Friday, September 9, 2022 Print Edition

President Casamento to retire after the 2022-23 academic year

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

◊ HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

On Monday, Aug. 22, Laura Casamento announced in a campuswide email that she will be retiring from her position as President of Utica University on July 31, 2023 after careful consideration with her family.

“Throughout my time as a member of this community, and particularly during these past six, I have been fortunate and grateful to have your support, both personally and professionally,” Casamento said. “Through it all, this community has risen to the challenge and supported each other. For that, I cannot put into words my appreciation for all of you.”

Casamento interviewed for the position in early 2016 and has been located in the president’s office for the past 6 years. She was Utica’s first female president.

During this time, she helped establish the current 5-year Strategic Plan, which the college is almost half way through, and guided the transition of Utica from college to an official university.

“A key priority of President Casamento’s tenure has been to improve student outcomes, the quality of the student experience, and affordability,” Board Chair Robert Brevnik ’77 said. “Through several innovative programs such as the four-year guarantee and the tuition reset, our sixyear graduation rate has

significantly improved, while student debt has decreased by 30%, on average, at graduation.”

Also during this time several buildings had been renamed and the science center was built.

“During Casamento’s tenure, the university received its largest bequest, a $2.3 million gift from the Lotis B. Howland trust,” according to an article from the Observer Dispatch.

“A $2.8 million endowment, announced in 2020, founded the Institute for the Study of Integrative Healthcare.”

A transition plan has been shared with the Board of Trustees detailing goals and targets for the next year. Students will hear from Board

As the semester progresses students will continue to hear more about the ongoing presidential search.

Student on the Street: Students react to Casamento’s recently announced retirement

“I think that it’s good that Laura Casamento is going to take some time for herself and for her family. It’s always good to focus on yourself and what is needed in your life. Your job isn’t everything, however, it’s good that change can be brought to a school and refreshment is good. I wish I would be a student here to see that change because I would love to have seen some change here to benefit while I was a student … I feel like the school has a lot of flaws financially, academically, socially. Institutionally, there are a lot of flaws that need to be fixed that are long overdue and have been overlooked, ignored and violated. I feel like this chance could respect and bring justice to kids who need it and I wish I could experience that.”

—Gigi Demir, Sociology/Anthropology senior.

“I was surprised, because she has been a part of Utica for the four years that I have been here. I was part of student government for the first couple of years and would see her directly in those. I think it was a really positive experience from every interaction I have had with her and just seeing what is happening around campus. I mean, we became a University under her.”

—Christa Fransman, Education senior.

“Through her time here at Utica University, [Casamento] has done a tremendous amount of work to strengthen the campus community in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion and student voice. That said, being deeply committed is appreciated and it shows that within the pioneer family it is at a great time for Utica University to transfer its leadership with a new president coming in in the future. It’s a time for new development and new voices to be at the table. It is a great time to strengthen the pioneer family even more.”

—Kyle Mitchell, Criminal Justice sophomore.

“Casamento leaving sounds like there is going to be a major change happening on campus, but we don’t really know a lot on the situation. I really like how Utica is run and she is pretty well, hopefully not a lot will change with her leaving because I really liked my time here.”

— NIcholas Visconti, Education/Liberal Studies senior.

Chair Robert Brevnik ‘77 regarding the presidential search.

President Laura Casemento gives remarks. /Photo: Alex Leland

Fall 2022 STAFF

Editor-In-Chief - Isa Hudziak

Managing Editor - Hollie David

Features Editor - Mickale Thompson

@UticaTangerine

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Debt forgiveness: what this means for students

◊ HOLLIE DAVID MANAGING EDITOR

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, President Joe Biden announced the potential for a student loan debt relief program broken into three parts that will affect potentially millions of students and loan holders across the nation.

This debt forgiveness program will forgive between $10,000 and $20,000 for loan holders depending on financial situations and amounts held in loans. A sizable number of Utica University students may be impacted by this decision. The first part of the program is the final extension of the interest freeze currently in place for federal loans. For students at the university, this means that anyone who has unsubsidized federal loans which are dispersed will finally start to accrue interest whereas they have not been currently.

Second is the mass student debt forgiveness which will directly affect those who currently hold federal loans. Amounts of forgiveness that students will receive depends on what type of financial aid has been received throughout their college tenures. Students who receive Pell Grants, which make up around 60% of the student population according to an article by CNBC, can receive up to the full $20,000.

To find out if you received a Pell Grant, the information can be found through Bannerweb when looking at financial aid breakdown received in

this and previous academic years.

In addition to students receiving forgiveness it is also noted in the plan that parent Plus Loans will qualify under the program.

