Distraction Magazine March 2018

the

magazine of the students of

the university of miami

march 2018

the

magazine of the students of

the university of miami

march 2018

the

magazine of the students of

the university of miami

march 2018

A NEW

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Featured

6

Always in Bloom

Little known secret, Miami is host to a number of flower shops and flower pop ups.

Oodles of Noodles

12

Spice up your life and your taste palate with one of our favorite Asian dishes.

37 I am my Media We’ve become the generation of likes and Instagram. How does our fascination with media affect us?

Doppelganger 42 Delicacies Healthy alternatives that are so good you won’t taste the difference.

57 Street Style Head to street school with us to discuss the ever increasing link between hip-hop and fashion.

It’s on Men Too 69 When dealing with sexual assault, where do men take responsibility and participate in the conversation?

Featured March 2018

UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2018 DISTRACTION

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BEHIND THE SCENES: THE MARCH ISSUE

PHOTO EDITOR SIDNEY SHERMAN FINDS THE PERFECT ANGLE TO SHOOT THIS SCRUMPTIOUS RAMEN FOR “OODLES OF NOODLES”

(TOP): SIDNEY SHOOTS MODEL FIORIANA FOR “RETRO RECESS” (RIGHT): MODELS FLO, FIORIANA, AND MATT POSE DURING FITTINGS

THE COVERS art direction_sharon meir, sasha manning. photo_sasha manning.

Love is in the hair this issue. All kinds of hair – straight and fine, wavy and luxurious, curly and kinky. Though unique in their own ways, each hair texture looks just as awesome in braids. Another great thing about braids? We see them everywhere, from tailgates to casual nights with friends to

sophisticated soirées. Photographer Sasha Manning rounded up some fierce looking models to show off their braided dues. On this cover, model Krysta Bennia beams in her side braids, radiating beauty and confidence.

art direction_marissa vonesh. photo_sidney sherman.

Media rules our world. We wake up in the morning and the first thing we do is check Instagram. The moment class gets out we reach for our phones.

We look up the most obscure questions that randomly cross our minds and, somehow, find an answer almost every time. We see people through the lens of their social media and they do the

same for us. We have become our media. Has the overstimulation that we experience daily from our technology changed the way we see reality? And if so, are we truly seeing what’s real? Sidney Sherman and Marissa Vonesh captured this thoughtprovoking question in this cover. This is how we see the world through the lens of technology.

art direction & photo_olivia stauber.

It’s hard to remember a time before bitmojis existed. Now, there’s no better way to show just how extra you’re feeling than through a dramatic and sassy bitmoji. Pimp out your character to look just like you, select from some over-the-top expressions and search for the perfect emotion to describe how you’re feeling. One of the best features of

bitmoji is that you can pair up with your friends to create a whole scene that wildly –and hilariously –resembles your day to day life. Catch us outside Richter, soaking up some sun, snagging some Starbucksand maybe even cracking a book from time to time.

CATCH US ONLINE AT DISTRACTIONMAGAZINE.COM 2

DISTRACTION

Introduction

march 2018

distractionmagazine.com

WHAT ASPECT OF CURRENT OR FUTURE TECHNOLOGY SCARES YOU THE MOST? Editor-in-Chief_Marissa Vonesh Co-Executive Editors_Olivia Stauber & Teddy Willson Managing Editor_Lizzie Wilcox Art Director_Alexa Aguilar Photo Editor_ Sidney Sherman When I think of something but never say Illustrations Director_Ana Gonzalez it out loud and it shows Assistant Art Director_Ellen Kiser up in ads on my feed The FBI agents watching Assistant Photo Editor_Josie Merkert & Gianna Sanchez me through my webcam The Guide Editor_Kayla Foster In The Loop Editor_Lindsey Bornstein Special Section Editor_Isabella Vaccaro Health and Wellness Editor_Olivia Campbell Fashion Editor_Lauren Gimpel Tinder being the main Assistant Fashion Editors_Sharon Meir, Jade Simmons & Sofia Decharry source of finding romance The Main Event Editor_Thalia Garcia Public Relations Manager_Gabby Rosenbloom Assistant PR Manager_Elizabeth Pozzuoli Distribution Assistant_Ryan Fitzpatrick Business Manager_Kyle Kingma How fast it moves Faculty Adviser_Randy Stano

DISTRACTIONMAGAZINE.COM

Friending my mom on Facebook

Online Editorial Coordinator_Kami Knaudt Online Managing Editor_Thalia Garcia Online Copy Chief_Jorge Chabo Online Entertainment Editor_Naomy Lelis Online Fashion Editor_Allegra Turner Online Food Editor_Kristin Zheng Online Sports Editor_Phillip Russomanno

CONTRIBUTORS Agnes Archibong, Designer Muguang Chen, Designer Jenna Kurz, Designer Danielle Glassman, Designer Joey Hass, Designer Cole Kugler, Designer Danny Katan, Writer

Shellie Frai, Writer Olivia Ginsberg, Writer Kelvine Moyers, Writer, Designer Bruna Fernandes da Silva, Writer Anya Balsamides, Writer Natalie Abatermarco, Writer Shainaya Kukreja, Writer

Alexandra Aiello, Writer Sasha Manning, Photographer Patrick Ruvo, Photographer Mekenzie Bradley, PR Blake Warman, PR Eliana Litos, PR Emma Chozick, PR

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, Marissa Vonesh, at mxv348@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.

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Letter from the

I think a lot about what technology is doing to change our culture (I love Black Mirror and the way it critiques society), which is precisely why I wanted to do a tech issue for the magazine. Funny, or not so funny, technology played me all semester as I was working on the issue. For example, my fourth laptop of the year broke (again), then I broke my friend’s laptop they were letting me borrow. I know, it sounds like I must throw them off the student center and into the lake, but this isn’t the case. Not having a laptop for the majority of my junior year has taught me a few things, like save your work on a flash-drive, utilize Google Docs and that technology is great, but it fails you when you need it. The issue looks at both the positive and negative sides of technology and the ways in which we have become accustomed to it. For example, you can decipher how linguistics are changing (p. 25) or take a fun quiz about what kind of a millennial you are (p. 29). Distraction also has the download about March Madness (p. 6), some delicious ramen (p. 12) or ways to stay energized without having 40 cups of coffee (p. 42).

This issue also features something near and dear to my feminist heart: sexual assault. In It’s On Men Too, distraction looks into the issue of sexual assault from the male perspective and starts conversation about how to prevent sexual assault through preliminary methods. It isn’t just about providing resources, it’s about changing the culture.

Love you, Go ‘Canes

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DISTRACTION

Contents

EDITOR

Introduction

the guide 6 7

March Madness Always in Bloom

special section: technology 22 25 29 31 32 37

Net Neutrality A New Language Millennials New Technology The Good, The Bad, The Techy I am my Media

health & wellness 42

Doppelganger Delicacies

45

Energy Hacks

in the loop 12

Oodles of Noodles

17

Museum of Ice Cream: The Inside Scoop

fashion 48 55 58 61

Retro Recess Street Style Texture Time Fashion with a Cause

main event 65 Addicted 70 It’s on Men Too 76 50 Years Strong 79 Through the Lens

THE GUIDE model_ naomi ayotemi. photo_sidney sherman. design_ana gonzalez.

The Guide captures the thoughts of the Miami hipster and slaps them on a page. This one is for your inner self that craves to be the friend with all the answers, whether that means knowing all the best low-key coffee shops or subtly setting what will become the coolest trends across campus. Despite being so in-the-know, pretentious is not in The Guide reader’s vocabulary. Starbucks is out, and real typewriters BOUGAINVILLEAS are in –and if you ever need a suggestion for the best kombucha on the market, The Guide has you covered.

UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2018 DISTRACTION

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[

]

swish swish words_danny katan. photo_gianna sanchez. design_marissa vonesh.

It’s a basketball fan’s favorite time of the year, where upsets, buzzer-beaters and heart-breaking losses or emotional wins happen. It’s March Madness.

What is March Madness?

March Madness is the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. This single elimination tournament is set up in a bracket. It occurs every spring and consists of 68 teams from Division I schools from across the country. This year, March Madness begins on March 13 and concludes on April 2.

The Business of the Bracket

How ‘bout them ‘Canes?

Our very own Miami Hurricanes have made the NCAA March Madness tournament the past two years. In 2016, the number three seed Hurricanes lost to the number two seed Villanova in the Sweet Sixteen 92-69 – the Sweet Sixteen is the final 16 teams in the tournament. Villanova went on to win the championship that year. In 2017, the number eight seed Hurricanes lost in the first round against the number nine seed Michigan State 78-58.

At the time of publication, the Hurricanes were currently not ranked in the AP poll; they were 18-7 overall, 7-6 against other ACC teams and were currently ranked sixth in the ACC. They are led by projected first round picks in the NBA, Lonnie Walker IV and Bruce Brown Jr., who was forced to take a six week leave due to a left foot injury.

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DISTRACTION

The Guide

[]

The 68 teams that make it to the tournament are chosen by the Division I men’s basketball committee. According to the NCAA, the select teams based on observation, discussion and comparison of data.

This process includes three phases: select the 36 best atlarge teams, “seed,” or rank, the field of the 68 teams among the four regions and, lastly, place the teams into the March Madness bracket. Sunday, March 11 is the 2018 NCAA Selection Sunday. The Women’s March Madness selection show occurs the following day.

There is a one in 9.2 quintillion chance of having a perfect bracket - you’d have better luck at winning the Powerball jackpot or becoming president of the United States – yet, we still try. The most widely used options are the ESPN and Yahoo apps. Both allow you to create a league with your friends or to join existing leagues, some of which give participants the opportunity to play against big-name celebrities in the sports world.

Many fans choose to get more serious with their brackets and put money behind their predictions, accumulating a different amount of points per round of March Madness. For example, if you guess the correct champion of March Madness, you can win up to 320 points.

STAR

on average

Lonnie Walker 11.1 2.7 1.8

points

RGB

assists

Bruce Brown 11.4 7.1 4.0

points

RGB

assists

*stats based on time of publication, Walker playing 25 games and Brown at 19.

Dewan Huell, a sophomore from Miami, warms up before winning 78-75 against Louisville in overtime.

n loom Fragrant and colorful, flowers have always been given as a gesture of kindness and love (and sometimes an “I’m sorry”). The demand for beautiful and exotic flowers has increased so much that today the flower industry is worth 8 billion dollars.

words_shellie frai. photo_josie merkert & gianna sanchez. design_ana gonzalez.

March 2018 DISTRACTION

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Living in Miami, we have an edge up on the market. The tropical climate allows flowers to bloom year-round.

Almost every farmers’ market or busy intersection is marked by florists’ popup flower shops where you can select an arrangement or customize your own.

1 Zoom Bloomz 2600 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Zoom Bloomz is a European flower shop that is notable around Miami for its chrome mobile flower market, seen parked at flea markets or The Wynwood Yard. The flower shop offers fun classes at The Yard, such as constructing your very own flower crown. Zoom Bloomz is especially sought after for its collection of hard-to-find, loose field flowers, like the thistle, the liatris and billy balls.

2

Plant the Future 2511 NW 2nd Ave., Miami Plant the Future is a unique flower shop known for its modern and minimalist arrangements. Moss, succulents and cacti are planted in white pots that are made to look like monkeys, horses and funky mohawks. Its Wynwood location – complete with wall typography made of moss – is the perfect backdrop to an Instagram post. You’re likely to come across other small treasures when browsing the shop, like a helmet made of succulents and cacti.

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DISTRACTION

The Guide

n loom

Flower Stern 2490 Coral Way, Suite 4, Miami Flower Stern is Miami’s most picturesque flower shop.

Specializing only in roses, each arrangement comes in a glamorous box decorated with a matching rose-colored ribbon. The rose heads are all arranged so you can see each head at the top of the box, while the stems lay inside. Special see-through boxes showcase the flower and its stem.

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5 The Posy For delivery only The Posy is a true love story between woman and flower.

After studying medicine her entire adult life, founder Zoe Galitz decided to follow her dream of creating feminine and hipster Mason jar arrangements. The Posy also has a subscription package, in which you can receive weekly or monthly arrangements at your door.

Traditional Reasons to Give Flowers

3 Midtown Garden Center 2600 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Midtown Garden Center is a family-owned garden center where they grow and pick their own orchids and succulents. Customers can spend the afternoon choosing flowers and learning the proper care for each plant. The site also has two food trucks for those of us who can’t go too long without a snack. Another bonus? The center hosts weekend yoga classes.

Flowers are traditionally meant to show affection and bring happiness. Flowers can also be given as a sign of condolence, such as when someone is sick. Alternatively, people simply buy flowers to liven a room.

And of course, we can’t forget the ageold tradition of men buying flowers to apologize.

“So many guys come in here because they mess up,” said Tawine Aguilar of Zoom Bloomz. “It’s a lot of ‘I’m sorry’s.’ I can be the town psychologist sometimes.”

Flower Symbolism

• • • • • • • • •

Red rose: love The sunflower: happiness Blue hydrangea: gratitude White rose: tranquility, cleanliness Yellow rose: friendship Yellow chrysanthemum: fidelity Purple iris: faith & hope Red anthurium: hospitality Pink gladiolus: honor & strength UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2018 DISTRACTION

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We specialize in the treatment of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation UM students receive an exclusive 15% discount through May 1, 2018

Located across the street from University of Miami

10 DISTRACTION The Guide

model_cole kugler. photo_sidney sherman. design_ana gonzalez.

IN THE LOOP

In the Loop is the yin to The Guide’s yang.

Take your favorite, feelgood topics and dig a little deeper. From the delicacies of the foods that everyone knows and loves, to the hobbies that you never knew you would love so much, In the Loop takes what’s in your heart and places them deeper into yourUM mind.

FARMER’S MARKET May 2017 March 2018 DISTRACTION 11

+

+

+

+ All the ingredients for a perfect ramen bowl.

From top left to bottom right: ramen, snow peas and scallions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fishcakes (naruto), shrimp, mushrooms, egg, hot chili sauce.

the Loop Loop 12 DISTRACTION In The

Oodles of NOODLES +

+

= Kimchi Ramen Bowl

words_ olivia ginsberg. photo_sidney sherman. design_joey haas.

