The Miami Hurricane: December 4, 2018

4

Vol. 96, Issue 13 | December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

MONTHS. STUDENT DEATHS.

ROMAN DEANA BAYLIE GROGAN YASSER ABUALFARAJ PANTEA TOURSHIZI Pages 5-9

2

OPINION

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Opinion

The Miami

HURRICANE Founded 1929

An Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame Newspaper NEWSROOM: 305-284-4401 editor@themiamihurricane.com BUSINESS OFFICE: 305-284-4401 FAX: 305-284-4404 For advertising rates call 305-284-4401 or fax 305-284-4404.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Grace Wehniainen MANAGING EDITOR Tommy Fletcher NEWS EDITOR Rebecca Goddard

BUSINESS MANAGER Ryan Yde ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Austin Furgatch

EDGE EDITOR Jordan Lewis

SALES REPRESENTATIVES Diego Torres Maxi Bonito Russie Tselentis

SPORTS EDITOR Josh White

FACULTY ADVISER Tsitsi Wakhisi

PHOTO / VISUALS EDITOR Hunter Crenian

FINANCIAL ADVISER Steve Priepke

ART DIRECTOR Caitlin Costa

SENIOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANT Demi Rafuls

OPINION EDITOR Kay-Ann Henry

DESIGNERS Gabrielle Dubilier Beverly Chesser

To reach a member of the staff visit themiamihurricane.com’s contact page.

The Miami Hurricane is published weekly during the regular academic year and is edited and produced by undergraduate students at the University of Miami. The publication does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of advertisers or the university’s trustees, faculty or administration. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of The Miami Hurricane’s Editorial Board.

Commentaries, letters and cartoons represent only the views of their respective authors. The newsroom and business office of The Miami Hurricane are located in the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200.

LETTER POLICY The Miami Hurricane encourages all readers to voice their opinions on issues related to the university or in response to any report published in The Miami Hurricane. Letters to the editor may be submitted typed or handwritten to the Student Activities Center, Student Media Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 248132, Coral Gables, Fla., 33124-6922.

Letters must be signed with a copy of your Cane Card.

ADVERTISING POLICY The Miami Hurricane’s business office is located at 1330 Miller Drive, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200. The Miami Hurricane is published on Thursdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. Newspapers are distributed for free on the Coral Gables campus, the School of Medicine and off-campus locations.

DEADLINES All ads must be received, cash with copy, in The Miami Hurricane business office, Student Activities Center Student Media Suite 200, by end of the business day Friday for Tuesday print.

SUBSCRIPTIONS The Miami Hurricane is available for subscription at the rate of $50 per year.

AFFILIATIONS The Miami Hurricane is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Florida College Press Association.

WANT TO WORK FOR US? Visit themiamihurricane.com/apply or email editor@themiamihurricane.com.

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

SENIOR COLUMN

Thank U for everything My journalism experience at the University of Miami started long before I wrote my first TMH story. (It was a

By Grace hard-hitting piece Wehniainen Editor-in-Chief about a printer scammer and I didn’t write another news story for three years—I hope they caught the guy.)

When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to attend Miami Montage, a three-weeklong program that took me and

nearly 20 other students on a bona fide journalism crash-course. We worked long hours, traveled the county for scoops, shot hoops at the Wellness Center and gorged on Chartwells. And I loved it. I got to experience the lavish Hecht dorms at 16, and made the School of Communication a comfy, happy home.

That I was able to return to that home as an actual Cane in college is a testament to the sheer generosity of the people who run Montage, and their scholarship that made the U possible for me. I had journalist dreams since I was a high-school pup, but in coming here I got to explore so many other corners of communication,

too. Screenwriting. Production.

Emails without a 1:1 sentence-toexclamation-point ratio (okay, I failed that last one).

It’s fitting that I start and end my time at UM with the paper.

Though the in-between was filled with plenty of change (in majors, interests, crushes), one thing that I’ve found to stay the same has been the sheer dedication and creativity of the people around me, the ones who welcomed me on and the ones, too, who I’m now saying goodbye to.

Journalism has never been more important, and the fact that I’ve had the chance to work with people who get that, who pursue it in such creative ways, is

something I’ve always been thankful for. As a great editor J. Jonah Jameson once said, “the power of the press triumphs.”

I hope if you’re a first-gen student, too, you realize that people are, really, rooting for you to succeed.

(I will say, though, I really dread not being around this many study spaces, Starbucks and wall outlets again after graduation. So if you see a figure huddled next to you in the Student Center next spring, typing away at her laptop, well, you know why.)

Grace Wehniainen will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Communication - Honors Motion Pictures.

POLITICS

George H.W. Bush’s politics could save America This past week we lost a war hero, public servant, and the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.

Though he began his

By Ryan presidency almost Steinburg three decades Contributing ago, in this short Columnist historical period, American politics have changed drastically.

Political polarization is the new norm both within our government and in our public discourse. Our two political parties view themselves as diabolically opposed to each other, directly competing for the hearts and minds of the American public. Agreeing or working with the other side is seen as treason.

When one party holds the most

power, the other party is expected to obstruct rather than govern.

There is no compromise. There is one winner and one loser. This degree of polarization casts serious doubt over the future health of our democracy. However, George Bush defied this dysfunction with the way in which he governed and lived his life. As perhaps the last American President to do so, his actions may provide a framework for how we can fix our democracy.

Bush passed a tax bill in 1990 in a manner that would be unthinkable in the present-day. In the midst of a temporary government shutdown, the Republican Bush sided with congressional Democrats to outweigh the opposition coming from his own party and pass a tax bill that would eventually be viewed as a success in helping turn the budget deficit into a surplus several years later. Yet,

any tax hike will be unpopular and this was only magnified by opposition coming from his own party by people as powerful as the future Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich. As such, passing this bill and the manner in which he did it ultimately cost him re-election in 1994.

We should not view this as a failure; rather we should commend such courage. It is not the job of a president to be re-elected. It’s his job to govern in a way that best serves the interests of the country, not in a way that best serves his approval rating. Sometimes that may mean raising taxes and Bush had the tremendous courage to do so despite committing the equivalent of political suicide.

When leaders from his own party withdrew support for his tax plan, Bush did not budge; instead, he reached across the aisle and worked

with the other party to create a plan that was both a compromise and the best way forward for the country. He put country over party. He placed his responsibility to govern over the preservation of party unity, just as an elected official should.

Bush’s last act in office was leaving a letter for his successor who had just beat him in re-election in which he told 42nd president Bill Clinton: “Your success is now our country’s success, I am rooting hard for you.” This was not some typical, superficial talk coming from one politician to another hoping to create a good visual. Bush was being entirely genuine. He pushed aside political consideration, instead choosing to serve with the intent of creating a better America and better world.

Ryan Steinberg is a junior majoring in political science.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Developed by

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

Exclusive Residential Sales by

3

4

OPINION

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

PERSONAL FOCUS

A tale about transferring Transferring from one college to another was like floating in the Dead Sea and then suddenly getting airlifted to the Arctic

By Dana Munro Ocean. “It’ll be Guest Columnist fine,” the pilot said from above.

“You already know how to swim.

You were just swimming.”

No sir, I was floating in the Dead Sea, big difference.

Transferring from The University of Miami to the University of Wisconsin Madison has literally been like being airlifted to the Arctic Ocean. But staying at Miami would have just felt like floating and I didn’t want to float

anymore. Though I have been yearning for just one day back in my life at Miami again, I just knew it wasn’t the place where I belonged.

I am ambitious to a fault. I was in two clubs at Miami while working for The Hurricane and being in shows. Some people have one dream job; I have three.

I have so many passions and simply don’t feel fulfilled unless I am actively pursuing all of them.

But, in my eyes, the culture at Miami is not ambitious. It is stagnant and crystallized like the seasons. Things don’t change and progress like I hoped they would.

Things are always the same: tranquil, tropical and peaceful.

But the world around Miami, the world I want to impact and invest my livelihood in, is not tranquil and peaceful. It is

broken and tarnished and full of promise and that was the world I wanted to be not just learning about but learning in. Miami was too perfect to be real and I was skeptical from the start.

