The

TANGERINE
VOL. LXXVIl, ISSUE 3 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM

PFANNE-SEALED
Todd
odd Pfannestiel was officially installed as Utica University’s 10th president

BY MICKALE THOMPSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | PHOTO KAYLEIGH STURTEVANT / THE TANGERINE

 STAFF
PAGE 2 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM

Editor-In-Chief - Mickale Thompson

Fall 2023 STAFF Managing Editor - Diana Sidorevich
News Editor - Selma Dizdarevic
Features Editor - Charlie Buckley
Online Editor - Emma Goodspeed
@UticaTangerine Multimedia Editor - Kayleigh Sturtevant
Special Assigments - Kayden Lamphere
@Utica_Tangerine Sports Reporter - Nick Phillips
Enterprise Reporter - Mariami Kentchadze
Staff Photographer - Luke Reed
@Utica_Tangerine
Criculation Manager - Juan Garcia
Adviser - Mary Christopher

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material printed in The Tangerine is copyrighted. The Tangerine was first published as the
Utica College News on Nov. 6, 1946.

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 NEWS
PAGE 3 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM

Student government elects six candidates into office

◊ MICKALE THOMPSON Stephanie Guseva, by my peers showed said though he originally
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF Anais Jaikissoon and they trusted me to didn’t have an interest
Utica University’s Ash Tavarez all secured represent the upper in student government,
Student Government spots within the class.” he did have an interest
Association on Sept. upperclass senate. in getting involved more
Tavarez on the other
22 opened the voting in social extracurriculars.
Guseva, a biology hand plans to use
period for the fall 2023 major with minors in her involvement in “My goal is for
elections. The voting chemistry and health other organizations everyone to graduate
period, which saw 130 and society, said being on campus to bring a with beaming grins
students participating a STEM major influenced different perspective of on their faces and an
in the voting process, her decision to run for the student body that unending tide of fond
concluded on Sept. 23 office. attends the university. memories,” Brousseau
after which six students said. “There’s a million
“Utica has a large “I hope to work closely
were elected into SGA things to do to achieve
population of students with all of us who
leadership positions. that but for right now I
interested in the hold positions in SGA,
In the race for want [to] get as many
healthcare field who especially the E-board
underclass senator, people involved on
need representation,” to further improve
first-year student Xavier campus as possible by
Guseva said. “Not only the communication
Moore was the sole giving people a million
that but having an between the student
candidate and after things to get involved
anthropology minor body and SGA since
being voted in, said in.”
broadened my horizon sometimes people
he intends to elevate regarding all the may feel intimidated SGA President Kathi
the consciousness different cultures on to raise their concerns Jabe said the first
and awareness of the campus that deserve themselves,” Tavarez election of the new
campus body through to be heard and said. semester is always
open conversations recognized.” exciting but this year’s
With three total
and will try to chip away was “invigorating.”
For Jaikissoon, the candidates, the race for
at the barriers placed “They are eager to
decision to enter graduate senator saw
between each other. engage and voice their
student government the most competition.
“My intention to was fueled by the desire However, graduate opinions,” Jabe said. “I
materialize those goals to make a change in student Zachary can only hope to mirror
[that] are rooted in my community. Nordstrom was voted in their passion and work
student participation,” to occupy its sole seat in towards nurturing it. I’m
“When I first learned
Moore said. “I plan the Senate. incredibly excited to
about being elected,
on collaborating with witness how our senators
I was excited and Ryan Brousseau, a
students, student- will contribute and lead
grateful,” Jaikissoon cybersecurity major
officers, and faculty to in driving the changes
said. “I was thankful who was voted in as
first increase student we all aspire to see on
because being elected first-year class president,

Campus Safety Blotter

participation.” campus.”

Date Of Incident Time Of Incident Short Description Building

9/29/2023 8:00 AM Threat/Harassment North Hall
9/30/2023 12:02 AM Alcohol Violation South Hall
9/30/2023 10:15 AM Suspicious Activity Unknown
9/30/2023 4:20 PM Medical Assist Ralph F. Strebel Student Center
 NEWS
PAGE 4 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM
Pfannestiel: ‘We know where we’re going because we know who we are’
President Todd Pfannestiel poses with Jeremy Thurston chairperson Board of Trustees [left] and former chair-
person Robert Brvenik [right] after accepting the university’s institutional charter. // Photo: Kayleigh Sturtevant
◊ MICKALE THOMPSON their enormous response
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF as I came into view is
As students, delegates, one I will never forget.
cabinet members and I still get chills even as I
faculty walked into the speak about it.”
Charles A. Gaetano Board of Trustees
Stadium on Sept. 29 to Chairperson Jeremy
witness the inauguration Thurston presided
of Todd Pfannestiel, the over the installation
scene: cloudy skies with ceremony, which
winds gusting at 13 mph lasted about an hour
– was much different and 15 minutes, and
from the McDonald’s delivered the opening
that Pfannestiel, then introduction. From there,
provost, first learned Student Government
he was selected as Association President
Utica University’s 10th Kathi Jabe extended
president. the greetings on behalf
This time it was signed of the student body and
and sealed. said when first meeting
Pfannestiel, it was
“Walking into
apparent he possessed
Gaetano Stadium was
a genuine care and
truly one of the best
attentiveness to the
[memories],” Pfannestiel
needs of the students.
said. “Everyone was
“Dr. Todd was and still
so supportive. But
especially to see all is,” Jabe said “Someone
the students in the who is willing to lend a
bleachers, and to hear listening ear, to sit down
with any and every define perfection
student to answer their for Utica University
questions, address their Pfannestiel said in a
concerns and alleviate desperate attempt
their worries.” to find inspiration, he
In his inaugural address, tossed out contrary
Pfannestiel said he’d adjectives and focused
accepted the challenge on one theme: making
but the journey to the impossible possible.
where it is now started “I came to realize
as a freshman at the that perfection is not
University of Arkansas. unattainable at Utica
In his quest to define University,” Pfannestiel
perfection, he turned to said. “Because the
his love of baseball. perfection we seek is
“Just imagine this — in our interactions with
a bouncer deep in each other. It’s in the
the hole at shortstop paths we physically walk
requires a perfect throw and the other paths
to first base to beat the along which we strive. It
runner. Just as much is in the perfect journey
as a slow roller to third that we undertake
base required the same as much as we might
perfection. Ninety feet is incorrectly assume that
perfection,” Pfannestiel it’s in the destination to
said he’d written in his which we arrive.”
freshman essay. Now, the journey for the
Years later, with a coming years and what
second chance to CON. ON PAGE 5

