The Griffin November 22, 2024 by The Griffin

(see page 2)

Asst. Copy Writer Kaitlin O’Meara Reviews the CrescenDON’Ts (see page 5)

“Memorandum regarding the Budget-Cutting Taskforce”

Concerns noted in the Faculty Senate meeting of November 1, 2024

Approved by the Faculty Senate on November 20, 2024 (to be sent to each member of the taskforce)

By SYDNEY UMSTEAD NEWS EDITOR

1. We have no evidence thus far that $15 million needs to be cut. This number itself was not determined utilizing shared governance. Faculty need full information to gauge whether it is or is not the case that $15 million in cuts are necessary to reduce the current $7 million deficit.

2. We have no evidence that cutting programs and people will benefit the university in the shortterm or long-term. In fact, we have evidence to the contrary: the last time that the administration and trustees made severe cuts (2020), the university enrollment went down, not up. Information about cuts to academic programs and people inevitably gets into the press and prospective students and their parents lose respect and trust in the university. Canisius has lost its reputation in the region because of cuts, and further cuts would harm our reputation even more.

3. Stakeholders of Canisius (former trustees, donors, and alumni) have contacted faculty members asking what is going on at Canisius: many are losing faith in the institution and its leadership. Significant donors are refusing to donate. Some say that the current trustees and administration are “changing the fundamental nature of the institution” and the “170-year history and mission of Canisius.”

4. Our main source of income is the selling of student credit hours that lead to degrees. It is the faculty who create those credit hours. Therefore, faculty are the most revenue-generating group on campus by definition, since without us, there are no credit hours to sell. If the goal is to seek “efficiencies” – one must start with the groups on campus who do not create the “goods” (credit hours and degrees) we sell.

5. The task force needs to make cuts to athletics at least proportionate to the cuts that academics has already taken (over 30%). We are accredited as an academic institution with athletics on the side, not the reverse. Athletics takes too much of the overall budget for a university of our size. Any group that believes that they are serious about belt-tightening that does not look at moving from NCAA Division 1 to Division 3 status, and cutting costs in athletics is not truly serious about belt-tightening.

6. We need statistics on the ratio of students to mid- and up -

per-level administrators (associate-dean, dean, associate-VP, and VP level). What is the national average of students to administrators, and what is necessary? We have cut the faculty by over 30% over the past 6 years. We have not cut mid-level administration by the same level. There seem to be even more administrators now than 10 years ago, especially when compared to the declining number of faculty. We need exact ratios of current administrators to students.

7. We need statistics on the number and ratio of student-support personnel. We require data on their efficiency in terms of student retention and success. What is the national average of student support personnel (counselors, tutors, advisors) offered to students? Is there data that suggests that cutting full-time faculty while keeping or raising the amount of student-support staff will lead to greater student retention? There is not as far as we know; Canisius should follow evidence-based solutions for student retention.

8. We understand that the trustees are concerned about the bond-buying with RBC. Their assumption seems to be that RBC will look better at our finances if we cut $15 million, but what is the proof for this? They could just as likely say that the last time we cut people and programs, this hurt enrollment and donations, and that, therefore, it’s a bad idea over the longer term that Canisius’s debt remains outstanding.

9. The choice of the consultant is important, and faculty ought to have a say in this choice. There are university consulting companies who do nothing but go to a campus and sloppily apply the same rubric to every campus regardless of its character or mission: they simply walk in and cut (for example) all departments with majors fewer than some arbitrary number (10 or 20). This crude practice does not take into consideration the particular core of a university, the quality of its programs, nor that university’s mission. Most members of the Faculty Senate believe that we do not need to waste money on a consultant. But if we do, we must look at the track records of various consultancies to ensure that whoever we choose will pay attention to our university’s particular mission, history, student body, and region.

ing the APB, Senate, and Faculty Status committees) or without declaring financial exigency. From the Faculty Handbook: “Academic Tenure: after the expiration of a probationary period, teachers or investigators should have permanent or continuous tenure, and their service should be terminated only for adequate cause, except in the case of retirement for age, or under extraordinary circumstances because of financial exigency” (page 26). “Termination of a continuous appointment because of financial exigency should be demonstrably bona fide” (page 27). Is the university declaring financial exigency? If not, are the trustees and senior leadership prepared to pay the legal costs related to wrongful discharge and contract violations?

11. Senior administration seems to believe that full-time faculty can be fired and replaced with adjuncts easily. This is not the case. Many departments are already struggling to find qualified adjuncts (Philosophy, English, History, Journalism, Political Science). Canisius will not be able to offer students courses and curricula that they need to graduate if there are even further cuts to faculty—true of both core and major courses. There is no endless pool of qualified people in the area who want to teach classes for below-poverty wages.

12. The budget taskforce must be transparent, not confidential. The members of the taskforce must be able to openly discuss what is shared within the taskforce with the Faculty Senate and others within the university community. Only in that way—with the sharing of information and ideas in both directions—will this taskforce operate according to shared governance. Any attempt to impose a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement on members of the taskforce is a violation of shared governance.

13. The taskforce and Canisius community require transparency, clarity, and consistency of the criteria used regarding how potential cuts will be made across the university.

14. We stress that the taskforce needs full and transparent financial information about Canisius University in order to make wise decisions, not merely a synopsis or cherry-picked view of financial information.

10. The Faculty Handbook notes that Canisius cannot cut tenured faculty without either a full program review (includContact Sydney Umstead umsteads@canisius.edu

For the Love of Juliet

The Griffin wishes you all a happy Thanksgiving and a great break.

The Griffin will not be publishing next week as our bellies will be full of turkey.

The United Students Association (USA) will be holding its last meeting of the semester on Nov. 22.

There will be a Soul Food Dinner event held in Regis at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22.

The Canisius African Student Union is hosting a Taste of Africa event on Nov. 25 in Palisano at 7 p.m.

Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his attorney general nomination by Trump amidst allegations and legal cases regarding his conduct.

Actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction for lying to the police about a hate crime was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday.

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu over the genocide in Gaza. The New York Times reported that “The court accused Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister of having ‘intentionally and knowingly deprived’ Gaza’s population of food, water, fuel and medicine.”

International Education is from Nov. 18 to the 22. There will be an International Potluck on Nov. 22 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in Regis.

Black Friday deals are already starting, seven days before Black Friday.

Our foreign correspondent will be returning for the spring semester.