I’d sit in my classes and see laptop after laptop open to Instagram or Amazon or Facebook. It wasn’t that the students didn’t care about learning; it was that they only cared about the specific thing they wanted to learn about.

But I hunger for learning about anything at all (okay maybe except math) and seize at any chance to do it and felt so isolated in a place where people didn’t seem to feel the same. I walked through campus enwrapped in thoughts about the state of our world but when I listened to the people around me they all talked about

Greek life or their next beach trip or the latest gossip in their friend group. It was clear that I just didn’t fit in. My priorities were simply not aligned with those of the students around me.

But, that said, being at Miami was the happiest two years of my life. I met some of my closest friends to this day and learned who I wanted to become. The more alienated I felt the more I sought out small communities within this big one I belonged in. I joined Best Buddies and discovered my passion for working with people with disabilities. I started working for The Hurricane and discovered my love for journalism. I molded the person I wanted to become at Miami. I just knew I had to go somewhere else to finally step into that mold.

UM is a wonderful, magical place and I know that it is a perfect fit for some people. It just wasn’t that for me. People here in Madison tell me I’m crazy for leaving Miami. But my instincts told me Miami wasn’t the place for me anymore and I know that they are the wisest of guides.

Here’s what this all boils down to: If you love Miami, that is great. If you don’t and feel like it just isn’t right for you, that is okay too. Just trust your instincts. I promise they won’t lead you astray.

Dana Munro is a TMH alum currently attending the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Her column, Glass Half Full, ran every Tuesday in spring 2018.

PERSONAL FOCUS

Former felons can change Florida’s future Florida’s midterm election not only attracted attention for its gubernatorial and Senate races, but also for its wide array of amendments that would affect the lives of emergency responders’ children, racing greyhounds, and non-sexual

By Britny and non-violent convicted Sanchez felons.

Contributing Amendment 4 returned Columnist a majority vote of “yes” on Nov. 6, restoring the right of convicted felons to vote in upcoming state and national elections.

Before this amendment was passed, exconvicts were not permitted to continue their civic duty of voting after they completed their judicial sentence. This has been challenged and protested for years and is now history.

I was especially excited to see that this amendment was passed by Florida voters. In

my personal life, I have seen this affect various people. Convicted felons are still impacted by elections, pay taxes, contribute to the economy and live their lives like any other American, only now they carry criminal records on their backs.

One of the debates on this issue was whether or not violent and sexual offenders would be granted this same restoration right. It was concluded that it would not, which might have influenced the landslide vote that the amendment received on Election Day. Many Florida voters expressed that they would not feel comfortable with violent and sexual abusers being able to voice their opinions on who gets to be in office. I have to say, I agree. While these people are still human, they’ve chosen to commit crimes that have directly harmed someone, unlike drug or whitecollar crimes that don’t always cause purposeful physical damage to a person.

With this law, over one million ex-felons will now be able to vote. For the upcoming

2020 Presidential Election, this is huge. This means that in the state of Florida, which is known as one of the key swing states, there will be another one million voices to take into consideration.

These opinions have been spoken but ignored in the past, and could now impact the way that Florida votes. It could make Florida an even more Republican state, or make the blue wave a tsunami. It’s unclear at the time which direction it will go, but it could certainly mean good things for Florida Democrats.

Historically, Democrats have been more in favor of prisoners’ rights than Republicans.

Democrats have proposed and attempted to pass bills in the Congress and Senate to shorten the sentences of prisoners, eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, and more specifically the First Step Act which aims to increase the amount of time off for good behavior.

Democrats have voiced more concerns, with the exception of a smaller number of Republicans, ex-convicts that are now going

to be registered to vote should be voting blue, and I believe that they will. As voters, we strongly believe that you should vote for who is going to represent you. Your wants, needs and concerns should be represented by the party and candidate who have your best interest at heart. For convicted felons, I would strongly urge them to register as Democrats.

It has been a long time coming for felons to be granted their right to vote once again in the state of Florida. In my past as a volunteer for Florida Democrats and other political organizations in my hometown of Naples, Florida, I have seen how hard the Democratic Party has fought to encourage people to see how vital these laws are to our society and people.

Amendment 4 has made history in this state and I hope it will influence others to do the same.

Britny Sanchez is a junior majoring in political science.

For more opinion columns, visit themiamihurricane.com.

4 MONTHS. 4 DEATHS. THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

NEWS

Students, administration react to student deaths

By Rebecca Goddard & Grace Wehniainen News Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Patricia Whitely, vice president of student affairs, was enjoying a quiet Sunday night when she received an “exceedingly sad and shocking” call from the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Investigators were calling to inform her that a University of Miami student was found dead in his off-campus apartment, an apparent homicide victim.

She found out his name the next morning: Yasser Talal Ibrahim Abualfaraj, a third-year architecture student from Saudi Arabia.

It was the third time this semester that Whitely had received this sort of bad news - and in less than two months’ time, she would receive it again. The death of freshman Pantea Azizi Tourshizi on Saturday, Dec. 1, following an out-oftown collision a week earlier, marked the

fourth time a UM student has died this semester.

The first student death occurred Aug. 28 when Roman Deana, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, died by suicide, according to the MiamiDade Medical Examiner’s report.

Sophomore Baylie Grogan, a sophomore majoring in microbiology and immunology, died Sept. 27, succumbing to injuries sustained Aug. 19 after being struck by a car.

The frequency of such news, with four deaths in as many months, prompted Whitely to call this “an exceedingly sad semester for our UM community.”

Students, too, have discussed their reactions to the news.

“College is supposed to be such a special and f lourishing time for students,” said senior Amy Grundlegor, “but before anything, it’s supposed to be safe place to grow - and that’s obviously not the case this year.”

Coco Rominger contributed to this report.

5

6

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

‘Charismatic, welcoming, genuine, pure’: A look at Abualfaraj’s life

By Rebecca Goddard & Melissa Mendez News Editor & Contributing News Writer

When Salah Alsharari walked into his apartment and saw blood, he assumed his roommate, Yasser Talal Ibrahim Abualfaraj, had accidentally cut himself. Murder never even crossed his mind.

Why would it? Friends and family members consistently described Abualfaraj as one of the kindest people they’d ever met— they all said no one would have any reason to harm him.

But when Alsharari went into the back bedroom, he found Abualfaraj dead, stabbed over 60 times and laying in a pool of blood.

Alsharari was stunned.

Abualfaraj was the third UM student to die this semester. In total, there have been four student deaths at UM since August, an unprecedented amount of tragedy for this community. sleeping longer than he expected and Abualfaraj’s death was the only spent his first night away from home murder. since moving into his Coral Gables “A random act of violence like this apartment in August 2017. is always going to be of concern,” said Alsharari returned home to his unit Vice President of Student Affairs Pat in the Santona Condominium comWhitely. “You do everything you can to plex, 6580 Santona St., Coral Gables, get as much information as you can and between 3 and 4 p.m. the next day and to respond to the situation that was put made the grisly discovery. in front of you.”

“I didn’t think that someone would Alsharari had last seen his harm him, because nobody hates him,” roommate the night before in the Pasión Alsharari said. del Cielo coffee shop near Dadeland As he continued to talk about his Mall, working on an architectural friend, Alsharari slipped between presdesign project that he expected to turn ent and past tense. “He loved everybody. in the following week.

He would not hurt anyone.”

Around 9 p.m., Abualfaraj decided Police arrived onto the scene shortly he was too tired to keep working, and after Alsharari discovered the body. UM climbed onto his black Honda Shadow student Sureni Sumathipala, who also motorcycle with lives in the Santhe intention tona Condoof returning miniums comhome to take plex, said there a nap. He told were police and “He loved everybody.

Alsharari that reporters everyhe would be where for days.

He would not hurt back in a few She said her hours, but never anyone.” first reaction to returned. the scene was Later that panic.

Salah Alsharari, roommate night, Alsharari, “I was like a second-year ‘Oh my God, architecture student, went to a friend’s something is up. I better run,’” she said. nearby apartment to continue working Police said they believe the suspect on his own project. As the hours passed, entered Abualfaraj’s apartment through he grew too tired to ride back and decid- an unlocked front door, looking for ed to take a nap. However, he ended up money or drugs. Several neighbors

Source: Facebook

within the condominium complex reported that it was common for residents to leave their doors unlocked.

