October 26, 2023

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023

celebrating 120 years

N • County comptrollers

free

C • Freaky Friday

Fright Nights, maintains a haunted house all year round in preparation for their events in October. This weekend they wrap up spooky season.

S • Tucker vs. Wax

Incumbent Democrat Marty Masterpole and Republican Casey Jordan are competing for the seat of Onondaga County comptroller in this fall’s election.

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Sean Tucker and Marlowe Wax faced off as rival running backs as high schoolers in Baltimore before teaming up at Syracuse.

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on campus

Hendricks hosts Interfaith Vigil

By Faith Bolduc, Kendall Luther the daily orange

Last year, musical “How to Dance in Ohio” had its world premiere at Syracuse Stage, breaking barriers as nine neurodivergent actors played autistic characters for the first time. This December, it will open on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre. courtesy of curtis brown

‘Nothing about us without us’ ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ brings neurodivergent representation to Broadway after beginning at Syracuse Stage

By Sophie Szydlik

digital managing editor

Conor Tague never saw himself in the characters onstage growing up.

When there were attempts to incorporate neurodivergent characters in TV shows or movies, they always felt like poorly attempted caricatures and rarely, if ever, were they played by a neurodivergent actor.

That was a reality he came to accept in the theater industry. Then, “How to Dance in Ohio” entered the conversation.

“I was skeptical at first because of how autism was being represented.

I decided I’m going with my gut, I’m going to try this out,” Tague said. “I eventually got a callback and was cast as Tommy … Then, over the summer, we got the call. I will never forget that day that we found out.”

It was mid-June, and “How to Dance in Ohio” was going to Broadway. Tague would make his Broadway debut — and history — all at the same time.

The musical, which had its world premiere at Syracuse Stage last fall, broke barriers by casting nine neurodivergent

actors to play neurodivergent characters for the first time in history, the creative team said. On Oct. 18, the cast and crew celebrated their official box office opening ahead of previews in November.

Next, they’ll open on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre in December.

For me, it’s really meaningful to try to make art that is also advocacy. That also has a mission to it.

Sammi Cannold director

The musical, which is based on the 2015 HBO documentary of the same name, follows seven young neurodivergent adults who attend the same group therapy program. Throughout the show, the doctor leading the group plans a spring formal dance to further

their social skills therapy and give the teenagers the chance to have “normal” high school experiences.

As the audience watches the young adults prepare for the dance, they also witness the coming-of-age story that accompanies it, complete with joy, heartbreak and humanity.

Bob Hupp, the artistic director at Syracuse Stage, said he always had a feeling “How to Dance in Ohio” was something special, even in its earliest workshop days.

As a regional commercial theater, bringing the production to life at Syracuse Stage made sense, Hupp said. The theater has experience bringing a play to Broadway with “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” which started at Syracuse Stage in 2018 and made its Broadway debut in 2019. It’s also an urban location with much lower risk than a New York City theater.

“Folks from (New York City) can come back and forth with ease,” Hupp said. “But we are far enough away from the city and under the radar enough see broadway page 10

Hendricks Chapel hosted an interfaith vigil for world peace on Wednesday evening. Members of the university and local religious communities gathered to promote peace in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war through spoken and sung prayer.

Around 50 students, faculty and staff from Hendricks’ 25 religious and spiritual life groups met on the steps of the chapel to reflect. Rev. Brian Konkol, the dean of Hendricks and professor of practice at SU, opened and closed the vigil.

Wednesday night’s vigil was the third on the steps of Hendricks related to the conflict. Syracuse Hillel and Chabad House Jewish Student Center hosted a vigil on Oct. 11 and SU’s Muslim Student Association hosted a “Prayers for Peace” vigil on Oct. 18.

“In addition to the great gathering that we had two weeks ago, and then also last week, now we’re coming together as well as a multifaith chapel to express our own desire for peace and to model the type of world that we want to see rather than mirror the world that we do see,” Konkol said.

It’s about being present when there is a need, and that I think is very important today, for each one of us.

Sanjay Mathur hindu chaplain for hendricks

Several of the speakers shared prayers from their respective religions, inviting the crowd to participate in or listen in a way that honored their own beliefs and traditions.

Konkol also said organizing an interfaith vigil took collective action, but no religious groups were hesitant to take part.

“This is what Hendricks Chapel has mapped out since 1930 about people expressing their particular roots and doing so with a generous reach,” Konkol said. “So it seemed very natural for us to not only gather ourselves but invite the campus community to gather along with us to pause, to pray, to reflect and to be together.”

On Oct. 7, Hamas – a militant group currently governing the Gaza Strip – launched an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking approximately 150 people hostage, according to the New York Times. The following day, Israel declared war on Hamas.

Since then, Israel has put the Gaza Strip under siege, cutting off electricity, see vigil page 6

2 october 26, 2023

about

INSIDE

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“We are human beings, and as humanity prevails, we have to be participative and inclusive.” - Sanjay Mathur, Hindu chaplain at Hendricks Chapel Page 6

CULTURE “We have a pretty high retention rate when it comes to staff because they love this stuff. And it’s kind of cultish.” - Alyssa Blazina, marketing director at Fright Nights Page 10

OPINION “As the community continues to emerge from the pandemic, there is a pressing need for leadership that can foster strong relationships throughout the community and focus on practical, budget-conscious solutions.” - Sarhia Rahim, columnist Page 11

SPORTS “After seven days, I really didn’t know who was better. Now Sean is going to get mad. They were different, different styles but I really didn’t know who was better.” - Dino Babers, Syracuse head coach Page 16

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

Noteworthy events this week.

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

WHAT: Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion: Open Skate WHEN: Oct. 28, 12 p.m - 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion

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.

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 2023 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 © 2023 The Daily Orange Corporation

WHAT: Halloween at Hendricks WHEN: Oct. 30, 9 - 10 p.m.

WHERE: Hendricks Chapel, Main Chapel WHAT: Women’s Community Climb Night WHEN: Oct. 30, 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

WHERE: Barnes Center at The Arch, 023 Climbing Wall

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

NEWS

october 26, 2023 3

on campus

USen discusses university response to Israel-Hamas war

By Roxanne Boychuk asst. news editor

The Syracuse University Senate focused its second meeting of the semester on the IsraelHamas war Wednesday, discussing how to further address the issue.

Chancellor Kent Syverud and Vice Chancellor Gretchen Ritter addressed the conflict at the opening of the meeting, saying it has been a challenging two weeks and thanking the university community for its support.

Both Syverud and Ritter acknowledged that SU students come from different ethnicities and opinions across campus will vary. Syverud said that although everyone on campus is entitled to their own separate opinion, it is important to make the campus an inclusive place.

“I continue to ask to call on all of us in our communities to show kindness and grace and empathy and compassion to all our students, faculty and staff, particularly those who are suffering and grieving and to do this regardless of your individual views and perspectives,” Syverud said.

On Friday, SU leadership announced the university was looking into “a small number of classroom interactions” where students felt unfairly targeted related to the conflict.

University leadership also confirmed that the Department of Public Safety is partnering with local and federal law enforcement to conduct “security assessments.”

Syverud noted that many people across the country have shown dissatisfaction with how universities have handled the heightened tensions amidst the conflict. For this reason, he said, SU is addressing the situation with caution so that nobody feels misrepresented and that SU wants to listen to everybody’s concerns.

Some University Senators at the meeting, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the university’s approach to the situation. University Senator Amy Kallander, a professor in the history department who specializes in Middle Eastern studies, said that as a Jewish American, she felt that the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor were “ignoring the suffering” of Palestinian victims.

“I urge students to consider cause and effect to situate events in their proper context,” Kallander said. “And I would expect that the university administration would do the same in our efforts to understand what is going on.”

Kallander also said that SU is failing to cri-

tique the Israeli occupation and the Israeli government’s actions.

“My question for you is how many Palestinians can the Israeli military massacre before you will acknowledge Israeli responsibility in the depths of what is now over 6.5 thousand Palestinians?” Kallander said.

In response, Syverud said he is still trying to learn as much as he can from students, faculty and staff about how to go forward and that he wants to take time to formulate the right response.

“I value human life, including the human life of Palestinians, of all religions and non-religions in Gaza, including human life in Israel and in the West Bank … The challenge for me as a university leader is how much to say and when to say it,” Syverud said. “I appreciate the guidance from this group and helping me out at knowing that no matter what I say, it may not be … there may not be words that will comfort all or be enough for all.”

Other University Senators brought up concerns surrounding nonconsensual videos being taken in their classrooms when discussing the Israel-Hamas war. Senator Biko Mandela Gray, an assistant professor in the department of religion, said there is a video of him circulating online that was taken by one of his students in class while he was discussing the conflict.

Gray said it made him uncomfortable to be filmed without knowing and said that even though all faculty have the right to exercise their opinion, he feels “terrified” of being reported for violating the university’s commitment to safe classroom environments.

“We are also conceding that classrooms are no longer spaces for what you all call the equitable or free exchange of ideas, they cannot be,” Gray said.

University Senator Suzette Meléndez — faculty fellow for the Office of Strategic Initiatives in Academic Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and teaching professor in the College of Law — said the recent conflicts not only affect students, but also faculty and staff, which the university should acknowledge. As chair of the University Senate’s Committee of Race, Ethnicity, Equity and Inclusion, Meléndez said she is trying to advocate for everyone who is affected by the recent conflicts.

