Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud Friday paid an hour-long visit to students holding a silent sit-in protest of repeated incidents of racist graffiti found in and around campus. At least 200 students packed in a long hallway of the Barnes center to ask him questions and demand answers. Freshman Vanessa Giraldo says the administration can improve communication of such incidents to students.
“When the whole incident happened last week in Day Hall, they didn’t give us any acknowledgement of it until a week later when everybody already knew about it. They told everybody in Day Hall to stay quiet and to keep it to themselves because they don’t want controversy, but I feel like they have to be responsible and have to take ownership of what happened.”
For his part, Syverud told the students he, too, is concerned about the delay in reporting the first graffiti incident, and that their activism has made it clear that they could do a better job.
“While there may need to be some delay from the discovery of a hate crime to make sure we’re honoring privacy and preserving evidence, that delay should be as brief as possible and the communication about it should be as general as possible. The important thing in such a situation is for people to know the facts so they can act accordingly. The important thing is not the reputation of the university or hushing something up.” said Syverud.
Syverud promised the students that he would respond to an updated list of their demands by 5 pm Wednesday. The students want $1 million dedicated to a unified, required diversity curriculum. Syverud says they’re working toward that goal.
“It’s my understanding that views about that process that were shared in some parts of the university, did not reach the levels of the people actually responsible for planning the course at the university level, and so that has to happen.”
Students also demand new multi-cultural offices for students of color. Freshman Vanessa Giraldo says the graffiti is an example of an underlying inclusion problem on campus.
“I think it’s become more of an issue, but I think we’re shedding light on it because it’s always been an issue. It’s just always been hid under the rug.”
Meanwhile students will continue their peaceful sit in at the Barnes Center through Nov. 20. Syverud promised they wouldn’t be sanctioned for participating.
