Jan
25, 2021
Who’s Picking Your Fruit?
It is no secret that Florida’s farm workers often face unideal working environments. Cast out in the Florida heat, impenetrable humidity and unpredictable weather, workers are subject to both the e...
Jan
25, 2021
Fooq’s — Feel Good Food
Persian and French food may not be a culinary combination you’d expect to find at a Miami restaurant. But Fooq’s has raised the stakes for the rest of the Miami food scene and will show you just ...
Jan
25, 2021
Dine Out
Between reduced capacity policies and curfews, outdoor dining may be one of the only aspects of normalcy we have remaining in 2020. It’s a safe way to get out of the house, reconnect with friends a...
Jan
20, 2021
Student Athletes For Black Lives Matter
From Colin Kaepernick to LeBron James, the place of athletes in politics and social justice movements has been a long-debated topic. But some student athletes at the University of Miami are using the...
Jan
20, 2021
Braids For Days
From tribal lineage to class status and individual style, braids have been a fundamental aspect of Black culture for centuries. But the care and keeping of these luscious locks is no small feat. ...
Jan
14, 2021
The Naked Truth: Let’s Talk About Body Image
We say to not judge a book by its cover, but the prioritization of physical beauty in society has only become more prominent. Social psychology proves that people perceived as physically attractive&n...
Jan
10, 2021
Promote To Prevent With ACTS
There are numerous traits that a city might wish to boast the “best of,” such as having a top-ranked football team, the highest quality of life or the safest public transportation. Alex Moreno, c...
Jan
9, 2021
Brickell’s Best Dining
It’s no secret that Miami’s culinary scene is urban and diverse — just like the city itself. To help you navigate through seemingly endless options downtown, here are six must-try restaurants i...
Jan
3, 2021
Invasive Species
Burmese pythons. Lionfish. Brazilian peppertrees. You may have heard about the danger of these plants and animals, but what are these invasive species truly doing to our ecosystems and what does it m...
Dec
27, 2020
El Bagel
Hangover cures, breakfast-on-the-go, a sick day solution—no matter what the occasion, bagels have got you covered. As any NJG (nice jewish girl) knows, a good bagel can turn a bad morning around in...
Dec
27, 2020
Guide To Buying Art
The commas and zeros associated with buying art are enough to scare any aesthetes away from a purchase. However, social media has proven to be a perfect platform to find pieces from up-and-coming art...
Dec
27, 2020
No Rest For The Weary
If you’ve ever seen armrests installed across a street bench, you might have thought it was a convenient place to rest your arms. But to a homeless person looking for a decent night’s rest, it me...
Dec
22, 2020
Meet Tyler Miller
The University of Miami campus is a place where aspiring academics, athletes and artists are gifted the opportunity to learn from top-of-the-line professors and experience undergrad in a diverse metr...
Dec
15, 2020
Isabella Vaccaro, Former Distraction EIC Turned New Author, Talks “Lol, i love u”
“Heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, scary, sad, you know, relatable.” That’s how University of Miami senior Isabella Vaccaro described her upcoming debut novel “Lol, i love u,” which tac...
Dec
14, 2020
Prim & Proper
This issue’s shoot embraces the aesthetic of Dark Academia. Complete with tweed suit jackets, creamy cashmere and luxurious wools, the style is rooted in literature and the pursuit of knowledge. Se...
Dec
14, 2020
Health Cares
Systemic racism and inequality are at the forefront of a critical national discussion today, and when these issues intersect with health care, the stakes can be life and death. While there is still w...
Dec
8, 2020
D R O W N I N G
With our water ecosystems starting to look like a floating garbage dump from a vast increase in human waste, we decided to put people in a space where they face the consequences of their careless act...
Dec
8, 2020
Bubble Tea
Some people have coffee running through their veins and others have Bubble tea. The sweet beverage from Taiwan has made its mark in the United States. With an insane range of varieties and flavors, t...
Dec
3, 2020
Your Guide To Crystals
Unearth the magic of crystals and learn how to align your mind, body and soul using this ancient healing art. In their raw form, crystals are believed to harness and transfer energy that balance o...
Dec
1, 2020
Here’s Why Everyone Should Watch “Glee”
“What should I watch next?” Whether it’s a call from my grandma, aunt, brother or best friend, everyone I know seems to be in need of a new television show to fill their excess time. My recomme...
Nov
29, 2020
Finally Some Good Campus Coffee…
This fall, the Archivist Café replaced the second Starbucks at Richter, introducing a new realm of delicious snacks and drinks to the University of Miami community. Right outside Archivist lies the ...
Nov
27, 2020
Grace & Graves
Grace and Graves is inspired by tragedies that disguise themselves as normal, necessary and even warranted. It examines the convenience of forgiveness and memory with respect to racial symbols. Black...
Nov
26, 2020
Dear Black Girl
This powerful collection of poems, based on one UM student’s experiences and perspective, empowers Black girls and women to be fiercely, unapologetically and wholly themselves in everything they do...
Nov
25, 2020
Black Music Matters
These songs were curated to give insight into the Black experience in America from the past and the present. The playlist is in an order that tells the story of how Black people see themselves and ho...
