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THURSDAY
dec. 8, 2016 high 47°, low 28°
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 • In support
A fundraiser was held Wednesday night at Funk ‘n Waffles downtown to give refugees who have settled in Syracuse more aid than than the state provides. Page 3
dailyorange.com
O • Changing paths
P • Lasting impression
Columnist Max Kaczor discusses how the Dakota Access Pipeline rerouting is only a minor victory, as we should move away from oil altogether. Page 5
David Rubin is retiring at the end of the semester following a 28-year Newhouse career, leaving behind a legacy as an effective and widelyrespected dean and professor. Page 13
ROAD AHEAD State DOT considers options for I-81’s future
Syverud expands role as fundraiser editor in chief
By Michael Burke asst. news editor
P
osters with information about the potential future of Interstate 81 in Syracuse lined the perimeter of the cafeteria in Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Monday evening as local residents filed in and out, hoping to learn more about what might happen to the major highway. In one section of the cafeteria were posters labeled “viaduct alternative,” and in another were posters labeled “community grid alternative.” Those are the two remaining options — dwindled down from the 16 options originally presented in 2014 — being considered for replacing the highway’s elevated portion in Syracuse. A draft environmental impact statement is likely to be made available in early January and a final decision is expected sometime in 2017. “There’s a lot of information that is being col-
lected and needs analysis,” said Gene Cilento, the NYSDOT Region 3 public information officer. The viaduct alternative option would consist of replacing the current viaduct with a wider version, while the community grid alternative would involve removing the elevated highway near Almond Street and distributing traffic onto the city grid. Both options include some of the same plans, which have been dubbed the “common features.” Among them is a plan to connect Interstate 690 and I-81 near North Syracuse by building a new set of ramps, something that has come up as a point of controversy. The Syracuse Common Council on Monday passed a resolution calling for the New York State Department of Transportation to reconsider that aspect of the reconstruction. If the viaduct alternative is pursued, the existing I-81 viaduct will be demolished and reconstructed
see i-81 page 8
‘Sanctuary campus’ calls addressed By Michael Burke asst. news editor
Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud on Wednesday expressed his support for undocumented students but said SU must comply with federal laws as he addressed calls for SU to be made a “sanctuary campus.” In an email to the campus community, Syverud said it is against university policy to share immigration status unless required by law and called on several pockets of the university to work together to protect community members. He did not, however, explicitly
say SU would be made a sanctuary campus. He said the university “ simply cannot ignore federal laws.” Since Donald Trump’s election as United States president, some in the community have urged SU to be made a sanctuary campus. The concept behind the movement is for universities to adopt policies that protect undocumented students On Nov. 17, Syverud had SU sign a letter in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a policy protecting immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. In his email Wednesday, Syverud said he will be calling on the
Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience, the Council on Diversity and Inclusion and the Department of Public Safety “to ensure all members of our community are protected from physical harm, discrimination and intimidation.” Those groups, he said, will also be tasked with helping to promote an inclusive campus. “We care deeply about our students, embrace all individuals, listen to diverse viewpoints, respect differences and empower all members of our community to succeed,” Syverud said. mdburk01@syr.edu @michaelburke47
Lindsay Eastwood had to quit playing ice hockey because of a medical condition. But it reversed itself, even though there was less than a 5 percent chance. Page 24
fast forward syracuse
By Justin Mattingly
Two options are being considered for construction on a portion of Interstate 81 near Syracuse. There were originally 16 options proposed in 2014. wasim ahmad staff photographer
S • Against the odds
When Chancellor Kent Syverud assumed his role in spring 2014, he was quickly thrown into an NCAA investigation and headed an effort to revamp the central New York economy. Dealing with the former took up a substantial amount of time for Syverud, he said, calling the investigation “an important priority in my first year.” His work for the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council was also timely, with work that led to $500 million in state money secured for different initiatives in the region. Syverud’s job has become more fundraising-focused as he works to turn Fast Forward Syracuse, his main three-pronged initiative for the university’s future, a reality. His role in advancement is key in SU’s ability to fund the sought after improvements to campus infrastructure and in the classroom. “Mainly what I’m doing 18 hours a day is shepherding the university forward and a huge fraction of that is to raise money,” Syverud said. The Board of Trustees is in the early stages of planning a major fundraising initiative, adminis-
trators said. The Board has yet to decide on the exact goal of the initiative or a set dollar amount it hopes to raise. A major fundraising campaign is not a new concept for the university or key stakeholders. Syverud’s hire for chief advancement officer, Matt Ter Molen, spearheaded Northwestern University’s recent $3.75 billion fundraising initiative to fund its strategic plan. The campaign has raised more than $3 billion, as of late September. In 2012, then-Chancellor Nancy Cantor completed a $1 billion fundraising goal three months ahead of schedule. That campaign took two years between development and launch. Money raised through the Campaign for Syracuse University helped create faculty positions, scholarships and campus buildings. Brian Sischo, the head of the campaign, said at the time of completion that another major campaign would be years away. Now, four years and one chancellor later, major fundraising is again the key to implementing the changes the head of the university wants to see.
see syverud page 8
university senate
3 takeaways from last meeting of semester By Alexa Torrens development editor
The University Senate held its last meeting of the fall 2016 semester on Wednesday afternoon in Maxwell Auditorium. Here are three takeaways from the meeting:
Tutoring hub
A free tutoring hub is expected to open in E.S. Bird Library in January as per recommendation of the Chancellor’s Workgroup on Diversity and Inclusion. The Center for Academic Achievement will offer free “critical academic support,” said Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly, who added that the center will focus on “high-DFW” courses. High-DFW courses are those that have high percentages of students who receive D or F grades or withdraw from the course. Margaret Usdansky, the director of Syracuse University’s
Academic Integrity Office, will direct the staff at the center.
what is usen? The University Senate is the academic governing body of the university and is made up of faculty, students, staff and administration members. The majority of the work is done in 17 standing committees, which report to the full senate at least once a year.
In support
Senate members discussed an address that would demonstrate its support for a group of SU students who, following the results of the presidential election, penned a petition to Wheatly and Chancellor Kent Syverud regarding the election. The petition asked Wheatly and Syverud to represent the entire university community in
see senate page 10