December 1, 2011 by The Daily Orange

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THURSDAY

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december 1, 2011

t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa pe r of s y r acuse , n e w yor k

INSIDENEWS

INSIDEOPINION

INSIDEPULP

INSIDESPORTS

Backing Boeheim Students express support for

Hick-up George Hicker, trustee and

Too hot to handle Find out which kinds of hot

Win or go home Syracuse looks to snap its four-

coach Boeheim following Tuesday’s charged press conference.Page 3

former men’s basketball player, regrets offending anyone with his statements. Page 4

chocolate to warm up with this winter and which ones will leave you out in the cold. Pages 12-13

game losing streak and earn bowl eligibility on the road Saturday against Pittsburgh. Page 24

Urban affairs

m e n ’s b a s k e t b a l l

Judge may clear Melo after 1 year

Lifelong educator to turn around struggling district

By Jon Harris ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Syracuse University sophomore center Fab Melo’s charge of fourthdegree criminal mischief will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for one year, said City Court Judge Stephen Dougherty in domestic violence court Wednesday. Melo, 21, was accused of reaching through the driver’s side window of his then-girlfriend’s 2003 Chevrolet Impala and breaking the turn signal control arm during an argument on May 30 in the 300 block of Slocum Heights. The case had been postponed five times, dating back to when Melo made his first appearance in court June 29. The case was the first called when court convened at about 1:30 p.m. It took less than four minutes for the

SEE MELO PAGE 8

Students hold protest against police brutality By Sarah Schuster STAFF WRITER

Cries of “Hey ho, hey ho! Police brutality has to go!” could be heard from the steps of Hendricks Chapel on Wednesday afternoon as about 50 students, faculty and Syracuse residents rallied together to protest against police brutality. The demonstration was organized by three graduate students and the Syracuse Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition in response to a recent event at the University of California-Davis. Police officers used pepper spray at close range against a group of students during a peaceful Occupy UC Davis protest, sparking a

SEE POLICE BRUTALITY PAGE 10

By Stephanie Bouvia

When he served as chair of the Student Life Committee, Casey made MayFest his personal project. He said one of his goals was to get the event to a point where they could pass it to University Union, as SA does not technically function as a programming body. “We’ve seen enormous success in the first two years of this program,” Casey said. “We’ve seen a great relationship built between the Student Association and University Union in creating that day. We’ve really strengthened a lot of relationships with administration on it and with the city of Syracuse.” Others in SA felt Casey’s greatest achievement was reaching 100 percent student representation in the general assembly. “I didn’t think that we would

SEE CASEY PAGE 8

SEE CONTRERAS PAGE 7

brandon weight | staff photographer NEAL CASEY, outgoing Student Association president, counts reaching 100 percent student representation in the general assembly as one of his biggest accomplishments during the 55th session.

Results are in Student Association president takes pride in turning organization into one based on growth By Casey Fabris

STAFF WRITER

hen Neal Casey first began his campaign to become president of Student Association, he came with big ideas. They were as varied as making SA a more results-based organization to revamping MayFest. As his term comes to a close, SA cabinet members agree that, though Casey came in with big ideas, they were ones he was able to accomplish. “I’ve known Neal since freshman year, and he’s not a guy who likes to leave things unfinished,” said Jeff Rickert, SA comptroller. “One thing that I would say from working with him over the past year is that I think he set many goals that were ambitious but attainable, which is something that

a lot of SA presidents haven’t done because it’s easy to get starry-eyed and set lofty goals.” Some of Casey’s biggest accomplishments include reaching 100 percent student representation in the general assembly, revamping MayFest and turning SA into an organization that measures itself based on results. But Casey came up short on the smoke-free campus initiative, which he spoke to SA about in March 2010. Casey said one of his accomplishments is the MayFest overhaul. In previous years, MayFest was a much smaller event that often caused tension between SU students, university administration and residents, as it functioned as more of a disorganized weekend of partying, said Jessica Cunnington, SA vice president.

ASST. COPY EDITOR

n the wake of her first 100 days on the job, Syracuse City School District Superintendent Sharon Contreras plans to implement reforms and revitalize a district that graduates 50 percent of its 21,000 students — 75 percent of whom are not proficient in English or math. Upon taking the new position, Contreras developed a 100-day entry plan that started July 1 and ended Monday. The plan mostly consisted of learning about the different challenges the district faces as well as the hopes and dreams of the district’s future, she said. “My first 100 days were about listening and learning,” Contreras said. To do this, Contreras said she reached out to Syracuse University, Syracuse Say Yes to Education, the Syracuse Board of Education, Syracuse commissioners, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and the New York State Department of Education, among others. Richard Strong, school board president, said the Syracuse City School District was revered for its student performance in the 1970s and 1980s. But now, the district is struggling with poor performance, poor staff management and low funding, he said. Strong said the district is a $400 million operation. “Compared to our suburbanite relatives, we are under funded,” he said. More than 90 percent of the students in the district are eligible for a reduced-price school lunch, Strong said. Strong described Syracuse as an “immigrant city.” The students in the district are made of more than 20 nationalities. Strong said 50 percent of the students are black, 38 percent are white and English is the second language for 8 to 10 percent of the students.

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Billion dollar baby The Daily Orange takes a look at The Campaign for Syracuse University and how much money it has to raise before it reaches its goal.

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Visiting Narnia The fantasy musical bursts out of the wardrobe and onto the stage.

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Last chance Syracuse travels to Pittsburgh on Saturdaym aiming to clinch bowl eligibility on its fifth try. Check out coverage of the game in The Daily Orange on Monday.

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The Daily Orange is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 744 Ostrom Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. All contents Copyright 2011 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Orange is distributed on and around campus with the first two copies complimentary. Each additional copy costs $1. The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidy or associated with Syracuse University.

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In a Nov. 30 article titled “Troubled paradise: ‘The Descendants’ confirms Payne, Clooney as elite artists,” the release year of Alexander Payne’s last film was misstated. Payne released “Sideways” in 2004. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

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THURSDAY

december 1, 2011

NEWS

PAGE 3

the daily orange

fine a llegations

Students content with Boeheim’s statements By Maddy Berner STAFF WRITER

jackie barr | staff photographer Bowne Hall was constructed in 1909 and underwent renovations during the past two years, including improved handicapped accessibility, refurbished windows and the addition of copper panels.

Bowne Hall updates done after 2 years By Maddy Berner STAFF WRITER

After approximately two years of construction, renovations on Bowne Hall and the surrounding area were completed this month. Bowne Hall was erected in 1909 as a chemistry building, according to the Syracuse University Archives. Once the Life Sciences Complex was built in 2008, Bowne’s chemistry labs were shut down and the space became available to become the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, said Eric Beattie, the director of the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction at SU, in an email. The Syracuse Biomaterials Institute focuses on research in biomaterials, medical devices and biological constructs, according to the organization’s website.

Designing this new space also allowed for the opportunity to improve the handicapped accessibility for the building entrance, elevators and bathrooms, as well as replace worn finishes in the classrooms and public spaces, Beattie said. Other renovations included refurbishing windows to improve thermal performance and weather resistance. Copper panels were added to maintain historic integrity. Aging underground utility lines, new paving and sidewalks were also added to make Bowne more pedestrian-friendly, Beattie said. “Several areas of the building had not been refurbished in 15 to 20 years and had reached the point of needing attention,” he said. The construction process began in 2008 and the design work was completed in fall 2009, Beattie said.

Lab and office renovations were completed a year later, the public space renovations were completed in the summer and the final landscape work was finished in November, he said. Beattie said the renovations have repurposed a significant portion of Bowne, extending the life of the building by another 20 to 25 years. “Moving the parking lot away from the front of the building and creating a landscaped walkway that extends past the entrances to Bowne, Carnegie, Archbold and Physics has made a safer, more accessible, more attractive environment for this part of campus,” he said. Susan Mihalick, a senior advertising major, has had at least one class in Bowne since her freshman year for her art history minor.