Nov
25, 2020
Look At Him
From being labeled as “too ghetto” to “not Black enough,” stereotypes all too often cloud perceptions and create misinformed judgements. Every Black person has their own unique experience. ...
Nov
24, 2020
Security In Stillness
Racism is not limited to derogatory slurs and intentional bigotry—to be merely silent and polite is the same as participating directly in the hatred. There is no “neutral” when it comes to raci...
Nov
23, 2020
Only Their Faces
I never understood what older people meant when they cried, “stop killing people who look like us!” Until now, I could never bring myself to echo those words. These faces constantly appearing on ...
Nov
23, 2020
The American Nightmare
The American Dream is an age-old concept that all Americans have equal opportunity to become successful. But the ideal tends to look past the racial disparities that have always plagued our nation fo...
Nov
22, 2020
Brunch At Mr. C
On what seemed like the first nice Sunday afternoon in several weeks, I stepped out of my car into the covered parking lot attached to Mr. C Hotel in Coconut Grove. My drive to the property was lined...
Nov
22, 2020
It’s Time To Relearn
It’s the little things—calling a tan crayon “skin color,” a makeup brand’s lack of dark shades in their products and asking a Black person “Can I touch your hair?” Microaggressions come...
Nov
22, 2020
As One Of The Few Black Faces
It was 7:30 a.m. on a school day. My eyes strained to stay open, as I rested my head on my mother’s lap. My thoughts drifted as I slipped in and out of consciousness. The time slipped with every br...
Nov
22, 2020
An Overview of the Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement is the force behind a racial reckoning in the United States, becoming the largest movement by numbers in our country’s history. 2020 has been a year of transparency ...
Nov
16, 2020
Essential Oils / Find Your Superhero
One whiff and your senses are sent astir—in a good way. Essential oils might just be the next best thing in modern medicine. Extracted from plants, their use in treating ailments from headaches to ...
Nov
15, 2020
Sex Positivity & Politics
There were so many topics surrounding the presidential election debates — one of them being the fundamentals and protections of women’s reproductive rights. Potential changes could alter the way ...
Nov
14, 2020
The Naked Truth: Interplay Between Relationships, Love & Hookups
It’s been two years since I left my country and family to pursue my dreams of becoming a physician. I struggled adapting financially, academically and socially in the initial stages. I guess that w...
Nov
8, 2020
Frat Star Fashion
To assume frat-boy fashion is a monolith is a gross misunderstanding. And to assume it’s all about labels and “flexing” means you don’t know the right guys. At Miami, labels reign Supreme—l...
Nov
8, 2020
Glo, Bro
Since when did self-care belong to one gender? From pastel-colored packaging to female-focused advertisements, it can feel like skincare companies only target female customers. This begged the questi...
Nov
1, 2020
Mitchell Kaplan
If “The Most Interesting Man in the World” commercial featured books instead of beer, it would have a real-life representative in Miami’s own Mitchell Kaplan. From studying law to teaching high...
Nov
1, 2020
OUTSIDE IN.
It’s been more than five months since we were locked inside our homes with just a TV, a few house plants and maybe, if you were lucky, a roll of toilet paper. The lush and unlimited landscape we on...
Oct
31, 2020
Fall Fashion Week: 2020 Edition
The season of autumn brings pumpkin spice, crisp morning air, orange and gold foliage and — for all fashionistas — fall fashion week. This season looks a little different, of course, and fashion ...
Oct
31, 2020
2020 Election
In the midst of a global pandemic, social unrest and deeply polarized views, both Republicans and Democrats want major change in America—meaning all eyes are on the impending presidential election ...
Oct
24, 2020
Breathe Free
Yoga isn’t just downward dog and child pose. While many participate for the physical benefits, yoga also has the ability to open the mind to a higher awareness and a deeper sense of consciousness. ...
Oct
24, 2020
Recipes From Our Roots
To some, the sound of garlic and oil sizzling reminds them of family. For others, it’s the texture of spring roll wrappers, the smell of fried food or an image of the family’s matriarch cooking d...
Oct
18, 2020
Carlos Machado
“Everyone wants to be a creative,” laughed Carlos Machado, a University of Miami senior and artist who’s embraced the métier of storytelling. “But unless you strive to drown in a sea of Gen ...
Oct
18, 2020
At Your Fingertips
When it comes to nail art, the world is at your fingertips—literally. From patterns and designs to gems and chains, nails have become just as much of an accessory as any other piece in your wardrob...
Oct
18, 2020
Me, Myself & I
In a room full of people, you feel like a ghost. The people around you do no good in comforting you. A silent ailment, loneliness only makes itself known by a twist in your gut or a lump in your thro...
Oct
14, 2020
On Tap
Head to any college party and you’re sure to find an assortment of beer cans—some full, most empty—floating around. But beyond its “bro” stereotype, beer is actually a sophisticated and int...
Oct
7, 2020
The Naked Truth: Let’s Talk About Indian Culture
This is a topic I’ve always wanted to speak my mind on. When I first came to the U.S., I felt the need to only express good sentiments toward India — primarily because I felt like if there was so...
