April 15, 2021 by The Daily Orange

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THURSDAY

april 15, 2021 high 48°, low 37°

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 |

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C • Artistic climate

N • Securing space

S • Ups and downs

The College of Visual and Performing Art’s Canary Lab is having students explore the climate crisis through art. The work will be exhibited starting May 9. Page 6

SU’s Graduate Student Organization is working on a proposal to secure a designated space for graduate students in Marshall Square Mall. Page 3

Syracuse men’s basketball has been in a recruiting lull in recent years. Scouts and former staff members weighed in on the inconsistencies for the Orange’s program. Page 12

‘You have a place here’

Clockwise from top left: Ana Ana Sofía Aponte González, Darnelle Stinfort, KeKe Blanton, Denise Magny and Christian Andino Borrero

Despite feeling unwelcome at SU, students said they’ve found belonging and support in campus organizations

Story by Maggie Hicks asst. news editor

Photos by Anya Wijeweera asst. photo editor

fter four consecutive nights occupying the Barnes Center at The Arch with #NotAgainSU, KeKe Blanton was exhausted. She returned to her dorm in DellPlain Hall expecting to go right to bed. Instead, Blanton’s friends in her LGBTQ+ Living Learning Community welcomed her back, checked in to see how she was doing and told her how excited they were to see her. “It just felt safe,” Blanton said. According to a recent survey, 43% of SU students, 43% of staff and 37% of faculty said they are unsatisfied with the university’s climate. But the survey also found that affinity groups, support services, organizations and dedicated spaces at SU helped numerous students feel like they belong at the university, despite negative views surrounding its commitment to diversity. Many students, including Blanton, agreed with the survey results and said that SU can feel unwelcoming, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds. But they said that see belonging page 4

city

Syracuse Tech Garden begins 46,000 square-foot expansion By Gillian Follett staff writer

The Tech Garden, which provides resources for startup technology businesses in Syracuse, will proceed with its proposed $16 million expansion after Syracuse’s Common Council voted to approve a lease agreement in late March. The agreement extends the lease

between the city and CenterState CEO — the nonprofit economic development organization that runs The Tech Garden — for an additional 20 years. Since 2005, The Tech Garden has operated out of a city-owned building that the city leases to the organization for only $1. That price will remain the same under the new agreement. The Tech Garden’s expansion

project will involve the construction of two additional floors to the existing building, said Caitlin Moriarty, director of operations at The Tech Garden. The expansion of the building will add roughly 46,000 square-feet — enough space to hold 100 of the organization’s members in person and 200 members virtually, according to The Tech Garden’s website.

Over the past few years, the organization has struggled to meet the increasing demand from entrepreneurs and startup companies for office space in the building, Moriarty said. Since 2017, The Tech Garden has gained an average of 26 members per year. As each of these startups grow, they require more space to house their rising number of employees.

“The quality of (these) startups is increasing, and their needs are also increasing,” Moriarty said. “Last year, we did a survey of our 108 startups, and they created 411 new jobs. We need to have space in offices to be able to fit the new jobs that they’re creating.” In addition to office space, The Tech Garden hopes to expand its see expansion page 4

2 april 15, 2021

about

INSIDE

The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.

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“It’s one thing to be accepted for your background, but it’s another thing to be accepted for just being yourself.” - SU junior Ares Taylor Page 1

OPINION “At the end of the day, a vaccine of any kind ultimately stands for scientific progress, better days ahead and a departure from this uncertainty — let’s not forget that.” - columnist Eleanor Chapman Page 5

CULTURE “We’ve got one, two, three generations (of) families that have been shopping at the co-op for their entire lives at this point.” - Jeremy DeChario, general manager of Syracuse Cooperative Market Page 7

SPORTS “There’s a really big disconnect between what the program is right now and what the program thinks it is.” - Scout familiar with SU’s men’s basketball recruiting Page 12

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WHAT: AAPI Heritage Month lecture: Wajahat Ali WHEN: Today, 7-8:15 p.m. WHERE: Schine Student Center atrium, virtual

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WHAT: Tie Dye with the LGBTQ Resource Center WHEN: Saturday, 1-3 p.m. 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 2021 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 © 2021 The Daily Orange Corporation

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NEWS

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PAG E 3

april 15, 2021

graduate student organization

on campus

GSO looking for space in Marshall Square Mall Search for chief of safety begins By Chris Hippensteel asst. digital editor

Graduate students could use the space for tutoring or hosting small events or just as lounge space, if the proposal is approved. GSO will need to prepare a comprehensive proposal to the university to secure the funds. emily steinberger photo editor By Sarah Alessandrini asst. news editor

The Graduate Student Organization is preparing to propose a designated gathering space for graduate students in Marshall Square Mall. Mir Hashemi, president of GSO, wants to organize a working group of senators to write the proposal to Syracuse University. The goal is for the university to provide GSO with financial support to secure the space. “The main problem with occupying space for graduate students is that it’s a very expensive space to have,” Hashemi said. “For GSO to be able to afford it, we are actually expecting the university provides us with financial assistance and actually gives this space to the graduate students.” If approved, graduate students could use the space for tutoring or hosting small events, or just as a

lounge space, Hashemi said. The senators need to prepare a comprehensive proposal to the university to secure funding for the space, he said. “If we pitch this right and we pitch this strong, we can definitely secure this space for graduate students,” Hashemi said. GSO is also in the process of selecting its representative for the Department of Public Safety’s Community Review Board. Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch recommended implementing the review board early on in her review of DPS this year. Three GSO executive board members — Financial Secretary Casaundra Guzman, Recording Secretary Cornelia Stokes and Hashemi — will begin processing the applications for the review board position. GSO’s pandemic committee is also collaborating with SU’s COVID19 vaccine campaign to relay infor-

mation about vaccines to students. The campaign recently conducted a presentation about the history of vaccine hesitancy among people from marginalized backgrounds, said Vito Iaia, co-chair of the graduate pandemic committee. The pandemic committee has also prepared a list of vaccination resources — including information about how to sign up for appointments — that it hopes to share in an email to both graduate and undergraduate SU students, Iaia said. The committee posted two informational videos on the GSO website, including a presentation from Julio Silva, a doctoral candidate at Yale University who’s conducting research on COVID-19 and spoke virtually at SU on March 23. GSO also approved a request for $1,377 to the SU’s Emerging Student Affairs Professionals and Scholars for its end-of-year event. The money

will go toward decorations for the event and gift baskets for its 17 graduating members. The organization was unable to hold its annual end-of-year banquet last year due to the pandemic. The group is planning to hold an in-person banquet this year. “The past couple of banquets haven’t really been able to happen,” said Julius Moreno, finance officer of Emerging Student Affairs Professionals and Scholars. “We’re really basing this off our own year and just trying to show our membership that we see their hard work.”

