HAS THE SCOOP GANNON’S
John Gannon was inspired to open Gannon’s Ice Cream following his father’s advice. Now, the shop is a beloved part of the Syracuse community.
Story by Ben Butler asst. copy editor
Photos by Solange Jain
Design by Lucía Santoro-Vélez presentation
In 1982, John Gannon was a student at Onondaga Community College with no idea what career he wanted to pursue. Growing up, he worked at his father’s full-service grocery store, Gannon’s Silver Star, but he felt a sense of inertia about his future. It wasn’t a matter of laziness, but of aimlessness.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do,” John said. “I think it was driving my parents crazy.”
So John’s father convinced him and his sister, Eileen, to start Gannon’s Ice Cream shop at the small ice cream stand on the lot of Gannon’s Silver Star. The stand went through several managers, and it wasn’t until John was stuck and the grocery store had gone out of business that the now 42-year-old ice cream store served up its first scoop.
see gannon’s page 4-5
students voice frustration over SU elective course fee
courses. Mahoney also said the cost of offering SU courses became “prohibitive” under the new agreement, which required ESF to introduce the new fee. see esf page 6
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INSIDE
The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.
NEWS
“I think we lose a lot, and Syracuse loses a lot by not having this exchange of ideas and personalities. Having the ability to go in between has made all of our experiences better.” - Spencer Berg, SUNY ESF senior
Page 1
CULTURE
“We had some really good people help us, people that were in the business, and we just worked. We were here every day open to close, and didn’t hire a lot of people because we couldn’t afford to pay them, so we just worked. We had a good time. It was fun.” - John Gannon, Gannon’s Ice Cream owner
Page 1
OPINION
“The impact of moving beyond the sharing of an infographic is necessary, especially when the rights and lives of various marginalized communities are on the line.” - Gray Reed, columnist
Page 10
SPORTS
“He’s the heart of the team, if we all had that heartbeat, we’d be pretty good.” - SU football head coach Fran Brown Page 16
COMING UP
Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: Barner-McDuffie House 3rd Anniversary
WHEN: Sept. 6, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m..
WHERE: 119 Euclid Ave.
WHAT: Syracuse Irish Festival
WHEN: Sept. 6 - 7.
WHERE: Clinton Squar
WHAT: Art on the Porchese
WHEN: Sept. 7, 12:00 - 4:30 p.m..
WHERE: Ruskin Avenue
SU adjusts Ostrom Avenue residence hall zoning proposal
By Zaara Malik asst. digital editor
Syracuse University has amended its plans for the proposed Ostrom Avenue residence hall, downsizing the project and removing the proposed Comstock Avenue building wing, according to an Aug. 22 application submitted to the Syracuse Zoning Administration office.
Before Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, SU withdrew its plans to demolish 727 Comstock Ave., a 119-year-old fraternity house owned by the university. SU initially planned to include the lot where the dormitory stands for a fivestory wing with a Comstock Avenue entrance. In the new application, SU got rid of the proposed wing — reducing the number of total bedrooms from 703 to around 570.
SU’s initial demolition application and subsequent residence hall proposal sparked debate between the university and city officials. In response to SU’s demolition plans, the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board initiated the process of recognizing the vacant fraternity house as a protected site. Both the SLPB and the City
Planning Commission voted in favor of the home’s recognition on June 20 and July 29, respectively.
“Taking into account the minor changes and the removal of 727 Comstock, we believe that there are no new substantive issues of concern,” Jennifer Bybee, SU’s assistant director for campus planning, wrote in the August zoning application.
The Common Council, which has final say on whether to designate a site as protected, pushed its vote following the rescinding of the demolition application, syracuse.com reported Tuesday. The council will now consult city attorneys to determine how to continue with the designation process now that the cause for the proceedings has been withdrawn.
According to SU’s new application, the new dorm proposal includes three primary changes from the original pitch: the removal of the 727 Comstock Ave. site from the proposal, a bed count reduction and a height decrease in the building’s north wing.
The decision to decrease the height of the north wing came in response to concerns raised by gardeners at the E.M. Mills Rose Garden,
located next to Thornden Park. Garden team members said they feared the shadow cast by the proposed dorm may impede the rose’s ability to grow, syracuse.com reported.
SU removed the Comstock Avenue site from the proposal after community members and city officials raised concerns throughout the protected site designation proceedings for the property. At the time, supporters of the recognition of 727 Comstock Ave. said they wanted to protect the history of the home and the rest of Greek row.
During a July 29 CPC meeting, university officials argued that the building had deteriorated beyond the point of maintaining historic integrity.
The new proposal does not require the demolition of 727 Comstock Ave., and the plans no longer include an entrance on the street. The residence hall’s new primary entrance will be on University Place.
SU’s original proposal included five wings: a six-story “A wing,” six-story “B wing,” six-story “C wing,” four-story “D wing” and five-story “E wing.” The E wing was set to cut through the 727 Comstock Ave. building.
The project’s architect conducted a shadow study of the new proposal, finding that the roses will receive eight hours of complete sunlight throughout the growing season — which ranges from March to September, the report states. According to Smithsonian Garden, roses require at least six hours of full sunlight to grow optimally.
The new proposal also reduces the building’s A-wing, which sits directly across from the rose garden, by one floor. The wing, originally set to be six floors, will now be five. All other wings will contain the same number of floors as SU’s first proposal.
The proposal also cuts through the site where the Ostrom Avenue parking lot and Shaw Hall park spaces currently stand, reducing the number of available parking spots from around 88 to under 10. SU intends to offer displaced staff and students access to nearby parking facilities on campus, the application states.
The CPC is scheduled to review SU’s new application on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. zamalik@syr.edu
GSO holds first general body meeting, fills vacant positions
By Henry Daley asst. copy editor
Syracuse University’s Graduate Student Organization filled nine vacant positions, including three out of its seven remaining University Senate seats, during its first general body meeting of the semester on Wednesday evening.
GSO also elected three new secretaries — one for its general body, one for its financial department and one for the communications department. The organization also appointed a new president pro tempore and parliamentarian. Each electee delivered an approximately oneminute speech before the vote.
After its elections, the organization discussed introducing a new legislative agenda
for this academic year, which includes an increased focus on parking accessibility and internal budgetary reform, GSO President Daniel Kimmel said.
“I’m very happy with the positions we filled, and I believe that doing it that way actually made those positions more accessible to graduate students,” Kimmel said.
GSO had more than 10 applicants for the general body secretary position, Kimmel said. The other secretary roles within its communications and financial departments received 17 and 20 applications, respectively.
Raj Barai, Camille Muzzarelli and Anika Shreya Pawar were sworn into USen’s allocated GSO seats.
According to USen bylaws, GSO is permitted up to 11 total spots. USen representatives are expected
to attend monthly meetings with administrators, faculty and graduate representatives.
The organization also filled one of its at-large seats in its internal GSO senate. GSO’s senate consists of representatives from each graduate program at SU. Graduate students from any academic program can fill the 10 additional at-large seats, according to GSO’s website.
During last week’s GSO town hall, Kimmel emphasized the importance of filling the empty USen seats, as the positions serve as an opportunity for graduate students to advocate for greater representation in leadership roles.
Cody Van Nostrand was named the general body secretary while Ian Wilhelm and Alexis Faison were appointed as the financial and communications department secretaries, respectively.
“One of my goals is to make sure as many of the funds as possible are going to the key missions that our organization is trying to accomplish. I’m a big fan of cutting down administrative costs where you can,” Wilhelm said in his remarks. The president pro tempore position was filled by Avery Welna, while the parliamentarian opening was filled by Joseph Beckmann. The organization also filled an empty GSO senate position. At its next meeting on Oct. 2, GSO will continue to address its new legislative agenda, including filling the rest of its USen seats, increasing parking accessibility and discussing proposed budget reforms. Kimmel also said this year will be the first time in a decade that GSO’s budget is operating in the positive.
hdaley@syr.edu
gannon’s
At the time, Eileen had just graduated college and was considering attending graduate school. Neither John nor Eileen were experienced in business management, let alone ice cream making. Though it’s hard to start a small business, John and Eileen had help from people in the industry.
“We were here every day open to close, and didn’t hire a lot of people because we couldn’t afford to pay them, so we just worked,” John Gannon said. “We had a good time.”
Gannon’s is a family business, with many members pitching in. Hard work and diligence, along with the family’s continued support, helped Gannon’s success, John said.
The stand is located a straight shot from Colvin Avenue east toward the Seneca Turnpike. It sits on a busy intersection four miles away from Syracuse University. The busy location means it draws business from Syracuse’s universities, hospitals, and local residents alike.
Gannon’s is a self-sufficient operation that gets flavorings and milk from wholesalers like Hood. In the back it has a mixing room and a walk-in freezer to store extra ingredients. Originally, Gannon’s didn’t make its own ice cream, but in its second year of being open, the staff developed its own process.
Now, Gannon’s offers 30 flavors daily, which rotate between its always, frequently, occasionally, rarely, and seasonally offered flavors, plus specialty cakes, banana splits and milkshakes.
The flavors are a rogue’s gallery of recurring flavors. Standard flavors, like vanilla, cookie dough, and chocolate are always on the menu, but others are repeating rarities, like Irish cream, bourbon almond and cranberry habanero.
Part of its unmistakable charm are the red tables and chairs that catch customers’ eyes from the road. There are also murals outside and inside
the building by local artist JP Crangle, depicting pastel shades and cartoonish shapes.
