Jan. 14, 2015

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wednesday

jan. 14, 2015 high 27°, low 10°

t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |

N • Checking in

P • Seeking justice

The Department of Public Safety is undergoing a voluntary accreditation process in which an outside organization will evaluate its policies and procedures.

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Liddy adds innovation to position

dailyorange.com

During Winter Break, professor David Crane provided legal counsel to a commission investigating alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

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S • Woken up

Wake Forest pushed Syracuse to the brink, but the Orange overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to capture the overtime win on Tuesday.

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Marshall Street fixture Gertis dies at 67

By Lydia Wilson asst. news editor

Elizabeth Liddy has never applied for a job.

She founded the software company Textwise in 1994 and served as CEO for five years. She was then named Founding Director of Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies’ Center for Natural Language Processing before being elizabeth liddy named dean of the School of Information Studies in 2008.

Liddy embraces a spirit of entrepreneurship and creates her own opportunities. This was recognized as Liddy was appointed as interim vice chancellor and provost for Syracuse University on Jan. 1, after Eric Spina announced that he was stepping down in December. Liddy said she was surprised and honored to be chosen for the position, and though she loved being dean of the iSchool, she was happy to support the university.

“I love learning new things and trying new things, that part of it was exciting,” Liddy said. “Since then it’s just been heads down learning all kinds of things I didn’t know about.”

Liddy’s work at the iSchool was fueled by the same passion for entrepreneurship that has marked her career, her colleagues said.

“Liz is a dynamo, a very innovative and forward looking person. She strongly promotes experimentation and risk taking,” Jeffrey Stanton, who has been named interim dean of the iSchool, said in an email.

Liddy was very active in promoting inventive thinking among iSchool students, Stanton said.

She was the driving force behind see liddy page 6

gertis mcdowell, a Marshall Street icon, died last week of natural causes. McDowell was often seen interacting with members of the SU community and would often say, “Hey pretty lady” to those passing by.

courtesy of will halsey

By Justin Mattingly asst. news editor

Marshall Street patrons will no longer hear the familiar phrase, “Hey pretty lady,” as they walk past Starbucks.

Gertis McDowell, who was often seen on Marshall Street interacting with students and community members, died Jan. 7, Syracuse police confirmed Tuesday. McDowell, 67, died of natural causes at his residence at 833 East Brighton Ave, police said. Members of the Syracuse University community reacted to the news on social media and said McDowell was a staple on Marshall Street and will be missed.

“I’ll remember that voice. The ‘Hey pretty lady’ and then he’d have that same little speech, like a sales pitch, it was kind of funny,” said Karen McGee, assistant dean for student affairs at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. “I always saw people talking to him, whether it be doctors, people from Upstate (University Hospital), he had a lot of people who kept an eye on him even though he might not have known that.”

McGee said that although some people didn’t like McDowell’s signature phrase, those that knew him “knew it was just him.”

McGee said she doesn’t remember the first time she talked to him, but said that his humor was what stood out about him.

“When you talk to somebody they become a person to you and I always thought he was funny,” McGee said. “I don’t think he meant or tried to be funny, but he was and said really funny things and he reminded you that no matter what you are when you’re looking at

He was something that was very constant and consistent on this campus. Everyone could walk by him and he would be there.

Kristina Bugg junior international relations major

somebody, everybody has a story behind them.”

McDowell would often sit outside the Marshall Street Starbucks, making friends, asking for money and interacting with those passing by.

“He was something that was very con-

stant and consistent on this campus. Everyone could walk by him and he would be there,” said Kristina Bugg, a junior international relations major.

McDowell was restricted to a wheelchair because of an incident in which he fell five stories to the ground from a YMCA fire escape.

He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama.

Imani Johnson, a senior political science and African American studies dual major, said that McDowell’s story is what fostered her relationship with him.

“I took this class and I found out that he had a really interesting story to his life and I just kind of felt bad so every time I saw him, if I had the money, I would try to help him out,” Johnson said. “He was a pretty cool guy.”

Bugg said that when hearing the news of McDowell’s death, she was sad because he was a figure SU, “that everyone had at least one experience with during their time here.”

She added that she’s disappointed that future students won’t get to know McDowell.

“You would crack a smile every day just by going by him so it’s weird to think that for us it’s a part of our collegiate experience at Syracuse, but future students aren’t going to see gertis page 6

2 january 14, 2015

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t o day ’ s w e at h e r

WORK wednesday | michelle sagan

Sophomore sells hats for charitable cause

By Michaela Quigley contributing writer

As the weather dips below freezing, hats become an essential part of protecting yourself from the elements.

But one junior is working to protect people’s heads in a charitable style.

Michelle Sagan, a junior public relations and political science dual major, works as the Syracuse University campus ambassador for Love Your Melon, a nonprofit organization that donates hats to children with cancer. For every Love Your Melon beanie or baseball cap sold, a hat is donated to a child battling cancer.

Sagan helps run a student group called the Syracuse University Love Your Melon Campus Crew. She and her crew are striving to sell 100 hats.

For their efforts, Love Your Melon will send them 100 hats to donate to children with cancer in the Syracuse area.

Sagan said she wants to go to the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital with Otto the Orange to donate the hats.

“Some people don’t understand what’s outside of the university bubble, so going there will be cool to have other

people at the university experience what I did this summer,” Sagan said.

She hopes to organize a promotional event in February, which she believes will be a success because of the cold weather.

Over the summer, Sagan worked as the public relations intern and traveled across the west coast with students from different colleges. They dressed up as superheroes and surprised children in hospitals with hats.

The hardest part for Sagan was seeing the families of the cancer patients.

“The parents are dedicating their lives to their child. They are losing other time in their lives and taking time away from their other children and focusing all on one child,” Sagan said.

The children’s positivity was incredible, however. While playing games with a family, someone hit the boy fighting cancer in the face with a ball. Quickly, the little boy responded, “Hey, you can’t hit me. I have cancer.”

Said Sagan: “Everyone started cracking up. He’s going through such a difficult time but he still finds the good in things.” maquigle@syr.edu

a.m.

noon hi 27° lo 10°

p.m.

INSIDE N • Yes he can

Can Isik will take over as speaker of the University Senate at the organization’s first meeting on Wednesday.

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S • Up for grabs

Three midfielders are still in the hunt to take faceoffs for Syracuse men’s lacrosse, and they’re all adjusting to sport’s new faceoff rules.

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MICHELLE SAGAN holds a Love Your Melon hat. For every hat sold, Love Your Melon donates a hat to a child with cancer. She is planning a promotional event for February. erin carter staff photographer

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N

On the money The University Senate will discuss SU’s budget on Wednesday afternoon at the organization’s first meeting of 2015.

See Thursday’s paper

news

Seeking counsel

@DanKlamm Marshall Street lost a legend. RIP Gertis McDowell (Big Papa). You brought smiles to many faces over the years.

The SU College of Law is now offering free legal counsel to veterans as part of a new clinic.

See Thursday’s paper

dailyorange.com @dailyorange january 14, 2015 • pag e 3

DPS to undergo assessment

By Jake Cappuccino asst. copy editor

Chancellor Kent syverud talks to bidders at the Syracuse University Sport Management Club’s 10th annual charity sports auction, held Dec. 6. The auction made more than $40,000 for Make-A-Wish Central New York. courtesy of the department of sport management

Club holds most successful auction to date

By Conor Ried contributing writer

For the past 10 years, the Syracuse University Sport Management Club has held a charity sports auction.

And each year, the bar is set even higher in terms of money raised.

On Dec. 6, 2014, the Sport Management Club held its 10th annual

auction with this year’s auction benefiting Make-A-Wish Central New York. As fans watched the SU men’s basketball team face that of St. John’s University, they were able to go to the backcourt of the Carrier Dome to bid on items.

The goal for this year’s auction was $40,000 and club adviser Kate Veley said the club far exceeded

that goal. The final results will be presented at the SU game on Jan. 24 against the University of Miami because the crowd members of the games are the same ones who donated and helped the auction succeed, she said.

