February 7, 2024

wednesday, feb. 7, 2024

celebrating 120 years

N • Breaking down

free

C • Ca-caw

A New York state appeals court dismissed Renew 81 for All’s Friday.

The Daily Orange summarized the group’s several legal challenges against the DOT.

From crow experts to crow merchandise, central New York has a long history with the species.

Crows take refuge in CNY every winter, roosting in well-lit areas.

Page 3

Page 5

S • The next 4 Five-star recruit Donovan Freeman will enroll at Syracuse in the fall after playing at IMG Academy. He wants to be the next best SU forward with trust in Adrian Autry’s leadership.

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‘Love Letter’

men’s basketball

Benny Williams dismissed from team

Jenn M. Jackson’s book, published on Jan. 23, is a “love letter” to Black women

By Cole Bambini

senior staff writer

By Ahna Fleming asst. news editor

J

enn M. Jackson chose one sentence to encapsulate the message of their first book, “Black Women Taught Us: an Intimate History of Black Feminism.”

“It’s actually the one the publisher chose, the very last sentence in the introduction.

It’s the one where I say that Black women have taught us how to listen and to work, and now it’s time for us to do both,” Jackson said.

Jackson, an assistant professor in the Political Science department at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, published their book on Jan 23. The book is a “love letter” honoring Black women and feminists whose work has been “erased from the archive.” The book also catalogs Jackson’s journey and creates a “living archive” of Black women’s history, they said.

“People pick it up and think that, because I’m a professor of political science, it’ll be this dry, dull read about history,” Jackson said. “It’s just not.”

Jackson, who holds a doctoral degree in political science and government from the University of Chicago, is also an affiliate with the Women’s and Gender studies, African American studies and LGBT studies departments at SU. Jackson’s book is based on a course they teach: “Black Feminist (Insurgent) Politics.”

“Black Women Taught Us” features 11 original essays about teachings by Black feminists and women, as well as Jackson’s mother and aunts.

Jackson hopes every Black woman who picks up this book — a “self-affirming” resource they longed for growing up — feels loved.

Jackson grew up in Oakland, California, in the 90s as an “awkward, queer, Black girl who was very, very tall at a very young age,” they said. Jackson has been 6-foot-4 since they were 12, which made their relationship with gender and race very complex.

“When you are trying to navigate the world in a genderexpansive, agender, complex body, and you’re also poor, and you’re also Black, and you’re also so many other things … you learn very quickly what is ‘acceptable’ behavior and what is going to be frowned upon,” they said.

Jackson earned a bachelor of science in industrial engineering at the University of Southern California. At the time, USC did not offer a Black feminist politics course, and there were no other resources, mentors or peers to help Jackson learn how to navigate the world as a Black woman.

During their time at USC, Jackson said peers excluded them from group projects and social activities. Their struggles with racism were heightened by the murder of Oscar Grant, who was killed by a police officer at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station about 10 minutes from Jackson’s grandmother’s home, which they used all the time growing up. They said Grant’s murder “really messed” with their head.

“I couldn’t keep compartmentalizing, I couldn’t just go to work and do my work and see jackson page 4

Syracuse men’s basketball forward Benny Williams has been dismissed from the team, the program announced on social media Tuesday.

“Benny Williams has been dismissed from the Syracuse men’s basketball program. Everyone involved with the program wishes Benny the best,” the post on X read.

“I have no comment,” said Williams’ father, Ben Williams, in a text exchange with The Daily Orange.

A spokesperson for the program was unable to confirm whether or not Williams is still a student at Syracuse University. Williams’ father also said he had “no comment” about Williams’ status as a student. A spokesperson for the University said the statement from the team on social media is the “full comment” at this time and similarly couldn’t confirm Williams’ student status.

5.4

Benny Williams averaged just 5.4 points per game in 18 games this season before being dismissed by the program

Assistant professor Jenn M. Jackson based their book on a course they teach at SU. lars jendruschewitz asst. photo editor

on campus

Suspect arrested outside Whitman School

By Kendall Luther news editor

The Syracuse Police Department arrested a man outside of Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management Monday afternoon after the department received reports the man was taking

“inappropriate photos of people,” according to an SPD statement to The Daily Orange.

After the initial suspicious person call, the man, who SPD identified as Thomas Crudo, reportedly ignored police commands and attempted to f lee in a vehicle.

He crashed into two parked cars

while attempting to flee, according to the statement.

During the encounter, a dog in Crudo’s car bit one of the responding officers. The officer was transported to the hospital with “nonlife-threatening injuries.” After being arrested on various charges, Crudo was brought to the Onon-

daga County Justice Center for booking, SPD wrote.

In a separate statement to The D.O., Public Information Officer Matthew Malinowski wrote that the case is still in the process of being finalized as of 12 a.m. Wednesday. kaluther@syr.edu @kendallaluther

On Nov. 1, prior to SU’s regular season opener, Williams was suspended for a violation of team rules and missed the exhibition game against the College of St. Rose as well as wins over New Hampshire and Canisius. In multiple instances, head coach Adrian Autry had declined to specify the reasons.

The junior forward then returned to all team activities on Nov. 10 and made his season debut versus Colgate on Nov. 14. He scored zero points in 10 minutes of action versus the Raiders.

The dismissal comes after the Orange’s 29-point loss to Wake Forest, the program’s second-worst loss in its time as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Williams, who received a technical foul for aggressively chucking the ball away from the referees, played 24 minutes and scored seven points in the 99-70 loss. After the technical, Williams was subbed out and was seen colliding into Autry’s shoulder. As the game’s final seconds ticked away, when Williams was on the court, Williams was seen walking straight to the locker room. He did not shake hands with members of Wake Forest and ignored assistant coach Allen Griffin’s attempt to grab him.

“I want to apologize to our fans, our University for that performance,” see dismissal page 10

2 february 7, 2024

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CULTURE “Each of those birds is just like you, walking across campus and every one of them has a name, a face and a history, and it’s pretty well true for the crows too.” - Kevin McGowan, a “crow expert” Page 5

OPINION “The U.N. repeatedly fails the world but is allowed to take center stage in every major conflict despite its futility during them.” - Christy Joshy, columnist Page 9

SPORTS “Ready to come home?” - Head coach Adrian Autry on Donovan Freeman Page 12

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“You can go on Amazon and you can buy emergency contraception for a pretty cheap price, but it’s not going to come for two days and this is something that you need immediately, it’s the ‘morning-after pill.’” - Serena Schmitt, third-year medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University Page 1

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NEWS

february 7, 2024 3

city

Breaking down Renew 81 For All’s legal challenge to I-81 project

By Julia Boehning asst. news editor

Over a year after the “Renew 81 For All” lawsuit halted progress on the removal of the Interstate 81 viaduct, the New York State Department of Transportation can now proceed with its demolition.

Renew 81 – a group opposing the plan – first filed the lawsuit in Sept. 2022. The lawsuit called for the DOT to pause the removal project to issue a new environmental study since the previous one was completed before the announcement of Micron Technology’s new plant in Clay. Over the last three years, the group has introduced several legal challenges against the DOT regarding the viaduct removal project.

The most recent lawsuit also claimed the DOT violated the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by “(failing) to properly evaluate or minimize the additional greenhouse gasses” associated with the plan.

In November 2022, New York State Supreme Court Justice Gerard Neri ruled in favor of Renew 81’s claims, ordering the state to pause the project pending additional environmental studies. On Friday, a New York state appeals court dismissed this decision.

“Not unlike the wasted year re-studying a tunnel option, this lawsuit cost taxpayers a lot of money and caused needless delays,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh wrote in a Feb. 2 press release.

“For better health, stronger neighborhoods, and improved transportation, it’s time to move full speed ahead with all aspects of the Community Grid plan.”

During a Monday press conference, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she intends to “(make) up for lost time” on the project after ongoing “litigation and fights.” She said she was excited to see the courts support the “unification” of the Syracuse community and added that the viaduct’s removal is the “most important infrastructure project Syracuse has seen in a century.”

The I-81 viaduct, which was first built as part of the Eisenhower Administration’s Interstate Highway System initiative in the 1950s and 1960s, led to the demolition of Syracuse’s 15th ward, a historically Black neighborhood, and displaced 1,300 families. The viaduct, which

runs through the former neighborhood, created a physical racial division throughout the city.

Since I-81’s inception and multi-stage construction process, the viaduct has sparked protests across the Syracuse community. As the highway generated more traffic, the infrastructure also began to deteriorate — with the DOT finding several structural deficiencies across the corridor.

The New York Civil Liberties Union expressed its opposition to halting the removal process. In a Friday press release, the group, which submitted an amicus brief advocating for the community grid project in 2022, supported the court’s recent decision. NYCLU wrote that preserving the viaduct is “not an option under any circumstances” given community feedback against I-81.

“We’re glad the court recognized what we, fellow advocates, and Syracuse residents have known for generations: replacing the I-81 viaduct with a raised highway is not an option under any circumstances,” NYCLU Racial Justice Center Director Lanessa Chaplin wrote in the press release.

After 14 years of deliberation and public comment periods, New York state announced in 2016 that it was considering replacing portions of the viaduct with a community grid. The state decided to pursue the project in 2019. Two years later, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the city was to begin implementing its estimated $2 billion plan.

