Oct. 14, 2021

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N • LGBTQ+ Board

C • Another option

Mayor Ben Walsh announced 19 community members for the new advisory board. It will act as a liaison between the LGBTQ community and the city.

Page 3

The SU chapter of Callisto offers survivors of sexual assault who are on campus another option to safely document their story and connect with other student survivors.

Page 7

IN THE HUDDLE SYRACUSE VS. CLEMSON OCT. 15, 2021

Why they left

Hate crimes, tuition costs and pandemic stresses added to why these former Syracuse University students transferred from the university

By Francis Tang

asst. copy editor

Photo Illustration by Shannon Kirkpatrick presentation director

W

hile some students choose to transfer to Syracuse University from other institutions every year, other students went in the opposite direction.

The Daily Orange spoke to five former SU students who chose to transfer to other colleges during the past two years. Some of them traveled across multiple continents to continue their education, expressing dissatisfaction with SU’s reputation, education quality and commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Hate crimes and bias-related incidents

Multiple students said the series of hate crimes and bias-related incidents in the fall 2019 and

spring 2020 semesters contributed to their decisions to transfer from SU. Kirin Cao, a former film major student at the College of Visual and Performing Arts from Beijing, chose to take a gap year after the spring 2020 semester.

Cao, who was a freshman living in Haven Hall then, said she felt unsafe living and studying on campus after the series of incidents, especially with the racist graffiti found in bathrooms in Haven.

see transfer page 4

on campus

SU at COVID-19 ‘RED’ masking level for almost 2 months

By Hannah Ferrera asst. digital editor

On Aug. 13, Syracuse University adopted a four-tier COVID-19 alert system and masking requirements for students, employees and visitors.

The university has been enforcing its four campus COVID-19 alert system, which is broken into four colored levels — “GREEN,” “YELLOW,” “BLUE” and “RED” — with different masking requirements for each level.

SU changes its masking requirements based on rates of new infec-

tion, testing data and contact tracing information for the campus and local community, said Mike Haynie, the vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, in a campus-wide email.

The campus level changed from “BLUE” to “RED” on Saturday, Aug. 28 — right before classes started on the following Monday. Under this “RED” mandate, those who are unvaccinated and vaccinated must wear a mask indoors and outdoors in the presence of others.

As of Oct. 13, SU is still under the

163 Number of active COVID-19 cases SU reported when it reached its peak on Sept. 13 and 15

“RED” alert level.

It is uncertain, however, at what point the university changes the level or whether changes are based on campus or county COVID-19 infection, testing or contact tracing data.

When SU was at the “BLUE” level on Aug. 23, just a week before it switched to “RED,” the university had a total of 12 active cases. A little over a week later, when students attended their first day of classes at a RED level, there were 31 active cases on campus.

Active COVID-19 cases that SU reported continued to climb until they

reached their peak on Sept. 13 and 15 at 163 cases. After that, there has been a steady decline in the number of active cases. On Oct. 13, SU reported 36 active cases on its dashboard, the fewest active cases since Sept. 1.

SU switched to a COVID-19 alert level of “RED” three days after Onondaga County was classified as having a “high” rate of COVID-19 transmission. Sometimes, SU’s COVID-19 active case dashboard rises and falls with Onondaga County’s new case dashboard. But this is see covid-19 page 4

2 oct. 14, 2021

about

INSIDE

The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.

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“I just couldn’t focus on my studies anymore back then. And after all the chaos, there came the pandemic.” - Kirin Cao, former VPA student Page 1

OPINION “While it may be hard to step away from your studies and spend time outside, doing so can have lasting health benefits.” - Evan Butow, columnist Page 5

CULTURE “A lot of students do not have trust for Title IX or don’t want to go through that process because it can be really traumatizing for them.” - Sarayfah Bolling, assistant director of campus engagement at Callisto Page 7

SPORTS “We’re a whole family, we just gotta get the job done and step up.” - Anthony Queeley, wide receiver Page 15

how to join us If you are a Syracuse University or SUNY-ESF student interested in contributing to The D.O. on either its advertising or editorial teams, please email editor@dailyorange.com.

COMING UP

corrections policy The D.O. strives to be as accurate in our reporting as possible. Please email editor@dailyorange.com to report a correction.

Noteworthy events this week.

WHAT: LGBTQ+ History Month QTPOC Affinity Group WHEN: Thursday, 7-8 p.m.

WHERE: Schine Student Center, 132

letter to the editor policy The D.O. prides itself as an outlet for community discussion. To learn more about our submission guidelines, please email opinion@dailyorange. com with your full name and affiliation within the Syracuse community. Please note letters should not include any personal information pertaining to other people unless it is relevant to the topic at hand. All letters will be edited for style and grammar.

WHAT: Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month Potash Keynote WHEN: Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m.

The D.O. is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 230 Euclid Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. All contents Copyright 2021 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor-in-chief. The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidy or associated with Syracuse University. All contents © 2021 The Daily Orange Corporation

WHERE: Watson Hall Theater WHAT: Defying Convention: Poet Terrance Hayes WHEN: Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Virtual

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NEWS

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PAG E 3

oct. 14, 2021

mayoral election 2021

graduate students

Bey, Mayor Walsh clash over sidewalk policy GSO confirms space for students

By Richard Perrins asst. news editor

MAYOR BEN WALSH recently introduced a new policy which has the city of Syracuse investing millions of dollars into the maintenance and construction of the city’s sidewalks. arthur maiorella staff photographer

By Joseph Hackett

contributing writer

As the mayoral election approaches, Syracuse is also preparing for its first winter operating under Mayor Ben Walsh’s recently enacted $4.5 million municipal sidewalk policy.

Syracuse Common Council approved the policy, a longstanding priority of Mayor Walsh’s administration, in a 7-2 vote this past June, marking a noticeable departure from the city’s past sidewalk policy.

Prior to this enactment, private property owners were responsible for the cost of replacing their sidewalk if a city inspector condemned it. The cost could potentially amount to thousands of dollars.

Under the new ordinance, the municipal government would assume responsibility for the maintenance of pre-existing sidewalks as well as the construction of new and replacement sidewalks where they are needed.

Beginning in the second half of 2021 and continuing for the following five years, the city of Syracuse will assess an annual fee for sidewalk maintenance. The fee will start at $20 and increase incrementally by $20 over the subsequent five years, amounting to a final cap of $100 for the sixth year.

For commercial property owners, the increase will be $60 annually up to a cap of $300. Starting at the sixth year, the city will charge commercial and private properties the flat rate year after year. For both

types of properties, there will be no sidewalk fees issued to property owners for the program’s first year.

Sidewalk repairs began this past July at the corner of Tioga Street and Marcellus Street, but there are plans to construct and repair up to 20 miles of new or currentlyexisting sidewalks. The mayor’s office saw an overwhelmingly positive community response to these initial efforts, Walsh said in an interview with The Daily Orange.

These efforts will promote sidewalk equity and accessibility in a city where many residents lack reliable access to personal cars, he said.

In the build-up to next month’s mayoral election, Syracuse policymakers have raised concerns about the long-term financial viability of the program and its annual cost to Syracuse residents.

Khalid Bey was one of the seven Common Council members to vote for the program this past June. The councilor-at-large and Democratic mayoral candidate voted in favor of the program only after the inclusion of a $500,000 hardship fund.

Bey pushed for the fund to help fixed income residents who may not be able to afford the program’s annual fees. But he still believes the sidewalk program is noticeably flawed.

“In Mayor Walsh’s plan, the taxpayers are paying more money for an inferior product,” Bey said in an email statement.

Bey was also involved in a 2013 municipal sidewalk proposal that ultimately wasn’t enacted. His 2013

proposal for double-pour concrete sidewalk constructions was estimated by the then-commissioner of the Syracuse Department of Public Works to cost upwards of just $2 million, Bey said.

Bey also criticized the program’s usage of single-pour concrete, a concrete mixture that fills in both the footing and walls of a foundation in a single pour.

“A single-pour sidewalk will deteriorate much faster as a result of our winters, ultimately requiring a lot more in maintenance and costs,” he said to The D.O. Janet Burman, the Republican mayoral candidate, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview about the city’s municipal sidewalk program.

Mayor Walsh said he believes that the use of single-pour concrete allows the city’s Department of Public Works to fill in more linear feet of sidewalk at a greater rate than double-pour concrete.

The Department of Public Works will reach out to and work with local construction contractors to ensure a high standard of quality for the concrete used in future sidewalk constructions, Walsh said.

As for concerns over the program’s cost to individual residents, Mayor Walsh highlighted the gradual, phased increase in annual fees and lack of any payable individual fees for the program’s first year.

“Our goal is not to be punitive but to instead improve our city’s sidewalk policy. When financial

hardship exists, there is opportunity for relief,” he said.

