360 Degrees: CHANGE ISSUE by SU 360 Magazine

FALL 2013 / ISSUE # 30 CHANGE ISSUE

FILL YOUR HUNGRY TUMMY WITH GLOBAL DISHES | TAKE ACTION WITH POETRY | BEHIND THE LENS OF HUMANS OF SYRACUSE | TOP 10 WAYS TO SPEND YOUR CHANGE | GOING GREEN ON THE WESTSIDE

CHAN IS GO

ANGE OOD

EDITOR’S NOTE During my senior year of high school, I stood before a committee of school board members with my heart racing. I felt small and insignificant. Why would they listen to me? I took a deep breath, met their eyes, and said, “Hello, my name is Jill Comoletti, and I’m the editor-in-chief of the high school newspaper. Recently the funding for our paper was cut, and I was told we could no longer print copies. However, I’d like to request enough funding to print at least 100 copies per month.” One board member cleared her throat and asked, “Why isn’t it good enough to have the newspaper online?” Don’t let your nerves get the best of you, I told myself. I was determined. I explained that students loved reading our newspaper, especially during lunch. In past years, we had always run out of copies. I said that high school students weren’t going to take the time to go online and read each issue. “I know the budget is tight, but I would really appreciate your consideration,” I said before taking a seat. One month later, we received the funding to print our newspaper. That was the day I learned that I was capable of making a change. I hope that by reading this issue of 360 Degrees, you’ll be inspired to make a difference in your own way. We searched the Syracuse University campus and beyond to find individuals who are working to change the world. On page 22, meet three young entrepreneurs who are using their startups to change lives on both a local and a national level. Read our Q-and-A on page 34 to learn more about the person behind the camera lens of Humans of Syracuse. Ever heard of lamb kibbeh pie? Get a taste of this dish and other cultural meals in our story about the My Lucky Tummy food event on page 16. Learn more about the history of some well-known SU buildings on page 10, and—taking our theme literally—find some fun uses for spare change on page 6. Now that you’ve picked up a copy of our Change issue, you’re already one step closer to making a difference. Cheers, Jill Comoletti

FEATURES

GLASSY EYED

Our web editor tests out Google Glass

Editor-in-Chief

Jill Comoletti Managing Editor Meredith Jeffers Creative Directors Zuly Beltre Kaitlin Juchniewicz Long Features Linda Gorman Nicki Gorny

NO HORSIN’ AROUND

Our photo director’s experiences as a ranch hand

ONE MIC, ONE VOICE

Students express change through spoken word

SENIOR EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR

Short Features Brandi Potts Meghan Rimol SENIOR EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR

DEFENDING DISABILITY

The SU Law Clinic promotes equality for Ethiopians with disabilities

Front of Book Hayden Willing Art Production Sean Danz Lucy Tomkiewicz

ART DIRECTOR JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR

DINNER WITHOUT BORDERS Chefs at the cultural food event My Lucky Tummy share dishes from home

Trevor Zalkind PHOTO DIRECTOR WEB EDITOR Antoinette Siu ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR Vekonda Luangaphay COPY EDITORS Lauren Boudreau

Tina Ferraro Alexa O’Connell Alexis McDonell Annie Menna Trevor Zalkind DESIGNERS Katherine M Angst

Kristen Derby Adrian Chaeeun Lee Michelle Kurzner David Manzler Kelli Ann Mosher Geani Dalena Sanabria Lucy Tomkiewicz

A NEAR WESTSIDE STORY

Community members band together to revitalize a local neighborhood

MOVING FORWARD, GIVING BACK Three young entrepreneurs enact change through their innovative startups

CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE

One SU student spends her Saturday giving back through Habitat for Humanity

ILLUSTRATORS Sophia Ann Openshaw

Robert Sack Geani Dalena Sanabria PHOTOGRAPHERS Tiffany Gomez

Jennifer Hale Tabitha Hoag Tingjun Long Svitlana Lymar Gabby Mednick

EVOLUTION OF EDUCATION

Explore the history of SU’s changing majors

CHANGE OF SCENERY

Syracuse hot spots for every season

FRONT OF BOOK 6 TOP TEN | 7 TO READ OR NOT TO READ | 8 CLUBS FOR A CAUSE | 10 THE HILL’S HIDDEN HISTORY | 34 SNAPSHOTS OF SYRACUSE mission statement :: Since its debut at Syracuse University in 1998, 360 Degrees has always strived to achieve a balance between tradition and change. Founded by Lanre Mayen Gaba as a new lens to view culture, 360 Degrees has a different focus, format, and feel than its predecessors. Through the years, the magazine has become a general interest publication with a cultural twist, dedicated to informing students about issues on campus, in the community, and in the whole world at large. disclaimer :: The views expressed in 360 Degrees are not necessarily those of the entire staff. 360 Degrees welcomes contributions from all members of the Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF community but retains the right to publish only material 360 Degrees deems acceptable to the publication’s editorial purpose.

TOP 10 USES FOR SPARE CHANGE WORDS :: REBECCA BROWN

Place one of your extra pennies face up on the sidewalk. Nothing like spreading good luck, right?

Throw your spare change in a wishing well—if you can find a wishing well in Syracuse.

Hang up a ziplock bag full of pennies and water over your doorway. Some say this scares flies away.

Scratch off a Lotto ticket or two. Tuition is not cheap.

9 Avoid that awkward stomach rumbling in class and treat yourself to a midday snack from one of SU’s many vending machines.

Head to Faegan’s Cafe & Pub on a Wednesday for Flip Night. If you call heads or tails correctly, your beer is free!

No screwdriver? No problem! A dime fits into the slot of most flat-head screws, saving you a call to FIXit.

Can’t remember whose turn it is to clean the apartment toilet? Toss a quarter and let George Washington determine your fate.

7 Do your laundry. Seriously.

10 Spend your pocketful of change at People’s Place in the basement of Hendricks Chapel. Try the Austin Powers—it’s a combination of coffee, hot cocoa, and chocolate milk.

