the U.S. economy better than when they received it?
education To loan or not to loan? That
is the question. As you sign your contract with the Grim Reaper of student loans, remember the opportunity you are receiving to get an education. What if that was taken away? In the upcoming election, both candidates have their own views on whether the government should continue to give out scholarships and government loans to students. For UM students, whose tuition costs exceed $35,000 a year, loans can be pretty important, so this might be an issue worth looking over.
Affirmative action
Under the issue of education, both presidential nominees have touched upon affirmative action, which refers to policies that take certain factors like race and sex into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group which, in turn helps eradicate discrimination. In either case, you have probably been affected by this issue one way or another. However, it’s not like any of that will matter in the real world, where you’ll never find an employer telling you that you are hired just because you’re a white Hispanic Pacific Islander or otherwise ethnically diverse.
planned parenthood
Arguments over the legalization of abortion have been prevalent throughout many election years. However, more recently, current presidential nominees are debating whether an amendment should be made to define personhood as beginning at conception. If this were the case, abortion would be deemed illegal and impermissible. Relating to this same debate, another issue being touched upon is that of whether the government should continue to fund facilities like Planned Parenthood, which aid in contraception.
gay rights The constant debate over gay
rights continues in this presidential election as we argue whether all citizens should receive equal rights, specifically the right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation. Though gay marriage has become a state-level issue, both nominees have separate beliefs concerning LGBT rights and will have to incorporate that into their individual platforms as it becomes an important federal concern. Moreover, candidates have addressed the possible reenactment of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibits discrimination against closeted homosexual military men while prohibiting openly gay people from serving in the military.
the country’s sudden high rate of unemployment has been affecting us greatly. Even as we work minimum wage jobs, we realize that once we earn the degree that is supposed to give us a better high-paying real job, we lack the work experience or credentials to sustain it. Moreover, for those of us stuck in the world of minimum wage jobs: should that minimum be increased? It is every college student’s nightmare to allocate enough Grove and Monty’s money (after you’ve already purchased textbooks) when you’re only making $7.67 per hour and can only work 15 hours a week.
immigration
If the only immigrant exposure you experience involves trying to decipher Sofia Vergara’s words on “Modern Family,” this is for you. As immigration becomes a hot topic in the election, both candidates have their own perspectives on how it should be dealt with. As more money is being spent on tightening our borders and using questionable techniques to deport illegal immigrants, we argue whether we should continue to fund these efforts when some of these immigrants are in reality contributing to the wealth of the economy by working hard. Furthermore, the recent immigration policy change that ends the deportation of immigrants who entered the U.S. years ago as children, marks a milestone for immigration reform that affects students like us who want the opportunity of obtaining a higher education.
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ENERGY AND OIL As President George
W. Bush said in a State of the Union address in January of 2006, “America is addicted to oil.” With our oil supply slowly diminishing, the issue stands: Should we support renewable energy options? As more advances are made toward energy efficiency, candidates are considering taxing those who make decisions that may hurt the environment. One such provision would be to impose a higher tax on SUVs to help reduce auto emissions and conserve energy. We must wonder whether this tax will apply to the plethora of SUV cars used to transport government officials. In any case, with gas prices rising steadily, we students cannot afford to be “addicted” to something else that’s costly.
tax reform
The U.S. economy’s tax rate is among the highest in the industrial world. As the election approaches, we wonder if this high tax rate is necessary to support our economy. While both candidates talk about tax breaks, their approaches are very different. Whether a uniform tax rate is imposed on everyone regardless of income or whether your income determines your tax break, this will greatly affect us as we enter the workforce.
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AMERICA THE GREAT. These 20 issues are only a small fraction of the many topics that have arisen in this election season, but each of these greatly affect college students today.
Global warming
As we become increasingly aware of the decline of our resources, we are also troubled with the issue of climate change. Whether or not we believe it is occurring, we can see clear evidence that change has happened through every depressing image of polar bears on melting ice caps. But what is being done about it? Both candidates agree that global warming is occurring, however, they debate upon whether it is due to factors in or beyond our control. Thankfully, organizations like Student Climate Change Coalition bring awareness to environmental issues on university campuses nationwide by bringing students together to plant trees to combat deforestation. Groups like these really help conserve the world’s resources to fight the onset of climate change and their message is very clear: reduce, reuse, recycle.
crime and national security
With so many recent terrorist threats and the sudden tightening of security, whether it be in airplanes or at local movie theaters, crime and national security is a very important issue in this election year. Both candidates have made it a point to focus on the recent capture of Osama Bin Laden and the dissolving of Al Qaeda threats. But how will these efforts to dissolve terrorist groups continue? Furthermore, are we giving away our rights as individuals when we allow so many searches and invasions of privacy?
