SU alum Ghael Fobes was honored as a Marshall Scholar as he dedicates himself to exploring AI ethics in journalism.
C • Big Fellas
Antoine Smith and SU basketball center Eddie Lampkin Jr.’s Syracuse restaurant features a mystery beverage known as “Booty Sweat.”
By Duncan Green news editor
Andrea Magdaleno was at a friend’s house in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles when the power went out. She had heard reports that day of 100 mile per hour winds in the mountains, but wasn’t particularly concerned. After losing power, Magdaleno received a phone call from her mother, who told her
Los Angeles-based SU students reflect on wildfires
that a wildfire was approaching their family’s apartment building, and many of their neighbors were beginning to evacuate.
Magdaleno rushed to her car and found a tree had fallen on it amid the raging winds. She managed to free the vehicle from the wreckage and began the precarious journey home as power lines broke free and crashed to the pavement around her.
That night, the family decided to remain in their apartment. Around midnight,
sparks began to land around the building, and Magdaleno and her sister knew they needed to leave. After waking up their parents and convincing their cat to get into its carrier, her family evacuated their home and fled to her aunt’s house. By early morning, the Magdaleno’s apartment building was reduced to ashes. But the SU senior didn’t know that her home was gone until it appeared on the news the next morning.
S • Dropping dimes Page 16
Freshman point guard Olivia Schmitt thrived as a pass-first point guard at Do More Academy, leading to her SU commitment.
national IsraelHamas war reaches ceasefire
By Henry Daley asst. news editor
Negotiators from five different nations reached a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday. The agreement is set to last six weeks, starting with the release of hostages beginning Sunday, and would end the 15-month conflict.
The framework of the deal is similar to one President Joe Biden revealed in late May, which proposed that Hamas release women, older men and ill hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians being held in Israel. Under the agreement, 600 trucks carrying humanitarian relief resources will enter Gaza every day, The New York Times reported.
The war sparked national outrage across college campuses last year, leading to encampments and protests at over 500 academic institutions across the United States, including Syracuse University. On SU’s campus, protesters occupied Shaw Quadrangle in tents for over two weeks, calling for the university to publicly support a ceasefire in Gaza and divest from companies with ties to the Israeli government. Before the encampment, many campus and student groups held vigils for the war last fall.
The recent deal aims to end a war that has resulted in the death of more than 46,000 Palestinians and wounded over 109,000 since Hamas’ initial attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. On the day of the attacks, Hamas launched an assault on an Israeli music festival, killing around 1,200 civilians.
Since then, about 1.9 million Palestinians and over 75,000 Israelis have been displaced. More than 92% of the roads and 69% of the structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, with an estimated $18.5 billion in damages in the first three months of the war.
The U.S., Qatar and Egypt facilitated the deal between delegations from Hamas and Israel in Doha, Qatar’s capital city. While various world leaders have publicly commented on the agreement, neither Israel’s nor Hamas’ governing bodies have acknowledged it, NPR reported.
Senator Chuck Schumer welcomed the news of the ceasefire in a Wednesday afternoon post on X.
“A ceasefire is very good news for Israel, for America, for the Palestinian people, and particularly for the hostage families who have waited so long in agony,” Schumer wrote. “A ceasefire will reduce violence in Gaza and harm to innocent civilians. It couldn’t have happened without steadfast diplomacy and until the potency of Hamas was radically reduced.”
The deal came hours before President Biden’s farewell address and
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INSIDE
The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.
NEWS
“I’ll never forget having to choose what parts of my childhood I wanted to survive if we potentially lost the house.” - Isabella Marzan, SU sophomore Page 1
CULTURE
“The real dope part about the whole experience is the concept of having two establishments coexist and bring a different vibe outside of what Syracuse usually has.”George Lynch, Big Fellas customer Page 6
OPINION
“The dominance of American eating customs is reshaping food habits globally as heavy reliance on ultra-processed foods and animal products are often marketed as symbols of progress and modernity.” - Sudiksha Khemka, columnist Page 10
SPORTS
“I knew in order to win basketball games, I had to be selfless and hit all these really talented players beside me.” - Olivia Schmitt, SU point guard Page 16
COMING UP
Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: Orange After Dark Video Game Tournament
WHEN: Friday, 10 p.m. - 12 a.m.
WHERE: Schine Student Center, Atrium
WHAT: Poetry Reading Honoring Nikki Giovanni
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 - 9 p.m.
WHERE: Black Citizens Brigade
WHAT: Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music & Vocal Ensemble
WHEN: Saturday, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Grant Middle School
aiden stepansky and ilana zahavy the daily orange
Newhouse alum, 2025 Marshall Scholar, to explore AI ethics
By Anna Clair Levitt asst. copy editor
Discouraged by increasingly troublesome depictions of journalists in his studies at Syracuse University and in his work at NBC, Ghael Fobes decided to dedicate himself to developing strategies for effective artificial intelligence use within the field.
Fobes, a 2022 SU graduate, was honored as a 2025 Marshall Scholar, a scholarship based out of the United Kingdom that finances recent American university graduates to pursue further education at a university in the U.K. While abroad, Fobes said he hopes to study how news organizations can use AI to their benefit in a time when AI is often viewed as a threat to many industries.
Around 50 scholars from across the United States are chosen each year for the scholarship. Founded in the 1950s, it’s meant to show appreciation for the Marshall Plan, an act signed by President Harry Truman in 1948 to provide monetary aid to European nations as they rebuilt after World War II. The scholarship aims to inspire students to be “ambassadors” between the U.S. and the U.K.
“It doesn’t really feel like people are actively looking at answers for this industry,” Fobes said. “I went into journalism wanting to build better, more resilient organizations. I think this program is going to be really helpful.”
While at SU, Fobes majored in broadcast and digital journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and minored in political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He concluded his time at SU as a commencement speaker for his graduating class.
Fobes said that he got some on-air experience while in school, but discovered he was more interested in what he called the “mechanics” of journalism.
“How do we build organizations that are stable and that have good, hospitable conditions for journalists?” he said.
Following graduation, Fobes worked as a White House producer for NBC News in Washington, D.C. After gaining professional experience in the field, Fobes honed in on areas of innovation in modern news organizations.
Fobes said it’s essential for journalists — along with those in other professions — to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to working with artificial intelligence. He said journalism has often been slow to adapt to new technologies.
“Oftentimes, (journalists) have been reactionary to new technologies,” Fobes said. “That has lost a lot of the revenue that goes into journalism organizations. So, I wanted to find ways of being resilient.”
Fobes attributed his accomplishment to the help of SU’s Center for Fellowship and Scholarship advising. Jolynn Parker, CFSA’s director, introduced the scholarship to him and guided him through the process when he eventually decided to apply, two years after his graduation.
“Ghael stood out as a strong applicant for the Marshall Scholarship because of the clarity and urgency of his goals, to develop responsible practices for integrating AI into news production, to combat disinformation, and because of his remarkable preparation and capacity to achieve those goals,” Parker said.
Through the Marshall Scholarship, Ghael plans on building connections with BBC and Bridging Responsible AI Divides, an organization that promotes informed and ethical AI use.
Parker said Fobes’ experiences overseas will allow him to return to professional life as a leader in machine learning technologies.
As part of his application, Fobes said he was expected to be clear and concise about how his studies will impact the rest of the world. He plans on pursuing two master’s degrees – in data and artificial intelligence ethics and in future governance – at the University of Edinburgh, which he chose due to its strong focus on AI ethics.
“It’s really important that we have people that can ask the right questions,” Fobes said. “I think that the heart of being a journalist is asking really tough questions. Does this progress include everybody? Are we accounting for all the potential obstacles that might happen? Does this disadvantage certain people?”
aclevitt@syr.edu
Explaining the legal battle that led to next week’s TikTok ban
By Delia Rangel asst. news editor
As a potential TikTok ban approaches on Jan. 19, the United States government’s push for the social media platform’s sale has sparked investor interest, legal battles and growing concerns over data privacy and national security. With 170 million U.S.-based users, the app’s future remains uncertain.
Owned by ByteDance, a Chinese tech company, TikTok has regularly faced scrutiny based on claims that the Chinese government could access user data through the app, such as location services. In 2024, Congress passed a bill banning the platform unless it is sold to a U.S.-based company, The New York Times reported.
President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act last April, giving the company until Jan. 19 to sell TikTok. On Dec. 6, the company attempted to overturn the law, citing First Amendment violations. A panel of three federal judges unanimously rejected the challenge.
Regulators and lawmakers have increasingly expressed concern that TikTok and ByteDance may provide sensitive data, such as location information, to the Chinese government, pointing to laws that allow the government to secretly demand data from Chinese companies and citizens for intelligence-gathering operations, the Times reported.
Lawmakers are also concerned China could use the app’s content recommendations to fuel misinformation.
TikTok has long denied the allegations and attempted to distance itself from its parent company.
As of Wednesday night, President-elect Donald Trump has considered enacting an executive order to suspend the ban for 60 to 90 days, giving the administration time to negotiate a sale or alternative solution, the Washington Post reported. The ban will go into effect one day before the former President’s inauguration.
When the ban goes into effect, app stores including those operated by Apple and Google would remove TikTok from its stores, making it unavailable for download. Users who have already downloaded the app would still see it on their phones.
The app would likely remain on users’ phones but would not receive updates, leading to the program’s collapse as bugs remain unpatched and rendering it virtually unusable, the Post reported.
If app stores like Apple and Google continue to distribute or update TikTok, the federal government could impose fines and civil penalties. Infractions could cost companies $5,000 for each user that continues to access TikTok through its app stores.
The U.S. government’s “sell-or-be-banned” approach has sparked concerns among digital rights activists, who fear the ban undermines the country’s role in promoting an internet space free of over-regulation by government agencies, the Times reported.
The efforts to force ByteDance to sell the app have generated speculation about
flynn ledoux illustration editor
The Marshall scholarship finances recent American university graduates to pursue further education at a university in the U.K. courtesy of ghael fobes
city Syracuse ranks low in NY cost of living
By Arabella Klonowski and Henry Daley the daily orange
The city of Syracuse had the 222ndhighest annual household bills in New York state in 2024, with $1,903 spent monthly on housing and utilities per household, according to a Doxo report. Syracuse’s cost of living was 28% lower than the state average.
The report, which lists 267 municipalities in total, estimates Syracuse household bills cost 10% less than the national average until adjusting for the city’s average annual income of $55,845, which soars the figure to 20% above average. When excluding mortgage and rent, housing prices spike to 31% higher than the state mean.
According to the report, Syracuse residents spend 41% of their income on housing expenses. It also states Syracuse is the only city in Onondaga County that spends more than 40% of its annual earnings on household bills.
Residents also spend a monthly average of $430 on utility bills, which includes fees covering electricity, gas, water, sewage, garbage and recycling. This is higher than the United States average of $362, and still higher than New York state’s $405 average.
In Onondaga County, the average cost of household bills is 3% below the national level when adjusting for income and excluding mortgage and rent costs, according to the report.
