April 14, 2022

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thursday

april 14, 2022 high 70°, low 41°

t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |

dailyorange.com

N • History in context

S • Coast to coast impact

Two Syracuse University students, Maggie Sardino and Mehak Saroha, co-directed a short film detailing the history of the city’s historical 15th Ward and Interstate 81.

Page 3

Tucker Dordevic’s lacrosse career has spanned from the “non-hotbed” area of Oregon to Syracuse, where he leads the team in goals.

Page 12

$294 million

Breaking down Mayor Ben Walsh’s budget for fiscal year 2023

FRONT PAGE Walsh’s budget proposal establishes that the university will pay the city of Syracuse, through tax revenue and service agreements, over $2.5 million. There is also half a million dollars allocated for University Neighborhood Grants. will fudge staff photographer

By Kyle Chouinard

S

asst. news editor

yracuse Mayor Ben Walsh unveiled his proposed city budget for the 2023 fiscal year to the Syracuse Common Council on Monday. While giving the presentation, a series of signs were presented across the room. On one of the signs, Walsh highlighted an increasing tax base, a lack of a property tax increase and a budget totaling over $294 million.

But Walsh said in the presentation that under his proposal for fiscal year 2023, which will last from July 2022 to June 2023, the city

will be running a deficit.

Walsh also said during the press conference that there will be no increase in property taxes with the proposed budget.

“Working together, we have made tremendous progress to fiscal sustainability for city government,” Walsh said while addressing the council.

“This budget stands on that progress.”

Syracuse University appears multiple times on Walsh’s proposed budget. One of the largest changes related to the university will be an increase in SU’s supplemental service payment to the city. SU’s payment was $1 million in fiscal year 2022, but Walsh’s proposal would have the

university paying $1.5 million in fiscal year 2023.

Other revenue sources for the city from SU will remain at their fiscal year 2022 levels for fiscal year 2023 under Walsh’s budget. The SU service agreement will remain at $500,000 and tax revenue from the Carrier Dome will remain at $100,000. The Carrier Dome traffic reimbursement will also remain at $420,000.

There is also $500,000 allocated for University Neighborhood Grants in fiscal year 2023, the same amount as fiscal year 2022.

Another one of Walsh’s signs during his presentation to the Common Council was labeled “A see

budget page 4

state

Lt. Gov. Benjamin resigns following arrest, bribery charge

By Kyle Chouinard asst. news editor

New York State Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned from his office on Tuesday after being arrested on bribery charges earlier in the day.

In a press conference held by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams detailed the crimes Benjamin has been charged with. While serving as a state senator, Benjamin and another party labeled by the U.S. Attorney as “CC-1” engaged in a bribe, Williams said in the press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Williams said Benjamin directed $50,000 in state grants to a non-

profit run by CC-1 in exchange for campaign donations during his time as state senator. He served as a state senator from 2017 to 2021.

“Taxpayer money for campaign contributions. ‘Quid pro quo,’ this for that. That’s bribery, plain and simple,” Williams said.

Williams also said that following the bribery scheme, Benjamin

falsified campaign forms and misled New York City regulators to cover up the act.

Benjamin pleaded not guilty on the charges.

Prior to Benjamin’s resignation, State Senator Rachel May was one of the first Democrats in the State Senate to say Benjamin should step down.

“I am very sad to hear this news, but I firmly believe we need accountability at all levels of government,” May, who represents Syracuse, said to The Daily Orange in an email statement. “These allegations, if true, are inconsistent with the spirit of public service, and I believe that LG Benjamin should resign.” see

resignation page 4

2 april 14, 2022

about

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The best quotes in today’s paper.

NEWS t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k Editor@dailyorange.com News@dailyorange.com Opinion@dailyorange.com Culture@dailyorange.com Sports@dailyorange.com Digital@dailyorange.com Design@dailyorange.com BUSINESS 315-443-2315

The Daily Orange is an independent, nonprofit newspaper published in Syracuse, New York. The editorial content of the paper — which started in 1903 and went independent in 1971 — is entirely run by Syracuse University students.

The D.O., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is editorially and fi nancially independent from SU, and the paper receives no funding from the university. Instead, The D.O. relies on advertising revenue and donations to sustain operations.

This spring, the paper will be published Monday and Thursday when SU classes are in session. Special inserts are published on Thursdays before home football and basketball games. The D.O.’s online coverage is 24/7, including while SU is on break.

To show your support to The D.O.’s independent journalism, please visit dailyorange.com/donate. Donations are tax deductible.

“We need to listen to the public housing residents. ... We all have a responsibility as non-residents of these public housing complexes to listen to them and elevate their voices.” - Maggie Sardino, co-creator of “A Blueprint for Re-renewal” Page 3

CULTURE “My art is just different. I go into another zone. … I think about the material and my life experiences.” - Arlene Abend, Syracuse artist Page 5

OPINION “The New York Health Act, a bill currently in committee in the New York state legislature, is vital for people all across the state, especially for people like Paige Emerson.” - Evelina Torres, SU student Page 9

SPORTS “There were not a lot of people in the same shoes as me growing up. Hopefully I can inspire some kids that want to play as well.” - Tucker Dordevic, SU lacrosse player Page 12

how to join us If you are a Syracuse University or SUNY-ESF student interested in contributing to The D.O. on either its advertising or editorial teams, please email editor@dailyorange.com.

COMING UP

corrections policy

Noteworthy events this week.

The D.O. strives to be as accurate in our reporting as possible. Please email editor@dailyorange.com to report a correction.

WHAT: STEADY/RETCON 2022 Thesis Exhibition Reception WHEN: Thursday, 5-8 p.m.

WHERE: Nancy Cantor Warehouse

letter to the editor policy The D.O. prides itself as an outlet for community discussion. To learn more about our submission guidelines, please email opinion@dailyorange. com with your full name and affiliation within the Syracuse community. Please note letters should not include any personal information pertaining to other people unless it is relevant to the topic at hand. All letters will be edited for style and grammar.

The D.O. is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 230 Euclid Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. All contents Copyright 2022 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor-in-chief. The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidy or associated with Syracuse University. All contents © 2022 The Daily Orange Corporation

WHAT: Artist Talk with Shanequa Gay WHEN: Thursday, 6-7p.m.

WHERE: Virtual WHAT: Queer Research Symposium WHEN: Friday, noon to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Bird Library, Peter Graham Scholarly Commons

news

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pag e 3

april 14, 2022

city

coronavirus

Documentary illustrates history of 15th Ward COVID-19 variant identified in county

By Katie McClellan asst. copy editor

Around 50 people attended the screening of “A Blueprint for Re-renewal” at the Dunbar Center on Wednesday night. The film was created

by SU students Maggie Sardino and Mehak Saroha. max mimaroglu asst. photo editor

By Dominic Chiappone

peeling it back executive producer

Syracuse University students Maggie Sardino and Mehak Saroha collaborated together on a project for SU’s City Scripts: the documentary “A Blueprint for Re-renewal.”

The 22-minute film, co-directed by the two students, focuses on the history and culture of Pioneer Homes, a public housing project located adjacent to Interstate 81. “A Blueprint for Re-renewal” discusses the once vibrant, predominantly Black community of the 15th Ward that was destroyed by the creation of the I-81 highway during the 1950s and ’60s.

Sardino wrote the documentary, which will be available to the public on the City Scripts website starting May 9.

“We need to listen to the public housing residents and to the people living in Pioneer Homes, Central Village and McKinney Manor,” Sardino said. “I think we all have a responsibility as non-residents of these public housing complexes to listen to them and elevate their voices.”

I-81 has specifically harmed historically Black communities in Syracuse, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Another central theme of “A Blueprint for Re-renewal” includes concern that once the viaduct is

taken down, SU and other actors could further gentrify the East Adams community and the rest of the former 15th Ward.

The documentary highlighted SU’s Steam Station, which provides heating for buildings on SU’s Main Campus, as well as SUNY-ESF, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital and the Syracuse VA Medical Center.

The Steam Station is just one block away from the Pioneer Homes community, and residents have expressed concerns on how the station affects their health and the air quality of the community.

“A Blueprint for Re-renewal” premiered Wednesday evening at

the Dunbar Center. The center has helped impoverished communities since 1918, attempting to narrow the racial gaps created by the viaduct. It provides services including summer camps, programs for the community’s older population and other programs.

Around 50 people attended the screening. The engagement from the community was a step in the right direction, Sardino said.

“The purpose of this documentary is really to begin a dialogue with all the different stakeholders that are involved with Blueprint 15 and with this redevelopment plan,” she said.