360 degrees magazine

to read or NOT TO READ Syracuse University students and professors reveal the books that changed their lives WORDS :: HAYDEN WILLING

1 4

1 I guess the book that most changed my life would be “And Then We Heard the Thunder” by John Oliver Killens. Read it when I was in high school and there was a dearth of books by black writers And none that moved me on the level that “And Then We Heard the Thunder” did. It was because of “And Then We Heard the Thunder” that I became a writer, That I hunted the author down and studied with him for 13 years. He taught me not only how to write but also how to be a writer. That book, about black soldiers during World War II, was probably part of the reason why I ended up in Vietnam in the late ‘60s. There have been other books since that have influenced my life And my worldview but none like “And Then We Heard the Thunder,” By John Killens, the great riot master of Brooklyn. - Arthur Flowers, Jr., creative writing professor at Syracuse University

2 Sadly, all books change my life. I remember reading “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot in eighth grade. Not a book, but a poem. Something about the rhythm caused me to fall in love with it—I went around reciting, “Let us go then, you and I,/When the evening is spread out against the sky/Like a patient etherized upon a table.” Which was most likely annoying to everyone around me. How did Prufrock change my life? Well, falling in love with a poem doesn’t always make one a poet, but when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do and had nixed tinker, tailor, soldier, and sailor, along with doctor, beggar man, and thief, I came back to Prufrock. I still loved it. So I set out on a poet’s path. What better way to live a life—spending hours rearranging words on a piece of paper, listening for their song. Coleridge said poetry is “the best words in their best order,” which is a nearly impossible task. Therefore, thanks to Prufrock, I will never become self-satisfied, bored, or make much money. - Sarah Harwell, English and textual studies professor at SU

3 “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney is about a little girl named Alice whose grandfather tells her she must do something to make the world more beautiful. I think it impacted me in that I want to travel, do great things, and meet interesting people. I want to make the world more beautiful. - Avery Gray, fashion design major, junior

4 It’s hard to put my love for William Saroyan’s “The Human Comedy” into words, mostly because it came to me at a time that was unlike any other. My best friend’s father had passed away a year earlier, and there wasn’t a day that went by that I wasn’t angry about it. Then came the tale of Homer Macauley. I remember one specific quote: “Death is not an easy thing for anyone to understand, least of all a child, but every life shall one day end. But as long as we are alive, as long as we are together, as long as two of us are left, and remember him, nothing in the world can take him from us. His body can be taken, but not him.” With that, my perspective on death changed entirely. Death was no longer an end to life, because life was more than something physical. - Kayla Schultz, television, radio, and film major, junior

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CLUBS FOR A CAUSE WORDS :: MEGHAN RIMOL

These student organizations are shaping the Syracuse community one project at a time

360 degrees magazine

YOUNG SCHOLARS

ON TUESDAY and Wednesday evenings, while others are finishing homework and hanging out with friends, a dedicated group of Syracuse University students is catching the bus to a part of the city that many of their peers have never seen. They are tutors and mentors with Young Scholars, a program that partners SU students with local middle and high school students at either the Somali-Bantu Community Organization or the North Side Learning Center. On any given night, student pairs may be practicing Spanish vocabulary flashcards, working together on an essay for English class, cutting out constellations for science, or simply laughing over a game of Apples to Apples. At the end

of the semester, students and mentors have the chance to celebrate their progress with a fun field trip downtown and an end-ofthe-year feast, featuring a variety of traditional Somali dishes cooked by many of the students’ mothers. By working to forge a bond between Syracuse students and young members of the community, Young Scholars improves the connection between the university and the city of Syracuse, and provides a safe, fun environment for Syracuse youth to grow.

FOR YOUTH living in urban neighborhoods, fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods necessary for a healthy lifestyle are not always readily available. Project Feed Me aims to change this by increasing accessibility to a variety of nutritious food options for those living in impoverished areas in and around Syracuse. Through fundraisers, outreach programs, and educational initiatives, this organization helps educate Syracuse youth about nutrition and fitness. In the fall, Project Feed Me hosts an annual fundraiser called “Defend Your Honor,” a basketball tournament with proceeds going toward a Thanksgiving dinner for locals in need. Last spring, the organization hosted

its first Project Field Day fundraiser, where students could participate in fun activities including double dutch, flag football, and water balloon fights. The funds from this event allowed Project Feed Me to host an Easter dinner in downtown Syracuse. “Our entire mission is focused on bridging the gap between Syracuse University students and Syracuse community members through service,” explains Club President Taysha Watson. “Project Feed Me plays its part in ensuring that students remember the joy of giving back, as well as showing community members that we are here to help them in their time of need.”

PROJECT FEED ME

DISABILITY STUDENT UNION

IF YOU WANDER onto the quad during a three-day stretch in September, you’ll find Syracuse students braving wind, rain, and chilly fall temperatures to sleep outside in tiny wooden shacks. They’re not waiting for concert tickets or seats at a football game— these students are part of Habitat for Humanity, participating in the annual Shack-aThon to raise awareness about the struggles of homelessness. Any campus organization can donate $300 to construct and build a

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“DISABILITY” is not a dirty word, and

members of SU’s Disability Student Union want to spread that message across campus and beyond. Comprised of students with and without disabilities, the DSU shares its mission of inclusivity and advocacy through educational initiatives and fundraising events. In the past, the group has participated in Orange Ability, an annual accessible athletics expo where members of the DSU have the opportunity to compete in wheelchair basketball tournaments and test their skills against professionals. Each winter, members of the DSU brave freezing temperatures to participate in the Polar Plunge, jumping into the ice cold lake to raise money for the Special Olympics. Re-

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

cently, the DSU circulated a petition to include American Sign Language as a foreign language in SU’s curriculum. Although it has not yet gone through the Student Senate, student advocates from the DSU have helped move this process along. For Syracuse students passionate about disability rights, this organization is helping to promote a culture of inclusivity and dialogue about relevant issues. “It’s important because disability affects everyone in some way, and disability is something that we should talk about to promote unity across campus between people of all identities,” says President Leah Nussbaum. “Disability is part of diversity at SU and beyond.”

shack, where representatives from the club then spend three days and two nights. The money from this event goes toward building a new house in Syracuse for a member of the community in need. Along with other fundraising and awareness initiatives, Habitat for Humanity works to better the lives of those in the community facing hardship by providing a warm, safe place to sleep at night.

ARCHBOLD GYMNASIUM

HALL OF LANGUAGES

The Hall of Languages, the first building on campus, has always been home to the university’s liberal arts college. If the building looks especially familiar to you, you might recognize it from the Addams Family. Edward IIou, art director for The Addams Family television show, used the Hall of Languages as inspiration for the Addams Family house.

We uncovered the secret pasts of Syracuse University’s well-known buildings

THE HILL’S HIDDEN HISTORY

In 1947, a massive fire destroyed the gym, resulting in the destruction of most of the building. Archbold’s reconstruction wasn’t completed until 1952.

CROUSE COLLEGE

When John Crouse originally commissioned the construction of Crouse in 1888, he intended to have the building used primarily for the education of young women. However, SU advocated a coeducational approach, and university officials therefore refused to reserve Crouse for women. You can still see remnants of Crouse’s wishes above the main entrance, where “John Crouse Memorial College for Women” is engraved.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY

Though the library was named after Andrew Carnegie, there was never a formal dedication service for the building because SU couldn’t persuade Carnegie to attend. Awkward!

Spookily enough, this residence hall complex was built on top of the former St. Mary’s Cemetery. Before construction, the bodies were moved to the new St. Mary’s Cemetery in DeWitt, but still—that’s pretty creepy.

BREWSTER, BROCKWAY, AND BOLAND HALLS

SIMS HALL

Back in the 1940s, Sims was a women’s residence hall complete with a dining hall. In the 1960s, portions of Sims were converted into offices, and slowly but surely it became a purely professional space.