Part Two

The Griffin published an article titled “Endowments for Dummies” on Nov. 8. However, in light of recent questions surrounding the task force and budget, we sat down with Bob Baumet, the vice president of finance and administration.

Baumet stated that Canisius’ total endowment is $147.1 million.

The agency accounts, as Baumet described, also fit into the categories of restricted and unrestricted funds. However, he noted that the “use of the word agency is internal to Canisius,” continuing, “These accounts are required to be broken out into the two fund classifications previously mentioned.”

Regarding the agency accounts, Baumet stated that the university is currently “analyzing the agency accounts.” As Baumet said, the goal is to aid in the previous “historical processes that were taking place.” Furthermore, he mentioned how the university hopes to “relocate andbudget without-donor-restriction agency accounts to operational accounts while relocating agency accounts with-donor-restriction to temporarily restricted accounts.”

These historical processes, according to Baumet, include situations where “agency account expenses were not budgeted and

often added a layer of risk to cash reserves.” He noted that while he sympathizes with the account holders, “We’re in a position now where change is really necessary.”

Part of this change is set to impact the fiscal year 2026, when Canisius may be “budgeting every expenditure.” He mentioned how everything is prepaid a year ahead, which “makes it into the actual budget.”

The endowments agency accounts can be a way to “help reduce the deficit in several ways.”

Baumet is also a member of the task force which will weigh in on the scheduled budget cut of $15 million. He stated that the books are open to anyone in the task force and they are “bound by confidentiality.” However, there will allegedly be communications given by the “coaches of the committee.”

He stated that “the real purpose of the task force is to implement institutional financial stability.” Baumet noted how he has heard it called the “budget-cutting task force,” and expressed “That’s not really what it’s about.” Specifically, “the task force can’t make budget cuts, they can make recommendations, but ultimately the Board of Trustees approves budgets.”

The task force will reportedly come to a decision in March 2025.

Contact Sydney Umstead umsteads@canisius.edu

President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial cabinet picks

This past election season has been filled with chaos, surprises and overall absurdity. Regardless of the election results, this election would be historic in this election as the nation was primarily choosing between its first woman or first federally convicted president.

The election also marks the second election of America’s first reality TV star president. In 2025, Trump will continue this legacy with his cast of reality TV figures, including a string of FOX News anchors.

Mehmet Oz was nominated to run Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oz fits Trump’s star-studded cabinet as he gained popularity by being a frequent guest on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show. He later started “The Dr. Oz Show,” where he gave medical advice regarding issues such as weight loss. Within these suggestions, certain products were recommended. However, their efficacy has since been contradicted by science. Another example of Oz’s displays of false information is that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he lobbied the Trump administration to promote hydroxychloroquine to treat the virus. However, this drug was called ineffective by the CDC for COVID-19 treatment. Some of Oz’s other medical claims have been made in order to promote brands or candidates, which indicates a potential lack of authenticity. The services that Oz’s part of the cabinet covers include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health In-

surance Program and the Affordable Care Act, which provide care to over 150 million Americans. It is important to note that Oz has no experience with this bureaucracy so it is a concern to many whether he is qualified for such a large role that impacts so many.

Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is also a controversial pick. As a former Fox News anchor, he too fits Trump’s TV inclusive lineup. Some Republican lawmakers support Hegseth due to his previous experience in the Army National Guard, while others are reported to have never heard of him. Aside from politics, Hegseth’s personal past is morally concerning, as he has sexual assault allegations against him. It is alleged that Hegseth paid off his alleged victim in fear that she would open a lawsuit and get him fired from his job at Fox News. Though he has not been indicted, these allegations deservingly raise red flags for many Americans.

As Americans, it is important to pay close attention to what goes on inside the executive branch. It’s important to remember that the presidency doesn’t end with one person. Due to the winner-take-all nature of the presidential election, the president decides who handles each part of the bureaucracy, which closely impacts Americans. As many Canisius students are new to political participation, now is a good time to pay attention to what happens in the government, how it affects us and how you can change it.

Contact Katie Dusza duszak@canisius.edu

The Griffin form for story submissions

A submission form has been created for individuals who would like to submit stories to The Griffin staff anonymously.

This can be used for all sections of the paper, and it’s a new way to tell The Griffin about things that are happening on campus.

Interested parties can use the QR code below to access a Google form dedicated to these submissions.

Contact Sydney Umstead umsteads@canisius.edu

By SYDNEY UMSTEAD NEWS EDITOR

By KATIE DUSZA CONTRIBUTOR

GRAPHIC AND THE GOOGLE FORM CREATED BY SOPHIE ASHER

By MIKAYLA BOYD ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Finding your seasonal self-care method

Welcome to winter…kind of! The snowy and cold season is fast approaching, and while the Bills’ season may bring a weekly dose of excitement, the winter season can be a seemingly dreary and drab time of year. One of the best ways to reenergize during the winter season is to reinvest in yourself through practicing self-care. The forms that self-care can take are endless, and you can find the ones that fit your lifestyle and personality type the most!

One of the most common forms of self-care is journaling. Personally, this is my favorite mindful activity, and I think a lot of people can benefit from this. Often we are stuck in “go mode”, leaving no time for reflection and introspection. Journaling can help us slow down, focus on our values and check in with ourselves. This method of self-care can be tailored to you, as well! Whether it’s a quick jot in your notes app of your general mood and how your day went, or a detailed account of your week and how you’re feeling each moment, the process itself can give us the energy boost that winter often forces us to seek. It’s also pretty cool to look back on your journals from months or years ago if you end up sticking with it! If you prefer a virtual journal, apps like Daylio (my personal favorite) or the Apple app Journal can keep your memories, feelings and thoughts in the palm of your hand.

Another great form of self-care is moving your body. Science tells us that exercise releases endorphins which improve our moods, and I’m not one to argue with science. Things like taking a walk, playing Just Dance with friends or doing some stretches

can give us a more positive attitude that we can use to tackle finals and get ready for a new year. Palisano Fitness Center here on campus is a great place to exercise, especially in the winter months when bundling up for a walk is a detestable suggestion. Finding small ways to incorporate exercise into your routine will help boost your mood and ground yourself.