Oct
7, 2020
Remembering RBG, An American Feminist Icon
Throughout the primary season, the defining issues of the presidential race were healthcare, gun control and climate change. However, coronavirus and police reform have since dominated the national c...
Oct
4, 2020
Caught Theft-Handed: Burglary @ The U
Burglary remains an infrequent crime at the University of Miami while the greater city of Miami oftentimes gets a bad criminal rap. Since the installment of exhaustive cautionary measures by the U...
Sep
30, 2020
¡ALAS CON DISTRACTION!
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! And UM's Alliance of Latin American Students (@umiamialas) is ecstatic to collaborate “con Distraction” to celebrate our Latinx community! Over the next few weeks,...
Sep
29, 2020
EMMYS 2020: The Best Dressed On The Virtual Red Carpet
This year's Emmy Awards ceremony was held virtually due to the pandemic. Despite the impossibility of hosting a live gala, nominees nonetheless impressed audiences with striking awards season fashion...
Sep
28, 2020
Lakeside Livin’
Entering sophomore year means saying goodbye to the unparalleled camaraderie of the freshman dorms. Last year in Hecht was where I made some of my best friends and memories and learned it was totally...
Sep
25, 2020
Tub Thoughts: A Weird Conversation
“Look, I took two words written down and put them back together one day. There, I formed a new word.” “Great! Congrats!” “Then, I went back home to combine both sentences. Boom,...
Sep
22, 2020
The Naked Truth: Self-Discovery Amidst Crisis
Before COVID-19, I had my feet wet in so many puddles that I didn’t have much time to work on myself. However, when the world stood still during the pandemic, I was forced to take a step back and s...
Sep
17, 2020
What Does Kamala Mean To U?
Kamala Harris is a cultural stereotype shattering icon in the 2020 presidential race. When Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden selected the U.S. senator from California as his running mate, news blast...
Aug
29, 2020
College During A Pandemic: An Inside Look At UM’s Response
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many have questioned whether colleges should be welcoming students back to campus this fall. There does not seem to be a one-size-fits-all solution. With UNC and Notre ...
Aug
29, 2020
The Subtleties Of Racism: Understanding Racial Microaggressions
After the murder of George Floyd, a flood of support for the #BlackLivesMatter movement sparked a racial reckoning. All across the country, people have come to terms with the racism that pervades the...
Aug
28, 2020
Get Out The Black Vote.
Xenophobic headlines diminishing Black suffrage are circulating inaccurate messages to Black Americans. Such discrimination has prompted the University of Miami’s National Pan-Hellenic Council to w...
Aug
23, 2020
COVID-19 And The Eve Of Election
The coronavirus pandemic, coupled with failed actions by U.S. governmental leaders, has brought our country to its knees. Whether it be the upsetting shutdown of universities or the dread of falling ...
Aug
20, 2020
DISTRACTION X UBS: WE ARE THE CHANGE-MAKERS
In collaboration with United Black Students, Distraction collected images and quotes from students that are a part of the University of Miami community to create a visual display of support for the #...
Aug
18, 2020
Stay Busy, Stay Sane
Over the past five months, all our lives have drastically changed thanks to COVID-19. Suddenly, classes were moved online for the rest of the 2020 spring semester, and it’s uncertain when life will...
Aug
13, 2020
To Be Or Not To Be COVID-Free…
We can all agree that the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most chaotic introduction to any school year. Here we are, just two weeks before the start of classes, and half of us still don’t even know ...
Aug
10, 2020
Isolation Nation: My COVID-19 Experience
Like the majority of college students, I had finally reached my breaking point of living at home. I was four months into quarantine and felt like I was losing my mind, so I figured a change of scener...
Aug
8, 2020
Deep Dive: Something About Music
Music and artistry. Eccentricity and genius. Beauty and sensation. These are all elements that comprise the theme of Deep Dive’s fifth week of notable cinema: something about music. It’s no mys...
Jul
31, 2020
Jefe By Jefe
“Don’t just be a boss, be More Than A Boss!” This idea is what two Bentley students have sought to illustrate through their clothing brand, Jefe by Jefe, since 2018. Although the direct transla...
Jul
31, 2020
Nature’s Hymn
And then posed under the branches of the willow tree,We’re two birds of colors blue and red,And under the blanket of its leaves,The tree seemed to sing nature’s anthem,And the sun shined down and...
Jul
30, 2020
Taylor Swift’s “folklore” Finds Sublime In The Stillness
Everyone has coped with quarantine differently. Some of us have thrown ourselves into school and work or binge-watched Netflix for hours on end. Others have aimed to perfect that banana bread or sour...
Jul
29, 2020
Deep Dive: Solace, Empathy & The Hardships Of Friendship
It is officially week four of Deep Dive and with that comes the introduction of its theme! This week’s installment of films studies friendship and its inherent qualities of empathy and solace. Ther...
Jul
26, 2020
The Naked Truth: Discriminatory Practices Influence Our Mental Processes.
