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WEATHER

The forecast for this upcoming week, per The Weather Channel.

COMING UP

Noteworthy events this week.

WHAT: Brad Williams: The Growth Spurt Tour

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater

WHAT: Tek Time N Whine Dance Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, noon – 2 p.m.

WHERE: Community Folk Art Center

WHAT: Bill Charlap Trio

WHEN: Saturday, 8 - 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Robinson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyard

‘Feels like erasure’

SU

students denounce ODI closure, People and Culture replacement

By Julia Boehning enterprise editor

Ayear after Syracuse University created its Office of Diversity and Inclusion in 2020 in response to student activism, the university released a draft of its first five-year Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility plan. The document from 2021 outlined a vision for SU to become a “recognized national leader” of DEIA in higher education.

On July 31, nearly four years later, Chancellor Kent Syverud announced the closure of the ODI and opening of a new Human Resources unit called People and Culture in its place. References to “diversity” and the DEIA Strategic Plan disappeared from the office’s website. The ODI’s social media accounts were taken offline.

But these changes didn’t come as a shock to many SU students.

To me, it really isn’t just a name change. It feels like erasure.

Orezimena “Rezi” Ubogu su junior

SU’s decision to close the ODI came amid a national trend of higher education institutions revising programs to comply with Trump’s Jan. 21 executive order prohibiting “illegal DEI” prac-

tices in higher education, citing concerns that they contradict the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

On Wednesday, SU’s Student Government Association released a statement regarding the removal of the ODI, saying it is “working closely with the University to understand and navigate this transition” amid students’ growing “uncertainty” about the change.

“The announcement that the Diversity & Inclusion office has been dissolved has caused uncertainty and concern across campus; however, while the structure has shifted, vital student programs and resources will remain available to all students,” SGA wrote in the statement.

While they weren’t surprised, several SU students said they felt the ODI’s closure didn’t reflect the desires of the student body and hoped SU wouldn’t conform to Trump’s efforts. However, many were split on whether the change would have noticeable effects on campus life.

In an Aug. 13 reply to The Daily Orange, an SU spokesperson referred back to the two previous campus-wide emails in

Trump’s new policies reshaping U.S. education, professors say

By Shivika Gupta asst. copy editor

In the seven months since President Donald Trump returned to office, Syracuse University professors say his policy shifts are reshaping the educational landscape in the United States, affecting both private and public universities. These shifts have impacts across higher education, including federal student funding, academic freedoms and student enrollments. Professors at SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs expressed concern over these policies, citing students’ growing fear over losing scholar -

ships and their personal safety under Trump’s educational agenda.

During President Trump’s re-election campaign, he notably promised to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, stating in a speech that his administration will “drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts of things that you don’t want to have our youth hearing.”

In February, Trump’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency announced plans to cut more than $880 million from the DOEd. The cuts included reducing

employees, contracts and funds allocated for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility grants.

A month later, in March, Trump signed an executive order, directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to close the department to “the maximum extent appropriate to the law.” The administration planned to move several of its functions to different departments or eliminate them entirely.

Steven White, an SU political science professor, said the uncertainty surrounding the department’s future, particularly in terms of structural changes and funding cuts, is a key factor in the disruption of education policies.

“The Department of Education is one of those institutions we sort of take for granted, and now it seems like that’s not the case anymore,” White said. “Whether it will affect financial aid, certain initiatives, things like that, I think it remains to be seen.”

Thomas Keck, another SU political science professor, echoed White’s concerns. The DOEd shapes the educational system in the United States, and without it, there are several unknowns, he said.

He said if DOEd funding is cut and its units are restructured, programs will be gutted, even if the departments aren’t “technically” closed.

“If these sharp budgetary reductions from the Department of Education and the aggressive policy enforcement actions targeted at universities are sustained over time,” Keck said. “They together have the potential to dramatically undermine the United States’ higher education sector.”

The Trump administration argues the gutting of the DOEd is the best way to return power to the states, allowing them to control their education policies without federal oversight, according to a press release from McMahon. However, shifting power from the federal government to the states cre-

trump page 7

Which ‘Cuse dorm...

The D.O.’s readers theorize ‘New Girl’ duo Nick and Schmidt lived in BBB as freshmen

By Rosina Boehm managing editor

Tim McDermott, a 1986 Syracuse University graduate, has lived in Asia for 22 years. Before streaming, he’d find American media at a corner vendor. That’s where he and his wife first found the TV show “New Girl.”

He’d heard about it before — from his friends or articles.

“My friends that I went to school with said, ‘Hey, these dudes in this show went to Syracuse,’” McDermott said. “I was already looking out for them wearing ‘Cuse sweatshirts.”

The two characters his friends mentioned were Nick Miller and Winston Schmidt. While the duo lives in Los Angeles with Jess Day and either Coach or Winston Bishop in the show’s main timeline, their friendship journey began at Syracuse University.

Season 1 episode 14 first shows Schmidt sporting a ‘Cuse sweatshirt that McDermott once searched his TV for. What was then a simple wardrobe choice is now an entire backstory for goofy, ridiculous roommates Nick and Schmidt.

But which dorm did these two roommates meet in? The Daily Orange asked its readers where they thought Nick and Schmidt lived their freshman year.

I can definitely see a conversation between Nick and Schmidt going along the lines of Schmidt saying ‘I told you, when you do that, please open the window, buddy.

Bridgette Sanders su junior on nick smoking in bbb

Brewster, Boland and Brockway halls

While many respondents chose the dorm they lived in because they wanted to feel connected to the show’s characters, one residence hall came out on top. Of 112 responses from students, alumni and family, Brewster, Boland and Brockway halls won with 36.6% of the vote. Flint Hall followed behind BBB with 25.9%, then Sadler Hall with 12.5% and Day Hall with 11.6% of the vote.

Nick and Schmidt first met in a Season 2 episode 18 flashback to their college dorm. Known then as “Fat Schmidt,” he randomly appears in Nick’s room, watches him sleep and eats dry ramen noodles. Nick calls him “weird.” This is one of the reasons junior Lexi Mathai imagined the TV duo in BBB.

36.6%

Respondees that think Nick and Schmidt lived in Brewster, Boland and Brockway halls

“A lot of people went random and didn’t even think to contact (their roommate), especially the guys, before moving in,” Mathai said. “So that narrative of him just appearing there is 1,000% something that would just happen in this building.” Mathai’s credentials? She lived in BBB herself. Because of the number of freshmen in BBB and on the Mount, they would have to end up in one of those, Mathai said. But what’s missing from the show’s plot are the notorious Mount steps, which she thinks lazy Nick would never go up.

Junior Bridgette Sanders agrees with Mathai. Nick and Schmidt’s vibes are just so BBB, she said. In Sanders’ time living in BBB, she found that the fire alarm went off at least once a week because

25.9%

Respondees that think Nick and Schmidt lived in Flint Hall

(Nick and Schmidt) thought they were cool, but they really weren’t at that point. So it kind of reminded me of new students who would start at Syracuse.

Tim McDermott class of 1986

13.4%

Respondees that think Nick and Schmidt lived in any other freshman hall

someone was smoking in their dorm. She thinks that Nick was the culprit when he was at SU, and the duo would have the “perfect amount of shenanigans” and banter for BBB.

“I can definitely see a conversation between Nick and Schmidt going along the lines of Schmidt saying ‘I told you, when you do that, please open the window, buddy,’” Sanders said.

To Sanders, the dorm in the show’s flashbacks looks like BBB.

In Season 4 episode 8, Schmidt admits he went to college without knowing how to do laundry. Then, there’s a flashback of Schmidt in a dingy basement apartment while girls judge him. He darts out of the laundry room and never learns how to do laundry. Mathai swears it’s the BBB laundry room.

For some of the same reasons, however, sophomore Mia Jordanich chose Day Hall. When she lived in Day last year, she said people would smoke in the staircases at night, which she envisioned Nick and Schmidt having done, too. They also likely would’ve taken the tunnels to easily get to the Graham Dining Center or enjoy late-night eats at the Junction Snack Bar, Jordanich envisioned.

For her, Schmidt would’ve been too much of a clean freak to live in BBB, especially because

11.6%

Respondees that think Nick and Schmidt lived

Day Hall

(Schmidt) would definitely love to lock himself in the pod and have his own morning and night routine in there.

Mia Jordanich su sophmore on why they lived day hall

it has communal showers and not pod bathrooms like Day.

“He would definitely love to lock himself in the pod and have his own morning and night routine in there,” Jordanich said.

Some people postulate an invisible string theory since Nick eventually ends up with Jess Day, connecting back to Day Hall.

Flint Hall received the second most votes with 25.9%. Some said that the pair would’ve endured the pain of going up the Mount steps every day, while others think they would’ve avoided it by living in BBB.

Another respondent said that Schmidt’s preppiness would fit on the Mount. Because of the steps and BBB’s overall negative perception, many think they would suffer in one of these main freshmen dorms.

Senior Wyatt Humpf thought Nick and Schmidt would live in Haven Hall, like him. Only four respondents voted for the “toilet bowl.” He didn’t know before filling out the form that Nick and Schmidt went to Syracuse, but it’s something he was excited about since they’re so relatable.

“It seems really clever and inclusive to anyone to be part of Orange and Syracuse,” Humpf said.

First and foremost, Nick and Schmidt are Syracuse guys, McDermott said.

“Schmidt — especially when he was portrayed as a student — was this needy, pathetic dude,” McDermott said. “(Nick and Schmidt) thought they were cool, but they really weren’t at that point. So it kind of reminded me of new students who would start at Syracuse.”

Sanders pictures them eating in the Brockway Dining Center, moving their fights to the dance studio in the basement or taking the long way to make it to the dining hall without going outside.

But beyond just being in BBB, Sanders sees them stealing dining hall trays and sledding down the Crouse College hill, or rolling down it in nicer weather. She could also picture them going to University Union’s annual Block Party.

Schmidt was a communications major, so he would’ve been in the Newhouse School of Public Communications, which Mathai said was a fun Easter egg for her to hear in the show. She’s from Chicago, and she said she rarely finds people who are familiar with Syracuse. So, sometimes Mathai used “New Girl” to create her own connection.

“They’ll be like, ‘Oh my God. They went to Syracuse, too,” Mathai said. “It just feels like I have a little more representation there.”

rosinaboehm@dailyorange.com

School of Education debuted first inclusive abroad program

By Ally Goelz asst. digital editor

When Gabriel Blanco heard he could spend two weeks in Italy this summer, he jumped at the opportunity. Throughout his time studying alongside InclusiveU students at Syracuse University, he made friends he didn’t expect.

“The relationships I made with the inclusive students, we were all in it together,” Blanco said. “We really did everything together and I created friendships that I never would’ve created if I hadn’t gone.”

The students, composed of seven current and former InclusiveU students and seven School Of Education students, took a class together in Italy. SU Florence and the Center on Disability and Inclusion sponsored the program focused on inclusive learning.

Dr. Christine Ashby and Dr. Beth Myers, two professors at the School Of Education specializing in disabled and inclusive studies co-planned and led the program, allowing the group to explore, learn and experience Italy. In addition, two InclusiveU staff members joined them. They worked together to create an itinerary that showcased inclusive learning and allowed time to explore Italian culture.

InclusiveU allows students of all ages with different intellectual and developmental disabilities to experience college life in a fully inclusive environment. SU was named one of the top 20 colleges with “great inclusion programs” in 2025, according to The Mighty.

