Friday, September 23, 2022 Print Edition

TANGERINE

Utica University no longer mandates COVID-19 Vaccination

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON FEATURES EDITOR

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Utica University has been monitoring and taking measures to protect students, faculty and staff while also keeping a close watch on the Utica community at large.

The past years at Utica have been an adjusting period mentally, socially and academically for many. There were several measures put in place to ensure the safety of students and faculty while allowing students to continue their education during an unprecedented time. The institution has been gradually returning to life reminiscent of preCOVID and this semester provides a step towards that with the decision to not require the vaccine.

There has been much data and information that indicates the benefits of vaccinations. According to a Tangerine article from 2021, Utica had a 94% vaccination rate among students, 95% for residential students, 85% for new community members and 98% for faculty and staff. Well over 90% of the entire campus community was vaccinated at the end of

last semester.

Shad Crowe, the vice president of facilities and emergency management, said that the sheer volume of information that has been published and is readily available helped formulate this decision.

“Like all vaccines, we recognized that the COVID-19 vaccine is not built and never was built to prevent you or any one from getting the virus,” Crowe said. “The purpose of a

vaccine is to keep a person from becoming severely ill if you contract a virus. Protecting the community has always been the greatest priority and that is still the primary focus. We want the community to be safe. It really is a matter of whether you decide to protect yourself. It’s kind of like putting on a coat of armor.”

There have been many conversations surrounding the vaccine. Removing

emotions from the conversation and focusing on the information and data puts the decision making back on individuals, according to Crowe.

“The current variants and data gathered provides that a vaccinated person and an unvaccinated person carry the same amount of viral mode; they both are equally contagious,” Crowe said. “The difference is [that] a vaccinated person is far

Students in a classroom Fall 2021 when vaccinations and masks were required on campus.

/Photo: Alex Leland

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less likely to experience significant symptoms. What we believe is the right approach is, rather than lose the opportunity to have a student come here that hasn’t been vaccinated, we have at least an opportunity to provide the information and data so they can make a decision for themselves. If they choose not to get vaccinated we have at least provided them with an opportunity to understand the data.”

Utica will still be providing vaccination and booster clinics to ensure that the community has the resources they need to be safe and healthy.

“What we want to do is continue to offer the vaccine and booster on campus and encourage people to read the data

and understand what the vaccine does,” Crowe said. “ We really want people to be healthy and safe and the only way to do that is to provide them with the information and educate everyone on the benefits of the vaccine.”

The decision to no longer mandate vaccination began with meetings from the President’s Cabinet and Joint Cabinet, which includes both faculty and staff.

Students think this will benefit the community because high vaccination rates make campus members more comfortable. It also allows the campus community to make their own decisions regarding vaccination status.

“To me, the benefits are that it puts the minds

of people at ease and allows everyone to have an opportunity to go to college,” graduate student Ryan Kulawy said. “Utica always puts health and safety first, having the backs of anyone no matter what they believe.”

According to Kulawy, it is extremely important that everyone has all the information necessary to make an informed decision. No matter what you believe it is important to respect others and hear what they have to see. Our school is better when we listen to each other.

Other students believe the community at large did a good job.

“I think the Utica community did a pretty good job of handling the highs and lows of the pandemic,” senior

physics major DJ Harter said. “There were definitely some moments where I would be at a heavily populated place and think “man what if one of these people is carrying COVID. But I think those fears came everywhere in the U.S., not just Utica.”

Utica still encourages people to wear a mask if they feel they need to and for others to show kindness and respect this decision. However, following a period of infection, Utica requires everyone to mask for an additional five days following isolation per CDC and NYSDOH guidance.

“I would say that this University and the community in it overcame some treacherous terrain and climbed a mountain throughout the pandemic,” Crowe said.

Campus safety Blotter

Flu shot clinic coming in early October

◊ BRADY BARNARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Utica University is partnering up with Rite Aid Pharmacy to host a flu shot clinic on campus. The clinic will take place in the Ellen Knower Clarke Lounge, located in Strebel Student Center from Monday, Oct. 3 until Thursday, Oct. 6 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 7 from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

After signing up, students will need to bring their insurance card, Utica ID and the completed paperwork provided by Rid Pharmacy. It is also recommended that students wear a short sleeve shirt when receiving their shot.