SEE BOWNE PAGE 6

Silicon Valley trip plans underway By Diana Pearl STAFF WRITER

Students who wish to have the opportunity to meet with Syracuse University alumni and visit companies in the Silicon Valley area must have their applications in by Friday. Last spring, a group of 12 students went on the trip, which is sponsored by the School of Information Studies, and the cost was reduced from $3,000 to $500 after a donation, according to an article published in March by The Daily Orange. This year, the cost will be the same, and the iSchool’s goal is to take 15 SU students on the trip. Shay Colson, director of West

Coast Relationships, spearheaded the trip last year in hopes to better acquaint students with companies in Silicon Valley and to give them a firsthand experience with the area. “I feel like often Silicon Valley seems like a mythical place — somewhere that doesn’t seem real because maybe you’ve never seen it for yourself,” Colson said. “This trip is the chance to expose some of the best and brightest SU students to the people and companies in the Valley, and vice-versa.” Julie Walas, director of undergraduate recruitment for the iSchool, said the trip’s purpose was to expose students to the innovation

and expertise in Silicon Valley. “There’s a great match between the innovation at the iSchool and the innovation that leads the world coming out of Silicon Valley,” Walas said. Anne Suchanek, a junior information studies major who went on the first trip, wanted to participate because she knew it would be a unique experience. “I knew that this trip was something I wouldn’t be able to participate in without Syracuse,” Suchanek said. “Going on a trip to Silicon Valley that’s cost-efficient, and you get to be with other Syracuse students, I wouldn’t have had

SEE SILICON VALLEY PAGE 6

Statements made by Syracuse University head basketball coach Jim Boeheim after Tuesday’s game against Eastern Michigan left students impressed by the way Boeheim is handling the allegations against Bernie Fine. Regina Burke, a freshman sport management major, said she enjoyed the press conference because she thought Boeheim was taking the situation seriously and handled it well. “I thought it was very fair,” Burke said. “Jim Boeheim did a good job getting across the point that he really didn’t know what was going on.” Burke said she thought Boeheim has remained consistent throughout

the ordeal, staying true to his usual brutally honest self. This consistency led Burke to believe Boeheim won’t lose his job as head coach. Burke said Boeheim has faith in the school and in Bernie Fine, who worked with Boeheim for more than 30 years. If Boeheim suspected anything, he would have come forth and said something, she said. “Just judging by the way he’s acted in the past and how he acted last night, I think he’s a pretty good judge of character,” Burke said. Despite her thoughts that Boeheim made his original statement too quickly after the allegations arose, Burke said it showed that he has good loyalty. Connor Dunne, a sophomore

SEE BOEHEIM REACTION PAGE 7

Author answers questions about memoir on Armenian Genocide By Kristin Ross STAFF WRITER

One morning, Bruce Smith said he spotted a student simultaneously working out on an elliptical machine in the gym and reading “Black Dog of Fate,” Peter Balakian’s memoir about his grandmother’s survival in the Armenian Genocide. Smith said he would like to live in a world where all students copied this act. Smith, an English professor at Syracuse University, used this anecdote to introduce featured speaker and fellow friend Balakian to those gathered inside Gifford Auditorium

on Wednesday for the next event in the fall 2011 Raymond Carver Reading Series. Students enrolled in ETS 107: “Living Writers” conducted a Q-and-A session with Balakian at 3:45 p.m. about his memoir, “Black Dog of Fate.” The event reconvened at 5:30 p.m. and Balakian performed a reading from his book as well as some of his original poetry. As a whole, Balakian said the Armenian culture’s reaction has been very supportive of “Black Dog of Fate.” First published in 1997, it

SEE BALAKIAN PAGE 8

lauren murphy | asst. photo editor PETER BALAKIAN , whose 1997 memoir on the Armenian Genocide is a New York Times Notable Book, told those in Gifford Auditorium that the Armenian reaction to “Black Dog of Fate” has been positive.

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opinion@ da ilyor a nge.com

Boeheim’s initial comments about Bernie Fine case offensive to victims of sexual abuse As a childhood abuse survivor, I think that Jim Boeheim’s comments about Bobby Davis and his stepbrother were horrendous, in light of the new evidence. Frankly, I am not sure if he should be fired or not, but what I do know is that victims of sexual abuse should be able to have a voice to speak up against their abusers. I want to commend Chancellor Nancy Cantor for firing Bernie Fine and standing up for the

LET TER TO THE EDITOR victims. She has given the victims a voice. It makes me feel proud to be a student of Syracuse University. Abuse should happen nowhere and to nobody, no matter whom you are.

Chelsea Kowal

SENIOR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR

SU trustee, former basketball player regrets any offensive comments I regret if any comments I have made in discussing the allegations against Bernie Fine have been interpreted as insensitive about child abuse, or would have caused any victim to refrain from communicating about abuse they have suffered. In all such cases, it is critical that the truth be discovered and the victim’s rights protected. I sincerely

LET TER TO THE EDITOR apologize if statements I have made have been otherwise construed.

George Hicker

CL ASS OF 1968 SYRACUSE UNIVERSIT Y TRUSTEE

c o n s e rvat i v e

Congress cut no real spending from budget despite massive national debt

f someone said no significant federal spending was cut in 2011, most people would dismiss him or her as being completely ignorant of current events. With partisan fighting and demagoguery lighting up Sunday talk shows and the nightly news, you can’t blame people for feeling this way. The fact is, however, that almost no real spending was cut this year. In Washington, D.C., two plus two rarely equals four. The beltway math is deceiving at best and intentionally dishonest at worst. Budget cutting recently has consisted of eliminating proposed spending instead of spending that is already being spent. Instead of passing a budget that spends less than the year prior, Congress passes a budget that increases spending at a slightly lower rate. This is not cutting spending. Using this budgeting tactic the possibilities are endless. On a budget baseline that increases

PATRICK MOCETE

the right direction discretionary spending by a trillion dollars for the next year, Congress could “cut” $500 billion off of that baseline, yet spending would still increase by $500 billion. Why not cut more? The sad reality is that Congress has argued most of the year about these cuts that don’t actually affect real spending. The one time the House of Representatives tried to cut current expenditures almost led to a federal government shutdown. Debates on spending this year have been

focused around cutting President Barack Obama’s most recent budget, which failed to pass in the House and was overwhelmingly rejected in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Even though this budget didn’t pass and almost few in Washington, D.C., want to be caught supporting it, our humble public servants in Congress brag about cutting it by trillions. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama has proposed legislation that would force Congress to be more honest with how it does its budgets. This legislation is extremely popular with the American public but unsurprisingly not with our representatives in Washington, D.C. This particular proposal may not even get to see the light of day in Congress but at least it’s out there. The next step is for Congress to stop only making easy decisions, like abdicating their constitutional duties, and make decisions of

principle and conscience when it comes to slashing the budget. Making decisions on principle may be too much to ask of many in D.C., so perhaps budgeting like all families do — or at least exerting more control than a pubescent boy — will work. Spending less in fiscal year 2012 than in 2011 would be a much-needed revolution in Washington. Even with some headway, the fiscal outlook for the next 10 years looks bleak. The federal government is planning to spend tens of trillions of dollars, add trillions to the national debt and run trillion-dollar deficits well into the future. Congress needs to start operating in the realm of the rational if any of our fiscal issues are to be addressed. Patrick Mocete is senior political science and policy studies major. His column appears occasionally. He can be reached at pdmocete@ syr.edu or on Twitter @patrickmocete.

OPINIONS

THURSDAY

december 1, 2011

PAGE 5

the daily orange

IDE AS

City infighting embarrassing, distracting EDITORIAL by the daily orange editorial board The internal bickering within the local government as a result of the Bernie Fine investigation is both distracting and discouraging. The investigation into molestation allegations against Fine, former men’s basketball associate head coach at Syracuse University, launched the city and university into the national media spotlight. Revelations that one of the accusers went to the Syracuse police in 2002 with his accusations have also prompted skepticism about the department’s decision not to investigate the first time around. The Onondaga district attorney publicly criticized the Syracuse Police Department for not informing the DA about the accusation in 2002. The DA also publicly chastised the police department for not speedily turning over the documents about the case. The two departments were scheduled to settle the matter in court, but the police eventually turned the documents over on Tuesday. The bickering between city officials distracts from an already complicated and delicate investigation. Everyone paid to uphold justice should be working solely for that purpose rather than using this as an excuse to air inter-department frustrations. With that said, the public wrangling holds officials accountable to some degree, but that confrontation has a place after this case is settled. Allegations of molestation against a respected public figure already demoralized the community. Why should we also be faced with the embarrassing prospect of a petty — or worse, bungling — local government.

