Platform breakdown
The NY-22 election could flip a House seat, bringing national attention to the central New York race. Here’s where the two candidates stand.
From the federal CHIPS and Science Act to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Biden administration policies have directly impacted Syracuse.
The race between John Mannion and Brandon Williams has commanded millions of dollars from organizations and individuals nationwide.
Since the Israel-Hamas war started, SU students have been impacted by their families’ experiences in the conflict
By Julia Boehning news editor
On the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, as Mikah
Bein laid in her dorm room bed relaxing for fall break, she received a text in her family WhatsApp group chat.
Bein’s mother told her a war had broken out in Israel — home to a majority of her family, including her sister and father. Because she had grown accustomed to hearing stories of conflicts throughout the region, Bein said she didn’t initially realize the severity of the situation.
“In my head, I was like, ‘OK, another war.’ It’s something that, unfortunately, is very casual, and I didn’t really understand how escalated it was,” Bein said. “It wasn’t until maybe a few hours later when we realized what had actually happened.”
On that day, Hamas launched an attack on an Israeli music festival, reportedly killing around 1,200 civilians and taking around 250 hostage. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, marking the start of the current Israel-Hamas war. A little over a year after Oct. 7, around 1,200 Israelis and over 41,000 Palestinians have died in the war.
As the world watches the war on the news, several Syracuse University students — including Bein — feel its impact through firsthand accounts from family living in Israel and Gaza. Many told The Daily Orange they’ve struggled to balance student life over the past year while knowing their loved ones are suffering thousands of miles away.
One Palestinian-American SU senior — who requested not to be named due to concerns for her safety on-campus — said she also first heard about the Oct. 7 attacks through her
family’s WhatsApp group chat. She was sitting on the couch with family and friends, celebrating her brother’s birthday, when the messages came in.
As texts recounting the events after the initial attack flooded in from family members — describing missiles and gunfire — the student said she initially didn’t consider it “out of the ordinary.” She said that because she’s had family in the West Bank for most of her life, she was used to hearing stories of military campaigns and violence.
The severity of the current conflict began to hit home in the week following the attack, she said. The senior’s thenpregnant sister and her husband, who were living with their in-laws in the West Bank, told her the Israel Defense Forces had begun patrolling their neighborhood. In one instance, while they were on the phone, soldiers entered and searched her sister’s home, she said.
see war page 6
By Duncan Green asst. news editor
During Syracuse University’s biannual diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility forum, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Mary Grace A. Almandrez discussed SU’s most recent efforts to foster a sense of belonging on campus.
the Office of Diversity and Inclusions’ most recent projects, followed by an interactive workshop brainstorming ways to build welcoming environments.
The event opened with an update on new initiatives and activities within the ODI. Almandrez told the audience that students and faculty decide to leave academic institutions when they no longer feel they belong to the community.
Almandrez said. “We cannot just show up in moments of crisis … we need to show up consistently, and we need to engage with our community on an ongoing basis.”
thought processes when going through daily life.
“Syracuse University has a long history of inclusion,” Eboni Britt, ODI’s executive director of strategic communications and initiatives, said. “This is a long and proud legacy that we have here, and the work that we do in this office and beyond with our partners continues that legacy of inclusion across campus.” on campus
Almandrez introduced strategies to create a more inclusive campus. The forum also highlighted updates to
“It’s really important that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion shows up,”
Almandrez shared ODI’s three challenges for the fall semester: Be responsive, move from being intuitive to intentional and try to look at everyday routine struggles as “incredible opportunities to be dynamic.” She encouraged the audience members to consider these
She proceeded to highlight some achievements made across campus in DEIA, including the completion of SU’s 14th annual Coming Back Together event — where 1,500 Black and Latine alumni returned to campus to network with current students. Almandrez also highlighted the selection of SU Rabbi Ethan Bair and Imam Amir Durić as Interfaith Innovation Scholars for their work
in building Jewish-Muslim relations on campus.
see deia page 6
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The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.
NEWS
“It’s been really hard, and I almost felt selfish for admitting that it was hard, because I wasn’t the one in direct battle.” - Micah Bein, SU senior Page 1
“The spirits are interested in looking out for the building and interested in what we’re doing in it.” - Amie Flanigan, Erie Museum archivist and collections manager Page 7
“The harsh truth is that millions of people are suffering to fuel the West’s need for convenience—whether it’s disposable vapes, electric cars or smartphones.” - Valeria Martinez, columnist Page 13
SPORTS
“I’ve been able to see my impact with the game of hockey and what my accomplishments can do.” - Tatum White, SU hockey player Page 16
Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: Orange After Dark Halloween Dance Party
WHEN: Oct. 31, 10 p.m. - 12 a.m.
WHERE: Schine Student Center, The Underground
WHAT: Orange Central Homecoming
WHEN: Nov. 1 - 3
WHERE: Various on campus
WHAT: Squishing of the Squash
WHEN: Nov. 2, 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Rosamond Gifford Zoo
By Anna Clair Levitt staff writer
After Syracuse Graduate Employees United ratified its first contract with Syracuse University this spring, Undergraduate Labor Organization members were uncertain about the future direction of their group.
Established in 2022, the ULO’s initial focus was supporting the graduate student labor movement at SU, particularly SGEU, which achieved union recognition in April 2023. ULO worked with graduate students, from supporting petitions to hosting advocacy events.
As SGEU completed its contract negotiations, several ULO leaders graduated, and the club’s membership gradually fizzled out. But, a new freshman board has revitalized the unregistered student organization this semester with a renewed focus on other oncampus unions, current ULO President Mykie Kamberos said.
“A lot of the time, when unions are negotiating with the university or with whatever employer they’re negotiating with, it’s really important to show support from every side,” Kamberos said. “The university takes undergraduate support really seriously, so being able to show that there’s support … is really useful as a bargaining chip.”
With recent strides in the unionization of SU’s hourly student food service and library workers, ULO has focused on advocating for these groups, who recently unionized under Service Employees International United Local 200United.
In April 2024, hourly student food service and library workers at SU voted 99% in favor of recognizing their union. In August, following the unionization, SEIU members rallied outside 727 Comstock Ave. to voice their frustration with the administration’s initial contract offer. Workers and supporters called on the university to redistribute its financial resources to support its employees.
The facilities section of members in SEIU –including libraries, food service, facilities and maintenance workers – reached a tentative contract agreement with SU administration on Sept. 4 and, a few days later, members voted to ratify a four-year contract with SU. The contract included an immediate 10% wage increase.
“Facilities and that (non-student) section of SEIU got their contract ratified. Once that was ratified, now ULO is moving on to the student workers,” Kamberos said.
“We’re looking at student workers in dining halls and in the libraries – like workers at Pages (Cafe).”
ULO’s current focus is getting workers to sign petitions to support negotiations for student service workers, Kamberos said. ULO members have been doing outreach and collecting petitions in dining halls across campus, as well as talking to student workers.
One specific topic union efforts have noted is student-employee parking. Student workers have taken issue with the lack of accessible and affordable parking spots available when driving to their on-campus jobs, ULO Vice President Elliot Johnson said.
SU’s Student Association has made efforts to bring these parking concerns to the attention of administrators. SA Vice President Reed Granger discussed this issue during the association’s Sept. 23 meeting and said SA was conducting a survey on the matter.
ULO has faced challenges with “buy-in” from student staff, as many are international students who are able to attend SU through their employment at university facilities, Kamberos said. They said many students are hesitant to get involved with union activity and negotiations because they’re afraid of putting their employment and, as a result, their ability to attend SU, at risk.
In addition to overcoming these concerns on behalf of international students, ULO leaders said one of the organization’s primary goals is increasing student awareness.
“I’ll talk to people in my classes that will say they are working for one of the dining halls or something like that, and they will have no idea that there’s a union or what a union is,” Johnson said. “We’re undergraduates now, but we’re going to go out into the world, and we should have some awareness of the unions that we can join and how they can positively impact our lives.”
To bolster these efforts, the organization has participated in numerous outreach events in partnership with SEIU and other local union organizations. ULO has also collaborated with other campus organizations, such as the SU and SUNY ESF chapter of New York Public Interest Research Group and the Young Democratic Socialists of America.
In hopes of expanding the re-established organization, board members said that in the future, they hope to work with unions beyond SU’s campus.
“After SEIU gets their contract set … we would be moving into other local unions and seeing where in the community we are needed,” Kamberos said, “Right now, we’re focusing on working with those on-campus unions and making sure that our immediate service staff get the help they need, because they do so much for us.”
aclevitt@syr.edu
By Madeline Goodheart asst. digital editor
The city of Syracuse partnered with the Preservation Association of Central New York to nominate the Westcott-University Neighborhood for recognition on the National Register of Historic Places. The area would be the largest National Register-listed historic district in Syracuse.
In a Wednesday meeting, held by New York’s State Historic Preservation Office, SHPO members outlined the nomination process and the requirements for designation. They also answered questions from the neighborhood’s residents.
Speakers highlighted the history of the neighborhood and showcased some of the architectural styles of houses that are featured in Westcott, including Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman Cottage and Bungalows. Non-residential buildings also represent the neighborhood’s civil and social histories, said Chelsea Towers, a National Register coordinator.
The Westcott-University Neighborhood was officially established in the 1840s, but most of the neighborhood was built between 1870 and 1930. At the time, developers marketed the neighborhood for homebuyers of moderate means. The area included small lots close to each other to maximize affordability for middle-class homeowners.
The criterias for historic place evaluation include a significant event occurring on the site, a significant person previously living there, unique architecture or significant archaeological findings. Historic designation would not restrict property owners’ ability to remodel their home, according to the meeting.
Towers said the designation isn’t the same as a local historical district because it’s primarily an honorary title.
Westcott was purposely built near the industrial hubs in the city to attract middle-class professionals and families, Towers said.
