The Reporter Volume 14 Issue 9

Charlie Greene, who started the baseball program at Kendall Campus, died on March 13. Read our story about his legacy beyond the baseball diamond.

PAGE 7

The Miami Dade College women’s soccer team, which starts play this fall, hired two assistant coaches. Read our story to learn more about them.

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Dune: Part Two continues the epic tale of Paul Atreides, successfully bringing the iconic sci-fi novel to life on the big screen for 21st century audiences.

Cuban Crisis

Sandra Maria Borges discusses the protests that happened in Cuba on March 17 and their underlying political and economic ramifications.

Film Fanatics Flock To 41st Annual Miami Film Festival

‰ The 10-day event, which ran from April 5 through April 14, featured more than 180 films from more than 30 countries and awarded $100,000 in prizes.

By Nikole Valiente nikole.valiente001@mymdc.net

For Gary Herman and Adrienne Tordom, attending film festivals is a staple of life.

The New Yorkers are regulars at festivals in Canada, Spain, California and Texas. This year marked the duo’s 20th visit to the Miami Film Festival.

“You learn about yourself,” Tordom said. “You learn about different countries, how other people’s minds work…and how similar people are no matter where they’re from; the intrinsic nature of human beings is universal.”

The Miami Film Festival returned for its 41st rendition on April 5-14, screening more than 180 films from more than 30 countries. The 10-day event showcased films across 10 venues, including the Koubek Center

Theater, Adrienne Arsht Center, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Silverspot Cinema, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Bill Cosford Cinema, Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, Regal South Beach, O Cinema South Beach and Miami Beach Bandshell.

“It has been so inspiring to see many films by local filmmakers, and as members of the community, I can’t wait to meet them,” said María Carla Chicuén, director of cultural affairs at Miami Dade College.

Festivities kicked off at the Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center with the screening of Thelma

Directed by actor and writer Josh Margolin, the film follows 94-year-old widow Thelma after a phone scammer steals $10,000 from her. Determined to retrieve her money and prove to her family that despite her age, she’s still got it, the film takes off.

“It was my first movie as a producer and we were making a quasi-action movie during the pandemic with a 93-year-old lead,” said Zoë Worth. “So, there was a lot going on, but it was a blast.”

Crowds flooded cinemas to see

appearances from actors and filmmakers such as Danny Pino, Jeremy Piven, Lady Camden, Héctor Medina, Heather Graham and Alison Brie.

On April 6, actress Molly Ringwald, who rose to prominence for her roles in 1980s classics like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Pretty In Pink , was recognized with a Variety Creative Vanguard Award for her cinematic achievements at the MDC Chapman Center.

Three days later, Tom Hiddleston, an English actor known for his portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was honored with the Variety Virtuoso Award at the Knight Concert Hall.

“There’s no substitute for your authentic relationship with the work…that’s when the magic happens, in taking the risk to reveal something very honest and authentic about your own experience of being alive, your own relationship with the story, your own relationship with the character,” Hiddleston said during an interview with North

After 31 Years In Prison, This Man Is A Semifinalist For $55,000 Scholarship

‰ Eddie Fordham, Jr., who graduated from Miami Dade College’s College in Prison Program last summer, is a semifinalist for the $55,000 Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship.

By Nikole Valiente nikole.valiente001@mymdc.net

Eddie Fordham, Jr.’s future looked bleak as he sat in a suicide-watch cell at the Escambia County Jail while awaiting his death penalty trial.

Bitterness, sadness and fear welled up in the then 18-year-old’s heart.

But things changed one night, when someone slipped a letter under his door containing a message from Judge William White, Jr.

“He said…’There will be consequences to your actions. But if you will accept personal accountability for your poor decisions, you have a story to tell other youth,’” Fordham recalls.

For the next 31 years, prison would be Fordham’s home. But today, Judge White’s letter of encouragement rings true.

Fordham, who was released on parole in April of 2022, graduated from Miami Dade College’s College in Prison Program last summer. In March, he was tabbed a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship.

The national prize is awarded to 60 students each year. Recipients get up to $55,000 annually for living expenses, books and tuition as they pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Making Choices

Fordham, who was born Larry Edwin Fordham, Jr. in December of 1972, grew up in Pensacola. In high school, he was perceived as a “mama’s boy” and yearned for acceptance.

That sparked a domino effect of poor choices—stealing, driving recklessly, climbing balconies and hanging with the wrong people.

By his senior year, Fordham’s life took a turn for the worst when two friends asked him to drive them to an auto parts store to conduct a drug deal, he said.

What the teenager didn’t know, he says, was that his friends intended to rob the store clerk and kill him as Fordham sat outside in the driver’s seat of the get-away vehicle.

On Feb. 11, 1991, he was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, firstdegree felony murder, armed robbery and grand theft.

Although he was acquitted of the first

MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL

Spotlight: Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, known for her role in the 1983 Broadway musical Dreamgirls and the 2021 series Abbott Elementary, was awarded the Precious Gem Award at the Miami Film Festival on April 13.

// BRIEFING

Two MDC Students Selected To Coca-Cola Academic Team

Jose Restrepo and Samantha Espinosa were named to the Coca-Cola Academic Team. The honor recognizes academic achievement, leadership and community service.

Restrepo, a sophomore in the Honors College at Wolfson Campus, was crowned a Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar. The distinction comes with a $1,500 prize.

The 20-year-old served as executive director of Phi Theta Kappa. During his tenure, the organization led a research project aimed at understanding how community engagement influences creativity.

Restrepo hopes to transfer to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English. He aspires to become a professor and increase access to education to students in low-income communities.

“I see how much yearning and ambition they have to learn,” Restrepo said.“I want to give them the opportunity to succeed.”

Espinosa, a sophomore in the Honors College at Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, was named a CocaCola Academic Team Silver Scholar. The distinction comes with a $1,250 award. The 20-year-old served as vice president of scholarship and leadership of PTK.

Under her leadership, the club expanded Xplora International, a student-led project that promotes STEM education and mental health awareness to children in Nicaragua and Peru. The club has also fundraised more than $1,000 to purchase school supplies for children.

Espinosa aims to transfer to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a focus in cybersecurity.

“I would like to work within the government to give access to education and technology to people in impoverished areas,” Espinosa said.

Benjamin Vera

Wolfson Campus Appoints New Student Life Director

Pamela Alvarado started as the student life director at Wolfson Campus on March 11.

Her responsibilities include overseeing the department’s day-to-day operations, such as managing the budget and creating opportunities for students.

“I am excited for the future,” Alvarado said. “My career has been in students’ affairs, and I love it. I love working with college students.”

Before her current role, Alvarado served as director of the Payne Center of Leadership Development from 2019-24 at Gonzaga University in Washington and concurrently worked as director of Transfer, Veteran, Returning Adult Services + First Generation Initiatives from 2022-24.

Alvarado has also worked at Heritage University, Seattle University and Wenatchee University serving in a multitude of roles, including director of TRIO support services, director of multicultural affairs and as a retention specialist.

The 36-year-old earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Central Washington University in 2010 and a master’s degree in higher education from Loyola University Chicago two years later.

Sara Dhorasoo

Five MDC Campuses To Serve As SAT Testing Sites

North, Kendall, Wolfson, Medical and Eduardo J. Padrón campuses will be SAT testing sites on May 4 and June 1.

The SAT is a college entrance exam that assesses grammar, reading and comprehension, writing and math skills. This is the first year the test is administered digitally in the United States.

It will no longer be offered using pencil and paper and now features fewer questions, shorter reading passages and digital tools such as a countdown clock, a graphing calculator, a formula reference sheet and the ability to review unanswered questions.

Test-takers must bring their SAT admissions ticket, a valid government-issued ID and a laptop or tablet with the latest version of Bluebook, the platform used to administer the exam. Students who don’t own a device can borrow one from the College Board at least 30 days before test day.

The deadline to register for the exam, which has a registration fee of $60, is April 19 and May 16. To register, visit https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat.

Campus-specific testing sites at MDC can be found at https://bit. ly/3x4xy9k.

Maria Eduarda Mottin

Sharks Point Guard Earns All-Citrus Conference FirstTeam Honors

John Latimer, a point guard for the Miami Dade College men’s basketball team, was named to a 2023-24 Florida College System Athletic Association Citrus AllConference First-Team.

The sophomore from Orlando led the Sharks to a 15-17 record while averaging 17.5 points on 47.2 % shooting and 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

Latimer’s best performance this season was on Dec.8 during a 10366 win against Elgin Community College when he scored 31 points, had six rebounds and snagged five steals.

Guard Esteban Lluberes earned FCSAA Citrus All-Conference Second-Team honors. He averaged 12.2 points and 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Center Alaaeddine Boutayeb, a seven-footer from Casablanca, Morocco, earned FCSAA Citrus All-Conference Honorable Mention honors while averaging 10.4 points with 7.3 rebounds.

Ruddel Lambert

Mateo Fabian Medina, a biomedical engineering student in the Honors College at Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, was selected to the Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Academic Team.

He is one of 20 students nationwide to receive a $5,000 prize for academic excellence, leadership and service.