Within the county, Syracuse and East Syracuse are the only urban areas where the average cost of household bills is higher than the national average. While Syracuse’s costs are 31% higher, East Syracuse’s are only 1% higher.
Syracuse residents also spend 9% more of their income on household bills compared to the rest of the county.
When asked about the state’s cost of living this year, including Syracuse’s expensive utilities, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she’s made combating high prices a top priority for her administration.
At her State of the State address Tuesday, Hocul said her $25 billion five-year housing program is ahead of schedule while encouraging state and federal agencies to invest in affordable housing. The program would help build and preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York.
Hochul also committed to a middleclass income tax cut that will save taxpayers roughly $1 billion annually, dropping New York taxes to its lowest rates in seven decades.
akklonow@syr.edu
days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. While negotiators have agreed to the ceasefire, it still needs to be formally ratified by the Israeli cabinet and government, the Times reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a vote is expected Thursday morning to certify the ceasefire.
In the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli forces will withdraw from populated areas, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Times. Of the estimated 100 hostages in Gaza, about 33 would be released throughout the agreement. Israeli authorities believe around 35 of the hostages in Gaza are dead.
SU campus and local community groups did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ceasefire on Wednesday afternoon. hdaley@syr.edu
began to spread. As she drove into the city, she said she couldn’t believe what she saw.
“My cousin saw (the news), and she was like, ‘Wait, that’s your (apartment),’ and … I broke down crying,” Magdaleno said. “All of my childhood memories, pictures, videotapes of my sister growing up, it’s all gone.”
On Monday morning, many SU students from Southern California returned to campus uncertain if they’d ever see their childhood homes again. As wildfires continue in Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other areas around LA, students begin a new semester while hoping their neighborhood isn’t the next one to make the news.
Since Jan. 7, Los Angeles has seen as many as seven different wildfires blazing simultaneously, with some covering thousands of acres. As of Wednesday, that number has been reduced to three.
Spread by the unusually powerful Santa Ana winds and an annual dry weather pattern that comes off the Pacific Ocean, the fires have forced almost 100,000 people to evacuate, with many more remaining in areas at risk of the wind, smoke and fire.
The sky was clear… and then the blanket of gray closed in. Even though my neighborhood isn’t up in flames right now … you can’t really be in Los Angeles without it physically affecting you.
Lara Villavicencio su junior
When Rebecca Mejia learned about the intense winds and fire spreading across Eaton County from her grandfather, she became worried for her mother and sister who work and go to school in central LA, and her father who works on the coast. The SU senior, who’s studying forensic science and psychology, waited anxiously for them to return home as she watched the fires worsen on her TV screen.
“We were just basically waiting around for them to come home, and we were so worried,” Mejia said. “(Later) they described it to me as Armageddon.”
Mejia said her mother almost didn’t make it home as the Hurst fire closed in on her route. Once the family was reunited, they quickly packed and prepared to leave their home.
While her family’s house survived the fires, friends and other community members have lost their homes, Mejia said. With thousands displaced, she has struggled to stomach the work that putting back together so many lives will require.
“What are we going to do after? How are we going to rebuild?” Mejia said. “LA County has millions of people in such a small stretch of land. It’s more populated than whole states. It’s just a lot of devastation, a lot of heartbreak and tears.”
With fires continuing to burn across the northwest corner of LA, Mejia decided to postpone her return to campus until Wednesday. Ahead of her departure, she said the guilt and anxiety of leaving her family will be “crippling” as she resumes classes on the other side of the country.
Lara Villavicencio felt similar guilt about leaving her family behind. The junior, who studies business analytics and economics, has been preparing for a semester abroad in Madrid as the fires close in on her home in North Hollywood.
After staying with her mother in Ventura County for a few days, wildfires across the region
“You could immediately see the difference,” Villavicencio said. “The sky was clear … and then the blanket of gray closed in. Even though my neighborhood isn’t up in flames right now … you can’t really be in Los Angeles without it physically affecting you.”
Isabella Marzan, a sophomore studying television, radio and film, said the sight of the Palisades fire coming over the hills above her Granada Hills home was unbelievable, driving her father to tears. As a lifetime resident of LA, Marzan said she was completely overwhelmed as her phone and TV warned her to evacuate as soon as possible.
While her family prepared to flee their home, Marzan said it was unclear where to go, as many safe areas for evacuees quickly became danger zones.
“It was a really scary night,” Marzan said. “I’ll never forget having to choose what parts of my childhood I wanted to survive if we potentially lost the house.”
The home she has lived in her entire life wasn’t burned down, but she said the suffering around her has still been heartbreaking. Marzan couldn’t count the number of friends, classmates and colleagues of her parents who have lost their homes across the city.
Marzan also expressed frustration toward the political discourse that has since followed the blaze. She said now is not the time to point fingers and blame one another, but to come together.
“(It’s) really hard to hear everybody that’s not from Los Angeles say, ‘it’s just Hollywood, it’s just rich people.’ Our city is a lot more than that,” Marzan said. “No one’s talking about these lowermiddle-class Americans in Pasadena that have lost everything.”
In a city that has recently struggled with homelessness, tens of thousands more displaced people will only further strain the city’s limited resources. While many mansions in the Hollywood Hills have headlined coverage of the destruction, Marzan said many of the communities suffering the most are normal people who now face homelessness and hunger.
Even more than the socioeconomic debate that “misses the point,” Marzan said that the historic fires demonstrate the worsening effects of climate change and feel like a slap in the face for Generation Z residents of LA.
Villavicencio echoed this, calling the wildfires a wake-up call. With over 12,000 structures, including homes, schools and businesses destroyed and historic winds spreading flame across the city, the SU junior said she wants to see real change in the future.
“Hopefully this can be a turning point and a lesson that climate change is real, and it is literally in our backyards,” Villavicencio said.
For Max Jimenez, a graduate student pursuing a master’s in higher education, intense climate events have always been a part of his life. Born and raised in LA, he recalled watching ash fall from the sky during a wildfire as a kid and thought to himself, “Oh, this is what snow looks like.”
Throughout the many fires in his life, Jimenez has never been so far away from his home and family. After departing the West Coast on Jan. 6, he didn’t learn about the severity of the natural disaster until videos began to circulate on social media. His parents initially didn’t tell him about their struggles to help him focus on his studies and not worry about life at home.
Once Jimenez learned that his family hadn’t had power for multiple days, his mother’s school had evacuated, and that the neighboring post office to his father’s in Altadena had burned down, he began to panic.
“Open communication with me and my parents about how they’re doing, updates on stuff, know(ing) I can call them at all points, … it’s been a lot better,” Jimenez said. “So, as long as I’m calling and talking, I feel like I’m more at ease.”
Jimenez said the physical destruction caused by the wildfires is frightening, but soot and ash-related ailments make him more anxious. Multiple members of his family have asthma, putting them at higher risk of the toxins in the air.
There’s been a lot of mental weight of knowing if something happens, there is nothing I can do because I’m so far from home right now.
Villavicencio echoed Jimenez and said her family has had to find old masks from the COVID19 pandemic to wear when going outside. While she doesn’t suffer from any respiratory illnesses, many of Villavicencio’s family members also suffer from asthma, adding stress to the already terrifying situation.
For Marzan and Magdaleno, the most important work now is in donating to and providing for those who have lost everything to the fires. Marzan said she has felt helpless watching from across the country as her community works together to support those in need.
Magdaleno, whose family lost everything outside of the pajamas they wore as they evacuated, expressed gratitude to LA’s grassroots efforts to clothe and provide for people in her family’s situation.
“We separated, (with) little jobs … go search for food, someone else went to go get water, and look for clothes,” Magdaleno said. “All the grocery stores were also closed, no restaurants were open, it was just hard.”
Marzan said she has donated to causes providing aid and relief but feels her options are limited as a college student so far from home. Like Jimenez, regular communication with her family back home has been the only relief from the now regular fear and anxiety that dominates her daily life.
Annika Forno, a sophomore international relations major, shared similar sentiments. She said part of her daily routine now revolves around regular checks of fire maps on her computer, hoping that her neighborhood will remain in the clear.
“There’s been a lot of mental weight of knowing if something happens, there is nothing I can do because I’m so far from home right now,” Forno said.
Robin Howard, SU’s director of Newhouse Los Angeles, said in a Jan. 10 email to LA students that the school’s North Hollywood campus is safe and that the semester would start on schedule. Another email was sent out on Jan. 12 introducing mental health resources provided by Barnes Center at The Arch, such as 24/7 counseling.
SU’s Office of Academic Affairs is also providing counseling to students struggling to keep up with coursework due to the effects of the fires.
As the semester begins, Jimenez said support from his a cappella group, Otto Tunes, has given him some security amid all the chaos and unknown.
“I am away from home, I am away from my family … and if the wind decides it, our house will burn down,” Jimenez said. “The support that (my friends) have given me, and them just being around me, is helping me through this.”
Editor-in-chief Stephanie Wright and Asst. News Editor Shivika Gupta contributed reporting to this story.
Annika Forno su sophomore
Many students said they have experienced daily stress as they hope for good news from their families and communities amid the ongoing wildfires across LA county. courtesy of nicolas greamo | the daily bruin
Big Fellas Trust the
SU hooper Eddie Lampkin Jr. and chef Antoine Smith debut Cajun-inspired restaurant
By Hailey Roy contributing writer
In 2023, Antoine Smith arrived at basketball center Eddie Lampkin Jr.’s Boulder, Colorado, house with a pan of crab legs. When Lampkin bit into a juicy, smoked crab leg, he knew Smith had talent. The seafood sparked a four-hour conversation that eventually led to a business venture.
“It was crazy because we don’t really get that kind of food out here,” Lampkin said. “He came back that night, and we talked, and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to help you.’”
Smith and Syracuse University basketball player Lampkin officially opened Big Fellas Restaurant on Jan. 6, named after Lampkin’s father’s nickname. The eatery features various dishes, from rice bowls and frites to handmade ice cream and Lampkin’s confidential mixed specialty drink, Booty Sweat.
The Cajun pasta, typically paired with proteins like lamb chops, lobster and chicken cutlets, has become a fan favorite. Even Carmelo Anthony had a plate when he visited Syracuse in October. The creamy pasta has appeared on many SU basketball and football players’ Instagram stories over the last few months.
Big Fellas shares its space with Poundtown Burger Bar, which opened on the same day. Smith and Lampkin covered their half of the restaurant with vibrant wall art. The hand-painted murals pay homage to Lampkin’s Houston roots, and jerseys with his past numbers on them decorate the space’s walls. With hip-hop echoing in the background, the eatery exudes an urban vibe.
“The real dope part about the whole experience is the concept of having two establishments coexist and bring a different vibe outside of what
SU alum London Ladd toys with rhythm, color in his illustrations
By Ben Butler culture editor
In 1995, London Ladd began his bachelor’s degree in illustration at Syracuse University. He wasn’t your “typical” undergraduate student. He was married with a daughter and slightly older than his classmates. He was working part time at SU’s Parking and Transportation Services office, taking part time classes, hell-bent on graduating and getting out of school.