“That includes Direct Stafford Loans and all Direct subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans. Under the Direct program, Parent Plus and Grad Loans are also eligible for the relief,” the CNBC article said.

The third phase of the this plan is to lessen the burden on future and current borrowers with a decrease in the amount that will be owed each month, lessen the potential burden of interest if monthly payments are being made and allow for potential forgiveness on federal loans after 10 years of payments according to the White House website.

Across campus consensus seems to be excitement surrounding the thought of loan forgiveness and a less strenuous debt load after

graduation.

“I think it will have a positive impact on society as student debt is crushing many,” psychology major Sarah Dziegiel said. “The cost of living is going up and getting out of school with a cloud of debt attached to you is debilitating. Hopefully, this can be a step in the right direction.”

The largest focus from students seemed to be the long term effect of giving more people the ability to go to college and the hope that this will motivate others to try for higher education.

“When I found out I thought it was a hugely positive thing,” Kayden Lamphere, an English education dual major, said. “I haven’t looked into it myself quite much yet but I know it is definitely something that is going to help out a lot of people and I am very excited. Some people don’t attend college because of the financial woes it might bring, a good opportunity.”

While there is a lot of positive

buzz on campus about the plan, there are still questions regarding details of the plan that have been made clear to the public yet. A large one is how financially this will impact the country and if it will have some sort of effect on taxes.

“Having this program already might make more people come to college and want a better education,” Lamphere said. “I know there is a big question around taxpayer money, but personally knowing it will help so many more people attend college is worth it to me.”

Besides potential financial effects there is also the question of forgiveness beyond federal loans.

“The only thing I wonder is if there will be anything for those who have a majority of their debt in private loans,” Dziegiel said. “I personally know a lot of students whose parents on paper make a decent middle-class living therefore they do not receive a lot of government aid or loans causing them to have to resort to private loans in order to pay for their education.”

At this moment there is no forgiveness in place though this plan will impact privatized education loans held by students.

“I didn’t need to know all of the logistics to feel happy about even a fraction of the weight of student debt possibly being lifted,” Dziegiel said. “After reading up about it, I am grateful our country is starting to recognize the crisis of student debt.”

Financial aid information just a click away. /Photo: Hollie David

Incoming first-years: increase or still declining?

◊ CHARLES BUCKLEY TANGERINE CLERK

More than 400 freshmen have matriculated to Utica University, but enrollment rates are still on the decline.

“Enrollment is not up even though we are starting to come out of the pandemic.” Senior VP of Student Life and Enrollment Management Jeffrey Gates said. “Enrollment is down nationally by four million students and in the northeast that number is more exacerbated by the shift in population to the southern states during the height of the pandemic.”

According to Gates, many local schools have seen a drop of 40-50% enrollment in the past couple of years, which he attributes to the pandemic. Despite this, he said there is a small uptick in applications for fall 2023.

Despite modest numbers of incoming freshmen, some departments are still seeing a sizable number of students entering their programs.

“We’ve had around 30 to 37 new students join us this year,” Professor of Practice

and Criminal Justice Robert Swenszkowski said. “While it’s not as much as previous years before COVID-19, it’s still a good amount.”

Swenszkowski believes that low enrollment could be the result of any number of factors. He pointed to tensions between law enforcement and the public in recent years as a factor specifically affecting his department.

“I believe the number of students will rise back to normal, it will just take time,” Swenszkowski said. “At the end of the day, enrollment is enrollment. I’m happy to see

any student join our major and department.”

Many departments have also talked about gaining new students. The political science department says that even with low incoming students, they strive to work hard.

“As a department, we’re working hard to stay very active and offer great extracurricular activities for our students even with the University’s overall low enrollments,” the Chair of the Utica University Department of Political Science Daniel Tagliarina said.

According to Tagliarina,

traveling is becoming available again. They are allowed to make plans for students to go on trips to cities such as Boston around the time of the Northeast’s Political Science Association Conference. He also went on to state that one of the biggest challenges with low enrollment is offering a variety of classes.

“The administration has become increasingly strict with cutting classes with fewer than 10 students,” Tagliarina said. “Small enrollments mean small classes, but rather than lean into this as a selling point of the personalized attention my department does so well, we’ve been forced to lose some of that with cuts to classes.”

According to Tagliarina, the best way to begin solving the problems involving low enrollment is to use smaller class sizes depending on the course.

“Small classes should be our way to bridge the gap between enrollments and giving students the best possible experiences,” Tagliarina said.

The updated Utica University sign on the corner of Burrstone Road and Champlin Ave. as the sun sets. /Photo: Alex Leland

Tree ceremony honors deceased students and faculty

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Beneath the autumn sky and through a gentle breeze, members of the Utica University community gathered along the lawn between Strebel Circle and Boehlert Hall on Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. to partake in a tree dedication ceremony held for those lost during the 2021-22 academic year.

