Friday, January 27, 2023 Print Edition

Faculty Senate votes to censure Board of Trustees

Pg. 5

The

TANGERINE

Proposed program cuts draw sharp reaction from campus

When the clock struck 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, faculty members at Utica University were told the recommendations for programs to be sunset and modified in an Academic Portfolio Review presentation.

If approved, the majors slated for sunset will close enrollment and teach-out the current students in the major. Majors recommended for modification need to have a plan presented to their School Deans by Sept. 1, 2023 to be implemented by the Fall 2024 semester.

The proposal to eliminate 15 majors has brought strong backlash from many faculty members and concern from the student body.

Kirstin Walker, associate professor of therapeutic recreation, expressed disappointment at the lack of opportunity to ask questions, respond to the proposal or see any outline for the procedure going forward.

“My strongest emotion was anger at the way that this has happened and the process and the violation of our contract and our shared governance,” Walker said. “The lack of knowledge of what information was given to the president, all of that, it was palpable anger. And then the dead silence in the room when [the presenters] walked out spoke volumes louder than any sound.”

The recommendations

At the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year, Utica boasted 59 major offerings to incoming and current students. The recommendations, which emerged after a charge was submitted by the Board of Trustees in late August last year, were compiled out of nine years of data pertaining to enrollment, yield, retention and graduation of students.

During the faculty presentation, President Laura Casamento and Board of Trustees Chair Bob Bvrenik announced that 15 degrees that amount to 4.4% of the current student body are slated for sunsetting, which includes both bachelors of arts and sciences.

Decisions were reached after combing through enrollment data, marketplace trends and institutional financial data.

“As the higher education market shifts, we remain committed to thoughtfully and strategically at what shape our academic portfolio should take in the years ahead to best serve our students and our community,” according to the email announcement sent following the presentations.

The proposal suggests the phasing out of B.A degrees in chemistry, geoscience, international studies, philosophy, physics, sociology and anthropology, Spanish and the business B.A. of public relations and marketing.

Further suggestions include B.S. degrees in criminal justice (online delivery), fraud and financial crime investigation (campus delivery), geoscience, healthcare management (both campus and online delivery), nutrition and therapeutic recreation.

Some of the

recommendations include direction to provide support towards similar programs. Chemistry resources will be allocated to biochemistry, the university will continue to offer a B.S. in dietetics and nutrition as well as a B.S. in physics.

Eight majors and one program were put forward to stay in the portfolio with modifications, which include accounting, English, financial crime investigator certificate, health sciences and OT Weekend program, history, mathematics, physics B.S. and the political science B.A. Recruitment and internaltransfer to sunsetted majors will cease following approval. Minors affiliated with sunsetted majors will remain offered and intact.

A student forum was held at 4:30 that Wednesday in Macfarlane Auditorium. Eight students and one faculty member attended the forum, which was led by Provost Todd Pfannestiel and Senior Vice President for Presidential Affairs Jeffery Gates.

During the student forum, Pfannestiel assured current students that they will not be impacted at all by the recommendations should they be approved midFebruary.

“The 4.4% who are currently enrolled in the sunset recommendations are just as important to Jeff, I and the president as the 75% who are enrolled in the top 10 majors,” he said.

Members of the AAUP Utica, dressed in their signature red, attending the faculty presentation in-person on Jan. 18.

Photo: Dr. Tyson Kreiger

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Spring 2023 STAFF

@UticaTangerine

@Utica_Tangerine

@Utica_Tangerine

Editor-In-Chief - Isa Hudziak

Managing Editor - Hollie David

News Editor - Mickale Thompson

Special Assignments Reporter - Mariami

Kentchadze

Social Media Manager - Nicolas Leonard

Circulation Manager - Briana Ajayi

Adviser - Mary Christopher

Submission Policy

Letters to the editor are welcomed from all members of the Utica University community. Letters must meet fair and accurate publishing standards and contain no libelous material. Anonymous letters to the editor will not be printed. All letters and editorials must meet the print deadline of 5 p.m. on Mondays. Please send all submissions to tanger@utica.edu. Takeback requests are a form of censorship and therefore not accepted.

Advertising Information

The Tangerine accepts paid advertisements. Advertising copy is subject to the same professional publishing standards as content. The Tangerine reserves the right to reject advertising that does not meet the standards established, is libelous, is in poor taste or violates discrimination laws. Please direct all inquiries to tanger@utica.edu. The deadline for publication is 10 a.m. on Tuesdays.

The opinions and columns expressed in The Tangerine are those of the individual writers and do not represent the views of The Tangerine or Utica University.

News Tips? Opinions? Contact The Tangerine!

Jamaican flag back among the rest in the student center

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON NEWS EDITOR

The removal of the Jamaican flag from the Strebel Student Center was met with a string of concerns last semester from members of the campus community.

In response to the frustration, the Office of International Education held a flag ceremony for the Jamaican flags and students from other countries to commemorate International student week. Roughly 50 people attended the event on Nov. 17, 2022. However, despite the proceedings, the flag was put back earlier this month after the ceremony.

The institution uses a threetiered policy to decide what flags are hung up. Students who are pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree that are citizens or have dual citizenship occupied the top spot followed by scholars who are at the university for one semester in which their flag is put up the term that they are at the institution and lastly for countries that Utica University has had study connections with.

Junior Rijah Judah was vocal in her initial stands about the flag removal. She said she felt betrayed and confused as to why the flag was removed. Looking back at the series of events she is now relieved to see the Jamaican flag put back in Strebel.

