thursday, august. 29, 2024
Newhouse students share mixed perspectives on BDJ, MND degree merger
Photo By Lars Jendruschewitz
By Samantha Olander, Claire Samstag the daily orange
While scrolling on the social media platform Yik
Yak, Chloe Kaiser said she came across a post about the “death of BDJ majors.” She initially thought it was a joke, but after looking it up, she saw that it was true: Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications is merging its two journalism majors into one degree program next year.
“I was like, ‘Oh my god, it actually is real,’” Kaiser, a sophomore advertising student, said. “Things are changing, which I think is really exciting.”
Newhouse, which currently offers broadcast and digital journalism and magazine, news and digital journalism as two separate degrees, will merge the two into one bachelor of science program starting in fall 2025. While students who are currently enrolled in either major will not be impacted by this change, SU students expressed a range of support and frustration with the school’s decision.
Dean Mark Lodato and other Newhouse leaders said the merger follows years of discussion with faculty, alumni and other stakeholders about the best ways to
prepare students for the multiple forms of storytelling and evolving demands of the journalism workforce. He said he expects the change will result in a rise of admissions and interest in journalism.
Many students, however, disagreed with this. Jillian Ward, a junior studying public relations, said maintaining targeted majors is critical for Newhouse’s reputation and appeal to prospective students. She also suggested that a lack of diversity in programs may deter students from attending the school.
“It’s very special that Newhouse has set niche courses and topics that are taught within the individual major programs,” Ward said. “If this is their attempt at trying to keep up, I feel like it just honestly is taking a step back … people won’t be as prepared to enter the industry and (students) not having a specialization won’t make them stick out.”
Ward said that Newhouse’s foundational courses, such as COM 107: Communications and Society and COM 117: Multimedia Storytelling, already provide journalism students with the diverse range of communication skills and knowledge that Newhouse aims to expand through the merger. She said there are distinctions between the two majors and combining them takes away from students’ passions.
Under the new degree framework, students majoring in journalism will keep several introductory courses common to both majors, with each of the separate tracks including three mandatory courses. A secondary track, sports media, will also be available for the BDJ and MND tracks.
Sophomore Daisy Polowetzky, who said she chose Newhouse over other universities for its tailored MND curriculum, was similarly disappointed by the merger.
“I feel like for future students, having two combined majors of journalism kind of takes away from how special Newhouse is and can also make people in MND and BDJ feel like they are being clumped together and they’re not really as unique,” Polowetzky said.
She also said the merger could undermine the history of alumni accomplishments in the BDJ field specifically.
Some students saw potential benefits in offering broader exploratory courses for prospective and undecided students. Tommy Marquardt, a fourth-year student, said the way the majors are marketed isn’t always indicative of their subsequent academic experiences, so combining the majors could allow students flexibility to switch their major.
see merger page 6
SU Plastic Reduction Plan employs multi-year phaseout approach
By Zaara Malik asst. digital editor
Syracuse University is in the implementation phase of its 2024-28 Plastic Reduction Plan, an outline of SU’s “phased approach” to reduce the use of single-use plastics on campus.
The plan coincides with the broader efforts outlined in the university’s ongoing sustainability goals.
The plan, released publicly in mid-May, includes a multi-step
phaseout schedule — presenting by what percentage the university plans to reduce a given single-use plastic product in each of the next four years.
By the 2027-28 academic year, SU will have completely halted its use of six different types of single-use products, including plastic to-go containers and straws.
SU’s office of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management drafted the plan following a university audit on plastic usage, completed in
spring 2024. Prior to publishing, the office also received input from the Sustainability Oversight Council — a group of student leaders, faculty members and administrators charged with overseeing sustainability policy changes.
“The Plastic Reduction Plan was written and developed by the Sustainability Management team, with the agreement and input of the Sustainability Oversight Council. The collaboration ensured that the plan
was comprehensive and aligned with our broader sustainability goals,” SU Sustainability Coordinator Melissa Cadwell said.
Its release came approximately one year after the university published new sustainability goals, updates to its original Climate Action Plan. The new sustainability goals came as a result of the publication of the Student Association’s December 2022 sustainability report, which called on the university to reduce its
carbon emissions and introduce more sustainable practices.
Olivia Curreri, a 2024 SU graduate and SA’s former vice president of university affairs, was one of the original authors of the association’s initial Sustainability Report. She said she believes the decision to develop and release a concrete Plastic Reduction Plan is evidence of the university’s commitment to its 2023 sustainability goals.
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INSIDE
The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.
NEWS
“I feel like for future students, having two combined majors of journalism kind of takes away from how special Newhouse is and can also make people in MND and BDJ feel like they are being clumped together and they’re not really as unique.” – Daisy Polowetzky
Page 1
CULTURE
“We are paving the way for more advocacy for Asian rights.” – Tai Shaw
Page 7
OPINION
“Under the social model of disability, institutional neglect to enforce COVID mitigation is what creates disability as a form of social oppression.” – Michael Kelly
Page 10
SPORTS
“My focus is definitely on Syracuse and what I can do to bring to the table for the team and help them bring home another national championship.” — Elton Chifamba
Page 12
COMING UP
Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: Game night & karaoke
WHEN: Aug. 29, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Community Folk Art Center
WHAT: Whitewater rafting
WHEN: Aug. 31, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Black River; meet at College Place
WHAT: Bollywood show
WHEN: Sept. 1, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Palace Theater
Explaining SU’s residence hall developments, future proposals
By Madeline Goodheart asst. digital editor
Throughout 2024, Syracuse University has undertaken and completed several new residence hall projects. As the class of second-year students settle into the newly-established Orange and Milton Halls, SU officials are also finalizing plans to construct two additional dormitories.
This year, the former Marion and Kimmel Halls — constructed in 1954 and 1962, respectively — sit vacant as the university evaluates plans to build a single, modern dormitory on the lot where they stand. SU has also initiated efforts to prepare construction on a proposed 703-bedroom student residence hall on the 700 block of Ostrom Avenue.
The dorm construction plans and other oncampus renovation projects are part of SU’s Campus Framework, a 20-year guide for SU’s physical campus development.
Chancellor Kent Syverud, who has spearheaded the Campus Framework initiative since his arrival in 2014, has previously stated that the new dorms aim to bring more students to North Campus. The decision to phase out South Campus came after a three-year university housing review, completed in March 2024.
The Daily Orange has broken down some of SU’s upcoming dorm additions.
Orange Hall
Orange Hall, which formerly held The Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center, was converted to a second-year residence hall over the summer. Around 400 students moved into the dorm this fall.
Previously, the building housed second-year students while still operating as a hotel for outside guests. Students were first placed in the former Sheraton in fall 2022 after an unexpected number of freshmen accepted admission offers, with about 400 additional students.
The conversion of Orange Hall was first announced November 2023, and renovations began after the spring 2024 commencement. The building features open double rooms with in-unit bathroom facilities.
Orange Hall contains the campus’s sixth dining hall, Orange Dining Center. The dining hall was first announced in mid-July, and is open to all students. Like other similar facilities on campus, the new dining hall accepts unlimited meal plans, block meal plans, dining dollars and ‘CUSE cash, as well as credit and debit cards.
Milton Hall
Formerly known as The Marshall and 727 S. Crouse Ave., Milton Hall — a former apartment complex — was purchased by the university in July 2021 for $70 million. Milton
Hall also provides housing for second-year students, fulfilling SU’s two-year on-campus living requirement.
Milton Hall is named after Laura and Jack Milton, two SU alumni and the owners of Milton CAT construction supplier. SU named the residence hall after receiving a “transformational estate gift” from the couple, according to a July 2024 SU News release.
The closest dining hall for students living in Milton Hall is Orange Dining Center. Milton Hall features studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments. The apartments also include full kitchens and individual bathrooms in each unit. Amenities include a fitness center, laundry facilities, study rooms and recreational areas.
Proposed Ostrom Avenue dorm
SU also has a proposed 703-bedroom, 4-to6 story residence hall on the 700 block of Ostrom Avenue. The building is set to have five wings, with one having access to Comstock Avenue, according to plans presented during a July 29 Syracuse City Planning Commission meeting.
“This ambitious plan will provide our students with the living environments they expect that will allow them to succeed and thrive,” Syverud said in February.
SU had initially planned to demolish 727 Comstock Ave., a 119-year-old former fraternity house that the university purchased for $3.14 million in 2022, and use the lot for the five-story Comstock wing of the proposed residence hall.
Amid an ongoing debate between the university and local city officials regarding the plans, the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board and City Planning Commission both voted in favor of designating the property as a local protected site. If designated, SU would have to go through a multi-step review process to be considered for demolition, potentially delaying the university’s plan to begin construction this year.
The Syracuse City Common Council, which gets final say on the 727 Comstock Ave. designation proceedings, will have its next opportunity to vote on the matter during its upcoming Sept. 3 meeting — which will be held at 1 p.m. in the Common Council chambers.
Kimmel and Marion On Feb. 26, 2024, Syrverud also announced plans to demolish Kimmel and Marion. Once demolished, the site — on Waverly Avenue, between Comstock and Walnut Avenues — will then be used to construct a single, modernized residence hall in its place.
Kimmel Hall was named for Claude L. Kimmel, a 1905 SU graduate. Kimmel served as a trustee for the university after graduation. Students first moved into Kimmel in 1962.
Marion Hall, named after Frank J. Marion, an 1890 SU graduate. Students began living in the building in 1954.
Following the announcement, former and current residents of the two dorms told The Daily Orange that the demolition and subsequent construction would be a good opportunity to improve campus living, citing outdated facilities and a lack of amenities. Both Marion and Kimmel were last renovated in 1988.
During a March 20 University Senate meeting, Syverud said that SU is still evaluating plans for the proposed Waverly Avenue dorm. mmgoodhe@syr.edu
GSO executives promote elections, upcoming meetings in town hall
By Duncan Green asst. news editor
Syracuse University’s Graduate Student Organization held its annual town hall to begin the 202425 academic year Wednesday night. The town hall outlined some of the organization’s plans for the year, including its meeting schedule, recruitment efforts and election proceedings.
During the meeting, GSO President Daniel J. Kimmel and the executive board welcomed prospective members and encouraged the audience to explore ways to participate in student government initiatives.
The organization is currently seeking new GSO senators, finance board members and multiple committee chairs. Throughout their presentations, members of the executive board called on graduate students in the audience to fill these roles.
