wednesday, feb. 7, 2024
celebrating 120 years
N • Breaking down
free
C • Ca-caw
A New York state appeals court dismissed Renew 81 for All’s Friday. The Daily Orange summarized the group’s several legal challenges against the DOT.
From crow experts to crow merchandise, central New York has a long history with the species. Crows take refuge in CNY every winter, roosting in well-lit areas.
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S • The next 4 Five-star recruit Donovan Freeman will enroll at Syracuse in the fall after playing at IMG Academy. He wants to be the next best SU forward with trust in Adrian Autry’s leadership. Page 12
‘Love Letter’
men’s basketball
Benny Williams dismissed from team
Jenn M. Jackson’s book, published on Jan. 23, is a “love letter” to Black women
By Cole Bambini
senior staff writer
By Ahna Fleming asst. news editor
J
enn M. Jackson chose one sentence to encapsulate the message of their first book, “Black Women Taught Us: an Intimate History of Black Feminism.” “It’s actually the one the publisher chose, the very last sentence in the introduction. It’s the one where I say that Black women have taught us how to listen and to work, and now it’s time for us to do both,” Jackson said. Jackson, an assistant professor in the Political Science department at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, published their book on Jan 23. The book is a “love letter” honoring Black women and feminists whose work has been “erased from the archive.” The book also catalogs Jackson’s journey and creates a “living archive” of Black women’s history, they said. “People pick it up and think that, because I’m a professor of political science, it’ll be this dry, dull read about history,” Jackson said. “It’s just not.” Jackson, who holds a doctoral degree in political science and government from the University of Chicago, is also an affiliate with the Women’s and Gender studies, African American studies and LGBT studies departments at SU. Jackson’s book is based on a course they teach: “Black Feminist (Insurgent) Politics.” “Black Women Taught Us” features 11 original essays about teachings by Black feminists and women, as well as Jackson’s mother and aunts.
Jackson hopes every Black woman who picks up this book — a “self-affirming” resource they longed for growing up — feels loved. Jackson grew up in Oakland, California, in the 90s as an “awkward, queer, Black girl who was very, very tall at a very young age,” they said. Jackson has been 6-foot-4 since they were 12, which made their relationship with gender and race very complex. “When you are trying to navigate the world in a genderexpansive, agender, complex body, and you’re also poor, and you’re also Black, and you’re also so many other things … you learn very quickly what is ‘acceptable’ behavior and what is going to be frowned upon,” they said. Jackson earned a bachelor of science in industrial engineering at the University of Southern California. At the time, USC did not offer a Black feminist politics course, and there were no other resources, mentors or peers to help Jackson learn how to navigate the world as a Black woman. During their time at USC, Jackson said peers excluded them from group projects and social activities. Their struggles with racism were heightened by the murder of Oscar Grant, who was killed by a police officer at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station about 10 minutes from Jackson’s grandmother’s home, which they used all the time growing up. They said Grant’s murder “really messed” with their head. “I couldn’t keep compartmentalizing, I couldn’t just go to work and do my work and see jackson page 4
Syracuse men’s basketball forward Benny Williams has been dismissed from the team, the program announced on social media Tuesday. “Benny Williams has been dismissed from the Syracuse men’s basketball program. Everyone involved with the program wishes Benny the best,” the post on X read. “I have no comment,” said Williams’ father, Ben Williams, in a text exchange with The Daily Orange. A spokesperson for the program was unable to confirm whether or not Williams is still a student at Syracuse University. Williams’ father also said he had “no comment” about Williams’ status as a student. A spokesperson for the University said the statement from the team on social media is the “full comment” at this time and similarly couldn’t confirm Williams’ student status.
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Benny Williams averaged just 5.4 points per game in 18 games this season before being dismissed by the program
Assistant professor Jenn M. Jackson based their book on a course they teach at SU. lars jendruschewitz asst. photo editor
on campus
Suspect arrested outside Whitman School By Kendall Luther news editor
The Syracuse Police Department arrested a man outside of Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management Monday afternoon after the department received reports the man was taking
“inappropriate photos of people,” according to an SPD statement to The Daily Orange. After the initial suspicious person call, the man, who SPD identified as Thomas Crudo, reportedly ignored police commands and attempted to f lee in a vehicle. He crashed into two parked cars
while attempting to flee, according to the statement. During the encounter, a dog in Crudo’s car bit one of the responding officers. The officer was transported to the hospital with “nonlife-threatening injuries.” After being arrested on various charges, Crudo was brought to the Onon-
daga County Justice Center for booking, SPD wrote. In a separate statement to The D.O., Public Information Officer Matthew Malinowski wrote that the case is still in the process of being finalized as of 12 a.m. Wednesday. kaluther@syr.edu @kendallaluther
On Nov. 1, prior to SU’s regular season opener, Williams was suspended for a violation of team rules and missed the exhibition game against the College of St. Rose as well as wins over New Hampshire and Canisius. In multiple instances, head coach Adrian Autry had declined to specify the reasons. The junior forward then returned to all team activities on Nov. 10 and made his season debut versus Colgate on Nov. 14. He scored zero points in 10 minutes of action versus the Raiders. The dismissal comes after the Orange’s 29-point loss to Wake Forest, the program’s second-worst loss in its time as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Williams, who received a technical foul for aggressively chucking the ball away from the referees, played 24 minutes and scored seven points in the 99-70 loss. After the technical, Williams was subbed out and was seen colliding into Autry’s shoulder. As the game’s final seconds ticked away, when Williams was on the court, Williams was seen walking straight to the locker room. He did not shake hands with members of Wake Forest and ignored assistant coach Allen Griffin’s attempt to grab him. “I want to apologize to our fans, our University for that performance,” see dismissal page 10