the
magazine of the students of
the university of miami
march 2017
March 2017 DISTRACTION
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the
magazine of the students of
the university of miami
march 2017
AMPUTEES DEFY BARRIERS
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DISTRACTION
The Guide
the
magazine of the students of
the university of miami
march 2017
March 2017 DISTRACTION
3
the
magazine of the students of
the university of miami
march 2017
March 2017 DISTRACTION
4
the
magazine of the students of
the university of miami
march 2017
March 2017 DISTRACTION
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MARCH 2017
The Guide
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7 DAYS OF HAPPY HOUR
Brianna Commerford
You can still have a life on a tight budget. Find drinking deals for each day of the week.
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Drinking by Genre Alina Zerpa
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33
Marissa Vonesh
18 24
13
Alina Zerpa & Mukta Vibhute Soft, hard, sharp – we know what you’re thinking, but no, this isn’t the sex section, it’s cheese.
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The 5 Faces of a Music Festival Danielle Glassman
M.J. Lewander & Ryan Fitzpatrick
This is the 21st century; people shouldn’t be objects anymore. Save it for accessories.
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New Age Dating Gabriella Turchet & Teddy Willson
Satin Dreams Jade Simmons, Lauren Gimpel & Shellie Frai
Main Event
56
LITTLE DO THEY KNOW
Sex Stats Olivia Stauber
Olivia Stauber
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I’m a 20 Year Old Virgin
Being a college student is hard; dealing with a mental illness in college is 10 times harder.
Gabriella Turchet & Teddy Willson
60
Meet Mary Jane
62
Mind Over Matter
Health & Wellness 66
Beating the Odds
In the Loop EXTRA CHEESE PLEASE
54
ARM CANDY
28
10 Caffeine Fix Tristan Niskanen
Gimme Some Sugar
Fashion
Isabella Cueto
The Best of the Farmer’s Market Laura M. Queseda
PORN
It might be your dirty, little secret, but it’s time to talk about it and its effects.
Spring Break on the Low Unico Li
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Love & Sex Unwrapped
38
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Let There Be Love Gabriella Turchet & Teddy Willson
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DROP & GIVE ME ZEN
Maria Hernandez Move your body and clear your mind with human civilization’s tried and true practice: Yoga.
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Asmae Fahmy Allison Catala & Isabella Savini
Through the Lens Jasmine Lapadula
march 2017
Letter from the
distractionmagazine.com
WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST KISS? Editor-in-Chief_Asmae Fahmy Executive Editor_Marissa Vonesh “On a Boat.” Managing Editor_Olivia Stauber “A Trampoline.” Art Directors_Allie Pakrosnis & Jamie Shub Photo Editor_ Sidney Sherman Assistant Art Directors_Alexa Aguilar, Ana Gonzalez, Heidi Lemon & Lindsey Bornstein Assistant Photo Editors_Hunter Crenian, Josie Merkert & Maxx Pollack Copy Chief_Patricia Santana Assistant Copy Chief_Stephanie Stadler “The Ocean.” The Guide Editor_Lauren Flaumenhaft In The Loop Editor_Alina Zerpa Love & Sex Editor_Teddy Willson “Disney World.” Health and Wellness Editor_Kelly Saberi Fashion Editors_Jade Simmons & Lauren Gimpel Assistant Fashion Editor_Shellie Frai The Main Event Editor_Maria Hernandez Public Relations Manager_Gabby Rosenbloom “A Park Bench.” Assistant PR Manager_Elizabeth Pozzuoli Business Manager_Kyle Kingma Assistant Business Manager_Neha Baddam Faculty Adviser_Randy Stano
DISTRACTIONMAGAZINE.COM Online Editorial Coordinators_Alina Zerpa & Thalia Garcia Online Copy Chief_Tori Cameron Entertainment Editor_Jorge Chabo Online Fashion Editor_Maddie Reyes Student Life Editor_ Sofia Dacharry “A Middle School Courtyard.’” Travel Editor_ Teddy Willson Sports Editor_ Alexander Goldman “A Movie Theater, Online Photo Editor_Keying Cheng Where Else?”
ASSISTING FACULTY Adina Sanchez-Garcia, Alex Heria, Bruce Garrison & Sam Terilli
CONTRIBUTORS Joey Haas, Designer Rori Kotch, Designer Callie DePhillips, Designer Melanie Brooks, Photographer Kristian DelRosario, Photographer Courtney Schmidt, Photographer Jasmine LaPadula, PR
Jordan Abrams, PR Mukta Vibhute, Writer Unico Li, Writer Tristan Niskanen, Writer Isabella Savini, Writer Danielle Glassman, Writer M.J. Lewander, Writer
Isabella Cueto, Writer Laura M. Queseda, Writer Gabriella Turchet, Writer Ryan Fitzpatrick, Writer Allison Catala, Writer Brianna Commerford, Writer
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 an extracurricular/volunteer operation made for students, by students, and covers the full spectrum of student life here at The U. If you want to get involved or have any questions, comments or concerns email our editor-in-chief, Asmae Fahmy, at distraction@miami.edu. The magazine is produced four times per year, twice a semester. City Graphics and Bellack Miami printed 8,000 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 perfect bound. Most text is nine-point Minion Pro with 9.8 points of leading set ragged with a combination of bold, medium and italic. All pages were designed using Adobe Creative Suite CC 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 1330 Miller Drive, Student Media Suite 202A, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, dropped into SSC Student Media Suite Suite 200 or emailed to distraction@miami.edu. All articles, photographs and illustrations are copyrighted by the University of Miami.
EDITOR
When the distraction staff was debating what our special section would be this issue, we initially brushed off the idea of love and sex because we figured no one would want to read yet another guide to winning her back or yet another story about people’s sex lives. Love is either glorified or minimized, considered something worth writing endless movies about or something not worth thinking about at all. Love usually comes coated in sugar, made overly sweet with overdone references from “The Notebook” or “Titanic.” But love is more than an epic romance. Love is more than a candlelit dinner, a clandestine kiss, a lover outside your window with a boom box in hand. Love can be complicated at times, impossible at others. It doesn’t come in one color, gender or religion (page 38), it no longer fits into the paradigm our parents put it in (page 24), and it can even be a disguise for lusty sexual favors done in exchange for money (page 18). One form of love we don’t talk about enough, but should celebrate more, is self-love. So often we college students forget to love ourselves. We rush from one responsibility to the next, sacrifice sleep for social engagements, verify our self-worth through a letter on a transcript or a number beneath a posted photo. We define ourselves by the approval of someone else and end up creating a collage of who we want to be and what we want to change; probing at the parts that we see as too weak, replacing the parts that we think are too much. We modify and manipulate until all we see are the red dashes and marks of a paper that needs editing. A story that needs to be rewritten. We forget that no act of love can truly occur unless we give it to ourselves first. So my proposition is this: burn the script. Focus on yourself. Accept that reality will never play out like it does on screen. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Don’t give your heart to those whose fingers pull at the edges of your comfort zone. Fill your life with love from the people you surround yourself with, the things that lighten your day, the way you appreciate yourself. Every romance movie culminates with two people finding love. Make your movie about you loving yourself first.
THE ELEMENTS THE COVERS: THE MARCH ISSUE art direction_ allie pakrosnis, sidney sherman, asmae fahmy & jamie shub. photo_sidney sherman. Sex has always been a hard topic to talk about on college campuses. We wanted to approach our love & sex special section with tact and class, but we also didn’t want to risk watering down the topic. While brainstorming one night after a failed plan, Co-Art Director Allie Pakrosnis suggested we design our
own condom for the issue. A Google search and numerous custom condom design websites later, 50 distraction condoms were on their way. The design is simple, fun and unique – it speaks for itself. Playing on the pun of physically opening up a condom, we also are “unwrapping” sex as a subject.
art direction_sidney sherman & allie pakrosnis. photo_sidney sherman. Our Photo Editor, Sidney Sherman, blinded by the Miami sun and colorful kaleidoscopes of Wynwood, searched for the perfect backdrop to pose models Cristy Indante, Josie Merkert and Jeremy Sacks. Experimenting with different poses, the group balanced next to and on the walls that make up the
largest outdoor gallery in the world. Aside from falling on top of one another, being stared down by groups of tourists and sweating through their clothing, they were able to capture the delicacy of the poses amidst the busy city. Props to Merkert for making it through the shoot despite breaking flesh!
art direction_sidney sherman, asmae fahmy & allie pakrosnis. photo_sidney sherman. Initially coming off as small, La Finca boxing gym opens up into a champion’s arena. Andres F. Mateus was warming up on a bike when Asmae Fahmy, Sidney Sherman and Courtney Schmidt walked into the gym. Mateus was amputated below the knee after a motorcycle accident eight years ago. This
semi-professional boxer has been training at the gym for two years. Under a collage of flags and hanging boxing gloves, Mateus talked to Fahmy and posed for Sherman and Schmidt. He went through a mock training session with his trainer, sweating while the distraction team watched in awe.
art direction_hunter crenian, allie pakrosnis & sidney sherman. photo_hunter crenian. The hazy, humid air stood still. Shot after shot – with only an electronic cigarette, a grassy backyard, a UM student and the Miami sky – Assistant Photo Editor Hunter Crenian attempted to capture the effect of smoke in the air. The result: a freeze frame of sheer, silk scarves dancing around a delicate face. Although
we didn’t use marijuana in the production of the shoot, distraction wanted to cover the ever-changing legal use and social acceptance of marijuana. While more research still needs to be done on the drug, opinions are continuously moving towards legalization for both medical and recreational use.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
ANDRES MATEUS IS PHOTOGRAPHED INSIDE A BOXING RING.
SIDNEY SHERMAN SHOOTS SPREAD DECONSTRUCTING PORNOGRAPHY.
FARMER’S MARKET FINDS ARE LAID OUT AND SHOT.
ALLIE PAKROSNIS CARVES CHEESE BLOCKS TO CREATE CHEESE SPREAD OPENER.
only %ff for o you!
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Valid at Sunset location: 7315 S Red Rd. Coral Gables, FL 33143 Cannot be combined with any other offer
BODEGA
drinking by
GENRE
AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE PERFECT MIAMI BAR CRAWL
words_alina zerpa. photo_josie merkert & hunter crenian. design_lindsey bornstein.
Churchill’s Pub
5501 N.E. Second Avenue, Miami Located near Wynwood, Churchill’s is a dive bar that acts as an oasis for punk, metal and jazz music enthusiasts. Musiclovers can play pool, watch sports and order drinks. Explore new music and avoid the tight dress, high-heeled scene of Miami Beach. Churchill’s could very well be the up-andcoming hipster spot, or at least reminiscent of the typical “bar scene” of college.
Cowboys Saloon & Grill Nightclub 1805 South University Drive, Davie Although Cowboys Saloon and Grill Nightclub isn’t in Miami, all it takes is a 40-minute drive up north to Davie to find yourself line dancing to some authentic country music. Whether you’re into country music or not, the rodeo-inspired décor and upbeat ambiance will have you moving all night. If you want to learn how to line dance, there are beginner’s classes from 9-10 p.m. Make sure to order some loaded, greasy nachos and wait until the night really comes alive. There is no cover for those 21 and over before 11 p.m., but cover is $20 for 18-20 year olds before 11 p.m. Oh, and to top it off, Cowboys has Ladies’ Night on Wednesdays and Fridays where ladies drink free from 10 p.m. to closing time.
EL PATIO
El Patio Wynwood
167 N.W. 23rd St., Miami Leave the heels at home when you go to El Patio because the non-stop Latin music will have you dancing from the second you walk through the door. While this outdoor spot is great for chill nights, don’t think that you won’t stick out like a sore thumb if you aren’t jamming out with the crowds. Thankfully, happy hour at El Patio won’t break the bank, with most drinks and beers at $5 from the early afternoon until 9 p.m. The only downfall? Sometimes there is a cover, but you are given vouchers to spend at the bar.
Bodega Taqueria & Tequila 1220 16th St., Miami Beach A night at Bodega can be split into a few steps. First, you’ll take a picture of the club/bar/restaurant’s taco sign because of its hilarious slogans. Second, you’ll stand in line waiting to be escorted to a Porta Potty door covered in stickers. Third, a bouncer will give you a shot of tequila. Fourth, you’ll enter the Porta Potty, walk by a urinal and enter the speakeasy that is known as Bodega. The club plays a broad selection of music, from hip-hop to pop to reggae, and gets packed pretty quickly. Bodega has a happy hour every day from 6-8 p.m., but if you are more of a night owl, plan on arriving around 10 p.m. to avoid the usual three-hour line outside. On weekdays, Bodega is home to live performances, but on weekends Bodega boasts more of a club scene.
Going out in a city like Miami is about more than just finding the right bar in Coconut Grove. With such diverse venues, it is easy to find a different place to explore that can satisfy anyone’s definition of fun, right down to the different types of music they want to hear. From your friend who wants to go salsa dancing to your friend who wants to jam out to electronic dance music, we’ve got you covered with five places that are bound to keep your night colorful and your Snapchat story exciting.
Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern
7221 S.W 58th Ave., Miami Right by Sunset Place lies Bougainvillea, a hidden, boozy tavern that hosts local bands and offers cheap drinks. Bougies is known for its great mix of music, with live bands from Thursday to Sunday and a different theme for each night: artificial, ‘80s rock, original band music and acoustic. The tavern is particularly popular on Wednesdays (because it’s Ladies’ Night) but it’s normal happy hour is until about 10 p.m. on any day of the week. Bougies is good for both your social life, your convenience and – of course – your wallet.
BOUGAINVILLEAS March 2017 DISTRACTION
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r eak Spronintheg B LOW
words_unico li. photo_sidney sherman. design_joey haas.
Staring at your stack of books, PowerPoint slides and credit card statements, one thing becomes clear: You need a break. A spring break getaway allows for a much-needed bout of relaxation, and don’t worry, rejuvenation and an empty bank account do not have to go together.
CRUISES
KEY WEST
If you think a beach-side hotel is too basic and want something more exciting, then going on a cruise might be the alternative you’re looking for. There are many cruises departing from Miami that are bound for popular destinations such as the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Cruises from three to five nights can be found on multiple cheap booking sites. You can get on-board dining and entertainment and see some of the world’s greatest beaches all for under $300.
Key West, the southern-most point of Florida, comes alive every night. Party at Mallory Square and stay in a bungalow to save money and get a sense of what the real island vibe feels like. There are tons of bars, cafés and restaurants to choose from, so you’ll never have a dull moment. Take an afternoon walk on the island after having a taste of the sea, and don’t forget to immerse yourself in the relaxing surroundings.