“In this half-century-old graduate student government, as with many rights and freedoms, graduate students must diligently assert and exercise them, lest they fade away on our watch through indifference or indulgence,” Kimmel said. “By virtue of attending this town hall tonight, you have joined something rather special.”
Kimmel and Roger Rosena, GSO’s internal vice president, emphasized the need to fill its empty University Senate seats. The GSO USen representatives are charged with attending monthly meetings with administrators, faculty and undergraduate representatives. Rosena called the USen representative position a unique opportunity to offer perspectives to university leadership.
Currently, GSO has four university senators for the 2024-25 academic year. According to the USen bylaws, the organization has 11 total seats, leaving seven open ahead of elections.
“It’s important to have university senators staffed,” Kimmel said. “If we go to the administration fighting for greater representation, and they go back to us and say, ‘Well, you don’t fill the positions you do have,’ then that’s really bad for us.”
Rosena said GSO needs to appoint new academic program senators, who represent each program of study at the university and at-large senators. The 10 designated at-large senate seats can be filled by graduate students from any academic program, according to GSO’s website.
Senatorial representation for each graduate program is also crucial for funding purposes, Rosena said. Senators have the ability to advocate for fund allocations to their department and events, she said.
In the coming weeks, GSO will hold multiple outreach events, including its annual fall picnic Thursday and an upcoming election meeting next week, said Becca Vinciquerra, GSO director of external affairs and chair of its outreach and civic engagement committee.
She also said the organization intends to continue to use social media and GSO’s website as recruitment tools.
The first opportunity to elect new academic, at-large and university senators will come during next Wednesday’s GSO elections. In the town hall, Vinciquerra said that the organization will host its general meetings on the first Wednesday of
Wednesday night’s GSO
every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ auditorium.
“Graduate student government is a repeated exercise,” Kimmel said. “It takes people that get involved year after year. I hope to get involved in (the) recruitment and cultivation of our future leaders.”
The GSO town hall came 48 hours after a protest held at 727 Comstock Ave. led by Syracuse Employees International Union Local 200United, a union that includes many graduate students at the university. The protest was
organization
in response to the university’s recently proposed 2.5% pay raise for workers. SEIU set 10% as its lowest acceptable increase.
“They are not making the living wage they deserve. The GSO has partnered with many such movements over the past few years … We hope that people will come and engage with us,” Kimmel said. Kimmel also said that they have not heard of any recent plans to engage with SEIU, but would be happy to support the union’s goals. digreen@syr.edu @duncanigreen
During
meeting, the
called for graduate students to run for leadership positions, namely its empty USen seats. joe zhao video editor
Orange Hall (top left), Milton Hall (top right), the former Kimmel Hall (bottom left) and the 700 block of Ostrom Avenue (bottom right) are all key sites in Syracuse University’s most recent residence hall plans. lars jendruschewitz photo editor
Take me out to the
the Fair
Story by Rosina Boehm culture editor
Photos by Lars Jendruschewitz and Md Zobayer Hossain Joati the daily orange photo staff
Design by Lucía Santoro-Vélez presentation director
Immediately after entering gate three at the Great New York State Fair, moos and manure waft toward visitors as they move into the Dairy Cattle Building. For those already feeling thirsty, a vending machine nearby sells milk of all flavors.
The Cattle Building is just one part of the Fair – some entrances take visitors straight to the Iroquois Indian Village or Chevy Court, one of the music venues. Some visitors enter and hear clucks and neighs, while others hear “Cotton Eye Joe” playing at Miami Vice.
The Fair is hosted in Syracuse and attracts people from across the state. The 13-day event is approaching its final weekend. Syracuse University students can ride a shuttle to the Fair and explore its eats, animals, concerts and more.
If you haven’t gotten sick of the animal smells, the Fair offers several opportunities to connect with them. You can pet a llama before watching someone put their arm into a horse enclosure after specifically being told not to.
One of the most iconic parts of any fair is the food, and there are several options to choose from at the Syracuse fairgrounds. Start your day with a two-footlong lobster roll and have a punch or lemonade from a baby bottle. Finish your day with something pickle flavored – whether it’s pizza, lemonade, Pop-Tarts or your average fried pickles.
Many popular central New York foods can be found at the Fair. Beak & Skiff sells their 1911 hard ciders along with smoked meats and burgers. Several stands feature freshly squeezed lemonade in various sizes, even ones over a liter.
The New York State Maple Producers’ Association sells a range of maple products. You can find maple syrup, but also other maple-flavored foods like cotton candy and popcorn. The association vends both normal and obscure foods.
The NYSMPA are an example of how the Fair showcases what New York has to offer. The Carpenters Union Job and Training Opportunities has an apprenticeship program for 1,200 New York residents.
Other stands sell clothes, including New York Mets or Buffalo Bills jerseys. In addition, tie-dye can be found in many corners of the Fair along with other locally crafted goods.
After exploring the state’s vendors, head over to the carnival to test your limits. The Mighty Mouse is a jerky and short ride that might upset someone’s stomach after eating too much Fair food. Other rides can take you upside down or vertically while swinging back and forth.
If you’re feeling less daring, watch the sunset up above the entire Fair on the gondola or the Ferris wheel. Or, if you’re feeling daring with your money, find a carnival game to try to win a stuffed animal your size.
To take advantage of the carnival’s offerings, you must get a wristband near the entrance to redeem at all the stands as e-tickets.
The Fair also holds an array of performances. Catch a circus or smaller concerts in the Pan-African Village and Asian Village. The New York State Police display some of their missions, including demonstrations of its Underwater Search & Recovery Team and its Explosive Detection Canines.
Ahead of the Fair’s last weekend, several concerts will take place. The largest of the concerts take place at Suburban Park and Chevy Court. So far, Megan Moroney has made history as the second-largest concert ever at the Fair with 47,000 attendees and TLC canceled their show due to T-Boz’s illness.
Fans will find better luck this weekend with Flo Rida’s return to central New York following his Juice Jam headline last year. Other headliners include rapper Rick Ross and JAMS Funk Fest, a regional celebration of R&B and funk.
As the 2024 Great New York State Fair comes to a close on Monday, spend your Labor Day weekend enjoying all it has to offer.
rlboehm@syr.edu
Hate crime incidents in New York state reach new highs
By Delia Rangel asst. news editor
An August 2024 report from the Office of New York State Comptroller found that the state is experiencing a “surge” in hate crimes. The state has seen a record number of hatebased incidents since the year 2000, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a Wednesday press release.
The report, a summary of hate crime data mandated by the New York Hate Crimes Act of 2000, found 1,089 reported instances of bias-motivated criminal incidents in 2023. 669, or 61.4%, of the incidents occurred in New York City.
The state also recorded a 69% increase in hate crimes since 2019, the largest five-year increase noted in over 20 years worth of state data, according to the report. The previous fiveyear period, from 2015 to 2019, saw an increase of 28%.
The August 2024 report found that a majority of hate crimes in the state targeted Jewish people, Black people and gay men. In 2023, 44% of all recorded incidents targeted the Jewish community. Hate crimes against Black people and gay men made up for 17% and 12% of all incidents in the year, respectively.
The most common bias motivation reported in 2023 was religion, representing almost half of all reported hate crimes. Race, ethnicity and national origin were motivating factors for about one-third of reported hate crimes, according to the report. Sexual orientation made up for about 17% of reported incidents.
The report found since 2018 hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people rose by 89% and 106%, respectively. In 2023, antisemitic bias incidents accounted for the largest share of religious-based hate crimes.
The Hate Crimes Act required statewide hate crime data collection and annual reporting. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services is responsible for collecting and analyzing the data to later inform state policy and protective measures, the report said.
“I think it’s a good thing to let people kind of try some stuff out before they make a declaration like that,” Marquardt, a former BDJ major who has since switched to public relations, said.
Marketability and broader appeal to employers was a leading reason why students said they supported the merger. Kaiser said a broader journalism degree might be more advantageous for students in a changing job market, echoing Lodato’s thoughts.
Similarly, junior MND major Fei Chan said combining the two degrees might allow students to get a more well-rounded journalism education that includes visual communication skills, which have become increasingly important in the media industry. Bandier Program student Nina
“It’s one thing for a single consumer to try to reduce their use of single-use plastics, but it’s another thing for a university to make that commitment and allow there to be access to more sustainable uses,” Curreri said.
In its Plastic Reduction Plan, the university defines the following items as single-use plastics: disposable plastic utensils, water and drink bottles, straws, stir sticks, to-go containers, condiment packets, single-serving snack packs, shipping foam and promotional items such as balloons.
Through the Plastic Reduction Plan, data of each disposable plastic product will be recorded and analyzed based on inventory, product category, the current form of plastic product being used and how that product will then either be reduced, reused, eliminated or replaced. The Sustainability Management Team will also publish this data to its website, the plan states.
The plan also features multiple exemptions, permitting certain single-use plastics that do not have a “suitable replacement.” Some of these exceptions include laboratory products, health and safety items, beverage containers that hold more than three liters and any products used for accessibility accommodations.
Cadwell said the university has made “significant strides” toward on-campus plastic reduction since releasing its sustainability goals. Over the past year, SU has replaced almost all of the single-serve plastic cutlery at Schine Student Center eateries, she said. One of these dining
In April 2024, the New York Fiscal Year 2025 Budget added the Hate Crime Modernization Act, updating the Hate Crimes Act to classify 23 additional offenses as hate crimes. Additional offenses include biasmotivated gang assaults, sexual abuse and false incident reports.
Between 2019 and 2023, hate crimes rose in NYC by 59.3%, while the rest of the state saw an 87.5% increase, according to the report. In 2023, hate crimes in both NYC and the state increased by 12.6% and 12.9%, respectively.
Dave agreed, pointing to the industry’s shift toward digital media.
“It really shows the growth in the industry and where the industry is going … everything is becoming more digital and print magazines are kind of going away,” Dave said.
Junior MND major Alix Berman said the specified training that makes Newhouse students excel in the magazine industry could be lost in a generalized MND track.
“The reason Newhouse students do so well within the magazine industry is because they’re trained so specifically … while other universities don’t train them like that,” Berman said. “I don’t know how they’re supposed to do that if simply MND is your track; not magazine, not news, not digital, it’s just MND as a whole.”
MND and BDJ are “very different programs” that require distinct courses, senior BDJ major Katie Nedder said. She said she was concerned
The state budget also increased grant funding in 2022 to improve security and support for nonprofit organizations at higher risk of hate crimes. The state has allocated $10 million to support the development of local Threat Assessment and Management teams, which are dedicated to assessing and managing threats of targeted violence.
