“I chose Syracuse University primarily because of its academic and athletic reputation, and also because of the smaller class sizes,” he says. Another reason why he chose Syracuse is the University’s proximity to major hospitals such as Upstate University Hospital and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

After graduation, Rempillo wants to further his education by pursuing an M.D. and a Ph.D. in medical science. He says the faculty A&S has been a guiding force to help him choose his career path: “Each and every faculty member I know, especially in the chemistry and biology departments, had influenced my dedication to pursue my academic goals.”

Rempillo is a member of Phi Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity, the American Chemical Society and Army ROTC. Moreover, he is involved in biochemistry research and volunteered at the Emergency Department at Upstate University Hospital last year.

“Syracuse University has given me countless opportunities since my first semester,” he says. “My acceptance to the Renée Crown Honors Program allowed me to experience first-hand research and connect to the community outside the campus. The Veterans Resource Center also helped my transition into academic life.”

Rempillo says the campus architecture is one of his favorite features of the University. He also appreciates the University’s efforts to accommodate veterans through its various resources and connections. He likes to study and do homework in the Milton Atrium and says he finds the café there very convenient for a quick snack or coffee.

Among things to do in Central New York, Rempillo likes to visit local restaurants around Syracuse. From time to time, he enjoys a run along Onondaga Lake Park.

A dance concert featuring the Indian classical dance form, Kathak will take place 7pm, this Saturday, March 25 in Marshall Hall at SUNY ESF. The classical concert will feature dancer Labonee Mohanta.

The event is organized by the Syracuse University chapter of , (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth), an international nationwide movement designed to promote Indian classical music and culture. Additional support for the concert comes from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Humanities Center.

The event is free and open to all and visitors can park at the Irving Garage. For more information and any questions about the event, visit the SU Facebook page, contact spicmacay.su@gmail.com or SU SPIC MACAY undergraduate president Abhiram Sishtla, at asishtla@syr.edu .

Kathak is a classical dance form from North India. Kathak performances depict stories from Indian mythology, and include abstract dance elements with a focus on footwork set to complex rhythmic patterns. Mohanta’s performance will be an immersive experience that will include storytelling and mythology while displaying technical aspects of Kathak dance.

Mohanta is known worldwide and began her training at 8 years old under the tutelage of renowned Kathak maestro Pandit Chitresh Das.

Saturday’s event will also feature musicians Indradeep Ghosh on the violin, Jay Gandhi on the bamboo flute (bansuri) and Indranil Mallick on tabla.

Additionally, both Mohanta and Mallick will present a lecture and demonstration from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m., Friday, March 24 at the Women’s Building dance studio. The two-hour session, which is free for SU and ESF students, will introduce participants to the art of Kathak.

Leigh-Anne Barreira

Leigh-Anne Barreira’s primary reason for choosing Syracuse University was school pride. She knew Syracuse University was her best choice when she first toured the University during an open house. “I saw all the students flaunting orange colors in whichever way possible; it just screamed that I should choose Syracuse University,” Barreira says.

Barreira, of Prospect, Connecticut, says her favorite thing about the University is the continuous support and encouragement she receives from all over campus. “It seems as though everyone is rooting for each other’s success, whether it be from advisors, professors or peers,” she says.

Barreira, a sophomore majoring in economics, says that the faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to help her achieve her goals. “When I approached my advisor about graduating a year early, he encouraged me and helped me plan out my entire schedule for the remainder of my time at SU,” she says.

She speaks fondly of Sue Casson, director of Career Development and Services in the College of Arts and Sciences, as having a considerable influence on her.

“From the day I met her on the Stocks and Finances trip, she motivated everyone around her with her upbeat and positive attitude,” she says. “Had it not been for Sue, I don’t think I would have even found out about the internship I am pursuing this summer at Morgan Stanley in their operations division. Anytime I drop by Sue’s office she will always find a way to push me to better myself and my academic career.”

Barreira is also a member of Greek Life on campus as a sister of Alpha Phi. “Joining a sorority has brought me to meet amazing women with all different strengths that allows me to gain both social and professional connections,” she says.

She added that the best way to spend free time as a Syracuse student is to attend the sports games. Barreira says Syracuse athletics has an amazing way of bringing students together for a common goal of supporting their school.

Barreira also believes reaching out and helping the greater Syracuse community is a rewarding and a humbling way to spend free time. Barreira interns at the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service, where she helps manage the administration of Literacy Corps, including coordinating events, reaching out to other tutors and logging information.

“Through Literacy Corps, I have been able to go directly to a Syracuse City School, Roberts K-8, and work one-on-one with young students in various subjects to help impact literacy standards in the Syracuse community,” she says.

