Jan. 19, 2023

Counting CAURDs

the New York Office of Cannabis Management from licensing any businesses in the five regions where Variscite sued. The OCM filed appeals in every region to lift the injunction except the Finger Lakes, Variscite’s first choice of region in which to receive a license.

A Syracuse-based cannabis professional, who works in the sale of medical marijuana and wished to remain unnamed, said there is already a lack of access to medical marijuana in rural New York areas. They said they’re concerned that this trend will now extend to the recreational market as well.

state

Licenses benefit past marijuana offenders

By Dominic Chiappone asst. news editor

On Dec. 29, 2022, Housing Works became the first organization to legally sell cannabis in New York state.

Now, the organization — a Manhattan-based nonprofit which advocates against AIDS and homelessness — hopes to use the profit from its sales to facilitate re-entry for individuals incarcerated on drug-related charges and reverse the impact of the war on drugs.

Charles King, a spokesperson for Housing Works, said the new Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses will help expand the nonprofit’s mission to support and provide employment opportunities for individuals convicted of drugrelated offenses.

By Neil Vijayan asst. digital editor

Of the 28 businesses across New York state that were approved for the first round of Conditional AdultUse Recreational Dispensary licenses in November — all of which went to owners who themselves or whose relatives have a past cannabis-related conviction in NYS — none are within the central New York and Finger Lakes region, home to Syracuse.

Amid a lawsuit against the state’s retail cannabis licensing program, retailers in the central New York and Finger Lakes regions are unsure when or if they’ll join licensees in other regions.

The state began its path to a legal, regulated market for recreational marijuana with issuing CAURD licenses, which aim t0 position “equity-owned businesses at the front-end of New York’s adult-use market,” according to the New York State Cannabis Control Board. Of the businesses that have received licenses so far, 13 are located in New York City, four are in the Albany area, two are located in the Southern Tier, one is in the Mohawk Valley, seven are on Long Island and one is in the North Country.

Jim Charon, chair for the central New York regional committee of the Cannabis Association of New York, said the state didn’t approve any CAURD licenses for applicants in the central New York and Finger Lakes region because of a court injunction from a pending lawsuit against NYS by an out-of-state party. Charon, also the owner of the local dispensary Syracuse Hemporium, is among those in central New York who did not qualify for a CAURD license.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit is Michigan-based Variscite NY One, a group seeking CAURD licensing with the intent to sell in New York state. It claims the program favors New York residents by requiring owners or their family members to have been convicted in New York state of marijuana-related crimes. Variscite filed lawsuits on Sept. 26th, 2022 in every region where it sought a CAURD license, including central New York and the Finger Lakes.

In response, on Nov. 10, District Judge Gary Sharpe blocked

“CAURD licensees will be concentrated mostly in large urban areas, alienating much of the state’s constituency,” the source told The Daily Orange.

Jayson Tantalo, owner of Flower City Hydroponics in Fairport, applied for a CAURD license, but has not been approved because his business falls in the Finger Lakes region. Tantalo is a co-founder of the New York CAURD Coalition, a group of 70 applicants and 14 licensees seeking “collaboration over competition” in the emerging industry, according to its website.

Tantalo said he has been involved in the cannabis industry since before it was legalized, making him a “legacy” member of the community.

“The opportunity to sell legal cannabis is of immense value because that’s what I’ve been doing since I can remember, and I can extend my resources to the legal community,” Tantalo said. “The community trusts us and they support us.”

Tantalo said he maintains support for the equity-focused licensing plan.

“The prerequisite of cannabis justice-involved individuals is highly respected and we thank the state for that opportunity, not to mention that cannabis involved individuals (are given) opportunities to be successful in corporate business,” Tantalo said.

Jeremy Rivera, executive director of the NY CAURD Coalition, said the CAURD program provides opportunities for former cannabis convicts that were once far out of reach, like himself. Rivera was released from prison in 2018. Rivera emphasized that applicants to the CAURD program are not newly-released criminals but successful business people.

“Not until the CAURD program was rolled out (did) I intended to get back into the cannabis industry. The rollout affects me because it’s a dramatic change from what I thought my trajectory was to where I am now,” he said. “We aren’t people that are just coming out of prison and asking for a license. Most of the people who applied for CAURD had a conviction, yes, but they are also successful businessmen and women.”

The medical marijuana professional emphasized that CAURD licensing would bring regulation to the current “gray” market with no regulation, saying that swiftly issuing adult-use

New York state’s Cannabis Control Board approved 36 CAURD licenses in November 2022. Aside from nonprofit organizations like Housing Works, the state gave 28 licenses to business owners who themselves have or whose relatives have a past cannabis-related conviction in NYS. This distribution is part of the state’s Seeding Opportunity Initiative, which aims to reverse the harmful effects of marijuana criminalization.

King said the organization created a for-profit LLC and applied for a CAURD license in accordance with New York’s Office of Cannabis Management’s social and economic equity program. He said the application process included submitting proof that Housing Works serves a “significant” number of people with cannabis-related convictions and people who demonstrated a minimum of two years of successful entrepreneurship, among other criteria.

“We sought a cannabis retail license as a vehicle to employ people with cannabis-related convictions and to help them move up in the industry and even to secure their own cannabis business licenses,” King wrote in an email statement.

Sean Drake, an associate professor of sociology at Syracuse University, said New York state’s release of CAURD licenses is a “positive step” in decriminalizing marijuana use. He added that the Seeding Opportunity Initiative is important in counteracting inequities with the state’s historical handling of the industry.

“The way things had been done in the past was not necessarily fair, and there were sort of inequities and injustices kind of wrapped up in the system,” Drake said. “I think prioritizing those individuals makes a lot of a lot of sense from a racial justice, social justice, (and) criminal justice standpoint.”

Chancellor Kent Syverud announces hiring of new Chief Operations Officer, John Papazoglou, who will start at SU on Feb. 1

The national tour of ‘Anastasia’ has made its way to The Landmark Theater, inspiring the cast along the way

Mounir Hima has overcome multiple obstacles to reach Syracuse since leaving his home country, Niger, in 2017 at 15-years-old.

The lawsuit that kept CNY from the first round of CAURD licenses claims the program, which prioritizes those convicted of marijuana-related crimes in NYS, favors state residents. meghan hendricks photo editor

Lawsuit excludes central New York from new conditional adult-use recreational dispensary licenses

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INSIDE

The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.

NEWS

“I think prioritizing those individuals makes a lot of a lot of sense from a racial justice, social justice, (and) criminal justice standpoint.” - Sean Drake, associate professor of sociology Page 1

CULTURE

“Syracuse has always been a place that feels like home. It feels really full circle.” Kaitlyn Jackson, actress in ‘Anastasia’ Page 5

OPINION

“Political leaders in Syracuse should be focusing their attention on organizations like the Near Westside Initiative that are vital to begin transforming the neighborhood.”Sarhia Rahim, columnist Page 7

SPORTS

“I think me coming to the states is destiny. But I never thought I’d play basketball in my life.” - Mounir Hima, SU men’s basketball Page 12

COMING UP

Noteworthy events this week.

WHAT: Peer Education Recruitment Event

WHEN: Jan. 19, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Barnes Center at The Arch 308

WHAT: 38th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

WHEN: Jan. 22, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: The Dome

WHAT: Bharati Award Recipient Presentations

WHEN: Jan. 23, 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Eggers Hall 341

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State gives funds for new OCC hospital training center

By Anjana Dasam Asst. Copy Editor

Part of a $12 million fund Sen. Chuck Schumer secured will go toward the creation of a hospital simulation and education training center at Onondaga Community College as part of an investment in training for healthcare workers in central New York.

Schumer announced in a press release that the center will feature more advanced technology in its resources, like virtual reality learning and simulated drug dispensaries. The center will be focused on training medical students to be well-equipped in entering the workforce. Amid a shortage of healthcare workers, students on the medical track at Syracuse University said they hope the funding can benefit the whole of central New York.

Kevin Guo, an SU sophomore and undergraduate researcher majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience, said he is optimistic about the funding’s impacts on the healthcare worker shortage. He said the funding is an opportunity to make an intensive education in healthcare accessible to students in central New York.

“I feel, due to the fact that the training center will be affiliated through OCC, it will give many students an affordable opportunity to engage in a very high-tech, handson learning experience that would be very beneficial for them and prepare them for the medical field,” Guo said.

