“Politics
C
Awkward
TRUMP WINS
Several SU students described feeling disbelief after Trump’s early Wednesday morning victory
By Daily Orange News Staff
As a Pennsylvania native, Syracuse University junior Teagan Rowland closely followed the 2024 United States presidential election with a sense of anxiety Tuesday night, knowing that her state could decide the winner.
After hours of watching YouTube live streams and refreshing her social media feeds, Rowland decided to go to sleep, anticipating that the winner of the presidency wouldn’t be announced until at least late Wednesday. But she woke up to the news that former President
Donald Trump had beat Vice President Kamala Harris and won the race.
When Trump defeated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, hundreds gathered outside of Hendricks Chapel the next day for a “Syracuse University Stands Against Hate” vigil. When President Joe Biden unseated Trump in 2020, students living in the University Neighborhood blasted music and honked their car horns in celebration of the decision.
After Trump’s early Wednesday morning victory, several SU students told The Daily Orange the campus felt quiet, with many shocked by the results.
“I feel really sad and really disappointed,” Rowland said. “We just had class, and everybody was just silent … it’s just a very dreary atmosphere on campus.”
Students described feeling disbelief as Trump gained more Electoral College wins throughout election night, claiming battleground state after battleground state. Initially neck-and-neck in the pre-election polls, many outlets projected the race for president to be close, though most didn’t predict a winner.
Sam Bevans, a freshman majoring in history, said that though he doesn’t identify as a Republican, he attended an election night
Democrat John Mannion flips NY-22 House seat
By Stephanie Wright
ored and grateful to represent NY-22 in Congress.
“It is clear, now more than ever, that the people of NY-22 want unity in a time of division, and want a representative who will fight for a woman’s right to choose, protect Social Security and Medicare, improve our schools, and lower
donald trump was declared the winner of the 2024 United States presidential election at 5:34 a.m. Wednesday. SU students described feelings of surprise, sadness and disappointment at the results. moriah ratner daily orange file photo
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INSIDE
The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.
NEWS
“I genuinely hoped that people would view her as electable even though a lot of this country thinks or looks down on Black people and women, specifically Black women.” - Samantha Wilson, SU architecture student Page 1
CULTURE
“It was fun making these really awkward creatures you can wear on a shirt because I think that’s less stereotypical than other things you’ll be wearing.” - Holly Anderson, Awkward Fish creator Page 6
OPINION
“Young people today are navigating a political landscape that feels unrecognizable from what they were promised—a society where their voices matter and progress aligns with their values.” - Dennis DiSantis, columnist Page 11
SPORTS
“We had to step out of our comfort zone as coaches, to put our guys in the best situation.” - Elijah Robinson, SU defensive coordinator Page 16
COMING UP
WHAT: Native Social
WHEN: Friday, 5 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Skybarn
WHAT: Celebrating Gordon Parks
WHEN: Saturday, 12 - 5 p.m.
WHERE: SU Art Museum Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: Westcott Words & Music
WHEN: Saturday, 2:30 -5 p.m
WHERE: Petit Branch Library
Trump beats Harris for presidency, elected to 2nd term
By Juia Boehning and Duncan Green the daily orange
Former President Donald Trump has won the 2024 United States general election, the Associated Press declared at 5:34 a.m. Wednesday. After winning 10 electoral votes from the state of Wisconsin, he received 277 electoral votes — more than the 270 needed to win — beating Vice President Kamala Harris.
The AP called Trump’s victory after declaring him the winner of many of the seven battleground states — including Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The former president had a lead ahead of Harris throughout election night.
In Onondaga County, Harris beat Trump by around 16 percentage points, winning 57.5% of the vote. Trump received around 41% of the votes, according to unofficial data from the Onondaga County Board of Elections. As of 3 a.m. Wednesday, Onondaga County reported 100% of early voting and Election Day votes.
The AP also declared Harris the winner of New York state’s 28 electoral votes at 9 p.m. Tuesday — just as polls closed — with around 16% of the vote counted.
Republicans also claimed the party majority in the U.S. Senate, the AP announced at around 12:20 a.m. Wednesday.
Trump, who defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, lost to President Joe Biden in 2020. The Republican announced his 2024 presidential bid shortly after the 2022 midterms.
He is the first convicted felon to be elected president and continues to face legal issues, including 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and multiple federal cases related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and alleged election interference. He has also been named in a number of civil cases and has been found liable of sexual abuse.
Before any major news sources projected his victory, Trump took the stage at the Palm Beach Convention Center just after 2:30 a.m. to claim victory.
During his speech, the president-elect thanked his campaign and supporters. He also said the result was an “unprecedented and powerful mandate” for the MAGA cause, as Republicans took control of the Senate. As of Wednesday
on-campus
night, the race for control of the House of Representatives remains a toss up.
Trump said his team had “achieved the most incredible political thing,” and called his campaign “the greatest political movement of all time.”
The former president spoke for approximately 25 minutes, in which he also promised to deliver on immigration and economic policies he’s advertised since the earliest days of the campaign. He also thanked many in his inner circle, including entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former UFC fighter Dana White and his running mate, J.D. Vance.
Trump said Vance “turned out to be a good choice.” The vice president-elect received backlash from many within his party throughout the campaign. Trump and Vance have a complex history, as the Ohio senator once compared his future running mate to Adolf Hitler.
Harris spent nearly two decades as a prosecutor and as California’s Attorney General before joining the U.S. Senate in 2016. The vice president entered the 2024 presidential election after Biden announced his decision to drop out of the race on July 21.
At Howard University, Harris’ alma mater, the vice president took to the podium on Wednesday
afternoon, where she thanked her family, staff and supporters for their work over the course of the campaign. Harris said she had spoken with the president-elect and congratulated him on his victory, demonstrating a return to democratic cooperation that Trump didn’t initially reciprocate in 2020.
The president-elect has still not officially acknowledged Biden’s victory four years ago.
During her short concession, Harris told supporters that their fight was not over, and that her dedication to the pursuit of a better future would not waver. Biden and Harris will continue to serve until Trump’s inauguration in January. news@dailyorage.com
Honors course on 2024 election draws intergenerational students
By Kate Jackson asst. news editor
As a senior citizen and self-described “political junkie,” Phyllis LaVine said she jumped at the opportunity to take Syracuse University’s “Politics of the 2024 Election” honors course offered this fall.
LaVine has taken Professor Margaret Susan Thompson’s class — an intergenerational course offered every two years — since 2016. The course always centers around politics, but its focus varies depending on the country’s current events and ongoing elections.
Thompson’s 2016 class focused on Donald Trump’s first presidential run and his victory over Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Almost a decade later, the class still focuses on the many facets of presidential elections — including candidate campaigns, polling statistics and how to assess political media and news.
“I enjoy the class because I always loved learning and going to school and being educated, and I love the opportunity to be in a classroom again,” LaVine said.
Thompson said that when she started the course in 2008, social media was still very new, so her class emphasized the concept of “false news” and methods of identifying it. LaVine said that while she has always been heavily involved in politics, she extensively learned about finding reliable news sources in the class.
The class is available for 20 students from SU’s Renée Crown University Honors Program and 10 senior citizens from the Oasis Institute — a nonprofit organization which provides a variety of classes to seniors. Oasis offers members, like LaVine, a wide range of opportunities to engage in their community, from university courses, to language workshops, exercise groups and more.
Eric Rogers, another Oasis member, said he has taken Thompson’s course since 2010. He said that he continues to sign up because it encourag-
es cross-generational discussions and integrated coursework, which is not a common opportunity for someone his age.
“I’m really impressed by the students, by their knowledge, by their ability to express themselves,” Rogers said.
The students and Oasis members are split into groups early in the semester to analyze the political dynamics and polling predictions of a particular state, assigned by Thompson. This provides an opportunity for Oasis and SU students to collaborate, bringing different backgrounds and experiences together, Rogers said.
At the beginning of every class, Thompson encourages Oasis and SU students to alternate seats to encourage further discussion and engagement with each other, LaVine said.
Thompson said she always aims to lead a productive dialogue in her classes and has had no issues thus far.
“We could go on for another half hour in almost every class. I mean, really, it’s very lively,” Thompson said. “We even have a system for if you’ve got an urgent thing to say as an immediate response to somebody — how you raise your hand is different.”
Cassidy Snyder, a senior studying history and political philosophy, said that hearing perspectives from other generations has benefited her learning. She said the opportunity for crossgenerational dialogue was one of the reasons she took the course.
“I’m a history major, but there’s only so much I can learn through reading books,” Snyder said. “It’s always such a treat, such a treasure, to be able to actually hear from people who went through it, to be able to hear personal stories.”
Snyder said one thing Thompson stresses throughout her class is the importance of “calm and educated conversations,” urging students to remain respectful regardless of diverging viewpoints.
Along with weekly discussions on relevant topics in the news — such as state polling predictions, candidate campaigns, advertisements
and election updates — Thompson often invites political experts to speak during class. In September, Gloria Weissman — a Democratic delegate from North Carolina — spoke to the class virtually about the relevance of swing states. New York State Sen. Rachel May also visited the class in October.
Every Tuesday, the SU students write reflections on current political events, along with contributing to discussion threads and email chains. Rogers said he enjoys reading and discussing these reflections every week and admires hearing the students’ interest.
In one discussion, LaVine recalled being asked by an SU student what events shaped her political thought and political leaning as a teen-
ager. She said she thought back to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975. LaVine said she enjoys giving young students her own first-person point-of-view of those events.
Thompson said that, through individual state analysis leading up to the election, her class analyzed and discussed the possible different outcomes of the election.
“One of the things I told the students at the beginning of the semester, and we found out repeatedly, is be prepared to kind of shift gears at any given moment, expect the unexpected, and that’s sort of been our mantra,” Thompson said.
kjacks19@syr.edu
The Associated Press called Trump’s victory after declaring him the winner of many of the seven battleground states, including Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. daily orange file photo
The “Politics of the 2024 Election” class teaches undergrad and local students about the elements of presidential elections. solange jain asst. photo editor
Mannion speaks on NY-22 victory, Trump’s 2nd term
By Julia Boehning news editor
Congressman-elect John Mannion addressed the public Wednesday morning following his victory over Republican incumbent Brandon Williams. Mannion pledged to act as a check on presidential power for central New Yorkers.
With Mannion’s win, Democrats flipped New York’s 22nd Congressional District, securing another seat as they work to earn the majority in the United States House of Representatives. Before the election, Democrats labeled NY-22 as one of its most flippable seats.
Mannion said he hopes to see President-elect Donald Trump succeed in his second term in office, though he remains wary of the incoming commander-in-chief’s policies.
“As an American, I want any president of this country to succeed because of our collective love of this country,” Mannion said. “I will be a check on the president’s worst policy ideas and any authoritarian tendencies, and I will seek balance and compromise on those areas where there can be agreement.”
Despite several local Democratic victories, Republicans won back the White House and took control of the U.S. Senate. As of midnight Wednesday, the Associated Press still hasn’t determined which party will have a majority in the House.