The program is an initiative of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, established in 2014. InclusiveU provides accommodating coursework to students, resources to connect with SU professors and peers and strategies for students to interact with each other.

“Our InclusiveU students are involved in so many opportunities on campus, but they were still missing out on a study abroad opportunity,” Myers said. “This experience was not something we studied, but a way of living and learning together.”

Blanco, a sophomore inclusive childhood education major, said the experience was personalized to education studies and was a “perfect way” to begin his study abroad career with hopes to go abroad in the future.

Alongside forming relationships, students took EDU300—one of the School Of Education’s selected topic courses focused on Italian schooling, and the context of the Italian government interacting with their education system.

The students dove into similarities and differences between the United States’ and Italy’s teaching systems to see how the countries differ, Blanco said.

Italy is internationally recognized for its progressive approach to inclusive education. The country has a 99% literacy rate and mandates policies to include all students regardless of disability status in the classroom, according to a study from the Open Journal of Social Sciences.

“All students deserve the opportunity to experience another culture through study

abroad, and this course was a significant first step toward new and expanded intentionally inclusive abroad opportunities,” Ashby said.

Students also explored Italy on their own, from walking through passageways to riding up gondolas, all while studying at SU’s Florence Center. Being in a foreign country and experiencing it with the other students was a bonding experience, Blanco said.

Blanco said his favorite was Venice because of the flexibility granted by teachers and students.

Other experiences included school and university visits to showcase inclusive education, museum tours and classroom outings.

“It was such an amazing two weeks. To get out of my hometown and go to a foreign country, it’s an experience that I’ve never done before,” Blanco said. “I think it’s a great way to put yourself out there and learn so much about the culture, the language and having that experience is very important.”

akgoelz@syr.edu

By Madeline Goodheart asst. digital editor

As students prepare for a new semester, a finance expert said tariffs and inflation could make this back-to-school season the most expensive in recent memory.

During his first few months in office, President Donald Trump implemented a series of tariffs on multiple countries, raising the price for steel and aluminium goods, copper imports and foreign-made cars, imported engines and other car parts.

Patrick Penfield, professor of practice in supply chain management and director of executive education at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, said tariffs are already raising the cost of school essentials.

For college students, the biggest price spikes may show up in electronics, sneakers and backpacks. Waiting until September could leave students with fewer choices and higher prices, Penfield said.

Prices for common back-to-school products could climb 15 to 25% by Sept. 1 on top of existing inflation, he said. This increase could make this year expensive for students who need items such as laptops.

“Electronics are the big ones,” he said. “Most laptops are assembled in Asia, and that’s where students will feel the biggest hit.”

Trump claims tariff revenues could help pay down the nation’s $37 trillion debt and even fund a public “dividend.” Though data from the United States Department of the Treasury shows the money collected doesn’t cover the federal government’s monthly interest costs.

Interest costs on federal debt are the government’s third-biggest major spending area, following Social Security and health care services and research, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2024, the government’s net expense on interest was $879.9 billion, which was 13% of that year’s expenditures.

The Labor Department reported that wholesale inflation jumped 0.9% in July, the sharpest increase in more than three years. Analysts say importers have been absorbing much of the cost of tariffs so far, but that is likely to change.

“It will only be a matter of time before producers pass their higher tariff-related costs onto the backs of inflation-weary consumers,” Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS, told the Associated Press.

Consumer prices are already rising. The U.S. Department of Labor reported a 2.7% increase in consumer prices in July compared to the same month last year.

Items heavily imported into the U.S., such as electronic equipment, saw noticeable gains, with wholesale prices for home

electronics rising 5% in just one month, the AP reported.

The National Retail Federation reported that 67% of parents began their back-to-school shopping in early July, the highest figure since 2019. Educational books and supplies cost about 10% more this May compared to last year, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Economists warn that even if apparel prices have dipped slightly overall, expectations of higher prices are driving consumer behavior, ABC 10 reported.

Some retailers are starting to source products domestically, but supply chain shifts take time, Penfield said. In the meantime, students may have to adjust their shopping habits.

Penfield recommended considering last year’s models for electronics, browsing thrift stores or sticking with what students already own rather than upgrading.

Finance experts also urge students to avoid putting school expenses on high-interest credit cards, ABC 10 reported. Derek Stimel, associate teaching professor of economics at UC Davis, suggested using cash where possible, buying in bulk and comparing prices online before heading to stores.

While Penfield expects higher prices to last through the end of the year, the long-term picture is uncertain. If tariffs continue and consumers cut back, retailers could face slowing demand in 2026, potentially easing prices, he said.

“Costs are going to go up the next couple quarters,” Penfield said. “But if you shop early and look for deals, it doesn’t have to be that bad of a shock.”

mmgoodhe@syr.edu

By Brenne Sheehan asst. news editor

Syracuse University deans will re-evaluate programs within their schools and colleges throughout the fall semester, according to a Wednesday campus-wide email.

The portfolio reviews, ordered by Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew, will aim to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the university’s programs, she wrote in the email.

“This is not a review of departments or people, but a thoughtful examination of programs, degrees and majors,” Agnew wrote.

The decision is a “proactive” approach to greater discussions of financial stability in the wake of “demographic shifts” and evolving student and employer expectations, according to the email.

Since January, President Donald Trump’s administration has targeted higher education

with stricter oversight and policy on “illegal DEI,” where some universities have seen resulting cuts to federal funding.

Agnew said each dean was given data, including enrollment trends and market analysis, to help guide their reviews and encourage them to collaborate with their faculty to determine which programs are stable and which need to be “phased out” or “rebranded.”

Deans will deliver their recommendations by the end of the semester, and Agnew will present a report at the University Senate’s meeting in January, she said.

Students may see surveys, engagement sessions and other forums for dialogue from their home college’s dean, the provost wrote.

“By working together, we can strengthen our academic profile, invest in high-quality, highdemand programs and ensure that our offerings remain relevant, competitive and aligned with our mission,” she wrote.

bsheeh03@syr.edu

response to questions when asked how the ODI’s closure would impact students.

One SU senior, who asked to remain anonymous due to potential retaliation, said their experiences last semester as a student assistant with the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and being involved with the Native Student Program highlighted what they saw as the university’s efforts to align with Trump’s agenda — even before SU’s July announcement.

The senior said the center often had to be “more clever” with its wording when presenting ideas to the university, as several terms related to the LGBTQ+ community were among those the Trump administration previously targeted in its efforts to internally purge DEIA terminology.

Since “diversity” and “inclusion” were also on this list, they said it “wasn’t really surprising” that SU chose to create a new unit with different terminology.

On March 6, SU announced it would review its DEIA programs to ensure they remained in compliance with federal law. The evaluation, led by then-Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Mary Grace Almandrez — now the vice president for People and Culture — included collecting feedback from over 300 community members.

“While change often brings discomfort, we encourage every student to remain engaged — ask questions, advocate thoughtfully, and hold on to the vision of a campus where everyone belongs,” SGA’s statement reads. “The office may be closed, but the commitment continues.”

Among the 16 peer institutions in SU’s 2024 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Feedback Report, four — Tulane University, Northeastern University, University of Notre Dame and University of Rochester — renamed their DEIA programs this year.

Three more — University of Miami, Clemson University and Tufts University — made similar changes prior to Trump’s election, while the remaining nine maintain their DEIA offices intact as of Aug. 20. Some of the schools that still have DEI programs, like Boston College and Drexel University, are similarly evaluating and altering these initiatives due to federal mandates.

Experts say universities are removing and revising these initiatives primarily to avoid the risk of losing federal funding, which amounts to around $68.5 million of SU’s total revenue in Fiscal Year 2023, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported in February.

While many students understood the reasoning behind SU’s decision, they said they believe it exemplifies a lack of support for underrepresented students at the university.

“I find that the simplicity of that name change has a lot more weight to it than you would

ates a lack of unity in the educational system, according to the National Education Association. States would be able to control factors such as curriculum and resource allocation, extending beyond K-12.

White said higher education students will be disproportionately impacted based on their college’s location if these policies are implemented. He noted that SU’s status as a private university, in a Democrat-led state, will hopefully provide some protection from federal policy changes.

“Private schools like Syracuse have a little bit more autonomy — not full autonomy — but more than certain schools,” White said. “But if you’re in a red state, these are going to be very serious constraints.”

Margaret Susan Thompson, an SU history and political science professor, agreed. She added that although SU is located in New York, many students are from other states and are at risk for different political conditions upon returning home or post-graduation.

“In some conservative-led states like Florida, Texas, Indiana ... public universities are restricted in who they can hire, what courses they can offer,” Thompson said. “That’s not something Syracuse will face directly, but it will affect our grads when they apply for jobs or grad school.”

Beyond policy restrictions, professors say a growing culture of fear is permeating SU’s campus. Concerns over losing federal funding and retaliation from the administration have shaped decisions at the university, including public silence from university leadership, professors said.

In April, SU Chancellor Kent Syverud notably didn’t sign a public letter from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, which condemned the Trump administration for “undue government intrusions,” stating the administration had overreached in its threats to higher educational institutions.

Thompson said many SU professors encouraged Syverud to sign the letter, but there’s been

assume,” the senior said. “To me, it shows that what that office consists of bothers them, so they want it to feel smaller, and they don’t want it to seem like we are being inclusive to people.”

Echoing the senior, Orezimena “Rezi” Ubogu — a junior dual majoring in English and Textual Studies as well as Television, Radio and Film — said the name of the new unit, broader than its predecessor, may prevent students of color from “feeling seen” at a predominantly white institution.

“To me, it really isn’t just a name change. It feels like erasure,” Ubogu said.

Ubogu’s concerns reflect those of multiple student organizations on campus. After SU announced the ODI’s closure, SU’s chapter of College Democrats, in collaboration with College Democrats of New York, released an Instagram post condemning the decision. The post included a 2023 quote from Syverud affirming SU’s “longstanding commitment” to inclusion alongside another graphic that asked, “What changed SU?”

That same day, the Instagram account @blackatcuse called the university’s actions “shameful” and accused SU’s administration of harassing students of color in a comment on The D.O.’s Instagram. Syracuse Antifascist Action — a new, “unofficial” student organization that opened its member applications the day before the ODI’s closure — wrote that “Kent has no problem bending the knee to Trump” and urged students to “make their voices heard.”

“Universities … have a duty and responsibility to not only serve but protect their students with the utmost dignity,” CDNY President and SU graduate student Tyler Toledo wrote in a separate statement sent to The D.O. “Altering the language used in their administrative spaces and shutting down the office of DEI to appease those uncomfortable with ‘diversity’ fundamentally compromises and undermines that responsibility.”

In contrast, some commenters on The D.O.’s post spoke out in support of the decision, arguing the new unit and its name were more inclusive to all students than its predecessor. Some also said they believed the ODI was “ineffective” and that a division focusing more broadly on “People and Culture” would better coalign with the principle of “equal opportunity.”

SU’s chapter of College Republicans declined The D.O.’s request for comment. The National Federation of College Republicans released a statement celebrating Trump’s remarks during his March 4 Joint Session of Congress. In his speech, Trump said his administration had “ended the tyranny of socalled (DEI) policies” in the federal government and private sector.

Due to the current political climate, Ubogu said she “wasn’t surprised” by SU’s decision and that she had heard “whisperings” about future changes within her position in the former BIPOC Student Success Programs — now called Belong-

no direct explanation from the chancellor or university leadership following his decision.

