Nov. 5, 2020 by The Daily Orange

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THURSDAY, NOV. 5. 2020

DOWN TO THE WIRE Students anxious as presidential election comes down to key states

Former Vice President and SU College of Law alumnus Joe Biden leads in several key states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona, as others continue to count the final ballots. emily steinberger photo editor

By Sarah Alessandrini and Abby Weiss the daily orange

oommates Kathyrn Voler and Shockey Sanders were certain they wouldn’t know the results of the presidential election until days after polls closed. But they still watched the ballots being counted until 1 a.m. after Election Day. While polls across the country began closing around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, neither President Donald Trump nor former Vice President Joe Biden had been declared the winner as of early Thursday morning. Several states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, remained too close to call.

“(We) had a little dance party to celebrate the end of the world,” said Voler, a sophomore public relations major at Syracuse University. “Cause that’s what it feels like. Just everyone is nervous and freaking out.” Nearly all 50 states allowed residents to vote early or by mail in addition to coming to the polls in person on Election Day, causing delays in tallying votes for many states. Students said they felt anxious watching the votes come in Tuesday night and are still on edge waiting for the final results to arrive. This was the first presidential election that sophomores Elizabeth McAdoo and Zach Meyerson voted in. McAdoo stayed up until 2 a.m. watching the polls, but neither she nor Meyerson believed the country would have a winner by morning.

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Local races remain undecided without absentee ballots counted By Daily Orange News Staff

As the presidential election results come down to a few key states, some local and congressional races remain undecided until absentee ballots are counted next week. Onondaga County recorded close to 233,000 in-person votes before polls closed at 9 p.m. on Election Day, though the county board of elections may receive absentee ballots through Nov. 10. The county has already received

over 55,000 absentee ballots but will not be able to open them until Nov. 9, according to the board of elections. Though some local and national races will be decided by absentee ballots, here is a rundown of the results from in-person Election Day and early voting:

New York’s 24th Congressional District: Rep. John Katko (R-Camilus) is leading against Democratic chal-

lenger Dana Balter to represent New York’s 24th Congressional District. Katko has received about 57%, or 155,830, of the district’s in-person votes. Balter received about 40%, or 100,728, of in-person votes. Katko declared victory late Tuesday night, but Balter’s campaign announced Wednesday morning that she will not concede the race until the district’s nearly 70,000 absentee ballots are counted. About 20,000 more people in

Onondaga County voted in person for Katko instead of Balter. The three-term incumbent has received 94,979 of the county’s inperson votes, representing about 53% of ballots cast in person. Balter has received about 42%, or 74,072, of the votes. Despite Katko’s lead, the nearly 70,000 absentee ballots received as of Tuesday trend Democratic. Democrats returned slightly over 33,000 absentee ballots as of Tuesday night, while Republicans

returned about 16,600, Syracuse. com found. About 53,000 of the district’s absentee ballots were received in Onondaga County. Katko has represented the district since 2015. He’s pushed to find an alternative to the Affordable Care Act but has also opposed efforts to repeal legislation that lack a replacement plan. Balter previously worked as a professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and

see races page 4

2 nov. 5, 2020

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nov. 5, 2020

election 2020

Quarantining students lonely on Election Day Panelists discuss election, voting By Madison Tyler asst. copy editor

At least 220 Syracuse University students were in quarantine on Election Day, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard. Several of those students found ways to watch the election virtually with friends or family. emily steinberger photo editor By Mira Berenbaum asst. copy editor

Quarantine had already been difficult for Gaby Phillips. Not being able to be with her friends and family on Election Day only worsened her feelings of isolation. Phillips, a senior inclusive elementary and special education major, is one of at least 220 Syracuse University students who spent Election Day in quarantine. As SU’s campus and the country wait for final results to arrive, many of those students said watching the election unfold in isolation has been stressful. “It’s just uncertain if we’ll know the outcome by tonight or the following days, so it’s definitely hard to not be able to physically be with people,” Phillips said Tuesday. “It’s definitely a little bit lonely to be going through it alone.”

Like Phillips, senior Ally Peyton has found it difficult to be in quarantine on Election Day. Her classes provided a safe space to process her thoughts about the election, and her professors planned to talk about the election in class.

It is kind of interesting to be alone during such a big time in society Anna Levine sophomore psychology major

“It’s definitely difficult not being able to share my feelings with my roommates or anyone I would normally talk to,” said Peyton, a policy studies major. “I’m actually weirdly looking forward to my classes.”

Phillips has been following the news more closely while in quarantine, as there’s not much else she can do. Election-related news has been difficult for Peyton to avoid, but she’s tried to pay less attention to it. Brent Huot, a sophomore sports analytics major, spent most of his Election Day in quarantine checking Twitter and polling websites. Huot, Phillips and Peyton were all able to vote before they began their quarantines. Processing the election while in quarantine has also been difficult for Anna Levine, a sophomore psychology major. “It definitely hasn’t really settled in yet because the results aren’t in,” Levine said. “It is kind of interesting to be alone during such a big time in society.” Students in quarantine used virtual platforms to watch the election

with friends and family. Huot wanted to spend Election Night with friends in DellPlain Hall, where he lives. Now that he’s in quarantine, he planned to join a Zoom meeting with other friends who are also isolating. Levine planned to FaceTime with some friends to watch the election’s results come in. Phillips FaceTimed several of her friends and family members throughout Election Day. She and Peyton, who are roommates, also planned to have a virtual Netflix party with some of their other roommates to distract them from the uncertainty of the election. “I’m not focusing on things that are out of my control because, at the end of the day, I’ve done all I can, and now it’s just a waiting game,” Phillips said. “I’m just trying to do things that will help myself.” mlberenb@syr.edu

election 2020

Inmates in Auburn Correctional watch election By Gabe Stern

enterprise editor

AUBURN — The line to vote at Memorial City Hall in Auburn, a city in New York’s 24th Congressional District located 45 minutes southwest of Syracuse, had already formed by 6 a.m. Voter turnout remained steady throughout the day. One mile away at Auburn Correctional Facility, inmates watched the 2020 election unfold through wordof-mouth, phone calls with family, varying amounts of cable news and articles they downloaded on stateissued tablets. “This is the first time I would have ever voted. I don’t even think when Obama ran I would have voted,” said Cornell Flowers, an inmate from Syracuse who is in his 26th year of a 28-to-life sentence.

