thursday, april 10, 2025
N • Campus conversation
Students pushed for empowerment and awareness about reproductive health and resources at Wednesday’s PPGen discussion.
Page 3
C • Down the rabbit hole
Kimmel Hall was once home to a student-run nightclub, boasting prominent acts like James Brown and the Talking Heads.
Page 4
S • Freshman takeoff
Syracuse softball’s Kaimi Tulua is batting .344 with 15 RBIs, emerging as a crucial depth option for the Orange’s offense.
Page 16
‘Passionate
Newly-elected
SGA executives say they will prioritize unity and belonging in 69th SGA assembly
By Sydney DePietto staff writer
After a year of leadership in Syracuse University’s Student Government Association, German Nolivos and Janese Fayson, the newly elected executives, are stepping into their new term with renewed purpose — and another opportunity to further implement their goals.
Their campaign slogan, “Vision for All,” emboldens their belief that all SU students deserve to be seen, heard and valued. To extend community under their administration, both candidates said they believe in empowering student spaces and giving undergraduates a place to grow and thrive.
As an incumbent, Nolivos said his return to office offers the association an unusual opportunity for continuity.
“It has been so impressive and impactful (t0 watch),” said Reed Granger, SGA’s outgoing vice president. “There’s a form of unity that I haven’t seen in my previous two years as a member of the Student (Government) Association.”
Nolivos, the first Latino and international student to be SGA’s president, said his background as a Venezuelan immigrant has helped shape his leadership approach. His perspective drives him to be a voice for those who normally feel underrepresented, he said.
Granger said Nolivos’ collaborative leadership style has allowed members to feel more comfortable and engaged in the association, which they said has changed how students view SGA. They said they were happy to see Nolivos ready to serve a second term as the association’s president, as his ability to sway a room and bring joy makes him “unequivocally the guy for the job.”
see executives page 6
By Justin Girshon sports editor
Phil Brown compared his job to a student trying to study for an exam before enrolling in the class.
Around him, the landscape of college sports is ever-changing. As a result, Brown said he never knows what Le Moyne will be doing tomorrow.
So, when asked about the answers he hoped to have by the time the Dolphins complete their Division I transition, Brown chuckled.
“I don’t know that I can get answers,” he said. “That’s the reality of it.”
Brown is just over four months into his role as Le Moyne’s athletic director — officially titled assistant vice president of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation — and spent the past decade working in Vanderbilt’s athletic department. He was hired on Oct. 29, 2024, following Bob Beretta’s departure to St. Bonaventure in June. Now competing in the Northeast Conference, the Dolphins are the only
NCAA program in the second year of what’s supposed to be a four-year transition to fully becoming a D-I school. Simultaneously, college sports have changed drastically because of name, image and likeness and the transfer portal’s emergence. With Le Moyne navigating a crucial transition and the NCAA becoming increasingly professionalized, Brown’s job is to guide the program through its transition and position it to compete in the evolving era of college sports.
“It’s evident that Le Moyne was well put together before I got here, and
I’ll just continue to lead it to the Division I promised land,” Brown said. Since beginning their D-I transition, the Dolphins have already experienced success across numerous sports. Their men’s soccer program secured a marquee win over Syracuse, while the women’s basketball team reached the second round of the 2025 NEC Tournament by upsetting No. 4 seed Saint Francis. In men’s lacrosse, veteran head coach Dan Sheehan entered the NCAA’s top-10 wins list on Saturday amid a 7-4 campaign thus far. While
the men’s basketball team struggled in 2024-25, it exceeded expectations by notching a 9-7 conference record in 2023-24.
Brown, who started his career in trust tax accounting at Regions Financial, sees championship potential across Le Moyne’s entire portfolio. He believes winning NCAA titles isn’t just possible — it should eventually become the expectation.
“We’re not quite winning yet, but I’m not even a full (D-I) member,” Brown said. “I’m still transitioning,
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The forecast for this upcoming week, per The Weather Channel
Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: 26th Annual French Colloquium
WHEN: Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHERE: Bird Library, room 114
WHAT: Whitman Women’s Summit
WHEN: Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Whitman School of Management, Milton Room
WHAT: Passover Seder with Syracuse Hillel
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, 6–7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Schine Student Center, Goldstein Auditorium
By Quinn Postman asst. copy editor
Julianne Thomas first drank alcohol when she was 11 years old. Growing up in what she called a “dysfunctional” family, Thomas was exposed to substances at a young age and checked herself into rehab at age 20.
Now, Thomas draws on her experience to support the central New York community. She provides substance use training and technical assistance across the region as a community development specialist at the Central Region Prevention Resource Center.
“I wanted to do something that didn’t feel so reactive, like I am preventing people from getting into these situations instead of trying to help people that are already kind of stuck in a rut,” Thomas said.
She started out as an advocate with Liberty Resources’ shelter and domestic violence programs and then began working at CRPRC in 2023. Located in Syracuse, the CRPRC works to prevent drug use by connecting people to business owners, law enforcement, hospitals and teachers’ associations.
Thomas went to the CRPRC aiming to stop addiction before it starts.
“It’s a lot different from what I was doing because it’s trying to change the stuff within a community that makes it more easier to use,” Thomas said.
Her primary responsibility is to help community members overcome their reliances on drugs and alcohol.
Emily Moore, leader of community education at Prevention Network CNY, which the CRPRC is housed under, works with Thomas in CRPRC’s Syracuse office. She and Thomas educate people on how they can avoid addiction.
“Making it clear how important it is to have a support network, how important it is to be around people that are positive, how important it is to be able to make your own choice — the importance of all of those things is really what we build upon to then get to the point where we can show some data,” Moore said.
Thomas doesn’t often mention her experience with addiction when she presents prevention information to communities, unless she’s specifically asked. Scare tactics aren’t effective in preventative education, Moore said.
Growing up, Thomas saw her mother, Lisa, and stepfather fight regularly, both physically and verbally. Her family constantly moved to and from her stepfather’s house throughout her childhood, going between Florida and central New York.
Thomas said her mother and stepfather relied on addiction and prescription pills to keep their relationship together.
“The time when things are peaceful is when both my mom and my stepdad have access to pills,” Thomas said. “It was just a curiosity of like, ‘What’s so great about this?’”
When she got older, Thomas used drugs to escape a feeling of “otherness,” she said. The more she used substances, she said, the more she felt comfortable around other people who used them.
By Arabella Klonowski asst. copy editor
Members of Syracuse University’s chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action promoted open conversation through a Wednesday evening discussion on sexual and reproductive health.
PPGen members and SU students Julia Kirezi and Sophia Castro emphasized students’ access to health services on campus, including focusing on access to abortion and contraceptives. The two said there’s a lack of student awareness of Planned Parenthood, even though it has a location less than a mile from campus.
Kirezi and Castro said given the current political climate, these conversations are important ways to educate people about sexual and reproductive health.
“I think a lot of people right now feel pretty powerless in the situation and feel like they don’t have a voice,” Kirezi said. “So letting people have the opportunity to vocalize their thoughts, I think, is really important”
Amid several nationwide funding freezes, the President Donald Trump’s administration has also paused nearly $35 million in federal funding distributed by Title X, which provides affordable birth control and health care. One
of the organizations impacted by this funding freeze is Planned Parenthood, which has reported losses in nine states.
Castro said conversations and building community through dialogue are an integral part of PPGen. Creating space for people to share their opinions — in both small and large group discussions — is essential in navigating the current political atmosphere, she said.
The discussion emphasized Trump’s 2016 promise to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade. Limited access to abortion was one of the reasons Amy Pena, a SU junior studying economics, said she chose to get involved in PPGen.
Pena said in her home state of Texas, abortion access is difficult to obtain — even at her local Planned Parenthood, where she volunteered before coming to SU. She said her branch in Houston could only provide patients with nonabortion related care or refer them to providers outside the state.
Working within her local community to educate others about the services offered at Houston’s Planned Parenthood was something Pena said was deeply important to her, and she hopes to continue that advocacy while at SU.
She said a main focus of her volunteer work was educating those in her community
who may not have previously had access to such resources. Kirezi echoed this sentiment and said that since working with PPGen, she’s noticed many moments where people lacked information.
“I’ve interacted with so many of my friends that have expressed to me that they didn’t know they had to use a condom, for example,” Kirezi said. “You might think someone else knows the same stuff you do, but I’ve had quite a few people who don’t and I’ve been in situations where I don’t know something that someone else does.”
PPGen collaborated with SU’s Student Association of Public Health Education to host the event. The evening began with a presentation on the history of Planned Parenthood and an overview of sexual health education.
Kirezi said the partnership between the two hosting organizations had been developing for some time.
Tommy DaSilva, president of SAPHE and a triple-major in public health, policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement at SU, said they met Kirezi during a tabling event with free condoms for Valentine’s Day. They said the two groups’ similar missions made collaboration a natural next step.
Castro echoed DaSilva and Kirezi, saying both organizations are closely aligned.
“We wanted to see what other ideas that we can come out of this event,” Castro said. “And just figure out a way to maybe work together in the future, to establish that connection, and then go forward in the future to do the work.”
The team hopes events like Wednesday’s will bring together members both old and new to engage in even more conversations and introduce them to new organizations.
Antara Stromayer began attending PPGen last semester with one of her friends, but hadn’t attended a STAPHE meeting before. She said one of the main reasons she continues going is for its sense of community. Stromayer said the meetings always feel like a “safe space,” and she feels welcomed when contributing to the conversation.
That space, Kirezi said, is one of the things she’s most proud of creating during her time with PPGen, and something she hopes continues after she graduates.
“I try to make everyone feel included and safe and that they can come talk to me,” Kirezi said. “Especially as a Black woman, I would really love a space where I could be represented and speak on issues pertaining to me, and also get the opportunity to learn and gain knowledge about people from different backgrounds and identities as well.”
akklonow@syr.edu
By Duncan Green news editor
As the Syracuse Police Department moves to implement drone use into its policing strategy, SPD representatives met with the Syracuse City Common Council Public Safety Committee Wednesday to discuss the program’s rollout and protections for civilians.
SPD Chief Joe Cecile said drones would help the department reduce response times and limit the need for officers to respond in person to “lower priority calls,” such as noise complaints. In many of these instances, officers arrive after the reported incident and involved parties are no longer on the scene.
With limited funding, the initiative could also be an opportunity to cut costs, he said.
