Nov. 2, 2020 by The Daily Orange

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C • Continued creations

N • Congressional race

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Ikerson Hopper, an artist from the Onondaga Nation, has practiced graphic design since childhood and is now working with an online apparel line. Page 6

Democrat Dana Balter is campaigning to unseat threetime incumbent Rep. John Katko to represent the state’s 24th Congressional District. Page 3

S • Pushing forward

Sam Rodgers, a former Syracuse long snapper and captain, is running as a Republican to represent New York state’s 53rd Senate District. Page 12

Syracuse resident Howie Hawkins is running for president. Winning isn’t the goal.

coronavirus

Infections low after clusters emerge By Maggie Hicks asst. news editor

HOWIE HAWKINS doesn’t believe he can win the presidency, but campaigning has allowed him to draw attention to issues the country’s two major political parties often ignore. emily steinberger photo editor

By Abby Weiss

asst. digital editor

t was never Howie Hawkins’ dream to become president of the United States. Nonetheless, his name will be on the ballot come Election Day. Hawkins, a retired UPS employee who currently lives in Syracuse, is the Green Party’s nominee for president. But he doesn’t think he will win. When the Green Party, which he co-founded, needed a candidate, Hawkins agreed to run because he was one of the few candidates in his party with the experience to run a large-scale campaign, he said. “I see my role more as an organizer,” Hawkins said. “My first reaction when people organized this draft campaign

was, ‘Well, let’s see who else we can get.’ A lot of people I respect asked me to run, and it was hard to say no to them.” Hawkins’s presidential run comes after 24 campaigns for public office — all of which he has lost — and a life centered around activism. Green Party members asked him to run for president in 2012, but he declined because of work obligations. Now, he has accepted the invitation because he’s retired and has the time to campaign. At the party’s virtual convention in July, Hawkins won the nomination after receiving 210 of the 355 votes on the first ballot. The Green Party has never secured more than 3% of the popular vote in a presidential election. More than winning the presidency, the main goal of Hawkins’ campaign is to

see hawkins page 4

election 2020

Former DPS detective runs for state Assembly By Sarah Alessandrini asst. news editor

Ed Weber, a former officer in Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety, is running for New York State Assembly. Weber, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Bill Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) for New York’s 129th Assembly District, which encompasses the towns of Van Buren and Geddes and multiple neighborhoods in Syracuse, including University Hill and the

Northside. His agenda calls for repealing New York state’s 2019 bail reform act and improving relations between law enforcement and community residents. “The citizens of any community should be the eyes and ears for the law enforcement,” Weber said. Weber, who retired from the department last year, has served as town councilor and deputy town supervisor in Geddes since 2016. But before starting his career in local politics, he spent 46 years in law enforcement, including 18

years as a senior detective for DPS. In 2013, lightning struck Weber and his partner, Stanley Prue, while the two were patrolling on South Campus. After the strike, Weber rushed to Prue’s side and discovered that he was barely breathing and called for help. Weber later received an award for his response to the strike. “It was a great honor to help someone out that was in such a need that he could have died,” Weber said. DPS declined to comment

on Weber’s campaign, citing its policy not to comment on political candidates. Magnarelli, Weber’s challenger, has served in the Assembly since 1999 and is running for his 12th term in office. He has supported legislation surrounding women’s health care coverage and expanded an insurance program for senior citizens during his time in office. From the time he graduated high school, Weber knew he wanted to serve his community. After taking

see weber page 4

Coronavirus cases among students and employees at Syracuse University have remained low over the weekend despite the emergence of at least two clusters related to offcampus gatherings last week. The university is currently monitoring 41 active COVID-19 cases among students and faculty in central New York. SU confirmed 21 new coronavirus infections on Thursday linked to two emerging clusters. Since then, the university has seen only 12 additional cases, three of which were reported on Sunday. The clusters spread from at least two off-campus parties last weekend, one at Orange Crate Brewing Company on South Crouse Avenue and another that occurred at an unorganized Greek organization. The university is also aware of multiple other large gatherings that occurred Thursday night and last weekend, Rob Hradsky, vice president for the student experience, and Department of Public Safety Chief Bobby Maldonado said in a campuswide email on Friday. The university has also instructed any students who were at Orange Crate last Saturday or who attended the party at the unregistered Greek organization last weekend to shelter in place and contact SU’s COVID-19 office. Under New York state guidelines, colleges and universities that report 100 positive tests within a fixed twoweek period must pause in-person instruction for at least 14 days. As of Sunday, the university had recorded 43 new cases in the current twoweek period ending Nov. 6. SU announced the two clusters less than a month after its first confirmed COVID-19 cluster, which resulted in nearly 100 new cases in a two-week period. The cluster also comes amid a general uptick in cases in New York state and across the country. On Friday, the day after SU announced the new clusters, Onondaga County recorded 99 new cases, its highest single-day jump in cases since the pandemic began. The recent clusters could result in a campus shutdown before students are scheduled to return home for winter break, Hradsky and Maldonado said. During the university’s last cluster of cases, SU suspended all in-person student activities with the exception of classes and intercollegiate athletics for a little over a week. mehicks@syr.edu

2 nov. 2, 2020

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PAG E 3

nov. 2, 2020

state

on campus

Katko, Balter compete for NY-24 House seat SU to host election events this week By Mira Berenbaum asst. copy editor

As Election Day approaches, Syracuse University has several events planned for students to engage in and discuss the 2020 election. Here’s a rundown of several discussions, panels and lectures that will take place virtually and in person over the next few days:

Election dialogue sessions when: Nov. 1 to Nov. 6 at varying times where: Zoom

Democrat Dana Balter is running against Rep. John Katko, a three-time incumbent, to represent New York’s 24th Congressional District. Balter was a professor at SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. max freund staff photographer By Mira Berenbaum asst. copy editor

Democrat Dana Balter is running against three-time incumbent Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) to represent New York’s 24th Congressional District. Katko defeated Balter by about 6% in the 2018 congressional race for the district, which includes Onondaga, Wayne and Cayuga counties and parts of Oswego County. With two days until Election Day, here’s everything you need to

know about the state of the race:

A tight race

Balter and Katko are tied at 45%, according to an Oct. 25 poll by Siena College and Syracuse.com. A previous poll in early October had Balter leading by two percentage points. Balter leads by over 30 percentage points in the city of Syracuse and by about five percentage points in Onondaga County, according to the Oct. 25 poll. Katko leads by about 20% in areas outside of Onondaga County.

The poll also found that Balter has greater support among women voters while Katko leads among men. A greater percentage of Katko voters plan to vote in-person on Election Day, while Balter’s supporters are more likely to have voted by mail or in-person through early voting.