Following the announcement, multiple groups, including Renew 81, opposed the viaduct’s removal. Over the last three years, the group has introduced several legal challenges against the DOT regarding the viaduct removal project.

On Sept. 30, 2022, Renew 81 submitted its first petition to the New York State Supreme Court, which alleged the plan violated the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act along with multiple other pieces of legislation.

Neri ruled in favor of Renew 81, ordering the DOT to indefinitely pause construction on the project, during the Nov. 2022 hearing. A few months later, the court made its final decision, with Neri halting the viaduct removal pending environmental reviews, according to the ruling.

The I-81 removal project has faced several roadblocks. Following the dismissal, the project will continue as planned. waxim ahmad daily orange file photo

Several local community leaders spoke out against the decision. At the time, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh called the delay “unnecessary” in a written statement to The Daily Orange, citing that the project had already gone through a “rigorous multi-year review.”

With the support of community stakeholders, the DOT then appealed Neri’s decision.

After a year-long appeal process, the Appellate Division for the Fourth Department of the state’s Supreme Court unanimously voted in favor of the appeal, dismissing the ruling from Renew 81’s lawsuit, syracuse.com reported.

Onondaga County Legislator Charles Garland told syracuse.com that Renew 81 planned to appeal the dismissal. The group consists of Garland, Central New York Area Labor Feder-

ation President Ann Marie Taliercio, Deacon Nathan Gunn and the towns of Salina, DeWitt and Tully. Garland also said the group’s lawsuit against the federal government is still pending.

Now, the state can continue the project as planned without the need for more environmental testing. According to syracuse.com, the DOT is in the early phases of beginning work on the highway outside the city and will start the removal process in 2026.

“Any attempts to ‘save’ I-81 are intent on preserving a symbol of structural racism that has supercharged segregation, decimated land value, and polluted the environment, and we will fight these attempts in court every step of the way,” Chaplin wrote. jmboehni@syr.edu

city

SUNY Upstate opens emergency contraception vending machine

By Samantha Olander asst. copy editor

In an effort to increase access and affordability of birth control at SUNY Upstate Medical University, third-year medical students Serena Schmitt and Olivia Preston have worked to open an on-campus access point for birth control: an emergency contraceptive vending machine.

The installation of the vending machine, which is located on the first floor of Upstate’s Health Sciences Library, was spearheaded through advocacy efforts by Schmitt, Preston and the New York Birth Control Access Project — a nonprofit organization that works to combat disparities in contraceptive access. The vending machine carries boxes of My Way, a 1.5 mg levonorgestrel tablet, along with pregnancy tests, acetaminophen, Advil and Benadryl.

Rochelle Rodney, director of advocacy at NYBCAP, said that the new vending machine will provide emergency contraceptives to Upstate students on campus who might otherwise have struggled to purchase them.

“When we think about the vending machines in general and students all across the state, not every student has access to a health center on their campus so (these vending machines) allow students on campus to have easier access to these vital resources such as emergency contraceptives, ” Rodney said.

Across New York state, private universities such as New York University and Cornell University have provided emergency contraceptives in vending machines since the fall of 2023. The University of Rochester also offers emergency contraceptives for free in its on-campus vending machine. With the recent addition, Upstate has become the first SUNY school to implement an emergency contraceptive vending machine on its campus, Schmitt said.

As of Feb. 6, Syracuse University does not have a vending machine with emergency contraceptives, but does have them available by prescription and over the counter in the pharmacy at the Barnes Center at The Arch.

New York State Assemblymember Jes-

The vending machine was “soft-launched” in December and officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 18. Since opening, seven boxes have been sold, as well as a few packets of acetaminophen. courtesy of serena schmitt

sica González-Rojas sponsored a bill in Feb. 2023 that would require every SUNY and CUNY school to have at least one vending machine with emergency contraception available for purchase.

The bill is currently under review in the Higher Education Committee.

The vending machine was “soft-launched” in December and officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 18. Since opening, seven boxes have been sold, as well as a few packets of acetaminophen, Schmitt said.

Upstate decided to implement the vending machines because it saw the project as an “innovative” way for students to access reproductive services on campus, especially as it allows for a lower cost and expanded privacy for students, two of the main goals for the project, Rodney said.

To bring the vending machines to Upstate, Schmitt and Preston joined the associate board at NYBCAP in 2022, where they learned about

the vending machine project and found out how to implement it at their own university, Rodney said. From there, they communicated the need for the project on campus to Upstate’s administration and collected over 200 signatures from students to show interest in the project.

“When we started getting signatures of support from our peers it became clear that this was a service students at SUNY Upstate wanted,” Preston said in a Jan. 22 press release.

“This project is a great way to not only increase access on campus to emergency contraception, but also to help normalize talking about reproductive health.”

Pharmacies saw a significant rise in prices and demand for birth control after the Roe v.

Wade ruling was overturned and ended the right to abortion in June 2022, according to CBS News. While most emergency contraceptives cost anywhere from $30 to $60 at local drugstores and pharmacies, Rodney said, Upstate is

selling them for $10 each. They hope to lower the price as time goes on.

The vending machine’s location in the university’s library will also be an important factor in increasing accessibility for students at Upstate, Schmitt said.

“With the location being in our library, medical students especially don’t always have free time to go to the pharmacy or even to buy groceries, so having something that is there 24/7 is also really important,” Schmitt said.

Emergency contraceptives are only effective for up to five days after unprotected sex, but best within the first 72 hours, according to Planned Parenthood. Schmitt said this turn-around time is why having an affordable and local option for students is important.

“You can go on Amazon and you can buy emergency contraception for a pretty cheap price, but it’s not going to come for two days and see upstate page 4

4 february 7, 2024

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on campus

ODI discusses Muslim American stereotypes in workshop

By Kendall Luther news editor

Syracuse University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a workshop Tuesday to address stereotypes around Muslim American adolescents as part of its “Lunch and Learn” series.

Fatima Seyma Kizil and Ibrahim Kizil presented their research in the “Challenging Stereotypes around Muslim Americans: Fostering Inclusivity for All” session, emphasizing the importance of discussing critical issues and breaking negative stereotypes in the classroom.

Despite having her “own privilege” and coming from a well-educated family in Turkey, Seyma Kizil, a Ph.D. candidate of Literacy Education and graduate teaching assistant at SU’s Reading and Language Arts department, said she still felt discrimination and stereotypes as a Muslim woman because of her hijab.

Seyma Kizil said she began to wear her hijab in seventh grade, and her mother, who was a hijabi, questioned why she chose to wear it “so early” as it could cause “a lot of trouble.” In her presentation, she said the hijab is often “misinterpreted” as a symbol of male dominance.

She added that structures have changed over the years, as students now can continue their education with a hijab while she was not allowed to wear one at her school.

Muslim Black men in society often do not encounter stereotypes because of their appearance, Seyma Kizil said, while Muslim Black hijabis have the “identifier” of the hijab.

“A Muslim Black man in the society doesn’t encounter stereotypes because (he’s) a Muslim because no one knows he’s Muslim,” Seyma Kizil said. “But … a Muslim Black hijabi in the society encountered a lot of stereotypes.”

Seyma Kizil and Kizil referenced the book “Huda F Are You?” — a young adult graphic novel that follows author Huda Fahmy as she realizes that hijabi isn’t the only identity she carries. Seyma Kizil and Kizil paired the themes of the book with real-life experiences of students in her book club at the Islamic Society of Central New York, which Seyma Kizil designed to better understand young Muslim participants’ literacy practices.

Seyma Kizil referenced the following three themes from the book in her presentation: from page 1

jackson be a ‘cog in the wheel’ and not acknowledge what was happening in my body because of the way the world was working,” Jackson said.

Jackson started reading books by Black women and discovered Black feminist teachings, through which they eventually came to honor themself. Jackson said they initially felt anger about the lack of information about Black feminism, as well as shame and guilt for their lack of awareness.

These factors encouraged them to pursue a masters in political science at California State University, Fullerton, changing their career path. Jackson, who was pregnant with their second child at the time, was taking night classes and working 60 hours a week. Following Jackson’s graduation from their master’s program, their professors encouraged them to pursue a Ph.D. Jackson, a first-generation college student, was unsure how to navigate their pursuit of a doctoral degree at UChicago, but received guidance from their professors.

This experience encouraged them to write about their experiences navigating life in Orange County and medical racism as a Black woman with a heart condition. Jackson contributed their work to several magazines, as well as Teen Vogue — where they are now a columnist — and The Washington Post. In 2018, an editor, who now works for Penguin Random House LLC., encouraged them to write a book, and presented a book deal two years later.

While studying at UChicago, Jackson met Dr. Elizabeth Jordie Davies, now an assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Irvine.

“Jenn is a bright light, fearless, and such a joy to have in my life,” Davies wrote in a statement to The Daily Orange. “(Their book) is a safe haven for folks who need the from page 3

upstate this is something that you need immediately, it’s the ‘morning-after pill’,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt said the vending machine will also allow for more anonymity than if a student were to have to go to their health center or local pharmacy in person. She said the project aims to

fatima seyma kizil, one of the discussion speakers, responds to an audience member’s question. The presentation offered space for an interactive discussion.

cassandra roshu photo editor

identity-steps, identifiability and stereotypes around being Muslim and Islamophobia as well as adolescents’ resistance and counteractions to these situations.