Four trees stand tall along the green of Lot C across from Boehlert’s sidewalk. Cloth had been placed upon the plaques embedded into the ground to be unveiled later in the ceremony.

Behind a podium placed across the trees, President Laura Casamento delivered remarks in remembrance of Alyssa Parrino, John Paul “JP” Ramel, Coach Mike Parnell and Professor Jim Scannell.

Parrino ‘22 was a Psychology-Child Life major who aspired to become a certified child life specialist and dedicated member of the Psychology-Child Life Society who participated in and helped plan several fundraising events for the community.

“Despite the many challenges she faced during a long-fought battle with leukemia, she persisted in her studies at Utica and wanted nothing more than to help others,” Casamento said.

Ramel ‘22, a Construction Management major, served as Utica’s Student Contractors Association president for 3 years. He volunteered at the Plumstead Volunteer Fire Company and was a mutual aid volunteer for the New York Mills Fire Department.

“He also volunteered

with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a not-for-profit that builds and delivers beds to children without them,” Casamento said. “And I know that [Sleep in Heavenly Peace] is a notfor-profit that has become near and dear to so many of our hearts.”

Coach Mike Parnell, an ‘02 alum, was the men’s lacrosse coach. He was a founding member of Utica’s lacrosse program.

“[He] had a deep love and respect for our institution, its mission, and most of all, its people,” Casasmento said. “Both on and off the field, [he] coached with incredible energy and passion, earning him the praise of generations of our student-athletes.”

Professor Jim Scannell taught English literature for over 20 years at Utica, including introductory courses for the English

major and specialized literature courses.

“Jim touched the lives of thousands of our students,” Casamento said. “With his boundless humor, intelligence, and humanity, he was truly one of our guiding lights.”

Moments before the unveiling of the plaques, Casamento addressed the crowd for anyone to come to the podium and offer remarks. Instead, the crowd held a moment of silence for the four lives being honored.

One by one, Casamento peeled back the cloths to reveal the plaques with the help of four others from the major or sport that belonged to the honored:

Assistant Professor of Construction Management Audrey Cross for Ramel’s plaque.

Assistant Professor of Psychology-Child Life Melissa Racioppa for Parrino’s plaque.

Women’s Lacrosse Coach Kristin St. Hilaire aided Casamento to reveal Coach Parnell’s plaque.

Professor Scannell’s memorial plaque was revealed by Distinguished Professor of English Gary Leising and Casamento.

“They planted their roots here within our University community,” Casamento said. “They made our campus a more beautiful place to be. And now, in their honor, these trees will do the same.”

Faculty, Staff, Community members and students gather around the tree dedicated to James Scannell.

Photo: Alex Leland

◊ ALEX LELAND PHOTOGRAPHER

From top left to bottom left: Alyssa Parrino

John Paul “JP” Ramel

Members of the University take a moment to remember those who have passed

From top right to bottom right: Faculty, Staff, Community members and students gather around the tree dedicated to James Scannell

James “Jim” Scannell

Mike Parnell

New office in Strebel for the Student Government Association

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON FEATURES EDITOR

The Ralph F. Strebel Student Center is renowned as the heart of campus for Utica University students and contains a variety of resources and entertainment opportunities. The change of the 24/7 computer lab to an SGA office caught the attention of students on campus.

According to Assoc. Provost and Vice President for Information Technology Matthew Carr, it was a twopronged decision to take the Strebel 102 computer lab offline.

First, the software application run by the integrated technology information service contains statistics of how many computers are being logged into and a given time through the day. Second, with the advent of access control on all the academic buildings in the last couple of years, the institution this fall will make academic buildings available to students around the clock 24/7.

The decision to move the lab was based on how many computers were being used at a specific time.

“We found that over time, usage in the Strebel 102 lab student center has really decreased,” Carr said. “At any given time we would see no more than three computers in use. It became clear to us that the amount of space being utilized for a computer lab was no longer necessary for the needs being demonstrated by the students. We wanted to look at other ways to utilize the needed space while not removing access to computer resources for students.”

Knowing that the student body as a whole needs computer resources the alternative was to have computer labs available in the academic buildings.

“Any student that is currently enrolled can take their ID card to any building with a computer lab on campus except for the residence hall as long as there’s not a class taking place they have access to those resources,” Carr said.

“At the same time, we wanted to make sure because Strebel is a building where students can congregate, it was important that we kept some computer access on the second floor where students who only need quick access can use the two computers we have there. The number is chosen specifically because of the usage statistics.”

Now that the space is now an office for SGA, many wonder if the space will be used more effectively as opposed to when it was a computer lab.

