Heavy trucks and construction equipment didn’t stop a few dozen Syracuseuniversity staff and faculty from holding a protest of the pedestrian promenade project that got underway Tuesday. Renderings show the project will eliminate the roadway in favor of a more accessible plaza along University Place between S. Crouse Ave. and College Place, with seating, improved landscaping, and lighting. Newhouse professor TulaGoenka says it won’t help students.
"We are really questioning what is the academic purpose of the promenade and how does it relate to the academic strategic plan?"
Associate professor of geography Matt Huber thinks he knows the reason behind it.
"This is a campus beautification project that is mainly to appeal to the eyeballs of prospective students, while under investing, cutting and destroying the actual work and staff and faculty that actually do the nitty gritty educational mission of this university."
SU graduate Madeleine Slade says there are other priorities beyond the promenade.
"If you talk with any of the students, faculty and staff, they could probably tell you a million uses for the 6 million dollars that will actually affect the daily lives on this campus. Instead we have this project that nobody asked for."
The group made its way to the administration building, where they delivered nearly 250 more petition signatures from students and others opposing the project. Senior Vice President for public affairs KevinQuinn says they took into consideration several of their concerns in the final weeks leading up to the project by delaying the start date and minimizing the impact on daily campus life.
" At the end of the day, we are moving forward on the project. We heard a lot of great feedback from people. We understand that people aren't going to appreciate the benefits of every project on everything we do either before its done or after it is done."
The demonstrators say the expensive project comes as student access to mental health services becomes more limited, and as many departments make do with fewer staff. The group gathered more than 250 signatures, and is demanding a response from the chancellor by the end of the week.