ORLANDO Home to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando holds major theme parks within a 15-mile radius of each other, which is pretty handy when it comes to planning a trip. While tickets can be expensive, websites like aaa.com can help you find cheap passes if you book in advance. Plus, the parks provide transportation from many surrounding hotels, so you won’t need to worry about renting a car either.
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DISTRACTION
The Guide
BEACHES With beaches all over South Florida, a simple car ride and a few dollars can provide you with the spring break trip that’s everything you need. If you want to get out of the Miami area, head up north to Daytona Beach. With its cheap hotels and convenient public transportation, Daytona Beach attracts students from all over the country during March and April. There’s always a hidden party for someone to discover at the beach, as well as beautiful boardwalks and exciting local clubs. If you want to relax somewhere closer, Fort Lauderdale Beach is another no-frills choice. It draws many skaters, joggers, cyclists and laid-back people with its wide brick promenade, open platform and tasty restaurants along the coastline. Make sure to visit Las Olas Boulevard to get your nightlife fix.
words_laura m. queseda. photo_olivia stauber & sidney sherman. design_alexa aguilar.
The scent of grilled meat, the faint sounds of laughter, the slightly more optimistic attitude in the general student population – it must be a Wednesday. For six years, UM’s campus has been graced with a stream of white tents filling the path to the library, allowing students to enjoy fresh fruit, savory crepes and exotic food choices from local vendors. Sometimes the market’s choices can be overwhelming, but we’re here to make your trek through it a little bit easier. UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2017 DISTRACTION
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MIAMI-BASED MARKETS Want your farmer’s market fix on the weekend? We’ve rounded up the best local farmer’s markets that are bound to keep your belly satisfied.
Pinecrest Farmer’s Market
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If you’re looking for an excuse to treat yourself, then you should head over to the Bee’s Farm booth and pick up some jam. Choose from an assortment of fruit spreads and preserves, from strawberry to raspberry to peach. Packaged with love and care, this is a splurge that jam is meant to last (or not, depending on how fast you consume it). Spread it on a biscuit, pour it into tea or mix it into yogurt for an extra kick. Plus, the jams are made with all-natural ingredients, so your future self will be thanking you.
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WHEN: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: 11000 S. Red Road, Pinecrest The Pinecrest Farmer’s Market boasts stands featuring food from the best sustainable and organic farms and retailers from the Miami area. Grab a fresh smoothie and then head inside Pinecrest Gardens, the 20-acre park across from the market, for a truly enjoyable Sunday.
Coconut Grove Farmer’s Market WHEN: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: 3300 Grand Avenue, Miami The Coconut Grove Organic Market’s stands feature everything from fresh fruits and veggies provided by local farms to a raw bar, a salad bar, a selection of prepared foods and more. There’s even a vegan ice cream stand.
South Miami Farmer’s Market WHEN: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: 6130 Sunset Drive, South Miami If you feel like making the trip down to Sobe on a Saturday, make a pit stop at South Miami Farmer’s Market before heading to the beach. The market itself is a little smaller than most, but its variety of goods do not fall short. Choose from organic produce, jams, soaps, pastries and other artisan items while enjoying live entertainment during the process.
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DISTRACTION
The Guide
TREAT YOURSELF: Jam
DESSERT: Acai Bowls
If you have a sweet tooth but still want to keep your sugar in check, consider a delectable acai bowl. You can grab one at the Sweet Blendz booth. The bowls function as more than an aesthetic photo-op for Instagram (we know you’re tired of seeing them on your newsfeeds) and offer a lot in terms of flavor, health and fun. At the booth, choose the types of fruits you want, anything from mangoes to pineapples to raspberries. Add in coconut flakes and chia seeds for some extra zest, and know that you’re doing it all without an ounce of guilt, as the Brazilian acai berry is loaded with health benefits.
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INEXPENSIVE FARE: Kettle Corn
Savory and sweet, Incredible Kettle Corn offers a mix of colorful kettle corn that is sure to brighten up your day. The giant bags of kettle corn can usually be spotted on a desk in a classroom or in the hand of a passerby. There’s a reason the bags pop up around campus so much on Wednesdays: the portions are generous despite the prices and the flavors are delicious, what more could you ask for? At $5 a bag, kettle corn is perfect for snacking on as you go about your busy schedule.
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FRUIT: Strawberries
You can’t pass by a farmer’s market without stopping at a fruit stand. It’s hard to find the fruits featured by a vendor inside of Publix or even Whole Foods. After all, that is the whole point: fresh, organic fruit grown by local farmers. When looking at the colorful selection at Benita Lara, you might be tempted to purchase every fruit, but if you must only buy one, go with the strawberries. Sweet, supple and bursting with flavor, these fresh delights don’t even need to be dipped in Nutella to be enjoyable.
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LUNCH: Poke Bowls
Poke bowls, a new crowd favorite, have officially landed at the farmer’s market thanks to the fine people at Poke Smash. The vendor serves up delicious bowls filled with rice, lettuce, ahi tuna or salmon, and offer a variety of options for even the pickiest of eaters to enjoy. Choose your protein then select from the wide range of toppings including ginger, masago, avocado and seaweed. The bowls are a treat to both your mind and stomach, with the omega-3 fatty acids nurturing your brain’s cells. Sounds like a perfect excuse to splurge before that Calculus exam.
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Caffeine FIX
words_tristan niskanen. photo_josie merkert. design_heidi lemon.
As sleep-deprived college students, we are always on the hunt for the best ways to survive long nights at Richter and rough mornings after late nights out in South Beach. While your go-to Starbucks latte may satisfy your caffeine cravings just fine, there is more to the world of caffeine than just your basic blend of beans. From flowery tea that does the trick to coffee imported from all over the world, Miami is blessed with some of the best cafés in the country – all you have to do is find them.
Tinta y Café
Tea & Poets
Pasión del Cielo
1315 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables Tinta y Café is an excellent spot to grab a warm cup of Cuban coffee. The café’s interior is comfortably set up with small tables, full bookshelves and a bar. You can make yourself at home inside or go to the walk-up window to place a to-go order. If you’re hungry, the café has you covered with its juicy, protein-rich sandwiches. Located north of campus, Tinta y Café is the perfect place to go for a necessary coffee break.
5701 Sunset Drive #126, South Miami With a world dominated by coffee shops on every corner, it’s refreshing to find a café that focuses on tea. Not only does Tea & Poets offer traditional teas, but it also concocts customized tea cocktails such as the Blueberry Mojito. This fun location has couches, tables, games and teas from 15 independent vendors. Wednesday nights are poetry nights, so bring your friends and get ready for an open mic hosted on its in-house stage.
5701 Sunset Drive, Suite C11C, South Miami Pasión del Cielo showcases beans from 11 countries to create delicious brews. Coffee is for sale by the cup or pound and you can even pick your own blend. There are plenty of snacks for sale including spinach empanadas and an assortment of salads. Multicolored bricks line the walls and couches are splayed throughout the quaint shop for comfort. Don’t hesitate to grab your friends and try coffee from all over.
Small Tea
Café Demetrio
205 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables
300 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables Café Demetrio, Coral Gables’ first coffee shop, boasts strong coffee flavors and an impressive menu to pair them with. Café Demetrio is an Italian coffee shop that exemplifies the traditional ideals of 18th-century European cafés, where intellectuals went to discuss their ideas in a place of leisure. Students receive a 10 percent discount Mondays through Thursdays from 3-6 p.m., so snag your books and get rejuvenated by this local Miami classic.
Small Tea is, in our opinion, Coral Gables’ best tea shop. Walk into the small shop and you will be presented with a selection of more than 80 teas. Categorized by type, the teas range from black to herbal to white to green, making it so that you’ll never be bored with your tea options again. This modern shop allows for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Miami. It’s almost as if you’ve discovered a secret in the city.
10 DISTRACTION The Guide
NATURAL ALTERNATIVES GINKGO
GUARANA
GINSENG
HERBAL TEA
B VITAMINS
RED TEA
CHICORY
PROTEIN
7
DAYS
Happy Hour OF
words_brianna commerford. photo_hunter crenian. design_heidi lemon.
If you’re a stressed out student with a grand total of $14 in your checking account, you sound like you need a drink. A lot of them. For free. Everyone loves a good happy hour – that small window of time where classes end and we can unwind over classy cocktails with good company. The key to doing happy hour right is to locate the best spots and seek out the sickest deals. From South Beach bars to local watering holes in the Gables, here is how to drink free every day. MON: Town Kitchen & Bar 7301 S.W. 57 Ct., South Miami Your Mondays won’t be so bad after experiencing Town’s happy hour. From 4-7 p.m., women are offered a selection of two drinks for free ranging from beer to wine to liquor. After that, Town has half-off discounts on specialty cocktails until closing. Gentlemen, don’t worry, for you, some appetizers and drinks are half off during the special. Thursday is the restaurant’s official Ladies’ Night, so feel free to return then. Complimentary champagne is offered from 4-7 p.m., as well as half-priced martinis from 9 p.m. until closing.
TUES: Blackbird Ordinary 729 S.W. First Avenue, Miami You’ve just finished your classes and have an awkward gap of time to fill before going to the infamous Tav Tuesday in the Grove. To fill the time, head over to Blackbird Ordinary for unlimited free drinks between 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for ladies, including well drinks and the signature Blackbird, made of vodka, lemonade and blackberry purée. This dimly-lit, edgy bar has like D.J.s and is open every night until 5 a.m. Women can enjoy halfpriced drinks everyday after 1:30 a.m.
WED:
Ball and Chain
1513 S.W. Eighth Street, Miami Having a midweek crisis? Ball & Chain has the solution: free drinks for ladies from 8-10 p.m. Enjoy a Miami Mule, the tropical twist on the Moscow Mule, at no cost, and pair it with hard-to-resist tapas such as tacos or queso fritos. Test how tipsy the happy hour makes you with karaoke onstage.
THURS:
Sidebar Miami
337 S.W. Eighth Street, Miami So it’s Thursday night and you are hopefully finishing your night out alive and in one piece. On the way back, hit up Sidebar Miami, a hip, post-party venue that serves inventive cocktails over the music of local live bands. The bar serves women free drinks from 9 p.m. until midnight every night. Oh, and it has ice cream: What more could you ask for?
FRI:
The Bar
172 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables Start your weekend off right with good times and great drinks at The Bar. Every Friday afternoon, happy hour runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m., allowing ladies to get free well cocktails and Yuengling drafts.
SAT:
Congas Night Club
2079 N. University Drive, Sunrise Drinking free on the weekend is tricky, but if you’re really determined to get the bang for no buck, take a hike to Congas Night Club and Restaurant. This internationally-inspired bar offers women free entry until midnight as long as they show proof of their college ID. You can enjoy free mojitos while listening to Latin music that incorporates the best of salsa, reggaeton and merengue.
SUN:
RA Sushi
5829 S.W. 73rd St., South Miami Swing by RA Sushi’s Sunday happy hour from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. to discover the wonders of discounted Japanese liquor. After you’ve ordered your $3 hot sake, get some discounted sushi and appetizers to go with it, such as the Insta-worthy Viva Las Vegas roll. March 2017 DISTRACTION 11
THE 5 FACES OF A
Music Festival
words_danielle glassman. design & illustration_ana gonzalez.
Music festivals are known to bring about a variety of characters. Certain types of people can be spotted from afar simply by how they present themselves through their fashion choices. If you plan on attending Ultra or any music festival this year, we’re here to give you a little warning as to what you might find.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER The photographers can be spotted snapping away in the middle of a crowd, regardless of the poor quality of their pictures. They’ll usually come with a group of friends and take thousands of artsy pictures of their outfits before a show. As soon as the music begins, they’ll be Snapchatting, photographing and Instagramming nearly everything that happens no matter how many heads they are blocking. They’ll do whatever it takes to document nearly every moment, using whatever methods necessary to get it done.
THE MILLENNIAL HIPPIE The millennial hippies are usually young people who appear to be old-school in their free-spirited attire. No matter how tired and worn down you might think they are, their outfits say otherwise. They tend to be found showing off oversized sunglasses, a headband, a romper or a crop top and maxi skirt. They are usually wearing a choker of some sort or bohemian layered necklaces. You’ll catch them in the middle of a crowd with their flowing hair and flowing skirts, treating a music festival like a fashion show.
THE MUSIC LOVER Music lovers are at a music festival for one reason only: the music. You’ll catch them in the middle of the mosh pit jamming out to anything the D.J. plays or moving to a song in a trance-like state. They’ll be on their feet for hours and you’ll wonder how they even have the will, let alone the capacity, to hold their pee in for that long. Find them singing along to every set, feeling the music down to their core. Usually they’ll go alone or with a select few friends. Either way, they’ll be some of the few in the crowd simply there for the music.
12 DISTRACTION In The Loop
THE RAVE KID The rave kids are typically decked out in full festival attire – except in their case, that means wearing the least amount of clothing possible. Ravers are usually spotted dancing from a distance in anything neon, whether that takes on the form of a bodysuit or a brightly-colored crop top paired with spandex shorts. Their outfits aren’t complete without a sequined fanny pack and some furry boots. Ravers come prepared in the craziest clothes, and their energy surely matches their outfits.
THE LOVING COUPLE Even though they’re surrounded by thousands of people, loving couples act as if they are the only ones at the festival. Everyone else is raving while all they can see are each other’s eyes. They take cute pictures together, rave together and show their affection with one too many instances of PDA. By the end of the night, they’re too busy with each other to have noticed if they were bothering anyone. But, sometimes it’s okay if they just keep to themselves.
words_alina zerpa & mukta vibhute. photo_sidney sherman. design_allie pakrosnis & jamie shub. March 2017 DISTRACTION 13
While France may eat the most cheese in the world, America isn’t far behind. Although timeless, it seems that cheese continues to make its mark on restaurant dishes in new and innovative ways. From the Parmesan that tops off your pasta to the cheese drizzled on your nachos, cheese is everywhere in our lives.
BAKED BRIE WITH MAPLE BACON JAM
Brie cheese is a soft cow’s milk cheese named after a historic French region. Brie contains vitamin B12 and B2, which are known to increase energy and help your body fight off cell damage. You can eat Brie alone or pair it with crackers, although it doesn’t really matter what you eat it with – you’re going to go to heaven and back after one bite.
Cheddar cheese can be seen on platters at cocktail parties in little squares (so you don’t feel bad for eating 10 of them) or in your mother’s famous grilled cheese sandwich. Coming in white and orange, Cheddar is mostly made in Wisconsin. The artificial version can be found in products such as Easy Cheese spray cans, which are made from processed cheese.