Christina Vagvolgyi, historic site restoration coordinator at New York State Parks, presented the Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Credit Program. New York state taxpayers who rehabilitate a qualified historic home in the state or purchase a rehabilitated qualified home are eligible to claim a credit. The home must be listed on the State or National Register of Historic Places prior to rehabilitation.
Work that qualifies in this credit program includes window repairs and replacements, along with any general interior work and system work, Vagvolgyi said.
The State Board for Historic Preservation plans to review the nomination on Dec. 5., according to its website. If approved, the district will be listed in the NYS Register of Historic Places. SHPO will then send the nomination to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., where the National Register will review the nomination.
season with an abundance of events around campus and the city this October
By Henry Daley asst. copy editor
As Halloween weekend approaches, The Daily Orange has compiled tips for students to stay safe and avoid risky situations during festivities.
Going out in a group is safer than walking around at night alone. Self-defense experts recommend that people stay with the same group for the duration of the night, so everyone remains accounted for.
Halloween is within the “Red Zone,” the period between the beginning of the academic year and Thanksgiving Break in which a majority of on-campus sexual assault and misconduct cases occur. More than 50% of college sexual assaults happen during the Red Zone, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
“Bystander intervention,” when someone not directly involved in a situation steps in, is one of the most effective ways to help prevent sexual assault, according to RAINN. Taking the threat of sexual assault seriously, getting help when someone is behaving aggressively and taking home a friend who has had too much to drink are all ways to take action.
Another way to prioritize safety this Halloween is remaining mindful of alcohol consumption. According to one study, college students reported having 6.3 drinks during Halloween weekend, 1.4 more than during a usual weekend.
Consider making a drinking plan, including limits, with friends ahead of time to prevent overconsumption. Avoiding mixed beverages while regularly drinking water is another way to drink safely.
“Drink spiking,” often done with hard-todetect drugs like Rohypnol, GHB and ketamine, is another common occurrence during Halloween. Drink spiking can happen in places like house parties or bars, but there are ways to prevent it. Watch your drink consistently and consider buying a new one after going to the restroom. Drink covers are another option for protection.
Car accidents are another Halloween concern, especially due to an increased number of intoxicated drivers. Around 44% of all crashes that resulted in a fatality on Halloween night involved a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
People between 21-34 years old had the highest percentage of fatalities, at 54%, in drunk driving crashes on Halloween night, according to Traffic Safety Marketing. To avoid these incidents, look for safe ride options, whether through ride-sharing apps or from a designated sober driver.
In a Sunday press conference, Syracuse Police Department Chief Joseph Cecile said the department will deploy marked and unmarked patrols throughout the city to ensure safety during Halloween. The patrols will have their lights on to encourage cars to drive slowly.
To report an unsafe situation or suspicious activity, contact the Department of Public Safety at (315) 443-2224. DPS also offers a safety escort shuttle, which can be reached at (315) 443-7433. hdaley@syr.edu
“We were on FaceTime, and we were just talking about her pregnancy … and she just all of a sudden looked up and hung up the phone,” the senior said. “(We knew) something must have happened, and we didn’t hear from her until the next day.”
The student said her sister and brotherin-law were able to leave the West Bank in time for the baby’s birth. Still, much of her family remains there, and many have lost their jobs due to the political turmoil. They’ve also continued to face surprise searches and other difficulties from military officials, she said.
Bein said she remembers a time when she FaceTimed her father while he was visiting Israel to help a friend on his farm. Her father, who is disabled, heard sirens warning of incoming missiles while they were on the phone.
“He didn’t have time to run into the shelter in time,” Bein said. “And it really shocked him. He was like, ‘Wow, I couldn’t make it in time, and I was just lucky enough that I wasn’t near the rockets.”
Because of the conflict, several students said communicating with their families has been challenging. The senior student said her family in the West Bank has struggled to pay their phone bills. She said her immediate family has had to send money “just to speak to them.”
Other students said communicating with their families has taken an emotional toll on them. They described feeling helpless as they listened to loved ones recount the daily hardships of living amid the war, while being unable to take action themselves due to the physical distance.
Julia Weinreich, an Israeli-American sophomore, said the tone of her messages to family has drastically shifted since the start of the war. Weinreich, who has family members currently serving in the IDF, said casual conversations with her family members now feel trivial in the context of the violence.
“When I talk to my family in Israel, it’s very different now,” Weinreich said. “You’re not texting them, ‘Hi, how are you?’ the same way you were a year ago. You’re texting them, ‘Hi. How are you?’ in the sense of, ‘Are you alive?’”
Weinreich said that in the semester following the attacks, she struggled to balance her school responsibilities while constantly feeling anxious and unsettled about what her family might be experiencing. She said
Almandrez then laid out ODI’s multi-year strategic priorities plan, emphasizing SU’s progress since 2022. She said that, in recent years, ODI has worked to engage with the university community by hosting regular campus forums. She also said the office has increasingly interacted with students and faculty through newsletters and social media outreach.
To grow a more inclusive community, Almandrez said ODI’s focus this year will be on learning and development. ODI is partnering with SU’s Office of Human Resources and the College of Professional Studies to create an inclusive hiring guide, with the long-term goal of hiring a more diverse array of faculty and staff at SU.
In the next three years, ODI will focus on “research and assessment.” Almandrez said her team plans to put out a “campus climate assessment” in 2026 as well as regularly survey students and faculty on their sense of community at SU.
Following Almandrez’s update, Armando Martinez, SU’s director of inclusion and belonging, led a workshop on cultivating a sense of belonging.
Martinez guided about 60 attendees through three scenarios focused on fostering belonging among students and staff while enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of major campus events. Audience members were given 10 minutes to discuss the prompts at their tables, followed by a share-out session.
Participants were encouraged to evaluate four “levers” — including space, events, rituals and communication — as tools to build a sense of belonging. Martinez said these levers originate from Susan Wise’s book, Design for Belonging: How to Build Inclusion and Collaboration in Your Communities.
Ryan Nkongnyu, a senior studying communication and rhetorical studies, said the scenarios allowed community members to explore better methods for making events and spaces on campus more inclusive. He said that, as an upperclassman, he feels a responsibility to leave the university more welcoming for students, faculty and alumni than when he first arrived.
some attitudes on campus toward the war contributed to her anxiety, initially making her hesitant to openly show her Jewish and Israeli identity.
In the months following Oct. 7, the U.S. saw record highs in recorded antisemitic incidents. The country also saw a rise in Islamophobic incidents in the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7, with an increase in the last three months of 2023, NPR reported. Tensions regarding the war also rose at college campuses across the country.
In response to the war, numerous protests broke out on college campuses, including at SU. Over 60 colleges and universities, including SU, saw students set up encampment demonstrations in support of Palestine, The New York Times reported. More than 3,000 people were arrested or detained in association with these encampments.
When I talk to my family in Israel, it’s very different now. You’re not texting them … the same way you were a year ago.
Julia Weinreich su sophomore
Last April, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at SU occupied Shaw Quadrangle for 16 days, calling on the university to support a ceasefire and divest from Israel, among other demands. During the encampment, about 100 demonstrators walked across campus to show solidarity with Israel.
Over the past year, Weinreich said the Jewish community on campus has helped her feel more comfortable with outwardly expressing her identity and her support for Israel.
Weinreich said she felt initially hesitant to wear her Star of David necklace at the Peace Vigil for Israel held by Syracuse Hillel and the Chabad House Jewish Student Center on Oct. 11, 2023. At a similar vigil marking the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks, though, she said she wore the necklace with a renewed sense of pride. Attending both events felt less like a choice and more like a moral responsibility, she said
In contrast, one Palestinian-American SU sophomore, who also asked not to share her name for safety concerns, said she thinks people on campus have largely ignored nonIsraeli perspectives of the conflict. She said she felt disappointed with university officials for not releasing any statements about the war aside from the two that were released on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, 2023.
In its May 7 Syracuse Statement on Free Expression and Free Inquiry, the university said it would no longer make institutional statements on current events “except under the most extraordinary circumstances.”
Over the past year, the sophomore said she’s continuously received updates from her family in Jerusalem and other relatives in Jordan. Hearing about threats to restrict local mosques in Jerusalem and missiles flying over Jordan was shocking, she said, though not unfamiliar. The current IsraelHamas war has drawn increased attention to the ongoing struggles faced by Palestinian communities, she said.
“(For) everybody who’s constantly had family there., it’s just not anything new. This is just kind of another reoccurrence that’s been happening for the past 76 years,” the sophomore said. “It’s just gotten worse. I have never thought it would have come to the point where it’s been totally documented.”
On campus, she said Palestinian and Arab-American communities don’t feel safe expressing their opinions on the conflict. She said even openly describing herself as Palestinian has become a“political statement. Students of both Israeli and Palestinian backgrounds echoed this sentiment, saying they don’t feel comfortable discussing their perspectives on the conflict outside of their respective communities.
All of the students who spoke with The D.O. said there’s a general lack of understanding about the complexities of the war. The Palestinian senior said that if people from both sides of the conflict took the time to engage in civil discussions on campus about the personal effects of the war, they could develop a shared understanding of the challenges each side faces.
“It’s been really hard, and I almost felt selfish for admitting that it was hard, because I wasn’t the one in direct battle,” Bein said.
Asst. News Editor Delia Rangel contributed reporting to this article.
jmboehni@syr.edu @juliaboehning
“When one staff member sees me as a student and believes in me, it gives me a sense of belonging that goes far beyond just being with friends from a dorm hall,” Nkongnyu said. “Moments like these will break the chain of loneliness and help students find communities where they feel OK.”
Cliff Davidson, professor emeritus in SU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said he believes it’s important to provide direct communication between students and administrators and ensure that student voices are heard. He said there are too many “filters” between students and administration.