The more than $40,000 raised by the club is the most in the 10-year history of the auction, Veley said.

Last year’s auction raised about $30,000.

Jeremy Losak, a junior sport management major who was a chair of the Donations Committee for the auction, said the club has now raised more than $250,000 over the course of the 10 years.

More than 550 items were up for

see auction page 6

university senate

Committee chair to start first semester in role

By Annie Palmer

to research responsibilities.

staff writer

To Can Isik, a professor’s responsibilities can be summed up in three portions: 60 percent is teaching, 30 percent is research and 10 percent is service.

Isik, associate dean of Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, spends his 10 percent serving the University Senate as moderator and chair of the Agenda Committee. Isik replaced Doug Armstrong, a professor of anthropology, in both positions after Armstrong resigned due

what is usen?

The University Senate is the academic governing body of the university and is made up of faculty, students, staff and administration members.

The majority of the work is done in 17 standing committees, which report to the full senate at least once a year.

Even though service is usually a

small part of a professor’s job, being chair and moderator can be overwhelming, Tej Bhatia, a member of the Agenda Committee, said.

“There are just so many issues,” Bhatia said. “I would have never been involved in them except on such committees.”

From complex reports analyzing Syracuse University’s budget to lengthy debates on academic freedom, Isik must remain an unbiased figure during all sessions. He is charged with running the meetings, so knowing senate bylaws is crucial to making sure that discussion and the agenda stay on track.

“They don’t tell us how to run the meeting,” Isik said. “But it’s not brain surgery.”

Isik said he relies on the eight bylaws to help him regulate motions, amendments, committee structure and other areas. If something isn’t covered in the bylaws, he’ll refer to a book titled Robert’s Rules of Order, which lays out the parliamentary guidelines of running a meeting.

Isik keeps his torn, faded copy close to him during the senate meetings. It was passed on to him by a retiring colleague years ago, he said. see usen page 6

Later this month, an outside campus safety organization will come to assess Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety’s policies.

On Jan. 25, an assessment team from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators will arrive on campus to conduct interviews and to investigate DPS documentation and written procedures.

To date, only 41 campus public safety agencies have achieved the IACLEA certification. Another 16 departments, including SU’s DPS, are awaiting accreditation, Jack Leonard, the director of the IACLEA accreditation, said in an email. Accreditation would mean that DPS is one of the most elite campus safety departments and that it consistently maintains industry certified best practices.

Andrea Stagnari, the accreditation see dps page 8

national news Here’s a look at some of the national news stories making headlines this week: politics

Looking ahead After an unsuccessful 2012 campaign, Mitt Romney will “almost certainly” launch another campaign for the Republican Party presidential nomination in 2016. source: the washington post

$

business

Going down Oil prices continued their downward spiral on Tuesday, with the Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oil benchmarks dropping to around $45 per barrel. source: reuters and the new york times

U.S.

open up A federal judge in South Dakota declared the state’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, saying marriage is a fundamental right that must be open to all. source: scotusblog

4 january 14, 2015

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technology

Consumers need to consider worth of new smart technologies

T

he biggest tech showcase of the year, known as the International Consumer Electronics Show, took place this past week and instead of one device stealing the spotlight, the “Internet of Things” was the topic of discussion. This futuristic concept, where everyday appliances are connected to the Internet and are controlled with apps, will be the theme for a lot of major tech companies in 2015.

The idea seems like it would be beneficial, but tech companies should pump the brakes before investing millions into the IoT. There are many causes for concern that come along with placing mini-computers in everything around us and this new product line may not be worth the hype.

The most glaring concern is privacy.

Depending on which devices developers choose to work with, personal information will be shared and stored on a server.

It may be hard for companies to market

aarick knighton

an urban look at technology the idea of syncing your information into a cloud, given the recent history of hackings.

Also, a person’s tendencies could end up being used for advertising purposes since the information is all connected and users may begin to feel like they are being watched.

On one hand being able to control your entire house with your phone is cool, but knowing that all of your everyday habits are being tracked and saved is actually creepy.

Another issue with Internet of Things is finding practical reasons for turning inanimate objects into smart objects. I understand that innovation is the backbone of technology but do we really need a Bluetooth toothbrush — an actual product presented at CES.

There were some creative applications such as a device that senses when plants are dry and subsequently waters them and pet feeders that can be managed from your phone. There were also some applications that just didn’t seem necessary.

Inventions that save us from getting off of the couch are great, but products that look cool and don’t provide any real value will have a hard time selling.

Prices of these smart products will fluctuate once they hit the market, but the starting prices will definitely be on the more expensive side.

Consumers will have to decide how much the convenience is really worth when they are deciding between regular $5 lightbulbs or $100 Wi-Fi lightbulbs that can be controlled with a smartphone.

There could also be a battle of brands if manufacturers choose to make these smart objects only compatible with certain

smartphones. Samsung is one of the leaders in this new wave of technology and could potentially make their smart products only manageable from Samsung phones to help out their own sales and make Apple-lovers jealous.

The concept of connecting our devices is a great idea and is the next natural step in technology. However, there are still many kinks to work out before we see an average person adapting to complete smart homes.

The only way to find out if this will be success or a flop is to let the consumers decide.

It looks like we’re going to get our first real taste of the Internet of Things this year, but it might not be what we’ve been waiting for.

Aarick Knighton is a junior information management and technology major.

His column appears weekly.

He can be reached at adknight@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @aarickurban.

student life

Administration must respond to efforts of recent student activism

T

hroughout the winter months, Syracuse University students took part in nationwide campaigns and protests for justice from Atlanta to New York City, including #BlackLivesMatter and similar rallies following the lack of indictments in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner decisions.

alexa diaz

la vie en orange

During the time that photos were posted and experiences shared, SU students turned

national discussions into interpersonal dialogues, which should make their way to campus upon the start of the spring semester.

As SU students rally for a safer national and local community by taking into consideration ability, ethnicity, financial standing, gender, race and sexuality, these efforts should inspire the Syracuse community. The university’s authoritative actions and policies this semester should reflect these efforts and make the university a more inclusive academic and social atmosphere for all students.

Activism was seen at the end of last semester at a “die-in” in Bird Library representing the four and a half hours that Michael Brown’s body was lying in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri after being shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. In this way, it is clear that national protests in recent months have posed as a catalyst for more local demonstrations to take place.

When looking back on SU’s recent history, activism has accounted for a large part of campus culture, as demonstrated by the establishment of THE General Body, a coalition of students and student organizations whose goal is to educate and generate positive change on campus.

While some students have made it clear they do not agree with the ideas represented

by THE General Body, one cannot deny that the dedicated students brought change to SU. THE General Body generated a discussion on campus about issues regarding diversity and inclusiveness that gained the attention and input of faculty, media organizations, neighboring universities and students. The 18-day sit-in in Crouse-Hinds Hall led to several developments, including the addition of 11 more student positions to Fast Forward workgroups, a commitment to an immediate search for an Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator and a 7 percent increase in Teaching Assistant pay for 2016.

However, the completion of the fall semester was just the beginning for THE General

Body. The group will be hosting Teach-In to Act Out – a conference consisting of discussions, panels and more – with The Democratizing Knowledge Project later this month regarding the history of student movements and activism-related topics in partnership.

As the fall semester was not the end for student activism, the administration should continue to make the university a more accepting environment.

In December, the Chancellor’s Workgroup on Sexual Violence Prevention, Education and Advocacy published a series of “shortterm recommendations” to be addressed in the spring semester. The recommendations included the establishment of a Chancellor’s task force on sexual assault and relationship violence that reviews services, policies and programs every semester.

The report also recommended that the administration introduce culturally relevant approaches to strengthen the support of victims and survivors from marginalized identity groups including “students of color, students with disabilities, queer students and transgender students.” The report also suggested heightened efforts to encourage students from these groups to participate in leadership roles and in the development of sexual assault and relationship violence policies.

