This letter is in regard to the article detailing the homicide that occurred on Hope Avenue, as well as an article recounting student efforts to reduce Syracuse youth violence, both printed on Oct. 15.

As a Syracuse native, I hate to admit this, but it’s chilly today. Perhaps that’s appropriate though, after the events of last night and the death of 15-year-old Zavion Escobar. Even though I have lived most of my life in Syracuse, and have become acclimated to hearing of youth violence and shootings, I’ve never felt the ripple effect of them. But being more immersed in the city now, I can imagine my fellow Syracusans as people, not just headlines or a body count.

I think it’s too easy here on the Hill to view ourselves as separate from this community, or for some, even above it. But we are a vital part of this city, no greater or lesser than its citizens like Zavion. I understand last night’s events were frightening, or even thrilling to some. But it greatly upset me that once we were assured the threat was gone, many people were more concerned with what more should have been done to keep us as students safe, rather than to take a moment and mourn for Zavion, or even consider that there was entire community of people that were grieving just over on Hope Avenue.

The articles today helped change my perspective on that somewhat. I was pleased to see The Daily Orange address how this affected the community, as well as see an article about fellow students desiring to help Syracuse’s youth violence issues. I wish this perspective was universal, and I hope in the coming years, SU becomes much more in touch with the community that lets us call this city our home and help it heal. Syracuse deserves our support, and we are in a great position as a prominent university to show how education helps our nation grow and establishes interconnectedness across socioeconomic, political, racial and gendered barriers to fight for the common good.

It is right that it is cold today. Let the wind biting against your cheek remind you that the world lost warmth last night, when a living body turned cold.

Hayley Bermel, International Relations Class of 2019