Channeling your artistic side can also act as a method of self-care. If you find yourself doodling on your papers in the middle of a lecture, like I often do, I challenge you to embark on an elevated artistic endeavor. The quality of your product matters very little, but the process of, say, painting, drawing or knitting releases stress and provides an outlet for whatever emotions you are feeling. Even coloring in a coloring book can give you something to

focus on besides assignments or general stressful thoughts. Most likely you will be proud of whatever you end up creating, anyways; it’s hard not to be, given how enjoyable unleashing your often-ignored creative side is! Overall, self-care is important. Self-care is not selfish – it’s necessary to keep you, the person who people around you love and care for, healthy and living your best life. Self-care can feel especially hard in the winter months, but small acts of kindness for yourself go a long way. Whether you take up a new hobby like journaling or painting, I hope that you usher in the new season with a reenergized outlook!

Contact Mikayla Boyd boyd22@my.canisius.edu

The only correct Thanksgiving food ranking

By HANNAH WILEY ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

While I am a big Christmas fan and started watching Christmas movies the moment it became Nov. 1, I send my condolences to Thanksgiving considering it’s the most ignored holiday. So, here’s a completely, 100% unbiased ranking of the best Thanksgiving food!

Mashed Potatoes - A classic, honestly. The Wiley family are big mashed potato fans – you best believe that if it’s a family gathering for Thanksgiving, there will be at least two kinds of mashed potatoes.

Apple Pie - This is second only, and I mean ONLY, when it’s made by Editor-in-Chief Ava C. Green and has her famous cute little designs on top. Any other apple pie simply does not rank.

Stuffing - What can I say?

Another classic and – like potatoes – another great vehicle for gravy. It would not be Thanksgiving dinner without stuffing, and that’s a hill I’ll die on.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

- While I am partial to brussels sprouts, any roasted veggie will do and will be delicious. Honorable mention to roasted carrots (again, especially when Ava makes them) and green beans too.

Cranberry Sauce - This is only so high up because something about the Stockholm syndrome of Thanksgiving makes that weird, canned sauce that comes out in one weird gelatinous blob.

Turkey - I mean, what’s Thanksgiving without turkey? The answer is Thanksgiving (especially if you are vegetarian), but I included this specifically for the meat eaters.

Sweet Potato Casserole - Have I ever once eaten this? Absolutely not. Is it in every Thanksgiving spread I’ve ever seen? Yes, of course. Therefore it makes this list.

Mac and Cheese - Debatable whether or not this is technically a “Thanksgiving food,” but it’s a classic in general and hits every time, so for it to not be on this list would be a crime.

Rolls - You literally can’t go wrong with a dinner roll. I guarantee this is the only thing on the table every single person will put on their plate. Bonus points if you have several different kinds.

Gravy - This wasn’t going to make the list, but I ran out of ideas so here we are. If you put this on anything other than your mashed potatoes, stuffing or turkey, I’m scared of you.

Before the picky eaters come for me, I know this isn’t a picky eater-approved dinner (I’m picky eaters). However, these are the classics – you’ll see these at almost every Thanksgiving gathering you go to. And seriously, if you haven’t been lucky enough to try Ava’s apple pie, I feel very sorry for you.

Contact Hannah Wiley

VIA SOPHIE ASHER

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, we go

By MADELYNN LOCKWOOD

FEATURES EDITOR

The university experience as a residential student inherently involves becoming a skilled mover through the many trips up to school and back home throughout your four years as a student. While you may not need your mom to pack up your room for winter break anymore, you may still struggle with the emotional transition back and forth from home and school.

This is not something exclusive to those who are dealing with home lives that are less than ideal or those that live in a vastly different world than their bubble at Canisius. Moving back and forth between these spaces can be more difficult than you realize, especially for those who struggle with transitioning in general.

Honestly, this is something that I have first-hand experience with and for many, leaving the physical space of college also leaves behind a sense of normalcy that is developed when you spend nine or ten months in your dorm or apartment. This setup comes with a lot of freedom: no one checking up on you and where you are, and losing (if that’s how it goes for you) that freedom is an adjustment for everyone involved. It also means leaving friends, professors and the support system that you have at school.

Initially, I think it’s important to give yourself grace along with the people you are going home to. I always feel super out of place when I get home and I think this is a universal experience in some regard. That bedroom isn’t really your room anymore even though it is. Taking some time before jumping right into seeing your home friends and doing all of your hobbies from high school (driving to the Target thirty minutes from your house) might be a good idea to get resettled. Acknowledging the difference between home and school is really important all around. My differences are not the same as yours, so I don’t want to continue to guess what those things are. Ironically, everytime I head to school, I cry because I miss the familiar feeling and my friends and family, and the same thing happens when I have to head back home and leave school. It isn’t an indication that you love one place more than the other, but more so an indication that you feel comfortable and safe in the one you are leaving. Make sure that through this time, if you are struggling, to reach out to the people who love you, wherever they may be, choose yourself first and make sure that you are doing your best to embrace the good of where you are in the moment.

Contact Madelynn Lockwood lockwoo4@my.canisius.edu

On: Commitment

“In Nigeria, every young boy does this from a certain age. So, when you turn about eight years old, until maybe when you’re 14 or 15, you go to the church and you serve mass with the priest. But the thing is, the college I was in, in Hungary, was not a Catholic school. I didn’t have the opportunity to serve like I do now. So when I decided to transfer, and I knew I was transferring to a Jesuit school where there will be a chapel and a priest, I mean, I started immediately. I came here and it was one of my things I needed to tick off my bucket list. You know, sometimes that is the only thing I look forward to: Sunday, just having to hold that cross, sing along with the crowd, stand there with my hands folded in front of the congregation. It brings back that nostalgia. I don’t think I’ve ever missed a Sunday, really.”

M.A.

This quote was edited for clarity and narrative flow. To see the entire transcription of our interview visit griffinnewspaper. com.

Contact Madelynn Lockwood lockwoo4@my.canisius.edu

Thanksgiving sit-down food reviewed

By LIO SALAZAR

This year’s Thanksgiving Sit-Down was held on Nov. 21 in the Dining Hall. Students were served a mini caesar salad with the option for croutons. I am a crouton girlie, but there was something about these croutons that were a tad too toasted for my fork to get through, but that didn’t stop me from eating every last bite.

I decided to start with a plate from Cucina – typically the pasta/pizza station. I got a slice of the carved ham, a scoop of the mashed potatoes and some stuffing – turkey gravy on both – and some confetti corn; there was also a vegan option at Cucina, which was a stuffed roasted squash with rice, vegetables and tofu. Due to ham being a pretty salty meat, the cranberry sauce on it was a very nice touch to make it even more delectable. I also really enjoyed the stuffed squash I got, as someone who isn’t vegetarian or vegan but still tries to be open to different foods. I thought there was a wonderful mixture of flavors that complimented each other well – the tofu and rice was pretty piquant, the harshness of the roasted squash skin, and the retained sweetness of the inside of the squash really made it for me.

