Syracuse University has trained faculty on diversity and inclusion and has gathered input on reforming SEM 100, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Keith Alford announced Friday.

Alford detailed the training and reform in a campus-wide update on SU’s efforts to implement students’ demands and recommendations. #NotAgainSU, a movement led by Black students, demanded that SU provide monthly updates on the progress of implementing its demands.

#NotAgainSU has occupied Crouse-Hinds Hall since Feb. 17 to continue its ongoing protest of at least 30 hate crimes or hate incidents that have occurred at or near SU since November.

The movement has 34 demands, 19 of which Chancellor Kent Syverud signed in November. Jewish, international and indigenous students also presented concerns and solutions to Syverud.

The Board of Trustees special committee jointly assessing diversity, inclusion and campus climate at SU held 20 dialogue sessions with students, faculty and staff on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, Alford said in the release. The committee formed in light of the hate crimes and hate incidents on campus.

The university has also created three working groups to review SU’s Code of Student Conduct, as well as it’s anti-harassment policy and guidelines for sanctions, Alford said.

About 30 #NotAgainSU organizers were placed under interim suspension for violating SU’s Campus Disruption Policy by remaining in Crouse-Hinds past closing. SU lifted the suspensions a day later.

Students will be able to use My College Roomie, a roommate-matching service, starting March 15, Alford said. #NotAgainSU demanded that the university created a platform allowing students to select roommates based on mutual interests and identities.

The university has also begun several efforts to diversify its counseling services, a demand of #NotAgainSU.

Counseling staff attended a conference in January about LGBTQ support and racism and mental health, Alford said. Therapists who represent multiple identities and speak multiple languages will also provide teletherapy to students at the Barnes Center at The Arch, he said.

The Department of Public Safety also reviewed security assessments with Jillian Juni, executive director of Hillel. SU’s Hillel is located near the 505 on Walnut, where a swastika was found etched in a snowbank in November. A working group has also been created to review anti-Semitism training, Alford said.

SU in March will install additional security cameras in Flint Hall, where anti-indigenous graffiti was found Nov. 21. Jewish students also requested greater security cameras on campus.

“Let us collectively acknowledge that change requires a long-term commitment—to the work and to each other,” Alford said.

Published on February 29, 2020 at 1:26 pm

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