Wednesday, May 1, 2019

MORNINGS ON THE HILL
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

HELLO, I’M GILAT MELAMED AND THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL.

I’M TAYLOR EPPS. THIS HOUR WE ARE FEATURING STORIES PRODUCED BY STUDENTS IN THE MASTER STORYTELLING CLASS HERE AT THE NEWHOUSE SCHOOL, TAUGHT BY PROFESSORS BOB DOTSON AND LES ROSE.

OUR FIRST STORY FOR YOU TODAY — AMERICA IS IN THE MIDST OF AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

KENDRA SHEEHAN TAKES A LOOK AT INNOVATION THAT COULD CHANGE IT ALL–AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR ONE RECOVERING ADDICT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

DEVIN WORKS A FULL TIME JOB AT A MOVING COMPANY. A FEW YEARS BACK THAT WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE ONE POOR DECISION LED TO YEARS OF ADDICTION
A VACCINE FOR OPIOIDS HAS NEVER BEEN MADE BEFORE AND IT COULD BE OPEN FOR A VOLUNTEER BASED TRIAL AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR. FIRST THE FEDERAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS TO APPROVE THE FORMULA. EVEN THOUGH HE IS CLEAN HE COULD STILL USE THE VACCINE. DEVIN WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT WHEN HIS GIRLFRIEND BROKE UP WITH HIM AND FRIENDS CONVINCED HIM DRUGS WOULD HELP MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER. SO HE GAVE IT A TRY.

A VACCINE WOULD GIVE DEVIN, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER STRUGGLING ADDICTS, THE CHANCE AT A LONGER DRUG-FREE LIFE. KENDRA SHEEHAN FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
COLLEGE DEGREES COME WITH A LOFTY PRICE TAG, WHICH CAN SOMETIMES BE A BARRIER TO STUDENTS LOOKING AT SCHOOLS.

OUR DANIELLE BULLUCK TELLS US THE STORY OF A CITY OF SYRACUSE STUDENT AND THE PROGRAM THAT HELPED HER GO TO COLLEGE.

FOR SOME INNER CITY KIDS, LIFE IS ALWAYS GIVING THEM LEMONS BUT STUDENTS LIKE NATLIE HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE LEMONADE.AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DID.

WHEN THE SAY YES TO EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM GAVE HER AND OTHER CITY KIDS AN OFFER THAT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
FOR THE PAST DECADE SAY YES TO EDUCATION HAS SENT STUDENTS TO COLLEGE ON FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIPS.

AHMEED TURNER THE CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SAY YES SAYS THE MISSION STARTS WITH SOMETHING THEY CALL THE THEORY OF ACTION.
WHICH IS AN INSIDE-SCHOOL STUDENT SUPPORT CENTER THAT ALLOWS STUDENT TO BE MATCHED AND PROVIDED WITH RESOURCES TO WHATEVER KIND OF SUPPORT THEY NEED.
SAY YES OFFERS ALL TYPES OF OUT OF THE BOX LEARNING.

BUT BEING ON THE CHEST TEAM OR LEARNING HOW TO FENCE ISN’T JUST IT, BUT IF A STUDENT GETS IN TROUBLE…
THEY BEGIN PREPPING STUDENTS EARLY WITH FREE TUTORING FOR S-A-T’S

SAY YES SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED NATALIE MOONEY WITH A FREE WAY TO COLLEGE. BUT SHE WASN’T THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO GET A HELPING HAND.
BUT BEING NUMBER FIVE ISN’T ALWAYS AS EASY AS IT SEEMS, WHEN

NATALIE AND HER 5 SIBLING NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL IN SYRACUSE, NY
STANDING IN HER SIBLING SHADOW WAS SOMETHING NATALIE KNEW SHE COULD NOT DO.
BUT THEY STILL SHARE MORE THAN A FAMILY NAME. THEY ALL HAVE DETERMINATION

NATALIE WONDERS WHERE HER FAMILY WOULD BE WITHOUT THE HELP OF “SAY YES.”
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR NATASHA SANTIAGO HELPS STUDENTS FIND COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT SHE SAID THE PROBLEM ISN’T GETTING THEM TO WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SYRACUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS IS STRIVING DO MORE TO HELP STUDENTS GRADUATE AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM LIKE SAY YES.
FOR NATALIE SAY YES GAVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY
BUT FOR SAY YES AND OTHER CITY SUPPORT GROUPS AND SCHOLARSHIP AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ALL HAVE ONE GOAL.
REPORTING FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL I’M DANIELLE BULLUCK.

