November 30, 2023

thursday, nov. 30, 2023

celebrating 120 years

free

N • Anti-trans impacts

C • ‘Another win for Mary’

S • Regional return

SU hosted a panel on the health and wellness impacts of anti-trans legislation with speakers from The Barnes Center at The Arch, the LGBTQ Resource Center and Falk College.

Senior Mary Shalaby has garnered a large following online for her stream-of-consciousness comedy videos. In real life, she does standup comedy and improv.

As the only Power Five school in New York state, Syracuse should lead the northeast in recruiting. And Fran Brown’s prowess in the region makes him perfect for the job.

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on campus

‘Northeast swagger’

Stockton event draws protest

Equipped with a notable recruiting presence in the northeast and an unrivaled ability to connect with players, Fran Brown is Syracuse’s new head coach

By Claire Harrison asst. copy editor

By Wyatt Miller

senior staff writer

I

t was a weekday like any other for the students of Cherry Hill West (NJ) High School, until they looked out the window.

Fran Brown had Cherry Hill’s Rodney Williams running through drills in the hallway, next to a classroom with a window for a wall. Brown, who was back in town as Temple’s new defensive backs coach in 2013, monitored Williams’ technique and skill, but also his demeanor and response to the pressure.

“We coach some high-level athletes and have had everyone in America in our buildings, and I had never seen that approach before,” said then-Cherry Hill West head coach Brian Wright. “That was certainly different and unique and I think it kind of encapsulates who Fran really is.”

Williams played Syracuse for four years before transferring to Temple, where he finished his career under Brown. But that was just the start of his Cherry Hill recruiting successes. A few years later, Brown came back to speak with Harrison Hand, bringing then-head coach Matt Rhule with him. Wright and Hand met them at a local pizza joint, where Wright said Rhule took a backseat, and Brown ran the show.

“I walked away from that meeting and thought, ‘Matt Rhule trusts that guy with his life,’” Wright said. “A lot of the kids build those relationships where they feel that way about Franny. He even has relationships with the kids that don’t go where he wants them to go. To me, that’s the real test of the man he is and why people believe in Fran so much.”

Brown was named the 31st head football coach in Syracuse history Tuesday. He has no head coaching experience at the collegiate level, but was ranked the top recruiter for the 2024 class by 247Sports. Brown has developed deep recruiting ties in his home of south Jersey, one of Syracuse’s primary recruiting grounds. The 41-yearold from Camden has an “uncanny ability” to connect with a variety of people, Wright said, and can now bring a national recruiting base and rousing presence to SU. Those familiar with Brown from south Jersey believe in him because he’s genuine. In two years at Rutgers, he flipped at least three players after they’d committed to other programs. According to Garrett Lucas, Rancocas Valley Regional High School head coach and a friend of Brown’s, Max Melton (Purdue), Chris Long (Temple) and Tyreem Powell (Virginia Tech) all abandoned their prior commitments to follow Brown to Rutgers. see brown page 11

brown’s sincere recruiting approach has primed him for his first head coaching role at Syracuse. courtesy of tony walsh

Syracuse University’s chapter of the College Republicans hosted marriage and family therapist Sara Stockton at Drumlins Country Club Wednesday to discuss her views on gender-affirming care.

The event — titled “From Certainty to Skepticism: A Gender Therapist’s Evolution in Understanding Gender Affirmation” — featured Stockton, who has said she is skeptical about gender affirming care for youth. The event garnered criticism from LGTBQ experts and queer people in the Syracuse and central New York communities, with some calling for its cancellation over concerns of Stockton’s anti-trans rhetoric.

In response to the event, over 60 protestors gathered in the parking lot outside of Drumlins an hour before the event.

Holding signs and sporting lights and colorful clothing, the protestors chanted, disagreeing with the event and Stockton’s beliefs.

“F you, SU — do better,” protestors chanted.

One of the protesters, SU alum Hunter Kusak, said they were a former client of Stockton’s. Kusak said Stockon wrote the letter to approve them for hormone blockers and hormone replacement theory. Kusak said they sought out other therapy providers after Stockton talked with them about being featured in an article about a rally for former president Donald Trump.

Kusak said SU should do better as an organization and stand strong with its students, especially as a university that “claims to be an open campus that respects all diversity.”

“SU needs to start standing behind their student body,” Kusak said. “They did this with #NotAgainSU, they did this with a lot of the events that go swept under the rug on their campus, the stealing of the pride and Indigenous flags from out in front of (Hendricks Chapel).”

SU graduate and community member Rhyse Curtis said they didn’t feel there was any justification for SU to host someone with “hateful rhetoric” to speak freely on campus property.

“Myself and obviously plenty of other community members are just disgusted that Syracuse wants to put profit and appearances ahead of the safety of their students and their community members,” Curtis said.

The event was originally set to be held in Maxwell Auditorium but was moved to Drumlins, which SU owns, due to security concerns and a “mandate” from SU’s Department of Public Safety, according to an Instagram post on the SU College Republicans account.

Sophia Widdekind, another protestor, is a graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy Department.

“I’m here with a bunch of my classmates tonight and we’re really excited to be here,” Widdekind said. “We cannot stand for the fact that Sara (Stockton) is wanting to spread hateful and hurtful messages about the trans see stockton page 4

2 november 30, 2023

about

INSIDE

The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.

NEWS “The manner in which she leads totally captures her Indigenous culture, you know, her commitment to her values and her passion, and it’s a leadership style that I think we all can learn from.” - Cathy Engstrom, professor in the School of Education Page 3 Editor@dailyorange.com News@dailyorange.com Opinion@dailyorange.com Culture@dailyorange.com Sports@dailyorange.com Digital@dailyorange.com Design@dailyorange.com BUSINESS 315-443-2315

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

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

This fall, the paper will be published Thursday when SU classes are in session.

The D.O.’s online coverage is 24/7, including while SU is on break.

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

“She was a (short) girl with a super high voice and she was wearing a Budweiser shirt, so I couldn’t really figure (her) out. And now that I’ve known her, I still can’t really figure (her) out.” - Sammi DeLuca, Syracuse senior Page 5

OPINION “Continued community engagement, education and collaborative projects are essential to maintaining the momentum in addressing historical injustices and shaping a more just and inclusive future for Syracuse.” - Sarhia Rahim, Columnist Page 9

SPORTS

how to join us

“The thing that’s different about Fran from other people is, after you sign and are on campus, he continues to make you feel special.” - Brian Wright, former Cherry Hill West head coach Page 11

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

COMING UP

corrections policy

Noteworthy events this week.

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

WHAT: CNY Regional Farmers Market WHEN: Dec. 3, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: College Place

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

CULTURE

WHAT: Bollywood on Ice WHEN: Dec. 3, 4 - 6 p.m.

WHERE: Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion The D.O. is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 230 Euclid Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210.

All contents Copyright 2023 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor-in-chief.

The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidy or associated with Syracuse University. All contents © 2023 The Daily Orange Corporation

WHAT: Professional Portraits - Session 1 WHEN: Dec. 5, 1 - 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Schine Student Center, The Underground

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NEWS

november 30, 2023 3

on campus

Bailey Tlachac aims to connect Indigenous students to campus

By Claire Samstag asst. digital editor

When Bailey Tlachac arrived at Syracuse University as a graduate student from her reservation in Green Bay, Wisconsin, she was the only Indigenous student in her higher education program.

“I was going from a place where the majority of our classes were Native students, down to being the only one again so I was like ‘Oh, well this is like my high school all over again,’” Tlachac said.

Tlachac, now the program coordinator of SU’s Native Student Program, grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood in Wisconsin as a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Bear Clan tribe. In her role as coordinator, she said she hopes to bridge the gap between Indigenous students and the broader SU campus through education and community-building.

I think everyone is so pleased when they show up and they see her here. Bailey just gives the vibe that she’s looking over you and you’re going to be okay.

Nia Nephew accounting senior

Tlachac said she first felt attuned to her culture when she began her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, which is also where she learned the Onyota’a:ká language for the first time.

“I was slowly learning and coming back to this identity that I always had, but I never really knew or learned anything about it because I grew up away from my culture,” Tlachac said.

Tlachac became the NSP coordinator in September 2022. Her responsibilities include

meeting with Indigenous students and creating programming specifically designed for them, like programs for academic and career readiness.

The NSP was established in 2006 by SU’s Office of Academic Affairs, the Student Experience division and Multicultural Affairs.