Rematch

In the 2018 Congressional election, Katko led by over 20% in Cayuga and Wayne counties and parts of Oswego county. Balter won a slim majority in Onondaga

County, earning about 50.2% of votes. Balter conceded the election to Katko and publicly announced her defeat on Election Night. Polls from Siena College, Syracuse.com and Spectrum News from the 2018 election predicted Katko’s victory over Balter by about 15 percentage points, 10 points more than Katko’s actual margin of victory. While Balter led the poll within the city of Syracuse, Katko was predicted to win every county in the district. see congress page 4

student association

SA aims to restore Posse LA scholarships By Alexandra Pollack staff writer

Student Association is working to reinstate the Posse Scholarship program for students from Los Angeles. The Posse Foundation offers fulltuition scholarships to high school students from underrepresented backgrounds. SU’s Posse scholarships program currently offers scholarships exclusively to students from Miami, though it also offered them to students from Los Angeles and Atlanta until the university cut those programs in 2015. SA President Justine Hastings and Vice President Ryan Golden promised to reinstate the Posse Los Angeles and Atlanta programs during their campaign. “I don’t know why Posse LA and Atlanta were cut,” Hastings said. “I recently met with Keith Alford, SU’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, who works closely with Posse Miami and he is not sure why either.” Hastings and Golden will meet with Ryan Williams, vice president for enrollment management, to discuss bringing back the Posse Los Angeles program, Hastings said. SU’s decision to cut the programs raises concerns about the universi-

ty’s priorities and its commitment to enrolling underrepresented students, she said. Williams has said in the past that any money saved by reducing SU’s involvement with Posse would be put toward other forms of financial aid including both merit and need-based financial aid. Besides increasing diversity among SU students, Posse serves as a valuable support system for students who may otherwise not have one, said SA Comptroller Julio Burgos, who is a Posse scholar. Burgos, a senior studying economics, came to SU through the Posse Miami program. Posse Scholars are nominated prior to their high school senior year and undergo a rigorous interview process before being admitted to the program, he said. “When you get into the school with a full-tuition scholarship, it is tremendous,” Burgos said. “Most people cannot afford Syracuse. It is a lot of help.” Aside from the financial assistance the Posse Foundation has provided him, Burgos said having a faculty mentor has enhanced his experience at SU. “You meet with your mentor at

SU’s Student Activism Engagement Team and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host a series of informal dialogue sessions about the election. During the sessions, which are facilitated by students and staff, participants will share their perspectives on how the election will impact the country.

Facilitated dialogues and roundtable discussion when: Monday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. where: Zoom Seven SU professors who will lead a “small group dialogue” about several political issues that this year’s election will hinge on. The discussion’s participants include Kristen Barnes, a law professor who teaches courses in voting rights law; Kenneth Baynes, a philosophy professor in the College of Arts and Sciences; Jeffery Gonda, an associate professor of history; Jennifer Grygiel, an assistant professor of communications; Nina Kohn, a professor of law; James Steinberg, a professor of social science; and Margaret Thompson, an associate professor of history and political science.

Election Eve: What to Expect & Difficult Conversations when: Monday at 7 p.m. where: Hybrid format, Zoom and Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium (sign up is required for in-person attendance) The Newhouse School of Public Communications will host a hybrid panel discussion as part of the school’s 2020 election series. Hub Brown, an associate dean in Newhouse, will moderate the discussion featuring Scott MacFarlane, an SU alumnus and investigative reporter at News4, and Anne Osborne, a professor of communications at Newhouse.

Informal drop-in conversations with SU faculty Syracuse University officials cut funding for the Los Angeles portion of the Posse program in 2015. will fudge staff photographer

when: Tuesday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. where: Zoom

least once a week freshman and sophomore year because they help with the transition from high school to college,” Burgos said. “It is not only students but also very helpful SU administrators that make the student-faculty relationship better.” Posse scholars have access to extensive career services, including a career development coach that connects scholars to different resources.

David Driesen, a professor in the College of Law, Christopher Faricy, an associate professor of political science, and Shana Garidian, an associate professor and chair of political science, will lead virtual conversations for students about the election and different political issues.

As Hastings and Golden work to restore the Posse Los Angeles program, Burgos said he would encourage all eligible students in Miami to apply to the Posse program. “I personally have had a great experience, and there is nothing I can see improvements with,” Burgos said. “I took advantage of all of the resources given to me. It is a great program with great people.” azpollac@syr.edu

Find more election events at dailyorange.com

4 nov. 2, 2020

from page 1

hawkins encourage more Green Party candidates to run for local office and to put issues on the public agenda that Democratic and Republican candidates usually ignore. “I’m definitely trying to help and support our local candidates,” Hawkins said. Hawkins advocates for a federal plan to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat economic inequality. He campaigned on such a platform during his 2010 run for governor of New York, a race he lost to then-state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Hawkins also supports an economic Bill of Rights, which would guarantee rights to employment, health care, affordable housing and a stable income. He also calls for a 75% cut in defense spending. “There are issues that need real solutions, and the Green Party offers them,” he said. “It’s important to build a party and a movement around those issues and those policies.” His running mate is Angela Walker, a truck driver and activist living in South Carolina whom he picked because of her longtime activism. Walker, who was the Socialist Party’s 2016 vice presidential nominee, agreed to run with Hawkins from page 1

weber law enforcement classes at Onondaga Community College, he came to believe the best way to do that was to become a police officer. After working for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, Weber said becoming a DPS officer allowed him to get to know students and faculty in the SU community on a more personal level.

The citizens of any community should be the eyes and ears for the law enforcement Ed Weber candidate for new york state

“What I really enjoyed was the students themselves and the faculty, getting to know them and what their needs are,” Weber said. “In the regular law enforcement job, you don’t get to know too much.” If elected, Weber wants to tackle issues related to law enforcement. He believes communities need to become more proactive in addressing the underlying issues that contribute to crime rather than only responding to crime when it happens. Weber, who grew up on the Northside of Syracuse, said he also wants to implement more diversity training for Syracuse Police Department officers and review police use of force politics in the state of New York. “You should put yourself in that person’s shoes and figure out a way that you can help from page 3

congress Previous experience

Both Balter and Katko have ties to Syracuse University. Katko, a graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law, served as a federal prosecutor for 20 years before he was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2014. He was a senior trial attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission before working at the Department of Justice. He later returned to Camillus and worked in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of New York. Katko ser ved in the criminal division of the Justice Department and held positions such as narcotics chief, coordinator of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and grand jury coordinator. He retired from the department in January 2013 to begin his congressional campaign. Balter, a former professor in SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has worked as the director of education at a disability services nonprofit organization and as a teacher.

