Oct. 6, 2016

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N • Speaking up

dailyorange.com

P • Shine on

About 200 Syracuse University community members participated in a die-in on the University Place promenade on Wednesday ​to protest police brutality.

Page 3

Renovations on the downtown Hotel Syracuse brought the its 90-year history back to life, and tours of the space will give the public a glimpse of it.

Page 11

S • Off the bench

Jonathan Hagman is making the most of his sophomore season after spending most of his freshman season on the bench.

He’s been a crucial contributor.

Page 20

DREAM

CATCHER Amba Etta-Tawo extended his football career while the ones around him ended Text by Chris Libonati

Photo by Bryan Cereijo

asst. sports editor

staff photographer

W

ith a wide, toothy grin, Amba Etta-Tawo walked up to cameras and recorders. The camera lights flicked on, thrusting him into the spotlight he’s constantly been in at Syracuse.

He had completed the best game for an SU wide receiver in the program’s history the contest prior, racking up 270 yards and becoming the nation’s leading receiver in the process. He turned, making eye contact and giving individual reporters his attention.

What’s the past week been like for you?

With all this success coming, is that kind of challenging a little bit? How do you make sure you don’t get too high?

Everyone knows you’re in the national rankings. How does it feel?

He paused, likely knowing his real answer wouldn’t fit into a 30-second sound bite. He’d have to parse out his father leaving the United States, one brother’s football career cut short, another brother’s football career never starting and one of his first mentors being killed before he had graduated high school.

Amba is 840 yards into his senior season — a last shot at a football dream. He’s watched so many other careers be cut short. After four disappointing seasons at Maryland, Amba transferred to Syracuse out of desperation and hope.

The move propelled him to one of the most prolific seasons so far. If he keeps pace, he’ll be just the second player to cross the 2,000-receiving-yard barrier in NCAA history. He’ll likely be a contender for the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s best receiver. He’ll do what so many of his mentors see ETTA-TAWO page 16

Ex-SU athlete sues school, NCAA SU reveals little on Title IX investigation

By Alexa Torrens

development editor

Syracuse University is being sued in a class action suit that claims the university knew about the risks of traumatic brain injuries in football players and neglected to distribute the information to and properly care for its student athletes prior to 2010.

Former SU football player Marcus Clayton is the plaintiff in the

lawsuit, which involves six causes of action that allege SU, the American Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association failed to meaningfully warn and protect student athletes, including football players, against the dangerous effects of traumatic brain injuries, according to the complaint.

The SU football team, now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, was until 2013 a member of the old Big East Conference,

which is now the AAC. The suit is based in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana because the NCAA is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and thus many of the events giving rise to the claims in the complaint were based in Indianapolis. Clayton has demanded a trial by jury for all issues that are triable, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges the

see lawsuit page 4

By Michael Burke asst. news editor

Syracuse University declined to comment on any details or specifics of the federal investigation into its handling of a sexual assault case on Wednesday as it provided its first public statement about the investigation.

The investigation was opened by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in June after a student filed a Title IX complaint with the office in May, alleging SU failed to “respond promptly or equitably” to a report of assault.

The Daily Orange reported last month that the investigation see title

ix page 8

2 oct. 6, 2016

dailyorange.com

THIRSTY thursday | 1911 original hard cider

Local hard cider leaves fruity, crisp aftertaste

By Monique Iuster staff writer

There’s a chill in the air, meaning it’s finally time to celebrate one of fall’s best traditions: apple picking. Fresh apple pies, apple cider doughnuts and warm cobblers are the desserts of the season. If you head to Beak and Skiff Apple Orchard, just 15 miles from the Syracuse University campus, you can get your hands on these fall-themed desserts, and of course, local hard cider.

This week, I decided to try out Beak and Skiff’s Original 1911 Hard Cider, which is brewed right across the street from the Beak and Skiff Orchard in Marietta, NY. At both the orchard and at local Syracuse bars, the cider is available on tap, but I decided to pick up a bottle at the supermarket.

The drink poured crystal clear with a pale yellow color, much lighter than other, bigger-brand ciders.

There was little to no head, but a few small bubbles floated up the glass, indicating a light carbonation.

The cider was as light on the nose as it was in the glass. As expected, I immediately noticed the fresh zesty apple scent wafting up from the

bottle, an enticing scent followed by pear and a hint of vanilla.

After taking a small sip, I noted the cider was clean and refreshing with a light acidity. While ciders can often be too thick and sweet — sometimes reminding me of a chemically made, green apple candy flavor — this cider perfectly captured the tartness of fresh-picked fruit.

The cider has a medium body. It’s not too sweet nor too dry, almost reminding me of sweet champagne, with a smooth apple finish.

If you’re looking for a dark and heavy cider, Original 1911 Hard Cider probably shouldn’t be your pick; however for a light drink with the perfect balance of sweet and tart, I highly recommend this brand.

Don’t want to drive all the way out to the orchard to get a taste?

Keep an eye out for the drink in supermarkets. The cider is packaged in a classic green bottle, with a tan and red 1911 logo on the label.

Original 1911 Hard Cider is 5.5 percent alcohol and sells for about $12 for a six-pack. Other 1911 cider flavors include: Raspberry, Ginger, Blueberry, Grapefruit and Hopped IPC Hard Cider. mciuster@syr.edu

t o day ’ s w e at h e r

a.m.

noon hi 76° lo 50°

p.m.

cor r ection In a Sept. 20 article titled “College set to launch master’s program,” the title of the joint degree offered

by SUNY Upstate Medical University and SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs was misstated. The degree is a Master of Public Health (MPH). The Daily Orange regrets this error.

c on tac t Editor@dailyorange.com News@dailyorange.com

EDITORIAL 315 443 9798

BUSINESS 315 443 2315 Sports@dailyorange.com GENERAL FAX Opinion@dailyorange.com 315 443 3689 Photo@dailyorange.com ADVERTISING 315 443 9794 Ads@dailyorange.com Pulp@dailyorange.com

You don’t have to look far to find 1911 Original Hard Cider; the fruity, crisp drink is available both in local supermarkets and at the Beak and Skiff Orchard. frankie prijatel senior staff photographer

The Daily Orange is published weekdays during the Syracuse University academic year by The Daily Orange Corp., 744 Ostrom Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210. All contents Copyright 2016 by The Daily Orange Corp. and may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Orange is distributed on and around campus with the first two copies complimentary. Each additional copy costs $1. The Daily Orange is in no way a subsidy or associated with Syracuse University.

All contents © 2016 The Daily Orange Corporation

N

Emergency planning DPS at SU is planning for the worst by providing information on what to do in case there is an active shooter on campus.

See dailyorange.com

NEWS

@universityunion Tickets to see Sam Feldt are on sale at the Schine box office now! They’re almost sold out​—​ get yours soon!

Talking it out The Counseling Center is now offering various types of therapy groups. Some are based on topics of race, gender and sexuality.​ See dailyorange.com

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 6, 2016 • PAG E 3

crime

Students shot by BB gun

By Satoshi Sugiyama asst. news editor

Members of the Syracuse University community lay on the promenade to raise awareness of cases in which people of color have been killed by law enforcement officials. The demonstration stretched from the Schine Student Center to Bird Library. sam ogozalek staff writer

SU community stages die-in on promenade

By Stacy Fernandez asst. news editor

About 200 bodies were sprawled out on the University Place promenade, seemingly dead.

These 200-some Syracuse University community members gathered for a die-in on Wednesday at noon. The protest was a visual demonstration of black and brown bodies being taken at the hands of law enforcement using unnecessary force.

Minutes before 12:30 p.m. participants began filing outside of the Schine Student Center and into three lines — which stretched from the front of Schine to E.S. Bird Library. Most participants held up white signs that contrasted against their mostly-black attire. The signs either had the name and age of somebody who had been killed at the hands of

police, or the reason given of why they had been killed.

Among the names were Trayvon Martin, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and Freddie Gray.

Some of the reasons for their deaths were written on the signs: “I was murdered after a routine traffic stop” and “I was shot walking home from the corner store.”

201

The number of black people killed as a result of police brutality since the start of 2016 source: the guardian

People at the front of the lines held up a banner with the words: “201.

HOW MANY MORE?” The banner background was made up of the names of the 201 black and brown people who have been killed at the hands of police brutality as of the day

before, according to The Guardian.