Another factor to consider in these constructions and repairs is the harsh winter conditions that play a major role in Syracuse’s sidewalk conditions.

According to a joint 2016 study done by professors from Syracuse University and Finland’s University of Turku, Syracuse has historically struggled to clear sidewalks and public spaces. Additionally, the widespread application of rock salt during this clearing has posed a risk to the integrity and accessibility of the city’s pathways.

With aid from the American Rescue Plan, Mayor Walsh said he hopes to oversee the issuing of new snow-clearing contracts for the coming winter season.

“Our goal with the pilot program was to establish a proof of concept, and we were aided by having two winters of encouraging feedback,” he said.

Mayor Walsh also said that while this snow clearing program is still just supplemental to the efforts of private citizens to do their share of the clearing work, he hopes his broader sidewalk policy sends an encouraging mayoral campaign message about the infrastructural improvements his administration has been able to make.

“We get things done. That’s the type of the administration we’ve been, and we hope to continue to do that,” he said. jthacket@syr.edu

city

Walsh lists members of LGBTQ+ Board

By Karoline Leonard asst. news editor

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the 19 new members of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board for the city, according to a press release Wednesday.

Walsh announced the formation of the board with a press release in June. He put out an open call for interested community members, which the 19 appointees responded to.

The goal of the board is to act as a liaison between the LGBTQ community in Syracuse and city departments such as the mayor’s office, Walsh said on Wednesday. He hopes this board will ensure that the city “embraces diversity and creates

opportunities for all,” he said.

The 19 members of the board include the following community members: • Mattie Cerio, a social worker who focuses on health and education • Alex Cimino • Kim Dill, the executive director of Sage Upstate, an organization that creates health programs and social groups for older LGBTQ people in central New York • Gloria Gaye • Barrie Gewanter, former county director of human rights • Susan Horn, an attorney • Coran Klaver, a professor at Syracuse University whose specialties include Victorian litera-

ture and culture and feminist and gender theory • Chris Kukenberger, a professor of art at Onondaga Community College • Mallory Livingston, director of the LGBT* Rights Program at Volunteer Lawyers Project CNY • Jimmy Monto • Anne Montreal • Stacy Myers, a realtor in Syracuse • M. Catherine Richardson, a retired lawyer who studied at SU’s College of Law • John Rushing, a member of the Onondaga County Human Rights Commission • Leonardo Sanchez, a member of the Onondaga County Human Rights Commission • Rahzie Seals, the founder of

BlackCuse Pride and an organizer with Black Lives Matter Syracuse • Michael Sgro, a leadership coach • Nick Stamoulacatos, a supervisor of social studies for Syracuse City School District • Raymond Stazzone, a supervisor of testing for Syracuse City School District The co-chairs of the board will be Michael Sgro and Leonardo Sanchez. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Emma Spector, who is the LGBTQ+ liaison for the mayor’s office, and Officer Marlena Jackson, who is the LGBTQ+ liaison for the Syracuse Police Department will assist the group. kaleonar@syr.edu @karolineleo_

The Graduate Student Organization Senate confirmed a new space dedicated for graduate-student use in Lyman Hall during their senate meeting Wednesday.

In her report, President Yousr Dhaouadi said room 303 in Lyman Hall, which will include three office rooms, a meeting room and a lounge area for weekly coffee hours, will help create an interconnected graduate community.

The space will be open to all graduate students, including those from SUNY-ESF, Dhaouadi said.

The GSO Senate also elected four new university senators and three at-large senators during the meeting.

The new university senators are Michael Ammoury, a third-year civil engineering Ph.D. student; Yash Shimpi, a first-year graduate student in the School of Information Studies; Hrishikesh Telang, another firstyear graduate student in the iSchool; and Kellin Tasber, a first-year graduate student studying biotechnology.

While five at-large senate seats were available, only three were nominated and voted in via a confidence vote. The three new at-large senators are Sam Azghandi, a third-year film graduate student; CJ Arnell, a secondyear Ph.D. student in biology; and Sira Fan, a first-year graduate student studying management. Arnell and Fan were also nominated to be university senators.

Neal Powless, university ombuds, was a special guest at the meeting and talked to attendees about his role as an “ear to the people.” As ombuds, Powless works with conflict resolution and management and emphasized his confidentiality, independence, informality and neutrality.

“Even within a facilitated discussion, I’m not going to share your information. But I want to ask open-ended questions that will help you give an opportunity to share context to that individual so (that person) can know where your issues and concerns are,” Powless said in explanation of his role.

The GSO Senate also invited Christopher Burke, director of student legal services, to introduce himself as an independent and free legal counsel.

The senate approved special programs funding, which use additional money set aside to supplement existing funds, to the biology graduate student organization for their annual symposium.

The symposium, which has been running for 12 consecutive years, required $2,930 in special funding to host a researcher and hold speaking events, Comptroller Joy Burton said in her report.

The GSO Senate approved startup funding requests from the human development and family science graduate student organization, which has a total of 50 graduate students this year.

They also approved the Supporting Women in Geography group, which works to foster an inclusive space for women in the field to network and research. rcperrin@syr.edu @richardperrins2

4 oct. 14, 2021

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

from page 1

transfer She remembered one night while in Haven, a drunk male student banged on her door and woke her up at 3 a.m. in the morning. She was horrified and didn’t know what to do.

At the same time as the #NotAgainSU sit-in at Crouse Hinds Hall ended, the pandemic hit the U.S. Cao had no choice but to head back home. She decided to take a gap year to readjust.

After the gap year, she opted to transfer to The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

“It really felt dangerous around that time, with gunshot incidents outside the campus,” Cao said in Mandarin. “I just couldn’t focus on my studies anymore back then. And after all the chaos, there came the pandemic.”

Shreesha Yelameli, currently a film student at New York University, chose to transfer from SU’s film program after the spring 2021 semester ended.

Yelameli felt uncomfortable with the sense of “fake activism” in some of his classes at SU. Yelameli recalls the SEM 100 class he was required to take during his first semester at SU. He said that although such classes “would be good for people who don’t understand how to not be an a**hole,” they were very superficial and lacked a lot of nuances in topics like stereotypes and discrimination.

Cost of SU

The financial burden is another major reason that pushed some students to choose to transfer. SU has been consistently raising its cost for full-time undergraduate tuition over the past years.

Carlo Di Giammarino, a former newspaper and online journalism major at the Newhouse School of Public Communications, transferred to The University of Manchester after his first semester at SU back in fall 2019. “(The meal plan) came to like $20 per swipe. It hit me like a brick when I actually

did that calculation,” Di Giammarino said.

“In the U.K., I would never spend more than like 60 pounds a week on food. In the U.S., I’m spending that in a day and a half. I just can’t justify it.”

“The university system (in the U.K.) seemed to care about us a little bit more,” Di Giammarino said. “Being in the U.S., it really felt like a business, like they were trying to extract as much money from you as possible.”

Cao said the living expenses in Manchester are more expensive than in Syracuse, but the higher tuition costs are much greater at SU. Di Giammarino was also frustrated about the process of getting financial aid from SU. He was confused about a lot of expenses he had to pay while at SU. “Syracuse makes us pay for even to watch the football games, like buying a ticket to something we are already supporting surely,” Di Giammarino said. “But I didn’t understand why I had to pay to sit in the student section. I saw a meme that said U.S. universities are basically sports teams with education as a side hustle.”

Education quality

Yelameli said the education he received at VPA was more about abstract and experimental concepts rather than focusing on technical skills that could prepare him for his future career.

“I’m more of a commercial person (and) less so abstract — I’m one of the filmmakers that actually likes Marvel movies,” Yelameli said with a chuckle. “So it’s not the kind of film education that’s focused on what I want to do.”

Simi Hill, another former VPA student who is now studying film production at DePaul University in Chicago, expressed similar disappointment toward the education he received at VPA. “The actual film program at the time in VPA was a little bit more independent filmbased and a little bit less about the business aspect,” he said.

For Di Giammarino, the atmosphere of college education is different between the

graphic by maya goosmann digital design director

U.S. and U.K. In the U.K., there is less pressure for students like him to pursue a future career even before they graduate from college, he said.

“In the U.S., it’s like everybody is doing 15 things at the same time,” Di Giammarino said.

“But in the U.K., I feel like there’s much less of a culture around doing the job you want to do before you’re doing it.”

Harry Shi, who was undecided in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences, transferred out to Boston University because he was not satisfied with the reputation SU had for its academics compared to other universities.

Shi went back home to China in March 2020 because of the pandemic. He started his classes at BU online while at home. For him, getting started in a new campus after being away from the U.S. for a year makes it more

complicated for him to adjust. But being in a big city like Boston could help him to get more socially involved, he said.

“Boston is a big city after all, and I think that might help me a lot in terms of socializing and networking for my future career,” Shi said in Mandarin.

