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february 21, 2011
t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa pe r of s y r acuse , n e w yor k
INSIDenews
I N S I D e o p ini o n
INSIDepulp
I N S I D Es p o r t s
Refocusing The R.A.P.E. Center is
Truly inclusive The Daily Orange Editorial Board urges
Classic experiment SU drama department’s interpretation of
Overtime in the Dome No. 17 Syracuse escapes a tough
looking for student input in the discussion to change its name. Page 3
the chancellor to listen to faculty, students and alumni concerned with the rising acceptance rate. Page 5
“Lysistrata” modernizes the Greek tale with an innovative angle. Page 9
Rutgers team to capture an 84-80 victory in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. Page 16
Proposal leads to debate about rental housing
univ ersit y union
DJ Diplo to perform at Hillel concert
By Jon Harris Asst. News Editor
More than 60 people gathered at Syracuse City Hall on Thursday to discuss a proposal that would reduce the area east of Syracuse University where an ordinance that places strict limits on rental housing exists. The ordinance, adopted in June, requires property owners to have one off-street parking place for each potential bedroom before owneroccupied homes can be converted into rental homes. The ordinance exists in the Special Neighborhood District, which currently stretches from parts of Comstock Avenue to Westmoreland Avenue. Councilor-at-Large Jean Kessner has proposed shrinking the size of the district. The Syracuse Common Council’s Neighborhood Preservation Committee, of which Kessner is chair, held the public meeting that lasted from 5:30 p.m. to nearly 7 p.m. City officials implemented the Special Neighborhood District in 1991. The bedroom and parking ordinance is currently being challenged and is before the state Supreme Court. Kessner said she believes the enforcement of the ordinance is on hold while it is in court. Kessner’s proposal would shrink the Special Neighborhood District by half of its current area but would not address the legal challenge being addressed in court. Twenty-six people at the meeting each gave an address — although almost all of them went over the allotted time of two minutes — in front of the four members of the Neighborhood Preservation Committee, two other Syracuse common councilors and Common Council President Van Robinson. Several people said they appreciate the balance between renters and home-owners in the neighborhood but don’t understand the rationale behind Kessner’s proposal to reduce the district. “This hearing is premature,” said Michael Stanton, president of the Southeast University Neighborhood see neighborhood page 6
By Amrita Mainthia Asst. Feature Editor
brandon weight | asst. photo editor Pat driscoll , future leader of the Syracuse Say Yes to Education program, visits students at Dr. King Elementary School on Thursday. Driscoll spent nine years as the city’s parks commissioner.
DJ and musical artist Diplo will perform March 26 as part of Hillel at Syracuse University’s 60th anniversary celebration. “We went with a DJ because it’s a really big market right now,” said Jonathan Groffman, co-director of University Union’s Bandersnatch concert series. “And this guy is everywhere.” Diplo, a Philadelphia-based American DJ and part of the two-man group Major Lazer, was picked because of the increasing popularity in DJs and dance music, Groffman said. Diplo has worked and collaborated closely with artists such as M.I.A., Sleigh
In transition Cantor, UU
see DJ diplo page 6
Lifelong Syracuse resident prepares to lead Say Yes program By Stephanie Bouvia
A
Staff Writer
fter working for nine years as the Syracuse parks commissioner, selfproclaimed “lifelong Syracusean” Pat Driscoll is stepping into new territory. Driscoll, born and raised in Syracuse, will become the local leader of the Syracuse Say Yes to Education program on March 15. Since stepping down from his former position Jan. 22, he has begun working toward his new role. He attended meetings with Say Yes employees and spoke to students Thursday at
Dr. King Elementary School about staying involved in Say Yes. The Say Yes program is a national nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the academic performance of students in urban areas. Syracuse has adopted the program and reached out to all public schools in the city. “I have three kids in Syracuse city public schools. I know the Say Yes program has made an impact on the kids and their families in our school district, and I know they’re very committed to the city of Syracuse,” Driscoll said. Driscoll has several ideas for the
future of the Syracuse program, including reaching out to volunteers and retired teachers who would each help three to four kids read or do homework, he said. Driscoll likes to think of the Syracuse Say Yes program as a puzzle, he said. “There are lots of different moving parts, and my job is to be able to make sure that the moving parts are moving in the right direction,” he said. Many colleges and universities are a part of the Say Yes program, including State University of New see say yes page 6
What is Say Yes?
Say Yes to Education, Inc. is a national, nonprofit education foundation committed to dramatically increasing high school and college graduation rates for the nation’s urban youth. The Say Yes program promises free college tuition to one of nearly 100 colleges and universities for those who meet the residency, graduation and admission requirements. The Syracuse chapter is the first Say Yes chapter to embrace an entire school district, and it is the largest school improvement program of its kind. Source: sayyessyracuse.org
contribute to concert fund By Amrita Mainthia Asst. Feature Editor
For more than a year, Hillel at Syracuse University knew it wanted to celebrate its 60th anniversary in the biggest way it could. To do that, the group hoped to bring a big-name artist with widespread campus appeal — but making that happen was not easy. After Student Association denied Hillel’s request for funding three times, the group needed to find a different source for the money. Their main source: Chancellor Nancy Cantor. Cantor gave the group $35,000 in funding, said Hillel President Michael Weiss. Hillel also received $15,000 from Bandersnatch, a subdivision of
see concert page 4