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By Satoshi Sugiyama asst. news editor
HAJI ADAN, executive director of Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment, was 8 years old when his family fled Somalia and resettled in a refugee camp in Kenya. He is one of six former refugees employed at RISE. frankie prijatel senior staff photographer
‘Find their place’ Organization empowers refugees in Syracuse area By Clare Ramirez copy chief
H
aji Adan grew up in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, where he remembers his brother falling severely ill. Adan’s father accompanied his brother when he needed to be transferred to a large hospital in Nairobi, the country’s capital — but language barriers prevented him from communicating in Swahili. His father, who spoke only Somali, barely slept or ate while he was there. Any food he received, he’d give to Adan’s brother. The few instances he slept, it was on the floor. Ten days later, hospital workers found Adan’s father attempting to throw himself out of the window of the tall building. Mimi na kufa, he yelled. Mimi na kufa. It was the only Swahili phrase his father knew: I die. “He was so hungry, and he was so frustrated about the language and about not being see rise page 7
Diverse programs provide resources for refugees’ success By Clare Ramirez copy chief
There’s no doubt the most popular service at Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment is the case management program, where clients can ask for services like employment help and translation. But RISE has a lineup of programs aimed at providing the local refugee community with resources and opportunities to grow into American culture while staying true to
The after-school program at RISE emphasizes homework, but includes fun and educational activities. bryan cereijo staff photographer
their native country’s roots. As the organization’s director of programs, Rebecca Miller’s responsibilities include managing the programs and events at RISE, as well as recruiting and supervising volunteers from Syracuse University and the neighboring community. “If people seek that out when you’re young and learning, then it can impact the rest of your career no matter what you do,” Miller said. “You’ll always have a certain see progr ams page 7
Syracuse University is in compliance with Middle States Commission on Higher Education standards and federal regulation, working group representatives under SU’s Middle States Reaccreditation Steering Committee said on Tuesday. During information sessions held inside Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center, dozens of SU students, faculty and staff learned about the university’s effort to earn reaccreditation. The sessions signify the official beginning of the self-study phase of the process, which requires seeking community feedback. Working groups set up their tables in a U-shape inside the auditorium for attendees to browse for further information. Those working groups are mission and goals; ethics and integrity; design and delivery of the student learning experience; support of the student experience; educational effectiveness; planning, resources and institutional improvement; governance, leadership and administration; and compliance. Every eight years, the university has to carry out a self-study of its academic and co-curricular programs and operations to maintain Middle States accreditation. SU started the reaccreditation process in fall 2015. The accreditation serves as a benchmark in educational quality and institutional accountability to peer institutions and stakeholders. It is mandated in order for SU students to qualify for federal aid. Middle States institutions have to comply with 15 requirements pertaining to Middle States affiliation and eight accreditation-relevant federal regulations. In the morning information session, Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly said the university is in “good shape” to submit a final report on accreditation by December. The steering committee has to submit its report by Dec. 22 for a review by Middle States peer institutions in March 2018. “(Accreditation) is a way of evaluating how well Syracuse University is really doing to achieve our stated mission and vision,” Wheatly said. “And it holds the university accountable to our students, to the public and to the larger academic community.” Rochelle Ford, one of three chairs of the steering committee and professor and chair of the public relations department in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, discussed a “4+4 model” during a presentation. see middle
N • Mixed eactions
SUNY-ESF students gave different opinions and perspectives on New York state’s plan to make SUNY and CUNY colleges tuition free for in-state students, Page 3
P • Closing time
Tuesday marked the last night popular student bar Hungry Chuck’s served both students and alumni in its current spot. Check it out in photos. Page 9
S • Trailblazer
states page 4
Fifty years ago to the day, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. She has been an advocate for women in sports ever since. Page 16