Growing up in Mumbai — a city way more progressive than any other in India in terms of open-mindedness — I enjoyed a certain privilege that I did not realize how much I would appreciate until I c...
Jul
25, 2020
Rom Coms & Horror Flicks: A Covid Fever Dream
I wrote this story during the thick of quarantine when I felt as though I was about to lose my mind. I’d like to acknowledge that in no way does it depict the financial, physical and mental struggl...
Jul
23, 2020
Too Foreign For Home & Too Foreign For Here
Four thousand miles away from home and here we are dreaming of all the irreplaceable sensations we once took for granted. From the sizzling oil on freshly baked pastries to the piercing smell of the ...
Jul
19, 2020
Deep Dive: Delusions Of Desire
Introducing the third installment of Deep Dive and this week’s theme: desire, specifically delusions of desire. These stories all portray different idiosyncrasies following one’s pursuit of desir...
Jul
15, 2020
In-House Quarantine Fit: Best Of The Best Edition
At-home workouts. Back in March, just the sound of those words made my ears bleed. We’ve all got our go-to exercise routines, but let's face it: Finding the motivation to move your body became s...
Jul
14, 2020
The Naked Truth: Unlocking The “Me” In Social [Me]Dia
The advent of social media changed our lives — some for the better, others for the worse. Not to generalize, but it feels like our current generation is fixated on portraying life on the internet r...
Jul
11, 2020
Habits 365
Check out this interview from an article in our spring 2020 issue featuring Habits 365 created by Spencer Zied and Eli Zied! (via IGTV) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCd6gerB_Co/ vide...
Jul
10, 2020
Deep Dive: Street Life, High Stakes & Cheap Thrills
Welcome to Distraction’s second Deep Dive! It’s time to introduce this week’s selection of tales centered on street life. High stakes and cheap thrills are major motives of these works, as thei...
Jul
2, 2020
Deep Dive: Empowerment & Pride
Welcome to the inaugural entry of Distraction’s Deep Dive, a weekly, introductory column of diverse filmic content authored by an aspiring cinephile. Devour my public journal to discover and redisc...
Jul
2, 2020
UMPD Chief David Rivero: “Reforms Are Needed To Protect The Public From Rogue Cops”
For more than four decades, David A. Rivero has lived the motto to protect and serve communities in south Florida. As a longtime police officer with the city of Miami and now the police chief of the ...
Jul
2, 2020
7 Lessons Quarantine Has Taught Me
Tight Friendships Are A Blessing I think this is something we all know to be true, but quarantine has definitely solidified it for me. I could not have gotten through this pandemic without the he...
Jun
27, 2020
The New Colors Of Consumerism
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, the social media universe has served as a pivotal tool in advancing the compelling #BlackLivesMatter movement. Timelines and updates across all platforms defia...
Jun
23, 2020
In-House Quarantine Fit: The Miami Edition
Want to head to KAMPS for a Saturday morning sweat? Sorry: It’s closed. Rushing over to JetSet Miami to feel the morning burn after a night out? Not an option. How about dashing to Barry’s ...
Jun
20, 2020
Driven By Perseverance: UM’s Student-Led Black Greek Committee
While en route to the largest public anti-racism demonstration in the nation’s capital, University of Miami senior and National Pan-Hellenic Council President Marckell Williams chatted with Distrac...
Jun
19, 2020
Understanding Juneteenth: America’s Undervalued Holiday Of Black Freedom
For most Americans, the Fourth of July is celebrated as the birth of our nation and the day of its official independence from Great Britain. However, according to the Constitution, freedom did not ap...
Jun
15, 2020
“Obnoxiously Fucking Gay”
During my childhood, I made a pact with myself that I would exist in a vertical casket until the day I was six feet under. Never once did I consider wholly living for myself; instead, I accepted exis...
Jun
12, 2020
It’s Not Enough To Be Non-Racist. We Must Be Anti-Racist.
As soon as the cries out of George Floyd’s death swept across every social media platform, the outrage of the #BlackLivesMatter movement followed suit, demanding that justice be met regarding the m...
Jun
12, 2020
Whats Does Defunding The Police Mean?
As protests run into their third week, a sizable chunk of activists and demonstrators have called for “defunding” or even “abolishing” police departments. The movement has since gained tracti...
Jun
9, 2020
From A Fizzled Flame
All my life I have been angry. Outraged. Ill-tempered. Quick to implode, to burst, to react. Racism was familiar with my character — these have always been the traits to first ascend during my enco...
Jun
4, 2020
Protest Is Not A Choice — Find Your Outlet, Raise The Bar
I’ve been trying to find the words that best encapsulate the overarching feeling that is consuming the Black community right now. The truth is, I can’t speak for everyone on this matter, as we ar...
Jun
3, 2020
Black Bodies
What will it take for Black bodies to matter? When will our outcries ever be taken seriously? I see protesters, peaceful and violent, get shot with rubber bullets, lose their eyes and suffer sever...
