Final steps
Mary Daly, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will deliver Syracuse University’s 2019 Commencement speech.
Business columnist Daniel Strauss warns new graduates that the job market may be hot right now, but it won’t stay that way forever.
Senior class marshals Abigail Covington and Danielle Schaf will carry the banner for the Class of 2019 at this year’s Commencement ceremony.
Senior Gabriela Knutson became the best tennis player in Syracuse history, leading the Orange to the NCAA tournament three times.
STUDENT SPECIALS AVAILABLE
Walking the path
By India Miraglia asst. news editor
Syracuse University will hold its 2019 commencement ceremony Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Carrier Dome. Each school and college at SU will also hold its own convocation and commencement ceremonies for graduating students Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the university-wide commencement.
College of Arts and Sciences
The convocation for undergraduate Arts and Sciences students will take place Saturday in the Dome at 8:30 a.m. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held at 10:30 a.m. in tents on the Quad. Dina Eldawy, Nathan Shearn and Cristina Colón Feliciano will serve as marshals for the college.
The Arts and Sciences graduate convocation will also
What you need to know for each convocation event
be held Saturday in Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium at 2 p.m. The graduate reception will be held at 3 p.m. in Strasser Commons at Eggers Hall.
College of Engineering and Computer Science
The College of Engineering and Computer Science will hold its convocation Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in the Manley Field House. Mary Spio, a Class of 1998 graduate, will speak at the convocation. Spio is the founder and CEO of CEEK
see convocations page 4
5 things to know about Mary Daly
By Emma Folts asst. news editor
Mary Daly, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, is Syracuse University’s 2019 commencement speaker. Here are five things you should know about Daly before she gives her speech on May 12:
She’s an SU graduate Daly received
her doctorate in economics from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public A fairs in 1994.
“Syracuse gave me a real sense of intellectual community,” Daly said in an interview with The Daily Orange. “One of the reasons I chose the Fed at San Francisco was because it had that same sense of intellectual community.”
Prior to studying at SU, Daly earned her master’s at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her bachelor’s at University of Missouri, Kansas City. She dropped out of high school at age 15, but later
earned her GED diploma before going to college.
She’s worked at the Fed for more than two decades Daly was appointed president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in October 2018, following more than 20 years of work at the Reserve. She joined the Fed in 1996 as an economist and went on to hold several leadership positions before becoming the bank’s executive vice president and director of economic see daly page 4
VR, a virtual and augmented reality company. Simone Burns and Ruby Batbaatar will be the college’s marshals. A reception will be held at 10:30 a.m. in a tent at Manley.
College of Law
The commencement for the College of Law will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the Dome. The college will hold a reception at 1 p.m. in the Levy Atrium at Dineen Hall.
Erika Simonson will serve as the marshal for the College of Law. Reshma Saujani, CEO and founder of Girls Who Code, will give the commencement speech.
College of Visual and Performing Arts
VPA’s convocation for undergraduate and graduate students will take place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Dome. Oscar-nominated director Chris Renaud, a Class of 1989 graduate, will speak at the convocation. Steven Visceglia and Kali Wilson will be the college’s
grad guide 2019
Graduates to see better job prospects
By Gillian Follett asst. copy editor
Recent economic growth across the country has created a promising job market for Syracuse University’s graduating Class of 2019, multiple SU career advisers said. Employers will hire about 17% more graduates from the Class of 2019 than from the Class of 2018, according to a job outlook survey
by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The 2019 hiring estimation is the association’s highest projection since 2007. The economy grew about 3% in the first quarter of
graphics by talia trackim presentation director
Syracuse restaurants prepare for graduation weekend
By Molly Gibbs senior staff photographer
Several Syracuse restaurants are increasing their scheduled sta f, planning specials and stocking up on food and supplies in preparation for Syracuse University’s 2019 commencement ceremony.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, located just north of Clinton Square, is making sure the restaurant is cooking food in advance and has more sta f working, said Jason Ryan, the marketing director of the chain’s Syracuse location.
“Because our food takes so long to smoke and get ready, when we run out, we run out,” Ryan said.
Data also help the restaurant anticipate how much food will need to be made. Susi Stein, the managing partner at the Syracuse location, said the restaurant uses data that show how much food was made at the same time the previous year, within two-hour increments.
“Anytime we have big events like graduation, we can look back and see how much food we sold on that day,” Stein said.
Stein said dinner is usually the restaurant’s peak time during graduation weekend, with people coming straight from the graduation ceremony to get a table. There’s usually
page 3
research. In that position, she oversaw research and ofered economic analysis.
Daly has been called “the people’s economist” for her eforts to increase the public’s understanding of economics and for her ability to explain economic ideas simply and concisely, according to the Fed’s website about its history.
She works to improve diversity in economics
Daly became the first openly gay woman to lead a Federal Reserve bank when she was named as the San Francisco Fed’s president and CEO last fall, CNN Business reported.
The Federal Reserve system, as well as the economics profession as a whole, has begun to focus on the lack of diversity, Daly said in an interview.
“Not just trying to make sure that people feel well-treated, but making sure that we actually are an inclusive profession and one that does our best work because we have everyone we need around the table,” she said.
Daly’s work at the San Francisco Fed included increasing the number of women and minority college graduates in the Fed’s research assistant program.
The San Francisco Fed sent more than 200 letters to universities and colleges across the country, informing them about
marshals.
A hooding ceremony — where VPA master’s degree recipients receive their master’s hoods from the college’s faculty — will also be held Saturday in Setnor Auditorium at 4:30 p.m. The reception for both the convocation and the hooding ceremony will be held at 9 p.m. in the Dome.
David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Falk will hold its convocation Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Manley Field House. A reception will be held at 6:15 p.m. in a tent at Manley. Anthony de la Fuente and Mary Mik will serve as marshals. Falk’s convocation speaker will be Brandon Steiner, chair of the college’s Sport Management Advisory Board. Steiner is a Class of 1981 graduate.
Graduate School
A hooding ceremony for doctoral students will be held on Friday at 5 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium at Schine Student Center. The school will hold a reception in Schine’s Panasci Lounge at 6 p.m. The ceremony and reception are invitation-only. Jacob Hall will be the Gradu-
a two-hour wait the Saturday of graduation, she said.