After getting through the first plate, I went to Delicious Without (the station that serves food without – hence the name – the top eight allergens) and got the

carved pork loin, brussel sprouts with bacon and a single cube of sweet potatoes. I am prefacing this section, and the rest of this article with the announcement that I don’t like sweet potatoes. I haven’t liked sweet potatoes since I was a kid and really wasn’t expecting myself to like them now. I did, however, try some during the Sit-Down, and much to my surprise, I still don’t like them. The carved pork loin had a very nice seasoning to it, and the sweet potatoes at Delicious Without had a nice glaze to them, but I really think the best food at this station was the roasted brussel sprouts with bacon. I know that brussel sprouts are an acquired taste, but something about Dining Hall’s brussel sprouts with the bacon really did it for me. I think brussel sprouts’ naturally earthy taste was really brought out by the salty and thickcut bacon bits that were mixed in.

I also got a taster plate from The Grill: a bun, a small slice of roast beef, a small piece of chicken, and some sweet potato fries. To no one’s surprise, I didn’t like the sweet potato fries. The chicken was really well seasoned, and I think the roast beef with the potato bun was really good as well.

I really liked the cornbread I got at the Sit-Down, but my favorite dessert, hands down, was the pumpkin spice cheesecake cookie that was so gingerly handed to me

by JoAnn Feary. I also tried pumpkin pie for the first time and was delighted by how much cinnamon I actually tasted over how much pumpkin. I don’t know if this converts me to being a pumpkin spice girlie now, but I did enjoy the time I spent and the food I ate during the Thanksgiving Sit-Down.

Contact Lio Salazar salazarc@my.canisius.edu

MMESOMA ANAMEGE SERVING MASS VIA FR. FRED BETTI

VIA

THE GRIFFIN EDITORIAL

USA: An Underused Student Association?

This year, the United Student Association (USA) was supposed to bring fresh energy and leadership to campus. With a young executive board, an active advisor and a greater potential for membership than ever before, many Griﬀs –mostly the over-involved ones – were hopeful. But as the semester has unfolded, USA has become increasingly stagnant, with empty seats and lackluster participation in senate meetings.

The signs of stagnation are clear: barely enough senators, minimal student engagement and a general lack of enthusiasm from the student body. Despite holding events and meetings, the organization has failed to meaningfully connect with the campus community or to advocate eﬀectively on behalf of students. Instead of tackling critical issues like the preservation of library resources, USA’s meetings often devolve into discussions about vending machine snack options, or updates on email chains with event collaborators. While these details matter, they divert attention from the real challenges students face this semester.

We are aware of the rocky waters USA has had to navigate the past few months – rocky waters that The Griﬃn has covered and opined about excessively. We’ve also – in excess – ended those editorials by calling on students to confront, rather than complain about the issues that concern them; but as our senate scribes note, we can’t even deliver on complaining. Week after week, they type, “General student concerns: None.” We know this isn’t true, and raises a concern in itself: Why aren’t students coming to their appointed peer leaders?

“Without eﬀ ective communication or an established presence, it’s no surprise that students aren’t ﬂ ocking to meetings.”

While it’s easy to blame students for not being involved, and indeed they deserve quite a bit of the blame, the onus isn’t entirely on them. USA’s visibility on campus is low. Students don’t know what USA does, and there aren’t enough students active in USA to accomplish what the organization is supposed to be doing. Engagement being down creates a vicious cycle: Less students in an organization leads to less of an opportunity to plan events and less of an ability to have a presence on campus, which leads to students being less aware that the organization exists, let alone what that organization does or that they can join it. It’s sad to say, but we’re watching this happen to USA. Without eﬀective communication or an established

presence, it’s no surprise that students aren’t ﬂocking to meetings. It’s unfair to call USA completely inactive. They’ve held their events, done their outreach, hosted their guest speakers and always kept their meetings open to students; but that is in fact the bare minimum. So, what do you do when just meeting the requirements of your role isn’t quite enough to solve the problem? No, seriously, we’re still wondering.

“In times of campus-wide challenges like faculty strikes, budget cuts and concerns over campus resources, a strong and proactive student government is essential.”

In times of campus-wide challenges like faculty strikes, budget cuts and concerns over campus resources, a strong and proactive student government is essential. USA has the potential to amplify student voices and push for meaningful change. However, by focusing on mundane details, USA is missing the opportunity to represent the student body in the way it was designed to. Perhaps if they had the graduate student senators that were promised this semester, those students could have provided a bit more wisdom to our very young USA, who we fear may not yet know that in times of need, menial things – such as mandated senator projects –should not take priority over adapting their action to those needs.

If USA is to fulﬁll its role, it must ﬁrst rediscover its purpose: to act as an advocate and voice for all students. We, the students, must also take responsibility for making our concerns known and engaging with the organization. USA needs renewed focus and a clearer understanding of its power to make change. Without that, we risk watching this vital student body fade into irrelevance.

Talking to people throughout campus, and even some of our friends who go to other schools, for whatever reason it seems as though this Fall 2024 semester in particular has been draining on all of us. Undoubtedly the members of USA, as some of the most involved students at the school, are feeling that as well, and we sympathize with that. We hope that as the calendar ﬂips into 2025, we as a student body, in conjunction with our student government, can be rejuvenated to make student voices heard as we begin a very important semester for the fate of Canisius.

DON’Ts review: more Kaitlyn Belile next time

By KAITLIN O’MEARA ASST. COPY EDITOR

This past Saturday, the CrescenDON’Ts, more commonly known around campus as the DON’Ts, put on their fall concert, Evergreen. Held in Montante, the setlist included a variety of songs with a very autumnal and wintery vibe. Their performances varied from full group numbers with solos from very talented performers to some smaller ensembles as well, showcasing the talents of all of their members.

“Though I didn’t go into the concert as an active fan of a cappella, I had a great time hearing their songs and supporting some talented members of our Canisius community.”

Rather than talk extensively about how much I loved every single song (which I did), I figured that I would talk about my top five favorite songs/ performances. Though they were all fantastic, there were definitely a few that stood out to me that I needed to make sure were shared with you all.

