Friday, November 18, 2022 Print Edition

TANGERINE

football

◊ SHANE TINNEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After closing out the season with a program best nine wins, the Pioneers have earned themselves a spot in the NCAA Division III Football Tournament for the first time ever. The bracket of all 32 teams was announced on Sunday by the NCAA Division III Football Committee. The Pioneers enter the tournament as one of five at-large selections.

“I believe in this team, I believe in our coaches, and they do a great job with the game plan they give us every single week,” said graduate wide receiver Nate Palmer in an interview with WKTV. “I like our chances just because of everybody that’s bought in here.”

It was a historic season for the Pioneers as they rewrote program history all season long. Their 9-1 record was led by senior quarterback Braeden Zenelovic in his first year with the Pioneers. Zenelovic finished the season with 2643 passing yards, which is the fifth most

their first ever NCAA Tournament berth

in a single season, and 28 touchdown passes, which is the second most in program history for a single season. Seven of those touchdowns came against a convincing 65-16 win over Alfred University which broke the program record for single-game touchdown passes and tied the Empire 8 Conference record for touchdown passes in a game.

17 of Zenelovic’s touchdown passes went to Nate Palmer, which gives him the record for most touchdowns caught in a single season. Palmer finished with 1222 receiving yards on the year which is also a new program best

and nearly doubles his total from last season (628). His 1222 yards and 17 touchdowns rank him second nationally for division III in both categories.

For the defense, senior defensive end Jimmie Warren has been a force to be reckoned with all season long. The defensive end leads the team in sacks (9), tackles for loss (14), and in total tackles (78). Warren now ranks third all-time in career sacks with 17, and fourth in tackles for loss.

Head Coach Blaise Faggiano wraps his fifteenth regular season with the Pioneers and talked about what it

means to be heading to the NCAA tournament for the first time in an interview with Utica University Radio on 90.7 FM.

“It’s hard to put that emotion and feeling into words, we’re certainly excited, proud, and something that we’ve always wanted to do,” Faggiano said. “I’ve always had this vision of us being in the pioneer café watching the selection show.”

The Pioneers will depart on Friday to head to Selinsgrove, PA for their first-round matchup against Susquehanna University at noon on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The Pioneers line up and hold their helmets up after the national anthem.

/Photo: Kayleigh Sturtevant

Utica

clinches

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Upcoming Thanksgiving break: what to know

CHARLIE BUCKLEY CLERK

It’s that time of the year again, Utica University’s annual Thanksgiving break is coming next week. For most students, it means that it’s time for them to start making plans to head home.

“The Residence Halls close Wednesday, November 23 at 8:30 a.m. and reopen Sunday, November 27 at 10 a.m.,” said the assistant director of housing operations in the SLCE office, Lauren Waszkiewicz.

Unlike previous years where a break bus was usually used for students heading

home, Devlin Daley, the assistant director of campus engagement, said that this year there will be no break bus available for students.

“We are not offering a break bus, but we will offer the shuttle for students who need a ride to either the bus or train station,” Daley said.

“They can reach out to me at dfdaley@utica.edu and we can help arrange for them to get a ride the best we can. However, we need to know before November 21 if they need a ride somewhere.”

According to Waszkiewicz, while students usually have

to vacate for Thanksgiving break, there is a way for students to stay on campus if necessary.

“If you have a circumstance which you feel warrants an exception, you may apply for permission using [a] form,” Waszkiewicz said.

Waszkiewicz continues by stating that all resident hall policies must continue to be followed even during break, breaking of the rules or policies can result in the student’s permission to stay to be revoked.

Waszkiewicz says that the Dining commons will offer

dinner on Nov. 22 but then will be closed from Nov. 23 till Nov. 27.

“The Wilcox Center will be open to students as usual, 24/7 via card access. Students may use the kitchen and refrigerator if desired. Be sure to clean up after each use,” Waszkiewicz said.

For any students needing to stay during break, you can contact Waszkiewicz for the Google Form.

For emergencies during break, students can contact Campus Safety at (315) 7923046 for assistance.

Campus safety Blotter

◊

Ongoing homeless crisis in Utica

◊ GRACE MONACO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Homelessness has been an escalating issue in Utica over the past few years. According to endhomelessness.org, there are over 90,000 homeless people in New York State as of 2022.