It currently operates out of 113 Euclid Ave., a central gathering location for SU’s Indigenous student population.

Tlachac said she hopes 113 Euclid can show the campus community that Indigenous people are “still here” and that the community becomes more aware of Indigenous history through education.

“We want 113 to be a place where people can … learn too, because we recognize that the U.S. education system did not really educate everyone on native peoples and who we are and they’re often taught that we are things of the past, which we’re not we’re right here,” Tlachac said.

Breana Nieves Vergara, the assistant director of Multicultural Affairs, works closely with Tlachac on brainstorming ideas for programming events and potential renovations for 113 Euclid. She first met Tlachac in 2021, when Tlachac was a graduate student in Nieves Vergara’s office.

“As a grad student, despite not being a full time staff member, she came in really energized and had a really clear vision of what she wanted to see,” Nieves Vergara said. “She definitely came and brought a new life and new energy to the program.”

On Nov. 6, members of the university community gathered for the re-opening of 113 Euclid after Tlachac and other members of the NSP worked with university officials to install a new elevator, remodel the kitchen and provide upgrades to furniture.

Other renovations included improving a lounge area with a TV and an expansion of the second floor to include Indigenous board games, books and beading supplies.

The first renovations were initially sparked from a #NotAgainSU demand to develop multicultural offices and programs, which led to the installation of an elevator and accessible entry door with a ramp and snowmelt.

When Indigenous expressed concern about overcrowding at 113 Euclid in 2022, the most recent renovations were put into action.

bailey tlachac led the reopening of 113 Euclid, where she serves as the Native Student Program coordinator, after renovations. cassandra roshu photo editor

Tlachac said she hopes the additions will foster a greater sense of community between Indigenous students through educational resources and cultural activities.

“Anytime I stop over at 113, there’s at least a few students hanging around in her office,” Nieves Vergara said. “I think no matter where she is, she’s always able to create community.”

Tlachac’s role as program coordinator is not limited to her responsibilities of planning and organizing events. For many students, Tlachac is like a friend.

“I come here (113 Euclid) almost every day just to see her sometimes,” Nia Nephew, a senior majoring in accounting, said.

Nephew joined the NSP as a first-year student and has remained a member of the program since. She grew up on her own reservation of Seneca people.

When Tlachac was applying to graduate schools, she said the support systems for Indigenous students at SU stood out to her but most of those resources were for undergraduate students.

Tlachac said she knew this was something she wanted to change.

Cathy Engstrom, a professor in the School of Education, first taught Tlachac when she was a master’s student. Engstrom, who also serves as the school’s faculty director for graduate studies, said Tlachac was “very committed” in class to creating a safe space where social identities are respected.

“She totally walks the talk. The manner in which she leads totally captures her Indigenous culture, you know, her commitment to her values and her passion, and it’s a leadership style that I think we all can learn from,” Engstrom said.

Nephew said she’s had a positive experience being exposed to other Indigenous people through the NSP, which has allowed her to learn about and enjoy others’ cultures.

“Bailey is honestly like a ball of light here,” Nephew said. “I think everyone is so pleased when they show up and they see her here. Bailey just gives the vibe that she’s looking over you and you’re going to be okay.” csamstag@syr.edu

on campus

United Syracuse advocates for working conditions, transparency

By Roxanne Boychuk asst. news editor

Since its formation this past summer, the United Syracuse collective bargaining union at Syracuse University has made progress on its goals of improving working conditions for SU employees through meetings with campus facilities, initiatives and petitions.

The union consists of Syracuse Graduate Employees United; Syracuse University Facilities, Food Service and Library Workers; Adjuncts United at Syracuse University and the Syracuse University Chapter of the Association of American University Professors. Hayden Courtney, a bargaining committee member for SGEU and steering committee member for United Syracuse, said United Syracuse works to address workers’ concerns, including belowlivable wages, transparency with the university and unfair parking fees.

The university did not respond to a request for comment about United Syracuse’s claims of below-livable wages and unfair parking fees.

“We wanted to foster kind of a collective worker identity across campus because we’re all workers here and just because our work is different, like job title and what we carry out in our work, we’re still all workers one of the same,” Courtney said.

As part of its efforts to cultivate transparency with SU, Courtney said the union wants more representation and insight in the university’s decision-making processes in terms of how the university uses its money and how it can make conditions better for all workers at SU. He also said United Syracuse supports the idea that every worker on campus should be in a union, as it gives a voice to the workers so they can advocate for themselves and their benefits.

“That’s the only way that we can necessarily democratize the workplace. One of the last true democratic institutions in America is a union…”

Courtney, who is a sociology Ph.D. student, said.

“It’s the only way that we’re able to actually get benefits for everybody and actually see working conditions, and a better university for everyone,

United Syracuse, a coalition of unions at SU, is working to address workers’ concerns of low wages and unfair parking fees. joe zhao asst. photo editor

including students, is that every worker is unionized here on campus, has the protections, and has their material interests looked after.”

Jay Rank, a truck driver and chief union steward for SU Food Services, said a union can accomplish more with people joined together, as opposed to trying to make changes as individuals.

“Bigger numbers, more people will add their voices to the conversation. Everyone’s afraid to talk when they’re one-on-one, but when they see that there’s many people that are willing to talk, they will add their thoughts into the conversation,” Rank said.

One of United Syracuse’s most recent initiatives was a parking petition that asked SU administration to form a committee to address campus-wide parking issues and to increase shuttle services on campus. The union met to discuss this petition on Nov. 2.

Laurel Morton, president of SU’s Adjuncts United chapter, said with the wages that workers on campus are currently receiving, the university’s on-campus parking prices are unreasonable.

“Transportation getting to and from and paying for getting to and from (campus) is a real pain point for quite a few different categories of

employees,” Morton said. “It’s a pain point, but it really hits those lower-pay folks.”

Although United Syracuse is still relatively new, it has already met with SU Service Facilities groups, including Parking and Transportation Services, Morton said. She said members discussed not only issues surrounding parking and transportation but also safety and security when traveling to and from campus with the services.

Courtney said United Syracuse also met with Pete Sala, SU’s vice president and chief facilities officer, to establish a relationship that will allow the union to be involved with decisions on campus. Courtney and Morton both said the meeting was productive, and that this could set the precedent for future negotiations with facilities services on campus.

“We are happy with how administration has been handling this thus far because it seems like they are willing to listen and they’re good at opening this dialogue, and in this way, I think we found a lot of information from this meeting. There’s things that they’re looking into,” Courtney said.

Although the union is progressing its work on its initiatives, Morton said something the union struggles with is being a labor union at a private university. She said many labor unions across the state are in public institutions, leading private universities to be stereotyped as safe and well-funded, therefore making private university union voices less prominent.

“That’s probably one of the general difficulties that is faced, ‘Why did those workers need a labor union to protect them or to protect their employment when they’re working in this enlightened space?’” Morton said.

As United Syracuse continues efforts to improve working conditions at SU, Morton said the group will maintain working relationships with campus facilities because of their recent successful meetings and mutual concerns.

Rank hopes that together, the union can achieve the “betterment” of every worker.

“We all share equal challenges within the university. I think our voice as one means something more than our voices singly,” Rank said. rmboychu@syr.edu

4 november 30, 2023

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on campus

Panel discusses anti-trans laws, available students resources

By Roxanne Boychuk asst. news editor

In response to the recent rise in anti-trans legislation across the nation, Syracuse University’s Barnes Center at The Arch and LGBTQ Resource Center hosted a panel on the health and wellness impacts of anti-trans legislation Wednesday evening in Slocum Hall.

The panel focused on how SU is addressing the needs of trans and queer students through mental health programs, medical care and community building, with five panelists from the Barnes Center, LGBTQ Resource Center and the Transgender Affirmative Support Team in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

The panel — titled “Health and Wellness Impacts of Anti-Trans Legislation: Finding Hope Through Community and Connection Panel Discussion” — was held three hours ahead of a Q&A session and speech by Sara Stockton, a local family therapist who has been advertised as a gender expert by SU’s College Republicans, at the Drumlins Country Club.

Dr. Carrie Brown, the director of counseling at the Barnes Center, said there is an increased need for mental health treatment for transgender people around the country, primarily in states where these laws have been passed. She specifically focused on the rising rates of suicidal tendencies among trans people in comparison to cisgender people.

“I don’t put this data up here to scare anyone or to use it as a tactic or rhetoric. I put this data up here because this is real,” Brown said.

