The six recipients are the following:

• Dominique Camp ’24 (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics), founder of clothing brand Camp Collective, will use the funds for the organization’s first collection inventory, photo shoot and mockup designs.
  

  Dominique Camp

• Olutosin (Tosin) Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech, will use the grant to develop a proof-of-concept prototype for the smart sensor/bandage for diabetic foot ulcer monitoring.
• Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture), founder of clothing brand Grater Things, will use the grant for legal services, including project and membership agreements and privacy policy, as well as website development and product research expenses.
• Antonio (Tony) Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), founder of fitness app GymIn, will be using the grant to incorporate and other legal business processes.
• Lars Jendruschewitz ’27 (Whitman School and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Photos by Lars, will use the funds for equipment.
• Ania Kapllani ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), founder of Sunset Music, will use the grant to register as an LLC and to create a logo and website.

Applications must specifically define the need with identified outcomes to be achieved within a set time. Initial money in the fund was provided by Jeffrey Rich L’67, partner at Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP, and a member of the Syracuse University Libraries Advisory Board. Rich provided a multi-year pledge of $25,000 per year for five years from 2020 to 2025. “I wanted to contribute in a way that directly supports student new ventures and removes any obstacles to startup development,” Rich says.

Carrie Brown

To help you process the experience, Carrie ��Brown, director of counseling, , recommends starting with recognizing what you’re going through.

“Having awareness and naming the experience and feelings is often a good first step. As well as normalizing the experience,” Brown says. Feel that discomfort but also explore your new situation and meet with new people—and focus on thoughts as to why you embarked on this new adventure.

In this Q&A with SU News, Brown shares how you can recognize the signs of being homesick, how to work through those feelings and how friends and family can offer support.

What are the signs that might appear in students who are feeling homesick?

Signs can manifest physically, cognitively and emotionally and often are tied together. Physical signs might include disrupted sleep, lack/change in appetite, lowered immune responses, GI issues, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and general feelings of being unwell. Cognitively, the individual might find themselves consumed with thoughts of returning home, being pessimistic about their new environment or having difficulty concentrating. Emotionally, the person might find themselves having a low mood, being tearful or having feelings of hopelessness. Additionally, they might experience increased levels of anxiety, including nervousness, worry, being jittery, irritability and wanting to withdraw.

Is it very common for students to go through this? What do you tell students about those feelings of homesickness?

Experiences of homesickness are very common and usually occur more often in students who are leaving home for the first time but can happen whenever our routines become completely disrupted for extended periods of time. Research has indicated that upwards of 70% of first-year students experience some symptoms/signs of homesickness, which if not addressed could potentially lead to adjustment difficulties.

Attitude and perspective toward the new experience and environment can have a critical impact. For example, anticipating being homesick can sometimes lend itself to a self-fulling mindset. A person’s ability to sit with the discomfort and explore the unfamiliar, including new situations and engaging with new people can be helpful. Additionally, focusing on thoughts such as why one chose this University can be a good way of offsetting a more negative mindset.

What are ways to help overcome homesickness?

• Seek support by talking with family, friends and professors and building new social relationships.
• Look for ways to recreate things from home that you miss in your new environment.
• Get active and continue to engage in self-care such as paying attention to sleep, nutrition and exercise.
• Create a routine and leave your residence hall. Look for opportunities to get involved with things you enjoy and are passionate about such as joining a University club or committee.
• Avoid the temptation to return home often and/or stay in your room.
• Try to avoid too much social comparison and set realistic expectations. Know that you are not alone in these feelings and that many people can resolve them.

How can families and friends support students who might be homesick?

Families and friends should be open to talking about what the student is experiencing and listen with empathy and normalize the experience. They should also talk about how the student might develop a routine, get involved on campus and how they might find things they enjoy in their new environment. Normalize the time it takes to make deeper relationships and help set realistic expectations. Avoid being quick to have them come home too often and encourage them to get involved on campus and branch out to meet new people.

Who should students reach out to if those feelings don’t go away after a certain period?

Certainly, homesickness over a duration can lead to additional anxiety and depressed mood. In the event that someone notices that homesickness is impacting their daily life and they are not making connections and/or withdrawing from opportunities and isolating they should reach out to a professional such as for support. is another helpful resource that can offer support as well, especially if academics are being impacted.

Ian Glazman-Schillinger

Glazman-Schillinger, in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, is one of 11 doctoral candidates who received the award, which comes with $25,000. The funding supports researchers investigating the origins of serious violence as well as responses to it across historical and contemporary contexts in the U.S. and other countries. Recipients this year are studying a range of topics, including political extremism, gender violence and the use of political rhetoric to undercut democratic movements.

Glazman-Schillinger’s dissertation is titled “White Supremacy Goes Online: The Early Digital History of White Power Activists and how they Shaped the Internet, 1984-1999.” His research examines how far-right white power groups used digital technologies and computer networks in the 1980s and 1990s to recruit, communicate and evade government surveillance and infiltration. He traces white power groups’ transition from the traditional hierarchical organizations of the early-to-mid-20th century to current, more diffuse digital formations. His work builds on scholarship in the fields of information studies, computer mediated communication and the digital humanities, and utilizes methodologies that acknowledge the unique qualities of born-digital materials.

A fifth-year doctoral candidate in the history department, Glazman-Schillinger is a graduate research associate in the Campbell Public Affairs Institute (CPAI). He has taught courses on American history to 1865, early modern European history and modern European history. His advisor, Margaret Susan Thompson, is associate professor of history and political science, and senior research associate for CPAI and for the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration.

“His dissertation project, focusing on born-digital primary materials from the earliest years of online communication, will profoundly illuminate our understanding of hate groups and the radical right in the United States as both historical phenomena and ongoing foci of intellectual, political and even moral concern,” says Thompson. “Ian’s work is not only original but undeniably crucial in 21st century political and scholarly contexts that acknowledge the salience and danger of extremism—although it is considerably less aware than it might be of how extremists organize, communicate and operate.”

Glazman-Schillinger was previously awarded Syracuse University’s Hotchkiss-Ketcham Fellowship as part of a multi-year fellowship package and previously held a nominated position as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He has published work about online and internet hate crimes, the digital origins of the alt-right and far-right movements in the late 20th century. He has presented conference papers at the 2023 Organization of American Historians’ Annual Conference and the UK-based Historians of the Twentieth Century United States’ 2022 annual meeting.

Glazman-Schillinger received a master’s degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2017 and an M.Sc. in contemporary history from the University of Edinburgh in 2018.

Story by Mike Kelly

A team of Syracuse University researchers have published a study exploring how genomic diversity of acetic acid bacteria can alter properties of sourdough. Pictured are sourdough starters grown up from experimental communities (from the left: control [no microbes added], yeast only, yeast plus lactic acid bacteria, yeast plus lactic acid bacteria plus acetic acid bacteria).

When millions of people��went into lockdown��during the��pandemic, they went in search of new at-home hobbies to help cure their boredom. Among them was making sourdough bread. In addition to being sustainable for its use of natural ingredients and traditional methods which date back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, it also is valued for its nutritional benefits. For example, studies have shown that sourdough contains more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants compared to many other types of bread. For people with mild sensitivities to gluten, sourdough bread can be easier to digest since much of the gluten is broken down during the fermentation process. What’s more, many lactic acid bacteria species, which are foundational to sourdough, are considered probiotics, associated with improved gastrointestinal health.

A Flavor Profile Years in the Making

The process of making sourdough bread begins with a sourdough starter. These starters are created when microbes–communities of bacteria and yeast–stabilize in a flour and water mixture. Known as a microbiome, this community of wild yeast and bacteria is what makes sourdough bread rise and contributes to its taste and texture. Sourdough notably differs from most bread because it relies on this starter of wild microbes to help it rise instead of baker’s yeast packets.

Many sourdough starters are preserved over generations, with some samples dating back thousands of years. To maintain a sourdough starter, you extract a sample from a previous dough and mix it into new flour and water. With enough transfers of the sourdough starter, the microbial community will be composed of the yeast, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) that are best adapted to the sourdough environment. What makes different sourdough starters unique are the varying strains of yeast and bacteria that produce the distinctive sour flavor.

Testing Genetic Diversity

Advances in sequencing technology have enabled researchers to rapidly profile microbial communities, such as the sourdough microbiome. In the College of Arts and Sciences, members of biology professor����lab have been studying acetic acid bacteria to determine how genetic diversity of AAB impacts sourdough communities.

Professor Angela Oliverio (left), Nimshika Senewiratne (middle), a Ph.D. candidate in Oliverio’s lab, and Beryl Rappaport (right), a Ph.D. student in Oliverio’s lab, co-authored a study which characterized acetic acid bacteria (AAB) from 500 sourdough starters to better understand how genetic diversity of AAB influences characteristics of sourdough.

While previous research has focused more on lactic acid bacteria and yeast, the ecology, genomic diversity and functional contributions of AAB in sourdough remain largely unknown. Beryl Rappaport, a Ph.D. student in Oliverio’s group, recently led a paper published in , a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, where she and other sourdough scientists, including Oliverio, Nimshika Senewiratne from the Oliverio lab, SU biology professor��, and professor Ben Wolfe from Tufts University, sequenced 29 AAB genomes from a collection of over 500 sourdough starters and constructed synthetic starter communities in the lab to define the ways in which AAB shape emergent properties of sourdough. The team’s work was supported by a��awarded to Oliverio earlier this year.

“While not as common in sourdough as lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria are better known for their dominant roles in other fermented foods like vinegar and kombucha,” says Rappaport. “For this study, we were interested in following up on previous findings which stated that when present in sourdough, AAB seems to have a strong impact on key properties including scent profile and metabolite production, which shape overall flavor formation.”

Plates testing for presence or absence of microbes grown in synthetic sourdough communities.

To assess the consequences of AAB on the emergent function of sourdough starter microbiomes, their team tested 10 strains of AAB, some distantly related and some very closely related. They set up manipulative experiments with these 10 strains, adding each one to a community of yeast and LAB. They kept a separate community of just yeast and LAB to serve as the control.

“Since we can manipulate what microbes and what concentrations of microbes go into these synthetic sourdough communities, we could see the direct effects of adding each strain of AAB to sourdough,” says Rappaport. “As we expected, every strain of AAB lowered the pH of the synthetic sourdough (associated with increasing sourness) since they release acetic acid and other acids as byproducts of their metabolic processes. Unexpectedly, however, AAB that were more closely related did not release more similar compounds. In fact, there was high variation in metabolites, many related to flavor formation, even between strains of the same species.”

Knowing that students have questions about the voting process, and hoping to improve awareness and engagement around voting, the University’s ��has put together a [PDF] that outlines the specific deadlines and requirements for students.

Included in the “’Cuse Otto Vote” guide is information about the following:

• how to register to vote and when your state’s voter registration deadline is
• whether you need to request an absentee ballot and the requirements you must meet to be eligible
• how to get your ballot sent to campus and information on changing your mailing address and whether you should list your campus mailing address
• postmark and absentee ballot return deadlines for every state and which states offer online ballot tracking
• how to cast your ballot on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, if you plan on voting in Syracuse

María Quiñones Rios

“It’s important that we acknowledge that voting is a right and we should all exercise that right,” says María Quiñones Rios ’25, SA’s communications director who is studying public relations in the .

“This was about making sure our students have all the information they need to make sure they can vote in the upcoming elections, and that they know their vote will count,” Rios says. “We see a lot of young people be disillusioned with politics in the United States and it’s really important to let students know that they do have a voice and that their voice is their vote.”

Additionally, SA has collaborated with the to ensure current students have the proper access to participate in the upcoming elections. NYPIRG has been conducting tabling in the Schine Student Center encouraging students to register to vote.

The SA is the official student governing and advocacy body for the nearly 16,000 Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry undergraduates.

Students in New York with additional questions about the voter registration process can visit the .

More than 60 pieces from the institutional collection are featured in the show, housed at the of the University’s Nancy Cantor Warehouse Building at 350 W. Fayette St. The show runs through Friday, Nov. 22. Admission is free and open to the public.

The exhibition, “Libro de Artista,” features more than 60 artists books from the collection at the Argentine National Museum. (Photo by Matias Roth)

The exhibition is a production of the University’s POC) gallery in partnership with the (MNBA) and the University’s in the .

Sergio Moscona’s “Personajes Diarios,” in ink, acrylic and collage, depicting the intervention of facsimile 1956 edition of “La Prensa,” a daily newspaper that was censored in 1951. (Photo by Matias Roth)

Latin American creators represented in the exhibition include artist books by Diana Dowek, Luis Felipe Noé, Lucrecia Orloff, Jacques Bedel, Daniel García, Miguel Harte, Carolina Antoniadis, Marcos López and Marcia Schvartz. The exhibition also includes the Agentinian museum’s latest accession to the collection, a piece co-authored by Argentine artists Pedro Roth and the late Syracuse University professor and POC founder Pedro Cuperman.

Juan Astica’s acrylic-on-paper piece, “Diversos Conjuros,” consists of 64 paintings. (Photo by Matias Roth)

“It is an honor to partner with MNBA in its first showing of the ‘Libro de Artista’ collection in the United States,” said , executive director of the Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community at Syracuse University.

“Point of Contact worked in close collaboration with the Roth family of creators and with the National Ministry of Culture of Argentina in exhibitions at the New York Art Book Fair held at MoMA PS1 from 2012 to 2018. ‘Libro de Artista’ culminates such a project with this timely exhibit as we commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024,”she says.

Andrés Duprat, MNBA director, explains the art form. He says, “The artist book or Libro de Artista is generally not considered a work of art in itself, but for us, it holds great interest because it is in artist books where explorations, intentions, sketches, and even doubts and regrets or new searches are revealed.”

This foldable book in ink on paper, and bound in leather, is by artist Leonel Luna. It’s called “Genealogías del Arte Argentino.” (Photo by Matias Roth)

In terms of artist techniques, formats and materials, artist books take many forms on paper, cardboard, celluloid, acrylic, metal and other materials, transforming into boxes, intervened prints, collages and pop-up books.

One of the pieces in the show, “La Dama del Río,” is a collaborative work with original texts by Pedro Cuperman and illustrations by Pedro Roth. Pedro Roth is a recipient of the 2023 National Award for Artistic Trajectory, an honor bestowed by the National Ministry of Culture recognizing the exceptional path and contributions of living Argentine creators inducted to the National Gallery of Visual Arts.

Juan Pablo Ferlat’s digital print is titled “Golem.” (Photo by Matias Roth)

“Point of Contact, soon to commemorate its 50th anniversary, has much to celebrate with the accession of this piece to the MNBA’s permanent collection,” says Matias Roth, curator of the “Libro de Artista” Buenos Aires exhibition and an exhibiting artist in the show. “As a member of the Point of Contact board of directors and longtime collaborator of both POC and the National Museum, I greatly appreciate that this work will be preserved in Argentina’s National Art Collection.”

At Point of Contact’s exhibition opening are, from left, Tere Paniagua, gallery director; Matias Roth, Point of Contact board member and show curator; Museum Studies Professor Andrew Saluti and museum studies graduate students Paola Manzano and Molly Dano.

Jade Aulestia

After spending the Spring 2024 semester in , Aulestia decided to extend her time abroad and spend the summer interning in the same location. During her summer session, she interned for ARTE, the Franco-German broadcast station in Strasbourg, just a six-minute walk away from the Syracuse center.

“It was amazing to see how ARTE manages bilingual content in France but also how it caters to the rest of the neighboring counties. ARTE is a popular channel for Europe with coverage in several languages aside from French and German,” Aulestia says.

As a broadcast and digital journalism major, this internship was a valuable experience contributing to both her personal and professional growth. Her internship responsibilities included working on reports, conducting research for their social media platforms and helping to plan future projects. “I learned so much about myself while abroad and I will always be thankful for the experience,” Aulestia says.

Summer 2025 Programs

Summer study abroad programs, ranging from two to nine weeks abroad, are a valuable option for both undergraduate and graduate students who might have trouble fitting study abroad into their busy schedules. Enrolling in programs over the summer can help students catch up or get ahead on degree credits and can even provide valuable work and internship experience.

Summer at Syracuse Centers

Syracuse University students spend time in Strasbourg during their time abroad.

�ٳܰ����Բ���, students can choose from a variety of courses at Syracuse Centers in Florence, London, Madrid and Strasbourg. Students can enroll in one or two classes for over two to nine weeks and earn three to nine credits. Sessions are designed to immerse students in the city’s culture through unique activities and city exploration opportunities, along with specially designed weekend trips to surrounding cities and sites.

Courses are offered in a variety of disciplines including advertising, biology, communications, history, political science, psychology, public health policy, sociology, sport management and more.

Summer Internships Abroad

abroad provide students with the opportunity to gain international work experience and build a global network. Syracuse Abroad offers a variety of summer internship opportunities, including programs at Syracuse centers, internships led by University faculty, and programs with pre-approved partners in locations, including Brussels, Tel Aviv and Singapore.

In partnership with the Strasbourg Center, students have access to an exclusive internship program at the . This program is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students interested in human rights, governance, diplomacy and international relations. The Strasbourg Center also offers community internships ranging from placements in business, politics, education, media, art, community service and more.

Faculty-Led Summer Programs

Summer programs led by University faculty are also offered throughout the summer in a variety of locations covering many academic disciplines. Students can study education in South Africa, design in Japan and exercise science in Peru. View all��.

Students can for Summer 2025 programs. The application deadline is Saturday, Feb. 1, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students can to learn more about summer study abroad.

Financial aid is also available for summer programs, including merit scholarships, study abroad grants, need-based grants and more. Learn more about .

Eighteen student groups have been chosen to participate in the Fall 2024 Student Organization Challenge.

Eighteen student groups have been chosen to participate. You can help them succeed as they compete for the highest number of unique donors by the end of the challenge. In addition to the funds raised, the Student Experience team has offered $1,750 in challenge dollars for the following:

• $250 to the first organization to reach 50 donors
• $500 to the first organization to reach 100 donors
• $1,000 to the student organization with the highest number of donors at the end of the challenge

Whether it’s funding a new project, hosting an event or enhancing their operations, your gift can help these groups achieve their dreams.

Why Donate?

• Boost Campus Life: These student-led initiatives strengthen the sense of community and belonging on campus, making Syracuse University a more engaging environment for all.
• Support Students: We can’t do it without��you! Your participation means the world to our dedicated students.
• Maximize Impact: Every unique donor moves students one step closer to unlocking challenge dollars, meaning your generosity goes even further.

The challenge runs until Dec. 3, 2024. Visit to learn more about this year’s participating organizations and their goals.

Story by Brooke Merrifield-Hintz

Known nationally for spearheading unique teaching-excellence initiatives, Neuhaus is also a professor in the School of Education. Most recently, she was professor of history and director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at SUNY Plattsburgh. She has also held teaching positions at several universities, including Denison, Case Western Reserve and Oregon State.

We sat down with Neuhaus to discuss her new role and CTLE’s approach to promoting teaching and learning success.

The new station, “,” is “a thrilling and significant breakthrough” for the growing Spanish-speaking community in the area, says , executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community and director of the University’s . “The station is poised to become a vital resource, reflecting the vibrant mix of Hispanic and Latino cultures and effectively engaging these populations like no other local or regional medium does.”

Paniagua and many others at the University were integral to the development of the station. She first got involved in the summer of 2023 when WCNY CEO and President approached her wondering if a Spanish-language radio station was available in the area. When he discovered there wasn’t one, Gelman asked Paniagua to help him assess the community’s interest in filling that void.

Gelman formed a community task force, which he co-chaired with Paniagua and WCNY-FM Station Manager . Over many months, more than two dozen task force members planned the station’s structure, helped developed funding, sought collaborators and generated programming ideas.

Teresita Paniagua, left, the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community, speaks to students at an event celebrating Hispanic culture. Paniagua was instrumental in spurring community interest in and involvement to help bring about WCNY’s Spanish-language radio station.

Several University faculty members and instructors from the College of Arts and Sciences, including , associate teaching professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Spanish language coordinator, and , Spanish instructor, participated in the task force efforts.

Also involved in other ways were , Spanish department professor and chair; , Spanish professor; , assistant teaching professor of film in the College of Visual and Performing Arts; , development director for Syracuse Stage; , professor of Spanish at Onondaga Community College; Josefa Álvarez Valadés, ��Spanish professor at LeMoyne College; and , a Newhouse School of Public Communications alumnus and former radio/TV producer who is an associate professor of communications at SUNY Oswego.

As part of the task force’s fact-finding, Paniagua enlisted Whitman School of Management students Nicolas Cela Marxuach ’25, Zachary Levine ’25 and Jonah Griffin ’24 to develop and distribute a community interest survey, which the students circulated to several hundred local residents at community events. She says 98% of respondents supported the idea. The survey also provided insights into audience demographics and programming ideas—including sports, community news, talk shows, music and faith-based content.

There are upwards of 1,000 Spanish-speaking radio stations in the U.S. but Pulso Central is the first of its kind in Central New York. The region is home to some 18,000 Spanish-speaking households, with Spanish-speaking people making up about 10.5% of the area’s population and comprising a segment of the community that has grown 30% over the past decade, according to research done by WCNY.

A Learning Resource

Pulso Central also provides a unique learning opportunity and “an extraordinary new pedagogical tool for experiential education” for the University’s students, says Ticio Quesada.

M. Emma Ticio Quesada, center, a professor in Syracuse University’s Spanish department, uses WCNY’s radio station studio as an experiential learning space and resource for her courses.

Five students from her immersive course, Community Outreach: Language in Action, are interning at the station. The students, Lailah Ali-Valentine, Adam Baltaxe, Kimberlyn Lopez Herrera, Nicolas Bernardino Greiner-Guzman and Jade Aulestia recently created their first podcast.

Ticio Quesada says she also expects students in SPA 300: Our Community Voices, an course, to benefit from the same kind of internship opportunity. The course connects native and non-native Spanish speakers, inspires them to contribute to the local community, and promotes inclusion and social justice.

Partnering Results

Miranda Traudt, the University’s assistant provost for arts and community programming, says the task force is a good example of the positive outcomes that can result when members of the University and local communities work together to achieve specific goals. “This project continues La Casita’s meaningful engagement with Hispanic communities in Central New York and helps fulfill its mission through work in the arts, media, cultural heritage preservation and research adding to the high quality of life,” she says.