The Cornerstone Community Church has been actively helping by granting people access to their community garden as a campground. This area provides tents and shelter for people in need. They are given food, clothes, and access to showers, washing machines, and bathrooms within the church.

Last month, the Oneida County Health Department made it their priority to shut down this sanctuary. They hung up a sign that states: “This campground is closed and public occupancy is prohibited and unlawful.”

The sign also said that the area was unsanitary and a hazard to the public. Although It may be unsanitary and a public health risk, it still proves to be a poor

excuse to reject people of their rights to food, clothing, and shelter.

Students at Utica University are very disheartened by these events.

“I think the city needs to be doing more to support these people. They should have been working on arrangements for them the entire time.” junior occupational therapy major, Mary Quinn said.

“I feel like they’re valuing the city over the wellbeing of the humans living in it.”

According to WKTV, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente is mainly concerned about public safety and health.

He suggested that the

homeless people of Utica move to shelters.

Although this may seem like a quick solution, shelters are not always a viable option for homeless people. Some people are banned from these shelters and many are fully occupied. The people living on the street have a range of personal issues such as addiction and mental health. It is unreasonable to expect them to make decisions regarding their health when they are disadvantaged.

Corrine Bush, junior public relations and marketing major, asked the real question: “Where else are they going to go? We have to do

something about it.”

As president of Golden Z, a club on campus that might be able to help out the local people in need, Bush is determined to do something. Golden Z aims to help the university’s community and the general public.

In the past, Golden Z has worked with rescue missions and has purchased and created hygienic packages for local people. Bush is hopeful to do something similar specifically for the homeless crisis.

The Cornerstone Community Church is not discouraged by what they believe are poor judgment calls made by the Oneida County Health Department. They are still working to make a change in our community. They continue to offer a shelter within the church as well as free meals. They are offering free Thanksgiving Dinner and drinks on Thursday, Nov. 24 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Photo submitted to WKTV.com

Data shows improvement in speeding on campus

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON FEATURES EDITOR

Utica University with the aid of the Utica Police Department recently released the campus drive speed data results for 2022. The university was able to compile and track speeding data using speed trailers provided by the police department which were positioned on campus drive, in the vicinity of the Strebel Student Center, documenting northbound and southbound vehicular traffic due to the fact that the area has high pedestrian traffic.

In the email sent out by Campus Safety, the purpose of documenting speed is to create a heightened awareness for all Utica University community members. The data compiled will help Campus Safety direct resources strategically in order to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

The data revealed that from Oct. 24, 2022, to Oct. 28, 2022, the average vehicle speed was approximately 20 mph northbound, 5 mph over the posted speed limit of 15 mph and 18 mph southbound 3 mph over the speed limit. The highest recorded vehicle speed was said to be 38 mph (Northbound) and 44 mph (Southbound).

Director of Campus Safety

Musco Millner is tasked with developing, implementing and managing safety and security services on campus and says the reason for tracking campus speed data is to help drivers be more conscious of their habits and behaviors, while at the same time encouraging them to embrace the importance of obeying traffic laws.

“The speed trailer will be utilized in the future to serve as a means to check the progress of our efforts in educating the university community regarding the

awareness of and importance of safe vehicle operation,” Millner said. “Our efforts will remain proactive when it comes to upholding the regulations of the university. We will continue to monitor vehicular and pedestrian traffic via various platforms in order to identify and address safety concerns that come to light.”

The 2022 speed results show significant improvement from 2020 in which during that time the average vehicle speed was approximately 20 mph, 5 mph over the posted speed limit of 15 mph with the highest recorded vehicle speed was 70 mph (105 feet per second), 55 mph over the speed limit. During that time the speed trailers were posted in the vicinity of Strebel Student Center between Alumni and Bell Halls. Also in 2020, the Speed data indicates that an excess speed of 15 mph occurs between the hours of 11a.m. and 3 p.m. when the campus experiences high pedestrian traffic.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in the first quarter of 2022 motor vehicle fatalities are up by 7% with 9,560 deaths as a result of motor vehicle crashes in the United States compared to the first quarter in 2021 which saw 8,935 fatalities.