Brown said the counseling team at the Barnes Center has made gender-affirming healthcare a “strategic priority” in order to foster protection for trans people on SU’s campus and create a safe community space for them. from page 1

stockton community when it’s a community that’s already struggling so much and is so marginalized.”

Inside Drumlins, around 20 people gathered in person for the event, with approximately 100 viewers watching through a YouTube livestream.

College Republicans President John Parker introduced Stockton and the process to hold the event. Another member of the College Republicans read a statement from the university, deeming it “housekeeping.”

“Let us approach tonight’s event with open minds and a willingness to gain perspective. By doing so, we uphold the principles of free speech that are vital for society’s progress,” the member said.

After being introduced by the SU College Republicans as a “gender expert,” Stockton began her remarks by recounting the history of gender, from the first gender reassignment surgeries to the status of gender healthcare today.

In her remarks, Stockton outlined her journey from being raised as a “diehard liberal” to where she is now, someone with “no space” in the liberal arena.

Healthcare is a human right, specifically trans healthcare, when hormone replacement therapy is life saving.

Hunter Kusak su alum

“Fifteen years ago, I would have told you, ‘Yes, I would be outside with them,’” Stockton said, referencing the protestors.

As gender-affirming care and hormone therapy have become more prevalent in the United States, Stockton said she has seen shifts in the field, specifically since her graduation from SU in 2008. Around this time, Stockton said, she was a member of SU’s transgender care team.

“When I started working in this field, I don’t think I realized how complex this was in terms of being influenced by politics, policy and other stakeholders in the field of gender medicine,” Stockton said.

She said she has observed a shift in the landscape of medical care offerings for trans people, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act and expanded care offered by Planned Parenthood.

Stockton claimed many young people are using services at Planned Parenthood to “skip the line” and “circumvent safeguards” that are present with more traditional avenues of care like therapists.

In addition to her qualms about how gender-

Panelists addressed how SU is currently tending to the needs of trans students as anti-trans laws are being proposed across the country. maxine brackbill photo editor

“How do you trust that you’re going to be welcome in spaces when laws and legislations like these are being passed, which increases mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, feeling devalued?” Brown said.

The Barnes Center is also accommodating trans medical care in addition to mental health. Director of Health Care at the Barnes Center Kathleen Coughlin said the center offers gender-affirming care such as prescribing hormones and puberty blockers.

Jorge Castillo, director of the LGBTQ Resource Center, said there have been 590 antitrans bills across the nation in 49 different states.

He said 85 of these bills have been passed, 380 are active and 125 failed. There are currently two active anti-trans bills in New York state, both of which focused on women’s sports, Castillo said.

Coughlin pointed out a main problem in transgender medical care – which she said is a healthcare affirming care has changed, Stockton pointed to an increase in the number of transgender people in America, specifically bringing up social media and “social contagions.”

A 2022 study published in Pediatrics found that “social contagion” was not creating an increase in the number of transgender youth, according to NBC News.

As Stockton became concerned that her discipline was becoming “too saturated,” she said she entered a period of “silent years” from 2016 to 2022, staying quiet on the topics of trans youth and gender-affirming care. Then, in 2022, Stockton appeared in “What is a Woman?,” a documentary by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh.

Currently, Stockton said she is focusing her efforts on raising concerns about hormone blockers and other therapies as well as people who want to detransition. She said studies and science about whether hormone blockers are harmful are inconclusive.

A 2022 study conducted by the University of Washington and several hospitals in the Seattle area concluded that non-binary and transgender youth who had started puberty blockers or genderaffirmative hormones had 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality.

In her own practice, Stockton said she saw one case of a person who experienced medical malpractice by being guided towards transitioning from male to female and wanted to detransition.

“We’re going to find out that there are many stories like his, where gay men in particular get lured into the culture of prostitution and are told that they would make more money if they were transgender or shifted their identity,” she said.

Stockton was met with questions from two audience members when she said there is no concrete evidence to support the claim that gender-affirmative care leads to diminished suicidality in trans youth.

Kusak, who attended the event after the protest, had a brief dialogue with Stockton about detransitioners. The two disagreed about rates of suicidality as they relate to genderaffirming care.

As Stockton continues to express her concerns about gender-affirmative care for youth, she said she is working to do the best for her clients.

“My personal, professional life was centered around being an ally and an advocate for best practices for this community,” Stockton said. “It still is.”

Protestors challenged Stockton’s expertise, with some saying she spreads misinformation and hate speech.

“Healthcare is a human right, specifically trans healthcare, when hormone replacement therapy is life saving,” Kusak said. “There are many studies that are peer reviewed studies that she continues to ignore about how hormone replacement therapy lowers the rate of suicidality amongst youth and trans children as well as trans adults.” charri39@syr.edu

area like any other – is currently a shortage of gender-affirming care providers.

“This is a situation where you work in consultation with a medical provider. They’re going to have time to talk with you about where you are in the continuum of moving forward, so don’t feel like, ‘I need to come in with a plan, I need to make a request,’ just come in and have that conversation,” Coughlin said.

Dr. Tanya Williamson, associate director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said SU should work on community building beyond just the Barnes Center.

Williamson said in order to create an inclusive environment, people must be aware of their personal biases and acknowledge them so they can work against them and improve the acceptance of others.

“You have to actually make someone feel like a part of a community,” Williamson said. “So I send that question to folks, ‘What are you doing to make this community feel welcome and what does that look like?’”

People can also work towards building community through learning about transgender history, having transparency of gender-affirming services and action towards inclusivity, Williamson said.

Williamson also said SU has already taken action by implementing all-gender bathrooms, creating a podcast for trans and queer communities, updating staff bios to include pronouns, hosting outreach events, implementing additional staff and student education and hosting inclusive physical space hours.

SU also has a Transgender Affirmative Support Team on campus that offers specialized genderaffirming care through mental health support and assistance in navigating the process of gender exploration and transition for trans people and their families.

Dr. Tristan Martin, an assistant teaching professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Department in Falk, said the support team will celebrate Trans Support Day on Mar. 30, 2024.

There will be an event that will include free clothes, affirming health providers and affirming experiences such as hair and makeup services.

Martin also said the support team works with a network of CNY affirmative providers who work in gender-affirming medical care.

Brown said the Barnes Center is having conversations regarding its gender-affirming care and it will continue to do so as anti-trans legislation continues.

“We have been emphasizing the need to educate ourselves to ensure that if we want to support our communities, we have to know how we can do that,” Castillo said. rmboychu@syr.edu

CULTURE

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november 30, 2023 5

From basement stand-up comedy to viral TikTok videos, Mary Shalaby is taking the comedy world by storm

Mary Shalaby performs at improv shows for her group, Zamboni Revolution, as well as stand-up comedy nights. With her recognizable voice, she sets herself apart.

cassandra roshu photo editor

By Kyle Chouinard managing editor

M

ary Shalaby believes she’s most known for her voice, a trait she described as “cartoonish.”

“I’d say it’s pretty highpitched,” Shalaby said. “I don’t know why I sound like this.”

Her voice has been one of the few constants on her TikTok, @real_mary_mother_of_god. The page features Shalaby’s stand-up, improv comedy and streamof-consciousness bits of her talking about whatever comes to her mind. A senior English student at Syracuse University, Shalaby currently has more than 721 thousand followers on TikTok and over 37.1 million likes.

Her videos are filled with thoughts about being a bigger Olivia Rodrigo fan than middle schoolers or squishing sandwiches into salami and cheese Uncrustables. Shalaby said most of her videos are just improv on top of whatever thought she just had.

Sammi DeLuca, a senior English student at SU and vice president of the improv group Zamboni Revolution, met Shalaby at an audition for the improv group of which Shalaby is now president. When she first met Shalaby, DeLuca said her voice immediately caught her attention.

“She was a (short) girl with a super high voice and she was wearing a Budweiser shirt, so I couldn’t really figure (her) out,” DeLuca said. “And now that I’ve known her, I still can’t really figure (her) out.”

As Shalaby’s fame on TikTok began to grow, DeLuca didn’t have the app. The pair would be walking on campus and people would approach Shalaby to talk about her and her comedy. DeLuca didn’t even realize it was because of TikTok. “Now it’s funny that she gets to tell people that the person they’re obsessing over online is one of her closest friends,” DeLuca said.