“We are carefully reviewing the substance of the letter and actively consulting with key stakeholders to thoughtfully determine our course of action,” Sarah Scalese, SU’s senior associate vice president for communications, wrote in an April 23 statement to The Daily Orange.

Thompson said that Syverud may be afraid of the backlash from the Trump administration if he were to sign, but hopes for more clarity from SU’s leadership in the future.

White said Syverud’s silence is “fitting” for the nature of the administration and fear of retaliation through cutting funding. University leaders and faculty rely on federal support for campus engagement, including research, assignments and student resources. Syverud said in a campus-wide email on May 20 that there are risks to its standing in higher education if funding cuts are made to university resources.

“(Money) doesn’t just fund projects, it funds positions,” White said. “They’re afraid of being targeted. Therefore, (SU leadership) not making statements they might have made in a different context.”

Keck said the administration is leveraging these cuts as a bargaining chip, using funding as a way to pressure universities into compliance.

He said this strategy allows the administration to control colleges and universities by making “success” contingent on compliance with their policies. This gives the administration power to crack down on speech or actions from the university that aren’t aligned with the administration’s agenda.

“There’s a real concerted effort on the part of the administration to unlawfully coerce private institutions to do the administration’s bidding,” Keck said.

President Trump has also signed a series of executive orders aimed at eliminating DEIA initiatives from universities, calling these programs “discriminatory” and threatening to take away funding if programs are continued. This push has prompted higher education institutions to discern which policies could be seen as

ing and Student Success. BIPOC — which stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color — is also on Trump’s list of targeted terms.

In SGA’s Aug. 20 statement, the association confirmed it wouldn’t get rid of its internal DEI Committee. SGA stated that it would also “continue to build spaces where students from all backgrounds feel supported and celebrated.”

“In alignment with this transition, the Student Experience Division, including its Intercultural Collective and student success programs, will expand its efforts to foster community among students and promote meaningful engagement across differences, backgrounds, perspectives and experiences,” Syverud wrote in the initial campus-wide email announcing the decision.

The senior said that, as long as SU continues to offer existing resources for underrepresented students, the student body has “other things to worry about” despite the “upsetting” nature of the initial change. But for several students, including the senior, the closing of the ODI also reignited other ongoing frustrations students have with SU administration.

For Amith Tatineni, a senior triple majoring in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, SU’s decision signaled that the university values funding and donors more than students. He said the change reinforced his frustrations with university administration, pointing to tuition increases and the potential for recent investments to similarly influence policies, such as SU’s partnership with Micron Technology.

“What this shows, in my opinion, is the school’s lack of backbone to institutional funding and donorship — this idea that, if somebody wants something done, and they have enough money, this school is willing to change all its morals around,” Tatineni said.

Because of SU’s history of “liberal-leaning” protests — such as #NotAgainSU and the 1970 anti-Vietnam War student strike, Tatineni said he questions whether the decision reflects students’ desires. Though he said he doesn’t expect the transition to have any tangible impact on campus life.

One freshman, Sophia Ghadimi, an undecided student in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she also didn’t understand why SU would opt to make changes to the ODI without identifying a specific problem that needed to be fixed.

“Does Syracuse agree with (removing DEIA initiatives), or are they just following it because of the policy?” she said.

Chloe Brown Monchamp, a sophomore political science major, said she doesn’t expect the ODI’s absence to visibly change campus life. Still, she said the name change has made her consider transferring because of her personal commitment to DEIA. Aspiring to become an international human rights lawyer, she said she had hoped SU would take a stronger stance against Trump’s anti-DEIA initiatives, especially given its reputed public policy programs.

controversial by the Trump administration, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported.

Many universities have scrubbed DEIArelated language from their websites or canceled DEIA events, according to the New York Times.

On July 31, SU announced the closure of its Office of Diversity and Inclusion, replacing it with the Office of People and Culture within the Office of Human Resources.

“You will see that Trump will issue an executive order that sort of unilaterally declares that they’re not going to fund any research that has anything to do with DEI,” Keck said. “They’re just cutting off existing grants which have no relation just because of a title.”

On July 30, the U.S. Department of Justice released a “non-binding” list of DEIA practices deemed illegal or discriminatory. The “best-practices” guideline is intended to help institutions receiving federal funds avoid “the risk of violations and the revocation of federal grant funding.”

The DOJ list includes specific practices that can “constitute unlawful preferential treatment,” including race-based scholarships, preferential hiring from “underrepresented groups,” access to resources based on race and targeted institutional or geographic outreach.

“The attention that is being paid in this administration to diversity, equity and inclusivity is really a problem because it’s being misinterpreted as somehow providing favorable treatment to people who are unqualified, which it’s not,” Thompson said. “It’s simply opening up opportunities.

Since being reinstated in January, Trump has also pushed for U.S. colleges to reduce their international student enrollment and implement further security measures. According to ABC News, the administration has begun deportation efforts targeting international students who participate in pro-Palestinian protests and activism.

Thompson said many international students at SU are fearful of returning to campus in the fall, or alternatively, couldn’t go to their home country for the summer, fearing they won’t be allowed back into the U.S.

“If international students face more restrictions, or decide not to come, that affects all

She added that she wishes SU did more to support underrepresented students, noting that the university benefits from the visibility and revenue of football and basketball programs whose rosters are majority athletes of color. She said she worries the shift to People and Culture may make students feel unrepresented.

“I don’t think necessarily the decision will make a drastic change in what you see on campus, but I think it’ll make a drastic change in the ways that people feel on campus … even with something as small as a name change,” Brown Monchamp said.

As a new student, Ghadimi said that, though she was unfamiliar with the ODI operations before she arrived at SU, she worried that the transition might “put a halt to diversity” at the university and questioned whether the decision was truly “necessary.”

In the July 31 statement, cosigned by several SU administrators — including Syverud, Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew and Almandrez, the university wrote that it will “continue to advance our commitment to being a campus that is welcoming to all.”

The wording closely mirrors a line in the 2021 DEIA draft: “We invite you to be involved as we finalize the plan to create a welcoming campus community for all.”

The document also mentions the late 2019 and early 2020 #NotAgainSU movement — demonstrations in which students occupied university buildings to protest the administration’s handling of bias incidents and treatment of students of color. The ODI was also founded that year.

Despite her frustration, Ubogu said she hopes something positive will emerge from the new People and Culture unit. She said that, because terms like BIPOC have become “plagued” in public discourse and some even view them as “derogatory,” having a broader name may make more students resonate with the programs designed to support them.

“I hope this name change doesn’t mean that Syracuse is changing in a negative direction, but instead changing the negative and hurtful and exclusionary behavior that we’ve been seeing,” Ubogu said. “Rather than having it be something that divides us, it’s something that unites us and makes the school better.”

Brown Monchamp, along with the other students The D.O. spoke with, said they don’t yet know what the change will look like and predict its effects may not become clear until the fall semester officially begins.

For now, many said they hope SU will continue to uphold its previous commitments to DEIA — even if the university is no longer using that language explicitly.

Asst. Sports Digital Editor Henry Daley contributed reporting to this article.

jmboehni@syr.edu

of us,” Thompson said. “Not just in diversity, but in academic support, research output and classroom experiences.”

In April, three SU students joined 1,800 international students across the country who had their visas revoked by the U.S. State Department. After several lawsuits were filed, the government reversed the visa cancellations.

Many students who were targeted had either little or no infractions on their records and were questioning why they had been targeted, the Associated Press reported. Out of fear, many either left the country, went into hiding or stopped attending class and campus events.

“Both international students and faculty are going to be more reluctant to come to the United States to work and study if they’re going to have draconian immigration enforcement hanging over their heads,” Keck said.

Professors say international students are now afraid to “step out of line,” causing concern for re-arrival into the U.S. or deportation.

According to the National Immigration Law Center, every single person in the U.S., including immigrants, undocumented people and U.S. citizens, has First Amendment rights.

However, in practice, the right to speak on what people believe in has been curtailed through the administration’s actions, Keck said. He said from what he’s heard in “hallway conversations,” that both international students and faculty are “self-censoring” to protect themselves.

Professors warn that the cumulative effect of Trump-era education policy changes will extend far beyond campus, creating lasting ripple effects that continue to shape students’ lives long after graduation. Keck said the looming future of Trump’s agenda is uncertain, so in order for institutions to thrive, they must work together to protect academic freedoms.

“Universities play a very important function in terms of educating young people and also in terms of the production and dissemination of knowledge,” Keck said. “It would be better if more of them found a way to stand up collectively, instead of getting picked off one at a time.” sgupta38@syr.edu

CULTURE

Salt City summer

Students who stayed near campus this summer found themselves gaining more love and appreciation for their college town

By Lily Zuckerman asst. digital editor

Jack Withee realized that his junior and senior year apartment leases overlapped during July.

The solution? Make the most of the situation by spending the summer in Syracuse. He learned more about the city by trying new restaurants and taking walks at Thornden Park and Green Lakes State Park.

“Things got so busy that I found that I’ve had a hard time really getting to explore the city,” the Syracuse University senior said. “I wanted to

I

graduate feeling like I had gotten to know where I went to school.”

From hammocking at Green Lakes to witnessing a proposal in Thornden Park during one of his regular “hot girl walks,” Withee’s summer in Syracuse allowed him to do just that.

While most students head home when classes end, some, like Withee, stay near or on campus, experiencing the magic of a Syracuse summer. Whether it was attending concerts or trying new foods, students took advantage of all the experiences the city has to offer when classes aren’t in session.

SU junior Michael Durand supplemented his time taking summer courses in Syracuse to discover local

attractions and events in a somewhat unconventional way: the advertisements at Syracuse Mets games. The jumbotron and pamphlets proved to be the perfect way to learn what the city had to offer.

“This place isn’t as boring, gray, or filled with as many abandoned buildings as I thought,” Durand said.

Durand’s summer consisted of classes, trips to the Nancy Cantor Warehouse and repainting his apartment for the upcoming school year.

During his downtime, Durand drove around the city’s outskirts, discovering new Destiny Mall shops and appliance stores in the area.

Unlike Durand or Withee, Kevin McGurn, an SU

By Tara Binte Sharil

digital editor

feel overwhelmed with having the perfect first year. Instead of looking on TikTok or Yik Yak for credible SU “advice,” The Daily Orange is here to help you calm your nerves. Here

are some debunked freshmen-year myths to ease your conscience.

Myth #1: SU

Jack Withee su senior

Get your planners out for an exciting school year

By Mia Jones culture editor

There’s no reason to be bummed about being back on Syracuse University’s campus when you can see a butter sculpture and now drink Diet Coke in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Whether you’re new here or have been around the block a few times, here are some of the best things to look forward to this year when you’re not busy studying. From new businesses sprouting up near campus to concerts and outdoor activities , there’s actually plenty to do in Syracuse (contrary to popular belief).

Coca-Cola products

People’s Place is no longer the only spot to get CocaCola products on campus. As of this summer, a trip to watch a game in the Dome or eat at the dining hall means you can grab a Diet Coke or a Sprite to pair with your Dome Dog.

Football season

The home-opener football game is Sept. 6 against the UConn Huskies. You can also watch the Orange take on the Duke Blue Devils later in the season over Family Weekend.