Censorship Internet usage
has been shaped forever with the emergence of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which increases security in eliminating the theft of copyrighted intellectual property and the creation of counterfeit goods, and the Protect IP Act (PIPA), which gives the government and copyright holders the ability to stop access to websites registered outside the U.S. that involve copyright infringing. Both place limits on the freedoms of speech and expression, and sanction what can be considered as inappropriate censorship. The age of downloading free music and watching free movies seems to be over as we resort to Spotify and Netflix, but the question remains: is this government censorship fair?
financial corruption medicare
gun control As students and citizens, we
have increasingly become targets for the abuse of gun control. Incidences like the shootings in Aurora, Colorado and Virginia Tech shed light on the ramifications of this issue. Should more strict policies for gun ownership be enacted? Moreover, candidates argue whether these laws should be managed at a state or federal level. Shouldn’t we be protected from the abuse of gun control in the same systematic way in every state we visit? Or should these laws differ from state to state?
foreign policy
The current focus of U.S. foreign policy seems to be concentrated on destabilizing criminal gangs and terrorists. Whether we are trying to subvert Al Qaeda forces or stop narco-terrorism in South America, the U.S. is dealing with other foreign countries on a constant basis. How does this fight to sustain national security affect our relations with other countries? As we expand our studies across the country in study-abroad programs, it is important to note how certain candidates’ foreign policy provisions will affect our choices and experiences. Can we securely study in places like China, the Middle East, and South America, knowing that our foreign policy ties with those places may be unstable?
Done with student loans? Now you’ll probably have to start paying for Medicare costs. Though it may not pose as a serious issue for us now, Medicare is one of the main topics of the election at present. Both candidates have their own perspectives on how to deal with this issue. However, for us, what seems to be important is whether or not we will have the means to ensure proper health coverage in the long run. Will irresponsible spending in the health sector burden us fiscally in the future? Will we be the ones paying for current Medicare failures at a time when we will have reached the age to reap those benefits?
technology
With technology quickly advancing, it seems impossible to regulate this growing industry. Should we take a small government approach when it comes to technology or leave the industry unregulated? Both candidates have spoken about ensuring permanent residency to foreign students graduating with advanced degrees in technology and engineering, but if there aren’t enough people at present in those careers, can the U.S. continue to lead with the most advanced technology?
church and state With discussions of
enacting legalized school prayer and including religious beliefs in issues of abortion and gay rights, the line between church and state is slowly becoming blurred. Both candidates have their own religious beliefs and have asserted the role of those beliefs in their political positions. How can the candidates sustain the clear separation between church and state?
The recent bailouts of banks helped shed light on the ongoing corruptive practices occurring behind closed doors at financial firms and even in the White House. This brought up the emergence of groups like the Occupy Wall Street protesters. With this very recent movement spreading to college campuses, the government has not responded well, failing to provide job security and support for low cost college education that student protesters have fought for. As the election nears, how will the candidates face financial corruption? Above all, how will we once again trust that the government will protect us and work in our best financial interests, while still making institutions accountable for their actions?
war and peace With the recent plans of
withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, it seems like we are gradually ending one of the longest wars in American history. But is this the right choice for the U.S.? Moreover, military spending differs between both candidates, as one favors reducing it in order to fund other important national issues, while the other favors increasing it to maintain the balance of power.
DRUGS
Whether you believe in legalizing drugs or you want to live in a perpetual UMFinduced state, you should care that we face a drug war on a global level. The U.S. funds a significant amount of money toward preventing narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, yet the argument remains: should we continue to use taxpayer dollars to help stop the influx of drugs that we so clearly desire? What about marijuana? When concerning the legalization of medicinal marijuana, both candidates differ on whether to deal with the issue on a state or federal level. Though many of us may want to follow California’s example, both presidential nominees are adamant about not taking this to the federal level.