SU’s history with communications began in 1934, when the School of Journalism was founded. That same year, SU became the first university in the United States to offer a radio course for college credit. Newhouse I was built as the official communications school in 1964. Seven years later, the Television and Radio Department merged with the School of Journalism, prompting the construction of Newhouse II.

S.I. NEWHOUSE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

This national landmark was actually moved 190 feet from its original location in 1991 to make room for Eggers Hall. Since it was so heavy, the building could only be moved four inches per hour, meaning the process took three days.

HOLDEN OBSERVATORY

COMPILED BY :: 360 DEGREES STAFF ART :: GEANI DALENA SANABRIA

BOWNE HALL

In 2010, the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute took over the entire fourth floor and part of the third floor of Bowne. The space, used for all kinds of biological research, was created with sustainable materials and 75 percent of demolition debris was recycled.

GLASSY EYED Personal Essay: Antoinette Siu our web editor antoinette explores the effects of google glass on everyday communication PHOTOS :: TABITHA HOAG

“DEVICES SUCK THE HUMANITY OUT OF COMMUNICATION” GOOGLE GLASS ISN’T GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, but it will change

us. While this technology is meant to bring us together, I feel that it does just the opposite. For those unfamiliar, Google Glass is a wearable computer in the form of glasses, with a screen display over your right eye. The device is one of the latest projects by Google’s research and development team, the same team behind driverless cars and space elevators. But this isn’t a tech review—I was interested in how people would interact with the Google Glass version of me. How would Glass change the way I communicate? Utility-wise, Glass is not anything new. It doesn’t do anything we can’t already do with our electronics: take photos and videos, share media on social networks, make phone calls, and send text messages. The only difference with Glass is that you’re doing it all hands-free. The first time I used Glass, I spent a halfhour fiddling with how to wear it properly. These glasses that supposedly “get out of the way” when idle were in my way when I was do-

ing almost everything. I couldn’t concentrate and I couldn’t talk to anyone without seeming like a preoccupied RoboCop. In the middle of walking I would want to take a picture, so I’d stop, tilt my head to wake Glass, and say, “OK, Glass. Take a picture.” Instead of turning to the person next to me to ask for directions, I consulted Google. I turned into a robot. The next day, I found myself doing what aggravates me most—toying with my device while speaking to someone. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been out and have seen couples, groups, and families staring at their phones instead of talking with each other. The thought that this could be our future frightens me more than the zombie apocalypse. The next big thing, the next social network, and the next app seem to cover everything but talking in person. This isn’t my inner Luddite speaking; it’s the trend. According to Pew Internet’s 2013 Cell Phone Activities report, 91 percent of American adults who own a cellphone use it for more than just phone calls. Texting alone accounts for 81 percent of usage. The reality is, reading text on a screen will

never be the same as face-to-face interaction. Devices suck the humanity out of communication, our most basic exchange of information with one another. As a society, we’re getting more comfortable hiding behind screens and profiles where we’ll always exist in perfectly controllable environments of deletes and undos and inflated social and professional profiles. It’s all too easy. In addition, we live in a time where a lack of digital privacy is impossible to ignore. With Googlebot and Facebook ads, nothing we say or post remains ours anymore. In my experimenting, taking photos and videos inconspicuously through Glass violated people’s privacy left and right. Though first-person perspective photos and videos were amusing to take, I realized that privacy issues arise when you’re taking them discreetly in public. If we’re headed in the direction of wearable technology, it’s important to proceed with extreme caution. As we’ve seen before, it will affect the way we engage with people and our surroundings—for better or for worse.

360 degrees magazine

NO HORSIN’ AROUND Personal Essay: Trevor Zalkind our photo director trevor faces the reality of working as a ranch hand PHOTOS :: TREVOR ZALKIND

WHENEVER I GET UNCOMFORTABLE,

I have a habit of scratching my left elbow. It’s a light scratch that scrapes away a thin layer of insecurities. This insignificant tic is all it takes for me to lunge away from complacency into the void of unknowing. As the early summer sun shrouded the gnarled peaks of the Gore Range with a dim light, the moon rose above in a last hurrah. Looking out at the stable and hay fields of the ranch, the familiar backdrop of the Rockies was the only constant in my new way of life. My fingers reached for the last bastion of comfort—my left elbow. I trudged toward the old barn, the weight of my steel-toed boots slowing me to a halt in front of my fellow ranch hands. Each crushing handshake confirmed my looming sense of helplessness. I was the weakling. In a primitive sense, I needed to prove my strength. A rake in hand, I garnered all the enthusiasm I could to complete the task of mucking. Mucking is like an Easter egg hunt—except, in this scenario, the “Easter bunny” is a horse and the ‘“Easter eggs” are the unpleasant gifts horses leave behind. Displeasure and low morale persisted until I set my eyes upon my one true love. Daffy, a miniature donkey with a not-soslender, barrel-like physique, trotted toward me and nudged my elbow with her lengthy snout. She wanted me to give her food. Despite her strong manipulative abilities,

CHANGE

Daffy—along with her 14 horse counterparts— lacked strong listening skills. Even as the bell rang to signal feeding time, the horses did not appear on the hilltop. As time drew on, I worried that the horses had escaped. I needed to save my donkey in distress. With no time to consider my itching elbow, I mounted an ATV, started the ignition, and revved up the snaking trail. Upon reaching the top, I saw the fireworks of the horses’ tails exploding over their grazing bodies. Spotting them was easy. After all, they weigh 1,200 pounds each. Encountering the first contextually acceptable opportunity of my life to shout “HYAH,” I braced myself and began wailing maniacally at the horses. Despite its effectiveness in Western movies, the translation from film to real life is marginal. The most I got out of the creatures was a curious perk of the ears. Frustrated by their stubbornness, I took off my leather work gloves and slapped them together. The horses bolted down the hill, with Daffy trotting not far behind. As I jumped on the ATV once again, I relished in the glory of my victory. “Being a ranch hand ain’t too bad,” I thought to myself in a country accent. Cue hell. It was my final day on the job, and perhaps of my life, I thought. Hay baling is associated with the agricultural lifestyle of sunup, sun-down work—a lifestyle of quickening one’s death. On hour eight, my workday was

just beginning. We were short on ranch hands and short on our quota. We had 1,000 bales to go. The things I did for those darn horses. The process of baling entails cutting hay fields, organizing the hay into dense rows, and using a baler to bale the rows of hay. Each bale weighs 60 to 80 pounds, requiring a good amount of effort (or in my case, a lot of effort) to throw the bale onto the trailer and then stack the bales in the barn. As hour 17 approached, the vestiges of energy in my system were those of Red Bull and sheer determination. I wanted the ordeal to end. Yet in order for it to end, I would have to lift another 100 bales. I managed to find a compromise. After sluggishly stacking the last bales on the trailer, I lay down on top of them. The hay transformed into a pillowed casket. My gaze shifted upward as my eyes began to roll into the back of my head, stopping at the ethereal light of the cloud-screened moon. I was at ease.

