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THURSDAY
sept. 27, 2018 high 65°, low 52°
t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |
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Coffee Guide 2018
Syracuse University has removed plastic straws from five dining halls as part of an effort to reduce waste. Several other schools have also banned the straws. Page 3
see page 9
dailyorange.com
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The night before Syracuse upset Clemson last year, it didn’t sleep in its usual hotel. Instead, the Tigers slept in the Crowne Plaza where SU typically stays. Page 16
From the ashes
on campus
Greek survey results to be public By Daniel Strauss asst. copy editor
In August, four historic buildings were destroyed in a massive fire in the 700 block of North Salina Street. The city ordered the buildings be demolished due to safety concerns the day after the fire. hieu nguyen asst. photo editor
Community members reflect after August fire
By Micah Castelo
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staff writer
isa Welch spent three and a half years transforming a former furniture and embalming business into apartments on Syracuse’s North Side. But, at the end of last month, she saw her building go up in flames. Welch’s property is one of four buildings that were destroyed in late August after a fire broke out in the 700 block of North Salina Street. The city has ordered that the buildings be demolished due to safety concerns. Property owners said that while they’re devastated by the fire, demolition was the most viable option to move forward. The August fire began when a discarded cigarette lit up a large stack of cardboard leaning against the rear of Cities Leather and Luggage on 719 N. Salina St., according to a press release from the Syracuse Fire Department. Authorities determined the fire was accidental. Due to wind gusts of 30 mph and hidden empty spaces inside the buildings, the fire quickly spread to neighboring buildings. More than 100 see fire page 7
state
New York to stop charging minors as adults By Ahmad Nomani contributing writer
A New York state law being implemented at the beginning of October will prevent minors from being automatically charged as adults in most criminal cases. Under the state’s new “Raise the Age” legislation, which
goes into effect on Monday, 16 year olds accused of nonviolent crimes will not be prosecuted as an adult for nonviolent offenses. The law goes into effect for 17 year olds in October 2019. Before the law was passed, New York and North Carolina were the only states that automatically charged minors as adults. Minors who have committed
nonviolent offenses will be transferred to a family court, where there are more resources for intervention, according to the legislation. Those who have committed violent crimes will be prosecuted in the youth portion of criminal court, but have the opportunity to be moved to family court under certain circumstances. “Raise the Age” will allow 16
and 17 year olds charged with misdemeanors to go through family court. Those accused of nonviolent felonies would be sent to a new youth section of criminal court. Then, they would be transferred to family court unless a district attorney identifies “extraordinary circumstances.” A three-part test will determine if see legislation page 7
The results of a Greek life survey sent to all Syracuse University undergraduate students this summer will eventually be shared publicly, an SU administrator said at a town hall meeting Wednesday. The survey, which came as part of a Greek life review that began after last spring’s Theta Tau video controversy, asked students anonymously whether they believe Greek organizations have a positive impact on the university, whether students feel comfortable interacting with Greek organizations and their members and whether students feel Greek organizations promote the health and well-being of their members, among other things. Robert Hradsky, SU’s dean of students, said the survey had a 48 percent response rate. Three consultants selected by SU, who have experience in Greek life administration and are members of Greek organizations themselves, visited the university in September to help with the review. SU shared the survey data, policy handbooks and Greek organizations’ constitutions with external Greek life consultants who visited the campus in mid-September, Hradsky said on Wednesday. Hradsky also said that consultants spoke with Chancellor Kent Syverud, staff in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, Greek life advisers and members of the SU Greek community. Final recommendations from the consultants are expected to be completed in early November, he said. Kira Reed, co-chair of the FirstYear Experience Initiative Steering Committee, and Keith Alford, interim chief diversity officer, also spoke at the Wednesday town hall. Less than 20 students attended the forum. Reed said that the group developed a full-year course during the summer to permanently replace the existing first-year experience. The course would be three credits, split between the fall and spring semesters, and involve reading assignments and discussions, she said. Curriculum committees within SU’s school and colleges are reviewing and voting on the new course, Reed said. Once that process is complete, faculty members will vote on the course, and then the University Senate Curriculum Committee will see town
hall page 7