In recent years, Asian-style noodle bowls have made a name for themselves in the food industry. Almost every foodie these days is fully versed in the art of the noodle bowl. What started out as a cheap Asian street food is now a full blown industry, as this flourishing cuisine pops up at restaurants everywhere. Even in-home chefs present their own take on the dish. From the regal beginnings of the udon noodle to humble history of ramen, each noodle has an interesting story behind it.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 13

amen noodles, which are Chinese in origin, are one of the most well-known types of Asian noodles in American households.

Ramen noodles are made from only four ingredients: wheat flour, water, salt and kansui, a type of alkaline water.

The noodles get their distinct elasticity from the kansui, which regulates acidity during the dough making process. After the dough is created, it is rolled out and cut into thin strips.

Udon noodles, although they hail from Japan, are most similar to Italian noodles; however, they are slightly thicker than their Italian relatives. They are similar to ramen in that they are made from a mixture of wheat, water and salt. The difference is that udon noodles do not require kansui. The loss of this ingredient makes them much thicker and chewier than ramen.

Soba noodles get their name from the Japanese word for buckwheat, which is the primary ingredient in the noodles.

Soba noodles are an integral part of the Japanese diet because of their high nutritional value. They are chock-full of amino acids and vitamin B1, both of which help prevent illness.

Glass noodles, popularized in China, are named for their translucent appearance when cooked. They are made from a starch—usually derived from a potato, canna or mung bean— and water. The exclusion of any type of wheat allows glass noodles to have their famously clear appearance when cooked. The noodles are usually purchased in a dry form and soaked to be reconstituted.

Traditionally, Japanese ramen dishes are made with noodles soaked in a beef-based broth. They are sometimes flavored with soy sauce or miso. The toppings vary, but usually include sliced pork, nori, green onion and fermented bamboo shoots called menma. Today, chefs have gotten even more inventive, adding a variety of ingredients to the dish, including eggs, different meats and vegetables. Uncooked ramen is even

used as a topping for salads or as a bun for burgers. Ramen made its switch from a fresh-made Japanese street food to an instant noodle in 1958. Instant Ramen was invented by Momofuku Ando, who discovered the process of flash frying the noodles in order to give them a long shelf life. Ando’s second invention of CUPNOODLES in 1971 popularized ramen in the States. Since their introduction into the American diet, ramen has become a staple food in trendy restaurants and college dorm rooms alike.

Soba noodles have long been an important part of Japanese cuisine.

Because soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour, they contain more nutrients than noodles made with white flour. During the Tokugawa period from 1603 to 1868, the wealthy working class in Tokyo suffered from beriberi, an illness that is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 and can cause numbness, loss of appetite and an increased heart rate. As a result, soba restaurants opened around Tokyo to serve the

Takayama Ramen Bowl

14 DISTRACTION In the Loop

vitamin B1 rich noodles and alleviate the spread of beriberi.

Though in Japan soba noodles are traditionally eaten cold with a dipping sauce, in American restaurants, patrons tend to prefer warm soba noodles with a variety of vegetables, a broth or sauce and a protein.

Udon noodles were first introduced during Japan’s Nara period.

They were thought to be a high-class meal at the time, and it was uncommon for a lower, working class citizen like a farmer to indulge in the dish. It is important to note that Udon noodles vary based on region. Their thickness and hardness change depending on the region in which they are served.

For example, when they take on a flat, wide structure, they are known as hoto noodles. They can also be very thin; this style is called somen. The hard dough needs to be kneaded continuously in order to maintain the precise texture and over time, it has become proper technique to knead the dough by stomping on it. In a traditional udon bowl, you might find fish, eggs, mushrooms, tofu and a variety of vegetables. It is also common to find slices of Japanese fish cake decorating the top of the dish. Udon bowls are most commonly served in a fish and egg broth.

Sriracha Ramen Bowl

GET YOUR RAMEN ON Sriracha House: 1502 Washington Ave., Miami Beach For a fully customizable noodle bowl experience here in Miami, visit Sriracha House. The menu allows you to choose every ingredient that goes in your meal. You begin by choosing a blend of stir fry vegetables, and then you can pick a protein.

The restaurant also provides vegan and vegetarian options for those with special dietary needs. Guests then have the option to choose add-ons, such as pineapple or bok choy. Finally, Sriracha House offers 10 original sauces to top it all off. All of their noodles are served in Sriracha House-branded takeout containers. If you’re more inclined to enjoy your meal inside the restaurant, however, the interior sports bright and fun wall decorations; the quirky interior walls paired with communal high-top tables are reminiscent of an authentic Tokyo noodle spot. Don’t forget to try the bubble tea for a perfectly cool pairing to your noodles.

Izakaya by Cake: 3500 N. Miami Ave., Miami To experience some delicious ramen, your best bet is heading to Wynwood. Gaijin Izakaya by Cake is serving up magnificent ramen dishes. They have a variety of flavors, including a Tonkotsu pork ramen; they even serve a Miami-inspired ramen bowl, served in a shrimp broth and including a different fresh selection of local seafood every day. In addition to your ramen, try the Mapo Tofu Fries for a spicy indulgence. The decor will keep you entertained throughout your entire meal. From the eye-catching posters to the bar made of washing machines, you will surely find something to look at. For added entertainment, ask to speak to Chef Cake, and you will not be disappointed. Chef Cake’s charismatic attitude, plus his success with other Miami hotspots, like Cake Thai Kitchen Biscayne and Boulud Sud, ensure that Gaijin Izakaya will stay a surefire hit.

Makoto: 9700 Collins Ave., Miami Beach For a special occasion, treat yourself to Makoto. The dim and sexy ambience offers the perfect date night setting. Enjoy the indoor seating, which is strewn with fairy-lit trees, or step into the garden for a more relaxed jungle paradise escape. The staff serves a variety of fresh fish that changes daily. They also specialize in robata, or Japanese grilled meats. Their menu boasts a variety of Wagyu beef delicacies. More specifically, though, their noodle menu includes traditional cold soba noodles with Japanese tahini and cucumbers. They also have several varieties of ramen, including their house special, Makato Ramen. It is served with ground steak, pork and red chili. The overall ambience at this restaurant makes it a great experience for all.

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D. I. Y. RAMEN SEAWEED

Spicy Cheesy Ramen We have a ramen hack for you that will surely leave you craving more. First, begin preparing the ramen as you normally would. Just before the ramen is fully cooked, tear up two slices of cheese, and toss it into the mixture. Let it cook the rest of the way.

The broth should be a mac and cheese-like consistency. Once it is fully cooked, add Sriracha to taste. If you’re feeling fancy, add some green peppers and onions for a fresh and spicy kick.

Egg Ramen

FISHCAKES

If you are feeling extra hungry, and you’re in a hurry, this ramen bowl is for you. Begin by whisking two eggs together while you cook a packet of ramen as directed. When the ramen is thoroughly cooked, stir in your egg mixture. Cook for an additional 20-30 seconds in order to ensure the egg is properly prepared. Add pepper to your liking, and enjoy!

Ramen “Stir Fry”

Takayama Ramen Bowl

For a spicy and sweet twist on traditional ramen, try a new take on stir fry. Prepare ramen according to package directions, but do not add the flavor packet.

Drain the remaining liquid from the MUSHROOMS noodles. Stir in crunchy peanut butter, soy sauce and Sriracha.

Add any vegetables you can get your hands on; even the vegetables from last night’s takeout will suffice!

BABY CORN

EDAMAME

16 DISTRACTION In the Loop

the museum of

Ice Cream words_lizzie wilcox. photo_gianna sanchez. design_alexa aguilar.

What left almost as soon as it came, the Museum of Ice Cream took Miami Beach by storm. Distraction was lucky enough to visit the museum before it left, while getting an inside scoop on the the ice cream, of course.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 17

A colorful, edible pop-up museum that has taken over Instagram feeds for months, the Museum of Ice Cream strays from the traditional aspects of a museum. In lieu of art, history and culture, the MOIC is four floors of photo ops in a pool of sprinkles, against a popsicle wall installation and on a cherry swing that allows you to channel your inner Miley Cyrus. Founded by MaryEllis Bunn, the MOIC has also made an appearance in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. The MOIC was supposed to leave Miami Beach at the end of January, but due to its success, it extended its stay until Feb. 26. You were greeted on every floor with a treat to eat and the bright hues of pink, blue and yellow made you feel as if you were in the real life Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory— except the walls were not edible, unfortunately.

Level One Completely disregarding “save the best for last,” the sprinkle pool was the very first attraction. After diving in, getting the perfect picture and shaking the plastic rainbow sprinkles out of every crevice, you were led into a 1950s diner where you were served chocolate ice cream with pink whipped cream via conveyor belt.

Level Two Level two of the MOIC is every basic betch’s paradise. Ascend a flight of stairs to a pink jungle paradise with fruit-inspired swings and a miniature room where the walls are covered entirely by circular mirrors, made to look like coconuts.

The treat on the second floor is “melted ice cream” served in mini milk cartons.

18 DISTRACTION In the Loop

Level Three

Ice Cream

The third floor of the museum encouraged visitors to get interactive with pink sand boxes. After building a sand box and passing another colorful backdrop that will get you as many likes as a photo in front of the Wynwood Walls, you are given a choice between two mochi ice cream flavors: mango and strawberry. This Japanese treat is soft and doughy on the outside, but cold and creamy once you bite into the ice cream center.

Level Four Though you may be tired of eating and posing, the end of the museum still has many treats and photo ops. Inspired by one of Florida’s most beloved desserts, you get a scoop of key lime ice cream in a cup or a cone upon reaching the fourth level of the museum.

The rest of the floor is full of games like a Ping-Pong table, shuffleboard and hula-hoops on a balcony that overlooks the beach. Finally, there is a popsicle wall complete with technicolor ice pops hanging down from the ceiling. If you didn’t get a chance to see this temporary exhibit, it is likely that half of your Instagram followers did, and you can live vicariously through their five million pictures of them rolling around in plastic sprinkles.

5 things you should know about the sweet treat 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

New Zealand consumes the most ice cream in the world (America is #2) 87 percent of Americans have ice cream in their freezer at any given time A cow gives enough milk to make 2 gallons of ice cream per day California produces the most ice cream in America It takes about 50 licks to finish a single scoop of ice cream

March 2018 DISTRACTION 19

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Valid at Sunset location: 7315 S Red Rd. Coral Gables, FL 33143 Cannot be combined with any other offer

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only for you! only for you!

Valid at Sunset location: 7315 S Red Rd. Coral Gables, FL 33143 Cannot be combined with any other offer

3070 Grand Ave. Miami, FL (305) 446-0203 NewAgePiercings.com IG: @newagebodypiercing

20 DISTRACTION In the Loop

SPECIAL SECTION

model_ danielle bryan & talia mereles. photo_sidney sherman. design_ana gonzalez.

Technology is the forefront of our new world. It’s changed the way we communicate, the way we date, the way we find jobs, find love and friends, and how we make our voices heard. Our generation uses it with an ease that amazes generations before us, we have become defined by it.

Will we define it, or let us define us? Distraction investigates all technology has done for us, and to us.

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0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 words_kayla foster. design & illustration_agnes archibong.

0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 the internet actually dead?

1 0 0Is11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 1 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 Since the early ‘90s, the internet has been a vital part of human growth. From 1 0 0advances 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 11 0 0 of 11social 0 11 0 0 the 11internet 0 11 0 0 11 0 in science and technology to 0 the depths media, has 0 woven into0our everyday has and 0 1 11 0 1 0itself 1 11 01 0 1 11lives.

0 0The 1 0internet 1 11 0 0always 1 0 1 been 11 0an0open 101 11 0 0 integral part of our life; created to share information, it has always been easily 1 0 11However, 0 1 1accessible 0 11 0 0 0 0 1 1regulating 0 11 0 0what 1 1can 0 11 0 1 1be 0 11 0 0on 1 1 0 11 to 1 everyone. and0cannot viewed internet has proven to be a constant problem. Ever since its introduction in 1 0 0the 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 11 0has 11been 0 0heavily 11 0 11 0 0 more 11 0recently, 11 0 0 11 0 2015, the principle behind net0neutrality debated; its repeal end0 of0 last year has made 0 1 11 0 0 1at0the 1 11 10 1 11 0 0 1national 0 1 11headlines, 0 0 1 0since 1 11the 0 decision 0 1 0 1can 11 0 0 change the way the internet is accessed.

0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 DISTRACTION 1 0 02211 0 11Tech0Takeover 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0

NET NEUTRALITY

S

tp y

1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 The Basics 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11Net 0 Neutrality: 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 Net neutrality is the concept that internet service 1 0or11 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 0 0to treat 1 1all internet 0 11content 0 01 101 providers, ISPs, have providers, such as Netflix or YouTube, equally. As of 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0is 11 0 0that 11 0 11 now,0 the11 internet free, meaning all content on 0 0 11 the internet should operate at the same speed or stream 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 no matter who the ISP is. Net neutrality stops ISPs like AT&T, speeding 1Comcast 10 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 0 11and0Verizon 0 1from 11up,0slowing 01 101 down or blocking any content, applications or websites that 0 consumers want to view use.11 However, late in 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 11 0 11 0or0 0 11 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11existing 0 0net1neutrality 0 1 11 0 0spurring 1 0 1 11 0 repealed protections, protests and11 concern about 10 1 0worried 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 0among 0 1students 11 0 01 101 internet slowdowns or price increases.

“Without regulation, cable0 and phone 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11net0neutrality 11 0 0 11 11 0 0 11 companies [ISPs] would be able to decide which websites, 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 010 1 11 0 0 1Kara 0 1 11 0 content or applications succeed, ” said sophomore Roberts. “They would have the ability to block websites or 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 content they don’t like or applications that compete with their own offerings.”

0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 As the new era of post-net neutrality nears, major broadband companies Comcast 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 like 01 11and0AT&T 0 1have0 1 11 0 publicly stated that consumers will not see a change in 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 11 0the0internet.

1 1According 0 11to0these 01 101 how1 they0 experience service providers, sites will not be regulated, nor will 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 11 0fee11 00 11or 0 11 0 0 11 they 0 have an extra for faster streams downloads.

However, due to the repeal of previously established 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0net1 11 0 neutrality rules, it is entirely possible the current policy could at any0 moment future0 as internet 1change 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 0 11 0 1in1the0near11 01 101 content providers such as Netflix have already started increasing their0 rates to compete more0 traditional 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 11 0 0with11 11 0 0 11 providers.

0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0Should 11 0We 0 1Be1Worried?