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

because she was impressed by the Green Party’s commitment to resolving environmental issues. Hawkins would be an excellent president because of his diplomacy skills and his respect for different cultures and opinions, she said. “He’s an encyclopedia of knowledge about ecological issues, foreign policy, economics and so many other things,” Walker said. “He brings a thoroughness and open mindedness to his work that would be welcome assets in the Oval Office.” Growing up in San Francisco, California, Hawkins became passionate about the environment after witnessing pollution in Silicon Valley. In the 1960s, Hawkins participated in the civil rights movement and protested the Vietnam War. He later co-founded the Clamshell Alliance, an organization that opposed nuclear power and nuclear weapons. As part of his work with the Clamshell Alliance, Hawkins organized a large occupation of the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant construction site in New Hampshire, hoping to gain media attention and spark a larger antinuclear movement. “Pretty soon, people were pushing me forward to speak and what not,” Hawkins said. “So I began to see myself more as an activist, not just a participant.” Paul Gunter, a co-founder of the Clamshell them,” Weber said. “If you talk the situation out, you aren’t going to get hurt and the perpetrator isn’t going to get hurt.” Weber said the passage of New York’s Criminal Justice Bail Reform Act convinced him to run for office. The legislation, which was enacted in New York state last year, eliminated cash bail for people held before trial. Supporters of the law contend bail reform has helped reduce mass incarceration in New York state and offered a way out of pretrial detention for low-income detainees who couldn’t otherwise afford bail. Weber, though, feels the state passed the act without sufficient input from local law enforcement. Although New York has already rolled back parts of the law, Weber said it should be fully repealed. He wants to form a committee consisting of police officials, district attorneys, other government officials and community members to determine how cash bail should work in the state. Weber said he recognizes that each community has different needs, and he wants to be receptive and open to hearing those needs and finding a solution. Susan LaFex, who serves with Weber on the Geddes town council, said Weber is a “good listener” and respectful to everyone, including those he disagrees with, LaFex said. “He’s extremely aware of who he works for, which is the residents,” LaFex said. “When residents call or initiate an email, he always responds to them. He’s a good listener and a good speaker.” Weber also wants to create a program to encourage young adults, including SU students, to become involved in local politics, he said. “We need change periodically throughout our lives in government. We can’t have the same person in with some stale ideals,” Weber said. scalessa@syr.edu

She also attended graduate school at SU. After experiencing a serious concussion, Balter paused her education and finished her degree at SU after recovering. Following the 2016 election, Balter became involved in community organizing before launching her 2018 congressional campaign. She announced her 2020 campaign in April 2019.

NY-24 history

New York’s 24th Congressional District has changed hands between Democrats and Republicans several times in the past decade. Before Katko won the seat in 2014, Democrat Dan Maffei served as the district’s representative for one term. Richard Hanna, a Republican, preceded Maffei. Katko is also one of the few Republican congressional representatives in New York to retain a seat in a district carried by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Former president Barack Obama won the district in both the 2008 and 2012 elections. If elected, Balter would be the first woman to represent New York’s 24th Congressional District. mlberenb@syr.edu @BerenbaumMira

Alliance who has worked with Hawkins for almost two decades, said Hawkins’ work with the alliance has prepared him to be president. “The Clamshell Alliance built itself on the principles of democracy, which included sharing responsibilities and a leader that actively engages with the constituent,” Gunter said. “Those are all qualities Howie had early training in.”

There are issues that need real solutions, and the Green Party offers them Howie Hawkins green party presidential candidate

Hawkins became further involved in politics in the 1980s, and in 1984, he was invited to a Green Party organizing meeting. His first campaign with the party was for a seat on the Syracuse Common Council in 1993. He also ran for mayor of Syracuse in 2017, a race he lost to independent candidate Ben Walsh. Mark Dunlea, a longtime member of the

Green Party and one of the party’s co-founders in New York, said Hawkins is one of the most educated and understanding people he knows. “He just identifies with the average person,” Dunlea said. “I just always really felt that most people really did not have any understanding of the challenges that low-income and moderate-income Americans face. And Howie, he understands, and I think that’s important.” Hawkins also supports increased contact tracing, rapid testing and quarantining to combat the coronavirus. He would champion financial relief for people from marginalized communities whom the virus has disproportionately affected. As the election approaches, Hawkins has come to grips with the unlikelihood of him winning the presidency this year. He plans to write manuals after the election for other Green Party candidates who run for office, with the goal of expanding the party and getting thousands of Green Party candidates elected into local offices. “I’m as committed as ever,” Hawkins said. “I’m fighting mad, given that we don’t have real solutions to these life or death issues. And whatever happens on November 3, we just gotta keep going.” akweiss@syr.edu @abbyweiss_21

ED WEBER hopes to improve relationships between communities and law enforcement and supports diversity training for SPD officers. emily steinberger photo editor

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OPINION

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PAG E 5

nov. 2, 2020

column

New York’s COVID-19 vaccination plan has inherent flaws By Micaela Warren columnist

ov. Andrew Cuomo recently released his draft plan for vaccinating New Yorkers for the coronavirus. He admitted in a call with reporters, “I believe this is going to be the hardest operational challenge that we’ve faced since COVID began.” These are unsettling words to hear. Maybe the task wouldn’t be such a challenge if his plan was better. The governor has taken a strong stance on COVID-19 procedures and, for the most part, his work should be applauded. His plans have flattened the curve of infections and have doubtlessly saved lives. He’s frequently been contrasted against President Donald Trump, who Cuomo frequently attacks for lacking leadership during the pandemic. Cuomo’s recent vaccination plan looks great on paper, but the followthrough could be extremely long and sloppy. The plan, released on Oct. 18, consists of vaccinating New Yorkers in five phases organized by how atrisk people are for dying of COVID19, similar to the state’s reopening

While built on a foundation of good intentions, New York’s plan for vaccinating against COVID-19 has too many uncertainties. So many that Cuomo admitted it himself. emily steinberger photo editor

plan. The first group to be vaccinated would be health care workers, as well as the employees and most at-risk patients of long-term care facilities. The last group would be children and healthy adults. But his rhetoric around recovery

hasn’t always been confident. When SUNY Oneonta closed for two weeks due to COVID-19, Cuomo said “he can’t guarantee that it will be the only school that has to close.” A few days later, SUNY Oneonta shut down for the semester and sent all of

its students home. Cuomo’s uncertainty to reporters is bewildering, given that his draft plan starts with a quote from him that states, “What do we want to accomplish in New York? We should have the best vaccination program

in the United States of America.” It’s great to aim for the best possible solution, but Cuomo is switching between being overly confident and overly unsure. This creates a confusing dynamic for New Yorkers. The governor has openly said the vaccination process is a long road. He said in a press conference that, “the vaccine period is not when they announce the vaccine,” meaning that it will take a very long time for the majority of Americans to be vaccinated even if the vaccine comes out in January. Unlike some of the other COVID19 plans, we have had plenty of time to prepare, and we may have a few more months before a vaccine is ready. This gives ample time to create a plan that leaders and their constituents can be confident in. Hopefully Cuomo’s draft plan will stay a draft, and it can soon be clarified and amended to ensure all New Yorkers have quick and easy access to a COVID-19 vaccination. Micaela Warren is a freshman communication and rhetorical studies major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at mgwarren@syr.edu

