August 31, 2023

the independent student newspaper of syracuse, new york | dailyorange.com

SU student files lawsuit against university for mishandling Jacob Cohen sexual assault case

By Kyle Chouinard and Stephanie Wright the daily orange

Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

A Syracuse University student filed a lawsuit against the university this week over its handling of its investigation into Jacob Cohen, a former SU student who previously pled guilty to sexual abuse against the lawsuit’s plainti and her roommate in 2020.

The lawsuit alleges that the university did not remove Cohen from the dormitory building, Brewster Hall, directly following the two students’ report to the Department of Public Safety, syracuse.com reported Wednesday morning. Cohen was only moved after he reported he was assaulted in a physical altercation with a male student, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit also states the university was deceptive throughout its investigative process.

During the university’s investigative process, Bernerd Jacobson, SU’s Equal Opportunity and Title IX investigator, asked the victim, who is only identified as Jane Doe, to join a Zoom call to discuss the incident she had reported to DPS, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit then claims that, without the victim’s knowledge, the call had also included her roommate, Cohen and both their lawyers.

During the five and a half hour call, the woman filing the suit was crossexamined by Cohen’s legal team, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also claims that the plainti saw Cohen laughing at her on the Zoom call. At one point, after she told an SU representative that she felt ambushed, the representative responded that they assumed she would know Cohen and his team would be present, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also alleges that in April 2021, after Cohen had already been investigated, indicted and formally charged, SU asked the plainti to attend another hearing regarding the incident. SU sent the request less than a week before the hearing date, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit stated that this violated two of the student rights in SU’s Sexual Assault, Abuse and Assault Prevention Policy: adequate notice and unnecessary repetition of incident.

The lawsuit lists causes of action against both Cohen and SU. Against Cohen, the lawsuit lists assault, battery, conduct causing emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence. Against SU, the lawsuit lists negligence, negligent misrepresentation/omission and breach of implied contract.

Cohen raped the plainti ’s roommate, and sexually assaulted and attempted to rape the plainti . The lawsuit states that the plainti and her roommate fi rst reported the incident the morning of August 29th, but Cohen was not removed from the dorm by DPS until later that day.

A physical altercation occurred between Cohen and another male student, leading to DPS removing him to another dorm later that day because of threats to Cohen’s physical safety. At the second resident hall, Cohen continued to make unwanted advances toward female students, and he was removed to a third residence hall before being removed from campus in early September, the lawsuit states.

A spokesperson for SU told The Daily Orange that the university would not be commenting on active litigation.

Cohen was arrested on Dec. 4, 2020, at his home in Ohio. He was extradited to Syracuse and detained at the Onondaga County Justice Center on

$200,000 bail. Cohen bonded out of jail on Dec. 16, 2020, according to Onondaga County Sheri ’s Sgt. Jon Seeber. In 2022, Cohen pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse and thirddegree rape. He was sentenced to six

Newhouse student dies

By Kendall Luther asst. copy editor

Annie Eisner, a Syracuse University student has died, according to a campus-wide email sent by Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience O cer Allen Groves on Wednesday afternoon. Eisner was studying public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Eisner would have started her junior year this fall, Groves wrote. She was actively engaged in her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, and Syracuse Hillel.

“Annie was a beautiful and kind ray of light in our sisterhood and one that was loved by many,” the SDT sorority wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday. “Her positive energy and selflessness is something that we will take with us for the rest of our lives.”

A memorial service for Eisner will be held on Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

Groves encouraged students to support each other and lead with care and understanding as the academic year begins. Resources for students are available through the Barnes Center at The Arch, Student Outreach and Support and Hendricks Chapel, Groves wrote.

months in jail and 10 years of probation.

The lawsuit was filed along with a restraining order signed by Judge Robert Antonacci stating that the court will not reveal the plainti ’s identity.

news@dailyorange.com

Joey Gawrysiak steps into director of esports role

By Dominic Chiappone asst. news editor

Like most kids in the 1990s, Joey Gawrysiak played video games — The Legend of Zelda, Goldeneye and Ken Gri ey, Jr. Major League Baseball, what he labeled as the “heyday of gaming” — despite his parent’s initial doubts in their educational value.

“My parents were the typical parents that said, ‘you know, you’re never gonna make a career out of that’... we look at that now and they’re like, ‘I’d wish we’d put you to play more video games,’” Gawrysiak said.

Three decades later, Gawrysiak started his new role as executive

director of Syracuse University’s new esports communications and management degree program, which will begin enrolling students in the fall 2024 semester. SU hired Gawrysiak on August 2 to execute the university’s esports initiatives and oversee the growth of recreational and competitive esports on campus.

Gawrysiak previously worked as director of esports for Shenandoah University since 2018. There, he said he coordinated with faculty to develop the curriculum for the school’s esports major and sanctioned a varsity-level, competitive esports team, he said. The team received ocial jerseys, venues for practice and

funding for travel to other locations for competition.

“What I’ve done is combined my two favorite things in the world… which are sports and video games, and that’s exactly what esports is,” Gawrysiak said.

Michael Veley, founding director and department chair of sport management in SU’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, was one of two co-chairs on the search committee that hired Gawrysiak. Veley said he fi rst met Gawrysiak at an esports symposium at George Washington University at least five years ago and said the university valued Gawrysiak’s experience in

esports, especially with his creation of a hands-on learning experience at Shenandoah.

“He’s got extensive managerial experience not only of chairing an esports program, but building experiential learning, which was a key component of the criteria that we were hoping to attract in a candidate in the hiring process,” Veley said.

Esports continues to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world, Gawrysiak said, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Esports as an industry experienced rapid growth as traditional American sports organizations like the NBA

“On behalf of the Syracuse University community, Chancellor Kent Syverud, Provost Gretchen Ritter, Newhouse School Dean Mark Lodato and I o er our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Annie’s family, loved ones, sorority sisters, students in Hillel and other friends here on campus and at home, “ Groves wrote. “To all those grieving, we send thoughts of comfort and warmth during this incredibly di cult time.”

Lodato also expressed his condolences for Eisner’s friends, family and classmates, as well as other faculty and sta who have been a ected by her death, in an email to Newhouse students, faculty and sta .

“This is a sad day for the Newhouse School family and the University as a whole,” Lodato wrote.

Students can speak confidentially to a Barnes Center counselor by calling 315-443-8000. Counselors are available 24 hours every day.

Faculty and sta can connect with trained clinicians through Carebridge, the university’s faculty and sta assistance program, at 800-437-0911. The campus community can also access support services through Hendricks Chapel by calling 315-443-2901. kaluther@syr.edu @kendallaluther

The plainti alleged SU took no action to prevent Cohen from contacting her after she filed a DPS report. graphic by stephanie zaso

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BUSINESS 315-443-2315

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INSIDE

The best quotes from sources in today’s paper.

NEWS

“What I’ve done is combined my two favorite things in the world … which are sports and video games, and that’s exactly what esports is.” - Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of SU’s new esports communications and management

Page 1

CULTURE

I won it, for one of them. The other one’s not happy.” - Bob Johnson, who only won one stu ed animal for his two children

Page 5

OPINION

SU o ered free Narcan and Opioid training sessions last year, but these should be required for every student and sta member, not suggested.” - Conor Sarasin, sta columnist

Page 8

SPORTS

“I was just like, ‘Ok, if anybody could actually score on Shea it would be Kam because she knows how to score on her.’ But then Shea knows exactly where Kam is going to go.” - Pam Vanderbosch, mother of twins Shea and Kam Vanderbosch

Page 12

COMING UP

Noteworthy events this week.

WHAT: Club Sports Recruitment Fair

WHEN: Aug 31, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

WHERE: Women’s Building, Gym A

WHAT: New York State Fair

WHEN: Sept. 1, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE: No location

WHAT: Student Association Grocery Run: Target

WHEN: Sept. 3, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: College Place

Voting for open GSO leadership positions to be held next week

By Samantha Olander asst. digital editor

Syracuse University’s Graduate Student Organization met on Wednesday night for their annual Town Hall meeting to discuss the main goals of the GSO, open positions that are hiring and plan for the semester.

