Utica University begins accreditation process required by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024
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Liam Payne’s legacy lives on in ‘Directioners’ memories
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POV: Bronx Bombers face adversity and it pays off
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Campus safety receives a significant increase in complaints and observed accidents involving reckless driving on campus
Breannan O’Hara, Editor in Chief
There have been four significant property damage accidents reported to campus safety since the beginning of the semester, with the latest one involving a driver completely disregarding a stop sign, according to Shad Crowe, vice president for Facilities and Emergency Management.
Crowe said there has also been a significant increase in weekly concerns from students, faculty, staff and visitors involving near-accident reports such as failure to stop at stop signs and speeding.
“The complaints have included persons reporting almost being struck by a vehicle when entering a crosswalk (pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks on campus and in NY State in general),” Crowe said. “They’ve also reported near collisions attempting to turn into a parking lot, walking through a parking lot, or turning to enter/exit the campus. The number of complaints have increased significantly this semester compared to previous years.”
Crowe said that four accidents might not seem like much but campus safety typically sees
four or five for an entire academic year.
“When operating a vehicle on the campus, consider how your operation might be viewed by someone witnessing you drive past. OR, how you might react watching someone else drive the way you are driving,” Crowe said. “Every person who drives a vehicle on campus should consider the importance of the safety of others who are also driving or walking.”
The Campus Safety team’s constant messaging of “if you see something, say something,” applies to motor vehicle operation on campus and off.
“If you observe someone driving too fast, running stop signs, passing vehicles, or operating in an erratic manner - please report it to Campus Safety as quickly as you can
(315.792.3046),” Crowe said. Crowe provided information to collect, if safe to obtain, that is helpful when reporting a vehicle.
“The campus safety team may ask for direction of travel (where was the vehicle when the offense was witnessed, and which way did it go), license plate number (even a partial plate is helpful), color of vehicle, general description (truck, car, 2 door, 4 door), and general description of driver and other occupants if possible,” Crowe said.
There are various steps campus safety is taking to combat this safety concern such as “general patrol and observations by officers at intersections” and “use of camera systems in which several are equipped with license plate readers at
entry/exit points, stop signs, and along the campus drive and inside parking lots.”
“Campus Safety Director Jay LaFayette has also established specific areas on campus drive with known distances between non-moveable points,” Crowe said. “By establishing these points and then calculating the time it takes the vehicle to pass between these two points, Director LaFayette and the campus safety team can verify the speed at which the vehicle is traveling using simple math.”
Utica students expressed some concerns with reckless driving on campus.
“ Students are seen driving what looks like 40 mph and I see people blow by stop signs all the time,” senior Arissa Rendino said.
Senior Morgan Kelly said campus safety has “cracked down on tickets this year” but before she did observe reckless driving.
“I know at times we are running behind and are trying not to be late for class or other events,” Crowe said. “It is at those moments, taking a deep breath and remembering your responsibility to yourself to be safe is most important.”
Stop sign outside of Bull Hall. Photo by Breannan O’Hara.
STAFF
PAGE 2 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 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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Utica University begins accreditation process required by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Breannan O’Hara, Editor in Chief
Utica University has started the accreditation process that entails composing a self-study report to meet the requirements of the Middle States on Higher Education. MSCH ensures the quality and excellence of higher education through peer review, assessment and evalutation.
The planning is extensive and takes two and a half to three years, according to Ann Damiano, chair of the Academic Assessment Coordinating Committee (AAC). After enrolling in the Self-Study Institute, a training that occurs two years before the accreditation visit, a self-study design needs to be submitted to MSCHE for approval before it can be completed.
“I can confidently say that we are very well prepared for accreditation this time,” Damiano said. “For starters, we have people working on the selfstudy report who have ample experience with Middle States
Brady Barnard, Managing Editor
accreditation. Finally, we have people working on self-study who have presented at several Middle States conferences over the past decade. More importantly, the University has regularly monitored compliance with accreditation standards over the past six years.”