Jun
2, 2020
Statement From Landon Coles, United Black Students President
In August of 1619, over 20 enslaved Africans touched the shores of the U.S. This watershed moment would shape the very character of this country for the next 400 years or so, until the present day. ...
Jun
1, 2020
A Message From Student Government President Abigail Adeleke
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Sean Reed. Tony McDade. I’m tired of seeing people who look like me dead in the streets. This past week has made me feel helpless, frustrated, ang...
May
31, 2020
Letter From The Editor
Dear Distraction community, I’m writing to you because we are in a time of social revolution. There is a continuing trend in just about every situation of social change that...
May
30, 2020
Healing Well-Being: Collegiate Coping In The Time Of Coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered our world in unimaginable ways. In response, we have incorporated new personal hygienic and social distancing practices for protection of our physical health. We wea...
May
30, 2020
Netflix Paves Way For Asian American Inclusivity
The lack of diversity across Hollywood blockbusters is no news breaker. Year after year, along with the Academy Awards season comes a resurgence of hashtags like #OscarsSoWhite, and the number of sto...
May
26, 2020
Quarantine Boredom Benefit: Reconnecting With People Around You
In this day and age, most of us thrive off a busy life, bustling from school to work and sports to activities and always having something on our plate. While we’re normally living in the present an...
May
25, 2020
9 Ways To Curb Move-Out Day Stress
University of Miami Housing & Residential Life will be opening up the dorms for move-out beginning May 21. Keep this handy guide for nine tips and tricks to help you de-stress about packing up an...
May
18, 2020
An International Student’s Tips For Surviving Long Flights
Long flights pose a challenge for millions of travelers. Although not everyone experiences high-altitude anxiety, the majority can relate to inflight boredom, especially when counting down long, aiml...
May
17, 2020
Fashion In The Pandemic – Develop Your Stay-At-Home Style
Over the past two months, we have gradually adjusted to the new reality that is living in the COVID-19 pandemic. Lugging ourselves out of bed every morning and juggling our to-do lists of responsibil...
May
16, 2020
Real Men Eat Clean — A Look Into Unhealthy Bulking
It might seem like Americans are obsessed with losing weight, but for much of the male community at the University of Miami, the goal is not to slim down — it’s to bulk up. Bouncing around the gy...
May
15, 2020
The Science Behind Food Combining
During this seemingly never-ending quarantine, I got bored with what I was eating and decided to switch things up. I stumbled across several popular wellness bloggers like Kenzie Burke (@kenzieburke)...
May
15, 2020
Big Dork Energy — What is “Quirky” and why are we so sick of it?
Sarah Jessica Parker never tried to be quirky. She just was. And, for a while, it was a problem. Growing up as a child actor in the 1970s and 1980s, SJP was constantly told she was “too quirky...
May
15, 2020
Habits 365 — The Clothing Brand With A Message
Habits are an innate part of human nature. The good, the bad and the ugly — we all have them. Habits 365, a company started by two New York teenage brothers, is doing its part to encourage the good...
May
14, 2020
The Professor Next Door
A typical morning for most University of Miami professors means waking up, grabbing coffee and sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95. For mathematics lecturer Joy Beverly, her daily commute is ...
May
13, 2020
How To Get A Job During COVID-19
Applying for jobs can be a time consuming and nerve-wracking ordeal as it is. But add a global pandemic that increases layoffs to the mix, and it seems like no one will be hiring anytime soon. You mi...
May
11, 2020
BEAT — A UM Student’s Unique, Self-Started Hoodie Line
Have you ever wanted a vibrant, expressive hoodie that grabs attention and catches eyes? What if that striking hoodie had its own eyes, or even its own face? If you’ve ever walked on campus and not...
May
8, 2020
A UM alumna’s powerful story and bittersweet celebration of Mother’s Day
The year 2020 marks the 106-year anniversary of the official national holiday of Mother’s Day, which honors the influence of mothers and maternal bonds in society. Anna Jarvis, one of the...
May
7, 2020
The Final Farewell — Goodbye, Freshman Dorms
Fifty-two years after their halls first flooded with eager freshmen in turtlenecks and knee highs, Stanford Residential College will be torn down in the summer of 2020, with Florence Ruth Hecht Resid...
May
6, 2020
Three Things To Do On Your Last Day of Classes
Clearly, the end of this semester isn't quite what we are used to. Instead of proper goodbyes to our professors, we’ll say our "thank you’s" and click the now very familiar “leave meeting” ic...
May
5, 2020
Go Your Own Way — The 1970s Counterculture
The year is 1974. Tie-dye, bell-bottoms and denim everything are all the rage. Pink Floyd drifts from a passing Ford Mustang, and President Richard Nixon has resigned. Vietnam protesters fl...
May
4, 2020
A Fiesta From Home — Your Guide to Cinco de Mayo
Just because we can’t leave our homes to celebrate Cinco de Mayo doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fiesta — it’ll just have to be in quarantine. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday to commemorate ...
Apr
29, 2020
How These Four Brands Are Doing Their Part In the Pandemic
During these uncertain times, everyone is trying to find a balance between caring for themselves and for others. Take a look at how these four companies in the fashion industry are doing their part d...