Blueprint 15 was the main see

USen calls for trustees to rescind Giuliani degree asst. news editor

The University Senate passed a resolution Wednesday calling for the Board of Trustees to rescind Rudy Giuliani’s honorary degree conferred by Syracuse University’s College of Law in 1989.

The resolution — introduced

by Student Association President David Bruen, SA Vice President Darnelle Stinfort and Graduate Student Organization President Yousr Dhaouadi — was passed with 76% of the senate voting in favor and 11% opposing. The remaining 13% abstained.

The senate also passed a resolution to endorse a proposal of adding a two-day fall break on Indigenous Peoples Day and the following day. The resolution outlines that two instructional days will be added at the end of the fall semester.

During the meeting, the senate’s honorar y degree committee presented the demog raphic in for mation on the past honorary degree nominees and recipients since 2006. Among 107 people who

were nominated for an honorary degree since 2006, 78, or 72.9%, were men. White men comprised 75.7% of all nominees and 78.6% of all recipients.

Among 22 nominees since 2019, 12 were men, while 10 were women. White people made up 59.1% of nominees and 66.7% of recipients since 2019.

The senate tabled a resolution introduced by the committee on curricula, expressing support for participation points as long as points aren’t awarded simply for attendance. The committee also recognized the right of faculty to subtract grade points for missed classes.

Steven Diaz, a professor in the mathematics department and the co-chair of the curricula committee, indicated the majority of the committee agreed that it isn’t appropriate to award students points simply for “showing up.”

“There wasn’t universal agreement of this on the curricula committee, but most of us felt that it wasn’t appropriate to give any points towards a grade just for showing up and

maybe spending the entire class time playing video games on your tablet,” Diaz said.

The resolution was met with doubts among faculty in the meeting.

Jacob Bendix, a professor in the geography and the environment department and a senator in the honorary degrees committee, said in the meeting that a way for him to encourage attendance in large introductory courses is to tell students that while he will not grade their attendance, he will give extra credit for “excellent attendance.”

“I’m troubled philosophically that we are placing a rule that says we can attempt to alter students’ behavior by using a stick but not by using a carrot,” Bendix said.

On Wednesday morning, SU’s Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter sent a campus-wide email detailing resources the university has provided to Ukrainian students who were affected by the ongoing Russian invasion.

Sam Gorovitz, a professor in the philosophy department and a senator of the academic affairs committee, said in the meeting

While these subvariants are new, the tools to combat them are not. These tools will work if we each use them.

Dr. Mary T. Bassett state health commissioner

blueprint 15 page 4

university senate

By Francis Tang

Onondaga County is the first in New York state to have cases of the new coronavirus subvariant BA2.12 as of Wednesday. The variant is more contagious than previous variants, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said.

The New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center identified the presence of the subvariant of BA.2, BA.2.12.

BA.2 is a subvariant of omicron, which was first identified in Onondaga County on Dec. 13, 2021.

“BA.2 was 40% more contagious than the original omicron, and BA.2.12 is even more contagious than that,” McMahon said in a press release.

that the committee sent an email to Ritter and Chancellor Kent Syverud on Saturday calling on the university to provide Ukrainian and Russian students with lodging at no cost if they need. Gorovitz said he hasn’t seen a response to the email.

Allen Groves, SU’s senior vice president and chief student experience officer, said the university has sent emails to 21 students who the university identified as born in, residing in or holding citizenship of Ukraine in February and on Sunday. The university has specified that it would arrange summer housing for those in need, he said.

Jamie Winders, SU’s associate provost for faculty affairs and a professor in the geography and the environment department, said the university has joined the Scholars at Risk network.

The network protects scholars suffering from threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging temporary research and teaching positions at cooperating institutions. btang05@syr.edu @francis_towne

As of Saturday, 80.6% of COVID-19 cases are BA2.12 and BA2.12.1, according to the New York state website.

Onondaga County’s rate is about 52 daily cases per 100,000 residents. In Onondaga County, 286 residents tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

“We are alerting the public to two omicron subvariants, newly emerged and rapidly spreading in upstate New York, so New Yorkers can act swiftly,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “While these subvariants are new, the tools to combat them are not. These tools will work if we each use them.”

The New York State Department of Health recommends being fully vaccinated and boosted in addition to wearing a mask in public indoor areas, testing after exposure to COVID-19 or after experiencing symptoms, staying home if positive and seeking treatment from healthcare providers.

Additionally, the department recommends improving air ventilation or gathering outdoors to reduce transmission rates, especially with the upcoming and current holidays. The department recom mend s cont i nua l ly monitoring new information about the variant via its website. @ksmcclel@syr.edu @katie_mcclellan

4 april 14, 2022

from page 1

budget Stronger Syracuse.” The poster board listed items such as a million dollar increase from the school taxi levy and nuisance abatement.

The second point was “Public Safety,” which highlighted an increased police presence across the city.

In Walsh’s budget, the total expenditure for police field services will increase by 18% from projected fiscal year 2022 totals to fiscal year 2023. The total expenditure for police services in Syracuse will be $55,867,350 under the mayor’s proposal.

Along with costs and revenue, the mayor’s budget proposal includes performance indicators for city departments such as the Department of Police. In 2021-22, the mayor’s office is estimating that the Syracuse Police Department will have made 7,000 arrests.

This number is proposed to remain the same for 2022-23.

Other performance indicators include the use of polygraph tests by the police departments.

For 2021-22, there will be an estimated 108 uses of the testing. In 2022-23, the mayor’s office is estimating in the proposal that the number of tests administered will increase to 120. from page 1

resignation Following Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement that she would accept Benjamin’s resignation, a member of May’s staff told The D.O. that there would be no additional statement.

In an email statement to The D.O. at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Assembly Member Al Stirpe — who represents towns such as Clay, Manlius, Pompey and Tully — wrote that Benjamin’s resignation is an issue for Hochul to address.

“As always, when there is an investigation ongoing, it’s best to let it come to a conclu-

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

The salary for the chief of police would stay at $134,289. The current chief is Kenton Buckner, but he is a finalist to be a police chief in Olympia, Washington, syracuse.com reported.

Walsh also addressed Interstate 81 during his presentation.

“The city will hire an I-81 city project director to provide planning and oversight for city assets and infrastructure and ensure the interests of city residents are protected during the massive infrastructure project,” Walsh said.

The project director would be paid $103,100, according to Walsh’s proposed budget.

The budget also estimates that the city’s Department of Engineering will have worked 80 hours on work related to I-81 during 202122. This is expected to increase to 600 hours in 2022-23.

The entirety of Syracuse’s Department of Engineering is also increasing its expenditure by 41%. In fiscal year 2022, the department is projected to have an expenditure of $1,046,065.

In fiscal year 2023, the department would have a proposed expenditure of $1,481,263.

Walsh’s proposed budget also addresses lead poisoning in the city. In 2020, about 9% of children tested in Syracuse had elevated blood lead levels. In Onondaga County, 4% of children tested in 2020 had elevated blood lead levels.

“The division of code enforcement will fully implement the city lead abatement and enforcement ordinance allowing city inspectors to conduct more lead inspections in rental properties requiring abatement by landlords,” Walsh said to the Common Council.

Walsh’s budget also includes a lead project coordinator. The position, along with an office manager, would work with code enforcement inspectors to conduct and process inspections, Walsh said. The coordinator will be paid $73,677.

The Neighborhood and Business Development’s Division of Code Enforcement would have an 11% increase in its budget under Walsh’s budget. For fiscal year 2022, the department’s estimated expenditure is $3,959,729.

In Walsh’s proposal, the department would receive $4,394,302 in fiscal year 2023.

Walsh’s budget also provides a large increase in the total expenditure for the Department of Public Works Street Repair, increasing by 57.4% from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023.

The division would have $1,401,926 budgeted in fiscal year 2023 under Walsh’s budget.

The Common Council would also receive an increased amount of funding under the proposed budget — the council would receive around $100,000 more in fiscal year 2023 than fiscal year 2022.

Despite this, the council is projected to decrease the number of committee meetings.

The council is projected to have 85 committee meetings in the 2021-22 session but only 75 in 2022-23.

Alongside the Common Council, the Office of the Mayor will also increase its funding between fiscal year 2022 projections and Walsh’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023.

The office would go from a budget of $619,683 in fiscal year 2022 to $846,720 in the fiscal year 2023 proposal.

Walsh’s salary, however, will not change under the proposed budget — it will remain at $130,000. Additionally, there are currently seven people working within the Office of the Mayor, but under the proposed budget there will be eight. The mayor’s office, unlike the police and fire departments, did not have any listed performance indicators in the budget.

Walsh said he was hopeful for the future of the city’s financial situation in his speech to the Common Council.