In response to the rise in hate-based crime, the state’s Division of Human Rights established the Hate and Bias Prevention Unit in 2022. DHR has 10 units across New York state that partner
that combining the majors might lead to an overwhelming number of students, given the high enrollment she’s seen in her BDJ classes. Berman and sophomore Julia Condro both called the merger “frustrating,” as it could lead to BDJ overshadowing MND in a combined program. Berman said the prospect of taking classes she isn’t specifically interested in, such as sports- or broadcasting-specific courses, would turn her away from Newhouse.
“All MND people I know just want to write and want to do investigative journalism, they don’t want to be on camera or do sports,” Condro said.
Freshman public relations student Juliet Seith and BDJ majors Alex McGruder and Curran Coakley emphasized the importance of preserving the strengths of both majors, but said they are not opposed to the merger. Coakley said the mix of resources could offer broader opportunities for journalism students.
options, Halal Shack, also transitioned from using single-use foil takeout pans to compostable bowls and lids.
Lastly, the plan mentions the initiative to educate staff and faculty on methods of composition and the use of more eco-friendly products. Along with a staff educating program, SA has added to its commitment to sustainability education as it’s set to publish
a green purchasing guide in the future to help students find more sustainable merchandise alternatives, Kaufman said.
“Single-use plastic items are widely used across campus and this commitment will take a concerted effort,” the plan reads. “Education and collaboration will be key in phasing out the use of these products and effectively implementing new practices.”
with community organizations to develop prevention strategies, offer support and education and resolve conflicts.
“Fighting hatred and bigotry demands that we communicate with, respect and accept our neighbors,” DiNapoli said in the release. “It requires our spiritual, political, community and business leaders to take active roles in denouncing hate, investing in prevention and protection efforts, and increasing education that celebrates the value of New York’s diversity.”
dsrangel@syr.edu
“At the end of the day, we are all journalists,” Coakley said. “I see the logic behind (the merge), but I would be interested to hear Newhouse’s reasoning behind combining them.”
Seniors Christina Kaden and Molly Lindstrom said that although combining the majors could result in a broader skill set, it also could lead to less focus on individual specializations. Kaden said it could ultimately lead to more confusion for new students who are already dealing with the “competitive” nature of Newhouse.
Seith shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that preserving the distinctness of each major is crucial.
“It’ll be interesting to see how (Newhouse stays) true to keeping them as separate entities through combining them,” Seith said. “I don’t want them to lose what makes each major unique.”
news@dailyorange.com
Another new initiative included in the Plastic Reduction Plan is the peer-to-peer educational program, created by SU’s Sustainability Management Team in 2023. The goal of the program is to raise awareness and educate others about sustainability practices and programs on campus.
SA has also introduced its own efforts to increase student engagement in sustainability improvement efforts. In 2023, the association established a Sustainability Forum — a group of SU and SUNY ESF students, as well as SA members, who meet to discuss and propose sustainable on-campus initiatives.
Izzy Kaufman, SA’s current co-director of sustainability, said she describes the Sustainability Forum as an outlet for students to voice any concerns and comments regarding the university’s sustainability practices.
“We’ve kind of grown it to be a forum, to be a more inclusive environment where people can just stop by, ask questions or just start getting involved,” Kaufman said.
SA also created its own internal Green Purchasing Guide to find sustainable alternatives for products required in its events and operations, which it first announced in January.
By 2025, SU aims to completely phase out plastic straws and stir sticks, as well as to reduce its use of to-go containers and condiments packets by 50%.
DISCLAIMER: Izzy Kaufman, SA’s sustainability co-director, is an opinion columnist for The Daily Orange. She does not influence the editorial content of the News section in her capacity as an opinion columnist.
cole ross digital design director
Hate crimes in New York state increased by around 70% over the past five years, with the state hitting an over 20-year high in 2023. The data were listed in an August 2024 report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller. max mimaroglu daily orange file photo
It takes a village
The Great New York State Fair’s villages allow local communities to share their culture with visitors
By Rosina Boehm Culture Editor
Asign near the entrance of the Pan-African Village at the Great New York State Fair reads, “World’s Best Rum Cakes.” James Cole, the owner, asked each person in the line of customers whether they wanted coconut, banana, black raspberry, Malibu or chocolate.
After trying a Malibu rum cake, one customer exclaimed, “Oh, my God” at the cinnamon, pineapple and coconut flavors.
“You hear people say, ‘Oh my God’ over and over,” Cole said. He tells another customer they “can’t go on a rollercoaster after this.”
Cole and Goodway Gourmet Bakery were among the many vendors at the Fair’s Pan-African Village. In addition, the Fair hosts the Iroquois Indian Village, Asian Village and Latino Village. The Iroquois Indian Village, which displays Indigenous — especially Haudenosaunee — culture, has been around for nearly 20 years, while the Asian Village is returning for its second year.
Goodway Gourmet Bakery raises money for Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York, for families who cannot afford the school’s tuition. As tunes of blues by Joe Louis Walker and Professor Louie & The Crowmatix play throughout the PanAfrican Village, Cole interacts with his customers in a lively way.
Cole’s family has been baking since 1979, selling challah out the back of their pickup truck. Since he focuses on his school, he said he’s happy selling for the RCA families. He does not mind being in the Pan-African Village because he simply likes the Fair – its food, its people, and since everybody likes rum cakes, it’s typically successful. It’s his first year in the Pan-African Village and his second year at the Fair.
Shane Hill spoke to visitors in the Iroquois Indian Village sporting a hat with pins that represent his different identities and interests as part of the Oneida Nation Wolf Clan. The pins include a “Be Yourself” Pride pin, along with Snoopy and Star Wars pins. Hill has been coming to the Fair his whole life because his brother danced at the Iroquois Indian Village, but this was his first year as a member.
Hill can be seen quizzing visitors on how to reuse items, like using dryer sheets as coffee filters. He wants to share the traditions of his people because he believes others can learn from them. Whether that be gardening or passing the Seneca language down multiple generations, Hill shares with anyone who listens.
He’s noticed improvements at the Fair this year, especially as agriculture director at the Iroquois Indian Village. Hill prepared for the Fair by planting violets and geraniums to mimic the colors of the Haudenosaunee flag. He said it’s in the same spot every year, so they might as well make it look nice. He also saw changes to one of the Iroquois Indian Village’s buildings that needs upkeep throughout the year. The changes let people learn more about others who are different from them.
“It’s a good symbol because we’ve been here forever, hopefully, we’ll always be here,” Hill said. “The fact that it’s something different and gives it a new twist on things, lets us know that it’s
okay
see villages page 9
shane hill smiles outside the Iroquois Indian Village. The village has been at the Fair for the past 20 years. lars jendruschewitz photo editor A group of Fashion Show performers poses for a photo in front of the Asian Village at the Great New York State Fair. md zobayer hossain joati contributing photographer
james cole speaks with customers at his stand, where he sells “The World’s Best Carribean Rum cakes.” His stand is in the Pan-African Village, one of four villages at the Fair. lars jendruschewitz photo editor
For newcomer vendors, the Great NY State Fair holds promise
By Nate Lechner Senior Staff Writer
A flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to Syracuse is uncommon, but the trip is worth it for Eli Haney. Haney is a co-founder of Eli’s Dyes, a clothing and lifestyle brand with a booth at this year’s Great New York State Fair.
“With the company’s expansion, this year was the first realistic year that we could support doing the Fair,” Haney said. “I’ve heard it’s a challenging Fair to get accepted to, but they seem thrilled to have us and accepted us right away.”
Eli’s Dyes is among several new Fair vendors. While their journeys to the fairgrounds are different, they all aim to spread positivity to fairgoers.
Haney started Eli’s Dyes in 2017 with his friend Eli Neaves after the two served as helicopter rescue swimmers in the United States Coast Guard. The company began from their love of positive vibes, adventures and tie-dye. Haney and Neaves started selling their clothing and accessories at local farmers markets and art walks before moving on to larger fairs and festivals, like Outside Lands in San Francisco. Eventually, they quit their jobs to focus on Eli’s Dyes full-time. The seven-year journey has taken the two Elis from Alaska to California and now New York.
“We always like to joke with people that we went from saving lives to slinging dyes,” Haney While there are familiar
Joan Jett concert inspires multigenerational bonds at the Fair
By Julia Pryor asst. culture editor
On the left side of the Suburban Park Stage, an interpreter translated Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ lyrics into American Sign Language as the band rocked the stage. Karen Engel and her daughter, Amara, who is hard of hearing, returned to the Great New York State Fair because of its accessibility, and this time, they also came specifically for Jett.
“Having interpreters is really nice. It makes the experience so much more enjoyable because we can enjoy it together,” Karen said.
The Great New York State Fair hosted rock ‘n’ roll legend Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on Wednesday for an unforgettable live performance. The crowd for the band ranged from adults who grew up listening to the band in the 1970s to toddlers watching the stage in awe from atop their father’s shoulders. The band has become a fairgoer favorite, featured on the stage five times since 2006 and last performing on Labor Day in 2021.
This year, the band’s performance fell on Women’s Day at the Fair, which gives fairgoers the chance to hear inspiring speeches from women leaders and advocacy groups. Jett defeated gender-based stereotypes in the 1970s and was coined the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
Wearing her signature black skinny jeans and combat boots, Jett ran onto the stage, igniting cheers and whistles from the audience. When the opening chords to “Shooting Into Space” resounded through the fairgrounds, a family in the front row broke into dance.
Shelly Canavan and her daughters are Syracuse locals and big fans of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Canavan already saw Jett and her band this summer on The Triple Moon Tour with Alanis Morissette.
Canavan said the crowd’s singing and dancing lacked energy during Jett’s set on the Triple Moon Tour. This time around, though, she had high hopes for the band’s performance and audience reception at the Fair.
“I just hope people are gonna dance and move,” Canavan said. “There’s nothing worse than coming to a show and people just sit there.
I’m hoping (Jett) gets a lot of movement tonight because she kicks it. She’s still rocking hard.”
The audience turned out for Jett and the band, with many singing along to every lyric and shouting, “We love you, Joan,” in between songs.
Perhaps the most energetic crowd members were Canavan’s daughters. The two jumped and danced alongside their mother throughout the set, and joined Jett in singing the words to their favorite song, “Cherry Bomb.”
By Sarah Wells humor columnist
As a Syracuse local, I’ve frequented the Great New York State Fair nearly every year of my life. My mom has actually told me I popped out of the womb and demanded fried Oreos on the spot. Or maybe I dreamed that, considering newborn babies can’t talk and also wouldn’t know what fried Oreos are.