The campus community urged to remember that high vehicular speed increases the risk of collision as a result of limited vision, traction and maneuverability are reduced, while inertia is increased, along with the distance required to stop the vehicle.

According to Millner, increased speeds increase the probability of not only a collision but a collision resulting in personal injury and/or fatality.

“Remember safety first, trading off a few moments of inconvenience for a lifetime

of safety will bless every one of us, students, faculty, and staff,” Millner said. “With that being said, the traffic control regulations are designed so that we can all be safe and alive today and tomorrow.”

The appropriate speed limit when driving on campus for all drivers is 15 mph. Emma Lorenzoni, a first year political science major, said that keeping track of speeding should be a priority on campus and campus safety should monitor speeding carefully in order to distribute tickets.

“I believe speeding is a cause of concern on campus because of the amount of people that walk around, by going a certain speed it is harder to stop to see other students walking. Especially at night considering the campus is not that well lit in my opinion,” Lorenzoni said. “I don’t think campus safety adequately monitors speeding to distribute tickets fairly because there are still a lot of people on campus who speed and I don’t believe campus safety patrols enough to see how actively people are speeding.”

The cost for speeding tickets on campus is predetermined and can range from $50 for the first offenses and $75 for the second offenses. With the financial strain that college students experience some believe that the ticket costs are too high.

“I don’t think that is a reasonable price to pay

depending on the speed you were going,” Lorenzoni. “If it was just a couple over the cost shouldn’t be that high but if you were going a decent amount over the speed limit then I could see why it would be that high.”

For other students, the speed data result isn’t a real attention getter.

“I don’t think it’s that important, especially for students,” senior business management major Emily Dygert said. “A lot of students see the data and ignore it. It may help campus safety see if they need to monitor drivers more but I don’t think it needs to be compared year to year.”

The proactiveness for campus safety to actively motor speeding on campus regularly on a day to day basis is a concern for students as some believe they are more worried about other things.

“I feel like most of the time I just see them sitting in their cars and not really paying attention to the drivers,” Dygert said. “They’re more worried about driving around checking to make sure people are parked in the right parking lot.

The need for drivers to be aware of their surroundings and drive safety is important. Driving at the posted speed limit will not only promote safety on campus but decrease the changes of motor vehicle accidents in the community.

“I think most people are typically cautious when driving on campus, especially when it’s really busy,” Dygert said. “It’s really important for drivers to be aware of their surroundings and monitor their speed so nobody gets injured. It is also important for pedestrians to be aware when approaching the roads.”

Photo: Mickale Thompson

Review: ‘I Love You Because’

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As you walk down the greeting card aisle in the grocery store, your eyes might be pulled by a glossy piece of cardstock that poetically says: “Life is like a seesaw.”

At least, this is something you would see if you lived in the world of “I Love You Because”, a musical written by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham as a loose adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

The Utica University theater department hosted the musical from Nov. 3 to 6 directed by Denis J. Clark and music director Greg Unagast in Strebel Auditorium. The cast boasted six members, four as the main cast and two as ensemble members.

The show follows brothers Austin, a greeting card writer, and Jeff Bennett, his goofy older brother, after Austin is cheated on by his girlfriend, Catherine. The Bennetts go on a double-date with best friends Diana Bingley, an actuary, and Marcy Fitzwilliam, a free spirit. Throughout the musical, the couples fall for each other despite being opposites.

The stage was directed with two doors, a cut-out for the onstage band and a wooden display of New York City elements illuminated by a strip of light along the top. This simple stage, along with reused props like a fold-

out couch, made the stage malleable to each scene and location.

The lighting at the top of the set simulated the feeling of being in a bustling, bright city while also matching the mood of the scene at hand. Being able to see the onstage band in the back of the stage felt like being at a music venue like a bar, which was a scene in the musical, where the live music is performing in the background as ambiance.

Despite the cast being relatively small, the amount of singing strength and stamina made it seem larger. During the final group number, which has the same title as the musical itself, the power of all six vocals filled the theater with power and emotion.