Mannion said a Democratic-majority in the House would provide a “good check” on the power of Trump and the Republican-controlled Senate, as well as the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.
The congressman-elect noted many of his constituents are concerned about Trump’s positions, particularly his past attempts to weaken labor unions, his unclear position on the RussiaUkraine war and recent criticism of the federal CHIPS and Science Act — which facilitated Micron Technology’s initial $100 billion investment into central New York.
Less than two weeks before Election Day, Trump called CHIPS legislation “so bad” in an Oct. 25 interview with podcaster Joe Rogan. A CitrusTV reporter later asked Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson if his party planned to repeal the CHIPS Act, to which he responded they “probably will” — a statement Johnson later retracted.
In the state senate, Mannion supported the national bipartisan CHIPS legislation and cosponsored New York’s Green CHIPS Program, a statewide tax incentive for environmentallyfriendly semiconductor manufacturing. Mannion said protecting CHIPS became an even more sig-
nificant priority in the last week of his campaign, following Trump’s and Johnson’s remarks.
“I hope that the president was just in the midst of a campaign and making statements to try to sway voters, because we cannot go back. (CHIPS) is too important. Too many people have invested too much,” Mannion said.
He also said he plans to support all the people in his district — which encompasses Onondaga County, Madison County and portions of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida County — including those who voted for Trump. He said he chose not to attend the Onondaga County Democratic Committee’s Election Night Watch Party so he could interact with constituents of all counties in NY-22 at a separate, bipartisan event.
During his victory speech at the event, Mannion paused to take a concession call from Williams after the AP announced his win, syracuse. com reported Tuesday night. Mannion said Williams was “gracious” during the phone call and offered his support while the Congressman-elect begins his transition into the seat.
Mannion wrapped up his remarks by addressing the prospects of Trump’s upcoming second term. Throughout the conference, Mannion urged lawmakers from all parties to “push back” against legislation that doesn’t serve their districts, regardless of partisan pressures. He also called on others to reject “toxic politics,” referring to ads aired against him during his campaign.
“I hope that the president and leadership in the Senate and the House, regardless of party, do the right thing. And when they see bad policy or they see toxic rhetoric, they stand up and oppose it regardless of party,” Mannion said.
As of Wednesday night, 45 House races remain uncalled, according to The New York Times. Before Election Day, Republicans held a 222-212 seat lead in the House, meaning Democrats would need to pick up 4 seats to take control.
jmboehni@syr.edu @juliaboehning
Hochul introduces initiative to protect New Yorkers’ rights
By Zaara Malik asst. digital editor
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James reassured that they plan to protect New Yorkers’ rights amid potential “threats” posed by former President Donald Trump’s impending second term, they said in a Wednesday afternoon press briefing.
Hochul and James introduced the Empire State Freedom Initiative, a task force focused on areas susceptible to changes from the Trump administration. Some of these areas include civil rights, environmental justice, gun safety, immigration, labor rights, LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive rights, Hochul said.
“While we honor the results of this election, and we’ll work with anyone who wants to be a partner in achieving the goals of our administration and our state, that does not mean we’ll accept an agenda from Washington that strips away the rights that New Yorkers have long enjoyed,” Hochul said.
Beginning her address, Hochul congratulated Trump on his win and offered support for those elected to Congress — including incumbent New York Sen. Kristen Gillibrand.
Previously, Hochul shared her view on New Yorkers who decide to vote Republican in the state’s congressional races. She stated those voting Republican will be supporting an “anti-woman” and “anti-American” candidate.
Hochul then highlighted the voters’ support of Proposal Number 1, which passed with 61.8% of the vote Tuesday. The proposal amends the state constitution to protect additional identity groups from discrimination — adding protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, pregnancy and reproductive healthcare, among others.
She said that, with Proposal 1, the state can further protect reproductive rights from any
potential federal actions that may restrict access to IVF, contraception or abortion medication.
“My office has been preparing for a potential second Trump administration, and I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards,”
James said.
The Freedom Initiative is working with New York’s congressional delegates and current President Joe Biden’s administration to monitor federal legislations and their potential impacts on state law, Hochul said.
I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards.
Leticia James attorney general
Hochul also highlighted the need for the Trump administration to continue to support state infrastructure projects, especially those funded by the CHIPS and Science Act and associated with Micron Technology.
Hochul also said the New York State Intelligence Center and Cyber Incident Response Team are both actively working to ensure there are no current threats of political violence or cyber incidents posed toward New Yorkers in light of the election results.
Hochul concluded her speech by reminding New Yorkers about the importance of moving forward and highlighting the state’s previous history of persevering in times of uncertainty. zamalik@syr.edu
john mannion addressed the public Wednesday morning following his victory over Republican incumbent Brandon Williams. lars jendruschewitz photo editor
hochul and Attorney General James held a press briefing Wednesday, announcing the Empire State Freedom Initiative. meghan hendricks senior staff photographer
Congressman-elect Mannion received 59% votes in Onondaga County 59%
on-campus
GSO addresses election results, approves funding requests
By Henry Daley asst. copy editor
Syracuse University’s Graduate Student Organization discussed the results of the United States 2024 general elections during its Wednesday evening meeting. GSO also filled one vacant internal senate position.
GSO President Daniel Kimmel addressed the room at the beginning of the meeting with a short speech about the outcome of the presidential race, of which Donald Trump was declared the winner as of early Wednesday morning.
“Make no mistake, the national stage affects the local stage we stand upon,” Kimmel said. “No matter what we must face in the months and years ahead, graduate students and those for whom we care about are never without a voice and are never without hate.”
Kimmel said the election results may pose “impending financial pressures” that would impact the standing of graduate students at SU. They ensured that they would continue to work with the organization to try and “build up the leaders of the future.”
After Kimmel’s speech, GSO conducted its elections. The organization did not fill any of its four open University Senate seats. GSO is permitted 11 total seats in USen, per USen bylaws. USen representatives attend monthly meetings with administrators, faculty and graduate representatives.
The organization filled one at-large senator vacancy, unanimously electing Agathe Bag-
watch party hosted by SU’s College Republicans chapter. During the party, Bevans said he watched CNN and Fox News along with MSNBC’s coverage of the race, and continued to refresh other news sites for results afterward back at his dorm.
Bevans said he was confident in Harris’ chances of winning the presidency since she became the Democratic nominee after Biden’s drop-out in July. On election night, he said he waited for the “red mirage” to disappear, but was surprised when it never did.
“I saw that (she) was not only losing the Electoral College but also the popular vote, I had to think, ‘Did I insulate myself too much? Did I not get enough sources from the other side? Was I too biased?’” he said.
Echoing Bevans, several other SU students across the political spectrum said they didn’t expect a Trump victory, especially by such a significant margin. Sonya Dunham, a freshman inclusive education major, and Chloe Fatuova, a junior majoring in television, radio and film, both said they were shocked by the results and the speed at which they came out.
Some students, like JJ Kravitz — a freshman in SU’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management — said they didn’t share this sense of disbelief.
Kravitz said that he wasn’t surprised by the election’s results and thought the candidates had an “equal chance” of winning — especially considering how close the polls were in the weeks leading up to Election Day. He said both candidates had pros and cons they brought to the table, so it was up to voters to decide what was most important.
Andrew Long, a freshman architecture student, shared Kravitz’s lack of surprise and highlighted issues in Harris’ campaign strategy.
costs for working families,” Mannion said in the release.
Mannion also delivered remarks on his win at a Wednesday morning press conference, where he said he is concerned about President-elect Donald Trump’s future policies. He said he hopes Trump has success in his second term but also that he aims to act as a check on presidential and Senate power during his time in office.
Born and raised in Syracuse, Mannion was previously a public school science teacher and president of West Genesee Teachers’ Association. He also chaired the New York State Senate’s Committee on Disability.
Mannion represented the 50th district of the state senate. Christopher Ryan, a Democrat, won the seat this election. He ran against Republican Nick Paro and won with nearly 54% of the vote, according to unofficial Onondaga County BOE results.
NY-22 includes the cities of Syracuse, Utica and Rome, in Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cayuga and Cortland counties. Onondaga County significantly led in votes for Mannion, according to NYT. Cortland County narrowly led for Mannion, while Madison led for Williams.
gieri for the position. Senators represent each graduate program at SU, and graduate students from any area of study can fill the at-large seats, according to GSO’s website.
Baggieri, who will represent the French department, said that her sister motivated her to get involved, as she is also a part of GSO.
“It’s a great opportunity, and I really wanted to be involved in the diversity, inclusion and equity community. Because as a woman I think that it’s very important to have a voice, especially in difficult times like this,” Baggieri said.
GSO passed a resolution to help support the Syracuse Graduate Student Employees United and its bargaining efforts at SUNY ESF, which will increase unionization for graduate students, GSO Vice President Roger Rosena said. The next meeting will be on Dec. 4.
“The resolution was designed to make visible the struggle that they are having in their own union negotiations to land an equitable contract in a timely manner,” Kimmel said. “They asked for our assistance to just raise that situation of visibility.”
After the elections, GSO approved $8,660 in funding for SUNY ESF’s Graduate Student Association to go towards its GSA day. The event aims to celebrate inclusivity among graduate students and foster community, Rosena said.
GSO approved $825 in funding for SU’s English Graduate Organization, which will be allocated toward efforts to increase membership. The Biotechnology Graduate Student Organiza-
“Democrat(s) strategy was more about attacking Trump, more about attacking Trump’s mannerisms and character as opposed to focusing on policy,” Long said. “I think it caused some voters to … lose sight of what the actual policy decisions were on each side.”
There’s a lot of tension, no matter who you voted for.
Chloe Fatuova su junior
I had to think, ‘Did I insulate myself too much? Did I not get enough sources from the other side? Was I too biased?’
Sam Bevans su freshman
Throughout Harris’ short campaign, she struggled to separate herself from Biden, whose approval rating tanked in the past year and a half. Her proximity to Biden proved to hurt the vice president in the polls. Harris also faced criticism for struggling to differentiate her policy goals from the current president.
Samantha Wilson, a third-year architecture student, said early demographic breakdowns
The New York State Independent Redistricting Committee approved a redrawn map of the district earlier this year. The redistricting cut portions of Oneida County from the district and added on portions of Cayuga and Cortland Counties, as well as the city of Auburn. The redrawing was expected to add tens of thousands of Democrats to the district.
In 2022, the IRC failed to approve proposed redistricting, leading Democratic state legislators to draw their own map before that year’s election. Democrats then filed a lawsuit to throw out the map after Republican candidates performed well in that election. The lawsuit claimed the prior map marginalized minority communities.
Williams accused Mannion of making a “backroom deal” to gain political favor with the new map, though Mannion called the claim “desperate” and said voting on new maps was part of his job as a state senator.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Mannion said Williams was gracious in his concession phone call to him and said he would support him in transitioning to the role. Mannion is set to take office when the 119th Congress begins on Jan. 3, 2025. spwright@syr.edu @stephaniwri_
tion requested $375 for similar reasons, which GSO also approved.
