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#NotAgainSU - Syracuse Battles Hate Crime

Once again, hate crimes spread on a university campus.

 Syracuse University in New York experiences a slew of hate speech all over campus. Starting with an instance of the n-word and other prolific language against African Americans and Asian Americans, to a swastika drawn in the snow to a verbal attack from a fraternity to an African American female student.


Students have been participating in sit ins on campus, demanding information from Syracuse officials and demanding a change on campus. Night after night students sit in halls demanding response, especially from Chancellor Kent, who seems to remain silent throughout the situation. Students grow increasingly frustrated with lack of response and feel unsafe on campus.

The fraternity involved in the incident of November 16, Alpha Chi Rho, has been suspended indefinitely from campus. Yet, students with the #notagainsu want to see more done for other fraternities who have shown racial bias.

Students have expressed concern for their safety, and demanded the day off. Multiple student groups like fraternities, sororities, multi cultural fraternities and sororities, service groups, religious organizations and others have stood with the #notagainsu movement and agree that campus in unsafe. Multiple instagram posts and accounts have been made sharing graphics, stories, live streams of sit ins, and promoting the cause. A student athlete said, "I never thought once when choosing to go here that I would feel scared to even leave my building and go to class, and let alone the fact that the entire student body feels the same way" 

A self-defense class has been offered in light of the situation. A list of short terms and long term demands have been issued, and are available here. Short term demands include a revision of the harassment One long term demand is same race options for housing and rooming.  A long term demand is "the allocation of of $1M for the creation of a unified, required curriculum that educates students on diversity issues, specifically anti-racism." Finally, they document requires the resignation of Chancellor Kent Syverud and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Keith Alford. 



Students are concerned, and are extremely upset with the lack of response. A student at the university shared there was even a threat of a shooter last night. Still, those in the sit downs and those supporting feel uplifted. Student shares about the current events, "Well, as a minority i don't feel safe. i experience micro-aggressions everyday and sometimes just flat out racism. I don’t feel safe on campus and its gotten to the point(even before the protest) where i don't feel safe walking around campus by myself, and that if I'm not in classes I'm not on campus. I'm grateful for how much solidarity has come

out of these awful situations. and even with the fact that we had an active shooter threat last night, i still feel that we have such solidarity as POC  and white allies that support us and help us to feel safe in our sit down protest settings."

Students share that the events make them feel unsafe and feel that their university is not being proactive enough with the situation. Meetings with staff members and students are very hostile and filled with concerned and frankly angry students, feeling that their demands are not being met. As a community of minorities, they hope to unify and the campus so that the school can again be a safe place for all.

Only time will tell what will happen to this university, and if the measures being asked by students will take place. We will have to see what happens to the Chancellor, who if demands are not met, will be asked to resign by students. The way Kent reacts is critical, but seems like he can not please anyone. Time will tell what will happen to Syracuse University and the #notagainsu movement.

Maddy McCracken



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