free
WEDNESDAY
march 25, 2015 high 46°, low 37°
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 • Picture perfect
Annie Griffiths, a former photographer for National Geographic, spoke Tuesday night in Hendricks Chapel at the final University Lecture of the semester. Page 3
dailyorange.com
P • Ice, ice, baby
Hailey Blodgett, a 12-year-old figure skater, practices at Tennity Ice Skating Pavillion several times a week and is working toward her Olympic dreams. Page 11
S • Young guns
Lacrosse coaches admit it’s not a good practice, but they continue to start recruiting players at young ages and there appears to be no end in sight for the trend. Page 20
Road to Mount to be closed
LOOKING BACK Here’s a rundown of some of the key dates in the ongoing lawsuit between Cameron Hill Construction LLC and Syracuse University. Last summer, SU fired the developer of its proposed new bookstore, which was to be built at 601 University Ave.
Mount Olympus Drive to shut down during repairs By Justin Mattingly asst. news editor
2012: Syracuse Common Council votes in favor of tax deal for Cameron Hill to develop new Syracuse University bookstore. The council narrowly voted 5-4 in favor of the tax deal.
June 20, 2014: SU fires Cameron Hill, saying the developer failed to demonstrate credible ability to complete the project as it had contractually agreed to do. July 15, 2014: Cameron Hill filed a lawsuit claiming the university wrongfully terminated the project. The lawsuit claimed SU breached the contract between the two parties. Jan. 7, 2015: Cameron Hill rejected a settlement offer from SU in the case. The two groups had been in settlement talks since September 2014
The site of SU’s proposed new bookstore is 601 University Ave. However, the land has sat vacant while the university has been locked in a lawsuit with Cameron Hill Construction, LLC, for the past nine months. frankie prijatel photo editor
SU, developer remain locked in lawsuit By Jessica Iannetta
see mount
olympus page 10
Official talks plans for role
staff writer
As the lawsuit between Syracuse University and the developer it hired to construct a new bookstore enters its ninth month, the fences surrounding the proposed construction site are posing a problem for city-owned sidewalks and bike paths. The construction site, located at 601 University Ave., has been dormant since June, but portions of the city-owned sidewalk and Connective Corridor bike lanes have remained enclosed inside the construction fence. Last week, a lawyer for the city sent a letter to the judge in the case asking to meet with the two sides to discuss these areas being closed off as litigation continues. The developer, Cameron Hill Construction LLC, sued the university in July 2014, about a month after SU terminated its contract to build a new bookstore and fitness center on University Avenue. The university cited construction delays and inability to secure financing as reasons for ending the project. But Cameron Group says the two parties had a good working relationship and that it has lost approximately $1.5 million on the project.
Mount Olympus Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic for three and a half hours on Wednesday in the aftermath of a car crashing into the stairs on the mount. The road, which provides access to Day and Flint Halls, as well as Graham Dining Center, will be closed from 1:30–5 p.m. on Wednesday while a crane is moved into place. The crane will be brought in and the damaged sections of the Mount Olympus stairway will be removed and taken away, according to an email sent to Mount Olympus residents by Assistant Residence Director
Human resources officer to start April 15 By Thomas Beckley-Forest staff writer
The proposed bookstore and fitness center was to be built just across the road from Marshall Square Mall along University Avenue. frankie prijatel photo editor
The issue with the bike lanes and sidewalks is just the latest collateral effect of the lawsuit. The new bookstore on University Avenue would have freed up considerable space in the Schine Student Center and allowed for needed renovations to the nearly 30-year-old building. Now those plans seem to be on hold as well.
In June, the university said it wasn’t seeking other developers and would be re-setting the process for the project. Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs at SU, said that although the lawsuit is still in progress, the university continues to make talking to students about their desires for campus see cameron
hill page 7
Andy Gordon says he’s coming to Syracuse University for the people. “I am most excited about having the opportunity to meet as many people as possible,” Gordon said. Gordon, who Chancellor Kent Syverud selected to be the next chief human resources officer last week, is expected to be confirmed by the Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee next month. Gordon will oversee all areas of SU’s human resource services for the university’s
see gordon page 7