“After the commotion surrounding the first (article) concerning the Jamaican flag’s removal, I would assume that those in charge took the time and effort to analyze our concerns,” Judah said. “I felt a sense of accomplishment, that our voices were heard and action was taken in support of the student’s needs.”

Flags at Utica are continuously removed and or replaced but the situation has generated some questions from students as to what other flags have been taken down without due diligence by the school to make sure that current members of the community do or do not align with that flag.

Some students are calling for better awareness for administrative leaders in the community to see that this

problem doesn’t happen again.

“Knowing that the school has and previously removed flags without knowing if members of the community align with that flag sets a negative tone for the university’s relationship with those students,” Judah said. “To prevent this issue from occurring again those in charge need to take the time to evaluate the university’s community and ensure everyone’s needs are being met.”

Amara Clemente-Johnson, president of the Black Student Union, said bringing back organizations like the Caribbean Connection Association on campus could help prevent situations like these from happening again.

“When students of color’s voices aren’t considered in decisions like that it can have consequences such as feeling excluded and underrepresented on this campus,” Johnson said. “It’s much easier to have your voice heard when it’s a group expressing a concern rather than an individual.”

The ability for students to voice their opinions on issues that affect the community and have them heard is critical. Students like Johnson believe it’s imperative.

“When the institutions listen to us it shows that they truly stand for diversity, equity, and inclusion,” she said. “It shows students that their voices matter.”

Campus safety Blotter

Graphic showing the Jamaican national flag hanging on a pole.

Photo: Mickale Thompson

| CONT. FROM PG 1

“You will continue to receive all of the support. You will continue to receive the best education. You will earn an excellent degree from Utica University to help you move forward in your career path,” Pfannestiel said.

What happens now?

On the Utica website, there is a page dedicated to the Academic Portfolio Review where faculty, staff and students can comment on the recommendations for a two week period.

Comments will be compiled for presentation, along with the official recommendations, to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 2. The trustees will have two weeks to deliberate before their meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17, where a vote will be taken to accept or reject the recommendations.

The commenting forums are broken up by constituent categories and can only be accessed through an official Utica email. Crosscommenting, such as a student trying to view the faculty comment forum, will not be accessible.

Additionally, the commenting@utica.edu email, which is dedicated to collecting comments from those who may not feel comfortable posting to the forums, is limited only to utica. edu email addresses.

Faculty backlash

Adorning the bulletin boards and doors of some faculty offices are signs with the AAUP faculty union’s logo with bright, bold letters that state: “STOP THE CUTS” and “STRONGER TOGETHER.”

The Tangerine reached out to other faculty who voiced support for the recommendations. However, they declined to comment.

Leonore Fleming, professor of philosophy and president of the AAUP Utica chapter, posted a video responding to the recommendations to express her disapproval.

“It was devastating to

watch an outgoing university president and an outgoing board of trustees chair make such colossal, short-sighted and poorly considered decisions without regard for the detrimental effects that will be felt across the university for years to come,” Fleming said.

On change.org, a website known for posting and signing petitions, the AAUP Utica account created a petition entitled, “Save Utica! Stop The Cuts!” As of Jan. 25, the petition has amassed over 500 signatures.

Michelle Boucher, a fulltime professor of chemistry since 2005, said that the recommendation to sunset the chemistry major in favor of supplementing biochemistry is rooted in misunderstanding.

“I can only speak specifically to chemistry, that perhaps there has been a misunderstanding as to the separation of majors, and maybe a false dichotomy between the chemistry and biochemistry are in competition for resources or getting rid of one will help the other rather than what will happen in our case,” Boucher said. “It would be dramatically hurting the other.”

According to Boucher, Utica is accredited by the American Chemical Society, which promotes support for students and faculty in the chemistry department as well as certifies the undergraduate chemistry degree, as well as provides marketing to the university due to their place on the ACS website.

However, this accreditation is predicated on there being a chemistry major, which will impact biochemistry students as well.

“Our biochemistry majors can earn certified degrees, [they] get jobs in industry by virtue of graduating from an accredited department that speaks to the labs, to the instruments, to the experiential learning, to the industry ties we can offer,” Boucher said. “We will lose all of that when we don’t have a chemistry

major period.”

The geoscience major, which is spearheaded by the geology department, has also been placed on the chopping block.

After working at Utica for 23 years as a professor of geology, Sharon Kanfoush said she was disappointed by the lack of dialogue and transparency prior to the recommendations.

“Departments produce and submit a very bulky 5-year program review every five years and I can tell you that we rarely get any feedback on those,” Kanfoush said. “So if there was concern or dissatisfaction with numbers, I think what is very upsetting is that it was never conveyed prior to this, when it could have made a difference when there could have been changes made prior to this.”

To some faculty, part of the upset has come from the absence of faculty input on recommendations, especially those from departments who may be sunsetted.

Laruah Klepinger, an associate professor of anthropology and member of the 2020 summer general education design team, said that faculty members are aware of the issues faced as an institution and have shown their ability to collaboratively address these issues.

“[The general education redesign] was a really interesting, collaborative, sometimes fraught discussion among faculty about what changes need to take place, what needs to be cut and we achieved that job,” Klepinger said. “We showed that we could come together, make the cuts that were necessary and re-envision our general education model.”

Student thoughts

Colby Kusinitz, a cybersecurity major and Student Government Association president, attended the student forum. He was confused about some of the recommendations in the criminal justice field, but

said all anyone can do now is sit and wait.