“Fortunately there are several very positive trends that can help to carry us to longterm sustainability,” Walsh said. “A status I know that we can achieve.”

sion,” Stirpe said.

Stirpe did not respond to a request for comment following Benjamin’s resignation.

Assembly Member Pamela Hunter’s office told The D.O. that a comment would not be made today as Hunter is out of the office.

Assembly Member Bill Magnarelli did not respond to a request for comment.

“As representatives of the people, elected officials must be held to a higher standard,” State Senator John Mannion said in a statement posted to his Twitter prior to Benjamin’s resignation. “I’m incredibly disappointed by this breach of the public’s trust.”

In her acceptance of Benjamin’s resigna-

tion, Hochul said his resignation will be effective immediately.

“New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them,” she said.

On Friday, four days before Benjamin’s arrest, Hochul said she had full confidence in him as her running mate.

According to The City, New York state allows candidates for lieutenant governor to win independently, meaning that Hochul and Benjamin will not necessarily share the fi nal Democratic ticket.

According to reporting from The New

York Times, Benjamin was also accused of offering to help developer Gerald Migdol of the Migdol Organization obtain a zoning variance if he donated $15,000 to a fund for NY State Senate Democrats. A zoning variance allows a property owner to use land outside of how it is zoned.

Migdol was arrested in November and pleaded not guilty.

According to The City, Benjamin will “almost certainly” remain on the ballot for lieutenant governor, as he accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination in February.

from page 3

ago? It has needed this kind of support for years. Let it be from an authentic place and not a ‘we know what’s best for you.’”

Rufus is a member of the NYCLU and worked for the Syracuse Housing Authority from 1976 to 2005. Blueprint 15 offers a platform to members of the community who are too afraid or busy to speak out and remain informed, Rufus said.

“One thing that is critically important is that people have the ability to express their concerns and opinions without any concern,” Rufus said. “Residents in public housing have so many issues to deal with. Shelter, rent, heating, keeping their families safe and keeping the community safe and sanitized. It’s difficult to address the issues when they don’t know where to start.”

Rufus said a major problem with Pioneer Homes and the Syracuse Housing Authority is a lack of connection. According to Rufus, that disconnect and inability to truly care for the residents is creating the problems that Pioneer Homes and nearby communities are seeing today.

“I think that people are being blamed for their condition when it is absolutely the problems with public housing and with the people that are managing that company,” Rufus said.

“Public housing administration and officials would rather dig up $800 million to dismantle and destroy this community than find $70 million to help renew it, replace it, rebuild it and modernize it.”

In January, the city of Syracuse announced an $800 million plan to replace older public housing projects, including Pioneer Homes, with a new mixed-income neighborhood. The plan would mark the end of New York’s oldest public housing project.

New York state also recently passed a budget for 2023 that included over $1 billion for the I-81 removal project.

“The legacies and memories of Pioneer Homes have to be remembered,” Rufus said.

“We have to teach legacy, not demolition or Section 8 vouchers.”

blueprint 15 THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES B.G. RUDOLPH LECTURE SERIES PRESENTS

Jewish Studies Program

After Charlottesville: Antisemitism, Race, Law Presented by James Loeffler B.G. Rudolph Lecture in Jewish Studies at Syracuse University Virtual Event James Loeffler is Professor of Jewish History at the University of Virginia, Ida, and Nathan Kolodiz Director of the UVA Jewish Studies Program, and Author of Rooted Cosmopolitans: Jews and Human Rights in the Twentieth Century (Yale University Press, 2018)

27, April 2022 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.u s/meeting/register/tJwqcO6hpzMv G91Xt3h9yGmyuNtIS9JFFh_0 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

organization featured in the documentary.

According to the documentary, Blueprint 15 is advocating to modernize the historic 15th Ward through initiatives striving for higher quality housing, effective education and promoting the health and wellness of the community.

Raquan Pride-Green is the executive director of Blueprint 15. Pride-Green told The Daily Orange the goal of the organization is to give more power to the people impacted by I-81.

“Our efforts are to ensure that residents have a voice,” Pride-Green said. “We offer them the opportunity to have a voice. They have to take the opportunity to have a voice.”

Blueprint 15 is unique in that it offers jobs to residents who participate in and speak out for the community, Pride-Green said.

“Most organizations are looking for volunteers, but we are actually employing residents and then giving incentives to residents that participate and use their voices so that we can go back to the table with Syracuse Housing Authority,” Pride-Green said.

After the premiere screening of “A Blueprint for Re-renewal,” Sardino led a panel discussion with the Rev. H. Bernard Alex, David Rufus and Ibraheem Abdi. All three of the panelists either grew up in Syracuse public housing or are still living there currently.

Alex is a bishop and senior pastor at the Victory Temple Fellowship Church on the near northeast side of Syracuse. He grew up in Pioneer Homes and said the community still holds a special place in his heart today.

“That footprint of memory that Pioneer Homes has and that community gives to me,” Alex said. “We need to retain (that) memory for generations to come.”

At one point in the panel, Alex asked members of the audience to reflect on why they were there. Alex said he asks this because he wants progress to be made knowing that the community demands tangible progress.

“This community has been in need for years,” Alex said. “Where have you been?

Where was the help 25 years ago? 30 years

kschouin@syr.edu @Kyle_Chouinard

kschouin@syr.edu @Kyle_Chouinard

dcchiapp@syr.edu @DominicChiappo2

C

culture

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pag e 5

april 14, 2022

On an average night at Babylon, four to six DJs each play a set with varying music while attendees covered in strobe lights dance the night away. isabella uribe staff writer

Boogie in Babylon Six students created the Babylon nightclub in their basement after clubbing in London

By Isabella Uribe staff writer

I

t’s past 11 p.m. on a Friday night, and the basement of a Westcott area residence is buzzing with a diverse group of people dressed to impress on the dance floor. Strobe lights are flashing red, green and blue as they cut through the milky clouds from the fog machine, covering the dancers enjoying themselves during the latest DJ set. This is only the beginning of what to expect at a night in Babylon.

“Babylon had a kind of nightclub environment, with hella cool lights which set a great vibe,” said Anwuli Onwaeze,

a junior studying political science at SU. “Everything came together really well, so it didn’t feel like some random basement on the dance floor.”

Babylon is currently one of the only student-run venues that offers an underground club experience for SU and SUNY-ESF students. The venue was founded by six students at SU: bandier students Jack Franklin, Asha Fuller, Joe (Joseph) Cohn and Aidan Brown as well as computer science major Chris Rhodes and communications design major Max Goodin. Unlike the majority of the studentrun venues off campus, Babylon does not have a stage for acts to play on, but a cage in which the DJs do their sets, Fuller said.

from the studio

In early 2020, the founders of Babylon toured what is now their home and immediately knew its basement would be the perfect venue to throw parties. After moving in the summer following the start of the pandemic, they knew their aspirations of hosting parties would have to come to a halt for some time. During the pandemic lockdowns, many members of Babylon practiced their DJing skills.

Last fall, the group of roommates studied abroad for the semester in London, England. They arrived just as COVID-19 restrictions around nightlife were lifted, so they were able to experience the infamous

see djs page 8

screentime column

Arlene Abend’s ‘Resolute’ exhibit ‘Moon Knight’ offers intriguing mystery

By Anthony Bailey asst. digital editor

Walking into Arlene Abend’s home and studio in south Syracuse, nothing sticks out. At first glance, the home is just like the others around it bordering the Drumlins Country Club.

Outside of the unique art and sculptures scattered around the walls and ledges, the first floor doesn’t look much different than what would be expected of a 90-year-old’s house. Cute, clean and prepared for a visit from her

daughter, who now lives across the country in California. Photos of family members rest next to small sculptures on her shelves and plants inside the house add to its homey feel.

But downstairs, past Abend’s stair glider, holds a room that most 90-year-olds don’t have in their homes. It’s what Abend calls her “piece of heaven”: a large workshop that contains welding tools and unfinished sculptures.

“I had a shop downtown … and the Labor Day storm took the roof right over my shop,” Abend said.

“So I had a partner here and built an attachment to the house, with help financially. And so I have what I call my piece of heaven. The thing is an example for me. Even bad stuff turned out to be good stuff.”

Before entering this revered space, there’s a cluttered drafting table and a small room containing some of Abend’s earlier work. This room is a miniature gallery in itself, containing all the works not on display at Abend’s exhibit in the Everson Museum of Art, entitled “Resolute.”

These works stretch from decades see sculptor page 8

By Henry O’Brien asst. digital editor

In the first episode of “Moon Knight,” Englishman Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) goes from waking up in his London apartment at night to being in the countryside in the Austrian Alps in broad daylight.

Grant knows he has suffered from blackouts before, but when he finds himself in Austria, he is just as confused as the audience is.