Schumer emphasized the importance of starting locally in efforts to remedy the broader worker shortage. He said he hopes the funding will lead to further expansion

and more enrollment from students, saying the funding will give the CNY region the “shot in the arm it needs” in order to address

SU announces new Chief Operations Officer appointment

By Kendall Luther Asst. News Editor

SU’s new chief operating officer John A. Papazoglou will begin his tenure on the first day of February following approval of his appointment, announced Jan. 9, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at this week’s meeting.

Papazoglou’s COO position will concentrate on the areas of dining, housing, hospitality, food services and other on and off-campus operations, according to the SU news release announcing his appointment. His off-campus operations include the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center, Minnowbrook Conference Center and Drumlins Country Club facilities.

Papazoglou, who is coming to SU after five and a half years at Penn State University as the Associate Vice President of Auxiliary and Business Services, is not new to the Syracuse area.

“I actually lived in Syracuse from 1977 to 1981. My father was the general manager at Hancock Airport,” Papazoglou said. “The people that we met there, the relationships there in the community are actually one of the best memories I had growing up in elementary school.”

In addition to his work at Penn State, Papazoglou reflected on his being “fortunate” to have prior experience with Aramark Healthcare, Richmond International Airport and Delaware North Companies.

“I just had really good mentors and companies that really invested in me when I was young — (and in) my training and development help — and that’s what I hope I can continue to carry forward to and do for others, “ Papazoglou said.

He said the transition to a more senior position is the “next logical step” in his career, adding that he sees the value in moving to SU from a large public university.

“The portfolios are similar to what I had at Penn State, and part of the decision is wanting to work with a really great team and a good leader that will support me and allow me to operate independently,” Papazoglou said.

SU Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Allen Groves said he believes Papazoglou’s work at Penn State has prepared him well for the COO role at SU.

Groves praised Papazoglou’s success in his large job at Penn State, which involved multiple campuses and a large number of employees to oversee. Because Papazoglou will be continuing this work, Groves does not doubt his ability to perform successfully in these operations at SU.

Groves and Papazoglou will collaborate close-

ly and frequently, along with the other members of the executive leadership team of the university, Groves said. Groves explained that part of this collaboration will include Papazoglou presenting information to the Executive Board.

Papazoglou said he will ensure that his team works closely with Groves’s team in their work towards benefitting the student experience.

Papazoglou’s transition process, Groves said, will mostly revolve around learning the culture of the university and connecting with colleagues, students and staff.

“I expect that he’ll be working very hard to get to know students, to get to know the employees in his units,” Groves said. “In his interviews…he spoke, I think, very passionately, very strongly about what he’s done at Penn State to build close relations with

employees at all levels and to make sure that they can be heard.”

Papazoglou said he wants to hear from the community about their ideas for SU, from what he should tackle first in his new position to what long term goals he should begin taking steps towards.

His job, he said, is to translate Chancellor Syverud’s vision into a practical reality to impact the SU community.

“Students are our priority and we want to enhance the student experience, and that also means investing in our infrastructure and technology, which are things that we’ve been doing here at Penn State,” Papazoglou said.

In SU’s press release, Syverud referred to Papazoglou as an “immediate asset” to SU.

In terms of his goals as COO, Papazoglou said he will initially use a pillar-based busi-

ness model to evaluate where his priorities for change-making should lie. This table-like model is structured by a balance of people, service, body and financial stewardship, he said.

“If you take care of your people first and take care of quality and service, then the financials follow,” Papazoglou said.

He added he’s excited to learn more about the various student groups on campus and hopes to find out more about what is important to students.

“A year from now, or two years, or however long it takes, I think I want people to see the services offered at the university,” Papazoglou said. “I want SU’s operations to feel like home, not only to the university, but all of its extended communities.”

shortages in healthcare workers. In an address alongside other speakers — including Onondaga County Executive Ryan

McMahon, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton — at OCC’s

The funding, which was spearheaded by Sen. Chuck Schumer as part of an attempt to mitigate a healthcare worker shortage, will finance expanded medical education through simulation and virtual reality. maxine brackbill asst. photo editor

John Papazoglou, who previously worked at Pennsylvania State University, will join SU to handle on- and off-campus affairs, Chancellor Kent Syverud said. courtesy of john papazoglou

SA releases sustainability report calling on SU for fast action

By Brittany Miller Asst. Copy Editor

The Student Association released its sustainability report on Dec. 15 after working throughout the fall 2022 semester.

The sustainability report outlines an update to Syracuse University’s 2009 Climate Action Plan and proposes recommendations and updates to encourage the school to make a commitment to sustainability. The 2009 plan explains SU’s efforts to completely eliminate its net emissions of greenhouse gas by December 31, 2040. Now, SA wants to move that date up by a decade.

The 2022 report consists of six different sections on recommendations to make the campus more sustainable, with the greatest emphasis being on the proposal for SU to adjust its goal to reach carbon-neutrality from 2040 to 2030.

“A sincere hope is that this work, and hopefully the commitment that Syracuse University makes from it, will trigger other universities to do a more similar thing and move on a more ambitious path to addressing sustainability,” Bruen said.

In a survey SA conducted for the report, 54.1% of respondents voted to recommend moving the netzero emissions pledge timeline up a decade from the goal of 2030 t0 2040, the report reads, and agreed that the move was something that could have a “significant impact” on SU’s sustainability.

SA’s Director of Sustainability Harrison Vogt, alongside his committee of around ten members and volunteers, worked to consult on the various sustainability-related topics in order to create the policies and recommendations detailed in the report.

“One of the things that became a good decent chunk of the report was the infrastructure side of it, and where we can get more energy efficient infrastructure. So we ended up looking at examples around Onondaga County,” Vogt said.

The committee toured the Whitlock building in downtown Syracuse, which uses an electric heat pump instead of natural gas to heat their building. The report recommended that the uni-

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caurd

dispensary licenses would be a “massive win” for the cannabis industry and the NY community.

But Tantalo said he’s worried that the delays in distributing licenses prevents the state from resolving trauma in communities affected by the War on Drugs.

“They were supposed to be awarding the

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licenses

tive and legal director for the New York state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said prioritizing nonprofits to receive CAURD licenses is a “critical commitment” to the state’s equity and community improvement programs.

“These nonprofits are not only historically committed to servicing those who have been negatively impacted by the over-policing of the war on cannabis, but they committed to being the boat that will collectively raise their constituents up as commerce and the industry begin to rise in New York,” Holland wrote in an email statement.

In Syracuse, nearly 80% of the city’s 2,637 marijuana-related arrests between September 2017 and September 2018 were Black people despite Syracuse’s white population being nearly double the city’s Black population, according to data obtained by CNYCentral.

But amid pending litigation, sellers with past convictions in central New York and the Finger Lakes region – where Syracuse is –have not received CAURD licenses. CAURD licenses for individuals with past marijuana convictions have been limited to New York City, including the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island neighborhoods.

Joseph A. Bondy, a member of NORML’s Board of Directors and cannabis lawyer, said the injunction was designed to stop the issu-

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center

Nursing suite in Ferrante Hall, Schumer highlighted the college’s position to create progress. “I’m especially proud that Onondaga Community College is part of this. It’s just what the doctor ordered to address our healthcare worker shortage,” Schumer said. “We’re short nurses, we’re short health care workers, and now Onondaga Community College

versity implement geothermal heat pumps.

In addition to helping form policies and recommendations for SU, Vogt is working with SU Sustainability Coordinator Melissa Cadwell on a peer-to-peer education program outlined in the report. Vogt said the program is set to be developed this semester.

The program, which would encourage students to teach one another about sustainable practices, would involve resident advisors because they have the ability to reach all the students at once during their required monthly floor meetings.

Ben Cavarra, SA’s Vice President of Community & Government Affairs, worked alongside SA student advocate Olivia Curreri on the technical side of the report by making sure the policies and rec-

licenses November 21st. The timeline is now unknown, so it’s impossible to move forward,” Tantalo said. “The gray market is going to thrive, and continue to thrive, so reinvesting capital into the community that has been most impacted by the War on Drugs will be nonexistent until legal cannabis penetrates the Finger Lakes region.”

Charon said that having been involved in the CBD business since 2018, he is optimistic about the pace at which CAURD licensing is

ance of CAURD licenses based upon state residency requirements as a violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause, a constitutional law which forbids individual states from tinkering with parts of the national economy that Congress has not federally regulated.

Bondy added that if one county violates the Dormant Commerce Clause, every county violates it.

Legal roadblocks have affected other states with similar CAURD programs, some of which involved a residency requirement that stipulated all owners of medical marijuana dispensaries must be state residents.

In August, the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Maine’s Medical Use Marijuana Act violated the Dormant Commerce Clause. Similar lawsuits are under litigation in Los Angeles and Sacramento involving a company called Variscite that was denied a license.