GSO President Daniel Kimmel, along with the GSO executive board, defined the main goal of the year to be giving graduate students a voice at SU.

“We are an organization based around all graduate students and we want to make sure that what we do reflects on what you guys want,” Internal Vice President CJ Arnell said to the graduate students in attendance.

One of the main points addressed was the GSO’s search to fi ll numerous paid positions by graduate students including Recording Secretary, Communications Secretary, Financial Secretary, University Senators, 5 At-Large Senators, and multiple committee members including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Chairs. Elections will be held at the first Senate meeting next Wednesday, September 6th at 5:30pm and all graduate students are encouraged to attend.

Additionally, external vice president Alexandra Scrivner encouraged students to take advantage of the Professional, Academic and Creative Work Grant, announcing that the GSO allocated more than $74,000 this past fiscal year.

The GSO Grant Program provides funding to graduate students in an e ort to defray the cost of attending academic and professional conferences. The travel grants are awarded on the basis

bias incidents

of merit, and are intended to partially reimburse transportation, lodging, registration, and membership experience, she said.

Another main goal of the GSO is to diversify the events that they hold this semester and going forward, according to Scrivner.

“We have not only diverse experiences and communities represented by graduate students, but also interests overall,” Scrivner said, “So how do we not just throw money at huge events with

a bunch of food and music, but instead specific school events that are really relevant to graduate students.”

The GSO has also decided that they will no longer regularly fund the Inn Complete as they have in the past years. The Inn Complete is a social club on South Campus for graduate students, faculty and sta , however it is currently temporarily closed for construction.

In-person meetings will be held by the GSO

this semester every Wednesday at 5:30pm in the Maxwell Auditorium, according to Arnell. They will also be hosting their Annual Fall Picnic for graduate students on September 8th from 6-9pm at the Women’s Building Field.

“There’s a lot of exciting things for graduate students,” Scrivner said, “and there’s a lot of revamping that’s happening both internally and externally within the GSO right now.”

saolande@syr.edu

DPS reports bias incident near Brewster, closed as ‘inconclusive’

By Faith Bolduc asst. news editor

Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety investigated and reached an inconclusive result after a university employee reportedly heard the use of anti-Semitic language originating from a passing car outside Brewster Hall, according to a DPS bias incident report released Wednesday.

The report claims the incident occurred on Sunday around 4 p.m., where the employee reportedly heard an unknown male use antiSemitic language from a passing car while walking on a sidewalk near Brewster Hall. No other faculty, students or staff were present at the time, according to the bias report.

DPS investigators determined the driver was not a liated with SU, and claimed he was misheard by the employee upon questioning. The person who fi led the complaint was not Jewish, according to the report.

DPS closed its investigation with an inconclusive fi nding as of Wednesday, according to the DPS bias incident tracker.

Craig Stone, SU’s chief of campus safety and emergency management services, wrote in the report that DPS’ investigation was di cult due to the lack of video footage that captures audio to confi rm the allegations when involving a moving vehicle.

Sunday’s incident marks the fi rst antiSemitic bias report since November 10, 2022, when anti-Semitic gra ti was found on a desk in Watson Hall. The November case remains open with no investigative update from DPS.

DPS has reported 12 bias incidents since the beginning of 2023, with half of the incidents still open without an investigative update.

According to the DPS website, students with information can contact the department at 315-443-2224. Students can also send tips through the Silent Witness tool or the Orange Safe mobile app.

fl bolduc@syr.edu

The Graduate Student Organization held their first meeting of the semester and discussed its focuses and goals for the upcoming year, including more diverse events. maxine brackbill photo editor

An SU employee reported hearing antisemitic language from a passing car outside of Brewster Hall on Sunday, according to the DPS bias incident update. gavin liddell staff photographer

“We are an organization based around all graduate students, and we want to make sure that what we do reflects on what you guys want.”

CJ Arnell GSO S VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

A trumpet fanfare pierced the air around a steadily growing crowd. Necks craned and heads turned towards the empty miniature race track in front of them. Then, out of nowhere, trotted two tiny brown pigs.

The competitors, Baconator and Dale Earnhog Jr., swiftly waddled around the track, maneuvering between obstacles to reach the finish line. Spectators jumped to their feet and let out deafening cheers, either for a single pig or for the mere spectacle of the event. A child in the front row snorted loudly to support his favorite pig.

Despite Baconator’s best efforts, over the course of about thirty seconds, Dale Earnhog Jr. left its opponent in the dust.

This year, Syracuse’s beloved summer tradition — the Great New York State Fair — returned for the 181st time. Running from Aug. 23 to Sept. 4, the fair continues to boast an array of classic elements alongside brand-new attractions, like the Asian Village and New York Voice of the Farmer Garden.

The undeniable scent of fried food and sugary

A day at the fair

desserts wafted through the fairgrounds. The iconic lemon-shaped lemonade stands could be found at every corner, often clustered by carnival games that were nearly concealed by their colorful prizes. Two Ferris wheels dominated the skyline, just above the rollercoaster filled with shrieking passengers.

Not more than a few hundred feet into the fairgrounds, a performer proudly belted a song while hitting notes on a strolling piano. As the moving instrument crept its way up the street, more and more onlookers began to trail the singer. A woman pulled out her phone to take a video.

“Make sure to get my good side, honey,” the singer said, taking a brief pause from his tune.

In another corner of the fair, Bob Johnson watched from the sidelines as his two children zipped around on the go-karts. He held a nearly 4-foot-tall stuffed Tyrannosaurus rex, which he won from a water gun game.

But there was only one dinosaur, and he had two children.

“I won it, for one of them,” Johnson said. “The other one’s not happy.”

Just up the street, minutes away from Johnson, the T. rexes weren’t as small.

Scattered around one of the fair’s newest exhibits, the Dinosaur Expedition, were warning signs. “Beware!! Swinging Tails,” read one sign. “Please do not feed the dinosaurs,” read another.

Gigantic robotic dinosaurs stretched towards the ceiling of the Exposition Center, belting out booming roars as their heads and arms bobbed up and down. Children squealed as the massive creatures bent down to eat fake grass or let out a low growl.

Based in Detroit, Dinosaur Expedition brings its fascinating experience to zoos and fairs nationally, said manager Nick Cluckey. But the attraction is meant to be educational, too — kids can browse through the different historical periods or dust for fossils at a play archeological site.

Cluckey pointed to the Quetzalcoatlus — “the bird dinosaur” — towering above him. Five

motors, alongside a system of a chain, pulleys and two more motors, he said, is what brings the animal to life.

While some dinosaurs are smaller and some are exaggerated, Cluckey said most of the models are close to life-sized. That’s what makes Dinosaur Expedition special, Cluckey said, because the dinosaurs can captivate a 1-year-old and a 90-year-old equally.

“You and I can tell they’re robots, but anyone… can get lost in it, and it’s like, ‘oh my God, they’re alive,” Cluckey said.

Although the fair welcomed a few prehistoric creatures this year, it’s always more common to see real animals.

Robin Smithling was absorbed in grooming the cow in front of her. She glided a clipper across its back, brushing any hair away while ensuring the tail remained fluffy. The animals need to be brushed every day and washed frequently to promote healthy hair growth.

“The grooming process starts a couple

Story by Rachel Rasposas senior staff writer

Photos by Meghan Hendricks senior staff photographer

An annual Syracuse tradition, the New York State Fair hosts an incredible variety of events ranging from pig races to family-owned bakeries

months before the show season even starts,” said Robin’s sister, Amy.

The cows they brought to the fair are anywhere from six months to five years old, Amy said, and they all have different personalities and grooming routines. Regardless, each cow is judged the same way: which is the best looking, has the best legs, and has the most spring in its step.