Cao said the atmosphere in Manchester makes people feel more lonely and isolated than what she had experienced in the U.S. for the past couple of years. But she hopes she could get used to the new lifestyle for the years to come.

“I’m not planning to socialize or making more friends than I’ve already done, as long as there are people around me who can truly support each other,” she said.

from page 1

cases dropped to 44 and Onondaga’s new cases skyrocketed to 276.

Throughout these fluctuations, SU remained under the “RED” alert level.

covid-19 not always the case. On Sept. 20, SU had 112 active cases and Onondaga County had 85 new cases. However, on Sept. 27, SU’s active

btang05@syr.edu @francis_towne

hcferrer@syr.edu @Hannahferrera21

CUSE COUNTDOWN

LIVE! FROM THE QUAD FRIDAY 5:30 PM graphics by megan thompson design editor

O

OPINION

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PAG E 5

oct. 14, 2021

column

Destress from midterms by spending more time outside

By Evan Butow columnist

I

t’s midterm season at Syracuse University, and for many students this means a week full of last-minute cramming and late-night study sessions. This creates the perfect environment for an overload of stress and anxiety for students. During this stressful time, it’s important that students make time for relaxation and activities to destress.

This can look a little different for everyone, but my tried and true method of destressing is spending time in nature. Whether I’m simply taking a quick walk through Thornden Park or adventuring on a multi-day excursion into some of the most remote areas in the U.S., I always feel better after spending time in nature.

The stress of midterm exams can put a lot of pressure on students’ health, therefore, now is the perfect time to find ways to take extra care of your health.

While it may be hard to step away from your studies and spend time outside, doing so can have lasting health benefits.

In fact, instead of prescribing traditional medicine, some doctors are telling their patients to spend more time to increase well-

This weekend, or any time you’re feeling stressed, make sure to get out into the wilderness — the further away from civilization the better. lucy messineo-witt photo editor

being and treat ailments such as diabetes, chronic stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia and PTSD, according to Forbes.

“These positive effects … are so

well-documented that more and more doctors are issuing ‘nature prescriptions’ to help treat a range of conditions,” the article said.

Researchers found that two

hours a week is the ideal time for anyone to be outside. In the scheme of an entire week, two hours is not a massive time commitment — it’s about a 30-minute walk to and from

class five days a week. But instead of looking down at your phone on your walk to class, put your phone away and experience the nature and beauty of SU’s campus.

Francesco Fabiano, an instructor in the I-MOVE program at SU, attributes the refreshing feeling of being outside to getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“It is unbelievably peaceful.

Once you’re inside the wilderness, all of the things that pull at you, all of the distractions and entanglements, they just fall away,” Fabiano said. “It really helps put things into perspective, what’s important and what’s not.”

Fabiano’s point is true for me.

Whenever I am in the wilderness, I don’t have a packed schedule, I don’t have to worry about deadlines or studying for exams and most importantly of all, I don’t have to put up a wall around my emotions to get through the day. I can exhale.

It’s cathartic.

So, this weekend, or any time you’re feeling stressed, get out into the wilderness. The further from civilization the better.

Evan Butow is a sophomore magazine, news and digital journalism major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at enbutow@syr.edu.

letter to the editor

Litter around SU is a policy issue

By Our Reader

I

n a Letter to the Editor published by The Daily Orange this week, the letter rightly addressed the issue of litter on and off campus. The writer, however, places the blame solely on students, when in truth the problem is not on the shoulders of Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF students alone. The problem is also on a policy level.

Trash and recycling are widespread and complex issues. Large amounts of plastic cannot be recycled and even glass is recycled less often than many people think.

Recycling can be made more effective with an improved “Bottle Bill,” a term used to reference the

Letter to the Editor policy To have a letter printed in The D.O. and published on dailyorange.com, please follow the guidelines listed below: • Limit your letter to 400 words • Letters must be emailed to opinion@dailyorange.com

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New York State Returnable Container Act. Improving this would further incentivize recycling in New York State.

Recycling is a piece of the puzzle, but it isn’t magic. A shift needs to be made from the single-use plastic lifestyle driven by corporations, and an update to the Bottle Bill could incentivize the use of reusable containers and reduce litter at the same time. States with bottle deposit laws have higher recycling rates and lower amounts of litter.

It is also important to recognize that not all students are littering.

In fact, many students are actively working to reduce litter in the community. Students involved with the New York Public Interest Research Group chapter at SU and SUNY-

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ESF routinely work with clubs and groups across campus, such as OrangeSeeds, to conduct community cleanups. The next cleanup is Saturday morning, and any student who is interested in helping with future cleanups can reach out to syracuse@nypirg.org.

Improvements to policy and infrastructure like an improved Bottle Bill and more community trash and recycling bins on the street can help with litter reduction. These improvements will be achieved when students unite. By coming together and taking action, both in our community and across the state, students can combat the litter problem that so many campuses face.

Lilly Kramer, SUNY-ESF ‘22

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C

CULTURE

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PAG E 7

oct. 14, 2021

ABIGAIL TICK, senior, works as SU’s Callisto Campus Champion and first became involved when Justine Hastings, last year’s Student Association president, asked her to help bring Callisto to campus.

lucy messineo-witt photo editor

Double red zone

By Abby Presson

asst. culture editor

W

After coming to campus last spring, SU’s chapter of Callisto offers outside resources to survivors of sexual violence

hen Abigail Tick began her freshman year in fall 2018 at Syracuse University, Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings were in full swing. After multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct perpetrated by Kavanaugh surfaced, including an allegation of assault at a high school party, a larger conversation developed around the prevalence of sexual violence in social settings among young people.

“There was just a lot of dialogue on centering survivors and supporting survivors at that time, and so I think that’s what really kind of pulled me into (Callisto),” Tick said.

Callisto — currently on 17 campuses across the United States, including SU — is an online support and resource program for survivors of sexual assault. Jess Ladd established Callisto in 2011,

and the organization launched its SU chapter last semester after former Student Association president Justine Hastings worked to bring it to campus.

In a typical year, colleges grapple with the “red zone,” the time from the start of the fall semester to the start of Thanksgiving break when statistically, over 50% of campus sexual assault incidents occur.

Sarayfah Bolling, the assistant director of campus engagement at Callisto, attributes the trend to a combination of factors: the excitement of returning to campus, the start of athletic seasons and Greek life recruitment and first-year students’ exposure to college social life.

But this year, survivor-support networks, colleges and students are facing a tougher challenge, what Bolling referred to as the “double red zone.” Along with freshman students, many college sophomores across the country are still having first-year experiences after COVID-19 precautions limited their own freshman years, Bolling said.

see callisto page 10

slice of life

SU students aim to reduce food waste and fight hunger

By Rachel Raposas staff writer

Adrienn Virag noticed large amounts of food going to waste every night while working in Graham Dining Hall during her freshman year. Dining halls can’t predict how many people they will feed, so they will often overproduce, Virag said, but seeing food being thrown out was still troubling to everyone.

Virag, a sophomore, is now the

president of the Food Recovery Network, an organization that works to resolve the food waste dilemma many dining halls face.

The volunteer-based program aims to simultaneously reduce food waste and fight hunger in the greater Syracuse area.

“By taking food from (the Syracuse University dining halls) and giving it to organizations in the community that need it, we tackle both of those things at the same time,” said

Zander Leff, the secretary of FRN. This student-run organization began at SUNY-ESF as an environmental initiative, and later migrated to the SU campus because there are more dining halls. Although FRN is part of a larger national organization, it operates relatively independently from the national organization, Leff said.

The food recovery process is simple but effective, said Virag, Leff and Hannah Elias, the organiza-

tion’s treasurer. The e-board, which all three are on, decides which dining halls to collect from, where to deliver the food and when to complete the transfer. They then reach out to a list of volunteers and form a group to go to a certain dining hall, where either volunteers or dining hall employees package and weigh the food. Finally, the food is loaded into a volunteer’s car and delivered to an organization in need.

The network mainly provides

and delivers food to various nonprofit organizations around the city, including the Chadwick Residence, Teen Challenge and the DePalmer House, all of which provide shelter and food to marginalized groups in need throughout Syracuse.

Currently, the organization has a volunteer base of about 50 people and aims to recover food from two to four dining halls per night, Virag said. Dining halls have previously see food

recovery page 10

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oct. 14, 2021

Food columnist Capeley Zimet recommends this soup recipe, a convenient food to know how to cook for students living in dorms and apartments with small kitchens.

Carrot Ginger Soup

Story by Capely Zimet food columnist

Art Direction by Shannon Kirkpatrick presentation director

Photo by Anya Wijeweera

L photo editor

aurel Matsui stepped into the kitchen of her South Campus apartment facing a startling reality — she would have to learn to cook for herself. The junior Bandier student rose to the challenge, establishing a new skill that has served her for hundreds of meals since: making soup.