“The students who are most likely to feel lonely are the ones who are least likely to come forward and talk about why they are lonely,” Davidson said. “It’d be really good to connect the students who are lonely with senior leaders directly so that they can hear right from their voices.”
Minchin Lewis, an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Administration
and International Affairs, said that participating in DEIA is more important than ever because of the current political climate in the United States. Lewis said that there are candidates running for office who could potentially work against future DEIA efforts.
Britt said SU has done a “tremendous” job promoting DEIA and that external factors will not change that.
“The university has had a history of diversity and inclusion and they will continue to make great efforts to ensure everyone on campus feels welcomed, included and that they belong,” Britt said.
DISCLAIMER: Ryan Nkongnyu was previously a staff writer for The Daily Orange’s Culture section. He does not influence the editorial content of the News section nor did he influence the editorial content of this article.
digreen@syr.edu
@duncanigreen
By Rosina Boehm culture editor
The Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse houses paranormal activity, with ghosts of people connected to the historic canal
from the stage
Amie Flanigan wondered if any of her ancestors were among the ghosts haunting her workplace, the Erie Canal Museum. Once, in a meeting with a medium, she interjected the medium’s questioning to ask if the spirit’s last name was “Flanigan.” It was.
Sitting on the library floor, Flanigan discovered one of her ancestors, Peter Flanigan, was alongside her at the museum. The medium continued questioning via an electronic voice phenomenon reader.
“The medium…asked ‘Is John Flanigan here?’ and the recording said ‘Always,’” Flanigan recounted.
The Erie Canal Museum is host to countless spirits — so many that the people who work there don’t even have an estimate. The staff at the museum focuses on its exhibits, which showcase archival material, while knowing the museum is haunted. The museum sits atop the former Erie Canal, drawing ghosts from the history of canal workers, their families and people who drowned.
The Haunted History Trail of New York State features the location as one of the most haunted in Syracuse. Most recently, the museum gave its third annual ghost tour ahead of Halloween.
The Erie Canal Museum has four primary levels. The first is home to the museum’s exhibition and the former
canal’s location. The basement is perhaps its spookiest level, which the employees avoid the most. Upstairs, you’ll find the library and offices. Finally, the attic stores some of the museum’s archives.
Since she began working at the museum, Flanigan said she has smelled, heard and dealt with more ghost encounters than any of her coworkers. Sometimes her technology goes awry, and she’ll try unsuccessfully to fix it. But when someone else comes to help, it’s fixed the second they touch the computer.
Before she started at the museum over 10 years ago, Flanigan wasn’t aware that her ancestors had worked on the canal. But now, the ghostly encounters have inspired her to do more research about her family. Flanigan is the archivist and collection manager, so she spends her time shifting through historical items anyway.
Her ancestors are from her hometown of Oswego, 40 minutes north of Syracuse. She doesn’t know why they would haunt the Erie Canal Museum other than the fact that she works there.
“Honestly, I was not surprised,” Flanigan said. “It’s just the kind of thing that would happen to me.”
In the building’s original purpose as a weighlock station, boats would come into one chamber to be weighed and locked in with the water drained. People from all across the state passed through this specific stop.
see spirits page 11
By Jordan Vogel staff writer
The Haunted Crouse Concert began with a performance of “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd.” The extravagant opener was sung in a pitch-black auditorium with only phone flashlights illuminating vocalists’ faces. Accompanying the piece, Anne Spink played an overture on the auditorium’s pipe organ.
“I wanted to include a group number that would be creepy,” Jennifer Lamonica, the event organizer, said. “It’s from a show about murder, so it’s a perfect song to start off with.”
Syracuse University students performed in the Haunted Crouse Concert on Wednesday in the Setnor Auditorium. The short revue featured Halloween-themed songs, including “Sally’s Song” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Bach’s “Toccata in D Minor.”
A small group of vocal and instrumental musicians comprised the ensemble. Lamonica, adorned in a black witch’s cape, took the candle-lit stage and belted an impassioned cover of “No Good Deed” from “Wicked,” which was met with thunderous applause. She said it’s meaningful to have the opportunity to sing a musical theater song. Her other current endeavors have only
allowed her to sing classical music, but she enjoys exercising the skill.
Lamonica sought to prioritize a fun and playful atmosphere where artists were free to perform music they were passionate about.
Edie Berndt is a performer who took advantage of the Haunted Crouse Concert’s open-endedness. She took it upon herself to coordinate a group rendition of “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road” from the recent Marvel series “Agatha All Along.” As a fan of the show, Berndt was thrilled at the opportunity to bring the piece to the concert’s program.
“It’s a four-part a capella piece. I’m very excited,” Berndt said. “The finale of the show is coming out (Wednesday), and
I’ll have to delay watching it because I’ll be here singing.”
Emerson Carracedo, who performed alongside Berndt in the a cappella, was passionate about the concert. She joined out of a love for vocal performance.
“I’m never going to turn down an opportunity to perform,” Carracedo said. “(Lamonica) has done a great job organizing it, and it’s a fun way to celebrate Halloween.”
It’s difficult for students to find time to explore the music they want to play, Lamonica said. If a performance opportunity doesn’t necessarily fulfill a graduation
By Eliana Rosen contributing writer
When Syracuse University senior Maria Madero arrived on campus four years ago, she felt incredibly disconnected from her Mexican roots. Now, serving as Syracuse University’s Mexican Student Association president, she hopes to provide a sense of community for other students, especially during Día de los Muertos.
“I wanted to make this event really special, especially for those who have lost loved ones and want to honor them in a way that isn’t at home but is close to their roots and their culture,” Madero said.
SU’s Latine student organizations held “Día De Los Muertos: Feria Edition” on Wednesday to celebrate the Day of the Dead. The evening included dance performances, live mariachi music, a traditional altar and activities to honor the Mexican holiday’s customs.
MEXSA, alongside other Latine organizations, like Latinx Undergraduates Creating History in America and Central American Student Association, sponsored the event. Madero said it’s important to her that students have a place to celebrate Día de los Muertos, especially those far from home.
This is MEXSA’s third annual Día de los Muertos event. Last year, the event quickly reached full
see los muertos page 11
screentime column
By Henry O’Brien senior staff writer
Even though Halloween is Thursday, Halloweekend is just beginning. While watching a spooky movie in November may feel a tad counterintuitive, many students will dress up in their best costumes on Friday and Saturday (and Sunday perhaps?). So don’t take any shame in kicking back and watching a movie that will scare your socks off this weekend.
When movie nerds discuss a film being “scary,” they can be a little vague. There are supernatural horror or slasher movies that rely on jump scares or intense soundtracks to keep you on edge. Think of “Halloween,” “Sinister” or “The Conjuring.” Other films place their emphasis more on psychological dread than specific scares, like “I Saw the TV Glow” or “Midsommar.”
This list combines both of these horror movie categories, excluding the given classics (“The Exorcist,” “Scream”) and recent releases (“Hereditary”). Though these films are a tad older, they’re still as terrifying now as they were when they first hit theaters.
#1 “Pulse” (2001, dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
Plenty of classic Japanese horror movies have earned distinction in the past. The most famous example of the late 1990s, early 2000s J-horror phenomenon was the 1998 film, “Ringu,” which inspired a popular American remake. The defining work of this film movement was “Pulse,” or “Kairo” in Japanese, which came from the mind of horror master Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
The film follows ghosts invading Earth through computers and the Internet. This sounds ridiculous, but Kurosawa incorporates extremely upsetting imagery and moments of terror where the camera won’t look away. “Pulse” touches on technology’s influence on humans and how isolated we can become because of it. It feels extremely ahead of its time and is sure to linger with you for a long while.
#2 “The Descent” (2005, dir. Neil Marshall)
It’s hard to find horror movies that I would describe as “for the girls,” generally because many films in this genre perpetuate tropes of violence against women. But “The Descent,” which follows six women spelunking in Appalachian caves, stands out. The movie has a female-dominated cast that emphasizes the cave divers’ survival and fight against supernatural creatures.
But what makes “The Descent” a fascinating horror movie is that the monsters aren’t a factor for most of the runtime. Instead, there’s a horrify-
ing claustrophobia when the unstable cave starts to trap the spelunkers. It’s a tense film with a few effective jump scares scattered throughout.
#3 “The Exorcist III” (1990, dir. William Peter Blatty)
Horror sequels can go really wrong. Just look at the ocean of awful films that have come out this decade, including “The Exorcist: Believer,” “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” and “Halloween Ends.”
But this 1990 film, written and directed by the man who wrote the original book that started it all, is a shining example.
Featuring two characters from the original film, “The Exorcist III” delves deep into discussions of faith and the passage of time, all the while being a masterclass in creating horror setpieces. Each cut and camera movement is made to scare you as much as possible. As an author by trade, Blatty really knows how to make a jumpscare. Just watch some of his sequences and try to tell me I’m wrong.
#4 “In the Mouth of Madness” (1994, dir. John Carpenter)
From the same mind behind “The Thing,” “In the Mouth of Madness” is worthy of the absolute classic horror movie title. The film follows an insur-
A Barndogs Halloween
Celebrate Halloween with The Barndogs, a classic rock band consisting of members Andy Comstock, Mark Westers, John Kapusniak and Pete S. The event will feature drink specials and a costume contest. No tickets are required for this event, but RSVP online. No backpacks or large bags are allowed and you must be at least 18 years old to attend.
WHEN : Thursday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Middle Ages Brewing Company
PRICE: Free
Halloween Punk Show!
Wear a costume to this spooky punk show featuring Lemon Law and Doomsday Mechanics. Lemon Law has been playing “punk rock with a blend of hardcore, ska and pop punk since 2001,” according to their website. Hailing from Cooperstown, New York, Doomsday Mechanics takes inspiration from alternative country, rock and roll, punk, indie rock and Americana while adding their own voice to it, Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce wrote.