As participants in the die-in prepared to start the demonstration, bystanders began to stop along the promenade to watch.

At exactly 12:30 p.m. someone at the very end of the line yelled, “201.”

At that moment all of the participants silently laid down on the promenade and closed their eyes.

Some were sprawled out, others laid straight on their back and a few were on their stomachs with their backs exposed to the sky.

For 10 minutes the protestors lay as still as they could while the sun beat down on their bodies and the promenade bricks warmed up against their skin. Ten minutes to represent that only 10 of the 102 cases in 2015 involving an unarmed black person being killed by police resulted in an officer or officers being charged with a crime.

Hundreds of SU community

members gathered around the promenade to watch the protest.

Those walking on or near the promenade slowed down to take pictures or to even stop and read the signs.

A few passersby could be heard asking, “What is this?”

At 12:40 p.m. somebody from the end of the line yelled, “Rise.”

Slowly from the end of the line to the front a ripple of people rose from their positions on the ground.

One of the participants began to sing “Wade in the Water,” a popular Negro spiritual song used to help slaves on the road to freedom.

They repeated the verse: “Wade in the water, Wade in the water, Children, Wade in the water God’s gonna trouble the water,” continually getting louder and louder.

As people put their fists in the air — a symbol of solidarity — they see die-in page 8

Syracuse University students were struck by what appeared to be BBs from a BB gun fired from a moving vehicle on Tuesday night, police said. The nature of the incident was similar to two other cases that took place in September.

In Tuesday’s incident, a student reported hearing what he thought to be a BB gun being shot as a darkcolored SUV with four passengers drove by him on the 1000 block of Madison Street around 10 p.m., according to a Department of Public Safety notice released Wednesday.

There were two similar cases reported in September: one on the 300 block of Euclid Avenue on Sept.

11 around 11:30 p.m. and another on the 400 block of Ostrom Avenue on Sept. 25 around 12:30 a.m., according to the release. In both cases, students reported seeing a dark-colored, four-door sedan with two passengers driving slowly in the areas.

The conditions of the students were not specified in the DPS notice.

DPS gave descriptions of the suspects as men of unknown ages in a four-door vehicle. ssugiyam@syr.edu

news to know Here is a round-up of the biggest news stories happening in the world.

U.S.

HURRICANE MATTHEW A powerful Hurricane Matthew is about to slam Florida, Georgina and the Carolinas and almost 2 million residents along the coast were told to evacuate on Wednesday.

Matthew, a category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds, is expected to approach the Atlantic Coast in Florida by Thursday evening. source: associated press

WORLD

REIGNING IN Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is expected to take over departing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. source: cnn

A student silently performed a dance in the background of the diein for its entire duration. sam ogozalek staff writer

A banner with the names of 201 people killed by police was displayed on the promenade. liam sheehan staff photographer

POSITION CHANGED Poland’s ruling political party has reversed its original proposition to outlaw abortion altogether. The announcement came after mass demonstrations broke out in response to the propoposal. source: npr

4 oct. 6, 2016

dailyorange.com news@dailyorange.com

from page 1

lawsuit defendants were aware for decades of the danger of traumatic brain injuries prior to April 2010, when the NCAA passed legislation that required its member institutions, including SU, to have a Concussion Management Plan in place for all sports, according to the complaint.

From the launch of SU’s football program to at least 2010, according to the complaint, “there were no adequate concussion management protocols or policies in place to address and treat concussions sustained by studentathletes during practice and in games.”

“We consider the health and welfare of our students, including our studentathletes, extremely important,” said Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs at SU, in a statement. “With this in mind, Syracuse University and Syracuse Athletics will continue to provide comprehensive care to our students. Given that this matter involves pending litigation, we are not able to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit at this time.”

Clayton, the plaintiff, played football at SU from 2003 to 2005 as a receiver, kick returner and cornerback. Clayton claimed he suffered from several concussions while playing football at SU and at one point, while playing against the University of Miami, was hit so hard that he “became disoriented and experienced difficulty walking,” according to the complaint.

Because SU did not implement “any adequate return to play guidelines,” according to the complaint, “every time Clayton suffered a concussive or sub-concussive hit, he would quickly be returned to the field of play.”

Eleven years after his time playing

football at SU ended, Clayton suffers from memory issues, headaches, mood swings, depression “and other debilitating issues,” according to the complaint.

The suit is class action because it involves, along with Clayton, a class that includes “all individuals who participated in Syracuse’s varsity football program between 1952 and 2010,” according to the complaint. The suit also involves an AAC subclass, which includes “all individuals who participated in Syracuse’s varsity football program between 1991 and 2010,” according to the complaint.

The suit comprises six causes of action. The first five causes are rooted in the allegation that SU, the AAC and the NCAA were aware of the risks associated with traumatic brain injury and how to treat it but were either “willfully blind to” this information, fraudulently concealed it or failed to disclose and/or recognize it, according to the complaint.

In addition, the complaint alleges that SU in particular breached its duty to Clayton by “actively teaching and encouraging Syracuse football players to inflict head injuries on themselves and others as an effective way to play football.”

The sixth cause of action is unjust enrichment against SU, the AAC and the NCAA. This cause of action claims the defendants should not be able to keep the profits they made at the expense of Clayton and the class “while refusing to pay for medical expenses incurred as a result of their unlawful actions or otherwise failing to prevent such injuries,” according to the complaint.

Clayton is seeking restoration of the money the defendants “have unjustly received as a result of their conduct alleged herein,” according to the complaint. atorrens@syr.edu

beyond the hill

every thursday in news

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 6, 2016

•

PAGE 5

AMIR HAKIMI, co-founder of Furnish The Homeless, provides matresses to the Bruin Shelter to house up to nine college students. The shelter, which is run by students, will open Oct. 16 and will begin with eight vacancies. The shelter is the second student-run shelter in the United States.

courtesy of bruin shelter

FINDING A HOME UCLA students combat homelessness by opening a shelter for college students

By Kennedy Rose staff writer

S

tudents at the University of California, Los Angeles are set to open a homeless shelter for local students this fall.

Bruin Shelter, a nonprofit shelter, will house eight students starting Oct. 16. According to a survey conducted by FAFSA, more than 58,000 college students indicated that they were homeless in some way in 2012.

The shelter can house nine students, but one student found permanent housing prior to opening, said Bruin Shelter’s media director Rebecca Sarvady said. Bruin Shelter is the second student-run homeless shelter in the United States, following the Y2Y homeless shelter started by students at Harvard University.

Sarvady said Bruin Shelter was directly

inspired by the Y2Y shelter.

Imesh Samarakoon, the internal vice president, said it was due to Harvard’s pioneering work that they were able to do this.

“We were fascinated by the fact that they were able to pull it off and surprised that no other university really had any successes after that,” Samarakoon said. “We were surprised that there weren’t homeless shelters in every college campus.”

The primary goal of Bruin Shelter is to get students their degrees and to get them out of homelessness, Samarakoon said.

“We’re trying to bring awareness to homelessness on college campuses because I know it’s not something people pay attention to or even realize is a major problem,” Samarakoon said.

Bruin Shelter is a non-gender-specific housing facility, Sarvady said. Residents

of the shelter are housed in two separate rooms, one room for residents who identify as male and the other for residents who identify as female, Samarakoon said.

Sarvady said the shelter also has a recreational room with a TV and a quiet space where residents can study. Residents can take advantage of a larger recreational room as well.

Residents of Bruin Shelter have access to a bed every night, two meals per day, medical and mental health checkups and career counseling, Sarvady said. Residents are allowed to stay for however long they need to during the six-month season.

Reverend Eric Shafer, a board member for the shelter and senior pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California, said the impact on the surrounding neighborhood will be “negligible,” considering that the shelter is

not the kind to have a line wrapping around the block with people waiting to get in every day.

“We have a chance here to make an impact far beyond the west side of Los Angeles and UCLA and Santa Monica College by setting an example that can be duplicated across the country,” he said.

The shelter is available to students in the Los Angeles area, but the shelter did outreach at UCLA, Santa Monica College and Loyola Marymount University, Sarvady said.

Samarakoon said if this first season goes well, he and other officials will consider expanding the shelter. The shelter is grateful for the help it’s received from Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, he said but they hope to move the shelter to a building in Westwood, an area close to UCLA. krose100@syr.edu

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It’s On Us Week of Action to take place on SU campus

By Stacy Fernandez asst. news editor

The second annual It’s On Us National Week of Action will have a greater focus on increasing student involvement and initiatives for years to come.