Several dozen community members helped WCNY form and air the area’s first Spanish-language radio station. They included, from left, Mitch Gelman, WCNY president and CEO; M. Emma Ticio Quesada, Syracuse University professor of Spanish; Stephanie Gonzalez Rawlings, content producer; and DJ Lorenz (Renzo Quesada), music host. (Photo by Eric Hayden, WCNY)

Game Changer

Paniagua believes the station “can be a game changer,” not only in providing news and information about and for the Latina/Hispanic community but also by “helping to change long-established stereotypes and present a whole new world of possibilities for the people of this community,” she says. “There are many wonderful stories about people who have established their lives in this community and I hope Pulso Central can be a showcase for those stories.”

Launch Event Oct. 24

An official launch event, “,” will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, at WCNY studios and La Casita.

“WCNY is thrilled to help launch Pulso Central,” Gelman says. “Our goal is to provide a platform that will come alive with music and talk that engages listeners and fosters community connection.”

The station reaches listeners in 19 counties. Pulso Central airs on WCNY 91.3 HD-2 in Syracuse, WUNY 89.5 HD-2 in Utica and WJNY 90.9 HD-2 in Watertown. It is accessible online at and streaming on the Pulso Central app.

In this fourth edition of the competition, sponsored by , architects, designers and visionaries from around the world were asked to redefine the future of residential architecture by designing a dwelling for the year 2124 that focused on innovation, sustainability and adaptability.

With issues like climate change, urbanization and technological advancements at the forefront, the competition invited participants to think beyond the conventional and explore the uncharted territories of architectural design by pushing the boundaries, challenging preconceptions and creating visionary concepts for homes that will define the 22nd century.

Guided by Marcos Parga, associate professor at the School of Architecture, the Syracuse University student team of Yifan (Ivan) Chen ’25 and Yue Zhuo ’25 designed “The Domestic Nomad,” a project that, rather than a housing solution, serves as a statement and provocation that redefines nomadism at a contemporary, domestic scale to address the rigidity of private enclosures promoted by the capitalist market.

“The Domestic Nomad”

Inspired by Gilles Deleuze’s notion of nomadism in “A Thousand Plateaus,” the team proposed a radical rethinking of residential spaces and household activities, prioritizing public, communal living over private ownership—even in cold climates like Chicago, their chosen site. Their project manifests as a versatile framework of four distinct levels, each offering unique combinations of height, light, acoustics and thermal properties designed to foster shared experiences and reduce the requirement for extensive private areas.

The design of “The Domestic Nomad” promotes efficient use of resources and energy, enhancing adaptability by allowing domestic activities to shift between indoor and outdoor settings. Sustainability and thermal consideration drive the formal output of the building. Throughout the project, tested building technologies and passive thermal systems that support dynamic living configurations are deployed on different levels, unified by a 22nd-century “hearth,” as theorized by Semper in his “The Four Elements of Architecture,” 1851, that serves as both a heat chimney and a vertical transport system.

Modular, multi-functional ‘creatures,’ a tribute to Hejduk’s “Victims,” 1984, become the catalysts for domestic mobility and community engagement by carrying practical function (sleeping, dining, etc.) and migrating to different levels through the “hearth.” Moving as shared infrastructure between the indoors and outdoors depending on the time and season, these nomadic apparatuses redefine interaction with the neighborhood and challenge the constructed borders of space, enclosure, program and privacy on a domestic scale.

Overall, “The Domestic Nomad” encapsulates a proactive approach to residential architecture by blurring the boundaries between private versus public living. The project invites residents to rethink their interactions with space and aims to set a precedent for how homes can evolve to foster a communal life in the century ahead.

“We wanted to use the Home2124 competition as an opportunity to present our thoughts on the future of living in a communal way and exhibit how novel spatial relationships and technologies could foster alternative forms of a collective domestic life,” says Shen.

After being critiqued by a jury of leading architects, designers and academicians of international repute, the Syracuse University team’s project was selected to receive the competition’s first-place prize. Shen and Zhuo were awarded a certificate of recognition, interviewed by competition organizers, and their project will be included in an upcoming publication.

In addition to winning the Home2124 international award, “The Domestic Nomad” received the overall design prize in the Spring 2024 competition at Syracuse’s School of Architecture competition at Syracuse’s School of Architecture.

“Shen and Zhuo’s project successfully merged creative freedom and real constraints, two critical challenges of my Integrated Design Studio course: it demonstrates an absolute commitment to experimentation and uses constructive imagination to celebrate an unapologetic approach to tectonics,” says Parga. “Their project encourages us to look closely at the dwelling spaces we live in and think deeply about the domestic landscape we would like to see in the future.”

“The Domestic Nomad” was also recently selected for a student design award from the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter (AIA CNY), which will be presented to Shen and Zhuo at the event on Friday, Nov. 15.

“We hope “The Domestic Nomad” will be remembered for its legible approach that not only redefines living spaces but also inspires a new generation of architects and students to think critically about the role of design in society’s progression,” says Shen.

The students, led by School of Design Associate Professor��, participated in two teams.��They completed the design proposals as part of their coursework in Spring 2024. The awards were announced in late September.

Surina Archey ’27, Milena Andrade ’26 and Haley Meyer ’26 took the silver award in product and structural design for ��a prescription for eco-anxiety. Arriving in eco-friendly packaging, the prescription provides resources for climate action and education in four capsules.

Offering a calendar of local, environmentally focused events, the action pill encourages community involvement. The giving pill spotlights an eco-organization and contribution opportunities.

The prescription also introduces users to sustainable companies through product discounts and samples in the sustainability pill. It provides a booklet with anti-anxiety practices and a newsletter containing positive climate news through its wellness pill.

Receiving highly commended recognition in , Qizhi Fang ’26, Valeria Chavez ’27, Peter Zejmis ’26 and Jiamin Chen ’26 confronted water accessibility issues. The students designed a water bottle that alerts people experiencing homelessness to the proximity of drinkable water. In partnership with Hydro Flask, the water bottle measures the distance to accessible, clean water sources by color change. The farther from a water source, the redder the bottle turns.

Award winners have their work displayed online and are invited to be a part of the Creative Conscience Community.

Graduate students from the Experimental Neutrino Physics group with Syracuse-area high school students who took part in the Syracuse University Physics Emerging Research Technologies Summer High School Internship Program in summer 2024.

It takes sophisticated technology to study the behavior of invisible particles like neutrinos and cosmic rays, which pass through our bodies every second before zooming back off into the universe without us even knowing. While they might be tiny, these particles have massive importance, as understanding their interactions could help scientists determine why our universe exists and why all of the “stuff” in the universe, including stars, planets and people, are made out of matter and not antimatter. Faculty and students in the ��group in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) are part of an international effort to explore the secrets of neutrinos.

So, what’s the buzz about neutrinos? Neutrinos and other invisible particles such as cosmic rays are produced by some of the most extreme events in the cosmos, like the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago or when massive stars end their life cycles in a blaze of glory known as supernovae explosions. Neutrinos come in three flavors (electron, muon and tau) and have some mysterious characteristics, such as puzzlingly low masses and the ability to oscillate, or change from one type of neutrino to another. Scientists use cutting-edge particle detectors to study the information embedded in neutrinos and make definitive determinations of neutrino properties.

Physics Professors ��and����are working with undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on everything from detector construction to operation and analysis, both at Syracuse and at larger detection sites like��. Fermilab is one of the few places on Earth where a focused beam of neutrinos can be created and aimed at a detector.

Through Fermilab’s����(DUNE), particle detectors are being constructed one mile underground in a former gold mine in South Dakota right in the path of a neutrino beam originating from Fermilab in Illinois. Once operational, DUNE scientists will be able to study a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation,” which looks at how the three different flavors of neutrinos that make up the Standard Model (electron, muon and tau) change between types as they travel. These insights could reveal why the universe is dominated by matter and whether a fourth type of neutrino (sterile neutrino) exists, which would go beyond the Standard Model, indicating that there is more to the universe’s fundamental particle makeup than we currently understand.

Prototype Paves the Way

Physics graduate student Tom Murphy (right, in orange hard hat) working on a DUNE prototype. (Photo by Dan Svoboda)

DUNE, currently under construction, will be the most comprehensive neutrino experiment in the world. But before it comes online, scientists have been testing prototype equipment and components in preparation for the final detector installation. Members of Syracuse’s Experimental Neutrino Physics group have been part of the��, which recorded its first��. While the final version of the DUNE near detector will feature 35 liquid argon modules, the prototype has four modules arranged in a square and allows scientists to validate the design.

“Our group members who are resident at Fermilab, including postdoctoral researcher Luis Zazueta and graduate student Tom Murphy, have helped with final detector construction, installation and operations,” says Soderberg. “Zazueta was the inaugural “deputy run coordinator” for the 2×2 effort, which is a leadership role important to the operation of the detector. We are anticipating more involvement in the full-size DUNE detector that the 2×2 is a prototype for.”

Exploring the Cosmos on Campus

Physics Ph.D. student Sierra Thomas is another one of the A&S scientists who has been involved in the DUNE collaboration. She is currently setting up the equipment to make observations of cosmic events at Syracuse using the new prototype “pixel” Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector. Located on the third floor of the physics building, this hi-tech device allows researchers to make observations about the universe from the comforts of campus. What’s more, the experiments conducted with this equipment are contributing to the enhancement of larger detectors at Fermilab.

Watch the video below for Sierra’s take on the detector.

A Search for Oscillation

In addition to the DUNE project, Fermilab also hosts the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, which is a chain of three particle detectors—ICARUS, MicroBooNE and the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND). SBND is the near detector for the Short Baseline Neutrino Program and the newest of the three. ICARUS, which started collecting data in 2021, is the far detector. SBND will measure the neutrinos as they were produced in the Fermilab beam and ICARUS will measure the neutrinos after they’ve potentially oscillated. The neutrino interactions collected from these detectors play a critical role in performing searches for neutrino oscillations, which could provide proof of the elusive fourth kind of neutrino.

The Short-Baseline Near Detector and ICARUS are the near and far detectors, respectively, in the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program. (Photo courtesy of Fermilab)

Rohan Rajagopalan standing in the SBND building near the detector.

SBND, the final element that completed Fermilab’s Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, recently reached a key milestone as scientists identified the detector’s����earlier this year. Members of Syracuse’s Experimental Neutrino Physics group played integral roles in��constructing and commissioning the detector, whose planning, prototyping and construction took nearly a decade. Current group members Amy Filkins, a postdoctoral researcher, and Rohan Rajagopalan, a graduate student, are currently based at Fermilab and working on SBND, having made major contributions to SBND’s first operations.

Amy Filkins (in yellow hard hat) working on the Short-Baseline Near Detector’s data acquisition rack.

The collaboration will continue operating the detector and analyzing the many millions of neutrino interactions collected for the next several years.

“I’m proud of the work that our team has been undertaking,” says Whittington. “I find the process of building, understanding and operating these experiments very engaging, and I’m excited to see them come to fruition over the next few years.”

Students interested in hands-on, international research and exploring the secrets of neutrinos can learn more by visiting the����group website.

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have planned events and activities to look back and remember the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy, and to educate on the ways they are acting forward.

Remembrance Week, the annual weeklong series of events, will be held Sunday, Oct. 20, through Saturday, Oct. 26. Remembrance Week events are meant to memorialize the victims and further educate the campus community about terrorism. All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit .

Those who require accommodations to fully participate in these events should contact Radell Roberts at��315.443.0221 or��rrober02@syr.edu. The schedule is as follows:

��All Week��

• Empty Seats Display, Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle:��The Empty Seats Display is a visual representation of the Syracuse University students lost aboard Pan Am Flight 103. The exhibition is meant to serve as a reminder of how a loss in the past can inspire positive actions in the present. This year’s Remembrance Scholars will sit in solidarity in the chairs for 35 minutes on Wednesday, Oct. 23, beginning at 2 p.m.
• Pen-and-ink drawings of the Syracuse University study abroad student victims will be on display in Hendricks Chapel.
• Blue and white flags, one for each of the 270 Pan Am 103 victims, will be on display in the area between the Newhouse School and Schine Student Center. Also, the Hall of Languages, Hendricks Chapel and the JMA Wireless Dome will be lit in blue in honor of Remembrance Week.

Sunday, Oct. 20

• “Each Moment Radiant,” Hendricks Chapel 4 p.m.: The Malmgren Concert Series will feature the world premiere of “Each Moment Radiant,” a newly commissioned chamber work by composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner commemorating the Pan Am Flight 103 air disaster. Setnor School of Music faculty and guest musicians will perform Erickson and Turner’s song cycle “Here, Bullet” and Johannes Brahms’ piano trio in C minor.
• “Healing Trauma Through Poetry and Music,” National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, 5:30 p.m.: Composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner will lead a reception and discussion on the genesis and creative process behind “Here, Bullet” and “Each Moment Radiant.”

These events are co-sponsored by the Syracuse Symposium, the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the Society for New Music, the Setnor School of Music and the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. The commission for “Each Moment Radiant” was made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.

• , Place of Remembrance, 7 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will begin Remembrance Week activities with a candlelight vigil to remember the 270 victims of Pan Am 103.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

• “Sitting in Solidarity,” Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, 2 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie scholars will sit in the empty chairs on the Quad for 35 minutes.

Thursday, Oct. 24

• Act Forward Symposium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall atrium (outside Gifford Auditorium), 7 p.m.: The Remembrance Scholars will present posters that share their plans to “act forward” through outreach, research, education and creative projects designed to benefit the community.
• , Gifford Auditorium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, 8 p.m.: An evening of music, poetry, art, dancing and more to honor the victims of Pan Am 103 and to celebrate life alongside the victims’ families and the current scholars. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) will be available for this event.

Friday, Oct. 25

• “In The Aftermath: Documenting and Researching Victim Support Groups,” Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, 114 Bird Library, and Zoom (), 10 a.m.: A panel discussion focusing on the collection, preservation and use of important records of the aftermath of tragedies and disasters. Organized by the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at the Special Collections Research Center and moderated by Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 archivist and assistant University archivist. Panelists are Jelena Watkins, co-director of the Centre for Collective Trauma in the United Kingdom and member of the Archiving Disaster Support Group Records project team, and Ezra Rudolph, research associate for Contemporary and Cultural History at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Both will talk about their work and experiences and share insights into the lasting significance and unique challenges of victim support group records in documenting the aftermath of tragic events. A question-and-answer session will follow the moderated discussion. CART will be provided. If you require accessibility accommodations, email Max Wagh at mlwagh@syr.edu by Friday, Oct. 18.
• , Place of Remembrance, 2:03 p.m.: This annual ceremony remembers the 270 people, including 35 students studying abroad through Syracuse University, who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing. The ceremony also honors 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died in 2002. American Sign Language interpretation will be available for this event.
• Remembrance Scholar Convocation, Hendricks Chapel, 3 p.m.: ​This annual convocation will honor the 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. ASL interpretation and CART will be available for this event. A reception in the Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall, will immediately follow.

Students studying (Photo by Angela Ryan)

With midterm exams right around the corner and World Mental Health Day on Thursday, Oct. 10, SU News put together a guide for students to help manage their mental health all year long, but especially during the midterm stress.

As you study and prepare for midterms, here are some quick tips to keep in mind to focus on your mental health:

• Create a manageable study plan: Break your study sessions into manageable time blocks, prioritize your tasks and focus on one subject at a time.
• 

  Sound Bathing Immersive Experience at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

  Take breaks: Short, frequent breaks can help you stay focused and reduce stress. Try stretching, going for a walk or doing something you enjoy.

• Be active: Physical activity can give a boost to your energy and mood.��Even a short walk or a quick workout can make a big difference.
• Eat healthy: Nutritious food fuels your brain and body.��Try to eat balanced meals and drink plenty of water.
• Prioritize sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.��Quality sleep is important for memory, concentration and overall mental health.
• Connect with others: Talking to friends or family can provide emotional support.
• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation or yoga can help reduce anxiety and improve focus.
• Use resources at Barnes Center at The Arch: In addition to being a great place to get a workout in, you can also find counseling services, support groups and more which are outlined below.

Resources at the Barnes Center at The Arch

“The Barnes Center is such a rich resource for health and wellness, and we know from our students that mental wellness is most effective when approached from a holistic perspective that focuses on the connection between the mind and body,” says Carrie Brown, counseling director at the .

Mental health is one of the focus areas at the Barnes Center at The Arch. There are numerous resources available to provide support to students while they are away from home and feeling challenges with their mental health.

“Barnes Center Counseling offers therapeutic support through individual and group therapy offerings as well as crisis and emergency support,” says Brown. “We have multiple groups that teach skills and techniques to help manage anxiety and emotional regulation. We also work very closely with our partners in Barnes Center Recreation and Health Promotion to connect students with other health and wellness resources.”

Students can also benefit from creating structure and routine and using the resources highlighted below, as part of a personalized self-care plan.

Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Clinical Support Services

Counseling

: Provides an opportunity to talk confidentially with an objective, caring professional about concerns and gain insights for a better understanding of one’s difficulties. These insights are then used to create a plan of action to carry out in one’s daily living.

: Focuses on developing insight, changing behavior and improving relationship skills. In the group setting, students struggling with similar concerns can share feedback with each other and learn new ways of coping.

: Counseling offers support with off-campus mental health referrals. Off-campus referrals may be provided to students who request a referral, present with an issue best suited for specialized treatment, long-term care or in cases when a student’s schedule is not compatible with our business hours or therapist availability.

Psychiatry services are available on a referral basis from the Barnes Center at The Arch����and����teams. Services are provided jointly between the Barnes Center at The Arch psychiatric provider and the student’s home psychiatric provider. In order to see a psychiatric provider, a student will need to��.

Health and Wellness at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Mental Health Activities

In addition to the support services available on campus, the Barnes Center offers various activities to engage in to support mental health, including the following:

With several locations across campus, the Crowley Family MindSpa offers a welcoming, accessible and private space for students to practice and prioritize self-care by providing access to a variety of mindfulness and self-care activities, tools and resources.

Mindfulness and Meditation

: Through science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools, Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a happier, healthier you.

: This program teaches the art of paying attention on purpose to the present moment with open and nonjudgmental awareness.

The Barnes Center at The Arch, in partnership with community organizations, offers pet therapy opportunities through the Deborah A. Barnes Pet Therapy Program. Visit the Walters Pet Therapy Room to de-stress and enjoy a pet’s company for free.

Students interact with a therapy dog during a pet therapy session at the Barnes Center at The Arch. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Syracuse University students experiencing a mental health crisis, seeking support for�� or needing urgent medical consultation can receive free confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling��315.443.8000.

Doctoral students in clinical psychology��Alexa Deyo ’21 and Alison Vrabec G’23 spent their summer testing a theory that a certain kind of therapeutic technique called motivational interviewing could improve sleep and overall health among adolescents. According to the , sleep problems can impact how people learn, think and get along with others. “If teens are sleeping better, their mental health is improved; they are more emotionally regulated and less impulsive,” says��, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, who is supervising the clinical research.

Kathy Walters

Their research is exactly the kind of promising work that philanthropic alumni��Kathy Walters��’73, H’23 and her husband, Stan ’72, had in mind when they set up the Walters Endowed Fund for Science Research in 2016. According to Kathy Walters, they were hoping to create new opportunities for research that would benefit humanity—and they left the door open for the dean and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) to define what those benefits might be.

“Researchers tend to see things that those of us not immersed in science would never see,” says Walters, a Syracuse University Trustee. “I’m not a big believer in telling capable people what they should be researching.” In fact, the funding is to be used to support a vast array of academic inquiry, including “undergraduate, graduate or faculty-led research in the sciences, including departments of biology, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, Earth science, mathematics, psychology and physics.”

The funding is awarded at the discretion of the A&S dean and associate dean for research to recognize outstanding research faculty. “Research funding is critical to supporting our academic mission,” says A&S Dean��Behzad Mortazavi. “With Kathy and Stan’s gift, we can invest in more of our stellar faculty and students, so they can contribute their enormous expertise to solving challenges in the areas of the environment and climate, health and wellness, social justice and human thriving.”

Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu

Since the fund was established, it has supported research by graduate students in physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. “Thanks to the Walters, I was able to spend the summer of 2023 in the lab full-time,” says Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in cell biology and is dedicated to figuring out the cellular behavior that governs early development of human tissue. “This particular tissue helps the body organize itself. Understanding how that happens is key to understanding developmental defects.”

“Bench to bedside research” like this takes years of toil at the “bench” in the lab to reach the “bedside” where people can benefit. Ononiwu says the funding from the Walters allowed her to spend a lot more time at that bench, reduce some of the costs associated with conducting the research, and speed up the process of discovery. “It was also empowering to be in a space where I didn’t have to worry about my finances and could come into the lab and focus on the experiment. It also helped get my research to the point where I could apply for more grants and fellowships to accelerate the research.”

Ononiwu, who hopes to pursue a job in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical or biomedical company, says the Walters funding was a “catalyst for my development as a researcher and a professional.”

Kidwell says her graduate students are deepening their own clinical training through the funded research and positioning themselves to be more competitive for National Institutes of Health grants.

“Oftentimes, teaching assistantships take precedence over research assistantships because of financial need,” says Deyo, a first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology.

Professor Katie Kidwell (second from left) with members of the Child Health Lab, including graduate students (from left) Toni Hamilton, Alison Vrabec, Lyric Tully, Alexa Deyo and Megan Milligan.

The doctoral students were able to accelerate the launch of their study this past summer, recruit a significant number of teens aged 13 to 17 as study subjects, expose them to the intervention called motivational interviewing and measure the impact on their sleep using a smart watch-type of device called an actigraph.

The intent of their research, of course, is to help teens and college students problem-solve and deal with stressors that impact their well-being. The research aligns with Kathy Walters’ sensitivity to the impact of stress on health. “The world is moving at such a rapid pace that it’s difficult for people to prioritize and focus amidst the change and anxiety,” says Walters. “Helping faculty and students make the most of opportunities to improve health and humanity remains our priority.”

“We are so grateful to Kathy and Stan for their generosity and vision in establishing this fund,” says John Quigley, A&S assistant dean for advancement. “We hope others who are similarly passionate about academic and research excellence at the University will follow suit. An endowment of $100,000 or more provides the kind of annual supplemental support needed by our talented faculty to accelerate the impact of their teaching and research.”