WHEN : Thursday from 9 p.m. to midnight
WHERE: The Night Drop
PRICE: $5
Pink House’s Day of the Dead
Pink House will host its debut event with spooktacular Halloween performances from jam band Hydrogen, Cecropia and The Schwegs. Hydrogen is run by four Syracuse University and SUNY ESF students, with inspiration from their favorite bands: the Grateful Dead and Phish. Cecropia is a new, all-girl band that fuses various genres with a jazz influence. The Schwegs write and perform their own originals and covers. WHEN : Saturday at 4 p.m., doors at 3 p.m.
WHERE: DM @pinkhouse315 PRICE: Presale is $7, $10 at the door
SPOOKJAM: THE FINALE
Crater 315 presents this live music event in collaboration with the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. Costumes are required for entry, so wear your best one to jam out to music from talents like Saint Luke, Rocco, Buffchick and a live DJ set by Gunk!. Venmo @ spookjam for the presale tickets.
WHEN : Saturday at 8:30 p.m., doors open at 8 p.m.
WHERE: 747 Comstock Ave. PRICE: $10 for presale tickets
Music by Candlelight
ance investigator who has to track down a horror novelist with a major cult following. Emphasis on cult. It features some disgusting, Lovecraftian creature effects that are just as good as the ones from “The Thing,” and is a compelling, terrifying work about fandom.
#5 “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (1992, dir. David Lynch)
A prequel to the classic 1990s show, “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” serves as the franchise’s darkest entry. The two-season show is primarily about solving the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), while the movie portrays the final week of her life. It holds a healthy dose of jumpscares, disturbing sound design, imagery and psychological dread.
But the film’s scariest sticking point is the idea of a person losing sight of who they are. It becomes one of the darker, more existential horror movies that exists. And you don’t need to know the show to fully grasp the terror that surrounds this movie.
There’s nothing wrong with watching one of the usual, classic horror movies. But if you want to find something new or different to watch this Halloweekend, these films give you that opportunity. henrywobrien1123@gmail.com
The Syracuse Orchestra presents the first Spark series concert of the season, with special guest Octavio Más-Arocas, the director of orchestras at Michigan State University’s College of Music. Get cozy in the cool fall weather to symphonic music surrounded by thousands of candles. There will also be culinary treats provided, making this an event for all five senses. Doors will open 60 minutes before the concert starts.
WHEN : Saturday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Inspiration Hall
PRICE: Prices range from free to $39, depending on age
By Spencer Howard asst. video editor
WHO: Sofie Daniszewski, freshman, sociology and citizenship and civic engagement major
WHAT: Otto the Orange
WHY: “It was funny because it’s so straightforward yet not a lot of people think about it. I think getting people to laugh or getting a, ‘Oh that’s really clever,’ reaction out of a Halloween costume is super cool.”
WHO: Elizabeth McMahon, freshman, political science and public relations major | Evan Donohue, freshman, anthropology major | Grace Bourbon, freshman, biology major
WHAT: Alvin and the Chipmunks
WHY: “We saw a TikTok of three guys doing that costume and we thought that the characters matched our personalities and that it would be fun. We also wanted a night out where we could wear a t-shirt and sweatpants,” McMahon said.
WHO: Allison McAteer, freshman, political science and public relations major
WHAT: Sabrina Carpenter, the singer-songwriter responsible for hits like “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.”
WHO: Micol Ceccarini, freshman, sociology and citizenship and civic engagement major
WHAT: Queen of Hearts
WHY: “I bought a top and was able to use a hot glue gun to glue an old deck of cards that I had on it. It was a fun process and I was able to do it with my mom over fall break which was a bonus.”
WHO: Meghna Bharath, senior, information management and technology and business analytics major
WHAT: Cat in the Hat
WHY: “I decided to dress up as Cat in the Hat because it was my favorite movie as a kid and the character is iconic.”
WHO: Brielle Brzytwa, freshman, sociology and citizenship and civic engagement major
WHAT: Magic Mike, the titular character of the 2012 comedy about male strippers.
WHY: Brielle chose to be Magic Mike because her friends wanted to be pixie hollow fairies, and she thought the contrast was funny.
WHO: Shamila Santana, senior, business analytics and finance major
WHAT: Race car driver
WHY: Shamila chose to be a race car driver because she thought the aesthetic was creative and interesting as well as inexpensive to recreate.
WHO: Julia Bossis, junior, television, radio and film major
WHAT: Amy Winehouse
WHY: “I’ve always loved Amy Winehouse, especially her music. She has always been an inspiration of mine.”
humor column These tips will lead you to the ultimate
By Jack VanBeveren humor columnist
So, it’s that spooky time of the year when the leaves change, candy-induced sugar overdoses spike and Spirit Halloween appears in your favorite abandoned strip mall. That means Halloween is upon us, and it’s time to prepare for your epic trick-or-treat bender on the big night. Before trick-or-treating, make sure to map out your candy route. Places like frat row, freshman dorms, downtown and Marshall Street are must-hit locations due to their notoriously high concentration of candy.
Also, places like the VA Medical Center and South Campus get a bad rap when it comes to foot traffic and candy per capita, but in recent years, these spots have climbed the hot-spot rankings due to a steady decline in crime and execution rates. Be sure to pay attention to visiting hours and the bus schedule before setting out to these underrated stops.
Next, you need to figure out a mode of transportation on Halloween night because it will be hard to consistently make it to all your locations after many strenuous miles of walking. Your typical Uber or Lyft driver is sure to be busy driving all the other trick-or-treaters around town, so it’s best you think outside of the box.
Reasonably, you might think a Veo is the next best option, but alas, Veos become quite a burden during door-to-door tricking and treating. This leaves you with few options and, in fact, I only see two plausible choices: carbo-load the night before to keep up your stamina when running from house to house or incorporate a pair of Heelys into your costume. With easy door-to-door agility and the ability to skitch behind a car to hot spots far away, Heelys are the greatest mode of transportation you could hope for.
WHO: Max Oberacker, freshman, political science and citizenship and civic engagement major
WHAT: Where’s Waldo, the famous main character of a British series of children’s puzzle books.
WHO: Zahara Williams, freshman, law, society and policy major
WHAT: Angel
WHY: Williams chose to dress as an angel because it represents her personality. She thought the pieces for the look were easy to come by and interesting once put together. sphoward@syr.edu
Once you’ve got your Heelys laced, I can imagine many trick-or-treaters want to stop by at least one Halloween party. Live your life and have fun if you must, but know that stopping by a party for even five minutes decreases your net candy by a catastrophic percentage. Ideally, you should employ a stenographer to take notes of the parties you’ll be missing, or, at the very least, you should send a proxy on your behalf to maximize networking opportunities. Although, if you make the sacrifice and attend a party in person, be sure not to eat too much candy. You wouldn’t want to get sick and throw up all over somebody. It ruins the party for everyone, and you probably won’t be invited back.
emma lee contributing illustrator
After your awesome night of many tricks and treats, be sure to get some rest. You would be surprised by how relentlessly demanding trickor-treating can be on the body. In 2019, scientists led an award-winning packhorse on the same candy route I took on Halloween night. The horse passed out from sheer exhaustion just a couple dozen houses into the journey. Scientists watched in awe as I carried his mane the rest of the route with nothing but glucose in my blood and Heelys on my feet. Had my equestrian friend not pushed himself so hard, I am positive we would have finished our route hoof-in-hand. Afterward, I was so tired I slept for four days and missed many important classes. So gallop with care on your Halloween adventure, take each stop one Heely glide at a time, and rest well knowing you have a glorious bounty of candy waiting for you when you wake up. jpvanbev@syr.edu
Though they don’t know how many spirits occupy the museum, the workers know the supposed stories of a few.
According to one story, a captain’s wife stayed on the boat while workers weighed it. The tiller, used to steer the boat, swung and knocked her overboard. Another spirit is a little boy who drowned and told a medium he felt sad that he was stuck. Other ghosts are women secretaries of engineers.
Since the Syracuse canal was drained, the first level of the museum has since been sealed and now features a model boat similar to what many would have sailed on. Flanigan isn’t too curious about the ghosts here — she knows everything she wants to for now.
The bigger curiosities stem from the second floor, where the staff works. Oftentimes, they hear sounds they can’t explain. Steph Adams, the director of interpretation, once heard typing from Flanigan’s office, next door to theirs. Naturally, Adams assumed it was Flanigan. But she wasn’t in her office.
“I saw her go past, and my stomach, it just dropped,” Adams said. “I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’”
Flanigan used to work in Adams’ current office and experienced the same phenomenon of hearing typing when no one was there. Flanigan said this same office space is where the staff has encountered the most spirit activity.
She recalls a story from a former curator, who’s the only person to report actually seeing a spirit. One day while sitting in his office, a man stood in the doorway and blankly stared at him.
“The curator said, ‘Can I help you?’ and the man just looked irritated and turned around and walked away,” Flanigan said.
As he walked away, he disappeared before he reached the exit.
Usually, the day-to-day experiences with spirits don’t really feel creepy for the museum staff. One woman’s spirit hangs out with Adams in their office. Overwhelmed with modern-day technology, the ghost likes to sit in Adams’ chair.
“It does encourage me to stand on my standing desk a little more because I’ll say, ‘Okay, I’ll let the ghost have a chair for a little while,’” Adams said.
The attic is another hot spot for paranormal activity. One ghost grew attached to Rachel Rumbold, who now works as a collections assistant, when she was an intern. Surrounded by boxes, Rumbold sat at a tiny desk, alone in the attic, looking at the Canal Society archives.
requirement, they struggle to justify the time commitment.