Kizil emphasized the importance of the presentation and reading novels like “Huda F Are You?” for students, especially for those studying in SU’s School of Education.

“Every student needs to see in the book themselves,” Kizil said. “It doesn’t matter (if they’re) in high school and middle school or college, they should provide that kind of boost to their students.”

Seyma Kizil said the character had a good community and allyship, which helped her eventually find the courage to resist stereotypes and allowed her to have “better” identity.

“Societal factors affect people’s judgments

and may cause bias around underrepresented groups,” Seyma Kizil said. “To combat concrete Islamophobia, a distinguished method is to encourage students to identify, explore and inquire about such problems while engaging in authentic processes.”

Through Seyma Kizil and Kizil’s research, they found that students didn’t face stereotypes during interactions with their friends or in classes where teachers supported discussion about critical issues and encouraged the breaking of stereotypes.

Seyma Kizil also explained the importance of opening “unseen barriers” between the underrepresented group of students and classes, which can help reduce the possibility of Islamophobia.

“One of my participants said ‘just one good teacher (changes) a lot,’” Seyma Kizil said.

Tanya Williamson, the assistant vice president of ODI, said the objective of the presentation was to encourage dialogue and more understanding.

“The intention is for us all to come together, learn some new ideas, reflect on diversity and inclusion, as well as have dialogue with each other,” Williamson said.

ODI will host its next Lunch and Learn Series event, “Exploring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in ‘German Literature Since 1945’ through Democratic Teaching Practices,” on Feb. 23 in Hendricks Chapel.

“It is vital to provide space for self-critical organizations to students to break stereotypes and hierarchies in society,” Seyma Kizil said.

wisdom and guidance of Black feminism.”

Davies, one of Jackson’s best friends and collaborators, said the two have forthcoming research on “reparations processes at the local level” with David J. Knight, incoming assistant

professor of sociology and faculty fellow in African American and African diaspora studies at Columbia University.

Jackson said their book is a culmination of the experiences they’ve had with Black women throughout their life, especially Zora Neale Hurston, whose work was lost and found by Alice Walker.

“The world didn’t think that (Hurston) was valuable or important. She died of malnutrition.

She died in an unmarked grave. The result of that is that so many of these Black women’s stories were erased from the archive,” Jackson said. “I had to work really hard to find them.”

Jackson said their book is a “love letter” for several different reasons — one being Jackson wanting to honor Black women like Hurston who, they said, have not been properly honored or recognized.

Jackson wrote their book during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which “disproportionately impacted so many Black people,” they said.

Jackson said they watched countless women in their family die, seemingly out of nowhere.

Some women Jackson wrote about in their book died before it was published, they said.

Their maternal grandmother died while they

were writing the book. Jackson struggled writing the book, and had to “grapple with the fact that this world is so unkind to these women (they) love so much.”

“They don’t have to be ailing. They don’t have to be older. The weight of the world is such that Black women weather from the inside out,” Jackson said. “I don’t think enough people honor that (or) regard the struggle Black women face.”

Jackson said people, themself included, take part in these systems that harm Black women. It is important people take Black women seriously, they said. Jackson, too, struggles with loving Black women — citing how they initially left bell hooks out of the book and will “never feel good about that.”

“I think that all love has to be accountable.

It’s a love letter because it is accountable — it’s citation-heavy, the glossary is on point, the bibliography is on point, everything in here is factchecked, peer-reviewed,” Jackson said.

Jackson began teaching their course “Black Feminist (Insurgent) Politics” in 2019, which is a safe haven and helpful resource for Black women college students that Jackson never had as an undergrad student at USC. Sonia Issa, an SU senior majoring in political science and project management and minoring in African American studies, took Jackson’s course in spring 2022.

“We got to learn about feminism, womanism — all the ‘-isms’ — as it pertains to being a Black woman in America. It really set the social location of Black women in my brain,” Issa said.

“Professor Jackson has a unique way of bringing (centuries’ old course text) into the here-andnow — real-life social problems that we deal with in 2024.”

Jackson said the difference between Black feminism and mainstream white feminism is “everything.” Jackson said first, second and third-wave mainstream white feminism were concerned with women’s self-autonomy, right to work, public life and sexual freedom, which, they

noted, are valid struggles. Black feminists, however, were concerned with more fundamental rights, they said.

“Black feminists said, ‘Hey, everybody, hey guess what? Y’all are worried about that, but we’re trying to feed ourselves. We go to work and people pay us less because of the color of our skin,’” Jackson said.

In their book and course, Jackson tells Harriet Jacobs’ story of evading her captors by hiding in an attic for seven years because “in that attic, (Jacobs) says that’s the freest she had ever felt,” they said.

One time in class, Issa said there was no way Jacobs was free in that attic. Jackson explained there is a “freedom from” and a “freedom to.”

“We’re always so focused on this freedom to be myself, freedom to express myself. But we rarely talk about getting free from the institutions that are seeking to annihilate you, or to rename you, or to claim you as a possession,” they said.

Jackson said Black feminism has emerged now as a way to “affirm and signify that we, Black women, in whatever way we show up in our bodies, are human.”

Jackson said people often ask them how they are “still a Black woman” if they use they/them pronouns and identify as genderflux and androgynous. They said they come from an African ancestral tradition where sexuality is not tethered to who one sleeps with, but rather to what they believe and who they advocate for. To Jackson, that is what Black feminism is actually about.

“I believe that Black feminism requires a curiosity and an interrogation of all of these systems and ways of being — of the status quo, of these ideas that ask us to bend and shrink and get into these boxes,” Jackson said. “Black feminism takes us out of those boxes and says we can, actually, be whatever the f*ck we want.”

encourage students to use emergency contraceptives by removing the stigma surrounding reproductive health from the purchasing process.

“There’s already always stigma around contraception and reproductive health and that’s part of why anonymity is important,” Schmitt said. “I think there’s already some decreased stigma, but the vending machines are working to open the conversation even more.”

To continue to destigmatize reproductive health, the vending machine also includes QR codes that link to Upstate’s student health portal and information about emergency contraception from the World Health Organization, which Schmitt said have received 10 scans and five scans, respectively.

Through their efforts, Schmitt said, they hope that Upstate can serve as an example

for other SUNY schools across the state to implement emergency contraceptive vending machines in the future.

“We’re the first SUNY school to do this, hopefully more SUNY schools will follow suit and we’ll take the lead and show them how we did it and how they can do it too,” Schmitt said.

The weight of the world is such that Black women weather from the inside out” Jenn M. Jackson asst. professor

kaluther@syr.edu @kendallaluther

arflemin@syr.edu

saolande@syr.edu

CULTURE

dailyorange.com culture@dailyorange.com

february 7, 2024 5

Syracusans love the American crow. They’ve become a symbol of the city because of their unique place for winter refuge.

As the sun sets, thousands of crows roost in downtown Syracuse trees. The birds travel in flocks throughout central New York, including near the Syracuse University campus. For many years, crows have been more than just a nuisance in Syracuse. They’re a beloved part of the city. jess van contributing photographer

By Rosina Boehm

asst. culture editor

F

our years ago, David Haas posted a picture of a sticker of a crow on a telephone wire with “I love Syracuse” above it. Crow fans flocked to Haas’ comments begging for the design to be put on a shirt because of the bird’s long symbolism for the city of Syracuse.

“People don’t like Syracuse and I’ll always kind of joke back that it seems that the crows do, and I think a lot of people on my page picked up on that as well,” Haas said. “I think a lot of people have love for the crow as an animal and a symbol of this city.”

The American crow settles, or roosts, in central New York during the winter, the crow expert at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Kevin McGowan said. Crows have been documented roosting in Syracuse in well-lit areas, like Syracuse University, to avoid owls since the 1930s, he said.

They increased in population 30 years ago to about 30,000 in Syracuse and Cortland. Other areas of CNY, like where McGowan resides in Ithaca, have much smaller roosts. Syracuse and Auburn account for the largest roosts of the area, McGowan said. “(Roosting) is just something that the crows do in winter, is that they like to get together, and talk about stuff someplace around in usually slightly lit areas where they can see owls coming – things like that,” McGowan said.

These high numbers of crows initially gained traction on social media pages like Haas’ w@syracusehistory social media account. He now receives video submissions of the birds roosting in the trees or the cemetery, spurring passionate debates on whether people should love or hate the crow.

Haas teamed up with the designer of the new Syracuse flag, Eric Hart, to create the newest @ syracusehistory crow t-shirt, combining the new city flag with a joyful, singing crow on a telephone line. The new shirt has been an opportunity to get the new flag into the public more, which is special because the crows mirror the story of Syracuse in many ways, Hart said.

Hart and Haas are using the profits made from the shirt to donate the new city flag to companies and increase its popularity. Since he started selling them, Haas has sold 1,200 shirts.

Comment sections of crow posts include jokes about the crows’ large numbers or fearful statements that someone may get pooped on.

Many of these attributes contribute to people’s disdain toward the crow.

“When (Haas) explained to me how people were interacting with his crow post, I was kind of surprised to see that there was such a dichotomy in the emotions that people felt, everyone had an opinion,” Hart said.

Hart is a Syracuse local and lived in the city until 2010 when he graduated from SU. He had always been indifferent to the crows and didn’t notice them in all the years he lived here – until working on the shirt with Haas.

“I was just like, ‘they’re just birds, hanging out, they’re doing their bird stuff, and then go do that bird stuff somewhere else later,’” Hart said.

