Chancellor Kent Syverud has released a response to a Graduate Student Organization resolution, which called for an investigation into administrative actions toward THE General Body during the 18-day Crouse-Hinds Hall sit-in.

In their resolution, the GSO called for the chancellor to address alleged administrative actions including locking student protesters in the building, creating a “hostile environment” by prohibiting the entry of a faculty member who was to serve as legal adviser to protesters and delivering notices to THE General Body in an “unprofessional manner.” In his response, released Tuesday, Syverud said he has not found evidence of disrespectful behavior by either his administration team or by members of THE General Body.

Following the Diversity and Transparency Rally in front of Hendricks Chapel on Nov. 3, 2014, protesters marched to Crouse-Hinds Hall to deliver a list of more than 50 grievances and demands. They spent that night in the building, starting a sit-in that would last until Nov. 20.

Syverud said during the protest, the administration took measures to ensure that protesters were safe and that the sit-in did not interfere with classes, admissions tours or staff in the building.

“I believe these measures were necessary and also consistent with the spirit and objective of the protests,” Syverud said.

He added that he believes actions of administrators and Department of Public Safety officers were “appropriate and carried out with respect for protesters and their mission.”

Syverud responded to concerns that protesters had been locked in Crouse-Hinds Hall, saying that the building remained “open for business” during the entire 18-day sit-in. Access to the building had only been restricted during the evenings and on weekends, he added.

Syverud added that protesters were never asked to leave the building at any point during the sit-in, and that the university even made exceptions to allow access to protesters who were unable to arrive at the building before closing time due to their class or work schedules.

“I firmly believe the University did as much as it could to accommodate the protesters at Crouse-Hinds Hall, while balancing the interests of those who work and study there,” Syverud said.

Syverud went on to say that protesters were not denied access to legal counsel.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, the protesters requested a law professor from the College of Law be granted entry to the building to meet with students. Syverud said that he did reject this request, only because the building remains closed on weekends. If students needed legal counsel, then they were able to leave the building to seek professional advice and return when the building opened, or use their phones to consult professionals, Syverud said.

He also refuted concerns that envelopes containing the code of student conduct and the campus disruption policy had been delivered to protesters in a disrespectful manner.

“The envelopes were handed to a student who had been a regular participant in the occupation, and those present have described the exchange as brief and respectful,” Syverud said.

Syverud ended his response by saying that his work with the THE General Body has continued even after the sit-in. He acknowledged that the work in addressing grievances of protesters is unfinished, and hopes to continue making progress on their demands.

Said Syverud: “As we move on in the spring semester, I look forward to continued dialog with all interested students on uses that impact our campus community and the world in which we live.”

Published on January 15, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Lydia: lawilson@syr.edu