Kristin Haag named Vice President for Financial Affairs
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Concert Review: Pitbull brings the party to Syracuse
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Utica Football off to 1-1 start after Believe Bowl Victory
“It’s a team effort out there”; Campus Safety increases patrols after larceny reports
Nolan Hyman, Contributing Writer
After recent reports of vehicle larcenies, Campus Safety has increased their patrols on the Utica University campus, Associate Director of Campus Safety Jay LaFayette said. Occurring on or close to campus, parked and unattended motor vehicles have been the targets of these thefts. With “constant” patrols of the parking lots on campus, including Pioneer Village and the Athletic Dome area, Campus Safety would be able to deter them.
The thieves aren’t spending a lot of time breaking into the cars, LaFayette said. Instead, the cars are typically already unlocked for them to enter.
“You know, they’re quick,” he said. “We’re doing our best out there to keep track of the parking lots, but these thieves are pretty good at how they do it.”
The people committing the vehicle larcenies appear to be between 18 and 25 years old, so it can be difficult identifying those who shouldn’t be on the Utica campus. If a person is unable to present their student ID, they will be asked to leave the campus.
“Not everybody out there is
Associate
Director of Campus Safety, Jay LaFayette. Photo courtesy of Nolan Hyman.
doing something- people do walk their pets through here,” LaFayette said. “But, you know… 3 o’clock in the morning, you know, if [Campus Safety] sees somebody, especially if they’re going car to car, they might just call UPD.”
Campus Safety sent a notice to Utica students, faculty, and staff about ensuring that their car doors are locked while unattended on campus. The email was prompted by a vehicular larceny incident that occurred a few nights prior.
“Two college age people came on the campus. You know, they just showed up in B lot,” he said.
Campus Safety spotted the pair
going car to car on campus. As they did not have student IDs, they were asked to leave the campus.
“Luckily in this case, it was thwarted by the diligent patrols out there. So, it’s just, the measures are working,” LaFayette said. “I’ve got a good group of men and women out there that are working nights, working weekends, working holidays to try to keep students safe.”
Not only are the patrols working, but the campus’ technology has also helped to deter criminal behavior. Using the campus’ “robust camera system,” Campus Safety can assist the local police departments. For instance, it can be used to identify individuals needed for investigations
conducted by the Utica Police Department.
“Where we can use cameras, we use cameras. I mean, obviously, they’re a great resource,” LaFayette said. “If we have the technology, we use it.”
In terms of technology, Campus Safety have worked alongside other campus departments to get the word out about their app, Safer U. The app has been around for two years, but they have been promoting it more during this year’s orientation.
“As students come in here, we like to ask them if they have the app. If not, we have QR codes to download the app,” LaFayette said. “So we really wanna get that out there. We really want students to use it, and again it’s got a lot of information there.”
Safer U has various functions; including directories to student services- such as financial aid or SLCEinformation about upcoming campus events, a suicide crisis hotline, etc. The app is “ever-evolving,” so if there is a need that it can fulfill for something on campus, it gets updated.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
Editor-in-Chief - Breannan O’Hara
Managing Editor - Brady Barnard
Online/Social Media Editor - Syamimi Anuar
Sports Reporter - Nick Phillips
Staff Reporter - Megan Wright
Staff Photographer - Luke Reed
Adviser - Mary Christopher
The opinions and columns expressed in The Tangerine are those of the individual writers and do not represent the views of The Tangerine or Utica University.
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The Tangerine is published biweekly during the academic year by and for Utica University students. To reach a member of the staff, email tanger@utica.edu or call 315-792-3065. All material printed in The Tangerine is copyrighted. The Tangerine was first published as the Utica College News on Nov. 6, 1946.
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Campus Safety Blotter
9/3/2024 8:03 AM Fire Alarm
9/3/2024 2:30 PM Unwanted Correspondence
9/4/2024 12:32 AM Student of Concern
9/4/2024 1:40 AM Guest Policy Violation Pioneer Village
“The idea is, you know, it allows you to connect with campus safety or really anybody on the campus,” LaFayette said.
With the app, students have a direct line to emergency contacts, and they can do
“friend walks”- in which, if a student feels uncomfortable walking somewhere on campus, they can send their location to a friend, and that friend can then follow them to their next location.