University Senator Himika Bhattacharya, associate professor and department chair of women’s and gender studies, asked Syverud what exactly SU will do to protect students and staff

SU leadership and members of the University Senate discussed the university’s response to ongoing Israel-Hamas war. cassandra roshu photo editor

who are impacted by the conflict.

Syrverud said it is SU’s responsibility to respond to these situations in a way that protects students and faculty, particularly to protect the academic freedom of the faculty.

“Our obligation is to stand up for our faculty’s opportunity to express their views appropriately given their obligations to students and other contexts, but also, to make clear not that we disagree, but that we’re a university where a range of views have to be expressed,” Syverud said.

SU is also working on negotiating contract bargaining with Syracuse Graduate Employees United. As SGEU collects feedback from graduate student workers, the union has been working on formulating a contract with SU that addresses their concerns regarding unfair treatment in terms of wages, stipends, hours and workplace harassment. This contract is used to negotiate with SU to come to a fair consensus, Ritter said.

The SGEU bargaining committee has met with the SU bargaining committee six times so far, Ritter said. She said they will continue working toward a “fair and strong” contract and that they have already reached tentative agreements.

“We recognize that such contracts can sometimes be months in the making, and we have

much work yet to do,” Ritter said. “Nonetheless, we remain confident that the process will continue to be constructive, and that the ultimate outcome will be positive.”

Ritter also said SU is starting its search for a new dean of the College of Law and hopes to announce a finalist by the end of this academic year. The search for a new director for the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence is already underway, and SU and the search committee are aiming to announce a finalist by the end of December, she said.

The University Senate itself is working on reconstructing its committees. The Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee is leading this task, which Senator Harriet Brown, the committee’s chair, said has been a work in progress for years. The ultimate goal is to cut the number of committees from 17 to seven, which she said will create a more equitable workload among the committees.

“We feel that consolidated committees with broad interests and flexible internal structures will be more nimble and able to respond to emerging issues,” Brown said.

The next University Senate meeting will be held Nov. 15. rmboychu@syr.edu

county

Jordan, Masterpole compete for Onondaga County comptrollers

By Claire Harrison asst. copy editor

On countywide ballots this November, incumbent Democrat Marty Masterpole and Republican Casey Jordan are competing for the position of Onondaga County Comptroller.

The comptroller leads the county’s Department of Audit and Control to oversee county spending and ensure fiscal integrity and accountability. While both candidates agree that the comptroller should serve as an independent set of eyes, Masterpole and Jordan differ on their views about how often the comptroller’s office should be auditing the county’s departments.

A lifetime resident of Onondaga County, Masterpole attended Onondaga Community College and SUNY Oswego. Before being elected as comptroller in 2019, Masterpole served on the Syracuse Common Council for four years, the Onondaga County legislature for four years and held the role of City Auditor for Syracuse for eight years.

He said this experience, coupled with his time in the private sector of insurance, makes him a qualified candidate. For both of his campaigns for the comptroller position, he has used the campaign slogan, “Experience Matters.”

“I’m running for reelection because I think we’ve done a stable, solid job in the last four years through a global pandemic that had financial uncertainty and all sorts of uncertainty, and I’d like to continue moving that forward,” Masterpole said.

Jordan, who grew up in Clay, attended Vassar College and went to Hofstra University School of Law, where he focused on tax law.

After working in private commercial and business law, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Onondaga County Legislature in 2006 and worked as a legislator for 14 years.

Republican Casey Jordan and incumbent Democrat Marty Masterpole discussed their priorities in the race for Onondaga County comptroller. courtesy of casey jordan (left), cassandra roshu photo editor (right)

In his time in the legislature, Jordan served on every committee in the legislature; for 12 of his 14 years, he was either vice chair or chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he said.

During this time, Jordan said he developed a reputation for drilling down on financial details.

“As a member of the legislature, I was probably tighter with a taxpayer dollar than I am with my own personal finances, so I don’t think you’ll find anybody who’s going to be a more zealous watchdog of the taxpayer dollar than myself,” Jordan said.

Since he left the legislature in 2021, Jordan said he has worked as an assistant welfare attorney for Onondaga County.

With lengthy backgrounds in the financial sector, both candidates said they view the auditing process as an essential function of being comptroller.

In the past four years, Masterpole said he thinks his office has done well with auditing, having seen both “clean” audits and audits that show issues within departments.

Masterpole said he would continue the auditing work he has done under the future county executive, whether it be Bill Kinne or Ryan McMahon.

“We need to continue to be that balanced, steady, independent voice that relays information to, of course, both my fellow elected

officials but most importantly, the taxpayers,” Masterpole said.

For Jordan, auditing is the most important role of the comptroller. The lack of frequent auditing is the most prominent problem the comptroller’s office has today, he said. If elected, he said he would audit as many departments per year as possible, establishing a rotating schedule so that all departments and programs would be appropriately audited.

“That’s just a critical aspect of the position, and again, it’s something that is statutorily required under the county charter, and it’s just simply not being done,” Jordan said. see comptroller page 6

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city

Construction set to begin this winter on new STEAM school

By Alec Sturm

contributing writer

Construction is set to begin this fall on the new STEAM high school in downtown Syracuse after the Syracuse City Common Council voted on Oct. 16 to approve street closures for the project.

The school, which the Syracuse City School District is branding as the first of its kind in the region, aims to prepare its students for the workforce through career and technical education in STEM and the arts. It will be located in the former Central High School building on the corner of South Warren Street and East Adams Street in downtown Syracuse.

Jody Manning, the planning principal and executive director of planning for the school, said the school will focus on providing access for the local community and become a primary hub in providing employment opportunities for students.

“We have proposed concentrations that will be integrated so students will get a well-rounded education in those particular areas,” Manning said.

“You’ll have a lot of opportunities, but once you go through a certain concentration, you are ready to go into an entry-level or above an entry-level job.”

The concentrations — both majors and minors — will include fields like business entrepreneurship, construction management, data intelligence, entertainment engineering and semiconductor manufacturing technology, according to the SCSD website.

Manning will not act as the school’s principal once enrollment begins in fall 2025; a principal for the school is expected to be named in early 2024 after the conclusion of a nationwide search, Manning said.

Manning said he hopes the STEAM School will serve a vital role in becoming part of an “economic engine” in central New York.

Mayor Ben Walsh first announced plans for the school project in 2019. Now, the construction comes as Syracuse and the broader CNY area prepare for economic opportunities through companies like Micron Technology, which announced it is investing up to $100 billion for a new semiconductor facility in Clay. from page 1

vigil

food, water and fuel supplies, according to CNN. While some aid has made its way into Gaza through Egypt, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called it a “drop in the ocean” of what is needed.

Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 6,500 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, The Washington Post reported.

Sanjay Mathur, the Hindu chaplain at Hendricks Chapel, said the vigil promoted grace, which he intended to spread across different faiths and beliefs.

“We are human beings, and as humanity prevails, we have to be participative and inclusive,” Mathur said. “It’s about being present when there is a need, and that I think is very important today, for each one of us.”

Following prayers from each speaker, community members were invited to light candles and stand in a moment of silence.

Mian Muhammad Abdul Hamid, a junior studying in the School of Information Studies, is the spiritual chair for the MSA. Hamid said the vigil gave him hope the campus community can agree on the common goal of peace and wellbeing.

“Even though we may have some agreements and disagreements, in terms of certain political issues in the world, which we don’t have to get from page 3

comptroller “That creates a problem and potential risks to build the county and the county’s finances.”

Mark Brockway, an assistant teaching professor of political science at Syracuse University, said that since the county’s spending is public information, he is skeptical of claims that financial oversight alone will fix any of the problems the county faces.

He pointed to the $85 million aquarium that is set to be built in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor as an example.

“The judgment about whether or not that’s a good use of money; that is the real question,” Brockway said.

To Masterpole, one of the most pressing issues facing Onondaga County is the impending arrival of Micron Technology.

The $100 billion investment will come with lots of infrastructure needs as well as services provided by the county government, such as a stable water supply — which will be both an opportunity and a challenge, he said.

Upcoming projects like the Interstate 81 community grid and Micron’s incoming facility are seen as potential avenues for graduates of the STEAM high school. Companies like Micron and Amazon have each provided funding to the school, Manning SAID. Bruno Primerano, director of career and technical education for SCSD, said he hopes the school will mitigate the number of economically disadvantaged Syracuse families in the long term.

“We feel like this is an avenue to break those horrible things that have happened to our families for generations here in Syracuse and give our students and families the opportunity access, not just to jobs, but breaking down the barriers needed to get into high wage careers, and to get into higher education,” Primerano said.

The school will have 1,000 seats for students at full capacity, 600 of which are reserved for Syracuse high schoolers and 400 for students from nearby suburban communities, Manning said. The school will admit 250 freshmen in its first year of enrollment and plans to add another cohort annually.

SCSD worked with CenterState CEO, a local business leadership and economic development organization that provided the district with a needs assessment of the region.

CenterState CEO identified a need to invest in business entrepreneurship and construction management curricula, Manning said.

The company said having more workers overseeing projects was the most glaring need for local businesses.

“We’ve engaged (with) a significant amount of our members — folks within the business community — with the school district, with the city, with the county, to begin to identify what the needs of our employers are, and why it might make sense for us to invest as a region in a STEAM high school,” said Robert Simpson, the president of CenterState CEO. After graduating from the STEAM high school, some students will have already qualified for credits at neighboring universities like Syracuse University, SUNY ESF and SUNY Oswego, Manning said. Graduates could enroll at traditional universities for two- or four-year prointo, we could come to one agreement, which is (that) we want peace,” Hamid said.