I have a lot of wonderful memories from the fair. As a 6-year-old, I beamed while my face was painted like a unicorn by a grouchy teenager with a thin, dirty paintbrush. At 11, I got scammed by a carnival worker after I spent all $30 of my birthday money on a balloon dart game. At 19, I threw up a Gianelli sausage after riding The Claw.
On second thought, maybe I should’ve chosen memories that were a bit more positive. But hey, I’m no spokesperson.
I went to the Fair on Monday and, I have to say, I had a lot of fun. No scams or sausage vomit. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a million things they can improve.
For one, the butter sculpture has been very lackluster over the past couple of years. Sure, butter art was exciting in what? 1960? Personally, I think the gimmick is getting old. The best thing about the butter sculpture this year is that they put food coloring in the river part of the sculpture to make it blue. That sounds like a craft I would’ve done when I was 9.
Do you want to impress me, New York State Fair? Make a mayonnaise sculpture. Yeah. You heard me. Do it. Not laughing now, are we? Sure, anyone can freeze or melt butter to a moldable texture and carve a family’s face into it, but I haven’t heard about too many New York
State mayonnaise sculptures. You can’t really house it in the dairy building since mayonnaise doesn’t technically contain milk, but there are a lot of places for it! Maybe in between the dinosaurs at the Exposition Center? It doesn’t have to be front and center, just there. Or
maybe in the building with the chickens since mayonnaise is made of eggs!
I also passed a petting zoo during my time at the Fair. Pretty typical animals: goats, sheep, all of those guys. However, if I’m paying an entire $8 for a ticket to the “Great” New York State Fair, I wanna see a tiger. No, I wanna pet a tiger. You know, people are probably scared of tigers because they’ve never been in petting zoos. But who knows? Maybe if we domesticated them, they could become the next housecat! Having an organization of tiger breeders would definitely take care of the extinction problem. Fair organizers, please take note. I. Want. Tigers. The people want tigers.
I also noticed that there were a lot of cash-only dining options at the Fair. Like, exclusively cash-only dining options. OK, what era are we in? The 1900s? Do you think I’m just carrying around a heap of dollar bills in the pocket of my petticoat? Instead, I think we should bring back bartering. I’ll give you my left sneaker in exchange for an overpriced cheeseburger or perhaps an “I Heart New York” t-shirt!
Despite my qualms, I quite enjoy the Fair. I think with these improvements, it could be even cooler. As long as we have an emergency tiger tamer.
sswells@syr.edu
year at the Great New York State Fair, some joined the Fair for the first time. New vendors are excited to
md zobayer hossain joati contributing photographer see vendors page 10
flynn ledoux illustration editor
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts made their fifth appearance since 2006 and first appearance since 2021 on Wednesday. maxine brackbill senior staff photographer see joan jett page 10
Post Malone masters debut of country sound
By Griffin Uribe Brown staff writer
Post Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” marks the artist’s latest stop along his genre journey: country. And, it sounds nothing like his first album. The 57-minute-long album’s shimmering feature list would have been difficult to imagine singing alongside Post, until recently.
When he emerged into the music scene in 2015, the Syracuse-born, Texas-raised artist set his sights on hip hop’s heights. Spurred by SoundCloud success from “White Iverson,” Malone’s debut album “Stoney” includes iconic hits like “Congratulations” with features such as Justin Bieber, 2 Chainz and Quavo.
Malone solidified his status as one of modern music’s most prolific streaming giants with his sophomore album, “beerbongs & bentleys,” a colorful collection of hits that includes “Better Now” and “Psycho.”
With two strong records to his name, Malone took awkward steps further into pop in the second half of his discography: “Hollywood’s Bleeding” and “Twelve Carat Toothache.” Although he was still producing hits, Malone’s bold sound was fading, barring a few hidden gems in both albums.
Malone’s standout songs in each of these albums were soft, often acoustic, emotional tracks, like “Feeling Whitney,” “Stay” and “Reputation.” Last summer’s “AUSTIN” embraced those sounds, and feels truer to the artist than his previous work.
Although it’s not the sound he is known for, “AUSTIN” and “F-1 Trillion” may be Malone’s two most consistent albums. Both feel complete, fleshed out and cohesive. I immediately connected
with the mellow, vulnerable songs within the featureless tracklist of “AUSTIN.”
In making “F-1 Trillion,” Malone assembled the country music “Avengers.” The album’s roster of featured artists includes Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and other legends of the genre. If the music alone didn’t convince you of Malone’s legitimacy as a country artist, perhaps the list of contributors will.
“Baby, I don’t have the heart to break yours/ Yeah, and trouble rode in on the back of a pale white horse,” Malone and Parton duet on “Have the Heart.” Parton and the others on the album fit well with Malone’s sound.
Throughout the album, and its follow-up deluxe edition “F-1 Trillion: Long Bed,” Malone sings about themes originating from his debut: money, status, love and heartbreak. While this album sounds nothing like his first, there are still more similarities than differences.
“I got a thing for the finer things/I’m in that deer blind with a diamond ring,” Malone boastingly sings on “Finer Things” with Hank Williams Jr. “My lambo and my ammo’s all camo green/Yeah, I got an F-1 Trillion limousine.”
In 2015, Malone Tweeted: “WHEN I TURN 30 IM BECOMING A COUNTRY/FOLK SINGER.” The idea, in some capacity, was always there — and the 29-year-old is making good progress, hitting his goal a year early.
In retrospect, folk and rock sounds were present throughout the artist’s discography, even seeping into his lengthy list of hits in songs like “Chemical” and “Circles.”
“F-1 Trillion” leans into country music’s most wonderful cliches. The album earns its genre swap and doesn’t feel like a cheap parody. Malone, featured
on Taylor Swift’s spring album, made the most of his superstar status to curate this feature list.
Although many conversations may be around the jarring genre swap and the album’s supporting cast, credit should go to Malone for its gripping music. On songs like “Missin’ You Like This,” with Combs, the artist evokes many of the same emotions his older work did.
“And I’da called you crazy/After we were through/If you’d-a told me it would take me/ All my life to get over you,” Malone sings, lamenting over a past lover.
“F-1 Trillion” flaunts a distinctly country sound. There is plenty of mention of beer, women, trucks and whiskey. The album is charming and sounds polished. “F-1 Trillion” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and Top Country Albums chart, his third number one.
For the last few years, Post has livestreamed band sessions and covers on his YouTube channel, including a Nirvana tribute session at the peak of the pandemic. In collaborations throughout his career, from SZA to Ozzy Osbourne, Malone has proven himself as a cross-genre genius.
“F-1 Trillion” is the latest success in the artist’s genre-exploration projects. Now that he has broken beyond the confines of mainstream hip-hop, Malone’s future is packed with possibilities. Any longtime fan will point to rock as the obvious next pivot, but who knows?
It’s safe to say that the country “Ain’t How It Ends” for Malone’s baffling career path. What is clear: Post’s pop appeal is still his x-factor, and whatever he creates next will undoubtedly be a hit. gbrown19@syr.edu
this year, and believes it’s all because of his father – “a not-so-subtle brag.”
to be here and that the New York State Fair has allowed us to be here.”
C.P. Lacey and Josh Ross at Chevy Court
Chevy Court, located near the Gate 1 entrance of the Fair, hosts at least two concerts everyday. The Chevrolet Music Festival is bringing out Canadian singer-songwriter Josh Ross and comedian, dancer and impressionist C.P. Lacey. Ross was discovered in 2023 after his single “Trouble” earned a No. 1 spot on the Mediabase Canada Country Chart. An artist of three decades, Lacey will bring scarily accurate celebrity impressions to the stage. The Chevy Court performances are free with Fair admission and first come, first serve seating.
WHEN: Josh Ross — Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. and C.P. Lacey — Aug. 31 at 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. PRICE: $8
and
Located at the Fairgrounds’ west end, the Suburban Park stage hosts one concert each day. The biggest acts on stage include Flo Rida and Rick Ross. A nine-time Grammy-nominated artist, Rick Ross hits Suburban Stage Sunday with a larger-than-life setlist. Flo Rida, last year’s Juice Jam headliner, will add another stage to his resumé Thursday.
WHEN: Flo Rida — Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. and Rick Ross — Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.. PRICE: $8
Brownskin Band at Pan-African Village
Pan-African Village is located between the Center of Progress Building and the Wegmans Art & Home Center. Try traditional food from AfroCaribbean islands while listening to the Brownskin Band. The band name, formed in the combination with the founder’s last name and his instrument of choice, has won two SAMMY’s. Drum away in the John Heard Drumming Workshop and learn traditional drumming rhythms.
WHEN: Brownskin Band — Aug. 30 at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and Sept. 2 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.. PRICE: $8
Steve Trash at Empire Theater
Home to some of the best local music acts, the Empire Theater hosts all things theatrical. The Syracuse City Ballet performs as well as EcoMagician Steve Trash who performs with recycled items in his magic. Subtly communicating a unique ecological message through comedic quirks and magic, Trash can be found on stage three times a day.
WHEN: Steve Trash — Thursday Aug. 29 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday through Monday at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., respectively.
for everybody to change a little bit and learn new things about each other that we don’t know about each other.”
Unlike the Iroquois Indian Village, which has been around for 20 years, the Asian Village is just two years old. Winh Shaw, the son of the Village’s superintendent, Tai Shaw, said it was surprisingly difficult to keep it going this year. Many vendors don’t have a storefront and aren’t necessarily business owners. They worked closely with the New York State Department of Health to prepare for this year’s Fair.
The Asian Village has a bigger area this year, which has been better for growing their visitors, Shaw said. Even when it poured rain on the Fair’s opening day, people still came out to support them. Shaw is proud of their accomplishments
“It’s really nice, this year is more better and open,” said Susie Dang, who helped her son, who owns Ma Pow, sell his coconuts. “We have more people who can get to know us.”
Shaw sells Asian Village merch, like lanterns and hats with a logo that represents the diversity of Asian culture. Shaw said they chose to use bamboo as the letter “i” in Asian and Village and so far, people have loved the hats.
Like other villages, the Asian Village is not complete without its performances. Shaw’s father can be seen capturing videos of dancers, singers and more. Because the Asian diaspora is so vast, Shaw appreciates learning about other cultures.
