Trump won. What does this mean for higher education?
Heidi Cuevas | Opinion Director
The election results are in: Donald Trump has won and while some see this as a victory, we need to be ready to adapt to a significantly more conservative education system.
Let’s start with the rumors of Project 2025 beginning once Donald Trump is inaugurated— if this is true, none of us are safe from the disastrous impact it will cause.
Written by the Trump first administration and published by The Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is the 900 page extremist conservative blueprint with 735 proposed policies.
Some of these policies range from restricting reproductive rights, start mass deportation, strip away transgender rights or any gender affirming care and attack higher education.
And though Trump has consistently claimed that he is not associated with Project 2025– despite having direct ties to the writers and foundation— his stance on higher education is driven by conservative motives anyways.
Trump has promised in his campaign trail to cut federal funding for schools that teach critical race theory or gender ideology and he has vendetta against DEI which has been shut down in 10 states, including Florida.
We’ve already been feeling the effects of censored education but Trump’s second term is going to continue blurring the line between being educated and being fed the false conservative ideology that he continues to push for.
The FIU Board of Trustees has already cut 22 courses from their core curriculum that focus on race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ studies, anthropology and sociology— all important courses to teach us the reality of the racism and oppression in American history that continue to haunt us today.
So how will states be in control of education if he is pushing for an education curriculum that teaches what he wants students to learn?
And if Trump succeeds with his agenda and states are granted control over education, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis political “war on woke” agenda will torment students studying in the humanities field.
And let’s not forget how the Biden administration inclusion to protect LGBTQ+ students and survivors of sexual assault under Title IX will be stripped away.
Is this a surprise? No, not really.
In Trump’s first term he wanted to protect the accusers not the victims in sexual assault cases and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ students continue to be rejected by republican politicians, including DeSantis.
The sad reality is that Trump’s second term as president will affect us one way or another. The education we have known for over a decade will crumble under Trump’s second term, leaving us only with pieces to depend on.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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“Lunch Break”: A Feast for the Mind, Body, and Soul
Melany Varela | Contributing Writer
A great initiative founded by IWitness, an institute for Visual Journalism at FIU, invites students and faculty to participate in their monthly “Lunch Break” program, sponsored by the FIU Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab.
This inspiring cultural and social celebration at the Biscayne Bay Campus, Academic Center Two Building, happens every third Friday of the month and incites student involvement.
It addresses urgent questions relating to the global borderless Caribbean, through a multidisciplinary approach. Highlighting creativity, community, truth, and democracy in our local governments.
The third edition of “Lunch Break” will be held on Nov. 15. The main topic will be “Thanks. Giving. Hope.”, which recognizes the complex history and cultural layers of Indigenous groups by acknowledging both the positive and difficult aspects of their past and present.
DJ Mac will commence the event with a thematic playlist. Followed by two performance groups and one discussion board, with each reflecting one of the core concepts.
Firstly, “Thanks” will be shown by the Florida Grand Opera CANTO singers that feature talented students from FIU and the University of Miami.
Secondly, “Giving” will be discussed through the project “Roof for the Future” founded by Cayetano Manolo Nowak, a high schooler who raises funds to install solar panels in the Dominican Republic.
And lastly, “Hope” will be represented by a duet featuring FIU alumni Lucia Nunez and Steven Parnelle.
Caribbean food will be provided for the attendees as a closing to the event.
“We believe in the visual and the power of the visual,” said Dr. Friedman in an interview with PantherNOW, “each time there will be images for our audience to engage with, and for our speakers to engage with, and we complement that with the talent that is all around us here in Miami”
“Lunch Break” is an invitation for the FIU and Miami community to spark interest in our society and engage in the topics that affect us as a whole. For more updates and information about “Lunch Break” and the IWitness Institute, as well as, interest in participation, you can follow and contact @ipcartspace and @rebeccawphl on Instagram.
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FIU defeated the Liberty University Flames to win its first-ever Conference USA championship.
The first period of the match was a hard-fought battle. The Panthers came out on the attack and managed to keep the ball on the Flame’s side for most of the half.
Meanwhile, Liberty focused on keeping a clean sheet, prioritizing defense, and relying on counterattacks to create scoring opportunities.
As they had done for most of the season, FIU’s defense, led by Senior Reagan Bridges, dominated the opposition holding the Flames to zero shot attempts in the first half and giving sophomore goalkeeper Valery Restrepo a quiet day with minimal interventions.
The Panthers continued to attack at the start of the second half. And early on, their relentless pressure paid off.