Ryan said the restaurant hopes the weather will be nice so people can have a drink or sit outside.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is holding a Mother’s Day bu fet the same weekend as commencement on May 12. The Mother’s Day event was reservation-only last year, but the restaurant’s ground floor accepts walk-ins.
“We’ve got 31 years of experience, so we’ve kind of got it down to a science for the most part,” Stein said.
The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Empire Brewing Company
Empire Brewing Company’s bar manager, Kyle Schirtz, said the brewpub is preparing for graduation weekend by stocking up supplies and keeping extra sta f on.
“Pretty much no one can take that weekend of,” he said.
The restaurant features locally-sourced food and beers from more than 60 central New York farmers. It started receiving calls for reservations in January and finished booking reservations about a month ago, he said. Peak time for the restaurant, located in Armory
the Fed’s diversity and inclusion eforts. “In the end we got 50-50 gender diversity in the first year,” Daly said.
She authored two books
Daly is the co-author of two economicsconcentrated books published in 1996 and 2011.
Her first book, “Income Mobility and the Middle Class,” discusses the causes behind the shrinking middle class.
“The Declining Work and Welfare of People with Disabilities: What Went Wrong and a Strategy for Change,” her latest book, covers economic concerns surrounding disability insurance policies in the United States.
She served on multiple government boards Daly has served on the advisory boards of the Institute of Medicine, the Social Security Administration and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. Like the Fed, these institutions are public service organizations. Daly said she wanted to contribute to public policies that better the lives of all Americans.
“It’s all about promoting inclusive growth, making sure people have the tools and the opportunities that they need in order to be successful in their own lives,” Daly said.
esfolts@syr.edu | @emmafolts
ate School’s marshal.
Martin J. Whitman School of Management
The Whitman convocation will be held in the Dome at 4 p.m. Saturday. A reception in Whitman, at 6 p.m., will follow the ceremony. The school’s marshals will be Rachel Anne Melvin and Hendrik Hilpert.
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Afairs
Maxwell’s undergraduate convocation will be held Saturday in the Dome at 8:30 a.m., as part of the Arts and Sciences undergraduate convocation. Receptions for the schools’ different majors will be held at 11 a.m. at various locations around Maxwell and Eggers halls.
A convocation for Maxwell’s graduate students will take place on Friday at 10 a.m. in Hendricks Chapel. At 11:30 a.m., a reception will be held at the Maxwell Hall patio and foyer.
School of Architecture
The School of Architecture will hold its undergraduate and graduate convocation Saturday at 9 a.m. in Hendricks. Caroline Barrick and Ethan Russell-Benoit will serve as marshals. Mike Haynie, SU’s vice chancellor for strategic
Square, is around late Saturday afternoon when the commencement ceremonies end, Schirtz said.
The kitchen is open Monday and Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bar closes depending on how busy Empire Brewing Company is for the night.
Pastabilities
Pastabilities, located in Armory Square, doesn’t usually take reservations. For Friday and Saturday of commencement, however, the restaurant accepted some large party reservations.
“We don’t book the entire restaurant, so we don’t confuse people that know us for not taking reservations,” said Gabriel Angelone, the manager of Pastabilities.
Pastabilities started taking reservations in the beginning of January and was fully booked by March. The restaurant receives calls for graduation up to a year in advance, Angelone said. Angelone said he makes sure the sta f is prepared for the weekend, in addition to taking reservations.
“We’re kind of fully sta fed that weekend regardless if it was graduation or not,” Angelone said. “We’re just staying on our toes, mak-
page 3 jobs
saw unprecedented job gains, with January marking the 100th straight month of increases in employment, The Washington Post reported.
Any graduating students without a job after graduation have a fairly good chance of finding one in the next few weeks, Perrello said. In the information technology field, for example, employers are expected to increase their hires by 11% this year because of the recent employment boom.
“What I see is that this is really going to give employers a big confidence boost to do a major hiring push,” Perrello said.
Employment rates have grown slowly since the 2009 job market crash, said Kelly Barnett, director of the Career Development Center at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Gradual growth is more promising than a sudden spike because it indicates a stable upward trend in the job market, she said.
Susan Call, assistant director of the School of Architecture’s Career Services, also anticipates that 2019 will be good for college graduates seeking employment. The job market has improved from last year, Call said. On campus, architecture students have participated in job interviews at SU to further increase their chances of finding a job, she added.
initiatives and innovation, is the school’s convocation speaker.
Following the convocation, a reception will be in Slocum Hall at 10:30 a.m.
School of Education
The convocation for the School of Education will take place on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Manley. A reception will be held at 1:45 p.m. in a tent at Manley.
Cerri Banks, an SU alumna and the dean of students and vice president for student a fairs at Skidmore College, will speak at the convocation. The school’s marshals will be Lauren Czudak and Emily Durand.
School of Information Studies
The iSchool will hold its undergraduate convocation Saturday at noon in Goldstein Auditorium. A reception will follow the ceremony at 1:15 p.m. in Panasci. Spio will serve as the convocation speaker. A convocation for iSchool graduate students will also be held Saturday in Goldstein Auditorium, at 3 p.m. A reception will be held in Panasci at 4:30 p.m.
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications Newhouse’s convocation will take place Sat-
ing sure we’re doing our best.”
Angelone said the wait time for a table can reach two to three hours on graduation weekend. In preparation for the long waits, the restaurant tries to keep customers happy with drink and food specials. Pastabilities will also call customers when their table is ready, allowing them to leave and explore downtown Syracuse while they wait.
Pastabilities is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch. And Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner.
Modern Malt
Modern Malt is a diner located in the Armory Square that blends American-style diner food with modern elements. General manager Trey Alvarez said the restaurant is preparing for graduation by scheduling extra sta f for weekend shifts.
“Any time we have a busy week or weekend coming up, we’re always keeping extra people on,” Alvarez said.
He said Modern Malt doesn’t take reservations. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
mogibbs@syr.edu
Call said networking is the most important part of successfully landing a job in any field. About 75 to 85% of jobs are obtained through connections in a company, she said, not through applications.
Some jobs are never even posted online and can only be obtained through networking, especially for graduates in the communication industry, Barnett said. Building personal relationships with company employees or recruiters is often a necessary step of being hired, she said.
“It’s by having people knowing who you are and what you want to do that you’re going to increase your chances of finding that job,” Barnett said.
Graduating students can also find thousands of jobs on Handshake, a career recruiting platform used by SU, said Mary Kay Montville, interim director of Career Services at the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Jobs in computer science and electrical engineering are in high demand, but opportunities can be found for many other careers as well, she said.
