Syracuse University’s Student Association passed a bill Monday that resolved to support and recognize MayFest, and collaborate with administration and Syracuse residents to address ongoing concerns.

‘The resolution states that we are going to take action, and it holds our feet to the fire that we’re going to do something,’ said Larry Seivert, president of SA.

While the resolution proposes no actual solutions, it asserts SA’s participation in the debate.

‘The resolution acknowledges that what goes on on Euclid (Avenue) is not stopping, and because of that we must keep students safe,’ said Helene Kahn, SA’s chief of staff.

SA held an open forum Thursday, which 36 students attended to discuss changes to MayFest. Representatives from Hill Communications were also at the forum. The group will be announcing details on the day’s events Wednesday.

Seivert said another part of the debate is a petition that the South East University Neighborhood Association sent to Syracuse Mayor Driscoll and the office of Chancellor Nancy Cantor.

SEUNA petitioned Driscoll and Cantor to stop the day entirely if students can’t participate fully in university-organized campus activities.

‘They are very disturbed in what has gone on in their community,’ Seivert said.

Seivert briefed the assembly on the history behind MayFest, its beginning in 2005 and its precursor, ‘Livingstock,’ which took place on the corner of Livingston and Comstock avenues.

‘Livingstock’ resulted in riots, fires and 28 felonies. While MayFest has never gotten as unruly – not a single arrest was made last year – Seivert said as he sees the number of students participating in MayFest escalate, he worries about student safety.

‘Every year we’re seeing 3,000 students, to 4,000 to 5,000 last year, on four blocks of Euclid, and there is a great concern there,’ Seivert said. ‘Whether or not students are following the mission of the day, it is our responsibility and it is my responsibility to make sure students are safe.’

As a follow-up to the resolution, Seivert said he will meet with Thomas Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of student affairs, and that he also hopes to orchestrate a meeting involving students, university administration and neighbors.

Robel Yemiru, SA’s parliamentarian, drafted the resolution and spoke to the assembly, expressing concern over SA’s productivity on the whole, and his apprehension over what will happen with MayFest from here.

‘I am worried. I’m worried for where SA is going,’ he said. ‘I’m worried we are a stagnant, complacent organization and that we are just doing business as usual. It’s day 47 of the 53rd session and our Web site is not up. I don’t know what’s going on.’

Yemiru said he’s worried that after the resolution is passed, nothing will happen and the bill will become the product of an ‘artificial stance’ taken on by SA.

Seivert and other assembly members addressed Yemiru’s concerns, outlining some outreach plans, which include town hall meetings in the residence halls, the first of which will be in Shaw Hall Feb. 25 at 9 p.m.

The assembly also discussed the use of the word ‘MayFest’ in the resolution instead of ‘SU Showcase,’ which is SU’s new name for the April event. Yemiru said the decision to use ‘MayFest’ was intentional, as it differentiated between the on-campus university events and Euclid Avenue parties.

Yemiru said much of the meaning behind MayFest, not SU Showcase, is what SA is advocating.

‘People care about MayFest,’ he said. ‘You can see it’s not just alcohol, it’s a magical day. You would never walk into this – hundreds, thousands of kids hanging out, most of who normally wouldn’t. That’s the spirit of MayFest.’

jmterrus@syr.edu

Published on February 16, 2009 at 12:00 pm