UPDATED: Monday, May 16, 2016 at 2:45 p.m.

THE General Body has created an online public petition in support of an initial petition presented by Syracuse University faculty members to express concern about the proposed University Place promenade, which is set to be built this summer.

The faculty petition, which was created on May 6, was closed after 108 faculty members signed the petition and it was submitted to SU Chancellor Kent Syverud.

As of 2:45 p.m. on Monday, 52 members of the SU community had signed THE General Body’s petition, which was started on Saturday, regarding the promenade.

The promenade would make University Place a pedestrian-friendly walkway for students — preventing vehicles from driving there. The Centro bus stops that are currently on University Place in front of E.S. Bird Library and Schine Student Center would be relocated to the other side of those buildings on Waverly Avenue.

The construction of the promenade is an initiative under the Campus Framework plan, which is part of Syverud’s Fast Forward initiative.

In its petition, THE General Body showed support for the faculty’s petition. THE General Body is a coalition of student organizations that staged an 18-day sit-in in Crouse-Hinds Hall in November 2014 to protest topics listed in the group’s 45-page list of grievances and demands.

The petition also linked to a May 10 Daily Orange article about Syverud addressing faculty concerns at a second feedback session about the promenade. Beside the link was a partial quote from Syverud intended to show disappointment and concern with his response to faculty concerns.

“We are concerned that for a third summer in a row major decisions are being made without student, staff, and faculty input to the detriment of us all,” the petition reads.

The petition says that during Syverud’s first summer as chancellor the Advocacy Center was closed and POSSE scholarship contracts were terminated. And that during Syverud’s second summer as chancellor, the TA health care was switched “without discussion or consultation” and 245 staff members were “pressured” to retire through the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program.

Now for the third summer, the petition says Syverud is “leading off with a $6 million beautification project.”

The signatories are concerned at the lack of discussion and transparency in the decision-making process that has led to “this drastic remaking” of University Place and Waverly Avenue, according to the petition.

A majority of THE General Body’s petition was copied directly from the faculty petition, with only the first few introductory paragraphs having been added.

Published on May 15, 2016 at 2:33 pm

Contact Sara: smswann@syr.edu | @saramswann