Oct. 13, 2016

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THURSDAY

oct. 13, 2016 high 56°, low 38°

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 • On the issues

Read about where the 2016 election candidates in the presidential and New York state elections stand on the issue of higher education in the U.S. Page 3

P • In the house

dailyorange.com

Sam Feldt played a packed Schine Underground Wednesday, entertaining concertgoers with relaxed house music. Relive the show through a photo story.

Page 9

S • On the low

Syracuse football attendance is on pace for a record low this season.

The Orange is 2-4 and has three home games remaining on the 2016 schedule.

Page 16

university senate

Initiative cost revealed

By Alexa Torrens development editor

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud at Wednesday’s University Senate meeting for the first time disclosed the cost of the University Place promenade. It totaled at $6 million, he said.

The previously planned maintenance project having to do with water mains underneath the promenade cost about $2 million, Syverud said, and the construction of the promenade itself cost about $4 million. Syverud said half the latter cost was paid for with donations to the university.

see usen page 4

CLOSING THE DOOR SU advocates for Perkins loans as government plans to end it Text by Riley Bunch staff writer

Illustration by Delaney Kuric head illustrator

T

his September marked the first time the Federal Perkins Loan Program phased out to streamline higher education government student loan programs.

About 1,700 colleges have applied and received federal funding to distribute these loans — they will soon be required to return any grants they received under the Perkins program within the last decade.

The Federal Perkins Loan Program provides low-cost, government-guaranteed loans for low-income students to help cover higher education costs, according to the United States Department of Education.

Described as the government’s “oldest student loan program” by The Chronicle of Higher Education, Congress voted to disperse these loans to new undergraduate borrowers until Sept. 30, 2017. Perkins loans were no longer distributed to graduate student borrowers as of Sept. 30 of this year.

Undergraduate students are able to borrow up to $5,500 and graduate stu-

dents can borrow up to $8,000 a year with low-interest due to the student’s “exceptional financial need,” according to the program report. No interest is charged to the student during their schooling period.

A fixed 5 percent interest rate is enacted when the student graduates and enters repayment nine months after graduation.

Each year 500,000 students receive some form of Perkins loan, according to DOE’s Office of Federal Student Aid. Of about 75 percent of Syracuse University students who receive some form of financial support, nearly 25 percent receive Perkins loan, according to the SU Office of Financial Aid website. Those who receive the loan program can get up to $2,000 a year to help aid their education.

For the nearly 3,200 students who meet the criteria for low-income, the change isn’t without a significant grace period that will help them transition.

The university still hopes for the program’s revival. Since the second quarter report in 2015, SU has reported $180,000 in lobbying activity. A portion of that money was related to the reauthorization of the Federal Perkins Loan Program. In 2016, the university reported $50,000 in lobbying activity under Eric Persons, a lobbyist and associate vice president of government and community relations at SU.

Upon a meeting with a Daily Orange reporter, Persons declined to comment on Perkins loans.

Those against the termination of the Perkins loan program argue that the program provides extra funding for students with financial need who will have a hard time finding it elsewhere.

SU’s Director of Financial Aid Michelle Sipely said she is hopeful that the program will not completely slip away. With its low and fixed interest rate, it is the most affordable and reasonable loan offered to low-income students.

“In 2018-19, we won’t be able to award Perkins to anyone, not even the grandfathered students we thought we would be able to,” Sipely said. “We’re hopeful that if the program goes away they’ll replace it with something that is similarly beneficial to students.”

Fallback loans for students that are already in place include the Federal Parent PLUS loan and private alternative loans, which Sipely said, the university wouldn’t ever recommend to or automatically package for students.

The university continues to lobby and support the idea that Perkins will remain if reauthorization can happen within the next year or two. see perkins

loans page 7

crime

Officer in shooting identified

By Michael Burke asst. news editor

Syracuse police have identified the officer who shot and killed an armed man Sunday night near Walnut Park.

Joseph Mauro, who has been with the Syracuse Police Department since January 2001, shot and killed Deric Brown, 41, on Sunday, according to police.

Mauro is currently on administrative leave, per protocol, and will remain on leave until the investigation is completed. The case has been turned over to the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, police said.

Mauro was uninjured in the shooting. When Mauro approached Brown’s car, he noticed a firearm in Brown’s possession, police said.

When Mauro retreated to his car, Brown left his car and fired an undisclosed number of shots at Mauro, police said. Mauro returned fire, striking Brown with at least one round of gunshots. Brown was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he died of his injuries. mdburk01@syr.edu

2 oct. 13, 2016

dailyorange.com

THIRSTY thursday | cupcake vineyards red velvet wine

Red velvet wine leaves sweet, fruity aftertaste

By Monique Iuster staff writer

As I was scanning the sea of alcohol at the local store this week for a different but affordable wine, a bright red label with a white floral border caught my eye.

I’m not going to lie, I’m a sucker for nice packaging, but this Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine beat any previous expectations I had for wine when I first saw the bottle.

When poured into the glass, the wine resembled a slightly watered down blackberry juice, with a hint of red. The rich maroon liquid had a high viscosity, making it almost completely opaque. From bottle to glass, the wine poured thick, leading me to believe it would taste rich and heavy.

My favorite part of this wine is the aroma, which is thick and true to the name of the wine. The first smells that hit me were blueberry, raspberry and vanilla, followed by the rich scents of caramel and chocolate. The strong aroma reminded me of chocolate cake with sweet raspberry reduction.

The taste proved to be similar to the smell, with blackberry and bittersweet chocolate being the prominent flavors. Strawberry, blueberry, and vanilla tastes over-

powered an initial light tannic note, and the overall taste of the wine resembled something close to an alcoholic cherry cola.

The complex flavors of this wine can be explained by its equally as complete blend: Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah wines all contribute their own different flavor to the Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine.

Once the different varieties are blended, the wine is aged in oak barrels, which creates a final earthy taste. This also contributes to the rich, velvety texture.

Just like the aroma, the wine leaves you with a creamy chocolate and caramel aftertaste.

While the name of this wine would suggest that it is a dessert wine, this is not quite the case. The beverage is definitely on the sweeter side and showcases flavors we generally associate with dessert, but it is not quite sweet enough to cross into the realm of dessert wine.

Personally, this is one of my favorite wines I have had in this price range. The wine sells for 10 dollars a bottle and is 13.5 percent alcohol.

I also highly recommend a handful of chocolate chips alongside the sweet and fruity liquid. mciuster@syr.edu

t o day ’ s w e at h e r

a.m.

noon hi 56° lo 38°

p.m.

INSIDE N • We can be Royals

Appalachian State University has decided to use gender neutral terms for its Homecoming Court, but not everyone at the school is happy about it.

Page 6

S • Hokie pokie

Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers previewed the Orange’s matchup with Virginia Tech on Wednesday’s ACC coaches teleconference.

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c on tac t Editor@dailyorange.com News@dailyorange.com

EDITORIAL 315 443 9798

BUSINESS 315 443 2315 Sports@dailyorange.com GENERAL FAX Opinion@dailyorange.com 315 443 3689 Photo@dailyorange.com ADVERTISING 315 443 9794 Ads@dailyorange.com Pulp@dailyorange.com

Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Petite Sirah. The taste is earthy with a thick, velvety texture and a caramel aftertaste. frankie prijatel senior staff photographer

The Daily Orange is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 744 Ostrom Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. All contents Copyright 2016 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Orange is distributed on and around campus with the first two copies complimentary. Each additional copy costs $1. The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidy or associated with Syracuse University.

All contents © 2016 The Daily Orange Corporation

N

Speaking up

@SyracuseU

A transgender queer activist spoke at Syracuse University about LGBT issues and environmental justice.

See dailyorange.com

#SyracuseU is going purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month with events throughout October

NEWS

New group Chancellor Kent Syverud has named new SU community members to the Campus Framework Advisory Group.

See dailyorange.com

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 13, 2016 • PAG E 3

CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES Here is how candidates in the presidential and New York state races plan to address higher education: 2016 presidential race

HILLARY CLINTON

DONALD TRUMP

Memorial honors student

By Sara Swann

democrat

republican

news editor

Enable a student from a household with income $85,000 a year or less to attend an in-state four-year public college or university without tuition; refinance at current rates.

Guarantee easier access, payment and completion of a two- or four-year college and vocational and technical education to master a trade or a skill set.

Karin Ruhlandt embraced the mother of Xiaopeng “Pippen” Yuan before her son’s memorial service in Hendricks Chapel started on Wednesday afternoon.

Ruhlandt, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said during the memorial service that although she did not have the pleasure and honor of meeting Yuan before he died, she has heard many stories in the past two weeks that made her wish she had.

Yuan, a 23-year-old international student from Beijing, China, was the victim of a homicide. The student was found dead behind an apartment complex in the town of DeWitt on Sept. 30. Yuan was in his junior year at Syracuse University, studying mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

More than 100 university community members gathered inside Hendricks Chapel on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. to remember Yuan and grieve his death. In addition to Ruhlandt,

2016 ny 24th district race

COLLEEN DEACON

JOHN KATKO

democrat

republican

Lower loan interest rates, maximize Pell Grant amount, enable college tuition to be tax deductible for some and connect employers with community colleges and universities.

Co-sponsored bills restoring bankruptcy rights to student loan borrowers, enabling individuals to refinance federal student loans more than once and expand Pell Grants eligibility.

2016 ny senate race

CHUCK SCHUMER

WENDY LONG

democrat

republican

Introduced a bill that would make the first two years of community college free refinance at lower rates and increase number of Pell Grants.

Refinance loans at lower interest rates and stop providing federal benefits to colleges or universities if they fail to cut down the tuition rates.

by the numbers

$1.26 TRILLION The total amount of student loan as of March 31, 2016

$34,584

leaving with debt Proportion of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry graduates with debt in 2014

Average debt of a Syracuse University graduates in 2014

$25,399

Average debt of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry graduate in 2014

66% 70%

Proportion of Syracuse University graduates with debt in 2014

election 2016

Deacon talks election issues with SU students

By Sam Ogozalek staff writer

Colleen Deacon, the Democratic nominee for Congress in New York state’s 24th congressional district, held a small campaign event in Syracuse University’s Watson Theatre on Wednesday.

The event was sponsored by Syracuse University’s College Democrats student group, not SU. Deacon is currently trailing Republican incumbent John Katko by 19 points, according to a recent Time Warner Cable News/Siena

College poll, and during the event appealed to students to vote and, if interested, volunteer or intern for her campaign in the final four weeks leading up to the election.

“Your voice really does matter, with elections, with issues, with concerns,” Deacon said to the roughly 30 students and local residents sitting in the theatre Wednesday evening.

Deacon, who is a former regional director in New York state Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) office and an SU alumna, briefly touched on national issues

including concerns over resettling Syrian refugees, climate change and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. But the democratic candidate primarily spoke on local and regional issues she believes she could address if elected to Congress.

“Since I’ve been on this campaign trail, I’ll tell you guys, that jobs and the economy is the number one issue,” Deacon said. “It’s the number one issue that we hear about all over this region.”

One of Deacon’s main talking points was central New York’s

economy, but also how college students face many difficulties with large amounts of student debt and a lack of job opportunities when entering the workface.

“We need to make sure that we keep interest rates low, so that students aren’t having huge monthly payments every month,” Deacon said in an interview before the event. “I remember getting … my bill every month in the mail and, you know, it was hard.

Especially after I first graduated with limited job opportunities.”

see deacon page 4

see memorial page 4

crime briefs Here is a brief on an on-campus robbery that happened Wednesday: ROBBERY A Syracuse University student reported an attempted robbery on campus Wednesday evening near Dineen Hall, police said.

A student reported that while in her car in the Stadium parking lot, near Sadler and Dineen halls, an unknown man approached her, asked for her keys and threatened to harm her if she didn’t comply, according to a Department of Public Safety notice.

The student screamed for help before the man fled on foot in a westerly direction away from campus, according to the notice. No injuries were reported and no weapons were displayed during the attempted robbery.

The unknown man is described in the notice as being in his mid 20s and about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build, short brown hair, shaved eyebrows, a red shirt and black jeans. when: Wednesday at 6:22 p.m. where: 150 Stadium Place

4 oct. 13, 2016

from page 1

usen

The announcement highlighted a meeting that again centered around the topic of transparency. And if September’s University Senate meeting was a charge from senators for university leaders to be transparent, October’s meeting was an assurance from leaders that they would be.

Without prompting or questions from senators regarding transparency — which has of late been a hot-button topic in the senate — two of the university’s foremost leaders, Syverud and Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly, both addressed Wednesday the need for the administration to be transparent and communicative with the rest of the university community.

Syverud and Wheatly discussed separate issues that have been pinpointed by faculty as being clouded over by the administration, including the cost of the promenade, the university’s budget and the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX investigation into SU. “It is a month of challenges nationally in dialogue and civility,” Syverud said in his concluding remarks to the senate, referencing the state of the presidential election. “…

I’m grateful to be participating in a body

from page 3

deacon The congressional candidate also said the ability for students to consolidate loans with high interest rates after graduating is a proposal she would be happy to support if she is elected.

Deacon also spoke about the prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses, a topic that resonated with audience members.

Lyla Rose, a junior television, radio and

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that I have experienced as a civil body of its best, and a frank and transparent body is best, so I hope to model that this year.”

Syverud’s disclosing of the cost of the

through in-person meetings to determine the skillset needed for an interim leader of Whitman. The interim dean will be announced this week, Wheatly said.

promenade came after Sam Gorovitz, a philosophy professor at SU, asked directly at the first senate meeting on Sept. 14 for the cost to be revealed. Syverud missed that meeting due to a scheduling conflict.

Another topic of concern to the senate has been the university’s budget, which Syverud said he expects to discuss in his report at the senate’s next meeting on Nov. 9. Wheatly also addressed the budget in her report, saying she hopes to ensure transparency about the budget with the senate.

The main focus of transparency in Wheatly’s report was in regard to SU’s handling of a student’s Title IX complaint for a sexual assault that was reported in May 2015. The complaint

alleges that SU failed to “respond promptly or equitably” to the report of the assault.

Wheatly described Title IX and the process of reporting sexual assaults to the senate to ensure that senators were on the same level of understanding about sexual assault.

“As we move through this together, it’s on us to try to better educate ourselves on how this process works,” Wheatly said, referencing the national It’s On Us movement against sexual assault on college campuses.

Wheatly also indirectly acknowledged the concern among faculty that the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence was not made aware of the Title IX investigation.

She said she will work to develop a better methodology to communicating about the investigation given that it deals with an “extremely sensitive” topic and given that SU is limited in what it is allowed to disclose about the investigation.

Also in her report, Wheatly addressed the leadership transition of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management following the removal of former Dean Kenneth Kavajecz, who was arrested in mid-September on the charge of patronizing a person for prostitution in the third degree.

Wheatly said she has garnered feedback from Whitman faculty anonymously and

film major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, agreed with Deacon, saying she believes sexual assault is a huge problem that is overlooked at SU. Deacon also spoke frequently on the need for more women to enter politics, another issue Rose — who is a member of SU’s College Democrats — identified with.

“I’m hoping that she can make it into Congress, because, you know, it does seem like it would be great to get a woman into Congress because we’re so marginalized,” Rose said.

“But, she’s 20 points down, so I don’t know.

I’m definitely gonna vote for her.”

According to data compiled by Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics, 104 women held seats in Congress in 2015. Women comprised 20 percent of the Senate and 19.3 percent of the House of Representatives.

In a press conference before her speech, Deacon focused on her competing Congressional candidate Katko and the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying Katko did “too little too late” after tell-

ing Syracuse.com last Saturday he believes Trump should drop out of the race.

Katko’s statement came a day after The Washington Post and NBC News published a 2005 video of Trump making explicit and lewd comments against women.

Despite her focus on the two Republican candidates in the press conference, she rarely mentioned her competing congressional candidate in the speech to students, while not addressing Trump at all.

from page 3

She added that the SU campus will always be a “greater, warmer and stronger place” because Yuan was here.

Two of Yuan’s close friends gave emotional speeches in Chinese about him.

John Bachman, another of Yuan’s friends, spoke about Yuan’s passion for life and basketball.

Bachman recalled the last time he and Yuan played basketball together before he died. He said Yuan — who many of his friends affectionately referred to as “Pippen” — kept sinking 3-pointers that day and his smile was contagious.

“Pippen brought passion to much more than basketball,” Bachman said. “He loved his family very deeply. And I will always remember Pippen as a kind and loving person.”

He spoke about how Yuan would Skype with his young nephew and pass the phone around so everyone could see him.

One day he was at Cedar Point with Yuan and Yuan saw a boy standing by a water ride waiting for the water to splash up on him. Yuan joined the boy, making him smile and laugh.

“That’s who Pippen was,” Bachman said.

“He was a lover. He really made it the best day ever. He had a good heart.”

Yuan’s father also spoke during the memorial service. His words were then translated from Chinese to English.

“Xiaopeng is gone. He went to a place he should not be going. He went in such a hurry,” the translator for Yuan’s father said.

“We love you Xiaopeng. Have a good journey to heaven. Hopefully there is no crime or gunshots in heaven.”

The memorial service ended with Riina, the Lutheran chaplain, sharing a Chinese proverb: “All of life is a dream walking, all of death is a going home.”

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.

memorial SU Chancellor Kent Syverud, Ruth Chen, professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Department of Public Safety Chief Bobby Maldonado were among those in attendance at the memorial. Yuan’s mother and father were also there.

A framed photo of Yuan with bouquets of white flowers — which symbolize death and are often displayed at funerals in Chinese culture — on either side was set up on the altar. Several people in attendance held bouquets of white flowers as well.

(Pippen) loved his family very deeply. And I will always remember Pippen as a kind and loving person.

John Bachman friend of yuan

Rev. Gail Riina, the Lutheran chaplain at Hendricks Chapel, and Ruhlandt both gave speeches at the beginning of the service that were translated into Chinese.

“I can only imagine the pain Xiaopeng’s friends and family must be undergoing, so today is a chance to remember Xiaopeng for his bright promise and the distance he traveled,” Ruhlandt said. “It is a day to remember his achievements, his unquenchable potential. It is a day to remember a smile that could his charm his friends, his professors — a smile of such power it could light up a room.”

Other business discussed at the senate meeting: • The senate endorsed a revised version of the Academic Integrity Policy, which awaits approval by Wheatly. The new policy establishes uniform standards for academic integrity across all of SU’s schools and colleges; creates a three-level violation system; and allows for three “avenues of disposition,” which include expediting the disciplinary process, conducting a written review into the academic violation and holding a formal hearing regarding the violation.

• The Senate Committee on Student Life urged SU to “make a strong stand against” sexual assault and “commit to the students and their health and safety” in regard to alcohol consumption in a report the committee submitted.

• The Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees called for all students, faculty, staff and alumni to nominate candidates to receive honorary degrees at the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 commencement ceremonies. The deadline for all nominations is Nov. 18, 2016. atorrens@syr.edu

sfogozal@syr.edu

smswann@syr.edu

O

Fire nation Technology columnist Brett Weiser-Schlesinger reacts to the Samsung Note 7’s malfunctions and ultimate demise.

See dailyorange.com

OPINION

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 13, 2016 • PAG E 5

scribble

letter to the editor

Reader reacts to mental health week If any stigma is tolerated on Syracuse’s campus, something is seriously wrong.

One does not provide a safe zone, one renders the entire campus safe.

“Advocacy For” is the positive use of language to achieve positive goals. It is measured by the frequency of positive affirmations, the infrequency of negatives. As simple as that seems, recognizing the positives and the negatives in a society which confuses the two is often difficult.

The use of positives must be deliberate, constant, and consistent, for it takes many positives to overcome one single negative.

Though it is a rule of “Advocacy For” to present the positive, sometimes negatives are so well established,

focusing on them can bring them clearly to peoples’ consciousness.

In the simplest, most common of metaphors lie the most powerful negatives.

A First Primer of “Don’ts”:

Avoid the intransitive verbs “are” or “is” and thereby avoid the offensive labeling of people as “schizophrenics” or “a schizophrenic.” Instead, use person-first language and name the illness, such as “He/she has schizophrenia.”

Avoid the articles “the”, “a”, and thereby avoid “the” mentally ill, “a” depressive. Use “personfirst” language, such as “people with bipolar disorder” or an “individual with depression.”

Avoid using adjectives that

label people. Instead, use substantives, naming their conditions.

Avoid “mental illness”. Whenever you can use the fully informative, specific diagnosis.

Avoid “mental illness” in the singular. Use the plural, “mental illnesses “ as there are many.

Avoid “mental” illness. Whenever possible, use illness instead.

They are illnesses.

Avoid the innuendo “stigma”, it victimizes. Use instead “prejudice” or “discrimination,” specifics which can be concretely addressed or redressed.

Avoid recounting “myths,” as they are repeated in folk cultures well known, instead inform and educate to truths.

Harold A. Maio, Retired mental health editor

technology

PlayStation gaming remains virtual reality’s last, best hope

T

his year was poised to be “The Year of Virtual Reality.” Just on the verge of major breakthroughs, the emerging technology was due for a big breakout with the Oculus Rift’s launch in March and the HTC Vive’s release in April. Both products eventually released to warm reception and much initial excitement over the new technology’s long-awaited arrival.

To wrap up this blockbuster of a year, Sony was set to release its PlayStation VR headset on Thursday — a potentially groundbreaking device for virtual reality with a lower price point and the PlayStation brand name to sell it. Well, something happened that not many people were anticipating back in January: the hype for virtual reality has plateaued. Vive and Rift have refused to disclose sales numbers for the devices, fueling speculation of less-than-spectacular adoption rates.

This has led up to the PlayStation VR’s role in the future of virtual reality: in a world of disappointing technology growth and lowered expectations, Sony has the ability

to turn things around with its own vision of the future. Some of the technology needs to be brought up to speed, but ultimately, the gaming background of PlayStation as a manufacturer is what sets it apart from the rest.

The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift truly work great, but what’s holding these devices back from becoming powerhouse gaming consoles is a pretty simple factor: the games themselves. As the bestselling console of this generation, PlayStation 4 could help PSVR in becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Gaming is the most obvious and most effective current use for VR right now. And so long as Sony can bring the name recognition and provide some great games to launch with, there’s no reason it shouldn’t take off. If it fails to, though, we might need to take a hard look at the current state of VR and decide what might need to change before it becomes the new 3D or motion gaming: a cool new

News Editor Sara Swann Editorial Editor Caroline Colvin Sports Editor Paul Schwedelson Feature Editor Rachel Gilbert Presentation Director Clare Ramirez Photo Editor Jessica Sheldon Head Illustrator Delaney Kuric Copy Chief Kathryn Krawczyk Development Editor Alexa Torrens Digital Editor Jacob Gedetsis Social Media Director Benjamin Farr Video Editor Griffin Morrow Web Developer Shuai Wang Asst. News Editor Michael Burke Asst. News Editor Stacy Fernandez Asst. News Editor Satoshi Sugiyama Asst. Editorial Editor Joanna Orland Asst. Feature Editor Hanna Horvath Asst. Feature Editor Casey Russell Asst. Sports Editor Chris Libonati

Asst. Sports Editor Jon Mettus Asst. Photo Editor Jacob Greenfeld Asst. Photo Editor Ally Moreo Senior Design Editor Emma Comtois Senior Design Editor Lucy Naland Design Editor Jordan Bowens Design Editor Ali Harford Design Editor Andy Mendes Design Editor Jordana Rubin Asst. Copy Editor Joe Bloss Asst. Copy Editor Alison Boghosian Asst. Copy Editor Matthew Gutierrez Asst. Copy Editor Haley Kim Asst. Copy Editor Tomer Langer Asst. Copy Editor Taylor Watson Asst. Video Editor Amanda Caffey Asst. Web Editor Rachel Sandler Asst. Web Editor Alex Archambault Asst. Web Editor Byron Tollefson Digital Design Editor Kiran Ramsey

BRETT WEISERSCHLESINGER INTERNET EXPLORER

technology that works, but doesn’t have the draw to become anything more than a quick trend.

While PSVR is our only hope, its vision of the future happens to be a little bit steeped in the past. The VR gaming will use the three-year-old PlayStation 4 console and PlayStation Camera, and is dependent on the six-year-old PlayStation Move motion controllers for input on many PSVR games.

PlayStation Move launched in 2010 as a motion controller for the PlayStation 3 console — a knee-jerk reaction to the Wii’s popularity that never really took off on its own. Move died out along with the rest of the motion gaming fad, so including the old technology with PlayStation VR seems less utilitarian than lazy.

The other VR gaming device, PlayStation Camera, has only a slightly more honorable history of its own: it launched with the PlayStation 4 console in 2013 as a direct response to the popularity of Xbox Kinect, with motiontracking cameras and voice controls of its own. The device launched with a minigame collection called “The Playroom,”

but never got much mileage from the PlayStation user base as a whole — outside of the “Just Dance” series.

Utilizing legacy hardware to save costs is a smart move in theory for Sony, but will ultimately fail for a simple reason: the old devices PSVR is utilizing were never all that popular to begin with. And there is the other concern of price.

The basic PSVR headset is priced at $399, but if you’re like most consumers and don’t already own the Camera and Move accessories, you’ll need to dish out $499 for the rest of the basic hardware.

$399

The starting cost of a Sony PlayStation 4 virtual reality gaming headset

A high-priced accessory, on top of a console you likely already spent 300 to 500 dollars on, won’t catch the eyes of too many holiday shoppers. Still, comparable bundles for VR systems like the Vive and Rift come at $800, making PlayStation’s

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 ac u s e , n e w yor k

Justin Mattingly

Alexa Diaz

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

General Manager Mike Dooling Assistant to the GM David Hayashi IT Manager Maxwell Burggraf Business Assistant Tim Bennett Advertising Manager Manuel Garcia Advertising Representative Hannah Breda Advertising Representative Alanna Quinlan

Advertising Representative Larry Stansbury Advertising Representative Catherine Caruso Advertising Representative Zina Raslan Advertising Representative Lesly Duarte Advertising Representative Devin Martin Advertising RepresentativeDominic Samuels Advertising Designer Conner Lee

offering look cheap in comparison.

Don’t get me wrong: VR has potential far beyond gaming, and is already being used in cases like education, tourism and entertainment to develop new experiences for anyone to enjoy.

It’s clear right now that in its early stages, VR has a lot holding it back from the mainstream.

Experiences on virtual reality platforms are unlike anything else out there, and nearly anyone who’s tried an early version of this technology should know that this will likely be the future of media consumption — it just needs a little help.

Once the kinks are worked out, PSVR will have a chance to succeed well past Oculus and HTC. The PlayStation 4 is the best-selling console of this generation and offering PSVR as an extension of the PS4 experience to customers has a lot more potential than getting people to buy an $800 VR system with no real brand loyalty.

Brett Weiser-Schlesinger is junior newspaper and online journalism major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at bweisers@syr.edu.

Advertising Designer Samantha Robles Advertising Designer Erin Reeves Advertising Designer Conner Lee Digital Advertising Manager Kalyn Des Jardin Social Media Manager Sarah Stewart Special Events Coordinator Taylor Sheehan Special Events Coordinator Linda Bamba Circulation Manager Charles Plumpton Student Circulation Manager Michael Rempter

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beyond the hill

PAGE 6

• oct. 13, 2016 @dailyorange dailyorange.com

every thursday in news

BEYOND BINARIES University gets rid of genderspecific homecoming titles

By Kennedy Rose staff writer

A

ppalachian State University has done away with its Homecoming King and Queen titles and introduced a new gender-neutral term into the homecoming lexicon: Homecoming Royalty.

Homecoming Royalty will replace the roles of King and Queen at Appalachian State and a “Top of the Rock” will be crowned during the homecoming festivities.

“Top of the Rock” is not only an idiom, but a symbol of Appalachian State tradition. Jayna Duckenfield, Appalachian State’s 2014 homecoming queen, said the Kidd Brewer Stadium — the campus’s primary sports arena — is also known as “The Rock.” In turn, Top of the Rock “touches the whole Appalachian theme,” she said.

The Appalachian State homecoming committee’s decision to change the title reflects hopes to choose homecoming representatives based on merit, campus involvement and community involvement regardless of a student’s gender, said Megan Hayes, director of university communications.

Amelia Beimler, a sophomore special education major at Appalachian State, said she welcomes the change.

“I think it’s really cool because it means that those without a gender identity that is specific to (men or women) are able to be a part of this special event, because everyone wants to be a part of homecoming,” Beimler said.

Crowning a Top of the Rock not only eliminates the gender binary in homecoming festivities but also a dual winner. There used to be two winners, a king and a queen, but now there is only one winner at Appalachian State.

Duckenfield said she thinks there are individuals who will be upset with the change since only one person will be selected. While Duckenfield said she felt a degree of sadness that the gendered title of queen is gone, she believes it was a good change made by Appalachian State.

“There’s a part of me that would love for that to keep going,” she said. “But if that means that other people don’t have a chance to apply to be on court, I think the name change is a good thing.”

Duckenfield said she believes the move to change the titles will open up doors for future Appalachian State students.

“I do think there are going to be people in the community who didn’t necessarily feel like this was something for them and now it can be,” Duckfield said.

Though the former queen thought the change moved Appalachian State in a positive direction, not all reactions from the Appalachian State community were as favorable. In a Twitter poll by The Appalachian, Appalachian State’s student newspaper, 80 percent of the 279 responding pollsters voted “no” when asked whether they agree with the change.

Beimler, based on what she’s heard on campus, said she can attest that about 80 percent of the student body does not agree with the change.

Duckenfield added that she has seen a mixed reaction on the Appalachian State campus.

“This is a good move for the future of Appalachian homecomings, but I don’t think it is without disagreement or without some kind of division because people aren’t always going to agree,” Duckenfield said. krose100@syr.edu

illustration by tatiana diaz contributing illustrator

oct. 13, 2016 7

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

from page 1

perkins loans Sandy Baum, senior fellow in the Income and Benefits Policy Center at the Urban Institute, said she is in favor of the program’s termination due to the inequitable system of distributing the loans.

“The distribution formula is widely viewed to be inequitable,” Baum said. “You have lots of private colleges that enroll, some but not inordinate numbers of low-income students, that have lots of money and community colleges for example have little money.”

Baum described the program as “a revolving fund” where institutions can take money people have paid back with no added funds from the federal government within the last few years.

“Institutions with more Perkins money don’t like it because they like the idea that they can package more loans for students and they don’t call it financial aid,” Baum said. “It’s hard to argue that this actually very small program is in any way going to transform access to higher education.”

The future of the federal government funding for low-income students is unclear.

Baum suggests raising federal loan limits on a consolidated federal subsidized student loan program would best benefit both the system and its loan borrowers.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who blocked funding of the program in 2015, claimed streamlining program applications and reducing arbitrary loan programs are necessary for making federal grants feasible. Applications for loans such as the Perkins loan require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid sheet with 108 questions.

Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) said in a press release that Congress should make the application process easier for students by simplifying the financial aid system.

Whether universities will grant more aid or simply acknowledge the new gap in loans after the loss of Perkins loans will be determined on a case-by-case basis when the program officially expires for undergraduates in September 2017, Baum said.

Sipely said SU is continuing to fight for the program.

“Hope will not die until the Perkins loan program does,” Sipely said. rebunch@syr.edu

8 oct. 13, 2016

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P

Serving the streets A former gang member gives back to the community through charity, delivering sandwiches to the homeless population.

See page 11

PULP

Hire me

@SyracuseU

It’s internship season, and humor columnist Patty Terhune gives us a look at her cover letter — if she had written it honestly.

See page 12

#SyracuseU is going purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month with events throughout October

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 13, 2016

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PAG E 9

PRESENCE

FELDT Sam Feldt performs as part of Bandersnatch concert series

2

1

3

1. HOTEL GARUDA opened the concert to an eager crowd that danced along to one half of the DJ duo while waiting for the headliner.

jacob greenfeld asst. photo editor 2. The concert sold out just days after tickets went on sale. The crowd was thin on the ground at first, but grew as the night wore on. jacob greenfeld asst. photo editor 3. SAM FELDT entertained the packed Schine Underground with his remix of Florence & the Machine’s “You Got The Love.” jacob gedetsis digital editor 4. SAM FELDT span house tracks throughout the night, raising his hands in the air and pausing at one point to take a selfie with the crowd. jacob greenfeld asst. photo editor See dailyorange.com for full concert coverage

4

movie

‘Birth of a Nation’ should not be judged on actions of its director

F

ox Searchlight Pictures obtained Nate Parker’s film “The Birth of a Nation” for $17.5 million, an all-time high for a festival acquisition. Buzz about the film came immediately when it premiered at Sundance Film Festival last February — this was the film to look out for in 2016. Fox Searchlight had a surefire hit on its hands, and many thought the 2017 Oscars were on lock before the 2016 ceremony had even taken place.

But as the year progressed, some unsettling facts about Nate Parker began to pop up.

We learned his name was tied to a rape case as a student at Pennsylvania State University.

While Parker was acquitted, his friend who

ERIK BENJAMIN DON’T CALL ME SHIRLEY

was also accused, pleaded guilty — though it was eventually overturned. Pretty bad, right? Well, it gets even worse. We then learned that the girl who Parker was accused of raping committed suicide in 2012, after Parker had risen to a mild level of fame.

For many audiences, this news is horrifying. For Fox Searchlight, who dropped $17.5 million on the film, this was a PR disaster that needed to be handled as efficiently as possible.

This situation has put Parker in a terrible bind on the press circuit. If he appears apologetic or guilty, many would infer that he indeed is guilty. If he shows absolutely no remorse, he seems cold, unsympathetic, and ultimately, guilty.

As the “It’s On Us” campaign continues to grow nationally as well as on campus, and discussions about sexual assault and “locker room banter” grow, this would have been the perfect opportunity for Parker to take a horrible situation and educate people on the topic.

Unfortunately, when push came to shove, in a high-profile “60 Minutes” interview, Parker was fiercely unapologetic and dismissive. He

did not use the platform he was given to make a difference, but rather used it to shift blame.

When all was said and done, the film did mediocre at the box office, and award buzz has significantly fizzled. Is this due to the accusations about Parker and his subsequent behavior? It is hard to know for the box office. But in terms of awards — which are, for better or worse, a popularity contest — it has been absolutely disastrous.

After films are released in theaters, they have a screening for the Academy. For high buzz films, these screenings are usually standing room only. For “Birth of A Nation,” the early

see benjamin page 12

10 oct. 13, 2016

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From the

calendar every thursday in p u l p

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 13, 2016

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PAGE 11

SERVING SYRACUSE Local nonprofit makes, delivers sandwiches to city’s homeless population Text by Divya Murthy

Illustration by Delaney Kuric

staff writer

head illustrator

A

small group of volunteers attempts to fill 200 hungry stomachs twice a month. They make sandwiches and wrap food, preparing food sacks for the homeless.

We Rise Above The Streets Inc., a nonprofit started by Syracuse resident Alamin Muhammad, prepares meals for homeless people in the area every other Saturday, known as “Sandwich Saturday.”

For Muhammad, the people he feeds are a diverse group of people with stories that linger with him.

“There’s a lot of people here from different walks of life,” he said.

Muhammad said he has met doctors who lost their houses, professors out of work, ex-police officers, and “just people with families,” all living on the streets.

Muhammad himself has seen the worst of things in his 44 years. Born in Haiti as Joe Buissereth, he was part of a gang and went by the name Big Mellow. Muhammad said he also has had trouble in the past with drugs, gangs, and the system when he lived in Chicago and Atlanta.

Finally, after his last stint in prison, Muhammad decided “enough was enough” and converted to Islam, changed his birth name and vowed to make his life better. Since then, he’s has gone by Muhammad, and dedicated his efforts to the needy in Atlanta, Chicago and Syracuse.

Out of Muhammad’s passion for helping those similar to him grew We Rise Above The Streets, a nonprofit that originated in Atlanta and has since moved to Syracuse, where Muhammad’s wife worked.

Muhammad’s personal experiences with homelessness began while he was in and out of the system in earlier years; this sparked his generosity and he would later move to Syracuse with the intent of helping others.

“I needed a community to gather up and help me, and help me raise awareness of what’s going on in the streets of Syracuse, and what was going on with my homeless brothers and sisters out in the streets,” Muhammad said.

Volunteers are a big part of Muhammad’s efforts. Volunteering for the cause is a life-changing experience for many, Muhammad said. He explained that many volunteers had heard the stories of the needy in Syracuse, but had never seen the problem in person.

Fortunately for Sandwich Saturday, Muhammad formed quick connections, and soon some dedicated volunteers began to help him every other weekend. Jamal Verity and Hassan Rafiq are two of them.

“When we finally get the sandwiches out there, it feels really kind of satisfying. It feels like you helped,” Verity said. “They seem very grateful.”

Verity is an assistant professor of technology and health studies at Morrisville State College. He is one of many who believe that the Syracuse community needs to improve its homeless outreach. Many people, both in Syracuse and nationwide, don’t know when they’ll eat their next meal, he said, and that’s a huge issue.

Rafiq runs a nonprofit food pantry called Al-Maun, a word meaning “the small kindness.” Muhammad and Rafiq met at their mosque, and Rafiq has been involved with Sandwich Saturday for more than six months.

“I think it’s a very positive thing that my brother is doing, he’s giving back,” Rafiq said. “When you see people that are in need, you know, it kind of breaks your heart to think about kids that may not eat at night, or an older person that may not eat. These types of programs are definitely needed.”

The very first Sandwich Saturday saw a turnout of 40 volunteers, and the most recent Sandwich Saturday went above and beyond its target goal of 200 sandwiches. Muhammad said this clearly shows the enthusiasm of We Rise Above The Streets hasn’t waned.

Muhammad said the organization has reached a level of popularity where many people will be waiting for him and the food packs.

“I go under the bridges, I go to the Rescue Mission, parking lots where they be at, and on Salina Street,” said, “It got to a point now that they know that I’m there exactly on the day and at that time.”

In the future, Muhammad said he hopes to expand into a bigger location with nurses, showers, kitchens and real cutlery.

The first time he distributed about 50 sandwiches, and the people Muhammad helped almost instinctively trusted him, perhaps because of his past.

“There’s an old saying we had when I was on the streets: the real recognize the real,” Muhammad said. “They feel my pain, and they know I was compassionate about it.” dmurthy@syr.edu

12 oct. 13, 2016

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humor

How to write an honest cover letter in time for internship season

D

ear Hiring Manager I Stalked On LinkedIn, I am writing to you in regards to your internship/job at Name-Brand Company That I Have Naively Convinced Myself Is Super Achievable.

I’ve spent the last three years going to classes that really didn’t prepare me for anything. If I’m being honest, I didn’t even go to those classes as often as I should have, but from what I’ve gathered it wouldn’t have made a difference. Maybe I took one course that taught me a genuine skill but I was so overwhelmed by my other courses that I really didn’t learn the skill in any memorable way and still have to use Google if I am ever called upon to do said skill.

I am extremely qualified for this position because I have a guilty conscience and will feel really bad if I disappoint you because I tie my self-worth as a human being to the approval of others. But also I’m a perfection-

from page 9

benjamin Oscar frontrunner, the room was only half full.

The awards tend to help the economics, so the near-empty Academy showing revealed a cyclical process that will continue to hurt the film.

The interesting thing is that those who actually saw the film the previous week loved it: it received an “A” in CinemaScore, a very reliable exit poll in the industry. After all, Fox Searchlight would not shell out the largest amount of money ever at a film festival if they did not think they truly had something special on their hands.

This leads to the inevitably provocative question: Can we judge Parker’s art separate

ist so I will never feel good about anything I deliver to you and I’m a narcissist as well so you will also have to constantly praise me.

Outside of the classroom I really thrive. I hide the majority of my extracurriculars that I really excel at from my Facebook timeline.

However, the pre-approved extracurriculars I want you to know about, as you can see highlighted on my resume, have taught me a lot of skills. No, I still don’t perform these skills to any degree that I’m proud of. I could blame the perfectionism again, but honestly, it’s because I’m just not very good at anything.

The only work and internship experience I have are irrelevant to this position. I worked in food service and had an unpaid internship

where I was too nervous to speak to any of the employees for months so I was never assigned a task. I think they all just thought I was someone’s offspring whose calendar was stuck on “Bring Your Kid To Work Day” in a bizarre interpretation of “Groundhog Day.” This is where I try to convince you that my unrelated experience is vital for your organization by just tying it all back to skills — have I mentioned skills yet? I have soft skills, hard skills, red skills, blue skills.

I bet you’re wondering why I want this company in particular — me too. Rest assured, I want you just as much as the 37 other companies and positions I am applying for. Because at the end of the day I have no idea what I want to do in life. I keep building up a resume but I’m not really sure why. But when I sit down and think about that, I realize that following your dreams means you can’t post a humble Facebook status about receiving an intern-

ship, and having achievements I value seems way less satisfying than getting 200+ likes.

I’m a perfect fit for the position because I have no spine and can fit gelatinously into any position you have. If I don’t hear back from you, I won’t follow up because I’m intimidated by professionalism, entirely unsure what’s appropriate and afraid to ask anyone who would know.

I would love to sweet talk you more and talk about my “qualifications” further. You can call or email me literally anytime. Please.

Best, A Floundering, Vulnerable, Stupid College Student

from judging Parker as a person? “Birth of A Nation” tells the story of Nat Turner, a man who led a slave rebellion.

In this time of racial tension in the United States, this is an extremely relevant and important story to be told. If a film tells an important story of American history from a unique perspective in a meaningful and artful perspective, must we dismiss it because of the creator’s past?

Controversially, I would say no. I would say that it is actually okay to go into the theater, enjoy this film and take something away from it. When all is said and done, I am not a judge nor jury, and I can only deal with the facts. Parker was acquitted, and I feel now that the film exists, there is a larger benefit to me seeing the film than me pro-

testing it in a display of morality.

Over the years we have seen films made by Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, who have both been swirled in controversy, yet they have been able to create art that has risen above their behavior. Just as Polanksi’s “The Pianist” was essential viewing to audiences a decade and a half ago and picked up three Oscars along the way, “Birth of a Nation” is essential viewing for the filmgoers of today.

If there is one problem with the morality of the film, it is that Parker used a rape of a slave to incite Turner’s rebellion, essentially boiling down rape as a plot point. Parker is not an idiot; he absolutely knew these allegations of his past would arise if this film were to become successful.

One final thing to consider is that while we give Parker the credit for “Birth of A Nation,” he did not make this movie by himself. There were hundreds of people who worked their tail off to tell this story, and it would be a shame for their efforts to be disregarded because of the accusations of one man.

Viewers may not like Parker as a person, and we certainly do not have to, but I feel for any piece of art, I would try to separate the human and the work, and simply judge the work on its merit. It is not always easy, but doing this allows the best stories to rise above the rest, and we can have a richer culture for it.

PATTY TERHUNE I WRITE SINS NOT COMEDIES

Patty Terhune is a senior policy studies and television, radio and film dual major.

She had to Google “how to write a cover letter” to even write this piece, which should tell you enough. To hire her, you can follow her on Twitter @pattyterhune or reach her at paterhun@syr.edu.

Erik Benjamin is a junior television, radio, and film major. You can reach him at ebenjami@syr.edu, or @embenjamin14.

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14 oct. 13, 2016

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men’s soccer

Robinson aims to stop SU’s slide after return to team

By Matthew Gutierrez asst. copy editor

Missing from what was one of the nation’s steadiest defenses was its central defender.

The player whose head rises above the others on header opportunities. The one who starts fast breaks by clearing balls out to midfielders as often as he stops opponents from doing so.

The one who, even as a center back, scored four goals in Syracuse’s first nine games.

The Orange, amid a four-game winless streak, has missed Miles Robinson since the 6-foot-2, 185-pound sophomore left. He has not played the last two games — both Syracuse losses — since being called to the United States Men’s Under-20 National Team.

Lately, miscommunication and missed assignments have plagued the Syracuse defense. Without Robinson, SU’s unit wasn’t thin — Louis Cross, Kamal Miller and JohnAustin Ricks are capable of holding down the line — but lacked the body that powered it to the No. 2 ranking. After a week with the national team, Robinson returns to the heart of No. 10 Syracuse’s (8-3-1, 2-2-1 Atlantic Coast) defense Friday night vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech.

“I’ll try to make it easy for the boys,” Robinson said. “Just get everything back to normal.”

Syracuse has searched for the momentum it built in its start since its first loss on Sept.

23. The Orange has not won since Sept. 20, dropping to No. 10 from stints at No. 2 to No. 3 in the NSCAA poll. Syracuse looks lighter

from page 16

attendance Orange athletics, Syracuse granted all students with a valid ID free admission to the Colgate and Louisville contests. The move comes months before SU Athletics may test a new student season ticket model.

By the start of next football season, SU could adopt a point system, which incentivizes students to attend athletic events through prizes.

Syracuse plans on a point system because of its success at other Power 5 universities including Miami, Florida State and Boston College, Di Fino said. A “few thousand” students who had not purchased season tickets attended the UofL game because it was free.

Each Syracuse home game has a theme, including Military Appreciation Day. SU has amped up promotions during timeouts and at halftime. There are more flashes of the crowd on the video board.

This summer, Syracuse upgraded Carrier Dome Wi-Fi speeds and ran its “No Huddle Tour” in Rochester, Buffalo and Binghamton, New York, for the first time since 2010, emphasizing “New York’s College Team.” Fan can meet players and coaches at the events.

Over the years, SU has upgraded Carrier Dome video boards and scoreboards. An air conditioning system could be in the works,

from page 16

babers healthy. SU could compensate for its injuries by moving Slayton back to defensive end.

SU’s secondary has been ‘decimated’ by injuries SU lost starting cornerback Juwan Dowels and starting safety Antwan Cordy early in the season, and SU’s defensive backfield has struggled to fully replace the two since. It also lost Kielan Whitner for a short time because of an injury.

The Orange ranks 106th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (273.5). Syracuse

defensively and hasn’t had its primary threat on set pieces, where Robinson thrives.

Three of his team-leading four goals have come on sets in which he headed the ball into the net. Opponents put their best bodies on Robinson but succumb to his athleticism. He routinely beats out his teammates in weight room and agility testing.

“The ball’s in the air, out of nowhere you hear Miles Robinson,” freshman midfielder Mo Adams said. “All you hear is ‘Miles’s ball’ and that’s when you know to get out of the way for Miles to win the header.”

“He’s miles ahead of everybody.”

Robinson, who was offered the national team spot a few weeks ago, started two games last week in Manchester, England.

He didn’t see the field in a game against Germany but started against Holland and England. One of only three collegiate players to have made the trip, Robinson could re-join the team in January.

Last Friday at Louisville, Syracuse played a 4-4-2 formation instead of its standard 3-5-2. It commanded possession throughout the second half, outshot the Cardinals, 11-6, and allowed only two shots on goal. But an early defensive mistake let one of the nation’s best scorers find the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winner.

Had Robinson been there, players said, the goal probably would not have been prevented.

But it’s his mere presence they expect will buttress the Syracuse defense. With him, the

MILES ROBINSON, sophomore defender, returns to the defense after spending a week with the U.S. national team. tony d. curtis staff photographer

defense can return to its standard set and try to give opposing playmakers headaches again.

“He’s an absolute beast,” Adams said. “I’ve never seen anyone go past him. It’s amazing to have him behind me. I feel more confident when I have the ball. He’s always there to sweep up.”

He started in all 25 games last year and all 10 games this year until the Albany game last week. He scored goals in two of his last three games before leaving for the national team. In a 3-2 overtime victory over St. John’s, he halved his 2015 scoring total with his two-goal and one-assist clinic. Against No. 2 Notre Dame, he scored SU’s lone goal

on a header off a corner with less than 12 minutes in regulation. His goal tied the game and sent it to overtime.

“He’s definitely the guy you want to look for on a corner kick,” said Callahan, who usually kicks corners. “In my opinion, he’s the best header on the ball in college soccer.

Not having him is a bit of a loss.”

The Syracuse offense has stalled since its 8-0 historic start. Its defense hasn’t been sharp. Robinson could stabilize a wobbly Syracuse team and lift a slipping unit back to normalcy. mguti100@syr.edu | @Matthewgut21

Di Fino said, declining further comment.

Against Louisville, Carrier Dome temperatures eclipsed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The taste of hot dogs, comfort of the bleachers and temperatures of the venue weigh just as heavily as the on-field product, experts say.

Syracuse attendance peaked in the program’s centennial season, 1989, when it averaged 48,885 per game. Home attendance has decreased 30 percent since 2012, when the figure (45,854) eclipsed 45,000 for the first time in 13 years. In both years, the Orange won eight games and a Bowl.

“Winning cures almost any problems,” Paul said.

Even last year, when the Orange sprung to its first 3-0 start in more than 20 years, attendance dropped 21 percent, the largest decline among Power 5 schools over the year.

At all levels, football leagues face growing scrutiny over the game’s harmful effects.

Youth participation rates have declined and NFL television viewership has dropped more than 10 percent this year.

Still, elite programs have drawn big crowds — even in down seasons. Teams with rich histories, like Syracuse, can leverage tradition through nostalgia, said Gregg Bocketti, an associate professor at Transylvania University who has studied attendance. More tangible upgrades help, too.

Louisiana State recently installed a sound system to keep fans. Kentucky attendance jumped 6 percent its first year in a renovated stadium. Houston saw a 20 percent increase as it became a ranked team.

A mix of on-field success and off-field entertainment helped Akron’s attendance soar.

Despite sitting about 120 miles from mega power Ohio State, Akron’s attendance surged after reaching its first bowl game in 10 years.

A new picnic area near the field complements pre- and post-game concerts and fireworks to enhance auxiliary entertainment. Parking lots now open at 7 a.m. for game-day tailgaters.

“We want you here all day,” said George Van Horne, Akron’s senior associate athletics director for development and marketing.

Athletic departments long for the casual fans. Whereas invested supporters, such as Michael N. Siiss, are easier to draw.

Siiss and his father have been Syracuse football season ticket holders since 1993.

The Schenectady, New York, residents keep their tickets through years of national prominence and struggle.

“We’ve stuck with it because it’s a good bonding time for my father and I,” Siiss said. “He can tell me what the games were like back at the old Archbold Stadium. It’s a chance we have we can spend together from the capital district out to Syracuse.

Still, Syracuse history has proved winning teams draw more fans. The year the Carrier Dome opened, 1980, Syracuse football attendance soared. It dropped in 1986, a 5-6 year sandwiched between seven- and 11-win seasons. Syracuse’s all-time high came in 1989, when the Orange finished 8-4 amid a 6-year stretch of Bowl Game appearances.

Over-branding can drive fans away from teams, Bocketti cautioned. Fans can feel separated from players, less ownership and less affinity for a team when they sense it belongs to corporate sponsors.

How accessible the stadium is, where parking lies and how large venues are also contribute. Stadiums that are too big can always seem empty, Bocketti said, keeping fans away.

“If I see on TV the stadium is half empty, it’s 82 degrees and it’s a sunny day, I am not going to attend the game,” said Thilo Kunkel, a professor of sport management at Temple University. “Why should I attend if there’s no one else there?”

The next step for Syracuse is to sport a winning team. How the Orange performs in its final three home games may determine whether fans flock to the Dome — or signify more down years to come.

“Everyone’s along for the ride as we do this,” Di Fino said. mguti100@syr.edu | @Matthewgut21

was torched through the air by Louisville for 431 yards and Notre Dame for 471 yards.

Rodney Williams, Daivon Ellison and Whitner have all played safety for Syracuse.

Ellison has been the best of the three, and is one of SU’s best tacklers in the open field.

After not getting much playing time in the Orange’s first two games, Ellison has 37 tackles, good for third on the team.

“We’ve got people rolling in and out of the lineup back there, and it’s hard to be extremely consistent,” Babers said. “Outside of Corey Winfield, I’m not sure we’ve been consistent at any of the other three spots back there.”

Virginia Tech’s offense is 11th in the nation in passing efficiency.

He’ll go to Amba Etta-Tawo as much as possible Babers said Etta-Tawo’s early season success has drawn in NFL teams already. Because he won’t have Etta-Tawo, who is a graduate transfer, next season, Babers said he wants to maximize him for the next six or seven games.

“The way I look at it is somebody is going to be taking advantage of him next year,” Babers said. “I’ve only got seven games left.

I’ll try to use him as much as I can.”

In Syracuse’s matchup against Wake Forest,

SU hardly threw Etta-Tawo’s way. In the first half, the offense was hampered by remnants from Hurricane Matthew, but the weather cleared up in the second half. Etta-Tawo finished the game with just four catches for 36 yards, both season lows. He still leads the country in receiving yards, however, at 876 yards, 16 more than Louisiana Tech’s Trent Taylor.

SU’s offensive line struggled to pick up Wake Forest’s blitzes, another reason Eric Dungey couldn’t throw to his best receiver. The blitzes shortened his time in the pocket and didn’t let Etta-Tawo get far enough down the field. cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati

oct.13, 2016 15

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women’s basketball

Syracuse picked No. 4 in preseason conference poll

By Matt Feldman and Jon Mettus the daily orange

Syracuse has earned the No. 4 spot in the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference preseason coaches poll, the league announced Wednesday morning at its annual media day event.

It’s the highest ranking the Orange has received since joining the conference in 2013, and comes on the heels of SU’s first national championship appearance in program history.

Notre Dame, which the Orange lost to in the ACC championship game last season, earned the top spot. Louisville earned the second spot, and Florida State rounds out the top three.

Senior guard Alexis Peterson was the only SU player named to the preseason All-ACC team, after being named All-ACC first team at the end of last season. Peterson averaged 16 points per game last season and ranked third in the ACC with 4.7 assists per game.

Syracuse starts its season at home against Rhode Island on Nov. 11.

Coaches’ Preseason Poll 1. Notre Dame – 221 points (13 first place votes) 2. Louisville – 209 (1 first place vote) 3. Florida State – 194 (1 first place vote) 4. Syracuse – 178 5. Miami – 162 6. Duke – 144 7. North Carolina State – 108 8. Georgia Tech – 110 9. North Carolina – 108 10. Virginia – 85 11. Wake Forest – 74 12. Virginia Tech – 72

13. Boston College – 48 14. Pittsburgh – 47 15. Clemson – 16 ACC tournament moved The 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament has been moved to the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, the conference announced Wednesday. The tournament will be held from March 1-5.

The tournament is typically held at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina — the headquarters of the ACC. With the announcement, all of the ACC’s 2016-17 neutral site championships previously scheduled to be held in North Carolina have now found new homes.

The conference announced on Sept. 14 it would move all of the neutral site championships located in North Carolina because of House Bill 2, which most notably forces everyone in the state to use the bathroom of the sex listed on his or her birth certificate and prevents transgender people from using the bathrooms of their associated gender. The announcement came two days after the NCAA announced it would relocate its seven championship events from North Carolina.

On Sept. 29, the ACC moved the football championship to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. It moved the seven others on Oct. 4, including women’s soccer and women’s tennis. mjfel100@syr.edu jrmettus@syr.edu

S

He’s back

Closer to the top

Miles Robinson is returning to the Syracuse men’s soccer team after missing two games to be with the national team.

See page 14

Syracuse women’s basketball was picked fourth in the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference poll — its best preseason rank ever.

See page 15

S PORTS

On to the next one Dino Babers and Justin Fuente are in their first seasons as head coaches. Check out how their situations and first seasons differ.

See dailyorange.com

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 13, 2016 • PAG E 16

DEFLATED

Syracuse drew 30,112 fans to its 2015 season opener against Rhode Island. The Orange averaged 32,102 fans per game last season. Despite efforts from the athletic department, SU is on track for its lowest average attendance in history. The decrease in college football attendance is a nationwide trend. daily orange file photo

SU football attendance is on pace for an all-time low with 3 home games left IT’S GOING DOWN

By Matthew Gutierrez asst. copy editor

32,102

31,936 2016*

*Three home games remaining

2015

40,447

38,276

30,000

45,854

40,000

40,504

50,000

20,000

2014

2013

0

2012

10,000

2011

Average home game attendance

A

ll it took was a new head coach, offensive scheme and director of athletics for Bethann Fischer to come out of a 13-year dormancy.

“This year, we got Dino (Babers), a new team, new hope,” said Fischer, who bought Syracuse football season tickets this year for the first time since 2003. “I’m hoping there’s some light at the end of the tunnel.”

But for years, college football attendance has decreased. Syracuse, and the nation, ride a steady decline in home football attendance. This year’s Carrier Dome average is on pace for a record low while national Division I FBS attendance has fallen in six of the last seven years after peaking in 2008.

Syracuse’s season and group ticket figures are up, said Anthony Di Fino, Syracuse’s associate athletics director for business development.

Among the measures athletic departments take to

Syracuse’s average home football attendance has decreased in three of the last five years

lure fans to games are new personnel, upgraded facilities and branding campaigns, such as Syracuse’s social media push, #OrangeIsTheNewFast. Colleges across the country face the challenge as fans seek enhanced at-home viewing experiences, winning teams they can root for and alternate entertainment options.

“Here we go again, it’s 2-2, why should I buy tickets?” said Rodney Paul, a professor of sport management in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. “So much has to do with other entertainment options. What else could you do?”

It doesn’t help that the Orange is 6-12 since the start of 2015. Getting families to spend a day at the game over Destiny USA or the park is no easy feat. Facing record-low attendance, SU Athletics has launched several initiatives to lure fans through the Carrier Dome turnstiles.

To bolster student attendance for a nationally televised game and expose first-year students to

see attendance page 14

football

3 things Dino Babers said on the ACC teleconference

By Chris Libonati asst. sports editor

Syracuse (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) will face No. 17 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0) for the first time since 2003, when the then-No. 4 Hokies dismantled the Orange, 51-7. The two teams will face each other in the Carrier Dome and kick off at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. Syracuse head

coach Dino Babers spoke on the ACC teleconference Wednesday.

Here are three things he said.

Kendall Coleman is out for the first half against Virginia Tech; De’Jon Wilson to start In what Babers called a “bang-bang” play Monday at his weekly press conference, Syracuse defensive end Kendall Coleman hit Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford high after

the latter had thrown the ball. After an in-game review, Coleman was called for targeting. The penalty carries a one-half suspension, which will be enforced in SU’s game against Virginia Tech. Babers said earlier this week that the hit would be reviewed, but he was told that in the ACC the hits are only reviewed in-game and the call on the field can’t be changed.

De’Jon Wilson is set to start in

Coleman’s place Saturday, Babers said. In limited action this season, Wilson has just half a sack, which came in the first half against Notre Dame, and three tackles. Coleman has yet to record a sack but has been one of SU’s key defensive linemen.

He’s tied for the lead among defensive linemen with 18 tackles.

SU is thin on the defensive line.

Josh Black appeared to tweak his

ankle against Wake Forest. If Black can’t go, redshirt freshman Jake Pickard and freshman Kenneth Ruff could see more playing time throughout SU’s matchup with Virginia Tech. Earlier in the season, defensive tackle Chris Slayton had played at defensive end. An injury to Kayton Samuels bumped Slayton back inside, but Samuels is now see babers page 14