On this Tuesday, Sept. 1, episode of Sundial:
Miami-Dade College Starts Classes Online
Miami-Dade College, the largest community college system in the nation, is reopening its doors to students, faculty and staff today. Roughly 76,000 students are enrolled for this year, but many of those classes will be taken online for the time being.
The school鈥檚 reopening comes as colleges and universities across South Florida, and across the country, are working hard to slow the spread of COVID-19 on campus.
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Schools are also facing budget shortfalls and under-enrollment because of the pandemic. Miami-Dade has seen a 15 percent cut in enrollment compared to years past.
鈥淪o that you have an idea of how bad this is, every [percentage] point of enrollment decline represents $1.4 million,鈥� said Dr. Rolando Montoya, the interim president of Miami-Dade College.
We spoke with Montoya about the college鈥檚 plans for the fall 2020 semester and beyond.
Pro Sports And Social Justice
The Miami Heat are on a winning streak. But for the players, this postseason is more than just about winning games. Players are using their platform to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement.
Last week, the against Orlando to protest police brutality following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.
Miami Heat swingman Andre Iguodala is playing a much bigger role off the court as the vice president of National Basketball Players Association.
鈥淯s being able to accumulate that wealth and then being able to take it back to our communities and at the same time bringing the awareness, which is the main goal coming out here. Shedding a light, using this platform. You know, you鈥檙e seeing a lot of reactions to what we鈥檝e been doing from other leagues and that shows a lot of power or a lot of influence that we鈥檙e having and using the influence in the right way,鈥� said Iguodala on CBS Saturday.
As part of the decision to resume the NBA playoffs, the league and its players will work together on several .
鈥淭he line between sports and politics is a messy one at best, but these individual athletes are still people,鈥� said the Miami Herald鈥檚 deputy sports editor, John Devine.
In a conversation with Sundial, he added that the NBA is pushing to turn the AmericanAirlines Arena into a polling location for the 2020 election.
Exile At Home During The Pandemic
It鈥檚 been about six months since Florida shut down due to the spread of COVID-19. That鈥檚 six months of social distancing, isolation and mostly being home.
A new project called 鈥淓xile at Home鈥� wants to know how you鈥檝e been spending your time at home.
鈥淚t took every ounce of strength to create that video, but I'm glad I can provide an intimate glimpse into the times we are struggling through," said Melanie Futorian, who filmed a dance video from her bed while she was battling COVID-19.
We spoke with two folks leading the project: Miami Herald photojournalist and founder of the Iris Photo collective, Carl Juste, and Lissette Mendez, the programs director for the Miami Book Fair.
鈥淗ome is the place where you hug people. Home is where you pray with people. Home is where you share a meal with people. Home is a lot of things outside the boundaries of your physical house,鈥� said Juste.
鈥淲hat I want this project to be for many is that of this silence and this pause that we can redefine the things that are important to us 鈥� family, faith, even in our own mortality and even our sense of community."
You can share your story by sending in a photo, video or a written piece . The deadline is Nov. 30.