Since working on the shirt with Haas, he has grown to like the bird. However, he understands why others dislike the bird, but especially, understands why SU students would be surprised about the number of crows.

Only being here for four years doesn’t allow students to acclimate to their large presence, Hart said.

For ornithology expert McGowan, the birds are more than just “birds hanging out.”

McGowan has gotten to know some crows personally – even knowing one since she was an egg until she died at 19.

He enjoys getting to know the different crow’s stories and personalities, he said. McGowan has, too, had bad experiences with some crows, especially when he would climb to a nest, and the birds would screech at him after remembering his face and his car.

But then, McGowan started giving them peanuts, which quickly changed their tune.

Now, when he drives into his neighborhood the crows will flock to his car “like an ice cream truck,” he said. He wants others to see them as individuals, too.

“It’s not just this wave of the faceless birds out there,” McGowan said. “Each of those birds is just like you, walking across campus and every one of them has a name,

a face and a history, and it’s pretty well true for the crows too.”

The crow is the bird with the most similar social system to Western human culture and can even recognize human faces, McGowan said. They stay in close family groups, have a neighborhood watch and young crows don’t leave their families right away – much like communities in the U.S. In Syracuse, the crow population has not declined, but statewide and nationwide they have been cut in half, McGowan said. Unlike other cities, Syracuse has not attempted to get rid of the crows, and instead, embrace them.

“I think Syracuse – we’re a sanctuary city.

We’ve always been open to refuge or to refugees and new Americans historically, adopting them as our own as they adopt our city,” Haas said.

“The selection in terms of us adopting the crow as they seek refuge from other towns and cities align well with the spirit and the soul of our community at large.”

For Haas, the crow and everybody’s love for the bird is a reminder that good things are coming, especially when the birds roost here in the middle of the winter. The birds and Syracuse have a longstanding history, one that Hart thinks isn’t going away anytime soon.

“I have a feeling that this isn’t the end of the crow story,” Hart said. “I don’t think moving forward that the crow story and the funniness behind it and the virality behind it will really slow down at all.”

rlboehm@syr.edu

from the studio

‘Assembly’ exhibit redefines ecology with artwork old and new

By Kelly Matlock culture editor

For Professor Mike Goode, the title of Syracuse University Art Museum’s latest ecological exhibit, “Assembly,” has two meanings. The show assembles with its pieces of artwork and with the group of people it brings together. “ E c olog ic a l t houg ht really emphasizes human interconnectedness,” Goode said. “The exhibit tries to raise awareness of that in different ways, by juxtaposing old and new artworks that open each other up.”

“Assembly” places art from SU faculty alongside pieces from the museum’s permanent collection.

The exhibit aims to emphasize the idea that humans are part of the environment, not separate from it.

The exhibit was developed with a separate endeavor for the museum – 15 “e-museums,” or virtual exhibits. The e-museums have similar themes to “Assembly,” and pieces were selected and curated for the two projects together as part of the upcoming Art Ecology and Climate project.

“Assembly” was primarily developed by Ed Morris and Susanna Sayler, the co-directors of SU’s Canary Lab, along with the current William P. Tolley Professor Goode. This is the first exhibit Goode has ever developed.

SU Art Museum interim chief curator Melissa Yuen said the exhibit differs from other exhibits because of its interdisciplinary quality, and how it demonstrates faculty’s robust interest in the issue of climate change.

“Each of these exhibiting artists

in their practice has shown a new and interesting and innovative approach to engaging with ideas relating to ecology,” Yuen said. “All of these ideas are juxtaposed against this very traditional notion of nature (where it is) untouched.”

One example of two pieces in conversation with each other is the work of SU professor Rebecca Chu and 1900s artist Chaim Koppelman. Chu’s piece is a visual representation of the flight of a single bird over 3,000 miles, and Koppelman’s piece is a print of a crowd at Coney Island.

The combination of the two pieces is meant to evoke ideas about crowd behavior, Goode said. It compares the migration of birds to crowd movement in other species, like humans at Coney Island.

“It’s producing those kinds of juxtapositions of objects and dialogues that get people – hopefully — thinking in different ways. about what it means,” Goode said. “Not just the natural world, but their own embeddedness in it.”

Kate Holohan, the curator of education at the SU Art Museum, said the exhibit is a “fruitful dialogue.” She said the exhibit is well thought out and dynamic for viewers.

“It ’s an interesting thing to see an exhibition once it’s insta lled, versus imagining what it’s going to look like when it’s in formation,” Holohan said.

“It ’s really visually stunning.

There’s really interesting visual interconnections and dialogues that happen in the galleries.”

More than an exhibit, she says the show is a forum for discussion about ecology and climate change. She said the museum is a place where people from any academic and personal background can come together and connect with the work.

SU Junior Abi Greenfield was a research assistant on the summer project to curate “Assembly.” She helped identify works in the archive related to climate change.

Greenfield said the experience allowed her to take a more human view on climate change, rather than a scientific perspective.

As an art history minor, she had a background in art as activism, but this exhibit showed her new ways that art can be seen. see assembly page 6

6 february 7, 2024

dailyorange.com culture@dailyorange.com

humor column

Our humor columnist’s dream bid day themes CONCERTS

By Sarah Wells

humor columnist

Today, I learned that each sorority has a different theme for their bid days. This was news to me, because I thought that they all followed the same theme: screaming loudly for hours straight. I have to give it to SU’s sororities this semester, they got creative. A few of my favorite themes were circus, cars and jeans… I got a little lost on the last one but I bet it was fun.

This all inspired me so much that I decided to come up with a few of my own sorority bid day themes! Unfortunately, since I can’t remember the names of more than two sororities, I cannot rush. So if anyone in a sorority is reading this, here are some bid day themes that I came up with.

#1: Deep Sea Creatures

Nothing screams “bid day” like a giant isopod or goblin shark! Be sure to make a splash with a deep sea creature-themed bid day party. I think that there’s a lot of fun stuff to do here. You could get a kiddie pool and fill it with some Japanese spider crabs (I know a guy, you have my email), or perhaps even an ice sculpture of an abyssal comb jelly!

#3: Corduroy

Going off of Alpha Chi Omega’s “jeans” theme, I think that there should be some representation of another popular material: corduroy. Sororities can wear all corduroy, corduroy shirts, corduroy pants, corduroy socks, maybe even corduroy underwear if you’re into that. If a new member isn’t wearing corduroy, they have to sleep on the lawn their first night in the house – in a sleeping bag made of corduroy.

#4: The Industrial Revolution

Labor? More like slay-bor! Be the star of bid day with an Industrial Revolution-themed party! You may be thinking, “Sarah, the Industrial Revolution does not sound like a whole lot of fun.” Well, think again, because I came up with some super fun games to play at this party, including a trivia round!

Quick! Think fast: What were the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution? If you

throw an Industrial Revolution-themed bid day party, you’ll be sure to find out!

#5: Judge Judy

To get any initial beef out of the way, have a “Judge Judy” themed bid day! New members (playing defendant and plaintiff, naturally) can stand in front of an older sorority member (Judge Judy) and air out their grievances about each other. A jury (made up of existing sorority members) can even have the power to send them to a real, maximumsecurity prison! Democracy at its finest.

Oh gee, all of this brainstorming makes me want to throw a bid day party! That’s why I’m starting a business as an official bid day party planner. For any questions, email me at sarahwellslovescorduroy@ gmail.com. Congratulations to all new sorority members and hopefully these ideas will be helpful for next year! sswells@syr.edu

#2: Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock… the master of suspense.

Sounds like the perfect theme for a super fun bid day celebration! In the spirit of “The Birds,” sororities can hang fake birds from the ceilings of their houses (Pro tip: they don’t necessarily have to be murderous ;)). For any “Psycho” fans in the house, new members can take turns scaring each other in the shower!

Over the weekend SU sororities celebrated new members. Our humor columnist gives her recommendations for next year’s bid day themes. cassandra roshu photo editor

Director Vaughn’s ‘Argylle’ was a spy movie cliche senior staff writer

Today, there aren’t many trailers that cause a stir. But when the preview for Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle” dropped on Sept. 28, the trailer took on a life of its own. It was repeated over and over again at nearly every AMC and Regal theater.

The trailer constantly makes reference to a mysterious “Agent Argylle,” which created a trend online. But of course, everyone then wanted to know who the real agent Argylle is.

Not to say bland, corporate previews don’t do the job. Anytime a new Marvel trailer dropped in the 2010s, comic book fans would anticipate the latest film with a geeky fervor that created a truly communal and cultural experience.

Spy novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) finds the plots of her books reflect the future actions of an actual spy organization and must go on a globe-trotting adventure to learn why her predicted events are happening. With a premise like “Argylle’s,” a bulk of the narrative relies on finding out who Argylle – a character in Conway’s book – really is.

Unfortunately, the film’s story falls flat on its face like every other aspect of this 139-minute dumpster fire. Vaughn had a chance to tell an interesting meta-story that pokes fun at many of the spy genre’s cliches, but “Argylle” ends up becoming a cinematic experience chock full of them.

Take the opening of the film, where Elly reads the harrowing end of her book and we see the action unfold. We watch the fictional agent Argylle (played by a charming Henry Cavill) and

The Song & Dance New Jersey-based indie band Phoneboy is performing this Friday. The band consists of singer Wyn Barnum, guitarist Ricky Dana and bassist James Fusco. The trio is set to perform recent hits from their sophomore album “Moving Out.” Tickets are available online.