After a great solo play by sophomore Montelene Dymond, who later would have to exit the game with an injury, the ball reached star player senior Noemi Paquin who after receiving the pass was fouled inside the box.
Senior Deborah Bien-Aime stepped up to take the penalty kick, and after a great shot to the bottom right corner, gave FIU the lead in the 47th minute with her first goal of the season.
Following FIU’s goal, the Flames went on the attack. After a quiet first half, they tested Restrepo early on forcing her to make two key saves.
Despite the added pressure by Liberty, FIU maintained control for the rest of the game.
As the final whistle blew, the Panthers celebrated their historic achievement of being crowned Conference USA champions for the first time in program history.
After the game, the All-Tournament team offensive MVP Noemi Paquin reflected on what the win means for her and the program, “it feels really good, we came here most of us four years ago and this is exactly what we worked for.”
“We said that this year was going to be our time and when we came together this season we were all ready.”
Head coach Jonathan Garbar has watched his squad transform from a mid-table team to a dominant force in the conference. During the hard-fought final, he focused on keeping his players composed and with their eyes on the prize.
“What I told them is that one team has to suffer more than the other, so let’s make them suffer more. We knew it was going to be a hard physical match. We needed to find a great balance between being physical, fighting for all our duels but also playing a lot of football.”
With their championship win, the Panthers have secured a spot in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, where they will go up against Auburn in the first round.
This win not only marks a significant milestone for the Panthers’ women’s soccer program but also sets a new standard for future seasons.
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The Mysterious Game Night where the Game is a Mystery
Kelly Ho | Staff Writer
Hosted by the Geek Culture Club, a mysterious game night was held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Featuring a mysterious game that later turned out to be a Fate/Grand Order “History Test.” Fate/Grand Order is a mobile video game that uses folklore and history to make its various characters.
The game essentially works by having four players, each having their own button, with each making a specific sound to identify who pressed first.
They are then shown an image of historical figures but in an anime style. They’re tasked to guess the picture using lifelines and hints given throughout the game.
All participants had four life lines including phone a friend, ask the room, ask a question, and a hint freebie.
Later in rounds, each participant was able to have one partner for the later rounds in the game. This included an AI version of historical figures that were then shown to make things tougher for the participants.
The lifelines worked exactly like how a famous show called “Who wants to be a millionaire” uses them, by phoning a friend, asking the room, and even having some freebie hints just in case.
This was to ensure that all students had a fair chance of winning.
Some historical figures mentioned include, but are not limited to: Gaius Julius Caesar, Theseus, Ivan VI Vasilyevich, Oda Nobunaga, Attila the Hun, Captain Nemo, and Henry McCarty (Billy the Kid).
Jonathan Balila, Intern for Geek Culture Club at FIU and a senior information technology major, stated why they helped host the event.
“We wanted to make a bunch of people laugh and to have fun. I already played this game with friends before by showing random characters and guessing them. I thought it would be fun to host it,” Balila said.
Students laughed when others made brave guesses on who the historical figure might be, and others had picked the perfect partner as they guessed correctly on multiple rounds with almost no life lines or hints used.
Through the use of life lines and more freebies later in the round for the last place participants, people who had no knowledge on the game were given more chances to win, making it fair and enjoyable.
With the rise of fair odds, the game’s tension increased allowing the thrill of winning to fuel the contestants.
Laughter, gutsy guesses and fun, students had a blast on this mysterious game night event when competition was at its peak.
Students waiting for the event to start | Kelly Ho, PantherNOW
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The FAFSA application history of late disbursement leaves students with no other choice but to wait anxiously to see what will happen this time around.
The fact that we are still feeling the repercussions of the last update is astounding.
Many of us rely on federal grants to be able to attend college, so to send out a half-baked product to the people who need it the most seems ridiculous.
The Government Accountability Office has been investing the latest rollout of the new FASFA and found that the Federal Student Aid office had not tackled key issues before releasing the new form and rushing through preliminary testing.
The Department of Education released a report highlighting how they will proceed in lieu of failures in the past. However, issues in oversight, technical delays and the number of defects found, 55 so far, shows that this is a complicated issue that could take a while to solve.
With the release date for the 2025-2026 FAFSA form mirroring the same delays as last year, students can’t help but worry what will happen and if they’ll be able to pay for classes on time.
No one wants to take out loans and when students do, it’s usually because they have no other choice. Owning too much student loan debt can derail future objectives like buying a house or delaying career goals.
The new form is supposed to help us receive aid, but so far it has only caused chaos.