She’s formed connections with the students and teachers of various classrooms to understand the difficulties students face. “Seeing the students’ progress and seeing them excited about their own accomplishments throughout the year is by far one of the most rewarding things I have been a part of,” she says.

Andrea Fleming

The reputation of Syracuse University, as well as the reputation of the economics department, was the deciding factor for Andrea Fleming to choose Syracuse.

Fleming is a senior double majoring in economics and international relations with a concentration in European studies and international political economy in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Originally from southern California, she wants to pursue a career in finance and embrace her passion of learning more about business operations.

Fleming was a student at Riverside Community College before she transferred to Syracuse due to the prestige of the economics department.

Since being here, Fleming says her professors have made an impact, both professionally and personally. She says they have always been around for help, even at the shortest notice.

“I have connected with faculty who have taught me so much and challenged me to do my best,” she says. “I was lucky enough to take intermediate macroeconomics with Professor Jan Ondrich. His passion for explaining macroeconomics is something that made me more excited to be an economics student.”

Fleming, who enjoys hiking in Central New York and visiting downtown restaurants, says that she loves the school sprit at Syracuse and how active everyone is in school organizations.

Fleming currently serves on the Economics Student Association Advisory Committee, which works to bring all of the resources that they can to economics students and to better prepare them for interviews and the real world after school.

“I really enjoy being in this position because I have met many other economics students who are passionate about the same things that I am,” she says. She is currently participating in the Bloomberg Trading Challenge with four other economics students.

She says that coming to SU has enhanced her ambitions and inspired her to be more goal driven. She is especially excited that she will have a strong community of Syracuse University alumni who are eager to help fellow alumni and students.

Maxwell students participate on a weekly conference call with issues experts to discuss, share and exchange ideas and thoughts on current topics. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

Faculty and staff in the Maxwell School are helping international relations students stay ahead of the game by connecting them with leaders in the field.

Gathering together around a conference table in Eggers Hall, a group of eager undergraduate and graduate students talk softly while waiting to be connected by phone to the Council on Foreign Relations. These bi-weekly conference calls with internationally known experts provide a platform where students exchange ideas and thoughts on current issues and crises. They connect students directly to top-notch analysts, often people with significant foreign policy-making experience.

In the October session, SU students discuss America’s recent foreign policy with Senior Vice President of Council of Foreign Relations, James M. Lindsay. They are joined via the conference call with students at other universities, colleges, and military academics, on this day including the University of Pennsylvania, University of Mississippi, the Daniel Morgan Academy, University of Connecticut, and Roosevelt University.

Maxwell students chose to ask a question about possible changes in foreign policy in the upcoming year. Questions from other participants review changes in economic expediencies, the interconnectedness of world systems and the implications for policies at home. A clear sense of the multiple dimensions on which foreign policy is based is apparent in the students’ questions, as they raise concerns about many sides of each issue.

Student Rigo Melgar finds the approach a comprehensive way to get a different perspective on relevant topics. “We get academic opinions here, but through this exercise we get an expert opinion from someone who directly deals with these issues,” says Melgar. “It’s like a debate on conference call, where we get to know what other schools are thinking and also get answers to our questions from an expert.”

“These calls have the great feature of letting our students hear questions from other students across the country and join in the conversation themselves,” says Amy Kennedy, who administers the program in her role as academic advisor in the undergraduate International Relations Program. “This is another way in which we expose our students to current issues and actors,” says Kennedy. “Participating in the call keeps Maxwell students up to date on both expert opinion and the concerns of students from other top programs around the country.”

The program was initiated at Maxwell by professor of economics Mary Lovely, who also chairs the International Relations Program. It was started for undergraduate students, but welcomes participation by graduate students.

“We provide a variety of ways for our students to connect with the policy and professional world,” says Lovely. “Our focus is on making connections between the classroom and the world and helping students see themselves as serious actors in international affairs.”

To listen to the audio recording and transcript of the call, go .

Avi Dan

Avi Dan, CEO of Avidan Strategies, shared insights from his more than 30 years of leadership experience, including key insights on how to succeed at an advertising agency, during a presentation last month.

“Experience, openings and intermediaries should be the primary focus of anyone who wants to do well in the advertising industry,” said Dan, who spoke to an audience at the .

Dan, who spoke as a guest of the Eric Mower Advertising Forum, founded Avidan Strategies, an agency search consulting firm, in 2007.  He has worked with top global Madison Avenue agencies, managing iconic brands for such companies as Procter & Gamble, Samsung and Coca-Cola, among other leading companies. Dan also served as managing partner of WPP company Berlin Cameron, the first global executive director of Havas Worldwide and executive vice president of account management at Young & Rubicam.