A struggle that the music students faced during the rehearsal process was a lack of participants. While the show eventually adapted to embrace its modest size, the plan was originally to feature more acts.
They made the most of their low numbers by featuring songs that were specific to the interests of individual students. However, Lamonica hopes to achieve a grander scale for next year’s Haunted Crouse Concert.
“This year it was a little thrown together, but I want to involve more musical theater majors and people who love Broadway,” Lamonica said.
Despite a difficult road that required drumming up interest and rehearsing several acts, the Haunted Crouse Concert came to fruition in time for Halloween. As the performers celebrate the triumph of this show, they also look forward to planning a winter holiday concert of a very similar nature.
“I’ll be doing this for the next couple of years,” Lamonica said. “The goal is to make it bigger every year until it’s a huge student celebration.” jdvogel@syr.edu
Three times, Rumbold heard heavy footsteps. They’d check to see if anyone was there. Each time, she found she was alone. Since ghost tours and mediums are common at the museum, the next time someone toured, the team decided to ask about Rumbold’s ghost. That’s when they discovered his name: Jason.
“He was coming to check on me, just to see how I was doing and stuff and if I was working, so it never felt malicious,” Rumbold said. “I was chill with it.”
Since completing their time as an intern, their work has mainly stayed in the museum’s main floors. She said Jason hadn’t followed her down.
While most experiences feel pretty tame, there are certain places the staff avoids, like the basement, which they said they don’t show anyone because it has bad energy. One hallway by the weight masters room, where the boat’s tolls would be logged, and the basement have it especially.
The staff doesn’t know when the basement was dug out since it’s not part of the original building. One basement door has an Egyptian ankh symbol. Flanigan doesn’t know if it’s there because the previous owners simply liked the symbol, or if it’s there to keep something out.
Either way, a medium discovered a man’s spirit trapped in the door. The medium said he’s stuck in a constant loop and can’t get out because of the symbol’s presence. But the true story remains a mystery.
One way the staff mitigates each person’s frightening experiences is by divvying up who turns off the lights. As daylight savings approaches and the building gets dark quickly, the staff rush to turn them off. Many of the lights are on a breaker switch, though, automatically turning some off and leaving some staff in the dark.
When Adams has to turn the lights off in their attic workspace, they run out like a little kid, they said.
“I put my phone flashlight on, and I go very quickly, but I’ve lived in houses that I thought were haunted before,” Adams said.
The staff handles the museum’s spookiness with a little bit of humor.
Flanigan found an old doll in a box of toys, though no one knows why it’s there. She decided it would be funny to place the doll in the carriage, much to Adams’ chagrin.
“I don’t like dolls,” Adams said. “I very quickly walked away.” Adams sticks to “their side” of the attic. They avoid the carriage and dolls as much as possible. But at the end of the day, it is part of their job.
While some things may bother Adams, Flanigan is impartial to it all. Her humor is important to her connection with the spirits.
“If I was dead and attached to some physical location, I feel like even if they didn’t have a sense of humor when they were alive, they’d have to develop one,” Flanigan said.
At this point, these kinds of encounters rarely bother staff because they’ve grown accustomed to them. Working in the museum, the staff may sometimes be physically alone, with no one living around. But they feel like they’re never alone.
“Everyone’s happy to be here,” Flanigan said about the spirits. “The spirits are interested in looking out for the building and interested in what we’re doing in it.”
rlboehm@syr.edu
like “No
gaeton music. The dancers said the performance connected them to their culture and the greater Latine community.
capacity at the Schine Underground with a line forming outside, Madero said. This year, it was held in Goldstein Auditorium, a larger venue with room for everyone to attend.
Cesar Barrera, a sophomore and MEXSA’s treasurer, said he hoped the evening showcased Mexican culture to all students, especially those who had never experienced it before.
“This is a great step to show how beautiful Mexican culture is and get them interested in it,” Barrera said.
The program began with a performance from Ballet Folklórico Espíritu de México, a Mexican folk dance group that Barrera is part of from his hometown of New York City. The group performed upbeat, tap-heavy dances in traditional, colorful dresses and mariachi outfits.
SU’s RAÍCES Dance Troupe also performed later in the night, dancing to Latin trap and reg-
“I love being able to showcase my culture and my identity,” said Izel de Jesus Veilmann, a freshman member of RAÍCES. “I really appreciate the forum they gave us to express ourselves.”
The event was set up in a fair style with tables lining the auditorium. Several student organizations, including CASA, South American and Latine Student Association and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin sorority, set up tables with cultural activities. Students could decorate traditional floral headbands and wooden skulls. There was also an hourly piñata competition and ongoing wiffle ball games.
Clubs encouraged students to add photos of their family members to the ofrendas — homemade altars used during Día de los Muertos to honor the lives of loved ones who have died. La L.U.C.H.A. also organized a frame-making table
where students could decorate frames for their photos to add to the altar.
Ixchel Flores Chamale, a junior member of La L.U.C.H.A., said it’s important to her to have a place to celebrate the holiday on campus. At school, they rarely get time to dedicate to their heritage and the memory of their loved ones, so the event provided a special opportunity to connect with her culture.
“I like to pay homage to where I came from because without my ancestors, I wouldn’t be here right now,” Flores said.
In its remembrance of people who have died, Día de los Muertos is a family-centric event. It provided a sense of community for students who are far from their families while at school.
“This is a holiday that is very close to me. It’s difficult not to be able to honor loved ones at home,” Madero said. “Being able to do so on campus provides comfort for me and I hope for others.” ehrosen@syr.edu
By Gray Reed columnist
As the highly-anticipated Halloweekend approaches, young people everywhere are choosing their costumes and planning parties for the upcoming nights. While the main goal of this time should be to have fun, it’s important to take proactive measures to remain socially aware and ensure the safety of yourself and those around you, whatever that entails.
Dressing up in costumes for Halloween is generally considered a lighthearted activity nowadays, but it’s important to not let the festivities overshadow the need to treat other people with respect. This means not appropriating other cultures or encouraging harmful stereotypes about other groups of people.
San Diego State University recently opened an investigation after a TikTok video went viral of two students in a couple’s costume depicting Sean “Diddy” Combs and a bottle of baby oil. One of the individuals, both of whom are white, wore Blackface for the costume, which has historically been used to ridicule Black people while reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
This incident brings to light how prevalent ignorant costumes are within university culture and how it remains important to make efforts to call out such behavior when we see it — and especially not partake in the first place.
During the height of Netflix’s “Dahmer” starring Evan Peters as the infamous serial killer, some people decided to dress as the murderer for Halloween. This choice received a lot of backlash, resulting in platforms such as eBay banning the sale of costume pieces with his likeness.
We also shouldn’t be glorifying harmful concepts or real, troubled people with your costumes. This means not dressing up as Erik or Lyle Menendez or Gypsy Rose Blanchard, regardless of how mainstream new docuseries have made them.
Halloween is a time to explore both fun and scary costumes. But be sure you do so with respect for those around you and their experiences.
Another quintessential part of the college Halloweekend experience is finding different ways to celebrate on and around campus. This said, it’s important to stay on guard and look out for yourself and those around you.
Sexual violence is at a dangerous high during Halloweekend, falling within what is called the “Red Zone.” During this period, ranging from August to November, about 50% of campus sexual violence incidents occur. Further, about one third of aggressors in sexual assault cases overall are intoxicated.
Don’t leave your friends behind while you’re out, and if you do see anything suspicious, do what you can to intervene while also protecting yourself. Ways to do this include distracting the perpetrator, getting help or intervening directly.
Regardless of who you are and if you think you could be impacted by instances of sexual violence, it’s important to remain vigilant. For people who may feel that this doesn’t apply to them, being in a position of privilege doesn’t mean you can ignore consent rules. If anything, this privileged position means you should take it upon yourself to defend others and provide a safe space for those who need it — even if that means calling out your friends and others you consider yourself to be close with for inappropriate behavior.
You should be prepared for anything you may encounter while going out this weekend. This means making sure your phone is charged (if you have one, bringing a portable charger) and avoiding suspicious areas. Violent crime increases by as much as 50% around Halloween due to increased substance use and prank culture, so make safe choices.
Always use the buddy system if you’re in an unfamiliar place and be smart when it comes to alcohol consumption. Never drive
under the influence and always keep an eye on your drink while at parties or bars.
And, perhaps my favorite piece of advice, trust your gut. If something feels wrong, it’s better to remove yourself than to test your odds. Be safe, smart and aware of your surroundings.
Halloweekend should be a time of festivities, but these joys can be so easily taken away if we are not careful. So as you’re out this week-
end, act in a way that not only benefits yourself and your friends, but that also ensures the wellbeing of everyone around you.
Grace “Gray” Reed is a senior majoring in magazine, news and digital journalism. Their column appears bi-weekly. They can be reached at greed04@syr.edu.
By Vale Martinez columnist
It’s clear that vaping is being increasingly normalized across generations, especially among Generation Z. In an effort to entice users, vape companies have rolled out absurd innovations, from touch screens, built-in games and even music streaming features that successfully target teenagers.
This push to the public, paired with a rise in depression and anxiety in youth that’s linked to vape use, has created an insatiable demand for disposable batteries. But each battery requires cobalt, a resource that is predominantly supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In fact, 70% of the world’s supply comes from Congo, where child labor and mass displacement are part of daily life.
Congo is grappling with what the United Nations calls one of the “largest humanitarian crises in the world,” worsened by the global demand for minerals like cobalt. According to grassroots-led group, Save the Congo, a woman is raped every minute in Congo. Yet, while health repercussions dominate media narratives surrounding vaping, the environmental and humanitarian costs remain largely unaddressed. Even popular nonprofits like Greenpeace and the Truth Initiative, which mention social justice concerns, fail to highlight the unethical sourcing of materials like cobalt and the environmental justice crisis in Congo.