Asiago cheese comes from Italian cow’s milk and can have different textures depending on how it has been aged. There are two types of Asiago: fresh Asiago (Asiago Pressato), which has a smooth texture, and aged Asiago (Asiago d’allevo), which has a crumbly texture. Try Asiago cheese grated on a salad, sliced in a sandwich or melted on a cantaloupe.
Calling all pizza, pasta and soup lovers: Never feel bad about not telling the waiter to stop when they start grating Parmesan cheese over your plate. This Italian cheese is extra-hard and made of cow’s milk. Aged for two years, Parmesan cheese is the most common cheese to add on top of dishes such as salads, mashed potatoes and spinach-artichoke dip.
If you’re feeling patriotic, buy this American-based cheese, which emulates a cheese originally from Switzerland. Swiss cheese has a mild flavor and tastes sweet and nut-like. Not all Swiss cheeses have holes. The larger the holes are, the more pronounced the flavor is. Add it to your next sandwich for the perfect tang.
Manchego cheese comes from Spain and is aged from 60 days to two years. It is available either fresh or matured. Manchego cheese goes well with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and crusty bread. If you want to keep Manchego cheese around for a while, store it in wax paper and put it in your fridge for up to six months.
Whether you’re being fancy at a cocktail party or indulging with Netflix, nothing makes a better combination than cheese and wine. Get to know some wine and cheese pairings to prepare for the next time you go grocery shopping. If you’re eating a soft cheese such as Brie or mozzarella, pair it with dry Riesling, Marsanne or Viognier. A light red wine, such as Pinot Noir, works well too, and contrasts nicely with Brie. For intense flavors such as Manchego cheese and Monterey Jack, try a white Bordeaux, red Burgundy or even champagne. For a sweeter cheese, try an
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acidic wine to cut the cheese’s sweetness, while using a lush wine to complement a richer cheese. Older cheeses tend to go better with older wines, so pay attention to dates and years when buying the two. Include crackers on your grocery list because they serve as good palate cleansers when you’re trying a large sampling of cheese and wine unions. CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Not in the cooking mood? Check out the following restaurants to satisfy your cheese cravings. Nachos are about to be upgraded from the dry chips with melted fake cheese found at baseball games. Pair some chips with Monterey Jack and/ or Cheddar for a perfect, gooey, melted concoction. You might never again buy cheese dip once you’ve perfected your homemade nacho cheese – a twist on a junk food staple.
Name something more satisfying than separating a grilled cheese and seeing the melted cheese. Put a twist on a childhood favorite by grilling some sourdough, topping it with any cheese, then adding pesto, arugula and thin slices of chicken. You can throw pretty much anything onto bread and melted cheese, so experiment.
3451 N.E. First Avenue, Miami This bistro serves a wide variety of cheeses ranging from barrel aged feta to Gorgonzola dolce. You can enjoy a whole cheese course, where you pick up to three cheeses, a meat and a wine or beer. They also offer sandwiches, soups and salads.
1915 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables If your mouth is watering at the thought of mac and cheese so smooth and creamy that you might just eat a bucket’s worth for dinner, then thank the cheese gods for creating this delicious pair. For a creamy dish, use Parmesan. For a gooey dish, use both Cheddar and cottage cheese. For a sweeter dish, use Monterey Jack. Whichever cheese you use, make sure you eat all of it.
Dark chocolate goes perfectly with the savory flavor of goat cheese. These tasty bites only require chocolate, goat cheese, sugar and vanilla extract.
Imagine a warm baked Brie – now imagine what it would taste like in bite-sized pieces with brown sugar in the mix. Sound good? Yeah, we thought so.
Pizza without cheese is like UM’s orange without the green – unnatural. Need an excuse to eat pizza? Try it with different kinds of cheeses and declare a winner. Choose from mozzarella, provolone, Cheddar, Parmesan, Gouda or ricotta. Get creative with your toppings for creations such as Chicken BBQ pizza, or substitute Nutella for your sauce and try dessert pizza for a sweet change of pace.
The sharp bite of Parmesan and tangy taste of cranberry blend together in a way that can only be described as true love inside a warm shortbread cookie. Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top for an extra sweet touch.
This food-truck-turnedrestaurant is famous for its grilled cheeses. The menu has unique options such as the Mackin’ Melt, a creamy Gouda mac and cheese with housecured bacon on sourdough bread. If nothing appeals to you, you can always build your own grilled cheese.
3425 N.E. Second Avenue, Miami Perfect for date night, Lagniappe opens for dinner at 7 p.m. and doesn’t close until 3:30 a.m. Lagniappe is a New Orleans-inspired restaurant that specializes in barbecue, cheese and live music. Along with cheese, Lagniappe has a wide selection of wines that perfectly complement its creative and flavorful dishes. Pick one of its traditional dinner options or choose from a wide variety of meats and cheeses to create the perfect cheese plate.
BACON MAC AND CHEESE GRILLED CHEESE March 2017 DISTRACTION 15
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photo_sidney sherman. design_allie pakrosnis.
Being young and in college can be confusing enough, but navigating relationships and the ever-present hook-up culture makes it even more difficult. From virgins to porn stars to nontraditional relationships, there’s something for everyone to talk about. So buckle up – it’s about to get steamy. March 2017 DISTRACTION 17
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An inside look into the lives of sugar babies words_isabella cueto. photo_sidney sherman. design_allie pakrosnis.
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The average female sugar baby is 25 years old. While the lifestyle certainly has its benefits, there is a moral cost to living the sweet life.
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n 2008, both of Julia’s* parents lost their jobs during the Recession. She was 13 at the time and remembers her family monitoring how much they were spending, even on food. When she came to the University of Miami from New Jersey and began to realize how the cost of Uber rides and weekend outings add up, she needed extra money. So she turned to what her friends were using, something she was “very morally against” but now considers a worthwhile opportunity: sugar dating. Julia was just one of over a million college students in the United States seeking sugar daddies on SeekingArrangement.com (SA) – the most popular site for finding this kind of relationship – as of January 2016, according to data from SA. Florida has one of the highest concentrations of “sugar babies” in the country. The state sits at No. 5 nationally, with about 21 female sugar baby for every 1,000 adult females. The concentration of sugar people is especially high in South Florida, where the lure of wealthy men appeals to debtridden college students. However, at a university known for its work-hard-play-hard attitude and rich kid culture – 13 percent of UM students come from the top 1 percent of wealthiest households, according to a recent study by The Equality of Opportunity Project – some students have taken to finding sugar daddies in order to maintain a certain appearance.
For Julia, SA was a way to afford the expensive habits of her new college friends. “One of my attractions to using the app was keeping up with those people who come from very well-off families,” she said. Julia’s first job was at an ice cream parlor when she was 14 and she worked up to three jobs at a time throughout high school. After seeing her family struggle through the Recession, she made sure to earn disposable income for herself. “I had a lot of money to spend and not really thinking about it and then coming here and having to cut back my lifestyle so much, that was probably the most difficult transition into college for me,” she said. Over the summer before college, Julia said she saved money, but “it’s not really lasting me all that long.” She already cut back on luxuries she used to enjoy at home – fresh acrylic nails, professional full-body waxes, shopping sprees, expensive makeup – but money was still tight because of the constant partying and social expenses that filled her weekend. A typical Friday night may involve a walk to nearby fraternity houses for free beer and entertainment, or it may involve a pricey Uber ride to a South Beach club, a $20 tip for the bouncer to let her in without a hassle and drunken food runs in the early-morning hours. “Then, the next morning, it’s like, ‘Oh, let’s go get food again,’ or ‘Oh, let’s go to the beach,’” Julia said. One night, she was lying in bed and realized, “Wow, I’m really broke, I need to do this.” She immediately downloaded the app her close friends had been using on and off for months to make money.
“I feel like girls are a lot more accepting here, so for that reason they are pretty open about it,” she said. One friend told her she was earning $500 to $1,000 per date. Julia was sold. She filled out each required field to create a profile: screen name, location, age, ethnicity and “lifestyle,” the word sugar people use to set the financial precedent before they even get involved. Julia set hers at “moderate.” For sugar daddies (and mommies, though less common overall), the lifestyle field asks instead for their net worth. Daddies and mommies have to pay a membership fee to join and those who pay more boost their visibility on the “service.” Babies join for free and even when SA was charging them, the site offered discounts to those who registered with university email addresses. “I basically wanted to make it so that my profile was the least sexual as possible,” Julia said. “I was looking for the men that I could just finesse their money and not sleep with them.” On her profile, she put a photo of her face and shoulders, modest, smiling. Members also have the option to set private images. These two photos of Julia were slightly sexier, showed more skin and gave off more of a sugar-baby feel. “Seeking someone I can get to know and enjoy my time with. Love going out for nice dinners and having intellectual conversation,” she wrote as her description. Her inbox, she said, was immediately flooded with messages. “You get so many messages all the time and I haven’t used the app recently, but if I opened it right now, I’d probably have so many messages in there,” she said. When she did open the app, she had 19 unread messages.
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“It’s empowering in that way, but also kind of does the opposite when you realize men will pay that much just for the sexual pleasure you can provide for them,” she said. After a few failed attempts to set up lucrative and non-sexual first dates with several men – none of them would follow through without the promise of “something more,” Julia said – she decided the app wasn’t worth her time. One man in particular, a man who told Julia to pick any place and he would show up for the date, agreed to pay $400 for a first date. They had planned to make it seem like a job interview – Julia would dress professionally and bring a binder. She thought she had solidified her platonic approach and would finally earn some cash, but an hour before the date, Julia said the man clarified he would need a sexual incentive to pay her for lunch. “I can’t give you money for having lunch,” he said to her in a text message. “It has to be more. Have you had an arrangement before?” This was exactly what she was trying to avoid. She fired back, frustrated and still broke. “I suggest you go to a corner in South Beach and find a hooker if that’s what you want,” she replied to him. Because many of the arrangements through the site are sexual in nature, Julia said she didn’t want to “prostitute” her time any longer. She said she deleted the app shortly thereafter. “It would probably be easier for me to use it if I was a girl who was willing to have sex with these men, because that is what most of these men are looking for,” she said. “So if that’s the case, then there are plenty of girls like that. They don’t want to stand on a corner and be a prostitute, but they’ll be a prostitute behind closed doors.”
Alex Alex, a 22-year-old who attended UM from his freshman to junior year and asked to be referred to only by his first name, got his start as a “rogue sugar baby” prostituting at nightclubs. He first learned about SA from his group of friends. One young woman he knew was seeing an older man who flew her out to his home in Colombia every weekend. Another was gifted a $50,000 car from a sugar daddy in his late 70s who died a few months later. Alex started clubbing at 16 years old and by the time he was 19, he was a club promoter on South Beach – an environment rife with men in search of quick sexual favors. He earned between $50 and $500 during his “short phase” as a prostitute, and he learned the tricks of the trade quickly.
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“The older, the more they pay,” he said in a phone interview. “The more desperate they are, the more they pay.” The only difference between sexual relationships through SA and pointblank prostitution, Alex said, is legality. SA justifies the service by claiming – in the extensive terms of service page – to partner members up for “companionship.” “The website may be used only for lawful purposes by individuals seeking friendship and love,” the terms and conditions page says. Alex would also use the gay dating app Grindr to find sugar daddies. The secret code words, well-known by the sugar community, would be on the man’s profile: ‘I’m generou$.’ However, the “boyfriend experience” was not something Alex was interested in. He just wanted money, which he would mostly use on drugs and clothes, he said.
I WAS LOOKING FOR THE MEN THAT I COULD JUST FINESSE THEIR MONEY AND NOT SLEEP WITH THEM. “I didn’t want to wait for the money … I don’t want to even pretend that I was in a relationship with those people,” he said. In total, Alex said he knew about four women and two gay men at UM with sugar daddies, and the men made more than the girls. But all the sugar babies could make anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000 a month as an “allowance,” not including gifts and travel. Aside from clothes and club money, these sugar babies were using the cash for drugs. Cocaine was particularly popular, he said. Only one woman Alex knew was using the service to pay for her tuition. “At Miami, it’s such a stigma to not have money,” he said.
Taylor Alex’s friend Taylor* said she felt the pressure of maintaining an expensive lifestyle at UM, but didn’t experience the stigma she expected – surrounding sex work – when she told close friends about her side job as a sugar baby. She recently told her new boyfriend about it. He didn’t criticize her for it, Taylor said. “I consider myself a feminist and I’m just working a system,” she said. “I don’t
think I would’ve gone into this if I wasn’t already freaky and open-minded.” Unlike Julia, Taylor started the using the service with the assumption that men would want more than a dinner date in exchange for money, and she was willing to do what she considered sex work. Although her first sexual experience with a sugar daddy was “easy” – she was drunk, a man in his 60s offered to give her a massage, then took off her clothes and eventually they had sex for about 10 minutes – subsequent arrangements pushed the boundaries of what Taylor was okay with. She saw one man for a while, a South-American political advisor, who would make her crawl on her knees from the time she got into his apartment at the top of a Brickell high-rise and submit to him and his interest in BDSM, the overlapping of bonding and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism. Given that Taylor is “totally into” BDSM in her regular sex life, she didn’t see a problem with the arrangement until her sugar daddy tried to break her “hard limit,” a boundary set between partners before engaging in BDSM. The last time she saw that sugar daddy, he tried to force her to have anal sex with him, she said. That was when she ended it. “I had already had a threesome, which I didn’t want to do but I just did it,” Taylor said. She’s been paid for sex by about nine men on the service, she said, and has used the money mostly to buy weed and follow around her favorite band’s tour. “I don’t need money to pay my bills. My parents help me out with that,” she said. “It’d really just be in times of desperation that I’d go on the site and hit up a bunch of guys and see what was worth my time.” Taylor’s time on the app came to a halt shortly after she made her account, when her dad found a confirmation email on her computer. Her parents wrote her “a whole 10-page contract” of what they would do to her if she stayed on the service, Taylor said. They would cut her off financially, and sever family ties. Even after she temporarily deleted her account, her parents made her see a therapist before returning to the university. After using SA for several years behind her family’s back, Taylor said she learned to get more out of her arrangements by asking for a “bottom line” upfront: at least $500 for sex. “I learned to work it a lot better for myself. I used to get more upset. It would wear on me for a lot longer,” she said. Taylor has made more than $2,000 from one daddy, a 27-year-old graduate student at Florida State University who
Many students struggle to keep up with the UM lifestyle. Some turn to sugar daddies to fulfill their financial wishes.
she said took the girlfriend experience “above and beyond.” Now Taylor has a boyfriend, so she told all her sugar daddies to stop reaching out to her. She said she hopes she won’t be back on the service, but the draw of easy money is strong. “I thought of myself and my family as pretty freaking wealthy, and then coming to UM you feel like, ‘Damn, here are heiresses and oil billionaires in class with me and I still have the same laptop from 2009,’” she said. Yet despite the pressures and the financial benefits of being a sugar baby, Taylor said she would discourage anyone from using the service. “I want to get off of it. Every time I want to say it’s the last time,” she said.