The standouts of the cast were ensemble members Cailee Blackington and Jacob Carissimo. They each played several

different roles, which included a New York City landlord, barista and workers at a Chinese restaurant. Their ability to use stereotypical New York City accents and use the stage space to seem like larger-thanlife caricatures of New York City residents was extremely effective.

The chemistry of the two main couples made the relationships feel complex and passionate.

Paloma Collado and Derek Corsner as Diana and Jeff brought the humor of a woman who loves numbers and a man who mixes up common phrases. The contrast of Collado’s serious tone and rigid stance beside Corsner’s relaxed and upbeat voice profoundly depicted them as opposites.

However, during duets between them, Corsner and Collado’s voices beautifully melded together as powerful and

sweet. Similarly, Xander Wilson and Hannah DeStefano as Austin and Marcy sang with power that challenged each other without being overpowering to show the dynamic of their characters.

The costuming of the show promoted the early 2000s sitcom vibe. The stiffer characters like Diana and Austin wore button-ups, khakis or pencil skirts. Jeff and Marcy, the freer spirits, were dressed in bright patterns, loud skirts and in Jeff’s case, shirts with cringe-worthy pick-up lines.

Overall, the show was extremely entertaining. The cast worked together comedically and musically, tied together by appropriate clothing and a minimal, yet telling set in the background.

Xander Wilson and Hannah DeStefano as Austin Bennett and Marcy Fitzwilliam smiling. /Photo: Utica University Theater Facebook page

London in Literature returns after COVID

deposit is mandatory by Dec. 1. The program fee covers lodging, ground transportation and activities but does not include airfare.

There are quite a few highlights of joining this program and studying abroad. Students have the opportunity to visit some of the most historic and infamous spots in London. All of the places you’ve heard and read about, and maybe even hoped to visit someday. The trip will be both educational and thrilling. There is certainly something for everyone in London.

London in Literature is a wonderful opportunity for a wide range of students with varying interests. Leising draws attention specifically to anyone that loves art, science, history and travel. Aspiring writers and criminal justice students will also enjoy this experience.

◊ GRACE MONACO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This spring semester, Utica University is offering a course that offers the opportunity to study abroad. London in Literature is a study abroad program offered at Utica University as an EN 325 course.

The course fulfills a General Education requirement with no prerequisites and is worth three credits. It will run throughout the spring semester and students will have the opportunity to study abroad during the Spring Break. The class is open to anyone to join and travel along with Professor Gary Leising to

London, England.

Leising is hoping to bring along at least ten students on this ten-day trip. The trip will run from March 10 to March 19. There is a program fee of $3,575 and a $500

Students will have a busy itinerary, consisting of action-packed schedules each day. The class will visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Tower of London, the British Museum, Keats House and more. They will also make a stop at the National Gallery and view art and artifacts from all around the world. As if all of that is not exciting enough, students will also see a live play at the West End Theatre.

Writers can draw inspiration from Shakespeare’s Theatre. Criminal justice students will be able to gain insight into the legal system in another country. Art lovers will experience Tate Gallery’s collection. History buffs will explore the history of England firsthand. Science lovers can drop an apple when Sir Isaac Newton discovered his laws of gravity. Travel lovers will absolutely find a lot to love in London.

For further information, feel free to contact Professor Leising at gleising@utica. edu, or the Office of International Education at studyabroad@utica. edu.

Op-ed: Visiting Los Deliveristas Unidos

◊ HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

On Friday, Nov. 8, I went on a trip to the Bronx with my Community Organizing class. We met with several of the leaders and members of Los Deliveristas Unidos, a fairly new organization that working to form a delivery driver union in New York City. The trip that the class had planned was originally supposed to meet with this group in Brooklyn but on this sunny Friday, the team was out on the streets spreading more information and sharing their mission with anyone and everyone.

When we arrived, we started walking toward where we believed the group to have been set up. Through the crowds of people gathered on the sidewalks, you could see a tent and a small crowd gathered streetside.

As we walked up there were people with t-shirts, that boldly read DEMANDS across the top of a bold red, white and black graphic.

This group standing on the sidewalk was handing out pamphlets, stickers and information cards to curious members of the public, along with supplying coffee and doughnuts to delivery drivers who may be passing by.

As we approached, two very bubbly and excited people walked up to the group. They introduced themselves as Ian and Ernesta, two people who work with Los Deliveristas Unidos.