Great New York State Fair

Now is also the time of the year to take a trip to the Great New York State Fair — an SU back-to-school classic. Busta Rhymes, AJR, Lil Jon and Neon Trees are just a few of the artists expected to perform at this year’s Fair. Bands playing tributes to artists like Lady Gaga, Fleetwood Mac, Bruno Mars and ABBA will also take the stage.

The Fair is also home to sand and butter sculptures, racing pigs, people on stilts and even a petting zoo. Catch a ride on the Ferris wheel to see a view of the historic Fair from above. The Fair opened yesterday and will run through Labor Day weekend.

Festivals and farmers markets

Local festivals and farmers markets don’t stop with summer winding down; they’ll be greeting students with fresh produce from local businesses and opportunities to engage with Syracuse’s neighborhoods. The Downtown Farmers Market at Clinton Square features fruits, vegetables and

senior studying communications design, is no stranger to summertime in Syracuse. Originally from Pennsylvania, this was McGurn’s second summer on campus, working as a creative media intern for SU’s football team.

McGurn said his second summer in Syracuse felt like “a very cliché sequel to a movie where I’m getting back to my groove.”

A summer in Syracuse taught McGurn more about himself. His music taste has expanded with visits to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards to see Justin Moore and the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview for the Outlaw Music Festival. Other, simpler highlights include trips to various ice cream shops with his girlfriend.

“I’ve been eating better and cooking my own meals, and other life habits that I’ve developed this summer living on my own,” McGurn said. “If I’m able to, I really want to continue this healthy routine of mine during the school year.”

For some students, time spent in Syracuse this summer has even solidified future aspirations and plans.

Gabriela Peniston, an SU senior majoring in broadcast and digital journalism, spent the summer teaching high school students in the SU PreCollege program, Broadcast and Digital Journalism: TV News Storytelling.

Working with students this summer encouraged Peniston to apply to be a teaching assistant for the fall semester.

“Teaching broadcast journalism made me realize how much I love the field, because doing it is completely different than teaching it,” Peniston said.

food trucks. It runs through mid-October. Next, head to the Westcott area to spend a day at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair, where you can meet street vendors and nonprofit organizations while watching performers.

New businesses

Some new businesses have opened on Marshall Street, offering students a change of pace for when the food at Graham Dining Center becomes too much. Brooklyn Pickle On the Run, the latest installment from Brooklyn Pickle Sandwich Shop and Frozen D Lite are just a few places that should be on your bucket list this school year. Nothing like some frozen yogurt to cool off from those lingering summer temperatures.

Outdoor activities

But don’t fret when the air starts to chill, because Green Lakes State Park and Onondaga State Park showcase the area’s vibrant fall foliage. Take a break from campus and walk the trails around the lakes or partake in pickleball or frisbee golf. Family Weekend will arrive before you know it, the perfect time to show your loved ones the new spots you’ve discovered on or near campus.

“It gave me a different perspective on why I’m here.”

Withee used his summer living in Syracuse as a trial run to decide if he could see himself living in the city full-time. He realized he wants to stay in Syracuse after graduation.

“I’m learning that the city’s right up my alley, because there are super artsy-fartsy things to do,” Withee said. “It has a lot of the things I’m looking for in my post-grad life.”

Withee worked as a cashier at Varsity Pizza, where he considered himself an “off-the-clock tour guide” to customers visiting SU. These conversations made him realize just how much he’d fallen in love with the school, he said, and how far he’d come since arriving on campus.

Attractions like Syracuse’s annual Mac-NCheese Fest, a local escape room, a karaoke bar and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que grabbed the attention of Peniston and her fellow TA’s.

Withee found his own excursions in the city on the Instagram accounts @afterdarkpresents and @ wandercuse, such as a drag show and the Westcott Art Trail, one of his favorite activities this summer.

“Being in Syracuse this summer showed me that there is so much more to the city than what I saw during the academic year,” Peniston said. “I will take advantage of the fact that I’m living in Syracuse, and that I’m not just living at Syracuse University.”

No matter how or where they spent their days, SU students who stayed in Syracuse this summer said they learned lessons they want to take with them into the next school year while finding a new appreciation for their college town.

After all, as Varsity Pizza customers told Withee, “If you’re bored in Syracuse over the summer, you’re just boring.”

lvzucker@syr.edu

First snow

Once the first snow hits, things start to really get exciting. The air is brisk, Syracuse is itching for winter and it’s time to invest in a good sled. Crouse Hill is the perfect place to go sledding and catch a drift of snow (and hopefully some air) as you enjoy the winter season.

Performing arts

If the weather outside is just too bitter, a concert or Broadway show at Landmark Theatre or The Oncenter is a great way to warm up from the cold. This school year, you can see “Hamilton,” “Wicked” or “The Music Man” at Landmark Theatre. Venues like Funk ‘n Waffles, The Oncenter and Westcott Theater will offer concerts like the DJ BUNT. and Ray LaMontagne or David Byrne.

Warm weather, again

And by the time winter melts and warmer weather rolls back around, the cycle repeats itself. In the spring, the first warm day means you can get the picnic blankets and hammocks back out as you prepare for finals season. Consider making your way back to Green Lakes to defrost with a walk around the lake and a nice cool dip to bring your year full circle. mjones58@syr.edu

Myth #3: Long-distance relationships won’t work Friends and online posts may be telling you to break off your relationship before college. But, a long-distance relationship, like any relationship, just takes a bit more effort and commitment. Continue to take interest in each others’ lives. Check in on each other. Spend an hour or two call to catch up on the day. A long-distance relationship is just like any other; if you two can make it work, it’s meant to be.

Myth #4: Your first week friend group is forever

Don’t put too much pressure on creating the perfect friend group during Welcome Week. Let’s be frank, the first few weeks are about making a good first impression. Sometimes, people’s first impressions don’t always show their true colors. Remember, it takes time and patience until you find your best friends. For now, you just need someone to eat in the dining hall with. Join clubs that interest you, say yes to things — it’s likely you’ll find your best friend there. While waiting for class to start, talk to the people around you. Your friend group will evolve as you go through your college journey and the people who stick around are your real, lifelong friends.

Sincerely,

Former gullible freshman tabintes@syr.edu

andrew berkman cartoonist

New Student Convocation

This event is a special academic ceremony that marks the start of new students’ college careers in the JMA Wireless Dome. All new students must attend and families and supporters are encouraged to join. Brunch is served on the Dome field from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. after Convocation.

WHEN : Thursday, doors at 8:30 a.m., program starting at 10 a.m.

WHERE: JMA Wireless Dome PRICE: Free

Orange Blast

Join fellow new students on Shaw Quadrangle for an evening of fun, featuring inflatables, mini golf, souvenirs and more. Meet with representatives from over 50 student-run organizations.

WHEN : Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Shaw Quadrangle

PRICE: Free

Spend some time this weekend at the Great New York State Fair, a staple event for both students and locals to close out the summer. With countless attractions ranging from musical performances to dog shows, you won’t want to miss out.

WHEN : Now until Sept. 1

WHERE: New York State Fairgrounds

PRICE: $8.32 general admission, free admission for ages 65 and older and children 12 and under

Snapshots and Swag

Forever Orange Student Alumni Council and the Office of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving are hosting a photo station to commemorate new students’ beginning moments at Syracuse University. Snap memorable pictures and pick up some spirit wear.

WHEN : Thursday from 12 to 5 p.m.

WHERE: Einhorn Family Walk

PRICE: Free

Citrus in the City

Don’t miss out on this staple Welcome Week event where new students can sample the city of Syracuse’s best. Starting at 5 p.m., buses will pick up students from College Place Bus Stop, Stadium Place Bus Stop and Goldstein Student Center. All buses return to the Dome in time for Dome Sweet Dome.

WHEN : Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: College Place Bus Stop, Stadium Place Bus Stop and Goldstein Student Center PRICE: Free

Dome Sweet Dome

New students receive Welcome Week T-shirts and join peers to take their official class photo in the shape of the SU “S” at the Dome. This event is required for new first-year and transfer students.

WHEN : Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: JMA Wireless Dome PRICE: Free

Reality contradicts media’s portrayal of vast generational gaps

By Maya Aguirre columnist

As I get older, I’m realizing growing up doesn’t stop after physical or even mental maturation.

Being older doesn’t prohibit us from growing into ourselves, but aging often feels directly connected to stagnation and resistance to change. This is often why intergenerational differences in beliefs and customs feel so heavily ingrained.

Cohorts, once diffused across childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, eventually more cohesively enter the world of adulthood and assume the responsibilities that come with it. While younger generations enter this new stage, the older ones begin to phase out of their own stages and are forced to pass the reins of society off to the young.

Generation Z has been growing up for a while now. With the older half of our generation in their late 20s and the younger half entering their teens, we’re now finally becoming more wholly acquainted with the realities of adulthood or, at least, the absence of childhood.

As this shift occurs, Gen Z intrudes on the “real world” enough for our culture and attitudes to shape the workforce and social norms that the older generations now share with us.

While we grapple with the changing responsibilities that crop up during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, we bring both baggage and insights to the environments we now take space in.

This past summer, social media users of multiple generations coined the term “Gen Z stare.” According to the older generations, this is the blank, unconcerned and perhaps soulless stare Gen Z workers give in response to the most basic of human interactions in lieu of a verbal response.

This stare is given to older generations when they say something “ridiculous,” according to some Gen Z rebuttals. Regardless of its purpose, self-proclaimed professionals on TikTok argue the stare is a result of Gen Z’s stunted social development during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The trending topic prompts further conversation about Gen Z’s behavior in professional envi-

ronments. One Gen Z intern’s email notifying their boss about needing to take a vacation went viral for its casual tone and use of the phrase: “not getting that vibe right now.”

For every critique baby boomers, Gen Xers or millennials brought up within the conversation, Gen Z users fired back feisty responses. The conversation felt like a macrocosm of the relationship between a parent and a child going through puberty. There was very little empathy, vulnerability or understanding on either end.

As I pored over the posts, I saw multiple videos in which millennial and Gen X users expressed how this intergenerational beef was normal, and every generation had to learn to accept this dynamic.

From what I gathered, it seemed the dynamic we’ve accepted is a rite of passage for older generations to make fun of the generation entering the adult world – in return, it’s the younger generation’s right to be angry or defiant. This all results in a deeper divide between the cohorts –but according to the theory, that’s okay.

This felt oversimplified to me. If we could accept the critiques of those older than us, maybe they’d trust us more and allow us the space to insert our more collective values into society. Practicing better manners in social interactions with older adults is a small price to pay to gain their trust to let us impose a healthier work-life balance, which our generation seems to value.

As this battle played out online and in my head, I was also working a summer job as a salesperson at a makeup store.

While working there, I began to respect makeup as an important cultural product – one I could share with the little girls who somehow obtained limitless lip gloss knowledge, or with elderly women who were looking for the closest match of a discontinued powder they’d finally run out of.

The job was intergenerational on every level, and it provoked a lot of introspection about my age group.

There was one instance in which a middleaged woman came in to build her routine from the ground up. She approached me apprehensively and requested my assistance. I happily agreed. Embracing my enthusiastic work per-

sona, I took her through each station, applying and testing various products on her and making small talk along the way.

She didn’t seem to take to my gleeful attitude at first, but she still listened to my suggestions and allowed me to do her makeup.

As I applied blush to her cheek, I thought about the “Gen Z stare” debate. I guessed my customer had imagined me differently upon seeing me than how I truly was and how I was trying to present myself. I felt frustrated, frowning to myself as I assigned her apprehension in asking me to help as a judgment about my age and, therefore, my character or knowledge.

