thursday, nov. 21, 2024
celebrating 121 years
4 november 21, 2024
free
november 21, 2024 5
N • Close to home
C • Thanksgiving Spread
S • Unorthodox journey
Ahead of a second Trump presidency, Ukrainian Student Association members are worried about the future of Ukraine’s war effort.
Syracuse University students eat a variety of dishes for holiday meals that reflect their cultural heritage and family traditions.
Dan Engelstad embarked on an unorthodox coaching journey over 17 years before landing in Syracuse as an assistant.
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Tense takeover Tradition S with a twist
By Rosina Boehm culture editor
Some Syracuse University students have the traditional Thanksgiving spread, and others have their family’s cultural staples
mells of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie typically fill an American home on Thanksgiving. All across the country, family and friends gather at dinner tables – likely with some version of the same menu. But some Syracuse University students have different Thanksgiving food traditions. Eating foods from their family’s culture along with the classic American spread creates a blend of their heritage and home in the U.S. “I don’t necessarily think it has to be specific to the pilgrims and the Mayflower,” junior Kaltra Qilleri said. “I think it can be done in any way, depending on what your culture is.” In responses to a Google form, students told the Daily Orange about their non-traditional additions to dinner. One student makes fun of her vegan sister who eats Tofurky. Another student eats lumpia — a Filipino spring roll — with their mashed potatoes and turkey; another eats Puerto Rican bacalao, or salted cod. Qilleri is a first-generation American, and both her parents immigrated from Albania. Her Thanksgiving table includes lamb
with spinach and cheese pies. For traditional Thanksgiving foods like green beans or stuffing, her family adds some Albanian flair with herbs like oregano or rosemary.
It’s cool because it’s a mix of both cultures, and it shows that you can still appreciate the traditions of one country, but then also hold true to your roots.
Ava Downey su junior
Qilleri wasn’t sure people were familiar with Albanian food, which she said is a mix between Middle Eastern food and Greek food, Qilleri said. Her family still makes a Thanksgiving turkey, with Qilleri’s mom taking the initiative and her helping out. Qilleri is tasked with chopping vegetables, mixing ingredients or finding a not-too-sweet dessert recipe.
“Thank God she lets me in the kitchen,” Qilleri said. Junior Ava Downey’s Thanksgiving days growing up were a similar experience. Some friends would ask her if she celebrated the holiday since her family is from France. They do, and their meal choice is bouilleture d’anguilles, or eel stew, which is popular in northern France. Downey’s grandmother marinades the eel with red wine and cognac the night before. Then, she mixes it in a stew with vegetables, which masks some of the eel flavor. Downey called the dish an “acquired taste.” “It’s cool because it’s a mix of both cultures, and it shows that you can still appreciate the traditions of one country, but then also hold true to your roots,” Downey said. Fellow student Drin Kumi has a traditional spread, which he first described as “boring.” His Thanksgiving meal omits some classics preferentially — he puts less turkey on his plate because it’s simply “not that good.” “We might miss out on some dishes but (it is) by choice,” Kumi said. Freshman Bella Roberts has a large family gathering with the standard Thanksgiving foods, including her favorite: mashed potatoes. But this year, she’s going to Florida. The last time she was there for the holiday, her
grandma’s neighborhood country club had a buffet. Some students told The D.O. about non-food traditions, too. At one student’s Thanksgiving celebration, whoever makes turkey has the honor of wearing a turkey hat while cooking
It’s just getting with family, getting together, spending the day together, having a nice meal and just checking in with everyone.
