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THURSDAY
nov. 14, 2019 high 36°, low 29°
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 |
dailyorange.com
‘They don’t want me here’ 10:30 a.m. About 30 students began the sit-in in the lobby of the Barnes Center at The Arch. They handed out papers with their demands. If the demands go unmet, students will call for the resignation of top administrators. 12:15 p.m. Chancellor Kent Syverud arrived at The Arch. He left shortly after to go to meetings with other students. One student asked “Where’s our conversation?” 2:30 p.m. Several administrators. arrived at the sit-in. Students began voicing their concerns and going over demands with university officials. About 300 students attended a sit-in Wednesday at The Barnes Center at the Arch. Students organized the protest to urge the university to implement change after racist graffiti was found in Day Hall. corey henry photo editor
Hundreds of students participated in Barnes Center sit-in. SU officials answered demands for hours. By Gabe Stern
asst. news editor
Editor’s note: This article contains details about the usage of racial slurs.
S
tudents have been raising their voices since Monday. They met in Watson Theater, hours after reports surfaced of racist graffiti in Day Hall. They spoke up Tuesday night, when Residence Hall Association held an open forum. Four
officials were there to hear their concerns. But they wanted someone else. “We want Kent,” dozens of students chanted Tuesday. “We want Kent,” they said again. Meanwhile, Chancellor Kent Syverud was in Washington, D.C. at a conference at the National Press Club. He flew back to Syracuse on Wednesday morning and drove directly to the Barnes Center at The Arch, where many of those same students sat. It was there that students held a
sit-in, the first public protest since the racist graffiti was uncovered. What started at 10:30 a.m. with a few dozen students ballooned as The Arch entrance crowded. The organizers of the event, using #NotAgainSU as a rally cry, stemmed from a group chat of about 580 students of color on campus. They wanted a face-to-face dialogue with administrators and donors of the university. The lobby was loud Wednesday.
day hall graffiti
see sit-in page 6
3:26 p.m. “We have no faith in you,” one student said to administrators, calling for more accountability from SU. 4:48 p.m. DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado began answering questions. One student told him “the resignation list is growing” if their demands aren’t met. 8:45 p.m. Protesters asked the remaining SU administators and media personnel to leave the Arch. Students said they would remain in the space until 1 a.m.
day hall graffiti
Students release list of demands Campus organizations support #NotAgainSU By Emma Folts
asst. news editor
Editor’s note: This article contains details about the usage of racial slurs. About 30 Syracuse University students sat quietly in protest in the middle of the Barnes Center at The Arch at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a week after racist graffiti was found in Day Hall. By 6:30 p.m., more
N • Unrest abroad
SU will end its Hong Kong study abroad program early due to intensifying civil unrest in the territory, Chancellor Kent Syverud announced Wednesday night. Page 3
than 200 students had gathered. The students were there to speak with university officials. Some students cried. Some spoke out in anger. In frustration. The protesters organized the sitin under the hashtag #NotAgainSU. They wanted to make sure their demands were heard. A list of shortterm and long-term demands, nine in all, were passed around those in attendance and written on posters taped to the walls.
The list ended with an ultimatum. If the students’ requests weren’t met by Nov. 20 — a week after the sit-in — they would call for the resignation of Chancellor Kent Syverud and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Keith Alford. “Every single specific demand here is important because it matters to every single student on this campus,” said Hawa Touray, who attended the sit-in.
see demands page 6
P • Campus home
The co-presidents of Indigenous Students at Syracuse strive to bring cultural awareness to the SU campus through events and lectures. Page 7
By India Miraglia asst. news editor
Campus organizations have posted online and released statements in support of the more than 100 students sitting in at the Barnes Center at The Arch to protest the university’s handling of racist graffiti found in a residence hall.
S • Empty stands
Before Syracuse men’s basketball Wednesday game against Colgate, Otto’s Army asked students attending the game to unpack the dome. Page 12
The students’ sit-in began at around 10:30 a.m. and is expected to last until 1 a.m. Thursday morning. At the sitin, students presented demands for Syracuse University officials. If the demands are not meant by 3 p.m. on Nov. 20, students call for the resignation of Chancellor Kent Syverud
see support page 6