“One of the things we’ve talked about with the SGA President Colby was to make the Strebel student center more of an opportunity for student organizations and for students to have fun and have the spaces dedicated for that reason,” Carr said.

“This allowed us to help with that innovation and push the academic work and resources to the academic buildings. Again we’re not taking away we’re adding more opportunities so both student activities and organizations in Strebel and academic activities in the academic buildings themselves.”

The decision to turn the Strebel computer lab into an SGA office, formerly located across from the health center, would cause many changes in Strebel.

“It wasn’t a decision to just relocate the SGA office; it played into the bigger

reshuffling of all the offices in the Strebel Building,” said President of the Student Government Association, Colby Kusinitz. “To the best of my knowledge, the reason the computer lab was able to go offline was that, and once again to the best of my understanding, the main use of the lab was for people to print. This was determined by Dr. Matthew Carr. Because of this, we felt that in order to help the larger population and to allow this shuffle to happen, it was best to take the room offline.”

According to Kusintz, it was a command decision made internally by his team and the other stakeholders in Strebel and approval of the Space Committee to choose the Strebel 102 lab as the new office space.

“One of the main reasons, in my opinion, was the counselor center,” Kusinitz said. “There was a counselor in the SLCE office, and the only way they could see patients was if the patient walked through the SLCE office, and that is awkward when everyone is there. That was the main reason the counseling center needed quite a confidential space to work. Student living wanted to be close together instead of having two offices between them. This shift was remedied by putting two computers and printers outside of WPNR and the eight other computer labs on campus so if students need to print, they can. I think, overall, this was a logical progression in

the development of Strebel.”

The new SGA office is an upgrade from its previous location and many hope that it will benefit SGA and the work they do.

“A lot of our members and myself spend time in the office and the camaraderie, trust and the relationships that are built here translate into better events, people wanting to come and work the event,” Kusinitz said. “For everyone to have a space where they can hangout and have access you can’t beat or recreate that. We’re like a team or a club but our work affects the entire school. I’m under the belief that my SGA is a fun SGA as we do anything to improve the student experience and have fun.”

Student issues are at the top of SGA priority and this office will aid in that process.

“We also make sure we focus on the issues that affect the school because as much as the majority is the majority you can’t forget the minority,” Kusinitz said. “However I also don’t think it’s right to only focus on the minority issue and not the majority. It is important for this SGA to have a balance and having the space where other clubs and leaders communicate and plan events is a set in the right direction.”

According to junior cybersecurity major Melhea Gachette, the office will improve student life because it is a bigger, a well known location and it will encourage more students to converse with student leaders.

Other students are welcoming to the new change and believe it will benefit students in the return.

“I can see the new chance benefiting students,” senior sociology and anthropology major Gigi Demir said. “There is now more space for the health and wellness center, which means more services for students that need counseling, to see a nurse or doctor, or are feeling unwell. Our mental and physical health come first.”

Communications Director Erin Taylor ‘24 and Comptroller and Class of 2023 President Katelyn Calkins ‘23 using the conference table in the SGA Lounge. /Photo: Alex Leland

Concerts, poetry, and much more: the Jackson Lunch Hour Series

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When the workweek hits a lull on Wednesday afternoons, Utica University community members are encouraged to take a break by listening to music or literary readings as part of the Professor Harry F. and Mary Ruth Jackson Lunch Hour Series.

Beginning at 12:30 p.m., musical performances are held in the Library Concourse while literary readings are performed in Macfarlane Auditorium in DePerno Hall. The fall season will begin on Sept. 21.

The series has been a staple for Utica University for over 40 years and continues to introduce the student body to modern authors and musicians.

History

During the early 1970s, the Social Cultural Committee brought musicians to Utica to perform in the Ralph F. Strebel Student Center. The series, established officially in the spring of 1978, was born from a desire to offer the campus community an opportunity for socialization and a mental decompress with the arts.

Professor of History Harry F. Jackson and his wife Mary Ruth donated a sizable amount of money to Utica University in 1992 to fund the series. In honor of this donation, the series was renamed the Harry F. and Mary Ruth Jackson Lunch Hour Series.

When the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world in 2020, the Lunch Hour Series was rebroadcast on Utica Pioneer’s WPNR 90.7 FM radio station at 1 p.m to make the performances more accessible.

Currently, musical performances are uploaded to Utica University’s YouTube and literary readings are available on SoundCloud.

Upcoming Music Events

The music director of the

Lunch Hour Series is adjunct lecturer of music Lynne Ferrara, who hopes to diversify future performances and promote performing arts.

“I am looking to bring in more culturally diverse musical performances, one of which being a latin jazz ensemble,” Ferrara said.