The first comedy video Shalaby posted, however, wasn’t one of her notorious monologues. It was a video of her first-ever stand-up set at The Playground, a student-run comedy basement venue. Two years later, Shalaby helps run the venue that kicked off her account with Audrey Weisburd and American High Shorts cast member Julia DeCesare.

“Mary’s just on all the time because that’s just who she is,” said Grace Newell, Shalaby’s little in Kappa Alpha Theta and a junior at SU. Coming from a town of around 2,000 people, she said the ever-increasing number was daunting in the beginning. Now, the number has gotten so large that it doesn’t even feel real to her.

Just the number of her TikTok followers could fill the JMA Wireless Dome 14 times over.

“Holy f*ck,” Shalaby said when she heard the statistic.

The account has created a series of running bits between Shalaby and her audience. In many of her recent videos, the top comment relates to the situation being a “win” for Shalaby.

“I’ve heard some people tell me that sometimes they’ll do something awesome and they’ll be like, ‘That’s another win for Mary,” Shalaby said, “and that’s so cool that they’re saying that.”

In one video, she said she was going to New York City and that her only plans were to buy a pack of cigarettes, a beer and some bread as well to “get lit.”

“That is what I call another win for Mary,” reads the top comment.

Shalaby said she’s only used the phrase a couple of times, but people have latched onto it. At Syracuse football’s game against Wake Forest Saturday, someone tapped her on the shoulder after the Orange won.

Just like comments on her videos, they called SU’s victory “another win for Mary.”

But not all of the interactions have been so positive. She said she had to adjust to some of the more hateful comments about her voice, although it’s something she’s dealt with her whole life.

What sometimes gets under her skin, she said, are users fetishizing her and her voice.

“I get objectified on the internet a lot, but it’s okay because I saw the ‘Barbie’ movie and not only is Barbie an icon, she’s also a literal object,” she joked in one stand-up set posted to her TikTok. “People keep saying I’m getting the wrong message, but whatever makes you feel good, right?”

In one instance, someone direct messaged Shalaby to tell her she was “sick in the head for attracting pedophiles.” The comment knocked her out, she said.

It’s frustrating, Shalaby said, when the fetishization and objectification move attention away from the joke she’s telling. In one of her TikToks at the beach, Shalaby brings two dead jellyfish together yelling “Jelly kiss!” before she throws both in the water. All of a sudden, the TikTok became about her body and her voice’s relation to her body, she said.

Shalaby said some of her friends have defended her in the comment section before. Both DeLuca and Newell said Shalaby has grown over the last two years in her ability to deal with that side of online culture.

“If she finds something f*cking funny, that’s what she’s gonna prioritize. It’s always gonna come first,” Newell said. “She’s got a really, really good system down of remaining super grounded, and she has a

With 721 thousand followers on TikTok, Shalaby’s audience could fill JMA Wireless Dome 14 times over. cassandra roshu photo editor

good head on her shoulders because she just loves doing what she’s doing.”

Despite the urge to peek at the comments, Shalaby mostly tries to not look at them.

“That’s something I do to protect myself,” she said.

Today, she said she believes “comedy heals all.”

That ’s resulted in her poking fun at the more intense comments she’s received. One of her recent shows with Zamboni Revolution was called “Mary’s Voice Reveal.”

“She went from very rigidly reading off a script to now just saying whatever is on her mind, which I think is what the world wants from her anyway,” DeLuca said. kschouin@syr.edu

from the stage

Original student play ‘Pitsl’ brings Jewish joy to life onstage

By Kelly Matlock

asst. culture editor

When Alethea Shirilan-Howlett started researching for her honors thesis, she faced an unusual problem: she could only find a copy of the book she wanted in Yiddish. She wanted to write a play for her thesis about Yosl Cutler, a Jewish communist puppeteer from the 1930s.

She asked the leading expert on Cutler, Eddy Portnoy, how to find an English translation. Portnoy, the director of exhibitions at the Yivo Institute of Jewish Research, told her that the only way to read the book would be to learn Yiddish herself. Not

deterred, she enrolled in an intensive Yiddish program that very summer.

The play’s story has changed along the way, but now, two years later, “Pitsl” is taking the stage.

“I got inspired by a lot of different things,” Shirilan-Howlett said. “I wanted to write something that’s full of joy, and hope and light and humor, and that’s how this play came about.”

“Pitsl” is about a Jewish family during Hanukkah in the 1930s tenements of New York City. After seeing an emphasis on Jewish trauma in plays she saw abroad in London, she wanted to write a play that showed a different side of Jewish life.

Shirilan-Howlett had an extensive research process for writing the script, visiting the locations of tenements in New York City. She heard from people who lived in tenements themselves about the difficult living conditions, but also the solidarity and community that was built between minority groups at the time.

During one of the first rehea rsa ls, Shirila n-Howlett presented a PowerPoint of information about the time period of the play and its historical elements. She even included a Kahoot! quiz about Jewish culture and history for the cast.

The play was inspired by the sense of community among Jewish people and their shared culture “independent of any state or government,” Shirilan-Howlett said. People have approached her apologizing about the timing of her play in light of the Israel-Hamas war, but she said that the play is not about Israel, but Jewish people.

“That comes out of a real place of ignorance whenever you immediately associate a Jewish play with Israel, but this play was written and has always been intended to be the opposite,” Shirilan-Howlett said.

She said she hopes that for Jewish audience members, especially with

the recent rise in antisemitism and conflation of the state of Israel and Jewish people, the play serves as “a light in the darkness.” For audience members that aren’t Jewish, she hopes it is a learning experience. “(I) hope it to be like a breathing capture of Jewish life in the 1930s in the Lower East Side in New York City,” Shirilan-Howlett said.

“A lot of the cast members have said to me that they feel like ‘Oh, this character acts exactly like my grandmother does.’”

The play will be performed not as a traditional stage play, but as a staged reading of the script by its see pitsl page 5

6 november 30, 2023

As flurries of white snow cover SU’s campus this week, students flock outside to enjoy the first snowfall of the season Photos by Cassandra Roshu and Joe Zhao the daily orange

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november 30, 2023 7

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beyond the hill

Have a cup of cheer with local holiday drinks Story by Olivia Boyer asst. culture editor

Illustrations by Nora Benko illustration editor

As the weather gets colder and streets become blanketed with snow, Syracuse coffee shops restock their holiday drinks carefully. Take a look at this year’s winter-themed beverages right outside your door.

Recess Coffee

Americano with Cherry Whipped Cream Recess Coffee created a holiday spin on the classic Americano, adding their very own cherry-infused whipped cream. This combination of flavors creates a creamy, fruity drink with a coffee flavor while keeping the caffeine boost students need for finals.

Winter Spice Latte with Maple Syrup Drizzle This Recess favorite mixes popular holiday spices to create the perfect warm drink. Recess referred to this drink as “naughtier spice,” mixing cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and others to create this latte with a twist. It’s all topped off with a maple syrup drizzle for extra coziness.

Salt City Coffee

Orange Clove Espresso Tonic This cold drink infuses coffee with the flavors of winter. This drink combines clove, orange juice and tonic water, topped off with a shot of espresso. The flavors add a sweet tang with the boost of caffeine.

Eggnog Au Lait Eggnog Au Lait is a twist on a classic holiday from page 5

pitsl

unconventional cast. Several of the members of the cast are veteran SU Stage drama students, but others are Jewish community members from Shirilan-Howlett’s synagogue with no theater experience.

As a Syracuse native, it was important to Shirilan-Howlett to give back to her community. She wants to give back to the people who made her interested in learning more about her culture, songs, language and history.

Hanita Blair has known ShirilanHowlett and her family for generations, and was delighted to be cast in “Pitsl.” She was Shirilan-Howlett’s bat mitzvah tutor as well as her brother’s bar mitzvah tutor.

“Part of the Jewish tradition, part of what you do when you prepare somebody for a bat mitzvah is to welcome them into the adult community,” Blair said. “So seeing her as a really talented and competent adult is easy, and it’s so gratifying.”

She said the play feels very familiar, not just because Shirilan-Howlett wrote it, but because the characters are similar to people she has known in her life.

“It has a really Jewish point of view, in which there’s an acknowledgment of Jews as other but it’s a really insider conversation,”

drink. “Au lait” translates to “with milk” in French, representing this drink’s creaminess.

The heated eggnog combines with milk to create a lighter version of the Christmas beverage commonly enjoyed by Saint Nick.

