#NotAgainSU reissued calls for the resignation of four Syracuse University administrators during its occupation of Crouse-Hinds Hall. 

The movement, led by Black students, began occupying the lobby of Crouse-Hinds Hall on Monday afternoon. About 50 people had gathered as of 2:40 p.m. It is unclear how long the movement plans to remain in the building, which houses the offices of Chancellor Kent Syverud and other SU administrators.

In an opening statement, an organizer restated calls for the resignation or removal of Syverud, Department of Public Safety Chief Bobby Maldonado, DPS Associate Chief John Sardino and Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president for enrollment and student experience.

The administration has lacked transparency and violated commitments it made to students, the organizer said. #NotAgainSU submitted a list of 19 demands for Syverud to meet in response to a series of hate crimes and bias-related incidents. Syverud signed 16 of the demands as written and revised the remaining three.

“The movement is about changing the systems of oppression that are upheld and protected by this university,” the organizer said.

#NotAgainSU provided a deadline of Friday for the four administrators to vacate their offices. If the administrators do not resign by that time, or if SU’s Board of Trustees does not remove them, “escalated actions will take place,” the organizer said.

Protesters marched in December to deliver letters of resignation to the officials, initially setting a Jan. 13 deadline for their resignations.

The purpose of the Crouse-Hinds occupation is not to disrupt class, the movement said in a statement. The building includes administrative offices, the Office of Admissions and the Division Enrollment and the Student Experience, all of which are responsible for the systemic problems the movement is protesting, the statement reads.

SU respects the rights of its students to express opinions through peaceful demonstration, said Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for university communications, in a statement to The Daily Orange.

“We remain focused on creating lasting change through the commitments that were made to our campus last semester,” Scalese said. “Syracuse University is a stronger community when all individuals, from across campus representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives, have a seat at the table.”

The university continues to provide updates on its commitments to students via email, social media and the SU website, she said. An SU webpage tracks the university’s response to the demands of #NotAgainSU and the concerns and solutions of international, Jewish and indigenous students.

#NotAgainSU previously held a sit-in at the Barnes Center at The Arch for eight days in November in response to the slew of hate crimes and bias-related incidents that occurred at or near the university. At least 26 racist, anti-Semitic and bias-related incidents have occurred at or near Main Campus since Nov. 7, including several instances of racist graffiti found in SU residence halls.

The movement’s latest occupation is not reactionary, the organizer said. The repeated racist incidents at SU are indicative of the administration’s institutional enabling of white supremacy, they said. The organizer cited THE General Body, a student protest movement that occupied the lobby of Crouse-Hinds for 18 days in November 2014.

“We look forward to working with our next chancellor,” the organizer said.

Published on February 17, 2020 at 1:16 pm

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