Soup is a great addition to any student’s cooking repertoire.

It’s a relatively easy, low-cost process with ample room for growth and experimentation. Thus, Matsui gravitated toward learning how to make soup over other fare. Her favorite fall soup is vegan ginger carrot topped with thyme, she said.

“Soup is a comfort food,” Matsui said. “Growing up, my mom would make an array of soups and stews.”

Social media platforms such as Pinterest and TikTok have endless recipes to scour through, which make searching for recipes quite easy. These recipes do not necessarily have to be followed step-by-step but can simply serve as the inspiration for your soup.

Matsui describes her approach to soup making as a mix of using Pinterest pins and whatever ingredients she already has.

Anyone who wants to start cooking more soup should invest in reliable, staple seasonings such as coriander, cumin and turmeric, Matsui said. Vegetables and broth can be bought accordingly, but having a good set of seasonings can transform the possibilities of your food. She said her favorite seasoning to use is thyme because of its distinct flavor and versatility.

But Matsui also said that seasoning can make or break your soup.

“Seasoning is really important,” she said. “Without quality seasoning, your soup may as well be water with some spatterings of carrots and meat.”

Matsui noted the importance of textural differences, which can be achieved by using a variety of garnishes such as seeds or herbs.

Carrot ginger soup is the perfect meal to kick off the fall season. From the autumnal colors of the carrot and ginger to the delectable thickness, this soup is a necessary addition to your fall menu. This soup is also vegan and relatively healthy, and despite the lack of meat products, this soup is still a certified comfort food, making it the perfect light dish. cjzimet@syr.edu

Ingredients: Carrots (2lbs) 1 yellow onion 3 garlic cloves 2 tbsp olive oil 4 cups vegetable broth 1 cup water 1 14oz can of coconut milk 3 tbsp fresh ginger ¼ tbsp coriander ½ teaspoon cumin ½ lemon ½ tsp salt + more to taste 1. Set the oven to 400 degrees and allow it to completely heat it. While the oven is setting, begin to wash and peel your carrots — one of the most therapeutic cooking practices, in my opinion. Then, cut your carrots into diagonal pieces, creating a lot of surface space. Place the carrots on a pan with the olive oil and salt and put it in the oven for 25 minutes or until fork-tender and caramelized.

2. While your carrots roast, dice the yellow onion and garlic cloves.

Put a dash of olive oil in a large pot on your stove top and set it to medium heat. Mix in the onions and cook them for five minutes before adding in the garlic. Add in the coriander and cumin and let the pot sit for a few minutes. Lastly, add your vegetable broth, water and coconut milk, but save a little coconut milk to garnish.

3. Use a fork or toothpick to ensure your carrots are roasted well — the carrots should be soft enough for the utensil to go through — and then add them from the pan to the pot. Bring the stove to high heat, allowing the mixture to boil for a minute or so.

4. Taste your soup to test if it is sufficiently boiled — it should be hot enough that you have to blow on the spoon before tasting. If it is, transfer the soup from the pot into a blender. Blend at a low speed until the mixture is completely smooth, and add in a dash of lemon and black pepper.

5. If you choose, drizzle a bit of the coconut milk on top of your soup, along with your herb of choice, like thyme — Matsui’s favorite. Enjoy!

10 oct. 14, 2021

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screentime

C

‘C’mon C’mon’ stars Phoenix in existential family drama

By Michael Lieberman screentime columnist

After winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “Joker,” Joaquin Phoenix is back, and he’s something his characters almost never are: conventional.

Phoenix plays Johnny, a radio journalist working on a piece to chronicle the youth of America, set in the present day. Trekking through the U.S., he brings his microphone and recording system to various cities, interviewing kids on their anxieties due to the current political and environmental climate.

“C’mon C’mon” is the latest A24 film from writer and director Mike Mills, whose last two pictures — “Beginners” and “20th Century Women” — served audiences constant over-sentimentality. This film uses emotional scenes to entrance the audience, which critics and fans alike consider to be Mill’s forte.

The film goes through highs and lows of emotions, from painfully sad to resoundingly happy, but the audience leaves with a renewed sense of living life to the fullest. from page 7

callisto Hastings enlisted Tick to get the SU chapter up and running. The choice was clear to involve Tick, who had already been working with campus advocacy and education group Students Advocating Sexual Safety and Empowerment (SASSE) since her freshman year and has worked with Planned Parenthood in Syracuse for about two years.

Tick is now SU’s Callisto Campus Champion, the student who represents Callisto on campus and serves as a liaison to inform students about the program.

Callisto exists nationally as a nonprofit but operates on campuses as a “student-led coalition,” Tick said. Campus champions help to raise awareness of the program and build a safe community for survivors, who can then use Callisto’s resources as much or as little as they want.

Though Hastings, through her work with SA, helped to bring Callisto’s SU chapter to campus, it still operates separately from the university. It was designed to be an independent program in order to support survivors who might not be comfortable yet with reporting or going through the university’s process.

Tick believes that there are many students who don’t think SU has appropriately handled issues of sexual violence. A lot of students, both at SU and other universities, have had negative experiences after reporting, which has created an environment of mistrust, she said.

One of the reasons she thinks Callisto is a strong resource for survivors is that it offers external support, which can help survivors who don’t have confidence in Title IX, the federal legislation that guides schools’ policies regarding sex-based discrimination and sexual assault.

“A lot of students do not have trust for Title IX or don’t want to go through that process because it can be really traumatizing for them,” Bolling said. “A lot of folks describe going through the Title IX process as more traumatizing than the assault itself.”

Callisto offers three primary resources for survivors: an encrypted and time-stamped from page 7

food recovery provided up to 200 pounds of food in just one 30-60-minute recovery session. Last semester alone, FRN recovered a total of seven tons of food across SU dining halls.

“Our big goals are to fight hunger and food waste,” Virag said.

But COVID-19 stunted FRN’s progress, as many organizations in Syracuse, especially shelters, ran at reduced capacity throughout the pandemic, making it difficult for FRN to reach as many people as it did before. Additionally, although volunteers were always careful and sanitary with food, COVID-19 made sanitation a greater concern in recent years, said Virag.

Nevertheless, being a part of FRN brings satisfaction and joy to its members, the three e-board members said. Elias called it

When Johnny receives a call from his sister, Viv, he’s asked to watch her son, Jesse, for a few days. Viv has to take care of Jesse’s father, who is bipolar. This allows the uncle and nephew duo to set out together to finish Johnny’s project.

On their excursion — which goes from Los Angeles to New York City to New Orleans — both Johnny and Jesse learn to honestly show their emotions, from love to fear. Brilliantly subtle, it’s an extremely adorable and fulfilling film about humanity’s place in time.

“To me, this is a post-2016 film,” Mills said at a New York Film Festival Q&A. “This film was written at the start of Trump times, and our thoughts and placements with that moment.”

Mills plays with the themes that’ve bathed his previous “anti-Hollywood” family dramas, such as change, identity and the transformative journeys of tension-filled characters.

While the film encapsulates the hostile political Trump-era, it still feels harmonious with the film’s familial themes.

An extremely coherent character in comparison to his previous “Joker,” Phoenix elegantly defines his compassionate side with documentation service to build a record of what happened, legal options counselors to help survivors get started on the process of taking legal action and a matching service to connect incidents and identify repeat offenders.

Survivors who opt to use the matching system are asked for the state where the incident occurred, any digital identifiers of the perpetrator such as social media usernames or email addresses and the survivor’s preferred contact information.

If the information put into the system matches with information from another survivor, then the survivors are each informed of the match and put in contact with a legal options counselor. The matching system is one of the primary services offered by Callisto, and according to Bolling, one of the reasons that the organization exists.

“Callisto really exists to address one of those little known facts related to sexual assault, which is that 90% of sexual college sexual assaults are perpetrated by repeat offenders, and they will offend up to six times before they graduate,” Bolling said.

In addition to working with Callisto, Tick coordinates with other organizations — such as SASSE — on campus to enhance resources for survivors of sexual assault.

SASSE, along with Stand With Survivors SU, hosted a mixer on Monday to provide resources and information on the red zone to students.

Senior and SASSE president Marie Pascual hopes to plan more events with both Callisto and Stand With Survivors SU in the future.

“Hastings reached out to SASSE because we have very similar goals (to Callisto), just helping students have as many resources to them available and also a resource that’s not Syracuse University-affiliated,” Pascual said.

On Sept. 21, hundreds of students gathered on SU’s campus to protest recent sexual assault allegations outside of multiple Interfraternity Council chapter houses. Tick attended and was handing out information on Callisto for any protesters who may have needed the resources.

Since the protest, information on resources for survivors has circulated on social media, along a noble, rewarding experience that enriches students’ college years.