The Smithling sisters grew up with around 20 Brown Swiss cows, and Amy started doing shows with cows at age 6. Their oldest sister, Morgan, went to school in California and worked with cattle “day in and day out,” so when Morgan returned home, the sisters started a small farm.

“We were raised with that, and we have a huge passion for it now,” Amy said.

Amidst the bustling walkways and lively carnival games around the Midway, Dan Peachey funneled his strength into kneading a large ball of dough. A long line had formed outside the window of his food truck, “Peachey’s Baking Company,” and the sweet aroma of the vanilla glazed doughnuts drew more and more people in.

“There’s a lot of passionate foodies here in the Syracuse area,” Peachey said.

Those popular doughnuts are made from scratch each day, Peachey said, and it takes about an hour to make one batch. It’s a long process of repeatedly letting the dough rise and shaking it out, three times in total, but that’s what makes the dough so fluffy, Peachey said.

Peachey grew up in a large Amish family, and he and his brother used to help their mother bake to support their kin. They moved around a lot, from Pennsylvania to North Carolina to Kentucky, but what remained constant was the role baking played in their family.

“Everywhere we went, my mom would have a little bakery,” Peachey said. “My mom would get up at four o’clock in the morning to make bread and cinnamon rolls.”

Inspired by his passion and armed with the skills he learned as a child, Peachey’s brother started his own bakery in Sarasota, Florida in 2007. Peachey worked alongside him until becoming an owner six years ago.

The brothers returned to the fair for the fourth time this year, overjoyed to bring their doughnuts and pretzels to an eager population. In years prior, they were stationed near the edge of the fair, so Peachey is grateful to be in the middle this time around.

“People are really friendly here, really welcoming,” he said. “We always look forward to coming to Syracuse.”

New partnership between College of Law, Falk aids veterans

ity claims secure eligibility for healthcare at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse and receive compensation for service-connected disabilities.

Ken Marfilius, who works as a social work advisor alongside Kubala, served in the United States Air Force as a uniform mental health provider. Marfilius is now the assistant dean of the Falk College Office of Online and Distance Education and an associate teaching professor in the Falk School of Social Work.

“It’s the first of its kind here at Syracuse in particular, and we’re very excited about it,” Marfilius said.

The partnership’s first fellow, Benetta Dousuah, is currently transitioning out of her military service in the U.S. Army. Dousuah said she wants to help on a personal level because of her experience.

“For me, being a veteran, I just wanted to help out more veterans and just learn about different resources that the community has,” Dousuah said.

Meghan Wright, a student in the College of Law who works as a student attorney and research assistant in the veterans clinic, said the program allows veterans to access the help they need by facilitating direct relationships.

“It’s exciting for us because a lot of the veterans need more help than we can provide,” Wright said. “We provide very specific help in terms of your discharge upgrade or service connection for disability, so it’s going to be good to have someone that we can specifically refer them to.”

By Claire Samstag asst. digital editor

Syracuse University’s College of Law and David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics are forming a joint Legal-Social Work Partnership program designed to legally assist aging veterans and their families.

The partnership functions as part of the Col-

from page 1

director

and NCAA briefly shut down due to the pandemic, and is expected to reach a value of roughly $5.7 billion by 2030.

SU is now joining several other universities in the United States with an esports major, including The Ohio State University, the University of California Irvine and the University of Texas at Arlington. as the growth of recognized competitive esports programs also continues to rise.

“People will realize that esports is not a fad,” Veley said. “It’s a viable economic engine in the overall sports economy.”

The National Association of Collegiate eSports formed in July 2016 as a non-profit organization to advance collegiate esports at the varsity level. Only seven U.S. colleges and universities offered varsity esports programs when NACE was founded; by December 2022, 175 U.S. colleges and universities offered competitive esports, approximately a 177% increase since 2018.

Gawrysiak said creating SU’s esports major, a joint program between the Falk College and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, aims to be a hands-on learning experience open to all students.

Gawrysiak said his top priority moving forward remains wrapping up faculty searches as soon as possible to finalize the esports major curriculum by next fall. He wants to bring in the best people to develop the program in a meaningful way, he said.

Gawrysiak’s former colleagues from Shenandoah said they’re looking forward to seeing how Gawrysiak executes his new role at SU.

“He knows how to talk to people. He’s a very fun (and) loving person, but he knows when to put in the work and it’s really admirable,” Alyssa Duran, coordinator of esports competition at Shenandoah, said.

Zander Merle-Smith, an instructor of esports at Shenandoah, said Gawrysiak’s greatest strength is surrounding himself with strong leaders who can build relationships with students, something he experienced himself after enrolling Shenandoah’s esports management MBA.

Merle-Smith admitted Gawrysiak faced a tough decision in leaving Shenandoah for central New York. Gawrysiak joined Shenandoah in 2012 as an associate professor before becoming the esports program director six years later. MerleSmith said Gawrysiak debated the benefits of the two schools before deciding to transfer to SU because of the different opportunities there.

“I could just sit here at Shenandoah and be really comfortable, have a great team, a great life and a great work-life balance,” Merle-Smith recalled. “It would be amazing, but I want to do one more big thing, and that one more big thing was creating an esports program at Syracuse University with a D1 budget and seeing what the model from Shenandoah University looks like

lege of Law’s educational clinics, home to SU Law students studying doctrinal law. Its goal is to support veterans’ access to legal services in order for them to acquire the benefits they have earned, according to the announcement.

The partnership aims to improve the quality of life of veterans by helping them access education, housing and employment resources.

According to Falk College’s news release, the

with the support of Syracuse.”

Gawrysiak said SU possesses a solid foundation for esports both in and out of the classroom.

In addition to the major, the university plans to promote competitive, varsity-level esports under Gawrysiak’s leadership, Jeff Rubin, who serves as Chancellor Kent Syverud’s special advisor on esports and digital transformation, said. The university is working on a new esports facility in the Schine Student Center that is set to be fully operational by the 2024-2024 academic year and will include at least 35 gaming consoles and a 10-person stage for — which will include at least 35 gaming consoles and a 10-person stage for competitions — to be fully operational by the 2024-2025 academic year.

“Joey is coming in to help make Syracuse a competitor at the highest level in esports,” Rubin said. “This is the right person at the right time for us to start this program.”

SU’s investment into competitive esports targets students like Braeden Cheverie-Leonard, a sophomore sport management major and captain of the university’s Call of Duty team. Cheverie-Leonard plans to add the esports major next fall, and said he hopes the university’s commitment to esports can enhance the student experience for esports fanatics like himself as well as other students.

“We want to bridge the gap between our traditional athletes and our esports athletes, and Joey’s really at the head of that… but overall, the goal is to prepare students in the major for whatever aspect of esports they want to go into,” Cheverie-Leonard said.

Veley selected Cheverie-Leonard as one of several student representatives who watched presentations for the final candidates interested in the esports director position. CheverieLeonard said he was impressed with Gawrysiak from day one and his vision for esports at SU to incorporate as many aspects of the industry as possible.

Lawson Berman, a sophomore undecided in business and captain of SU’s Overwatch team, said his goal with other students and Gawrysiak is to lay a foundation of esports programs for future students.

“I think his position is a great opportunity to show people what this is about,” Berman said. “There’s a really big opportunity over the next few years to just blow some people away, and honestly, he may be very responsible for the success because there’s only so much I can do in my time at Syracuse.”

Gawrysiak admitted there will be obstacles along the way, especially as he makes the adjustment to moving to a more populated institution like SU. Gawrysiak managed esports initiatives for an undergraduate population of approximately 2,400 students, compared to the roughly 15,000 undergraduate student body of SU.

Gawrysiak will also be tasked with a fast turnaround time to fully flesh out the esports curriculum in time for the fall 2024 semester.

partnership has the potential to reduce veteran homelessness and suicide rates.

Many people involved in this partnership are veterans themselves. Elizabeth Kubala, a teaching professor and the executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Clinic, served in the United States Army for 22 years.