This season, familiar faces such as Monk Rowe, who is accompanied by John Hutson, and the Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet are returning to the Library Concourse this semester on Sept. 21 and Oct. 5 respectively.

Along with this, the campus community can attend a musical theatre masterclass on Oct. 21, which will feature students from Utica University‘s choir.

“We have a very talented student population,” Ferrara said. “The masterclass is an opportunity to support our students’ artistic achievements, prepare them for future pursuits within the musical arts and to continue to encourage campus engagement and growth in performing arts.”

Further performances will include Steven Heyman on piano, the Finger Lakes Trio, the Utica University String Ensemble directed by Tina Oyer Ponce, the Utica University Concert Band directed by Michael J. DiMeo and the Utica University Choir directed by Ferrara and accompanied by Alane Varga. Dates are listed on the Lunch Hour Series webpage

of the university’s website. Upcoming Literary Readings

Poetry and fiction writers have been invited by codirectors of literary readings Associate Professor of English Elizabeth Threadgill and Instructor of English James Knippen.

According to Knippen, a major facet of the Lunch Hour Series in recent years has been to bring literary representation to the diverse communities in our local region.

“Utica University is located within a community of immigrants and refugees,” Knippen said. “We have also sought to diversify our reading series to include veterans, Indigenous authors, authors with experience in addiction/ recovery, authors from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, and authors writing in multiple genres.” These readings have been met with positive feedback from the student population and, for some, a personal connection.

“We’ve heard from students and community members that sometimes this reading series is their first time seeing someone who looks like them, or someone with a similar background, who is in a position of power and success,” Knippen said.

Utica University will host fiction writer Richard Santos via Zoom on Oct. 19, poet Dan Rosenburg on Sept. 28 and poet Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach during the special

Thursday evening event at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 27.

“Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach is a Jewish refugee from Ukraine. As the war in Ukraine continues, Julia’s visit is not only timely but necessary,” Threadgill said. “As President Casamento and Provost Pfannestiel remind us in our University’s statement on the war and refugee crisis in Ukraine, our campus serves many students, staff, faculty, and community members with Slavic heritage, so Julia’s visit is representative of the experiences many in our community have had. My hope is that Julia’s visit will help our campus community to learn about and from Julia’s experiences as a Jewish refugee from Ukraine.”

Why should students attend?

“To me, as a teacher of poetry, students get a reminder that poetry is a living art,” said Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Jason Denman, who performed a piano recital during the pandemic for the series.

Students familiar with the Jackson Lunch Hour Series understand the importance of being exposed to the arts and artistic expressions.

“One aspect of the series that excites me is when students who believe that they do not enjoy poetry or fiction attend a Lunch Hour reading and leave with a newfound or renewed interest in the insight and entertainment that good literature provides,” Knippen said.

The official banner of the Jackson Lunch Hour Series. /Photo: utica.edu

◊ GRACE MONACO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Buckle up, and get ready for a memorable weekend, Pioneers. Homecoming is finally back at Utica after a two-year hiatus.

Homecoming will be a three day long event from Friday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 2. Current students, alumni, friends and families are invited to participate in athletic events, dedications, receptions and more. There will be a wide variety of activities to get involved in with friendly fun in store for all ages.

Starting on Friday, Sept. 30, the Women’s Tennis team faces Houghton College on the Utica tennis courts at 3:30 p.m. Friday evening, there will be a Club Football Reunion Dinner at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All club football alumni are invited to attend and celebrate. The cost is $50, which includes dinner and drinks.

The excitement continues on campus with the Carnival Under the Stars and the Cabaret. The carnival will take place on the back lawn of Strebel and it will include rides, games, cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones and more. The carnival will run

HOMECOMING RETURNS TO UTICA

Utica will play Hartwick at 1 p.m. at the Gaetano Stadium. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for non Utica students. Free admission for those who bring a non-perishable food item for Feed Our Vets. This is an opportunity for the Pioneers to come out and cheer for the football team.

During the game there will be a free Build Your Own Sundae station available.

Students have expressed excitement about the return of homecoming and the athletics being featured.

“I’m mostly looking forward to the football game,” said Leah Easton, a junior majoring in Sports Management. “I’m excited because it’ll be my most normal homecoming so far. We don’t have to worry about masks or COVID restrictions.”

from 7 - 11 p.m. Friday night, and 4 - 7 p.m. Saturday night. This event is free for all ages.

The Theater Department will host the Cabaret on Friday night from 7 - 9 p.m. in the Strebel Auditorium. Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to sing, dance and perform in the auditorium.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, the action kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with the Construction Management Tailgate Party. This will be outside of Thurston Hall and is a free event. Guests are encouraged to attend and enjoy home style BBQ, gumbo, live music and more.