News Editor Editorial Editor Feature Editor Sports Editor Presentation Director Copy Chief Art Director Development Editor Special Projects Editor Asst. Presentation Director Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. Feature Editor Asst. Feature Editor Asst. Sports Editor

Meghin Delaney Beckie Strum Kathleen Kim Michael Cohen Becca McGovern Laurence Leveille Emmett Baggett Kathleen Ronayne Katie McInerney Ankur Patankar Jon Harris Liz Sawyer Debbie Truong Colleen Bidwill Danielle Odiamar Mark Cooper

SCRIBBLE

DO, police avoid meaning of Columbus statue graffiti On Nov. 6, The Daily Orange reported on the painting of the downtown Columbus statue. The monument was splashed with paint that read, “500 years of genocide and imperialism; wake up.” The police department spokesman absurdly stated that there is “no indication as to what the graffiti means,” a comment your paper not only did not challenge but implicitly supported by explain-

Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Design Editor Design Editor Design Editor Design Editor Design Editor Asst. Copy Editor Asst. Copy Editor Asst. Copy Editor Asst. Copy Editor Asst. Copy Editor Asst. Copy Editor

LET TER TO THE EDITOR ing why the monument was erected and comparing it to nonpolitical graffiti in the Westcott neighborhood — but giving no indication as to why anyone might object to it. The Columbus statue has long been a point of heated discussion and protest. Those who question and suf-

Ryne Gery Stacie Fanelli Lauren Murphy Kristen Parker AJ Allen Daniel Berkowitz Beth Fritzinger Elizabeth Hart Stephanie Lin Stephen Bailey Stephanie Bouvia Karin Dolinsek Andrew Tredinnick Breanne Van Nostrand Erik van Rheenen

fer from the legacies of Christopher Columbus — genocide of indigenous peoples, slavery and conquest — have taken issue with the monument’s location in the central plaza of our city for decades. This location is especially galling considering the fact that we seek to be good neighbors to the Onondaga Nation directly to the south. It is especially appalling that he stands in the very heart of the city and symboli-

t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa pe r of sy r acuse, new york

Dara McBride

Amrita Mainthia

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

cally excludes all who see him not as a symbol of Italian identity, but of oppression, death and exploitation. That your paper, as well as the Syracuse Police Department, is unable or unwilling to even countenance these opinions is a sad statement on the condition of our city and university community.

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DOCTORAL CANDIDATE

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BOWNE FROM PAGE 3

Before the construction, she said she hated going there because it was shabby and seemed neglected. Once renovations began, she thought the building was finally getting the attention it deserved. Now, she said she loves the changes. “I really love how they brushed the copper,” Mihalick said. “The building almost looks like it may have when it was built and just shines on the Quad, as it should. Some fantastic classes and offices are within Bowne.” Mihalick said another prominent renovation she appreciated was the updated bathrooms. “Let’s be honest, when you have to go,

SILICON VALLEY FROM PAGE 3

the opportunity to do that otherwise.” Last year, students had the opportunity to visit a variety of companies in Silicon Valley, including smaller start-ups, venture capital firms and large, successful start-ups such as Google and Facebook. The goal in selecting the companies for students to visit was to show the students an array of businesses in the area. Officials at the iSchool found contacts to arrange the visits to the companies through SU alumni. “We used a lot of our alumni contacts to get tours, talks with CEOs, developers and the real influencers of Silicon,” Walas said. “It also gives students the opportunity to learn about the alumni experience.”

wouldn’t you prefer it to be in a nice place than one that was cramped, that you waited in line for and had no hot water or dryers?” she asked. But Mihalick said the construction could have been better organized. One of her professors had to reschedule several classes due to the distracting noise. She said she and her classmates were angry the work couldn’t be done later in the day. Although students had to maneuver around the construction often, Mihalick said she has noticed more people hanging out in the Orange Grove in front of Bowne. She said the building seems to have become an extension of the Quad. Said Mihalick: “It kind of makes me want to go to class there.” mjberner@syr.edu

Besides visiting companies, students visited Stanford University and had an alumni dinner, which gave them the chance to talk to SU alumni working in Silicon Valley. The dinner was the highlight of the trip for many students. “Talking with the alumni about their experiences at Syracuse, I realized that they were students just like us,” Suchanek said. “Now they’re having amazing experiences in Silicon Valley.” Colson said she believes the opportunity to visit and meet with SU alumni in Silicon Valley will be beneficial for students who are looking to relocate to the area following graduation. “The chance to visit big-name companies like Google, Facebook and eBay, along with exploring the smaller start-ups and incubators, is something that only happens in Silicon Valley,” Colson said. “There is literally no other place on earth that you can go to experience all of this energy and momentum — especially not in one week.” dspearl@syr.edu

news@ da ilyor a nge.com

CONTRERAS FROM PAGE 1

A major influence on the district has been a lack of self-accountability among students and their parents, he said. “Right now, I think it’s a lot of elbow grease and getting the parents and students to do what they’re supposed to do,” he said. SU has been assisting in the reformation of the district by providing services such as professional development for teachers and initiatives for students, Contreras said. She said the university provides more than 300 tutors. Contreras said she has been working with Chancellor Nancy Cantor in developing her plan. Cantor said the university is committed to the district and the reforms that Contreras is proposing. SU’s engagement in the district is quite natural due to resources such as the School of Education, Cantor said. SU’s Scholarship in Action vision ties in with the district, she said, because it’s an example of how institutions can provide human and intellectual capital in collaboration with the community. Say Yes is a national nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the academic performance of students in urban areas. The organization reaches out to all public schools in the city and provides services, such as tutoring, after-school programs, summer programs and scholarship programs. The district adopted the program in 2008 under former superintendent Dan Lowengard. “Whether it’s environmental sustainability or urban education, Say Yes is a perfect example where you have faculty and students working hand in hand with the district … to face issues that are really pervasive around the world,” Cantor said.

BOEHEIM REACTION FROM PAGE 3

Spanish major, said he thought Boeheim was upfront at the press conference, but stood by what he believes in — something Dunne doesn’t see a problem with. Dunne said he thinks Boeheim is handling the situation well because he is more concerned with keeping the players’ mindsets than the allegations surrounding Fine. But Dunne said he thought Boeheim should have waited to make such a bold statement when the allegations first arose. Although Dunne thought it was the right thing to say at the time, it was too soon to do so. Dunne also said Boeheim shouldn’t have to take the blame for something he didn’t take part in. “It wasn’t his fault that Bernie Fine did any of that,” he said. “If he actually didn’t know what was going on and he was honest through the whole thing, then he shouldn’t be fired.” Josh Schneider-Weiler, a senior broadcast journalism major, said it was good to see Boeheim joking around at the press conference, adding some brevity to the situation. With everyone watching Boeheim during the past few days, Schneider-Weiler said the coach couldn’t be his old, jovial self. The press conference was the first time he appeared to be in lighter spirits, SchneiderWeiler said. Though Schneider-Weiler didn’t think Boeheim handled the allegations as well initially, he said he doesn’t think there is anything wrong with standing by a longtime friend. “Everything that I’ve heard, everything that he’s said, has led me to believe that he didn’t

december 1, 2 011

Say Yes is the largest engagement SU has with the district, Cantor said. She said she has worked directly with Contreras in furthering the program. Contreras is already doing a great job, Cantor said. “She’s committed, first and foremost, to educating students and sending them to college,” Cantor said. So far, Contreras said she is making changes to some of the structures within the district. She said she developed task forces that are working on curriculum and instruction, leadership, teaching and teacher evaluation. “The district has many talented staff and students, however, we are not seeing the results we should see given the talent we have and the investment that the community makes in education, so we have to do business differently in order to see better outcomes for our students,” Contreras said. Contreras, a lifelong educator in urban education, said she is ready to make the many changes needed. “I think the issues that the Syracuse City School District is dealing with are issues that I’ve been dealing with over the course of my nearly 20 years in public education,” she said. Contreras served as a teacher, principal, area superintendent and assistant superintendent in Rockford, Ill. She also served as chief academic officer in the Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia and the Providence Public Schools in Rhode Island. Contreras said she helped turn around an urban elementary school that was underperforming. “I would never shy away from urban school districts because improving urban education is my passion,” she said. Strong, the school board president, said although Contreras is new to the district, she has potential to turn around the performance. But Strong said the challenge will be whether

THAT’S WHAT HE SAID

Jim Boeheim’s candid press conference Tuesday night caught some off guard and ignited discussion among members of the campus community and beyond. Here are some of the things he said:

