Students

Syracuse University and Student Protestors Continue Dialogue as Sit-In Extends to a Week

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Sunday marked a week of Syracuse University's (SU) General Body's sit-in with more than a shortlist of demands from the school's administration.

According to Syracuse.com, talks between the protestors and administration are continuing after the General Body issued its demands and the school responded. Highlighting the General Body's concerns is the removal of the Advocacy Center, a resource for sexual assault victims.

They are also not pleased with the SU administration's decision to discontinue funding for a community outreach program started by former Chancellor Nancy Cantor. The sit-in started last week with more than 100 students on the Hendricks Chapel steps. Due to fire code requirements, only 40 students have been allowed to stay indefinitely in the Crouse-Hinds Hall lobby.

"For years, students have been advocating for full, unrestricted e­mail access to the student body," Vani Kannan told Syracuse.com with the voice of the protestors. "Presently, the administration has agreed to vetted, bi-monthly emails; The General Body is negotiating for the e­mail list to function like a list serve to facilitate transparent communication with students about important campus issues."

Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs, had said previously that SU encourages its students to exercise their first amendment rights and that the school is listening.

"As Chancellor Syverud has said, we support our students who are making their voices heard and speaking out on issues that are important to them," he said in a press release Saturday. "We believe we have negotiated in good faith. We have responded to each one of the students' requests for feedback, dialogue and cooperation. At the same time, it is counterproductive that the demands continue to change and shift. We are absolutely committed to a continued dialogue and hope the group can focus and stabilize its demands."

The General Body is "a united front of students and student organizations at Syracuse University," according to their website. They aim to identify and publicize "grievances and problems that students of various socio-economic class, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, and race experience on a day to day basis" at SU.

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