Registered Nurse Dawn DeGironimo said that the flu shot clinic is being held because it is considered the best preventive measure one can take to prevent the spread of the flu. Also, students who are vaccinated tend to become less sick with the flu if they receive the vaccination yearly.

According to Shad Crowe, Utica’s emergency management director, the clinic is held to offer an easy access point for any person in our community that wishes to receive an annual flu shot vaccination.

The flu can cause a fever, a cough, fatigue, body aches and other symptoms. If you are experiencing these symptoms, Crowe and DeGironimo recommend several actions that students should take.

In terms of attending classes while ill, Crowe goes into detail about what a student should do.

“Similar to COVID, students should contact the health center immediately if they feel unwell,” Crowe said. “Refrain from attending class or coming to campus for any reason if they are unwell. If a person is experiencing even minor symptoms they should remain home and consider wearing a mask to help inhibit the spread of any virus including the flu.”

There are many things a person should do if they are feeling unwell according to DeGironimo.

“Cover your cough and sneeze by doing so using your elbow,” DeGironimo said. “Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Stay home if you do not feel well, especially if you have a fever.”

The CDC states that people with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins. Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. If you want to take action and help prevent the spread of the flu, you can sign up to receive your flu shot vaccination at the signup genius website.

“Monitor your health closely,” Crowe said. “Try to refrain from being in the vicinity of people who are visibly experiencing symptoms. Consider wearing a well fitted mask such as a KN95 or N95 when in large groups or small spaces. This may help to hedge against the spread of any virus.”

The Utica University sign is framed by trees as you exit the campus onto Burrstone Road. /Photo: Alex Leland

Blood Drive on Utica campus help in Red Cross blood shortage

◊ HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

Multiple times a year, blood drives are organized on the Utica University campus to help secure blood donations for the American Red Cross. These donations are spread across the country to help various groups of people.

Blood donation helps to provide patients with potentially life-saving blood during emergency operations, scheduled procedures, cancer treatments and several other operations.

After coming out of the pandemic blood donation is down around 10% from where it was pre-COVID.

As the American Red Cross supplies around 40% of the nation’s blood supply this is considered a large hit, according to the American Red Cross website.

“Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries,” according to the Red Cross website. “This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. The need for blood is constant. But only about 3% of ageeligible people donate blood yearly.”

The shortage has caused the Red Cross to declare a Blood Crisis, which is the first of its kind, and was announced in January of 2022 via an emergency press release.

“The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in over a decade, posing a concerning risk to patient care,” according to the

press release. “Amid this crisis, doctors have been forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available. Blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments.”

There are several different ways that students can participate in blood donation.

The most common, according to the Stanford Blood Center, is whole blood donation. In a whole blood donation, one pint of blood is taken from the donor as is. Other types of donation include power red donation, platelet donation and plasma donation all of which take only one blood component and return the rest to the donor.

For the standard whole blood donation, there are several specifications that students have to follow in order to be eligible to donate.

According to the Red Cross website, people can donate a whole blood donation up to six times per year, or every 56 days. To donate a person must be in good health and feeling generally okay, must be at least 16 years of age and must weigh at least 110 lbs.

When becoming a donor, students will also have to answer a survey of questions surrounding medication, travel, drug use and sex. Answering these questions accurately and honestly will help to determine proper blood donation eligibility, and donation questions all remain confidential, according to the Red Cross website.

There are also measures that students can take to provide a more comfortable donation experience.

“Get at least eight hours of sleep the night before your appointment,” the Red Cross website advises. “Eat a healthy breakfast or lunch – or both, if you’re donating later in the day.

Choose lean proteins (lean meat, cheese and yogurt) or complex carbohydrates (bread, cereal and fruit) and avoid fatty foods. Drink a few extra glasses of water, including an extra glass about 10 to 30 minutes before your donation.”

Different aspects of donating blood can also provide important information to the student donation, said Bethany VanBenschoten, assistant director of Leadership Development Student Living & Campus Engagement.

“It’s great to know your blood type for emergency cases, and all types can give blood,” VanBenschoten said.

There will be several more opportunities through the semester and school year for students to donate blood on campus. More information will be provided surrounding future donation events through the universities Student Living and Campus Engagement office.