Laura Salvaggio, a current member of AAC, said Middle States visits every 10 years to ensure that the university is performing work that makes it worthy of the educational institution it is. She said they have the authority to place the university on probation or terminate accreditation completely if they believe it is not up to par.
“There was a good deal of concern ten years ago,” Salvaggio said. “The level of confidence that we are doing well is far higher this time.”
According to Damiano, federal financial aid funds and the value of degrees issued depend heavily on accreditation.
“To put it simply, if the institution is not accredited, the
degrees it issues are worth very little. Most jobs and graduate/professional schools that require degrees require degrees from an accredited institution,” Damiano said. “Additionally, if we are not accredited, our students cannot benefit from Title IV funds. That is, they would not be eligible to receive federal financial aid, such as Stafford Loans, Pell Grants or College Work Study.”
Salvaggio said even when well-prepared, there is still a lot of work to be done.
“This is quite an adventure that we’ll be on for a couple of years as we run a self-study to look at the results of 10 years of assessment and decide what they mean to our institution on a larger scale,” Salvaggio said.
Based on the AAC’s timeline, the design will be submitted in early January, and work will start on the self-study in the spring semester.
“Accreditation is fundamental to an institution,” Damiano said.
The AAC would like to have a student representative on the working group for Standard IV, which addresses student experience support. The student should be a sophomore or junior since it is a two year journey.
Interested students can contact Ann Damiano at aedamian@ utica.edu, with their reason for being interested in this position and explain their engagement with student life at Utica University.
Utica University introduces ABM Field at Gaetano Stadium
On Saturday, Oct 26, Utica University will be introducing ABM Field at Gaetano Stadium.
“Utica University and ABM Industries, the University’s new facility services provider, have agreed to a multi-year naming rights partnership for the field at Gaetano Stadium,” said Utica University’s Social media and Media Relations Manager Adrienne Smith.
Athletes here at Utica are
excited about the school’s new partnership with ABM Industries.
“ABM is a huge company,” said Utica’s Men’s Soccer Goalkeeper Foti Xidias. “We already got the new turf at Gaetano Stadium, so I’m hoping the new deal will bring some more additions to the school and get more athletes to commit here.”
The announcement and brief ceremony will take place during halftime of the Homecoming football game against Alfred University. Kick off is at 1:00 pm.
AMB Field at Gaetano Stadium. Photo by Brady Barnard.
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Liam Payne’s legacy lives on in ‘Directioners’ memories
Syamimi Anuar, Social Media Editor
Liam Payne, a former member of the boyband One Direction, died at age 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 16.
Payne gained fame as a member of One Direction, one of the best-selling boybands in history, known for hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life.” The news of his passing has shocked the music industry and his fanbase, including some Utica University students, with many expressing grief and disbelief.
According to ABC News, a preliminary autopsy report from the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office found that Payne died of “multiple traumas” and “internal and external bleeding,” with 25 injuries found on his body.
A partial autopsy found Payne
had multiple substances in his system when he fell from the third-floor hotel balcony, including “pink cocaine,” which is a recreational drug that is typically a mix of several drugs including methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and others, as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
The news of Payne’s death has caused his songs to trend once again on music platforms and many artists to dedicate performances in his memory.
Some students at Utica University, who are fans of both One Direction and Payne, were affected by the news. Most were between 8 and 15 years old when the band became famous, making this news trigger childhood memories and sadness.
Sophomore Jamiyah House said she started being a Directioner when she was around 8 or 9 years old, and her first concert was One Direction for her tenth birthday in 2015.
“When I heard the news of Liam Payne’s death, I was like there is no way it was real, it had to be a joke,” House said. “My friend sent the news article so I looked it up and saw that it was confirmed. I was so devastated by the news knowing that Liam did have a history of mental health that he was open about, and problems with his drinking and drug use.”