“A large number of the (calls) we receive are a no-complainant type of call,” Cecile said. “They just start saying there’s a traffic issue in the area, someone’s being loud, there’s a disturbance, they want to check out calls like that and might wait for a long time for a cop to respond. But a drone can be there in a matter of minutes.”
Throughout the discussion, councilors raised concerns about potential violations of citizens’ pri-
vacy. SPD Sergeant Jason Wells, who will oversee drone operations once the policy is finalized, said drones will only be deployed in response to calls and will not be used for general surveillance. Each flight will be logged, including flight paths, time of use and an activity report, which will be accessible to the public on SPD’s website, he said.
Third District Councilor Corey Williams acknowledged the safety benefits of the drones but said residents expect human police presence when calling for help in an emergency. In crisis situations, he said, many people are comforted by the presence of officers.
“(Callers) may not even know the drone did come,” Williams said. “While (police) might identify that call as being a low priority, the person that picks up the phone that got to this point said, ‘I need this intervention.’ It’s not a low priority for them.”
Cecile emphasized the primary role of drones is to assess whether police presence is necessary, not to respond or resolve the complaint directly. Wells echoed that point, adding drone operators would quickly dispatch officers to report to scenes if legitimate threats to public safety are detected, ensuring police operations are more efficient.
During his presentation, Cecile also said the department has already used drones in a few instances, including most recently to help combat brush fires in Syracuse’s Westside neighborhood in late March. To assist firefighters, SPD launched a drone equipped with thermal energy sensors to identify hot spots — or burn areas of particular risk.
In responding to the March 21 Court Street fire, Cecile said drones were used to monitor nearby buildings where firefighters were stationed, allowing drone pilots to alert first responders if the fire spread to their building.
“We were able to assist (the fire department) with that and put them at ease that fire wasn’t going to spark up again,” Cecile said. “They were able to be a little more targeted.”
First District Councilor Marty Nave expressed concerns about the potential for other government authorities to access the drones, noting the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s widespread efforts to locate and deport undocumented immigrants nationally.
Cecile said the policy limits drone use to specific reported complaints and prohibits targeting based on people’s “enumerated characteristics.”
“This way, we can say to the federal government, ‘I think you’re overstepping your bounds
and we’re not going to do away with individual rights,’” Nave said.
Councilor-at-large Chol Majok said his concerns with the policy center on ensuring civil liberties are protected in all situations. With drones flying 24 hours a day, Majok, who is also running for mayor, said it would be difficult to regulate and maintain standards for drone usage.
Wells said all drone deployments will be reviewed by himself and other SPD leadership. He called the public documentation of drone use a “check and balance” on the department and city officials.
Though the policy hasn’t yet been officially approved, Wells said it is in its final stages of revision.
The proposal will require approval from both the city and the SPD before it can be enacted, which he said is expected soon.
“I think it makes sense to report more than less,” Wells said. “In the future, we can show exactly what we’re looking at if there are questions. If we start reporting when we arrive on scene, that doesn’t answer (any) questions.” digreen@syr.edu @duncanigreen
“If you could walk to the door at the end of the night, you could hear your feet on the floor,” Moro said. Alamin later became a manager for Jab during graduate school. During his time, Jab was open from Wednesday to Sunday, even in the summers. Their Friday happy hour with live music was extremely popular, but to keep business more consistent, Alamin started a happy hour on Sundays called “Die Hard Happy Hour” that ran from midnight until 2 a.m. Happy hours usually had a line out the door. The fire department advised the club that they could only fit around 200 people there, but Jab often packed in 400 students on those nights, Daniel Block, a student manager from 1977 to 1979, said. As business got more consistent, Jab offered “Oldies Night” on Wednesdays and “New Wave Night” on Thursdays, where local Syracuse DJs spun tracks. Fridays and Saturdays had live entertainment. hours since Jab was the only club open in Syracuse those nights. Bronowich remembers how he played guitar with his idol, John Cale, at Jab his freshman year, all because Cale needed some extra musicians. Cale was a founding member of the Velvet Underground with SU alum Lou Reed, and he played the last Jab show ever in 1985. David Rezak, a longtime Syracuse resident, was a local concert booker for Jab in its heyday and went on to be the founding director of SU’s Bandier program. This kind of proximity was something artists enjoyed, he said. When a band came to Jab, they were practically part of the crowd. That is, unless someone bumped into the mic and it hit the singer in their teeth. Still, the intimate setting was part of what made Jab so special, Rezak said. “It wasn’t ideal, but it just had such a cool vibe to it that everybody kind of fell in love with it,” Rezak said.
By Mia Jones asst. culture editor
When Joe Viscomi ventured beneath Kimmel Dining Hall, he didn’t know what to expect. Down the rabbit hole, he found a dimly-lit, smokefilled basement — with the “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown himself, singing and dancing on stage. Alongside an entourage chanting Brown’s name, Viscomi was so close to the stage that he felt Brown’s perspiration hitting him as the crowd danced shoulder to shoulder for hours.
“If you weren’t dancing, there was something wrong with you, because the music took you off your feet,” Viscomi said. It was Thursday, May 2, 1985, at Jabberwocky. Known by many simply as “Jab,” the student-run nightclub closed perma -
“Unlike all the other bars that had music in Syracuse, this was ours,” Moro said. Moro thinks students need a space on campus to hang out and hear live music or new comedians without breaking the bank. But with SU’s ongoing expansion, she’s not sure where a newer version of Jab could be. Whether or not Jab can be recreated in today’s day and age is unclear. The times are different, and Malfitano isn’t sure if SU’s campus is as accessible today as it was back in the Jab era. The drinking age hike was a significant part of why Jab closed, so not all college students would be able to drink there now, Greenstein said. But Rezak is a proponent of the contrary: Jab could make it today. What’s needed? The “perfect storm” of Jab — ambitious programmers, new talent looking to get into the public eye, student media and a small, intimate venue, he said. It’d also have to be programmed with no profit motive to highlight the authentic way Jab’s leaders produced legendary shows in a small space, Rezak said. He believes Jab couldn’t have existed if it had a profit motive, because then it wouldn’t have advocated for students’ true tastes. Alamin said the focus of a modern Jab would have to be on the attachment to the venue and the music performed there — more of a social gathering than a bar atmosphere. It could expose students to different kinds of music and entertainment, and serve as a bridge between the students and the local community at large, Greenstein said. Frenay doesn’t know if anything today can do what Jab did. While there are plenty of basement house parties around campus where music flourishes, he isn’t sure they have the same campus-wide impact that Jab did. “It was just a thing that was of that time and of those people, and it was really a special time,” Frenay said. When Viscomi recently visited Bird Library, he saw Kimmel’s demolition and felt a little sad. Some memories have faded in the last 40 years, but the most vivid still remain in the minds of Viscomi and others. “It deserves to be remembered and celebrated,” Malfitano said. “There has never been anything that even comes remotely close.” mjones58@syr.edu
nently two days later. The recent demolition of Kimmel Hall didn’t just remove the dorm from Syracuse University’s campus, but also what was once the home of a legendary campus club. Jabberwocky, named after the Lewis Carroll poem, was a central meeting spot on SU’s campus. It had everything — cheap beer, French fries, loud live music from local Syracuse bands like The Flashcubes and Out of the Blue and sets from national traveling acts like James Taylor and Talking Heads. Musical and comedic acts performed in front of murals depicting scenes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Mitchell Resnick, a former SU student, painted the murals while he was on campus. The acoustic panels used to create the murals helped absorb sound and reduce echo in the club. “You really felt like you were part of a movement,” said Gary Frenay, whose band, The Flashcubes, played at Jab in the 1970s. After waves of student activism from the Vietnam War, SU students held power over student life and programming, Mike Greenstein said. Since there wasn’t a student union building at the time, SU let University Union operate Jab in the vacant basement of Kimmel Dining Hall. It was a place where students could hang out before Schine Student Center was built. UU members and other SU students oversaw the Jab without administrators, Greenstein, a 1970 graduate and former editor-in-chief for the Syracuse New Times, said. Since Jabberwocky was run by student programmers and managers who had access to a small UU budget, the club didn’t have to make a profit. The students had the leeway to fill Jab with whatever talent they thought was worth promoting. “We didn’t have to make money,” Joe Bronowich, Jab’s former program manager, said. “We could make our programming decisions based on what was good, what we thought was good.” Different club managers and programmers each put their own spin on Jab, focusing on different kinds of music or acts. Bronowich was the program manager at Jabberwocky during the club’s final two years. At the time, he was also a college representative for CBS Records, which helped him book acts like James Brown and a preMTV Cyndi Lauper. The decision to close Jab came shortly after the minimum drinking age increased to 21 years old, he said. But 15 years prior, in 1969, Jabberwocky was just starting out. Jab legally served alcoholic drinks in clear plastic cups, which boosted its popularity as a hub for all students, Bronowich said.
Those who helped run Jabberwocky can still see the club as plain as day: windowless and dark in an era where people could still smoke cigarettes indoors. It didn’t always smell good, Gary Alamin, who worked at Jab while he was an SU student, said. To create the dive bar atmosphere, students took coffee cans and cut out a hole to use as light fixtures, attaching blue and red gels for the color. A coat of spilt beer made the floor sticky, SU alumna Diana Moro said. Frank Malfitano, who graduated from SU in 1972, said Jab was the perfect place to hear music on campus as it offered a looking glass for people to see what was going on at SU. Syracuse residents could see folk, jazz and blues artists, like Wynton Marsalis and Taj Mahal, just as Malfitano did. Malfitano has been producing music festivals for 40 years, and still credits Jab for changing the way he views music. The intimate atmosphere and the variety of music he heard at Jab — what he describes as a “spiritual experience” — shaped his career today as the founder and executive producer of Syracuse International Jazz Fest. Jab inspired him to take risks with SIJF’s programming, he said. To him, no club has been as “visionary” as Jab. “I hope, in some small way (with SIJF), I’m giving back what Jabberwocky gave to me,” Malfitano said. While some remember Jab for its live music and shows, others remember it for the snacks. The beers and fries were 25 cents apiece and the entry cover was typically under $10. Kevin Shumway lived in Marion Hall, across the courtyard from Jab, in 1977. His strongest memory was how delicious the fries were, hot from the fryer and drowned in ketchup — what he called a “munchiesvanquishing treat.” Back near the bathrooms and dressing rooms, Alamin remembers what he calls the “current events wall,” where students would graffiti messages to their partners and friends or poke fun at goings-on. Jab didn’t only serve students; it also formed a link between SU and the surrounding neighborhoods, Greenstein said. Local bands and national acts, like the James Brown show on Jab’s penultimate night, brought in both students and Syracuse residents, like John Mangicaro, who runs SU’s MakerSpace. “Even with James Brown, I remember exactly where I was standing,” Mangicaro said. “I was telling (current) students, and they were just blown away that that went on here.” While the MakerSpace currently operates in Marshall Square Mall, Mangicaro originally started the creative hub in Kimmel Hall in 2013. When SU offered him the opportunity to open MakerSpace, he knew he wanted it to be located in Jab’s old stomping grounds and channel its creative energy. He’s since incorporated instruments like guitars and drums for students to play in MakerSpace so he can honor Jab. He’s always told MakerSpace visitors about his days at Jab — seeing Talking Heads perform twice, playing with his band and hanging out with friends. He was part of a band called The Drastics that played at Jab in 1979. “You didn’t realize what a gem it was until after everything was gone,” Mangicaro said. Most nights, local artists and bands played at Jab to fill the schedule, something that Bronowich said sometimes gets lost in translation. The best traveling bands and national acts played during Sunday happy Jab gave artists and bands access to an audience of young, captive college students that was eager to hear new music and new artists. Malfitano said Jab had a knack for spotting the up-and-coming artists, though not all who performed at the venue got famous. He believes this kind of experience is something current SU students are missing out on. Jab’s music scene reflected the wide variety of tastes during that particular time, Moro said. It also reflected the vibrant, diverse culture that made SU’s campus so great. All students were welcome to hear a plethora of new music they had never heard before — from David Johansen to Aztec Two-Step to Chick Corea.
