Summer 2012: What you missed

With students back at home and many faculty members traveling, the summer is the perfect time for campus upgrades. The last few months have brought about some changes – large and small – for the Syracuse area and for the campus itself.

Most of these changes will contribute to a smoother, safer and more enjoyable experience for the SU community. A major campus throughway has been redesigned to allow for smoother flow of traffic and added biker safety, and the Carrier Dome has come into some new technology. Several new vendors have made their way to the campus area as well, and the long-awaited report on the investigation of Bernie Fine was released.

New look for University Avenue

Students returning to the Syracuse University campus this fall will have a completely different view of University Avenue, between Harrison Street and Waverly Avenue.

The Connective Corridor has been working with the city since last fall to transform University Avenue into a two-way street with wide, green bike lanes alongside the driving lanes. The project should be completely finished by the end of this summer, according to SU’s Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development Director Linda Dickerson Hartsock.

“We’re hoping that this street will be a connection between the university and downtown Syracuse,” Hartsock said. “The street is now more environmentally friendly and is making use of new emerging technologies.”

This project is meant to create a visually appealing and practical extension of the Connective Corridor initiative, Hartsock said. SU shuttle buses and Connective Corridor buses will return to University Avenue in the fall.

Syracuse is one of the first communities in the U.S. to implement a new form of road surfacing called Methacrylate, which covers the bike lanes and is extremely durable and environmentally sound, Hartsock said in an email.

“Other communities are watching and learning from us, through this innovative project that is setting new national standards,” Hartsock said.

Hip new yogurt joint opening on Marshall Street

Syracuse University students will be getting a healthy dose of dessert this year as new frozen yogurt shop Yogurtland settles into Brickstone Eatery’s old spot on the Marshall Street strip.  

Trendy shop Yogurtland is a huge hit in California, with ten shops in Los Angeles alone. The Syracuse store’s manager Josh Weinstein opened his first store in Ithaca, N.Y., three weeks ago, and is excited about his second endeavor, this time on the SU campus.

“This place is perfect for Syracuse students,” Weinstein said. “They’re going to love it.”

Customers can fill up their containers with as much yogurt and toppings as they want — everything is priced by the ounce. There are 12 flavors of non-fat or low-fat yogurt and more than 35 toppings on the menu, from fruit and granola to chocolate chips and caramel.

“It tastes just as good as indulgent ice cream, but it’s healthier," Weinstein said. "Everyone leaves with a smile.”

Yogurtland will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and will stay open until midnight Thursday through Saturday.

Café and Thrift Shop to replace Follet’s in Marshall Square Mall

Café Kubal, a local coffee joint that has stores in Eastwood and Downtown Syracuse, will be taking over the space previously occupied by Follet’s Orange Bookstore in Marshall Square Mall.

The café will split the space with an upscale thrift shop, run by the Syracuse Rescue Mission.

Owner Matt Godard said he is tweaking the store’s hours to suit the student clientele, as well as adding a few items to the store’s menu.

“We’re going to be open much later up here,” Godard said of the SU location. The café will close at 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“We’re also adding some new salads to the menu, and also Espresso milkshakes,” Godard said. “I’m looking forward to those.”

Part of the café’s proceeds will be going toward the Rescue Mission, although the two stores will remain separate entities, Godard said. The thrift shop will sell apparel as well as furniture and décor.

Godard said he jumped at the chance to have a café on the Hill because he “really likes SU.”

“I’ve always been a fan of the university,” Godard said. “I wanted to be in close proximity to the school to see how I can partner with them in some way.”

Carrier Dome receives technological upgrade

Syracuse fans looking to attend sports games in the Carrier Dome will see a significant boost in modern technology this fall.

The Dome received new LED technology, including video boards and a 360-degree ribbon board around the inside. Four displays for advertising were also installed, along with new clocks and a new control room. Wireless Internet access points are also being installed inside the Dome, which will help fans connect easier.

“It’s going to enhance the fan experience,” said Carrier Dome managing director Pete Sala. “It’ll be so exciting to come in here and see these boards. The light they bring to this building is incredible; they’re just absolutely gorgeous.”

Sala said they hope to have most of the technology, including the video boards, up and running for Syracuse University’s Home to the Dome event, which is scheduled for Thursday evening.

“We’re always looking to make that upgrade that gets us to the next level,” Sala said.

“We try to run a state of the art facility, and that’s what we’re doing here.”

SU’s 2005 Bernie Fine investigation released

Syracuse University’s 2005 investigation into the child molestation allegations against former head men’s basketball coach Bernie Fine may have raised more questions than it answered.

The 15-page report, which was obtained and released by the Post-Standard on June 11, sheds light on an unknown phone call between Fine and former SU ball boy Bobby Davis. According to the report, Davis called Fine in October, 2004, to apologize for something – but it is not clear what he was apologizing for.

The investigation began in September, 2005, when SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor received an anonymous email alleging a coach had molested young boys, according to the report. The university interviewed several people, including accuser Davis.

Davis alleged that Fine molested him from the time he was in sixth or seventh grade until he was 26, according to the report. Upon being interviewed by the university, no witnesses said they believed Davis’ story, and said they believed he was lying.

The report, which the university refuses to release, does not raise concerns regarding Fine’s relationship with the basketball team. Fine has denied the allegations and has not been charged.