Vice President for the Student Experience Robert Hradsky talks to concerned students at The Barnes Center sit-in.Photo by Sam Berlin — Vice President for the Student Experience Robert Hradsky talks to concerned students at The Barnes Center sit-in.
Photo by Sam Berlin

Wednesday, November 6

During the night, an unknown person took down the lights in the hallways of Day Hall floors four and six and wrote racial slurs on the bathroom stalls. One read “I hate N-Word” with two names underneath and multiple Black students reported having their nametags ripped off their doors.

On floor four, the international living-learning community, Asian slurs were written in the elevator.

Thursday, November 7

Students alert DPS about the racist graffiti and vandalism

Saturday, November 9

DPS as well as Marianne Thompson, the Dean of Students, met with the students on floors 4 and 6. They requested that students do not record the meeting or discuss it with anyone not living on those two floors.

Sunday, November 10

DPS tells the Student of Color Advisory Committee about the incident

Monday, November 11

Renegade Magazine posts on their Instagram in the morning followed by coverage from the Daily Orange.

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Robert Hradsky, Vice President for the Student Experience, sends out a school-wide email discussing the incident in Day Hall on November 6.

Gov. Cuomo directs the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force and the state Division of Human Rights to investigate the racist message and assist local authorities

Syracuse University’s J.U.M.P. (Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program) led an open forum in Watson Hall and presented a slideshow as well as the #NOTAGAINSU to drive the coverage.

Tuesday, November 12

Renegade Magazine posts on their Instagram the following picture, prompting followers to use the graphic as their own profile picture and share the hashtag #NOTAGAINSU

Chancellor Kent Syverud sends out a school-wide email stating, “ It’s clear that the members of the leadership team should have communicated more swiftly and broadly. I am disappointed that didn’t happen in this case…”

Syracuse University’s Resident Hall Association hosts an open forum with a few administrators present.

Wednesday, November 13

Students organize in Hendricks Chapel to plan a sit-in in the Barnes Center from 10am-1am to demand change.

Chancellor Kent Syverud attends the sit-in and leaves after reading a statement. He then issues an email stating,

“Even before that work proceeds, I have requested some immediate actions:

I have asked that there be prompt implementation of a new protocol for how the University responds to bias incidents. It is vital that we simultaneously prioritize caring for students directly impacted, communicating in a timely manner to the campus community, and swiftly investigating the incident. Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Keith Alford, Department of Public Safety (DPS) Chief Bobby Maldonado and Dean Thomson will finalize this approach by next week.

Many students have raised questions about the current Code of Student Conduct and whether it needs to be revisited and revised, especially as it pertains to bias-related incidents. I have directed Dean Thomson to work with student leaders on this and promptly report any suggested changes.”

Students create a list of demands and send them out in a school-wide email. The demands are as follows:

The expulsion of any students involved in Day Hall vandalism.
The creation of an twice-annual open forum for students to communicate directly with the Board of Trustees.
Curriculum reform to better educate students on questions of diversity.
Mandatory diversity training for faculty and staff.
A zero-tolerance policy for hate speech among students.
A “same race” option for roommate selection on the student housing application.
Hiring of additional counselors that better represent student body and marginalized communities.
$1 million investment in long-term curriculum changes that address issues of diversity and racism.

The administration including DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado, Vice President for the Student Experience Robert Hredsky, Dean of Students Marianne Thompson, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Keith Alford, Senior Vice President of the Student Experience and Senior Vice President for Enrollment and the Student Experience Dolan Evanovich attend the sit-in to listen to students concerns.

Otto’s Army posts on their Instagram account to #UnpackTheDome, demanding that students attend the sit-in in The Barnes Center rather than the game in the Dome.

Students decide to sleep over in the Barnes Center to make sure their demands are met. The school tells them that they are safe from sanctions.

Thursday, November 14

At 2:19am, DPS sends out a school wide email about derogatory graffiti written in The Physics Building.

The email states

The Department of Public Safety is actively investigating a bias incident that was reported at approximately 5:30 p.m. last night. Graffiti using language that is derogatory to Asian individuals and vandalism were discovered in a bathroom stall in the Physics Building. There are no suspects at this time.

