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THURSDAY
april 20, 2017 high 63°, low 55°
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 |
syracuse
refugee
dailyorange.com
series
newhouse
Bandier move was not mutual By Satoshi Sugiyama asst. news editor
NDUNNDIWE “PAUL” CUBAHIRO embraces his sister-in-law and niece. It was his first time meeting his niece, after being apart from his brother for more than one year. He first arrived in Syracuse after six years as a refugee in Kenya. bryan cereijo staff photographer
Upon arrival Inside a refugee family’s emotional first hours in Syracuse
By Jacob Gedetsis enterprise editor
A
t Syracuse Hancock International Airport, the last thing separating arriving travelers from their loved ones outside the terminal is a set of futuristic steel and glass doors. Designed for safety, they only open one way. Passengers wait for the glass to curl open before stepping inside a spaceship-like tube. The door closes behind them, a few seconds pass, and another glass door curls open in front of them. Step, close, open, step A woman rushes to embrace her waiting family. “How was your trip, honey?” “I missed you, how was your weekend away from me?” Step, close, open, step A man, woman and infant child emerge from the doors. A look of confusion turns into a look of happiness and calm. It’s a moment more than a year in the making. It’s a moment that almost wasn’t. President Donald Trump’s first travel ban barred refugees from entering the country for 120 days. In early February, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked enforcement of the travel ban, upholding an earlier decision made by a federal
The move of the Bandier music program from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications was not a mutual decision. Syracuse University announced in late March that the Bandier program will be moved to Newhouse and could potentially be renamed the Martin Bandier Program for the Music Business and Entertainment Industries. The university also announced that Martin Bandier, the program’s founder — who graduated from SU in 1962 — would be donating to the program. The new Bandier program offered through Newhouse will not fully be set into place until 2018. Lorraine Branham, dean of the Newhouse School, said many people involved in the program have advocated for years that the see bandier page 4
university senate
Meeting elicits tension By Jacob Gedetsis enterprise editor
Refugees resettled by Interfaith Works enjoy a first meal with their host family. bryan cereijo staff photographer
judge in Seattle. An attempt at implementing a similar ban was stopped in mid-March by two separate appeals courts. Several workers from Syracuse Interfaith Works of Central New York, a nonprofit that resettles refugees, have been laid off since the first travel ban. But Felicien Seruhungu, who has worked for Interfaith for a few years, survived the cuts. On this night in late February, Seruhungu is picking up a family of three from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s a special pickup — one where he gets to reunite with his cousins. In 2009, Seruhungu and his wife walked through those futuristic doors at the airport as refugees from the Congo. But the America he found beyond those doors wasn’t the America he was promised. “The way people feel about this country; They think paradise,” said Seruhungu. “But when they get here; A different reality.” The cultural and educational barriers are often glazed over during the talks of coming to America — mostly out of necessity. It creates a false reality, but real hope. Seruhungu smiles as he drives north past Destiny USA, and says he enjoys taking his kids to the mall on the weekends to hang out or see a movie. His three kids were born in America, are doing well at school and, most importantly, are living in peace. see refugees page 8
In the longest and most tumultuous University Senate meeting of the semester, the Senate clashed on issues surrounding shared governance, budgetary concerns and meeting procedures. The 2-hour meeting began with a hiccup in the normally non-controversial approval of the last meeting’s minutes. Two Senate members said the minutes identified some speakers from the last Senate meeting, while other people were left out. Can Isik, Senate Agenda Committee Chair, asked if members would state their names before speaking to help with creating minutes. As the meeting progressed, Sam Gorovitz, philosophy professor, would shout “Name!” if a Senate member forgot to introduce themselves. The committee seemed startled the first two times Gorovitz shouted, but eventually members caught on and it became a pre-speaking joke that was met with laughter. The meeting later continued its structural woes. Isik introduced
see senatepage 7
N • Money talks
The University Senate budget committee provided a report at Wednesday’s meeting that addressed the university’s financial concerns. Page 3
O • Private sector
Business columnist Daniel Strauss explains why Americans should be wary of the new internet privacy law, but understand that it’s not so black and white. Page 5
P • Long road ahead
For refugees seeking asylum in the United States, the path to becoming a naturalized citizen is a long one with a number of obstacles along the way. Page 9
S • His show
Mike Messere has coached the West Genesee High School varsity boys lacrosse team for more than 40 years. The school has produced some key SU players in his time. Page 16