Other business:

GSO’s spring picnic will take place on May 7 at the Inn Complete. It will be a drive-thru to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. The event is open to SU and SUNY-ESF graduate students. scalessa@syr.edu @sarahalessan

on campus

SU to require vaccines, tests for graduation By Mira Berenbaum asst. news editor

Syracuse University will require all graduates attending its commencement ceremony to show proof of vaccination or to comply with testing requirements, the university announced in an email Wednesday. Those who show proof of vaccination must have completed their vaccine series at least 14 days before the ceremony — meaning students receiving the Pfizer vaccine must receive their first dose by Saturday. Students receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has been

paused in Onondaga County, must receive it by May 7. It is still unclear if guests will be allowed to attend the ceremony and what testing or vaccination requirements they must follow. Students would have needed to receive the first dose of the Moderna vaccine before last Saturday to comply with the vaccination requirement. Those who have not completed vaccination must either show proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the ceremony or a negative antigen test within six hours of the event. Gov. Andrew Cuomo released guidance earlier this week that

stated in-person indoor graduation ceremonies with over 250 people must be held at 10% capacity. If SU were to hold commencement in the Carrier Dome, which has a capacity of just over 49,000 people, the ceremony would be limited to about 4,900 people. The guidelines, effective May 1, vary based on the size and location of the ceremony. SU’s graduation is slated for the weekend of May 22. SU has said the ceremony could be held outdoors, instead of the Dome, to accommodate a larger crowd. For outdoor ceremonies with over 500 people in attendance, the

venue can only be at 20% capacity, Cuomo said. Outdoor ceremonies with 200 to 500 people can be held at 33% capacity, and those with under 200 people can be held at 50% capacity with no testing or vaccination requirement. SU has said that any in-person ceremony will be livestreamed regardless of occupancy limits. The university will provide more information about its plans for the ceremony in the coming weeks. The university is also planning an in-person ceremony for the Class of 2020 in September. mlberenb@syr.edu @BerenbaumMira

Syracuse University announced the members of a search committee for its new chief of campus safety and emergency management services on Wednesday. The chief of campus security and emergency management services will oversee SU’s Department of Public Safety, as well as its Emergency Management and Global Safety and Support departments. The hire will be responsible for refining and implementing new policies in the departments it oversees while working alongside students and other departments across campus, according to the job listing. The position was established following the completion of former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s review of DPS, which found that students lack trust in the department. SU Chancellor Kent Syverud has committed to implement the 10 recommendations Lynch included in the review. The chief will also lead a “thoughtful and holistic transformation” of the areas they oversee to improve communication, accountability and transparency, according to the job listing. SU is working with executive search firm Spelman Johnson to assist in the process. The job listing states that SU will begin reviewing applications on May 5. The search is expected to be completed by June, according to the news release. The hire will report directly to SU’s senior vice president for Business, Finance and Administrative Services, be in charge of approximately 230 full-and part-time employees and serve as the primary liaison for local, state and federal law enforcement, the news release said. Herm Frazier, senior deputy athletics director, and Lynsay Belshe, senior associate vice president for operations in the Business, Finance and Administrative Services division will co-chair the search committee. The other members of the search committee are: • Craig Boise, dean of SU’s Col- lege of Law • Mirjavad Hashemi, president of the Graduate Student Organization • Rob Hradsky, vice president for the student experience • Brice Nordquist, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences • Neal Powless, university ombuds • Andrew Saluti, assistant pro fessor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts • Adia Santos, undergraduate student • Kailee Vick, student member of the advisory committee on public safety cjhippen@syr.edu

4 april 15, 2021

from page 1

belonging participating in on-campus organizations, affinity groups or living learning communities has given them a sense of belonging and a support system they can rely on. Denise Magny, a junior majoring in biology with a minor in public health, remembers the first Haitian American Student Association meeting she attended. At the event, one of the members of the group served bannann, a Haitian dish with plantains and chicken. “I immediately sent a picture to my parents saying, ‘Can you believe that I’m at a HASA event and they have bannann,’” Magny said. “I was so excited that there were people who knew what bannann was, and I was able to just be with these people.” The event also reassured Darnelle Stinfort of her place at SU. Stinfort, a junior biotechnology major, was apprehensive to come to SU at first, especially after a racist, sexist, homophobic and ableist video from the Theta Tau fraternity surfaced before she enrolled. “That being the first event, it brought me reassurance that there’s good people here, not everyone’s bad, and just because a couple people do something terrible, doesn’t jeopardize the whole thing,” said Stinfort, who is also the social media coordinator for HASA. Magny, now the president of HASA, said the association has helped her find belonging on SU’s predominately white campus. At SU’s International Fair, HASA presented Haitian culture, art and food. Magny performed a traditional Haitian dance, and Stinfort sang the Haitian national anthem. “It’s a safe space for us,” Magny said. “We are used to code switching a lot at a predominately white institution, but when we are in an organization that is familiar, we’re able to just be ourselves.” Tessa Pulgar, a sophomore music business major, has been able to find a safe space through the Filipino Student Association. SU can feel like a very large school, and it’s easy to be lost in the crowd, Pulgar said. FSA became a “second family” for her. “Coming to campus is kind of overwhelming, and it’s a culture shock,” Pulgar said. “Even though it’s somewhat small and everyone knows each other, it’s a very big campus, and you can feel very small and kind of like a number if you don’t have that family to ground you.” Pulgar recalled going out to eat with some other members of FSA, but she had forgotten her card to pay for her food. One of the older members of the group insisted on paying for her meal and made sure she had enough to eat. “If you’re at the table with us, there’s no way you’re not going to eat. You’re going to eat,” from page 1

expansion hardware and manufacturing center for businesses that develop hardware products such as drones or robotic equipment, she said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo first announced The Tech Garden’s expansion plans in November 2019, along with his announcement of a $12.5 million investment from the state to fund the project. The Tech Garden had been unable to proceed with the project until it renewed its lease agreement with the city, which the Common Council had to approve. Over the past month, the future of the expansion remained uncertain as councilors debated whether the organization should be able to continue leasing the building it operates out of at essentially no cost. Councilor-At-Large Michael Greene wanted the lease agreement to include a requirement that CenterState CEO share a portion of its profits with the city in return for the building being leased to the organization practically for free. He argued that The Tech Garden’s potential future profits, if shared with the city, could help reduce the city’s $8 million deficit. “We’re a city that’s had to make really difficult choices over the last few years,” Greene said. “We’ve furloughed city employees. We had to use GoFundMe to open our pools in the summer. We’re a city that just doesn’t have the financial ability to provide basic services for our residents.” CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson refused to agree to Greene’s stipulation. Negotiations stalled for weeks, until Councilor-AtLarge Khalid Bey was able to reach an agreement with Simpson, which was approved by

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Pulgar said. “It’s about the community and how that brings people together.” Finding community at SU can be especially daunting for international students, said Vasundhra Aggarwal, a fifth-year architecture major from India. Despite coming from different countries and speaking different languages, international students have a shared experience they can connect over, she said. Joining organizations and learning communities for international students — like The International, an SU publication centering international students’ perspectives — helped her build a network at the university. Aggarwal has also appreciated the School of Architecture’s support for international students. The school recognizes holidays important to international students, such as Chinese New Year and Holi, she said. “It felt like I was at home in certain ways,” Aggarwal said. Christian Andino Borrero came to SU from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, which took a heavy toll on the island. It was difficult for him to be so far from home, especially as his family continued to recover from the effects of the hurricane. Soon after he arrived on campus, Andino Borrero helped form the Puerto Rican Student Association. Members of the organization are able to celebrate their culture and educate others about Puerto Rico. “Organizations on campus definitely helped create a support system, some form of a microhome,” Andino Borrero said. PRSA has also provided a sense of belonging to Ana Sofía Aponte González, a freshman communications and rhetorical studies major. For her, even just being able to talk with other people in Spanish can feel like a breath of fresh air when she spends most of her time at SU speaking English. “It’s just that unconditional companionship that’s just there if you want it,” Aponte González said. Andino Borrero has connected with the Latino community in the greater Syracuse area through Literacy Corps and La Casita, a Latino cultural center for SU and the surrounding area. He’s also worked in the dual language program at Delaware Primary School, on the westside of Syracuse, and has taught a group of Latino students from the local community in both Spanish and English. “It’s possible to go through all four years at Syracuse University and never connect with Syracuse as a city,” Andino Borrero said. “Leaving that bubble and connecting with the greater Syracuse (area) and Syracuse at large can create more of that homey feeling.” Many students also said they’ve found a sense of belonging through mentorship programs such as Wellslink, a leadership program in SU’s the Common Council in a seven-to-two vote, with Greene and Councilor-At-Large Ronnie White voting against it. Throughout the negotiations, local companies that have worked out of The Tech Garden were outspoken in their support for its expansion. Chedy Hampson, the founder and CEO of TCGplayer, an online platform for buying and selling trading cards and other collectibles, said in an email that The Tech Garden’s expansion is necessary for Syracuse to continue to develop its technologyoriented economy. “Startups are the lifeblood of our emerging economy,” Hampson said. “By expanding The Tech Garden’s footprint, we will further develop and attract diverse technology talent and expand the network effect of startups and growth companies.” CenterState CEO also agreed to create a $250,000 “revolving loan fund” that will provide loans to startup companies that remain in Syracuse after graduating from The Tech Garden. Companies that choose to locate their businesses in lower-income areas of the city will be eligible for more generous loans, per the agreement. The Tech Garden has existing programs that assist startups with establishing themselves in the city, and this new loan fund will continue to help businesses “outgrow The Tech Garden” and relocate their operations to different neighborhoods in the city, Moriarty said. In the coming weeks, The Tech Garden will begin searching for a company to assist in solidifying the details surrounding the building’s expansion, including the overall timeline of the project, she said. Though the project is still in its early stages, Moriarty is excited to