COMING UP ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL–A LOCAL GERMAN IMMIGRANT HAS TURNED HIS PASSION FOR WINE INTO A HUGE BUSINESS SEE HOW ACCOMPLISHED HIS DREAM.
ALSO COMING UP.A LACROSSE COACH IN BALDWINSVILLE SHARES SPECIAL TIES TO HIS PROGRAM AND ITS ROOTS.
STAY WITH US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE HERE ON MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
WELCOME BACK TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
NOW WE HAVE A STORY OF HOW ONE MAN LEFT HIS FAMILY’S WINE MAKING BUSINESS IN GERMANY TO COME TO NEW YORK
MORNINGS ON THE HILL’S OLIVIA PROIA FOUND OUT HOW HE MANAGED TO RECREATE THAT FAMILY BUSINESS IN THE FINGER LAKES.
“I LOVE TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH. WHICH WAS MUCH HARDER TO DO BACK HOME.”
PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY THOUGHT TO BE MORE SERIOUS IN GERMANY.
“SO MANY SMART PEOPLE… BUT THEY FORGET TO SMILE.”
JOHANNES REINHARDT IS IMMIGRANT WHO DREAMED OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE BEFORE HE EVEN KNEW WHAT IT WAS.
“MENTALITY OF PEOPLE JUST SUITS MY LIFE AND JUST SUITS ME MORE. IT’S SOMETHING THAT IS MORE … SOMETHING WHICH MAKES ME MUCH MORE SMILE THAN WHEN I THINK OF BACK HOME.”
JOHANNES’S ROOTS ARE IN WINE MAKING. HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR ALMOST 500 YEARS.
“A FATHER WOULD HOPE A SON TOOK THE BUSINESS OVER. SO THERE IS FROM THE GET GO A DIFFERENT EXPECTATION, PRESSURE IN A SITUATION LIKE MINE.”
JOHANNES WAS GROOMED TO TAKE OVER AND DID FOR A WHILE, BUT HIS INSTINCT TOLD HIM HE’D GROW ON HIS OWN.
“WHEN I SAW THIS ADVERTISEMENT IT WAS A NO BRAINER FOR ME BACK THEN FOR ME TO JUST RESPOND RIGHT AWAY.”
SO HE CAUGHT THE NEXT PLANE, BUT NOT TO NAPA VALLEY.
THESE VINES HAVE BEEN PRODUCING SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS CALIFORNIA CABERNETS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS… IN THE FINGER LAKES REGION THERE ARE NO 50 YEAR OLD VINES. YET WINE MAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE COMING HERE TO PRODUCE SOME OF THE BEST WHITES FROM VINES THAT ARE ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD.
AND THAT’S WHERE JOHANNES CAME. BUT PLANTING A SEED OF LIFE IN A NEW COUNTRY HAS IT’S CHALLENGES.
“SO THERE WAS A FORM OF CULTURE SHOCK WHEN YOU CAME HERE?” “ABSOLUTELY.” “HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?” “FIRE AND WATER. FIRE MEETS WATER.”
AND AS SOON AS HE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF ANTHONY ROAD WINERY FOR HIS FIRST JOB IN THE U.S., FLAMES MET RAIN.
“I LEARNED TO HUG PEOPLE HERE IN THE U.S. GERMANS ARE NOT HUGGERS”
ANN MARTINI WHO OWNS ANTHONY ROAD WINERY IMMEDIATELY CHANGED THAT.
“DO YOU THINK HE’S COME OUT OF HIS SHELL SINCE HE FIRST MOVED HERE?” “OH YES. IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS REALLY AMAZING THE FEELING WE HAD. WE NEVER QUESTIONED IT. EVER ONCE.
JOHANNES CAME FOR THE WINE, BUT STAYED FOR THE PEOPLE.
“PEOPLE HERE JUST EXPRESS MORE, THEIR KINDNESS AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER. I DID NOT GROW UP THAT WAY. IT’S SOMETHING IN GERMANY THAT’S NOT COMMON.”
AND HE STAYED FOR 14 YEARS, UNTIL HE MOVED AGAIN. THIS TIME NOT QUITE SO FAR. HE STARTED HIS OWN WINERY – RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
“WERE YOU EXPECTING HIM TO GO RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET?” “I WAS HAPPY THAT HE DIDN’T GO FAR AWAY.”
HE ENTERED BACK INTO A FAMILY BUSINESS: ONE WITH THE AMERICAN FAMILY HE CREATED.
“SUPPORT. SUPPORT NETWORK. IF YOU NEED A MACHINE FROM SOMEONE, SOMEONE IS ALWAYS HERE TO GIVE YOU THE MACHINE. LIKE SHARING A WINE MAKING SPACE WITH SOMEONE.”
SOMETHING THAT WOULDN’T HAPPEN IN GERMANY.
“LET’S JUST FACE IT UNDERDOGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WINE WORLD. BUT THE DEGREE OF COMRADERY AND SUPPORT, SINCERE SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER IS JUST SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE.”
AN EXPERIENCE SHAPED BY LOVE, FAITH, AND FAMILY.
“HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHANNES?” “FAMILY… JUST FAMILY.”
AND JUST LIKE A BOTTLE OF COLD KEMMETER RIESLING TO A SPICY MEAL…
“TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO DO WHAT I DO HERE, WHAT WE DO HERE, IT’S JUST THE ICING ON THE CAKE. IT’S TRULY THE ICING ON THE CAKE… YEAH…”
HE KNOWS BUSINESSES COME AND GO…
