FREE
THURSDAY
oct. 18, 2018 high 43°, low 36°
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 |
N
SU’s iSchool is working to expand internet accessibility in Liberia by sending 6,000 internet-equipped backpacks that include phones, laptops and tablets there. Page 3
P
The Syracuse-based nonprofit organization HearStrong aims to eliminate social stigmas surrounding people living with hearing disabilities. Page 7
dailyorange.com
IN THE
HUDDLE
SEE INSERT
city
Turn of the century A look back at 100 years of SU’s University College
Troopers to help address violence By Casey Darnell and Colleen Ferguson the daily orange
University College celebrated its 100th anniversary this month. The college has evolved from holding a few night classes in 1918 to serving more than 900 part-time and non-traditional students. molly gibbs photo editor
photo illustration by talia trackim senior design editor By India Miraglia asst. copy editor
T
he first semester of Syracuse University’s Evening Session began on Oct. 8, 1918. Open to the general public, the Evening Session gave people the opportunity to take SU classes without enrolling at the university. A hundred years and many evolutions later, Evening Session has become University College, an SU college that offers a variety of degree programs, certificates and noncredit courses for part-time and post-traditional students. Evident in the college’s long history is a sense of evolution: The institution has seen many different names, locations,
leaders, missions and programs in its efforts to align its education and services with the conditions of the times. “All of the research that we do here at University College is about the next generation of education,” said University College Dean Michael Frasciello. “We’re always looking forward.” As of fall 2018, 557 undergraduate and 352 graduate students attend SU parttime through University College. “After you have a little bit of life behind you, you actually enrich the classroom,” said Kimberly Cook, University College’s student administrative services operations specialist, and a graduate of the college. “You bring a lot more perspective into your classes.” While University College marks 1918
as its official starting point, the roots of the college stretch back even farther. Starting in 1902, the university offered summer classes for part-time students. Twelve years later, then-Chancellor James Day asked SU professors about the merit of establishing extension classes. That initial inquiry led to the creation of the Evening Session. Almost 300 students were enrolled in the program’s first semester, according to a 1994 article in The Post-Standard. A pamphlet advertising the opening of the Evening Session showed 18 different courses, all held at 7:30 p.m. or later. Most courses were held once a week for 15 weeks. Topics included conversational French, recent developments in American education and English drama. Tuition at the time was $5 a credit. Most of the courses were two credits. Evening Session classes were first held in SU’s College of Law, which was then located at the corner of East Fayette and South State streets. The university advertised the session as a way for individuals to gain the education needed to excel in conditions created by World War I. “The war calls for special training and heightens interest in a knowledge of the world and its affairs. To meet this situation, Syracuse University will open to the general public,” the 1918 pamphlet reads. The Evening Session was renamed the School of Extension Teaching, and in 1930 was renamed again to the School see centennial page 4
New York state troopers will be sent to Syracuse to assist local law enforcement after a series of recent shootings in the city. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced on Tuesday that the state will send 10 state trooper patrols, increase intelligence sharing to the city. State police will work closely with the Syracuse Police Department and develop a working relationship with local officials in the short term, said Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s senior deputy communications director. Resources need to be used to find the root causes of violence, Azzopardi said. He added that adding or increasing programs such as midnight basketball or job training will help address the issues that lead to gun violence. Several Syracuse Common Council members expressed mixed feelings over Cuomo’s decision. Councilor Latoya Allen, of the 4th district, which includes the city’s South Side, said she appreciates the governor’s attempt to help. But state troopers may not know the Syracuse environment or the people of the city, she said. “It would be better if we could just hire our own police officers instead of bringing in state troopers,” she said. Councilor Susan Boyle of the 3rd district said she was grateful. “We have a pretty serious problem right now, and we need all the support we can get.” Steve Thompson, councilor-atlarge and former Syracuse city police chief, said that troopers expand existing police patrols in responding to gun or gang violence. Boyle said increasing staff even temporarily would significantly impact the crime and gun violence in the city. Councilor Joe Carni, of the 1st district, said a strong police presence in Syracuse neighborhoods is likely to curb crime. Carni’s district includes the North Side, where a 12-year-old boy was shot last week. The city needs to collaborate more with the county, state and other local government in any capacity, he added. Azzopardi said recent youth fatalities in the city are “unique to Syracuse,” he said. “It’s not one size fits all,” he said. “You can’t just police your way out of this. It’s got to be comprehensive.” casey@dailyorange.com cefergus@syr.edu