WHEN: Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

PRICE: $26.44

Middle Ages Brewing Company Walking Buddy, a four-piece rock band, is performing this Friday at the Middle Ages Brewing Company. Their sound is inspired by classic rock and Americana styles and the group is known for laid-back, intimate performances. The central New York-based band recently performed at Maxwells, a restaurant in Hanover Square. Tickets are free.

WHEN: Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.

PRICE: Free

Funk ‘n Waffles

screentime column

By Henry O’Brien

THIS WEEKEND

his team of superstar spies (John Cena and Ariana DeBose) defeat the international terrorist LaGrange (Dua Lipa) in Greece. The following opening action sequence featured crumby CGI and felt as predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

The blandness of the entire sequence was oddly intriguing, though. It was almost as if Vaughn was parodying the genre and his previous works, which include “X-Men: First Class,” “KickAss” and the “Kingsman” trilogy. Maybe the rest of the film would be a clever spoof with incredible action. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Like the opening, the film featured plenty of mediocre special effects and an obvious green screen that became incredibly distracting. Many of the action sequences take place in hallways or condensed indoor spaces, a trademark of Vaughn’s.

The director fills these hallways with colorful explosives and a ton of shaky cam. But “Argylle” features little excitement as Elly and her spy companion Aiden (Sam Rockwell) take on mostly faceless goons sent by the evil Director Ritter (Bryan Cranston).

Vaughn has given us reason to care about the action and, more importantly, the characters before. His filmography includes protagonists and antagonists that blur the lines between traditional notions of good and evil.

Heroes from his older films like Eggsy in “Kingsman” and a young Charles Xavier in “First Class” never know who they can trust, including supposed allies. The side-switching in Vaughn’s movies reflects a self-serving nature in a chaotic world.

The director tries to channel this sensibility again by placing viewers in the perspective of Elly. She starts to question Aiden’s motives as her supposed protector along with his boss Alfred Solomon (Samuel L. Jackson). The only one she can trust is her beloved cat, Alfie.

But screenwriter Jason Fuchs’ script offers no real surprise. Characters like Aiden, Alfred Solomon and even Elly’s own mother (Catherine O’Hara) become stale archetypes. As the plot reveals repeated twists, we find no deeper examination of any of the characters. There is limited exploration into Ritter’s organization, “The Division,” and why Elly can see hallucinations of the fictional Argylle.

We are rushed from set piece to set piece around the globe. Stakes feel so minimal that staying invested during the film’s final act is challenging. The film’s plot morphs into a goofy Roger Moore-era Bond film without any of the dumb hijinx. It’s just a boring climax with crumby effects.

If you’ve seen enough movies and trailers, chances are you could tell by the “Argylle” preview that this was going to be terrible. But for all of the film’s inherent silliness and mediocrity, the trailer created memes and jokes in the lead-up and genuinely fostered discussion as entertainment websites literally created polls asking nerds who they thought the real agent Argylle was.

With an incredible ad campaign and a lackluster final product, maybe the real agent “Argylle” was the friends we made along the way.

hwobrien@syr.edu

Mighty Mystic is taking center stage this weekend at Funk ‘n Waffles. The Jamaicanborn artist is known for his reggae hits, such as “Revolution” and “Riding on the Clouds.” Mystic’s style combines classic reggae with hip-hop and rock beats. He’s shared the stage with legendary reggae artists like Ziggy Marley and Steel Pulse.

Tickets for this show are available online.

WHEN: Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.

PRICE: $18.22

Westcott Theater Daniel Donato is performing at Westcott Theater. The Nashville-based singersongwriter is known for his “organic rock aesthetic” and individualized sound.

Donato’s sound is inspired by worldfamous artists, like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. His most recent album “Reflector” showcases Donato’s vigorous song-crafting. Tickets for the show are available online.

WHEN: Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.

ARTIST: $20-$90

The Harrington T.o.n.y, McKenna Fenimore, O.J. Trio and Ania Kapllani are performing this Saturday.

The dress code for the show is formal attire only. Dress your best and listen to a sample of Syracuse’s musicians. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the door or via presale through The Harrington’s Instagram.

WHEN: Feb. 10 at 9 p.m.

PRICE: $7 presale and $10 at the door

The Dollhouse from page 5

Mall Goth, Kind of Kind and Bicycle Inn are taking center stage at The Dollhouse this Saturday. Each of the artists are bringing their own unique alternative sound to the Syracuse house venue. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the door.

WHEN: Feb. 10 at 8:30 p.m.

PRICE: $7

assembly “For students, climate is something that’s such a major issue for our generation,” Greenfield said.

“Some of the works in the exhibition are 100, 200 years old, and it’s not a new phenomenon. We’re just dealing with it coming to a head now.”

For Goode, the process of curating this exhibit changed his perspective by demonstrating how all art can be seen as ecological. He said it became more of a question of how, not if, something could be related to ecological ideas.

“Trying to make decisions about what to include and what not to include in this collection of things that were regarding ecological – at a certain level, the boundary is arbitrary,” Goode said. “(That was) the most eye-opening thing.”

Goode said that right now is a crucial time for climate issues, where the science is no longer being argued. The world needs to adapt to grapple with climate change, and new cultural perspectives are a key component of what needs to happen.

“I’m not under the illusion that this one exhibit in the Syracuse University Art Museum was going to make that change,” Goode said. “But it does something. And I think that that is an important thing for everybody to be doing.” kellyamatlock@icloud.com

“Assembly” features artworks made by Syracuse University faculty and recent alumni that contribute to emergent forms of ecological understanding. joe zhao asst. photo editor

dailyorange.com

february 7, 2024 7

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8 february 7, 2024

dailyorange.com opinion@dailyorange.com

february 7, 2024 9

OPINION

United in chaos

The U.N. was formed to promote cooperation over war but has since struggled to uphold those values CHRISTY JOSHY

T

PEACE OVER WAR

he United Nations’s predecessor was formed in 1920 following World War I and was intended to create a global forum that promoted cooperation over violence and war.

One of the primary motivations for replacing the League of Nations with the U.N. in 1946 was that the League failed to prevent the wars that had ensued after its creation.

The inherent issue with the League was its inability to enforce and guarantee its core values, a trait passed on to its successor.

One of these supposed core values is democracy: a fundamental principle of the United Nations. With 193 member states, one would assume that the U.N. has an equitable political process that ensures every voice is heard and considered equally. Yet the true power of the organization is reserved for the United Nations Security Council, which comprises 15 members with five permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.

Also known as the P5, the council’s permanent members hold veto power and dominate conversations regarding foreign policy. The P5’s responsibility to safeguard international peace and security has repeatedly come second to their own agendas, and their influence is used as a deterrent from their own moral infractions.

These members wield a disproportionate level of authority over the U.N. that hinders the organization’s potential to decenter politics when pursuing international harmony and flaunts the unequal power structures it was built on.

Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and the Israeli government’s barrage of aggressions on Gaza, a resolution to enact a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza came to the Security Council.

Thirteen members voted for the proposal, but all it took was one member state — the U.S. — to veto the resolution.

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Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have taken to the streets to protest the unmistakable horrors facing Gaza.

But even after mass protests, boycotts and calls for a cease-fire, the U.S. dismissed any slim sign of hope for Gaza without any repercussions for doing so.

Like many of the Security Council’s members, for America, the U.N. is just another platform to assert its sovereignty over the world.

The U.S. cannot pride itself on being a moral example or a standard of modern democratic ideals when it has consistently confirmed it is driven by self-interest more than anything else.

As one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and a prevailing force in international politics, the U.S. shares the brunt of the responsibility for the disappointing stagnation of the U.N. and its inability to protect its constituents. Yet, seemingly, it simply perpetuates the very issues the organization is crippling from.

The Human Rights Council, another council of the U.N., reveals a similar hypocrisy. The council, endowed to protect human rights, has failed consistently to enforce humanitarian standards worldwide and hold nations accountable for the infringement of these standards. Members of this council serve three-year terms but have included serial human rights violators in the past.

China, a current member of the council, is one such example.

For years, China has been under global scrutiny for its abuse against the Uyghurs, an ethnic and religious minority in the country. The Human Rights Council requires its member states to be subjected to a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) every 4.5 years to review their human rights history. The process allows states to hear recommendations and concerns, but it is ultimately up to the state to implement changes. However, China has repeatedly “demonstrated its bad faith engagement with the process,” essentially rejecting years of recorded evidence against itself and facing no penalty for doing so.

Herein lies a weakness of the U.N.: its members are given the freedom to engage with the organization in protecting the peace elsewhere, but not when it interferes with their political interests and affairs within their own borders.

Ahna Fleming Claire Samstag Grace “Gray” Reed Kaia Wirth Rosina Boehm Savannah Stewart Aiden Stepansky Justin Girshon Zak Wolf Lars Jendruschewitz

When it comes to enforcing both resolutions and punishments, the U.N. is virtually powerless.

In the weeks following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, the director for the New York Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Craig Mokhiber, resigned from his position. Mokhiber incited the organization’s recurrent failure to execute an actionable response in Gaza as well as previous genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda, Kurdistan and Myanmar as his reason for leaving.

