As an active member of the Recognize Us movement, I found that the Hendricks Chapel forum organized last week went according to plan for Syracuse University administrators. But more must now be done for SU to accomplish true, campus-wide reform in the wake of Theta Tau’s expulsion.

The forum was organized in response to demands made by Recognize Us in April. One of the demands was that SU host a town hall with members of the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Kent Syverud, administrators and deans.

I’m glad SU has made funding available for off-campus students to request Title IX evidence transcripts for free. That decision was announced during the forum, in response to an audience member’s question. But that isn’t enough. SU must focus more on fundamental, institutional restructuring.

Anything less than this won’t solve the myriad of issues that have been brought up by students following the expulsion of Theta Tau. THE General Body won concessions in 2014. And here we are, four years later, angry about some of the same issues brought up by that organization.

I’m tired of this routine of protest, appeasement, apathy and protest again. It’s time to break the cycle. This will require tough questions that could make people uncomfortable. And questions that weren’t addressed during last week’s town hall must be addressed.

Questions unaddressed by SU surround topics such as the university’s investments in military technology and military communities, its investments in Central America and the Caribbean Islands and some of the Department of Public Safety’s concerning practices.

Diversifying DPS by hiring more women and people of color won’t fully address the police force’s policy. We need SU to commit to a full audit of DPS, led by students.

We need more of a commitment to this full restructuring. Anything less isn’t good enough. The administration is prepared to pacify students with small types of reform because they want the pressure to stop.

But it’s not going to stop. Real restructuring requires real discomfort. It’s our job as students to make the administration increasingly uncomfortable.

Sam Norton is a senior advertising and psychology dual major. He can be reached at sanorton@syr.edu.

Published on April 29, 2018 at 6:54 pm