Medley Magazine, Fall 2012 by Medley Magazine

medley fall 2012 issue 12

medley fall 2012

be A Good One The best way to experience a culture is to do. Immerse yourself in tradition, delve into neighborhoods, and get elbow-deep in the kitchen with cuisine. We at medley aim to introduce you to the array of diversity on campus and in the city, from the Native American population at SU (p. 28) to the African dance class on campus (p. 18), and the art community at ArtRage Gallery (p. 11) to the array of neighborhoods along the Connective Corridor bus route (p. 12). But we want you to take away something more from our articles than just learning about a new culture. Instead of tossing this issue on your coffee table, we hope the pages will be cut up, torn, and well used. And we hope our interactive pages will inspire you to do so. Want to host a traditional

Indian dinner for friends? Cut out the recipe cards on p. 9 and head to the kitchen. Interested in sending a messenger of love? Follow the directions on p. 29 to create your own traditional Japanese crane. Cap off your medley experience this semester by sending one of two postcards from the city we call home (p. 31). Fall in love with this issue and make it your own. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” We’re challenging you to be doers, to not just take in the world as it happens around you, but to truly experience it. Go do,

Senior Editors

Design Editor

Nikelle Snader Breanne Van Nostrand

Becca McGovern Assistant Design Editor

Ariel Zuckerman

Assitant Editors

Diana Pearl Gabriela Riccardi Kerry Wolfe Web Editor

Stephanie Smith Writers

Josh Austin Tenedra Bafford Heidi A. Frazer Jingnan Li Dee Lockett Maya Gao Qian PR Director

Esther Chen

Photo Editor

medley Lauren Stefaniak Editor-in-Chief

Valentina Palladino Managing Editor

Leah Waitekus Art Director Advisor

Elane Granger Ph.D.

Associate Director for Student Services, Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services

Kirsten Celo

Photographers

Annie Flanagan Kristina Subsara Jim Tuttle Designers

Marcus Hanna Jessie Keith Lucas Taccardi Artist

Greg Mawicke

@medleymagazine

WHAT’S INSIDE 04 Up in Smoke Imaginative hookah flavors

08 Host a Dinner Party Indian cooking made easy

05 Crash Course Understanding Buddhism

06 December Drama Mayan calendar myth

11 Cutting into Culture

Political art by Deborah Faye Lawrence

12 Connect the Dots Medley’s guide to Syracuse

PHOTO STORY

8 11

medley is dedicated to providing a forum for students to explore international and cultural differences and its manifestations on campus, in the city of Syracuse, and abroad. medley magazine is published once per semester with funding from your student fee. All contents of the publication are copyright 2012 by their respective creators.

14 PHOTO: A Poet and a Provider

18 Flight of the Drums African dancing gains ground at SU

SPECIAL PACKAGE 21 A Global Affair: Syria 22 Map Key cities in the Syrian Uprising 23 Gas to the Fire Effects of war spread worldwide 26 Break it Down Syria stats and facts 27 Let the Good Times Roll Sushi for beginners

23 28

28 Reflections: Heidi Frazer Native American pride at SU 29 Folded with Love Paper crane how-to 31 Postcards Unseen Syracuse

COVER PHOTO | KIRSTEN CELO

One of 10 children, Rayshawn Tigner’s little brother stares into his reflection in a mirror in their home.

medley fall 2012

Up inHookah SmokeFlavorsWeWishExisted STORY | GABRIELA RICCARDI

The practice of smoking hookah has blown from Indian and Persian tradition to rising popularity around the world, and it’s now become a posh staple of our weekend nightlife. With options ranging from citrus tea to bubblegum and fruity fahkfahkina— now try pronouncing that one—hookah bars offer specialty smoke flavors for nearly any whim. But though this selection keeps the experience fun and fresh, some occasions call for specific needs. For those moments, here are some hookah flavors we at medley wish existed.

DESIGN | ARIEL ZUCKERMAN

You just got the Grim Reaper of relationships in a text from your significant other: “We need to talk.” Though your instinct may be to go searching for the pieces of your shattered heart in a bottomless pint of Ben & Jerry’s, try to pull it together for a night out with friends. Your despair will float off with the smoke of Cherry Garcia, along with the memories of that insensitive ex. And all of the extra pounds waiting inside a carton of ice cream—you’ll never have to see those. You’re currently going on hour four in the library while studying for finals, and an organic chemistry textbook is beginning to look more and more like a sweet, fluffy pillow. Instead of loading up on a seventh caffeinated drink to shuttle through another practice exam, step out for a quick breather with a Mocha Frappucino smoke. It’ll clear your mind and give you the perk you need to ace the exams. You’re at another painfully long holiday party. Your great-aunt has already presented you with a hand-knit sweater better suited for a Saved By The Bell Christmas Special, and your cousin has made it clear he’s only interested in talking about his high school football career that ended five years ago. Skip dessert and take Grandma for a long-overdue trip to the bar to share in some sweet Candy Cane smokes. It’s the very least to recover some holiday cheer.

