thursday, sept. 12, 2024 celebrating 120 years
N • ‘CUSE Cash
Several off-campus eateries began accepting ‘CUSE Cash, SU’s cash account program, this fall semester.
Page 3
C • Shirt showcase
Around campus, students sport graphic tees that represent them in some way, from an affinity for thrifting to favorite teams.
S • Uplifting journey
After growing up in Ghana, Ernest Bawa has spent the last decade playing soccer in the United States.
Page 16
By Kate Jackson asst. news editor
hen Emma Burke and a handful of her friends discovered that there was a local Planned Parenthood chapter only a few blocks from campus, they wondered why more Syracuse University students weren’t aware of its presence.
This shared thought eventually grew into the establishment of an SU chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action last fall. Despite starting with under ten members in the club’s first semester,
PPGen at SU is now approaching one year on campus.
“There wasn’t an official organization on campus that was working alongside (Planned Parenthood) at the time,” Burke said. “Especially with the political climate, it was vital that this organization have a voice and student leaders on campus.”
Burke was one of the founding members of PPGen, a gender-inclusive club advocating for increased access and awareness of reproductive healthcare across campus and in the broader Syracuse community. Ahead of the impending 2024 United States general elections, several PPGen see ppgen page 6
By Madeline Goodheart asst. digital editor
Syracuse University’s first group of students pursuing the new bachelor of science in Esports Communications and Management began their first semester of study this fall.
The degree program, a collaboration between SU’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, is the first of its kind at a Research-1 institution.
While the major only has four students enrolled in its inaugural
semester and six prospective spring transfers, Esports Executive Director Joey Gawrysiak there are big plans for the program’s future.
“(The major) brings something that students are passionate about and can relate to and probably are already researching … and puts it through that new lens that they care about,” Gawrysiak said. The new major was first announced by Chancellor Kent Syverud in a Jan. 18, 2023, message to the SU community. In February of that year, administrators told The Daily Orange they may admit
students to the program as early as the fall 2023 semester but would have a guaranteed incoming class by fall 2024.
The program won the 2024 Emerging Program of the Year award at the National Association of Collegiate Esports National Convention this summer. The 2023-24 academic year served as “year zero” for the Esports major, as the university prepared and tested ideas for the unprecedented program, Gawrysiak said in a June SU News podcast.
The program currently requires students to complete a 36-credit
Esports Core consisting of introductory communications, sports management and Esports-specific courses — including SMC 330: Topics in Esports and Media and SPM 342: The Business of Esports. Majors also are required to take SPM 415: Sport Law or an equivalent Communications Law course, according to SU’s course catalog. In 2018, Newhouse collaborated with social video service Twitch to launch the first Esports and Media course at SU. The course became available via the Newhouse Sports Media Center, inviting industry
partners to serve as case studies for students. Partners of this course in recent years include ESL, Microsoft and Super League.
Only one Esports-specific course, SPM 300: Introduction to Esports, accepted students this fall semester. Students then select one of the three following tracks: Esports Business and Management, focusing on sports promotion, sport venue management and financing for emerging enterprises; Esports Communications, which studies public relations and social media tactics that exist in the esports world see esports page 6
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The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.
NEWS
“I personally remember everybody putting humanity and love first, regardless of any topic that divided us on September 10, 2001 or before.” - Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds
Page 1
“Honestly, when I go to other schools, they don’t have a music scene that’s anywhere near as bustling as in Syracuse. It’s something I feel like I am so lucky to be a part of.” - Saint Luke
Page 8
“As the upcoming election approaches, it’s more important than ever for the SU community to understand why communities like mine often vote in ways that seem contradictory to their best interests.” - Valeria Martinez Gutierrez, columnist
Page 12
SPORTS
“Being in America is one less mouth to feed for my family back home in Ghana.” - Ernest Bawa, SU men’s soccer player
Page 16
Noteworthy events this week.
WHAT: Coming Back Together Celebrity Classic Basketball Game
WHEN: Sept. 12, 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: JMA Wireless Dome
WHAT: 70’s and 80’s Live Band Disco Dance Party with Fondu
WHEN: Sept. 13, 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
WHERE: Middle Ages Brewing Company
WHAT: CNY Arts Print Party
WHEN: Sept. 14, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Delavan Studios
By Kate Jackson asst. news editor
Several off-campus eateries around Marshall Street and within the city of Syracuse have begun accepting ‘CUSE Cash — Syracuse University’s cash account program for faculty, staff and students — this fall semester.
Businesses currently involved in the policy include Mist Tea Cafe, Five Guys and Purple Banana on South Crouse Avenue, as well as Poke Fish on Marshall Street. The Cracked Bean Roastery and Bistro 1926, located inside the Palace Theatre, and Bistro 1926 at Drumlins Country Club, are also accepting ‘CUSE Cash.
Many business owners who opted into the partnership said they are optimistic about the new policy and hope it will attract more SU student business, increase visibility and establish connections with the university.
Cracked Bean Roastery owner Michelle Cruz said that, while her business is farther off-campus than some of the others that opted into ‘CUSE Cash, she is excited about the new policy. She said the decision has the potential to bring SU students into the broader Syracuse community.
“We have great niche places that students can access and go and visit that are owner-operated, and kind of really connect with the community at a bigger level,” Cruz said. “It’s not just a college, university experience for them … they’re more part of the community.”
Cruz, an SU alumna, said she immediately reached out to the university when she first found out about the ‘CUSE Cash partnership opportunity over the summer.
SU’s Housing, Meal Plan, and ID Card Services added off-campus ‘CUSE Cash options to offer local merchants the opportunity to get more business from the university community, according to its website. It also touts to prospective participants that the partnership increases foot traffic and eases transactions.
Purple Banana, an acai bowl shop that now accepts ‘CUSE Cash, fist opened its doors in 2022. Since its opening, students have often asked if they could use ‘CUSE Cash there, Purple Banana owner Luke Nicolette said.
Nicolette said he hopes SU’s new policy will help his shop foster a business relationship with the neighboring university.
“Working well with Syracuse University is a top priority for us … the majority of our customers are their students,” Nicolette said. “We share quite a bit together, and so just working well with them, being supportive of them, them being supportive of us, means everything.”
Previously, only on-campus merchants accepted ‘CUSE Cash including SU dining halls, cafes, vending machines, convenience stores, JMA Wireless Dome concession stands and the on-campus eateries in Schine Student Center and Goldstein Student Cen -
ter. CUSE ‘Cash users now receive a 10% discount applied to all purchases at these locations, though this deal does not apply to off-campus businesses.
Shaokai Li, owner of Poke Fish, said that while the program has been successful in increasing foot traffic, he is also concerned about its convenience for customers. He said he wants the university to better inform students on how the program works and provide more hands-free transaction options, such as the QR code scanners that on-campus facilities currently use for dining dollars.
“A lot of new customers are here because they found out that they could use ‘CUSE Cash,” Li
said. “The school didn’t let students know how they’re supposed to use (it).”
‘CUSE Cash accounts are open to SU faculty, staff and students. The balances also carry over from the fall to the spring semester, unlike dining dollars, and leftover balances will be credited back to students’ Bursar accounts after the end of the academic year, according to SU’s Housing, Meal Plan and ID Card Services website
While six off-campus locations currently accept ‘CUSE Cash, SU plans to add more participants throughout the year, according to a Tuesday press release from the university. kjacks19@syr.edu
By Duncan Green asst. news editor
Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs hosted Dr. Eric Klinenberg of New York University for its 36th annual Herbert Lourie Memorial Lecture on Health Policy. Klinenberg shared insights from his newest book exploring the long-term social and political effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Wednesday afternoon lecture.
The book, titled “2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed,” follows the experiences of seven New Yorkers during the global pandemic.
Another reason that there’s as much distrust in America now is because there are a lot of people who feel taken advantage of … feel like their leaders or institutions turned their back on them.
Dr. Eric Klinenberg guest speaker
Klinenberg has worked since the pandemic to analyze the lasting effects of COVID-19, not just as a medical condition, but as a “social disease” that continues to plague the United States. During the lecture, he discussed his research with moderator Shannon Monnat, the director of the Center for Policy Research at Maxwell.
“We all experienced this massive trauma in which we saw something about ourselves and about our country,” Klinenberg said. “We realized that we are not necessarily capable of
doing all the things we think we can to take care of ourselves. There was no one who was really in charge.”
As the pandemic intensified fear and anger across the general public, the widespread decision to “forget it and move on” led to crushing social effects, Klineberg said.
Klinenberg’s research explores the relationship between the post-pandemic social environment in the U.S. and the polarization of American politics since the 2020 presidential election. He concluded that the widespread distrust of politicians and the democratic system is a consequence of COVID-19-related hardships.
One group Klinenberg focused his research on was essential workers in the early months of 2020. He said this population was disproportionately composed of Black and Latino workers living in densely populated communities, many of whom weren’t offered additional healthcare benefits despite facing an increased risk for COVID-19 exposure.