A student’s soft skills, or personal characteristics, are an increasingly important part of the hiring process, Montville said. Instead of focusing on their technical skills, students should demonstrate their personality and passion for their work during job interviews, she added.
gifollet@syr.edu
urday at 12:30 p.m. in the Dome. The school’s marshals will be Megan Falk and Joseph Pucciarelli. Class of 1985 graduate Doug Robinson will speak at the convocation. Robinson is the founder of Doug Robinson Productions, a production company.
A reception will be held at 2:30 p.m. in tents on the Quad.
University College
The convocation for University College will be held Thursday in Hendricks at 6 p.m. There will be a reception after the ceremony at 7 p.m. in Tent A on the Quad. The college’s marshal will be Holly Terry.
The Renée Crown University Honors Program
The Renée Crown University Honors Program will hold a ceremony for its graduating students in Hendricks at 3 p.m. Friday. The program will hold a reception at 4 p.m in Tent A on the Quad.
SUNY-ESF
SUNY-ESF will holds its 2019 commencement ceremony Saturday at 2 p.m. It will be held at the SRC Arena and Events Center at Onondaga Community College. irmiragl@syr.edu | @IndyRow
from
The job market won’t be hot forever
The year is 2019. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed college seniors are eager to graduate and start their careers. Fortunately for this year’s graduates, they’re entering one of the healthiest job markets in decades.
But, the blazing job market is going to cool of eventually, and when it does, graduates need to be prepared to weather the storm.
The class of 2019 has grown up in one of longest periods of economic expansion in history. At the height of the financial crisis in 2008, the unemployment rate was close to 10%, according to Bureau of Labor statistics. As of March 2019, the unemployment rate was 3.8%.
College graduates will be able to find jobs relatively easily this year.
That won’t always be the case.
When the next economic downturn begins, it’s going to look very di ferent from the last.
During the 2008 recession, the global economy experienced a significant shock to the financial system. Banks and other financial institutions were repackaging and selling bad loans, and when they defaulted, it sent waves through the global economy.
Lara Rhame, the chief U.S. economist at FS Investments, said the economy and financial system looks much di ferent today than it did in 2008. It’s likely the next economic slowdown will be much more gradual as opposed to the
DANIEL
STRAUSS
DON’T WORRY, IT’S JUST BUS I NESS
financial paralysis that hit in 2008, Rhame said.
“The next seven years are not going to look as the prior seven years,” she said. “It’s unlikely we’re going to be able to maintain this level of job growth.”
Despite the inevitability of a recession, there are still steps college graduates can take to protect themselves in a slower job market in the future. Rhame said graduates need to think about being flexible in what jobs they take down the road and where those jobs are located.
“If you do find yourself without a job and your priority is to get a new job, looking across the country can really give you an advantage,” she said.
When the job market is slower, it’s also helpful to recognize how skills can be transferred across industries, Rhame said.
Michael LaMarche, SU’s Director of Career Services, Assessment and Student Success, suggested students invest heavily in their network and engage with their college alumni community. He also said he would encourage students to stick it out with jobs they might not enjoy to build what he calls “professional equity” because it could lead to
more desirable jobs in the future.
“When anyone starts their career right out of college, they really have to be focused on their career and performing extremely well,” LaMarche said. “When you do well, that’s when other opportunities become available.”
It’s important for graduates to remember that their first job isn’t their last job. Even if a recent graduate is stuck in a role they don’t like, it won’t be that way forever. By sticking it out in a job and learning as much as possible, it will pay of in the future.
Steve Kovach, a technology editor for CNBC.com, graduated from Syracuse University at the peak of the financial crisis in 2008, when jobs were extremely hard to come by. Kovach ended up taking a job he really didn’t want while looked for a role in his desired field.
For seniors starting their first jobs in a couple of months, Kovach recommends working hard to putting in extra hours and asking questions.
“Those are the kind of people employers keep around — the invaluable people, the people who they know they can rely on and literally can’t live without,” he said.
-30Daniel Strauss is a senior finance major and public communications minor. He can be reached at dstrauss@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @_danielstrauss.
liberal
2020 election could help solve student debt crisis
Graduating from a private university like Syracuse can be a shocking realization of how expensive it is to attend college in America. SU’s tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 year totaled $51,853 and the cost of attendance was $70,637. Tuition is set to increase by 3.9 percent for the upcoming academic year.
According to recent student loan debt statistics, more than 44 million Americans collectively owe about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt.
“Accomplishing a college education in America is not easy given all the costs it takes,” said Ruth A. Siesfeld, a graduating senior majoring in communications and rhetorical studies. “As a graduating senior at Syracuse, I feel the worry of repaying my student loans due to how SU is an expensive institution and there are added expenses when it comes to housing and books.”
As the 2020 election cycle approaches, student debt forgiveness policies have become prominent parts of multiple campaign platforms. It’s an election cycle millennials and Gen Zers should watch closely.
Candidates like Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand and Beto O’Rourke support
BRITTANY ZELADA LEFT IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION moderate
Stay involved with SU after graduation
As the class of 2019 makes the transition from students to alumni, their connections to the university and its younger students are as important as ever. They will become part of the ever-growing Orange Network, which is already about 200,000 alumni strong.
Becoming part of the SU alumni network means access to planned trips with other alumni, career services and workshops sponsored by the Alumni Association and even some different types of insurance.
While these assets are important, the relationship past and current students forge is even more valuable. On both ends, networking is increasingly important in job-hunting.
For students, alumni net-
AUREN SPIEZIA
I THER BLUE NOR RED
work connections can bring job or internship opportunities. For alumni, it can help them share their own experiences with younger generations and fill open positions at their places of work with others from their alma mater.
Jenna Collins, SU’s associate director of alumni professional development and outreach, values this reciprocal communication.
“Often these relationships lead to more career opportunities, mentorships and larger networks for both students and alumni,” Collins said.
“No matter what, I think both groups can learn from one another if they
stay connected.”
Keeping in touch with students also allows alumni to stay up-todate with events happening on campus and possibly put themselves in the position to contribute to them, either as guest speakers, volunteers or attendees. Alumni frequently attend career fairs, convocations, job interview workshops and other events on campus.