“I’m passionate about inspiring others to understand that these spaces are open to us and welcome us,” Nolivos said. “I feel that inclusivity starts with representation.”
He also emphasized his new administration’s commitment to strengthening students’ sense of belonging on campus.
Fayson, SGA’s current vice president of diversity and inclusion, is finishing her first year with the association. She said she felt inspired to join because of the strong community she watched Nolivos and Granger create over the past year.
In her current role, Fayson meets biweekly with Mary Grace Almandrez, SU’s vice president for diversity and inclusion, to discuss university and association “core values” as SU reviews its diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives for federal policy compliance.
She hopes to be a better resource for students in her new role, she said. Her experience
so I’ll take that. I’m looking forward to that day where we win our first NEC championship and hang a new banner.”
Typically, programs transitioning to D-I are ineligible to compete in their conference tournament for the first two years. However, the NEC granted Le Moyne instant conference tournament eligibility for the 2023-24 school year. Because the D-I transition is supposed to take four years, the Dolphins still aren’t eligible to compete in NCAA Tournaments until the 2027-28 school year.
However, they can explore moving that timeline up a year because of a new reclassification criterion the NCAA approved in January. To meet the criteria, Brown said Le Moyne must have a 930 Academic Progress Rate — a metric that holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of student-athletes — while reaching additional financial and budgeting benchmarks.
“Right now, I feel really good about all of them. I do believe we’re meeting all three,” Brown said.
Though Brown tabbed the three-year transition riskier, since missing benchmarks could delay the process, he still prefers it over the four-year route. Still, Le Moyne can’t choose that option until the fall, so Brown said it’ll continue investigating which route makes more sense.
As NCAA rules change, college sports are being transformed with it. Currently, the ongoing House vs. NCAA settlement — a $2.8 billion federal class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by athletes against the NCAA and power conferences — could permit programs to directly pay their players up to roughly $20.5 million per year. United States District Judge Claudia Wilken said in court on Monday she wanted college sports’ proposal reworked before making a ruling.
Even with schools not directly paying players, NIL deals from brands and collectives — like Syracuse’s Orange United and SU Football NIL — allow top collegiate athletes to make millions of dollars since the NCAA permitted athletes to earn money off their NIL in July 2021.
While it’s not a current concern, Brown
In high school, Thomas’ on-and-off boyfriend dealt marijuana, so she started smoking it regularly. Toward her senior year, she frequently attended college house parties, where she would exchange oxycontin for cocaine and ecstasy, she said.
When her ex-boyfriend went to college, the two broke up and Thomas started dating someone who used heroin. She began to use heroin and IV drugs. From there, she met other people who were using drugs, lost her car, quit her job and rarely went outside — unless she was buying drugs.
“It was so much work just to get up and try to find drugs every day to feel okay,” Thomas said. “And to live life like that, I was just so tired. I couldn’t picture waking up another day and having to do life again.”
At 20 years old, Thomas woke up in her apartment, surrounded by other people who were using drugs and without drugs or money. Knowing withdrawal was inevitable, she realized she could no longer live that way.
An evaluation at a local outpatient center led Thomas to check herself into rehab. But after a week, she left due to illness. A month later, Thomas went to a different treatment center.
“At that point, I don’t care how much pain I’m in or how sick I get. I’m gonna stay this time,” Thomas said.
serving as president of the Caribbean Students Association this year has prepared her to work with student organizations, improving her skills in fiscal processes, budget submissions and overall organization skills.
As a newer member, Fayson sees herself as a fresh perspective in her partnership with the incumbent president. Alexis Leach, SGA’s comptroller, said the executives have “a great dynamic.”
“We will continue to bridge this gap between students, and make sure that everyone feels safe and unified,” Fayson said. “This campus is theirs, because this campus is the student’s campus.”
Leach, now also serving her second consecutive term, described Fayson as someone with a “bubbly and vibrant personality” but said she “works in silence” and knows how to complete tasks effectively.
Leach also attested to Fayson’s determination to uplift the student body and said she often puts together events — despite a limited budget. As a leader recognized for her initiative, Leach said Fayson often comes to her office asking questions as she prepares for her new role.
“I don’t know how she does it, but everything I’ve seen Janese do has been amazing,” Leach said. “She just brings radiance to this organization.”
Fayson credited the Posse Foundation scholarship, which she and Nolivos both received, for shaping their leadership abilities. The nonprofit offers programs to grow leadership potential to succeed in college and beyond, providing both students with about six weeks of training to hone their leadership skills and help them acclimate to college governing environments.
The lessons Fayson learned with Posse will translate well into running the association, she said.
“I will not tell you that I’m passionate about politics, but I am passionate about results. I am passionate about people,” Fayson said. “Being in this role, I think that’s exactly what I get out of it.”
While reflecting on SGA’s accomplishments during his year as president, Nolivos echoed Fayson and expressed confidence in the new leadership duo’s ability to further foster a sense of belonging on campus and increase transparency in their processes. He empha-
said Le Moyne would need to weigh its options regarding whether it’d directly pay athletes in the future. As a result of the financial implications now existing, Brown views college sports as becoming professionalized.
“Mic drop moment. Yes. It’s already happening,” he said.
But because of Le Moyne’s transition, Brown doesn’t have to make decisions like whether to hire someone in a general manager-esque position and can observe what’s happening around him instead. For example, unlike all D-I Athletic Directors, he wasn’t asked whether Le Moyne would potentially opt into the House vs. NCAA case because it’s still transitioning.
“There are things that Syracuse and other (power conference schools) will have to do differently,” Brown said. “Now, we’re very fortunate. We’re just going to grow into the new model.”
Another factor that puts the Dolphins in a unique situation is they’ll be considered an NCAA Division I-AAA school because they don’t have a varsity-level football team. In
Compared to the first center Thomas went to, the Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center was more “intimate,” she said, with room for just six women. In her first week there, Thomas only got up for medication and food. For the other five weeks, she lived under a daily schedule of meals, support groups, one-on-one counseling sessions, time in the recreation room and walks near Seneca Lake.
Once a week, the center would bring in a local speaker from Alcoholics Anonymous to share their stories with patients. It was the first time Thomas heard about AA, which the center’s staff strongly encouraged her to attend on her own outside of rehab.
Following her rehabilitation, Thomas lived with Lisa for a week while she waited to move into a halfway house, or a community with other people newly out of rehab. Lisa’s job at Destiny Mall kept her out of the house most of the day, similar to when Thomas first started using drugs and alcohol.
But this time, Thomas “white knuckled it.” Whenever she was worried she might relapse, she walked to nearby AA meetings and confided in others.
After a week, Thomas moved into Charles Street Residence, a halfway house in Cortland with 12 other people who were experiencing drug and alcohol addiction. Eight months later, she moved to a supportive living environment in Cortland with her best friend Leah Todd, who she met at the Charles Street
sized the association’s most recent achievement — passing a constitutional referendum — as evidence of their success.
SGA has tried to pass the referendum multiple times in the past two years, but never received approval by 10% of the student body, until Saturday. Granger attributed the increase in participation to the leadership of Nolivos and his efforts to expand SGA’s influence in campus affairs.
“I believe (our) legacy is going to continue, especially with German and Janese and the plans that they have for the future of this association,” Granger said. “This culture that we’ve built up, the campus now knows who we are.”
Fayson said her close relationship with Nolivos allows the two to be direct with each other when communicating, which she believes will make them more effective decision-makers.
Describing Nolivos as a “powerhouse,” she said both leaders regularly learn from one another.
“He is literally my best friend, and I’m really, really excited to lead this work with him,” Fayson said.
sadepiet@syr.edu
flexibility, St. John’s men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino said he wouldn’t recruit freshmen and instead solely look for talent in the transfer portal. That benefits the Dolphins, who want to attract high-level freshmen and develop them for four years.
Because of the portal, Brown views the professionalization of college sports as resembling European soccer’s promotion/ relegation system. But instead of teams moving, players move levels via the portal. He then alluded to how professional athletes can earn big second and third contracts. Though in college, those could come from another program in a higher conference.
“Chase that second contract, chase that third contract,” Brown said. “That’s where the real money is going to happen. It’s kind of the world we live in if this is truly going to be professionalized.” Still, Brown wants to retain talent for four years. But he added he wouldn’t hamper them from moving to a higher conference if the opportunity presented itself.
Brown’s mind, being a D-I-AAA school allows Le Moyne to be among the last schools that can offer a “holistic” and more traditional student-athlete experience.
“Part of that is a little bit of why I chose to take a step back from a Power Four,” Brown said.
Among Brown’s biggest concerns with the House vs. NCAA settlement is it could lead to cuts in roster sizes and programs. He values the holistic student-athlete experience, so he’s worried the settlement might not fully meet Le Moyne’s needs.
One thing Brown is certain about, though, is Le Moyne’s brand is growing with its move toward D-I.