With New York’s CAURD licenses in legal limbo, Bondy said he believes the Office of Cannabis Management’s license program will lose and could shut down.

“It begs the question, if you care about the rule of law, and you know that something is almost certainly going to be found unlawful throughout the state, then why would you continue to issue licenses in these other geographical territories, knowing full well that they may ultimately be found the program to be void?” Bondy said.

@DominicChiappo2 dcchiapp@syr.edu

will be able to help fill this gap which will benefit all of us.”

Apart from the emphasis on creating better facilities to train the next generation of healthcare workers, the rest of the allocated money is distributed among different medical centers, including Cortland County Mental Health Clinic, Valley Health Services, Oneida Health Systems, Auburn Community Hospital Cancer Center, Crouse Health and SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Due to the

ommendations listed in the sustainability report were financially feasible for the university.

Cavarra said that each person involved on SA’s team in putting the report together fulfilled a certain role. Curreri, a policy studies major, said she used her knowledge on the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Biden Administration to translate its objectives towards achieving a more sustainable SU.

Bruen said SA is looking to get feedback from SU students and faculty, adding that SA feels its report is a “really solid vision.” Bruen sent an email to students earlier this week with a link for a petition to sign in support of the recommendations listed in the report.

“We would like to have more student engagement

being carried out.

“Understanding the state’s concept makes it easy to follow the timeframe. NY is looking at doing it right the first time without having to make significant changes later,” Charon said. “Once the legal issue has been resolved, the approved CAURD applicants will be able start operating.”

For sellers like Rivera, movement in the process of issuing CAURD licenses means movement away from the negative effects of his

and feedback because this is supposed to be a report written from the perspective of the students,” Cavarra said.

Although Syverud expressed gratitude for SA’s work in creating the sustainability report and its final product, SA’s goal is to put pressure on the university’s board of directors to make the recommendations listed into permanent SU policies.

“We have had some feedback from the administrators and faculty but most of it was pre-release,” Cavarra said. “Ultimately, we’re really just trying to put the pressure on the board of directors to emphasize sustainability.”

bmille19@syr.edu @britt61370

past conviction and the larger scale impacts of criminalized marijuana.

“I never thought I would be getting into, for lack of a better word, selling cannabis, selling drugs again,” Rivera said. “It’s cool to see an emerging market opening up and to be a pioneer at the forefront of it, so that’s really cool to see something grow into fruition, especially something that had such a bad stigma and social effect on people from our neighborhoods.”

nvijayan@syr.edu

CNY region having the highest suicide and self-harm rates in New York state, Upstate Medical is receiving $1.1 million to fund its Suicide Prevention Center.

Sophomore Alekhya Rajasekaran, a biotech major on the pre-medical track at SU and an Upstate Medical undergraduate researcher, said the grant and the plans for the center demonstrate lawmakers trending in the right direction. She said the funding takes the correct approach to helping decrease the number

of people struggling with healthcare.

“A great percentage of community college students are trying to save money and get an education at the same time,” Rajasekaran said.

“Unfortunately, in many underfunded areas, community college funding is limited, especially when it’s for health centers in a hospital area.

Providing a health training center at OCC will provide those students with the more comprehensive, hands-on education that they deserve.” adasam@syr.edu

The report identified moving SU’s net-zero emissions pledge from 2040 to 2030 as a way to significantly increase the university’s sustainability. cassandra roshu asst. photo editor

Graphic by stephanie zaso Digital design editor

Close company

By Kelly Matlock asst. copy editor

As audience members arrived and settled into their seats, nostalgia filled the air at the Landmark Theatre. The audience buzzed with anticipation to see a childhood movie come to life. “I told my granddaughter I was going to see ‘Anastasia’ and she said, ‘Oh Grandma, can I come with you?’ because she loves the Disney movie,” said audience member Pat Urban. For five days,

audience members are being welcomed into the Landmark to see the Broadway musical “Anastasia.” Combining childhood memories with new stage technology, this close-knit cast has made their way to the stage from across the globe to tell this story.

Following in the footsteps of the first “Anastasia” national tour from 2018-2020, this production tells the film’s beloved story through a new lens, continuing the show’s tradition of rich costume and technical design.

Based on the 1997 animated film, the musical “Anastasia” follows a woman named Anya living in Russia in the 1920s. After a traumatic experience, Anya forgets her identity and fails to remember that she is actually a grand duchess. The musical follows her journey to remembering her true identity.

But what makes this show at the Landmark unique is its technology, said Gerri Weagraff, who plays the Dowager Empress.

“The show creates a 3D video background behind the cast members,” Weagraff said. “The projections are so realistic. You see everything from snow falling, to fiery explosions beyond the palace windows, to a train speeding through the countryside, to fireworks exploding above the Eiffel Tower.”

Cast member Zachary Bigelow added that the show uses three LED screens to display digital projections. This is done both to minimize the

amount of physical props that need to be moved and to enhance the show’s realism, Bigelow said.

Gwendalyn Diaz sat in the audience, captivated by the show. Diaz, a Syracuse University student majoring in musical theater, said that the scenic design caught her eye as well.

“I thought the way this tour used projections to inform the setting was incredible, and I had never really seen it done quite as lovely before,” Diaz said.

Besides a high-tech set, the production also includes costumes designed by Linda Cho, whose designs won a Tony Award and were nominated for an Outer Critics Award. Weagraff said the spectacular costumes include glittery gowns, suits for the royal family, tattered clothing for Russian street dwellers and jazzy colorful dresses for Parisians.

The choreography of the show is inspired by Russian art, according to Kaitlyn Jackson, who plays Tsarina Alexandra.

“All of the blocking and everything, the show in itself, the spacing, choreography, is very symmetrical, which is a reflection of that art style of the time,” Jackson said.

Weagraff has been with the tour since it started. She said the cast had two weeks of rehearsals in New York City beginning Sept. 20, 2021, then flew to Evans, Georgia, where they had one preview show, then officially opened in Waterbury, Con-

FYP launches into spring semester with

By Madeleine Brousseau staff writer

Sophomore Liv Adams never expected to land the lead for Syracuse University’s First-Year Players’ (FYP) rendition of Grease last year. But Adams is forever grateful FYP took a chance on her because of the welcoming and supportive surroundings she became a part of.

“It was a very comfortable atmo -

sphere due to the FYP team going over lines with freshmen, giving tips with vocals, and other small things that meant the world to someone like me,” Adams said.

FYP is a student-run organization that provides an opportunity for freshmen and non-theater majors a chance to partake in a musical performed live on the Goldstein Stage every spring. This year, FYP’s production is “Pip -

pin’,” a coming-of-age musical following a young prince who finds his purpose.

“We aren’t necessarily looking for ‘triple-threats’, but rather people who are passionate about theater and are willing to give us their best with a positive attitude,” said Owen Towns, the show’s director.

Owens added that “Pippin” is a deep and layered story, especially for a musical, which will give actors

auditions

a lot of room to explore and grow their characters. This week, FYP is hosting its auditions in the Hall of Languages. Spots are available for the cast, pit and crew positions.

Towns stressed that since FYP is not a professional organization, FYP is meant to be welcoming to all levels and students should feel comfortable giving the best auditions they can.

Performing in ‘Anastasia’ holds a special place in the hearts of the cast, as they bring a nostalgia and emotion to Syracuse, that the audience feels throughout the show. courtesy of evan zimmerman for murphy made

Based on the animated movie of the same name, “Anastasia” has made its way to the Landmark Theatre, showcasing its high tech set design and Tonynominated costumes

‘Pippin’

It was a very comfortable atmosphere due to the FYP team… that meant the world to someone like me,”

TV-inspired courses for spring semester

By The Daily Orange Culture Staff

The Pale Blue Eye

Netflix’s recent release, “The Pale Blue Eye,” takes viewers through a gothic mystery where veteran detective, Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), investigates a flurry of gory murders. In this investigation, Landor meets Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling) who enlightens others through his poetry and writing.

HST 386: History of Crime and Society tackles a few themes from this film. It combines forensics, history, law and popular culture, said sophomore Sierra Kaplan.

“Throughout the class, I learned everything, from mafias and the rise of gangsters like Al Capone or Lucky Luciano to how nineteenth century crime developed sensationalized media,” Kaplan said.

Abbott Elementary

Abbot Elementary has broken out as one of the most popular and impactful television shows in recent memory. The sitcom takes place in a Philadelphia school and follows the lives of the teachers and staff as they balance their fiery passion for teaching with a school district that is much less interested.