Staying engaged with SU creates the opportunity for feedback that could help them reflect and better prepare current students for the job market. A strong alumni presence strengthens SU and benefits all members of the orange community. Stay involved.
Lauren Spiezia is a freshman newspaper and online journalism major. She can be reached at lespiezi@syr.edu
the expansion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that forgives the remaining balance on direct loans after certain payment and employment requirements are met. Bernie Sanders has been a strong advocate for free education for low income families and low student loan interest rates, introducing the College for All Act. The Trump administration has proposed measures to expand student loan forgiveness to undergraduates and graduate students.
The majority of candidates also agree on improving the transparency of student loan refinance programs and making information on repayment plans and aid more accessible.
Many candidates’ proposals could dramatically shake up America’s student debt crisis, so it is important that graduates explore each candidate’s plans and vote for their interests. That legwork now could prove beneficial in a long term.
Brittany Zelada is a junior communications and rhetorical studies major. She can be reached at bezelada@syr.edu.
By Natalie Rubio-Licht
1. SU campus put on lockdown after nearby shooting — October 2015 Syracuse University was put on a two-hour lockdown when two suspects involved in the shooting of two minors close to campus fled to Oakwood Cemetery. SU and SUNY-ESF students were locked indoors while SPD ofcers filled Comstock Avenue.
2. Joe Biden speaks at Syracuse University — November 2015
Then-Vice President Joe Biden visited SU to discuss domestic and sexual violence, as part of the White House’s campaign “It’s On US.” The movement aims to end sexual assault on college campuses. Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also spoke at the event.
3. Syracuse University given top tier research ranking — February 2016 SU was named a top tier research institution by the 2015 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. SU was moved from an R2 designation to an R1 designation in the most recent rankings. Carnegie Classification is the industry standard for ranking research institutions.
4. Whitman Dean arrested on charges of prostitution — September 2016
Kenneth Kavajecz, former dean of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, was arrested on the charge of patronizing a prostitute. He pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2017 and accepted a teaching position at the University of Stavanger in Norway in January 2018.
5. Donald Trump elected 45th United States president — November 2016
Republican candidate Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton following a controversial election. Trump won a number of swing states, including Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
6. Ride-hailing services to begin operating in upstate New York — June 2017
New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that allowed ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to begin operating in upstate New York. The bill included requirements for the companies, such as a valid driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles and a criminal background check for each driver.
7. Syracuse University experiences mumps outbreak — October 2017
After a campus-wide mumps outbreak that began among student-athletes, 54 students contracted the disease, with more than 90 others having “probable” cases. Some students had to be quarantined for days.
8. SU suspends Theta Tau fraternity — April 2018
SU’s chapter of the Theta Tau fraternity was expelled following the release of videos that Chancellor Kent Syverud called “extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist, and hostile to people with disabilities.” In one of the videos, a student repeated racial slurs on his knees as part of an “oath.”
9. Jim Boeheim hits, kills man on I-690 — February 2019
Head basketball coach Jim Boeheim struck and killed a man on Interstate 690. Jorge Jimenez, 51, was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Boeheim did not face charges following the crash.
10. Syracuse senior Frank Howard suspended for failed drug test — March 2019
Senior point guard Frank Howard was suspended after failing a drug test before the NCAA Tournament. The penalty for failing an NCAA test related to performance-enhancing drugs causes a student-athlete to lose one full year of eligibility for a first ofense. nrrubiol@syr.edu | @natalierubio_
TOP 10 MOMENTS
Here’s a roundup of the biggest news stories from the past four years 9 7 5 3 1
Thursday, May 9 9pm-1am
Ensley Center - South Campus
Free bussing will be provided, starting at 8:30pm from: Goldstein Student Center, College Place, Westcott/Euclid
Tickets available at Schine Box Offce
Graduating Seniors: FREE Guests: $12
Beer bracelets (cash only) - $3 for 3 tabs
Available for purchase from 9:00pm - 12:00am, last call 12:30am
Must have VALID ID and be 21 or older to purchase bracelet
**Event will be on turf, proper foot wear is encouraged**
**Cosplaying/Dressing up is encouraged (no weapons allowed)**
Screen to stage
“Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander will direct “The Last Five Years” at Syracuse Stage this month.
Graduation guidance
Recent Syracuse alumni share advice for the Class of 2019 on what life is like after college.
Leading voices
Senior class marshals reflect on leadership, activism during time at SU
is a writing studies, rhetoric and composition major and a leader in multiple student organizations.
Story by Izzy Bartling asst. copy editor
Photos by Aaron Kassman staff photographer
Seniors Abigail Covington and Danielle Schaf stepped onto Syracuse University’s campus four years ago with the goal of making their marks. As senior class marshals, Schaf and Covington will lead the Class of 2019 by carrying the class banner at SU’s 165th Commencement ceremony.
The two have been working the entire 2018-19 year to represent and advocate for members of the student body at a number of university-wide events and programs. Both were present at the Ackerman Avenue assault forum in February
Some students at Syracuse University take their graduation pictures in front of the Hall of Languages and on the Carrier Dome field, but if you’re looking to switch things up here are places in Syracuse that may be more low-key but are just as aesthetically pleasing.
Thornden Park
Thornden Park, located adjacent to SU, has become a favorite wedding location in the Syracuse park system and the perfect spot to take photos, according to the City of
Check out The D.O.’s
and
grad guide 2019
, a triple major, served as residential adviser at Shaw and Sadler Hall for three years.
and the new student convocations in August 2018 and January of this year.
Through their campus involvement, both Covington and Schaf have aimed to bring awareness to problems on campus that a fect all students. Schaf said the dynamic she and Covington have together allows them to amplify each other’s strength and ability to question the institutions before them.
“We’re both there to support each other,” Schaf said. “We’re there to talk to each other and we’re there to make sure that we’re both doing well outside of our role as class marshal before we start doing actions within the role.”
For both Schaf and Covington, campus involvement has been driven by their personal experiences.
see marshals page 10
locations for graduation photos
Syracuse. This large community green space includes the E.M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden, a space filled with more than 3,000 rose bushes of countless varieties that bloom during the summer and surround a small gazebo. At this time of year, the roses haven’t bloomed yet, but the garden is a vibrant green with vines that rest upon the many arches found along the paths. There is also a lily pond located across from the rose garden and at the top of brick staircase, which also leads to small waterfall and another garden.