Samantha SA functions through the “companionship” loophole, but the terms and conditions of the site leave users on their own if anything criminal were to happen. No class actions can be brought against SA; users assume all risks “associated with any online or offline interactions;” and SA has perpetual rights to use anything posted on the site. Samantha, a UM senior, came face-to-face with the unglamorous side
of sugar dating in December 2015, when her sugar daddy, a 36-year-old businessman named Brandon, flew her out to his home in Chicago. The pair had met virtually two weeks earlier and been texting, but Samantha quickly felt uncomfortable when she saw webcams in the man’s bedroom and he made a sexual advancement, according to a Coral Gables Police Department report. “She told him she didn’t fly to Chicago to have sex with him,” the police report said. “He got upset at that and said, ‘If we are not going to have sex then I have to listen to happy music to calm my body down.’ When he went to his room, he started talking to himself ‘hysterically.’” Samantha texted her friend, who booked her a flight back the next morning and ordered her an Uber to leave the apartment. She left around 4 a.m. and received nonstop text messages from Brandon on her way to the airport. When she boarded, she told him she was never interested in having a sexual relationship with him and blocked his number, the report said. A few days later, however, she said she received threatening text messages from an unknown number. “You don’t know me but you gotten yourself in a lot of trouble. You have a chance to make it right. My meeting is not something you want. I am not coming your way. I promise I will find you and I promise that you will not like what happens,” the initial text message said, according to the report.
Samantha said she was afraid Brandon was capable of hiring a hitman because he was very wealthy. Coral Gables Police Department put a precautionary watch on her residential building. For Taylor, it all comes with the territory of sugar dating. She said sugar babies need to be realistic about what they are entering into, because there are potentially serious consequences. “It’s definitely sex work. Anyone thinking it’s going to be PG and you’re not going to have to take your clothes off, you’re wrong,” she said. “You can’t really be like, ‘Oh, this old man violated me.’” *Names have been changed. Article has been republished from The Miami Hurricane.
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words_gabriella turchet & teddy willson. design & illustration_rori kotch.
He looked at her picture on his phone. Did he really want to do this? He considered for a moment more and swiped left. She wasn’t worth it. After 20 minutes of endless thumb scrolling, he tossed his phone to the side. He’s not the only one.
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Source: The National Gallery of Art NGA Images
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Source: The National Gallery of Art NGA Images
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W
alking across campus en route to class was never before such a nerve-inducing task. That is, before the phenomena of hookups, one-night stands and dating apps pervaded our lives. Now, however, accounts of crossing paths with former flings or random dating app matches on campus are commonplace. This sense of uneasiness over something so simple is the result of our generation’s definition of dating. A 21st century romance is not quite the same romance that our parents experienced. Our generation is built on independence and high-speed Internet connections, both of which have caused college students to be increasingly nonchalant about dating. This culture is still a relatively new reality and it has spread through our lives like a virus. Dating has been redefined. No matter what a dictionary has printed in the past, it is us communicators who decide what a word actually means, and we apparently thought that now was the time to reinvent dating. Our new definition of dating is unique in that it does not simply change how we would use the word in a sentence, but how we interact with certain people in our lives. Dating can be a huge component of someone’s life, and since this cultural shift, we have all been figuring out just how this modification will affect us. Quick fixes, dating applications, virtual communication and a need for independence all make up the reality of romance right now, and there are things
that students on UM’s campus must try to adjust to. Contemporary relationships seem to be defined by short-lived, fleeting emotions. While this form of dating does seem to be better suited to the lives of busy college students, it is often devoid of the rich bonds that form from a more dedicated and traditional mode of dating. More and more often, people treat dating in a very flexible manner. This allows them to evade deep romantic feelings and enjoy the comfort and emotional security that derives from a no-strings-attached relationship. Senior David Ocampo thinks that the dating trend of 2017 basically involves finding someone quickly and easily, thanks to modern technology. “We have apps ... that match us with another person with specific characteristics and the skill set we desire – then there’s a quick hookup, you’re done, and then you leave,” Ocampo said. Ocampo’s belief is in line with the dating app trend that is popular among millennials. Unsurprisingly, the average Tinder user spends around an hour and a half swiping every day, according to the company. The users on this app argue that this is a far more entertaining pastime than browsing Facebook. Other apps, such as Bumble, happn and Coffee Meets Bagel, are also shifting the way college students perceive dating. There is no
2017 IS CATEGORIZED BY MODERNISM, QUICK PLEASURES, IMMEDIATE RESULTS AND EASY-TO-REACH ANSWERS. longer any doubt that the Internet is a hot spot for finding a perfect match, or at least someone who is willing to tolerate just a few hours of alone time with you. Many people insist that dating apps have placed too much of an emphasis on digital communication, as opposed to forming a face-to-face, genuine connection, and yet these apps continue to gain popularity amongst our generation. “You can go to any part of the world, download an app and find the person you want to spend that very same night with,” Ocampo said. Mobility to this degree means extra freedom, and freedom has long been on top on the list of words that college students love to resonate with. These apps may make dating
seem like it’s all fun and games, but how do they affect the social construction of hooking up? Because of the easy accessibility and widespread social acceptance around dating applications, having casual sexual encounters is no longer considered taboo. In fact, our generation practically applauds this behavior. A rendezvous might be sexy, but the underlying reasons are not so pleasant for many students. Kim Walker, a 23-year-old senior, sees the modified construct of dating from a deeper and darker perspective. Walker attributes the prominence of casual sex within our generation as the result of many millennials being born out of wedlock or to divorced parents and suggests that millennials reflect on these tragic memories and opt to avoid total dedication all together, thus leading to a no attachments style of dating. “Even if we are not into it, we are pressured to be okay with this change in dating culture,” Walker said. The acceptance of these casualties of love has reinforced today’s tendencies toward hooking up instead of dating the old-fashioned way. In addition, the fear of repeating past mistakes from previous generations, or even from our own personal relationships, is another factor in understanding the ever-so-prominent hookup culture. One’s environment has a lot to do with the decision to remain single or not as well. A large proportion of our student body prefers to remain single and engage in the fast-paced nightlife offered by Miami. Despite this free-spirited mindset, people will always desire human connections – so if they are not in a monogamous relationship, what are they doing to fill that void? “I don’t have a boyfriend because I have best friends that are there for me when I’m lonely or happy” senior Sarah Bennett said. Bennett feels that eventually she will find somebody, but, she does not want to jump at her first opportunity to have a partner just for the sake of having one. 2017 is categorized by modernism, quick pleasures and immediate results, even when the topic in question is your love life. Former generations went about dating in an entirely different manner, devoid of phones, Internet access, Facebook stalking and dating apps, all of which have swayed young adults’ perception of what dating means. It is obvious that our concept of dating has evolved. What is not quite so obvious is how we feel about this new construct that we ourselves have encouraged, reinforced and made standard. What we can gather, at least, is that these next few years will have to play out before we can decide as a generation whether we ought to reevaluate our definition of dating or continue as we are. March 2017 DISTRACTION 27
SEX
S TAT S
words_olivia stauber. design_allie pakrosnis & jamie shub. photo_sidney sherman.
The average man thinks about it 19 times a day and the average woman 10. Even though it may sound simple, there’s so much more to it. So, let’s talk about sex.
PEACHES
HONEY
BANANAS
WALNUTS
FIGS
NOT-SO-APHRODISIACS Most sex tips tell you to use an aphrodisiac – a food, drink or drug that makes you excited – but traditional ones shown here don’t actually work. Ignore these aphrodisiacs and go right for natural extracts such as ginseng and maca.
POMEGRANATES
WHAT WORKS GINSENG MACA GINKGO
Herb Root vegetable Tree extract
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CHOCOLATE
MEN
6.6 WOMEN
is the median number of opposite-sex partners in people ages 25-44
4.3 71%
consider oral sex to fall under sex
56%
66%
OF WOMEN
OF MEN
report using a condom during their first sexual encounter
3:1
is the ratio of women to men, ages 18-44, who reported any same-sex contact in their lifetime
MEN
average age of first intercourse
WOMEN
Source: The Kinsey Institute March 2017 DISTRACTION
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I’M A VIRGIN 30 DISTRACTION Love & Sex Unwrapped
words_gabriella turchet & teddy willson. photo_sidney sherman. design_asmae fahmy.
Virginity has always been a controversial topic. America’s Puritan ancestors valued virginity as a symbol of innocence. Fast-forward to the 21st century and being a virgin is a touchy and, at times, awkward subject. People who choose to remain virgins usually do so because of their religious beliefs or because they treat abstinence as an important part of their identities and plan on waiting for a special person.
A
s a second home to young adults who are developing their identities and challenging traditional attitudes, college campuses practically epitomize progressivism. Between the 1970s and 2010s, American adults have “become more accepting of premarital sex, adolescent sex and same-sex sexual activity,” according to “Changes in American Adult’s Sexual Behavior and Attitudes,” a comprehensive study done in 2015. Researchers also found that average sexual partners increased from seven in the late 1980s to 11 in the 2010s and that casual sex has also increased since the late ‘80s from 35 to 45 percent. Older generations often view this behavior as a form of youthful rebellion. To students, however, this rejection of tradition is more like a stance for independence, equality and absolute acceptance. For our generation, part of this collective protest is defying the expectation to be more sexually conservative. Most college students would probably agree that the evolving sexual norms are a positive step forward. However, for some, this freedom comes with new drawbacks and struggles. Students who still wish to live conservative lifestyles may find themselves in more difficult or uncomfortable positions than they might have in years past. Being in a community that is overwhelmingly sexual can easily alienate those who do not hold the same values. Most young adults struggle with two virtually universal concepts that, ironically, conflict with one another in most scenarios. The first is the plea for independence and individuality. The second is the desire to fit in and relate to those around us. These two inclinations can often make it difficult to remain true to ourselves. Yet there are people who manage to overcome this paradoxical climate. Abstinent people should be given the same acceptance that our generation has granted to those who are sexually active.
It is important to acknowledge that there is no single reason for abstinence. Whether abstinence is practiced for religious, moral or personal reasons, it is vital that college students support one another. After all, there is nothing more progressive than ubiquitous acceptance. College virgins often prefer to meet a person they can be comfortable with before they lose their virginity. The greater Miami culture of clubbing, drinking and partying can make finding the right person a challenge. Anna Vincero, a 22-year-old UM senior, attributes this search to be a challenge. “Most guys I have met did not share the same morals as me. In the end, they
SOCIETAL PRESSURES CREATE A CONSTANT BATTLE FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO WISH TO REMAIN CELIBATE. ended up being somebody I would not want to sleep with,” she said. Feeling left out was at one point a struggle for Vincero. Now, however, she doesn’t let social conventions influence how she feels about herself. “Before, I used to feel uncomfortable when the conversation about who lost their virginity came up, but not anymore,” Vincero said. She thinks there is a powerful message behind her boost in confidence and self-acceptance – that being a virgin is not something to be afraid of being judged for. Clark*, another UM senior, said tat from his experience, UM students are accepting of him and other virgins alike. He said being a virgin has had neither a positive nor a negative effect on his life. The 21-year-old chooses to be celibate because he is searching for the right person to lose his virginity to.
Born Again Virginity is a social construct and describes an idea, not something that someone is born with and later loses. In an attempt to validate virginity as something tangible, people will point to the hymens – the membrane that partially closes the opening of the vagina. Historically, when women have sex for the first time, men made sure she bled to decide that the hymen had been broken. However, according to Psychology Today, many things can change a woman’s hymen – like riding a bike or even inserting a tampon. So, if virginity is just a concept, can it be reclaimed? Born-again virgins would tell you that yes, it can. Born-again virgins are people who have already had sex but decide to recommit to abstinence until marriage for reasons that may be religious, practical or otherwise. For R&B singer Ciara and her husband Seattle Seahawks player Russell Wilson, the decision was religious. While Wilson and Ciara were still engaged, Wilson revealed that their desire to wait until marriage came from a desire to do things “Jesus’ way.” For other born-again virgins, their choices are the result of feeling cultural pressure to be virgins. Some women go as far as undergoing a surgical procedure called hymenorrhaphy in order to restore their torn hymens to “prove” to their potential husbands that they are virgins. Regardless of why people may choose to become a bornagain virgin, remember – your virginity is yours to define.
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Virginity is usually synonymous with purity. Many people view white flowers as a symbol of that purity.
“I’d rather be with someone that I like, someone that I’m comfortable with, who I want to be friends with and be intimate with,” he said. For Clark, it is not religion that makes him hesitate, even though he was raised Catholic. He admits that he sometimes feels out of place in his friend group and feels slightly pressured to lose his virginity, even though he has his friends’ support. He gets tempted to give in because it seems like everyone else already has. But ultimately, he has decided to hold himself to standards that allow him to place his own values over everything else. Clark desires a sexual partner who will like him for who he is, not someone to fill the space as a one-night-stand.
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However, he does not shun anyone for his or her’s own personal decisions. He has no judgment toward others, respecting people for who they are, all the while expecting them to do the same for him. Aside from abstaining in college, some students choose to wait until marriage to have sex. Although some excerpts of religious teachings can make sex seem evil and morally unjust, religious students do not always choose to wait out of fear, said UM junior Trish Vega. “I’m a virgin not because I think sex is bad or dirty, but because I know it is good and beautiful. My Catholic faith is something so integral to me, and something that I have learned in
my faith is that sex is a holy act of love and the closest natural act we have to heaven,” Vega said. “Whenever I do have sex, I need to make sure it carries that same weight. I want to do everything I can to make sure that I can honor myself and those around me by treating sex with the immense dignity it deserves.” Although virginity is commonly mistaken for an antiquated concept, it is not unlikely that one of your classmates is still waiting to have sex. Societal pressures create a constant battle for young adults who wish to remain celibate. Being a virgin in your 20s may be difficult, but those who want to wait and successfully do so often find that their patience was worth it in the end. *Some names have been changed.
REC
Their eyebrows furrowed together, lips bitten, faces flushed. I could see between their darting eyes that they were looking for the best way to answer the simple question I had posed: “What is your relationship to porn?” As they searched for the right way to respond, I couldn’t help but think of the irony. words_ marissa vonesh. photo_sidney sherman. design_jamie shub.