Many said they considered their neighborhood safe.

“After this, we always lock our doors,” said Funning Shi, a senior management student who lived near Abualfaraj.

The Santona Condominiums are popular among UM students. They’re about a 10 minute walk from campus and are located right around the corner from a Publix grocery store.

The complex is also listed on the UM Department of Housing and Residential Life’s online search engine for discounted off-campus housing.

Listings in this database are not inspected or sanctioned by university staff.

But Alsharari found his two bedroom, two bath apartment on Craigslist for $1,500 a month. He began living there with a different roommate, but Abualfaraj moved in after the the exroommate moved back home.

Alsharari and Abualfaraj met in 2015 while studying in UM’s Intensive English Program— they’ve been friends ever since. Alsharari said they spent most of their time together working on homework, playing volleyball on campus and exploring Miami on their motorcycles.

They also spent time together in Saudi Arabia this summer, and

Alsharari said their trip was one of his favorite memories of Abualfaraj.

The friends traveled to Mecca together, making a pilgrimage to the Muslim holy land. Abualfaraj picked Alsharari up from the airport and invited him spend time in his hometown of Jeddah.

“He is so friendly to everybody,” said Alsharari. ”He’s the best. He loves to help everyone.”

But Abualfaraj’s kindness radiated far beyond his roommate.

Classmates, professors and friends all recalled his constant benevolence and thoughtfulness toward others.

Gretchen Lemon, also a third-year architecture student, said Abualfaraj was “the most open-minded person: charismatic, welcoming, genuine, pure.”

Lemon specifically remembered one night in which she, Abualfaraj and a few other students were preparing for an engineering exam— one that would occur a few weeks before Abualfaraj’s death.

Lemon’s car was parked behind the Watsco Center, a long walk from the architecture building.

When the group broke up to head home for the night, Lemon said Abualfaraj insisted on walking her to her car, determined to ensure her safety.

She said that’s just the kind of person he was.

“He was able to put things into perspective while the rest of us are

stuck worrying about the small stuff,” Lemon said.

Abualfaraj had goals for the future— he wanted to move back to his hometown of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and make contributions to his community through architecture, Lemon said.

James Brazil, one of Abualfaraj’s former professors, corroborated this passion for architecture, saying Abualfaraj had a clear “thirst and hunger for learning.”

“That’s what made him a star student,” Brazil said. “He was willing to go the extra yard, put in the extra work.

He was not afraid to fail and keep on trying.”

Brazil and Abualfaraj spent a significant amount of time together during the spring 2018 semester, working on a class design project for the annual Miami Maker Faire.

Abualfaraj was part of a small group of students that Brazil selected to be a part of the project, which included the construction of a “food wheel.”

Brazil said the initiative was an exercise in innovative and modern urban design, and that Abualfaraj played an instrumental role in creating the initial drawings and constructing the final product.

Brazil put together a book documenting the process of creating the food wheel, and said he delayed its publication in order to add a memorial page that honors Abualfaraj.

“It was a good thing that the project could give something back,” Brazil said.

“The only thing it can give back at this point is the dedication.”

Whitely noted Abualfaraj’s significance within the School of Architecture. She said notifying the close-knit group of students, faculty and staff was one of her top priorities upon hearing the news of Abualfaraj’s death.

“Everybody knew him and everyone loved him,” she said. “There was a real outpouring of affection for the impact that he had on the architecture community and the UM community at large.”

At 7 p.m. Oct. 9, more than 100 students, faculty, family and friends gathered in the architecture school courtyard to celebrate Abualfaraj’s life.

Many of them spoke about Abualfaraj’s kindness and passion, recalling memories of the impact he had on the UM community.

“Telling stories is a way to keep him

THE MIAMI HURRICANE alive,” said associate professor Jacob Brillhart. “Make sure we all love each other.”

Zaynab Ergasheva, a Florida International University student who met Abualfaraj through a mutual friend in the summer of 2017, also has fond memories of Abualfaraj.

She recalled talking to him about their shared knowledge of Turkish movies and their interest in Zaha Hadid, a famous Iraqi-British architect.

Ergasheva said her favorite memories with Abualfaraj include the many nights they’d stay up late playing video games on his Playstation.

“He always tried to make me feel welcome,” Ergasheva said.

Beyond his work in school, Ergasheva said Abualfaraj loved to sketch and draw portraits of people. He wrote poetry and enjoyed reading.

Abualfaraj was also taking a glass blowing class at UM this semester with the goal of expanding his knowledge and appreciation of the arts.

Before coming to the United States, Abualfaraj attended the Arafat Secondary School, an all-boys high school in Saudi Arabia. After graduating in 2012, he attended King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah for a year.

In 2013, Abualfaraj left home, traveled to the United States and attended an English intensive school in Washington, D.C., the LADO International Institute. The following year, he set his sights on Miami and came to UM with the goal of pursuing his passion for architecture.

Now, Abualfaraj’s body is back in Saudi Arabia. The Miami-Dade Coroner’s Office released it to the BoydPanciera Funeral Home Oct. 9. Later that month, the funeral home sent the body back to Abualfaraj’s family.

Abualfaraj had many relatives in Saudi Arabia. His Facebook page lists four brothers and three sisters under the “relationships” tab.

Many of these siblings, in addition to other Abualfaraj family members, have taken to social media to express their deep sense of loss and frustration— posts about Abualfaraj’s death dominate most of their Twitter and Facebook pages.

Numerous members of Abualfaraj’s family have also changed their profile pictures on Twitter and Facebook to a headshot of Abualfaraj. The phrase “#JusticeForYasser” appears in a red box at the bottom of the photo.

Before police apprehended the suspect, some of Abualfaraj’s family members suggested that this may have

been a hate crime. However, authorities maintain that Abualfaraj was a random target.

Robert Wayne Gore, a 28-year-old homeless man originally from Atlanta, confessed to the crime Oct. 24 after police detained him for questioning.

According to law enforcement reports, detectives found the suspect’s DNA on several items inside the apartment, including clothes and a beer can. They also watched hours of surveillance footage, and found video of Gore wearing the same clothes that were later found at the crime scene.

Following his arrest, Gore was charged with first-degree murder and armed burglary.

Since police apprehended the suspect, Abualfaraj’s family members have shifted their focus away from finding the killer. Now, they aren’t just vaguely calling for “justice”— they are specifically demanding the death penalty.

On Twitter, Abualfaraj’s brother, Ammar Talal Abualfaraj, posted Gore’s mugshot with the words “capital punishment” written in italics across the bottom. In the caption, he wrote that the Abualfaraj family will accept nothing less than the death penalty.

This same brother also retweeted a message that stated “we need to see justice served. How can a human commit such an inhumane crime, stabbing a young student not once but 60 times? We will accept nothing less than the capital punishment, as he fully deserves it.”

Under one Facebook post, a commenter called Gore “a pig in the shape of a human being.”

Gore is currently being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond and his trial hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2019.

While waiting to find out the fate of Abualfaraj’s alleged killer, friends and family remain focused on celebrating the life of the shining young man they all knew and loved.

Whitely said she hopes the UM community will remember to honor Abaulfaraj for who he was at his core: “a quiet and kind leader who cared for others.”

Alsharari had another request.

“I want everyone to pray for him and not to forget him. He loves the U— a lot.”

Emma Erickson-Kery, Danyel De Villiers, Aline Jean, Tre’Vaughn Howard, Naomy Lelis, Claudia Safavi, Abigail Adeleke, Alexis Duhaney, Glen Howard and Maxwell Trink contributed to this report.

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

NEWS

Baylie Grogan’s family honors her legacy

By Rebecca Goddard & Kay-Ann Henry News Editor & Opinion Editor

Bailey “Baylie” Grogan, a 19-year-old neuroscience major and pre-med student, was eager to begin her sophomore year at the University of Miami. The aspiring doctor spent the summer gaining class credits and reading books about the inner workings of the brain. The week before classes began, Grogan and her mother, Shawnee Baker, bonded while setting up her dorm and preparing for the upcoming school year.

On the night of August 18, she attended a classmate’s birthday party. In the early hours of August 19, Baylie was struck by a car while crossing the intersection of U.S. 1 and Red Road.