Peppermint Mocha There’s no holiday season without a peppermint mocha. This chocolatey beverage brings in the flavors of the season with a mint twist on the classic mocha beverage. A mocha combines an espresso shot with chocolate syrup to create a sweet treat.

Funk ‘n Waffles Syracuse-native rock band The Action! will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a performance at Funk ‘n Waffles Friday night. The band takes influence from a wide range of genres including rock, pop and jazz.

Special guest Falmouth will also perform.

WHEN: Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.

PRICE: $13.07

Hope Café

Peppermint Mocha Latte Hope Café offers its own version of the classic peppermint mocha with the option to add peppermint mocha syrup to the classic latte. This creamy-chocolate drink is perfect for the season.

Peruvian Hot Chocolate Hope Café brought back their classic Peruvian hot chocolate earlier this month, the perfect spicy chocolate drink for the cold weather. This chocolatey beverage uses different cacao variants than typical hot chocolate, allowing for a different flavor profile.

Café Kubal

Café Kubal also has not yet officially released their yearly holiday drinks, but the Syracuse-located coffee chain now houses mint-f lavored syrup, allowing for a minty winter taste profile in their classic drinks. oliviaboyer@dailyorange.com

Blair said. “I love the show … it’s so Jewish in the way it uses humor to tell some hard truths.”

For Valerie Goldstein, who plays Adel, the script is reminiscent of her childhood memories of spending Hanukkah with her family. Due to leaving home and attending college at SU, she hasn’t been able to make as many of those memories in recent years. She said the play makes her feel closer to her family.

“It’s been really exciting to kind of be a part of this piece that’s very centered around Jewish stories and Jewish voices because part of my family is Jewish, my dad’s side of the family is Jewish,” Goldstein said “When I first read the script, it was like really fun to see those in the lines like ‘Oh my god, she sounds just like my grandma!’”

Ensemble member Karen Sanchez has known Shirilan-Howlett since her freshman year at SU and said she has learned a lot from the experience of being in the show. As someone who isn’t Jewish, she has found it to be an informative space to learn about and celebrate a culture that isn’t her own.

“I’m taking a class about the Holocaust this semester, so it’s interesting (after) talking about such a negative time for Jewish people, being able to see everybody in the room who is Jewish being happy and joyful, and talking about their culture,” Sanchez said.

When Shirilan-Howlett approached peer Eli Golding to direct the show, he was

immediately excited. He has worked with Shirilan-Howlett on various projects in the department of drama.

Directing such a varied mix of performers with both SU students and Jewish community members has made the show special, he said. The multiple generations involved in the show have a wide range of knowledge and experience about Jewish tradition and acting onstage.

“The piece is about the Jewish community, and (Shirilan-Howlett was) finding a group of people that would want to share this with the community. So I was very honored to have her reach out to me,” Golding said. “The piece itself is beautiful, and really speaks to the need at this moment to bring Jewish joy to the stage.”

He said that after watching the show, audience members would be surprised who has acting experience and who doesn’t. They have focused on connecting with the characters behind the words and highlighting a specific section of Jewish history with comedy and joy.

“It brings a shining light … for the larger community, as well as the Jewish community.

Right now, there’s a lot going on in the world,” Golding said. “(The show is) allowing us to think of a brighter future for Jewish theater as we move into our own future.”

kellyamatlock@icloud.com

The Westcott Theater Syracuse rock band Brand New Sin will celebrate their 21st year as a group with a “Coming of Rage” performance at The Westcott Theater Friday night. Since the release of their first radio hit “My World” in 2002, Brand New Sin has been recording and touring the United States and United Kingdom alongside many national bands such as Motorhead, Corrosion of Conformity and Saliva.

WHEN: Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.

PRICE: $30 (advanced sale), $30 (Concert Ticket and 524 Lounge Access), $70 (Concert Ticket and 524 Lounge Access

Redgate House show venue Redgate will host a show on Friday night featuring New York City’s Spencer Arjang, Buffalo band Oscar’s Cash and Syracuse local Joe Driscoll. To find the address and to purchase tickets, DM Redgate on Instagram.

WHEN: Dec. 1 at 10 p.m.

PRICE: $7 presale & $10 at the door

The Dollhouse For their final show of the semester, The Dollhouse will highlight a series of bands across the east coast Saturday night.

Maryland-based bands Combat and Checkmate, Philadelphia’s Hotel Breakfast and Binghampton’s Bunk. will all perform.

For more information, DM The Dollhouse on Instagram.

WHEN: Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.

PRICE: $7 presale & $10 at the door

The Mudpit For their final show of the semester, The Mudpit will be partnering with Ottothon to host a “Battle of the Bands.” Indie rock artist Arjang and Syracuse bands After Hours, Gritty Jawns and Gunk! will compete at the show. For more information on the show and how to vote for your favorite band direct message The Mudpit on Instagram.

WHEN: Dec. 2 at 9 p.m.

PRICE: $7 presale & $10 at the door

flynn ledoux contributing illustrator

8 november 30, 2023

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OPINION

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november 30, 2023 9

column

Comprehensive archives can empower Syracuse’s minority communities

By Sarhia Rahim columnist

The Interstate 81 viaduct destroyed a community of Black, Jewish and immigrant families in the 15th ward in spite of homes and local businesses flourishing prior to the enactment of the Urban Renewal Project.

These instances of historic marginalization affect present day communities and upcoming projects. How we approach the 15th Ward’s past and address new policy proposals can help bring justice to those displaced by the highway in the 1960s.

Efforts to have the community interact with history, specifically that of the 15th Ward, have been occurring and open to the public.

Syracuse’s archival spaces should represent groups who have been negatively affected by past policies, allowing for policy makers to implement societal solutions with the full scope of a community issue in mind.

Documents and history books can provide a form of justice to a minority group.

The city of Syracuse remains one of the most impoverished and segregated cities in the United States. Despite efforts to bolster economic prosperity, Syracuse continues to see a repeat of history: instead of creating positive change in the redevelopment of housing and transportation, which historically are seen through policies that continue to neglect marginalized communities. Understanding the root causes of existing disparities inform more effective and targeted policy interventions. Historical context that involves the community, especially those directly affected by historical injustices, in the policy-making process is crucial.

Where in Syracuse can these gaps then be filled so that full historical archives are accessible to the community?

Run the Redline was a community event encouraging locals to walk or run along what was once the 15th Ward and view images

and documents provided by the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) to learn about housing discrimination.

Syracuse University has also hosted events to educate students and allow community members to engage with Syracuse history on the 15th Ward. In 2009, images of the 15th Ward were displayed in the Shaffer Art Building. Now more than ever, it is important to keep these memories alive and to intentionally emphasize to suppressed families that they have a valuable story to be added into these archival spaces such as ones at institutions like the Special Collections Resource Center at SU. The Family Pictures Syracuse project has kept all this in mind as they bring the community together to create open dialogues, share history and include their narratives in a public archive under the Turning the Lens Collective. The project’s description addresses historical gaps by “providing space for local residents — especially those most impacted by the city’s changes — to have a voice in how Syracuse can preserve a more inclusive history of our city.” The project is a collaboration with the larger Family Pictures Institute for Inclusive Storytelling, which hosted several events throughout the fall semester in preparation for the grand finale in October.

Continued community engagement, education and collaborative projects are essential to maintaining the momentum in addressing historical injustices and shaping a more just and inclusive future for Syracuse. These practices also attest to the complexities of how BIPOC life is lived, documented and remembered.

The concept of community access to historical archives is vital. While there are ways for locals to visit OHA’s archives or seek information online, there is a conversation that needs to be had about whether current spaces welcome community members to view these documents. Having wellrounded archives isn’t only about preserving history but also about empowering communities to engage with and contribute to their own narratives.

Including BIPOC narratives in Syracuse archival spaces can help policymakers enact equitable policies following the destruction of Interstate 81. joe zhao asst. photo editor

The 15th Ward was labeled as a “slum” and was set to be demolished under the Urban Renewal Project as a part of the “beautification” of Syracuse. These are histories to be learned from, but we must also consider how these communities flourished. Through archives, the positive parts of the 15th ward’s history can be celebrated, which both honors the community as a whole and challenges negative stereotypes that may contribute to its stigmatization in previous policy and media.

Refocusing Syracuse’s history starts with addressing past mistakes. That can only happen when the archival spaces within the city take proper consideration of the narratives missing within their historical archives and most importantly, are accessible to the community represented within that history.

Universities with historical archives or private archives can take note of new ways

to approach archiving history such as Black Archival Practices to begin analyzing gaps and how they collect history.