“BUT IT CAN’T TAKE MY PEACE AWAY. IT CAN’T TAKE THE CONTENTMENT. IT CANNOT TAKE THE PEACE AWAY FROM ME ANYMORE”
BALDWINSVILLE NATIVE MATT WILCOX HAS ALWAYS DREAMED OF BEING THE HEAD COACH AT HIS ALMA MATER.
OUR ADAM UNGER FOUND THE FULL EXTENT OF THE FAMILY TIES EMBEDDED IN B-VILLE LACROSSE.
“MY MOM SAYS YOU ARE THE EXACT SAME PERSON. YOU LOOK EXACTLY LIKE MY DAD, LIKE WE LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE AND I GUESS WE ACT A LOT ALIKE.”
HE’S THE HEAD LACROSSE COACH AT BALDWINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
“THE REASON I COACH AND TEACH IS BECAUSE OF MY DAD.”
WHEN HE TOOK OVER AS THE HEAD MAN, HE HAD TO REPLACE PETER FIORINI, JR.— HIS DAD’S BEST FRIEND.
“BETWEEN JV ONE YEAR, VARSITY 36 YEARS, AND MODIFIED FOUR YEARS… SO, IT’S A LONG RUN.”
FIORINI JR. AND TOM WILCOX COACHED TOGETHER. MATT AND HIS CLASSMATES WERE A PART OF FIORINI’S ENDLESS LIST OF PROTÉGÉS.
“HE WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE FIVE OR SIX OF US TO THE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.”
“THEY GREW UP AS YOUNG KIDS IN A PROGRAM THAT STARTED WHEN THEY WERE QUOTE TINY TOTS.”
“AND HE WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE ROAD, YOU’RE GOING TO PLAY. YOU’RE GOING TO PLAY HERE.”
“ALL KIDS THAT WENT ON TO COLLEGES AND DID EXTREMELY WELL.”
MATT WAS HOOKED. HE PLAYED ALL FOUR YEARS AT B-VILLE AND WENT ON TO PLAY COLLEGE LACROSSE AT HERKIMER AND SUNY CORTLAND. ONCE HE GRADUATED, HE WANTED TO COME RIGHT BACK.
“RIGHT OUT OF GRADUATION, I GRADUATED, I CALLED COACH FIORINI UP.”
“WHAT I MAY HAVE NEVER TOLD HIM, IS THAT I WAS HOPING HE WOULD END UP HERE AT B-VILLE.”
“AND I SAID I’D LOVE TO BE AT VARSITY AND HE SAYS, YOU’RE ON. YOU’RE HELPING WITH THE DEFENSE.”
AT THAT POINT, IT HAD BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE A MEMBER OF THE WILCOX FAMILY WAS ON THE COACHING STAFF. AND THE APPLE STILL DIDN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE.
“I SEE A LOT OF TOMMY IN MATT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY HE CARRIES HIMSELF AND THE KIND OF COMPETITIVE SPIRIT THAT HE HAS. A LOT OF THAT STEMS FROM HIS DAD AND I SAW THAT GROWING UP WITH TOMMY.”
IN 1989, TOM WILCOX DIED IN A CAR CRASH AT AGE 34. MATT WAS JUST THREE YEARS OLD, BUT FIORINI JR. REMEMBERS WHERE HE WAS WHEN HE HEARD WHAT HAPPENED.
“THAT WAS TRAGIC NEWS, I WAS DOWN VACATIONING IN MAINE WHEN I GOT THAT CALL FROM MATT’S GRANDMA.”
“AND MY MOM WAS PREGNANT WITH MY YOUNGER SISTER WHEN MY DAD DIED. I THINK SHE WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT. I THINK IT WAS TOUGHER FOR MY OLDER SISTER OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE SHE COULD COMPREHEND IT. YOU JUST WISH YOU KNEW HIM. I DIDN’T. MY OLDER SISTER GOT TO KNOW HIM; I WAS ONLY THREE.”
SO NOT ONLY DID FIORINI JUNIOR GUIDE MATT THROUGH THE GAME OF LACROSSE… HE ALSO GUIDED MATT THROUGH THE GAME OF LIFE.
“I REMEMBER ME TELLING KAREN ONE TIME OR KAREN ASKING ME, I CAN’T REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION VERBATIM, BUT YOU KNOW, DON’T WORRY ABOUT MATTY. YOU KNOW, I’M GONNA TAKE CARE OF HIM.”
MATT MAY HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO KNOW HIS DAD, BUT TOM WILCOX’S IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND HIS PLAYERS WAS PROFOUND.
“SO I’VE HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND SAY YOUR DAD WAS MY FAVORITE COACH. AND THEY TELL ME THESE STORIES. SO TO HEAR THAT, HIS LIFE STILL GOES, HIS LIFE STILL LIVES ON THROUGH THAT.”
NOW, THE CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK IS AT THE HELM OF B-VILLE LACROSSE AND LOOKING FOR HIS OWN PROFOUND IMPACT.
“ACTIONS SPEAK A LOT LOUDER THAN WORDS, ALRIGHT? BODY LANGUAGE IS EVERYTHING TOO, WE’VE SAID THAT BEFORE.”
MATT’S FIRST PROTEGE STUCK AROUND IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AFTER GRADUATING— AND IT’S ANOTHER FIORINI.
“EVER SINCE LIKE, LITTLE AS I COULD BE, WE WERE GOING TO EVERY GAME AT SYRACUSE AND IT WAS ALWAYS A BIG DREAM. AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I THINK I ALWAYS KNEW THIS WAS THE SPOT I WANTED TO GO.”
AFTER GRADUATING FROM BALDWINSVILLE IN 2018, PETE FIORINI THE THIRD SWAPPED OUT B-VILLE’S RED AND WHITE FOR THE ORANGE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY… AND MATT SAW HIS POTENTIAL FROM THE BEGINNING.
“HE’S PROBABLY THE HARDEST WORKING PLAYER I’VE EVER COACHED, AND HE’S A GREAT KID, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN BETTER.”