According to a 2022 study published in the National Library of Medicine, essential workers had a 52% chance of exposure to the virus, while adults working from home had an 11% chance.
“Let’s be clear, to be called ‘essential’ in America in 2020 was to be deemed expendable,” Klinenberg said. “I think another reason that there’s as much distrust in America now is because there are a lot of people who feel taken advantage of … feel like their leaders or institutions turned their back on them.”
He said the U.S. government failed essential workers profoundly, and acknowledged shortcomings not only of former President Donald Trump, but of politicians on both ends of the political spectrum.
Turning to the 2024 presidential election, Klinenberg said he has noticed a lack of pandemic-related commentary from both presidential candidates, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. He said his new book aims to encourage difficult conversations about everyday pandemic experiences and recognize its continued effects.
To underscore this point, Klinenberg told the story of Daniel Presti, one of the seven New Yorkers featured in his book. Presti, a Staten Island native, had just acquired his liquor license and
opened a bar in his home borough weeks before businesses were ordered to close across New York City in March 2020, Klinenberg said.
Following nine months of waiting for the New York Liquor Authority to approve his license, Presti had little money left and feared he couldn’t provide for his family, Klinenberg said.
After following the city’s constantly changing regulations on bars and restaurants for months, he re-opened the bar in Nov. 2020.
Soon after, authorities directed him to close the bar. Presti resisted and hit a police officer with his car as he attempted to evade arrest. Klinenberg said far right groups such as the Proud Boys rallied in front of the bar to protest the arrests of Presti and his business partner. In the following months, Presti became involved in many far right circles.
When Klinenberg was searching for New Yorkers to interview for his book, he said he
wanted to represent each borough of the city and have diversity in the backgrounds and ideologies of his interviewees.
Klinenberg said he initially hesitated about working with Presti, whose political ideologies were starkly different from his own. After contemplating sending out a tweet denouncing Presti and the protestors’ actions, he decided instead to talk with him and understand his perspective. In the end, he said Presti’s story “stuck with him particularly.”
“Solidarity and trust, social cohesion and capacity to act collectively matter tremendously,” Klinenberg said. “They’re going to matter for how we deal with the next pandemic, and they’re going to matter for how we deal with life after this election in November.”
digreen@syr.edu @duncanigreen
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By Delia Rangel asst. news editor
The Syracuse community gathered alongside political leaders, police officers and firefighters at Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park Wednesday morning for the city’s annual remembrance ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Around 65 attendees, including Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile, observed 17 minutes of silence to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died on 9/11. The silent reflection took place from 8:46 to 9:03 a.m., marking the exact times when the north and south towers of the World Trade Center were hit.
“We ask that during the 17 minutes of silence, all who are present take a few moments to reflect on the lives lost that day and keeping your thoughts with the first responders leaving their homes and families every day to keep our city, county, state and nation safe,” Matthew Craner, district chief of the Syracuse Fire Department, said.
Throughout the commemoration, Syracuse city officials and first responders delivered remarks on the 23rd anniversary of the attacks. The ceremony offered time and space for reflection and information for younger generations.
The memorial service opened with a performance of the United States national anthem by Lieutenant Anthony Callisto, a former senior vice president for safety and chief law enforcement officer at Syracuse University. Local pastor Lateef Johnson-Kinsey, who also serves as director of the Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence, went on to lead attendees in prayer.
Chief of Fire Michael Monds then asked attendees to not only never forget the events of Sept. 11, but to also remember Sept. 12. Monds said he recalls an increased sense of national unity on the days following the attack, as people shared support for others who had been strangers just days prior.
“Have we lost those feelings of how we felt towards each other the day after those attacks?” Monds said. “I personally remember everybody putting humanity and love first, regardless of any topic that divided us on September 10, 2001 or before.”
Walsh and McMahon then lit candles in memory of the victims before moving into the 17 minutes of silence.
leaders said they hope to grow the group’s campus presence.
The club held its first tabling event of the semester Tuesday during SU’s student involvement fair. PPGen members gave students information about their upcoming events and handed out supplies like menstrual products and condoms.
Now that the club has been established for a year, PPGen has several objectives for the upcoming semester. Its members hope to increase voter turnout, provide educational resources, implement on-campus contraceptive vending machines and support historically marginalized groups in the healthcare system, said Julia Kirezi, the club’s current president.
Kirezi said part of the organization’s mission is to create spaces on campus to encourage discussion surrounding reproductive, mental and physical health. This year, PPGen will also focus on advocating for abortion rights and affordable healthcare, as legislation addressing access to
The Onondaga County 911 Center played a tone at the observation’s beginning and end to represent the attacks on each tower.
Craner said the tones played are the same sounds first responders in Onondaga County hear while working every day, similar to what responders in New York City heard on the morning of Sept. 11.
One group of high school seniors from different schools in the Syracuse area said they attended the ceremony as part of the New Vision Criminal Justice initiative, a program for local students interested in pursuing law enforcement careers.
Some students saw the ceremony as an oppor-
these resources will be on the ballot in several states come November.
“We want to get people educated on why it’s important to vote because, again, women’s rights are on the line,” Kirezi said. “As an (organization), we really can’t tell you who to vote for… but we at least want people to know why their vote is important.”
Though the PPGen chapter established a presence at SU last fall, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund has established a vast network of college campus PPGen chapters, with over 350 across the country.
As a Latina woman, Burke said her identity inspired her to advocate for healthcare access among historically marginalized groups, which led her to initially help found the organization.
Similar to Burke, Kirezi said she was first inclined to join PPGen due to her past experiences with healthcare as a Black woman.
After joining the club in its founding year, Kirezi eventually decided to run for its president seat.
“There are many inequalities, economic disparities and racial disparities, in our
tunity to learn more about 9/11 and understand how the attacks still impact people today.
“We weren’t around during 9/11, so it’s good to understand the history and be able to tell other people’s stories that can’t tell their own anymore,” said Madison Rotter, a NVCJ student.
The silence ended with a second prayer led by Johnson-Kinney, who encouraged attendees to remember that everyone is human and to treat each other with love. SFD Lieutenant Raymond Leak closed the ceremony with a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, more members of the New York City Fire Department have died from
healthcare system,” Kirezi said. “I want to do my part to advocate for people who look like me, people who are mistreated when they’re trying to receive good, accessible health care.”
PPGen was also founded on the principle of establishing a connection with the Syracuse community to facilitate communication with students, local Planned Parenthood organizations and other city residents, Burke said.
To achieve its goals this academic year, PPGen hopes to introduce several new initiatives and community outreach opportunities, Kirezi said. The group wants to “build a bridge” between the university and the broader city, including by facilitating volunteer opportunities where SU students can distribute educational and healthcare resources to the surrounding community.
PPGen Vice President Sophia Castro, a sophomore majoring in psychology and womens and gender studies, said the club hopes to conduct additional menstrual and contraceptive product tabling events for students like it did at Tuesday’s activity fair. Castro also said she wants to expand
and Esports Media and Design, which teaches how to produce a game with enticing visuals.
Gawrysiak first joined SU in fall 2023, being appointed as the executive director and a professor of practice. He teaches SPM 300, which he described as a course required to supplement the rest of the core curriculum. Business of Esports, another class offered from Falk, will be held every spring starting in 2025.
“Starting next fall, we’ll start offering more classes as we hire more faculty, because we can’t offer more classes until we have the faculty and teachers,” Gawrysiak said.
SU will add “more in-depth” courses in the future and admit more students as the department hires additional faculty, Gawrysiak said.
One prospective student, sophomore communications and rhetorical studies student Anna Kim, plans to transfer into the Esports major this spring under the communications track. She is currently enrolled in Gawyrsiak’s introductory class.
Kim said she thinks the addition of the esports major will help diversify gaming, a historically male-dominated field.
illnesses contracted during search and rescue than were initially killed, ABC reported Monday. FDNY officials now say 343 members died in the attacks and, since then, over 360 members died due to diseases related to the dust and smoke produced by the collapse of the towers.
“Some of you may have been working that day 23 years ago. Some of you may have wanted help in the aftermath and have a personal connection with someone lost,” Craner said. “Others of you may not even have been born when the World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked, but you still understand the sacrifice the rescuers willingly made.” dsrangel@syr.edu
the group’s goals to focus more on educating the LGBTQ+ community, of which she identifies as a member.
“There are resources, but sadly, not a lot of people know about them,” Castro said. “Our mission is to really just make (these) services known, services that are already in place.”
The PPGen team also plans to place posters and informational pamphlets with information about accessing healthcare in Syracuse across campus, Kirezi said. The group would also like to distribute reproductive care kits.
PPGen will host its first general body meeting of the semester in the coming weeks. A large focus of that meeting will be a discussion on voting in the general election, Castro said.
Kirezi said she’s optimistic about PPGen’s goals to increase involvement with her club, as many of her classmates have expressed interest in joining.
