Dan and BrandiLee Schafran graduated from SU three years ago. Three days after walking across the stage to accept their diplomas, they walked down the aisle to exchange vows.

Written and Produced By: Marlei Martinez

For many college couples, falling in love sparks thoughts about marriage. But in a society where youthful marriages are declining, love isn’t the only factor college sweethearts are looking for when deciding to tie the knot.

Anthony Kershaw and Deana Cater are 22-years-old. Anthony is a fifth-year senior studying civil engineering at Syracuse University. His wife, Deana, graduated from SU last year. They met during their sophomore year of college.

“His shoes were really dirty so I just noticed him and I said, ‘Oh, I saw you on the bus today,’” Deana explained. “And he thought I was making fun of him so he Facebooked me and the rest is history.”

They dated for two years. During Deana’s senior year, they decided to marry due to “extenuating circumstance.”

“Pretty much the school took away my financial aid because there was a discrepancy in my FAFSA tax documents [and] my parents were unwilling to change their documents,” Anthony explained.

One way to keep his financial aid was to become independent. So, Anthony and Deana got married.

Finances are often a reason why college sweethearts decide to tie the knot. According to the Yale Daily Times, 15% of college couples get married and 7% of college couples marry while still in school.

Dr. Suzanne Haas-Cunningham, a marriage and family therapist, said money means different things for different couples.

“For some couples, finances would be really, really big,” Dr. Haas-Cunningham said. “But sometimes if there’s one person who has more financial responsibility and the other person is the caretaker, then it evens out.”

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Dan and BrandiLee Schafran graduated from SU three years ago. Three days after walking across the stage to accept their diplomas, they walked down the aisle to exchange vows.

“It was the perfect day,” BrandiLee said.

The Schafrans met during their sophomore year of college when Dan joined the on-campus organization, Campus Crusade for Christ. They said faith is the foundation of their marriage and it was the cornerstone of Dan’s proposal in the Adirondacks.

“I got down and had her sit on the bank there,” Dan said. “And I read the passage in scripture where Jesus talks about washing each other’s feet and serving each other. So I kind of washed her feet there in the stream and told her I’d love her and serve her for the rest of her life.”

Dr. Haas-Cunningham said practicing the same faith does help the success of a marriage. However, she says it’s not a necessity.

”You could have two people who have two different beliefs that are really passionate and say, ‘I get you’re as passionate about your beliefs as I am, that’s cool, I can respect that,’” she said.

There are many reasons why college couples decide to get married either during school or right after. And while some may think love is enough, others consider a bit more.

CONNECT Reporter Marlei Martinez interviewed Sierra Jiminez and Roxanne Bocyck about their experience with Walt Shepperd. Shepperd has been a political reporter in Syracuse for nearly 40 years. And now, he spends his time working with what he calls the most troubled group in the city: the youth.

Written by Sierra Jiminez

At-Large Common Councilor Stephanie Miner made Syracuse history Tuesday after winning the 53^rd Mayoral race—the first female to win the election. Miner pulled a victory over Republican mayoral candidate Steve Kimatian, gaining 50.1 percent of the vote.

According to unofficial tallies of Tuesday’s election, Miner, a Democrat, received 11,237 votes. That’s 2,454 more votes than Kimatian who received 8,783 votes. Conservative party candidate Otis Jennings received 2,313 votes.

Miner has been vocal in her campaign about topics such as “Say Yes to Education” and Destiny USA. Her campaign goals include stimulating job growth in the city and increasing neighborhood services and public safety.

“Tonight, we have triumphed in our efforts to convince people that we share that belief, and we will fight to make the city of Syracuse a better place,” Miner said after the results came in Tuesday evening. “But together we have tremendous obstacles to overcome. We all know the challenges of our educational system and economic development and quality of life in our neighborhoods. And we know that together, we have to work to solve these problems.”

Contributing reporting by Shayna Meliker

Written By: Sierra Jiminez
Produced By: Marlei Martinez

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- He’s known for his theatrical antics in the courtroom and his straight forward personality in everyday life. During the Stacey Castor trial, his booming voice was broadcast on local television stations and news sites for the Syracuse public to see.

But Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick says he doesn’t even notice the cameras. He’s just as intense when the public isn’t watching.

“I try every case the way I tried the Stacey Castor trial,” Fitzpatrick said. “People say, ‘That was the best cross-examination I’ve ever seen.’ It wasn’t even in my top 50.”

After 17 years in office and five elections, Fitzpatrick has faced criticism from the media, the public and his opponents. In 1999, Lawyer Ralph Cognetti intended to run against Fitzpatrick for District Attorney on the basis that he was “too powerful.” But then, he changed his mind.

“I realized that I probably had no chance at beating him,” Cognetti said. “And therefore I wasn’t going to spend the time or the money… in order to run a race that I believed I would lose. When push comes to shove, he’s probably the best D.A. we’ve had, certainly since I’ve been an attorney.”

Fitzpatrick says some people may think he’s too powerful, but he disagrees. To him, he’s just doing his job.

“When I was first in this job… I wanted to be loved by everybody,” Fitzpatrick said. “Well, believe me, after months on the job… you realize you’re going to be hated by a lot of people. And the quicker you get used to that, the better public official you’re going to be.”

Despite the long hours he spends at his job and the seriousness it entails, Fitzpatrick still manages to lead a semi-normal life. He’s a die-hard Yankees fan. He plays golf on a regular basis. And he still manages to spend time with his family. “I’m not going to be one sitting around missing my kids’ little league games… and things like that,” Fitzpatrick said. “What difference does it make if you’re a great public official and your kids are all disorganized, dysfunctional and don’t even know you?”

At 56-years-old, he says he should be thinking about retirement, but he’s not. Every time a new election year comes, he hears about the need for change but he says he doesn’t think it’s time for a new D.A., just yet.

“The fact remains that he’s run five times, he’s won five times. And not by any small margins,” Cognetti said. “That, to me, is how you judge the value of a politician. If he’s not well liked, or if there’s question as to his legitimacy, or honesty… my guess and belief is that (the public will) vote him out. And they don’t.”

Marlei Martinez

More than 700 people of different race, gender and religion met to witness history on Inauguration Day. Students, professors and faculty crowded around a big screen in Syracuse University’s Goldstein Auditorium to watch the swearing-in of the nation’s 44th president, Barack Obama.

“I was not an Obama supporter, I’m a Neoconservative actually,” graduate student Jeffrey Cappella said. “But today isn’t about being a Republican, Democrat or Neoconservative. So today, I’m not Neoconservative, I’m just American.”

Goldstein Auditorium has three sections of seating: the main floor, the middle floor and the balcony—all of which were full from the beginning to the end of Obama’s speech. His words even enticed Republican voters to stay in their seats.

“I voted for the other guy,” Freshman Erin DeVine said. “But, I think [Obama’s] a really powerful person. He’s great with words. He has great ideas. I hope and believe he can execute all of his plans.”

The Goldstein audience stood up together when Obama first came on screen. They sat down together when he raised his right hand to take the Oath of Office. They laughed together when he stumbled over the words of his oath because Chief Justice John Roberts misspoke. The audience was watching Obama’s every televised move.

“The president is the biggest celebrity in the country and you want to get to know him,” SU alum Abby Feldman said.

“I agree,” Senior Celina Tousignant said. “It’s a very unifying experience that we’re watching this at the same time with people all over the world. He spoke so well that there’s no way you can’t become emotionally charged about everything he says.”