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occ u twi t FROM RIOTOUS ACTIVISTS MEDIA HAS TRAN words_ashley brozic. photo_kelly smith. design_sophianna bishop.
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the only way to get the young vote would be to find them where they were hiding: behind a computer screen.
ON APRIL 23, 1968,
1,000 Columbia University students and faculty rallied together at Low Plaza. Their mission: to protest the university’s involvement in military research in Vietnam and to stop the construction of a student gym in Harlem’s Morningside Park. They would then storm into Low Library, present their demands to the administration and request to be given an open hearing. But as the demonstration wrapped up, the crowd soon learned that all would not go according to plan. Mark Rudd, the radical yet charismatic leader of Students for a Democratic Society, hopped onto the sundial affront the library and announced that its doors had been locked. With nothing to fear but expulsion, the Columbia Protest of 1968 began. What ensued within the next week would set the bar high for future college protests and demonstrations. Posters of Che Guevara and Karl Marx overtook campus buildings. Students took Dean Henry S. Coleman hostage in a classroom. The entire effort was organized through handwritten letters and face-to-face conversation. Not a laptop was opened. Not a tweet was sent. And although their mission was eventually met with police brutality, the effort put forth by this group of visionaries was a success, as plans for the gym crumbled and Columbia cut its ties with the government. “It was a combination of years of organizing - meaning educational work on campus, agitation, confrontation, 28 Distraction The 32 MainMain EventEvent
involving people in discussion - and a perfect storm of a political moment which occurred in the spring of 1968,” said Rudd, whose future involvement in a radical leftist organization, the Weatherman Underground, would lead him into hiding for almost seven years. Fast forward 44 years and you can see that same desire for social change in our generation. With the dawn of the Internet and social networking, our ability to contribute to society is no longer bound by our location or our lack of accessible mainstream media. From the comfort of our dorm rooms, we can exchange political viewpoints with someone whom we have never met in California. We can help save someone from cancer solely by convincing our Twitter followers to join a bone marrow registry. We can aid in catapulting a man to presidency simply by making his name a fixture on newsfeeds everywhere. So, when a YouTube video gets mentioned on the Twitter feed of a celebrity with over 1,000,000 followers, you can bet it will be retweeted and shared more than a handful of times. It took the popular Invisible Children’s KONY 2012 campaign just two days to reach 9.6 million views. Four days later, the video reached 100 million views, demonstrating how quickly digital content could spread when placed upon the fingers of a few key influential account holders. While both speed and efficiency have become even more important in this technological age, they don’t necessarily go hand in hand. There are no fact checkers on Facebook or Twitter. Information can flow freely to
millions, which is both the beauty and the curse of the World Wide Web. It did not take long for people to discover that Joseph Kony was but a minor facet in Uganda’s flowing stream of issues and that much of the funds raised by Invisible Children were allocated towards staff salaries and production costs. “I think sometimes social media can get people really excited about something that they may not know a lot about. There was a lot of support for KONY at first, but people backed out in a matter of days,” said Elizabeth Phulp, vice president of Invisible Children at UM. Following the release of the video, she saw no increase of participants at their bi-weekly meetings nor donations from people on campus. This perhaps proved that we make a big to-do about something, but actually do a whole lot of nothing. While the KONY craze may have faded into history, it did show that we are not numb to the world’s socioeconomic affairs. Still, if we are so willing to show support for a cause that has no direct relation to us, then we must have the desire and drive to change things in our own backyards, right? Well, let’s look at what the Occupy movement accomplished. It swept the nation, mobilizing thousands of people in cities all across the country. It spread its wings far beyond Wall Street and even settled here in Miami. Protesters shared their experiences by the minute, creating blogs to tell their stories and tweet and tumble what they heard and saw. For the 99 percent, social media was the ultimate