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Crash Course

3 Facets of Buddhism You Need to Know STORY | MAYA GAO QIAN DESIGN | ARIEL ZUCKERMAN

Buddhism isn’t all about reincarnation, meditation, and a bald, fat Buddha. Instead, as the world’s fourth-largest religion with a growing number of followers, it’s about so much more. The history of Buddhism is long and divisive, but some of the concepts just can’t be mistaken. Here are three important facets of the Buddhist lifestyle.

1 2 3 Not all Buddhists share the same doctrines.

Karma does not equal fatalism.

There is no emphasis on a god in Buddhism.

Two major schools of Buddhism exist: Theravada, the “ancient teaching,” and Mahayana, the “Great Vehicle.” The biggest difference between the two is their definitions of the final Nirvana. Mahayana upholds that liberation from suffering for all the creatures on Earth (Bodhisattvahood) is the ultimate Nirvana, while the Theravada believes that Nirvana is self-enlightenment.

Karma doesn’t mean good deeds are rewarded, while bad acts are punished by a higher existence, as in most other religions; rather, it’s a flexible and fluid natural law system that applies certain consequences to various kinds of actions and the psychological intentions behind them. No orders from a god are necessary—people control their own fates.

This is why the legality of calling Buddhism a religion is questioned by many scholars. Born as a prince, the Buddha achieved his own enlightenment by mediating under the Bodhi tree, not through connection with a higher existence. That explains why most scriptures of Buddhism were written in the form of discussions in which the Buddha answered and analyzed questions raised by his disciples, much like Plato’s dialogues.

Even inside the two schools, different factions with conflicting views exist. Richard B. Pilgrim, associate professor of religion emeritus at Syracuse University, says any generalization for the whole of Buddhism should be carefully scrutinized. “As with the other world religions, the situation of belief is very diverse, not only between or among these traditions, and even within them,” he says.

Professor Gareth Fisher, assistant professor of religion at Syracuse University, has conducted extensive field research about Buddhist practices in various Chinese provinces. He says Buddhism provides a strong and secure harbor for many people who are constantly in vulnerable positions of society and have been through the vicissitudes of life. “Whatever happened in the past, they can control what will happen in the future, as long as they practice well,” says Fisher.

There is never an authoritative, absolute teaching method in the tradition of Buddhism. “It is not that Buddhism was ‘agnostic,’ but that the gods ultimately don’t matter in his view of spiritual maturity,” says Pilgrim.

medley fall 2012

You’re almost there! Take the night off, or don’t.

nog, please.

It’s National Egg Nog Day. We’ll have a venti, non-fat egg

STORY | LAUREN STEFANIAK

DESIGN | ARIEL ZUCKERMAN

The world really should end today— grades are due.

The big day. Light off some fireworks to celebrate.

Trivia night at PJ’s Pub and Grill? Don’t ask us twice.

21 20

Last day of classes! Knock back a cold one— you deserve it.

Get down with the LBGTQ Community at their HoliGAY party. Bring treats!

Catch the final major meteor shower of 2012. Don’t say we didn’t tell you it’s the most beautiful display you’ll see all year.

Stop and pause—it’s 12/12/12. That won’t happen again in your lifetime.

Kung Fu on stage at the SRC Arena. We don’t know, either.

National Pastry Day exists? Maybe the world won’t end, after all.

Premium Rush: Joseph Gordon Levitt biking for hours. 8 p.m. Goldstein.

Whether or not the Mayans got it right, send off the year with a bang

DECEMBER DRAM A

A Grateful Dead Tribute show at the Westcott. How fitting. 29

The Cake Boss is in town! Pick up a ticket for the Civic Center event.

Erie Canal Museum has a Gingerbread Gallery. Thank us later.

@medleymagazine

medley fall 2012

Host a Dinner Party: Indian STORY | STEPHANIE SMITH

PHOTOS | KRISTINA SUBSARA

Fresh, flaky naan—traditional unleavened bread flecked with garlic or layered with cheese—a pile of biryani, or rice, with meat of your choosing, and marinated skewered chicken tikka are hallmarks of Indian cuisine. Yet you don’t have to be traditionally trained to host an Indian-style dinner party of your own. Grab some friends, head to the kitchen, and embark on a culinary adventure filled with sweet, aromatic spices and sharp, pungent curries. Once you’re done hosting the party, kick back and enjoy the good vibes while sipping down a cool mango lassi—you deserve it.