Kubala said the Veterans Legal clinic helps veterans with complex Veterans Affairs disabil-

Kubala said it’s rewarding to develop a partnership that connects with veteran clients on an individual level.

“While we had the legal expertise and our law school students work on very specific legal assistance here, you always want to be able to help someone in a more coherent fashion than just one little piece,” Kubala said. csamstag@syr.edu

“He gets to choose what he wants that program to look like,” Duran said. “As somebody new to campus, to the students (and) to the staff, he really has to get to learn everybody there and figure out what is wanted, and I think that can be kind of intimidating.”

Gawrysiak said his main focus for this fall will be to assemble his team of professors and faculty members to begin work outlining and finalizing the curriculum for the new esports major. He will also work with members of the university to figure out what recreational and competitive esports looks like down the road.

Future plans include SU joining NACE, continuing competitive esports in the East Coast Athletic Conference and collaborating with other members of the Atlantic Coast Conference

to compete against each other, Gawrysiak said. SU’s long term vision for esports also includes eventually hosting tournaments on campus and traveling to other venues to compete against Power Five institutions, with funding for travel covered.

While he looks fondly for his decade-plus service at Shenandoah, Gawrysiak said he is looking forward to moving forward with SU’s esports initiatives.

“I really got the ability to start a brand new program there for esports that was very different from anywhere else,” Gawrysiak said. “That kind of led me to where I am, here at Syracuse to do the same thing.”

Joey Gawrysiak previously led a varsity-level esports team during his time working at Shenandoah University. cassandra roshu photo editor

esports

The new program’s goal is to connect veterans with legal services to help them access housing, education and employment benefits they’ve earned through their service. gavin liddell staff photographer

‘BOOM BABIES’ REBORN

from the stage

By Olivia Boyer asst. culture editor

While taking a gap year, Meaghan Crandall’s parents urged her to find a way to better spend her time. She had never stepped in the store before, but put in an application to work at Boom Babies in Wescott.

Being 19, she found her boss, Lorraine Koury, a strange mix of terrifying and incredibly cool. The two developed a strong relationship in their 10 years together running the “vintage clothing capital of Syracuse.”

“It’s like a sorority in here,” Crandall said. “That’s how we got a lot closer.”

Koury died on Sept. 15, 2022 after having worked alongside Crandall and her best friend MacKenzie Wilkinson for years. Over the last two years, the pair have taken over the wellknown Syracuse business and are updating Boom Babies for the future, both for the store and its customers.

“I think we just felt like we owed it to us and to her to make it our own version,” Crandall said. “This store already had its life with her and I think she wanted to see the store go to the next generation.”

Boom Babies is currently under construction to renovate its interior. The owners want to bring the store in line with younger clientele, as many of the shoppers come looking for prom dresses. The pair is renovating the store with the Memphis design style in mind, including bright colors and playful design. Crandall compared the incoming interior to Pee-wee’s Playhouse.

“The main point that MacKenzie (Wilkinson) and I really want to bring to light here is that the majority of people who shop with us, whether it’s during prom season or now, they’re young,” Crandall said. “It’s a 15- to 16-year-old girl, there’s only like a certain age that that would appeal to.”

Tori Recuparo has been working at Boom Babies for almost two years, starting around when Koury stepped back and Crandall and Wilkinson took over the store.

“Over the summer when Lorraine got sick and wasn’t around so much, (Crandall) and MacKenzie started to do their own thing with the store, with the blessing of Lorraine.” Recupuro said. “They just fell into their spots naturally because she’d left them the store.”

Boom Babies is popular in the Syracuse area for unique prom dresses no one else has. Brennan Jolly, a Syracuse local and sophomore studying biology and psychology at Syracuse University, got her prom dress at the store in 2022.

“(Koury) came back with the most beautiful, perfect dress I had ever seen in my entire life, and it had been sitting back there since 2017. No one else had my dress, it was awesome,” Jolly said. Jolly had been going to the store since she was a kid with her mother. She said she would go to Alto Cinco, a Mexican restaurant across the street, and then her mother would go into Boom Babies to shop, getting her daughter items from the store.

Recuparo also got her prom dress at Boom Babies. She tells a recurring story that the dress she got was unlike anything she had seen before. Recuparo had searched the store’s aisles for three hours and felt as if she couldn’t find the right dress. With a quick “hold on,” Koury ran to the back and pulled out a black mermaid dress. The search was over.

Koury had no children and viewed the store as her “baby,” Crandall said. The previous owner even helped employees with affordable housing in the area, providing them with lower rents in her own properties.

Crandall, wanting to walk in her footsteps, has started to do the same.

Nearly every employee at the store said working there is like working with family. From housing to weddings to just spending time together, Boom Babies has created a close community where everyone is welcomed.

“We want the experience of coming into the store to match aesthetically the same way that we want you to feel,” Crandall said. “We want people to feel really upbeat and happy and we don’t want people to be stressed out and overwhelmed when they come in.”

oliviaboyer@dailyorange.com

The Mudpit’s new co-owners invite passion, cohesion to venue

By Cassandra Rochu photo editor

While studying abroad in France last semester, Guiv Lederer frequently called his roommate Buddy Murphy back in the U.S. to explain his ambition to take over Murphy’s house show venue, The Mudpit. This year, his dream has come to fruition alongside co-owners Camille Rowlands-Rees and Emma Barbosa.

“Now that I’m graduated, I’m really happy to see that it’s still going, and the biggest thing that I’m happy about is how passionate all three of them were,” Murphy said. “It’s only going to get bigger.”

All three of the co-owners have a history with music, and unexpectedly pursued that interest at Syracuse University, despite other plans.

After meeting the previous owners of The Mudpit through work at University Union, SU juniors RowlandsRees and Barbosa began to help out with house shows at The Mudpit on weekends. They never expected to run a house show venue while in college, but now they can’t imagine their college experience without it.

Lederer has always loved reading, writing and music. Now a senior, he came into SU as a Television, Radio and Film major in order to find new ways to express himself beyond writ-

ing and eventually found his love for screenwriting.

With a mother who danced ballet in New York, a father who was at the original Woodstock Music Festival and a brother who makes his own music, Lederer has found his own way to be involved in music.

“Me being from the city, I’m surrounded by music. Not just in my family, but on the streets everywhere you go,” Lederer said. “I think that’s influenced me in a way I didn’t even realize.”

For The Mudpit, he handles financials and other organizational aspects for the shows. He is also the in-house contact for interested performers. A music lover since she was young,

Rowlands-Rees’ technical experience in live concert production led to her playing a huge hand in reaching out to artists, communicating with the local music venue network and organizing schedules, she said.

She came across the country from California to experience the world in a different way than she had always known and ended up fulfilling career aspects within her love for music she had dreamed of for years.

Rowlands-Rees’s mom taught music to kindergarteners and her own passion for listening to different artists, she has been surrounded by music since her childhood. She eventually began to wonder what it would

be like to be on the business side of the music that she was enjoying.

“It just became a little game in my head as I was also enjoying music,” Rowlands-Rees said. “Then when I had these opportunities to be involved more I realized that I could actually pursue that as a career and be on the other side of what I have enjoyed for so long.”

Barbosa, a self-taught graphic designer and one of UU’s design directors, began her experience at SU as a history major. But after beginning her graphic design career with UU, she realized that her degree may end up being something that she never uses. She did a little graphic design in high

Taking over from the previous owner after her passing, Meaghan Crandall and MacKenzie Wilkinson hope to bring Boom Babies into a new era, while keeping its community connection intact

Sam McKissick, Meaghan Crandall and Tori Recuparo are all involved in the store. Crandall, as one of the new owners, hopes to carry on the legacy of its past owner, Lorraine Koury. courtesy of boom babies

Buzz-worthy films overshadowed this summer

By Michael Lieberman screentime columnist

In a season of two strikes, the summer box office has never been so indecisive and fascinating. While some big-budgeted pictures flopped, other smaller movies rose to the test and surprised audiences, both financially and socially.