“I think the other thing that everyone needs to consider is to actually review the facts that are out there and published, and that this isn’t even in effect until the Board of Trustees votes up or votes down,” Kusinitz said.

Other reactions on campus have included concern from students currently in majors slated for sunsetting.

Terrell Davis, a therapeutic recreation major, which is one of the programs slated for sunsetting, also attended the presentation and did not like finding out his program would be eliminated. He was also disappointed that more students from the therapeutic recreation program were not present when the announcement was made.

“I feel like our influence would’ve been a little bit more if more people came, but there were only like five people here and one staff member,” he said. “It came down to showing up and showing out for your own program, and people did not commit to that. And my program they said they’re gonna sunset… it’s just kinda difficult.”

The news of the recommendations and a process which is being conducted for the first time on Utica’s campus has reached the ears of alumni, some of which have commented on the forums to express discontent.

Utica alumnus Emina Fetbegovic posted a comment on the student commenting forum detailing concern over the sunsetting of the philosophy major.

“The philosophy courses and the department’s professors have helped shape many of us into who we are today as people and professionals,” Fetbegovic wrote. “It is the hope of many alumni, along with current and prospective students, that Utica University reconsiders sunsetting the philosophy major.”

Utica Faculty Senate votes to censure Board of Trustees

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

◊ HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

The Utica University Faculty Senate voted to publicly censure the Board of Trustees on Jan. 25 in response to the recent academic portfolio review recommendations.

A censure is a formal expression of criticism or disapproval against someone or something. In the case of this censure, disapproval is directed at the Board of Trustees.

The senate voted 108-15 in favor of the decision during an emergency meeting held at 4 p.m.

The formal censure to the Board cites violations of terms of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated with the AAUP-Utica regarding shared governance.

According to the public censure document, the “Shared Governance: Definition and Participant Roles,” approved by President Laura Casamento and Provost Todd Pfannestiel in March 2021, designated the faculty as primarily responsible for curriculum and affiliated areas.

“There is no apparent intention to include the Curriculum Committee in the academic portfolio review process nor any acknowledgement that ‘the faculty has primary responsibility for such fundamental areas such

as curriculum,’” the formal censure said.

The formal censure requests that the Board of Trustees rescind their charge for the academic portfolio review and reject the recommendations from the review.

Additionally, the Faculty Senate asks that the Board provide the data that spurred the original charge as well as follow the proper channels for program revision if necessary.

“The Faculty Senate requests from the Board a detailed account of the apparent crises facing Utica University, and the nature of the actions that they believe are needed to solve them, with specific data demonstrating the effectiveness of such actions, including how passing the academic program portfolio review recommendations will provide financial benefits to the University,” the formal censure said.

The censure will remain in place until the Faculty Senate votes to lift it.

The Tangerine reached out to Board of Trustees Chairperson Robert Brvenik ‘77 and received no comment before press time.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Q & A: Utica mayoral candidate Celeste Friend

◊ HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

On Jan. 7, Celeste Friend announced she is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Mayor of the city of Utica. According to a press release, Friend would be the first woman to receive a majority party nomination, and if elected, will be the first woman mayor of Utica.

Tangerine Managing Editor Hollie David sat down with Friend for a question and answer session. Transcriptions have been edited for clarity.

Q: What should the citizens of Utica know about you?

A: I’ve lived in Utica for 20 years, that’s really important to me. I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere else in my life. I have a doctorate in philosophy and I taught full-time for a long time, and that was what got me to the Mohawk Valley, a teaching job at Hamilton College, and then that ended in 2007, and I decided I wanted to stay. I had already bought a house and just really fell in love with Utica. At that point, I started

teaching part-time, but then also started a small business where I designed, produced and marketed a line of sterling, silver jewelry. You can see that online, Celeste Friend Designs. I also became the executive director of an arts festival, as my jewelry put me into the whole world of highend art festivals.

Then in 2020, I joined the [Utica] common council. I ran in 2019 and got on to the council in 2020 so I’ve done a lot of different things, teaching and running a small business and being an executive director.

Q: Voter turnout for college students is usually fairly low, do you hope to change this in any way?

A: Well we love to get into Utica University, and talk to students who are living on campus or living around the campus and do voter registration drives. So we’d be very happy to do that and we’d be happy to connect with any students who are interested in partnering with us on voter registration drives.

The first election that I’ll be facing will be at the end of June, so school will be out. But of course, lots of students live off-campus year-round and you know, we’d love to have more students engaged in choosing their representation.

Q: What do you plan on doing to help university students?

A: Of course, the city government doesn’t have any authority over the local colleges. But at the same time, I would say we have a bunch of colleges. We have Utica University, we have MVCC, we have Hamilton College, we have SUNY Poly, and we have Colgate a little farther away. I think it’s a shame that the city doesn’t do more to collaborate with those five schools, and take advantage of the resources that they have but also to offer the resources that we have. So you know, I’d love to have a big active internship program where students from all of those colleges can come in and get job experience, working inside city government. The city ought to be collaborating, much more with all of our

institutions of higher ed.

Q: Is there anything we didn’t mention that you would like to add?

A: I would like to really emphasize how important it is to me to engage younger people. I think engaging younger people, whether those were college students or also younger families, and really sort of making sure that younger people are being listened to, and being part of the process of creating the city that they want to live in. It’s in Utica’s own interest, it’s in all of our interest that young people want to stay here and want to come here. But that doesn’t happen unless we engage young people in the very process of building up the city that they want to live in. I would love to do, you know, more to engage young people, listen to young people. Make sure that young people are being brought into the whole political process.