“Giving blood is a great way to help your community and others in need,” VanBenschoten said. “We try to help students see many ways to give back to their communities in different ways. It’s important to help others in the ways you’re able; it teaches humanitarianism, creates community, and increases the likelihood that a student will become a civically engaged adult, advocating for their rights and engaging in constructive debate on important issues.”

American Red Cross blood drive hosted by SLCE on September 21 /Photo: Hollie David

Utica Students discuss the effectiveness of the blue lights system

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON FEATURES EDITOR

The blue lights system is a strategic safety resource that allows students to get in contact with Campus Safety in the event of an emergency. Campus Safety will be alerted when the blue light system is activated and students will get immediate assistance.

The blue light system provides a safety net for students in the event they are walking around on campus and feel unsafe–they can call to get escorted to where they need to go. It also provides safety if a life threatening or altering incident occurs and immediate assistance is needed.

However, a common question is how effective the blue light system is and how often they are used.

“I do not believe that the blue light system is an entirely effective security system because they seem to be spread out pretty far around campus,” senior occupational therapy major Alyssa Chasse said. “For example, there are not many on the path near Pioneer Village, and I have some concerns about my friends that live there if they were to ever be in danger. I do feel generally safe on campus, but I do prefer to park near a blue light if possible for peace of mind.”

Some wonder if the blue light system will be the first resource students will use in case of emergency.

“I think that they should be used as a first resort if there is one nearby because campus safety

can arrive faster than other alternatives like calling 911,” Chasse said.

“I believe I have heard that with our small campus size, help can arrive within a minute. However, I am unaware if every student on our campus knows how the blue light system works, so although that would be my first resort, I am unsure if that would be everyone else’s first resort as well.”

There is a concern over whether students on campus and the community overall know how to use and operate the blue lights system.

According to Chasse, most people are aware that the blue light system exists, but since it is not commonly used, most people do not know how or when to use it. Students would benefit from formal training on the blue lights system in the event they need to use it.

The preparedness of Campus Safety to

respond and handle these situations is a concern for students as well.

“To my knowledge, I do not think that they are capable because they do not have the tools to stop an attacker if the need arises,’’ Chasse said. “I would personally feel much safer on campus if we had armed security. It would also be beneficial for students to be aware of what campus safety officers do have knowledge and preparation for in the event of an emergency.”

Some students, such as sophomore biology major Leah Griffin, said it is very important to have safety measures on campus because it shows the campus cares about the students who live on campus.

“Given that anything can happen, especially these days, we need something like this to keep the residents on campus

safe,” Griffin said. “This makes us students feel safe especially with the campus being open and anybody being able to walk in, it takes a weight off the shoulders of most residents.”

Students also believe the blue light system is beneficial because it gives a sense of security of knowing that you’re safe.

“A sense that you are safe, especially with them being in every single parking lot and in the academic building. However, the blue light systems could be more efficient because what if there is an electrical problem or what if the button malfunctions,” Griffin said. “I think that we can find better ways in technology but the program makes sense.”

According to Director of Campus Safety Musco Millner, the blue light system is a series of emergency alarm stations

Emergency call box located in the parking lot front of Bull Hall.

/Photo: Alex Leland

FEATURES

PAGE 7 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 UTICATANGERINE.COM

strategically located throughout the campus to provide assistance to anyone in distress. A blue beacon is positioned above each alarm station. The blue lights were installed in most of the nation’s college and university campuses but now overall the numbers are declining.

“Since my arrival, we have yet to receive a distress call from a blue light or call box. We have received calls of a nature that weren’t the purpose of the blue light or call box; i.e, nonemergencies,” Millner said. “Students, faculty and staff

can simply activate the blue light system/call box by pushing the button on the unit. The call is transferred immediately to the radios of every officer working, followed by an immediate response to the location in question.”

Providing a feeling of safety and security on campus is important to the functionality of a university campus and the community within it.

“There is a difference between being safe and feeling safe. The blue light system helps with both,

being safe and feeling safe,” Milliner said. “Our office continually monitors safety concerns. In the event that we determine that an upgrade of the blue light system is warranted, steps will be taken accordingly. As of right now, the office is in maintenance mode when it comes to the blue light system. Any preventative maintenance will continue to be addressed in a timely manner.”

