Letter from the Editor
april 2014
distractionmagazine.com
SENIORS: WHAT IS YOUR POST-GRADUATE PLAN? Editor-in-Chief _Ivana Cruz -30Executive Editor_Raquel Zaldivar -30Managing Editor_Alexandra Solano Assistant Managing Editor_Devika Boodhoo “Photographer Art Directors_Claudia Fernandes & Megan McCrink Photo Editors_Karli Evans & Rori Kotch by day, subway “Law skewl entertainer by Assistant Art Directors_Kacie Nelson & Alex Piccirilli @ USC.” Assistant Photo Editor_Melissa Mallin night.” Copy Chief_Erin Fischer Assistant Copy Chief_Alexa Pappas The Guide & End Notes Editor_Alexis Williams In The Loop Editor _Trevor Maxim -30Sports Editor_Patrick Riley -30Assistant Sports Editor_Kristen Spillane -30Fashion Editor_Gabrielle Mottaz -30“Get a job.” Assistant Fashion Editor_Allison Baer “Kick ass, take The Main Event Editor_Rachel Kliger -30names.” Public Relations Manager_Andrea O’Neal Assistant PR Manager_Marika Abe and Brandon Carusillo Social Media Editor_Yael Herman Business Manager_Vanessa Le Assistant Business Manager_Alexandra Hurtado Faculty Adviser_Randy Stano DISTRACTIONMAGAZINE.COM Editorial Coordinator_Raquel Zaldivar -30Online Managing Editor_Devika Boodhoo Online Copy Chief_Maggie McMahon Music Blog Editor_Hyan De Freitas -30Fashion Blog Editor_Alyssa Jacobson Photo Blog Editor_Melissa Mallin Student Life & Culture Blog Editor_Shivani Aluru Features Blog Editor_Taylor Duckett
Katya Bachorz, Writer Robert Bennet, Photographer Vivian Braga, Writer Morgan Golumbuk, Writer Chelsea Harrington, Writer Nate Jackson, Videographer Collin Li, Photographer
WE LIKE YOU
CONTRIBUTORS
Michelle Lock, Designer Carlos Mella, Designer David O’Connell, Writer Mark Poulose, Writer Emily Russ, Designer Nicole Saunders, Writer Tiffany Yancey, Photographer & 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 written for students, by students, and covers the full spectrum of student life here at The U. If you want to get involved with us or have any questions, email our editor-in-chief, Ivana Cruz, at i.cruz3@miami.edu. The magazine is produced four times per year, twice a semester. City Graphics and NU-PRESS Miami printed 6,500 copies of the magazine on 8.5 x 11 inch, 60-pound coated text paper 4/4. The entire magazine is printed four-color and saddle stitch bound. Most text is nine-point Minion Pro with 9.8 points of leading set ragged with a combination of bold, medium and italic. All pages were designed using Adobe Creative Suite 6 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, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, Student Activity Center, dropped off in the Student Media Suite, Suite 200 or emailed to i.cruz3@umiami.edu. All articles, photographs and illustrations are copyrighted by the University of Miami.
ABOUT US
2
Distraction
Masthead
Thirty-six days. As I write this letter, there are 36 more days until graduation. At this point I know I am not the only one reflecting on the last four years; the people I’ve met, the work I’ve done, the things I’ve learned, the sleepless nights, the bad decisions and all the good ones. But of all the things that come to mind, being a part of Distraction since my freshman year is the most monumental. Not just because of my love for magazines and all the things this publication embodies, but because of the people I have worked with. Few understand the amount of work and time that goes into putting these 44 pages together, but the ones that do make up a staff saturated with passion and determination. I have learned from them much more than they would ever imagine I did. I would like to especially express my appreciation for our Executive Editor, Raquel Zaldivar. Besides the fact that without her everything we have accomplished this year would not have been possible; her focus, dedication, talent, humility and pure love for journalism are admirable and inspiring. Our adviser and my personal mentor, Randy Stano, also deserves special acknowledgment. He has been a fountain of knowledge for the editors and me and has guided us toward growth and improvement. I found myself and what I love to do in the pages of this magazine. And even though I have figured out the direction I want to go in, I’m still unsure which is the best path to get there. Like myself, there are thousands of graduates staying awake at night wondering, “what now?” Our Features Blog Editor Taylor Duckett asked herself the same question in “Is it Worth it?” (page 28). And if by chance you find your mind wondering away from the start of the rest of your life to (maybe) how beer is made, turn to “The Science of Microbrewing” (page 14); what makes Lauryn Williams so unbelievably talented, check out “Catching Up With Lauryn Williams” (page 16); or where to get a worthy adrenaline rush, “Addicted to Adrenaline” (page 7). Four issues and more than 15 all-nighters later, I am extremely proud of the work that the Distraction staff has accomplished over the last year. As those 36 days turn to one I hope you also look back and take pride in all things (good and bad) you did while at UM. Sincerely,
Ivana Cruz