All classes at Crouse-Hinds Hall were relocated Thursday morning. A Department of Public Safety officer denied entry to #NotAgainSU protesters who planned to place posters in the building.

A #NotAgainSU protester told The Daily Orange that they were canvassing the building around 8:30 a.m. When they got to Crouse-Hinds, DPS officer stopped two organizers. The officers denied the organizers entrance into the building. 

Marianne Thomson, dean of students, walked out of the building as the organizers stood outside, said the organizer, who wished to remain anonymous. Thomson asked why the protesters were gathered outside, and said she didn’t know why the students would be denied entry into the building, the student said. 

Thomson called Robert Hradsky, vice president for the student experience, who then met the protesters outside Crouse-Hinds. In a video posted to #NotAgainSU’s Twitter, Hradsky is heard saying that only people who work in the building are allowed to remain inside. 

Hradsky was unsure why the building was closed, he said.

Syracuse University released a statement regarding the closure of Crouse-Hinds at about 10:30. Classes were relocated to “protect the academic environment” of the classrooms, the university said. Students with relocated classes have been emailed, the statement said. 

“Syracuse University must prioritize the academic well-being of all students who are taking or who are preparing to take final exams and deliver end-of-semester presentations,” the statement reads. “While we strongly support our students’ right to assemble, we cannot, nor will we allow our community to be disrupted, particularly during one of the most important times in our academic calendar.”

Posters taped to the main entrance of Crouse-Hinds Hall notified students of class relocations. Emma Folts | Asst. News Editor

#NotAgainSU protesters gathered in the basement of Bird Library Wednesday night to discuss future plans of the movement. They planned to meet in the library at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday to begin hanging posters around campus and to pressure university administration. A walkout of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall will take place Thursday at 1 p.m.

Protesters call for the resignation of Chancellor Kent Syverud, DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado, Senior Vice President for the Student Experience Dolan Evanovich and Associate Chief for Law Enforcement John Sardino. Crouse-Hinds also operates as the admissions building, and is where Syverud’s office is located.

Two posters notifying students of class relocations were taped to the main entrance of Crouse-Hinds by 10:15 a.m. Four classes scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. were relocated to several buildings around campus, including Lyman Hall and the Life Sciences Complex.

Janet Coria, an administrative assistant with Syracuse University’s sociology department, emailed students about the relocation of their Crouse-Hinds SOC 101 class at about 10:00 a.m. The registrar “just notified” the department about the cancelation, she said. 

Amy Lutz, an associate professor of sociology, notified students in her sociology class about its relocation at about 9:30 a.m. She told students she had just found out about the relocation.

Published on December 5, 2019 at 11:08 am

Contact Emma: esfolts@syr.edu