The week of awareness at Syracuse University will be held across the campus from Oct. 10 to Oct. 14.

It’s On Us is a national campaign and cultural movement that aims to shift how the United States thinks about sexual assault. It was developed by the Center for American Progress in conjunction with the White House. SU is among its university partners.

WHAT IS IT’S ON US? A national awareness campaign working toward putting an end to sexual assault on college campuses. The campaign was launched on Sept. 19, 2014 by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. It was developed by the Center for American Progress in partnership with the White House. Syracuse University is among its university partners.

Samantha Skaller, a senior viola performance and music history and cultures double major at SU, is spearheading the week with support from the Office of Health Promotion. Last year she was one of the 17 members on the national It’s On Us Student Advisory Committee. She is now the northeast regional leader for the It’s On Us campaign.

“Last year was more about awareness,” Skaller said. “… The goal this year is to create institutional awareness about this and institutional memory, but also creating more preventative measures.”

Michelle Goode, a health promotion specialist in the Office of Health Promotion, said the week of action is important because people are often fearful to talk about these issues and it is important for everyone to know that there are offices, resources and people available to provide them with support.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday SU students will be tabling at the Ernie Davis Dining Center, Sadler Dining Center and the Schine Student Center, respectively. A large portion of the tabling will be done in dining halls in an effort to get more first- and second-year students involved and aware of what is going on, Skaller said.

A campus-wide office decorating contest will kick off on Monday, and SU community participants are asked to primarily use the colors teal and purple. The color teal represents sexual assault awareness and the color purple is for domestic violence awareness.

“Although It’s On Us really focuses on sexual violence, all interpersonal violence is really connected,” Skaller said.

The contest is a way to get faculty, staff and administrators more involved in student activism on campus. Judging for the contest will happen throughout the week and the results will be announced Friday. Skaller said she wants faculty and staff to know they have a place within the campaign and their input is always appreciated and wanted.

Skaller added that university faculty,

staff and administrators are the ones who are on campus beyond the four years of a student and it is important that they are aware of these issues, get informed on the related processes and show their support for further awareness so students know their classrooms and offices are a safe and inclusive spaces.

Teal Tuesday and Music With a Bystander Message will be held on Oct. 11. Members of the SU community are encouraged to wear teal on Tuesday to show their support for sexual assault survivors. As the regional leader for the northeast, Skaller has spread Teal Tuesday to as many campuses in the northeast as possible.

Music With a Bystander Message is a workshop with an education session followed by a creative songwriting process.

The songs will be used as a way to create dialogue about sexual assault awareness and bystander intervention.

“The best part about that is this group of people who are coming to do this workshop are going to all 50 states in the next year and want to highlight one music video from each state,” Skaller said. “And they chose Syracuse University to represent New York state.”

Aside from the week’s events, Skaller will also be doing a lot of social media campaigns. Public service announcements created by different student organizations and university departments will be released throughout the week.

“I like that there are different approaches,” Goode said. “I think that is where it becomes really effective because the more different groups that we can reach … then the more we’re going to get our messaging out there.”

Since Skaller is a senior and she will be graduating in May 2017, she has been giving It’s On Us presentations to about 35 student organizations to empower younger students to take on the initiative for next year.

The goal this year is to create institutional awareness about this and institutional memory, but also creating more preventative measures.

Samantha Skaller northeast regional leader for it’s on us campaign

Skaller said she hopes the university will continue to spread awareness about sexual assault prevention outside of the week of action. She wants first-year students at SU to be exposed to information and resources about consent, healthy relationships and preventative action to instill an institutional memory.

“Everyone is capable of creating this type of change but it needs to be a priority,” Skaller said. “… There is still so much work that needs to be done to prevent sexual violence at Syracuse University and I hope eventually that we can work to eliminate it altogether.” sfern100@syr.edu @StacyFernandezB

O

Up for debate Read Conservative and Liberal columnists as they go head-tohead for the second presidential debate on Sunday.

See Monday’s paper

OPINION

dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 6, 2016 • PAG E 7

liberal

Third-party candidates still not viable options for protest voters

I

n this divisive presidential election, many voters reject the idea of having to settle for the lesser of two evils. With many of them being first-time voters, these rebels see Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as disappointing options and have turned to third-party candidates as an alternative.

Voters have never elected a president from a modern day third party and this year likely won’t be any different. Still, the two biggest names on the third-party roster — Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein — have received more than enough support to sway the outcome of the election.

Many see voting for a third-party candidate as a “protest vote” — a way to cast a vote without voting for a major candidate. But protest votes like these often gloss over the specific policies and positions of minor-party candidates.

Further examining the platforms of the Libertarian and Green party candidates makes it clear

COLE JERMYN OUT OF LEFT FIELD

why they have struggled to garner broader support. Both Stein and Johnson have put forward policy positions seemingly out of touch with the nation as a whole, which undecided voters should understand before casting a vote for either of these individuals.

Jill Stein, currently polling in the low single digits, represents the ultra-liberal end of the electorate.

Her platform mirrors that of Bernie Sanders, including universal healthcare and breaking up large banks. Because of this, Stein has positioned herself to attract many dissatisfied Sanders supporters.

Among other things, Stein supports reestablishing a national bank — see Alexander Hamilton’s Bank of the U.S. — to cover all mortgages, 100 percent tuition-free college with debt forgiveness and the guarantee of a living wage for all. These proposals would be funded by a

more than 50 percent reduction in the U.S. military budget along with the closure of every one of the more than 700 U.S. military bases on foreign soil. Stein would also raise taxes on the rich, while cutting taxes on the lower and middle class.

If elected, Stein would have to work with an American electorate that is on average more moderate on many of the above issues and with a Congress that will likely contain no members of her own party.

Across the aisle, Johnson has been polling just under 10 percent on average, which are the highest totals for a third-party candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. Johnson’s platform espouses many of the standard principles of center-right politicians, such as a guarantee of a 100 percent balanced budget, decreasing regulation to increase job growth, and the utmost support for our veterans.

Beyond a focus on a small federal government and increased personal freedoms, a closer look

at the Libertarian party platform shows the following: It opposes the federal income tax and would abolish the Internal Revenue Service. It opposes the Department of Education and Social Security and would do away with both. And it doesn’t condone government regulation or subsidies for any energy sources or other means of addressing environmental damage.

In addition to Johnson’s dangerous party platform, he lacks knowledge and experience with foreign policy — one of the primary roles of the presidency.

When asked by MSNBC correspondent Mike Barnicle in September how he would address the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, Syria, Johnson now-infamously responded, “What is Aleppo?”

In a later interview, Chris Matthews asked Johnson to name a foreign leader he admired. He could not name a single one.

Even Johnson described it as an “Aleppo moment.”

It is often said that you should

vote your hopes, not your fears.

Vote for the candidate that represents what you stand for. If you truly believe in the policies of either the Green or Libertarian parties, casting your vote for either Stein or Johnson in respectable. But voting for either of them for the sole reason of not having to vote for Clinton or Trump shows a short-sighted understanding of our electoral process.

It is important to address the overall stakes of the election. We are electing a president in just over a month, and it is going to be Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.

While this doesn’t mean you should only vote for one of these two, it should make undecided voters think twice about using their vote as a form of protest rather than the tool of democracy it was intended to be.

Cole Jermyn is a sophomore environmental resource engineering major and economics minor at SUNY-ESF. He can be reached at cdjermyn@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @Cjermyn8.

scribble

editorial board

Prevention efforts should be year-long Next week marks Syracuse University’s second annual It’s On Us Week of Action. Combined with the creation of the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence in 2015, the administration appears to be putting a strong foot forward with anti-sexual assault activism.

But there’s a difference between raising awareness for a single week and fighting sexual assault for the full academic year.

There was a lot of hype when SU alumnus and United States Vice President Joe Biden came to campus last fall to kick off the university’s involvement in It’s On Us. And it’s promising that the campaign continues on with next week’s festivities. A year later, judging by the numbers and climate at SU, it is clear the university needs to make a more concerted when it comes to combating rape culture on a daily, institutional basis.

In the latest Department of Public Safety annual crime and safety report, which was released last week, the number of rape cases have more than doubled since 2014.