After the accident, she was immediately transported to the intensive care unit of Kendall Regional Hospital, where she remained in a coma with multiple fractures and internal injuries. On September 1, she was transferred to a Massachusetts hospital to be closer to her family. There, she spent 26 days in a coma before passing away Sept. 27 due to traumatic brain injury.

During her time at the university, Grogan did more than just study. She was a part of UM’s equestrian team and will be remembered as a dedicated sister of Zeta Tau Alpha.

“With hopes and dreams of becoming an impactful physician one day, Baylie was a hard-worker and had a strong ambition to spend her life caring for others,” the sorority wrote on social

media. “She managed to touch the life of anyone she met and truly had a heart of gold.”

Though she was reluctant to speak to media outlets, Grogan’s mother, Shawnee Baker, has been also been actively grieving on social media.

After he Grogan’s death, she shared numerous remembrance photos and expressed love for her daughter.

On Oct. 14, she shared an event titled “A Celebration for Baylie,” a memorial service in Grogan’s hometown of North Hampton, New Hampshire.

“She was such a perfect daughter, good person, and role model for others,” Baker wrote in a Facebook message. “She was smart and compassionate, she studied hard, worked all summer as a lifeguard and hostess while taking extra courses. She was always the good girl and responsible one. She looked after all her friends. She was just so amazing and almost too sweet and kind. It’s just so devastating and unreal.

She was my whole life.”

She also expressed concerns over the details of the incident, mentioning that they are still questions surrounding the circumstances of Grogan’s death.

For Baker, the following questions remain: “[Grogan] was given water in a solo cup from a strange guy and drank only water from 11pm until 3am. Was it drugged?

We don’t know. Why was she alone? We don’t know, she had been with friends. She walked and we don’t know why, as she had taken Uber’s earlier.”

Grogan’s family plans to honor her legacy with memorials such as park benches, plaques and trees throughout both the U.S. and Canada.

In her latest Facebook post, Baker announced that she is expecting a baby girl in a few weeks and that they will embrace this new life just as Grogan would have wanted.

Iris Maryland contributed to this report.

Source: Blessings For Baylie Grogan (GoFundMe)

7

8

NEWS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

Suspect’s social media sheds light on drug use

By Kay-Ann Henry, Naomi Feinstein & Danyel De Villiers Opinion Editor & Contributing Writers

“He was living an animalistic life.

Something probably happened where he just snapped and lost his sh*t, and then this poor kid lost his life.”

James St. James said he met Robert Wayne Gore when they were in rehab together. He witnessed firsthand the extent of Gore’s drug addiction, who he said was starting to raise red flags.

“I know for a fact that he was getting really heavy with molly and he was shooting that,” St. James said. “I would catch him running around the sidewalks with his shirt off screaming at the top of his lungs,” he said.

Gore, 28, was arrested Oct. 24 in connection with the murder of University of Miami architecture student, Yasser Talal Ibrahim Abualfaraj.

After police questioning, Gore confessed to the crime.

Prior to this incident, Gore had multiple arrests in Miami-Dade County dating back to 2010. According to the County Clerk’s office, these charges included petty theft, possession of

cannabis, disorderly intoxication, trespassing, panhandling and resisting an officer without violence.

Other than his previous run-ins with the law, not much is known about Robert Wayne Gore.

Public records show that Gore was listed as homeless after his first arrest. He had a Cutler Bay address for some time in 2014, but went back to being listed as homeless in all his arrest records since then.

“Robert was a booster,” said St. James, explaining that on the streets, a booster is someone who steals for a living. “He had a tendency to migrate out of his neighborhood to go do his illegal activities, and he’d break in to places. This isn’t based on fact or anything, but I do know Robert’s pattern.”

St. James also said Gore had been an addict for nearly a decade. Mark Kastanova and James St. James, both Facebook friends of Gore’s presumed account, attest to meeting Robert in a rehabilitation center in the fall of 2017.

However, Kastanova said rehab didn’t work for Gore.

“He was still throwing himself down the tubes and I can’t surround myself with people like that,” Kastanova

Remembering Roman Deana

By Rebecca Goddard & Morgan Threatt News Editor & Contributing News Writer news@themiamihurricane.com

Roman Deana was a “witty, smart, funny, clever son whom his family loved very much,” said dad Daniel Deana.

Daniel Deana, who spoke at a “Celebration of Life” service for his son Sept. 10, said Roman chose to go to the University of Miami because “this is where he thought all the best and brightest kids in Florida went.”

During the second week of classes, Roman Deana died by suicide in his residential college room, according to the MiamiDade Medical Examiner.

He studied here alongside twin brother Anthony, the pair hailing from Panama City, Florida.

On campus, he was on the Dean’s List during spring 2018, and was remembered warmly by peers and professors.

Noel Ziebarth, an associate professor in the department of biomedical engineering, highlighted Deana’s kind-hearted nature. She said Deana will always live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

It was an idea echoed by Daniel Deana, who said that the large number of people who attended the ceremony was a testament to the strength of the UM community.

“So long as his friends and family are alive, he’ll always live on in our hearts,” said Daniel Deana.

The family will be taking the year off to travel together, he said, and Anthony Deana is likely to return next fall to finish his senior year.

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

Source: Miami-Dade Corrections

said, referencing the injection of drugs.

“You can clearly tell he’s lost it.”

Gore’s social media presence also sheds light on who he was.

A Facebook account under the name Robert Gore featured consistent posts up until Oct. 2017. The friends list is private, but most of the photos and recent posts are public.

Gore’s profile says that he worked at GL Staffing, studied at Miami Dade College, went to Miami Southridge Senior High School and is originally from Atlanta.

The bio reads, “do good to me and vice versa, all bout peace and good vibes, peace.love.unity.respect #plur.”

Though he often shared typical viral content, many of Gore’s more personal posts were nonsensical.

On September 22, 2017, he wrote, “Last night I was scary of the clown in my basement, couldn’t sleep, Donald Trump called an assured me there was no clown… or a Jesus in life so get some sleep,.,. Slept like A-babii.”

And there are other posts that allude to Gore’s ongoing struggles.

On Aug. 21, 2017, he posted, “For a long time…I’ve wanted nothing in life, I’ve been neutral, watching life pass me by,

Aug. 19 Sophomore Baylie Grogan is struck by a car at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Red Road early in the morning. She sustained severe injuries and was placed in the ICU with an induced coma.

friends growing, dying, falling in love… and suddenly I’m alone, wondering ‘what happened.’ Then instead of laughing, learning or loving, I chose to numb.”

However, prior posts indicate Gore was dedicated to getting his life back on track, focusing on his road to recovery.

He posted about working 11 hours a day, making his mom proud and improving his situation.

“I’m having hard time finding a job with all my convictions,” Gore wrote in a Facebook post on Sept. 15, 2017.

“I’m not going to stop looking or give up having faith in myself. I just need a push.”

Gore’s last Facebook post was on Oct. 10, 2017. As his activity on the platform dwindled, Gore used Instagram under the username @robertgore1.

On Sept. 26, 2018, only two weeks before Abualfaraj’s murder, he posted a video featuring what appears to be marijuana, with the caption,“Filled uP with love, for tHe 1 that knew me best …

Molly where thou you have taken me suit Rip.” Gore’s lawyer, UM Law graduate and public defender Steven N. Yermish, declined to comment on the case.

“He was living an animalistic life.

Something probably happened where he just snapped and lost his sh*t, and then this poor kid lost his life.”

James St. James said he met Robert Wayne Gore when they were in rehab together. He witnessed firsthand the extent of Gore’s drug addiction, who he said was starting to raise red flags.

“I know for a fact that he was getting really heavy with molly and he was shooting that,” St. James said. “I would catch him running around the sidewalks with his shirt off screaming at the top of his lungs,” he said.

Gore, 28, was arrested Oct. 24 in connection with the murder of University of Miami architecture student, Yasser Talal Ibrahim Abualfaraj.

After police questioning, Gore confessed to the crime.

Prior to this incident, Gore had multiple arrests in Miami-Dade County dating back to 2010. According to the County Clerk’s office, these charges included petty theft, possession of cannabis, disorderly intoxication, trespassing, panhandling and resisting an officer without violence.