Elmwood Park
One of the city of Syracuse’s green spaces is Elmwood Park, located at the heart of Syracuse’s Southside, about a 15 minute drive from SU. The extensive creek that snakes through the length of the park has little falls and rapids that flow beneath a cobblestone bridge. The rugged landform decorated with rustic stone stairs and walls creates a natural, forested backdrop for photos.
Onondaga Lake Park
Onondaga Lake Park, also known as “The Central Park of central New York,” is a 7.5 mile greenway that serves as a local favorite for walks by the water, picnics and Instagram-
SU religious groups celebrate graduates
Mandy Kraynak asst. copy editor
As Commencement weekend approaches, many graduating seniors involved in religious organizations on campus are preparing to say goodbye to their communities of faith and friendship at Syracuse University.
Several religious organizations have scheduled events for SU’s 2019 Commencement. These events both honor faith traditions and celebrate the achievements of graduates.
The Catholic Association will hold a Baccalaureate Mass at the Catholic Center at 2:30 p.m. on May 12. Father Gerry Waterman, the Roman Catholic chaplain at SU, said the Catholic Association’s Baccalaureate Mass is at tradition that has existed for at least 50 years at SU.
“It is our final way of saying thank you for all of your service and your participation,” Waterman said. “And you go away with our prayers and our care.”
Eoin Rapp, a student at SUNYESF and the president of the Catholic Association, described the Baccalaureate Mass for graduating seniors and their families as a “rather quiet mass” with “a very personal group of people.”
Many students said they found friendship and support through religious organizations. Cary Lam, a graduating senior involved with the Catholic Association, came to SU as a transfer student. He said he joined the Catholic Association as a way to find friends and fit in, as well as to continue pursuing his faith.
The Baptist Campus Ministry will hold a gathering for graduates and their families immediately following the commencement ceremony.
worthy pictures. This park’s main feature is Onondaga Lake, where people like to walk and sit on benches situated along its edge.
Clinton Square
Clinton Square is the hub of downtown Syracuse, where an ice rink is featured during the winter along with many farmers’ markets and cultural fests in the warmer months. This area has served as a gathering place for people for many years and continues to do so with its water fountain shooting jets into the sunlight and statues reflecting the open scenery. Clinton Square is a photo
Spencer Gafa, a senior and the president of Christian Outreach, a student-run campus group connected to the Baptist Campus Ministry, said that leading the organization was one of his favorite experiences at SU. Although he will be graduating, he is excited to see Christian Outreach continue to grow as new students join.
“I’m really excited for the future of Christian Outreach because there’s a lot of people who have gotten involved really quickly,” Gafa said.
Members of Lutheran Campus Ministry will gather in the Small Chapel in Hendricks Chapel immediately after the commencement ceremony for a graduation service. The Rev. Gail Riina, the chaplain of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at SU, said that it will be a service of a thanksgiving as well as a send-of see religion page 10
By Izzy Bartling asst. copy editor
When Schaf came to SU, she said she felt the weight of being the first in her family to go to college. Schaf said she struggled her first semester as she attempted to navigate the new academic terrain alone — she couldn’t seem to find her place. But by the time second semester came around, she began to realize where she fit in on campus.
The position of class marshal has given Schaf the chance to represent first-generation and low-income college students as well as students from single-parent homes. She is proud of the identities she holds and embraces them in order to make room for change.
The experiences she had that first semester got her thinking about other first year students transitioning into college. She said her drive to help inspired her to become a resident adviser.
Schaf has served as a resident adviser for three years at Shaw and Sadler Hall, helping first-year students transition to college. While balancing her job as an RA, she has also become an executive board member of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Team and co-president of the Undergraduate Anthropology Club. Schaf is triple majoring in anthropology, forensic science and writing studies, rhetoric and composition, earning Dean’s list
Hillel Jewish Student Union is hosting a senior class brunch on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life and will include a champagne toast. Reservations for the annual brunch should be made no later than May 8, according to a Facebook post. Hillel also ofered a senior Shabbat on May 3 at the center.
Noah Steinberg, the president of the Student Buddhist Association, decided to get involved with the organization at the beginning of his freshman year. His father, a meditation teacher, encouraged him to continue mediation in college. By leading
honors each semester.
Schaf attributes her personal growth to the mentors she has come across on campus. She said she’s thankful for her mother for being an inspiration and for sacrificing so much for her to be where she is today.
“I’ve encountered so many professors who’ve been women, not only in the department of anthropology, but also in the department of writing who have significantly shaped my mind, my character, my whole intellect and just me as a person,” she said.
Schaf said that each opportunity at SU has shaped her into the empathetic individual she is today. She adds that these opportunities have empowered her to gain confidence in her own skills.
Covington also carries a similar leadership mentality, said senior Kelsey Davis. Davis and Covington met during their idea2Startup class at the School of Information Studies their junior year. Working together in a group project, Davis knew from the start that Covington was a leader. Honest, loyal and collaborative by nature are some of the ways Davis describes one of her closest friends.
“She’s a complete photo representation of what I believe our Class of 2019 represents,” Davis said.
As a writing studies, rhetoric and composition major in the College of Arts and Sciences,
the association, Steinberg said it has kept him on track with his practice along with an opportunity to meet and connect with other students.
“Just being able to meet so many people has really left an impression on me,” Steinberg said. “We’re able to meet and interface and have really introspective experiences.”
The Student Buddhist Association is not hosting a separate graduation event.
The Muslim Student Association is holding an event at sundown on the quad on May 8. Hassina Adams, president of MSA, said she relied on MSA to help her make friends and acclimate to SU. She adds that MSA serves as a group that ofered her support and guidance.
along with having minors in public communications and information technology, design and startups, Covington said her involvement across campus has contributed to her growth as a leader.
We’re there to talk to each other and we’re there to make sure that we’re both doing well outside of our role as class marshal before we start doing actions within the role.
Danielle Schaf 2019 senior class marshal
“I’ve been able to do a lot of diferent academic work … but I’ve also been able to just have a great social experience, and I think that balance is hard for some people to find,” she said.
Covington also leads as the vice president of internal a fairs in the Black Leadership Network. She added that the experience of being
“There are times that you feel isolated because of a lot of things that happen in the media,” Adams said. “Having these people that you can turn to when you feel that way helps you not to feel as if you are on your own.”
MSA will honor its graduating members at the sundown event.
“We try to recognize our seniors and wish them well on their journey after graduating,” she said.