0 11 0 0 1 1 0 1 “I0 think what0 is important 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 11 11 0to0realize 11is that 0 net 11 0 0 11 neutrality refers to what we call in the business ‘the last 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 0 0professor 101 0“It0only 1refers 0 1 11 0 mile,11 ’ said media Ana11 François. to internet providers to the home or to the business; 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 it doesn’t affect the rest of the internet.” Now that net neutrality has been repealed, ISPs can slow down content; 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 as a result, content providers like YouTube may have to pay more to avoid 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11to0the0ISP1in the 0 future 1 11 0 their 0 1content 0 1 11 0 being slowed by larger ISPs. 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1In1turn, 0 the 11 00 1 1provider—in 0 11this 0 case, 01 101 internet content YouTube—may charge consumers more to access 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 widely-accessed 0 11 0 11 content.

Even though the most sites 0 0 11 on the internet largely 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 may 0 1be 0 1 unaffected 11 0by0the1repeal, 0 1 11 0 smaller content providers like bloggers or people that small1 internet business owners would 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 0 11 00 11 0have 11to pay 0 more 01 101 to compete at the same speed as larger content providers.

Because of this,0 small, online-based businesses may 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 11 0 0 11 0 11 potentially run out of money if they cannot pay to 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 compete.

1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 1 The “Whys” of the Repeal 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 Some 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 say the demise of net neutrality would ensure 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 1 0 1 0 to0operate 1 0without 1 11 0 01 0 1 11 0 more11 freedom government mandates and controls, since without net neutrality regulation, 1 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 11 0 0 1 1 0 1 2018 DISTRACTION 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0 0 11 0 11 0March 0 11 0 11 023 0 11

net_neutrality//distraction_mag

ISPs would largely monitor and control internet activity.

This is not the first time net neutrality has been repealed. In 2014, Verizon successfully sued the FCC when they first started the “open internet rules;” however, at the time, the FCC did not have the authority to regulate broadband providers under Title I of the Communications Act of 1934. This was thought to be the death of net neutrality, until the FCC reclassified ISPs under Title II of the Communications Act, making broadband providers common carriers like phone and television companies.

With the new classification, the FCC could now impose net neutrality regulation, which required ISPs to provide open networks that would

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not block, throttle or have paid prioritization against any applications or content, even if the content competed with its own network. This would essentially level the playing field for all providers—both in service and content—creating a healthy competition between ISPs. “Internet providers can now charge consumers and content providers on a tiered basis,” François said. Without net neutrality regulation, people worry that ISPs could charge extra fees and begin relegating everyone else to a slower tier of service, especially if a website’s content competes with an ISP’s content.

24 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

Is this the death of the Internet?

“From the time that the internet was first available to the public, until—in my opinion—2014 or 2015, it was kind of the wild west,” said freshman Madalyn Foley. “It was a platform for people who did not have very much money or influence to put their content online, without having to spend [money] on advertisements. The internet was an open space…[and] in the last couple of years, between advertisers and big media companies, it has kind of been blocked off and, in a way, has made the creative aspect [of the internet] die off.”

Many consumers believe that the internet is headed to bundling, a process that cable companies use to sell television and similar to the way most European countries handle ISPs without regulation.

Others believe that ending net neutrality only ensures the internet’s death, since most consumer entertainment comes from apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Who benefited from the repeal?

Even though there was general public distaste in the debate of repealing net neutrality, Ajit Pai – chairman of the FCC – proposed the plan to dissolve the net neutrality regulation. Last December, net neutrality’s repeal was voted for 3-2 in a closed meeting.

“When the decision was made [to repeal] I felt as though they [the FCC] only listened to lobbyists…and not so much to the actual people that would be affected by it.” said Foley. “I’m from Missouri, so I called my congressman in Missouri, and then I moved to Florida and called Senator Rubio while I was here. Just to tell him as a young person, I feel that our opinions should be more heavily represented because we will have to live and work…on the internet.”

What happens now?

Now that net neutrality is repealed, it has yet to be determined if ISPs will raise prices soon, although many companies have publicly stated that they would not. Nonetheless, as the future of the internet comes to a turning point, members of Congress are currently

working on solidifying a permanent solution in order to maintain the current state of the internet.

TWEETS ON #NetNeutrality

a new language words_thalia garcia. photo_sasha manning. design_marissa vonesh.

Has technology changed the way we interact? With memes, Bitmojis, gifs and Snapchat, it seems like traditional communication is out of the question. This is our new language.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 25

ou open your Facebook to a new notification: “Stacy tagged you in CollegeMemes’ photo.” You think about how close you are with Stacy as you ‘like’ her comment. Switching to Instagram, you make sure to double tap Devin’s picture — what kind of friend would you be if you didn’t? Everywhere you go, you have the option to be connected to your friends through social media. But does adding someone on Facebook or having Snapchat ‘streaks’ with people actually do anything to bring you closer, or does it just make us less likely to communicate in person?

Bitmojis have become one of the prominent ways people communicate.

With an app, users are able to design miniature versions of themselves and express their emotions.

While the ability to send an emoji to convey how you feel about something or to “emphasize” a message someone sent you may seem like an advancement in communication, it may actually be stifling our ability to speak to each other “irl.”

“We communicate more in that we have something to relate to, but at the same time, we spend so much time on our phones, so we don’t have that much communication,” said Sasha Manning, the founder of the UM’s “Memes for Boujee Party Teens” Facebook page.

“I know I will spend three hours on Twitter looking at memes when I could be communicating with other people.”

Manning is like many other students in college who spend several hours on their phones everyday. Psychologists themselves are not in agreement as to whether or not technology and social media enhance or hinder relationships.

In an article written for the Wall Street Journal, the views of research psychologists Larry Rosen and Keith Hampton were put head-to-head.

“We are now no more addicted to communication and ignore our relationships as a result than we did 100 years ago,” Hampton said.

The argument behind this is that while someone may sit at the dinner table with their family and pick up their cell phone, years ago, someone could

26 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

have ignored their family just as easily with a newspaper. Rosen, on the other hand, believes that we have begun to believe that communicating virtually is the same as communicating in real life, even though this is not the case.

It seems that as long as you are balancing your internet relationships with your real life ones, spending time online won’t cause you to be more isolated.

While it is unclear whether or not technology makes us communicate more or less, it is hard to argue with the fact that the way we communicate, in general, has changed. You may have heard someone switch out an actual laugh for saying “LOL.” While this might make sense to a college student, someone older may find that to be a completely insane way to communicate.

However, similar methods of communication have always existed.

Before tagging people on Facebook, there were text chains, before that email chains and believe it or not, people wrote chain letters before the internet (and you thought chain emails were excessive).

Technology has also influenced the way we date. It seems that in the age of online dating and social media, if you are not eloquent with your emojis, gifs and texting shorthand, it can potentially affect your dating life. Whether we want

fav emojis

to admit it or not, texting is a huge part of any relationship and how good you are at it could affect your ability to get someone to like you. When students were asked whether or not how a potential mate texts you affects what you think of them, the answer was more often than not a yes.

“If someone is using a lot of periods or just being very serious, I feel like I’m texting my Dad and it’s an automatic turn off,” senior Kamila Knaudt said.

But not everyone agrees.

In this case, it seems that as long as the person you are interested in texts in a similar style as you do, it doesn’t cause an issue. Other students expressed that if someone doesn’t use a lot of “lol”s, “haha”s or emojis, they just assume that the person they are talking to is uninterested.

“If someone keeps sending me oneor two-word texts with no emojis or life in them, then I’m going to start to feel like I’m annoying them and probably stop texting them,” junior Katie Davis said.

With the addition of online dating, how you communicate over text becomes even more important.

Someone may not respond to an initial Tinder message if it isn’t funny, charming or unique enough. Older generations don’t understand the importance of a correctly-timed emoji or the right moments to use an “lol” versus a “haha” versus an “lmao.” It sounds ridiculous (partly because it is), but it is something that younger generations have had to learn and

that new generations are growing up learning.

Once the internet became popular, it didn’t take long for things to become “viral.” These viral sensations were not always what someone would normally expect to be popular. When asked what defines a meme, Sasha Manning replied, “At first I thought a meme was just

We may not understand what makes kermit sipping tea or “salt bae” funny, but most college students would agree that they are [funny] something that was passed around a lot, but now I think people just see it as like a funny gif or a funny picture.”

The internet has decided that the first official “meme” was the Ooga Chaka baby, which was just an experimental test animation that made it onto a popular TV show, “Ally McBeal,” and went “viral.” It may be hard to pinpoint exactly why people loved this baby so much (they loved it so much, they even made dancing baby toys), but it became

a staple of that time. We may not understand what makes kermit sipping tea or “Salt Bae” funny, but most college students would agree that they are.

While internet “memes” are relatively new, these types of “generational insiders” have been around for decades. Even before the dancing baby, people could throw around quotes from TV shows and movies and other people around them would know what they meant. Say “she doesn’t even go here,” somewhere on a college campus, and it’s safe to say that most people will recognize the quote from the movie “Mean Girls.” Go back a couple of decades and similar jokes based on pop culture existed. Quotes like “I’ll have what she’s having,” from “When Harry Met Sally” were universal and could have been considered a “meme” of that time.

Social media has brought us as a generation closer. We can all relate to the memes that circulate and know what someone is talking about when they say “an avocado . . . thanks.”

The effects of technology cannot be denied. It is here, it is growing and it is changing us as a society. The answer is not to ignore it or refuse to touch a smartphone, but rather choose the aspects of it that work for you and make your life easier as well as allowing for reflection and being able to recognize when your “virtual world” becomes more important than your real one.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 27

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR DONATE CONTACT NICOLETTE RUTA AT EMAIL: N.RUTA@UMIAMI.EDU CELL PHONE: 6469152553 28 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

MILLENNIALS Think old and young, tech-savvy and optimistic. Think millennials. Unlike most other generations, millennials cannot be defined by a date cut-off. Rather, millennials are defined by the technology that they were exposed to during childhood. words_bruna fernandes da silva. design & illustration_marissa vonesh.

Current students at UM were born during a generational overlap.

Millennials were born sometime between the early 1980s and late 1990s, while Generation Z was born between the late 1990s and 2010. Due to the loosely structured timelines, the generation you most identify with is mainly defined by your personal experiences growing up, as opposed to the year you were born.

These experiences separate you as either an “old millennial” or a “new millennial.”

Old millennials prefer text-centric forms of communication. This is often a result of later exposure to technology while growing up. Old millennials remember logging into instant messaging platforms, such as AIM, after getting home from a long day of school – a school void of the sea of technology kids are now swimming in today. They also experienced archaic forms of texting.

Remember the age of xD and having to press buttons three or even four

times to type out a single letter? If so, you’re an old millennial.

New millennials had access to more immersive forms of communication at an earlier age.

They took their first technological steps with the likes of Skype, which makes them more fond of new audiovisual platforms.

If you would rather text someone and cringe every time your BFF insists on calling you, you’re probably an old millennial. Alternatively, if you would rather send your bestie a long monologue on Snapchat about your day, you’re a new millennial.

Old millennials were raised by successful Baby Boomer parents.

Their parents likely had long and prosperous careers, and encouraged their children to chase their dreams.

Being celebrated as unique, talented children, they have idealistic mindsets and seek a sense of fulfillment from their careers.

“I want my job to mean something,” said senior Dema

Ammar. “I really couldn’t see myself working at an office everyday.”

New millennials were raised by Generation X parents who were still in the earlier stages of their careers when the 2008 recession hit. This has led new millennials to shift their focus more toward financial and job security. This has also led them to be more conscious of debt.

Freshman Lonyee Eng says that even though “debt can sometimes be inevitable,” she would rather “avoid owing money as much as possible.”

Despite being slightly more conventional than their older peers, new millennials are still significantly engaged civilians. Generation Z is the most diverse birth cohort in our country’s history. New millennials are willing to explore different identities and are less hesitant to question traditional roles. They are likely to show support for causes that affect a large scale of people and most are concerned with issues like racism, sexism and poverty.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 29

WHAT KIND of MILLENNIAL on social media

MY LATEST HOBBY

Decorating anything using a Mason jar

Job and or internship searching

IN MY FREE TIME, CATCH ME

Photography

ARE YOU?

I’m sorry, free time?

MY HOME ON CAMPUS IS

#AtTheRat

COMMON PROBLEMS INCLUDE insomnia

Shalala

Back pain & headaches

Club Richter

IF I HAD TO CHOSE, I’D BE chef

software developer

BEST QUALITY ABOUT ME creativity

MOST USED SOCIAL MEDIA organization

MARTHA PT. II

You are a self-curated artist and work tirelessly at achieving your dreams. You sometimes get FOMO and you’ve failed at a few projects now, BUT you’re a dreamer, and we love that.

30 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

writer

PERPETUAL INTERN

Voted most likely to barely sleep & memorize coffee orders. You’re talented and dedicated, but you’re still trying to find your way and you’re stuck in a economic purgatory. #same

Pinterest or Twitter

Snapchat or Insta

‘GRAMMER

You are pretty dang tech savvy and you’d consider yourself an innovator. When you’re not programming code, you’re out living your best life and perfecting your Instagram.

NEW

TECH

NOLOGY

We are always searching for the next big thing.

Today is the age of smart home devices and the infamous Siri, but most people do not realize there is a whole new world of innovations in the making. Some of the hottest new technologies are not even on the market yet.

words_shainaya kukreja. design & illustration_danielle glassman.

Nutale GPS Tracker for those with a million things going on

Do you find yourself constantly searching for your keys, wallet, phone or other valuable items? The Nutale GPS Tracker will allow you to track your valuable belongings up to five meters away. Additionally, you can track people and pets. The real time locations of people and kids can be checked. This device is fabulous for those who often seem to be losing their belongings… and have an obsession with Find My Friends!

Manufacture Suggested Retail Price: $69.99

The Freezer-Wave for those who prefer cold pizza In such busy times, we often find ourselves needing to warm up a meal in a hurry — hence, the microwave. But, what about if you want something to be frozen quickly? The Freezer-Wave allows you to both heat food like a microwave and flash-freeze it within seconds. This dazzling new invention, created by Emma Maskery and crowned the winner at the Oddest Invention Challenge in Britain, uses carbon dioxide to switch the function from heating to cooling in seconds.

Currently, and sadly, this item is not for sale.

BACtrack

Port Solar Charger

for those (over 21) who love to party

for those who drain their phone

Have you ever been in a situation where you or someone you love has driven to a party when they probably shouldn’t have? A drink or two later, it may become difficult to get in the car and drive home — and they might be putting others at risk, too. But how do you know if your driver is actually drunk? BACtrack is the world’s first alcohol tracker that you can actually wear. This wristband can detect BAC levels through your skin and let the driver know if they are intoxicated.