column

Mail-in voting problems could help Republicans in election By Skylar Swart columnist

ith the 2020 election occurring during a global pandemic, a recession and a polarized political climate, the last thing residents need to worry about is whether their ballots will count. Although five states have been voting by mail exclusively for years, mail-in ballots are relatively new to a majority of voters and offer plenty of room for flaws. Mail-in ballots differ from going to the polls in a few ways, depending on the state. Voters in some states must request their ballot by mail and wait weeks for just the application process to start. Some states even require voters to cite why they can’t vote in person before they can receive their ballot. Fortunately, 34 states and Washington, D.C. allow residents to vote by mail for any reason. These ballots also have more requirements than voting at the polls. Voters must read the long set of complex directions carefully before submitting their ballot, as any small mistake can invalidate their vote. Most states ask voters to sign and seal

the envelope, and some even mandate that voters place and seal ballots in a second envelope. Five states even require a witness to be present while a voter signs the envelope to ensure there’s no possibility of voter fraud. While all these extra steps are good to prevent voter fraud, they make it much more likely that a voter will make a mistake and invalidate their vote. Given that an increasing number of people voting by mail are more likely to support Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, these discounted votes could narrow the lead that Biden seems to be sporting in the polls. These easily overlooked requirements could have a huge influence over states such as Pennsylvania and North Carolina, where it could swing in Biden or President Donald Trump’s favor by a narrow margin. Steven White, an assistant professor of political science at Syracuse University, agrees that these requirements make it harder to vote by mail and easier to invalidate a ballot. They could also be helping Republicans and hurting Democrats, he said. “I think some Republicans do perceive… (mail-in voting) being designed to prevent fraud, but I don’t

think fraud is such a widescope problem. So I think, in a sense, that there is an effort to make voting harder under the assumption that it helps the Republican party and hurts Democrats,” he said. Although Trump claims that voter fraud is a big problem in the 2020 election, small mistakes by voters or local boards of elections will be a larger problem. Some states have sent out the incorrect ballot to residents or have sent ballots to people who have died, but they’re learning from these mistakes and diligently working to ensure that each resident casts one vote. Even though voter fraud is extremely rare, his strong encouragement against mail-in ballots may still work in his favor. If Republican voters believe him and go to the polls instead of risking their mail-in vote being invalidated, the scales may tip in crucial districts. How mail-in voting affects an election’s results also presents cause for concern. Some states refuse to begin counting votes until Election Day, meaning that results will definitely not be released the night of Nov. 3. Results could take days to come in, and once

guest column

Rachel May is a climate champion By Our reader

entral New York is home to some of the world’s most precious freshwater resources. Skaneateles Lake is so clean that Syracuse residents have been able to drink its water unfiltered. But our fresh water is vulnerable. In my own backyard, Cazenovia Lake has experienced harmful algal blooms over the past several years, as have many of the Finger Lakes. Climate change and efforts by the federal government to roll back clean water protections are twin threats to our stewardship of water resources. In the face of these threats, it is important that we do everything in our power to protect our environment. Fortunately, those of us in the 53rd

Senate District are represented by an environmental champion, State Sen. Rachel May. Before she ran for office, May built a career around environmental advocacy. An alumna of SUNY-ESF, she served as Syracuse University’s director of sustainability education, and she helped push the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency to build a state-of-the-art food composting facility. Since she was elected in 2018, May has emerged as one of the Democratic majority’s strongest voices on environmental issues. She was a leader in shaping the landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, an ambitious plan for tackling climate change. She helped make the state’s ban on fracking permanent.

Her leadership was recently recognized by Environmental Advocates Action, which named her their Legislator of the Year for 2020. There are many other reasons to support May. As a Madison County resident, I appreciate the fact that she has worked hard to become familiar with our rural county and its issues. And I am glad, as many of her constituents are, that she has made environmental progress a major focus during her first term in Albany. I urge my neighbors in the 53rd District to support her on Election Day and send her back to Albany for another term. Kristi Andersen Professor Emeritus, Political Science Syracuse University

With mail-in ballots, specific requirements and complex forms may tip the scales in Republicans’ favor. emily steinberger photo editor

they are received, it’s unclear whether Trump will accept a potential victory for Biden or claim voter fraud as the reason for a “rigged election.” When asked in the first presidential debate whether he would accept the results of this election no matter who won, Trump refused to answer and claimed he wanted to keep people in suspense. He did state, however, that he would accept the results if he won. The notion of “rigged” mail-in ballots could put the country in an uproar pending the results of the election. Trump may call for voting

recounts and evaluations unlike anything voters have seen since the 2000 election and infamous Bush v. Gore fiasco in the Supreme Court. Although mail-in ballots present flaws to the system, hopefully both candidates can accept these flaws and the election’s results with integrity, and after 2020, we can look back and fix the flaws we do find. Skylar Swart is a sophomore political science major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at saswart@syr.edu. She can be followed on Twitter at @SkylarSwart

from the editors

Opinion wants to hear your experience on voting By Nick Robertson, Cori Dill, Jewel Jackson

the daily orange editorial staff

he Daily Orange’s Opinion section is interested in amplifying students’ perspectives on the 2020 presidential, state and local elections. We’re asking Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF students to submit 300- to 800-word personal essays about the 2020 election. Personal essays describe your lived experiences and unique points of view. We want to know how this election and its aftermath is affecting you, as well as what your experience

voting was like. College students are the future of this country, and the outcome of Nov. 3 will greatly impact us. When it comes to this election, your voice is important. We want to make sure it’s heard. If you’d like to submit a piece about your experiences with the 2020 election, you can find the full requirements for personal essay submissions at dailyorange. com/about. If you have additional questions, please contact opinion@dailyorange.com.

Nick Robertson | Editorial Editor Jewél Jackson Asst. Editorial Editor Cori Dill | Asst. Editorial Editor

CULTURE

PAG E 6

nov. 2, 2020

dailyorange.com culture@dailyorange.com

Taking form

IKERSON HOPPER is an artist from the Onondaga Nation who has been practicing different forms of art, such as graphic design and traditional dancing, since his childhood. courtesy of ikerson hopper

By Gavi Azoff

Ikerson Hopper, an artist from the Onondaga Nation, creates Haudenosaunee and Polynesian-inspired art

asst. copy editor

n late elementary school, artist and graphic designer Ikerson Hopper would get in trouble with his teachers for drawing on himself with gel pens. Throughout the rest of his time in school, Hopper only got more interested in art, eventually leading to his career as an artist. Hopper is an artist from the Onondaga Nation who has been practicing different forms of art, including graphic design and traditional dancing since his childhood, which he attributes to having parents who studied fine arts in college. He also collaborates with ArtistsUntold, an online see artist page 8

slice of life

Students, alumni perform ‘Music and Message’ concert By Abigail Weber

contributing writer

Four members of the Hendricks Chapel Choir began their rendition of Syracuse University’s alma mater. The four were socially distanced and gowned in deep blue robes, but their voices blended from behind their masks. The quartet was a part of “Music and Message,” a weekly series held

by Hendricks Chapel on Sundays from 4-5 p.m. Livestreamed on Zoom, this week’s installment was a special program for Orange Central, SU’s annual alumni celebration, and featured performances of words and songs by students and alumni. Dean of Hendricks Chapel Brian Konkol began the program with welcoming remarks and a reminder of the series’ theme. Chosen for its importance “in the midst of unprec-