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EFFECT ON THE BRAIN
PREVALENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY
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KEEPING IT AS A TABOO DOES NOT HAVE ANY POSITIVE INFLUENCE. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
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Pornography is a multibillion-dollar business that has roots in almost every component of modern culture. In 2016 alone, Pornhub, the leading online pornography site, had 23 billion visitors and 4.6 billion hours of videos streamed. According to Pornhub, the U.S. has the most viewers, making up 40 percent of the site’s visits. Women make up 25 percent of the people viewing porn, whereas men dominate at 75 percent. The demographic viewing the majority of content is 18 to 34 years old. Pornography is not a new phenomenon – from cave drawings to Greek statues, pornographic images have existed as long as human civilization itself. With the emergence of the Internet, pornography is now consumed in greater quantities than ever before. Instead of hiding a stolen Playboy under your bed or frequenting a dirty, smoke-filled store that sells adult magazines, pornography is now easily accessible for free on phones and laptops. Pornhub cites that 70 percent of its views were streamed from a mobile device in the U.S. last year. The quick access to cellphones has made porn viewership steadily increase, with 2016 yielding the largest numbers Pornhub has seen. The age at which people first encounter explicit images has changed as well. According to the Center for Parent and Youth Understanding, children are first exposed to pornography around age 11. Unlike many of their elders, these kids are accessing pornography in high volumes, choosing explicit videos over still pictures. The industry is now progressing from simple video content to a world of virtual pornography where a 360-degree hardcore pornography experience will exist for viewers.
Pornography, despite its widespread nature, does not come without consequences. Sex is intoxicating, and the immediate gratification that pornography offers rewards our basic sexual instincts. Studies are finding that viewing pornography can become an addiction. Like any addictive substance, the effect on individuals is not always uniform. Nonetheless, some Internet pornography viewers do exhibit behavior that classifies as an addiction. In a comprehensive report by the Witherspoon Institute, 50 scholars from a variety of professions signed to address the “social costs of
a professor of psychology at UM. “Number one, we are expecting really intense sexual arousal. Secondly, for a person who sees pornography, after a while, the dopamine receptors get less intense so it takes more intensity to get to the same level of arousal. This leads to pornographic addiction and the issue of not being aroused by normal sexual intercourse.” Fight the New Drug (FTND), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating consumers about porn, explains the role of pornography in reducing the brain’s gray matter, which is associated with making decisions. For men in particular, FTND has found that pornography leads to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. Because the brain is desensitized, it is difficult for a man to become sexually aroused with a physical partner even when using pills such as Viagra.
NEW SEX EDUCATION
pornography.” According to the report, because sexual arousal has the highest natural reward system, a person who is chronically viewing pornography drenches his or her brain with dopamine, a chemical that plays a huge role in reward-motivated behavior. This creates pathways in the brain for porn. As in any addiction, the viewers develop a tolerance to the content they are used to watching and cultivate a desire for different sexual experiences. Often, after hours of viewing porn, people find themselves searching for content they previously found disturbing or violent, according to the report. “The stimulation of porn is very intense,” said Dr. Franklin Foote,
If chronic porn consumption has the ability to rework key parts of the brain, why is there still such a stigma around discussing it? College-aged students are the first in history to be exposed to pornography at such high volumes from such a young age. This makes pornography many students’ first exposure to sex. “We are literally growing up on pornography,” Nigel Richardson, a senior motion pictures and Africana studies student, said. “We are the generation of online pornography.” Richardson was the first student at the university who immediately felt comfortable discussing pornography as a subject, coming prepared with a packet full of information. After stumbling across a Time article discussing the effects of porn, Richardson became involved with researching the subject. He even proposed a potential class at
PORN BY THE NUMBERS
Pornhub’s most searched terms by gender in 2016: MALE MILF Step-mom Step-sister FEMALE Lesbian Lesbian scissoring Threesome
Pornhub’s hours of porn watched in 2016: 4.6 BILLION HOURS
Pornhub recived 23 billion visits in 2016, with: 64 MILLION
visits per day 2.6 MILLION
per hour 44,000
per minute Exposure to too many pornographic images can make it harder to get aroused. This is one of the many signs of addiction.
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729
per second
EFFECT ON RELATIONSHIPS
UM that would discuss pornography. As a film student, Richardson notes that there is a formula that every pornographic video follows that is similar to that of a sitcom or drama. The structure highlights the dramatization of the experience and the creation of unrealistic expectations. He described the content of pornography as having instances of violence, stereotypes and misogyny. “Normal actors in porn are white. The subgenres and categories are minorities,” Richardson said. “They are deemed ‘exotic.’ When you think about degradation and objectification in pornography, you also need to think about black males because they basically become a large penis, or a black female who becomes a large butt or set of breasts. They become an object just for that purpose.” The Latin female is spicy and sassy, the Asian, submissive and sexual, he added. In pornography, stereotypes are exaggerated for entertainment purposes. Furthermore, most pornography is produced by men, for men – creating content that heightens male sexual satisfaction often at the cost of a female, whether it be through violence or humiliation. If porn serves as many people’s first encounter with sex, what does that teach them about sex and sexuality? Although
we can separate the men and women on a screen from those we are attracted to and love in real life, pornography is wiring specific images in brains that are not yet fully developed. Sexual tastes are formed by experiences and if that experience is promoting powerdynamic roles, stereotypes and harsher forms of sex, that is what one’s sexual preferences will lean towards. For some students, pornography has not greatly influenced their sexual experiences. “Obviously I do watch porn, but it doesn’t affect me in going about my day normally,” senior Ryan Donahue said. “I’ve known since a very young age that it is acting and, knowing this, I don’t allow it to impact what actual sex is … I guess you try to emulate what you have seen in porn. Does it work? No. Did I learn that quickly? Yes.” Porn as America’s new sex education creates other concerns besides how people learn to have sex. Most pornographic scenes do not use condoms and, in a country that isn’t even meeting the general requirements when it comes to sex education, most students are learning what to do – the before and during – from pornographic videos. For relationships, sexual safety, level of comfort and consent, pornography can draw an unsafe picture for the sexually inexperienced.
Pornography’s influence on the brain is harbored in false perceptions. The conflict between expectation and reality that pornography produces can create pressure on romantic relationships. According to FTND, not only do couples face body insecurity from pornography, but they also experience reduced sexual and relational satisfaction. Changing sexual preferences and perceptions combined with erectile dysfunction leads to uncomfortable experiences for couples. “The film is edited and the actors are acting,” Foote emphasized. “The size of the man’s penis and the female’s breasts are unusually large and the other big factor is how women have an orgasm – the actors are screaming and thrashing around.” The secrecy of pornography can be another deterrent to a relationship’s health. If a partner is hiding his or her pornography use, the relationship tends to suffer. Some partners find pornography to be an act of adultery or become insecure once they discover a partner’s porn habits, the Witherspoon Institute claims. For example, if a male is watching pornography with a specific ethnicity and body type, his partner often begins to question and feel distress over his sexual appetite. The disconnect between intimacy with a physical partner and the sexual arousal a person obtains through pornography is additionally seen in
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female dissatisfaction. Because it is a male-dominated industry, the sexual desires of men are emphasized both on the production and consumption sides. “Typically, women like sex play and romance and intimacy stuff, but this typically isn’t shown in pornography. We often see the jackhammer approach to vaginal penetration,” Foote said. “Pornography models the wrong kind of behavior for relationships and sexual satisfaction for both parties.”
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMERA Staged with lighting and makeup, porn makes sex look effortless and perfect, but the uncomfortable situations that happen in reality are normal – porn just cuts them out. “Don’t dwell on it. It is not what it seems,” Anddy Entrena, a 28-year-old adult film entertainer, said. Entrena was 19 years old when he got into pornography. He was introduced to it through his older brother and started out doing nude photography but progressed quickly to the video market. Entrena currently works as a tattoo artist and an amateur skateboarder, but continues to do pornography work on the side. “I hate doing it. It is out of necessity,” Entrena said. “As soon as my life is secure, I am definitely going to leave it out.” Entrena has transitioned from doing a scene every other day to every other month and has slept with about 215 different women. “When I was younger, I was a lot more active, I was a swinger with my ex-wife. Before, I wouldn’t care. Now, I care more. I went three years without having sex and I felt like I had womanized a lot of people in my life and then I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’” Entrena says that a typical day on set includes taking blood samples to check for STIs and signing paperwork to give consent. Before they start to film, the producers ask if you need anything to loosen up. “They want you to be sober, but they will let you do what you have to do,” Entrena said. Pornography’s impact does not end with the people watching it from their screens. “Oh yeah, it [porn] has had an impact,” Entrena said. “There is a big reason I hate doing porn. I feel like every time I do porn, a piece of my soul disappears. It now takes a lot for me to get turned on by other people.” Despite being involved in the porn industry and seeing some of
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the consequences, Entrena admits to watching porn for a mental release. “Porn can be bad, but at the same time, if some people don’t have that leisure to talk to someone or the confidence to do something sexual with someone, porn serves that purpose,” Entrena said.
POTENTIAL POSITIVES There is not enough research on pornography for professionals to be able to say how much is too much. Many people such as Entrena find watching pornography to be healthy in small doses. Whether as a stress release, confidence booster, stimulant for new ideas or an activity to boost arousal with your partner, pornography can have its benefits. It can also be a safe environment to explore sexual ideas without the intent of actually participating in that explicit form of sex. “I see porn as an outlet for people who have fetishes but have no way to do that. It allows people to have fantasies and to act in them. It also makes them feel like less of a stigma,” Richardson said. Because research has not confirmed what constitutes a healthy amount of pornography viewing, it is up to a viewer to understand his or her habits and their effect on his or her life. Until concrete numbers are found, a blanket statement about the harm of pornography cannot be made.
MOVING FORWARD Porn – the brain-rewiring, pleasureseeking, perception-distorting, guilty pleasure that is so prevalent yet forbidden in modern society – points to how we have failed to have open and honest conversations about sex. “I don’t think there should be a stigma on masturbation, porn, or being interested in sex,” Richardson said. “Keeping it as a taboo does not have any positive influence. We need to talk about it.” There are reasons terms like “hooking up” are vague and there are reasons we love the idea of sex but cringe when someone mentions porn. When sex is ingrained into the media and conversations we are participating in everyday, how can you not be curious about sexuality? Understanding sex begins with talking about it; barefaced and blunt. *If you struggle with a pornography addiction, contact the Counseling Center at 305-284-5511
Distraction zooms out on what happens behind the camera at a porn shoot. From lighting to poses, everything is staged.
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Jelly and David have been together for more than a year. It has been proven that when two lovers gaze into each other’s eyes, their heart rates synchronize.
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LET THERE BE
words_gabriella turchet & teddy willson. photo_allie pakrosnis, melanie brooks & sidney sherman. design_callie dephillips.
Aly* was sitting on a bench in Animal Kingdom, listening to her girlfriend Demi* cry on the phone. Her shoulders hunched, body quivered. Aly brushed her hand down Demi’s back. She was defeated, too. Demi’s mom, constantly dancing around her contempt for their relationship, had just ripped Demi apart for being with Aly. Demi could no longer go home. She had to find a way to pay for school. All because of Aly, because of her gender, because she was a girl too. March 2017 DISTRACTION 39
Mike and Adam hold hands while reminiscing about a funny story. All their experiences make them feel closer to each other.
Many students face similar struggles. In a society that often strives for diversity, acceptance and tolerance, it is easy to take for granted the progress we have made towards guaranteeing equal rights and respect for all Americans, particularly those who had their love treated as second class. To many people, this type of discrimination feels like a thing of the past. However, to couples currently being discriminated against, the bigotry of the past feels alive and well in the present. Fortunately, our generation has generally proven itself to be more open-minded than the generations that came before us. This open-mindedness allows us to throw bias out the window and see love between people of different races, religions and sexual orientations as deserving of just as much respect as the “traditional” kind of love between straight people of the same race and religion. The ‘60s were marked by a stream of social movements that pushed for equality, such as the civil rights and gay liberation movements. These movements were not only monumental for members of marginalized groups who spoke out against oppression, but were equally meaningful for those who were in relationships with members of those groups. The struggle for equality, and the idea that love should conquer the chains of injustice resulted in social changes that reshaped the core values
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of our country and rewrote the rights of minorities. Examples of this progress came with the Loving v. Virginia landmark decision, which legalized interracial relationships nationwide. While stigmas remained, removing antimiscegenation laws, which particularly targeted black and white couples, meant that there was one less barrier to interracial relationships. The Stonewall riots in 1969, a series of demonstrations at a gay bar in response to a police raid, launched the gay liberation movement to a nationwide scale. Since then, the LGBT community has fought for more respect for their relationships, often in the form of public events such as pride parades and by continuing their long tradition of activism. One of the landmark achievements of these efforts was the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling handed down by the Supreme Court which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. While this ruling is not the endpoint of the gay liberation movement, it is certainly a tremendous step forward. Americans have come a long way, but there is still room for improvement. People in non-traditional relationships are often painfully aware of the progress that is yet to be made. You do not have to go far to witness the subtle discrimination that non-traditional couples- not even further than the UM campus itself. Many student couples face these stigmas and hardships, but
don’t let that stop them from being proud to love who they love. Here are some of them. RICK AND SONDRA: DIFFERENT RACE Rick Shelton, 21, and Sondra Pearson, 20, have been in an interracial relationship for more than two years. They have endured dirty looks in public from people who were clearly not used to the image of a white man holding hands with a black woman. They have not dealt with any issues at school on UM’s campus, but Shelton admits that there have been instances in his life that have made him painfully aware of how people perceive his relationship with Pearson. “My neighbors from my hometown have questioned my choice of dating Sondra,” he said of a trip back home for the holidays. Nevertheless, Shelton and Pearson have stayed unwaveringly committed. “I want to say something to racists, but I have come to the realization that some people are racist, and I will not give them the enjoyment of interrupting our happiness,” Shelton said. CONNOR AND MIKE: SAME SEX Senior Connor Smith, 21, feels he is able to experience this affection with his partner of three years, Mike Johnson,
32. Smith expresses that any sensitivity to being a gay couple as nonexistent in their relationship. To them, their relationship holds the same meaning as any other relationship. Unfortunately, not everybody else sees Johnson and Smith’s relationship through the same lens as they would a more traditional couple. Johnson and Smith try to lead by example for other couples that have to deal with intolerant people. Some people take time to understand that their love is no different than that felt in the typical male-female relationship. “People look at us and have to think about it that ‘Hey, that’s a gay couple, that is a man, and that is another man together,’ and automatically assume we are different,” Smith said. “Only after overcoming these mental hoops do they finally realize that all relationships hold similar values and we aren’t different than the rest.” Johnson, who is 11 years Smith’s senior, works for the military, which has not always been tolerant of same-sex orientations. Johnson’s mother is aware of his relationship with Smith and treats him as part of her family, but Smith’s family treats his relationship with Johnson with the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that was once heavily associated with the military. Because of Johnson’s job, the couple is in a long-distance relationship. The pair decided to have an open relationship so that Smith wouldn’t feel lonely during Johnson’s time away. Despite the struggles they may encounter by further adding to the nonorthodox nature of their relationship, they agreed an open relationship is best for them. The men do their best to be comfortable in their own skin and relationship, regardless of the backlash they often face from others. They believe everybody should put their needs first when it comes to finding somebody that will make them happy.