“It makes me really happy that people actually care and are really wanting to be involved in something so important to every aspect of any human life,” Kirezi said.
kjacks19@syr.edu
“The diversity of this major is going to break the stereotype that males can only work in this industry. It’s going to bring many more opportunities for people who don’t really like their major, but they’re considering different experiences,” Kim said.
In the future, Gawrysiak said he hopes the Esports program will partner with other colleges at SU, namely the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Along with the potential collaboration, Gawrysiak said there are plans to explore additional tracks and adjustments based on the needs and interests of the students as the semester progresses.
The arrival of the Esports major coincides with increased on-campus efforts to embrace the gaming industry. This year marks the first varsity season of SU’s Esports team, as well as the construction of a Gaming and Esports Center in Schine Student Center.
“Whether it’s with these gaming events or my favorite streamers in general, just seeing those amazing lights, set design (and) everything just made me so inspired to do this major,” Kim said.
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‘Do it yourself’
In August, Saint Luke released his new single, “drive slow.” He, his brother and his manager, Ania Kapllani, follow a DIY mentality.
By Irene Lekakis asst. culture editor
When Luke Brady played his first gig three years ago in a tiny, cramped basement with nearly 40 people casually watching, he was beyond nervous, keeping his head down. Now a senior, Luke is scheduled to play before a crowd of 2,000 at Westcott Thursdays and wants to savor the moment.
“Music was always a very solitary process for me,” Luke said. “Then I met some really cool and talented people at Syracuse and it inspired me. It brought me out of my shell, and I just started playing gigs for whoever I could.”
Luke is a senior studying sound recording technology at Syracuse University, known for his artistic work as Saint Luke and playing bass in the band GUNK. Saint Luke is a verified artist on Spotify with many of his songs nearing 5,000 streams including “ONLY ONE,” “SAY THE WORD” and “SOS!” His most recent single, “drive slow,” released on Aug. 20 with an accompanying music video.
Luke was musically inclined from a young age. His parents were in multiple bands throughout his life, and his dad, now a music teacher, was an off-Broadway performer. Luke and his brother, Jack Brady, watched backstage at many of their father’s shows.
Jack said he didn’t realize the significance and impact of his dad’s work until he looked back at his childhood. He said it’s where his and Luke’s musical abilities stem from.
Luke played instruments like the piano, guitar and partook in orchestra. He first experimented with lyrics in middle school, laying them over experimental rap beats. Eventually, though, he realized the music wasn’t authentic and decided to experiment with genres from pop to indie to jazz.
After arriving in Syracuse, he threw himself into various musical opportunities on and off campus. Luke said SU’s music scene is unique, with student-run venues, speakeasies, jazz clubs and music studios.
“Honestly, when I go to other schools, they don’t have a music scene that’s anywhere near as bustling as in Syracuse,” Luke said. “It’s something I feel like I am so lucky to be a part of.”
Luke eventually found his signature sound, a jazz-indie hybrid. When Ania Kapllani, Luke’s manager and a senior at SU, listens to his music, she can tell it’s Saint Luke.
see saint luke page 10
One morning in December
members drove to New York City to shoot their short film “ACE,” co-written by junior Jaden Vann and senior Audrey Weisburd. For less than two days, the group traversed locations from Times Square to Astoria, filming for nearly 16 hours.
“We had so many people that were interested in the production of it and
helping us figure out costumes and how everything was going to look,” Matchbox Films head of visuals Mia Ignazio said. “It was definitely a layer of love.”
Matchbox Films is SU’s first independent production art-house organization. Started in fall 2023, the club aims to create a collaborative environment for students passionate about filmmaking by cultivating creative and artistic freedom. It’s currently accepting fall 2024 applications.
Weisburd, Matchbox’s head of screenwriting, said the club is a therapeutic space where members can observe the world through stories they want to tell. At the same time, they can take the time to break down characters, themes and other screenwriting elements. It comes down to friendship and teamwork, she said.
Weisburd and Kyra Zabretsky, head of production and a senior majoring in television, radio and film, founded Matchbox Films. The
two previously headed Eavesdrop, a smaller screenwriting and filming group during their freshman and sophomore years. However, they wanted to expand Eavesdrop to a broader audience, and decided to create a community film space. Senior and eventual executive producer Sophia Lucina then approached the two with the idea. They merged a “book club for movies,” idea, Weisburd said, and their group grew into Matchbox Films.
“We wanted everybody to be able to come in, feel like they could go onto a film set and know what they’re doing, or at least have the understanding of what questions to ask and where they need to be in that,” Zabretsky said.
Before attending SU, Weisburd and Zabretsky were introduced to the film industry in different ways that led them to pursue film. Zabretzky is from Freeland, Pennsylvania, two hours north of Philadelphia. She attended a STEM
see matchbox page 10
By Amelia Carr contributing writer
The Rev. Mychal Judge was the first recorded casualty of the terrorist attack on 9/11. Recognized for his support and efforts during the HIV/AIDS crisis, Judge is honored by the Syracuse All Saints Parish, an allinclusive church.
“We present an award every year to individuals or groups that live on his legacy,” Jeff Wright, co-chair of the parish’s LGBTQ+ task force, a prominent part of the church, said.
This year, the memorial featured Mary Jo McConahay, writer and author of “Playing God: American Catholic Bishops and the Far Right.” The memorial event also included the presentation of an award in Judge’s honor to those who further his legacy. This year, the Syracuse Gay/Lesbian Catholics and Friends earned the distinction.
Given the church’s progressive Catholic philosophy, McConahay was happy to speak at the event. Born a Catholic, McConahay did not find herself connecting with the religion until she spent time in South America, where she said she saw “real Catholicism.” For her, the religion’s main concern should be people giving back to their community.
Post Malone
Post Malone returns to his birth place this Saturday for his F-1 Trillion Tour. Muscadine Bloodline and Dan Spencer will join the rap-turnedcountry artist for his opening acts. The show is a must-see for fans as Malone will perform over 20 songs from his discography, both classics and new. Outside lawn chairs are not permitted, but rentals are available.
WHEN: Saturday at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
PRICE: Ticket prices range from $38.50 to $268.50
The genre-bending Front Bottoms will stop in Syracuse this weekend for a night of all things folk, emo, punk and alternative rock. On the third stop of its Finding Your Way Home Tour, the band will perform songs from their newest album, “You Are Who You Hang Out With,” and hits like “Twin Size Mattress” and “Flashlight.”
WHEN: Saturday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Landmark Theatre
PRICE: Ticket prices range from $41 to $105
By Sarah Wells humor columnist
If you’ve read this column before, then you’ll know that I am a Syracuse native. That’s right. I used to live down the road from the Great New York State Fair. I’ve had Dinosaur Bar-B-Que more times than I can count. I’m pretty sure I’ve sled on every single surface in upstate New York. And of course, I have had my fair share of Wegmans visits.
Maybe you’re new to the Wonderful World of Wegmans (or the WWW, as I like to call it). For those of you unfamiliar (maybe you just moved here from California or Massachusetts. Does Massachusetts have Wegmans?), Wegmans is a cornucopia of joy. It is so much more than just a grocery store.
One of my earliest memories of Wegmans involves free deli meat. Other kids went to the bakery and asked for free cookies. Me? I was after the pepperoni. I would stroll right up to the deli counter, past all of the people waiting and make my demand: one slice of pepperoni, “pleathhhh” (I had two missing front teeth in this memory). Sure enough, the guy working behind the counter looked a little confused at the pepperoni-craving little monster that just approached him, but he would always comply if I
started crying.
So, that’s where I start my trips at Wegmans. Well, that’s not true. Sometimes I’ll peruse the produce and pretend to think about buying vegetables (HAHA yeah, okay, no thanks!), then I’ll make a beeline to the deli counter for my free pepperoni slice. It’s a nice pick-me-up after a long day. Believe it or not, my roommates actually get me to turn in this column on time by throwing pepperoni at me, like a dolphin with fish at SeaWorld.
After the deli, I like to look at the Syracuse University merchandise. For some reason, in every Wegmans I’ve been to, they have a whole section dedicated to SU merch. I swear, they have as many “I Bleed Orange” shirts as they do pepperoni slices (sorry, I’m still thinking about the pepperoni, I’m absolutely starving right now). Maybe I’ll squeeze an Otto the Orange stuffed animal before making my way over to the pharmacy.
At the pharmacy, you can bet they most certainly will not have your prescriptions ready! It’s a fun little game I like to play with the pharmacist where I go, “Hey, do you have a prescription for Sarah Wells?” and they go, “It won’t be ready for fifteen minutes.” And I go, “OK!” Then I come back in fifteen minutes, and I go, “Hey, do you have a prescription for
Sarah Wells?” and they go, “It won’t be ready for fifteen minutes.” And I go, “Oh … OK!”
This game can last for up to three hours. But that’s okay because it gives me time to explore one of my favorite sections: chips.
If there is one thing that Wegmans excels in, it’s chips. They have aisles and aisles of chips. I’m pretty sure you could fill up multiple Olympicsized swimming pools with the chips they stock in these places. They have Lays, Utz, Ruffles, Pringles, everything! For a chip lover such as myself, this selection is paradise.