The rest of this article can be found online at uticatangerine.com

Professional headshot of Celeste Friend. Photo courtesy of Celeste Friend

Graphic image shared in response to Academic Program Review

◊

HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

A graphic image of Utica University President Laura Casamento was posted on Dailynous.com, a website where information and blogs are published about and for the philosophy profession, on Jan. 20. However, no one from the Utica community is responsible for creating and sharing the image, according to the website editor.

This image was captioned, “Will Utica president Laura Casamento pull the trigger on her proposal to kill off several core majors, including philosophy?”

This incident came about two days after the announcement of which academic majors at Utica would be affected during the university’s academic portfolio review, and an investigation into the image was formally announced via an email shared with faculty and students.

Board of Trustees Chair Robert Brvenik ‘77 addressed the campus in the email to condemn the image originally attached to the article for promoting violence.

“These actions damage the reputations of Utica University, the Utica University community, and President Casamento directly, and they undermine the process we have established for inviting civil discourse,” Brvenik said.

According to the email, the image contradicts the principles the university was built upon.

“Let us be clear: we cannot stand for this,” Brvenik said. “We will not tolerate it. We are utilizing all available resources in investigating this matter, and are prepared to take swift action and hold individuals involved responsible.

Details of the investigation and potential fallout have not been released as of Jan. 25.

“The goal is to hold

accountable those who created and circulated images that depict and potentially incite violence,” Brvenik said, in an email to The Tangerine. “Based upon the results of the investigation, consequences will be commensurate with the actions taken”

The image was first seen on Dailynous.com, which is a website where information and blogs are published about and for the philosophy profession.

Utica philosophy professor Douglas Edwards wrote to the site with a statement regarding the portfolio review, along with information on the philosophy department’s change.org petition, which was created to try and save the philosophy major at the university.

Edwards was unaware of the image that the site used until after the publication was posted.

This statement was published in a brief article written by Dailynous.com editor,

University of South Carolina philosophy professor, Justin Weinberg.

In an email to The Tangerine, Weinberg explained the website’s right to post the image.

“[The image’s] creation and publication is unambiguously protected by the First Amendment and the norms of academic freedom,” Weinberg said. “It represents the administration possibly eliminating critical thought at the university by cutting the major dedicated to it: Philosophy.”

He also explained that no one on the campus had anything to do with the creation of the image.

“No one associated with Utica University had any part in the creation of the image,” Weinberg said. “No one associated with Utica University had any knowledge of the image prior to its appearance in the post.”

The updated image on the article is credited to the AAUP-Utica and displays a

poster created against the Academic Portfolio Review.

“Having heard that the Utica administration announced an ‘investigation’ of the image, I can see why they’re interested in eliminating critical thought there,” Weinberg said. “After all, just a little bit of it reveals that such an investigation--whether initiated out of ignorance of the law and academic freedom, or part of a cynical strategy to distract the Utica community from what’s really important, or both--would be at odds with the core values of a university.”

available.

Updates will be provided as they become

AAUP Poster Provided by Leonore Fleming

◊ DZANA BOROVIC CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself

A: I grew up in Verona, New York. I went to Vernon Verona Sherrill High School and graduated from there. Then I went to SUNY Geneseo and I got a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I was able to graduate with honors. Following that, I worked at the St. Luke’s lab in Utica for a little while before I had a career shift from working just in labs to working for Cornell Cooperative Extension as an Agriculture (Ag) Educator and that’s where I am at right now.

Q: Can you elaborate more on your teachings as an educator?

A: Yes, I talk a lot about farming. I started off here just as a dairy educator and I only talked about dairy farming. My uncle has a dairy farm, so I grew up around it and it has helped a lot with teaching young kids about it. Then in September or October, I was able to teach any subject in agriculture from drones to bees to goats. All sorts of stuff, it’s lots of fun.

Q: What advice would you give to college students regarding their nutritional diets?

A: Knowing where your food

comes from is probably the most important thing. If you’re just getting something from the store or whatever and you have no idea what’s in it you do not know what effect that’s going to have on you. You don’t know how much processing the food has had. All of our food comes from either nature or a farm. Everything that the food item goes through from getting from the farm to your table to which we want to kind of eliminate the “in-between” stuff as much as we can. I would say that that’s going to be your healthiest option, not cutting anything specific out of your diet, but just making sure that it’s not so processed. It’s more so growing your own tomato and then picking it and eating it. It’s going to be the best source because you really know what’s going into that food.

Q: West Utica has been labeled a “food desert” How do you feel about this label and what steps would you take to overcome this issue?

A: This is a tricky question because food deserts specifically relate to proximity to a grocery store. I don’t know if the definition perhaps would change, but what you could do would be to set up a market where people can buy fresh produce, wholesome meats, and stuff like that. If

it’s grown locally then that’s even better. I would probably recommend setting up a market where people buy food instead of trying to bring in a grocery store because that would take a lot more doing than just setting up a local market. Vendors can come in and sell their wares, that would not only help the people that live in the area who don’t have access to food, but it would also help local producers sell what they are making. It would just boost the local economy all around and it would just be a more direct consumer exchange rather than having to go through that middle man again. I don’t know if that would change the “food desert” designation. I am

not really sure about that, but it would reduce the issue at any rate which is a more important thing.