As he enters a nearby mountain town, he is immediately accosted by armed guards and mysterious cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke). When Grant sees that Harrow and the god he worships, Ammit, will kill people or “enact justice” before they even commit a crime, Grant tries to escape. But as the chase sequence ensues, he jumps in and out of consciousness. When he blacked see mystery page 8

6 april 14, 2022

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CAR 230 - Topics in Computer Gaming

If you’ve already delved into some classes in the computer art department, consider seeing how your knowledge translates to game development. CAR 230 covers a range of topics within gaming, including self-made alternative game controllers for existing games and pervasive gaming.

‘As It Was’ HST 122 - Global History 1750 to Present

Harry Styles shows his inclination for history through his new song “As It Was,” and now that you know he loves history, you probably want to study it too. Take this course to learn about the interactions and exchanges that took place in Africa, North America, the Caribbean and other regions around the world.

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Going even further back than 1750, ANT 141 looks at how humankind began. Instead of comparing pictures of yourself from years past, take this course to garner a hands-on understanding of how early humans and societies compare to today’s.

SOC 364 - Aging and Society

In this world, it is just us, as Harry said. Through SOC 364, dive into the realities of aging and how the U.S. handles policy regarding generational equity and treatment. Whether we think about it or not, we’re all aging. This class lets us analyze what issues exist in elder care and what society can do to improve these conditions.

A fun fact about me is I’ve never been relaxed, ever ECS 101 - Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science

Engineering and computer science is likely not anyone’s definition of stress free, but this introduction class is a relaxed way to begin your understanding of the subject. ECS 101 will teach you the basics about being an engineering or computer science major, including computer language, modeling and data analysis.

MAT 295 - Calculus 1

Learn everything you could ever want to know about arguably the hardest kind of math — calculus! Discover analytic geometry, limits, derivatives, differentials, integration and more, while also discovering how to function on three hours of sleep.

CHE 275 - Organic Chemistry I

If you’re taking CHE 275 next semester, you’re probably a bio or STEM major, which is inherently difficult. This class is important to take and engaging because it’ll teach you fun facts about carbon compounds and organic reactions, but in this class, you will not be relaxed. Ever.

Probably, f*ck LIN 201 - The Nature and Study of Language

Want to know more about why Miranda Cosgrove said her favorite cuss word is “probably f*ck?”

LIN 201 may be the class that gives you the best chance at figuring out why. Delving into topics of phonetics, grammatical description, meaning and language learning, this class will give you the ins and outs of language.

ENG 325 - History and Varieties of English

If you’re curious about how long people have been saying “f*ck” and what the English language looked like in the past, add ENG 325 into your MySlice shopping cart. This class examines issues pertaining to the English language, including linguistic heterogeneity over time and the history of English.

ENG 105 - Intro to Creative Writing

Want to learn how to use your words effectively and in a fun way like Miranda Cosgrove? Try creative writing with ENG 105, where you’ll learn about poetry, fiction and mixed literary forms, as well as how to use each to your benefit.

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PAG E 7

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april 14, 2022

Show me something that you spent way too much money on COM 107 - Communications & Society

While attending SU is no cheap bill, there are some classes that you won’t regret spending the money on. COM 107 is one of those classes. You will learn about the history of mass communications, from foundational mass comm theories to their application in the age of the internet.

FST 422 - Wine and Beer Appreciation

If you want to get the most out of your time at SU, taking FST 422 is one of the premier ways to do that. Students 21 and over can learn about wine types, varieties, terminology, labeling and regulation. You will also learn about pairing food and wine.

VIS 207 - Introduction to Graphic Design

Whether it’s for editing photos, drawing illustrations or creating magazines, graphic design can be a useful tool to keep in your pocket if you crave creativity. While taking VIS 207, you’ll be introduced to programs like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop — programs you can use for free as a student thanks to paying that expensive SU tuition. And by the end of the semester, you’ll be able to say you made your own faux magazine.

Material girl FAS 120 - Fashion Skills and Techniques I

Interested in learning how to design garments for material girls? FAS 120 is the course for you. Students learn introductory garment construction techniques and assembly methods that are integral to the fashion industry. Put down that credit card, and learn how to sew and stitch next semester.

DES 267 - Textiles for Designers

If you want to be a material girl, learn about materials!

DES 267 is a good place to start, as students learn the basics of how to construct fabrics for use in designs, including various common textile fibers.

FAS 335 - History of Fashion Design I

Learn about what the original material girls wore throughout history with FAS 335. Students will learn about fashion, from ancient times to the eighteenth century, and how historic details reoccur in modern design.

To help SU students prepare for fall 2022 registration, The Daily Orange Culture Staff compiled a list of recommended courses based on popular TikTok sounds

I’m just a baby HFS 202 - Development of Children

If you resonate with this defiant child arguing with her mom, you may be interested in learning about why the argument happened in the first place. HFS 202 will teach you about the influence of biological and experiential factors in a child’s life and how external and internal familial relationships influence a child.

EXE 385 - Motor Behavior Across the Lifespan

Curious about how the “I’m just a baby!” kid used her motor skills during the video? EXE 385 delves into how and why people develop motor skills and the psychological and physiological processes that go into that development.

SOC 281 - Sociology of Families

Learn about all the different kinds of families — including families similar to the one in this TikTok. The class material will go over how the family as a social structure connects to other social structures domestically and abroad. You won’t feel like you’re “just a baby” after this class!

8 april 14, 2022

from page 5

djs

London underground scene.

“We were going to different nightclubs every weekend, seeing the most insane DJs,” Franklin said.

Franklin and Cohn said they were especially inspired by the London sound and frequently found themselves practicing on the studio DJ decks at Pirate Studios in the city.

Their dreams to convert their Syracuse basement into a party venue slowly came together during their time in London. In their business of nightlife class while abroad, members of Babylon learned about how cages were commonly built over DJ booths to protect them from whatever the hostile clubgoers would throw in protest of what they were playing, Franklin said.

This inspired Franklin to draw up his plans for what the DJ cage would look like in the basement. After moving back into the house alone over winter break, Franklin said he got serious about building the DJ booth.

“Jack built it single handedly in like, three days. It was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen,” Fuller said.

Franklin and his roommates put about $500 into building the whole setup, he said.

It only took one concert — their first Babylon event — to make back the money back.

They sold tickets from $5-$7 at this February concert, which was the only one where they charged an entrance fee.

Franklin said that the group chose not to charge for shows as they are just trying to have fun, and having to keep track of the money all from page 5

sculptor back to as recent as the past five years.

The Everson exhibition is being shown along with Dawn Williams Boyd’s exhibition “Woe” and Charley Friedman’s “Soundtracks for the Present Future.” “Resolute” will be on display until April 17.

Here, at her at-home gallery, the unselected works show traits similar to the ones on display at the Everson: abstract metal landscapes, a cast resin bust of her own face and small metal figures that Abend said add scale and personality to her works.

But through this room is where the magic happens. Abend’s workshop looks like the average welder’s, but just a few inches smaller.

The framework of her studio, like tables and cabinets, was made by Abend herself, as stock welding equipment was usually too large for her, she said.

On the walls and tables of her workshop are pieces that have yet to be completed. Scraps of metal from previous projects are hung and altered as Abend works carefully to create completed works. Her inspiration doesn’t from page 5

mystery out in the opening episode, he woke up and realized that he had killed four henchmen. This continues as the chase sequence hits the road.

Most Marvel Studios films rely on the big action scene early on to get an audience hooked. But its new Disney+ show hasn’t needed to yet. With no grand action, we only see the horrific and violent results of Grant’s other personality, American Marc Spector (Isaac).

It shows us Spector and his alter ego, Moon Knight, are capable of being violent, but the audience doesn’t know how or why.

This is what “Moon Knight,” like other Marvel streaming shows, has done so well with early on in the first three episodes.

Unlike in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, there is a great sense of mystery in “Moon Knight” that keeps the audience in the dark. The only thing we know is that there is clearly something amiss with our main hero. While some narrative questions were answered early on, the show mainly opens the door to new questions, which creates solid storytelling. So far, even though the action is not as good as

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night made it difficult for any of the founders to enjoy themselves at the party.

For Fuller, The End was a popular house venue that caught her eye as a freshman and served as inspiration for starting Babylon. She said SU has a unique house party scene, and she wanted to contribute to it.

“From the first house show I ever went to, I knew that the Syracuse house show scene was something I wanted to be a part of,’’ Fuller said.

The name of the venue was inspired by the early 2000s American-Canadian SHOWTIME series “Queer As Folk,” where the main characters frequented the fictional gay nightclub “Babylon.”