“It sounded like something that was really impactful,” Elias said. “It’s nice to see a group at the school actually doing something with the community and volunteering time to help those around them.”

During the fall 2021 semester, the network set a goal of connecting with more organizations in the greater Syracuse area. Since many nonprofit organizations are currently running at limited capacity and cannot accept as much food, FRN is looking for more organizations to donate to.

In response to this disparity, e-board members encourage both SU and SUNY-ESF students to reach out and connect FRN with any organizations in need of food.

“The more people we have, the more agencies we have, the more we can do,” Leff said. rlraposa@syr.edu

his role as Johnny. Adding to the humor and realistic characterizations is Gaby Hoffmann, who plays the role of Johnny’s sister, Viv. Phoenix’s character stays true to Mills’ writing — troubled in a minimalistic sense. Viewers are told only partial bits of his past and present, and he seems unbothered by his flaws and mistakes from earlier in his life, such as his previous love interests or his strained relationship with Viv. Johnny’s distant communication with Viv served as a sort of mystery throughout the film, amplified perfectly through the incredible cinematography by Robbie Ryan. Shot in black and white, everything feels like a dreamlike silhouette, a naturalistic fantasy of Johnny and Jesse which almost acts as a fairytale. With Johnny’s radio show as a backdrop, the film’s documentary feel is perfectly contrasted with the delicate visuals.

Hoffman is honest and spectacular in this film. Viv goes through the load of caring for each and every character, pragmatic and progressive through the stress of motherhood. Gaby’s performance is a true commemoration as to why mothers and moth-

erly figures deserve the highest praise, and Viv is without a doubt this film’s dark horse and most valuable character.

Woody Norman, who plays Jesse, was only nine years old while filming. The British actor gives one of the best child performances in years — let alone pulling off an impeccable American accent — as Jesse’s wondrous curiosity asks all the questions you would never expect from children.

Mills’ spectacular dialogue and Jesse’s exchanges between every character in the film operate as a step toward the character’s maturation, projecting honest vulnerability in Norman’s portrayal.

Mills constructs another love letter to the familial experience in “C’mon C’mon.”

The film shows what it means to accept the incredibly difficult nuance of life itself, and its viewing experience couldn’t be more motivating, tender and cozily poignant. Audiences will enjoy this picture, not only for its on-screen compassion but its post-screening thoughts on humanity that stay with viewers long after the film ends. michaelreedlieberman@gmail.com

Earlier this semester, SU students protested outside Interfraternity Council houses over recent sexual assault allegations. karoline leonard asst. news editor

with information on Callisto.

“A lot of assault is happening nationally,” Bolling said. “Every day in the news, there are various campuses where a number of students have been assaulted since the beginning of the semester.”

Similar instances of protests over assault allegations have happened at other schools across the country, with most schools having a perceived lack of support from school officials, Bolling said. With the recent increase in student activism on and off social media, Bolling said that the issue is seeing a higher level of visibility.

Callisto doesn’t try to replace any existing resources on the school or legal levels, Tick said. Instead, it works alongside other systems to offer students more options.

“It quite simply is just an additional resource in the ecosystem of survivor support,” Tick said.

Callisto hopes to expand to more campuses

across the United States. It currently serves 250,000 students, with a goal of half a million by the end of the year, Bolling said.

Callisto normally expands to a campus when a student reaches out to get involved — the program provides the new campus champion with their introductory training as soon as possible in order to get support resources out to people who need them.

Looking to the future, Tick is working to find the new campus champion for Callisto at SU. Before graduation, she’ll need to find the student who will take on the role and continue her work of promoting Callisto on campus.

“It’s our dream that there’s a friend in every friend group who knows about Callisto,” Tick said. “I hope it is so ingrained in the campus culture that everyone knows about it.” abbypresson@dailyorange.com @abbyvp08

(FROM LEFT) ZANDER LEFF AND HANNAH ELIAS help operate the local FRN, wendy wang asst. photo editor which strives to resolve the food waste dilemma.

oct. 14, 2021 11

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from page 15

linebackers defensive linemen filled and where linebackers were supposed to be.

“In high school, I just ran the same defense but with different calls,” Thompson said. “When we got here it was really the fundamentals, like knowing who’s the key.”

Despite prior experience, the set didn’t get off to a good start in 2020. Syracuse’s defense allowed 209.1 yards per game and ranked 104th in the country. The linebacker core in general struggled with stopping the run, giving up a total of 2,300 rushing yards.

Defensive linemen Josh Black said the struggles were because of the lack of offseason preparation due to COVID19,which canceled spring practices and shifted meetings to a virtual setting. It took the team three-quarters of the season to finally get comfortable in the setup, he said, but the Orange still allowed an average of 37 points in their final three games due to miscommunications between the defensive line and the linebackers.

“Last year we were not on the same page with the defensive linemen,” Cantin-Arku said.

Since the team was still learning the intricacies of the system last year, Syracuse was unable to complicate or add different plays, Babers said. The Orange’s linebackers weren’t coming to the line and working with the defensive line and didn’t have time to build that understanding with each other, CantinArku said.

With spring practices resuming this season, Wax said the linebacker core was “all in the books” during meetings. And Wax, who has been on par with Jones this year, was from page 15

report card rushing touchdowns in his first start and has topped 130 yards on the ground in the last two.

The problem for the Orange was it took too long to figure it out. Head coach Dino Babers started the season saying Syracuse would play with a dual-quarterback system, leading it to switch back-and-forth between Tommy DeVito and Shrader for the first three games.

The quarterback contest was too close, and one needed to outright win the job, Babers said. But that switching disrupted both quarterbacks’ flow and ability to get into rhythm. It disrupted the offense’s rhythm too. That switching likely cost SU the Rutgers game, one where the stagnant offense put up seven points and lost.

Shrader said his goal is to throw the ball on every down, but he also knows that isn’t realistic. He needs to improve his timing with his receivers, in particular on deep balls, so the offense can maintain some balance. His legs — and Sean Tucker’s — will take care of the rest. The second half of the season looks promising. But looking at the first half collectively, SU has only recently figured out its quarterback situation and system.

Running back: A-

Tucker has been Syracuse’s best player, and it hasn’t been close. He’s responsible for 40.3% of the Orange’s yards from scrimmage, a staggering statistic that’s over 4% more than the next-most in the country.

He also leads the nation in all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game and is second in the NCAA in rushing yards and rushing yards per game.

There are no questions about Tucker.

Syracuse has been leaning on him heavily and will continue to do so, Babers said. So far, he’s proved he can handle the massive workload, something Babers was unsure of at the start of the season. Tucker said he recovers fast and that he’s taking care of his body, so he’s always “ready for the next one.”

Worth noting, however, was Cooper Lutz’s fourth-quarter fumble when SU was trying to force overtime against the No. 19 Demon Deacons. The Orange went from a wealth of depth at running back, with Lutz, Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard, to being thinned out. Howard entered the transfer portal, Adams missed the last game for unspecified reasons, and Lutz’s untimely fumble may lead to questions about trusting

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working “overtime” to make up for the lack of knowledge he had due to having no high school experience in the 3-3-5.

“He’s a real dog,” Jones said about Wax. “He knows exactly what he needs to do to get better, and he did it all offseason.”

With more time to work on plays with the defensive line, Syracuse added stunts or “twists” to its defensive playbook. In a “twist” play, if one of the linebackers is up at the line of scrimmage, they can go inside into a gap, while the defensive linemen they’re next to hits the outside gap. This ensures both gaps are still contained, but the lineman covering those gaps switched spots, confusing the offensive line.

“We worked all summer on those stunts to make sure that we have more chemistry with the defensive linemen and we make sure that we talk more and communicate,” Cantin-Arku said.

Against Rutgers, defensive lineman McKinley Williams got two tackles, including a sack, with the play, switching places with Wax or Jones after snaps. But Syracuse’s next opponent — Liberty — required a different approach, and a better designed plan, to stop one of the best players in the country, quarterback Malik Willis.

Syracuse had to make a change on defense, adding Jones as a sort of “QB spy.” His purpose for the rest of the game was to stop Willis’ dual-threat abilities.

Dropping back on third-and-3 in the second quarter, the pocket completely broke down on Willis. He saw an opening down the left side of the field, unaware of Jones waiting in the middle of the field. As Syracuse’s other linebackers pushed Willis out of the pocket, Jones was there for the cleanup, wrapping up the quarterback’s legs 1 yard short of the first

down marker. Willis finished with a seasonlow 49 rushing yards.

Cantin-Arku said that game was the best performance from the group that season, with Jones at the forefront of the team’s success.

Last season, Jones started as the backup to Cantin-Arku, but at the middle of the second level this year, he leads the team in solo, assisted and total tackles. “(Jones is) making plays so much that it’s easy for us to follow in his steps,” Cantin-Arku said. “He’s such a good player that he makes everybody around them better.”