“With the measurables, you would see what you’d expect to see,” Brown said. “A lot more interest, definitely more traffic in, ‘Hey, I’d like to learn more about you from visits and everything.’”
Still, the Dolphins’ brand doesn’t compare to New York rivals like Syracuse or St. John’s. But it doesn’t have to. Because of its financial
Residence. Catholic Charities covered all the bills and utilities for both women as Thomas checked off two years sober.
“I was still worried I might get out and just f*ck up,” Thomas said. “But, I knew that I had a different mindset at that point. I was feeling good. I was finally getting some cognition back and felt like a real person.”
I am preventing people from getting into these situations instead of trying to help people that are already kind of stuck in a rut.
Julianne Thomas crprc community development specialist
Debt from her time at community college temporarily closed the door to returning to school, so Thomas worked as a waitress for her first job out of rehab.
She continued searching for a job she felt fulfilled in. That didn’t become apparent until her counselor mentioned a New York state peer specialist certification.
“If somebody else comes calling, we’ll listen, and if you have questions, we’re here to help, but never gonna try for the push out,” Brown said. In college sports’ changing landscape, low and mid-major players — like Walter Clayton Jr., leading Florida to win March Madness after beginning his career at Iona — often advance their careers to a higher level while capitalizing on NIL.
Currently, Le Moyne allows students to capitalize on NIL deals but doesn’t have a collective. Though Brown said it hasn’t become necessary. It’s one of the many areas Brown will let answers come to him. Unlike power conference schools, which adjust to everything on the fly, Le Moyne is growing into college sports’ new model through its D-I transition.
Currently, Brown has no answers because everything is in flux. But within the next two years, the Dolphins will be fully enrolled as a D-I program. And Brown will be prepared for his first exam, diligently watching and adapting to whatever college sports become.
“My vision has always been to make sure that we get to Division I and then embrace whatever that is when we get there,” Brown said.
justingirshon@gmail.com @JustinGirshon
After seven months of online classes, Thomas began work with Liberty Resources in 2018 as a shelter advocate, with the stipulation that she finish her certification within her first six months in the role. Thomas would offer rides to meetings for those in supportive housing, talk to them about recovery and share her story with others who were committed to getting sober.
Thomas also worked on a 24-hour domestic violence crisis hotline until 2023, when the shelter program lost its grant. She said she quickly burned out from the emotional toll of reactive prevention and 3:00 a.m. crisis calls.
“They’re in terrible situations. They don’t deserve for somebody to be picking up the phone and dreading that they have to help them,” Thomas said.
While at Liberty, Thomas loved giving presentations at college campuses and knew she was a better fit for prevention education. Now, at the CRPRC, she works to change messaging around substance addiction and prevention.
“My life is completely different, but I know that I am still the same person that has a lot of those anxieties, discomfort and awkwardness,” Thomas said. “Those things are just part of who I am. Now, I have better skills that I’m equipped with to deal with that stuff rather than just drinking and using drugs.”
qdpostma@syr.edu @quinnpostman_
courtesy of bob mankoff
‘Leave
Bob Mankoff, former New Yorker cartoonist and SU alum, will deliver keynote at A&S | Maxwell convocation
By Eliana Rosen asst. digital editor
Bob Mankoff’s life revolves around drawing.
For as long as he can remember, he’s doodled and copied his favorite superhero comics, distorting and manipulating them with his childish humor. His first cartoon, Robby the Robot, combined the science fiction character with a pinball machine. People around him found them funny.
Still, Mankoff never imagined it would become his career.
“I never thought I’d do anything,” Mankoff said. “I thought I would be a child forever and live in paradise drawing or playing basketball or eating ice cream.”
Mankoff graduated from Syracuse University in 1966. During his decades-long cartoon career, he was the cartoon editor for The New Yorker for nearly 20 years before working as the humor editor for Esquire. Now,
he’s the cartoon editor for Air Mail. When SU Chancellor Kent Syverud called Mankoff and asked him to deliver the Alumni Keynote at the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences | Maxwell Convocation in May, Mankoff responded, “It’s about time.”
Growing up in Queens, Mankoff’s life was his city block. He took a bus and three trains every day to get to class at the High School for Music and Art (now Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts). At the performing arts school, he was exposed to others who drew, many of whom were much more talented than him, he said. His humor set him apart, though.
SU gave Mankoff a place to reinvent himself and burst from the sheltered environment of his home in Queens.
For him, that meant cutting class and pulling pranks. He was kicked out of Dellplain Hall during his freshman year for burning his underwear in a can instead of
see cartoonist page 11
By Spencer Howard asst. culture editor
When Seth Gitner sees his colleagues who don’t have disabilities try their hand at wheelchair basketball, he’s always amused. The Syracuse University professor can’t help but smile and laugh at the topples and crashes.
“They’re falling over left and right, they can’t stay up straight,” Gitner said. “And it’s actually fun to watch.”
Gitner is a professor in the magazine, news and journalism and visual communications programs in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He’s been passionate about sports photography since his days at The Roanoke Times, and currently teaches a sports photography course to his students. But Gitner’s love for athletics goes beyond the lens — he’s just as involved even when the camera’s off. Gitner is also a board member for Central New York Adaptive
Sports, a not-for-profit organization that aims to get people with disabilities involved in indoor and outdoor athletic activities. As a player for the Central New York Flyers for over five years, Gitner is no stranger to the world of adaptive sports.
Gitner’s journey with adaptive sports began when he sustained a neck injury from a waterslide in 2017. After an MRI, a lengthy hospital stay and surgery, he was diag -
nosed as a high-functioning quadriplegic. The injury affects all aspects of his life, he said, but primarily impacts his ability to feel pain or temperature on his right side and causes a feeling of weakness on his left side. Angela Gitner said her husband’s disability has connected him to her work as a physical therapist. After the accident, Gitner started seeking out information about people with disabilities, and his involvement and
excitement for adaptive sports grew, she said.
As part of SU’s first Disability Pride Month planning committee, Gitner has been active in orchestrating the month-long celebration. He helped organize sporting events like wheelchair basketball and inclusive sled hockey to get students involved. Gitner enjoys seeing when people with and without disabilities play alongside each other.
By Cam McGraw staff writer
In a crowded auditorium filled with faculty and students, Alie Savane, a first-generation college student, explained the importance of being the author of your story.
Outside narratives and conventional stereotypes shape how people view the world, he said, and in his view, often influence the actions they decide to take.
“You can take back what’s rightfully yours, pick up the pen and become the author,” Savane said. “Not the character in someone else’s story.”
On Wednesday, Syracuse University Libraries and the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation hosted a TedX panel in SU’s National Veterans Resource Center. The event featured journalists, authors and professors who shared their experiences and vision for the future. Five speakers each offered insight on maintaining your narrative, despite what others think.
Each speaker brought their own experience to the podium, reflecting on what they’ve learned throughout their lives. Several speakers discussed the concept of a single story, or basing a person off one moment or instance and ignoring their full backstory. Savane explained that being yourself and not others’ opinions of you is invaluable in progressing your skills for the future.
Reed Cleland, an audience member and master’s student at SU, reflected on the ideas discussed by the speakers. He was particularly struck by the concept of a single story.
“Being able to create your own story when you go back in your past, looking at who you truly are now and using it as a construct for your future self, that stuck with me,” Cleland said.
Jordan Pierre, an SU alum and founder of VOICE, described the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy. People become what you label them, and hearing something enough times will make you believe it’s true, he said.
Media personalities and creative media have obscured many of our outlooks on the world, Pierre said. He mentioned how quick people are to forget the opportunities that exist in the real world, instead folding into the relatively small sample size of ones they see online.
Several speakers offered their insight on maintaining your narrative, in spite of what others think. The event featured journalists, authors and professors who shared their experiences and vision for the future.
Sonia Issa, a master’s student at SU, spoke about the importance of rest. In a time that prioritizes efficiency, people often get exhausted. Issa referenced her struggle with whether to send money back home for her family or buy groceries.
“If you weren’t exhausted, you’re not doing enough,” Issa said she learned during her youth. “I was taught survival, but now I’m learning softness.”
By Claire Zhang contributing writer
Angie Thomas discovered the power of language at an early age.
She grew up under the influences of books and music, deeply inspired by the words of Tupac Shakur. Through her six novels, she stresses the importance of hope and empathy to uplift future generations.
“People will be surprised to learn that there are things that are happening right here that you have the ability to either speak up and speak out about,” Thomas said. “We have to become more curious about one another and have more empathy for one another.”
Thomas hosted a talk at the Oncenter Civic Center Crouse Hinds Theater on Tuesday, where she aimed to connect with students, teachers, librarians and community members. She highlighted the significance of education and empathy, among other values, in connecting with and learning from one another.
Thomas’ novels aim to amplify voices and stories not often represented in mainstream media. Following the success of her 2017 debut novel, “The Hate U Give,” and its film adaptation, she continued to write more novels inspired by her personal experiences that connected with broader audiences.
While not everybody personally understands the struggles of police brutality and systematic racism, it’s important to be aware of those issues, Thomas said. Through her novels, she aims to tap into the humanity within larger social issues and movements, making the message accessible to many people.
“Everybody understands feeling powerless,” Thomas said. “If you’re focused on that, you can give somebody a mirror, a window where they can see themselves. They can see this situation and relate to the human part of it, not just the headlines of it.”
Audience members felt inspired by the relevance of Thomas’ talk and the issues she addressed. Nicole Shue, an attendee, noted that Thomas pulled the youngest crowd she had seen from Friends Of the Central Library’s author series.
Thomas also noted the relevance of a younger audience, reflecting on how going to talks such as this gives young Black children the chance to connect with an author who speaks to relevant issues for them.
Thomas uses acronyms in not just her writing, but also her daily life. Tupac Shakur’s “Thug Life” tattoo was the acronym that inspired her to write “The Hate U Give,” as it captures the core message of the novel: what society feeds into young people has a way of coming back and affecting us all.
Thomas’ talk was framed around the acronym “HOPE,” which she urged people to grasp. It stands for heart, optimism, perspective and endurance. Thomas stressed how these values
Fool House
Party like it’s the ‘90s in Waterloo this weekend. According to their website, Fool House is a “blast from the past,” complete with a two-hour live DJ and band performance. The ultimate celebratory twist? Balloons will drop. Tickets can be bought online. You must be 21 or older to attend.
