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The Daily Orange is cutting its Tuesday print newspaper to focus on digital storytelling projects such as podcasts, videos and photo stories. Page 3
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The first Dean’s Convocation of the semester on Sunday night marked a new school year and the chapel’s efforts to adapt to the effects of Theta Tau’s expulsion. Page 11
Five years ago, Syracuse moved from the Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Two national titles later, a look back at SU’s success. Page 12
theta tau
As students return to SU, four months after the Theta Tau controversy, many say there are still
LOOSE ENDS
Theta Tau officer appeals suspension By Jordan Muller news editor
Syracuse University expelled its chapter of the Theta Tau engineering fraternity last spring after videos surfaced of people in the Greek organization’s house using racial and ethnic slurs. paul schlesinger staff photographer
By Jordan Muller news editor
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t’s been four months since Syracuse University expelled Theta Tau. Four months ago, hundreds of community members marched on Chancellor Kent Syverud’s house, demanding that the university release the videos filmed at the engineering fraternity. Four months ago, students gathered at public forums across campus to recount personal experiences with racism, bias and discrimination. Four months ago, media outlets broadcast the videos on national TV, and “Syracuse University” appeared
The conversation directly related to Theta Tau may have ended, but the greater offshoot of that is still very strong. Ricky Tibbetts syracuse university junior
in news headlines alongside the word “racist.” As SU classes resume this week, a summer after the Theta Tau videos controversy, students in more than a dozen interviews with The Daily Orange said that the effects of the incident continue to reverberate across campus. Noeli Vasquez, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, acknowledged the university’s efforts in implementing change thus far, citing forums held by various colleges. “But there’s way more that needs to be done,” she added. Only about two weeks see theta
tau page 6
on campus
Dorms, dining halls upgraded during summer By Colleen Ferguson asst. news editor
Syracuse University completed a number of campus construction and renovation projects during the summer, including dorm and dining hall upgrades and improvements to academic buildings. Other buildings that received work included Schine Student Cen-
ter, Hall of Languages and Hendricks Chapel. Renovations have been ongoing at the Carrier Dome, National Veterans Resource Complex and Archbold Gymnasium. The university also completed utility upgrades and renovations to parking garages. The construction projects come as the university continues its multimillion dollar Campus Framework plan, a 20-year guideline for campus
infrastructure improvements. Various components of the Campus Framework plan were executed during the summer, including preparations for the new Barnes Center at The Arch, a health and wellness complex. SU demolished large parts of Archbold to prepare the foundation for the south end of the center, where a pool will eventually be built. A portion of Sims Drive between
Flanagan and Archbold Gymnasiums will remain closed until late August because of the construction. The walkway between Archbold and the Carrier Dome will remain closed until fall 2019 as the renovation continues. The university completed concrete pouring, foundation work and excavation for the National see construction page 4
The former vice regent of Syracuse University’s now-expelled Theta Tau fraternity could return to SU this year on disciplinary probation after the university reduced his initial suspension for a conduct violation in connection to controversial videos released this spring, according to documents recently filed in federal court as part of an ongoing lawsuit against SU. Tyler Vartabedian, an aerospace engineering major and Class of 2019 member who was the Theta Tau chapter’s vice regent in spring 2018, could return to the university this year on disciplinary probation, according to University Appeals Board documents filed in court by lawyers representing SU in the lawsuit. As part of the sanction, Vartabedian must complete 80 hours of community service, read three books on inclusion and/or bystander intervention and write a 12-page research/reflection paper, per court documents. Court papers filed in the lawsuit by SU’s and Vartabedian’s separate legal teams provide the clearest look yet into the outcomes of the monthslong student conduct process for those charged with conduct violations in connection to the Theta Tau videos. The conduct process wrapped up in late July, but SU officials said they could not comment on specific decisions due to federal privacy law. In an email to The Daily Orange, Karen Felter, one of Vartabedian’s lawyers, said the former vice regent’s punishment was reduced by the SU appeals board because Vartabedian was not directly involved “in the creation, production or performance of the objectionable skits” shown in the videos. “His only culpability was that he was an officer of the fraternity present when the event occurred and failed to take action to stop the performance of a satirical skit,” Felter said. Vartabedian, an anonymous plaintiff in the lawsuit against SU, was one of 14 students involved in the Theta Tau videos who appealed suspensions handed down by SU’s conduct board earlier this summer, according to court documents. Vartabedian’s identity was revealed when his legal team filed court papers in June containing ineffective redactions of his name. SU’s appeals board, which is see vice
regent page 4