Syracuse University continued on Monday to counter #NotAgainSU’s characterization of the Crouse-Hinds Hall occupation hours after Chancellor Kent Syveurd apologized for protesters’ treatment. 

Amanda Nicholson, assistant provost and dean of student success, in an interview with media rejected #NotAgainSU’s claim that Department of Public Safety officers “assaulted” students. 

A video shared on social media last week shows DPS Associate Chief John Sardino in a physical struggle with students outside Crouse-Hinds. At one point in the video, Sardino puts his hand on his gun holster.

DPS locked down the building on Tuesday and Wednesday, with about 30 #NotAgainSU organizers inside. Dozens rallied outside as officers blocked food and medicine from being delivered to protesters. University officials have said students inside were allowed to leave at any time.

“I am not proud of how last week’s events involving student protesters in Crouse-Hinds Hall were handled,” Syverud said in a campus-wide email Monday morning. 

The chancellor announced a review of DPS in the email, citing students’ concerns about how officers interact with protesters. Nicholson acknowledged the perception of DPS’ handling of the Crouse-Hinds protests, but depicted those concerns as misunderstandings.

“When you see a lot of people rushing against a police officer, it may look like the police officer is doing something wrong,” Nicholson said. “What he was doing is what we asked him to do, which is to hold the door.”

Nicholson confirmed that she was referring to the video showing a struggle between DPS officers and protesters. #NotAgainSU first called for Sardino’s resignation in November, but that demand grew in urgency after the struggle with protesters at Crouse-Hinds. 

DPS officers have not been in the building since it opened on Thursday. #NotAgainSU demanded that Sardino not be in Crouse-Hinds after his altercation with students.

#NotAgainSU has described DPS blocking access to food as an attempt to “starve” them out. SU has repeatedly said protesters were offered food. Nicholson went further on Monday, saying protesters brought in “a lot” of food before Crouse-Hinds closed Feb. 17.

“There was really no food shortage at any point,” Nicholson said. 

She also said nothing the university did last week was inhumane. #NotAgainSU protesters described themselves as “prisoners” and compared their treatment to human rights abuses. 

SU wants to move forward, but Nicholson said she doesn’t know when or how the protest will end. 

“They are welcome to stay in Crouse-Hinds Hall as long as they would like to,” she said.

Published on February 24, 2020 at 11:38 pm

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