“It’s hard to put everything into words. I thought a lot today about different things. I’m saddened in many ways by what’s unfolded. I’m looking forward to a time when we can talk and learn from what has happened. There’s an important investigation going on, which I fully support. I can’t add anything to it by speaking more about that now.’’ “I supported a friend. That’s what I thought I did. If you’ve known somebody and worked with them for 36 years and known them for 48 years and went to school with them, I think you owe a debt of allegiance and gratitude for what he did for the program. That’s what my reaction was. So be it.’’ know what was going on,” Schneider-Weiler said. “Unless he knew about it, I don’t know why he would be fired.” But Schneider-Weiler said he didn’t have a problem with SU firing Fine. “Bernie is a 60-year-old man (sic),” he said. “(Boeheim) can’t be policing his assistants all the time. They’re grown men. They should be able to take care of themselves.” mjberner@syr.edu

courtesy of michael henesey | coordinator of communications for the scsd SHARON CONTRERAS, Syracuse City School District superintendent, recently finished her first 100 days in office and is pursuing her goal of increasing graduation rates. the community will back Contreras, something only time will tell. “This is a 10- to 20-year project,” he said. Now that her first 100 days is up, Contreras is looking toward the future of the district. She said she plans to develop a new curriculum to prepare students for the workforce and for college. She also plans on creating new evaluation and accountability systems to support educators. “We’re also going to embark upon a strategic planning process,” Contreras said. She said she is working on a five-year strategic plan to keep people focused on graduating students. Contreras said although it may not sound

like heavy lifting, those are huge projects that will require a lot of community engagement. She said it will take some work, but she is sure that people will see the district start to turn around. Contreras was hired with a three-year contract, and by the end of her term, she said she hopes to see two major changes: improvements in student achievements and academic rates and improved graduation rates. Said Contreras: “I also am hopeful that the community will have greater confidence in the Syracuse City School District and we become the schools of choice.” snbouvia@syr.edu

8 december 1, 2 011

CASEY

FROM PAGE 1

actually be able to get 100 percent representation within SA,” said PJ Alampi, Board of Elections and Membership chair. SA Chief of Staff Amy Snider said Casey presented the idea to members by asking each of them to help bring in new members. “It became a very informal competition among some SA members, and it just blossomed into this incredible recruitment effort that led to us having full representation,” Snider said.

MELO

FROM PAGE 1

adjournment contemplation of dismissal to be given to Melo. Melo completed court-ordered counseling with “very favorable” reviews and paid restitution for damage that he caused to the car, said Onondaga County Assistant District Attorney Melinda McGunnigle outside the courtroom. McGunnigle said the case has been discussed extensively with the victim, who is on board with the decision. McGunnigle declined to say whether Melo and the victim are currently dating.

BALAKIAN FROM PAGE 3

is a New York Times Notable Book. Balakian said the memoir took him about seven years to complete, and during that time, the book

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One of Casey’s overarching goals was making SA a more results-based organization. With increased voter turnout and representation in the general assembly, SA has proof in the numbers. “We are leaving this assembly at 100 percent capacity, and we filled every single assembly representative seat, which is the first time that’s been done in, we don’t even know how long,” Casey said. “We also set a record for voter turnout in the last 10 years. We really made student involvement a focus of ours, so we’re very proud to show the metrics behind that.” Though Casey accomplished many initia-

tives, one goal he did not quite reach was the smoke-free campus initiative. Alampi said it was an issue that was greatly discussed among members who did all they could do and then passed it to the administration. He said both SA and the administration were unsure of the steps to take. Casey’s cabinet members agreed he kept promises he made, delivering on the majority of the issues for which he campaigned. Looking back, Casey said the biggest piece of advice he could offer to SA President-elect Dylan Lustig is that he must remember that he is a student, too.

“It’s very easy to forget that when you’re privy to a lot of different information, but it’s important to remember who you represent and that you actually are one of those students,” Casey said. Casey, who has been involved with SA since his freshman year, said he will be happy to have some of his free time back, but the end of his term is bittersweet. He said, “I think it’ll be a sad day when it comes to an end, but I’m looking forward to taking a backseat and watching Dylan take over the helm and see SA continue to grow.”

The victim also has a partial order of protection against Melo, meaning that if she wants to make contact with him during the next year, he may do so. “You can’t do anything to violate the law in regards to her — no assault, no menacing, no harassment, no intimidation, no threats, no further problems,” Dougherty said in court. Dougherty then asked Melo if he understood what he was being told, to which Melo nodded his head and said, “Yes.” “If you abide by those conditions, sir, this charge will be dismissed as if it never occurred, and there will be no record of this,” Dougherty said. Melo, who was wearing a black suit and red

tie, declined to comment when asked about the case outside Syracuse City Court on South State Street. Gary Sommer, Melo’s defense lawyer and the director of Student Legal Services at SU, said Melo’s case being postponed five times wasn’t negative. “The criminal justice system doesn’t necessarily move swiftly, but the purpose is to move in a fair and just manner, and sometimes things take time to get things to be right, and I have no problem with that,” he said. “I’d rather have things take a little longer and have them done right rather than have things not done right.” Sommer dodged questions from media members outside the courtroom about whether Melo

learned his lesson, saying only, “We all hope everybody learns their lesson.” “I think anybody who has to go to court is always happy to have a case behind them, whether it’s Fab Melo or it’s Gary Sommer or you,” said Sommer. Melo and No. 4 Syracuse (7-0) are nearly one month into the 2011-12 season and will face No. 10 Florida (5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Carrier Dome. Melo has started all seven games for the Orange and is averaging 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The SU athletic department declined to comment on Melo’s case.

went through multiple revisions before coming together. Dated just after World War I, Balakian said the Armenian Genocide in Turkey is comparable to the Holocaust in Germany. To this day, Balakian said the Turkish government is in denial that the Armenian Geno-

cide ever happened. “Historically, the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust are interconnected,” Balakian said. “Germany was Turkey’s wartime ally during World War I. Thousands of pages of eyewitness testimony to the Armenian Genocide were written by German foreign officers and military officers, and therefore, reside in the archives in Germany today.” Balakian’s grandmother was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. In “Black Dog of Fate,” Balakian retells the horror stories she used to tell him when he was younger. He thought his grandmother chose to open up to him rather than any other family mem-

ber partly due to the generational gap, he said. “I think these stories were too locked in shame and fear,” he said. “They were connected to my grandma’s breakdowns and struggles.” After the event was over, freshman Will Valle was among a handful of students who stood in line to meet Balakian and get an autograph. “He’s probably the most widely known author that’s come to class so far this semester,” Valle said. Valle, who is an undeclared major in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he particularly enjoyed when Balakian read some of his poetry, which Valle never heard before. After the event, Valle said he would consider reading Balakian’s poetry in the future. Overall, Valle said he had a positive reaction to the memoir, although he thought the book became intense when it described the Armenian Genocide. “I was surprised that this was the first thing I had ever read about the Armenian Genocide,” Valle said. “All through high school, I never read anything about the genocide, and so I’m glad I finally read something that covered that.”

Don’t get caught at the airport waiting in line for a taxi, reserve ahead and we’ll be waiting when you arrive! • Lower airport rates • Four people for the price of one! (luggage permitting) • Ask about prepaid discounts!