That increase in reports may be correlated with the introduction of “It’s On Us” last year. But even then, nine incidents of assault is statistically low for an institution the size of SU. In the larger framework of sexual assault, it can be argued that peerto-peer advocacy efforts are the most effective. But even then, the administration should give students comprehensive, year-round opportunities to help them break the silence and confront sexual assault at SU. It’s one thing for students to mobilize, but another to come together in a university-facilitated, permanent program or discussion group.

These discussions would consistently promote the awareness of — and simultaneously normalize

News Editor Sara Swann Editorial Editor Caroline Colvin Sports Editor Paul Schwedelson Feature Editor Rachel Gilbert Presentation Director Clare Ramirez Photo Editor Jessica Sheldon Head Illustrator Delaney Kuric Copy Chief Kathryn Krawczyk Development Editor Alexa Torrens Digital Editor Jacob Gedetsis Social Media Director Benjamin Farr Video Editor Griffin Morrow Web Developer Shuai Wang Asst. News Editor Michael Burke Asst. News Editor Stacy Fernandez Asst. News Editor Satoshi Sugiyama Asst. Editorial Editor Joanna Orland Asst. Feature Editor Hanna Horvath Asst. Feature Editor Casey Russell Asst. Sports Editor Chris Libonati

Asst. Sports Editor Jon Mettus Asst. Photo Editor Jacob Greenfeld Asst. Photo Editor Ally Moreo Senior Design Editor Emma Comtois Senior Design Editor Lucy Naland Design Editor Jordan Bowens Design Editor Ali Harford Design Editor Andy Mendes Design Editor Jordana Rubin Asst. Copy Editor Joe Bloss Asst. Copy Editor Alison Boghosian Asst. Copy Editor Matthew Gutierrez Asst. Copy Editor Haley Kim Asst. Copy Editor Tomer Langer Asst. Copy Editor Taylor Watson Asst. Video Editor Amanda Caffey Asst. Web Editor Rachel Sandler Asst. Web Editor Alex Archambault Asst. Web Editor Byron Tollefson Digital Design Editor Kiran Ramsey

the reporting of — sexual assault. It’s the administrative actions that aim to unravel rape culture on campus every day that can’t be lost once the It’s On Us Week of Action comes to a close.

This concern partly stems from the fact that SU is currently under a federal investigation for its handling of a sexual assault case — a situation the Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence was not informed of initially. And despite the lapse being topic of campus conversation for a month now, the university only just released an official comment Wednesday to say that no details can be revealed due to the sensitive nature of the complaint.

For a university that prides itself on high-profile campaigns and transparency, SU should do its part to advocate against rape culture by supporting a consistent student dialogue for the whole school year — not just one week.

t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r ac u s e , n e w yor k

Justin Mattingly

Alexa Diaz

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

General Manager Mike Dooling Assistant to the GM David Hayashi IT Manager Maxwell Burggraf Business Assistant Tim Bennett Advertising Manager Manuel Garcia Advertising Representative Hannah Breda Advertising Representative Alanna Quinlan

Advertising Representative Larry Stansbury Advertising Representative Catherine Caruso Advertising Representative Zina Raslan Advertising Representative Lesly Duarte Advertising Representative Devin Martin Advertising RepresentativeDominic Samuels Advertising Designer Connor Lee

Advertising Designer Samantha Robles Advertising Designer Erin Reeves Advertising Designer Conner Lee Digital Advertising Manager Kalyn Des Jardin Social Media Manager Sarah Stewart Special Events Coordinator Taylor Sheehan Special Events Coordinator Linda Bamba Circulation Manager Charles Plumpton Student Circulation Manager Michael Rempter

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from page 3

die-in began marching toward the area in between the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Schine, stopping at the steps.

I just felt like a spectacle to those that passed me by ... It really made me realize how disposable black bodies are.

Bruce Miles senior economics major

Bruce Miles, a senior economics major, spoke on how he felt during the die-in and why it was important.

“I just felt like a spectacle to those that

from page 1

title ix had been opened after obtaining documents through the Freedom of Information Act and later reported that SU did not inform the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence of the investigation.

Wednesday’s statement, from SU’s interim Chief Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Officer Sheila Johnson-Willis, comes ahead of next week’s It’s On Us National Week of Action. The statement did not provide any updates on the status of the federal investigation.

“To protect the privacy of our students, faculty, and staff — who may report Title IX violations as confidential matters — we have

passed me by,” Miles said. “… It really made me realize just how disposable black bodies are.”

Miles said today was a demonstration to honor those who had been killed and to show what students can really do when they come together. He said the representation was done visually because sometimes it is easier to see than to hear.

“Whether it be every Wednesday, whether it be every Thursday, whether it be every day we will wear black, we will stand in solidarity, we will stand for those names on this banner and unfortunately the names to come,” Miles said.

Bobby Maldonado, chief of the Department of Public Safety at SU, said the demonstration was a powerful statement by the students that clearly rose the level of awareness about issues in the United States. He added that he thought the protest was done very respectfully. sfern100@syr.edu @StacyFernandezB

worked with OCR to obtain the time necessary to redact any personally identifiable information from past records,” JohnsonWillis said in the statement. “For these same protected privacy reasons, the University cannot release or share details on any individual complaint.”

According to the statement, SU’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services will soon host a forum, “Title IX-Year in Review,” to review the Title IX complaint process and “what we have learned over the past year.”

A date for the forum has not yet been announced, but it will be held “in the coming weeks.” mdburk01@syr.edu @michaelburke47

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P

Life is a Rom-com

Heated discussion

Here’s how to tackle that big “thing,” looming on your schedule in 10 days, as told by humor columnist Patty Terhune See dailyorange.com

This local reading series combines art and politics to cut through media bias during one of the most talked-about elections.

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PULP

Sing it “The Voice” finalist Sarah Simmons takes time out of her busy schedule to talk music and her Funk ‘n Waffles.

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PAG E 11

movie

Is live-action ‘The Lion King’ remake worth it?

Don’t touch classic childhood Disney films

Hakuna Matata, no worries about remake

fter the success of “The Jungle Book,” it’s too much to ask of Disney to not rework all their animated classics into live action. To give credit where credit is due, John Favreau did a great job, and with the BRIAN HAMLIN voice talGET YOUR POPCOR N R EA DY ent Disney was able to afford, including the likes of Bill Murray, Christopher Walken and Scarlett Johansson, it was — in many ways — too big to fail.

I can’t lie, I’m about to be super anti-Disney about their announcement regarding the Lion King remake, but damn did I love “The Jungle Book” as live action.

We’ve seen Disney shell out spinoffs, TV series and sequels of their early ‘90s, renaissance hits, building on the stories of “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Tarzan,” “Toy Story” and “A Bug’s Life,” to name a few. I even enjoyed “The Lion King 2” and “The Lion King 1 ½.” Yes, the one that went straight to DVD. But a remake? A cover? A live action reboot? Spare me.

In many ways, the early ‘90s Disney movies were revolutionary. For the first time, big name movie actors really got involved in animated movies, like Robin Williams as the Genie in “Aladdin,” or Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in “Toy Story.”

“The Lion King” featured the voices of Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones, with music famously scored by Elton John. At the time, “The Lion King” finished its theatrical run as the secondhighest grossing film of all time, and has essentially been cemented as Disney Animation’s crown jewel.

Disney has always had a love for bringing talking animals to the big screen, and the Hamlet-inspired “Lion King” remains perhaps their best adaptation to date. Key point being: this was, and still is, a perfect movie. Everyone loves “The Lion King” as is. The songs are timeless, the story is riveting and the visuals are critically acclaimed.

Beyond recycling material, there are a lot of reasons why I really dislike the idea of a Lion King rework as a live action movie.While “The Jungle Book” explores the wild through the eyes of the young boy Mowgli, “The Lion King” is entirely composed of characters

veryone is buzzing about Disney’s announcement about remaking “The Lion King” as a live-action film. While the masses are divided on the prospects of this film, I, for one, am hugely ERIK excited, and BENJAMIN DON ’ T CA LL think Disney ME SHIR LEY will do nothing short of a fantastic job. “The Lion King” is one of the defining films of my, and many other’s, childhood, and seeing it on the big screen once again in this new form will be nothing short of thrilling.