Q: What is your final message or word of advice to the Utica University Community?

A: Just to know and appreciate where your food comes from like it takes a lot of people to get milk from a cow, all the way to the store or the dining hall, etc. Just like knowing that everything that you eat comes from a farm and just to really appreciate that. That would probably be the biggest takeaway. Just like knowing and appreciating.

Learn more about McEwen online at uticatangerine.com

Q&A: Colleen McEwen Ag in the Classroom Educator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Oneida County.

The Periodic Table of Black History: Elements of Culture

Cyberbits: Is it real, or is it deepfake?

◊ JAMES HAYES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Technology advances at extraordinary speeds. As a result, new possibilities and experiences are created today that may have been deemed science fiction yesterday. One of these new possibilities comes in the form of “deepfakes.”

more and more common. While this technology may appear remarkable, it can be potentially scary and hazardous in the wrong hands.

◊ KAYDEN LAMPHERE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With Black History Month right around the corner, understanding Black culture and the rich history behind it might be something students want to do, but might not have the time to.

The Periodic Table of Black History was produced by Samantha Vincent, the Coordinator for Student Transitions, and the Jeremy C. Thurston ‘00 Center for Career Readiness and aims to help students learn about the important figures that brought Black history to what it is today.

“We want students to be able to see themselves in the work we do,” Vincent said. “And this has all different industries, from actors, actresses, artists, athletes, politicians, musicians, and entrepreneurs.”

According to Vincent, the table was adapted from the City of Lakeland Public Library who completed a similar project in 2020. The table was not built from scratch, but certain adaptations were made to include modern additions, such as late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. One major addition Vincent noted was the implementation of QR codes, which when scanned will take students to information pages on the various figures represented in the work.

“We wanted to make sure that if students didn’t know who someone was, and

wanted to take a second to learn, they could,” he said.

“[The Periodic Table of Black History] was hung up [in the Center for Career Readiness] for around a year. We moved it into the display case [in the Ralph F. Strebel Student Center], since we wanted it to be more visible to people in different ways.”

Kira Maddox, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations Coordinator at Utica University, described future plans for the Periodic Table of Black History and its movement throughout campus.

“[The exhibit] will now be a traveling exhibit throughout Black History Month,” Maddox said. “It’ll be in Strebel, the Library, Boehlert, and finally end in Wilcox.”

Students should be on the lookout in the near future for this display, along with similar projects, as the semester continues.

“The work that we do can help elevate students in different ways, so if students are looking to be represented, this is a way that we can help them,” Vincent said.

The Center for Career Readiness is open Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Appointments can either be made on Handshake, or via walkin. For more information, email Samantha Vincent (skvincen@utica.edu), Kira Maddox (klmaddox@utica. edu), or stop by the Center for Career Readiness in Hubbard

A deepfake combines the words “deep learning” and “fake.” The result is a powerful technique that utilizes sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning to alter a person in an existing video or image with the likeness of someone else entirely. This disturbing capability to manipulate images and video can produce very deceiving material.

What makes deepfakes so problematic is their use in creating pornographic material, including videos that depict child abuse. There is also the potential for cyberbullying, fake news and hoaxes. This technology can potentially be highly disruptive while widely accessible to the public.

One alarming example of this technique is the Morgan Freeman deepfake. Many know Morgan Freeman as the actor who played in popular films such as Bruce Almighty, Amistad and Driving Miss Daisy. His comforting voice is a familiar trademark. If you get the opportunity, look at the Morgan Freeman deepfake video titled This is NOT Morgan Freeman.

This video is so realistic and sophisticated that it looks and sounds like the real Morgan Freeman, except, as the title states, it is not.

Have you seen the film “The Shining” starring Jim Carrey? Probably not, because Jim Carrey never starred in that movie. However, with deepfake technology, he can be in any film you want him to be. Videos depicting persuasive material such as this are becoming

Deepfakes are being created and employed by industrial and academic researchers as well as amateur enthusiasts. Government organizations may also find interest in deepfake technology due to its ability to target extremist groups and interrupt and discredit these individuals. Amateur deepfakes are easier to recognize due to poor special effects (think faces that don’t blink or strange lighting).

However, more sophisticated deepfakes can be challenging to identify. As a result, universities, tech firms, and even governments have put together research programs to help identify and expose deepfakes before they can spark havoc. The Tesla stock crash after a deepfake depicting Elon Musk smoking pot online is an excellent example of the disruption this technology can have on an industry.

While it may be safe to say that deepfakes may not bring the world to an end (for now), this deceptive use of technology can influence how people vote, alter stock prices, and even fuel religious conflict.

As deepfakes become more sophisticated and exploited negatively, there comes the risk of damaging the fragile trust that already exists in society and creating even more skepticism and conflict. People will need help to distinguish between real and deepfake.

While the negative uses of deepfake technology can be scary, not all are dark and grim. Deepfakes can be used for good as well. For example, people who have lost their voices due to disease can have their voices repaired utilizing a deepfake called voice-cloning.

The Periodic Table of Black History displayed in Strebel Student Center. / Photo: Kayden Lamphere

COLUMNS

Turn up the heat: Bring Your Own Spoon

◊ DIANA SIDOREVICH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If you like Japanese cuisine, there’s a new fusion spot on Genesee St. ten minutes from campus.

At the beginning of this month, Tai Chi Bubble Tea opened, replacing a former Moe’s Southwest Grill location, and naturally, I had to check it out.