Sophomore Cassidy Forbes also
did not believe the news was real when she found out.
“I checked Twitter and all the reports were in Spanish,” Forbes said. “When the Americans started reporting it, it started to hit like it was real. When the boys of One Direction released their statements and their joint statement, it made me cry a lot, and I watched their old stuff and just feel like a part of my childhood died.”
Utica alum who produced ‘Kelce’ documentary visits journalism class and shares advice
Nico Leonard, Contributing Writer
Utica alumnus and accomplished documentary film producer and journalist Larry Platt zoomed into Journalism Professor David Chanatry’s Documentary Filmmaking class on Thursday, Oct. 10, discussing the top Amazon Prime documentary, Kelce.
Platt, an ‘85 graduate of Utica’s journalism program, was the writer and producer of Kelce that was released in 2023. It follows Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce
during the 2022 NFL season, an athlete at the top of his game trying to decide whether to retire. It was a decision made more difficult for Kelce by the success of his Super Bowl bound team, which squared him against his brother, Travis Kelce.
In preparation for the visit, the class screened the documentary and then had the opportunity to ask Platt questions.
Many of the questions applied directly to the students’ own
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Liam Payne’s debut solo album cover, LP1. Source: Liam Payne Official YouTube Channel.
Larry Platt, an ‘85 Utica journalism alum, joins Professor David Chanatry’s Documentary Filmmaking class via Zoom. Photo by Mary Christopher.
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documentaries they are producing, filming and editing this semester for the class. The call occurred the same week all of the students began filming their final documentary projects and Platt answered all the questions, even applying the questions to real life experiences he had in his career.
A big piece of advice he gave was “always think about the
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story above all else” and not get caught up in too much backstory.
“Being at (the subject’s) mercy is part of the job,” Platt said. “Train yourself not to let backstory get involved in the process.”
He also told students that producing a documentary brings many unexpected responsibilities, such as business decisions and detail-oriented decisions.
“You become sort of a jack
of all and sometimes none, that’s what being a producer is about,” Platt said.
Platt has been an influential figure in Philadelphia sports media since the 1990s. He is a former columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, edited the Philadelphia Daily News, and was the longtime editor for the Philadelphia Magazine. In 2013, Platt co-founded The Philadelphia Citizen, a non-profit media outlet. Platt has written or co written a
number of books including: Everyday I Fight, a memoir of the life of ESPN’s Stuart Scott. The Zoom call was a unique opportunity for Communication and Media students enrolled in the class to gain a massive connection in the field. It was also a great conversation to learn the ins and outs of the field through one of sports media’s best that came from the same classroom they are in everyday.
Fuerza Latina celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with New York assembly members
Adam DeSantis, Contributing Writer
Students from Fuerza Latina at Utica University attended a presentation sponsored by Mohawk Valley Latino Association on Oct. 5 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event, held at Oneida County History Center, was co-hosted by Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon and featured guest speaker Karines Reyes, Assemblywoman for the 87th District. Reyes discussed challenges facing the Hispanic and Latino communities of New York, as well as opportunities present within the state. The state’s Hispanic population grew 15.5% between 2010 and 2020, while the non-Hispanic population grew by 1.8%, which emphasizes a greater need for resources while also suggesting great potential within the Hispanic community in New York State. A more concerning statistic showed that almost half of Latinos in New York live in poverty or low-income conditions which is a fact that begs for
more representation and legislative action within the state in order to reverse this trend.
Reyes also highlighted the importance of staying connected to sharing Hispanic and Latino culture, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Fuerza Latina students had several conversations with Reyes and Buttenschon. They discussed what it means to be Hispanic and/or Latino, being from New York, and their experiences as students.
Reyes and Buttenschon offered them a key piece of advice in order to succeed in college: Prioritize your academics and while it’s healthy to be social, don’t let social activities distract you from your studies.