Students of various faith traditions have found friendship and support in religious communities on campus. As graduating seniors prepare to leave SU, many will meet with these communities to celebrate their accomplishments alongside their faith.
ackrayna@syr.edu
a part of the black and African community on campus defined her overall experience at SU. She also held the position of co-chair of programming for Empowering Minds Movement Conference, aimed to develop highschool students into leaders.
“I definitely have been able to indulge and really get my reach across diferent areas of campus, which has been amazing,” Covington said.
As a class marshal, Covington said she spends a significant amount of time using the direct path she has with upper-level administration to sit down and talk about student experience changes. One way she has used her position is by talking to the financial aid department on more transparent collaboration for aid, particularly for first year students or students applying by themselves.
Covington said it can be daunting for her and Schaf speak on behalf of the Class of 2019 regarding feedback the student experience. This is why she intentionally gathers input from diverse voices in order to develop a wellrounded perspective.
“We know that we carry a large burden,” Covington said. “But at the same time, I think that’s where we draw a lot of our power from — in that we understand that a lot of marginalized communities are being represented when we step into a room,”
icbartli@syr.edu
spot for capturing Syracuse’s fea tures and the excitement that graduation brings.
Niagara Mohawk Building
This building encapsulates the historical architecture of Syracuse with its bold Art Deco style and historical, yet modern, touches. Graduates will be taken into the past with photos taken in front of the metallic and cement layered pillars that work to capture the architectural style of such landmarks as the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. icbartli@syr.edu
Nicole Levy’s style has ‘changed the way people rip it’
By KJ Edelman sports editor
Nicole Levy knew her underhanded passes were a bit flashy. She admits she liked the attention that came with every dish. Walking of the field after a youth lacrosse tournament in ninth grade, someone approached Levy about them. Those passes, the ones praised her entire life, were seen as a selfish act.
Sometimes, her cutting teammates couldn’t catch those passes, even if they hit their sticks. The person blamed Levy and said she should adjust her game. But Levy didn’t listen.
Her style of play, a resemblance of the qualities praised in men’s lacrosse, was being labeled as unconventional. The teenager walked away in tears, and her father Steve followed trying to reassure her.
“He’s like ‘Don’t listen to them, keep being you, eventually it’s going to pay of,’” Levy said. “And it has, so he was right.”
Other than her father, SU head coach Gary Gait was one of the first to support the high schooler’s creative play, and Levy has brought it with her to Syracuse. The style that’s put her on SportsCenter. The style that’s been faceguarded on the defensive end and mimicked on the other. And the one that’s changed the game for “big shooters” with behind-the-back repertoires. As the senior nears the end of her illustrious four-year career at Syracuse this month, Levy plans on becoming a collegiate coach — one that doesn’t hinder creativity, but embraces it.
“That’s just how I play,” Levy said. “If people are going to praise that then that’s great. If not, too bad, because it works.”
Levy’s six cousins, all boys, molded her complicated moves and innovative shots. She didn’t watch women’s lacrosse until she was a sophomore in high school. Instead, Levy was put in a local boys lacrosse summer camp at 4 years old.
She treaded the sidelines of Steve’s over-35 tournaments in Lake Placid. And when her cousins tagged along, they’d challenge other
team’s younger siblings. In most cases, she was the only girl around.
“I think as soon as I touched the ball once, I had proved myself,” Levy said.
Her natural tendency to play below-theshoulders soon became a point of criticism by Levy’s old program director, a rival of Steve’s in Long Island. When Steve got light of this, he simply responded: “I’m not going to make her play any other way.”
By her sophomore year of high school, the reactions were still mixed. During one camp, she almost got in trouble for going behind the back. Then, the next weekend, players lined up and practiced sidearm one-by-one, trying to emulate their teammate. Levy’s play was not only welcomed, but praised by one of the sport’s greatest players in Gait. In the middle of a game her senior year, a referee approached Steve and told him that some opposing players had asked him to make Levy stop shooting so hard. “Yeah, I just laughed,” Steve said.
While Levy’s trick shots dazzled, the outside shot became a staple of her game around that time. Standing at 5-foot-2, she started to rip from eight, sometimes from 10 or 12 yards, because she couldn’t blow by her defenders like some midfielders. Levy needed to compensate for “not being that fast,” she said.
“It was kind of electrifying,” Steve said about her outside shot. “It’s the perfect storm.”
But, as a freshman, the attack who played primarily behind the goal wasn’t a centerpiece anymore — Kayla Treanor, Syracuse’s leading career-goal scorer, held that spot. Levy’s game was still unconventional, even in the college ranks, and the shy freshman didn’t know if it would translate.
That uneasiness was erased on one play midway through her first season. The ball rotated to Levy against Albany on a skip pass, and instead of finding a cutter, Levy darted toward the eight-meter. Steve and associate head coach Regy Thorpe remember being in awe of the velocity of her underhanded shot. Two steps outside of the eight, she hit nylon.
“Everything hit there,” Levy said. “I’m
thinking ‘Yeah, I’m an outside shooter. I can play like a guy.’ I can bring this aspect of men’s lacrosse into the women’s game and kind of change the game a little bit.”
An emulation of a Final Four team her freshman year wouldn’t come into fruition in her sophomore and junior season. Syracuse was in the midst of a rebuild with Levy at the crux of it until this season. Levy would still make highlight-reel plays, and her style wasn’t questioned like it was in high school.
She entered 2019 coming of a 41-goal season, second-most on SU, but in September an injury to her peroneal tendon caused Levy to get three screws in her ankle. As of a month ago, she’s now dealing with plantar fasciitis in her heel. The patented rips from the eightmeter are more of a rarity and, in turn, it has hampered her scoring abilities, Steve said. Now, Levy calls herself a “feeder and a leader.” She leads the Orange in assists (26). And when opponents switch their coverages
or leave someone uncovered, she’s the first to call it out. It’s a new role, she said, and she’s OK with it.
Up a player against Virginia in the first round of the ACC tournament, Levy shu fed onto the field. Men’s teams usually send their “man-up squad” always with one “big shooter” — Levy’s eager to point out that on this play, it was her. The ball floated around the net, and freshman Megan Carney, who was behind the goal, flipped it to an open Levy.
There was a cutter in the middle. Levy had space to run. But that’s not who she is. One step, then two. A long angle, eight meters from the net aiming for the top right. An underhanded follow-through turned into a stickdrop and an embrace with Gait.
