SU Student Starts Petition for One of Central Park Five SU Student Starts Petition for One of Central Park Five Victims

ALAZIA: Since the release of the docuseries the Central Park Five have been making headlines across the nation. Oprah Winfrey sat down with the five and Kevin Richardson told her that he had dreams of coming to Syracuse University and joining the band. I’m here with Jalen Nash and as you student who started a petition to award Richardson with an honorary doctorate so Jalen you started this petition on Friday. What motivated you to start the petition?

JALEN: I think that as a black man I think that. Especially with a lot of criminal justice issues I relate just from the sense that anyone that looks like me can be in that similar situation. So seeing that interview on Friday when he said that he wanted to go to Syracuse I just wanted to do what I could do as a student to get him involved and that’s how the petition started.

ALAZIA: So have you received any feedback?

JALEN: Oh yeah I’ve seen a lot of positive feedback a lot of people signed the petition. I spoke to a lot of my close friends about it. They’re excited and we’re just hoping that we can make a change.

ALAZIA: Any negativity?

JALEN: Any negative? Not too many negative. We just focus on the positive.

ALAZIA: Okay so with what. Well what was it what you expected wasn’t what I expected.

JALEN: I think that I didn’t really come with expectations so I’m someone who’s very passionate about a lot of different things especially as it relates to criminal and social justice. So I expected that a lot of people would feel what I felt when I saw that clip at this university because I know like the character of the school. So I wouldn’t say I was surprised but I’m very happy with the great response it’s gotten from the university and outside of the university and from the administration.

ALAZIA: What was the feedback from the administration?

JALEN: From the administration on the petition came out on Friday. So we’re still speaking the administration getting in that process. Yeah we’re still getting in the process.

ALAZIA: And why is this? Why would this issue be important to people who don’t understand it?

JALEN: I think this issue is important to people who don’t understand it just because in my classes I’m a political science major we always talk about social justice issues but often when the university gets a chance to do something about it we’re complacent and I think that from a student university perspective this is a chance for the university to actively stand behind people of color in a way that they often don’t. And I think that just considering what’s happened in the last year what’s happened in the last few years especially the student of color it’s important for us to. Feel valued and it’s important for Kevin to feel. Valued and that his dream is coming true.

ALAZIA: Absolutely. So can you see any reason that people would possibly be against it?

JALEN: Yes well I think the obvious one thing I’ve heard is that he has to like earn a degree why should he get a doctorate if he hasn’t went through his four years to earn it. I think that’s probably been criticism that I’ve heard any feedback from Richardson or anyone from the docuseries not yet I’m certain two days ago we’re still in the process but I hope I can tweak them so he can come up with a more tangible plan about how what he wants and what students want and kind of come to a good deal.

ALAZIA: Okay. And thank you so much.