Medina, who was born in Peru, was also named a New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar for receiving the highest AllUSA Academic Team application score in Florida. That distinction comes with a $2,250 award.

“When I arrived [in the United States], I was like, ‘Wow, there are so many opportunities I have never seen in my life,’” he recalls. “Coming from a place like Peru, you get used to seeing poverty, people starving. But now I can do something to help those that are less fortunate and in need.”

At Padrón Campus, Medina served as the president of the PTK chapter from April of 2023 through March of 2024.

During his tenure, he led A.R.I.S.E. Through Play, a project that seeks to improve the mental and physical health of children and seniors in Little Havana.

As part of the initiative, the club organized approximately 15 food distributions—delivering about 9,022 meals to elderly throughout Little Havana.

They also hosted monthly events at the Smathers Plaza, a housing center for low-income seniors, playing games like bingo, cards and dominoes to lift seniors’ spirits.

Additionally, the team raised $24,000 to support the Overtown Youth Center’s Super Saturdays, a program aimed at providing athletic opportunities and academic support to children.

The 20-year-old, who is slated to graduate in April, hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. He aspires to become a neurosurgeon.

“I know that life happens and I don’t know where I’m going to be,” Medina said. “But I know that no matter where I am, I want to serve others; I want to help people.”

Sabrina Toro

Quimby Selected To All-Citrus Conference First-Team

Lady Sharks point guard Shameir Quimby was selected to the Florida College System Athletic Association Citrus All-Conference First-Team.

The freshman from Fort Walton Beach, Florida led the Miami Dade College women’s basketball team with 21.8 points and 2.6 assists per game and a 47.1 percent shooting percentage this season. She also added 4.7 rebounds a game.

Quimby’s biggest performance of the season was on Feb. 7 when she scored 39 points in a Lady Sharks 75-72 home loss to Palm Beach State College.

After the season, the 5-foot-8-inch Quimby was also selected to the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association Two-Year Schools All-America Honorable Mention Team.

Nikole Valiente

PHOTO

ALVARADO

QUIMBY

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUBIANKA BALTODANO / KENDALL CAMPUS MEDIA SERVICES

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUMBERTO PEREZ / EDUARDO J. PADRÓN CAMPUS MEDIA SERVICES

ANDRÉS GIRALDO / THE REPORTER

Proud Moment: Sheryl Lee Ralph, known for playing Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls , received the Precious Gem Awards at the Chapman Center on April 13 for her contributions to cinema.

Cheesin: Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven flashes a smile at the Miami Film Festival before the screening of Marquee: The Performance on April 11.

Would You Look At That?: A couple patiently waits at the Miami Beach Bandshell before the screening of Marquee: The Performance during the Miami Film Festival on April 11.

The Waiting Game: A woman reads a book as she waits for the presentation of Sheryl Lee Ralph's Precious Gem Award at the Chapman Center on April 13.

Equipment And Facilities Specialist Retires

‰ Fifty-nine-year-old Bryan Hall stepped down from his role as equipment and facilities specialist at North Campus on March 8. He reflects on his career at the College.

By Andrea Briones andrea.briones001@mymdc.net

Bryan Hall has been a part of the Miami Dade College community since he was 18.

After graduating from Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 1982, he earned an associate’s degree in marketing and business administration from North Campus.

In the mid-80’s, Hall started as a part-time outreach technician in the media services department.

That assignment marked the beginning of a 38-year era at the campus for Hall. In March, the 59-year-old retired from his post as equipment and facilities specialist at North.

“He was very dependable and in this business you have to have a dependable person to rely on,” said Raul Alfonso, who serves as the North Campus’ facilities planner and has known Hall for two decades.

After Hall earned his associate’s degree at MDC, he enrolled at the University in Miami to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing while working two jobs. But he struggled to balance both worlds.

“I worked on the weekends,” Hall recalls. “I was the youngest one. I would always volunteer to work events because I had a lot of charisma and I didn’t really need a lot of sleep.”

When he was 12 credits shy of completing his bachelor’s degree, Hall dropped out of UM to focus on his career at MDC.

From 1985-98, the then 21-year-old served as the gymnasium manager at North Campus,

After 38 Years At North Campus

supervising games, events and equipment-usage. By 1999, Hall was appointed coordinator of special events in the campus services department. His roles included managing work orders and planning events.

Two years later, he became an equipment and facilities specialist for campus administration. A central part of his job was ensuring furniture and equipment was properly moved and installed during renovations.

The affable Hall formed many close friendships while at MDC. One of those close ties was with Daisy Cruz, an office specialist in the academic affairs department. She has known Hall since 1994.

Cruz often gave Hall a ride to

and from work. They frequently went to dinner on Fridays.

“When I first started, he was very helpful. Especially with all the different sports that we had in the P.E department,” Cruz said. “He’s very dedicated, hardworking, pleasant [and] knowledgeable about his job and about how to get it done.”

But things started changing for the fast-paced Hall last November when he began experiencing health complications.

He battled thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a rare blood disorder that causes blood clots to develop in small vessels.

Before Thanksgiving, one of Hall’s knees was so swollen that he was unable to walk. The pain

41st Annual Miami Film Festival Brings You Closer To The Stars

Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, known for playing Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, was honored with a Precious Gem Award for her contributions to cinema on April 13.

This year, the festival awarded $100,000 in cash awards.

Mountains , a film about a Haitian demolition worker tasked with dismantling his gentrifying neighborhood, took home the $25,000 Made in MIA Feature Film Award.

Los Frikis, directed by Tyler Nilson and Micahel Scwartz, won the $20,000 Marimbas Award. The film, inspired by true events, follows a group of Cuban punk rockers who inject themselves with HIV to live at a government-run treatment center and find relief from the island’s economic crisis.

The festival also spotlighted short films.

Konpa , a coming-of-age story of a

Haitian-American immigrant seeking to reconnect with his heritage, snagged the $10,000 Made in MIA Short Film Award.

Festivities came full circle with the closing night film Ezra , a comedy-drama directed by actor Tony Goldwyn, at the Knight Concert Hall where the festival started. The movie takes viewers on a road trip with stand-up comedian Max Brandel, played by Bobby Cannavale, and his 11-year-old autistic son, Ezra.

“It’s so important for people to experience cinema; it’s a form of escapism,” said Rachel Bloomer, a senior programmer for MFF. “Turning off, disconnecting and enjoying someone else’s story is important.”

For a full list of the MFF winners, visit https:// bit.ly/3QacoNX.

Staff writer Nidley Charles contributed to this story.

became so unbearable that the fire rescue department transported him to Palmetto General Hospital.

After discovering he had a septic infection that required surgery, Hall underwent blood transfusions that resulted in pneumonia and almost kidney failure. He remained hospitalized until January.

“The hardest part was the physical therapy,” Hall said. “I know [we all] know physical therapy is hard, but I had to learn how to walk again.”

Hall currently uses a wheelchair and walker. That has prevented him from enjoying his favorite hobby—walking around the lake near his home in Miami Lakes.

Many of his co-workers like

Portia Mckinney, an administrative office clerk, were saddened by the news of his retirement.

Mckinney, who affectionately refers to Hall as her “work husband,” admires his caring and positive attitude and willingness to help others.

She recalls the time Hall assisted a student with a disability, who was having issues finding a desk she was comfortable sitting at.

“Bryan helped her no matter how many days it took her to come up here. She came and he found the right table,” Mckinney said. “She really thanked him because, you know, not only [did] she feel comfortable, now she was able to do her work just like other students.”

For Kastanza Harris, a former equipment manager at North Campus, Hall is family. The duo occasionally planned picnics at the park. Harris would bring his family and Hall brought his nephews.

“Sometimes I’ll go to his mom’s house and he knows my mom personally. He knows my family, my son, my wife; he knew them personally too. Some of them called him Uncle Bryan,” Harris said. “He was more like a brother to me than a co-worker.”

The last project Hall worked on at North Campus was the Math Lab renovation. He hopes to one day see the final product in person.

Hall is currently adjusting to retirement—sleeping in, watching the news and enjoying a cup of coffee every morning.

He looks forward to adopting a dog, finishing his bachelor’s degree online and continuing physical therapy.

“My main goal is to start mobility again, [being] able to walk on my own,” Hall said. “That’s the [top] of the mountain, that’s where I need to get.”

Campus film professor Adrian Garcia at the Lehman Theater.

Outdoor Walkways At North Campus Getting $4 Million Makeover

‰ The 14x16 concrete canopies, which cover approximately 3,280 feet of the campus, are having their roof and columns renovated and LED lights are being installed.

By Nikole Valiente nikole.valiente001@mymdc.net

North Campus’ outdoor walkways are undergoing a $4 million restoration.

Renovations, which began in December, are addressing the deteriorating conditions of the columns and the 14x16 concrete canopies, some of which had cracks, chips and leaks. LED lights are also being installed.

The walkways, which are designed to protect pedestrians from sun and water exposure, extend for approximately 3,280 feet around campus. They are located near the 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and 8000 buildings.

