Editor’s note: This article details the usage of racial slurs. 

Chancellor Kent Syverud told the Syracuse University community that the perpetrators of Saturday’s racist verbal attack against a black female student will face disciplinary action. 

Syverud made the announcement in a video emailed Sunday evening to the student body. In the video, the chancellor restated that SU has identified those believed to be responsible for the harassment, an update he initially provided Sunday morning. 

A student reported Saturday that a large group of individuals near College Place yelled the N-word as she walked by. The Department of Public Safety announced an investigation into the incident, which did not involve a physical altercation, in a campus-wide email Saturday night. 

The involvement of members of a fraternity in the racist attack prompted Syverud to announce the suspension of the fraternity Sunday morning, he said. The fraternity was placed under investigative status, and social activities of all fraternities have been suspended. Alpha Chi Rho was the only fraternity newly listed as suspended on the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs’ website since the DPS email was sent.

“It is the collective responsibility of our fraternities and our whole university to reflect on how to prevent this very troubling behavior in the future,” Syverud said in the video. 

In the video, DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado, Dean of Students Marianne Thomson and incoming Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost John Liu also provided additional updates concerning the campus community and the ongoing investigations.

DPS is working with the Syracuse Police Department and New York State Police to investigate the anti-Semitic and racist incidents that have occurred on or near campus since Nov. 7. Gov. Andrew Cuomo initially deployed the state’s Hate Crimes Task Force to investigate racist graffiti against black and Asian people that was found in Day Hall. Since then, at least eight other hate crimes and bias-related incidents have occurred. 

Rewards totaling $50,000 could be provided to those who submit actionable information concerning the investigations, Maldonado said. 

#NotAgainSU, a movement led by black students, have held a sit-in at the Barnes Center at The Arch since Nov. 11 to protest the hate crimes and bias-related incidents. The protesters have presented a list of demands for the university to meet by Wednesday, several of which Thomson addressed in the video.

University administration is reviewing and revising the Code of Student Conduct and is working to cultivate a diverse staff to serve all students, Thomson said. The protesters want to amend student conduct policies to include a zero-tolerance harassment policy and have specifically called for counselors that represent students of marginalized identities.

SU is also training its residence hall staff to be aware of the needs of all students, Thomson said. Several incidents of racist and anti-Semitic graffiti have been found in Day and Haven halls. 

“Your residence hall is your home and it should feel safe and welcoming,” Thomson said. “It is important that we do this work right and that we do it together, so that all of our students feel valued, welcomed and respected.”

The protesters’ third demand is to revise SEM 100, a five-week seminar for freshmen on diversity and inclusion. Liu said student input is needed to review and approve the revised curriculum that will replace the seminar.

“We need you to be engaged in this process,” Liu said. “We need you to be receptive to new ideas coming from our students and coming from our fellow faculty.”

Liu has worked with faculty involved in academic affairs and the student experience to create action plans based on four priorities: curriculum, inclusive teaching, diversity training and diverse faculty. The action plans will be specific and will include real deadlines, Liu said. 

Syverud said the plans will reflect conversations the university has had within the past week with students, faculty, staff and community members. 

“Our Orange values are stronger than these shameful acts. We will be sharing further detailed updates early this coming week,” Syverud said. 

Published on November 17, 2019 at 11:18 pm

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