We need the feelers to feel for us to assure us of our beauty and to point out our brokenness Brian Konkol dean of hendricks chapel

edented times,” the theme was “Beauty/Brokenness.” To Konkol, this means acknowledging how beauty can be seen in brokenness, and how things often are seen as beautiful can be broken, too. “By exploring such paradox, we explore the role of joy, grief, celebration, and sorrow within the human experience,” Konkol said. Following Konkol’s welcome, SU senior Megan Wilcox stepped up

to the microphone to sing “Life is but a Dream” by composer Adam Guettel. She took deep breaths through her floral mask as she belted out the tune. Accompanying pianist and university organist Anne Laver stayed on stage as the program’s second soloist, Ian Purcell, replaced Wilcox. Purcell, an SU freshman, performed the song “Neverland” from see concert page 8

Beyond the

hill dailyorange.com @dailyorange nov. 2, 2020

Creating space

Located in the Hawley-Green district neighborhood, ArtHouse Alliance is a cultural hub. During COVID-19, it has implemented virtual events such as a writing workshop. sarah lee asst. photo editor

By Mandy Kraynak

culture editor

oan Farrenkopf felt that one house in the Hawley-Green district was beckoning to her. It was across the street from a house she restored in the ‘70s. Later, when she was restoring houses in that neighborhood after completing her undergraduate degree, the same house stood out to her. “I looked at that house and said, ‘That’s it — that’s the culmination of my life’s work,” Farrenkopf said. “It seemed destined to be something.” Now, the house at 210 Green St. on Syracuse’s Northside is home to the ArtHouse Alliance, a cultural hub for artists that strives to use art to solve social issues. It has housed several artists, including violinist Laura Bossert. The house has also held artists from other countries who wanted to study at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music and is currently looking for its next round of residents, said Farrenkopf, the founder of ArtHouse. During the coronavirus pandemic, the ArtHouse has implemented virtual programs, including an Instagram Live tour of the house and a writing workshop, as well as a youth art program with COVID-19 precautions. ArtHouse hosted a virtual workshop Sunday on fiction, creative nonfiction and memoir writing led by Dana Spiotta, an author and associate professor of English at SU. Kaitlyn Wheeler, the special projects manager at ArtHouse, said there are not a lot of writing groups in Syracuse that are open for anyone in the

The ArtHouse serves as cultural hub, hosts virtual writing workshop community to join. Before the workshop, Wheeler said she was looking forward to meeting the participants, which included people from SU, Le Moyne College, a Syracuse veterans group and ArtHouse. “The goal was to create a very diverse group of people here in the Syracuse area and get to know them and create an open community for the writing workshop,” she said. Community workshops like this connect people from diverse backgrounds, ages and experiences, Spiotta said. Virtual workshops with a small group can work just as well as in-person workshops and that the atmosphere serves as a “counter to the news of the noise and social media,” she said. The workshop also has the potential to turn into a writing group through ArtHouse. Farrenkopf hopes that the participants in the writing workshop will want to continue to meet and share their work. “The idea of the workshop is to continue later with the potential of this group, if they have interest, of keeping ties and allowing themselves to share what they’re writing if they like or have a reading that would be published by The ArtHouse

and people could see what they’re doing,” Farrenkopf said. Virtual programming allows people who may not have access to transportation to attend, but it is more difficult to get to know the participants at the same level as the online format, Wheeler said. ArtHouse has been able to use virtual programming to reach a broader and even global audience, Farrenkopf said. Her experience interviewing artists at the Venice Biennale has led her to have “a global viewpoint of the arts,” she said. “And it seemed like the pandemic just pushed us into really our second year of having to recreate our entire mission and that was about how we reach people, period,’’ Farrenkopf said. “It is about geography. It is about upstate New York. But it’s also global.” Through the ArtHouse Delivers program, the organization has also delivered art supplies to people’s doorsteps and talked with them over the phone about the art projects they plan to create. ArtHouse also has a youth art program called S.A.L.O.N. (Shining a Light on Neighborhoods) led by Rhonda Davis, in which students create art based on their visions of their neighborhood. “I think the thing about ArtHouse is because its mission isn’t merely about objects — it’s about community — that we can thrive through our virtual events,” Farrenkopf said. “We can still do what we see as important as far as the relationship with the arts and healing our community and connecting us to a regional as well as global scene.” ackrayna@syr.edu

•

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dailyorange.com culture@dailyorange.com

from page 6

artist apparel line that partners with Black and underrepresented artists to promote their work. “It’s a good opportunity to not only have my work showcased but also to work with a great organization such as themselves, and I’m happy to be a part of that,” Hopper said. Hopper first discovered graphic design through Native Stitches, a clothing company his mom worked for. His interest in the arts continued throughout high school, and he went on to study graphic design at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. Hopper’s artistic skills are not just limited to graphic design. His artistry includes carvings, quillwork and tattoo design, and he likes to broaden his variety of different styles and techniques, he said.

I haven’t come across anyone quite like him in terms of the amount of detail that he does and how precise it is Lauren McComber

lotus + sage holistics owner

Polynesian and Haudenosaunee artwork inspired Hopper’s drawings and tattoo designs. While living in Hawaii for two and a half years, Hopper picked up on Polynesian designs and patterns. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Hopper spent time working on independent projects in different areas of art, said his girlfriend, Kimberly Veitch. “As an artist, he’s also an innovator because he’s always trying new things and creating new products that people haven’t necessarily seen or haven’t been able to purchase,” Veitch said. “I think he’s definitely a visionary and innovative artist.” Elements of Hopper’s work come from his life experiences, Veitch said. He often chal-

Hopper discovered graphic design through the clothing company Native Stitches and has made designs for lacrosse gloves. courtesy of ikerson hopper from page 6

concert

NEWHOUSE SCHOOL’S

the Broadway musical “Finding Neverland.” The camera panned from Purcell to Laver on piano, who bobbed her head to the music as her fingers scaled the keys. Purcell dipped his head slightly to bow as the piano music drifted to an end. Returning to the stage once more, Konkol made remarks regarding the “Beauty/Brokenness” theme of the program series. He said that life and society have been complicated, especially this year. People cannot be perfect and should live in service “to our common good,” he said.