“We are committed to making improvements for our students, faculty and community,” said Evelyn Rodriguez, the senior director of campus administration at North Campus, who added that the project is the biggest restoration to the canopies in years.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

For many, the revamp has been long awaited.

“Sometimes, when I would walk under [the walkway], I could feel the water just spilling on my face. It’s annoying because every time

Evelyn Rodriguez, senior director of campus administration at North Campus

I’m trying to count the seconds [off] when [the droplets] were gonna jump, to see if I can make it, and it [would] just fall on me,” said Marthe Metayer, a tutor in TRIO Student Support Services. “I hope that things get fixed as soon as possible.”

Because the project blocks off central passageways, the campus created alternative routes using portable tents.

However, the restoration has created some issues.

Jeaneth Chavez and Sailin Rodriguez, baristas at the Lakeside Café, said that the dust generated by the construction has irritated their throats and hindered cleanliness.

“Our boss has come to tell us our workplace is dirty, but in reality, we are cleaning very often,” Chavez said.

Rodriguez said that plastic covers were used near the worksite to contain debris.

“This is an active campus where people are constantly coming in,”

she said. “We need to keep our areas as contained and clean as possible.”

The commotion on the construction site has also affected communication with customers.

“With the noise, you can’t hear any of their orders,” Sailin said. “You have to yell, ‘What?!’”

According to Rodriguez, construction workers have accommodated their schedule to campus life. They conduct noisier work

during hours when there is less foot traffic, such as afternoons, winter break or spring break.

Biopharmaceutics student Catherine Eusebio hopes the revamped walkways connecting the 1000 building to the 4000 building are better lit because she often leaves her job at Single Stop in the evenings.

“It was dark before,” Eusebio said. “It’s not very comfortable to walk in the dark, especially when

you’re by yourself.”

Despite the inconveniences, Rodriguez said the campus remains loyal to upholding their motto, Students First.

“This is an environment students and staff almost treat like their home, right?” Rodriguez said. “You want them to feel comfortable in their home and that is key for us, even in the middle of all this construction.”

Students To Launch Community Garden At Homestead Campus

‰ The Homestead Gardening Innovation and Awareness Club is launching a campus garden to promote community engagement and sustainability. It will feature vegetables and native plants.

By Juliette Bryant juliette.bryant001@mymdc.net

When Jack Taks first set foot on Homestead Campus in August of 2022, he was surprised there was no on-campus garden.

“I found [that to be] crazy because Homestead is big on agriculture,” he said.

The 20-year-old, who has been gardening for more than a decade, wanted to bring community and conservation education to Miami Dade College.

Last April, Taks, a landscape architecture major, partnered with

the garden a reality.

The $40,000 project, which Tarrau hopes will be completed by the summer, will be funded by the campus and housed in the grassy area in front of building G, behind building A and building H.

It will feature fauna like Bridie flowers and vegetables such as bok choy, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli and carrots, Taks said.

There will also be South Florida native plants like coontie palm, locus berries, beauty berries and wild lime to attract pollinators and create a safe haven for the Pine Rocklands, one of most endangered habitats.

The approximately 680 sq. ft. outdoor space will be made with recycled wood pallets, which will be used to build the planter beds.

Concrete slabs were recently placed as a foundation to make the

garden accessible for people with disabilities. Marble chip rocks will surround the concrete slabs, along with a mural and trellises for native Florida plants to grow.

A groundbreaking took place last spring. Students used shovels to scoop dirt from a mound where the garden will be.

The student-led project will offer students hands-on experience in gardening.

An open-house and day of service is planned to plant seeds and paint, design and build the garden beds.

Workshops will be conducted

to show students gardening practices they can implement at home, such as composting. In the future, the team hopes to host events to plant seeds and have workshops on the importance of pollinators and worms. “We’re the Homestead Campus, like, we’re ‘home,’” Tarrau said. “In my mind the garden will just make it more nurturing, more us. And it also gives students a chance to learn.”

Taks and Tarrau, who are members of the Homestead Gardening Innovation and Awareness Club, worked together on the design of the garden.

“I remember when we met a long time ago, we were discussing locations for this garden that they wanted to create and [Jack] hand drew everything,” said Laura Rodriguez, the director of campus administration at Homestead Campus who is overseeing the project. “He had photos of trees and everything else. It was quite beautiful.”

For more information, contact Tarrau at helen.tarrau001@mymdc. net.

Work In Progress: Concrete slabs in the grassy area in front of building G, behind building A and building H, will serve as the foundation for the community garden at Homestead Campus.

JOELLE WORCESTER / THE REPORTER

JOELLE WORCESTER / THE REPORTER

Green Thumbs: The Homestead Gardening Innovation and Awareness Club is developing a community garden to promote environmentalism, sustainability and community.

classmate Helen Tarrau to make

Architect Of Baseball Program At Kendall Campus Passes Away At 94

‰ Charlie Greene, who launched the baseball program at Kendall Campus in 1968 and served as its head coach for 30 years, died on March 13.

By Nikole Valiente nikole.valiente001@mymdc.net

Baseball holds a special place in the hearts of South Floridians; it’s a symbol of national pride and community.

At Kendall Campus, the baseball diamond was Charlie Greene’s pulpit—it’s where he taught life’s lessons.

The legendary coach, who pioneered the campus’ baseball program in 1968 and oversaw it for three decades, passed away on March 13. He was 94.

Early Years

The oldest of six siblings, Greene was born in Irvington, New Jersey in 1929, the year the Great Depression started, to Rose Rainko and Patrick Joseph Greene.

He spent his early childhood traveling between Poland, his mother’s homeland, and Ireland, his father’s native land.

Greene eventually returned to the United States and discovered he had a knack for pitching at Dover Senior High School in New Hampshire.

After high school, he pitched for one season in the now defunct New York Giants minor league system, but his career was derailed after he sustained a career-ending injury to his right arm.

In 1951, Greene was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He served in the Corps of Engineers, building bridges and digging fox holes. Two years later, he was relieved of active duty to tend to his ailing mother, who had cancer.

When he returned home, Greene attended the University of New Hampshire, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.

Shortly after, he landed a job at Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire, coaching baseball and basketball for six years, eventually earning a master’s degree from Boston University.

In 1964, Greene pursued a doctorate degree in education from the University of Alabama, simultaneously serving as a graduate assistant football coach under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Three years later he left with his degree and his life partner, Patricia, his wife of 57 years.

Building A Program

By 1968, the then 39-year-old was hired to spearhead the baseball program at Kendall Campus, then known as Miami-Dade South. He saw the program evolve, from the planting of the outfield trees to the addition of a scoreboard.

“He watched every blade of grass grow,” Patricia said. “He watered that field and he loved it, more than his own lawn.”

Under Greene’s tenure, the Dade-South Jaguars earned state championships in 1970, 1978 and 1981.

They also reached the Junior College Athletic Association World Series twice (1978 and 1981), winning it all in 1981. During his storied career, Greene earned National Junior College Athletic Association Coach of the Year honors and he was inducted into the Junior College World Series Hall of Fame in 1991.

Greene was selected into two other Halls of Fame: the American Baseball Coaches Association (1994) and the Florida College System Activities Association (1995).

Cross-Town Rivalry Greene’s biggest battles happened when he faced cross-town rival Demini Mainieri,

who started the baseball program at North Campus in 1960.

Mainieri, who retired with 1,012 wins, and Greene, who finished with 935 victories, were neck-and-neck for more than two decades.

Sharks catching coach Rudy Arias, who played for the Dade-South Jaguars from 1975-77, recalls being caught in the middle of the feud.

As a sophomore, the catcher was hit in the back with a pitch during a game at DadeNorth. Greene stepped in to prevent tensions from escalating.

But despite Greene’s attempts to keep the peace, “all hell broke loose.” Greene never let Arias live the scuffle down.

“‘Rudy, you started the biggest brawl,’” Arias recalls Greene saying. “‘Every time he saw me, he would tell the story to everybody.”

Although the competition was fierce, Greene and Mainieri were forever intertwined—ironically, Greene died eleven years to the day of Mainieri’s passing.

“It was like the younger brother with the bigger brother…they had a few friendly disputes, but we were friends,” Patricia said. “On the field, you were very competitive, and then off the field, we went to their house for dinner.”

Devoted Father

While Greene had an ardent commitment to coaching, he alway had time for his sons, Charlie Jr., Michael and Chris. He religiously attended their baseball and basketball games.

“He would come right from his games to our games in full uniform, a lot of times. He wouldn’t even wait to get home to shower,” recalls Charlie Jr., who was a catcher for the Jaguars from 1989-91. “We always knew where dad was—in full uniform in the stands.”

One of Charlie Jr.’s fondest memories with his dad happened during his freshman season. The elder Greene pretended to faint after the youngster hit a home run.

“Everyone thought that was funny, I didn’t think it was funny,” said Charlie Jr., a former major-league player who now serves as Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen coach. “He didn’t think I could hit a ball that far.”

Greene also served as a father-figure to his players, dedicated to improving their athletic skill and molding their character.