At 11 a.m., the pregame Tailgate Party and Family Fun Tents begins. It will be located at the Burrstone Road Entrance and the cost is $10. This event will pump everyone up for the big game that afternoon. There will be face painting, balloons, a coloring table and even Trax the Moose will be there to take selfies.

The menu will consist of all beef hot dogs, veggie burgers, sides and beverages.

Saranac Root Beer is included, as well as Utica Club draft beers and wine. The Utica University radio station, WPNR 90.7, will play music and hype up the crowd.

Saturday’s events also include a 75th anniversary reception for Utica’s student newspaper, The Tangerine. The event is free for current students and $10 for other attendees. This fun event, located in the Library Concourse, is an opportunity for The Tangerine and public relations/journalism alumni to reconnect and reminisce.

Wrapping up the weekend, on Sunday, Oct. 2 there will be an Alumni Awards Breakfast held in the Clark Gym. Breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m. and is $40 per person. All are welcome to join, however seating is limited.

Along with sports, students are looking forward to the festivities and social events.

“I’m most excited for the Carnival Under The Stars,” sophomore education major said. “I feel that it’s a great opportunity for the whole school to come together and take a step back from school work and life. It’s also a way for our University to stand out.”

More information and registration for all of the events is available now at utica.edu/ homecoming.

UTICA ALUMNI COLUMN MEGAN PLETE POSTOL GUEST ALUM

When I came to Utica’s campus as a transferring junior in the Public Relations and Journalism program, one of the first classes I signed up for was the Tangerine practicum.

I learned a lot during that semester. The first week I was pretty much clueless about journalism. I did not know how to structure a new story. I was terrified of approaching sources. I was intimidated by AP Style.

By the end of the semester I had formed a solid understanding, based on the experience I had gained in the Tangerine course.

The Tangerine opened doors for me that changed the course of my life. After that first semester I joined the Tangerine as an editor. That position gave me experience that landed me my first internship, at a weekly newspaper that later turned into my job after graduation. That job led to the position I have now, as a Features Reporter with the Daily Sentinel and as a freelance journalist with several other publications.

My favorite memories of my time with the Tangerine were Wednesday afternoons in the lab. All of the editors were there doing their work. There was always plenty of laughter, a lot of learning as we went, and maybe even a little bit of tears.

The Tangerine has the power to open doors for other students, too. It is a way to practice the skills that will be needed in a realworld job, such as interviewing, meeting deadlines, and coordinating with others. It has given generations of Utica students hands-on experience, the courage to tackle the workforce confidently, and the determination to never stand still.

New SVA center unveiled at ribbon cutting ceremony

◊ ALEX LELAND PHOTOGRAPHER

From top left to bottom left: The entrance for the SVA Lounge and Resource Center Dylan Thompson (President of the Student Veterans of America) before the ribbon cutting Anthony Baird and Dylan Thompson holding gift

From top right to bottom right: Interim Assistant Dean of Students and Campus Life, Rich Racioppa gives remarks Anthony Baird Presents gift to Dylan Thompson Veterans in the audience join take part in the ribbon cutting

Ziobrowski named new Sports Information Director

◊ ISA HUDZIAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Upon entering the Clark Athletic Center, a student may notice a row of offices to the left of the entrance with nameplates visible on wooden doors. One such nameplate and door belongs to Adam Ziobrowski, a 2020 Utica University alum and the new Director of Sports Information.

On Aug. 9, the former Sports Information Director Laurel Simer finished her last day after 10 years working for Utica. After less than a month of searching, Ziobrowski was hired for the position.

“Adam’s jumped right into it,” Director of Athletics Dave Fontaine said. “He has taken charge. He is responsible, he is excited, he has the knowledge and skill sets, so we’re really excited to have him in that role. We’re fortunate. He has all of my confidence, and not just me.”

Rotterdam native Ziobrowski is an avid sports fan who played football in high school but has since stepped away from playing the game. He chose Utica University, then Utica College, to attend because he loved the environment and began classes in 2016. Throughout his time as a

student, Ziobrowski worked as WPNR 90.7 FM Sports Broadcasting Manager and later as an intern at the Sports Information Department in 2019. He graduated during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic with a B.S. in Sports Journalism and in 2021, he returned to Utica University as a graduate assistant under Simer.

“I always knew I wanted a career in sports,” Ziobrowski said. “For me, it wasn’t exactly knowing what I wanted to do–after playing, you kind of have a void you need to fill, so after high school, I was looking at the options of how to stay in tune

with athletics.”

The position of Sports Information Director encompasses several skillsets and demands more than a 9-5 job. Ziobrowski is the liaison between athlete’s coaches and the media for interviews, photos and more. He and his team are also responsible for writing pre and post game articles, press releases, coordinating sponsorships and running Utica Pioneers’ social media.