One non-negotiable on a dream trip to Wegmans is the frozen foods section. I do not trust myself to use the oven, and neither do my roommates ever since … the lasagna incident … sorry, I just shuddered. Anyway, I love to stick with a nice, easy microwavable meal from the frozen foods section. Perhaps some chicken nuggets, or maybe the occasional microwavable fried rice! And while I’m in there, I always like to pick up some Häagen Dazs ice cream. Any food with an umlaut in the name always makes me feel fancy.
I always like to close out a nice, long Wegmans trip by picking up my favorite snack of all time: Wegmans Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese Sticks. Anyone close to me can tell you: I would give my life for a cheese stick.
Wait … cheese stick wrapped in pepperoni …
After Dark presents an anticipated returning event, The Shrek Rave. The event’s slogan, “It’s dumb just come have fun,” promises a good time for all that attend. Reminisce on the movie by dancing until closing time under the green lights with swampy green drinks. DJs will play jumping sets to crowd surf to. Don’t forget to come dressed as your favorite “Shrek” character.
WHEN: Friday at 9 p.m.
WHERE: The Song & Dance PRICE: $26.70 ($20.00 + $6.70 fees)
Multi-platinum singer-songwriter
Andy Grammer will perform his one-man show for central New York. The artist, a 2012 sensation, is said to perform his massive hits in an intimate style. Combining comedy with the traditional tour style, Grammer is sure to make the experience worthwhile.
WHEN: Saturday at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Turning Stone Resort Casino PRICE: Ticket prices range from $85
Nancy Dunkle and XO The Band
SU student Nancy Dunkle hits the stage this weekend along with Kiera Walsh, Goldie Singer and Annie Knobloch, who make up the girlband XO. XO is known for its engaging indie-pop performances. The group is performing at a new Syracuse house show venue, Crater 315. Dunkle is expected to play her first single, “Poster Child,” at the show.
WHEN: Saturday at 10 p.m., doors at 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: DM @crater315 on Instagram for address
PRICE: DM @crater315 on Instagram for price
For Luke, “drive slow,” represents taking in every moment of his last year and reflecting on his personal growth since coming to SU. It serves as a reminder to relish the journey instead of anticipating the destination.
“Life moves really fast when you are at this time of your life and I feel like I have been wanting to slow down a bit and appreciate the inbetween moments,” Luke said. “I wrote it with the intention of telling myself to take it all in before it’s gone.”
The Brady brothers had been meaning to blend their art forms — Jack’s videography and Luke’s lyricism — and their efforts finally came to fruition this past summer with “drive slow.” Jack directed, shot and edited the video. The collaboration made the song very near to his heart, Luke told Kapllani.
As much as the finished product was beloved, getting there was no easy feat. Luke said he struggled to balance school, friends, relationships and music.
“There were many times when I wanted to drop out or quit everything and give up, but then it gets easier and I remember why I love it,” Luke said.
Similarly, Jack said he made an intense time commitment to the video’s production. For two months, he prioritized it over everything else, even his job. He wanted the video to accurately portray the meaning behind Luke’s lyrics.
magnet school, an experience she described as a “complete 180º of production,” eventually pursuing film when starting at SU. She had to quickly learn the industry, and wished an organization like Matchbox existed during her freshman and sophomore years.
Weisburd knew she wanted to study film and creative writing in college. She’d experimented with television, radio and film her entire life and has written various short stories.
“I fell in love with movies before college and I just realized that it is the most transformative and all encompassing art form to me,” Weisburd said. “You have the beautiful language that I loved about poetry with psychological character studies with music with visual elements of photography.”
Matchbox invites all students to join the organization. Zabretsky said the club houses a variety of members, from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Visual and Performing Arts students to chemistry majors.
Ignazio said Matchbox has been a stable activity in her life. She said for those involved, it does not feel like work, but rather a time to create with people whom she shares similar interests. Anyone who joins Matchbox can decide the degree
When producing the video, Jack taught himself mixed media. He used practical equipment like his camera, a scanner and paints for the graphics and filming. He hand-drew each drawing in the video, with some help from friends.
While Jack said projects are often overproduced with “ridiculous” budgets, both he and Luke appreciate the simple but effective nature of the video.
“I drove myself crazy for two months to make this thing happen. But, now it’s out and I am happy with the result and I know Luke is too,” Jack said.
Jack said the grade-out film and faded look of the music video depict the bleak reality where Luke is just going through the motions. In contrast, the colorful drawings and graphics sprinkled throughout the video juxtapose the bleakness and represent an escape from that reality.
The way the brothers approach their creative process and mindset is also how they approach their day-to-day lives.
“I think we both really value our artistic persona as ‘do it yourself,’ you don’t really need anyone else to help you,” Jack said.
Luke and Kapllani also apply this do-it-yourself concept to their marketing strategy. Kapllani said the natural and raw production style of the video is an intended aesthetic. She wants Luke to feel like a listener’s friend and not someone untouchable.
Luke said SU has been crucial in fostering his growth as an artist because of his musical connections and the people he has learned with.
“I got to see him grow and watch myself grow with him,” Kapllani said. “He’s changed so much
of their involvement. Ignazio said that while it’s been a learning curve, she feels like she’s found her balance with the organization.
We wanted everybody to be able to come in, feel like they could go onto a film set and know what they’re doing, or at least have the understanding of what questions to ask and where they need to be in that.
Kyra Zabretsky Senior
Matchbox’s process of producing films is nearly an academic year long, doing one major project a semester and editing it the next semester. Weis-
in terms of what type of music he makes and how he’s really honing into his sound.”
Luke hopes the authenticity of his music will translate to fans. He said music has always been a very personal process for him, and by sharing that, he wants listeners to be encouraged to embrace themselves as they are.
Luke said he has plans for a potential album sometime within the next year or so. With more
burd runs the screenwriting department, hosting weekly writers meetings. She begins with a “pitch table” where screenwriters offer short films from which three are selected to be developed. The group is then divided into writer teams.
The goal for production is to get 12-to-15 page scripts that can be filmed in a weekend. The developed script is brought to the Matchbox e-board. If the four feel the script is possible to create, it becomes “green lit.”
From there, Zabretsky encourages current SU students to apply for open positions. For more advanced positions — producer, director of photography, gaffer director, editor, production designer — she may find people to “Matchbox Certify.” In this case, she runs a workshop to teach potential department heads about that position.
Matchbox spends roughly two months on pre-production. Zabretsky said they take their time and are thorough with each step, including fundraising via donations.
Zabretsky said Matchbox also creates shorter projects with fewer people and can be shot in a day. Last year, she led a 48-hour film challenge where 24 hours were dedicated to writing and then the next 24 hours were for filming.
Vann recalled the first time the e-board read his pitch for “ACE.” He knew he wanted it to be a story about “love on a hard day,” filmed in black-
work ahead, he can rely on the foundation of connections he’s built throughout his life and at SU.
“I am so proud of (Luke), coming from when we were just little babies in elementary school and would jam out on guitars in front of our parents to now where he’s taken a really serious route and become this incredible artist,” Jack said.
iclekaki@syr.edu
and-white with an “old-school” feel, he said. He wrote the first script alone, then Weisburd helped with the final product.
Though a sport management major, Vann always dreamed of writing a script and making a movie. Now, he said he’s glad to say that is an accomplishment.
“I’ve never properly written a script or worked on a film before,” Vann said. “But I think that they accepted that when they wanted to use my script and work with me, that was really special from the beginning.”
Lucina said she and the other Matchbox founders are excited to root themselves deeper in the SU community. Since last year, the organization’s applicant pool has nearly doubled, so there is room to add to the family they’ve built. She looks forward to Matchbox becoming a place of constant inspiration for herself and others, even after she graduates this spring.
“We’re all trying to learn about ourselves and our talents and Matchbox is a place for that discovery to happen,” Lucina said.
DISCLAIMER: Sophia Lucina worked as an Asst. Digital Editor in fall 2023. She did not influence the editorial content of this article.
sfstewar@syr.edu
Referencing Judge’s caring nature, Wright said Judge would have appreciated McConahay’s speech, as she calls for equality.
“I felt that this parish, with its wonderful history of openness, would be a wonderful place to speak,” McConahay said.
The church’s acceptance is a common source of appeal for members and guests alike. Wright, as a gay man, struggled with his religious beliefs and his sexuality. However, he found comfort in All Saints Parish and its LGBTQ+ task force. He said the parish is a space in which both of his identities could coexist.
“When I found this parish, I was inspired,” Wright said. “The task force was the first thing I signed up for.”
“He was an amazing human being, an amazing pastor and anyone that’s ever come in contact with him has nothing but wonderful things to say about him,” Wright said.
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the only date in American history that proved influential to the memorial. McConahay also referenced Jan. 6 as an inciting incident that inspired her to write her book.
A call against white Christian nationalism, McConahay denounced Islamophobia and Project 2025 in her book, saying each ideology goes directly against Catholic teachings.