Dan spoke to students on such topics as business strategies, finding an entry-level job and how to be successful at it. He says one has to constantly keep proving their merit at the professional level.

“If you lose business, people will underestimate you despite your skills,” he said.

Dan discussed how business pitches can be made successful and the importance of advertising and public relations in making a business grow to its fullest potential. He emphasized that a great idea needs to be executed well to achieve success.

“Don’t get into a new business pitch without understanding what it will take to win the pitch,” he said.

Dan emphasized that in advertising, as well as in public relations, an important segment of conducting business successfully is understanding the client and their special needs and demands. He said once a representative works in accordance with the client’s wishes, the potential of client satisfaction increases—leading not only to a successful business but also good relations for future businesses.

The advertising executive also spoke of the different expectations clients may have.

Avi Dan, CEO of Avidan Strategies, shared experiences from his more than 30 years of his leadership experience during a presentation at Newhouse.

“While some want a good price, others want better ideas. There are some companies who are looking for experience in a specific area. These are things to pay attention to,” he explained.

Dan spoke of the importance of first impressions and stated that it is one of the primary reasons clients differentiate between agencies. He emphasized that one does not get a second chance to make first impressions.

“There is a great deal of show business involved in the business of agencies,” he said.

Dan also stressed self-advertising as one of the areas to which advertising agencies do not give enough attention, which could potentially make them lose business. He said that most agencies’ websites contain videos of management roles and other such “drab content.” More strategic methods of brand imaging can potentially make them stand out.

He gave advice to advertising students about understanding the experience level needed for certain jobs. He warned the students about being over-ambitious and advised them to prove their mettle before applying for top-notch positions right after graduation.

Mayor Nutter discussed the Athenian Oath, carved on the walls of the Maxwell School, which states:

“We will ever strive for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; We will unceasingly seek to quicken the sense of public duty; We will revere and obey the city’s laws; We will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter displays the Athenian Oath, printed on the back of his business card. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

Nutter discussed the importance of the Athenian Oath in his life and tenure as mayor. He started by showing the last lines of the oath printed on the back of his business card. He spoke of his life and long career and his motivations to work in public service.

That career began when he started volunteering at the office of a city council member and then worked on the mayoral election of the first African American mayor of Philadelphia. He speaks of the life lessons he learned through these experiences that helped him to become successful.

“It was not about power,” he said. “It is about improving the life of others and utilizing the power and the authority that you have been given as a gift which you should appreciate, which you should treasure because it’s not just about you.”

He spoke of the time he ran for city council in 1987, and lost by a mere 1,800 votes.

“At that time I did not keep close track of the numbers. Public service was my main motivation.”

He spoke of the Athenian Oath as a motivation for his career.

“But it’s always been for me the part right at the end. … ‘We will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us,’” said Nutter.

He said that was an agreement, a contract and a responsibility that one takes on along with the responsibility of public service.

He explained that one cannot always be admired and liked in office, and one has to make tough, unpopular decisions. But that should not be a deterrent to public service.

He shared a story of looming budget deficits and facing the prospect of budget cuts.  Any cuts in the budget usually impact numerous offices and personnel. Under those circumstances, he cut the city library’s budget because an aide advised him that it is one of the few budgets that could be reduced without impacting other departments.

However, that was a controversial decision, for which he was harshly criticized. From that experience, he said, he learned to ask for different opinions and consider different perspectives before making such decisions.

He spoke of the need for consistency in the actions of a public leader and asked the Maxwell students to mark his advice as a life lesson that took him years to learn.

“It is about leadership. It is about the consistency of the leadership, the integrity of your decision-making, and that is what the Athenian Oath is all about,” he concluded.

The event was attended by Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, along with many University faculty members.

Elijah Shama, a sophomore pursuing broadcast and digital journalism, has organized the Syracuse University chapter of Reporters Without Borders.

As an aspiring journalist, Newhouse School student Elijah Shama has made an early start in his fight for freedom of press.

Shama, a sophomore pursuing broadcast and digital journalism, has organized the Syracuse University chapter of Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that fights against censorship of the press and to protect the rights of journalists all over the world.

The 19-year-old says journalists are facing challenges concerning freedom of speech, and that it is the duty of aspiring journalists like him to spread awareness about such issues.

“The walls of Newhouse have the First Amendment printed on them. Our school advocates the same ideals as Reporters Without Borders, so it was a natural path for Newhouse to have a Syracuse chapter,” says Shama.

Although Reporters Without Borders at Syracuse has gained recognition from its international counterpart, it is still waiting for approval from the University to be a formal organization. Shama says he hopes that this will take place by spring.