Why do I think this project will be great? Well, first things first, let’s look at Disney’s track record with these projects. We have so far seen five Disney remakes in the last few years, and while there have been ups and downs, there have been none that disrespected the original material in any way, or lessened our experiences. They have all added depth and additional characters to our prior understandings of these classics.

I believe these films are only getting better and better. Buzz is through the roof on March 2017’s upcoming release of “Beauty and the Beast,” and we are still riding on the high of the fantastic success of last March’s “The Jungle Book,” which I think is the true indicator of the standards for this “Lion King” film.

Watching “The Jungle Book” earlier this year was a simply awe-inspiring experience. It was as if Hollywood magic touched the Kipling book and the classic cartoon and breathed new life to it, as it hurdled into three dimensions with amazing graphics.

The film looked sensational, and the storytelling and writing was absolutely top notch.

Behind the leadership of this film was director Jon Favreau, who has become one of the most versatile in Hollywood. Favreau’s experiences with “The Jungle Book” make him the perfect candidate to direct “The Lion King,” and luckily for us, he is going to do so. He has already proven he can create photorealistic animals, in addition to telling an amazing story.

“The Jungle Book” displayed

A

1

Renovations of historic hotel send visitors

BACK IN TIME

2 1. Hotel Syracuse, originally completed in 1924, faced probable demolition before it was acquired in 2014 by developer Ed Riley. aline peres martins contributing photographer 2. Stickley Furniture, a century-old company based in Manlius provided seating when the hotel first opened and for this year’s reopening. aline peres martins contributing photographer

daga Historical Association, and other OHA staffers will conduct the tours. Tours will cover the public rooms of the hotel as well as the he Beatles once talked of reuniting at kitchen, ballrooms and presidential and bridal none other than Hotel Syracuse. suites as they are available.

John Lennon threw his 40th birthday The tours will share stories like Lennon’s — or party in the grand hotel, only two months and a the time there was a literal elephant in one of the day before his death in 1980. rooms during the 1930s.

George Harrison and Paul A baby elephant rode the elevaMcCartney, the other two tor up to the Grand Ballroom for a I came in with a members of the Fab Four, convention, and reportedly left a declined to attend due to vision to transform smelly present before it left. strained relationships after Anecdotes will change from this hotel into The Beatles’ breakup in 1970. tour to tour depending on what the iconic hotel it rooms are available, Peal said.

However, former Beatle Ringo Starr, Lennon’s producer Phil However, each tour guide is was years ago.

Spektor and poet Allen Ginsresponsible for coming up with Paul McNeil berg went to the party. their own content, making each general manager of marriott Starting Oct. 10, the gentour different. downtown syracuse eral public can tour a newlyNo matter who’s leading the restored incarnation of the historic Hotel tour, visitors will travel through the hotel, which Syracuse, now called Marriott Downtown was built in 1924 and was considered the most Syracuse, and see the same sights Lennon and splendid hotel in the city for many years. The hotel his entourage did. has hosted countless weddings in its ballrooms Scott Peal, educational director at the Ononsee hotel syracuse page 15

By Casey Russell

asst. feature editor

T

see hamlin page 12

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see benjamin page 12

12 oct. 6, 2016

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from page 11

from page 11

from the animal kingdom. With that being said, I really feel like a live-action remake will feel like an Animal Planet drama.

Think about the “Lion King” you grew up with and the songs dancing animals pulled off: “The Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Hakuna Matata.” While “The Jungle Book” boasts a few jingles, “The Lion King” is dependent upon its musical numbers, which could be a little cheesy coming from live-action animals.

I know computer-generated imagery and computer technology have made the moviewatching experience entirely different, but there’s a time and place for technology.

While the computer animation worked well in “The Jungle Book,” I have a hard time believing singing animals will look good onscreen in 2018.

Another cardinal complaint for this moviegoer is the lack of distance from the original piece. I’m perfectly fine with Disney playing with “Snow White,” “Peter Pan” and “Winnie the Pooh” — narratives from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Even if “The Lion King” borrows from Shakespeare’s 400-year-old tales, the original release of the film will still be much better than the pending remake.

While “The Lion King” is no doubt a “classic,” it’s not old. Imagine if someone tried to remake a movie like “Forrest Gump,” which was also released in 1994. People would have a fit.

I’m having a fit.

Don’t bastardize my childhood, Disney. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

heart and humor. If that is not enough proof of Favreau’s talents with family storytelling, why don’t you watch a little 2003 film called “Elf,” and you can tell me if your heart is not warmed while you are dying laughing.

In addition to Favreau’s expertise, I am excited for this “Lion King” remake because this is not the first time people have said this material would not work in live action. After the success of the film, Disney Theatrical decided it would adapt the work for the stage. And while there was a healthy dose of skepticism, under the direction of Julie Taymor, it was nothing short of a smash hit.

Nearly 20 years later, it’s still running on Broadway, with absolutely no signs of slowing down. Disney proved its haters wrong in the ‘90s, and they are only more prepared to do the same now.

Lastly, I can’t wait for this film because I just love the story and the music. It is a property that transcends the technology and all of the bells and whistles. When all is said and done, Disney knows that the most important thing is to deliver a product that effectively communicates the magic that is “The Lion King,” from the opening Swahili lines, to the stampede, to Simba’s return.

Live action will only bring us closer to the story, and while the film will be about animals, it will only feel more human.

Hakuna Matata, it means no worries.

Let Disney work its magic.

Brian Hamlin is a junior communication and rhetorical studies major. His column appears weekly in Pulp. You can reach him at brhamlin@syr.edu.

Erik Benjamin is a junior Television, Radio, Film major. His column appears weekly in Pulp. You can reach him at @embenjamin14 and ebenjami@syr.edu

hamlin

benjamin

From the

calendar

On My Own Time

Where: Everson Museum of Art When: Oct.8-Nov.11 How Much: $6 with SUID

every thursday in p u l p

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PAGE 13

On My Own Time is an art exhibit at the Everson Museum of Art that features just that: pieces created by non-professional artists in their free time. The show will open Friday with a reception for the artists that created featured pieces. courtesy of cny arts

NIGHT AT THE

MUSEUM

By Divya Murthy staff writer

C

NY Arts figured out a way to spark an instant connection between a private university, a nuclear operating unit, an electronic media marketplace and a hospital.

First created in 1973, the On My Own Time art exhibition is a project designed to kindle creativity and showcase art created by employees from the local workforce.

This Friday, the Everson Museum of Art is hosting the 43rd Annual Artists’ Reception to welcome local artists whose works will be exhibited this year. Patrons and artists will get a first glimpse at the museum coming to life with photography, painting, sculptures, jewelry, mixed media, woodwork and much more.

On My Own Time is a long-standing community-based venture of CNY Arts, fusing local talent with the workplace. It is sponsored by the companies that participate, which creates new kind of corporate culture: employees bonding with many of their artistically-inclined co-workers.

What sets On My Own Time apart is its respect for those who do not pursue art in a professional capacity. The month-long exhibit represents the result of passion without the need for a paycheck.

“They might be working at the city school district teaching science, but in their spare time, they’re an artist — in their own time.

Hence the name, On My Own Time,” said Steve Butler, the executive director of CNY Arts.

CNY Arts, a project active for 59 years,

is aimed at maintaining a lively art scene in Central New York. It encompasses six counties: Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, Madison, Herkimer and Cortland, covering about 5,500 square miles. Each year, the organization gives out $1.5 million in arts grants and scholarships.

This Friday, participating companies will include the Syracuse City School District, Syracuse University, Lockheed Martin, Crouse Hospital, Entergy Nuclear, United Radio and the city of Syracuse itself.

In an effort to unearth the talents of their employees, companies put together art shows in their own offices. Employees put up their art, which was then judged and ranked by professional artists, one of whom is a professor at SU. Quinton Fletchall is a part-time professor of industrial design at SU and Director of Public Art for the Connective Corridor, and served as a judge for the exhibit.

Fletchall said life for many of the employees working these office jobs is multifaceted, and many workers look beyond their job to participate in projects like this one.

The participating employees definitely have more to them than their day jobs: Fletchall said they all engage in a variety of artistic styles.

“A lot of these people could be professional artists. It’s exciting to see the quality of the work, the diversity of the work … there’s a lot of artwork that’ll be coming to the Everson that might not be typically shown there,” said Fletchall.

The final pieces selected for the On My Own Time exhibit will be displayed in the Everson for a month.