The following week, Syracuse faced Florida State. Like Willis, the Orange were slated to face another dual-threat quarterback in Jordan Travis, who exposed SU’s “QB spy” coverage.

With roughly a minute left and the game tied at 30-30, Travis took to the field for one final attempt to win the game in regulation.

On second-and-5, Travis dropped back to a pass, causing Jones to hustle up to the line of scrimmage. Jones was expecting a deep throw and wanted to put more pressure on the quarterback, but after Jones abandoned his position, Travis took advantage.

Travis scrambled for 33 yards, tiptoeing down the sidelines to move the Seminoles closer to field goal range. Later in the drive, Jones and Wax both went to the line to apply pressure, successfully getting past the offensive line. But as Travis scrambled again, Wax was held, unable to get at the quarterback.

No flag was thrown, and the defense was unable to contain Travis.

“All that moving around and disguising, it’s doing that to make sure that we can distract the quarterback, and they don’t know what coverage we’re in,” Wax said. “We still have to contain whoever we’re playing.”

Against Wake Forest, the Orange fixed their issues, containing quarterback Sam Hartman in the pocket and stopping the rushing attack.

The Demon Deacons only recorded 96 rushing yards but torched Syracuse’s defensive backs in man-to-man looks, and Hartman finished with 330 passing yards in the 40-37 overtime win.

The linebacker core has come together at certain times this year, but its most complete game was against UAlbany, Cantin-Arku said.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Great Danes were trying to recover from a 24-10 deficit.

On first down, UAlbany quarterback Jeff Undercuffler dropped back to pass, sending Jones and Wax into pass coverage.

Thompson stayed at the line of scrimmage, performing the role of a defensive end, and hit Undercuffler’s hand before he could properly release the ball. On second down, Wax joined Thompson at the line, instead on the right end.

After the snap, running back Lavarey Banton took the handoff and was met by Wax a few yards in the backfield.

With a third-and-16, Undercuffler took off on a designed quarterback cut to the left side of the field, trying to get a few yards before sending out the punting unit. But Undercuffler only gained 1 yard. The captain of the unit, Jones, drove Undercuffler to the ground with his left shoulder. Jones bear crawled on the Carrier Dome turf celebrating as SU held UAlbany to negative 5 yards on the drive.

“They’re an amazing group, and Mikel’s the leader of those guys,” Babers said.

“They’re part of the spokes that make that wheel go over there.”

him later in the season. In the event that Tucker gets injured, SU could be in serious trouble with its limited depth.

carrier runs. Several players have referenced the addition of new offensive line coach Mike Schmidt as a reason for improvements.

Matthew Bergeron’s pass-blocking grade was the highest in the country during Week 2, according to PFF (92.3), and Syracuse is allowing fewer than two sacks per game.

Last year’s average was 3.45 per game.

SU’s offense has been highly reliant on the run game via Shrader and Tucker, and the offensive line deserves their fair share of credit for that success.

But the Orange just lost key rotational players in Chris Bleich, Darius Tisdale and Airon Servais, and though their replacements (Kalan Ellis and Josh Ilaoa) played well against Wake Forest, it’s too early to determine what long-term impact those absences might have on SU. On passing downs, Shrader starts many plays by rolling out of the pocket, partially because it opens up his options to move the ball with his legs.

But the quarterback also does that because SU’s offensive line still has room to progress when it comes to pass protection.

much more comfortable than they did a year ago. It’s shown.

In all six games, SU’s leading tackler has been a linebacker. In almost all, two of the top three tacklers have been linebackers, too. Part of that is the nature of the position, but last season, SU didn’t have much depth beyond Jones. This season, behind Thompson, Wax and Cantin-Arku, the group is having an excellent year, according to Babers.

Wide receiver: C+

SU’s wide receiver core has actually looked impressive considering it played three games without its No. 1 receiver Taj Harris.

The Orange will be without Harris for the rest of the season after he entered the transfer portal. But the bottom line is that SU doesn’t throw the ball much. The balance it’s currently found includes running the ball twice as much as it throws it, and that makes sense because Syracuse tailors the offense to Shrader and Tucker.

Without Harris, Anthony Queeley, Courtney Jackson and Damien Alford have had to step up. Jackson has looked good running after the catch, but SU’s offense still ranks the second-worst in the conference in terms of passing yards. The Orange have improved the timing of deep balls but still have a ways to go.

Shrader ends up scrambling on a fair number of designed passing plays, which isn’t necessarily problematic because the quarterback is very good with his legs. But it’s also an indication that Syracuse’s wide receivers aren’t creating as much separation as they should be.

Tight end: C

This is a tough position to evaluate since Babers’ usage of tight ends is sparse.

Maximilian Mang and Luke Benson have five catches for 29 yards across the first six games. Benson missed the Liberty game and didn’t play against FSU due to an injury suffered against UAlbany. Chris Elmore missed Syracuse’s first four games for reasons unrelated to injury or discipline, though the Orange have been using him more frequently at fullback than tight end.

Mang is young and still learning.

The tight ends have contributed significantly in the rushing attack, primarily taking on blocking roles under this offensive system. Elmore has been a solid addition since the start of ACC play, becoming a more mobile, sixth offensive lineman for the Orange. He’s shaken off the rust, and the newly-elected offensive captain should have an increased impact soon.

Offensive line: B-

The offensive line has made drastic improvements since ranking 113th out of 127 Football Bowl Subdivision teams last season.

The Orange rank 16th nationally in Average Line Yards, a stat adjusted to credit the line appropriately depending on how far the ball

Defensive line: B+

Syracuse’s defensive line leads the ACC in sacks (22, for a loss of 129 yards). Cody Roscoe’s 6.5 sacks through six games is tied for sixth in the nation. The defensive line has a good rotation going between McKinley Williams, Kingsley Jonathan, Curtis Harper, Terry Lockett, Caleb Okechukwu, Josh Black and Roscoe.

Geoff Cantin-Arku said the linebackers weren’t on the same page as the defensive line last year, but they worked all offseason to change that. They’re communicating more and getting pressure on the quarterback, particularly in crucial thirddown situations. Defensive coordinator Tony White’s had a fair amount of success rushing three but added in more linebackers to change up the pressure. The defensive line is extremely experienced, and they’ve proved that with their play thus far.

Linebacker: A-

The linebackers have been one of Syracuse’s most consistent units. Led by defensive captain Mikel Jones, an honorable mention All-ACC selection last year and SU’s leading tackler, the group that calls itself “the mob” has consistently wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. Stefon Thompson, who has the second-most tackles on the team, and Marlowe Wax, who has the sixth-most, have been constant forces at the second level.

All are in their second year of White’s 3-3-5 defense, and Wax said they all feel

@anish_vasu anish.sujeet@gmail.com

Secondary: B-

Syracuse’s secondary sent three players to the NFL last season in Ifeatu Melifonwu, Andre Cisco and Trill Williams. Without them, the unit has still looked consistent.

Cornerbacks Garrett Williams and true freshman Duce Chestnut have made big plays on either side of the field, with Williams breaking up six passes in six games and Chestnut leading the team in interceptions with two.

The secondary has made a couple blunders, particularly in deep coverage during SU’s overtime loss to Wake Forest.

In the past two weeks, SU’s had concerns guarding the middle of the field, too.

The defense gave up over 30 points during back-to-back ACC games, but there aren’t drastic reasons for concern just yet. The Orange seem to have all the pieces they need — though both Williams and Chestnut have been banged up, along with Ja’Had Carter.

Tackling in the secondary has been good, and SU is allowing 194.2 passing yards per game, the second-fewest in the ACC.

Special teams: D+

Syracuse entered the season with a famed reputation for being “Special Teams U.” Against Rutgers, a plethora of special teams miscues tainted that reputation, including an 8-yard punt, a missed field goal from inside 45 yards and three illegal formation penalties on punts. That game was certainly the worst of the year, but the special teams unit has still been shaky for Syracuse.

Andre Szmyt did hit a game-winning field goal over Liberty, though it was from 35 yards.

But he missed a crucial fourth-quarter kick against Wake Forest and an extra point against Florida State. SU had a 10-yard punt against the Demon Deacons and a 33-yard one when it was already backed up deep in its own territory.

Returner Trebor Pena has been a bright spot for SU — Babers said he thinks it’s only a matter of time before Pena breaks free on one — but this isn’t the esteemed special teams unit that the Orange have had in the past. rferna04@syr.edu @roshan_f16

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14 oct. 14, 2021

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football

Behind Sean Tucker’s meeting with the late Floyd Little

By Roshan Fernandez senior staff writer

When 17-year-old Sean Tucker came to Syracuse University for an unofficial visit in September 2019, he and his father were among a group of recruits on campus for the Syracuse-Clemson game. But at a certain point during the visit, the two were pulled aside from the others — SU legend Floyd Little wanted to meet with Tucker, privately.

