CitrusTV News Summer Update
By Greg Bradbury – (CitrusTV)
As summer continues and most students are away from Syracuse, changes are underway both at the city and campus levels. From campus renovations to new hirings to Syracuse Police Department guidelines, here is some news you may have missed.
New faces in new places
Syracuse University named Keith Alford as the first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Alford held the position since last July in the interim capacity. The role of the diversity and inclusion officer reports directly to the Chancellor and is tasked with identifying issues with diversity and inclusion on campus. During the Ackerman Avenue assault incident, Alford was involved in creating the Student of Color Advisory Committee.
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities will now be led by Sheriah Dixon, according to the University. She previously served as an investigator in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services.
SU also named Juan Tavares as the new director of the Slutzker Center for International Services. He previously served as the director of international affairs and services at Southwest Minnesota State University.
First Year Experience changes are on the way
Seven members of the Academic Affairs and the Division of Enrollment and Student Experience attended a workshop on First Year Seminars. They will be holding an information session on July 17th to share their findings. The first-year experience program began last year and was centered around an SEM 100 class which required students to read a book centered around diversity and discuss it in an effort to promote inclusion on campus. For CitrusTV’s look at the class click here.
SU basketball stars go pro
Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett both went undrafted in the NBA Draft. Both were later signed to teams and will be playing in the NBA Summer League. Battle signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brissett with the L.A. Clippers.
Tiana Mangakahia diagnosed with breast cancer
Syracuse women’s basketball star, Tiana Mangakahia, announced on Twitter on Monday that she has stage II breast cancer.
“I know this will be tough, but I will get through it,” Magnakahia said in a statement on cuse.com. “This is just the beginning for me and I will come out stronger. I have much more to accomplish and I hope to inspire others to overcome their own adversity just like I know I will.”
Magnakahia led the Orange last season in both points and assists per game.
Campus construction continues
Syracuse is ramping up construction this summer. Both Archbold Gymnasium and the Barnes Center at The Arch are expected to be ready for the fall semester. The building enclosure is 80 percent complete and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are being installed, according to Pete Sala in his June Construction Update. Renovations of two of the main lecture rooms in the Hall of Languages are underway. Rooms 107 and 207 have been demolished and will now include auditorium seating and new carpeting. Renovations to the Schine Student Center have begun, and both the bookstore and Goldstein Auditorium will remain open throughout the construction. The preliminary work for the Dome will continue throughout the school year.
I-81 forums
The Department of Transportation has chosen the community grid option, but the DOT is still interested in hearing feedback from community members. CitrusTV has a complete breakdown of the future of the controversial highway in the I-81 Crossroads series which you can watch here.
Syracuse Police Department addresses viral video
Following a video of an officer forcibly removing a driver from a vehicle, SPD has reviewed the incident and changed its use of force policy.
The video, which can be seen here, shows a violent arrest and the person recording the video being stopped by an officer. The police stopped the vehicle because the car was playing music too loudly, per the SPD report.
The new use of force guidelines provide more rigid rules for when officers can use force. Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner and Mayor Ben Walsh also said that they will be holding four town halls as an effort to bridge the gap between the police and the community.
