February 24, 2020

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MONDAY

feb. 24, 2020 high 49°, 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 |

P • Beauty and power

N • Case classification

dailyorange.com

The African Student Union hosted its first Miss Africa pageant this past Saturday. Three contestants represented different African countries with fashion and music. Page 7

Department of Public Safety Chief Bobby Maldonado discusses how the department classifies bias-related incidents in its reporting protocol. Page 3

S • Late surge

Syracuse men’s lacrosse continued its undefeated start with a win over No. 9 Army, using a seven-goal second half to erase its deficit. Page 12

Behind closed doors

on campus

CrouseHinds sitin enters 8th day By Sarah Alessandrini asst. copy editor

#NotAgainSU organizers have occupied Crouse-Hinds Hall for eight days. The movement, led by Black students, began occupying the building Feb. 17 to continue its protest of at least 29 racist, anti-Semitic and bias-related incidents that have occurred at or near Syracuse University since early November. Protesters held a sit-in at the Barnes Center at The Arch for eight days in November, ending the demonstration after Chancellor Kent Syverud signed 16 of the movement’s 19 demands as written and revised the remaining three.

#NotAgainSU protesters said the university prevented food, medicine and resources from entering Crouse-Hinds Hall from early Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon to compel organizers to leave. elizabeth billman asst. photo editor

#NotAgainSU, university officials disagree on what happened inside Crouse-Hinds Hall last week By Chris Hippensteel asst. news editor

S

yracuse University administration and #NotAgainSU protesters disagree on what unfolded inside CrouseHinds Hall while the building was sealed off Tuesday and Wednesday. #NotAgainSU, a movement led by Black students, began occupying Crouse-Hinds at noon on Feb. 17. The demonstration is part of the group’s ongoing protests of the university’s handling of at least 29 racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic incidents that have occurred at or near SU since early November.

The Department of Public Safety sealed off CrouseHinds as of Tuesday morning, barring people without swipe access from entering. Food, medicine and other supplies were not permitted to enter the building until Wednesday afternoon. The building reopened Thursday. During and after the closure of Crouse-Hinds, protesters have said that the university prevented food, medicine and hygiene products from entering the building as a means of compelling protesters to leave. “We felt like animals,” one protester said during a discussion with visiting students from SUNY Binghamton. “We felt like prisoners.” see protest page 4

on campus

Organizers to call for negotiations with officials By Emma Folts news editor

#NotAgainSU plans to contact Syracuse University administration Sunday night with a time and place to negotiate on the movement’s demands, an organizer said. The movement, led by Black students, has occupied Crouse-Hinds Hall since Monday to continue its ongoing protest of at least 29 racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic incidents that have occurred at or near SU since early November. Organizers plan to occupy the

building until the movement’s 24 demands are met, protesters said Wednesday. The movement initially presented a list of 19 demands to Chancellor Kent Syverud in November, adding six, revising five and retracting one on Feb. 17. University officials have not signed the movement’s updated list of demands as of Sunday night. The movement demanded Feb. 17 that Syverud and three other SU officials resign by 11:59 p.m. Friday. None of the officials have vacated their positions. “We have only been in com-

24

Number of demands #NotAgainSU released during occupation of Crouse-Hinds Hall, including 17 from November

munication with admin when they choose to make themselves available to us. There has so far been no protocol for the admin that indicates how and when we

can communicate with them,” an organizer said in a statement to The Daily Orange. Several university officials — including Syverud, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Keith Alford and Rob Hradsky, vice president of the student experience and dean of students — have visited the Crouse-Hinds occupation throughout this week. University administration has been meeting without students on floors they can’t access, the organizer said. The officials then visit see negotiations page 4

29

Number of racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic incidents reported at SU since Nov. 7. #NotAgainSU is protesting the incidents.

#NotAgainSU presented a revised list of 24 demands Feb. 17 and plans to occupy the space until the demands are met. As of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, university officials have not agreed to the movement’s new and revised demands. The movement demanded Feb. 17 that four SU officials resign by 11:59 p.m. Friday. #NotAgainSU said in a statement that “escalated action will take place” if the officials did not resign or the Board of Trustees did not remove them. None have vacated their positions. The Department of Public Safety sealed off Crouse-Hinds as of Tuesday morning and reopened the building Thursday morning. Students, faculty and community members remained outside the building throughout Tuesday and Wednesday to show support for the protesters inside. SU initially placed at least 30 protesters under interim suspension early Tuesday morning for remaining in Crouse-Hinds past its 9 p.m. closing time. Syverud lifted these suspensions Wednesday night. SU officials told organizers Wednesday night that they can remain in the building past closing, but will not be allowed to reenter the building until it opens at 7 a.m. if they leave. Crouse-Hinds will also operated on its 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekday hours over the weekend. scalessa@syr.edu @sarahalessan


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