SU has made contributions to the On My

Everson art exhibit featuring work from nonprofessional artists showcases community talent

The exhibit will highlight work by local artists that work for companies including Entergy Nuclear, Lockheed Martin and United Radio. courtesy of cny arts

Own Time exhibit in the past, and will be participating again this year. Eleven works of art will represent SU at the gallery Friday.

Fred Wellner’s sculpture and metalwork piece, “Leaf on the Wind,” is one of them.

Wellner is a book designer for the Syracuse University Press. The Lafayette resident has worked with pencil, oil, acrylic and soapstone, and is drawn to blacksmithing as well. He works on average about 15 to 20 hours on a piece.

Wellner’s piece is abstract sculpture of a Viking longboat, partially using railroad and tractor parts, he said about his “Leaf on the Wind” sculpture. He works on average

about 15 to 20 hours on a piece. He said the university has helped and supported his avocational art over the years.

Butler said efforts like On My Own Time accomplish many inspiring goals at once: they create bonds in the community between businesses, and employees and also provides a space for aspiring artists to explore their passion.

“It creates a sense of community and celebration and reminds us all that art is an important and integral part of our lives, whether we’re professional artists or just because we love art,” said Butler. dmurthy@syr.edu

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from page 11

hotel syracuse and housed generations of distinguished guests over the years including President Eisenhower, President Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope and Charles Lindbergh.

But the hotel’s 90-odd years of history were on the line when it closed in 2004 and fell into disrepair.

Ed Riley, the restoration project’s central authority, obtained the building in 2014. He saw the opportunity to re-establish Hotel Syracuse’s prominence and historic grandeur.

“It was getting to the point where if somebody didn’t step up or there wasn’t something planned for it … it would no longer be a candidate to be saved,” Riley said.

The Hotel Syracuse Restoration project has had a wide-ranging impact on the community, preserving years of history and art, revitalizing the downtown area and supporting local businesses.

Given reputation of the hotel, the project has seen a lot of popular approval.

“Almost anyone that’s lived in Syracuse for any amount of time has a memory of the hotel,” Riley said.

Paul McNeil, general manager of Marriot Downtown Syracuse, came to the hotel 14 months ago. He has been working with Marriott for a long time, and decided to take the general manager’s position to help lead the restoration efforts, a project he said is meaningful to him.

“I came in with a vision to transform this hotel into the iconic hotel it was years ago,” he said.

But such an extensive renovation project needs more than just a positive response. A project this grand needs money, and lots of it.

Financing the project was complex, Riley said — complete restoration of the hotel totaled to about $23 million. A significant portion of that money came in the for of government grants, including a sum of $15 million that has helped turn the hotel into a state-of-the-art convention center.

With funding to back up the popular sup-

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port, construction began.

Riley and McNeil both said they are perhaps most proud of the huge role local business has played in the project, especially, McNeil said, in providing jobs to workers.

Ninety percent of the labor was done by companies in the Syracuse area.

Stickley Furniture, an internationallyknown, 116-year-old company located in Manlius pioneered the hotel’s craftsman architectural style. It supplied furnishings for the hotel when it first opened in 1924 and when it reopened this year.

Most of the public furniture was done by Harden Furniture, a company coming up on 172 years of operation this year. Harden is responsible for the tables and seating arrangements that now scatter the hotel lobby. In addition to supplying new pieces, Harden refurnished and reupholstered chairs to replicate what would have been in the lobby 90 years ago.

Even with the help of well-established furniture makers, the restoration would not have the museum-quality historical accuracy it now displays without the Onondaga Historical Association, known as OHA, McNeil said.

Gregg Tripoli, executive director of OHA, said the organization provided the original architectural plan for the Hotel Syracuse building. Throughout its lifetime, the floor plan changed so much that some spaces of the building were closed off for periods of time. Now the original floor plan of the hotel is back in effect.

OHA also wanted to be involved with the artistic aspects of the restoration, Tripoli said. OHA’s large art collection boasts gems by local artists as well as depictions of Syracuse’s history as a city. Together, OHA and the restoration project team conceived the idea to display different themes of art throughout the hotel.

The hallways on guest housing floors all feature photographs from the hotel’s history. But in addition to the building’s

history, OHA compiled themed collections chronicling key facets of Syracuse’s history including the Erie Canal, salt production, the Finger Lakes and railroads.

One of the goals of the art project, Tripoli said, was to give hotel guests a peek into the city’s history and make them feel welcome during their visit.

“Instead of having just regular old cheesy hotel art that was there to match the drapes, we could have art that told a story behind it, that would help people feel at home,” he said.

But perhaps the grandest artistic feature of the hotel was already standing: the mural behind the check-in desk.

Carl Roters, a professor of fine arts at Syracuse from 1946 to 1964, completed the mural, a 20-scene progression in a modestly Cubist style. The mural was the winning design in a competition staged by the city, which asked artists to submit works commemorating 100 years of Syracuse history.

But at one point in its history, the mural was covered by a wall of mirrors.

One of OHA’s greatest fears was that the adhesive used to hang the murals on the walls would damage the painting underneath, Tripoli said. Luckily, the art was not harmed. Marek Mularski, a Polish artist now living in central Massachusetts, restored the painting this year.

Visitors will have a chance to see the mural on OHA’s hour-and-a-half tour, but in the rest of the lobby, they will see the hanging grand chandeliers. Nine original fixtures hang around the vast lobby, fixtures that were even painted the color they were 92 years ago.

When the chandeliers were re-installed in the hotel and turned on for the first time, McNeil said he remembers pedestrians stopping in their tracks and staring up into the ballroom from the sidewalk below.

Said McNeil, “That’s when the heartbeat came back into the hotel.” cmrussel@syr.edu

16 oct. 6, 2016

from page 1

etta-tawo haven’t: extend his football career.

He faces the questions easily and takes them in stride. Amba gathers himself for a split second and comes up with an answer good enough for the moment, one that doesn’t involve him dissecting how he got here.

“We’re just trying to focus on the next game,” he said.

••• Amba admitted he was slightly immature in high school. His oldest brother, Etta, knew Amba didn’t take his grades as seriously as he should. One day, that spilled over to football.

Amba was late to practice.

Ken Hockman, Amba’s position coach, happened to be on the phone with Etta and slid the detail into their conversation.

“He’ll never be late to practice again,” Hockman recalls Etta saying.

Etta had been Amba’s father figure since their father, Ekure Tawo, left for Nigeria.

Amba and his brother Egim say their father left in 2004. Four brothers constitute the Etta-Tawo siblings: Etta (the oldest), Egim (second oldest), Amba and Ekure (the youngest). After their father left, Etta guided the brothers alongside their mother, Stella.

“When he decided to go back, I took it as my opportunity to step up and be the older figure to my younger brothers,” Etta said.

The family came from Muscat, Oman in 1999 via a Visa lottery. The brothers played soccer and lived in a 10-mile-wide private community with expatriates. Every morning, the boys would take a 30 to 40 minute bus ride to school. There was enough space in the community for the brothers to roam. Before they left Muscat, an uncle told the boys they’d forget about soccer.

“When you guys get over there,” Etta recalled the uncle telling them, “you guys are going to start playing football.”

The family settled in Atlanta. In 1998-99 the Atlanta Falcons made the Super Bowl. The Falcons’ success drew the oldest Etta-Tawo brother in. He won a championship in his first season playing football as a seventh grader. Amba and Egim followed their brother, scoring touchdowns in their first recreation league games.

Etta watched their careers unfold as a volunteer coach in high school. The brothers were naturals. Etta committed to play at Clemson.

During a Monday practice in Etta’s redshirt freshman season, he felt short of breath in a helmets-only walkthrough. Etta thought the problem was a cold, but after two more days of practice, it didn’t improve. He drove with trainers to the hospital and doctors ran tests, which revealed he had an enlarged heart. Etta said he

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was tested for a year and a half to see whether he could return or if his condition had improved, but he never got back to the field. One of Etta’s former college teammates, Gaines Adams, collapsed and died of an enlarged heart in 2010 when he played for the Chicago Bears.

“Amba and Egim sent me a long text basically saying … ‘You’re the reason I started playing football. I can’t believe this is happening, your dream is coming to an end,’” Etta said. “‘I just want you to know with everything I’ve got left in my body, I’m going to play for you, I’m going to play for Ekure, I’m going to play for mom.’