The mineral-rich eastern region of Congo has been locked in conflict for years, with over 6.9 million people forcibly displaced. According
to Al Jazeera, the war in the Congo is rooted in colonial exploitation that continued post-independence and has since spiraled into a brutal neo-colonial power struggle.
In 1960, Congo’s first democratically elected leader, Patrice Lumumba, made a pledge to use the country’s immense resources toward the benefit of the people. Lumumba was assassinated within six months of his election, paving the way for three decades of dictatorship under Mobutu Sese Seko.
Additional pressure, such as violence from nearby conflicts like the 1994 genocide of the Rwandan people, has trapped eastern Congo in a cycle of violence that has claimed and displaced millions of lives. Pressures like this make it nearly impossible to tackle pressing issues like child labor and human rights abuses in the mining industry.
Five disposable vapes are thrown away every second by young people in America. Over the course of a year, 150 million plastic nicotine devices are disposed of without consideration of the ethical effects of their consumerism.
Intersectional environmentalism, a term coined by Leah Thomas in 2020 inspired by Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectional theory, “focuses on achieving climate justice by amplifying historically excluded voices and approaching environmental education, policy, and activism with equity, inclusion, and restorative justice in mind.” Intersectionality highlights the need for holistic rhetoric and solutions that uplift justice and marginalized narratives.
Selective advocacy concerns are harmful to communities because of the ignorance that
occurs in one’s head when justifying their inaction. Vaping, along with any technology reliant on lithium, is tainted by neo-colonial slavery. We must acknowledge the intersectional costs of our greedy overconsumption — we don’t need vapes to survive, but the people of the Congo need us to stop exploiting this mineral so they can finally breathe the air of liberation.
I recognize that lithium-ion batteries, made with cobalt, are an essential tool in the transition away from fossil fuels. They power electric vehicles and store renewable energy, which are critical for the future of our planet. But, no climate solution can justify human rights violations. As scientists work toward creating cobalt-free batteries, consumers can take steps now by choosing products that do not further fuel the crisis in the Congo.
While it’s unrealistic to expect people to give up their phones or laptops entirely, quitting vapes and e-cigarettes is a more attainable goal. Not only is quitting better for our health, but it also empowers us to take the first step in creating the humanitarian change we so desperately need in our world.
For the one quarter of college students who vape regularly, I urge you to deeply consider your actions’ impact on the people of Congo. Small changes in our consumption can shift demand away from unethical practices, pushing us toward a future where justice isn’t sacrificed for convenience.
Every puff from a disposable vape is linked to the exploitation of vulnerable communities, environmental degradation and the perpetuation of systemic injustice. The systems
Stephanie Wright
of oppression that exploit Congolese children for cobalt mining also sustain inequalities across the globe — disproportionately affecting marginalized communities while privileging others.
Author Siddharth Kara, in his book “Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives,” drives home this point, emphasizing that, “Never in human history has there been so much suffering that generated so much profit that directly touched the lives of more people around the world.” The harsh truth is that millions of people are suffering to fuel the West’s need for convenience — whether it’s disposable vapes, electric cars or smartphones.
True wellness can’t exist within a framework that profits from the suffering of others. If we genuinely seek personal and collective wellbeing, we must reject the conveniences built on exploitation and conditioned by capitalism and channel our resources toward dismantling the systems that oppress us all.
Liberation is not a personal journey but a collective one, requiring unity in the fight against forces that dehumanize and destroy. It’s time to stop finding comfort in products that perpetuate injustice and start building a future where wellness and freedom are shared and sustainable.
Valeria Martinez Gutierrez is a junior majoring in Geography, Sociology and Environment, Sustainability and Policy. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at vmarti10@syr.edu.
By Daily Orange Sports Staff
For the first time under Fran Brown, Syracuse was embarrassed on the gridiron. Following its second bye week, SU marched into Acrisure Stadium and was dominated by then-No. 19 Pitt.
Quarterback Kyle McCord posted a careerworst five interceptions — including three picksixes. The Orange had more than double the Panthers’ time of possession and notched one of its best defensive performances to date, but McCord’s mistakes put the game out of reach early, leading to a 41-13 loss.
Following three straight road games, Syracuse returns home to take on Virginia Tech. The Hokies enter on a three-game winning streak, taking down their last three Atlantic Coast Conference foes by a combined 60 points.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (5-2, 2-2 ACC) will fare against Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-1 ACC) on Saturday:
AIDEN
STEPANSKY (4-3)
Syracuse 27
Virginia Tech 24
ORANGE REVIVAL
Seven games in, it’s not ridiculous to say we are the worst trio of beat-writer predictors in The Daily Orange’s rich history. So, why not guarantee at least one of us is right this week and go against my fellow scribes?
Make no mistake, Syracuse has its hands full with the Hokies. And last week’s performance was nothing short of an embarrassment. But I see a way the Orange exit this game with a revival performance and clinch their third-consecutive bowl game.
substituted out. On another, it was Carlos finding the sharpshooter. The next, Starling found Bell uncontested in the left corner for 3.
Starling also connected from deep himself, making a shot along the left side with a foul on the play. Freshman guard Elijah Moore also got in on the action, hitting a left corner 3. With just under 10 minutes to play in the first half, Moore performed a jab step at his defender from the left wing, then pulled a contested deep shot, converting on the play to extend SU’s lead to nine.
“This is a very, very good 3-point shooting team,” Autry said. “We practiced a lot. These guys have the ability. We got guys that really shoot at a high level.”
Bell re-entered and knocked down a 3. He got his defender in the air with a pump fake, took a dribble and a step back to his right and drained the shot to force a Slippery Rock timeout. Delaware transfer Jyare Davis added on in the final minute of the half, with Bell passing up a shot of his own and hitting Davis at the top of the key.
To cap the impressive half, Moore drove baseline and kicked to Bell in the left corner. The junior buried his fourth of the half, extending SU’s lead to 27 and putting it at 9-for-18 from beyond the arc.
The second half was about the same, as Davis, Bell and Starling knocked down SU’s first three attempts from deep. Moore added another two and finished 4-for-10. Bell was deadly from deep, going 5-for-8 while SU finished 15-for-31.
She has been pivotal in communicating with Team IMPACT, attending events at hospitals and meeting families to form personal connections. The fellowship is a chance for the student-athletes to take on a leadership position and create stronger relationships with matches.
“It’s all about spreading awareness within the medical and athletic community to get more families involved,” Emma Simches, Team IMPACT’s regional director of programs in the northeast, said. “(We want) to engage them in an experience that they might not be able to get due to the medical journey they’re on.”
Through her two years as a fellow, White has helped lead Team IMPACT’s many milestones, including its “All-in 5k” and a football event at the JMA Wireless Dome featuring active and graduated matches. At the event, matches were celebrated on the Dome jumbotron, and a media timeout was granted in their honor.
Her role has grown from supporting these events to actively shaping them, demonstrating a sound commitment to the program’s
While McCord’s hardships took the spotlight against Pitt, SU’s defense impressed me. Marlowe Wax returned from injury, though he clearly wasn’t at 100%, but I see him continuing to progress and returning to AllACC form against the Hokies’ potent rushing attack. Additionally, VT was held to just 21 points against Georgia Tech last week, and Bhayshul Tuten had a walking boot postgame, possibly limiting him this Saturday.
It’s fairly simple for McCord and Co. If he doesn’t turn the ball over, SU will be in this game until the end. VT’s defensive line is no joke and will be McCord’s face throughout the afternoon, but I see an improvement from a week ago. Yasin Willis is likely a no-go for Syracuse and it will have to rely more on LeQuint Allen Jr. than normal.
The Orange were just 8-23 in November over the last eight seasons, but I see Brown flipping the script in his first opportunity. It won’t be easy, but SU can defeat the Hokies to get back on track before the final road trip of the regular season.
COOPER ANDREWS (4-3)
Syracuse 24
Virginia Tech 30 (MORE) NOVEMBER BLUES?
Aiden is right. We’re not very good at this. I wrote last week that Syracuse would beat a ranked Pitt on the road by two touchdowns. I doubled down by predicting McCord to utterly dominate the Panthers’ secondary. I’ve had some rough takes this year, but that takes the cake.
Not only did that loss damage my credibility, it severely damaged my confidence in
“I feel like we run and gun. So we try to create more possessions,” Bell said. “We want to be one of the fastest teams in the country, so we try to push it up the court. But it’s not always good to live and die by the 3.”
Big-men usage
SU began the game with neither of its centers in the game. With Freeman starting, Naheem McLeod and Lampkin stuck to the bench. In a short stint, McLeod turned the ball over on his first possession but then recorded a dunk, steal and rebound.
“I’m a defender first, so as long as I get my defensive side down, I’m good,” McLeod said. “Offense, I know it’s gonna come, so I try not to worry about it.”
Lampkin then entered for McLeod and made his presence known. The graduate student put his back to the basket, spun inside with multiple pumps and sank the left-handed floater with 6:30 remaining in the first half. Lampkin then stretched the floor, knocking down a 3-pointer from the right wing on a dish from Freeman.
The Orange mixed multiple looks, putting Freeman as the big man at times but also pairing him with Lampkin. In the second half, McLeod was a force inside, corralling two rebounds and throwing down multiple ferocious dunks. Lampkin didn’t appear in the second half and played just five minutes overall.
Rebounding margin
Syracuse outrebounded Clarion by 10 Saturday. Versus the Rock, the Orange saw similar production. Despite a 27-point halftime lead for SU, Slippery Rock led in
goals. White has consistently shown a dedication that helps foster a supportive and impactful environment.
“It’s really opened up my perspective. I’ve been able to see my impact with the game of hockey and what my accomplishments can do,” White said. “Just being in a different realm, it’s really cool to see how sports can bring people together.”
