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Syracuse University Safety Updates Receive Mixed Reviews Syracuse University Safety Updates Receive Mixed Responses

A new safety plan was supposed to be implemented over break.

By Morgan Trau

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© 2019 Morgan Trau

Joann Li: “Until that persons caught, or the people are caught, or the perpetrators are caught, you know, I am not going to feel safe.”

Reporter Morgan Trau: Senior Joann Li says She does not think the University has done enough during the fall break to remedy the racial bias incidents that occurred in mid-November. She’s not the only student to feel that way.

Steven Koenig: “I thought there was going to be a little more changes, but it is kinda the same as it was before break.”

Trau: The changes senior Steven Koenig is referring to were sent out by Syrverud over the Thanksgiving Holiday, stating there would be increased DPS officers, more security cameras, and longer officer work shifts. Freshman Emily Karp lives in Lawrinson Hall, where she said the school did not follow through.

Emily Karp: “They haven’t installed any, they only have them in the lobby, and it’s still very controversial because they want it to be a homey feel, but it’s like, the intersection of like homey-ness and feeling safe.”

Trau: Students are saying only a few cameras have been added and here is one of them right there. It is in one of the elevators of Day Hall, which is where the original incident occurred.

Li: “Think of all the students of color who are Freshmen, who are not living in Day, who are scared for their lives, who are not affected by these cameras.”

Trau: The Administration says the process of adding cameras will be ongoing throughout the year, which has grad student Darron Wallace feeling optimistic about the future of Syracuse University safety.

Darron Wallace: “I appreciate the steps we are taking. I don’t know if it is enough yet, but I think it is definitely something, it is a step in the right direction and I support it.”

Trau: DPS also has a new website in place where officers will report all incidents on campus. If someone needs to report a crime, they have a form linked on their website… Morgan Trau, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Students are back on campus after fall break, but tension is still high for those who believe Syracuse University has not put in the effort to make them feel safe. 

Chancellor Kent Syverud sent out a new safety plan that was supposed to be implemented over break, but some students believe he did not live up to his goals. 

“Until that person is caught, or the people are caught, or the perpetrators are caught, you know, I am not going to feel safe,” said Joann Li, a senior originally from Singapore.

She does not think the University has done enough during the break to remedy the racial bias incidents that occurred in mid-November. She’s not the only student to feel that way.

“I thought there was going to be a little more changes,” said senior Steven Koenig.
“But, it is kinda the same as it was before break.”

The changes Koenig is referring to were sent out by Syrverud over the Thanksgiving Holiday, stating there would be increased DPS officers, more security cameras, and longer officer work shifts.

Email
Email of security updates from the SU Chancellor
© 2019 Morgan Trau

Freshman Emily Karp lives in Lawrinson Hall, where she said the school did not follow through.

“They haven’t installed any, they only have them in the lobby, and it’s still very controversial because they want it to be a homey feel, but it’s like, the intersection of like homey-ness and feeling safe,” she said.

The only new cameras students are talking about are in the elevators of Day Hall, which is where the original incident occurred. 

Joann Li said that was not fair.

“Think of all the students of color who are Freshmen, who are not living in Day, who are scared for their lives, who are not affected by these cameras,” she said.

elevator

She may not have to wait long for other changes, according to the University. The Administration said the process of adding cameras will be ongoing throughout the year. 

Graduate student Darron Wallace felt optimistic about the future of Syracuse University’s safety.

“I appreciate the steps we are taking. I don’t know if it is enough yet, but I think it is definitely something. It is a step in the right direction and I support it,” he said.

DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado issued a statement explaining how SU will be moving forward with safety communications, which was a main concern of the student protesters.

They have a new website in place where officers will report all incidents on campus. If someone needs to report a crime, they have a form linked on the site. 

Full Safety Email:

Security Email
Security Email Part 1
© 2019 Morgan Trau
Security Email
Security Email Part 2
© 2019 Morgan Trau
Security Email
Security Email Part 3
© 2019 Morgan Trau

A Brief History

Protest Organization #NotAgainSU has occupied the Barnes Center for eight days against Syracuse University’s response to hate crimes and bias-related incidents. 

At least 16 racist or bias-related incidents have been reported on and near campus since Nov. 7. 

Nov. night of 6 or morning of 7

  • The first graffiti and vandalism occurred, where racial slurs against African-American and Asian people were reported in freshman dorm Day Hall on floors four and six.

That included:

  • Ceiling lights in bathrooms of the sixth floor were pulled out and put in a toilet.
  • The N-word was written on the light, at least one mirror on the floor and on garbage cans. 
  • A slur against Asian people was written on a bulletin board on the fourth floor.

Nov 10.

  • According to individuals in the dorms, they were told by University officials and the Department of Public Safety not to talk about the incidents. 

Nov 11.

  • VP for Student Experience notified the student body of the incident via email
  • Gov. Cuomo announced the Hate Crime Task Force will help in an investigation into the events

Nov 12.

  • Chancellor Kent Syverud addressed student body in an email regarding the events
  • This made everyone extremely angry because of the lack of transparency and late action
  • Cuomo spoke on hate crimes
  • Forums held

Nov 13. 

  • Barnes Center sit-ins begin

Nov. 14.

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • DPS sent an email regarding racist graffiti against Asian people in a bathroom in the Physics Building.
  • A swastika was found in a snowbank across from the 505 on Walnut (an apartment building)
  • DPS said additional graffiti with language against Asian people was found on the third floor of Day Hall.

Nov. 15

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • Video message from Chancellor to SU community 
  • A racial slur was yelled at a Chinese freshman as he left Day Hall. DPS did not have enough evidence at the time to say it was motivated by bias.

Nov. 16

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • More swastikas found in Haven Hall and Day Hall
  • Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh spoke at Barnes Center
  • Women of color verbally attacked by members of Alpha Chi Ro, a fraternity (the fraternity was identified Nov. 17) 

Nov. 17

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • Chancellor announced that said frat was suspended. SU has suspended all social activities at fraternities for the rest of the fall 2019 semester.

Nov. 18

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • DPS reported racist graffiti against black people was found on the fifth floor of Day Hall. 

Nov. 19

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • A manifesto was found, see below.
  • Sit-Ins continue
  • SU professor Genevieve García de Müeller received an anonymous email that contained anti-Semitic language and referenced the Holocaust. 
  • A lot of classes canceled or excused

Nov. 20

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • This is the day the demands had to be dealt with
  • Forum for SU Senate held – discussed first-year experience
  • Forum held at 6 pm where the Chancellor would address demands
    • Did not go well
  • Students were not happy with the Chancellor, demanded he resign
  • Protests continued outside his house

Nov. 21

  • Sit-Ins continue
  • Chancellor Syverud has signed off on 16/19 of the demands. But they are still calling for his resignation
  • DPS announced four bias-related incidents on campus. 
    • Racist graffiti targeting black people was found on the fifth and sixth floor of Day Hall. 
    • A post-it note with anti-Native American language was found in Flint Hall, which is next to Day on Mount Olympus. 
    • Racist graffiti targeting Asian people was discovered in the Comstock Art Facility.
  • SU Freshman arrested for graffiti in support of Not Again SU movement
    • Kym McGowan, 18, of Syracuse, was arrested Wednesday on the charge of criminal mischief in the fourth degree and making graffiti, according to SPD. 

Link to full thread:

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