“Brokenness is only one side of a more complex and complete coin,” Konkol said. “We do make mistakes, but we ourselves are not a mistake.” His words followed into a short speech from Jessie Mueller, a Tony award-winning Broadway performer who graduated from SU in 2005. Throughout her talk, Mueller leaned into the camera to speak to her audience. Mueller explained how she had time to think about the purpose of her voice in the industry as the pandemic shut down Broadway theaters. “People are looking to artists because sometimes it’s all too much,” Mueller said. “We need the feelers to feel for us to assure us of our

lenges himself to see what he can do. Along with creating art based on requests from customers, Hopper works with ArtistsUntold. Hopper met Jordan Abdur-Raoof, the founder of ArtistsUntold, through a mutual friend. Abdur-Raoof described Hopper’s work as unique and said that “his stuff sells like wildfire.” ArtistsUntold sells clothing such as sweatshirts and T-shirts with some of Hopper’s designs. Hopper also has an Instagram account where he shares his work. Lauren McComber, the owner of Lotus + Sage Holistics was scrolling through Instagram when she came across one of his graphic designs that resonated with her: a cornhusk doll wearing regalia with a red hand over her mouth. McComber loves how Hopper’s work depicts Kahnawá:ke culture and is able to convey emotion. She sees cultural pride in his art pieces and has never come across art quite like his, she said. “I haven’t come across anyone quite like him in terms of the amount of detail that he does and how precise it is. And yet, how it’s able to convey emotion and stir emotion in the person,” she said. Hopper is the only artist she has met who is involved in social causes and giving back, as well as building a sense of community, McComber said. She described him as a humble and caring person who has a strong sense of identity. Hopper made shirts bringing awareness to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement in the United States and Canada and donated a large portion of the sales from the shirts to the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. Hopper’s work connects people within his community to the people outside of it, Veitch said. Veitch is not Indigenous and didn’t know much about Indigenous history and culture for several years, she said. “It’s so important for all of us who occupy this space to understand the history and the meaning behind these people’s experiences and their culture,” Veitch said “(Hopper) does that in such a great way that he connects people. He has the ability to leave a legacy behind for people not only in his community but people beyond.” gfazoff@syr.edu

beauty and to point out our brokenness.” SU alumna Leslie DiNicola then performed her song “In Search of Love.” DiNicola sang remotely in a studio and was accompanied by an acoustic guitar player. Throughout her performance, DiNicola’s voice chimed out high notes through a microphone. The Hendricks Chapel Choir brought the program full circle, returning to their same socially distanced positions to perform “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” by Peter Lutkin. Starting quietly and calmly, the choir gradually built their voices, adding harmonies until their voices were at their strongest. aweber02@syr.edu

Monday, Nov. 2, 7p.m. EST

Election Eve: What to Expect & Difficult Conversations

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7p.m. EST

The Day After: What’s Next? Breaking Down the Election Register: bit.ly/nh-2020-election-series

As part of its “Music and Message” series, Hendricks Chapel hosted a virtual Orange Central concert on Sunday featuring performances from students and alumni. dan lyon staff photographer

nov. 2, 2020 9

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from page 12

virginia Jarrett breezed past Alina Miagkova and dribbled around Lindsey Brick to rifle a shot just over the crossbar. The move was a sign of things to come. Just eight minutes in, a Cavaliers’ through ball split Miagkova and Brick, and Jarrett was in on goal. Jarrett’s square ball to Alexa Spaanstra led to an easy tap in, and it was 1-0 to the Cavaliers. Miagkova swapped sides with Clarke Brown after the goal, but that didn’t stop UVA, as the Cavaliers’ scored on their very next shot. Another through ball, this time on the right side of the field, split Miagkova and Tivnan and found its way to Anna Sumpter. The midfielder held off Brick and fired in at the near post to give the Cavaliers a twogoal lead. In just the first 10 minutes, UVA recorded two goals on five shots, while the Orange managed just one shot.

I would be lying if I said I’m okay with a 1-7 record and I’m not Nicky Adams su women’s soccer head coach

“We came out slow and they put two away on us early, and I think it kind of woke us up a bit, and we had (Lysianne Proulx) to save us on a lot,” Shannon Aviza said. Proulx continued to make saves to keep some hope of a Syracuse comeback alive. Sunday marked the sixth time this season that Proulx has had to make at least nine saves. She finished with 73 saves on the season this game, securing the Syracuse record for saves per game with 9.13. The record had stood for 14 years, when Candice Hofmann recorded 7.60 saves per game in 2006. The two goals seemed to wake the Orange up, as they found some momentum

After a 5-3 loss to No. 10 Virginia on Sunday, Syracuse ended the 2020 season with five goals scored and just one win the worst year in program history. corey henry senior staff photographer

halfway through the first half. Just over a minute after UVA’s second goal, the Orange won a free-kick near the Virginia box. Brick’s ensuing free kick found the head of Tivnan, who scored her second goal in as many games. Syracuse’s celebrations were muted, as the team huddled near midfield while the Orange attempted to rally and find another goal. As the first half continued, the teams entered a stalemate that wasn’t broken until the 31st minute. There was a similar strike to the Cavalier’s second goal, as this time Diana Ordonez held off Tivnan and scored with a deft touch over Proulx. But the Orange stormed back again seven minutes later with another

set-piece, as a corner originally aimed for Tivnan found its way to an unmarked Aviza, who headed the ball in. Syracuse pressed for an equalizer after the goal made the score 3-2, but the halftime whistle saw a one-win Syracuse team down only one goal to the ranked Cavaliers. “We were able to put away two goals and really stay in it, 3 to 2 against Virginia, against one of the nationally-ranked teams,” Aviza said. “But coming out in the second half, I don’t think we started with that same energy again, and we were punished for it.” If the first half provided a glimpse into a promising future for a rebuilding Syracuse

team, the second half was a harsh reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Outshot 9-2 in the second half, Syracuse didn’t test the Virginia net until the 84th minute and couldn’t create any set-piece opportunities that provided the two goals in the first half until Hostage’s penalty in the dying seconds of the game. “I’m not happy that we won one game,” Adams said. “You look back on the season and again, we have put 45-minute games together throughout — Louisville, Boston College, Pitt — if you can’t put 90 together, you’re not gonna win games. I would be lying if I said I’m okay with a 1-7 record, and I’m not.” gshetty@syr.edu

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women’s soccer

Orange score 3 goals on set pieces in loss to Virginia By Cameron McKeon staff writer