A major facet of the position is communication with stakeholders and assistants to make sure information is put out smoothly.

“[There’s] a lot of behind the scenes things,” Fontaine said. “It’s a big production and people wouldn’t know.”

A mantra for the new Sports Information Director, who has many responsibilities behind the scenes, is: “day by day”, in which he creates a daily checklist and refuses to overthink things.

“The way I see it, this is my job, this is what I’m doing and I love what I’m doing and that’s all I really care about right now,” Ziobrowski said.

According to Ziobrowski, one of the most rewarding aspects

of working in Utica Athletics is being able to watch athletes grow.

“It’s getting to watch the athletes come through,” he said. “The freshmen that were here when I came in are juniors now, so getting to see their careers take center stage and unfold, I think that’s really cool for me.”

In his free time, Ziobrowski cheers on the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and Green Bay Packers. When he’s not watching sports, he can be found laughing at comedy shows or hiking during the summer.

However, during the academic year, Ziobrowski leads information efforts for all 26 of Utica’s NCAA Division III sports.

“When you go to uticapioneers. com, those write-ups come from either myself or two other people, the social media posts come from myself or two other people,” Ziobrowski said. “The reason these coaches have stats are because of SIDs, the reason that they can have cool photoshoots is because of SIDs. Everything that our teams can do, besides buying apparel and playing the game, comes from us. [Everybody in the industry] works our tails off.”

Utica Pioneers secure a win in the 2022 Believe Bowl.

Photo: Utica Pioneers Instagram

Photo: uticapioneers.com

Utica Esports update: arena in construction

◊ JACK BODNAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Over the summer, Utica University introduced an esports program that was met with excitement from the community.

Large numbers of students, especially freshmen, have shown immediate interest in joining the program. The transformation of Carbone Auditorium in Bull Hall to an esports arena has been underway and the construction is expected to be finished soon.

“The work is ongoing, however, the flooring was installed just this week,” said Vice President for Information Technology, Matthew Carr. “We can expect the auditorium to be finished the week prior to homecoming.”

The equipment purchased for the arena includes two

rows of gaming PCs and 6 gaming console stations. The arena will also include a commentators booth for the variety of competitions the university will hold for this new program, which can be a starting point for students interested in broadcasting. Participating Utica students are encouraged to stream or create content with their own games to help develop a platform. While Utica Esports can help students get exposure and build their own personal brands, the priority when joining the program is promoting growth for Utica esports as a whole Anyone that streams or represents Utica University will be recognized as Utica University Esports Athlete. There are no limitations on who can join this program as there are a variety of different careers that can

all be built off of esports, such as commentating, content creation, or media production.

According to Director of Esports Daniel Sportello, he is trying to find a way to involve students from all of Utica’s numerous programs. “These are all avenues that

can land you jobs in the esports industry and I firmly believe that our program has the structure to expand on this,” Sportello said. “In time, it would be nice to see us adopt and offer esportsrelated college courses as those are beginning to trend across the country.”

Photo: utica.edu

Q&A with men’s soccer player Byan Mugushu

my soccer career I’ve dealt with high expectations, I can handle it. I’ve been working hard, the way that I play will back up those high expectations. It motivates me and I believe it was well deserved.

Q: Regarding the game on Thursday against the Cazenovia Wildcats, what do you think went well and helped you guys achieve a 4-1 victory?

think the reason for this is?

A: I personally think when our class came in it changed our team. We all have love for the game and that shows in the way that we play. We all put in time even when we’re not at practice and since we’ve been here we’ve encouraged the rest of the team to do the same. We push each other to go to the dome whenever we can to get extra training.

◊ BRADY BARNARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Byan Mugushu is a junior forward on the Utica Men’s Soccer team. In 2020, he logged in 3 games played with 1 assist and in the following year he had an impressive 17 games played, 4 goals, 3 assist, and an outstanding 1,096 minutes played.

These records gave Mugushu a spot on the all tournament team and labeled him as Utica’s “player to watch” for this upcoming fall season. So far, Utica Men’s Soccer has played one game on Sept. 1 and he has already managed to add a goal and an assist to his stats.

Since his arrival at Utica University, Mugushu has been an integral part of Utica’s offense and is expected to do big things for the team this year.

The Tangerine sat down with Mugushu to gain insight about his career and to get his thoughts about the upcoming season.

Q: As a dual sport athlete in highschool, what made you choose soccer over basketball in college?

A: It was a tough decision, I didn’t decide until junior year, I was good at both

and basketball was almost my choice. I had options for both but in the end I found that I enjoyed soccer the most and it would be the best choice athletically and for my education.