“I DEFINITELY OWE HIM A LOT TO MY SUCCESS GOING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN TRANSITIONING INTO COLLEGE.”
“TO SEE HIM LEAVE IT WAS REALLY SAD. IT WAS KIND OF WEIRD AT FIRST NOT HAVING HIM AROUND.”
BUT PETE THE THIRD’S HOME GAMES ARE JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM BALDWINSVILLE— WHERE MATT, WHO IS STILL INSPIRED BY HIS FATHER, IS LIVING HIS DREAM, TOO.
“TO HEAR ALL THESE GREAT STORIES, IT MADE ME WANT TO BE HIM. AND I WANTED TO GET MY TEACHING DEGREE BECAUSE HE DIDN’T GET TO DO THAT. AND I WANTED TO BE THE VARSITY HEAD LACROSSE COACH BECAUSE HE COACHED WITH COACH FIORINI AT B-VILLE. SO IT DEFINITELY SPARKED ME TO BE WHAT I WANT TO BE AND I’M BLESSED THAT IT WORKED OUT.”
TWO FAMILIES, TWO DREAMS, ONE GAME.
“HEY, BEES ON THREE, ONE TWO THREE BEES”
I’M ADAM UNGER REPORTING FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL
COMING UP.ONE MAN IN CENTRAL NEW YORK DECIDED TO PLACE A 150-THOUSAND DOLLAR BET ON A SYRACUSE BASKETBALL GAME.FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
AFTER THE BREAK.SEE WHERE THAT MONEY IS CHANGING LIVES.MORNINGS ON THE HILL WILL BE RIGHT BACK
IN LIFE– AS IN SPORT, UNDERDOGS POSSESS A UNIQUE POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE THE REMARKABLE.
BUT OUR JAMES COLGAN FOUND A PLACE WHERE DEFYING THE ODDS LEADS TO SOMETHING FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN GLORY.
“I’VE NEVER HELD THAT MUCH MONEY IN MY HAND IN MY WHOLE LIFE…”
JAMIE HOLLIDAY IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN NEARBY OWEGO, NEW YORK.
JAMIE RECENTLY RECEIVED A CHECK. A REALLY BIG CHECK
“MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS ACTUALLY LIKE
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IS ENOUGH TO MAKE MOST PEOPLE NERVOUS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WAGER IS BASED ON BASKETBALL
“…ABSOLUTELY, I WAS AND STILL AM A DIE-HARD SYRACUSE BASKETBALL FAN.
“BUT WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD PLACE FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A BASKETBALL GAME? ADAM WEITSMAN IS WHO. ADAM IS A MILLIONAIRE CEO AND PHILANTHROPIST WITH A TWIST. HIS GRANDFATHER FOUNDED JAMIE’S BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN THE 40S. BUT EVEN WITH HIS TRACK RECORD OF GIVING BACK, NOTHING COULD HAVE PREPARED JAMIE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS AT STAKE.”
“ONE OF OUR ADULT MEMBERS CAME INTO MY OFFICE AND ASKED IF I’D SEEN ADAM’S POST AND I SAID I HADN’T AND HE SAID I HAD TO GO ONLINE RIGHT AWAY AND LOOK AT IT.”
WHAT JAMIE FOUND, WAS THIS. ADAM’S FRIENDLY WAGER ON THAT NIGHT’S SYRACUSE BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST TOP RANKED DUKE. A WIN FOR THE ORANGE, AND HE WOULD
DONATE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THREE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN THE AREA.
AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THAT COULD BE RECEIVING THE MONEY, JAMIE HOLIDAY WAS THRILLED…UNTIL SHE HEARD THE ODDS.
“I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BASKETBALL, SO I WAS TOLD BY EVERYONE THERE’S NO CHANCE.
SYRACUSE WAS 17 POINT UNDERDOGS AGAINST THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.THE KEY WORD THERE, WAS.
FINAL CALL ESPN
ONE GAME. FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND A SEISMIC SHIFT IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF OWEGO’S WHOLE YEAR.
“FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS MAKES UP A HUGE CHUNK OF THE MONEY WE GET FOR THE OVERALL YEAR. SO TO RECEIVE THAT MUCH IN JUST ONE NIGHT, IT COMPLETELY CHANGES THE BALLGAME FOR US AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THE KIDS IN TERMS OF PROGRAMS.”
AFTER ALL, THE BEAUTY OF SPORT ISN’T IN VICTORY, BUT IN COMMUNITY.
JUST ABOUT THE ONLY THING THE MONEY CAN’T FIX…COOTIES
DO YOU GUYS LIKE EACH OTHER?
“EWWW NO!!!”
BUT IF THERE’S ONE THING WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR YOUNG ONES, IT’S THIS.
“THANK YOU!”
MONEY CAN CHANGE LIVES…BUT TRUE GRATITUDE? NOW THAT’S PRICELESS
JAMES COLGAN, N-C-C NEWS.
THERE ARE STILL MORE GREAT STORIES TO COME HERE ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL. I’M GILAT MELAMED.
AND I’M TAYLOR EPPS. THANKS FOR WATCHING BUT DON’T GO AWAY–WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A BRAND NEW SET OF STORIES.