Walters says it’s important to provide gifts that are not too restricted. “Students are developing the critical thinking skills required to pursue knowledge that answers the big questions facing our world. By supporting research, we are helping them find the answers.”

Jurgen Baeza ’26 at The Atlanta White House during an OVMA Career Immersion trip to Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Jurgen Baeza)

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in, so I was balancing out different majors. By the end, I was just running out of funds, and I needed to get my life together. One thing that really intrigued me was how the military would pay for college, which was my main objective because I didn’t want to put my family in debt to pay for me going to school–especially having two younger brothers and how they needed to go to school too,” says Baeza, who wound up enlisting in the U.S Navy.

Baeza is currently enrolled at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he majors in computer science, following a passion that began back in high school when he, as he recalls, began dabbling a little bit in coding.

Baeza served as an aviation structural mechanic specializing in the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s safety equipment, but in his off time, he pursued those interests with computers and started taking online courses in other coding languages like Java and Python.

“To me, I thought it was like a puzzle to try and solve. You just piece pieces together and make sure that the code runs smoothly. It’s been really fun and also challenging, but it’s very rewarding when you see your code running and there’s no more bugs or anything,” Baeza says.

From Ejection Seats to Classroom Desks

U.S. Navy portrait of Jurgen Baeza ’26 (Photo courtesy of Jurgen Baeza)

When F/A-18 pilots find themselves in trouble while soaring through the skies at more than 1,300 miles per hour, one of their last options is to eject from the aircraft. Baeza was primarily responsible for ensuring the aircraft’s ejection seat would work when all else failed on the jet aircraft. Using small rockets, the ejection seat separates a pilot from a failing aircraft at speeds up to 52 feet per second. Once the pilot has effectively cleared the aircraft, the ejection seat automatically falls away, leaving the pilot to fall back to Earth under the canopy of a fully deployed parachute.

After serving six years and ten months in the U.S. Navy, Baeza got out in 2022 and soon found himself landing on campus at Syracuse University. Much like pilots orienting themselves with their surroundings after safely ejecting, Baeza had to figure out his own surroundings now that he was once again a full-time college student.

“I made the mistake of thinking that Syracuse was going to be like New York City, and when I got here, it was definitely not. I don’t mind it though, it’s nice, I love it so far,” says Baeza, who also states that he had some problems associating at times with traditional students due to the age difference. While trying to find a community to connect with, he stumbled upon a fellow student veteran who helped connect Baeza with other student veterans on campus.

“The Student Veterans Organization was very welcoming, and I have to give a shout out to Savion Pollard, he was my mentor my first semester here. He kept pushing me to go to events with the SVO,” Baeza recalls. He says he was a little “stand-offish” at first, like many veterans he wasn’t looking to participate with the military culture, he was seeking a new path forward. With Pollard’s encouragement, Baeza began going to some of the SVO’s meetings, where he found most of the student veterans shared similar experiences and, like him, weren’t looking to revive their days in the military but instead help each other in the pursuit of their academic goals.

“It’s nice when you don’t want to go to the library, and you just want to go somewhere to decompress and relax. Everyone in the student veteran lounge is the same way, we’re not looking to talk about the military, or school, but we talk about life and different stuff going on outside of class,” Baeza says.

The student veteran lounge and the student veteran quiet study space are both amenities provided exclusively to military-connected students inside the National Veterans Resource Center at Syracuse University. Serving as locations where military-connected students can unwind, relax or get ready for their next class, the spaces are crucial when other quiet areas are tied up by traditional students on campus, particularly around mid-term and final exams.

New Heights Ahead

With graduation looming on his horizon, Baeza says he’d like to stay in New York to work in software engineering, but going back to the West Coast isn’t off the table either. Additionally, Baeza says he’s interested in several master’s programs that are available through the College of Engineering and Computer Science. While figuring out what the future holds for him, he’s started giving back to the military-connected community on campus.

With a few semesters under his belt, Baeza ran for and was elected to the SVO’s Executive Board, serving as the organization’s secretary. Like many student veterans before him, he not only understands the value of the SVO’s community but also advocates for other military-connected students on campus to check the group out.

“The more students we have involved in our events, the more support we get from the University in terms of funding and opportunities. So, it’s always great to see student veterans coming out to support their community on campus, and I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in supporting veterans to check us out,” says Baeza.

Those interested in learning more about the Student Veterans Organization can check out the SVO’s Website hosted by the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

Jurgen Baeza ’26 (fourth from left) with other members of Syracuse University’s Student Veterans Organization, including mentor Savion Pollard ’25 (third from left).

The Maxwell School Centennial Celebration will be held in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. The event will begin with a hors d’oeuvres reception, followed by the presentation of Centennial Scholar Awards to students, Dean’s Centennial Citations of Excellence to faculty and staff, and Changemaker Awards to four alumni.

“As we gather on campus to celebrate a century of service and shared commitment to making the world a better place, it’s my privilege to recognize these stand-out individuals,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke. “Whether through their government, nonprofit or business leadership, or their scholarship, teaching and administrative support, each embodies the spirit of 100 years of Maxwell dedication to engaged citizenship.”

Students to be recognized with scholar awards are:

• Adam Baltaxe ’25, a senior majoring in international relations and Spanish language, literature and culture;
• Jorge Morales ’26, a junior majoring in history and anthropology;
• Anna Rupert ’26, a junior majoring in economics;
• Nathan Torabi ’26, a junior majoring in political science; citizenship and civic engagement; and law, society and policy;
• Mariana Zepeda ’26, a junior majoring in policy studies and environment, sustainability and policy;
• Ferdinand Eimler, who is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations as part of the Atlantis Dual Degree Master’s Program;
• Benjamin Katz, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in political science;
• Julia Liebell-McLean, who is pursuing a dual master of public administration and international relations degree; and
• Kaythari Maw, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in economics.

The following staff will receive Dean’s Citations:

• Sarah McLaughlin ’04 (Arts & Sciences), assistant director of advancement operations;
• Dan Nelson ’04, director of accelerated learning and global engagement;
• Amy Schmidt ’14, assistant director of the Citizenship and Civic Engagement Undergraduate Program; and
• Deborah Toole ’12, administrative specialist for the Geography and the Environment Department. Faculty recipients are:
• Devashish Mitra, professor and chair of the Economics Department and Gerald B. and Daphna Cramer Professor of Global Affairs;
• Jennifer Karaz Montez, University Professor and Gerald B. Cramer Faculty Scholar in Aging Studies;
• Chie Sakakibara, associate professor of geography and the environment; and
• Baobao Zhang, assistant professor of political science.

The four alumni Centennial Changemaker Awards will go to:

• John Mandyck ’89, ’92, chief executive officer of the nonprofit Urban Green Council; City of Syracuse Deputy Mayor
• Sharon Owens ’85;
• H. Lewis “Lew” Rapaport ’59, founder and CEO of the firm Component Assembly Systems; and
• Kathryn Ruscitto ’92, former president and CEO of St. Josephs Health.

The Centennial Celebration caps a year of festivities and events celebrating the school’s founding by Syracuse University alumnus, trustee and entrepreneur George H. Maxwell. Then called the School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, it opened in Slocum Hall on Oct. 3, 1924, and offered an undergraduate citizenship course, a weekly seminar in political science and a one-year graduate program in public administration—the first of its kind in the nation.

In the 100 years since its founding, Maxwell has greatly expanded its footprint: it boasts over 38,000 alumni around the world and is home to more than 3,000 students, 200 faculty and nearly 100 staff who learn and work in 12 departments and 15 research centers and institutes. It offers a range of highly regarded undergraduate, graduate and midcareer degrees and professional programs across the social sciences and public and international affairs—including the nation’s top-ranked public affairs graduate program, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report.

Maxwell has marked its milestone with an array of festivities and initiatives. Several accomplished alumni were honored in May 2024 during a celebration at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Throughout the year, the school has invited alumni to reconnect and share what motivates their work on an created to celebrate the centennial and show Maxwell’s global impact. Those who participate in the map are asked to share what they “ever strive” for—a nod to the opening of the Oath of the Athenian City-State that is inscribed on the wall in the school’s first-floor foyer; it calls for individuals to “transmit this city not only not less but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

The ever strive theme resonates in another centennial endeavor—a professionally edited that tells the story of the school’s founding with archival photos and videos and narration by alumnus Ronald Taylor ’15.

In addition to the Oct. 18 Centennial Celebration, other upcoming events include:

• An Otey Scruggs Memorial Lecture Featuring historian Maeve E. Kane from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, in room 220, Eggers Hall. Kane will share how Haudenosaunee women used clothing to define and protect their nations’ sovereignty.
• Birthday cake with Otto and the dean from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Eggers Hall Commons.
• State of Democracy Lecture: Election 2024 from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, in room 220, Eggers Hall.
• Talk by Arthur C. Brooks: “How to Get Happier in an Unhappy World,” 5 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the National Veterans Resource Center, K.G. Tan Auditorium. Brooks is a Harvard professor, New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading experts on the science of human happiness.
• Phanstiel Lecture: “The People Who Built the Pyramids—How We Know,” 5 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, National Veterans Resource Center, K.G. Tan Auditorium. Mark Lehner, director and president of Ancient Egypt Research, will lead the discussion.

For more information, visit the .

Take a look at some of the highlights from this year’s festivities!

So happy to be reunited for Family Weekend. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Instagram)

Taking a photo with Otto the Orange is a time-honored tradition. (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

Students and their families tour the Barner-McDuffie House. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

There was a festive Celebration of Identity at the Barner-McDuffie House. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Instagram)

There are plenty of great places to stop and catch up, like the Schine Student Center, during Family Weekend festivities. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Falk College hosted students and their families as part of Family Weekend. (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

For those who love exercise, the weekend even included a fun run. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

The Promenade is always the perfect spot for a photo. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

There was so much fun to be had on the Shaw Quad prior to the football game. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Hugs all around for Family Weekend 2024 (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Coach Fran Brown’s Quad Walk was even a family affair with his son (right) walking with him. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Who doesn’t love a little football on the Quad? (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

It was all smiles during the sold out Syracuse Orange vs. Holy Cross football game. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Taking time to catch up while being reunited on campus for this fun weekend (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Instagram)

Even some four-legged friends made it to campus for a visit. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Everyone was showing their Orange pride! (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

There are so many great spots on campus to snap that perfect family selfie! (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Livia McQuade (center) with U.S. wheelchair rugby team members Joe Delagrave and Sara Adam. The team won a silver medal in Paris, and Adam became the first woman to compete on the U.S. wheelchair rugby team at the Paralympics.

For sport management major Livia McQuade ’25, the path from the to Paris for the Paralympic Games went like this:

After learning about an internship opportunity with the (OSG) on the Careers webpage, McQuade reached out to Internship Placement Coordinator for more information. OSG is a management and marketing agency that provides top sponsorship opportunities and marketing strategies for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Through Perez, McQuade learned that recent sport management graduates Elena Randolph ’24 and Jacob Bennett ’24 strongly endorsed OSG after both had interviewed with the organization and Bennett worked there as an athlete relations intern. From there, McQuade discovered that OSG’s Director of Athlete Relations ’16 was a sport management alumna and “connecting with her jumpstarted this experience from the first interview all the way to the Paralympics,” McQuade says.

“I preach that the Falk College is better known as the ‘College of Opportunity’ and this internship is the purest reflection of that,” McQuade says.

Thanks to her Falk connections and stellar academic background, McQuade spent this past summer with OSG in Loveland, Colorado. McQuade, the executive vice president of the in the Falk College and co-chair of the club’s 2024 , says she wants to work with the Olympic and Paralympic Movement following graduation and this internship has been an invaluable step in that process.

We asked McQuade to describe her experience working for OSG at the Paralympic Games in Paris and here’s what she wrote:

Livia McQuade (left) with Olympus Sports Group Director of Athlete Relations Jessica Leonard ’16. They’re standing in front of the Arc de Triomphe with the Agitos (the Paralympics logo) displayed on the Arc for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games (similar to the Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower).

“Over the summer and into this fall semester, I have been an athlete relations intern with Olympus Sports Group. I worked under OSG Founder and President and former U.S. speed skater Ian Beck and Syracuse University alumna Jessica Leonard, and much of my internship was centered around the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Through the summer months and while four of our Olympic swimmers were competing in Paris, I worked on the backend reviewing and supporting contract negotiations for athlete partnerships, preparing athletes’ speaking outlines, updating athlete websites and project managing the upcoming book release for one of our most prominent athletes (Jessica Long).

“At the beginning of September, I took a hiatus from my classes in Falk to attend the Paralympics with OSG’s incredible leadership team and nine of our competing athletes. Our roles on the ground in Paris were largely dedicated to celebrating our athletes at their events; we cheered for Jessica Long in para swimming, Sarah Adam and Joe Delagrave in wheelchair rugby, Noah Malone and Susannah Scaroni in para track and field, Dennis Connors and Jamie Whitmore in para-cycling and Steve Serio and Trey Jenifer in wheelchair basketball. All while proudly decked out in USA apparel!

“All other responsibilities centered around any of our athletes’ media or speaking appearances. This included trips to Team USA House, Bridgestone House and Toyota House, as well as a luncheon with Bank of America and International Paralympic Committee Board members. Of all the places and moments we witnessed, the one that sticks with me the most is attending para swimming: Seeing the notorious Olympic/Paralympic-sized pool, being in a packed arena, and just being in that atmosphere was an ‘I made it’ moment for me.

“I am incredibly grateful and fortunate to work with Ian and Jessica at OSG. For the remainder of the fall semester, I am continuing to work with OSG in a limited role with the addition of our newly hired intern and capstonee sport management major (and Syracuse track and field hurdler) Kirstyn Schechter ’25. While Kirstyn takes over the responsibilities I held this summer, I will focus mostly on coordinating media opportunities and schedules for the release of Jessica Long’s new book, “,” set to publish on Oct. 1!”

Interested in a career in the sport industry? Visit the webpage to learn more about academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities.

Below, five students share their experiences; what they did and what they learned.

Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

Five Syracuse University students were selected as Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship recipients this year. They were Sofia DaCruz ’25, a women’s and gender studies and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences; (McGill University); Abi Greenfield ’25, a history and political philosophy major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (University of Victoria); Chloe Britton Naime ’25, a mechanical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of British Columbia); Kerrin O’Grady ’25, a biomedical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Victoria); and Kanya Shah ’25, an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Quebec at Chicoutimi).

Abi Greenfield

Greenfield worked with Penny Bryden, professor of history at the University of Victoria. Greenfield was first research assistant on Bryden’s Canadian constitutional culture project; she created a dataset of political cartoons about the Canadian Constitution from five periods in Canadian history.

Abi Greenfield

She mined the databases of past editions of four major Canadian newspapers and developed a dataset of approximately 500 cartoons. “I then analyzed the cartoons from the 1980-82 period to understand what major themes appeared in relation to the Constitution reform debates during this period and what these themes and metaphors demonstrated about public thought around these topics,” Greenfield says. She produced a report for Bryden analyzing four major themes she identified, along with any regional or temporal variations. Greenfield’s research will form part of a forthcoming collaborative article on editorial cartoons and Canadian constitutional culture.

Greenfield says this work strengthened her skills in research design, dataset creation and analysis, and analysis of images as historical documents, as well as deepened her knowledge of Canadian political and legal history.

“This experience has been invaluable in informing the topic and goals of my undergraduate thesis for the Honors program and the Distinction program in History, as well as how I have gone about designing my project,” Greenfield says. “The chance to connect with established scholars in my field helped me to understand the breadth of research areas available to me and led me to change my thesis topic from what I had originally planned.��My improved knowledge of Canadian legal history will also help inform my work as a research assistant on the Global Free Speech Repository Project in the Campbell Institute in the Maxwell School, where I work with Canadian free expression decisions, among others.”

After graduation, Greenfield hopes to return to the University of Victoria to pursue a master’s degree in history under Bryden’s direction.

Kanya Shah

Kanya Shah

Shah interned at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC)’s Anti-Icing Materials Laboratory (LIMA-AMIL), where she worked on the “Evaluating Passive Protection Systems for Solar Panels Against Snow and Ice Accumulations” project. Under the supervision of Research Professor Derek Harvey and with LIMA-AMIL faculty support, she conducted extensive literature review to aid the team in designing a test bench to evaluate the effectiveness of superhydrophobic and icephobic coatings against snow and ice accretion on a solar panel placed in a cold climate chamber.

The freezing rain and snowstorm tests performed honed her laboratory techniques for testing and developing coating application methods to address snow and ice adhesion on solar panels in cold climates.

“This program provided invaluable international research exposure, solidifying my commitment to advancing sustainable solutions in mechanical and aerospace engineering,” Shah says. “As I look ahead, I’m excited to pursue this passion further, either through a master’s program or an industry-related career.”

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)

Corinne Motl ’25, a physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, engaged in an internship at Argonne National Laboratory this summer through a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Corrine Motl

Quantum networks are of significant interest within the commercial and scientific communities as they hold potential for complete information security, as well as connecting dispersed quantum technologies. Quantum memories are a key part of realizing these networks.

Motl worked on simulations to test parameters when designing a nanophotonic cavity to optimize the quality factor of the cavity. “What this means on a larger scale is that we aim to develop quantum memories that are able to get an input, preserve that single then reemit it. This is a critical part in creating technologies such as quantum repeater,” she says.

“This research involved my simulation work, as well as creating a data analysis software for X-ray detraction (XRD) data. I also worked on creating optical set up as well as alignment and matinee of a separate optical set up,” she says.

Motl says her work at Argonne gave her new skills and helped her develop her problem-solving abilities. “The more problems you solve the better you get at solving new ones. I learned to try to find the simplest solution,” she says.

Motl is currently helping to organize a branch of the 2025 conference, which will be held at Syracuse University in January.

Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA)

Four students were selected as PPIA JSI Fellows this year. They were Linda Baguma ’25, an international relations and political science major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (Carnegie Mellon); Victoria Knight ’25, a policy studies and economics major (pre-law track) in the Maxwell School (UC-Berkeley); Caroline Ridge ’25 a political science and policy studies major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon) and Evelina Torres ’25, a political science and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon).

Linda Baguma

As part of her PPIA experience, Baguma completed rigorous coursework on quantitative methods, economic analysis and policy research, all aimed at addressing real-world public policy challenges. The program also emphasized diversity in public service and leadership development.

Linda Baguma

Baguma worked on a project analyzing the impact of social policies on low-income communities, using data to evaluate the effectiveness of various poverty reduction programs. “This experience directly complements my studies at Syracuse, especially my concentration in international security and diplomacy within the international relations major,” she says. “I plan to apply the quantitative analysis skills I gained to my coursework, particularly in areas related to policy design and evaluation, and to further explore how international policies impact African development, which is my regional focus.”

She says her experience was made even more meaningful by the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and apply what she learned to real-world challenges. Baguma contributed to an additional project focused on abandoned mine lands (AMLs) in the Pittsburgh area. “Our goal was to analyze the impact of AMLs on surrounding communities, using a variety of data sources to uncover the relationships and effects these sites have on public health, environmental justice and economic outcomes. I even learned how to run regressions to better understand the correlations between AMLs and the well-being of nearby communities,” she says.

Baguma says the PPIA experience gave her a broader understanding of public service. “I’m eager to incorporate this perspective into my academic and professional trajectory, and I look forward to continuing this work as I prepare for a career in public policy, particularly in U.S.-Africa relations,” she says.

Victoria Knight

The UC-Berkeley PPIA program offered a law track that gave Knight valuable insights into succeeding at top law schools. She took four courses: Law and Public Policy, Economics for Public Policy, Policy Analysis and Quantitative Methods for Public Policy.

Victoria Knight

Beyond the classroom, the program provided numerous opportunities to connect with notable alumni and guest speakers, including Dean David Wilson, Robert Reich (former U.S. secretary of labor) and Janet Napolitano (former secretary of Homeland Security and president of the University of California).

“These experiences not only prepared me for law school and a master’s in public policy, but also for my final year at Syracuse. I’m working on my honors thesis, which examines the economic impact of varying abortion laws. The skills I gained through PPIA are invaluable in helping me write a more substantial thesis and better analyze questions at the intersection of law, policy and economics.”

At Syracuse, Knight serves as a task force coordinator for the Skills Win! Coaching Program in the Syracuse City School District, teaching students critical skills like budgeting, typing and public speaking. “Thanks to PPIA, I now have the skills to understand better the impact of New York State education laws, enabling me to analyze the data we collect and recommend meaningful program improvements.”

“The PPIA experience was incredibly eye-opening and rewarding. I’m grateful for the connections I made with the guest speakers and other participants and for everything I learned during the program,” Knight says. “I highly encourage anyone who gets the chance to apply—it was easily one of the most memorable and impactful parts of my college experience.”

For many Orange students, joining a (RSO) is a terrific way to not only become more involved on campus, but also explore and expand your interests and discover your community by making new friends.

From celebrating your cultural heritage and cultivating your academic interests to furthering your career ambitions and pursuing your recreational passions, with more than 300 RSOs, club sports offerings and Greek life chapters on campus, there’s truly something for everyone.

Anne Lombard

“Involvement on campus is important to student success. There is a significant body of research on college students that indicates that students who are involved and find their ‘home’ on campus are more likely to be successful and more likely to graduate,” says , executive director of student engagement.

While the options are unlimited, the number of hours in a day a student has to commit to extracurricular activities is not. Becoming too involved with clubs and RSOs can lead to poor grades in the classroom, burnout and feeling overwhelmed by increasing responsibilities.

Especially for new students, who are just learning the time management skills needed to juggle their academic courseload with campus involvement, Lombard recommends exercising patience.

“Don’t get over-involved, especially in your first semester. It’s important to get yourself on solid ground academically before getting involved in RSOs and activities. For many students, academic expectations are much greater than they were in high school. Involvement outside the classroom is important, but students’ academic pursuit is why they are here,” says Lombard, who leads a team of staff members who work directly with the RSOs on campus.

Lombard sat down with SU News to offer advice on how students can avoid involvement burnout, questions to ask before becoming a member of a club or RSO and resources available to help with the decision-making process.

Is there a right time for new students to join a club/RSO?

Three students represent their student organization at a table on the Quad as part of the Student Involvement Fair for Recognized Student Organizations. (Photo by Tiancheng Tang ’26)

I generally encourage new students to join one RSO in their first semester so that they can get used to college-level coursework, living away from home (if applicable) and being more independent. One RSO is doable for most people. More than that might be too much in your first semester.