“He was big on… cutting your hair nice so you looked like an athlete, wearing the uniform nicely, tucking in your shirt, wearing your hat right, shining your shoes,” recalls Red Berry, Greene’s best friend who served as a coach at Miami Coral Park Senior High School and at the University of Miami. “And, of course, being on time. If you were a minute late you went home. It didn’t matter who you were.”

Unless you were Alex Fernandez, who went 15-1 for Greene in 1990 and was selected in the first-round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox.

The talented right-hander, who struggled with being punctual, tested Greene’s patience. One time after Fernandez arrived 10 minutes late to practice, Green was waiting.

“I was a big part of the team,” Fernandez recalls. “He and all the guys [were] sitting in the dugout. I showed up running and he rolled his watch back to make sure that I wasn’t late. He goes to me, ‘You just made it kiddo, you just made it.’”

The hard-nosed coach, who was a stickler for the rules but “never held a grudge,” was also known for holding intense practices. His players were known as “Greene’s Marines.”

Arias recalls fall practices starting at 5 a.m. with laps around the Dade-South track, followed by weight lifting and class.

“He would sit up in the stands and just look at us and we wouldn’t dare stop,” Arias chuckled. “You stop, you were gonna stay there running ‘til whatever time he wanted.”

Despite the tough love, Greene’s players knew he had their best intentions in mind.

“He wanted it done the right way. And he always said this: ‘You’re only as good as what you do when you know no one will ever find out what you did,’” recalls Gil Paterson, who pitched for the Jaguars from 1974-75. “You know, it’s kind of like, [someone] says to you, ‘Go run five sprints,’ but then they leave, and then you only run three. Yeah, well, that’s not what he wanted to build in us. What he built in us was that if no one was watching, we would still do the right thing.”

To this day, Paterson, a pitching coordinator for the Oakland Athletics, carries

Greene’s lessons with him.

“Every time I do some of his drills, I think of him. Every time. And I do them every day, for as long as I’m alive,” Paterson said. “I love him and I’m gonna remember him. There’s probably not a day that I don’t think of him.”

Lifelong Passion

There were no days off for Greene when it came to baseball.

He spent summers coaching in the Cape Cod League—a collegiate summer baseball league—teaching minor league players in the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs system, and helping with the United States national baseball team (Team USA), where he served as head coach from 1988-89.

Greene taught baseball clinics in Germany, Poland, France, Taiwan and Aruba and published several books.

He was the editor of Gold Glove Baseball, was featured in the The Baseball Coaching Bible, and co-authored Build A Winning Pitcher-Catcher Combination. He also wrote monthly articles for Collegiate Baseball, a newspaper that recently shut down.

“He loved baseball,” Charlie Jr. said.

Despite having a pacemaker and undergoing two hip replacements, Greene stayed active until his final days.

He was a member of the Miami Baseball Forum. The group, which has approximately 40-50 members, meets on the first Wednesday of every month at Duffy’s Sports Grill to discuss baseball.

“We would sit next to each other at the Miami Baseball Forum and we would always be at each other’s throats. If somebody came to a forum and heard us go at it, they would think we hated each other, but it was really love. We really loved each other,” Berry said. “We’ll always keep his chair empty in his honor.”

Greene is survived by his wife Patricia, 81, his three sons, four grandchildren—Patrick, Gavin, Shannon and Garrett (a quarterback at West Virginia University)—and the hundreds of lives he touched.

“He’s always told his kids and his grandkids [to] follow their passion,” Charlie Jr. said. “He knew he was never going to become rich being a coach, but he was rich in relationships.”

A Legend: Charlie Greene, who spearheaded the baseball program at Kendall Campus, passed away on March 13. Under his leadership, the team won 935 games.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CRISTIAN LAZZARI/KENDALL CAMPUS MEDIA SERVICES

Three MDC Students Snag $7,500 Hites Transfer Scholarship

‰ The prize recognizes ten students nationwide for their academic achievements, leadership and community service in Phi Theta Kappa.

By Maria Eduarda Mottin, Sabrina Toro and Benjamin Vera mariaeduar.mottin001@mymdc.net

Miami Dade College students, Javier Cuñat, Manuel Andrés Martínez, and Arquímedes “Archie” Rivero, have been awarded the Hites Transfer Scholarship.

Each student will receive $7,500. The scholarship is awarded to Phi Theta Kappa members for their academic performance, leadership and civic engagement.

Ten students nationwide were selected from a pool of 3,000 applicants.

Javier Cuñat

Cuñat is a computer science student in the Honors College at Kendall Campus.

Last fall, he served as secretary of the Student Government Association and founded CyberSharks, a computer science and cyber security club.

In January of 2023 through May of 2024, he was a tech fellow for CodePath, a non-profit organization that supports minorities pursuing tech careers. He assisted students developing an android application. Last summer, he served as a software development engineer intern at Amazon for four months.

The 19-year-old was also a parttime data researcher at MDC; with

a team of three students and a faculty researcher, he analyzed people’s perspective on artificial intelligence in the workforce. Cuñat, who was born in Valencia, Spain, aspires to transfer to either Stanford University or Massachusetts Institute of Technology to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

“I want to promote projects that create a better human experience in tech-related spaces,” Cuñat said.

Manuel Andrés Martínez Martínez is a sophomore in the Honors College at Padrón

Campus.

Despite witnessing his grandparents grapple with cancer and his father brave through amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal neurological disease, Martínez found time to serve his community.

The 20-year-old was the president of the Community First Committee, a senate committee within SGA dedicated to service, and volunteered at the Little Lighthouse Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps low-income children in South Florida.

He was also vice president of Engineers for a Sustainable World,

a club that promotes environmental sustainability through handson projects.

Last summer, the bioengineering student co-launched Give a Hand Mission, an initiative that aims to use 3D printers to create prosthetic hands for disabled children.

“Prosthetic arms are extremely expensive, [prices] oftentimes [ranging] from $5,000 to $10,000. We can reduce that cost using 3D printers to roughly $30 per hand,” Martínez said. “I aim for these children to feel appreciated and loved by society when they receive a personalized prosthetic arm.”

The Venezuelan-native hopes to transfer to MIT, Harvard or Stanford to pursue a career in neuroscience.

Arquímedes Rivero

Rivero is a sophomore studying economics and international relations in the Honors College at Wolfson Campus.

The 19-year-old served as SGA president this school year, where he founded the Campus Response Committee, a senate committee dedicated to assisting students with campus inquiries.

During his tenure, SGA also partnered with Miami-Dade County District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins and District 7 Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado’s offices by participating in food distributions.

In the same year, he served as the SGA Board of Trustees representative and as co-chair communicator for the Student Investment Management Fund, where he assisted with social media, public relations and event planning.

Rivero hopes to transfer to Georgetown University, Yale University or Duke University. He aspires to be a diplomat and work in global policy.

“My mother always instilled hard work in me growing up,” Rivero said. “This opportunity just means the world because I’m able to continue taking advantage of the academic, social and professional opportunities that are being offered to me.”

North Campus Professor Publishes Psychological Thriller, I Disappeared Them

‰ On April 2, North Campus professor Preston L. Allen released I Disappeared Them: A Novel. The psychological thriller explores the factors that make a serial killer.

By Andrea Briones andrea.briones001@mymdc.net

In 1983, Preston L. Allen had a peculiar encounter.

As the freshman returned to his dorm at the University of Florida, a stranger struck up a conversation. Then, the man started following him.

When Allen turned left, the man turned left; if he turned right, the man turned right.

“He was hot on my heels,” Allen recalls.

As the nervous teenager entered his dorm, he was met by his roommate.

“So who’s your friend?” his roommate asked.

The man took off, never to be seen again.

Years later, when a serial killer murdered five people in Gainesville, Allen’s roommate pondered: “Do you think it’s that weird guy?”

Three decades later, Allen, now an English and creative writing professor at North Campus, used the ominous encounter as the genesis for his latest book, I Disappeared Them: A Novel

The psychological thriller, published on April 2, follows Poe, a hardworking family man who was bullied as a child for being

overweight and an orphan. Now he protects kids from sadistic criminals—by killing them himself.

I Disappeared Them seeks to answer the question: is a serial killer born or is he made by his surroundings?

“I am not the anti-hero type. I don’t like them; I never root for them. And yet, I found myself being very sympathetic to this particular character,” said Ellen Milmed, the assistant to the chair of the English Department at North Campus. “Readers are going to see all kinds of people that they know.”

Allen’s colleague, English professor Matthew Sagorski, who has read two of Allen’s eight novels, believes I Disappeared Them adds a unique perspective to the serial killer genre.

“It’s a dark and twisted book that’s also touching and funny at times,” Sagorski said. “It’s a page

turner.”

To start the creative process, Allen harnesses the voices “living in [his] head.”

I Disappeared Them began as a collection of unpublished short stories in the 1980s called The Unmentionables . Nearly two decades later, Allen revisited them and realized Poe’s character had potential for something deeper.

“He wanted to come up,” said Allen of the novel’s main character. “He was ready to play.”

The 59-year-old professor began writing the novel in 1999 and completed it last December after submitting multiple “final” versions to his publisher.