Here are five films that you may have missed which should be added to your watchlist:

“SQUARING THE CIRCLE (THE STORY OF HIPGNOSIS)”

What if I told you that the album covers for “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Houses of the Holy” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” were all made by the same people? If you’re unfamiliar with the name Hipgnosis, you’ve most likely seen their work. Based in London, Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell are the creators of over 200 album covers from 1968 to 1983. They’ve designed some of the most unforgettable ones in rock music history.

“Squaring The Circle” is a rich and funny exploration of the people who were a part of Hipgnosis, as they got to the top of their industry and became one of the most legendary graphic design collectives of all-time. Led by musicians Robert Plant, Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel, the film is a free-flowing and insightful oral history. Their work is the reason these covers stand out in the record stores, and the film’s way of explaining their influence was very well done. While there could’ve been more information on the process of making such works of art, you’ll go into a rabbit hole by the end of this film by researching their entire catalog and educating yourself on Hipgnosis’ influence.

“KOKOMO

CITY”

Another documentary is the incredible debut of Grammy-nominated producer D. Smith. “Kokomo City” follows four Black transgender

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school, so she thought it would be where she could contribute the most.

“I was like, I don’t know graphic design, but it’s an art form. So I think I can kind of finesse it a little bit and pretend that I know what I’m doing,” Barbosa said.

Going into each house show, the co-owners have little idea of the aesthetic that they want to portray for that week’s event. However, Barbosa will often turn an undeveloped thought into a complex theme for each show’s poster, Rowlands-Rees said.

“Each house show is really different. Depending on the bands, you want to have that aesthetic and feel for each event,” Rowlands-Rees said. “We wouldn’t have that as defined if it wasn’t for Emma’s posters.”

While they each work on their own specific role in The Mudpit, they work together on many aspects of show organization, Rowlands-Rees said. Throughout the summer, they’ve quickly grown into a team that communicates well and shares their knowledge with each other, Lederer added.

With The Mudpit’s social media, Lederer wants to cultivate an inclusive environment through effective communication with their audience.

“A lot of nightlife in Syracuse is built on exclusivity, but house shows are built on inclusivity,” Lederer said.

Lederer said that rather than shows being about the people who live in the house, their shows are about the people who perform. The joy that the co-owners feel from running the show comes from doing their part in facilitating the growth of new and returning talent, RowlandsRees said.

“A lot of time that acknowledgment doesn’t happen,” Rowlands-Rees said. “I think acknowledging both who was playing and who was running it is a really big deal. We all put a lot of time and effort into this and it’s important for people to know how much goes into it.”

The Mudpit’s first show under new ownership is happening on Saturday, Sept. 2, and will feature both local and visiting young artists. Along with headliner Sammy Curcuru, Saturday will be Bandier freshman Bella Fiske’s debut as a Syracuse University student.

Murphy said that the number of artists reaching out to The Mudpit has tripled since he ran the venue. With the passion and ambition of the new team, he is confident the venue will continue to grow far past his initial expectations.

Rowlands-Rees says that with Lederer and his roommates graduating, she hopes that she and Barbosa will manage to rent the house and continue running The Mudpit during the next

sex workers in both Georgia and New York, showcasing their lives and the dark side of their profession. The film acts as an examination and brutal analysis of these four individuals, carefully emphasizing the origins of their activities.

D. Smith’s career took a turn when she was shut out from the music industry after coming out as trans. Her new career as a filmmaker is a refreshing and smart move that shows itself entirely on screen. I was hooked right from the start, taking note of the film’s monochromatic tone, which helps heighten the atmosphere. It’s an informative picture that should be mandatory viewing for all audiences interested in the topic.

60TH ANNIVERSARY 4K RESTORATION OF “CONTEMPT”

StudioCanal, a film production and distribution company based in France, has released a glamorous new restoration of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 epic. A dizzying romance shot on CinemaScope, “Contempt” tackles the romance between a screenwriter and ex-typist as an ambitious film shoot in Italy plagues their infatuation for one another.

Without a doubt, “Contempt” is Godard’s best-looking film and a must-see in theaters if given the opportunity. The vibrant color scheme and abstract set pieces, along with the celebrated and hypnotizing performance by Brigitte Bardot, keep you glued to the screen. If you’re unfamiliar with Godard, one of the names behind the French New Wave in the 1960s, this film is a good starting point in exploring his career.

“PASSAGES”

This new picture from Ira Sachs, the critically acclaimed writer-director behind 2012’s “Keep the Lights On” and 2014’s “Love Is Strange,” showcases a love triangle in full force. “Passages” is about Tomas and Martin, a married couple whose lives deteriorate when one of them begins

an intense affair with a young woman in Paris, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos. The affair sets off a chain of events that destroy the married couple’s lives, resulting in a spellbindingly painful viewing experience.

Franz Rogowski and Ben Whishaw, who play Tomas and Martin, are relentless in this film. While it may feel uncomfortable watching these intimate tragedies come to life, it’s astonishing to watch them under such terrific performances.

This is without a doubt the best film of the summer, one that hid under the radar due to its minimal theatrical run. When it releases on Mubi, watch this as soon as possible!

“MISSION:

IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART 1”

Ethan Hunt and his IMF colleagues are back and as stressed as ever in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1.” As a rogue AI system called “the Entity” begins to terrorize foreign governments, Hunt and his team must prevent this system from destroying all of humanity.

With all the talk about “Barbenheimer’s” contribution to the box office boom of 2023, I want to give a shout-out to the seventh installment of the “Mission: Impossible” series because…why not? They continuously evolve and breathe new life into the silver screen, with its new addition being another example of superb, high-octane action work that we rarely get to see these days.

Tom Cruise has been a saving grace in the movie theater business as “Top Gun: Maverick” was a massive financial success at a time when that was scarce. His desire to keep the audience entertained clearly shows in all the practical stunt work he does, as well as the financial risks he takes with each and every picture. If you love espionage thrillers, “Dead Reckoning Part 1” should be your next film to watch (as well as the six previous “Mission: Impossible” movies). michaelreedlieberman@gmail.com

CONCERTS THIS WEEKEND

Redgate

House show venue Redgate is kicking off its second year of operation Friday night with a concert headlined by DJ Lucas and featuring performances from Papo2004, Zak G, The Gritty Jawns as well as a DJ set by Space Gray.

To find the address and to purchase tickets, DM Redgate on Instagram.

WHERE: Redgate

PRICE: $7 presale & $10 at the door

The Mudpit

For its first show under new management, Mudpit will host Syracuse University students Sammy Curcuru and Bella Fiske this Saturday. New York City’s Spencer Arjang will also play at the show, marking his first concert in Syracuse. For the address and tickets, DM Mudpit on Instagram.

WHERE: The Mudpit

PRICE: $7 presale & $10 at the door

St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater

Folk-music superstar Noah Kahan is bringing his Stick Season tour to St. Joseph’s Amphitheater Friday night at 8 p.m. Country artists Ruston Kelly and Joy Oladokun will be opening for Kahan. General admission tickets can be purchased online.

WHERE: St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater

PRICE: GA starting at $80

Funk ‘n Waffles

This Saturday, Chelsea O’Donnell’s Stress Dolls will be performing at Syracuse’s Funk ‘n Waffles with fellow artists Amphette and Mimicking Mars at 8 p.m. O’Donnell, who hails from Buffalo, NY, released the band’s latest single, “Body,” in June.

WHERE: Funk ‘n Waffles

PRICE: $10

New York State Fairgrounds

An annual tradition at the New York State Fair, JAMS Funk Fest will be rocking the fairgrounds this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Ending the day with performances from Brick and Dazz Band, it promises to be a day full of disco and jazz hits.

WHERE: New York State Fairgrounds

PRICE: Free with $6 fair admission

school year.