Students can also use Safer U to contact Campus Safety through the emergency contacts function. If students see something
Kristin Haag named Vice President for Financial Affairs
Kyle Mitchell, Contributing Writer
Kristin Haag was appointed as Utica University’s Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer and assumed the role this fall. She succeeds Pam Salmon, who held the position for 15 years. Prior to starting her new position, Haag worked at the university for 12 years.
In her new role, Haag aims to collaborate with the Financial Affairs team to enhance processes and improve the timeliness and accuracy of financial reporting.
“My immediate goal is to work collaboratively with the team to provide effective stewardship over the University’s financial affairs,” Haag said. “We are refining our processes for greater efficiency and clarity, enhancing our ability to produce accurate, timely and relevant financial information for decision-making.”
Her long-term focus aims to enhance
the quality and timeliness of financial reporting by “optimizing workflows, putting best practices into effect, and utilizing technology.”
“Timely and accurate financial reporting is critical for decision-making,” Haag said. “ Improving the quality and timeliness of financial reporting and analyses will provide better insights for optimizing resource allocation and planning, ensuring alignment with the University’s mission and goals.”
Haag also hopes to impact the campus community by supporting administration in making informed decisions for the institution’s future.
“Through my work, I will positively impact the institution by leveraging my ability to report and analyze financial information,” Haag said. “Additionally, collaborating with University leadership to use financial information for decision-making facilitates appropriate resource allocation.”
suspicious, they should contact Campus Safety immediately, LaFayette said.
“One thing I feel is important to say, I mean, is that this doesn’t work without the assistance of the community too,” he said. “If a student’s out there… if they see something suspicious, let us know, because it’s a team effort out there.”
Source: Utica University Website https://www. utica.edu/news-events/news/utica-university-announces-new-leadership-roles
Student Government Association (SGA) elections were held last weekend and results were announced on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Sixty two students voted. The results were as follows:
Bull Hall’s new ‘hands-on’ Crime Scene Simulation Lab near completion
Nolan Hyman, Staff Writer
Construction for the new crime scene lab in the ECJS building is almost complete for the Spring semester.
Located on the first floor, the new addition to ECJS (also known as Bull Hall) would provide students with a space to gain experience in crime scene investigations.
Once construction of the lab is finished, it will feature equipment that will be used to create a variety of crime scenes ranging from homicides to burglaries. Within the 1,200 square foot space, the lab will host multiple crime scenes at the same time.
“This is going to be very flexible,” said Professor Richard Fenner, dean of the school of business and justice studies at Utica University. “It’s going to allow us to do a whole lot of things that you couldn’t do just in a regular classroom.”
For scenes involving fake blood or any other types of fluids, a drainage system would make the floor easy to clean after use. Regardless of the setting, those using it can bring in the furniture and props that they need to simulate it, Fenner said.
In addition to the simulated elements of the lab, cameras would be mounted in the ceiling to not only act as ‘surveillance’ footage, but they would also contribute to the learning process, he said. For instance, a student can go through a scene, collect evidence and then watch the footage afterward to
self-evaluate.
Dean of Business and Justice Studies, Richard Fenner, showing the features of the new crime scene lab. Photo Courtesy: Nolan Hyman.
Students will learn the necessary skills that criminal investigators need to collect evidence from a crime scene, and students would benefit from having the actual experience, Fenner said.
“You know, usually you think of training at the college level as being mostly knowledge,” he said. “But what we’re going to be able to do is provide experiences as well for the students.”
With past experience in evidence collection as a New York State Trooper, Professor Musco Milner, assistant professor of criminal justice at Utica, came up with three 1-credit courses that would showcase the different aspects of the crime scene lab: Grasping Fingerprints, Exposure to Blood Stain Patterns and Detailing and Documenting Crime Scenes.
Although there are only three 1-credit experimental courses planned for the Spring semester, the overall goal is to combine all three into one dedicated course that uses the crime scene room, Milner said.
Hands-on experience from these courses would be an “amazing eye-opener” for students, Milner said. Students would learn that crime scene investigation is not just about going through the motions; rather, it is an meticulous practice and takes time.
“That’s what we want them to learn: You search smart before you search hard,” Milner said.
Whether it would be lifting fingerprints from a crime scene or examining bloodstain patterns, students would learn that becoming an expert in any of these disciplines takes a significant amount of time and training.
“These are exposures to the discipline in hopes of generating a spirit within the student to want to go a little deeper,” Milner said. “However, that’s just an exposure… I envision bringing all those together and including other disciplines so the student can get a deeper understanding of what this truly entails.”