Today there are a total of 19 campus call numbers at various blue light locations across campus inside and outside academic buildings

Student on the Street

and facilities on campus. There are also 27 yellow call box caller IDs located in and around campus where the blue phones are located. This gives students, faculty and staff flexibility in calling for when in various locations are campus.

Do YOU know what a blue light is?

“Yes I know what the blue lights are. They are around campus and you touch them when you are in trouble. I do feel like there are a bunch on the walk to pioneer village and that area would be the most dangerous.”

-

Derek Corsner, Political Science.

“Even as a commuter student I know what blue lights are. They signify where the emergency telephones are and you are supposed to go to them if you have an emergency such as feeling unsafe or being attacked or followed, you are supposed to go to them and they are supposed to connect to campus safety. They should have them closer together, which would honestly be smart, especially towards the welcome center because there are not many words there. I used to attend another college in 2013, MVCC in Utica, and a friend of mine actually had to use a blue light, it was a rather scary situation.”

- Akito Dotey, Psychology minor in Gender Studies.

“I only knew what [blue lights are] because I knew it from a different campus. I think if they were in the right places they would be [a useful resource] but right now they are not in the best places, they are not easy to find if you need them. I think that it is really important that [the university] educate us when we first get here and remind us every year. Otherwise, we have to figure it out for ourselves.”

-

Dylan Thompson, History and Political Scince major

“We can act like this is a community and everybody feels safe all of the time but sometimes we must face reality and look at it as if something happens we need this, not the association of well you’re making the campus look bad but you would rather be prepared for something to happen then not prepared at all.”

-

Leah Griffin, Biology major

FEATURES

Annual Banned Books Read-in returns on Sept. 28

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The weight of a paperback novel in your hand might seem more akin to the heft of a hardcover knowing that the book, along with many others, is considered banned in multiple schools, libraries and bookstores for various reasons.

Banned Books Week is an annual event held in late September to celebrate the freedom of reading and highlights open access to information, according to the Banned Books Week website.

This year, the week was celebrated on Sept. 18 - 24, with the theme of “Books unite us. Censorship divides us.”

Utica University will hold the 30th annual Banned Books Read-in on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Strebel Lounge. The campus community is invited to listen, read aloud on stage or browse the wide array of challenged books provided by the library.

In 1992, a group of Utica faculty decided to hold a Banned Books Read-in as a response to the strong censorship the music industry was facing at the time.

Tipper Gore, the wife of former vice president Al Gore, founded the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), which advocated for warning labels to be placed on explicit tapes and CDs, according to Middle Tennessee State University.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America

(RIAA), the collaboration of the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA) and the PMRC towards labeling media with explicit lyrics referencing taboos like sex and violence, lead to the 1985 establishment of the “Pal Mark”s on products.

Utica’s faculty, including professor emerita of journalism Kim Landon and retired psychology professor Polly Ginsberg, held the first Read-in at the Library Concourse. It would be relocated to the Strebel Lounge the following year.

“We read from banned books and played offensive music,” Landon said. “ I coordinated it for many years, and Professor Carol Downing joined me in holding it until we both retired. I am immensely grateful to Janis for keeping it going.”

As the years progressed, the Read-in evolved to include readings of

passages from banned books. Former President Todd Hutton, who held the position from 1998 to 2016, read aloud alongside several community members and administrators.

The goal of the Read-in is to raise awareness of the fact that, in the local community and others, there are people in power who want to control what children read in schools and what is available to

the wider audience of readers, according to Landon.

“If you thoroughly research book banning in America, you will find that there are groups who also hold book burnings,” Landon said. “It is a very scary thing that this goes on in a free country and a democracy like ours. And unless you live in one of those communities, you often don’t know it is happening.”

The graphic for Banned Books Week 2022 with the theme of “Books Unite Us.” /Photo: bannedbooksweek.org

FEATURES

Women in a New Direction: Making a Comeback

◊ EZEKIEL PRINCE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are several clubs and organizations on the Utica University campus available to students. Women in a New Direction (WIND) is one such organization that is looking to reestablish itself on campus after COVID-19 put a pause on its activities. This organization was started in 2001 and run by a variety of women on campus. WIND’s goal is to spread knowledge about issues and obstacles we face as a society, including obstacles such as racial injustice and concerns about gender and women’s rights.