DENISE MAGNY (LEFT) AND DARNELLE STINFORT were able to find belonging through SU’s Haitian American Student Association. anya wijeweera asst. photo editor

Office of Multicultural Affairs offered to first-and second-year students of marginalized identities. Pulgar, who participated in Wellslink last year, said the program gives students an opportunity for close connections with people who have had similar experiences. Students in Wellslink are assigned a “peer leader” who provides mentorship as they adjust to college. “Having upperclassmen who are mentors and looking out for the wellbeing of students is super important because it helps them know, ‘you have a place here,’” Pulgar said. Mentorship programs also help SU students of color build connections and offer an “extended family” on campus, said Vincenzo Hid Arida Suarez, a junior in the Newhouse School of Public Communications and Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Ares Taylor, a junior studying communications design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, participated in fullCIRCLE, a mentorship program for Black, Asian, Latino and Indigenous students offered through the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Taylor recalls walking into the OMA office freshman year and immediately feeling a sense of relief. “I just smiled because I was like ‘Oh, there’s all these people who kind of look like me,’” they said. It’s important for students to find connections with one another aside from their specific identities, Taylor said. Taylor works at People’s Place, which is where they’ve found some of their best friends at SU. “It’s one thing to be accepted for your background, but it’s another thing to be accepted for just being yourself,” Taylor said. SU can expand its diversity and inclusion efforts by allocating more resources to affinity

groups and encouraging students to participate in them, Magny said. If SU showcased the events of cultural organizations on its social media or sent information about affinity groups to students, more people might participate, she said. “The only support that I feel from the school is funding,” Magny said. “We’re trying really hard, but some support at the upper level would really help us out and help a lot of cultural organizations as well.” Most of all, students want action. Surveys are an important way for the university to understand what students are experiencing, but they need to be backed up with concrete improvements, students said. In early March, the Board of Trustees special committee on diversity announced a $50 million investment toward faculty diversification. SU has also increased the number of learning communities geared toward underrepresented communities and hired additional counseling professionals of marginalized identities. SU tracks its progress toward diversity and inclusion commitments and student demands on its campus commitments webpage. Students said they hope SU will continue to expand programming for students from underrepresented communities. Though financial commitments to diversity are important, they alone cannot change the culture at SU, students said. “You have to be able to feel like you can exist in a certain place to excel,” Magny said. “It goes back to that feeling that you should be here and that you shouldn’t dim your light.” Asst. Digital Editor Chris Hippensteel contributed reporting to this story. mehicks@syr.edu @maggie_hickss

The Tech Garden’s expansion project will involve the construction of two additional floors to the existing building. courtesy of centerstate ceo

take the first steps in making the Tech Garden’s proposed expansion a reality. “This expansion allows us to serve more startups, which is, as you can imagine, very aligned with our mission,” she said. “It’s

really about increasing demand, about having more sophisticated startups in our membership, and trying to be the best incubator we can be to be able to serve their needs.” gifollet@syr.edu

OPINION

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PAG E 5

april 15, 2021

fast react

Despite J&J recall, we need to give COVID-19 vaccines a shot By Eleanor Chapman columnist

yracuse University quickly suspended its distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Tuesday following warnings from regulatory agencies. The Food and Drug Administration released updated warnings regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Tuesday. Six out of nearly seven million people who have received the vaccine have developed a rare disorder involving blood clots, leading to the vaccine’s suspension at many vaccination sites across the country. Now that word among students has spread about the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it can be all too easy to fall in line with concerning anti-vaccine rhetoric. It’s critical, however, that students don’t lose sight of the advantages that come with being vaccinated. Scientific evidence has overwhelmingly demonstrated that vac-

cination goes hand-in-hand with a person’s ability to combat some of the world’s most persistent, threatening illnesses and afflictions. In a pre-pandemic world, it was perfectly normal for universities, SU included, to require documentation for vaccines for viruses such as tetanus, measles and the flu. Students at SU who perhaps now feel hesitant in light of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine news should also take the steps to further educate themselves on the facts of modernday vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization continually offer updated guidelines related to global health responses. They also amass factual information regarding coronavirus and, to the best of their ability, debunk commonly held opinions and myths concerning the virus. The virus has proven to be a polarizing subject, but we must not let groupthink keep us from protecting vulnerable members of

our community. The university, however, should continue to encourage students to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and ensure community members feel comfortable receiving it, especially as the racist history of vaccinations has significantly damaged marginalized community members’ trust in government health sources. A particularly significant example of this racist history is the Tuskegee studies conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from the 1930s to the 1970s, in which the service and the Tuskegee Institute conducted unethical tests on Black community members after they were administered an untreated dose of syphilis. SU still has a responsibility to its immediate academic community, as well as the greater Syracuse community, to offer vital medical services in a world torn apart by a virus. The university’s decision to suspend its distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine represents yet another com-

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should not steer you away from getting vaccinated. courtesy of ross o. knight iii

plication since the virus’s beginning. Although it’s an easily misconstrued event, we should take this misstep in stride as a student body, a skill that we have learned quite well in the past year of uncertainty. At the end of the day, a vaccine of any kind ultimately stands for scien-

tific progress, better days ahead and a departure from this uncertainty — let’s not forget that. Eleanor Chapman is a sophomore english and textual studies major. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at echapm02@syr.edu.

personal essay

Transferring from a small school to SU helped me flourish By Teagan Brown columnist

s a senior in high school, I thought I wanted one thing: a small school. It needed to have less than 3,000 students and a campus I could walk across in less than 20 minutes. I was wrong. There were other aspects I wanted then, too: a law program, a musical theater program and the option to have my car freshman year. I also hoped to be out of my hometown in Syracuse but still close enough where I could visit for the weekend. So, I enrolled at Nazareth College in Pittsford, New York. My freshman year, I thrived. I was in a law program as a history major with a minor in musical theater. I got involved in everything I could, including honor societies, theater and student teaching. Back then, I was really happy with my school and who I was, but that changed sophomore year. There I was back at school, where mere months before I had been flourishing, and I felt stuck. Some of the people I thought were my friends didn’t talk to me anymore, there were few opportunities for involvement, and I stayed in my room doing homework most days. It felt like I had done everything I could at Nazareth. It seemed as if I’d met all of the 2,000 students. I became a senator for my class, and I’d gotten the lead in a play. I had climbed as high as I could there. I started falling in love with journalism and broadcasting in October 2020 just as I was deciding if I wanted

News Editor Michael Sessa Editorial Editor Cori Dill Culture Editor Sydney Bergan Sports Editor Roshan Fernandez Presentation Director Shannon Kirkpatrick Photo Editor Emily Steinberger Video Editor Rose Skylstad Podcast Editor Moriah Humiston Illustration Editor Nabeeha Anwar Enterprise Editor Gabe Stern Asst. News Editor Sarah Alessandrini Asst. News Editor Mira Berenbaum

to transfer. I had even started my own multimedia news platform called Ginger Tea News, where I posted daily videos about the latest headlines. It was then that I started thinking about transferring, and I applied to one school: Syracuse University. I didn’t even tell my father that I had applied. Besides wanting a bigger school, the other reason I applied to SU was for the broadcast and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School of Public Communications. I became passionate about this new endeavor and wanted to know if it was something I could realistically pursue. I sent Newhouse a portfolio and was accepted as a dual major with history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. So here I am as a spring transfer, and I’m happier than I ever was at my old school. One of the biggest shocks coming to SU was the campus size. It takes about 15 minutes for me to walk from my dorm to class. The maximum amount of time it took me to walk to class at Nazareth was five minutes. The professors and advisers at a small school are more accessible. I was close with all my advisers, and they would respond to an email within the hour. Here, it can be a few weeks before I receive an email back. However, the opportunities and resources are much more abundant here at SU. We have a huge alumni network that I’ve already connected with, hundreds of clubs and organizations and a constant array of events and guest speakers. At a small school, I didn’t have all of that.