Low phone battery is something that we battle on a daily basis. It is often difficult to find an outlet, and sometimes even our portable chargers are dead. This is always frustrating since today our cellular devices act as an extra body part. Luckily, the Port Solar Charger will let you charge your phone on any window. The Port collects sun energy and the suction cup makes it easy to attach to a window, charging your phone literally anywhere you go.

Manufacture Suggested Retail Price: $30.90

The bracelet is in development and not ready for sale yet, but join the waitlist to be one of the first to grab this amazing safety feature.

Tech Fails While new technologies are always all the rage when they are first introduced to the public, let’s not forget about all the innovations that have failed.

The hoverboard left, or was banned from, the public nearly as quickly as it came in. First of all, the “hoverboard” wasn’t really a hoverboard.

It had wheels that rolled on the ground, no hovering involved.

Secondly, they were quickly banned from campuses, planes and many other public places due to the battery catching fire.

Hopefully the next attempt is better.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 31

32 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

words_natalie abatemarco. design _muguang chen. photo_gianna sanchez.

Today we live in a world where our actions and thoughts are often guided by means of technology. To a large extent, our culture revolves around texts, Snapchats, Instagram posts and Facebook news.

UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2018 DISTRACTION 33

Bae Schultz and Corinne Issa, first year roommates, stay in for the night. Typical of many college students, computers are an integral part of the college experience: for better and worse.

Today we live in a world where our actions and thoughts are often guided by means of technology. To a large extent, our culture revolves around texts, Snapchats, Instagram posts and Facebook news.

Communication is quicker than ever, and technology facilitates business deals, political campaigns, personal awareness and fiscal interest. Technology also has the power to save lives and provide previously unattainable medical advancements. Although there are boundless positives to the daily improvement of technology, there are also unavoidable circumstances that at times have negative consequences in our society.

The modern generation is extremely accustomed to a smartphone at its side at all times.

On June 29, 2007, the modern world made a transition that would change the future with the release of the Apple iPhone. Since then, there are few of us who can imagine life without a “smart phone,” a term coined with the introduction of Apple’s brainchild.

34 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

“Technology is great because it provides us with services we never had before, like Uber,” said University of Miami freshman Shirley Gelman.

Gelman is a fan of the easy communication and services that technology provides.

“It’s also just really cool because it is so easy to simply talk to someone on the other side of the world,” says Gelman.

It takes less than 60 seconds to get in touch with friends and make plans for lunch. You can Facetime into your grandma’s 90th birthday celebration while sitting at a desk miles away. You can show off your brand new outfit to your 900 instagram followers with a tap of a screen. Parents and friends can track each other at any moment, and today it seems as though anyone can find out where you are with apps like Find My iPhone and features like Snapchat maps.

“There were lots of things in my generation that the kids did that the parents had no idea about, because there was no way they could have

an idea. You couldn’t track and you couldn’t call,” said Dr. Mitchell Shapiro, a communications professor at University of Miami.

We sometimes forget that technology as simple as a portable phone wasn’t a necessity decades ago.

On April 24, 2012, Google Drive came on to the scene, allowing for the storing and synchronization of files on one single account as well as simple collaboration between accounts. The first iMac was introduced in 1998, but it has not stopped improving in quality and capability since then.

In an educational setting, group projects are easier, because members are able to equally contribute from their own computers while never having to actually converse in person — which is great for students who have a tight schedule.

In high schools and universities around the world, Chromebooks, as well as other smaller laptops, are utilized for teaching students. Homework can be done and submitted in the library or on the airplane. Articles can be easily found and sourced online without taking a step into the library. Movies can be watched without the inconvenience of a movie theater.

“Nothing is all good or all bad,” said Shapiro. “For instance if you are talking about someone who is really into the quality of music, the analog process of recording and playback produced a much better sound than the digital CD process.”

For Shapiro, the idea of technology has countless benefits, like the ease of downloading music or listening

to any song you desire at any time.

However, he recalls the sound quality of CDs to be much better than a downloaded MP3 song.

Although the quality of bass or sound has, perhaps, changed in a negative way, Shapiro reminds us that when most users are listening to digital music through headphones or a speaker, the quality may not be as important to them. Long playing records (often abbreviated as LP records) are much more susceptible to damage and can wither out even though they provide great quality.

For students living on a college campus without a car, online shopping allows for almost anything to be delivered at your doorstep as soon as the next day — that is, if you are an Amazon Prime user.

The first retail transaction over the Web in the world was by NetMarket in 1994, which changed the web for every year afterwards.

Amazon and Ebay both came about a year later in 1995. Uber, which became an app in March 2009, allowed people to simply create an account to arrange car rides to and

from any desired location, similar to a taxi.

If you are hungry, apps such as Postmates and UberEats allow any kind of food to be delivered to you, whether it’s a smoothie, a personal pizza or a three-course meal. Overall, it is evident that these advances throughout the last few decades have enabled people to save travel time — time that would be used running errands like shopping, driving and grocery shopping.

The growth of technology can be exciting and eventful; people line up at stores hours in advance to be part of a new world when a new advancement hits. It’s easy for us to follow, like and share our interests, our favorite celebrities and our best friends.

Although technology may be quite efficient, a major question looms: whether or not technology improves or worsens the quality of modern life. Once in a while, we forget what it’s like to have a long conversation with someone we haven’t seen in a long time, and instead we resort to the comforts of

DON’T COMPARE YOUR BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SOMEBODY’S HIGHLIGHT REEL text messages and direct messages.

“I think our society would be better served if people were more courteous — technology can make it too easy for us to avoid a real conversation,” says Shapiro.

According to Dr. Shapiro, putting others on “hold” can come across as somewhat “rude.” A great deal of miscommunication can arise when it comes to the technologies we rely on. Sincerity of an email or text message may be doubted when taken into consideration the nonchalance of clicking a button to send a word that may or may not mean much.

Shapiro recalls that people started to ask each other on dates through phone calls before texting was popular in order to avoid the potentially daunting face-to-face rejection. Now it seems you do not even need to open your mouth to make the first move.

There also seems to be an increasing issue, especially among young women, of decreasing self-esteem. In addition to magazines, which are now accessible online, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and more apps remind us that we aren’t living the lives that celebrities and models are.

“Don’t compare your behind the scenes with March 2018 DISTRACTION 35

somebody else’s highlight reel,” said New York Times bestselling author Steven Furtick.

We tend to compare our seemingly mundane and everyday lives to the luxurious and beautiful lives of those we ‘follow’ and ‘like.’ So it is common to forget the fact that our favorite movie stars, athletes and bloggers are real people, too.

“There’s less face-to-face contact.

The way we interact is so different now, and it works for some people, but for others it doesn’t. We sacrifice a lot of emotional health when it comes to using technology so often,” said University of Miami senior Liat Cohen.

Older people tend to be more comfortable with direct conversation and less comfortable with technology, and younger people tend to avoid interaction. It seems as though different generations are rarely on the same page.

The accessibility to online shopping, movie watching and dining discourages people from enjoying the environment and the

36 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

beautiful reality surrounding them.

A gorgeous day might mean nothing to someone who has all they need on their laptop or iPhone. Lazy days and Netflix binging may seem more enticing than a leisurely walk or an interesting read.

It is difficult to determine whether technology ultimately plays a more positive or negative role in our society. There are great innovations as well as difficulties that stem from growing technology. As technology develops, human culture as we know it simultaneously transforms.

Technology has definitely made working hours more efficient, but it has also extended them.

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, 46 percent of workers feel more productive while at work and 35 percent say their workdays are longer because of digital tools.

Additionally, workers reported feeling more “on call” because technology allows their bosses to email them at home or call them on their days off.

I AM MY

words_isabella vaccaro_sidney sherman. design_alexa aguilar.

As soon as you walk into a room, you perform a subconscious assessment of every other person there. You look left and right, and you ask yourself: how do I measure up in this setting? Am I the thinnest, or is someone else thinner? Is there someone here with less money than I have, or am I the poorest? Am I the prettiest, the ugliest or somewhere in between?

March 2018 DISTRACTION 37

The problem with social media is that it presents a very skewed version of real life – photos can be added with filters, experiences can be embellished, and life can be presented through a rose tinted lens.

veryone makes these assessments, whether they know it or not. It happens within the first 10 seconds you enter that room. Well, what if you did this every 10 minutes?

According to Time Magazine, Americans ages 18 to 24 check their phones about 74 times per day. Imagine you are up for about 12 hours a day. Do the math. That means you check your phone almost every 10 minutes. Most likely, the majority of times you pick up that phone, whether you mean to or not, you probably check some sort of social media site.

“Sometimes I take my phone and I’m like, ‘Yeah I’ll take a quick look on Instagram’ — and then I spend 30 minutes,” sophomore Luana Suida said. “It goes by really fast because I’m looking at pictures and I find it interesting. It’s a stimulus. If you are aware of it, it can be a healthy stimulus, but otherwise we spend a lot of time that we don’t have on something very unimportant.”

With Instagram and Snapchat at the helm of the epidemic, these social media sites are all consuming — a notion that students, professors and professionals admit. When you scroll mindlessly through sepia-toned Instagram shots, you are making those same assessments and self-comparisons.

38 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

Do I look better than this girl in a bikini? Are my clothes as expensive as this guy’s clothes? The comparing goes on and on. It’s unhealthy to compare yourself to others — especially if you are doing it 74 times a day, on a tiny screen, in a world where there is so much more beauty than that within the four inches screen held just beyond your nose.

On one hand, social media can be a wonderful thing. On Instagram, you get to share photos of the positive parts of your life with hundreds of people.

On Snapchat, you can send silly faces to friends, family and sometimes that guy or girl you think is cute, but are too shy to approach. And Twitter can be intellectual or it can stay funny and charming. Sounds positive, right? Social media wouldn’t have lasted this long if there weren’t great parts about it.

“I don’t ever feel a mood change when I go on social media,” freshman Gabriella Tournour said. “I just feel happy when I post a photo. I think it’s a true happiness for myself because I really care about my feed, so I put a lot of time into it.”

However, psychologists agree that the negative effects social media can have on your mental health may outweigh the positives.

According to Forbes, social isolation and depression, ironically, stem from the very sites that are meant to keep us in touch with friends. Though you technically interact with people on sites

The average person spends at least two hours on social networking sites a day. Over the course of a lifetime, that’s a total of almost five and a half years.

like Snapchat, the interactions are short and usually meaningless — they last for less than five seconds as you click away the faces of your loved ones.

Social isolation at its root means you have little to no interaction with people at all. While not many people are completely socially isolated, social media forces us to perceive that we are.

This perceived social isolation then leads to another mental disorder — depression. And the wheel just keeps turning.

While clicking through Snapchat stories of other people getting together without you, you start to feel more detached from, rather than closer to, society. It seems this “social” media we partake in only draws us farther from others, causing us to constantly compare ourselves to our peers and hating them when we don’t quite measure up.

A friend of mine wakes up each morning and stays tousled in her sheets for an hour before rising to face the world. She calls this hour her “social media time” — an hour devoted to posting photos, keeping tabs on her favorite celebrities, liking and commenting on other photos and sending Snapchats to her streaks. Yes, a whole hour before anything else she does that day is devoted to staring into other people’s lives and judging herself against them.

People find “joy” in social media.

The moment they post a picture, a sudden mix of nerves and excitement rushes through their veins. It’s almost like adrenaline. Except it’s not real.

Photos posted on social media sites are more often than not, falsely elevated versions of what actually happened. That shining photo from a ritzy SLS pool party in South Beach? Yes, it probably looks flawless and totally fun, but in reality, those Instagram darlings took that photo and left, because the music wasn’t good and nobody was dancing.

Today, people are posting and overposting. They post photos everywhere they go. The cycle is never ending.

“I like keeping my feed very aesthetically pleasing so when I go somewhere where there’s a cool spot to take a photo, I take it,” Tournour said.

“However, I don’t feel pressured to take Snapchat stories everywhere I go — so many people do that. I only make stories once in a while, and in high school I never made stories.”

But are we uploading and posting more than we should? Oversharing is a prevalent issue regarding the use of social media.

Teenagers are documenting their lives through photos, only sharing the

best and brightest of their shots — the ones they feel ‘sexy’ or ‘cool’ in. This dance we do on social media sites turns every life event into a competition over who can get the most likes or whose filter looks the least “filtery” – yes, people spend an absurd amount of time trying to make a “natural looking filter.”

And what accompanies this sense of competition is also a sense of low selfworth when we just can’t compete any longer.

“Usually when I post something, it’s when inspiration hits,” Suida said.

“My last picture was a little poem that I wrote, so when I posted it, I wasn’t nervous in that way, but I was like, ‘Oh, my god, I wonder if people are going to like it,’ not because of the picture, but because of the poem itself.”

Posting what inspires you can help others get to know the true you. What social media sometimes provides is a platform for people to create false identities — little utopias hidden behind filters and grain. After viewing a couple dozen different utopias, mental disorders like Body Dysmorphic Disorder can become a possibility.

Body dysmorphia is a disorder that causes you to overly obsess about a part of your body, believing it to be inadequate and in need of alteration. Dr. Bryony Bamford of the London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image says that social media use is a leading factor of this disease.

“The problem with social media is that it presents a very skewed version of real life – photos can be added with filters, experiences can be embellished, and life can be presented through a rosetinted lens,” Bramford said, according to the London Centre’s website. “What that means for individuals who have a tendency to compare themselves to others, is that they are likely to be comparing themselves to a skewed reality of real life.”

The power social media has over you varies with each individual. It can be a place where you post a poem or short story you wrote to see if other people might connect with you on that level. Or it can be an artistic stomping ground to take, edit and position photos in order to create an aesthetic profile page. It can even be a place to find new friends.

However, social media has taken over in ways that are frightening, playing games in our minds as we try to navigate what is real and what isn’t. It is probably in our best interests to take a step back sometimes and “disconnect” from the whirlwind of the media. It’s fun and it’s artistic. But it’s also an addiction like any other.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 39

Freshman Daniela Pagnozzi sits outside the freshman dorms, consumed by media.

new happy hour spot!

Liv tonight?

Hey what’s up?

7

16

40 DISTRACTION Tech Takeover

79%

Match!