tool of expression. It allowed people across state borders to share ideas and inspiration, and to educate and mobilize believers to meet and discuss a plan of action. It is also a medium with no hierarchy, which resonates with Occupy’s core beliefs. “The interesting part about Occupy Miami and Wall Street is that it was based on the premise of being a leaderless movement, which is what made it so unique. The premise of the movement is that there is a move towards a horizontal platform of leadership, meaning that everything is decided through democratic means,” said Kristyn Greco, a senior who has been involved with Occupy. It was supposed to be the movement of our generation, fighting for the causes that directly affected our age group: income disparities, excessive student loans and a hardly existent job market. Yet it dwindled almost as quickly as it began. These are supposed to be the issues our generation cared about, yet why do people still question what the movement stood for? “It’s amazing how easily Facebook, Twitter and all the myriad of other agitators can get huge numbers of people going over something, actually doing something,” said John Wilcock who, as co-founder of New York’s most famed underground paper in the 60s, The Village Voice, has seen quite the number of movements. “But most of these things appear to me to be pretty trivial. They’re not going to change anything much, if at all. Strong characters with strong persistent voices make things happen and you could make a case for saying that sometimes large numbers of participants actually dilute the cause -whatever it may be.” Occupy succeeded in raising awareness of an issue in our country, however, it failed in one thing: structure. And while a pure democracy may succeed with a small group of people, trying to organize millions over chat rooms and comment threads with no official director is impossible. The message got lost within sheer numbers. There were too many cooks, but no kitchen. As Occupy and KONY proved, social media is a powerful tool for raising the awareness of a cause. Just look at the 2008 election, which marked the first campaign where the use of social media closely
paralleled that of traditional media. It was the start of a new way of campaigning: speaking with voters, not to them. No other campaign team understood that more than Barack Obama’s, which found that the only way to get the young vote would be to find them where they were hiding: behind a computer screen. In fact, according to a study done by the PEW Research Center for the People and the Press, 66 percent of voters between 18 and 29 voted for Obama, whereas only 31 percent voted for McCain. Social media is instant, easy and free. Best of all, you don’t need to leave your house in order to make a difference. You can make a donation with the click of a button, having just enough time to return to your kitchen before your toast burns. But perhaps that is the problem with social media - the ease with which we can help.
We can access facts, yet we can’t seem to access each other.
the maximum effort we give is a trackpad click? We place importance on what we see mentioned and hashtagged, but do we care enough to know the facts before we retweet it? We seem to have forgotten how to connect in the most important of wayspersonally. The protesters of Columbia 1968 didn’t have the facility of Reddit communities to share ideas or group chats to spread information. Their tool was face-to-face conversation. And while their message may not have reached the masses at lightning speed, it was that extra effort to form connections that gave their mission a backbone. A lot is said, but no one is talking and even fewer are doing. Let’s close the laptops and raise the picket signs. Drop the smartphones and see the road ahead. Differences aren’t made by a couple of texts, especially when messages have such a short shelf life. Let’s be more than just a digital generation, because if that’s all we are, we better hope our batteries don’t run out.
Networking works only for causes that require low involvement, where the maximum amount of effort is simply grabbing a credit card and clicking a payment button. Hell, if you could make a dent in a cause without even having to put pants on, why would you bother to do words_megan mccrink more? Everything we do coincides with the “It takes a lot for people to engage tap of a screen. This election season is no and commit themselves to take action different. In 2012, presidential candidates on political and moral issues,” Rudd and students connected on a new level. said. “Generally one does so, not as an individual, but because your friends and WANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE family bolster you. If those strong group CANDIDATES? HERE’S HOW: ties can be developed via digital contact, fine. But I also think people need to sit >>> INSTAGRAM <<< and talk and learn to trust each other and @mittromney develop mutual courage.” @barackobama It’s hard to say whether or not >>> FOURSQUARE <<< technology has pushed our society forward Username: Barack Obama or if it has held us back. We can access Username: Mitt Romney facts, yet we can’t seem to access each other. Sure, we show support for friends >>> TWITTER <<< when they ask us to like a page, but are @MittRomney we really supporting their cause when @BarackObama
CHECKING IN
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ESTAMOS UNIDOS E
CTION LE
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¿CÓMO ESTA MIAMI? President Obama and Governor Romney smile at the audience. Both candidates came to the University of Miami campus to court the Hispanic vote and answer questions from students. words_christian smith. photo_courtesy of univision. design_ivana cruz.