“When Nicole stormed onto the scene her freshman year ripping it from outside, she had a lot of young players in the world doing the low-to-high,” Thorpe said. “She’s certainly changed the way people rip it now.” kjedelma@syr.edu | @KJEdelman
House
❑ 2, 3, 5, 6 Bedrooms
❑ Free Washer & Dryer ❑
EUCLID AVE
every Tuesday 1/2 price food all day long, including wings, burgers, eggplant!
In one picture, a young Voigt — sometimes dubbed “Chubba Bubba” because of his size — poses with JJ, Jarrett and Brett Queener. The Queeners — Brice, Brett, Sarah and Sylvia — all played lacrosse at Penn Yan, NY, and then in college. They popularized the sport locally in the early 2000s. And they all babysat the Voigt children.
They gave the toddlers mini lacrosse sticks to play with, marveling at Voigt as he notched behind-the-back goals. The three brothers dented drywall and once kicked out several of Voigt’s teeth in a scu fe. Laura trailed behind and tried to get Voigt to sit still and focus on school work for even an hour. He’d stand at the sink before bed, cradling his toothbrush like a lacrosse stick and imagining the glob of toothpaste was the ball.
As lacrosse became an obsession, so did Syracuse. On May 25, 2009, the Voigts crowded around a TV as Syracuse and Cornell dueled in Gillette Stadium for the national championship. Everyone antagonized Voigt as the Big Red appeared to close out the game, then watched Voigt celebrate when SU completed the comeback in overtime. When he played in the backyard, he’d pretend to be a lefty Syracuse attack, like JoJo Marasco.
As a sophomore, Voigt was scheduled to visit Syracuse on a Tuesday when an SU coach called his father, Jim, saying they wanted to move the visit to Wednesday. Jim was annoyed about missing a second day of work until he learned why: John Desko wanted to be at the meeting.
“After that, there was nobody (else),” Jim said of Voigt’s college aspirations. “Bradley said, ‘Can I commit right now?’” Voigt already aspired to win the Kraus-
son said, “But I knew I was going on to bigger and better things.”
The second most career wins in program history. Three NCAA tournament appearances, the only three in program history. And a top-five singles ranking, something no other SU player has come close to cracking. For the last four years, Knutson provided Syracuse with the program player it lacked for more than two decades. But, in the end, Knutson needed Syracuse more than it needed her.
Inside the Knutson family apartment connected to Dvur Kralove nad labem tenis, a Czech Republic tennis club, a small, triangular-shaped desk fills a divot in their small space. A television and two couches occupy the other three corners, but Knutson’s desk was her spot for her online work.
“To stare into the wall all day and having your back to your whole family, just staring into that tiny corner, is really depressing,” Knutson said. “That was my thing for a while, staring at a wall.”
When she was bored, Knutson would rotate
Simmons trophy for the Orange despite interest from nearby rival Hobart. He committed as a sophomore after his meeting with Desko and thought he was going to Syracuse.
Voigt admits he’s not a good student, and despite Laura’s eforts to keep him on track, he struggled to sit and retain information. He did poorly on the SAT in his first three tries, struggling to score higher as he became increasingly anxious and worked up about improving. Laura eventually sought a psychologist for Voigt, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: ADHD.
Though it was classified as minor and something Voigt’s learned to live with, his grades and test scores stayed perilously low. In June 2014, when Voigt should’ve been preparing for his move to Syracuse, he got the news he knew might be coming: He hadn’t gotten into SU.
Unsure of what to do, Voigt enrolled for a year at Salisbury School in Connecticut on the recommendation of Roy Simmons Jr., who had enrolled his own son, Ryan, there previously. It had a reputation of sending lacrosse players to Division I programs across the country. It wasn’t what Voigt wanted, but he had no other options.
Voigt raised his grades in core classes at Salisbury and bumped his SAT scores into the 1100 range while he played among a crop of D-I bound players. In December, Salisbury head coach Bobby Wynne called Voigt into his ofce and told Voigt he had gotten into Syracuse this time.
“Something I wanted through my whole life was finally happening,” Voigt said. “I broke down. I finally made it there after everything.”
In his freshman season for the Orange, he didn’t score a goal and only played in nine games. Voigt spent his days on the scout team pretending to be Matt Rambo of Maryland
baby skis” to her daughter’s feet when she was 19 months old to see if she had the same World Cup potential that Ilona had decades before. By 12 years old, Knutson was one of the top skiers in the United States, becoming a “celebrity,” Ilona said. Everyone wanted to be like Knutson, the girl who skied in the morning, went to school and then played tennis in the afternoon.
“If I raced averagely, I would win,” Knutson said. “If someone was even like a second behind me, I was like ‘What’s happening? Why is she so close?’”
But an increased focus on tennis because of costly ski payments, and a move to the Czech Republic changed Knutson’s vision.
At International Tennis Federation tournaments, other competitors would be “chilling” in between matches and Knutson would be the “loser” on her laptop, Knutson said. On the way, Knutson and Ilona would stop at Wi-Fi rest areas — such as McDonald’s — and download her work into open tabs.
At Syracuse, many asked Knutson how she was so normal, given she hadn’t been in a classroom for almost a decade. Knutson admits she “overcompensated” for all the years without classmates. Even though SU wasn’t the school
or Justin Guterding of Duke, he said. Voigt’s sister Gianna, then unenthused by lacrosse, couldn’t cheer for Voigt, so she rooted for Syracuse’s top players like Sergio Salcido and Nick Mariano.
After the 2016 season, attacks Bomberry and Rehfuss transferred to SU. Voigt struggled, scoring 19 combined goals in a limited role as a sophomore and junior. He could’ve easily resented his teammates, the newest obstacles between him and the starting role he coveted, but he embraced them.
“You maybe should be frustrated, or you feel frustrated,” Voigt said. “But at the same time, when you bring in players like Stephen, Mariano and Bomberry, you can’t really complain about it.”
Bomberry’s graduation last spring cleared the third attack spot, and Voigt, now a senior,
walked into her first match at SU at third singles and promptly won in straight sets.
“You have so much time, and now, my time is dwindling,” Knutson said. “I think the first year was kind of a prelude to how my college career kind of was.”
