free
tuesday
jan. 14, 2014 high 42°, low 32°
t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |
N • Swearing in
dailyorange.com
P • In transition
At the first SA meeting of the 58th session, new cabinet members were confirmed and assembly positions members were elected. Page 7
Challenges, including the isolation of living on South Campus and meeting people, await mid-year transfer students as they prepare for life at a new school. Page 9
S • Close call
After trailing in the second half, Syracuse avoids upset and remains unbeaten with a 69-59 win over BC. Page 16
MAN ON THE STREET Syverud aims to connect with SU community
By Jacob Pramuk asst. news editor
By Casey Fabris editor in chief
O
n his first day as chancellor, Kent Syverud made his way to the Schine Student Center to have lunch among the students of Syracuse University. He doesn’t want to be a “clueless 57 year old;” he wants to be someone who understands what life is like for an undergraduate student at SU. He talked with students, many of whom were surprised to see their new chancellor at Schine, about what their SU experience is like. It’s important, Syverud said, that he knows what life is like at SU for every student, not just a select few. Though some things, like living in a dorm, haven’t changed since Syverud was an undergraduate student, others certainly have. People think that today’s college students have it easy because of technology, he said, but in reality, it makes their life more stressful because they’re unable to disconnect from their vari-
Ex-football player drops plea Former Syracuse football player Markus Pierce-Brewster backed out of a plea bargain Monday morning as he prepared to plead guilty to charges related to a South Campus burglary last winter. After some confusion, acting Onondaga County Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti determined that Pierce-Brewster’s involvement could fit multiple charges, but not necessarily the third-degree burglary charges brought against him. He will appear in Onondaga County criminal court again on Friday. PierceBrewster and Davon Walls, both ex-SU defen- Piercesive line- Brewster men, were first arrested and appeared charged with in court for burglary and the incident petit larceny last March last winter and Monday after police a c c u s e d marked the them of latest setstealing a back in the f l a t- s c r e e n case’s resot e l e v i s i o n , lution. an X box gaming system, games and two iPods worth $950 in total from an apartment on the 400 block of Winding Ridge Road. SU Department of Public Safety footage of the area showed Pierce-Brewster and Walls in possession of the items. Head coach Scott Shafer kicked both players off the football team last spring. Pierce-Brewster stood somber and reserved in a navy blue jacket and striped orange and blue tie Monday as he admitted that he drove Walls to the Winding Ridge apartment. He acknowledged that he stood outside the apartment as Walls entered and took the electronics before driving back to their residence.
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Chancellor Kent Syverud said he hopes to be involved in student life and improve the university as a whole. He also wants to stay connected with the city of Syracuse. chase gaewski managing editor
ous responsibilities with extracurricular activities. Syverud said students today seem older than he was when he was in college.
“It’s been sobering at times because I’d forgotten how many stresses are involved in being simultaneously a student, a reporter,
a president of something, a person trying to figure out your love life, all those things happening at the same
see syverud page 8
Syverud meets with students, staff during first day as SU chancellor By Brett Samuels asst. news editor
S
Chancellor kent Syverud and his wife ruth chen talk to students inside the Schine Student Center. sam maller photo editor
tudents passing through the Schine Student Center Monday afternoon might have noticed a swarm of cameras and students gathering around a new face on campus. That face belonged to Kent Syverud, Syracuse University’s 12th chancellor, who spent his first official day on the job meeting students and staff at various locations around campus. Syverud took time to speak with groups at several locations throughout the afternoon, including lunch with orientation leaders in Schine Student Center, a visit with students and staff at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, a tour of the Slutzker Center for International Services
and a stop at the Syracuse Technology Garden downtown. Many of those who spoke to Syverud personally came away with positive thoughts on the new chancellor. “He seems like a very friendly guy, and he’s really making an effort to meet the student body,” said Tiffany Chu, a junior information management and technology and psychology major who spoke with Syverud at the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Syverud’s wife, Dr. Ruth Chen, joined him for the afternoon events. Chu, a Texas native, said she discussed Texas with the pair since Chen lived in Houston. Chu added that Syverud was very personable and talking with students so early in his tenure made a good first impression. see first
day page 8
see pierce-brewster page 8