What are some questions students should ask themselves before signing up?

Students have an almost endless array of organizations from which to choose at Syracuse University and can easily feel overwhelmed by the variety of choices or get over-extended. Any student considering involvement in RSOs should ask themselves what they hope to gain from the experience and how much time they can realistically dedicate to non-academic pursuits. Not every RSO needs to relate directly to their career goals or future path. There can be many reasons to join a group, including meeting new people and looking to connect with like-minded students.

What kind of research should students undertake before joining?

Students should be very honest about how much time they have to dedicate to involvement outside the classroom. Students can learn a lot about groups by attending events like the Student Involvement Fair, held at the beginning of each semester, and using , a web-based portal focused on connecting students to involvement opportunities on campus.

How will a student know if they have taken on too many responsibilities?

If a student starts cutting corners to complete things, stops enjoying their responsibilities or their responsibilities begin to feel like a burden, those could be signs that a student has taken on too much. They should listen to what their intuition is telling them. Most students probably recognize when they’re getting overextended.

What advice do you have for students who realize they might have taken on more than they can handle?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Students should know there are faculty and staff who care about them and their experience. There are many people and offices who want to help and who want students to be successful.

Be sure to visit for more information on the resources available, including a , how to , upcoming , questions on , staff members to and .

Sunday, Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day (Photo courtesy of )

Calling all coffee lovers! Did you know that Sunday, Sept. 29, is National Coffee Day? Whether you are a diehard coffee enthusiast who celebrates every day or a novice just beginning to try coffee for the first time, SU News has you covered. We put together a list of all the great spots and hidden gems on campus—and locally—to score your favorite cup of Joe.

On-Campus Finds

While there are many different spots on campus to grab your favorite brew, one of the most popular spots, which is in the heart of campus, is . Located on the lower level of Hendricks Chapel, this nonprofit coffee shop offers great food and prices, a cool atmosphere and is run completely by a friendly and outgoing group of students.

SU News caught up with two managers, Vivienne Love ’26 and Kennedy Williams ’25, to learn more about what inspired them to get involved and what are their go-to favorites at People’s Place.

People’s Place coffee shop, located in the basement of Hendricks Chapel, is the perfect spot to grab a reasonably-priced snack and coffee while meeting some of the terrific students who work there. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

What made you want to get involved with People’s Place?

Love: During my freshman year, I only had 8 a.m. classes, and I would come to People’s Place as a reward for going to class. The staff was so welcoming, and I felt appreciated when they started to remember my order over time. It was always nice to have a treat and listen to the music that People’s Place played. At the end of the semester,��I saw they were hiring and I applied! The rest is history.
Williams: Honestly, my friends—everyone I knew loved People’s Place and so did I. When one of my buddies who was a manager at the time asked if I wanted a job there, I couldn’t turn it down.

What is your favorite thing about working at People’s Place?

Love: Definitely the people. What initially drew me to People’s Place is what keeps me coming back. I’m so grateful to have friendships with the staff that have only grown as we’ve worked there over the semesters. Some of my best friends work at “Peeps” and we always make the effort to go in and visit each other during our shifts, even if it’s only for five minutes. Also, I get to choose the syrups we have each week, and I love ordering the weirdest flavors and seeing them sell!
Williams: The longstanding history of it; I love that People’s Place has been around and run by students since the ’70s. I feel like it still holds the same good energy and values when you go to the shop today as it did then.

What is your go-to coffee (or tea) order and favorite treat?

Love: My go-to coffee order is an iced coffee with oat milk and some of the crazy syrup I like to order. My favorite treat we have sometimes around Valentine’s Day is a chocolate cherry��pop tart.
Williams: My go-to coffee order is a mocha java with hazelnut syrup and half and half, while my favorite treat is the plain glazed donut we sell from Geddes Bakery.

People’s Place is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Follow them on for upcoming events, specials and all of their latest tomfoolery.

The many faces of People’s Place (Photo by Angela Ryan)

In addition to People’s Place, tucked all over campus. The locations listed below accept ’CUSE Cash, meal plan dining dollars and credit/debit cards:

• BBBistro: Brockway Hall, Basement
• The Canteen: National Veterans Resource Center
• Gerry’s Café: Eggers Hall, Room 300
• Falk Café: McNaughton Hall, 2nd Floor
• Food.com: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Room 244
• Junction Snack Bar: Flint and Day halls, Basement
• Life Sciences Café: Life Sciences Building, Atrium Level
• Neporent Café: Dineen Hall
• Olsten’s Café: Whitman School of Management, Room 211
• Otto’s Juice Box: Barnes Center at The Arch
• Pages Café: Bird Library, Entrance Level
• Slocum Café: Slocum Hall, Main Floor
• Starbucks West Campus: 150 Henry St.
• The Warehouse Café: 350 W. Fayette St.

Off-Campus Favorites

Heading off campus on an adventure but still looking to get your caffeine fix? Below are some of the most popular spots located not too far from campus:

Cafe Blue (Photo by Coco Boardman)

Café Blue is located at the heart of Syracuse’s Inner Harbor, northwest of campus near Destiny USA.
Address: 720 Van Rensselaer Road, Suite 104B, Syracuse, New York 13204
Hours: Mondays: Closed; Tuesday through Friday: 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kubal has six locations around the Syracuse area, with the closest to campus near Drumlins.
Address: S2218 E. Colvin St., Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday through Friday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Located on the ground floor of The 505 on Walnut, Peaks is located north of campus.
Address: 1200 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday through Friday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.��

Recess Coffee (Photo by Coco Boardman)

Located across the street from Syracuse Stage, Phoebe’s brews Recess coffee.
Address: 900 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, New York 13244
Hours: Monday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 4:30-9 p.m.

Recess has three locations in Syracuse, with the closets to campus being in the Westcott neighborhood.
Address: 110 Harvard Place, Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday through Friday: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Salt City has four locations in Syracuse, with the closest to campus being right off Marshall Street.
Address: 720 University Ave., Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday through Friday:��7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday:��8 a.m.-3 p.m.

is a prestigious annual global competition that challenges student entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing social issues through innovative startups, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each year, students from over 120 countries participate, with finalists pitching their solutions to a panel of experts for a chance to win $1 million in funding to bring their idea to life, driving positive global change through social enterprise. Teams can choose the problem they want to solve and develop a business solution to tackle it,

Aditee Malviya will serve as the Syracuse University campus director for the 2024-2025 Hult Prize competition.

As campus director, Malviya will organize the local campus qualifier competition on campus. Winners from the campus qualifiers advance to national competitions, followed by a digital incubator for further refinement. The best teams then join the global accelerator in London, with the top six startups competing in the global finals for the grand prize.

Malviya’s background is in web development, backend systems and process automation. Her work as a research assistant has led to improvements in data management and real-time analysis for financial research projects, while her role as an innovation nentor in the LaunchPad has helped guide numerous student startups to success. She has also served as the comptroller of the Graduate Student Organization at Syracuse, managing significant financial responsibilities.

Syracuse University’s Hult Prize campus qualifier will be held on Feb. 21 in the LaunchPad in Bird Library. Last year’s Hult Prize campus qualifier competition winner was Moody Magazine, founded by Emma Leuders ’24 and Jennie Bull ’24.

It’s the first partnership of this kind between an American college or university and a Japanese professional sports team. As part of this agreement, sport analytics students and faculty will work in different capacities with students and faculty from , which is located on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

Kumamoto Basketball Co., Ltd., President and Chief Executive Officer Satoshi Yunoue says partnering with Syracuse’s prestigious sport analytics program will improve the team’s performance as it seeks to move from the Japanese B.League’s B2 league to the B1 league. The Volters open their season on Oct. 7.

“In recent years, the importance of data has been gaining attention, and we are confident that together with Kumamoto University, (Syracuse) will support us in the analytics portion and contribute to improving our winning percentage as we accumulate know-how in data analysis,” Yunoue said in a statement on the team’s website that was translated into English.

“We are excited to be able to work with Syracuse University, which is leading the way in data analysis in the field of basketball in the United States,” Yunoue added.

The Falk College’s partnership with Kumamoto is the next phase for sport analytics students, who already provide data analysis for 11 of Syracuse’s athletic teams. In this photo, sport analytics major Dan Griffiths reviews performance data with track and field student-athlete Elizabeth Bigelow.

In serving as the Volters’ de facto analytics department, seven undergraduate and graduate students in sport management will remotely collect and analyze a variety of data, including player performance statistics, live game video, information from wearables that track performance data, and business and operations data.

“We are honored and excited about the partnership between Kumamoto University and Syracuse University Sport Analytics,” says Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor . “We look forward to providing statistical insights, building visualizations and models, and doing everything we can to help with the success of the Volters as we build what we hope to be a lasting collaboration with our wonderful partners at both Kumamoto University and the Volters.”

Under Paul’s leadership, sport analytics students have captured back-to-back National Sport Analytics Championships, and they have won numerous player and team analytics competitions in basketball, football and baseball. About 70 students are providing data collection and analysis for 11 of Syracuse University’s athletic teams, and other partnerships such as the one with Kumamoto are in the works both nationally and globally.

Previously, the Volters utilized staff members to analyze data on a limited basis. In addition to analyzing the Volters’ data, the Syracuse students will help analyze data from opposing teams, and the collaboration with Syracuse and Kumamoto University will help the Volters build their own data analysis team.

“We would like to use the Volters as a hub to connect university students in Kumamoto and America,” Yunoue says. “We are grateful for this connection, and we will become a team and work together as colleagues working toward this goal.”

Paul says this partnership speaks to the uniqueness of the sport analytics program because Syracuse students will apply the skills they’re learning in the classroom to a variety of areas for the Volters that will benefit from data analysis.

“This is the next step in the evolution of our program where our students are working in a practical laboratory with a professional team in another country and all that goes with it,” Paul says. “These are the ways they can show off their skills, and with the different time zones they can wake up in the morning and see the score of the game and the results of what they did.”

2023 Fall Career Fair (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Fall 2024 Career Week serves as a reminder for students that it is never too soon to take steps toward achieving their individual career goals.

The week offers a lineup of designed to help students connect with employer partners. From the campuswide Career and Internship Fair to specialized opportunities hosted by schools and colleges, students can explore these experiences by visiting the or logging into their .

Open to all students, regardless of class year and major, Fall 2024 Career Week runs from Sept. 23-27, with the signature Career and Internship Fair event featuring who will be offering internship and post-graduation positions.

“Career Week is a student’s gateway to unlocking future opportunities,” says Lisette Child, assistant director, employee relations in the University’s Career Services office. “It’s an amazing chance to connect with top employers, explore diverse career paths and gain insights that could shape their professional journey. Don’t miss out on the chance to make valuable connections and set yourself up for success.”

Students are encouraged to learn about each opportunity via before the events. This will show students the employers who will be attending and ensure the events align with their respective career interests.��

Students attend Career Fair in the JMA Wireless Dome (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Career Week Events and How to Register

Explore Career Week event highlights below with the complete list available on the . For each event, students should�� and prepare before attending.

• Tuesday, Sept. 24:
• Tuesday, Sept. 24:
• Tuesday, Sept. 24:
• Wednesday, Sept. 25:
• Wednesday, Sept. 25:
• Friday, Sept. 27:

How to Prepare for Fall 2024 Career Week

• Keep profile up to date: Students should make sure they��.��This includes updating their photo and details, such as graduation year, education and work experience. Upon completion, the account will reflect “100%.”
• Know who will be there: Check the list of employers attending and prioritize those that align with your career goals. You may not have time to meet everyone, so focus on the most important ones.
• Do research: Employers appreciate students who know something about their company. Research your top choices and tailor your conversations based on what you learn.
• Bring the essentials: Having a folder with a handful of resumes and paper for notes is always great. There is a bag check area available, but it is easier to leave bulky items at home.
• Dress appropriately: Choose business professional or business casual attire. Comfortable shoes are key.
• Prepare a pitch: Have a short, practiced introduction about your background and goals.
• : Rehearse your pitch and answers to common questions with a friend. Stay natural—don’t memorize word-for-word.
• Ask meaningful questions: Have thoughtful questions prepared for each employer, showing you’ve done your research. Avoid basic questions like, “What does your company do?”

What’s New This Year

Based on student feedback, there will be a student welcome lounge on the career fair floor.

In addition, for the first time in-person since 2019, the will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from noon to 4 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center. This event is an invaluable opportunity for students to engage directly with representatives from over 100 prestigious graduate and law schools from across the country. Students can gather insights into various programs, admissions processes and what sets each institution apart.

With questions or to request accommodations, contact at careers@syr.edu��or connect with within each school or college.

2023 Fall Career Fair (Photo by Angela Ryan)

“We are very excited to welcome over 5,700 family members and supporters to campus to celebrate Family Weekend,” says Missy Mathis-Hanlon, director of . “While Family Weekend is a tradition that dates back to the 1950s, we hope that today’s programming illustrates for families how focusing on the student experience both inside and outside the classroom is a winning combination for success throughout their student’s life.”

Otto joins a family for the celebration of 2023 Family Weekend. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Family Weekend 2024

A wide variety of activities will be held throughout the weekend; registered families should check in at the tent in the Skytop parking lot. We’ve included some of the event highlights below; visit the for the complete list of activities.

• Study Abroad Fair, Friday, Sept. 27 from 1-3 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Building.
• Student Experience Showcase, featuring a wide range of topics such as Career Services, Getting Involved and Greek Life, Friday, Sept. 27, 3:30-5 p.m. Visit the for times and locations of specific sessions.
• Celebration of Identity, Friday, Sept. 27, 5-7 p.m., Barner-McDuffie House, 113 Euclid Ave., and Native Student Programs, 113 Euclid Ave.
• An A Cappella Evening, Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center.
• Schine Takeover, Friday, Sept. 27, 9-11 p.m., Schine Student Center
• School and College Welcomes, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9-10:30 a.m. Visit the for times and locations of specific sessions.
• Syracuse Orange vs. Holy Cross football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, noon, JMA Wireless Dome (game is sold out).
• Drive-In Movie at Skytop, “Inside Out 2,” Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 p.m., Skytop parking lot.
• Family Weekend Fun Run, Sunday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m., Inn Complete, South Campus (must be registered to participate).
• South Campus Showcase, Sun., Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with self-guided tours of the Goldstein Student Center, South Campus apartment tours at 321 Winding Ridge Road and a session on apartment and off-campus living at noon at the Skybarn.

University community members gather with InclusiveU students and their families in Huntington Hall to make signs for game day.

Download the OrangeNow Mobile App to Plan Your Weekend

OrangeNow, the official Syracuse University mobile app, includes a Family Weekend guide for parents and families that provides convenient, on-the-go access to:

• check-in, parking and shuttle information; and
• the events calendar for the weekend, which can be used to plot out a customized schedule by favoriting the events you want to attend.

Download OrangeNow on the or and you’ll be ready to make the most of your weekend on campus!

Syracuse University’s Rugby Club Sports team takes on the Seapoint Rugby Club in a match in Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Wendy Cornell)

Most often recognized by athletes running ball in hand, wearing no pads or helmets and close-contact nature, the sport of Rugby has witnessed increasing global popularity throughout the past decades.

The Rugby Club Sports team huddles up during a match in Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Wendy Cornell)

“I enjoy the sense of community and belonging. I also appreciate the opportunity to play competitive sports in college,” says Mark Nash ’23 G’24, Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports team member. “This is not something that my friends at other schools have the opportunity to do, besides the ones playing NCAA sports.”

Unique to the Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports team is their strong Leinster Rugby partnership. As an international leader in the club sport, Leinster Rugby boasts countless competition successes as one of the top teams in European rugby. The Leinster partnership offers Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports athletes access to exclusive coaching, skill development and competitions.

“We are in collaboration with the most successful youth and player development program in the world. How special is that?” says Bob Wilson, Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports team coach, faculty advisor, previous player and avid supporter since 1970. “We have a professional coach from that environment working with us on a full-time basis, bringing techniques and culture, which have supported successful performance at the highest levels. The collaboration has, in a few short months, already created interest and engagement in the growing U.S. and global rugby communities, leading to increased student applications and summer camp participation. This further places the Leinster brand and Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports at the forefront as rugby in the U.S. grows rapidly, and globally, we prepare for the U.S.A Men’s World Cup Competition in 2031 and the women’s in 2033.”

The Rugby Club Sports team gathers at Leinster Rugby’s facility on the University College Dublin campus. (Photo by Wendy Cornell)

A highlight of the 2023-24 Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports season was the team’s trip to Ireland to further collaborate with their Leinster Rugby partner. Over the Spring Break trip, members of the Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports team attended sessions conducted by Leinster coaches, participated in rigorous training schedules, and attended international competitions while also exploring Ireland’s rich culture and landscapes.�� In addition to Ireland, past team trips have included Argentina, England, Portugal, Scotland and Spain.

“The trip to Ireland supports Syracuse University’s goal to provide an international experience for all students. Dublin illustrates the joy and values of international collaboration,” says Wilson. “The Syracuse University Rugby Club Sports team has enhanced the student life for over 50 years through a challenging athletic experience as part of an enthusiastic, supportive group, creating strong, lifelong bonds.”

Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 events will be available on the . Students interested in joining are invited to learn more on the or by visiting .

Syracuse’s Rugby Club Sports team poses for a group photo at Leinster Rugby’s facility. (Photo by Wendy Cornell)

Students (from left) Janese Fayson ’26, Astrid Melendez ’25 and Adalys Sanchez ’26 share what their Latine heritage means to them, how they’ve discovered a cultural home on campus and why they wanted to get involved in planning Latine Heritage Month celebrations on campus.

What does it mean to be a descendant of Latine/x/o/a and Hispanic heritage and trace your cultural roots to one of the more than 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, Central America, South America or the Caribbean?

It’s impossible to come up with a singular defining trait, characteristic or value that represents Latine culture, but beginning this week and running through Oct. 26, the University community is coming together to learn more about the rich cultural history of various identities within the Latine community during Latine Heritage Month (LHM).

Three current students—Astrid Melendez ’25, Adalys Sanchez ’26 and Janese Fayson ’26—share what their Latine heritage means to them, how they’ve discovered a cultural home on campus and why they wanted to get involved in planning LHM celebrations.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Fronteras Sin Limites: Embracing our Borderless Cultures,” exploring the experiences of Latine communities who live along and across borders, both physical and cultural, and highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the Latine community who navigate multiple identities and spaces.

Learn the stories of how these three student leaders celebrate their cultures, then check out the complete schedule of��.

Astrid Melendez ’25

Academic major: Information management and technology ()

What is your cultural heritage? “My entire family is from Lima, Peru.”

Astrid Melendez

What role does your cultural heritage play in your life?��“It plays a very important role. Growing up in Germany and moving to the United States when I was in elementary school, I knew that my cultural background made me different. My parents left Peru when they were in their 30s, and growing up, my parents were still learning English. Spanish was my first language and no matter where I lived, our Peruvian culture was always prevalent in my day-to-day life. Especially when it came to language, food and our customs. When I am at Syracuse, I like to cook Peruvian meals and treats like Lomo Saltado and Alfajores. Back home, my family and I often go to Peruvian cultural events and restaurants.”

How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Joining SALSA [the South American and Latine Student Association] is the place I have been able to find a cultural home at Syracuse. Before SALSA, I had never met any other Peruvian my age that wasn’t related to me. It made me happy to not only get to meet other Peruvian college students, but also other students with South American heritage. SALSA and its members have turned into a family for me here.”

How has SALSA helped? “SALSA’s mission is to have a student organization focused on South American culture and we thrive creating events while educating and building a community for students belonging to or interested in South American cultures. I’m currently president, and this club is special and exciting! I’ve learned more about other South American countries and cultures and it’s been amazing working with the proud and passionate executive board members.”

Adalys Sanchez ’26

Academic major: Earth science with a minor in women and gender studies ()

What is your cultural heritage? “I am a first-generation college student who was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I also have family roots in the Dominican Republic.”

Adalys Sanchez

What role does your cultural heritage play in your life?��“My Puerto Rican heritage shapes my perspective on resilience and community, influencing my drive to succeed as a first-generation student. It deeply influences my passion for environmental justice, as I’ve witnessed firsthand the effects of environmental inequality on marginalized communities. Part of why I wish to study environmental law is because I want to go back home and create sustainable policies that allow everyone to live in a safe and clean environment. My heritage is also important because it means that if I succeed in my career goals, I will be bringing a new and diverse perspective to the legal field.

“Whenever I’m home, I try to visit the different parts of the island to learn about our rich history. I also participate in local festivals such as Fiestas Patronales, where the streets come alive with music, dancing and traditional foods. And during the holidays, our culture really comes alive. At Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), we gather for large feasts of traditional food, including some of my favorite food like arroz con gandules (rice with peas), lechon (pork) and coquito (a coconut-flavored drink similar to eggnog). We also tell stories and do parrandas (similar to caroling).”

How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Through the student organizations I belong to, like the Puerto Rican Student Association, which allows me to connect with other people who celebrate Puerto Rican culture, discussing current events on the island and getting to organize events where we participate in our traditions. It really makes me feel like I have a little piece of home here with me at Syracuse. I’m also a member of the Raíces Dance Troupe since I’ve always loved dancing and I can enjoy my culture through music and movement.”

Why did you want to get involved in organizing the LHM celebrations? “Latinx culture is deeply rooted in community, joy and resilience, which are often expressed through vibrant celebrations, music and gatherings. My main role was organizing the (Oct. 10), where students can have fun roller-skating while enjoying one of the most prominent music genres in current Latinx culture. I want everyone, especially first-year students, to embrace their roots and do so in ways that educate the community while having fun and empowering ourselves. I want to show how important claiming your heritage can be to finding your place on campus and in society.”

Janese Fayson ’26

Academic majors: Marketing and finance ()

What is your cultural heritage? “I am a first-generation college student from Miami, Florida. I am Black and Puerto Rican.”

Janese Fayson

What role does your cultural heritage play in your life?��“My heritage influences so many things, from my style to my way of expressing myself, it is so inherently engrained in me. Good music, great food and amazing company is my go-to way to celebrate. I love my heritage.”

How have you found a cultural home on campus? “I belong to so many different organizations [including the Caribbean Student Association, the Black Student Union, Student Living and Student Association], not only because I enjoy being involved, but because I love being able to meet new people, some of whom share similar identities with me, and others who do not. I feel so immersed in culture when I am with them.”