“Ensuring longevity is really important to us because we want to do this next year and then hopefully, we’ll be able to pass it on to

someone when we graduate,” Rowlands-Rees said. “It’s not really hard because we love it so much.”

cmroshu@syr.edu

The Mudpit co-owners, Guiv Lederer, Camielle Rowlands-Rees and Emma Barbosa, create a venue focused on the performer rather than themselves. cassandra roshu photo editor

Mandatory Narcan training needed at Syracuse

By Conor Sarasin staff columnist

Opioid use and overdose is on the rise in the United States and its grip does not spare the city of Syracuse or universities like Syracuse University and SUNY ESF.

Drug use on college campuses is common knowledge, but remains a poorly addressed topic. Many universities are aware that overdoses happen, yet only teach using ineffective, “Just Say No” practices instead of providing physical resources for safety. Rather than trying to stop students from using, if they are serious about saving lives, SU needs to mandate real-life training on how to be safe when partaking and in the event of an overdose.

Naloxone — commonly known by one of its brand names, Narcan — works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, thus blocking and reversing the effects of opioids in the nervous system. Students and staff can stop the symptoms of an overdose before emergency medical services arrive.

But still, an SU spokesperson told The Daily Orange that Narcan is not currently required to be physically present in buildings. In order for students to be safe on-campus, Narcan needs to be freely accessible at every residence hall and major building at SU. The Barnes Center at the Arch’s staff is also working to provide active bystander training for Student

Living professional staff and student leaders, the spokesperson wrote.

SU offered free Narcan and Opioid training sessions last year, but these should be required for every student and staff member, not suggested. Recently, the state of New York mandated that resident advisors at public colleges and universities be trained and equipped with Narcan. ESF and SU share many resources, but do not share this critical safety procedure. To increase safety among students and Syracuse citizens, incoming attendees and faculty should be required to undergo the same training as residence advisors.

Beyond only training specific groups, First Year Seminar, a mandatory class for every new student on campus, could be utilized to educate every student on campus about safer drug practices. Points of emphasis should include ways to test drugs to avoid accidental overdoses and how to help by using Narcan when an overdose occurs. According to recent data released by the Center for Disease Control, 46 percent of overdose-related deaths in the U.S. could have been prevented by bystander intervention.

SU Ambulance offers an affordable option for CPR training, and members of SUA could be utilized in a similar way to collaborate with FYS instructors by teaching students how to use Narcan. Not only will this likely lessen the amount of overdose incidents, it will save lives.

The conversation around drug use on campus needs to expand to reflect the actual number of

students participating in recreational usage.

Consistently, SU has been ranked for its party scene and lack of sobriety, and typically, illicit drugs are involved in this. Students choosing to use drugs commonly taken at parties may think they are doing so safely, but can easily become a victim of an accidental overdose due to the intensity of illicit drugs and the possibility that the drugs they take are cut with more intense substances, like Fentanyl.

SU sophomore Sophia Haber, a New York State EMT, said people “never know” when they may be in a situation where “you need to save someone’s

life,” especially at schools like SU, and in the city of Syracuse, where opioid deaths are disproportionately high among those who are impoverished and members of the unhoused population.

At the beginning of this calendar year, California put in place legislation that requires California state universities and community colleges to distribute Narcan to students. SU should follow in their footsteps and also put pressure on New York state representatives to enact similar laws.

Free, public access to Narcan is crucial in combating the rising opioid epidemic. Narcan should be available in school buildings and bathrooms, like contraceptives and menstrual products often are.

Having students and faculty equipped with Narcan will undoubtedly save lives on and offcampus. Even if someone is not in a social circle where drug use is common, they could be witness to an opioid overdose at any point.

New York state has an existing program that allows state residents, including students but excluding members of the unhoused population, to request free Naloxone, along with Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips, for delivery. I suggest everyone take advantage of this resource if able and include Narcan in your going out items. To equip yourself with Naloxone or Fentanyl test strips you can visit oasas.ny.gov or call 1-800-692-8528.

Conor Sarasin is a Senior Environmental Studies Major. His Column appears bi-weekly. He can be reached at cjsarasi@syr.edu.

“The conversation around drug use on campus needs to expand to reflect the actual number of students participating in recreational drug usage”

Connor Sarasin staff columnist

Beat writers predict dominance over Colgate in season opener

By Daily Orange Sports Staff

Despite the all-time series being tied 31-31, Colgate hasn’t beaten Syracuse in over 70 years. After matching up once a season from 1891-1961, the two have played just five times since. In those matchups, Syracuse has won by a combined 257 points.

On Saturday, the Orange open the season in the JMA Wireless Dome against the Raiders. This will be Colgate’s only Football Bowl Subdivision opponent this year, coming off a 3-8 record last season. Last season they played only two FBS teams, losing against Stanford and Army. Both the Orange and the Raiders feature rushing quarterbacks and veteran lines on both sides of the ball.

Here are our beat writer predictions for the season-opener:

Anthony Alandt (0-0)

Raider Routing

Syracuse 49, Colgate 13

Don’t let the historic curse of the Hoodoo dissuade you from thinking Syracuse isn’t going to blow the doors off Colgate. That sweatshirt buried under Archbold Stadium is lost to time and sits deeper than most of the salt they mine in central New York. This is the classic opening week shellacking the Orange are going to use to jolt their season to life. Colgate is a solid Football Championship Series team and should have a quality season under third-year head coach Stan Dakosty.

I like quarterback Michael Brescia, who was invited to the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University. He’s a dual threat that’s going to test SU’s defense at times. It should be a great experience for Syracuse to key in on where its weaknesses are defensively and try out Rocky Long’s new iterations of the 3-3-5. Make no mistake, though, the Orange have enough talent to have this game get out of hand by halftime and rest its starters later on. On offense, watch out for Donovan Brown and Umari Hatcher to see significant playing time, even when the game has gotten away from the

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twins

remembered Shea screamed louder at Kam than any other center back she’s played with.

“Since I’m a goaltender and she’s a center back, she’s literally right in front of me,” Shea said. “I feel like we were very close off of the field, so it made us have a better connection on the field.”

The sisters played on the same team together until they turned 14 and Shea was called up to play with an older group.

But Shea didn’t want to play without her. Kam would go to Shea’s games to support her, even if it required a road trip. While Shea got in-game reps against higher-level competition, Kam soaked in the game.

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outside the U.S. to win the showcase.

“Those showcases where the pace was higher, the athleticism was higher, he came to the realization that not only can ‘I do this, but I can do this at the highest level,’” Vadori said.

After Belluz entered the transfer portal this past spring, he returned to play with Vaughn. He helped them qualify for the Canadian Championship, where it faced MLS’ Montreal FC in the first round.

Typically when playing semi-pro teams, professional teams rested their starters. But Montreal was in a rough patch in the league, and Vadori said they maintained regulars in their lineup. Despite losing 2-0, Belluz was a standout, looking calm and composed on the ball while helping Vaughan in their build-up play from the back. He excelled in his one-on-one defending while being strong in the air.

“Playing in that environment, it’s very easy for a 22-year-old to be overwhelmed and maybe be a bit nervous. But he was calm, composed,” Vadori said. “It was difficult, we were under siege in that game further…but he looked right at home.”

Through Syracuse’s first two games, Belluz has looked comfortable. He scored his first collegiate goal, heading home SU’s second goal in a 3-0 win over Binghamton.

Belluz starts as the defensive midfielder, then drops into the back three as the central center back. McIntyre said he’ll use Belluz based on the needs of the team, but that his time in Canada did him well.

“This kid is best as a pro when he’s at his best,” Isaaco said.

zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22

Raiders. They duo should both be challenging to overtake Damien Alford as the number two receiver. Luckily for Colgate, it’s only about an hour drive back to Hamilton.

Wyatt Miller (0-0)

Sleep easy, Dino Syracuse 38, Colgate 10

On Monday, head coach Dino Babers said the opening game against Colgate isn’t one where he’ll sleep well the night before. Despite Syracuse winning the last 16 matchups between the two, Babers insisted these games bother him more than most. Sleep easy, Dino, this Syracuseteam is more than up to the task.