WHEN : Friday, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
WHERE: del Lago Resort & Casino PRICE: Tickets start at $27
Rave Night
Kick off this weekend with Dazed and Cage as they come together to bring you a set of DJs including Troy Conner, Baybee, H.R. Sound and DJ Shy Guy. If you’re hungry after all that dancing, grab some Doritos, the event’s sponsor, on your way out. The event will be at Dazed, not Cage, so be sure to go to the right venue.
WHEN : Friday, doors at 10 p.m., music at 10:30 p.m.
WHERE: DM @dazedcuse for address PRICE: $7 presale, $10 at door
shape her outlook and guide her when writing about the topics she covers. She urged listeners to employ these principles in their communities and interactions.
Having optimism in bleak social climates keeps activism alive, she said. She emphasized how shifting perspective leads to more empathy, inclusive thinking and further collaboration among people.
“We have to expand our perspectives of ourselves, but we also must expand our perspectives of others,” Thomas said. “We need to be more curious about others, as opposed to judgmental.”
Thomas interlinked personal anecdotes with larger social issues and calls to action. Nicole Thompson, an attendee who works at Syracuse City School District, was moved by Thomas’ points of bringing the community together through conversation and education throughout her talk.
“A lot of times we can get frustrated with the kids and the life that they’re living, and they bring that to school,” Thompson said. “(Thomas encouraged) us to put a little bit of ourselves in the things that we do.”
Thomas reflected on the fears she faced when first publishing “The Hate U Give” on how it would be received amid the social and political climate of President Donald Trump’s first term. The continued importance of the message over the years encouraged her to keep telling similar stories, she said.
Eight years later, the messages of “The Hate U Give,” “On the Come Up” and her other novels remain relevant to society, specifically to younger generations, Thomas said. Having readers who are open to uncomfortable truths and conversations about social issues drives her writing.
Even as she moves into writing for younger audiences, Thomas maintains her messages of social justice, keeping audiences aware of historical and current events.
“We don’t talk with younger kids enough. We talk at you,” Thomas said. “I want my books to be conversational, and I don’t want to avoid hard topics. I think having books as a form to do that is super important; to have kids aware that these things happen so we don’t repeat them.” cmzhang@syr.edu
Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth has been around for two decades, and has sold out iconic venues like Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado. The collective has gained millions of streams, and will be in Syracuse on Saturday. Get tickets online.
WHEN : Saturday, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
WHERE: The Westcott Theater PRICE: $47.19
Street Trash
Street Trash is the “only punk band in New Hampshire,” according to their Instagram bio. While they may not be the only punk band in New York, you can still check out their punk covers and originals in Syracuse this weekend. They’ll be at Funk n’ Waffles on Saturday, and tickets can be bought online
WHEN : Saturday, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. WHERE: Funk n’ Waffles PRICE: $13.07
Badfish: A Tribute to
The Rhode Island band Badfish has dedicated their careers to honoring Sublime, the ska punk band and late ‘90s sensation. The band has traveled the country reviving Sublime’s music, and is taking their act to Syracuse this weekend. Tickets can be bought here.
WHEN : Sunday, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Middle Ages Brewing Company PRICE: $24.90
doing laundry. As a protest to the dining hall’s dress code that required socks, he painted his feet to look like he was wearing them.
“My personality was a force,” Mankoff said. “I definitely wanted to be funnier than anyone else and I devoted a lot of time to that.”
In the few times he attended class, Mankoff used humor to his benefit. When he arrived late for his social psychology final, in shorts and with weights on his feet, the professor came up to him and asked, “Who the hell are you?” Mankoff promptly responded, “I could ask you the same thing,” and the room, including his professor, erupted into laughter.
“I don’t even think he failed me,” Mankoff said. “It was the assertion of my independence. My mantra is, ‘Leave no joke unjoked.’ Don’t think it. Say it. What’s the worst that could happen?”
After graduation, Mankoff had to find something to do. The beginning of his professional career was powered by a drive, and a lot of luck, he said. But through admitting his shortcomings, he combined his humor and knowledge of the world into a successful profession.
“I was a complete f*ck up. I was a horrible employee for any reasonable thing, but I was funny and I could draw,” Mankoff said. “Basically after Syracuse, I never worked a day in my life.”
For Mankof, it’s important that cartoonists can make a living from their craft, Paul Noth, who worked under Mankoff at The New Yorker, said. At The New Yorker, Mankoff created the Cartoon Bank, a platform where he scanned rejected cartoons from the publication and faxed them to people who wanted to license them so those cartoonists could make money.
In 1997, The New Yorker bought the Cartoon Bank and hired Mankoff as cartoon editor. Mankoff had three big goals for the role: make money for the magazine and artists, create funnier cartoons and bring in a new generation of cartoonists with a “diversity of ideas.”
Some cartoons are autobiographical and personal, others are general or observational. Either
One of Gitner’s students, freshman broadcast and digital journalism major Dylan DeBiccari, got to try his hand at wheelchair basketball for the first time. The pair played a round of one-on-one on Monday, before one of Gitner’s classes. Even though basketball was DeBicarri’s primary sport in high school, wheelchair basketball was a whole different experience, he said. It was difficult and a little painful, but he still had fun.
Although DeBiccari lost the matchup with Gitner, the experience gave him a glimpse into what it’s like to play an adaptive sport, something he hadn’t known much about before.
“It made me realize what some people have to go through just to play one of the sports that I love,” DeBiccari said. “It really gave me a sense of appreciation.”
Other ways students have gotten involved with inclusive sports include hosting philanthropy events benefiting
way, cartoonists’ opinions and life experience shape their lens of humor and the cartoons they create, Mankoff said. As cartoon editor, he prioritized platforming various perspectives and moved away from publishing his own work.
Prior to Mankoff’s tenure, getting to see the cartoon editor was exclusive. Mankoff changed that. On Tuesdays, he opened his office to the hundreds of people who wanted to speak with him. He wanted to hear from and mentor new people.
Noth credits Mankoff with shaping his cartoon career. He loved cartoons growing up, but never imagined they would become his job until Mankoff took interest in his work. When Noth was hired, Mankoff told him, “I want to see 10 (cartoons) a week from you even if they’re sh*t.”
Noth followed Mankoff’s words religiously. He said the advice led to him truly becoming a professional. It kept him from being a perfectionist, and forced him to continue creating.
Aside from this initial instruction, Mankoff usually didn’t give specific directions. Instead, he offered his expertise subtly and let the cartoonists figure it out themselves through trial and error. Soon, the cartoonists learned what he was looking for and which of his pet peeves to avoid — for example, no wordplay.
CNY Adaptive Sports and volunteering to move equipment. Last year, the SU men’s hockey club team raised over $2,300 for CNY Adaptive Sports, which essentially paid for most of the group’s ice time this season, Gitner said.
In the past, turnout for adaptive sporting events at SU has been weak, which Gitner hoped to fix with this year’s events. Collaborations with SU colleges, club sports and student organizations, are all grassroot ways that Gitner works to involve the campus community with inclusive athletics.
In future iterations of the celebration, Gitner hopes to collaborate with more organizations, including Runway of Dreams, a student organization that promotes inclusivity through adaptive clothing. He hopes inclusive events like these will spread awareness and reduce the stigma associated with having a disability.
“Once they do it, they’re like ‘Dude, that was great. I would love to do it again,’” Gitner said. “And that’s what we want.”
sphoward@syr.edu
“He never in any way prescriptively told us how to do this job,” Noth said. “He did not want to control us. He did not want to dictate.”
When Jay Fielden became the editor-in-chief of Esquire in 2016, he wanted Mankoff as his humor editor. His goal was to revamp the magazine’s cartoon section, which it had given up on decades ago.
Fielden and Mankoff worked together at The New Yorker, and Fielden was certain hiring a veteran cartoonist like Mankoff was “the only way it could ever have been a success,” he said. Together, they brought cartoons back to the magazine over the two years Mankoff worked there.
Mankoff’s cartoons have vast subjects and themes, addressing everything from particle physics to why men wear skinny ties, Fielden said.
“He’s not just a funny guy,” Fielden said. “He has a deeply insightful sense of humor as a mechanism in the way we communicate with each other and what it means in different situations and at different times. The Bobster. He’s a legendary guy.”
Humor is an essential part of Mankoff’s life. The laughter that punctuates conversations with friends is mandatory, he said.
“We can’t actually be stably serious all the time,” Mankoff said. “It’s a constant part of us that needs play, some kind of fooling around.” ehrosen@syr.edu
Prioritizing rest is difficult for many because of the uncertainty of success, Issa said. Redefining rest as a right, not a reward, is a way of breaking the cycle of exhaustion. In her view, it’s OK to desire relaxation because everyone deserves to be OK now and not later.
Along with the ways we showcase our knowledge, Jeffrey Rogers, an adjunct professor of practice in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, talked about the various ways we absorb information and learn new things. He addressed how ideas like learning style and behavioral identity can greatly benefit collaboration. He explained how people are often reminded of how they can improve, but not of the skills they already possess. The first step is to understand who you already are, and not who you hope to become, Rogers said.
Melissa Martinez, a presenter and assistant teaching professor of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, spoke about seeing yourself in the audience. Aligning your content with what you would want to see is a core part of getting started on social media, she said. She spoke about feeling overwhelmed, seeing yourself on the internet and the accompanying fear of not finding an audience. She explained the system with two keys: enjoyment and consistency. Because people love passion, doing something you enjoy will attract an audience — whether big or small. After the first step, doing it over and over again will lead to growth, she said
Each speaker emphasized understanding who you are now, not what the past or future says about you. The group described doing things for yourself as invaluable, highlighting the benefits that come once you stop worrying about what others think.
“It isn’t endurance, it’s self-compassion,” Issa said. “It’s letting yourself be seen when you’re not perfect.”
crmcgraw@syr.edu
Healthcare is not a privilege based on immigration status, employment position or wealth. Rather, it is a fundamental right for everyone. In Syracuse, more and more students are finding their futures threatened by the ever-increasing costs of medication and doctor visits. The solution? The New York Health Act. This universal, single-payer health care system guarantees that all residents in the state of New York have access to care they require without being forced to compromise their health.
As it stands, our health system is leaving students behind.
Just a few miles away from Syracuse, SUNY Cortland student Gabriella Lubrano shared her family’s experiences navigating the costs of both college and healthcare.