Asst. News Editor Maggie Hicks Asst. Editorial Editor Megan Cooper Asst. Editorial Editor Hamere Debebe Asst. Culture Editor Louis Platt Asst. Culture Editor Chris Scarglato Asst. Sports Editor Allie Kaylor Asst. Sports Editor Skyler Rivera Design Editor Maya Goosmann Design Editor Yiwei He Design Editor Talley Schroeder Design Editor Sarah Jimenez Miles Asst. Photo Editor Annabelle Gordon

Transferring to Syracuse University from a school with less than 2,000 students showed me the beauty in attending a school with over 20,000 students. emily steinberger photo editor

At a small school, I was limited. There’s an endless amount of people to meet at a big school. In the year and a half I was at Nazareth, it felt as though I’d met every single person. With no one new to meet, I felt stuck. At SU, I meet someone new every single day and know that will continue in my final two years. These are just a few of the differences I experienced and noticed between a school with 2,000 students and one with 22,000 students.

If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would still choose Nazareth to start my college career. If I hadn’t, I’m not sure I would have ever found and pursued broadcast journalism, met some of the people whom I’m still close with and grown in the ways that I did. I saw my high school chorus teacher recently, and she told me, “I always knew Nazareth was too small for you, but it wasn’t my place to say.” I think I always knew as well, however I am so grateful for everything

I learned in my time there. I’m even more grateful that Syracuse and Newhouse gave me the chance to be here, as I’m doing what I love on a larger scale. It’ll never know how much it meant to get that acceptance letter, but thank you, SU, for giving me this opportunity to flourish.

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MANAGING EDITOR

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Asst. Photo Editor Sarah Lee Asst. Photo Editor Lucy Messineo-Witt Asst. Photo Editor Anya Wijeweera Asst. Video Editor Maya Pow Asst. Video Editor Maddy Kramer Executive Producer Adam Garrity Executive Producer Luca Serio Podcast Host Marnie Muñoz Podcast Host Sarah Slavin Sportscast Host Thomas Shults Asst. Digital Editor Gavi Azoff Asst. Digital Editor Chris Hippensteel

Asst. Digital Editor Kailey Norusis Asst. Digital Editor Anish Vasudevan Asst. Digital Editor Abby Weiss Asst. Copy Editor Louis Platt Asst. Copy Editor Anthony Alandt Asst. Copy Editor Ashley Clemens Asst. Copy Editor Jordan Greene Asst. Copy Editor Richard Perrins Asst. Copy Editor Abby Presson Asst. Copy Editor Connor Smith Asst. Illustration Editor Cassiane Cavallaro Asst. Illustration Editor Katelyn Marcy

Teagan Brown is a sophomore dual major in broadcast and digital journalism and history. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at tbrown30@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @teagannbrownn.

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CULTURE

PAG E 6

april 15, 2021

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slice of life

Art for the planet

Poets share work for Cruel April By Louis Platt

asst. culture editor

As part of Xuan Liu’s project “Iceberg Project,” Liu (right) read “Hugging Meditation” by Thich Nhat Hanh to her friend Yizhe Ye under a plastic covering. courtesy of ed morris

Students in VPA’s Canary Lab capturing climate change through art By Joey Pagano staff writer

uan Liu and Natasha Breu recorded a class project at Thornden Park on March 27. In the recorded performance, Liu wore a blindfold as she touched a tree with her left hand and drew what she felt on Breu’s arm. As Liu drew the tree, Breu whispered, almost talking to the tree. The performance created an intimate connection between the two of them and the tree, Liu said. “The performance actually got me very emotional,” Liu said. “It’s been a long time since I physically get in contact with others because of the pandemic. I can feel the connection and the dynamic going on in between Natasha, the tree, and myself, which was really powerful.” The project is a part of Syracuse University professor Ed Morris’ class, “Art & Ecology: The Climate Crisis.” The class’ work will be exhibited in SU’s Schine Student Center and the Everson Museum of Art beginning May 9. Light Work’s Urban Video Project partnered with the course for the exhibit in the Everson Museum. The course is a part of the College of Visual and Perform-

see canary

ing Arts’ Canary Lab, which creates art focused around ecology, and it emphasizes the poetic and provocative aspects of art. With the course, Morris strives to communicate the climate crisis by breaking it down. The class wants to use and create media that will help make the climate crisis more felt, present and tangible for audiences. “The work we do in class is all about how to metabolize all the information and urgency of the climate crisis through artwork,” Morris said. “And that work in turn gives others who see it something to metabolize.” Morris said that the mission of the Canary Lab is to foster ecological consciousness and a feeling of correctness or rationality. As he extends the mission to the classroom, he has valued the philosophy of thinker Marshall Ganz: urgency, anger, hope, solidarity and the feeling that someone can make a difference are essential to any social movement. “Art that addresses climate, or even on a more basic level connects to place or encourages to treasure life, has the capacity to also produce these specific catalyzing emotions for social movements,” Morris said. As a graduate student in the Goldring Arts Journalism and

lab page 8

Ángelo Néstore had never read poetry in front of an English-speaking audience before April 8. After reading their work in Spanish, at the end of the Zoom event — around 1 a.m. in Málaga, Spain, where Néstore lives — they answered questions from the audience in English. Despite feeling exhausted from the time difference and answering questions in English, Néstore felt privileged to have a platform to share their poetry through Point of Contact Gallery’s Cruel April poetry series. They also were relieved that the audience liked the poems enough to ask them questions. April is National Poetry Month, and for the 14th year, Point of Contact Gallery will release their annual poetry collection “Corresponding Voices.” Along with the release of its latest collection, the gallery is hosting virtual poetry readings every Thursday, and on one select Friday, in April. Attendees register online and can expect to hear new poetry that the poets have been working on since May 2020. This year’s poets include two who live in the Syracuse area, Arthur Flowers Jr. and David Lloyd. Flowers, who is a Syracuse University associate professor emeritus, novelist, essayist and performance poet, will present performance poetry on Thursday. Unlike the other guests reading poetry, Flowers does not consider himself a poet. He uses instruments in his reading, incorporates blues music and includes some improvisation in his stories, which is why Sara Felice, director of Point of Contact, considers his event more of a performance than a poetry reading. “When you do performance, you are taking the audience, and you are trying to take them to a different level of understanding about reality and about how they function in the world,” Flowers said. Another Syracuse native participating in the Cruel April readings is Lloyd, an English professor at Le Moyne College. At 14, Lloyd started writing poetry and is publishing his fourth collection of poems, “The Body’s Compass,” later this year. The topics in Lloyd’s poetry focus on animals like birds, cows and beavers, along with natural elements like wind, fire and water. “The poems I’ll be reading are about the environment, locally where I live and globally, so I’m delighted that my reading date is Earth Day,” Lloyd said over email. For previous Cruel April readings hosted before the pandemic, poets traveled to Syracuse to participate in live events. Felice said that hosting the event on Zoom this year made it easier on international poets since they did not have to worry about jet lag. However, the difficulty of hosting the events on Zoom is scheduling times that are accessible for the poets and audiences both in the U.S. and internationally. Point of Contact board of directors member Josefa Álvarez thought this would be challenging for Ada see poetry page 8