MY GRANDMA IS RACIST AND SHE WOULDN’T LIKE IT, SO I DON’T TELL HER. MY PARENTS, ON THE CONTRARY, DO NOT REALLY CARE.
COURTNEY AND LUDOVIC: DIFFERENT RACE Unconventional relationships can be exhilarating for some. Ludovic Fischer and Courtney Naidoo fall under this category. Fischer, a 24-year-old UM law student, is in a relationship with 26-year-old Naidoo, who is originally from Cape Town, South Africa. Fischer grew up in Germany and met Naidoo a few months before he came to study in Miami. He says Naidoo adds spice to his life. Because of Fischer’s new desire to visit Cape Town and experience the city with Naidoo, the relationship has become a symbol of adventure and discovery for Fischer. They are eager to travel the world side by side. The biggest challenge the couple faces is that Fischer’s grandmother, the most important figure in his life, will not accept their relationship. “My grandma is racist and she wouldn’t like it, so I don’t tell her. My parents, on the contrary, do not really care and are supportive of our relationship,” Fischer said. Due to most Europeans’ liberal outlook on life and love, Fischer says that his friends are accepting of his relationship with Naidoo. Ludovic says that another struggle of being an interracial couple is that his girlfriend is exotic-looking and attractive to other Germans. At times, he gets jealous when men look at her or when they dine out together. Ludovic advises other nontraditional couples in uncomfortable or confrontational situations to use humor to defuse a potentially negative situation, not to get caught up in an
TERMS TO KNOW Sometimes attraction can be tricky, especially in the 21st century. People have unique desires and preferences, and these days, gender and sexuality are often seen as residing on a spectrum. One way to create a thread of acceptance is to understand the vocabulary that is important to the identities of so many people. Platonic attraction: When you share many similar interests and thoughts with somebody, but have no romantic connection.
Sydney and Elliot hold each other closely. The couple feels like they can overcome anything together.
argument or take the comments too personally. “[Don’t] immediately get on the offensive. Address awkwardness by making jokes of it, eliminating their chances of tackling the scenario.” *Some names have been changed.
Asexual: A person who has no sexual feelings toward anyone of the opposite or same sex. Bisexual: A person who is physically attracted to both people of their sex and the opposite sex. Queer: Somebody whose sexual orientation or gender identity does not fall under the traditional categories of heterosexual, or male and female.
Transgender: a person whose gender identity is not the same as their biological sex at birth. Androgynous: A way of expressing gender with both masculine and feminine characteristics. Pansexual: A person who is attracted to members of all gender identities. Cisgender: A person whose gender identity is the same as their biological sex at birth. March 2017 DISTRACTION 41
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DROP & GIVE ME
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words_ maria hernandez. photo_ sidney sherman. design_jamie shub.
Maintaining good health involves more than eating salads and making reluctant trips to the gym – it also involves being aware of your mind’s influence on your wellbeing. While exercise fads may come and go, there are some practices that are so successful at connecting your body and mind that they have a certain staying power. Yoga is perhaps the best example of this. With only minimal alterations after thousands of years, yoga is here for the long haul – it’s just that good. Don’t let yoga’s recent surge in popularity fool you – it’s been around for more than 10,000 years. Yoga is an ancient philosophy thought up in India by the sage Patanjali, who wrote down his teachings in the his “Yoga Sutras.” His scriptures provide spiritual growth and guidance in mastering the mental and physical body connection. Patanjali outlines the eight limbs of yoga known as yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Yama is the universal morality which emphasizes not causing harm to others, behaving responsibly and suppressing greed. Niyama refers to the cleanliness and discipline of your body and mind. Asana studies the disciplines of your body and also refers to holding a firm, steady and comfortable pose. Pranayama is a formal breathing practice to control your breath and our vital life force, prana, according to Patanjali. Pratyahara is the regulation of the senses and the focus on your energies and breath. Dharana is the concentration and cultivation of your inner-perceptual awareness. Dhyana refers to meditation and samadhi means oneness with the Divine.
A MENTAL EXERCISE Dedication to mental wellness is at the heart of yoga. Yoga derives from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means union of an individual’s soul with the universal spirit. This dedication translates into yoga’s practices, some of which are asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and purification and energy regulation techniques. These elements of
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yoga cleanse your soul by connecting every movement with your breathing techniques. Yoga is mainly known to improve flexibility and reduce stress, but it accomplishes much more than that, benefiting your body and mind equally. “Yoga makes you connect with your inner self and your environment, where your body is in constant motion,” said Cristian Alberto, a University of Miami alumnus who practices yoga weekly. This improved flexibility reduces your risk of injury when you exercise, and yoga’s ability to reduce stress helps you attain a state of calmness. The effects of yoga go right down to your blood by relaxing blood vessels, enhancing circulation and lowering blood pressure. Yoga can even soothe respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis by opening the chest and promoting slower, more controlled breathing. Yoga also relaxes your entire body and helps loosen joints and muscles to promote a good posture. Now comes the tricky part – figuring out what class to sign up for. Finding the right yoga class for your needs can be difficult. Every class has different practices and styles. Start out by testing out a few types, stretch your core and find your new favorite workout.
HATHA Hatha yoga is considered a gentler form of yoga, making it ideal for first timers. Hatha is an ancient practice that emphasizes physical postures and can improve cognitive function by boosting focus and memory. It emphasizes controlled breathing and holding poses for short amounts of time.
ANUSARA Based on the belief that we are all filled with goodness, Anusara yoga was founded in 1997 by John Friend. Anusara seeks to use the physical practice of yoga to open your heart and help you experience grace. It aims to connect yogis with their inner joy, creativity and playfulness. Anusara is ideal for those seeking an emotional yoga experience, a positive environment, an improved core, an increase in muscular strength and an improvement in balance and coordination.
ASHTANGA Ashtanga yoga, established by K. Pattabhi Jois in the late ‘40s, is a rigorous style of yoga that follows a sequence of breathing to build up your internal heat. The sequence includes six poses that will be used in every class. These strict guidelines appeal to yogis who like to be in control. Ashtanga is great for those seeking a physical challenge, core strength and flexibility.
SPEAK LIKE A
Yogi/yogini: a male/ female practitioner of yoga. Namaste: A respectful greeting or farewell that translates into “My soul honors your soul.” The phrase is commonly used at the beginning or end of a class with the hands in Anjali Mudra. Anjali Mudra: A hand gesture used to greet others with respect. It involves bringing your palms together in front of your heart, pressing them evenly together, and then inhaling and exhaling fully. Jnana Mudra: The hand position often used when meditating where your index finger folds down and touches your thumb with your palms on your knees facing up. Mantra: A few repetitive words or syllables used while meditating meant to inspire practitioners but not distract their minds. Samatva: The mental state of harmony and balance.
When it comes to exercise, finding a routine that sticks has never been easy. Yoga offers a solution for staying on top of your fitness game.
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DROP & GIVE ME
BIKRAM Bikram yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury in the late 20th century, making it one of the newer forms of yoga. Classes are held in rooms heated up to 105 degrees, where you’ll sweat like never before while doing a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in 90 minutes. Bikram is known for improving your circulation and releasing toxins. It is perfect for people who want a demanding class and don’t mind the heat. “Those magical postures and breathing exercises really keep me going, keep me young and healthy,” said Ana Zakirova, a Bikram yoga instructor at the Hot Yoga Brickell Yoga Studio. Other yoga instructors such as Santiago Garces, who works in the same studio as Zakirova, share similar outlooks. “Never having practiced
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any form of yoga before, I was a little reluctant to go. My body was extremely inflexible, and many of the postures were impossible for me.” Garces said. “I found my body over time to become flexible, and all the negativity in my life began to disappear.”
RESTORATIVE Restorative yoga is a great way to relax and soothe frayed nerves. It’s a mellow, slow-paced practice with longer holds that allow your body to relax more deeply and efficiently. Restorative yoga uses bolsters, blankets and blocks to eliminate unnecessary strain on your body. A good restorative class can even be more rejuvenating than a nap, or at least make you have the best nap ever after. Restorative yoga calms the body and can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. It’s a good fit if you want to seek a break from your hectic lifestyle.
Cristy Infante and Jeremy Sacks practice their poses in Wynwood. The couple practice yoga even week for its therapeutic benefits.
VINYASA Vinyasa, also known as flow yoga, is a dynamic practice that links movement and breath together in a way that resembles dance. Vinyasa builds lean muscles and purifies your mind and body. The instructors will blast music, matching the beats to the sequences of poses. Classes tend to be fast-paced and are ideal for people who struggle to sit still.
POWER YOGA Power yoga is a discipline that emphasizes fitness. The practice swiftly moves through different poses for a challenging cardio workout. Power yoga’s physical demands improve circulation and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The pace is similar to that of Ashtanga yoga, but allows the
instructors to teach the poses in any order. This makes it ideal for people who like Ashtanga yoga but want more flexibility in their classes. “Yoga has not only made me see myself in a different, more accepting way, but also the world and people around me,” said Lucia Perez, a UM senior who has been practicing yoga for years. “I’m literally a different person since I started yoga. I didn’t believe the spiritual power of yoga at first, but I definitely can see it, and feel it, now.” No matter what class you pick, yoga is a great way to get your physical and mental health whipped into shape. UM’s Wellness Center offers classes daily, and there are plenty of studios around Coral Gables. It will take time to master the poses and handstands you want to show off on Instagram, but you have no idea what you’re capable of until you try. Remember – you’re only one yoga class away from a good mood.
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photo_kristian del rosario. design_allie pakrosnis, asmae fahmy & jamie shub. styling_jade simmons, lauren gimpel & shellie frai. models_francesca deweerdt & paige carrabes. hair & makeup_alex eisman.
Take a night and get all dolled up with your main girl. photo_valentina escotet. Whether you want to stay in and take selfies or go out design_allie pakrosnis, asmaeoutfit fahmy,jamie shub & for a night on the town, make your unique by valentina escotet. focusing on the styling_jade small aspects. Liven up simple looks simmons, lauren gimpel & vivian braga. with lace details, shimmer sullivan, accents and a whole lot of models_brynne emily berkowitz, michael faux fur. This year it’s all in the details. harding, obi okolo & vedasta malley.
hair & makeup_ellery jones. On Francesca: dress, Kendall + Kylie; choker, Nordstrom; bracelet, Nordstrom. March 2017 DISTRACTION 49
On Francesca: dress, Kendall + Kylie; coat, Caracilia; choker, Forever 21; rings, model’s own; bracelet, vintage; socks, H&M; heels, Steve Madden.
On Michael: blue printed boardshorts, Zumiez; necklace, and bracelet, model’s own.
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On Francesca: body chain, Forever 21; bralette, LF; pants, Nordstrom; choker, Forever 21 OnOn Brynne: bikini top, editor’s shorts, own; Kendall + Paige:red bralette, Nordstrom; black bikini bottoms, own. Kylie; coat, Simpleemodel’s Apparel.
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On Francesca: body chain, Forever 21; bralette, Urban Outfitters; skirt, Nordstrom.
On Paige: dress, LF; coat, Simplee Apparel; tights, Forever 21. On Francesca: dress, Kendall + Kylie; choker, Nordstrom; bracelet, Nordstrom.
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GAME DESIGN MINOR The game design minor* at UM School of Communication teaches students theories behind entertainment games as well as social impact (transformational) games. Students must complete 15 credits total including the 3 required courses plus 2 from a select list of electives.
REQUIRED COURSES
CIM 211
CIM 310
CIM 471
Interaction Design
Intro to Game Design
Social Impact Games
***Completing the minor will fulfill a cognate in the area of Arts and Humanities.
For more information, please visit: interactive.miami.edu * Pending Board of Trustees approval in late 2017
ARM candy words_m.j. lewander & ryan fitzpatrick. photo_olivia stauber. design_ana gonzalez & allie pakrosnis.
When it comes to personal style, trends come in every flavor for every taste. This season, arm candy is everyone’s favorite indulgence. If you’ve got a sweet tooth for style, stay tuned for this season’s treat of choice.
LADIES CHOKERS REIMAGINED A great tip for accessorizing is reworking what you already have in your closet. Chokers are a widespread, accessible trend that can be transformed effortlessly. Try modifying one of your favorite chokers by creating a simple wrap bracelet. This allows for an easy way to embellish any outfit that needs a little help looking more put together.
FLASH TATTOOS Go beyond basic bangles and mix it up with flash tattoos, which last longer and make every ensemble look unique. With an array of colors, styles and ways to wear, flash tattoos are like your own personalized set of bracelets to rock all week long. The best part is that once you get tired of a specific tattoo pattern, they can easily be removed using baby oil.
CLASSIC ELEMENTS Like your arm candy à la carte? Keep it simple by sporting only one item, such as a metallic watch. Tone down a bold outfit with a simple silver watch, or add a focal point to a plain outfit with an eyecatching one. Large department stores such as Nordstrom offer an array of designer pieces for you to choose from.
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GENTLEMEN
FITBIT Fitbits are in line with the new crop of high-tech accessories that link fashion with functionality. This line of products provides a wearable personalized workout regimen by tracking sleep, diet, exercise and activity levels. These sleek and stylish watches sync to a userfriendly mobile app that allows people to schedule and log their workouts and connect and share data with friends and family. They take the sporty look to a new level.
APPLE WATCH
WATCH Whether or not they will admit it, every man dreams of owning a flashy Rolex, the most widely recognized brand in luxury watches. Manufactured in Switzerland, these pricey pieces are a surefire way to showcase your expensive style. For those of us who are born bargain-hunters, Swatch incorporates a variety of colors and designs with different patterns ranging from nautical stripes to graphic graffiti. Then there’s Timex, which provides more than 300 styles to choose from. The interchangeable watch bands can instantly take you from workout wear to weekend fashion.
