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BOUNCE BACK: BASKETBALL GUIDE 2022
Tip of the iceberg
FYS students and peer advisers said the course falls short in both its content and execution Story By Luisana Ortiz asst. copy editor
Illustration By Remi Jose illustration editor
W
hile Syracuse University structures its First-Year Seminar 101 course around students sharing their experiences with their cultures and identities, students taking the course said nobody wants to speak. In some classes, students said they don’t know each other’s names. “It’s just kind of a ‘check it off the list once a week’ (class),” said Mackenzie Johnson, a junior creative writing major and an FYS-enrolled transfer student. The fall 2022 semester marks the second year of FYS after it replaced SEM 100, the university’s formerly six-week, single-credit course for first-year and transfer students. According to FYS’ website, the SU faculty, staff and graduate students who see fys page 3
election 2022
Local Jimmy Monto running as first LGBTQ councilor By Brittany Miller asst. news editor
Jimmy Monto has spent most of his life in Eastwood, a neighborhood defined by Interstate 690 and Syracuse’s northern edge. His name will now be on the ballot to serve the area. “The idea that I get to represent my neighborhood and I get to
represent these constituents and take their phone calls and try to help them is an honor for me,” he said. “I never even questioned it.” The common council appointed Monto to replace Councilor Joe Driscoll when he joined Mayor Ben Walsh’s I-81 team, making the Syracuse native the city’s first LGBTQ common councilor. He is now running to keep
his position as a councilor to serve for his first full term. “My roots are deep in this community. I have volunteered my time inside of this district for a very long time,” Monto said. “If I was ever going to run for office, the office that I wanted was the common councilor for my neighborhood.” see monto page 4
election 2022
May, Abbott at odds heading into election By Stephanie Wright asst. news editor
Rachel May, the Democratic incumbent for New York state’s 48th Senate District, is “proud” of the work she’s done so far in her role, and hopes to continue on the work she’s done if re-elected. May is facing challenger Julie Abbott, who has broken with cer-
tain right-wing policies to build a more moderate platform compared to other Republicans. “I don’t like thinking about my children and grandchildren and their children growing up with such divisiveness,” Abbot said. Abbott, who currently represents Onondaga County’s 6th district in the county legislature, see election page 4