“Even after using our insurance at doctor’s visits, my parents still have to pay a costly amount which makes our lives very difficult. I often try to help them while I can since my sister is not yet old enough to work, but it is often very hard since when I am away at school I don’t have a job. I’m 22 years old so I am becoming very concerned when I turn 26 and need to get off my father’s health insurance,” Lubrano said.
No one should have to decide between going to the doctor and paying their rent. To establish a healthcare system that prioritizes people above business, it is essential our lawmakers support the New York Health Act. The time is now for the Syracuse community to demonstrate to our elected officials that health is above profit.
Passing the New York Health Act would eliminate out-of-pocket costs like copays and deductibles and offer universal coverage. It will reduce the overall cost of healthcare for families, small companies and the state by reducing administrative waste and negotiating reasonable rates for services and pharmaceuticals. More significantly, by guaranteeing prompt and preventive care instead of making patients wait until a medical problem worsens into an emergency, it would enable healthier outcomes for anyone seeking care. NYPIRG is fully committed to seeing this future become a reality.
This letter was submitted by John P. Ancona, NYPIRG public health project leader, on behalf of the NYPIRG. He can be reached at jpancona@syr.edu.
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By Sudiksha Khemka columnist
Food manufacturers know that protein sells — both as a food additive and as a brand.
It sells in vending machines. It sells in flashy packaging. It sells when students are rushing to class with a protein bar in hand or chugging a protein shake after a workout. This is because we’re told it’s the golden ticket to building health and fitness.
This fast track to better health is manufactured as an illusion. The protein that consumers are promised is inflated and incomplete, designed more to drive sales than support well-being.
Amino spiking is a practice so deceptive and quietly ingrained in the American food industry that it continues to thrive, even after multiple lawsuits and public scrutiny.
It’s the process of adding cheap amino acids like glycine, taurine or the infamous creatine to protein powders and bars. Since most protein content is measured by nitrogen levels, this inflates the nitrogen content and artificially boosts the protein count on the label.
And it’s done without actually delivering all nine essential amino acids — in the right proportions — that complete proteins require and contain.
In essence, that “25 grams of protein” label is deliberately lying to you.
The scandal isn’t just that amino spiking exists, but that students are surrounded by it. The snack bars and shakes lining many of Syracuse University’s campus cafes and vending machines aren’t just convenient — they’re marketed as essential.
Multiple class-action lawsuits have already targeted major supplement brands for this over the past decade, including MusclePharm, Giant Sports and Body Fortress. But legal action hasn’t stopped these companies from continuing to contaminate their products with harmful ingredients. It’s still here, disguised behind ingredient lists students don’t have the time to decode. That, in itself, is the heart of the problem.
The food and supplement industry thrives on confusion. In a country where food labeling is already complicated and the FDA doesn’t
require third-party testing for supplements, consumers like college students are easy targets.
Unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements are governed by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which puts the burden of proof on the consumer instead of the manufacturer.
“Fuel your day,” Pure Protein’s catchy slogan, is one example of the loud, confident branding these companies often use. It’s an incredibly convincing sell for a student juggling a stressful workload along with a desire to stay healthy.
But what’s left unsaid is just as critical. Most of these products are packed with saturated fat, sodium and sugar alcohols.
They’re processed to the point of offering little nutritional value, but sold at a premium. It’s a textbook example of regulatory loopholes allowing manufacturers to exploit scientific gaps and consumers’ trust to prioritize profit over public health.
When student athletes turn to these products for genuine nutritional support like building muscle, fueling a workout or stimulating recovery, they likely aren’t getting what they think they are.
Companies don’t need to disclose amino acid breakdowns, so you’ll never really know how much leucine, the amino acid critical for muscle synthesis, or tryptophan, needed for mood regulation and metabolism, is actually present.
This isn’t a niche issue solely for athletes. It’s a larger story about how the food industry — especially the products popular on college campuses — preys on students’ trust. It’s about how the promise of nutrition is packaged, sold and distorted until what’s left is purely marketing jargon and a long list of unreadable ingredients.
This becomes more than a labeling problem on a campus like SU, where students with packed schedules feel like quick meals and vending machine snacks are the only realistic options. Sitting down for a balanced meal isn’t always practical. So instead, they grab what’s accessible.
These “protein” labeled products promise energy and satiety all wrapped in one package. But this misleading marketing becomes a health equity issue. When these products turn out to be nutritionally empty, it hits hardest for students without the time, knowledge or access to better alternatives.
Amino spiking isn’t an exception; it’s a symptom of a much larger, more problematic system where profit wins are pushed forward and nutrition becomes a branding strategy instead of a science. The truth — that appealing, easy snacks contain as much saturated fat as a small hamburger — doesn’t sell.
This isn’t about demonizing all supplements. Protein powders can be helpful when verified and used appropriately. But we need transparency and education. We need food systems that prioritize evidence-based nutrition and not profit-driven pseudoscience.
As students, we must make the effort to read beyond the front label. Look for complete protein sources with all nine essential amino acids and scrutinize the ingredient list. Be wary of proprietary blends and vague protein claims. Prioritize products with transparency and third-party
testing. Choose real protein-rich foods like eggs, yogurt, tofu and lentils when possible.
The issue isn’t just that we’re buying fake protein. It’s that we’re being taught to accept it. The more we normalize these products as everyday fuel, the further we drift from what actual nourishment looks like. And if we don’t start asking questions, no one’s going to provide answers.
The food system has made one thing clear: it will continue selling us less for more so long as we thoughtlessly consume. On a college campus, where wellness is a buzzword and junk food is often the only option after dark, it’s easy to fall for the system.
Sudiksha Khemka is a freshman nutrition major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at skhemka@syr.edu.
By Jordan Kimball asst. copy editor
Syracuse’s season began with a focus on dominant pitching, but in recent games, the offense has taken center stage. On March 28 and 30 against North Carolina, SU collected double-digit hits for the first time in all three games of a series since April 19-21, 2024, against Pittsburgh.
Despite Syracuse losing two of its three matchups against the Tar Heels, the offensive spark was a step in the right direction for SU to compete with the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top teams. The Orange continued their tear with seven-plus hits in two of three games against Georgia Tech, again showcasing their firepower.
However, Wednesday’s nonconference battle in Ithaca was a step backward. Syracuse (22-16, 3-12 ACC) tallied four hits against Cornell (13-11, 4-5 Ivy League), all of which were singles. As a result, the Big Red defeated the Orange 2-1. The matchup was tied entering the sixth inning, but Cornell’s Lauren Holt blasted a solo home run to ultimately down SU.
three runs in an 8-2 victory over Long Island a day later.
Tulua felt relieved after the series, a turning point following a preseason knee dislocation. Being over 2,500 miles from home and dealing with an injury while living alone felt like “the end of the world,” she said. Her early performances helped her settle in.
“Honestly, I did not think I could come back and perform like that,” Tulua said. “But at the end of the day, my name was called, and coach had given me an opportunity. I just knew that this is a moment where I can start off strong after facing an injury I thought I could never recover from.”
She’s taken advantage of similar opportunities since Atlantic Coast Conference play began. While she hasn’t started an ACC game, she’s become Syracuse’s No. 1 option when it needs a hit in a big spot.
Holt has provided Cornell with offense all season, leading the team in batting average and home runs. She had tallied seven before Wednesday, with the Big Red’s nextbest power hitter having totaled just two. As Holt’s done all year, she delivered a gamedefining moment.
Faced with a 2-1 count, Holt pinned Syracuse pitcher Rose Cano’s offering deep into left field, clearing the wall to put SU on the verge of a nonconference defeat. After Cano escaped the sixth relatively unscathed, Kelly Breen flied out on a 3-1 count, bringing Laila Morales-Alves to the plate. She softly grounded out to second base before Gabby Lantier ended the ballgame on another ground out.
To save its aces for critical conference games, Syracuse has often put unfamiliar arms in the circle in nonconference competition. That trend continued Wednesday with Cano making her fourth start of the year.
Entering the contest, her 2.83 ERA ranked second on SU. In the first inning Wednesday, Cano cruised through Cornell’s lineup. After SU had tallied a single from Jadyn Burney, it was quickly silenced by the Big Red’s Kyrie Denny. Cano,
She exemplified it best in the Orange’s series with North Carolina in late March. She pinch-hit once in each game — and delivered every time, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Her biggest swing came on March 28, when she roped a two-run double in SU’s 7-5 victory.
“She doesn’t really get too caught up in situations,” Main said. “She just can hit. She doesn’t get nervous. She doesn’t anticipate the result before it happens. She just goes and fights through the at-bat one pitch at a time.”
Tulua’s role at Syracuse is a far cry from Seaside. Though her role has been limited, her coaches believe she’ll soon emerge as an everyday contributor for the Orange.
“In the future, she’s going to be a starter at some point,” Main said. “And if she’s not, (Syracuse is) winning the national title because they must be really, really good. Her numbers are going to be unbelievable.”
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however, matched Denny, forcing three straight groundouts to put SU back at the dish.
The brief stint on defense gave Syracuse a chance to regroup offensively. Despite fielding a lineup with several reserves, SU broke the scoreless tie in the second inning. After Kaimi Tulua reached base and was pinch-run for Cano, Breen drove her home with a sacrifice fly to right field.
However, Cornell bounced right back. With a leadoff walk and a single already on the board, the Big Red’s Maddie Ullensvang was at the plate. She grounded out to Breen, but each runner moved up 60 feet. A strikeout followed, but Emma Antich plated Holt soon after on an error by Tulua.
Neither Cornell nor could Syracuse string together anything offensively in the third inning. Syracuse took until the fourth to tally its third hit of the day on a single into right field by Kayla Sigala. However, with two outs already on the board, Breen’s lineout ended any potential threat.
Cano then faced trouble. Holt singled down the left-field line, her second time reaching base.
Then pinch-runner Hailey Pirkey advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Pirkey then cruised into third due to a passed ball from SU catcher Taylor Davison, all with just one out on the board.
Still, Cano prevailed, getting Ullensvang to pop out to Burney at shortstop and punching out Reagen London on four pitches. The rallykiller hyped up the Orange’s bench, but they again faltered.
Angie Ramos singled with one out before Burney walked. With runners in scoring position for SU for the first time since the second inning, Flores grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to match Cornell’s momentum crusher.
Tulua gave the Orange a spark in the sixth, but back-to-back deep flyouts extinguished the chance, leaving her stranded. That’s all Cornell needed to get going.
Emma Harshberger led off the sixth inning by grounding out to shortstop, bringing Holt up to the plate. She went yard.