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december 1, 2 011

BEYOND THE HILL every thursday in news

Tablet takeaway

University of Southern Mississippi officials take back previous agreement to give students tablets

By Jessica Iannetta CONTRIBUTING WRITER

t was a good idea gone wrong. In August, the University of Southern Mississippi distributed 700 Samsung Galaxy 10.1 mobile tablets to some Honors College, McNair Scholars, Southern Style and Gulf Coast students. The tablets were equipped with Blackboard Learn and were designed to give students and educators “mobile access to their courses, syllabi, content, e-textbooks, grades, schedules, emergency notifications and much more,” according to an Aug. 1 Southern Miss Now press release. Students agreed to take part in surveys and other initiatives to evaluate the success of the program, according to a Nov. 18 Southern Miss Now press release. Students received the tablets at the beginning of the semester for free with the understanding they would be able to keep them. But on Nov. 18, university officials informed students that, because the tablets were purchased with state funds, they are state property and cannot be given to students to keep. Students were also told they needed to bring their tablets in to the university to be properly inventoried. At a meeting with Honors College students, Joe Paul, vice president for student affairs, said students will not be held responsible for damages to the tablets, and a grievance process will be established for students who

invested money in their tablets. Paul was unsure if the students would be able to purchase the devices, as the process of selling state property is complicated, according to a Nov. 18 article in The Student Printz, Southern Miss’ student newspaper. The university is also being investigated for breaking both a state law and Southern Miss board policy when they purchased the tablets for $432,000 from Blackboard. Southern Miss failed to take public bids for the purchase of the tablets, which Mississippi law mandates for purchases that exceed $50,000. They also failed to get state College Board approval for the contract, which is required when the amount exceeds $250,000, according to an article published Nov. 23 by The Chronicle of Higher Education. A university attorney and internal auditor originally discovered the transgressions in late October. Two university officials, Chief Information Officer Homer Coffman and Director of Procurement and Contract Services Mike Herndon, were placed on administrative leave pending the results of the audit. Bob Lyman resigned from his position as provost, but he initially

remained on the faculty. He was later placed on administrative leave. Honors College Dean David Davies declined to comment because of the impending investigation and referred all questions to Chief Communication Officer Jim Coll. Coll said the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is looking into the matter. The state auditor is also considering a review. Coll was quick to point out that the program has not been abandoned. On the contrary, it has been well received and is still moving forward. The university is looking into getting the program privately funded. Rebecca Masters, a senior nutrition and dietetics major who serves as attorney general of the Southern Miss Student Government Association, said she believes students are reacting well to the news and that the university is doing everything possible to rectify the situation. “Students have overall been very understanding of the incident and know that it was an honest mistake. The university told us that we would be able to keep the tabs upon graduation because that is what they honestly believed would happen,” Masters said. “No deception was intended, and they were just as surprised as we were when these mistakes were discovered. jliannet@syr.edu

illustration by emmett baggett | art director

Century Taxi:

Going where you need to go! Across campus, to the mall, or all the way home, make us your choice. Radio Dispatched 24/7. We never close.

10 d e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 1

POLICE BRUTALITY FROM PAGE 1

national conversation about the police’s interaction with the Occupy movement. Melissa Welshans, a doctoral candidate and one of the event’s organizers, said that this event was also a way for her to understand the process of holding a legal organized protest at Syracuse University. “The only way to figure out how the system works is to work within the system. And if it doesn’t work out, then you know it needs to change,” Welshans said before the demonstration. So to comply with SU’s regulations, Welshans made sure the Quad was reserved and spoke to Tiffany Steinwert, the dean of Hendricks Chapel, to get permission to rally on its steps. Adrienne Garcia, an organizer of the event and graduate student studying English, was the

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first to speak. She thanked everyone for coming and encouraged others walking on the Quad to join them. “Don’t watch us! Join us!” she yelled, and the protesters cheered. Next to speak was poet Minnie Bruce Pratt, a women’s and gender studies professor. She spoke of the Occupy movement and said there has not been such a workers movement since the 1930s. “Police brutality isn’t new,” she said. “We are challenging the system … the system they were assigned to protect. The police are not our friends.” Risa C’Debaca, another organizer of the event and senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said growing up in an urban area, she witnessed acts of police brutality every day. She also said police brutality was not new but was recently getting so much attention because of who the victims were. “Why do they care now? It has to do with

money,” C’Debaca said. This was a common cry throughout the demonstration. Derek Ford, a graduate student in the School of Education and ANSWER Syracuse member, said the media is covering this act of police brutality because the victims were white college students. He also criticized the media for framing the story as if only one or two “bad” police officers crossed the line. “It is not a case of a few bad apples. Literally the whole force is rotten,” Ford said. Occupy Syracuse member Madelyn Johnson called for Frank Fowler, chief of the Syracuse Police Department, and Chancellor Nancy Cantor to show their support and make a statement that police brutality will not occur at SU. Anir Ban, a doctoral candidate in political science, said it was important for him to go to the demonstration because talking about police brutality isn’t enough. He said he has been disappointed in the lack of undergraduate activism in response to events like this. He also said

it’s important for faculty to encourage students to get more involved in the Occupy movement — even if it takes class time to talk about it or to physically go there. After the demonstration, Garcia, one of the organizers, also said she wanted to extend this movement to the community and get faculty more involved. Welshans, graduate student and organizer of the demonstration, said she hopes to start an Occupy Wall Street learn-in, where a group of students will reserve a space and have an open and educational discussion about what’s going on in the Occupy movement. It will be a more formal space for “communal conversation,” she said. “It’s about creating a police force that does not see themselves as a punitive body, but as protecting the interests of students,” said Welshans, who hopes to be an English professor. Although she acknowledges the criticism by some that the police are just doing their jobs and the students at UC Davis no longer had the right to occupy the campus, she said the bigger picture is that no one should ever be treated with that kind of violence without first presenting a violent threat. Said Welshans: “I would jump the cop if they were pepper spraying one of my students.” seschust@syr.edu

THURSDAY

december

PAGE 13

1, 2011

the daily orange

hot in here

the sweet stuff in the middle

It’s gettin’

Pitting six cups of hot chocolate against each other stirs up some steamy competition

Text by Jillian D’Onfro STAFF WRITER

Photos by Shira Stoll

CRITERIA:

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ith the holiday season creeping up on us, it’s natural to start craving the warm, soothing taste of hot chocolate. Checking out chains, grocery store aisles and local hot spots, Pulp

sampled six different hot chocolates to figure out which ones combined the perfect taste with a price that you won’t have to feel guilty about. jidonfro@syr.edu

RECESS COFFEE HOUSE AND ROASTERY LAND O’LAKES COCOA

Sweetness and taste: How is the

overall taste? Is it over-the-top sweet or does it have the characteristic slight bitterness of good hot chocolate? Texture and consistency: Is it thick and velvety or thin and grainy? Cost: What’s the price of the treat? Conclusion: Taking into account all three criteria, is the hot chocolate worth it? Are you getting a good bang for your buck?

DUNKIN’ DONUTS

Sweetness and taste: This hot chocolate tastes unique, with fruity

notes and a creamy finish.

Texture and consistency: It’s thick but a little grainy. Cost: $2.25 for a large (roughly equivalent to other tested sizes) Conclusion: Great price, great taste. We stuck with a regular hot Sweetness and taste: The Classics Supreme Hot Cocoa Mix has an

interesting hint of vanilla, making the otherwise average taste stand out. Texture and consistency: It’s slightly thicker than Swiss Miss. Cost: $0.79 for one packet Conclusion: While it’s tasty, the price is a bit steep. And really, who wants just one packet? Better to stock up with a bigger, cheaper box. Rating: 3.5/5 marshmallows

chocolate, but Recess makes eight other delicious sounding flavors — peanut butter hot chocolate, anyone? Rating: 4/5 marshmallows

LIFE IS A PIECE OF CAKE

overwhelmingly sweet, but there’s no edge of bitterness to it either. Texture and consistency: It’s thin, but its consistency could be adjusted by adding less milk than instructed on the package. Cost: $2.39 for 10 packets ($0.24 per packet) Conclusion: How can you go wrong with such a low price? Swiss Miss is a classic for a reason. Rating: 4/5 marshmallows

and has the most milk chocolate taste. Texture and consistency: It’s thin but definitely not watery. Cost: $2.26 for a medium Conclusion: Although there are those who swear by Dunkin’ Donuts hot chocolate, Recess had a better taste for the same price. Rating: 3.5/5 marshmallows

STARBUCKS

SWISS MISS

Sweetness and taste: Swiss Miss with Marshmallows isn’t

Sweetness and taste: This hot chocolate is the sweetest of them all

Sweetness and taste: Like Starbucks, Life is a Piece of Cake nails the ratio of sweet

with a bitter twist. It tastes like rich dark chocolate. Texture and consistency: Very thick, without being syrupy or overly heavy. This hot chocolate will warm your insides on a chilly day. Cost: $3.19 for a medium Conclusion: Though this hot chocolate lies on the pricier side of the tracks, you should guiltlessly spend the extra buck. After all, it champions every category. Rating: 5/5 marshmallows

Sweetness and taste: Starbucks definitely deserves praise for per-

fecting the sweet-with-a-touch-of-bitterness taste. Texture and consistency: Practically coating your tongue with each sip, this hot chocolate is thick and velvety. Cost: $3.40 for a grande Conclusion: Deciding whether Starbucks is worth the price is always a struggle. In this case, the quality probably deserves the splurge. Rating: 4.5/5 marshmallows

pul p @ da ilyor a nge.com

december 1, 2 011

top 5 holiday specials “RUDOLPH THE REDNOSED REINDEER”

It’s hard not to root for the misfit escapades of Rudolph, Hermey the wannabe dentist and Abominable Snow Monster of the North, who is more cuddly than creepy, in this half hokey and half heartwarming special.