“It’s because you can actually see the change. You can actually see how the country has changed.” As the country watches results come in through televisions, inmates across New York state will gather the news from their cells. Inmates in state prisons across the country — with the exceptions of Maine and Vermont — are unable to vote. Their ability to follow the election depends not only on the facility, but also where they’re located within it. Flowers is in Auburn Correctional Facility’s honor block, a cell area in which inmates can take longer phone calls, have increased access to cable news and spend more time outside their cells than the majority of people in general population cells. The biggest reason Flowers would vote this year is because of see auburn page 4

In every state except for Vermont and Maine, inmates in state prisons are not allowed to vote. gabe stern enterprise editor

The 2020 election may have lasting effects on voting methods and social media activity during contentious political races, panelists in a post-Election Day panel at Syracuse University said Wednesday night. The panel, titled “The Day After: What’s Next? Breaking Down the Election,” featured Michelle Kinney, an SU alumnus and national press assistant for the Lincoln Project, David Klepper, a reporter for The Associated Press and Jennifer Grygiel, an assistant professor of communications at SU. The Newhouse School of Public Communications hosted the discussion as part of its 2020 election series. The panelists shared their perspectives on the current state of the election. As of Wednesday night, former Vice President and SU alumnus Joe Biden led President Donald Trump in several key states, including Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin. “At least from my vantage point and the work we are doing at the Lincoln Project, we feel really good about where we are going, and we see a Biden victory and perhaps even an announcement probably in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Kinney said. The Lincoln Project is a political action committee formed by former Republicans to oppose Trump’s re-election. AP still hasn’t called the overall race because millions of votes are still being counted in states such as Pennsylvania, where the process could take days or weeks, Klepper said. Trump filed lawsuits in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia on Wednesday to dispute the legitimacy of the ballot-counting process. The lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania allege that Trump’s campaign does not have sufficient access to spaces where ballots are being counted. The lawsuit in Georgia alleges that a poll worker at a ballot-counting station mixed processed and unprocessed absentee ballots. “We’re in this awkward waitand-see moment, which I think is strange for most Americans,” Klepper said. Grygiel called the election a “hot mess,” specifically in relation to social media. A significant amount of misinformation has begun to circulate on Twitter and Facebook, they said. People should be careful on YouTube in the days ahead because that’s where conspiracy theories and misinformation often spread, Grygiel said. They encouraged everyone to rely on trusted news sources. Both Kinney and Klepper agreed with Grygiel’s characterization of the spread of misinformation. Media outlets could do a better job explaining why it’s taking so long to count votes this year, Klepper said. More explanation of the vote-counting process in specific see panel page 4

4 nov. 5, 2020

from page 1

president “I went to bed before a lot of things were really secure,” Meyerson said. Voler has been consistently checking the Electoral College map to see which states each candidate wins. She’s accepted that there won’t be a clear winner right away and felt calmer on Wednesday than she did on Election Day. “It almost doesn’t feel like the election is happening,” Voler said. “You’re so used to finding out right when it happens. We don’t really know when we’ll know.” Senior Kyon Russell, though, said his nerves haven’t subsided at all since Election Day. While he had already been counting down the days to Tuesday, Russell said the wait now feels even longer. “The fact that it wasn’t decided definitively, it just adds to the tension because I feel like it’s just extending the whole thing. I wanted it to be over one way or the other,” he said. Russell, who is studying environmental science and biology, said this year’s election from page 1

races Public Affairs. Balter launched her campaign in 2019 after narrowly losing to Katko by 6 percentage points in 2018. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden endorsed Balter in August. Balter supports the Affordable Care Act and various police reform and criminal justice policies, including demilitarizing police departments. She also supports ending mandatory minimum sentencing and the use of private prisons and detention centers.

New York State Senate:

State Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse) is leading by only 136 votes in a close race for New York State Senate’s 53rd District. Both May and Republican Sam Rodgers held about 47% of the district’s votes. May has represented the district since 2019 and serves as chair of the state’s Senate Committee on Aging and the Commission on Rural Resources. She has co-sponsored legislation supporting environmental protection and women’s health care. Increasing funding for public schools and revitalizing Syracuse’s Interstate 81 corridor are priorities on her agenda. from page 3

auburn President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. If the country had a leader who responded to the pandemic earlier, it wouldn’t be in the position it is today, he said. Some inmates in general population cells follow along to election news on tablets, where they download articles from The Associated Press without pictures. Others catch glimpses of cable news during recreation time, when they often choose between a shower, phone call or workout. For months, recreation time was cut from three hours to one due to the pandemic. Yaqin Abdullah, a former boxer from Syracuse who is also in Auburn Correctional Facility’s honor block, hasn’t voted before, either. Abdullah, who is Muslim, said his religious beliefs inform his political decisions, including giving to the poor. “(Politicians) have some hidden agendas,” he said. “I personally think Biden is a better pick. Even though, like I said, I think all politicians have some things up their sleeve.” As of Wednesday, Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) was ahead of Dana Balter by 21 percentage points in the race for the 24th Congressional District, with only in-person ballots counted. Mail-in votes in New York state will not be counted until at least Nov. 9. Central New York has aired more congressional television ads than anywhere else in the country, Syracuse.com reported. Many of those ads made it on the cable news programs from page 3

panel states could prove beneficial, he said. The panelists also said that polls, which heavily favored Biden going into the election, failed

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is especially stressful for him because the candidates’ policies will impact the field he wants to pursue after he graduates. He expected Biden to gain a high number of young voters this year. “I think a lot about the last election. There are a lot of people who felt very strongly but were too young to vote. So I imagine this time around, there’d be a huge surge and younger voters out there,” he said. Noah Price also expected that an increase in young voters would give Biden a larger advantage in the polls. He was surprised by how close the results were last night. Price, a senior in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences, described the election as a ‘static wall’ — he can’t see what his future looks like beyond Election Day. “It’s this big date that we’ve been counting down to for the last six months,” he said. “But it still feels static. I still have no idea what’s going on.” Biden led Trump in several key states as of Wednesday night, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona, but results remained inconclusive. While some students said it’s

hard to tell which way the election will go, others anticipate a win for Biden. Senior Rody Conway, chair of SU’s College Republicans, is surprised by how well Trump performed Wednesday, but he ultimately foresees a victory for Biden. “I think Biden will end up carrying it,” Conway said. “To carry it by such a narrow margin and also to see the demographic shift in the Republican Party that took place (Tuesday) night gives me hope for the future.” David Bruen, the communications director of SU’s College Democrats, said he had “no doubts” that Biden will win the presidency. Many students feel this election in particular is of historic significance and that the outcome could affect their rights. Students should make sure they’re taking care of their mental health during the election by limiting social media use, going outside or talking to a friend or loved one, Student Association President Justine Hastings said. “Students feel passionately about a variety of issues, and there is a lot (at) stake, which is why it is understandably emotional for some people,” Hastings said.

Osatohanmwen Onaghinor, president of SU’s NAACP, is more concerned with what she sees as attempts to suppress voting in this election, such as the president’s rhetoric against mail-in voting. Trump filed lawsuits in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia on Wednesday to dispute the legitimacy of the ballot-counting process. The lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania allege that Trump’s campaign does not have sufficient access to spaces where ballots are being counted. The lawsuit in Georgia alleges that a poll worker at a ballot-counting station mixed processed and unprocessed absentee ballots. Regardless of who wins, students should continue to strive for positive change and to combat injustice, Onaghinor said. “As much energy individuals have put into this election, they should put in local programs in their communities and keep an eye on policies being implemented in their local towns, cities and states,” Onaghinor said. “And more than anything, think of other people.” news@dailyorange.com

Rodgers is a former captain of SU’s football team who currently works as an assistant district attorney in Madison County. He hopes to prioritize legislation that attracts young professionals to the region, citing central New York’s declining population as a major issue facing the area.