“For now we are concentrating on spreading awareness and building support,” he says. “We have movie screenings, professors giving speeches and other ways of propagating the idea of Reporters Without Borders among the University population.”

Shama is mentored by Newhouse Associate Professor Ken Harper, who has helped him connect with international journalists, organize meetings and formalize Reporters Without Borders into a recognized University chapter.

Shama says that fighting censorship and supporting a transparent press is important for a democracy.

“These articles you read had a cost. Someone is paying for it, and organizations don’t pay unless they make profit. Many times a journalist is more powerful than a soldier. One article can have immense sociopolitical impact. Having Reporters Without Borders shows that we have this power,” he says.

Shama says his ultimate goal regarding the Reporters Without Borders Syracuse chapter is to have NBC News reporter Richard Engel to speak at Newhouse.

As he made his decision to enter journalism, Shama says he was thrilled to be accepted into Newhouse and he understood the value of a Newhouse education when he applied for his internships.

“The reason I got to intern with Bloomberg was because I belonged to Newhouse. When I interned at NBC, six out of 20 interns were from Newhouse. All of the others were from Ivy League colleges,” Shama says.

After he graduates, Shama wants to work as an international journalist and report from conflict areas, such as Syria.

The Reporters Without Borders Syracuse chapter organizes weekly meetings in which it invites University professors and guest speakers to discuss the most relevant issues that concern journalists. It also has movie and documentary screenings to address such issues.

Find out more about the Syracuse chapter of Reporters Without Borders .

Pedro Castro

Rev. Pedro Castro had a moment of inspiration when he saw produce that was destined for the dumpster—not because the food had gone bad, but because it wasn’t market worthy.

Castro, chaplain for the Historically Black Church ministry at Hendricks Chapel, is now leading a program in collaboration with the AME Fellowship Church in Syracuse, where he is also the minister, to distribute excess produce to the neediest families in Syracuse.

“I thought in my heart and my mind what if we spoke to some farmers and they were willing to give us what was left, and we could take that surplus and be a blessing to someone who has nothing,” Castro says.

The chaplain says that in 2014, 9 billion pounds of produce were wasted in the United States and often it is due to simply cosmetic reasons.

“One hundred million pounds of produce grown in New York annually gets thrown out because it doesn’t meet market standards,” says Castro. “People like their apples smooth, the cauliflower white and the squash without pock marks.”

Castro and members of the AME Fellowship Church contacted Syracuse-area farmers and began collecting their excess produce. The surplus is then redistributed at a distribution point on South Geddes Street among people who cannot afford to buy vegetables from the markets. The produce that was not fit for grocery stores became a godsend for those in need.

All kinds of different and odd-looking vegetables are given away through a program organized by Hendricks chaplain Rev. Pedro Castro.

All kinds of different and odd-looking vegetables are given away. There are potatoes, broccolis, squash, apples and grapes. In a recent giveaway, a poultry farmer donated chicken. They also had free hot food and recipes for preparing the produce.

AME Church Trustee Deborah Hundley says the initiative feeds more than 400 Syracuse families.

“People run out of money for food before the end of the month and so many people who came up were just so appreciative,” says Hundley.

Pat Moraies and her husband are beneficiaries of the food initiative. They say the program helps their family to an unbelievable extent.

“We are both on Social Security disability,” Moraies says. “Squash and all that is very expensive because it goes by the pound. We can’t afford that.”

The Moraies’s say it is not just them, but many like them living on the West Side of Syracuse who have not gone hungry since the initiative started.

Since the program started last year, the church has given away 16,500 pounds of produce.

William Rugh

“Our job is to explain to a particular audience in their own context what America is trying to do in the world,” said Rugh. He was the keynote speaker for the event hosted by the Association for Public Diplomacy Scholars at Syracuse University. More than 15 professionals took part in the event Oct. 13 and 14. The event was presented by the public diplomacy program, jointly offered by the and the .

The panelists at the two-day event included foreign service officers, entrepreneurs, economists, journalists, CEOs and academics, who discussed the direction and future of public diplomacy and diplomats who can effectively communicate with diverse national and international audiences.

Rugh, who started the conference with a keynote talk, is currently a professor of practice at Northeastern University. From 1964-1995 he was a foreign service officer with the U.S. Information Agency. He was also a deputy chief of mission in Syria, ambassador to the Yemen Arab Republic and ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

He stressed the need to explain America’s policies while communicating with other nations and their people and maintaining international relations. He discussed the growing relevance of the term “soft power”—a persuasive approach to international relations, typically involving the use of economic or cultural influence—and how that has become the guide in steering international communications.

