SU’s Tuesday campus-wide response to Ackerman forum was transparent, commendable

Monday night, Syracuse University’s Student Association and the Student African-American Society hosted a forum to address students’ concerns following the Feb. 9 assault in the 800 block of Ackerman Avenue. At the forum, community members demanded action:

Students of color must feel safe at SU, people said. Off-campus security needs improvement, they added. The university must conduct a review of Department of Public Safety policy. SU should send campus-wide updates on how it’s handling the assault’s fallout.

At about 5 p.m. Tuesday, roughly 23 hours after the forum, several high-ranking SU officials responded to a range of requests and grievances discussed during the Monday meeting.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board commends SU for its candid and quick response Tuesday.

The campus-wide email — signed by Keith Alford, interim chief diversity officer; Robert Hradsky, senior associate vice president and dean of students; and Bobby Maldonado, DPS’ chief — set tangible goals to address questions and issues raised by SU students and faculty at the forum. It’s a step in the right direction.

According to the email, SU is planning to provide a map of DPS’ jurisdiction. Police jurisdiction was a big topic at the forum, as students questioned why DPS and the Syracuse Police Department responded the way they did to the Feb. 9 assault; whether DPS can investigate off-campus crimes and how DPS and SPD work together.

Students Monday also called on SPD to visit campus to explain the department’s response to the incident.

Alford, Hradsky and Maldonado, in the Tuesday email, said the university is reaching out to the SPD to “facilitate” a meeting with students about safety on and near campus. The editorial board hopes that a public event, similar to the Monday forum, is held for SU students to ask SPD questions.

SU also on Tuesday announced the creation of a student of color advisory committee to work with DPS, following hours of criticism Monday from community members who said DPS is seriously lacking in transparency.

Following through on the information in Tuesday’s email is the next hurdle SU must clear if it’s to prove to students that it took community members seriously Monday. But if it’s any indication, Tuesday appears to show that SU is heading in the right direction.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here. Are you interested in pitching a topic for the editorial board to discuss? Email [email protected].