“For a writer, writing is more difficult than for everybody else,’’ Allen said. “We are mindful of every word, every sentence, every phrase we use. Most people can just sit down and write—we can’t. For us, writing is way too important for us to ruin it.”

Allen’s 29-year-old son, Quinn, said his dad’s latest work is not for the faint at heart.

“When you read the book, there is a gray area of what is good and what is bad. My father writes in a very gray style. It’s not the typical black and white, good guy bad guy,” Quinn said. “He understands that real people are flawed and I feel like that’s what really comes to life.”

I Disappeared Them is available on Amazon, BookShop and at Barnes & Noble.

Hites Scholars: Pictured from left to right are Javier Cuñat, Manuel Andrés Martínez and Arquímedes Rivero—three out of 10 students nationwide to receive the $7,5000 Hites Transfer Scholarship.

STAFF / THE REPORTER

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

New Book: Preston L. Allen published the novel I Disappeared Them on April 2. The psychological thriller is available on Amazon, BookShop and at Barnes & Noble.

NIKOLE

Once Incarcerated, Now A Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Semifinalist

FROM STUDENT SPOTLIGHT, FRONT

charge and spared the electric chair, Fordham was found guilty on the other counts and sentenced to life in prison.

“People tend to think that because of what happened to me, because I got arrested as a teenager or I was getting in trouble as a juvenile… that somehow I must have come from, you know, an abusive home or [had] an alcoholic parent or something like that,” Fordham said. “That wasn’t the case at all. I got into this trouble because I made the choice to get into trouble.”

“Education was my redemption”

After sentencing, Fordham was transferred to a rusty cell in Lake Butler, Florida.

Puddles of sewage water and roaches covered the floor. Crust lined the stainless steel toilet. Hallways were filled with inmates’ yells.

And his mind was burdened with the consequences of his actions.

Eventually, Fordham realized he was missing one course, English 4, to graduate high school.

That realization fueled the next three decades of his life.

To finish his final high school course, Fordham wrote a letter to the Escambia County Superintendent of Schools.Two years later, he became the first person inside Apalachee Correctional Institution to attain his high school diploma.

He was then transferred to Sumter Correctional Institution in Bushnell, Florida, where he joined the Responsible Inmate Taught Education (RITE) program, which trained incarcerated people to become tutors. He learned about the cognitive development of the

“

I think the best thing about Eddie is that he walked out of prison, really, without a lot of baggage and scarring. He has a very good outlook on life. He’s always wanting

to help people. He’s a gogetter.

brain, educational psychology and how to run a classroom.

Fordham committed one year to teaching at the New River Correctional Institution, one of the most dangerous correctional institutions in Florida. He taught incarcerated people to read, write and do math.

Throughout his three decades behind bars, Fordham was in 17 maximum security prisons in Florida. He led initiatives such as the Pope Literary Club and the Character Builders Gavel Club, an organization aimed at improving public speaking.

Fordham also created the Prison Impact Tour (PIT) program, an initiative that brings juvenile delinquents into prison to see the consequences of their decisions.

“We as a society, have to at least provide the tools to give people access to believe in themselves and that’s all I was doing,” Fordham said. “I’m just a guy who, for my own personal life, found that education was my redemption.”

College-Bound

Five years ago, Fordham found himself at the Everglades

Correctional Institution where he participated in ESUBA, a twosemester program aimed at reversing the psychological effects of abuse. The initiative is led by Samantha Carlo, an associate professor senior at the School of Justice, and Minca Davis Brantley, a psychology professor at North Campus.

In 2021, he joined MDC’s College in Prison pilot program—a project funded by the Second Chance Pell Program, a federal initiative that helps incarcerated people attain college degrees.

But his journey to an associate’s degree was far from smooth.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, classes were held through zoom. Prisons were on 24-hour lock-down for months. No visitors were allowed. School lessons were mailed to the prison for students to work on independently and mailed back to professors.

Violence spiked.

One night, a man who was beefing with another inmate over a debt, hit the other man with a can of shaving cream and “split the guy’s head open.”

“It woke me up and when I opened my eyes, I had this man’s blood dripping on my face because he was leaning over the head of my bunk and blood was pouring over me, and that really freaked me out,” he said.

During another instance, Fordham said a man jabbed an “ice pick” into his chest over a bag of chips and coffee.

But the greatest challenge Fordham faced was the death of his father, Larry, Sr., who passed away from esophageal cancer on Feb. 24, 2021.

A Whole New World

By April of 2022, Fordham was granted parole. He was missing one course to earn his associate’s degree—Spanish 2—but lacked the financial resources to pay for it.

However, after meeting Terrell A. Blount, the director of the

Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network, that changed.

Fordham’s situation inspired Blount to create the Removing Barriers Scholarship Program to support individuals with past convictions.

With the grant, Fordham, who transitioned to a halfway house in Tampa after being granted parole, completed the missing course in April of 2023 at Hillsborough Community College.

Last summer, he returned to MDC to graduate with his friends.

“It’s very easy for people who have been in prison to be afraid to be told no,” Blount said. “But Eddie, he doesn’t consider those things. He’s like, you know, ‘If there’s a way and if God made this possible for me, then he’s gonna allow it to happen.”

These days, Fordham is grappling to adjust to 21st century technology.

Recently, Fordham thought his brand new lap-top was broken because it displayed a “no internet” message until a friend helped him.

“He goes, ‘Oh, you need to connect to your Wi-Fi.’ And I’m like, ‘Connect to my what?’” Fordham recalls. “I thought he was saying high five or something.”

Pumping gas was also intimidating.

“I didn’t know how to make it work,” Fordham recalls. “And when I finally did get it to work, it had a TV screen that came on. And when it started playing a video, it kind of scared me because I didn’t expect a gas pump to have an entertainment system built into it.”

However, the most frustrating challenge has been finding a job. That search ended in June of 2022 when he landed a gig as an inventory associate at Feeding Tampa Bay, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending food insecurity.

“I think the best thing about Eddie is that he walked out of prison, really, without a lot of baggage and scarring. He has a very good outlook on life. He’s always wanting

“

I know there are some very, very smart students out there—a lot younger than me, a lot smarter than me, I’m not gon’ lie. But I really hope and pray there’ll be at least one slot open.

Eddie Fordham, Jr., Jack Kent Cooke semifinalist

to help people. He’s a go-getter,” Carlo said. “You know, some people get out of prison and it’s ‘Oh, woe is me. What am I going to do now? No one’s gonna hire me’… he just has a remarkable spirit and an attitude where most people are broken down by the system.”

Fordham currently serves as coordinator of Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project, a peer mentorship program at Auburn University. His first day on the job coincided with his first day in prison 33 years ago.

If he wins the JKC scholarship, Fordham is considering schools like Auburn University and the University of Alabama. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications and public administration.

“I know there are some very, very smart students out there—a lot younger than me, a lot smarter than me, I’m not gon’ lie. But I really hope and pray there’ll be at least one slot open,” Fordham said. “And that one slot will not just be for Eddie Fordham, but it will hold the gate open for others, so that they may see hope; so that they will pursue their college education while incarcerated. And when they get out, they will know that they, too, can apply for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship and win it the same way that Eddie Fordham did.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDIE FORDHAM

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELA CALDERON VIVAS / NORTH CAMPUS MEDIA SERVICES

Turning The Tassel: Eddie Fordham, Jr., who spent more than 31 years in prison, graduated from Miami Dade College's College in Prison Program on July 19, 2023.

Semifinalist: After serving more than three decades in prison, Eddie Fordham, Jr., 51, is a Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship semifinalist.

Samantha Carlo, associate professor senior at the School of Justice

Lady Sharks Hire Two Assistant Soccer Coaches

‰ The Miami Dade College women’s soccer team hired Mario Concha and Bianca Mandrini to serve as assistant coaches for its inaugural season that kicks off this fall.

By Charles Stemmer charles.stemmer001@mymdc.net

Miami Dade College’s fledgling soccer program, which will officially take the field for the first time this fall, has added two assistant coaches to its women’s squad.

Mario Concha, who has served as an assistant coach for various Major League Soccer academy teams, and Bianca Mandrini, who played at Campbell University in North Carolina, have joined head coach Romiro Vengoechea’s inaugural staff.

Concha, 45, will focus on the defensive side of the ball and help with scouting. Mandrini, 23, will assist with field setup and demonstrations during practice.

Mario Concha

Concha’s life has always revolved around soccer. His dad, Mario Concha Sr., was a professional soccer player for more than 15 years, representing teams from Argentina, Bolivia and the United States.

“He gave me the passion to play,” Concha said.

As a kid, Concha moved from Argentina to New York, playing

in recreational leagues until he moved to Miami when he was 12. He started playing organized soccer in west Kendall for the Miami Rush.

because it was completely different from what I was doing.”

Bianca Mandrini

Mandrini started her soccer career with the Kendall Hammocks Lightning when she was 5 and had pit stops with the Pinecrest Premier soccer club—where she played for Vengoechea for two years—and the Sunrise Sting.