AND

1. Heather Medley - “Heather” by Conan Gray, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, “Before You Go” by Lewis Capaldi and “Electric Love” by BØRNS

This small ensemble featured solos from four talented DON’Ts members, but the one that stood out the most to me was Jose Ortiz, who sang “Heather” in this medley. Though all of the members were fantastic, Ortiz was always the most notable and audible member of the group and his phenomenal voice wowed both me and those I was with. Solos from Katie Dusza, Bella Peters and

Clare Nielsen on the other songs mentioned in the medley were also fantastic and created a beautiful performance for the audience. The nature of the medley and the overlapping songs from the performers was enhanced by the acoustics of Montante, which made the sustained notes sound even more ethereal.

2. “Good Luck, Babe!”

When I heard that this song was part of the setlist, I knew that I had to go to the concert. Jose Ortiz and Kaitlyn Belile were the two talented soloists on this song, and they both KILLED it. As much as I love Chappell Roan, if I could have a recording of the two of them singing this song, you better believe that this is what would be playing in my headphones 25/8. Ortiz was the soloist for the majority of the song, including the verses and the choruses, but Miss Kaitlyn Belile came in on the bridge and was so fantastic. This was the song that closed out the concert and it was more than worth the wait.

“Held in Montante, the setlist included a variety of songs with a very autumnal and wintery vibe. Their performances varied from full group numbers with solos from very talented performers to some smaller ensembles as well, showcasing the talents of all of their members.

3. “Gravity”

Gravity was a small ensemble number featuring a variety of talented soloists, but since this one came earlier in the program, it was the number that introduced us to Kaitlyn Belile’s amazing vocals. She was one of (if not the) last soloists, and she blew the audience away with her belting during her solo. Her part in this number was one of the only times in which the audience applauded before the end of the performance, and it was SO well deserved.

4. “Fix You”

This song was one that really blew me away during the concert. It featured a solo by Harriet McAllister, who is the DON’Ts music director. This was one of the songs that gave me full-body chills while listening because it was just such a moving song and performance. McAllister proved herself to be a very versatile performer during the concert, both singing and beatboxing, but this song really showed oﬀ her vocal talents, and I am so glad that it did.

duszaj@canisius.edu

The Canisius Men’s Basketball X account has taken a lesson from the Steve K. Stoute School of Miscommunication, posting a score announcement as vague as our president’s State of the University addresses. It read: “Final: Maryland scored more points than we did.” Yeah, we ﬁgured.

The Thanksgiving Sit-Down dinner hosted by Chartwells this week had students ﬂocking to the dining hall in numbers we haven’t seen all year. Coincidentally, it’s the most traﬃc the student center bathrooms have gotten all year as well.

Our dear Editor-inChief baked pies for the staﬀ to celebrate Thanksgiving in the oﬃce this week. They were pretty good, but we all felt kinda funny after. Honestly, we don’t really remember the rest of editing night post-pie.

Last week’s features section covered campus canine Jasmine’s journey to becoming an oﬃcial service animal, able to accompany her owner through the halls of Old Main – and the story is developing! Jasmine had her ﬁrst day of classes this past Wednesday! She’s already earned a higher GPA than the entire Men’s Baseball team, and is set to receive her master’s in data analytics by 2026.

The Underground is proud to announce that it has been invited to take part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, as a part of Canisius’ eﬀorts to recruit new students. The Underground will be throwing the old books from the library at all the children on the streets of New York.

Break is not here yet! Remember that you still have to give full, complete eﬀort on Monday and Tuesday next week, and totally not check out in anticipation of going home!

The Underground would like to wish all its loyal readers a very happy and restful Thanksgiving. The Underground, personally, has nothing to be thankful for.

DAVID HALL

KATIE DUSZA

VIA MICHAEL TOLLIVER

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Liz: Stuﬃng <3.

Ava: Okay, so my family brings lasagna, so lasagna.

Courtney: Soup.

Sophie: I don’t know if it’s my favorite, but I like cranberry sauce. I’ve taken a liking to it lately, I don’t know why.

Sara: A family thing that we make called pretzel jello. It has a layer of pretzel crust on the bottom, in the middle is a light whipped cream cheesy layer and on the top is strawberry jello with strawberries in it. It’s delicious.

Hannah: Mashed potatoes.

Chloe: Speciﬁcally, homemade cranberry sauce.

Sydney: I’ve thought a lot about this. Sweet potatoes.

Kaitlin: Pumpkin pie or stuﬃng.

Hannah, again: I am so picky, I don’t eat stuﬃng. What even is stuﬃng?

Kaitlin, again: Wet bread. Hannah, again: That’s all I’m gonna think about now when people are eating stuﬃng.

Kaitlin, again: I can’t do bread pudding, though. That’s like even wetter bread.

Jon: Mac and cheese. Everything else is mid.

Liz, again: You look like you like mac and cheese.

Ava, again: What is your perfect mac and cheese?

Jon, again: I’m not Italian, I’m not familiar with the sizes of noodles.

Maddy: I’m so glad you asked. I’m very passionate about this. It’s sweet potato casserole.

Colin: Probably mashed potatoes. Ava, again: I knew you would say that.

Colin, again: I feel like that’s a pretty standard answer, is it not?

Ava, again: Big mashed potato guy.

Ashley: I really hate all thanksgiving food, but extra chunky (haha) mashed potatoes with lots of butter and vegan gravy.

Gabby: I like stuﬃng the best. But I also really like pecan pie.

Mikayla: Mashed potatoes. I just love potatoes in every form, but especially mashed. Butter and salt. No gravy, that’s very important to me.

5. “White Winter Hymnal”

This song is one that I always skipped when it came on during my listening to Pentatonix’s Christmas album, but I found out that I actually really enjoyed it when I listened to it performed by the DON’Ts. Though it starts out a bit slower than some of the other songs, once I got into it, I was really into it. The lyrics are a bit… peculiar, but it was well sung and well performed. My overall takeaway from this concert is that they should let Kaitlyn Belile sing more. I have now gone on record here with this statement and it can also be heard in the recording of the concert, as I talked for a good ﬁve minutes in front of the DON’Ts camera about how much we loved the concert, but especially how much we loved Kaitlyn. Though I didn’t go into the concert as an active fan of a cappella, I had a great time hearing their songs and supporting some talented members of our Canisius community. Evergreen was a joy to watch and I can’t wait to see the CrescenDON’Ts spring concert, which again, will hopefully have more Kaitlyn.