Drin Kumi su student
the meal. Another has two separate full Thanksgiving meals. For all the students The D.O. spoke with, family was one of the biggest parts of the celebration. “It’s just getting with family, getting together, spending the day together, having a nice meal and just checking in with everyone,” Kumi said. Qilleri said 20 of her family members usually get together for Thanks-
By Duncan Green and Delia Rangel the daily orange
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giving, but their biggest holiday is Christmas, when the celebrations double in size. “Every holiday that we get an opportunity to celebrate, we always go all out because it’s just an opportunity for us to go crazy, see everybody,” Qilleri said. Sophomore Sarah Ishmael has a more intimate gathering than those of Qilleri and Roberts. With just her parents and grandparents, Ishmael has the full traditional meal, with an emphasis on macaroni and cheese. This year, Ishmael and her friends will share a potluck in Syracuse since they’re staying on campus for the break. She’s excited to make baked macaroni and cheese and cornbread for the potluck, but said she’ll miss her family. Earlier this month, she tried out a cornbread recipe for the Citrus Dolls’ Friendsgiving event. It was a hit. While many students on campus will still have a traditional Thanksgiving meal or parts of one, these students are grateful to have distinct traditions. “It just shows that there doesn’t have to be conflict between different cultures and run them in the same environment and setting, which I think is really cool,” Downey said. “And I think growing up, I appreciate that.” rlboehm@syr.edu
Student- and full-time employees say the SU Campus Stores’ transition to Barnes & Noble ownership has raised concerns
unior Cam Cyr was excited to start working at the Syracuse University Campus Store earlier this fall. He was looking forward to joining a new community and earning money to put toward his degree. But upon arriving, he said he was surprised by the tense environment he walked into. He said his new colleagues were “depressed and angry,” and he didn’t understand why. After a week on the job, one of his colleagues relayed the news that Barnes & Noble College, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble Education, was taking over the store. On Oct. 21, Syracuse Campus Store student employees received an email from SU, which The Daily Orange obtained, informing them they would have to reapply for their current positions or seek new employment. The university announced in an Oct. 2 SU News release that BNC would take over all operations of its campus stores by Jan. 1, 2025. Student employees were encouraged to reapply by Nov. 1 to increase their chances of being rehired, but no student or full-time employees were guaranteed a position.
For the people that aren’t coming back, it was kind of like a slap in the face. Cam Cyr su junior
Syracuse University announced in an Oct. 2 news release that Barnes & Noble would take over all operations of its campus stores by Jan. 1, 2025. lars jendruschewitz photo editor | flynn ledoux illustration editor
Under the store’s new management, student employees will no longer be able to use BNC employment for Federal WorkStudy awards, according to the Oct. 21 email FWS is a form of financial aid allowing eligible students to work part-time to help pay for their education. “I could tell that (my supervisors) were upset,” Cyr said. “They were trying to be nice to me, but I could see through it. It was definitely not a good first experience.” After just a few weeks on the job, Cyr quit. Roughly 25 of the campus store’s staff members are full-time employees, some of whom have held their roles for decades, said Aislinn Rose Guy, the branch manager of the Slocum Campus Supply store. Under new leadership, many employees are concerned about finding new work. Jazmin Perkins started working as a cashier in the campus store during her freshman year. Now a junior, Perkins said the takeover caught her off guard. She said the see takeover page 7
elections 2024
Syracuse University students reflect on voting for the 1st time By Madeline Goodheart
asst. digital editor
In the 2024 United States general election, numerous Syracuse University students said they embraced the opportunity to vote in a presidential election for the first time. National exit polls from NBC News, completed in 10 states, showed voters aged 18-29 made up 14% of the electorate in the 2024 election. This
54%
Voters aged 18-29 leaned more Democratic than any other age group, with 54% casting their ballots for blue candidates.
group leaned more Democratic than any other age group, with 54% casting their ballots for blue candidates. Among voters, 8% reported that 2024 was their first time participating in an election. Ben Martin, a junior advertising and entrepreneurship major, was among them. Instead of voting in Onondaga County, Martin said he opted for an absentee ballot in
his home state of Virginia, a choice many SU students also made. Martin said his decision was motivated due to Virginia’s swing state status. While all votes matter in the election, he said votes in swing states have a greater impact. But, the process wasn’t without its challenges. Martin said he found Virginia’s absentee ballot application website complicated to use. He expressed
concern that such barriers might deter rural and lower-income voters from registering or voting by mail. “I feel like our government should put in more effort to clean up the website and have it work for voters,” Martin said. Internet access remains an issue in Virginia, Martin said. According to Broadband Now, 13% of see voting page 7