My Work | Portfolio

Nov 2, 2017
1 min

BREAKING: FIUPD Orders Evacuation of Blue Garage following bomb threat

Michelle Marchante/News Director This video is my first broadcast report. Broke the story on what was happening when FIUPD evacuated the Blue Garage at Florida International University’s Modesto Maidique campus. To read my breaking news article on the incident, click here. Tags: #FIU #FIUPD #PantherNOW #StudentJournalist #Video #News #BreakingNews #BombThreat

Urban legends act as ‘social narratives’ in society

Michelle Marchante

Oct 28, 2017
1 min

Urban legends act as ‘social narratives’ in society

Michelle Marchante/News Director Urban legends, including those of the University’s, may stem from society’s need for “shared stories,” according to a professor. Rhona Trauvitch, a professor in the Department of English, feels that urban legends can be narrative teaching tools as society has historically relied on stories for answers. “That’s how we understand anything that happens to us, through stories,” Trauvitch said. While not a specialist on urban legends, Trauvitch tea

Tau Kappa Epsilon suspended pending investigation

Michelle Marchante

Oct 27, 2017
1 min

Tau Kappa Epsilon suspended pending investigation

Michelle Marchante/News Director Tau Kappa Epsilon has been suspended for allegedly violating the University’s student code of conduct, following the release of screenshots depicting “inappropriate content” in the group’s TKE private chat, said Larry Lunsford, vice president of Student Affairs. The incident was originally reported to Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution in July, according to Lunsford, but TKE was not found responsible because TKE said it was someone “imper

SGC-MMC passes resolution supporting DACA students

Michelle Marchante

Oct 22, 2017
1 min

SGC-MMC passes resolution supporting DACA students

Michelle Marchante/News Director A resolution supporting the University’s undocumented student population unanimously passed Monday, Oct. 16, unifying MMC’s Student Government Council in their commitment to not let legal status affect a student’s voice on campus, senators said. “The Inclusionary Resolution To Support The Undocumented Students, Faculty, And Community Members At Florida International University,” was authored by Francesca Riccio-Ackerman, a senator of the Colle

Tau Kappa Epsilon accused of inappropriate conduct by Panhellenic Council

Michelle Marchante

Oct 20, 2017
1 min

Tau Kappa Epsilon accused of inappropriate conduct by Panhellenic Council

Michelle Marchante/News Director Five out of seven sororities of the University’s Panhellenic Council are ceasing all interaction with the Sigma Alpha Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon until the end of the semester after receiving an email containing “inappropriate” screenshots of TKE’s group chats regarding a deceased sorority member. The Panhellenic TKE Statement, released by HerCampus.com, stated that these emails contained “nude photos of multiple women, inappropriate photos a

Terror Strikes Las Vegas: FIUPD addresses campus security concerns following Las Vegas shooting

Michelle Marchante

Oct 9, 2017
1 min

Terror Strikes Las Vegas: FIUPD addresses campus security concerns following Las Vegas shooting

Michelle Marchante/News Director Members of the University community may be concerned about campus safety following the Las Vegas shooting on Sunday, Oct. 1, but police are equipped to keep the campus safe and secure, the department’s chief said. While unable to give detailed explanations of what FIUPD’s tactics are, as it may compromise the safety of the campus and its officers, the department is doing everything in their power to keep the University safe, FIUPD Chief Alexan

Q&A with Tom Julin, First Amendment lawyer

Michelle Marchante

Sep 28, 2017
2 min

Q&A with Tom Julin, First Amendment lawyer

Michelle Marchante/News Director Student Media collected questions from students for a Q&A session with Tom Julin, First Amendment lawyer. Q: Who has the right to say what and to what certain extent? Are there any limitations or is it like say whatever you want..that’s a talking point, the NFL and the First Amendment? -Cristhian Placencia, broadcast journalism, senior A: We have the right to say many things but we don’t have the right to defame others. We don’t have the right

FIU’s academic calendar changes following Irma

Michelle Marchante

Sep 21, 2017
1 min

FIU’s academic calendar changes following Irma

Michelle Marchante/ News Director The University is expected to extend its fall semester because of Hurricane Irma by an additional week to make up for lost time, said the provost. Unlike the other state universities, which resumed classes on Thursday, Sept. 14, FIU missed nine “instructional” days because of the threat Irma posed to South Florida, Provost Kenneth Furton said to Panther Magazine. FIU, he said, was unable to open earlier because of Irma’s aftermath which inclu

FIU closes in preparation for Hurricane Irma

Michelle Marchante

Sep 5, 2017
1 min

FIU closes in preparation for Hurricane Irma

Michelle Marchante/News Director Classes are canceled as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night through the weekend for the university community to prepare for Irma, a category 5 hurricane. Normal operations will resume Wednesday but the University will close Thursday, according to an email from External Relations, and all special events on campus, including the Saturday football game at FIU are canceled. Irma is one of the largest and most powerful hurricanes in recorded history at 185 mp

Florida Legislature passes million dollar budget for FIU initiatives

Michelle Marchante

Aug 7, 2017
1 min

Florida Legislature passes million dollar budget for FIU initiatives

Michelle Marchante/News Director The Florida Legislature passed a budget for FIU’s 2017-2018 school year, which includes $52.6 million in new capital and operating funds for initiatives, programs and funding for two new buildings at the Modesto A. Maidique campus. The budget includes $10 million for the new College of Engineering & Computing Complex. This money, as stated in an email sent to Student Media from the Office of Governmental Relations, will go towards the estimat