Contact Kaitlin O’Meara omeara2@canisius.edu

I’m glad the Bills aren’t playing on Thanksgiving

By M.H. CONTRIBUTOR

I am a Bills fan. This is my eleventh season having season tickets with my dad. The Bills are incredibly important in my life; there are very few things which have a higher priority for me than a Bills game. The Bills have been bad for most of my life, and I vividly remember watching Thanksgiving football games, longing for my beloved Bills to be in the national spotlight. When the Bills beat the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 2019, it made that Thanksgiving the best I ever had – it was nothing less than a dream come true. Five years, and multiple Bills Thanksgiving games later, when I saw that the NFL schedule this year did not have the Bills playing on Thanksgiving, I breathed a sigh of relief. I wrote at the outset that as a kid, I had longed for the Bills to play on Thanksgiving. Younger me felt like a loser for religiously watching a losing team week in and week out, and would have killed for a team so good as to be a major draw on Thanksgiving for the NFL, like the Bills have been these last few years. To the kid who felt like a loser for rooting for those terrible teams, nothing seemed more like heaven than the idea of watching the Bills on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving,” but there is something nice about having a day where everything else can be put on as background noise, and family time becomes the top priority. We do not get such an opportunity often, so it is nice when that opportunity is not corrupted by the stress of a football game that you have to care about. Sometimes, we just need a break from things, even from things we love. The Bills – for my family, and I am sure for hundreds of thousands of others throughout the Buﬀalo area and the country – are a thing to bond over: but so is Thanksgiving. The thing about Thanksgiving is that it is a way to bond with family for the sake of bonding with family, without any third party taking up all of the attention.

Having experienced good Bills teams playing on Thanksgiving, I do not think that Thanksgiving is the place to get overly invested in a football game. I do not mean to get all preachy about the “true meaning of

By COURTNEY LYONS OPINION EDITOR

For me, the novelty of watching my favorite team on Thanksgiving, knowing that the rest of the country is watching it too, has worn oﬀ a little bit. The idea of it gave me more excitement than the reality of it. The process of the novelty wearing oﬀ has, however, taught me that Thanksgiving, and holidays in general, are a time to try to avoid the stressors of daily life and have cheer with loved ones. Yelling at the TV over a football game gets in the way of that. There is no greater combination in the world than Thanksgiving and football, so long as that football is not Bills football.

Contact Jon Dusza duszaj@canisius.edu

Wicked Review

I have been a Wicked fan for as long as I can remember. I have seen it around eight times total, whether it be on Broadway or right here in Buﬀalo. Hearing that there was a thought of a movie adaptation all the way back in 2012 made ten-year-old me ecstatic. Now, after over 10 years, Wicked will ﬁnally hit theaters for everyone to watch in movie form on Friday, Nov. 22.

“The movie overall is outstanding –all two hours and 41 minutes of it. It hits everything that happens in the musical, yet brings the novel by Gregory Maguire to life in such a new way. ”

I had the honor to be able to watch the movie two days before the release date and I was utterly blown away. It left me speechless, and that was only part one. The movie ends when intermission would happen if you were to see it as a musical, and leaves audiences with a cliﬀhanger. I am already looking forward to seeing part two with the expected release date of Nov. 21, 2025.

The movie overall is outstanding –all two hours and 41 minutes of it. It hits everything that happens in the musical, yet brings the novel by Gregory Maguire to life in such a new way. When they first announced the cast, I was skeptical about Ariana Grande playing one of the main characters, Glinda, but she played that role so effortlessly and flawlessly. The way that she was fully able to embrace the role and bring the character to life in a way that the musical does not was amazing to watch. Grande gave Glinda more of a personality, going off the bits and pieces of it that you see in the musical. The other main character, Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, was just as amazing. Erivo comes from a Broadway background and does not have as much street cred as Grande does, but I believe that she will once the world sees this movie. Her vocals throughout the movie are astonishing and she puts her own twist on the

songs from the musical. She, too, embraces her role in a way I do not think anyone else could have. Elphaba is a complex character full of quirks, and goes through every emotion you can think of, which Erivo handled ﬂawlessly.

Both leading ladies played their roles well individually, but their chemistry on and oﬀ the screen is something that I think makes this movie so special. Throughout the press leading up to the release of the movie, you can really see the bond that Erivo and Grande have made, and it translates to the big screen. In the movie, Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship feels raw and relatable. The way the two were able to captivate these roles and bring out such emotion in these characters goes hand in hand with their relationship oﬀ the screen.

I know that movie musicals are not for everyone, but I think that you should at least give this one a chance. There is so much more to the movie than singing. It is full of surprises, emotional rollercoasters and life lessons. I left that movie feeling that it is good to be diﬀerent, embrace your quirks and always do what you believe is right.

“Both leading ladies played their roles well individually, but their chemistry on and oﬀ the screen is something that I think makes this movie so special. Throughout the press leading up to the release of the movie, you can really see the bond that Erivo and Grande have made, and it translates to the big screen.”

I had very high expectations going into this movie, skeptical that it wouldn’t bring the musical justice, yet here I am, an hour after the movie concluded, and the best way I can describe it is “wow.” I hope that you take the time to see part one of the movie because it truly is a work of art.

VIA

MATTHEW MORCELLE

VIA MICHAEL TOLLIVER

BELILE

VIA SOPHIE ASHER

By JULIAN REYNOSO ASST. CREATIVE CORNER EDITOR

Griﬀ-Fits: Thea Dupixie

You know them, you love them, “Your favorite fairy’s favorite fairy,” according to their Instagram. This week’s highlight for Griﬀ-Fits is Thea Dupixie!

We’ve all seen Thea Dupixie out of drag here at Canisius. Whether that be in the SELD oﬃce, giving a tour or singing their heart out somewhere on campus, we all know Lio Salazar one way or another.

They described Dupixie’s identity by saying, “I don’t usually see too much of a diﬀerence between my personalities in and out of drag, but I think it’s like if Cat Valentine thought like Jade West but dressed like Trina Vega.”

Happy Thanksgiv

Their ﬁt this week is quite unique, really sticking to their IG bio with this pixie look. The bright colors of their white top and green and white jacket pop, matching well with their wings and really giving that pixie vibe. The black skirt, belt and leggings contrast well with the brighter colors of their top, jacket and boots.

It all comes together with their hair and makeup that they do themselves. They wear a brunette wig with highlights, and do their makeup to give that pixie look while also matching the bow in their hair.