Other than his previous run-ins with the law, not much is known about Robert Wayne Gore.

Public records show that Gore was listed as homeless after his first arrest. He had a Cutler Bay address for some time in 2014, but went back to being listed as homeless in all his arrest records since then.

“Robert was a booster,” said St. James, explaining that on the streets, a booster is someone who steals for a living. “He had a tendency to migrate out of his neighborhood to go do his illegal activities, and he’d break in to places. This isn’t based on fact or anything, but I do know Robert’s pattern.”

St. James also said Gore had been an addict for nearly a decade. Mark Kastanova and James St. James, both Facebook friends of Gore’s presumed account, attest to meeting Robert in a rehabilitation center in the fall of 2017.

However, Kastanova said rehab didn’t work for Gore.

“He was still throwing himself down the tubes and I can’t surround myself with people like that,” Kastanova said, referencing the injection of drugs.

“You can clearly tell he’s lost it.”

Gore’s social media presence also sheds light on who he was.

A Facebook account under the name Robert Gore featured consistent posts up until Oct. 2017. The friends list is private, but most of the photos and recent posts are public.

Gore’s profile says that he worked at GL Staffing, studied at Miami Dade College, went to Miami Southridge Senior High School and is originally from Atlanta.

NEWS 9

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

Source: Facebook

International freshman dies after out-of-town collision

By Grace Wehniainen Editor-in-Chief editor@themiamihurricane.com Hunter Crenian // Photo & Visuals Editor SCENE OF THE CRIME: Abualfaraj lived in apartment 20 in the 6580 Santona Condominiums with roommate Salah Alsharari when he was murdered in October. At the time, the condominium complex was regarded as relatively safe area where it was common for residents to leave their doors opened and unlocked.

The bio reads, “do good to me and vice versa, all bout peace and good vibes, peace.love.unity.respect #plur.”

Though he often shared typical viral content, many of Gore’s more personal posts were nonsensical.

On September 22, 2017, he wrote, “Last night I was scary of the clown in my basement, couldn’t sleep, Donald Trump called an assured me there was no clown… or a Jesus in life so get some sleep,.,. Slept like A-babii.”

And there are other posts that allude to Gore’s ongoing struggles.

On Aug. 21, 2017, he posted, “For a long time…I’ve wanted nothing in life,

I’ve been neutral, watching life pass me by, friends growing, dying, falling in love… and suddenly I’m alone, wondering ‘what happened.’ Then instead of laughing, learning or loving, I chose to numb.”

However, prior posts indicate Gore was dedicated to getting his life back on track, focusing on his road to recovery.

He posted about working 11 hours a day, making his mom proud and improving his situation.

“I’m having hard time finding a job with all my convictions,” Gore wrote in a Facebook post on Sept. 15, 2017.

“I’m not going to stop looking or give up having faith in myself. I just need a push.”

Gore’s last Facebook post was on Oct. 10, 2017. As his activity on the platform dwindled, Gore used Instagram under the username @robertgore1.

On Sept. 26, 2018, only two weeks before Abualfaraj’s murder, he posted a video featuring what appears to be marijuana, with the caption,“Filled uP with love, for tHe 1 that knew me best …

Molly where thou you have taken me suit Rip.” Gore’s lawyer, UM Law graduate and public defender Steven N. Yermish, declined to comment on the case.

Like many students, Pantea Azizi Tourshizi visited family over Thanksgiving break.

The freshman microbiology major, an international student from Italy, had “adjusted well to the USA and simply went to California to be with her aunt and family,” for the holiday, said Vice President of Student Affairs Patricia Whitely.

But she would not return to school. As she was traveling around Walnut Creek, California, with family members just after midnight on Saturday, Nov. 24, their car was struck head-on by a pick-up truck driver suspected of driving under the influence, according to the East Bay Times.

Tourshizi was critically injured and, on Saturday, Dec. 1, she died as a result of her injuries.

Since the initial accident, her father, Shahram Azizi Tourshizi, and other family members shared photos of Pantea Azizi Tourshizi on Facebook. There are images of her in what appears to be her graduation ceremony, clips of her as a child and well wishes written in a variety of languages. Pantea Azizi Tourshizi’s profile indicates that she lived in Rome, but was originally from Dubai.

Whitely expressed her grief, too, calling the death “simply so sad and tragic.” A memorial is planned to be held 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Stanford Faculty Apartment.

When asked for comment, Shahram Aziz Tourshizi replied simply with a heart.

Sept. 1

Oct. 6

Oct. 9

Oct. 14

Oct. 25

Dec. 1

Grogan is flown to a Boston hospital, closer to her hometown of North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Yasser Abualfaraj is last seen by his roommate around 9 p.m. leaving a coffee shop, where the two of them had spent the evening working on school projects.

UM’s School of Architecture holds a vigil for Abualfaraj at 7 p.m. More than 100 students, faculty, family and friends attended.

Grogan’s family holds a celebration of life memorial at the Wentworth By The Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire.

Gore is denied bond in court, facing charges of first-degree murder and armed burglary.

Tourshizi dies after a week in the hospital.

Senior Roman Deana dies by suicide at 3:16 p.m. on the second floor of Pearson Residential College, in the room he shared with twin brother Anthony Deana.

Grogan dies in Boston after five weeks in a coma.

Abualfaraj’s roommate finds him dead with “multiple signs of trauma”

Aug. 28

Sept. 27

Oct. 7

The Miami-Dade Police Department releases an eyewitness sketch of a man wanted for questioning in the investigation of Abualfaraj’s homicide.

28-year-old Robert Wayne Gore is arrested in connection with Abualfaraj’s death. The arrest affidavit stated that Gore entered Abualfaraj’s unlocked apartment and stabbed the student more than 60 times.

Oct. 24

Freshman Pantea Azizi Tourshizi sustains severe injuries in a car accident while visiting family in Walnut Creek, California. The other driver involved was suspected to be driving under the influence.

Nov. 24

A memorial is scheduled for Tourshizi at UM.

Dec. 5

10

EDGE

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

Genesis Cosme // Contributing Photographer WINTER WONDERLAND: Sebastian the Ibis sparkles in student-made University of Miami themed snow globe.

Christmas DIY: Winter Snow Globe

By Genesis Cosme Contributing Edge Writer

The end of every semester leaves us all feeling weary and uninspired. We find ourselves reminiscing about more stress-free times, from formals to homecoming week to football games.

Capturing these memories in a whimsical little bubble, protected from the chaos of finals, is not too far-fetched with a snow globe just at the end of your keyboard.

Do it yourself snow globes serve both as a foolproof study break or holiday gift for a friend.

Creating one of these perfect worlds yourself is inexpensive, 100 percent customizable and makes your memories all the more valuable.

All you’ll need is a clean jar, a photo of your choice, clear packaging tape, a small piece of styrofoam, glitter, a hot glue gun and spare glue sticks, water, and light corn syrup. You can also

add small winter-themed figurines for more of a holiday touch.

Begin with prepping your photo. To do this, cut around the edges of the photo so that it will fit the width of your clear packaging tape. Stick the image to the tape, fold the tape over the back, and smooth out any air bubbles so that it is wellsealed and won’t be damaged by the water. You can also opt to get the photo laminated to be extra careful.

Next, trim the piece of Styrofoam to fit the underside of the jar lid. The Styrofoam will help to elevate your photo and figurines just past the screw-like rim so you can see everything perfectly on the side of the jar.

Create a slit on the Styrofoam to fit your photo in and keep it in place with a dab of hot glue. Glue your figurines, if any, to the Styrofoam as well, then glue the Styrofoam to the underside of the jar lid.

Some people use glycerin in their DIY snow globe water mixtures to help the glitter fall more gradually. Since glycerin may be hard to find in some stores, light corn syrup works just as well.

Fill the jar with water, mix in a teaspoon of light corn syrup and add a glitter of your choice. Fine glitter performs best. Start with a small amount, then add more as desired.

All that’s left now is to screw your lid tightly into place. If you think your lid may not fit snuggly enough, use hot glue to seal it shut. It just may be a bit difficult to open it again once it cools. Decorating the outside with twine or string also adds a nice touch, but is totally optional.