@medleymagazine

Cheese Pakoras • 5 cheese cubes • 1 cup gram flour • 1 tbsp. corn flour • 1 tsp. red chili powder

[source: cookatease.com] • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder • 1 tsp. ginger garlic powder • 1 pinch of baking soda salt, for taste

1. Mix gram flour, corn flour, salt, and baking soda; add ginger garlic paste, spices to make a batter; add water as needed. Cut cheese cubes into desired shapes. 2. Heat oil in a pan; dip the cheese pieces in the batter and deep fry at medium heat until crisp; use paper towel to absorb excess oil.

[source: allrecipes.com] Punjabi Masala of coriander seeds • 1½ cup dried chickpeas, soaked Paneer Tika •• 34 tbsp cloves overnight

• 2 cups ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped • 1 cup yogurt • ½ cup milk • 3 tbsp. sugar

[source: manjulaskitchen.com] • 1/8 tsp. cardamom powder • 1 tbsp. chopped mint leaves (optional) • 3 cups crushed ice or ice cubes, use as needed

1. Blend mangoes, yogurt, milk, and sugar. 2. Add ice and cardamom powder and blend again. Add water to adjust consistency to your liking. 3. Mix all ingredients for marinade and keep aside. 4. Pour in tall glass and garnish with mint leaf.

[source: showmethecurry.com] Ras Malai Tika • Pinch of saffron • 8 cups whole Paneer milk • 2 tbsp. lemon juice • 5 cups water (in a pressure cooker) • 1 cup water

• 1 cup warm water • ¼ cup white sugar • 3 tbsp. milk • 1 egg, beaten

[source: allrecipes.com]

• 2 tsp. salt • 4½ cups bread flour • 2 tsp. minced garlic (optional) • ¼ cup butter, melted

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water and let stand for 10 minutes until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6 - 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place dough in a well-oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Heat oil in a pan; dip the cheese pieces in the batter and deep fry at medium heat until crisp; use paper towel to absorb excess oil. 2. Punch down dough and knead in garlic. Roll golf ball-sized bits into balls, and place on a tray. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. 3. Preheat grill to high heat. Roll one ball of dough into a thin circle. Lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill and cook 2 - 3 minutes until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter and cook until browned, another 2 - 4 minutes.

• 1 tsp. whole black pepper • 3 black cardamom • 2 tsp. cumin seeds • 1 bay leaf • 1-2 dry red chillies

1. Partially cover rinsed chickpeas and cook in a pan until soft. 2. Dry roast all ingredients from “coriander seeds” down. Grind and set aside. 3. Heat oil and add grated ginger; fry for 30 seconds. Add onions and fry until pink and transparent. Add tomatoes. Cook until mushy for 15 minutes. 4. Add ground powder, red chili powder, and garam masala. Stir and let cook for 4 minutes. Add the chickpeas and combine. 5. Add 3 cups of water and a pinch of salt and cook for 10 - 15 minutes.

Mango Lassi

Naan

• ¼ tsp. cardamom powder • 2 tbsp. pistachios and almonds, roughly chopped • Sugar, to taste

1. Mash potatoes, mixed vegetables, paneer, and cream together. Add spices and mix well. Add more boiled potato if not firm. Season with salt. 2. Make dough into balls and add ½ tsp. of the nut mix to center of each ball. Roll into perfect rounds. 3. Heat the oil kept aside frying the koftas, on medium flame. Deep-fry rounds until pale golden. Let sit aside. 4. For the sauce, first heat 3 tbsp. oil in a deep pan and fry onions until light brown. 5. Grind into a paste with tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, coriander, cumin, and red chili powders.

Samosas • 1 cup flour • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil • 2 large potatoes, boiled • 1 onion, chopped • 2 green chilies, very finely chopped

[source: food.com] • 3 tbsp. oil • ½ tsp. ginger, grated • ½ tsp. garlic, crushed • Coriander seeds • 1 tbsp. cilantro, finely chopped • Juice of ½ lemon

• ½ tsp. turmeric • ½ tsp. garam masala • ½ tsp. red chili powder

1.Mix together flour and oil, and add enough water until it becomes soft dough. Cover with a moist cloth and set aside for 20 minutes. 2. Beat dough, kneed again, cover, and set aside. 3. Heat the oil in a pan, and add ginger, garlic, green chilies, and a few coriander seeds. Fry for 1 minute. 4. Add onions and sauté until light brown. Add cilantro, lemon juice, turmeric, red chili, and garam masala. Fry for 2 minutes. 5. Add potatoes. Fry for 2 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool. 6. Divide dough into 10 equal portions, rolled into 5” ovals. Cut each piece in half. Roll around finger to make a cone, and place a tbsp. of filling into it. Seal the third side. 7. Continue until finished, and deep fry on low-medium heat until light brown.

