hi
free
47° |
lo
thursday
march 28, 2013
30°
t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa pe r of s y r acuse , n e w yor k
INSIDenews
I N S I D e o p ini o n
Fighting for change A student group holds
Taking responsibility Students must take it upon
a protest to urge SU to end its relationship with Adidas. Page 3
themselves to reduce the prevalent self-segregation issue at SU. Page 5
Stirring the melting pot SU's focus on diversity marks trend, campus still developing By Dara McBride Development Editor
I
n the past 10 years, Syracuse University has nearly doubled the amount of first-year students enrolled from low-income and minority backgrounds. During Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s tenure, SU has become more diverse in racial, geographic and socioeconomic ways. In university discussions regarding the future of the university, some staff, faculty and students say a continuing emphasis on diversity is a quality they would like to see in SU’s next chancellor.
“Diversity is here. Now what do we do with it?” James Duah-Agyeman director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs
“The composition of the undergraduate student body has changed so dramatically over the past decade that I just think it’s remarkable,” said Don Saleh, vice president for enrollment management. “And it’s something that the institution, I believe, is proud of and should be proud of.” Total enrollment has also increased, from 11,088 in 2002 to 13,905 in 2012, and SU has seen increases in diversity across the board. • The number of students from the Northeast is dropping as more students from the Southern and Western United States and inter-
national locations are accepted. In fall 2002, 77 percent of students were from the Northeast. In fall 2012, it was 64 percent. • In 2002, 16 percent of first-year undergraduate students were considered minority students. In 2012, that number increased to 31 percent. SU considers minority students to be students who identify as AfricanAmerican, Asian-American, Native American or Latino. • The number of first-year students who receive Federal Pell Grants has increased from 17 percent in 2002 to 26 percent in 2012. Federal Pell Grants are given to lowincome undergraduate students and do not have to be repaid. Most Pell grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. Higher education studies suggest diversity is expected to increase in colleges across the United States. The number of minority college applicants is expected to rise significantly, according to Knocking at the College Door, a regular report on demographic change published by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. By the year 2020, minority students will account for 45 percent of public high school graduates, according to the report. For Saleh, providing these opportunities to students is all part of the service a university should provide. Having a diverse campus means a complete education experience for students at SU, one that can prepare them for the real world. A university serves the public good, and one way to do that is by see diversity page 6
INSIDepulp
Funny business Comedian Seth Meyers
performed to a sold-out crowd at Goldstein Auditorium on Wednesday night. Page 11
da i lyor a nge .c om
I N S I D Es p o r t s
Most teams used Wednesday’s Sweet 16 practices as a laidback shootaround, but Indiana was all business.
Locking down Syracuse’s defense faces its
toughest test of the season against Indiana’s potent offense in the Sweet 16. Page 20
expanding circles
Between 2002 and 2012, Syracuse University experienced an increase in overall enrollment and in campus diversity. University officials say they want to create a campus that reflects the world. Of the 13,905 first-year students in fall 2012, the percent of minority and low-income students has nearly doubled since 2002.
Students from outside the Northeast
The university is accepting more international students and students from outside of the Northeast. The change reflects a push for greater geographic diversity and the result of a limited pool of college-age students in the Northeast. fall 2002 first-year students from outside the northeast
Committee reviews SU Athletics By Dara McBride Development Editor
22.8%
fall 2012 first-year students from outside the northeast
Minority Students
35.8%
SU considers minority students to be students who identify as AfricanAmerican, Asian-American, Native American or Latino. fall 2002 first-year students who identified as a minority
16.3%
fall 2012 first-year students who identified as a minority
Pell Grant Recipients
31.1%
Federal Pell Grants are given to low-income undergraduate students and do not have to be repaid. Most Pell grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. fall 2002 first-year pell grant recipients
fall 2012 first-year pell grant recipients
17.0%
26.4%
If playing in the NCAA Tournament was based on academic performance, Syracuse wouldn’t have made it past the first round. After two seasons during which basketball players have been declared academically ineligible, university officials are looking to improve their policies and practices by reorganizing the handling of athletics and academics for all student-athletes. In recent months, the University Senate Committee on Athletic Policy voiced concerns about the academic policies and practices associated with
see athletic policy page 9
Proposal to cut cost of internships By Levi Stein Staff Writer
For sophomore biology major Stephen Acheampong, finding a summer internship that pays and provides quality experience has been a struggle. “I’ve been looking for a good internship this summer,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seems that most do not provide any monetary compensation, and those that do require school credit.” Acheampong’s dilemma is one that resonates with many students. In a competitive job market, students and recent college graduates seek internships as a way to obtain real-world experience. But with unpaid internships becoming more commonplace, SU is taking steps to alleviate financial obstacles for students. A proposal drafted by the
see internships page 6