EDITOR’S NOTE: Examining U.S. – Cuba relations is a must in Miami

Pots clanging, cars honking, flags waving, people screaming, I can still remember the celebratory sights that filled the streets in Miami when the news came that Fidel Castro, Cuba’s communist dictator, was dead.

Michelle Marchante Editor in Chief of FIU Student MediaMichelle Marchante/Editor-in-Chief

Pots clanging, cars honking, flags waving, people screaming — I can still remember the celebratory sights that filled the streets in Miami when the news came that Fidel Castro, Cuba’s communist dictator, was dead.

My family had waited a long time for this moment.

My family had waited a long time for this moment. Traveling back and forth from Bird Road’s La Carreta and 8th Street’s Versailles to witness and film the historical celebrations, I wrote my first breaking news piece for Student Media.

As a Cuban-American, it was almost unreal.

Now, with the second anniversary of Castro’s death coming up on Sunday, Nov. 25, Student Media has dedicated this week’s theme pages to examine U.S.-Cuba relations under President Donald Trump compared
to former President Barack Obama.

Cover Design by Michelle Marchante/PantherNOW. Cover photo courtesy of Alexander Kunzes/Unsplash

Throughout our pages, you’ll find articles examining changes in tourism and human rights, along with an overview of the differences and similarities between Trump and Obama’s policies. 

One of our columnists also challenges the notion that the U.S. should get involved with Cuba and writes that the U.S. should just take a step back and place “the responsibility of change back in the hands of Cubans.”

And Sebastián Arcos, the associate director of the University’s Cuban Research Institute, wrote a letter to the editor explaining what needs to change between our country and the island. You can check out their pieces on page 3.

As you’ll have noticed from our cover, we also have some interesting articles ranging from the Multicultural Programs and Services hosting their first Men of Color symposium to our Sports Director’s prediction that high school quarterback Stone Norton might be the future of FIU’s Panthers. Visit pages 6 and 8 to learn more.

Our News Director Joshua Ceballos and myself were also given the opportunity to be two of 14 student journalists across Florida to attend and cover the 2018 Florida Priorities two-day summit that was hosted by The Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald and the Bradenton Herald at the University of Miami. You can check out our recaps on page 2.

And if you’re already imagining your Thanksgiving plate, make sure you check out PantherNOW on Youtube for a foodie-themed video :)


Feature Graphic by Michelle Marchante/Editor-in-Chief.

About Post Author

About the Author

Michelle Marchante
Michelle Marchante is the 2018-2019 Editor-in-Chief of PantherNOW. Majoring in broadcast journalism, she lives and breathes web, print, radio and TV news 24/7. You can connect with her on Twitter @TweetMichelleM