The Philosophy Graduate Student Organization’s request of $1,200 for its annual conference was approved. The majority of the funds will go to travel expenses for the conference’s commencement speaker — Claremont College professor Rima Basu.
also revealed places where the Harris-Walz ticket fell short. According to CNN, Trump performed better than Harris with almost all minority group populations. In 2020, Biden performed particularly well with Black and Latine voters.
I’m working to get over it, but I feel bad for the women in my life, my mom, my sisters as well.
Connor Bankoff su freshman
We just had class, and everybody was just silent … it’s just a very dreary atmosphere on campus.
Teagan Rowland su junior
Wilson said she voted for Harris in her home city of Detroit, Michigan, through an absentee ballot. As results came in, she said she was disappointed by the number of people who cast their ballots for third-party candidates or chose not to vote.
In Michigan, the AP reported that over 100,000 votes were cast for third-party candidates, predominantly Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Harris lost the state of Michigan by approximately
“I’m very pleased with the results of the funding requests,” Kimmel said. “We are really striving to develop mutual and reciprocal costsharing relationships with departments because we think it’s important that departments support their graduate students directly.”
hdaley@syr.edu
80,000 votes. Many members of Arab-American communities in Detroit suburbs voted for Stein due to Biden and Harris’ handling of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.
“In my political science class, we talk a lot about electability,” Wilson said. “I genuinely hoped that people would view her as electable even though a lot of this country thinks or looks down on Black people and women, specifically Black women.”
Connor Bankoff, a freshman broadcast and digital journalism major, said he appreciated being able to vote in the presidential election for the first time. This year, over 40 million members of Generation Z were eligible to vote, a roughly eight million voter increase from the 2022 midterms. Bankoff said despite his initial excitement, he was left feeling disappointed with the race’s result.
“I’m definitely a little bit frustrated,” Bankoff said. “I’m working to get over it, but I feel bad for the women in my life, my mom, my sisters as well.”
While Trump says he opposes a federal abortion ban, he has also previously taken credit for overturning the Roe v. Wade decision. Trump’s support for restrictions on abortion access has left many worried after his reelection.
Alexa, a graduate student who asked to only share her first name, described Trump’s re-election as a “huge loss” for women across the country, citing his previous sexist remarks and stance on reproductive healthcare.
Harris won 57.5% of the votes in Onondaga County, according to unofficial data from the Onondaga County Board of Elections.
“Post-election, I can tell that the community here, the environment is super somber, very quiet on campus,” Fatouva said. “There’s a lot of tension, no matter who you voted for.”
news@dailyorange.com
GSO discussed election results, approved funding requests and filled one vacant senate position during its Wednesday meeting. christian calabrese staff photographer
democrat john mannion won the seat for New York’s 22nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. laura lemgruber contributing photographer
CULTURE
Holly Anderson’s sustainable clothing brand Awkward Fish reinvents typical apparel with ‘oneof-one’ details
By Savannah Stewart asst. copy editor
While fishing in the Atlantic waters off the coast of her hometown in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Holly Anderson gathered batches of peculiar-looking fish among an assortment of other items. Intrigued by the sea creatures’ odd, unexpected appearances, she began drawing her aquatic findings.
Then, in 2022, during winter break in her freshman year at Syracuse University, she figured the fish images into felt designs. Some of these
motifs inspired the fish that now appear on some of the garments of her brand, Awkward Fish.
“I wanted them to feel awkward because I felt that encapsulated how a lot of people feel, but they’re too scared to admit it,” Anderson said. “It was fun making these really awkward creatures you can wear on a shirt because I think that’s less stereotypical than other things you’ll be wearing.”
Anderson is the founder and operator of Awkward Fish, a sustainable clothing company that repurposes high-quality, pre-loved pieces and encourages conscious consumption. Anderson’s handmade pieces each receive a printed design, ensuring unique qualities on every item. Wear
repurposed page 9
Aiden Media’s content sees Syracuse from new perspective
By Irene Lekakis asst. culture editor
When some people receive hate comments on their Instagram, they’re discouraged from posting. But when Aiden McGuire saw the negative comments about his beloved hometown of Syracuse on his Instagram page, he took it as a challenge. McGuire uses a drone camera to show the hidden beauty of central
New York, from gushing waterfalls to sunsets over the city skyline and fields of orange and red trees in the fall. Syracuse residents may spot his drone flying overhead in the sky as he gathers this footage. “I grew up in Syracuse, and every time I fly my drone, it’s almost like I am seeing it for the first time,” McGuire said. “I wanted to share that with people (and) social media was really the best way for me to do that.”
In 2019, McGuire started his aerial photography business with a small following of family and friends and a love for drone footage. As his passion grew, so did his fanbase. McGuire has a following of nearly 40,000 on Instagram. Along with promoting small businesses in Syracuse, McGuire uses his account to destigmatize ideas that the CNY area isn’t worth visiting. Along with people who are unfamiliar with CNY, many Syracuse Uni-
versity alumni haven’t been back to the city since their time at the university. McGuire said he wants to show that the city is worth revisiting. “Being able to share those things with people who haven’t been back, it’s always nice to give them a nod that ‘Hey, if you think you know Syracuse, think again,’” McGuire said. With his platform, McGuire showcases different angles and perspectives of Syracuse that many people
have never seen before. Some people even mistook Syracuse’s skyline views for New York City in McGuire’s comment section.
McGuire tells stories through his finished content, often accompanying his photography and videography with text or voiceovers. He keeps a pulse on current trends like viral hook videos to promote local businesses and keep followers engaged. He said
holly anderson combines creativity and sustainability in her clothing brand Awkward Fish.
calysta lee staff photographer
Syracuse Gooners are a built-in friend group
By Ben Butler asst. copy editor
The crimson doors of Wolff’s Biergarten stand tall on Syracuse’s Montgomery Street, and inside the bar, crowds wearing red cheer while they watch Premier League soccer over the bar counter. With the room’s brimming energy, you wouldn’t be crazy to think you’re in a soccer hub like England, Spain or Germany. It’s this passion that defines life for many Syracuse Gooners.
“We base the happiness of our week, the joy and happiness of our lives, around this club,” Austin Smith, the president of Syracuse Gooners, said. “You can argue whether that’s insanity or not.”
Arsenal — one of the Premier League’s marquee clubs — has a dedicated fan base in Syracuse called the Syracuse Gooners. Arsenal has been in the top division of English football since 1919 and has been consistently successful since then. After a weak season in 2021, where the club failed to qualify for European competition for the first time in 25 years, the club has fired back to success and the Syracuse Gooners with them.
“It also helped that Arsenal had a great couple of years,” Smith said. “That meant there was a ton of energy, and you have people like me who are new leadership wanting to engage a bunch of new Arsenal fans who are coming out.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they met at a bar called J. Ryan’s, which closed in 2018. The pandemic “threw a wrench” in the club’s attendance, but once things reopened, the club started to grow again. Now, the dedicated group meets to watch every Arsenal game at Wolff’s Biergarten.
J. Ryan’s was managed by an Arsenal fan and attended exclusively by Arsenal fans. At Wolff’s, fans of other clubs can watch their respective games, even when they’re pitted against Arsenal. It’s not a large venue, so rivals tend to be clustered side-by-side at watch parties.
“It’s a place for everyone,” Smith said. “It’s more fun when everybody’s kind of grouped together like that. It gets real tight in there and real intense.”
The banter between opposing fan bases is common at any soccer game, and it’s not any different at Wolff’s. Jessica Petitto, an Arsenal fan and Syracuse University College of Law librarian, often participates in it.
“I never start it, but I never back down from it either,” Petitto said. “You dish it out, you take it — it’s all cyclical.”
Though the teams are fierce rivals, and usually atop the league table, Liverpool and Arsenal fans were cordial toward each other on the Oct. 27 game. Banter was notable at critical junctures, with Liverpool fans hollering at Arsenal fans after Mohamed Salah’s game-tying 81 minute goal. But at the end of the game, fans from both teams embraced each other on the way out.
Phoebus Lazaridis, a Liverpool fan, watched the Liverpool-Arsenal match at Wolff’s and comes down from Watertown, New York, as often as he can. Lazaridis, who lived in Greece
for 12 years, became a Liverpool fan because of the Pink Floyd song “Fearless,” which features Liverpool fans chanting their signature song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The song impressed him, even though the members of Pink Floyd are Arsenal fans.
Though he has other Liverpool fans in central New York to watch games with, setting up a group to rival the Syracuse Gooners would be daunting. Life gets in the way, and it’s hard for Lazaridis to find other people committed enough to organize a club.
Another commuter, and an Arsenal fan, Zach Nelson, traveled from Lowell, Massachusetts, to watch the Liverpool-Arsenal match at Wolff’s. Nelson’s brother and girlfriend are Arsenal fans in Syracuse, and though there are soccer bars in Boston, Nelson said he prefers the atmosphere in Wolff’s.
In Boston, fans of rival teams aren’t welcome at Arsenal bars. But for Nelson, Wolff’s Biergaten’s friendly ambiance is part of its charm.
“Here, anyone can come in and have a group of people that enjoy the sport, and no one is getting upset with someone else for supporting a rival club,” Nelson said.
The Syracuse Gooners are a diverse bunch, Smith said. Fans hail from Ireland, various African countries and across the U.S. Smith, who is from San Francisco, said the group embodies what he saw traveling with his wife across Europe.
“Every city that you go to, there’s an Arsenal group if you need a built-in friend group or a place to go on a Saturday to socialize,” Smith said. “Find that group, and then you’re embedded in the Arsenal culture.”
Nelson traveled with his brother to Europe last year and saw several major matches, including Arsenal and Manchester City’s match on March 31. At City’s stadium, the two teams drew without scoring as the teams raced for the Premier League title, which Arsenal lost to City the last two cities.
The fan culture Nelson saw in Europe was markedly different and more egalitarian than the fan culture in the National Football League. The Premier League focuses on true fans rather than celebrities and wealthy fans, Nelson said, as tickets in English football are reasonably priced.
A challenge to watching Premier League soccer in the U.S. is the difference in time zone; Premier League games are played in the afternoon, but the British afternoon is the American morning. Still, Smith said the enthusiasm of the Gooners is present at the 7:30 a.m. games and the 12:30 p.m. games alike.
“If you’re here at 7:30 in the morning, you share that kind of passion and bond already,” Smith said. “You want to drink beer at 9 in the morning, like all these other weirdos, this is the place for you.” bnbutler@syr.edu
CONCERTS THIS WEEKEND
Cliffside Push: A Phish Experience
Hailing from Connecticut, Cliffside Push is the first-ever Phish Experience Band. They are performing at Funk ‘n Waffles this weekend. The four-piece band is a tribute to the rock band Phish. Phish is best known for its songs “Farmhouse” and “Sample in a Jar.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and attendees must be 18+ to enter. Tickets can be bought online.
WHEN : Thursday at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Funk ‘n Waffles PRICE: $18.22
Syracuse University Jazz Ensembles
Join two Syracuse University Jazz Ensembles Friday in the Shaffer Art Building Shemin Auditorium on Friday. The Jazz Combo will perform at 5:30 p.m. and the Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble will take the stage at 7 p.m. Jazz Combo is an introductory jazz ensemble. Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble is a group for music and non-music majors, conducted by Director of Jazz Studies John Coggiola.