“FROSTY THE SNOWMAN”

The bumbling Frosty who comes to life is one of the holiday season’s most endearing characters. With a goofy catchphrase (“Happy birthday!”) and an even goofier magical hat, Frosty is a seasonal staple.

“HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS”

If your heart doesn’t swell four sizes after watching this special, there’s something wrong. Between the miserable grump and Whoville’s festive population, this special showcases an absolute riot of zany characters.

“A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS”

Good grief, Charlie Brown! The loveable loser copes with Christmastime stress as he and the rest of the Peanuts gang put on a pageant. Snoopy’s up to his usual antics and Linus makes a speech that won’t leave anyone with a dry eye.

“THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS” This oft-overlooked special puts a whole new spin on the holiday season. The best and most bizarre portions come from Heat Miser and Snow Miser, two feuding stepbrothers who put on gaudy musical numbers.

— Compiled by Erik van Rheenen, asst. copy editor, ervanrhe@syr.edu

SU students LOVE summer studies. But don’t take our word for it...

16 d e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 1

COM ICS& CROSS WOR D PERRY BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

BEAR ON CAMPUS

by tung pham

LAST DITCH EFFORT

APARTMENT 4H COMIC STRIP

by mike burns

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GOODBYE NOVEMBER HELLO DECEMBER. GET THAT EGGNOG READY. COMICS@DAILYORANGE.COM

spice rack

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december 1, 2 011

every thursday in pulp

Cup cake Whip up this chocolaty treat in five simple steps

2. Microwave the mug on high for three minutes. Added bonus: If you can see into your microwave, you can watch the cake rise out of the mug! Don’t worry, it will settle back down once you take it out.

Text by Jillian D’Onfro STAFF WRITER

Photos by Shira Stoll STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ou never know when it’s going to hit you: the irresistible craving for chocolate. Sure, you could buy a Twix from a vending machine, but it’s much more satisfying to snack on something warm and indulgent. We’ve got the perfect recipe for a chocolaty treat that’s quick, cheap and easy to make: a miniature chocolate cake in less than five minutes. Magical. jidonfro@syr.edu

3. Remove the mug from the microwave, plop the cake onto

a plate and enjoy. For a treat that’s even more indulgent, add ice cream or whipped cream.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED: A microwave A large microwavable mug 4 tablespoons flour 9 tablespoons hot chocolate mix A pinch of salt 1 egg 3 tablespoons water 3 tablespoons oil

*Makes enough for one gigantic, delicious serving.

1.mixStirandthesaltflour, hot chocolate in your mug. Crack

the egg into your mug and stir. Add water and oil, and continue stirring until the concoction is thoroughly moistened. Scrape the bottom of the mug to make sure you eliminate any leftover pockets of dry ingredients.

18 d e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 1

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SYRACUSE AT PITTSBURGH SATURDAY, NOON, ESPN2

BY THE NUMBERS

STARTING LINEUPS

BIG EAST STANDINGS

TEAM

CONFERENCE

OVERALL

Louisville 5-2 7-5

Cincinnati 4-2 8-3

The number of losses by Syracuse to Pittsburgh in its last four meetings on the road.

13 76

The number of 100-yard rushing games by Antwon Bailey this season, tied for most in the Big East. The senior is just two yards shy of becoming the 10th Orange running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a season.

11 96

PITTSBURGH ON OFFENSE

15.25

The average number of points Syracuse has lost by during its four-game losing streak. The worst loss came by 20 points Nov. 11 against South Florida in the Carrier Dome.

South Florida

5-6

Thursday, Dec. 1 West Virginia at South Florida

8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3 Connecticut at Cincinnati Syracuse at Pittsburgh

Noon Noon

SYRACUSE ON OFFENSE

Statistical Leaders

2 74

SYRACUSE OFFENSE

The number of games Syracuse and Pittsburgh have played throughout the years. Penn State is the only team SU played more in its history, taking on the Nittany Lions in 70 games. The Panthers lead the all-time series 33-30-3.

1-5

BIG EAST SCHEDULE

PASSING

8-3

Syracuse 1-5 5-6

4-3 8-4

Connecticut 3-3 5-6

4-2

Rutgers

Pittsburgh 3-3 5-6

West Virginia

12 QB Ryan Nassib 29 RB Antwon Bailey 34 FB Tombe Kose 82 X WR Van Chew 15 Z WR Alec Lemon 80 TE Nick Provo 67 LT Justin Pugh 75 LG Zack Chibane 59 C Macky MacPherson 66 RG Andrew Tiller 74 RT Michael Hay

PITTSBURGH DEFENSE

97 DE Aaron Donald 98 DT Chas Alecxih 94 NT Myles Caragein 7 OLB Brandon Lindsey 38 SAM LB Greg Williams 55 WILL LB Max Gruder 8 OLB Todd Thomas 2 CB K’Waun Williams 41 BS Andrew Taglianetti 18 FS Jarred Holley 22 CB Antwuan Reed

Ryan Nassib

PITTSBURGH OFFENSE

12 QB Tino Sunseri 4 RB Zach Brown 15 X WR Devin Street 87 Y WR Mike Shanahan 14 Z WR Ronald Jones 83 TE Hubie Graham 60 LT Greg Gaskins 76 LG Ryan Schlieper 75 C Ryan Turnley 52 RG Lucas Nix 68 RT Jordan Gibbs

COMP-ATT

PCT.

236-383

YDS

61.6

TD-INT

2,460 21-7

SYRACUSE DEFENSE

54 DE Mikhail Marinovich 13 NT Deon Goggins 96 DT Jay Bromley 99 DE Chandler Jones 33 SLB Dan Vaughan 11 MLB Marquis Spruill 35 WLB Dyshawn Davis 9 H CB Ri’Shard Anderson 21 SS Shamarko Thomas 28 FS Jeremi Wilkes 8 CB Keon Lyn

RUSHING

ATT

YDS AVG

Antwon Bailey 222 998 4.5 6 Dorian Graham 8 91 11.4 1 Prince-Tyson Gulley 18 89 4.9 0

BEAT WRITER PREDICTIONS Pittsburgh 31, Syracuse 13

Pittsburgh 31, Syracuse 17

ZACH BROWN

People named Zach Brown tend to be good at what they do.

PITTSBURGH FROM PAGE 24

week has loosened up. Playing more freely. SU left tackle Justin Pugh said it’s a mindset that brings him back to high school, when he was just able to get on the field and have fun with friends. Syracuse has nothing to lose by leaving it all on the field Saturday. A loss and SU’s seniors never play another game for the Orange. It’s a new calm that Pugh said starts up top with the coaching staff. “Obviously (Marrone) sets the tone for the practices,” Pugh said. “He goes in the meetings and kind of gives us that lighthearted mood, maybe throw a joke, which is very rare, but he gives us a little something. Kind of makes every-

Pittsburgh 21, Syracuse 16

The free fall continues.

MICHAEL COHEN

RECEIVING

Fifth time’s the …

Alec Lemon Nick Provo Van Chew

MARK COOPER

one a little more at ease, not as tense.” Syracuse has pressed the issue a bit in recent weeks, as the Orange hasn’t found the solution to stop the landslide that is its season. The win over the Mountaineers and the jubilation that followed is a distant memory at this point. The disappointments of a game given away at Connecticut and crummy showings in three other double-digit losses during the losing streak have piled the weight upon the Syracuse players’ shoulders. But the Orange is facing a Panthers team that perhaps can relate. After all, Pittsburgh had to survive after losing its best playmaker, running back Ray Graham, to a gruesome knee injury Oct. 26. And in Todd Graham’s first year as head coach, he hasn’t gotten consistent quarterback play to run his spread offense.