New York State Assembly:

Democrat Assemblyman Al Stirpe’s race against Republican Mark Venesky for the 127th Assembly District remained within two percentage points after all in-person early and Election Day votes were counted. Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County elections commissioner, said absentee ballots could be a deciding factor in the race. The county board of elections cannot start counting absentee ballots until Nov. 9. Unlike Stirpe, Democratic Assembly members Bill Magnarelli and Pamela Hunter hold sizable leads over their challengers with inperson vote tallies. After Tuesday night, Magnarelli led Republican challenger Ed Weber overwhelmingly with about 65% of the district’s votes, while Weber held 31% of votes. Magnarelli has represented the 129th Assembly District, which includes Syracuse and the towns of Van Buren and Geddes, since 1999. During his time in office, he supported the Women’s Health and Wellness Act, a that Flowers watches. Katko and Balter exchanged attack ads throughout their campaigns. While he has little information on the congressional race outside of the ads, he noted one that called Balter “dangerous.” The ads made him curious about who Dana Balter is. “When people say that stuff about Dana Balter, it makes me want to look into it further. Because people say something else behind what they’re doing,” he said. “You point your finger and three fingers point back at you.” The United States Census Bureau once counted inmates in New York in the towns and prisons they’re located in. Upstate prisons raised the electoral weight of rural, predominantly white counties with prisoners who are disproportionately Black and Latino, according to the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative. It also shifted representation upstate, with the census counting 43,740 prisoners from New York in the upstate New York towns where they were imprisoned. New York state passed a measure in 2010 to count inmates in areas they’re originally from. That, among other factors, helped shape the current congressional map, which groups Auburn and Syracuse together in the same district. Nine states now count prisoners in the area where they resided before they were incarcerated, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, which spearheaded the legislation. to accurately predict the closeness of the race. Polls didn’t account for “shy” Trump voters, who might not have told pollsters that they were voting to re-elect the president, panelists said. “One lesson from this is we have all been talking about how we have to be patient,” Kep-

Onondaga County will not begin counting absentee ballots until Nov. 9, though several local races hinge on them. . emily steinberger photo editor

women’s health care coverage law, and helped expand an insurance program to provide senior citizens with low-cost prescriptions. Weber is currently a town councilor and deputy supervisor of Geddes. He previously served as a detective in SU’s Department of

Public Safety. Hunter led Republican challenger Stephanie Jackson by 21 percentage points in the race for the 128th Assembly District. Hunter has represented the district in Onondaga County since 2015. news@dailyorange.com

Inmates in Auburn Correctional received updates on the election through cable news and word-of-mouth. . gabe stern enterprise editor

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also signed an executive order in 2018 that allows some parolees with felony records the right to vote, if pardoned by his office. “Whoever is elected, we hope that they will pay attention to a lot of the criminal justice advocacy groups they are trying to bring to their attention,” said Cliff Graham, an inmate in the general population at Auburn. Poll workers had arrived at Memorial City

Hall by 5 a.m. and would stay after 9 p.m., when polls closed in New York. Jon Peterson, a poll worker, planned to go home, relax and try to stay awake until the votes were counted. Flowers expects the results to take days to be determined. “I’m gonna sit in front of the TV, probably make me a bowl of popcorn and see what happens,” he said.

pler said. “We have to wait for the results, though we all know that’s hard to do.” The panelists also discussed the long-lasting effects of the 2020 election, especially the expansion of mail-in and early voting methods in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kinney thinks mail-in voting should become standard practice moving forward. “We should be making it easy to vote for people,” Kinney said. “We shouldn’t be making it harder.”

gkstern@syr.edu

mntyler@syr.edu

OPINION

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column

PAG E 5

nov. 5, 2020

column

COVID-19 brings risk of toxic positivity SEM 100 still falls short of substantive change

SEM 100 still burdens students of color and fails to incentivize students. elizabeth billman senior staff photographer By Megan Cooper columnist

Prioritizing positivity and suppressing negative feelings may seem like a helpful way to cope with the pandemic, but students should feel and process their negative emotions. emily steinberger photo editor By Jenna Wirth columnist

oxic positivity is real, and it’s especially dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic. People think of being overly pessimistic or cynical as being toxic. But thinking that you must always be positive and that you can’t feel any negative emotions is just as toxic. It’s like when you have too much ice cream: although it initially makes you feel good, it can make you sick if you overdo it. “Toxic positivity is when people fall into the trap of thinking that positive, happy emotions are better than other emotions like grief, sadness and fear,” said Katie Kidwell, an assistant professor of psychology at Syracuse University. “We think we are supposed to feel happy all the time, but this isn’t true.” When people think they should have a positive mindset in all situations because all negative emotions are inherently dangerous, that’s toxic positivity. The mindset can take many forms, often encompassing platitudes such as “it is what it is” and “just change your outlook to be happy.” While maintaining a sunny disposition despite stressors can be important, the overuse of positivity can harm people’s mental health. Too much positivity can also be counterproductive, as it can ultimately cause the very suffering it aims to end. When people don’t allow themselves to feel certain emotions, their authentic emotional experiences are silenced. Toxic positivity can deny and invalide the human experience, said Afton Kapuscinski, director of the Psychological Services Center at SU and an assistant teaching professor of psychology. “We naturally want to make others feel better when they are

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hurting, but telling someone that ‘it could be worse’ or ‘look on the bright side’ is rarely helpful because it is experienced as minimizing their feelings,” she said. Repressing emotions can end up hurting people in the long run. Some people might avoid their anger or sadness by withdrawing from others or by drinking alcohol, Kapuscinski said. These behaviors can result in mental health problems over time, as avoidance can generally lead to anxiety and sadness. “By over-emphasizing insincere happiness and trying to avoid feeling anxiety or grief, our negative feelings can become louder,” Kidwell said. A lot of people are now experiencing toxic positivity. Social media is flooded with messages about how to take advantage of quarantine, online learning and social distancing. But because everyone reacts differently to grief, loss and stress, the promotion of “positive vibes” increases the pressure to be productive during a time when some people are simply trying to make it through the day. Stories of Isaac Newton inventing calculus while social distancing during the Great Plague have circulated, Kidwell said, which adds pressure to not only survive but thrive during the pandemic. By adopting unrealistic perspectives, people often end up feeling even worse if they can’t follow the positive messages they’re reciting to themselves or measure up to the standards placed on them. The effect of toxic positivity varies depending on a given person’s level of stress, but “suppressing more intense feelings is more likely to cause problems if it occurs repeatedly over time,” Kapuscinski said. It’s okay not to be okay. Some days will be harder than others, and people need to accept whatever their current situation is without adding extra pressure or judgement. It may not be

realistic for people to expect to learn skills and make the most of their time in quarantine, Kidwell said. Negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, loneliness and fear are a basic part of life. That’s why it’s important to have healthy ways to cope with painful feelings. Toxic positivity is one of the most harmful ways people can deal with negative emotions. People must feel the full range of their emotions, process them and move on to have the full human experience, Kidwell said. The goal is to acknowledge and accept all of your emotions rather than be happy all the time. “Being a willing witness to darker feelings is validating and, usually, a more effective form of support,” Kapuscinski said. To combat toxic positivity, Kidwell suggests being aware of the language you use with friends and family. People should re-evaluate the language they’re using if they catch themselves offering reassurance with statements that start with “you should be grateful,” or “at least,” she said. Kapuscinski also recommends talking through unpleasant or uncomfortable feelings with someone. Other strategies include journaling, exercising, using meditation and mindfulness strategies, learning communication skills to manage conflict with others and finding a therapist, she said. “If you keep brushing problems under the rug, you eventually start to trip over those lumps. For many people who seek treatment, their suppressed emotional experiences make up those lumps,” Kapuscinski said.