WHEN : Friday 5:30 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Shemin Auditorium in Shaffer Art Building PRICE: Free
The Kennedys
Rock duo The Kennedys will perform at The 443 Social Club & Lounge this Friday at 7 p.m. The married songwriters are touring upstate New York this week, visiting Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse. Pete and Maura Kennedy write and sing about change in America. They both are multi-instrumentalists, playing acoustic and electric guitars along with piano and organs.
WHEN : Friday at 7 p.m
WHERE: The 443 Social Club & Lounge PRICE: $23.11 plus $15 food and drink minimum per seat
Jessie Murph is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter performing at the Landmark Theatre this weekend. Murph released her album, “That Ain’t No Man That’s The Devil,” on Sept. 6, and is on tour for the rest of the month. Her song “Wild Ones” features artist Jelly Roll and has over 200 million streams on Spotify. Few tickets are still available but can be bought online.
WHEN : Saturday at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Landmark Theatre PRICE: $47+
Jessie Murph
simon biro watches the Arsenal F.C. game Saturday with new friends. That morning was Biro’s second time at a Syracuse Gooners watch party. The group meets at Wolff’s Biergarten for every game. cassie roshu digital managing editor
New series ‘Agatha All Along’ adds much-needed magic to MCU
By Nate Lechner senior staff writer
On Feb. 24, 2021, Kathryn Hahn found herself in an unlikely position: featured No. 1 on the iTunes soundtrack chart with “Agatha All Along.” Hahn’s song in “WandaVision,” a Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ series, as her character, Agatha Harkness, reveals her villainous intentions.
The song, paired with Hahn’s charismatic and mischievous performance as Harkness, helped the relatively obscure character gain a new level of popularity among MCU fans. Her fate at the end of “WandaVision” left fans excited about her potential future in the universe.
Taking on the same name as the song “Agatha All Along,” the sequel to “WandaVision” premiered on Sept. 18. Hahn’s performance alongside a host of tremendous supporting actors brings energy to the show and makes it stand out among MCU television.
The show is set three years after the conclusion of “WandaVision,” with Harkness stuck in the spell Wanda Maximoff cast on her. Following Maximoff’s supposed death at the end of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” the spell breaks and Harkness can regain her power as a witch.
As she casts off the spell, Hahn transforms from a confused small-town woman to a witch with an evil twinkle in her eye. Her tone and energy change instantly, becoming more boisterous as the scene goes on.
She then meets Teen (Joe Locke), a mysterious character who knows everything about who Harkness was before Maximoff put a spell on her. Teen tells Harkness that he is seeking the “Witches Road,” a mythical place that grants witches anything they want. For Harkness, the end of the road could restore her full power.
To access the road, Harkness and Teen need to form a coven of witches, which they do with Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone) and Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn).
Each coven member shows concern about working with Harkness, who has a reputation among witches for being selfish and ruthless in her quest for power. But, the promise of the road’s end is too much to pass up.
The writing for the nine-episode series gives each coven member a test to highlight their
knowledge as witches. Along the way, we learn about the traumas each character carries.
The chemistry between the actresses gives depth and an emotional arc throughout the season. Kale, Calderu and Wu-Gulliver have all had their magic suppressed because of their pasts, and they must work together to reach the end of the road and regain their power.
LuPone and Zamata give especially incredible supporting performances, from witches reluctant to go on the road and work with Harkness, to fully embracing their journey and working together to make it to the end. Unfortunately, the entire coven can’t reach the end of the road, and Calderu and Wu-Gulliver sacrifice themselves to help Harkness, Teen and Kale move forward.
One character who remains a mystery throughout most of the show is Teen. Locke plays him as a mostly innocent kid interested in witch-
craft but doesn’t know what he is getting into. As the story progresses, it becomes clear there’s more to Teen than meets the eye.
The series’ pivotal moment comes in episode five, “Darkest Hour / Wake Thy Power,” when Teen reveals his identity as Billy Maximoff, or Wiccan, Wanda’s son who disappears after the events of “WandaVision.” Billy’s consciousness is transferred into the body of 13-year-old William Kaplan, giving the former a new lease on life. He’s on the ‘Witches Road’ to find his brother Tommy.
The reveal of Teen as Billy adds an emotional layer to the show. The other coven members are trying to reach the end of the road to obtain power, while Billy just wants to see his brother again. Locke’s performance goes from an affable, curious sidekick to a determined, focused hero who’ll do whatever it takes to find Tommy.
Billy’s journey comes to a head in the series’ penultimate episode, “Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End,” when he has a chance to locate Tommy. Agatha pushes Billy to use his magic to find a body for Tommy’s consciousness, but Billy is hesitant to sacrifice an innocent life to help his brother.
“Agatha, am I killing this boy so my brother can live?” Billy asks. The breaks in Locke’s voice as he delivers the line demonstrates Billy’s internal conflict that Harkness is incapable of feeling.
Not only is this moment the most moving part of the series, but it’s also a great representation of what “Agatha All Along” accomplishes. Before the release, there were concerns that Harkness and the group of characters wouldn’t resonate with fans. But, the lack of prior knowledge and experience with the characters of “Agatha All Along” made the show more enjoyable and one of the most grounded MCU shows.
Since the release of “WandaVision” in January 2021, nine shows have premiered on Disney+ under the MCU umbrella. Outside of moments in “Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Loki” and “Hawkeye,” the products have been underwhelming compared to the heights the MCU has reached in its previous movies.
The shows have struggled to tell compelling stories and often spend more time on bloated, CGI-filled fight scenes than character development. “Agatha All Along” perfectly balances Hahn’s humor and absurdity with Locke, LuPone and Zamata’s more emotional and dramatic moments.
Each coven member confronts something about their past and finds the strength to use their powers for good. “Agatha All Along” has an emotional weight largely non-existent in recent MCU projects.
It’s unclear where we will see Harkness and Billy again in the MCU or if the events of “Agatha All Along” will affect Marvel storytelling going forward; yet, that may be for the best. The series felt different and succeeded because of how singular and disconnected it felt. The stakes were high for the characters involved, but not for the entire universe, which is refreshing in an MCU story.
If you ask, “Who would help bring a new type of storytelling to the MCU?”
Turns out, “It was Agatha all along!” nrlechne@syr.edu
Our humor columnist’s review of this year’s Halloweekend
By Sarah Wells humor columnist
It’s been a spooky week, not just because of the election, but also because this past weekend marked Halloween here at Syracuse, or as some call it, Halloweekend.
If I had to pick a favorite time of year at school, it would most definitely be Halloweekend. I mean, where else are you going to see a girl dressed as sexy Vector from “Despicable Me,” complete with a bowl cut, glasses and an orange bodysuit with butt cheek cutouts. I also heard rumblings of a man wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume while running on the treadmill at the Barnes Center at The Arch.
Extinct species need exercise, too, apparently. However, the image of a T-Rex trying to weight lift with tiny little arms does make me kick my feet and giggle.
With Halloween on Thursday this year, we had two weekends of celebrating in a row. Naturally, I invested far too much in a Mrs. Incredible costume from Party City and hit the streets. I’m sure you’re asking: “Sarah? Why the Mrs. Incredible costume?” Well, dear reader, this past weekend, I was very strongly manifesting a future as a hot mom with a great butt. I must say, it looks very promising.
One thing about me is that I don’t go out much. It’s not that I don’t have friends or dislike having fun (why? Does it seem like I have no friends and hate fun?). But more than ever since turning 20, I’m not as spritely as I used to be at 18. My back hurts. My stomach hurts. My hair looks weird. I’m tired. I don’t like to wear crop tops anymore, and I’m pretty sure crop tops are the dress code for Halloweekend.
So … let’s just say I was dusting off my old party boots. I squeezed myself into my Incredibles suit (no capes, of course), drank a glass of water to prevent muscle cramps after walking marathon-level distances to the next house party and snapped on my mask. If Mrs. Incredible had a catchphrase, I would shout it from the rooftops.
What would Mrs. Incredible’s catchphrase be, by the way? “Let’s get stretchy?” This is a
thinker that even an Academy Award-winning screenwriter couldn’t crack.
If you’re like me, then the pregame is the most exhilarating part of the night. At this point, everyone is still excited to go out and dance or maybe even meet someone. It’s very different from the end of the night when everyone is upset for some reason or another. Maybe someone stepped on their foot. Maybe they saw their Tinder hookup with his girlfriend. Maybe someone spilled a beer on their Spiderman costume. It’s always something. Anyway, the pregame was quite frightening, I have to say. Outside of the house, the owners
had one of those Spirit Halloween decorations. You know, the ones that jump at you? I had to spend the pregame outside because I was too scared to pass the clown that made the “BWAHeheheheheh!” noise. I’ve seen “It.” I’m not taking any chances.
After an hour, we went to the party. In the least “Señorita Awesome” way possible (A very online reference that I apologize for), I always want to bring a book with me to the party, just in case I get bored. When most parties run out of chips, that’s when I end up wanting to leave. A good book adds
about an extra 30 minutes to my battery life. Unfortunately, my friends did not let me and Sally Rooney was left at home. So, you can’t blame me for wanting to leave in the first 10 minutes.
Overall, the weekend was a lot of fun (or, at least it was when I snuck out and ate McDonald’s on my roof in my sweat-stained Incredibles suit). Even though the spookiness has continued after these election results, I can’t wait to start planning for next Halloweekend at Syracuse. sswells@syr.edu
madison denis contributing illustrator
emma lee contributing illustrator
ers of the “one-of-one” garments continually reinvent each piece that carries its own story, according to the Awkward Fish website.
With both her parents working in business, Anderson said she rarely saw art in her home. Yet she found joy in exploring tactile activities during her alone time, like disassembling the toaster and putting it back together which Anderson said her mother wasn’t a fan of. So her mother purchased a $50 box of old art supplies and established an area in their basement for Anderson’s artistic endeavors.
As Anderson grew up, her love of visual art extended to fashion. Her parents usually didn’t buy her clothes new. Instead, she wore handme-downs from her brother, but was sometimes bullied for dressing like a boy.
She began sewing in her freshman year of high school to recreate styles from brands like Brandy Melville, PacSun and Urban Outfitters. Longing for acceptance, Anderson learned to make her own designs and picked up thrifting.
Through trial and error, Anderson found fun by immersing into the design process, often driven by nostalgia for various fashion eras.
“I’ve really loved vintage stuff. I love ‘70s stuff,” Anderson said. “It’s just different fads of things. Definitely a lot of vintage and retroinspired stuff.”
In her shared Comstock Art Facility studio, Anderson carefully pinches the yokes of a newly screenprinted garment. Navigating a swivel chair and an assortment of collected items, she carries the piece from desk to poster board, situating it to dry among previous designs. A canvas painting of old Hollywood actors adorns the studio’s wall and desks are lined with clusters of inspirational pieces. With unwavering focus, it’s in this space Anderson fosters her brand.