In 2022, WIND currently has five to six members. The members of WIND are working together to put this club back on the map and bring women together on campus at Utica University.

WIND member Tegan Lewis said that the organization promotes advocacy as a sisterhood on campus.

“It’s a sisterhood, a place for women and nonbinary feminine people to have a social space,” Lewis said. “In case of club work, we doing feminist programming, we are determined to solve

racial injustice to the best of our ability, promoting gender equity and doing the important on-theground work. Creating a social capacity for open conversations, bonding time and providing emotional support.”

On PioHub, Women in a New Direction can be located under the organizations tab with information about their goals. Their meetings are held every Sunday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Boehlert Hall Conference Room near Edward and Jean Duffy Plaza on campus or via Zoom.

“We are bringing back

an event the club did in the 2000s called a FishBowl, which is a lot of conversational, hot topics in a big glass bowl,” Lewis said. “Historically, this event has been men answering with women–the objective of the event is to break down the gender barriers, having anyone answer a question of their choosing.”

According to Lewis, WIND is trying to take past events and modernize them, including the Fishbowl event.

“A hot topic for relationships such as: is it still cheating if your partner still has Tinder

downloaded? How do you feel if your partner has an intimate friend of the opposite gender?”

Lewis said. “It’s going to be moderated, controlled setting, set ground rules to prevent people from having homophobic and racial remarks and we going to stress to others to start opinions with ‘I think’ to have a nice conversation.”

For more information and any upcoming events, find Women in a new direction on Instagram @wind.utica. Students can find WIND on their PioHub and reach out if they are interested in joining.

Members of WiND, Tegan Lewis and Sidney Domroes at the Student Involvement Fair /Photo: Alex Leland

Tangerine 75th reception, an upcoming part of Homecoming Weekend

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Tangerine has been a staple of Utica University since its inception over 75 years ago in 1946. What began as a bulletin board notice and a meeting with over 20 people has turned into an independent student-run newspaper for the campus.

During Homecoming, which has been postponed for the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tangerine will hold its 75th Anniversary reception on Oct. 1 from 7 - 9 p.m.

The reception, which will take place in the Frank E. Gannett Memorial Library found in the John A. Donohue, Sr. ‘75 and Valerie F. Donohue Concourse, costs $10 per non-student and is free to current Utica students.

The event is being sponsored by the Raymond Simon Institute, which was founded in 1986 and named after former head of the Utica public relations program Raymond Simon to support communications programs related to public relations and journalism.

According to Patricia Swann, professor of public relations and management, the event is for both current students and alumni of

journalism and public relations.

“The reception celebrates the importance of The Tangerine’s presence on our campus and its influence in shaping future journalists and writers,” Swann said. “For students, this is another opportunity to network with professionals.”

During the reception, attendees can chat reminisce about their days in the paper over some good food, according to

Professor of Journalism Mary Christopher.

“We have been so disconnected due to the pandemic, so this is a nice opportunity to reconnect with other alums,” Christopher said.

“Throughout the years, I’ve heard so many alumni recall memorable stories from their days on the Tangerine staff and express gratitude for learning so much after working on the newspaper. We hope current students will mingle and network with

these alumni.”

A short program of speakers, which includes former Tangerine editor-in-chiefs James McClendon ‘17 and Maria Montero Silva ‘20, will talk about the importance of the student newspaper and its relevance today.

According to RSI chair Frank Maurizio, the reception will be a fun social event for current students and alumni, as well as a time for remembering Professor Simon and Professor Jack Behrens.

Simon taught at Utica from 1949, when the college was still part of Syracuse University, until 1985. During this time, he helped establish one of the first undergraduate minors in public relations at Utica and remained involved with the university after his retirement.

On July 16, 2021, professor emeritus of public relations and journalism Jack Behrens passed away. He founded Utica’s journalism program in 1972 and served as adviser to the Tangerine for many years, as well as chair of the public relations and journalism department.

The reception will offer an opportunity to remember these influential figures and how they shaped the public relations and journalism programs at Utica.

To register for this event, visit www.utica.edu/homecoming.