Decoration Tips • Candles and incense sticks are a must—these decorative elements play an important rule in both religious ceremonies and cultural celebrations. In addition, they provide a welcoming and fresh environment, perfect for a dinner party. • Hookah originated in northern India, and remains a favorite pastime among Indian friends and families. It provides a relaxing atmosphere and pre-meal entertainment.

• Dark purple, red, maroon, and gold are significant in Indian culture to create an inviting ambiance. Integrate the warm colors in tablecloths and other décor. • Tapestries or tablecloths are just another way to add a final touch. Most people will have these items readily available in their linen closets.

cut here

• 1” piece of ginger, grated • 2 onions, chopped • 1 large tomato, chopped • 2 tsp. red chilli powder • 2 tbsp. oil • 1 tsp. garam masala

Naan

medley fall 2012

Cheese Pakoras Naan

Punjabi Masala

Samosas Mango Lassi

Decoration Tips

Ras Malai

Cutting Into Culture Political artist Deborah Faye Lawrence seeks justice through collage STORY | JOSH AUSTIN PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBORAH LAWRENCE

shredded gun catalog plasters the background—black and white images of rifles, handguns, and pistol frames dot the page. Appropriate pricing accompanies the images, one $133, another $59.99, all aimed at a 50’s-era girl with a patriotic blindfold and a matching target around her neck, upper teeth prominent and lips upturned into a smile. The title: Blind Execution. The statement: distracting elements of patriotism. “Making pretty pictures is not me,” says Deborah Faye Lawrence. She has her Master’s now, but during her undergraduate career, Lawrence remembers a professor asking why she’d paint tiny images when she could simply cut them out and glue them down. Rather quickly, Lawrence replaced her paintbrush with a pair of scissors and swapped paint for glue. Lawrence claims she hasn’t been into painting since. Instead, the Seattle-based collage artist coos every time she hears the slight crunch of her scissors cutting out a picture for her next project. Her work is textural. Found images snipped from books, newspapers, and magazines influence her art. She carefully glues her images to anything—tin trays, boards, paper, or panels. Her work radiates from its canvas, but she says she’s much more about crafting a dialogue than constructing something beautiful. Her penchant for dialogue stems from a responsibility “to do something for the world,” a duty to fairness that manifested in her twenties. She started paying attention to the politics around her, which led to her opinions

“seeping” into her artwork. “I am very engaged in causes for justice,” she says. The left-wing activist enjoys challenging the status quo with her collages. Her current exhibit at ArtRage, titled “Cutting up Capitalism,” intends to show her distaste for the economic system. Other exhibits in the past had similar themes. She’s made some notable stops on her way to recognition. In 2008, former first lady Laura Bush asked congressmen from each state to select an artist to design an ornament for the White House Christmas tree. Washington Representative and Democrat Jim McDermott selected Lawrence, who created a swirly nine-inch ball of red and white stripes with text twirled around. Her ornament was a testament to McDermott, whom she admired because he just signed a resolution to impeach the president. Lawrence took this seriously: on the decoration in 8.5-point font, she placed the words “impeach the president.” Lawrence isn’t one to pass up an opportunity. Her stunt garnered attention from The Washington Post, Rolling Stone,

ArtRage Gallery

“Cutting Up Capitalism”

505 Hawley Avenue Syracuse, New York 13203

Artist: Deborah Faye Lawrence Dates: Nov. 10 - Dec. 22

Phone Number: 315/218-5711 Gallery Hours: Wed. - Fri. 2-7 p.m.

deedeeworks.com

artragegallery.org

Sat. 12-4 p.m.

and The Huffington Post, which gave her the result she sought— political consideration. She takes her inspiration from those who are just like her. Lawrence admires the work of the early 20th century poet and playwright, Bertolt Brecht, whose quote: “Art is not a mirror held p to reality, but a hammer to shape it” inspires her. She also appreciates German artist Hannah Höch, who lived and quietly worked under Hitler’s rule. Höch’s depictions of Hitler and criticism of his regime are what influence Lawrence the most. And she hopes to invoke the same inspiration through her work. She takes pride that she comments on the culture, while prompting people to question the their political surroundings. “I know I can’t persuade people to come to my side,” she says. “But I want people to think.”

medley fall 2012

Connect the Dots Medley’s guide to the best cultural stops along Syracuse’s Connective Corridor bus route

Kitty Hoynes

STORY | LAUREN STEFANIAK DESIGN | LUCAS TACCARDI & LEAH WAITEKUS

301 W. FAYETTE ST. 315/424-1974

Syracuse serves as a cultural hub for the arts, with museums, galleries, art centers, and concert venues dotted across the city. And while the campus

EAT

bubble might have it all—plenty of places to relax, a library to study in, and even a Starbucks to get your caffeine fix—it’s missing the melting pot of culture that makes the city so diverse. Luckily for us, the Connective Corridor bus transports us from campus to an array of stops that get to the heart of the city’s communities. Burst out of the bubble and check out some of medley’s favorite cultural spots just off bus route 443.