In terms of those disciplines, students in the Criminal Justice department appreciate the hands-on experience more than lectures, he said. Although internships do grant students experiential
learning opportunities in their senior year, taking these courses can expose students to that kind of experience sooner.
“This is where we want students to make mistakes. This is where they make their mistakes in the crime scene, and then we learn from it,” Milner said. “We want them to learn, but we want them to have fun.”
Students seeking a career in law enforcement not only gain experience from the lab, but they also get an early introduction to the things that involve police investigators, said Professor William Virkler, a professor of practice in criminal justice. Virkler came up with the idea for a specialized space where students could receive hands-on learning for crime scene investigations four years ago.
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Photo of the crime scene lab in the ECJS building. Photo Courtesy: Nolan Hyman.
5 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
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He discussed the idea for a specialized space where students could receive hands-on learning for crime scene investigations with the rest of the faculty, and he eventually proposed it to the Dean at the time, Stephanie Nesbitt.
Photo of the crime scene lab in the ECJS building. Photo Courtesy: Nolan Hyman.
The lab is a part of introducing students to the various things in the world of criminal justice, Virkler said. After they graduate from the program, they are able to critically think, analyze, and communicate with others.
“Everybody seemed to like the idea,” he said. “So the process continued on, and it kind of percolated up where it had to
go. And every time it went up, it was embraced as a great idea.”
However, the original idea was to have a space about the same size as a house garage, and it would only be about 400 square feet.
“I knew I was very encouraged one day when the Dean called me in and said, ‘Okay, we want you to think bigger,’” Virkler said. “So I was encouraged to think bigger, and that to me indicated that the upper administration liked this idea.”
The planning and design process for the lab continued to develop. It was designed as an addition to the ECJS building with glass windows that would seek to get attention from students. Consequently, through the support of local law enforcement and legislation, the project
was funded for seven hundred and seventeen thousand dollars by the federal Omnibus Spending Package.
Alongside the benefits for students in Justice Studies, the lab could also open up collaborative opportunities with local agencies around the school. For instance, collaborating with the theater department to stage a crime scene, Virkler said.
Even outside of the campus, the lab can be used to attract incoming students from local high schools, he said. There were even ideas to open up the lab to high school students to participate in academic events.
“The possibilities here are really, really incredible,” Fenner said.
Prior to the lab being built,
faculty within the Justice Studies program would teach courses pertaining to forensic investigation in the classrooms of ECJS, but teaching these courses in these rooms had constraints, he said. The new crime scene lab now allows for all of the ideas that the faculty have had over the years.
“Right now, it’s an empty space,” Fenner said. “But through the expertise and the imagination of the faculty, we’ve already started to think about imaginative ways of using it to provide our students with experiences that they would actually have to go out with law enforcement officers to observe.”
Student on the Street: What did you think of the Trump-Harris presidential debate? Was there a clear winner?
Sophomore Xavier Moore: “We have one candidate that spewed misinformation, and also indirectly called out a group of people for doing something not confirmed, which in the case of COVID dramatically increased the violence toward Asian-Americans. Then we have Kamala. She gave a well-structured argument that contained little misinformation and argued in favor of all Americans. Yet, it is my opinion that no one won. We have starving, homeless Americans on our streets. We have a Congress that has sent billions overseas with little motivation for their constituents.”
Sophomore Biology major: “I thought
it was more or so three versus one in a way. There were more attacks than talking about policies. There were more attacks like who has more people at rallies. I feel the main issues people are going to worry about are the economy and immigration, the wars and sending money to the Ukraine, stopping other nations from doing other things like taking over Taiwan. I felt this could have been more about policy than personal attacks at each other. Going with the polls that I’ve seen, Trump is the winner.
Senior Political Science major: “The presidential debate allows voters to observe a debate between the leading candi-
dates during the general election campaign. A lot can be said about differences in preparation, strategy, and substance regarding the Trump and Harris debate. After watching the debate, most people have the same convictions about each candidate as they did before. Therefore, while quotes from the debate garner attention in funny and concerning ways, they are not a huge factor in each candidate’s likelihood of becoming president in comparison to other components.”
Senior Megan Brinck: “Honestly I’m scared of the future of our country. I feel it’s not about politics. It’s more about entertainment now.”
Source: CNN
FEATURES
6 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
Concert Review: Pitbull brings the party to Syracuse
Grace Christopher, Staff Writer
Many Pitbull fans had “the time of our lives” on Sept. 7 when his Party After Dark tour stopped at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater in Syracuse.
