Syracuse University needs to shift its focus away from the city of Syracuse back to the needs and problems of the university. But while doing so, it cannot abandon the work done under former Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s tenure.

Chancellor Kent Syverud has already indicated plans to reduce the university’s presence in the city. Syverud has made it clear that he will honor SU’s current commitment to the city through the Connective Corridor and Near Westside Initiative. Reducing — not removing — SU’s influence in the city is the best option for the university.

Completely turning its back on the city would undo years of work done under Cantor and would be a disservice to those who have benefited from the university’s involvement. But at the same time, the university needs to focus on its internal issues that have been brewing for years, many of which have been brought to light this semester through campus protests. SU needs to address and solve its own problems before it can tackle problems that exist in an entire city.

By becoming a stronger institution, the university will have better resources to help improve Syracuse. As a non-profit institution that doesn’t have to pay taxes to the city, SU should feel some responsibility to assisting Syracuse. But the university also has a responsibility to continue to improve both the quality of education and life for its students at SU, and these responsibilities should come first.

It’s important to ensure that reducing SU’s involvement in the city won’t turn the university into an ivory tower. Moving forward, SU should not expand any efforts to improve the city. Its goal should be to maintain the connections that were made during Cantor’s tenure. When all of the university’s current problems are solved, maybe then it can revisit improving the city of Syracuse.