WATCH VISIT

Red House Arts Center 201 SOUTH WEST ST.

Lipe Art Park

315/425-0405

W. FAYETTE ST. & BETWEEN GEDDES ST. & OSWEGO ST. 315/443-0320

SEE

La Casita Cultural Center VISIT

109 OTISCO ST. 315/443-1879

The Gear Factory 200 S. GEDDES ST.

SHOP

315/374-6487

Way Off the Beaten Path 136 WALTON ST. 315/701-5950

@medleymagazine

The Black Olive

Cafe Ole

316 S. CLINTON ST.

359 S. WARREN ST.

315/399-5599

315/559-2964

EAT

DRINK

Samir’s Imported Foods 811 E. GENESEE ST. 315/422-1850

COOK

DRINK

Cafe Kubal 401 S. SALINA ST. 315/440-6441

LISTEN

Syracuse Opera JOHN H. MULROY CIVIC CENTER 411 MONTGOMERY ST. 315/475-5915

A Poet and A Provider STORY AND PHOTOS | KIRSTEN CELO

“

I am from a place of love, hatred and pain. My life is like the line in the middle of the street, it keeps on going but it never stops. You go left, you go right, but some way you end up going where you need to go. -Rayshawn Tigner, freestyle poetry

Rayshawn Tigner, 16, is a student at ITC, an inner-city technical school in Syracuse. He is one of 10 children, six of whom live together with his mother. He’s not ashamed of his family, but he feels a heavy pressure to succeed. Someday, he wants to make enough money to move his family out of their dangerous neighborhood. Tigner expresses himself through poetry. He used to write about loneliness and his absentee father, but now focuses on the future and why he must succeed. “I’m going to be successful because I know who I am,” he says. “Failure is not an option.” Motivated by the desire to provide for his family, Tigner focuses his energy on academics. He’s a member of the National Honor Society, a Hillside Work Scholar, and an A-student. He’d like to be an accountant, and is working toward college scholarships provided by Wegmans to achieve that goal. Several universities are currently recruiting him. Turn the page and follow Rayshawn Tigner on his journey.

”

@medleymagazine

medley fall 2012

Tigner uses a spectrometer in chemistry class to measure the amount of visible light absorbed in colored solutions.

Tigner sorts through his books at his girlfriend Ny-tiriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locker at ITC. They take the same classes and have been sharing a locker all year.

Donna Richardson, Tignerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, takes a break from watching six of her kids in the quiet of her bedroom.

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Tigner and his classmates laugh during an economics discussion on what inflated items are worth buying and which are most important to them.

Tigner and Ny-tiria sit next to eachother during an economics class at ITC.

During a study period, Tigner reads Aldous Huxleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brave New World for his English class. He likes to read silently while his girlfriend, Ny-Tiria, reads aloud next to him.

medley fall 2012

Flight of the

drums Professor Anthony Brown brings African dancing to SU with history, culture, and rhythm STORY | KERRY WOLFE PHOTOS | KRISTINA SUBSARA

t all started with the beating of the drums. The steady rhythm spurred the dancers into motion, transforming the still group into a blur of movement. Their bodies folded inward and lunged forward in a series of movements that carried them across the wooden floor. The tapping of the dancersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; feet began to crescendo as they came together in unison, joining the cadence of the drums to produce one uniform sound. These dancers are not professionals. Rather, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Syracuse University students enrolled in an African dance class. The movements they executed were as foreign to them as the country they originated in. They were only beginning to master the different elements of the dance that day in the studio. Yet it was easy to envision these moves being performed at a traditional ceremony. The pounding of their feet created a

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Anthony Brown takes a moment to instruct his African dance class. Lauren Carr, a junior, improvises her movements to create an 8-count. Sophomore Chantal Felice performs a pectoral lift as a warm up exercise. Junior Ronald Taylor stretches his hamstrings before the dance class starts.

@medleymagazine

Students are asked to “feel out the beat,” interpret it, and use it to move across the dance studio in their own unique way.

