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THURSDAY
april 5, 2018 high 33°, low 27°
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 • MLK plaque
dailyorange.com
P • Painting a picture
A plaque was unveiled at Shaffer Art Building on Wednesday afternoon to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. Page 3
Believe in Syracuse has commissioned a $20,000 mural on a West Fayette Street building. An artist for the project will be chosen in late April or early May. Page 7
S • Getting on track
After an up-and-down start to the season, Syracuse men’s lacrosse has found an identity and continues to thrive with an offense without a dominant scoring threat. Page 12
‘Next generation’
gso
Insurance plan spurs conflict By Kennedy Rose and Gabe Stern the daily orange
Graduate Student Organization senators passed a resolution to switch to a less expensive health insurance plan on Wednesday after hours of contentious debate and months of tension between Syracuse University graduate students. More than 100 graduate students attended the GSO meeting to decide whether to pass the health care resolution. Some students stood in the back of the room and sat in aisles to hear the debate.
$500 Cost a single graduate assistant would pay for health insurance under the new plan source: syracuse university
GHUFRAN SALIH (LEFT) AND KYLE ROSENBLUM are campaigning for Student Association president and vice president, respectively. The pair became close as orientation leaders during Welcome Week 2017. kai nguyen photo editor
STUDENT ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS 2018 KYLE GHUFRAN ROSENBLUM SALIH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Ghufran Salih hopes to foster inclusive campus for future students
Kyle Rosenblum’s support for mental health resources drives candidacy
By India Miraglia
By India Miraglia
or Ghufran Salih, being elected to Student Association is a way to give back to Syracuse University for all it has done to influence her life. That’s one of the reasons why Salih, a sophomore information and technology major, is running for president. Salih said she and her running mate, vice presidential candidate Kyle Rosenblum, saw SA as a way to help the campus grow by supporting the “thriving” parts of SU while working on the areas that need improvement. “We want to to make sure that we’re doing the best that we can so the next generation of students that come here can also have the amazing
yle Rosenblum, one of three candidates for the position of Syracuse University Student Association vice president this spring, is hoping that the slogan of his and SA presidential candidate Ghufran Salih will spread across campus. The slogan “why not now?” was born out of Rosenblum and Salih’s belief that they had the passion and ability to run, despite only being sophomores, and were inspired to take the chance, Rosenblum said. Now, the pair sees it as a way to empower students. For Rosenblum, mental health was the catalyst in wanting to make a difference on campus. “I was thinking about mental health on campus
staff writer
F
see salih page 4
staff writer
K
see rosenblum page 4
The GSO executive board and members of Syracuse Graduate Employees United, an organization trying to create a union for graduate student employees, were at odds over the plan. “We’re just really frustrated, and this seems like an undemocratic process,” said Anthony Walker, a member of SGEU. Combative debate persisted as the vote for the years-long project approached. After the bill was passed with 24 votes in favor, 9 votes against and 1 abstention, many SGEU members immediately left the auditorium to advocate for their unionization efforts. SGEU has strongly opposed the plan for months. SGEU members lingered in the hallway outside the auditorium as GSO members discussed other business, at the end of the meeting. GSO President Jack Wilson said in an interview after the meeting that the name of the new insurance provider will be released soon. GSO considered graduate employee unionization in 2015 after SU administrators required all students to have Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance plans by fall 2016. GSO members cited what they said was a lack of transparency from the administration as a cause, but never formally pursued unionization. Hunter Thompson, a member of GSO’s employment issues committee and SGEU, said only members of GSO’s executive board were involved in talks regarding the recent health care changes. He voted against the proposed health care plan. “I think they’re distracted by this $500 (plan), and they’re not see insurance page 4