After Apple unveiled the Apple Watch, we were welcomed into a new era of technology. All the functionality of a modern iPhone – texting, making phone calls, even surfing the Internet with Siri – went from the palm of your hand to the flick of your wrist. Apple has partnered with notable name brands such as Nike and Hermès to offer sportier and sleeker versions of the watch.
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words_olivia stauber. photo illustration & design_allie pakrosnis.
It’s that feeling you get when you’re walking on campus and suddenly find yourself barely able to pay attention to where you’re going. Your chest feels like there’s a rope tied around it. Your brain goes on high alert and your eyes dart back and forth. You can’t return a greeting because you don’t know if you can muster enough air to spit out a hello. To an unknowing onlooker, it may seem like you are just on your way back from a test that didn’t go well. In reality, all your energy is being drained from your body as it attempts to fight off an imaginary danger that a mental illness has tricked it into perceiving.
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In the past 30 years, the number of young adults with mental health conditions has risen by 30 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is amongst the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. While mental illnesses tend to be surrounded by stigmas and secrecy, their effects on our lives are larger than we may think. College students in particular have felt the rising rates of mental illness, yet very few feel comfortable sharing their story. I was in eighth grade when I first went to my mother and told her I needed to see someone. I remember saying that there was no way normal
people feel this way all the time. I knew that if I didn’t try to do something about it, I would continue spiraling downward, and that I would eventually become a different person. A few weeks later I received a diagnosis from my new therapist: general anxiety disorder (GAD) with depressive symptoms. No one in the room was surprised. I actually felt a sense of relief knowing that there was something concrete about the way I was feeling – that I wasn’t just weak or sensitive as I had always been told. My reaction was not common. Many people who get diagnosed with a mental illness view the diagnosis as something shameful. The National
Institute of Mental Health reports that, on average, people with a mental illness wait nearly a decade to get treatment after symptoms first appear. During high school, I was given the tools to help me navigate such as the techniques I learned through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is the most common form of therapy and is used to treat disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression, anxiety and phobias. This approach aims to help people become aware of when they interpret things negatively or participate in habit-forming behaviors. CBT aims to help the patient develop alternative ways of thinking in these moments, which then reduces their psychological pain. Most of the illnesses that are treated with CBT are very common among college students. College is more intense today than at any other time in history. As the demands of school have gotten more intense, so has the mental health crisis on college campuses. The American Psychological Association reported that in 2015, 60.5 percent of college students reported indicators of depression. Dr. Jennifer S. Durocher, a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, said that transitioning to a new environment is one aspect that can plant the seeds of a mental illness, but that it isn’t the only stress-inducing aspect of college. “There is a different set of difficulties during the last year or two of college, when students are preparing for life post-graduation, and feel pressure to decide on the right graduate programs to apply to or explore employment opportunities,” she said. This process creates new stressors and introduces additional pressures aside from the daily demands that students face. Durocher commented on the University of Miami’s push to make adequate resources available to students who are struggling with mental health issues. She said that over the years, there has been a shift in professors’ awareness of the available resources to help students they think may need it. The school also sends out emails listing the warning signs of multiple mental illnesses so that professors can be aware of how their students are behaving in class. During my freshman year, I was struggling to control my anxiety and found myself so depressed I would only leave bed to go to class. I promised my mother I would try to go to the counseling center here on campus. I called to make an appointment and was shocked to find out that it usually
takes two weeks to get one. I remember thinking, “I’m struggling right now, I am in a crisis right now and need help to navigate it – this isn’t something I can wait two weeks to deal with.” I later found out that if you walk in to the center, they can schedule a triage, which is an emergency appointment. You give them your information and they try to find someone who can talk you through your issues that same day. Most students have a difficult time summoning the effort to call about appointment availabilities, let alone make the nerve-wracking trek to the counseling center and talk to someone that same day.. I’ve always been unafraid advocate for myself and reach out for help, so I was able to make the extra effort to walk in and figure out how to talk to someone no matter how intimidating it seemed.
Unfortunately, that isn’t so easy for most students. It is discouraging to hear that you can’t make an appointment to see a professional in a time of need. This is the case across many college campuses and it seems to be a problem that many of these campuses don’t dedicate enough time to fixing. The problem is so severe that according to the American Psychological Association, two out of three college students who are struggling with a mental illness do not seek help. College is a uniquely challenging environment, and resources need to be made readily available and easily accessible. For some students, therapy is either replaced by or complemented with medicine, prescribed and sometimes otherwise. In my case, when I was 15, a new symptom of GAD came into play – panic attacks. The panic attacks started
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with the sensation of my throat closing up. After multiple trips to the ER, I discovered that I was in fact receiving more than enough oxygen, and that the sensation was a physical manifestation of my anxiety. Sometimes the attacks would occur while I was in class, leaving me unable to focus. At one point, the attacks were happening five to 10 times a day and became so debilitating that I would have to go home from school. It was around this time that I started taking medication, something my mother had been hesitant about from the start. I remember crying to her and saying that I wasn’t taking the easy way out, an idea that is frequently associated with medication. I was prescribed 50 milligrams of Zoloft, and my psychiatrist, Dr. Firuza Aliyeva, described these antidepressants as a method of taking things down a notch. “If normal, emotionally stable and happy people live on a baseline of zero, people with anxiety and depression live their everyday lives at about a 15,” Aliyeva said. “You use the tools you work on in therapy to get that number down from 15 on a daily basis.” She explained that the medication won’t bring you down to a zero, but bring you down enough so that you can implement the coping skills learned from therapy. College also presents the temptation of coping by self-medicating with easily accessible drugs such as alcohol and Xanax. Some college students feel like these are easier to access than prescribed resources, which poses a major problem. Max*, a sophomore at the university, has had to deal with this very issue. He struggles with depression and anxiety and uses a combination of medication and therapy to cope. He said that while college hasn’t necessarily presented new everyday struggles, it’s difficult to cope when his schoolwork becomes overwhelming. “College makes it harder to avoid quick easy, fixes like drugs,” he said. Max fell into a bad pattern of using Xanax that he was not prescribed, which led to his illness worsening. “I think the freedom of college is a double-edged sword of sorts,” he said. “You don’t have supervision, so you can do what you want and not feel pressure from parents, but at the same time, no one is paying extra attention to you, so if you fall into bad habits it’s hard to get out of them.” Just like anyone who uses negative coping methods, the temptation of turning to Xanax is something that Max struggles with every day. However, he says that over time, it does get easier to avoid sliding back into old bad habits. Although he requested to have his name changed, Max feels that he’s usually pretty open about his struggles. “I don’t mind at all being open about
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them because I feel as if it eases the burden for other people to be open about their struggles,” he said. “All my friends and family are so accepting and go above and beyond to make sure I’m okay, and I think part of that is because of my openness.” College is a time where students feel pressured to have their lives together. Steps need to be taken to ensure that students are aware of on-campus resources and aren’t afraid to reach out for help. However, change starts with an open and accepting environment. If you had a broken leg, you would immediately rush to the doctor and do whatever you could to help it heal as soon as possible. Mental illness should be treated with the same urgency. It may be hard having to take care of yourself on your own, but you’re not alone. If you’re struggling, stand up for yourself and ask for help. I know if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now. These four years are something that you’ll never experience again, and navigating them
EVERYONE HAS AN INVISIBLE STRUGGLE, AND IT’S UP TO US TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY KNOW IT’S OKAY TO BRING IT INTO THE LIGHT. presents a new challenge every day. If your friend doesn’t notice you when you say hi to them or takes a few hours to reply to your text, it may be because they were too busy focusing on trying to breathe properly or keep their panic in check. Maybe they were in therapy and didn’t have their phone with them. Everyone has an invisible struggle, and it’s up to us to create an environment where they know it’s okay to bring it into the light. *Some names have been changed. *If you feel that you may have a mental illness or would like to speak to a counselor, contact the University’s Counseling Center at 305-284-5511. You can contact and speak to a counselor 24/7 on the phone.
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An electronic cigaratte is used to simulate the smoke of a marijuana plant. Many have debated the morality of making marijuana legal.
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words_ryan fitzpatrick. photo_hunter crenian. design_allie pakrosnis.
Cannabis, weed, Mary Jane – whatever you want to call it, marijuana is one of the most hotly debated drugs. From calls in the UC Breezeway to stop criminalizing cancer patients to the viral #420 memes, people can’t stop talking about it. Love it or hate it, odds are you have an opinion on it. On Nov. 7, the breezeway protesters’ prayers were answered: medical marijuana was made legal in Florida. Though many Americans continue to consider marijuana to be a dangerous gateway drug, this view, at least in the legal sphere, seems to be changing. Marijuana is now legal in some states, allowing Americans to use it for either recreational or medicinal purposes – unwinding with friends, relieving stress, easing nausea or alleviating insomnia. In Florida, voters passed the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes in November of 2016. Under Amendment 2, in order to qualify for medical marijuana in Florida, you have to be diagnosed with a “debilitating medical disease,” a term that includes but is not limited to cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, or Parkinson’s disease. Eligible users also have to be 18 years old, a Florida resident and approved by the Florida Department of Health. Oils, tinctures and capsules (so smoking excluded) are still the only legal forms of marijuana.
For a habitual user, the immediate effects of smoking marijuana include feelings of relaxation, increased appetite and heightened senses. These effects occur as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, enters the bloodstream. Medically, marijuana has the ability to combat nausea, alleviate chronic pain and provide relief for seizures, inflammation and muscle spasms. For some students, it is easy to pick a side in the ongoing debate. “I’m for the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana,” Ashley Ortiz, a junior at UM, said. “Medical is a given. Countless studies have shown that it can provide relief for many different conditions, and as far as we currently know, it’s a medication that poses far fewer problems than conventional medicine.” As for legalizing recreational usage, Ortiz explained that she thinks recreational legalization should follow to take off the stigma of marijuana. On the contrary, UM sophomore Jenny Thompson doesn’t agree with Ortiz. “I support going medical but I think legalizing recreational will be more expensive for consumers,” Thompson said. Another argument in favor of marijuana legalization is that it’s safer than alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 88,000 Americans die each year because of excessive drinking, whereas it is unlikely for someone to overdose from marijuana. As of yet, there has not been an instance of death as the direct result of marijuana use. The same cannot be said for alcohol – which is legal. However, there are certainly a number of reasons that critics oppose the regular use of recreational marijuana. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana can cause problems with concentration, exacerbate mental health issues and stifle motivation, all of which can seriously interfere with a college student’s life. Also, compared to tobacco users, people who smoke marijuana inhale more smoke and inhale it deeper for longer amounts of
time, resulting in greater amounts of carbon monoxide and tar in their lungs. Then there is addiction. Despite debate, according to the CDC, marijuana is addictive and one in 10 users will develop a dependence on marijuana. For UM sophomore Lukas Montejo, who supports the legalization of medical marijuana, these drawbacks are part of his reluctance to support legalization for recreational use. “People usually brush marijuana off as a harmless drug, but it can lead to making poor decisions in critical situations,” Montejo said. Some state legislatures have reservations about legalizing marijuana because they are worried over how the drug might infiltrate daily life, such as through secondhand smoke. Also, legalization for medicinal purposes means states could be able to impose taxes on dispensaries and the medicinal marijuana industry, which could cause a negative impact on prices. Besides the states, there is one last specter looming over the marijuana debate – federal law. Federal law does not recognize the medicinal value of marijuana, and cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This ranking is the most restrictive out of the five classes the agency uses, meaning it is treated with the toughest federal penalties and restrictions. For comparison, heroin and LSD are listed in the same category, whereas cocaine and meth rank one level lower.
IT’S A MEDICATION THAT POSES FAR FEWER PROBLEMS THAN CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES. For now, the Florida law is still limited to specific medical circumstances, though there is the chance that it will move to broader circumstances. On campus, getting caught with marijuana in the dorms could land you in the U-LEAD program, which includes a tour of the Miami-Dade County Jail and upwards of $600 in fines. Possession of marijuana is considered a major university offense that could also lead to probation, suspension and even expulsion, depending on the severity of the case. UM also boasts a smokefree campus, so don’t get too excited about the turning tide of marijuana legalization – you won’t be able to light it up with Sebastian just yet. *If you struggle with a drug addiction, contact the Counseling Center at 305284-5511 March 2017 DISTRACTION 61
words_asmae fahmy. photo_sidney sherman & courtney schmidt. design_alexa aguilar.
Ten seconds. That’s all you have. Three to recover from the shock of the fall. Four to react to the pain of the blow. Two to evaluate your body for bruises. One to summon the willpower to pull yourself back up again. Ten seconds until each of the referee’s fingers is up in the air and a victory is declared within the boxing ring. Ten seconds to decide if you will remain on the ground or keep on fighting. Andres F. Mateus chooses to fight.
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Andres F. Mateus puts on his prosthetic leg before getting into the ring. He practices at La Finca boxing gym almost every day.
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I
t’s what he’s always done. The 29-year-old semi-professional boxer understands how to mute the aches and pains of his body. He knows that on most occasions, the mind can power through what the body thinks it cannot. Eight years ago, before a motorcycle accident left his right leg amputated below the knee, he had only been skirting around the idea of pursuing his lifelong goal: becoming a boxer. Ironically, it wasn’t until he lost something essential that he chose to add the essentials to his life: headgear, heavy bags and hand wraps. He could have let the ropes that surround the boxing ring serve as a barricade – instead he chose to step inside, arms up, fists ready, and turn what some might call less, into more. “When you’re young, you think you have time for anything, but when I saw how everything changed, I got focused and started boxing,” he said. “I just wanted to do something that was about me being in charge.” He’s not alone. Ever since Sir Ludwig Guttman introduced sports to the recovery regimen of paralyzed patients and set the framework for the Paralympics, fitness has been a dynamic part of many amputees’ healing process. According to UM Physical Therapy Professor Robert Gailey, athletics accomplish more than improving an amputee’s physical state – they restore his or her emotional one as well. Our bodies
“
YOU CAN’T JUDGE SOMEONE BY THEIR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, YOU HAVE TO LET THEM TRY IT OUT AND THEN LET THEM PROVE YOU WRONG.