The comedy unpacks serious social issues, like underfunded urban schools, and SOC 102: Social Problems addresses these topics. In this course, students learn about current social problems that take place within the United States and how they relate to individuals and the community, said sophomore Zach Wichman.

“The class was eye-opening, as everything we discussed had current ramifications on our society and how we as people function,” Wichman said.

Ginny & Georgia

Anyone who has been on TikTok lately has heard of what users on the platform have called this generation’s “Gilmore Girls” — motherdaughter duo “Ginny & Georgia.” The main issues of the show focus on family problems, but it also tackles intense topics such as racial

from

theater

necticut, on Oct. 19, 2021.

The cast is comprised of both beginners and veterans of theater. Jackson said they are a relatively young cast, as far as the ensemble is concerned, with lots of recent graduates. She said for many of the cast members, it is their first major opportunity and they’ve bonded over that shared experience.

Christian McQueen, another cast member, said that the cast is like a family and does everything together, both because they are stuck together on tour and because they all really enjoy each other’s company.

“‘Anastasia’ has been one of the greatest blessings of my life,” McQueen said.

The location at the Landmark Theatre holds a special significance for this cast. Weagraff said it has been a “thrill” performing in Syracuse, partly because her son got his musical theater degree from SU in 2014 and her husband spent his early childhood in Syracuse, and was even baptized at Hendricks Chapel.

Similarly, Jackson grew up in Norwich, New York, and came to see shows at Landmark Theatre throughout her childhood.

“Syracuse has always been a place that feels like home,” Jackson said. “It feels really full circle.”

For cast member Brooklyn Libao, “Anastasia” holds special significance because it was the first show she ever saw on Broadway after moving to New York. Now, she plays young Anastasia in eight shows a week.

Libao’s favorite song is “Stay, I Pray You,” because she said she gets to tell a different story every night with her performance. She said the sadness and emotion of the scene appeal to her, and she keeps a different emotion in mind each time she performs it.

from

auditions

“My advice for actors would be to pick material that best showcases who you are as a performer, and not to worry about what you think we want to see.” Towns said.

Students auditioning for the cast are required to perform a 60 to 90-second monologue along with an excerpt of a contemporary musical theater or pop rock song. Students auditioning for a pit position are asked to play a song with the same length that best showcases their abilities.

Those looking to become crew members — who

identity and belonging.

Whether or not the new season made you Team Georgia or Team Ginny, SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology can offer insight to anyone who wants to understand their flawed motivations. Sophomore Megan Kane said the course is accessible and foundational for students with no prior knowledge of the subject.

“To this day, this is one of my favorite classes I’ve taken at Syracuse,” Kane said. “It was so interesting and I had no background in sociology, so I enjoyed it.”

Though SOC 101 doesn’t have the same thriller twists and turns as the new hit show, the class does offer a chance for students to start learning about the sociological and societal processes that make people, like Ginny and Georgia, tick.

Glass Onion

With the recent release of Netflix’s “Glass Onion”

at the end of 2022, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is once again establishing his presence on screen. The film detective, who has now used his perception and clue-collecting skills to solve two murders, frequently monologues as he details how the murderer went about the crime and how they were caught.

Any students who want to build up their public speaking skills to rival those of Blanc’s may be interested in CRS 325: Presentational Speaking, taught this semester by Professor Lynn Greenky. For senior Kwadwo Osei-Poku, the skills learned in CRS 325 are widely applicable to a variety of fields and industries, and even to workplace success.

“That’s definitely an important class for a lot of majors no matter what field you’re working in, because you should know how to first speak with other people personally, then be able to present things and ideas,” Osei-Poku said.

culture@dailyorange.com

CONCERTS THIS WEEKEND

Have a rockin’ weekend at The Westcott Theater and attend Max Creek’s Syracuse stop with opener ROOTSCOLLIDER. Max Creek’s career, which has lasted more than 40 years, has spanned folk and country-rock genres with influences from bands like the Grateful Dead. Tickets are available on The Westcott Theatre’s website.

WHEN: Friday, January 20 at 8 p.m doors open at 7 p.m. PRICE: $33.25 online

Shinedown

Shinedown is coming to St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater this weekend as part of their Planet Zero World Tour. The six member rock band, founded in 2001, is best known for their hits, “Second Chance” and “Sound of Madness.”

WHEN: Friday, January 20 at 8-11 p.m doors open at 7 p.m. PRICE: $10 online

Anyone looking for dinner and a show can make their way to Funk ‘n Waffles, which is hosting Painted Birds and Dave Fields on Friday. Painted Birds’ diverse catalog incorporates genres like folk-rock, jazz fusion and psychedelia, and offers something for audience members with different tastes. Tickets are for sale on Funk ‘n Waffles’ website.

WHEN: Friday, January 20, at 5:30-7 p.m PRICE: $10 online

Diaz said that the scene she remembers most vividly from the show was the duet, “The Countess and the Common Man.” She said both actors’ performances and commitment left a powerful impression.

Although it was Diaz’s second time seeing the show, the storytelling of this production and the experience of watching it at the Landmark made

help build sets and monitor sound and lighting — partake in a 15-minute interview with the “Crew Moms”, the name FYP gives for crew leaders.

FYP members urged students to audition, even if they’re still on the fence. Auditions are open through the end of the week for those still interested in signing up. While Adams said the process can be daunting, especially for students who are new to theater, she said those nerves shouldn’t be an obstacle.

“For my audition, as soon as I stepped into the holding room, everyone (on the FYP team) was so kind and really helped calm my nerves,” Adams said.

mjbrouss@syr.edu

this night “magical.”

“The Landmark Theatre itself is just such a gorgeous space,” she said. “I think everyone should go experience live theatre at the Landmark while they are in Syracuse. You won’t regret it!”

kellymatlock@dailyorange.com @kellymatlock14

For a musical option right on campus, the latest event in the Setnor School of Music’s Ensemble Series is scheduled for Friday night. The performance will feature the school’s jazz and commercial music ensemble. A livestream will be available through the ensemble’s Instagram and Facebook pages. More information is available on the Syracuse University calendar.

WHEN: Friday, January 20, at 5:30-7 p.m PRICE: Free

THE Q-TIP BANDITS, Seeing Double

Catch the return of the local band, Seeing Double this weekend when they perform at Funk ‘n Waffles. The Oneonta-native group will take the stage alongside The Q-Tip Bandits, a funk-rock band out of Boston. Tickets are available on Funk ‘n Waffles website.

WHEN: Saturday, January 21 at 7 p.m. PRICE: $12 online

Max Creek

Painted Birds, Dave Fields

JCM Exposed | Setnor Ensemble Series

While performing, the cast of ‘Anastasia’ bonded over their acting journeys, forming a family of their own. courtesy of evan zimmerman for murphy made

The entirely student-run organization is running auditions this week for their upcoming rendition of Pippin. joe zhao contributing photographer

If you’re in need for classes this spring semester, check these out, with a new movie or show that resembles it. maxine brackbill asst. photo editior

Supporting local organizations helps improve neighborhoods

By Sarhia Rahim columnist

The near westside of Syracuse city is ranked the ninth poorest neighborhood in the United States. Many households have an income below the poverty line of around $34,000, and the area has vacant homes in need of rehabilitation.

Downtown Syracuse and the surrounding area of Syracuse University has seen a rise in both the construction of luxury apartments and renovation of vacant buildings.

A high percentage of abandoned buildings and homes within a neighborhood can cause high crime rates and lead to a decline in the value of surrounding properties. This is evident in westside Syracuse, with a high number of vacant homes contributing to a cycle of poverty for residents. In 2010, Syracuse’s government released a document breaking down plans to improve the westside, and according to the data collected by the city, 632 houses were vacant.

Political leaders in Syracuse should be focusing their attention on organizations like the Near Westside Initiative that are vital to begin transforming the neighborhood.

Founded in 2006, NWSI has been focused on tackling issues affecting the westside of Syracuse. Originally, the organization was founded by Syracuse University and the Gifford Foundation. At their core, the aim of NWSI’s projects is to tackle poverty throughout the westside of Syracuse.

Goals of revitalizing the neighborhood are met by combining art, technology and culture. Although the nonprofit has had to overcome a few hurdles following COVID-19, its list of accomplishments deserves more attention from the city and residents.

Along with large institutions within Syracuse supporting this organization, many community leaders and local businesses provide their support. Participation of westside residents also plays a major role in the success of the NWSI.

What makes such initiatives important and unique is that NWSI stays community run and is therefore able to tackle the key issues that affect local members and continues to prioritize residents.