I then found myself operating motivated by a desperate desire to prove the ageist mindset I’d assumed she’d held about me wrong.

After we selected a blush, I brought her to the lipsticks. To match a lipstick is a vulnerable process, I’ve realized. Lipstick is bold. It acts as a statement on how you’d like to be perceived.

My guest asked me to select a shade of lipstick for her – she parroted my youthful language but

with kind eyes: “I’d like something that really suits my ‘vibe.’”

I laughed, and as I applied cranberry-shaded lipstick, I smiled. It was my favorite, and I think she could tell.

Within moments, we’d developed an unspoken respect for each other – she’d bent a little to me, and I’d bent a little to her. I felt my worries about being “good enough” as an adult fade with the reassuring sense of responsibility my guest’s vulnerability granted me. This dynamic was something the conversations I’d observed online lacked altogether.

We’d gotten close enough to disprove the online perception that there’s an irreconcilable distance between generations. Closeness to each other is both the antidote to generational “beef,” but it’s also what makes the process of growing up in any stage of life fun.

Maya Aguirre is a senior digital journalism and history major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at msaguirr@syr.edu.

Guest Essay: Despite scholarship, study abroad is still a burden

By Nadine Aurora Walker guest essayist

The question of how I didn’t have a passport became surprisingly common when I arrived at college. My answer was simple: I’d never needed one. Traveling beyond the United States was something other people did — people whose families could afford vacations overseas or whose schools offered trips to Europe.

When I decided as a freshman that I wanted to study abroad during my junior year, I knew it wouldn’t just be an academic challenge; it’d also be a financial one. For years, studying abroad has been marketed as a “once in a lifetime experience,” and while that’s true, it’s also a privilege. For low-income students in the U.S., it can feel like an unattainable dream.

This past semester, I studied abroad in London, England. The program tuition alone was around $10,000, not to mention the additional costs of paperwork, visas and travel. I didn’t own a passport, had never applied for a visa and had no idea how to purchase an international flight. I was starting from zero.

I’ll admit, I expected more support from Syracuse University itself. The university heavily advertises study abroad as part of the full college experience, but when it came time to actually make it happen, the financial resources felt thin. Instead of finding robust institutional aid, I was left relying on external scholarships and piecing together outside funding to cover costs. The mes-

sage was clear: while studying abroad was marketed as something every student could and should do, it was really an opportunity I could only access through resources beyond my university.

The only reason I made it to London was the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

The Gilman Scholarship is a federal grant for Pell Grant-eligible students, specifically designed to open doors for students like me.

Applying wasn’t easy – it required three essays and a lot of vulnerability about why I wanted to go – but it was worth it.

When I opened my online Gilman scholarship portal to see a $3,500 reward, I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. Suddenly, studying abroad wasn’t just something other people got to do. It was something in reach for me, too.

The Gilman scholarship gave me breathing room – not just financially, but emotionally. It made me feel seen, like there was a system rooting for me instead of quietly keeping me out.

This scholarship allowed me the opportunity to mess up; to convert pounds to dollars wrong, to accidentally budget wrong one week and get that extra coffee before my internship the next.

Knowing I wasn’t just surviving – I was learning, connecting and proving to myself that I belonged there – made the experience that much richer.

But here’s the tension: even with the Gilman scholarship, the financial reality of studying abroad weighed heavily.

Many students like me patch together scholarships, loans and extra work just to access the same

“transformative” opportunities their wealthier peers can sign up for without a second thought. And most times, the system works against us.

When I received the Gilman scholarship, SU rescinded my work-study award for the year. It was as if the financial aid office assumed my need for income had disappeared simply because I received support for travel. In reality, my bills and responsibilities at home remained unchanged.

This points to a deeper problem: our study abroad system is built on resilience, not accessibility. Low-income students are expected to jump through more hoops, write more essays and prove our worthiness again and again.

According to a study by Mitic and Wolniak published in the Journal of Student Financial Aid, students who’ve experienced financial adversity are more likely to study abroad than those who haven’t – perhaps because they’ve developed resilience and adaptability.

Federal programs like the Gilman scholarship are vital lifelines, but they can’t erase the fact that studying abroad is still treated as an elite add-on rather than an enlightening element of higher education that every student deserves.

I don’t say this to diminish what the Gilman scholarship gave me. In fact, I want more students to know about it, apply and let it transform what they think is possible. I’m proud to be a Gilman scholarship recipient, and I know firsthand how much it can change a student’s trajectory. The program gave me

confidence, community and the chance to see myself in a global context.

However, gratitude and criticism can coexist. I am grateful for the doors the Gilman scholarship opened, but I’m also frustrated those doors remain closed to so many others. If colleges truly believe in the value of global learning, they need to do more than celebrate the handful of lowincome students who find ways through. They need to reduce unnecessary program markups, ensure aid packages don’t penalize students who win scholarships and make study abroad a core, equitable part of the undergraduate experience. Until then, the reality is that studying abroad will remain a symbol of inequity in higher education. It’s an unforgettable experience – just not for the right reasons. For some students, the journey is defined as much by the financial gymnastics it took to get there as by the cultural immersion itself. For others, the opportunity never comes at all. The Gilman scholarship turned a distant dream into my reality, and I encourage other students to look into it, even if it feels out of reach. But I can’t ignore the truth: I shouldn’t have had to be this resourceful, or this lucky, just to access an experience my university flaunts as an easily-accessible experience. Studying abroad may be “life-changing,” but until we address who is excluded, we must be honest about whose lives are actually being changed.

Nadine Walker is a senior advertising major. She can be reached at nwalke06@syr.edu.

Scott Pioli, then an SU graduate assistant and future Super Bowl-winning executive, said the staff was looking for players who could boost the team’s overall morale. Hanson tried out as a long snapper and was mixed into offensive and defensive sessions on the first few days, largely to simulate drills. His overall enthusiasm quickly caught Pioli’s attention, even leading him to see if they could upset Hanson. They couldn’t.

Hanson eventually earned his chance to shine.

Many players participating were guaranteed spots on the team as recruits or preferred walk-ons. Hanson wasn’t one of them. Syracuse recruited just one specialist in the 1989 class in future NFL punter Pat O’Neill. The staff wanted to see O’Neill work out as both a punter and kicker, so it called on Hanson to deliver snaps.

As O’Neill lined up for extra points, Hanson got in his stance and torpedoed a snap through the holder’s hands. Assistant head coach Bill Maxwell shuffled in another holder. Hanson reached back, and again, the same result. Maxwell cycled through four or five guys, then entered the drill himself to see why no one could catch Hanson’s snaps.

He called for the snap, and the ball blistered straight through his hands, leaving him in awe. Maxwell turned skyward toward MacPherson in his coaching stand, shouting, “Hanson came here to snap!”

“I felt 10 feet tall,” Hanson said of the moment. “Somebody acknowledged not only that I was here to play, but that I was a human being. I got no recognition whatsoever in that four-day tryout. Except when I snapped.”

Hanson was eating lunch on the final day of the tryout when offensive coordinator George DeLeone approached him in the cafeteria. He told Hanson they liked what they saw in his snapping and to keep it up. DeLeone then walked away. Hanson was confused. Keep it up? Did I just make the team?

Hanson checked in with players around the cafeteria and told them what DeLeone said. They confirmed his thoughts. Hanson was on the roster.

He was excited. He accomplished his goal. Then, jubilation turned to a realization: he had more work to do to stick with the top talent in college football.

When Hanson joined the Orange, they didn’t have many walk-ons. Then-assistant coach and future 14-year head coach Paul Pasqualoni said SU’s status as a private school often limited opportunities for walk-on candidates. But Hanson immediately stood out as someone who could contribute, they said.

Walk-ons in today’s game are scarce. The approval of the House v. NCAA settlement in June limits teams to a 105-player roster cap, equating to fewer spots for walk-ons. Schools can go over the limit to accommodate previous walkons or incoming players who expected a roster spot before the limits were imposed.

SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack told Syracuse.com in July that the university will stick with 85 scholarship players despite the ability to expand to 105. Walk-on spots will inevitably be cut across the country as time goes on. There may not be many more stories like Hanson’s.

Pasqualoni was a walk-on himself at Penn State under Joe Paterno in the late 1960s. He felt Hanson’s Syracuse teammates leaned on his energy and smile throughout his four years. George Rooks, a former teammate of Hanson’s and the father of a current Syracuse defensive lineman, said Hanson’s daily drive in practice motivated him and other top stars on the team. Rooks won a share of the 1991 Big East Defensive Player of the Year Award. Players like Hanson helped him enjoy the process.

“Those guys are the heartbeats of teams,” Rooks said. “It’s not the star football players, but the guys who’re here because they truly love the game. That’s who Scott is.”

At Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights, Michigan, Hanson, a team captain, earned All-Conference honors. He received half-academic, half-athletic offers from smaller schools like Wayne State, John Carroll and Holy Cross. He was scrappy and undersized. But he was a student of the game. And he wanted to be a sports broadcaster.

Hanson was initially rejected from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. A few weeks later, he reapplied. He was denied again. Hanson, however, was accepted into the Arts & Sciences College with an opportunity to transfer into Newhouse. He knew he couldn’t pass it up.

In the spring of his senior year of high school, Hanson’s football itch returned. He told his parents he didn’t want his football career to end and began sending letters to MacPherson. When he received his tryout offer, he jumped at the chance.

“It was big-time football. And I knew athletically, I was not a big-time football player,” Hanson said. “But I still wanted to try.”

Hanson wasn’t walking onto just any college football team. The Orange were among the best in the nation. SU went undefeated in 1987. In 1988, it finished 10-2. While Hanson was on the squad from 1989-92, Syracuse went 4-0 in bowl games and posted a 35-12-2 record. Each team featured multiple NFL players, and the 1992 team had Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, then a freshman.

He needed to find his niche to survive. Hanson weighed 235 pounds at Bishop Foley and was the starting center. He cut weight entering college to gain athleticism. As the third-string snapper for the Orange, he never appeared in a game. But he dressed for every home game and traveled to all four bowl games with additional trips to the Tokyo Dome for the Coca-Cola Bowl in 1989 and Giants Stadium for the Kickoff Classic in 1990.

It was big-time football. And I knew athletically, I was not a big-time football player. But I still wanted to try.

Scott Hanson “nfl redzone” host

Hanson quickly became the personal snapper of four-year starting quarterback Marvin Graves. While the position groups, including offensive linemen, worked individually, Hanson delivered snaps to the quarterbacks to simulate a game-like scenario. A natural lefty, he learned how to snap right-handed to match starting center John Flannery. Hanson estimates he snapped more footballs to Graves than any other player.

“Scott snapped the ball like an NFL snapper,” Graves said. “I never played in the NFL. Flannery played in the NFL. Dave Wohlabaugh played in the NFL. I played tons of games in Canada, and I played with some pretty good centers. Scott’s velocity, accuracy and speed were up there.”

Besides snapping, Hanson was relied on as a scout team player. The lineup was made up of walk-ons like him and younger players often using their redshirts, giving them a chance to be part of the team.

Pioli said Hanson never missed anything. The scout team’s job was to mimic the opponent as closely as possible. Hanson was used all over but played a key role as a defensive back to give wide receivers similar looks to what they’d see in the game.