DPS responds to reports of a swastika drawn in the snow on Comstock Ave. by the 505 at 4:00 p.m.

A statement from Keith Alford, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer was sent out to the entire university at 4:39pm. The email reads,

“We have just learned of the hateful display of Anti-Semitism that occurred just steps from our campus. I join everyone in our community in vehemently condemning this vile behavior targeting the Jewish faith. We must continue to work together to build trust, to effect change and create a community in which every individual is respected and valued. Our Department of Public Safety immediately notified the Syracuse Police Department, which is actively investigating the case.”

Use this graphic as your profile picture to spread awareness about the movement.

Oy Caps, a Jewish a cappella group, performs at the sit-in following their fall invitational.

At 11:33pm, DPS sends out a school wide email about derogatory graffiti written on the third floor of Day Hall.

The email states,

“A short time ago, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a report of a potential bias incident. Graffiti that maligns the Asian community was discovered on the third floor of Day Hall. DPS is currently canvassing the floor and speaking with residents. No other details are available at this time.”

Friday, November 15

At 10 a.m. Chancellor Kent Syverud came to the The Barnes center to address #NotAgainSU’s demands.

Syrverud called the incidents hate crimes, and said the perpetrators would face penalties; however, he could not commit to the protestors demands for expulsion saying that announcing the severity of the punishment prior to identifying the protestors could make imposing the punishment difficult later on.

In regard to #NotAgainSU’s demand to reform SEM 100, Syverud said that plans to reform the one-credit course into a three-credit course has been underway for some time and that revisions would be discussed at the November 20 University Senate meeting.

In response to the protestors demands for mandatory diversity training for faculty, Syverud said the training would be mandated. In response to the call for the hiring of more counselors from diverse backgrounds, Syverud stated the answer “should be yes.”

#NotAgainSU’s fifth demand is implementing a zero-tolerance policy harassment policy in SU’s Student Code of Conduct. The Division of Enrollment and Student Experience and Dean of Students Marianne Thomson are currently reviewing the current policy for clarity, but Syverud is ultimately responsible for revision.

The next demand called for a portal where students can self-identify their race and optionally select a roommate of the same race and/or ethnicity. Syverud said he is learning more about the roommate selection process and said, “I’ve heard the concern and I validate it,” but that he would need more time to learn more.

#NotAgainSU called for the creation of additional Multicultural Learning Communities beyond the the Multicultural Living-Learning Community in Lawrinsion Hall. Syverud noted there is a current housing study will not be complete until May 2020 leaving, meaning this change would not be able to be implemented until Fall 2020. Syverud said another group would need to lead this request in order for the change to be brought forth quicker.

Regarding the call for a one-million dollar allocation to the creation of new diversity curriculum, Syverud said the University Senate curriculum committee has been working on this, and he stated, “Money is not a problem.”

Saturday, November 16

10:00 a.m. New York State Senator Rachel May visited The Barnes Center and spoke with protestors, sharing her support and admiration.

2:25 p.m. DPS announced a report of racist graffiti derogatory toward Asian people had been reported in Haven Hall.

3:00 p.m. Coach Jim Boeheim visits protestors at The Barnes Center to answer questions. He voiced his support of the protestors as well as the chancellor. Boehiem bought protestors pizza which they opted to donate elsewhere.

6:17 p.m. DPS announced a report of swastika graffiti in Haven Hall. Additionally, the email announced a report of a student yelling a racist epithet directed toward African Americans at Sadler Hall. The email also confirmed that a hateful email directed at members of the SU community had been circulating through campus.

10:19 p.m. DPS confirmed reports that a large group of individuals had verbally attacked an African American woman, using the N-word.

Sunday, November 17

6:14 a.m. Chancellor Syverud sent out a campus-wide email calling for all campus fraternity social events to be suspended until the end of the Fall semester.

The fraternity Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) were revealed to be responsible for the incident that occurred on November 17 at 10:19, and were suspended from campus immediately.

Monday, November 18

Late Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday morning, a woman was walking home from Bird Library when she was approached by a black sudan. The driver stopped the car and started walking toward the woman. She then noticed he was naked and she ran away and contacted DPS.