PAGE 5 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM
CON. FROM PAGE 4
the president envisions
for Utica is that of an
excellent, relevant,
innovative institution. But
that mission statement is
similar to the words you
find in other universities’
mission statements,
Pfannestiel said.
“Our perfection at Utica
University is not a static
goal or achievement.
It’s all about the path.
It’s about the journey,”
Pfannestiel said.
What is our 90 feet? And
how do we define that
President Pfannestiel poses with Dr. Thomas Rossi and Chairperson Jeremy Thurston. // Photo: Kayleigh Sturtevant
NEWS
path? Pfannestiel asked. we are.” described Pfannestiel
“Just imagine,” he As Pfannestiel concluded as a “level five leader in
said again. “A puzzle his address he turned his the making.” However,
with over 4,000 pieces attention to the students for the man himself who
much like the more than saving “the best for last.” rose through the ranks of
4,000 individuals who academia, the first of his
“This perfect path that kind to become president
comprised this university we are all here trying to
community. Not to of Utica University said
create — it’s for you,” his inauguration “is a
mention the thousands Pfannestiel said. “Utica
of alumni and friends. It transition meant to look
University exists because forward.”
would be near impossible of you and for you.”
to piece together that “It sinks in more
puzzle if we didn’t have By the end it was official. everyday,” Pfannestiel
Frostburg State University
the picture on the box said. “But everyday is still
to guide us but — we President Ronald a learning experience,
Nowaczyk, in reference
have that picture. We as you never know what
know where we’re going to Jim Collins’s concepts challenge may arise.”
because we know who of level five leadership in
his book ‘Good to Great,’
PAGE 6 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
NEWS UTICATANGERINE.COM

‘Pfunn’estiel’s speech uplifting and brilliant, students and alumni say

◊ DIANA SIDOREVICH
MANAGING EDITOR
The Utica community
braced the sprinkling
rain to gather at the
Charles A. Gaetano
Stadium for President
Todd Pfannestiel’s
inauguration ceremony
on Friday, Sept. 29.
Students, athletic teams
and alumni filled the
bleachers and the rain let
up before the procession
began.
When it was Pfannestiel’s
turn to walk to the
stage, he pointed to the
students, eliciting louder
cheers and applause.
He shared a message of
renewal, optimism and
fun.
Political science student
Kyle Mitchell said what
stood out most was the
energy of the student
body. They cheered
several times during
Pfannestiel’s speech.
One instance was when
he addressed his wife Dr.
Aimee Zellers.
“Truly we are one old
soul inhabiting two
individuals and I so enjoy
watching you far exceed
any accomplishment
that I will ever have in my
career as you continue
yours,” Pfannestiel said.
The girls in the crowd
cheered louder at that
moment.
Psychology-child life
major Ella Ortiz said it was
the most memorable
part of the ceremony.
“I thought it was so
sweet, how genuinely he
cared about everybody,
and his compassion,”
Attendees stand for the national anthem // Photo: Diana Sidorevich
Otriz said. “He cares.”
Of all of the scholars and
saints Pfannestiel could
have chosen to quote to
describe his relationship
with his wife, he chose
Winnie the Pooh.
“If we live to be a
hundred years old, I
hope I live only to be a
hundred years minus one
day, so I’d never have
to experience the world
without you,” Pfannestiel
quoted, prompting a kiss
from his wife who sat on
the stage.
Again the student body
cheered.
Nursing major Kalista
Betz said the Winnie the
Pooh speech and the
“lovey stuff” stood out.
Betz said she was proud
to have attended the
inauguration of one of
the ten presidents that
Utica has had.
For cybersecurity major
Terry Kirabo-Nagginda,
the inauguration
ceremony of the
tenth president was
momentous and hearing
about some of the
historical elements was
interesting as well.
“It was a great
ceremony. It’s the first
time I see something
of that sort,” Kirabo-
Nagginda said.
Pfannenstiel expressed
gratitude towards those
who have been a part
of his journey until now,
from his parents and
sister, Interim Provost
Stephanie Nesbitt and
the leadership team, the
Board of Trustees and
institutional delegates
and guests, to the facilities
crew and Sodexo.
“You could tell he
was very grateful to be
here, you could tell he
was grateful to be the
new president,” Kirabo-
Nagginda said. “He’s
excited so I like the
excitement. It’s definitely
a good opening to
homecoming.”
Kiarbo-Nagginda’s
takeaway from
Pfannestiel’s speech
was to use “the inner
compass in your heart to
forge your path.”
In an attempt to define
perfection for the
institution, Pfannestiel
said it lies in the paths we
physically walk and the
paths along which we
stride.
“It is in the perfect
journey that we
undertake as much as
we might incorrectly
assume that it’s in the
destination to which we
arrive,” Pfannestiel said.
CON. ON PAGE 7
PAGE 7 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
CON. FROM PAGE 6
“Our perfection at Utica
University is not a static
goal or achievement. It’s
all about the path. It’s
about the journey.”
Class of 2016 alumnus
Shawtay Thompson said
addressing the students
on this path was brilliant.
“That was something
that I would love to hear
when I was a freshman or
on my path starting out,
to know that the journey
is going to have a lot of
twists and turns but it’s
okay, because you’re
President Pfannestiel pointed to the crowd as he walked into the stadium. // Photo: Diana Sidorevich
NEWS UTICATANGERINE.COM
going to end up exactly the president seemed
where you need to be,” very genuine.
Thompson said.
“There weren’t a lot of
The president’s address platitudes,” Palmer said.
to the student body “He was just speaking
impacted business very from the heart,
management student being genuine and
Stefania Grimaldi. The sincere. Sincerity is really
story he shared about the main thing that I was
speaking up to his history getting from that.”
professor stuck with her
The speech was uplifting
the most, “because he and personified what
wouldn’t be here today a lot of the alumni who
without speaking up.” are still involved with the
Pfannestiel’s addressed college are feeling, said
each attendant of the Harry Keel, a golden
ceremony in some way, alumnus from the class of
and to David Palmer 1973.
from the class of 1996,
He attended the
ceremony because
to him, the Utica
community is almost
like a “brotherhood of
friends and family too.”
After the last speech,
“I Gotta Feeling” by the
Black Eyed Peas blasted
through the speakers
and the students stood
cheering for the last
time that afternoon.
“I think the university
has so much to look
forward to going
forward,” Mitchell said.
“Ultimately the song in
the end, that was just a
ball.”
PAGE 8 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
Lack of menstrual healthcare products an issue for students on campus
◊ KAYDEN LAMPHERE
SPECIAL ASSIGMENTS
REPORTER
Utica University’s fall 2021
semester included 2,658
female students, which
made up more than
60% of its overall student
population, according to
data from the National
Center for Education
Statistics. Despite that,
menstrual healthcare
products are noticeably
missing from most campus
bathrooms, leaving
students on campus to
struggle on their own.
Some students have
voiced their frustrations
over the lack of tampons
and pads provided in the
bathrooms on campus.
“There are pretty much
no menstrual products
in any of the school
bathrooms,” junior health
sciences major Lauryn
Munson said. “We can’t
choose to have our
periods. It’s something
that should be accessible
to all students.”
Munson said there is a
sense of unfairness in the
issue, as male condoms
are provided in every
bathroom on campus,
but not crucial personal
healthcare products.
One student, a junior
psychology major
who asked to remain
anonymous, also
questioned why the
availability of products
are restricted to certain
locations.
“I once had to go from
the library to the TRIO
office for products,” the
student said. “Why don’t
we have [period] product
access in all bathrooms?
NEWS
It would help us from
having to travel all around
campus for [them].”
Kingsley Przytula, a third
year child life psychology
major, offered the
perspective of someone
typically even further
restricted from period
product access.
“As a transmasculine
person, asking someone
else for a pad or tampon
can be uncomfortable
or even painful because
of gender dysphoria,”
Przytula said. “Having
period products provided
in bathrooms would really
help in that way.”
Assistant professor of
psychology Kaylee
Seddio has been
strongly advocating for
the implementation of
period product access
on campus, recounting a
particular encounter that
Tampons and pads provided to all in need in Professor
Kaylee Seddio’s office. // Photo: Kayden Lamphere
UTICATANGERINE.COM
sparked motivation.
“On the second or third
day of classes, I overheard
two students asking each
other if they had a tampon
or a pad,” Seddio said.
“Neither of them did, and
I actually had to run out
to help them because,
of course, there wasn’t
anything available in the
bathroom.”
According to Seddio,
the issue has impacted
academics, with some
students being unable to
attend class because they
do not have the access to
products they need.
“I’ve had students in the
middle of class activities
need to leave because
they started their period
with nothing to help them
available,” Seddio said.
“It makes my job as a
professor harder, because
those students are missing
class time, at no fault of
their own.”
Ariel Rios, the executive
director for the Health
and Wellness Center,
said this is something that
was recently brought
to their attention a few
weeks ago by professor
Arlene Lundquist.
“She came to us to get
more information, and to
tell us about how she had
noticed that there aren’t
really any dispensers or
areas for students to get
tampons or pads,” Rios
said.
From there, the Health
and Wellness Center
performed research
and Associate Director
of Health and Wellness
Bethany VanBenschoten
looked at what is currently
established.
“We actually have had
some of these products
in some locations,”
VanBenschoten said.
“Specifically in [the
Strebel] gender neutral
bathroom. But, it’s behind
a few doors, so it’s not
the most accessible of
places.”
According to
VanBenschoten, some
action has already been
taken for products to
become available in
bathrooms. A potential
partner the Health
and Wellness Center is
considering is a company
named August.
“August is a young
company created by
two college students
who recognized the
need for tampons and
pads on campus,”
CON. ON PAGE 9
PAGE 9 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
NEWS UTICATANGERINE.COM
CON. FROM PAGE 8 to provide more products gender neutral bathroom, of all in power to change
across campus. the Francis A. Wilcox it, Seddio said.
VanBenschoten said.
In the meantime, the Intercultural and Student “So many people don’t
“They are all about
Health and Wellness Center Organization Center, the even realize this is such
sustainability and access.”
urged students to use Health and Wellness Center a big issue,” Seddio said.
According to products that are available and the Tangerine Grove “At this point, it is not a
VanBenschoten, work to them right now. Food Pantry. budgetary issue, it’s a
is being done to finalize The importance of getting student success issue.”
Free tampons and pads
a proposal, including more out and available, no
are currently available in
cost analysis and matter the cost, is something
the Strebel Student Student
implementation, in order that should be on the radar