ONE MIC ONE VOICE Students Express Change through the Art of Spoken Word WORDS :: ANNIE MENNA ART :: ROBERT SACK

“WHEN YOU’RE HOLDING THAT MIC, ONLY YOUR VOICE MATTERS”

MILAN CHANEY STANDS JUST OFF STAGE in Goldstein Auditorium. The low

rumble of the audience creates a sense of static behind the stage lights. Her heart races as she recites her lines. Once on stage, Chaney steps up to the microphone. She briefly closes her eyes, opens them, and delivers one of her proudest works in front of a full house—a spoken word poem about dancing with the poet Langston Hughes. “People didn’t know I was talking about Langston Hughes until I said it at the end,” she says, smiling with satisfaction. Chaney acts as the current vice president of the Nu Rho Poetic Society, a co-ed fraternity on campus. She considers practicing spoken word poetry as a member of Nu Rho to be a humbling experience. “We emphasize one mic, one voice,” Chaney says. “So when you’re holding that mic, only your voice matters.” Spoken word poetry relies on dialogue and conversation to prompt change. Cedric Bolton, master poet and mentor who founded the invitation-only society, selected 11 students as the founding members of Nu Rho in spring 2011 based on a certain criteria: those

who took their poetry and engaged the world. If poets can create a conversation, the audience will gravitate toward them, says Bolton. Spoken word focuses on what poets can give back to the world, not what they take from it. “Artists are sponges,” he says. “Most times, we capture what other people don’t want to capture, and then we bring it back to you in the form of an open mic. It adds to the things that they already know, but it challenges them to express it in a way they have not.” Christian Eatman, president of Nu Rho, says his main goal involves creating conversation and a sense of community. “What Nu Rho has taught me is that once it’s off the page— once it’s on stage—it’s no longer for you. It’s for other people,” he says. “It’s a vehicle for change because it creates the possibility for dialogue.” Chaney jokes that if you were to look up “poet” in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Eatman pasted beside the definition. She may be right—in his hat, glasses, and a chambray shirt pulled over a Nu Rho hoodie, Eatman expresses himself in a thoughtful way. “Earlier [in my poetry] it was kind of like I was coming into my blackness, and also acknowledging the fact that I’m biracial,” he says. “You know, I’ll throw a couple lines of Spanish in there to let you know what’s up.”

Chaney found her voice when she began attending Verbal Blend workshops, a place where students of all backgrounds come together to hone their skills as poets. Verbal Blend also hosts open mics for poets to showcase their progress to the public, express themselves, and connect with others in the Syracuse community, facilitating the kind of open-minded dialogue Nu Rho strives to create on campus. In April 2012, Nu Rho chose to focus on the death of Trayvon Martin. The society hosted a poetry tribute to spotlight the controversy surrounding Martin’s death. “We thought that people who don’t want to listen to the news might listen to somebody else say it,” Chaney says. “We want you to know that it happened. And we want you to soak it in.” Both Chaney and Eatman feel proud of the diverse, supportive community they built within Nu Rho. They hope to see that sense of community expand onto campus, breaking the barriers dividing races and classes. They want to establish Nu Rho chapters on campuses across the country and teach other students to be analysts and poets of their world. “I’m going to college, I’m a poet, and I’m trying to make a change,” says Chaney. “I’m trying to get people to listen.”

360 degrees magazine

DEFENDING DISABILITY The SU Law Clinic promotes equality for Ethiopians with disabilities through international exchange WORDS :: NICKI GORNY

IN THEIR FIRST WEEK OF CLASS THIS AUGUST, the 10 student attor-

neys of the Syracuse University College of Law’s Disability Rights Clinic received an email informing them that their professor and the director of the clinic, Michael Schwartz, would not make it to class. In fact, Schwartz was in the middle of a nine-day tour of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, as his class later found out. What he discovered in his fact-finding mission—skies choked with black exhaust, muddy roads swollen with the rainy season’s bounty, dirt-floored stores with entrances formed from rows of logs—would shape much of the law students’ work in the coming months. The Disability Rights Law Clinic is one of 20 American organizations participating in a U.S. Department of State-sponsored exchange program that promotes global disability rights. This fellowship, called the EMPOWER program, teams up the clinic with two Ethiopian organizations—the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the National Ethiopian Women’s Rights Organization—to further the legal protections of those with sensory, cognitive, and physical disabilities in Ethiopia. Mobility International USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for those with disabilities, administers the program. With a total of 60 organizations from 19 countries participating in this round of the program, the fall exchange is significantly bigger than EMPOWER’s inaugural exchange last spring. Schwartz says Ethiopians with disabilities face enormous challenges. “The poverty creates conditions where disability rights become a lesser priority because they are struggling just to meet their basic needs,” he says, adding that people in Ethiopia who are disabled are more likely to be poor. Although Ethiopia ratified the U.N.

CHANGE

THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THIS FALL’S EMPOWER EXCHANGE

19 COUNTRIES 60 ORGANIZATIONS

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010, the country still struggles with disability rights in practice. During his visit, Schwartz took note of many infrastructural obstacles—a lack of sidewalks or curbs, for example, and public squares packed with vehicles—that made navigation difficult for Ethiopians with disabilities. “If you’re a wheelchair user, forget it,” he says. The lack of accessibility in Addis Ababa could be why he saw very few wheelchair users in the city. “A lot of them are at home or in institutions,” he says. Through the EMPOWER program, the Disability Rights Law Clinic aids the Ethiopian organizations in a collaborative effort to make the country’s legal aid center in Addis Ababa accessible to people with disabilities, particularly women and children. To accomplish this, each team in the clinic has a specific task. One team planned the Ethiopian organization representatives’ visit to Syracuse in October. During this 10-day visit following a series of EMPOWER workshops in Eugene, Oregon, the representatives traded ideas with relevant organizations

such as Vera House and Legal Services of Central New York. Second-year law student Brittany Murgallis and partner Sarah Dean are writing a how-to manual for the Ethiopian institutions. While they explain that conversations with representatives from each organization shaped the specifics of the manual, Murgallis says the biggest challenge was putting herself in an Ethiopian mindset. The manual identifies and explains many measures that seem obvious in the U.S., like installing a wheelchair ramp on a building. Neither Murgallis nor Dean say they expect the manual to enact instant change in Ethiopia, but they hope it will educate people about the issue and enable incremental improvements. “If one person’s life is made easier and it’s more accessible for one person, then I think I’ll be happy,” Murgallis says. While Schwartz says most of their efforts focus on Ethiopia during the exchange, he emphasizes that both sides of the Atlantic Ocean need change. “I see it as a two-way street. Maybe more from us to them,” he says, “but I’m learning, too.”