“We are paving the way for more advocacy for Asian rights,” Shaw said. “I feel like they haven’t really been as talked about as maybe one or more races, so I just think it’s amazing that we are able
For Hill, as a gay man who was in the Iroquois Indian Village on Pride Day at the Fair, he was proud to see the Fair’s diversity growing in many different ways.
“That feels good because it’s more diversity,” Hill said. “There are gay people here. I’ve never seen that many people wearing pride like I have it (pointing to his pride pin).”
While diversity may be growing, others believe that not everything should just be separated. Instead, some suggest unity between other communities and the villages themselves, Cole said.
“The whole world should be one big village,” Cole said. “It’s all separated and jacked up, but mankind wasn’t put on this earth like that. We are all the same, so they might separate everything, but guess what? I’m just one of them.” rlboehm@syr.edu
PRICE: $8
Flo Rida
Rick Ross at Suburban Park
sara mcconnell contributing illustrator
said. “We both had a lot of natural passion and wanted to make a difference in the world and help people.”
Haney grew up in a small town in Alaska and never experienced something quite like the Fair. Bringing his product and energy to a new group of people inspires Haney to work harder than ever.
Becoming a national brand has brought significant logistical challenges to Eli’s Dyes, and the two are constantly traveling around the lower 48 states. Still, Haney feels confident in their ability to support the inventory and travel required to bring their clothes to thousands of people.
“When people come to our booth, they’re not just getting a tie-dye t-shirt or garment. They’re getting more of an experience,” Haney said. “Based on some of the interactions I’ve had over the week and the connections that I’ve felt with people in the booth, I can truthfully say that happiness has mutually been spread.”
Other vendors like Henna Squad had shorter trips to the Fair but the travel was equally as rewarding. Based in Jamaica, New York, Fatima and her husband Ali, who preferred not to share their last names, started Henna Squad in 2014
“Hello, daddy, hello, mom / I’m your ch-ch-chcherry bomb/ Hello world, I’m your wild girl/ I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb,” Jett sang.
Jett took notice of the crowd’s young rockers and tossed her guitar pick in their direction. The two searched for the pick with wide smiles and continued enjoying the show.
to bring traditional Indian Henna to a new audience. Fatima is from Hyderabad, India, and has been an artist for most of her life. Much like Eli’s Dyes, she began to create Henna designs in private for friends and family. When her work started to gain traction, she decided to turn her passion into a business.
In southern India, Henna paste is made from crushing Henna plant leaves, symbolizing joy in many cultures. In ancient times, Henna tattoos were used in place of physical jewelry to adorn the body for celebrations.
“It could be any celebration and happiness that we celebrate,” Ali said. “People come to the Fair to hang out and have fun, and that’s a part of a celebration.”
Fatima and Ali educate guests on Henna’s history and how it works. Traditionally, Henna tattoos are intentionally designed for specific purposes, such as weddings and birthdays. However, when Henna Squad is at the Fair, the artwork is less symbolic, and guests can stop by the booth for a quick, temporary tattoo.
Another difference between the Henna done at the Fair and traditional, celebratory designs is the education the Henna Squad provides visitors. For many guests, the Henna Squad booth will be the first time they get a Henna tattoo, Ali said.
To ensure guest safety, the Henna powder they use is made from plant-based, organic
Another audience member, Brittany Kro, drove from Rochester, NY to attend the concert and shared Canavan and her daughters’ love for Jett’s music. She, too, grew up listening to the band’s discography. Kro has seen Jett nearly a dozen times, from the Vans Warped Tour to the Queen Latifah Show, in her 20 years of being a fan.
Kro recounted the first time she met Jett following the 2010 release of “The Runaways,” a
products like water, sugar, lemon and essential oils.
“Those are the only ingredients in it,” Ali said. “It smells great and it never causes any allergic reaction on the skin. It can be done with any person of any age.”
Ali said Henna Squad has been applying to be a vendor at the Fair for three years, and he and his wife are excited to have been selected for the first time. The Fair always looks for new vendors but has limited licensing opportunities, according to the Fair’s website. Those hoping to have a booth at the Fair must submit a general application, get their menu approved and meet proper insurance qualifications.
Food truck Bees And Thank You also use the Fair to spread messages of peace and happiness. Based in Worcester, MA, Bees And Thank You is a honey-grilled cheese food truck focusing on environmentally friendly production.
They offer a gourmet raw honey-grilled cheese menu with pulled pork, pulled chicken, bacon, ham and gluten-free and vegan options. Ryan Margulis, president and co-founder of Bees And Thank You, said being a part of the Fair for the first time has given the business a new perspective on how many people its products and message can reach.
biographical movie about the rocker’s first allwoman band.
“I went to see ‘The Runaways’ movie on a Monday, and that Friday, me and my dad flew to New York City at the JFK Airport and we met (Jett) there,” Kro said. Now, over a decade later, she was excited to meet Jett again – this time, at the Fair and not by coincidence. Kro went to the concert with her father, who played Jett’s songs like “Bad
“Seeing how big everything is and all of the different amazing food options is so exciting. Just walking around is giving us so much inspiration,” Margulis said.
The increased number of customers has created logistical issues for Bees And Thank You, but their priorities have remained unchanged. If they have to change their ingredients to deal with increased demand, Bees And Thank You will continue to use environmentally friendly, locally sourced components. The honey featured in the grilled cheeses comes from local apiaries, which promote sustainable beekeeping practices.
“By supporting these local apiaries, you will be strengthening your body’s natural immunity while at the same time establishing a direct connection with amazing, local, small businesses,” Margulis said.
The NYSF attracts an average of 1.2 million people annually and is often the largest event any vendor will experience. While the large crowd can be challenging, Bees And Thank You is enjoying its time at the Fair and sharing its message with a new group of people.
“We hope to reach a larger audience and bring energy and mission to the NYSF. Of course, we hope it will be our busiest Fair to date, too,” Margulis said. “But more importantly, we hope to meet new people and let them know we want to save the bees and eat grilled cheese.”
nrlechne@syr.edu
Reputation” at home. Jett and the band closed out with the iconic tune.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts not only put on a great show, but united family members of various generations.
“We’ve always loved Joan Jett, and I was from the generation of MTV, so (her generation) had a different connection with the music,” Karen said.
jepryor@syr.edu
joan
New York shouldn’t ban masks, but provide and mandate them
Michael Kelly guest columnist
On June 12, New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed support for a mask ban on subways and at protests while other politicians in New York City, Los Angeles and North Carolina are considering or have already passed laws that ban masks in public spaces. Advocates for disability rights, civil liberties and other causes have raised alarm regarding how mask bans, even with formal exemptions for health and religious reasons, offer no guarantee of fair enforcement and can stigmatize masking in general during an ongoing pandemic. This said, I argue that we should oppose mask bans due to two vital functions.
Firstly, banning masks will enable easier surveillance of oppressed groups. Surveillance technology to catch protesters has increased around the world in light of the visible outpouring of support for the pro-Palestine movement. Additionally, activists have used masks to protect themselves from repression, surveillance and doxing by right-wing provocateurs.
To quell campus movements, police and administrators have threatened protesters in Florida, Ohio and Texas with arrest for wearing masks. Students at several colleges face code of conduct charges and threats toward future employment and student loan forgiveness for pro-Palestine protests. Indeed, these acts are consistent with the United States’ long record of state surveillance against Black, Indigenous, civil rights and anti-imperialist groups.
Secondly, mask bans downplay COVID-19 and thus avoid its social and political lessons. COVID-
19 has been a world health crisis, taking the lives of at least seven million people globally and 1.2 million people in the U.S. COVID infections have risen in 38 states this summer, and some hospitals and venues have even reinstated mask mandates.
Long COVID remains a widespread illness, affecting 6.8% of U.S. adults with fatigue, blood clots, lung, heart and neurological issues.
The first lesson of COVID some politicians are eager to avoid is that combatting a contagious, airborne respiratory virus is inherently collective and interdependent. It requires a state-directed public health response. Discourses of individual responsibility, “choice” or risk assessment are ill-suited: Is the choice to not mask based on accurate information? Does this choice impinge on other people’s freedom to inhabit public space? Would a mandate affirm a social right to protect oneself and others from illness and make spaces more accessible?
While many people in the U.S. may have had COVID and been asymptomatic or recovered, this is simply not the case for many immunocompromised people, who have suffered isolation, hospitalization and death at significantly higher rates during the pandemic. As disability justice authors have long pointed out, people with disabilities always face the burden of adjusting their lives against an assumed, ableist normal. No assurance of masking effectively endangers many immunocompromised and high-risk people. Under the social model of disability, institutional neglect to enforce COVID mitigation is what creates disability as a form of social oppression.
The activist movements some politicians now condemn have led the way in public health
practice. Participants at the Columbia University student encampment wore masks, while people with disabilities and activists have engaged in education and tough conversations regarding the importance of masking, even in leftist spaces.
Also, because COVID-19 is a world-scale problem, it requires international cooperation that would weaken U.S. military, economic and geopolitical hegemony. In 2020, the U.S. and European Union blocked a proposal at the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property protections so Global South nations could begin building productive capacity for vaccines and medical technology. Intellectual property regimes and patents have been a mainstay of U.S. policy since World War II through trade agreements and multilateral banking institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Patent holders can hoard technology and resources that Global South nations might otherwise access freely or more cheaply. This financial power allows the U.S. to impose unilateral economic sanctions on official enemy states – Venezuela, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe – which block medicine, food and technology, harming the population. Moves away from masking and COVID-19 awareness further downplay the ongoing urgency to end intellectual property and sanctions regimes for the sake of global public health.
Thus, structural changes to U.S. society are needed to address the underlying social conditions that spread illness. We can learn from the 1951 Civil Rights Congress’ We Charge Geno -
Stephanie Wright EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
cide petition that defined genocide as the “willful creation of conditions making for premature death, poverty and disease.”
On housing, failure to extend eviction moratoria in 2021 – a gift to landlords and real estate capital who treat homes as financial assets or sources of rent revenue – led to over 10,000 additional deaths. On criminal justice, there were calls to decarcerate as prisons are incubators of COVID, and continue questioning the social function of prisons at all. On employment, vulnerability to COVID-19 in the workplace helped catalyze a wave of labor organizing. By downplaying COVID-19 and banning masks, its most visible reminder, politicians help bury these important lessons.
Universities remind students and staff that their policies are consistent with county, state and CDC legal guidelines. But adherence to the U.S. government’s public health orders is not sufficient when laws are inadequate or unjust. We can and should define our own ethos around disability, national and social liberation. Mask mandates, political education on who is vulnerable as well as public health measures to provide masks can enlist, educate and organize people toward that political project. Legislation that does not protect the vulnerable needs opposition. People should be enabled and encouraged to think for themselves when it comes to contemplating the extent to which lawmakers have the responsibility to protect their constituency.
