thursday, november 13, 2025
celebrating 122 years
free
O • No ‘right way’
C • Warm and toasty
S • Int’l soccer stars
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Our columnist argues there is no right way to immigrate to the U.S., and systemic issues suggest there never will be.
The Daily Orange shares easyto-make soup recipes for the fall and winter season, as picked by Syracuse University students
Syracuse soccer alumni who’ve played for their national teams recalled their favorite memories on the journey to international soccer.
Outgoing Mayor Ben Walsh speaks to 8 years of growth, ambition and investment
Walsh’s word
By Sydney DePietto and Brenne Sheehan the daily orange
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If nothing else, I want to be viewed as someone that tried to do the right thing for the right reasons. Ben Walsh syracuse mayor
After an eight-year tenure, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said he stuck to his “Athenian oath” — to “leave Syracuse better than he found it.” brycen pace senior staff photographer
yracuse Mayor Ben Walsh grew up surrounded by elected officials. His grandfather, William F. Walsh, was the city’s Mayor from 1961 to 1969 and served in the United States House of Representatives for four years. His father James T. Walsh was a member of Congress for 20 years. Both served as Republicans. But at 18 years old, Walsh registered as an independent voter in what he called an act of “youthful defiance.” “If I was going to put myself out there, I needed to do it in a way that was authentic and sincere, and for me,” Walsh said. “That was maintaining my independence.” He’s never affiliated with any political party and ran his mayoral campaign on an independent bid, eventually becoming Syracuse’s first independent mayor in 2018. Despite their party differences, Walsh attributes many aspects of his leadership style to his father and grandfather. He said both men were “humble public servants” who weren’t interested in “grabbing headlines,” but rather focused on leading and serving. “I would not be doing this work if not for those two men,” Walsh said. “I learned those leadership traits, first and foremost, from them.” Walsh said working under former Mayor Stephanie Miner, despite not having much “tolerance” for politics, is what helped him find his passion for local politics and make the run for mayor. First taking office in 2018 and facing reelection in 2021, Walsh led the city through a global pandemic and three presidential administrations. As his term limit approaches in December, he reflects on positive moments throughout his tenure, his shortcomings and looks to the city’s future leadership under current deputy mayor and mayor-elect Sharon Owens. “If nothing else, I want to be viewed as someone that tried to do the right thing for the right reasons,” Walsh said. “That I was an honest, dedicated public servant who moved this city forward, and I certainly believe I’ve accomplished that, and I hope others do as well.” Serving as mayor for eight years, Walsh said he’s tried to take an “understated approach” that focuses on serving the community effectively and working collaboratively. Compared to 2018, Walsh said the city is in a stronger position across “most metrics.” As an alum see walsh page 6
on campus
Students, Jon Youshaei feature at Creator Economy center launch By Leah Cohn
senior staff writer
Keynote speaker Jon Youshaei told Syracuse University students to “de-risk” their career, listening to experienced professionals while also letting their “creativity find an audience or find a format.” During SU’s Center for the Creator Economy launch party
Wednesday night, Youshaei said sometimes forcing yourself to make money out of art limits creative flow. Youshaei, a content creator and entrepreneur, joined student influencers and SU administrators to celebrate the opening. The center, which has caught the attention of Times Magazine, is a collaboration between Martin J. Whitman School of Management
and Newhouse School of Public Communications. It’s the first creator economy education center on a college campus in the United States, according to the center’s information page. Whitman Interim Dean Alexander McKelvie said the event celebrated leveraging “the best of both schools,” calling the center a “joint venture” that makes the university
stand out in comparison to others. “We built the number two program in the world for entrepreneurship,” McKelvie said. “And that is being able to recognize that next wave of what students want to do and pursuing their own passions and their own independence.” Several university administrators attended the opening, including Chancellor Kent Sy verud,
Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew, Newhouse Dean Mark Lodato and Whitman Executive Dean Michael Haynie, who gave opening remarks. Both deans said they’re excited to make strides with inner-university collaboration. They hope the center will encourage SU students to become trailblazers in the eversee launch page 7