Mr. Worldwide played to a near sell-out crowd that was energized from the second he hit the stage, some even dressing like the pop star with bald caps and white button down shirts.
The party got started with rapper T-Pain as the opening act and giving the crowd some of his famous hits.
Then Pitbull came out in full force, opening with “Don’t Stop the Party” and the dance party truly began. His upbeat pop/hip hop music and quick costume changes entertained the rollicking crowd for about two hours.
“Fireball” was my favorite because it gave nostalgic feels and hearing it live with all of my friends around me was special. All of his famous hits followed, including “This Moment,” “Time of Our Lives” and
“Timber,” one of my favorite childhood songs.
Pitbull’s backup dancers brought added energy with their spicy dance moves and flashy outfits.
He closed the show with “Give Me Everything,” filled with its upbeat rhythm and lines like “ before we go we might not get tomorrow, let’s do it tonight.”This tied the whole night together because Pitbull entertained nonstop
and we left the concert feeling good.
As Mr. 305 left the stage he told us, “I want you to leave here tonight and appreciate every second, every minute, every day, every week, every month, every year,” Pitbull said. “That’s why I tell y’all all the time: live life, don’t let life live you. And I know you will remember. This. Mother. F***ing. Moment.”
That’s what the concert was all
Utica’s Greek life in full swing this semester
about for me: Enjoying good music with friends.
Many college students from Central New York attended and agreed, saying the concert and pre-show tailgate allowed them to make more memories with friends.
LaFayette resident Jada Pollak said her favorite part of the concert was getting together with her freshman year friends and listening to one of their favorite artists.
“It felt like we were jumping around in our freshman year dorm rooms before a night out,” Pollak said.
Sofi Cartini, of Fayetteville, said Pitbull performed many iconic songs, but her favorite part of the concert was during “Rain Over Me.”
She added: “Rain started pouring down over the crowd when the song started to amp up and when the song ended the rain had cleared - it was a real movie moment.”
Students at Utica University had the opportunity to join a range of activities at the start of the fall semester to learn more about Greek life on campus. Rush Week events have highlighted both the joys and challenges of Greek life at Utica.
Utica University’s Rush Week kicked off the semester
with a series of engaging recruitment events, featuring a karaoke night, creative tote bag painting and a casual fire complete with marshmallow roasting. These activities aimed to introduce potential new members to Greek life and foster a sense of belonging on campus.
When asked about some of the highlights related to their organization’s service work for the community, the Co-Philanthropy Chair and Social Chair of
Kappa Delta Phi NAS Briana Ajayi said the Out of the Darkness walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an event that has gained significant attention and support.
“It’s meaningful to me that our sorority is actively involved in such important causes,” Ajayi said
In addition to philanthropic efforts, Greek life at Utica University offers a range of social events.
Recent activities included a volleyball game with Chi Beta Sigma and a tie-dye event, which were well-received by students.
“Greek week and midnight breakfast are my favorite events,” sorority member Jessica Clyne said. “They’re great for building Greek unity and having fun before finals.”
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Photo of Pitbull on stage at the Amphitheater. Photo courtesy of Grace Christopher.
Megan Wright, Staff Reporter
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FEATURES
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
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While Greek life provides numerous benefits, such as strong friendships and enhanced leadership skills, it also presents challenges. The financial responsibility of dues and the potential for drama within close-knit groups are notable concerns. Additionally, balancing Greek life commitments with academic responsibilities can be demanding.
Despite these challenges, members appreciate the tight-knit community that smaller Greek organizations foster.
“At our small campus, we’re like one big family,” fraternity member John Largett said. “It’s a contrast to larger schools where Greek life can be more clicky and separated.”
As Greek life at Utica University continues to grow and evolve, the emphasis remains on
building connections, supporting one another, and contributing positively to the campus community.
TRIO continues supporting first generation students
Syamimi Anuar, Social Media and Online Editor
First-generation students often face unique challenges, including navigating unfamiliar academic environments and financial pressures without family experience to rely on.
TRIO Student Support Services is a federally-funded access, retention and opportunity program that strives to assist students in overcoming generational, structural and systemic barriers to accessing and completing higher education.
The Department of Education administers federal funding for TRIO Student Support Services at Utica University, according to the program’s associate director Emily Mixon, and students can get assistance and a sense of belonging from programs such as TRIO.