At the MSA vigil last week, Hamid led prayer and presented verses that shed light on how to find answers through scripture during emotional times.

Rabbi Mendy Rapoport, the executive director of Chabad House SU and an organizer of the peace vigil for Israel, said he thought it was beautiful that the vigil focused on messages of peace.

“This peace really doesn’t have to be complicated,” Rapoport said. “The offshoots of it, or the implications and the path of how to get there perhaps is where it gets convoluted. But the underlying emphasis on that simple idea is very straightforward.”

Through the vigils, Hendricks has made a difference in the university community, especially during traumatic situations, said Tula Goenka, professor and graduate program director of television, radio and film at the Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Goenka was on campus when 9/11 happened, and she said the university has always gathered people together during times like these. As students often look at faculty members as role models and to help them with the healing process, it is important for faculty to be present, Goenka said.

“A lot of students are so far away from home and we are the grown ups here to help show them the way,” she said.

Hendricks expects to hold more vigils in the Though the Micron investment is a recent development for the county to navigate, Masterpole said the ongoing lead crisis and child poverty still remain significant challenges.

As a fiscal conservative, Jordan said fiscal responsibility in Onondaga County means the government operates as efficiently and effectively at the lowest cost possible.

“To me, it’s critically important to make sure that monies are being spent appropriately, that we’re not spending anything more than we absolutely need to or more than what was authorized by the legislature and the county executive’s office,” he said.

Masterpole said allocating generous funding doesn’t necessarily mean the spending is wasteful. He said fiscal responsibility means delivering essential services, like plowing roads and maintaining parks, to taxpayers without wasting any money.

Though Jordan and Masterpole identify with different parties, both candidates said their party affiliations play little to no role in their decision-making.

When Jordan was an Onondaga County legislator, he said he often took positions contrary

The new STEAM High School in downtown Syracuse will focus on providing employment opportunities in technology and business. lars jendruschewitz asst. photo editor

grams, he added, while some could have offers for part- or full-time jobs in construction.

Manning said the application process for middle school students will center on demonstrated interest in a particular field, rather than solely on grades and test scores. Applicants will need to submit letters of recommendation and meet with a subject matter expert to show their interest, as well as submit attendance and behavior issue history, he said.

Construction on the school’s exterior and roof will continue up until this winter before

shifting to designing the building’s interior, Manning said.

As the Syracuse community prepares for an influx of new job opportunities, Primerano said the school will give SCSD a chance to “strike while the iron is hot.”

“We try in education to change things as much as we can, but I think right now is the time to change the ideal nature of education from the standard way that we’ve been doing pre-K (through) 12,” Primerano said. ajsturm@syr.edu

Around 50 people gathered for an interfaith vigil that called for world peace in light of the ongoing maxine brackbill photo editor Israel-Hamas war.

future, Konkol said.

“It’s not just the time to wring your hands in distress, but it’s definitely the time to do and

attempt to do good. And I believe that’s universal,” Rapoport said.

to those of his party.

“I made my decisions in the positions that I held solely based upon what I thought was the best interest of my constituents and the people of the county, regardless of party politics, partisanship, or political pressure or influence,” Jordan said.

Though he said he has democratic values as a person, Masterpole said auditing should be as apolitical and unbiased as possible.

“We’re just going to provide the facts to county government, to county taxpayers, residents, other elected officials, provide them with the facts and let the readers and taxpayers make up their mind on their own opinions,” Masterpole said.

Brockway said although both candidates can strive to be independent, they are both members of political parties elected to positions that will ultimately be affected by politics. Since the 2021 election, the county has been led by a Republican-majority legislature, which complicates the comptroller’s independent role, he said.

“I would question the ability of any elected official to be independent no matter what their

position,” Brockway said.

Beyond auditing and serving as an advocate for the taxpayers, Jordan said that if elected, he will serve as a resource for the legislature and for the county executive to help the county government be more effective.

In his role as an elected official, Masterpole said he prioritizes honesty and accountability. He said he discusses finances openly with constituents via phone calls and social media.

Brockway encouraged students to participate in the upcoming election to have their voice heard on county issues.

“The oversight comes from the voters.

The oversight is whether or not you think that the county is spending their money in the right way,” Brockway said. “If you don’t agree that the county should have spent $85 million on the aquarium, then your job is to vote out the people that spent that money.”

Early voting for the election begins on Oct. 28, and election day is Nov. 7. comptroller.

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C

CULTURE

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october 26, 2023 7

Behind the screams Fright Nights combines old and new techniques to create a state-ofthe-art collection of haunted houses

By Olivia Boyer

asst. culture editor

For the people behind Fright Nights, Halloween is a way of life. A family of freaks. A passionate crew of ghouls and goblins, led by owner Grazi Zazzara and his son.

“When I was younger, there was a haunted house at the fairgrounds. It was basically just a blank maze, just blank walls, dark rooms, strobe lights. And I was just amazed going through them,” Zazzara said.

However, he thought it was boring and wanted to do it better. He realized that the original version of Fright Nights, Fright Nights at the Fair, spent a large portion of its money setting up and taking down the haunted house after the Fair had ended. So he decided to have a permanent location, moving it to a “spooky looking warehouse” which he already owned.

When Zazzara started his haunted house, he was told that it can go one of two ways: either have it fully electronic or have actors. Zazzara decided he’d take the best of both worlds and incorporate all aspects of the best haunted houses.

Next, he decided to push the boundary further by having a structure that could be worked on yearround. The downside of many haunted houses is they’re seasonal and owners have to spend the majority of funds taking the structure down after Halloween. Fright Nights has a facility that stays open year-round, although they’re only open to the public for the five weekends leading up to Halloween.

Fright Nights is a family, from actors to owners, and multiple employees said they live for a good scare.

“I love it. I’ve got a couple of costumes that I put on myself,” Zazzara said. “As much as I can, whenever

I have free time, I run around and do that.”

Carmen Bordonaro, better known as “Buddy the Clown,” has been a professional clown for over 40 years. He likes to keep his “standard clowning” separate from his haunt acting because many clowns don’t acknowledge the scary side of the trade.

People who are so into Halloween, it gives them a creative outlet that allows (the actor) to do something that they enjoy on the weekends for a month.

Alyssa Blazina fright nights’ marketing director

The overwhelming sentiment of Fright Nights is an “exhilarating fun scare” without traumatizing patrons, Bordonaro said. Many don’t target individuals who are especially scared.

“When you were 5 years old, you went to your friend’s house with a bunch of other friends to play around, right? Some kid just jumped out from the

Fright Nights is a staple in the Syracuse area with five attractions, including a clown house and spooky ship. courtesy of fright night

corner, scared you, and everybody laughed. What did you want to do? You want to get them back too, that’s kind of what we’re doing,” Bordonaro said.

Each actor has their “scene” within the experience and creates a character to match the scene.

Bordonaro focuses on looking mysterious, not scary when it comes to make-up and costume. This allows patrons of the haunted house to be nervous around him, not terrified.

He says the trick to scare acting is focusing on the reaction. There are many ways to achieve this: props, sounds, lights and acting.

“I can tell by looking at someone what state that they’re in. If somebody comes in and they’ve got a smile on their face because they’ve already been scared three or four times,” Bordonaro said. “As opposed to someone who’s just sitting there with his arms folded because he’s with his girlfriend and just wants to walk through it.”

Fright Nights is a Syracuse staple, with many returning customers year to year. The upside of having a year-round location is that the haunt can see fright nights page 10

from the studio

‘A Portrait of Upstate’ aims to create cultural arts district

By Kelly Matlock

asst. culture editor

While walking around downtown Syracuse this summer, Daniela Nikolavsky saw a unique, surrealist portrait by Hannah Alvaro displayed on an abandoned storefront.

She contacted the artist about featuring her work in an exhibit — “A Portrait of Upstate.”

“I wanted to see, can a person with an idea come to Syracuse and do something about it?” Nikolavsky said. “This art exhibition

shows that people are interested in art, art can connect people, so I’m very hopeful.”

Alvaro is one of many artists featured in the exhibit, which will be displayed at 701 N Salina Street through Oct. 27. They come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, using styles ranging from abstract painting to murals, but what brings them together is their home in upstate New York.

The exhibit is more than just a collection of art. It’s the first step in creating a cultural arts

We need a whole neighborhood district for the art and murals and different events and shows that are going on.

Brandon Lazore artist

district in Syracuse, an effort spearheaded by Nikolavsky, Nicole Watts and Ronnie Harris.

Watts has lived in Syracuse for almost 20 years. She started a nonprofit called Hopeprint that aims to help people resettling in Syracuse and “facilitate sustainable development so that all might prosper in place.”

“For this first exhibit, much of the art is pulled from talented artists throughout the region, and we look forward to seeing hyperlocal artists on the Northside drawn out through events like this,” Watts said.

The Northside of Syracuse is culturally rich and very diverse, she said. With a cultural arts district, they hope to celebrate the cultures of the neighborhood.

“While we may read in the paper, see on the news, or know anecdotally that Syracuse welcomes among the most resettling refugees in the region … most people in our region do not have approachable ways to learn from all these new neighbors,” Watts said.

Watts and Nikolavsky have applied for the Our Town grant, which is

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CONCERTS

screentime column

Scorsese examines power and greed in new film THIS WEEKEND

By Henry O’Brien

senior staff writer

Landmark Theatre

Martin Scorsese knows he’s running out of time.