She urged attendees to be actively involved in the election.
Like McConahay, other members of the church are greatly concerned with the growing connection between white nationalism and Catholicism.
“The far right and a good number of (Catholic bishops) have bonded,” Wright said. “That’s not good for anyone.”
The Rev. Fred Daley, All Saints Catholic Church pastor, spoke about the prejudice within the Catholic church. He said intolerance toward groups such as Muslims does not follow Catholic teachings.
“Racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia (are) contrary to the gospel of Jesus,” Daley said.
While Toni Guidice, a member of All Saints’ LGBTQ+ task force, was aware of Christian nationalism, she said she found the event to be eye-opening. She said she didn’t know the extent of how much money and how many organizations support Christian nationalism.
McConahay said she was grateful for the opportunity to speak to an engaged audience about a subject she is so passionate about.
“Being in Syracuse has been very heartwarming,” McConahay said. “I’m very excited about the active minds and lives of the people I’ve met here.” acarr10@syr.edu
By Valeria Martinez Gutierrez columnist
College students all over the country, including many students at Syracuse University, seem to take the privilege of higher education for granted. Meanwhile, in places like Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, public school students lack the same academic support or resources that are commonplace in wealthier, and consequently, predominantly white areas. Upon moving to Syracuse, I learned that most of my peers didn’t grow up going to school sanctioned career fairs dominated by military recruiters. This contrast highlights the limited career opportunities available to Texan students like me, where many feel pressured to sacrifice their futures to a system that perpetuates poverty rather than pursue their true passions.
Similarly to many students throughout the United States, in Texas, I pledged allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags every morning from pre-K through 12th grade. This regularly scheduled blind allegiance, combined with a curriculum that glosses over the lingering colonial realities of our history, have essentially indoctrinated students into believing that military service is not only honorable, but a duty.
According to the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth, military recruiters purposefully embed themselves in schools to foster a sense of “school ownership.” Military recruiters were omnipresent in my own Texan high school, often stationed near the cafeteria and enticing students with merchandise and “macho tests” like the pull-up bar. This presence, often normalized in Texan high school assemblies and classrooms, conditions students to accept military service as a necessary path. But that’s not all. The Texas educational system has long failed Latine students; discriminatory
practices like segregation and unequal funding limit educational opportunities, pushing many Latine youth into what’s known as the “poverty draft.” Military recruitment doesn’t just prepare Latine youth for service, it also shapes their political identities, often steering them toward conservative voting patterns. This can seem at odds with the needs of their communities, as anti-immigrant rhetoric contradicts Latine culture that is tied to immigrants. Additionally, the realities of a false vision of economic stability that is rooted in relating a conservative government to one that is economically stable for all is deeply rooted in systemic inequities, deep-seated assimilation and educational indoctrination.
For SU students, understanding this dynamic is crucial as we approach the next election. To future policy makers and leaders at SU — especially those studying in Maxwell — it’s important to recognize how such disparities shape the lives of marginalized communities. Our votes and future careers can either reinforce or help dismantle these inequities.
In communities where many people work in law enforcement or oil and gas industries, voting conservative becomes part of an identity shaped by decades of acculturation. Middle-class voters in these fields often align with conservative policies because they perceive them as securing their economic and social stability. These professions foster a culture of discipline, individual responsibility and loyalty, much like the military.
SU, with its historical ties to the military through robust ROTC programs and contributions to national defense leadership, plays a significant role in shaping how students engage with military-related careers and policies. We must understand the deep-rooted impact of early military recruitment, particularly in marginalized communities and how this ties
into voting behaviors. Syracuse’s military history makes this all the more relevant to our campus discourse. Understanding military culture is not just theoretical for us; it’s part of the university’s legacy and an important context for our civic responsibilities, especially as we approach election season.
For Latine people in Texas, military recruitment is part of a broader indoctrination process that prioritizes loyalty to the state over critical thinking. This leads to a glorified view of American history and erases the harsh realities of colonization and imperialism. At SU, we’re lucky to have access to a comprehensive education that encourages critical thinking. This privilege should motivate us to vote or at least consider ways to support those who don’t have the same opportunities.
Military recruiters target Latine youth not just out of economic desperation but as part of a calculated strategy. Studies as far back as the Clinton administration identified Latines as an “untapped” source of recruits, and the military has exploited this ever since. The bigoted anti-immigration rhetoric that perpetuates the alienation of Latine individuals from their people is key to maintaining order in a demographicshifting status quo. Latine youth tend to do well in basic training and stay in the military longer, not because they’re better suited for it, but because they’ve been conditioned to see it as their best option.
It’s also vital to mention another aggressive recruitment effort in high schools that target immigrants and immigrant youth by offering a quick and cheap path to naturalization for the enlisted soldier and their immediate families. This increases the surplus of Latine soldiers that choose to enlist which is, conversely, tied to the national rates dropping due to Trump-
era policies that elongate approval times for those who can afford the $800 fee to apply for citizenship. Family is everything for almost all Latines, and when the military shows up at your school more frequently than local colleges, offering a straightforward path to provide for yourself and your family, it creates the illusion that they actually care.
Representation isn’t salvation in systems of inherent injustice. Having diversity and denser demographics of historically marginalized socioeconomic communities within law enforcement and the military isn’t making the racialized system of justice fairer. Rather, it is upholding white supremacy and white nationalism through economic and educational indoctrination, along with predatory military recruitment concentrated in schools on the border and Latine-dense towns such as Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. This is why SU students, many of whom will go on to work in policy or government, must understand the impact of military recruitment on marginalized communities and use their votes to dismantle these structures.
As the upcoming election approaches, it’s more important than ever for the SU community to understand why communities like mine often vote in ways that seem contradictory to their best interests. These shifts are rooted in systemic inequities and indoctrination that benefit white nationalism and limit opportunities for marginalized groups. For SU students, voting isn’t just a personal decision – it’s a chance to uplift those facing systemic barriers and contribute to a more just and equitable society.
Valeria Martinez Gutierrez is a junior majoring in Geography, Sociology and Environment, Sustainability and Policy. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at vmarti10@syr.edu.
Under former Patriots wide receiver coach Ross Douglas, Syracuse’s receiving corps has emerged as one of its strengths in
Meeks have emerged as top targets for quarterback Kyle McCord.
from page 16 receivers
Douglas first made a connection with Brown as a graduate assistant at Rutgers in 2020. At the time, he was a 24-year-old defensive assistant while Brown coached the Scarlet Knights’ secondary.
The two went their separate ways when Douglas left to be Richmond’s secondary coach and Brown left the following year to join Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia. Douglas then got the opportunity to join Bill Belichick in New England through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. The opportunity started as a threeday internship, but quickly became a three-day interview, according to Douglas. At the end, he was hired as a full-time defensive quality control coach.
When Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job, he brought much of his offensive staff with him. As a result, Belichick needed a wide receivers coach. Even though Douglas had played and coached defense his entire career, Belichick chose him for the job.
Under Belichick, Douglas learned the ins and outs of the position.
“He helped me with the attention to detail,” Douglas said of Belichick. “There are a lot of things that people do, but you boil it down to what the receiver actually has to do. He helped me teach the position from a fundamental standpoint.”
For Peña, Douglas compares him to Demario Douglas, a 5-foot-8 sixth-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft who blossomed into the Patriots’ leading receiver late last season. Demario is often used in a variety of roles, playing dynamic in the slot and dangerous with the ball in his hands.
When healthy, Peña has shown an ability to do the same. After a limited role from 202022, Peña didn’t appear in any games in 2023 due to injury. Though with the hiring of Brown, who recruited Peña to Temple years earlier, he improved himself in the offseason.
In SU’s season opener versus Ohio, Peña had a career day, scoring two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. The next week against then-No. 23 Georgia Tech, Peña found the end zone twice. He’s become a go-to option for McCord, emerging as the top threat of the corps so far.
“(Peña) is a smart kid who understands football,” Douglas said. “He’s a quick learner. So I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do.”
On the outside, there’s Hatcher. Douglas sees Hatcher’s 6-foot-3 frame as comparable to nine-year NFL veteran DeVante Parker. With Hatcher, Douglas taught Parker’s “catch everything mentality.”
Last season, Hatcher was tied for the teamhigh in receiving touchdowns with three, while totaling 482 yards. A dislocated shoulder sidelined him for most of spring camp but as the summer went on, he continued to rebuild confidence in his body.
“We talked about his weight, he had to gain more weight, he needed to be at least 185 pounds,” Brown said of Hatcher. “He needed to get physical in the run game. And he needed to make difficult catches. He answered the bell, he did everything he was asked to do.”
Following the best season of his career, Hatcher saw this offseason as one of the most important of his life.
and has recorded eight receptions for 97 yards thus far.
Along with Haynes came Meeks, who has emerged as a strong veteran presence for the group. Haynes said Meeks took him under his wing at Georgia, which remains the same at Syracuse.
Meeks was a part of two national championship-winning teams with the Bulldogs, but had a limited role. Following Georgia’s SEC Championship loss, Meeks decided to enter the transfer portal.