The shop opens for the season in mid-March and closes around Thanksgiving. Naturally, the summer season is the busiest, making up for the store’s winter closure. In the winter, the staff cleans up, makes repairs and prepares for the next spring.
For many customers, Gannon’s is the go-to ice cream spot they’ve gone to for years. John has watched many patrons grow up from the shop’s window. He’s seen kids eventually get jobs at Gannon’s, get married and take their kids to the shop.
Like much of the family, Charlie Gannon, John’s son, is committed to the ice cream shop. He works the register five times a week in the summer, collecting orders and serving customers their desired scoops.
As an avid sports fan, Charlie usually plays a sports match on the TV behind the counter. He sported a Yankees cap to work, but he ignores the tennis US Open on the screen to serve customers, a level of dedication that’s a mark of the family.
“We don’t have a ton of time to sit around and watch, but looking up’s fun, every once in a while,” Charlie said.
Charlie finishes off his shift with a milkshake, sipping while he walks alongside his mom, who drops off his younger brother for his shift. Even though it can get busy, the workplace culture is fun and makes a summer job all the more enjoyable.
“I love it here. I try and work as much as possible. Pick up hours when they’re needed,” Charlie said. “If I didn’t, he’d (John) probably make me come down anyways, but he doesn’t have to worry about it.”
Charlie’s a sophomore in high school now and he’s been working at Gannon’s for the past two summers. He will likely work there through college when he’s home from school.
There’s a tip jar marked “College Fund” sitting at the counter, listing the alma maters of the staff.
It’s a varied bunch of colleges, and reflects the youth of the staff and the strong community ties at Gannon’s. Staff members split the tips evenly among themselves.
Like many customers, for eight-year-old Liam Aiello and his family, ice cream is a tradition even in the cooler September weather.
“We actually do this as our ‘last day of summer before school starts’ tradition,” his mother, Kelly Aiello, said.
The family lives twenty minutes away from Gannon’s, so it’s always been their summer spot. They also buy birthday cakes from Gannon’s. For Liam, it’s all about flavor. Normally, he gets a chocolate milkshake, but, on Labor Day, he got a scoop of Milky Way on a whim.
While tradition brings some to Gannon’s, for others, it’s a new experience. SU juniors Marina Milelli, Kendall Palazzi and Jane Desmond admired the exterior seating and the variety of flavors and toppings.
Gannon’s offers various gluten-free options, including cones, which was a major selling point for Desmond. Desmond’s mother discovered the spot after dropping her off freshman year as she looked for a sweet treat after the emotionally draining move-in process.
“Whenever my mom leaves a place she’s sad to leave, she gets herself a milkshake,” Desmond said.
John and Charlie aren’t complex when it comes to their own ice cream choices. Both of them chose Chocolate Chip for their personal favorites, out of an appreciation of simplicity, and prefer the classic cone.
Gannon’s is a job of passion to them, and the staff, even if they’re not all related by blood, is a tightly-knit unit. It doesn’t even feel like draining work to Charlie.
“Everybody who works here is great,” he said.
“It’s just a fun thing to do.” bnbutler@syr.edu
SEIU Local 200United, SU reach tentative contract agreement
By Julia Boehning news editor
Syracuse University workers unionized under Service Employees International Union
Local 200United reached a tentative contract agreement with SU Tuesday night, according to a Wednesday morning media release from the union.
The university-recognized union, which includes library, food service, facilities and maintenance workers at SU, will hold information sessions for SU members on Thursday, the release states. The union then plans to hold its contract ratification vote on Friday.
“Syracuse University facilities workers in libraries, food service, facilities and maintenance, who are members of SEIU Local 200United…(reached) a tentative contract agreement late last night,” August Schneeberg, the communications director of SEIU’s Albany office, said in Wednesday’s release.
SEIU initiated negotiations between its members and SU in the summer of 2023 before the organization received university recognition this June. The union and the university then engaged in months of negotiation discussions.
An SU spokesperson also confirmed that the university and SEIU have reached a tentative agreement in a Wednesday evening statement sent to The Daily Orange.
“(We) look forward to the results of the ratification vote planned for Friday,” the spokesperson wrote.
As of Wednesday night, neither SEIU 200United nor SU have publicized the terms of the tentative contract agreement. The union did not immediately respond to The D.O.’s requests for comment.
The tentative agreement between SU and SEIU 200United comes about a week and a half after union workers held a rally outside of 727 Comstock Ave. Last week, the union rejected a previous SU contract proposal that reportedly included a 2.5% wage increase, which rally par-
The new agreement between the two universities requires ESF to pay $750 per credit hour for each student taking classes at SU, according to a webpage for the fee. Mahoney said ESF will subsidize the fee, with the $355 rate being “deeply discounted.”
“The good news is that our students continue to have access to Syracuse University courses and we continue to welcome Syracuse University students to engage in courses on the ESF campus,” an ESF spokesperson said Wednesday. “ESF and SU have enjoyed a partnership dating back to our founding in 1911 – and that partnership remains strong today.”
Spencer Berg, a senior in ESF’s Mighty Oak Student Assembly, said he found the initial message from Mahoney to be long and unclear. He also said some students may have missed the initial announcement, as it was issued during a time when students were not on campus and may not be thoroughly reading their university-issued emails.
To inform students who may have missed the initial email announcement, MOSA posted an explanation of the fee and what it would mean for students to its Instagram page on July 17. In the post’s comments section, many ESF students expressed frustration and disapproval with the new fee.
MOSA then issued a second post including a letter from MOSA President Eden Gardner. In his letter, Gardner acknowledged that some students felt “blindsided” by the decision and that the assembly would work with ESF administrators to gain further clarity on the decision.
Gardner’s letter also explained that ESF’s budget deficit has been steadily increasing in recent years due to the rising costs of post-secondary education, and as a result, the university has decided to implement debt-reduction strategies. ESF’s environmentally-focused curriculums make it more expensive to attend than most SUNY schools, according to Gardner’s letter.
Berg said the longstanding relationship between SU and ESF has given students the ability to take classes outside of ESF’s environmental-focused sphere. Though students can still take classes at SU with the new fee, Berg said he feared the fee may deter students from attending ESF at all.
“It’s a huge reason why people go to ESF, is because you get this specialized education, but then you’re able to go and access a much larger catalog of academics, which makes (for) a much better, well-rounded experience,” Berg said.
Eight SU electives, including General Physics I and II, are exempt from the new charge as they are required for many ESF
ticipants said was less than the 10% required for these workers to make a liveable salary.
At the rally, union officials explained its negotiation goals to workers across several SU sectors. SEIU members are currently advocating for raising wages, improving conditions for workers, and increasing benefits, union leaders said during the rally.
Hourly food service and library employees at SU first announced their plans to form a union this winter. By March 3,
majors. ESF students can petition to have the fee waived using the Accessory Instruction Appeal Form, which requires students to provide substantial reasoning for taking the course. These waivers are reviewed on a caseto-case basis, Gardner said.
Gardner, who said he’s communicated with ESF administrators about the decision since its announcement, said that while the news of the fee came as a shock to many, it was actually part of a broader, five-year financial stabilization plan across several SUNY schools.
“Although it was an alarming decision, it’s one that I understand needed to happen,” Gardner said.
During Mahoney’s March 7 State of the College address, she said ESF was in a $5.4 million deficit at the time, which would likely increase due to the budget extending until June 20. ESF is also in the process of paying back a five-year, $6.45 million loan to the SUNY system, she said.
Other SUNY schools suffering from similar deficits have cut programs, entire departments and other vital resources, downsizing dramatically to decrease costs.
“You need to find the money somewhere so that we can continue to exist as a college. I would rather it be this than losing an entire department,” Gardner said. “Because we are such a small and tight-knit community and we are so specialized that losing one department … is just like losing a limb. We can’t continue to function like that.”
Since the fee was announced weeks before the fall semester’s tuition bills were due, Berg said he believes the communication and timing was the main source of students’ distress. Students had limited time to either accept the fee, withdraw from classes they could no longer afford or petition for a fee waiver, he said.
“It was clear that they had been thinking about this for a while and then decided to roll it out over the summer, at kind of, the worst time possible,” Eaton said. “I don’t think I would have been as upset if it was kind of rolled out in phases ... but doing it a month before classes felt pretty disrespectful to the student body.”
ESF senior Mariam Pakbaz, an environmental studies major, said ESF approved her waiver to take PSC 204: The Judicial Process at SU. Pakbaz, who is also pursuing a minor in policy, communication and law, said she planned to take additional elective courses at SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs to better prepare for law school.
Pakbaz said she was in “disbelief” when she heard about the initial July announcement. She began posting on social media to express her frustration and encourage others to do the same.
“The thing with ESF is, it’s a school for people that are really passionate about the environment
around 30% of these workers had signed union cards.
Several groups now unionized under SEIU 200United, including maintenance and grounds workers, announced their support of on-campus unionization efforts during a March 28 rally. The demonstration came two days after Syracuse Graduate Employees United, another SEIU-affiliated group, ratified its first contract with the university by a 92% vote.
Food service and library workers voted in favor of unionization on April 24, affirming their affiliation with SEIU 200United. They recognized the union by a 99% vote of 1146 to 1, while the rest of the groups received recognition from SU over the summer. For the tentative contract to go into effect, a majority of the union’s members will need to vote in favor of ratification. As of Wednesday night, the union has not set a time or location for the vote. jmboehni@syr.edu @juliaboehning
and about sustainability, but … the education surrounding that has to be more well rounded,” she said.
Echoing Pakbaz, several other students said part of the reason they chose to attend ESF was because of the unique ability to broaden their learning through SU classes.
Micheal Zimpher, a junior at ESF, said he had looked forward to taking SU elective classes in art and music, which he planned to save for his final year in school.
“It was a huge thing that was advertised when I was touring ESF, that students could take 16 free credits over at Syracuse University and … it was a huge factor for me coming to ESF,” he said.
Another MOSA member, sophomore Daniel Vera, ESF’s diversity, equity and inclusion liaison, said he believes students in enrichment programs, such as the Louis Stokes Alliance of Minority Participation Program and The Educational Opportunity Program, will be most affected due to their academic and financial situations.
“Many of these students who come from high schools where they didn’t offer (many elective
courses) came to ESF in the hopes of being able to take advantage of those courses,” Vera said. “This new fee is posing a barrier to that higher education they were promised through these opportunity programs.”
Gardner said MOSA has been working with the administration to increase communication, learn more about the instruction fee and add potential new electives to ESF’s internal curriculum.
ESF has launched 15 new electives for this fall semester, such as Yoga and Voices of Diversity, and will continue to add courses in the spring based on student input communicated through MOSA, the ESF spokesperson said.
MOSA will host an October town hall to collect additional student feedback, Gardner said.
“I think we lose a lot, and Syracuse loses a lot, by not having this exchange of ideas and personalities, because people at ESF are a lot different than people at SU, and people at SU are a lot different than people at ESF, but having the ability to go in between, I think has made all of our experiences better,”
kjacks19@syr.edu
Berg said.
Over the summer, SUNY ESF introduced a $355-per-credit-hour fee for SU elective courses. Taking courses at SU used to be free for ESF students. daily orange file photo
Syracuse University workers stand outside of 727 Comstock Ave. during last week’s SEIU rally, advocating for higher wages. SEIU-affiliated workers reached a tentative contract agreement with SU Tuesday night. vince kang contributing photographer
Cali M. Banks’ 31-part exhibition, “I’ve Learned to Hold Myself Softly,” reflects her identity and examines neglected areas of Syracuse.
By Savannah Stewart asst. copy editor
ISoft A Approach
n fall 2022, local lens-based artist Cali M. Banks visited her hometown of Syracuse. While in the city, she ventured north to Mattydale to photograph a familiar roller skating rink, Sports-O-Rama. Upon her arrival, however, she discovered a vacant plot and an abandoned neighboring Pizza Hut she’d frequented in her childhood.
“The sign is completely gone and there are vines growing through it,” Banks said. “I find a bit of beauty in some things that are overgrown. But there’s also some sadness for things that were so important to me as a kid that are completely unkempt.”
The graffiti-covered, shattered window structure became part of the catalyst for her 31-part documentary project, “I’ve Learned to Hold Myself Softly.” Banks’ exhibit examines her identity and return to Syracuse. The photographs are on display at the Everson Museum of Art until Dec. 27.
Banks, of Munsee Lenape and Scottish heritage, was born and raised by her mother near the border of Syracuse’s Northside neighborhood. Banks became the caretaker of their home, as her mother lived with a lifelong disability from an injury she sustained before Banks’ birth. In the early years of her youth, she delved into photography.
“My mom used to get these 35-millimeter disposable cameras, and I, as a kid, at 5, 6, to maybe 8 years old, would just take pictures of everything,” Banks said. “She would have all of the film developed and then put them in little albums for me.”
Banks attended Allegheny College, where she majored in Art & Technology and took her first formal photography class in her freshman year. Her professor, who she described as young, relatable and helpful, inspired Banks to take more
By Spencer Howard asst. video editor
For Assistant Curator Morgan Moseley, Syracuse University Art Museum’s recent exhibit is more than a job. It represents her family identity and the underrepresented forms of labor in history.
“‘Fruits of Their Labor’ is an invitation to conversations of what we think about when we think of labor,” Moseley said.
“Fruits of Their Labor” opened on Aug. 22 at the SU Art Museum. The display includes pieces from SU’s permanent collection and seeks to reimagine labor and leisure with works from the past.
The collection features several prominent themes, including traditional and nontraditional depictions
photography courses. She later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Media Arts Practices from the University of Colorado Boulder.
For some time, Banks worked in Brooklyn as a partnerships coordinator for a filmmaking organization and a teaching artist for filmmaking. While her mother now lives in North Carolina, Banks still has family members in the Syracuse area. But the “real draw” back to her home was a job at Light Work, a nonprofit photography center at Syracuse University.
“I saw this position open and I said when I was leaving for college, the only way I would come back to Syracuse is if a job opened at either Light Work or Syracuse University,” Banks said.
Currently, Banks works as Light Works’ communications coordinator and teaches Film and Media Arts in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at SU. Her college and professional experiences leading up to her return made her re-evaluate aspects of her hometown.
J Coley, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Lender Center for Social Justice at SU, provides insight into changing cities like Syracuse. Coley is working on a book project that uses Buffalo as a case study of the long-term impacts of displacement, gentrification and racist public planning decisions on Black communities.
Originally from Rochester, Coley has experienced parts of upstate, western and central New York.
“These cities are alike in the sense that they were Rust Belt cities that a lot of people moved to before the 1950s in hopes to get opportunities for work and things like that,” Coley said. “But once industrialization began in 1950, a lot of people ended up moving, so Syracuse is considered a shrinking city.”
New York City often shadows cities like Syracuse and Buffalo, Coley said, so locals often don’t get the investments and finances that help these communities.
of labor throughout history. While the traditional images of labor depict men completing physically demanding work, the nontraditional include women as mothers and caregivers.
Moseley and Interim Chief Curator Melissa Yuen worked on the collection over a six-month period, though installations of this magnitude usually require one or two years to plan.
“This exhibition really challenges us as viewers to expand our idea of what art could be, thinking beyond those brawny men working in factories to think about the other types of work that this multifaceted society undertakes,” Yuen said.
Coming from a family with a long history of manual labor, Moseley hoped to pay homage to the familiar nature of traditional work while also depicting the highly influential roles
of women. She looked to female influences in her personal life, whose work was often overlooked and viewed as less impactful.
Moseley intended to do so with artworks like a photograph taken by Ed Kashi.
“I wanted the viewers, when they think of ‘women’s work’ or women at work, to question these images of the past,” Moseley said. “The images we see, like Ed Kashi’s, challenge that.”
Kashi’s photo shows a grandmother, in a wheelchair, with her grandson she gained custody of, Kashi wrote in an email statement to The Daily Orange. It follows the theme of the exhibition in showing the extenuating circumstances and hard work of a grandmother who looked after the child.
Banks’ work provides an artistic perspective to Coley’s research. She said “I’ve Learned to Hold Myself Softly” is a survey of how Syracuse and her coming-of-age years are abandoned, neglected or gentrified. At the same time, Banks gives herself grace with her own identity.
In graduate school, Banks developed a close friendship with her peer, Román Anaya, who gave her unconditional care. She confided in him, often visiting his home where he and his husband supported her.
“There was one time where I was sharing a lot of different situations I went through and he looked at me and was like, ‘You don’t have to be like this all the time. You don’t have to be so tough all the time. You can show your emotion in different ways. It’s okay to open up and be soft with yourself,’” Banks said. “Nobody had ever really told me that before.”
Two weeks before their M.F.A. graduation, Anaya unexpectedly died. “I’ve Learned to Hold Myself Softly” is Banks’ way of paying homage to her friend. Yet, she noted the exhibit’s title has another meaning.
During her time in Brooklyn, she worked with an assistant and realized their lives growing up were similar. The assistant would always apologize for her sensitivity but Banks told her that her vulnerability is admirable.
“The things that made her soft left me this hard shell on the outside,” Banks said. “I always appreciated her soft approach to the world.”
Throughout college, Banks created more identity-based art. She said she is white presenting, but her Indigenous mother exposed her to a culture and traditions. Still, she said she lives in a liminal space of privilege because of her appearance but deeply identifies with her other side.
In the exhibit, Banks features identifiers that bring attention to her Indigenous identity. The first inclusions are roses, a theme that stands out in other works she has created.
The “Fruits of Their Labor” exhibit challenges the conventional depictions of labor at the SU Art Museum. lars jendruschewitz photo editor
SU Course Catalog, add these electives next year
By Sarah Wells humor columnist
Since becoming an upperclassman, I’m having an absolute ball going through the electives in the Syracuse University catalog. From pottery to beer and wine tasting courses, I’m thrilled that SU has a slew of options to make your parents go, “Wait, that’s what you’re gonna be paying off for 30 years?”
However, there are so many more opportunities for SU to extend its already stacked list of elective options. I mean, we have about a million different academic buildings. I’d also be willing to host a class or two in my off-campus house. So, if any SU professors are reading this, reach out to me if you’d be interested in teaching any of these courses. I have absolutely no experience in designing curriculum and I can’t pay you, but maybe we could take some of these ideas to the higher-ups.
I have quite a few friends abroad this semester, so I feel like an elective explaining how the hell time zones work could be very helpful. I mean, what do you mean it’s 4:41 p.m. here and 9:41 p.m. in England? Makes absolutely no sense. One of my good friends is abroad currently and I accidentally call her at 2 a.m. all the time. I mean, she’s abroad in New York City, so it’s really just because I have a habit of sleep talking and saying, “Siri, Call Ashley,” but it would still be nice to understand why it’s literally afternoon here and morning in Hong Kong. Since the people abroad get to eat great cuisine, I feel as though the students here at SU also need to have some positive culinary experiences. We already have beer and wine-tasting classes, maybe we could have food tasting classes. No, not cooking classes. Just tasting classes. We could call it “The Ecology of Syracuse Food” or something like that. Basically, the university could just give the professor money to get food from different restaurants around Syracuse, then the professor could give us that food. And we could eat it. And, hey, maybe we could write a Yelp review or something. It’s fueling the economy and also giving these companies business!
“My mom created this ritual where if we are having a hard time or need some sort of good luck charm and we see a rose by chance, we would think it was a sign from ancestors,” Banks said. “So she gave us different colors to represent different family members.”
For example, between Banks and her mother, a pink rose represents their bond while a red rose symbolizes Banks’ maternal grandparents.
The second noticeable inclusion is beadwork. Of the exhibit’s 31 total photographs, 27 of them are hand-beaded.
Banks said the beadwork is accomplished with a traditional two-needle Indigenous technique. In this way, she ties in her culture, even being intentional with the beads’ colors — black, white and red — each a color of the Lenape tribe. Banks said the colors can also have twofold meanings.
Red, she said, can mean passion or violence. Black can connote strength or aggression. Lastly, she described white as a color to represent living your truth.
Banks also adds gold materials, like leafing, to pinpoint value in some of the photographs. In finalizing each photograph, she includes one blue bead. Historically, in traditional Indigenous beadwork, she said, sometimes there would be an off-skew bead or a bead of a different color which acted as the artist’s signature. The blue bead also holds value for Banks as it recognizes her maternal grandfather’s favorite color.
“Cali’s show is just incredible,” said Koz, lab coordinator at Light Work. “She really has her hand sort of in the work with the way that she uses Polaroids through emulsion lift. And then how she also hand-beads her work, which is just really incredible and exquisite to see up close in person.”
Like Banks, Koz grew up in Syracuse and the two attended the same high school. Koz is a landscape
Yuen said Kashi’s photo adds an intergenerational element to the show’s message. Patrons can’t see that element in other photos because many are from artists who are no longer alive.
The curators also paid special attention to historical events like the Great Depression and the union strikes of the early 20th century to help contextualize viewers’ understanding of labor.
“(These events) don’t exist in a vacuum and they continue to have resonance in our lives today,” Yuen said.
She also pointed to the workplace changes that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic as highlighting the impact historical events have on labor. As an emerging professional during the pandemic, Moseley said many current conver-
Remember having a study hall in high school?
In the middle of the day, maybe before or after lunch, there was a period where you could go and do whatever you wanted. Sure, maybe study hall isn’t really necessary in college since we’re adults and have our own autonomy, but I’ve really been craving the nostalgia of a good high school study hall lately. I’m not really sure what the curriculum of this would look like, but maybe we could have a contest for whoever sticks the highest amount of chewed gum pieces under the desks?
One other elective I’d most definitely want to take: some sort of sociology class breaking down the age-old question … how on earth are you supposed to interact with your acquaintances on campus? You know, people like your roommate’s
boyfriend’s friend that you follow on Instagram and also maybe had an earth science lecture with, but you never found out for sure, because HOW DO YOU TALK TO THESE PEOPLE IN PASSING? It’s a question we could all use the answer to: how many degrees of separation do you have to be away from someone to wave at them in the library? Please, get a professor on this.
I hope that these course ideas were a nice refresher, possibly an escape from whatever not-as-fun elective you’re taking now. I’m not sure when they’re developing the course catalog for spring 2025. But if any program directors want to reach out to me, I’ll be in Bird Library developing the syllabus for YUM 105: Taste Testing Every Menu Item From Pastabilities. sswells@syr.edu
work consists of portraits and still-life pieces. lars
and self-portraiture photographer. She and Banks practice artistic techniques unique to each of them, but are similar in that they keep their work private until it’s ready to go out into the world.
With “I’ve Learned to Hold Myself Softly,” Banks hopes that viewers can place themselves inside the work and contemplate their upbringing and relationship with Syracuse. She said there are
sations surrounding labor are similar to 20thcentury discussions about work reform.
Curator of Education and Academic Outreach
Kate Holohan hopes the “Fruits of Their Labor” exhibit evokes a feeling of empathy and humanity in its viewers. She hopes the feelings developed in the exhibit will make viewers more compassionate during their everyday lives, especially as election season approaches.
“That’s not necessarily going to change the world, but that building of empathy and the willingness to be in dialogue with people who are outside of your social circle can start moving our culture in a better direction,” Holohan said.
In its showcase of non-traditional definitions of labor, the exhibit also focuses on the entertainment industry. It not only depicts the glamorized chicanery of performers within the industry but also the behind-the-scenes work put in by stagehands.
Pitbull and T-Pain
Pitbull will bring his Party After Dark Tour to the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on Saturday. The artist plays party songs perfect for college students, like “Hotel Room Service” and “Timber” (which boasts 1.5 billion listens on Spotify). This isn’t Pitbull’s first time in Syracuse either – he is returning two years after his last performance in Salt City. The same goes for his opener T-Pain, who performed at Juice Jam that year. If you missed these artists before, head to the Amphitheater for a night of nostalgic fun. Ticket prices vary, and can be bought online.
WHEN: Saturday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheatre at Lakeview PRICE: $100 to $380
The Columbia, South Carolina four-person band is visiting the Amphitheater this Friday. Hootie & the Blowfish is an American rock group known for songs like “Only Wanna Be With You” and “Let Her Cry.” The band returned from hiatus in 2019 with its reunion tour and album, “Imperfect Circle.” The 2024 tour will feature its classic hits, along with its newly released single, “For What It’s Worth.” Rock out with the band this weekend. Ticket prices vary, and can be bought online.
WHEN: Friday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheatre at Lakeview
PRICE: $36.60 to $144.75
Dazed
Formerly Redgate, Dazed is putting on its second show of the semester at the iconic student house venue. Two student bands, GUNK! and AFTER HOURS, will take the stage. AFTER HOURS has previously played at other house venues like Mudpit. GUNK! has also taken the stage alongside AFTER HOURS at Funk ‘n Waffles. Presale tickets are $10 at the door. Catch this fresh student show on Friday at 10 p.m. Direct message Dazed on Instagram for the address.
WHEN: Friday at 10 p.m.
PRICE: $10 at door
Hard Promises
a lot of cities that could resemble what is pictured in these images.
“There’s still a bit of beauty and hope to the city that’s left,” Banks said. “Sure, there’s a lot of sadness that relates to this demolishing or abandoning of places, but there’s also still a lot of nostalgia and memory.”
sfstewar@syr.edu
“There’s work that goes behind having these ‘perfect performances,’ so I wanted to show that,” Moseley said.
The entertainment portion of the exhibit resonated with Eric Zaks, a junior supply chain management and accounting major at SU. The collection helped him contextualize the lives of circus workers and better understand the unfamiliar line of work.
“The fact that they were able to capture that feeling of vibrance and fun, contrasted to the work done by those circus workers, I thought that was pretty cool,” Zaks said.
Through its varying representations of labor throughout history and across industries, Yuen and Mosely hope for museum-goers like Zaks to develop a more holistic view of the meaning of labor.
sphoward@syr.edu
Westcott Thursdays provides free concerts every week in September. Initially, the event was hosted in Hanover, but has transitioned to the Westcott neighborhood. Kick off a month of free concerts with Hard Promises - A Tribute to Tom Petty. The band consists of five veteran central New York musicians and guarantees a night of Petty’s biggest hits, like “Free Fallin”and “American Girl.” Count Blastula, a local groovy and funky rock band, will take the stage first, among art vendors curated by Wildflowers Armory. The 100 block of Dell Street from Columbus Avenue to Westcott Street will be closed and is a short walk for Syracuse University students. Entrance is free.
WHEN: Thursday at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Westcott Neighborhood on the Dell Street 100 block, from Columbus Avenue to Westcott Street
PRICE: $25 for SU, ESF students
Hootie & the Blowfish
flynn ledoux illustration editor
cali m. banks’ exhibit is currently on display at the Everson Museum of Art. Her
jendruschewitz photo editor
Invasion of privacy shouldn’t come hand-in-hand with fame
Not many people know of Missouri-born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. But millions of people know her stage name, Chappell Roan. As recent events have indicated, Roan’s newfound fame comes with the pressure of the public eye. Backlash regarding Roan’s response to uncomfortable fan behavior points toward a larger issue of why celebrities need to sacrifice their right to privacy.
The “Midwest Princess” released her first song “Die Young” in 2018, the success of which led to her signing a deal with Atlantic Records. However, after the release of her single “Pink Pony Club” in 2020, she was dropped from the label due to low success.
Thankfully for pop fans everywhere, Roan continued to make music and released her debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” in 2023, which skyrocketed in popularity after going viral with touring artist Olivia Rodrigo.
From the moment that Roan performed as the opener for part of Rodrigo’s Guts tour, her songs blew up across streaming platforms, and most importantly, TikTok.
In conjunction with her growing pop stardom, Roan released “Red Wine Supernova,” an explicitly queer song about Roan’s lust and relationship with another woman. This song quickly became one of TikTok fans’ favorite queer anthems, not only due to the upbeat tune and the straightforward queer themes in the lyrics, but also because of Roan’s unique persona.
While TikTok is one of the main reasons for Roan’s fame, it seems like it may be her downfall as well after a recent post by the star on the platform.
After a few concerning and inappropriate interactions with fans, Roan posted a video stating that she needs her fans to respect her privacy. She said she doesn’t “care that abuse and harassment” are a “normal thing” for people who are in the public spotlight.
Roan also reasoned that she is a “random b*tch” and the fans are also a “random b*tch”
— hence, it’s weird for fans to act like they’re entitled to her personal life and attention just because she’s a celebrity.
Although Roan disabled comments on the video, it has still received negative attention from critics and fans alike. This backlash was due to claims from fans that Roan had no right to demand privacy because it was these very fans that brought her such success.
In response to Roan’s post, one person even posted on X that Roan is “not even that famous”. This post is just one of many that uses Roan’s niche fame as a way to say that she does not deserve her own privacy and owes it to her fans to interact with them.
While I do agree that no celebrity can gain popularity without fan support, I think that Roan is absolutely justified in her statements.
Just because Chappell Roan and other stars have chosen the path of public fame does not give anyone the right to invade their privacy and have entitlement to their personal lives.
Claire McBride sophomore t.r.f. major
As Roan argues, normal people wouldn’t stalk a random person, so why is it different for a celebrity?
The level of entitlement that fans think they have to a celebrity’s personal life is absolutely absurd, as is the way the platform TikTok plays in enabling fans to act this way.
With the ease people, including celebrities, can post personal information and their daily lives on the platform, some fans have formed deep connections or even parasocial relationships with their idols on the app. In addition, TikTok is the perfect medium for critical opinions and trolls to spread negativity,
and with that, manipulation of what Roan was really saying.
While I affirm that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, it is worth noting how quickly one harmful or incorrect statement can spread on TikTok.
Roan’s statement on boundaries is not a new concept in the celebrity sphere. Eight years ago in 2016 Justin Bieber publicly advocated his “no photo policy” after becoming fed up with entitled and creepy fan behavior.
Another celebrity who spoke out after Roan was Madison Beer, who recently posted on Instagram explaining that she will not take pictures with fans in or around her hotel while on tour due to safety reasons.
This boundary, very similar to Roan’s, interestingly received little to no backlash from fans. Rather, many praised Beer for speaking out, which then led some to bring up Roan’s comments for opening up about these behaviors from fans.
While it’s unclear why Roan was the victim of such criticism and Beer was not, I feel it’s important to note the difference in treatment between queer artists and heteronormative, conventional performers such as Beer when it pertains to topics of the same nature.
Despite what some users on TikTok may say, Roan has every right to request fans respect her boundaries. Privacy is something we all value and deserve as individuals, regardless of our job and social fame.
Everybody deserves basic respect and is allowed to set boundaries — their social status does not change that fact. These boundaries are also not things that can be negotiated or debated by fans online. Instead, they should be praised and followed.
Just because Roan and other stars have chosen the path of public fame does not give anyone the right to invade their privacy and have entitlement to their personal lives. As Roan said, it’s not right to stalk a random woman on the street, and fame alone does not change that basic fact.
Claire McBride is a sophomore Television, Radio and Film major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at Cpmcbrid@ syr.edu.
flynn ledoux illustration editor
CLAIRE MCBRIDE COLUMNIST
Social activism needs to go beyond social media re-posts
My Instagram account is a public collection of what is most important to me: my friends and family, outfits I am proud of, music I am passionate about and, perhaps most notably, advocacy for causes I hold close to my heart.
I believe it is of universal importance to advocate for the rights of all human beings and have found social media to be an effective, accessible tool for spreading information in a digestible way. In this sense, my feed is not unique: social media activism can commonly be found across the internet pertaining to topics of local, national and international concern.
A May 2023 study from Pew Research Center found that nearly half of social media users have used the platforms to engage in some kind of political activity. Further, four out of ten individuals claimed social platforms were a vital tool for them to find out how other people felt about certain causes.
But it’s not enough.
“Slacktivism” is used to describe the showing of support for a cause without taking measures to enact actual change. The term describes the current use of social media to share information pertaining to activist causes, coinciding with a belief that those sharing such content lack the motivation to do anything else. A common example is the sharing of a hashtag in support of a cause while refraining from other measures.
I have witnessed firsthand the awareness digital spaces can bring to otherwise lesser known matters. A well-known example is the #MeToo Movement, which brought worldwide recognition to the greater movement centered around supporting survivors of sexual violence. Another is when the Black Lives Matter movement gained international attention and social media users posted photos of black squares to raise awareness, but it’s important to mention that in this case, many did not provide relevant information regarding the BLM movement.
The impact of moving beyond the sharing of an infographic is necessary, especially when the rights and lives of various marginalized communities are on the line. It is also crucial to understand that just because a social media post states something as fact, it does not necessarily make it true –such information should always be fact-checked as it is not always accurate.
Online activist content should serve as a starting point for further advocacy and education.
To create tangible, long-standing change, offline dedication to a cause is vital. Actions such as volunteering your time with advocacy groups and organizations, donating resources, calling your representatives and having hard conversations with others are all effective ways to further the progress of movements you care for.
Of course, many people are subject to circumstances that may limit the extent of their offline activism: limited financial resources, restrictions of their employment or living situations and more. This upcoming election will likely be the first presidential vote many students here at Syracuse will cast. This said, the constitutional right to vote is and has historically been one of the best methods of action to support the causes you believe in. At the end of the day, it is our elected officials who determine the future of our country through what causes they dedicate their time toward. Voting for representatives who support the topics you are passionate about is one of the most concrete ways to ensure your voice contributes to active change. To register to vote if you haven’t already, you can visit vote.gov.
Advocates who use social media to share information are not an enemy; they are using an easily accessible tool to their advantage, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I, myself, plan to continue sharing information I feel is useful to my peers, but will do so mindfully. My message is for the consumers of said information: do not let your support end with a “like.” Instead, make the effort to engage in action that will have long-term effects using the resources and methods you already have access to, it will be much more beneficial than anything purely digital.
Grace “Gray” Reed is a senior magazine, news and digital journalism major. Their column appears bi-weekly. They can be reached at greed04@syr.edu.
sara mcconnell contributing illustrator
The new opportunity allowed him to escape minimum-wage work and continue to chase his dreams. While he didn’t enjoy his time at work, it gave him a better perspective on his future. Layton wasn’t just going to use SIUE as a vessel in his soccer career but as a backup option, too.
“Those kind of things kind of drove me toward coming over here,” he said. “I wanted to have a better education to be able to (fall back on) if soccer didn’t work out.”
Layton took his plan to the next level and followed the electrical engineering path at SIUE, graduating with a 3.9 GPA. On the field, Layton started as a redshirt in his freshman season, due to his gap year in England.
“We could tell immediately he was a really humble guy, good player, good person, and just needed to get his sharpness back,” SIUE head coach Cale Wasserman said of Layton.
In the spring of his first season, Layton played in six of SIUE’s 10 games, starting twice. When fall season came, Layton’s role was vastly different. He started 13-of-15 games he played in while racking up 1140 minutes. But then, his minutes decreased to 610 in his junior year.
In Layton’s senior campaign, he led the Cougars to an undefeated regular season.
SIUE also clinched the Ohio Valley Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament
that the team culture was one they wanted to be a part of.
“We visited a lot of other schools, but Old Dominion told us that they see us doing big things in the future,” Sofia said. “They really believe in us.”
Despite the early commitment, it wasn’t always clear that the twins would play college lacrosse.
The Snyders also play soccer for West Genesee during the fall, where they won the Section 3 Championship in 2023. Maria again proved her ability to thrive in the biggest moments, as she provided the game-winning assist in the 2-1 championship game victory.
Despite their admiration for soccer, the twins made a business decision to focus strictly on lacrosse at the next level.
berth. Layton started 17-of-19 games, finishing with a goal and six assists.
After four and a half years at SIUE, Layton transferred to Syracuse with one year of eligibility remaining.
“It was bittersweet,” Wasserman said. “Obviously we wanted to keep him, and he was such an important part of the team, but we also understood he’s a human trying to have a holistic experience.”
Nine of SU’s 10 starters from 2023 departed, and the Orange were in need of new players, especially at center back. Even though he played defensive midfielder for SIUE, Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre moved him to center back. Now, Layton sits in the center of SU’s back three.
He joined the team in January for SU’s spring semester and played for the Vermont Green FC during the summer. At Vermont, he played alongside fellow Syracuse teammates Gabe Threadgold, Ernest Bawa, Carlos Zambrano and Jahiem Wickham. The transition to the Orange this fall has been seamless for Layton.
“(The defense) has done very well,” McIntyre said. “Sam is kind of like the vocal leader of our group.”
By playing a key role for Syracuse this season, Layton can bolster his resume to potentially get drafted, or be offered a professional contract at season’s end. For him, though, that’s not a concern.
“I’m gonna go game by game, try and play as best as possible as I’ll do any game I’ll ever play,” Layton said, “and just see where that takes me.” nsjepson@syr.edu @nicholassjepson
“In soccer, you don’t see a lot of players going D-I for that,” Maria said. “Seeing more people going D-I for lacrosse, I feel like that was really encouraging.”
“We want to try and get this state championship,” Sofia said. “For our senior year, all of our seniors have been on varsity for a really long time and we want to try and finish it on a high note.”
If the Wildcats are going to make it back to the state final this year, the Snyders will have to continue producing. Their mother expects nothing less.
“That’s just who they are,” Jeanine said. “They’re aggressive and they want to win, their will to win is off the charts. It’s not something you can teach. Either you have it or you don’t.”
Henrytheman_0 Hdaley@syr.edu
rushing attempts and 207.5 rushing yards per game.
How Syracuse beats Georgia Tech With linebacker Marlowe Wax out for about six weeks, SU’s defense will need to step up to contain Georgia Tech’s running game. Considering how they performed versus an inferior offense even when Wax was on the field against Ohio, it’s a tall task for the Orange’s defense.
There’s a famous saying that sometimes, your best offense is defense. But for Syracuse on Saturday, its best defense might be offense. To beat the Yellow Jackets, who Brown and company know are going to run the ball, the Orange’s offense must match them in shootout fashion.
Unlike when it faced GT last year, Syracuse is equipped with one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC in McCord, while having a variety of threats in the passing game. If Trebor Peña, Oronde Gadsden II and SU’s skill position players perform like they did last week, it won’t matter how the defense fares against one of the best offenses in the conference.
Stat to know: 1
Through two games this season, Georgia Tech’s defense has only accumulated one sack. As
seen from his time at Ohio State and throughout last week’s game against Ohio, McCord thrives when he has a clean pocket and is not under pressure. If the Yellow Jackets struggle to apply pressure, McCord is primed to follow up a career-best outing with another spectacular performance.
Player to watch: Haynes King, quarterback, No. 10
King is amid his second campaign at Georgia Tech after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Texas A&M. After redshirting as a freshman in 2020, King became the Aggies’ starting quarterback in 2021 but suffered a season-ending injury two games into the season. King regained his starting role under center in 2022. But injuries again derailed his campaign, as he appeared in only six games.
Following his stint at Texas A&M, King transferred to Georgia Tech, where he stayed healthy and broke out. Appearing in 13 games, King threw for 2,842 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was one of two Power Five players with at least 2,800 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, 700 rushing yards and 10 touchdown runs, alongside Heisman Trophy Winner and No. 2 NFL Draft pick Jayden Daniels (LSU). justingirshon@gmail.com @Justingirshon
Twin sisters Maria and Sofia Snyder have developed into star lacrosse players at West Genesee high school. courtesy of maria and sofia snyder
Following a stint with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Sam Layton transferred to SU, where he now leads its back line. jacob halsema staff photographer
as a focal point of Syracuse’s revamped roster.
“He’s the heart of the team,” SU head coach Fran Brown said of Allen Jr. “If we all had that heartbeat, we’d be pretty good.”
Allen Jr.’s makeup is apparent to everyone around him now, but it took time to develop. When he first began training with Marcus Hammond and playing seven-onseven football with Next Level Greats as a 10th-grader, Hammond remembers Allen Jr. being quiet.
Even so, Allen Jr. was tenacious on the gridiron. In Allen Jr.’s first game playing for NLG, they faced off against the Carolina Stars, led by Drake Maye — the future No. 3 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft — at quarterback.
Hammond vividly remembers Allen Jr., one of the younger players on the team, getting hit so hard by a linebacker that he flew through the air. That play is what Hammond attributes to Allen Jr. realizing he needed to step up his game.
A year later, NLG faced South Florida Express, spearheaded by current Colorado standout Travis Hunter. Coming off a season where their only loss was to the Stars, Hammond said the Express beat NLG “pretty bad.” Yet what stood out to Hammond was Allen Jr.’s two-way fearlessness.
“LeQuint’s a dog,” Hammond said. “Pitbull, salivating at the mouth, ready to go to war.”
Allen Jr. continued progressing with NLG and at Millville High School (New Jersey). He became the 2022 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and racked up offers from Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Temple, Rutgers and Virginia, among others. Toward the end of his junior year, he committed to the Orange and arrived on campus in January 2022.
LeQuint’s a dog. Pitbull, salivating at the mouth, ready to go to war.
As a true freshman, Allen Jr. understood his role on the team as Sean Tucker’s backup. Tucker was coming off a program-record 1,496 rushing yards in 2021, and Allen Jr. said he wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Allen Jr. received limited playing time in the regular season but showed flashes throughout. He notched a 90-yard run against Wagner and notched passing and receiving touchdowns against Wake Forest while being a key piece on special teams.
But everything in his life changed after he torched Minnesota’s defense at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 29, 2022. He cemented himself as Syracuse’s next star running back in the waiting. Then, it appeared he’d never have the chance to prove it.
Nearly two months after the Pinstripe Bowl, Allen Jr.’s father, LeQuint Allen Sr., was shot and killed at a home in Lawrence
Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska and University of Southern California.
Many schools in the conference have joined SU in offering esports as an area of academic study. Boise State offers an esports certification program to undergraduates that allows students to “demonstrate proficiency with esports technologies, investigate emerging trends in data, analytics, media and esports content,” according to its website.
At SU, the newly established esports major – a joint area of study offered by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics – began enrolling students this fall. It’s set to open a state-of-the-art competitive gaming facility in Schine Student Center in January 2025, where SU’s varsity teams will compete.
Esports majors are offered three tracks: esports business and management, esports communications and esports media and design. The staff and faculty of the esports academic program and varsity teams overlap but are separate programs, according to the SU Esports website.
While the esports major offers students an opportunity to enter the ever expanding field of video game design, production and business, the esports varsity programs offer a new arena for collegiate competition outside the world of athletics.
“One thing I find interesting is that a lot of these students come from traditional
Township, New Jersey, on Feb. 14, 2023. Syracuse.com reported Allen Sr.’s death coincided with the beginning of Allen Jr.’s disciplinary proceedings with Syracuse University’s Office of Community Standards.
This resulted from an on-campus fight that took place in December 2022 on the university’s South Campus. In a Dec. 11 affidavit, Allen Jr. said he punched a man in “self-defense” after he was hit twice in the face.
Allen Jr. was issued a two-semester suspension from SU in June 2023. As a result, he sued the university in hopes of becoming eligible to rejoin the football program for the fall. A month later, the two sides reached an agreement, allowing Allen Jr. to rejoin Syracuse for the 2023 season.
“Knowing everything I’ve been through, all the doubts and everybody don’t want to see me win,” Allen Jr. said on what motivates him.
When Allen Jr. returned, it was back to business. This time, as the featured running back.
Week in and week out, Allen Jr. showcased he was among the best running backs in the ACC. As Syracuse’s season progressed, so did his value to the team. First, the Orange lost receiving weapons Trebor Peña and Oronde Gadsden II with season-ending injuries. Next, their offensive line was decimated. Then, quarterback Garrett Shrader was no longer healthy enough to operate under center.
So, Syracuse put the ball in Allen Jr.’s hands as much as possible in its final four regular-season games. It resulted in Allen Jr. running for more than 100 yards each game and securing the Orange’s second consecutive bowl game appearance.
“When he’s on the field, he’s like beast mode,” SU wide receiver Umari Hatcher said of Allen Jr. “He really just snaps out of it. All the playing, all the joking, nah. He just turns into a beast.”
Despite his breakout season, Allen Jr. was unsure if he’d return to SU. According to Hammond, other schools were trying to get Allen Jr. to enter the transfer portal and he considered doing so.
Before deciding, Allen Jr. waited for Syracuse to hire a new head coach. Shortly after Brown took over on Nov. 28, 2023, Allen Jr. met with him and was sold on remaining with the Orange.
Since then, Brown has completely revamped SU’s offense. He brought in transfer quarterback Kyle McCord while upgrading the offensive line and receiving core.
The one constant through it all? Allen Jr. is in the backfield.
As he continues maturing in his junior year, Allen Jr. has the opportunity to cement himself among the best running backs in Syracuse history. To sit alongside program legends like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, Allen Jr.’s biggest advantage comes from staying true to himself.
Off the field, Allen Jr.’s infectious personality ignites those around him. But once he steps on the field, he’s ready to run through anyone and anything in his way.
“That’s gonna give me the edge, being who I am,” Allen Jr. said.
justingirshon@gmail.com
@Justingirshon
athletic backgrounds,” Yang said. “I find that students who played high school sports have an easier time with esports, they are used to the competitive environment.”
One of these former high-school athletes is Rocket League Captain Gabriel Goodwin.
A freshman studying business, Goodwin was recruited as the university’s first ever e-athlete on scholarship.
Rocket League, a “high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer” as described by the game’s developer Epic Games, came naturally to
Goodwin, who said he played soccer throughout childhood and spent two years on his high school’s varsity team.
“A lot of the ideas correlate, like keeping possession of the ball. Tactically, it’s very similar,” Goodwin said.
As the team’s first official varsity season begins, the freshman captain has been tasked with building a winning culture, Yang said. While prospective teammates began their tryout matches, Goodwin walked between players, watching them play and listening to their conversations.
Yang said that demonstrating good communication skills holds as much value as proving technical talent. As they assessed players, captains for each respective team looked for people who showed they were good teammates.
“A big thing in gaming is mental fortitude,” Blankenhorn said. “You can’t get sad or upset or angry when something doesn’t go your way, you’ve got to be able to push through it.”
For Yang, the young program is a project far from finished. In the future, he hopes to assemble teams composed of many players recruited from high school.
“I always compare (competitive gaming) to football,” Yang said. “You come in with set plays. You start, things break down, and you have to play on the fly. Whether it’s football or Counter Strike or baseball or Overwatch or Fortnite, it’s all about you having an opponent in front of you and trying to problem solve.”
Duncan Green
lequint allen jr. is looking to become Syracuse’s first running back selected in the NFL Draft since Delone Carter in 2011. sadie jones contributing photographer
SU esports is entering their first-ever season in varsity competition this year. Teams held their first-ever open tryouts Sept. 3-4. maxine brackbill senior staff photographer
Marcus Hammond next level greats coach
Beat writers split on whether SU will defeat No. 23 Georgia Tech
By Daily Orange Sports Staff
In the opening game of the Fran Brown era, Syracuse overcame a slow offensive start and a poor defensive showing to take down Ohio 38-22. Quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns as wide receiver Trebor Peña added two receiving touchdowns and one on the ground.
SU’s offensive firepower overshadowed continuous defensive mishaps as the Bobcats rushed for 255 yards. Along the way, the Orange lost linebacker Marlowe Wax, who’s expected to miss at least six weeks due to a leg injury. Following a mid-major opponent to start the season, Syracuse quickly shifts to Atlantic Coast Conference play, where it will face No. 23 Georgia Tech on Saturday
The Yellow Jackets are 2-0 to start the season, including an upset victory over then-No. 10 Florida State in the season opener. GT has been effective on the ground through its two games, averaging 207.5 rushing yards per game.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC) will fare in its conference opener versus No. 23 Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 ACC):
AIDEN STEPANSKY (1-0) FRAN’S FIRST STRIKE SYRACUSE 33, GEORGIA TECH 30
There’s no question Syracuse has its work cut out for them Saturday. Wax’s absence is an obvious
hurdle, and GT’s potent rushing attack doesn’t bode well for SU’s defense which allowed 255 yards for Ohio.
But here’s where I think we see a different Syracuse team. Brown’s advanced recruiting will be shown through the linebacker depth provided, allowing James Heard Jr. and Anwar Sparrow to step up in a big way. Additionally, I believe SU’s poor rushing defense was partially due to firstgame jitters. Everything we’ve seen from Brown and his staff throughout the offseason shows they’ll quickly demand improvements.
Syracuse wins this game in a shootout that comes down to the fourth quarter. The Orange offense, led by McCord, was impressive after a slow first quarter. 38 points in three quarters against the Bobcats is no small feat. McCord and his weapons proved to me they can score at a high level and be effective through the air.
It won’t be easy, but a home win over a ranked opponent gives Brown his biggest win yet, further proving the legitimacy of his program in year one and possibly shooting them into the top 25.
COOPER ANDREWS (1-0) WHAT CAN BE, UNBURDENED BY WHAT HAS BEEN SYRACUSE 27, GEORGIA TECH 26
Considering the troubles Syracuse weathered in its season-opener against Ohio, I’m surprised
to be making this pick. I penciled this game in as a loss for SU before the year. But, I don’t think the Yellow Jackets are nearly as good as experts make them out to be.
Let’s start with Florida State. Georgia Tech upset the then-No. 10 Seminoles 24-21 in Dublin, Ireland, to open the season. Defeating the preseason ACC favorite right away propelled the Yellow Jackets into the national discussion — rightly so. GT followed it up with a win over Georgia State to cement its place as the No. 23 team in the latest AP Top 25 Poll.
Yet, I’m already at the point to deem the Yellow Jackets’ triumph over Florida State as not that impressive. The Seminoles have taken a major step backward. They lost a Monday night home game to Boston College 28-13. With an inaccurate and overwhelmed DJ Uiagalelei under center, FSU is already proving that it’s an average team.
Which leads me to my pick. It’s way too early to write Syracuse off against Georgia Tech. Quarterback Haynes King shines as a dual-threat, but he has plenty of limitations as a passer. I trust SU’s offense far more than I trust FSU’s, especially due to McCord’s electric debut. GT has to enter a hostile environment against the best offense it’s faced so far. The Yellow Jackets will likely gash Syracuse in the ground game. I just think McCord, Allen Jr. and Co. will outscore a relatively onedimensional Georgia Tech side and deliver a statement win.
JUSTIN GIRSHON (1-0) NOT THERE YET SYRACUSE 20, GEORGIA TECH 23
Brown has a huge opportunity to cement how Syracuse can look under his leadership with a win. While I believe the program is in great hands, I think his first crack at an ACC foe will fall just short of a win.
Is GT’s win over Florida State not nearly as impressive as it was this time last week? Absolutely. Does that mean GT is being overvalued by the AP Poll? Not necessarily.
No matter how you slice it, the Yellow Jackets have one of the best rushing attacks in the ACC. Meanwhile, the Orange surrendered 255 yards to Ohio. Even worse, Wax, arguably their best and most important defensive player, won’t be playing.
I feel the Yellow Jackets will dominate time of possession due to the discrepancy in Tech’s rushing attack to Syracuse’s rush defense. The longer McCord and SU’s offense remains on the sideline, their margin for error significantly decreases. In a game that could come down to the last possession, I see GT controlling the pace just enough to escape the JMA Wireless Dome with its third straight win.
sports@dailyorange.com @dosports
After position change, GT’s Jamal Haynes stars at running back
By David Jacobs staff writer
Jamal Haynes had a crucial decision to make.
He just finished his second Division I season at Georgia Tech but only appeared in 11 games without recording a catch. Adam Carter, Haynes’ high school head coach, said other schools expressed interest in having the Yellow Jackets wide receiver transfer to their program following the season.
After discussing the possibility with his mother, Annette Johnson, Haynes felt secure returning to GT. His camp knew his time to shine would soon arrive.
“Stay where you are, continue working on your degree and everything will fall into its place in time,” Johnson said of Haynes remaining at Georgia Tech.
They didn’t know, however, that his time would come from playing a different position. Haynes moved from wide receiver to running back during Georgia Tech’s fall camp in 2023. After making the positional change, Haynes quickly became a primary weapon out of GT’s backfield, rushing for 1,059 yards and seven
touchdowns in 2023. He became the Yellow Jackets’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2017 and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Third Team. On Saturday, Haynes and No. 23 Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 ACC) take on Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC) in the JMA Wireless Dome.
“My first impressions were that he was a running back, but (in high school) he played receiver,” said Matt Park, who also coached Haynes while he was in high school. “Either way, he’s just a little ball of muscle.”
Playing football at Grayson High School (Georgia), Haynes played in a region his teammate, Grady Bryant, called “the SEC county of Georgia.” This provided Haynes with unmatched opportunity and competition.
At Grayson, Haynes played alongside future National Football League Draft selections Wanya Morris and Owen Pappoe. They were selected in the third and fifth rounds, respectively, in 2023, helping Grayson become one of 11 schools to have multiple players drafted that year.
As a senior, Haynes helped lead the Rams to a Georgia 7A state title. To get to that point, Carter and Park noted the receiver was disciplined in improving his craft. Haynes received offers from
Maryland, Pittsburgh and Purdue, among others, but decided to stay close to home. On Jan. 26, 2020, Haynes committed to the Yellow Jackets, relocating just over 30 miles from his hometown.
Despite minimal playing time in his first two seasons at GT, Haynes remained disciplined by sticking with the program. When he arrived back on campus for fall camp before the 2023 season, his time in the backfield began.
Position changes usually take time for players to acclimate to their new role. But for Haynes, there wasn’t as long of an adjustment period because he played running back for much of his youth. Despite concerns about whether his 5-foot-9 frame could handle an every-down role, Haynes quickly established himself as GT’s featured running back.
In his second game as a full-time D-I running back, Haynes rushed for 113 yards on nine carries. It was a testament to his elite efficiency, which became one of his strengths as his 6.1 yards per carry ranked third in the ACC.
In their second-to-last 2023 regular season game, the Yellow Jackets faced Syracuse. Though GT still had another game the following week, it was against No. 1 Georgia and it needed one more
win to secure its first bowl game appearance since 2018.
Nearly five minutes into the game, Georgia Tech was on Syracuse’s 15-yard line and Haynes caught a swing pass on the left side of the field. The running back was dead to rights as he approached the sideline but he changed direction, forcing linebacker Derek McDonald to slip.
As Haynes worked his way back toward the middle of the field, his teammates sealed a lane that he exploded through. When he approached the goal line, two Syracuse defenders stood in his way, but Haynes plowed right through for the first score of the game. Haynes went on to notch 99 total yards and another score en route to the Yellow Jackets defeating the Orange 31-22. Now, with two years of collegiate eligibility remaining, Haynes’ camp is bullish on his chance to become an NFL draft pick.
“If you haven’t seen a man cry on national television, you will definitely see ‘em rolling down his face if he got drafted,” Johnson said. “It would be the highlight of his life.” djjacobs@syr.edu @DavidJacobs04
After defeating Ohio in its first-ever game against Fran Brown, Syracuse takes on No. 23 Georgia Tech. Our beat writers are undecided on whether the Orange will hand the Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season. jacob halsema staff photographer
Sam Layton leads SU’s defense 6 years after working at
By Nick Jepson asst. sports editor
In 2018, Sam Layton walked into one of the over 1,300 Domino’s Pizza shops in England. The rattling door swung open, releasing the scent of freshly baked dough to the streets. Layton walked toward the counter, threw on his Domino’s cap and got to work.
It wasn’t where Layton should’ve been. His 6-foot-2 frame was perfect for reaching high shelves in the pizzeria, but his focus was elsewhere — achieving his goals on the soccer field.
But his scholarship with Burnley FC’s U-21 team in Lancashire, England, expired, and he had no choice.
While trying out for league and independent teams throughout England, Layton kept the minimum-wage job at Dominos. Eventually, Layton traveled to the United States, where he played four years at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Now, in his final season of college eligibility, Layton is one of Syracuse’s veterans, leading its defense as a center back.
“I’m able to lead a lot more as a center defender,” Layton said, “because I can see everything in front of me.”
Layton, a Brisbane, Australia, native spent most of his youth playing for local academies.
With Zee Academy’s U14 team, Layton and his team spent the summer in Barcelona.
After his time in Spain, Layton signed with Burnley, quickly working his way up to the U-21 roster. Though Layton tore his labrum when he was 17, sidelining him for eight months. He returned, this time with the U-18 team, and started the last 13 games of the season. But at the end of the season, Burnley cut ties with Layton.
“They pretty much said, ‘You’ve been doing well, and we just don’t think that you were the right fit for our team,’” Layton said.
Layton was kicked to the curb, and had no option other than trying out for professional teams in England. He tried out for multiple teams, but couldn’t crack a roster.
“When I wasn’t able to find a club, I was training with a non-league team and then working at the same time,” Layton said. “I was just trying to figure out what my next plan was.”
He had pursued every avenue there was in England, yet still couldn’t get signed. Then, after a year of continuous rejection, Layton connected with an agency called Vertex Soccer. The agency helps English players connect with American universities.
Vertex connected him with SIUE, and the search was complete.
Twin sisters Sofia, Maria Snyder shine with West Genesee High School
By Henry Daley asst. copy editor
Even from a young age, it was clear that twin sisters Maria and Sofia Snyder played lacrosse with an intensity that most didn’t.
Their parents, Joe and Jeanine Snyder, recalled one of the first times his identical daughters played lacrosse. They were in fourth grade and participating in a ground ball drill. Lose the ball, and you were out.
After the entire team lost their balls, Maria and Sofia were the last two standing.
“They’ve always been pretty talented, athletic and aggressive,” Joe said. “It was pretty laughable because everybody knew
what they were in for when the two of them were going to butt heads on the field.”
That aggressiveness and athleticism in their early childhood have allowed Maria and Sofia to develop into stars at West Genesee High School. In the Snyders’ three years with the program, the Wildcats have won two Section 3 Championships and are the reigning regional champions, earning a berth in last year’s state final.
It’s the program’s best stretch since winning seven state titles in the early 2000s, having won their last state championship in 2014. The twins’ success has allowed them to elevate to the next level, as the duo is committed to Old Dominion following their high school graduation in 2025.
“For a while, we really weren’t winning at all,” Maria said. “And then it got to our sophomore year, and this team, we just clicked.”
The recent success hasn’t come as easy, though, as the Snyders and West Genesee have had to pull out multiple close contests to get there. According to their assistant coach, Kelly Fucillo, the Snyders set the tone for the Wildcats.
“One thing that sets them apart is their mental toughness and grit on the field,” Fucillo said. “Maria and Sofia are scrappy on ground balls and win a lot of the 50/50 matchups.”
When the twins won their first Section 3 Championship with West Genesee two years ago, the Wildcats had to find another level, winning 13-12 after being down 7-4 at halftime. The team relied on Sofia in the win,
as she earned two draw controls and secured a ground ball.
Last year’s state semifinal was no different, with West Genesee holding off a late comeback attempt for a gutsy 10-9 win. Maria, who scored a goal and forced a turnover, provided the gamewinning assist in the final minute.
“I think we have a lot of grit,” Maria said. “Once we put our mind to something, we want to pursue that. If we lose the ball, we’re definitely hustling, trying to work hard and get the ball back.”
The two committed early to Old Dominion in late September last year, feeling “connected” to the campus when they visited. After speaking with the coaches and watching a team practice, the Snyders knew
Everything to know before Syracuse battles No. 23 Georgia Tech
By Justin Girshon asst. sports editor
Syracuse began the Fran Brown era with a 38-22 win over Ohio. After SU trailed 6-0 after the first quarter, Kyle McCord and its offense came alive in the second, giving the Orange a 17-9 halftime lead. Ohio running back Anthony Tyus III, who ran for 203 yards, responded with a touchdown to begin the third quarter. But Syracuse scored 21 unanswered points, propelling it to its 16-point win.
One week later, Brown faces two more firsts: an Atlantic Coast Conference foe and an AP Top 25 team.
Here’s what to know before Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC) hosts No. 23 Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 ACC) Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome: All-time series
Georgia Tech leads 3-1.
Last time they played… Syracuse traveled to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 18, 2023, for its second-to-last regular season contest. The Orange and Yellow Jackets each entered the matchup with five wins, needing one more victory to secure a bowl game appearance.
The week prior, SU heavily utilized LeQuint Allen Jr. and Dan Villari out of the wildcat formation, running the ball 65 times for 392 yards — with Villari (154), Garrett Shrader (109) and Allen Jr. (103) each running for over 100 yards — en route a 28-13 win over Pittsburgh. The win ended the Orange’s five-game losing streak.
With Shrader’s injuries limiting his abilities under center, Syracuse again utilized its run-heavy, wildcat-centric offense against GT. At first, it failed miserably, as SU trailed 24-3 less than a minute into the third quarter. But the Orange scored touchdowns on three of their first five second-half drives, cutting their deficit to 24-22 on two touchdown runs from Allen Jr. and one from Villari.
With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King ended SU’s scoring run by scoring a rushing touchdown. With Syracuse trailing 31-22 with 2:22
remaining, it pulled a card it
ting
quarterback
all season:
After leaving Burnley FC when he was 18, Sam Layton had nowhere to go. Five years later, he’s become an integral part of SU’s defense. jacob halsema staff photographer
hadn’t
put-
backup
Luke MacPhail under center. On his lone drop back, he threw an interception. It was the last offensive play of the Dino Babers era.
The Yellow Jackets report For the first game of the 2024 College Football season, Georgia Tech traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to face then-No. 10 Florida State. Despite entering the game as double-digit point underdogs, the Yellow Jackets played at or above FSU’s level throughout.
In crunch time, GT’s offense embarked on an over six-minute, 12-play drive that led to a gamewinning field goal as time expired. Georgia Tech followed its Week 0 win with a 35-12 bludgeoning
of Georgia State in Week 1, propelling it to reach the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2015. The key behind the Yellow Jackets’ early season success is its running game. Anchored by a dual threat in King and Jamal Haynes, who scored two touchdowns against SU last year, Georgia Tech is averaging 35
Syracuse welcomes No. 23 Georgia Tech to the JMA Wireless Dome for its first ACC game under Fran Brown. The Yellow Jackets lead the conference in rushing yards with 207.5 yards per game. jacob halsema staff photographer
see snyder page 12
see layton page 12 see georgia tech page 12
the standard
LeQuint Allen Jr. has become the focal point of Syracuse’s offense following a breakout sophomore season.
By Justin Girshon Asst. Sports Editor
LeQuint Allen Jr. reminds Syracuse center J’Onre Reed of National Football League quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston, a Heisman Trophy winner and 10-year NFL veteran, famously uses his contagious personality to ignite players around him. While Allen Jr. doesn’t have Winston’s experience, Reed says the running back carries himself similarly.
Once Allen Jr. steps on the field, however, he views himself as a mesh between a lion and an ape because of his relentless and tough play style. The perfect storm of his polar opposite qualities is why Reed, who is nearly four years older than the running back, looks up to Allen Jr.
“He’s the standard,” Reed said.
Allen Jr., a 2023 Second-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, burst onto the scene as a true freshman at Syracuse in the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl. In his lone start of the year, he tallied 154 all-purpose yards before becoming SU’s primary running back as a sophomore. Fresh off a 2023 campaign with 1,064 rushing yards, a team-leading 38 receptions and 10 total touchdowns, Allen Jr. enters his junior season
see allen page 13
SU esports holds tryouts ahead of 1st-ever varsity season
By Duncan Green asst. news editor
Syracuse University’s varsity esports teams hosted their first open tryouts in program history on Sept. 3 and 4 to kick off their inaugural season as members of the Power Esports Conference.
On Tuesday evening, more than 40 SU students gathered outside the university’s esports room in the Barnes Center at the Arch. Prospective e-athletes had the opportunity to try out for the program’s six teams, competing in Call of Duty, Counter-
Strike 2, Overwatch 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League and Valorant.
“This is definitely a good turnout,” Ryan Blankenhorn, an Overwatch coach and junior esports major said. “We’ve got 36 PCs in there and we’ve already booked every single one of them.”
For some attendees, it served as an opportunity to compete in their respective games at the national level while others had less ambitious expectations.
“They’re really trying to build a community, not just each team, but the whole program,” Luca
Cook, a junior studying aerospace engineering, said. “It’s definitely cool seeing the school actually take more of an active role in promoting it, especially since it was barely started when I joined.”
Cook first got involved with esports at SU as a freshman playing Overwatch at the club level. Entering his third year, he said the program has “transformed.”
One of these changes came in spring 2024. The club started transitioning to varsity, Travis Yang, SU Esports’ Director of Competition, said. In May, the Counter-Strike
2 team beat Oklahoma Christian University to take home a national title. Yang described last spring’s accomplishment as part of the program’s “year zero,” because they weren’t officially a varsity team.
He said that as college esports continue to expand, more and more Division I schools will begin to offer esports at the varsity level. In the interim phase, club and varsity level teams have sometimes competed against each other, like SU’s position last season.
As Syracuse’s esports teams enter their first official varsity
season, they will compete in the newly established Power Esports Conference. The university’s membership in the PEC was announced in an Aug. 16 release. This year, Syracuse will face opponents from across the country in seven weeks of competition each semester, with a final national championship taking place in late spring. In conference play, SU faces the seven other members of the PEC — including Boise State University, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, University of see esports page 13
jacob halsema staff photographer