From the

kitchen dailyorange.com @dailyorange april 15, 2021

Fresh start

Syracuse Cooperative Market opened its second grocery store on Wednesday in the Salt City Market. On the market’s opening day, customers strode down aisles stuffed with produce and local dairy products. young-bin lee staff photographer

Syracuse Cooperative Market becomes first fullservice grocery store in downtown Syracuse By Sydney Bergan culture editor

he Fugees’ “Killing Me Softly With His Song” played over the hum of refrigerators in Syracuse Cooperative Market’s new location at Salt City Market. Shelves were stocked with organic and non-organic produce, with labels boasting sales — Fuji apples for $1.99 a pound and four cucumbers for $3 — scattered across food and home products. The market carries local products such as Ithaca Milk yogurt and Byrne Dairy, along with familiar brands like Annie’s, Kettle Brand potato chips and Talenti gelato. Marketing manager Jen Eldridge said the co-op is planning to add a prepared food section with items like sandwiches in the future. The co-op has sought an expansion since the ‘80s, but this is the first new location since the market opened in the Westcott neighborhood 49 years ago, said general manager Jeremy DeChario. The Salt City Market location opened on Wednesday after three weeks of 13-hour days to prepare the space. The market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. “We’ve got one, two, three generations (of) families that have been shopping at the co-op for their entire lives at this point,” DeChario said. “Their grandparents started it, and they’re still shopping.” Brandi Sollars and her 3-year-old son Sebastian stumbled into the new location on its opening day, after going to visit Salt City Market for the first time. While Sollars combed through the aisles, Sebastian followed closely behind her, playing with his Transformer toy. Although she forgot Wednesday was opening day, Sollars is no stranger to the co-op, having worked with them for two years about a decade ago. The new location brings a sense of community and promotes eating well, plant-based diets and taking care of one another, she said.

“I have big love for the community and co-op in general, so I think it’s amazing,” Sollars said. “There are so many differentoptions, and I think it’s perfect for this location.” The co-op’s new location is the only full-service grocery store in downtown Syracuse, an area that has seen significant population growth recently. Sara Tong-Ngork, the owner of Firecracker Thai Kitchen at Salt City Market, said downtown has gone so long without a real grocery store. Providing access to fresh healthy food is particularly important, she said. The grocery store runs on a membership program, which is a one-time investment of $100 for regular members and $50 for students and seniors. The membership is a refundable investment so customers can take their money out at any time if they no longer want to contribute to the market. While co-op members get occasional special discounts and perks, anyone can shop at the store. The new co-op is located adjacent to Syracuse’s Southside and Westside neighborhoods and the Centro bus hub, which allows people to get to and from the grocery store with ease. “Sometimes people can’t make it to the grocery store,” said Troysheya McDonald, one of the co-op’s head cashiers. “And this being right here is really convenient for those that are on public transportation and walking.” McDonald’s daughter loves edible seaweed, and even though she thinks it’s an interesting choice for the 11-year-old, she’s glad that the market carries the product along with other healthy options she can bring home to her family. Alexandra Muraca, an employee at Firecracker Thai Kitchen, browsed the specialty cheese and meat section at the market with Tong-Ngork. She’s hopeful that the co-op will bring people into the food stands of Salt City Market. “I hope we’re slammed all summer,” she said. “I hope people come down and enjoy it and that we start to appreciate our city.” sydney@dailyorange.com

•

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8 april 15, 2021

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slice of life

Hil Malatino talks new book ‘Trans Care’ with SU students By Linh Le

staff writer

Hil Malatino opened his talk on his new book “Trans Care” with not his own summary of the book, but rather the commentaries of readers. He noted a positive review, where Jules Gill-Peterson called his book “our little yellow book,” a reference to Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book. He then read a critical review written by an anonymized Goodreads reviewer deeming his book “ultimately feels rough and scattershot, like a series of disparate essays in search of a connecting thesis.” Malatino, an assistant professor in the department of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Penn State, has authored two published books. His second book, “Trans Care,” covers the care practices that transgender people and communities build in a society filled with anti-trans hate and systematic trans exclusion. The Syracuse University department of women’s and gender studies hosted the event for SU students, and assistant professor PJ DiPietro moderated the discussion.

This is not a book about institutionalized forms of care, this is a book about how trans people care for one another Liz Montegary book commentator

In acknowledging the critical comment, Malatino used this event as a platform to streamline the theses of his book, which he deems to be so obvious that he does not think necessary to be repeated. The theses includes: “trans people are exhausted,” “trans people are sick of the

from page 6

canary lab Communications program at SU, Breu has enjoyed having the freedom to be creative and learn about the link between climate change and art. It’s what led her to the course, she said. In her collaboration with Liu, Breu did spoken-word poetry on the spot, so she didn’t have to create or prepare much. It allowed for an unique type of creativity, Breu said. “Everything is pretty poetic,” Breu said. “It just offers my own perspective and how I perceive the climate crisis in relation to the present and future.” Breu and other students are working on projects that challenge the traditional idea

The work we do in class is all about how to metabolize all the information and urgency of the climate crisis through artwork Ed Morris su professor

Attention Voters!

bullsh*t,” “trans people would like to live our lives in the absence of critical commentary about whether we do, have, or should exist,” and “trans people know what trans people need.” After this brief presentation, Malatino started his first official book reading with his chapter “Theorizing Trans Care.” The chapter addresses the question of burnout in the trans community and the need to end the concept of care as debt. Occasionally, along his reading, Malatino stopped and provided an explanation or context for some of his terms and writings. The Q&A section opened up many conversations surrounding both the theories around trans lives and trans care as well as the reality that trans communities are facing. An audience member asked, “What do you think about this formulation?” and “What do you think is the relationship between care and love?” In answer to this question, Malatino noted that while he hopes that care and love can coincide, he thinks that we should not require love in caring. “This is not a book about institutionalized

forms of care,” wrote Liz Montegary at Nursing Clio, one of the commentators of the book that Malatino referenced. “This is a book about how trans people care for one another.” Malatino recalled his story of being asked by the dean of the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State to hold a training for staff with regards to transgender inclusion. These works are asked of him even though Malatino is not a trainer. Many transgender and LGBTQ people are not paid for this kind of labor — and even when they are paid, they may experience burnout from it. Many audience members were also curious about Malatino’s thoughts on current issues. One of the very first questions concerned a bill in Florida’s state legislature which requires grade schools and colleges to divide athletes according to their biological sex and bans transgender people from participating in women’s sports. As someone who is from Florida, Malatino is “pissed” and he considered this type of legislation to make children feel “radically unsafe.”

of art, Morris said. He views art as something that is intentional in the way that it sparks emotions and responses. The success of a project in this class will be determined by the audience, through peer review. For Liu, success began at the beginning of the course. As she considered possibilities for projects, she placed the most stake in the proposal process. But it was one of the most difficult steps because not every aspect of her projects, specifically the performance with Breu, could be fully rehearsed. Regardless, Liu wanted to create a space where art happens — where ideas could be tangible. “By engaging with a live performance, you are physically there at the precise moment when art is happening,” Liu said. “You feel

things that are strong but hard to describe with words, and that’s when something begins to change inside of you.” These feelings came to life for Liu as she worked on her “Iceberg Project,” an assignment for the class. In the project, Liu focused on the daily meditation she did personally and used it as the centerpiece throughout. The recorded performance shows Liu reading a book about daily meditation — “Hugging Meditation” by Thich Nhat Hanh — aloud to classmate Yizhe Ye under a plastic cover. As she read the book, its message lingered. “It stuck with me and made me think about time and relationship,” Liu said. “I want my audiences to be able to have that experience as well.”

from page 6

before translating it into English. “He decided to use one word or another word in English, and I think that’s art because eventually, he decided the word,” Néstore said. “It’s very important because you may have infinite translations of a point.” Néstore thought Ocampo was creating his own art because the translated poem took on meaning through Ocampo’s perspective. In the Q&A part of their event, Néstore told the audience, “Translation is an art. When you are translating poetry, you are writing poetry.” Álvarez and Kathy Everly, a professor of Spanish literature at SU, who teamed up this year to edit this year’s “Corresponding Voices,” are already preparing for next year’s volume of the collection and poetry series. The two said they hope to continue expanding the regions they invite poets from. Álvarez hinted that she’ll invite a poet she’s been following for over a year from Columbia, while Everly is interested in exploring Moroccan poets who work in Spain. “(Spanish) is a common language, but with differences,” Alvarez said. “It’s important to show that to the American readers and to show them that all of them have different perspectives from their own culture.”

poetry Salas — who starts her reading at 11 p.m on April 23 in Spain. Still, Salas is excited. “I thought, ‘Well, 12 is going to be very late for her, but she was happy,’” Álvarez said. “She was very excited to do this, to present her poetry in the United States.” Felice added that the virtual platform has allowed for international audience members to attend — boosting the overall turnout. The Point of Contact staff will likely make the virtual screening a permanent addition. One of the important aspects of the event is the bilingual component, where Spanish poems are translated into English and vice versa. Lloyd said translating his poems went wonderfully because he worked with his colleague and Le Moyne College associate professor of Spanish Orlando Ocampo. Néstore also worked with Ocampo to translate their poems from Spanish to English. Ocampo analyzed their work instead of translating the poem word for word, they said. Néstore liked working with Ocampo because he would ask them to describe the meaning they wanted to convey in the poem

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We need your help on Sunday 4/18/21 @ 2:30 PM. There is a DeWitt Democratic Caucus to determine the Democratic Candidates for the DeWitt Town Board in the 11/2/21 Election. There are 4 candidates for Town Board and only 3 will be selected to run based on the Caucus paper ballot vote. Your vote is important to us , please vote for these 2 candidates Joey Chiarenza and Jack Dooling. We have worked to save the tax payers money for all DeWitt Citizens. We both have been in office for 2 terms and have saved the citizens of DeWitt over $ 2,100,000.00 on the projects we have completed. We can only continue for another term if you come out and vote at the Caucus for Joey and Jack for Town Board. The Caucus is going to be outside at Town Hall @ the Pavilion in Ryder Park and registration starts at 2:30 PM . Masks and social distancing is required. It has been and honor and privilege to serve the citizens of DeWitt. Thank you in advance for your support. Joey Chiarenza cell (315) 391-6706 and Jack Dooling cell (315) 278-0495

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Caucus Voters must be registered Democrats in the Town of DeWitt

photo illustration by shannon kirkpatrick presentation director and anya wijeweera asst. photo editor, photos courtesy of sara felice

april 15, 2021 9

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

from page 12

recruiting that Boeheim is more of a “closer,” instead leaning on assistants to identify players through connections with high school coaches and scouting services. When asked if college basketball recruiting has changed in the last five to 10 years, Boeheim responded simply. “No, not at all.” ••• From 2007-14, Syracuse pulled four players out of Philadelphia: Scoop Jardine, Rakeem Christmas, Rick Jackson and Dion Waiters. They all became key contributors to the Orange’s three 30-win seasons in four years. Hopkins had the relationship with Team Final of the Nike EYBL circuit, where much of SU’s Philadelphia talent came from. Since he left, those connections to Philadelphia — one of the best cities in the country for highmajor Division I talent — have weakened. The Orange were close on Quade Green in 2016 before he spurned SU for Kentucky. John Bol Ajak is the only Philadelphia-area recruit since Hopkins left, but he’s in the transfer portal after scarce playing time in the 2020-21 season. “Losing Hop pretty much ended that pipeline,” one high school scout said. Beyond Philadelphia, Hopkins worked relentlessly to identify talent early — a former staffer specifically highlighted Tyler Lydon and Jonny Flynn. Described as a “players-first” coach, Hopkins earned Boeheim’s trust on decision-making, talent identification and recruiting. One person said that Hopkins found recruits that other coaches didn’t see value in, but he could still pitch Boeheim to bring that player to Syracuse. Michael Carter-Williams told The D.O. in 2017, “it seemed like Hop was the head coach. Not stepping on Boeheim’s toes, but Boeheim had faith in Hop.” Boeheim’s lost great assistant coaches before, like ace recruiter Troy Weaver (200004) who went to the NBA and is now the Pistons General Manager. Rick Pitino left after

a short time as an assistant, too. But none had the longevity of Hopkins, who played for Boeheim and had 22 years as an assistant. Allen Griffin was hired to replace Hopkins and pulled in SU’s best recruit since Carmelo Anthony when Darius Bazley committed. Despite a strong relationship, including one official visit where Bazley shot in the Melo Center until after 1 a.m, Bazley went to the G League. A former staffer said the decision didn’t have to do with Syracuse, though. It was an opportunity for Bazley to get paid while developing in the G League and bad timing for the Orange. Bazley would’ve been a key addition to the 2018-19 Syracuse roster that still finished as an eight seed without him, the second-highest seed the Orange have had since their Final Four run in 2013. “You’re always excited to get a talent like Darius,” one former staffer said. “It was disappointing when we lost him. ” Since Bazley’s departure, there are signs that Syracuse’s recruiting is back on the rise. Syracuse did get Dior Johnson’s commitment for the Class of 2022, but he later decommitted and may not play college basketball at all. The addition of Benny Williams, whom different scouts described as a “stud,” “star” and “future pro,” should bolster the Orange’s top-end talent level in 2021-22. The Orange added Class of 2022 wing Kamari Lands from Indiana, a top-40 recruit, on April 6. Boeheim has repeatedly reaffirmed he’s not leaving the job anytime soon, which takes away rivals’ abilities to negatively recruit against Syracuse. The Orange are another year removed from Hopkins’ departure, another year from the sanctions that erased the program’s margin for recruiting misses that other programs still had. ••• Syracuse’s issues recruiting at center have risen to the forefront this season. Losing Bourama Sidibe to injury four minutes into the season is bad luck, but couldn’t be completely unforeseen given his extensive injury history. His absence left the Orange with only one player who Boeheim felt was ready to contrib-

ute at center: 6-foot-10 forward Dolezaj, who weighs 200 pounds. “We haven’t had a really good offensive center since Rakeem (Christmas),” Boeheim said. “It has nothing to do with the NBA.” Boeheim referenced Dolezaj playing 20 feet from the basket offensively for much of the season, and how that more closely resembles what many NBA teams ask of their centers. But scouts disagree with Boeheim on why the Orange have struggled to get top-tier, two-way center talent. Given the talent level the Orange recruit at in the Atlantic Coast Conference, many of the centers they’d be pursuing have professional basketball aspirations beyond their time in college. “The style of center that they like to play with (at Syracuse) is becoming less and less common. Guys are working less on rim protection and more about guarding in space,” another scout told The D.O. “You’re never going to have the opportunity to do that in a 2-3 zone if you’re a center at Syracuse.” Following the departure of Paschal Chukwu after the 2018-19 season, the Orange were left with one center — Sidibe — they could rely on entering the following season. Ajak was seen as a potential fix, but Boeheim admitted he was actually viewed as more of a stretch forward than a center during a press conference earlier this season. Ajak was a three-star recruit who chose between Syracuse and Saint Joseph’s of the Atlantic 10. The Orange added Jesse Edwards late in that recruiting cycle, and despite not being highly rated, he’s shown flashes of the potential Boeheim had anticipated would come. His unteachables, height and length, immediately make him valuable defensively in the 2-3 zone if he can improve his rebounding and stay out of foul trouble. For now, Edwards is inconsistent, following his good games (San Diego State and North Carolina) with bad ones (West Virginia). “For as much as the zone can hide a bad defender, you need a defensive-minded center to anchor the zone that is the solution for hiding other guys,” one source said. Syracuse’s best teams have always

featured a difference-making center, and improvement at the center position is a clear way to help the Orange consistently earn higher seeds than they have in the past six seasons. ••• This season, Boeheim has been particularly critical of Alan Griffin’s ability to learn the zone. He says talk of players needing time to learn the zone is not true despite continually criticizing Griffin when he had inconsistent play. His hard-nosed coaching style doesn’t always filter down to the entire roster. Boeheim was especially tough on Joseph, Tyler Roberson, Matt Moyer and Brycen Goodine behind the scenes, multiple people said. One person said that Boeheim’s treatment of Roberson soured plenty of people within the New Jersey basketball scene on sending future players to Syracuse. One source said that, “Boeheim’s inability to cater to this generation, as far as the mental aspects of things go,” is a small factor which can deter players from coming to SU. After 45 years as SU head coach, Boeheim is the program, and for good reason. One former recruit cited the respect he has for Boeheim’s credentials because of his name and status in the sport. Not many programs would trade the Orange’s NCAA Tournament success in the last decade, even if recruiting isn’t as strong as it was in its peak. Boeheim, the Carrier Dome and his 2-3 zone are the defining features of this program, and they will be as long as he’s patrolling the sidelines and making tournament runs. “It’s not one guy that’s ever recruited players,” Boeheim said. “(But) most people, when they commit, say they are coming to play for the guy in the Hall of Fame. If we’re getting players, it’s on me. If we’re not getting players, it’s also on me.” But college basketball recruiting has changed. And a Syracuse offer isn’t what it once was for everyone. A high school scout said: “There’s a really big disconnect between what the program is right now and what the program thinks it is.” amdabbun@syr.edu @AnthonyDabbundo

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the basketball tournament

Syracuse not selected as TBT site for 1st time in 3 years By Anish Vasudevan asst. digital editor

The Basketball Tournament did not select Syracuse as a host site for its regional locations and games for the first time in three years on Wednesday, but Boeheim’s Army is expected to join this year’s tournament, according to Syracuse.com. TBT founder Jon Mugar told Syracuse.com that the tournament considered playing in the

Carrier Dome this summer, but the plans were canceled because COVID-19 remains a factor in the preparation for play and the Dome is still undergoing renovations. Last year, Syracuse was selected to host a game before the pandemic meant all of TBT was moved to a singular site in Columbus, Ohio. While Boeheim’s Army has not been accepted into the tournament yet, Mugar said that viewers can “certainly expect to have a Syracuse team.” In last year’s tournament,

Boeheim’s Army defeated the Men of Mackey, Purdue’s alumni team, in the first round before losing 65-48 to Sideline Cancer. The team’s roster featured former Syracuse players including Eric Devendorf, Malachi Richardson and Donte Green. The tournament, which features 64 teams, will begin its first week of play with 16 teams from July 16 to July 20 in Wichita, Kansas. From July 17 to July 21, another group of 16 teams will play in Charleston,

West Virginia. The second week of play will take place in both Columbus, Ohio and Peoria, Illinois from July 24 to July 28 with the remaining 32 teams. Those two weeks will narrow down the field to eight teams that will head to the quarterfinals in Dayton, Ohio on July 31. The championship is set for August 3, with the winning team getting $1 million. asvasude@syr.edu @anish_vasu

field hockey

Behind coach Allan Law’s decision to leave Scotland for SU By Adam McCaffery staff writer

After Allan Law collected a pass along the right sideline, just behind the 20-yard line, he darted past four Clydesdale defenders. The former Dundee Wanderers’ defender and midfielder crossed over to the left side of the circle and drove a shot over the goalie’s head that rippled the back of the net. Ciarán Crawford, then a Clydesdale player, said Law was one of the most “elegant” players he’d ever seen. Years later, after an illustrious playing career in Scotland, Law stands on the sidelines of Syracuse field hockey games as an assistant coach. Sometimes, he grabs a stick and jumps in, helping the players during practice. He makes sure his players are physical. The drills can get intense — the players slash at Law, who’s almost 10 years removed from his playing career — but he brings out the competitiveness of SU’s players when he joins on the field. Law grew up in Scotland and played for three different club teams and the national team over his 15-year career. He started coaching club hockey there, too, before coming to the U.S. to coach at SU in 2013. Law was one of the best Scottish players of his generation, his former Dundee and national team coach Iain Strachan said. Now, he’s passing those skills down to the players he coaches. “His technical ability is great, and he took that into his coaching because he was very good at breaking down skill,” former teammate Ben Gibson said. When he was 14, Law moved back to Scotland from England and started playing field hockey for the first time after watching his uncle play for Dundee. Law began playing for the club’s youth team while playing for his high school team as a midfielder and defender. Despite starting a few years later than most, Law developed quickly. He’d rush home after school to practice in his driveway, analyzing aspects of other players’ styles to build his own skill set. He was tall for his age, too, eventually growing

ALLAN LAW was one of the best Scottish field hockey players of his generation during his 15-year playing career. Now, he coaches at SU. courtesy of su athletics

into his 6-foot-3 frame. His long arms gave him better control of his stick and the ball, Strachan said. He was one of few players who could beat multiple defenders and go end-to-end. Law was known for his aggres-

sion, admitting that he sometimes was too intense. He was an excellent defender, Strachan said, but was “no stranger to the yellow card.” His talent landed him a spot on the U16

and U18 Scottish national teams, as well as the senior national team for both indoor and outdoor. But he found more success with indoor because many of his Dundee teammates were on that roster. Those attributes translated directly to coaching, something Law knew he wanted to do early on in his playing career. Strachan and Gibson encouraged him to pursue coaching as well, so Law began to volunteer coaching kids, youth teams and camps. “It turned out I was fairly good at it, and it was like — why fight the inevitable?” Law said. He progressed into a head coaching job for the Scottish boys junior U16 national team, a team he once played on. Law knew others who were moving to the U.S. to coach, but he didn’t think it was realistic for him. SU head coach Ange Bradley contacted him in the summer of 2013. Initially, he thought he’d be helping out with summer camps, but after multiple interviews, he realized he was being offered a full-time position. Law took it. “He’d done a lot here (in Scotland) and needed a new challenge,” Gibson said. Now, he specializes in video analysis and technical development, a job Strachan describes as teaching the “how” of field hockey. If a player shoots and misses, Law — who spent years honing his own skills in his driveway and on the field — is the first to explain why, as well as the ways to fix it. His coaching style is honest and direct. If a player is struggling, Law tells them. If they are doing well, Law tells them, too. He has helped establish SU as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s best teams since it joined the league in 2013, highlighted by its 2015 national title. One of Law’s most memorable coaching experiences was watching the sophomore class from when he was first hired develop into national champions. Carrying his stick onto the field and pushing SU players such as Alyssa Manley and Emma Russell allowed him to continue competing, even as a coach. “I love working with all the players, but specifically those who really have aspirations of doing what I did, but doing what I did as a player even better,” Law said. amccaffe@syr.edu

women’s basketball

Former Syracuse center Amaya Finklea-Guity transfers to Duke By Thomas Shults staff writer

Amaya Finklea-Guity announced on Wednesday that she is transferring to Duke for her last year of eligibility after four seasons — three as a starter — at Syracuse. Finklea-Guity became one of 10 Syracuse players to enter the transfer portal and is now the fourth former Syracuse player to transfer to another Atlantic Coast Conference school. Recently, the ACC announced that players would not have to sit out for a season, before transferring to another in-conference school. Forward Emily Engstler transferred to Louisville, guard Kiara Lewis transferred to Clemson, and forward Maeva DjaldiTabdi transferred to Miami. Syracuse also lost Taleah Washington to Old Dominion. Star point guard Tiana Mangakahia declared for the WNBA draft after spending five years at Syracuse.