Star receiver Qadry Ismail remembers relying on Hanson to mirror the coverage of Virginia Tech cornerback Tyrone Drakeford. Ismail said Hanson’s aggressiveness matched Drakeford’s, allowing him to be ready come Saturday. Linebacker Reggie Terry thinks back to a specific instance during the 1991 campaign where Hanson emulated a Rutgers defensive back’s coverage, intercepting a pass.

DeLeone told Hanson he didn’t give a good look despite the interception because it was a coverage the Scarlet Knights wouldn’t play. A few days later, Rutgers safety Malik Jackson undercut a pass just like Hanson did, returning it 28 yards for a pick-six.

Aside from his play, Hanson’s personality grabbed many people’s attention. Fellow walk-on Kris Green said an 18-year-old Hanson reminded him of a combination between Ameri-

can Pie’s Steve Stifler — largely his mannerisms, not chasing women — and Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy. Running back Al Wooten classified him as a jokester.

Pioli saw his trash-talking as on par with former NFL quarterback Phillip Rivers as the best he’s seen on a football field. Defensive end Brian Tarrant said he was a guy you’d know within 15 minutes of walking into a room. His bubbly positivity never wavered.

“You only get one speed with Scott,” Tarrant said. “He’s got the radio voice and that’s always been his voice since we were young. The way he articulates and enunciates every single syllable of a word. That’s just who he is, and his personality is the same.”

His enthusiasm helped his teammates find strength. Defensive back Dwayne Joseph remembers a time when the Orange were practicing outside in the snow. Joseph, a Florida native, was miserable. Hanson loved it, hyping up Joseph and the scout team. Though it also got Hanson in trouble at times.

Early in his career, Hanson said he once turned to strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik during warmups. The future Patriots staffer was stoic, often talking out of the side of his mouth in a monotone voice. Hanson enthusiastically shouted to Woicik, “Let’s have a great practice.” Woicik, knowing Hanson wanted to go into sports broadcasting, responded not so kindly.

“Hanson, you can take that Bob Costas act and shove it up your a**,” Hanson recalls Woicik saying. Hanson turned pale, not speaking to Woicik following the encounter.

But the “Bob Costas act” was exactly what Hanson was shooting for. After being rejected from Newhouse twice, Hanson was on a mission. He and his roommate, Jim Hockenberry, would purchase copies of USA Today from the dining hall. Hanson devoured the sports section. He also had subscriptions to outlets like Sports Illustrated, Sporting News and Sport Magazine to consume more football information. While playing with Syracuse, he was living the concepts.

Hanson was eventually admitted into Newhouse after a successful first few semesters. When football season was over, he and future NewsChannel 9 Sportscaster Dave Donovan took a cassette recorder into the stands at Henninger High School basketball games to do mock broadcasts. They alternated between play-byplay and color commentary, recording the game and listening back to critique later that night. Donovan said they treated it like it was a national NBC broadcast.

While millions now know Hanson’s NFL Sunday routine, he lived a similar one at SU. He’d have a light practice with the football team in the mornings, but the afternoons were free. Donovan, Hanson and others would head to Bleachers Sports Bar in Liverpool to catch all the action.

NFL RedZone couldn’t even be conceptualized back then. When the afternoon slate ended, Hanson honed in on NFL Primetime with Chris Berman to get a “10,000-foot view” of the league. He watched it religiously. And picked up on every broadcasting detail he could.

“I remember watching games with Scott and he would shush you because he wanted to hear what the announcer was saying,” Tarrant said.

During the NFL Draft, Hanson locked himself in his apartment to prepare notes and chart each pick with the player’s height, weight, position and more. Hockenberry, who lived with Hanson in Sadler Hall for two years before moving to the Skytop Apartments on South Campus, referred to the draft as Christmas to Hanson, giving him a card each year. The tradition has continued for over three decades, yet Hanson is now the in-stadium host for the draft.

But in practice, Hanson was taking a beating. The scout team was often referred to as the

“demo squad” because of its ability to demonstrate opponents. But it could’ve been mistaken for the demolition squad.

Pioli remembers a time early in Hanson’s career when the freshman agitated Flannery. An offensive guard and Flannery then buried him into the ground. He popped up with his helmet sideways, still talking trash. Wooten also recalls when defensive tackle Kevin Mitchell went at it with Hanson. Hanson was a few inches shorter and about 50 pounds lighter than Mitchell and most of the defensive linemen he’d match up with.

“Scott was about the size of my left leg,” Rooks joked. “But he was willing. He’s a tough son of a b**ch. He didn’t back down.”

Hanson’s coaches also recognized his work. To celebrate the scout team each year, the staff would host an informal banquet and dinner at Varsity Pizza. They were served pizza and wings, and one player was named the Scout Team Player of the Year. In 1992, Hanson received the honor, earning a terry cloth, gray collared coach’s shirt. The shirt still sits in mint condition in his home in Los Angeles today, he said.

After earning the respect of his peers, Hanson became one of the guys. Hockenberry remembers players often coming to their apartment to play Joe Montana Football or the earliest versions of Madden on SEGA. Donovan said other times in the offseason, Hanson brought his teammates to Donovan’s for a barbecue or to watch “Monty Python.”

His goals on the football team weren’t just to connect with the school’s top athletes. He wanted to prove to himself that he could be excellent. Hanson was willing to make the sacrifices.

Years hosting “NFL RedZone”

“The guy who runs the 4.4 (second) 40-yard dash who only goes 80% is going to get to the football the same time as the guy who runs the 4.9 at 100%,” Hanson said. “That’s what I tried to demonstrate for four straight years at Syracuse, and when I’m in the fifth, sixth or seventh hour of a RedZone show.”

Hanson saw the star players up close and personal, understanding the human elements of the game. Fears. Insecurities. Failures. It’s a perspective many in his industry don’t possess.

There are specific rules that pop up once every few NFL seasons. Many wouldn’t know them. Hanson does because of the guidance from the Orange’s coaching staff. He also knows the preparation it takes for each team to excel on gameday. He lived it.

“He knows what it’s supposed to look like,” Pasqualoni said. “So when he looks at it, if it doesn’t look right, he knows there’s something wrong.”

It was Pasqualoni, too, who helped Hanson break into football broadcasting. Hanson remained at SU to finish his undergraduate studies in the fall of 1993. He was no longer on the football team but instead was reporting on it.

Hanson never had the chance to participate in Syracuse’s WAER radio station because of his football commitments. With his playing career over, Hanson contacted then-Sports Director and current ESPN announcer Dave Pasch to get involved. He pitched the idea of a sideline reporter, a role the station never had before. Hanson asked Pasqualoni for permission directly. The head coach liked the idea as long as it was Hanson. Thirty-two years later, a sideline reporter still roams the JMA Wireless Dome sidelines for WAER.

Many of Hanson’s former teammates played in the NFL. Some even have sons now vying to enter the league. Though Hanson has stood the test of time, becoming a mainstay on Sundays. And he’s helping Syracuse transition into its next generation.

Hanson received a call early in 2025 from Wildhack. The Orange were opening their new state-of-the-art Football Performance Center at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex in April, and Wildhack wanted Hanson to emcee the ribboncutting ceremony.

A few decades ago, Hanson was fighting to get into the program. Now, he’s one of the best to come out of it.

“If you could go back into a time machine to that four-day tryout in the late summer of 1989, the last person you would have picked to be standing front and center at the unveiling of this brand new, multi-million dollar football palace was Scott Hanson,” he said. amstepan@syr.edu

Takeaways of SU’s training camp: Collins as backup, kicker battle

By Zak Wolf senior staff writer

Devin Grant didn’t think it was possible for Fran Brown to increase his intensity from last season. Brown doesn’t shy away from being a fiery figure. He made that clear during his first season with Syracuse, where it won 10 games for the first time since 2018.

To Grant’s surprise, Brown has taken his intensity up a notch in year two.

“He increased it tenfold because we have a new standard,” Grant said. “Last year was a good year, and we were happy with that outcome. But we want better, of course, so you got to raise the standard to get there. And that’s just all (Brown’s) been on.”

The expectations are high, and Brown isn’t letting up. His voice can be heard blaring through the loudspeakers during practice. He acts as a drill sergeant, barking out orders. A minor miscue from a player could elicit a scolding from the head coach.

It’s been like that since Syracuse’s summer camp began on July 31. With just over a week until their season-opener against No. 24 Tennessee in Atlanta, Georgia, the Orange have limited time to prepare.

Here are some takeaways from SU’s summer training camp:

Confidence in Collins as a backup

Four months ago, Rickie Collins looked like he was Syracuse’s quarterback of the future after Brown named him the starter following spring ball. However, instead of leading the offense onto the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf, Collins will watch from the sidelines.

The starting job now belongs to Steve Angeli. The former Notre Dame quarterback transferred to SU on April 23 and beat out Collins in a training camp competition. However, just because Collins isn’t the starter doesn’t mean SU’s coaching staff doesn’t have confidence in his ability.

“I’m excited to watch his growth, because I think when he gets comfortable with everything in the offense, I think he’s just going to skyrocket,” said SU wide receiver coach and passing game coordinator Myles White. “And sometimes you do have to wait. There seems to be this unwritten philosophy that you have to come in and play early as a freshman quarterback. And that’s not the case.”

White described Collins as a “resilient kid,” and the decision to start Angeli “hasn’t affected him at all.” Per White, the redshirt sophomore

As of now, Russell is the Orange’s only 2026 commitment.

Final contenders

Jordan Smith Jr., guard, Paul VI Catholic 247Sports’ No. 2 prospect

On Aug. 5, On3’s Joe Tipton reported Jordan Smith Jr. has narrowed his recruitment down to six schools: Syracuse, Duke, Arkansas, Georgetown, Kentucky and Indiana. In terms of talent and background, Smith — 247Sports’ No. 2 prospect in the class — is a picture-perfect target for the Orange.

A dynamic 6-foot-2 combo guard, Smith attends Paul VI Catholic (Virginia) and also plays for Team Takeover. Autry carries strong connections with both, having previously coached at Paul VI and Team Takeover. That experience has helped him form Syracuse’s Washington D.C. Maryland and Virginia recruiting pipeline, as Donnie Freeman, Judah Mintz and Benny Williams — three of the Orange’s highest-ranked commitments since 2020 — are from the DMV.

Additionally, SU assistant Brenden Straughn coached for Team Takeover – a team in the D.C. Amateur Athletic Union – from 2013-18, helping him become a recruiting force in the DMV. Meanwhile, second-year assistant Dan Engelstad also has strong ties to the DMV.

Smith doesn’t currently have an official visit set with the Orange, but after visiting Duke last fall, he has scheduled upcoming visits with Kentucky and Arkansas this fall.

Deron Rippey Jr., guard, Blair Academy 247Sports’ No. 18 prospect

Just over a month ago, Deron Rippey Jr. announced Syracuse was among the final 12 schools he was considering in his recruitment. Half of the programs who made the cut are in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Louisville and Miami joining the Orange.

is the same guy every day but just needs more experience and practice reps.

“Rickie’s all about helping us win, so it was tough for him probably hearing that and listening to that, but he’s a grown man,” Brown said. “He’s a growing man, and he’s one play away from being our quarterback.”

Kicking job still up for grabs

Unlike the quarterback competition, Syracuse’s kicking battle between Jadyn Oh and Tripp Woody remains up in the air. Brown tipped Woody as the slight favorite but has yet to make a concrete decision.