In a May interview, the 80-year-old acknowledged his own mortality, expressing the desire to continue telling stories. With the time he has, the director left no stone unturned in his latest feature film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Through exceptional performances and a rejection of certain aspects of his cinematic style — flashy, long camera movements and ambitious, greedy characters that suffer an eventual downfall — Scorsese wants to show how greed can infect every aspect of society and shouldn’t be glamorized.

Scorsese portrays the ideas that make up the American myth, like the American Dream, have violent undertones. Money can be earned through hard work, but sometimes that hard work involves ruthless murders. He’s told stories like these before, but never in such a devastating manner, which is saying a lot from the man who directed some of the most violent, brutal and brilliant films ever like “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas” and “The Irishman.”

Adapted from David Grann’s 2017 book of the same name, the film tells the story of how conniving men like Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro) slowly murder members of the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe in Oklahoma.

They do so after oil is found there, making the Osage some of the richest people in the country.

The movie becomes more complicated as Burkhart marries into wealth through an Osage wife, Mollie (Lily Gladstone).

Scorsese’s latest epic is not a whodunnit like Grann’s book is. Even as no-nonsense FBI lawman Tom White (Jesse Plemons) shows up twothirds of the way in and solves the murders, the audience must sit with the knowledge of who the murderers are and the avarice that drives these men to become killers.

Early in the film, when Burkhart reads from a children’s book, he says, “Do you see the wolves in this picture?” The wolves in this movie aren’t hard to find at all, especially since this line was placed in the initial trailer spliced with a shot of many of the film’s white characters who either murdered or controlled the Osage.

Burkhart’s greed blinds him throughout the film and eventually costs him everything, especially as his plots to steal Mollie’s inheritance money become increasingly careless. This is exemplified on a micro-level early on when he steals money from some Osages and immediately gambles it away in a single night, gleefully exclaiming, “I love money!”

Scorsese has had materialistic, selfish characters in his films before, such as Jordan Belfort in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” However, that film and role have been criticized for glamorizing the life of a Wall Street crook.

Whether this criticism holds any weight is up for debate, but Scorsese, and DiCaprio for that

Award-winning country music group Lady A is bringing their Request Line Tour to the Landmark Theatre on Friday night. Since forming in 2006, the trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood have produced songs such as “Need You Now,” “Bartender” and “Just a Kiss.” Singersongwriter Dave Barnes will also be performing. Tickets are available online.

WHEN: Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

PRICE: Starting at $50.20 depending on seatings

Funk ‘n Waffles

illustration by nora benko and zoe silverman

matter, use the role of Burkhart to reckon with what happens when an ambitious idiot is driven by money with no concern for loved ones. There is no sympathizing with the protagonist.

Along with using character types that have worked for him in the past, Scorsese attempts to critically reflect on his own style in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

At first, Scorsese reminds the viewers of his style, particularly with how he uses the camera.

There are continuous landscape shots that show the scope of the oil fields. There are tracking shots of Mollie’s family that are nearly identical to the iconic Copacabana scene in “Goodfellas.”

There’s also the same frantic rush like shots from “Goodfellas,” “Casino” or “The Wolf of Wall Street”.

With “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Scorsese looks for a much bleaker tone than his previous pictures. In the film’s latter half, Burkhart has some form of an idea that what he is doing to his wife and her people is wrong. Gone are the long tracking shots, and in their place are cold stills where the camera holds on for an extra second longer to emphasize the horrific actions.

To achieve this even further, the film purposely uses graphic violence to portray evil and carefully shows how racism and prejudice become institutionalized. Scorsese specifically shows how these plots are carried out, whether it be through brute force or subtle poisons.

Much of the thematic and emotional appeal of the film comes from the well-publicized rewrite of the script, which refrained from making another story about the hero being a white man. The source material originally

focused on the Osage and the hate crimes committed against them, but Grann’s book was also focused on the FBI and White solving the case.

This film mainly focused on the emotions of the former.

With this change, the film gets to focus much more on Mollie, a character that Gladstone played with a quiet brilliance. She is not the most vocal of characters, an intentional decision to show how the Osage feel around the racist members of the town. But when she speaks, Gladstone’s performance demands attention.

And yet, Gladstone is almost absent from good portions of the film. While this can be justified since this is what happened to Mollie Burkhart in real life — she remarried, remained estranged from Ernest and passed — it calls into question whether or not the film should’ve been more from the perspective of the Osage.

In an interview at the film’s premiere, Osage language consultant Christopher Cote expressed his complicated feelings.

Was Scorsese the best person to tell this particular story about the events that happened to the Osage? No, he wasn’t. But Scorsese has been a true master of directing films portraying evil and how that guilt can weigh on a person for over five decades.

The director tells this story like nothing he has ever done before and reflects on whether or not making movies about real-life criminals is the right thing to do. But Scorsese possibly comes to an even darker conclusion: these people and historical atrocities can eventually be forgotten with cold indifference. henrywobrien1123@gmail.com

events tracker

Dive into the spooky spirit with these 5 events

By Kate Kelley

asst. digital editor

American indie rock band Annie in the Water will perform at Funk ‘n Waffles on Friday night. Their shows combine elements of rock, funk, reggae, hiphop, soul and jam. Guitarist and songwriter Jeremy Hillard, also known as Peak, will also perform. Tickets can be purchased online.

WHEN: Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.

PRICE: $18.22

The Mudpit The Mudpit is hosting “Bloodpit,” another Halloween-themed show, this weekend. The lineup will feature student artists Sammy Cucrucu, Padma, Luna and The Carpets, Glam* and Bunk. DJ Scrdness will also perform a set. DM The Mudpit on Instagram for tickets. Costumes are encouraged.

WHEN: Oct. 27 at 9 p.m.

PRICE: $7 presale, $10 at the door

Middle Ages Brewing Company Hosted by University Union, Juice Jam 2022 will feature co-headliners T-Pain and Flo Milli, supported by Doechii and Yung Gravy. An SU tradition, the concert will take place at Skytop Field and will adopt the JMA Wireless Dome’s bag policy — broadly, only small or clear bags will be allowed at the event.

WHEN: Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.

PRICE: $24.90

Halloween Dog Parade

Join the Westcott Neighborhood Association for their second annual Halloween Dog Parade. Dress up with your furry friend for a half-mile walk followed by live music and refreshments for both dogs and humans. The parade will begin at the Petit Branch Library at 10 a.m. on Oct. 28. All dogs must be leashed.

The Harrington The Harrington is back for one last time to host Harrington’s Halloweenthemed “From Beyond the Grave…” show this Saturday. Pop Culture and Hydrogen will headline. Presale is already sold out, but the venue will still be selling tickets at the door.

Direct message The Harrington on Instagram for more information.

WHEN: Oct. 28 at 8:30 p.m.

PRICE: $10 at the door

Halloween Bar Crawl

Venture downtown to Armory Square for a Halloween bar crawl with seven stops. Participants can also go all out for the high-stakes costume contest for a chance to win $1,000. The two-day event will take place on Oct. 27 and 28 from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tickets include two themed drinks, access to spooky drink deals, waived cover fees for each bar and a ghastly after-party at Orbis Lounge.

Beak & Skiff Halloween Bash

Dress up in your best Halloween costume for a chance to win $500 at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards’ third annual Halloween Bash. The night will include a spooky 1911 cocktail, a buffet of seasonal favorites and a costume contest.

The night will also include performances from DJs SugarBear and John Rogalia. Tickets are available at the door online for advance purchase for $27.50. The bash will take place on Oct. 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Halloween Drag Brunch

Feast on a festive buffet brunch and watch a spooky drag performance at Wunderbar this weekend. The

kristen santos contributing illustrator

brunch will take place on Oct. 29 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are available for $38.

Alto Cinco’s Halloween Party

Dive into the Halloween spirit at Alto Cinco’s

annual Halloween party and costume contest.

The party will take place at 9 p.m. on Oct. 28.

Entry is $5. kkelle04@syr.edu

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from page 1

broadway that the New York Times is not going to come up here to review if your play may not be ready for a New York Times review.”

Hupp said that when he saw the workshop for “How to Dance in Ohio,” he wanted to bring it to Syracuse for more than the ticket revenue or even the prospect of Broadway.

The mission of “How to Dance in Ohio” represents the legacy he wants to leave on the theater, Syracuse and the industry. As Syracuse Stage celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, that legacy is only more important.

“A musical like ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ helps us to define and talk about the future of Syracuse Stage and the future of our field,” Hupp said. “It’s thrilling for me to know that audiences in central New York got the opportunity to see something for the very first time that will become part of our artistic vocabulary moving forward.”

If there was any question about how audiences would respond to the new musical, its world premiere in Syracuse answered them, Hupp said.

Audiences were enthralled, they fell in love with the characters’ stories and, most importantly, the neurodivergent community who saw the show felt respected and represented.

For two of the show’s producers, Ben Holtzman and Fiona Rudin, the outpouring of love “How to Dance in Ohio” received in Syracuse was their greatest goal and achievement.

They said they knew the community, like Tague, had been taught to have low expectations for authentic representation.

If they were going to do this, they needed to do it right. And, after Syracuse, it became clear they were.

“We try to be guided by the mantra ‘Nothing about us without us,’” Holtzman said. “If we’re gonna do this thing, let’s make sure that we’re bringing autistic voices to the table right away so that we can bring the community in on every level that we possibly can.

The fact that we had autistic actors in the show is powerful enough to make it a success on its own.”

Like Tague, “How to Dance in Ohio” will be both Holtzman and Rudin’s Broadway debut.