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

A: I play in attacking positions because I feel like that’s the best and most fun position in soccer. My defending isn’t the best, I can when I have to but attacking is the most fun and I enjoy everything about it. It makes practice and games fun.

Q: How far do you think your team can go this season, and what goals do you have for them?

A: I think that we can go very far, last year we made it to the semi-finals and had a great run. This year we look even better and I have very high hopes. Coach did a perfect job recruiting and we picked up some great defenders and other pieces. Our main focus is to bring the championship home.

Q: How do you feel about being the “player to watch”?

A: Personally, it feels like a lot of pressure, but throughout

A: It was hard because we didn’t have much time to warm up, we started off scrappy, we got scored on first bringing the team’s energy down. Throughout the game we picked up what we were missing. Everyone on the team put in work. I scored a goal but it was called back for being offside. Our captain Cody Green came in clutch and tied up the game. This brought the energy way up and helped us do what we had to do. Our captain did his thing. I scored another one and he went on to get a second. And from there on we were good to relax and finish the game out.

Q: We’ve seen great improvement of the soccer program in the past few years, reaching play-offs last year and having an impressive overall record. What do you

Q: How has the team environment been and how has this affected the way you guys have been playing this year?

A: The environment has been electric, everybody on the team is like a brother. That’s the main thing a team can ask for in any sport. The connection starts outside of the field. From day one, we didn’t know the freshman and the new players, we were quick to build a connection and the way we support each other is going to make a huge impact on how we play.

Be on the lookout for Byan Mugushu and the rest of the Utica men’s soccer team as they work to keep winning and push for that Empire 8 championship title.

Byan Mugushu looks to keep the ball while under pressure against Suny Canton. /Photo: Kaitlyn Furner

Mugushu keeps the ball close as defenders look to close in.

/Photo: Kaitlyn Furner

Utica U football team: preview of the 2022-23 fall season

◊ EZEKIEL PRINCE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Aug. 10, the Utica football team welcomed their returning, transfer, and first year players to training camp for the first time. The new players were able to get acclimated with the team and developed for the start of the new season. Returners picked up where they left off after their 6-4 season and hoped to improve on that record. Transfer players are looking to integrate themselves with their new team members and coaching staff this year. The team goes up against Kean University on September 10 Entering his fifteenth season with the Utica Football, Team Head Coach Blaise Faggiano says that the team is healthy and with fewer injuries which is a positive for the team. The 147 team roster created a lot of depth for the team in a majority of positions such as: safety, wide receiver and running back. The roster created an advantage for the team, because of the variety of options.

According to Faggiano, the identity of the team is centered around being a family.

“This group of guys are really close,” Faggiano said. “There

are 31 seniors which makes our leadership strong. We went from a young team to a veteran team in one year.”

During the 2021-22 season, the team went 6-4 in the regular season and had an ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl appearance. The team is looking to have a successful year and continue to improve on their season record.

They had many notable players who contributed greatly to the program who graduated in the spring of 2022. Players such as Marquez Lott-Douglas, Kwasi Addo, Devin Bryant, Tim Hogan and Maki Medici were heavily involved throughout the season.

“The really strong football programs don’t replace players, we reload. In regards to the kicking component of our team, Corey Licthman has had a tremendous training camp at kicking off and field goal, it’s an open competition for punters,” Faggiano said. “Kwasi Addo left a great impact on the linebacker room, they are stepping up big time and guys on the defensive line like Jordan Weaver, John Stroughn, Mike Rollins, and Josh Powell, that room is deep.”

The team had four home games last season out of 10

during the Fall 2021 season. This season, the team will host six home games at the Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

The Pioneers will have conference games at home against SUNY Brockport and Cortland. The team faced Alfred University last season and lost 21-14 at Alfred in a close game. Utica will host Alfred University on Nov. 5 on Senior Day and GPO Federal Credit Union Sitrin Veteran’s Day game.

Having six home games this season is significant for the team as they look to capitalize on home field advantage.

“We paid the price last year with only having four home games, it will hopefully balance out next year,” Faggiano said. “Having six games at Gaetano Stadium [and] two night games is huge for our team.”

The Pioneers opened their season at home against the University of Rochester in the 5th annual Belive Bowl. The Pioneers continued their 13 year winning streak after beating RU 43-28 making it 14 straight opening games wins.

Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 10 matchup at 12 p.m. against Kean University at Gaetano Stadium

On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Pioneers travel to Western New England University for a 1 p.m. matchup

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Pioneers are at Union College for a 1 p.m. matchup

Pioneers return home to face Hartwick in a Homecoming matchup on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.

Crowded attendance at Utica home game. /Photo: Kayleigh Sturtevant