How the administration chooses to carry out these recommendations will stand as a reflection of our administration’s values and set the tone for Chancellor Kent Syverud’s receptiveness to student concerns.

In developing policies to accomplish these recommendations, the administration must remember to keep policies inclusive for all SU students, as it is for this reason students have protested on campus and across the country in the past few months.

Alexa Diaz is a freshman magazine journalism major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at adiaz02@syr.edu.

O

Heartless hunting Environmental columnist Azor Cole condemns the practice of “bounty” hunting competitions in central New York.

See Wednesday’s paper

opinion

Smart house Gender and sexuality columnist Kathryn Krawczyk sets celebrities straight and fills them in on what feminism really means.

See Wednesday’s paper

dailyorange.com @dailyorange january 14, 2015 • pag e 5

editorial board

scribble

Recent traffic changes cause confusion

T

he new changes to the traffic patterns around campus have not been effectively communicated to the Syracuse University community.

Since their Oct.17 introduction, the floating parking lanes on Comstock and Waverly avenues have been met with much confusion.

The city implemented these lanes to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety as well as reduce speed around the Hill.

But on Dec. 24, citing safety concerns, the city transitioned the floating parking lane on Comstock Avenue into a deliveries-only lane.

Parking in this location for more than 30 minutes is now prohibited.

The floating parking lane is still in effect on Waverly Avenue, however, and if it becomes a permanent fixture, meters will be installed. But for now the parking is free.

Because the change on Comstock Avenue took place while the majority of students were home for Winter Break, the university should have sent an email to the entire campus community this week upon their return to keep them informed.

While there was an announcement about the change in an SU News release, the university should have been more explicit and forthcoming. This change affects many, especially students.

And not many students thor-

oughly read every SU News email sent to their inboxes.

There are currently signs along the side of Comstock that read, “No parking anytime” and “No parking loading zone 30 minute limit.” But these signs can be easily misunderstood. In light of the fact the new bike lane is between the deliveries only lane and the side of the road where the signs are located, some may think the signs are addressing the bike lane exclusively.

These changes to the traffic patterns are decided by the city of Syracuse, but that does not exempt the university from its responsibility to keep the SU community in the loop.

conservative

Boehner opposition misses opportunity for true ‘new Congress’

R

ep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) secured his position, and gavel, as speaker of the House for a third consecutive term.

To some, this came as a disappointment, considering there was much anti-Boehner rhetoric during the midterm elections.

The vote results were 216-192, with 25 members voting against Boehner. This is the biggest defection from an incumbent speaker in the past 100 years, according to the Washington Post.

Though Boehner may not think so, many Conservatives believe he is an establishment or Republican in name only —called a R.I.N.O — Republican who, rather than standing for the core values of Republicanism, will appease the Democrats and the president in order to remain in good standing with them.

Two firm believers in this include Reps. Ted Yoho(R-Florida)

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vanessa salman

I’m always right and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), both of whom ran against the incumbent speaker with the hopes of steering the House in the right direction in the 114th Congressional Session.

It is unfortunate that the members who strongly desired a change in leadership did not put 100 percent of their time and effort to see that change happen. The three congressmen who were up against Boehner — Yoho, Gohmert and Daniel Webster (R - Florida) — did not launch formal campaigns to whip votes effectively. If these speaker contenders had done so, their longing for change could have come to fruition.

As the Jan. 6 speaker election approached, there were rumblings of defiance toward Boehner’s

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re-election. However, the threat was not enough to put his seat in danger. The problem with this was that there was more chatter than action being done.

Members were aware that they needed 29 votes against Boehner in order to prevent him from scoring a third term, however according to Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Virginia), speaker candidate Ted Yoho did little to whip votes in his favor.

If he had put a little more effort into gaining support for him as speaker, there is a chance he could have earned the four votes necessary to stop Boehner from keeping his gavel.

Some of the representatives didn’t need convincing; Tea Party favorites Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa), Jeff Duncan (R- South Carolina) and Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) were guaranteed not to vote for Boehner. Freshman member Rep. David Brat (R-Virginia) made his

official first splash by not voting for Boehner, yet this too does not come as a surprise, considering he ran on a very Conservative platform when he defeated former Majority Leader Eric Cantor for the job.

A handful of congressmen who are often thought of as being more conservative made a shocking choice to vote for the incumbent.

This list includes Rep. Trent Franks (R-Arizona), Rep. Diane Black (R- Tennessee), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Missouri) and Rep. Lloyd “Ted” Poe (R-Texas), all of which are members of the Tea Party Caucus.

If a more thoughtful campaign was executed, these votes could have sent Boehner home packing.

However, there are 216 members that did vote for Boehner.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise made his full-fledged support for the incumbent speaker

public in this statement. Said the whip, “Speaker Boehner’s commitment to bold, conservative solutions that reflect the priorities of the American people will move America forward and help get our country back on the right track.”

In spite of the media labeling the 114th session as “the new Congress,” with Boehner as speaker, the 25 members that did not vote for the incumbent speaker remain skeptical of this. There is no doubt that these members will not hold back if the Speaker does not execute his job properly.

This should serve as a valuable lesson for future elections — representatives would be wise to be the change they seek.

Vanessa Salman is a sophomore policy studies major. Her column appears weekly.

She can be reached at vksalman@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @VanessaSalman.

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6 january 14, 2015

from page 1

gertis know what we’re talking about,” she said.

McDowell was an SU staple and someone who will be dearly missed, said McGee, the assistant dean at Newhouse.

“He was kind of a fixture and to me he was from page 1

liddy the creation of the information, design and startups minor, which provides introductory entrepreneurship skills and knowledge for undergraduate and graduate students.

Liddy said that she is proud of the entrepreneurial attitude the iSchool has developed and the experimental, hands-on learning that has become its signature.

“This is what it’s really like: they don’t read business plans, they do it,” Liddy said. “They come up with their idea, they have to do all the customer testing, form groups and teams, from idea to startup.”

Stanton said that he also remembers Liddy as being a pioneer of social media at the iSchool and SU. “She recognized the importance of social media long before most other people did, from page 3

auction auction during the game with a variety of both sport and non-sport items.

“The items in the auction ranged from jew-

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familiar,” she said. “He would be there during the busy time and I wouldn’t say you set your clock to him, but you kind of knew it was just an everyday day and it’s going to be sad not seeing him there.”

Jaime Rivera, a Class of 2013 alumnus, said in an email that walking by McDowell was part of his daily routine and his impact was felt throughout campus.

“He was just a peaceful guy, trying to enjoy the simple things in life by being kind to others and hoping to get back something in return,” Rivera said. “No words needed to ever be exchanged between him and anyone to know that he was accepted.”

“We didn’t just lose a friend on Marshall but rather we lost a Syracuse tradition,” Rivera

said. “It sounds weird to say that no one will ever take the place of Gertis, primarily because he was a man in a motor scooter asking for money. But he was more than that. He was part of coming to Syracuse.”

nearly 10 years ago now,” Stanton said. “She got the iSchool involved not just in teaching about social media but in helping the larger university community take advantage of it.”

J.D. Ross, director of communications at the iSchool, called Liddy an “energetic force” who was always inspiring students, staff and faculty

Under Liddy, the iSchool was the first institution in New York state to offer a graduate certificate in data science when the program was launched in 2012, Ross said.

As interim vice chancellor and provost, Liddy said that much of her focus is now on the academic strategic plan, which is a part of the university-wide initiative Fast Forward Syracuse.

The strategic plan “defines the university’s vision and strategic direction, details the university’s priorities and identifies specific actions and plans to pursue and investments that must be made,” according to the Fast Forward Syracuse website.

In an approach that was created by Spina, the former vice chancellor and provost, and continued by Liddy, the academic strategic plan is sustained by seven working groups which focus on different academic areas of the university.

The groups create surveys, hold forums and conduct interviews and their own investigations

to gather inputs from across the campus, Liddy said. All of that data is used to create recommendations and then craft the plan. The goal for the plan is to have it out by May, Liddy added.

