Syracuse University released a second document late Friday night responding to a list of demands made by THE General Body, a coalition of student groups that have occupied Crouse-Hinds Hall since Monday.

In the six-page document, which was prepared by the Chancellor’s Executive team, the university noted that it was disappointing progress has not been made in the negotiations despite “real dialogue” and the administration’s “movement on a number of issues.”

THE General Body delivered a 43-page list of demands and grievances to the administration on Monday afternoon following the Diversity and Transparency rally on the Quad. The protesters began a sit-in in the lobby of Crouse-Hinds Hall, which houses the admissions office, administrative offices and several classrooms, on Monday night.

Chancellor Kent Syverud and University College Dean Bea Gonzalez, the liaison between Syverud and the protesters, met with protesters on Wednesday night. The administration provided a written response to the coalition’s demand on Thursday. But protesters said the response failed to adequately address student concerns and sent administrators back a new document with two additional pages of grievances.

The university released its second response to the protesters’ demands on Friday night as protesters prepared to spend the weekend in Crouse-Hinds. The new document responds to new concerns raised and is broken up into nine separate sections.

Here is a breakdown of the major topics discussed in the document. The full document can be seen here.

Mission and vision statement

THE General Body timed its protest to coincide with the Board of Trustees meeting, which took place Thursday and Friday. One item on the meeting’s agenda was the approval of new mission and vision statements for the university. Protesters had called on the administration to postpone the vote to allow for more time for campus feedback.

In the document, SU said the board “at the strong urging of the Chancellor” approved the draft form of the mission and vision statements but would be open to revisions if recommended by Syverud. The university will open an additional one-month period for feedback on the statements.

Workgroups and committees

In its demands, THE General Body said all workgroups must be given implementation power but that they also can’t be used to usurp the power of governing bodies already in place at SU. In response, SU said workgroups are an important part of the university and the administration values their input.

THE General Body also said that each Fast Forward committee should be one-third students with two-thirds of those students being undergraduates. The university said making any changes needs to be done “thoughtfully and collaboratively” with the existing committees, but that the earliest any of these committees meet is next week. Discussions will start as soon as possible.

POSSE program

The student coalition has said the university should apologize for cuts made to the POSSE program, restore the program to its current level of three posses and make a written commitment to remain at this level for the next five years.

The university said Vice Chancellor Eric Spina and Associate Provost Andria Costello Staniec have already personally apologized to current scholars about the way changes to Posse were communicated as well as public statements about the changes. In the document, administrators said SU can “best benefit from a range of student support programs.”

Syverud has also met with Posse Foundation President Debbie Bial, and Bial will visit campus again in December to discuss SU’s relationship with Posse.

International students

One of the protesters’ new demands was a “safe, supportive space” for international students on campus as well as more diversity in Slutzker Center for International Services staff. The university said it’s committed to supporting international students and will continue to look for ways to enhance their experience.

Hate speech

The student coalition said the university should immediately add the phrase “hate speech” to the student code of conduct as words that are prohibited on campus. The university said it believes the current code “provides sufficient direction of speech as conduct that violates University’s policies.”

Mental health

The students asked for the immediate creation of a workgroup on mental health concerns, and the university said it’s committed to reviewing its mental health services.

Diversity

Another new demand from THE General Body was completing the search for an Asia/Asian American Studies minor director by the end of spring 2015. The university said needs for “academic units” will be determined in the strategic planning process, which will be done in 2015-2016.

THE General Body also asked that all first-year students complete an online Diversity Training course prior to coming to SU and the university said it is committed to “studying all of the online training, education, and assessment” that are part of first-year programs.

The coalition also asked for a mandatory university-wide diversity class requirement, which is already being studied by a working group, and the reinstatement of the “This is my story” first year student week event, which the university said it would consider.

Published on November 7, 2014 at 11:00 pm

Contact Jessica: jliannet@syr.edu | @JessicaIannetta