• Please include your town of residence and any relevant affiliations • Topics should pertain to the Syracuse area • Letters should not include any personal information pertaining to other people unless it is relevant to the topic at hand, which will be decided at the

discretion of The D.O.’s editor-inchief and managing editor • Any links to third-party websites will also be published at the discretion of the editor-inchief and managing editor • All letters will be edited for style and grammar Thank you in advance for following these guidelines.

Jenna Wirth is a junior studying magazine journalism. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at jwirth@syr.edu. She can be followed on Twitter at @jenna__wirth

very freshman at Syracuse University must take SEM 100, a six-week seminar. Though the course description doesn’t say it, the class is meant to teach freshmen about racism and other forms of oppression in hopes of changing SU’s campus culture. Simply put, the class is designed to be an introduction to anti-racism. University administrators implemented some changes to make SEM 100 more effective after #NotAgainSU, a movement led by Black students, protested SU’s response to racism on campus last year. But it’s still not enough. Prior to this academic year, the course was set up like a book club. Students were supposed to read a book and come to class ready to discuss it. Last year, freshmen read “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren, a memoir about gender discrimination in the STEM field and the stigma surrounding mental illness. Very few students actually read the book, preventing the discussions from leading to any change, said Sofia de la Grana, a sophomore who’s currently a SEM 100 facilitator. This year, the program centers more on creating base knowledge around privilege and the history of marginalization. But there are still many flaws. Freshmen don’t get a grade on their transcript for SEM 100 because it’s a zero-credit course. Instead, their grade is based on a pass or fail standard and becomes either 10% or 30% of their grade, depending on their college’s anchor course. All they have to do is pass. “They have to at least have an incentive for students to give it their all, or else they are just going to show up and pass it,” de la Grana said. SEM 100 doesn’t give students in positions of power, whom the course is trying to reach, any reason to work hard. They can just show up, keep their camera off, submit work with minimal effort and be fine. Ashtha Singh is a freshman who just finished the course. It’s ridiculous that the class is so much work and is intended to create uncomfortable conversations, but the university has made it worth essentially nothing, she said. “It’s like, alright, now we see how (SU) really feel(s) about this,” Singh said. Though the course does end up counting for about one credit’s worth of anchor class credits, that SEM 100 by itself is a zero-credit course is problematic. It tells students that the class matters less than other orientation seminars and is not worth an effort that

counts toward their GPA in any meaningful way. For stressed freshmen, anything that’s not immediately harmful to their grades goes quickly to the bottom of their priorities. The next, arguably bigger problem with the class is that it’s catered to white students at the expense of students of color. de la Grana believes the course functioned more as a lecture series to introduce privileged students to concepts rather than as a truly inclusive dialogue. In my class specifically, it felt like students of color were put on the spot to explain their experiences with microaggressions and racism to educate their white peers, myself included. Singh felt as though much of the course was centered around white guilt, which she was responsible for relieving as a student of color in the class. “I felt like I needed to give them a stamp and be like, ‘oh no, you’re not racist, don’t worry!’” she said. Students of color are not responsible for clearing the consciences of the white students in their class, and it’s not okay to make them feel like they are. A lot of the conversations were potentially traumatic to students of color, and there isn’t enough comfort in the class to discuss them, Singh said. Racial trauma is a real mental health concern for many people of color. Having to listen to a peer describe their racist beliefs or actions can make marginalized students feel unwelcome in this community. It would be unfair to say that SEM 100 is an entirely bad class. Both de la Grana and Singh think it’s better than nothing, and that it lays a groundwork for the conversations about race we need to be having on campus. My own SEM 100 facilitator said the best part of the class is selfreflection. Students think about the readings on their own time and in discussions after class, analyzing the role they play in oppression and othering. But we have a long way to go as a university. SEM 100 is a good starting point for our journey to do better, but we have barely passed the starting line. Changing our community starts with a class that makes students work hard for credit, and where privileged students begin to feel uncomfortable in their position of power. And we must not engage in anti-racism work at the expense of students of color. Megan Cooper is a freshman political science and magazine news and digital journalism major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at mpcooper@syr.edu

6 nov. 5, 2020

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CULTURE

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PAG E 7

nov. 5, 2020

(FROM LEFT) ELIOT FISH, MACKENZIE SAMMETH, SARAH GOLDBERG, JEANETTE ORLANDO AND THOMAS KITCHELL are members of Live from Studio B, which has a Slack group chat where members coordinate times to play Among Us. courtesy of sarah goldberg

GAME ON SU students connect with friends through multiplayer game Among Us By Rachel Cramer

contributing writer

yracuse University sophomore Joe Hackett sees the hit video game Among Us as a social hobby. He started playing the game about a month and a half ago after watching players’ Twitch and YouTube streams. Since then, Hackett has attended Among Us events hosted by the Office of Student Living and the Residence Hall Association. He finds event information through emails to South Campus residents. The multiplatform game has become a popular social activity this semester. Among Us was initially released in 2018, but it gained more recognition in the past few months as streamers made it popular during COVID-19 lockdowns.

The online multiplayer video game has allowed SU students to meet up online and play against each other. The game revolves around crewmates, who complete tasks and vote out the “impostor,” who goes around killing other people in the game. Players have to lie, trick others and strategize. The Barnes Center at The Arch also hosts events for the game such as “Residence Hall Rumble: Among Us” events, including one on Nov. 10 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Office of Multicultural Affairs also hosted a virtual “Game Night: Halloween Havoc Among Us” event last week. “It’s fun to accuse people in a very low-stakes environment. I mean in a regular environment you obviously don’t go around accusing your friends of heinous deeds,” Hackett said. “The ability to do that in a safe virtual environment is entertaining to some people.”