Shake up your magical world, then watch the “snow” fall peacefully. That favorite, fleeting memory from the semester now might just stand the test of time (and finals).

Genesis Cosme // Contributing Photographer

Genesis Cosme // Contributing Photographer

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

EDGE

11

Holidays in Miami: a whole latke things to do

By Anna Timmons Contributing Edge Writer

The holiday season is officially here. For many, Miami doesn’t seem to be the most festive place to celebrate, but despite our lack of snow and sweater weather, there are still tons of fun things you can do to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.

Hanukkah Menorah Lighting: Join the Hillel center each night of Hanukkah (Dec. 1-10) as they light the menorah and celebrate.

LatkePalooza: On Tuesday, Dec. 4th, Hillel will be hosting LatkePalooza from 4-6 p.m.

Go with your friends to enjoy some delicious traditional latkes and donuts.

Watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas on the water at Oleta River State Park: While it is a bit of a drive, you won’t want to miss this holiday event! Pack some friends into a car or split an uber and head up to Oleta to sit in inner tubes, enjoy some Grinch Juice and watch this holiday Christmas classic. The event will take place on Dec. 8 from 6:30-9:30 PM, and tickets and tubes together are $15. Make sure to buy ahead because this event usually sells out!

Go watch a holiday movie: Every Saturday at noon, through the end of December, participating Regal theaters (Kendall, Southland, South Beach, and UA Falls) will be playing fan-favorite holiday movies for only $5! For an additional $5, Regal Crown Club members can get a popcorn and drink combo, too. (To register for Regal Crown Club, visit https://www. regmovies.com/register#/account/register.)

Try some gourmet hot cocoa: Who says 80-degree weather should stop you from enjoying this classic holiday drink? Try any one of these great spots near campus for a yummy hot chocolate experience. For a yummy hot chocolate experience try Chef Sucre Café, Chocolate Fashion or Honeybee Doughnuts.

Zoo Lights: Every Friday and Saturday in December, Zoo Miami will be decked out in holiday lights. For $15.95, you can get into the zoo, check out some adorable animals, and walk around, looking at their light displays while enjoying special performances, holiday music, hot cocoa, and cookies. Each of the Zoo Lights Nights has special themes for guests to dress up.

Themes are as follows: Dec. 7-8: Ugly Sweater Contest Dec. 14-15: Superhero Night

Dec. 21-22: Santa and Elf Look-a-like Contest Dec. 28-29: Holiday Lights Night Coral Gables Tree Lighting Ceremony: Dec. 7 from 5-10 p.m., go to see the Coral Gables annual Holiday Spectacular, as the community gathers to see the giant tree at city hall light up Biltmore Way. Enjoy musical performances and food vendors.

Hanukkah Chabad: Take a break from studying for finals and go to Hillel’s special breakfast themed Hanukkah Chabad for some comfort food and a great time!

Attend a Holiday Concert: If you love music or just want something to do right here on campus, head to one or both of these concerts.

Winter Wonderland: A Celebration of Holiday and Seasonal Music by the Greater Miami Symphonic Band — Dec. 11th at 7 p.m. in Gusman Hall. Tickets are $15.

Swinging for the Holidays with the Stephen Guerra Big Band — Dec. 14th at 8 p.m. from Gusman Hall. Come to hear some of your favorite classic holiday songs FREE to all UM Students.

Bark the Halls: Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Wharf from 12-7 p.m. Either bring your

Hanukkah DIY: Sufganiyah

By Natalia Rovira Staff News Writer

Hanukkah has arrived! It’s finally time to spin the dreidel, light the candles on the menorah, and put on that one pair of Hanukkah socks you’ve been waiting to pull out of your closet since last year.

To kick off this Hanukkah season, here is an authentic, traditional Israeli donut recipe for sufganiyah that my father always fries up when the holidays roll around the corner. It was passed on to him from a friend’s Israeli neighbor who has had the recipe in her family for as far back as she can trace her family tree.

Although today a typical sufganiyot donut is round and filled with jelly, the version is flatter and jelly-less. This is an ancient form of the classic Israeli treat, but you can alter this recipe for sufganiyot into a more modern one by filling a cooked donut with some jam through a pastry bag.

Take this recipe home over winter break and try it out for yourself. It’s incredibly simple, and you don’t have to celebrate Hanukkah to enjoy a sweet, soft, delectable sufganiyot. Happy baking, everyone!

Ingredients

2 and one-half cups of all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 pinch of kosher salt 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar 3 and three-fourths cups of plain yogurt 2 large brown eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Three-fourths cup of frying oil (canola, grapeseed, or light olive oil are suitable) One-half cup powdered sugar

Making the batter

1. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.

2. Whisk together the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl.

3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently whisk until you have fully incorporated the two mixtures into each other.

Frying the doughnuts

1. Prepare a platter for the doughnuts by placing a paper towel over a large serving plate.

2. Pour the oil into a frying pan and warm it at medium-high heat. You know the oil is hot enough to start frying when you sprinkle some

drops of water over the pan and the oil sizzles and pops.

3. Pour a small ladle’s worth of batter from the bowl into the oil into a pancake-like shape.

You should be able to fit at least three or four of these comfortably in the pan. Do this carefully to avoid being splashed on by the hot oil!

4. Flick oil from the pan onto the doughnuts with the slotted spoon while they are cooking.

5. When a doughnut’s edges begin to brown and curl a bit, and the doughnut itself has risen slightly and formed small bubbles on the surface (takes just under three minutes), you are ready to flip it over. Using a slotted metal spoon and an offset spatula as an aid, flip the doughnut onto its other side. Again, watch the splash!

6. After about another three minutes, take the doughnut out from the pan using the slotted spoon and offset spatula. Mildly shake the doughnut back and forth in the spoon to remove some of the excess oil.

7. Place the fried doughnut onto the paper towel over the platter to absorb more of the grease. Keep the platter somewhere warm.

8. Once you have used up the rest of the batter, finish preparing the doughnuts with powdered sugar, sifted through a strainer. Serve warm and enjoy!

own dog, or just come to hang out with adorable puppies, and enjoy delicious food from a variety of food truck vendors.

Frost Science Museum Laser Friday Special Holiday Edition: If you’re still around on Dec. 21, head to the Frost Science Museum at 7 p.m. to watch a festive laser show in the planetarium while listening to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Fantasy. Entrance is $10.

Santa’s Enchanted Forest: At Santa’s, enjoy fair style rides, tons of food vendors, games, and beautiful displays of lights. This is a must-do for many Miami natives every Christmas season.

Tickets are $35.

Head to the Beach: To truly have a Miami Christmas and make all your friends up north jealous, take a break and head to the beach to enjoy your last few days of warm weather before the break. After all, isn’t that why you came here in the first place?

While all of these events are fun, the holidays are less about what you are doing and more about who you are with. So, to really enjoy this season, make sure you spend it with the friends, family, and people you love.

12 SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

FOOTBALL

8-0

The Miami Hurricanes are 8-0 against opponents they have previously lost to during Mark Richt’s tenure.

UM reacts to Turnover Chain 2.0 amid underwhelming season The University of Miami endured a disappointing regular season, but the Hurricanes’ lackluster record is not the only thing that seems to have fans in a funk.

While some are questioning coaches about controversial game plays, others are wondering why coaches tinkered this year with the U’s flashiest icon – the immensely popular Turnover Chain.

Created by local jeweler Anthony John Machado, “The King of Bling,” the 2017 Turnover Chain sported an orange and green sapphire-encrusted “U” medallion attached to a 10-karat gold link chain weighing 4.4 pounds.

Football players flaunted the chain on covers of magazines, newspapers and websites.

Thousands of fans wore printed versions on their T-shirts, and several university teams devised copycat spinoffs.

“Whenever they bring it out during the games, the stadium goes nuts,” said Ian Malesiewski, a freshman neuroscience major.

But this year, UM coaches decided to make some changes.

The new reveal happened Sept. 8, when Canes cornerback Trajan Bandy dawned the new Turnover Chain after recovering a fumble during the second quarter against Savannah State.

The U is replaced with Sebastian, UM’s mascot, decked out in 4,000 semi-precious stones.