A survey conducted by Ellucian showed that 59% of college students considered dropping out due to financial stress and 61% stated it negatively affected their education.
Financial aid makes all the difference in how a student’s academic journey will look like and the late disbursement of these fund only make things more difficult.
This mix of technical and communication failures not only disrupted college and universities financial aid timelines but also the livelihood of students.
Some undergrads use financial aid to help cover rent, food and other necessities and without that money it’s a struggle to get by.
This latest application process is meant to be more streamlined, with forms being processed in one to three days, fewer questions, direct data exchange with the IRS and a new formula to create student aid packages, but the execution is horrendous.
While students wait for the application to open, the fear of the crisis that began in 2023 is still there.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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Five big questions for football coming out of the bye week
Adrian Benitez | Staff Writer
With three games left in the season, the FIU Football team sits with a 3-6 record, needing to run the table to qualify for a bowl game.
The Panthers have a particularly tough road test coming in their next game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, who have won their last five games in a row.
With the Panthers having this week off, there are many questions that will be answered in the final quarter of their season. Here are five of the biggest.
Will the Jenkins and Rivers connection continue flourishing?
In that contest, Rivers had 295 reception yards, breaking the Panthers program record for receiving yards in a game. Jenkins went 18-27 with 338 yards and four touchdowns in the contest.
Given the offense’s inconsistency throughout the season, Jenkins and Rivers will most likely need to continue producing to give the Panthers the edge they need against CUSA defenses in their last three games.
In addition, he’s also recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, one fumble recovery and a pick-six.
Barnes has been both the Panthers’ best player and the anchor of the defense during the 2024 campaign, and his presence will be sorely needed entering the final stretch of the season.
Can the run defense make necessary adjustments?
Luke Hall | PantherNOW
The Panthers’ run defense is giving up 196.9 yards per game so far this season, ranking second worst in the CUSA. Despite the Panther’s defense being their better side of the ball throughout the season, the lack of ability to defend the run is a major crutch.
This problem is particularly important when discussing the Panthers’ next game against Jacksonville State, as the CUSA’s two leading rushers play for the Gamecocks.
In order to pull off the miraculous march to bowl eligibility, the biggest fix needs to come through a more effective run defense
Can the Panther’s offense be more effective on critical downs?
Luke Hall | PantherNOW
The Panthers have only converted 30 of their 106 third-down attempts all season, which translates to a dismal 28.3% conversion rate. This is the lowest among all teams in the CUSA.
The Panthers have had their ups and downs on offense this year, and this is among the most noticeable of their downs. This statistic can definitely be attributed to making the difference in some of the Panthers’ losses this year.
These 3rd downs become more and more crucial for the Panthers every week. In the last few games, these are the plays that can decide whether or not the team goes bowling in December.
Can the FIU football team show the resiliency they need to win out?
Luke Hall | PantherNOW
This is easily the most important thing for the Panthers in their final three matchups. Can they show the necessary resolve to run the table?
We’ve seen the Panthers bounce back from bad defeats before. They responded to a loss against FCS Monmouth with a win against Louisiana Tech. The week after that, they took an undefeated Liberty team all the way to overtime.
However, that Liberty game ended in a loss. If the Panthers want a bowl, they can’t lose anymore. The biggest thing we’ll learn about the Panthers in their final three games of the year is what they’re made of.
The Panthers will look to move closer to their ultimate goal against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Huntsville, Alabama.
Follow Adrian Benitez on X: @ab305FIU
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New train station at BBC expected to transform Miami transit
Fariha Tasnim Amir | Staff Writer
FIU’s BBC campus is getting a brand new metro rail station following the $389.5 million funding approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) towards the Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project.
The anticipated approval of the massive rail project spanning 13.5 miles connecting Miami-Dade to Broward and Palm Beach counties is predicted to bring forth major improvements in Miami commute, along with connecting FIU’s north campus to the rest of Miami.
Miami’s longrunning transportation issue has been affecting FIU’s commuter students for years. This recent initiation by Miami-Dade Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit’s (SMART) to construct 5 rapid transit corridors in vibrant areas such as Wynwood, Little Haiti, and the FIU Biscayne Bay campus might be the solution we need to finally upgrade the county’s public transit infrastructure.
“The northeast corridor and its local commuter rail service will help reduce traffic and give many residents, especially in underserved areas, more options to access jobs, education and opportunities,” Mayor of Miami-Dade county, Daniella Levine Cava expressed following the awaited approval of the large scale project.
