Dear Chancellor and Syracuse University Senators,

We deeply regret the terrible ethnic issues that took place in Day Hall and Physics Building.
Those who elicit racial discrimination are killing the American values, and have broken the US
Civil Rights Act. I never thought that such lousy racist incidents would occur in this university
because the United States Declaration of Independence declares, “All Men Are Created Equal.” I
believe many Americans still feel very strongly about the idea of equality.

The incidents of racism against African Americans and Asians have started since last Wednesday
(11/06/2019 to the present). However, the board members have not taken any considerate
actions to respond to this issue or even have not disclosed any relevant information. This is
entirely incomprehensible! we strongly protest against the inaction of the university. The inertia
of the university causes the sit-in demonstration organized by the African Americans group in
the Barnes Center. The aforementioned is the hope that the students will pay attention to the
inequality of the university through their strength and voice. Human dignity should be equal
around the world, regardless of race, gender, language, or religion. This should be a consensus of
all students and faculty. Therefore, racial discrimination is intolerable. As a university senator, I
stressed that Syracuse University attaches importance to racial discrimination and gives a
solution to the incidents as soon as possible. If the school still maintains an attitude of inaction,
we will seek more support from positive social forces.

We are minorities, and we are deeply concerned about whether racist incidents can be controlled
appropriately and whether such events will frequently occur on campus. In fact, this has already
occurred, since Day Hall incident with racial slurs written in the Physics building. At present,
racial discrimination has severely affected the daily life of ethnic minority students, and tension
is coming to a peak. Most student organizations, student families and relevant people are both
disappointed and worried about the current campus environment. We hope that the university
updates students on the progress and details of the incidents at once because we have the right to
know. This action will help ease appease the tension in students and relevant stakeholders.
We firmly requested the university to expel any students/faculty members involved with the hate
crimes committed on November 6th and on November 13th to present on our campus. And board
members should give a positive response to the racial discrimination incidents in the morning
within two working days. In order to prevent racism from happening again at Syracuse
University, we represent all minorities from proposing nine requests:

 Any student or faculty member involved in racial discrimination against others should
receive a severe punishment-dismissal.
 Create an open forum for students to share their student experience and express the
expectations of their university to the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University. This
 forum should be held twice a year, along with monthly updates written by students for
Trustees.
 Add a part test focus on anti-racism in the EVERFI module and institute a clause in new
faculty and staff contracts that requires mandatory diversity training.
 Revise the current Anti-Harassment policy to a zero-tolerance level for all hate speeches.
Consequences for these offenses should be listed, as done for other infractions in the
Student Handbook.
 Restructure the course SEM 100 to more effectively educate students on systemic
structures of oppression embedded in this country.
 Rewrite University and DPS policy regarding hate speech and racial bias on campus.
Adopting online crime reporting systems where students can report photos and videos,
and other types of reliable evidence anonymously.
 Hire more counselors to represent all marginalized identities on campus.
 Prioritize the mental health of marginalized communities on campus (consistently and
particularly during racially-charged incidents) and expand the presence of counselors of
color at the Barnes Center at The Arch, as well as diversifying the faculty and staff within
each college.
 Vastly increase the amount of funding allocated to programs, resources, and campus
advancements dedicated to improving the experience of marginalized communities on
campus.

Repetitive apologies do not prevent the recurrence of racial discrimination. As a Chinese senator
at Syracuse University, Yuyin Liu, along with other student organization leaders, we represent
all students and their families to request board members to conduct a comprehensive, fair, and
objective investigation on the racial incidents to reveal the truth.

In solidarity,

Yuyin Liu, Aby (Boyang) Feng, Lin Peng, Chenyu Wang, #NotAgainSU
University senator, President of China Development Student Think Tank (Syracuse University
Chapter), President of Global China Connection (Syracuse Chapter), President of Chinese
Students and Scholars Association, The group from #NotAgainSU
Student Association

Women’s Building Suite 100

Syracuse, NY 13244
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Syracuse University