R E N N DI T U O WITH ELL XA O’CONN WORDS :: ALE D IN LK EVOR ZA PHOTOS :: TR

Chefs at the

Cultural

y Lucky Tum

Food Event M

Share dishes

froM Home

AS AN EVENT DIRECTOR IN NEW YORK CITY, Adam Sudmann enjoyed long days and longer nights running over-the-top soirées for the city’s art and fashion crowds. In the off-season, he found balance in travel, backpacking through the jungles of Cameroon and Cambodia or getting lost—but well fed—in the food courts of India, Vietnam, and Morocco. During his travels, he fell for the tastes and learned about other cultures. “Food is a vector for breaking down barriers,” Sudmann says. “The sharing of a meal can end up in understanding—or even a real relationship.”

Sudmann’s interest in ethnic neighborhoods stemmed from childhood trips on New York City’s 7 Train. Nicknamed the “International Express,” this subway line travels through many immigrant-populated neighborhoods between Manhattan and Queens. All that seemed to be a distant memory when he moved to Syracuse last winter to raise a family. But then he stumbled into the Northside. “We were lost and it was snowy, and I was incredibly grumpy, waiting for some pedestrians to cross at a blinking red light,” he says. “Then I noticed the pedestrians looked like new arrivals from the Congo and Pakistan and I got very excited.” After visiting Syracuse’s Northside, Sudmann decided to combine his love of travel with his love for event planning. Last May marked the grand opening of My Lucky Tummy, Sudmann’s triannual, multiethnic pop-up food court, at its first location in ArtRage Gallery on Hawley Avenue. “Ninety percent of our home chefs are from the Northside refugee communities,” Sudmann says. “They straddle two wildly different cultures, meaning that they’ve got a really interesting, really valuable perspective on things.”

Coming to Syracuse through a number of refugee programs, many families look for opportunities that their home countries do not offer. The Northside of Syracuse is home to a diverse array of cultures and ethnicities; many street corners house ethnic grocery stores where Sudmann shops for supplies and ingredients for the event. “The ‘lucky’ in My Lucky Tummy refers to how lucky we are as American citizens to have grown up in such a privileged place, and how lucky we are to have such a diversity of food—and experiences—at our very fingertips, if only we take advantage of it,” Sudmann says. Upon entering September’s My Lucky Tummy venue at ProLiteracy in Syracuse’s Near Westside, the scents of unfamiliar foods filled the air. After passing through crowds of people, the food finally came into sight. The dishes used local produce, exotic ingredients from markets on the Northside, and other products brought in by family and friends from abroad. The chefs provide a great diversity of food at each My Lucky Tummy event. In September, Muna Al Aly from Iraq prepared lamb kibbeh pie accented with mint from her own garden. Other dishes included a Cambodian dessert made of sticky

“FOOD IS A VECTOR FOR BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS. THE SHARING OF A MEAL CAN END UP IN UNDERSTANDING OR EVEN A REAL RELATIONSHIP”

rice, coconut, red beans, and baby bananas steamed in a banana leaf; an Iranian chicken dish seasoned with saffron and served with apricots, golden plums, and barberries; a peanut stew with spicy-sweet fried plantains from Ghana; a Laotian ceviche-style shrimp, squid, and sweet chili salad; and Genet Bereki’s Eritrean-Ethiopian injera with berbere-spiced lentils. Bereki, a My Lucky Tummy chef from Eritrea, participated in both the May and September pop-ups. She, her husband, and their children came to the United States three years ago in search of better opportunities. Her face lights up when she talks about My Lucky Tummy. Bereki enjoys sharing her love of her country’s food with those who are unfamiliar with it. “I miss the spices that Eritrea has to offer,” she says. “They are so much more powerful than what is offered here.” Kyaw Kyaw and his wife, Ma Thu, settled down in the Northside after immi18

360 degrees magazine

grating from Burma. They hoped to escape the harshness of the Burmese government by traveling to the United States. Kyaw Kyaw and Ma Thu both took part in the first My Lucky Tummy after connecting with Sudmann through Catholic Charities of Onondaga County. After six years in the United States, both Kyaw Kyaw and Ma Thu have become citizens. Sudmann has just five rules for the chefs of each event. First, My Lucky Tummy always includes dishes from at least five countries. Chefs can return, but dishes must always be different. Extra food at the event is always composted. Dessert must come from a conflict zone. “We think of, say, Somalia or Iraq as hell on Earth— which encourages us not to think about them at all,” Sudmann says. “But if they have the luxury of a great dessert, maybe it’s not all suffering. Maybe life there is rounder, more complex than we think.” Finally, chefs are paid well. “This is not CHANGE

charity,” Sudmann says. “We hire specialists and we pay accordingly.” Tickets for the one-night event are $20 with advance purchase and allow visitors to taste everything the chefs offer. Sudmann also allows free admission for all volunteers. The next My Lucky Tummy popup will be near the Syracuse University campus in early February 2014. Sudmann hopes to take My Lucky Tummy to Ithaca, Rochester, and back to his hometown of Manhattan in the near future.

The diversity draws in the client base at My Lucky Tummy. Sudmann says, “It feels like the 7 train through Queens with all its intriguing, mysterious strangers—except this time, they’re friends.”

Community members band together to revitalize a local neighborhood

WORDS :: DABOTA WILCOX PHOTOS :: TINGJUN LONG

VENTURE FAR ENOUGH FROM THE CONFINES OF CAMPUS and

you’ll find yourself in the city of Syracuse—not the Syracuse of Marshall Street, Armory Square, or Destiny USA, but a less familiar area not far from the hill. Just beyond the borders of downtown lies the Near Westside, separated by West Street, which community activist Mary Alice Smothers says is sometimes compared to the Berlin Wall. The Near Westside was once a historic and bustling part of the city, but has since become one of its poorest neighborhoods. Smothers explains that the poverty in the area drove prominent businesses and residents away. The neighborhood deteriorated, leaving buildings and warehouses vacant. All this began to change six years ago when community members, including Smothers, took action with the Near Westside Initiative, originally funded by Syracuse University. After SU struck a deal with the state to focus its efforts on the city in exchange for loan forgiveness, the

The collective projects provide mutual benefits for the community and the School of Architecture. Maarten Jacobs, director of the Near Westside Initiative, explains that these projects let students and faculty test their skills outside of the classroom. “The project benefits the neighborhood by getting high-level architects to design, and students get to see their work built,” he says. Take the Lincoln Building, for example. Students were challenged to redesign the 100-year-old warehouse into a structure for apartments and commercial spaces. They completed the project in early October of 2010. Taking advantage of green technologies, the Lincoln Building boasts high-efficiency appliances and light fixtures, responsible modes of heating and cooling, and an attached green screen that helps regulate heat, among many other features. All contribute to the building’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The redesign gives a new and optimistic face to

“ THE NEAR WESTSIDE WAS AN IDEAL PLACE TO INVEST IN BECAUSE OF ITS IMMEDIATE NEED AND ITS POTENTIAL.” community proposed the Near Westside Initiative and formed the SALT project—a subtle nod to the history of salt mining in the city, as well as a convenient acronym for Syracuse, Art, Learning, and Technology. An experiment in urban re-planning, SALT is a collaborative effort between SU, the city of Syracuse, and various businesses and organizations, all with the shared goal of revitalizing the neighborhood. The Near Westside was an ideal place to invest in because of its immediate need and its potential, says Joe Sisko, an assistant director at UPSTATE: Center for Design, Research, and Real Estate. UPSTATE, which partners with SU’s School of Architecture, was tasked with reimagining and redesigning the neighborhood. Sisko, an alumnus of the School of Architecture, says the overall approach considers movement of people through the area, land use, green infrastructure, and lighting as driving forces of the redesign. The project relies on the availability of funds and materials. When these resources are available, the resulting creations are inspiring.