President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney (RomBama, for short) were recently greeted by an enthusiastic crowd for Univision’s “Meet the Candidate” events. Univision anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas hosted the town-hall style forums, drilling the candidates on the issues most important to the Hispanic community. The topics of immigration and education took center stage. With a booming Hispanic population concentrated in some of the most hotly contested swing states, candidates are throwing down the gauntlet and emptying their piggy banks in an attempt to persuade America’s largest minority to vote for them. Obama and Romney’s biggest South Florida push thus far to woo the Spanishspeaking community came as they each paid a visit to the University of Miami campus for the Univision “Meet the Candidate” events on Sept. 19 and 20. Governor Romney and President Obama both took part in the firstof-their-kind, all-Spanish broadcasts. While the vast majority of the questions asked were centered around immigration and education, the two sly candidates – known for their elusive nature when in the hot seat - tried every way they could to avoid diving too deeply into the
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political quicksand. The forum was comparable to an interrogation. Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas, who moderated the event and coanchor Univision’s most popular newscast, “Noticiero Univision,” didn’t let up the pressure once. When Salinas asked Romney about his opinion on deferred action, he simply responded with a criticism of Obama’s failed attempt at passing immigration policy. He managed to say nothing about his own plans for the deferred action program. In fact, his answer seemed to agitate Salinas, who then repeated the exact same question three more times. The next day, when it was Obama’s turn at bat, Ramos took to the pitcher’s mound with a barrage of hard-hitting questions, including one about Obama’s failed attempt at immigration reform.
“It was a promise, Mr. President,” Ramos said. “You promised [immigration reform], and a promise is a promise. With all due respect, you didn’t keep that promise.” Ramos’ connection to the issue of immigration was unmistakable as he lost his cool manner. Ramos and Salinas’ passion and fervor mirrored that of America’s Hispanic population—a demographic that both presidential candidates understand will be a deciding factor in the upcoming election. If Hispanics only make up 16 percent of
16%
Hispanics make up 16 percent of the U.S. population. Source: Pew Research Center
the U.S. population, why are candidates all of a sudden so concerned with a community that has gone unnoticed in the past? There are two reasons. Hispanics are heavily concentrated in a few hotly contested swing states. Florida, Nevada and Colorado—worth a combined total of 41 electoral votes—all have Hispanic populations that make up over one fifth of each state’s total population, as published in the 2010 U.S. Census. These three states have given campaigns just enough momentum to win the presidential election. In 2000, George W. Bush won the state of Florida by a mere 900 votes. That’s one tenth of the size of UM’s student body. By winning Florida, Bush won the Electoral College by five electoral votes, the slimmest margin of any presidential race in the past century. Secondly, Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing minority in the country. By 2050, as projected by the Pew Research Center, the Hispanic population will account for almost a third of the entire U.S. population - nearly double what it is today. The Democratic and Republican parties understand that their ability to win presidential elections in the future will depend on their position in this community. Currently, the Hispanic community leans towards the Democrats, whose immigration policies are far more lenient and forgiving to undocumented immigrants than are the policies put forth by the Republican Party. The only exclusion to this trend is the political anomaly that is the Cuban-American community. Concentrated almost entirely in South Florida, the Cuban-American population of just over 1,750,000 has consistently voted red. Casey Klofstad, an associate professor of political science at the University of Miami, attributed the Cuban-Republican connection to two key factors: “[Cuban-American] support for the GOP emanates from the party’s strong anti-communist stand as well as their perception that the Democratic Party has repeatedly bungled U.S.-Cuban policy.” Klofstad, however, acknowledged that the