“Black archives and archival practices demand more than a cursory glance at the materials in an archival repository to declare that there are no Black archival stories to be told,” wrote The Black Scholar Guest Editors Zakiya Collier and Tonia Sutherland.

With a more inclusive and communitydriven approach to archiving history, Syracuse can work towards acknowledging past mistakes, fostering a more complete understanding of its history and laying the foundation for positive change through policies that are built from a full understanding of the community they’re affecting.

Sarhia Rahim is a junior Policy Studies Major. Her Column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at slrahim@syr.edu.

column

‘Pharmageddon’ calls for local pharmacy support, better employee conditions

By Summer Taylor columnist

Drugstore pharmacies have long been a staple in neighborhoods across the country, especially in low-income areas. But mass closures of drugstore chains such as CVS and Walgreens threaten access to medical care that may be otherwise inaccessible for many Americans.

Amid settlement payouts in the wake of the opioid crisis, several pharmacy chains are facing mass closures; in October, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the closure of more than 150 stores.

But the opioid crisis isn’t the only threat to drugstore pharmacies like Rite Aid. So why is this happening?

If you ask employees of these chains, they would inform you of the widespread discontent among workers. In a New York Times article, Bled Tanoe, a former employee of Walgreens, said employees have been encouraged to “work faster and work with less help.” Drugstore pharmacies across the country are understaffed and make disproportionate demands of their employees — demands that aren’t appropriately compensated.

Increasingly, more and more employees are fed up with such conditions. CVS and Walgreens workers organized a three-day long walkout via social media, dubbed “Pharmageddon,” to protest their working conditions.

“Pharmageddon” occurred just weeks after an Oct. 9 work stoppage in which thousands of Walgreens employees protested working condi-

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tions. Employees have protested working conditions and understaffing that they believe puts patients at risk and could ultimately lead to them losing their licenses.

Outside of the internal issues drugstores are facing, they are also struggling to compete with the supercenters, grocery stores and online retailers

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that present more enticing options for a consumer, especially as they improve their services, such as offering pharmaceutical services themselves.

The current threat to drugstores, and consequently the pharmacies they provide, is startling.

The existence of these locations can be necessary to rural and lower-income areas. For many, drug-

store pharmacies act as more than just an accessible form of healthcare; they can also be a place to get food, toiletries and other daily necessities.

The 2021 Medication Access Report demonstrated that one in five patients surveyed have relied more on their pharmacists to explain healthcare costs and prescription benefits than their primary care physicians, with 65 percent of patients reported experiencing worsening financial hardships.

Syracuse is among the communities that will likely be impacted by these changes. According to a recent study, Syracuse has some of the highest instances of medical debt among cities in New York, with an estimate that one in four adults struggle to pay medical bills. Local drugstore pharmacies could, for many, be the most affordable form of healthcare.

Additionally, areas in and around Syracuse have lacking doctors per capita numbers. Cayuga County, often cited as part of the greater Syracuse area, has a population per primary care doctor ratio of 3,583:1 — the New York state average is 1,199:1.

It is therefore increasingly important to give business to drugstores in your local area while also advocating for better treatment of employees and supporting any protests they may stage. Drugstores act as a more convenient connection to healthcare, supporting many neighborhoods. Closures en masse could represent a threat to that accessibility that will send shockwaves throughout many communities, proving just how integral the services offered are.

Summer Taylor is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.

—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You’re invited to the 39th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration!

Jan. 21 at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Scan the code for more info or visit mlk.syr.edu.

Jan. 21, 2024 mlk.syr.edu

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ice hockey

Haley Uliasz’s switch to ice hockey completes childhood dream

By Aiden Stepansky asst. digital editor

After a four-year rowing career at Syracuse, Haley Uliasz wasn’t fulfilled. Her childhood dream was to play Division I hockey like her two sisters — Nicole (Wisconsin) and Brianna (Connecticut). With one more year of eligibility left, Uliasz reached out to the SU ice hockey coaching staff and asked to try out.

Despite not playing competitive hockey since high school, Uliasz made the team. She finally earned the chance to complete her goal and hasn’t taken the opportunity for granted. “(Uliasz is) one of our hardest workers,” said Syracuse head coach Britni Smith. “She really sticks to coming in, working hard and learning everyday to get herself back into (hockey).”

Through four years playing at Kent School (CT), Uliasz received limited D-I interest to play hockey. But she also picked up rowing at Kent — becoming rowing team captain as a junior.

Uliasz garnered offers to continue her rowing career at the D-I level, ultimately accepting an offer from Syracuse that paid nearly 75% of her tuition. While she assumed her dreams were dashed, she kept her desire to play hockey close.

“Syracuse gave me a better offer with rowing,” Uliasz said. “I never thought I was going to have the opportunity to play hockey again.”

Uliasz spent the majority of her high school athletic career as a hockey player, making the transition to D-I tougher. Yet, according to SU women’s rowing head coach Luke McGee, Uliasz impressed from the get-go.

“Coming in and learning that and building trust within was really huge,” McGee said.

Uliasz progressively improved throughout her SU rowing career. After her spring season as a freshman was canceled because of COVID-19, Uliasz got back to training with Syracuse in the fall and elevated her knowledge of the sport.

By her junior season, Uliasz advanced to the second varsity 8 and remained on the same crew entering her senior year. But with Syracuse appearing in the national championship from page 12

brown “He actually cares to go get that extra step and make those legitimate connections,” Lucas said.

While at Temple, Brown visited defensive lineman R.J. Moten’s house. It was his second meeting with him, and his family was in attendance this time. Brown recalled specifics of Moten’s life without references or questions, including the names of his girlfriend and sister, Madison, knowing she played lacrosse at Temple.

Though Moten ended up at Michigan, Lucas said he and his parents were taken aback by Brown’s vested interest. When Brown wants someone, he makes them feel like family and connects to theirs. As a husband and father of three, family is always a priority for Brown, according to Next Level Greats coach Marcus, who’s known Brown since childhood.

“The great ones, they recruit the family, not just the individual,” said Dwayne Savage, Brown’s high school coach and former Camden Catholic High School head coach. “He’s going to make sure they take care of their family, because he’s family first.

He’s going to make sure academics are on top, and all the stuff on the football field will take care of itself. He’s going to make sure they’re good mentally off the field first.”

Once they do commit to him, they are family. That’s how he views whatever room he’s in charge of, Hammond said. Lucas said recruiting “can be a sham at times,” and is a process full of deceit, but Brown doesn’t partake in that. There’s substance and honesty behind his words, and the players can feel that authenticity both on and off the field.

“He’s going to tell them how it is and what they need to improve on,” Savage said. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything.”

All of Brown’s career choices have served his goal of becoming a Power Five head coach, Savage said. And his approach to practice is no different than his recruiting tactics.

He’s blunt, energetic and will bring some “northeast swagger” to Syracuse, Savage said.

Brown always feels like he’s got something to from page 12

burrows shooting guard. If she’s guarded by a smaller player, Burrows can easily shoot over them.

But if the opposing team opts to put a bigger player on her, she can drive by them and finish in the lane.

Butler said Burrows’ balance allows her to be in control while also calling her a crafty

the year prior, Uliasz constantly had to compete to keep her spot.

During a preseason scrimmage against Virginia on Mar. 18, Uliasz’s boat lost to UVA’s competing second varsity 8. Afterward, Uliasz and a few other members were demoted to varsity 4 crew.

“We kind of decided when both of us were moved out of that boat we would do everything we could to get back in,” said Louise Rath, Uliasz’s teammate who was also removed. “We felt like we had a chip on our shoulders, we had something to prove.”

Two weeks later, Uliasz, along with Rath, Junior Ognovich, Mae Sweeney and Alice McNeill on the varsity 4, competed at the 2023 Doc Hosea Invitational. Uliasz and her crew defeated Penn, Northeastern and Bucknell in every race to win the invitational.

“The collective mindset of the boat was ‘F-Yeah, F-Yeah,’” Rath said. “That was always the attitude I felt Haley had towards racing: If it hurts, bring it on. If it’s going to be hard, bring it on.”

After three races, Uliasz earned back a spot on the second varsity 8. Uliasz’s final rowing season finished with her boat coming in third at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. At the NCAA Championship, Uliasz’s crew came in 17th.