She continued her career at Coral Reef Senior High as a defender before moving on to Campbell University in North Carolina in 2018. In college, Mandrini suffered three anterior cruciate ligament injuries before graduating in 2022.

“Spending a lot of time on the sidelines injured is where a lot of my coaching came from,” Mandrini said. “I gained interest in it by being more vocal on the field because I couldn’t play.”

After graduation, she stayed in North Carolina for six months, coaching a soccer club in the area. This past August, Mandrini moved back to Miami and started coaching with the Pinecrest Premier before Vengoechea offered her the gig at MDC.

Concha is excited about starting MDC’s program from scratch.

“I had a few offers from other teams but I didn’t take them for a reason,” Concha said. “I think this was the best opportunity for me

Concha was a defender at Miami Killian Senior High School, St. Thomas University and for the Miami Breakers and the Strike Force Premiere League Developmental teams. He was also on trial with two Bolivian Clubs—Aurora and The Strongest. As a coach, he served stints at Christopher Columbus High School, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, St. Thomas University , the Pinecrest Premier Soccer Club and MLS academy teams like the New York Red Bulls and the Miami Rush.

“Something that drew me to the position was the fact that we were starting a program from nothing,” Mandrini said. “Starting from scratch, putting your mark on it and being able to mold it into the program you want was something that really sold me.”

Coaching Them Up: Pictured from left to right are Bianca Mandrini and Mario Concha, the Miami Dade College women’s soccer team’s assistant coaches.

YAIRI LORENZO / THE REPORTER

Juan Miguel Fernandez Anchoring Sharks Pitching Staff

‰ Right-hander Juan Miguel Fernandez is leading the Sharks pitching staff this season with an 8-1 record, 73 strikeouts and a staunch 2.76 earned run average.

By Charles Stemmer charles.stemmer001@mymdc.net

Juan Miguel Fernandez is having a breakout season for the Miami Dade College baseball team. The sophomore is the crown jewel of the Sharks starting staff with a sterling 8-1 record, 73 strikeouts and a 2.67 earned run average. Those numbers lead the team in wins and strikeouts; he is second in ERA. Fernandez’s performance is a major reason the team rebounded after a 9-12 start and is now three

games above .500 with a 24-21 record. Since March, the Sharks have posted a 15-9 mark and they are 6-1 during that stretch when Fernandez pitched.

In that span, the right-hander pitched in at least six innings, five times, including a seven inning, 10 strikeout performance versus Hillsborough Community College on March 30. The Sharks won that game 6-1.

“You are the one who starts the game,” Fernandez said. “It all depends on you and how the game flows, so you can’t lose focus and

you have to do your best.”

The 23-year-old was born and raised in Mayabeque, Cuba. He started playing the sport when he was five as a third baseman before eventually moving to the mound. Fernandez suited up for the Huracanes de Mayabeque, a Cuban National Team based in San José de las Lajas, until 2021.

Last season, he was a relief pitcher at United International College in Miramar. Fernandez enjoyed a dominant season for the Eagle Rays, going 5-1 with a 1.87

ERA and 100 strikeouts out of the bullpen.

After the season, he tried out for the Sharks and earned a spot at the top of the starting rotation. He has acclimated well, seamlessly blending his four-seam fastball, changeup, curveball and a slider.

At MDC, Fernandez has quickly earned a reputation as a tenacious worker who spends weekends working on his pitch repertoire and the mental aspect of the game.

“He works super hard not just on his craft, but outside of baseball as

well,” said Sharks pitching coach Andrew Cabezas. “It really speaks volumes. It really helps out with the pitching staff and you can see how people look up to him because of how hard he works.”

His batterymate on the field— catcher Geremy Garcia—has witnessed this firsthand.

“[Juan] has been a successful key for us during the season,” Garcia said. “His happiness and comradery impacts us as a team, leaving us no choice but to continue winning games.”

Concentration: Juan Miguel Fernandez gets ready to make a pitch during a game versus St. Petersburg College on March 21. Fenandez gave up nine runs in 3.1 innings, his worst start of the season.

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

Experience These Iconic Anime Films With Studio Ghibli Fest 2024

‰ Studio Ghibli Fest brings the Japanese studio’s animated classics back to select American theaters.

By Nicole Del Rio nicole.delrio002@mymdc.net

One of the most popular animation companies of all time, Studio Ghibli has been dazzling audiences for decades. From beautiful art to breathtaking soundtracks, the studio has a reputation for creating slow paced, unique stories that culminate into magical movies. It’s one thing to watch these movies at home, but some things are better on the big screen. Which is why for the past twenty years, the Japanese animation studio has partnered with Fantom Events and GKIDS to bring back some of their most beloved films to select U.S. cinemas through Studio Ghibli Fest.

Here is a list of some of the films in this year’s lineup. For a full list go to the Fantom Events or GKIDS websites.

Spirited Away April 27 to May 1

Kicking off this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest, is the studio’s first Oscar-winning film, Spirited Away. Ten-year-old Chihiro and her parents are in the process of moving, but stop at an abandoned amusement park to explore. All of a sudden, Chihiro’s parents are turned into giant pigs, and she discovers that they are actually in a world of spirits. Forced to work in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro must find a way to save her parents and return to the normal world.

Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind

May 19 to May 21

Originally debuting on screen in 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind officially celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, humanity is divided into factions as they struggle to survive an Earth full of poisons and giant insects. However, at the edge of the Toxic Forest resides the peaceful Valley of the Wind which is led by Princess Nausicaä. She is a courageous leader that has a love for all living things. But when her kind nature accidentally leads her to a terrible danger, Princess Nausicaä must restore the balance between humanity and nature.

Castle In The Sky

May 20 to May 22

Loosely inspired by Gulliver’s Travels , Castle in the Sky follows orphans Sheeta and Pazu on their quest to the mystical castle of Laputa. However, the children are not the only ones interested in the city as they must race against a government agent, the army and a gang of pirates that are interested in the castle’s treasures.

A touching story of courage and friendship, Castle in the Sky is a fun watch that blends action and fantasy into a story that is enjoyable for all ages.

The Secret World of Arrietty

June 9 to June 11

Underneath the floorboards of an ordinary suburban home are these tiny four-inch-tall people called Borrowers. The Secret World of Arrietty is about a family of Borrowers called the Clock family. Borrowers are supposed to live in secret and never be seen by humans, but Arrietty’s adventurous spirit cannot be confined to the floorboards. She is discovered by a 12-year-old human boy named Tom and an unlikely friendship forms.

When Marnie Was There

June 10 to June 12

Turning 10 this year, When Marnie Was There tells the

Animated Amusement: Studio Ghibli Fest

audiences to experience classic anime films

story of Anna, a shy artistic girl that moves to her aunt and uncle’s home by the sea. While exploring her surroundings, she stumbles upon an old mansion and meets Marnie. The two become fast friends but there is something strange about Marnie.

Using elements of gothic fantasy in a way that is still appropriate for children, When Marnie Was There has a gorgeous orchestral score and powerful plot twist.

Princess Mononoke

July 13 to July 17

Princess Mononke presents the classic conflict between nature and industrialization. Young warrior prince Ashitaka has been infected with a deadly cure. He hears of the Great Forest Spirit and a girl that protects the forest named Princess Mononke. However, the spirits of the forest are threatened by the people of Iron Town, Princess Mononoke will stop at nothing to stop them from destroying her home. Full of grand battles and deeply human characters, Princess Mononoke is an animated epic worth seeing on the big screen.

Ponyo August 3 to August 7

Inspired by the classic fairytale, The Little Mermaid , Ponyo tells the story of a little goldfish that yearns to be human. When rescued by a boy named Sosuke, the two develop an unbreakable bond much to her father’s chagrin. A fish out of water story, Ponyo promises lots of silly heartfelt moments.

Howl’s Moving Castle September 26 to October 3

A story of true love and looking beyond the surface, the studio celebrates another anniversary with Howl’s Moving Castle turning 20 this year.

Sophie is a shy hatmaker that has been cursed to turn into an old woman by the vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste. She joins the great wizard Howl and his moving castle, and starts a life of grand adventures. However, when confronted with Howl’s dark secret, Sophie must fight to protect her loved ones. Featuring some of Studio Ghibli’s most iconic

artwork and soundtracks, it’s no surprise Howl’s Moving Castle is one of their most popular films.

October 26 to October 30

Kiki’s Delivery Service

My personal Ghibli favorite, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a whimsical coming of age film that will be in theaters just in time for Halloween.

In every young witch’s life there comes a time when they must leave the comfort of home and spend a year living independently to refine their craft. Excited to start her journey, Kiki and her sarcastic cat Jiji, set up residence in a charming seaside town. Realizing that her magic abilities can serve as a great delivery service, watch Kiki navigate the ups and downs of independent life.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

November 25 to November 27

Based on the Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, The Tale of Princess Kaguya is one of Studio Ghibli’s most visually stunning films.

An elderly bamboo cutter and his wife, one day find a little girl inside of a bamboo stalk. She is beautiful and charming, to the point where everyone that meets her immediately becomes enthralled by her. While she is being set up for a life of nobility and marriage, Princess Kaguya finds herself wanting to escape her responsibilities. But can you really run away from your problems?