How has the Caribbean Student Association helped? “I joined my freshmen year at the Welcome Fête and have been involved ever since, now holding the title of president. Our mission is to uplift, inspire and bring Caribbean people and the Syracuse community together. It has helped me find some of my favorite people and I learn something from them every day, whether about their culture, heritage or as individuals. Being president of such a vast organization is so fulling for so many different reasons and I have learned more about myself through it all.”

“We are pleased to once again be listed as among the best MBA programs in the country. Those who have been following Whitman’s upward trajectory over the past few years can see that we are on the right track and investing in the right things to support our students and their success. These [rankings are] evidence of that,” says Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “While we recognize that rankings are not ends to themselves, the fact that the Bloomberg Businessweek rankings take into consideration a variety of factors that matter to us helps to reinforce that what we are doing is making an impact.”

Bloomberg Businessweek rankings rely on incoming student data (including diversity), placement success at graduation and surveys of the most recent graduating class, MBA alumni from 2016-2018 and recruiters. The recent graduates and alumni evaluated Whitman on such topics as their learning experience, opportunities to network and emphasis on entrepreneurial skills in their programs.

In August, Bloomberg launched its��. In addition to ranking No. 1 for ROI among private universities, Whitman also had the second-highest ROI among all schools in the U.S. With the help of the business schools, Bloomberg Businessweek surveyed 5,292 students, 9,222 alumni and 734 employers for this year’s ranking.

View the����of the 111 full-time MBA programs, and learn more about the��.

Last year, �����鶹��Ʒ and Hendricks Chapel featured a story about the friendship and unique collaboration between Imam Durić and Rabbi Bair, which showcased their efforts in uniting their respective chaplaincies through conversation and community building. The story not only resonated with students and staff at Syracuse but also captured the attention of Interfaith America, a leading interfaith non-profit organization.

This recognition led to a grant from Interfaith America, funding the creation of the Jewish-Muslim Fellowship (JMF) at Syracuse University. This initiative provided a dialogue space for Jewish and Muslim students, alongside Imam Durić and Rabbi Bair, to discuss pressing issues and foster Jewish-Muslim relationships. As a result of its growing national reputation for interfaith engagement, Syracuse University received an invitation to the Interfaith Leadership Summit.

“Spending time with people from diverse backgrounds reminded me that interfaith cooperation and dialogue are about understanding not only others but also ourselves in the context of a broader, pluralistic society,” said Durić. Founded by Eboo Patel, Interfaith America aims to inspire, equip and connect leaders and institutions to harness the potential of America’s religious diversity.

Adam Baltaxe (center) and Avva Boroujerdi (far right) with students from other universities.

Over the three days of the summit, attendees participated in interfaith dialogue training alongside representatives from more than 20 universities. The event featured speakers, dancers, singers and interactive sessions. Imam Durić and Rabbi Bair were interviewed about their collaboration, the JMF, and their future goals. “Connecting with national interfaith leaders was both grounding and inspiring. Engaging with others on Jewish-Muslim dialogue was a highlight,” said Bair.

Durić participated in a panel entitled “Holy Envy: Discovering the Sacred Unexpectedly” which focused on encountering beautiful and valuable teachings and traditions through interreligious journeys. Leaders from varying traditions and geographical locations participated in the panel, shared their experiences of holy envy, and invited participants to do the same. “The Interfaith America Leadership Summit underscored the importance of interfaith cooperation, especially in an era of increasing polarization. It inspired me to deepen my commitment to building interfaith relationships. These relationships foster a positive attitude towards each other, enhance our appreciation of diverse worldviews, and help us identify shared values,” said Durić.

Baltaxe and Boroujerdi connected with campus representatives from universities of all sizes and forged strong connections with fellow students and other religious leaders. “A common theme at the summit regarded communicating effectively through difficult topics. I’ve helped others learn to engage in emotional discussions without taking things personally. Following the summit, I was selected as a student advisor for Search for Common Ground’s ‘Blueprint for Belonging’ project. We are working to implement interfaith initiatives at universities nationwide,” said Baltaxe. “I’m excited to build on the ideas from the summit and foster unity both at Syracuse University and across the country.”

For more information about the Jewish Muslim Fellowship and other programs, please .

Story by Adam Baltaxe ’25 and Dara Harper

From left to right: Adam Baltaxe, Rabbi Ethan Bair, Imam Amir Durić and Avva Boroujerdi

Each of the six residential dining centers offers a dedicated gluten-free preparation area with utensils and appliances dedicated solely to gluten-free food and dining.

Food safety is always top-of-mind for Ashley Leone, MA, RD, CDN, CNSC, assistant director of nutrition management and Campus Dining’s registered dietitian. She trains staff and students in nutrition and food safety, assists with recipe creation, menu development, allergen and dietary food labeling, works one-on-one with students with food allergies and special dietary needs, and provides community education.

For Leone, a key point of emphasis coming into the 2024-25 school year was improving quality choices available for gluten-free students. She hosted a series of focus groups last year for students with gluten intolerances, and she field requests for��more fresh, made-to-order, hot options in addition to grab-and-go mainstays.

The student feedback she gathered resulted in rethinking of gluten-free service in all six��residential dining centers. Gluten-free students now have the option of requesting food made-to-order, which reduces the possibility of cross-contact and increases food freshness, taste and overall quality.

“Gluten-free food simply does not hold well and is much better when prepared fresh. Students told me again and again the gluten-free food prepared ahead of time just did not taste good, and unfortunately, we ended up regularly composting much of it. With this new process, we can offer fresh, made-to-order meals and significantly decrease food waste,” says Leone.

Campus Dining has made changes to the gluten-free options available in dining centers, driven by student feedback.

Leone is also excited to offer gluten-free students the opportunity to connect with a gluten-free student ambassador, a new peer-to-peer initiative that connects first-year gluten-free students with second or third-year students who are also gluten-free and have experiences in navigating food options both on- and off-campus.

“It can be hard figuring out where you can eat safely and who has the best gluten-free offerings in an urban university location that you are not familiar with,” says Leone. “This program closes the gap, providing students with great, first-hand knowledge, a readily available personal resource, and hopefully, a new friend on campus!”

Just as in previous years, students with allergies and/or dietary restrictions can or any member of the dining center leadership teams to request specific products or meals that they enjoy at home.

“Campus Dining will continue to build this program to meet the evolving needs for gluten-free food on campus,” says Leone. “Being gluten-free myself, I empathize with students and understand the importance of having a variety of safe and delicious options.”

Legal designation and preferred designation are two very different identifiers.

• Legal designation is applicable to government issued documents, including personal identification and birth certificates, for example, and official university documents, such as transcripts.
• Preferred gender designation, on the other hand, is for individuals who have indicated a preference, but have not necessarily revised their legal designation.

Students interested in making changes to their legal gender designation can access the .�� Faculty and staff can use the .

This annual celebration provides opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn about the history, culture and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to over 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, as well as international students who hail directly from these countries and contribute to our rich and diverse campus.

Members of RSO La LUCHA at the 2023 Latine Heritage Month information fair (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

“We, as the Latine Heritage Month committee, have engaged with countless campus partners, recognized student organizations and Greek life to create a dynamic Latine Heritage Month that encompasses the cultures of the Latine community here at Syracuse University,” says Cydavia Patterson, program coordinator at the , department co-chair for this year’s festivities. “Our hope with Latine Heritage Month is to establish a unified network of resources, information and community, highlighting the Latine community at Syracuse University.”

The theme of this year’s Latine Heritage Month celebration on campus is “Fronteras Sin Limites: Embracing our Borderless Cultures.” The planning committee and its partners centered events on exploring the experiences of Latine communities who live along and across borders, both physical and cultural, and highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the Latine community who navigate multiple identities and spaces.

Highlights of this year’s celebrations include:

• An , in the Schine Student Center atrium. Kicking off at 2 p.m., there will be tabling by recognized student organizations (RSOs), special performances and more. (Co-sponsored by Student Association)
• The 6th annual (soccer tournament), to be held at the Women’s Building Field on Saturday, Sept. 21; teams can through Sept. 18. (Co-sponsored by the Barnes Center at The Arch, South American and Latine Student Association and Lambda Theta Alpha)
• , a joyful and inclusive student/faculty mixer featuring delicious handcrafted mocktails inspired by diverse Latine cultures, at the Barner-McDuffie House on Thursday, Sept. 26. (Co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Caribbean Students Association)
• Arts and cultural exhibitions, including “WEIRD Barrio” by Syracuse-based Puerto Rican artist Manuel Matías (opening at La Casita Cultural Center) and featuring more than 60 pieces from The Artist Book Collection (opening Oct. 11 at Punto de Contacto-Point of Contact).
• Live DJ sets, panel discussions, roller skating, comedy, paint night and more!

Visit the for the full lineup and links to further information on each event.

Players at the 2023 Torneo de Fútbol (Photo by Julie Herman)

The planning and coordination of Latine Heritage Month is led by BIPOC Student Success, Programs and Services and Student Association. Co-sponsors include , , , , , , , , and .

Additional programming support is offered by University Union, South American and Latine Student Association, Delsol Magazine, National Association of Hispanic Journalists-Syracuse University Chapter, Latin American Law Student Association, CitrusTV Noticias, Latino-Latin American studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Law, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and several external academic contributors.

The 2023 Latine Heritage Month opening ceremony (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

An initiative of the , the Book Buddies program was able to help 500 students with nearly 7,500 hours of reading practice in the 2023-24 school year thanks to volunteers, including Syracuse University community members.

Eboni Britt (left) with her Book Buddy (Photo courtesy of United Way)

Volunteers commit to spending between 60-120 minutes once per week with their book buddy (or buddies) at one of the five participating schools—Roberts Pre-K-8 School, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Delaware Primary, STEAM @ Dr. King Elementary or Dr. Weeks Elementary School. The volunteer acts as a cheerleader and guide, offering reading support and reminding students to use strategies for encoding, decoding and reading comprehension.

“The best part of working with Book Buddies is, of course, the students. It’s wonderful to be able to come in in the middle of a busy day and have a student that’s excited to see you,” says Eboni Britt, executive director of strategic communications and initiatives in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and a Book Buddy volunteer. “I think Book Buddies provides me with an opportunity to give back to the community in a way that’s really unique, to be able to use some of my lunch time to come over and volunteer was really perfect for me. The program is very flexible and the team and staff is very supportive.”

The five schools in the program are among the lowest performing schools in the district, with only 7.6% of students meeting state ELA (English Language Arts) standards in third grade, compared to a district average of 17%. By allowing students to practice their reading skills with a supportive adult in a positive, encouraging environment, the program helped contribute to a student growth rate of 93% (measured as the percentage of students who increased in one or more literacy skill between October 2023 and May 2024).

Football Head Coach Fran Brown (left), alongside student-athletes from the football team, volunteered at STEAM at Dr. King Elementary School to kick off the program for the 2024-25 school year. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

“Book Buddies has the potential to have a tremendous impact on children in our community, helping address the critical issue of reading literacy among elementary school students in Syracuse,” says Cydney Johnson ’77, G’96, vice president of . “With a small commitment of their time each week, volunteers are able to build meaningful relationships with students in the program and have a lifelong impact on their future trajectory by building literacy and confidence in their reading abilities.”

To learn more, visit or if you’re ready to volunteer, .

“The Orange dining center experience is especially for customers needing quick fueling from morning until night and in between classes and activities,” says Cheryl Fabrizi, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services. “Not only is the location ideal for the 400 residents in Orange Hall, but for the entire campus community. It’s just steps away from the Schine Student Center and Bird Library.”

The new dining option comes after an exciting 2023-24 academic year for Campus Dining that included dining renovations at Goldstein Student Center’s Food Hall and the reopening of the Inn Complete, both on South Campus.

Sustainability Goals: Reduce Single-Use Plastics and Food Waste

The Campus Dining, Catering Services and Concessions teams also took several steps this summer toward meeting the goals set by the University’s pledge to substantially reduce single-use plastics by the 2027-28 school year.

Compostable cutlery, plates, straws and cups are now used at retail locations, catering events and dining centers (except at franchise locations, which are bound by contracts with national brands). Campus Dining has phased out pre-wrapped cutlery kits, which often produced excess waste. Compostable cutlery dispensers () can now be found in all cafes, student centers and dining centers on campus.

In dining centers, takeaway cups and lids are out, with students now encouraged to utilize their own wide-mouth bottles and cups to take beverages to-go. Single-serve yogurts and non-dairy alternatives were replaced with buffet-style bars, thanks to a new collaboration with Chobani (located just 60 miles from campus in New Berlin, New York). Individually packaged coffee creamers (and similar products) have been replaced by large-volume dispensers. Single-serve ice cream novelties have been replaced with large cartons, where students can scoop their own dishes, accompanied by an enhanced toppings bar.

The efforts also extended to the JMA Wireless Dome, where concession stands replaced soda fountains (and the approximately 55,000 plastic cups, lids and straws used annually) in favor of bottles and cans. The change, spearheaded by Concessions and Catered Suites Director Chris Coonrad, will lead to streamlined recycling collection on the concourses.

Reducing the amount of food waste has been another area of focus. The culinary teams in Campus Dining, Catering Services and Concessions, led by several executive chefs, are working hard to reduce the amount of wasted food while crafting a refreshed rotating four-week dining center menu, accompanied by pop-up and special dining events sprinkled throughout the fall semester.

The daily menu crafted by Executive Chef Rick Leonardo contains composed meals—several choices of featured entrees and sides that complement each other, mimicking those typically experienced at home or sit-down restaurants.

“Meeting the University’s sustainability goals involves continuously reviewing the many essential services we provide to the campus community and constantly improving upon our daily operations,” says Fabrizi. “From our food sourcing, to our transport vehicles, to upgrading and electrifying our equipment, to adding more plant-based options to our menu and more, our leadership team is working hard to do our part locally and globally.”

’CUSE Cash: Syracuse University’s Preferred Payment Method

All Syracuse University and locations are now fully cashless. Dining and retail locations will continue to accept all major credit and debit cards, ’CUSE Cash, Dining Dollars () and Google Pay/Apple Pay (where available).

Auxiliary Services is encouraging members of the campus community to utilize ’CUSE Cash for all purchases at Campus Dining locations, the Campus Store and at a growing list of off-campus retailers. In addition to its convenience, using ’CUSE Cash at on-campus dining facilities allows you to receive a 10% discount on your purchase. Off-campus local and national retailers have begun accepting ’CUSE Cash as they are added to the program. Currently, Bistro 1926 at Drumlins Country Club, Mist Tea Cafe, Purple Banana, Five Guys, the Cracked Bean Roastery and Poke Fish accept ’CUSE Cash. Additional will be updated throughout the year.

Campus Dining Highlights: New This Semester!

• Tavola 44 at Schine Dining: The Tomato Wheel has been replaced by a new Neapolitan-style pizza concept. Grilled sandwiches will be added to the menu later in the semester.

• Kosher dining at Shaw Dining Center: This refreshed station offers a made-to-order grill, deli and a freshly made daily feature for lunch and dinner.

• Nancy Cantor Warehouse Cafe: The menu at the Warehouse Cafe is expanding to offer hot, made-to-order options.

• Yella’s at food.com: New-Jersey based Yella’s is “food worth screaming about.” Yella’s offers made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers, subs, cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes. Cold sandwich options are available now, and hot options will be available later this semester.

• Choolaah at food.com and the Food Hall at Goldstein Student Center: Opening later this semester! Choolaah offers fast-casual Indian BBQ. Fresh ingredients are cooked to order with masalas and hot sauces, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.

The whole-of-department dedication to continuous improvement will be visible across campus, said John Papazoglou, senior vice president and chief operations officer.

“The hard work by the Auxiliary Services team will not end anytime soon,” says Papazoglou. “With the just beginning, there are many transformations to come for the housing and dining portfolio at Syracuse University.”

Syracuse Abroad Week, Sept. 16-20: Students, partners, faculty and staff are invited to join virtual events to learn more about study abroad programs. Throughout the week, Syracuse Abroad staff will host information sessions on Zoom discussing program options, financing study abroad, internship opportunities and more. To register for information sessions, visit the schedule of .

Syracuse Abroad on the Quad, Sept. 18: Students, campus partners and faculty are invited to visit

Syracuse Abroad staff members Kelsey Hanbach, left, and Sarah Tomlinson speak with a student during the Syracuse Abroad on the Quad event in 2023 (photo by Angela Ryan)

the Syracuse Abroad tent on the Shaw Quad from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to learn about options for semester and summer international study. In the event of rain, the event will be held in Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center.

Students, be sure to check in and grab your event passport when you arrive. Travel to tables throughout the tent to meet with program advisors, representatives from World Partner programs and Global Ambassadors to learn more about study abroad opportunities. You will receive a stamp at designated tables and once your passport is completed, you can enter for a chance to win exclusive Syracuse Abroad merchandise.

Erika Wilkens, assistant provost and executive director of Syracuse Abroad, looks forward to welcoming students to the fair. “We’re thrilled to share amazing study abroad opportunities with Syracuse students at the study abroad fair,” says Wilkens. “We welcome all students to discover the many possibilities that await them.”

While at Syracuse Abroad on the Quad, learn more about:

• Syracuse Abroad Center programs in Florence, London, Madrid, Strasbourg, Santiago and a featured fall-only program, Exploring Central Europe;
• World Partner programs with representatives from partner programs, including CEA (programs in Czech Republic, Italy and Spain), DIS (programs in Denmark and Sweden), Amideast (programs in Jordan and Morocco), Sea Education Association and many other universities around the globe;
• summer and short-term programs taking place in 2025;
• financial assistance and scholarships available for students studying abroad; and
• program alumni experiences abroad from Global Ambassadors.

2025 Abroad Programs

Students can for spring 2025 center programs in London, Strasbourg and Santiago, and for

Students hold passports from the 2023 Syracuse Abroad on the Quad event (Photo by Angela Ryan)

World Partner programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The application deadline is Oct. 1, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applications are now open for 2025 and programs, including Summer Sessions at Syracuse Abroad Centers, summer internships and faculty-led programs. Eight short-term programs will be offered during the spring 2025 semester, including courses with travel to India, Mexico, Italy, London and more.

For more information about study abroad opportunities, students can with an international program advisor or make a general advising appointment. General advising sessions take place at SyracuseAbroad@Bird, located in Bird Library, Room 002 or virtually over Zoom.

Davis Hood ’26, Carter Thompson ’26, Jennifer Mason ’26, and Matthew Pinto ’27 with Jim DaRin and professor and Invent@SU director, Alex Deyhim. (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

Former Syracuse University student��Jim DaRin��is one of many wheelchair users who rely on adapted vehicles to drive. These vehicles are equipped with a docking system designed to secure the wheelchairs in place while users focus on the road. However, even when the wheelchair is locked in, it’s not completely secure, causing DaRin to move back and forth while driving.

“The docking system moves and I’m rocking back and forth. I’m paralyzed from my waist down and have my hands on the steering wheel and throttle. It’s not secure or safe,” says DaRin. “The wheelchair’s pin also has a tendency to get caught on certain surfaces and the bolt drags on the pavement.”

DaRin is far from the first to complain about docking systems for adapted vehicles, but very few attempts have been made to fix these issues. That’s when he reached out to engineering students Davis Hood ’26 (electrical engineering), Jennifer Mason ’26 (mechanical engineering), Matthew Pinto ’27 (biomedical engineering) and Carter Thompson ’26 (aerospace engineering) to explore ways to improve his docking mechanism.

“I showed them the challenge I was having and the problems with my current docking system,” DaRin says.

Jennifer Mason ’26 and Carter Thompson ’26 measuring Jim DaRin’s docking system. (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

As part of , a six-week summer program where student teams prototype, design and pitch original devices to judges, Hood, Mason, Pinto and Thompson created MagniClaw, a device that securely locks wheelchairs in moving vehicles. Their device has a lightweight bar attachment on the back of the wheelchair and a docking mechanism that holds a clamping and electromagnet.

“We’ve gone through multiple different design iterations, and we are always trying to keep in mind Department of Transportation standards,” says Hood. “Our device is easy to use, has a universal design, and can go on a majority of manual wheelchairs.”

MagniClaw’s lightweight attachment can easily be connected to wheelchairs using two small clamps. Once attached, the user can connect to the docking frame. The attachment has a steel plate in the center that interacts with the electromagnet to securely hold the wheelchair in place.

“Our device has a clamping mechanism. With this, wheelchair users can back into clamps without any extra input from the control center and the clamp’s shape provides enough security for the electromagnet to turn on,” says Pinto.

The electromagnet, which holds the wheelchair in place, can pull up to 600 lbs. and is activated by a remote. The remote has a Bluetooth feature that can communicate whether the electromagnet is on or off.

Matthew Pinto ’27, Jennifer Mason ’26, David Hood ’26, and Carter Thompson ’26 examining Jim DaRin’s adapted vehicle and docking system. (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

“All wheelchair users have to do is back up, and the system gets locked in, holding them in place until they press a button that activates the electromagnet. They’re held for the car ride, and when they’re done, they press a button to release the electromagnet, and they can roll away freely,” says Mason.

MagniClaw’s hitch-less design and customizability not only sets it apart from competitors but also provides more freedom and mobility for wheelchairs with a more accessible docking system. They showcased their original device at Invent@SU’s final presentations to a panel of 14 expert judges and guests, including faculty, staff, Dean Cole Smith, Syracuse University Life Trustee Bill Allyn and program supporter Mike Lazar. The team tied for second place, winning a cash prize of $1,200.

“It was nice to have a broad spectrum of engineers in our group. It also feels great to help Jim out,” says Thompson.

“My previous docking system was not good. Their system is a hundred times better,” says DaRin. “It’s much more safe and secure. The potential for MagniClaw is huge.”

“Mr. Jim Darin, a former student of Syracuse University, approached me with a problem that he hoped an Invent@SU team could solve,” says Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership��Alex Deyhim. “It was amazing to watch the students work directly with Mr. Darin to design and prototype MagniClaw, a magnetic wheelchair docking system that could be helpful to the millions of Americans who use wheelchairs full-time. This project is a wonderful example of what our students can accomplish when they work across engineering disciplines.”