Holtzman got the call from the Shubert Orga-

“How to Dance in Ohio” made history on Broadway by representing the neurodivergent community. The cast includes nine neurodivergent actors playing autistic characters. courtesy of marc j. franklin

nization offering them the Belasco Theatre on June 16th — his 32nd birthday.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions, rehearsals and a nagging sense of anxiety from doing something that’s never been done before, Rudin said. But, ever since the beginning, Rudin knew the story of “How to Dance in Ohio” needed to be shared.

“When you hear of something that kind of arrests you, that can almost feel like a bad idea, that’s something I always pay attention to.

Because it’s telling you that you haven’t seen or heard it before,” Rudin said. “For me, that was this show. Instantly when I first heard about it, I was like, ‘I need to dig deeper into that story.’ It stopped me in my tracks.”

Director Sammi Cannold was on the treadmill while on a much-needed vacation when she

from page 7

oliviaboyer@dailyorange.com

from page 7

portrait funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. They want a cultural arts district to serve as an opportunity for people to find a piece of home in Syracuse. Culture is manifested in the arts and is an accessible way to encounter other cultures, Watts said.

One of the artists in the exhibit, Brandon Lazore, is a traditional Haudenosaunee painter.

In the exhibit, his paintings depict animals, nature and landscapes with traditional designs.

“We need a whole neighborhood district for the art and murals and different events and shows that are going on,” Lazore said. “A mural or something like that can change the feel of a neighborhood.”

In the exhibit, he shows some work he has done with traditional painting on canvases, but he is also a muralist. He has been painting murals since the 1990s, and his work is on display in the Shaw Quadrangle at Syracuse University.

“I’ve always wanted to see underpasses of (Interstate 690) muraled … there’s so many walls around Syracuse that are just blank,” Lazore said.

“You know, there’s so much possibility with all the blank canvases in the city.”

Shavonne Joliee, another artist in the exhibit, said that she and Nikolavsky hit it off imme-

“I think that, to me, the ultimate victory of the show is it’s on Broadway. We have this platform to tell this story,” Cannold said. “Anything that comes after will be icing on the cake.”

As the cast and crew look ahead to tech rehearsals and their first preview on Nov. 15, they don’t feel afraid or intimidated. They feel ready and confident doing something that’s never been done before and are excited to share that with a Broadway audience.

The show exists and, for them, that’s enough.

“I think that just by the show existing and not forcing these ideas down people’s throats, it is advocacy because it allows the audience to observe and think and view and make decisions for themselves,” Holtzman said. “Which, I think, is what theater has the power to do.”

sophieszyd@dailyorange.com

scribble

fright nights change the scenes every year and keep things exciting for those coming back. Not only do they retain customers, but many actors come back as well.

“We have a pretty high retention rate when it comes to staff because they love this stuff. And it’s kind of cultish,” said Alyssa Blazina, marketing director at Fright Nights. “People who are so into Halloween, it gives them a creative outlet that allows (the actor) to do something that they enjoy on the weekends for a month.”

This year, the haunt flaunts five specific houses, including the “Monster Movie Matinee,” making its debut this fall. The other houses include a slide to hell, a clown playhouse, a cursed shipwreck and a classic haunted manor.

“Nothing gets me more excited knowing that this individual wants to do the job,” Bordonaro said. “They look at me and go, ‘I don’t know. I just love Halloween and want to scare people.’ That’s really what it is. They just love Halloween. They just want to scare people in a fun way.”

got the call that “How to Dance in Ohio” was Broadway-bound.

The news was a lifelong dream coming true.

She was excited, but she was also grateful that, of all the projects she will work on throughout her career, “How to Dance in Ohio” will be her Broadway debut.

“For me, it’s really meaningful to try to make art that is also advocacy. That also has a mission to it,” Cannold said. “I’m really grateful that the piece that I take to Broadway is one that, to me, is equal parts art and advocacy.”

Yet, telling stories like “How to Dance in Ohio” also presents unique challenges and pressures, Cannold said. The show has a responsibility to the neurodivergent community. If that community resonates with it or an audience member’s empathy grows, she’s done her job.

courtesy of fright nights

scribble by aiden stepansky asst. digital editor

diately. As “creative women in the community,” they had a lot in common.

Joliee studied graphic design and illustration at Daemen University and graduated in 2001 before working at Kodak. She loves photography but said painting brings her “more peace,” returning to the form during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a mother, she is excited for her children to see her paintings.

For this first exhibit, much of the art is pulled from talented artists throughout the region.

Nicole Watts ceo of hopeprint

Joliee also said that the event is in a good location for the community. She added that she would be glad to see a cultural arts district in Syracuse.

“There’s so many reasons to celebrate art and music, and (it’s amazing) that she’s creating a space and a location,” Joliee said. “You know, a destination for that in our city is really special.” kellyamatlock@icloud.com

“A Portrait of Upstate” is step one toward the goal of creating a cultural arts district in heart of Syracuse.

courtesy of shavonne joliee

OPINION

11 october 26, 2023

dailyorange.com opinion@dailyorange.com

nora benko illustration editor

column

In the fight for County Executive, our writers advocate for opposite outcomes

By Sarhia Rahim

R columnist

unning for Onondaga County Executive, Democrat Bill Kinne’s focus is on transparency between residents and county government, as well as tackling societal issues such as the housing crisis within Syracuse. He plans to fix current infrastructure, advocate for a large-scale housing development and take steps to address mental health issues within the community if elected.

Addressing local issues in a citizensfirst way demonstrates Kinne’s willingness to engage with residents and provide them with a voice in the decisionmaking process.

Onondaga County continues to struggle with forming solutions to end the cycle of poverty. A lack of affordable housing, lead poisoning, poor public transportation and more perpetuate the problem. Nationwide, 20 percent of children live below the poverty line. Onondaga’s numbers are over double that. As of 2021, 41 percent of children in Syracuse live in poverty. The overall poverty in the city is 27 percent as of 2021.

As the community continues to emerge from the pandemic, there is a pressing need for leadership that can foster strong relationships throughout the community and focus on practical, budget-conscious solutions.

Job opportunities and tourismdriven initiatives may not be feasible for locals who lack the necessary resources due to an absence of prior investment in their development. It is vital to prioritize programs and initiatives that empower those who make up the significant percentage of residents facing poverty.

Many locals have frowned upon McMahon’s choice to spend the county surplus, $85 million, on a new aquarium. His idea was to bolster amenities in the city, in hopes of attracting more employees once the Micron chip plant was complete.

But is McMahon’s approach to put Syracuse “on the map” the best way to counter generational poverty?

Large companies like Micron making central New York their new home under the help of McMahon was exciting. But it’s crucial to recognize that these projects, while promising, do not offer an immedi-

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ate solution to the challenges faced by those currently living in poverty or struggling with housing shortages. In fact, these developments highlight the existing issues in the county, like the disparities in education and limited access to public transportation for local residents seeking to secure employment opportunities in these new ventures.

While speaking with The Daily Orange, Kinne said he hopes to bring in a collective of community leaders who can help tackle issues and create solutions.

Many of these societal problems require different voices from local organizations that can provide solutions at a smaller scale. This is a necessary stepping stone to finding a solution for all.

By creating relationships with surrounding universities, Kinne hopes to provide job opportunities to students studying in fields related to mental health and psychology. He would look into covering college loans through a “reimbursement” system once students work in the city for a certain amount of years. And to address mental health within the school system, Kinne wants classroom sizes to be smaller by investing in faculty. This way, students can have more attention from their teachers in the classroom.

As the election for county executive draws near, the choice between Ryan McMahon and Bill Kinne reflects a pivotal decision for the community’s future. While McMahon’s focus on attracting large companies like Micron and making Syracuse more prominent on the map holds promise, it is clear that immediate solutions are needed to address the persistent issues of poverty, affordable housing, education and public transportation.

In contrast, Bill Kinne’s approach, which emphasized transparency, collaboration and practical solutions, offers a more community-centered response to these challenges. He recognizes the exacerbated problems stemming from the pandemic, particularly in mental health.

Choosing him at the polls will shape a path toward a more inclusive, resilient and prosperous Onondaga County.

Election Day is Nov. 7, and early voting runs Oct. 28 through Nov. 6.

Sarhia Rahim is a junior Policy Studies Major. Her Column appears bi-weekly.

She can be reached at slrahim@syr.edu.

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Dominic Chiappone Roxanne Boychuk Olivia Fried Hannah Karlin Olivia Boyer Kelly Matlock Cooper Andrews Zak Wolf Lars Jendruschewitz Joe Zhao

By Ben Bascuk

O

contributing columnist

nondaga County approaches a pivotal county executive election on Nov. 7 with two drastically different candidates fighting for the position. While incumbent County Executive Ryan McMahon (R) syncs experience and detailed vision, County Legislator Bill Kinne (D) stumbles over imprecise policy proposals.

At the Destiny Christian Center County Executive Debate on Sept.

5, Kinne outlined his three primary goals: improve housing and infrastructure, address the lead crisis and stop McMahon’s aquarium.

Kinne’s plans are vague visions, while McMahon has worked tirelessly for five years as County Executive and 18 years as a forwardthinking public servant.

At the debate, Kinne said that he and McMahon “disagree on pretty much everything,” yet he often credited the McMahon administration’s vast accomplishments.

Kinne acknowledged that McMahon “did a pretty good job” on his COVID-19 response, and even expressed support for the Micron semiconductor factory – a massive win for Onondaga county championed by McMahon.

Kinne admits officials “have to have a plan” regarding infrastructure. McMahon clearly does.