“It’s like a playoff game, really. Like a playoff game. We win, we in, we lose, we out. So we got everything on the table.” Antwon Bailey

SU RUNNING BACK

Graham said in his Monday press conference Syracuse is a mirror to what the Panthers have endured this year. Though both teams have had plenty of downs, there may still be a bowl game waiting for whichever can put those letdowns behind fastest. “If we win this next game and we become

REC

60 46 35

YDS

735 500 456

6 7 3

LNG

58 33 62

bowl eligible, I feel like everybody, the level will go from way down to way up high,” SU tight end Nick Provo said. “Because everybody’s shitting on Syracuse, saying they suck, but if we get that next win and get bowl eligible, then what are they going to say then?” The Orange stares at two possibilities in this Pittsburgh game: Syracuse can become bowl eligible for the second straight year, something that hasn’t been done since 2003 and 2004. Or it will endure a long offseason — and will still be on a losing skid entering 2012. “Obviously in this game there’s a lot at stake because if you win, you get to play another game,” Marrone said. “You can start on the foundation of correcting some of the things that have happened, and it’s easier to do that on the field than off the field.” mcooperj@syr.edu

december 1, 2011

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w o m e n ’s b a s k e t b a l l

Hawaii tournament to provide test for undefeated Syracuse By Chris Iseman STAFF WRITER

The undefeated start to Syracuse’s season hasn’t answered whether the Orange will finally make the NCAA tournament again this year. But with a strong presence in the paint and sharp shooting from the arc, Syracuse has displayed the talent it needs to get there. Beneath the Who: Arizona six straight wins, Where: Laie, Hawaii When: Friday, 9 p.m. though, the Orange hasn’t been tested nearly as much as it will during the year. For now, the lead up to conference play has been a cakewalk, and it’s why senior Iasia Hemingway said potential success won’t be determined right now. “I don’t think it’s going to be after the first game, how we measure our success,” Hemingway said. “Preseason, just how we play before Big East play, and we just put all the games together and see what we have to work on. But game by game, we’re going to look at little minor stuff to get better at.” The Orange has played six games so far this season, and each one has ended in a blowout in Syracuse’s favor. SU has beaten its opponents by an average of 29.7 points. But at a time when the teams SU is playing haven’t matched the level of play in the Big East, head coach Quentin Hillsman said his team is still winning because of how well it is playing rather than the lackluster performances from its opposition. And there’s sufficient evidence to back up Hillsman’s belief. Syracuse will try to keep up its strong play as it travels across the country to play in the Hukilau Invitational in Laie, Hawaii. SU (6-0) plays Friday against Arizona (5-0) at 9 p.m. and takes on Brigham Young (5-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. “We have to win games,” sophomore guard Rachel Coffey said. “We have to go into every game like we’re trying to win it. The big thing is winning Big East games, winning conference games, so that’s what we have to do.” Nearly every facet of the Orange’s game has been strong. Junior center Kayla Alexander has been a dominant force in the low post, averaging 20.2 points per game, including a 33-point per-

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formance against Binghamton. SU’s shooters have provided a spark from the perimeter, with Hemingway scoring nearly 15 points per game and junior guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas adding close to 13 of her own. And on the other end of the floor, Syracuse’s new defensive pressure system has given other teams fits, forcing a total of 128 turnovers, including 70 SU steals. Perhaps the only hint of instability has come from the point guard position, where Hillsman is using a “point guard by committee” scenario. Junior transfer Shanee Williams, sophomore La’Shay Taft and Coffey have all seen time at the position. Combined, the three are averaging about 13 points per game. Hillsman acknowledged that Taft might’ve been playing with some nerves during SU’s season-opener against Long Beach State. But Hillsman has the advantage of having two players who are capable of coming off the bench and elevating the position. “You take a player who was your two-guard and put them at your point guard, I think it really changes everything,” Hillsman said. “I thought that Rachel came in and did a really good job for us. Obviously, those two are going to be sharing the duties and play tough.” In comparison to last season’s team, which lost in the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, Hemingway said this year’s squad is fairly similar. With the exception of Erica Morrow and Tasha Harris, all of SU’s key contributors returned. And with Syracuse’s guards shooting as well as they have been, defenses have to pay extra attention to them, spreading the floor and opening the inside for Alexander. It’s been the formula Hillsman said he will emphasize all season. Hemingway said it works perfectly. Six games into the season, Syracuse’s record reflects that. “It’s a lot of similarities,” Hemingway said. “ … I feel that with Carmen and Lacie on the perimeter, because they know the system, they’re going to do what they have to do. And I think it’s going to open it up for me and Kayla a lot on the inside.” cjiseman@syr.edu

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SYRACUSE vs 10 FLORIDA

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FRIDAY, 7 P.M., ESPN

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SCOOP JARDINE

6-2 190, SR 7 PPG, 4.1 APG

ERVING WALKER

5-10 170, SR 13 PPG, 3.3 APG

Jardine had one of his better games of the season against Eastern Michigan, scoring eight points and dishing out seven assists. But Walker has scored 21 points in back-to-back games.

POWER FORWARD

RAKEEM CHRISTMAS

6-9 222, FR 4.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG

WILL YEGUETE 6-7 222, SO 6.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG

Christmas played well against Eastern Michigan, but after playing seven minutes in two games combined in New York City, it how much he’ll be on the court against the Gators. Yeguete is starting for injured forward Erik Murphy.

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6-4 205, JR 11 PPG, 3.6 APG

KENNY BOYNTON

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7-0 244, SO 5.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG

KRIS JOSEPH 6-7 210, SR 14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG

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Joseph has been Syracuse’s best and most clutch player all year, and he has a size and experience edge here. Beal is one of the best freshmen in the country and showed no fear in scoring 17 points against No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 15.

COACHES

PATRIC YOUNG 6-9 247, SO 10.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG

A supreme height advantage here for Melo, although Young has been the more consistent rebounder. This will be Melo’s toughest matchup to date this year.

JIM BOEHEIM

863-301 36TH SEASON

SYRACUSE 67, FLORIDA 64

MICHAEL COHEN

FLORIDA FROM PAGE 24

but Friday’s game in Carrier Dome at 7 p.m. with the Gators will be a much more difficult test than any other Syracuse has faced this season. Boeheim ended an intense 20-minute press conference following Tuesday’s win over Eastern Michigan and former SU assistant coach Rob Murphy by addressing the idea of possible distractions going forward. And much like he did following the Orange’s blowout win over Colgate on Nov. 19 — two days after the original news broke on ESPN — Boeheim continued to assert that the whirlwind going on outside the program has no bearing on his team’s preparation. “The last thing I’d like to cover, because I’ve heard this a lot — the players will not be distracted,” Boeheim said. “We may not win every game. If we lose a game, it’s not going to be because they’re distracted. They’re going to play. We’ll keep them focused. “I think people talk about focus, whether it’s this or distractions — whatever it is. Those are excuses. We do not make excuses.” The allegations and ensuing investigation of Fine come during a season in which Boeheim has arguably one of his most talented teams ever during his 36-year tenure. He’s acknowledged that it’s definitely one of his deepest teams, with nine players averaging more than 13 minutes per game, and the team has its

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sights set on winning a national championship. Yet the undefeated start, NIT Season Tip-Off title and scoring margin of plus26.1 points are overlooked. The focus has turned away from the high level of basketball played by the Orange and landed on stomachturning allegations of sexual abuse against a man who has been a staple in the SU program since the 1970s. “I think it’s unfortunate more than anything, to happen to a program like us,” SU guard Brandon Triche said. “Just for the type of media attention we’re getting, it’s tough. But we just have to stay focused and focus on basketball.” Despite all the assurances from Boeheim and his players that concentration won’t be inhibited, it’s difficult to imagine that the swarm of media isn’t on anyone’s mind. After the game against Colgate, Triche and Scoop Jardine both talked about having to use alternate entrances to the Carrier Dome and Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center to avoid the press. And with Tuesday’s game playing host to what seemed like double the amount of media, Boeheim and the players were questioned relentlessly about the situation with Fine. For Waiters, it has become old hat. “You could see it on TV so much now, the only thing you could say is like, ‘What’s new?’” Waiters said. “We’re just focusing on this game by game and going out and trying to play hard and get better as a group.”

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Boeheim is near the top of the all-time wins chart for coaches, and Donovan could be there someday. The 46-year-old picked up his 400th career win against Stetson on Monday.