Fuerza Latina has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month here on campus by sponsoring other opportunities like Empanada Day and Dominoes Night. If you would like to find out more on Fuerza Latina and the events and opportunities they sponsor, reach out via their PioHub page.
Students from Fuerza Latina celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Photos by Adam DeSantis.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024
“Behind U”staff spotlight: Dawn Cittadino-Santiago
Grace Christopher, Staff Writer
The Tangerine’s “Behind U”staff spotlight highlights the people who support and serve the Utica University community every day. This week’s profile features Dawn Cittadino-Santiago, Administrative Assistant III in the HEOP office.
Where are you from?
I lived in Utica until I was 10 and then moved to New Hartford and still live there.
How long have you worked at Utica University?
I’ve been here since 2007 so it’s been 17 years and in this office for the entire 17 years.
What does your job entail?
My title is administrative assistant but that does not entail all that I do. Office management is more so what I do overall. I monitor all the traffic flow in the office and assist my director with managing budgetary expenses. I also assist the counselors as well as the director with purchasing any necessary supplies and food services for events and workshops. I do have a second second position and work for Judy Borner 25% of my day. I recruit and hire and process payroll for the learning services scribes/ notetakers and assist them with a small grant. I assist with monitoring the expenses for that grant and purchasing.
What is a typical day like for you?
This is a very busy office. We are very student-centered. We look at our program students like family. We always want them to feel welcome because when students feel comfortable and welcome, students can express themselves better. It’s easier to get students here when they feel that we are with them not against them. We like to make it feel very homey and that’s easy to see when you walk in because we have the coffee bar and snacks. The kids monopolize most of our time in the office, mine included. Although I have a job to do, they are the reason I’m here, period point blank. They are the majority of what we focus on although work needs to get done.
What is the best part of your job?
What makes me want to come to work everyday is the students and I enjoy the people I work with. I feel like the students keep me current and relevant and I enjoy the different personalities. When I first started working here, passing by each classroom door for the first time literally gave me the chills because I listened to the professors and knew that such amazing things happened here. You get so much more out of this than high school and college prepares you for a big part of adulthood, which makes me feel
that what we do is valuable. I watch students start fresh and then grow. Many students call me Mama Dawn because they are like family.
Does the job bring many challenges?
It could get loud and overwhelming because it’s a small space for the amount of students who like to spend time here. Quiet time is sparse but I’ve learned to multi-task and work despite the noise, especially with my office being in the center of everything.
What makes Utica University special?
Less of a chance of students getting overlooked because of small class sizes and not getting overlooked by staff. Offices are more attuned to students’ needs because it’s a small campus with more individualized care.
What do you enjoy in your free time?
Relaxing and spending time with family, supplying whatever they need from me. I take being a mother very seriously and I enjoy being a mother.
It’s getting spooky in Central New York and many Halloween attractions and events are in full swing. Spanning from Utica, Rome, West Winfield and beyond, bring family and friends to enjoy some local scary and not-so-scary fun. Visit the Utica Tangerine website for a list of upcoming events.
Dawn Cittadino-Santiago at her offcie. Photo by Grace Christopher.
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The 2024 annual Unity Walk held on Oct. 23 to celebrate Utica’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion
Staff Reporting
The Unity Walk is an annual event that Utica University began in 2016 to honor the university’s values of inclusion, equity, and diversity. The entire university community joins to march together around the Utica campus during this
event. The event demonstrates the shared goal of fostering a welcoming environment and how we are stronger together.
Students explained why they attended the event and what it means to them:
- “I decided to attend because I wanted to represent all the
Latinas in the area and represent all the different cultures.”
Leigha Soto ‘28
- “As a team, we wanted to work on uniting the community and university.” Taylor Craft ‘25
- “Spread positivity around campus.” Kyle Williams ‘28
- “Important to show and represent the black student union and get together as a campus and community. It’s our fourth year coming out to the community walk.” Leah Griffin ‘25/ Allysa Perez ‘25
Unity Walk 2024. Photos by Breannan O’Hara.