In 2006, Ladd’s last semester at SU, he worked on a collage for a class assignment. Seniors would display their work at Lubin House and receive
feedback from professionals in New York City. Ladd’s collage garnered significant attention, leading to early success. But he admits he might not have broadened his horizons back then.
“Being so single-minded, I pushed the collage again like, ‘Great, but I want to paint,’” Ladd said. “I put it on the shelf and kept doing what I was doing until I got tired of what I was doing because it was too repetitive.”
A year later, Ladd got his first contract and by 2008, he was published. After spending time working and publishing, Ladd came back to SU in 2019 for his master’s
degree, where he’s now an assistant professor of illustration.
Author Cheryl Willis Hudson’s new book, “When I Hear Spirituals,” which Ladd illustrated, was released Jan. 7. It’s a collection of poems inspired by traditional African American spirituals.The title comes from a poem Willis Hudson wrote about 40 years ago of the same name. So why, if he was so successful with illustrations, did Ladd come back for his master’s degree? He wanted to learn more. Plus, once he got back on campus, he realized he could take advantage of resources he’d neglected in his undergraduate time. He said he
regrets not previously using Comstock Art Facility and other similar spaces during his time as an SU student.
Ladd had learning experiences outside of illustration, too. At the height of the #NotAgainSU movement, he noticed some of the Chinese international students in his master’s degree classes stayed home because they didn’t feel safe. It broke his heart, he said, so he took on a fatherly role, checking on his classmates and helping them if needed.
“As a dad, I wouldn’t want that for my daughter. I wouldn’t want that for any child to go to school to experience a hostile environment,”
Ladd said. “You’re here to learn. You’re here to grow.”
Ladd still stays in contact with his classmates. Last semester, he took a few of his current students on a field trip to the Society of Illustrators in New York City, and ran into his old classmates, who he was thrilled to see, giving each of them a hug.
“They’re beautiful people, and they were so instrumental in my success,” Ladd said. “I really cared for all those kids, and I finally got that really close bonding experience with classmates that I never had as an undergrad.” see ladd page 9
chef antoine smith and his famous Cajun pasta with chicken, a favorite dish that Carmelo Anthony has tried. avery magee asst. photo editor
What’s the majority opinion at the Daily Orange right now? Summer break is so much better than winter break. You can’t really work over winter break, so you end up “relaxing,” but relaxation with family lingering around asking you “oh, how’s school?” isn’t always feasible. The stress of the holiday season gets to you, too. But overall, the DO staff does feel recharged from their time away from the Salt City.
Check out the DO culture staff’s winter break activities below.
Mia Jones, Asst. Culture Editor
Winter break is when the clock finally slows down. Where I can reconnect with my therapist, redownload TikTok and rewatch the entirety of “Gossip Girl” (notice all the “re’s”?). While I don’t get to spend my holiday season on the Upper East Side, I do get to spend it in snowy Grand Rapids, Michigan. I can bask in the simple joys of the Midwest and pray I don’t run into anyone from high school while I do my Christmas shopping. I spent a pretty good chunk of my break working at J. Crew.
When I wasn’t schlepping clothes around, I was probably hanging out with my girlfriends or my little sisters. I can’t forget the trip to Chicago with my best friend and the time spent near a cold Lake Michigan. While this break has been the perfect opportunity for me to catch up on sleep and sanity before another busy semester, it’s thankfully time to head back to campus. See you on the flip side, Syracuse.
Spencer Howard, Asst. Culture Editor
This winter break served as an opportunity for a disheveled sophomore to regain his footing before charging forward into another semester chock full of the usual collegiate endeavors. After a lengthy semester of RA duties, evaluating student work in PST 101 and juggling social media content creation, the break was a much-needed reprieve. What did I do to cherish this intermission? The simple answer is so much and so little.
I spent most of the time in my hometown, regressing into the habits of my teenage self and experiencing major caffeine withdrawal. I spent way too much money on Wawa and Yerba Mates, and way too much of my time on Fortnite and Minecraft.
When I wasn’t excessively caffeinated or getting victory royales on a Nintendo Switch, I was spending time with my four-month-old nephew and hometown friends.
After spending New Year’s Eve in Philadelphia, my friends and I found tranquility at the Jersey shore. On Long Beach Island, we explored
the Barnegat Lighthouse at sunset and watched “When Harry Met Sally,” a rom-com I had never seen before.
The break was a peaceful interlude that left me motivated and optimistic about the semester ahead.
Irene Lekakis, Asst. Culture Editor
This winter break, I spent Christmas on the beach. It was a nice change of pace from the typical cold but snowless New York City winter. Although, this year, we did get a few flurries about a week after Christmas.
Other than that sunny week in the middle of December, my break consisted of applying to jobs for the summer, meeting up with friends from high school and hearing my parents complain about congestion pricing.
I found a new bagel spot that I like and finished watching “Normal People.” While somewhat unproductive, I think the break was a good reset point for me, especially after a particularly difficult semester where I overwhelmed myself. Sometimes, you just need a month to be around people you love and places you know.
Sydney Brockington, Asst. Copy Editor
As I finished my third semester and entered my second winter break, I found myself dreading ideas of what to do during break. With a month on my hands, I knew I had to find something to do.
My break began with a visit to one of my favorite cities, Philadelphia. Snow and Christmas lights lined the streets leading up to Love Park as I entered Christmas Village for what felt like the millionth time. The German Christmas market is a yearly tradition in Philly. Every year, I find myself walking along the market snacking on European-style foods and shopping for Christmas gifts. Hot chocolate kept me warm as I explored the village, always finding something different from the year before. This year, I stumbled upon Andrey’s Gifts From Afar, featuring pottery candle houses and nesting dolls.
As my break continued, I spent time with my family and friends and recharged for the upcoming semester.
My break ended as it began, taking a trip back to Philly with my mother for Sunday brunch. Visits to her hometown and my birthplace are always special; we reminisce on old favorites and discover new ones. I treasure moments like this the most over break, in warm, familiar spaces before I leave and return to Syracuse.
Savannah Stewart, Asst. Copy Editor
There’s peace in returning to your home -
town after some time away. So, during this past winter break, I was sure to take full advantage of old stomping grounds during my travels south from Syracuse to my hometown of Washington, D.C.
Gallivanting the city, I navigated nostalgia and found solace amid the chaos of hundreds of out-of-town shoppers, traversing each block of M Street during the sluggish weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
Many of my days looked the same as before I’d left for college: volunteering at Martha’s Table at The Commons, settling back into slow mornings nestled in Compass Coffee and enjoying evenings with girlfriends at hole-in-the-wall Adams Morgan eateries. Still, the below freezing temperatures and half-foot of snow made for a wonderful Washington winter welcome back.
Charlotte Price, Asst. Digital Editor
Over winter break, I learned that brunch can be a verb. I brunched. It seems like the generally accepted way to reunite with hometown friends is over french toast and bacon, usually at 11 a.m. It’s the default suggestion for any casual meeting of two girls. Even as I look back on my repetitive social pattern, I can’t think of a better alternative. It provides an activity and a time limit, in case the conversation gets strained or awkward. It’s the friendship version of a perfect first date: the best way to see a friend that went to a different college (that you probably should’ve texted more while you were away).
Despite my love for brunching, I envy my boyfriend’s ability to see his friends spontaneously, without the need to purchase overpriced breakfast food. Their default is to just sit around in someone’s basement. Who knows what they talk about.
I wonder what kind of future these brunch friendships hold. Am I destined to see these friends on a quarterly basis, and only in the magic hours between 10 a.m and 12 p.m? Will I always be in a state of “catching up” with people I once shared so much with? Brunch is comfortable, easy, and best of all yummy. But I hope that my friendships won’t always rely on a polite meal.
Eliana Rosen, Asst. Digital Editor
A month off of school is a long time and I took full advantage. I visited my family, rode a jet ski, watched dolphins, tried new restaurants, celebrated New Year’s Eve in New York City, lit the Hanukkah candles, went to a Miami Heat game and saw “Romeo + Juliet” on Broadway (highly recommend).
But, the best parts of this past month were the times spent doing … nothing.
As a freshman, this was my first real break from school. In high school, my days off were spent completing AP assignments, studying for tests or completing college applications. Even my summers, amazing and carefree for the most part, always required time carved out to complete my summer reading for the year ahead. This year, during fall break and Thanksgiving, I still had assignments hanging over my head, waiting to be submitted.
So, I knew I wanted to be 100% present during winter break, a time when I couldn’t do homework even if I wanted to and when no one was expecting anything from me.
The most magical, memorable moments were spent driving around my hometown with my high school friends, forcing my family to play Scrabble in a hotel lobby and eating dinner with my grandparents. These moments may not have made it to my Instagram story, but they’ll be the memories I cherish most: simply soaking up the time with people whose presence in my life used to be daily, but now requires scheduling and planning.
Now, it’s back to the chaos. But I’m ready.
Ben Butler, Culture Editor
I love my mom. I want to make it clear that a big part of my break was spent with loved ones, and my mom fits in that category.
But my mom might be certifiably insane.
We traveled to Acadia National Park, up in Maine. I’ve been there in the summer, but this was starkly different: snow as far as the eye could see and brutally cold. Invisible trails with rock scrambles coated in ice. Our first day there, I led us on a great five mile hike along the beautiful Mt. Desert Island coast, then up 800 feet on Gorham Mountain, a beautiful trail under rock formations.
That night, my mom laid out a plan. We would wake up at 5 a.m. and hike Cadillac Mountain, Acadia’s highest peak, and summit just in time for the sunrise. Being an adventurous spirit, I took her up on that offer. She assured us the trail would be only 3 miles, nothing too grueling.
As we hit mile four the summit not in sight, that adventurous spirit started to leave my body. By mile 10, I remember some less than kind thoughts about my mom.
But I got through it, and lived to tell the story. I’d say the sunrise was worth the leg pain anyway. Love you, mom.
culture@dailyorange.com
The Daily Orange culture staff reflected on their winter break. From hiking to relaxing with loved ones, the staff recaps an eventful break. courtesies of daily orange culture staff
Raven Skull focuses on stylish sustainability
By Irene Lekakis asst. culture editor
When most people walk around, they only see what’s around them — a sidewalk, a building, unfamiliar faces and random objects. Ella Delucia sees future designs and reinventions.
“Not every piece of clothing that you own needs to be exactly the way you like it,” Deluica said. “You can take things and change them and express yourself through your clothing in fun, simple, DIY ways.”
Last summer, Delucia, a Syracuse University junior studying fashion design, prepared the launch of her brand, Raven Skull. She picked the name because she thought the two elements paired well together. Getting started on the designs over the summer helped narrow her focus on clothes without the additional stress from schoolwork.
Sustainability and low cost are priorities for Raven Skull, Delucia said. She thrifts and upcycles the pieces she sells at Dazed, the house show venue she runs with her roommates.