Liddy said that her transition so far has been exhilarating, but also exhausting.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but as a provost from another university said to me ‘Don’t worry, the second time you have to do something it will be much easier,’” Liddy said.

“So everything I’m doing now is the first time.”

Liddy’s colleagues said they have nothing but hope and high expectations for her future endeavors.

“I’m not a gambling guy, but if I were I would put my money on Liz’s success,” said Stanton, the iSchool interim dean. “She will surround herself with talented people and give each of them the chance to shine. In my thinking, that is a formula for success.”

The more than $40,000 benefiting MakeA-Wish Central New York will help Make-AWish continue to grant a wish every 38 min-

Guercio were responsible for the management of the auction.

“Along with the other co-chair, I oversee every aspect of the group and we are the face of the auction. There are around 100 people in the club itself who worked on the project,” Visnosky said. “I was really happy with the fact that we beat the goal of raising $40,000 and the aim for next year is to get bigger and better.”

Del Guercio said Make-A-Wish was a good charity to work with and helped motivate the club by bringing in people who had their wishes granted.

Following the Dec. 6, 2014 auction during the basketball game, select items were made available online through Steiner Sports. The online auction ended on Dec. 9, 2014.

Now that both the charity auction at the game and the online auction are over, the next step for the club is to look ahead to next year’s auction, which will have a higher monetary goal like every year. During the spring, Losak said the club will look at ways to improve the auction, choose a charity and select new chairs in preparation for the 11th annual auction.

I’m not a gambling guy, but if I were I would put my money on Liz’s success.

Jeffrey Stanton interim dean of the ischool

to grow and try new things.

“She worked with faculty to recognize areas of growth and acted quickly on them,” Ross said.

elry, a Derek Jeter-signed ball, a Tim Howard jersey and various other items for all sorts of interests. There’s something for everyone at the auction,” said Hannah Visnosky, a junior sport management major who was one of the co-chairs of the auction.

beneficiaries

2014: Make-A-Wish Central New York 2013: Food Bank of Central New York 2012: Special Olympics New York 2011: Upstate Cancer Center

utes. The average cost for a wish to be granted is around $10,000 so at least four children will benefit from the auction.

During halftime of the game, Nick Nortz, a student at General Brown Junior and Senior High School in Dexter, New York, had his wish granted with tickets to the NCAA Tournament Final Four along with other SU basketball apparel.

“For me personally, it really hit home the significance of what me and the rest of the club were accomplishing for kids like Nick,” Losak said. “Most of the club was unaware that a wish was going to be granted at the half, so it was an amazing surprise for all of us.”

Visnosky and fellow co-chair Brooke Del from page 3

usen

His appointment as chair and moderator is only a small event in his lengthy history at SU, which stretches back to 1985. He served on the Agenda Committee in 1999 and is also involved in the SU chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Isik was selected unanimously by the Agenda Committee, mostly due to his experience, Malcom Ingram, a member of the committee, said.

“There really was no discussion. Everyone just voted immediately,” Ingram said. “There was no question that he wasn’t absolutely up for the job.”

Each senate session is different, but Isik has entered during one of the busier semesters in

jmatting@syr.edu — News Editor Brett Samuels contributed reporting to this article.

lawilson@syr.edu

clried@syr.edu

recent years, Bhatia said. The introduction of a new chancellor has brought on a slew of university-wide changes, such as the Syracuse Fast Forward initiative and revisions to promotion and appointment policies, which were widely debated among senators.

“It’s not easy to step in under those circumstances, so you really have to have courage to do that,” Bhatia said.

Isik maintains that he wouldn’t have assumed the position if he couldn’t manage it.

He said almost every senate committee works intensely on their reports, so sometimes that service can end up consuming more than 10 percent of their time.

“No matter how many times you serve in the senate, it’s a learning experience,” Isik said. apalme05@syr.edu

city every wednesday in news

dailyorange.com @dailyorange january 14, 2015

•

PAG E 7

SAFETY ON 4

A rash of shootings occurred in Syracuse on the final weekend of 2014. Here’s a look at where some of the shootings occurred around the city:

1

Dec. 27, 2014 A 20 year old man was shot three times in the chest at South Salina and Elk streets, across from People’s AME Zion Church.

2

Dec. 27, 2014 A man was spotted firing a gun in front of a store in the 1700 block of East Fayette Street.

3

Dec. 27, 2014 In Syracuse’s East Side neighborhood, a 33 year old man was driving in his van on the 600 block of East Colvin Street when several shots were fired at the van, striking the vehicle five times.

2

Thornden Park

5

Syracuse Main Campus 4

Dec. 28, 2014 A 25 year old driver, two women and one man were near the Court Street exit on Interstate 81 when the driver says a gray sedan with three or four men inside pulled along side and began shooting at the driver side window.

Oakwood Cemetery 3

5

Dec 28, 2014 Police heard shots and were told by witnesses they came from an abandoned house at 213 Fitch St. near South Geddes Street.

1

Lawmakers, organizations hope to reduce gun violence in 2015 in wake of recent incidents

By Hanna Horvath staff writer

S

everal shootings happened in Syracuse over Winter Break, shedding light on the city’s issues with ongoing gun violence.

Five gun-related events at the end of December closed 2014 as one of the deadliest years for Syracuse with over 20 homicides. The sheer number of homicides and gun-related incidents left lawmakers and organization leaders alike questioning what went wrong this year and what must be done in the future to prevent further incidents.

“It’s very concerning to me. Obviously there are people being shot,” Syracuse Common Councilman Bob Dougherty, who also personally knew one of the shooting victims, said.

“It’s a tragedy whenever it happens.”

Though causes include domestic disputes and verbal altercations, the most unifying cause for recent bouts of deadly violence have been gang-related. But Syracuse’s violence does not affect a majority of its residents, Dougherty said.

“The average person doesn’t really have anything to worry about,” he said. “This is one group going after another group, not really interested in your law-abiding citizen.”

Another issue with Syracuse’s homicide rate is that many of the crimes go unsolved.

More than 60 percent of Syracuse’s homicide cases remain unclosed, which is a much higher rate than the national average of around 40 percent, according to Syracuse.com.

Ongoing efforts from both local organizations and the police force are aimed at stopping this pressing citywide issue. Dougherty added that without the organizations, there could be

more shots fired and more violence.

“Lawmakers can create the legislation, but the police are the individuals that must enforce the policy,” said Syracuse Common Council Majority Whip Jake Barrett.

Lawmakers are currently putting initiatives in place to curb violence in at-risk areas. One of the projects being put into action is Syracuse Truce, which is an anti-gang and anti-shots fired initiative. They are also attempting to lead by example, hoping others will follow along.

“You just have to be a leader,” Barrett said.

“Obey gun laws, just do the right thing.”

Outside of City Hall, anti-violence organizations, such as Cure Violence, which is an affiliate of the New York SNUG program, are focusing on changing the behaviors of at-risk teens and directing them to safer methods of taking out their frustration.

“We are a responsive agency to changing the mindset and the culture of the area,” said Raheem Mack, program manager for Syracuse SNUG. “We go into communities where there are gun crimes, and spread the message that there is an opportunity for change.”

Though the police themselves are the ones who hunt down perpetrators of violence, the organizations are essential in calling for behavioral change, Mack said.

Overall, change must come from within, Barrett said. Mindset changes from gangs themselves are one of the only concrete solutions to such a complicated problem, he said. But lawmakers, police and organizations are only able to deal with the causes and effects, not the violence itself.

“It’s hard to stop a teenager from doing what they want to do,” Dougherty said. hrhorvat@syr.edu

8 january 14, 2015

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

from page 3

dps

manager for DPS, elaborated that the certification makes SU’s DPS better.

“The benefit of it is to provide a professional benchmark for the department that says we have the best policies,” she said.

Stagnari has been preparing the department for assessment and accreditation since 2009.

“It sounds like it shouldn’t have taken that long but when you look into to it, to changing how people think, you’ve got to change the policies and the people to make sure we’re up to the best standard possible,” she said.

The benefit of it is to provide a professional benchmark for the department that says we have the best policies.