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this once rundown place. The Lincoln Building, which now houses La Casita Cultural Center and the offices for the Syracuse chapter of Say Yes to Education, is a precursor to the eventual applications of green technologies in and around the community. While outside institutions have made significant efforts toward renovating the neighborhood, the community plays an active part in the Near Westside’s transformation. A few community members were skeptical at first, fearing the trap of “Poverty Pimpin’,” which Smothers says occurs

when a group or organization comes into a neighborhood with promises of restoration or progressive changes, but ends up taking advantage of the community and preying on the poor. Neighborhood opinions of the Near Westside Initiative were positively swayed when they saw noticeable changes, Smothers says. The residents’ active participation has made a great difference. While benefiting from these efforts, residents are also using the initiative to give back. This past spring, Sherman’s Restaurant in the Near Westside was repurposed after being destroyed in a fire, and now houses an artist residency program. The new program intends to unite the community through creative expression. In regards to what projects or programs the community could benefit from, Smothers says, “I would like to see a community center, something we can use for seniors, and more opportunities for the kids.” These opportunities would focus on helping the youth in the community develop skills outside of school, she says. Jacobs agrees. “There is a lot more work to be done. But we need to continue on the path that we are on. Our goal is to keep positive actions the main pillar of the Near Westside Initiative.”

We found three young entrepreneurs working to improve the lives of others through their innovative startups.

Celestine Currie’s

Soulscarf

Look fashionable while supporting your favorite charity

IF SOMEONE TOLD CELESTINE CURRIE three years ago that by her

sophomore year at Syracuse University she would be in charge of her own business, she might not have believed them. She was coming to college to study technology, not business. But in October 2012, she founded Soulscarf, a business that combines fashion and philanthropy. “I’ve always been involved in community service work, and my family is really involved in giving back to the community, but I never imagined I would start a company that had philanthropy tied to it,” says Currie, now a senior information technology and management major. Soulscarf stemmed from a project for Currie’s information technology design and startups course. Around the time she was assigned to come up with an idea for a company, she was shopping around for a thick knit scarf to wear for fall. During her search, she was shocked to discover that her desired style was so expensive, so she decided to save money and knit a scarf of her own. When she wore the scarf around campus, she received many compliments, which led to the idea of Soulscarf. Currie wanted to make scarves for budget-conscious young people, but also to represent her community service roots. “I decided to bring something into it that I could relate to,” she says. Soulscarf sells scarves for $40 to $44 and donates 20 percent of its proceeds to the customer’s choice of one of four charities: American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, Project H Design, The Breast Cancer

Society, or Feed the Children. Currie chose charities based on causes important to her friends and family. Every scarf is tagged with a small colored heart that corresponds to one of the four charities. After the company donated more than $2,000 within its first three months of operation, Currie realized the demand for her product was too high to knit the scarves herself, so she decided to collaborate with a manufacturing company. The growth of the company has kept her busy. Initially a one-woman show with Currie as the only employee, Soulscarf recently added bloggers to keep the public notified of the company’s activity. She also hired campus representatives from colleges across the United States, including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Kentucky, and Indiana University. Currie gives a lot of credit to her classes and professors for helping her idea become a reality. She advises all budding entrepreneurs and social change-makers on campus to take advantage of the opportunities at Syracuse. After graduation, Currie hopes to work on Soulscarf full time and see the business grow even bigger. “I would love to have our own offices and our own shipping warehouse,” she says. “That’s my goal.” WORDS :: TATYANA LAIRD PHOTO :: JENNY HALE

Kerry Maguire’s

Bouncir

Let this app decide if trekking through the snow to the bar is worth it

AT 23 YEARS OLD, Kerry Maguire is the

epitome of humble, despite his major role in developing Bouncir, an app that could change how people view Syracuse nightlife. Originally conceived as an app for music venues by CEO Matthew Sullivan, Bouncir displays live streams of music, art, food, culture venues, and events, so nightlife enthusiasts know where to go when they “bounce around town.” “There’s a lot of excitement when you think you’re starting something,” says Maguire, who is a Kauffman Entrepreneurship Engagement Fellow at the School of Information Studies’ information management master’s program. “But there’s a lot of planning and a ton of work that goes into it.” Bouncir connects customers and businesses, while fostering the transparency and intimacy needed for a thriving local economy in Syracuse. “We want to install anywhere and everywhere that can give the community value,” Maguire says. The Syracuse native was sold on the concept when Sullivan first pitched it to him while they were interning part-time at the Post-Standard. One year later, in 2011, Bouncir’s chief technology officer Alex Rydzak was hooked as well. “I’ve never taken any entrepreneurship classes. I’ve just always been entrepreneurial by nature,” says Rydzak, an information management major at Syracuse University. Rydzak watched Sullivan and Maguire pitch Bouncir to investors and business

entrepreneurs at the Syracuse Student Sandbox, a business incubator that helps launch student startups. He says it was not only the duo’s idea that made him invested, but also their attitudes. “The thing that stood out to me was that they didn’t ask for money,” Rydzak says. “These guys were like, ‘Hey, we don’t need money now. We’re just trying to make this thing happen.’” Since then, the trio has been working to improve their product and build relationships with the owners of some of Syracuse’s notable venues, including DJ’s On the Hill and Lost Horizon. They have contracted a two-year partnership with Monster Assembly, a full-time develop-

Rydzak says through this process he has learned how to trust. “The people who are actually there, you need to embrace them because those are your heroes,” Rydzak says. “The amount of people who follow through is so small that you really need to embrace those people. You have to make them your company’s champions.” The Bouncir team plans for a soft launch later this fall. Although it is based in Syracuse, the company hopes to expand throughout Upstate New York and then across the east coast.

“BOUNCIR CONNECTS CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESSES, WHILE FOSTERING THE TRANSPARENCY AND INTIMACY NEEDED FOR A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY IN SYRACUSE.” ment programming firm in Buffalo, N.Y. They have also offered three-month free trials to local businesses. In the development of such a largescale operation, Maguire says he has had to master the art of patience. “The biggest lesson is that nothing happens overnight. That’s the most frustrating lesson for me,” he says.