Utica University and the importance of professional development:

A ‘constant journey’ and ‘quest for improvement’
◊ SELMA DIZDAREVIC community engagement. highest rate, reporting 116 is a continuous endeavor.
NEWS EDITOR “That’s a big piece that employees and a 17.7% “Our tenured faculty
The Professional might get overlooked,” rate. members and our
Development Committee Lindner said. “Because Jessica Nelson, executive research faculty
(PDC) at Utica University we deal with alumni, we director of admissions, members are always
has one main goal: to want to make sure that said that as a supervisor, working on something,”
assist in the professional you as students don’t first she encourages the Interim Provost and
development of individual hear from us when you staff to attend as many Senior Vice President
faculty members at the become alumni, that you professional development of Academic Affairs
university. This might know who we are when opportunities as they can. Stephanie Nesbitt said.
take on different forms you’re students. So I think Some professional “They have research
depending on the a big piece of our success development activities they’re doing, things that
field or discipline and in that ranking is the fact that are particular to the they’re writing if they’re
may include attending that we try and come to Department of Admissions from the more creative
conferences, keeping as many campus events include learning about disciplines, so that’s sort
up to date with new as possible.” “the best way to attract of an obligation for them
research, and learning Many of the professional students to campus” or but it’s also a passion for
from other institutions. development activities how to “communicate them.”
In the 2022-2023 fulfill the purpose of with students properly,” For many professors of
academic year, 79 learning about best according to Nelson. practice who are not
staff members reported practices for particular These activities go on a tenure-track and
participating in over 600 departments. beyond professional may not be research
professional development “A lot of [what is learned] development, she said, as faculty, they often
and engagement is best practices, what many also contribute to a maintain practice in
activities. According to has been most effective,” staff member’s personal their professional field
a report made by the Lindner said. “For self-development. in the outside world, so
PDC, the university’s example, 5 years ago we some nurses still provide
Advancement division, “Some of them are pro bono nursing or
never used text messaging strictly personal self-
which works on creating to communicate with our work shifts in a hospital,
alumni relations and development type of according to Nesbitt.
alumni. Once we brought things like public speaking,
building the university’s that technology on we “There’s a variety
reputation, had the writing or whatever the
had to learn when is the person whose taking the of professional
highest percentage of best time to use it, how development that
reported professional training is interested in,”
often do people want Nelson said. “It doesn’t faculty do and that is just
development activities to get texts from us and part of being a faculty,”
at 28.8% with 189 staff always have to be specific
about what, and how to their job because she said.
members. the content of those texts developing themselves For many departments
Vice President for could be most effective.” otherwise helps their and their employees,
Advancement Amy The Department of job without them even finding the time and
Lindner said a big Admissions and Enrollment knowing it.” the financial means
component of the Management at Utica
division’s professional For faculty members,
came in with the second CON. ON PAGE 10
development is professional development
PAGE 10 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
NEWS UTICATANGERINE.COM
CON. FROM PAGE 9 something they really committed people to the quest for improvement
can present obstacles take us in our word,” she campus community and and a quest for new
to pursuing professional said. “So they won’t ask to haven’t been spending knowledge and learning,
development activities. go to a conference, they much money as we’ve particularly in higher
These limitations can won’t ask to do something really been minding education, Nesbitt said.
lead to a department or right now because they ourselves as we emerge “The human experience
division landing a lower want to help us out with from the pandemic. In is an evolving one and
rate on the professional the institution.” a perfect world where I think when we stop
development scale. According to Nesbitt, it’s those things didn’t exist, pursuing knowledge
difficult to find an answer you’d be perhaps a bit and improvement we
Nesbitt said that lower concerned but in this
rates are often attributed for lower percentages of almost stop in place,
professional development world, I think it’s really and that sounds really
to faculty members who difficult to assign a cause
are paying attention to due to the effects of the corny in some ways but
pandemic that are still to that.” I think it’s really true,” she
the financial assets of
the university and might lingering on the university Professional development said. “We are blessed
be waiting for a better and its finances. opportunities are with these phenomenal
time to pursue costlier “So I think it’s hard given encouraged for all staff minds that are curious
professional development the COVID pandemic and members to satisfy their and interested in things.
activities. where we’ve been to say, curiosity and passions, and If we don’t pursue
‘Oh that department has to stifle any complacency knowledge and growth
“What we find often or boredom that might and learning, what are
is that people who are a low rate of professional
development that’s occur along the way. we doing?”
really good stewards
of our financial assets probably a problem,’” A professional career no
and means, often when she said. “That may mean matter what it is should be
we ask them not to do that they’re just really a constant journey and a