HEALTH & WELLNESS Genuine and free spirited, Health & Wellness gives a wholesome take on physical, mental and spiritual restoration.

Living by the mantra “my body is a temple� can be just as easily done as it is said with the wisdom that Health & Wellness has to offer.

model_ jordan abrams. photo_sidney sherman. design_ana gonzalez.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 41

DOPPLEGĂ„NGER

delicacies words_kelvine moyers. photo_sidney sherman. design_alexa aguilar.

Scroll

through Instagram and you’ll discover an influx of images pertaining to salads, fruit bowls, matcha tea and any other item labeled as healthy. Some may say that clean eating has essentially become the new fad that our generation is obsessing over. But if this health movement is truly a fad, why does it show no signs of going away? Is our generation riding out another fad or are we truly concerned about health and wellness?

42 DISTRACTION Health & Wellness

ocial trends show that our generation is starting to progress more toward health awareness.

Specifically, we are paying more attention to nutrient dense ingredients and making efforts to omit unhealthy elements. For our pantries, this means healthier ingredients are becoming standard, taking the place of non-nutritious items. Quinoa, for example, is more commonly replacing rice, and zucchini noodles (zoodles) are becoming the new pasta. Both options, which are lower in carbs and higher in fiber and protein, keep consumers satiated longer than their alternatives. These benefits are only a few of many that could explain why food replacements have gained such a prevalence among our generation.

Junior Brianna Scott has a more socially aware perspective on healthy eating, specifically as to why food replacements are on the rise.

Her view considers the influence of social media on consumer behavior.

“We live in a society right now where being fit and healthy is almost sensationalized,” Scott said. “Especially with social media, you see a lot of people trying to work out and eat healthily.”

For some, the health and wellness “trend” may be just that – a short-term fascination sparked by the influence of media. However, there is a segment of our population that is deeply passionate about long-term health and wellness. For this community, food replacements make maintainability an obtainable reality. Take, for instance, Natalie Hickerson, a senior who began her journey toward health in high school. Since then, Hickerson has transitioned to a completely plant-based diet, which she plans to maintain for the rest of her life.

“Diets that last a week or a month are never effective in the long run,” Hickerson said. “My health goal is to eat in a way that is sustainable throughout my life.” Some of the alternatives she utilizes include almond milk – a substitute for dairy, and nutritional yeast – a food additive that mimics the savory taste of cheese.

Likewise, Scott hopes to transition to a fully vegan lifestyle. Recently, she’s been substituting the cream in her caramel macchiato for almond milk and using vegan cheese instead of regular cheese, which she finds to taste very similar, especially considering its texture. However, she recommends incorporating the vegan cheese into recipes and not eating it alone.

Jordan Lewis, a freshman, changed her lifestyle just a year ago with the sole intention of losing weight. Using wholesome ingredients in her meals as alternatives to unhealthy components catalyzed her weight-loss journey and made it easier for her to maintain a balanced diet.

Although Lewis has ultimately reached her weight loss goal of 20 pounds, she wants to continue using food replacements in her daily life. Her favorite recipe – a two-ingredient pancake recipe – replaces refined flour and butter with eggs and banana. Lewis claims that

this exchange of ingredients “doesn’t taste at all like you’re eating bananas.”

Instead of the traditional syrup, Lewis tops off the flour-less pancakes with honey.

Though thicker than regular pancake syrup, honey is much more nutrient dense. It is high in probiotics that aid digestion and it promotes a healthy immune system. Additionally, the sweetness of honey is a more natural way to satisfy your sugar cravings, which Jordan admits to having occasionally.

“I have a strong sweet tooth, so if I can find healthier alternatives to get rid of those cravings, then I can still reach my goals,” she admitted.

Lewis expressed her beliefs that food replacements have become mainstream because they are a more sustainable way of eating healthy.

I HAVE A STRONG SWEET TOOTH, SO IF I CAN FIND HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES TO GET RID OF THOSE CRAVINGS, THEN I CAN STILL REACH MY GOALS.

“I think health-wise, more people are realizing that it doesn’t really help to just cut yourself off completely because once you get off your diet you are going to splurge and undo everything that you did,” Lewis said. “This way it’s easier to maintain and it will last longer in the long run.”

Freshman Sophia Constantino agrees with Lewis in this regard and believes that food alternatives are more practical than eliminating food groups completely. However, unlike Lewis who recently became health conscious, Constantino was raised using food alternatives.

Growing up, Constantino’s mother was very conscious about preservatives.

“If she can’t pronounce more than five ingredients on a food label, it’s not a regular in our house,” she stated. This forced her to use natural substitutes in most of her meals. For instance, Constantino drizzles the snack in coconut oil, a much healthier fat.

Coconut oil has been labeled as a super-food for its various uses and benefits. Unlike other oils, it is natural and is known to not become a carcinogenic when used for cooking.

“It’s seriously the best healthy fat,” Constantino preached. “I definitely notice a difference in my skin and I’ve noticed it also

keeps me full longer than if I was to eat butter.

It also adds some nice coconut flavor, which I personally like way better than the taste of butter.”

The key to sustaining healthy habits is to find substitutes that fit your taste preferences. If you enjoy eating them, then you will ultimately take pleasure in a healthy lifestyle. But for someone like Constantino, who was raised on alternatives, healthy eating just comes naturally.

“I never felt forced to [eat healthily] because I never knew any different,” she said. “As I got older, I had fun with it, so to find substitutes I liked I started playing around because it has always interested me.”

Recently, she’s discovered Kodiak Cakes, a protein-rich fill-in for regular pancake mix.

“If I can get the same enjoyment out of my protein-loaded pancakes as my friend gets out of her refined wheat pancakes, I’m psyched,” she said.

Utilizing nutritious alternatives has become an enjoyable lifestyle for Constantino. Though she does occasionally crave “piles of carby sugar,” she is typically searching for healthier substitutes.

“After a while, you develop a genuine dislike for the normal versions, which is awesome because you feel your body crave food that’s good for it,” she said.

In her opinion, more people should branch out and try revised recipes that promote wellness.

“I honestly feel bad that so many people are accustomed to the things that aren’t so great for them because they don’t see that there are so many better options available that they could enjoy just as much,” Constantino said.

To her, the recent hype in food replacements comes from the heightening popularity in caring about what you are consuming. She believes our ideas about health and nutrition are constantly changing, which continues to spark new “fads” among consumers.

“In the ‘80s everyone was afraid of fat, now it’s gluten, so I think a lot of it is just the hype that surrounds new ideas,” she stated.

Today, consumers are noticing their unhealthy eating habits and stacking their shelves with more nutritious and sometimes even tastier options.

“Now we’re replacing things like refined wheat with more wholesome grains,” Constantino said. “It’s going to more of the right direction.”

For a percentage of the generation that is deeply interested in long-term healthy living, food alternatives have made clean eating more attainable. With substitutes such as coconut oil, zoodles and almond milk, you can achieve nutrient-dense meals that still taste appetizing.

For those who are beginners, food replacements can be their first step in obtaining a wholesome lifestyle.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 43

ZUCCHINI CRUST Ingredients 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini 1/3 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 low-fat shredded mozzerella cheese 1 large egg 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

pizza sauce

shredded mozzerella cheese

coconut oil

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with coconut oil.

2. Meanwhile, place shredded zucchini on a plate lined with paper towel. Squeeze excess moisture out of zucchini by wrapping it in the paper towels or using clean cloth.

3. In a medium sized bowl, combine shredded zucchini, flour, egg, cheese and Italian spices. Continue to stir the mixture until it is well combined, then transfer the mixture to the parchment paper. This is your “pizza dough.�

4. Press the dough into desired shape and thickness.

5. Bake for about 10 minutes or until crust looks set and the bottom begins to brown.

6. Remove pizza crust from oven and top with sauce and cheese. Then place it back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.

7. Slice and Serve

44 DISTRACTION Health & Wellness

Pizza Nutrition Facts 8 servings per pizza

Serving size

one slice

Amount per serving

Calories

123

Total Fat 7.5g Total Carbohydrate 7.2g Protein 7.2g

Pizza Hut compared to zucchini crust

Nutrition Facts 8 servings per pizza

Serving size Amount per serving

Calories

Total Fat 10g Total Carbohydrate 28g Protein 10g

one slice

240

Energy Hacks

Looking for a healthier alternative to caffeine? We’ve got the tips you’re looking for. words_gabby rosenbloom. photo_josie merkert & kelvine moyers. design_kelvine moyers

Coffee isn’t the only way to start your day off energized. Wake up renewed with natural options, things as simple as water.

UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2018 DISTRACTION 45

Energy Hacks In a world dominated

by Starbucks and sleep deprivation, it might slip your mind that caffeine is not our only source of energy. There are lots of natural, healthier ways to receive that jolt of energy to keep us going. Here are our favorite tips and tricks for staying alert and energized.

Stretching Sitting in class all day can cause your muscles to stiffen up and your brain to get fuzzy. Try to stand up and stretch every 30 minutes to keep your mind and body moving.

Improved circulation increases memory retention, and we could all use the little mental break that stretching provides.

Chia Seeds

Cayenne Pepper Definitely the spiciest way to kick your tired feeling in the butt, cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which gives you a surge of natural alertness. Cayenne pepper also heats up your body and increases your metabolism, making it an excellent aid in weight loss!

46 DISTRACTION Health & Wellness

Full of protein and fiber, but low in carbohydrates, chia seeds boost your energy without spiking your blood sugar. Avoid the midday crash! Skip the sugary snacks and grab some chia seed pudding instead

Diy Energy Drinks The Fire Hydrant:

The Chill-Zone:

Cranberry Bomb:

8 oz. filtered water 1 slice lemon 1 pinch cayenne pepper

2 cups of coconut water 1/4 cup of lime juice 1/4 cup of lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt 2 tablespoons of honey

3

This simple drink consists of a glass of water, a slice of lemon and a pinch of pepper. The lemon and cayenne add the zest you need to kick start your day, and the water will help you keep hydrated and healthy.

Coconut water is a classic Miami refreshment. To make this energizing treat, blend lime and lemon juice with coconut water.

Add in salt and honey and enjoy your treat!

cups unsweetened cranberry juice (100 percent juice) 5 cups water 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons maple syrup Simply mix together all of the ingredients as a one-step process.

The Cranberry Bomb is a vaible sport drink alternative and doesn’trequire much effort after an intense training session.

Water It sounds like it’s too good to be true, but water is the most effective way to naturally boost your energy. Dehydration can leave you feeling very blah and drained. Pro Tip: try to track your daily water intake and set goals for yourself. It’s a lot easier to drink the recommended eight cups a day when you’re keeping track of it.

Oranges

Dark Chocolate Eating chocolate releases endorphins, which provide an energized, happy feeling (it’s the same stuff that’s released when you work out). We recommend dark chocolate over milk chocolate because it’s lower in fat and sugar content.

Energy drinks like Monster or Red Bull give you an aggressive jolt of artificial energy that barely lasts long enough to make it through class, but oranges are a really easy way to get sustainable and natural energy that can give you the perfect boost for late nights at Club Richter.

UM FARMER’S MARKET March 2018 DISTRACTION 47

Retro Recess School is out, grunge is in. Time to head over to the park with these way back wannabes as we kick it in all the old school looks. From flannels and crop tops to ripped jeans and jerseys, this retro recess has the ‘90s calling, and they’re definitely not getting their style back.

models_ezra remer, matt o’brien, sharon meir, fioriana larche, flo akinola. styling_lauren gimpel & jade simmons. makeup_alex eisman & emma michiels. photo_sidney sherman. design_olivia stauber. lettering_alexa aguilar.

48 DISTRACTION Fashion

On Flo: jacket, LF; shirt, Forever 21.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 49

Retro Recess

On Sharon: shirt, Rue 21; flannel, Urban Outfitters.

50 DISTRACTION Fashion

On Matt: jacket, Lucky Brand; shirt, H&M, jeans, Zara; shoes, Converse.

On Ezra: shirt, Urban Outfitters; jeans, Zara; shoes, Vans.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 51

Below: On Flo: shirt, 3.3 Field Trip; flannel, Forever 21; shorts, Forever 21; shoes, Puma.

On Ezra: shirt, Urban Outfitters; jeans, Cotton On; shoes, Vans; backpack, Jansport On Mattt: jacket, Lucky Brand; shirt, H&M; jeans, Zara; shoes, Converse.

On Fioriana: jacket, LF; shirt, Mate; ; skirt, LF; glasses, Ray Bans; necklace, Urban Outfitters..shoes, Converse On Sharon: dress, Adidas, shoes, Converse; necklace, Urban Outfitters

On Sharon: shirt, Adidas; necklace,

52 DISTRACTION Fashion

Opposite page: On Flo: shirt, 3.3 Field Trip.

Below: On Sharon: shirt, Rue 21; flannel, Urban Outfitter; shorts, LF, shoes, Converse.

Retro Recess

March 2018 DISTRACTION 53

Retro Recess

On Fioriana: jacket, LF; shirt, Mate; skirt, LF; glasses, Ray Bans; necklace, Urban Outfitters.

54 DISTRACTION Fashion

On Ezra: jeans, Cotton On; shoes, Vans. On Matt (below): jacket, Lucky Brand; shirt, H&M; jeans, Zara; shoes, Converse.

Take

it to the STREETS words, styling, photography, design_olivia stauber. models_abby podolsky & dean meyerson.

On Abby (above): shirt, thrifted; pants, thrifted Adidas; shoes, Tony Bianco; jewelry, stylists own.

When you say the words “street style” in 2018, what comes to mind are sneakers, Adidas, track pants and puffy coats — brands like Raf Simmons, Gucci, Supreme and Off White™.

The trends and brands come to mind, yes, but also people like A$AP Rocky and the A$AP mob, Travis Scott, Lil Yachty, the Migos and Rihanna do as well. Influencers like Luka Sabbat and Ian Connor, who are simultaneously involved with heavy hitting fashion brands and influential rappers.

You think street style and you don’t just think of models off-duty, you think of the rappers and influencers who are wearing and promoting these clothes.

When did hip-hop and style become synonymous? How have these two become so intertwined and symbiotic? Limited release collaborations like Off White™ and Nike’s reimagining of classic sneaker styles, Pharrell Williams and Adidas or even Supreme’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton have garnered more hype than the Birkin Bag. Long before the likes of Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid were walking the streets of New York in “ugly” chunky grandpa sneakers and track pants, hip-hop icons like RUN DMC and LL Cool Jay were the first to wear them. It’s easy to look at current hip-hop culture and see the inspiration drawn from the ‘90s and early 2000s. Marc Jacobs’ fall 2017 women’s show offered us a stripped-down runway filled with models in tracksuits, thick gold chains, retro coats and headwear.