WELCOME BACK TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL. I’M FERNANDO GARCIA-FRANCESCHINI.
AND I’M ABIGAIL FRIDMANN. WE’RE FEATURING STORIES PRODUCED BY THE MASTER STORYTELLING CLASS HERE AT THE NEWHOUSE SCHOOL, TAUGHT BY PROFESSORS BOB DOTSON AND LES ROSE.
FIRST UP–OVERCOMING LANGUAGE BARRIERS ISN’T SOMETHING WE HEAR TALKED ABOUT TOO OFTEN, BUT ONE BUSINESS IS HELPING REFUGEES ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK IN A UNIQUE WAY.
OUR ALEXANDRIA BENNETT HAS THE STORY OF WOMEN WHO ARE PAVING THE WAY FOR MANY LANGUAGES TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW A REFUGEE COMES TO AMERICA, NO STORY IS THE SAME.
EVER FELT LIKE YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE AMONGST A CROWD OF PEOPLE? FARHIYA OMAR KNOWS THAT FEELING ALL TOO WELL.
SHE WAS A SOMALI REFUGEE THAT LEFT AFRICA AT 13 YEARS OLD, FLYING ON 5 PLANES TO EVENTUALLY LAND IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.
HER TRANSITION DIDN’T COME WITHOUT STRUGGLE.
FARHIYA MANAGES HUMAN RESOURCES AT EMPOWER INTERPRETATION SERVICES, AND ALSO HELPS WITH INTERPRETATION. HERE SHE’S HELPING A STUDENT PREPARE TO TAKE A TEST TO BECOME A UNITED STATES CITIZEN.
FARHIYA SAYS SHE LOVES TO HELP PEOPLE. SHE’S FOCUSED ON PROVIDING WHAT WASN’T AVAILABLE TO HER.
JAN-JUBA ARWAY IS A SOUTH SUDAN REFUGEE WHO CAME TO AMERICA IN 2004. WHEN SHE ARRIVED, SHE WAS 16, MARRIED AND HAD A 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER.
JAN-JUBA IS A SINGLE MOM WITH FOUR CHILDREN, AND IS WORKING TOWARD A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. SHE WANTS TO BECOME A LAWYER TO ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
ALTHOUGH JAN-JUBA FACED MANY TRIALS, SHE NEVER LET IT DETER HER FROM ACHIEVING AN EDUCATION.
AND MAINTAINING HER INDEPENDENCE.
BUT SHE’S ALSO WORKING HARD FOR.
THERE’S A LOT HAPPENING AROUND THEM THAT THEY NEVER SAW COMING.
JAN-JUBA SAW A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE SOLVED IN THE SYRACUSE REFUGEE COMMUNITY AND WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
TRUST IS THE KEY THAT MAKES THIS WORK. REFGUEE CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH, BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO BE CONFIDENT WHILE GROWING UP IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE.
FARHIYA IS ASKED QUESTIONS IN SOMALI AND ARABIC, BUT AFTER JUST 4 YEARS, SHE CAN ANSWER THEM IN ENGLISH TOO.
SO WHAT IF YOU’RE A REFUGEE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS LIKE JAN-JUBA OR CARE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY? A NEW REFUGEE STUDIES PROGRAM IS COMING TO FALK COLLEGE.
IT WILL FOCUS ON THE GLOBAL ENCOUNTER IN SYRACUSE AND HOW THE REFUGEE EXPERIENCE IMPACTS THOSE NEAR AND FAR.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CHAPLAIN GAIL RIINA SAYS BEING INVOLVED IN THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY GIVES A BETTER EXPLORATION OF THE WORLD.
AND IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO LEARN NUMEROUS LANGUAGES, BUT AS BOTH FARHIYA AND JAN-JUBA HAVE PROVEN, IT’S ALWAYS WORTH THE CHALLENGE.
“I’M ALEXANDRIA BENNETT REPORTING FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL.”
DRINKING AND PARTYING ARE PART OF CAMPUS LIFE AT MANY COLLEGES. BUT HOW ARE DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES ADDRESSINGTHE SAFETY OF THEIR STUDENTS?
REPORTER MIKE MULFORD TAKES AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO TRY AND KEEP STUDENTS SAFE WHILE THEY HAVE THEIR FUN.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY WAS ONCE KNOWN AS A TOP PARTY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY… UNTIL THINGS GOT MESSY… WITH ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ASSAULT CHARGES BRINGING STRICT NEW RULES TO CAMPUS.
