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THURSDAY
may 6, 2021 high 55°, low 39
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
N • Preserving history
S • Making the jump
The New Central New York Libraries Resource Council awarded a pair of grants to SU’s libraries to digitally support various records and artifacts. Page 3
After Furman cut its men’s lacrosse program, Cole Horan transferred to SU. But years before the starting defender arrived in Syracuse, he was an undersized and overlooked recruit. Page 12
‘Profound problem’
jordan schechter contributing illustrator By Richard Perrins and Sarah Alessandrini the daily orange
A
bout a year ago, Stephen Kuusisto said “hello” to a professor in an elevator in a Syracuse University building. The professor didn’t acknowledge Kuusisto’s greeting. Kuusisto, who is blind, said “hello” a second time, and the professor still didn’t respond. But when some students stepped onto the elevator, the professor went on to talk to them. Kuusisto confronted the professor outside the elevator, where the professor said they didn’t have to talk to people they didn’t want to. “From my perspective, that was outright ableism,” said Kuusisto, director of interdisciplinary programs and outreach at the
Faculty at SU reported that they experience discrimination at SU, and some say the administration should be doing more to change campus culture
Burton Blatt Institute. When Kuusisto shared his experience with some SU administrators, he said they were dismissive. “If I’m a woman of color, if I’m a queer faculty member, if I’m Indigenous, I’m going to bet you that these things happen to them also,” Kuusisto said. The university released a survey in April in which faculty and staff reported facing discrimination at SU. A similar report released in January from the university ombuds also listed racism, sexism and retaliation as concerns among SU staff. The office provides a confidential and neutral space for SU employees to discuss conflicts. Neal Powless, who serves as university ombuds, said the January report points to places where the campus can improve, although progress may be slow. see discrimination page 4
city
city
Candidates talk economic recovery City officials discuss safer policing at panel By Nick Robertson senior staff writer
The pandemic has put extreme financial pressure on both the city of Syracuse and its residents. The Daily Orange spoke to the five Syracuse mayoral candidates about their economic priorities for the city post-pandemic.
COVID-19 and the economy
Syracuse cut $18 million from the city budget due to revenue losses,
mostly sales tax. In total, Mayor Ben Walsh estimated $40 million in lost revenues in 2020 and 2021. Federal funding has healed some of the city’s financial woes. Syracuse is on track to receive $126 million in federal funds in 2021, one of the largest cash injections in city history. Some of those funds have already been used to give back to local businesses, with an estimated $100,000 being given back to local bars, restaurants and theaters. But the question
of where the funds will go remains.
What are your top priorities for where the federal funding will go? What are the keys to financial success postCOVID-19 for businesses and citizens?
Tom Babilon (R): “One of the best things that the city can do with regards to helping economic development is just get out of the way. In Syracuse, compared to see mayor page 6
By Kailey Norusis asst. digital editor
City officials discussed Syracuse’s Smart City initiative and its effects on policing during a panel Wednesday. The Smart Cities and Policing panel, hosted by Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, featured Mayor Ben Walsh, Syracuse
Police Department Chief Kenton Buckner and Amanda Darcangelo, a data engineer for the city. Martha Garcie-Murillo, senior associate dean of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility initiatives in the iSchool, moderated the panel. Walsh’s Smart City Initiative, which aims to improve the city see policing page 6