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WEDNESDAY
oct. 4, 2017 high 81°, low 52°
t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |
N • Speaking out
P • Above and beyond
NPR “Morning Edition” host David Greene discussed the changing communications industry at Tuesday’s University Lecture in Hendricks Chapel. Page 3
dailyorange.com
Amid Disability Awareness Month, two Syracuse University students in the InclusiveU program describe their personal and academic journeys to SU. Page 9
S • Home not sweet home
On Tuesday afternoon, the Orange dropped out of the top 25 and responded by falling in its fourth consecutive home match, this time 1-0 to Akron. Page 16
At the helm
Common Councilor, SU alumna Helen Hudson champions community work in campaign for president By Mary Catalfamo asst. copy editor
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HELEN HUDSON, an at-large Syracuse Common Councilor, is running uncontested for council president this year. philip bryant contributing photographer
ears before she sat in the Syracuse Common Council chambers, Helen Hudson stood on street corners in an attempt to curb gun violence on the South Side. “It bothered me that every day I would wake up and hear about ‘a 14-year-old was found dead today — victim of gunshots,’” said Hudson, now in her second councilor at-large term and acting pro-tempore, replacing the president in an absence. “It was just every day.” She and other women populated different corners, holding signs like: “One life lost is one too many” in an effort that became the well-known group Mothers Against Gun Violence. At first, Hudson was told she was setting mothers up to be killed. But, she said, young people actually started coming to the mothers for help with employment and education needs. That was in 2002, but poverty is still an issue in the city today. The 2015 poverty rate in Syracuse rose 1.1 percent from 2016 while poverty declined nationally. For the last six years, Hudson has worked inside the political system to try to reform policies she sees as stifling to economic and social growth. She is running uncontested for the seat of incumbent Common Council President Van Robinson, who will be forced out by term limits. “She calls all the young people her babies,” said Nancy Kern Eaton, president of the United Way of Central New York. “They respond to her in ways I’ve just never seen.” Hudson is a liaison between United Way and labor unions. She is a co-founder, founder or board of directors member for seven different community organizations, per the Common Council website. “I expect her to easily perform the duties of the president and still remain to a big degree a community activist, acting on behalf of people of the city,” Robinson said. The president can be instrumental in steering legislation and has a powerful platform to voice convictions. However, it is not a voting position. The president can assign committees and call special meetings, but can only vote in the case of a tie, which Robinson said he has never done in his eight-year run. Robinson said he expects Hudson not regularly voting to see hudson page 6
fast forward syracuse
onondaga county
SU alumna seeks legislature seat Officials detail Invest Syracuse fundraising
By Phoebe Brenner contributing writer
Courtney M. Hills, a Syracuse University alumna, will be the first female legislator to represent Onondaga County’s 7th District, east of Syracuse, if she wins the general election this November. Hills, as a write-in, picked up the Independence Party line in the September primary. Originally, Hills was running for mayor of the Village of East Syra-
cuse, she said, but decided to run for legislature after current legislator Danny Liedka announced he would not be running for re-election, due to personal circumstances. “With this opportunity I would be representing a much larger population so I could help more residents,” Hills said. As a member of the Independence Party, Hills said she embodies aspects from multiple parties, such as social tolerance and fiscal conservatism. Over-
all, her “philosophy is whatever works best for the people of my district,” she added. Hills believes being a member of the Independence Party will be her biggest challenge of the race because, she said, there is a notion that many Independents are undecided. In Syracuse, it is rare for Independents to successfully run for office, she said. If elected, Hills said she will be the first Independent legislator in the county.
see hills page 6
By Kennedy Rose asst. news editor
A Syracuse University official on Tuesday, at the third and final Invest Syracuse forum, said $6.25 million has already been raised in support of the plan. Invest Syracuse is a $100 million fundraising goal that aims to support Chancellor Kent Syverud’s
Academic Strategic Plan. It includes a $3,300 tuition hike that will affect incoming students next fall. Daniel D’Aniello, a University Life Trustee, donated $500,000 to SU for “Giving Day,” SU’s first 24-hour push to increase university donations, said Matt Ter Molen, chief advancement officer. Molen spoke at the third and final see forum page 7