It’s difficult to meet up as a group while living on South Campus. But Hackett plays the game with about eight to 10 people, at times playing for hours without even realizing it. SU senior Erin Kennedy, who isn’t into video games, found Among Us to be fun because of the social aspect of the game. “I just really like how it brings my friends together,” Kennedy said. “It’s really fun to sit in a room with your friends and try to see who is reacting to what. It’s the whole mystery aspect of it.” SU sophomore Russell Tom Sun and senior Sarah Goldberg play Among Us in regular competitions hosted by their organization Live from Studio B, a late-night comedy show on Orange Television Network. The club introduced Among Us to its members in late August and now consistently holds game nights. see among

us page 8

from the stage

beyond the hill

CoWorks holds virtual programs Redhouse honors 2 longtime artists

By Sydney Bergan asst. culture editor

When Syracuse CoWorks closed for renovations in October 2019, the nonprofit anticipated reopening for the spring season. But the coronavirus pandemic halted its plans. CoWorks provides contractors, small business owners and entrepreneurs with shared conference and presentation space, and the nonprofit also hosts

events for its members. The organization has recently hosted both virtual and socially distanced, in-person events to support surrounding businesses and keep members engaged and entertained. “There’s definitely a lot that online programming just can’t replace, so that’s unfortunate,” said Dallas Bryson, who manages the workspace’s activities and events. “All we can do is hope that people, if they’re not coming to the things that

we’re offering, that they’ve found other outlets that are giving them the kind of interaction that they need.” During the spring and early summer, CoWorks ran a virtual challenge called “Try Day Friday.” The program challenged participants to cook new foods and make a meme, among other activities. CoWorks has since moved on to different programming because trying new things so see coworks page 8

By Linh Le

contributing writer

The Redhouse Arts Center has proposed a new way to honor artists as the coronavirus pandemic continues to limit exhibitions, plays and other artistic displays. Redhouse Arts Center announced the launch of its new

Associate Artist Program on Oct. 20, granting the 2021 season positions to scenic and lighting designer Marie Yokoyama and director, writer and actor Temar Underwood. Both artists have collaborated with the Redhouse Arts Center for many years, and the honorary positions aim to demonstrate the see redhouse page 8

8 nov. 5, 2020

from page 7

among us Tom Sun and Goldberg gather with other Studio B members several nights a week to play over Zoom. The group has a “Game Night” Slack channel where members coordinate frequent gaming sessions. Studio B members play randomly throughout the week starting from 11 p.m. and going to as late as 4 a.m. “We play whenever we’re in the mood,” Goldberg said. “There’s always people in the mood.” Studio B makes the game a competition from page 7

coworks frequently was a lot to ask of people, Bryson said. Instead, CoWorks has focused on virtual programming that allows participants to be social, Bryson said. One of these events is a weekly Tuesday game night in which people virtually play JackBox Games. This is one of CoWorks’ largest virtual events, with eight to 15 people normally attending. For Steven Broida, who lives alone in his apartment in Syracuse, the game nights provide an opportunity for human interaction at least once a week. Bryson introduced Broida to CoWorks through the Syracuse Society of Geeks, which has board game meet-ups. “I like what CoWorks does,” Broida said. “It’s a good organization that fulfills a need that isn’t often filled well by other parts of the community and society.” This month, the workspace is hosting virtual events for National Novel Writing Month as a part of their “CoWriters” programming. In addition to online writing workshops, CoWorks is hosting an in-person event called “Destination Writing,” in which people meet up at different locations around central New York to write. Another upcoming program is “Extra Life,” which is taking place on Saturday and Sunday. The event, which raises money for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, is typically a 24-hour long gaming fundraiser hosted by the Syracuse Society of Geeks with help from CoWorks. The fundraiser will be split into two 12-hour days this year because of the switch to virtual programming. “At least with the virtual, they can just come

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and plays a unique style of the game, which Goldberg called “like hide-and-seek mode.” Despite the club members normally yelling at each other over Among Us, “everything stays in the game,” Goldberg said. The biggest appeal for Among Us is that it is a “colorful, lighthearted game” to play with friends virtually, Tom Sun said. He plays the game up to 12 hours a week and believes that being the impostor is the most fun part of the game since “you get to murder your friends on a game,” plus it adds creative levels. Among Us helps Tom Sun stay in con-

It’s fun to sit in a room with your friends and try to see who is reacting to what. It’s the whole mystery aspect of it Erin Kennedy su senior

tact with his friends from school while he is studying remotely in California. It gives him comfort and something to look forward to, as he formed stronger relationships with the other members of the organization by playing the game with them. “It’s always nice gathering a ton of your friends and having a night where you can just play games and chill, accuse each other, yell at each other, but also laugh at the end of the day,” Tom Sun said. “Even though it’s just a game, it’s hilarious and a fun time.” racramer@syr.edu

into the chat,” Beth Whitmore, one of the organizers of “Extra Life” said. “They can talk with people about whatever and get a little bit of social interaction in and out throughout the day, and they don’t have to stay the whole 24 hours.”

They can talk with people about whatever and get a little bit of social interaction in Beth Whitmore “extra life” organizer

The fundraiser has been going on for six years, with a turnout of around 60 people last year at CoWorks, Whitmore said. Fifteen people have signed up for the virtual event so far, but Whitmore is hoping for 30. The organizations are halfway to their fundraising goal of $3,000. CoWorks pays attention to which virtual events its members are enjoying and tries to base programming off that, Bryson said. Bryson hopes that CoWorks will be open this spring with social distancing and sanitizing measures in place. “I think that it’s a little bit like the bar industry or the restaurant industry, that it will absolutely come back, but I think it’s a matter of surviving COVID,” Bryson said. “Because there will be a post-COVID time, but you have to get there.” sabergan@syr.edu

Syracuse CoWorks has hosted events to support local businesses and keep its members engaged. elizabeth billman senior staff photographer

from page 7

redhouse appreciation Redhouse has for the artists. “They donate a lot of their time, and we just wanted to recognize them as artists that are important to us at the theater,” said Hunter Foster, artistic director at Redhouse. Yokoyama has collaborated with Redhouse since 2013 on lighting design and recently set design on many projects such as the play “God of Carnage.” For Yokoyama, Redhouse has provided her with a professional platform allowing for creativity.

They donate a lot of their time, and we just wanted to recognize them as artists that are important to us at the theater. Hunter Foster redhouse artistic director

“It’s a space that allows you to test new ideas,” Yokoyama said. “They actually encourage you to try new things there, which is very rare for theater companies or any companies.” This appreciation is significant to both artists as it provides them with a sense of belonging and encouragement, Yokoyama and Underwood said. Underwood, who has worked with Redhouse over the course of almost 10 years, has participated in many of the center’s theatrical productions through performing and directing. “(It is) gratifying that they have certified

Redhouse Arts Center has chosen longtime supporters Marie Yokoyama and Temar Underwood as the first two recipients of its Associate Artists Program. dan lyon staff photographer

my contribution to the growth and development of the company,” Underwood said. “They certified that I have made positive contributions, and so that that’s really fulfilling.” Being granted the position of associate artist also provides new professional opportunities to the artists. Underwood and Yokoyama said these positions have been proven to be helpful for them in job prospects, especially

in interviews as employers value these titles as a way to evaluate candidates. Since these positions can open new doors for artists by officially recognizing their contribution and talent, they are also tools for new artists who are looking for occupational opportunity, Foster said. Redhouse hopes to expand this program to include more and more artists in the

younger generation. “Part of what we need to do is we need to nurture and help the next generation of artists. That should be our mission across the board,” Foster said. “That should be why we exist because it’s a long road to be a successful artist and make a living on their own.” lle103@syr.edu

nov. 5, 2020 9

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football

Beat writers predict Syracuse loss against Boston College By The Daily Orange Sports Staff