/Graphic: Isa Hudziak

Op-Ed: Activites around the local Utica area

◊ GRACE MONACO CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

In a small city like Utica, it’s common to wonder what there is to do. Utica is mostly known for coffee shops, good eats and the arts. If you’re up for an adventure or willing to try something new, Utica is home to a variety of hot spots just for you to explore. Coffee is essential for some to get through classes and long days. If you’re looking for a hot coffee, iced latte or freshly baked muffin, Utica Coffee is the spot.

Located in the heart of downtown Utica, Utica Coffee has a wide variety of high-quality drinks and baked goods. In addition to having coffee, tea and lotus energy drinks, they also have scones and cinnamon buns to pair with your hot or cold beverages.

Just in time for Fall, their menu offers the “Apple of My Chai”. This is a hot or iced drink with spiced chai blended with caramel syrup made with your choice of milk. If you need a mid-afternoon pick-meup, you can also add a shot of espresso.

Another local option for coffee is Character Coffee

According to senior psychology major Angeline Viti, Character Coffee offers the highest quality coffee. They take a lot of pride in their quality and how their coffee is made. If you really care about coffee, this is the place to go.

One thing that makes Character Coffee stand out is the fact that all of its syrups are made in-house.

They offer unique flavors such as Pistachio Caramel, Gingerbread and Italian Christmas cookies. She also adds that they offer cereal milk to add to your drink. They soak the cereal of your choice in milk before adding it. They also offer freshly baked donuts daily.

Character Coffee is open to visitors at 171 Genesee St. they are open every day of the week. Their hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. Viti suggests trying her personal favorite, the Honey Lavender Iced Latte with oat milk.

If you’re looking for comfort food, right next door to Utica Coffee is The Compound. The Compound is a fun and quirky, locally owned mom-and-pop shop. It’s decorated with intriguing neon signs, disco balls and paintings. The staff is friendly and welcoming to all that walk in.

They are mostly known for their unique grilled cheese sandwiches. They have a variety of options. A musttry is the Vegan Grilled Cheese. It’s prepared with vegan cheese, avocado, tomato, pickled red onion, mixed greens, and chipotle pecan pesto. They also offer soups, salads, and burgers. The Compound is the perfect hangout spot to sit and eat, relax, or catch up on some assignments.

There is always an opportunity to see live theater or be a part of it here in Utica too.

The Stanley Theater is a baroque-style theater in Utica. It has been in Utica

for 94 years. Originally it was a movie cinema but has evolved throughout the years.

This month, the popular Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon” will be in town. The show will run from Saturday, Sept. 23 until Sunday, Sept. 24. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. Theatergoers can also look forward to seeing “Chicago”, “Tootsie” and “Buddy - The Buddy Holiday Story” within the next few months.

For performers, there are the Players of Utica. This is a black box theater open

to the community. They have shown all year round, and auditions are open to anyone. Their upcoming show is “Kodachrome.” It is a story of a small town explained through the lens of a photographer. The audience is able to see the audience’s personal lives in a different way. “Kodachrome” performs Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 28-30.

For more information, you can visit www.thestanley. org or call the Broadway Theater League at 315624-9444 to update on upcoming events.

A fresh made iced coffee in front of Utica Coffee located in downtown Utica. /Photo: Grace Monaco

◊

Turn Up The Heat: Muju International

DIANA SIDOREVICH

CONTRIBUTING

EDITOR

Five minutes from Utica University’s campus, Muju International offers freshlymade, well-priced, and spicy meals every day. This week I ordered a selection of momo’s and a ‘315’ bowl named after the location’s area code.

Muju’s momo’s are a unique type of dumpling with “secret sauce” served on the side. It comes with chicken, pork, or vegan. The vegan option is made with cabbage, ginger, onions, and cilantro, and served with a housemade spicy sauce that includes thai peppers.

Ujjwal Rai, the 33-year-old husband of store owner and cook, Grace Rai, emphasized the value that authenticity adds to a cuisine, so they don’t want to Americanize their food and lose its cultural value. They’re trying to go back to the basics, Rai said.

“Turmeric, garlic, ginger, and cumin is enough to have a good meal,” said Mr. Rai.

The kitchen at Muju has been operating only for three months and already they’ve gained a reputation on Instagram and online for one-ofa-kind dishes in Utica, a place known for the wide variety of cuisines that the local culture offers.