As a rower, Uliasz’s drive to play hockey was apparent. Ognovich said that Uliasz often rollerbladed around Syracuse’s campus to stay in skating shape. She also worked on her skills when at home during school breaks. Her sister Nicole is the girls’ ice hockey head coach at The Lawrenceville School (NJ), where Uliasz practiced.

Once she completed her senior season as a rower, Uliasz’s itch to return to the ice nagged at her. She enjoyed playing hockey and wanted to follow her siblings’ lead.

“I think hockey was always a big proponent and my dad always wanted me to play,” Uliasz said. “Not to knock rowing, but I felt like it was something that I was missing from my family.”

After impressing at her ensuing tryout with SU ice hockey and accepting its offer to join, Uliasz needed to adjust her routine yet again. To fully return to hockey shape, Uliasz spent much of her time weight training as opposed to the lengthy cardio sessions that rowing requires.

Seventeen games into the 2023-24 season, Uliasz is living out her ultimate goal as a fifthyear forward. Uliasz’s former rowing team-

mates knew what her true passion was, and were thrilled to see her make the switch.

“I think hockey was a sport that held a lot of nostalgia for her,” said Uliasz’s former teammate Olivia Schaertl. “I thought it was super exciting to hear that she was gonna take a break or be done with rowing to pick up hockey again.”

prove, and his most successful players adopt that mindset.

When Rhule left Temple, Brown was the runner-up for the head coaching vacancy, according to Lucas. On Twitter, Steelers linebacker, and former Temple player, Chapelle Russell, said players “begged” for Brown to assume the position. Former Eagles linebacker Shaun Bradley, who played for the Owls from 2016-19, said he “helped change my life.” Brown ended up at Rutgers shortly after.

Once there, he recruited SU safety Alijah Clark, a Camden High School graduate, very aggressively, Savage said. Rutgers was Clark’s second offer, and he was the program’s first commit in its 2021 class, leaving for Syracuse when Brown went to Georgia in 2022.

During his one year at Rutgers, Clark came back to his alma mater for a basketball game.

When Wright asked him why he chose the Scarlet Knights, Clark didn’t hesitate, saying “Coach Brown, c’mon baby.”

“The thing that’s different about Fran from other people is, after you sign and are on campus, he continues to make you feel special,” Wright said. “You’re not just a number and you’re not just a recruit.”

Brown helped Savage manage Clark’s high school schedule so he could enroll at Rutgers a semester early. He’s done that for countless athletes. Brown also helped current Washington Commander, and six-year NFL veteran Sean Chandler, get back on track academically during a rough period in his life, Savage said. The pair still share a close bond.

“We see Franny as one of our own, as a guy who we are all proud of for everything he’s done for himself and south Jersey football as well,” Wright said.

“So the guys in-state who might think about going to Rutgers or Penn State or Pittsburgh, I don’t think there’s a thought anymore of where they’re going to go. They’re going to head up to Syracuse.”

Brown has connections to virtually every top recruit in the state of New Jersey, Lucas said. No matter where they live or learn, he’s got “a hand or a foot on it.” Thus, the introductions and subsequent connections he makes with players are natural.

He grew up in similar conditions to many of the

players, and can easily relate to them. Most of Rutgers’ top performers right now were, in some way, shaped or recruited by Brown, Lucas said.

South Jersey coaches believe Brown has the potential to turn Syracuse into an ACC powerhouse because of his recruiting prowess, especially in the northeast.

Multiple recruits in the area have already taken to social media to profess their support for Brown and potential interest in Syracuse. Three-star athlete William Love tweeted he could now shift his focus to Syracuse. Despite On3’s projection that Syracuse has just a 3.3% chance to land Love, Brown’s hiring has changed everything.

“Coach Fran was the first-ever coach to take a chance on me and to recruit me my freshman year when I wasn’t at the best of my ability,” Love said. “He sat me down and had a talk with me and my family and just told us to keep working and everything would pay off. That’s always going to hold a special place … and he pushed me to do that.”

His interest in SU has gone up because of Brown, and Love said south Jersey will essentially become his “backyard” for recruiting.

Syracuse has received 15 high school commitments out of New Jersey since former head coach Dino Babers was hired, including six in the class of 2024. South Jersey coaches expect those numbers to skyrocket with Brown leading the program.

LeQuint Allen Jr. received his first college offer from Brown at Rutgers. Naturally, he and Clark were among the first to congratulate Brown on the new position. They, along with the rest of south Jersey, know how impactful Brown’s leadership is to his players.

“Each head coach has someone they rely on,” Hammond said about Brown. “He’s run a whole practice and I’ve seen that first hand… He’s able to run the show, and he has before without the title.”

After a national championship at Georgia, Brown has a nation-wide recruiting base at his disposal, along with extensive name, image and likeness experience. Those are both new for SU. NIL has quickly become a staple of college football recruiting, and Brown knows how to translate it to on-field success, Lucas said. The Bulldogs’ 2024 recruiting class was the best in the nation,

according to 247 Sports, and Brown was a primary reason for that.

He’s swung top recruits to Georgia from elite programs like Alabama and LSU, and he won’t shy away from going after high-level talent at Syracuse, Hammond said. Now that he’s seen how Rhule, Greg Schiano and Kirby Smart run their programs, “his wings are spread,” Savage said. He can recruit anyone from anywhere.

“He has this ability to relate to all types of people,” Wright said. “Whoever’s in front of him, he is going to have that person trust in him and most of the time, people buy into what Fran has to say.”

Syracuse has not recruited a five-star since 2000, but Savage believes the Orange will land one soon under Brown.

His secondary in 2023 was ranked the best in the country by Pro Football Focus, as he’s brought in three five-stars over the past two seasons.

The two he recruited for 2024, cornerback Ellis Robinson IV and linebacker Justin Williams, are ranked No. 1 at their respective positions. And, despite his short stint at Georgia, an outpour of support from his players has followed the Syracuse appointment.

Still, south Jersey is special to Brown, as are the people from there. Hammond knows that better than anyone.

When he was a walk-on at North Carolina A&T, Hammond didn’t have much going for him. Brown, who was two years older and playing at Western Carolina at the time, let Hammond sleep on his couch even though they hadn’t been close in years. They’d wake up at 4 or 5 a.m. to work out. Even then, Brown was always trying to help, giving Hammond training tips that eventually helped him make the team at Carolina A&T. Before Brown even thought of coaching, he’s always been a mentor for his community. He will continue to be that, on a much larger scale, as Syracuse’s next head football coach.

“He’s the kind of guy that will give you the shirt off his back,” Hammond said.

finisher at the rim, often using her strength to finish through contact for and-ones.

As one of Diamond Valley’s younger players, Butler said Burrows struggled to develop confidence in taking tough shots. But Butler progressively noticed her improvement.

“Sometimes these kids sort of rely on coaches to come in and feel they’ll get enough shots up in practice, but with Sophie she would take it upon herself to do that in her own time,” Butler said.

If Burrows had an off-shooting night, she would be frustrated. But the coaching staff challenged her to impact the game in other aspects like driving, rebounding and defending.

Now with Syracuse, shots have been hard to come by with Dyaisha Fair, Georgia Woolley and Alaina Rice taking the bulk of the attempts. Burrows said she’s still getting used to her new teammates, but always has

her knees bent, ready to fire up a shot if she receives the ball.

“With Georgia back it’s hard to find as many minutes as everybody wants, but if (Burrows) can stay true to the task and continue to grow and learn from the three guards that we have, she’s going to be a dominant player later on,” said Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.

Following a four-year rowing career at Syracuse, Haley Uliasz used her fifth year of eligibility to play for SU ice hockey and fulfill her lifelong goal. joe zhao asst. photo editor

amstepan@syr.edu @AidenStepansky

zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22

zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22

SPORTS

12 november 30, 2023

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

For the first time in his career, Fran Brown is a head coach. His appointment is backed by SU’s players and he’s regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country. courtesy of tony walsh

ANTHONY ALANDT CLEVELAND, THIS IS FOR YOU

W

hen Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack held a press conference following the firing of former head coach Dino Babers, his statements echoed previous coaching hires. SU was going to look for someone with coaching experience in the Power Five.

Wildhack harped on wanting a head coach with ties to the northeast. He then named some of the most successful coaches in program history from the region — Ben Swartzwalder, Dick MacPherson, Paul Pasqualoni and Doug Marrone.

It looked like Syracuse was going to make a safe hire. The administration reportedly vetted names including Toledo head coach Jason Candle, Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney and former Florida head coach Dan Mullen. Then, late Monday night, ESPN’s Pete Thamel added Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown alongside Candle and Chesney as the final three candidates.