Michael Kelly is a Ph.D student in the department of Geography and the Environment. He can be reached at mtkell01@syr.edu.
Cooper Andrews
Cassandra Roshu
samantha siegel contributing illustrator
Before, Chifamba could sit between the two center backs and dictate the pace of play as a defensive midfielder. He was forced to be more of a workhorse in the new formation, flying between the 18-yard boxes. But Chifamba was held out of Clemson’s regular lineup, starting just seven games.
Clemson went on to win its second national title in three seasons in 2023. This time, Chifamba wasn’t on the field to celebrate. He entered his name in the transfer portal before Clemson’s NCAA Tournament run.
“He needed to do that for himself,” Parrish said of Chifamba. “He needed to give himself the time to get somewhere that he really wanted to be in.”
When Chifamba woke up the morning after entering the portal, he had received an email from Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. The two exchanged phone numbers and a conversation ensued.
“I wasn’t waiting too long,” McIntyre said.
Not only did McIntyre coach against Chifamba in the ACC, but he even recruited him out of high school. Chifamba was a highly-touted prospect in the Columbus Crew’s academy and had experience playing for the United States’ U-17 National Team.
There was a trust factor from McIntyre. His familiarity with Chifamba ensured he was a good player and would fit into Syracuse’s system. The feeling was mutual.
Chifamba said SU’s program “doesn’t need an introduction.” During Syracuse’s 2022 national championship season, Chifamba started in Clemson’s two games versus the Orange, where SU won both. First, it upset then-undefeated-No. 1 Clemson 2-1 on Sept. 16. Then, they met again in the ACC Championship two months later, which Syracuse won 2-0.
Every time Chifamba matched up against SU, he knew it would be a battle. He gained a level of respect for its program. So when McIntyre connected with Chifamaba, it was no surprise they hit it off.
“I just knew that (Syracuse) was the place that I wanted to be based on that first conversation,” Chifamba said.
Chifamba enrolled at Syracuse for the 2024 spring semester. The transition wasn’t difficult going from one top-tier program to the next. From the spring into the summer, Chifamba performed at a high level, McIntyre said. It didn’t take long to establish himself at the heart of Syracuse’s midfield.
The air-conditioning of the building has improved with the cooling process starting Friday afternoon for Saturday games. Sala said that during the summer concerts the Dome hosted, they even asked to warm the building up because of how cold it was. Wireless connection remains to be seen, but the JMA Wireless systems should be up and running, per Sala. Sala, who worked on the roof renovation previously, says this was a much more difficult project and is far more important because of how directly it impacts fans. With the renovations inside the Dome, the Miron Victory Court will be completed later this fall. The Dome still needs some finishing touches before Saturday’s kickoff but Sala said, for the most part, it’s ready for SU fans to take their seats.
“We’re ready for Saturday,” Sala said. “We’ll go right to the wire on Friday night, getting things done.”
NIL discussions
When discussing Name, Image and Likeness in college sports, Wildhack said Syracuse’s fundraising goals throughout the community have increased since the hiring of Brown in late November.
“We’ve made great progress. Over the past nine months, we have had more businesses, local businesses, step up in a meaningful way,” Wildhack said.
One of the businesses Wildhack used as an example was Feldmeier Equipment, Inc. The company’s main headquarters are in Syracuse, and with the help of its president and CEO Colby Clark, it has helped transform SU’s NIL efforts.
“ We need that corporate support,” Wildhack said. “That’s going to enable us to have a competitive NIL program. Because if we do, you can see the results. If you don’t have a competitive NIL program, Kyle McCord is not here. Fadil Diggs isn’t here. Some of our veterans who returned aren’t here.” Wildhack also discussed the ongoing House v. NCAA settlement case and how it could affect SU Athletics. Currently, the settlement (which hasn’t been passed yet) would have Power Four schools paying over $20 million per year over the next 10 years. While Wildhack says he and every athletic director in the country are currently
Unlike with SU, it was a gradual climb for Chifamba to gain a place in Clemson’s starting 11. When Chifamba was a freshman, the Tigers’ roster was loaded with upperclassmen, many of whom returned for a fifth year.
The expectations were high. Clemson was coming off a penalty shootout loss to Marshall — the eventual national champions — in the third round of the NCAA Tournament a year earlier. The Tigers were a hungry group, according to former Clemson defender Isaiah Reid. So, Chifamaba had to raise his level of play.
He instantly displayed his potential. Every day following Clemson’s exposure camps for high schoolers in June 2021, the team broke into small-sided games. Reid was impressed by Chifamba’s one and two-touch passes in tight spaces to keep the ball. When games expanded to larger areas, Chifamba showcased his passing range. Long diagonal switches became a staple.
Despite being relatively undersized as a defensive midfielder, standing 5-foot-6, Chifamba made up for it with his soccer IQ. He kept things simple, Parrish said. Chifamba moved the ball quickly and didn’t look to dribble past players one-on-one.
“He’s very soccer clever, and used his mind a lot to make sure that he could compensate for the give and take of what he was lacking,” Parrish said.
Most of Chifamba’s early obstacles came due to college soccer’s physicality. Parrish said he utilized his body position and angles well, but he sometimes got overpowered. Noonan gave him time to acclimate, often being deployed as one of the first guys off the bench.
In his first two seasons, Chifamba worked tirelessly in the gym to develop his upperbody strength to carve out a more consistent role. It started paying dividends during his sophomore year. Chifamba continued to play fast, but not rushed. Parrish could tell things were slowing down in his mind and Chifamba was more precise.
With national-championship experience under his belt, Chifamba attained more individual success as a sophomore. He appeared in every contest, starting in all but one. The Tigers won six straight games yet faltered down the stretch, finishing the regular season 10-5-1. Clemson, the No. 8 seed, made a deep run in the ACC Tournament before losing the championship game to SU.
A week later, the Tigers fell 2-1 to UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where Chifamba played 88 minutes. It was his last postseason appearance with Clemson.
Chifamba has the chance to make the same impact with Syracuse. His playstyle has largely
remained the same, yet his role within the squad has changed. On a team with 12 freshmen, Chifamba stands out as a seasoned veteran.
“He’s just a guy that always knows everyone’s roles and everyone’s positions. And he’s just an overall great communicator for the team,” sophomore midfielder Nathan Scott said.
Through two games, it’s been smooth sailing for Chifamba and Syracuse. He’s controlled the tempo in wins over Colgate and Niagara. The Orange have outshot their opponents 44-6 with Chifamba pulling the strings in the midfield.
After a turbulent junior season, Chifamba is back to his best. While he doesn’t reminisce about the past, Chifamba enjoyed his time at Clemson, developing from a role player to a star midfielder. He understands that’s behind him and has moved on. Now, Chifamba has similar championship aspirations, just with a different team.
“My focus is definitely on Syracuse and what I can do to bring to the table for the team and help them bring home another national championship,” Chifamba said.
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@ZakWolf22
trying to figure out the complicated nature of the settlement, his goal is to remain competitive no matter the circumstance.
“I’m not going to commit to a specific number yet today, because we’re figuring this out. We spend a portion of every day on it, in terms of various modeling and scenario planning. But we will be competitive,” Wildhack said.
Football season excitement
Before speaking on the excitement surrounding Syracuse football, Wildhack announced the school will honor one of its legends. The late Dick MacPherson, who
coached the Orange from 1981-90, will become the ninth inductee into SU’s Ring of Honor. MacPherson will be honored during Syracuse’s Nov. 23 home game versus UConn and also will have the Hendricks Chapel Food Pantry dedicated to him.
Segwaying into the 2024 season, Wildhack said he is “very pleased” with what head coach Fran Brown and his staff have done throughout training camp. Brown has assembled a “really, really good team” in Wildhack’s eyes that has grown closer through competition in training camp. Wildhack hopes to see progression in the strength and durability of the team. The
Orange have increased their size across the roster and he sees it as a possible chance to erase the November breakdowns that have plagued them in the past.
Entering his ninth football season as the Director of Athletics, Wildhack sees a difference in the state of SU’s program heading into 2024.
“This is the most excitement I’ve seen going into a season,” Wildhack said. “We had a lot in 2019 coming off the 10-win season, but I think this eclipses it.”
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@AidenStepansky
elton chifamba has brought stability to Syracuse’s midfield in 2024. The senior has helped the Orange to a 2-0 start with wins over Colgate and Niagara. joe zhao video editor
from page 16
wildhack
SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack and the university’s CFO Pete Sala spoke with the media Wednesday to discuss the JMA Wireless Dome renovation project. Wildhack also touched on NIL initiatives and the upcoming football season. brycen pace asst. photo editor
Beat writers agree SU begins Fran Brown era with win over Ohio
By Daily Orange Sports Staff
This offseason, Syracuse football has undergone one of the biggest transformations in its history. The hiring of Fran Brown on Nov. 28, 2023, has changed the direction of the program in its recruiting style, intensity and overall legitimacy. He’s brought in plenty of talent from the transfer portal like quarterback Kyle McCord and defensive end Fadil Diggs, among others. He also helped retain Oronde Gadsden II, Marlowe Wax, LeQuint Allen Jr. and Justin Barron.
While Brown has revolutionized SU in many aspects off the field, it’s still yet to be seen if the product will translate to the gridiron. The first test to see Brown’s work in game-action comes Saturday against Ohio. The Bobcats are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons, but have lost multiple key pieces.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse will fare in its season opener versus Ohio:
AIDEN STEPANSKY (0-0) BOBCAT BEATDOWN
SYRACUSE 33, OHIO 13
Syracuse’s 2023 season started with as much of a layup as possible. The Orange ripped through Colgate 65-0 for one of the largest wins in team history. This season’s opener, under a different regime, poses a harder task in Ohio, but I still see SU cruising to its first win under Brown.
While I do see McCord and the rest of the offense breaking out throughout the season, I don’t see them having as big of a day as my fellow scribe Cooper. It’s important to remember there could be some growing pains along the way. And, the Ohio defense, though overhauled in the offseason personnel-wise, ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense. Additionally, the Bobcats allowed just three teams to score 21 points or more a season ago.