For new garment lines, Anderson thrifts “blanks,” pieces without designs on the front. Anderson said she used to feel guilty thrifting because she thought she was purchasing highquality clothes from people who might’ve also wanted them. But so many clothing items are thrown away that if she doesn’t buy them, it’s possible no one else will.
“It’s awesome when I can find a shirt I can fix up or there’s a stain I can cover with a screenprint and someone can actually wear it instead of it being thrown out,” Anderson said. Anderson uses screenprinting to place designs on blanks. She’s inspired by vintage horror movies, with her favorite design reading “Return of the Awkward Fish.” For one kind of printing, she uses a technique that burns images onto a screen.
The process begins by burning a black and white transparent stencil sheet onto a single screen. From there, the design remaining on the screen will be transferred with ink to the clothing. Another type of printing style is done by carving the design into the clothes.
humor is always a good way to connect with his followers and he can tell if they like what he’s putting out based on the engagement.
With the price of groceries increasing, McGuire has posted several meme videos addressing inflation at Wegmans.
“We like to shine a spotlight on all of the great things in our region, but also some of the things that are maybe a little bit more absurd or funny,” McGuire said.
For many viewers, his drone operation is a real point of intrigue, McGuire said. On his Instagram, McGuire has a chat titled “Come Fly With Me,” where he takes followers behind the scenes of flying the drone. His process consists of setting up different lenses on the drone, getting approval to fly, clearing
Starting Awkward Fish goes beyond designing for Anderson. It’s also a way of networking. She hopes to one day become a set designer, so a large part of her practice includes directing, conducting photoshoots and making movie props.
“I’m into advertising and how clothing and sets can go hand in hand when you’re doing a whole photo shoot,” Anderson said. “Clothing is actually a smaller part of my brand, and I like to focus more on visual engagement.”
The Awkward Fish Instagram page features themed photoshoots based on oddity and unapologetic expression. Anderson designs each shoot’s aspects, from curating a mood board to creating backgrounds. She then teams up with her film major roommate, Anna Scholl, and a couple other friends who assist in gathering equipment, shooting and posing.
Scholl said she’s worked on about four Awkward Fish projects since meeting Anderson through mutual friends in their second semester of freshman year. Scholl recalled observing Anderson decorate pants with “silly fish.” Since then, they’ve combined their interests in film production and design.
Awkward Fish garments are available for purchase online, but on Nov. 2, the brand collaborated with local Mexican-inspired restaurant XO Taco to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The restaurant’s social media manager invited Anderson to join the event because they liked that Anderson’s garments were sustainable and handmade.
“She wanted a community involvement into this new event they had,” Anderson said. “I designed multiple things for them, and we came up with something that felt very much my style and XO Taco’s style.”
At the event, Anderson sold some of her consistent designs in the restaurant’s upstairs, while a limited edition collection hung on the walls downstairs by the bar and tables.
Emma Beauchemin, a 2024 SU alumna, revisited Syracuse for alumni weekend to see old friends and dine at XO Taco, one of her favorite restaurants in Syracuse. This visit was special for Beauchemin because, while she hadn’t heard of Awkward Fish before, she could buy merchandise with designs she started to love.
“I didn’t get a lot when I was here and it’s a super cool design that’s a little bit more niche,” Beauchemin said.
Scholl said when she’s seen people on campus wearing Awkward Fish, it’s surreal because it reminds her of some of the first designs in her and Anderson’s dorm room. New and old shoppers came to support Anderson and could purchase the designs to sport around campus and the city.
“It’s been really awesome,” Anderson said. “I’ve had such a great time talking to people and I honestly wasn’t expecting to sell many clothes at all, but it’s been really fun. Some people came in just for me too, it was so great to see everybody.”
sfstewar@syr.edu
the air space, keeping track of weather conditions and editing the footage.
As a prominent member of the Syracuse community, McGuire collaborates with various brands and people. Bob Allen, vice president of Crouse Health, has hired McGuire multiple times for promotional footage. McGuire has filmed the Crouse clock tower, a meeting in the JMA Wireless Dome and a tailgate event for Allen.
Allen said he’s grateful for the striking images McGuire captures with his aerial footage because nobody else in Syracuse offers that perspective. His work introduces a view people don’t get to see in their dayto-day lives, while simultaneously supporting local businesses.
“It creates a level of awareness for our organization in the community,” Allen said. “We take the stuff he shoots for us, the drone video, the
drone stills, and then we package it and put it on social media. It really extends the reach of it.”
In his video about Green Lakes State Park, McGuire combines beautiful footage of the lakes and their surrounding greenery while telling the story behind the park that many people, even local residents, are unaware of, he said.
“Not only is he incredibly good at capturing these beautiful visuals, but also he’s an incredible storyteller,” said Jeff Knauss, McGuire’s friend and former colleague.
Knauss said McGuire’s work inspires a sense of community in Syracuse and makes people feel good about where they come from.
He said it’s easy to look down on your hometown, but McGuire challenges that belief with his content.
McGuire is intentional with his posts. While he shows the natural beauty of the Syracuse region, he also calls attention to important issues.
Recently, McGuire made a video referencing the high levels of lead found in Syracuse water that amassed over 100,000 views. McGuire said many residents contacted him saying they hadn’t heard the news until his video. When that headline was later debunked, McGuire also followed up with a post about it.
McGuire said people’s trust in traditional media, such as broadcast networks, newspapers and online news, is dropping, while their trust in content creators is rising. He aims to take hold of this opportunity by sharing newsworthy content with his followers.
“His viewers on social media walk away inspired,” Knauss said “They walk away motivated for positive change in our community. I hope that they see it and believe they can make a difference.”
iclekaki@syr.edu
holly anderson works in her studio to sew a tag on a sweatshirt and arrange a display of her handcrafted clothing. calysta lee and brycen pace the daily orange
aiden mcguire aims to show the beauty of Syracuse as a native of the city. He captures central New York through his drone photography and videography. He
OPINION
Why Trump won and what it means for the future of politics
By Dennis DiSantis columnist
Like many Americans across the country, I woke up this morning in profound disbelief following this year’s presidential election results. It was unthinkable that Donald Trump — a twice-impeached former president and convicted felon — had not only secured a second presidential victory, but won both the Electoral College and the popular vote. For many, this outcome was unexpected and draws questions of what his looming term will mean for our generation.
This outcome represents more than an unexpected result for young people across the country, particularly college students. It highlights a deep divide between our vision of progress and the appeal that Trump’s message still holds for millions of voters. Many Americans, whether motivated by loyalty, disillusionment or fear of the unknown, still place their trust in Trump.
His appeal spans demographics once considered progressive strongholds; exit polls reveal surprising support among Latino voters, unexpected gains in urban areas and a marked increase in young voters compared to previous elections.
For those who wanted the 2024 election to be a turning point in politics, these results feel like a bitter reversal, underscoring the fact that political change is never as straightforward or inevitable as it might seem.
This outcome forces us to confront difficult truths, including the role that sexism plays in the rejection of a vision championed by women leaders within the Democratic Party. Despite an intense focus on issues like reproductive rights, Trump’s appeal, especially to men, remained strong. This persistence prompts difficult questions about how deeply-ingrained gender biases shape perceptions of Democratic candidates and their policies.
But, the blame doesn’t rest solely with social biases or voter shifts. Much of this result reflects shortcomings within Kamala Harris’ abbreviated campaign. Their failure to connect with key demographics, address economic anxieties and counter Trump’s populist appeal contributed to a sense of detachment among voters.
While both Joe Biden and Harris campaigned to preserve institutions, many Americans viewed them as out of touch with the everyday person’s urgent challenges. Their campaign often came across as reactive and defensive, failing to inspire the broad coalition needed to sustain support.
Biden and Harris’ missteps left an opening for Trump, especially for those who feel unheard or skeptical of political elites. For those who believed in a different path, this election serves as a sobering reminder of the amount of work still ahead.
Change won’t come from assumptions or complacency; it requires understanding the diverse concerns of voters across the spectrum and building a movement that transcends echo chambers, biases and party miscalculations.
Young people today are navigating a political landscape that feels unrecognizable from what they were promised — a society where their voices matter and progress aligns with their values.
Instead, the continued rise of figures like Trump signals a harsh truth: there is a widening disconnect between centrist liberalism and the realities of many Americans. This isn’t just about Trump’s appeal; it’s about recognizing the systemic issues that have fueled his brand of populism.
For our generation, the discontent isn’t simply about policy, but stems from a profound sense of betrayal. Centrist liberalism, with its promises of stability and incremental progress, has often failed to address the urgent challenges of our generation — from economic insecurity and climate change to systemic inequality.
In the eyes of many young voters, this approach hasn’t stopped figures like Trump, but has fostered the conditions that allow such leaders to thrive. His victory in the 2016 presidential election was not an anomaly, but an early signal of a shift that will continue. Centrist politics losing to “Trumpism” isn’t over; it’s just beginning, as new forms of disciplined, rightwing populism emerge.
But why do so many Americans feel disempowered and distrustful of the current political system? A strong sense of alienation drives many voters, especially young people, to engage with politics in ways that go beyond traditional party lines. Instead of supporting
leaders for specific policies, they often back figures like Trump as an act of defiance against a system they see as broken, inaccessible and indifferent to their struggles. Many feel disillusioned with traditional institutions — government, media, corporations, and educational systems — which they believe serve elites while ignoring the desperation needs of ordinary citizens.
The continued rise of figures like Trump signals a harsh truth: there is a widening disconnect between centrist liberalism and the realities of many Americans.
Dennis DiSantis columnist
For young people in particular, this disillusionment runs deep. We confront mounting student debt, limited job opportunities and skyrocketing living costs, all while political responses feel out of touch with our daily struggles. Supporting Trump’s reckless and polarizing rhetoric, becomes, for some, a form of protest against a system they perceive as rigged. To these young voters, Trump represents a disruptor — someone seemingly willing to challenge the establishment, even if his policies and actions might, in the end, benefit those same elites.
This phenomenon highlights a shift in political engagement, where voters may prioritize symbolic gestures over concrete policy outcomes. For some, supporting Trump is a statement against a political landscape that feels inaccessible, where their voices go unheard unless channeled through someone willing to break the mold. It’s not so much about expecting Trump to resolve grievances
as it is about signaling a refusal to conform to a system that seems hopelessly rigged and unresponsive to real change. In this sense, Trump’s appeal among disillusioned young people speaks to a deeper, underlying desire for transformation – a desire that mainstream liberal politics has struggled to address or even fully acknowledge.
The popularity of figures like Trump shows a significant change in how many Americans, especially young people, think about politics. This shift isn’t just about wanting certain policies; it’s about rejecting the moderate, slowmoving approach that has defined centrist liberalism. Many young people feel frustrated with a political system they see as outdated and unresponsive to their needs. They’re not just looking for small adjustments — they want a complete overhaul of how politics works to make it truly serve the people.