tribal sensation as they stalked across the floor in unison, their arms flying above their heads as their bodies contorted inward. The dancers moved naturally, communicating with their entire bodies as they carefully executed each move. The dance didn’t seem mechanized or painfully choreographed, a common result for beginners learning foreign moves. Despite the studio setting of Anthony Brown’s dance class at SU, African dance is more than just a style. It’s a form of history, brought to life by movements. The moves and their meanings are ceremonial, and different dances signify certain events. Some dances are accompanied by various chants, while many of the movements correspond to action, like harvesting and the sewing of the fields. Dance accompanies ceremonies from all parts of life, ranging from ceremonies of birth to ceremonies of death. Anthony Brown is no stranger to the intricacies of the dance—he’s been teaching it for 15 years. He spends the classes maneuvering through the mass of dancers, adjusting positions and offering instructions. He works with dancers of all

levels to master what he refers to as the “smorgasbord” of African dance moves he put together. Most importantly, he teaches them that the dancer’s breath is the rhythm, and the dancer’s heart provides the beat. Yet it’s the drum that directs their every move. Historically, the beating of the drums is just as spiritual and ceremonial as the dance moves. Drummers begin drumming at a young age, and continue to play throughout their lives. In many African cultures, those who drum retain a high level of respect, almost at the level of royalty. It is a lifestyle that connects those from this lifetime with their ancestors through the repetition of the rhythms. The king of this particular studio is Amali, who sits in the back corner of the dance studio with his drums. His skillful beating directs the floor full of dancers in front of him, just as they always have for the past 11 years. Amali feeds off the dancers just as they feed off him. He provides them with timing and discipline, and their movements supply him with the tempo. He says it can be challenging to reach back and recall the standard rhythms that

continued on next page >>

... The pounding of their feet created a tribal sensation as they stalked across the floor in unison, their arms flying above their heads as their bodies contorted inward. ...

medley fall 2012 existed for hundreds of years. Yet he doesn’t let this challenge bar him from providing the beats the dancers rely on. He knows they will continue to dance until his hands stop playing and the drums fall silent. Amali’s ease and consistency on the drums is due to years of practice and admiration for the instrument. As a child, he would watch construction workers from the windows of his elementary school, mimicking the pounding of their tools by banging his hands against his desk. He bought his first drum from his cousin when he was 17 years old, and he hasn’t stopped drumming since. That was 42 years ago. He hopes he will be able to pass on his knowledge of the drums to future generations. “This was a gift I was given by God,” he says. “I need to use my gift.” This gift combines with the dancers’ movements to create a surreal, almost enchanting experience. There is one main rule

...

There is one main rule in Anthony Brown’s class: when the drums start beating, nobody stands still. He equates dancing with flying, the only real opportunity we have to get off the ground.

...

in Anthony Brown’s class: when the drums start beating, nobody stands still. He equates dancing with flying, the only real opportunity we have to get off the ground. For that reason, the only time the dancers can stop dancing is when the drum stops beating. “I’m the parachute. That’s how we’re going to make it to the ground,” Brown says. “And when we make it to the ground, let’s dance.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Anthony Reyes, a sophomore, smiles and tilts his face upward as he dances to the music; the dance move is called a fallen recovery. Sophomore Beverly Okanome improvises an 8-count of dancing.Christine Krumbach, a senior, holds her ankles down to stretch out her spine during the beginning warm-up exercises. Students lay on the ground performing pectoral lifts to start the class.

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SPECIAL PACKAGE: SYRIA

A GLOBAL AFFAIR

Easily confused as a remnant of the Arab Spring, the Syrian conflict continues to tear the country apart with civil war. The fighting began in March 2011 and quickly escalated since early 2012, leaving in its path a wave of thousands of victims, millions of refugees, and a country in shambles. The unrest in Syria proves a concern for many countries, as it has long been a “linchpin” of the old security order in the Middle East. Now, fracturing the standing government could mean desired social change, but also severe political instability on a more global scale. The Syrian government is a minority party of Alawite Shiite Muslims, ruling the country made up of 75 percent Sunni Muslim people. Of the 23 million Syrians, the Alawite sect comprises only 12 percent of the population. The opposition group against the Alawites and President Bashar al-Assad remains fractious, supported by a wide variety of interest groups that have accused ties to outside countries and to al-Qaeda. In the following pages,take a deeper look inside the conflict.Read about one SU professor’s personal touch with the destruction of her home. Learn about the complexities of the battle for government control, and also the key locations where the violence engulfs whole cities. The conflict demands attention. 8 key cities, 341,202 refugees. Homes destroyed and families torn apart. Take a step inside the conflict that reaches far beyond its borders.

SYRIA

KEY CITIES IN THE SYRIAN UPRISING ALEPPO The battle for occupation

of Syriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest city (pop. 2,301,570) has been ongoing since July 19.

TREMSEH On July 12, more than 200

civilians were murdered in this remote village outside Hama in what was the first of many massacres to come.

HAMA The fourth largest city in Syria,

just north of Damascus and Homs, saw nearly 80 women and children

murdered on June 6.

HOULA Just north of Homs, government-backed

militia executed 108 civilians in this remote village on May 25.

HOMS This third largest city in Syria was under siege

in Feb. 2012 and continues to be bombarded by air attacks from the Assad regime.

DAMASCUS This third largest city in Syria was under siege

in Feb. 2012 and continues to be bombarded

by air attacks from the Assad regime.

