Syracuse University students are holding a sit-in Wednesday in response to racist graffiti found in a residence hall last week.

About 50 students have gathered in the Barnes Center at Archbold Gymnasium to call for a safer campus for students of color, particularly black students. The protest comes after racial slurs were discovered in Day Hall on SU’s campus.

Students have criticized the administration’s response to the incident, calling for more transparency and action. The group protesting today compiled a list of nine demands. Organizers said the list is a conversation starter and a work-in-progress.

The graffiti found at SU prompted an investigation by SU’s Department of Public Safety and the Syracuse Police Department. After the graffiti became public, Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force and the state Division of Human Rights to investigate.

SU officials have said they welcomed the state’s assistance. Chancellor Kent Syverud in a message to the campus community apologized for not communicating more quickly and broadly about the racist vandalism.

Syverud appeared at the sit-in for about five minutes, shortly after noon. He told students he had come directly to the Barnes Center from the Syracuse airport after a trip to Washington, D.C. Students handed him their list of demands and he indicated he was open to meeting some of them, and working with other administrators to address others.

Here’s what the students are asking for:

The expulsion of any students involved in Day Hall vandalism.

The creation of an twice-annual open forum for students to communicate directly with the Board of Trustees.

Curriculum reform to better educate students on questions of diversity.

Mandatory diversity training for faculty and staff.

A zero-tolerance policy for hate speech among students.

A “same race” option for roommate selection on the student housing application.

Hiring of additional counselors that better represent student body and marginalized communities.

$1 million investment in long-term curriculum changes that address issues of diversity and racism.

Syverud said he had to leave to attend meetings with students, but emphasized his concerns about what was happening on campus.

“This is the most important thing,” he said.

Seniors Samantha Metellus and Jala Wilson said they were disappointed with Syverud’s brief appearance. They said over their four years on campus, students have protested, and the administration has responded similarly, but meaningful change has not taken place.

“It feels like he came in just to be able to say he did,” Metellus said. “We want to have a conversation with him.”

Wilson said the response reminded her of last year’s Theta Tau incident, and felt like history repeating itself.

“He took forever to talk to us then,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like a deeply personal concern.”

Syverud before leaving promised to respond more thoroughly after he’d had time to study the students’ demands and consulted with his leadership team.

Several administrators attended the protest, including Bobby Maldonado, SU’s chief of public safety, Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president of for the student experience and enrollment, and Keith Alford, chief diversity officer.

Senior TJ Kamanda said over the years he observed a trend in how SU responds to issues of controversy on campus, particularly regarding race. Kamanda attended Syracuse city schools and Le Moyne College before transferring to SU.

As a high schooler, Kamanda joined protests to change the Syracuse City School District’s busing policy. His experience helping to successfully advocate for 500 students to get buses to school is part of what inspired him to get involved at protests at SU.

SU senior TJ Kamanda joined a sit-in protest at the university's Barnes Center after racist graffiti was found in a campus dormitory. Protestors say students of color don't feel safe and protected on campus. (Julie McMahon | jmcmahon@syracuse.com)

He recalled THE General Body week-long protests in 2014, and the aftermath of the Theta Tau scandal.

“What did we do to deserve all this?" Kamanda said.

“It’s like no action has been taken,” he said. “These major racial crimes and incidents happen ... We keep seeing it every year. As minorities we are sick and tired of being the target. We feel we haven’t been heard.”

Kamanda noted the graffiti was found in Day Hall, a mostly first-year dormitory. He worried that even efforts made with this year’s cohort of students won’t prevent incoming students from bringing with them mindset that is racist or prejudiced.

That’s why, he said, the protesters are calling for changes to curriculum, diversity training, and better representation among faculty and staff.

Protesters adopted the hashtag #NotAgainSU to summarize their frustration.

Following his visit to the protest, Syverud sent a message to the campus community saying he wanted to take some immediate actions.

He said the university would be establishing new protocols for responding to incidents of bias, including how it communicates to the entire campus. He also said he had directed Dean of Students Marianne Thomson to review the Code of Student Conduct for potential revisions.

Syracuse.com have a reporter and photographer at the protest. Check back for continuing coverage.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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