This growing wave of discontent calls for bold leaders with a clear vision to address critical issues like student debt, housing costs, stagnant wages and inflation. Young voters are tired of empty promises; they want leaders who will challenge powerful interests and build a political system that genuinely supports their values and aspirations. Democrats, in particular, face a crucial choice: they risk continued losses unless they prioritize campaigning on and improving voters’ material conditions — a challenge that current centrist liberal ideals can’t meet. Without a drastic shift in approach, their connection with younger generations and disillusioned voters will only weaken.
Whether the political establishment is ready to embrace this sweeping demand for change remains uncertain. But, one thing is clear: America’s future will be defined by those willing to break from the conventions of the past and create a system that fully supports the next generation’s drive for a more equitable, responsive and transformative approach to governance.
Dennis DiSantis is a junior majoring in political science. His column appears bi-weekly. He can be reached at dadisant@syr.edu.
Stephanie Wright
Cooper Andrews
Trump’s looming presidency indicates a disturbing political landscape that Americans must learn to navigate.
lars jendruschewitz photo editor
Robinson also echoed the idea while bolstering SU’s roster from the outside, bringing in Fadil Diggs from Texas A&M and Duce Chestnut from LSU.
According to linebackers coach Robert Wright, Robinson told his coaching staff they weren’t going to have any solidified scheme. Instead, they’d focus on putting the best players on the field. And he made the message clear to transfers.
“He told me coming into here that he just wanted ball players, dawgs,” Buffalo transfer Devin Grant said. “We’re going to be a hardfought defense regardless.”
Robinson’s final stop before arriving at Syracuse prepared him for the position of power he now holds. In 2018, he joined Jimbo Fisher’s staff at Texas A&M as the defensive line coach. He bolstered the Aggies’ pass rush, helping them become one of the most consistent pass rushes in the country with top-five finishes in rushing defense in 2018 and 2020.
— which would make Brown’s debut season an undeniable success.
“To fight through adversity again with your teammates and everyone doubting us, and just overcoming (that), we got to pat each other on the back,” junior running back LeQuint Allen Jr., whose dominant performance steered SU to victory over Virginia Tech, said Tuesday.
Allen Jr.’s impact can’t be understated, dropping three touchdowns on 121 rushing yards and punching in the game-winning score in overtime. It’s been November outings like that which have been missing since the Paul Pasqualoni era from 1991 to 2004. Though what stood out most about last Saturday’s result was Syracuse’s resilience.
Responding to an embarrassing 41-13 blowout loss on the road to then-No. 19 Pittsburgh was never going to be easy. Especially after falling behind 21-3 by the 7:44 mark of the third quarter against VT. Still, quarterback Kyle McCord noted Syracuse’s confidence in the face of adversity.
“In years prior, maybe when the score was 21-3, they would start to quit,” McCord said of past SU teams after beating the Hokies. “But I feel like there’s no quit. There’s no sense of panic on the sideline.”
To get obliterated before playing another disappointing half of football, and then win said game? For Syracuse, that achievement was unprecedented.
Other than 2018, Babers’ best year, where he finished 10-3 and went 3-1 in November, SU won four games in November in the remaining seven seasons combined of his tenure. Even in 2018, the Orange were steamrolled 36-3 by No. 3 Notre Dame on Nov. 17, marking a failed chance to make a massive statement.
Though a season that’s more fair to judge is 2022, Babers’ second-best season as head coach. Syracuse started 6-0. It ended 7-5. Its November record was a measly 1-3. The losses weren’t just setbacks, they were humiliations. SU didn’t score a touchdown against Pitt to start the month with a 19-9 loss, then got crushed at home 38-3 by Florida State a week later. It finished by allowing Wake Forest to rack up 45 points to clinch three straight defeats.
you left your hole players or one of your corners on an island. You had to pick your poison.”
A four-year varsity starter, Castellanos went 35-12 at Ware County. In that span, he racked up 7,710 passing yards, 3,658 rushing yards, 66 passing touchdowns and 69 rushing touchdowns. He also played basketball and soccer, with his athleticism standing out across all three sports. Castellanos became a three-star recruit, landing offers from Division I schools including Florida State, Kansas and UCF.
“Thomas is definitely the best player I’ve played with so far,” former Ware County receiver Jarvis Hayes said. “What sets him apart from other quarterbacks I’ve played with is his versatility. He can do it all.”
Castellanos ultimately committed to UCF on Dec. 15, a month after his senior season ended. He was prepared to celebrate with his family, and with Christmas approaching, it was supposed to be one of the best periods of the young quarterback’s life.
But roughly two weeks after he committed, Jones unexpectedly died. Castellanos felt isolated and dejected entering his first year in college.
In his freshman year at Central Florida, he saw limited action as the Knights’ third-string quarterback. Buried on the depth chart, Castellanos
After four seasons, he was elevated to codefensive coordinator and eventually assistant head coach. As Texas A&M faltered down the stretch in 2023, Fisher was fired, and Robinson was promoted to interim head coach.
Robinson said the head coaching position was a challenge he took head-on. In the position, he managed schedules, figuring out when to send coaches home to families and how to keep everyone together during a tumultuous time for the program.
“It helps you with seeing a bigger picture and not just seeing things through your lens,” Robinson said of the experience. “It helps me out here now getting people all to work together and come together to make sure we are on the same page.”
Since arriving at Syracuse, he’s brought his unit together regardless of the circumstances, largely because of his advanced ability to scheme up a defense on any given week.
The Orange started the season in a 4-2-5 defense, allowing them to showcase their advanced secondary depth and bring four pass rushers with Diggs as the catalyst. Wax’s Week 1 injury forced immediate change. SU came out the next game in a primarily 3-3-5 look, with
Diggs coming up from the linebacker level to disrupt Georgia Tech’s offense.
During Wax’s absence, the Orange also lost multiple key pass rushers. Robinson was forced to adjust again, this time using Barron’s flexibility. The senior was moved from a rover-type secondary position into the linebacker spot, where he’s excelled.
“You see Coach E come up with game plans every week, and it just blows your mind,” Barron said.
Now with Wax back in the fold, SU remains largely in a 3-3-5. Diggs moves around as a puzzle piece, while Wax and Barron play next to each other in the second level.
Per Grant, also a player who has been moved around in the secondary this season, it’s hard to ever know what Robinson is up to. On any given week, the unit can run something on Monday but another concept completely different on Wednesday. Each week, Robinson creates tweaks that make the defense different, never allowing an opponent to truly catch on.
Robinson’s coaching style sticks out to his players. Clark said he’s usually level-headed,
After potential New Year’s Six bowl talks midway through the year, the Orange could only muster an invite to the Pinstripe Bowl.
One game into November 2024, though, it’s clear this Syracuse team won’t roll over. Blowouts like the one it suffered to Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 are the kinds of losses that ruin seasons. But it only strengthened Brown’s squad.
From the get-go, this Orange bunch has had an edge to them. Transfer commits like McCord and defensive end Fadil Diggs fortified SU with studs at positions it normally doesn’t have stars
couldn’t foresee a path to playing time. So, he bet on himself and entered the transfer portal in April.
His athleticism immediately stood out to Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who was BC’s head coach at the time. He saw the 5-foot-10 passer as the future of his program, and he got Castellanos to commit just 10 days after entering the portal. When Hafley left the program following the 2023 season, he was replaced by former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien, who is similarly impressed by Castellanos’ athleticism.
“Having Tommy here has been great,” O’Brien said. “Tommy’s a fun guy to coach, shows up every day and has tried to get better each and every day.”
It was initially a rough adjustment for Castellanos, who had lived in the South his entire life before moving to Massachusetts. Coming out of training camp in 2023, he failed to win the job over Emmett Morehead, who started the Eagles’ home opener against Northern Illinois.
But against the Huskies, Morehead was ineffective, completing just 3-of-10 passes in the game. Castellanos then led a late comeback in relief, and despite eventually losing in overtime, he earned the starting job.
He never relinquished it. Now, he’s the leader of a program that has lacked consistency under center since four-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan starred at BC from 2004-07. mauriciobaseball12@gmail.com
never cursing out his players but instead encouraging them and attacking the problem rather than the person. He questions what a player is thinking on a play and quickly educates them, taking the good within the bad.
Still, there’s a fiery side to the defensive coordinator. Grant said he’s surprised Robinson can keep his voice at times because of how enthusiastic he gets at practice.
“You love when a defensive coordinator is into the defense and always just right there cheering us on,” Grant said.
Through personnel changes thrown his way throughout his first season helming SU’s defense, Robinson has stayed true to himself. It was adversity in his own career that first got him into coaching. Now, his experience and tough love on a week-to-week basis help Syracuse’s defense excel.
“We can relate to Coach E. He played at Penn State and he’s been through a lot of things like us,” Wax said. “He puts us in great positions to make plays, and for that, we love Coach Robinson.” amstepan@syr.edu @AidenStepansky
Defensively, Diggs has packed a punch — earning National Defensive Player of the Week honors after a two-sack performance versus UNLV and tallying the game-winning fumble recovery against Virginia Tech. Robinson’s entire unit has also played progressively better as the year has gone on. The defense is spurred by veteran linebackers Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax who, despite playing just three games, already has two ACC Linebacker of the Week honors, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Syracuse has won games through both sides of the ball this year. Barron led the defense to forcing three turnovers against NC State to win an ugly battle 24-17. Wax forced the gamewinning fumble on Hokies’ quarterback Collin Schlee to down VT. While on offense, McCord’s four-touchdown explosion to beat then-No. 23 Georgia Tech and Allen Jr.’s four-touchdown night to upset then-No. 25 UNLV stood out, too.
The Orange can carve opponents in numerous ways, and that’s why they’re more prepared for November this time around. Their losses to Stanford and Pittsburgh occurred via a one-dimensional offensive scheme and lack of timely defense. But they’ve proven that, at their highest potential, those are no longer issues.
The coaching adjustments Syracuse made against Virginia Tech is another telling sign for change. Nixon opened up a struggling vertical offense by implementing a heavier run game, while Robinson switched from a 3-3-5 defense to sporting a 4-2-5 set, playing contain on the edges, to suffocate the Hokies when it mattered most. Under Babers, halftime adjustments were nothing but a fairy tale.
at. Brown’s 2024 freshman class ranked as Syracuse’s best since 2001. The hiring of defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson and offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon brought necessary experience to the building. All moves have paid off.
McCord is on pace for 4,141 passing yards in a 12-game regular season, which would set a new single-season school record. His diverse group of weapons are among SU’s best in recent memory, with options like tight end Oronde Gadsden II and wide receiver Trebor Peña, who has burst onto the scene as Syracuse’s leading receiver.
And sure, the Orange beat a VT team without its starting quarterback, Kyron Drones, and star running back, Bhayshul Tuten. But those elements are uncontrollable. SU took care of business in a manner that it hasn’t displayed in years, and its process en route to a comeback win will translate against future competition.