After getting a brief introduction to what this organization has been working on we watched and observed them simply interacting with each other, answering every question that is being thrown at them, along with caring for any drivers who may pull up, their bikes all branded with the organizations’ stickers.

We also got to meet several other delivery drivers and

people who work with this group who all had stories to tell of their time as delivery workers.

This organization has several goals that they want to achieve with organizing in the hopes for overall better conditions for their work.

According to the Los Deliveristas website their goals are as follows, the right to use the restrooms of restaurants, the right to a living wage, essential protections from e-bike robberies and the right to use a physical public space to eat, rest and be protected from weather.

The ability to make these changes is partly brought about by the activism and constant spreading of their message to the public.

After standing on the sidewalk and listening to all of these caring and dedicated people talk we went to lunch at a quirky little restaurant that served amazing Spanish food. While at lunch we all went around and introduced ourselves further, explaining our backgrounds, passions and any fun facts about ourselves. Here we learned of some of the struggles that people face after coming into the country, such as not being able to do the job they love along with the unfair wages and conditions faced at jobs that are available.

As the group talked it was obvious that everyone was very passionate about helping those who need it. They all also discussed how they manage to work together and use their strengths to their advantage. They all went around and explained how someone is the legs, someone is the mouth and someone is the brain and together they can build and strengthen this organization.

It was clear that this is a group of people who are smart, dedicated and loyal and will fight for what they believe in.

/Photo: Dr. Jeffery MIller and Los Deliveristas Unidos

CyberBits: Holidays, the Perfect Gift for Cyber Criminals!

UTICA ALUM COLUMN ANABELLA ROSSI ‘22 GUEST ALUM

UTICA ALUM COLUMN GABRIELLA HUDZIAK ‘22 GUEST ALUM

◊ JAMES HAYES CONTRIBUTING

WRITER

Ahhh, the holidays…the season to be thankful, ‘tis the season to be merry, and with 2023 just around the corner, one might say, “Tis the season to make a New Year’s resolution.” But it’s also the season for cybercriminals. In fact, cybercrime reaches its highest peak during the holiday season. So, while it is a cause for celebration, merriment, and even giftgiving, it’s also the season when we should prioritize cybersecurity.

The holidays are a busy time for everybody. Even the end of the year means the end of the semester for students – final exams, final projects, and final papers add to the list of to-dos during the holidays. Likewise, consumers scramble to snag holiday deals. We’re excited to spend time with family and friends (for the most part!), and we are easily distracted from our normal obligations and best practices. However, while participating in the festivities this year, we must acknowledge that cybercrime doesn’t take a break on the holidays.

Events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday attract consumers by the millions, desperate for lastminute gifts. Most people do their holiday shopping online, taking advantage of the convenience.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are taking advantage too. Phishing emails entice shoppers with

great holiday deals and offers (just think about that PlayStation 5 you’ve been combing the aisles of every retail store to find!). Naïve and unwary consumers click on innocent-looking links. Instead of a PlayStation 5 or whatever lucrative deal you were being baited with, what you opened up to is a good deal of disaster.

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), fake rewards and holiday raffle scams are common, especially on websites like Facebook and Instagram. Even more widespread are scams involving auction fraud. Items are misrepresented on sites such as eBay, Etsy, and Craig’s List, or you pay for an item that never gets delivered.

The holidays are also the perfect time to trick consumers into opening phishing emails that contain fake invoices or malicious links. These phony emails direct you to confirm your Amazon account, locate an undeliverable package from UPS or FedEx, or re-enter your credit card information so your parcel can be delivered. Cybercriminals use these tactics to encourage unsuspecting victims so they can steal sensitive information.

What can you do to protect yourself? First, shop online at reputable places. Be careful when you click on a link or open an attachment. Never pay with a gift card. When making a purchase, be suspicious of anyone who claims to be out of town or out of the country on business. Verify the authenticity of a seller before you make a purchase. And always remember – if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

This column was transcribed by Editor-in-Chief Isa Hudziak from an interview with Utica ‘22 alum Anabella Rossi who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in Creative Writing and Theatre.

“My name is Anabella Rossi. I graduated in the spring [of 2022] with a major of English and my minors in creative writing and theater.