Lindsey Brick stationed herself in her usual position by the corner flag while Jenna Tivnan prepared to once again angle a header on net. The hard corner kick sailed right by Tivnan’s head, which usually would’ve meant a missed opportunity for Syracuse. But this time, an airborne Shannon Aviza headed the ball toward the back post, where it eluded Virginia goalkeeper Cayla W hite. The target on the play was Tivnan, Aviza said, but she was able to step in unmarked and score after seeing it go over her head. “We have been working really hard on those set pieces, and I’m glad we had some production from them,” head coach Nicky Adams said. Set pieces — which are goals scored on a free kick, corner kick and penalty kick — were part of the game plan for Adams and Syracuse going into the contest against a top-10 Virginia team, Adams said. Syracuse (1-7, 1-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) entered with two goals on the season but managed to register three against No. 10 Virginia (7-2-1, 5-2-1). Despite dropping the contest 5-3, the Orange’s newfound success on set pieces helped revive an offense that failed to score a goal in its first five games. “One of the weakest parts of (Virginia’s) game was defending set pieces, so we had been working on getting in the final third, trying to get (to the) end line to get corner kicks or get fouled so we had opportunities in the final third on those set pieces,” Adams said. Tivnan and Brick have been at the forefront of the recent offensive success and have confrom page 12

rodgers “Running for office is something that had been in my head as something I’d like to do,” Rodgers said. Campaigning as a Republican in New York’s 53rd Senate District comes with its challenges, Rodgers and campaign manager Ryan Frantzis said. The district is majority Democratic, and in a presidential year, getting people to vote against their party lines becomes a challenge. “I could dream about winning big,” Rodgers said. “But if we win, it’s going to be close. It’s just math.” His campaign signs don’t mention that he’s a Republican. They’re blue and orange, a reference to Rodgers’ time at Syracuse. At 29 years old, Rodgers believes he has unique advantages, including his youth. “Youth in politics is a good thing,” Rodgers said. “We need younger people in politics, we need more people in politics. If you look at the political scene, it’s all older people.” After Rodgers’ final year of law school, his summer associate position at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York City turned into a full-time job offer after he passed the bar exam. But he turned down the job. “If he went into the private sector, the first year salaries for big law, the base salaries are from page 12

emerman to his left out of the pocket, set his feet and found Ed Hendrix open for a 31-yard gain. Still, Babers said postgame not to put too much stock into that drive. WF was playing prevent defense, which allowed Morgan to find open receivers underneath. “Those guys are giving him those throws,” Babers said. “Pretty sure he didn’t get blitzed, that’s like throwing 7-on-7, not a real football game.” But Morgan took what the defense gave him, exactly what he’s supposed to do in that situation. Babers said Syracuse has to pare down the playbook with Morgan under center, and a more limited playbook lowers the offense’s ceiling. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t face a blitz, face an

nected on back-to-back Syracuse goals, the first being a game-winner against Miami and the second being the Orange’s initial goal in the 11th minute on UVA. Though one was a corner kick and the other was a free kick, the two goals were nearly the same: Tivnan strode into the box, leapt into the air, earned a good position and headed Brick’s set up into the back of the net. Tivnan’s goal cut the lead in half after Virginia managed to put across two within the first 11 minutes of the game. “Jenna Tivnan is one of the best players in the nation in the air — she is a weapon, and we have set specific plays to get her head on the ball. Brick has been serving balls everyday in practice so she can play them right on Jenna,” Adams said. Syracuse’s second goal came on the corner kick that Aviza stashed home, drawing the Orange within one to close out the half. The goal was the third this season coming from a defensive player. Two came from Tivnan and the last one from Aviza. In a slow second half, the Cavaliers pulled away from the Orange, stretching the lead to 5-2. A penalty within the box in the final 10 seconds of the game gave Syracuse another set piece opportunity, though. Redshirt junior Kate Hostage struck the ball, which was ticketed for the right side of the net. White guessed wrong and dove left, giving Syracuse its third set piece goal on the day. Hostage, who missed all of last season with an ACL tear, got on the board for her first goal of the season with just seconds left in the Orange’s. “We did put three goals up on set pieces, and that’s something that we were working on and something that we were trying to do,” Aviza said. Syracuse was efficient in the shot category, 190,000 dollars,” former teammate Julian Whigham said. “I asked him, ‘How do you make the decision to turn down that money and go into the public sector?’” Almost everyone in his class accepted fulltime offers. The recruiting director at the firm asked what Rodgers was doing instead. Rodgers didn’t know. He moved back to Syracuse with his wife, Jenna, who played soccer at SU and now works on athlete development for Syracuse Athletics. They bought a house, and Rodgers began pursuing his Masters of Public Administration from SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He met with local Republican officials and realized he wanted to run for local office. He searched to find out what seats might be a good fit for him to run for. He’d consider running in Syracuse, but trying to win as a Republican in a heavily Democratic area doesn’t work mathematically, he said. When Rodgers explored a possible run for New York State Senate in December 2019, he needed a campaign manager. He sent a Facebook message to Frantzis, who, like Rodgers, was new on the political scene. Frantzis met Rodgers that summer through Debra Cody, a Republican member of the Onondaga County Legislature in the fifth district. Frantzis had never managed a camoverload, he didn’t have a check,” Babers said. Well, let Morgan face a blitz. Let him try to read a defense. If he can’t do it, that’s OK. Let him make mistakes, because mistakes from Culpepper now do nothing but deflate SU. Morgan can learn from them. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound 3-star from Canton, Mississippi wasn’t a highly touted recruit, and he might not be Syracuse’s long-term answer. But he certainly has more of a chance of becoming a contributor in the QB room than the 23-year-old Culpepper. Regardless of Morgan’s viability as a starter, all the available evidence suggests he and Culpepper are far from opposites in ability. Starting Morgan isn’t controversial. It might be the Orange’s only move to compete now and see what’s in store for the future. dremerma@syr.edu @DannyEmerman

Syracuse scored a season-high three goals, but lost for the seventh time in its eight game season. corey henry senior staff photographer

getting off seven shots on goal on just eight shot attempts. The Orange also obtained three corner kicks in the first half. The team hasn’t scored three goals in a game since August 2019, when SU scored three in a shutout win over Siena.

Hostage’s penalty kick was too late to mount any late game momentum against Virginia, though. It was too little and far too late.

paign before. They launched their run in January, and Rodgers started his job as assistant district attorney for Madison County in March. Within a week of starting his part-time job there — litigating misdemeanors, meeting with victims and settling traffic tickets — the coronavirus pandemic moved his master’s classes and job online and halted his campaign’s ability to meet people in person. “Our plan was to get Sam in front of as many people as possible as often as possible,” Frantzis said. “COVID sent that plan into a tailspin.” The campaign held Zoom town halls and fundraisers, in addition to creating digital and social media advertising. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee partnered with Rodgers campaign but, by July, realized he had to get in front of more voters. Rodgers spent the summer knocking on more than 7,500 doors in the 53rd Senate District, wearing a mask and gloves when canvassing neighborhoods. On the trail, Rodgers said he’s had plenty of Democrats push back against him. He’s had Republicans ask why it’s not easy to find the word “Republican” on his campaign site. One person, he said, saw Rodgers in a blue polo when he knocked on their door and assumed he was a Democrat. When Rodgers informed him he was a Republican, the

person cursed him off his property, shouting obscenities. “There are times that I’ll go up to a door, and it’s a Joe Biden sign, and there’s a 50-50 chance I’m going to be yelled at,” Rodgers said. Rodgers is pushing to safely reopen the economy, and he wants to see businesses work more with government leaders to make more sensible regulations. He’s critical of May, the co-chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, and wants more accountability regarding New York’s COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes earlier this year. He uses his former role as the captain of the football team as the icebreaker on the campaign trail. In 2014, Whigham said the whole team cast votes to choose their team captain. Whigham voted for Rodgers. Former quarterback Terrel Hunt told Syracuse. com he would’ve voted for Rodgers twice, if he could’ve. Now, Rodgers said he needs Biden supporters to cross party lines if he wants a seat in Albany in January. “Because of his background as a football player, it’s one of the most unifying fields that you can come from,” Whigham said. “People from all different backgrounds play sports, and being able to bring us all to one issue is what has helped him.”