“We’ve been trying to come up with names for a really long time and I kept saying Babylon, because I was rewatching ‘Queer As Folk,’” Franklin said.

Fuller said that the name also ties into their intentions of making Babylon a queer-friendly space where everybody can feel welcomed, which is something that Fuller believes makes the venue special.

Using their experiences abroad, the house members wanted to create something a little bit more niche that Syracuse hasn’t seen before. Unlike most other student-run venues, Babylon would be booking DJs, not bands, to play their sets.

Franklin said their early shows were a success, but soon after opening their house to the public the members of Babylon came to realize the difficulties of running a venue in their own home.

“There were so many responsibilities. We were trying to keep people out of certain parts of the house or having to look after people,” Franklin said. “It was eye opening to see how

much work went into it.”

On an average night, visitors can expect to find four to six different DJs playing their sets. Alpengeist, the DJ name of SU junior Destiny Wright-Butler, was someone that the Babylon founders met abroad in London. She frequently DJs at Babylon, playing high energy drum- and bass-fueled tracks. Franklin said he was impressed with her DJ skills and found them incredible.

Four out of the six residents of Babylon are also DJs. Franklin goes by J.A.Q., Fuller goes by Hesh2Death, Cohn goes by JOJO and Brown goes by Arthur Hustle.

“This is what we saw in England, in clubs in the U.K. The DJ is like a performer, it’s like an act,” Cohn said, referring to how DJs take on another name. “Whereas in bars, the DJ is behind the scenes just playing music.”

Cohn has been DJing since his freshman year, but Babylon was the first opportunity he had to DJ for a wide audience not solely consisting of friends and acquaintances.

Cohn described his current DJ style as drum heavy, with sets that are driven by the UKG (U.K. garage) sound. He also said he enjoys playing disco-influenced house music, and he finds DJing especially thrilling on those occasions where he sees that he’s consistently seeing the crowd react positively to whatever he’s playing.

Recently, COUCOU CHLOE, a Londonbased DJ and producer, played a set and danced among attendees at the third Babylon party on March 26. In 2021, COUCOU CHLOE collaborated with Lady Gaga on her “Chromatica” remix album, “Dawn of Chromatica,” for the remix of the song “Stupid Love.”

“COUCOU CHLOE DJing at Babylon was actual insanity,” Fuller said. “That was probably the most epic thing that has ever happened.”

Students from all walks of life on campus have found their way to Babylon to meet new crowds and sweat together on the dance floor.

Onwaeze first heard about Babylon through a friend who sent her Babylon’s Instagram page because they knew she loved DJ sets.

“I haven’t seen anything like Babylon happening in the ‘Cuse community, so I was really excited to check out these student DJs,” Onwaeze said. “I go where there’s good music and good vibes and Babylon checked both of those boxes.”

Onwaeze danced the night away at the most recent Babylon event on April 8. She said she found the environment Babylon curated to be very fun and that the attendees were enthusiastic about dancing like nobody’s watching.

Onwaeze said Alpengeist and JOJO were her favorite DJs of the night, and she’s looking forward to attending future Babylon events.

At April 8’s Babylon show, an attendee pressed his phone against the cage while Cohn was playing with the message “Play Bad Bunny.” The club’s founders said they want to emphasize that Babylon is not a place where partygoers should expect radio hits.

“When you come here you aren’t going to hear stuff like Bad Bunny,” Cohn said. “That’s part of what we wanna do, expose people to something that they’ve never heard before.”

Fuller said that every single Babylon event is different from the rest, from its theme of the night to the people in its basement.

“You never know what you’re going to expect at Babylon,” Fuller said.

always come from grand or abstract ideas, she said. Instead, she likes to experiment and create new ways to answer difficult questions.

“My art is just different. I go into another zone. … I think about the material and my life experiences,” Abend said. “It’s many things, and other times it’s playtime with absolutely nothing behind it.”

One of her works that came out of “playtime” on show at the Everson is “Desert Tree,” a piece Abend made in 2018. The creation of it came out of Abend’s constant search for new ways to create art, she said.

While working on a large commission, Abend melted a brass rod onto a steel plate and noticed the splatter created from the brass.

She started experimenting with the splatter and leftovers of that commission and eventually created “Desert Tree,” along with jewelry using the same, inventive techniques.

“Art doesn’t need to be with a capital ‘a,’” Abend said. “I also think I get bored. One of the reasons I went to welding is because I hated the flat surfaces.”

Metal work is not all Abend has on display.

On the other side of the gallery containing her work, the Everson has displays of her resin

cast sculptures. Jay Lurie, a local Syracuse filmmaker who made a film on Abend, credits Abend with creating a new form of sculpting. “(Abend’s) love of experimentation led to stretching the boundaries of sculpture with ordinary fiberglass resin,” Lurie said.

Abend created this new way of sculpting after speaking with an SU professor about sculpting with resin. The professor told Abend that the resin she was using would not give her the thickness she was striving for. The process of creating these resin sculptures usually requires multiple pours, and the professor did not think Abend would be able to create a sculpture with the resin she had.

But when she did complete the large sculpture, the professor walked up to Abend and asked “How many pours?” Abend responded by simply holding up one finger (though now, she said she wishes she held up a different finger).

Out of the experimentation, she created works such as her 2007 piece “Remembering.”

The sculpture contains a resin bust of her face, with one of her small, metal figures swinging in front of it. The work freezes this act in time; the face always looks at a memory of the past. “Remembering” shares a similar theme

to much of Abend’s work: while the sculpture contains her face, it forces the viewer to think of their own personal past.

Even with all of her past work, her 2022 exhibition “Resolute” is the first solo exhibition that she has shown at the Everson. Steffi Chappell, an assistant curator at the Everson, said that her exhibit has been a long time coming. “(Abend) is beloved in the community. She’s well known in the community. But somehow she has never had an exhibition at the Everson before. So it’s well past time,” Chappell said.

While Abend said she is not making as much work as she used to, she is still looking for new ways to create and invent. She said, however, her motivation to continue creating is more than just boredom.

“I don’t know why I’m doing this. In fact, at this point in my life, I don’t have a religious anchor or something,” Abend said. “But I have a spiritual sense. I still am childlike and asking questions that have no answers. And I’ve come up with something at least that makes me comfortable. And it’s just a few words: ‘I know I don’t know.’”

previous Marvel films or shows, the audience has continued to guess what will happen as Grant, Spector and others try to stop Harrow and his cult from releasing Ammit from her tomb into the world.

By the end of the first episode, we only get a glimpse of what Moon Knight is capable of when he fights and easily beats a mythical jackal. The action sequences featuring Moon Knight in the following two episodes are quite enjoyable and exciting, but they lag due to poor special effects. But what makes these scenes interesting is the questions that have risen out of them.

In the second episode, a dynamic is established where Spector takes over the body shared by him and Grant whenever there are henchmen or mythical creatures to fight. But the two personalities sharing one body are very different, which has created tension with who will control the body and when. During one fight sequence that took place in London, Grant took over the body, and instead of wearing the hood and cape of Spector’s Moon Knight, he donned an all-white suit and bow tie, fitting for his much less threatening personality. Still, this provided entertainment and fun like any typical Marvel product and

begged the question of which personality will control the body when this series is over.

Another interesting plot point that remains currently unknown is the extent of control the Moon Knight’s god has. According to the comics, the mysterious superhero is just an avatar for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, voiced wonderfully in the show

by F. Murray Abraham. The bratty and powerful god is the one who controls Moon Knight’s suit and gives Spector his powers.

But through the first two episodes, Khonshu played a sideline role, only urging the two personalities to let him free so he can use his true powers to enact his own form of justice.

However, in episode three, his full abilities were used to help Spector and Grant. So the range of his control is unknown, and we may never know it because Khonshu’s fellow gods imprisoned him for unleashing his powers.

Once again, this is great storytelling, as the cliffhangers of each of the episodes never feel forced and keep the viewer drawn in.

Khonshu’s past remains a mystery, especially with the nefarious Harrow, who once was an avatar of the god. But episode three also gave the viewer a glimpse into the relationship between Spector and his wife Layla

El-Faouly (May Calamawy). The couple was about to get divorced before Spector disappeared and Grant took control of the body.

Midway through the most recent episode, the seemingly all-knowing villain, performed effortlessly by Hawke, hinted that Spector committed some heinous acts against ElFaouly’s father. For now, though, this remains ambiguous and unknown, building up excitement for the second half of the season.

Marvel Disney+ shows have done a wonderful job of creating intriguing first halves of shows to get the audience hooked on the ending. However, the second halves of its series have sometimes failed to live up to expectations, such as “WandaVision.” The first three episodes of that series offered a mystery element that was entirely absent from the films, but the final two episodes suffered from too much exposition, which slowed the plot down.