SYRACUSE 77, FLORIDA 68

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“I think it’s unfortunate more than anything, to happen to a program like us. Just for the type of media attention we’re getting, it’s tough. But we just have to stay focused and focus on basketball.” Brandon Triche

SU GUARD

Friday’s game against the Gators isn’t a contest SU can skate through. It’s not Colgate or Manhattan or Fordham. Florida is a team with legitimate talent, led by a stellar backcourt of Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton. It’s a game that a lack of focus — if in fact there is one — will doom the Orange. And should SU lose, the deluge of questions about distractions will pour in once again. “It’s been crazy, but at the end of the day, the only thing we can focus on is basketball,” Waiters said. “Like coach Boeheim said, it’s about us as a team. It’s times like this that we can bring it together and have each others’ backs. That’s what we try to do.” mjcohe02@syr.edu@

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22 d e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 1

CROSS COUN T RY

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Syracuse runners, Fox pleased with results of 2011 season By Alex Ptachick STAFF WRITER

In the eyes of Chris Fox, the 2011 cross country season was a successful one for his Syracuse teams. Going into the final meet of the season at the NCAA championships, the SU head coach said the Orange fulfilled about 50 percent of his expectations for the season. But its performance at nationals would serve as the ultimate measure of success for the season, and Fox wanted to see the men’s and women’s teams

both finish in the top 10. “Nationals is the biggest meet of the season, and it’s what we work towards all year,” Fox said. The Syracuse harriers finished their season with a 15th place men’s finish and a 17th place women’s finish at the NCAA championships, narrowly missing out on their goal to make it to the top 10. Still, both the runners and coaches were pleased with the outcome and the season overall. The solid showing at nationals coupled with two fourth-place finishes in the Big East

and two Northeast Regional titles gave SU plenty of reason to be happy looking back on this year. Especially considering the men’s team wasn’t running up to par at the start of the season. But Fox said his runners peaked at just the right time. The women’s team, on the other hand, performed exceptionally from the start and continued to build momentum as the season progressed. The high point came Nov. 12 in Buffalo when the Orange took home the regional titles at the men’s and women’s meets after neither team was projected to win. “Winning regionals on both sides was a really exciting day for the program,” junior Sarah Pagano said. “It gave us the confidence we needed going into nationals.” Fox was also honored as the Northeast Region Coach of the Year, capping off SU’s clean regional sweep. Strong individual performances also boosted the team’s overall success. Seniors Lauren Penney and Pat Dupont were two runners that consistently led their teammates and acted as role models, placing first on the team in every race they participated in. Penney’s best performance came in the final race of her career. She finished 29th overall with a time of 20:18 at nationals, and Dupont also ran his best race there, placing 37th overall. Penney and Dupont both earned All-Big East, All-Region and All-American honors for the 2011 season. Dupont is the first Orange harrier to be selected as an All-American in consecutive seasons since Roy Osterhaut in 1952 and 1953. Penney left a legacy at SU by becoming the first

female cross country runner in program history to earn All-American honors. “Lauren Penney and Pat Dupont set great examples because they work hard, they’re quiet and they’re the best runners on the team,” Fox said. “They’re just really low maintenance people that perform well.” With Penney and Dupont both graduating, the team will look to Pagano and Forrest Misenti to lead the way next year. It is hoped Pagano’s determined, laid-back attitude will lead the team to another outstanding season and potentially a podium finish next season. “I always try to stay positive, keep everyone relaxed and stay focused,” Pagano said. With the Orange losing its best runners next season, younger runners like freshman Shaylyn Tuite will have to step up and continue to progress. Tuite said that she watched SU improve throughout the season and hopes that within the next two years the women will achieve every team’s dream — a podium finish at the NCAA championships. Combining motivated and talented runners like Tuite and experienced runners like Pagano and Misenti should set up the team for another successful season in 2012. “The team has a lot of depth, and that’s always a good thing,” said Rebekah MacKay, who completed her fifth and final season. “We’re good now, but they’re going to be great in the next couple of years.” acptachi@syr.edu

SPORTS

THURSDAY

december 1, 2011

PAGE 24

the daily orange

SYRACUSE AT PITTSBURGH

etting

SATURDAY, NOON, ESPN2

oose

SU with 1 final chance to clinch bowl eligibility, end losing streak By Mark Cooper

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

yracuse hasn’t won in 41 days. The Orange is in the worst tailspin in Doug Marrone’s three seasons as head coach, dropping four in a row after once looking like a team on the rise. Yet somehow, still, much of those feelings of regret can be alleviated. With one win against Pittsburgh, SU can become bowl eligible in its fifth attempt to do so. And in a last-ditch effort to right the ship, Syracuse’s players and coaches are just trying to make football fun again. “It’s like a playoff game, really,”

running back Antwon Bailey said. “Like a playoff game. We win, we in, we lose, we out. So we got everything on the table.” Despite dropping four games and falling into last place in the Big East, Syracuse (5-6, 1-5 Big East) is still on the cusp of reaching bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season. And the Orange faces a Pittsburgh (5-6, 3-3 Big East) team that also wants to make a bowl through a win in its regular-season finale. Though they haven’t lost four straight games, the Panthers fell in an attempt to qualify for a bowl game last weekend, so Saturday’s game at Heinz Field (noon, ESPN2) will have

dave trotman-wilkins | staff photographer ANTWON BAILEY and Syracuse are loosening up in practice this week in preparation for Saturday’s matchup against Pitt. Despite four consecutive losses, SU has one last chance to secure bowl eligibility. a playoff atmosphere. For Syracuse, it’s a strange predicament to be in considering the team once stood at 5-2 after whooping then-No. 11 West Virginia on Oct. 21. “A lot of times, as you get older

in life, you don’t get many second chances,” Marrone said in his Monday press conference. “You definitely don’t get a lot of third, fourth, fifth or sixth chances. We’re in a position now where this is our fifth opportunity. …

You have to take advantage of it, and we haven’t been able to do it for four straight weeks.” Bailey, along with other players, said the big emphasis going into this

SEE PITTSBURGH PAGE 18

KEY MATCHUPS

ANTWON BAILEY RB

MAX GRUDER LB

Bailey rushed for a career-high 135 yards against Cincinnati last Saturday, while the rest of the offense struggled mightily. Gruder has 98 stops on the season for the Panthers, 40 more than the team’s second-leading tackler.

NICK PROVO TE

TODD THOMAS LB

Provo scored SU’s lone touchdown in its loss to the Bearcats last week and has been the Orange’s go-to receiver in the red zone this season with seven scores. Thomas, an outside linebacker, has one interception in nine games this season.

DAN VAUGHAN LB

ISAAC BENNETT RB

Vaughan has been steady at linebacker this season, making 64 tackles. He made just three tackles last week, as Cincinnati’s running back Isaiah Pead ran over SU. Bennett could be making his first career start for Pitt.

ZACK CHIBANE LG

AARON DONALD DE

Donald is Pitt’s top pass rusher, recording 10 sacks on the season. The defensive end could cause problems for Chibane and the offensive line, which has failed to give quarterback Ryan Nassib time to make plays during the team’s losing streak.

m e n ’s b a s k e t b a l l

Out of focus Magnitude of Florida game lost in wake of sex abuse scandal By Michael Cohen

y Friday, it will have been 15 days of wall-to-wall coverage. Spanning four games, a national holiday and a trip to New York City, the dark cloud hovering over the Syracuse men’s Who: No. 10 Florida b a s k e t b a l l Where: Carrier Dome program is When: Friday, 7 p.m. unrelenting. The No. 4 Channel: ESPN

UP NEXT lauren murphy | asst. photo editor DION WAITERS and SU will need to overcome glaring media coverage when they face Florida in its biggest test of the season Saturday.

SPORTS EDITOR

team in the nation, undefeated at 7-0, continues to play second fiddle to the sex abuse scandal surrounding its former associate head coach, Bernie Fine. “The only thing we can do is just go out there and play basketball and get them to talk about us and not this,” sophomore guard Dion Waiters said. “And that’s what we’re trying to do. You know it’s going to be around for a while. The only thing we can do is continue to keep winning and get back focused on the Syracuse basketball team.”

On Friday, Syracuse hosts No. 10 Florida (5-1) in a matchup of top-10 teams that will be Syracuse’s biggest game of the season so far. But in the wake of Fine’s dismissal from the university following allegations of molestation by three individuals, the Orange’s on-court performance is continually overlooked. Head coach Jim Boeheim and the players insist they are not distracted by the hoopla and hysteria of the situation,

SEE FLORIDA PAGE 20