DARAYYA By far the bloodiest massacre of the Syrian Uprising, more than 400

civilians were killed in this small Damascus suburb on Aug. 25.

DARAA Just south of Damascus near the Jordan border, this city is credited as the site where

the Syrian Uprising began when 15 children were arrested for painting anti-government graffiti on school walls.

GAS TO THE FIRE STORY | NIKELLE SNADER ART | GREG MAWICKE

ullets littered the apartment. They infiltrated the

city, greeting one another and taking in the night air.

washing machine, the beds; they lay scattered on

She thinks back to when the aroma of incense filled the

the floor. The shutters hung askew and the windows

air during the Holy Days; she reminisces about the Palm

shattered, no longer a barrier to the violence in the streets

Sundays marked with children walking from one historical

just feet away.

church to another, white dresses to march the large white

Rania Habibâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s childhood memories flash at her in

candles they carried. She remembers her primary school,

moments of detail. The linguistics professor at Syracuse

connected to the churchyard at St. Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not far from

University remembers a day when her childhood home

home. But those snapshots disappear in a flash of gun

was known for its central squares where Bedouin peoples

smoke and unrest. Habib may be seven time zones and

would sell goat cheese and milk, textiles, and cigarettes.

thousands of miles away from her home in Homs, Syria,

When the narrow apartment-lined streets were filled

but no amount of distance could save those tranquil days

with her neighbors strolling through the old parts of the

ripped from her memory.

medley fall 2012

Homs, caught in the larger Syrian conflict between multiple groups and the government of the Assad regime, is especially embroiled in war-like fighting. The conflict is classified as a civil war, but in many ways is much more complicated at its core. Over 27,000 people have died as a result, 340,000 Syrians have refugee status — a number expected to exceed 700,000 by the year’s end — and over 2.5 million Syrians are in desperate need of aid. On the surface, the conflict could appear a latent effect of the Arab Spring that erupted in Tunisia in December 2010, a catalyst that continues to manifest in countries like Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya. But a closer look at the conflict shows a web of complexities that could stand to have a larger-reaching effect, past the Mediterranean and Middle East, its tendrils creeping into Europe, Asia and even across the great expanse to reach the United States. Aside from the globalization that is the “it” word among the international community, the Syrian conflict has consequences that go beyond its borders on a map. Habib, whose family updates her on the state of affairs from a few hours from Homs, says that the original opposition forces wanted reformation from the government. Generally, she says, the people liked the president, and never asked for his resignation. But, she claims, outside groups who have political and economic interests in Syria hijacked the situation. “Gas to the fire,” she says. Even knowing how to classify the opposing forces creates a challenge. Habib contests the term Syrian Free Army: she says the factious groups fighting against the government are rebel groups from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Turkey, and possibly others. These nuances of the conflict make the case

of Syria more complex than several other uprisings belonging to the Arab Spring season. Miriam Elman, political science professor at Syracuse University and the director of a research project on democracy in the Middle East, says Syria differs from Tunisia and Egypt because the conflict is not isolated within the country. “There are a lot of moving parts,” Elman says, citing the grand scale the Syrian conflict involves. Elman says the key problem for outside countries like the United States is figuring out what the correct response needs to be, and doing nothing at all is not an option. She suggests the U.S. should be involved to make sure that a post-Assad government is one that is viable — one that keeps the government away from the clutches of al-Qaeda and other groups who seek power in a crumbling infrastructure. With the impending demise of the regime, Elman believes it’s time for the U.S. to act. As Habib reads reports of her hometown’s destruction, it’s tough to imagine what her city will be like upon her family’s return. The instability within the country increases at the same rate of refugees streaming out of the country. While she wishes she could help the refugees, she feels helpless. Six months ago, Habib’s parents returned to Homs from their temporary residence in the village of Oyoun Al-Wadi for a two-hour visit to their home. Scenery rife with bullets, broken glass, destroyed memories greeted them. The unknowns of an unstable government, various groups invading their home, and uncertainty of when it will be safe to return are figments of worry, now, with the questions impossible to resolve. For Habib and her family, it’s a time of waiting for the gas to simmer out, and for the smoke to drift away.