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PAGE 11 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
Study room reservation switched from Navigate to LibCal
◊ KAYDEN LAMPHERE
SPECIAL ASSIGMENTS
REPORTER
Study rooms in the Utica
University library have
been offered as a resource
for student success over
the past few semesters.
Recently, students may
have noticed a change
in the system of reserving
those rooms.
LibCal, a shortening of
Library Calendar, is the
new system for study
room reservation as of this
semester, replacing the
Navigate application.
According to Melissa
Lawson, a librarian and
coordinator of access
services, the switch was
made because of the
accessibility provided by
the LibCal interface.
“Navigate unfortunately
did not have as much
control as we wanted it
to,” Lawson said. “With
LibCal, now we can put
information about when
librarians are here, when
we have reference hours.
We couldn’t really do that
with the tools from before.”
Lawson said the system is
more versatile and offers
more capabilities.
“It allows us to do
calendars, appointments,
events,” Lawson said.
“And of course it has [the]
spaces, which is what we
NEWS
Study rooms at the Frank E. Gannett Memorial Library.
// Photo: Kayden Lamphere
are using to book the study
rooms.”
According to Dean of
Library and Learning
Commons James Teliha, the
switch was something the
library had been meaning
to do for quite some
time, as Navigate was a
system installed during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“We used it because it
was the easiest thing to
get out there,” Teliha said.
“Now, two years later with
things back to normal, we
UTICATANGERINE.COM
decided to go with the
system we’ve already had
in LibCal.”
Internal feedback
from staff and student
employees, according to
Teliha, was overwhelmingly
positive, with convenience
being one of the attributes
highlighted.
Jasmine Ortiz, a
sophomore biology major,
said it was a seamless
transition and didn’t even
notice a change in the
system between semesters.
“It seemed all the same,”
Ortiz said. “You just go up
[to the main desk], give
them your card, and you
get an email about it.
Really easy.”
Nisa Cetin, another
biology major also said the
process is similar but there
are some changes and
requirements.
“I had to give my email,”
Cetin said. “Which is fine,
but it’s another step that
we have to take. But, it
only takes ten seconds, so
it’s not that big of a deal.”
Lawson said the email
requirement is nothing
more than for records that
may or may not matter at
all.
“[LibCal] isn’t integrated
with the BannerWeb
system,” Lawson said.
“So there isn’t any risk of
looking any further on
the profile beyond just
identifying who is using the
study rooms.”
According to Teliha, the
library’s number one focus
is providing service and
being accessible to all.
“The library has always
been about serving
everybody,” Teliha said.
“This change allows all
students, online or in
person, to book and use
our services, as all students
have a right to.”
PAGE 12 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
Board of Trustees unanimously approve labor agreement
◊ MICKALE THOMPSON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Utica University
chapter of the
American Association
of University Professors
(AAUP-Utica) reached
a 99.22% ratifying vote
in favor of the tentative
agreement which was
approved by the AAUP-
Utica Governing Board
on Sept. 6.
In the one-week voting
period that concluded
on Wednesday, Sept.
27, of the 152 members
in good standing, 128
equivalent to 84.5% of all
eligible voters cast their
ballots on the tentative
agreement of which 127
members voted Yes.
“These results
demonstrate the
amazing strength and
unity of our bargaining
unit,” AAUP-Utica
President Leonore
Fleming said. “I’m
extremely proud of our
negotiation team, the
AAUP-Utica leadership,
and the entire
bargaining unit, for all of
the hard work they’ve
expended over the past
year.”
The Board of Trustees
along with President
Todd Pfannestiel met
Proctor High School shooting puts Campus Safety vigilance into perspective
◊ DIANA SIDOREVICH
MANAGING EDITOR
A school security guard
was shot in the back
of the head last month
during a fight outside
a Proctor High School
football game. He was
NEWS
on Sept. 28 at 11
a.m. and discussed
the agreement after
which a unanimous
approval by the Board
of Trustees in favor of the
agreement was handed
down at noon. The new
contract for AAUP-
Utica members, which
expires in May of 2027, is
effective immediately.
According to
Pfannestiel, the
university’s position has
always been to achieve
a collective bargaining
agreement that is best
for the institution as well
as fair and supportive of
the faculty.
“We wish we could
have done so without
the previous contract
expiring,” Pfannestiel
said. “The end result of
the negotiation was a
contract that is in the
best interest of both
the faculty and the
institution.”
Leading up to
negotiations, Fleming
said the union leadership,
the negotiation team
and the governing
board sent out a survey
asking members to rank
specific issues, as well
as asking for comments
and concerns which
discharged from St.
Elizabeth’s Hospital a from Utica University,
few days later and the
shooter was identified
when he turned himself
in to Utica Police the next
day.
Proctor High School
UTICATANGERINE.COM
helped prepare for the Dec.15.
bargaining process. “Our plan now is to
Daniel Tagliarina, vice subpoena all of that
president of AAUP-Utica, information (and more)
said one of the positives prior to the arbitration
from the new agreement event so that we can
is the minimum salary demonstrate how
guarantees across ranks the entire Academic
as digging through Portfolio Review
the numbers found process was a violation
there were a lot of pay of shared governance
inequities issues. as stipulated in our
“This is one way to collective bargaining
push for more equity,” agreement,” Fleming
Tagliarina said. “So said.
that we don’t have With the Board of
people who are Trustees still censored
effectively in the same by the Faculty Senate
position at the same body, Fleming said, the
rank being financially arbitration will become
compensated radically active again unless
differently.” both sides agree to
Though the labor delay it further. If not, the
agreement was date for arbitration will
achieved there is still a likely be in late January
lot of work to be done with hopes of reaching
on non-economic an agreement before
issues, said Fleming. Dec. 15, or if not at least
Several ongoing make some progress
grievances as well as towards a settlement.
the one filed on Jan. “When listening to my
10 over the university’s faculty colleagues over
failure to provide shared the past few weeks,
governance in response what is crystal clear
to the Academic to me is that this is still
Program Review are an issue worth fighting
now at the arbitration for, and having a new
stage. However, per the economic contract in
new contract, Fleming place doesn’t change
said the arbitration was that,” Fleming said.
placed on hold until
is an 11 minute drive knowing.
Campus Safety monitors
but Vice President for local police channels
Facilities and Emergency 24/7, on the lookout
Management Shad for critical incidents
Crowe said nothing goes happening in the
on in Utica without Utica
University Campus Safety CON. ON PAGE 13