Andrea Stagnari accreditation manager for dps

To be certified, departments must have some sort of written directive to provide overarching guidance to officers. Agencies must also comply with 239 standards and about 600 sub-standards, Stagnari said.

Some of the standards are straightforward, like maintaining a functional backup generator. Other standards are more complicated and mandate that written protocol exists for specific situations and that officers have training for high-risk situations or other health and safety situations, Leonard said.

In order to be accredited and maintain accreditation, departments must write the standards and provide documentation that the department is following the standards as well, Hannah Warren, the public information officer for DPS, said. Gaining accreditation ensures DPS is meeting the highest standards possible.

Warren added that the process of getting accreditation is very involved and that Stagnari is not the only person in the department working on it.

When the assessment team arrives, it will review the written standards, conduct interviews, observe DPS in action and write a report. An IACLEA Compliance Review Panel will review the report before the organization makes its final decision, Leonard said.

The assessment team consists of officers familiar with public safety and the IACLEA accreditation. Capt. Gary Heller of the Amtrak Police Department will lead the team, which also includes a sergeant from the University of Connecticut Police Department and the assistant director of the Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Public Safety.

IACLEA accreditation certifies the department for four years at which point another team would return to recertify DPS, Leonard said. During those four years, an agency must submit an annual report to document its continued compliance with the standards.

Community members will have a chance to voice any concerns before the assessors leave.

On Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the public can call the assessors. DPS will not be involved in the comment process and the assessment team will answer the calls directly. acappucc@syr.edu

P

Going viral

32,636

iSchool professor Jeff Hemsley won national recognition for his book on why events become online viral sensations.

See dailyorange.com

PULP

The number of YouTube subscribers sophomore Tyra Booker’s video blog boasts. Her videos have over two million views.

See page 11

dailyorange.com @dailyorange january 14, 2015

•

PAG E 9

DAVID CRANE, a Syracuse University College of Law professor, was appointed by Sri Lanka’s president to give legal counsel to a commission investigating alleged war crimes from a 30-year civil war that resulted in extreme terrorist tactics. frankie prijatel photo editor

SU College of Law professor provides legal counsel in Sri Lanka

By Emma Baty staff writer

T

he rule of the law is more powerful than the rule of the gun.

That was a guiding principle in Syracuse University College of Law professor David M. Crane’s work as the Chief Prosecutor for the Special Court of Sierra Leone, then later in his work with Syria and now in his work with Sri Lanka.

This past winter break, Crane spent eight days in Sri Lanka as part of an ongoing mandate. He was appointed by the president of Sri Lanka in the fall of 2014 to provide legal counsel to a commission that is investigating alleged war

crimes from a 30-year war.

“The commission has certain legal issues related to international humanitarian law and they ask those questions and a member of the advisory panel provides those answers,” Crane said. “Like any legal situation, there’s a client who says ‘I have a legal question,’ and they ask us.”

His work is part of the aftermath of a 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka. The Tamil people of the north sought independence from the majority ethnic group, the Sinhalese. The Tamil Tigers, as they’re called, used “extreme terrorist tactics” in this war, Crane said.

“The Tamil Tigers are the group that developed the weapons of terror that are currently being used by other terrorist organizations today,” Crane said.

“A pretty brutal group. And they used terrorist tactics to try to advance their cause. And of course, in this civil war, both sides had challenges related to war crime allegations, but the Tamil Tigers particularly were very, very brutal.”

That war came to an end in 2009. Now, the Sri Lankan government and the see crane page 10

sex and health

Key to better sex involves open communication, respect for partners

A

bandon your cliche New Year’s resolution.

Instead of trying to lose weight or get better grades, college students should consider taking up a more challenging resolution: to have a better sex life.

“But I already hookup with a lot of people,” says the sexually active, single college student. “How can my sex life be better?”

KATE BECKMAN KEEPING IT CLASSY

Ask yourself: in 2014, just how many mediocre hookups did you have? How many meh moments were there? Probably more than a few.

In 2015, don’t take bad sex lying down.

Quality vs. quantity is often thrown around when it comes to hookups. But having a better sex life isn’t a matter of hooking up with more people, and it is not a matter of hooking up with less people. It’s a matter of knowing what you want and having a consensual hookup with someone who respects you and whom you respect.

When it comes to hookups,

respecting someone means caring about his or her sexual experience just as much as you care about your own. It means not being selfish.

According to a July 8, 2014 cosmopolitan.com article, 20–30 percent of women don’t orgasm from intercourse, versus an approximate 75 percent of men who climax every single time. Another article on cosmopolitan.com reported that

women were half as likely to orgasm during casual sex versus sex with someone they’re in a serious relationship with. It seems like the odds are against women when it comes to enjoying casual sex, but they don’t have to be.

In a time when headlines denounce the college hookup culture and think-piece articles lament

see beckman page 10

10 january 14, 2015

from page 9

crane United Nations are investigating potential war crimes on both sides of the conflict.

“The international community over the last couple years has been looking into investigating allegations that took place at the end of the civil war as well, and there currently is a UN commission looking into these issues,” Crane said. “The president, aware of the concerns by the international community, created his own presidential commission to look into these allegations, and that’s where I fit in.”

Crane is one of four lawyers who does this.

He provides legal advice, mostly from the states, but he will be making some trips to Sri Lanka.

“I was in Sri Lanka because I hadn’t been out there yet and wanted to meet with the members of the presidential commission looking into that and also to meet with various senior members of the Sri Lankan government,” Crane said. “I wanted to walk the ground where the alleged war crimes took place in northern, northeastern Sri Lanka.”

All of this experience abroad has helped Crane in his job as a professor.

He started Impunity Watch, a law journal, in 2007 and the Syrian Accountability Project in 2011. SAP is a group of roughly 35 Syracuse

from page 9

beckman the death of the first date, it is easy to equate respect with someone taking you out on a date.

After all, when someone invests time getting to know you, there’s usually some belief that things will eventually lead to sex. And when you’re in a relationship, it’s sort of an expectation that partners care about each other’s sexual experience.

But respect, especially when it comes to hookups, shouldn’t come from how much time is invested in someone. Respect between sexual partners shouldn’t have to be earned through

dailyorange.com pulp@dailyorange.com

law students participating in an international effort to help bring President Bashar al-Assad to justice, along with others who have committed war crimes in Syria, Crane said.

From there, Crane started the Global Accountability Initiative, which is an expansion of the SAP efforts into a more global perspective. The GAI is a team of lawyers that investigates war crimes in the same manner as the SAP, but all over the world.

“It became clear to us that there was space in the world community for a non-governmental organization that was full time with a full staff of attorneys that were dedicated to this as their primary job,” Jeff Howell, executive director and chief council of the GAI said.

The SAP has allowed students in the law school to get involved with ending the conflict while still in school, said Jeff Kenny, executive director of SAP. “I was a senior in undergrad when the civil war started in Syria, and I just remember watching it on CNN and the various news outlets and for whatever reason, that one, that conflict especially, I was just like ‘I wish I could do something,’” Kenny said. “Because we’re working with clients who are involved in actually trying to end the conflict and bring it to an end that looks good to everybody, it felt like I was actually doing something.”

Crane believes his work abroad is important

because of the victims of these atrocities.

“At the end of the day, this is all about the people who have suffered and who are oppressed by individuals who take the law into their own hands,” Crane said. “And in the 21st century, modern international criminal law has evolved to where we now have the

dates or relationships. It’s OK to have casual sex with someone you barely know, but it is not OK to treat that person simply as a way to get off. A significant other of two years deserves just as much respect as a one-night stand.

It’s hard for mutual respect to happen without communication, though. I know, it sounds really cliche to say, “You have to tell them what you want.” But having a conversation about what you want with the person you’re hooking up with could save you 20 minutes of mediocrity.

For example, let’s say you hook up with a really hot guy or girl but foreplay seems to be a foreign concept to that person. Instead of hop-

ing he or she will take the hint and be a little less selfish next time, say something. It might seem awkward to ask, “So, can we actually do foreplay?” to someone you’re not dating, but you’ve got nothing to lose by trying to improve your hookup experience.