Syracuse enters its eighth game of the season with questions at quarterback and an injurydepleted defense. Its next opponent led the No. 1 team in the nation by three scores at the half. Boston College touts Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec as quarterback and former Ohio State assistant Jeff Hafley as head coach. Here’s what our beat writers think will happen when Syracuse faces BC:

Anthony Dabbundo (5-2) Fly Eagles Fly Boston College 31, Syracuse 17

The Orange are now 1-6, and it’s not entirely clear what is left to play for in the final four games for Syracuse. Perhaps most interesting about the Orange is the ongoing quarterback from page 12

emerman played an outdated style of football, pounding the ball with bell cow AJ Dillon. Then-head coach Steve Addazio led three seven-win seasons, embodying the ACC’s midsection. Two years later, as Syracuse spirals toward its worst season since the Greg Robinson “I think I can” era, Boston College nearly upset North Carolina and Clemson. The Eagles have the third-best passing offense and the sixthbest fifth best overall defense in the ACC in terms of yards per game. “I have a ton of respect for coach Babers,” Hafley said. “Right now people are starting to think some things they shouldn’t because they don’t realize how hard it is and what a good job the guy’s done.” While the separation on the field is beginning to show, the gulf could grow if the Eagles’ advantage in recruiting continues. SU has the 12th-best 2021 recruiting class of 14 ACC teams compared to BC’s ninth. “We both want to recruit the Northeast and we both obviously will,” Babers said. “They’ll from page 12

offense another attacker, shifting from a back-five to a back-four. SU responded by launching eight shots at the Blue Devils net, the most it had recorded in a half to that point in the season. While the switch didn’t result in any goals, Meghan Root had a penalty saved and Syracuse scored in its next three games. But for the Orange, it was too little too late. The long scoring drought effectively played them out of an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament spot. “This team shows us every single game that there are qualities and pieces of them that are really good, but then they take it away and show us something different,” Adams said after the Duke game. Syracuse (1-7, 1-7 ACC) cemented its worst season in program history by scoring just five goals in eight games, three of which came in the final game of the season against Virginia. The Orange had gone scoreless through their first five contests, where they were outshot 31 to 130 and sent 60 shots toward the opposition the entire year — with a season-high 12 against from page 12

bailey defensive lineman Kendron Wayman played there two years behind Bailey and Franklin. Despite Bailey’s talent, McCormick said the running back never flaunted his ability, mostly keeping to himself and doing his talking on the gridiron. In Berlin, Maryland, Stephen Decatur High School starting linebacker approached the North Caroline sideline and started throwing insults Bailey’s way, McCormick said. Without even glancing at the linebacker, Bailey responded. “I’m a grown ass man. He doesn’t want a piece of me.” Bailey then scored five touchdowns on Stephen Decatur in the first half, including

situation and how much SU plays JaCobian Morgan down the stretch of the season. Based on head coach Dino Babers’ comments, Morgan’s big day does not appear to be Saturday. The Eagles have a significant offensive edge in both passing and rushing success rate, and they don’t allow many big plays defensively. Without the Orange’s defense forcing turnovers, it’s hard to see how SU will sustain longscoring drives. Because of that, I’ll take Boston College to win this game comfortably. Another week of mediocre quarterback play from Rex Culpepper only emboldens the calls from the fans and media to play Morgan more after the Orange’s bye week. Syracuse takes another loss en route to one of the worst seasons in program history.

The Eagles are a damn good football team. Jeff Hafley is a damn good coach, and Phil Jurkovec is a damn good quarterback — perhaps the best non-Trevor Lawrence passer Syracuse will face all year. North Carolina’s Sam Howell has higher upside, but with Lawrence injured at the moment, I’m not sure there’s a QB in the ACC I’d take over Jurkovec, who leads the conference in passing yards. He can really sling it, which will test SU’s battered-yetimpressive secondary. But it’s not just Jurkovec, the Notre Dame transfer. Syracuse is outmatched on both sides of the ball and at just about every position. I don’t anticipate this one being particularly close at all.

Danny Emerman (3-4)

Adam Hillman (4-3)

win battles and we’ll win battles. Hopefully we pick more of the right ones and less of the wrong ones.” The Eagles’ 2021 class includes four-star defensive back Clinton Burton Jr, who chose BC over offers from Alabama, Clemson and Florida. Though it’s far too early to take serious stock in the 2022 cycle, Hafley already has his second four-star commit in Peter Delaportas. Plus, he’s brought over Notre Dame’s Phil Jurkovec, who leads the ACC in passing yards, as well as OSU running back Jaelen Gill, a former four-star who gains eligibility next season. Babers, who’s previously downplayed the significance of recruiting rankings, has only gotten two 4-stars — Trill Williams and Tommy DeVito — to sign on in his tenure. A stinger: BC’s leading tackler Isaiah McDuffie decommitted from SU in 2016. Although both programs focus on east coast prospects, BC appears to have found a bureau in the football-rich Washington, D.C., area. Burton Jr. is from Maryland, where BC defensive backs coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim coached — both at UMD Col-

lege Park and the high school level. Five of BC’s 23 commits hail from the DMV compared to Syracuse’s more scattershot class, which ranges more geographically. BC and Syracuse share similar geographic challenges in recruiting. By virtue of their location, each program loses some “foot traffic,” said Craig Haubert, ESPN’s recruiting coordinator since 2006. Most prospects have to go out of their way to visit — though BC is much closer to metropolitan hubs — compared to most of the ACC. A recruit can knock out five or six visits in the Carolinas in a single weekend, whereas Syracuse is on somewhat of an island (and certainly not a tropical one). Haubert also said the luster of each program’s history has also likely worn off with many prospects. To borrow a Rick Pitino-ism, Doug Flutie and Dwight Freeney ain’t walking through those doors. “Kids now, they probably don’t remember the Marvin Harrisons or the McNabbs,” Haubert said. “And it probably certain doesn’t hit that Art Monk went there or Jim Brown.” Hafley, 41, remembers watching the Harri-

sons and McNabbs as a high schooler. BC has been able to withstand that disconnect from legacy and the geographical disadvantages better than SU. Since Babers arrived at SU in 2016, the Orange have won 24 games to BC’s 31 (.428 to .534). Even after mediocre seasons, the Eagles are in a stronger position for the future. Syracuse’s 2020 season is an anomaly driven by injuries and COVID-19 opt-outs. It’s the hardest year any coach has ever been faced with, and Babers has done a valiant job, Hafley said.SU’s failure to achieve Babers’ goal of being consistently good has likely hurt its reputation for recruits, though. “It’s hard to kind of get traction when you can’t consistently have success on the field,” Haubert said. “It’s one thing to have a good season, but kids know.” So forget Clemson. SU needs to recalibrate to more realistic goals and start chasing Boston College.