Despite Syracuse hanging around with Cornell for all but one inning, Holt’s dominant 2-for-2 day at the plate willed the Big Red to victory. Syracuse’s offense, which had recently begun to show promise, fell quiet at the wrong time. And while Cano’s effort in the circle kept the Orange within striking distance, their bats couldn’t capitalize.
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@JordanKimball_
Syracuse largely because of Brown’s influence on defensive backs, and the spring game will give a taste of what’s to come.
Vollono’s departure, Brown hired former Georgia Tech special teams coach Ricky Brumfield to revive the unit. With the Yellow Jackets, Brumfield’s group outperformed Vollono’s, blocking a kick and a punt while recovering an onside kick to keep the game competitive.
With Brumfield stepping in, the unit’s lone consistent piece returning is punter Jack Stonehouse. The redshirt senior has keyed in on punting outside of the pocket this spring, and as a key returner, Stonehouse is driven to turn a weakness into a strength for the Orange.
“I don’t like when people say, ‘This is the down part of the team,’” Stonehouse said. “That alone motivates me.”
Long snapper Tom Callahan is out of eligibility, opening the door for a competition between redshirt junior Ethan Strangle and Saint Francis transfer Fran Brown Jr., the son of SU’s head coach. Syracuse will also debut Iowa transfer kicker Tripp Woody, who’s battling against returners Jackson Kennedy and Jadyn Oh for the starting spot.
It’d be difficult for the unit to perform as poorly as it did a season ago. Saturday will provide a first look at all the new pieces to the puzzle.
“It has to be an advantage to us,” Brown said.
The Samuel show
Samuel’s routine this spring has been unlike anyone else on SU’s roster. On Mondays, he’s with the offense. On Wednesdays, he’s with the defense. On Fridays and Saturdays, he goes both ways. And on top of it all, he entered spring camp at 16 and turned 17 on April 2.
The four-star recruit, who committed to Syracuse in late September after multiple flips with Florida, is the highest-rated player in the class. While adjusting to college life, he’s learning multiple playbooks, switching in and out of a blue pinnie to get as many reps as possible and finding a groove in individual drills.
“Other than mine, he probably had the hardest job on the team,” Collins said of Samuel.
Brown said Samuel will “have an opportunity” to start at cornerback in 2025, a role made available after SU lost Clarence Lewis to the NFL Draft and several others to the transfer portal. Samuel said he flipped back to
We’ll also see Samuel take some reps at wide receiver, where he faces competition from Trebor Peña, Darrell Gill Jr., South Carolina transfer Tyshawn Russell, Emanuel Ross and more. The expectations are high for Samuel, but his age is still low.
Because of his ability to play both ways, he’s received comparisons to 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Still, the 17-year-old is riding his own wave.
“Kudos to (Hunter) cause he had a great season last year. But really I’m just trying to be like me. I’m going to do what I do,” Samuel said.
Brown’s relationship with Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is well documented by now through spring game planning. Though the trip to Boulder didn’t work out quite yet, Coach Prime’s influence could be why Brown pushed so hard to land Samuel. We’ll see for the first time if Brown eases him in or pushes him from the jump to be his version of Hunter.
O-line depth on full display
Syracuse’s offensive line has the talent but needs to find the right formula. SU lost core members in right tackle Savion Washington, center J’onre Reed and left guard Jakob Bradford, but brought in plenty of depth.
Though Brown said David Wohlabaugh Jr. is thinking about entering the transfer portal Monday, the Orange added Alabama transfer Naquil Betrand and 6-foot-7 Texas native Byron Washington to bolster the unit’s size. Da’Metrius Weatherspoon returned and has seen reps at tackle and guard. Meanwhile, starting right guard Mark Petry has shuffled between guard and center and will turn 27 in October.
Another name to look out for is redshirt sophomore Trevion Mack, who played largely in a reserve role over his first two seasons, but Brown said he thinks he’ll start. Saturday likely won’t showcase the final product of the starting five, and there might never be a final product, as SU proved last season, it likes to split reps at multiple positions. Though the depth is an added bonus.
“We’re blessed to have to be deep on the line. That hasn’t been the issue here in a long time,” Brown said.
By Mauricio Palmar asst. digital editor
Since he was 6 years old, Micky Wehrle has spent his winters skiing in Vermont. Wehrle, who grew up in Madison, Connecticut, regularly made the three-and-a-half hour trek to Stratton Mountain, where he competed with high-level junior skiers.
After one of his races in Vermont, a then14-year-old Wehrle finished in a three-way tie. Shocked, he screenshotted the results on his phone. Several years later, as a freshman at Syracuse University, Wehrle rediscovered the screenshot. But he noticed something different. When he showed it to his newest friend, Stevie Connolly, the pair couldn’t believe their eyes.
“I was like, ‘Holy sh*t Stevie, I remember tying some kid. I didn’t know it was you,’” Wehrle said.
Fast forward three years, the two are now roommates and seniors on Syracuse’s club ski team. The team competes against other collegiate squads in alpine ski races for 12 weeks during the winter. SU is fresh off a United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association Championship appearance at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Oregon, from March 10-13, where it placed ninth among 27 teams.
Though to book a ticket to the Beaver State, Syracuse had to finish in the top three of the 15-team Mideast Conference. In ski racing, standings are determined by the cumulative times of the top-three racers on the team. According to Connolly, SU came in fourth in the Mideast the past two years, missing nationals by fractions of a second.
“It’s mentally pretty tough,” Connolly said. “It’s literally half a second, and you could’ve not messed up with that one gate, (it would’ve) made the difference.”
Ski racing had shaped Connolly’s life. In high school, he moved from Braintree, Massachusetts, to Killington, Vermont. There, he attended boarding school at Killington Mountain School, where his entire schedule was structured around skiing. He began practicing at 7 a.m. and completed agility drills and film sessions after his classes ended in the evening.
Connolly had dedicated a lot of energy to the sport. He entered his senior year at SU understanding it was likely his last time ever skiing competitively. So, he had one goal: qualify for nationals.
“I saw my last race ever coming up. And I wasn’t freaking out, but I was like, ‘Damn, this is almost 10 years of this sport,’” Connolly said. “I was very like, ‘This is the year, I’m not (missing nationals) again.’”
Several members of Syracuse’s club ski team cancelled spring break plans to go to the USCSA Championships in Oregon. courtesy of micky wehrle
The team didn’t let its final chance pass by. Connolly, Wehrle and their roommate, Sawyer Duserick, excelled to earn a third-place finish in the Mideast. After losing to Colgate for three straight years, Syracuse defeated the Raiders to clinch its ticket to Bend.
Earlier in the season, Wehrle and Duserick weren’t as optimistic about their chances. They arranged spring break plans to Florida and Europe, which would’ve directly conflicted with the trip to Bend. Once the team qualified, the two canceled their excursions.
“It was definitely a tough decision to make … It was my last year on the team. That’s something I’m never going to be able to do again,” Duserick said. “I think it was the right decision for me.”
Syracuse’s Oregonian odyssey included Wehrle, Connolly, Duserick and two freshmen: Justin Gray and Anthony Matusik. Ben Ludke, the team’s coach, wasn’t present due to family matters. And junior Mason Schlopy, the team’s sixth racer, couldn’t go due to being in Europe.
Once they arrived in Portland, the team picked up its rental car, a Ram 1500 truck. The
team drove three hours with little issue, even stopping at Madras Municipal Airport to look at planes. But as they neared Bend, the truck began clicking on left turns.
The noises kept intensifying as Wehrle drove on, and the car began lurching forward. So, Connolly stuck his phone out the window to record the tire. As he watched the video in the backseat, he saw the tire wobbling as Wehrle drove. He decided it was better not to show him.
“I was like, ‘Micky, I’m not showing you this video, because it’s going to freak you out, but just drive slow. That’s all you need to know right now,’” Connolly said.
Wehrle drove four miles to the nearest mechanic at a five-mile-per-hour pace. When Duserick explained the issue over the phone, he wasn’t sure if the mechanic thought he was exaggerating. But after he saw the wheel nearly falling off, the mechanic couldn’t believe they were still alive. The team missed the opening ceremony, though the truck was repaired in time for its races.
On the slopes, Wehrle led the way in giant slalom, placing 29th of 150 racers. Connolly
finished 32nd, and Matusik capped it off with a 40th-place finish. In slalom, Wehrle again paced SU with a 35th-place finish. Matusik followed in 51st, while Gray rounded out the group with a 64th-place run. Duserick didn’t qualify for either due to a knee injury he suffered in a giant slalom crash.
But the team won’t remember the trip for their individual races. It was the memories made that truly resonated with them.
During their week in Bend, they spent time relaxing in a hot tub, visiting the town, shopping, exploring the surrounding mountains and freeskiing. Each member bought matching fur caps, which remained on their heads throughout the whole week. Matusik went overboard on his spree, splurging on clothes and souvenirs for his family.
“(Matusik) spent way too much money,” Wehrle said. “He was carrying bags like a mom skiing out of Aspen.”
Throughout the competition, Connolly noticed other teams took a more “cutthroat” approach and rarely talked to other teams. In contrast, Syracuse built strong relationships with Cornell and Hobart, the two other qualifying Mideast teams. By the end of the trip, the three squads had essentially become a family.
“I thought it was great for us to not just team bond with ourselves, but also with other teams,” Gray said. “It kind of felt like we all became one team from the Mideast area.”
The competition was initially scheduled to last until March 15, with men and women alternating race days. However, due to an upcoming winter storm, all races were pushed ahead two days.
Because of this, the team finished racing several days before returning to Syracuse. But the storm gave it an opportunity to hit the slopes of Mount Bachelor alongside friends from Hobart and Cornell.
As they freeskied during their final day in Oregon, Wehrle and Connolly laid down in the woods, enveloped by a foot of untouched snow. They stared up at the sky, watching as snowflakes surrounded them in the silent forest.
Wehrle experienced a complex assortment of emotions. He realized he’d never compete in a race again. But at the same time, he felt at peace. He began reflecting on his racing career, proud of how much he’d put into the sport. He turned to Connolly after a bit. Overwhelmed, he could only think of one thing to say to him.
“We did it,” Wehrle said. “We friggin’ did it.” mjpalmar@syr.edu @mpalmarSU
By Aidan Tseng staff writer
Syracuse men’s rowing concluded the 2024 season with a seventh-place finish in the Ten Eyck Trophy standings — tied for its highest finish in over 20 years — and a sixth-place finish in the IRA National Championship.