Ross didn’t enroll early at SU but saw a few snaps in the season opener.
Then there’s Justus Ross-Simmons, who has an injury that’s sidelined him for Syracuse’s first two games. But at Colorado State in 2023, he totaled 724 receiving yards, eclipsing 100 yards twice.
Following the 2023 season, Belichick departed and so did Douglas. He reunited with Brown, joining Syracuse’s staff in the same role. With the Orange, Douglas has been comparing players he worked with in New England to the skill sets in the SU room. He emphasizes it by putting on the film for each player he sees similarities to.
“It’s not just me saying something and them having blind faith in it,” Douglas said. “I’m telling you and I’m showing you why this will work. Because this works on Sundays. So if it works on Sundays, it for damn sure will work on Saturdays.”
“I just became a better competitor,” Hatcher said. “I just became better everywhere. I’m being 100%. I just grew a whole lot on and off the field. So it’s all just translating.”
He hasn’t found the end zone yet in 2024, but has recorded six receptions for 75 yards, including a 30-yard grab over the middle versus Georgia Tech.
While Hatcher has shown flashes of Parker, Douglas sees similarities in Haynes’ game to a young speedster in New England — Tyquan Thornton.
After committing to Georgia as a four-star recruit, Haynes appeared in just four games and recorded one catch with the Bulldogs. When Brown left for SU, he promised Haynes a larger opportunity. Haynes took the offer
“It was just time,” Meeks said. “Because I embraced my role the most that I could at Georgia, and I’m thankful for every experience and all the learning that I’ve had there. But I had to make opportunities for myself.”
Meeks is still working his way in with the Orange, recording six receptions for 75 yards through two games. But he’s shown potential, highlighted by a 35-yard catch near the right sideline against Ohio.
“(Haynes and Meeks) pushed the competition because they actually know what a national championship team is,” Hatcher said. “Them coming in the room, they had already seen it.”
The wide-receiver room also features multiple depth pieces. Sophomore Darrell Gill Jr. showed flashes on special teams last season and has a reception in 2024. Freshman Emanuel
Along with pass catching, Douglas has also emphasized run blocking with the simple catchphrase “no block, no rock.” He preaches that the offensive line is responsible for the efficiency of runs while his receivers can create explosive plays with their downfield blocking.
“Coach Ross really brought that energy to the room,” Hatcher said of Douglas. “He coaches straightforward. Let you know when you’re wrong, let you know when you’re right. They just push us a lot.”
For an SU offense that has quickly found an identity with its air-raid attack, the new-look receiving corps is pivotal to its success. So far, they’re executing at a high level.
“Continue to get open and catch the ball, execute in critical situations and help our team win,” Douglas said. “That’s what we got to do. We got to do our job. And if we continue to do our job and get better every single week, I think we’ll like the result.”
amstepan@syr.edu @aidenstepansky
By Vivian Collins contributing writer
A year ago, Syracuse volleyball lost all 18 Atlantic Coast Conference games, ending the season with a 2-26 record. While the Orange had a multitude of troubles in different areas, their lack of offense was one of their core issues.
They struggled with consistency, going eight matches without winning a single set and totaling a 0.077% hitting percentage through their first six games.
Now, to start 2024, SU’s offense has newfound success, improving its hit percentage by 274% to a 0.288% mark through six games. The improvements have led to the Orange (6-0, 0-0 ACC) winning three times as many games as last year thus far.
Last season we had a pretty good squad together,” Syracuse head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam said. “Obviously the unfortunate situation with all the injuries …made it very difficult for us to pursue the goals we had set up for the season originally. So we really got together and regrouped and readdressed some of the goals.”
Ganesharatnam aimed to rectify his team’s dysfunctional season through offseason and preseason training. The prog -
around before finding Ozzie Parente, Taft’s head soccer coach. Bawa recognized him from photos he saw online and introduced himself. Parente then helped Bawa settle into his dorm.
It wasn’t long before Bawa’s roommate, Nick Baird, arrived. Nick — whose two siblings, Noah and Carolyn Baird, also went to Taft — was prepared with numerous duffle bags of clothing. Bawa sat at his desk and watched them haul living essentials into the room.
Nick’s mother, Karen Baird, turned her attention to Bawa. She peered at his closet with a few shirts hung up. His soccer cleats sat on the floor. A pair of socks dangled in the window. He didn’t even have a dress shirt, a requirement of Taft’s school uniform.
“I took one look at this kid and said, ‘Somehow, some way, we need to take care of him,’” Karen said of Bawa.
Karen started pulling out clothes, notebooks and anything else Bawa needed. The generosity was something Bawa never experienced before.
Before his time with RDA, Bawa struggled to find three meals a day. His father died when he was 3, forcing him to live with his uncle, Sammed Bawa, in Accra — Ghana’s capital.
Sammed emphasized education. Though at times, Bawa had other plans. He was fascinated by soccer from age 4. Bawa’s older siblings, Mustafa and Hawa, played, but both eventually stopped so they could financially support themselves and their mother, Adia Ibrahim.
Bawa was different.
He often jumped Sammed’s backyard fence to play. All Bawa needed was a group of kids, four stones to act as goalposts and a ball formed from a bunch of socks rolled together.
Occasionally, Bawa and the group paused to watch planes fly overhead. Bawa dreamed that one day he’d be flying to Europe for soccer. That seemed distant until Bawa was 11. At the time, he was playing for Parma FC, a local team, when his coach revealed that RDA was coming to hold tryouts.
RDA was well-known for producing professional talent in Europe, including English Premier League star Mohammed Kudus. Additionally, it sent numerous kids to play in the U.S. for high school. RDA held tryouts in various parts of Ghana throughout the year.
The day of the tryout, Bawa used his normal escape route. This time, he walked an hour-anda-half to the tryout location. In the end, Bawa was among seven -of 300 players selected for another tryout.
Bawa embarked on another journey in the next week, commuting 90 minutes via bus to the second tryout. After another rigorous session, he’d been selected to go on trial with RDA.
Thinking the trial would only last about a week, Bawa didn’t tell Sammed about his plans to stay in Old Akrande at RDA’s headquarters. Quickly, he realized the trial would be longer than he initially anticipated. He called Sammed to explain what he’d done and was met with anger. Sammed was enraged Bawa ran away, but he let him be at the time.
Sammed had enough three months later, telling Bawa he was coming to get him. Not knowing what to do, Bawa talked with RDA representatives to explain his situation. Bawa was offered a scholarship to stay with the academy. When a furious Sammed arrived, Bawa gave him the run-
ress continued into the early portion of the season through nonconference competition. Ganesharatnam cited the time as an opportunity to build his rotation, while forming chemistry within the group.
Sophomore Veronica Sierzant, who appeared in all 28 matches for the Orange in 2023, said this preseason felt more intense because they weren’t as concerned about injuries and focused mainly on their typical positioning.
After evaluating his roster through nonconference play, Ganesharatnam plans to run a diverse offense, utilizing multiple hitters to allow individual players to maintain their composure as the season wanes on.
With SU’s injury-riddled roster in 2023, the game plan was near impossible to execute. With a flurry of new talent, however, it’s been successful thus far.
Five of Syracuse’s 12 transfers are leading the team in kills, with graduate transfer Ava Palm leading the way at 82 — the fifth-most in the ACC. Palm averages 3.9 kills per set and boasts a 0.250% hitting percentage, while also ranking top five in aces, digs and blocks.
Palm’s best outing came in SU’s Sept. 6 win over Fordham at the Big Apple Tournament, where she recorded 19 kills and 23 points. Early in her new role, she’s thrived.
down to diffuse the situation. He convinced him enough to let him stay to pursue a soccer career.
“It was very surreal for me, that I was actually living the life that I wanted,” Bawa said.
The environment was extremely competitive and the skill level was high, according to fellow RDA graduate and now Notre Dame attacker KK Baffour. Players spent nine months of the year playing at the academy, sometimes going to Europe for tournaments.
Bawa had a choice to make at 15, four years later. He could spend a few more years in the academy and try to get signed by a European team. Or, he could go to high school in America and pursue a college career. Bawa chose the latter. He left everything behind and took an 11-hour flight.
“(There was just) so much freedom. And (with) that came with a lot of opportunity,” Bawa said.
One of the first people Bawa met in America was Nick. It was awkward between the roommates at first. Similarities were few and far between the pair who grew up nearly 6,000 miles apart. Bawa and Nick connected over time, but Bawa remained mostly reserved.
It was hard to get Bawa to show emotion. The first few times Nick and his family offered to take him to dinner, he politely denied.
A breakthrough came when Karen came to visit late in the fall when Bawa was a freshman. She remembers Bawa being very emotional following a tough loss. He came to greet Karen postgame and melted into her arms, saying “I’m sorry.”
“I just looked at my husband over (Bawa’s) shoulder, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s finally being emotional,’” Karen said.