Delucia said the current fashion climate is based around trendy clothing and popular brands, but Raven Skull’s sustainable approach will
combat that. Its upcycled approach reduces waste and adds to preexisting pieces.
Delucia uses many different mediums to alter the items she thrifts. She makes the clothing new through sewing, painting, embroidering and printing. For prints, she uses wood and rubber cuts for different designs.
“It falls back on your creativity and the way you can picture things together, like taking a piece of scrap and seeing it with a shirt and being like, ‘Oh, I can turn this into a fun design,’” Delucia said.
Spencer Shaw, owner of Rat Girl Vintage in downtown Syracuse, met Delucia at Dazed. The two are now close friends who have worked on projects together in SU’s Fashion and Design Society.
With a styling team of about 25 people, Delucia and Shaw completed three photoshoots together last semester. They sourced outfits from their respective existing collections. Going back and forth, pulling things that might go together, Shaw said there was trial and error in the process until they achieved the desired result.
Shaw and Delucia’s styles overlap with vintage Y2K aesthetics and gothic clothes. While Shaw opts for a brighter style, Delucia sticks to darker clothing.
“When you’re designing clothes you are taking inspiration from something that already exists, whether that’s 300 years ago or 10,” Shaw said. “It’s always pulling from something else and then making that silhouette your own.”
Ever since she received a sewing machine for Christmas 12 years ago, Delucia’s been honing her craft. She started out with simple designs and minimal sewing knowledge. Now, she takes a more maximalist approach that showcases her personality and skill.
Presenting her pieces at Dazed is the first time she’s exposed Raven Skull to an audience. Delucia said the shows motivate her to put up her clothing rack and keep up with her designs even as a busy college student.
“I find myself rushing to do things all the time but it really helps to be passionate about the things you’re rushing to do,” Delucia said. “I love fashion, so I don’t struggle to make the time for it because I enjoy doing it.”
Support from her roommate, Kieran Romano, also a junior fashion design student, has helped Deluica find her footing in this process. Romano and Delucia shop for fabrics together and bounce ideas off each other. They share a sewing studio space in their apartment with materials and tools.
“We push each other to do things that are out of our comfort zones a little bit which I think helps the creative process with whatever we are doing a lot,” Romano said.
Now studying abroad in London, Delucia is taking a class on how to start a fashion brand, which is exposing her to the business aspects of fashion. She’s also considering expanding her business to social media to give Raven Skull an online presence.
Dazed is the source of Delucia’s current audience. She finds like-minded people who enjoy the music and bonds with them over the clothing. She’s made friends from selling her clothes at the venue, some of whom are also pursuing fashion design.
Ultimately, Delucia hopes that customers of Raven Skull will be inspired to find their own personal style.
“There’s nothing better than getting a one of a kind piece of clothing,” Delucia said. “It’s a great way to express yourself.” iclekaki@syr.edu
Observations from the 2025 Golden Globes
By Tara Binte Sharil staff writer
Amid the glitz and glamour of iconic red carpet looks, the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards kicked off this year’s awards season on Jan. 5. In recent years, the ceremony has been deemed a joke due to its open bar, unserious banter and notorious past conflicts. The awards show has regained its credibility following this year’s show, with a highly entertaining monologue and several deserved wins. But of course, it wouldn’t be a Hollywood drama without several upsets changing the momentum of the 2025 awards season.
Nikki Glaser’s impressive kick-off
When it comes to hosting an award show, it’s undeniable that the host has the most difficult job — entertaining haughty celebrity A-listers while still appealing to a general audience. Comedian Nikki Glaser had tough shoes to fill following a huge blunder from comedian Jo Koy, where he infamously made sexist jokes about “Barbie” and blamed his unsuccessful jests on his writers.
Glaser, known for her brutal celebrity roasts on “Comedy Central Roast,” delivered an absolutely hilarious monologue that poked fun at different attendees while straying away from overly offensive and political material. In her best segment, Glaser pulled out her roasting skills to make fun of Timothée Chalamet’s moustache, calling it “the most gorgeous eyelashes on his upper lip.” Glaser even managed to uncannily impersonate Adam Sandler pronouncing Chalamet’s name.
Glaser’s humorous monologue marked her knack for entertaining both celebrities and audiences, a difficult talent to master that other award show hosts should take note of.
Emilia Pérez’s antagonistic win
What is Hollywood without an unexpected villain? Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” became the night’s antagonist after winning four of its 10 nominations, paving its way for Oscar success in an undeserved fashion.
The film is a drama-comedy-musical following a transgender Mexican drug lord who secretly undergoes gender-affirming surgery. Under her new name, Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón) embraces a new life as a generous
philanthropist with the help of her lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña).
Aside from its cringy and atrocious songs, the film had many grave faults. The director, Jacques Audiard, and his writing team portrayed inaccurate Mexican stereotypes rather than enriching the culture. Audiard even stated that he did not research much about Mexican culture because he claimed to already know enough. The film also poorly depicted the transgender community. Rather than embracing Pérez’s womanhood, the film instead uses her new identity as a way to absolve her past crimes, undermining the entire message of the film.
Though the film’s ignorant message has caused outrage on social media, it continues to be critically acclaimed by critics and other filmmakers, including high praise from Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
“Emilia Pérez,” which won the Jury Prize and Best Actress at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, edged out the widely-regarded “Wicked” for Best Musical and Comedy and Saldaña even took home her first Golden Globe. All that’s to say, the two opposite receptions of the film ultimately highlight just how detached the industry has become from society, making the success of “Emilia Pérez” disgraceful rather than celebratory.
Anora’s shortcomings surprise audience members
The biggest surprise of the night was probably the fact that “Anora” left empty-handed. For critics and movie lovers alike, “Anora” did everything right and won the hearts of many, so the shut-out came as a complete shock. Most of all, Mikey Madison was primed to win best actress, which Demi Moore won instead.
Madison, the film’s lead star, displayed a transformative performance as a sex worker in Brooklyn. Her convincing performance earned the film the Palme d’Or at Cannes, setting her apart from other nominees. Though Madison was snubbed for the Golden Globe, the race is still wide open for Madison to cement herself as a young and talented actress.
The Globes finally give credit where it’s due This year’s Golden Globes acting nominees featured a mix of seasoned veterans, such as 17-time nominee
Dazed
All Day Special, DD Island and Ancient Spaceship will perform at student-run music venue Dazed this weekend. Party with the bands on Friday at this alien-themed show. Presale tickets are sold out, but tickets can be purchased for $10 at the door. Reach out to the venue on Instagram for address details.
WHEN : Friday at 10 p.m.
WHERE: DM for address PRICE: $10
Nicole Kidman, and young newcomers, like firsttime nominee Yura Borisov.
Despite the slate’s diverse range, this year’s Golden Globes gave their flowers to actors who have been in the industry for decades but have yet to establish themselves as award winners. Saldaña, one of the highest-grossing actresses of all time, won her first Golden Globe after almost 25 years in the business. Likewise, Demi Moore scored her first win in her 45-year career and gave a heartfelt and emotional speech to never give up on one’s dreams.
While it is a momentous occasion to celebrate these long-time actors, there still isn’t a clear winner for the Oscars in many categories.
Jeremy Allen White once again steals the spotlight In terms of the night’s television awards, everyone who won got what they deserved. From “Shogun” sweeping their Golden Globes run to “Hacks’” success, all decisions were fair – with the exception of Jeremy Allen White’s win for best actor in a musical or comedy television series in “The Bear.”
“The Bear,” which has garnered success since its release in 2022, was almost completely shut out after their sub-par third season. It’s a hotlycontested debate on whether the series falls in the drama or comedy genre.
While there’s no denying that his performance is riveting in each episode, he overshadows other, more deserving nominees, such as “Only Murders in the Building,” which has been nominated 16 times without winning a single award.
Because of the series’ high tension and deep narrative, voters have a natural tendency to award dramatic TV shows rather than quirky comedies, giving a huge bias towards White and “The Bear” even when the show was not at its strongest.
The 82nd Golden Globes didn’t fail to entertain both snooty celebrities and modest audiences, thanks to Glaser’s comical and unfiltered monologue. While the Golden Globes honors actors bound to receive praise after years of hard work, there is still more to come in terms of who will bring home the coveted Oscar trophy. iclekaki@syr.edu
Double Tiger and After Hours
Enjoy live music and yummy treats at Funk ‘n Waffles this weekend. Brooklyn-based reggae artist Double Tiger will perform with special guest After Hours. After Hours is an alternative rock band from Lake Ronkonkoma, New York. The show will feature alternative rock with ska, a Jamaican-style pop music genre, and reggae blends.
WHEN : Friday at 8 p.m.
WHERE: 307 S Clinton St. PRICE: $15
Drumline Live
Experience music inspired by historically Black college and university marching bands at Drumline Live – a “show stopping attraction,” according to Ticketmaster – that promises to have event-goers on their feet. From the musical team behind the movie, “Drumline,” the show will include original compositions and renditions of Top 40 hits.
WHEN : Sunday at 6 p.m.
WHERE: The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater PRICE: $55
Candlelight: Coldplay and Imagine Dragons
The Listeso String Quartet is bringing the music of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons to a candlelight concert in Syracuse. The performance will include live classical-style renditions of many of the bands’ hits, all amid the gentle glow of candlelight. Seating is assigned on a first come, first served basis in each section.
WHEN : Friday at 6 p.m.
WHERE: The Palace Theatre PRICE: $41
Ella Delucia alters thrifted clothing for her brand, Raven Skull. She reinvents pieces using painting, embroidering and printing. leonardo eriman asst. video editor
slice of life
Syracuse usually has,” first-time customer George Lynch said.
Despite the restaurant’s recent opening, Smith and Lampkin’s burgeoning business ideas date further back. The two met one year ago when Lampkin played basketball at the University of Colorado Boulder and Smith worked for the school’s athletics department.
Before his food reached the stomachs of top college, professional and former athletes, like Deion Sanders, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Christian Braun, Smith grew microgreens — tiny vegetables used to enhance dishes for Colorado’s athletes.
After spending time with many Colorado football players, Smith became the team’s unofficial chef. With Smith’s food flooding the football players’ Instagram stories, he caught Lampkin’s attention.
When Lampkin transferred from Colorado to Syracuse in April 2024, Smith decided to follow
Ladd’s been around a while, sure, but he’s not “old” in any sense of the word. Expressive wrinkles on his brow and some graying in his goatee betray his youthful spirit.
That spirit is reflected in his teaching style. His students, like sophomores Vivian Baltzer and Cyna Peters, praised his one-on-one teaching style and ability to individually help students.
Peters shared an anecdote about a figure drawing session, where Ladd gave her his own pen after watching her draw. He let her use it for the whole class.
“It was a parallel pen, and I absolutely loved it,” Peters said. “After I told him that, he came back over to me and showed me the Amazon links and all the different colors of ink they have. He was clearly super excited that I liked it.”
him. The two began looking at potential locations for their envisioned restaurant. After three months of planning, they landed on Water Street in Syracuse.