On the defensive side though, I do see a great start to the campaign for Elijah Robinson and Co.
field hockey
Our beat writers believe Fran Brown will get out to a winning start against Ohio in
as
Ohio starting quarterback Parker Navarro has little college experience and the Bobcats have lost their entire receiving core. The Orange secondary is one of its strongest suits and will excel in their new 4-2-5 system. Though I don’t see a real high-scoring affair in the season opener, the energy around this team and in the Dome will be high Saturday. The Orange will pull away at the beginning of the second half and easily secure an opening day victory, a great segway into a pivotal ACC opener versus Georgia Tech in Week 2.
COOPER ANDREWS (0-0) SWAG LIKE OHIO
SYRACUSE 42, OHIO 17
Brown said at his first weekly Monday press conference of the regular season that he
considers Ohio to be better than Syracuse. The Bobcats are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons, while the Orange haven’t earned double-digit victories since 2018.
Without context, Brown may be right. But the first-year head coach is just being nice ahead of SU’s season-opener. Compared to Ohio, the Orange are in another stratosphere. Both programs featured plenty of turnover this past offseason. Yet, one gained McCord under center and one didn’t — a mere microcosm in the two teams’ talent differences.
All six All-MAC selections that the Bobcats had last year are now gone. Their starting quarterback over the last three seasons, Kurtis Rourke, transferred to Indiana. Their defense went from being the nation’s fourth-ranked group in 2023 to losing their defensive coordinator and their top-three tacklers. Simply put, the team Brown lauded has been utterly decimated.
JUSTIN GIRSHON (0-0) TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
SYRACUSE 35, OHIO 17
Ohio is the perfect first opponent for the Orange to begin the season with. McCord will ease into SU’s offense playing against a weaker opponent. Expect Fadill Diggs and Denis Jaquez Jr. to have a field day on the edges, too. The Dome is sure to be electric for one of Syracuse’s most-hyped campaigns in a while, and all signs point to Brown’s squad delivering a victory over an unknown Bobcats side. While Brown praised Ohio before taking the sidelines as a head coach for the first time, Syracuse should have a lot of confidence heading into its season opener. The Orange not only have significantly more talent than they did a year ago, but they also should dominate on both sides of the ball against an inferior Bobcats squad.
As Aiden noted earlier, McCord and SU’s offense will take time to gel and have growing pains along the way. But this isn’t Michigan in Ann Arbor. This is Ohio traveling to the Loud House in one of the most hyped-up Syracuse games over the last decade.
Whether it’s McCord picking apart the defense or Allen Jr. running through it behind a revamped offensive line, I find it hard to believe SU won’t be able to rapidly move the ball early to set the tone for a multi-score win. On the defensive side, the Orange are revamped with playmakers in all three levels and I expect them to have their way early on as well.
After getting off to a strong start, I expect Syracuse to fully establish the run in the second half and cruise toward its fourth consecutive opening-game win.
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SU field hockey 2024 season preview: Goalie battle, new additions
By Jordan Kimball asst. digital editor
Following a 10-7 regular season and NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals loss in 2023, Syracuse field hockey placed No. 10 in the 2024 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Preseason Poll. After a disappointing loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament, SU has significant hopes for the 2024 season. Though, with the departure of many key players, its plans to obtain high seeding in the Atlantic Coast Conference will run through a challenging schedule and a young team.
To begin 2024, Syracuse was ranked fourth in the ACC Preseason Poll. The Orange are tied with Louisville and feature one player on the conference’s All-ACC Preseason Team — senior midfielder Willemijn Boogert.
Here’s everything to know before Syracuse field hockey starts the season Friday on the road against Lock Haven:
Re-tooled roster
With Boogert being one of only four seniors on the roster this year, Syracuse needs to rely on its youth. The team features six freshmen and seven sophomores, most of whom have limited time playing at the Division-I level.
Louise Pert, Vivian Rowan and Olivia Bell round out SU’s senior class. Pert, a goaltender from Ireland, appeared in six games as a sophomore, playing over 100 minutes and making two saves on the season. As a junior in 2023, the goalkeeper missed the season with a lower-body injury but returned to practice late in the year. Rowan, a forward, appeared in nine games last season. She took three shots, two of which came against Wagner. Bell, a forward, appeared in all 19 games last season for the Orange, notching a career best in appearances. She started six games while tallying four goals and one assist.
With Boogert and Bell’s experience, SU needs its seniors to uplift the younger and less experienced players. With three of the Orange’s top-four point scorers for the 2023 season leaving, players such as sophomore Hattie Madden, junior Lieke Leeggangers and redshirt junior Aiden Drabick will be forced to take a more prominent role. Aside from just seniors, freshman midfielder Cato Schreinemacher has left the team, which is a considerable loss for SU. She appeared in all 19 games, making five starts. Schreinemacher notched the first goal of her college career against No. 8 Louisville and finished the year with nine assists. She was pivotal to SU’s offense and defense and will be difficult to replace.
Stiff showdowns
The ACC is commonly referred to as the most competitive D-I field hockey conference. According to the NFHCA preseason poll, the ACC fields seven of the top 20 field hockey programs, with defending NCAA champion North Carolina leading the conference ranked No. 2.
For Syracuse to succeed this season, it must win its ranked matchups. In 2024, SU will face seven of the top 20 teams in the country. With 17 games on the schedule, 41% of its matchups come against ranked opponents.
In 2023, it was challenging for the Orange to play at home. In ACC play last season, Syracuse went 0-3 playing at J.S. Coyne Stadium. After a 9-0 home record in 2022, the 0-3 record was a surprise. In 2024, SU must win its home contests, especially in conference play.
The Orange will officially begin their season on Friday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m. when they face Lock Haven. SU then gets right into difficult matchups, matching up against No. 16 Penn State and then No. 13 Ohio State. Syracuse’s biggest game of the season is on Sept. 20 against No. 2 UNC at Chapel Hill. For the rest of their season, the Orange face a number of nonconference opponents, including Longwood, Princeton, Bucknell and UConn, before the ACC Championship begins on Nov. 5.
Goalie battle
Throughout SU’s preseason practices and exhibition games, there has been a significant goaltender competition. Syracuse currently has two goaltenders who have been playing at a high level. First, there is Vera Hekkenberg, a freshman from Naarden, Netherlands. She played club field hockey for the Gooische Hockey Club and helped lead it to a runner-up finish in the indoor championships.
On the other side of the battle is Pert, who missed her entire junior season with an injury. She played in six games as a sophomore and five as a freshman, both with limited minutes, but still has much more experience than Hekkenberg.
SU’s goaltender last season was team co-captain Brooke Borzymowski. She started in the first 13 games before being sidelined with a lower-body injury. On the season, Borzymowski made 27 saves in 737 minutes of action, including a season-best nine against No. 6 Virginia in a double-overtime loss. With the loss of Borzymowski, SU will look to Hekkenberg or Pert to step up.
Jordankimball@gmail.com @JordanKimb84309
Following an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals loss in 2023, Syracuse field hockey begins 2024 ranked No. 10 in the NFHCA Poll. lars jendruschewitz photo editor
his first game
SU’s head coach.
joe zhao video editor
Improved offense helped SU women’s soccer to undefeated start
By Noah Nussbaum asst. copy editor
Syracuse’s offense has drastically changed in 2024. Last season, the Orange scored just 16 goals and attempted 7.7 shots per game. Through four games, SU has scored over half the goals (10) it did during its last campaign while averaging five more shots.
The Orange’s (3-0-1, Atlantic Coast Conference) newfound offense has led to success as they’re undefeated through four games, already eclipsing their win total from last year.
In the offseason, Syracuse head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams revamped its attack. She added a number of offensive weapons, including Mia Klammer. The striker led Division II in points last season with The College of Saint Rose. Klammer’s addition, along with others like Ava Uribe, has made SU’s attack a greater threat.
Much of SU’s success this season has come due to its first-half performances. Six of its 10 goals have come within the first 45 minutes. In their most-recent contest against Mercyhurst, the Orange tallied four first-half goals.
The Orange have struck first in three out of four games. Last season, they only held first-half leads four times. These quick starts have allowed Adams to use her bench to keep her team fresh later on.
“It’s a pattern that I’ve been seeing all season long so far,” Adams said. “Being able to get that done in the first half takes a little bit of pressure off of us, and then we can start rotating substitutions, which is nice for the starters.”
In 2023, Syracuse struggled mostly due to its offensive shortcomings. It finished the year with a 2-14-2 record, one of the worst finishes in program history.
The Orange were decimated with injuries in 2023. SU lost Uribe, a former four-star recruit from Penn State before the season due to a torn ACL. Defender Emma Klein went down in the third game with a hamstring strain, sidelining her for the remainder of the season. By the end
Everything to
By Aiden Stepansky asst. sports editor
On Nov. 28, 2023, Syracuse hired Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as its 31st-ever head coach, ushering in a new era of SU football.
Since Brown’s hiring, he’s been exceptional on the recruiting trail, both through prep ball and the transfer portal. Additionally, he helped to keep some of the Orange’s best players from 2023, further fortifying the roster.
All that’s left is to see if Brown can transform SU on the field. The first test for Brown and his staff is Ohio. Hailing from the Mid-American Conference, fourth-year head coach Tim Albin has led the Bobcats to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including a conference championship in 2022. Despite his first opponent being outside the Power Four, Brown sees a difficult task in conquering the Bobcats.
“I would never say we could underestimate them because they have two 10-win seasons and I don’t think we did,” Brown said Monday. “So, in my eyes, they’re a better football team than we are when you go back to what’s been done.”
Here’s what to know before Syracuse’s first game of the 2024 regular season Saturday against Ohio at the JMA Wireless Dome:
All time series Syracuse leads 3-0.
Last time they played …
In the first matchup in almost a century between the Orange and the Bobcats, SU opened its 2021 season with a commanding 29-9 road victory over Ohio. Running back Sean Tucker started his single-season rushing record season with a bang, totaling 181 yards en route to an eventual 1,496-yard campaign on the ground.
Syracuse’s defense put up one of its best games of the year as well, not allowing a touchdown and limiting Ohio to three field goals. Meanwhile, quarterback Tommy DeVito and Tucker bulldozed through the Bobcats with three rushing touchdowns, cruising to a 20-point win.
The Bobcats report Though Ohio enters 2024 as one of the best teams in the MAC in recent years, its offseason indicates a possible drop-off in production.
Offensively, former MAC Offensive Player of the Year Kurtis Rourke has left for Indiana after 34 career starts with the Bobcats. In Rourke’s place enters Parker Navarro, who has attempted just 40 passes across one season at UCF and two
of conference play, a quarter of the roster had missed significant time.