Upon entry, I was disappointed to realize it’s a franchise. Tai Chi has a huge menu with an overwhelming number of options. They offer bubble tea and smoothies, poke bowls, ramen, rice bowls, sushi, and sushi burritos. The seating area screams franchise as rectangular Ikea-esque tables and hard benches are sectioned off by faux plants. The restaurant boasts a LED sign presumably for Instagram posts.

I was hoping for the momand-pop, cushy seats, family owned-and-operated feel. My optimism was replaced by confusion when deciding what to order.

Enticed by the color and variety of the toppings bar, I turned there: too many options. Looking at the menu boards above: too many options.

The snowy weather was my cue to order a steamy bowl of chicken ramen with a tonkotsu broth. My lunch accomplice ordered an eel rice bowl.

Once I removed the bamboo strips and added a drizzle

of Sriracha, I really enjoyed the ramen. The chicken was beautifully seared and flavorful. The ramen egg’s marinade elevated the flavor of the ramen. The noodles had the perfect bite and springy texture, and there were a lot of noodles. The fish cake had a nice texture and pretty pink swirl, which added to the aesthetic but not the taste. The broth was creamier than I expected it to be. However, I was disappointed when the only utensil available for this big bowl of ramen was a small, flat, plastic spoon. Here’s my advice: bring your own spoon.

As for the eel rice bowl, it “definitely hit the spot,” Alan Sidorevich said. The eel and pickled vegetables were satisfying and full of flavor. The pink and yellow vegetables remain unidentified as the restaurant became too busy to ask about the ingredients. The amount of people that frequent the restaurant is a testament to their dishes.

Isabella Yaghy, a junior at Utica, was one of the first customers at the soft opening on January 8th.

“On the first day they opened, they had no rice,” Yaghiy said. “I was pissed.”

Besides the lack of rice, Yaghiy enjoyed her experience, saying the food was “super good.”

Tai Chi Bubble Tea is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

A little bit about me.

I worked at Utica University in the IITS department for five years. During my time there I decided to get my master’s degree. I did not know if information technology was my final career path, so I talked with a few different professors and ultimately decided to get my MBA from Utica. After earning my MBA I continued to work at Utica for a couple of more years before deciding to move on to explore different positions. I ultimately found myself at AmeriCU working in the IT department. I started as a Systems & Network Administrator but was able to be promoted to Manager, Technology Infrastructure to Assistant Vice President, Member Technology Operations to my current role as Vice President, Member Technology Delivery. In my current role I run the day to day operations of the IT department as well as assist in creating and executing our organizational wide strategic plan.

How did your experience at Utica University shape your career path?

My MBA helped me combine my skills and knowledge in technology, business and finance. This was possible due to the professors I met while at Utica. They were genuine and willing to help in any way

possible. While some of these professors were colleagues and some were friends, they all always treated me the same as all the other students in my cohort. That taught me to treat everyone equally, regardless of personal relationships which has helped mold my management style and let me grow into the role I am in today. I cannot talk about my experience at Utica without mentioning Kathy Randal. Kathy was my manager and taught me more about managing people than anyone else ever could. Kathy was also a friend to every student that walked into her office and did whatever to make the students happy.

What advice or insight do you have for Utica University students?

I would urge all students, not just graduate students, to network with as many professors, employees, alumni and fellow students as possible. The network that the Utica community has built goes all over the world and you never know when you will be sitting in an interview and find out you know someone in common due to Utica. That little detail may land you that job over another applicant. I would also say to join as many clubs or organizations as possible. I earned my undergrad degree in TV Video Production and found myself working in IT at a Credit Union. If I did not take the time to learn new things, I would have never found my current career.

◊ JASON LEWIN ‘13 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Alum Column: Jason Lewin

Delectable Dinner

Photo: Diana Sidorevich

UCPB’s karaoke night

This week, on Jan. 24, the Utica Campus Programming Board (UCPB) welcomed students to participate in Karaoke Night. UCPB is the driving force behind entertainment on campus, from bringing concerts, comedians, and magicians, to planning dances, pub nights, trivia nights, and much more.

UCPB’s Karaoke night was held in Strebel Student Center’s Pioneer Cafe from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Karaoke Night was an event where students could stand up and sing any school appropriate song of their choosing and simply have fun.

“I am very happy and proud of this event,” said the Executive Director of Utica Campus Programming Board, Erin Bruttomesso, Senior Health Science Major. “ I know a lot of people had a great time and it was a lot of fun.”

Some students who attended the event felt like it was an opportunity to get out of their comfort zone.

“They really got people out of their shells,” said Norman Booth, Construction Management major.

◊ MARIAMI KENTCHADZE SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTER

Nate Palmer delivered in his final season and has the accolades to prove it

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON NEWS EDITOR

A historic trip to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history wasn’t the only accomplishment graduate student Nate Palmer would achieve this season. Wide receiver Palmer would finish his career in stellar fashion, earning some of the highest honors in division three football.

Nate Palmer finished the 2021 season with just four touchdowns and 628 receiving yards in 11 games. The Pioneers finished 6-5 overall that season and 3-3 in conference play after a 3-0 start. Entering his final season and as team captain, the decision to get Palmer more involved in the offense was a decision he said was made in the off-season by Head Coach Blaise Faggiano.

“In the off-season Coach Faggiano said we need to get [me] the ball more,” Palmer said. “That’s where all the numbers come from. The QB and the offensive line did a great job with everything they did. I just did what I had to do and had success.”

