On a night meant to be filled with ‘90s theme decor, Oy Cappella, a Jewish a cappella group, shifted the repertoire for its fall invitational hours before the show was scheduled, after a swastika was found etched in the snow a few blocks from Syracuse University’s campus.

Thursday evening, in the wake of the hate crime, the group was debating whether to perform its concert. But Chloe Mathieu, president of the group, said she didn’t want hatred to win.

“We wanted to use tonight as a way to spread some light, positivity and hope when it feels like there might not be a lot of that coming around,” she said.

To open the invitational, SU Hillel’s Executive Director Jillian Juni gave audience members her phone number and told students to reach out if they needed. Hillel Rabbi Joel Goldstein also attended the concert.

Oy Cappella held its fall invitational at 8 p.m. in the Physics Building, just hours after the swastika was found etched in the snow near the 505 on Walnut. The co-ed, Jewish-majority a cappella group spent the last moments before its show talking to Hillel advisers and restructuring its program. 

Mathieu welcomed the audience, condemning not only the latest incident at SU, but the previous racist graffiti found on campus since last Wednesday night. She said the group stands in solidarity with the Jewish community, and also other minority groups that have been affected by the recent hate crimes. 

Oy Cappella performed “One Day” by Matisyahu at its invitational and at the sit-ins in The Barnes Center.  Courtesy of Jayda Pierre

“There was an initial murmur of ‘maybe we’d do it, maybe we won’t.’ That was a very real possibility for a little bit of time,” said Ryan Peiffer, another member of the group. 

More than 75 people came to the concert. Sophomore Sydni Tougas said attending the show meant she could support the group while also demonstrating that she would not live in fear of the incident. 

Not going to the concert, Tougas said, would have given those who drew the swastika what they wanted.  The Syracuse Police Department is actively investigating the swastika incident, though it has not released any details yet.

Sophomore Lindy Melegari said attending the concert was a form of activism, but in a lighter tone than the sit-in protests occurring in The Barnes Center at The Arch. There, #NotAgainSU protestors have been demonstrating since 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, insisting their demands be guaranteed in writing by SU administrators within a week. 

Orange Appeal, an all-male a cappella group, also performed at the invitational. President Kevin O’Donnell spoke about the ensemble’s solidarity with Oy Cappella before performing. He encouraged audience members to stay informed on the protest and the social issues on campus.

O’Donnell said staying educated fights back against those who perpetuate anti-Semitism, hatred and bigotry. 

“There are people who are complacent, and complacency may lead to ignorance. To walk against that treadmill you truly need to seek that information out,” he said during a 10-minute intermission. “Do your part and help those who have been hurting.” 

Oy Cappella’s final song was added in the hour before showtime. Mathieu said the song “One Day” by Matisyahu expressed a message of peace and love the group wanted to share.  

After the show, Oy Capella packed up its decorations and glow sticks, put on their coats and headed to The Barnes Center. The singers entered the sit-in and sat off to the side. They soon made their way to the front of the group and began singing. 

Unlike their first performance of  “One Day,” which boomed throughout Stolkin Auditorium, the group sang softly. Some linked arms, swaying side to side.

“All my life I’ve been waiting for, I’ve been praying for, for the people to say, that we don’t wanna fight no more, they’ll be no more wars.”

Published on November 15, 2019 at 3:31 am

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