This tied Adams’s hands. She was forced to play her starters longer than she wanted to because of a limited bench. Fatigue led to a lack of goals and Adams looked to upgrade the roster.
The Orange first added some pieces out of the transfer portal — Julia Dening (Siena), Klammer (Saint Rose), Moo Galbus (North Carolina), Dalani Stephens (UNC Greensboro) and Julia Coval (Gardner-Webb).
know
So far in 2024, SU hasn’t been as unlucky with injuries. Besides Klammer being out to start the season and starting goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch missing the last two games, everyone else has stayed healthy. Uribe is also back on the field and has started each of the first four games.
“I knew as long as we could be healthy going into this season, this could be a really good start for us,” Adams said following Syracuse’s victory over Mercyhurst Sunday.
In the first game of the year against UMass, the Orange scored two goals in the first 20
minutes and never looked back. Uribe scored her first collegiate goal in the 13th minute and assisted another to Ashley Rauch seven minutes later, clinching the 2-0 shutout.
Later that week, Syracuse tied Maine 1-1, the only game so far that it didn’t score first. After an early goal by the Black Bears, Iba Oching netted the equalizer in the 70th minute, knotting the score at 1-1.
In its next game against Siena, it took two minutes into the second half for SU to garner a lead when Rauch recorded her second goal of the year. But the Orange cruised to another 2-0 victory after their top goal scorer in 2023, Erin Flurey, added a second.
“Against Siena, I thought we were fine in the first half,” Adams said. “(We) couldn’t get a rhythm in the final third. (We made) two adjustments at halftime and then it broke through.”
But Syracuse’s best performance of the year came Sunday against Mercyhurst. The Orange scored four goals in the first 31 minutes, leading to a 5-0 win. Because of the large lead, Adams used every available player on her bench. Only Kylen Grant played a full 90 minutes.
“I think our offense did a really good job of checking back today and showing for the ball,” Stephens, who scored two goals in the match, said postgame. “It’s something we’ve been working on in practice extensively, so it was really good to see that come out in the game.” Adams believes that these strong starts will pay off in ACC play. Syracuse didn’t win a single conference game last season. But with increased attacking production, Adams feels her team can be comfortable against better competition.
“I think what this team is finding is we are all one, trying to compete for the same goal, so if you’re a starter or a reserve, whatever minutes you have, it’s more about valuable minutes rather than individual stats with this team,” Adams said. njnussba@syr.edu @NoahNuss99
about Ohio before SU’s season opener
at Ohio. Navarro played in Ohio’s Myrtle Beach Bowl win over Georgia Southern last season and recorded an impressive 83.6 overall grade on the year, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I watched him in the bowl game, this kid can play,” Brown said of Navarro Monday. “Definitely a dual threat so I’m excited to go against him.”
While Navarro’s protection on the left side is different, Second Team All-MAC center Parker Titsworth returns for his sixth year with the program. The Bobcats did lose most of their receiving core, including Sam Wigulsz to the NFL, but they brought in Coleman Owen from Northern Arizona to be one of their primary weapons.
On the ground, redshirt freshman Rickey Hunt Jr. will share snaps with Northwestern transfer Anthony Tyus III. The Bobcats are a mostly-new team, but still a program that has proven year in and year out that it can compete.
How Syracuse beats Ohio Syracuse defeats, and likely dominates, Ohio by attacking the Bobcats’ new linebackers. A season ago, Ohio’s star linebacker tandem of Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson did the majority of
its tackling, totaling 221. Both were named to the All-MAC First-Team Defense for their efforts.
But since then, it’s lost both, as Houston graduated and Thompson transferred to Pitt. With its core gone, the defense that ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense (15.85 points against per game) will need Bucknell transfer Blake Leake along with redshirt junior Shay Taylor to step up.
With LeQuint Allen Jr. returning after a breakout sophomore season and true freshman Yasin Willis contributing, the Orange can exploit Ohio’s fresh faces in the middle. The run game excelling sets up Kyle McCord to get things going in the run-pass option game and in play-action scenarios.
“We have our hands full,” Albin said of SU’s offense during an Aug. 26 press conference. “They’re gonna put us in a lot of run, RPO conflicts because the McCord kid can create with his feet and they’ve got the weapons on the perimeter and at tight end to take full advantage.”
Stat to know: 13
In 2023, Ohio secured back-to-back 10-win seasons and two bowl wins in as many years. But when a
mid-major school becomes a powerhouse, it often consequently gets pulled apart in the transfer portal.
The Bobcats lost 13 key contributors to Power Four schools this offseason, according to On3’s recruiting tracker. They did bring in nine transfers to replenish, but Ohio is largely a different team personnel-wise in 2024.
Player to watch: Adonis Williams Jr., defensive back, No. 5
While the Bobcats lost a flurry of talent through the transfer portal, one of their most promising defensive starters returns for his junior season. Williams has been a key contributor to the Ohio defense since his freshman season in 2022, primarily playing nickel while also appearing at safety.
Though only recording one interception over two years, Williams is advanced in coverage, scoring a 71.4 coverage grade in 2023, per PFF. As a staple of the Bobcats’ secondary, the 6-foot-2 defensive back will surely test the new-look SU air attack in its opening game. amstepan@syr.edu @Aidenstepansky
After scoring just 16 goals last season, Syracuse women’s soccer has already registered 10 in just four games. calysta lee staff photographer
Syracuse takes on Ohio in its first game under first-year head coach Fran Brown. The Bobcats have won 10 games in back-to-back seasons, including two bowl game victories. joe zhao video editor
Three years
ago,
Elton Chifamba helped Clemson win a national championship. Now, he hopes to do the same with Syracuse.
By Zak Wolf sports editor
Elton Chifamba aimlessly ran around WakeMed Soccer Park. A euphoric feeling filled him following Clemson’s 2-0 win over Washington in the 2021 NCAA Championship. There was only one problem. Chifamba didn’t know how to celebrate. He waved his arms and frantically scanned the field as huddles formed. Everything was a blur until he locked eyes with a familiar face — his older brother, Lincoln Chifamba. Initially befuddled at how Lincoln made it onto the field, Chifamba didn’t care. The two shared a warm embrace.
“What are you doing here?” Chifamba questioned.
“I jumped the fence,” Lincoln said with a smile.
All the two could do was laugh. Lincoln said that with 10 seconds left, he told his three best friends he would jump on the field. They questioned him. Lincoln didn’t hesitate, making a beeline for his little brother.
“It was kind of amazing to be able to run on the field and celebrate with him,” Lincoln said. “It’s something you always dreamed about.”
Clemson’s 2021 national championship capped off Chifamba’s freshman season. He was used mostly off the bench, starting four games and playing 659 minutes. Chifamba became a key cog in the Tigers’ midfield the following year, starting 19-of-20 contests before limited playing time as a junior led Chifamba to transfer. Now, he remains steadfast on winning a second national title, this time as a senior at Syracuse.
Leaving Clemson never seemed likely for Chifamba. His place on the team seemed cemented as an upperclassman after developing into one of the best midfielders in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Yet, the opposite happened and his playing time diminished.
A change in Clemson’s formation from head coach Mike Noonan led to a smaller role, as Chifamba started less than 50% of the Tigers’ games. Former Clemson midfielder Brandon Parrish said Noonan switched from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3. The previous system used three center midfielders while the latter used just two. see chifamba page 13
By Justin Girshon asst. sports editor
Dick MacPherson will join Syracuse’s Ring of Honor on Nov. 23 when the football team hosts UConn at the JMA Wireless Dome, SU Athletics announced Wednesday. From 1981 to 1990, MacPherson led the Orange to a 66-46-4 record, three bowl game victories and an unbeaten 1987 season as their head coach. MacPherson will become the ninth member of SU’s Ring of Honor, which was established in 2020.
The Orange went 6-15-1 across MacPherson’s first two years at the helm before notching consecutive 6-5 seasons in 1983-84 and going 7-5 in 1985. SU took a step back in 1986, falling to 5-6, before embarking on one of its best stretches in program history. In 1987, Syracuse corralled its second unbeaten season in program history, finishing the year 11-0-1 after tying Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. That year, SU returned to national polls for the first time since 1971 while MacPherson was a consensus pick for National Coach of the Year.
Syracuse followed up its 1987 campaign by going 10-2, 8-4 and 7-4-2, respectively, in its final three years with MacPherson at the helm. In 1988, SU won its first bowl game in nearly a decade before also notching victories in 1989 and 1990. Following his stint with the Orange, MacPherson became the head coach of the New England Patriots — where he coached from 1991-92 before retiring. In addition to coaching at Syracuse, he was the head coach at UMass from 197177. Throughout his college football career, MacPherson notched a 111–73–5 record as a head coach. MacPherson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. His 66 wins at SU are the third-most in program history behind Paul Pasqualoni (107) and Ben Schwartzwalder (153). MacPherson was 86 when he died on Aug. 8, 2017.
Justingirshon@gmail.com @Justingirshon
Wildhack talks Dome renovations, NIL at press conference
Facilities Officer Peter Sala, who gave further insight into the renovations. Here’s what Wildhack and Sala said in their Wednesday morning press conference:
Throughout the spring and summer, the JMA Wireless Dome went through part of what Sala calls “phase two” of its renovation project. A large portion of the phase
included reseating and replacing the bleachers with blue chairback seats, just one step in enhancing the fan experience.
Sala said discussions of a redefining project began in 2016
to 42,784. The student section will be switched from the section 102 area to the east end zone, a 500-seat increase. Student season tickets are already sold out, but Sala says they are exploring additional singlegame ticket options for students. For basketball, Sala says the total will stay around the 33,000-34,000 benchmark. Along with seat changes, the Dome has had a 114% increase in
seating to accommodate people with disabilities while also lowering all ramps to the aisles so that they are now compliant. The aisles were widened to four feet and glass railings were added to ensure views weren’t obstructed.
“It looks like a totally different building,” Wildhack said. “It looks great, and I can’t wait for our fans to experience it.” see wildhack page 13
By Aiden Stepansky asst. sports editor
Ahead of Syracuse football’s home opener Saturday versus Ohio, SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack addressed the media to discuss the advancements made to the JMA Wireless Dome along with many other topics surrounding the athletic department. Wildhack was joined by the university’s Vice President and Chief
elton chifamba made 56 appearances for Clemson, helping the Tigers win a National Championship during his freshman season. Now, Chifamba looks to add a second title with Syracuse after transferring in the spring.
joe zhao video editor chase guttman daily orange file photo