Despite his 5-foot-7 inch frame Offensive Coordinator Joe Gerbion said Palmer making all the plays he wasn’t supposed to make made life easier

on the offensive end.

“We could put him in so many different positions because of all the extra work he would put in,” Gerbino said. “Not only did Nate know what he was doing he knew what everybody else was doing.”

Palmer this year would go on to create a dynamic partnership with the first-year starting Quarterback Braeden Zenelovic whom the Pioneer picked up in the 2022 offseason. As a redshirt quarterback at the University of Albany, Zenelovic only played 20 games for the Great Deans finishing with 111 passing yards in three

years.

With Zenelovic as the new QB1, he and Palmer would both have successful seasons. Zenelovic finished with 3,207 passing yards and 31 touchdowns with Palmer on the end of most of those six-point plays. However, the feeling was mutual with Zenelovic letting it fly Palmer’s touchdowns and receiving yards increased as the two combined for double digit touchdowns.

“Nate’s one of my best friends,” Zenelovic said. “He is a gritty and undeniable competitor who’s a true testament to “heart over height.

[We] spent a lot of time together in the spring/ summer leading up to the season. He played a key role in me learning the offense as we’d do a ton of fieldwork, which led to our chemistry on the field this season.”

Palmer’s efforts set a record for the most receiving yards in a single season. He also became the second wide receiver in program history to pass 1,000 yards in a single season and the program’s fifth 2,000yard receiver. His touchdown total was ranked third overall by a single-player player in a season.

SPORTS

PAGE 13 FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

The team finished 10-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play with their only conference loss coming against the Cortland Red Dragons. Off the back of the best regular season record, the team clinched their first-ever NCAA tournament berth.

“I just know that in my class we put our stamp on the team and Utica University football,” Palmer said. “It was definitely a year you’ll never forget no matter what happens. We put a banner up in the stadium and every time you see that you’ll reminisce and think wow we actually did that.”

Palmer’s contributions on the offensive end played a key role in the team’s consistency in the regular season and pushed it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. With Coach Gerbino on the sidelines calling the shots and Palmer executing them the two developed a close partnership over the years.

“One of the biggest reasons I’m at Utica was Coach Gerbino [because] his style of offense I felt fitted me the best,” Palmer said. [We] were always watching films together, always picking apart what stuff to do and not to do. Us having those conversations made us have a connection on the field.”

Offensive Coordinator Joe Gerbino embraces

number 22 Nate Palmer on the sidelines. Over the years the two developed a close relationship both on and off the field. Courtesy of Kayleigh Sturtevant

Palmer finished his career first with 411 punt return yards, second all-time in receiving yards with 2,695 paring that with 26 receiving touchdowns and a total of 30 career touchdowns. He also finished third averaging 16.04 yards per catch, fourth with 3,192 all-purpose yards and 182 points scored, fifth with 168 receptions, and eighth with 3.91 receptions per game. As a result of his decorated state line overall and in 2022, the accolades piled up for one of the Empire 8 and Division three’s most standout players.

UTICATANGERINE.COM

Along with being the program’s first three-time All- American to earn honors from the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches’ All-America First Team honors, Associated Press AllAmerica Second Team honors, and D3football. com All-America Fourth Team honors. Palmers also earned Empire 8 firstteam all-purpose player, Empire 8 Second Team as a return specialist, Associated Press secondteam All-American, and All- ECAC honors earning the Eastern College Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year as well as the first team.

He was also one of 15 semifinalists for the Gagliardi award, a trophy given to the best player in Division III. He

also participated in an NFL scouted FCS Bowl held in Daytona Beach, FL in December 2022 alongside other division one and division three.

Palmer graduated with a degree in Criminal Intelligence Analysis and a minor in psychology with hopes of becoming a State Trooper or play professional football. The brotherhood and lessons he experienced at Utica are something Palmer said he will carry over into the real world.

“If you want to keep being great, you need that brotherhood connection to continue to excel,” Palmer said.

SPORTS

Jimmie Warren left his mark on the defensive end in his final season

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON NEWS EDITOR

Jimmie Warren was the main player who spearheaded the Pioneer defense during the 2022 season. With him on the other side of the ball, the program made a historic run to the second round of the NCAA tournament in its first appearance. In his final season, Warren left his mark on the program and in division 3 football.

Jimmie Warren had many responsibilities on the defensive end last season and understanding his role was one of them. As the defensive end is preparing to come off the edge pre-snap, that’s when the thinking starts. For him, all that stops after the snap, and what happens next is just pure reaction. His prowess on the opposite side of the ball earned him some high honors in division three football and his very own spot in program history.

At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Warren came into the 2022 season with two objectives: To be the first team in program history to make the NCAA tournament and to earn Empire 8 defensive player of the year, both of which he and the team would accomplish.

“This year we had

a great group of seniors that proved to all be great leaders throughout the long season,” Warren said. “Football takes all 11 people on each side off the ball to work as one for each play to work well.”

With Jamey McClendon as the new defensive coordinator in his first year, the defense was keen on doing whatever it took to make it one he would never forget.

“Coach McClendon had a great scheme each week and each player on the defense did their job to contribute to the team’s success this season,” Warren said.

Coach McClendon said that Jimmie is the kind of player who can create blitzes or packages ability due to his leadership on the defense and the entire team.

“You’re talking about a guy who came in as a WR who was 185 pounds, and developed into a 245-pound Outside Linebacker that helped reinvent our defensive scheme and identity,” McClendon said.