In Sept. 2020, he secured $1.6 million from the Onondaga County legislature to create a new sewer system in Clay’s White Plains Business Park, the future site of Micron. Two years later, McMahon achieved the bipartisan investment of the century: a $100 billion Micron chip plant state officials project will create up to 9,000 jobs and an additional 40,000 supply-chain/ construction jobs.

More infrastructure, workers and spending means more investment in the people of Onondaga County.

McMahon’s administration cut the county property tax rate

by 15 percent since taking office.

Even so, property taxes account for just $150 million of the county’s $1.4 billion budget.

Simply put, the county government runs on sales tax.

Kinne’s taxation plan is difficult to foresee, as he makes no promises in either direction, staying painfully indecisive.

“The goal is to never raise taxes, but I’m never going to say I’m not going to raise taxes, that would be foolish,” Kinne said.

Kinne’s last ditch crusade has failed to make waves: the aquarium.

Political agendas have complicated McMahon’s aquarium proposal with his legislation passing by only one vote. Questions surrounding an aquarium costing five percent of the annual budget surplus are more than reasonable.

Yes, it’s expensive, but worth it.

In a feasibility study, the aquarium proved a reasonable investment, estimating half-a-million visitors and generating $12 million in economic activity annually.

But despite disagreements, there are common grounds.

Lead paint in old housing stock is a concern of both candidates.

McMahon worked alongside Mayor Ben Walsh’s administration to funnel $8.7 million of flexible federal dollars toward youth blood level tests and home repairs.

During the debate, Kinne argued the administration’s program was too little too late, but conceded McMahon “took lead seriously and put money into it.”

Kinne told The Daily Orange that McMahon spends too much taxpayer money on needless legal fees.

At the same time, he said he is prepared to pay lawyers and challenge lawsuits when he removes families from private properties containing lead paint despite having no clearly stated temporary housing alternative. Kinne professes that, “If you own a house (containing lead), you’ll either have to fix it up or tear it down.

What do you want to do?”

Displacing families from their homes without a resettlement plan

means Onondoga taxpayers should start saving up to fund the Kinne administration’s legal fees.

McMahon realizes the housing crisis is rooted in the fact that 30 percent of Syracuse residents are living in poverty. His solution?

Career opportunities.

By increasing income eligibility for child care subsidies, outlined at the Destiny Christian Center debate, McMahon would allow parents seeking professional degrees to avoid punishment through ineligibility.

Higher education leads to more jobs, income and housing affordability.

In Oct. 2022, McMahon issued an emergency order blocking certain Onondaga properties from housing migrant groups sent from New York City. While critics have taken issue with the policy, McMahon’s administration remains steadfast on welcoming as many migrants as supportable.

In 2022, Onondaga County was responsible for 22.9 percent of New York state refugees and Special Immigrant Visas (SIV’s).

Both candidates were present at town halls hosted by the Intro to Analysis of Public Policy course within Syracuse Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Dr. Richard Barton conducted a pre-town hall Google form survey of 166 undergrads, and found that 72.3 percent supported Democrat challenger Bill Kinne. After hearing both candidates, the vote flipped in McMahon’s favor with 68.4 percent of 152 respondents supporting the Republican incumbent.

McMahon’s results speak for themself. Voters value experience over partisanship, actions over words and vision over vagueness. Onondaga County should re-elect McMahon to county executive.

Election Day is Nov. 7, and early voting runs Oct. 28 through Nov. 6.

Ben Bascuk is a freshman double majoring in Broadcast and Digital Journalism and Policy Studies. He can be reached at bjbascuk@syr.edu.

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football

Beat writers split on whether Syracuse will defeat Virginia Tech

By Daily Orange Sports Staff

Syracuse is coming off a much-needed bye week, where head coach Dino Babers said his players rested and went home to their families for the only time during the season. Yet, it won’t provide the same advantage as most byes. The Orange travel to Blacksburg, Va., to play Virginia Tech on Thursday, not Saturday. The Hokies also had a bye last week.

SU is coming off a three-game stretch where it was outscored by a combined 88 points against Clemson, North Carolina and Florida State.

Now, the competition dips back down a bit, with five Atlantic Coast Conference opponents who are all currently 4-3 or worse.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (4-3, 0-3 ACC) will fare against Virginia Tech (3-4, 2-1 ACC):

Anthony Alandt (6-1)

Hokies gobble Oranges Virginia Tech 24, Syracuse 16 Good programs beat the schools at or below their prestige and compete with opponents that have more talent. Syracuse handled its first four opponents in that manner, taking care of Purdue and three schools it should have beaten.

Then, it got walloped by the top of the ACC in three straight weeks, losing by a combined 112-24 score. Babers said after the bye week that the Orange are still going to be without Trebor Pena and Kalan Ellis, and will have a limited Isaiah Jones. The fear of SU becoming a onedimensional squad has been realized, and the rest-up week didn’t seem to do its job.

Now, the Orange hit the road against Virginia Tech, a team that started slow but has hit its stride in recent weeks following a stunning upset to Marshall. Baylor transfer Kyron Drones has helmed the Hokies and hasn’t thrown an interception since a Week 3 loss to Rutgers.

Babers is 6-24 on the road against ACC teams since taking over Syracuse, and Lane Stadium isn’t exactly a welcoming environment for the Orange. Quarterback Garrett Shrader said the Orange noticed through watching film that their offense is dynamic when he uses his legs to extend plays. But, a puzzling Hokies defense has allowed over 30 points to just Rutgers and Florida State, and I’m sure they’ve game planned against Shrader’s scrambling. SU isn’t a complete from page 16

baltimore With Tucker out, Wax became the standout rusher.

He tallied 82 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in a 21-7 victory over Calvert Hall.

“He was big, so having to face that every down was challenging,” Tucker said of Wax as a rusher.

At this point, Wax started to play linebacker from page 16

kocevski Miller remembered when Bowen told the team Kocevski was coming, nobody expected a large impact. Miller said Kocevski “garnered a certain level of respect” coming from championshipwinning Syracuse. The respect only grew after Kocevski’s season-opening brace.

“For me, going into any team, I always want to prove myself and prove that they’ve made a good choice in picking me,” Kocevski said. “I wanted to win the whole thing. And I wanted to give them every ounce of effort I could.” from page 15

RUSSELL “It’s so amazing. You can’t really go any higher than that, when you get to play against the best in the world,” Manley said.

Three years later, Russell stopped playing to join St. Gerard’s, an independent school in Bray, Ireland, in an administrative sports role.

At St. Gerard’s, Russell managed 10 different sports but always felt an emotional connection to field hockey. She said staying connected with the sport was crucial for her.

Russell started coaching field hockey at St. Gerard’s in 2018. She had previously been working with lower levels of the national teams for years. Under her tutelage, a number of players Russell coached made it to Ireland’s senior team like she did.

Farquhar said Russell is good at reading players and putting them in successful positions, which is one of the main reasons coaching came so naturally to her.

“I’ve seen her coach here in Ireland for the U18 or U21, and she has an immense ability to

team, nor is it deep enough, to lead me to believe it pulls off a win.

Wyatt Miller (7-0)

It’s all about the line Syracuse 17, Virginia Tech 20 Virginia Tech is a hostile environment. The Orange are going into it with zero momentum and no rest advantage after the bye. Plus, this Virginia Tech defense could pose some familiar problems up front. After the FSU loss, Babers said the declining competition on defense will bring the offense back to life. Yet, the Hokies have the No. 8 pass rush in the nation, according to PFF, and rank 11th nationally in sacks per game.

They also allow the least amount of passing yards per game in the ACC. Babers’ comments after the FSU loss seem to indicate that SU’s remaining matchups won’t be as tough as the gauntlet it just endured. In Virginia Tech’s case, that’s incorrect. This team is not only capable, but likely to bulldoze a battered Syracuse offensive line. The SU offense has crumbled under pressure these past three weeks, and I expect it to be similarly sluggish against the Hokies. This game is all about the line of scrimmage. If the receivers do step up, I don’t think the Orange offense will overcome losing the line.

Statistically, the Hokies’ offense has been stuck at the bottom of the ACC this season, but they’ve shown spurts of excellence against Pittsburgh and Wake Forest. The Orange are the only ACC team without a conference win, and I expect they’ll have to wait a while longer to get one.

together some good performances, particularly in a 38-21 win over the Panthers. But he’s also had some clunkers against Florida State, Rutgers and Marshall. He can keep VT in games but in a tight game, he won’t truly elevate his team.

Shrader’s day won’t be the easiest either.

Virginia Tech has one of the conference’s better pass rushers in Antwaun Powell-Ryland.

Enrique Cruz Jr. and Mark Petry will both have to step up. With the Orange having to play in an intense environment, the game will probably be tight like in 2021. Expect it to be low scoring and to come down to the heroics of one of the two teams’ kickers. I’m predicting that Brady Denaburg will be the hero on Thursday.

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Henry O’Brien (6-1)

Another miracle in Blacksburg Syracuse 17, Virginia Tech 16 Syracuse’s offense has rightfully been criticized for its performance in the last three games. Babers can talk all he wants about how Florida State has NFL talent on its defense. At some point, you have to score some touchdowns to at least show a pulse. Babers seemed relaxed and confident after the loss to the Seminoles, believing the offense will return to its earlyseason form. But I still have doubts about whether it will look the exact same as it did.