Back in late August, I argued that Syracuse’s talent in 2024 is too good for it not to take advantage of. That sentiment still rings true. Any season less than eight wins would be somewhat disastrous. For Brown to grow a program in the northeast region, he needs to win early and often. That starts with stacking wins this November.
ccandrew@syr.edu
@Cooper_Andrews
Under head coach Fran Brown, our writer believes Syracuse is poised to rid its November struggles after SU went 7-22 in the month with Dino Babers. joe zhao video editor
thomas castellanos (right) has accumulated a 168.0 passer rating while passing for 1,352 yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior year. aidan groeling staff photographer
Thomas Castellanos thrives as Boston College’s starting QB
By Mauricio Palmar staff writer
Thomas Castellanos was on a mission. As the quarterback for Ware County High School in Georgia, he was set to play Warner Robins, the No. 1 team in the region. As a freshman, Castellanos’ team suffered a 35-0 loss. He was taunted throughout the game, as chants of “Thom-as” rang out along the Warner Robins bench. He didn’t say a word that night.
Fast forward three years, Castellanos was playing with confidence as a senior. During pregame warmups, he waved at the Warner Robins bench. He stuck up four fingers at the opposing defensive coordinator, representing the 400 yards he planned to rack up. The team laughed it off as nothing more than hubris. Then, he
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accomplished it in the first half. Ware County won 29-21, handing Warner Robins its only loss in a 14-1 state championship campaign.
“I’ve seen the likes of Jake Fromm … Nick Marshall,” former Warner Robins head coach Marquis Westbrook said, “and Thomas is right up there, man. That kid is special.”
Now a junior at Boston College, Castellanos has emerged as a star quarterback for the Eagles. Throughout seven games this season, he has passed for 1,352 yards and 17 touchdowns, accumulating a 168.0 passer rating — the seventh-best in the country among qualified signal callers. The mark would be the best in BC’s history, surpassing Doug Flutie’s 152.9 passer rating from 1984. Castellanos and the Eagles host Syracuse Saturday in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.
Castellanos has already broken several records in his 19 games with the Eagles, including a program-record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,317. Additionally, it took him just one season to break BC’s record for career quarterback rushing touchdowns, as his 13 scores in 2023 surpassed Jack Concannon’s 12 from 1963.
Long before he was surpassing every Boston College quarterback record, “Tommy Touchdown” was a kid from Miami, living under the shadow of his siblings.
Castellanos was the eighth of 11 children in his family. His father died when he was 3, leaving his mother, Yukia, to care for 11 children as a single nurse. Castellanos told Boston.com that he credits her strength in providing for the family, alongside the guidance of the rest of his siblings, as contributing factors to his success.
Early in his childhood, Castellanos was overshadowed by his older brothers, Akeem Jones and Ladedric Castellanos. Jones was a star quarterback at Miami Carol City High School, earning a three-star rating from 247Sports before attending Garden City Community College in Kansas. Meanwhile, Ladedric was a first-team All-Region safety at Ware County, continuing his career at Division II Morehouse College in Georgia.
As his oldest brother, Jones was instrumental in his development. When Castellanos moved to Waycross, Georgia, before attending Ware County, Jones watched as his little brother terrorized opposing defenses.
“You always had to have someone to try to spy him,” Westbrook said. “And if you did that,
Beat writers split on whether Syracuse will defeat Boston College
By Daily Orange Sports Staff
For the third consecutive season, and first under Fran Brown, Syracuse is bowl-eligible. Despite trailing by 18 points against Virginia Tech, the Orange mounted their largest comeback since 2012, capping off a thrilling game in overtime with a 38-31 win.
LeQuint Allen Jr. led the way with three touchdowns while wide receiver Justus RossSimmons sparked the comeback with two key scores. SU’s sixth win of the season was its first home game in 35 days and acted as a bounce back from its 28-point loss to then-No. 19 Pitt the week prior.
AIDEN
After eight weeks, I’m finally alone at the mountaintop. I won’t boast too much as part of the reason I chose Syracuse to take down Virginia Tech was to differ from my fellow scribes. But, a win’s a win, both for me and for Syracuse. And I see Syracuse pushing its momentum into a win against BC.
The Eagles have lost three straight and their offense is averaging the fourth least points per game in the conference. Both of these marks are very favorable toward Syracuse. Allen Jr.’s second-half usage against Virginia Tech created a balanced offense that produced 35 points across the final 20 minutes and change.
I expect Jeff Nixon to continue this strategy against BC. Kyle McCord should also have added time to operate, as SU’s last two opponents rank in the top five in the ACC in sacks while BC has the fourth least.
COOPER ANDREWS (4-4)
Castellanos isn’t facing a Carlos Del Rio-Wilsonled Syracuse team this time around. He didn’t have to do much against the Orange on Nov. 3 of last year. Del Rio-Wilson’s abysmal performance — 37 passing yards, four interceptions — meant Castellanos could ride the coattails of his defense in a 17-10 win.
Against a much-more formidable SU roster led by McCord and a red-hot Allen Jr., Castellanos has a tall task ahead of him to match the Orange’s explosive offense. But, Aiden is right. BC has been atrocious for a month. And that won’t change this week.
With just four games to play in 2024 for Syracuse, it now hits the road for its final road trip of the season. SU faces Boston College in a battle of first-year head coaches for each program with Brown and Bill O’Brien. The Eagles enter off a bye week and haven’t won since Sept. 28.
Defensively, the Orange are again facing a run-heavy offense. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos is 14th amongst ACC quarterbacks in passing, and if Syracuse can keep him within the pocket, it closes down much of BC’s attack.
The Eagles’ last victory in Power-Four competition was a home win on Sept. 21 over Michigan State. In fact, Boston College has no impressive wins. It was crowned early for beating then-No. 10 Florida State, which has come to be one of the ACC’s worst teams, yet has done nothing notable since.
I can’t figure out this Syracuse team. Sometimes, I think it can step on the field any given Saturday and go toe-to-toe with any offense in the country. Other times, I’m appalled at what I’m watching. Defensively, the Orange have a collection of stars, but it’s not a unit I have complete confidence in — mostly because of poor tackling. Saturday is a classic example of a let-down spot for SU. Playing at home, Boston College is coming off three straight losses. Meanwhile, the Orange are riding the highs of what could be a seasonaltering overtime triumph over Virginia Tech. If the Eagles’ ground-dominant attack can control the pace of play and lean on Castellanos and their running back trio of Treshaun Ward, Kye Robichaux and Turbo Richard, I see them wearing through SU’s defense and pulling out a close contest. Additionally, I trust O’Brien and his staff more than Brown’s to pull out a narrow victory.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (6-2, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) will fare against Boston College (4-4, 1-3 ACC) on Saturday:
Picking a loss here isn’t me saying Syracuse is a bad program. Ultimately, I think SU is an 8-4 caliber team and worthy of playing in a bowl game better than the Pinstripe Bowl or Boca Raton Bowl. However, conference games are tricky, especially on the road at this stage of the season. And with an unproven coaching staff, I’m not convinced the Orange will pull out their second road conference win of the season. sports@dailyorange.com @DOSports football
I see this game going somewhat similar to the win over NC State. SU will be in control for most of the contest but allow the Eagles to stick around just enough to make the fourth quarter interesting. Though, Syracuse’s offense will punch it in just enough to fly like an eagle out of Chestnut Hill with a victory.
Syracuse will expose BC for what it really is: a team with an inaccurate quarterback, flawed defense and minute number of quality playmakers. The Eagles have allowed an average of 36.5 points over their last two games, while Castellanos completed just 56% of his passes in that stretch. He doesn’t have a true, dominant No. 1 wide receiver, and I envision the Orange stalling his top-option, Lewis Bond. SU will exert enough firepower and force a few turnovers to secure a 10-point win.
Following a comeback win over Virginia Tech, our beat writers are undecided on whether Syracuse will defeat Boston College Saturday. lars
see castellanos page 13
LeQuint Allen Jr. scored three rushing touchdowns in SU’s comeback win over Virginia Tech last week
Syracuse gives up 2 late goals, falls to WF in ACC Tournament
By Timmy Wilcox senior staff writer
Syracuse commanded a 1-0 lead into the 70th minute until Sam Layton was called for a handball in SU’s box, giving Wake Forest a penalty kick. On the ensuing spot kick, Cooper Flax buried the shot to bring the Demon Deacons level.
Thirteen minutes later, Wake Forest pushed the ball deep into Syracuse’s defensive zone. Dylan Borso drove toward the end line, drawing multiple defenders before he lifted the ball into the middle of the box. Travis Smith Jr. was the first to the cross, heading the ball into the net to put Wake Forest ahead 2-1.
Just like that, the Orange’s lead vanished and they were unable to overcome the deficit.
After taking the lead in the 16th minute, No. 12 seed Syracuse (7-7-3, 2-4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) collapsed in the final 20 minutes, falling 2-1 to No. 5 seed Wake Forest (9-4-5, 4-2-2 ACC) in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The loss was the fourth time SU failed to hold its lead this season. The game followed the same path as SU’s 2-1 loss to the Demon Deacons on Sept. 27.
“(The result was) painful, because I think that we deserve something out of this,” SU head coach Ian McIntyre said postgame.
Fresh off defeating then-No. 3 Pitt 2-0 to end the regular season for its highest-ranked win since 2022, SU threatened early.
In the 16th minute, Michael Acquah, back from a one-game red card suspension, beat two defenders before crossing it into the box for Gabe Threadgold. As the ball came in, Threadgold beat Amoni Thomas to it and fired it past Wake Forest goalkeeper Trace Alphin to give SU a 1-0 lead.
Threadgold’s goal provided the Orange with an early advantage against the Demon Deacons,
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who entered the match with the fewest goals allowed (seven) in the conference.
“The ground that (Threadgold) covers in the game, to have that dynamism and to have that pace, (he’s) a guy who empties the tank,” McIntyre said.
Ten minutes later, Syracuse nearly forced its hand again. On a goal kick by Wake Forest, Daniel Burko intercepted the ball and found Ernest Bawa for a shot in the box, but it trickled wide.
Then, the Demon Deacons started to form threatening attacks created by Ryan Belal and Jeffrey White. In the 34th minute, Belal crossed the ball to White for an open shot in front of the SU net, but goalkeeper Tomas Hut kicked the ball away.
Five minutes later, Bo Cummins attacked from the right side, but Hut reacted with his foot again to deny the shot. Wake Forest kept the pressure on, as Nico Rabiu ripped a shot from just above the box, but Layton jumped in front to block it with his body.
Through 45 minutes, each team tallied three shots on goal, but Hut’s play powered SU to a 1-0 lead.
Syracuse started the second half on the front foot, applying pressure on Wake Forest’s defense. After sitting for the later part of the first half, Acquah returned and started a possession. He got it to Threadgold on the left side who crossed it into Carlos Zambrano, but his shot was blocked in the box.
In response, the Demon Deacons took the ball into Syracuse’s final third, yet Ben Rosenblatt locked down Rabiu for a takeaway. About a minute later, Wake Forest moved the ball to Rabiu again, but Acquah got it back for the Orange.
As possession see-sawed back and forth, Wake Forest got on the attack in the 59th minute and delivered a cross into the box. The pass rolled to the far side and Colin Thomas outmuscled
conceded two goals in the final
Chimere Omeze for the ball. Thomas fired a shot on frame, yet Hut stonewalled it.