While with Team IMPACT, White has noticed the immediate effect that student-athletes can provide others. Her outreach and support of those around her have been a valuable example of the work that athletes can complete away from their sport.
In her final season at SU, White’s local contributions will not be forgotten. After White’s graduation, Team IMPACT will continue to stay involved with the Syracuse Athletic Department, hoping to expand even further.
“It’s about giving a child a team so that they’ve got the support, the love, the family that you get when you have a team behind you,” Carr said. “Our purpose is to walk away at the end of the day and say, ‘I helped somebody.’” jordankimball28@gmail.com @Jordankimball_
Syracuse. I used to see the Orange as a talentrich group, with arguably their best passing attack in program history and a formidable defense. Now, I see a one-dimensional offense and a defense that hasn’t shown an ability to close games.
JUSTIN
GIRSHON (3-4)
Syracuse 24
Virginia Tech 28
OFF THE BANDWAGON
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw a career-high five interceptions in SU’s loss to then-No. 19 Pitt last week.
I see those trends continuing against Virginia Tech. The Orange – particularly McCord – struggle against potent pass rushes. The Hokies boast the best pass rush in the ACC and the 11th-best in the country, per Pro Football Focus’ grading system. VT has totaled 26 sacks in eight games, led by star edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland, whose whopping 11 sacks rank second in the nation. Syracuse’s offense will take a while to get going versus a ferocious Hokies’ front. And it won’t adjust through the run game, either. Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon hasn’t made the running game a consistent part of his scheme. That won’t change. On the flipside, VT’s rushing offense — which ranks 30th in the NCAA with 195.5 yards per game — led by Tuten and quarterback Kyron Drones will provide a tall task for SU’s defense. Saturday looks like it’ll be another tough defeat for Syracuse. But, will it be the start of another rough November?
As Cooper and Aiden noted above, we’re not very good at these predictions — and I’m the worst. When I’m out on Syracuse, like I was in Week 2 against Georgia Tech, it draws me right back in. But, once I got drawn back in, the Orange embarrassed themselves versus Stanford, and their win over Holy Cross the ensuing week wasn’t too convincing.
This led me to think UNLV would remain undefeated. I was wrong. Since SU’s win at Allegiant Stadium, I’ve been back on the bandwagon, predicting it to win each of its last two games. Now, coming off its loss to Pitt, I’m back off.
While I clearly can’t get the right read on this SU team, I can confidently say Virginia Tech is a very good defensive team. And unfortunately for the Orange, the Hokies’ best player is defensive end Powell-Ryland. As Cooper noted, Syracuse’s offense is extremely onedimensional and there’s no reason to believe its air-raid won’t stop.
Because of how much SU will drop back, Powell-Ryland will have numerous opportunities to get home, and I can see him making a game-altering play down the stretch. With Pitt laying the blueprint for how teams can expose Syracuse, I’d expect the Hokies to have similar success and squeak out a road victory in the JMA Wireless Dome. sports@dailyorange.com @dosports
offensive rebounds 7-3. The disparity, however, was partially due to Syracuse’s ability to knock down shots and Slippery Rock’s struggles — going 3-of-27 from 3 and shooting 22% from the field.
On defense, SU led 20-15 in rebounds. Surprisingly, in the first half, it was Starling who led the way in rebounding with five. McLeod and Lampkin combined for just three boards in the half.
bled and wins a one-on-one, the Orange are fine. But it’s a crapshoot when that doesn’t happen.
Take Syracuse’s stunning 26-24 loss to Stanford, for example. Brown was left disgusted at the podium postgame, lamenting the Orange’s lack of physicality against the Cardinal. Despite holding Stanford’s offense to 19 points — one touchdown came via a pick-six — SU totaled just one sack and folded when it mattered most.
With 37 seconds left, wide receiver Elic Ayomanor beat cornerback Clarence Lewis to haul in a 27-yard catch on a fourth-and-10. It set up Cardinal kicker Emmet Kenney for a game-winning field goal, which he buried.
SU didn’t muster a sack on that drive. Stanford signal-caller Ashton Daniels, who was benched a few games later, had all day to throw throughout the possession. Because of Syracuse’s lackluster pass rush, even a lower-tier quarterback could lead a game-winning drive.
“They out-physicaled us,” Brown said bluntly after the defeat. “There’s nothing to talk about. I was there, you see that, Stevie Wonder sees that … We gotta be more physical.”
The battle inside continued into the second half, where the Orange showcased a mixed bag of results. SU finished with a +8 margin, though Autry sees the need for improvement.
“We need to play better defense and rebound the basketball,” Autry said. “I think for us to have the season that we want to have, that’s going to be imperative that we do that.” amstepan@syr.edu
@AidenStepansky
Brown has stressed the importance of recruiting imposing figures to his roster since his hiring in November 2023. He wants to play smash-mouth football. But both the numbers, and inconsistency in crunch time, suggest Syracuse’s pass rush hasn’t lived up to that.
The Orange still have five games left to see their defensive line play to its full potential. It’ll be tough to hound quarterbacks in remaining Atlantic Coast Conference competition, however.
Syracuse’s defense played one of its better games of the year despite its blowout loss to Pitt last week, in which it sported a 3-3-5 defense. The unit has gained momentum with Barron, Wax and Derek McDonald roaming the second level. That needs to stay intact, even if it means using just three down linemen.
An improved pass rush is SU’s ticket to forming a complete defense. It’s how the Orange can provide relief to their secondary, open up opportunities to blitz and give a turnover-prone McCord — whose 11 interceptions are the second-most in the country — even more chances to score. The solution starts with Diggs’ counterparts winning more one-on-one reps which, to this point, hasn’t happened much.
ccandrew@syr.edu
@Cooper_Andrews
By Cooper Andrews managing editor
Syracuse’s defensive line has seen a litany of turnover both before the season and during it. Transfers like edge rusher Fadil Diggs and interior lineman Dion Wilson Jr. fortified the unit on paper. Yet Wilson Jr., along with fellow starters Kevin Jobity Jr. and Braylen Ingraham, suffered season-ending injuries, immensely weakening the group.
To pick up the pieces, first-year defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson has relied on his youth. Freshman Maraad Watson, along with sophomores Rashard Perry and David Omopariola, have received increased snaps since October.
It’s been a challenge for Robinson’s pass rush, especially with Justin Barron’s improved performance at linebacker and Marlowe Wax’s return prompting a soft launch back to Rocky Long’s 3-3-5 defense.
“We’re putting everything together where everybody can have a piece of the pie and help us out,” Robinson said. “We mention things like EST, everybody shine together.”
But, examining the results, not everybody has shined together.
Outside of Diggs, Syracuse’s pass-rushing production is slim. Diggs’ four sacks lead the team. Defensive end KingJoseph Edwards ranks second with three sacks, but all came against lowly Holy Cross in the second half. Not counting Edwards, all SU’s remaining edge rushers have combined for just two sacks, Denis Jaquez Jr. having 1.5 and Jobity with 0.5.
SU’s pass-rushing unit grades well, per Pro Football Focus, ranking 36th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 73.5 tally. Though that hasn’t necessarily translated to above average results. The Orange’s 15 sacks rank 55th in the country, more of a middling total.
Robinson’s pass rush has delivered a few big moments seven games into the season. But it still has plenty of room to grow.
“(We’re) asking a lot of them, and that’s just what it is,” Robinson said of his defensive line. “They got a great leadership role from Fadil Diggs, who has played a lot of ball.”
Robinson expresses utmost confidence in his group. Still, relying on Diggs isn’t enough.
The senior Texas A&M transfer has floated around the field in a variety of roles this season. He began the year as a traditional down lineman on the edge. Yet on numerous occasions in SU’s
Week 2 win over Georgia Tech he dropped back into coverage due to Wax’s leg injury. Diggs has played on the second level more than what was presumed about his role before the season. Still, he’s made the most impact plays.
Diggs set up Syracuse’s offense to clinch a victory on Oct. 4 at UNLV, when the edge rusher sacked Rebels’ quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams in overtime to force a field goal. LeQuint Allen Jr. punched in the game-winning touchdown run on the ensuing drive. Diggs earned the National Defensive Player of the Week award for his twosack performance.
Eight days later, when NC State cut the Orange’s lead to 24-14 in the fourth quarter, Diggs sacked CJ Bailey to induce a long thirdand-goal. The Wolfpack were held to a field goal,
and Syracuse wide receiver Jackson Meeks grabbed an onside kick to seal the win.
Both of those wins weren’t solely because of Diggs’ efforts. Though, they certainly helped.
Head coach Fran Brown even said after SU’s win in Las Vegas that, before the game, he wrote on a whiteboard that all the Orange needed to win was for two players to be at their best: Kyle McCord, and Diggs. He was right on that instance. Yet, it’s not sustainable. Syracuse’s pass-rushing depth is nonexistent at the moment. Eight of its 15 sacks came against Ohio and Holy Cross — the two worst teams SU has faced. Diggs’ opposite-side edge rusher, Jaquez, doesn’t even have multiple sacks yet. SU’s true defensive lineman on its roster have only combined for 10 sacks. Wax, Barron,
The lack of help toward Diggs thrusts the Orange’s secondary into a more difficult task each week. They are the primary line of defense. They’ve often been gashed, though, like when UNLV totaled 227 team passing yards and three touchdowns through the air — along with two pass plays that went for more than 40 yards. Or against NC State, when Syracuse gave up a season-worst 329 passing yards, including a 75-yard touchdown late. These lagging performances defending the pass are due to SU’s struggles to create pressure in the pocket, leaving quarterbacks with plenty of time to throw. On snaps where Diggs isn’t dou-
By Justin Girshon asst. sports editor
Alijah Clark has seen “a whole new” Derek McDonald this year. In years past, the safety said McDonald was more reserved. But now, in his third year as a starting linebacker, Clark has seen McDonald play with fire.
