free
THURSDAY
feb. 11, 2021 high 25°, low 1°
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 |
dailyorange.com
C • Go nuts
N • Title IX changes
S • Breakout season
The NUTmobile returned to campus this week to recruit new “Peanutters” to travel across the country promoting the Planters brand. Page 6
Experts hope the Biden administration will reverse Trump-era Title IX policies that they believe made it harder for survivors of assault to speak up. Page 3
Quincy Guerrier was Syracuse’s sixth man last year. Now, he’s having a breakout sophomore season after adjusting his shot during the offseason. Page 12
on campus
SU data breach impacts 9,800 accounts By Michael Sessa news editor
The names and Social Security numbers of about 9,800 Syracuse University students, alumni and applicants have been exposed after someone gained unauthorized access to an employee’s email account. The university has sent letters to affected students, alerting them that the university had investigated a data security breach involving some of their personal information. The unauthorized party accessed the employee’s email account between Sept. 24. and 28. Upon learning of the breach, SU
secured the account and launched an investigation that determined in early January that emails or attachments in the account contained names and Social Security numbers, a letter sent to affected students reads. The investigation, which was conducted with the help of a computer forensics firm, was unable to determine whether the unauthorized party ever viewed the personal information in the account, according to the letter, which was signed by Steven Bennett, senior vice president for international programs and academic operations. The university did not respond to questions about why it waited
a month to alert students that their personal information had been exposed. “To date, we are unaware of any misuse of the information maintained in the employee’s email account, nor do we have any evidence that private personal information was actually viewed,” said Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for communications, in a statement to The Daily Orange. SU has coordinated with Experian, a consumer credit reporting company, to offer affected students a complimentary membership to a product that helps detect misuse of information and provides identity
protection support, the letter sent to students reads. The service is free and won’t affect students’ credit scores, it said. The university did not respond to questions about how the breach specifically occurred. SU is implementing security measures, such as additional resources for cybersecurity training and additional cybersecurity and phishing training for employees with access to personal information, the letter reads. “We sincerely regret any concern this incident may have caused,” Scalese said. msessa@syr.edu @MichaelSessa3
For Pan Am families, healing after new charges
photo illustration by emily steinberger photo editor photos courtesy of kara weipz, stephanie bernstein, pan am flight 103/lockerbie air disaster archives
For families of victims, charges against perpetrator represent years of dedication
By Gabe Stern
enterprise editor
F
or over a decade, FBI agents, Department of Justice officials and Scottish authorities would meet in a room on the first floor of Bird Library to provide updates about their investigation into the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The friends and family of those killed in the terrorist attack — which killed 270 people, including 35 Syracuse University students — gather with the officials each year to share stories, give speeches and hear updates on the search for answers. For years, the investigation moved slowly. At their meeting last October, held on Zoom, the tone shifted. More agents and officials see pan
am page 4
su athletics
Fans may return to Dome Feb. 23 By Anthony Dabbundo senior staff writer
Large sports arenas, including the Carrier Dome, will be allowed to host a limited number of fans starting Feb. 23, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday. Stadiums can reopen at 10% capacity, and fans must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event to enter, Cuomo said at a press conference. Fans must wear masks, participate in temperature checks and sit in mandatory assigned seating. The Carrier Dome has a basketball capacity of 34,616 seats, meaning the stadium could hold about 3,500 fans for upcoming basketball games. Teams must have their safety protocols and regulations approved by the state prior to reopening to fans, Cuomo said. “We’ve got a great plan, and we could execute that plan on relatively short notice,” SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack said Feb. 2. The Dome will first open to a small group of students and will later host the broader community depending on the area’s public health situation, said Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for communications, in a statement Wednesday. “At the heart of our reopening plan is safeguarding the health, well-being and safety of the campus and surrounding communities,” Scalese said. “We appreciate the guidance we have received from New York State Department of Health and the Onondaga County Health Department and look forward to eventually welcoming spectators into the stadium for athletic competitions.” SU has also been in contact with the Buffalo Bills, who hosted 6,700 fans in January for multiple playoff games and other events with spectators. Syracuse men’s basketball has one home game scheduled after Feb. 23, a March 1 matchup with North Carolina. Syracuse women’s basketball will host Boston College on Feb. 25 and North Carolina State on Feb. 28. Syracuse men’s lacrosse’s first home game with fans could be Feb. 27 against Virginia. amdabbun@syr.edu @AnthonyDabbundo