PAGE 13 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM
CON. FROM PAGE 12
Utica area. They share
information with Utica
University’s community
depending on the
location of the incident
and the media attention
the incident garners,
even if it doesn’t directly
impact the university.
They want the
community to know
that Campus Safety is
monitoring everything,
Crowe said.
“Communicating and
being transparent helps
people to not become
alarmed,” Crowe said.
On Saturday, Sept. 9,
Campus Safety sent out
an alert to make students
aware of the shooting
incident and let the
campus know that they
are monitoring it.
Several students,
including Rita Salibi, Keely
Herrick, Jaedin Prudent
and Lesly Illescas, did
not receive an alert.
Illescas said she found
out about the incident
in a conversation in her
math class. One of her
classmates went to the
football game at which
the incident occurred.
Most of Illescas’
classmates are from the
Utica area and she was
surprised to hear that
“it’s normal, it always
happens,” from them.
She would’ve wanted
NEWS
Pathway near Strebel on Utica University campus. //
Photo: Diana Sidorevich
to receive a notification, said, sometimes including
“even if it’s 10 minutes, details that police
15 minutes nearby, you departments can’t
never know what could provide to the public.
happen.” Crowe believed there
Herrick was alerted was no immediate danger
through her roommate, to the campus, that the
who did receive a police department had
notification about the a general idea of where
incident. the suspect was and that
Campus Safety’s sources the suspect wasn’t a
threat to the university’s
in the police department
said “there should be campus community.
no concern for Utica That did not mean
University at this time.” Campus Safety wouldn’t
Members of the Campus be vigilant in their patrol
operations, checking
Safety department are
well acquainted and the perimeter of the
university, checking
have contacts within
local agencies “that doors in the academic
buildings and residence
usually can provide us
with specifics regarding halls, checking vehicles
the incident,” Crowe and making sure no one is
trying to break into them
and monitoring cameras,
Crowe said.
C o n s t r u c t i o n
management student
Chris Okeng’o said even
though he doesn’t live on
campus, he has noticed
Campus Safety patrolling
often.
“As an international
student it’s nice to see
that the school has good
security,” Okeng’o said.
“That I can see.”
Campus security are not
the only safety officers
on Utica’s campus. State
police, New Hartford
Police and Utica Police
occasionally come
through campus as they
did that Saturday and
Sunday as part of their
patrolling duties, even
though there was no
reason to believe the
suspect had fled in the
university’s direction,
Crowe said.
“I didn’t receive any
phone calls [from faculty
and staff],” Crowe said.
“As long as we continue
to do our best to share as
much as we have when
we have it, in a timely
fashion, I think it helps
people to remain calm.”
If the incident was closer
or the suspect was not in
custody and was sighted
in the vicinity, “that’s
a completely different
conversation,” Crowe
said.
PAGE 14 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
Utica University and Oneida County Freedom Trail continue educational collaboration
◊ SELMA DIZDAREVIC
NEWS EDITOR
Since its inception in
2001, Utica University has
supported the work of the
Oneida County Freedom
Trail Commission. Similar
to other freedom trail
commissions throughout
the state, the commission
tracks the abolitionist
movement and
Underground Railroad
activity that existed in
Oneida County.
The Oneida County
Freedom Trail
Commission was started
in Utica by Professor
Emeritus of Sociology
and commission co-
chair Dr. Jan DeAmicis.
The organization and its
team conduct research,
verify information and
make its findings on
Underground Railroad
activity available to the
public.
Mary Hayes Gordon,
the director of program
operations for Young
Scholars, and co-
chair of the Oneida
County Freedom Trail
Commission said while
pursuing her master’s
degree in liberal studies
from Utica University,
she was connected
with DeAmicis and
began researching the
Underground Railroad.
Knowing that her home
had once been a part
of the movement while
sitting at the kitchen table
and eating breakfast
one morning, Gordon
was sifting through
research that DeAmicis
had already done, which
included heading down
to the National Archives
in Washington D.C. and
NEWS
// Courtesy of Utica University’s Instagram account
locating anti-slavery
petitions that came from
Oneida County.
“I used his petitions to
look to see if the people
who had lived in my house
had by chance signed
it,” Hayes said. “And they
had.”
This research led Gordon
to join the commission
around 2012. According
to her, Utica University
has been consistently
supportive of the
commission’s work since it
was formed and continues
to provide resources for its
members to perform and
present research.
“They have been
supporting in all different
ways, [including]
intellectual and
academic knowledge
and support, helping
with publications [and]
using the copy center,”
Hayes said. “The university
was instrumental in the
creation of the Freedom
Trail Commission in that it
was a university professor
who started it [and] that
they provided space.”
The Oneida County
Freedom Trail Commission
provides a way for the
community to learn
UTICATANGERINE.COM
about the history of the
abolitionist movement
through its walking tour.
The tour, which can be
group-led or self-guided,
features five spots that
were pivotal “to the end
of slavery,” Gordon said.
“This was a very active
community,” she said.
“When I say that, I don’t
want people to get the
impression that everyone
here was anti-slavery
because they were not.
But this [area] was very
active in the movement.”
It begins on Utica’s
Bleecker Street, where
a convention was
interrupted by a mob
of local politicians and
representatives who
opposed anti-slavery
sentiments. Each of
the five stops have
a sign that provides
information about how
the stop relates to the
Underground Railroad
and abolition activity.
QR codes are posted on
the signs which link to the
commission’s website and
guide individuals to the
next stop.
In February 2014, the
commission gave its first
guided tour to a group of
55 people. They provide
tours for “students from
other local colleges [and]
to kick off the Juneteenth
weekend,” as well as “on
request.”
“Our goal was to provide
a way for people to get
an understanding of
some of that history that
was here,” Gordon said.
According to Gordon,
the Underground
Railroad is often
“romanticized” with
myths and stories that are
untrue. She hopes that
the tour will illuminate
these inconsistencies and
inform people that it was
“everyday people who
made this work happen.”
“I want people to know
it was multi-racial, that
it was not romantic. It
was hard, it was life-
threatening, and it really
is one of the things in our
world that shows the best
of humanity.”
The work of the Oneida
County Freedom Trail
Commission provides
a perspective on the
community’s past,
present and future.
“One of the reasons I
study history is because
seeing what human
beings have been
capable of can help
us to see what we are
capable of now and what
the future generations
[will be capable of],”
Gordon said. “It helps us
understand what we can
do and how we can make
an impact and make the
change, because there
will always be something
humans have to improve
on.”