MARSHALL RUFFING IS A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL AT S-U.
KELLY MURPHY IS ONE PERSON WHO GOES TO THOSE PARTIES. THERE’S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN THERE.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS DIDN’T PLAN FOR THESE UNINTENDED CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT AS MORE RULES ARE BROKEN, MORE ARE ADDED. FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES MUST FOLLOW A LAUNDRY-LIST OF RESTRICTIONS OR FACE SUSPENSION – OR WORSE.
ALCOHOL KILLS NEARLY 18-HUNDRED STUDENTS AT COLLEGES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. EVERY SINGLE YEAR. NOW, 7-THOUSAND STUDENTS ARE ASSAULTED AT PARTIES EVERY YEAR, NEARLY ONE-THOUSAND OF WHICH ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. NOW, AT AN OFF-CAMPUS LOCATION LIKE HERE ON ACKERMAN AVENUE, WHERE THERE IS LITTLE REGULATION, THERE’S NO TELLING HOW LARGE THOSE NUMBERS COULD END UP BEING.
SO WHAT ARE OTHER COLLEGES TRYING TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS SAFE?
SCHOOLS LIKE PENN STATE AND L-S-U HAVE TAKEN DRASTIC MEASURES, MANY SIMILAR TO SYRACUSE. SOME OF THESE INCLUDE: BANNING A CHAPTER ENTIRELY, SWITCHING THE CHAPTER’S DISCIPLINARY OVERSIGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, REQUIRING NEW MEMBERS TO TAKE A PLEDGE, DELAYING RUSH AND INITIATION FOR FRESHMEN, HIRING MORE ADMINISTRATORS TO MONITOR CHAPTERS AND ENCOURAGING THIRD-PARTY VENUES FOR SOCIAL EVENTS.
MANY STUDENTS USE RIDE-SHARING APPS LIKE UBER TO GET HOME SAFELY. BUT, STICKING WITH THE THEME OF THIS WHOLE STORY, THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR ERROR. THIS IS SAMANTHA JOSEPHSON, A UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR. ONE NIGHT AFTER A PARTY SHE CALLED AN UBER TO TAKE HER HOME AFTER GETTING SEPARATED FROM HER FRIENDS. EXCEPT THEY NEVER SAW HER AGAIN… HER BODY WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY ALMOST 90-MILES AWAY IN A FIELD. SHE WAS MURDERED. THE CAR SHE GOT INTO WAS NOT HER UBER.
AND WHAT ABOUT USING THIRD-PARTY VENUES? A FRATERNITY AT FURMAN UNIVERSITY DID JUST THAT. THEY RENTED OUT A WAREHOUSE THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL FOR ONE OF THEIR PARTIES. BUT THAT DIDN’T PREVENT 20-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE CAROLINE SMITH, WHO HAD BEEN DRINKING, FROM SUDDENLY COLLAPSING TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE SAVED. THE EXACT REASON FOR HER DEATH IS STILL UNKNOWN.
NOT ALL BAD THINGS CAN BE PREVENTED, BUT JUST THINK. IT COULD BE YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR SON, YOUR FRIEND… OR EVEN YOU.
THERE’S MORE TO COME ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL–
WE’LL SHOW YOU AN EASTWOOD NATIVE WHO IS OVERCOMING A DISABILITY TO HELP OTHERS.
ALSO COMING UP.
WE’LL HAVE THE STORY OF TWO BROTHERS WHO GOT A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, AND ARE TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY AND RIDING WITH IT.
WELCOME BACK TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL. IN SYRACUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS, BUT YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER SEEN A VOLUNTEER LIKE THE ONE WE ARE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU.
THIS IS THE STORY OF A MAN WHO OVERCAME OBSTACLES AND FEARS TO GIVE HIMSELF TO OTHERS.
ON A COLD WINTER DAY, DAVID HAAS IS WALKING, WALKING AND WALKING. GOING DOOR.
RIGHT NOW, DAVID IS DOING THE ROADWORK TO GET THE DEMOCRATS ON THE BALLOT FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY.
EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE OUT OF EVERY TEN PEOPLE ANSWER THE DOOR, HE LOVES DOING IT.
