By Brenne Sheehan and Kendall Luther the daily orange
Photos by Avery Magee photo editor
Mike Haynie has been named the 13th chancellor and president of Syracuse University, it announced at an event hosted at the National Veterans Resource Center Tuesday morning.
Haynie currently serves as the university’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School of Management, but will begin his new position at the end of the school year.
The chancellor-elect is currently SU’s vice chancellor of strategic initiatives and innovation as well as the executive dean of the Whitman School of Management. Starting as an entrepreneurship professor at Whitman in 2006, he rose through the ranks of outgoing Chancellor Kent Syverud’s administration, including his appointment as vice chancellor of Veteran and Military Affairs in 2014 and University Professor — SU’s most prestigious faculty title — in 2017. He is the third internally-selected chancellor in SU’s history and the first since Melvin Eggers in 1971.
Most notably, Haynie, who served for 14 years in the United States Air Force, founded the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, where he now serves as executive director. Haynie also facilitated the construction of the NVRC — an early priority of SU’s Campus Framework and the first of its kind in the U.S.
Haynie was chosen by a search committee, led by Board of Trustee members Shelly Fisher and Lisa Fontenelli. The committee comprised 24 members of SU’s faculty, staff, board members and students.
In his first remarks as chancellor-elect, Mike Haynie
Chancellor-elect
SU students
have big expectations.
Haynie says: ‘I won’t let you
down.’
‘He leads with vision’: Syracuse reacts
By
For years, Mike Haynie helped shape Syracuse University from behind the scenes. Now, as the school’s next chancellor, he will take on its top leadership role — inheriting a campus grappling with questions about governance, affordability, athletics and its place in a shifting higher education landscape.
Haynie is SU’s first internallyselected chancellor since 1971 — currently serving as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive dean at SU’s Whitman School of Management.
The chancellor-elect first came to the university in 2006 as a Whitman professor and moved into the administration alongside Chancellor Kent Syverud.
While some on campus say they are hesitant about Haynie’s tenure, others, including local officials, expressed confidence in the future chancellor’s leadership.
Undergraduates hope Haynie can bring ‘clarity’ to decisionmaking
Many undergraduate students said they hope Haynie’s familiarity with SU translates into visible campus changes, including improved resource distribution, affordability and housing.
Gillian Arend, a chemistry major in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she hopes Haynie pays attention to schools outside of the university’s more widely recognized programs.
“I just hope he doesn’t just focus on Newhouse or Whitman, because I’m in Arts and Sciences and we have funding … but Newhouse has a lot of it, and I would like to see it more evened out,” Arend said.
For other students, the announcement raises questions about how SU communicates about national issues that affect campus.
Olivia Ruggiero, a senior psychology and neuroscience major, said she wants university leaders to be clearer about changes related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, including
see haynie page 4 see reacts page 5
Decisions on paused programs expected this month, SU says
By Kate Jackson senior staff writer
Syracuse University’s academic portfolio review is in its final stages, an SU spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
Provost and Vice Chancellor Lois Agnew has reviewed the recommendations of college and school deans, who will communicate outcomes to the “affected programs” later this month, the spokesperson said. As
part of the portfolio review, SU paused admission to 18 majors in the College of Arts and Sciences in September 2025.
“We are finalizing the outcomes of the Academic Portfolio Review in close consultation with the deans,” the spokesperson said. “More on program specific decisions will be shared with the affected programs and the broader campus community in the coming weeks.”
Students currently enrolled in programs “slated for closure or paused enrollment” will be able to complete their degrees, the spokesperson said. However, beginning in fall 2026, incoming students will not be able to enroll in programs “placed in pause or closure categories.”
Agnew announced in August 2025 that deans would reevaluate their respective programs, degrees and majors throughout the fall semester.
Deans were provided “detailed data,” including enrollment trends, course data and faculty information, to inform their recommendations.
At a University Senate meeting on Jan. 21, Agnew announced the deadline for deans to submit their portfolio reviews would be extended to Jan. 23.
Agnew initially set the deadline for the end of the fall 2025 semester. As of December 2025, these are the Arts and Science majors
for which enrollment was paused: African American Studies, Applied Mathematics B.A., Chemistry B.A., Classical Civilization, Classics (Greek and Latin), Digital Humanities, Fine Arts, French and Francophone Studies, German Language, Literature, and Culture B.A., History of Architecture, Italian Language, Literature, and Culture B.A., Latino-Latin American Studies,
see majors page 5
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SU Study Abroad program directors urge caution in updates
By Arabella Klonowski and Remi Turner the daily orange
Various Syracuse University study abroad program directors issued “travel awareness updates” to students amid international military conflict, urging caution for upcoming travel.
In the updates, obtained by The Daily Orange, directors said SU programs abroad will continue as planned, despite recent military conflicts between the Iran war. Students at SU’s Madrid, Florence, London, Strasbourg and Santiago satellite campuses received variations of the message.
“At this time, there is no impact to Syracuse University program locations, and there is no known immediate threat to our students or staff,” the Florence, Madrid and Strasbourg emails read.
The United States Department of State issued a worldwide security alert on Saturday, advising Americans to exercise “increased caution” when traveling internationally. The alert was in response to the recent U.S.-Israeli military airstrikes on Iran.
Students at the Santiago and London campuses received similar communication from program leaders, emphasizing current safety conditions in each country, yet urging caution for outside travel.
In a message from SU Abroad London’s program, director Stephanie Solywoda highlighted the SU policy that students are prohibited to travel to any areas marked by the DOS as a Level 3 or Level 4 risk without university
approval. Countries at those levels currently include Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait and Qatar.
“Please make careful, well-informed travel decisions,” Solywoda wrote. “Maintaining a low
profile where appropriate and staying connected with program staff are prudent measures.”
Program directors from Florence, Madrid and Strasbourg also reiterated this rule in their emails to students.
“Please also bear in mind that emotions are running high and that you may be perceived as an American as you travel and inadvertently aligned with current events,” the Florence, Madrid and Strasbourg emails read. “We recommend you travel with caution and a low profile.”
The emails also told students to follow SU’s mandatory travel submission policy during spring break, when student travel increases.
Any independent travel should be submitted through the AlertTraveler app by Thursday, according to messages from SU’s Florence, Madrid, Strasbourg and London programs.
“Given the current international situation, we want to make sure we can provide timely support and assistance if needed,” the Florence, Madrid and Strasbourg emails read. “Sharing your information helps us stay connected and ensures that we can reach you quickly should circumstances change or if any travel advisories are issued.”
Students currently studying abroad with questions and concerns can contact the emergency contact number provided to them at the beginning of their program for support, according to the Florence, Madrid and Strasbourg emails. news@dailyorange.com
Listen to the Elders amplifies Indigenous voices, food sovereignty
By Bengt-Erik Nelson staff writer
From strawberry water to bison meatballs, Onondaga Nation Eel Clan member Angela Ferguson’s Wednesday campus dinner and presentation highlighted the importance of food sovereignty and connections with ancestors and community.
Listen to the Elders, an SU group focused on amplifying Indigenous voices, hosted the meal and presentation, in Bird Library. Ferguson, who serves as Onondaga Nation’s farm supervisor, prepared the traditional meal using homegrown ingredients, while sharing stories from her own life as a leader in the Indigenous food sovereignty movement.
“This is one of the topics that’s really dear to my heart,” Ferguson said. “It’s everything that I’ve been doing in my life since I found sobriety, honoring my ancestors, my grandmothers who taught me how to cook, how to forage, how to butcher and how to grow food.”
Ferguson said food sovereignty isn’t exclusive to Indigenous communities and explained the role of food as a “unifier” among people.
“When people say, ‘What is food sovereignty?’ There’s so many definitions, because really it’s whatever it means to you,” Ferguson said. “And for me, it means being on your ancestral lands, still having the seeds of your ancestors, and the knowledge to plan and to take care of those harvests.”
Kaliya Wachacha, a sophomore at SU and member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, said her own community lost a lot of traditional knowledge about food and said it was nice to see the efforts of other Indigenous communities in giving back that knowledge.
Wachacha emphasized the importance of hearing successful stories of the reclamation of historical objects to Indigenous communities. She also echoed Ferguson’s point that food sovereignty can be cultivated by anyone. see sovereignty page 5
Billue files appeal, seeks SCSD Board of Education reinstallation
By Vivian Collins asst. news editor
Former Syracuse City School District Board of Education Commissioner Twiggy Billue filed a stay and an appeal with the New York State Commissioner of Education, following her removal in January, she announced in a Monday release.
The appeal seeks to stop Billue’s removal and reinstate her to the board. With the appeal, New York Education Commissioner Betty Rosa will review materials on the record and decide whether the removal will be overturned.
The school board unanimously found Billue guilty on two counts of Board of Education code violations, after she allegedly entered Roberts Elementary School without a visitor pass. The board removed Billue immediately following the hearing on Jan. 20, two weeks after she was sworn in for her second term as commissioner.
During the hearing, the board said Billue violated district policy when she arrived at her grandson’s classroom without a visitor’s pass, overstepping her role as commissioner. Fellow board members deemed this an abuse of power, as the policy states members of the board have “no right to make an official visit to the schools,” according to the release.
Though Billue’s attorney, Douglas Bullock, represented Billue at the hearing, the appeal case was transferred to the New York Civil Liberties Union.
“If school boards can remove elected members for alleged minor policy violations, even taken as charged as minor as this, removal becomes a tool to silence dissent rather than
a remedy for serious misconduct,” Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, director of the Racial Justice Center at the NYCLU, said in the release.
The release claims that the organization’s involvement shows issues of “civil rights, due process, and democratic concerns.”
hearing for her immediate removal as a commissioner on SCSD’s
Although Billue no longer actively serves as commissioner, she said in the release she still remains “committed” to serving the Syracuse community of students, educators and families.
“This appeal is about fairness, transparency, and the right to due process,” Billue said in the release. “Allowing my removal under these circumstances sends a chilling message to every board member who might otherwise advocate for transparency or challenge systems that fail” viviancollins@dailyorange.com
SU Abroad campus directors urge caution for student travel amid ongoing international conflict involving the U.S. christian calabrese staff photographer
Onondaga Nation farm supervisor Angela Ferguson shares stories about food sovereignty with attendees. bengt-erik nelson staff writer
Twiggy Billue sits on stage at Nottingham Elementary school at a Jan. 20
Board of Education. cassie roshu senior staff photographer
SU launches Opening Doors Fund for InclusiveU Program
By Caroline Schaefer contributing writer
After Oakland University barred Micah FialkaFeldman from living in student dormitories, he advocated for inclusive housing and established himself as a figure in the movement toward inclusive higher education.
Now, over 15 years later, Fialka-Feldman co-teaches classes in Syracuse University’s Disability Studies Program and serves as outreach coordinator for InclusiveU, a program to provide accessible college education to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For Fialka-Feldman’s parents Janice and Rich, watching their son accomplish his life-long goal of attending college inspired them to support InclusiveU’s “incredible” work, establishing the Opening Doors Fund in February.
Inspired by Fialka-Feldman’s book of the same name, the fund provides InclusiveU students financial support for housing, food, academic materials and other expenses.
Following his advocacy work at Oakland University in the 2000s, SU invited Fialka-Feldman to speak on campus, where his parents said he left an impact not just on everyone in the room, but on the school system as well.
The couple said they created the fund after seeing firsthand the growth that can come from InclusiveU’s support.
“If we can play a tiny part in continuing that legacy of supporting people, then truly, it’s our honor to do that,” Janice Fialka-Feldman said.
promised student-focused leadership as he prepares to take office.
Introduced by Board of Trustees Chair and search committee member Jeffrey Scruggs, Haynie told attendees his upcoming months will consist of conversations with students, faculty, staff and alumni — who he calls the “heart” of the university — to prepare for his tenure.