PAGE 15 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM
Annalise Michener puts her love for animals into action
Annalise Michener has six pets in total. // Photo: Luke Reed
◊ CHARLIE BUCKLEY
FEATURES EDITOR
Annalise Michener
didn’t have much
access to animals while
growing up in boarding
school, but has always
had a love for furry
creatures.
“My love for them
grew even more once
I graduated and was
able to get a few pets of
my own,” Michener said.
Michener has a dog,
two cats, two cockatiels
and a bearded dragon.
While she planned for
many of the pets, she
admitted that she wasn’t
the biggest fan of reptiles
when she began her pet
collection.
“I wanted to get to
know reptiles a little
bit better, so I got a
bearded dragon which
is considered a beginner
FEATURES
pet for people who want
to own some sort of
reptile,” Michener said.
As for the birds,
Michener ended up
with one cockatiel after
a family member didn’t
want it anymore and she
decided to take it in. She
eventually got another
cockatiel so they could
socialize.
Michener said her love
of animals is what made
her choose animal
behavior for a major.
“There’s not a lot of
animal behavior majors
throughout the country,”
Michener said. “This
major stood out to me
because the usual
majors involving animals
are veterinary and
biology, but I was looking
into training animals or
grooming animals.”
As an animal behavior
major, one of the classes volunteer as much as
Michener took involved I could and help out
working with animals the previous executive
at the Utica Zoo. Her board we had.”
favorite animals to work This year, Michener is
with were monkeys. the vice president of ASA
When the class fed them and works alongside
and hid food in the toys, Emma O’Donnell, the
they would investigate it current president of the
as if to make sure it was club. They enjoy working
okay to eat. The animal
together, Michener said.
behavior students found
it entertaining.
Along with being an
animal behavior major,
Michener has also put
effort into clubs such
as the Animal Shelter
Association (ASA) where
students help raise
money and make gifts
for animals in humane
societies and other
places.
“I got involved with ASA
shortly after I arrived here
as a transfer student,”
Michener said. “The last
few semesters I tried to

PAGE 16 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM
OP-ED: Costa Rica’s first impressions are life changing for Utica student abroad
◊ BREANNAN O’HARA
GUEST WRITER
When I first arrived in San
Jose, it was night and I
couldn’t get a glimpse
of the new landscape.
During my ride from the
airport to my homestay
in Costa Rica, the first
thing I noticed was that
the city was filled with
light. Not one road we
drove down was dim.
The nightlight was lively
and filled with laughter
and commotion.
The upbeat music that
filled the city made
me want to dance. I
was amazed to see
that the city had been
Americanized, in the fast-
food context, and had
big chains like Starbucks
and Taco Bell.
When I made it to my
homestay, my mama
tica (host mom) greeted
me with a warm hug. Her
son was there to translate
for me and they made
sure I was comfortable
and felt at home. They
gave me a tour and
showed me to my
bedroom. The way that
plants and the outdoors
were incorporated into
the house was unique.
Each room had an open
window to allow fresh air
and the backyard flowed
into the house. I fell in
love with the architecture
because it gives a sense
of connection to nature
even when you are
indoors.
There is a language
barrier between me and
my host parents that can
be frustrating for us but is
expected. It challenges
us all to step out of our
FEATURES
Outdoors in Costa Rica. // Photo courtesy of Breannan
O’Hara
comfort zones and learn
a new language. Every
day we are finding
ways to communicate
effectively. Even though
we can’t understand
each other’s words
completely, compassion
and concern is felt and
expressed nonverbally.
We’ve had some good
laughs in the process.
Everyday my host mom
generously cooks a I feel like we’re in heaven
homemade Costa Rican
breakfast and dinner for
my two roommates and
I. I really feel immersed
in the culture with these
meals. The food is vibrant
and beautifully plated.
I’ve been eating with my
eyes first at every meal.
A major difference
between the food here
and in America is that
in Costa Rica, it’s all
natural. Every breakfast
consists of fresh fruit
like melons, mangos,
or bananas, a cup of
world renown coffee,
and a main entree like
french toast, an omelet
or scrambled eggs with
ham. My roommates and
because we usually skip
breakfast back at home.
For lunch and dinner, rice
and beans are in every
meal, accompanied
by plantains, meat, and
vegetables. Our host
mom makes sure we are
always full.
Going outside for the first
time in daylight felt life
changing. Just outside
my homestay I could
see enormous mountains
that surrounded the
whole city. It looked like
a painting. The clouds
touched the peaks and
formed around them
filling in all the crevices.
Since we are in the rainy
season it typically starts
storming in the evening
every day. You can tell
it’s going to pour when
the clouds come up from
behind the mountains.
It is truly glorious to see
these towering giants in
person.
A couple months ago,
this program seemed as if
it was in the far future but
here I am today, living in
a whole new world. This
will be my reality for the
next three months. I am
so excited to see what
new experiences Costa
Rica has to offer.
Breannan O’Hara is
a junior majoring in
animal behavior with a
minor concentration in
journalism. She is studying
in Costa Rica for the Fall
2023 semester.