FIU recognized as one of the best colleges to work for

Michelle Marchante

Jul 18, 2017
1 min

FIU recognized as one of the best colleges to work for

This article was published by FIU Student Media's PantherNOW. Video filmed by Michelle Marchante and edited by Nicole Malanga for PantherNOW. Michelle Marchante/News Director FIU is the only university in the United States this year to receive honor roll with recognition in all 12 categories of The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual report, making it one of the best colleges to work for. One of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country,

FIU on track to higher enrollment, online classes and retention

Michelle Marchante

Jul 11, 2017
1 min

FIU on track to higher enrollment, online classes and retention

Michelle Marchante/News Director The University is on track to meeting their goals for their five year strategic plan which involves higher retention rates, increased enrollment and more online classes, university officials said. Created by Provost Kenneth Furton in collaboration with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders, the interdisciplinary plan Beyond Possible 2020 is a “roadmap” to the year 2020, according to Howard Holness, chief of academic administra

High-level officials to visit FIU for Conference on Prosperity and Security in Central America

Michelle Marchante

Jun 14, 2017
1 min

High-level officials to visit FIU for Conference on Prosperity and Security in Central America

Michelle Marchante/News Director Government officials from the U.S., Mexico and Central America will be attending a conference at the Modesto Maidique campus on Thursday, June 15, to discuss “economic, security, and governance agendas” of the Northern Triangle countries, according to reports. Click here if you want to read the full article. Tags: #FIU #PantherNOW #News #StudentJournalist #NewsDirector #ConferenceonProsperityandSecurity #CentralAmerica

Brahim Almarales: Students, “keep pushing on”

Michelle Marchante

May 28, 2017
1 min

Brahim Almarales: Students, “keep pushing on”

Michelle Marchante/News Director Pursuing a degree can be complicated and expensive, but students have to “keep pushing on,” a Worlds Ahead graduate said. Brahim Almarales, 22, a recent graduate with a dual degree in History and Philosophy, is the first in his family to get higher education and was recognized at his graduation ceremony for being “Worlds Ahead” in his journey to education. A Bright Futures recipient, Almarales graduated with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude,

Dueling Column: Students living in pro-expansion bubble

Michelle Marchante

Mar 26, 2017
1 min

Dueling Column: Students living in pro-expansion bubble

Michelle Marchante/ Opinion Director The bubble we live in makes it almost impossible for us to consider that FIU’s expansion to the fairgrounds might not be as beneficial to the Miami-Dade and University communities as it seems. In the last semester, we’ve run many pro-expansion columns, with valid reason. FIU is a growing university, with about 56,000 enrolled students, and needs space to continue its academic growth. To playing devil’s advocate, there is another side to th

Michelle Marchante

Mar 3, 2017
1 min

Disney has failed Hispanics

Michelle Marchante/ Opinion Director Disney has failed Hispanics. Last year, Disney debuted their first Hispanic princess, Elena of Avalor. As Avalor’s princess, she is a skilled sword-fighter, has magical powers and does not have a love interest. She is a mixture of different Hispanic heritages, cultures and legends. She sounds fascinating, except, Disney has belittled and discriminated against her. Disney has not treated her like the other princesses. All “official” Disney

Budgeting can minimize your student debt

Michelle Marchante

Nov 15, 2016
1 min

Budgeting can minimize your student debt

Michelle Marchante/Opinion Director Debt is every student’s worst nightmare. It’s the monster that hides under your bed —the Chuckie of college life— but it can be combatted and eventually defeated. You just have to play it smart. According to the University’s Financial Aid Office, the two most common loans found among students are the Federal Stafford Unsubsidized loan, where interest fees start the moment the student accepts the loan and the Federal Stafford Subsidized loan

FIU can help students find jobs before graduation

Michelle Marchante

Nov 2, 2016
1 min

FIU can help students find jobs before graduation

Michelle Marchante/Opinion Director Internships are what open the door to career “heavens” for students and is something that can separate a student’s resume from all the others. Our university is completely aware of how important this task is and has made sure to provide multiple different resources students can use during their time here to ensure that they are capable of reeling in an internship by graduation. According to U.S. news, a study conducted by the National Assoc

WikiLeaks has become the new whistleblower

Michelle Marchante

Oct 18, 2016
1 min

WikiLeaks has become the new whistleblower

Michelle Marchante/ Opinion Director WikiLeaks has done it again, doing what American journalism has failed to do this election season: uncovering secrets that could sway the people’s vote, despite its questionable operator. This time around, WikiLeaks has leaked emails from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta. The new emails show Podesta, Clinton’s communication campaign director, Jennifer Palmieri and other officials not only mocking Catholi

Student runs for the position of Aventura Commissioner

Michelle Marchante

Oct 14, 2016
1 min

Student runs for the position of Aventura Commissioner

Michelle Marchante/Staff Writer Joshua Mandall, 20, a junior studying political science, has a lot on his plate this year juggling school, extracurricular activities, an internship and being one of the youngest candidates to ever be on Aventura’s Nov. 8 ballot. Mandall is competing for the position of Commissioner, Seat 5, against Gladys Mezrahi, 53, the owner of Indigo Events, a local events and public relations company. Aventura’s City Commission is comprised of seven part-