“I didn’t come into this role with a predetermined strategy already drafted and ready to execute,” Haynie said. “That would be the wrong way to start because it would not reflect the respect that I have for this community. I want to hear from all of you what’s working. Where do we excel? Where do we need new investment? Where do we need to refocus our time, attention, our resources? All of those conversations will shape what comes next.”
During his remarks, Haynie thanked members of the search committee for a selection process “marked by rigor and integrity.” The new chancellor also made it a point to thank Syverud and his wife, professor Ruth Chen, for strengthening SU “academically, financially and reputationally” — prompting a lengthy applause from the audience.
Syverud will leave the university at the end of the academic year, he announced in August. He’ll go on to serve a five-year term as president at the University of Michigan, his alma mater. Syverud did not speak during the event.
At Tuesday’s event, Fontenelli labeled the search committee’s process as “fair, open and competitive,” detailing its several listening sessions with students, faculty, staff, alumni and greater Syracuse residents. The search committee hosted several listening sessions during the fall semester.
While Fontenelli said there was “no perfect candidate,” the committee made its decision based on SU’s “evolving landscape,” including changes to college athletics, technology and demographics.
“From those conversations, a portrait emerged of a leader who would dedicate themselves to our mission, our people and our future, who would sustain tradition as well as create and transform,” Fontenelli said. “Someone with entrepreneurial instincts, deep academic credibility and an unwavering commitment to students.”
German Nolivos, the search committee’s only undergraduate representative and president of the Student Government Association, said his biggest motivator during the chancellor search was finding a leader who loved the university and showed up to student events, encouraging campus transformation.
“Today is not just an announcement. Today is a reminder that leadership is love made visible,” Nolivos said. “We wanted someone who knows that Syracuse University is not perfect, but he knows and is sure that it’s worth fighting for. I am proud that today we’re announcing that leader.”
advocating for inclusive-housing
“And we hope then to also motivate people that we know, family, friends and people that we don’t know.”
With rising tuition and housing expenses, the scholarship will provide relief for many families with SU students, Rich said. The
financial aid will allow students to participate in everyday college experiences, while also being able to afford housing, food and academic costs.
While participating in the program, InclusiveU students can also take disability studies
classes and develop social and communicative skills while living in on-campus dorms, Brianna Shults wrote in a statement to The Daily Orange.
“We continue to focus on what is next for the program and deepen integration within the campus community from study abroad to Greek Life,” Shults wrote. “InclusiveU is fully embedded into Syracuse University’s community.”
Fialka-Feldman said he is confident his fellow InclusiveU members will find strength in the opportunities provided by the scholarships.
“I hope it impacts future students to be able to have a scholarship and have the full college experience,” Fialka-Feldman said. “And to be able to take the classes they want, and live on campus if they want and just be able to choose what they want to do in college.”
The fund is not only a transformative financial opportunity, but an incentive for the Syracuse community to strive for inclusivity, the Fialka-Feldmans said. They said it encourages greater conversations about intellectual disabilities, bringing attention to its prioritization in college education and campus life.
To the Fialka-Feldmans, the fund and partnership with InclusiveU is a way of turning what was once “unimaginable” into a reality.
“This is a way for people who have a little something to give a little something for a few folks to gain opportunities, relationships and skills through that initiative that really represents students with intellectual disabilities and our families,” Rich said.
tktk@dailyorange.com
Scruggs, who officially introduced Haynie by his new title, boasted the chancellor elect’s several SU accomplishments — including his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, his work to bring Micron Technologies to central New York and the recently founded Center for the Creator Economy.
The chairman also highlighted Haynie’s work with veterans and the military — from his 14 years of service in the United States Air Force to his development of the D’Aniello Institute.
“Service is not a chapter of Mike’s story,” Scruggs said. “It’s the throughline of his entire life, and that commitment to service extends beyond this campus.”
Closing the ceremony, Haynie acknowledged the university will continue to confront “uncertainty,” maintaining that academic excellence will preserve SU’s values.
“Excellence is the engine that will sustain everything we value today and fuel everything that we aspire to achieve in the future,” Haynie said. “The best version of Syracuse University is one that we will create together.”
Haynie will officially take office July 1.
“Thank you for your faith in me,” Haynie said. “I want you to know I will not let you down.” news@dailyorange.com
Chancellor Kent Syverud and his wife Ruth Chen attended the event. Syverud, who will soon rep blue, not orange, is set to assume his presidency at the University of Michigan in July.
Syracuse University announced the selection of Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie to succeed Chancellor Kent Syverud as chancellor on Tuesday morning at the National Veterans Resource Center.
After
for those with disabilities, Micah Fialka-Feldman is helping coordinate recipients for SU’s Opening Doors Fund. tara deluca asst. photo editor
the closure and renaming of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to the Office of People and Culture.
“They’ve kind of tiptoed around certain topics, like DEI,” Ruggiero said. “(There’s) ambiguity surrounding our relationship with the federal government. I think hearing some more clearcut opinions from people in higher positions here … would give some students a lot more clarity.”
Some undergraduates said they hope Haynie will be “more present” on campus than Syverud was during his tenure.
Hannah Murphy, a senior, said she only interacted with the former chancellor once during her time at Syracuse.
“Making those connections and having a rapport with the people … would be a nice change to see,” she said.
Another SU student, Falk College freshman Cole Thomas, said he hopes the university appoints a strong athletics director following John Wildhack’s retirement last month, adding that students and fans want change. As someone interested in working in sports, Thomas added good athletics also benefits the students pursuing careers in the industry.
Affordability and students’ quality of life were other common concerns among students.
Olivia Stockmeyer, a senior television, radio and film major, said she hopes SU becomes more financially accessible.
“(I’m) definitely hoping that they can make Syracuse a little bit more affordable and just a little bit more approachable for future students down the line, as it’s getting more and more expensive,” she said.
International student Emiliano Franco, who’s studying computer science, also emphasized the importance of maintaining a welcoming campus culture
“As an international student, I really liked staying here at Syracuse University, so I kind of want that to stay the same for upcoming international students,” Franco said.
Student government groups call for Haynie’s continued collaboration Leaders within the Student Government Association and the now-deregistered Graduate Student Organization said Haynie’s long history at SU could help him understand campus communities.
SGA President German Nolivos said he looks forward to working with the chancellor-elect, given his previous commitment to students, but added the association will “hold him accountable” when needed.
Graduate Student Organization President Roger Rosena, a Ph.D. student, said that even though Haynie’s past experience may make it harder for him to come up with “fresh” ideas for the university, he believes it will be helpful to have someone in power who is familiar with SU.
“To have (someone) who knows … about SU not on a facts and figures level, but has a deep and intimate relationship, his life is already integrated with the life of the university, is really important,” Rosena said.
Rosena’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between graduate students and the administration, particularly over funding, working conditions in recent years and official recognition of its governing body.
In a resolution posted Tuesday, SGA pledged to work with the incoming administration while emphasizing the importance of including student voices in university decision-making.
“(SGA) commits to holding this administration to a high standard, offering recognition where it is earned, raising concern where it is warranted, and never losing sight of the students whose futures depend on the quality and leadership of this university,” the statement reads.
Rosena called for Haynie to provide more support for graduate students and recognize
Middle Eastern Studies, Modern Jewish Studies, Music History and Cultures, Religion, Russian Language, Literature, and Culture B.A. and Statistics B.A.
Students, faculty and alumni have expressed confusion, frustration and uncertainty in the months following the initial announcement of the paused majors. Many said they were unsure how programs were being evaluated or when final decisions would be communicated.
“Deans provided multiple opportunities for community input through meetings, surveys, and other engagements consistent with our commitment to shared governance,” the spokesperson said. “Program directors had ample opportunities to contribute to the process.”
The deans will deliver the outcomes of their respective programs this month, per the spokesperson. They did not provide a specific timeline for the rest of the portfolio review.
kjacks19@syr.edu
their voices. Similarly, SGA’s resolution called for Haynie’s commitment to shared governance, which the association referred to as “not a formality but a foundation.”
Faculty and staff point to Haynie’s involvement at SU
Because of his decades-long resume at SU — which includes establishing the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the Center for the Creator Economy — several campus and local leaders told The D.O. they are confident in Haynie’s leadership.
Mark Lodato, dean of the Newhouse School of Public Communications, and David M. Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, congratulated Haynie in statements. Both thanked the incoming chancellor for collaborations he previously established with their respective schools — Lodato mentioning the Center for the Creator Economy and Van Slyke academic partnerships between Maxwell and the IVMF.
Ray Toenniessen, the IVMF’s deputy executive director and University Senate member, said Haynie’s work with private companies, government organizations, political leaders and philanthropic groups gives him a “wealth of experience” that will benefit the university. Toenniessen, who has worked under Haynie since 2010 before the IVMF was founded, said he feels proud to see him take on the role.
“When you work for somebody like Mike, you realize pretty quickly that he leads with vision, and he leads with a lot of confidence, and he leads with a lot of heart,” Toenniessen said. “He’s also not afraid to roll up his sleeves and dig in alongside everybody doing the work.”
Margaret Susan Thompson, a history and political science professor and senator, said Haynie’s relationship with Syverud could shape expectations for the new administration. Thompson said she hopes Haynie will increase “explicit faculty involvement” with university decisions.
“His closeness to Chancellor Syverud is both a strength and weakness,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the Chancellor Search Committee didn’t have the representation she hoped for, with not every college having faculty represented. Thompson also said she won-
“In this day and age you can go to McDonald’s and get food in two seconds, but you don’t know where it’s coming from and you don’t have that connection,” Wachacha said. “It’s important for everyone, even if you have a small strawberry plant in your window. It’s the fact that you’re growing something and putting time and effort into what you’re eating, it’ll make you feel better.”
Ferguson also spoke about how when land and food became commodified, it was used to leverage power against communities like her own.
“It’s a miracle we’re still here, and every time I make one of these plates, it is like a reclamation of sovereignty, because that was the thing that they tried to take away from us,” Ferguson said.
Scott Catucci, associate director of Outdoor Recreation at SU, said he’s helped organize “Listen to the Elders” presentations on campus for years. He said their goal is to bring people together to understand the university’s Indig-
ders “how seriously” the university considered external candidates.
Still, Thompson said she looks forward to working with Haynie and appreciates his previous accomplishments with the university.
RSO leaders cautiously rally behind Haynie
Leaders of several registered student organizations said they hope Haynie prioritizes transparency, student engagement and support for campus communities.
Alexander Johnson, president of the SU’s College Republicans and a veteran, said Haynie’s background with the IVMF stands out to him. He hopes the administration encourages bipartisan dialogue while addressing quality-of-life concerns like rising costs, he said.
“Haynie is an amazing example of somebody that continues to serve after his own personal service … it’s a great honor to see somebody that continues that legacy of service forward,” he said. “Tuition is not getting cheaper, and people, I think, maybe see a disconnect between the constant increase in costs and the resources that are being provided.”
Jurgen Baeza Bernal, president of College Democrats at SU and secretary of the Student Veteran Organization, has also had positive interactions with Haynie through the university’s veteran community, he said.
“I’ve met him multiple times during my time at SU, and each time I’ve come away with the sense that he genuinely cares about students and wants both them and the university to succeed,” Baeza Bernal said in a statement to The D.O.
Some students also said they want the university to expand resources for student groups.
Jesús Tiburcio Zane, president of Latine Undergraduates Creating History in America, said he hopes Haynie recommits to supporting diversity on campus.
“We want to see a clear commitment to supporting students from historically marginalized backgrounds. And I feel like that’s something where we kind of saw Chancellor Syverud lose focus,” Tiburcio Zane said.
Pride Union’s vice president, Landon Nance, also acknowledged that many cultural organizations have faced challenges under the current presidential administration. Though Nance said
enous history and “the land it sits on” by hearing stories from their elders.
A moment Ferguson said helped her connect with her ancestors occurred while foraging near Onondaga Lake. She said she noticed two shiny pieces of a clay pot on the ground and realized they were remnants of her ancestors’ lives.
“It shows me we were here. It was the proof… I hear you. They see me,” Ferguson said. “They know I’m here. It was just so magical of a moment.”
After asking friends at Binghamton University to date the artifacts, she learned the pot shards were roughly 8,000 years old. A large “rock” she found was identified as a 10,000 year old Mastodon tooth.
Following an invitation from Willie Nelson to participate in his Farm Aid concert in Missouri, Ferguson and fellow tribe members learned the Missouri botanical gardens near them housed an Indigenous seed collection.
“It was horrifying. It was all the stuff that they stole… there were thousands of seeds, and I could hear me and the other girls that were with
her RSO, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility, has been “very fortunate” when compared to other universities.
Nance wasn’t familiar with Haynie prior to his appointment, but after reading an SU News article about him, she said it was “exciting” to see the details about his partner, Kevin.
“It was an exciting kind of piece of information. It seems fairly private. I couldn’t find much in other research I was doing about his personal life,” Nance said. “But I guess (the article) signing off with that was exciting for me to hear.”
Local, state leaders say Haynie will take SU to ‘new heights’
Elected officials and neighboring academic institutions gave their support.
SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County College President Warren M. Hilton and Le Moyne College President Linda M. LeMura congratulated Haynie in written statements published Tuesday.
“All of us at ESF applaud this appointment and look forward to continuing our strong partnership with SU’s faculty, staff and students under Chancellor Haynie’s leadership,” Mahoney wrote.
LeMura, an SU alum, wrote that she has worked closely with Haynie for 15 years, including in work related to economic development in central New York and workforce development ahead of Micron Technology’s impending arrival in Clay.
Several political leaders have also publicly commented on Haynie’s new role.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, an alum, said Haynie’s long history with the university positions him well to lead the institution and take it to “new heights.” John Mannion, the U.S. representative for New York’s 22nd Congressional District, told syracuse.com he thinks Haynie is a “great choice” to lead SU.
Haynie will officially assume his role on July 1, succeeding Syverud, who led the university for over a decade. During his speech Tuesday, Haynie said he will meet with students, faculty and community leaders to outline his priorities in the coming months.
Nolivos said Haynie is slated to speak to students at the SGA’s March 30 meeting. news@dailyorange.com
me crying,” Ferguson said. “I can’t say that I’m traumatized because it just lit my fire, it made me go on a mission to get the seeds out of there.”
After telling Nelson about the seeds, he said he would support Ferguson in her efforts to return the seeds to their ancestral owners. Although they were unable to reclaim seeds from the botanical gardens, Ferguson said she spent the last year returning Indigenous seeds from the Illinois State Museum to the communities they belonged to.
At the end of the meeting, Ferguson invited attendees to become more involved with the movement and to visit the Onondaga Nation Farm.
“Everyone has a local community. You can start with your own little fire, your own family, it moves into your local community, and then it spreads to your state, your country, and that was our way that we connected,” Ferguson said. “Food is the universal way that people can sit down, listen to one another, not be angry and have a connection to others.”
bnelson@syr.edu
Audience members join arms as they are serenaded with SU’s alma mater, performed by University Singers. avery magee photo editor
CULTURE
By Charlotte Price social media editor
Recognizing when the crowd likes what you’re doing is easy for DJ Maria Profili. If they like it, they stay.
“It’s the best feeling ever, getting to control the event and the music in it,” she said. “And I’ve been to so many places where the DJ has just been awful, and I guess that’s taught me how to be better.”
The Syracuse University junior competed against six DJs and took home the trophy at the Westcott Theater’s Greek Life DJ Competition on Feb. 26. (Profili represented Alpha Xi Delta.)
The competition participants are just a sample of the amateur DJ scene that saturates SU’s Greek houses, bars and house parties.
In the
mix
Greek houses and local bars make it easy for aspiring DJs to get their start
UU to host Brittany Broski March 18
By Eliana Rosen culture editor
Brittany Broski is coming to Syracuse University on March 18 for University Union’s “A Royal Evening with Brittany Broski.”
The show will take place in Goldstein Auditorium; doors open at 7:30 p.m. The event is free for all SU and SUNY ESF students, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Kyle McMahan, a sophomore in the Bandier Program, will moderate the event. Broski is an influencer, podcaster and comedian who has gained nearly 15 million followers across platforms. The debut episode of her podcast
Senior Troy Conner DJs mostly at house parties, like those at the Cage. He’s even taken his sets to New York City, opening for The Dare last November in New York City. He knows the show is going well when it doesn’t feel like a show at all — it should feel more like hanging out with friends in his bedroom than performing for hundreds of people, he said.
“The shows that I feel like have been the best are when I can look at the crowd and they’re all doing their own thing, in the moment, they’re all dancing with friends by themselves,” he said. “They’re not thinking about me.”
Profili has an easy avenue to knowing what the audience wants: She’s a woman, so she knows what female-dominated nightlife crowds want to hear. Profili was the only woman who competed at Thursday’s showdown. People, especially fellow women, have the most fun when they can sing along, she said.
Usually, Profili starts the night off with remixes. By the end, she plays more popular music — the stuff audiences
“The Broski Report” was the fourthmost-streamed podcast episode in the United States upon release. Broski is also known for her medieval-themed YouTube interview show “Royal Court.” Her guests have included Ilona Maher, Charli xcx, Paul Mescal and most recently, Harry Styles. In 2022, Broski was named one of Fast Company’s “Most ForwardThinking People in the Creator Economy” and earned a spot on the Forbes “30 under 30” list.
For any questions or to request accommodations, email UU Vice President Kendall Johnson at uuvicepresident@gmail.com. ehrosen@syr.edu
By Joel Pelachik asst. copy editor
Alexander Sammartino — with a flip phone and his professor’s typewritten notes in hand — first entered English Professor Dana Spiotta’s office hours for a writers workshop in September 2012. Then-Syracuse University sophomore Sammartino was intimidated by an established author reading his fiction for the first time. Spiotta said she noticed his ambition right away.
“She was just like, ‘You know, I really think you could be good at this,’” Sammartino recalled. “She saw something in me, and I feel like I had never been encouraged like that before. I think it’s a defining moment in my life.”
and “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes are two reliable hits in Profili’s repertoire.
The best DJs aren’t doing it for their own enjoyment but for the audience, Conner said. Whether it’s music they’ve never heard or the same 50 hits over and over again, what the audience wants is most important, he said.
“There’s a reason the guy who DJs at (Orange Crate Brewing Co.) plays the same songs every time,” Conner said. “It’s because he knows those are the songs people like and those are the songs you want to hear. So you can say what you want about his originality, but he’s being a good DJ.”
Sophomore Roey Leshem is one of the DJs that frequents the decks at Orange Crate and Lucy Blu Island Bar and Club. He said for bars, he cohesively switches from rap to
Taking Spiotta’s advice, Sammartino began writing daily, which he now does full-time. Now 34-year-old Sammartino owns a smartphone and published his debut novel, “Last Acts,” in 2023. His second book, “Gallo,” is set to be released in early 2027. Sammartino wrote the first iteration of “Gallo” in 2016, while in graduate school at SU and turned it in to author Jenny Offill, who encouraged him to keep writing about bodybuilding, Sammartino said. He spent over two years working on Gallo before he switched solely to “Last Acts.” After he finished the latter, he started “Gallo” over, writing for another three years.
But Sammartino didn’t always believe he’d be a writer.
Born in Rhode Island and raised in Arizona, Sammartino was encouraged to play sports from a young age. He played fullback at Eastern Arizona College in the fall of 2010, before transferring to Glendale Community College the following spring.
Though Sammartino continued playing football, Glendale is where his passion for literature blossomed, starting after he read William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” he said.
“Books gave me access to this emotional language and my own sense of myself. So many sports are about erasing your identity to be a part
To be a good DJ, it’s all about knowing what the audience wants. A DJ may play the same 50 tracks, but if the crowd enjoys the setlist, it marks a successful DJ.
The D.O. staff’s Oscars picks for best picture
By The Daily Orange Culture Staff
This year’s Oscars will close out a packed award show season. From a record number of nominations for “Sinners” to a highly competitive “Best Actor in a Leading Role” race, the night is set to be historic. Ahead of the show on March 15, The Daily Orange curated predictions and hopes for the outcome of the night’s biggest categories.
Ten films are up for the coveted Academy Award for Best Picture next week. Here are our predictions for which is most likely to bring home the Oscar:
1. “One Battle After Another”
What happens when you combine Paul Thomas Anderson, arguably the best contemporary American filmmaker, an electric Leonardo DiCaprio performance and Chase Infiniti, a newcomer who gives the veteran performers a run for their money? You get the frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars.
“One Battle After Another” follows washedup revolutionary Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio) as he tries to rescue his daughter Willa (Infiniti). It’s a straightforward plot that Anderson packs with deep themes of fatherhood, political violence and white supremacy. Led by masterclass performances from DiCaprio, Infiniti and Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” will forever be engrained in cinema history — no matter how many awards it wins.
2. “Sinners”
With “Sinners”’ April release, writer and director Ryan Coogler established himself as one of the greatest living filmmakers. The film follows two troubled brothers as they fight against the institutional — and supernatural evils — of the Jim Crow South. Its originality and cultural impact creates a strong case for winning Best Picture, shaking Hollywood’s racism that doesn’t give Black filmmakers the same awards season love as its counterparts.
The feature has faced unfair controversies and maliciously framed coverage. Yet, following success at the NAACP, Screen Actors Guild’s Actor Awards and Critics Choice Awards, “Sinners” seeks to upset this awards season front-runner and stand atop the smear campaigns.
3. “Marty Supreme”
Amid the endless “Marty Supreme Christmas Day” memes and that awkward but viral Zoom call, December’s pop culture was purely dedicated to the release of “Marty Supreme.” Once the film launched, many praised Timothée Chalamet for his career-best performance and the adrenalinepumping pace. Many thought “Marty Supreme” was destined to win.
But, the disappointing awards run thus far places Josh Safdie’s ping-pong film at a disadvantage. After a drought at the British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards and the Actor Awards, “Marty Supreme” may have lost its edge. But, just maybe, the cast’s stellar performance could just save the film’s fate.
4. “Hamnet”
Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” tells the story of William and Agnes Shakespeare’s family and how their son Hamnet eventually becomes the inspiration for the timeless play “Hamlet.” Outside of beautiful cinematography and a captivating score, the film’s heartbreaking script and compelling performances left me shell shocked for days.
Its complex themes of love, grief and motherhood make the film a quiet but strong contender for this year’s Best Picture award. Those who saw “Hamnet” can understand how it will remain an example of masterful storytelling for years to come.
5. “The Secret Agent”
While “The Secret Agent” may have a less than likely chance to win the top award, the film is a real contender to win “Best International Film.” Hailing from Brazil, “The Secret Agent” takes a brutal but humorous approach to the nation’s two-decade military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985.
Wagner Moura — the film’s lead — has become globally recognized for his role as Pablo Escobar in Netflix’s “Narcos.” Though Moura was subtle in “Narcos,” he gave a bone-chilling performance.
With a Golden Globe win and the Cannes: Best Actor award, Moura’s performance surely earned the film its “Best Picture” nomination.
6. “Sentimental Value”
Despite a limited theatrical release, “Sentimental Value” delivered a touching story about family and generational trauma under a fresh lens. Set in Oslo, Norway, the film follows a seasoned actor’s complicated relationship with his two daughters.
The story operates largely around its setting — the family’s generational home. It uses time and place as a narrative tool alongside striking performances, making the film poignant and relatable.
Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve portray one of the most convincing and sympathetic fatherdaughter relationships on screen. As a film, it’s been underappreciated by the general public, but it should perform well in the international category.
applauded, and the film’s lavish set design made for undeniably striking visuals. However, critics were quick to point out the film’s heavy use of CGI, which undercut the gothic atmosphere the film seemed to strive for. Even more damaging was the extremely loose interpretation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel.
With no major awards, momentum and a divided critical reception, the movie feels more like a showcase for its production design than a serious Best Picture contender.
8. “Bugonia”
“Bugonia” follows conspiracy theorist and beekeeper Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons) and his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis), who kidnap Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), a powerful CEO they believe is an alien from the Andromeda Galaxy.
The fourth collaboration between director Yorgos Lanthimos and Stone is a roller coaster of a film that comments on how absurd our world is — between politics, conspiracy theories and religious control. “Bugonia” might not win many awards, but quirky, powerful performances from the leads and Will Tracy’s clever script make it a hidden gem at the Academy Awards.
9. “Train Dreams”
In a top-heavy award season that seems to be favoring only a small handful of movies, there is one film that has been relatively forgotten, despite its compelling story and beautiful visuals. “Train Dreams” tells the story of a humble railroad worker who must come to terms with the tragedies that have fallen before him and find an existence in the unforgiving world he is stuck in.
The movie is a gorgeous illustration of the human spirit. But even with all of its good qualities, there just isn’t enough marketing behind the film to have it be a serious contender in this year’s Oscar race.
10. “F1: The Movie”
Brad Pitt’s familiar star quality makes a comeback in “F1,” alongside fellow veteran Javier Bardem. As its title suggests, the film follows a retired Formula 1 driver who returns to the track 30 years after a career-ending crash. But, he soon enters a contentious rivalry with a hotshot rookie, played by Damson Idris.
With actual F1 driver Lewis Hamilton as a contributing producer, the film is enjoyable, but it was clearly made as a tribute to the sport. Utilizing real F1 race footage and immersive sound design, “F1: The Movie” is an impressive production. But compared to its contenders, it doesn’t stand a chance to win Best Picture. culture@dailyorange.com
CONCERTS THIS WEEKEND
Maddox Batson
At just 16, Maddox Batson has released a debut EP and several singles. He’s most notably a co-writer on “Tough” by Lana Del Rey and Quavo. Watch an aspiring young artist perform in Syracuse this Friday.
WHEN : Friday, 7:30 p.m.
PRICE: $28 to $97
WHERE: Landmark Theatre
Mia Asano
Listen to a blend of classical violin and alternative music with LA-based electric violinist Mia Asano. Her viral social media videos have gotten global recognition, and she’s bringing her skills to Syracuse.
WHEN : Friday, doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
PRICE: $41.98
WHERE: Westcott Theater
A Kid Called Danger
Groove to a high-energy hip-hop performance by A Kid Called Danger alongside other local artists this Saturday. Based in Syracuse, the rap artist is active in the region’s music scene, and the show features eight other local artists.
WHEN : Saturday, 5 p.m.
PRICE: $19.75
WHERE: The Lost Horizon
Started by two former high school acquaintances, All Poets & Heroes is a Syracuse-based alternative indie-rock band. Jam out to the group’s blend of ‘90s alternative and folk sounds. You must be 18 or older to attend.
WHEN : Saturday, doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
PRICE: $18.22
WHERE: Funk ‘n Waffles
Gabe Stillman
Join Gabe Stillman’s blues performance of powerful vocals and guitar skills next week. With two albums out, Stillman has established himself in the modern blues scene. He combines traditional and contemporary elements.
WHEN : March 11, 7 p.m.
PRICE: $33.77
WHERE: The 443 Social Club & Lounge
All Poets & Heroes W/S/G Clove
7. “Frankenstein” “Frankenstein” arrived with a lot of hype – Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the monster was highly
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SU alum Erin Althen to earn SAMMYs hall of fame induction
By Lily Zuckerman asst. culture editor
Throughout high school, Erin Althen spent the majority of her free periods in the band and chorus rooms. One day during her sophomore year, her band director asked her to teach a private flute lesson to a freshman. It was then that she realized she wanted to be a music teacher.
“I taught the lesson, worked on band music and played my flute while they were working, and when I finished, I was like, ‘This is it. This is what I want to do,’” Althen, a Syracuse University alum, said. “That was the moment that it absolutely clarified for me that I wanted to be a band director.”
Now, 44-year-old Althen has been named Music Educator of the Year for this year’s Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame. Her work as director of bands and chair of the Fine Arts department at Westhill High School earned her the award, according to the SAMMYS website.
Althen will officially be inducted into the SAMMY Hall of Fame on Thursday ahead of Friday’s award show. In addition to Althen’s classroom presence, she is also the co-conductor of the Syracuse Youth Wind Symphony and co-founder of the CNY Music Teacher Mentoring Program.
Grace Lesselroth, an SU and Westhill High School alum, took private lessons with Althen throughout high school. Althen inspired her to study music education herself, Lesselroth said. Now at Boston University, Lesselroth is in a graduate program to become a music educator, like Althen, she said.
“What sets Erin apart is how she prioritizes the well-being of her students and the program,” Lesselroth said. “It’s not, ‘These kids are going to do whatever I say.’ It’s, ‘How can we work together to prepare for this concert and this community?’”
Althen graduated with a degree in music education from SU in 2003. During her undergraduate studies, Althen was a drum major and
During that transition, Elisa Dekaney, associate provost for strategic initiatives and Althen’s former professor, saw Althen craft her teaching style. She saw the resemblances between how Althen acted as a student and how she taught others.
“Erin is the person who is not just interested in the very highly accomplished — even though she’s a very accomplished flutist — but she can get the student who’s not so interested and get them into something that they will like,” Dekaney said. “That is her biggest strength.”
Dekaney said she was not surprised when she heard of Althen’s SAMMY recognition, she said. Named one of the 25 semifinalists for the 2025 and 2026 Grammy Music Educator Award, Althen is no stranger to recognition, Dekaney said.
Althen’s teaching has even convinced some of her former students, like SU senior Katie O’Leary, to pursue the same path at the same school that Althen did.
“She makes every single student, every single person that she talks to, feel like they are important, they are cared about and they deserve to be where they are,” O’Leary said. “Her door is always open.”
fellow
Music Educator of the Year at the Syracuse Area Music Awards. md zobayer
conductor of the marching band’s Sour Sitrus Society, part of the Wind Ensemble, a University 100 tour guide, a Remembrance Scholar, a University Scholar and a School of Education class marshal.
Through these opportunities, Althen was able to be a band director before working professionally and in a leadership role, she said.
In Althen’s final semester of college, she was placed in student teaching at Westhill High School.
The week after she graduated, Althen began her graduate degree in music education at SU.
But a few months later, Althen missed Westhill High School so much that she stopped by to visit her former students while on Thanksgiving break. She learned a band teacher had just resigned, and they needed someone to fill the spot. So, Althen returned four days a week, teaching music lessons at the middle and high school while completing her graduate degree.
O’Leary met Althen the summer after eighth grade, when O’Leary began taking private flute lessons with her, which she continued through high school in Marcellus. O’Leary said Althen showed her the impact a teacher can have on a student — a direct reason she decided to study music education at SU.
Working with students like O’Leary and Lesselroth is only one of many highlights of teaching music, Althen said.
“This is the job of my dreams. This is the life I’m so happy to be living,” Althen said. “I have moments all the time where I actually pause as I am teaching, as I am conducting, as I am with a group of kids, and I just think, ‘I am so lucky.’”
lvzucker@syr.edu
Wheel yourself to The Curd Nerd for personalized cheese experience
By Tara Binte Sharil asst. culture editor
Employees of The Curd Nerd see many customers come and go. Whether the patrons are regulars or new to the store, it can be difficult to keep track of customer’s names. But no matter what, they always remember every person’s cheese preferences.
“For some reason, my superpower is remembering what cheeses people like and don’t like,” Rachael Lucas, The Curd Nerd shelf manager, said. “I might not remember your name, but I know what cheese you like.”
The Curd Nerd in Eastwood sells artisanal cheese from all corners of the world, from the cows of Milton Creamery in Iowa to the Austrian Alps, in addition to charcuteries and cheese boards.
The idea of The Curd Nerd was born in February 2021. Owner Sarah Simiele moved to Syracuse a year earlier, when COVID19 derailed her plans to become a traveling dairy farmer across Europe. With no plans, Simiele wasn’t able to find a career similar to her previous one as a cheesemonger in Brooklyn until her then-fiance suggested they start their own cheese store. Though it took a lot of convincing, Simiele gave in, opening the store in March 2022.
“We didn’t have a lot of money, but it was also COVID, and everyone was just kind of a little optimistic,” Simiele said. “After trying to figure out what we could do, we landed on the idea of opening our own cheese shop so I can work.”
In April, Simiele expanded her cheese ambitions to open The Wedge. Syracuse’s firstever cheese-centric bar and restaurant, The Wedge is located right next door from The Curd Nerd. Its cocktail and food menu items use cheeses sold at the parent store.
As the only store selling artisanal cheese in the area, Simiele faced obstacles along the way. One of her main challenges was establishing cheese distribution networks from all over the world to Syracuse by herself. In the beginning of that process, Simiele personally ordered cheese pallets that weighed 400 to 700 pounds and had to get them shipped privately since there was no direct access to Syracuse.
Before The Curd Nerd existed, there weren’t any artisanal cheeses to be purchased due to the lack of distribution routes to Syracuse. By the time The Curd Nerd opened in 2022, those challenges disappeared thanks to Simiele’s
efforts. As a result, Simiele is able to import lesserknown cheeses from different parts of the world; 60% are domestic and 40% international.
“We don’t carry a ton of Italian cheese because there are some great Italian markets in the area that have eight types of provolone and things like that,” Simiele said. “We focus a lot on French, Swiss and Spanish imports just because there’s really nowhere else in the area focusing on those.”
Some staff members — like Simiele and Lucas— have decades worth of experience, while others are simple cheese lovers.
Simiele’s cheese background was rooted from her time at Binghamton University. Amid her molecular biology classes, Simiele joined the school’s Cheese Club her junior year to take a break from her studies. By the time Simiele was a senior, she helped charter the club as an official school organization and became its first president.
Before moving to Syracuse, Lucas lived in Seattle. After her morning power walks, she often visited the city’s Metropolitan Market to sample cheeses. When Lucas’ then-boyfriend encouraged her to work in the market’s cheese department, where she fully embraced her love for cheese, marking a new career.
Jeanne Woodcock, customer-turnedcheesemonger of The Curd Nerd, does not
have a formal education in cheese like Simiele and Lucas. Instead, she learned about cheese by soaking up the information around her.
The store’s friendly embrace never changed, when she was a customer and now as a staffer, Woodcock said.
Though Woodcock’s background was in education, she became a part-time cheesemonger of The Curd Nerd after seeing one of the store’s TikTok videos. She said it’s part of her work in pursuing her “lifelong love for cheese.”
“I just really liked the customer service and the care that they took in getting to know me and my family. I’ve taken my granddaughter and my husband and (The Curd Nerd) was offering them different cheeses and samples and were just talking to them,” Woodcock said.
A key component of the store’s friendly nature is its community engagement, Woodcock said. Whether a customer is an Eastwood local or visiting the store for the first time, The Curd Nerd ensures customers are put first, Woodcock said.
The Curd Nerd hosts two to eight events per month to familiarize customers’ cheese preferences. Every March, they host “cheese madness” — customers get to try 16 of the store’s best cheeses from the previous year and vote on a winner.
“Grocery stores these days, you can kind of go into all of your shopping and never have to speak to another human. This is not that experience,” Simiele said. “We’re going to ask how your day is. We’re going to ask you what you’re looking for. I want to know about the party you’re going to and we get really into it.”
When Lucas first began sampling cheeses in Seattle, she admitted cheese could be “intimidating.” After all, with an estimated 1,800 different types of cheeses around the world and different types of notes to look for, sifting through one’s personal favorite cheese can seem like an impossible task, Lucas said.
The Curd Nerd personalizes customers’ in-store experience. First, they ask customers go-to grocery order and their preferences between hard and soft cheeses. The store’s cheesemongers, like Lucas, then allows customers to sample different variations of cheeses they’re already familiar with. Through constant communication between The Curd Nerd cheesemongers and its customers, cheese can be more accessible and inviting, Lucas said.
“We just try to make it really approachable,” Lucas said. “Cheese is for everybody. There’s no need to be snobby or pretentious.” tabintes@syr.edu
Erin Althen, a high school music teacher, will be awarded
hossain joati inclusive journalism
At The Curd Nerd, cheesemongers ask customers their go-to cheese grocery order and preferences between hard and soft cheeses. Then, customers sample variations of cheeses, similar to the ones they already enjoy.
cassie roshu senior staff photographer
pop based on what the crowd responds to — what he calls an “open format” style.
Like Profili, freshman Gavin Rifkin said he finds the most success in catering to a female audience. He competed at Westcott Theater, representing Alpha Epsilon Pi.
To Rifkin, that means playing “white girl music.” The genre encompasses mostly 2010s pop hits that get the whole crowd singing along — think “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus, “Starships” by Nicki Minaj and “I love it” by Icona Pop and Charli xcx.
Rifkin purchased his first DJ deck the summer going into his sophomore year of high school, inspired by watching one of GRAMMYwinning DJ Fred again..’s sets on YouTube.
It wasn’t an impulse buy — he had to do a lot of babysitting to afford the $300 purchase, he said. The investment took a little while to pay off.
“My parents would go in the other room every time I was going, because it sounded that bad,” Rifkin said. “But then, you just practice. And then one day you wake up and you’re like, ‘Okay, I can do this.’”
Leshem made that same $300 investment during a gap year before starting at SU and said he still uses the same equipment today. DJing provided Leshem a way to express his lifelong love for music, taking inspiration from artists like Martin Garrix and Avicii. He started learning through YouTube tutorials, and he made a lot of “really bad” mixes at first, he said.
“There’s a lot of unsaid things that aren’t in tutorials, that you kind of just have to figure out yourself,” Leshem said. “And then even after all your practice when you finally show up to events, things are different and so much learning you just have to do on the fly.”
An already-established DJ friend showed Leshem the ropes of performing at big venues, setting him up to play a sold-out welcome week event as his first on-campus gig.
Conner started DJing while recovering from a downhill mountain biking injury that sidelined him for a few weeks. Conner had all the time in
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of the team, and I feel like with books you’re embracing who you are,” Sammartino said. “I didn’t feel like I knew a lot about myself because I’d always been just another guy on the team.”
Sammartino wanted to transfer to an East Coast school because of his family in Rhode Island. When drafting a college list, Sammartino said he saw SU as a reach and didn’t think he’d get in. In reality, it was the only place that admitted him. He enrolled at SU in spring 2012. In 2015, Sammartino graduated from SU with a double major in English and textual studies and philosophy.
But Sammartino’s relationship with writing wasn’t always seamless. When he applied to SU’s Creative Writing MFA Program, he was waitlisted.
Spiotta called Sammartino afterward, and she remembers him saying he wouldn’t give up — and she believed him. Soon, he got off the waitlist and graduated from the program in 2018 on the fiction track.
“(He) continued to work really hard, and a lot of it had to do with Alex more than any teachers he had, no matter what he says, because he was just so devoted,” Spiotta said.
As a student in SU’s Creative Writing MFA Program, Sammartino was taught by awardwinning author Mary Karr. During the ongoing writing process of “Gallo,” Karr told him: “If you were a corporation, I’d buy stock in you.”
Sammartino didn’t go unnoticed when “Last Acts” was released. He won the 2025 Young Lions Fiction Award, earned a spot on the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 list and was hired to write a screenplay adapted from the book.
In the more than 12 years they’ve been together, his now-wife Kelley Rowland doesn’t remember a day Sammartino hasn’t written — even on their wedding day, she said.
Rowland met Sammartino toward the end of their sophomore year when one of her friends
the world and one arm in a sling. When a friend offered to loan him a DJ board, he thought if he was ever going to learn, it should be now.
Learning to DJ is just a matter of understanding a few simple concepts, Conner said. In his opinion, being a DJ requires “little musical skill,” especially compared to producing music. It comes down to understanding beats per minute and musical keys, he said.
Conner picked up 75% of his current DJ skills within the first few weeks of starting, he said. Conner has now started producing his own music and said he’s had to learn a lot more than just BPM. Though he’s been producing for a year and a half, he said he still feels like he knows nothing.
Maybe it’s the fairly low level of musical knowledge required to start that creates such a collection of DJs at SU. But it might just be the campus environment itself, Conner said.
“If you want to get into DJ performing, there’s no better place to do it than the college campus,” Conner said. “You’re surrounded by thousands of people who are looking for places to go out, not spend a lot of money, and want to go to these DIY events.”
brought Sammartino over to her South Campus apartment. Rowland came downstairs and saw Sammartino was looking at her book collection. Rowland called their first encounter a “love-atfirst-sight moment.”
After receiving his master’s degree, Sammartino wrote “Last Acts” primarily in the morning before his 9-to-5 tech sales job at Zocdoc and Gappify. Sammartino said he wrote each day from 5 to 7:30 a.m. — a writing pattern that began in graduate school, which was a stark contrast to his late-night undergraduate writing sessions.
“It’s unlike anybody else I know, the ambition and the drive to be able to get up so early, do the thing you love and go do your job, too,” Rowland said. “He’s always been incredibly focused and determined. It’s just incredible. I literally don’t know anybody else who has the work ethic that he does.”
Sammartino credits his athletic career — a period in his life outside of the “writerly experience” — for teaching him how to persevere amid challenges, including writer’s block.
“Writers who have some kind of literary success, it’s not so much talent, which certainly Alex has, but how committed they are to learning what they need to learn and how they won’t give up no matter what,” Spiotta said.
His new book, “Gallo,” follows a bodybuilder, his life after competitions and the consequences of his training. The book is loosely based on Sammartino’s cousin and bodybuilder, Anthony D’Arezzo.
Sammartino said his uncle hung a photo of D’Arezzo in full “bodybuilding mode” on his wall, next to family photos and told an 8-year-old Sammartino to never forget his cousin. The way his uncle talked about D’Arezzo like a mythic figure stuck with Sammartino, inspiring “Gallo,” he said.
“I wanted to pursue this myth of individualism with your own life and pushing yourself beyond your own means,” Sammartino said. “And these are really kind of American ideals
The fact that DJs are so visible on campus contributes to the beginner scene too, Rifkin said.
“Because we go to Syracuse and it’s a party school, it’s fun being up there,” Rifkin said. “You see a DJ and they’re having fun. You want to be up there too. So it gets people to want to learn a little bit.”
Though opportunities for house shows have dwindled after the closure of venues like Dazed, Conner said he still thinks becoming a DJ has never been more accessible.
Greek life is part of that equation too, giving DJs like Profili and Rifkin their platform. Though Greek life creates platforms for DJs, it’s also exclusive by nature. Profili said if you don’t know anyone in Greek life, it can be hard to break into the scene.
Profili was initially drawn to learning how to DJ because of her music-related major. She asked for a DJ board for Christmas during her freshman year. Then, she got her start on the stage at the end of her sophomore year after she “begged” her friends at Delta Upsilon to give her a try DJing for a party. They thought she was “awesome,” and so did partiers who posted about her on Yik Yak, she said.
Rifkin said when he started DJing in high school, he had the idea in the back of his head that he might be able to DJ at his future fraternity.
In terms of the tech required to start, becoming a DJ is “infinitely accessible,” Leshem said. Recent updates to music streaming services have made it easier than ever for an artist to connect their music library to their DJ deck, opening up more musical possibilities.
The presence of amateur DJs is so large at SU that Leshem said he’s considered starting a club where performers could share technical know-how. Even without a club, Leshem said the community between DJs is strong.
“I’ve made so many friends with, ‘Oh, here’s a tip,’ and then they give me a tip, and then all of a sudden we’re friends and playing events together,” Leshem said.
Though Conner has found success outside the SU party scene, he doesn’t want to take DJing past a hobby. He plans to pursue a career in photojournalism. Besides, he attributes his success to the fact that he doesn’t take it too seriously — if he did, he said his passion and opportunities would fade quickly.
Leshem and Profili, though, said DJing might fit in alongside their future careers. DJing would make a good side gig to accompany Profili’s career in the music business. Leshem already picks up gigs for Red Bull brand activations, so continuing to DJ while he pursues experiential marketing makes sense.
At the end of the day, the point of a DJ playing music at a party is to allow everyone to enjoy the same thing all together, Conner said.
A good DJ takes songs people already know and puts a new spin on them, Leshem said. The crowd reengages with the music in a way they might not have known they could, he said.
“I love being able to just dance with people,” Leshem said. “Sometimes you’re a DJ and sometimes you’re just some guy behind a deck dancing to the song in the background, and those are the best moments of it, when it’s your favorite song playing and everyone’s dancing.”
cprice04@syr.edu
that are very tragic but also beautiful.”
Aside from his writing, Spiotta and Rowland praised Sammartino’s character, calling him warm, empathetic and altruistic. Karr said he’s a big-hearted person, especially for a former bouncer. Karr added Sammartino does a lot of charity work and Rowland said he volunteers in their neighborhood.
Once, Sammartino even stayed with Karr in the emergency room while she was waiting for test results. Karr said some people may visit you for a minute and bring you a CocaCola, but Sammartino stayed with her for eight hours.
“You knew you were dealing with an exceptional mind, but also an exceptional heart,” Karr said.
Sammartino returned to SU on Feb. 11 as part of the Raymond Carver Reading Series. In
Watson Theater, he read excerpts from both “Last Acts” and “Gallo.”
In graduate school, Sammartino taught a section of “Living Writers,” a course where students attend these readings. And as an undergraduate, he attended the readings “all the time.”
He always thought it’d be crazy to come back to the series as an author — but he never thought it would actually happen.
“One of the things that I loved about being at Syracuse was being part of this insane literary history. So many writers have come through there and been part of the Carver Reading Series,” Sammartino said. “And now it’s like, ‘Cool, man, you joined that history. You’re a part of that now, too.’” jdpelach@syr.edu
After meeting with his professor in 2012, then-sophomore Alexander Sammartino began writing daily. Now, he is a published author. courtesy of alexander sammartino
SU’s party scene makes it accessible for aspiring DJs to perform. With many amateur DJs, it’s easy for students who want to break into the scene. zoe xixis asst. photo editor
“The recent increase in sunshine means attendance is way up, but as spring break gets closer those numbers are steadily dropping. It’s a Syracuse Paradox, folks.”
Reintroducing Absence of Light
By Daily Orange Opinion Staff
Dear readers,
For the first time in three years, Absence of Light is returning to The Daily Orange opinion section.
Absence of Light began as a collaboration with incarcerated people at Auburn Correctional Facility in central New York, founded by Cori Dill alongside former Opinion Editor Nick Robinson.
The project was created to provide a platform for the writings and experiences of currently and formerly incarcerated people in the Syracuse area. The column brings the realities of incarceration to light through the words of those who have lived it.
From the outset, the project faced significant hurdles, slowed by the restrictions of the prison system. It exists because of the dedication of Cori, Nick, Gabe Stern, Jewel Jackson and The D.O. opinion staff.
After two months contending with communication barriers, technical setbacks and funding constraints, the first two pieces of the project were published on Nov. 8, 2020.
Absence of Light aligns closely with the opinion section’s aim to amplify voices across the greater Syracuse community, bringing perspectives outside of routine columnists to the paper.
The column allows contributors to share their experiences directly, offering unfiltered perspectives. Absence of Light was created in the belief that these perspectives deserve space in our publication. That belief remains central to its return.
After a few months and help from former members of the opinion staff, we’ve released two pieces, with more to follow.
As the section’s editor, I will preserve contributors’ voices, intervening only to make minor edits for clarity. I invite readers to approach their work with openness and allow them to tell their stories in their own words.
The D.O.’s opinion section is committed to publishing perspectives that reflect the full reality of our community. Reviving Absence of Light is a part of that responsibility.
If you have questions, concerns or suggestions, please reach out to us directly at opinion@dailyorange.com.
I wasn’t arrested, I was rescued
By Yaqin Abdullah
Prison for me has become a safe haven. A place that allowed me to reevaluate and reinvent myself. As the saying goes, “Some people get arrested and others get rescued!”
I believe in divine intervention. I believe that sometimes obstacles or obstructions are placed in your path not to hold you back, but to help you build spiritual muscle. Spiritual food is just as important, if not more important, than physical food.
I don’t look at my prison sentence as a mistake, but as a blessing. As I was once told by a wise man, “There are no mistakes in life, only lessons.” I look at life as a test and the world as a big classroom. Every day I wake up, I start a new class taking notes on my life.
The late great Malik Shabazz said he got his associate’s degree in the streets of Detroit, his bachelor’s degree in the streets
of New York and his master’s degree when he went to prison. This is when he committed the entire dictionary to memory by writing down the entire book, word for word, page by page. His example inspired me to use my time wisely.
Though you may be locked up physically, you can mentally and spiritually be free. Just as you have people in society who are physically free, but mentally and spiritually locked up. As the saying goes, “Time flies, but make sure you’re riding the wings, not just watching the flight.” I spend my time educating myself and, most importantly, reflecting and contemplating on the hidden meaning and purpose behind my incarceration. In retrospect, I found my calling.
In the city of Syracuse, I’m best known for my boxing talents, competing on the worldclass level. I became second in the nation in
1993 and won the bronze Golden Gloves twice in 2000 and 2003. I trained with the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and “Sugar” Shane Mosely. I was a United States Olympic prospect. In 1993, I was pictured in a newspaper article with Mike Hopkins, the ex-assistant coach for Syracuse University basketball.
After the death of my mother, my life took a turn for the worse. It’s like when my mother died, my dreams died. As a result, I suffered from severe depression and anxiety, and I tried to cope by abusing drugs and alcohol. This spell of darkness was short-lived as the trajectory of my life changed once I landed in prison. I’m now sober and clean.
During my incarceration, I enrolled in a personal trainer’s course and passed my final exam. I’ll now be a certified personal trainer upon release. I’m finishing my memoir I wrote called “In The Ring with
My Life,” that I would like to get published upon release. I’m also writing inspirational spoken words. My goal is to educate the youth by opening a youth center and having some speaking engagements.
In hindsight, I now see boxing wasn’t my entire life but part of my story. What happened in my past helped me in my future. In the boxing ring I rarely lost a fight, with a record of 70 wins and 10 losses.
But outside the ring, I took many losses. I lost my parents, I lost my sobriety, I lost my freedom and I temporarily lost my mind. Although I had a coach in the boxing ring, I needed a life coach. My goal now is to be a personal trainer and a life coach. Now, I use this harsh experience as fuel to help myself and others.
hannah mesa illustration editor
katie crews digital design director
Yaqin Abdullah is currently incarcerated at Mohawk Correctional Facility.
from page 16 calm
the bus like when it spotted six unanswered goals to No. 3 Princeton Friday?
A statement win over the Blue Jays would be the former, potentially kick-starting a hot streak to change the dynamics of SU’s season.
To close out March, Syracuse travels to Air Force and No. 16 Denver before hosting No. 13 Georgetown. They aren’t pushovers, but Syracuse will be favored in each game. If SU escapes unscathed, it’ll be 8-2 entering conference play. Not too shabby.
Per Lacrosse Reference, eight wins would give Syracuse a 58% chance of making the NCAA Tournament. Nine wins, and that rises to 93%. Ten, and it’s pretty much a guarantee. That’s why this next stretch is key amid a mammoth schedule. Take care of business, and Syracuse will be in a solid position for a potential top-four seed come Selection Sunday.
However, success is fleeting in lacrosse. Syracuse knows that well. After its triumph over then-No. 1 Maryland, SU was seen as the best team in the country. Three weeks later, the Terrapins are 1-3 for the first time under John Tillman, and Syracuse has won one of its last three games.
the future of the unit. He knew Spallina, as a rising junior, would be prepared to elevate his game to the next level. He just needed that final piece — an experienced veteran who knows what it takes to win.
Thank God for Bowen. Odierna doesn’t like bringing strangers into the program. That’s why he was the sole SU transfer this year.
Fortunately for him, Bowen was far from a stranger. The Ohio State midfielder played box lacrosse with Spallina, his brother Joey Spallina, Trey Deere and Donny Scott with the Orangeville Northmen in 2024. In Ontario, Bowen heard them rave about Syracuse and built chemistry with Spallina, playing on the same short-stick line.
That made him a seamless fit for Odierna’s defense, even though it took him a bit to adjust once he got on campus. As Bowen put it, “lacrosse is lacrosse,” but different teams’ terminology doesn’t always match.
Early in the fall, Bowen yelled out calls for certain plays using verbiage instilled at Ohio State. It took him about a month to smooth out that confusion, but as he learned the intricacies of Syracuse’s defense and spent time with Spallina and Odierna, he started to settle in.
“That was critical for me to be able to hit the ground running going into the season,” Bowen said. “That fall ball period was really, really helpful for me to get my feet under.”
The first two months of college lacrosse can be hectic. Coaches tinker with lineups. Offenses and defenses feel out what works. Weird upsets happen. It’s a marathon to see who can be the best come Memorial Day Weekend.
So far, the parody in college lacrosse is no secret. Inside Lacrosse’s Preseason Top Five is a combined 12-9. Four different teams (Maryland, Syracuse, North Carolina and Notre Dame) have held the No. 1 spot in every week’s ranking.
It’s understandable if, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Syracuse fans were pulling their hair out. Thoughts of a failed season crept in. But the best teams figure it out when their backs are against the wall.
“It’s not always gonna be pretty,” McCool said after beating Penn. “But you gotta find a way to win, and I think that was a good example of that today.”
Yes, the Orange’s two early-season losses are suboptimal. Still, Princeton and No. 4 Harvard have arguments for being the best team in the country. SU could’ve (and should’ve) beaten the Crimson, though it blew a two-goal fourth quarter lead. Syracuse was flat-out bad against Princeton and was punished. Is that ideal? Not really, but it happens.
“Two teams we knocked out of the playoffs (last year) and we traveled to their home fields, and they’re fired up,” Gait said after SU’s Princeton defeat. “And they played excellent, and
The unit’s gotten closer off the field, too. The six short-sticks have a group chat and often go to Chipotle for lunches and dinners together. Their conversations have little to do with lacrosse.
“It’s a pretty close group,” Joey said. “I think they all just want to win.”
That strengthened bond helped the unit come out of the gate hot. In his first game in Orange, Bowen snagged two ground balls and forced a turnover in SU’s season-opening win over then-No. 17 Boston University. He has collected six ground balls and caused four turnovers in just six games, while Spallina has added five ground balls and forced four turnovers in his five games.
“I think they’ve done a great job,” SU head coach Gary Gait said on Feb. 19. “But they’re still getting better, still developing chemistry.”
That latter point is paramount. The Orange know the unit has room to grow. Its performances in SU’s losses to Harvard and Princeton proved that fact twice. The group bounced back to hold then-No. 19 Penn to just eight goals Sunday, though. As Joey put it, the short-sticks are the “grinders” of the team.
No one would ever confuse the unit for a finished product. But based on Syracuse’s shortsticks, odds are they’ll put in the work they need to get there.
“I know in the past, we’ve viewed the shortstick position as an area that needs improvement,” Odierna said. “And I would say this year, that’s been an area of strength for us.”
mjpalmar@syr.edu
@mpalmarDO
they got us today, but we’ll regroup, and come back and get better.”
If you travel back 12 months, Syracuse was in a similar spot. The sky was seemingly falling after blowing a five-goal lead to Harvard, which dropped Syracuse to 3-2. At a pivotal point of its season, SU responded with six straight wins. Although the Orange dropped their final three regular-season games, they reached their first Final Four since 2013.
So, yeah, in a perfect world, Syracuse would be 6-0. We don’t live in one, so it’s 4-2 instead. That’s fine. The Orange haven’t even come close to being their best yet, so their record shouldn’t be frowned upon.
The bottom line is Syracuse has the talent to beat anyone in the country. That point needs to be reiterated constantly. SU might not have shown it consistently this year, but it’s true.
Joey Spallina — though he was held to zero points against Princeton — is still arguably the best player in the nation. Slick offensive talents like Leo and Finn Thomson, who scored a hat trick Sunday, supplement him.
Dwan and Figueiras are an elite one-two defensive punch, while McCool holds down the fort with a 59.8% save percentage.
John Mullen’s form presents the greatest irregularity of SU’s recent struggles. After
a 62% win rate across the first three games, he’s won just 47% in the next three. The junior did show resolve after winning one first-half faceoff against Penn. He didn’t lose in the fourth quarter and gained possession for the Orange in overtime. If last year showed anything, it’s that Mullen’s recent stretch is an anomaly.
And when he’s at his best, so is Syracuse. Less pressure is put on the defense with fewer possessions to defend. It also gives the offense more room for error. So if Mullen gets it together, look out. Lacrosse seasons are long. Gait also didn’t do his team any favors by crafting a schedule with little gimmes. So forgive Syracuse for some early-season blips.
There’s plenty of time for Syracuse to get back on a national championship trajectory. The beginning portion of seasons are meant to sharpen edges. The first six games showed exactly how, and it’d be ridiculous to write this team off in March.
The Orange took a couple hits on their way. They might’ve hit a couple potholes and swerved into the other lane. But they didn’t crash. That’s what’s crucial.
As long as Syracuse’s engine isn’t dead, it’ll be fine.
zakwolf784254@gmail.com @ZakWolf22
Despite a 4-2 record, Syracuse still has plenty of firepower and has yet to play its best lacrosse this year.
eli schwartz asst. photo editor
Syracuse graduated its top two short-stick defensive midfielders last year, but its rebuilt unit has helped limit SU’s opponents this season. eli schwartz asst. photo editor
men’s lacrosse
Previewing No. 10 SU’s rivalry with No. 11 Johns Hopkins
By Nicholas Alumkal sports editor
It’s arguably the most storied collegiate lacrosse rivalry. It features the two most successful schools in the sport. Nearly 60 combined national championships spanning the pre-NCAA and NCAA era. Orange and Heritage Blue.
Is the visual starting to form? The grainy ESPN feeds. The Air Gait goals. The Paul Rabil masterclasses.
It’s coming into your mind, right? Syracuse and Johns Hopkins. Well, the two vaunted brands meet for the 64th time and the 53rd time in 43 years Saturday. The venue is the hallowed grounds of Homewood Field in Baltimore.
Both squads have had their position atop the collegiate lacrosse world questioned. The Blue Jays haven’t won a national championship since 2007. The Orange haven’t triumphed on Memorial Day since 2009. Winning in this historic rivalry will be a step toward reaching the summit again.
Here’s everything you need to know about No. 11 Johns Hopkins’ (4-1, Big Ten) derby with No. 10 Syracuse (4-2, Atlantic Coast):
All-time series
Johns Hopkins leads the series 32-30-1.
Last time they played
Syracuse notched its first top-10 win of the 2025 season, overcoming then-No. 7 Johns Hopkins 13-10 on March 9. After falling to then-No. 6 Maryland and then-No. 15 Harvard, the Orange’s victory against the Blue Jays was the first sign they could make a Final Four run.
In the win, Owen Hiltz led the way with four goals, and SU outgritted JHU with a 32-20 ground-ball disparity. But the most memorable moment was Syracuse attack Joey Spallina executing a hidden-ball trick that bamboozled the Blue Jay backline and the broadcast crew. The crafty finish capped a three-goal thirdquarter run that handed the Orange a 9-8 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
women’s basketball
The Blue Jays report
After losing its final six games in 2025, going 0-5 in Big Ten play and missing the NCAA Tournament, Johns Hopkins returned its top three point-getters this season.
Attack Hunter Chauvette led the way with 23 goals in 2025. Inside Lacrosse AllAmerican Honorable Mention Matt Collison added 21 goals and 12 assists. Brooks English, former Syracuse midfielder Sam English’s brother, pitched in with 26 points on a teamhigh 18 assists.
On the defense end, short-stick defensive midfielder Reece DiCicco has forced 2.4 turnovers per game, tied for seventh in Division I.
The biggest loss for the Blue Jays was faceoff specialist Logan Callahan, who won
60.8% of his draws, 11th in the nation a year ago. After gathering 70 caused turnovers, second in program history, defender Scott V. Smith also graduated.
In Callahan’s place, Johns Hopkins has struggled at the faceoff dot, winning 47.8% of its draws. But the Blue Jays have performed well to start the campaign. They defeated Towson — which received votes in the latest Inside Lacrosse Poll — 13-11.
Despite a 17-9 setback against No. 5 North Carolina, JHU collected its marquee win of the season so far Saturday at Virginia. Down 11-4 at the 9:22 mark of the third quarter, Johns Hopkins embarked on a 10-2 run the rest of the way to come away with a 14-13 victory at Klöckner Stadium.
How Syracuse beats Johns Hopkins
When Syracuse has had success this season, it’s started at the faceoff X. John Mullen proved last year he’s one of the best faceoff men in the country, and his ability allowed the Orange to win repeated faceoffs and start scoring runs. However, he’s won a mere 47.2% in the last three games.
When Mullen can’t win draws, SU’s explosive offense is held in check. But when SU has the ball, its defense needs to be more clinical. A .175 shooting percentage at Princeton Friday and Spallina’s thirdcareer game without a point proved that. SU’s disappeared in the biggest moments.
The inverse occurred two days later, when the Orange scored five straight goals across the fourth quarter, and Michael Leo capped the comeback with the overtime winner after Mullen won the decisive faceoff. SU needs that kind of production if it wants to beat Johns Hopkins.
Stat to know: 13.00
Johns Hopkins and Syracuse both take care of the ball well, committing just 13 turnovers per game each. That tally is tied for fifth in the country.
Saturday’s game may come down to who causes more turnovers. In that respect, the Blue Jays have the upper hand. JHU forces 9.4 giveaways in each contest on average, 19th in D-I. SU only forces its opposition to cough up possession 7.83 times per game, which is 40th nationally.
Player to watch: Matt Collison, attack, No. 16
The lefty attack did something at Johns Hopkins that hadn’t been done since Rabil represented the Blue Jays. Collison was the first JHU player to earn USILA All-America honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
Despite a down year in 2025, Collison remained a steady presence. He scored at least a point in each game, totaling 33 in 14 games. So far this season, in five games, the senior has logged 18 points.
njalumka@syr.edu @nalumkal
Previewing SU women’s basketball’s ACC Tournament opener
By Harris Pemberton asst. sports editor
DULUTH, Ga. — Of the 22 teams Syracuse women’s basketball beat in the 2025-26 regular season, Cal is certainly one it may not have wanted to see again.
The Golden Bears pushed SU to the brink and beyond in a triple-overtime thriller on Jan. 15. The Orange needed a Dominique Darius go-ahead 3-pointer with two seconds left to emerge victorious, and while Syracuse had enough gas to get over the finish line, it was by far its most strenuous effort to get a win.
So, SU can’t be too happy to be facing the Golden Bears a month and a half later in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. But that’s how March works — you’ll need to face and beat those demons to really grow.
Here’s everything to know about Cal (19-13, 9-9 ACC) before it takes on Syracuse (22-7, 12-6 ACC) in the ACC Tournament Second Round Thursday:
All-time series Cal leads 2-1.
Last time they played
In the two teams’ triple-overtime thriller on Jan. 15, Syracuse led by as much as 20 in the second half, but Cal erased the deficit with a 25-9 fourth-quarter run. A Lulu Twidale game-tying 3-pointer sent the game to overtime, tied at 62. SU took control in the first overtime period before Twidale canned back-to-back 3s to extend the game five minutes, tied at 74. Despite trailing for most of the second overtime, Darius tied the game at 83 with under a minute to play. And even though the Orange trailed for over 60% of the final overtime period, Darius’ unforgettable game-winner was the difference in a slugfest.
The game featured six lead changes and 10 ties, easily Syracuse’s most up-and-down thriller of the season.
The Golden Bears report
The absolute scariest thing you can get in an opponent this time of year is one that’s hungry and hot. Cal is both. The Golden Bears already enter Thursday’s contest wanting to avenge January’s heartbreaker on the road. And they’ve looked good lately.
Cal picked up a few key wins in February, notably its first Quad 1 victory over Virginia on Feb. 12. The Golden Bears won five of their last eight games of the year before destroying No. 15 seed Wake Forest 75-52 in the ACC Tournament First Round Wednesday.
Aside from that win over Virginia, though, Cal has struggled against good opponents. It sits at 1-8 in Quad 1 opportunities and 3-3 in Quad 2 games.
The Golden Bears are led by Twidale offensively — who averages 16.1 points per game — but have just one other player averaging in double figures. Also keep an eye out for forward Naya Ojukwu, who averages just 7.2 points but lit up for 25 last time out against the Orange.
How Syracuse beats Cal
The reality of single-elimination competitions like the ACC Tournament is that, when you get around the 7-12 seeds, just about any team could realistically beat anyone else. All it takes is one team getting hot at the right time.
Cal certainly showed glimpses of that Wednesday, albeit against a pretty mediocre Wake Forest squad. So, Syracuse’s key to the game Thursday will be ensuring the Golden Bears can’t carry over too much momentum, and
— as SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack calls it — punch the Orange first.
Syracuse has struggled most this year when playing from behind. The Orange often do enough to hang around in games, but if they’re dealt an early double-digit deficit — like they were against Louisville and NC State — they haven’t shown they can consistently complete a comeback.
The Orange need to attack inside early with their recently-crowned ACC Rookie of the Year Uche Izoje. Cal allows 46.4 2-point field goal attempts per game, a bottom-10 mark in the nation, meaning SU should have no problem getting looks inside. If Izoje can help Syracuse land the first punch, it should give it a major boost.
Stat to know: 13.9
Cal is one of the worst teams in the country at forcing turnovers, causing just 13.9 per game this year. That ranks 307th of 363 Division I teams, per SportsReference.
Syracuse, meanwhile, ranks in the top 65 in forced turnovers and steals, while only giving the ball away 15.8 times per game, which ranks 153rd in D-I.
The Orange can sometimes shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers early, as they did against Louisville. But against a team like Cal that doesn’t pressure the ball as intensely, Syracuse might handily win the turnover margin, which would give it a key advantage.
Player to watch: Lulu Twidale, guard, No. 10
Twidale almost single-handedly propelled the Golden Bears to a stunning comeback win at the JMA Wireless Dome in January. She dropped 16 points in a dumbfounding 53 total minutes, including four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Since that game, Twidale’s only improved. She entered the contest averaging 13.1 points per game, which has now increased to 16.1. She dropped a season-high 36 points against Boston College three days after the defeat to SU and has six 20-point games since last playing the Orange. While she scored just 11 in Cal’s win over Wake Forest Wednesday, she’ll be the conductor of the Golden Bears’ offense as it looks to upset the Orange Thursday.
harrispemberton@gmail.com
After coming back to defeat No. 18 Penn Sunday, No. 10 Syracuse remains on the road at Johns Hopkins Saturday. eli schwartz asst. photo editor
Syracuse triumphed over Cal in a triple-overtime thriller in January. The two teams will now meet again in the ACC Tournament Second Round Thursday in Duluth, Georgia. avery magee photo editor
Brooks English went from HS waitlist to JHU assists leader
By Jordan Fendrich contributing writer
Brooks English’s lacrosse career almost ended before it truly began. Ahead of his sophomore season in high school, Brooks was waitlisted from Culver Military Academy (Indiana). His older brothers, Sam and Ty, had played for the school’s preeminent lacrosse program and went on to play at the Division I level, but Culver head coach Jon Posner didn’t expect Brooks to make the same level of impact.
“I was honestly done with lacrosse after that,” Brooks said of his thought process at that point.
But Brooks’ fate changed when Posner received a last-minute call from the director of admissions. Brooks was off the waitlist and accepted into Culver.
Brooks took full advantage of that opportunity. After following Posner to powerhouse Lawrenceville, he committed to one of college men’s lacrosse’s winningest programs: Johns Hopkins. Now, a starting senior midfielder for the Blue Jays, Brooks has 11 assists in just five games this season. He’ll be top of mind when No. 10 Syracuse (4-2, Atlantic Coast) travels to meet No. 11 Johns Hopkins (4-1, Big Ten) Saturday.
Brooks’ ability to facilitate scoring opportunities is one of his greatest strengths. In his eyes, he’s always been a pass-first player. That started as a child, when he competed against his brothers, Sam — a former captain at Syracuse who now plays for Premier League Lacrosse’s California Redwoods — and Ty, who’s in his fifth year at No. 5 North Carolina.
Growing up, Brooks had to “feed” his older siblings, Ty said. If it was video games, Brooks had to reluctantly give up his controller. If it was lacrosse, Sam and Ty made flashy plays and scored goals off Brooks’ passes. However, his mother Kim attributed his playmaking ability to hockey, where, as a center, he consistently finished seasons with more assists than goals.
“My hockey coaches would always be telling me to shoot more,” Brooks said. “I’d be right up in the slot, with nobody on me, yet somehow I’d find a way to pass the puck instead of shooting it.”
In 2019, Brooks was ready to let hockey go in favor of lacrosse and aimed to join Culver’s squad, hoping to follow in his older brothers’ footsteps. Posner was tasked with selecting Culver’s final roster. Ty, who’s a year older, was in. Brooks was out.
“I’d say we were doing the Englishes a favor at first,” Posner said about putting Brooks on the waitlist.
men’s basketball
By Cooper Andrews senior staff writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Diving for loose balls, boxing out with authority, scrambling to contest shots from the perimeter; these were sights Syracuse didn’t put on tape last Saturday against Wake Forest when Adrian Autry blasted his players’ lack of toughness. But, don’t worry. Versus Louisville Tuesday night, that all changed. Autry’s postgame rant resonated with his players.
“Today, we guarded,” point guard Naithan George said, affirming the team’s positive response to Autry’s message. “We guarded our butts off and just worked super hard.”
Most of that grit, though, came when SU trailed by a fairly insurmountable deficit.
Against the Cardinals, the Orange played at their best when they were in desperation mode. It’s become the story of their season: too little, too late and never enough to begin with. Syracuse (15-15, 6-11 Atlantic Coast) lost to Louisville (21-9, 10-7 Atlantic Coast) 77-62 in the KFC Yum! Center for its fourth consecutive defeat — the second time that’s happened to SU this season.
Losing four straight games was unheard of during the Orange’s glory days under Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim. Now, their brightest badge of honor against a quality team in Louisville was simply fighting until the final whistle.
Sure, Syracuse made this an 11-point game late. But Autry remembers what happened long beforehand, when SU trailed by as much as 21 in the first half and 24 in the second.
“In the first half, that deficit was the difference (in the game),” Autry said postgame. “If we made a couple of those shots and came in (at halftime) down 39-30 or 39-31, I think the game could have been a little different.”
The Orange outscored the Cardinals 41-38 in the final 20 minutes. Yet, they never made the game very close. Autry knows Syracuse fans want wins, not moral victories. But at this point in the season, the only wins he’s getting are the moral variety.
brooks english used to think he wouldn’t be able to pursue high-level high school lacrosse. He now leads Johns Hopkins in assists, following his two older brothers, including, Sam, who played at Syracuse for two seasons. courtesy of
Posner admitted how his affection for the English family influenced his decision to consider Brooks. Posner has coached all four sons: Sam, Ty, Brooks and the youngest Sawyer, who’s now a freshman playing at Brown. Yet, after hardly seeing Brooks play, Posner had no expectation that he would be an impactful player because he was undersized compared to his brothers.
When a spot opened up in the sophomore class, Brooks received the offer. He and his family rushed back to his hometown, Burlington, Ontario, gathered his belongings and made the almost 10-hour journey back to central Indiana in a single day to be there for registration.
However, joining Culver’s team and making an impact were two vastly different things.
His first season ended abruptly due to COVID-19, and Posner took a new job at the Lawrenceville School (New Jersey). He decided to bring over eight players from Culver, and Brooks was toward the top of his list.
“I just remembered being super pissed off, and I felt like I had people to prove wrong,” Brooks said.
In his first season at Lawrenceville, his 11thgrade year, Brooks transitioned from a solid role player to an Under Armour All-American and a team captain.
“He became our alpha,” Posner said of Brooks. “No brothers were there. It was a really proud moment for me to watch him grow that way,” Kim also said.
With Brooks on his own, he made significant strides. Enough to receive an offer to Johns Hopkins.
Brooks fell in love with JHU during his first visit. He said the combination of elite athletics and academics, along with the sense of brotherhood he experienced, sold him. He welcomed the opportunity to play at Homewood Field, one of the most historic fields in lacrosse.
Brooks was reunited on the turf with Sam last year when the Blue Jays played the Orange at the Dome on March 9. It was just one more of many times he’s matched up against his brothers instead of with them.
It was a long way from tearing up the grass in the front yard of their childhood home with constant two-on-two lacrosse games. However, Sam and Brooks were used to facing each other because Sam and Sawyer traditionally teamed up against Ty and Brooks growing up.
In the first quarter of that SU versus JHU game, Sam recalled a moment when he was on the wing preparing for the next faceoff. He heard a familiar voice.
“Let’s have a little bit of fun out here.”
It was the pesky younger brother, Brooks, trying to get into Sam’s head.
“It was one of the more fun lacrosse games I’ve ever played in, because I just remember chirping Brooks and him giving it back to us,” Sam said. Brooks had another brotherly matchup just two weeks ago, when he faced Ty and UNC. And, boy, did he face Ty.
As Ty walked into the locker room after UNC’s previous game, he was approached by one of his coaches, Dave Pietramala. The defensive coordinator informed Ty that he would be responsible for guarding Brooks when they met. Johns Hopkins matched the gameplan for a true brother-on-brother matchup.
Every family member recalled when Ty had an open lane on his right side, but Brooks remained patient and stayed on his brother’s left hip. For a split second, Ty showed his stick, and Brooks took advantage, regaining possession for the Blue Jays.
“I underestimated him a bit there,” Ty said. “And I think that’s the story of him sometimes.” It was a fitting moment for the overlooked English brother. Brooks had just taken the ball from his brother, Ty — the man who took his spot way back at Culver.
jfendric@syr.edu
SU played best when desperate vs. UL — the story of its season
“You want to try to have some things to build on,” Autry said. “I don’t think the fans or anybody wants to hear what I have to say to get my guys ready, you know. It’s about results. And, you know, the frustration is there.”
When a team performs better than normal when facing a large deficit, they’re hard to judge. For Syracuse, it’s easy to assess. Autry certainly had no trouble with that Tuesday night.
“Some of the things that you need to do to win a game, we’re just not doing. Just not doing,” Autry said with a hint of disbelief.
To win games, playing a complete 40 minutes helps. Tuesday was the latest example of Syracuse’s struggles to achieve that. The Orange trailed 39-21 at halftime. An 0-for-12 start from 3-point range, constant lapses defending the perimeter and, per Autry, a lack of understanding with SU’s game plan were a few reasons why.
Autry said it’s been a recurring problem this season where his players don’t execute specific, previously-discussed elements of his game plans. Against the Cardinals, Autry told his team Louisville would be setting screens all over the place in half-court sets. The Orange prepared for this.
But Autry felt his players couldn’t get over screens, especially on the perimeter. It led to the Cardinals knocking down 14 3-pointers — the most SU’s allowed in a contest this year.
“We knew they were going to screen, and we just didn’t do a good job of (moving past them),” Autry said. “We’re all running into screens, and you can’t run into screens. You got to be close enough (to them). You got to anticipate, you can’t melt.”
Things started to turn around fast for Syracuse in the middle of the second half, though. It went on a 13-2 run at one point to cut its deficit to 11, spurred by a suffocating 2-3 zone defense, a few made jumpers from George as well as a twohanded jam from Sadiq White on a fast break.
A team that went into the halftime locker room with their heads bowed to the floor began to feel a jubilant rhythm. It was late in the game, but the Orange were finally performing how
SU played solid in a few spurts during its 77-62 loss to Louisville, but those moments came while it was in desperation mode. courtesy of adam mouchrani | the louisville cardinal
they intended to against Louisville — especially considering freshman phenom Mikel Brown Jr. was out with an injury for the Cardinals. Then Syracuse went back to being Syracuse. In just over three minutes, SU’s deficit ballooned from 62-51 to 74-55. It reverted to static possessions in the half-court offense, and had trouble once again fending off Louisville from long range. A step-back 3-pointer from J’Vonne Hadley with 2:14 left essentially sealed the Orange’s loss, if it wasn’t decided already.
When it comes to responding to Autry’s message, yes, Syracuse’s players gave an improved defensive effort and displayed a tad more toughness. But teams don’t hang banners for having a few good spurts here and there. They hang banners for winning. Championships, to be exact. And as Autry said, the Orange won’t win if they have to play a desperate brand of basketball. ccandrew@syr.edu @cooper_andrews
men’s lacrosse
johns hopkins athletics
CALM IS CONTAGIOUS
Syracuse isn’t at its best. That doesn’t mean it’s time to panic.
Jackson Maher unleashed a simple 10-yard step down past Jimmy McCool, and Syracuse’s defenders’ reaction said it all.
Jordan Beck put his palms to the sky as if to question how Penn freshman Maher got so open. Bogue Hahn placed his hands on his hips. Billy Dwan III and Riley Figueiras both
men’s lacrosse
slowly walked back toward the goal, initiating a Syracuse huddle. McCool frustratingly picked the ball out of his net.
The Orange were in trouble, and they knew it. For the second time in 48 hours, SU was putting together a nightmare performance.
Syracuse was in danger of falling to .500 in March for the first time since 2023, trailing Penn 8-5 at Franklin Field with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter. SU could’ve easily folded. Yet it didn’t. The Orange stormed back with four straight goals to force overtime before Michael Leo’s dramatic game-winner.
The result was indicative of Syracuse’s season so far. A horror show in one moment leaves observers wondering why SU is considered a national title contender. Watch the final 19 minutes of Sunday’s contest, and it’s easy to remember why they could go all the way.
Through six games, No. 10 Syracuse (4-2, Atlantic Coast) hasn’t performed to its national championship standard in every contest. That doesn’t mean it’s time to panic. More consisten-
cy is needed, but February andMarch lacrosse looks a lot different than in May.
Jim from Baldwinsville, who expects perfection, won’t be satisfied with that assessment. And that’s alright. At Syracuse, the standard is simple: Be the best. SU isn’t going to roll over its competition like it did in the 1990s and early 2000s. There will be bumps in the road.
The important thing is SU’s comeback against Penn prevented a downward spiral. After an inconsistent stretch, the Orange have a chance to reshape their season with a win over No. 11 Johns Hopkins.
Winning at Homewood Field won’t be easy. SU hasn’t done so there since 2020. The Orange also boast a dreadful 14-18 record away from the JMA Wireless Dome under Gary Gait. With Johns Hopkins coming off an emotional comeback win over Virginia, Syracuse may falter again.
It’s all about what team shows up. Is it going to be the one that vanquished its Maryland demons on Feb. 13? Or will SU not get off
see calm page 12
How SU men’s lacrosse rebuilt its short-stick midfield unit
By Mauricio Palmar asst. sports editor
John Odierna doesn’t want to gas his guys up too much now. There’s still nine games left in the regular season, and if everything goes according to plan, a lot more postseason ones afterward. Syracuse’s job isn’t even close to finished.
That’s why, when SU’s defensive coordinator began listing his shortstick defensive midfielders’ strengths, Dante Bowen jokingly covered his ears. The senior short-stick doesn’t want to hear the praise because that’s simply not who he is. That’s not who anybody in the unit is, quite frankly.
If they wanted to hear consistent praise, they probably would’ve chosen a different position. Because it certainly wasn’t going to happen for them at short-stick.
“I always compare short-stick defensive midfield to offensive line in football,” Odierna said. “To me, it’s the most important and most underrated position.” The short-sticks never stand out on the field. If they do, it’s usually because they did something wrong. They’re the target of more dodges than anyone, Odierna said. If they can’t handle their matchup, the onus falls on the close defenders to clean up the mess.
It’s a thankless position, and lately, Odierna has been thankful the Orange have had strong players in the spot. But after both of his top-line shortsticks graduated heading into this offseason, Odierna had to rebuild the unit heading into SU’s pivotal 2026 season. Don’t look now — but with Bowen’s veteran presence and a topline returner in Jake Spallina, the unit has helped Syracuse limit each of its opponents to less than 13 goals.
“We feel good about our shortstick group,” Odierna said. “We think our ceiling is really high this year, because of how these guys have played so far.”
It’s not an unfamiliar feeling for Odierna. He liked the group in 2025,
too, when he had senior short-sticks Carter Rice and Nathan LeVine at his disposal.
Rice, in particular, was a powerhouse. He saw substantial playing time in all four of his seasons at Syracuse, but his senior year was arguably his best. As he helped SU to the Final Four, Rice snagged 19 ground balls and seven caused turnovers, earned USILA Third-Team All-American honors and was selected 29th in the PLL Draft.
“He’s a sick athlete,” Spallina said of Rice. “(I) try to play how he plays out in open space.” Spallina viewed last year’s seniors as a pair of older brothers. He mod-
els his pregame preparation after LeVine, he said, which helped him make a seamless transition into the lineup when LeVine suffered a career-ending lower-body injury against Duke last April.
With both Rice and LeVine gone this year, Spallina knew exactly what he’d to do to establish himself as one of SU’s top-line short-sticks.
“I honestly just told myself, ‘Try to be the best version of Jake Spallina that you can be,’” Spallina said. “‘Do what got you here, fall back on your training and just work hard.’” Odierna always anticipated the jump. He wasn’t too concerned with see ssdm page 12
Syracuse hasn’t been at its best through the first month of the season. But its 4-2 record doesn’t mean it’s time to panic. eli schwartz asst. photo editor