”
are programmed to retreat into fight-orflight mode when we encounter danger, and many amputees feel like they lack the ability to act on that basic, evolutionary instinct – to run. Training amputees to reclaim that liberty instills a sense of wholeness in them. “Most amputee athletes ask for just one thing: ‘Give me the ability to participate,’” Gailey said. “The same way you would mourn the loss of a loved one, you mourn the loss of a limb. More so you mourn the loss of the person that you believed that you used to be, so if a portion of that person that you used to be was an athlete, we can try to help that person recapture the identity that they had before.” Gailey emphasizes that most amputee athletes aren’t striving to make the cut for the Paralympics – they just want to be able to practice sports. He says their biggest
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issue is not their amputation itself, but their inability to obtain the devices that foster athleticism. Most insurance companies believe they should cover only one prosthesis for walking, but different physical activities require different types of prostheses, similar to how one would own a variety of shoes. “The insurance gives me the minimum to get from Point A to Point B,” Mateus said. “The mechanisms that I have help me so I don’t sweat as much, but my prosthetics place goes out of their way to provide me with them. The insurance does not.” Mateus trains nearly every day at La Finca boxing gym, a haven for like-minded boxers. Nestled within the confines of red, white and blue ropes and bordered by flags from
Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Egypt and Venezuela – a piece of each boxer who trains there – Mateus is home. Mateus enters the ring with the tenacity of Tyson, the courage of Mayweather and the resilience of Ali. He is a heavy-handed boxer, pouring all his power into each jab, hook, undercut and cross. It’s a tactical approach to the sport: he undermines his opponents early on before they can exploit his weaknesses. After enough time has passed in a match, Mateus’ prosthesis becomes inundated with sweat, causing a ripple effect of discomfort and, at times, dislodging. He does not let his amputation hold him back, but the USA boxing officials do. Mateus has only ever been allowed to compete in isolated competitions designed for amputees,
and is currently trying to convince the boxing realm to let him compete against able-bodied boxers. “You can’t judge someone by their physical disability, you have to let them try it out and then let them prove you wrong,” he said over the sound of gloves hitting punching bags and ringing bells coming from inside the gym. “If you have two legs, you might not work as hard and you might come into a fight thinking it’ll be easy, but you don’t know the way I’ve trained, you don’t know the heart I have.” With amputee athletes winning medals in the Olympics and outrunning their able-bodied counterparts, most lines between the two have been blurred. However, this has brought up other issues, such as the ongoing debate over whether or not the technology used to create a prosthesis goes beyond eliminating a disadvantage, and actually puts amputees at an advantage. Is the playing field leveled, or can it favor those with prosthetic limbs? The question arose for Gailey with Oscar Pistorius, the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics. Gailey designed the blades Pistorius wore, and witnessed the backlash the athlete faced from the Olympic committee. They claimed that since Pistorius had an 80 percent energy return and the human body only has a 36 percent energy return, Pistorius automatically had an unfair edge. However, Gailey says that the latter number only holds true when you factor out our muscles, so in reality, an able-bodied runner actually has a 250 percent return, putting the odds in
Andres F. Mateus puts on his prosthetic leg and begins to train by warming up with one of the many punching bags inside the gym.
their favor. In his office, which is splattered with an array of different prosthetics – peg legs from the Revolutionary war, tin legs from World War II – Gailey poses the idea that the situation involves aesthetics, not athletics. “The committee wants the image of men and women who are Greek Adonis’ and are very physically fit standing on the podium,” he said. “So for them to see a guy standing up there with technology like this,” he points to one of the prosthetics hung up by his desk, “It doesn’t have that look.” Also adorning one of the walls of Gailey’s office is a photo of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man,” a drawing that outlines the ideal proportions of a human man. The image, which features the body of a man with outspread arms and legs transposed over each other, has represented a glorified projection of what men should look like, a prototype amputees cannot fit into. For Mateus, that struggle to conform only affected him once, shortly after his accident. He was standing at a shopping mall, one leg coated in hair, the other bare and unadorned, when a girl standing nearby noticed the contrast: “Mom, why does that man only shave one leg?” Her mother blushed, thwarted the question and quickly pulled her daughter away. Mateus looked down at his legs: one made of bone, one partially made of carbon fiber, and asked himself why he chose to pretend that they were of the same substance. The following day, at a refitting, the prosthetist asked Mateus if he wanted to continue layering the skin-colored foam over his prosthesis, an attempt to blend one leg with the other. Mateus declined. “I decided I’m not gonna be sensitive about being amputated; when people ask me questions I let them ask, when people look I let them look, if they want to touch it or play with it, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I take my leg off and I hop around like a kangaroo, and it makes no difference because I’m confident within my own body.” Mateus has learned that a lot can happen in 10 seconds. You can lose your leg after crashing into a guardrail. You can strike your opponent in just the right spot and secure a win. You can decide you’ll stop covering up something that is a part of you. You can get up. You can fight. In 10 seconds, the entire fabric of your life can be altered, and in 10 seconds, your mind can decide to alter it, too. Mateus has learned to emphasize that mentality in everything he does. His family’s support, his passion for boxing and his ability to keep getting back on his feet have all made one thing clear to him: a true champion’s power lies not in his physical ability, but in his heart. March 2017 DISTRACTION 65
BEATING
MARGARET
GOLDMAN words_allison catala & isabella savini. photo_melanie brooks. design_lindsey bornstein.
Margaret Goldman was just 10 years old when she was admitted to the hospital for anorexia.
T
he UM junior battled with this eating disorder and body image issues from her early adolescence to her late teenage years. She was in fifth grade when her parents went through a divorce that left her feeling devastated and helpless, which triggered a range of mental health issues.
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“I guess my way of coping was to channel my lack of control over my parents’ relationship into controlling my eating,” Goldman said. Nobody suspected Goldman had a serious problem when she first began losing weight and cutting calories. It wasn’t until her mother found her lying in the bathroom, too weak to even stand that she realized she should be concerned about her daughter’s health. She rushed her to the ER. After a series of tests and questions, Goldman was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, one of the most commonly diagnosed eating disorders. According to the DSM 5, the disease is characterized by extreme dietary restrictions, severe preoccupations with food, fears of gaining weight and denials of the issue at hand. After a two-month hospital stay with strict medical supervision, Goldman was finally able to go home. Doctors arranged for an athome therapist and nutritionist to check on her periodically and ensure she was making progress during her recovery process. To this day, Goldman keeps in contact with her therapist. “I still have days that I battle a lot with body image,” she said. “As much pain as the disorder caused me, I’m grateful for its overall emotional impact; it afforded me perspective and maturity beyond my years and set the stage for me to constantly evaluate my emotions. I built a tough skin.” To move forward and stay strong, Goldman says she uses the past as a motivation rather than discouragement, and always reminds herself how far she’s come As she has become more informed about health and nutrition, she has also
become an advocate for living a healthy lifestyle. Goldman maintains a healthy diet and exercises nearly every day. She works on campus at the Wellness Center, which helps her preserve a positive and healthy mental state by constantly being around others who have the same mindset. After moving from New Jersey to Miami, where self-image is highly emphasized, Goldman said that a lot of her body image issues resurfaced to the point that she initially regretted her decision to come to UM. “I used to look at girls [in Miami] and think ‘Wow, they’re skinnier and tanner,’ but I’ve realized that being skinny and tan does nothing to progress my success and future, so who cares? Superficiality is contagious, and I’m glad I’ve been able to live in Miami for the past three years without letting it invade my psyche,” Goldman said. Goldman is passionate about raising awareness of eating disorders and comforting others by letting them know that they aren’t alone and can overcome this adversity. On campus, she’s part of a non-profit organization called Project HEAL, which raises money to support struggling teens in recovery programs and spreading body positivity and selfpositivity in general. “We focus on getting others to avoid comparisons, as well as fostering relationships with others that bring you up rather than make you doubt yourself,” Goldman said. Majoring in psychology has helped Goldman achieve a better understanding of her personal issues and how she can overcome them, as well as how to use that knowledge to help others. Goldman plans on getting a Ph.D. in psychology so she can pursue her dream of becoming a community psychologist and working with at-risk youth in urban neighborhoods. After interning at a non-profit outpatient counseling center in New Jersey, Goldman realized that her studies in psychology could be applied beyond a clinical setting. By working with this particular demographic, she plans to understand the struggles young people face and hopes to help them overcome their challenges to achieve success. “In college, I’ve come to realize that I’m extremely privileged in having access to so many academic resources, and strongly feel that it’s my obligation to use them to make a positive change in the world,” she said. “I feel that I’m in a position to advocate for the less-heard voices of marginalized groups who don’t have access to the same resources I do”.
Brianna Commerford was focusing on what a nine year old should be focusing on – going to school, riding horses, cheering competitively and going to gymnastics practices with her friends – when she noticed a lump on her neck.
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or more than a year, Commerford developed symptoms such as night sweats, fevers and joint pain, but was misdiagnosed with Lyme disease, Type 1 diabetes and mono. When her family took her to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which means her cancer had spread to one or more organs outside the lymphatic system. Commerford immediately began intense chemotherapy at the medical center, undergoing blood transfusions and a total of nine surgeries. Her life turned into a skeleton of what it once was. The things that used to define her would be replaced by hospital beds and medical treatments. Despite what seemed like a harrowing fate, Commerford never hesitated to keep a smile on her face. “I never even thought I wouldn’t make it. I always knew there was an end in sight,” Commerford said. The diagnosis was harder on her family than it was on her. When Commerford was first told she had cancer, she did not cry or get upset. Commerford’s mother, Lorraine, admits that it was a tough year while her daughter was undergoing treatment, but a year that brought their family closer. The community also rallied behind the family. Members of Commerford’s Girl Scout troop cut their hair short so she wouldn’t feel like an outsider. Her soccer team dedicated its games to her. Mothers throughout the town got together to create “Baskets for Brianna,” a weekly system where a different family would put together a basket filled with items Commerford loved. Perhaps the most meaningful effort came from her sister Janelle. After she saw a poster for “Relay for Life,” the American Cancer Society’s signature event to celebrate cancer survivors and raise money for research and programs. Janelle and her friends formed a team in honor of Commerford. More than 100 people joined the team, and together they raised $10,000. “Relay has been so great for our
whole family, community and friends. They felt like they were helping, like they were doing something good,” Lorraine said. In addition to raising money for the American Cancer Society, Commerford found another way to share her story and give back. Once she recovered a year after her diagnosis, she was named the National Youth Ambassador of Hyundai Hope on Wheels (HOW), a non-profit organization committed to finding a cure for pediatric cancer. “I traveled the country for two years to different pediatric cancer centers, sharing my story and the message of hope. I met with patients and families and doctors and Hyundai dealers,” Commerford said. HOW has transformed the lives of children across the nation with more than 830 Hyundai dealers throughout the country working to fight against pediatric cancers. Commerford was a patient when HOW visited her and she was immediately inspired to help children like herself.
treatments for childhood cancer. “We found out Bri was a great speaker. In front of thousands of people, she wasn’t shy or scared or nervous. This was not her before treatment. Talking to doctors and other adults changed her. It began her career of public speaking,” Lorraine remembers. Through all of this, Commerford found her passion. The UM freshman is currently a broadcast journalism major and is already an anchor for UMTV. She aims to use her communication skills in political broadcasting to establish an informed global citizenry. She emphasizes the importance of being properly informed and hopes to contribute to a news station that has a leading role in this process. “I love life. Anyone you meet will tell you I am a very happy, positive person. I see the good in every situation, and enjoy every aspect of life,” Commerford said. “I don’t sweat the little things. In the big picture, a lot doesn’t actually matter.”
THE ODDS
“I was able to travel the country for free. I made amazing connections. I spoke in front of thousands of people and shared my story. This has made me a more developed person,” Commerford said. Commerford was also nominated to become a Hero of Hope for the American Cancer Society. She made more than 15 speeches at high schools, colleges and stores across the nation. She was named the spokesperson for the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center’s Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund, which is the charity run by the hospital. Most recently, she spoke on the floor of Congress to promote a bill called the Creating Hope Act, which now provides incentives for pharmaceutical companies to develop
BRIANNA
COMMERFORD March 2017 DISTRACTION 67
Quintessential
COLLEGE words_ jasmine lapadula. design_ana gonzalez.
We wanted to capture the culture of the U, and what better way to do that than with photos of you? From beach days to tailgates to delicious treats, here are some of the most “quintessential college� submissions we go via email and social media. Submit yours to distraction@miami.edu to be featured in the next issue.
68 DISTRACTION Main Event
Kaley Surman takes a dip in the waters of the Bahamas. With the crystal clear waters, Kaley thought it was the best place to go snorkeling. Photo by Gabe Estevez. March 2017 DISTRACTION 69
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3 1 Gaby Zelhof and her friends take a quick break from building houses in Nicaragua during the summer. Zelhof loved the fact that she could spend time with her friends while helping people in need. Photo by Landon Scherr. 2 Cindy Ho and Marianna Spentzos throw up the U while in Key Biscayne. The pair wanted to soak up the sun before the spring semester started. Photo by Gaby Zelhof. 3 Solana Faerman takes GoPro footage while snowboarding in Vail, Colorado. She hit the slopes before the stress of finals. Photo by Solana Faerman. 4 Daniel Calkins poses with his dog on a camping trip off the West Coast of Florida. Calkins always brings his dog on his trips. Photo by Karen Thompson.
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5 Krizia Mendez holds a UM flag while tailgating before the big win against Virginia. She thought it was a great way to finish off the football season. Photo by Elise Morales. 6 Jessica Morales throws up the U while on a trip to Northern Ireland. She loved the views of the mountains and waters of Northern Ireland. Photo by Jessica Morales. 7 Michael Zubi goes zip lining in Costa Rica. He thought it was a great way to experience all of the beauty that nature had to offer. Photo by Charly Zubi. 8 Jared Goldstein hangs out backstage with We the Kings after opening for them. He played at the B98.5 Summer Concert Series at the Seaside Beach and Boardwalk. Photo by Jerry Goldstein.
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You got your weird on... And we loved it! On behalf of the Philadthropy committee and AdGroup, we’d like to give a huge thank you to all the participating nonprofits, sponsors, team leaders and student volunteers, who made this Philadthropy the best (and weirdest) one yet. We couldn’t have asked for a more successful 25 hours or for more creative, eye-catching campaigns. We hope to see you all next year. Until then, stay weird.
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SENIORS? SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE
SHOW THE YEARBOOK YOUR PEARLY WHITES
UNDERGRADUATE? TAKE YOUR PHOTO FOR FREE
SECOND FLOOR OF THE SCC
WEEKDAYS MARCH 22-31
10AM - 6PM
GO TO WWW.IBISYEARBOOK.COM
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Distraction Magazine @distractionmag @DistractionUM
We promise that the time spent staring at a screen will be worth it. Apply to join the award-winning staff of distraction, the only completely student-run UM lifestyle magazine. We are hiring for the 2017-18 school year. If you enjoy writing, designing, illustrating, photography, blogging, video, sales, PR or free pizza, contact the Editor-in-Chief, Asmae Fahmy, at a.fahmy3@umiami.edu. Anyone is welcome to contribute.