POV: Bronx Bombers face adversity and it pays off
Kate Gaffney, Intern
Kate Gaffney is interning at The Tangerine and UticaTV through the BOCES Regional Program for Excellence. She is a senior at Whitesboro High School.
Adversity. Uncertainty. Resilience. These traits perfectly describe the New York Yankees’ 2024 season, which was filled with injuries, mid-season additions, and incredible comebacks. They are one of the best teams in the league, but many might not realize that when looking at the entire season.
As the Bronx Bombers are set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 25, let’s look back at the team’s journey this season.
Regular season success
After not making the postseason in 2023, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman made a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres and received the young superstar and World Series champion Juan Soto. In return, the Padres received veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka and up and coming starter Michael King, who is the cousin of prominent Utica University Lacrosse alumni Ben, Stevie and Joey Schoen.
Juan Soto played incredibly from the start, which foreshadowed his future success in the Bronx. Aaron Judge, the captain, began his season extremely poor, only batting .207. However, Judge began to heat up during May and June.
The return of the Yankees ace, Gerrit Cole, after suffering an
elbow injury, was supposed to serve as a driving force for the Yankees. However, success did not come as quick as they would have liked. As Judge and Soto continued to succeed at the plate going into the dog days of summer, New York had a shocking 25-26 record going into the most crucial part of the season.
Rumors of Jazz Chisholm Jr., a player known for his speed, and towering home runs, being traded to Yankees came to fruition and he fit in with the rest of the team.
The month of September became a tense period for the Yanks, because the tricky Baltimore Orioles were inching closer to overruling New York in the East. Thankfully, the Yankees defeated the Orioles in a late season matchup, to win the division.
American League Division Series
The series had an electrifying start, as the Yankees hit a home run, a couple of RBIs, and a
walk which allowed the Yankees to defeat the Cleveland Guardians. Game 2 was not a victorious night for New York, as they only scored two runs. The third and fourth games belonged to the Yankees, thanks to big hits by Stanton, Soto, and Gleyber Torres and outstanding pitching performances from Luke Weaver.
American League Championship Series
The atmosphere of Yankee Stadium before Game 1 was electric, as the tradition of Roll Call commenced. Carlos Rodon pitched a strong game and Soto and Stanton hit homers to take a lead, however, the Yankees really took advantage of multiple defensive blunders the Guardians made.
It finally came down to Game 5. New York could win the American League Pennant, and a trip to the World Series. After yet another game tying home run from Stanton, the Yankees forced the game to go into extra innings. Since Stanton had been dominant in this series, critics
say it was a mistake from the Guardians manager to throw strikes to Stanton. This came back to bite the Guardians, as Juan Soto changed the course for the Yankees season with one at-bat.
As Soto stepped up to the plate, he stared down the pitcher, Hunter Gaddis, as he did his famous shuffle in the batter’s box. Soto took advantage of one of Gaddis’ mistakes and hit a high fastball 402 feet into right center field. The Yankees dugout went into a frenzy as Soto stopped midway to first base to cheer with his teammate – the Yankees were heading to their first World Series since 2009. What to expect in the World Series
Be sure to look out for soaring Giancarlo Stanton home runs, imposing Juan Soto at-bats, and intimidating pitching performances from the commanding starting rotation, relievers and closer, Luke Weaver. The Los Angeles Dodgers have an outstanding team, and it will definitely be a battle for the ages. Arguably the best players in the game, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, will face each other for the first time in the postseason, in each of their World Series debuts.
Adversity. Uncertainty. Resilience. The Yankees have fought through thick and thin to be where they are today. Throughout the entirety of the season, each player has contributed in monumental circumstances. However, the story is not finished yet, and will hopefully end in a 28th World Series title for the New York Yankees.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Yankees on Sept. 28. Photo by Kate Gaffney.