The sporadic availability of crab legs in the landlocked state of Colorado is similar to the rarity of food options in Syracuse, which, Lampkin said, played a role in him choosing this city as his destination.
“During my visit, I saw there weren’t a lot of food places near campus,” Lampkin said. “So I thought, ‘I’ve got to bring something here.’”
Syracuse native and frequent customer James Jones shared similar sentiments. From the flavors of his first bite, he knew Lampkin and Smith were not from Syracuse.
“I tried their food. It was delicious, and it was a taste that Syracuse doesn’t have,” Jones said. “Nobody up here has pasta that tastes like this.”
Where does the creativity and recipes behind the food come from? Scouting and the internet. YouTube and Instagram served as a beacon for the inspiration of Smith’s
One thing about illustration: there’s plenty of creative freedom. An illustrator could draw comic books, graphics for newspapers or magazines — really any topic. But Ladd has focused primarily on children’s books since the late 1990s.
The first children’s book Ladd remembers reading was “Goodnight, Moon,” which he read to his daughter, who was born right before Ladd’s first semester in undergrad. Bob Dacey, another illustration professor at SU, introduced him to more children’s books, including ones by Black illustrators like Jerry Pinkney and James Ransome.
Once Ladd saw these books, that was it. With blinders on, all he focused on was illustrating children’s books.
There’s a scene in Ladd’s new book that’s personal to him. A daughter hugs her father as he works on his laptop.
It’s emblematic of Ladd’s newer style. He started his career with historical illustrations in
menus. Smith would watch at least five videos of the same dish. He would then add his own flair with his existing knowledge around seasonings.
In Colorado, Smith would repeatedly cook the same meals with a different twist each time, until he and Lampkin perfected the dish.
That same work ethic has carried Smith through the opening of his restaurant as sleepless nights and heavy food preparation has become a part of his schedule.
Smith’s opportunity to work with Lampkin couldn’t have happened without NCAA laws allowing players to make Name, Image and Likeness deals. In June 2021, the Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA in favor of antitrust laws, paving the way for athletes in all 50 states to profit off their NIL.
While the NIL space is typically dominated by private collectives who directly pay players, Lampkin’s original, self-made style of generating revenue off himself stands out in today’s era.
biographies on figures like Oprah Winfrey and Fredrick Douglass, but has since gravitated to personal work inspired by his own life.
“I felt like I limited myself,” Ladd said. “After a certain point, you feel like you need to grow.”
Historical work burned him out. Researching these topics was “very depressing,” he said. When Ladd looked at his illustrator friends’ books, they were joyful and colorful by contrast. By 2019, he had started the new phase of his career and his personal life changed.
In 2018, Ladd got divorced. After the divorce, Ladd’s mom was a source of support. But his mom got sick, then died a year later.
The year was rough, but it pushed Ladd as an illustrator. It reminds him of the scene in “Avengers: Infinity War,” when Thanos confronts his daughter, who asks him if he succeeded and at what cost. Thanos responds, “Everything.”
“Instead of slinking away and really disappearing, which I almost did, I really pushed,” Ladd said. “What I do now has more value and purpose.”
Willis Hudson has known Ladd for about 20 years, and kept up with his work on Facebook and Instagram. In 2020, around the time of the Black Lives Matter movement, she was moved by a portrait Ladd did of Breonna Taylor.
“He was developing a newer, more freeing kind of illustration,” Willis Hudson said. “They were so full of movement and rhythm and color.”
“When I Hear Spirituals” was a perfect match for Ladd. Willis Hudson views spirituals as not just auditory, but visual, too, and the direction Ladd was taking was exactly what she needed.
When authors and illustrators work together on books, the protocol is to keep them separate. Authors don’t influence the illustrations, and illustrators don’t influence the words. It’s an individual process.
With “When I Hear Spirituals,” Ladd and Willis Hudson followed the set protocol. Ladd asked a few brief questions, and Willis Hudson sent him a recording of her reading the poems, but that was the only contact they had. Yet, when
Aside from finances, Lampkin makes contributions to Big Fellas with his connections and local food knowledge. Menu items, like the EdBall seasoning which coats their wings and lamb chops, were inspired by restaurants Lampkin knows. One of Lampkin’s connections will also teach Smith to make boudin, a Cajun dish.
“He got more connections than the most business-minded college kid I’ve been around,” Smith said.
With Lampkin as the face of the restaurant — featured on the menu, business card and wall — and Smith crafting the recipes, the two eventually plan to expand to more locations. But their motto, “The Biggest Stay Down,” serves as a reminder to remain humble and true to their roots.
“We’re just trying to bring you our food because we love to eat,” Smith said. “If we don’t eat it, it’s not going on the menu. And we’re all ‘Big Fella’s,’ so you’ve got to trust us.’”
hroy02@syr.edu
the final illustrations were in, it was exactly what Willis Hudson had envisioned from listening to the spirituals and writing the poems.
“When I Hear Spirituals” represents a full circle moment for Ladd. He started off with more personal illustrations, things inspired by his life experience or the poems Willis Hudson wrote. Toward the end of the book, illustrations become more inspired by history, including when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis famously crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
It’s almost like the inverse of his career, which started with historical work and ended with personal work.
“It’s like a Christopher Nolan movie,” Ladd joked. bnbutler@syr.edu
A scene from “When I Hear Spirituals,” illustrated by artist London Ladd. Ladd focuses on children’s books that tie into his own life. courtesy of london ladd
courtesy of london ladd
andrew berkman cartoonist
julia english cartoonist
Opinion: City of Syracuse isn’t putting residents’ wellness 1st
By Sarhia Rahim columnist
Lead, child poverty, poor public transportation, housing, food insecurity and more continue to be hurdles for underrepresented families living in the city of Syracuse. These societal issues loom in the background of continued promises of grand economic development, like a new aquarium or the arrival of Micron’s semiconductor manufacturing facility. Problems facing residents may ease with economic growth, but in the meantime, people’s lives in this city will not get easier without intervention.
In November, lead was found in the drinking water of homes during a second round of city testing. A month prior, the Natural Resources Defense Council announced in a CBS news article that Syracuse’s water contained more lead than that of Flint, Michigan, calling for the city to announce a state of emergency. The same results continued to resurface in the Syracuse City School District as tests at the start of the new year proved the drinking water was still unsafe. While the SCSD ensures that lead amounts are at a safe level for students to drink water, we are still unsure of the root cause.
Syracuse City Auditor Alex Marion expressed this sentiment after 2024’s budget report was released, urging the city’s Common Council to request more public input. Marion said, “The budget is the City of Syracuse’s budget, it’s the people’s budget.” This notion and responsibility should extend to the county, not just the city.
Youth in Syracuse remain undeservingly affected by systemic failures and negligence. News outlets recently covered the carbon monoxide poisoning of an employee at a high school that lacked CO alarms. It’s vital to show residents situations like this, where
either the city, school or district turned a blind eye to the eight code violations that came to light afterward.
Adding to this troubling paradigm, a video was released of a minor being falsely detained while waiting at a bus stop alongside her peers. Police claimed she resembled their photo of a car thief, an error that not only traumatized the young girl, but also eroded trust between law enforcement and the community.
Though this is recent news, it mirrors the conversations prevalent in 2020 regarding budgeting in Syracuse. Local activist groups demanded police reform, which included the issue of overpolicing in schools.
I was one of the youth activists representing the wider student population in the district that year. Our demand was for funds allocated to hire security officers in schools to instead be spent on therapists and counselors for children. The collected student feedback demonstrated patterns of profiling, use of force and the desire for mental health outlets. All were presented to city officials by the community, yet the budget continued to include hirings of police officers for school security.
These are just a few examples of the recent issues in Syracuse, but the core concern remains the same for many. The city’s lack of transparency about the problem and no sense of urgency are unacceptable. What systems and funds are in place by both the city and county to protect the well-being of their community, especially the vulnerable youth population? These crises persist without proactive measures and open dialogue, undermining public confidence and worsening inequality.
Stronger local relationships should be fostered on the city leadership’s behalf. Open communication must be prioritized, ensuring residents not only have a platform to voice their
concerns, but also feel their input genuinely influences decision-making. This requires more than listening; it demands visible accountability from leaders when the community is wronged or left uninformed.
When leadership turns a blind eye to systemic failures, trust in public institutions deteriorates.
Residents don’t feel informed when the whole story isn’t provided. Without open communication, how can citizens trust that the city is working in their best interest?
These jarring incidents expose the scarcity of systems in place to protect and pri -
oritize the well-being of Syracuse’s youth. Elected officials must urgently address these failures with transparency, accountability and comprehensive reforms to ensure such harm won’t be repeated. The city’s future depends on its ability to safeguard and uplift its youngest occupants.
Sarhia Rahim is a senior policy studies major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at slrahim@syr.edu.
Opinion: Asian cooking style is healthier for college students
By Sudiksha Khemka columnist
In kitchens of other countries, the way food is prepared is intentionally healthier than the way it’s done in the United States. Americans don’t consider enough how our cooking habits, not just eating, have a direct influence on our health. Asian cooking techniques, entrenched in simplicity and tradition, offer a refreshing perspective on welfare, sustainability and lifestyle.
The American diet’s prevalence of frying — a method that increases unnecessary calories and harmful compounds — has long-term consequences such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The potential of vitamin-rich foods like tofu in American menus isn’t maximized. Preparations like tofu nuggets or fried tofu tacos smother the protein in refined oils and harmful coatings. Heavy sauces high in sugar, salt and saturated fats transform a low-fat, heart-friendly food into a calorie bomb that fuels obesity. What can often be a star ingredient becomes another victim of overprocessing in America.
Traditional Asian diets meanwhile avoid ultra-processed foods and use whole, minimallyprocessed ingredients. Fresh vegetables, rice and tofu are staples of many plates, and the cooking methods preserve nutritional value without relying heavily on fats or oils. Adopting these dietary principles can serve as a powerful countermeasure to the global health risks posed by the spread of American eating habits. This approach not only minimizes harmful additives, but also aligns with keeping your body free from preventable disease.
Picture in front of you a bowl of perfectly
steamed rice with a medley of vibrant vegetables and a drizzle of soy sauce on top. It’s a simple everyday meal in many Asian households, yet it’s a far cry from the fried and processed foods dominating American college cafeterias. The traditional practice of cooking rice with pandan leaves or ginger not only enhances flavor but may also reduce harmful compounds like acrylamide, a carcinogen that forms during high-heat cooking.
Some types of Asian cooking also incorporate herbs and spices with remedial properties. The traditional Indian eating practices rooted in Ayurveda emphasize the concept of food as medicine, aligning meals with individual physical needs, seasons and environmental factors. Turmeric, a cornerstone spice of Indian cuisine, is revered for its curcumin content, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Similarly, ginger’s warming properties are particularly valued in Ayurveda, and such additions enhance flavor while contributing to long-term benefits.