“Tripp did a lot better this weekend. Oh was winning for a while, but Tripp lately has been more so just on point and doing the right thing,” Brown said. “He’s been just a little bit more solid when it comes to all the kicking.”

Woody, an Iowa transfer, didn’t attempt a kick during his freshman year, but Syracuse’s kicking was dire last season. Jackson Kennedy, Brady Denaburg and Oh combined to go just 13-of-22 on field goals, leaving much to be desired.

Oh is the only kicker remaining from last year’s trio, with Kennedy graduating and Denaburg transferring to Minnesota. Oh only made two of his five kicks last season, which is why a fresh face like Woody is being heavily considered to revamp the position group.

Brown noted that Oh was doing better on kickoffs, so both he and Woody may alternate

Whereas Smith is a combo guard, Rippey is a traditional floor general, slotting in as 247Sports’ second-best point guard in the class. Rippey, listed at 6-foot-2, is from Brooklyn, N.Y., attends Blair Academy in New Jersey (where former Orange guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. also went) and plays for New York City-based New Heights Adidas on the 3Stripes Select Basketball circuit.

Syracuse assistant Allen Griffin, who is also from Brooklyn and has played a pivotal role in recruiting the NYC area, has had eyes on Rippey dating back to September 2023. Rippey unofficially visited SU on Feb. 24, 2024, and is set to return for an official visit from Sept. 25 to 27. He also has visits scheduled for 10 of the other 11 schools that made his top 12.

DaKari Spear, guard, Dynamic Prep

247Sports’ No. 64 prospect

On Friday, DaKari Spear announced Syracuse, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech are the final five schools he’s considering. Spear is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Texas, and he’s set to play his senior season at Dynamic Prep — alongside class of 2027 five-star Marcus Spears Jr. — after previously attending The Colony. He also plays for Drive Nation.

Spear is 247Sports’ No. 6 player from Texas and No. 9 shooting guard in the 2026 class. Though he announced his final five, Spear hasn’t taken any official visits yet. While a date isn’t finalized, Spear told Zags Blog earlier this month he has an official visit set up with the Orange. He also added he has a “really close bond” with SU’s coaches, and his visit will mark the first time he’s ever been to New York.

Aliou Dioum, center, Bella Vista Prep

247Sports’ No. 88 prospect

Aliou Dioum announced on Aug. 13 the final six schools he’s down to are Syracuse, Wake Forest, Mississippi State, Illinois, West Virginia and UNLV. The 6-foot-10 center is a Senegal native, and he moved to the United States in 2023. He originally attended Accelerated Prep

those responsibilities, but right now Woody is in the driver’s seat for field goals.

“I personally believe, like with all specialists, kickers, punters, I think it’s more mental than anything,” Special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield said on Aug. 11. “I think it’s about the focus and the mental preparation coming into the game. They all have the ability to kick. They all have the technique, the skill set.”

Brumfield said they’re looking for a little bit more consistency from both Woody and Oh. He added he doesn’t think Syracuse can go wrong with either one of them, but that was before Brown explained Woody has the edge.

Receiver depth plentiful Syracuse lost over 70% (3,417 yards) of its receiving production from last season. That number would’ve been lower if Trebor Peña decided to stay, but he transferred to Penn State in late April. Despite losing their presumed top receiver for the upcoming season, the Orange’s receiving room might be the deepest position on the roster.

Darrell Gill Jr. heads the group. The junior’s 570 yards from 2024 might not seem gaudy, but over half of that came in two of Syracuse’s final three games. If Gill continues that production, he has a chance to be Angeli’s top target.

There’s also Johntay Cook, a former fourstar recruit coming out of high school, who has electric speed and big-play potential. He

in Colorado, but later transferred to Bella Vista Prep in Arizona. Dioum also played for Arizona Unity this summer on the Elite Youth Basketball LeagueEYBL circuit.

Among centers, 247Sports ranks him as the 22nd-best in the class. In an interview with Zags Blog, Dioum said SU is a favorite because it’s where one of his favorite players, Carmelo Anthony, went. Tipton reported Dioum already had an official visit at Wake Forest and is scheduled to visit UNLV, West Virginia and Mississippi State over the next month. He does not yet have an official visit to Syracuse scheduled.

Official visits

Alex Constanza, small forward, SPIRE Academy 247Sports’ No. 22 prospect

Alex Constanza is set to play his senior year at SPIRE Academy in Ohio after transferring from Westminster Academy in Florida. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward has yet to release a list of final schools or schedule any upcoming official visits. However, Constanza was in Syracuse last October for an official visit.

The Florida native also took official visits to Illinois last December and Georgetown in June. Constanza’s father, Ed, told Inside The Loud House in April that his son is considering a second visit to SU and he’s looking to visit Arkansas, BYU, Ole Miss, Arizona State and Baylor. One of the most coveted players in the 2026 class, Constanza also holds offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, St. John’s and Miami.

Vaughn Karvala, small forward, Bella Vista Prep 247Sports’ No. 39 prospect

Set to be teammates with Dioum after transferring from Oregon High School (Wisconsin) to Bella Vista Prep, Vaughn Karvala is also considering the Orange in his recruiting process. While the 6-foot-6 small forward has not released a final list of programs he’s considering, Karvala will officially visit Syracuse the same weekend as Rippey in September.

sparingly played at Texas before transferring from Washington this offseason due to off-field issues.

“He works hard and he wants to be great and it sheds through our room, especially the young guys,” White said of Cook. “They get to see a guy who’s got a lot of notoriety work as hard as he does and make the plays that he does. I’m excited about what he can do and how he can help our offense.”

Justus Ross-Simmons was hampered by a hamstring injury for the majority of last season but has enjoyed a healthy spring and fall training camp. Paired with redshirt freshmen Jaylan Hornsby and Emanuel Ross, the Orange have plenty of weapons on the outside.

Demetres Samuel Jr. could also be an X-factor. The freshman will start at cornerback for SU but will take snaps at receiver this season, where he can be a dynamic playmaker.

Kyle McCord loved spreading the ball around last year, with five different players recording at least 500 yards. It’s uncertain whether Angeli will spread the wealth in the same way, but he certainly has the options to do so.

Continuity on the back end

Syracuse has continuity with its two starting safeties, Duce Chestnut and Grant. The duo was paired together last season and remains the backbone of SU’s defense, which has plenty of new faces after losing battle-tested players like Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax.

Grant said he and Chestnut take pride in the safeties being the Orange’s best position group. He added that, through their experience together last season, the duo feels wellequipped to lead what he wants to be one of the best secondaries in the country.

“We definitely got to build our connection and build our chemistry. I know more of (Chestnut’s) strengths and weaknesses and stuff, and he knows more of my strengths and weaknesses,” Grant said. “It’s more of a bond. I can easily tell him, ‘You’re slacking. Let’s pick it up,’ and he can do the same thing for me. Us being both leaders in that back end, it’s just a great thing to have.”

Grant mentioned the entire secondary excels at swarming to the ball and communicating with each other. It stems from it being a close group off the field as well, he said, fueled by video game battles, whether it’d be Call of Duty or Madden.

Time will tell if that chemistry will translate to on-field success.

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@ZakWolf22

Karvala has already taken an unofficial visit to SU, having done the same at Marquette, Purdue and Wisconsin. When speaking with 247Sports in June, Karvala highlighted the role Engelstad has played in his recruitment, praised the environment at SU and said he thinks the coaching staff is “amazing.” Karvala has only officially visited Xavier so far.

Asher Elson, power forward, Overtime Elite 247Sports 3-star prospect

A Brooklyn native, Asher Elson began his high school career at local South Shore High School before moving to Overtime Elite ahead of the 2024-25 school year, similarly to former SU guard Elijah Moore. The 6-foot-10 power forward was slated to graduate in 2025, but he reclassified to the 2026 class.

The Orange offered Elson a scholarship in April 2024, and he’s set to make an official visit to SU in October. He also has an official visit scheduled with Maryland in early September. While Elson has yet to release the final schools he’s considering, he also has offers from programs including St. John’s, Illinois, Fordham, Creighton and Georgia Tech.

Players who hold SU offers

Qayden Samuels, small forward, Bishop McNamara 247 Sports’ No. 19 prospect

Miles Sadler, point guard, Bella Vista Prep 247Sports’ No. 34 prospect

Maximo Adams, small forward, Sierra Canyon 247Sports’ No. 40 prospect

Neiko Mundey, combo guard, Prince George’s Christian Academy 247Sports’ No. 50 prospect

Anthony Brown, point guard, Archbishop Carroll 247Sports’ No. 100 prospect justingirshon@gmail.com

4 key questions Syracuse men’s soccer faces entering 2025

By Matthew Gray senior staff writer

Since Syracuse claimed its first national title in 2022, it’s experienced a gradual fall from grace.

In 2023, the Orange advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference Semifinals and seemed on track to defend their conference crown. Instead, a 3-1 loss to then-No. 7 North Carolina sent them packing. Syracuse squeaked into the NCAA Tournament days later via an at-large bid, but a second-round loss to then-No. 8 New Hampshire thrust it into a long offseason.

The 2024 campaign marked another step back for the Orange. Plagued by offensive inconsistency, their .500 record culminated in a firstround exit in the ACC Tournament. Syracuse also missed out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.

Prominent starters from last season like Andre-Cutler DeJesus, Nicholas Kaloukian and leading scorer Gabe Threadgold have now departed, making way for a new wave of talent to shine under head coach Ian McIntyre. At the same time, some familiar faces will look to turn the page on Syracuse’s disappointing 2024 campaign. If SU wants to return to national title contention in 2025, it must rely on a mix of returners and newcomers at the forefront of its lineup.

Here are the four biggest questions for Syracuse men’s soccer entering 2025:

Which key returners will step up?

Much of Syracuse’s offensive and defensive corps from recent seasons is now gone, and with it a litany of in-game experience. With first-year players and transfer portal additions now attempting to replace them, the Orange will need to lean on their returning players more than ever in 2025.

Within the backline, Syracuse will likely depend on Chimere Omeze to set the pace. Omeze enjoyed a standout 2024 campaign, where he finished third on the team in points with seven and earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors. Omeze is only a sophomore, but his experience will prove crucial for the newfangled defensive group around him.

At the other end of the pitch, Syracuse will look to veteran starters Nathan Scott and Michael Acquah to pick up where they left off in 2024. Scott slotted home two goals in his first year at SU after transferring from California, Riverside. Acquah, another portal addition and

SU’s only returning forward, shone as its top distributor with a team-high six assists.

Primarily reserves in 2024, Kelvin Da Costa, Carlos Zambrano, Giona Leibold and Kristjan Fortier will aim to make a more significant impact. The four combined for only seven points, epitomizing a frustrating year for Syracuse’s offense.

How will SU’s new transfers make an impact?

In early 2025, Syracuse bolstered its depth by adding seven new players via the transfer portal.

Three of its six rostered defenders are from that haul. The trio — made up of graduate students Tim Brdaric and Santiago Frias, along with senior Ernest Mensah Jr. — should support Omeze whenever SU is trapped on its own end.

Brdaric, a 2021 Albanian Cup winner, is someone McIntyre believes will bring a strong physical presence to his backline. Frias, who will transition into the ACC after spending the last four years between UAlbany and Akron, will line up next to him. To round out the trio, Mensah will try to boost SU back to the NCAA Tournament after helping Xavier capture a Big East title two seasons ago.

