SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC NEWS) —Syracuse University has been under fire for its delayed response to racially charged acts in several of its dorms and academic buildings.
At 3:20 AM, the Department of Public Safety reported that a bathroom stall in the Physics Building had been graffitied with derogatory language towards Asian individuals.
This was the second of a series of racially targeted attacks on SU’s campus after the Day Residence Hall bathrooms were also vandalized on Nov. 7.
As of Nov. 17, there have been up to 10 reported incidents by the Department of Public Safety involving racially charged acts toward minorities. These acts have included emails to members of Syracuse University’s Student Association, condoning the racist and anti-Semitic incidents of the past week.
“I think we’re just drawing more attention to this person’s ignorance, increasing the likelihood of something like this happening again,” said sophomore Will Domeniconi.
“I feel like they should definitely be addressing it more because they’ve kind of just been sending emails about things that we already know rather than talking about what they’re trying to do,” said sophomore Stephanie Yun.
“I definitely feel like its probably not a majority of students, and it’s probably a group or a few students acting out and trying to cause destruction in the school,” said a student who asked to remain anonymous.
Protests took place during SU men’s basketball game against Colgate University and have continued throughout the day at the Barnes Center and into the night since Nov 13.
In a statement to the university early on Nov. 17., Chancellor Kent Syverundhas decided “to suspend all social activities of fraternities on this campus for the remainder of the semester” based upon the action on one fraternity, Alpha Chi Rho.
When asked why he suspended the social events of every fraternity although one fraternity committed a racist act, Syverund responded “While only one fraternity may have been involved in this particular incident, given recent history, all fraternities must come together with the university community to reflect upon how to prevent recurrence of such seriously troubling behavior.”
The Department of Public Safety and the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force are investigating several of the acts. If you have information about these incidents, DPS asks to call their direct line at 315-443-2224.
Several organizations on campus such as Syracuse Hillel and the S.I. Newhouse School has offered to host forums and events where students can discuss the issues in a comfortable setting.
The student-run #NotAgainSU has raised over $7,000 “to provide us with resources as we intend on staying in the sit-in.”
In addition, Syverund mentioned in his statement that, “A generous university donor has offered a reward for evidence that leads to the apprehension of the individual or individuals responsible for these heinous acts.”