He also claimed the U.S. and the U.K., among other Western nations, were “wholly complicit in the horrific assault” on Gaza for falling short of their duties outlined in the Geneva Convention and for refusing to condemn Israel for its actions.

The U.N.’s authority and strength rely on the fervor of its member states, especially those that are more dominant like the U.S. When its members take a step back, ignore conflicts requiring urgent action and value politics over people, the U.N. becomes nothing more than a performance on the global stage.

As conflicts in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and many others escalate, the U.N. has proven its inability to intervene.

The U.N. repeatedly fails the world but is allowed to take center stage in every major conflict despite its futility during them. If its member states fail to respect its resolutions and laws, the U.N.’s place in the international arena must be replaced by an organization that holds governments and groups accountable for their actions with more than a slap on the wrist.

It is past time we question the need for the U.N. if it cannot uphold its founding principles or maintain the status quo. If the U.N. is not able to collectively defend its vulnerable members from harm, prevent future conf licts and enforce international law to the highest extent, its relevance must be reexamined.

Christy Joshy is a freshman International Relations and Accounting major. She can be reached at cjoshy@syr.edu.

Anish Vasudevan

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10 february 7, 2024

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

women’s basketball

Opponent Preview: Everything to know about Georgia Tech

By Zak Wolf

asst. sports editor

After two straight losses against ranked opponents — then-No. 19 Virginia Tech and then-No. 16 Louisville — Syracuse bounced back with a 75-63 win over Boston College. SU didn’t make it easy on itself, getting into a back-and-forth affair with the Eagles.

At one point, the Orange trailed by six in the third quarter, but Dyaisha Fair took over. Fair scored 25 of her season-high 38 points in the second half as Syracuse pulled away from BC late for its eighth conference win of the season.

Coming off of two straight road games, SU will be back in the JMA Wireless Dome Thursday to face Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets broke a three-game losing streak Sunday, defeating Wake Forest 58-55.

Here’s everything to know about Georgia Tech (14-9, 5-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) ahead of its matchup with No. 23 Syracuse (18-4, 8-3 ACC):

All-time series

Georgia Tech leads 6-3.

Last time they played…

On Jan. 19, 2023, Georgia Tech defeated Syrafrom page 12

williams His commitment to SU seemed to indicate that Boeheim, even in the twilight of his coaching career, could still attract top talent to central New York.

But this wasn’t a big-time recruit to add to an already-stacked roster. SU needed him.

After a surprise Sweet 16 run in 2021, the Orange lost key forwards Alan Griffin, Quincy Guerrier and Marek Dolezaj. Williams was a piece who could lead the next generation of Syracuse stars.

While Williams had a lot of potential, he struggled as a freshman. He was stuck behind Jimmy and Swider on the depth chart and didn’t start a single game. Williams failed to record a double-digit point game until Feb. 26, 2022, against Duke.

His season-best performance didn’t build into any future momentum because of injuries.

The next game after his supposed breakout performance, Williams suffered a lower-body injury versus North Carolina. He was ruled out for the year.

Even as Williams earned a starting spot in his sophomore campaign, he didn’t see an uptick in production. Over 30 games, he averaged just seven points and four rebounds. While he had a 24-point game against Pittsburgh and three double doubles, Williams’ play never tipped the scales for Syracuse.

Then there was the Virginia game. from page 12

freeman middle school and remembers being the youngest among a high-level group featuring current Minnesota Timberwolves guard Trevor Keels and former Penn State forward Myles Dread. He even matched up with Benny Williams — someone Freeman always looked up to — on occasion.

It didn’t take long for Freeman to shine despite the age gap. His father, Dedglan Freeman, recalled a poster dunk so vicious he refused to disclose the recipient’s identity. Local suitors like Georgetown displayed interest after tuning in a couple of times.

Autry’s background as a former Takeover coach granted him access to these workouts. He was assigned to monitor Williams’ improvement, a then-commit to the Orange, during his offseason before college. But after catching a glimpse of Freeman, Autry inquired. He called then-Takeover President Keith Stevens.

“Who is that kid?”

The following summer, Freeman received an invite to Syracuse’s annual Elite Camp — a one-day showcase in August for high school sophomores and juniors. It was his first time on campus. Dedglan has been a fan of the program “since the Billy Owens and Sherman Douglas days.”

Dedglan utilized the trophy cabinets, poster cut-outs and highlight reels covering each wall at the Carmelo ​​ K. Anthony Basketball Center to teach a history lesson. He told Freeman about Dave Bing’s legacy and Hakim Warrick’s championship-salvaging block in 2003.

Surrounded by top talent, Freeman hit timely shots and threw down a handful of dunks. His performance impressed then-head coach Jim Boeheim, who ushered Freeman and Dedglan up to his office after camp. Autry joined them. The group discussed SU’s current state and what they saw in Freeman — how he could be a difference.

cuse 69-57 for its first ACC win of the season after losing seven straight. It was a tight affair throughout and Syracuse led by one heading into the fourth quarter before the Orange fell apart.

Dariauna Lewis hit a jumper to cut Syracuse’s deficit to 54-53, but GT embarked on a 15-4 run to finish the game.

Fair led Syracuse with 17 points, but took just 16 shots and hit just one 3-pointer on four attempts. Teisha Hyman (15) and Lewis (11) were the only other SU players in double figures.

The Yellow Jackets report

Georgia Tech has a very diverse offense, with four players averaging double digits, leading to 69 points per game which ranks 119th in the country, per HerHoopStats. The Yellow Jackets are a solid shooting team with a field goal percentage of 42.5%, putting them in the top 100 in the country. But their 30.4% clip from 3-point range ranks 195th in the nation.

The Yellow Jackets haven’t done much damage in the ACC this season. A threegame winning streak against lower tier teams in the conference was then thwarted in a 38-point loss to Duke on Jan. 14 — GT’s biggest loss this season. Since then, Georgia Tech has won just two of its last six games, In the hours leading up to a Jan. 30, 2023, game against the Cavaliers, Williams wasn’t seen at the JMA Wireless Dome and didn’t play. This came after the forward played a season-low seven minutes against Virginia Tech the week before.

Boeheim said Williams took a personal day. But in the 2023-24 preseason, Williams told syracuse.com that the statement made it seem like he had mental issues and that his mental health was “fine.” Though Williams said he and Boeheim’s relationship was in a good place, he acknowledged that they had “rough patches.”

The whole affair inadvertently heightened a player struggling on the court. Over a nine-game stretch between January and February, Williams averaged four points per game.

“It’s always tough when you’re not playing to your expectations or other people’s. He hasn’t played the way he would have liked to, and I think it’s bothering him,” Boeheim said of Williams on ESPN’s Radio’s Orange Nation last February.

The real shame of this dismissal, though, was that Williams finally seemed to carve out a role with Syracuse. He wasn’t starting, but he became a valuable piece off the bench.

While it was a small sample size, Williams’ play during the first half against Oregon were some of the finest minutes of his college career, helping the Orange complete one of their best games of the season.

Then came the official offer.

“It was my dream school,” Freeman said. “So you can imagine how I felt.”

It was a whirlwind after that. Power Five offers — 18 in total — piled up during Freeman’s sophomore season. Given NCAA recruiting rules, coaches waited patiently until the fall of his junior year before making private contact with him. Sept. 1, 2022, marked the special day.

Once it turned midnight, Freeman’s phone began ringing.

Miami’s Jim Larrañaga was first and Texas’ Rodney Terry quickly followed. Yet, when Autry reached out, the conversation felt different than the rest. Dedglan described it as “like getting a call from an old friend.”

“Ready to come home?” Autry asked.

For the remainder of their talk, Freeman chased that feeling. He yearned for personal “man-to-man” interactions with coaches — not the ones always circling back to basketball, sugar-coated and dripping with compliments.

“Obviously every coach is going to tell you you’re the greatest in the world but (Autry) wasn’t like that,” Freeman said. “He was genuine, upfront and honest. And that’s what I look for in a coach.”

Visits to schools with top-quality facilities and upward trajectories were scheduled: an October weekend in Austin, Texas, to watch a ranked Longhorns football team. Then a photoshoot where he donned white Alabama threads prior to hearing his name echo around a rowdy Coleman Coliseum in January 2023. But the appeal of Syracuse remained firmly etched in the back of Freeman’s mind.

Connection between Freeman and SU frayed slightly across the next few months. The program was busy amid the coaching change from Boeheim to Autry, but Freeman was aware of the shift and arranged a trip for April. Dedglan

losing by double digits on three occasions during that stretch.

In six games against ranked teams this season, Georgia Tech has failed to win each time and has lost by an average of 16 points.

How Syracuse beats Georgia Tech

Syracuse’s over-reliance on Fair at times is going to come back to bite it if the Orange don’t get consistent scoring outside of their star point guard. Fair willed SU to a win against Boston College with her heroics down the stretch. But as good as Fair is, she won’t put up those numbers every night.

Against stronger opponents, the lack of secondary scoring is going to hurt Syracuse, as shown in the Louisville loss. The Orange are going to have to be more physical in the paint after getting outscored 41-11 against Boston College. Freshman Alyssa Latham has gone through a rough patch and was benched for the first time all season against BC in place of Saniaa Wilson.

But Latham’s presence down low has helped SU succeed this season, so getting her back on track will be big against GT.