WORDS :: ASHLEY BRANCH PHOTOS :: TIFFANY GOMEZ

360 degrees magazine

Candace Pugh’s

Sweaters2Gifts Clean out your closet for a good cause

WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE A SYRACUSE FAMILY’S HOME, Candace

Pugh shook with cold and anticipation. The moments after ringing the doorbell felt like forever, but the look on the woman’s face when she answered the door and saw the bags of presents next to Pugh felt like Christmas magic. The mother who answered the door had not expected gifts. In fact, she had not expected anything at all. For years, her modest salary had prevented her from buying special things for her children. But thanks to Pugh and her company, Sweaters2Gifts, this Christmas was different. Sweaters2Gifts aims to give youth in Syracuse a holiday to remember by selling sweaters, with the proceeds going toward special, heartfelt gifts for local children. Pugh came up with the idea for Sweaters2Gifts during the summer of 2012 after interning at Time Warner Cable, where she worked on several social responsibility projects. She combined what she learned with her love of the holiday season to create Sweaters2Gifts. “I am extremely passionate about the holiday time,” Pugh says. “I believe that it’s a time when everyone should give back to the community.” Sweaters2Gifts kicked off its campaign last year, one week before Christmas. “I thought that the worst thing that could happen is one sweater is sold and one gift is bought,” Pugh says. “But even that would still have made me happy.” To her surprise, the sweaters sold out in a couple of days. Pugh had no idea how large her business would grow or how much support she CHANGE

would gain from the community. Friends and family members helped spread the word about Pugh’s campaign and collected sweaters to sell. The community immediately responded, sending old or unworn sweaters to help support the campaign. “I had the vision, but the execution came from the hearts of other people and their willingness to give and support,” Pugh says. After initially struggling to find a family to support, she finally discovered one by looking through local service assistance agencies. She was then contacted by a social worker from Hillside Family of Agencies who read about her business and had a family waiting for assistance. “A lot of times there are people who get wait-listed for support programs that the county or state have put together funding for,” Pugh

says. “I wanted to find people denied from this to help.” Pugh connected with two single-parent families living under the same roof. Pugh went shopping and bought presents for the five children of the two families. “To do this was my biggest Christmas gift,” Pugh says. “I didn’t want them to thank me because I felt as though it was enough for me to have that really good feeling inside.”

WORDS :: ALEXIS MCDONELL PHOTOS :: ANGELA BRANGMAN

CONSTRUCTIVE

CHANGE WORDS :: MEGHAN MISTRY PHOTOS :: GABBY MEDNICK

THE THUDDING OF HAMMERS, the whirring of the circular saw, and the shouts of people standing on ladders echoed through the Syracuse neighborhood . These were the sounds of a house being built. Supported by the sweat and hard work of students and volunteers and financed by sponsorships and donations, this house would eventually go to the family of a disabled veteran.

“CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS HOUSE WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. WHILE I CAN’T TAKE MUCH CREDIT FOR ITS STANDING STRUCTURE, I KNOW THAT IF I EVER RETURNED TO THE SITE, I COULD POINT AT THE WORK I CONTRIBUTED.”

Explore the history of SU’s changing majors WORDS :: LINDA GORMAN ART :: ROBERT SACK

WHEN SYR ACUSE UNIVERSIT Y FIRST OPENED its doors in 1871, students could choose between two courses of study: classical or scientific. Classical was a little heavier on Latin and Greek, but other wise the programs were nearly identical. After 143 years of graduating hundreds of thousands of students, SU offers more than 200 academic majors in 14 schools and colleges. Some schools have been around since the university’s early years— the School of Architecture and the College of Fine Arts, now the School of Visual and Performing Arts, were introduced in 1873. Programs such as civil engineering and music, which were introduced four years later, have an almost equally long histor y with the university. On the

other end of the spectrum are SU’s newest programs, the latest additions to a dynamic histor y of academic courses that are continually being renamed, reshuffled, and restructured to fit the times. The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ citizenship and civic engagement major welcomed its inaugural class of 30 students this fall. Program director Paul Hagenloh says the program focuses on giving students handson experience with civic action and is intended as a signature major of the Maxwell School. “It’s a program about students who see themselves as civic leaders and want to excel in the social sciences,” he says. Beyond the multi-year process of developing a curriculum and

getting it approved, directors of new programs face the additional challenge of getting the word out about what their program offers. Physics professor Peter Saulson directs the energy and its impacts major, which graduated its first senior last year. “The program is growing gradually, but it’s still small,” Saulson says. “We haven’t really figured out the best way to advertise it.” This interdisciplinar y major combines physics, chemistr y, and biology with the social sciences to give students a broad understanding of modern energy problems and solutions. Modern Judaic studies is another recent addition to the SU curriculum. When asked how many students on campus are aware of the

major, which evolved last year from a program that had previously only offered a minor, program director Zachar y Braiterman holds his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. “Part of what I have to do as the director of the program is develop the pitch to SU students,” Braiterman says. Pitching to students involves holding events, speaking to students, and developing a social media presence. Braiterman explains that involving more students in the major and minor will allow the program to grow in terms of resources and faculty. “The administration won’t invest in us until we meet certain metrics,” he says. Junior Rachel Mandel will be the first person to graduate from SU with a modern Judaic studies major, as well as the first person in the Renée Crown Honors Program to complete a senior capstone project in the field. “It’s a little bit scar y because there’s nothing to fall back

on,” Mandel says. “But it’s exciting because it’s setting what people are hopefully going to follow.” While new programs and departments are being created, others are reaching the end of their life cycle. Last May, the fiber and textile arts program graduated its final senior before the major was discontinued. According to fiber and textile arts professor Sarah Saulson—incidentally the wife of Peter Saulson—the sole full-time professor in the program left to teach at another school about five years ago. The faculty in the department of art voted not to replace the professor, leaving fiber and textile arts without a program head. SU’s hospitality management program is also no longer accepting incoming students, and will graduate its final group of seniors next spring. Dean Lyden Murphy of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics explained the decision to close the program in a

“

letter in 2010, citing overlap with the nutrition and sport management programs. Ultimately, the stor y of SU’s academics has not been about addition and subtraction so much as adaptation and evolution. Sarah Saulson does not see the closing of the fiber and textile arts major as an ending, but rather a transition into something new. Most of the classes previously offered to fiber and textile arts majors are still available to VPA students. Changes in organization and structure can be tracked throughout the university’s histor y. Journalism, psychology, and political science were all originally located in the School of Business Administration. In the 1920s, drama and public speaking were part of the School of Orator y, from which students could earn a bachelor’s degree in oral English. Many of the programs in the David B. Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics trace back to the School of Home Economics, which actually originated as a course within the College of Agriculture. In 1974, the School of Librar y Science rebranded for a new era as the School of Information Studies. The dusty stacks of old course catalogues stored in the librar y archives paint the picture of a school in flux from its earliest days, responding to societal changes, faculty interest, and popular demand. For the moment, the university’s newest majors share a common thread: interdisciplinar y study. Many are intended to be taken alongside a second major in a different area of study. Gerr y Greenberg, associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences, thinks the trend stems from students wanting to gain a broader knowledge base. “They realize that they’re not living in an isolated silo,” Greenberg says. “Intuitively, I think it’s better to give students a different perspective.”

