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THURSDAY
feb. 6, 2020 high 35°, low 24°
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
LACROSSE GUIDE 2020
‘Do they understand?’
When they do have interactions with police, LGBTQ people often report harassment, discrimination and even violence and sexual assault Naomi Goldberg policy and research director at movement advancement project alliance of central new york
Story by Michael Sessa asst. news editor
Photo illustration by Corey Henry photo editor
I
n December, the Syracuse Police Department implemented a policy governing officer interactions with transgender people. While some see the policy as a milestone, others see it as an opportunity for continued growth.
LGBTQ activists say SPD policy lacks clarity on discipline
The five-page document sets departmentwide standards for how officers should address transgender, intersex, nonbinary and gender non-conforming individuals and sets protocols for instances when officers might not know what to do. Meetings in Syracuse to discuss a potential policy began in February 2018, said Sgt. Matthew Malinowski, SPD spokesperson, in an email. The workgroup tasked with creating the policy
see policy page 4
on campus
SU to publish campus housing review in spring 2020 By Michael Sessa asst. news editor
Syracuse University’s ongoing review of its student housing will be completed by spring, university officials said. The review is guided by student feedback from the 2019-2020 academic year A possible three-year on-campus housing requirement was proposed in a student survey about campus housing in September, sparking student concerns. Students are currently required to live on campus for two years. “The results of the housing
survey will provide critical insight into students’ preferences for their living and learning environment and housing options,” said Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience, in a statement. A portion of the survey questioned if students would support a three-year live-on policy if the oncampus residential experience was “transformed to meet the needs of contemporary college students.” Amir Rahnamay-Azar, SU’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, said students’ needs and expectations have changed con-
The results of the housing survey will provide critical insight into students’ preferences for their living and learning environment and housing options Dolan Evanovich
senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience
siderably since SU constructed the majority of its residence halls. The location of a student’s residence hall or apartment has a significant impact on the nature of their academic experience, Rahnamay-Azar said. Feedback from the student survey indicated that greater access to university resources increases student satisfaction and improves academic outcomes, he said. “The further away a student lives, especially in the first two to three years of their college experience, the more challenging it is for them to take advantage of the ben-
efits afforded by being on or near the campus core,” Rahnamay-Azar said. Mandatory on-campus living requirements are supposed to provide equal housing experiences for students, said Amy Ellen Schwartz, a professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs who studies student performance and housing. There may not be conclusive answers about student performance relative to where students live on campus, but SU should be looking into the potential correlation, Schwartz said. see housing page 4