Miami in its singular win of the season. Only 33 of those 60 shots were on target, though, and of those 33 only five hit the back of the net. “I definitely think that we’ve had opportunities to finish,” Telly Vunipola said on Oct 13th. SU’s offensive struggles stemmed from a lack of production from its forwards, who were outscored by Jenna Tivnan and Shannon Aviza. The Syracuse defense concluded the shortened 2020 season with nine points from Lindsey Brick, Tivnan and Aviza, compared to five from Root, Hannah Pilley and Kate Hostage. Tivnan was also the only SU player to finish the season with double-digit shots. Root had a tap-in goal against Boston College and Hostage’s penalty was essentially the last kick of Syracuse’s season, but besides that, the forwards’ contributions were minimal. Hold-up play had been a problem for Syracuse for much of the season. On those long balls, SU usually looked to target the 5-foot-10 Pilley. Against UNC, she was the only Syracuse player to have a touch in the opposing half for almost a quarter of the game. “Just having the confidence to keep possession and play out of the back,” midfielder Olivia Erlbeck said on Oct. 22. “Instead of kicking

the ball and then having one forward trying to hold the ball, and then the other team just gets the ball back and goes back at us.” Pilley’s brief success came against BC, where she played alongside fellow attacker Root in a two striker set. The taller Pilley was able to knock down balls for the smaller and faster Root to run onto. Though that worked against Boston College, Syracuse had trouble against tall, quick ACC defenders, like those on Duke and UNC. “What’s happening in the past is that we’re playing target players, and we’re playing almost hero-balls to get in,” Adams said after the Duke game. “We’re not as athletic, currently, as other ACC teams.” Halfway through its season, right after the Duke game, Syracuse hit a crossroads. Sitting at 0-5, it needed to make a switch. Facing Boston College, a team also searching for its first win, Syracuse scored but eventually lost 3-1. A week later, the same thing happened, but this time a Tivnan header helped Syracuse pick up its first win of the season over winless Miami. In SU’s final game, the stakes were lower than before with Syracuse already out of the ACC tournament, and the offensive surge that SU was

looking for all season finally appeared. “We can play. We can connect passes. We can have an offense,” Aviza said after the UVA game. “Something we just need to work on is the consistency of that, and that’s something we should definitely harp on in the offseason.” In two years at SU, Adams is yet to complete a full offseason with the team. She arrived in March for her first year, and the most recent offseason was cut short by COVID-19, with players sent home before spring training began. As Adams continues to rebuild Syracuse’s program, she said she hopes to recruit more players that fit her play style — one that emphasizes possession. It’s a shift from what SU currently plays. Instead of bypassing midfielders and playing long balls to strikers, she wants to take advantage of possession by playing through the midfield. “(I’m) trying to find those players that can be very attacking minded, and I’m not just talking our forwards,” Adams said. “I want outside backs that can get forward and fly and make us better in the final third — that’s what we’re gonna look for.”

a pick-six as an outside linebacker. To Bailey Sr., that’s exactly the kind of person his son is. He was never one to verbalize his ange or get in fights when he was frustrated. Instead, he vented that frustration by proving to everyone around him that he was better. “When he gets mad, he takes it on the field,” Bailey Sr. said. “He’s like ‘OK, I’m just going to be better.’ That’s his anger. If somebody challenges him on the field he doesn’t say much, he’d rather show you.” When Bailey arrived to start his career at Boston College, he looked up to Dillon, a second round NFL draftee, as his mentor. Dillon showed Bailey how to prepare to become a professional player. Two springs ago, McCormick traveled up to Boston to pay Bailey a visit during the week.

After a practice and weight lifting session, Bailey and Dillon stayed behind the rest of the team to re-rack and clean the weight room, so the custodians wouldn’t have to. McCormick said nobody asked them to do it. They just did it. “That’s kind of the thing — everyone talks about how good of a football player he is. He’s probably a better person,” McCormick said. “He’s an awesome, awesome young man.” Since Dillon departed, Bailey became the Eagles’ top running back. With BC head coach Steve Addazio leaving for Colorado State, Bailey has been forced to adapt to a new playbook under former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. While McCormick knew Bailey was ready for the number one spot, he thinks the limited

offseason prep due to COVID-19 and adjusting to a new playbook has stunted Bailey’s numbers this year. BC and Hafley are using quarterback Phil Jurkovec more frequently on offense. In the Eagles 48-27 win over Georgia Tech this season, Bailey was only handed the ball 13 times, compared to last season’s 45-24 win against NC State, where Dillon got the ball 34 times and Bailey got 16 attempts. Despite the limited touches, and an offense that relies on RPOs, Bailey has still found offensive success. “There isn’t even a comparison,” McCormick said of Bailey as a high school football player. “You can take these other kids and put David in a category by himself and forget about it, then argue about who’s second best. He’s that kind of ball player.”

Buckle up Boston College 38, Syracuse 13

Down the hatch Boston College 41 Syracuse 10

I don’t see a winnable game remaining on Syracuse’s schedule. This one, surely, is not. Boston College just took Clemson the distance, leading by 18 points in the first half and losing on a fourth quarter touchdown from Clemson running back Travis Etienne. This is not your BC team of years past. They are not the typical ground-and-pound Golden Eagle team that dominated Syracuse last year. While David Bailey is still there, he’s only averaging 12 carries a game. Comparatively, quarterback Phil Jurkovec throws it over 35 times a game. While this does play into SU’s strength, covering multiple receivers — outside of the edges with Ifeatu Melifonwu and Garrett Williams — will be a struggle. SU won’t be able to score with BC as the Orange will lose their seventh game of the season. sports@dailyorange.com @DOSports

Danny Emerman is a senior staff writer at The Daily Orange, where his column appears occasionally. He can be reached at dremerma@syr.edu or on Twitter @DannyEmerman.

gshetty@syr.edu

wrhentsc@syr.edu

10 nov. 5, 2020

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football

Opponent preview: Everything to know about the Eagles By Anthony Dabbundo senior staff writer

Syracuse (1-6, 1-5 Atlantic Coast) hosts rival Boston College (4-3, 3-3) at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Carrier Dome. The Orange have lost four consecutive games, three at home, all by 14 or more points. Both the Orange and the Eagles have played No. 1 Clemson in the last two weeks, and both faded away in the second half, allowing the Tigers to pull away. Head coach Dino Babers didn’t commit to a starting quarterback during his press conference Monday, though Rex Culpepper has struggled in recent weeks with turnovers and his backup JaCobian Morgan shined in the final moments of last Saturday’s loss to Wake Forest. Here’s everything you need to know about the Eagles prior to their matchup in the Dome on Saturday. All-Time Series: Syracuse leads, 31-21 Last time they played: Boston College 58, Syracuse 27 Boston College came to the Carrier Dome in November 2019 and steamrolled its way to a blowout victory, which resulted in the firing of SU defensive coordinator Brian Ward following the loss. The Eagles ran for 496 yards in the victory and scored 44 first-half points. Boston College posted 34 points in the second quarter alone, and the Orange’s offense was unable to keep up. Running backs AJ Dillon and David Bailey totaled 51 carries and 418 yards on the ground as the Eagles only attempted 10 passes in the victory. Quarterback Tommy DeVito threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions, but it was far too little to mount a comeback.