At 8.5 inches wide, the chain is three inches wider than the original, and nearly 2.2 pounds heavier.

“Honestly, the Ibis just took the Turnover Chain to the next level with the detailing, the size, the weight and a throwback to Miami’s original swag with the old-school Sebastian,” Machado said.

Did coaches make a bad call to bench the U and bring in Sebastian?

The Miami Hurricane interviewed about 150 UM students, staff and faculty in October and November about their preferences. The majority of the respondents – more than 80 percent – are giving the new chain a thumbs down.

“The bird looks tacky,” said Emily Tsokopoulos, a fall transfer student who has had season tickets for the past two years.

Others said the new medallion was too big.

“It’s so big, and looks like it came out of a cereal box,” said Talia Mereles, a broadcast journalism major.

Some, like Makelsey Page, said they did not take issue that Sebastian replaced the U, but said the look is overwhelming.

“The actual execution, with all of the gems, makes it look very busy and a bit too much,” said Page, a marine science and biology major.

Several survey respondents, including math lecturer Joy Beverly, said the new chain is not aesthetically appealing.

“I prefer the U because I find beauty in the symmetry of the design,” said Beverly, who attends a couple of games each season.

Beverly said she likes the reason behind the chain even more.

“I like the fact that an athlete is thanked and recognized for his efforts,” Beverly said.

“The concept of recognizing extraordinary effort and sacrifice is one we should carry into other areas of our lives.”

Lien Tran, an assistant professor of interactive media, also said she liked the U medallion for its simplicity.

“The new Sebastian design

Josh White // Sports Editor BAD REVIEWS: Sophomore cornerback Trajan Bandy becomes the first Hurricanes to celebrate with the new “Sebastian the Ibis” Turnover Chain.

has some amazing craftsmanship and details up close from what I’ve seen in the photos, but these are things that probably aren’t so discernible in the media coverage of the games,” Tran said.

Sebastian may be good on the field to rouse the fan base during games, but the U is what people know, many of those surveyed said.

Brian Weinblatt, senior director of development at School of Communication, said the U is part of the official UM logo. The team should have kept “one of the most recognizable brands in higher education” on the turnover chain, he said.

Caitlyn Tolchin, a sophomore studying sports administration, agrees that the U is more

recognizable.

“I think that people got it easier,” said Tolchin, who attends every football game as a member of the Hurricanettes dance team.

“If you’re an outsider and you don’t go here, you obviously know the logo of the U, but sometimes people don’t know that the ibis is our thing.”

Sophomore Tiffini Roberti said she agrees.

“We are branded for our U symbol, and it makes more of a statement,” Roberti said. “We are constantly throwing up the U.” Like many respondents, Jailah Williams, a freshman criminology and international studies major, said Sebastian draped in 4,000 stones is overkill.

“I get that it’s supposed to be all about charisma, but it’s just too loud,” Williams said.

But loud and flashy are what Jordan Craft, a management and marketing major in the Miami Business School, said he likes about the new chain.

“It’s gaudier and more iced out than the old one,” Craft said.

“I think the U was more iconic, but the Sebastian is icy, and I’m here for it.”

Virgilio Capote, a senior communications major, said the ibis better represents the university.

The more bling, the better, said professor Tom Koulouris, who teaches construction management in the College of Engineering.

(CONTINUES ON PAGE 13)

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

SPORTS 13

FROM PAGE 12 “Nothing can compare to Sebastian the ibis,” Capote said. “I attend almost every home game and love seeing the chain because it perfectly communicates what Miami is all about -- flashy, in your face and sometimes overpriced.”

Machado said he and the Canes’ defensive coaches collaborated on the new design.

“We knew we wanted a more detailed design that would surpass the success of last year’s turnover chain,” Machado said. “Once we agreed on the general idea, I began the design process and presented the coaches with the final sketch.”

“It’s very out there,” said Koulouris, who prefers the new chain. “We’ve got to maintain the U’s swagger.”

Initially, the Turnover Chain seemed like a lucky charm, not only for U swagger but for the team’s defensive performance. In 2016, the season before the chain was introduced, the

Hurricanes had 19 turnovers. In 2017, Miami forced 31 takeaways.

But this year there has been a dropoff. The Hurricanes have accumulated 24 turnovers heading into their bowl game against Wisconsin.

While some published reports say the heavy, jeweled chain costs nearly $100,000, university officials have not talked about how much the school actually paid for the chain or how it financed the costs.

Hurricane fans, however, have their ideas.

“I’m sure the chain was given by some philanthropists, probably not paid

by UM funds,” said George Gonzales, a political science professor.

Eli Anton, a freshman economics major, said he’d rather see the school investing in projects that would benefit the general student body, such as more microwaves in the food court and better meals in the dining halls.

“That’s my whole $70,000 tuition right there in one chain,” said freshman Tavia Cox. Whether they are for or against the changes, many say they don’t understand why a change was needed after one season.

“I like the new chain, but I miss the old one,” said Sarah Navid, a sophomore biochemistry major. “It makes me wonder if we are going to get a new chain every year.”

“I hope not,” said School of Communication Dean Gregory Shepherd. “I think it would be nice to establish a tradition.”

Weinblatt said consistency counts.

“I don’t think the chain should change from year to year,” Weinblatt said. “Traditions occur when you keep the same thing going over a long time.”

Coleman Ayers, an exercise physiology major, said he agrees that a new chain each year is a good business

investment for the university. Eventually the profits from merchandise inspired by the chain will compensate for the money spent on the actual chain itself, he said.

“They’ve already sold a lot of the shirts from last year with the turnover chain on it,” Ayers said. “Since they made a new one, everyone is going to go and buy the shirt with the new design.”

Valory Greenman, a senior program coordinator, said if the university wants to retire the chain each year, it should benefit students.

“What they should do at the end of each season is take the retired chain and auction it off to benefit academics or students with financial needs,” Greenman said.

Coaches slipped out the new turnover chain without warning, and there is no word that a new one is in the making. If turnover chain 3.0 is to come out next season, Machado said he will

need a few months to prepare.

“A design of that type of caliber involving such an intricate detail and the amount of stones that are set onto the pendant takes about four months from start to finish,” Machado said.

Machado encourages fans still in love with the first Turnover Chain to not despair.

“Both designs have been outstanding, and the first chain started a trend in college football, so it will forever hold a special place,” Machado said.

Abigail Adeleke, Danyel DeVilliers, Alexis Duhaney, Emma Erickson-Kerry, Rebecca Goddard, Ellie Horwitz, Glen Howard, Tre’Vaughn Howard, Aline Jean, Naomy Lelis, Iris Maryland, Melissa Mended, Morgan Threatt, Maxwell Trink and Coco Rominger contributed to this story.

FOOTBALL

Miami set for rematch against Wisconsin in Pinstripe Bowl

By Josh White Sports Editor @_JoshRWhite sports@themiamihurricane.com

Start spreadin’ the news. The Miami Hurricanes are heading to the Big Apple.

On Sunday, Dec. 2, Miami accepted a bid to play in the Pinstripe Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Hurricanes and the Badgers will kickoff at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium with the contest televised on ESPN. “The bowls are interesting in that it’s the finish of this year and it’s kind of the beginning of next year,” Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said. “So, it’s very meaningful to our seniors. Obviously, it’ll be the last game that they’ll wear that uniform and wear the ‘U’ on their helmet.

But it’s also important for our young guys, too, to have a great performance working ourselves into the offseason and into next year. It’s big for a lot of reasons.”

Last season, Wisconsin defeated Miami 34-24 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Less than one year later, the Hurricanes will have

the opportunity to avenge that loss and cap off a turbulent season with a three-game winning streak.

“We know Wisconsin is a very good team, played them last year, obviously and didn’t get it done,” Richt said. “We know they’re an outstanding team and we believe we are too, so, I think it’ll be a great matchup.”

Wisconsin (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) and Miami (7-5, 4-4 ACC) both started the season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Badgers checked in at No. 4, four spots ahead of the Hurricanes, in the preseason poll.

“Neither season went the way either team had planned at the beginning of the year,” Miami Director of Athletics Blake James said. “This is an opportunity to bring two great programs together and have another shot to see who’s going to end the season with eight victories.”