THIS EASTWOOD NATIVE VOLUNTEERS AT MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS, INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE EVERY DAY.
BUT HE’S OVERCOME A LOT MORE THAN YOU CAN SEE, ACTUALLY, MORE THAN YOU CAN HEAR.
YEARS OF SPEECH THERAPY AND SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE HELPED HIM GET USED TO HIS DISABILITY, BUT HE STILL FEELS LIKE HE NEEDS TO PROVE HIMSELF.
DAVID CALLS HIS STUTTERING A “HIDDEN DISABILITY” BECAUSE IT IS NOT OBVIOUS TO THE EYE. HE SAYS THIS HAS TAUGHT HIM THAT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH.
THAT’S WHY DAVID SERVES AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AT THE TOMORROW’S NEIGHBORS TODAY EASTWOOD REGION GROUP.
NEIGHBOR MIKE TOLLNER HAS KNOWN DAVID FOR FIVE YEARS AND IS CERTAIN THAT HIS WORK HAS CHANGED THE EASTWOOD COMMUNITY.
MOMENTS LIKE THESE HAVE NOT ONLY HELPED DAVID OVERCOME HIS FEAR OF SPEAKING, BUT ALSO EMBRACE HIS HANDICAP.
NOW DAVID WORKS AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SARAH’S GUEST HOUSE, A NON-PROFIT THAT OFFERS HOUSING TO PEOPLE WHO COME TO SYRACUSE TO GET MEDICAL TREATMENT. IN HIS OWN WORDS, THIS PLACE IS.
HIS COLLEAGUE RENEE MCCAFFREY SAYS DAVID IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR THE JOB.
DAVID’S CONTRIBUTIONS ARE EVIDENT.
IN OTHER WORDS, MAKE THE GUESTS REALLY FEEL AT HOME.
DAVID RECOGNIZES THAT PEOPLE COME TO THE HOUSE IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND HE KNOWS WHY HE’S THERE.
WHEN ASKED “WHAT MADE HIM SPECIAL”, DAVID SAID.
WELL, DAVID, WE ASKED.
SOMETIMES WE PUT LIMITATIONS ON OURSELVES AND DON’T REALIZE THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE. FOLLOWING DAVID AROUND WAS SUCH A COOL EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS SO INSPIRING TO SEE EVERYTHING HE DOES DESPITE THE CHALLENGES HE FACES.
IT’S SO NICE TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIM. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE AMAZING THINGS HE’LL CONTINUE TO DO.
WHEN WE THINK OF MOTORCYCLE CLUBS, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND? USUALLY DRUGS, CRIME AND ROCK N ROLL.
BUT THIS NEXT STORY EXPLORES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS, WHO’VE MADE IT THEIR MISSION TO CHANGE THAT STEREOTYPE.
WHEN DANE AND BRAD BEUTLER TALK BIKES, THEY BECOME SIX YEARS OLD AGAIN.
AND ALTHOUGH THEIR PARENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN TOO KEEN ON THE IDEA.
THAT DIDN’T STOP THEM.
FAMILY IS IMPORTANT TO THESE GUYS. GROWING UP WITH DANE AND BRAD, THEIR COUSIN GWEN CALLS SAYS THEY’RE JUST BIG TEDDY BEARS.
THE CHOSEN FEW MOTORCYCLE CLUB- WHAT SEEMS LIKE BORN TO BE WILD, IS ACTUALLY MUCH MILDER.
BUT THINGS DIDN’T ALWAYS APPEAR THAT WAY.
HE DIDN’T GET IN A LOT OF TROUBLE- HE GOT ARRESTED FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN’T DO.
ACCORDING TO THE BUFFALO CHRONICLES, A MEMBER OF THE CLUB WAS PAID OVER $80,000 BY A U.S. ATTORNEY TO CREATE CRIMES IN THE CLUB. THE INDIVIDUAL TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FAMILY LIKE RELATIONSHIP.
AND ONCE THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED.
AND WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING BRAD DID WHEN HE GOT OUT?
THIRTY ONE MONTH’S GONE.
BUT DANE KNOWS A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT LOST TIME, AND HOW PRECIOUS IT REALLY IS.
TO HELP OTHER CHILDREN LIKE THEIR SON, THE BEUTLERS FOUNDED CAMP GOOD DAYS OF BUFFALO.
HE WAS DIAGNOSED IN 80, AND PEOPLE JUST DIDN’T LIVE.
WHICH COULD BE WHY DANE IS SO PASSIONATE. THE BROTHERS MAKE THE MOST OUT OF LIFE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LOST TIME.
ONE OF THE WAYS THEY DO THAT, IS BY ADVOCATING FOR BIKERS RIGHTS.
A JURY IN CALIFORNIA RECENTLY ORDERED THE MONGOLS, ANOTHER CLUB, FROM WEARING THEIR PATCHES. BRAD SAYS THIS IS AN INFRINGEMENT ON THEIR RIGHTS.