The ambassador also discussed the growing power of social media, and how it has become easier to connect with different populations in the world. This, he said, was a new frontier of public diplomacy, since it not only enabled the government to communicate with the top-tier politicians, but also with the general population.

“It helps spread the message to the audience who is most concerned,” he said.

Additional speakers at the two-day conference included Phillip Estefan, investment advisor at the Odmiyar Network; Steve Pike, assistant professor of public relations at the Newhouse School; and Ellen Blackeler,  vice president of global communications at the Walt Disney Co.

Syracuse University student Darci Pauser asks for questions from the crowd during a panel called the “Geopolitical Situation in Syria” (Photo by Tony D. Curtis)

“My biggest takeaway was to understand the limitations one may have in enacting change, but how one should not give up their quest for change despite the challenges,” said Tengan Peacock, a junior studying public relations and Middle Eastern studies.

“It was really interesting to see how media is a tool in times of conflict and how we can use it as a tool to humanize those affected by the conflict and actively engage in change,” he added.

He also mentioned SU student, founder of the group Reporters Without Borders Syracuse University chapter and panelist Elijah Shama as his inspiration for his passionate work in reporting and journalism. Most students at the seminar were seen sitting with a pen and paper, taking notes on the discussion and saving questions for the interactive sessions immediately following each panel discussion.

Shraddha Rao, a graduate student studying arts journalism, said that she would refer back to her notes while researching her story on Syria for class. “There is so much to learn, people who have firsthand experience in Syria are here,” she said, speaking of photojournalist Reza and panelist Ammar Abdulhamid, president of Tharwa Foundation.

“Several important issues surfaced during the discussions, from how can the perpetrators be held accountable for the war crimes, to understanding how controlled the media is in a situation like Syria,” she said while speaking of the importance of the event.

While some, like Shraddha, were most impressed by the discussion on the situation in Syria, Morgan Bulman, a senior studying magazine and online journalism, said that his biggest takeaway was on new technology and virtual reality.

“By the use of such kind of technology, we can visually experience what the people in Syria are suffering, and the impact and reach of media is greater. Perhaps then the conversation will not stop here, which is our role, as journalists, to ensure,” he said.

“The most interesting part of Running for Cover, for me, was hearing about the same issue from the point of view of multiple disciplines,” said Phil Parker, who is pursuing graduate studies in history.

There were meaningful debates that discussed the future of Syria and America’s role in the conflict.

“This proves more and more people are talking about issues in Syria,” said Esteban Rodrigues, a sophomore studying international relations and anthropology.

“What was most interesting to me was the changing role of the media and it being used as a tool for prosecuting in the international court,” he added.

Doors open at 7:45 p.m. The event is free and open to all. Free parking is available in the Quad 1 lot, by Crouse College.

The event is organized by the Syracuse University chapter of , a nationwide movement designed to promote Indian classical music and culture. For more information and any questions about the event, contact Syracuse University’s SPIC MACAY member, Abhiram Sishtla, at asishtla@syr.edu.

The J.A.S.S. Quartet

The J.A.S.S Quartet is a four-part band including vocals, piano, violin and percussion, led by vocalist Aditya Prakash. Miles Shrewsbery on tabla and cajon, Jonah Levine on keys and trombone and Shiva Ramamurthi on violin are the other members of the band. Together they bring together contemporary and traditional music in a unified space with a blend of Indian raga expositions, folk songs and classical rhythms complemented by a jazz harmonic structure.

Prakash is an American born Indian classical vocalist, specializing in Carnatic music. Deeply rooted in South Indian styles, Prakash is best known for having an emotive voice. He is trained by the Indian musical legends P.S. Narayanaswami and Palai CK Ramachandran. AT the age of 16, he was the youngest musician to tour with the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.

Shrewsbery is a tabla artist and percussionist based in Southern California. He has performed all over the world in venues such as the Symphony Space  in New York City, Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., Tokyo Museum of Modern Art in Japan, Royal Horticultural Hall in London and St. Paul Cathedral in New York City. Trained under the aegis of Sri Abhiman Kaushal and Pandit Nandkumar Bhatlouande, he specializes in Farukhabad Gharana style of music.

Levine has performed at leading jazz festivals around the world, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Monterey Jazz Festival in California and the Blues Festival with venues throughout the world. He has worked with artists like Leonard Cohen and Ed Sheeran.

Ramamurthi learned violin at the age of six from the renowned South Indian musician Shri Krishna Kutty. Currently, he is the disciple of the violin maestro Delhi P. Sunder Rajan. He has traveled to various venues throughout US and India performing in both Indian and Western Classical styles.