WORDS :: MEREDITH JEFFERS ART :: SOPHIA ANN OPENSHAW

CHANCES ARE, if you’re a Syracuse Uni-

versity student, you’ve mastered the subtle eye roll necessary to deal with all the jokes about the weather. Love it or hate it, the unpredictable—and sometimes miserable—weather is part of Syracuse’s charm. Where else can you wear flip-flops and a parka in the same week? Instead of holing up in your dorm to avoid the weather, embrace the change of seasons. We’ve compiled some of 360’s favorite Syracuse hot spots for every season, so you’ll always have something new to do.

FALL EMBRACE YOUR INNER CHILD and head to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard in LaFayette, N.Y., for some good old-fashioned apple picking. Just a 20-minute drive from campus, Beak & Skiff is a Central New York staple in the fall, with its peak picking season from September to late October. You can also enjoy tractor rides to the sprawling apple orchards, so be sure to pick as many apples as you can carry. Bonus for the 21-and-up crowd: Beak & Skiff also features its own distillery and line of spirits. Hard apple cider, anyone? If you’re more of a fear junkie, there’s

no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than by checking out Fright Nights at the Fair. This massive—and terrifying—haunted house attraction takes over a section of the State Fairgrounds in late September and runs every weekend until Halloween. As if it couldn’t get any better, the entire attraction is indoors, meaning no bulky rain boots for you. Take advantage of the free shuttles SU provides to the Fairgrounds to see for yourself—if you dare.

WINTER WHY LET ALL OF THAT SYRACUSE SNOW KEEP YOU INSIDE when you

could be enjoying it firsthand? Highland Forest Park in Fabius, about 40 minutes from campus, offers a range of unique and affordable winter activities. Whether you decide to cross-country ski through one of its six trails, take a sleigh ride, or sled down Skyline Hill, be sure to bundle up so you can enjoy the snow without going numb.

You don’t even have to leave campus to get into the winter spirit. Every February, the Winter Carnival takes over SU for a weekend. This SU tradition, which started way back in 1930, gives you a chance to take part in different (and free!) events like chili cook-offs, midnight snowshoeing, and trivia nights. Join the fun and be a part of history.

SPRING ONCE THE SNOW MELTS and spring takes over Syracuse, don’t let final exam stress bog you down. The end of winter means major sap production in the maple trees, and the Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville offers pancake breakfasts on Saturdays so you can try out the fresh maple syrup. While you’re there, take a walk through the trails. With the calm atmosphere and the lush greenery, relaxation is all but guaranteed.

If you want a cuter and cuddlier way to de-stress before finals, head to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Be sure to check out the rare animals, like red pandas, snow leopards, and the adorable fennec foxes. Open 362 days a year, the zoo is in primetime during the spring. Mild temperatures, sun, and baby animals? It’s impossible to resist.

SUMMER YOU MAY NOT BEAT THE SYRA CUSE HEAT at the CNY Regional Market

Authority, but you will find some of the city’s treasures at the weekend farmers’ and flea markets. You can browse fresh produce and baked goods every Saturday at the farmers’ market and come back on Sunday for the flea market to pick through everything you didn’t know you wanted. Whether you stay in Syracuse over the summer or come back during the last week CHANGE

of August, devoting a few days to the Great New York State Fair is an absolute must. There’s nothing quite like it. Go for the food, the crafts, the carnival rides, or the concerts—the State Fair has something for everyone. SU even provides buses to and from the fair on Labor Day, so you don’t have to worry about parking stress and can enjoy your wine slushie in peace.

SNAPSHOTS OF

SYRACUSE WORDS :: JILL COMOLETTI PHOTOS COURTESY OF :: KATHE HARRINGTON

For Kathe Harrington, taking photos is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to explore the untold stories of Syracuse’s inhabitants. As the photographer for Humans of Syracuse, Kathe shares her photos on Facebook to provide a different view of the city.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY?

My real interest in photography began in my late teens. I got an SLR camera and took a basic photography course in college. Capturing a single moment in time has never lost its magic for me.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START HUMANS OF SYRACUSE?

I started Humans of Syracuse a few months after discovering—and falling in love with—Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York. Soon, I started seeing people as potential “humans.” I realized that if I was the one to start Humans of Syracuse, I’d have full control of who was featured; every race, gender, age, culture, and socioeconomic background could be equally represented, including those often overlooked in everyday life. This thought was a major factor in my decision to begin.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?

There really is no typical day for me. I photograph in my spare time. This often means pulling over on my way to or from somewhere. If I have a block of time, I’ll choose a neighborhood, park my car, and just start walking.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE PEO PLE YOU PHOTOGRAPH?

I can’t always say why I pick someone to photograph—sometimes it’s just instinct. Parent and child interactions are interesting to me. I’m drawn to color, unique fashion and hairstyles. I’m always drawn to emotion. If someone is laughing, or looks lonely, I want to capture that and get the story behind it.

WHAT IS THE FAVORITE PHOTO THAT YOU’VE TAKEN FOR HU MANS OF SYRACUSE?

My favorite photos are constantly changing. Right now I’d say my favorite is of a man named James, who pushes a cart around the city collecting bottles. I like it as a stand-alone photo but also because it represents the challenge and importance of moving beyond first impressions and trying connect with a person, if only for a few brief moments.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHAL LENGES THAT YOU FACE?

I’d say my biggest challenge is finding time. I can always find short bits of time to photograph, but it’s difficult to get the amount of time needed to explore the neighborhoods in-depth. I would love to be able to shoot all day long. Another challenge is working in “dangerous” neighborhoods. People tend to write-off certain areas. While several areas are high in crime, I think the majority of people making up these neighborhoods are good, hardworking families. I think it’s especially important to include these areas to help build more positive associations. Additionally, language barriers can be a bit of a challenge.

HOW HAS BEING THE HUMANS OF SYRACUSE PHOTOGRAPHER CHANGED HOW YOU VIEW THE CITY?

Walking the neighborhoods has given me a huge appreciation for the incredible diversity in Syracuse. I think it’s a unique feature in a city this size. I’ve also realized how small and close-knit a city can really feel. I’m often surprised by how many people on my page know or recognize the person I’ve photographed. People are extremely generous with kind words and well wishes for those featured on my page. The Humans of Syracuse page is like building a web. Each person I add is woven in, and it gets stronger and more connected with every story. 34

360 degrees magazine

HOW DO YOU HOPE TO CHANGE THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE VIEW SYRACUSE?

I hope that through my photos others are inspired to take a second look—a second look at the people and their community. If you look for the good, you’ll find it. Suddenly, you will see funny, inspirational and poignant moments happening all around you.

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