In order to tell the person you’re with what you want, you also have to know what you like.

For both guys and girls, it’s difficult to know what you like if you never have sober sex.

Drunk sex is a seemingly inevitable part of college that, although fun, isn’t where your “best sex ever” usually comes from. If you currently have more drunk than sober sex, make it part of your resolution to even it out.

capability of seeking justice for victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. So it’s for and about the victims, and I’m privileged to have that capability of seeking that justice for them in Sierra Leone, in Syria and in Sri Lanka.” ekbaty@syr.edu

DAVID CRANE (CENTER) stands with his advisory team in Sri Lanka during Winter Break.

Crane was appointed by the Sri Lankan president to give counsel. courtesy of david crane

Everyone says college is a time to find yourself and explore what you want to do for the rest of your life. Usually they’re referring to career goals, but it should also refer to sex.

You don’t graduate college and automatically become a sex god. It takes practice asking for what you want and not settling for something mediocre. This should be the year that you start making every hookup your best one — it’s more fun than counting calories, anyway.

Kate Beckman is a sophomore magazine journalism major. Her column appears every week in Pulp. You can reach her at kebeckma@syr.edu or follow her on Twitter at @Kate_Beckman.

From the

runway every wednesday in p u l p

dailyorange.com @dailyorange january 14, 2015

•

PAG E 11

LIGHTS, CAMERA, FASHION Sophomore runs fashion vlog with over 2 million views

By Eliza Weinreb staff writer

YouTube first started as a social media forum for creative self-expression, but it has quickly become a powerful digital industry, helping agencies and managers around the world discover young talent. Tyra Booker, a sophomore broadcast and digital journalism major at Syracuse University, decided to start a fashion, beauty and lifestyle vlog, or video blog, when she was 14 years old. Now, FashionWithTy is managed by the Collective, has 32,636 subscribers and over two million likes on its videos.

The Daily Orange: What exactly is FashionwithTy and why did you decide to start it?

Tyra Booker: One summer when I was 14, I was injured from playing tennis and I was watching all these YouTube videos, bored, and I saw this YouTuber. Her name is Blair Fowler, and she had the opportunity to go to fashion week, was in Seventeen, Teen Vogue — and those were all my biggest dreams at 14. She was only doing that from videos. So I thought if I can get a camera and sit in front of it, then I can do this too. That’s so awesome.

The D.O.: How did you make the transition from being interested in YouTube videos to being a YouTuber?

T.B.: That summer I got a flip video camera, recorded videos and got 1,000 subscribers. So, I was like, “Wow! I’m really famous.” No, no, I’m kidding, but I was really excited about that. I kept growing at such a fast rate, and I ended up getting over 30,000 subscribers and attracting all of these different companies within a short period of time. With YouTube, how it works is the amount of views and subscribers, as they increase, the more sponsorship deals you get and the more agencies start contacting you because they want to be able to manage you as a content provider and leverage off your sponsorship deals. So, I did everything I wanted to do. I was in Seventeen, I was Beauty Blogger of the Moment in Teen Vogue, I did fashion week for 2013 and I got to interview Nigel Barker,

TYRA BOOKER, a sophomore broadcast and digital journalism major, films a new episode for her fashion vlog, FashionwithTy. She started the vlog when she was 14 and gained over 32,000 subscribers and more than two million views. michael isenberg staff photographer

Kelly Cutrone, Alessandra Ambrosio. So I was in the industry with people I admired, and I really loved that. I ended up getting managed by an agency called the Collective, which helped me to negotiate contracts.

inspiration and continue doing videos. I just felt like I wanted to learn more about the field. But on campus right now, I am producing a television show for Zipped magazine, and I think that is going to branch off of what I do on YouTube.

celebrities, meeting viewers was really cool.

We had Beauty Con, International Make-up Artist Trade Show and I would host meet-andgreets just to see my followers. Even on campus I’ve been recognized, which is pretty cool.

The D.O.: I saw on your channel that you are leaving FashionwithTy. Can you tell me what made you decide to end the vlog?

T.B.: I did that for four years, up until my freshman year of college and I just realized that I wanted to be able to learn the business behind why YouTube is the way it is and why media is the way it is, (and) just having a brand — because I never realized, but I built my own online brand.

So, I just want it to be much bigger than YouTube, which is why I just transferred into Newhouse, so I could learn more about the business behind that. I’m sure I’m going to have some spark of

The D.O.: You were talking a little bit about the cool people you got to meet as a result of your channel. Can you tell me which person you learned the most from?

T.B.: What actually made me think about being a broadcast journalism major was when I was doing the fashion week deal with Nine West, and that was on location. So, we were going to a bunch of different places and meeting cool people, which really inspired me. Working with that company was the most inspiring because I got hands-on experience and was able to take on-site direction. Besides

The D.O.: What did you hope to accomplish by making your channel?

T.B.: I think what it turned into was inspiring young teen girls to have confidence within their own skin. I think most people interpret having a beauty channel as being very superficial, but it’s acknowledging that you have this natural beauty that exists, but you are just using makeup or clothes to enhance it. Also, showing that to be the most fashionable person, you don’t have to have the most expensive things. You can mix and match different things. etweinre@syr.edu

12 january 14, 2015

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

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Cooney records 21 points in another strong performance

By Jesse Dougherty staff writer

Wherever Trevor Cooney went in the second half, Codi Miller-McIntyre was shadowing him step for step.

After a hot start on the heels of a 28-point performance against Florida State on Sunday, Cooney couldn’t move freely let alone find enough space to get a jumper off. But after pulling Syracuse within one with 4:32 left in regulation, he made his own space.

The junior caught the ball on the right wing with the shot clock winding down and, after dribbling around a Tyler Roberson screen, faded toward the Orange bench before unleashing a prayer.

A split second later, Wake Forest was pulling the ball out of the bottom of the net, the Carrier Dome crowd was in ecstasy and the game was tied.

“Thank God that went in,” Cooney said.

“It was a good move, created some space and I was able to get it off and it went in.”

At that moment — given the time, angle and improbability of the attempt — Cooney’s 3 was the biggest shot in a game that Syracuse (13-4, 4-0 Atlantic Coast) needed overtime to win in the Carrier Dome on Tuesday night. The Orange edged the Demon Deacons (9-9, 1-4) 86-83, and it was Cooney who

paced SU with 13 first-half points to open up opportunities for Rakeem Christmas and his career-high 35.

Cooney spaced the floor with five 3s and demanded attention as his teammates — notably Christmas and forward Michael Gbinije — thrived down the stretch.

“I thought Trevor played better than that, than his numbers,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “But he hit a couple monster ones for us so we’ll forgive him for that.”

Shooting 6-for-17 from the field and 5-for12 from 3 isn’t the clip Cooney wants to be at, but his team needed every one of his 21 points.

Since scoring just two points in the Orange’s 69-57 loss to St. John’s on Dec. 6, Cooney has scored more than 15 points in seven of nine games. He’s also scored more than 20 in four of those contests, including SU’s last two wins in which he’s netted a combined 49 on 12 3s.

He was blanketed by a quicker defender in the second half of Syracuse’s latest conference nail-biter, but that didn’t mean he was at all absent from it.

“I mean, they’re just going in,” Cooney said of his recent shooting success. “There’s no button you can hit to make them magically go in. I’m taking good shots and they’re just going in.” jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse

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TREVOR COONEY goes up for a shot as Codi Miller-McIntyre trails him. The junior continued his hot scoring stretch with a 21-point performance in Tuesday night’s win over Wake Forest in the Carrier Dome. chase gaewski staff photographer

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14 january 14, 2015

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battle

Division II Simon Fraser utilizes stat-based offense to raise scoring

By Jon Mettus staff writer

After finishing 2014 with a 3-15 conference record, Simon Fraser University head coach James Blake had just two requests for his returning players: work on conditioning and improve 3-point shooting.