Throughout her SU career, Finklea-Guity never shot below 49.1% from the field, while also becoming a consistent rebounder. The former five-star recruit averaged just 3.4 points and under three rebounds this past season, as she ceded playing time to star 6-foot-7 freshman Kamilla Cardoso. However, in postseason play, FinkleaGuity’s experience was pivotal for a shorthanded Syracuse team, as she played at least 13 minutes in four of the final five games. But throughout most of the season, Finklea-Guity only played if Cardoso was in foul trouble. Besides those instances, the senior’s role was limited. “Amaya has been a lot better than I would be,” head coach Quentin Hillsman said on Dec. 15. “She’s a really good mentor for Kamilla, and she’s a really good buffer between myself and Kamilla as well.” tgshults@syr.edu @ThomasShults5

AMAYA FINLEA-GUITY transferred to Duke after four years at Syracuse, becoming the fourth SU player to transfer to an ACC foe. corey henry senior staff photographer

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‘Just another ACC school’

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softball

Why Almer followed Doepking to SU By Connor Smith asst. copy editor

JIM BOEHEIM and Syracuse have made three Sweet 16s in the last five years, but the program’s recruiting has also declined during the second half of the last decade. emily steinberger photo editor

Inside Syracuse basketball’s recruiting sanctions, early departures and successes from recent years By Anthony Dabbundo senior staff writer

hen it came time for five-star Rochester recruit Isaiah Stewart to make his college decision in fall 2018, he released a list of five final schools: Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky, Washington and Syracuse. Then-longtime Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins had made dozens of visits to McQuaid Jesuit High School when Stewart was an underclassman — so many that some joked Hopkins had his own parking spot at the school. At the time, Syracuse had recruited him early. He was fourth in 247Sports’ recruiting ranking for the entire 2019 class. In 2017, Hopkins left Syracuse for the Washington head coach job. Stewart’s list was still officially five, but really, it was four, one scout said. The Orange were just a courtesy addition now. He eventually chose Washington, and the five-star recruit and one-and-done prospect went from Syracuse’s backyard to the Pacific Northwest to a productive rookie season for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA this year. “Hop was proven on the recruiting trail. He did a phenomenal job at Syracuse getting guys in that other programs didn’t necessarily like,” said one former staffer, who’s among people The Daily Orange granted anonymity to speak freely about SU’s recruiting. When Hopkins, the man viewed as the heir to Jim Boeheim’s historic success, departed, so did years of established recruiting connections in Philadelphia, New Jersey and other major recruiting hubs. Many in and around Syracuse basketball’s program told The D.O. that recruiting has taken a dip in the last five years partially because of Hopkins’ departure. Sanctions on the program, early departures from players turning pro and the potential of a new coach all played a role as well. “Syracuse offers used to be a big deal, but they’re not anymore. It’s just another ACC school,” one scout said. But even with recruiting struggles, Syracuse has made three Sweet 16 appearances in five years, as many as any program in the nation but Gonzaga. The Orange have made NCAA Tournament success as a double-digit seed following average

regular seasons the norm. SU’s average KenPom ranking from 2009-14 was 10.7, but dipped to 42.5 from 2016-21. Tournament runs have helped the program, but they’ve also left SU replacing key contributors earlier than it thought it’d need to. The Orange have their recruiting strengths, including finds like Quincy Guerrier and Oshae Brissett from Canada — two under-recruited players who fit perfectly into Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. Boeheim told The D.O. he doesn’t care about recruiting rankings or that the Orange have slipped in recruiting rankings in recent seasons. They’ve slipped in overall efficiency and regular season performance, too. But the answer to the question if the Orange are actually worse at recruiting is complex. From 2006-16, Syracuse’s average national recruiting rank was 19th-best in the nation. From 2017-20, that dropped to 39th. For players, the average rank of an SU commit has fallen from 63.9 to 175.5 in those same time frames. Despite this, Syracuse just played in the Sweet 16 without a top-100 recruit in its starting lineup. Marek Dolezaj was a three-star from Slovakia, and SU was his only offer. Neither of the Orange’s starting guards who averaged 34 combined points per game in the NCAA Tournament were highly touted recruits. There were the sanctions placed on the program that cost it three scholarship spots from 2015-19. There was uncertainty whether Boeheim would remain at SU throughout the second half of the last decade, which he said “devastated” recruiting. “No one ever talks about coach getting through Syracuse, through the sanctions, and he deserves endless praise,” one former staffer said. “You don’t get through that stretch, there’s no telling where Syracuse basketball would be right now.” But multiple people within college basketball say the recruiting scene is changing. Head coaches are involved earlier than ever. It’s much more hands-on, less about prestige and school name recognition and more about fit. Prospects look at social media, and “who’s cool” when selecting schools, a scout said. “Going to play in the middle of nowhere New York is not what it was 25 years ago,” they added. Boeheim insists that he and the Orange’s assistants recruit as a team and he’s involved in communication with players as soon as Syracuse begins recruiting them. Yet two sources said

see recruiting page 9

There’s a really big disconnect between what the program is right now and what the program thinks it is High School Scout

Calista Almer stepped up for her fourth plate appearance of the day at a tournament in Southern California with then-Dartmouth head coach Shannon Doepking in attendance. She had already recorded a drag bunt for a base hit, knocked a single to right field on a pitch outside and hammered another single. As Almer entered the batter’s box, Doepking already knew about the high school junior’s short game and ability to pull the ball. Doepking asked Union Mine (Ca.) High School’s recruiting coordinator if Almer was capable of hitting the ball to the opposite field. Three pitches later, right on cue, Almer hit a ball into the left-center field gap, showing her future coach that she could indeed hit the ball the other way. Two years after her 4-for-4 performance in Southern California, Almer became Doepking’s first recruit to play at Dartmouth. The relationship between the two was a large factor in Almer’s commitment then, and after playing under Doepking for two years, it was an even bigger one when Almer decided to transfer to Syracuse last year. Now, in her fifth collegiate season, Almer has started all 26 games for Syracuse and Doepking. “Nobody deserves the opportunity to have this fifth year and finish out their collegiate career on their terms more than Callie does,” Dartmouth teammate Loghan Thomas said. “I’m glad that she’s able to do it with coach Doepking, who started her college journey.” She entered her name into the transfer portal — with no serious intention of playing again — to explore her options, and with her eyes on Syracuse’s graduate archaeology program, she soon found herself talking to Doepking once again. In a phone call, the SU head coach told Almer that she had an open spot on the team and felt that Almer would be a great fit because of their previous experience together. But when Almer committed to Syracuse, the Orange already had experienced infielders in seniors Gabby Teran and Neli Casares-Maher returning. Almer and Doepking didn’t know what position Almer would play preseason, but that turned out to be first base, a spot that Almer had never played before. Doepking told Almer she would have to earn playing time regardless of experience or position, Williams said, but Almer was confident. And this season, she proved herself as one of just five SU players to start in every game this season. As Syracuse moves into the final month of the season, it’s slated to play against some of its toughest competition in Florida State, Clemson and Virginia Tech — the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top three teams currently. Almer has already proved herself to Doepking, whether it’s hitting balls the other way or moving to a foreign position across the infield. Those close to her say leading Syracuse alongside her former coach is the perfect conclusion to her career. “She’s had this opportunity to close out her career on her terms,” Williams said. “She’s been able to do this the way she wanted to.” csmith49@syr.edu