Then, in the 70th minute, Syracuse’s Layton worked on Julian Kennedy in the box but the ball hit him in the hand. After a video review, the referees decided it was a handball, which led to Flax’s game-tying penalty score.
“Games get changed on small decisions, and unfortunately, it didn’t go away tonight,” McIntyre said.
Syracuse looked to respond in the 72nd minute after Zambrano drew a free kick in Wake Forest’s end, but Smith Jr. headed Elton Chifamba’s service out of the box.
The Demon Deacons applied more pressure, yet Omeze jumped in front of a shot in the 77th minute. Six minutes later though, SU did not have a player to stop Smith Jr. as his header gave Wake Forest a 2-1 lead.
The Orange battled late in the game as Hut collected his career-high sixth save of the game in the 85th minute and Ezra Widman fired a close miss, but it ran out of time to knot the score.
“I’m heartbroken for our guys right now, but I’m extremely proud of them,” McIntyre said. “They left everything out on the field in a tough environment.” tswilcox@syr.edu @TimmyWilcox32
Orange lose 3-1 to North Carolina, bowing out in ACC Semifinal
By Jordan Kimball asst. digital editor
North Carolina led Syracuse 1-0 with two minutes left in the second quarter as the Tar Heels earned a penalty corner. UNC had previously scored on a penalty corner, which seemed to be its only form of attack to that point. Ciana Riccardo lined up outside as Louise Pert stood tall in goal.
Charly Bruder, the NCAA’s leading scorer, prepared to attempt another forceful shot toward Pert. With all expectations leaning toward Bruder, the Tar Heels switched things up. Riccardo inserted the ball to Kelly Smith, who immediately passed it to Jasmina Smolenaars. The midfielder faked a shot and finally found Bruder on the other side of the attacking circle, who drilled it home to double the Tar Heels’ lead.
Bruder’s goal served as the game-winner as No. 1 seed North Carolina (17-0, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated No. 5 seed Syracuse (13-6, 4-4 ACC) 3-1 in the ACC Semifinal. SU attempted just one shot in the first half while attaining zero penalty corners in the whole game for the first time this season.
Following a 5-0 victory on Tuesday in which UNC outshot California 30-2, it was clear the Tar Heels were clicking on all cylinders. Elite defense from their backline translated to fluid offense, mainly by the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year, Ryleigh Heck and First Team All-ACC member Bruder. Syracuse, on the other hand, relied heavily on its defense, which shut out Virginia in Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchup.
And as expected, Bruder was the difference in Wednesday’s contest. As the first quarter began, UNC applied pressure on SU’s defense. Sanne Hak found Katie Dixon over the middle for a potential shot, but Dixon couldn’t handle the pass, allowing Syracuse to escape without damage.
As the Tar Heels continued to press Syracuse, Aiden Drabick and Berber Bakermans made vital blocks to keep the game tied. But with the amount of offense from UNC, SU’s stout defense couldn’t last.
An obstruction call on Bakermans gave North Carolina its first penalty corner attempt of the day. Bruder was not in the game, but UNC’s attack followed its first attempt with two more.
Blocked shots by Bakermans, Bo Madden and Phoebe Hall eventually silenced UNC’s attack, but as the first quarter was coming to a close, Syracuse created few offensive chances. The Orange found difficulty transitioning from midfield to their attacking third, constantly getting the ball stripped away.
The second quarter gave Syracuse a fresh start, but not much changed from a possession
Syracuse fell 3-1 to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament Semifinal. The Orange attempted just four shots and recorded zero penaltycorner attempts for the first time all season. christian calabrese staff photographer
standpoint. North Carolina continued to control the ball, attempting six corners in the frame.
Syracuse finally found an offensive spark when Drabick put a ball on net, but it was saved by Abigail Taylor. That was SU’s lone opportunity as North Carolina pushed the ball the other way to line up for two more corners.
The first attempt was a forceful shot by Bruder, which was miraculously saved by Pert. Willemijn Boogert cleared the ball away, but UNC came right back downfield and, this time, converted. Bruder’s shot deflected off Madden, which allowed the ball to pivot right over Bo van Kempen’s stick into the back of the net, giving UNC the lead five minutes into the second quarter.
Near the end of the second, on the Tar Heels’ ninth corner attempt of the day, they extended their lead to two. A clean insertion to a fake hit by Bruder led the ball to Smolenaars. She found
Bruder again, who put it home to score her 25th goal of the season.
The first half was dominated by North Carolina, whose constant penalty corner sequences gave the Orange trouble.
“UNC is one of the most potent attacks in the country. That’s a piece of what we were going to face,” Farquhar said. “Whether it was Bo, Lieke (Leeggangers) or Lottie (Summers), they all stepped up and stopped a majority of (UNC’s) opportunities.”
The third quarter went similarly to the second. Heck made her first mark of the day when she knocked the ball toward the net on a fast break. Pert made the save, allowing the momentum to move back the other way.
However, the Orange struck little luck, and once again, UNC lined up for a penalty corner four minutes into the third quarter. Syracuse remained with zero attempts at
the time, while North Carolina had reached double-digits. A blocked shot by Boogert led the ball to Drabick, who played it off to Vivian Rowan for an attack. She set up a great look for Lana Hamilton, the Orange’s goal scorer from Tuesday, but Hamilton couldn’t corral the ball as the attack dissipated.
The rest of the game remained all Tar Heels. On UNC’s 12th corner attempt of the day, Syracuse transfer Pleun Lammers scored on a rebound from a Bruder shot. The goal extended its lead to 3-0 and left Syracuse in a constant come-from-behind approach. In the fourth quarter, Syracuse finally got on the board with Sarah Smalley’s second goal of the season. But following Smalley’s score, Syracuse resumed its stagnant offense as the clock expired.
jordankimball28@gmail.com
Syracuse
20 minutes against Wake Forest, as it crashed out of the ACC Tournament. leonardo eriman staff photographer
E’S ENGINE
Elijah Robinson’s scheming expertise is propelling Syracuse’s defensive unit
By Aiden Stepansky asst. sports editor
At 21 years old, Elijah Robinson briefly lost all feeling from the neck down. Robinson switched from defensive tackle to right guard and was competing for a starting position on Penn State’s offensive line entering his redshirt junior season.
But during spring camp in 2007, he suffered a spinal injury that ended his football career. The Camden, New Jersey, native eventu ally fully recovered, though knew his playing days were over. He was unsure what to do next. With the help of his former coaches Larry Johnson and Joe Paterno, he eventually realized coaching was his calling.
Seventeen years later, Robinson is Syracuse’s defensive coordina tor in the program’s first year under Fran Brown. The 39-year-old has worked as a defensive line coach at Penn State, Temple, Baylor and Texas A&M. He then led the Aggies as their interim head coach for the final three games of the 2023 season.
In year one with the Orange, Robinson has used his schematic expertise to build their defense into a formidable group, despite key absences from linebacker Marlowe Wax and top defensive linemen Dion Wilson Jr. and Kevin Jobity Jr. for much of the season. He entered the program looking to shape his defense around SU’s existing tal ent while adding other key pieces. The strategy quickly made him an esteemed figure among his players.
“From the first second he came in, he’s someone we knew we wanted to play for,” linebacker Derek McDonald said of Robinson.
The answer wasn’t immediately coaching for Robinson, though.
Upon graduating in 2008, former Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson, a close friend, offered him a marketing job in California for Excel 2 Excellence — a youth football league he founded while playing in the National Football League.
However, his marketing stint was brief as Paterno and Johnson offered him a graduate assistant role for the 2009 season. From there, his career took off.
Stints at a few colleges eventually brought him closer to his roots. Growing up in Camden, Robinson played at the city’s high school before transferring to Woodrow Wilson High School. His freshman year with the Panthers was Brown’s senior year, and the two built a close bond.
Reuniting with Brown was common practice. The two worked on defensive staffs together at Temple and Baylor before splitting for jobs at Texas A&M and Georgia. Brown has referred to Robinson as “one of the best defensive coordina tors in the country,” and when Brown got the Syracuse job, Robinson joined his staff.
“It really wasn’t much besides me going to talk to my wife and my kids and saying, ‘Hey, this is the plan.’ And they were all on board with the plan,” Robinson said.
Oftentimes, defensive coordinators enter new programs and insert their philosophy, forcing players to adjust. However, Rob inson didn’t see this as an effective way to get the Orange going.
Before Robinson arrived, he assessed SU’s defense as a strong group and one he could build around based on its returning cast. Syracuse retained its top four tacklers in Wax, Justin Barron, McDonald and Alijah Clark from last season. The idea was to figure out what the unit already did well, add incoming freshmen, hit the transfer portal and put all the pieces together to play to everyone’s strengths.
“You got to be able to adjust to the guys you have and what they do well,” Robinson said. “X’s and O’s means nothing if it doesn’t fit what you got with your personnel. We had to step out of our comfort zone as coaches to put our guys in the best situation.”
The philosophy was made clear immediately to returning players.
“When he first came in, he said, ‘You’re not fitting into my system. I’m fit ting into y’alls,’” Clark said. “‘I’m gonna find ways for you guys to excel at what you guys do to get you where you want to go.’ That was something that pretty much grabbed everybody.”
see robinson page 13
The time is now for Syracuse to amend its November woes
Fran Brown hates distractions. He repeatedly hammers home his value of taking a day-by-day approach to life. He lives hour by hour. Minute by minute.
The past, while to be learned from, isn’t a concern. And he never looks too far ahead. That mentality made it awfully interesting when Brown went against
his own traditions — harping on Syracuse football’s historic November struggles before it took on Virginia Tech. Other than transforming SU’s recruiting base, conquering November is among Brown’s most urgent priorities. Former head coach Dino Babers went 7-22 in the month, and was fired before the end of year eight.
So, it makes sense why Brown would bring up the distracting narrative. Digesting the program’s failures is a necessary step to become a harbinger of change.
“It’s always been about the history here, right?” Brown said postgame against VT. “When I got here, something that made it a good deal was because I understood who Syracuse was. (With) the last coach, they didn’t always win a lot toward the second part of the year. What I wanted to do was show them that’s not who they are … It wasn’t about what (Babers) did on the field, it was about what we were doing as men off the field.”
It’s a stricter program under Brown. Grueling winter training ses-
sions established a standard on the field, while the head coach’s demands of his players speak for themselves. The level of expectations compared to Babers is palpable. And in Brown’s first crack at November football, his team showed it may no longer be the same old Syracuse. The Orange stormed back from an 18-point deficit to down the Hokies 38-31 in overtime, their largest come-from-behind victory since 2012. Pristine coaching adjustments, calming quarterback play and clutch
defense — previously rare sights — led to SU outscoring VT 35-14 over the last 22:44 plus overtime.
The win was by far Syracuse’s most grandiose of Brown’s first year. It signified the program is heading in the right direction and that the Orange’s most damning annual indictment might come to a close.
But one victory isn’t enough. Now is the time for Syracuse to rid its November woes by delivering a stretch of consistent, winning football see november page 13
Through dealing with injuries to top players, Syracuse defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson has created a formidable unit. lars jendruschewitz photo editor
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