Instead of dedicating his summer to recruiting, Blake watched hours of film, bought coaching DVDs and attended as many clinics as he could.

He wanted a complete overhaul of Simon Fraser’s playing style. He wanted to make it faster.

“You got to have quick guards,” Blake said.

“You got to have guys that are sprinting lanes hard shoot the ball. You got to have some athleticism, so we kind of improved those attributes for our team.”

Simon Fraser runs a man-to-man full-court press the entire game and shoots within seven seconds of its possessions. Blake’s goals are to take at least 35 3s, force more than 25 turnovers and have 100 possessions per game.

As a result, the Clan has gone from scoring 78 points per game last season to 119 this year — the most in Division II basketball. Twice

from page 16

christmas “If he keeps playing like this, I think that’s a little different,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said, referring to Christmas being under the radar, before pointing to his stat sheet at the podium. “I think he’s capable of this. I really do.”

Demon Deacons forward Konstantinos Mitoglou came off the bench to nail 10-of-13 shots, including four 3s and his first eight shot attempts. He sparked WFU while forward Devin Thomas — who had dropped an average of 22 points in his first three ACC games — finished with just 11 and fouled out in overtime.

Three minutes into the game, Boeheim frustratedly smacked his hands together twice

from page 16

faceoffs see more scrums I think and more people fighting for the ball from the wing.”

Vehar said he never really picked the ball up with the back of his stick, so his adjustment was minor. Williams, though, said it was a more significant difference for him, but one that he’s grown to like a lot since it puts the ball on the ground more.

Desko called Williams the most athletic and the best at scooping ground balls of the three faceoff specialists, and said he’d be the one who benefits the most from the change.

With the second rule change, Vehar was a strong advocate for the elimination of body contact with the stick.

“Last year, you could get away with using your body, primarily your elbow or even going over the ball with your body,” Vehar said. “That change I think will help everybody because it’s almost cheating in a way, you’re pushing on your own head (of the stick) with your body and that’s not the way faceoffs should be.”

The sophomore transfer from Quinnipiac said he has a more physical approach at

Simon Fraser has put up 160 points or more.

Blake started working with Peter ChowWhite, an associate professor in the School of Communication. He studies big data and has added another dimension to the team’s statistical postgame analysis.

Though the team is currently on a fourgame losing streak, its new system of advanced analytics have helped improve the team’s efficiency dramatically.

“We’re free on offense and get to do what we want,” said senior guard Sango Niang, who leads the Clan with 22.9 points per game. “ I feel like other teams aren’t really prepared to play defense against a team that shoots quick shots and pressures them the whole way.”

Last season, Simon Fraser’s post players struggled in a traditional high-low offense, shooting low-percentage shots and missing free throws when they got fouled.

Blake decided to recruit five shooting-oriented players instead. In the spring, he started planning to institute a new, high-intensity playing style, similar to one he helped run as an assistant at California State Stanislaus.

When the players came back to school and began preseason workouts, it was a shock.

“It was like boot camp,” Blake said. “The first two to three weeks were really hard …

We had a couple guys come in a little bit out of shape to the speed and velocity we were going to play at and they definitely were hurting …

Guys were complaining about it.”

Blake’s practices don’t involve much technique. Instead, it’s one hour and 45 minutes of five-on-five full-court press and other high-intensity drills, with only minute-long water breaks between drills.

Though the team’s conditioning has gotten better, Blake’s challenge is having his players sustain their effort when the system isn’t working. In the past four losses, the press hasn’t worked as well, the transition buckets haven’t come and they’ve been forcing contested 3s.

“They’re questioning what we’re doing,” Blake said. “They’re questioning the system and you know we got to get back and watch tape and get back to the basics again.”

During games, an assistant coach is dedicated to tracking in what ways the team is scoring and the progress it’s making toward its statistical goals. Three minutes into the game, Blake already wants to know how many 3s his team has put up.

But after the games, Blake gets more than

just a box score. Every Tuesday, he meets with Chow-White to go over a game report the professor developed.

Chow-White was interested in how advanced analytics could be applied to the basketball team.

He looks at the efficiency of each possession, the basic statistical categories like rebounding and even individual players, so Blake can recognize areas he needs to make adjustments.

“Where sometimes the box score can reveal things that are happening on the floor, it can smear what’s happening with a player,” ChowWhite said. “It can hide as much as it shows in terms of the game.”

The first game report took them two months to make. Regardless, the majority of the data they collect, they won’t use to evaluate the team until after the season.

Utilizing both new systems has been a learning process for Simon Fraser, and Blake thinks his team has yet to fulfill its potential.

“I’m still really optimistic how we can play even faster offensively and we can do a better job trapping and turning other teams over more,” Blake said. “… You can teach your kids how to play harder and faster.”

after Christmas missed an elbow jumper — the kinds of shots that Christmas admitted later his head coach doesn’t want him to take.

But after that, Christmas went back to dominating the interior like he has all year to negate Mitoglou’s constant jabs at the SU defense.

The senior forward side-stepped Wake Forest forward Cornelius Hudson to flush a one-handed dunk on a pick-and-roll with Kaleb Joseph.

Christmas netted 10 of the Orange’s first 21 points to help keep pace with the Demon Deacons, who took a one-point lead into halftime.

ACC defenses have come up empty trying to provide an answer to defend the big man, and Wake Forest was no different. The senior showed off his ability to seal any defender not just in any spot on the inside, but to make the right call with

the ball when the double team came.

He hit a left-handed baby hook to start the second half, banked in a basket turning toward the baseline away from a double team to score his next points and, starting from the short corner, got his and-one bucket to fall from a tough angle.

“When you have a guy like that, you know that you’ve got to give him the ball in situations,” guard Trevor Cooney said, “and you’ve got to constantly look for him, and we’re doing that. And he’s doing the rest.”

Still, Wake Forest’s offense kept up with the Orange, as Hudson canned a 3 with 14.1 seconds to send the game to overtime tied at 71.

Aside from three free throws, Christmas did not score from the floor in the final seven minutes of regulation.

But overtime was all his.

From the left block, he took one dribble and floated in two points for a 74-73 lead. Thomas drew WFU within one, 79-78, with 1:19 left, but SU’s inbounds passes found the hands of Christmas, who calmly stepped to the line and iced Syracuse’s victory with six free throws.

The Carrier Dome faithful held its breath when Hudson’s three-quarters-length heave spun in and out of the rim as the overtime buzzer rung.

But then it rejoiced, and Christmas calmly jogged off the court where his play enabled the culminating frenzy that now surrounded him.

Said Cooney: “He’s been like that all year.

He’s our guy.”

from page 16

Gbinije.

“Mike!” Just once this time, but louder.

“He was yelling at me and I think it was well-deserved. I definitely was messing up at times,” Gbinije said. “I was still out there so I definitely had to do something.”

And he did.

A 3-pointer to pull Syracuse within four with 9:56 left in the second half. A layup to push the Orange ahead by two at the 2:25 mark. Two free throws to expand the hosts’ cushion to three points with 23 seconds on the regulation clock — all while handling Syracuse’s point guard duties as freshman Kaleb Joseph looked on from the bench.

Then Cornelius Hudson made a 3 that knotted the score at 71-71, and Boeheim put the game in Gbinije’s hands. His layup attempt rolled out in the last seconds of regulation, but he hit a midrange jumper, pull-up 3 and free throw to score six of the Orange’s 15 overtime points.

After the game, Boeheim wasn’t yelling Mike anymore. Instead, he muttered it as one of the names that led SU to its hardest-earned win of the season.

Said Boeheim: “Those three guys — Mike, Trevor and Rak — were outstanding.”

the X, so he’ll have to learn not if to use his body, but how to. It’s not about outmuscling the opponent, he said, but knowing how to athletically use your body without touching either stick.

180

Ground balls picked up by the three main Syracuse faceoff specialists combined in 2014 DeMarco, on the other hand, said the change doesn’t affect him since he mainly relies on the speed of his hands more than his strength.

