Newhouse

Somerset County is a quiet, small community located in southwest Pennsylvania. It was relatively unknown to the world until the events on September 11, 2001, when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into an open field in the community. Hijacked by terrorists, the plane was reportedly headed to Washington, D.C., but passengers fought to take back to the aircraft, ultimately crashing and killing all 44 passengers on board.

On the first day chef Steve LeClair planned to serve food from his trailer-turned-kitchen, he hopped into his truck and drove down the driveway—pulling out the plug that had been powering the trailer’s refrigerator in anticipation of the grand opening of “Steve’s Street Eats.”

Four years ago, Newhouse graduate Adam Gold sat in on performances by Jack Brown (who was a Newhouse student) and Emanuel Washington at Syracuse's own 'Funk 'n' Waffles.' A jam session with a big group of guys eventually whittled down to just the three men, and Sophistafunk was born.

"It's more of a statement than a generic name," said Brown, the band's MC and lyricist. "It sets you up for the band itself."

Traveling from Syracuse to South Africa on the tail end of the East Coast blizzard that shut down airports, trains and any helpful means of transportation made for a slow build-up to the exciting reporting experience nine Newhouse students were embarking on.