“I started tearing up a little bit.”

While Etta was disappointed, he realized the end of his career would help spur Egim’s and Amba’s. The latter was so small when he started playing that he hated being tackled, so much so that Hockman said the team had to manage his temper. Opponents and teammates knew it got under the young receiver’s skin. The coach estimated Amba stood 6-feet-1 but just 135 pounds in his freshman season. As a gangly player, he learned to outrun opponents to avoid tackles.

Hockman had a competition for his wide receiver crew each week. Whoever had the best week wore gold Cutters gloves in McEachern’ (Georgia) High School’s next contest. Often, Amba and Hockman would stay and Amba would catch 80 balls from a JUGS machine.

The wide receiver coach said Amba was on McEachern second team for a few weeks, but they quickly realized he should be moved up.

Hockman saw Amba’s talent, and all he needed to do was refine and refocus it.

When Amba was late to practice, his brother reminded him of what he was playing for.

The talk set Amba on the right path.

“When you show up to practice late, you’re telling your coaches that you don’t care about their time, that your time is better than their time,” Etta said, recalling what he told Amba. “… When you start doing stuff like that, coaches are gonna fall off ... You may have all the talent in the world, but if you’re a knucklehead and don’t do what they tell you, then their patience is going to wear thin.”

He was never late to practice again.

••• Amba played his first varsity football game as a sophomore at the Georgia Dome in late August of 2009. As he popped into the huddle, then-teammate Rajaan Bennett looked at him during the play call.

“This is going to be a touchdown,” Amba recalls Rajaan telling him.

Amba ran a fade and the ball floated into his arms for his first varsity touchdown.

Rajaan, McEachern’s starting running back, was a senior. Amba said the upperclassman helped calm him down on the field in what were some of his first snaps on the varsity field. The

former had been friends with Egim because the two played together. When Egim left, Amba and Rajaan became lockermates. Rajaan usurped some of the role Etta and Egim had played before both left for Clemson and West Georgia, respectively. The running back had committed to Vanderbilt, was one of McEachern’s best players and was also an honor student at the high school.

On the morning of Feb. 18, 2010, Amba picked up a call from McEachern quarterback Trent Thompson. He told Amba that Rajaan had been killed. Although Amba didn’t initially believe Thompson, he sobbed for a short time and went to school, hoping it was a joke. When he arrived, he found classmates crying and milling around the football field.

Amba doesn’t remember many people going to class that day.

According to ESPN, the following took place.

Earlier that morning, the former boyfriend of Narjaketha Bennett, Rajaan’s mother, had broken into the family’s house. Narjaketha woke up with a .22-caliber pistol pointed at her. Clifton Steger, bitter over a breakup with Rajaan’s mother, had Narjaketha put her brother, who was living with the family at the time, Rajaan and her daughter in a bathroom. Rajaan’s brother was allowed to stay in a bedroom.

Steger had Bennett round up the family’s cell phones. She, however, hid hers and slipped it to Rajaan while she was in the bathroom with him.

Rajaan quietly called the police, who showed up.

Steger sent Narjaketha out to quell the police.

She left the house emotional. Steger headed with his pistol to the bathroom. Narjaketha’s brother met Steger at the bathroom first but was shot while trying to wrestle the gun away. He lived.

Steger fired several shots in the bathroom.

Rajaan had taken his sister into the bathtub and covered her from Steger’s shots.

Steger shots pierced Rajaan’s heart, killing him. Then Steger shot himself.

“When we got the news that he had passed away, I called Amba right away and he couldn’t stop sobbing,” Etta said. “Never in my life have I seen him or been around him when he’s been that upset.”

After Rajaan’s death, McEachern started holding up five fingers before the opening kickoff in honor of their killed teammate because he wore No. 5. On their jerseys, the players had the No. 5 as a patch to remember Rajaan, and Etta said Amba would write a quote or two on his wrists dedicated to Rajaan. Amba was one of several players who read a poem Rajaan had written titled “Don’t Be Scared” for a class assignment before each game. It was also read at Rajaan’s funeral.

“We didn’t know that side of him,” Amba said.

Now, players all around the country wear No. 5 for Rajaan, including at Oregon, South Carolina and Georgia. Amba hasn’t been able to wear No. 5. In Powder Springs, Georgia, there’s a holiday every year for Rajaan Bennett day. It’s been more than six years since Rajaan’s death. Amba still plays for a fallen teammate who many said was headed for success in football or elsewhere. Talking about his friend, Amba smiles, but shortly after, his face recedes and returns to normal.

“He touched a lot of people, he touched the whole community,” Amba said. “I could go on for hours and hours.”

••• When his older brothers left college, Amba took on the role they had played for him for Ekure. Stella wanted to keep Ekure active, so he took piano lessons. Amba decided to join in. Ekure couldn’t play football because he has cerebral palsy, a disorder which can affect muscle movement, tone and coordination.

He never played publicly, but Stella sent a video of Amba and Ekure playing together to

oct. 6, 2016 17

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Etta, who never thought he’d see one brother playing the piano, let alone two. Amba took the leadership void Etta and Egim vacated when they departed for college.

“Amba felt like my two big brothers are gone so I gotta be big brother now and take the lead,” Etta said, “and have Ekure’s back and make sure he’s OK with everything.”

The two are the nearest brothers in age.

Even now, the two brothers trash talk over video games.

Despite not being able to play football, the youngest Etta-Tawo would often watch his brothers’ practices. Etta said Ekure knows the most about football of the four.

Egim and Amba always promised they’d play for their brothers who had football taken from them. Not long after the older brothers left, Amba left, too. He had committed to Maryland. In his freshman season, Amba racked up 500 yards. That season, he caught his first touchdown against Clemson. He’d never hit that total in a season again at UMD. After his first season, other players started above Amba on the depth chart. The Terps had future NFL players Deon Long and Stefon Diggs. When Edsall was fired, Amba knew he had a chance to find the right spot for himself.

He visited Powder Springs and told Ken and Kyle Hockman he was considering Syracuse.

The Hockmans came from Ohio and both had played at Bowling Green. As alumni, they knew about Dino Babers and what he could do to unlock Amba’s potential. They put in a call for Amba. Despite considering Mississippi State, Missouri and Toledo, among others, Amba cancelled all his other visits after he saw SU. Over the summer, the Syracuse wide receiver visited Los Angeles and trained with former high school teammate Chris Davis. Kavell Conner, Etta’s former roommate at Clemson and an NFL linebacker who has played for the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers, helped the two train.

His family had been scheduled to take a trip to Nigeria this summer, and he would’ve visited his mother’s family. Instead, he came to Syracuse to get an early jump on adjusting. He thought it would be a bad look to go on vacation while his teammates worked toward the season.

“Normally my mom would be upset with something like that,” Etta said.

Amba approached his brothers before telling his mother he’d skip the family trip. Etta reasoned with Stella it was crucial for Amba to stay for his last shot at college football.

“That’s how I know he matured with that,” Etta said. “He decided to skip a trip around the world.”

••• When Etta came home from Clemson, he, Egim and Amba worked out at McEachern.

A group of high schoolers from a rival school showed up and challenged the brothers to a pick-up football game. Etta played quarterback and Amba was one of his wide receiv-

ers. Then a middle schooler, Amba torched the high schoolers, catching upwards of 20 passes, Etta said.

For the last four years, that potential has only come in bursts. He’s finally gotten the opportunity to execute that talent while playing for the people he used to play with.

On Tuesday, Amba and Eric Dungey teased each other as they were both being interviewed. Amba’s grin reappeared. And while all the football dreams of the players from the pick-up game have faded or will soon fade, his is still in progress.

“I’m trying not to think too much about it,” Amba said. “I’m trying to focus on the next thing and keep on moving. At the end when everything works out, hopefully it does, I can look back at it positively.”

As Amba stopped joking with Dungey, he pivoted and walked through double doors out of the foyer of the Petty-Iacolano Football Wing with the grin still on his face. cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati

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from page 20

hagman improved its record to 4-0.

Against then-No. 15 Boston College, Hagman’s goal right after halftime broke a scoreless tie and propelled the Orange to a 2-0 win. He pounced on a loose ball 25 yards out from goal, one-timing it on the ground just inside the right post and past the outstretched left arm of Eagles goalie Cedric Saladin.