On Dean: crewneck, Supreme X Louis Vuitton; jacket, vintage Guess; jeans, Zanerobe; sneakers, Off White™ Jordan 1.

March 2018 DISTRACTION 55

He told the LA Times he drew his inspiration from two main things: the 2016 Netflix documentary “Hip-Hop Evolution,” which focuses on the rise of the genre from the ‘70s through the 1990s, as well as his childhood memories from New York.

While personal style has long held a certain level of social capital in the hiphop community, artists weren’t looking for a place in the luxury fashion world until recently. At the basis of the music genre itself is this idea of attitude, a swagger, an unquestionable confidence.

This has always closely translated into how artists present themselves, mixing high- and low-end clothing, the eccentric with the minimalistic. The idea of the remix and sense of “anything goes” that can be heard in the music is seen on the artists themselves.

The jump of these elements into what transformed into street style is due to multiple factors. The rise of the music genre itself and artists having more visibility, and the age of the internet where users feel pressure to standout, to portray a certain image, they use fashion as something that says, “Hey I’m here, and I look better than all of you”.

In an interview with street style blog and magazine HypeBeast, Virgil Abloh – the all creative force behind street

On Abby: pants, I AM GIA; shoes, Adidas; dress, thrifted; hoops, stylists own.

On Dean: bomber jacket, All Saints; long sleeve, Calabasas; pants, custom made; shoes, Yeezy Wave Runner 500 (unreleased).

56 DISTRACTION Fashion

style Off-White™ as well as close friend and stylist for Kanye West — comments on the biggest element of this transition.

“I think they’re [hip-hop and fashion]

Take

it to the

STREETS

having a conversation, which is, first and foremost, the most important part. The way I see it, brands are starting to have a new type of dialogue with the customer.

The customer, the public in general, has a lot more knowledge. They’re a lot more discerning. Being a designer now means something different than being a designer the previous generation.”

In Abloh’s opinion, it’s this open discussion between the two worlds that’s caused this shift into the luxury fashion world. It’s conversations like these that lead to A$AP Rocky creative directing for Dior Homme, or Rihanna turning her Fenty X Puma line into a legitimate and independent fashion label that’s shown twice at Paris Fashion Week and most recently in New York Fashion Week.

While the legitimacy of this bond is exciting in itself, it’s the idea of freedom and individuality that is exciting for customers. Gone are the days of classic silhouettes and strict rules of what and what not to wear. The best thing about street style is that it is all dependent on the take YOU have on it. It is called street style after all, and that, by definition, means it comes from the street – the consumer, YOU. Not runways in Paris or high society in New York, it comes from the streets.

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Texture Time

Miami is full of different cultures and ethnicities . From Latin America to the Caribbean, we are represented by plenty of diversity. Hair texture is amongst the myriad of uniqueness we have as a group in South Florida. It can be classified into multiple different groups: fine and straight, medium and wavy, and coarse and kinky. words_virtue jean. photos_sasha manning. design_isabella vaccaro. models_krysta bennia, nicole lindblom, jason ballantyne.

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Models Jason Ballantyne and Nicole Lindblom work cornrows and fishtail braids.

espite our differences, there is one style that people of all hair types use as a go-to.

It can be as simple or complicated as you wish and it always creates a timeless look – braids. It is important to keep in mind that hair texture makes a huge difference in the outcome of a braid. Therefore, one cannot use a single approach for all texture types if the goal is to accomplish a bold and neat braid.

Braids are a fantastic hair style and have been a part of many cultures, especially in the black community, for many years. The versatility of braids is limitless. They can be made to look elegant for a

Kinky Hair

sophisticated event or more exciting and edgy for a night of fun. You can try out a crown braid, fishtail braid, Dutch braid or even an Indian twopart corn row. Options are endless.

Braiding is a part of expression.

Anyone can accomplish the look, but execution varies depending on hair texture. Let’s remember to celebrate the vast variety of hair textures and the beauty behind the braids.

Braiding coarse, kinky hair involves some additional tender, love and care. The hair and scalp should be plenty moisturized before beginning – and throughout the braiding process – to prevent pain, irritation and even hair loss. Combing and brushing is also essential before braiding to prevent frizziness. People often believe that this type of texture is the most challenging to manage, but the braid will turn out better if extra importance is placed on the preparation.

Straight Hair

Wavy Hair

When braiding straight, fine hair, you should try to have a grip on the hair, making sure to tighten as you braid, preventing the braid from loosening.

With medium wavy hair, you should also keep the same technique of using a tight grip. Be aware not to braid too tight with those who have fine hair for this may cause skin irritation.

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Braids are a style that can be used on any texture type. This versitile look is for both men and women.

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On Jackie: top, Forever 21; pants, Ontwelfth; earrings, Soko; ring, Forever 21.

On Ali: top, The House of AMZ; skirt, BCBGMAXAZRIA; earrings, JCPenney; choker, Urban Outfitters; bracelet, EilaBelle on Etsy.

ngs. tessa billi makeup_

the ms that e e s e it , man. d ed in th ection l m e dney sher l si im _ a i d to o on t h t p n . an orriols Preside here has not ye o take a stance 6 1 words_jord 0 2 t he litical sp rld has begun ake of t o w p e e h h t t o n I on nw ’s focus e fashio h t , y ll a country c s. t. Specifi slightes mportant issue ti the mos s. e simmon yling_jad st . er is k n esign_elle

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he topics addressed by the community range from reproductive rights to inclusivity.

Powerful figures in the fashion industry, such as Anna Wintour, have decided to incorporate political themes into their platforms.

While these sources were previously focused only on the latest clothing and beauty trends, they have now begun to report more on the latest activity in the White House.

Geared to a largely female audience, these publications have aimed their spotlights on women’s rights and the advancement of women in the political sphere.

One influential leader in political fashion is Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Elaine Welteroth. As one of the first to incorporate political topics into a fashion publication, Welteroth engages her audience in important discussion surrounding diversity and equal rights. She has stated that the best part of her job is seeing the impact of her work on her audience. Though she has not shied away from the magazine’s coverage of fashion, Welteroth feels that there is a “craving for truth,” that needs to be addressed in Teen Vogue.

On a large-scale, perhaps some of the greatest examples of the use of fashion to promote politics occurred during the 2017 fashion month.

Right before the commencement of the month-long runway walks, the Council of Fashion Designers of America partnered with Planned Parenthood to create pins for distribution. The large pink pins were a staple during New York Fashion Week and read “Fashion Stands with Planned Parenthood.”

Designer Prabal Gurung also made a splash with his clothing at New York Fashion Week. Gurung was an open supporter of Hillary Clinton during the election and used his fashion show to further promote his political sentiments. Gurung, who was raised by a single mother, stated that he sees the “power of women, the power of dressing up [and] the power of choices.” In his show, he included models, such as Bella Hadid, wearing t-shirts with varying feminist slogans. He even finished the show wearing one of the shirts himself.

Another brand, Public School, showcased a political twist on streetwear during its fashion show in New York. Creative directors Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne created sweatshirts that read “We Need Leaders” on the back and red hats that mimicked President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hat, substituting the campaign phrase with “Make America New York” in white stitching. During the finale, a rendition of “This Land is Your Land” echoed on the runway, pushing the idea of inclusion and political dissent further.

At the 2018 Grammy Awards, celebrities incorporated a white flower into their ensemble to show support for the Time’s Up movement against sexual assault.

By incorporating political themes into the realm of fashion, the passionate people behind these brands hope to spread awareness of the topics that every American should know about. The impact of these platforms will most likely continue to be an important source of information and inspiration for the American people.

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philadthropy.com Together, we ventured to the moon and back and returned with something out-of-this-world. But we couldn’t have done it without you. On behalf of the students and leaders who joined us on our journey, we want to express our thanks.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

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MAIN EVENT model_ milind khurana . photo_sidney sherman. design_ana gonzalez.

Main Event feeds your craving for that which is intellectual and worldly.

Whether it means revealing the local significance of an international issue or discussing topics that are too often ignored, Main Event has something to offer each of us. Set aside your responsibilities for a bit and divulge in Main Event –you’ll be left feeling more in touch with the world outside of due dates and finals. That’s a promise.

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Praised by college students across the country, Adderall is known to help enhance academic performance, but is popping a pill to cram for finals as harmless as you think? words_lizzie wilcoz. photo_sidney sherman. design_ana gonzalez.

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Adderall is one of the most common drugs used amongst college students. Adderall is said to increase ability to focus and pay greater attention.

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“

Abuse of Adderall has the same effects of a high from cocaine...

“

A

ddy,” “smart pills,” “study drugs,” all of these are slang for a pill that will allow you to become laserfocused for hours on end. Adderall. One of the most prevalent drugs on college campuses across the U.S. Adderall is prescribed to people of all ages for a multitude of reasons from children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to senior citizens suffering from narcolepsy. But it is older adolescents, mainly 18 to 25-year-olds, who are taking the drug off-label, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But when a chemistry exam is approaching, how can you deny a pill that will allow you to study through the night without even needing to take breaks to eat, drink or go to the bathroom?

Jenna,* a junior studying public health, starting taking Adderall her freshman year of college. She had been a straight A student “since kindergarten,” so after failing her first chemistry exams, she decided to try it out. On the next exam, she got a 95.

“I didn’t have to sleep, I didn’t have to eat, I didn’t have to do anything except for study chemistry,” she said.

Not only does Adderall allow students to study all night, but it also lessens the monotony of it.

Nate,* a senior studying chemistry, takes Adderall if he has an exam coming up or a long paper to write.

“You know when you’re studying and you fade off and start thinking about other things, go on Facebook, all that, it just kept me so focused because I was just enjoying it the whole time,” he said.

Part of the reason the drug is so prevalent is because of how easily accessible it is.

“Sometimes if I say I have an exam coming up, people will just be like, ‘Oh, I have a bar,’” Jenna said.

Nate noted that the drug is very accessible being on a college campus where there are so many people who are prescribed it, who he can buy it from.

On the other hand, the widespread misuse of Adderall has caused problems for students who are actually prescribed it, making it more difficult for them to fill their prescription.

Cole Kugler, a junior studying creative advertising, was prescribed Concerta when he was in sixth grade. He switched to a 20 milligram prescription of Adderall a couple months after starting Concerta. Kugler was tested at such a young age due to two out of his three older sisters who have ADHD and are dyslexic.

“They knew I was going to need it at some, so I started off early,” he said.

The protocol now for having his prescription renewed has changed since he started taking the stimulant.

“I have to go every three months back to the doctor and they do blood tests . . . and then they prescribe it again,” Kugler said. “In high school it was just I called my doctor, he’d write me a prescription.”

It was a long road for Sam,* a senior majoring in neuroscience, to be able to receive a prescription. After a

year of going to a physician seeking a prescription and being unsuccessful, she turned to a psychiatrist.

“I went to a general physician and they ran other tests, they thought it was a bunch of other stuff and then I went to a psychiatrist and I just filled out a questionnaire and he prescribed it,” she said.

She was diagnosed with a mild form of attention deficit disorder and prescribed 20 milligrams of Adderall.

Dr. Marc Gellman, associate director of the division of health psychology in the department of psychology at the University of Miami, stated that while taking Adderall may improve a student’s grades, it doesn’t make him/her smarter.

Quoting Everyday Health, Gellman said, “The off-label use of Adderall is a growing trend particularly amongst high school and college students trying to study for exams and boost their academic performance. Despite this widespread belief that Adderall can improve a person’s ability to learn, the drug does not enhance thinking ability in people who do not have ADHD.” As someone who actually needs the stimulant to get through his coursework, Kugler is against the off-label use of it.

“Some people who take it have no clue what it actually does,” he said. “It’s not a drug that makes you smarter, you still have to put the work in studying-wise.”

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students the night before an exam.

“Before I would just try to muscle through, try to study harder, try to time manage better, but now … all I have to do is take an Adderall,” Jenna said. “I really don’t need to work that hard anymore.”

Acknowledging the allure of a quick fix to a stressful workload, Gellman said, “[Adderall] has legitimate medical uses if you are diagnosed with a disorder, but it’s not used to treat people who have poor study habits.”

Some students, such as Jenna, choose to take the “study drug” for financial purposes.

“It’s $5 for a pill of Adderall, but it’s $25 all the way up to $50 to get a tutor for an hour,” she said. “I can get five pills of Adderall in one session with a tutor.”

In lieu of a tutor, the drug can also be the difference from a B+ to an A-.

“If I could just take, like, five milligrams, I already know how many points my grade could go up,” Jenna said.

While students in need can easily purchase a pill from a student with a prescription, Kugler does not sell to classmates, adding that people he doesn’t even know will ask to buy from him.

“I know, like, two kids that actually sell Adderall, or . . . used to and their biggest problem [was] when they actually needed it, they didn’t have any,” Kugler said.

The abuse of Adderall comes from not only the pressure put on students to perform well academically, but also the societal norm to turn to medication to fix a problem.

“We are trained to think solutions to problems lie in taking pills,” Gellman said. “There is a clear overuse, widespread abuse of this medication because people think it’s going to help them.”

A study done by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that over the course of six years, taking Adderall illegally rose 67 percent and hospital visits increased 156 percent. The chemical structure of this little blue pill is similar to that of cocaine. Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Abuse of Adderall has the same effects of a high from cocaine by increasing alertness and concentration and lessening levels of fatigue.

“These are serious medications,” Gellman said.

“These are amphetamines … These are strong stimulants that work to help people who have a brain disorder and someone who doesn’t have that brain

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disorder then puts themselves at risk.”

Individuals who take Adderall without a prescription daily could face some chronic health issues like increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

Gellman pointed out that the rise of Adderall use over the past 10 years could be due to the marketing of the drug. In a 2013 New York Times article, “The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder,” Alan Schwarz writes, “Drug company marketing … has stretched the image of classic A.D.H.D. to include relatively normal behavior like carelessness and impatience, and has often overstated the pills’ benefits.”

“Honestly I just think nowadays Adderall is such a publicized drug,” Kugler said. “I think parents and kids are both like, ‘Oh, my kid needs Adderall,’ without actually going through the, like, proper steps of seeing if your kid has ADHD or dyslexia.”