PAGE 17 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM
Q&A with Professor Marvee Marr
◊ CHARLIE BUCKLEY
FEATURES EDITOR
Marvee Marr is a countries is my overall
business professor at
Utica University’s campus
downtown. Her career
began in Puerto Rico
and since then, she has
traveled the globe not
only to teach but also
to explore. To this day,
Marr has visited over 94
different countries, and
aims to visit 100 countries
in her lifetime.
She recently sat down
with The Tangerine to
talk about her teaching
career and passion for
travel.
Q: How did you start
teaching abroad?
A: I moved to Puerto
Rico in 1998. When I was
looking for work, I found a
part time job as an English
as a second language
teacher (ESL). After some
time, I came across an
advertisement for a job
at a community college
out of Texas, Central
Texas College, and it
taught all the military
bases around Puerto
Rico. I had a master’s
degree in fine arts and
writing and they asked
me to teach writing and
literature classes.
Q: How many
countries have you
taught in since you
began?
A: I have lived and
worked in a total of
16 different countries.
During a five year period
when I was living in
FEATURES
Marr poses in front of the Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal
// Photo courtesy of Dr. Marvee Marr
Europe, I visited and
taught master programs
in five different countries.
My main home during
the five period stay was in
Slovakia, but my job sent
me to Romania, Bulgaria,
the Czech Republic and
Switzerland.
Q: During this
time, were you still
teaching the same
classes or had they
changed again?
A: The classes I taught
changed quite a bit
before Europe. I went
to Brazil after Puerto
Rico where I continued
to teach ESL. I turned
to mostly English and
literature when I left Brazil
and began teaching
in Mexico, however my
second year in Mexico is
when I began teaching
business.
Q: Do you have a
favorite country you
taught in?
A: It’s hard to say
honestly. I will say my
job in Europe that sent
me to five different
favorite position I’ve
had because it allowed
me to travel even more.
The college I worked for
that had me working in
Europe still contacts me
now about teaching
abroad in other countries
such as China.
Q: What advice
would you give to
students who express
interest in studying
abroad while they’re
in college?
A: My first piece of
advice is go. I actually
have a quote that I use,
which is that traveling is
‘knowledge with a view.’
What you learn in another
country is invaluable; you
learn so much just about
human nature. I even
learned about our own
political system while
living abroad. You learn
that the world is bigger
and that there are more
people who are different
which is okay. For some
people, living in a
different country actually
wakes them up to the
fact that we as people
are all different.
PAGE 18 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
Blaise Faggiano learned the profession in Albany— the rest was history
Blaise Faggiano, became the head football coach
at Utica in 2008. // Photo: Kayleigh Sturtevant
◊ MICKALE THOMPSON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jim Spartano wanted to
meet the final four head
coaching candidates
away from campus to
get a personal feel. It
was more intimate with
them that way — so he
met Blaise Faggiano in
Syracuse.
In 2007, the football
program was in turmoil.
Then-head coach Mike
Kemp left with three
games remaining in the
season. Two years prior he
led the Pioneers to its first
winning season with a 6-4
SPORTS
record. The split paved
the way for defensive
coordinator Kirk Jellerson
to take over the team.
Jellerson had worked
under Kemp since 2004
finishing the season 1-2 as
interim head coach.
“We had 10 to 11
assistants that wanted to
stay and finish the year,”
said Spartano, Utica’s
former athletic director
who’s in the university’s
Hall of Fame. “We asked
them if they wanted to
leave, we would honor
their contracts — no hard
feelings but they wanted
UTICATANGERINE.COM
to say.”
An abysmal 3-7 record
triggered a search for
a new head coach.
Faggiano, a 1991 national
champion with the
Ithaca Bombers, had his
sights set on a career in
coaching. By 1993 he’d
learned the profession,
by understanding how
to recruit and how to
separate himself from the
players as an assistant
coach at the University
of Albany. In a pool of
over 125 applicants — he
stood out to Spartano.
“I liked him right away,”
Spartano said. “He got
a big star in my mind
when we brought all four
to campus. I was very
impressed with him but I
didn’t tell a soul.”
Under Kemp, the system
was outdated, offenses
were changing, and
he wasn’t the best X’s
and O’s guy, said former
wide receiver now head
football coach at SUNY
Buffalo State Lazarus
Morgan, and players had
an issue with his leadership
style.
“Whenever you’re
building a program from
scratch it takes a lot of
hard work and you’re
dealing with a lot of
issues,” Morgan said. “He
got to the point where
he couldn’t take the
program any further.”
After Kemp left, two
exciting games followed
including a 72-70
quadruple overtime loss
to Hartwick College on
Nov. 10, 2007, which saw
a combined 12 total
touchdowns in what was
at the time the highest-
scoring football game
in NCAA history with 142
points. The players at
the end of the season
wanted Jellerson as their
official head coach,
Morgan said. He was a
perfect fit for the current
players and could bring
immediate success.
“He was the guy a lot
of us gravitated to,”
Morgan said. “Especially
when coach Kemp was
originally relieved of his
duty.”
Faggiano on the other
hand wasn’t thinking
about being a head
coach. After a one-
year stint at UAlbany,
he returned to his alma
mater in 1995 as defensive
coordinator. He left Ithaca
a year later and became
a defensive line coach at
St. John Fisher University,
a conference rival, who
the Pioneers will face this
season on Nov. 11, then
went on to become their
defensive coordinator in
1999.
In eight years, Faggiano
transformed the
Cardinals’ defense,
according to head coach
Paul Vosburgh. Though
he only saw five wins in
his first three seasons he
was a “worker,” Vosburgh
said. As the defensive
coordinator, Faggiano
had the chance to
look more at other
positions and increase
his knowledge, inevitably
growing more and more
as a coach, but had a
certain relatability to the
players on the defense
line having played the
position himself.
CON. ON PAGE 19
PAGE 19 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
CON. FROM PAGE 18
“They understood
that he’d played the
game,” Vosburgh said.
“…But most of all I think
they responded to him
because he was all
about the players first and
foremost.”
From 1999-2007,
Vosburgh, with Faggiano’s
help, led the Cardinals to
three NCAA tournament
appearances. When
Faggiano applied for the
head coaching position
at Utica, Spartano called
Fisher’s Athletic Director
Bob Ward, and asked for
an honest opinion.
“He’s tough,” Ward said
of Faggiano to Spartano
on the phone. “He
demands a lot. He’ll be in
your office once a week
wanting things.”
During the interview
process Fagginao had a
SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo are set to join UCHC
◊ ALEXIS WIMETT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The men’s hockey
programs at SUNY
Brockport and SUNY
Geneseo are expected to
join the United Collegiate
Hockey Conference
(UCHC) for the 2024-2025
season. Ten teams will now
represent the UCHC Men’s
Hockey Conference.
The two schools joined
the UCHC on Sept. 6 after
announcing their entry into
the Empire 8 on Aug. 21.
“These are two great
additions to our young
league,” Utica’s head
coach Gary Heenan said.
“They are both established
programs with good
buildings and fan bases.
This upgrades our league
tremendously.”
SPORTS
burning competitiveness,
Spartano said. When
he got hired in 2008 at
age 37, he was the long-
term solution, Morgan
said. He changed the
narrative and connected
the football players to
the community and the
program to the campus.
“When I was a player,
we were the football
team and that’s all we
really were,” Morgan said.
“We kind of alienated
ourselves from the rest of
the campus.”
Described by Spartano
as an “up-and-coming
program,” Faggiano saw
the team’s potential.
With much of its talent
on defense, he called
it a “diamond in the
ruff,” filled with tough
blue-collar guys who just
wanted to win.
“I can remember our first
spring practice — no pads
The two new teams will
join Utica University, SUNY
Brockport, SUNY Geneseo,
Wilkes University, Chatham
University, Manhattanville
College, Nazareth
University and Neumann
University.
“The UCHC is getting a
complete shake up and
adding these two teams
will for sure enhance
the competitiveness,”
sophomore forward
Chris Carroll said. “Our
preparation as a team is
what sets us apart from the
schools we play and we
will be ready to go when
the time comes.
Last season, Utica’s
men’s hockey team was
ranked No. 1 nationally..
After defeating Nazareth
College, the team won
UTICATANGERINE.COM
and we’re doing drills and
they just wanted to kill
each other,” Faggiano
said. “To impress me.”
Morgan said Faggiano
was the driving force that
made the program a
desirable place for new
recruits, and Spartano said
good players recognized
Faggiano’s skills as a
speaker, a caring person
and someone who would
look out for them.
In the pre-Faggiano era,
playing against Utica
“was a game,” Vosburgh
said but not as much
as it is now. In 2022 the
Pioneers finished 10-2, its
best overall record and
appeared in the NCAA
tournament for the first
time in history and made
it to the second round.
“We were kinda
tired of being close,”
Faggiano said. “Like,
‘Alright everyone knows
its fourth championship in
program history and back-
to-back UCHC conference
titles.
“I think that it will be great
for the competitiveness
of the conference as well
as adding a few teams
that are closer location
wise to us and Nazareth,”
sophomore goalkeeper
Avery Sturtz said. “It
should also create a few
more close rivalries with
us playing them more
frequently in the future.”
Entering his 22nd season
as the team’s head coach,
Heenan is eager to guide
his team through another
season.
“We are the youngest
team in the country minus
first-year teams,” Heenan
said. “We will have to
were good but when’s
Utica really gonna do
something on the big
scale.’”
Now in his14th year as
head coach off back-
to-back winning seasons,
Faggiano’s philosophy
remains the same: faith,
family, academics,
football and the lessons
learned from him as a
player are still engrained,
Morgan said.
“I would want my son
and daughter to play for
Blaise,” Spartano said. “I
trust him.”
“If you wanna be in a
foxhole and you wanna
pick someone with you,
pick Blaise. He’s not
gonna let you down. You
want someone to cover
your back and you cover
his back. Blaise is your
guy.”
preach patience and
process.”
Last season, Heenan was
recognized as a finalist
for the American Hockey
Coaches’ Association
Coach of the Year award
after leading the team to
a record-breaking season,
which included tying the
school record with 25
victories. Heenan has high
hopes for not only this
season but for what the
2024-2025 season holds for
his team.
As the program’s founder,
Heenan has received
numerous Coach of the
Year awards. Under his
leadership the Pioneers
regularly transition players
to the professional level
and consistently produce
All Americans.
 SPORTS
PAGE 20 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023 UTICATANGERINE.COM