CLUB MEMBERS OR NOT, THESE GENTLEMEN ARE BONDED BY ONE THING.
THE FAMILY THEY RIDE WITH
AND THE FAMILY THEY GREW UP WITH.
WORKING ON THIS STORY WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE. NOT ONLY DID I GET THE CHANCE TO GET A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT IT’S LIKE BEING IN A MOTORCYCLE CLUB, BUT I THINK I FOUND MY CALLING. SO I THINK I’LL BE TRADING IN MY DRESS FOR A LEATHER JACKET ANY DAY NOW. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I MEAN, THOSE GUYS SEEM PRETTY COOL, IF YOU THINK YOU’RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE GO FOR IT.
STILL TO COME HERE ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
ONE SU STUDENT FINDS HOPE WHERE IT WAS ONCE LOST.
WELCOME BACK. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE DINNER TABLE IS A PLACE FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO EAT, BOND, LAUGH, AND IN THE CASE OF ONE SYRACUSE SENIOR, HEAL.
CHRIS VENZON MEETS A GIRL MOVING ON FROM HER PAST, ONE MEAL AT A TIME.
SUPPER IS A SPECIAL TIME AT 329 COMSTOCK.
“SHARING A MEAL WITH PEOPLE, THAT’S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE.”
THE CHICKEN IS GETTING THERE, THE BROCCOLI IS A LITTLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, BUT THE QUINOA IS PERFECT. AND GOOD THING TOO. THIS EVENING, SARAH BOUGHAN IS SERVING SOMEONE SPECIAL.
“THIS SMELLS WICKED GOOD.”
HER BEST FRIEND, NATALIE BLYZNAK.
“I TOLD HER ON THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL THAT WE WERE GOING TO BECOME BEST FRIENDS. I TOLD HER THAT!”
THE PREDICTION CAME TRUE. THE PAIR HAVE HAPPILY LIVED TOGETHER FOR THREE YEARS TOGETHER AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY WITH COUNTLESS LAUGHS, AND A FEW TEARS ALONG THE WAY.
NATALIE BYLZNAK: SHE’S JUST BEEN THERE FOR ME. LIKE WHEN I WAS UPSET, SHE WAS A SHOULDER TO CRY ON.
THE SUPPORT IS A TWO-WAY STREET. WHEN THE TWO MET AS FRESHMEN, SARAH’S LIFE, IN HER OWN WORDS WAS A…
“…A COMPLETE MESS. JUST INSECURE. DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WANTED. DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO BE HAPPY.”
IN HIGH SCHOOL THE STRESS HAD BEEN PILING UP. SARAH WASN’T EATING.
“I THOUGHT I LOOKED FAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS EXTREMELY UNDERWEIGHT.”
AS THE SCALE DROPPED TO DOUBLE DIGITS, OTHERS BEGAN TO TAKE NOTICE.
“MY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER HAD TO GO DOWN TO THE NURSES OFFICE TO CALL MY PARENTS BECAUSE SHE SAW I HAD LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT.”
IN COLLEGE, INSECURITIES WERE ERASED WHEN SARAH MET NATALIE. THE DUO QUICKLY BECAME INSEPARABLE.
NATALIE: “I HONESTLY SEE SARAH AS A SISTER. WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP I THINK.”
THEIR RELATIONSHIP HELPED SARAH RECOVER.
SARAH: “I THINK SOMETIMES IT TAKES YOU REALIZING YOU CAN THRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO BE CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF.”
AND PICK UP A NEW HOBBY… COOKING.
“NATALIE NORMALLY MAKES IT BUT I TRIED IT THE OTHER DAY.”
“YEAH SHE’S PRETTY GOOD AT IT.”
SHE’S A DIFFERENT PERSON FROM HIGH SCHOOL. BOTH IN MIND AND BODY… AND THAT’S A GOOD THING.
THANK GOD. IT WOULDN’T BE GOOD IF I WAS THE SAME PERSON I WAS WHEN I WAS 18.
WHOLE, HEALTHY, AND WITH PEOPLE SHE LOVES. CHRIS VENZON, REPORTING FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
THAT IS IT FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MORNINGS ON THE HILL. I’M FERNANDO GARCIA-FRANCESCHINI. OUR THANKS TO THE STUDENTS OF THE MASTER STORYTELLING CLASS HERE AT THE NEWHOUSE SCHOOL–
AND TO THEIR PROFESSORS BOB DOTSON AND LES ROSE. I’M ABIGAIL FRIDMANN. THANKS FOR WATCHING.