political ideology of the Cuban-American community has begun to shift in the past decade. While Cuban-American support for the Democratic Party has risen slightly in recent years, and support for the embargo has dropped, not much else has really changed within the world of Hispanic politics. So if nothing seems to be changing, why are the major political parties so concerned? It seems that as long as the Republican Party wants to maintain the embargo on Cuba and the Democrats want to open up the borders, Cubans will continue to vote for the Republicans and the rest of the Hispanics for the Democrats. According to a poll administered by Rock The Vote in 2010, the votes between those aged 18 to 29 reflected the votes of the entire country. 36 percent of young voters considered themselves Democrats, compared to the national average of 31 percent, and 26 percent of young voters affiliated themselves with the Republican Party, compared to the national average of 29 percent. If average young voters on a national level aren’t voting heavily in favor of the Democratic ticket, then why do many Hispanics students believe that the young Hispanic community is becoming more liberal? The number of Latinos graduating from high school and enrolling in college hit a record high in 2009, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. 63 percent of Hispanics nationwide graduated from high school, up from 5.5 percent in 2008. As high school graduation rates rose, so did college enrollment. Latinos now make up 16.5 percent of the college enrollment nationwide. With the number of college-bound
Young Voter Party Preference
26%
36%
Republicans
Democrats
Source: Pew Research Center
Hispanics on a steep incline, more and more Hispanics are being exposed to the generally progressive atmosphere of college campuses across the country. This exposure to more liberal ideas has the potential to create a large Hispanic bloc of well-educated, Democratic voters. At the same time, if Latinos are becoming more like the “rest of America,” then as a result of their acclimation into American culture, they would fall into the same political lines as the other young voters: 36 percent would vote Democrat and 26 percent Republican. With the Hispanic population expected to be in excess of 125 million people by the year 2050 (more than a quarter of the expected U.S. population), the major parties and their candidates can’t afford to ignore the Hispanic vote. The Political Issue
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FOUR FELLOW HURRICANES HAVE THEIR EYES SET ON WASHINGTON
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Young voters between the ages of 18 and 29 make up 24 percent of the eligible voting population in the United States. According to civicyouth.org, 51 percent of voters in the aforementioned age group voted in the 2008 presidential election. Half of those eligible to vote declined to exercise their freedom at the polls. Still, despite that number, several students on campus will vote – and make time to exercise civic participation beyond the election booths.
BRITTANY DOYLE
President of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity As a freshman, current senior Brittany Doyle planned to do everything. “I started out as a freshman with a lot of broad interests,” she said. Now, however, Doyle dedicates her time to doing the things she loves most. “During my years at the university, I’ve really narrowed down what I’m really interested in,” she said. “Now, I spend a lot of hours a week on the things I’m most passionate about.” Doyle holds leadership positions in two of the four organizations she’s involved with on campus. “I think it’s all about going the extra mile – not just being involved in the organization, but getting to know the people that help run it,” she said. Doyle is the president of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, the vice president of Omicron Kappa Delta, a national leadership honor society, and is also a member of the UM Undergraduate Honor Council and President’s 100. She also volunteers at a local underprivileged high school, serving as the college-readiness liaison to South Ridge Senior High. Doyle got involved with the high school through the Office of Civic Engagement on campus. For the past two summers, Doyle has held
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internships that have boosted her political experience. She has worked at the U.S. Department of State’s Chief of Protocol’s office in Washington D.C., and most recently worked at the Clinton Global Initiative’s office in New York City. Twenty-year-old Doyle, who is working on majors in political science and history and a minor in Spanish, hopes to go to law school after college. Before, however, she hopes to secure another political internship in Washington D.C. “I definitely want to use the skills I’ve gained for public service, to help traditionally underserved groups,” she said. “I’m still figuring out how to channel everything.” Doyle, who is motivated by her father’s work as an attorney in California to defend battered women, hopes her own work will help people. Though she admits she hated politics before attending college, she decided to become civically active because she feared complacency. “It would be kind of scary to sit back and let things happen and not let my voice be heard in a democracy,” she said. “Just sitting by and letting things happen is a scary thought for me.”
YOUNG AMBITION. Doyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement with Zeta Tau Alpha, P100, UM Honor Council and Omnicron Kappa Delta has taken her from sorority suite to Capitol Hill.
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BLAKE YAGMAN
Student Government Junior Class Senator
NEXT STOP CONGRESS. Junior Blake Yagman dedicates all of his time to his job as junior class senator. Yagman was chosen as an intern for Congressional hopeful Joseph Kennedy III, Bobby Kennedy’s grandson.