Coach McClendon credited Warren for making his transition to Utica much smoother. The two clicked and were able to build a strong relationship, which helped to form relationships with other

defensive players. As a play caller Warren’s dynamics off the edge, and his ability to count on him in critical situations made forming a game plan around him much easier.

“I could drop him or rush him depending on what the offense was going to do,” McClendon said. He was also very savvy, and I could put a lot on his plate in terms of making in-game checks and adjustments based on a game plan. He also gave me valuable information on the sideline in between series which I could use to make in-game adjustments that

SPORTS

PAGE 15 FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

benefited the whole defense.”

As number 5, Jimmie Warren is preparing to come off the edge presnap, that’s when all the thinking starts. As the ball snaps, what happens next is just pure reaction. Courtesy of Uticapioneers.com

Named Empire 8 CoDefensive Player of the Year and D3football. com All-Region II Second Team at defensive end, he solidified himself as one of the nation’s top small college defensive players, which ultimately made him a semifinalist for the Cliff Harris Award. Also on the defensive side, he earned All-ECAC First Team. His hard work continued to pay off as Warren finished as the Empire 8 leader in sacks for the 2022 season.

Warren also tied for tackles for loss in E8 with 17.5 and finished fourth in the conference with 98 total tackles. His 11 total sacks in 2022 were third all-time in program history while his tackles for loss finished fourth in single-season program history. However, Warren earned himself the top spot in program history courtesy of the 75 yards the opposition lost on his tackles for loss making it a single-season program record.

“It [felt] really good to see all the hard work that went into the year paying off,” Warren said. “All of these accomplishments come with us winning games, and I know that

I could not do that by myself.”

Warren recently began graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in healthcare administration. He intends to continue to work out and stay active in case the next opportunity to play at the next level comes around. Learning how to overcome obstacles and developing patience and understanding what

UTICATANGERINE.COM

it’s like to be a part of something greater than oneself were all things he learned playing football at Utica. With that experience and knowledge, he had a message for the current and future players of the program.

“One thing that I would want to leave for present and future players of the program is to buy into the program,” he said. “What you put into the program

is what you will get out of it. The coaches will put everyone in a position to be successful and trusting them will be very important. The coaches will not only make you a better football player but also a better man in life.”

As number 5, Jimmie Warren is preparing to come off the edge pre-snap, that’s when all the thinking starts. As the ball snaps, what happens next is just pure reaction. Courtesy of Uticapioneers.com

Men’s hockey ranked no. 1 in country after series win

◊ JEREMY HOROWITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last week, the men’s hockey team was on the road taking on the Dutchmen from Lebanon Valley College on what turned out to be a record setting weekend that ranked the team number 1 in the country.

The Pioneers went into the series scorching hot, coming back from the winter break going 4-0, with series sweeps over Manhattanville College and Neumann University.

With last weekend’s wins against Lebanon Valley, Utica moved to a 12-0 record in UCHC play, and a 14-2-1 record overall.

“It’s truly special to be ranked number one after all of the hard work that we have put in this season. But with that being said we aren’t finished yet,” senior defenseman Connor Fedorek said. “We have a lot of games left where we need to take them one at a time and not look beyond the next period.”

Game 1 of the Lebanon Valley series was played on Saturday, Jan. 21. The scoring would start early for the Pioneers, as at 13:57, senior Remy Parker scored. About six minutes later, team captain Dante Zapata, a senior, would add to the lead, putting Utica

up 2-0 by the time the first period came to a close.

In the second period, sophomore Matt Wood and junior Jason Dobay scored quickly as both goals came within the first six minutes. Zapata then scored the Pioneers’ lone power play goal of the game.

Up 5-0 going into the third period, senior John Monchovic scored the Pioneers final goal of the game, putting a bow on a 6-1 win. The Pioneers would get points tallied by 14 different players, with two players having multi-point games, as Zapata would finish with three and Dobay would finish with three.

Senior goalie Bryan Landsberger was a standout, making 19 saves on 20 shots, continuing to be the backbone of the team.

Game 2 would wrap up the road trip weekend for Utica, coming off what was a pretty dominating win the night before. Ironically, the Pioneers

scored more goals, 16 total, than the 12 points the Dallas Cowboys scored during their NFL Divisional Round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Parker had a four goal night, and would total five points. Dobay tallied a goal and 5 assists for 6 points, which crazy enough, was not the highest point total of the night. Graduate student Regen Cavanaugh would score a hatrick, and also tally four assists, which gave him seven points by the time the final horn was blared.

The Pioneers would go 7/9 on the power play, which is now up to 15 goals this season. The Pioneers won by a score of 16-1, which would set a new team record. Their +15 goal differential would set a new single-game record for the team, breaking the previous record which was set in 2017 in a 13-1 win over Chatham University.

A weekend road trip that was capped off

with a sweep and a new single-game record. Moving themselves to 12-0 in UCHC play and furthering the distance between them and everyone else who is chasing our Pioneers is a massive positive from this weekend, scoring 22 goals in two games is just a bonus.

Men’s hockey will play this weekend taking on the Nazareth College Golden Eagles in game one on Friday Jan. 27 at the and they will travel to Rochester on Saturday, Jan. 28 for game two.

“I think that it is a huge accomplishment and a testament to our team on the work we put in up until this point,” Parker said. “We don’t plan on celebrating it too much, we want to play every game like we still have the ultimate goal to chase. This weekend will be exciting. The top two teams in the conference as of now and we will play our way and work as hard as we can to remain where we are.”