Now, the question on everyone’s mind is if “Moon Knight” will fall into this trap and maybe even leave some questions unanswered.

It is very possible, but so far, the interesting narrative questions that currently remain are the ingredients needed for a great ending.

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OPINION

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PAG E 9

april 14, 2022

letter to the editor

guest column

Health care shouldn’t be a privilege

Neurodiversity should be celebrated

By Our Reader

“

Is it really worth the $150?”

Paige Emerson, a freshman at Syracuse University and friend of mine, said, looking tired and distressed. My heart sank. She was contemplating whether or not to go to the emergency room. This was the second time within the past year they have avoided the large cost of going to seek help, and she’s not alone — 51% of U.S. adults say they have delayed or abstained from medical care within the past year because of expenses.

Further, almost half of U.S. adults who are insured have challenges paying out-of-pocket healthcare costs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. And around 12% state that medical bills have a huge impact on their family. It’s clear that healthcare has become a privilege for those who can afford it. Otherwise, it is a burden.

The New York Health Act, a bill currently in committee in the New York state legislature, is vital for people all across the state, especially for people like Emerson. This act would establish a program that would guarantee health coverage regardless of income, with no out-of-pocket cost for all residents.

In addition to creating a single-payer healthcare system, it would establish the New York Health Trust Fund, which would be used solely to fund the New York Health Program.

Alongside bills like Coverage 4 All and End Medical Debt, this bill would allow patients across work and citizenship status to have more financial access to health care. The need to pass this act becomes evermore urgent as medical prices increase, companies gouge and healthcare becomes less and less affordable.

Emerson said they have struggled with the healthcare system for their whole life because of finances and access.

“My medication per month, with no insurance, is over $1,000 already,” Emerson said.

With their insurance, they end up paying around $100 per month for medication and occasional other healthcare costs. That’s not even including an ER cost if she is able to

go. Not if she has to.

Emerson has conditions that require her to be on five different medications. Medication could dictate life or death. She not only has chronic migraines (requiring her to be on two other medications), but is also in the process of getting diagnosed for a heart condition. This requires frequent visits to doctors and being referred to specialists, all of which have a price tag attached to them.

Emerson, alongside many New York residents and workers, would benefit greatly from the New York Health Act passing. It would mitigate stressful financial decision making from making important health decisions. This bill, alongside other companion bills, is an important step towards achieving equity for New Yorkers, especially communities of color who have long been underserved, by establishing a universal healthcare system in the state.

At the end of the day, establishing single-payer health care systems is not only incredibly beneficial for residents and workers, but it also is beneficial to state finances in the long term. That’s why the New York Public Interest Research Group is pushing for this bill to be passed, as we understand that every New Yorker deserves access to affordable healthcare.

With students leading the fight to ensure that this bill gets passed, NYPIRG hosted an event with SU’s Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society and Honors Pre-Heath called “What the Health!” on Wednesday. They discussed healthcare systems in the U.S. and explained the New York Health Act and its companion bills. NYPIRG also demanded that these bills get passed through outreach to officials.

Emerson said she considers herself lucky. They have good insurance and are able to cover the outside costs with help from their family. But she fears what could happen in the future, if that security doesn’t exist or if any unknown emergency occurs. She could lose her vital access. No person should have to live in fear of this.

Healthcare is a human right and our state’s policies need to reflect that.

By Kiersten Edwards

guest columnist

T

oday, the neurodiversity movement is one of social justice, acceptance and human rights. It is not exclusive to any single disorder; instead, it strives to be inclusive of anyone outside of the “neurotypical” or “NT” label.

Those with disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and many others are considered “neurodivergent” or “ND.” One important community at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement are those with autism spectrum disorder, also referred to as ASD. The National Institute of Health defines ASD as “group of neurodevelopment disorders that affect how people communicate, learn, behave, and socially interact,” with spectrum referring “to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability in functioning that can occur in people with ASD.” While defunct standards attempt to divide ASD into groups based on level of function, researchers and doctors have a difficult time defining “poles” of the spectrum. Some doctors have now started thinking of the autism spectrum as more of a circle, similar to a color wheel.

Considering recent research into ASD, it’s important to move beyond the high and low-functioning labels and the presumptions or stereotypes associated with them.

These terms create unrealistic expectations and belittle otherwise capable people. Some may be incorrectly labeled as low-functioning because they are nonverbal, but are excellent communicators when given the proper accommodations.

Other individuals may have really high IQs, but struggle to perform in a typical work environment due to focus issues or overstimulation.

Beyond mislabeling, people with ASD face a lot of other stigmas. Miseducation has led to the public looking down upon those with ASD. Organizations such as Autism Speaks further spread

recognize the importance of a mindset that moves away from “changing autistic people so that they fit into a narrow stripe of acceptable behavior in the world” and rather would “like to see the world expand its concept of acceptable behavior to include people with autism.”

Schools and universities nationwide should engage in efforts to combat the continued stereotyping of the ASD community. Education about autism should begin in grade school, and it should be described not as a dysfunction, but rather as a natural difference in neuroanatomy.

Further opportunities to destigmatize ASD must be approached in larger communities and throughout society. The dismantling of groups such as Autism Speaks — regarded by many in the ASD community as a hate group — would be an excellent start. Neurotypical people in charge of funding research into ASD need to be reeducated or removed. Their constant search for a cure ignores cries for acceptance, sending money into gene research rather than into support for those living with ASD. Neurodiversity, at its core, is not so much about changing how the world behaves, but rather asking the rest of the world to accept the different, natural behaviors of those with ASD and other so-called “disorders.” Advocates ask not for a cure, but for acceptance.

Julia Bascom, executive director for the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, says, “The idea of a cure for autism doesn’t make sense. Autism isn’t a disease or an injury; it’s a neurodevelopmental disability that shapes our brains differently.”

It is time for the world to embrace the neurodiversity movement and accept those with ASD as full members of our society, rather than lesser beings.

If you’re looking for a charity or organization to support, check out organizations run by autistic people like the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, AWN Network and Autistic Inclusive Meets.

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Kiersten Edwards, Class of 2023

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this stigma through its advertisements and the ways in which it speaks about autism, comparing it to terminal illnesses and calling it a destroyer of marriages. It has funded research into the identification of genes related to ASD, seeking a “cure” rather than providing support. This constant search for a “solution” ignores the importance of neurodiversity in humanity.

Simon Baron-Cohen, the director of the University of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, speaks directly on the importance of ASD in the current neurodiversity of humanity. “It happens that inventors and autistic people both love to repeat their observations of such patterns, over and over again, to uncover timeless laws,” he writes, also saying that “autistic people have really contributed to human progress, to why we are the dominant species on the planet.”

The movement for neurodiversity is also supported by recent studies into the neurodivergent brain.

When considering the labeling of autism, Baron-Cohen notes, “The term ‘disorder’ implies the natural order has gone awry” but “when we examine the cognition and biology of autism, arguably what we see is not evidence of dysfunction but rather evidence of difference.”

How, then, do we move beyond the stigma surrounding autism to create a society more accepting of the natural differences in the brains of those with ASD? One option is to start listening to those with ASD when it comes to their own “disorder.” At its heart, Baron-Cohen argues, “the notion of neurodiversity is very compatible with the civil rights plea for minorities to be accorded dignity and acceptance, and not to be pathologized.”

Those with ASD have a far more personal experience with autism than those who think they know about it. While scientists may believe they have an understanding, research suggests “autistic adults should be considered autism experts and involved as partners in autism research.”

As Elizabeth Picciuto of The Daily Beast argues, those with ASD

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10 april 14 , 2022

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men’s lacrosse

Opponent preview: Everything to know about North Carolina

By Roshan Fernandez senior staff writer

Syracuse has lost three straight games for the second time this season, and it will now travel to North Carolina. The Orange have a 1-4 record on the road this year. Most recently, they suffered a 14-12 loss at unranked UAlbany and a 16-goal loss at Notre Dame.

North Carolina (7-4, 0-3 Atlantic Coast) is winless in conference play and most recently scored just four goals in its 11-4 loss to No. 6 Virginia.

Here’s everything you need to know about the No. 15 Tar Heels before they play Syracuse on Saturday at 4 p.m.:

All-time series

Syracuse leads the all-time series 18-10.

Last time they played

Syracuse lost 21-9 when it played North Carolina in the Carrier Dome last season.

The Orange went down 5-0 in the first seven minutes and the game was over by halftime, when SU trailed 12-4. UNC star attack Chris Gray had two goals and six assists, and Jacob Kelly and Alex Trippi both added two goals from page 12

dordevic beat that same team that handed them their first “embarrassing” defeat.