As the quarterback of the defense, McDonald’s voice has blossomed. Clark even feels he can’t make any tackles because McDonald’s perfect timing doesn’t allow opposing players to get to the next level.
“I would say he was hesitant at first, but now he’s shooting his gun every time,” Clark said of McDonald.
Prior to McDonald arriving on campus in 2021, he didn’t have experience at linebacker. He mostly played tight end and defensive end growing up. As he grew to 6-foot-4, 180 pounds in high school, McDonald said he played a little linebacker because of his frame. But his time there was limited.
Once he bulked up, McDonald moved back to playing defensive end while still playing tight end. He didn’t leave the line from there, becoming a three-star defensive end, according to 247Sports, with his recruiting tape being solely him playing off the edge. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McDonald’s recruiting process was mostly virtual.
The Georgia native received interest from schools like Villanova and UConn, but his conversations with former SU defensive coordinator Tony White led to his Syracuse commitment. McDonald says he did “a lot of talking” over the phone with White and there was a mutual understanding that McDonald would play on defense.
McDonald started his career at SU by redshirting, using his freshman year to learn how to play linebacker. In 2022, he became a full-time starter and hasn’t lost his place since. Though in 2024, he’s on pace for his best season yet. McDonald has recorded a team-high 48 tackles, which helped stabilize SU’s defense during Marlowe Wax’s five-game absence.
“(I’ve seen) him build more confidence in himself, just being able to tell himself that he is that guy and he belongs here,” Wax said of McDonald. “(It’s) definitely exciting to see him go out there and just play with a different swag, different confidence.”
“Steady, consistent,” Syracuse linebackers coach Robert Wright added about McDonald’s veteran presence. “He helps those guys in the transition like he’s on the field, communicating with them, helping them get lined up, making sure they’re seeing what he’s seen.”
When McDonald committed to the Orange following his junior year of high school, there weren’t discussions of a position change. As White and SU’s staff monitored McDonald throughout his senior year, though, they started seeing him fit better as a linebacker.
At that point, McDonald was still playing off the edge, though he started dropping back into coverage more than he had. But his time away from the defensive line was sparse as he helped lead the Marist School to a 13-0 record and a Georgia High School Association 4A State Championship win.
When he arrived at SU, McDonald was relegated to the sidelines as he tried to get acclimated to the position. He put himself in the best position to learn how to play linebacker. McDonald said he rigorously worked on his footwork and drop coverage to begin understanding how linebackers move.
“I think coming in I had a lot to learn, not having played much linebacker before, so I remember going to practice and trying to learn the defense and realizing that I had a lot of stuff to learn real quick,” McDonald said of his first year at Syracuse.
With a year of training under his belt and more experience from training camp, McDonald entered 2022 as a backup linebacker. In his first action of the season, McDonald registered an interception and tackle for loss against Louisville on Sept. 3, 2022. Meanwhile, starting linebacker Stefon Thompson suffered a season-ending injury, pushing McDonald into a starting role for the remainder of the season.
“I grew a lot during that (redshirt) year, and then it gave me the opportunity to get on the field,” McDonald said.
Heading into the 2023 season, under new defensive coordinator Rocky Long, McDonald maintained his role as a starter. As White had run, Long also instilled a 3-3-5 defensive formation.
Because of its structure with three linebackers on the field, SU frequently dropped a linebacker — typically McDonald — down to the line of scrimmage. McDonald’s defensive line background drastically helped his position switch and development. After notching 43 tackles across nine games in 2022, he started all
13 of Syracuse’s games and registered a careerbest 67 tackles.
While new defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson doesn’t usually use a 3-3-5 formation, it’s something he’s deployed at times. Because of Wax’s injury, the Orange mixed and matched at linebacker. McDonald was the lone consistent piece, guiding the middle of SU’s defense.
“He’s like another coach on the field … He’s just so mature, so reliable. He’s a guy that I’m glad (we) have,” Robinson said.
In his four years at Syracuse, McDonald has gone from not knowing how to play linebacker to being among its defensive leaders. It’s not how he envisioned his college career would go at first, but he’s taken the chance and ran with it.
“He’s a guy that always does everything right,” SU head coach Fran Brown said of McDonald. “I’m very thankful and happy that he’s had this opportunity and that he’s made the best of the opportunity.”
tatum white has been a critical contributor for SU on the ice, but her off-ice work as a Team IMPACT fellow is making a lasting impact on children facing serious illnesses and disabilities.
jacob halsema staff photographer
Tatum White leaves a lasting legacy off the ice with Team IMPACT
By Jordan Kimball asst. digital editor
Tatum White has starred on the ice her entire life. Before committing to Syracuse, she won gold in the 2019 U18 National Championships and competed with Team Canada’s U18 team during its Summer Series. In 2022 as a sophomore at SU, she helped the Orange win the College Hockey America Tournament Championship. Now, as a graduate student, she’s serving as the program’s captain for the third season.
Though, it’s White’s work away from Tennity Ice Pavilion that has made an everlasting impact.
As a junior, she became involved with Team IMPACT, a nonprofit organization that allows student-athletes to connect with children facing serious illness and disability. The organization’s goal is to form long-term, life-changing experiences for all.
Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has active partnerships with 289 children across all 50 states, adding to its total of 3,300 since its establishment. Its match program gives college athletic programs a chance to have young kids, or “matches,” attend events with the team and build connections with the players and coaches.
“It has the support to allow (athletes) to grow in areas outside their athletic talents. When (White) said she was coming back for another year, we were like, ‘This is amazing,’” Alex Givens, Team IMPACT’s associate director of student athlete development, said. “(White) has experience and expertise to help these younger athletes grow into the role.”
White has always been a significant advocate for helping people, as she quickly joined the StudentAthlete Advisory Committee when arriving at SU.
During the beginning of White’s junior year, Team IMPACT held a field-day type event for the committee, when athletes could meet potential matches. White attended and fell in love with the organization’s prime objective.
“We just got to meet (the matches) and hang out, and it was a pretty cool event just to have them all there,” White said. “When coach Britni (Smith) came in, she was really interested in the Team IMPACT program as well. Our ultimate goal was to have a match for our team at some point.”
The process wasn’t always easy for the team, who went through numerous methods to receive a match. Matches must live close to their teams and have the abilities necessary to collaborate with the athletes.
“We’ve got kids who are very sensitive to temperatures, so if they get cold too quickly, we don’t want to put them with hockey. If they get hot too quickly, we don’t want to put them with soccer or softball,” Rebecca Carr, Team IMPACT’s senior case manager, said.
In September, SU ice hockey officially announced the addition of Emelia “Emmy” Phillips to its team. Phillips signed a “National Letter of Intent” and was a vital part of media day festivities. Across the Orange’s 10-year partnership with Team IMPACT, Phillips marked their 13th match.
Phillips, who is 5, was diagnosed with Spina bifida and CASK genetic disorder. Through her few months with the team, she has attended games and practices, participated in team events and built close ties with players, especially White.
“We roll Emmy around in her wheelchair out there, and just to have them involved, it’s super cool,” White said.
After a year of involvement with the organization, White decided to take on the role of a fellow. The position consists of not only being there for the matches of a specific team but for the matches of all Syracuse programs.
see white page 14
By Aiden Stepansky asst. sports editor
Four days ago, Syracuse dominated in its first exhibition matchup. On Oct. 26, the Orange matched up with Clarion and showcased a new-look roster. In SU’s 101-73 exhibition victory, junior J.J. Starling led the way with 17 points while freshman phenom Donnie Freeman posted an impressive 16-point, seven-rebound performance. Among newcomers from the transfer portal, point guard Jaquan Carlos totaled 14 points and 10 assists in 31 minutes. Though, postgame, second-year head coach Adrian Autry made it clear the
lineup would be toyed with in its second and final exhibition. Wednesday evening against Slippery Rock, SU used a different group. In the final tune-up before Syracuse’s first game against Le Moyne on Nov. 4, the Orange overcame a sluggish start to dominate the final 30 minutes of play. SU finished the first half on a 30-8 run while junior Chris Bell led the way with 17 points, going 6-of-9 from the field.
Here are some observations from Syracuse’s 96-51 exhibition win over Slippery Rock:
The Donnie show
“He’s really aggressive, which we need him to do,” Starling said of Freeman. “But at the end of the day, he’s guarding the ball, too, and that’s also what we need him to do.”
“Our offense is a little bit ahead of our defense right now,” Autry said postgame. “But I think everything that we’ve done in these two games, I think that’ll translate.”
Much anticipation around SU’s 202425 basketball season revolves around Freeman. The highly-touted recruit didn’t start SU’s first exhibition but entered less than three minutes in, making a quick impact. Freeman notched his first start with the Orange Wednesday and played 15 minutes. The freshman, much like his first game, pulled up from mid-range with no hesitation, sinking a contested shot to get on the board.
With Eddie Lampkin Jr. starting on the bench, SU attempted to put Freeman’s back to the basket and feed him inside. But on the first attempt, he was outmuscled inside, turning the ball over and leading to a transition opportunity for Slippery Rock. He also entered foul trouble early and was called for two in the first seven minutes before exiting.
After subbing back in for the final push of the first half, Freeman maneuvered inside and received a slip
pass from Lucas Taylor, laying it up for a score. Even when he got to the charity stripe, he was efficient, starting 6-for-6. The freshman added a free throw in the second half and exited for the final 16 minutes, finishing his first start with 11 points and three rebounds. Strong 3-point shooting
The Orange were just 12-of-34 (35%) from beyond the arc in their first exhibition. Starling and Bell combined for seven, leading the way for SU. SU made deep shots early and often Wednesday, too.
Bell found nothing but net in the first six minutes before being men’s basketball
see observations page 14