My meals growing up in India often involved steaming idlis, light boiling lentils for dal or poaching fish in aromatic broths. Japanese dishes like miso soup incorporate silken tofu, while Korean cuisine utilizes tofu in hearty stews like sundubujjigae. These methods aren’t just about tradition — they’re about health. Steaming retains more vitamins and minerals than boiling or frying. A study published in the Journal of Food Science found that boiling broccoli depleted its vitamin C content and lost its flavor more than when steamed, similar to proteins like fish, chicken and tofu.
The dominance of American eating customs is reshaping food habits globally as heavy reliance on ultra-processed foods and animal products are
often marketed as symbols of progress and modernity. In many developing nations, traditional plantbased diets have been replaced by fast food and processed items, driven by cultural perceptions tied to neocolonialism that equate American lifestyles to a higher social status. This shift comes at a cost. These foods, ranging from packaged snacks to ready-to-eat meals, are often calorie-dense but nutritionally poor, which emphasizes a saddening trend of people unnecessarily pushed further away from eating healthy.
College cafeterias often represent a microcosm of the broader American dietary habits, dominated by processed foods and sugary beverages. These cafeterias, while convenient, reduce students to destructive eating patterns as they balance tight schedules and limited budgets.
For those juggling packed schedules, the notion of slowing down to cook meals might initially seem impractical. But, incorporating batch cooking or meal prepping actually saves time for students. Steaming a large portion of vegetables or boiling grains like rice or quinoa at the start of the week provides versatile bases for multiple meals, cutting down daily prep time.
Water-based cooking offers college students a way to stay nourished without relying too heavily on processed comfort foods. Simple dishes like soup, steamed dumplings or poached eggs over rice are quicker to prepare than you think, but also affordable — perfect for the Syracuse University schedule.
Learning from diverse traditions is important for young adults trying to figure out what works best for their well being. Incorporating even one or two water-based techniques can transform how what you eat affects your body.
Try replacing one fried meal this week with something steamed, boiled or poached. Explore dishes from various Asian cultures and experiment with flavors like soy, ginger or sesame oil. Cooking, much like college, is about exploration. These slight, intentional alterations aren’t just about eating differently — they’re about rethinking how food fuels your body and mind. A healthier, more mindful lifestyle starts with realizing what you’re already consuming and how it’s being prepared.
Sudiksha Khemka is a freshman nutrition major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at skhemka@syr.edu.
Stephanie Wright
Cooper Andrews
Aiden Stepansky
flynn ledoux illustration editor
julia english cartoonist
“I was so excited, I really can’t remember a moment in my sports history that felt better than that,” Schmitt said.
Despite her strong campaign, Schmitt didn’t receive much attention from recruiters. She got her first offer from Manhattan in eighth grade but had only been considered by mid-major schools like George Washington and George Mason. Schmitt strived to play for a Power Five program, and decided a change of scenery was necessary.
DME proved to be the right place.
In 2022, DME fell in the Geico Nationals Semifinal to Montverde Academy. During that game, starting point guard Zeryhia Aokuso tore her ACL. Panaggio needed an instant replacement.
A year prior, he tried to recruit Schmitt but was unsuccessful. Still on the coach’s radar, she became his primary target. Schmitt’s size didn’t deter Panaggio. In fact, he saw himself in her. Formerly a guard standing at 5-foot-11, he wanted to help Schmitt sell herself to top programs.
“She was gonna have the same challenges I faced with recruitment, so I just wanted to make
School. He also became a three-star recruit, receiving offers from mid-major Division I programs such as Appalachian State, Ball State and Drake.
But Rhodes knew Burton was destined for more. Throughout Burton’s Penn career, Rhodes repeatedly told then-Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey if he offered Burton a scholarship, he’d commit to the Irish without hesitation. Brey obliged in July 2022, and Burton committed three days later.
The freshly-minted Notre Dame commit became the best player in Indiana as a senior. Burton averaged over 30 points per game and steered Penn to a 28-2 record. In the postseason, the Kingsmen avenged his season-ending loss to Chesterton, carrying a 22-game winning streak into the Indiana Class 4A state semifinals against Kokomo High School.
“By the time he was a senior, he did so many things well,” Chesterton head coach Marc Urban said. “We knew we weren’t going to be able to stop everything. So it was like, ‘Alright, we’re gonna focus on this (aspect) and we’re just going to hope for the best.’”
In the semifinals, Burton faced consensus five-star recruit Flory Bidunga. Despite Bidunga’s imposing frame, Burton drove to the rim all night, pushing the eventual Kansas commit to the brink of defeat. Despite Burton scoring 27 points on 46% shooting, Penn narrowly fell to Kokomo 58-57.
The loss came less than two weeks after Brey’s final game at Notre Dame. Following an 11-21 season with the Irish, Brey resigned and took an assistant coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks. Yet Burton never wavered. He knew he wanted to be in South Bend, no matter who the coach was.
“Brey is a really good friend, obviously we never wanted to see him go. But Markus is a local kid,” McKnight said. “He was pretty much locked and set to play at (Notre Dame), because that’s where his family is.”
sure she could answer the questions that I wasn’t able to when I was in her shoes,” Panaggio said.
Schmitt visited DME while in Florida for a tournament and was immediately thrust into practice. She held her own, Panaggio said, and was impressed by the tougher competition. As a result, she committed in April 2022.
As soon as I got my Syracuse offer, I knew I wanted to go here.”
Olivia Schmitt syracuse point guard
During her junior year, Schmitt faced point guards committed to the country’s top programs. Besides McDaniel and McMiller, she played Kelis Fisher (UConn) and sisters Mya and Mia Pauldo (Tennessee). As interest sparked in her later in the year, she committed to SU.
“Being from New York, Syracuse is a dream school of mine, because it’s at that level I want to
play at, plus it’s so close to home,” Schmitt said. “As soon as I got my Syracuse offer, I knew I wanted to go here.”
Schmitt finished her junior year averaging 12.8 points. She also posted a career-high 5.5 assists and 3.1 steals, steering DME to a 20-7 record and an SIAA championship.
In her senior year, DME added multiple Power Five talents — Ines Goryanova (Baylor), Tahj- Monet Bloom (Mississippi State) and Schmitt’s future Syracuse teammate, Keira Scott. Schmitt fully bought into her distributing role.
“Our team had a lot of talent, so I think we all had to play a different role,” Scott said. “No one was gonna average 20-plus (points) a game. That’s what we needed to win.”
According to Goryanova, passing came naturally to Schmitt. She knew where everyone was on the court and would constantly dish to teammates with better looks.
Schmitt’s scoring dropped to 5.8 points per game, though she averaged 4.2 assists. The senior was named a McDonald’s All-American nominee for her distributing prowess, something that’s been apparent at SU.
Through the Orange’s first five games, Schmitt only logged 12 minutes a game. Still, she worked tirelessly in practice, per Legette-Jack. So, for SU’s two-game stint at the Emerald Coast Classic, Schmitt was moved into the starting lineup.
“Everybody on our team has earned a scholarship, and everyone deserves an opportunity. The ones that get the opportunity are the ones that earn it in practice, and Liv’s been flying around that gym,” Legette-Jack said.
Schmitt was ecstatic but immediately “locked in.” This translated to success on the court. She tallied seven assists in a season-high 20 minutes, leading to a blowout 82-59 victory over Missouri.
Though Schmitt hasn’t replicated that performance again this season, she’s slotted into a key distributing role for the Orange.
But, if not for her transfer to DME, she might have never adopted that playstyle.
“I saw myself at the Power Five level, and I truly believed if I didn’t play against the best competition, there was no way I was going to be recruited to play at the best competition,” Schmitt said.
njnussba@syr.edu @Noahnuss99
His faith in the program was rewarded when former Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry took the job two weeks after Brey’s departure. Working with a depleted roster that had lost its entire starting five, Shrewsberry needed an elite scorer to rely on. He chose Burton to fill the role.
their coaches. A few months later, she visited campus in Waterville, Maine.
Ultimately, in the fall of their ninth-grade year, Jandušíková chose to test the waters and play hockey overseas. At a school fair in Prague, Jandušíková and Kaltounková spoke with representatives from VA.
When Jandušíková returned home in the winter, she filled out the admissions application. Come summertime, she was en route to America. Both Jandušíková and Kaltounková decided VA would bring them valuable education and important coaching.
“Obviously, moving overseas at 15 years old was a huge step,” Jandušíková said. “I think knowing that I’m not there alone helped a lot. Also (I was) excited about the opportunity to go to school, develop my English and play hockey along with that on a high level.”
They quickly adapted, helping VA win a 2018 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council title as first-years and becoming captains by senior year.
Kaltounková’s goal-scoring prowess earned her offers from several top programs before committing to Colgate. The path to the next level wasn’t as clear for Jandušíková, however. She aimed to play Division I hockey, but opportunities weren’t presenting themselves immediately.
The summer before her senior year at VA, one of Jandušíková’s coaches spoke with Colby staffers on a recruiting trip. Soon after, Jandušíková was on the phone with
“I was so hesitant to make that decision, because I was like, ‘You want to play D-I, I don’t know if this is what I really want.’ But then I finally made that decision, and I’m really glad I did,” Jandušíková said.
When Jandušíková began her time at Colby, she again found herself in a foreign place with little familiarity. It didn’t help that her freshman season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jandušíková then appeared in all 22 games for the Mules as a sophomore, scoring her first collegiate goal in a 9-0 win over Plymouth State and tallying three assists on the season.
“She had been in the U.S. before, but she was never a student at Colby before, and she knows nobody. She put her best foot forward, and she took that risk,” Colby head coach Holley Tyng said. “The growth that she gained from that experience is just unspeakable.”
Her results continued on the international stage, playing with the Czech national youth teams from the U15 level to U18. Following her sophomore year and a hot start to her junior season, she was called up for the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York.
“I don’t even know how to describe it,” Jandušíková said. “It’s always a great experience and honor to represent the Czech Republic at that stage.”
Jandušíková was a regular in the Czech lineup through seven total games in the tournament, helping it win a bronze medal.
Four months later, Jandušíková earned a
After his standout freshman season, which saw him named to the All-ACC Third Team, Burton entered the 2024 NBA Draft. However, he withdrew his name from the pool less than a month later. But Rhodes doesn’t think it’ll be long until he’s in the NBA. In his eyes, Burton has the potential to be an all-time great.
call-up to the senior team for the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Brampton, Ontario. She was the only D-III player to compete in the competition.
It felt like something that needed to be done in order for us to be successful with hockey.
Kristýna Kaltounková colgate forward
Jandušíková ran with the opportunity, tallying an assist in the bronze medal game to help Czech defeat Switzerland 3-2 to capture her second bronze medal in four months.
“Hearing the announcer say her last name and representing Colby College … I had this proud parent moment,” Tyng said. “It was unbelievable.”