Hagman’s third goal, the third in a 3-1 win against Cornell, came with no celebration. It put a game the Orange dominated out of reach, and he understandably prefers the aftermath of his goal against St. John’s the most.

“I don’t want to brag, but I always used to score,” Hagman said. “I know I had it in me.”

The biggest transformation in Hagman’s game, though, doesn’t show up on a box score. He points to his defensive improvements, made possible by an

from page 20

dungey the team with 116 yards.

“I think he’s been giving us exactly what we want,” Babers said. “I think he’s been relatively smart with it.”

Last year, Dungey missed four games and parts of more because of several shots to the head. Then-head coach Scott Shafer urged him to throw the ball away rather than take an unnecessary beating.

Before the 2016 season, Babers said the Orange’s new coaching staff had to “strip him down and start all over again.” Babers wanted a throw-first quarterback for his

offseason of adding muscle, that have rounded out a repertoire that always had offensive potential.

When playing back home in Sweden, there was a lot less man marking, Hagman said. The style of play in the United States, especially during the heart of ACC play, is far more physically demanding.

What I was struggling a lot with last year was the defensive part of the game. I think that’s been a big part of the transformation so far.

Jonathan Hagman su midfielder

“What I was struggling a lot with last year was the defensive part of the game,”

Baylor-style offensive scheme.

“We need people who can sit in the pocket and deliver the ball to the people we want,” Babers said two days before the first game of the season. “He’s done a nice job of trying to curtail his game to exactly what we need. If he has to take off, he has that ability, but we are trying to keep him in the pocket more.”

While Dungey’s carries have increased this year — he’s averaging 12.4 rushes per game compared to 11.4 last year — SU is running significantly more plays on offense as a result of Babers’ no-huddle scheme.

Against Notre Dame, Dungey ran 17 times (including two sacks) for a team-high

he said. “I think that’s been a big part of the transformation so far.”

Camargo likened Hagman to Juuso Pasanen, one of the defensive midfielders on last year’s College Cup team. Neither is overly athletic. But both are highly skilled when the ball is at their feet and know exactly where to be in space when it’s not.

Hagman won’t always stand out to a casual viewer with his flash like Camargo or Chris Nanco will.

The majority of his minutes will be spent switching the field or connecting passes from Syracuse’s middle third into the attacking third.

But if he continues having a knack for the big play, which Syracuse is in desperate need of to snap out of its funk, Hagman won’t fly under the radar much longer.

“He was probably our best player in the spring. We expected him to be better this year and important player for us,” senior Oyvind Alseth said. “He’s done that.” mschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman

net total of 49 yards. He also ran for three scores, a reflection of a part of Dungey’s game that’s not going away. Dungey said he’s tried to be smarter with his body, even in red zone situations similar to the ones he converted on against UND. Even in a scheme that features more passing, Dungey hasn’t abandoned his running ability. He’s showcased it when the opportunity has arisen and has stayed healthier than last year.

“I think he’s much better than he was last year based off the tape that I’ve seen so far,” Babers said, “and I think if he continues to grow, he’ll be better and better at it.” pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds

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oct. 6, 2016 19

S

friday, 7 p.m., rsn

S PORTS

8

LOUISVILLE VS. 3 SYRACUSE dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 6, 2016 • PAG E 20

IN THE RED

SLIP AND SLIDE

BEN LUNDGAARD VIRGINIA TECH

6

BOSTON COLLEGE

6

HOFSTRA

CHRIS HUBBARD NOTRE DAME

0

-1

ALBANY

+2

+1

N.C. STATE

6

+1

ST. JOHN’S

HENDRIK HILPERT SYRACUSE

+1

COLGATE

7

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

STEFAN CLEVELAND LOUISVILLE

UMASS

7

GOAL DIFFERENTIAL

JAMES PYLE NORTH CAROLINA

+2

NOTRE DAME

+2

SHUTOUTS

-1

OPPONENT

XIMO MIRALLES CLEMSON

4

ALEC FERRELL WAKE FOREST

4

Louisville has assisted on 21-of-23 (91.3 percent) of its goals compared to Syracuse's rate of 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) UofL

CEDRIC SALADIN BOSTON COLLEGE

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED

3 2

91.3

71.4 SU

Syracuse and Louisville played to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 11, 2015.

Here's a look back at the contest.

0 SU

4

1

SU

graphic illustration by lucy naland senior design editor

3 SAVES

4

HELPING HANDS

UofL

4

4

SU

UofL

CORNER KICKS

JEFF CALDWELL VIRGINIA

SHOTS ON GOAL

NAME, SCHOOL

Syracuse began the season with a program-record eight straight wins, but has fallen off in the past three contests

+3

UNC

Syracuse goalie Hendrik Hilpert and Louisville goalie Stefan Cleveland both rank among the ACC's best in shutouts

+3

CORNELL

PLAYING FOR KEEPS

ANDREU CASES MUNDET WAKE FOREST

Riding a three-game winless streak, No. 3 Syracuse enters its contest against No. 8 Louisville in search of its first victory since Sept. 20.

UofL

Hagman emerges as key piece for SU after year behind Buescher

By Matt Schneidman senior staff writer

J

onathan Hagman knew the feeling of not being able to break through all too well.

After the starters scrimmaged the substitutes during last Tuesday’s practice and the subs ran the starters “to the bone,” he could relate to how most of them would feel sitting on the bench during Syracuse’s game against North Carolina that Friday.

“We were actually talking about this … me and him,” senior midfielder Sergio Camargo said.

“Hagman’s like, ‘That used to be me. I understand where they’re coming from. I worked my ass off in

practice but didn’t get into games.’

“He’s been through it and that’s how he got here.”

Hagman, a sophomore, spent a year behind in the attacking midfield pecking order. Buescher was arguably Syracuse’s best player in 2015, tallying eight goals and a team-high 11 assists, and now plays for Major League Soccer’s D.C. United.

Hagman saw time in 11 games last year but didn’t register a goal or assist.

This season, Hagman has established himself as the starter at one of two attacking midfield spots along with Camargo for No. 3 Syracuse (8-2-1, 2-1-1 Atlantic Coast). He’s tied for third on the team with a trio of goals, and SU may need another amid

its current three-game winless streak when the Orange visits No. 8 Louisville (8-1-2, 3-0-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.

“Jonathan really worked hard in the offseason to kind of transform himself physically and now he provides us quality on the ball,” head coach Ian McIntyre said, “and he’s scored some very important goals for us.”

The most important of those goals was a cracking volley from the edge of the 18-yard box in sudden-death overtime against St. Johns on Sept. 4. Syracuse fell behind, 2-1, with 25 minutes to play but it was ultimately Hagman’s first-career goal that sent SU into a frenzy and see hagman page 18

football

Eric Dungey improves decision making in running game sports editor

Dino Babers said he wants Eric Dungey to be the Russell Wilson of the Atlantic Coast Conference. He knows Dungey’s legs are a valuable element in the sophomore quarterback’s repertoire. But he also wants Dungey to be smart when he uses them and avoid taking unnecessary hits — something he didn’t do particularly well as a freshman.

Late in the first quarter against Notre Dame on Saturday, Dungey held the ball out for running back Moe Neal but then pulled it back and ran around the left side of the offensive line. Before reaching the line of scrimmage, three Fighting Irish defenders surrounded him.

Dungey slid to the turf. UND’s Devin Studstill launched himself toward Dungey’s head. The quarterback put his hands on his hel-

GROUND ATTACK Eric Dungey is averaging more rushes per game, but SU head coach Dino Babers said he’s being smarter when he leaves the pocket.

RUSHES PER GAME

By Paul Schwedelson

11.4

2015

12.4

2016

met as he bent over on his knees.

Studstill was ejected for targeting and the play was simply a blip amid Dungey’s best rushing performance of the season.

“The one time he did the Russell Wilson, he almost got his head taken off,” Babers said.

Despite the contact, Dungey did his part by sliding.

Through five games, Syracuse’s (2-3, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) signal caller has been smarter in the run-

ning game, Babers said. Dungey is still occasionally at risk when he takes off but has started every game this season and hasn’t missed any time following a hit. He currently ranks fifth in the nation with 1,730 passing yards, but the growth in his running game is noteworthy, too. Dungey leads the Orange with five rushing touchdowns — Neal has SU’s only other rushing score — and ranks third on see dungey page 18