Sarhia Rahim COLUMNIST

From community events to property development, NWSI provides many resources and programs for the westside of Syracuse. Major projects include the renovation of Skiddy park, a collaboration with locally owned grocery store Nojaim Bros to educate consumers on healthier food options, SaltQuarter’s residence program to support artists and the development of abandoned homes in the neighborhood.

While SU pulled back its support in 2017, the organization still has lots of resources, programs, projects and grants to continue expanding. The goal for NWSI is to both support its surrounding community and become self-su cient, with leadership from the westside community.

Jaleel Campbell is an artist in residence at the NWSI and resident of the westside area. Campbell sees grassroots organizations such as NWSI as vital resources to the community that they aim to help.

“The need for organizations like Near Westside Initiative, Peacemaking Center and the Reading League and so many other di erent spaces that occupy the near westside initiative are needed because they work directly with the communities that need help and boost,” Campbell said.

As the current artist in residence, Campbell coordinates events and workshops for youth in the neighborhood.

“Along with working on a new body of work, I have been doing a public art component,” Campbell explains. “I host di erent workshops, open studios and art in the park events to engage the community right here.”

Campbell sees these events and other resources provided by the NWSI as important stepping stones for the future generations of Syracuse residents. He hopes that more community members come to events that support NWSI.

“Donating your means, whether time or fiscally, is appreciated,” Campbell said.

This simple e ort to become more involved helps ensure that NWSI will continue to not only serve the community, but work towards becoming entirely community run as well.

NWSI provides resources that are necessary to uplift a neighborhood in need. What makes such initiatives important and unique is that NWSI stays community run and is therefore able to tackle the key issues that a ect local members and continues to prioritize residents. NWSI’s main goal is to keep the organization community based, which helps in preventing gentrification.

NWSI’s rental properties throughout the neighborhood, focus on rehabilitation of homes near the westside and projects that bring job opportunities to the Syracuse residents work to break the poverty cycle and encourage economic growth.

While SU has pulled some support away, they still continue to aid and foresee certain

parts of NWSI. Just as the university has a responsibility to o er aid to its surrounding city, students share the same burden throughout their time at SU.

Sarhia Rahim is a sophomore policy studies major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at slrahim@syr.edu.

Richard Perrins EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Rachel Raposas MANAGING EDITOR

Henry O’Brien DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR

Near Westside Initiative’s efforts to aid the westside of Syracuse, the ninth poorest neighborhood in the United States, should be further supported by SU. meghan hendricks photo editor

ing a 12-point lead in the first half after holding the Hurricanes to shoot just 27% from 3-point range. The Yellow Jackets fended off any comeback attempts, defeating Miami 76-70.

Aside from the victory over Miami though, Georgia Tech has only won one other matchup since Dec. 10, when it defeated Alabama State by 36 points. GT has lost four straight games, most recently dropping a home matchup against North Carolina State.

The Yellow Jackets have been strong in some aspects, specifically with 3-point defense. They allow 29.4% of their opponent’s shots from

yellow jackets

Florida State. They are on a six-game skid, dating back to Dec. 29, with their last win coming on Dec. 21 over Furman. It’s the worst start in conference play in head coach Nell Fortner’s four seasons at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have a couple Power Five wins, defeating Auburn and Michigan State early this season in addition to several wins over local opponents.

Per Her Hoop Stats, GT is in the bottom third in field-goal percentage (36.7%), 3-point shooting percentage (28.4%) and points per game (60.0). And in conference games, those numbers decrease to 34.9%, 27.2% and 56.4 points, respectively. Georgia Tech has better production

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snell

The club also takes part in Laps for Life, a one-hour track race that helps raise money for a charity to be decided by the club before an event. The goal is to select a new charity every year by doing research on local groups and talking about ideas within the club, and Snell hopes the race will become an annual occurrence.

Connor Brown,

beyond the arc, a mark that’s 25th-best in the country. But on the other end, Georgia Tech has the second-worst field goal percentage in the ACC. Miles Kelly leads the Yellow Jackets with 13.6 points per game.

SU found out against Miami that its depth could be a major factor in its success for the rest of the season. Mounir Hima and Symir Torrence made an immediate impact after checking in during the first half while Justin Taylor and Maliq Brown added to Girard and Edwards’ offensive production.

The Orange’s bench will be crucial against the Yellow Jackets, who also have a deep set of options with nine players averaging more than 10 minutes per game this year.

from the charity stripe and on the offensive glass, ranking in the top 40, per Her Hoop Stats.

How Syracuse beats Georgia Tech

Syracuse proved in its last outing on Sunday that it can hang with tougher ACC opponents. SU trailed by just five against then-No. 7 Notre Dame before the start of the fourth quarter. It almost defeated NC State on New Year’s Day and lost by nine to Louisville, who’s been a powerhouse in the league.

This should be one of the easier conference wins this season, and would provide momentum heading into Sunday’s game against No. 13 Duke. The Orange relied upon multiple scoring options as of late, seeing at least five players score in double figures. Syracuse likes to play fast and push up the tempo, while Georgia Tech, statistically, is a

and Snell’s good friend, could see the positive impact the community and club had on her.

“My favorite part has just definitely been seeing how much life it’s brought to her in terms of just getting to connect with other people with similar experiences,” Brown said.

The Orange don’t shoot that many 3-pointers, but Girard, Taylor and Chris Bell will need to be careful around the arc due to Georgia Tech’s success at guarding the deep shot. Still, Girard should have enough room to create on his own per usual, and the pick-and-roll game with Edwards is something that took Miami most of the game to finally stop.

Miami came back late against Syracuse because of its ability to get second-chance opportunities. The Yellow Jackets average 11.6 offensive rebounds per game, which is ranked third in the ACC. They could find the same success as the Hurricanes if Syracuse keeps relying on Edwards for rebounds.

Edwards is forced to come up at times in the

slower-paced team. Head coach Felisha LegetteJack emphasized Thursday of the importance of holding teams to 59 points or below. And against a team that averages just 56.4 points per conference game, Syracuse should win in Atlanta on Thursday.

Stat to know: -13.6

Taking into consideration its entire schedule and its nine nonconference wins, Georgia Tech is a better defensive team on paper. But against ACC opponents, where it’s 0-7, it concedes 70 points per game and only scores 56.4, creating a margin of -13.6. The Yellow Jackets don’t have a single player averaging double-digit points in ACC games.

Syracuse averages 73.9 points per game against conference opponents. As long as Dyaisha Fair continues her double-digit scoring

“It was pretty much all her from the start and even now, she does a tremendous amount of work for this club,” Brown said. “It’s like her baby.”

2-3 zone, meaning he has to fall back as quickly as possible whenever a shot’s attempted. To have an edge over Georgia Tech, the wings will need to help Edwards on the defensive glass. And whenever Edwards is guarding the shot-taker, Benny Williams or Bell need to replace Edwards’ spot under the basket.

Moore was Georgia Tech’s only sense of hope against NC State, finishing with a career-high 17 points and eight rebounds. He’s averaging 9.4 points per game this season, shooting 48.4% from the field. Edwards should do well against Moore with a four-inch advantage, but Moore should nevertheless prove to be an inside threat.

anish.sujeet@gmail.com

streak and SU capitalizes on second-chance and transition opportunities, the Orange should be in a decent position to win.

Player to watch: Cameron Swartz, guard, No. 1

Swartz, a fifth-year graduate student, is on her third school, with previous stints at Colorado and Boston College. Last season with the Eagles, she was all-ACC First Team and the conference’s Most Improved Player. In her first season with GT, she is averaging a team-high 11.8 points and is the team’s primary 3-point shooter. In BC’s win over Syracuse in the 2022 ACC Tournament, Swart led BC with 20 points.

colebambini@gmail.com @ColeBambini

with said.

the club’s vice president

Brown has asthma, another chronic illness, and said the club has given him a place to be with people that support him. Since creating the club, Snell has worked tirelessly to heighten the awareness surrounding chronic illnesses, Brown said.

With Snell set to graduate this spring, Hailey Beckwith, a current sophomore crosscountry runner at Le Moyne, will take over as president. Beckwith is shadowing Snell on the club’s procedures, including planning events and spreading word around campus.

“[Snell’s] story has definitely pushed me to learn more about chronic illness and spread more awareness about it,” Beck -

Snell’s message has already started to spread outside of Le Moyne’s campus. Snell recalled that last year at a championship meet, a parent came up to her and mentioned she’d read Snell’s story online. The woman said she also had Lupus.