The twins dominated when they played together. The two regularly matched up against the second and third teams of Western New York Flash — a nearby youth soccer developmental program. Rob Ferguson, the current head coach of Cornell women’s soccer and the former director of the Flash, said that the Flash’s second team was possibly the best team in the area.

Ferguson occasionally coached the second team. After watching Shea play, Ferguson knew she was the best goalkeeper in western New York and possibly the best in the Northeast. He also recognized Kam as a strong and reliable center back.

“We don’t recruit them both because they’re twins,” Ferguson said. “They both got to be good enough … I wouldn’t have been recruiting anyone to that team who I didn’t

Colgate hasn’t beat SU since 1950, and this year’s squad matches up well. Colgate has only one starting offensive lineman over 300 lbs, while Syracuse has pass rushers that all top 250 lbs. The battle upfront often determines games against FCS opponents, and Syracuse has a clear upper hand with Marlowe Wax leading the charge. Rocky Long should have some fun causing confusion with his defensive backs, not having to send much pressure to get at Brescia.

Both quarterbacks are multi-year starters with dual-threat ability, and Brescia’s presence in the run game has been the focal point for Colgate. These schemes rely on rushing quarterbacks imposing their will to reveal holes in the

think was a high-level Division-I player.”

The Flash’s first team played in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) – a premier league requiring the team to travel across the country for games and tournaments.

Despite Ferguson recruiting both, it took over a year for the Vanderbosches to commit to the Flash. Once they joined, Ferguson only spent half a season working with them before becoming Cornell’s assistant head coach. Playing alongside 12 players committed to playing Division-I soccer, the twins improved dramatically.

“We really liked the team, atmosphere and how hard it pushed us,” Vanderbosch said. “It’s a training environment where there’s always someone behind you and always pushing you to

defense. Last season, the Raiders allowed 130.1 rushing yards per game, ranking fifth out of eight in the Patriot League. Both Garrett Shrader and LeQuint Allen should feast on the ground, especially after Shrader’s offseason shoulder surgery. He was limited to begin training camp, so his throwing ability will be a big storyline in a game that Syracuse should win handsomely.

Henry O’Brien (0-0)

Not men’s basketball

Syracuse 52, Colgate 3

There are trap games on the Orange’s schedule, but this is clearly not one of them. Syracuse will destroy Colgate. It will be interesting to see if the score gets to the point where the coaches both agree to a running clock, similar to SU’s demolition of FCS opponent Wagner last season. While the Raiders are a better team than the Seahawks were in 2022, they will not stand a chance against the more-talented Orange.

Colgate’s offense did average the fourth most points in the Patriot League last season led by Quarterback Michael Brescia. Brescia ranked last among the six qualified Patriot League quarterbacks in passer rating last year, but returns without his top receiving target. Brescia is the Raiders’ leading rusher with 750 yards, nearly 300 more than any Colgate running back. Once Colgate is in the red zone, they’re one of the most efficient teams in its conference (81.3%). That’s implying the Raiders make it there often.

Syracuse’s talent in the front seven with Caleb Okechukwu, Marlowe Wax and Derek McDonald will have no trouble making Brescia’s day miserable. Colgate may put together some decent drives, but I can’t imagine that any of the receivers will get past a secondary commanded by safeties Justin Barron, Alijah Clark and Jason Simmons Jr. If this game is somehow close, then expect a column published next week at SU’s only independent student newspaper.

sports@dailyorange.com

@DOSports

be better, so you’ve got to step up and perform.”

Despite playing for different schools, they train together over the summer and remain heavily invested in each other’s careers.

Shea and Kam do whatever they can to watch each other play. During games, Vanderbosch regularly sends Kam a text complimenting a slide tackle while Kam will praise one of Vanderbosch’s saves. The two also FaceTime each other almost every night, and after games, they go over each other’s performances and provide honest critiques.

“They’re very competitive but they are the absolute best of friends and each other’s biggest cheerleaders,” Pam said.

justingirshon@gmail.com @JustinGirshon

The last time Colgate beat Syracuse was in 1950. Although the all-time series is tied at 31 apiece, our beat writers unanimously agree that SU will cruise to victory. joe zhao asst. photo editor

Josh Belluz pondered turning pro after leaving Villanova but ultimately chose Syracuse. Through two games, he’s cemented himself as a reliable two-way player in Ian McIntyre’s system. joe zhao asst. photo editor

football

Colgate prepares for opening week test against Syracuse

By Wyatt Miller senior taff writer

On the last play of practice on Tuesday, Colgate quarterback Michael Brescia dropped back to pass on the five-yard line. His throw toward the left pylon was a bit too high for running back Max Hurleman who was hit trying to make the catch, and the ball spiraled up in the air.

But Hurleman got his footing and dove backwards to catch the ball right before it hit the turf. Both the offense and defense erupted in celebration and head coach Stan Dakosty ended practice on the high note.

“[On Saturday] we need to bring the energy and focus you had on that goal line play on every snap,” Dakosty told the team afterward.

The history between Syracuse and Colgate is long and varied, dating back to 1891. The teams played every season for the next 70 years, yet the last time Colgate beat Syracuse was in 1950. SU has won the last 16 matchups, but the head-to-head record doesn’t reflect that disparity. The Orange are 31-31-4 against the Raiders all-time and will look to take their first-ever lead in the series on Saturday.

As the defensive backs coach in 2010 and 2016 remember forever.”

The most recent matchup between these teams was in 2016. In that season-opening game, the Orange won 33-7. After the first quarter, they allowed zero points and 48 yards of total offense.

Colgate enters its 67th all-time matchup with Syracuse led by dual threat quarterback Michael Brescia. In 2022, Brescia rushed for 751 yards and tallied 13 touchdowns. The Raiders haven’t beat SU since 1950. daily orange file photo

a scarcely used scheme in college football. Having played a 3-4 defense, Dakosty knows the most difficult part of that scheme is to prepare for its deception.

“There’s rhyme and reason to why, but on tape it might look random, so you kind of figure out what their reasons are,” Dakosty said.

“You’re talking about an opponent that’s very close to us, a lot of common knowledge, they know more about us than they know about many teams,” Babers said. “It’s not a game I’m gonna sleep easy the night before. These games really bother me.”

This time around, the Raiders will go against Syracuse’s 3-3-5 defense, which is

Dakosty is expecting a ton of wrinkles

from Long, given that his system is similar to past years. Having been to Syracuse practices in past years, Dakosty has gotten to know the culture and expectations that exist at SU, saying that’s helped him prepare. Babers expects nothing less and is planning for a battle against a team that has more knowledge on them than the average opponent.

wbmiller@syr.edu @wymill07 colgate

Everything to know about Colgate ahead of SU’s season-opener

By Wyatt Miller senior taff writer

Colgate hasn’t beaten Syracuse since 1950. When the teams met in 2010 and 2016, Raiders head coach Stan Dakosty was the defensive backs coach – they lost by a combined score of 75-14. In their five matchups since 1961, Syracuse has won by a combined 257 points.

This time around, the Raiders will go against the 3-3-5 defense, which Dakosty acknowledged as a scarcely used and statistically elevated scheme in the college football landscape. After going 3-8 last season, Colgate will open the season against its only Power Five opponent this year.

Here’s everything to know ahead of Syracuse’s season-opener against Colgate on Saturday:

All-time series

Tied, 31-31-4.

Last time they played

SU beat Colgate 33-7 in the 2016 opener. The Raiders marched down the field to score on the opening possession, but the Syracuse defense adjusted soon after. The Orange went on a 33-0 run the rest of the game, allowing yards of total offense after the first quarter.

Syracuse scored two touchdowns of over 40 yards in the first half, including a 49-yard rocket from Eric Dungey and a 43-yard dash by Moe Neal. Two Syracuse receivers had over 10 catches and a touchdown: Amba Etta-Tawo (12 for 210 yards) and Ervin Philips (14 for 87 yards), while five Orange rushers combined for 117 yards and one score. Dungey still finished 34-for-40 with 355 yards and two scores before he was taken out.