Apr
28, 2020
Shark Tales — A Look Into UM’s Shark Research & Conservation Program
Alex Anstett, a graduate student in the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, gnawed against the frozen flesh with a small hacksaw. Today’s shark bait: barracuda. As she pressed down...
Apr
27, 2020
Bored in the House? Three Classic Dessert Recipes Anyone Can Bake
Instead of sitting down to binge-watch hours of Netflix again, why not get off the couch and bake a few sweet treats? From thick swirling batter to twisted dough, check out this list of yummy recipes...
Apr
23, 2020
Tiny & Trendy
As phones get bigger, shoes get chunkier and earrings get heavier — the purse seems to be getting smaller. How can you accessorize big? Think small. The mini bag is one of this season's hottest acc...
Apr
22, 2020
Six TV Shows To Binge-Watch While Social Distancing
It’s hard to believe that we've been social distancing for over a month now. As strange as it is to think of the days when “zoom” was just a verb meaning “to move quickly,” that was then an...
Apr
21, 2020
Tri Me — The life of triathletes at the University of Miami
For many college students, waking up at 4 a.m. to run, swim and bike a 32-mile course in three hours might sound like a daunting task. For students on TriCanes — the University of Miami’s competi...
Apr
20, 2020
Five Zoom Backgrounds To Get You Through The Last Two Weeks of ‘Class’
From accidental muting to freezing cameras to screaming family in the background, we at Distraction know how strange, frustrating and even comical this whole remote learning experience has been. "Zoo...
Apr
16, 2020
Shenandoah: When The Cubans Came
This is piece of creative writing about the Cuban migration to Miami, by special section editor Elisa Baena. The Acevedos got to Miami during the most putrid month of the year. It was poinciana...
Apr
15, 2020
Best of Book-to-Screen: YA Edition
There’s a certain feeling you get after finding out your favorite book is coming to the big screen. And, although you’re stoked to watch, an anxious thought crosses your mind: “What if it ends ...
Apr
14, 2020
Root & Bone + Mi’talia — A Perfect Pair
Depending on whom you ask, the two glass buildings perched between South Dixie Highway and 73rd Street in South Miami may best be described as modern or unusual. The two buildings, recognizable to ...
Apr
13, 2020
Miami Food Instagrams You Need To Follow RTFN
Staying home amidst this pandemic has many of us with extra free time on our hands. This means binge-watching Netflix, FaceTiming friends and stalking new Instagram accounts. If you're missing the 30...
Apr
9, 2020
100% That Betch: UM Alumna Abby Lloyd
“I’m not natural,” UM alumna Abby Lloyd blurted at the camera as we filmed her interview in a boutique coffeehouse in NYC. Lloyd graduated from UM and landed a job doing social media and eventu...
Apr
8, 2020
POV: Coronavirus Crisis For an International Student
As this seemingly endless quarantine continues, I can’t help but reflect on how the pandemic has affected my life. As an international student from India, a wave of uncertainty struck when I receiv...
Apr
7, 2020
PUNK’D — Inside Distraction’s Spring Fashion Shoot
Inspired by British punk rock scene from the mid-1970s, PUNK'D pairs utilitarianism and leather to emulate the raw angst of rebellious teens inspired by their favorite hardcore bands. Tartan, vinyl a...
Apr
3, 2020
Everyday Makeup Tutorial + Basic Beauty Products For Beginners
Isolation is the perfect time to experiment with makeup and get to know your skin. Find the right shades for you, research products and try out new looks you wouldn’t dare to otherwise! I'm here to...
Apr
2, 2020
Lightly Tripping — A Student’s Experience With A Hypnogogic Light Machine
Growing up in suburban Kansas, my parents watched shows about drug addicts religiously. As I got older, these shows gave me absolutely no desire to try any substance that could possibly be addicting....
Apr
1, 2020
Q & A with alumna-turned-author Elnaz Moghangard on her debut novel
Last month, before the chaos that is COVID-19 erupted and changed life as we know it, I got to speak with Elnaz Moghangard, a University of Miami alumni who debuted her first book, “Roya,” in Jan...
Mar
31, 2020
The Fire Rages — An Op-ed Piece on Anti-Semitism
Talia Schnur, like most freshmen at the University of Miami, had a dry erase board on her dorm room door. This seemingly mundane object was intended for casual use by friends and passersby. She never...
Mar
30, 2020
Four Books You Won’t Put Down During Your Quarantine
My screen-time is skyrocketing — is yours? “Read a book.” You’ve heard it plenty of times — from your parents, from your professors, from your peers. Between attending classes, excelling in...
Mar
26, 2020
Ginga Ninja
It’s that time of the week. There’s no better feeling than showing up to campus and seeing the flood of white tents on the Foote Green. The University of Miami’s farmers’ market alw...
Mar
25, 2020
A Letter to the Class of 2020
Dear Class of 2020, I have been trying to formulate words for what I want to say to you for days now. The fact of the matter is, this sucks. There is no way around that. The state of the world rig...
Mar
24, 2020
Meet The Neighbors — Exploring The Different Neighborhoods of Miami
When you go to school in paradise, it’s easy to fall into the same old habits: going to the same beaches, the same bars with the same cute bartenders who wink at you when you order the same cocktai...
Mar
23, 2020
An Update In Response To COVID-19 From Your Editor-In-Chief
Dear Distraction Community, One week ago, a group of Distraction staff members and I were in New York City for a student media conference. Today, we are quarantined in our dorms, apartments or hom...
Mar
19, 2020
Five Things To Keep You Busy During Self-Quarantine From Distraction’s Digital Editor
From remote learning to cancelled events to social distancing, the stress and anxiety of the COVID-19 outbreak has ensued nothing short of chaos. If you're like me, the speed in which this situation ...
Mar
10, 2020
The Best Bag for Every Type of Traveler
Spring break plans may have been cut short (or cut altogether) thanks to coronavirus hysteria, but we're look forward the days when jet-setting is once again care-free. And we're crossing our fingers...
Mar
4, 2020
Comfy — But Make It Fashion
For some students, every day at the U feels like a fashion show — people are dressed to impress. As someone who struggles to make it to morning classes but still enjoys piecing together outfits, I ...
Feb
28, 2020
Hidden Heroes at the University of Miami
Each day, the crack of dawn at UM sees not only swarms of brownish ducks waddling out from their hiding spots around campus, but also an army of people ready to make our university run...
Feb
24, 2020
Cruel Perceptions — A Look Into Body Dysmorphia
You’re standing in front of the mirror, your eyes painfully searching your body as you take in the fat that seems to be dripping from your skin. You force yourself to stare at it. The creature in t...
Feb
19, 2020
Frost Spotlight: The Henry Mancini Institute
Students, faculty and community members gathered at UM’s Frost School of Music on Jan. 25 as a red carpet studded with paparazzi rolled out to the entrance of the jam-packed Gusman Hall at the Univ...
Feb
17, 2020
LA Eats
When I visit a new place, trying different types of food is one of my favorite ways to explore the area. It was no different on my trip to LA. If you’re in the area, here are some of my recommendat...
Feb
14, 2020
For The Love of Budgets – A Valentine’s Day That Won’t Break the Bank
Relationships and romance can be as complicated as quantum physics. Lucky for you, impressing your significant other on a budget doesn't have to be. As times change and new generations reinvent ...
Feb
12, 2020
Four Ways To Land a Date This Valentine’s Day
Every year begins the same way. We count down from ten as the ball drops and the clock strikes midnight. We turn to our significant other and share a passionate kiss to ring in the new year. Some of ...
Feb
10, 2020
This Student Start-Up Is Re-Shaping the Future of Campus Recycling
Overflowing green recycling bins filled with paper, plastic and other discarded materials line our University of Miami campus sidewalks. Although some of the items in the bins will indeed be repurpos...
Feb
7, 2020
Sirius XM and Pandora Present: The Chainsmokers and Lizzo
For the Superbowl, Sirius XM and Pandora presented two free concert at the Fillmore on Miami Beach for the Superbowl Weekend Concert Series. I saw The Chainsmokers, Lizzo and even a surprise guest st...
Feb
5, 2020
Miami Climate Symposium 2020: Predicting and Living with Extremes
The University of Miami hosted the Miami Climate Symposium 2020, a three-day climate change summit to dissect the link between climate change and extreme weather events. The University of Miami us...
Feb
3, 2020
Got Snowboarding?
This winter break, my friends and I planned a ski trip to Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Although the thought of sliding down a mountain with my feet strapped to a board didn’t ...
Feb
2, 2020
My Experience At Pepsi’s Not-So-Superbowl Party
"I cannot believe this right now," said Rachel Alonso. "I don't cry very often but I am so upset right now it's not even funny."...
Jan
27, 2020
Super Bowl Parties You Need To Check Out In Miami
On Feb. 2 Miami will host the 2020 Super Bowl at the Hard Rock Stadium. The week leading up to the big game is full of excitement. If you haven’t made plans yet, here are several events to check ou...
Jan
24, 2020
UM Bid Day 2020 – Alpha Delta Pi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUOQOpAagi8 video_elinor howells ...
Jan
22, 2020
Laid Fresh: All-day Breakfast In Wynwood
Michael Lewis and Steve Haigh founded an Asian-American barbecue place called KYU in Wynwood almost four years ago, and while the duo couldn’t get enough of the eclectic and welcoming community, th...
Jan
19, 2020
I Interviewed a Rock Band – Here’s What They Said About College
One-half of alternative rock group The Band CAMINO leaned against a stage gate, sipping Coors Light and chatting with fans. Less the tattoos and cool presence, the two could almost blend in as regula...
Jan
13, 2020
‘Nuuly’ Clothing Rental Review From A Fellow Fashionista
https://youtu.be/OMmaAjVpSAg Have you ever wanted to try out a vibrant leather jacket or funky pair of pants, but feared wasting your paycheck on an impulse purchase? Have you ever committed to ...
Jan
11, 2020
Fitness Resources For Rocking Your 2020 Resolutions
As the new year begins, adults will undoubtedly find themselves reflecting on their physical and nutritional health. Many will evaluate the progress made on their fitness journey from the previous ye...
Jan
5, 2020
Why Love Skeptics Should Watch “Modern Love”
Amazon Studios made a series called “Modern Love,” a title which, for most of us, probably calls to mind a string of “U up?” texts and subsequent morning walks (or jogs) of sh...
Jan
3, 2020
Ella Titus Has a Job: Case in Pointe
Miami City Ballet (MCB) looks out of place on the corner of Park Ave and 22nd Street, a corner where it isn’t uncommon to see half-clothed tourists, a gaggle of 16-year-olds just getting out o...
Jan
3, 2020
The Subtle Art of Knowing When to Give a F**k, according to the DNC’s Finance Chair Chris Korge
“You don’t have a legal right to do that,” says Chris Korge, the current National Finance Chairman for the Democratic National Committee. Chris Korge is on a conference call. It began ...
Jan
2, 2020
Unpopular Opinion: AirPods
Listening to music with AirPods appears to be common practice among the students at the University of Miami. Whether you're in the library, at the Wellness Center or simply roaming across Fate Bridge...
Dec
27, 2019
Sweet Treats To Bake This Holiday Season
The holidays are a time for family, friends and food—cookies to be exact. These yummy treats are a common part of holiday traditions and are the key to a sweet winter season. Although nobody will c...
Dec
22, 2019
Seven Days With Disney+
Could this be the start of something new? On Nov. 12, Disney launched a new streaming platform – Disney Plus. The hyped introduction of the new service promised to deliver all our childhood favori...
Dec
19, 2019
Confidence: Genuine or Inauthentic?
“Confidence is not, ‘they will like me.’ Confidence is, ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t.” - Christina Grimmie Grimmie's words are interesting because so many people who appear confident ...
Dec
4, 2019
Social Media Trends In 2020
We all know that girl whose Instagram feed looks like it could be an exhibit at the Perez Art Museum. Her phone is probably filled with apps like VSCO, Planoly and other feed-planning software. ...
Dec
4, 2019
Unpopular Opinion: Going Abroad with Friends
If you have, are currently or are considering studying abroad, you’ve probably heard people say not go abroad with friends. Determined to understand why so many recommended traveling solo, I asked ...
Nov
25, 2019
Kanye Really Wants You to Believe That He Found Jesus
When Kanye West releases new music, it’s almost certain to spark cultural change. Whether his name triggers a feeling of pride or creates a feeling of bitter disgust—it’s hard not to pay attent...
Nov
21, 2019
Eight Tips for Surviving a Weekend in Florida State
For University of Miami Football fans, Tallahassee, FL is a place you’ll end up traveling to eventually—whether you like it or not. When the date for our game against our rival Florida State is a...
Nov
19, 2019
Time Out — Let’s Eat!
South Florida’s food scene is a magnet for the food hall craze. Dozens of urban markets have popped up over the past year, but South Beach’s latest addition—Time Out Market Miami (1601 Drex...
Nov
14, 2019
Miami Beach Pop Festival: From Fanfare to Folklore
Chance the Rapper may be back with new music, but Miami will have to wait a little longer to see him in action. Hot off the highly-anticipated release of his debut studio album “The Big Day”...
Nov
13, 2019
Transitioning to Fall Fashion
Changing colors, falling leaves and cooler temperatures signal the return of fall—for everyone except those of us who live in Miami. Even so, the season brings new trends to explore, possi...
Jul
19, 2019
Adulting: Life as a College Grandma
The sounds of waves crashing and seagulls squawking fill my ears as I sit with my eyes closed. I feel a warmth sweep across my legs. I sit lazily reclined in my chair. Beep. Beep. Beep. I’m r...
INTERIOR

The University of Miami campus is a place where aspiring academics, athletes and artists are gifted the opportunity to learn from top-of-the-line professors and experience undergrad in a diverse metropolis. It’s where all of us will, at some point, discover our passions and develop the ...
The University of Miami campus is a place where aspiring academics, athletes and artists are gifted the opportunity to ...

“Heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, scary, sad, you know, relatable.” That’s how University of Miami senior Isabella Vaccaro described her upcoming debut novel “Lol, i love u,” which tackles the emotional rollercoaster of online dating. The print and e-book is set to release ...
“Heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, scary, sad, you know, relatable.” That’s how University of Miami senior Isab...

It’s been two years since I left my country and family to pursue my dreams of becoming a physician. I struggled adapting financially, academically and socially in the initial stages. I guess that was a given considering my whole life was uprooted and I had to relay my foundations. To...
It’s been two years since I left my country and family to pursue my dreams of becoming a physician. I struggled adapt...

When it comes to nail art, the world is at your fingertips—literally. From patterns and designs to gems and chains, nails have become just as much of an accessory as any other piece in your wardrobe. These tiny canvases can take any look from drab to fab, but the evolution of modern nai...
When it comes to nail art, the world is at your fingertips—literally. From patterns and designs to gems and chains, n...
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