Carter Thompson ’26 examining Jim DaRin’s docking system. (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

Sinead Feeney O’Connor performing in her class’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

When enrolling in an English class about Shakespeare, you might imagine that the course will involve reading, writing and discussing the famous playwright and his plays. In professor of English�� class, ENG 411: Doing Shakespeare, which was offered in Spring 2024, this was just the beginning. Shirilan wanted students to explore for themselves how theatrical practice and production generate different modes of inquiry than text study alone. By engaging in hands-on and active learning, the experience aimed to enhance students’ problem-solving abilities, boost their confidence and encourage their creativity—soft skills which are crucial for success after graduation.

“The idea of the course, simply, is that students learn Shakespeare by ‘doing Shakespeare,’” says Shirilan. “I issued an invitation to make of this course what they willed, and what they willed was a full production of a play chosen, as we strove to do with every decision, collectively.”

Learning by Doing

Shirilan’s inspiration for this course draws from the educational technique of “learning by doing,” a teaching methodology where students retain information through active learning and hands-on experience. In “Doing Shakespeare,” students were presented with a full range of options for the scale and scope of production to pursue.

“They chose to mount a full show, or aim towards it, understanding that we would be working collaboratively and distributing the labors across as many hands as were able and willing,” says Shirilan. “Everyone was involved in multiple areas of production. Everyone acted, most students took responsibility for a production element, including props, costume and sound design.”

Together the students conceived of, organized and performed a full theatrical production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The crew, many of whom had little to no prior theater experience, included Tate Abrahmason, Maurissa DEmello, Sinead Feeney O’Connor, Anderson Fuentes, Valerie Goldstein, Eva Greene, Victoria Lafarge, Jenny Lee, Ailis McVearry, Blair Seaman, Alexandra Steward and Cricket Withall.

Before moving into production, students spent the first half of the semester largely devoted to text study, table work, vision work and research. During the second half of the semester, the team went into production mode, blocking, rehearsing and producing the play. The semester concluded with a full theatrical performance at Syracuse Stage.

Professor Stephanie Shirilan reviewing the script during a rehearsal.

Wearing Many Hats

“Doing Shakespeare” offered students a unique opportunity to have a hand in every aspect of the performance, from design to direction.

Valerie Goldstein ’24, who majored in policy studies in the College of Arts and Sciences | Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and minored in applied data analytics in the School of Information Studies, went into the experience thinking it would mostly involve acting, but was delighted to discover the wide range of skills she would ultimately utilize.

“I played Bottom and Oberon and was an assistant director, producer, projections designer and did other odd jobs like creating the daily rehearsal schedule, carpool system and tech to-do lists,” says Goldstein. “There were so many lessons in problem-solving and actually following through and creating something that I never would have learned in a traditional classroom.”

After graduation, Goldstein accepted a position with��. As she embarks on a career in teaching and education policy, she says taking part in a course involving performance-based learning—where students apply their knowledge and skills to execute a task—will inform her own instructional techniques.

Valerie Goldstein (right) playing the role of Bottom during the class’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“I think there are better ways to engage students than having them study something abstractly all the time,” says Goldstein. “This class gave me an opportunity to explore a new pedagogy that I may be able to implement in my own profession.”

Blair Seaman ’24, who majored in broadcast and digital journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications, was an assistant director and played Titania and Hippolyta in the production. Rounding out her time at Syracuse with an acting role in a Shakespeare play marked a full circle moment for her as she had previously participated in a children’s Shakespeare troupe in her hometown.

“The theater had a huge impact on me deciding to come to Syracuse to study journalism, as I wanted to fuse my love for storytelling with a passion for helping others,” says Seaman. “As much as I loved my degree, I had truly missed performing, and so, I eagerly jumped at the chance to take a class called ‘Doing Shakespeare.’”

She notes that the class was the perfect way to end her four years at Syracuse, and on a more personal level, provided an opportunity to memorialize her mother, who passed away when Seaman was a sophomore at Syracuse.

“[My mother] always sat front row in every production I had previously been a part of, and in a way, it felt like a gift to her to perform in one last show,” Seaman says. “As I said goodbye to my college experience, I was able to return to a passion of mine that was built up through her love.”

Honoring a Classmate

While the performance marked a time to celebrate the culmination of the team’s hard work, it also presented a moment to honor a classmate who gave so much to the production but was unable to participate in the finale due to health reasons. Ailis McVearry ’24 assumed various duties during the semester, from working as an assistant director to head of costuming to starring as Oberon and Theseus.

In support of their classmate, students collected contributions and donated proceeds from the final performance to defray transportation and other costs related to her care.

“Our final production honored her and the beautiful work she poured into this class both on and off the stage,” says Shirilan. “We hope that the money we raised can be used to provide comfort to her during this difficult time, assisting with medical bills and other essentials.”

A Performance for the Ages

According to Shirilan, the culminating performance marked a milestone for the English department and the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), as it was likely the first full theatrical performance put on by an A&S class at Syracuse Stage. A testament to their hard work, shows were nearly sold out before opening night.

“The final performance was truly a triumph,” recalls Shirilan. “I was consistently amazed by the insights and discoveries made through this process, a success that reflects the astonishing commitment, capability and courage of this team.”

With the high level of interest shown by students for this class, Shirilan is exploring possibilities for expanding the course as a 6-credit offering to facilitate running it as another full production experience. She is scheduled to teach it in Spring 2025 as a 3-credit course, for which students will collectively decide the scope and scale of production.

Watch the class’s performance of “.”

The innovative work of implementing and assessing the Barnes Center at The Arch Integrated Health and Wellness Model has earned the team, , School of Education associate professor and Barnes Center Interdisciplinary Health and Wellness Research Consortium faculty affiliate, and campus partners their latest peer-reviewed publication, “,” in the Journal of College Student Mental Health (formerly the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy).

Helping to lead the health and wellness research team and this publication is , Barnes Center at The Arch associate director of health and wellness research, who answers a few questions about the publication.

Pet therapy at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

What are some exciting highlights about the study discussed within the publication?

“Possibly the first peer-reviewed research on an integrated wellness model in a college setting, our study is participatory in nature, aiming to meet the needs of our university community and the wider academic community across various disciplines. The study presents empirical evidence demonstrating the significant impact of the Barnes Center at The Arch’s Integrated Health and Wellness Model on reducing depressive symptoms among college students. The article revealed that our integrated model encompasses various health and wellness components, such as self-guided mindfulness (), pet therapy (), and .”

You’ve mentioned that this may be the first peer-reviewed research of its kind, how do you anticipate this may further support others on a national and even global level?

“We are proud that our Barnes Center Integrated Health and Wellness Model is unique and successful in college settings. While existing literature has some data on integrated health care in hospital settings, our study is likely the first to demonstrate its significance in college settings. We anticipate conducting more research to support college student well-being based on our model, and to provide more data-driven evidence to impact policies and resources for college student well-being nationally and even globally.”

How do you anticipate these findings will help further enhance the Syracuse University student experience?

A student enjoys a massage chair at the MindSpa.

“Our current research underscores the significance of an Integrated Health and Wellness Model in a college setting. This model is a bridge connecting many domains of well-being, including physical, mental, social and spiritual, which allows the Barnes Center at The Arch team to provide holistic care for our students. We found that students seeking mental health services could also benefit greatly from engaging in other wellness activities, such as incorporating physical exercise alongside mindfulness experiences of pet therapy and/or self-guided mindfulness practice through the Crowley Family MindSpa, in addition to counseling to enhance mental health outcomes. Taking these findings further, the Barnes Center has implemented a new referral system based on this model, enabling our counseling and health care providers to recommend students to participate in physical exercises, nutrition services, pet therapy and the MindSpa.”

The University community is invited to explore future opportunities for participating in research and supporting the student experience.

• Interdisciplinary Health and Wellness Research Consortium: Involving faculty, graduate students and those interested in participating in research from various disciplines, the Barnes Center at The Arch is working to establish an Interdisciplinary Wellness Research Consortium. The group’s focus will be evidence-based health and wellness research and practitioner-researcher collaboration efforts, incorporating practices such as counseling, health promotion, physical wellness and more. It will also provide graduate students in training with mentorship opportunities in data analysis, research development and publication. For more information, email Yu at qyu105@syr.edu.
• 

  Shooting hoops at the Barnes Center (Photo by Ross Knight)

  Student Health and Wellness Advisory Committee: This committee is hosted for the 2024-25 academic year and offers leadership opportunities for students to provide feedback on health and wellness initiatives, programming and services to help inform the Barnes Center. The application is open through Friday, Sept. 20. More information and the application is available on the .

New Student Association President German Nolivos ’26 (right) and Vice President Reed Granger ’26 strive to get as many student voices as possible involved in the decision-making process on campus.

Listen. Learn. Lead.

Those three simple verbs were repeatedly emphasized by German Nolivos ’26 and Reed Granger ’26 during the spring general elections.

German Nolivos

Hammering home an effective message to Syracuse University’s student body was especially important since Nolivos and Granger were running unopposed. With no competition, the duo was essentially guaranteed to assume leadership roles as president and vice president. But they did not intend to simply coast to victory.

Rather, they worked tirelessly to convey the important role SA plays as a bridge that listens to student concerns and works with the administration to resolve them.

“We wanted the students to understand that we cannot effectively work without their input. We want to leave our mark on student government by focusing on these recognized student organizations and multicultural organizations that have been looking for help from the student body and the SA. We can strengthen the relationship between our students and student government,” says Nolivos, a Posse Leadership Scholar and first-generation college student studying political science in the and and public relations in the��.

“We needed to convince students to engage with the Student Association, and we campaigned on those values of listening, learning and leading. Our goal is to advocate for new policies that are effective in resolving the issues our students face, and to let the student body know how truly important our advocacy is,” adds Granger, who is studying photography in the Newhouse School and political science in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences.

Reed Granger

The message was well-received, as Nolivos and Granger were elected president and vice president, respectively, after garnering more than 90% of the votes. The SA is the official student governing and advocacy body for the nearly 16,000 Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry undergraduates.

Nolivos and Granger have held previous leadership roles on campus, and they are excited to hold these positions while striving to get as many student voices as possible involved in the decision-making process on campus.

The “listen, learn, lead” motto extends beyond a campaign slogan, influencing Nolivos and Granger’s main objectives as elected student leaders. For this upcoming academic year, their main goals include:

• listening to the voices of traditionally underrepresented student populations;
• learning from and engaging with the collective diversity on campus;
• leading by continuing to foster an inclusive, accessible and welcoming campus for all;
• improving campus safety, especially on South Campus;
• enhancing the quality of the food in the dining halls and continuing to provide students access to food through complimentary grocery trolley runs;
• helping the University reduce its carbon footprint while striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2032; and
• creating changes that will enhance the student experience for all.

Nolivos and Granger sat down with SU News to discuss their goals for the academic year, offer their advice to new students on campus and share how their time at Syracuse has fueled their growth as student leaders.

What will make this a successful academic year?

German Nolivos: My goal is always to empower the students who work under me, to make sure the Student Association’s 100 members know that they’re appreciated, and that the work they’re doing has an impact on our campus. For this year to be successful, we want the campus community to know who we are and that the Student Association can be a valuable resource for our students.

Reed Granger: To spread the word of Student Association to more students than ever before and continuing the good relationship we have with our administration. Being able to improve on what previous student leaders have done while continuing to advocate for the student body.

What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started your Syracuse journey?

Granger: Time management. I don’t know if there’s an overall secret to time management, but I wish that before my first day, somebody told me about how to manage my time. Given my areas of study and my involvement on campus, everything I do, every meeting I have goes through my Google Calendar, even homework assignments. And I encourage new students to make sure you have some free time.

Nolivos: In the first couple of weeks on campus, it’s important that you build up your support system. You’re going to have opportunities to meet people from all over the world. Make sure you really take the time to find the people that you want to be there with you for this journey. This is the opportunity to become the person that you want to become. It’s a new chapter in your life. Give this 100% of your attention. One thing that helped me my first year was extracurriculars. Discovering your community will help you feel more connected to campus.

German Nolivos ’26 (left) and Reed Granger ’26 conveyed the important role the Student Association plays as a bridge that listens to student concerns and works with the administration to resolve them.

Are there any common mistakes for first-year students to avoid?

Nolivos: Think about the classes you’re taking, especially your required classes, and figure out which classes you should take first to set you up for future success. And from a social perspective, make sure that you’re treating this as the first page of the rest of your life. Be transparent with yourself on this journey. Be an open book with everything. You’re going to find people from different paths of life and different experiences than you. Make sure you’re always respectful of other people’s opinions and experiences and learn from them.

Granger: Don’t join too many clubs or take too many classes, you’re just overwhelming yourself while you’re still trying to learn what it means to be an undergraduate at Syracuse University. You can lose your sense of self while you’re trying to figure out who you are. Don’t put too much on your shoulders when you first get here.

How has Syracuse University helped you become the person you are today?

Granger: I’m a fully changed person since my first year. This campus has given me elements of friendship that I never experienced in high school as I figure out what I seek in friendships. Who do I want to spend time with? Why do I want to spend time with them? The true value of friendship and what it can do for your life is something that I truly have learned in the past two years here. Also the importance of making connections, whether with your classmates or your professors. So many of these connections are either involved in your career path or are going to be involved. Learn to maintain those connections. That’s one way the Syracuse experience has changed me for the better.

Nolivos: I’m a political refugee. I arrived in this country six years ago. I always had trouble trusting myself and my abilities, and felt I was always going to be behind my peers. But Syracuse made me realize how much power I have and how far I can push myself to become the person I want to become. Syracuse has given me the tools to build that future for myself.

Over the summer, sport management major Camila Malda ’25 (far left) interned with the Chicago Red Stars while sport analytics major Adelaide Gilley ’25 (far right) interned with the Houston Astros.

Adelaide Gilley, a senior in the Falk College’s program, already has an extensive resume of on-campus experiences. She is co-head of player performance for the Syracuse University men’s basketball team, vice president of membership for the Sport Management Club and co-chair of the club’s , to name a few. Now, she can add baseball operations intern for the to the growing list.

Adelaide Gilley

Gilley says a connection she made at a in Philadelphia that she attended through the Falk College last September helped her get the internship with the Astros for summer 2024. As a Houston native, Gilley says it was a dream come true to work for her hometown team.

Camila Malda, a senior in Falk’s , is originally from Mexico City, Mexico. She spent her summer as a corporate partnerships intern for the of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Camila Malda

Her tasks included helping to organize and carry out the Red Stars’ Pride Night and a special game night at Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. The Wrigley Field game set a record for the highest attendance at a NWSL match with 35,038 spectators.

Malda says a fellow Red Stars intern in ticket sales is also a Falk College student, reinforcing a lesson she has heard from her professors: “You’re going to end up working with or under someone from Syracuse University.”

We spoke with both Gilley and Malda while they were in the middle of their internships this summer. The below videos highlight their experiences working with professional sports organizations.

The rain didn’t stop move in at Sadler Hall. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Welcome Week festivities were held last week, introducing nearly 6,000 new members of the Orange community to all that Syracuse has to offer.

From moving in to their residence halls to swaying to the alma mater during��New Student Convocation to ice cream fun on the Quad and visiting the Barnes Center at The Arch for the first time, the University’s photographers captured so much of the magic that comes with a new school year. Enjoy some of the highlights from this year below!

New students pose for their class photo during the Dome Sweet Dome event on the floor of the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Welcome Week 2024 was a big success! (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

New students move in to the residence halls with help from orientation leaders, volunteers and the Goon Squad. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

International students enjoyed the beautiful weather and extra time on campus before the Welcome Week festivities officially started. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

International students toured the Center for International Services. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Campus was full of fun places to take photos with family! (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Capturing those Welcome Week memories to save forever. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

FreshFest 2024, Hillel’s Pre-Orientation Program, kicked off with an event in the JMA Wireless Dome for students and their families. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

College of Engineering and Computer Science students, parents, families and supporters got to meet with faculty, staff and the dean. (Photo courtesy of College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Facebook page)

Welcome Week is never complete without a photo with Otto the Orange! (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Students got to enjoy ice cream and a rainbow on the Quad. (Photo courtesy of Hendricks Chapel’s Facebook page)

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Ron Novack, executive director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), speaks to new military-connected students at the OVMA Fall Orientation and Student Fair at the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

Dwayne Murray ’97, deputy director with OVMA, poses with Otto at the OVMA Welcome Orientation and New Student Fair. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

The College of Visual and Performing Arts held a special Dean’s Welcome for students and their families. (Photo of courtesy of College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Facebook page)

Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke greeted Maxwell students during an event on the Quad where students got to learn more about their offerings. (Photo courtesy of the Maxwell School’s Facebook page)

International student welcome dinner (Photo by Angela Ryan)

A student and Dr. Ruth Chen (right) take a moment to snap a photo with Otto the Orange during the International Student Dinner. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Annual Nya weñha Skä:noñh Luncheon (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Syracuse University Band performs at New Student Convocation (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Convocation marks the first time this group of first-year students are all together in one place. The next time they will all be together in the JMA Dome will be for their Commencement in May 2028. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

A School of Education peer advisor gives a tour to first-year students. (Photo courtesy of School of Education’s Facebook page)

The Newhouse School welcomed first-year and transfer students at a reception, where students mingled with their new classmates, staff, faculty and student peer advisors. (Photo courtesy of Newhouse School’s Facebook page)

New Syracuse University ROTC Army cadets attend orientation. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Students in the Living Learning Communities play games during the welcome picnic on the Quad. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Engineering and Computer Science students got to play different games during their new student social. (Photo courtesy of College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Facebook page)

The newest members of Orange Nation gather on the field in the JMA Dome. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

The Syracuse University Marching Band performs during Citrus in the City. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Band’s Facebook page)

Students had a chance to get their photo with Otto during Citrus in the City. (Photo by Michael Sullivan ’28)

Students are all smiles during Citrus in the City. (Photo by Michael Sullivan ’28)

Football coach Fran Brown told first-year students during Dome Sweet Dome, “It’s your first year. It’s my first year. And it’s gonna be LIT. ” (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Alumni’s Facebook page)

1. Football game in the JMA Wireless Dome

Grab your friends and get loud because fall Saturdays in Syracuse are synonymous with cheering on the . The home opener is Saturday, Aug. 31, when we take on Ohio University at 3:30 p.m. Join , the official student section, and snag your —which also includes tickets to every home men’s basketball game and complimentary admission to all home women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, ice hockey, volleyball, tennis and softball competitions!

A packed house for a football game vs. Notre Dame in fall 2023. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

2. Involvement fair on the Shaw Quad

Every semester, Student Engagement hosts an involvement fair to connect students with opportunities to get… well, involved, with recognized student organizations (RSOs). This year’s fair spans three days: , will highlight RSOs in the cultural, performing or special interest category; , will include those dedicated to public service, publications, club sports, sports interest and esports; and , will feature Honors, religious and fraternity/sorority-related RSOs. Festivities are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of the three days on the Quad (rain location is Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center).

RSO University Union recruits new members at last year’s fall involvement fair. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

3. A visit to the Barnes Center at The Arch

Whether the purpose of your visit is to , , or take advantage of one of the facility’s , it’s only a matter of time before the Barnes Center becomes a staple of your life on campus. The center provides integrated wellness services and programs that support a holistic and inclusive student-centered experience promoting lifelong growth and development—which thankfully, includes .

The Barnes Center is lit up with activity on a fall evening. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

4. Apple and pumpkin picking

A fall field trip to a local pumpkin patch or apple orchard is a must during your time in Syracuse. in Baldwinsville, in Lafayette and in Syracuse (among many others!) all offer apple picking. Later in the season, in Marietta and in Syracuse are two favorites for pumpkins and fall fun. All of these destinations are within a 30-minute drive from campus, but if you’re lacking transportation check the for upcoming outings to such places, which are sometimes sponsored and coordinated by the University.

A plethora of pumpkins available for picking at Abbott Farms. (Photo by Randy Pellis)

5. The season’s first snow

If you grew up nearby, this will be about as exciting to you as an all-nighter in Bird—but if you’re one of the many students who come to Syracuse from warmer climates, perhaps you’ll be experiencing your first-ever snowfall later in the fall semester. When it happens, put on your favorite scarf, get a mocha java from and prepare to wow your friends and family back home with your snaps of our beautiful campus covered in the season’s first snow. And then get used to it—because it will be here until April!

A light dusting of snow covers campus. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

It is my pleasure to welcome you to campus for the 2024-25 academic year. I enjoy participating in Welcome Week activities every year and meeting so many of you and your families. As dean of students, I want you to know our staff are here to support you in achieving your goals and celebrating your successes. My colleagues in Student Experience and I all have different specialties and areas of expertise, but we all share one common goal—to provide support to you as you move through your time at Syracuse University. Together, we work with you to help you understand expectations, provide guidance and support when there is a concern, and empower you to develop critical life skills, like independence, accountability, self-advocacy and resiliency.

As you begin your classes and settle into a new routine, we are writing to share an overview of resources, services and pertinent policies. They are designed to promote a respectful, inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Barnes Center at The Arch

Did you know well-being is one of the strongest predictors of academic success? That’s why it is so important to familiarize yourself with the . As the hub for student wellness, the Barnes Center features programs, services and offerings that promote holistic health, thriving and well-being in one accessible, centralized space on campus. The health and wellness team is committed to providing high-quality, student-centered care. Our approach encompasses mind, body, spirit and community and includes such things as physical and mental health care, recreation and fitness, pet therapy, mindfulness offerings, peer health education, crisis response and so much more. Please visit the website to explore the full slate of activities, resources and services.

Student Conduct Code

The outlines the standards we expect all students to uphold. Please familiarize yourself with the code. Details outlining the investigation, formal conduct, resolution by agreement and appeal processes and sanction guidelines may be found in the . If you have a concern about an alleged violation of the code, you can reach Community Standards at 315.443.3728, via email at studentconduct@syr.edu or using the . Their office is located at 804 University Ave., Suite 106.

Syracuse Statement on Free Expression and Free Inquiry

In May 2024, Syracuse University adopted and endorsed the “,” following a process in which a working group of faculty, students and staff sought and gathered community input. The statement defines and affirms the University’s commitment to free expression and free inquiry. We urge you to review it carefully.

Important Policies to Review

In addition to the aforementioned Student Conduct Code, the University has several policies that provide clear, consistent guidance around space reservations, prohibited harassment of others, demonstrations and other activity on campus. We urge you to review the following policies and visit to learn about other existing policies.