Most postseason prognosticators expected Miami would likely remain in Florida and play in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Jacksonville.

However, last-minute bowl reshuffling slotted the Syracuse Orange in the Camping World Bowl—rather than the previously projected Pinstripe

Bowl—and North Carolina State ended up in the Gator Bowl, ultimately sending the Hurricanes to the Pinstripe Bowl, another one of the ACC’s Tier 1 Bowl Games.

Yet, James believes a game against Wisconsin in New York will drive Miami fans to watch their beloved Hurricanes. New York City has the most Miami alumni outside of South Florida with 11,800 former UM students living in the area.

“That northeast corridor, I think we’ll have a lot of people that will be excited to have us up there and they’ll come out,” James said. “I think our alumni and fan base really will be excited to be there and what’s not to be excited about? It’ll be a great game against a great institution and football program and one hosted by a worldclass organization.”

The bowl berth marks Miami’s sixth consecutive postseason appearances and its third straight under Richt. The Hurricanes have gone 2-8 in their last 10 bowl games, including a 31-14 victory over West Virginia in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl under Richt — their first bowl victory in a decade.

“I’m sure a lot of our guys have

never been to New York and they’ll get to see some things they’ve never seen,” Richt said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of events and experiences these guys will be able to have that maybe they wouldn’t have had the chance to have.

I think that’s important. Just getting the chance to play another game is

huge and hopefully, guys will benefit from it.”

Miami has not played in a bowl game in New York since it lost to Nebraska 35-34 in the 1962 Gotham Bowl. ACC teams are 1-3 all-time in the Pinstripe Bowl since it was established in 2010.

Josh White // Sports Editor BOWL BOUND: Miami is 1-1 in bowl games under coach Mark Richt, including a 31-14 win over West Virginia in the 2016 Russell Athletic bowl.

14 SPORTS

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

ROUNDUP

Basketball falters, records broken in the water

By Maxwell Trink Senior Sports Writer @MaxwellTrink

Men’s Basketball

After falling to Seton Hall in the Wooden Legacy Championship, the Hurricanes extended their losing-streak to three games.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeated the Hurricanes 57-54 Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Watsco Center as a part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Ebuka Izundu started off the contest strong notching his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. However, the senior center battled leg cramps and left the game early.

“Our energy level was sapped...The flight over to California was 3,000 miles, the flight back was 3,000 miles, we played three games over four days out there and we have only seven guys,” Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga said.

“We could have used Anthony Mack tonight, but he was sick and unable to be at the game.

Without Ebuka down the stretch, we didn’t have an inside game. Our guys could all use a break to rest and recover, but we just don’t have the bodies.”

Miami shot a season-low 33.8 percent with leading scorer Chris Lykes notching just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.

“We didn’t have energy as a team, and mentally we were not there, either,” Lykes said. “We have to regroup. Coach told us at halftime we have to pick up our energy. We were lethargic, turning the ball over a lot. As a point guard, I have to be better than that.

That’s on me. My responsibility. I can’t have five turnovers in one half.”

Senior guard Anthony Lawrence II

registered a team-high 16 points and chipped in eight boards.

Saturday evening, the Hurricanes were upset by the Yale Bulldogs 77-73 at in the Hoophall Miami Invitational at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

Miami squandered a 15-point lead and ultimately failed to score in the final 3:21.

“First half we scored 49 points and shot 53 percent, but we were just not in sync offensively in the second half, and I wish I knew why,” Larrañaga said. “If you go 1-for-12 from three in the second half, you can’t win. We scored 49 first half, and 24, half of that, in the second.

You have to give Yale credit. They played really good in both halves.”

Miami (5-3) couldn’t contain Yale (3-2) guard Miye Oni, who finished with a careerhigh 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting.

“We couldn’t guard him,” Larranaga said of Oni. “We’ve actually had a very hard time in every game guarding the other team’s best player. We just haven’t had a guy step up and stop a guy like that.”

Senior center Ebuka Izundu led the way for the Hurricanes with 19 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard DJ Vasiljevic added 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

The Hurricanes will look to get back in the win column against the Penn Quakers 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at The Palestra.

fouling a jump-shooter, which is a big no-no in basketball,” Hurricanes coach Katie Meier said. “Someone on your team is going to have to play really special off the scouting report performance to beat Miami and Dominique Oden did it.”

Oden scored a career-high 27 points for the Boilermakers and hit six shots from behind the arc.

Senior Emese Hof tallied her second double-double of the season, recording a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds.

“I think she was determined,” Meier said of Hof ’s performance. “She cares so much about this team, so I don’t think she had any idea how well she was playing. She just knew we were struggling offensively and she wanted to help Miami.”

The Hurricanes bounced back with a dominant 73-58 win over the Buffaloes Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Watsco Center.

Guard Laura Cornelius made four 3-pointers in route to a career-high 26 points in

the victory.

She’s got to impose her will on the game at all times that she’s in,” Meier said of the redshirt junior. “In this game, I thought her reads off the ball screens were phenomenal.”

Forward Beatrice Mompremier contributed 15 points and eight rebounds.

Miami (7-2) will continue its home stand against the New Orleans Privateers 1 p.m. Dec. 9. at the Watsco Center.

Swimming and Diving

The Hurricanes scored 467 points at the Bruno Invite on the Brown University campus.

Miami was led by freshman Zorry Mason, who finished with three victories, including a school-record in the 200-yard IM twice.

Mason’s official record-breaking time was 1:58.92.

The Hurricanes will compete at the USA Diving Winter Trials from Dec. 16 to Dec. 21 in Atlanta.

Is Food Your Drug of Choice?

Milestones Can Help You Break Your Addiction

Women’s Basketball

The No. 21 Hurricanes were able to split a pair of game against the Purdue Boilermakers and the Colorado Buffaloes.

Miami lost its second road game of the season, losing 74-63 Thursday, Nov. 29 to Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The game came down to details of

Some people use food or restrict their food intake as a coping mechanism, just like a drug and the impact is just as devastating. It can rob you of your joy in life - isolating you from friends and family and impacting your overall health.

For more information on recovery, call us at 866 655.8355 or click on the QR code to get our Free eBook.

Helping people recover from eating disorders since 1999.

Josh Halper // Staff Photographer TALKING THINGS OVER:Eight year Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga tries to calm down his team after Miami surrendered a ninepoint lead against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Watsco Center in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

2525 Embassy Drive, Suite 10, Cooper City, FL 33026 Milestonesprogram.org

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

V’S TAKE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

Happy ho ho holidays Have a question for V? Email

dearv@themiamihurricane.com.

Hey Horndogs, It’s me again.

It’s the end of the fall semester at the U, which can only mean one thing. Finals.

F*ck finals. But instead of saying, “f*ck finals,” find yourself a finals f*ck, or multiple (if you’re feeling extra generous around the holiday season). While there are a Latke things to do with exams and projects, I know one way to blow off steam. Blow it off. Blow it harder than you blow the candles on the Menorah on the eighth night of Hannukah.

Need a private location? Why not take some sack in the stacks?

But make sure you’re courteous and clean up the white snow after your jingle the bells. For those interested in more of a sleigh ride, try the gliders near Lake Osceola. I hear they’ll squeak less than I do.

That being said, don’t hold back.

Put out the goods and don’t be Santa Clause who only cums once a year.

He’s carrying a large package just for you. All he wants for Christmas is (to f*ck) you. It’d be a miracle if he lasted for more like eight nights rather than five minutes.

So, before you cum home for the holidays, make sure you ho ho ho around because you can’t expect your ex from high school to have a big gift waiting for you. But if he does, make sure he wraps his package before he stuffs it in your stocking, otherwise your clothes might be a little too crusty for when mom does the laundry.

Do you want to write a Christmas letter to your favorite ho ho ho? Do you want to be added to V’s “naughty list” email distribution list? If so, email dearv@themiamihurricane.com.

15

16

THE MIAMI HURRICANE

December 4, 2018 - January 21, 2019

CURIOUS CATS. SPORTS GENIUSES. TECH GEEKS. GRAMMAR FREAKS. ZINE QUEENS. PHOTO FIENDS. VIDEO ADDICTS. SOCIAL MEDIA FANATICS. We think you should get paid to do what you love.

Apply.