By the end of her senior year, Jandušíková helped the Mules to their winningest season ever, started in their first-ever NCAA Tournament win and represented the school at international tournaments. But she still had one goal left unfulfilled: playing D-I hockey. Though Jandušíková didn’t have much interest in pursuing a fifth year until after
“Being from New York, I worked a long time at Five Star Basketball Camp,” Rhodes said. “I had Chris Paul, Stephon Marbury in camp … and I put Markus right up with them in terms of basketball savvy, toughness and the things that he can do on a court.” mjpalmar@syr.edu @mpalmarSU
competing in Brampton. Her Czech teammates suggested she try to transfer. She declined the idea, though, wanting to finish her education at Colby before making the leap.
The idea came back to her as her senior campaign wrapped up. She began reaching out to programs to gauge interest but also explored playing professionally in Sweden or Finland.
Last summer, Jandušíková worked as a counselor at a hockey camp in Sweden. There, she ran into Syracuse assistant coach Heather Farrell. Farrell said Jandušíková would be a great fit for the Orange; her experience and character made her a piece worth pursuing.
“I think (SU head coach Britni Smith) and the coaching staff have done just an outstanding job of attracting high-character individuals,” Tyng said. “She started to bring in some really talented athletes and some really wonderful people. I think I would put Klára in that category big time.”
Less than a month after meeting Farrell in Sweden, Jandušíková headed to Syracuse for the next stop on her journey. Since then, she’s become a regular in SU’s defensive rotation.
From her first flight to the U.S. with Kaltounková to her development into D-I to representing her country on the international stage, each step in Jandušíková’s career has involved a leap of faith. Nonetheless, the two teammates are satisfied with where they’ve landed.
“I would say it was a pretty successful journey,” Kaltounková said.
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burton
markus burton had a storied high school career before committing to Notre Dame. This Saturday, he’ll lead the Fighting Irish against Syracuse in the two programs’ second matchup of the season. courtesy of mike miller | blue & gold
less than eight games in the ACC. The Orange haven’t won an ACC Tournament game since the 2021-22 season over Florida State — the Buddy Boeheim punch game. In its 10 ACC Tournament appearances, Syracuse is just 5-9.
It’s a far cry from the golden ages of the Big East, where SU captured five tournament championships between 1981-2006 and were runner-ups seven times. Even there, the league limited conference tournament participation to 12 schools from 2001-08, and the Orange easily qualified each time.
But this is a different NCAA landscape. And in turn, it’s a different challenge for SU.
SMU, a team with limited NCAA Tournament history, joined the ACC from the American Athletic Conference. In their first year in the conference, the Mustangs have beaten the cellar dwellers, taking down Virginia, Boston College and Georgia Tech by double digits.
Stanford hasn’t made the national tournament in over a decade but has found its footing thus far. The Cardinal elevated to the middle of the pack in the conference with wins over Cal, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
To round out the fresh trio is Cal, which hasn’t produced a winning record in conference play
since the 2016-17 season. The trend has continued in the ACC, where the Golden Bears have started 1-4.
Syracuse has yet to play either of the three teams, with a West Coast trip planned for late January and a date with the Mustangs set for March 4. The Orange, however, are still affected by their involvement due to the tournament changes. As the season wanes on, it could be an added pressure point for a team already taking heat.
“Obviously we started off with a slow start,” Autry said Monday. “In the last couple of games, we’ve been able to kind of bounce back, but I think we’re still improving. We’re still getting better.”
Autry’s right in the fact that SU’s slow start was obvious. The absence of J.J. Starling led to an 0-2 start to conference play, dropping games to Notre Dame and Wake Forest. Starling returned against Florida State, but a 16-point loss ensued.
Since defeating the Orange, the Fighting Irish basketball team has struggled to match the success of their football program. ND is just 1-4 outside of its win over SU, defeating only Boston College. The Demon Deacons, meanwhile, have accumulated a 4-1 record in ACC play, falling only to Clemson.
Syracuse then met two evenly matched conference foes, capturing victories over Georgia
Tech and BC. Both wins weren’t pretty. And both barely happened. But a two-game winning streak with Starling leading the way built up SU’s confidence through a tumultuous time.
“We always knew where we stood, despite our record,” Kyle Cuffe Jr. said after Syracuse’s win over the Eagles. “But with two wins, we’re gonna be ready, we’re gonna keep pushing. I feel like we can make some noise in the ACC.”
against Louisville Tuesday. The Orange were outrebounded 37-32, recorded 14 turnovers and shot 8-for-25 from 3. It didn’t help that Starling scored a season-low four points, leading to a 24-point loss.
The performance was a setback but likely a sign of things to come. The road only gets more difficult going forward, as SU will face nine Quad 1 or 2 teams in its final 14 games. KenPom sees the Orange losing all but two games.
Barring an unforeseen catastrophic change, an at-large NCAA Tournament bid is out of the picture. The priority for Syracuse shifts to handling the teams currently below it in the ACC standings — Notre Dame, Cal, Virginia, Boston College and Miami. SU will have a crack at each, likely deciding which teams will take the plane ride to Charlotte.
Following the quarter mark of the Orange’s ACC schedule, Autry pointed out rebounding as the team’s consistent strength. For areas to improve, he emphasized SU’s ability to secure the basketball, have good shot selection and corral rebounds when it matters most.
All three areas collapsed when Syracuse looked to extend its winning streak to three
The Orange already have generated a season full of more downs than ups. Seniors set to graduate in 2025 are on track to be the first class since 1972 to miss out on seeing SU in March Madness. If they can’t scrape together a few wins over the next month and a half, the Orange’s spot in the ACC takes an even more embarrassing dip, and possibly a historic one outside the conference tournament.
amstepan@syr.edu
@AidenStepansky
Beat writers agree SU will fall to Notre Dame for 2nd time
By Daily Orange Sports Staff
Syracuse’s two-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday as it fell 85-61 to Louisville. The defeat brought it back under .500 on the season and two games under .500 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Orange try to avoid another losing streak when they welcome Notre Dame to the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday.
This will be the second meeting between Syracuse and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish defeated the Orange 69-64 in their ACC opener on Dec. 7. In that meeting, SU was without J.J. Starling, while ND didn’t have point guard Markus Burton. Since then, Notre Dame has lost four of five conference games, with its only win coming to ACC bottom-feeder Boston College Tuesday.
Here’s how our beat writers feel Syracuse (8-9, 2-4 ACC) will fare against Notre Dame (8-9, 2-4 ACC) in their second meeting of the season: sports@dailyorange.com @dosports
ZAK WOLF (15-2)
Syracuse
Aiden and I were supposed to drive to South Bend in December to cover the game. Mother Nature had other ideas, and we ended up watching from his apartment. To be honest, it wasn’t that disappointing, considering how poorly Syracuse played. It scored just 64 points and didn’t hit a 3. Saturday, I expect more offense. Starling and Burton returning completely changes the dynamic for both teams.
Starling had a poor showing in SU’s loss to Louisville, recording a season-low in points (four) and shots (seven) while turning the ball over six times. It’s safe to say he won’t have a game like that for the rest of the season. Even so, I expect Notre Dame to get the better of Syracuse. The Fighting Irish are better than their record indicates, and the addition of Burton makes them infinitely more dangerous. In his four games since returning from injury, Burton is averaging 20 points per game on 39% shooting from 3.
AIDEN STEPANSKY (16-1)
Syracuse 74 Notre Dame 79 I WANT TO KNOW WHERE LOU HOLTZ IS
I vividly remember telling Justin on the drive home from Boston College how I’d pick this game. At some point in our five-hour ride, as I blared a mix of Billy Joel and Drake, I said, “If the Orange put up a fight against Louisville, I’d be inclined to pick SU to take down Notre Dame in their second matchup.”
Well, that didn’t happen. So this was an easy choice. While Syracuse impressed in its final eight minutes against Boston College, the momentum surely didn’t carry into the date with the Cardinals. SU was stifled in all aspects by Louisville, falling embarrassingly. Notre Dame will continue Syracuse’s steady decline.
As Zak noted, the return of Starling and Burton makes this matchup far more intriguing.
Building off Aiden’s football point, Syracuse and Notre Dame are both football schools. As the Fighting Irish try to knock off the man Fran Brown should send cases of champagne to, SU’s basketball program has fans waiting desperately for football season.
It’s atypical for the Orange, who are heralded as a prestigious basketball school and have been an afterthought in football basically the entire 21st century. Currently, SU’s 2025 graduating class is set to become the first group of players not to witness an NCAA Tournament run since the 1972 class — a 53-year span.
The Fighting Irish haven’t had the strongest start to conference play but have produced close performances in their losses, falling by just one to UNC and NC State. The combination of Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry will largely outplay Starling and Co., similar to Chucky Hepburn’s performance.
As always, the 3-point battle will be crucial, and I see ND using deep-range success — whether from Burton or Shrewsberry — to boost its win. Meanwhile, the Cardinals showed a simple plan on how to stop the Orange: contain Starling and let anyone else beat you. If Starling gets back to how he was against GT and BC, Syracuse has a chance. If he doesn’t, it has none. men’s
As a team, Notre Dame is explosive from beyond the arc. This past Saturday against Duke, it went 14-of-24 from beyond the arc. If it shoots even remotely close to that against Syracuse, the Orange have no chance. Syracuse allowed Louisville to hit 12 triples Tuesday. Will we see another barrage from deep? I don’t think SU’s defense will be as porous, but Notre Dame will do enough to hand Syracuse its second straight defeat.
Most Notre Dame fans likely aren’t focused on its basketball team right now. Instead, many are probably preparing for a trip to Atlanta to watch the Fighting Irish take down Ohio State in football. I see ND fans getting some early celebrations against the Orange before the clash with the Buckeyes.
Now, after its loss to Louisville, Syracuse is under .500 midway through January — a far stretch from what the “Orange Standard” is, whatever that may be. While the Fighting Irish are one of the numerous middle-of-the-pack teams in the ACC, I see them doing just enough on the road to get by SU.
JUSTIN GIRSHON (14-3) Syracuse 71 Notre Dame 75 FOOTBALL SCHOOLS
Three ACC teams will miss the conference tournament after it expanded to 18 teams over the offseason.
Markus Burton stars after winning Indiana’s Mr. Basketball
By Mauricio Palmar asst. digital Editor
Markus Burton sat in Clowes Hall at Butler University, awaiting the results of the 2023 Indiana High School Sports Award Ceremony. Then a standout point guard at Penn High School, he was nominated for the IndyStar Mr. Basketball award, given annually to the best senior in Indiana. Burton’s cousin and former Purdue point guard Brandon McKnight anxiously watched alongside him.
McKnight had been in his shoes 22 years earlier, finishing as a runner-up after averaging over 28 points during his senior campaign at South Bend LaSalle High School. He had long felt that Northern Indiana, where Burton was from, was unfairly overlooked in favor of the Indianapolis area during award season. So, when Burton was announced as the overwhelming choice, McKnight couldn’t contain his joy.