From there, the Bairds took care of Bawa. He came home with Nick to Johnsburg, Illinois, during winter break. When they landed, Bawa didn’t have a winter jacket because it hadn’t gotten cold in Connecticut yet. When he stepped out of O’Hare International Airport, Nick said Bawa returned inside due to the frigid conditions.
That kickstarted Bawa’s first few weeks of spending time with the entire Baird family. Karen said her three kids were all close in age with Bawa and tried to connect with him. He remained shy initially but as time passed, he grew more comfortable.
The highlight of the trip came on Christmas morning. Nick’s father, Nolan Baird, bought an international calling card so Bawa could contact Ibrahim in Ghana. The family huddled around as Bawa called Ibrahim, who answered. She didn’t speak any English, but Bawa translated everything she said. Nick said Ibrahim expressed gratitude toward his family for taking care of Bawa while everybody sobbed.
The card couldn’t have been more than $25 or $50. Though the monetary value meant little in the grand scheme.
“Being in that moment and being able to bridge that gap, connect across the planet kind of puts you there,” Nick said. “You’re thinking, ‘Oh my god, he hasn’t talked to his mom in so long,’ I’ve been taking that for granted every week that I call my mom.”
That Christmas morning marked a turning point for Bawa. When spring break came, he returned to Johnsburg. His comfort level with the Bairds continued to rise and their relationship blossomed.
Just before Bawa was set to return to Taft, Karen asked him what his summer plans were.
“I love the position I play, I want the ball,”
Palm said. “I think it helps having that mindset.”
Leading the charge offensively with Palm is outside hitter Skylar George. The redshirt freshman holds the second most kills at 57 and has played in all 21 sets so far this season after her transfer from Utah. She was a crucial part of SU’s offense in its win against Manhattan, playing in all four sets and ending the game with 13 kills and 19.5 points.
I think a big identity for this program is just believing in us. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will.”
Ava Palm syracuse outside hitter
Sydney Moore, a graduate transfer from Cornell, has recorded 43 kills. She currently holds the third-best hitting percentage in the ACC (0.467%). Graduate student Sara Wasiakowska and junior Anastasiia Nikolnikova
round out the leaders for kills, recording 38 and 16, respectively.
With new roster additions, the Orange also have critical returning players boosting their offensive success.
Sophomore Mira Ledermueller leads the team in assists with a total of 108, already beating her season high from last year. Ledermueller recorded 43 assists against Fordham this season, versus her 36 against Cornell in 2023. Sierzant is just behind her with 89 assists, despite having only played in three games.
At the end of the 2023 season, the team’s hitting percentage was just 0.088%. Prior to 2023, Syracuse’s hitting percentage didn’t dip below 0.10% in the past 17 seasons. The average kills per set also saw a significant uptick, increasing from an average of nine in 2023 to 12.5 in 2024.
While the Orange have had just six games in the 2024 season, an increase in kills and attacks has led to a strong start for the program. SU’s offensive improvements have not only bolstered its performance, but positioned Syracuse as a threat nearing ACC play.
“I think a big identity for this program is just believing in us,” Palm said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will.”
vpcollins06@gmail.com @VVCollins8
Bawa didn’t give a direct answer at first. It wasn’t until she checked his room after he left that she got one. Bawa left a note on his pillow.
It read, “Thank you, I look forward to spending the summer with you.”
As Bawa approached his sophomore year, he knew he had people to rely on. At the same time, he broke out with Taft as a freshman playing out of position. Typically a skillful attacker, Parente stuck him at center back initially due to an upper-classmen heavy front line.
Bawa grew frustrated at points, but Parente emphasized that he wasn’t going to be perfect from day one.
“He was hungry for success and wanted it to happen quickly,” Parente said.
In his second season with Taft, Bawa became a dynamic winger who tormented defenders with his speed. Parente knew from the first practice that Bawa would be a Division I player. Offers came flying in from top teams around the country before he chose North Carolina as a junior in 2019.
After his commitment, Bawa endured one of his toughest moments since moving to America. He was living with Diky Izmirlian, a fellow international student from the Bahamas, when another student wrote racist remarks on the whiteboard attached to their dorm-room door.
The Head of School held an emergency meeting with over 600 people in the auditorium. Students sat in alphabetical order by last name, meaning Nick and Bawa were a couple seats away from each other. Bawa got up and walked out, so Nick decided to follow him.
He caught up with Bawa in the hallway. Nick discussed the situation along with Parente, trying to console Bawa, who insisted on returning to the auditorium. With the Head of School, William MacMullen, still speaking, Bawa walked to the front of the stage. As Bawa approached, MacMullen stopped talking.
Bawa delivered a powerful speech detailing his background. He said he wasn’t going to stop what he was doing because the incident was born out of hatred. When Bawa was done, he walked out of the room with his head held high.
“It was a unifying speech, which I don’t think he would have been capable of freshman year,” Izmirlian said. “He really became more comfortable and very much a leader in the community.”
It was a moment for Bawa to be proud of his roots. Later that year, he returned to Ghana for the first time. Because of his success, Bawa’s family is well-respected and when he comes to visit, the whole neighborhood knows.
Nine years after stepping foot in America, Bawa remains connected with his family. He got Mustafa an iPhone a few years ago and frequently talks to him over FaceTime. He also speaks with his mom, albeit less due to poor cell service in her village.
Bawa sends them money when he can. Sometimes it’s $20, other times it’s $100. Whatever it is makes a difference.
Though Bawa living in the United States may be the biggest help of all.
“Being in America is one less mouth to feed for my family back home in Ghana,” Bawa said. zakwolf784254@gmail.com @Zakwolf22
By Noah Nussbaum asst. copy editor
Ava Uribe knew the ball would find the net as soon as it touched her right foot.
As a redshirt sophomore playing in her first collegiate game versus UMass on Aug. 15, the forward received a long pass from defender Kate Murphy early in the contest. The ball deflected off two players, leaving Uribe to the right of the 18-yard box with only goalkeeper Bella Mendoza to beat.
As she dribbled down the field, Mendoza tried to cut off her angle, but Uribe caught her off balance. Uribe sent a line drive past the keeper’s outstretched foot and into the left corner for the score.
After the ball skidded into the net, the first to reach Uribe was Erin Flurey, who gave her a big hug. Uribe didn’t know how to react. Then, she grinned from ear to ear as her teammates mobbed her. Later, Uribe said she was simply “fired up.”
Uribe’s journey up to this point was challenging. She didn’t make an appearance as a freshman at Penn State in 2022 before transferring to Syracuse after the season. In the preseason of the 2023 campaign, Uribe tore her ACL, forcing her to miss the entirety of the year. After completing her rehab, the Sammamish, Washington, native made her Division I debut in 2024 and has started every game, leading Syracuse in points (eight) and assists (four), while scoring two goals.
Uribe’s helped propel SU to a 6-1-1 record, its third-best start in program history.
“This season means so much to me,” Uribe said. “I’ve waited two very long years for the opportunity to play college soccer. In that time, never once did I doubt that I would make it here.”
When SU’s captains’ practices began last July, Uribe was excited for a fresh start. After transferring from Penn State, Uribe hoped she could earn consistent playing time.
But only a few days in, Uribe tore her right ACL, ending her season.
“It crushed me,” Uribe said. “I came in expecting to make an impact and help my team in the best way I could. Not being able to help them on the field was really difficult for me.”
Uribe was a standout in high school and was rated a four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer. During her junior year, she committed to Penn State, one of the top women’s soccer programs in the country.
Yet, Uribe entered the transfer portal after garnering a lack of playing time as a freshman. Following a conversation with Syracuse head
coach Nicky Thrasher Adams, Uribe felt she fit perfectly into SU’s aggressive offense.
“I was drawn to Syracuse based on how the ACC and Syracuse plays, and I knew that there could be a role for me,” Uribe said.
After undergoing knee surgery, she started a nine-month recovery. Uribe wanted to play again as soon as possible, but realized there was nothing she could do to speed the process up.
Still, Uribe pushed herself, making progress everyday. She started using crutches following the operation. Then, she was cleared to work out on a bike and upgraded to an elliptical shortly after. A few months later, she was walking without assistance.
Senior captain Liesel Odden went through a similar experience after her ACL tear in 2022. During her rehab, Odden developed a tenacious mentality. If the trainers wanted her to do 10 reps, she’d do 12. Odden passed the same mantra to Uribe last season, and it stuck.
“I felt like it still gave me a way to compete even when I wasn’t on the field,” Odden said. “That was something we talked a little bit about and something I’ve seen in Ava where she always wants to do that extra work.”
In May, Uribe was cleared to practice for the first time since being sidelined. She joined a Washington-based USL W summer team, FC Olympia, to ramp up her fitness and get accustomed to playing contact soccer again. Since she hadn’t played much since high school, Uribe needed to adjust to facing physical defenders at the college level.
Uribe was eased in, practicing non-contact to start, but easily transitioned to going full contact a week later. Toward the end of the summer, she played in two matches after fully recovering.