“I was left almost in shock, it just felt surreal that people outside my circle knew who I was and were inspired by my story,” Snell said.

sogoldst@syr.edu

Beat writers agree Syracuse will win against Georgia Tech

By Daily Orange Sports Staff

Syracuse lost its seventh game of the season against No. 17 Miami on Monday night, blowing an 11-point second-half lead in the 82-78 loss. Judah Mintz, for one of the first times all season, struggled, finishing with more turnovers (five) than points (three).

Jesse Edwards had a career-high 25 points and his 11 rebounds gave him his ninth double-double of the season. The loss was the Orange’s third in Atlantic Coast Conference play this season, following the two-point loss against Pitt in late December and the seven-point one at Virginia on Jan. 7.

Next up for SU is Georgia Tech, which sits at 8-10 and has lost four consecutive games. The Yellow Jackets are second-to-last in the ACC at 1-7 in conference play, above only 0-7 Louisville. Last season, Syracuse and GT played an overtime thriller in the Dome, with the Orange coming out on top, 74-73, behind a combined 35 points from Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim.

Here’s what our beat writers predict will happen when Syracuse and Georgia Tech square off in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon:

Anish Vasudevan (16-3)

Yellow Jackets won’t sting Syracuse 72, Georgia Tech 66

The Yellow Jackets are hungry for a win, but their appetite will most likely last through the weekend. Georgia Tech defeated Miami, but that was only because of its 3-point defense, holding the Hurricanes to 27% from 3-point range in the first half. SU doesn’t need to rely on the 3-ball to

defeat lesser teams and this matchup has the makings of another career performance from Edwards.

The biggest challenge for Syracuse will be battling for rebounds on the defensive end. The Orange had Miami figured out until it started to attack Edwards head-on, forcing other players to help on the glass – and at times, the help never came. The Yellow Jackets average 11.6 offensive rebounds per game, so SU’s forwards will need to step up and fill in for Edwards down low when he’s taken out of his optimal spot right in front of the basket.

Mintz should rebound from a disastrous final few minutes against Miami where he had multiple untimely turnovers. Georgia Tech isn’t as good at turning the ball over with a defensive turnover percentage that’s ranked 294th nationally. Expect Mintz to make minimal mistakes and lead SU to its third road conference win of the year.

Connor Smith (17-2)

No buzzkill

Syracuse 70, Georgia Tech 67

Syracuse seems to keep getting lucky with playing ACC teams who are in the midst of a dry spell, first with Virginia Tech (who had lost four straight) and then with Notre Dame (losers of three of four). Now on Saturday, the Orange face Georgia Tech, which has lost four in a row.

The Yellow Jackets are a bad 3-point shooting team (32.2%, 251st nationally per KenPom) and aren’t a good rebounding team, either. That gives SU a clear path to victory — keep GT playing perimeter-oriented basketball and rely on Edwards to clean

up the glass inside.

Syracuse’s forwards will need to play better than they did on Monday, when Chris Bell struggled to hit shots and Maliq Brown didn’t make the impact he had in his previous three games. The Orange will also have to shoot better from beyond the arc (they went 6-of-20 against the Hurricanes) and get out to a good start, which this team has struggled to do. Saturday is a good opportunity to bounce back from Monday’s loss and continue the momentum that has propelled the Orange into the upper echelon of the ACC standings.

telling Crincoli, “I’m good coach, I’m good coach.”

Anthony Alandt (13-6)

Rising to the top

Syracuse 85, Georgia Tech 71

With a win and a few key losses over the next few days, Syracuse could find itself entertaining the top-third of the ACC standings. A win against Miami on the road would have been a terrific boost to a season that is heading in a surprisingly positive direction, but lack of experience — especially from Mintz — got in the way once again. Luckily for the Orange, Georgia Tech currently stands as one of the worst teams in the conference, with only a surprise win over Miami to its name.

The Yellow Jackets are a terrible 3-point shooting team and allow opponents to shoot 50% from inside the arc, playing right into Syracuse’s hands. They also aren’t the most experienced team, which will help the Orange, especially down the stretch in their secondstraight road game. SU still needs to get formidable performances from its bench — especially Brown — in order to put away Georgia Tech. It could be a get-right game for Edwards and make Benny Williams’ bad performance against Miami an aberration.

sports@dailyorange.com @DOSports

A coach proposed he could come to the U.S., persuading Hima’s education-first parents by emphasizing the importance of school. A U.S.-based scout who had seen Hima play contacted Crincoli to see if he’d be interested. Crincoli and Hima talked before the flight and the coach was excited to host him, he said.

At the airport, Crincoli asked another passenger on Hima’s plane if they had seen him. “Don’t worry about it,” the person told Crincoli, “you can’t miss him.” Crincoli couldn’t — and when he saw Hima, wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans, he went in for a big hug. Crincoli later showed Hima his new school: St. Mary’s of the Assumption High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Crincoli’s wife called Hima’s mom the night of his arrival to tell her that her son was in a place where everyone cared about him. Hima said he felt welcome.

Then, Virginia Roriston came into the picture. She had worked with Crincoli, helping two players from Nigeria, Casmir Ochiaka and Calistus Anyichie, come to the U.S. and live with her. Roriston planned on just having one player, but Anyichie begged her to house him, too. And then she met Hima.

“Intellectually, it made no sense to take him,” Roriston said. “And then when I saw him, and I don’t really know to this day… I can’t even explain it. I just did it.”

Roriston became Hima’s guardian in mid-May 2017. She quickly added him to her health insurance policy and has been there for everything Hima has gone through since.

“I still call her my mom, my second mom here,” Hima said. “She’s been here since day one, we’ve been through a lot. She’s very close to me.”

Hima joined a family that included six other siblings: Anyichie, Ochiaki and Roriston’s four children. Anyichie became a “big brother” to Hima, eventually going to Binghamton for basketball in 2018. Anyichie always made sure Hima ate, didn’t forget his jacket and was on time, Crincoli said.

Anyichie tragically drowned in July 2019. Hima still concludes every Instagram post with “#RipCali.”

“It was very tough,” Hima said. “It was tough for me to deal with it, for the family to deal with it. But sometimes, that’s part of life.”

In college, Hima chose to wear No. 55, with one numeral representing his five siblings in Niger and the other his five siblings in the U.S. It’s a tribute to what he left on that flight and what he has in the States.

Two months after Hima arrived, he tore his meniscus in an offseason workout. Playing basketball for the first time, Hima was still adapting to the floor and pace of the game, he said. He had surgery June 22 and began rehab. Still, Hima kept smiling,

Without basketball, Hima adjusted more to life in the U.S. He spent that summer learning English at the New York Language School in Manhattan. He took the train from the Short Hills station near Roriston’s house into the city — something she was nervous about. Roriston took Hima on a dry run, taking photographs of signs and adding arrows to create a pictogram so he could find his way.

The school helped significantly, Hima said, but he had to keep learning. He already spoke Zarma and Hausa — dialects native to Niger — in addition to French, but English was still tough. Mark Taylor, Hima’s coach at St. Benedict’s High School in New Jersey, said they could communicate in English upon first meeting in 2018, but Hima improved “drastically” over his first year at the school. Hima was fluent by his senior year, Taylor said.

“It’s just a grind, an ambition to learn faster, an ambition to want to go to school to do great and an ambition to understand what people say around me that helped me pick it up faster,” Hima said.

Hima returned in the fall of 2017 with St. Mary’s junior varsity team. He played sparingly, still learning basic elements like running the floor and jumping, Crincoli said. Hima thought he was a shooter, and once got kicked out of practice by Crincoli for taking a stepback corner 3.

In April 2018, Hima tore his ACL while playing with the NJ Roadrunners AAU team, having surgery in June. Roriston realized Hima couldn’t short circuit the rehab, meaning he wouldn’t play basketball for a year.

After the school year ended, Hima transferred from St. Mary’s to St. Benedict’s — a prominent program that has sent over 100 players to Division I schools. Hima wanted greater visibility. Crincoli was disappointed, but supported Hima’s decision.

Hima first visited St. Benedict’s in the summer of 2018. The coaches there knew he wouldn’t play for at least a year, instead focusing on school and rehab. They didn’t mind. Taylor said they accepted Hima less because of his basketball ability and potential — neither of which they had seen — and more because of his outgoing personality.

St. Benedict’s assistant Arthur Pierson knew Hima wasn’t going to play for a while, but his attitude stood out when they first met. Pierson told Taylor they needed to get Hima, even if he was injured.

“This man is pretty special,” Pierson thought to himself.

Pierson noticed that Hima was a special athlete during the recovery, since he “perfected” all his rehab. He returned late in his junior season, playing a few possessions to get a feel for the game, but Hima initially struggled to overcome the mental fear of another knee injury, Taylor said.

