Syracuse University Students continue to protest for the third straight day and are calling for the expulsion of the local chapter of Theta Tau and involved students from campus. Protestors continue to press the university administration to take action, despite outlined plans to deal with the crisis. Some may find the language in the report offensive.
Under the banner of the newly formed student movement, Recognize Us, hundreds of students gathered inside the Schine Student Center for about two and a half hours this morning and outside of the Carrier Dome thereafter. The speeches were filled with deep hurt and hostility for the racist remarks against many groups by members of Theta Tau captured on videos.
One speaker admonished the group to consider that members of Theta Tau may not have necessarily meant to be hurtful when playing out mimes on videos that most find unacceptable.
“Each semester, our new members are given the opportunity to write and act out a skit in order to roast the active brothers. This year one of these brothers is a conservative Republican. New members roasted him by playing the part of a racist conservative character. It was a satirical sketch and…”
The student was briefly interrupted when a member of the crowd swore at her.
The student went on to speak but, was verbally attacked and sworn at, even by others who also identified themselves as Jews. Priya Penner is a Political Science and Citizenship and Civic Engagement Student. She found herself directly hurt by the Theta Tau videos.
“So I am a disabled, queer woman of color. I am in a wheelchair. I was born in India so I am also an immigrant. Those words are incredibly hurtful with those various identities.
SU Chancellor Kent Syverud released this detailed list about what the university intends to do:
• Continue suspension of all Theta Tau activities until further notice and engage the Theta Tau national office in conducting a comprehensive chapter review.
• Conduct a top to bottom review of all our Greek life policies, activities and culture, to be commenced this week and completed in time for us to revise all our practices for the start of the fall semester.
• Require all Greek and student organization leaders, members and advisors to participate in implicit bias training and inclusivity training.
• Provide mandatory training for all students, new and continuing, about the culture and expectations of our community.
• Conduct a review by the academic leadership and administrative leadership, including all deans, of appropriate training for faculty and staff, to commence this summer.
• Expand Residence Life training related to diversity and inclusion and implicit bias training.
• Enhance new student orientation and first-year forum and seminars to address diversity and inclusion, implicit bias, alcohol and drugs, and other related topics.
However, Penner is not satisfied.
“In my opinion, there needs to be more steps beyond that. There needs to be that timeline like we talked about. There needs to be active cooperation from the University.”
Chancellor Syverud stated in a letter to the campus community on Thursday that nearly all students involved in the Theta Tau incident were interviewed. The investigation and judicial process is underway. You can learn more about the Recognize Us Movement at their Facebook page here.
