Dear Syracuse University/ESF community,

We are looking for accountability from the administration. Last Tuesday, THE General Body reached out to Chancellor Kent Syverud requesting a meeting with him and his executive team. The full text is at thegeneralbody.org. Despite having publicly stated that his administration is committed to working with us, they instead emailed saying we would be hearing from liaisons who have no relevant decision-making powers or accountability to the items the administration agreed to address last semester.
Most of the issues that led us to take action last fall have not been resolved. Unfortunately, even more issues have arisen since then, demonstrating that the administration has learned little from recent community outcry. They continue to make decisions that negatively affect the SU community, as evidenced by:

— The new health insurance mandate, which affects all undergraduate and graduate students, especially low-income students. Graduate TA/RA/GAs will pay more money for worse health care coverage.

— The recently-proposed $495 million sports stadium, alongside claims that SU doesn’t have the money to hire additional counselors, staff at the LGBT Resource Center, or continue its original commitment to scholarship programs like POSSE.

— No public budget proposal or timeline for implementing the directives of the Chancellor’s Workgroup on Sexual Violence Prevention, Education, and Advocacy.

— Inconsistencies regarding cancellation of SU Study Abroad programs, in particular, Paris Noir.

— Four SU Law students drugged by a fellow law student(s), these reported incidents were mishandled by the administration, which failed to provide timely and adequate information on student survivors’ rights under the Clery Act and Title IX and have not yet publicly addressed by the administration.

— The lack of transparency and collaboration around the SU Mission/Vision Statement and Strategic Plan.

We’d like to continue working with all interested groups, including the chancellor and his executive team, in creating the kind of university where all students, faculty, staff and community members are valued and respected — not in word, but in collaborative action. We again call on the chancellor and his executive administration to meet with us to be accountable to items they said they would address, and come to agreements on those they ignored. Among other upcoming events, we’ll hold a rally on April 14. Look for more information and get involved. We invite you to be part of this movement. T: @thegeneralbody FB: THE General Body

Thank you,
THE General Body

Published on April 6, 2015 at 12:40 am