Hima was a raw player, but had natural talent, Pierson said. The potential and confidence were there. Toby Okani, a high school and Duquesne teammate, said he had never seen a forward or

center bring the ball up himself until he saw Hima do it in a practice.

“You knew he might be the next big thing,” Okani said. “And it’s ridiculous how much he has to grow, and that he’s not anywhere near his peak.” St. Benedict’s focused on acclimating Hima to the game, working on his defense, rebounding and timing on blocks. Small group drills that focused on post moves, jump hooks and short jumpers, along with 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 drills, helped Hima improve.

Hima also had to work on his frame to compete inside. Given his height, Roriston told Hima he should eat 6-8,000 calories a day to gain weight. Roriston’s boys ate in threehour intervals from 7 a.m to 7 p.m., and Hima needed a minimum of 1,000 calories per meal. Roriston showed Hima how to make protein shakes with MCT oil and peanut butter to sneak in extra calories. She cooked 30-40 pounds of chicken a week for them, too.

It was hard for Hima to eat that much, but he worked at it. Okani said it was “crazy” seeing how much Hima ate in high school after his ACL injury. Hima ate before and after practice while he hit the weight room frequently, adding 50 pounds since coming to the U.S.

Hima became a key contributor for St. Benedict’s, which finished as the top team in New Jersey his senior year. He led the team with 16 blocks and was second in rebounds. Hima impressed Pierson with his shot blocking, rim running and finishing abilities despite missing two years with injuries.

“You could tell he was going to be a player,” Taylor said.

Hima showed enough his senior year to garner D-I attention, collecting offers from several Atlantic 10 schools and committing to Duquesne.

There was a slight hiccup his first year — since Hima arrived in the U.S. in spring 2017 and hadn’t finished his freshman year of high school, there was a void in his transcript. He didn’t have four years of high school to show the NCAA and had to redshirt. But Hima responded with a 4.0 GPA.

The next season, Hima still didn’t get many opportunities. He averaged less than 10 minutes and two points per game and didn’t start until late February 2022. There was a three-block performance against George Washington, nine points at St. Bonaventure and 10 rebounds versus Davidson, but not consistent minutes.

“I don’t think the coach gave him enough opportunities, and didn’t utilize what Mounir’s strengths were,” Taylor said. Hima and Okani said they began falling out of love with basketball at Duquesne last year because of the lack of opportunities. Hima was going to stay, Roriston said, but head coach Keith Dambrot told him he would receive similar playing time the next season. A Duquesne spokesman declined to comment, calling Mounir a “wonderful person” who was respected by teammates for his

attitude and work ethic. Hima entered the transfer portal on April 26.

Taylor had a close relationship with Syracuse assistant Gerry McNamara and saw a match between Hima’s frame and SU’s 2-3 zone. Frank Anselem had entered the transfer portal, and Bourama Sidibe had graduated, which meant McNamara was looking for a big.

“Listen,” Taylor told him. “I got the guy.”

McNamara was the first Power Five coach to call Hima. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim called right after, telling Hima that SU needed him. Hima got calls from 25 other schools, but Syracuse was the only one he visited. Allen Griffin said the Orange were attracted to Hima because of his size, wingspan and physicality. The coaches told Hima he would get 5-15 minutes a game as Jesse Edwards’ backup.

The day after visiting Syracuse in May, Roriston and Hima had visits planned for Brown and Bryant, but Hima told Roriston he wouldn’t commit to Brown even if he liked it.

So instead of driving to Rhode Island, they went to Roriston’s son Chip’s apartment in Boston, where Hima hopped on a Zoom with Boeheim, Juli Boeheim, McNamara, Adrian Autry and Taylor and Roriston’ son Robert. His commitment was official.

Coaches have been helping improve Hima’s finishing around the basket, along with positioning and defensive rotations. Griffin wants Hima to just concentrate on cleaning the glass and protecting the rim. The scoring will come, Griffin said. Boeheim doesn’t yell at Hima much, Roriston said, a good thing since the center responds better to teaching.

“(Boeheim’s) building confidence in this young man. I can see it,” Roriston said. “I could see him shriveling away at Duquesne because the coach didn’t have confidence in him. And I see him standing tall and excelling because Boeheim’s letting him work through stuff.”

The first game where Roriston saw what Hima could be — what the coaches who recruited him over the years hoped he could do — was against St. John’s in November. Hima had seven blocks and eight rebounds in 19 minutes. “Holy crap,” Roriston thought to herself. “This is what I’ve been waiting for.”

After overcoming all of it, Hima has one more challenge in front of him: conquering basketball. When Hima does, people will wonder how he did it, Roriston said.

But she knows.

“I truly believe, and have — even when he was at his lowest — that he was going to be great,” Roriston said.

Justin Taylor and Syracuse travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech Saturday. Our beat writers unanimously think the Orange will defeat the Yellow Jackets. meghan hendricks photo editor

SU ice hockey remains winless against ranked opponents

By Justin Girshon staff writer

With just under three minutes remaining in the third period, knotted at one apiece with then-No. 13 Vermont, Syracuse returned to full strength despite squandering its third power play of the night. Then, everything went wrong for the Orange in the game’s closing minutes.

Twenty-six seconds after Kambel Beacom was released from the penalty box, Corrine McCool gave Vermont a 2-1 lead with just 1:52 left in the period. With the score and time on the Catamounts’ side, SU pulled Arielle DeSmet from the net in favor of an extra skater to help score an equalizing goal. Still, Syracuse couldn’t get anything going on offense, which led to Vermont scoring an empty net goal to win 3-1.

This season, Syracuse’s conference win percentage (.000 vs .667), goals per game (1.27 vs 2.67) and goals conceded per game (3.33 vs 4.36) are all significantly lower in its six games against ranked opponents. After some tough losses, Syracuse will look to take what it’s learned into its final conference slate.

Despite the loss, head coach Britni Smith felt her team had just played its best game of the season.

“In the locker room, I told them, ‘I think that’s the best 60 minutes we’ve played this season so far, and if we play like that, there’s not a team that can come in here and that we can’t compete with,’” Smith said. “So we’re very proud of our efforts tonight.”

With Penn State falling out of the top 15 teams in the country, Syracuse isn’t set to face another ranked opponent for the rest of the regular season. Ten of its last 11 games will be against teams in its conference.

“Out of conference games are usually really tough, so I think coming in with more

confidence and believing in ourselves a little more, knowing that we can keep up with (our opponents) and (look to) get the momentum going,” Lauren Bellefontaine said following Syracuse’s loss to No. 10 Cornell.

As bad as Syracuse has been against ranked teams, it’s played well in its limited CHA action, going 4-2.

In SU’s first two CHA games against RIT, it outscored the Tigers 5-1 and won both of its games in wire-to-wire offense.

Bellefontaine got the Orange started early after winning a faceoff against Hana Solinger in the first period of the series, dishing the puck to Terryn Mozes. Mozes had an opening and took the shot, but it was blocked. However, reading the play all the way, Bellefontaine followed up for the rebound to give SU an early lead, and it didn’t look back for the rest of the weekend.

The following series, SU swept Lindenwood, outscoring it 8-4. Madison Primeau notched a hat trick in the first game of the series, helping the Orange cruise to an easy win, but the second game proved to be much tougher.

Heading into the final 20 minutes, Syracuse held a 3-2 lead before Sarah Davies tied the game up 4:25 into the third period. For the majority of the third, with the score still tied, it looked as if the game was heading to overtime. However, with under 10 seconds left in the period, Tatum White controlled the puck with open ice ahead of her.

With no defenders covering the middle, White skated to her left towards the opening. Keeping the puck on her left side, White fired to the bottom left corner of the goal and scored the game-winner for SU with 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation.

The wins against RIT and Lindenwood have proved to be the peak of Syracuse’s season, helping the Orange start conference play undefeated and giving SU its longest winning streak to date.

However, following its four-straight wins, Syracuse got swept by then-No. 15 Princeton the following weekend and lost its first two conference games of the season against thenNo. 12 Penn State a month later.

After Kaira Zannon gave the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead late in the first period of the two-game set, Penn State cruised the rest of the way. Over the weekend series, Penn State outshot Syracuse 79-36 en route to outscoring Syracuse 15-3.

With eight points across its six conference games, Syracuse currently sits third in the

CHA standings. With four games against Mercyhurst and two against the Nittany Lions remaining, Syracuse has an opportunity to prove itself as a top-two team in the conference, but it will need to learn from its losses to top-ranked teams in order to do so.