My Neighbor Totoro December 7 to December 11

Considered the movie that put Studio Ghibli on the map, no Studio Ghibli Fest is complete without My Neighbor Totoro

Sisters Satsuki and Mei have moved to the countryside with their father, while their mother is in the hospital recovering from an illness at a nearby hospital. In the nearby woods they meet the gentle giant Totoro, who introduces the girls to the other spirits of the woods. Full of fun, feel good moments, My Neighbor Totoro is a playful masterpiece.

The Female Gaze Doesn’t Exist

‰ The female gaze was supposed to be a countercultural reaction to the male dominated media. But are companies just using feminism to repackage trends for the sake of profit?

By Katarina Azpiri and Nicole Del Rio katerina.azpiri001@mymdc.net

Everyone by now has heard of the male gaze. Coined by Laura Mulvey, a British feminist filmmaker, the term reflects how corporate and societal needs are shaped to fit men’s desires. In recent years, there has been a wave of people claiming to dress for the female gaze, as if that were the opposite of the male gaze.

However, the female gaze doesn’t exist. Replacing the word “male” for “female” doesn’t change the problematic issues behind it, namely, the idea that we must dress for others and that women are inherently objects to be observed. Beauty standards and the way we view attraction has been skewed, not necessarily by men’s sexual desires, but by corporate greed.

To give an example, think of Megan Fox in Transformers, and how her character fixed cars in sexy poses as male gaze versus her character in Jennifer’s Body using her attractiveness to exert her revenge on men as female gaze. Those scenes are meant to appeal to different audiences but by reducing the characters to their sex appeal—is the female gaze as revolutionary as it claims?

Beauty standards have historically been tied to capitalism. Everyone wants to be beautiful and everyone is willing to spend money to achieve whatever is marketed to them as cool. Aging is a natural part of life and yet the beauty industry has made $4.9 billion in the United States alone from anti-aging products.

An example of the male gaze’s cultural impact is shaving. The flapper girl aesthetic was originally supposed to be about female liberation, but it was weaponized to create new insecurities. When razor companies wanted to expand their reach and started marketing to women, the knee length dresses were the perfect time to strike. Ads started to market female leg hair as unattractive just to get women to buy razors.

The female gaze was meant to counteract the male gaze but ultimately it just set a new standard. It’s still telling people to buy products to appeal to a standard set by predominately male CEOs instead of developing their own style.

The whole concept of beauty and attraction has been skewed for corporate profit, so just because a woman is dressed in what the media has taught us to find unattractive, does not constitute a female gaze. It’s just a new set of standards set by the media.

The female gaze does not exist because women did not set the standard.

Identity and attraction is deeply personal and unique. The fluidity of attraction goes beyond gender as we’ve seen people change what bodies and personalities can be attractive in the name of whatever we are told is trendy at the moment.

The term female gaze is not the savior of the male gaze because it still encourages objectification. The solution to the male gaze will only come from self-discovery not trends.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDIO GHIBLI

2024 allows

on the big screen.

MOVIE REVIEW

Dune: Part Two Is What A Book Adaptation Should Be

‰ Dune: Part Two masterfully continues the story of Paul Atreides and successfully brings Arrakis to life on the big-screen for 21st century audiences.

By Nicole Del Rio nicole.delrio002@mymdc.net

Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi epic Dune is a beast of a story. Not because it’s long or because of its diction, but because of the complexity within its plots and characters. Set in the distant future, humanity has abandoned Earth and formed a large feudal empire in space. Humans have discovered a substance known as “spice” which supports interstellar travel and extends lifespans, psychotropic abilities and in some cases allows clairvoyance. It’s highly addictive and is a symbol of power, so the Imperium oppresses the native Freeman population in order to control the spice trade.

The House Atreides was betrayed on Arrakis by the Harkonnens and the Emperor. They are nearly wiped out. Paul and his mother, the Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica, escape to the desert where Paul discovers strange qualities about himself.

Part Two, which was released in March, expands Paul’s role as a potential hero. The Bene Gesserit have long prophesied a messiah

that will liberate the Freeman and bring life back to the desert planet Arrakis, a prophecy that Paul seems to fit. But is he going to be Arrakis’ savior or next oppressor?

Dune: Part Two explores the corruption within politics and religion and how power can change a person. On one hand Paul wants to help the Freeman and fights alongside them while falling in love with Chani. On the other hand, he wants revenge on the Harkonnens and the Imperium for the death of his father and House Atreides.

Through Timothee Chalamet’s captivating performance, audiences are taken on Paul’s journey to becoming a leader, as well as his corruption from power and vengeance. Paul’s visions warned him of the potential danger of embracing the prophecy and exploiting the Freeman’s devotion toward it. But after numerous Harkonnen attacks and the temptation of power, he is forced to bend his morals.

The movie does not shy away from its source material’s complexity. Instead it embraces it and forces audiences to think. As a fan of the book, I noticed some changes. One that I really liked was the change to Chani’s character. The movie gives Paul’s love interest more agency as a character and has her criticize his actions rather than follow him blindly. It adds depth to their relationship

Anti-Hero: Denis Villeneuve once again adapts the 1965 sci-fi classic Dune to near perfection. and places them on more equal footing.

The cinematography and special effects are astounding as the film brings Herbert’s unique worlds to life. The scenes on Giedi Prime are shot in infrared to capture what the heavily polluted black-sunned planet would look like. It also emphasizes the harshness of House Harkonnen since the scenes are devoid of color.

Returning cast members and

new characters all give stellar performances with Austin Butler as the psychotic Feyd-Rautha and Florence Pugh as the wise Princess Irulan stealing all the scenes they are in. Once again, Rebecca Ferguson enraptured audiences highlighting the mystery and moral grayness of Lady Jessica, and Stellan Skarsgård transforms into the grotesque Baron Harkonnen with impressive prosthetics, embracing the character’s evil nature.

Hollywood can be hit or miss with book adaptations.

However, director Denis Villeneuve successfully captures the novel’s essence, while making slight updates for a 21st century audience. Whether you are a fan of the book, sci-fi nerd or casual movie goer, Dune: Part Two offers a compelling story that is worth watching.

Back to the Future: The Musical Is a Broadway Must Watch

‰ In the age of reboots and revivals, Back to the Future: The Musical uses Broadway to bring the 80s sci-fi classic to the stage.

By Alejandra Quiroz al.quirozcastillo001@mymdc.net

The Back to the Future franchise, with its three stellar movies, has created a global fan base since its original 1985 release. Now the story has expanded into a new genre: a Broadway musical.

The musical follows the lives of Marty McFly, a hopeless teenager with dreams for the future, and his friend Doc, an eccentric scientist bound to discover how to travel through time.

Showing Marty’s dissatisfaction with the lifestyle he’s living, it all turns around when Doc dies due to plutonium poisoning after creating his time-travel machine, the DeLorean.

In hopes of saving Doc, Marty travels back to 1955. However, he disrupts a critical event: his parent’s first meeting. Now Doc’s life isn’t the only one at stake but also Marty’s.

The writing choices of this musical make the audience feel euphoric because of a shared objective: good winning over bad. While this idea may seem repetitive, the appeal to pathos is well

executed enough to overcome the argument.

Even if you have not seen the original Back to the Future , this musical presents a clear storyline

for people of all backgrounds to enjoy. It is a story of hope as audiences root for Marty and supporting characters like his dad, George McFly, a nerdy student who is

constantly bullied by Biff Tannen.

The character development of George McFly is the centerpiece of this plotline, as he increasingly becomes confident enough

to confront Biff with the help of his son Marty. This, in turn, makes Marty see his dad in a different light because he realizes that George has dreams just as he does, but lacks the security to pursue them.

Though Marty is the strength factor of the story, George concludes the battle of morals by winning his final encounter with Biff, which changes his and Marty’s future forever.

The perfect words to describe the comedic choices are over the top, which arguably gets to the point of absurdity. However, it does not take away from the experience as it fits the characters’ personalities and scenes.

From bubbles throughout the venue during the Enchantment Under the Sea dance scene, to the DeLorean flying off the stage and flipping upside down, the special effects were the most memorable part and added a factor of child-like joy that tied the musical together.

This Broadway adaptation of Back to the Future is a strong consolidation of what it is to know the story you are telling and how to portray it through the different sections of a musical.

If you are new to musical theater, this is a great pick that will not leave you disappointed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNERS BROS. PICTURES

More Than Words: How Language Influences Our Decisions

‰ Language is the primary way humans communicate, yet people underestimate its influence on society. Isabelle Jean-Baptiste explores how linguistics affect our perceptions and choices.

By Isabelle Jean-Baptiste isa.jean-baptiste002@mymdc.net

People frequently ponder what life would be like if they could not see or hear, but they don’t often consider how devastating life would be without language, the number one way of connecting.

Language shapes and impacts our thoughts and perceptions, which, in turn, shape our worldviews.

But not everyone speaks the same tongue. Language and dialects vary throughout nations and can reflect differences in cultures, attitudes and social norms.