Steve Tucker, the current running back’s father, said he wasn’t sure how often Little met with other recruits one-on-one. But to him and his son, it was a special opportunity.

Tucker had never met a Pro Football Hall of Famer or anyone who’d worn the famed No. 44 jersey for SU. Steve and his son had walked past the bronze statue of Little, part of SU’s Plaza 44 outside the football practice facility.

And Tucker looked up to Little.

“It felt like a big moment,” Steve said.

During their conversation, Little pointed out similarities between himself and Tucker.

Both were running backs of similar heights with similar styles. Both could potentially end up on similar paths, going from SU to the NFL. “It definitely had an impact, just knowing what he’s done in his past and in football,” Tucker said. “It definitely meant a lot to me.”

Little died on Jan. 1 this year after being diagnosed with a rare cell cancer. All season,

the Orange have commemorated the Syracuse legend by wearing a patch with the No. 44 embroidered with Little’s initials. On Friday, the Hall of Fame running back will be honored during a halftime ceremony — Floyd Little Life and Legacy Day — in the Carrier Dome.

“We’re looking forward to the Floyd Little weekend,” head coach Dino Babers said during his press conference on Monday. “He means a lot to this program — he’s the first person who I allowed to speak to the team. I can still remember that talk, I can still remember that speech, and it was very moving.”

Little, a three-time All-American for Syracuse from 1964-66, went on to play nine seasons with the Denver Broncos. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection before being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In 2011, a year after Little’s Hall of Fame induction, the SU legend returned to campus and became an SU ambassador. Little had an office and met with recruits, among other tasks — he wanted to replicate what Ernie Davis did for him, when Davis convinced Little to attend SU. When Tucker met Little on Sept. 14, 2019, Little was still in that role. Steve remembers believing that “talent recognizes talent.”

Little must’ve seen something about Tucker on film, whether that was via Twitter or Hudl, that sparked his interest about the 17-year old running back, Steve said.

“He probably felt like, ‘Yeah, this kid looks like he’s balling, and I want to meet this kid,’” Steve said.

Little showed Tucker and Steve his gold Hall of Fame jacket and explained the induction number that was inscribed on the inside of the jacket. They drove from SU’s practice facility at Manley Field House to the Carrier Dome in the same car and took more pictures on the field before the game started.

Steve hoped that Little would serve as a mentor and a friend to Tucker because of the “lasting impression” of their meeting, he said.

He and his son were heartbroken when they heard about Little’s illness and death.

“It just gave me the impression that he would love to be involved in trying to help Sean once he got there, so that was big for me, to feel that,” Steve said.

In the Carrier Dome, Little and Tucker talked one-on-one about school, football and life in general, Tucker said. The current SU running back described the only SU No. 44 he’s ever met as “a great person.” Little shared inspirational words of encouragement with Tucker, his dad said.

The meeting gave Tucker someone to chase as a competitor, but also someone to look up to who’s been in a similar position, said Dan Harper, Tucker’s position coach at Calvert Hall College (Maryland) High School. That “extra sidebar” may have

played a role in Tucker’s decision to attend SU too, Harper said.

At the start of this season, fullback Chris Elmore sparked a discussion about the potential of Tucker wearing the legendary No. 44, previously donned by Little, Davis and Jim Brown, among others. It’s become a hot topic of discussion among Syracuse fans, many of whom are advocating that Tucker be given Little’s former number.

When asked about the situation, Babers said that it’s up to the former No. 44s — not him — to decide. He said it “may be above my head” but added that should the committee decide that Tucker is worthy, he knows the current SU running back would wear the jersey with pride.

“Just the tradition and legacy behind it, and meeting Floyd Little once on an official visit. If I have the opportunity one day, it’ll be a great one,” Tucker said of the No. 44.

At one point, Tucker posted an edited graphic with him in the No. 44 jersey on Twitter that’s since been deleted. He said on Tuesday that he hasn’t discussed that with anyone from the athletics department yet.

“I know just for him to have 44, but especially with Floyd Little weekend coming up, it’d just be a big tribute to him as well, and the guys who have worn 44,” Elmore said. rferna04@syr.edu @roshan_f16

football

Opponent Preview: Everything to know about Clemson

By Connor Smith

asst. sports editor

Coming off back-to-back down-to-the-wire losses against Florida State and No. 19 Wake Forest, Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome to host unranked Clemson on Friday night. The Tigers are attempting to win their seventh straight Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and their fourth straight game against SU. Clemson is coming off a bye week, which followed its 19-13 home win over Boston College. Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw for 207 yards and running back Kobe Pryor ran for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, Clemson outran the Eagles 231-46, and it held on for the six-point lead.

Throughout the season, Clemson has struggled offensively, which is unusual for a team that has won double-digit games every season for the past 10 years. The Tigers rank 112th out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring offense, but Syracuse has still emphasized throughout the week that Clemson is still stocked with talent across the board.

“Clemson still has athletes. They still have their coach,” wide receiver Courtney Jackson said. “We still have to take them seriously and prepare like any other Clemson team.”

Here’s everything to know about Clemson ahead of its visit to the Dome on Friday night:

All-time series

Clemson leads 7-2.

Last time they played

Clemson and Syracuse met in South Carolina last October when the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the country. Future top NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw his first pick-six of the season.

As expected, the Tigers got out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead behind a touchdown throw from page 15

queeley while coaches on the sideline told him to calm down. But Queeley’s focus is always on the next play, his mom said.

“Even when things don’t go the way that he or the coaches want them to go, he chops it up and gets his head back in the game,” Kisha said.

After seeing limited field time over nine games in 2019, Queeley became SU’s secondmost targeted receiver in 2020. He started 11 games, catching 37 passes for 378 yards and

from Lawrence and a 25-yard running score

by Travis Etienne. But in the second quarter, Sean Tucker scored from seven yards out to make it a 10-point game, and Garrett Williams picked off Lawrence and ran it back for a 39-yard interception return that made the score 24-14.

Syracuse’s offense was run by Rex Culpepper, who had an inconsistent game and finished 10-of-26 passing with a touchdown, three interceptions and two sacks. But his third-quarter pass to Nykeim Johnson resulted in an 83-yard touchdown that cut SU’s deficit to six. After a defensive stop, Culpepper fumbled the ball on his own half of the field, and the fumble was returned for a momentum-shifting scoop and score.

Etienne tacked on two more touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, ending the Orange’s hopes of a massive road upset.

None of Clemson’s offensive trio of Lawrence, Etienne and wide receiver Amari Rodgers returned this season, each being drafted in one of the first three rounds of the NFL draft.

teams. Its rushing yards per attempt average of 4.52 is 56th-best in the country, a far cry from the averages that the Tigers posted with Lawrence and Etienne in the offense.

“The guys are giving effort,” Elliott said after Clemson scored just 14 points in a win over Georgia Tech. “The first part of our formula is to give effort with technique so we need to evaluate the technique. Some of it is going to be experience. Things happen fast so I’m looking at everything. Same thing with myself. It’s evaluating to see what I can do better to help these young men be successful.”

Defensively, Clemson is much more stout.

The unit is the best in the ACC and secondbest in the whole country, allowing just 12.2 points per game. Without defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ group, there’s a good chance the Tigers would have a losing record. Clemson has only allowed six touchdowns and 61 total points this year.

How Syracuse beats Clemson

This isn’t the same Clemson team as in years past. Uiagalelei hasn’t produced anywhere close to the same numbers that Lawrence did during his three years as starting quarterback, and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has struggled to put a complete, point-producing gameplan this season.

The Tigers are the highest-ranked team talent-wise and have one of the top defenses in the country, according to 247Sports. The struggles through the past five games — particularly in the losses to Georgia and NC State — have been from the offense, which has only scored more than 21 points once this season (against Football Championship Subdivision team South Carolina State).

Clemson ranks near the bottom of the country in passing yards per attempt with 5.7, a number that ranks 125th out of 130 FBS

The Orange will be facing a large disadvantage going against Clemson’s strong offensive and defensive line groups.

SU head coach Dino Babers said the Tigers have the “best personnel” in the conference.

To overcome this, SU’s coordinators Tony White (defense) and Sterlin Gilbert (offense) will have to confuse Clemson through the construction of a unique game plan utilizing the linebacker blitz schemes that either bring extra defenders at the quarterback or drop more back into coverage. These schemes worked in Syracuse’s win over Liberty, when quarterback Malik Willis was sacked six times. The Orange are the top sacks team in the ACC, and this will have to continue that against Uiagalelei and Clemson to get the win.