A couple driving from Buffalo, N.Y. to Connecticut said they stopped at Muju for the first time because they had the authentic Indian food they were looking for, not the Americanized tikka-masala and similar dishes.

According to reviews on

tasty meal

Google, the chowmin and vegan momo’s are a “must try.”

Muju’s bestsellers are the 315 bowl and momo’s. The 315 bowl is a dish of turmeric rice, eggplant, cabbage, chickpeas, and chicken made with coconut, spinach, and Indian spices. The vegan bowl includes everything minus the chicken.

Other items on the menu include chatpate, a dish made with popped rice as well as spicy ramen, a fried dough noodle mixed with fresh vegetables. The vegan chowmin is made with noodles specifically imported from India—the only way to guarantee the noodle is egg-free— and buldak, a very spicy noodle.

The menu prices range from $4.99 to $8.89, with vegan options available.

Muju International, a grocery store with a kitchen, also boasts a new addition: a Boba tea and smoothie stand, located at 1026 Champlain Ave.

ALUMNI COLUMN JACOB KAHL GUEST ALUM

worried to switch their major after realizing maybe they weren’t as into the major as they once thought. This makes sense though– it’s totally normal to have doubts about a major or to realize it might not suit you.

When choosing the career you’ll be doing for the rest of your life, generally you’re about 16-17– I could barely choose a shirt to wear each morning at that age, let alone determine my career path for the rest of my life.

Right out of the gate, my experience with Utica University was atypical. I was initially headed for SUNY Poly, although they were unable to give me details on my schedule until the week of orientation. It was at this time, I was told they did not offer online classes at all which I needed due to working full time as an IT Specialist for Northern Safety. This meant SUNY Poly was no longer an option and I had very limited time to find another solution.

Luckily, Utica offered a fully-online cybersecurity program, and it was the last day to apply. I quickly got all my documents in and was very relieved to hear I was accepted into the program the next day. Because of the rush to apply, I did not have time to research the multiple focuses of the program and ended up picking one at random.

This leads me into piece of advice #1: Make sure you are in a program you enjoy!

Seems simple, right? It should be easy to determine what major you’re most interested in and go into it, although I’ve heard many times stories of people being afraid or

College is the perfect time to experiment. Try different classes you might be interested in and don’t be worried about changing majors once or twice if you find you’re not as dedicated or the reality of the major isn’t exactly what you expected– that’s all completely normal!

Advice #2 is that your mental health is important.

Although it can feel overwhelming sometimes, or even terrifying to take a day off, or talk to a professor about submitting an assignment late, it’s almost always worth it to take time for yourself to avoid burnout. All professors and instructors are human and 9 out of 10 times will be more than willing to work with you and determine what steps can be taken to accommodate. Obviously this is something that needs to be done in moderation, and not abused, but it will not be the end of the world if a couple classes are missed.

Since graduating, I have been very fortunate to get promoted to Information Security Analyst at Northern Safety and even had to run security for the company when the only other security associate left. Utica was an outstanding university to prepare me for my career.

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/Photo: Diana Sidorevich

UTICA

FEATURES

Campus greenhouse: photo gallery

Looking towards the exterior entrance and exit of the greenhouse near Addison Miller White Hall.

Plants stand in the window against the structure of the greenhouse.

Two pairs of boots reside in the middle of the greenhouse.

Succulents occupy a significant amount of space along the left side of the greenhouse.

Photos by Alex Leland

FEATURES

Campus greenhouse: photo gallery

The outside of the greenhouse and the Isaac Gordon Science Center.

Empty pots sit on the floor of the greenhouse.

Succulents occupy a significant amount of space along the left side of the greenhouse.

Photos by Alex Leland

Field Hockey Q&A: Emily Frank

◊ BRADY BARNARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Emily Frank is a junior midfielder from Johnstown, New York on the Utica Women’s Field Hockey team. In 2020, Frank played in 5 games and in 2021, she logged in at 19 games played with 4 assists, all of which led to victories in important games for the team.

Currently, Frank has a career total of 1,031 minutes played and on Sept. 9 she was in the starting line up against Morrisville, which lead to Utica winning 4-0 in their second game of the season. Frank is expected to continue to make an impact and help Utica Women’s Field Hockey reach playoffs once again this year. The Tangerine sat down with Emily Frank to gain insight on her Field Hockey career and to get information on the rest of the fall season.