By then, Dordevic and Handley were head and shoulders above other players, Handley said. Their skills drastically improved from the countless hours in the spring they spent throwing a ball off a brick wall at Riverdale.

A few other players from the team went to the school, too, heading over to Tillamook Creamery for $5 cookie dough milkshakes after showcasing their talents.

When Dordevic was in seventh grade, he started playing for West Coast Starz, a national club lacrosse program. But the West Coast Starz had its own challenges, Dordevic said.

Jono Zissi, who had been a coach at the club since its inception in 2006, said other states like California had an “eight-year head start” with competitive leagues already established in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

And with trips to the East Coast for weekend tournaments, players from the West from page 12

monster jam Porter, who drove the Carolina Crusher and later became a Grave Digger driver. So they had so much of their team expanded like that, but they were just always nice guys, and they always welcomed you everyday. (They) saw you at a show and remembered you, so it was pretty cool.

The D.O.: Do you have a favorite event that you do or one that you really look forward to?

B.M.: I like racing, and freestyle racing is usually the first part of the event where you race another competitor in a bracket style format.

And basically, you just have to beat them to pass on through the bracket. And that way, you can say you beat the person you’re racing straight up. And the rest of the competitions are fan-judged. So just based on how well you from page 12

canisius home run and the Orange were only down one run.

Neither team scored through the rest of the game as Canisius held onto its 4-3 lead. Still, Adams only gave up four hits on 24 at-bats.

Lindsey Hendrix started the second game for the Orange and recorded three straight outs. Then, a Jasso double and Galipeau single put runners on first and third in the bottom of the first. This set up Casares-Maher’s three-

and two assists each. SU was led by four goals from Tucker Dordevic and a goal and three assists from Stephen Rehfuss, but it wasn’t enough.

The win marked UNC’s first in the Dome since 1991. SU gave up a season-high 21 goals, at the time, after its already struggling defense was depleted further by injuries before the game.

The Tar Heels report

North Carolina is right outside the edge of the 16-team NCAA tournament field with three games remaining in the season. According to Lacrosse Reference’s bracketology, The Tar Heels rank 24th and have a 24.1% chance of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. They’re behind Notre Dame (29.5%), Duke (73.1%) and Virginia (98.5%) for the at-large bids.

In the last two contests, both of which were against conference opponents, UNC scored just six and four goals, respectively. They haven’t topped 17 goals in a single game, which came against Denver.

UNC ranks 39th in offensive efficiency (29.9%) and 61st in defensive efficiency (33.7%) out of 73 Division I teams, according to Lacrosse Reference.

How Syracuse beats UNC

To beat the Tar Heels, Syracuse will need to put together a consistent offensive performance, something they’ve struggled with this year. UNC’s defense isn’t very highly touted, and SU’s Brendan Curry and Dordevic, among others, shouldn’t have trouble getting to work against them.

The problem this season has been SU’s road performances. Head coach Gary Gait said nothing about the preparation is different between home and away games, but SU has struggled to produce consistent results and play up to its potential on the road. SU will need to overcome that mental blockade, too.

At the faceoff X, Jakob Phaup struggled against senior Zac Tucci last season, winning just 4-of-11 before he was pulled. Tucci finished 15-of-23. Phaup is having a much more consistent season, though, and both he and Tucci rank in the top 20 nationally in faceoff win-percentage. If Phaup can win that battle, it could help set up the SU offense with plenty of opportunities for success.

Stat to know: 12.9%

Against No. 6 Virginia, the Tar Heels had a 12.9% offensive efficiency rating, according to Lacrosse

Reference. More than half of their offensive possessions ended in turnovers (54.8%) and they scored a season-low four goals, and the game featured an almost 20-minute scoreless stretch.

Syracuse has also struggled to take care of the ball as of late, with its turnover rate being 45.0% against Notre Dame and 43.5% against UAlbany.

But SU had its best offensive efficiency game against Cornell (outside of Holy Cross). It had a season-best 20.0% turnover rate against the Big Red. And unlike UNC, the Orange have never topped 50% in turnover rate this season either.

Player to watch: Chris Gray, attack, No. 4

Gray leads the Tar Heels in points (65), which is more than double that of any UNC player. The fifth-year attackman is fourth in the nation in points too, averaging almost six per game. Gray has taken almost twice as many shots as fellow attackman Kelly, the second-best attack.

He’ll likely be guarded by Brett Kennedy, Syracuse’s most experienced defender, who has covered Gray in past years. But if the UNC attack can draw slides or force SU’s defense into a switch, he could pose a serious threat. rferna04@syr.edu @roshan_f16

Coast in general were at a disadvantage, Zissi said. They didn’t have the time to adjust to the three-hour time difference for 8 a.m. Saturday morning games and had to rush home on Sunday nights just in time for the school week.

“Every sort of odds is against the West Coast kid,” Zissi said.

Dordevic didn’t earn a spot on West Coast Starz A-team but still continued with the sport.

Getting cut left a “sour taste,” Dordevic said. At the start of high school, he began working with Josh Hunt, a specialized sports performance trainer. Hunt had trained Dordevic’s older brother, Max, who ran track at Texas.

Hunt spent four hours a week with just Dordevic, working on strength exercises, acceleration, deceleration and power. They would be in the weight room or at the turf field in Hunt’s Titan Elite Strength & Conditioning facility, working on resistance and overspeed exercises. Dordevic was small, Hunt said, but he bought into the program, becoming even more explosive.

“We wouldn’t throw around the ball or utilize the stick,” Hunt said. “We would work on the

characteristics that support sport excellence.”

Dordevic said he completely bought into Hunt’s program midway through his freshman year. But Hunt said there was no “epiphany” working with Dordevic. He just slowly turned up the heat on Dordevic’s regiment, implementing more complex muscular movements.

The work with Hunt resulted in a “jump” in Dordevic’s game his junior year, Zissi said.

It helped him shoot in the high-90s with both hands, and Dordevic had a new confidence on the field, Zissi said. He finally made the West Coast Starz A-team before the winter slate, picking up a Syracuse offer, too.

In his senior year, Dordevic took his new abilities to the Under Armour All-America Game. All players at the game were college commits, and the attention was on some of the best East Coast talent, Zissi said. But the West Coast players like Dordevic took over the game, outplaying the kids from hotbeds.

“That sort of legitimized it,” Zissi said about Dordevic’s success. “That’s when it was stamped.”

Now at Syracuse, Dordevic still continues

to play wall-ball as if Handley or others are around him, boomeranging the ball off a metal gate where the football team enters before games in the Carrier Dome. On the road, he does the same, though he said certain spots like the uneven brick walls at UVA don’t provide the same experience.

Dordevic doesn’t need music like he did during the pandemic — the rhythm of the ball bouncing off the wall is enough. But when he goes home over summer and winter breaks, he falls back into his old routine, training with his former club players who are now at Division I programs.

The group itself doesn’t play outside as much as they used to, but Dordevic still plays wall-ball at Riverdale, talking to his mom instead. And now he’s coaching youth players from his old teams too, showing the next generation the unique path that landed him in Syracuse.

“These kids are ambassadors for the West, for Tucker to go back and give back, that’s what it’s all about,” Zissi said.

do is how well you interact with the fans and how well they think you did. That’s going to determine your score because they can vote for you on their phone, on their mobile device.

And freestyle is a part where you just get to go out there and kind of strut your stuff for two minutes and do everything you can imagine on the track including backflips and wheelies, doughnuts, big airy, you name it. If you can do it, the fans — and if you can wow the fans — you’re gonna get a good score on it.

The D.O.: Do you have any favorite memories?

You said your greatest memory of Monster Jam is Panama City. Do you have a favorite? Is that the favorite show you did?

B.M.: Probably my favorite event was when I won the Young Guns shooting out in Las Vegas the first year they did it in 2012. That was after I won Rookie of the Year in 2011. There’s a lot of memories early on in my career. And then to

present day 2020, (I) got The Guinness Book of World Records for the most doughnuts in a Monster Jam truck in one minute. (I) did 44 doughnuts in a minute. And you had to do it inside of a circle that was 77 feet in diameter.

The D.O.: Can you talk a little bit more about what driving calculated means?

B.M.: I like to plan out my freestyle runs as much as I can to be able to not get lost out on the track. Sometimes you can kind of get disoriented. “What should I hit next?” because there’s a lot of different obstacles on the track and they all kind of look similar. So I like to plan it out, and even if I take a bad bounce where it throws me off my route I try to get back on track in my mind mentally and remember, “Alright this is where you need to be after this,” so I like to hit jumps straight on. A lot of drivers tend to hit jumps crooked and off-kilter and you just never

know what’s gonna happen, which is cool. It definitely produces some “wow” moments doing that, but at the same time, one of the main things on getting a good score is your finishing time.