The question remains: can you get addicted to Adderall? Jenna, who only takes the stimulant occasionally, “completely, utterly” regrets starting.

“Don’t do it,” she said. “Once you start, there’s no end.”

While Gellman stated that longterm use of the drug can lead to cardiovascular problems, even acute use can lead to some attachment issues.

Jenna said that she is not addicted to Adderall, but “addicted to the satisfaction that comes with after taking it.”

Whether it’s the amphetamine-induced high or the elevated feeling of acing a midterm, Adderall has addictive qualities and is not something that should be popped lightly.

If you are struggling with an Adderall addiction, reach out to the Counseling Center at 305-284-5511 *names have been changed to protect identity

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IT’S ON MEN TOO

words_jorge chabo & teddy willson. design_lindsey bornstein.

He pushes his way through the crowd, brushing sweat-coated arms with everyone he passes and dodging drinks as they spill out of the red cups that seem to have overtaken the dim lit 10x10 room. The stickiness of the floor pulls at his shoes with every step, making the trek to the other side of that humid, overcrowded room even more irritating.

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sexy to defend, to help, to support “ It’s and to not take advantage of women. alfway there – and tired of battling elbows and people who think jumping around like a mad man is equivalent to dancing – he stops and looks around. Five feet to his left, a guy is talking to a girl. She looks shy and nervous; her eyes dart around the room every five seconds, her arms are folded, only moving to push a stubborn piece of hair out of her face. The guy puts his mouth to her ear to talk, screaming over the DJ, his hands tugging at her waist.

Slowly, the girl starts to warm up to him, smiling and even granting him a laugh here and there.

Snapping back into his surroundings, he looks away, homing in on his earlier mission. But still, there really is no clear path to the other side of the room – the side with the couches. Accepting defeat, he turns back around. He looks at the girl close by. In the 30 short seconds that he had turned around and analyzed the room something had changed. She wasn’t smiling or laughing. She wasn’t happy to be with him. She wasn’t okay.

The two locked eyes, and he saw that hers were welling with tears. His pupils refocused as he looked closer and saw the reason for her despair. The guy she had been laughing with just 30 seconds prior now had one hand up her skirt and the other firmly grasping her wrist.

His mind is racing, but, somehow, his feet have turned to stone, making the five-foot distance between himself and the girl feel as if it were a mile.

The girl – she is one in four. One out of the 25 percent of undergraduate women who will be sexually assaulted while in college. The same 2016 study, conducted by the National Institute of Justice, suggests that of these sexual assaults, 4 percent of those reported in a single academic year are for rape and attempted rape. The Association of American Universities reported similar findings in 2015.

In the 2016 Campus Climate Survey, administered by the University of Miami’s President’s Coalition on Sexual Violence, Prevention and Education,

28.1 percent of respondents reported experience of one or more instances of sexual violence. 93.6 percent of the alleged perpetrators were male.

RESOURCES FROM UM Sexual assault survivors will not find that there is a lack of resources at UM. At the start of 2017, UM named its new Title IX coordinator, Bonnie Muschett.

As Title IX coordinator, Muschett serves as the university’s central resource on all issues related to Title IX compliance.

The university’s decision to have a Title IX coordinator sets it apart from other universities that do not have such a position. Her work to coordinate the investigation, response and resolution of sexual misconduct complaints extends to the Sexual Assault Resource Team.

“Men absolutely need to be more vocal and actually say ‘I recognize what you’re going through and I accept that. I believe you.’”

the counseling center for therapy because this allows them to talk about something that happened recently or a long time ago,” Cleary said. Each of the resources that SART directs students to offer completely free services.

Though Cleary believes that not enough students utilize SART, she has noticed one positive trend in the phone calls they receive – more and more calls are coming from friends. This indicates two things: that victims of sexual assault are more frequently opening up to friends and that there is a more prominent sense of obligation and concern among students.

Cleary suspects that many survivors hesitate to speak out because they fear they will not be believed. Victims come to believe this because of the toxic rape culture that exists presently. “Unfortunately, there’s a myth that there’s a lot of false reporting of sexual assault so people think – and oftentimes, sadly, they’re correct – that if they share what happened to them, they won’t be believed,” Cleary said.

This ‘questioning the victim’ trend must

SART allows students to have the ability to speak to a trained volunteer around the clock. The volunteer team of university faculty, staff and graduate students is trained by Dr. Audrey Cleary, Counseling Center Psychologist and SART’s coordinator.

Students who call the 24/7 hotline will be told their options, including going to the Jackson Memorial Hospital Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center, reporting to police, speaking with the dean of students or going to the student health center or counseling center on campus. “Many students choose to go to

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IT’S IT’S ON ON MEN TOO

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stop, because in actuality, “only 2 to 10 percent of rapes are false reports, a rate that does not exceed the false reporting rates of other crimes,” according to a research study by three Northeastern University professors.

Chris Daniels, the Greek representative on the President’s Coalition, said that it is important, now more than ever, to stand up as a man and honor the women who speak out. “Men absolutely need to be more vocal and actually say ‘I recognize what you’re going through and I accept that. I believe you,’” Daniels said.

Ensuring that women feel comfortable and safe enough to report their abuse is not only important, but necessary, in order to treat survivors.

This is something that SART strives to raise awareness of through their educational workshops, which any student organization can request.

The relationship between women and men is adversarial.

Women have what we want. We have to figure out a way to get it. She has to decide if she wants to give it up. In sexual conquest, we win and she loses.

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AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM Better than after-the-fact procedures, however, is preventative programming, so that individuals will not find themselves sitting in a Title IX office or speaking with a SART volunteer in the first place. This is where universities across the country, UM included, fail their students – the women, who are most often victims of sexual assault, and the men, who have the ability to stop its proliferation. Even where preventative education is provided – mainly through raising awareness – it is not effective.

Dr. Claire Oueslati-Porter, who teaches the introduction to women’s and gender studies course, believes all students, not just women, would benefit from this course. Students are educated about the modern patriarchy and how it still influences many facets of life.

Porter feels that the first step in lessening instances of sexual assault is to acknowledge that there is a problem.

The next step from Porter would be to “have the conversation.” Specifically, how normalized the aspects of sexual misbehavior have become. To better facilitate this conversation, it is important to understand the dynamic behind this ongoing misbehavior among men.

According to Dr. Michael Kimmel, a professor at Stonybrook University and bestselling author with his extensive research on masculinity and the male psychology, we must move from “whether or not this is happening” to “what are we going to do about this?”

Kimmel suggests that the problem stems from “the battle of the sexes” and the need for men to prove their masculinity. This need leads to this sense of entitlement in which a woman has to give up what the man needs.

“The relationship between women and men is adversarial,” Kimmel said.

“Women have what we want. We have to figure out a way to get it. She has to decide if she wants to give it up. In sexual conquest, we win and she loses,” he said in a phone interview.

He adds that growing up with this idea has created a culture that completely denies women a sexual voice. Because they are too busy saying no, or deciding if they want to say no, women never get to decide what they want.

The responsibility of men to do their part in this movement lies in their power to change the current climate. On a college campus, this places much of the responsibility on the groups that are prominent in the social scene.

“It’s a problem in the broader

society, too,” said Merike Blofield, UM’s director of the women’s and gender studies department. “It’s not really fair to say that it’s just fraternities. It’s that fraternities are like these agglomerations of power on campus.”

It’s not so much that the issue lies within Greek life, but that the issue is relevant to the groups who control the parties in college. No matter the group involved, sexual assault stems from the men in control.

“Sexual assault is going to happen, unfortunately, whether it’s Greek life or at a club sport party,” said Craig Lapham, president of Pi Kappa Phi. “It happens here because Greek life controls the social scene, so that’s why it’s more of a relevant issue in Greek life.”

The solution, however, does not lie in the simple disbandment of fraternities.

“I don’t really agree with the idea that we have to kick the fraternities off campus, or that we can’t have them anymore, because that won’t solve the problem of hegemonic masculinity,” Blofield said.

It is on these men to begin the process of changing these rigid gender stereotypes through conversation, not just from the university, but among

“You know it sucks, because obviously you give off this sort of manly perspective that you need to get with a lot of girls and that it’s cool if you do.” peers. Part of this mission lies in fraternities’ willingness to uphold the values laid out in their own charters.

As Kimmel points out, these charters clearly state that the fraternity brothers are to set the example of true gentlemanliness. For example, the Mission of Sigma Alpha Epsilon states: “The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies…”

To Kimmel, it’s clear: “Real men don’t rape women.”

Kimmel proposes that if the men of the fraternity reinforce the idea of living up to their chapter’s values rather than having the values of others imposed

upon them, the conversation of sexual assault would not be as accusatory as many currently perceive it to be.

PARTY CULTURE Upholding those values, of course, means a change in behavior. The partying culture that our generation boasts all too proudly is supporting an environment that allows sexual assault to occur. In a sense, the college party culture revolves around numbers – and those numbers define masculinity. The number of beers you shot-gunned. The time of day you started drinking. How long it took you to get blackout drunk.

The number of girls you have slept with.

It’s all a competition, spoken or not.

“You know it sucks, because obviously you give off this sort of manly perspective that you need to get with a lot of girls and that it’s cool if you do,” said Lapham. “But sometimes that leads the person to get into sticky situations.”

The competitiveness over masculinity within fraternities is amplified by companies like I’m Shmacked, Barstool Sports and Total Frat Move. The content shared on these accounts showcase and celebrate the extreme misbehavior of fraternity brothers, from drunken recklessness to the objectification of women. The behavior is “unbecoming of a gentleman,” as Brad Sheehan, president of Kappa Sigma, put it. Our generation’s obsession with such companies tarnishes the image of fraternities and instills a false conception of ‘frat life’ for incoming members.

“Because people are watching all those I’m Shmacked-type videos, we often find that when we get new members, they don’t really know the idea of drinking in moderation,” said Chris Wright, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon. “We definitely do have to push and show kids that you can still have a good time without ending up on my front lawn.”

Quinn Brashares, Sig Ep’s risk manager, added that, in his experience, as college kids become more experienced with alcohol, they learn their limits and realize that the times they have the most fun are not when they get blackout drunk.

Fraternity parties, as they are now,

are a breeding ground for unwelcomed situations. The size of the parties alone presents a problem for fraternities wishing to get a handle on the antics.

Though all fraternities have the equivalent of a ‘risk manager’ or ‘sober monitor,’ – whose role is to keep an eye out for everyone’s safety – the amount of people in attendance makes this a near impossible task.

In an effort to better control parties, Beta Theta Pi has taken it upon themselves to alter the parties logistically. “We are trying to have less people at events overall,” said Matthew Wilson, Beta Theta Pi president. “We have cut back on the amount of money we spend on alcohol for parties and brothers stick to mainly drinking beer because they get less drunk.” Presently, the fraternity is spending about $100 less on alcohol per party.

Beta is a step ahead of their fellow IFC fraternities in this respect. Besides Beta, the query of party logistics and facilitation was met with pursed lips, furrowed eyebrows and a 10 to 15 second pause of consideration, until finally, an uncertain response was choked out.

A climate of trust and respect will not simply emerge in the party environment present today.

Before this can happen, fraternity leaders must consider ways to reshape their parties as a whole.

“The consumption of alcohol is alarming,” said Steven Priepke, senior associate dean of students and deputy Title IX coordinator. “Not even specific to fraternities, though I know it’s amplified there, the culture of prepartying the pre-party did not exist when I was in college.”

Beyond drinking, Priepke admitted that he had to learn what the term ‘hook up culture’ meant when he began working at UM. Going through college, he remembers more of a concern over “whatever the STD of the day was,” hence, fewer casual sexual encounters.

Priepke also admits that he does not know how to reverse the hyper-sexual culture of today’s college students, though he does know this: “People as objects must stop. We have to make people more human in every setting.”

Making people “more human” can mean many things. But in its most

“We definitely do have to push and show kids that you can still have a good time without ending up on my front lawn.”

archaic sense, it means generating understanding, generating compassion, generating sympathy. The ability to sympathize is what separates humans from other forms of life.

Why then, does the very organization that values loyalty, companionship and togetherness often shun those survivors who choose to speak up about their experience with sexual assault? There is a stigma that within the Greek community, the survivor will be ostracized – by both fraternity men and sorority women – if she comes forward. Lapham made known that this absolutely happens.

The “tightness” of the Greek community discourages women from reporting their abuse, for fear that they will no longer be accepted.

“That’s a tough situation because obviously internally, [the victim] wants to do something, but externally, she knows that there are a lot of people in fraternities and sororities who are going to look at her differently because of what she may or may not say,” Lapham said.

Outsiders also often consider a correlation between the strong sense of loyalty amongst fraternity brothers and the blatant disregard of sexual misconduct. Despite this belief, the participating UM fraternities were all in agreement that by playing bystander as another brother commits sexual assault, you are actually being disloyal. Not to mention the huge act of disloyalty that the perpetrating brother is transgressing upon his fraternity and brothers by committing such an act.

DEFINING CONSENT Sexual assault comes in as many forms as there are people on this earth, but one distinction rings consistent across college campuses – malicious and violent assault versus that which stems from a general lack of clarity. Instances that fall into the latter category are largely owed to the ambiguity of consent among men.

At its core, consent is simple affirmation of whatever comes next. “If it’s not clear cut, it’s not consent,” said Charles Dieckhaus, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. While this situation is certainly ideal, he and Wright acknowledged that most instances of sexual assault on college campuses occur under less explicit circumstances.

The influence of alcohol, drugs and peer pressure cloud the simplicity of verbal, direct consent. This was made clear by every interviewed fraternity’s difficulty with defining the word under more precarious situations. Wright said that once someone reaches a “certain

RESOURCES ROXY BOLTON RAPE TREATMENT CENTER - go within 96 hours to collect evidence (no obligation to press charges) - free, confidential, 24/7 - good for treatment and reporting

STUDENT HEALTH CENTER - convenient physical treatment, not used as a reporting option

COUNSELING CENTER - mental health treatment, can be used regardless of time past

UMPD & DOSO - seek reporting options, good to help walk you through the procedures

*Reporting students and survivors will not be punished for any underage drinking or drug usage that may have occurred at or around the time of the incident

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“

I’ve had loved ones experience sexual assault and it’s been awful and painful for me to deal with that.” level of drunkenness,” there cannot be consent by either the man or the woman.

“The line lies in the question of whether you can make a conscious decision or not,” said Jarred Dahlerbruch, Alpha Sigma Phi’s standards chair. “Pair that with the blackout culture and consent is out the question.”