Having said that, Virginia Tech’s offense might not be much better. The Hokies are averaging fewer points than a Pitt team whose Week 1 quarterback is now its tight end. Drones has put

Our beat writers are torn on whether SU can defeat a middling Virginia Tech team after losing its last three games by a combined 88 points. jacob halsema staff photographer

as well. He made his two-way prowess known by recording two sacks and a 33-yard interception return. Wax’s dominance on either side of the ball made him “pound-for-pound” one of the two best players in the league, Palamo said, alongside current Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs.

During a regular season matchup in 2019, Tucker registered a touchdown, but Mount St. Joseph got the win. Wax’s stout display at linebacker limited Tucker. On a play in the first

quarter, Tucker juked his way through multiple Gaels defenders before facing a scrum. As he tried to move forward, Wax finished off the tackle and knocked the tailback’s helmet off.

After Mount St. Joseph took a 7-3 lead, Tucker ran for a 6-yard touchdown with just under eight minutes left in the first half. But Wax, who recorded 11 tackles (second-most on the team), and the defense stalled the Cardinals offense as the Gaels’ clawed back to

secure a 20-10 victory.

By the time playoffs came around, Wax and Tucker had both committed to playing at Syracuse.

During SU’s 2019 bye week, the Gaels and Cardinals met for a second time. Wax recorded 63 receiving yards and six tackles. And while Tucker rushed for 51 yards in the defeat, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive year.

henrywobrien1123@gmail.com

Teammates Louis Beckett and Justin Weiss said it was easy for Kocevski to be complacent but he never showed it. Bowen said Kocevski was never arrogant, rather the “complete opposite.”

With the Rough Riders running a similar formation to Syracuse, Bowen said Kocevski slotted in seamlessly. He started each game as a defensive midfielder in a 3-5-2 setup. When the team was losing, Bowen pushed Kocevski into an attacking midfielder role with a knack for making searching runs into the box.

Bowen also played Kocevski up high. Long Island’s midfield depth allowed Bowen to

experiment with a 4-4-2 formation. He’d deploy Kocevski on the right wing because of his crossing ability. Weiss said Kocevski “grabs a lot of attention” when he’s on the ball because of his confidence.

“When you’re playing in fear and putting it all out there, sometimes you can’t connect that last pass or take that risk,” Weiss said. “With him, I felt like he was willing to take those risks in order to reap the benefits.”

The Rough Riders were one of 32 teams to clinch a spot in the USL 2 playoffs. Kocevski helped them to the Metropolitan Division Championship, outscoring opponents 44-9 over 14 games. But, in a

“disappointing end to the season,” Long Island lost 2-1 to Ocean City in the opening round.

Despite the abrupt end to the year, Bowen was thankful for Kocevski’s time with the Rough Riders. He said Kocevski is “made for Major League Soccer” because of his combination of size, mobility and quality on the ball.

“The fact that he has both the size and the fact that he’s a domestic player, everything for me points towards the MLS,” Bowen said. “If he doesn’t get picked up then teams are missing out on a good player.”

connect with the different players and share her knowledge of field hockey in an understandable way,” Manley said.

Now back with Syracuse, Russell is a key part of the coaching staff. She works with midfielders and attackers, preaching the importance of counter attacks using through balls. Similar to her time as a player, Russell emphasizes positioning and individual awareness.

“All of her training sessions are about individual development, and how we can improve technically or even mentally,” Farquhar said. “That’s self-talk, and hers is about taking ownership and trusting what you’re good at.”

Russell wants to emulate the same success she brought to SU as a player, but now as a coach.

Her desire to win a national championship has remained strong, she said “The challenge is impacting the program in a different way than how I did as a player,” Russell said. “And that’s something that really excites me.” djjacobs@syr.edu

Following the 2015 national championship, Emma Russell played and coached field hockey in Ireland. Now, she’s back as an assistant coach at SU. courtesy of su athletics

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october 26, 2023 14

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cross country

Paul O’Donnell honors his late father’s legacy at Syracuse

By Alex Rubinson staff writer

Paul O’Donnell never got to say goodbye to his dad.

Christy O’Donnell’s sudden death came in 2017, when he died in a drowning accident during a trip to Portugal. O’Donnell wasn’t present.

“He was very patient and always willing to help people,” O’Donnell said. “If someone needed their house painted, he would say ‘Oh, no problem,’ I tried to emulate (him) and always hang out with him. If he was going to help someone, I was going to tag along and (be his) little helper.”

O’Donnell didn’t start running competitively until 2015, two years before Christy died. Now, a Syracuse cross country runner, he carries on his father’s legacy with every race. In 2022, after graduating from the University College Dublin in Ireland, O’Donnell finished 58th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. In 2023, O’Donnell was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference finisher in the indoor 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.

O’Donnell got a tattoo of a mountaintop on the inside of his right wrist to commemorate his father. The two used to play golf together and they liked a certain hole where the mountain resided nearby, O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell said the tattoo reminds him of the values his father taught him. At University College Dublin, he leaned on his teammates to get through the difficult times.

“It was just a massive outpour of people for (Paul)...who were looking out for him. (The team) is like a family for him,” said Myriam, O’Donnell’s mother. “Running helped him (overcome the loss of his father).”

Less than a month after the tragedy, O’Donnell raced at the Dublin Championships. It was the first time he raced without his father around.

“I didn’t have any expectations going in,” O’Donnell said. “I just wanted to make my dad proud.”

Myriam said O’Donnell ran “the race of his life.” She said he took off and left the other racers behind him, getting ahead in the first lap and never looking back. O’Donnell said he doesn’t remember much about the race other than crossing the finish line.

“I just remember crossing the finish line and all my family (being there). People I didn’t know were hugging me,” O’Donnell said.

After graduating college in Ireland, O’Donnell wanted an opportunity to compete at the highest level in the U.S. O’Donnell said he’d watch the NCAA National Championship meet every year and that it’s a “race you can’t find anywhere else.”

Once O’Donnell’s recruitment began, former Syracuse assistant coach Tito Medrano scouted him and made O’Donnell a top target early in the process.

“I saw his track pedigree, he was an up-and-coming 5Ker. He was a really good half-marathoner (and) road racer…and an all around good runner,” Medrano said. “I always knew he was someone who would be very good in cross country.”

Medrano remembered one of the first races where O’Donnell caught his eye. On Sept. 24, 2022, the Orange competed at the Cowboy Jamboree, hosted by Oklahoma State. O’Donnell set a personal best in the 8K race, finishing in 23:56.4. Medrano said that after the race, he told his players to follow O’Donnell’s lead.

Last year, O’Donnell experienced struggles early in the season. O’Donnell said he didn’t feel his best for most of the season after having a busy summer in Ireland. But in the ACC Indoor 5K, O’Donnell broke his dry spell and won the race.

“I felt like I was just trying to catch up the whole (season). I was just trying to get through races,” O’Donnell said. “I was in the unseeded heat…I was trying to win my heat. Watching the ‘A’ race get out slow, there is this general buildup of excitement.”

Paul O’Donnell’s father tragically died in 2017. Ever since, O’Donnell has dedicated his cross country career to his father’s legacy.

courtesy of su athletics

The 5K was a symbolic moment for the entire family. Still, the recent accolades haven’t shifted O’Donnell’s main objective.

“My aim in life is to be as close to (my father) as possible,” O’Donnell said. “The

biggest compliment someone can give me is to say that I’m like (my dad). I must be doing something right if they are comparing me to him.”

narubins@syr.edu

women’s soccer

Shea Vanderbosch gained valuable experience with FC Buffalo

By Justin Girshon asst. digital editor

FC Buffalo’s former starter from 2021-2022, Emily Kelly, signed with Australia’s Gungahlin United FC in 2023 following her graduation from the University at Buffalo. With Kelly gone, FC Buffalo head coach Nikki Bartholomew needed a replacement.

Shea Vanderbosch quickly erased any concern Bartholomew had about her club’s goalkeeping position.

“She filled some really big shoes,” Bartholomew said.

Vanderbosch joined FC Buffalo, a club team competing in the United Women’s Soccer League, prior to her sophomore year. She immediately slotted into a starting role and excelled in her two months with the squad.

Vanderbosch’s offseason with Buffalo prepared her for the 2023 season with Syracuse where she has saved 124 shots. Heading into SU’s final regular season game of the year, Vanderbosch stands just 15 away from surpassing the program’s single-season record.

FC Buffalo’s roster consists mainly of local players. Being from Lancaster, NY, Vanderbosch was a perfect fit. The club expressed interest in her out of high school, but she didn’t want to rush the summer after graduating.

Despite entering her freshman season at Syracuse with a preseason injury, Vanderbosch shined in her freshman season. She recorded 66 saves with a .815 save percentage and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference AllFreshman team.

Shea Vanderbosch honed her skills in net by playing high level competition at FC Buffalo this past offseason.

joe zhao asst. photo editor

The following offseason, Vanderbosch reconnected with FC Buffalo over winter break.

She and her twin sister Kam participated in an open tryout. Following the trial, Vanderbosch committed to Buffalo for the summer.

Playing for a premiere summer club in the offseason was vital for Vanderbosch’s

progression. Vanderbosch said she struggled her freshman year with the speed of the Division I game but her time at Buffalo helped smoothen the transition.

Vanderbosch practiced with FC Buffalo two times a week, training against 23 Division I players, including reigning UWSL Offensive

Player of the Year Carissima Cutrona. In her 10 UWSL games, she gave up just three goals and helped Buffalo to a 9-1 record in the regular season.

“I think it was important for me to put my best effort forward for my team and practice how I play and really be prepared for the big teams that we face in the ACC,” Vanderbosch said.