Wildhack has become known for hiring Syracuse alums for revenue sports. Felisha Legette-Jack was the obvious alumna to turn around a women’s basketball program in disfunction. Adrian Autry’s promotion ensured Jim Boeheim’s guiding hand loomed large.

Men’s lacrosse coach Gary Gait was already within the department while women’s lacrosse coach Kayla Treanor was an alumni.

It was clear that Wildhack valued keeping Syracuse’s new coaches within the family.

Not making a splash hire was going to stand as Wildhack’s reasoning. Then the opportunity came. With conference realignment and the prevalence of Name, Image and Likeness, Wildhack had to go out on a limb.

Brown is young and widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country.

Syracuse took a risk hiring Brown, but if executed correctly, it could lead to a domination of the northeast Syracuse hasn’t enjoyed since the 1990s.

Syracuse played it safe by hiring Babers.

He was the hot Group of Five coach that had quickly turned around Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green. He held an ability to turn diamond-in-the-rough recruits into NFL-level talent.

But Syracuse strayed too far away from what it is, hindering on what it could be. The Orange are the only Power Five football program in New York state, and although they’ve long since lost the recruiting advantage to Penn State, Rutgers stands as the only blockade between Syracuse and top recruits in the northeast.

“We can be a winning program. We’re not that far away. Are there areas that we need to address? Yes, but it’s not like this is a total rebuild,” Wildhack said in his press conference.

Hiring Brown, a New Jersey native who spent time at Temple before making his way to Rutgers in 2020, shows Wildhack knew exactly what areas Syracuse needed to address. Within minutes of Brown’s hire, key starters began tweeting in support of the decision.

Every move that the athletic department has made since parting ways with Babers signals its desire to take back the northeast.

Nunzio Campanile was elevated to interim

Fran Brown is SU’s 31st head coach. The former Georgia assistant holds an impressive command over recruiting in the northeast and knows how to win

head coach, with Wildhack saying that his ties to New Jersey were crucial for the program.

“If you can keep that nucleus together, enhance that nucleus, enhance our recruiting efforts, our player development efforts, we can win,” Wildhack said last Monday.

Babers was fired because he wasn’t able to buck the trend of Syracuse freefalling in October and November. The benchmark for 2023 was 7-5. Injuries piled up and the Orange were uncompetitive against Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Losses to Boston College and Georgia Tech were the final straws. Wildhack showed his cards when he said that to build depth, Syracuse has to be “minimizing the misses.”

Brown knows how to recruit. He was named the top recruiter at Georgia for the 2024 cycle, a program that consistently produces first-round NFL talent and has won back-to-back national championships. But he also knows how to recruit the northeast and turn around a program. Brown was the American Athletic Conference’s top recruiter after his 2014 season at Temple, turning Haason Reddick, P.J. Walker and Sean Chandler into NFL players.

Brown recruited current Syracuse safety Alijah Clark to the Scarlet Knights and still holds close relationships with high school coaches throughout New Jersey.

With nine players from the state currently on the roster, and more on the way in the upcoming recruiting class, getting someone to SU who knows the area was imperative.

He wasn’t a big name like Mullen or Marrone. He wasn’t the up-and-comer like Curt Cignetti or Chesney. But he was the right name.

And he knows how to win. Brown helped Georgia to a national champion-

ship victory where it dominated TCU 65-7. Yet, he was also instrumental in helping Matt Rhule turn around Temple and Baylor as an associate head coach for both programs. Winning consistently at Syracuse is one of the hardest jobs in the country, but being complacent with blowing through Group of Five schools only to bottom out against conference teams — as the Orange have the last three years — wasn’t going to work either.

“It takes the shine off of any success or progress that’s been made,” ESPN College Football Insider David Hale said. “There was probably the sense of this is far as we’re going with Dino, and it’s time to try something else.”

Typically, a change at head coach signals a mass exodus. Syracuse already had three starters enter the transfer portal.

However, the uncertainty of where pieces like Clark and Allen Jr. were going has likely been quelled by Brown’s hiring. The infrastructure, player-wise, is there for him to ensure 6-6 is no longer the goal.

But Brown wasn’t just hired because he impressed in an interview. His recruiting background and coaching experience at rebuilding programs give him all the credentials he needs.

He was an honest hire for SU, an indication that the athletic department knows it needs to recruit in the northeast better than it has in a decade. It’s a big swing, with dire consequences for the program if it misses. But the relationships Brown has cultivated and reputation he brings in could be enough for this gamble to pay off. anthonyalandt29@yahoo.com @anthonyalandt

women’s basketball

Sophie Burrows’ shooting stems from consistent routine

By Zak Wolf

asst. sports editor

While playing for the Diamond Valley Eagles, Hayley Sparks dreaded playing against the Eltham Wildcats. Sparks hated having to defend the “tall curly haired” girl who always shot the lights out and was a “nightmare to guard.”

Sparks was referring to Sophie Burrows.

So, when Burrows joined Diamond Valley in 2020, Sparks was relieved to not be on the receiving end of her 3-point barrages anymore.

“I could just remember being like, ‘Oh, we have to play Eltham and that curly headed girl…she just shot the ball in my face all the time,’” Sparks said.

Burrows has always been known for her 3-point shooting, constantly working to develop her stroke. With her quick release and consistent form, teammates and coaches said that Burrows’ shot is “the same every time.”

While playing for Diamond Valley

in Australia’s National Basketball League, Burrows’ shooting attracted multiple Division I offers before she eventually chose Syracuse. The freshman has shown flashes through the first month of the season, including a 13-point performance against Central Connecticut on Nov. 10.

Sparks remembered Burrows often arriving early to Eagles’ practices. And before practice, Burrows individually worked out with Victoria Metro — a local state team — to get more shots up.

With Burrows’ commitment to her craft, Sparks wasn’t surprised by her success.

“I was consistent because I love the game of basketball. I enjoyed practice and training,” Burrows said. “You don’t get to get to the games without the practice… and having a good support system definitely helped me.”

But in Burrows’ debut year with Diamond Valley, COVID-19 paused

the season. Burrows said basketball gave her an “outlet” while waiting for play to start up again. She had virtual practice sessions with Diamond Valley and got in individual work, but also worked out with her sisters.

Burrows initiated shooting sessions with her two sisters, Ruth and Anna, spending hours on their backyard court practicing catching-and-shooting and one-dribble pull-ups. Burrows’ family remodeled their setup, expanding it to have a 3-point arc.

“The timing was excellent,” said Burrows’ mother, Sarah. “I spent a lot of hours out there rebounding many shots for her. COVID was hard, mentally to be locked in the house and not playing.”

According to Ruth, Burrows gave her sisters tips on their shooting form during their backyard training. Ruth said they worked on a variety of shooting scenarios, often imitating rising up for a jumper after coming off a screen. Toward the end of a session,

Burrows challenged her sisters to make anywhere from 10-to-30 shots in a row before they could go inside.

Burrows’ shooting success is rooted in her form, which she practices before every workout. She starts right under the basket, focusing on keeping her elbow square, slowly moving back until she hits the 3-point line.

In 2022, Burrows entered her second season on Diamond Valley’s senior team, which had recently hired a new coach, Deanne Butler. When Butler arrived, she said that people within the club wanted her to call Burrows, who was “hotly sought after” by other NBL 1 clubs, and convince her to return. After Butler reached out, Burrows opted to stick with Diamond Valley.

Butler said that when she first started coaching Burrows, her footwork was a little slow. She joked that when Burrows ran, it looked like she was laboring. During one of their first games, Butler asked Burrows if she

was alright. Burrows looked at Butler as if she asked a ridiculous question.

Over time, Butler said that Burrows’ footwork became consistent when setting herself to shoot. Her improved footwork helped her as teams tried to take away her 3-point shot. When teams quickly closed out on her, Burrows aggressively attacked with ball fakes, stepping forward to utilize a move called a throwdown — a variation of a crossover taught in Australia.

Burrows said the move helps her not travel when facing a closeout. Sparks said that Burrows is very good at “taking what the defense gives her” along with processing information quickly.

“If teams are scanning me as a shooter, they’re going to close out hard so I have to be able to read their feet and get into the lane, use my body a little bit or pull up for that jump shot,” Burrows said.

Standing at 6-foot-2, Burrows benefits from her size by playing

see burrows page 11