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Blake Yagman, an active member of Student Government (SG), believes his work for students is so important, that he is not a part of any other organization on campus. “I’m solely involved in SG because I want to improve the school,” said Yagman, who is working on a political science and history major, with a psychology minor. This summer, Yagman was supposed to work as a campaign organizer for Joseph Kennedy III, Bobby Kennedy’s grandson, who is running for House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress for Massachusetts. Though Yagman secured such a prestigious summer internship, Yagman could not attend due to family obligations. But he did not let his obstacles stop him from being civically active. He chose to work locally in President Barack Obama’s campaign for reelection. Twenty-year-old Yagman, who is an SG junior class senator, believes his proudest achievement is attending the University of Miami. While growing up, Yagman was in and out of school due to illness. “They didn’t think I could get here and become a college student,” he said. “I think putting forth the effort to overcome what I had gone through and to become a college student here, that’s by far my proudest achievement.” His next goal is for the school. “I hope to have more students feel like they can be involved,” he said. “I want to get people more involved in SG so that everyone’s ideas can make the school better.” After college, Yagman hopes to attend law school and later run for Congress.“My ultimate goal is to represent my community on the national level,” Yagman said. He believes in the power of the American dream.“In a way, I feel like the story of America is the story of me,” he said. “After fighting so much growing up, I was given the opportunity, I had the faith and confidence in myself to do something. America is that same idea. No matter what you’re going through or what you’ve gone through, you can still do great things.”
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JORDAN LEWIS President of Young and College Democrats Junior Jordan Lewis is a strong advocate for the Democratic Party. Throughout his years as a college student, he has amassed numerous political experiences. This summer, he worked on a campaign for the Florida House of Representatives. He rallied constituent groups and created a coalition of community leaders, in order to help Kevin Rader defeat the incumbent in the Democratic primary. Currently, his mission is to register as many voters as he can in the UC Breezeway. “In the end, we want to get students to the polls. When young people go out to vote, Democrats win,” said Lewis, who is working on a political science major with a history minor. Lewis, who is the president of the University of Miami Young and College Democrats, is also the campus liaison for Canes for Israel. It is a group that promotes pro-Israel advocacy on campus and works with elected officials to promote a relationship between the United States and Israel.
Despite all his involvements, the 20-yearold law school hopeful shared his secret to success. “You have to have a solid plan moving forward, but you also need to get your hands dirty and actively organize students and constituents,” Lewis said. “Nothing worth fighting for should ever be easy.” He also expressed his love for politics and his desire to make a difference. “Politics affects everything around us,” he said. “I love my country but think we can do better.” He hopes his work can make the world a better place. “In the end, I want to leave my children a better world to live in,” Lewis said. “I know one person can make a big difference. But a movement of individuals striving for change can re-shape the world. And I want to be a part of that.”
MEERA KHAN
Secretary of Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity Twenty-year-old Meera Khan grew up discussing politics. This summer, she spent most of her time working alongside lobbyists on Capitol Hill. Khan, who is working on a political science major and a minor in finance, worked for the government relations team of the National Association of Convenience Stores. She attended congressional hearings and met with congressmen and women. On campus, she maintains political involvement. She is working with Canes for Obama and is the secretary for Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), the pre-law fraternity. She is also a part of PAD’s mock trial team. Though she admits not everyone is passionate about politics enough to spend their summers on Capitol Hill, she does believe students should maintain informed of current events. “It’s important for young people to know how the country works,” she said. Khan, who plans to go to law school, hopes to become even more politically active on campus this year. “Not everyone is interested in it, and that’s understandable. But I think it’s important for everyone to know what’s going on and it’s our future,” Khan said. “It’s really important to be involved and to know what’s going on.” The Political Issue
Distraction 39
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT
AMERICA IS... words_ali walker. photo_zach beeker. design_ashley brozic.
“Freedom of speech.”
“The NBA.”
“I would have to say the freedom. Having seen a third world country, you see how great it is to be in a country with so many opportunities.”
“The people.”
-Li Yong, senior
-Emily Valdez, sophomore
-Anxshy Kurian, second year MBA student
“The education and the freedom.” -Maya Underwood, freshman
-Ashley Serjilous, freshman
“I can do whatever I want without getting in the way of other people.” -Max Olenick, senior
“You’re free to really do whatever you want… well, okay! Free to be whatever you want.” -Terra Noel, senior
40 Distraction End Notes
“What’s my favorite thing about America? Fireworks.” -Michael Rodriguez, sophomore
GOT IDEAS? WE’VE GOT PAPER. & A WEBSITE. And blogs. And Facebook. And Twitter. And Instagram. And well, you get the point. Whether you’re into words, pictures or graphics, we’ve got the medium for you. So talk to us about fashion, tell us what you know about football and educate us on the ins and outs of your life. Email our editor-in-chief Jonathan Borge at j.borge@umiami.edu and let us know how you want to get involved with Distraction. illustration_wu haoyu.