“I think we’ve improved every single game. I don’t think we’re backtracking at all,” Bellefontaine said. “So I think that’s a huge positive and if we keep that up throughout the rest of the season, we’re going to be successful.”

justingirshon@gmail.com

about Georgia Tech

By Anish Vasudevan senior staff writer

The second-half runs which Syracuse launched against Louisville and Notre Dame re-emerged during its most recent matchup versus Miami. The Orange still lost to the Hurricanes, but they built an 11-point lead with crucial minutes from the bench and a careerhigh night from Jesse Edwards.

Now, SU faces Georgia Tech, who defeated Miami on Jan. 4. But the win over the Hurricanes has been one of the only highlights for a Yellow Jacket team that has lost seven of its last nine contests.

Here’s what else to know about Georgia Tech (8-10, 1-7 Atlantic Coast) before the matchup on Saturday: 6-6.

Syracuse’s 74-73 win over Georgia Tech was its third game to go past regulation last season. The Orange held a one-point lead over the Yellow Jackets with 22 seconds left in overtime when

Joe Girard III was double-teamed and forced to pass to Buddy Boeheim.

Georgia Tech’s Khalid Moore met Buddy and tried to secure the possession, and a review deemed that the ball touched Buddy last. Still, the Orange came out on top after Michael Devoe missed twice before attempting a final desperation heave from deep which clanked off the rim.

“You’re trying to do everything you can to get that final stop,” Jimmy Boeheim said. “It felt like it lasted for like an hour, but we got it.”

Jimmy scored 15 points in the first half while Cole Swider finished with 18 points on the night. The win was the Orange’s final of the regular season as they went on to lose four straight games, including an overtime loss to North Carolina.

Syracuse has a 54% chance of winning, with a projected score of 71-70.

Georgia Tech withstood a test against Miami a few weeks ago, build-

By Cole Bambini sports editor

Syracuse trailed just 50-45 entering the third quarter against then-No. 7 Notre Dame. It was 10 minutes away from pulling off an upset and massive resume-builder as it sat on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.

But the Orange struggled mightily in the fourth quarter, ultimately falling 72-56, but they showed signs that they can compete with top programs. Before a Sunday showdown at No. 13 Duke, Syracuse has a pitstop in Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, the worst team in the Atlantic Coast Conference that is winless in its last six games.

Here’s everything to know about Georgia Tech (9-9, 0-7 ACC):

All time series

Georgia Tech leads, 5-3.

Last time they played Despite forcing 26 turnovers against the Yel-

low Jackets and only conceding 14, Syracuse struggled offensively in a 65-55 loss to then-No. 18 Georgia Tech almost a year ago. Both teams were abysmal from beyond the arc, shooting below 20%, but Syracuse struggled more, shooting just 33% from the field overall compared to GT’s 46%.

Syracuse trailed by 11 at halftime with a ninepoint second quarter making a clear difference. The Orange trailed by as much as 16 midway through the second quarter, but shortened the deficit a bit in the third. On the glass, the Yellow Jackets dominated, securing 48 of the game’s 75 total rebounds.

Teisha Hyman led all SU scorers with 18 points while Chrislyn Carr and Alaysia Styles both added 12, but Georgia Tech’s Nerea Hermosa led all scorers with 21. GT had 32 points in the paint and 11 second-chance points.

The Yellow Jackets report

The Yellow Jackets enter Thursday’s contest as the worst team in the ACC, winless in seven conference games, including a 41-point loss to

SYRACUSE has struggled against ranked opponents, but will not face a ranked team for the rest of the season. trent kaplan contributing photographer

JOE GIRARD scored 12 points in his last outing against Georgia Tech, which enters Saturday on a four-game losing streak. trent kaplan contributing photographer

see georgia tech page 9

DYAISHA FAIR averages 19.6 PPG entering Thursday against Georgia Tech, which hasn’t won a conference game this season. nick luttrell contributing photographer

‘DESTINY’

By Connor Smith senior staffwriter

Mounir Hima stepped into the unknown when he boarded a plane in home country of Niger on April 11, 2017. Ultimately bound for New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, it was Hima’s first time both leaving Niger and getting on a plane. He was 15 years old, alone and nervous.

Hima was sold on the idea he could be a star basketball player and attend a prestigious high school in the United States. He didn’t bring much — just a slender 6-foot-8, 170-pound frame, minimal basketball experience and a couple of bags. Hima didn’t even have a house parent to stay with. A basketball coach named Danny Crincoli was waiting at the airport to pick him up, and Hima lived with him for the first two weeks.

“It was hard for me, being in an environment where you don’t know what people are talking about, and you don’t know what’s happening,” Hima said. “I didn’t even know what a house parent was. Now I see the bigger picture, I understand what was happening.”

Now, Hima can look back on the incredible five-year stretch that led him to Syracuse, where he’s playing basketball as an untapped 6-foot-11, 230pound backup center with a 7-foot-8 wingspan. Everything that’s happened since that flight — learning how to play basketball, two severe knee injuries, his brother’s death, learning English and changing high schools and colleges — is all part of his journey. But to Hima, that flight was supposed to

CROSS COUNTRY

happen — maybe not everything since, though, especially playing college basketball.

“I think me coming to the states is destiny,” Hima said. “(But) I never thought I’d play basketball in my life.”

Hima found basketball when he went to a camp in Niger. A coach proposed he could come to the U.S., persuading Hima’s education-first parents by emphasizing the importance of school. A U.S.-based scout who had seen Hima play contacted Crincoli to see if he’d be interested. Crincoli and Hima talked before the flight and the coach was excited to host him, he said.

At the airport, Crincoli asked another passenger on Hima’s plane if they had seen him. “Don’t worry about it,” the person told Crincoli, “you can’t miss him.” Crincoli couldn’t — and when he saw Hima, wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans, he went in for a big hug. Crincoli later showed Hima his new school: St. Mary’s of the Assumption High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Crincoli’s wife called Hima’s mom the night of his arrival to tell her that her son was in a place where everyone cared about him. Hima said he felt welcome.

Then, Virginia Roriston came into the picture. She had worked with Crincoli, helping two players from Nigeria, Casmir Ochiaka and Calistus Anyichie, come to the U.S. and live with her. Roriston planned on just having one player, but Anyichie begged her to house him, too. And then she met Hima.

“Intellectually, it made no sense to take him,” Roriston said. “And then

Olivia Snell brings light to her chronic illness as an athlete

By Sophie Goldstein contributing writer

In 2020, Olivia Snell made a TikTok about a day in her life as a college athlete dealing with a chronic illness — Lupus disease.

In the TikTok, Snell shows her heart medications, which she takes every four hours. She changes her heart monitoring pads. She has breakfast — eggs and high-protein waffles — but the meal often makes her sick. She has to log heart symptoms to bring to cardiologists, who complete ultrasounds on her. She works on the treadmill, even though her doctors don’t allow her to run.

The post has over 59,000 likes on TikTok. Viewers reached out to Snell, she said, telling her the video made them feel less alone with Lupus.

During her four years as a cross-country runner for Le Moyne College, Snell raised awareness for people with chronic illnesses. Snell said she uses running to take something back from the disease that will eventually take everything away from her. In her sophomore year, Snell founded the Chronic Illness Awareness Club, providing a bigger support system to people with conditions like hers.

“Hearing that I’m helping people, and I’ve

reached people and touched them and helped them get through things, that’s what keeps me going,” Snell said.

Back in her freshman year of high school, Snell knew she was different. She had started experiencing symptoms of Lupus disease, but it took her multiple doctors to finally get a diagnosis along with several “sister” diseases.

Despite the illness, Snell was still determined to run. She continued to compete in cross-country meets for Greenwich Junior-Senior High School, eventually getting recruited to run for Le Moyne.

“I am not supposed to be a college athlete right now,” Snell said. “Athletics were supposed

to be taken from me back in high school.”

Most days are not smooth sailing for Snell. She’ll often throw up after a workout or a race, sometimes nearly passing out.

But Snell has found ways to share about her illnesses, helping others with similar conditions and giving them a place where they feel recognized and supported. A couple times a semester, the club hosts mindfulness meetings, doing activities like goat yoga, pet therapy and meditation.

At meetings, Snell tries to find her “Why?”, or in her case, why she runs. Every time she runs, she’s “taking something back from Lupus,” Snell said.

MOUNIR HIMA transferred from Duquesne to Syracuse in May. But in his journey to college basketball, he dealt with injury, death and leaving his home country. jacob halsema staff photographer

Mounir Hima came to the U.S. from Niger in 2017. Since, he’s battled two serious injuries, his brother’s death and changed schools three times.