The Syracuse University alumni community is trying to remain strong during a time when its alma mater is the focus of a national news story revolving around an investigation of sexual abuse.

‘If anything, people just feel it’s a sad day, and they are banding together to support the university at a difficult time,’ Brian Spector, president of the SU Alumni Association, regarding the investigation and firing of Bernie Fine, the associate head men’s basketball coach accused of sexual abuse.

Alumni are speaking out on Facebook and Twitter or contacting Spector through text messages with their thoughts on the developing story. He emphasized the discussion he has heard is focused on standing together, although he said he has not heard from too many alumni because the news is still ‘raw.’

Michael Simpson, who graduated from SU with a master’s in biochemistry in 1983, said the news is upsetting to him.

‘It’s like your pal, your buddy, Syracuse, has done something wrong and you want to keep them at an arm’s distance away,’ said Simpson, who served as president of the Graduate Student Association and was also a tutor for the men’s basketball team in the late ‘70s. Simpson is now a Los Angeles resident.

Simpson’s son graduated from SU in May and the two have been keeping tabs on the story since it first started popping up in the news. Since the news broke last week, Simpson said he has heard other alumni say they are embarrassed and has heard people not associated with SU making snide remarks.

The main worry is that more news will come out regarding the case, and Simpson said he is concerned there is more the university could have done to stop this from escalating to where it is now.

Spector said he felt the initial email Cantor sent out Nov. 18, which contained information on what the university was doing to help the investigation and reminded recipients that SU did not tolerate abuse, was ‘superb’ based on the timeliness and content of the letter. Moving forward, Spector said alumni hope that should these allegations prove to be true, the appropriate action is taken.

The alumni he heard from said they are waiting for the results of the investigation and said it was important to remember no formal charges have been brought against Fine. Many alumni Spector said he spoke with believe the choice to fire Fine, which the university community was alerted about via an email from Chancellor Nancy Cantor and a statement published online, was the only decision to be made.

Spector said current SU students deserve a lot of credit for handling a major crisis in a mature way. He brought up the strong reactions of students and community members after the Pennsylvania State University scandal broke and said there was not the same negativity at SU.

‘I’m really proud of how our students are handling this,’ Spector said, ‘whether critical or not critical of how the university is handling it.’

dkmcbrid@syr.edu

Published on November 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dara: dkmcbrid@syr.edu | @daramcbride