After watching her compete, FC Buffalo owner Nick Mendola agreed with Bartholomew’s statement. He said the team was just as good in net as they were with Kelly.

“It’s just not a surprise to see the continual feed of Shea highlights on the Syracuse women’s soccer feed,” Mendola said.

Upon returning for her sophomore season, Vanderbosch’s improvement has been apparent. Against then-No. 3 Florida State on Sept. 21, Vanderbosch notched a career high 16 saves. The performance came one short of SU’s single-game record.

Vanderbosch has kept the Orange competitive in a majority of their games this season. She’s recorded 7.29 saves per game — the seventh most among 150 Division I goalkeepers.

She’s also recorded double-digit stops in five contests. In SU’s final regular season game against Virginia on Thursday, Vanderbosch has a chance to make history.

“I’m not a little freshman anymore,” Vanderbosch said. “I feel like I’m communicating more because I wasn’t as timid as I was freshman year… now I have more confidence to speak up and be the leader from the back.”

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field hockey

Emma Russell played, coached in Ireland before returning to SU

By Dave Jacobs staff writer

Syracuse head coach Lynn Farquhar wanted former Syracuse player Emma Russell on her coaching staff. The two constantly called during the spring.

“It was ‘Mission: Bring Emma Back,’” Farquhar said.

Russell finished her playing career as SU’s all-time leader in points (140) and goals (57). She helped lead the Orange to their lone national championship in 2015. Following

her graduation, Russell returned to Ireland, her home country, to play and coach field hockey. Now, after Farquhar’s convincing, Russell has returned to Syracuse’s sideline in a “prominent” coaching role.

Russell was frustrated after Syracuse’s 2-1 loss to North Carolina in the 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference championship. After an undefeated regular season title, Russell and senior Alyssa Manley felt it was a missed opportunity.

“That was our only loss that season and it definitely lit a fire under us. And the big prize was still in sight,” Manley said.

Teammate Roos Weers — the only goalscorer in SU’s loss — said the team was destined to avenge the loss. The Orange got their chance in the 2015 national championship game when they faced off against the No. 2 Tar Heels on Nov. 22.

Russell scored the opening goal for Syracuse nine minutes in to put the Orange up 1-0. With the Orange up 3-2 in the fourth quarter, Russell assisted Syracuse’s fourth goal to seal the victory.

Russell called the victory “the best moment of (her) life.”

During her time with Syracuse, Russell had a strong impact on then-freshman Weers.

After Russell graduated, Weers led Syracuse in goals her junior and senior seasons. Weers said she developed her skills by playing with Russell, who acted as a “player coach.” She admired how Russell didn’t waste words and “got down to business.”

After reaching the pinnacle of collegiate field hockey, Russell returned to Ireland where she played for its national team. Russell previously represented Ireland at the U16, U18 and U21 levels but said playing at the senior level was a childhood dream. see russell page 13

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BATTLE FOR BALTIMORE

Prior to being teammates at Syracuse, Sean Tucker and Marlowe Wax were on opposite sides of the Mount St. Joseph-Calvert Hall high school football rivalry.

courtesy of rich holzer (left), courtesy of frank palomo (right)

Sean Tucker and Marlowe Wax faced off five times on the gridiron in high school, showing flashes of who they’d become at Syracuse

By Henry O’Brien senior staff writer

M

arlowe Wax was in a spot he would never be in at Syracuse. While primarily playing linebacker, he was also a running back for Mount St. Joseph High School (MD). In the 2019 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A conference semifinals against Calvert Hall, Wax lined up under center at the 2-yard line.

Wax’s head coach, Richard Holzer, said the Gaels were running a trick play, all of which had codenames like “Orbeez” that the players came up with. This one was called “mouse.”

When the ball was snapped, Wax faked a toss to his right before cutting back left, pounding his way into the end zone. His score put Mount St. Joseph up 20-0 en route to an eventual 35-0 victory, and eventually the state championship.

Standing on the opposite sideline was Calvert Hall running back Sean Tucker. Wax and Tucker faced off as opposing rushers in this rivalry game five times, with Mount St. Joseph winning 4-of-5. The two also played against each other on defense when Wax played linebacker against Tucker at running back. In their high school encounters, the pair showed flashes of who they would become at Syracuse.

Though Tucker grew into one of SU’s greatest statistical rushers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ backup running back, Wax finished with more rushing yards, highlighting how Mount St. Joseph always had a leg up.

“We did beat up on them bad,” Wax said. “...So I always joke with him about that.”

“We definitely had some conversations…I couldn’t really say too much,” Tucker said.

The origins of this matchup between Syracuse teammates began when Frank Palomo, the former Director of Football Operations for Calvert Hall, recruited Tucker from youth football practices with the Hamilton Tigers. Palomo remembered that Tucker was a “full go” when the Tigers ran “gassers” at the end of practices. It was an easy decision to recruit him.

Wax arrived at Mount St. Joseph during Holzer’s first season as head coach in 2015.

Holzer first met Wax when he was in middle school, playing offensive lineman. But as

soon as Wax started playing for him, Holzer switched Wax to running back.

“He basically opened the offense up instead of having a run based offense,” Palomo said of Holzer. “...He just completely changed the culture there and changed the way they did things.”

Holzer’s appointment also changed the results of the rivalry. From 2009-14, the Cardinals beat the Gaels every season. Once Holzer got there, though, Mount St. Joseph started to win.

Holzer said he attacked Calvert Hall’s man defense by using crossing routes in the passing game and Wax in the running game to “keep them honest” with rushes up the middle. Defensively, Holzer said the Cardinals were an I-formation team, which forced the Gaels to play a lot of Cover 1 and Cover 0.

“Obviously with Sean playing they had a very good run game with some big tight ends and big offensive linemen,” Holzer said. “But they were very physical.”

Wax and Tucker never faced each other as underclassmen in the 2016 rivalry matchup. The two watched from the benches in the Gaels’ 17-7 victory over the Cardinals.

The following season, Calvert Hall beat Mount St. Joseph for the only time during Wax and Tucker’s high school careers. Wax rushed for 39 yards on five carries but Tucker rushed for a game-high 84 yards and one touchdown in the Cardinals’ 34-0 win.

On the game’s opening possession, Calvert Hall started from its own 10-yard line. Tucker bursted through the seams and gave the Cardinals multiple big rushes of 15-20 yards. On a 4th-and-20, Tucker scampered for 21 yards to keep the drive alive. Later, with the Cardinals at the Gaels’ 3-yard line, Tucker lowered his shoulders for the game’s first touchdown.

Tucker compiled 46 yards on the 18-play, 81-yard drive. Palomo said Tucker’s performance marked the first signs of his illustrious career at Syracuse.

“If there are things that are bottled up, he has the ability to bounce outside and find green grass,” Palomo said. “And you can definitely tell he has the afterburners.”

The next year, 2018, Tucker suffered a shoulder injury on the second play of the second half. see baltimore page 13

men’s soccer

Jeorgio Kocevski prepared for senior year with LI Rough Riders

By Zak Wolf

asst. sports editor

Jeorgio Kocevski’s turnaround from England to Long Island, N.Y., was fast. In early May, Kocevski was manning SU’s midfield against top Premier League academy squads.

Before the month was up, he had already started training with the Long Island Rough Riders, a United Soccer League Two team.

“It was pretty quick, I came back from England on a Sunday. And then I was pretty much in Long Island by Tuesday,” Kocevski said.

Kocevski played with the Rough Riders from May 27 to July 21, following Syracuse’s 2022 National Championship run where he started 21-of-22 games. According to head coach Tom Bowen, Kocevski quickly became the heartbeat of Long Island’s midfield. He led the team to a 12-1-1 record and the USL 2 Metropolitan Division Championship. Kocevski was named the club’s Player of the Year for 2023 as well as making the 2023 USL 2 Team of the Year.

Before his first game with the Rough Riders, Kocevski barely had a week of practice. He’d missed the first two games due to SU’s England trip but it didn’t take long for his presence to be felt.

Kocevski started in Long Island’s third game of the season against its league rivals — the Hudson Valley Hammers. Knotted at 0-0 after the first half, Kocevski notched two goals in

Kocevski had a one-day break between SU’s England trip and the start of the USL 2 season.

He was the heartbeat of Long Island’s midfield. griffin uribe brown staff photographer

an eventual 3-0 win. Teammate and Indiana defender Jansen Miller, remembered Kocevski “came out of nowhere” to finish one of them.

Bowen recalled turning to his coaches after his first two goals with the club.

“Holy sh*t, we’ve got a player on our hands,” Bowen said.

Bowen had wanted Kocevski on his squad since seeing him play for USL 2’s Ocean City Nor’easters last season. When they matched up in summer 2022, Bowen said Kocevski “grabbed the game by the neck” and was a “nightmare to play against.”

“He’s one of those players when you’re playing against him…he’s making fouls or he’s nasty, getting around the field and he’s in your face,” Bowen said. “As an opposition coach it winds you up a little bit, but you also secretly admire it.”

As an assistant coach at Iona, Bowen had the perfect opportunity to recruit Kocevski when the Gaels traveled to Syracuse for the 2022 season-opener. Following a 2-0 SU win, Bowen asked about Kocevski’s plans for the summer.

When Kocevski said he didn’t have any, Bowen pitched coming to Long Island.

After things calmed down after SU’s national title win, Kocevski told Bowen he’d come to Long Island. He helped recruit players like currentSyracuse teammate Michael Suski, a Boston College transfer, to the team too. see kocevski page 13