Student Title IX Case Management

Students who have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, sexual assault or intimate partner violence have . One of the options includes the Student Title IX Case Management team, which supports students through the reporting and investigation process when the alleged perpetrator of misconduct is a student. Students can reach Student Title IX Case Management at titleix@syr.edu or 315.443.0211. Their office is located at 005 Steele Hall. If you believe a staff or faculty member has violated the University’s policy on sexual harassment, sexual assault or intimate partner violence, you may contact Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services at equalopp@syr.edu or 315.443.4018.

Student Outreach and Support

Case managers in are available to assist students involved in University processes, including the conduct process and Title IX process, by providing supportive measures, explanations and follow-up services. They also support students navigating a personal difficulty or challenges through a variety of interventions, referrals and advocacy. Students can reach Student Outreach and Support at 315.443.4357 (HELP) or studentsupport@syr.edu. Their office is located at 111 Waverly Ave., Suite 220.

STOP Bias and Hate Initiative

The University has a robust reporting system designed to empower individuals to alert appropriate officials to incidents that may be motivated by bias targeting on individual’s or group’s protected characteristic(s). The outlines resources to report and receive support for such incidents. Review the webpage for the definition of bias, reporting processes, how the University responds to reports, aggregated data by semester, educational opportunities and support resources. You may also elect to report a bias-motivated incident directly to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) via the options on the .

Department of Public Safety

In addition to the resources outlined above, we also encourage you to review the outlining important safety and reporting resources offered through DPS. DPS team members are focused on maintaining a safe and secure place to live, learn and work. Visit to learn more.

Stay Connected Digitally

There is a wealth of online resources that can help you make the most of your time at Syracuse. Download the for convenient access to campus systems and information, frequently visit SU News to stay up-to-date on what’s happening across the University and on your favorite social media platforms.

The first weeks of a new academic year can be challenging. Please know that your fellow students, our staff and faculty want you to be successful and are available to provide any assistance you may need. If you have any questions, concerns or need support, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the resources listed above.

Wishing you a great semester,

Dean Dixon

Sheriah N. Dixon
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students

Five students will be selected to form an interdisciplinary research team. They will work with , the 2024-26 faculty fellow and an assistant professor of public health in the .��Her research project examines how Black adults who reside in historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences. She wants to raise awareness about the lasting effects of discriminatory practices as basic determinants of health and use those findings to inform policymakers and community leaders.

Miriam Mutzambudzi

Working with Mutambudzi, student fellows will conduct data analysis, gather literature on social and economic disparities and health outcomes for residents of those areas and synthesize findings. They will also engage with community residents and grassroots organizations that are examining the impact of redlining practices in Syracuse.

Students from any discipline and background who are interested in community advocacy and social justice are encouraged to . They will spend two years on the project and present their findings at the 2026 Lender Center for Social Justice symposium. Participants receive a��$2,000��stipend, with opportunities for additional funding. Program details are available on the��Lender Center’s .

Information Session Sept. 18

An information session is scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. in Bowne Hall 207, when Mutambudzi will provide more details about the project and how the fellowship program works.

Applications Due Oct. 4

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Students can apply through the��.

Mobile Apps

• Launched earlier this summer, is the official Syracuse University daily companion app. Whether you’re navigating your class schedule, catching up on campus news, finding dining options or checking real-time bus arrivals, OrangeNow has you covered.
• , from the Department of Public Safety (DPS), allows users to stay connected and receive important campus notifications, communicate with campus safety and gain access to a number of tools that can help keep you safe on campus.
• The is your digital Syracuse University I.D. card! Use it to update your I.D. card photo, add ’CUSE Cash and pay at campus Food Services locations.

Social Media

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During the annual tradition, which takes place in the JMA Wireless Dome, the academic program includes leadership and faculty processing with full regalia.

The just over 4,000 new and transfer students hail from 49 states, including Washington, D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; 20 Indigenous nations and 59 countries. University leaders and student speakers imparted advice, words of wisdom and posed thoughtful questions to the new students, embarking on this new journey.

Wisdom From an Upperclass Student

Alie Savane (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

“Live it up; be in the moment. It’s okay to fail, I encourage it; it’s a learning point,” said��Alie Savane ’25, a biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the student speaker in his words of advice to new students.

Savane was candid about some of his struggles during his second year as a student but leaned on his connections with upperclass students and alumni. “I learned that my worth wasn’t tied to only my grades but to the effort that I put out every day. Even counting those days of rest, give yourself grace, one’s recovery is still effort,” he said.

“Growth is fundamental to this experience, and there’s a community here dedicated to fostering it. The Orange community makes this campus shine bright even on its cloudiest days, which is great because winters can be a bit cloudy,” said Savane.

Requests From the Chancellor

After addressing the loved ones of the students, Chancellor Kent Syverud made two requests of the new students.

The first: come as you are. “If you have not figured it out yet, you will figure it out pretty soon: there is no one way of thinking, no one way of dressing, no one person who is the ‘normal’ here at Syracuse University. People here are unique and amazing and dazzlingly different. So given that there is no ‘normal’ here, why not try just being yourself here. Not the image of perfection that appears on social media, not the identical replica of someone else, just be you. I believe you will find that if you come as you are here, you will become Orange.”

Chancellor Kent Syverud (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

The second piece of advice from the Chancellor: Become more at Syracuse. “That’s the common thread in all the speeches you are hearing this week. You have a chance that has been denied to so many people in this world: a chance to be part of a great university. So, take it. Please become more here, in your own unique and defining way. That’s what so many people have done before you, and you can too.”

Showing Grace to Others

“Every one of you have earned your place here and every one of you deserves to be here,” said Allen Groves, senior vice president and chief student experience officer, sharing how almost 45,000 individuals applied to be part of the new first-year class and 1,500 applied to be transfer students.

“While you’re here I want you to make sure you explore fearlessly new ideas, new ways of thinking and expose yourself to people whose views may be different than your own,” said Groves. “I hope you’ll debate big, contentious issues and ideas respectfully, listening as much as speaking—and sometimes that’s hard—and being mindful of our goal of being a place of academic excellence in a university that is welcoming to all.”

After the program concluded, students and their families said their goodbyes. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

“As you begin to navigate campus and figure out your own routine and favored spaces, I sincerely hope you will be willing to extend a hand to a classmate who may be struggling, and to show grace when a peer makes a mistake. That peer could just as easily be you, and we could all use a little more grace in this world.”

Seizing Possibilities

“Today you’re surrounded by your fellow new students, most or all of them strangers to you now. And yet many of them will become lifelong friends. Hard as it may be to imagine, you and the people who surround you now will gather again in this dome in four years to celebrate Commencement,”��said Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “Between that day and this celebratory moment, there is possibility—the possibility of who you will be as a student at Syracuse, and the possibility of who you will become in the years that follow your time here.”

Agnew shared there are many ways for students to seize that possibility, noting research, creative inquiry, studying beyond campus through study away and study abroad programs, experiential learning and intellectual bravery as prime examples.

“Challenge yourself. Be brave and be curious. Go outside your comfort zone and explore new things. You may discover passions you did not know you had,’” Agnew said.

Before the conclusion of the program, the newest students to enter Syracuse University recited the charge and sang the alma mater. The next time they will all be together in the JMA Dome will be for their Commencement in May 2028.

New students recited the charge and sang the alma mater. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Members of the Kehr/Hirsh family (from left to right): Steven Hirsh, Samantha Hirsh, Michael Kehr, Alice Hirsh, Ryan Kehr, Jonathan Hirsh and Rebecca Hirsh.

On an overcast Mother’s Day in 2018, a photo was taken outside of the Hall of Languages depicting a proud Syracuse University graduate, Ryan Kehr ’18, surrounded by happy family members.

It’s the kind of photo that gets taken repeatedly during Commencement weekend. This particular photo tells the story of the Kehr/Hirsh family—a proud collection of alumni whose connections to Syracuse date back to the fall of 1966. That’s when Alice (Musikar) Hirsh ’70 began her pursuit of a nursing degree from the College of Nursing.

Hirsh is the matriarch of an Orange legacy family that currently boasts seven alumni members:

• Alice and her husband, Steven ’70 (philosophy, );
• Alice’s children, Jonathan ’99 (marketing management, ) and Samantha Hirsh ’10 (inclusive elementary and special education, ); along with Jonathan’s wife, Rebecca (Rosenstein) Hirsh ’99 (child development in what is now the );
• Hirsh’s nephew, Michael Kehr ’86 (political science, and the College of Arts and Sciences), and his son, Ryan (information management and technology, )

The family will add another branch to the tree when Julia Kehr ’26, Michael’s daughter, graduates in May of 2026 with dual degrees in international relations (Maxwell School) and information management and technology (iSchool).

Alice, Ryan and Julia sat down with SU News to discuss their love of the University, the Orange bonds that connect them and the impact Syracuse has had on their lives.

Alice Hirsh ’70

Alice Hirsh

What drew you to Syracuse University? “The College of Nursing had a stellar reputation. It was hard to get into, and it was exactly what I wanted academically. When it came to choosing Syracuse, I wanted a big school, one with great sports teams and Greek life. It was everything I wanted and more, and the College of Nursing really did a great job of teaching and preparing us.”

Involvement on campus: A member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, Alice met her husband, Steven, during the fall semester of her sophomore year. They married a few months after graduation.

How strong is your affinity for Syracuse? “I had such a positive experience at Syracuse University. It was an important part of my life. I’m still very close friends with a group of 15 women who graduated from the College of Nursing with me. We still communicate and we get together every couple of years for Orange gatherings that we plan ourselves. Now, seeing so many members of my family go on to study and earn degrees from Syracuse really warms my heart. Everyone has had their own, great experiences. My family knows that everything I own is orange, and they know how important Syracuse University is to me.”

What makes Syracuse special? “Each one of us found something different to focus our attention on. For me, it was Greek life. For Jonathan, he was passionate about . Samantha was on the . We each discovered our passions and interests because of our time on campus, and as a family we all believe Syracuse is a great place.”

Ryan Kehr ’18

Ryan Kehr

What drew you to Syracuse University? “It wasn’t instilled in me that I had to attend Syracuse, but Syracuse was my number one choice. Plus, anyone I ever talked to about Syracuse always mentioned how great their experiences were and how strong the alumni network was. I didn’t know what I wanted to study at first, so I applied to the iSchool and completely fell in love with the tight-knit community.”

Involvement on campus: An iSchool peer advisor, Ryan also worked for SIDEARM Sports, eventually running the student team of workers. “Working under SIDEARM Sports’ founder Jeff Rubin ’95, G’98 was invaluable. I owe so much of my career success to the lessons I learned from Jeff and from my classes. The first class I took from Jeff made me fall in love with technology as a career.”

Current job: Ryan is in his third year as a product manager for the NFL. He helps the league build up its electronic medical records platform for athletic trainers, team physicians and the players.

How did Syracuse set you up for career success? “The iSchool gives students so many opportunities to learn, grow and pick their own career path. I learned how to be a good communicator, a good problem-solver and a good team player. Another key lesson I learned is to take advantage of every opportunity to meet with alumni. We did these iSchool road trips where we would go to Silicon Valley, New York City and Boston and meet with different companies that had Syracuse alumni. We’d hear about their career journeys, and that helped me know what I wanted to do when I graduated. I’m thankful for all those opportunities; they shaped me into the person I am today.”

Julia Kehr ’26

Julia Kehr

What drew you to Syracuse University? “When we were all on campus for Ryan’s graduation and I saw all of my family members together, that was really cool to see everyone who shared that Orange connection. I knew right then that I was meant to be at Syracuse. I applied early decision my senior year of high school and didn’t visit any other colleges.”

Involvement on campus: A member of the Delta Gamma sorority, Julia became involved with Slice Consulting, a student-run consulting firm that provides pro bono services to clients and nonprofits in Syracuse. She currently serves as a project manager.

Career ambitions: “I interned at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey this summer and really enjoyed that experience. That solidified my interest in working for a nonprofit, which Maxwell definitely instilled in me and has been enhanced through my work for Slice Consulting. I feel like working in the public sector consulting or working as a project manager for a nonprofit would be a great fit.”

What makes Syracuse special? “I always saw how closely tied to Syracuse my family was, but I never realized what that meant until I enrolled. The second I came back to campus from winter break my freshman year, I understood how special it was that we all shared the same values because we were all at the same place for college and learned such valuable life lessons.”

A public health professor whose research focuses on social determinants of health has been selected as the 2024-26 faculty fellow.

will explore how Black adults who reside in historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences. Redlining was a discriminatory practice of designating certain neighborhoods, especially predominantly Black ones, as being poor credit risks.

Mutambudzi is an assistant professor of public health at the She is also a faculty affiliate of three centers at the : the ; the ; and the .

In addition to Mutambudzi, an interdisciplinary team of will work on the project. Students from any discipline and background who are excited about community advocacy and social justice are for the two-year fellowships. Applications are accepted through early October and fellows are chosen before the end of the fall semester. The faculty-student group will present their findings at a community symposium in 2026.

We recently sat down with Mutambudzi to learn more about her project.

Why is this topic important?

This research tackles the ongoing challenges faced by Black communities from the legacy of historical discriminatory housing practices and the subsequent impact of those practices on community members’ employment and health.

While the was enacted as federal law, it failed to fully dismantle racial discrimination in housing resulting from the practice of redlining. Redlining is a discriminatory practice that began in 1930s America [where] banks and insurance companies refused or limited loans, mortgages and insurance to residents of specific geographic areas—primarily neighborhoods with predominantly Black residents. Residents of redlined areas had limited access to credit and other financial services and were hindered in their efforts to own homes, invest in property or improve their neighborhoods. The results were often urban decay and a perpetuation of poverty in those areas.

While redlining is a historical concept, its effects are very much present today. Its legacy continues to limit many life opportunities, and neighborhoods with predominantly Black residents where that occurred still face social and economic disadvantages.

How do limited employment prospects—or the lack of a good job—affect health issues?

Both employment and discriminatory policies are key factors contributing to racial��disparities in health outcomes. Job insecurity, precarity, lower wages and periods of unemployment—which occur more frequently among Black workers—all contribute to income gaps and limit access to good health insurance and quality healthcare.

Young adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods enter the workforce at a significant disadvantage. Job prospects within their communities are scarce, limiting their ability to find work that pays well, offers stability and provides a path for advancement.

This lack of good-quality jobs in their immediate surroundings creates a vicious cycle and the absence of good-quality, stable employment nearby creates a double-edged sword. Not only are opportunities limited, but these young adults also miss out on crucial skill-building and networking chances that come with these jobs. Those factors further restrict their potential, hindering their ability to compete for better opportunities.

In addition, involuntary employment interruptions are more frequent for these young adults and further disrupt their career trajectories. This disparity perpetuates a system where economic mobility becomes nearly impossible for those starting from behind. The cascading constraints imposed by limited job opportunities in disadvantaged neighborhoods have a profound impact on residents’ access to health-promoting resources, creating a cycle that undermines well-being.

For example, limited financial resources often translate to poor housing conditions, which may be overcrowded, poorly maintained and may lack essential amenities. Nutritious and organic foods are generally more expensive and less readily available in “food deserts,” leading to a reliance on cheaper, processed unhealthy foods. The jobs in which Black workers are disproportionately employed may contribute to these health issues, as their work is more likely to be physically and psychologically demanding. All of these factors also combine to contribute to increased risks of health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, respiratory illness and hypertension.

Miriam Mutambudzi, assistant professor of public health at the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, with a mural that depicts the College’s public health program history.

What questions are shaping your research?

There’s much we don’t know about how historically racist policies such as redlining��continued to affect the employment trajectories of Black Americans. People can work for 45 years or more in their lives, so it’s essential that we understand the factors that shape occupational trajectories and the subsequent impacts they have on a person’s health.

This project looks at three areas: developing an understanding of historically��redlined neighborhoods as predictors of racial disparities in long-term employment��trajectories: seeing how employment trajectories may be predictors of chronic health conditions and determining how education might moderate those relationships.

In what ways will the student fellows be involved?

They will contribute to data analysis and management and will conduct literature reviews to gather relevant reports on social and economic disparities and health outcomes. They’ll help synthesize findings to inform the study’s background and contextual understanding. Students will also have opportunities to engage with the local community since my goal is to work with grassroots organizations that are already addressing the adverse effects of redlining in Syracuse.

What do you hope to accomplish with this research?

My goal is to illustrate how the historical discriminatory redlining policy that systematically marginalized Black communities still adversely impacts work and health for those communities today, regardless of residents’ educational attainment.

Ultimately, we want to raise awareness regarding the lasting effects of discriminatory��practices as fundamental social determinants of health that require much attention, and inspire policymakers, community leaders and the public to drive meaningful action.

is an innovative, interdisciplinary initiative at Syracuse University focused on inclusive entrepreneurship, design and community. It is a partnership between Syracuse University Libraries, the School of Design and , a program of the��. Intelligence ++ is supported through a generous donation by Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09 and the��.

Trey Augliano

Augliano is the founder of Flamingo Brands, a global e-commerce company. During the past academic year, he served as an Orange Innovation Scholar for Syracuse University Libraries and worked with the and as a tech commercialization specialist. Augliano was a member of the student steering committee for the inaugural program. He previously interned as an angel investment portfolio manager at Shaw Harbor Holdings, a private equity and asset management firm, where he worked alongside the founder and CEO.

As the Intelligence ++ Innovation Scholar, Augliano will assist with , a funding program to help students across campus commercialize products, services and technologies that support people with intellectual disability or who are neurodivergent. The Intelligence ++ Scholar serves as a peer mentor to students from across all disciplines and academic units to help bring their ideas to life and engages with SU alumni who are innovators in this field who can serve as subject matter experts.

The album contains George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and “Rhapsody in Blue,” along with two pieces commissioned in remembrance of those who perished in the bombing, including 35 Syracuse University students.

The Wind Ensemble is the University’s premiere concert wind organization. Possessing an extensive history that includes a series of internationally distributed recordings, the ensemble, conducted by Professor and Associate Professor in the ’ Setnor School of Music, has commissioned dozens of works.

The Wind Ensemble performed the recently commissioned pieces, “Energy and Light” by , assistant professor in the Setnor School of Music, and “Angels Rising” by , during its 2023 United Kingdom Remembrance tour, held in observance of the 35th anniversary of the bombing.

“The scale of that disaster is incredibly humbling and haunting for our community,” says composer Draper. “In addition to mourning those who were lost, it is important to remember that each of the students had a vibrant life that should also be celebrated. With that in mind, I decided to write a piece that was about energy and light—two direct components of what it means to be alive.”

Following Draper’s piece, the listener journeys through the four sections of “Angels Rising”—lament, chorale, ascent and prayer. The work ends with the everlasting question of existence, composer Ticheli notes.

The final album piece, “Rhapsody in Blue,” featuring pianist associate professor and director of the Setnor School of Music, takes the listener back in time.

“This recording, celebrating the centennial of its composition, depicts what was likely heard by the audience packing New York City’s Aeolian Hall on Feb. 12, 1924, when ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ had its premiere with Paul Whiteman’s Palais Royal Orchestra and Gershwin himself at the piano,” says Laufer.

The Navona Records release will be available in both stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive audio formats. It will be accessible for streaming on Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music.

Story by Mikayla Heiss

As we celebrate 80 years of the Goon Squad welcoming new students to campus, Sue Weber and Jack Withee reminisce about their experiences moving into Syracuse University, discuss when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and explore the group’s lasting impact and legacy.

When the Goon Squad first formed in 1944, its original purpose was to reinforce Syracuse University’s campuswide policy requiring all new students to wear beanie caps during their first semester on campus.

Sue Weber ’68 fondly recalls wearing her beanie when she arrived in the fall of 1964, and her beanie and the straw Goon Squad hat she received when she joined as a sophomore are among her most precious Syracuse University mementos.

While first-year students are no longer obligated to wear their class beanie—which was the custom, along with doffing their caps as a sign of respect when in the presence of older students—the����still plays a role as one of the most impactful traditions on campus.

Sue and Eric Weber

Celebrating 80 years of making a difference in the lives of first-year students, the Goon Squad—featuring more than 550 student leaders—will greet new students and lend a hand during move-in at residence halls as part of , the University’s new student orientation program.

“I went to a very small [high] school, and when you joined a group like the Goon Squad, it immediately gave you a bunch of great friends. I still have those friendships today,” says Weber, who earned an illustration degree from the School of Art (now part of the ) and met her husband, Eric, on campus. “I can’t believe the Goon Squad is turning 80 years old. Such great memories!”

This year, the University is preparing to welcome more than 4,000 first-year students. International students arrive Friday, while domestic students move in Aug. 19-21 and embark on a week filled with programs that introduce new students and their loved ones to life on campus through academic and social events.

Jack Withee

“We make sure the move-in environment is the most welcoming and inclusive it can be. We’re the first face of the Syracuse community that these students are being introduced to,” says Jack Withee ’26, an inclusive elementary and special education major in the . “When the Goon Squad helps them move in, they haven’t met the students on their floor yet. We’re greeting them at the door as they come to campus, so it’s important from the get-go that we set the tone that this is your new home.”

In this “’Cuse Conversation,” Weber and Withee reminisce about their own experiences moving into Syracuse University, share when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and discuss the lasting impact and legacy of the Goon Squad.

Check out featuring Weber and Withee. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

How did the Goon Squad help with your move-in?

Jack Withee: I was so excited to get to campus and start the journey to become the person I always wanted to be. But your first day is so nerve-wracking. Luckily, I had this woman, Erin, who moved me in. I remember as she was moving me in, she looked me in the eyes and told me that I was going to be okay. She truly made me believe it, and that made me realize I was ready to spread my wings and that I can do this. That’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my time on campus, and that’s something I tell every single one of the students I help move in.

Sue Weber: My freshman year I lived in Washington Arms, which was used as a dining room for the Peace Corps at the time. During what was a chaotic time, I was so thankful for the Goon Squad. They took me aside and welcomed me to campus. I was on the fifth floor, so they helped me put all my stuff in the elevator and answered the questions my mom and dad had. The Goon Squad was just wonderful and very helpful, and we were so happy they were there to help.

When did you know you wanted to give back and join the Goon Squad?

Weber: I absolutely knew I wanted to give back and join the Goon Squad when it was my turn. I remember how overwhelmed I felt coming to campus from a small school and a small town into this huge university. I know how that made me feel and I always wanted the classes behind me to feel the same way that I felt because of the Goon Squad. I wanted them to feel welcomed and know that they made the right choice coming to Syracuse University.