Q: When did you start playing field hockey, and why did you start playing?

A: I started playing in 4th grade when my school started the youth program. I played soccer at the time but wanted to do something

different. My Mom and my aunts played so I thought I would try it out.

Q: What position do you play, and why do you think that is the best place for you?

A: I play Mid, I used to play defense but I wanted to get more involved. I feel that I can contribute more to the team as a midfielder.

Q: What expectations do you have for your team this year?

A: We had 9 freshmen come in, so we are rebuilding our team. We’re all from different

programs and used to different styles of play so it will take time to get used to each other. I hope we can improve individually and as a team. We made the finals last year, so I think we can do it again, but hopefully win this year.

Q: Regarding the game against Morrisville, what do you think went well and helped you achieve a 4-0 victory?

A: We are still adjusting to our new team, but this game we had good communication, we were connecting our

passes and worked out the kinks. We made some positioning adjustments, improved our cuts, did better doubling the ball and supporting each other, we were all more confident with using our stick skills.We had 17 corners and created a lot of chances to score.

The Utica field hockey team will be playing at Washington and Jefferson College on Friday, Sept. 24 at noon. The rest of the season’s schedule can be found on uticapioneers.com.

Pictutred is Emily Frank, #18 Field Hockey Player /Photo: Utica Field Hockey Instagram

Utica football: get to know James Brown

◊ GRACE MONACO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

James Brown is a sophomore studying Communications and Media with a concentration in Sports Broadcasting. He is also a wide receiver for the Utica football team. His goal after graduation is to pursue a career as a Sports Analyst for a big corporation.

Football has been a large part of Brown’s life because he’s grown up playing. He started playing football when he was about five years old. Ever since then, his love and passion for the sport have continued to grow.

As busy as his schedule is, Brown acknowledges the importance of staying on top of everything. He strives to perform well not only during a game but outside of it too. He likes to keep up with school, life and football simultaneously.

When asked about his feelings for this season, Brown shares his excitement. He is looking forward to another season playing for the Pioneers.

“We have a lot of good players coming back,” he said. “I’m really hoping to win the Empire Championship and to go out there and win some games.”

Reflecting on last year’s football season, the Pioneers faced a few difficult opponents. At the end of the season, the team was 6-5, but they’re ready for a comeback. Since last year, Brown confidently notes that the team has come back stronger and has grown.

Upcoming Games

Utica Football travels to Union College on Sept. 24 @ 1p.m.

The team seems confident about the challenges ahead.

Brown shared a story from the past that has changed his perspective on life and the game. When he was in the seventh grade, he fractured his back playing football. This was a discouraging time and resulted in him missing out on an entire season.

The following year, he was cleared to return to football. He then completely broke his back while playing basketball.

Brown was told he could paralyze himself if he continued to play sports. This pushed him to want to play even more. As terrible as these injuries were, he views them positively.

“It was a test for me to overcome myself,” Brown said. “I not only grew as a football player, but I also grew as a person.”

Brown reflects on this story and is appreciative of it. The time away from football gave him the opportunity to learn more about himself as well as his interests. It allowed him to become the player he is today.

Brown offers words

of advice and encouragement to potential Pioneers that are interested in playing football. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to feel like you have to be the best. Just go out there and have fun.” At the end of the day, football is all about having fun and enjoying your time as a Pioneer.

As the Homecoming game approaches, Utica will play Hartwick College Hawks. Last season, the Pioneers defeated the Hawks 16-10 in a relatively close game. Brown has a good feeling about playing them again.

“We’re definitely not going to take them for granted,” Brown said. “We’re also not going to let all of the Homecoming excitement distract us. We’re just going to play our game.”

You can catch the Pioneers face the Hawks on Saturday, Oct. 1. The game will start at 1 p.m. at home. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for non Utica students. Admission is free for those that chose to bring a non-perishable food item for Feed Our Vets.

Mens Soccer hosts Medaille University on Sept. 24 @ 1p.m.

Womens Soccer hosts Medaille University Sept. 24 @ 4 p.m.

Womens Volleyball hosts St. John Fisher on Sept. 23 @ 5 p.m

Utica Football hosts Hartwick in conference

Homecoming game on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.

An official headshot of James Brown. /Photo: uticapioneers.com