It will be interesting to see whether Garrett Shrader and Tucker can still find space to run against Clemson’s defense. The Tigers’ run defense is 21st in the country

two touchdowns. Queeley and Alford worked on routes in Syracuse’s playbook together the summer after the season. The receivers also worked on crossing routes, staying late after practices to get extra reps in with the quarterbacks. Alford said Queeley made “big steps” during the offseason, and he’s tried to emulate his breaks and receiving techniques as another tall receiver at 6-foot-6.

With his size and strength, Queeley has also become a key blocker for Tucker and Shrader in SU’s run game, cornerback Garrett Williams said. Queeley said Syracuse has tried

to add more plays to its offense to become “more dangerous and elusive,” and the Orange are trying to take advantage of Shrader’s strengths as a runner. With more run plays called, Queeley and other receivers are put in position to block out wide.

“He’s a really good blocker, me and him go at it in practice every day and he’s very (tough to) get off of blocks,” Williams said. “He’s a strong guy in the weight room, and you see it on the field as well.”

Beyond blocking, Queeley has shown coaches his ability to be a team player. When

The Clemson report

at just over 100 yards allowed per game, while Syracuse’s rushing attack earns 242.8 yards per game. Although it’s unclear which offensive linemen will play, the ones who do appear will have to create holes for the Orange’s one-two rushing punch.

Shrader will also need to prove himself as a passer so Clemson can’t stack the box and bring extra blitzers every play to eliminate the run game. Against Wake Forest, Syracuse’s passing game consisted mainly of screens and short throws over the middle.

Shrader has struggled with deep balls, but may need to hit on one to help keep the rushing and passing attacks balanced.

Stat to know: 54.3%

That’s Uiagalelei’s completion percentage through the six games this season. It’s a steep drop from the 69.2% mark that Lawrence recorded in his final season at Clemson. Uiagalelei has been inconsistent throughout the year — against Georgia Tech he engineered a scoring drive early in the first quarter and later in the fourth quarter, but nothing in between. If he finds success against the Orange on Friday, it could lead to an 0-3 start in conference play for Syracuse.

Player to watch: Justyn Ross, wide receiver

Justyn Ross posted a 1,000-yard receiving season as a freshman in 2018, but he hasn’t been able to match those numbers since.

He missed the entirety of the 2020 season due to a spinal condition, but he has already recorded three touchdowns this year. A former five-star recruit, Ross has the talent to expose the weaknesses of Syracuse’s secondary, which is led by Williams and Duce Chestnut, who have each been burned for touchdown passes in man-to-man coverage in recent games. csmith49@syr.edu @csmith17_

he was Lake Nona’s top receiver, Queeley would frequently draw double teams, Paradiso said.

But he would just act as a decoy to help get another receiver open. This selfless attitude has always helped Queeley on the teams he’s played on, Paradiso said. It could be the same attitude needed to replace the explosive, veteran receiver in Harris who led Syracuse’s receiving corps for three seasons.

“Anthony can handle any expectation given to him,” Paradiso said. csmith49@syr.edu @csmith17_

SPORTS

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

PAG E 15

oct. 14, 2021

STRONGER OPTION

Without Taj Harris, Anthony Queeley could be Syracuse’s top choice at wide receiver

ANTHONY QUEELEY is one of SU’s options to replace Taj Harris after his departure. He has 146 receiving yards this season and two touchdowns, both coming after Harris entered the transfer portal.

corey henry senior staff photographer

By Connor Smith

asst. sports editor

U

p 7-3 at the start of the second quarter, Anthony Queeley went into motion before the snap.

As the ball was snapped to Garrett Shrader, Queeley lined up directly behind Courtney Jackson outside the right hash, and began running toward the middle of the field.

But once Queeley got to the 16-yard line, he cut toward the right side of the field. As he got closer to the end zone, Queeley was wide open. Shrader dropped the pass in, and Queeley put his hands up in front of the Syracuse crowd, signaling the touchdown he had just hauled in.

Queeley’s touchdown reception put SU ahead 14-3 against No. 19 Wake Forest, and it gave the redshirt sophomore his second score of the season. After recording no receptions in two of the Orange’s first four games, Queeley scored a touchdown in each of Syracuse’s last two games.

The increase in production comes following the departure of SU’s top receiving option, Taj Harris, who entered the transfer portal on Oct. 3. Harris’ departure opened the door for Queeley, Jackson and Damien Alford to see more passes from Shrader.

“Whoever’s not out there, we just have to step up as a

unit,” Queeley said. “We’re a whole family, we just gotta get the job done and step up.”

Harris was a three-year starter at wide receiver for Syracuse, and he earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2020 after ranking fifth in the league in receptions per game. In head coach Dino Babers’ up-tempo, pass-first system, Harris was the go-to guy for quarterback Tommy DeVito to pass to for two straight years.

Without Harris, Shrader will likely look to Queeley increasingly more as a passing target, Babers said.

While Harris was a lanky, 6-foot-2, 180-pound speedy option at wideout, Queeley is a stronger 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. Queeley’s path to Syracuse started in the weight room at Lake Nona (Florida) High School, and it has continued after he arrived in central New York.

When Queeley first arrived at Lake Nona, he competed on the high school’s weight lifting team and focused on lifting 300 pounds on the bench press like Lake Nona’s previous Division I receivers. And on weekends, Queeley went to the YMCA that Kisha worked at to do cardio and lift.

By his junior year, Queeley was one of the top lifters in the county, his high school coach Anthony Paradiso said. And by his senior year, Queeley used his strength to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties.

“He just lived in the weight room,” Paradiso

football

said. “He was just dominant … with his training and everything he did here.”

Queeley redshirted and continued working on building his frame after coming to Syracuse in 2018.

When he arrived back at home in Orlando, Florida, after his freshman year, Kisha said she was impressed by her son’s physique and that he was “physically a completely different person.”

After being at home for a couple days, Queeley asked his dad to throw balls to him at a nearby park. Queeley ran drills, focusing on his breaks — when a receiver quickly changes direction at a sharp angle to separate from a defender. Kisha attributed Queeley’s work ethic and motivation to his maturity.

“We’ve always said Anthony is older, way beyond his years,” Kisha said. “He’s always been more of a mature person.”

Queeley’s maturity makes him a different player than Harris. While at Syracuse, Harris flashed his middle finger to a TV camera, pounded his fist into the ground after missing catches and even jogged back to the line of scrimmage ahead of a last-second fourth-down play against NC State. After a costly fumble inside the 10-yard line against Rutgers this year, Harris was visibly emotional, jumping up and down and punching the air

see queeley page 14

football

Linebackers use ‘mob mentality’ Fernandez: SU’s midway report card

By Anish Vasudevan asst. sports editor

Syracuse’s linebacker core needed a change in persona if it wanted to become a threat after giving up the fifth-most rushing yards nationally in 2020. During the first spring practices of the season, the group landed on a name for this shift — they created a “mob mentality.”

“It was the mentality that we had all summer and all winter because of the season we had last year,” linebacker Geoff Cantin-Arku said.

“We knew that we had to get our things together.”

This mindset made its way to the entire 3-3-5 defense, linebacker

Marlowe Wax said. But like “The Sopranos,” there are only a few players at the forefront for the Orange. Mikel Jones and his eight armbands make him the unanimous Tony Soprano of the bunch, referred to by head coach Dino Babers as the defense’s “quarterback.” Cantin-Arku, Wax and Stefon Thompson make up Jones’ inner circle, following him on each snap or making plays on their own. After struggling last season, the four players have split up reps this year, combining for 142 tackles and 8.5 sacks through six games.

Defensive coordinator Tony White brought the 3-3-5 defense to Syracuse in 2020 after serving

as the cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator at Arizona State for two years. In the 3-5-5 scheme, three linebackers are on the field, and they’re not required to drop into pass coverage as much as before with the presence of five defensive backs.

With the exclusion of Wax, the rest of the linebackers had experience with this setup in high school as the system has grown in popularity with the emergence of pass-heavy offenses around the country. Thompson said this introduction to the scheme was key to learning some of the fundamentals, like which gaps see linebackers page 12

By Roshan Fernandez senior staff writer

Syracuse sits at .500 halfway through the season with six Atlantic Coast Conference matchups remaining. If the Orange win three, they have a chance at a bowl game since six victories make a team bowl eligible.

With six games completed, the last three of which went down to the final buzzer, this is how each SU positional group has performed through the first half of the season and what the Orange can do to

improve in the second half.

Below is my midseason report card, graded A-F. No Whitman curve here.

Quarterback: B-

Syracuse has found its answer at quarterback in dual-threat Garrett Shrader. He seems to be making improvements in the throwing game every week, but his primary strength is still his legs. So far, no team has figured out how to properly contain him through three starts — he had two see report

card page 12

SYRACUSE VS. CLEMSON OCT. 15, 2021

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