I transferred from [Mohawk Valley Community College] and I worked in the theater as a dramaturg. I took a directing class, so I had to direct a show while I was [at Utica University], it was a one-act. But besides that, my involvement was mainly in the English department, where I worked on the Ampersand and was president of the Literature Society, among other things.

I start my first full-time job in two weeks, so that’s very exciting. I’ll be working as a digital marketing specialist for a company in Rochester remotely.

One thing I would give advice for is just that if your plan changes after you graduate, or during your time at [Utica], don’t panic, don’t freak out. It will all work out the way that it should. My plan for after school did not go nearly as I expected it to, but it’s heading in a very positive direction and I am looking forward to it.”

My name is Gabriella Hudziak. I graduated from Utica University earlier this year in May with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media with a concentration in Creativity, along with two minors in Theater and Public Relations.

While I was at Utica, I was part of WPNR, our university’s radio station. I started as a volunteer there and moved my way up to General Manager in my senior year. I also participated in various theatrical productions held at our university as an actor, videographer, crew member and director.

Right now, I’m attending the University of Pittsburgh online to earn my master’s in Library and Information science degree. I hope to become an archivist one day, and I can really thank my time at WPNR for inspiring me to go and do that.

I’m a recent graduate, so I haven’t yet had much experience of actually being an alumna. However, I can say that my time apart from Utica University has allowed me the space to reflect on it. I spent a lot of time in college doing things, like taking specific classes, that I didn’t enjoy or really want to do. I did them because I felt I had to. I thought they would make me more employable.

I realized, if I hated it this much as a student, why would I want to do this for the rest of my life? Now, this isn’t me advocating against gen-ed courses, I personally find those to be important. I mean going into a field you don’t like because you think it will be profitable, you think you’ll make money out of it. I don’t see a point unless you actually enjoy it, or at the very least find it interesting. There’s no shame in doing something else, in changing your mind.

Kevin the Kite man

◊ JACK BODNAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When driving down Oriskany Street in Utica on a day when the weather is nice, you may see a flash of rainbow colors fly by above your car.

Once the object comes into focus it becomes apparent that what is up there is indeed a rainbow kite soaring above the cars and pedestrians. At the other end of this kite string is a man with a message to all who will listen.

Kevin Hines aka @ kevinkiteman flies kites to destress and hopes to spread a message of hope and optimism.

“It’s therapy really,” he said about flying a kite. “If you don’t believe me, come and find out.”

He has started a mini-movement that encourages others to embrace hobbies to get their minds off of their troubles.

He has an Instagram account with over 2,200 followers and over 8,000 posts. Here he documents his encounters with passersby who want to fly a kite. Many of the videos are filled with smiles and funny moments.

His main slogan is “Fly Kites Not Bullets.” He cites social media and hard upbringings for a lot of kids turning to a life of hate and violence.

Hines wants to provide an outlet for kids that are put at that disadvantage, to give them something to look forward to and stay away from all of the occurring violence around the city.

Typically, adolescents

Turn up the heat: ChickenLicious

◊ DIANA SIDOREVICH

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Hungry for a chicken sandwich, on the first snowy day in November I made a pilgrimage to ChickenLicious.

On a menu of wraps, sandwiches, salads and house-made side dishes, almost each item is made featuring their never frozen, house marinated and breaded chicken tenders. I ordered the Chicken Deluxe Sandwich with fries, a Big Box combo with a side of mashed potatoes and coleslaw, and some of their Licious sauce.

Not sacrificing flavor, dinner was served quickly.

make up for nearly half of the crime rate, which can ultimately result in them having restrictions on how they live their life if they do indeed get in trouble. It can also lead to a loss of life for both adults and adolescents.

Hines believes all of that stems from adults not getting the proper therapy they need in order to stay down the correct path in life. And also kids who were never taught right from wrong and were put at a disadvantage right away.

Again, Hines is looking to provide a sort of therapy and an outlet for kids through his messaging. With his persistence, he looks to help improve the Utica community one day at a time, and after seeing temporary results, Hines is now looking for permanent results for the public to be in the best headspace possible.