Understanding the role language plays in human interaction can help us grasp where cultural differences stem from.

Some languages have a strong focus on gender. French and Spanish commonly assign feminine or masculine endings to nouns and object pronouns, such as “la mesa” (the table, feminine noun and pronoun) or “un livre” (a book, masculine noun and pronoun).

This can also be seen in the Hindi language.

In an article for the BBC titled The Subtle Ways Language Shapes Us , Nayantura Dutta explains how a person’s gender influences the speech used to address them.

“While learning Hindi, a gendered language, I realized that I was expected to show respect to men, sometimes more than women. I wasn’t allowed to speak to my male and female classmates in the same way,” Dutta said. “With men, I was taught to use the honorific plural (Aap kya kar rahe hain? over Tu kya kar raha hai? to ask ‘What are you doing?’), but could only show respect to women using feminine endings (Aap kya kar rahin hain? over Tu kya kar rahi hai?).”

In India, women must use the right honorific when speaking to men because men are seen as superior.

This attitude of holding men to a higher standard is also reflected in how Indian women have struggled to reduce domestic violence and achieve gender equality.

Growing up in a culture with a language that emphasizes gender

in everything could assign stereotypes to what it means to be feminine or masculine and influence an entire culture’s attitude toward men and women.

Language, specifically sentence structure and grammar, also affects our perception of time.

People who speak English typically view time horizontally, moving left to right, while individuals who speak Mandarin view time vertically, with the past being up and the future moving down.

Moreover, some languages don’t conjugate their words in terms of past, present or future,

which influences people’s daily decisions.

Behavioral economist Keith Chen studied the relationship between language and economic behavior.

He found that people who spoke languages that lack strong grammatical distinctions between the future and the present, such as German, Mandarin, Japanese, Dutch and Scandinavian, viewed the future as the present and were more likely to be proactive. They were 31 percent more likely to save money and accumulated 39 percent more wealth by retirement.

On the other hand, speakers who communicated with languages that clearly distinguish the future from the present, such as English, French, Italian, Spanish and Greek, were more detached from the future and were more likely to delay in taking action.

Linguists, psychologists and cognitive scientists continue to study how speech shapes our perceptions, attitudes and decisions.

Recognizing the role of language in our lives can help us understand why we think the way we do.

Social Upheaval In Cuba Reminds Us Of The Need For Change

‰ Sandra Maria Borges explores the economic and political issues fueling the wave of protests in Santiago de Cuba on March 17.

By Sandra María Borges sandra.borges002@mymdc.net

Cuba witnessed a rarity on March 17—protests.

Hundreds participated in demonstrations throughout Santiago de Cuba—the island’s second largest city—chanting for electricity and food.

According to a report on NBC News by Ed Augustus, a British journalist based in Havana, tensions in Cuba have been simmering as a result of inflation and lack of fuel.

Although short-lived, the phenomenon echoes the social unrest of the patria y vida (homeland and life) protests in July of 2021

during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of citizens swarmed the streets demanding medical supplies and freedom from communist rule.

Since then, the Cuban government announced the cost of oil would increase 500 percent.

In an article by NPR, Cuban economist Ricardo Torres said that oil powers approximately 95 percent of the island’s electricity.

Although the average salary in

Cuba is approximately 14 pesos, it takes an estimated 4,500 pesos to fill a gas tank, as stated by Augustus in a report for NBC news in February.

Venezuela was the island’s main source of fuel, but since that nation’s economic plummet, Cuba has relied on support from Russia and Mexico.

Fuel shortages have also resulted in electricity rations throughout the island, with daily power

outages lasting from eight to 18 hours.

Prices in food, which is rationed by the government, have also soared. Egg cartons, milk and chicken cost more than 2,500 and 3,000 Cuban pesos.

But this situation is not new. The Cuban government is notorious for stripping people of power, long before its financial problems.

Cuban nationals blame the United States’ hostile stance

against the island—namely the 1962 embargo instituted under former President John F. Kennedy—for their economic strife.

The embargo, commonly referred to as el bloqueo (the blockade), hinders U.S. based companies from conducting business with Cuba. There are exemptions, however, for exporting humanitarian aid, such as food and medicine.

That begs the question—how much aid does the government actually distribute?

The island claims it’s being trampled by a world superpower. Yet, more than one million Cubans who have fled the island since the 1959 revolution sing a different song.

Cuba’s glory days, when the island was a center for international business and private industries, are a distant memory.

To top it off, there is no freedom of expression on the Caribbean island.

An Instagram post by Cubanos por el Mundo, an account dedicated to highlighting the crisis in Cuba, shows protestors being dragged by police officers.

People who are detached from the situation fail to see how Cuba’s critical condition is due to its communist dictatorship.

We need to listen to Cuba’s cry for freedom.

CUBA

ALEXANDER ONTIVEROS / THE REPORTER

Girls In Aviation Tech Day Inspires Women To Reach For The Sky

‰ Janneth K. Matute Córdova shares her experience at soFLy’s Girls In Aviation Tech Day on March 8 and explains why the event is crucial for women pursuing careers in the industry.

Women have faced persistent challenges in aviation.

They’ve also made notable achievements.

As a woman with 12 years of experience in the aerospace industry who is pursuing an associate’s degree in professional pilot technology at Miami Dade College, I have experienced both sides of the coin.

This month, I attended the soFLy Girls in Aviation Tech Day, an event organized by the Southern

Tropics chapter of Women in Aviation International, a non-profit organization that aims to equip and inspire females to explore careers in aeronautics.

The event, held on International Women’s Day at the AAR Airframe Miami MRO—an aircraft services facility—offers high school and college students hands-on experience in aviation and STEM.

It featured conference sessions, networking events, information tables, a tour of an airplane and delicious ice cream.

Historically, social bias and discrimination hindered women from accessing aviation education and employment.

Even today, females in the field encounter discrepancies in pay and lack recognition for their achievements compared to their male counterparts.

But, women have made significant contributions to the aviation industry, bringing diversity, innovation and fresh perspectives.

They have also defied gender stereotypes and paved the way for future generations, not only in the aerospace industry, but across STEM fields.

However, because aviation is still a male-dominated field, women seek role models and mentors

to help them with their careers.

Events like the soFLY Girls in Aviation Tech Day play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of female pilots, technicians and engineers.

Through conference sessions, young girls get exposure to opportunities in the aerospace industry, including avionics, mechanics, maintenance procedures, pilotry, record management and traffic control.

By listening to the success stories and struggles of experienced professionals, girls have steps they can follow.

These events also provide young women with a community to lean on when they face adversity.

Supporting and empowering women in aviation and STEM fields is essential to creating a more inclusive and innovative industry.

By providing equal opportunities, mentorship and recognition, we can unlock the potential of women in aerospace fields and inspire future generations to reach new heights.

Contrary To What Employers Believe, Gen Z Is Not Lazy

‰ Temiloluwa Alagbe addresses popular misconceptions of Gen Z employees and explains how circumstances in the 21st century bring a new wave of challenges for today’s youth.

By Temiloluwa Alagbe temiloluwa.alagbe001@mymdc.net

Gen Z is entering the workforce.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, more than 25 percent of the workforce will be composed of Gen Z employees by 2025.

Now that the younger generation is stepping into the job landscape, workplace expectations are shifting.

The ideal occupation for Gen Zers prioritizes flexibility, wellbeing, decent pay, independence and social impact. Many of these values are regurgitated through company advertisements and motivational speeches given by billionaires.

But the belief that today’s young people are lazy and unprofessional has made some employers

skeptical about hiring Gen Z adults.

A survey conducted by Resume Builder, an online platform that offers resources for job seekers, found that 36 percent of employers were biased against candidates between the ages of 18 and 27.

I disagree with the sentiment that Gen Z workers are “uncooperative” and don’t want to work. Young people today are facing challenges that older generations didn’t encounter, such as a worsening economy and vast competition.

One thing Gen Z has made clear is their distaste for working deadend jobs. As a result, job-hopping and remote work have become popular.

A study by the American freelancing platform Upwork found that 52 percent of Gen Z job seekers are opting for freelance work.

Consequently, there is more office space for more corporate jobs, yet instead of leaving it for younger people, companies are decreasing staff.

Gen Z is also grappling with mental health struggles.

A survey conducted by McKinsey & Company, an American strategy and management consulting firm, reports that approximately 55 percent of 18-24 year olds were diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder in 2022.

In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Nathan Biller, a graduate from Colgate University, expresses his frustration. “We finish college now with a diploma in hand, but lacking the real-world experience and credentials for which employers look,” Biller said.

It’s unclear what the solution to this problem is. Most of our generation is still in high school, so we are left to cope with the present state of affairs.

For Gen Z college graduates, the COVID-19 pandemic also made it difficult to obtain work experience through internships and entry level positions.

However, the job landscape is evolving and soon—we will be in charge. Companies should make an effort to engage Gen Z because they are the next generation of workers.

Plus, young people possess skills that can be assets to companies in our technology-driven society, such as tech-savviness, creativity and diversity.

The world will not stop moving because we disagree on how working should be. Young adults should have their concerns heard.