“It was such a confidence-building experience for me,” Uribe said. “I think it reflected on the field because as soon as I got back to Syracuse, I was very comfortable getting into tackles and hitting the floor because I had those experiences in summer ball.”
FC Olympia head coach Ben Willis saw Uribe improve in every practice and game with the club. She was smart with her presses and decision-making, not giving defenders time to think.
“Each day that went by, you could tell she got more and more comfortable with her knee and being able to play again,” Willis said. “From the first day that I was able to work with her until when she left, it was pretty much night and day with what her comfortability was.”
This confidence smoothly transitioned to SU, with Uribe quickly scoring her first goal against
UMass. Seven minutes later, she assisted the game’s second score.
“Knowing how hard it is to come back from (a torn ACL), it makes me even more proud of where she is now,” Odden said. “Her not only being in the starting lineup, but also contributing to us having such a good record is so awesome to see.”
This season, Uribe has extra work to do to keep her knee in shape. She makes sure to come prepared to every game and practice to avoid another serious injury. Uribe also checks in with
SU’s trainers daily, following their suggestions about necessary recovery time after workouts. Now, Uribe’s focus is to bring the Orange back to the postseason, which they haven’t done since leaving the Big East in 2012. She is willing to play any role, even if her minutes or position varies. Whatever (Adams) tells me she wants from me that day, I’m giving 100% on that, whether that’s scoring goals, making big tackles or making assists,” Uribe said. njnussba@syr.edu @noahnussbaum99
By Nick Jepson asst. sports editor
Sam Layton, Chimere Omeze and Andre Cutler-DeJesus haven’t left the field in Syracuse’s last three games. SU’s backline trio has been a strength, allowing just four goals. Syracuse’s defense overall is letting up just 0.8 goals per game, the 32nd-best mark in the country.
Yet the Orange’s offense has sputtered, causing them to go winless over their last three games. Syracuse has scored just seven goals through its first five contests, ranking 102nd in the country. The seven goals are the fewest from Syracuse in its first five games since 2021. SU started that year 3-2-0 and finished 8-8-2.
Syracuse’s 2024 roster features 22 newcomers, and the new-look group’s lack of offense has been a warning flag early in the year. Still, head coach Ian McIntyre hasn’t hit the panic button.
“It’s time and patience with this group,” McIntyre said Tuesday. “We’d all love to be undefeated, but we’re learning a lot. Every game is an opportunity.”
After starting the season 2-0-1 with two shutouts and a tight draw with Charlotte, Syracuse was ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. It was poised to grab a 3-0-1 start against Le Moyne but the Dolphins did the improbable, defeating the Orange 1-0 just a year after becoming a Division I program. SU followed with a 1-1 draw against Boston College, pitting the Orange at 2-1-2, their worst start since 2021.
A lack of shots is not SU’s problem. The Orange have attacked consistently, putting up 20 attempts per game, which ranks second in the nation behind Dayton. SU’s 7.4 shots on goal per game also ranks 11th.
Converting is Syracuse’s issue, as it ranks 166th in the country in shot accuracy. SU scores on just 37% of its attempts, ranking 13th in the
Atlantic Coast Conference, only above Clemson (35%) and Pitt (32%). Against Le Moyne and Boston College, the Orange put just 11 of their 42 shots on net.
“We made a couple of mistakes, and ultimately we didn’t produce enough quality to get back in the game,” McIntyre said after losing to Le Moyne.
After the early strike, Le Moyne turned to a defensive focus. The Dolphins sported a deeper back line, recording just three more shots the entire contest, only one of which forced SU goalie Tomas Hut into a save.
Syracuse pushed hard for an equalizer, but struggled to create quality looks on goal.
“You just got to move the ball two, three touches, move the ball around,” Elton Chifamba said postgame. “Just do everything you can to try to break the line down. And unfortunately, we couldn’t do it tonight.”
The Orange received multiple scoring chances in the second half, with four free kicks right outside the goalie box — all of which occurred after the 70th minute. Nicholas Kaloukian, SU’s leading scorer last year, fired his first strike right into the Dolphins’ wall. Then, Carlos Zambrano missed high over the back post. With 26 seconds left, Ernest Bawa took the final of the four free kicks. Like Zambrano, Bawa missed above the net, clinching the upset win for Le Moyne.
Syracuse not only put up 28 shots against the Dolphins, but it also had 10 corner kicks. Despite every scoring opportunity coming SU’s way, it couldn’t muster a goal.
“It’s not how long you have the ball or the number of chances, it’s (that) you’ve got to execute,” McIntyre said.
The Orange rank dead last in the ACC in shooting percentage, with just 7% of SU’s shots finding the back of the net. Syracuse hasn’t finished below 8% since 2011, when it finished at 7.9%. Syracuse ended the 2011 season 3-12-1 and 1-7-1 in conference play.
Against Boston College, the Orange bounced back quickly. Just 43 seconds into the game, Michael Acquah’s cross found Gabe Threadgold, who buried a shot from six yards out to put Syracuse up 1-0.
However, the Orange corralled just three more shots on goal the entire game. The Eagles knotted the game in the 22nd minute and loaded on the pressure for the remainder of the contest. Boston College created two prime chances to take the lead in the 88th minute, but Hut kept his composure and allowed the Orange to escape with a tie.
Next, Syracuse eyes undefeated No. 17 Virginia Tech Friday. The Hokies are the biggest test the Orange have seen so far this season. VT boasts the 20th-best scoring offense in the country, registering 2.6 goals per game. It also has the 15th-best scoring defense in the country, allowing 0.6 goals a contest.
Syracuse has a tall task Friday, but it could serve as the turning point for its season. Despite the shaky start, McIntyre believes in his young team to uphold SU’s standard.
“I’m excited to see where we are in October,” McIntyre said. “We’ll have some good days and some days that we know that we’ve got to get better from. But the attitude, the energy, it’s a terrific group.”
nsjepson@syr.edu
@nicholasjepson
Since
2016, Ernest Bawa
has been living his dream of playing soccer abroad after growing up in Ghana
By Zak Wolf sports editor
Ernest Bawa landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in September 2016 on a flight from Kotoka, Ghana. All he had was a backpack. In it were some clothes, soccer cleats and a faulty phone due to its Ghanaian sim card. Nothing else.
It was Bawa’s first time in the United States. He’d been given the chance to play for Taft Boarding School (Connecticut) following four years at Right to Dream Academy — a soccer program for underprivileged kids in Ghana. His first task: find his driver in the airport lobby.
Confused where to go, Bawa nervously paced the baggage claim area looking for someone holding a sign with his name. Eventually, Bawa found his driver, the director of RDA USA, and made his way to the car.
During the hour-long ride to an apartment in Rye, New York, Bawa’s head remained tilted upward as he peered out the window. Fascinated by New York City’s skyscrapers, his eyes remained peeled. He knew his life would never be the same.
“That was a first ‘wow’ moment for me,” Bawa said.
The car ride began Bawa’s nine-year and counting journey in the U.S. His soccer career began playing on dirt roads without cleats in Ghana. It evolved into playing at Taft, where he became its all-time leading scorer. It led Bawa to the University of North Carolina, where he played from 2020-23 before transferring to Syracuse for his final year of eligibility as a graduate student in 2024.
The morning after Bawa arrived in New York, he was taken to Taft’s campus in Watertown, Connecticut. Unfamiliar with American geography, Bawa thought of going to school as a 15-minute drive. Instead, a nearly two-hour drive ensued. Bawa joked he “thought he was driving back to Ghana.”
The culture shock didn’t stop when he arrived on Taft’s campus. Luxury cars lined the streets. Bawa wandered
see bawa page 14
By Aiden Stepansky Asst. Sports Editor
Fran Brown’s first offseason was highlighted by acquiring star quarterback Kyle McCord from the transfer portal. While McCord was instantly surrounded by running back LeQuint Allen Jr. and tight end Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse’s receiving corps needed to make vast improvements to aid its ensuing pass-heavy offense.
The Orange had just three receivers total over 300 receiving yards last season and only Damien Alford eclipsed the 500-yard mark. Through
two games in 2024, Syracuse already has four at 75 or more.
“It makes my job a lot easier when you look across the field and there’s mismatches everywhere,” McCord said following SU’s win over then-No. 23 Georgia Tech. Brown retained Umari Hatcher, SU’s second-leading receiver in 2023, and slot receiver Trebor Peña. He then brought redshirt freshman Zeed Haynes and senior Jackson Meeks with him from Georgia. And to lead the group, Brown tapped former New England Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas to help develop professional talent.
SU's passing game increased by 328 yards between its games against Georgia Tech in 2023 and 2024
With a litany of options, the Orange rank fourth in the nation in passing yards per game at 367.5. The added weapons have helped McCord throw the most passing touchdowns (eight) in Division I, with Peña tied for the nation’s lead in receiving touchdowns (four). Overall, SU’s receivers rank sixth best in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus, grading at 78.4.
“From the time I got here in late December to now, there’s been tremendous growth from everybody in the room,” Douglas said. “That’s a testament to the work they put in and believing in what I’m teaching them.”