In the summer, five Orange athletes compete in the Men’s Rowing World Championship, including Aidan Monataro, Niki Strauss, Payton Gauthier, Mack Carr, and Luke Dunleavy.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, SU looks to build off last spring’s success as it travels to Redwood Shores, California, to start the year Saturday.
Here’s everything to know about Syracuse men’s rowing before it starts its spring season:
The Orange’s fall season consisted of the Head of the Charles regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Cornell Fall Invite in Ithaca, New York.
At the Head of the Charles, the varsity 8 placed sixth overall behind Cambridge University Boat Club, Harvard, Dartmouth, Washington, Harvard and Princeton. The Orange finished 14.279 seconds off the lead and 11.796 seconds from the Crimson.
Thirteen days later in Ithaca, the Orange’s second and third varsity 8s claimed victory in their races, defeating both Dartmouth and Cornell. Syracuse topped Dartmouth by 3.8 seconds in the 2V8 and by 9.1 seconds in the 3V8.
“We did some good work in the fall, and we were competitive with the programs we want to be competitive with,” senior captain Lachlan Doust said. “We know lots of teams are strong this year, and we know we had to put in a lot of work over the winter if you want to be competitive.”
Schedule breakdown
SU begins the 2025 season ranked ninth in the IRCA/IRA Varsity 8+ rankings. It travels to the West Coast this weekend to compete in Redwood Shores. The varsity 8 will race against California Rowing Club and No. 8 Stanford Saturday and No. 3 Brown Sunday. The second varsity 8 will also face UC Berkeley’s freshmen 8 and Brown Saturday as well as Stanford Sunday.
“(It would be) a step in the right direction, just knowing that we can maintain good racing, even when we have races so close together,” junior captain Cole Nordby said of SU’s season-opener. “I think one of the goals since we had such a promising winter training block, is just proving to ourselves … we can have good racing, solid three races back to back to back.”
On April 19, the Orange will compete in Annapolis, Maryland, against No. 17 Navy and No. 14 Cornell to try to win their fifth consecutive Goes Trophy. Syracuse already posted a better time than Cornell at the Cornell Fall Invite last November.
The next week, on April 26-27, Syracuse heads to Lake Morey, Vermont, to race No. 6 Dartmouth for the Packard Cup. The Orange rowed against the Big Green twice in the fall in Cambridge and Ithaca. Dartmouth is also currently the second highest-ranked opponent Syracuse will see in 2025.
“When we head to Lake Morey and race Dartmouth, it’s always a bit of a rivalry,” Doust said. “We always get to see how we compare to the rest of the field when we race Dartmouth, because we know they’re strong competitors, so I really look forward to that one.”
That same weekend, the Orange will race No.
12 Boston University for the Conlan Cup and No. 13 Georgetown in the Lake Morey Invite. SU will then wait for three weeks to return to action in the Eastern Sprints in Worcester, Massachusetts, on
Syracuse men’s rowing begins its season on Saturday. Our beat writer gives you everything to know ahead of SU’s opening meet. meghan hendricks senior staff photographer
May 18. Then, if Syracuse qualifies, it’ll compete at the IRA Championship in Cooper River, New Jersey, beginning on May 30.
Rowers to watch
Doust, an Australian native, didn’t race last spring due to injuries. However, in Syracuse’s last two fall seasons, Doust served as the seventh seat of the varsity 8. He also represented Australia in the 2023 U23 World Rowing Championships, where he helped his country to a fourth-place finish in the V8. The senior captain is primed for a bounceback season in 2025.
A decorated freshman from New Zealand, Bryan took a gap year last season to row at Leander Club in England for 18 months.
After arriving at SU, he raced in the Head of the Charles in the fifth seat of the varsity 8. In February, Bryan broke the Syracuse program record with a two-kilometer time of 5:53.9, beating the previous time of 5:55.3 set in 2018.
“He’s dangerous,” Doust said of Bryan. “He’s got a lot of power to him, he’s a solid kid. I look forward to seeing what you can do in the spring.” Montanaro represented the United States in the 2024 World Rowing Championships this summer, winning bronze in the U19 4+. Montanaro helped the U.S. reach its best finish in the event since 2018. In 2023, he also won silver in the men’s youth 8 at the Head of the Charles for Saugatuck Rowing Club. aidan.tseng@gmail.com
By Harris Pemberton asst. digital editor
Before Kaimi Tulua arrived at Seaside High School (California), no softball player from the program had committed to a Division I school.
Tulua’s Spartans were a lower-division program in the Pacific Coast Athletic League. Tulua joined the school as a high-caliber travel-ball player among an inexperienced group. So, she became a do-it-all presence.
“She is so adaptable that you really could stick her anywhere,” Seaside head coach Jenelle Newman said of Tulua. “She has all of the tools.”
Tulua became Seaside’s first-ever D-I softball commit when she chose Syracuse in December 2022. However, the freshman’s job at SU is drastically different than in high school. She rarely needs to grab her glove or run the bases. Instead, she primarily stars as a pinch hitter in clutch situations.
Through 24 games, the freshman has seen just 34 at bats but is tied for second on SU with a .353 batting average, tallying 15 RBIs. While her limited usage is a major change from the volume she saw in high school, Tulua is embracing the role, providing the Orange with a spark off the bench.
“When (Tulua) starts to tap into how good she can be, she’s going to be one of the best hitters this program has seen in a while,” SU head coach Shannon Doepking said to The Newshouse following a 7-5 win over North Carolina on March 28.
Power has always been a part of Tulua’s game. Still, with the help of her personal hitting coach, Thomas Main, she focused on refining her swing by emphasizing contact and eliminating unnecessary movements. While some power hitters can be homeror-bust, Main and Tulua worked on a two-strike approach where she’d spoil anything close to ensure a high batting average and few strikeouts.
By the time Tulua got to Seaside, she was already one of the best players in the area — a rare distinction for a program with few travel-ball athletes.
“I knew that (Seaside) was somewhere where I really had to step up,” Tulua said. “Instead of being that person, like, ‘Oh, I played travel ball, why am I here?’ I knew it was somewhere where I could help others in love with the sport even more, just as I did when I was a young girl.”
Tulua stuffed the stat sheet at Seaside, primarily at the plate. She won PCAL Offensive Player of the Year twice and earned All-Pacific Coast Athletic League divisional honors three times.
She was also used as a corner infielder and occasionally pitched. Newman said her quick hands, strong arm and intelligence on the basepaths helped her succeed in all roles.
Some of the situations Tulua was thrust into, particularly in the circle, were different from what she’d dealt with on her travel team, Suncats Jimenez. She played for Suncats Jimenez throughout high school, which had 15 college commits in the 2024 class. There, she settled into familiar positions at the corners and as a designated hitter.
Seaside, however, used her in any way it could.
“I was put into positions I wasn’t used to, but at the end of the day, I knew that me doing my part as a team member and as a leader really made others around me be happy to be on the field,” Tulua said.
Newman recalled once when Tulua got injured while playing for Seaside. Knowing the D-I trajectory she was on, Newman encouraged her to rest. But Tulua insisted on battling through because Seaside needed her.
“She’s one of those athletes who will literally just not stop,” Newman said. “She will want to run through a brick wall if it means winning a game.”
The summer following her junior year, Tulua went to a camp in Southern California hosted by Doepking. The two talked, and Syracuse contacted Tulua when the recruiting window opened in September 2022. She came to SU for a visit soon after and committed to the Orange in December.
The jump from Seaside to Syracuse was huge. SU often relies on small-ball and stealing bases, putting Tulua on the bench periodically. Tulua’s only showcased her bat, but she’s been as dangerous as advertised.
After picking up her first collegiate hit with a single in Syracuse’s 3-0 win over Tennessee Tech on Feb. 14, Tulua followed with the best stretch of her career thus far. Tulua went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in a 12-1 win over TTU, then mashed her first home run and drove in
see tulua page 14
By Aiden Stepansky digital managing editor
Syracuse’s first season under head coach Fran Brown was historic. Quarterback Kyle McCord led the nation in passing yards and the Orange won 10 games for the first time since 2018, capping the year with a Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State.
With McCord and other key figures of the 2024 squad headed to the NFL, Brown is now looking for an encore. SU brought in 14 early enrollees from the 2025 class and seven players through the transfer portal. The newlook roster has developed throughout the spring over three weeks of practices.
Fans will get a glimpse at newly-minted starting quarterback Rickie Collins, 17-yearold two-way phenom Demetres Samuel Jr. and more in Saturday’s spring game. According to Brown, the game will be 90 minutes, feature a standard style of blue versus orange and contain plenty of contact.
“It’ll be practice-oriented, but it’s gonna be legit,” Brown said. Here are four key points to look out for during Syracuse’s spring football game Saturday:
All about the quarterbacks Brown made it crystal clear on SU’s first day of spring practice he wanted to know his starting quarterback quickly. So, when Brown named Collins the starter 17 days later, it didn’t come as much of a surprise.
“Rickie came in, and from the jump, he was a leader,” redshirt senior Duce Chestnut said. “He showed everyone who he is and what his potential could be.”
After sitting under NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier for two years in Baton Rouge, Collins transferred to Syracuse to become a starter. Despite attempting just seven college passes, Collins brings a new flavor to the Orange’s offense with a keen dual-threat ability.
A year ago, McCord sported an orange jersey, while everyone else donned blue or white, quickly showing chemistry with SU’s first-team targets. It’s unknown if Collins will be given similar “no-contact” treatment or if he’ll replicate McCord’s success. But with three years of eligibility, Saturday provides a look into how offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon will use Collins’ dynamic skills.
Collins’ backup remains uncertain, with redshirt senior Michael Johnson Jr. and redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams continuing their competition into the spring game. While Johnson, who backed up McCord last season, has the experience advantage, Brown said Williams is “very close” to the backup role after dominating on the scout team as a true freshman.
Special teams improvements?
Special teams coordinator James Vollono was relieved of his duties two days after Syracuse’s win in San Diego, a culmination of a season’s worth of blunders, including three blocked punts and six blocked kicks. The Orange ranked behind only Nebraska for the most blocked attempts in the country. To make matters worse, SU shuffled between three kickers and ranked last in the ACC with a 59.1% field-goal clip. Brown said he wants to be more involved in special teams, modeling after what he saw from Rutgers’ Greg Schiano and Georgia’s Kirby Smart while an assistant coach. Following