Stat to know: 16

Georgia Tech averages 16 assists per game, the third-most in the ACC. At times, Syracuse has

struggled this season against teams who move the ball quickly. SU’s defense relies on causing chaos while scrambling, but GT seems to always find open players.

Against Louisville, Syracuse gave up 16 assists on 28 made field goals and allowed 19 versus BC on 27 made shots. This season, SU’s opponents average just under 15 assists per game, which is 304th in the country, according to HerHoopsStats. And against the Yellow Jackets, Syracuse will be tested against another team with strong ball movement.

Player to watch: guard, No. 5

Tonie

Morgan,

In her sophomore campaign, Morgan has increased her scoring total from 9.8 points per game to 15. While being second on the Yellow Jackets in scoring, she leads the team in assists with 5.2 per game, which ranks fourth in the ACC. Morgan finished with a career-high 26 points against Virginia Tech on Jan 25. Similar to Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore — who lit up Syracuse for 29 points earlier this year — Morgan can score at a high clip while setting up her teammates. The key to stopping Georgia Tech’s offense starts with containing Morgan. zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22

Syracuse men’s basketball’s decision to dismiss Benny Williams culminates a controversial three-year tenure at SU. joe zhao asst. photo editor

Fur thermore, judging from how they reacted to the news on social media, Williams’ teammates were upset that he was dismissed. Juda h Mintz, Quadir Copela nd a nd Na heem McLeod commented w ith broken heart emojis under Sy racuse men’s basketball’s announcement on its of f icia l Instag ra m page. Copela nd a nd J.J. Starling went a step further and put a facepalming emoji.

They are undoubtedly sad to see him go. They wanted him to finish out the year. Instead, Williams now finishes his career with 368 points, 236 rebounds and 24 starts (all in 2022-23).

Williams still has a year of eligibility left and could play elsewhere. Yet he, along with his teammates, coaches and fans, all now have to ponder what could have been.

said Syracuse wasn’t the most attractive on the outside. But then he remembered its history and the types of players produced.

“Syracuse has a track record of getting people who look like Donovan to the next level,” Dedglan said. “It just made all the sense in the world.”

And that was Autry’s pitch. He didn’t promise anything but remained adamant he should be the one entrusted to develop Freeman’s skillset. Autry had done it with others by putting them through strict training regimens every day. All he needed was for Freeman to buy in and work hard.

Aside from Autry’s convincing to paint a lofty goal as achievable, the Orange play a brand of basketball akin to what Freeman wanted. He knows SU’s forwards are allowed the freedom to either step out or dribble, drive and finish around the rim. The fast pace is enticing.

Defensively, Freeman’s excited about Autry’s aggressive man-to-man set.

In early May, Freeman committed to Syracuse. Wearing a nervous grin, he unveiled an orange t-shirt and slapped on a branded cap.

“Syracuse basketball is back,” Freeman said in a livestream on 247Sports.

A lot has changed since then. In his final AAU season, Freeman helped lead Team Takeover to the 2023 Nike EYBL Peach Jam title and earned First-Team All-Tournament honors after averaging 12.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. A sudden move to IMG (FL) Academy for his senior season to reach his full basketball potential followed. He put on 20 pounds of muscle, made the preseason watchlist for the Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year Award and secured a McDonald’s All-American spot.

Surprisingly, Freeman hasn’t yet shaped his game around Syracuse’s forwards despite wanting to become them. But everything’s in

place. The measurables are there. He boasts an exceptionally high ceiling and is under the tutelage of a premier basketball mind.

Autry even said Freeman enters as a far more polished product compared to any of his prior wing projects.

“Everything that he needs to get better at, and the things (Syracuse) had success with in the past… They just all align,” Autry said.

henrywobrien1123@gmail.com @realhenryobrien

trschiff@syr.edu @theTylerSchiff

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dismissal Autry said postgame. “Unacceptable, (it) won’t be tolerated.”

In 18 appearances for Syracuse this season, Williams averaged 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in just over 17 minutes a game. His season-high was 15 points versus Pittsburgh in late December.

Williams, a former five-star recruit from Maryland, averaged 1.9 points in freshman year back in the 2021-22 season before improving to 7.2 points per game his sophomore year under thenhead coach Jim Boeheim. In high school, he played at St. Andrew ’s Episcopal School before playing at IMG Academy in Florida his senior year.

The decision to dismiss Williams, a 6-foot-9 forward, means Syracuse loses more depth in the front court. It has already lost Naheem McLeod to a seasonending foot injury and has been relying on Maliq Brown in the center role while Peter Carey and Mounir Hima have occasionally entered games. colebambini@gmail.com @ColeBambini

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women’s basketball

Syracuse must establish 3-point shooting outside of Fair

By Justin Girshon asst. sports editor

When opposing teams play Syracuse, they know they need to limit Dyaisha Fair. The fifth all-time leading scorer in Division I history is one of the most valuable players in D-I this season. According to HerHoopStats, Fair’s 29.8 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is in the 98th percentile while her 4.1 Win Shares rank in the 100th percentile.

“Syracuse is going to Fair. You all know it and you still can’t stop her,” said Louisville head coach Jeff Walz on Feb. 1 after it defeated SU 81-69.

What makes Fair elite is her 3-point shooting, ranking third in the country in makes (3.7) and attempts (9.4). Fair is efficient, knocking down 39.1% of her attempts, but the rest of SU’s squad isn’t up to par. SU’s 32.8% 3-point percentage ranks 103rd nationally, though outside of Fair, the Orange shoot 28.1% from deep.

In its 75-62 loss versus Virginia Tech on Jan. 28, Syracuse’s 3-point deficiency was on full display.

The Hokies, who entered the contest with the 21st-best 3-point percentage in the country, dominated from behind the arc. VT shot 12-for29 from distance while Syracuse went 5-for-22 (22.7%) from 3, its second-worst percentage of the season. Fair had SU’s lone make from deep as Virginia Tech led 23-9.

But in the second frame, Syracuse’s offense looked the best it had all game. Fair nailed her second 3 before Georgia Woolley and Alaina Rice connected on mid-range jumpers for a 7-0 run.

Later in the quarter, Woolley, who was shooting just 23.6% entering the game, nailed triples on back-to-back possessions, bringing Virginia Tech’s lead down to 32-24. This opened the interior for the Orange, who cut their halftime deficit to 36-32.

Though Syracuse played its best quarter before halftime, SU’s lackadaisical play returned in the second half. The Orange cut VT’s lead down to one with 7:05 left in the third quarter, but Alyssa Latham, Fair and Woolley missed

dyaisha fair makes the third-most 3s per game in Division I, but SU’s secondary scorers shoot 28.1% from distance.

joe zhao asst. photo editor

3s on three of their next four possessions. The Hokies then went on a 7-0 run, growing their lead to 42-35.

For the rest of the third, Syracuse didn’t even attempt a 3-pointer as it trailed by eight.

Pounding the ball inside helped SU get within two possessions of the Hokies, but a 1-for-6 effort from 3 in the final period broke Syracuse’s sixgame winning streak.

Fair was a respectable 3-for-8 from 3, but the rest of the team shot 2-for-14. Woolley was the only player outside of Fair to make a 3.

Heading into the KFC Yum! Center, Felisha Legette-Jack’s team needed to learn its

3-point lesson against then-No. 16 Louisville.

SU improved, making five more 3s than the Cardinals, but it wasn’t enough falling 81-69.

Syracuse commanded a 21-14 lead after the first quarter, but went 1-for-7 from range in the second quarter.

Woolley and Rice each connected on triples midway through the third, but after Rice missed a wide-open look in the left corner, Louisville scored six straight as it headed into the fourth quarter leading by 13.

Throughout the final frame, Fair made three of her game-high four 3-pointers. It was too little too late, as SU fell by double digits for the second

straight game. Woolley and Rice each nailed two 3s, but with freshman Sophie Burrows going 0-for-3 from distance, the Orange shot 4-for-12 from distance outside of Fair.

If players outside of Fair get hot from beyond the arc, Syracuse’s offense could be elite. Woolley, despite her 26.2% clip from 3, has proven capable of being a differencemaker with at least three triples in three games.

Meanwhile, Rice, a fifth-year player, is shooting a career-best 36.8% from 3, providing the Orange a huge lift offensively.

Beyond Fair, Woolley and Rice, the Orange have struggled to generate much success from 3.

Burrows, a knockdown shooter from Australia, has struggled mightily in her first collegiate season. Despite some flashes this season, the freshman is averaging 4.6 points per game while shooting 21.9% from 3.

Latham is shooting a team-best 40.0% from 3, but on just 15 attempts. If SU’s coaching staff believes in Latham as a shooter, putting her and Fair in the pick-androll could unlock the freshman’s ability from beyond the arc.

The problem for Syracuse is until its secondary scorers start establishing themselves as threats from beyond the arc, teams will continue to apply maximum pressure to Fair in an attempt to slow her down.

By daring the Orange to beat them from deep, opposing teams do a better job of surrounding the paint to limit what SU does best — get offensive rebounds to create second-chance opportunities — while exploiting a weakness.

“We know (Fair is) not going to pass it and if she does it’s okay, I’d rather have someone else try to make a shot,” Walz said.