The D.O.: What would you say your favorite aspect of being with Monster Jam is?

B.M.: Probably meeting so many different people and inspiring people to follow their dreams. I tell them my story all the time, or whenever someone asks how I got involved with Monster Jam. And traveling, seeing the world is pretty special. There’s so many different cultures and backgrounds that I’ve been able to take in and never would have thought in a million years that I would be doing this and living out a dream. So it’s definitely something that’s very rewarding.

run home run that bounced off the scoreboard.

Canisius’ Rosie Gomez responded by hitting a home run on a 3-2 pitch that went at least 10 yards beyond the center-field fence. But Hendrix fired back by catching three straight Golden Griffin batters swinging.

No runs were scored until Syracuse regained its stride in the bottom of the fourth. Carli Campbell and Paris Woods recorded singles on balls driven past infielders. Then, Kover walked Galipeau on four pitches to load up the bases.

Breen hit a line drive up the middle that sent two runners home and forced the Golden

Griffins to make a pitching change. Kate Wiggins came into the game and immediately forced a Casares-Maher infield pop out for the second out, leaving runners on first and second for Jude Padilla.

Padilla hit a rocket down the third base line that left fielder Sam Weber had to scramble to chase down, a sequence that lasted long enough for another two runs to score, allowing Padilla to remain safe at second base. Yamila Evans then hit a grounder to the shortstop, but was fast enough to run it out to first. But Gomez dropped the throw at first base which

sent Evans to second and Padilla home.

A pair of well-placed singles by Ryan Gallegos and Campbell allowed Evans to score on a tight throw that Canisius catcher Hanna Hagerman dropped. After Woods was hit by a pitch to load up the bases once again, Jasso hit a bases clearing triple that sailed down the right field line and touched the outfield fence. This put the Orange up 12-1 and well within the mercy rule.

Hendrix then shut down three batters in a row and the Orange secured the win without getting a fifth turn at the plate.

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Sports

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monster jam

Monster Jam driver lives out dream

WEST COAST KID

pag e 12

april 14, 2022

softball

SU splits 2 games with Canisius

By Anthony Alandt

By Matthew Hassan

As a kid, Bari Musawwir’s mother took him to his first Monster Jam event at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan because she knew he was fascinated by cars. Musawwir could only recall how large the trucks were and how quickly he fell in love with them during the show.

Years later, Musawwir became a professional driver for Monster Jam, and since 2015, he’s been the driver of “Zombie.”

Monster Jam last visited the Carrier Dome in 2019, a product of an idea Pete Sala, Syracuse University’s chief facilities officer, had to bring more events into the Dome. The event will return to Syracuse on Saturday night, when Musawwir will be one of the dozen drivers driving inside the Dome.

The Daily Orange spoke with Musawwir about his career, his favorite aspects of being a Monster Jam driver and his hobbies outside of competition. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Neli Casares-Maher was already having a great day when she stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first in Wednesday’s second game against Canisius. Fresh off a nailbiting loss where she hit a home run, Casares-Maher faced a 2-2 count with runners on the corners.

Casares-Maher smashed an outside pitch from Golden Griffins pitcher Toria Kover over the center field fence and off the scoreboard for a three-run homer to put Syracuse up 3-0, a lead the Orange turned into a mercy-rule victory.

Syracuse (20-15, 3-10 Atlantic Coast) split its midweek doubleheader with Canisius (16-15, 5-3 Metro Atlantic). The Orange lost the first game 4-3, finishing one run short of sending the game to extras. But Syracuse’s offense exploded in the second matchup as it defeated the Golden Griffins 12-1 in just 4.5 innings, ending SU’s three-game losing streak.

Summer Clark started the opening game for the Orange and immediately faced pressure as a Kelly Breen fielding error and a walk put runners on first and second. Then, Canisius’ Destiny Falquez hit a double that sent Erin Hufford home and moved Christie McGee-Ross to third. Then Gianna Fazzolari poked a single to shallow left field and another run scored. She then stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Lindsi Dennis.

Dennis hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field that Angel Jasso caught, Falquez easily scored another run.

Then, Tiara Johnson singled up the middle to send Fazzolari home and Canisius was quickly up 4-0.

That forced head coach Shannon Doepking to replace Clark with Ariana Adams as the game got out of hand early. Adams ended the first inning with a strikeout and an easy pop up to left field. No Syracuse players or coaches were made available to The D.O. postgame on Wednesday.

But the Orange responded quickly as Jasso immediately hit a hard ground ball up the right side of the infield. She then stole second and ran to third on a wild pitch by Canisius’ Shealyn Ollison. Tessa Galipeau got on base after Dennis dropped a routine groundout at first base. Breen then grounded out to first, but Galipeau advanced to second and Jasso scored to cut the lead to 4-1.

A series of wild pitches left the Orange with two runners in scoring position, but they couldn’t capitalize as Casares-Maher and Laila Alves were both put out.

Both teams left runners on base in the second and Adams threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Syracuse’s got on base early as Ollison hit Galipeau with a pitch. CasaresMaher followed it up with a two-run

digital managing editor

The Daily Orange: Can you take me through your first test session?

What they had you do, where it was, what your feeling was like at that point?

Bari Musawwir: So it was in Poplar Branch, North Carolina. It was actually back at the same property where we did our first test session, where I got discovered at the Grave Digger’s Dungeon compound. …

They mainly just had us kind of get acclimated with the switches and controls on how to control the truck and the rear steering. So once we kind of had a crash course on that, we actually got into trucks and got fitted with the safety equipment and seatbelts. Probably about like, after lunchtime, that’s when they actually turned us loose and gave me some direction as to what they wanted us to do. The first thing is to get acclimated with how the truck responded, since it has a whole lot more horsepower than anything I’ve ever driven before in my life.

The D.O.: Can you take me through what your feelings were during that time?

B.M.: Man, it was nerve-wracking. I was a fan, you know, you drive these trucks 1,000 times over in your mind. But when you actually get behind the wheel and you have to do it for real, that’s a whole other ballgame. So it was just nerve-wracking.

I had a lot of nervous energy, but I was excited. I was finally living that dream that I’ve always wanted to do ever since I was a kid.

The D.O.: Growing up, did you have a favorite monster truck or driver that you were a fan of?

B.M.: Yeah, I did. I always loved the Grave Digger. Dennis Anderson was such a cool guy. And also Gary see

monster jam page 10

staff writer

TUCKER DORDEVIC leads the Orange with 39 goals, 11 assists and 50 points this season. He has recorded a hat trick in eight of SU’s 11 games. anshul roy staff photographer

Tucker Dordevic arrived at Syracuse from Oregon, a state not known for its lacrosse pedigree

By Anish Vasudevan asst. sports editor

T

he communal trips to Riverdale Grade School for wall-ball momentarily stopped. The holes Tucker Dordevic ingrained in his wall by repeatedly bouncing a ball off it had been patched a few years earlier. The repetitive 10-ball — five right-handed then five left-handed — shot routine he had perfected was too basic.

Then the pandemic began, and Dordevic needed a change. He put on some sweats and a T-shirt and headed down the road, taking an open invitation to play on his neighbor’s turf field.

Listening to up-tempo country, Dordevic worked on different shooting angles, ones he hadn’t experimented with before.

Dordevic’s extra work on unique shots has correlated into highlight reel goals, timely scores and an unmatched consistency for Syracuse’s attack this season. But coming from a non-lacrosse hotbed in Portland, Oregon, Dordevic’s prior domination in recreational games didn’t automatically translate to the club circuit. He had to put in hours of training — just like he did at the start of the pandemic — to help him gain an edge. see

“I take a lot of pride from being from a non-hotbed,” Dordevic said. “There were not a lot of people in the same shoes as me growing up. Hopefully I can inspire some kids that want to play as well.”

Dordevic dealt with a lack of proper lacrosse coaching for most of his childhood, he said. When he started playing in first grade, parents were the only coaches, even ones who didn’t have experience with the sport.

Games were limited to recreational matchups around Oregon, with each town fielding around five teams, said Sam Handley, Dordevic’s high school teammate. The best players from each team could make select teams and then faced other Oregon-based select teams.

But the whole setup was confusing, Handley said. There wasn’t even a name for a statewide league. Without an extensive number of sticks in the state, it was the only way for kids to compete, though.

Dordevic and Handley’s third and fourth grade team immediately struggled at the select level. In their first game, Handley said their team lost 22-5, a much-needed “breath of fresh air” that showed them their skills weren’t on par with others in the state. But three years later, the pieces finally clicked as they

dordevic page 10

see

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