Chancellor Kent Syverud denied allegations that Syracuse University intentionally covered up initial reports of racist graffiti on campus to avoid controversy during the launch of a $1.5 billion capital campaign.

Racist graffiti against black and Asian people was reported to the Department of Public Safety on Nov. 7. Several students have told The Daily Orange that at least one administrator told them not to record a meeting between residents of Day Hall’s fourth and six floors — where racial slurs were written in bathrooms and on a bulletin board. 

The university did not send a campus-wide announcement about the graffiti until four days later. SU’s delayed response sparked a sit-in at the Barnes Center at The Arch that has now stretched into its eighth day. Syverud addressed SU’s delayed communication in an exclusive interview with The D.O. and CitrusTV.

“I am aware of nothing to suggest that anyone intentionally concealed what they knew about the Day Hall incidents,” Syverud said. “I don’t think there was a cover-up. As I’ve said though, I think we could have communicated better and that’s one of the things we need to learn.”

No staff members in SU’s Office of Development or those involved with the Forever Orange capital campaign had knowledge of the Day Hall incidents, the chancellor said.

#NotAgainSU, a movement led by black students, has occupied the Barnes Center since Nov. 13. At least 14 hate crimes and bias-related incidents have been reported on or near campus as students have occupied the building — creating a climate of fear and anxiety on campus that has led many to leave early for Thanksgiving break. 

About 30 protesters remain in the Barnes Center after #NotAgainSU rejected Syverud’s response to their list of 18 demands, which included stricter consequences for hate speech and mandatory diversity training for faculty and staff. Hundreds of students left a forum in Hendricks Chapel on Wednesday night after the chancellor said he could not immediately sign off on all the demands. 

After students left to protest outside the chancellor’s house, Syverud remained at the forum and worked with a small group of students from #NotAgainSU. he said. SU announced early Thursday morning that the chancellor had signed 16 of 19 demands from the Barnes Center group and international students as written. He suggested minor revisions to the remaining three. 

Syverud said he has not heard back from organizers of #NotAgainSU about whether they will accept his revised reponses. One organizer said after Wednesday’s protest that some students were prepared to remain at the Barnes Center over break. 

The chancellor did not say what SU’s response would be if protesters planned to remain in the building during break.

“I will say that the students in the Barnes Center have behaved with pretty amazing restraint in my view, under stressful circumstances, so I hope to continue to work with them,” he said. 

Around 4:30 p.m., SU announced the chancellor had also agreed to a list of recommendations from Jewish students. A swastika was found last week etched in a snowbank across from the 505 on Walnut. Another was found drawn in a stairwell of Haven Hall. The group of Jewish students demanded improved security cameras and better communication from DPS. 

Syverud said he has made “important progress” with student organizers in the past 24 hours, including agreements on changes to the Code of Student Conduct and diversity training for faculty and staff. 

“I am very reflective in the last 24 hours on the fact that, in the midst of all the bigotry we have seen, some amazing people — faculty, students and staff — have come together in good faith for a university they do care about and want to be better.” Syverud said. 

Asked about his biggest regret over the past two weeks, he said “it’s too early to do a post-mortem” because work is left to be done. 

“It’s important for all of us to learn from what all of us have been doing so that we can do better the next time,” Syverud said. “I say ‘do better the next time’ with caution because, as the students have pointed out, they’ve heard that before.”

Published on November 21, 2019 at 7:01 pm

Contact Casey: casey@dailyorange.com | @caseydarnell_