They described Dupixie’s style as “Pretty girl-next-door to kind of edgy skater girl. I’m all about a short skirt that’s easy to move around in, heels that make me two inches taller than my drag mother, and a respectable amount of shoulders.”

“For the Love of Juliet”

By THE GRIFFIN STAFF

This weekend Little Theatre (LT) continues this year’s performances with their second production of the year, “For the Love of Juliet,” produced by senior Amanda Ostroske. The show is located in the Black Box and it can still be seen this weekend on Friday, Nov. 22 at 8:00 p.m and Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2:00 pm for their matinee, with their ﬁnal performance at 8:00 p.m. Doors will open a half hour before designated show times. Celebrate laughter, acting and a whole lot of inspiration with this cast and crew!

Stage Directions Magazine writes, “The title character of Luigi Jannuzzi’s comedy For the Love of Juliet! is an actress who hopes to snag the lead in a new Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet. Serious about her profession, she ﬁnds herself having to choose between her muse and a rekindled relationship with her ex boyfriend (and fellow actor), Alex. What makes Jannuzzi’s comedy so engaging is that Joliet’s muse, aptly named Romeo, is played as a character only she can see or hear. As it turns out, Alex also has a muse-in-training named Ginger, who takes a shine to Romeo. Alex can’t see Ginger or Romeo. Juliet can see everyone. Jannuzzi’s point is not that an acting career and a rewarding love life are mutually exclusive, but that honesty of purpose is essential for success in either.”

these turkeys that students hand drew!

THEA DUPIXIE POSING IN FRONT OF DOUBLE DOORS

Across

4. Fruits and vegetables are a part of what family aka the squash family?

6. The bird that people commonly eat on Thanksgiving

9. A mix of dough and different vegetables cooked inside a turkey

11. An ornamental container shaped like a goat’s horn

13. This specific kind of corn is used for decoration

14. This show has the best Thanksgiving episodes(don’t @ me)

15. Delicious sauce made from what small red fruit?

Down

1. A mix of dough and various veggies cooked inside a separate tray

2. You can boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew!

3. Circular decoration usually hung on both Thanksgiving and Christmas

5. Pie that is often served at Thanksgiving made from this vegetable?

7. The noise a turkey makes

8. Sweet orange spuds that are often roasted on Thanksgiving

10. Thick brown sauce that comes from meats and vegetables

12. Yellow vegetable that is occasionally popped

Chester’s tricky sudoku!

Help Chester the Turkey solve this Sudoku! Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9x9 box contains numbers 1 through 9. Hurry before it’s Thanksgiving Day! Chester would like to give (future) thanks to this Sudoku because he could make history by being the first turkey to ever solve one.

Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

Answer Keys

Editor: Colin Richey richey4@canisius.edu

Volleyball secures fourth seed in MAAC Championship

By Isabella Custodi CONTRIBUTOR

Canisius Volleyball finished out their regular season with two wins against Marist and Siena on Nov. 16 and 17 at the McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Canisius opened up the weekend by sweeping Marist on Saturday. Sophomore Lauren Hubert recorded 14 kills and 10 digs to lead her team. Graduate student Sofia Hedvqist added 10 kills, five blocks and one ace. Senior Jillian Hanna produced a team high 19 digs and two service aces. This marks Hanna’s 50th service ace of the year, surpassing last season’s mark of 49.

On Sunday, the Griffs battled through five sets against Siena, ultimately winning 3–2. Siena won the second and third sets of the game, but Canisius brought it home in the fourth and fifth. Hubert had another big game, tallying 21 kills, two aces and two blocks. Her 21 kills tied her career-high kills from last season. Senior Kara Zaucha assisted in the win with 14 kills, one ace and two blocks. Hanna once again led the team in digs, this time with 28.

Junior Ella Borque held up the team during both matches with 25 assists against the Red Foxes and 32 assists against Siena. This marked the 14th time this season Borque has had 30 or more assists.

Borque believes it’s the setters’ job to establish the tone for how the game will play out. “A setter is an important part of the team because you kind of run the court in terms of what hitters are running and how you run the offense. You always want to give your hitters the most hittable ball possible and set them up for success. I approach the role by

always thinking about how I can make my teammates perform the best and what I can do to help them,” explained Borque.

With Borque’s help, the Griffs have been very successful throughout their season. Their

most recent victories secured the fourth seed in the MAAC Championship for Canisius. Borque believes that the team’s chemistry and communication has been the reason for such a successful season.

Women’s basketball returns home

By Maggie Tifft ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Women’s basketball found their first win of the season last Friday against Saint Francis in a last-second series of free throws, escaping with a 48–46 victory.

At halftime on Friday, the Griffs headed into the locker room ahead 24–17. However, a fourth quarter surge from the Red Flash tied the game at 44 with just under two minutes remaining.

Those final minutes saw back-and-forth shots at the line, with both teams initially making two free throws. With three seconds left on the clock, Franka Wittenberg drove to the basket and drew a foul, giving the junior a chance to win the game. Wittenberg made both, ensuring the victory for the Griffs, and giving her a team-high 10 points in the win.

When asked about the win, Wittenberg mentioned the accountability the coaching staff and her team puts on her. “Coach pushes me in my role and makes it super clear, and that clear communication is a key point. My teammates accepting me in the role I have pushes me to be my best,” continued Wittenberg.

This marks head coach Tiffany Swofford’s first win as the Griffs head coach, and numerous players’ first win as a Griff as well. “I think it felt good to see a result from the work. The first win was nice because at least we know we can [play a whole game and win],” said Swofford.

The Golden Griffins are excited to play in the championship and are practicing hard for it. “We are working hard in practice and giving it all we have as we approach the last few days before the tournament, knowing we have a great chance at winning the MAAC and doing something the Canisius volleyball team has never done before,” said Borque.

“A setter is an important part of the team because you kind of run the court in terms of what hitters are running and how you run the offense.”

As team captain, Borque also knows that she needs to keep her team motivated and focused during the tournament in order to win.

Next up for volleyball is their first postseason game in the MAAC Championship tournament on Friday, Nov. 22 in Loudonville, NY. The Griffs’ will play #8 Iona after they upset #5 Sacred Heart on Thursday.

Contact Isabella Custodi CustodiI@canisius.edu

in dramatic fashion

The team’s celebration extended into what would be their home opener just a few days later, against Little Three Rival St. Bonaventure. After the first half, the Griffs led 36–24, but the Bonnie’s inched their deficit to just one point after the third. The game stayed neck and neck, but with a missed last-minute three-pointer attempt by Mariam Sanogo, the Griffs fell 66–63 to St. Bonaventure.

With the loss, the team fell to 1–3 on the season, but success was found in Wittenberg who notched a season-high 12 points. Sophomore Shariah Gailes also recorded the team’s first double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

“It’s not just Franka,” said Swofford when asked about the consistency her players have shown so far. “I think top to bottom, there’s a tremendous

amount of growth in a lot of our players. And so I’m excited to see what that looks like moving forward,” she continued.

The women’s basketball team will continue their four-game home streak with a battle against local rival the University of Buffalo on Friday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center.

Contact Maggie Tifft Tifftm@canisius.edu

Canisius volleyball celebrating after scoring

VIA TOM WOLF

VIA CHLOE BREEN

Shariah Gailes playing in a game

Canisius hockey looks ahead to weekend matchup against Mercyhurst

By Peter Neville ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After a week off, Canisius hockey’s road swing kicks back into high gear as they travel to Erie, Pennsylvania for a twogame set against Mercyhurst.

Following a sweep in a twogame set by Air Force two weeks ago, the Griffs look to get back in the Atlantic Hockey win column when they take on the Lakers, a team they have already beaten once this season.

“I’d say every team is not going to play the exact same way every time you play them,” said senior captain Matt Vermaeten. “There’s a certain style every team will try to play each game and we’re going to do our best to not let them take advantage of it. After our game at home against them, I’m sure they’ve had this weekend circled on their calendars. It won’t be an easy weekend for either team.”

When the Griffs played Mercyhurst earlier this season, they defeated the Lakers 6–3, marking the most goals they’ve scored this season alongside their 6-1 victory over Army earlier this month. Sophomore Matteo Giampa led the Griffs in points in that game, tallying one goal and four assists, becoming the second player in the program’s Division I history to notch four assists in

Griffs look for first home victory against Brown

By Andrew Nowel CONTRIBUTOR

The men’s basketball team finished up their longest road trip of the season this past Tuesday in College Park, Maryland. After the four-game trip, the Griffs remain in search of their first win of the season. As they prepare to head home to host the Brown Bears, the Griffs look to improve to a 1–1 home record before heading back on the road once again.

After starting in Erie, Pennsylvania last week, the Griffs traveled to Michigan for the Bronco Classic. Their first game was against SIUE on Saturday afternoon, which saw the team register a quick 12–2 run right off tipoff. Redshirt-sophomore Cam Palesse earned four of the 12 points for the Griffs as the Cougars took their first timeout. Coming out of the break, SIUE dominated the Griffs. For the next eight minutes, Canisius wasn’t able to put points on the board. The Cougars went on a 27–2 run, heading into the half with a 43–27 lead. Leading scorer junior Paul McMillan IV continued to put up numbers as he notched 18 points in the eventual 76–58 loss. Senior Tana Kopa earned 12 points, while Palesse finished with eight points and five rebounds.

The Griffs returned to the court the next day to face the host Western Michigan Broncos. The result was similar, as Western Michigan

defeated Canisius 92–69. McMillan IV once again led the team in points with 23, notching six rebounds, four assists and two steals in the losing effort. Once again, the Griffs jumped out to an early 13–4 lead before the Broncos found their rhythm and took control of the game.

The final stop on the trip was in Maryland, where the Terrapins awaited the Blue and Gold. This would be a game to forget for Canisius, as the Griffs made the first shot of the game, but never regained the lead. By halftime, the Terrapins were up 59–14 and won the game 108–37. McMillan IV and

WEEK AT A GLANCE

Kopa combined for 20 of the Griffs’ 37 total points in the loss.

With an 0–6 record, Canisius returns home to host Brown on Saturday afternoon. They’ve only played one home game this season –a well-played game that ended in a loss to Saint Bonaventure on Nov. 9. The Bears enter Saturday’s contest with a 2–3 record, and have only played one other game on the road.

The Griffs are “excited to play at home again after what feels like forever,” as head coach Jim Christian mentioned in his Maryland postgame interview on Tuesday.

Contact Andrew Nowel Nowela@canisius.edu

a game since Dylan McLaughlin against Bentley in 2016.

Another one of the Griffs’ top performers in that game was fellow sophomore Ethan Robertson, who recorded 22 saves on 25 shots faced, earning his first victory of the season. Since then, Robertson has allowed only 2.49 goals per game, alongside a .910 SV%, winning AHA goalie of the week along the way. Robertson’s status is one to watch in this weekend series, as he exited the game with an injury in the Griffs’ second game against Air Force.

The Lakers have struggled since their loss to the Griffs back in October. They have since recorded only one win compared to six losses, floundering to a 2–12 record on the season. Their top scorer has been graduate student Mickey Burns, who – through 13 games – has recorded five goals and five assists, good for 10 points on the year.

The Griffs face off against the Mercyhurst Lakers this Friday and Saturday in Erie, Pennsylvania. The puck drops in game one at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturday as the Griffs look to get their AHA play back on track.

Contact Peter Neville Nevillep@canisius.edu

By Kaitlyn Belile CONTRIBUTOR

The Canisius cross-country team competed in the NCAA Northeast Regionals last week. In the mid-atlantic division, the women placed 25th overall, while the men placed 31st.

Senior Kayla Schmidt placed 83rd overall in the 6k, after making the all MAAC honors team for the first time. Her time of 21:33.34 paced the Griffs, followed by freshman Ella Krumpek’s 22:00.48 at 120th overall.

For the men’s 10k, junior Kyle Urban led the way with a time of 32:12.15, placing him at 115th overall, followed closely by graduate student Max Chew’s 32:16.10 at 119th place.

Following the race, senior Chloe Breen was proud of her team’s performance. “We were looking strong coming off of the MAAC Championships. After previewing the course, we knew it would be tough, but I believed our team would be strong enough to race it.”

Breen was expecting Schmidt to find success in this race, and continue building on her success from this season. “She’s always looked strong throughout the season, so I knew she would place pretty high. She had a very successful season. I know she had a couple PRs this year. She always looked strong at practice, so there was no doubt in my mind that she was going to have a successful year,” Breen explained.

The Griffs now enjoy two weeks off before training for indoor track begins.

Contact Kaitlyn Belile Belilek@canisius.edu