To fill the void left in Syracuse’s midfield, McIntyre also prioritized securing yet another graduate transfer in Tim Noeding, who racked up 14 goals and 33 assists at Bethel College. At forward, Bright Nutornutsi can also become a catalyst of SU’s offense as a dynamic striker from Grand Canyon.

Freshmen transfers Bryson Rodriguez and Juan Martinez-Bastidas will increase SU’s depth, but will likely see minimal playing time.

Can Syracuse’s offense bounce back?

The Orange’s biggest mystery heading into 2025 will be whether their offense can rebound from last season.

In 2024, SU’s attack disappeared when it mattered most. The unit was held to one or fewer goals on 10 different occasions, including four shutout defeats. One of them even came against unranked Le Moyne in a historic 1-0 upset on Syracuse’s home turf. In early November, another one-goal performance spelled the Orange’s undoing in their first-round meeting with Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament.

Syracuse finished the campaign with a goal differential of minus one. Compared to ACC foes,

its 26 total goals and 4.06 points per game each ranked second-to-last in the conference.

Only four of SU’s top nine point scorers from last year are still on its roster after contributors like Braedon Smith and Daniel Burko transferred out. But through the Orange’s three exhibition games, their new talent has shown potential, scoring four of their six tallies.

While it’s unclear how McIntyre will incorporate his added attacking pieces into the Orange’s lineup in 2025, doing so correctly may be the spark their offense needs to rediscover its scoring touch.

How will SU fare in its end-ofseason gauntlet?

As is common in the ACC, SU will grind through a grueling five-game stretch to finish its schedule.

The slate includes road tests at Cornell (Oct. 21) and NC State (Oct. 31) and clashes at SU Soccer Stadium with SMU (Oct. 11) and North Carolina (Oct. 25).

But perhaps the toughest matchup of them all is when SU visits Pittsburgh (Oct. 18),

which finished as the conference’s top seed last season.

Although Syracuse saw only two of these opponents in 2024, those contests were some of the only bright spots amid an otherwise unsatisfying campaign. In late September, the Orange’s defense turned in a nearly perfect outing by holding the Big Red scoreless until the 85th minute in a slim 1-0 loss. Then, in its regular-season finale against thenNo. 3 Pitt, Syracuse entered the postseason on a high note with a 2-0 upset over the Panthers — its first top-five victory since 2022.

This end-of-season stretch could determine what SU’s playoff picture will look like. If the Orange can win the majority of their games, they will drastically improve their chances of earning a favorable seed in the ACC Tournament and the Big Dance. On the other hand, dropping the critical contests could push Syracuse into another uncomfortably brief postseason.

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To avenge 2024’s defensive woes, SU shifts tackling philosophy

By Cooper Andrews senior staff writer

Fourth-and-9 and fourth-and-1 still own plenty of real estate inside Syracuse’s football building. They’re the two plays that, in head coach Fran Brown’s eyes, prevented the Orange from reaching last season’s Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

First, on Sept. 20, 2024, former Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels converted a fourth-and-9 by finding wide receiver Elic Ayomanor down the left sideline for a 27-yard gain. The grab put the Cardinal in position for a game-winning field goal.

Then, on Nov. 9 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, SU surrendered a Boston College touchdown on a fourth-and-1 at the Orange’s 18-yard line, dooming them in another eventual defeat.

The two downs have become a battle cry for this season’s SU squad. Throughout training camp, Orange players and coaches have donned t-shirts bearing “4th & 9” and “4th & 1” on the back, a constant reminder of the mere yards that separated Syracuse from potential glory.

But for co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Robert Wright, it takes more than avenging two plays to spur a defensive turnaround. He doesn’t even want the Orange to leave outcomes up to a single down. The fix?

“Tackling,” Wright said on Aug. 8 for what SU must improve in 2025. “Tackling and (attention to) detail and playing as hard as we can every single snap.”

Of 134 Football Bowl Subdivision programs in 2024, Pro Football Focus graded Syracuse as the 109th-best tackling team in the country. SU’s defensive staff identified the weakness early on this offseason and spent the summer refining the team’s tackling philosophy, teaching it to all position groups at once instead of individually. Coaches and players say they’ve already noticed the improvements during fall training camp.

The Orange believe they have the speed, physicality and intelligence, but executing the simple fundamentals could help Syracuse’s defense allow fewer free yards in 2025.

“Last season, at times it wasn’t what we wanted,” SU second-year defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson said on Aug. 5. “We got back this off-

season, we said, ‘We got to tackle better, (improve our) fundamentals, and those are things we got to lock in on.’ If they play with great effort and they play physically, we’ll be fine.”

Wright said the Orange conducted a makeshift study to cultivate a more “unified” tackling approach. They visited National Football League facilities and other FBS competitors, such as the University of Iowa, to observe their drills and how their coaches physically teach the art of tackling. Syracuse’s staff cobbled together those techniques and formed a plan from there.

“A lot of it was a wide-ranging study and a combination of different people that everybody (on the staff) knows, but then you got to make (the plan) fit for who you are and what you do,” Wright said.

Last season, Wright felt the Orange were coaching and practicing tackling “as a position,” without cohesive teachings on form for everyone. Now, the entire defense is hearing the same points and running through the same drills, Wright said.

The main problem SU’s staff noticed was tacklers taking poor angles when approaching a ball carrier. Wright said the Orange didn’t limit opponents’ space well enough, which created too many open-field opportunities.

Senior linebacker Derek McDonald echoed this sentiment after practice on Aug. 8.

“It’s all about angles,” McDonald said. “We talk a lot about getting your foot in the ground, (creating) force. If you don’t, then you’ll just get run through and they’ll end up gaining more yards.”

During individual position group drills, the Orange often work on one-on-one tackling in the open field, where players must take the correct angle or risk getting barked at by coaches. Wright emphasizes players maintaining forward momentum in these drills. When players whiff on a tackle, Wright says, “If you miss a tackle, miss it with leverage,” which the whole linebacking group repeats in unison.

Syracuse has even brought in Keith Bulluck, a former SU linebacker and first-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Draft, to impart his tackling wisdom on the Orange. McDonald said Bullock recently visited the team in early August. The linebackers also watch tape of former Carolina Panthers star Luke Kuechly, modeling their game after professionals who mastered the minutia of tackling.

“It’s the second year in the system. So as opposed to coming in and teaching guys new

things, we’re able to really dig into the 500-level coaching of stuff,” Wright said, explaining how the Orange are searching to perfect the little things. “It’s not, ‘Hey, you align here and do this.’ It’s about the details of why you’re doing it.” Brown is also taking SU’s focus on tackling to heart. When Brown’s voice reverberates through the loudspeakers during training camp sessions, the head coach constantly emphasizes wrapping up with proper technique, unafraid to single players out when they fail to do so. If practice is too “soft,” Brown doesn’t shy away from making players run Oklahoma drills so he can hear pads pop the way he wants them to.

Establishing that physicality, McDonald said, starts with the linebacking corps.

“We’re kind of the quarterbackers of the defense,” McDonald said.

While all defenders need to tackle, the linebackers are usually tasked with making many of the difficult open-field ones that Syracuse struggled with last season. For a group containing a litany of new faces this year, it’s been even more important for Wright to ensure fundamentals are being executed at a high level.

The Orange lost top tacklers Marlowe Wax (Los Angeles Chargers) and Justin Barron (Dallas Cowboys) to the NFL this offseason, both signing as undrafted free agents. McDonald and Anwar Sparrow are now SU’s eldest linebackers, while names such as junior South Dakota transfer Gary Bryant III and sophomore Fatim Diggs supplement the group.

Brown and Wright have raised expectations for Bryant this season, saying he’s been explosive throughout camp, and Wright is confident McDonald can assume Wax’s former role.

No matter who emerges to lead the Orange’s linebackers in 2025, though, it’ll have to come through precise tackling — the key to unlocking their full potential.

“What we put on film last year wasn’t up to the standard,” Wright said of Syracuse’s defense. “We want to win a National Championship, so our defense needs to reflect that.” ccandrew@syr.edu @cooper_andrews

redzone roots

Before becoming the face of NFL Sundays, Scott Hanson served as a walk-on with SU

By Aiden Stepansky senior staff writer

Scott Hanson sent a letter. Then another. Then another. Then four more before receiving a response to jumpstart his dreams.

The messages were addressed to Syracuse football head coach Dick MacPherson. Hanson, then a 17-year-old from Rochester, Michigan, provided simple information: his name, playing

men’s basketball

experience, height, weight and high school coach’s contact information.

As the summer before his freshman year at SU waned on, Hanson became paranoid. Did he have the wrong ZIP code? Why wasn’t he receiving a response? Then came a breakthrough.

In early July, Hanson finally heard back from an assistant coach on the Orange’s staff. He was invited to a four-day tryout to prove he belonged on the roster.

He made the team, paving the way to become one of sports media’s biggest stars.

Hanson has emerged as the face of NFL Sundays over the last 16 years while hosting the ever-popular NFL RedZone, evolving into the beloved guide for millions of football fans. Though from 1989-92 as he nurtured his broadcasting career at Syracuse, Hanson shined brightest as a walk-on and scoutteam player amid some of the football program’s finest years. Now at 54, he credits his time with the Orange for fostering the passion invited weekly into living rooms worldwide.

His accolades continue to grow. Hanson starred on Gold Zone for the 2024 Paris Olympics, acted as the in-stadium host for the Super Bowl and is even featured in Madden 26. ESPN’s recent agreement to acquire NFL Network and the rights to RedZone caused an uproar from fans to confirm Hanson would remain the host, and speculation of expanding RedZone to other sports in the future.

“I want the television executives to think for this show to be a success, we have to have Hanson hosting it,” Hanson said. “It’s the same thought I had when trying to become a starter at Syracuse. It’s the same intensity, discipline and dedication that I approach my broadcasting career.”

Hanson headed for Syracuse in early August of 1989, unsure if he’d return home in four days or four months. He attended a Tom Petty concert with his high school friends, saying his final goodbyes before packing a week’s worth of clothing and his football gear for the tryout.

Detailing SU men’s basketball’s 2026 recruitment efforts

By

Syracuse men’s basketball has a 34-31 record since March 2023, when

helm, they extended their NCAA Tournament drought to three straight years. The 2024-25 campaign, Syracuse

University’s worst since 1968-69, then extended that dubious streak to four. While the on-court product has been far from the “Orange Standard,” Syracuse’s

Fennell and Aaron

— is among the best incoming freshmen groups in the country. As a pivotal year looms for Syracuse on the court, looking to snap its longest March Madness dry spell since 1967-1972, its quest to attract top-tier talent to central New York is ongoing off the court. Here’s a look at the Orange’s recruiting efforts for the 2026 class:

Committed Calvin Russell, Miami Northwestern Not Ranked by 247Sports In July, Calvin Russell became Syracuse football’s first five-star recruit to commit to the program in over 20 years. But the wide receiver’s skills also extend to the hardwood, as he committed to SU as a dual-sport athlete.

Though there’s no ranking available by any national recruiting sites for Russell as a basketball player, his 247Sports page reports he held offers from Michigan, Illinois, LSU, Arizona State, Penn State, FAU and Tulane to also play basketball. While his junior year stats aren’t listed, Russell’s MaxPreps page shows he averaged 21.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore. see hanson page 13 see recruiting page 14