@medleymagazine

341,202

Registered

Syrian refugees

have fled to neighboring countries* *As of November 13, 2012

DEMOGRAPHY of REFUGEES Male (50%)

age

Female (50%)

10% 10% 7% 21% 1%

0-4 5-11 12-17 18-59 60+

9% 10% 7% 23% 1%

DISTRIBUTION BREAKDOWN TURKEY

114,944

Registered Syrian refugees

88,026 Jordan

Registered Syrian refugees (An additional 31,967 refugees have appointments for registration)

lebanon

iraq

87,021

Registered Syrian refugees

51,211

Registered Syrian refugees

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION | REBECCA MCGOVERN

Statistics from: data.unhcr.org

@medleymagazine

Let The Good Times Roll

ORD

AFF RA B

NED

Y | TE STOR

ITEK H WA

DES

LEA IGN |

3 Sushi Preparations for the Home Cook YIELD: 1 Roll = 6 to 8 pieces of sushi EQUIPMENT: • Sushi mat • Sharp knife

California Roll INGREDIENTS: • 1 nori sheet • 1 cup of prepared sushi rice • 1 medium avocado, sliced and peeled • Crab meat, diced • Sesame seeds

Salmon Roll INGREDIENTS: • 1 nori sheet • 1 cup of prepared sushi rice • Smoked salmon, sliced • Cream cheese • Green onions, diced • Sesame seeds

Vegetarian Roll INGREDIENTS: • 1 nori sheet • 1 cup of prepared sushi rice • 1 medium avocado, peeled and sliced • 1 small cucumber, peeled and sliced • Sesame seeds

HOW TO:

1. Place nori sheet on sushi mat (shiny side facing down) and cover with thin layer of rice and sesame seeds

2. Flip nori sheet over (rice side facing down)

3. Evenly add avocado slices and crab meat (down the middle)

3. Evenly add cream cheese, salmon slices, and green onions (down the middle)

3. Evenly add cucumber slices and avocado slices (down the middle)

4. Tightly roll sushi mat away from you until it forms a roll. Cut it up and enjoy!

medley fall 2012

PRIDE

that ENDURES My name is Heidi Frazer. I am an Iroquois Mohawk of the Wolf Clan. And no, I don’t live in a tepee.

STORY | HEIDI A. FRAZER PHOTO | KIRSTEN CELO

grew up in a suburb north of Albany, in a comfortable raised ranch on a corner lot that my parents occupied for more than a decade before I was born. Growing up in a predominantly white community, I only became aware of my “Nativeness” when my friends oohed with incredulity at the fact that “Indians” actually existed. They didn’t believe me the first time I told them I’m a fullblooded Native—and proud of it. There were times when we skirted Native American issues in history class, and my teachers furtively glanced my way; times when others addressed my sisters and me in Spanish, a language they assumed we understood; and most of all, there were family vacations to the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. Yet I was, and will always be, different, especially because of my Christian faith. A large part of being Native is spiritual, and not being able to connect on that deep level has been difficult for me. I am different from my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, and my grandparents, and yet there is an utter acceptance between us. We are undoubtedly of one and the same blood. It completely overshadows whatever differences there may be—accents,

ideologies, relationships, countries. There has never been any doubt that I have a place there. When I came to Syracuse University, I was denied the scholarship promised to Native students because of a technicality. I felt particularly lonely and lost, and I was awkward and shy. I felt that as far as the University was concerned, I was just

“I am different from my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, and my grandparents, and yet there is an utter acceptance between us.” another number. But that’s not how anyone here saw me, and I realized I fit in to this college picture. It was here that I found that same unspoken acceptance I share with my family among the other Native American students. One of the great fears of coming to college is acceptance. But within the Native community, I quickly found that how I felt didn’t matter. They welcomed me and accepted me because we share something that few outside of our families can share with us. There is an unexplainable bond between us, one that transcends the present and lies deeply rooted in the retribution of the past. Alone we may feel different and isolated, but together we are a people of warriors, a people of strength, and a people of enduring pride.

cut here

Folded With Love Create messengers of purity and loyalty STORY | JINGNAN LI DESIGN | LEAH WAITEKUS & JESSIE KEITH

She sits near paper-thin walls contained by a slightly curved roof, her florid, scented kimono brushing the ground. She positions herself on her knees, spreading colorful squares of paper onto a brown wooden table on the floor. Her slim, long fingers glide over the paper. Fold by fold, a paper crane emerges. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sign of her love. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an old and mysterious saying in Japan that if you fold 1,000 paper cranes with your heart, a wish will be granted. In Japanese culture, the crane is a sacred bird that mates for life. A symbol of loyalty and purity, young girls send them to partners, and couples use them to decorate their weddings. Fold your own messengers of love with the following directions.

flip for instructions >>

medley fall 2012

INSTRUCTIONS 1

FOLD BOTH SIDES AS SHOWN

REPEAT STEPS 8 & 9 ON BOTH SIDES

REPEAT STEPS 6 & 7 ON BOTH SIDES

MAKE THE FACE BY FOLDING TOWARD THE INSIDE

Place Stamp Here

A FRESH CUT Photo: Jim Tuttle Joe Filosi, 73, Camillus, got his hair and beard trimmed by Frank Dimento at Frank’s Barber Shop in Solvay before attending an old friend’s wake.

Place Stamp Here

ALL IS FAIR Photo: Annie Flanagan Donkeys at the Cayuga County Fair in Weedsport, NY.