The Ithacan

Q&A: Local author and Tompkins County Legislature’s guide to Ithaca’s unique charm

By Liam McDermott, Staff Writer • December 3, 2024

Amanda Jaros Champion released her new book “100 Things to Do in Ithaca Before You Die” Sept. 1. This marks Champion’s second published book after “Labor of Love: A Literary Mama Staff Anthology” released Jan. 26. Champion has lived in Ithaca for about 24 years and has been serving on the Tompkins County Legislature since 2018. Staff writer Liam McDermott spoke with Champion about her new book and the inspiration behind it, including her history with the City of Ithaca.

Q&A: Journalism alum pursues musical passions in LA

By Mariana Contreras, Life and Culture Editor • November 13, 2024

Ryan Bieber ’22 proves that a degree is not a binding contract for a career path after college. Bieber got his Bachelor of Arts in journalism with minors in environmental studies and Spanish at Ithaca College. After graduation, he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue a music career. Originally having picked the college for its journalism program, Bieber said he benefited from the former School of Music by taking every class available for students who did not have a major or minor in the Department of Music Performance.

Q&A: Cornell band ‘Good Head’

By Thuweiba J-Elmi, Contributing Writer • October 28, 2024

Good Head is a five piece band made up of Cornell University students: vocalist and guitarist Vince Tedesco ’26, vocalist and keyboardist Joseph Wolff ’26, drummer Owen Mowry ’26, bassist Nick Wilson ’26 and guitarist Will Moss ’26. On Oct. 18, the band alongside another Cornell band, Spit! performed a show for Thread Magazine, Cornell’s fashion, art and culture club magazine at a student-run co-op.

Q&A: First-year student Ashton Spinale energizes the quad with freestyle yo-yoing

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Managing Editor • October 25, 2024

The Academic Quad outside of the Ithaca College Library is a bustle of activities in the warmer days leading up to winter. This fall, however, a new face has emerged as a frequent patron of the outdoors. Almost every day — weather accommodating — first-year student Ashton Spinale sets up on the quad with his yo-yo and a pair of AirPods. Spinale said he listens mostly to pop, some rap and whatever his favorite songs are at the time. The music is essential because happy, upbeat songs get him ready to yo-yo to the rhythm.

Q&A: Little Slicer revisits Ithaca roots for local performance

By Thuweiba J-Elmi, Contributing Writer • October 9, 2024

Little Slicer is a local indie band comprising vocalist and guitarist Wallace Petruziello ’24, bassist Jas Rodriguez ’24, guitarist junior Zach Ryan, keyboardist junior Christopher Tassone, drummer...

Q&A: IC professor gets call to write Playbill essay

By Georgie Gassaro, Life and Culture Editor • September 25, 2024

Chris Holmes, associate professor and Chair of Literatures in the Department of English, has been a superfan of Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro for nearly 15 years. Holmes recently met his literary hero, as he was selected by the Rose Theatre in London to author a Playbill essay for the stage adaptation of Ishiguro’s novel “Never Let Me Go.” Holmes hopped across the pond to attend the premiere and feature in the play’s press junket Sept. 25 alongside Ishiguro and other contributors

Lost Mary’s finds a stage for their living room jams

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Investigative Editor • April 3, 2024

Lost Mary’s band, made up of Ithaca College students, includes senior Margaret Harper, sophomore Zach Ryan, sophomore Chris Tassone and juniors Gerard Allen and Morrison Powell. The group formed in Fall 2023, and it is mostly a cover band but has some original songs that they play occasionally.

Life on Vibrant explores the genre of ‘Indie Eruption’

By Jacquelyn Reaves, Newsletter editor • April 3, 2024

With Ithaca College hosting more than several student bands, Life on Vibrant distinguishes itself with its unique genre, self-characterized as "indie eruption." The band has four members, including sophomores Carson Mroz, the lead singer, Ashlynn Rose on lead guitar, George Bailey on drums and first-year student Jake Edelstein on bass guitar. The band manages to blend the unique tastes of all the members, resulting in an artistic flair that resonates with audiences across the campus.

Q&A: Young Blood Discovery Festival planned by MBA students

By Mariana Contreras, Assistant Life and Culture Editor • March 22, 2024

On March 23, the second annual Young Blood Discovery Festival will be hosted at Deep Dive, a live music venue located in the Cayuga Lake inlet. The festival was initiated as a capstone project last year for the Entertainment and Media Management MBA. This year, the organization committee has shifted its focus, offering a spotlight for both Cornell and Ithaca College students. Sun Parade, Good Head and Lost Mary’s Band will perform at the event.

Q&A: Alumni awarded her sixth GRAMMY award

By Molly Fitzsimons, Life and Culture Editor • March 1, 2024

Elaine Martone ’79 recently was awarded her sixth GRAMMY award for Producer of the Year in classical music. This award specifically recognizes a producer for nine albums that they have produced for in a calendar year, spanning between October and September, and is an award for a collection of high quality music, rather than one for a specific album. Martone has been in the music industry for 44 years, and after 12 GRAMMY nominations, continues to learn and explore the music industry.

Q&A: Senior named one of the ‘Most Promising Multicultural Students’

By Georgie Gassaro, Staff Writer • February 28, 2024

Senior Amirah Torrence, an integrated marketing communications major, has been named one of the “Most Promising Multicultural Students” by the American Advertising Federation.

Q&A: Pride Fellow talks about the transition from student to mentor in new leadership role

By Grace Condon, Staff Writer • February 7, 2024

Lee Tyson began their role as Pride Fellow for The Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services at Ithaca College on Jan. 16, 2024. Prior to this role, Tyson completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Before the postdoctoral fellowship, Tyson received a Ph.D. in musicology and LGBT studies at Cornell University, where Tyson then taught as a visiting lecturer.