Despite this acknowledgement, there was a troubling consistency across the fraternity men’s discussion on consent.

There was no mention of nonverbal cues, except that one of the parties might look “a bit too messed up.” Being able to recognize even subtle nonverbal cues is of vital importance if consent is to be achieved. The first step in dispelling any confusion over consent is simple – talk about it.

“If I’m being honest, I might have to say that no, we don’t specifically address consent formally within our fraternity,” said Lapham. There is, Lapham ensured, a definite understanding that sexual assault or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. “When we see something that could be seen as too aggressive, or anything that could possibly imply sexual assault, I’m straight up with them, like ‘I’m gonna kick the shit out of you,’” Lapham said.

“We’re not actually gonna kick the shit out of them, but you know…”

Using fear to prevent sexual assault may work at times, but not in all cases, particularly those in which men are simply unsure of what is or isn’t wanted.

A larger discussion must be had about being cognizant of nonverbal cues when there are other influencers involved.

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FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM Considering the uncertainty around consent, alongside the flagrant party scene at UM, it is shocking that the university would turn such a blind eye to the environments that support sexual assault. Only parties that are registered with the school are required to abide by specific rules, such as the presence of six sober monitors, a maximum length of four hours and the prohibition of hard liquor. Among the 12 fraternities present at UM, only 10-12 parties are registered per semester, according to Christina Luna, assistant dean of students and director of Greek life.

This means that most every party thrown by the 12 fraternities has no university-given rules. Many fraternities take it upon themselves to implement rules similar to those at registered parties. However, should they choose not to do this – or do an inadequate job of it – there is no one to hold them accountable should an incident of sexual assault occur.

This apathy is even more shameful considering the monitoring of registered parties only applies to fraternities.

Any non-Greek affiliated party has absolutely no liability with the school.

This includes parties thrown by club sports, division one sports and student organizations, such as the Association of Commuter Students (ACS) and Student Government.

These organizations also throw large parties that have no oversight from the university. President of ACS, John Becerril, confirmed that the group receives no instruction from the university regarding their parties.

Without the university holding these organizations accountable, students are given free reign. There is no guarantee of sober monitors, limited alcohol consumption or other basic practices in maintaining a safe party environment.

According to TJ Callan, a former ‘Canes football player, even coaches do not have specific guidelines for players throwing parties. “They didn’t really talk to us about any rules per say, just not to let anything out on social media and to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Callan said.

By letting massive parties go completely unchecked, UM is allowing an environment that is conducive to sexual assault to flourish. There needs to be an increase in involvement on the administration’s part.

RESTRUCTURING EDUCATION Even the programming that the university does administer – and only to fraternities, unless otherwise requested

– is not effective. The programming mainly consists of a speaker giving a presentation. This age-old technique looks and sounds good on its surface, until you dive deeper and realize that the method is all but ineffective.

Why? Students do not connect with its delivery, specifically the speaker, who is typically at least 20 years their senior.

More often than not, going to a seminar and listening to a speaker – typically as a requirement set forth by the school – leaves fraternity members feeling as if they are being spoken down to or lectured. Because fraternity members feel they are being accused, an attitude of defensiveness pollutes what should be a positive environment.

The intention, of course, is not to point fingers or cast judgement, but to start a conversation and educate fraternity men. Regardless, the disconnect between speaker and audience is too significant to accomplish that intent.

Therefore, the ultimate responsibility of stirring a dialogue must fall on the students themselves. University administration understands there needs to be a reorganization of programming if they want to achieve the goal of preventing sexual assault. “We are not in a position to make change at your level; only you can do that,” Priepke said.

Administration and fraternities are in consensus over the necessity of program restructuring, a positive sign for the fight against sexual assault. “I think men are generally going to feel a lot more comfortable talking about sexual assault when the conversation is coming directly from their peers,” Wilson said.

Clearly, peer-to-peer, discussionbased programming is a more effective way of making men recognize the importance and prevalence of the problem. Seeing their peers be passionate about the issue of sexual assault encourages men to speak more freely on the topic and actively participate in, rather than tolerate, the conversation.

Sig Ep has already begun discussing the issue in chapter meetings, where the direction of the conversation is steered by one another, rather than an older speaker who is distant from their day to day lives.

“It really is a top-down cultural thing,” Wright said. “When the models and leaders in the fraternity just do not condone something like that at all, it really does reverberate.”

Wright’s fraternity brother Brashares has found that by telling his peers about his personal encounters with sexual assault, the discussion has become more fueled by passion over dreaded necessity.

“I’ve had loved ones experience sexual assault and it’s been awful

IT’S SEXY TO DEFEND, TO HELP, TO SUPPORT AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN. IT’S SEXY TO DEFEND, TO HELP, TO SUPPORT AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN. IT’S SEXY TO DEFEND, TO HELP, TO SUPPORT AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN. IT’S SEXY TO DEFEND, TO HELP, TO SUPPORT AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN. IT’S SEXY TO DEFEND, TO HELP, TO SUPPORT AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN. IT’S SEXY TO DEFEND, TO HELP, TO SUPPORT AND TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN. IT’S and painful for me to deal with that,” Brashares said. “When I talk to the new members, I tell them that and I tell them that if they were to ever do anything like this, they’re not going to be a member here.”

To ensure that fraternity men are getting the most out of the programming provided by UM, the President’s Coalition – which Priepke described as one big “think-tank” against sexual assault – is planning to have future presentations led by Greek life leaders, rather than older speakers. In addition to presentations, the coalition hopes to create workshops that will emphasize interactive problemsolving based on scenarios typical of “frat life.”

By working together to generate understanding and instill a sense of obligation, Blofield hopes that men will realize that “no one is attacking them personally” and that the workshops are “not meant to hinder their self-esteem in any way.”

Outside of fraternities, the general idea to have men join the conversation in an open environment is one that resident assistant Max Erbe hopes to accomplish as he plans to start a club with this as its primary focus.

“The problem is ‘Are men listening?

Do they really think this is a problem?’,” Erbe said. “We need to realize that, as men, sometimes we make women uncomfortable.”

Erbe’s goal for this club is to make men realize the power they have to change the culture. Since it’s the actions of men that led to this movement, it is up to them to realize that, acknowledge that and call for an effective change in the way men perceive women.

The ultimate goal of this movement

is not to shun men, but to create a more positive environment centered on the focus of gender equality. It’s a winwin situation where all would benefit.

“Research has shown time and time again that when women’s status increase in society, men are actually happier too,” Porter said.

It is through the work of the men on campus – not just fraternities – that we can truly begin to see a change. “We know that we cannot fully empower women and girls, unless we engage boys and men,” Kimmel said.

The patriarchy hurts men because it hinders their ability to progress emotionally, so instead they push toward anger, competition and dominance – a poisonous cocktail that has led to the current state of affairs. Gender equality needs work on many fronts, but the most basic, yet unaddressed, is on the front of sexual assault.

“It’s sexy to defend or to help or to support and not take advantage of women,” Priepke said.

Women are speaking out now more than they ever have before. It is time that the men do the same. So, men …

Stand up and speak up. And when you do, do it passionately. *If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault and in need of resources, please refer to those listed on page 73. *Those fraternities not included in the article either could not be reached or declined to comment

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50

W

years strong words_anya balsamides. photo_ patrick ruvo. design_marissa vonesh.

WVUM, the university’s student-run radio station, celebrates 50 years of being the voice of UM.

Emmi Velez, WVUM’s general manager, sits in the station located on campus by the pool.

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V WN

estled between palm trees to the right of the University Center, music can be heard drifting from the slightly cracked door, flowing onto the sidewalk. Soft, multi-colored lights fill the space, illuminating an array of plush chairs, couches, and cushions. Students sit around the TV in the center of the room, laughing, talking, and sharing music. A bright neon sign pulses through the window, promoting this organization and inviting students to enter.

This is WVUM, 90.5 FM. This is the Voice of the University of Miami.

WVUM is the award-winning, completely student-run radio station of the University of Miami that has grown to earn both local and national recognition. This may make it hard to imagine that the station began with an illegal transmitter in a Mahoney dorm room 50 years ago.

In 1967, a group of engineering students created an unlicensed transmitter, which they used to create an illegal radio station. Unfortunately, when the Federal Communications Commission, which monitors all radio and television communication, discovered this illegal radio station, it was immediately shut down. However, the University of Miami saw this desire for a radio station. Thus, the university registered the station legally with the FCC and created the beginning of what is now known as WVUM. In February of 1968, the station was officially licensed and launched as a non-commercial, educational radio station. Initially known as the Voice of the Hurricanes (WVOH), the station became IBIS (WBIS), then transformed into what we know it as today: the Voice of the University of Miami (WVUM).

When it began, the station only had the power to broadcast from Kendall Drive to Downtown Miami. People had to be very close to campus to listen, so the majority of the audience was comprised of UM students. Now, WVUM is able to broadcast in a 30-mile radius, reaching almost 2.2 million people across South Florida. According to Emmi Velez, the WVUM general manager, WVUM now boasts more than 60,000 local listeners each week, along with many listeners from around the world.

Aaliyah Weathers, the WVUM Blog Director, discussed the evolution of broadcasting material. Initially, with the radio’s limited range and small audience of students, the station focused on broadcasting campus events and discussing local organizations. With its increased range and larger audience, WVUM was able to expand its broadcasting material, and now focuses on music, sports and news.

Even further, WVUM has taken advantage of its unique location in Miami, one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. When asked about WVUM’s presence in Miami, Aaliyah Weathers said, “Over time we have developed an incredible relationship with venues and promoters in South Florida and are very active in the Miami music scene.”

This February, WVUM celebrated its 50th anniversary in style, receiving a $150,000 loan to renovate its studios. By the end of this school year, WVUM will have fully-functional, professional studios. The production studio, which is presently nonfunctional, will be completely renovated with new flooring and new furniture. The air studio, where the DJs broadcast from, will also be renovated, and most of the equipment will be replaced, some of which is over 40 years old. “It’s time to provide the students the best, most modern experience,” said Steven Priepke, the senior associate dean of students and financial advisor for WVUM. After waiting years for the budget to be approved and to gain the proper funding, there is an aura of joy at the station.

“With all of the positivity and excitement, we’re hoping to keep this momentum going for the next 50 years,” Velez said. While WVUM typically plays alternative music, any genre can be found on its specialty shows. Michelle Boursiquot, a junior in charge of campus affairs for WVUM, stated, “We really like playing underground artists, and not your Top 40 artists.” WVUM takes pride in its originality and its ability to expose students, along with the greater Miami area, to new and upcoming artists, straying away from music that is typically overplayed.

“The sound shifts with the music landscape,” Weathers said. However,

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Left: Francisco Naraez, Emmi Velez, Jack Connolly and Gianfrano Blanco.

”

WVUM’s community celebrates diversity, creativity and self-expression WVUM offers so much more than just music. Specifically, as the flagship radio station for all UM sports, WVUM boasts an extensive audience on game days. The radio station gives students a front-row seat at all home games, discussing everything from basketball three-point shots to volleyball serves.

In addition to music and sports, WVUM hosts a variety of news shows, giving students daily coverage of the most recent stories, from on-campus elections to international scandals. For those interested in politics, the news show Counterpoint presents domestic news through a political lens. Ezra Remer and Danny Larose debate the political hot topics of the United States.

Remer, the sophomore WVUM news director, discussed how much he appreciates this political show and the fact that he is able to “present unbiased, multifaceted news reporting.” For instance, Remer remembers attended

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the Donald Trump rally last year when Trump was only a candidate. At the rally, he made sure to interview a range of voters, gathering different and often conflicting perspectives to add an interesting twist to this political show.

Velez also has memorable experiences. For her first show, the power in the UC went out, causing all the computers in the studio to crash. Thankfully, a friend who also worked at the station came and the pair improvised with banter and random CDs in an attempt to fill the dead air.

“It was the worst first show ever, but in hindsight, I’m so glad it happened to me. I remember saying to myself, ‘Well, I almost broke the entire radio station on my first day, so it can only go up from here,’” Velez said.

On campus, WVUM has an incredibly strong presence, however, WVUM makes sure to extend past the UM in order to provide music, sports and news to the greater Miami area. The

radio station works closely with various events and music festivals based in Miami. Jack Connolly, the junior public relations and promotions director, discussed how people at UM “don’t realize how connected we are to the outside community.”

As head of PR and promotions, Connolly endorses events through onair promotions and various social media platforms, which allows him to send reporters to cover the events in Miami.

Thus, these reporters and bloggers attend some of the most well-known music festivals in Miami for free, such as Ground Up, Okeechobee, and Ultra Music Festival.

WVUM offers a truly welcoming environment for people to come together for the love of music and radio. “WVUM’s community celebrates diversity, creativity, and self-expression, and I think that’s part of what makes this station so special,” Velez said.

COLLEGE captured

We wanted to capture the culture of the U, and what better way to that than with the photos of the U from you?

From beach days to tailgates to delicious treats, here are some of the most “quintessential college” submissions we got via email and social media.

Submit yours to mxv348@miami.edu to be featured in the next issue.

1

Marisa Petrillo, Gabby Giachin and Victoria Hickam see Miami the way it’s meant to be seen — from a boat. Many students head to the beach on their days off. Photo courtesy of Marisa Petrillo. Camila Lopez-Bosch and Mariacarla Doval choose the perfect study spot by the Shalala Student Center. The view is one of the best the university has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Camila Lopez-Bosch.

Michael Zubi and Kirby Landon share a drink at Sugar Factory. Students celebrate anything from a birthday to finishing an exam. Photo courtesy of Michael Zubi.

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Catherine Samara and Samantha Reynolds enjoy the South Florida sun.

University of Miami students have the opportunity to head out on a boat and tan almost year round. Photo courtesty of Catherine Samara.

Emmi Vélez puts up the U with DJ Khaled himself. Sometimes celebrities like to get in on the ‘Canes spirit as well. Photo courtesy of Emmi Vélez. 6 Joey Haas feeds an elephant a midday snack while in Thailand. Students often have the opportunity to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences when traveling abroad. Photo courtesy of Joey Haas.

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American Society of Pre-Dental Students

Contact Info: umpredental@gmail.com

Facebook: University of Miami American Society of Pre-Dental Students Meetings: biweekly, on Monday’s at 8 PM in Dooley 103

To find out about our events check our orgsyn page American Society of Pre-Dental Students

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