Dina Hegab yanked Knutson’s head into her shoulder, seconds after Knutson had fired a serve that landed just inside the center service line. Her ace clinched Syracuse’s 4-3 win over then No. 3 Georgia Tech — the largest upset in program history. That match, and ultimately her first NCAA singles championship appearance at the season’s end, marked the end of a three-year trek to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s top that culminated in a peak at No. 4 in the nation.
Knutson knew that last year’s spring semester would be her best, undertaking a new fitness routine that produced immediate results. That season, Knutson was the first SU singles All-American since 1995 and the leader of Syracuse’s highest-ranked team.
“We wouldn’t be at where we are right now if it wasn’t because of a lot of things that [Knutson] does,” SU Head Coach Younes Limam said. “She always had the tennis skills to play at a
seized it. He’s dominated the space in front of the cage with his big body and lefty shot, just like Bomberry. He scores the bulk of his teamleading 35 goals as a target man, seeking pockets of space in the middle of the defense and redirecting feeds from midfielders and attacks.
Gianna’s goal cheers now have a special meaning: they’re for her older brother. She brings posters to the games, including large cutouts of Voigt’s face. Voigt knew Gianna had become an SU fanatic when she was inconsolable after SU’s loss to Cornell in the 2018 NCAA tournament.
Gianna, now 11, wants to play lacrosse at SU because of how she’s seen Voigt improve. She practices wearing his No. 1 Syracuse pinnie, pretending to be the Syracuse player she idolizes most.
aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham
portion of her full scholarship.
“I’ve done my part here, done everything I could,” Knutson said. “I’ve worked my butt of and gave my all, and now it’s time to do that in a diferent place.”
A week before Syracuse made its secondconsecutive NCAA tournament, Knutson fiddled with her gold necklace inside the Skytop Tennis Courts and stared into the ground. As her Syracuse teammates finished their final volleys of this season’s first outdoor practice, Knutson bent down to grab her Gatorade water bottle before her fingers returned to the necklace.
“What would I have done differently?” Knutson asked herself. “I actually thought about this the other day, and I’m like, I don’t know.”
Her
fingers tangled in the chain and she quickly unwrapped them. She thought back to stressing the small things, maybe the little spats with teammates aren’t important. Knutson had transformed herself from a heralded freshman to the program cornerstone and helped Syracuse turn from an ACC afterthought into a national competitor. At senior day, the public announcer bellowed: “She doesn’t even need an introduction.” For
Her fingers released the necklace and it fell back in place, resting on her orange pullover as from page 16
BRADLEY VOIGT has scored 35 goals this season. Voigt had to wait to be a star attack for the Orange until his senior year. andrew graham senior staff writer
S SPORTS
Trick shot
Nicole Levy’s playing style has separated her as a dual-threat attack for SU women’s lacrosse. See Page 12
Spring wrap-up
Relive 10 of the The D.O.’s biggest sports stories of the spring 2019 semester. See dailyorange.com
Read about the sporting events Syracuse athletics will compete in during the summer. See dailyorange.com
For Gabriela Knutson, becoming the face of Syracuse tennis was a
‘Matter of tiMe’
men’s lacrosse
By Andrew Crane asst. copy editor
Gabriela Knutson broke free from an embrace with her mother, Ilona, weaved through the security line at Václav Havel Airport Prague and disappeared into the terminal. There were no tears in their goodbye exchange, just a smile from both. Minutes before the start of her 14-hour trip to Syracuse for her freshman year, Knutson stared into the back of the seat in front of her, alone.
The 18-year-old Knutson thought back to what she and Ilona had spent the last decade working toward, and that Air France flight to Paris brought to fruition: a tennis scholarship at a university in the U.S. It wouldn’t be easy — Knutson hadn’t been in a classroom
since fifth grade.
Sleeping in her car at tournaments combined with completing online work in between matches caused loneliness and depression in Knutson’s life. Her isolation from the traditional school setting, something that a fected not only her personal life, but also tennis, was about to change.
In each of the two years that followed, tears filled Knutson’s and Ilona’s eyes during their annual goodbye at the airport. Knutson was becoming the face of Syracuse’s tennis program, and Ilona couldn’t be there to see it. At Syracuse, she rediscovered what she had missed in the previous nine years — classmates, professors, team atmosphere — and etched her place into program history.
“It was a little nerve-racking,” Knut-
see knutson page 14
Bradley Voigt accomplishes his dream at SU as senior
By Andrew Graham senior staff writer
PENN YAN — The “LAX MAMA” vanity plate on the Voigt family’s Nissan Pathfinder and a block “S” Syracuse flag flying from the porch make their house stand out on the block. And they mark the governing factors
of Bradley Voigt’s life: lacrosse and Syracuse University.
Voigt, the third of five children, fell in love with lacrosse through his maternal cousins, the Queeners, and fell for Syracuse watching it win five national championships in the 2000s.
“That’s been my only dream my whole life,” Voigt said recently. “To come here and play lacrosse.”
Combining both seemed an unlikely fate for Voigt. Borderline grades and low SAT scores forced
him to spend a year at a college preparatory, boarding school in Connecticut before he could attend SU. But through it all, Voigt stayed committed to his dream. Even when he thought he was too homesick to finish his year at boarding school, he didn’t fold. He didn’t think to transfer from SU during his sophomore and junior years after stagnating as the fourth attack while Stephen Rehfuss and Brendan Bomberry, both transfers, locked down spots above him.
But in his senior season and Syracuse in the midst of a national title bid, Voigt’s become the star attack for the lacrosse power he idolized as a little boy. He’s leading the nation’s 15th-best ofense and averaging nearly a hat trick in the Orange’s 13 games this season. And with his last chance at SU, Voigt’s accomplished nearly everything he’s set out to do since he was 4 years old.
“I know it might be a small dream for other people, but this is the one dream that I wanted my
whole entire life,” Voigt said. “I grew up watching Syracuse lacrosse and pretending I was certain players in the backyard.”
Standing in her kitchen, Laura ofered backstories to the photos on the fridge, nearly all of them involving lacrosse. Pictures of the five children dominate the space, most of which involve a stick and a Penn Yan uniform. A newspaper clipping from the day Voigt scored four goals in a state tournament game hangs above see voigt page 14
GABRIELA KNUT S ON will finish her SU career with the second-most wins in program history. She chose tennis over skiing and helped transform a program that made three NCAA tournament appearances in her four years with the Orange.
kai nguyen staff photographer