The rail project achieved a “medium-high” rating from the Federal Transit Administration based on strict evaluations on all fronts and is expected to provide commuters with more affordable options for public transport. “This milestone is a big step toward providing our community with more accessible and sustainable transit options for our residents,” Commissioner Micky Steinberg said.
“We are thrilled with this development advancing our rapid transit vision for Miami-Dade County,” stated Eulois Cleckley, Director and CEO of Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW). This project aims to integrate the Miami Central and West Aventura stations while adding 5 stops to traffic heavy areas like Wynwood, the Design District, Little Haiti, North Miami, and the BBC campus. It will also include enhancements to the rail vehicle maintenance storage facility in Hialeah.
The 85-mile Coastal Link commuter rail is estimated to cost $927.3 million in total, with the Florida Department of Transportation contributing $200 million, $337 million in county funding and $389.5 million in federal funding. Federal Transit Administration’s approval of the federal funding has launched the project into its engineering and pre-construction phase, waiting to be approved by the congress once a revised financial plan is submitted by the Miami-Dade county.
“This announcement by the FTA marks a commitment to a more accessible, resilient, and inclusive Miami-Dade County. Whether it’s jobs, housing, or educational opportunities,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert III.
DTPW, along with Florida Department of Transformation, District 6 and 4, Brightline, Florida East Coast Railway, and Broward County will continue to work together to make the NorthEast transit project a reality.
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Weekend shuttles from MMC to BBC expected soon in respect to new resolution
Danette Heredia | Staff Writer
SGA commits to supporting the extension of the shuttle schedule between MMC and BBC through a new resolution, S.R. 05 006, to gradually introduce shuttles during the weekends, with the goal of starting in Spring 2025.
S.R. 05 006, BBC Bus Resolution, strives to bridge the gap of opportunities between students at MMC and BBC by offering free transportation between the two campuses over the weekends for students.
With the many events being hosted on MMC during the weekend, lack of transportation can withhold numerous networking, informational, and academic opportunities from BBC residents, stunting their academic and personal growth.
Additionally, weekend courses held at MMC cannot be accessed by BBC residents.
The lack of weekend shuttles primarily affects international students, many of who join FIU without personal transportation or the funds to afford them, having to rely on the transportation their university offers them like shuttles and Freebee.
“The current gap in the weekend transportation schedule, however, disproportionately affects those who reside at BBC, essentially preventing them from fully integrating into the FIU community, with nearly a third of the week obstructed from limited transportation,” said Senator Shilat Jayo-Acuna.
Unfortunately, S.R. 05 006 is not a resolution that ensures the enforcement of weekend buses, but serves as a message to faculty that there is strong student support behind weekend shuttles, and a message to students that SGA is putting effort towards making FIU’s amenities more accessible.
Although FIU offers reimbursement for paid transportation between campuses, it is described as a lengthy process that is evaluated on a case-by-case basis for every trip a student makes between classes to and from, a process that can be simplified by extending shuttle schedules.
While the date that weekend shuttles will be in effect is unclear, sponsors are aiming for a trial period within the Spring 2025 semester, starting with smaller 25-person buses to evaluate student demands and upgrading if necessary.
S.R. 05 006 passed with 36 yay’s and only one nay.
“This legislation is a direct response to those concerns, serving into the central set forward, bridging the gap between campuses and allowing BBC residents equal access to all the university has to offer,” said Senator Shilat Jayo-Acuna.
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Beyond the field: Noemi Paquin’s international journey to collegiate soccer stardom
Bautista Samperi | Staff Writer
Up 1-0 with another half to play, the Panthers were on the verge of making history.
While the defense had been shutting down Middle Tennessee, anything could happen. The team needed to be sure.
In the 76th minute of the game, senior defender Delinda Sehlin kicks a perfect pass from midfield.
It couldn’t have fallen to a better person. Senior forward Noemi Paquin runs straight ahead, with only the goalie in front of her. She delivers a quick, snapping kick with her right foot. The ball soars over and…
Goal.
The crowd roars as the commentators make the call. “The queen of Conference USA just sent her team to the championship!”
Paquin had just sealed the deal. The FIU women’s soccer team is going to its first conference final.
The Montreal native has been on a tear in the 2024 season. FIU’s offensive star forward leads the conference in goals with 15 and won the CUSA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year award.
But playing soccer in the U.S. was never part of the plan. In fact, it was a random YouTube video that set Paquin on her path.
Born and raised in Varennes, a suburb of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada, Paquin grew up in a sports family.