Until Syracuse proves it can consistently be a threat from distance outside of Fair, its upside is limited and will prevent it from making deep ACC and NCAA Tournament runs. justingirshon@gmail.com @JustinGirshon

ice hockey

D’Arcy’s multi-positional success spurred development at SU

By Alex Burstein staff writer

Just four months before playing in a tournament against different Ontario and Quebec junior teams in December 2021, Maya D’Arcy switched to defense after three years as a forward with the Cambridge Rivulettes.

D’Arcy had not consistently played defense since eighth grade, but she shined at the competition, taking home defenseman of the tournament.

“It was a halfway through the season kind of thing,” Rivulettes head coach John Robinson said. “(It) wasn’t even like she had a full year (at defense).”

She had to elevate her game a bit more and push a little harder against the boys and she defended well.

Ryan D’Arcy father

In her second year at SU, D’Arcy has bounced around position groups. The sophomore was recruited to SU as a defenseman in 2019. But when Syracuse head coach Britni Smith called her number in November to play a few games at forward, D’Arcy comfortably transitioned back to her old spot on the line.

“It’s very helpful to have someone who understands both positions and can jump in all situations so she’s done a great job sticking with it,” Smith said.

D’Arcy’s position flexibility stems from her strong skating which she’s displayed since she joined the Cambridge Roadrunners at seven years old, said D’Arcy’s former coach Shawn Maltby.

While it was one of D’Arcy’s first times playing competitive hockey, she’d always been around the sport. D’Arcy’s family is a “well known hockey family,” according to Robinson.

Her grandfather, Frank, played professionally in Europe. D’Arcy’s father, Ryan, followed Frank’s footsteps, playing at Western Michigan University and then in the Swiss Pro League for a season. He then turned to coaching, spending time at University of Waterloo and with the Cambridge Winter Hawks where D’Arcy watched from afar. “(My dad) and my grandfather both really helped,” D’Arcy said. “They’re the ones who got us into hockey, waking us up every morning when we were crying (that we) didn’t want to get out of bed.

But it’s really what helped me and got me here today.”

Even today, Ryan and Frank both still offer pointers to D’Arcy when they’re able to attend her games at Syracuse. Ryan noted that D’Arcy’s speed on the ice was similar to his when he played. That speed led to Matlby keeping D’Arcy on defense most of the time..

After two seasons with the Roadrunners, D’Arcy also honed her skills playing for the Cambridge Hawks AAA, a boys team, starting at nine years old and until she was 12 “I think it was a good decision because she had to elevate her game a bit more and push a little harder against the boys and she defended well,” Ryan said.

After a return to the Roadrunners in 2016, D’Arcy began garnering attention at the defensive position. Maltby said her hockey IQ as a middle schooler was similar to that of a 17 or 18 year old.

With the Rivulettes, D’Arcy almost started out on the U-18 circuit, but Robinson saw D’Arcy thrive against top level competition and placed her on the junior team — the youngest player to

maya d’arcy’s success at different positions at Syracuse stems from advanced skating skills early on in her hockey career.

jack henry staff photographer

ever join the squad. Robinson noticed the same “high level skating” that always set D’Arcy apart.

“It’s probably the thing that evaluators, scouts, (and) recruiters look at first and foremost,” Robinson said. “It’s just such a valuable asset to have at the top of your skills chart.”

One of those recruiters hailed from Syracuse. The Orange recruited D’Arcy as a defenseman, but she committed to Syracuse in May 2019 as a forward. Robinson said D’Arcy knew she’d go back to defense at SU, so her senior year

of high school she moved back once again.

In two seasons with Syracuse, D’Arcy has been a mainstay on the blue line. Despite being a defenseman, D’Arcy has registered a goal and 11 assists with the Orange.

“We’ve had her up front, we’ve had her play (defense),” Smith said. “She’s on powerplay, she’s on penalty kill so she’s someone that has really been able to do whatever is asked of her play wherever is asked of her.” asburste@syr.edu

scribble

Happy Fettuccine Alfredo Day! cooper andrews sports editor

12 february 7, 2024

SPORTS

COMING HOME

donovan freeman enrolls at SU next season as a McDonald’s All-American and the program’s highest-ranked incoming freshman since 2012.

courtesy of d’nia freeman

Donovan Freeman enrolls at SU next season as the program’s highest-ranked incoming freshman since 2012

By Tyler Schiff

senior staff writer

T

he framework for Syracuse’s marquee forward position has undergone steady reconfiguration.

Some qualities are evergreen. Others are obsolete.

Keep the tall stature, freakish wingspan and savvy court vision, but embrace the gradual development from basic inside presence to crafty three-level scorer.

A stroll through the program’s crowded room of frontcourt stars illustrates this well. The sharpshooting Louis Orr and Leo Rautins were soon followed by a wave of bullish yet athletic post players in Rony Seikaly, Derrick Coleman and John Wallace. Then, the arrival of versatile point-forwards — a unique archetype equipped to set up a team’s offense while being skilled enough to have one structured around them.

Wesley Johnson, Jerami Grant and Oshae Brissett come to mind. Go ahead and loop Carmelo Anthony in there, too.

This latest mold encapsulates Donovan Freeman, a top-20 recruit in the 2024 class, perfectly. He enrolls at Syracuse next season as a McDonald’s All-American and Nike EYBL Peach Jam champion, becoming the Orange’s highest-ranked incoming freshman since DaJuan Coleman in 2012. The

6-foot-9, five-star forward signed with SU because of an unwavering trust in head coach Adrian Autry and his staff to sculpt him into a program great.

One of high school basketball’s quickest risers, Freeman possesses unique two-way ability. His mid-range jumper is pure but the talent to guard every position could be even more impressive.

His commitment presents an opportunity for Syracuse to erase an imminent three-year absence from the NCAA Tournament.

“I can do anything on the floor,” Freeman said. “Historically, that’s what Syracuse’s forwards do. I’ll come in and find any way to become a winning player.”

Freeman’s inconsistencies with the blueprint of a traditional, one-dimensional power forward excited Autry. Freeman’s wiry base and skinny arms seemed off-putting. So did his inconsistency in ball-handling and shooting range, but it could all be fine-tuned. Word of his potential traveled during the pandemic after he excelled playing up at open runs with Team Takeover — a regional AAU powerhouse based in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Most sessions were private. The program allowed recordings for tape and highlight reel purposes and livestreamed its practices for college coaches. Freeman had just finished see freeman page 10

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men’s basketball

Benny Williams never panned out HENRY O’BRIEN

SPORTS IS CINEMA Benny Williams’ Syracuse men’s basketball career began with ample promise. Three years later, though, SU’s decision to dismiss him from the program marked the culmination of a disappointing tenure.

Williams first arrived at Syracuse in 2021 as a five-star prospect destined to lead the program once-staples like Cole Swider and Buddy Boeheim graduated. But Williams barely scratched out a spot in the starting lineup over his first two seasons, instead having a “combustible” relationship with Jim Boeheim. This season, under new head coach Adrian Autry, Williams was at the center of multiple contentious incidents, which eventually led to his dismissal.

This wasn’t Williams stepping away from the team. He was let go. Autry and his staff were clearly at a breaking point with the forward.

The move does not come lightly. The Orange now only have three forwards on the active roster — Maliq Brown, Chris Bell and Chaz Owens. The depth will be significantly hindered without his size. But when it came to Williams, Autry and his fellow decision makers didn’t hesitate to lay down the law.

Ninety minutes before SU’s second exhibition game against College of Saint Rose, SU Athletics announced Williams was suspended for a “violation of team rules.” The suspension lasted three games — one exhibition game and the first two regular games. When asked why Williams didn’t play a single minute against Cornell, Autry said he “wanted to play the guys that could help us.”

Following the Orange’s loss to Gonzaga in Hawaii, Autry didn’t offer a comment on why he didn’t give Williams any playing time. As he finished saying “no comment,” Autry looked down and slightly shook his head in disappointment.

Syracuse’s 99-70 loss to Wake Forest on Feb. 3 will go down as Williams’ final game with the program. He scored seven points and tallied eight rebounds, but also received a technical foul after a scrum with a Demon Deacons player near the end of the first half.

Williams threw the ball away and immediately received the tech. He got subbed out, and as he walked back to the end of the bench, he bumped into Autry.

To further complicate matters, Williams declined to take part in the handshake line.

Assistant coach Alan Griffin tried to grab Williams from going into the tunnel, but Williams was gone.

Postgame, Autry apologized to Syracuse fans and the university for his team’s performance and called the effort “unacceptable.” Autry didn’t specifically mention Williams — or anyone for that matter — in the press conference. But during the Atlantic Coast Conference Coaches Call on Feb. 5, Autry doubled down on his team playing together regardless of who was out there.

“You’re gonna fight. You’re gonna get back (on defense),” Autry said. “...I’m gonna continually watch that. So if I gotta play walk-ons, whoever I gotta play to play the way I need you to play, then that’s what’s gonna happen.”

We don’t know if Williams’ technical foul and walk back to the bench served as his last straw, but it was just one more ugly moment in a once-promising career.

Williams came to Syracuse after four years in Maryland high school basketball and an extra year at IMG Academy. During his high school career, he went from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-8 and was ranked No. 22 in Rivals’ top 150 2021 recruits list.

In the ultimate ironic twist, Williams jumped on Syracuse’s radar because of Autry. According to a syracuse.com story from 2020, the then-associate head coach was one of the first coaches among any Power Six school to scout Williams. see williams page 10