The Raiders report

Colgate had a -98 point differential last season, securing its worst record since 1995. After a season that included some tough injuries to the offensive and defensive line, both units have excelled in training camp, Dakosty said.

He relishes the opportunity to give his team an opening test. It’s a measuring stick for his guys in the trenches to play up in the FBS and see if they can hold their own for a full 60 minutes. If nothing else, Dakosty hopes to gain perspective.

“The last time we played Syracuse, we had a good front,” Dakosty said. “Obviously, they won the game. But it was one of those things like, okay, did we get pushed around like an FCS playing a Power 5? If we're going to build this up how we want to build it up, we're going to have an o-line and d-line that should be able to go toe to toe with anybody on our level.”

How Syracuse beats Colgate

If Syracuse plays to its standard, it should manhandle Colgate’s offensive front. The Raiders have just one starting offensive lineman over 300 lbs, creating a clear advantage for SU’s vet-

eran pass rush unit, all of whom top 250 lbs. If Syracuse can get to the quarterback at a high rate without sending too much extra pressure, this game shouldn’t be competitive.

The schemes haven’t changed for Syracuse, but the coordinators and play calling strategy have, on both sides of the ball. Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said defensive coordinator Rocky Long will have a distinct impact on the SU defense because of his ability to make adjustments at an accelerated rate. Long’s “library of knowledge” on stopping offensive concepts and causing deception with defensive backs puts this Syracuse team in a good position against an FCS opponent. Offensively, Garrett Shrader shouldn’t need to throw the ball downfield much to beat the

Raiders. With his shoulder recovery still a factor, the ground game will likely be Syracuse’s bread and butter on Saturday. And as Colgate allowed 130.1 rushing yards per game last season, Shrader and LeQuint Allen shouldn’t be hard-pressed to hit gaping holes in the defense.

Stat to know: 751

Colgate quarterback Michael Brescia ranked fifth in the Patriot League with 751 rushing yards last season, and tied for fourth in rushing scores with 13. That’s 309 yards and 11 touchdowns more than the next Colgate player. His dual-threat proficiency is the focal point of this Colgate offense as well as SU’s preparation. Expect to see a ton of designed

runs from the Raiders against some heavy pressure from Syracuse.

“As that quarterback goes, they go,” Babers said.

Player to watch: LB Tyler Flick

With SU set to play a run-heavy offense, linebacker Tyler Flick stands in its way. As a senior last year, Flick led the team in total tackles (93) and tackles for loss (8.5) – each would have led the Syracuse defense. Dakosty will surely look to utilize Flick, as SU’s lack of size and experience on the offensive line is its biggest weak spot on paper. Flick could take advantage of that.

wbmiller@syr.edu @wymill07

Syracuse has defeated Colgate in 16 consecutive contests. In their last meeting, on Sep. 2, 2016, the Orange picked apart the Raiders 33-7 and are heavy favorites entering Saturday’s showdown. courtesy of colgate athletics

SEEING DOUBLE

By Justin Girshon asst. digital edior

Everyone knew Kam Vanderbosch wanted to score against Shea Vanderbosch.

When Siena won a free kick in its regular season match against Syracuse, the Saints elected to have Kam take it. She struck one aimed for the bottom right corner. Shea raced from one post to the other, catching the attempt. She fell to the ground and was able to clutch possession to her chest. “I was just like, ‘Ok, if anybody could actually score on Shea it would be Kam because she knows how to score on her,’” said their mother Pam Vanderbosch. “But then Shea knows exactly where Kam is going to go.”

For most of their lives, the 60-second difference at birth was the only thing separating Shea and Kam. They now play two hours apart, with Shea playing goalie at Syracuse and Kam playing center back for Sienna. Throughout their childhood, the Vanderbosch twins did everything together – especially soccer.

Once Shea and Kam began playing in a youth league, the pair became obsessed. They moved from youth to travel soccer, motivated to get even better. When they returned home from their hour-and-a-half-long practices, they went straight to the backyard. Kam took shots at Shea for another hour.

“I just wanted to score on her,” Kam said. “Even if I don’t, I love the competitive nature that we have.” Shea was born to be a goalkeeper. She’s a natural when it comes to organizing a defense or barking warnings at the midfield. In elementary school, she once got in trouble for being “too bossy” to her classmates.

Since I’m a goaltender and she’s a center back, she’s literally right in front of me. I feel like we were very close off of the field, so it made us have a better connection on the field.

Shea Vanderbosch syracuse goalkeeper

In eighth grade, Kam switched from forward to center back, placing her closer to Shea on the field. Though Shea had always been vocal, she took it to another gear once Kam started playing center back. Pam

see twins page 9

After 5 years, Josh Belluz is finally ‘ready’ to join the Orange

By Zak Wolf asst. sports editor

Anthony Vadori chose Josh Belluz to take a penalty kick for Vaughan Soccer Club in the 2017 Ontario Player Development League semi-final. But Vadori felt his players question the decision. As a defensive midfielder standing at 6-foot-6, Belluz isn’t a conventional penalty taker.

Still, he confidently smashed home the penalty, sending Vaughan to the final. In the midst of the celebration, Vadori said Belluz threw his hands up as if to say “what did you guys expect?”

“For a guy that is quiet to do something that almost seemed cocky was so out of character, but it

was a really, really funny moment,” Vadori said.

Belluz didn’t showcase his penalty taking abilities much after, but he was a standout for Vaughan up until this summer. And after four years as a starter at Villanova, appearing in 50 games, he’s bringing versatility and experience to Syracuse.

In 2018, Syracuse contacted Vaughan about Belluz possibly playing for Syracuse. Carmine Isacco, one of Belluz’ coaches at Vaughan, said he probably wasn’t ready for the responsibility required at SU. Isacco thought it was best for him to go elsewhere where he could get consistent minutes.

“Decisions like that you never real-

ly know and there’s no way to tell what would happen but I feel like everything happens for a reason,” Belluz’s brother Alessandro said. “Sometimes you need to be in a place where you can increase your confidence and have a little bit of a longer leash.”

Belluz committed to Villanova, where he logged over 3,500 minutes in three seasons. But, in 2021, he only played in eight games before a broken bone in his foot shut him down for the season.

Belluz explored the professional route in the offseason but ultimately opted to enter the transfer portal. When SU head coach Ian McIntyre reached out, Mark said the decision was easy.

“Coach McIntyre was one of the

first few coaches to reach out to me,” Belluz said. “I knew a bunch of people that came through this program and I’ve heard nothing but good things. So I knew that this was a good fit for me.”

Belluz’s time at Vaughn, a semiprofessional team in Canada, elevated his level of play. Belluz started with Vadori and Isacco at the U15 level. Vadori and Isacco said Belluz had quick feet for a big guy and his technical ability was always on point. Isacco said Belluz read the game well, breaking up plays and making the simple pass.

Vaughan spent two training sessions a week focused on drills mirroring in-game situations. Players dribbled into zones in pressure situa-

tions while passing to hit targets. This was where Belluz excelled.

“You seldom see Josh make a mistake,” Vadori said. “His technical ability was rare and he’s always been very sharp.”

Belluz’s breakout happened in the spring of 2018. Vaughan traveled to the United States to play in showcases against colleges during the spring. Vaughn played against teams like Syracuse, Xavier, Robert Morris, Virginia, Boston College and Ohio State.

During the same spring, they played in the Soccer Institute at Montverde showcase in Florida. Led by Belluz, Vaughan became the first team

Shea and Kam Vanderbosch played on the same team until they turned 14. The pair are each other’s ‘biggest cheerleaders’ but remain fierce competitors.

Shea Vanderbosch got the best of her twin sister, Kam, in Syracuse’s 3-0 win over Siena on Aug. 20. They were born 60 seconds apart. courtesy of su athletics