Her two brothers and father, Martin, played hockey, a sport that holds deep cultural significance in Canada. “My dad played a lot of soccer, but he stopped at some point to play hockey. I think he liked soccer a little more, though. Hockey is just more popular in Montreal,” Paquin said. “And my brother? Definitely hockey.”
Despite her family’s passion for hockey, it was soccer’s team-oriented spirit that made her fall in love with the sport. “I just focused on soccer and I loved it,” Paquin shared. “Being with a group of girls, having friends who shared that passion, I loved it.”
She continued playing throughout her childhood and high school before spending four years at Champlain College Saint-Lambert where she was named the 2019-20 RSEQ Women’s Soccer Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Canadian Women’s Soccer Team in the same season.
As her time at Saint-Lambert was ending, the idea of moving to the States and playing in the NCAA was nowhere on Paquin’s mind. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw the video that would change her life.
“I went on YouTube and I saw an NCAA game, I was like, wow, the level is really good. It’s really nice. I want to know more about it. And then it just happened that since then, I was like, I’m interested in going to the States.”
With her goal to reach the States now set, Paquin needed some help and guidance. In 2020, she joined Sports Ambition, an NCAA placement program for Canadian athletes. With the program’s guidance, Paquin committed in 2021 to play soccer for the Division 1 Florida International University Panthers as a psychology major.
Lilimarie Quintanal | PantherNOW
Paquin would have to face the challenges that are all too familiar to any international student-athlete: leaving behind family, friends and her hometown.
For some, this would all be too much to handle. Not for Paquin. Her confidence and independence kept her focused on her goal and helped when she felt homesick.
“I love my family and my friends. I’m not like that person who needs to be close to home. I’m fine being by myself. So it wasn’t that hard. But of course, I’m calling my parents and my family every time I can.”
At FIU, Paquin found a second family in her teammates. While she may be closer to some, she is proud of the strong connection that unites the team. “Obviously, there’s some people that I’m closer to, but if there is one thing I’m really happy about it’s that I’m pretty good with everyone.”
She also finds the support she needs in her boyfriend, senior Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro who, like Paquin, plays soccer for FIU.
“We were both freshmen at the same time. So that’s good. That year, we were just friends, like really close friends, but then nothing really came out of it. And then we got closer and closer and it just happened.”
Her relationship with Monteiro has also helped her stay focused and push herself even further. They practice together and provide each other much-needed support by talking before and after games.
“If I played badly, he’s going to tell me. Or if he played badly, I’m also going to tell him… We’re honest, we’re trying to help each other.”
Balancing school, soccer and her personal life was not easy at the beginning, but since then Paquin has found a way to manage all aspects of her life.
“At first, it was kind of hard to adapt because it’s way more intense than what I was used to back home. So it was just like a lot,” Paquin said. “But now, I think I’m finding a really good balance. And as soon as I have a break, I’m trying to just do what I like and not think too much about what’s going on with soccer.”
An easygoing person, Paquin doesn’t let soccer run her life. She makes time for her friends, boyfriend, family and hobbies, which together help her relax and enjoy the journey.
During her free time, she enjoys shopping, traveling and jet skiing, as well as the beach and the pool. She also likes going to dinner with friends and her boyfriend.
Now at the end of her senior year, Paquin and the team are having their best season yet. The Panthers have improved their winning record in each of her four seasons at the school, and her personal numbers have gone up too.
This season, the FIU women’s soccer team finished with a record of 11-4-2 and the Panthers are looking to continue making history and win the first conference championship in program history against Liberty on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Luke Hall | PantherNOW
As she gets ready to finish her senior year the best way possible, Paquin has already started to think about the future and life after college. Despite having already given a big part of her life to soccer, she does not plan on slowing down.
“I think I’m definitely going to look to go pro,” Paquin said. “I think there’s going to be more opportunities now. There’s a new league in the States, and even in Canada. Women’s soccer is getting bigger and bigger.”
With the idea of going pro, she strives to play for her country’s national team.
But Paquin is focused on the now. “Obviously, if I keep doing well, of course, I’m going to try. But I don’t have high expectations towards it. Again, step by step.”
Her journey is an example of hard work and determination. The sacrifices she made, adapting to a new school and a new country, while balancing her social life, her demanding sports life as well as her school work, show her ability to manage adversity and the will to rise to every challenge.
Paquin continues to face life with the same drive and energy that has guided her since the beginning of her journey. And while life is full of mysteries and uncertainties, one thing stays true: Paquin has already made a name for herself in collegiate soccer and will continue to grow her legacy, letting nothing stand in her way.
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Excellent newspaper article
Very interesting article.