Getting Wild About Campus Wildlife

No matter which way you turn at the University of Miami, you are likely to see various animals flying from tree to tree, lurking under the surface of lake Osceola or foraging in the grass of the Foot...

Energy Drinks: The Batteries of Students

Everyone seems to have their own solution for when that alarm clock starts ringing and we are simply not awake. Some might go on an afternoon jog while others will brew themselves a quick cup of tea,...

The New ‘Normal’

Is there a light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic? Some may say yes, due to the return of in-person classes. While a fully in-person class schedule was once considered “normal,” it now may fee...

The Battle of Student Fuel

There is one fuel that most of us college students go to amid the one-hundred-degree heat, rigorous class schedules and social commitments: caffeine.  The University of Miami has four mai...

Face Coverings Turned Fashion Staples

If we can’t show people our real smiles, why not make our coronavirus mandated accessories fashionable? Masks are once again required indoors and in large outdoor groups at the U due to the new del...

Modern Love

With inspiration from classic Americana fashion trends and the romantic era, Modern Love is a celebration of the whimsical styling of a fairytale love story. Equestrian Elegance ...

How to Have an A+ First Day

These past months have been a whirlwind of chaos, making it easy to feel apprehensive about how to enter this upcoming school year. Having the right tools under your belt can give you a sense of norm...

Vizcaya Provides a Living Piece of History

There are perhaps few locations in Miami that boast more wedding, prom, and “just because” photoshoots than Vizcaya Museum and Gardens- and for good reason. When you walk through the intricately ...

Happy Hours

Happy hour—that small window dedicated to catching up with friends or checking out that Tinder match who’s probably lying about being 6’3.” These local eateries have managed to offer grea...

Hot and Heavy

Hot. Steamy. Sweaty. Saunas aren’t typical therapy sessions, but man do they feel good. That’s right, therapy doesn’t just mean talking to a professional about your feelings...

A Taste of the Mediterranean

Traditional Mediterranean fare covers a lot of ground—and Americanized hummus bowls are off the menu. This time-honored cuisine is undoubtedly mouthwatering, lavished with olive oil and plated o...

Go Bananas For Yonanas With These 3 Recipes

Instagram’s favorite breakfast is a breeze to recreate at home thanks to Yonanas, the frozen treat machine of your dreams. From açaí bowls to fruit sorbet to “nice cream,” the possibilities a...

Chunky Acrylic Jewelry

If you’re into the Y2K fashion trends popping up on social media, you might already own a butterfly hair clip or some colored sunglasses. But if you’re looking for funky jewelry accessories...

Match Point

No matter who you are, how much money you have or what shape you’re in, anyone can get a great workout in by trying out tennis. While hard-hitting stars like Serena Williams and Rodger Federer make...

Get Your Steps In

The University of Miami campus spans about 239 acres, and with in-person classes resumed since the fall, students are strolling its sprawling grounds every day. Wondering how many steps you get in by...

2 Breakfasts Worth Waking Up For

Bored of breakfast? Stuck in a recipe rut? Our digital editor shares two quick-and-easy morning plates that are packed with deliciousness and built off the same base ingredient—a piece of toast. Sc...

the art plug

Marcel Katz is bringing a new vision of art to Miami. His creative marketing agency represents a global network of artists and his art platform is redefining what the traditional art fair looks like....

The New Sex Education

Did your parents sit you down at the kitchen table when you were younger to talk about the “Birds and the Bees?” You’re not alone. It can be awkward to talk about sex, but one podcast started b...

Oh Snap!

Aunt Jemima. Uncle Ben’s. The Washington Redskins. Land O’ Lakes. The list goes on, and you probably know the names. These companies have come under fire for their logos and branding during the r...

From Shoulder Pads To Knee Pads

Janet Kalaniuvalu left the mountains for the ocean. All the way from Orem, Utah, the young woman is spiking through life—on and off the court. With her passion and drive, she is unstoppable. Her fi...

Summer

Summer days are spent doing nothing, Whether sitting hot flaming with a buddy conversing, Over glowing coal and calcined bones, In the periods between laughing and cooling off, Most of our summers ar...

Attacks on Asian Americans

When most people have a bad day they take a nap or push through a workout to cheer themselves up. But in March of 2021, a man police claim was “having a bad day” drove to three spas in Atlanta an...