A predictable chicken sandwich is made of a chicken breast, but this one was made of three crispy tenders covered in Licious sauce on a bun added flavor to the sandwich, unlike buns that serve as a holder and have a flavor similar to cardboard. The coleslaw was better than average, not the kind you leave forgotten or try to enjoy just because you paid for it.

“I don’t want to eat the rest of the tenders because I don’t want it to be over,” Marinus Nortje said after his first bite.

Yes, the sandwich was delicious. Yes, the fries were crispy. And yes, we did try them dipped in the mashed potatoes and gravy—even better.

Muhamed Dautovic owned a contracting business for several years before buying and converting this convenience store

and Dunkin’ Donuts into ChickenLicious, which opened August 8 of this year.

“I just decided to change my occupation and start something new,” Dautovic said.

The community in Marcy responded better than Dautavic expected. ChickenLicious opened in an area near businesses and a community that was hoping for a restaurant and a new taste.

“There’s nobody on this road here and that’s exactly what they needed, a lot of them said that,” he said. “Whole neighborhoods are coming here, if not every day then every second day.”

Each morning, Dautovic and his employees begin by seasoning, marinating and breading tenders, slicing cabbages and carrots for coleslaw, and preparing the rest of their ingredients. Dautovic buys everything “as fresh as possible”

“If you buy pre-cut, you don’t know how long it’s been sitting there,” he said.

With 4.6 stars on Google reviews and repeat nightly customers, the food speaks for itself.

It’s been a busy three months for Dautovic to adjust to running a restaurant.

“I’m talking to you and my brain is someplace else, thinking what I’m gonna order tomorrow,” he said.

Dautovic has plans to open for breakfast in the near future, offering breakfast sandwiches, muffins, bagels, and Utica Coffee.

One of the kites from @Kevinkiteman on Instagram

Utica U Men’s Basketball: Preview of the 2022-2023 Season

◊ EZEKIEL PRINCE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The season for the men’s basketball team at Utica University has come back around. Coming fresh off of a 22-3 regular season record and hosting the Empire 8 tournament at home at Miga Court in Harold T. Clark Athletic Center on Utica University grounds, the team is looking to pick up right where they left off.

Last year, the Pioneers had a handful of Empire 8 All-Conference awards and honors. The coaches received the Coaching Staff of the Year award in the Empire 8 led by head coach, Sean Coffey. Darius Hopkins won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the conference. Players on the team such as Thomas Morreale, Kobe Lufkin, Darius Hopkins and Chris Green were Empire 8 all-conference team selections.

Tim Borza, Assistant coach of the Utica Basketball program, who is entering his second year with the Pioneers, spoke about what the expectations are for the upcoming season for the Utica U basketball team.

“The end goal is to win the Empire 8 championship and make the NCAA tournament,” Borza said.

“The last couple years we have been robbed of the opportunity to make the NCAA tournament because of COVID-19 in 2020-2021

season and last year losing Kobe Lufkin before the championship game and losing that game by one.”

Borza said that the team knows the mission and as a team, they are completely locked in.

Several key notable players such as Kimedrick Murphy, Chris Green and Kobe Lufkin graduated. The team manager Isaiah Samuel, a guy who was a major key to the team’s success departed as well. They were paramount to the Pioneers basketball program for the last four to five years.

“The returning players got a lot of experience going up against the guys in practice day in and day out,” Borza said. “A Lot of people watch our games and notice certain guys are not getting minutes or playing, that’s not the whole story, all these

guys are working hard in practice and could have played on other teams, a lot of these guys are waiting their turn and are prepare to play.”

Borza said the younger guys and the team as a whole really worked hard this summer.

Griffin Barasa, a sophomore point guard for the Pioneers, talked about stepping up into a bigger role on the team and evaluating his game after getting valuable minutes as a freshman.

“It’s all about fulfilling my role on this team, I don’t need to be Tommy or Darius,” Barasa said. “I know my place on this team is to be the point guard, to help my teammates thrive and be the best they can while being a leader and bringing that dog mentality.”

Barasa said the Pioneers are the most talented team in the Empire 8

conference.

“Hosting the Empire 8 tournament was a crazy experience, we have to make sure we take care of business as a team during the season and repeat the performance of last year with a different outcome,” Barasa said.