TRIO was developed in the 1960s and offers resources such as scholarships, graduate school funding, extra networking opportunities on campus and more.
“ A common obstacle first year generation students face is they do not have a close grown up to help and need to prove themselves all the time,” Mixon said. “It feels like a lot of pressure.”
Mixon was a first-generation college student and a member of TRIO. Mixon said attending college can completely change a student, which pulls them apart from their family.
“I have a supportive and loving grandfather but
he did not see the value of college because he has been a blue collar worker and able to support family that way,” Mixon said. “He did not know what that meant because it was unfamiliar to him. My father feels like I am too intelligent to talk to.”
Mixon said she still keeps in touch with her former college professors, TRIO staff members and friends because they provide a space for in-depth conversations and to celebrate achievements that her family may not fully understand.
Mixon said TRIO is currently looking for more first year students to join.
“If any first year students come from a low income background or whose parents do not have a bachelor degree award, get in touch with us because this program might be a good fit for you,” Mixon said.
TRIO will hold a workshop in October to help students prepare for graduate school. Mixon said the number of seats are limited for this event and anyone interested should contact the office.
“Our TRIO students are amazing and always amazing in their own unique ways,” Mixon said. “They bring so many things to the table and the value that they add to the campus as a whole we would miss that if we do not have programs like TRIO that could support them in staying here, completing their degree and making the most out of their education. I am glad that we have the
privilege as TRIO professionals to help them do that. I feel honored to be a part of their journey and support in whatever way I can.”
Greg Caloia, the director of Student Success, is a Utica alumnus and a first-generation college student. Caloia encourages students to utilize TRIO because he did not have that opportunity as a college student. He leaned on the faculty and football team for support throughout his college journey.
The Student Success office is one of the university’s resources designed to help both first-generation students and all other students. The office is dedicated to helping students transition from high school to college and encourages them to succeed in higher education.
“If you are ever unsure about things, you can always come to the Student Success office and let us know what you need,” Caloia said. “We will get you connected with the right person on campus so that you have the resources that you need.”
For more information about TRIO, visit https://www.utica.edu/directory/trio. The TRIO office is located 111 Hubbard Hall. Information about the office of Student Success can be found at https://www. utica.edu/directory/student-success. The office is located in 177 Hubbard Hall.
Kappa Delta Phi NAS tabled at the involvment fair.
Photo Source: Samantha Shaffer.
Utica Football off to 1-1 start after Believe Bowl Victory
Nick Phillips, Sports Reporter
Pioneers football is off to a strong start and came up victorious in the Sept. 6 season opener over Union College, 4126. Sam Florio had two rushing scores on the ground and Matt Brantley had a huge day on the ground.
The Pioneers started scoring with two minutes remaining in the first quarter as junior quarterback Brett Fuller threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Logan Kraft to cap off a 13 play drive.
Union College responded in the second quarter as quarterback Patch Flanagahn threw two touchdown passes in the quarter. The first one was caught by Tommy Leonard from a yard out and the second one was a 22-yard strike to Robbie Tolbert.
Florio caught fire on the ground to end the quarter for Utica. He had two rushing touchdowns in the final five minutes of the opening half from two and three yards out.
After leading 22-12 in the first half, Brantley had the play of the game to begin the second half. In the opening play Brantley took a handoff 90 yards to the house for his first touchdown of the season. Brantley had 20 carries for 185 yards and a touchdown in the opener. This propelled him to winning the Empire 8 player of the week and being named the first Utica athlete of the week.
After a strong second half performance, Utica held on for a big win in the opening game by a score of 41-26. Utica came out flat in their second game of the season on Sept. 14 against
Moravian University. Norman Booth scored the first points of the game when he had a 76 yard fumble recovery touchdown in the first quarter. With only nine seconds left in the opening half, Fuller found Gabriel Zawolo for a 17-yard touchdown score to take a 13-0 lead in the first half.
Utica fell apart in the second half. Moravian scored three touchdowns along with 18 unanswered points. Moravian, led by a tremendous defensive half where they did not allow a single point, came back for a 18-13 win over the Pioneers.
Utica (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) will look to get their second win of the season as they return home at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium against Lycoming College (1-1, 0-0 Landmark) on Saturday, Sept. 21 at noon.
Sam Florio had two touchdowns on the ground in the season opener. Photo Courtesy of Luke Reed, Staff Photographer.