Tooth Gems

Tooth gems surfaced in popular culture in the '90s, with celebrities popularizing the accessory, and paving the way for current artists like Rihanna, Rita Ora and Halsey who have recently been seen s...

What’s Poppin’?

Popsicles are much more than a messy summertime dessert. These cool treats can be chocolatey, fruity and even boozy! The beauty of them is their simplicity—you can use the same base and switch up a...

Frosted

If you’ve ever seen Cake Boss or the Great British Baking Show, you might imagine decorating a cake to be a daunting task. Surprisingly, there are simple ways to DIY your confection. Once you get t...

Shoots

Chris Carson and Dylan Wacksman are the founders of Shoots Bakery & Bowls, a student-run Hawaiian-based food business. The two University of Miami juniors first met during their freshman year thr...

These Were The Bomb

They say everything eventually comes back into style if you wait a few decades. Pop sensation Taylor Swift even alluded to the phenomenon in her recent, chart-topping album when she said: “I come b...

Lockdown Brain

Like a tsunami collapsing over the shoreline, “lockdown brain,” a COVID-induced crushing feeling of loneliness, isolation and depression, is sweeping over students across the U.S. While many indi...

Coconut Village Collective

Coconut Grove—the home of Ladies Night at Sandbar, PK3s at Monty’s and rapidly rising rent rates. Nestled in the heart of this iconic neighborhood is the Coconut Village Collective, an eclectic b...

Ride Or Die

If you've taken an Uber or been delivered a meal from Postmates lately, you might not have thought about the person behind the wheel. From full time jobs to side hustles, carshare and food delivery s...

Gettin’ Jiggy With It

Our memories are shaped by music—whether it’s that one song from TikTok that reminds you of the early days of COVID-19 quarantine or a throwback that your parent always played in the car, music h...

I’m Totally Buggin’

It has been over a year since schools were shut down, concerts were cancelled and offices were closed. Keeping distance and wearing a mask have become second nature. The distribution of vaccines has ...

That’s Hot!

Skinny jeans? Never heard of her. From Care Bears to roller blades and tiny purses, the 90s and 00s are back and hotter than ever. The looks Gen Z saw on their pop culture icons during childhood are ...

Life On Film

We’re exposing the recent revival of film photography and sharing tips on how to get started with the vintage art form. Allure of Film If you see someone carrying around an old, clunky camer...

GOOD A.F.

When you combine the limited living space and on-the-go lifestyle of college students, it’s always a recipe for convenience. The air fryer—a portable oven, of sorts—is popping up in dorms and a...

Coffee In The Gables

Do you only go to Starbucks and Dunkin’ for cups of joe? Are you staying in Miami over the summer and craving something new? I’m here to tell you about some of the best cafés in Coral Gables tha...

The Campus Store Goes Green

What started as a class-run sustainability initiative turned into a wildly successful collaboration between the University of Miami’s campus store and UThrift, the U’s beloved free popup thrift s...

Find Your Green Thumb

After over a year spent mostly inside, indoor plants have perhaps never been more popular—especially in a smaller living space like a city apartment or college dorm. While filling our homes with pl...

It’s All About Astrology

Distraction Magazine’s “Astrology with Alexis” podcast is a beginner’s guide to all things astrology. In the words of its magnetic host Alexis Masciarella, listen to the episodes to “unlock...

Thriving Through Hard Times — Canes Care 2021

From 2017 to 2019, Canes Care graced the historic Jerry Herman Ring Theatre stage at the University of Miami. The yearly charity event quickly attracted everyone from professors and parents to alumni...

Kicking Finals Stress To The Curb

It has been a spring-break-less semester loaded with Zoom calls, tests and quarantine. Practicing self-care during stressful times can provide you with a healthy mindset and set you up for success on...

Knock Out

The University of Miami is a great place to be for those who are interested in various workout regimes, including the growing practice of boxing. From boutique gyms to UM’s own boxing club, the spo...

In The Mix

Mixology may seem intimidating, but at its core the art of drink-making is simple. Get tipsy with this curated list of Distraction’s favorite drinks. Margarita If margaritas often accompany ...

Preparing For Life After Graduation

“It’s okay to freak out and be sad. I know I am,” said Corina Azpurua, a University of Miami senior majoring in advertising and interactive media. “Graduating brings about a lot of mixed feel...

College Sweethearts!

With the emergence of dating apps and hookup culture, it seems like less students find love through school involvement and more so on a frat dance floor. But don’t give up hope! You never know wher...

Graze

Spilling with meats, cheeses, artisan breads, olives, fruit and nuts, the charcuterie board offers something for everyone. Although it may seem daunting, you can create a show-stopping grazing board ...

Greater Than Stars

Whether it’s because of her own life, other people’s lives or simply tales she made up, 19-year-old singer-songwriter Avery Chapman never runs out of fuel to create songs that convey stories and ...

Uplifted

Everyone’s fitness journey is different, but whether you’re just starting out or an experienced gym rat, you can probably learn something from Ella Caggiano. This UM sophomore has come out on the...

Wood Fired

New Yorkers love their big, thin slices. Chicagoans are loyal to their deep-dish pies. All over the country, people devour their local specialties. But Neapolitan pizza reigns supreme. With its origi...

Unlocking The Power To Live, Not Just Exist

People across the globe have routines that they follow day in and day out. These routines become our rituals, but have you ever wondered if there is more to life than just your everyday responsibilit...

Concert Review: Struck By Schwartz

It’s now been a little over a year since the Broadway shutdown, one of the most sensational downsides of the drastic COVID-19 pandemic. Critics and fans alike have since sought out new means—from...

Languages Of Love

When it comes to displaying affection, there are five dialects—words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts and physical touch. Although they are different, they all transla...

The Art Of Seduction

Chances are you’ve scrolled by social media posts of people buying new cars or paying off credit card debt with earnings they’ve made on OnlyFans. If you’ve ever been tempted to sell your own r...

Excuse My Drip

Investing in quality jewelry is nice and sometimes necessary, but what about more affordable pieces? People tend to turn to cheaper alternatives to keep up with the trends, but there’s a happy medi...

Beyond The Umbrella With Ronald Roberts

“If you want to be a successful company in 2021, you need to be diverse,” said Ronald Roberts, managing partner at global marketing communications firm Finn Partners. Roberts led a recent discuss...

WING IT

Eyeliner has been used to accentuate eyes throughout history—from ancient civilizations in Egypt, India and Mesopotamia to the makeup looks of flappers in the Roaring 20s and today with trends like...

IMMUNE

Most vaccines take years to develop, test and gain authorization—COVID-19 has shattered all records. In a race to develop called “Operation Warp Speed,” the FDA issued an emergency use authoriz...

Concert Review: A Symphonic Celebration @ Frost

Executing and enjoying live music has become somewhat of an anomaly in the age of the coronavirus. But a tiny in-person audience of no more than 40 members of the University of Miami community (pl...

Are You My Daddy? The Love That Flows From Cash

What happens when you start falling for your sugar daddy? Find out in “Stranger Love,” an upcoming book by Isabella Vaccaro. Stella ran her fingertips along the smooth edges of her new purse. ...

lovesick

To swipe right or swab? In the age of casual sex and hookup culture, how can you know that your f**k buddy won’t give you ‘rona? After all, we know the only six feet most college kids care about ...

Sweetgreen In The 305

Salad probably isn’t something you find yourself craving often, especially if you’ve never been to Sweetgreen. This fresh spot with a cult following has finally landed in Miami—and it’s here ...

Migraines

They’re not just headaches. For the millions of Americans who suffer from migraines, the painful attacks can be crippling and may even cause victims to take days off from work or school. And while ...

Suits, Courts & Fortunes

When you think of tarot cards, you might think of someone sitting in front of a crystal ball. But despite the mystique that movies and social media may put around readings, just about anyone can lear...

Going Out Without Going Out

The COVID-19 pandemic has come with endless restrictions: staying at home, having limited contact with other people, staying six feet apart from people, switching to virtual platforms for education o...

Great Things To People

A Starry Night In Miami

Renowned for his colorous expression and movement but also a troubled mind, Vincent van Gogh was unarguably one of the most legendary impressionist artists. What if you could go inside one of his pai...

Loudening Frost’s Voices

When he first arrived at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music for his graduate school audition in 2015, drummer Marcus Grant was eager to experience the diverse culture of a new campus a...

Curated by MF

Mental Health & COVID-19

When COVID-19 first hit the U.S. last March, none of us knew what was to come and the significant impact this crisis would have on ourselves, our loved ones and the world as a whole. The pandemic and...

Work Your Ass Off

Baseball pants. Leggings. Those pastel chubbies that were all the rage in 2016. No matter who you are or who you’re into, almost everyone loves to look at a good firm butt. But beyond aesthetics, t...

Rescuing The Reefs

Imagine diving into the water off the South Florida coast. You glance at a school of minnows, spot a stingray and then look down to see a barren, gray and decaying ocean floor. The fact that this ima...

Family Values

Whether it’s is no phones at the dinner table or no television after sunset, every family has a different set of rules. But family values also differ by generation—the climate your parents were r...

Going Through Changes

Most college students spend these crucial years discovering who they are and wish to be in life. But for transgender and non-binary people, there’s an extra layer of uncovering and pursuing their i...

Piecing Your Heart Back Together Again

Going through a heartbreak is an ordinary challenge of life. It’s painful and can feel lonely, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it’s also all about perspective, heartbreak is...

Soft Glam

Vibrant, avante-garde makeup looks are being replaced with soft glam—a makeup style known best for fluffy eyebrows, glowing skin and neutral tones. Soft glam is perfect for nearly any occasion, whe...

#BlackHistoryMonth Spotlight Series: Meet Melvin Butler

Turn Your Frustration Into Motivation

He swam the length of the Mediterranean Sea for sports, earned a sixth-degree black belt, opened a martial arts school in his first years in the United States, crafted and taught life-or-death Israel...

Exploring The Everglades

Florida is home to the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States: The Everglades. But at this rate, this treasured World Heritage Site won’t last forever. Decades of development and abuse...

#BlackHistoryMonth Spotlight Series: Meet Nysier Brooks

For all students, the transition from a hometown to a college campus calls for struggle in finding community and a sense of belonging. For Black students, these feats are magnifie...

Out Of Office

When the COVID-19 outbreak began, life changed drastically. Besides emotional and environmental changes, many people have experienced a shift in their professional lives as well. The transition from ...

A Long-Awaited “Welcome Back”

Going back to college after a long break can seem daunting, especially for University of Miami students who were gifted an extra-long winter break. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t get back i...

The City That Couldn’t Sleep

It was when time grew faster,That I began to see the charmIn the things that annoyed me I began to smile briefly,At the passing of a rancid train,Or the imprudent drivers,Or the careless Uber bike...

Valentine’s Day Is For Everyone

We all know how it feels to be bombarded by a cute couple on TikTok that makes you reflect on your single life. Almost a year into the pandemic now, Valentine’s Day loneliness has intensified ...

#BlackHistoryMonth Spotlight Series: Meet Leïla Metellus

Black History Month often highlights civil rights trailblazers like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass. Contemporary political powerhouses like Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris and ...

2021 Fashion Predictions: Is It Time To Ditch The TikTok-Era Sweatpants?

Baggy loungewear has never seemed as prevalent as when the coronavirus pandemic swept across the world in 2020. Dressing up began to feel like an ancient concept, except for perhaps during the creati...

New Year’s Resolutions

After a challenging 2020, a new year has finally arrived. Now that the COVID vaccine is being distributed, we can all only hope life starts getting somewhat normal again in 2021. Since a brand new ye...

#BlackHistoryMonth Spotlight Series: Meet Julian Crosby

Every month of the year is Black History Month because Black history is American history. Black slaves like Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner and many others who began revolutions and pushed through degradi...

Custom Threads

From funky jewelry to tie-dye fashion and bedazzled loungewear, these University of Miami students are creating customized looks and combating fast fashion trends with their small businesses. KEN...

Bittersweet Daydreams

Imagine toggling between real life and a compelling virtual reality. For maladaptive daydreamers, reality and fantasy is distorted, and a quick pinch simply won’t cut it. Zoning out isn’t just pa...

5 Small Fashion Start-Ups To Check Out Now

Shopping for trendy clothes can be stressful, especially when you’re new to fashion and don’t know where to start. Luckily, the hard work has been done for you already. Here are five hidden gems ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

¡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,...

What Are U Listening To?

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 #...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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)...