The Pioneers basketball team began their season with a home victory on Nov. 15, against Morrisville State College Mustangs with a score of 94-81. Coming into this fixture, the two programs have had six matchups with four wins and two losses in favor of the Pioneers.

Awating the start of a Basketball game /Photo: Utica University Theater Facebook page

Utica University has announced the introduction of women’s gymnastics, women’s wrestling, and men’s wrestling to its list of NCAA Division III sports.

“Gymnastics and wrestling are wonderful compliments to our existing Olympic sport offerings and both are recognized as NCAA Emerging Sports for Women,” Utica University’s President Dr. Laura Casamento said. “With the growing popularity of these sports, both in our region and across the state and country, we are excited to expand opportunities for athletes to compete at the college level.”

Utica is eager to begin recruiting for these sports and give more athletes the

◊ MATT ROBINSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With a few key upperclassmen back for another season, it has been paying off and the numbers speak for themselves. The defense has been dominant allowing the offense to get back on the field quickly to do what they do best and put points on the board. Most importantly, the offensive line has been doing a phenomenal job protecting first-year transfer quarterback Braeden Zenelovic.

“Entering the team as a transfer from University at Albany this past spring semester, the message was clear from day one, we are going to make a push this season,” Zenelovic said. “We believe and we continue to believe in one

Intro of Gymnastics and Wrestling

opportunity to succeed academically and athletically.

“We have a women’s gymnastics coach in place and we are currently interviewing for men’s and women’s wrestling coaches,” said Director of Athletics and Physical Education, David Fontaine.

“Coaches will recruit for next season. Our plan is to begin competition in the 2023-24 academic year.”

Danielle Cerminaro has been appointed to be Utica’s first women’s gymnastics coach. There are ongoing interviews that are being held to determine the coaches for the other positions that have opened.

“Both of these sports are very popular,” Exercise Science Major Eduardo

Paez said. “The addition of these sports should help every other sport, the more sports the better our environment will be when it comes to sports,” he said. With the addition of these sports, Utica will now have 29 intercollegiate sports at the university. Be ready to support the new athletes and look forward to the opportunity to attend some more exciting competitions

Op-ed: Utica Football

another and this football team. We’re lucky to have a dominant defense, a bunch of athletes on the offensive side and an offensive line full of teamfirst dudes.”

The Pioneers have been to four bowl games in the last seven years and have one win in 2018. Having a home playoff game would be a huge accomplishment for this team and with the leadership and family atmosphere this team has, it’s all up from here.

“We exhibit a family more so than any other football team or program that I’ve been a part of and all of that translates directly to the field,’’ Zenelovic said.

Graduate student Nate Palmer has been having a tremendous season thus far. He is second in the Empire 8 in scoring and

there doesn’t seem to be any signs of slowing down.

Senior Jimmie Warren has been dominating the conference in sacks which has been setting the tone for the defense.

The new Pioneer field complex has been a huge help for the team and only positive things have come from the completion of it. Head Coach Blaise Faggiano said his team has benefited from it tremendously.

“Last year we only used the new field once or twice in late October and let me tell you, it’s been huge for us,” Faggiano said.

“Going into SUNY Cortland and SUNY Brockport we were out there at least twice, maybe a third time because of the other home fall sport playoff games. It’s been great for all the

in the 2023-2024 academic year.

“Personally, I don’t play the sports they’re adding but I’m excited,” said Psychology Major Roberto Torralba. “Having more sports will only make more people want to come here, it’ll be good for everyone even if you’re not involved with gymnastics or wrestling.”

sports and that was a huge challenge in the fall.”

With some players coming back for an extra year of eligibility, it’s been great for the younger guys on the team to learn and grow as football players from them. Academically, it also worked out because of the majors they are in, said Faggiano.

“Dan Amady, Anthony McDonald, Jimmie Warren, Nate Palmer and a handful of others have a ton of experience which has helped us along the way. It was great the NCAA granted them an opportunity to play again and many didn’t have to make any drastic academic changes. I’m looking forward for these next couple weeks and can’t wait to see these guys play,” Faggiano said.

bonk /Photo: Utica University Theater Facebook page

◊ BRADY BARNARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER