free
THURSDAY
sept. 21, 2017 high 82°, low 54°
t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |
N • Talk it out
Syracuse University faculty members question university officials on Invest Syracuse student benefits at Wednesday’s public forum. Page 3
O • In progress
The Daily Orange Editorial Board discusses why SU should be proactive after a racially motivated, violent incident at peer institution Cornell University. Page 5
P • Strings attached
dailyorange.com
Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers will kick off Symphoria’s Masterworks series on Friday. Meyers will play Mason Bates’ “Violin Concerto,” which was written for her in 2012. Page 9
S • 3rd time’s a charm
Syracuse rotated setters, which head coach Leonid Yelin said was crucial in beating Boston College, 3-1, on Wednesday night in the Women’s Building. Page 16
crime
Walk-on charged with abuse By Matthew Gutierrez asst. sports editor
The World Canals Conference will draw hundreds of canal enthusiasts to Syracuse this weekend. The Erie Canal Museum will have its doors open for visitors during the five-day convention. courtesy of world canals conference
Erie Canal Series PART 2 OF 2
Revisiting history Syracuse will host 2017 World Canals Conference to celebrate bicentennial
Construction on the Erie Canal, which has a rich history in Syracuse, began in 1817. courtesy of erie canal museum
By Molly Bolan
contributing writer
T
he World Canals Conference has been held in Scotland, Italy and China in the past decade. And this weekend, Syracuse — a historic home to the Erie Canal — will play the host. Canal enthusiasts from across the globe will attend the conference, which will encompass Syracuse’s Inner Harbor and Creekwalk and several downtown museums. Public events kick off Sunday at 1 p.m., and the conference will continue for four additional days with exhibitions, speakers and tours of the area that once housed part of the Erie Canal. The first day of the conference is open to the public and will allow attendees to learn about the history, preservation and revitalization of canals in New York state. The Erie Canal is a central part of that history and was a building block for Syracuse’s economic development. “For a lot of people, they think the Erie Canal is a thing of the past,” said Jean Mackay, communications director of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “(The conference) is a way of looking back, but also really looking forward.” The canal is celebrating its bicentennial this year and has been the subject of celebrations on both local and state levels. In 1817, workers started to dig out the canal. Construction was finished between Buffalo and Albany eight years after that. The canal stretches 363 miles. A bill approved by the New York State Legislature in 1817 authorized $7 million to build the waterway. see canal page 10
Syracuse freshman men’s basketball walk-on Dominick Parker was arrested and charged Friday with sexual abuse in the first degree, according to a Wednesday release from the Syracuse Police Department. Parker, 18, was accused of having sexual contact on Sept. 15 with an 18-year-old female “while she PARKER was incapable of giving consent to such contact.” The alleged incident occurred in an apartment on Stadium Place, which is located west of Sadler Hall and the SU College of Law, according to Syracuse.com. Parker was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center on Friday. He was arraigned last Saturday and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday. The Stamford, New York, native had been added to the SU roster earlier this month. He is no longer listed on the Orange’s roster. Parker is still listed in the SU student directory, though.
see parker page 4
on campus
Officials prepare for McCartney By Mary Catalfamo asst. copy editor
Paul McCartney will be playing a sold-out concert at the Carrier Dome this Saturday, and preparation for one of the biggest headliners in the Carrier Dome’s history is underway. “This is the show,” said Pete Sala, vice president and chief facilities officer at Syracuse University. He said the Dome has tried multiple times to book McCartney in the past. “I want to be over prepared,” Sala said. “We want to make sure that we have looked at every detail.” Ride-hailing, heat and parking were some potential issues he addressed Wednesday in advance of the show. Sala is responsible for dayto-day activities at the Dome. “I’m a little worried about the heat, so we’re prepping for that,” Sala said.
see mccartney page 6