Utica beats Hartwick College 48-7 to improve to 5-0

◊ NICK PHILLIPS
SPORTS REPORTER
James Salles’s 105
rushing yards and two
touchdowns in Utica’s
Sept. 30 homecoming
game helped the
Pioneers dismantle
Hartwick College in a
48-7 victory and move to
5-0 this season.
They began their rout
in the first quarter when
Sam Florio threw a
1-yard touchdown pass
to Logan Kraft. Florio
went on to rush for a
2-yard touchdown just 90
seconds later giving the
Pioneers a 14-0 lead at
the end of the opening
quarter.
In the second
quarter, Utica added
10 additional points
courtesy of Ethan Licin’s
15-yard touchdown run
and a Corey Lichtman
31-yard field goal.
Hartwick’s quarterback
James Sobol threw a
3-yard touchdown pass
to Nate Rath for the
Hawks’s lone score of the
contest with just under
four minutes of play left
in the first half.
The Pioneers, up by 17
at the half, utilized their
ground game with two
rushing touchdowns from
Salles in the third quarter
on 11 and 17-yards.
Lichtman, from 40 yards
out, added another field
goal.
The only score of the
final quarter came on a
7-yard touchdown pass
from Nick Amendola to
Matt Kaires to make the
final score 48-7.
Utica beats Hartwick at home for the second year in a row. // Photo: Luke Reed
Defense came up they still have to take the Faggiano along with
trumps in the game remainder of the season the other coaches
as Utica held the week by week. have built a standard to
Hartwick offense to Lichtman, with a win football games that
a single touchdown perfect 6/6 on PATs he expects to continue,
while also making and 2/2 on field goal Lichtman said.
three interceptions attempts, went on to win After making the first-
which came from Cam Empire 8 Special Teams ever NCAA tournament
Provenzano, Eli Douglas Player of the Week for in program history,
and Doug Simmons, who his performance on Faggiano said that his
also had a forced fumble Saturday. expectations for his
in the game. group are always high
“We have a talented
“Last game just really football team. This was and his goals are to
showed us what kind the most complete develop young men,
of group we have the game we’ve played this enhance the academic
potential to be,” senior season and the score experience and to have
defensive lineman was a result of that,” a football program
James Lanier said. Lichtman said. “When that the university,
“When the offense can we lock in and play to community and alumni
score 40+ points and our potential we are a can be proud of.
your defense can hold a difficult team to beat. Utica (5-0, 1-0 Empire
team to one score that’s This is a team we are 8) will look to remain
always a positive thing. It better than all around undefeated with their
doesn’t matter who we and we did not stoop to toughest game of the
play.”
their level.” season so far where
Lanier said while Following last season, they will travel to play
starting 5-0 is great, the the expectation was No. 17th ranked SUNY
team cannot become to start 5-0. Lichtman Cortland (3-1, 1-0
complacent and that and head coach Blaise Empire 8) on Saturday
Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.