cbmckeon@syr.edu

amdabbun@syr.edu @AnthonyDabbundo

JACOBIAN MORGAN completed all seven of his passes for 57 yards and SU’s second touchdown of the game. courtesy of dennis nett | syracuse.com

SPORTS

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nov. 2, 2020

football

Former SU long snapper runs for state Senate Sam Rodgers looks to fill New York’s 53rd District seat

SAM RODGERS became Syracuse’s long snapper and a team captain in 2014 before attending Cornell Law School. Now, he’s running for a seat in the New York senate. courtesy of sam rodgers

By Anthony Dabbundo senior staff writer

am Rodgers sat in the basement of Cornell Law School making his final preparations for a mock trial competition. He was about to present his argument in front of student judges that day, on Super Bowl Sunday in 2018. He thought of his friend and fellow long snapper, Rick Lovato, who had beaten him for an NFL job the year prior before getting traded to the Philadelphia Eagles midseason. Lovato was playing in the Super Bowl that night. Months prior, the two were sharing the same practice field in Green Bay, Wiscon-

sin. Rodgers was Syracuse football’s equipment manager at the time, doing laundry and organizing gear for the team he captained the year prior. He was waiting for his chance at the NFL. A spot opened up a week after Lovato and Rodgers tried out, when the Packers long snapper tore his ACL. The Packers signed Lovato. Rodgers went back to the equipment room. “I was devastated. I was so close. I was one man away,” Rodgers said. In his first year of law school, he was passed over again by the Arizona Cardinals. One step away from his NFL dream, Rodgers was ready to move on. He shifted fully toward a law career, and maybe, he thought, politics. Three years later,

Rodgers is the Republican nominee for New York’s 53rd Senate District, running against incumbent State Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse). Rodgers was the Orange’s long snapper from 2011 to 2014. It’s not a highprofile position, and it’s not often that a long snapper is elected captain of the team. In his time at SU, he was one of two captain long snappers in FBS football. After a year in the equipment room postgraduation with some near-misses in the pros, Rodgers graduated from Cornell Law School and became the assistant district attorney in Madison County, a rural county east of Onondaga. see rodgers page 10

women’s soccer

SU cements worst season in history with loss By Gaurav Shetty staff writer

As the seconds ticked off the clock in the second half, Kate Hostage drove down the right side of Virginia’s box. Stumbling for a second, Hostage momentarily peered over at the referee, who shouted “play on.” The redshirt junior rose back to her feet to drive into the box, where she was tripped up again for a penalty. After a brief conversation with Jenna Tivnan, who had already

scored Sunday, Hostage stepped up to take the penalty kick. A quick run up sent Virginia goalkeeper Cayla White the wrong way as Hostage slotted the ball into the right side of the net. It was a moment of redemption for the redshirt junior, who returned this season from her second torn ACL and notched her first goal of the season with the spot-kick. But when the final whistle sounded just 10 seconds later, it was yet another loss. “I was hoping for a bit of a better

result for the seniors,” head coach Nicky Adams said. “It can be a very emotional game, and it can get the best of you or it can get the worst of you, and I think it was a combination of both for us.” On a cold, windy afternoon at the SU soccer stadium, Syracuse (1-7, 1-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) fell to No. 10 Virginia (7-2-1, 5-2-1 ACC) 5-3. In their program history, the Orange have never won fewer than three games, but in 2020’s shortened season, Syracuse picked up only one

win in eight games. Sunday was yet another game in which Syracuse showed glimpses of strong play but fell apart and gifted Virginia the lead. “I thought the first 15 minutes was completely poor on our part,” Adams said. “We were not ready to play. It could’ve been senior jitters or the emotion of the game, but I thought the first 15 minutes was poor.” The Orange started out poorly, as UVA almost scored directly from kickoff. Cavaliers’ winger Rebecca see virginia page 10

It’s time to start JaCobian Morgan Syracuse doesn’t have a quarterback controversy. It’s not a controversy when both options back you into a corner. There’s no real tension, no real stakes. Pick your poison. The Orange have nothing to lose. At 1-6, SU can’t put together a DANNY EMERMAN winning season, even with UBUNTU a turnaround for the ages. Two new coordinators, no spring practice, a plethora of injuries and several opt-outs sunk SU before the season really got going. Head coach Dino Babers and his players can say they want to run the table all they want, but SU needs to start turning its eyes to 2021 and beyond. That starts at the quarterback position, where it’s time to see what freshman JaCobian Morgan can do. Babers said after Saturday’s 38-14 home loss to Wake Forest that a decision at quarterback will come “down the road,” indicating Rex Culpepper will likely remain the starter. He replaced injured quarterback Tommy DeVito during the Duke game on Oct. 10 and has largely disappointed since. In three starts, all Syracuse losses, Culpepper has completed just 47.3% of his passes for 157 yards per game, five touchdowns and eight turnovers. “You have to look at every position,” Babers said. “With a handful of games left, the one thing I’m going to do is try to play for a winning season. The best way to have a winning season is to have as many upperclassmen as you can. Those guys care more about winning than anyone else.” For Culpepper, the sample size is significant enough and the evaluation is clear. How many more times does Culpepper need to throw a hanging duck on an out route that gets jumped by a defensive back before it’s clear he doesn’t have the arm strength? How many more times can he stare down receivers over the middle, leading them to get blown up by a linebacker? In three games with Culpepper as the starter, Syracuse has played two-and-a-half competitive quarters. All those competitive downs came against No. 1 Clemson. Culpepper’s inefficiency has hurt an SU offense scrambling for a steady arm. It’s not totally his fault. The lack of spring ball, plus taking second or third-team reps for the majority of his SU career, has likely made it extremely difficult to get on the same page as his receivers. But he’s just not the answer for this team, in this season from hell. Morgan, meanwhile, got his first real action with about seven minutes remaining against Wake Forest. He engineered a 80-yard touchdown drive, going 7-for-7 for 57 yards and nearly tripling Culpepper’s second half total (21 passing yards). On one play, Morgan ducked see emerman page 10