“It felt good, especially for me because I got Mr. Basketball runner-up,” McKnight said. “To have someone in my family actually win Mr. Basketball was one of the best days of my life, and I know it was for Markus, too.”
Now a sophomore at Notre Dame, Burton has become a star in the ACC. Last year, he won the ACC Freshman of the Year after starting all 33 games and scoring 17.5 points per game. This season, he’s played in 10 games for the Fighting Irish, averaging 19.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. After missing Notre Dame’s first matchup against Syracuse due to a knee injury, he’ll lead the Irish into the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday.
Burton was always destined to don navy and gold. Born in Mishawaka, Indiana, he grew up 20 minutes from South Bend, in the shadow of the campus he’d eventually call home.
The oldest of five siblings, Burton, told Rivals he began playing basketball as a 5-yearold, developing his skills with his father, Markus Burton Sr. Six years later, he played on the AAU circuit as a fifth grader. Burton started with the Sky Digg Soldiers, a South Bend-based team sponsored by WNBA star Skylar Diggins-Smith.
With the Soldiers, Burton met current Air Force forward Josh Gatete, who became one of his closest friends. The two continued playing together in the following years at Penn. Gatete always recognized Burton’s talent, but he didn’t realize the extent of his potential until they were in middle school.
“Honestly, it was around eighth grade when I saw him take a step with his jump shot specifically,” Gatete said. “That’s when I knew he had all the pieces to his game, and he could definitely be an All-American caliber player.”
Penn went 10-14 in Burton’s freshman year, but he quickly became the starting point guard. In former Penn head coach Al Rhodes’ decades-long career coaching Indiana High School basketball, Burton was one of two athletes Rhodes coached who started every game. The other was former Los Angeles Lak-
ers forward Rick Fox, who only spent two years with Rhodes at Warsaw Community High School.
After that freshman season, McKnight took Burton under his wing, realizing South Bend had never seen a guard of his caliber.
“Once I watched Markus play, it reminded me a lot of myself,” McKnight said. “But he was way more advanced than I was at his age as a sophomore, junior in high school. That’s when I knew he was special.”
With McKnight in his corner, Burton blossomed as a junior. He was recruited to the Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire on the Nike EYBL circuit, forming a strong backcourt duo with current Virginia point guard Dai Dai Ames. Despite facing stronger competition, Burton regularly showcased his scoring ability.
“He would get the ball, make a play. I’d get the ball, make a play,” Ames said. “I’d never had a backcourt (partner) who could score the ball with me at will like that, so it was pretty fun.” Burton averaged nearly 27 points per game with Penn that year. He led the Kingsmen to a 24-3 record, ending the season with a regional championship loss to Chesterton High
Klára Jandušíková secures SU’s defense after move from Czechia
By Harris Pemberton asst. digital editor
As 15-year-old Klára Jandušíková embarked on a nearly 4,000-mile journey from Prague, Czechia, to the United States, she was accompanied by just her luggage and youth teammate Kristýna Kaltounková. The Czech natives were eager yet nervous to advance their hockey careers.
Without their parents, Jandušíková and Kaltounková spent the next three years at Vermont Academy, a private school in Rockingham, Vermont, excelling on the ice in a small town of under 5,000.
“In the moment, it felt like the right thing to do,” Kaltounková said of moving to the U.S. with Jandušíková. “It felt like something that needed to be done in order for us to be successful with hockey.”
Eight years later, moving to the U.S. has proved to be the biggest turning point in their lives. Jandušíková is a focal point on Syracuse’s defense, while Kaltounková has emerged as one of the nation’s top scorers at Colgate. Following three years as a standout defender at VA, Jandušíková began her collegiate career at Division III Colby College, becoming a staple blueliner across her three-year career.
men’s basketball
Jandušíková’s efforts earned her several call-ups to the Czech national team, medaling in two separate international tournaments.
Long before Jandušíková dreamt of crossing the Atlantic, a pair of rollerblading skates sparked her interest in hockey. Jandušíková’s parents encouraged her to learn to skate in first grade, using the wheeled roller shoes as an introduction. Later on, she observed friends playing hockey in her hometown of Brno, prompting her to test her skating skills on the ice.
Jandušíková began playing hockey on co-ed teams in Brno, where she was one of just a handful of girls on the squad. Yet, as she grew older, her local teams prioritized an all-boys squad, leaving her to find a new team outside her hometown.
“My parents would drive me to practices either 30 or 45 minutes away,” Jandušíková said.
“In elementary school, it was fine, but with the transition from elementary and middle school to high school, it became impossible.”
So, she began searching for other options.
Jandušíková and Kaltounková, who met playing for the Czech under-15 squad, saw teammates move to Sweden to play professionally. They discussed the possibility of attending school within Czechia and threw around the thought of moving to America.
see jandušíková page 12
Analyzing Syracuse’s place in the new-look ACC through 6 games
By Aiden Stepansky digital managing editor
While SU has failed to make any noise in the conference tournament since joining the ACC in the 2013-14 season, an automatic qualification allowed the Orange to at least participate each year. In its 12th season in the league, Syracuse won’t have the same luxury.
As part of an evolving world of college athletics, the ACC expanded to 18 teams by adding SMU, Stanford and Cal this year. Despite the additions, the conference decided to stick with its 15-team conference tournament. So, for the first time in its 70-year history, teams will be left out of the event.
Six games into ACC play, SU is 2-4 and in the bottom third of its standings. With a difficult schedule ahead, the expansion makes missing the conference tournament a real possibility for Syracuse.
“In our conference, if you don’t make it, obviously it’s disappointment with the program, with the fan base,” SU second-year head coach Adrian Autry said Monday. “But our league is very tough. It’s a Power Five League, and winning is hard. So obviously, when you don’t make the tournament and you’re that one team, that’s very disappointing.”
3wits 20 ACC games. KenPom sees the Orange doing even worse, predicting SU to win only four conference matchups and go 2-12 the rest of the way.
No matter how you slice it, both of those totals would be its least amount of conference victories since the 1980-81 season. Still, SU has never won
see burton page 12
ice hockey
klára jandušíková moved to the U.S. when she was 15 in hopes of playing D-I hockey. Eight years later, she’s a focal point of SU’s defense. leonardo eriman asst. video editor
Markus Burton leads Notre Dame with 19.0 points per game
Through transfer to DME Academy, Olivia Schmitt became a pass-first point guard
By Noah Nussbaum asst. sports editor
Nearly 30 college coaches watched 5-foot-5 high school junior Olivia Schmitt square off against five-star prospect Maddy McDaniel. The then“little, no name” Schmitt went toeto-toe with the future South Carolina point guard, which instantly sparked a jump in her recruiting interest, according to Do More Everyday Academy head coach Michael Panaggio.
“When I left that game, even though we lost, I said, ‘I have a legitimate Power Five starting point guard,’” Panaggio said.
Offers began flooding in. About two months later, after a stellar performance against Life Center Academy and Kiyomi McMiller, ESPN’s 27thranked player in the 2024 class, St. John’s, Clemson and Syracuse offered Schmitt. SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and associate head coach Kristen Sharkey attended the game and were impressed by Schmitt’s distribution.
The next day, Schmitt noticed Panaggio was “acting weird” before revealing a coach would contact her. Sharkey then texted her with the Orange’s offer. Schmitt immediately wanted to play for SU, a program close to home that’d featured undersized guards in the past, most recently Dyaisha Fair. In March 2023, she visited and committed on the spot.
Transferring to DME was vital for Schmitt’s development and advancing her career to college basketball’s highest level. She transferred to the prominent Daytona Beach, Florida, prep school after averaging 21.0 points per game as a sophomore at Staten Island Academy. Though surrounded by a Division I
caliber supporting cast at DME, she became a passfirst point guard, averaging over four assists in both her seasons there. It’s translated to Schmitt’s fresh man year at Syracuse, where she ranks fourth on the team with 1.9 assists per game.
“When I got to DME, I was surrounded by highlevel athletes. I knew in order to win basketball games, I had to be selfless and hit all these really talented players beside me,” Schmitt said.
Schmitt, a Staten Island native, began her high school journey at SIA, where her freshman season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic before breaking out as a sophomore. Because much of the previous year’s team had graduated, Schmitt became the Tigers’ most reliable scorer.
SIA is a historic women’s basketball powerhouse, so Schmitt had big expectations on her shoulders. Still, per head coach Alison Ryan, she efficiently ran its offense as a three-level scorer.
“(Schmitt) was a great spark for our team,” Ryan said. “Anybody would want to have an Olivia on their team.”
Schmitt showed qualities of a pure point guard, too. Ryan said she played “tenacious defense,” often bagging layups directly off steals. She also flashed potential as a distributor on the perimeter.
Her prowess led SIA to a 17-7 record and a 78-70 victory in the NYSAIS/PSAL Class A State Cham pionship over Brooklyn Law and Tech, another top program in New York.
Schmitt stayed composed through constant pressure, finishing with 24 points. Afterward, she and her teammates celebrated by filling a water jug with their bottles, and then Schmitt dumped it on Ryan.
see schmitt
Fran Brown awarded Bear Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year special delivery
By Cooper Andrews managing editor
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown has won the Bear Bryant Award for the top Newcomer Coach of the Year after leading the Orange to a 10-win campaign in 2024. Brown is the award’s second-ever recipient, given out by the American Heart Association since last season, following Northwestern head coach David Braun.
Brown’s hiring in November 2023 sparked hope, and his execution in Year 1 of building a program at SU reaped historic rewards. The Orange returned
to their northeast recruiting roots, with Brown being a Camden, New Jersey, native; defeated three AP Top 25 teams, won double-digit games for the third time in the 21st century, had 12 players named to All-Atlantic Coast Conference teams and won a bowl game for the first time since 2018. The former 247Sports’ National Recruiter of the Year has established Syracuse as a place where players can maximize their potential. In 2025, Brown’s first true recruiting class, the Orange have a nation-leading 35 commitments. He’s also rescued multiple
players from the transfer portal who went on to have their best collegiate seasons under his guidance.
Quarterback Kyle McCord, who finished top-10 in Heisman voting after breaking SU’s single-season passing records, edge rusher Fadil Diggs (career-high 7.5 sacks) and wide receiver Jackson Meeks (career-best 1,021 yards) all dominated in their lone seasons after transferring. Among others, those three helped set the standard for Brown’s tenure in 2024. Brown tied Paul Pasqualoni in 1991 as the winningest first-year head coach in Syracuse history and helmed the Orange to their first AP Top 25 finish in six seasons. The highest
point of Brown’s debut year came on Nov. 30, when SU stunned then-No. 6 Miami in a 42-38 win at the JMA Wireless Dome. It was Syracuse’s highest-ranked victory since 2017. Yet, as he rarely seems to be, Brown wasn’t satisfied. “I wanted to win a national championship. I wanted to go to the conference championship,” Brown said after defeating the Hurricanes. “Those two things didn’t happen, but I guess it’s progress.” ccandrew@syr.edu @cooper_andrews
Syracuse won 10 games in Fran Brown’s first season as head coach.