And while some faceoff men will need to adapt new tendencies more than others, Desko seems comfortable with the rule changes and confident in who he has at his disposal to adjust to them.

“This year you’ve got to get the ball out and turn it into a ground ball,” Desko said. “I think our guys do it pretty well right now.” mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman

gbinije attempts.

Rakeem Christmas netted a career-high 35 points and Trevor Cooney poured in 21, but it was Gbinije’s mid-game resurrection that breathed new life into a team that needed every bit of its energy to fend off the Demon Deacons.

“We need Mike. We need Mike to score and we need Mike to do what he can do,” Cooney said. “In the first half he just wasn’t as aggressive as he can be and needs to be. In the second half he showed us who he really is.”

SU’s defense came out flat in its first game without freshman forward Chris McCullough, and Gbinije received the brunt of Boeheim’s frustration.

After Wake Forest forward Konstantinos Mitoglou hit back-to-back jumpers on Gbinije’s side in the first half, Boeheim audibly scolded the forward.

“Mike! Mike! Mike!” Boeheim yelled, scrunching his nose and taking a step over the sideline and onto the court.

Later in the half, Gbinije rotated late and softly fouled Greg McClinton on a layup that banked into the net. Again, Boeheim laid into

jrmettus@syr.edu

pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb

jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse

january 14, 2015 15

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

hero

postgame playbook

rakeem christmas forward HT: 6’9

the big three

WGHT: 250

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Rakeem Christmas was the standout performer in Tuesday night’s overtime win, but here are three other talking points from the back-andforth affair.

1

in check Hyped-up Wake Forest forward Devin Thomas was held largely at bay by Christmas, despite hauling in 11 rebounds. The WFU junior fouled out with 43 seconds left in overtime and watched as a Cornelius Hudson heave rimmed out at the buzzer to give SU the win.

not silent at all Michael Gbinije continued his silent but deadly season, posting 17 points on Tuesday night. He added 11 rebounds and seven assists to round out a performance that complemented strong nights from Christmas and Trevor Cooney. The junior only had one point at halftime, but was challenged

by Jim Boeheim and his teammates to pick his game up. He answered their demands.

2

3

greek god

Wake Forest freshman Konstantinos Mitoglou was perfect, literally, in the first half. After connecting on his first eight shots, the Demon Deacons forward ended up shooting 10-for-13 from the field, and his 26 points were the primary threat to hand Syracuse its first conference defeat of the season. But a threat was all he was.

zero

spotlight

ron patterson shooting guard

rakeem christmas forward HT: 6’9

35

PHILADELPHIA, PA

KONSTANTINOS MITOGLOU

RAKEEM CHRISTMAS

points Despite Mitoglou’s scorching hot stroke,

26

WGHT: 250

Rakeem Christmas went off for a careerhigh 35 points on Tuesday night. He outdueled Wake Forest freshman Konstantinos Mitoglou, leading the Orange to an overtime win in the Carrier Dome.

Rakeem Christmas continued his breakout season with his best scoring performance yet. Flashing his scoring ability from all over the floor, the senior big man netted a career-high 35 points on an efficient 13-for-21 shooting, and hit six huge free throws down the stretch in overtime to hold off Wake Forest on Tuesday night.

Christmas outscored the freshman thanks to a career-high output on a 13-for-21 shooting night.

rebounds Mitoglou pulled in a respectable

6

six boards, but Christmas hauled in nine while dealing with WFU star forward Devin Thomas.

9

field goals made Both forwards torched the

10 13

net with their accuracy on Tuesday night. Yet again, though, Christmas came out the victor.

HT: 6’2

WGHT: 200

BROAD RIPPLE, IND

Ron Patterson had the opportunity to ice the game with two free throws in overtime and Syracuse up three.

Instead he missed both, and gave the Demon Deacons life. Overall, the sixth man finished 1-of-6 from the field and had just three points as Jim Boeheim gave him crunch-time minutes over starting point guard Kaleb Joseph.

S

SPORTS

SYRACUSE 86, WAKE FOREST 83 dailyorange.com @dailyorange january 14, 2015 • PAG E 16

RAK AND ROLL

Gbinije shines late in game

By Jesse Dougherty staff writer

RAKEEM CHRISTMAS elevates to the rim in Syracuse’s overtime win over Wake Forest on Tuesday. He finished with a career-high 35 points and hit four game-icing free throws down the stretch to secure the Orange win in the Carrier Dome. chase gaewski staff photographer

Christmas goes off for career-high 35 points, leads Orange to OT win

By Phil D’Abbraccio sports editor

W

hile the ball rolled toward the center of the rim, Rakeem Christmas’ leg hung in the air.

When his shot dropped to the

sound of a whistle, he finished his leg kick and threw his fist around to celebrate his bucket and the free-throw attempt that was next on his plate.

“I don’t mind being in this situation,” Christmas said. “I get the ball a lot. I can make plays down there. I can find my teammates. I just want

to help my team win.”

Once again, he did just that. The senior’s career-high 35 points were the driving force Tuesday night as Syracuse (13-4, 4-0 Atlantic Coast) slugged out an 86-83 overtime victory over Wake Forest (9-9, 1-4) before a raucous audience of 23,367 in the Carrier Dome.

Christmas’ 35 points were tied for the most for a Syracuse player since Demetris Nichols in 2006–07.

He’s emerged as one of the ACC’s most dominant post presences, even if he hasn’t made noise on the national stage quite yet.

see christmas page 14

As Wake Forest celebrated a near-halfcourt buzzer-beater just before halftime, Syracuse forward Michael Gbinije trudged toward the locker room.

Codi Miller-McIntyre had just given the Demon Deacons a one-point lead and Gbinije had just one point.

While his teammates conversed, Gbinije fixed his eyes on the tunnel behind the Orange’s bench. He had just been yelled at, over and over, by SU head coach Jim Boeheim for a flurry of defensive mistakes. His shirt was halfway untucked in the front and soaked in sweat everywhere else.

In the locker room, Gbinije was approached by Boeheim and then by SU assistant coach Adrian Autry. They both told him he wasn’t doing enough.

“They didn’t ask this but he made me realize if I was really satisfied with one point,” Gbinije said. “I really wasn’t at all.”

That’s exactly how Gbinije played — unsatisfied — in the second half and overtime of Syracuse’s (13-4, 4-0 Atlantic Coast) 86-83 win over Wake Forest (9-9, 1-4) in the Carrier Dome on Tuesday night. After finishing the first half with six rebounds and four assists to go with his point, Gbinije handled the game for the entire stretch run while collecting 17 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and making three 3s on five see gbinije page 14

men’s lacrosse

Syracuse faceoff specialists adapt to changes ahead of season

By Matt Schneidman asst. sports editor

As competition for the starting spot at the faceoff X heats up, the three contenders head coach John Desko has name-dropped are still adjusting to the faceoff rule changes instituted in the fall.

Sophomore transfers Ben Wil-

liams and Zach Vehar and sophomore Joe DeMarco all voiced their favor toward the changes, which have brought about some obstacles.

There are also manageable changes that they’re all adjusting to in the faceoff X for the season opener against Siena on Feb. 7.

The modifications most notably include not being allowed to pick up

the ball with the back of the stick.

Desko called it the biggest change because it puts much more emphasis on ground balls and wing play. Using one’s body to initiate contact with an opponent’s stick or one’s own is also forbidden, and to Vehar, it’s like taking away cheating.

“There were some growing pains in the fall with it,” Williams said of

the new rules. “… but now coming into the season, it feels really normal and I like it a lot.”

Last year, DeMarco said faceoff specialists would pick the ball up with the back of their stick and just run around with no real intention.

Now that the possibility of that is eliminated, the ball will end up rolling out of the faceoff X and out to the

wings more, he said.

It’ll not only benefit the more athletic faceoff men who can move quicker to contend for ground balls, but also the wing players who can scoop them up more effectively.

“It’s more about the wings, not just about the two guys fighting it out in the middle,” DeMarco said. “You’ll see faceoffs page 14