The Boston College report:

Looking at the advanced metrics for BC, the Eagles rank seventh in the ACC in predicted points added on offense, and ninth in the ACC in defense. Their rushing attack has not been nearly as effective in the 2020 season so far,

ranking fifth worst in rushing success rate and third worst in rushing explosiveness. The Orange are below BC in both of those categories, though. The Eagles have been much more effective through the air, as they rank third best in passing success rate. They’re not an offense that typically relies on the big play, but quarterback Phil Jurkovec has shined for BC on offense, tossing 14 touchdowns in the opening seven games of the season.

How Syracuse beats BC: Force turnovers

Syracuse’s 2020 offense has shown an ability to sustain long scoring drives without the benefit of turnovers and short fields. With Culpepper at quarterback, they’ve struggled even more. When the Orange aren’t making big plays, it’s very hard to see how they’ll move the ball and score. That’s where the turnovers come in. SU’s defense has buoyed the offense all season, and that will need to continue with two or three turnovers if the Orange want to pull off an upset. Stat to know: 2.36 Boston College ranks second in defensive line yards in the ACC, meaning their defensive line is difficult to rush against. The Orange may struggle to establish the run in this one and will need to turn to Culpepper and the passing game to generate offense. Betting odds: Boston College -14 (Draftkings Sportsbook) Player to watch: David Bailey, running back, No. 26 Orange fans will remember Bailey from his star performance in the Dome last season. He’s back for the Eagles this year as the lead back but hasn’t replicated the same success. Bailey is averaging 3.5 yards per rush in conference games this season, and has had only one touchdown run through seven games. Syracuse will need to bottle up the BC running game, as the Orange have had a few games this season where they have been

Boston College beat Syracuse 58-27 in the Carrier Dome in November 2019, with the Eagles running for 496 total yards. tj shaw staff photographer

overwhelmed in the trenches and worn down by the game’s end. The Orange can

stay in this game if they corral Bailey.

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nov. 5, 2020

football

Forget Clemson. Chase Boston College, instead.

Williams declares for 2021 NFL draft By Adam Hillman staff writer

DINO BABERS and Syracuse are guaranteed their fourth losing season in five years after starting 1-6. But 300 miles away, Jeff Hafley and Boston College have built the foundation for a sustainable program. tj shaw staff photographer

Syracuse’s underdog status against Eagles shows recent decline

quint, and Boston College and Syracuse share many similarities. Storied programs with one national title and a Heisman Trophy winner apiece. Northeastern, academically prestigious schools that joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 21st century. Look a little closer, and the rivals are at a crossroads. On the verge of their fourth losing season in the last five years, the Orange (1-6, 1-5 Atlantic Coast) are trendDANNY ing the wrong way under EMERMAN Dino Babers. Meanwhile, UBUNTU former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has instantly jolted much-needed energy into a previously middling Boston College (4-3, 3-3). The two rivals’ meeting in the Carrier Dome on Saturday is a reminder of how rapidly the

power dynamics of the ACC can shift. Coaching carousels swing, gamebreakers transfer, and recruiting classes filter in as graduating ones exit. The scary thing for Syracuse fans is that Hafley’s only dipped his toe in the Atlantic Coast water, spending the last nine months on Zoom calls, without spring ball or recruiting visits. “I mean, it’s been the craziest thing you could ever dream of,” Hafley said. “I don’t even think you can compare. Certainly I haven’t done as much as (Babers has) done as far as wins and success. I’m just trying to build this thing right now.” For a fleeting moment, Syracuse represented Clemson’s sole conference rival, the only ACC team capable of hanging with the Tigers. Dino Babers put the Orange back on the map with the 2017 landmark victory over the then-No. 2 Tigers. One 94-yard Chase Brice drive prevented SU from repeating the magic a year later. In Chestnut Hill during that time, the Eagles

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women’s soccer

see emerman page 9

football

David Bailey emerges as top Boston College back By Will Hentschel staff writer

David Bailey sat out the second half of all but one game during his senior season. He would score three or four touchdowns, engineer a sizable lead for his North Caroline High School team, and then head to the sidelines. By the time he made way for the backups, the game had usually switched to a running clock. “With Dave it was one of those things that if you pulled him out

of a game, he wouldn’t complain. He wouldn’t bitch about it,” North Caroline head coach James McCormick said. “He’d just stand on the sideline with the other guys and cheer them on.” Through 11 games that year, Bailey rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 35 touchdowns. Last season at Boston College, he backed up current Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon, but since Dillon’s departure for the NFL, Bailey has assumed the starting role. Dillon mentored Bailey,

teaching him to improve his focus and discipline. Now in his junior season, the running back leads the Eagles (4-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast) in rushing touchdowns, net yards and yards per game heading into Saturday’s matchup with Syracuse. In Ridgely, Maryland, a town of about 1,600 people, Bailey was one of few players that chose to play high school football at North Caroline, a public high school. Most others with the money or ability to do so often opted to attend private schools. Bai-

Syracuse defensive back Trill Williams has opted out of the Orange’s final four games and declared for the 2021 NFL draft, he announced on Wednesday night. “We all play this game with hopes of reaching the highest level and now it’s my time to open that door,” Williams said in a tweet. Williams hasn’t appeared in game for SU since a 38-21 loss to Liberty on Oct. 17. Head coach Dino Babers said Williams didn’t play against Wake Forest due to illness and an injury suffered in practice. “It seemed like the right thing to do,” Babers said of sitting Williams against the Demon Deacons. Yahoo Sports writer Eric Edholm labeled Williams as an “NFL talent for sure” in September, highlighting his man-toman coverage from the slot as a strength and believing Williams could be selected within the first 75 picks. Williams totaled 24 tackles in five games this season, including an interception against Georgia Tech. The Yonkers native also returned a Ja’Had Carter interception for a touchdown after the freshman pitched it back to Williams while being tackled. Williams has consistently made jawdropping plays like that throughout his career, former coaches and Tre Williams, his father, have told The Daily Orange. Williams is the second Syracuse player to opt out and commit to the 2021 NFL draft early, joining fellow defensive back Andre Cisco — who tore his ACL after colliding with a teammate before facing Georgia Tech. “Everything for him was ‘I’m going to the NFL,’” Trill told The D.O. in September.

ley’s father, David Bailey Sr., told his son the benefits from deciding to play for his hometown would affect more than just him. “I told Dave that he’d be the one to make it from here,” Bailey Sr. said. “And once you make it from here it’ll be better for everybody, because you’re opening the doors for everyone around here.” At North Caroline, Bailey played alongside Notre Dame defensive end Ja’Mion Franklin, and Wake Forest see bailey page 9

Offensive woes lead to worst season By Gaurav Shetty staff writer

Three days after recording just one shot against No. 1 UNC, Syracuse slumped off the field at halftime down three goals against No. 5 Duke. The Orange had recorded only three shots in the first 45 minutes — half-chances that weren’t even close. With nothing to lose, head coach Nicky Adams decided to change her formation and add see offense page 9