Withee: Whenever I saw Erin [who helped me during move-in] on campus, I would realize how much I had grown since move-in, and to think she jump-started that growth by helping me get on my feet and start the year on a level playing field. She made me want to pay it forward and give back to the first-year students who came after me.

How would you describe the lasting impact and legacy of the Goon Squad here on campus?

Weber: It’s a testament to how important it is and how people feel about it. It leaves a lasting memory. It’s something that made you feel good then and something that makes me feel really good now. It’s just a wonderful thing to introduce people to a big campus that can be very overwhelming, and you don’t forget the help you received from the Goon Squad.

Withee: The presence the Goon Squad has on campus is so powerful. You only move into Syracuse University once and no one forgets the people who move them in. That sticks with you, this spirit of the campus community being there to help each other out when you really need the help. It’s an honor to help first-year students. Syracuse has provided me with so many opportunities to be the person I’ve always wanted to become, and I’m so grateful.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

What is the most important item(s) you bring to campus with you?

Nkongnyu with his family during his move in as a first-year student

Nkongnyu: My essentials include my laptop, notebook/journal, crocs, headphones, bookbag and pens.

Washington: My essentials include an umbrella, a silicone ice cube tray, velcro strips, a toolbox (which is crucial for move-in day), command hooks, chip clips, a mini fan (for the initial heat of the semester), my insurance card, a small first aid kit, Ziploc bags, shower shoes, a shower caddy and a selection of emergency medications and Vitamin C packets, as many students tend to get sick during the first few weeks. A decent-sized trash can is also key.

What’s your favorite spot to study on campus?

Washington and her mom in her room during her move-in as a first-year student.

Nkongnyu: I have many hidden spots on campus that I gatekeep, but I’ll name one: .

Washington: My favorite study spot is the third floor of the Schine. It provides a serene environment with an excellent view, making it perfect for focused study sessions.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self when you started at Syracuse?

Nkongnyu: Don’t be afraid to follow your spirit. If you seek it and work toward it, you will make your dream a reality. Destiny can only be delayed but never denied.

Washington: Be more compassionate and patient with my own expectations. College is a significant transition, and adjusting to life away from home while navigating academic challenges can be overwhelming. Remember, one disappointing grade doesn’t define your entire experience—allow yourself grace and take full advantage of the professor’s office hours!

In addition to the great advice from Nkongnyu and Washington on what to pack and what to leave at home, our friends in New Student Programs have put together several to help you pack.

First, let’s start with the list of things you can definitely leave at home:

• Large appliances, including air conditioners (only refrigerators less than five cubic feet and microwaves less than 1,000 watts are permitted)
• Cooking appliances: ovens, hotplates, toasters, toaster ovens, crockpots, grills (including “George Foreman-type” grills) and other similar devices
• Fire safety hazards, like space heaters, candles and incense
• Wall-mounted TVs (only free-standing TVs are permitted)
• Firearms, weapons and fireworks
• ALL general-purpose extension cords (even UL-approved; only UL-listed grounded power strips with built-in fuse circuit breaker are permitted)
• Halogen lamps and multi-head floor lamps
• Large pieces of furniture
• Pets (service or emotional support animals must be approved)
• Expensive or irreplaceable collectibles or jewelry

Next, here are some must-haves to have with you while you are on campus:

• Bedding, including XL twin sheets and comforter and a mattress pad
• Clothing for multiple seasons. Remember, Syracuse is hot in late August, and winter weather arrives just a few short months later. It’s important to have a heavy winter coat, warm winter boots, gloves/mittens and a hat as you navigate campus.
• UL-listed grounded power strip with built-in fuse or circuit breaker
• Personal hygiene items, shower shoes and a bathrobe
• Laundry basket/bag and detergent
• Umbrella with rain jacket and boots

Visit the for a full list of what you should pack and what to leave at home.

New students move into the residence halls with help from orientation leaders, volunteers and the Goon Squad. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

New students move into the residence halls with help from orientation leaders, volunteers and the Goon Squad. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

With just a few days away, there is so much for new students to do and so many opportunities to learn about everything Syracuse University! SU News has put together a summary of links and things you need to know.

OrangeNow Mobile App

Have Welcome Week information at the tip of your fingers by downloading the new����before heading to campus! The app, available on the����and��, provides convenient access to campus maps; transit, parking, dining and Wi-Fi information; event schedules and much more.

Schedules

There are so many fun and informative events planned in and around campus during Welcome Week. There is something for everyone! Below you will find links to the various schedules available for those who are participating in Welcome Week:

• : This link includes every event during Welcome Week, including some that do not apply to some students.
• : This link includes all events where parents, families and supporters are invited, including some that may not apply to all parents, families and supporters.
• : International undergraduate students are required to attend the international student orientation, Aug. 17-21. After international student orientation, undergraduates should plan to attend all required Welcome Week programming, Aug. 22-25.
• Schools and Colleges Schedules: In addition to the Universitywide events, students have required and optional events to attend hosted by their home school or college. Included in each schedule below are Welcome Week Signature Events, family and supporter events specific to that school or college and required events for students in each school or college. If you are a student who is dually enrolled, you should follow the schedule for your home school or college. If you have a dual advising meeting, it will be reflected in that schedule.

Orange Celebration Event (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Campus Hours of Operation

To meet the needs of our new and returning students, many campus offices will have extended hours to accommodate the needs of those moving to campus, including the following:

• Apartment and Off-Campus Living | Student Living
• Center for Disability Resources
• Center for International Services
• College of Professional Studies
• Counseling at the Barnes Center at The Arch
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs
• Food Services
• Goldstein Student Center
• Health Care and Pharmacy at the Barnes Center at The Arch
• Housing, Meal Plan, and I.D. Card Services
• Information Technology Services
• Office of the Bursar
• Office of the Registrar
• Parking and Transportation Services
• Recreation and Fitness Center at the Barnes Center at The Arch
• Residence Hall Check-In
• Schine Student Center
• Student Employment
• Student Outreach and Support
• Syracuse University Campus Store
• Syracuse University Libraries
• Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollment Processing Center

Specific hours and the best way to connect with each of the teams listed above is .

First-year students enjoying local food and performances at Citrus in the City (Photo by Max Walewski)

Fun Events to Check Out

There is so much to do and so much to see. Check out some of these events you just don’t want to miss!

Tuesday, Aug. 20��

• (8:30-10 p.m.)

Wednesday, Aug. 21��

• (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• (6-8 p.m.)
• (6:30-7:45 p.m.)
• (8:15-9:30 p.m.)

Thursday, Aug. 22

• (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• (8-10 p.m.)

Friday, Aug. 23��

• (8-10 p.m.)

Saturday, Aug. 24

• (5:30-8 p.m.)
• (8:30-10 p.m.)

Welcome Week Living Learning Communities orientation picnic (Photo by Max Walewski)

Important Links

New students enjoying the therapy dogs during the Barnes Center kickoff event (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

To help students answer all these questions and more with just a few finger taps, Syracuse University recently launched a new flagship mobile app experience. The , available on the and , was developed directly in response to student feedback and brings together many of the essential tools, resources and platforms that contribute to a thriving student experience on campus.

Features of the app include:

• seamless integration with Blackboard to view class schedules, upcoming assignments, course announcements and connect with an academic advisor;
• a robust dining hub highlighting food menus, hours of operations and real-time insight into how busy a dining center or café is before you go;
• easy access to the Bus Tracker, campus maps, student activities calendars, MySlice, the Patient Portal/Wellness Portal and everything else needed to plan your day;
• and links to other crucial pieces of the student experience: school/college websites, athletics, news, ITS, Libraries, SU Mail, printing, parking and more.

The launch of OrangeNow represents a significant step in the University’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, which aim to deliver a best-in-class digital and technological experience to the University community.

Jeff Rubin ’95, G’98, the University’s first chief digital officer, longtime faculty member in the School of Information Studies and the founder of SIDEARM Sports, the nation’s leading digital provider for college athletics, oversaw development and implementation of OrangeNow in partnership with Jeff Stoecker, senior vice president and chief communications officer.

Rubin says he is excited for the campus community to begin using the app and for the iterative process to continue with the addition of future enhancements on an ongoing basis. While the primary audience is currently students, the app’s features will be expanded to serve a broader audience, including faculty and staff.

“As with most digital platforms, OrangeNow was designed to adapt and evolve dynamically, ensuring we meet the needs of our users,” Rubin says. “While this is just the beginning, we are extremely proud of the user experience for our students. We are committed to continuing to add new features, integrate with existing tools and technology, and evaluate student needs and feedback to ensure this remains an integral part of the Syracuse University technological landscape.”

“We’ve heard from students that they want the functionality and portability of a mobile app dedicated to the many facets of life at Syracuse University,” says Stoecker. “OrangeNow is a vibrant, fully customizable, comprehensive response to this need that synthesizes many of the tools and platforms students already use in one centralized digital location. We truly hope users find it valuable and that it helps students navigate a thriving life on campus with ease.”

Campus community members are encouraged to download the app on the App Store or Google Play today! To share your thoughts, look for the “Feedback & Support” button on the app’s home screen. Loving it so far? Be sure to leave a five-star review wherever you downloaded it!

Presenters and attendees at the 2023 SOURCE Symposium

Hua, a nutrition science major in the , has investigated the effects of fish oil on paternal obesity and its impact on offspring muscle function. Ross, a neuroscience and psychology major in the , has studied the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. And Lu, a music composition major in the (VPA), has worked with music ensembles and experienced the premieres of two of his original compositions.

They are among the more than 250 students who have actively participated in research this summer—both in-person and remotely—through initiatives of the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry, iSchool, and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; the McNair Scholars Program; the psychology SPARC and STAHR programs; Renée Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.

As a culmination of their experiences, the —a poster session featuring more than 110 undergraduate research students, will be held Thursday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Schine Student Center’s Panasci Lounge. A picnic will follow on the patio of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. .

Some of the posters that will be presented include:

• Mercury Release From Alaskan Permafrost
• The Role of the Kit Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation and Cyst Breakdown
• The Effects of the Post-Mating Immune Response in Drosophila on Female Fecundity
• Syracuse Policy Legacy Project
• Testing the Hydropathy of Synthetic RNA
• Polyurethane Foams for Hemorrhage Control
• Supporting Healthcare Outcomes and Access for Refugees
• Effects of I-81 Highway Construction on Freshwater Streams in the Valley Neighborhood of Syracuse
• Role of Rab GTPase-Mediated Ciliary Cargo Transport in Cilia formation and Cellular Polarity
• Validating Hydraulic Flood Control Risk Assessment Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery

“Summer research students make great strides in their research skill-building during these few short months; they explore fascinating topics, engage with existing work, try new methods and techniques and experience deep immersion and focus in their work,” says SOURCE Director Kate Hanson. “We are thrilled to learn about research at the Summer Symposium and grateful to the mentors that have supported them.”

Xuezhu (Stephanie) Hua ’25

Stephanie Hua

Hua’s research is inspired by the obesity epidemic. “Obesity is a growing concern, with two in five people in the U.S. affected. It not only diminishes quality of life but also has lasting effects on the health of future generations,” Hua says. “In our research explores the potential of fish oil supplementation in mitigating the detrimental, we focus on using fish oil as a dietary intervention for obese fathers.”

Hua and her colleagues have found that a father’s high-fat diet during the preconception period significantly impacts the muscle health of their offspring, potentially decreasing muscle function. Conversely, when the father follows a low-fat diet during the preconception period, the offspring’s muscle health is more influenced by their own diet. “Moving forward, I will employ an analysis of variance test to determine if fish oil supplementation can reverse the adverse effects of a father’s high-fat diet on offspring,” she says.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the SOURCE, Renée Crown University Honors Program and WiSE for sponsoring my research. This invaluable experience has allowed me to ask scientific questions, grapple with challenges and find solutions,” Hua says. “What drives me is the potential impact of my research on people’s lives. To me, research is about serving the community. This experience has been instrumental to me in preparing for my Ph.D. studies in obesity and metabolism.”

Hua’s faculty mentor is , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.

Edward Lu ’26

Lu says his music composition research this summer has provided him with some of the most artistically fulfilling experiences in his career. He attended the Connecticut Summerfest and the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at the Juilliard School as a part of their Emerging Composers Program.

Edward Lu (photo by Isaac Schwalbe)

“Both of these festivals were incredible, and they each provided a diverse array of insights into the business of composition and chamber music,” Lu says.

He traveled to Connecticut in June for a week of lectures, presentations, rehearsals, concerts and recording sessions. “I was paired with ~Nois, a saxophone quartet based in Chicago, who were an absolute joy to work with,” Lu says. “They premiered my piece, ‘Leaf Litter,’ and we also shot a separate professional video/audio recording with the Kinsmen Sound Studio. I loved how much creative liberty I was given during this process, and how much they valued my artistic input. Additionally, I enjoyed getting to know the other ensembles-in-residence.”

In July, Lu spent 10 days in New York City, attending lectures and masterclasses with Imani Winds and the composer-in-residence, Jessica Meyer, as well as other visiting composition faculty. “I was paired with Nimbus Winds, a student wind quintet, and we spent the week rehearsing and workshopping my piece ‘Cloud Shapes,’ which was premiered at Juilliard’s Morse Recital Hall on Aug. 3.” He also had the opportunity to present “Leaf Litter” in a masterclass and share his work from Connecticut Summerfest, bringing his summer research full circle.

“At both festivals, I met a lot of amazing people and built lasting and meaningful relationships while learning important skills such as outreach and finding my musical voice and message,” Lu says. “Additionally, I now have two new pieces and recordings to add to my portfolio. Most importantly, I’ve made colleagues and friends in the field of chamber music that will last my entire lifetime. I’m eternally grateful to SOURCE for making these experiences possible for me.”

Lu’s faculty mentor is , associate professor and chair of music composition, theory and history in VPA’s Setnor School of Music.

Kaniya Ross ’25

Ross’s project is specifically investigating the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid

Kaniya Ross

supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. Loss of Cited2 (knockout) has been known to cause disruptions in brain development such as neural tube defects, reduced cortical thickness that can lead to microcephaly, and heart and lung defects.

“Based on preliminary research, prepartum folic acid supplementation has been linked to a reduction in�� neural tube defects like exencephaly. It has also been linked to rescuing reductions in cortical thickness seen with Cited2 knockout,” says Ross. Her team uses immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis and cell counting to measure whether reduced cortical thickness is due to increased cell density or decreased cells overall following Cited2 knockout and maternal folic acid supplementation. As microcephaly is linked to learning and memory deficits, they also do novel object recognition testing to measure changes in both following maternal folic acid supplementation.

“This project is deeply connected with my future endeavors as a pediatric neurologist who will continue doing research on neurodevelopmental disorders as well as providing affordable care and treatments in my own private practice,” Ross says.

Ross has worked with faculty mentor , associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and graduate student Sara Brigida.

Additional events featuring undergraduate research include the 2024 McNair Summer Research Symposium, which will be held Aug. 9 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. in 331 Sims Hall. The Psychology SPARC-STAHR & iSchool REU Program Symposium was held on July 25.

On this episode of the “‘Cuse Conversations” podcast, El-Baz Abdallah and Budoor Alsaadi discuss their experiences as international Fulbright students participating in the pre-academic program, how they adjusted to life as students in the United States and how they plan on using their research to make a difference.

Each summer, the hosts a prestigious preparatory program that helps dozens of international Fulbright Scholars begin their journeys to graduate degrees and research opportunities.

It’s called the , and Syracuse University has served as a proud host site for the last 10 years, celebrating the power of both an international education and a cultural exchange.

This year, 44 master’s and Ph.D. students��from 20 countries around the world are spending four weeks on campus discovering American culture, learning about life as a graduate student in the U.S. and developing necessary research skills.

The program is operated on campus by the (ELI), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education.

Each morning, the ELI offers English courses and lessons, including how to write a research paper as a graduate student. In the afternoons, cultural presentations and workshops are offered by Syracuse faculty and staff.

These international scholars are connected to a facilitator, a graduate of the pre-academic program who offers advice, guidance and friendship while mentoring these aspiring researchers. On the weekends, participants can take advantage of social field trips to cultural destinations like Niagara Falls and Green Lakes State Park.

El-Baz Abdallah

Before departing for their graduate schools, the students give poster presentations on their research as a potential springboard to the research they will conduct for their capstone project.

“Through my research, I want to see how we can use technology and data information to better people’s lives,” says El-Baz Abdallah, a facilitator from the Comoro Islands who is entering his second year studying data analytics in the . “When I heard about the pre-academic program, I had been working for some time and hadn’t really thought about going back to school for my master’s degree, but the prestigiousness of the Fulbright program really stood out. There’s such a great impact, not just from the curriculum or the academics but the networking with your fellow scholars. This program was very rigorous, but it was really worth it.”

Budoor Alsaadi

“From how we should be writing up our research and our bibliographies to what it means to do research as a graduate student in the United States, I’ve been really happy with all of the information I’ve learned that helps us adapt to the educational system here,” says Budoor Alsaadi, a native of Iraq who is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus in environmental engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In this “’Cuse Conversation,” Abdallah and Alsaadi discuss their beneficial experiences as international Fulbright students participating in the pre-academic program, how they acclimated to life as students in the United States and how they plan on using their research to make a difference.

Check out podcast featuring Abdallah and Alsaadi. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

How has this program helped with your academic transition to graduate school and your cultural adjustment?

El-Baz Abdallah: This program helped me tremendously. It was a big adjustment in terms of the food, the people, the culture and the language. Before I came here, I spoke English every day but had to think about what I wanted to say in French first and then express myself in English. But the College of Professional Studies made our transitions so easy. They set me up with a host family, which is a proud tradition here, and that host family became like a second family for me.

Academically, the program taught me how to directly interact with the professor if we have a question about a lecture or a topic. Back home, you would go to class and take notes, but here, we learned you can actually ask questions of your professor. We learned about office hours where you can go and discuss the topic if there’s something you didn’t understand. These are things I wouldn’t have known about being a master’s student in America were it not for the pre-academic program.

Budoor Alsaadi: There was a lot of new information to learn. There was so much harmony in the program because we’re all international students trying to figure things out while supporting each other. Everyone has been so kind, sweet and caring and willing to help each other out. We’re learning but we’re also having fun.

Another great thing is how many different cultures are in this program. There are students from more than 20 countries here, so we get to learn about their cultures, music, foods and languages. It’s great that Fulbright brings together these people from different backgrounds and experiences to learn from each other.

How do you plan on using your degree to make a difference in the world?

Alsaadi: I want to study water treatment and water pollution, which is a rising problem in my country and all over the world. It’s a problem that needs much more attention, because one day, we’re going to have very limited resources for water. Water technology is a broad field with a lot of opportunities, and I wanted to accelerate my knowledge on this topic at an early age so I can be well-equipped to make a difference in my career.

Most people in Iraq drink groundwater because the water in the rivers has high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), which is expensive to treat and turn into drinking water. I hope that, through my research, I can go back to Iraq and find new technologies and new chemicals that can help with treating TDS. I want to discover a solution that can improve the water quality in my country and help deal with this ongoing and increasing water shortage.

Abdallah: My studies combine data science and artificial intelligence (AI), how to actually build AI models to harness information or data. I’ve been involved with two projects I’m passionate about. One was analyzing the energy consumption trends of New Yorkers to study how low-income people can improve their energy consumption through incentives from the government. Another project was working with my mother, who is a gynecologist back home on Comoros Island, to enhance maternal health care and address the big problem of women losing their baby without knowing it. For my capstone research project, I’m building an AI model to analyze the mother’s and the baby’s heart rates, analyzing the existing data and looking at gaps in the data to ensure that when this happens, we can act so mothers don’t have to move from their rural home to the capital city, or from one island to another, to get medical attention.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Pardha Sourya Nayani

Pardha Sourya Nayani G’28, a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), has received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Fellowship Award. The award is for his research on “Unleashing Bandwidth: Passive Highly Dispersive Matching Network Enabling Broadband Absorbers with Record-High Bandwidth-to-Thickness Ratio.”

The AP-S Fellowship Program aims to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows worldwide interested in antenna analysis, design, development and other research areas related to AP-S.

Nayani joined EECS Professor Younes Radi’s research group in the Radiation Laboratory in the summer of 2023. “I am deeply honored to receive this award and look forward to making significant contributions in the field of electromagnetics and microwave engineering,” Nayani says.

“As a faculty member at Syracuse University and the prior institutions I have been involved with, I have had the opportunity to see and work with many talented students and researchers,” says Radi. “Rarely have I had the opportunity to work with a student as passionate, talente, and hardworking as Pardha. I am happy and proud that IEEE awarded him this prestigious fellowship.”

The workshops, open to all faculty, students and staff, will be held mornings (10 a.m. to noon) and afternoons (1:30 to 3:30 p.m.) from Aug. 12 through Aug. 15 in 114 Bird Library. Participants must bring their own laptop. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited and is required.

Collin Capano

, OSPO director, says the workshops are part of the office’s ongoing effort to educate the campus community on open-source tools and to promote open-source culture on campus.

“The idea for the workshops came out of discussions with faculty. There was a desire for cross-disciplinary educational opportunities on campus that cover basic computing know-how so that anyone can acquire the skills they need to develop open-source software. This will help individuals in the research environment on campus, and for students in particular, be an asset in the job market after they graduate,” Capano says. “We hope to offer more of these workshops in the future.”

The sessions, which are a combination of lectures and labs, will be conducted in two parts. Part 1, “Computing Basics,” is scheduled for Aug. 12, and Aug. 13. Part 2, “Introduction to Python,” is planned for Aug. 14, and Aug. 15.

Topics being covered are:

Monday, Aug. 12:
Morning: Operating systems; basic terminal usage
Afternoon: Simple bash; text editors; GitHub

Tuesday, Aug. 13
Morning: More advanced bash; environment variables; conda
Afternoon: ssh and computer clusters

Wednesday, Aug. 14
Morning: Python: variables, assignments, types, operations, containers
Afternoon: Python: control-flow (if/else); intro to functions

Thursday, Aug. 15
Morning: Python: for/while loops; functions (continued)
Afternoon: Python: libraries; numpy/scipy/matplotlib

The OSPO team will be available from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday to help participants set up their computers. That step is especially recommended for Windows users, Capano says.