Former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch will conduct an independent review of the Department of Public Safety, Chancellor Kent Syverud announced Monday. 

The review is a result of growing concerns with how DPS engages with the campus community, Syverud said in a university-wide email.  

#NotAgainSU, a movement led by Black students, have occupied Crouse-Hinds Hall for eight days to continue its ongoing protests of at least 29 hate crimes and hate incidents that have occurred at or near SU since November. The university placed more than 30 organizers under interim suspension early Tuesday morning for remaining in Crouse-Hinds past closing. 

DPS sealed Crouse-Hinds off Tuesday and Wednesday, preventing outside food and medicine from entering until Wednesday afternoon. SU provided lunch and dinner to organizers Tuesday and breakfast Wednesday. DPS Associate Chief John Sardino physically struggled with a student last week to prevent them from entering Crouse-Hinds, a video posted on social media shows.

Syverud announced Wednesday that the suspensions would be lifted. The university later admitted to misidentifying four students who received interim suspension notices when they had not attended the sit-in. 

“I am not proud of how last week’s events involving student protesters in Crouse-Hinds Hall were handled,” Syverud said in the email. “I take responsibility and apologize to the students—especially those misidentified in suspension letters sent out.”

Lynch served under President Barack Obama’s administration and comes from the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison law firm, according to the email. Her work has focused on improving community-police relations.

DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado said in a statement posted to social media that he welcomes the independent review and looks forward to suggestions that can improve DPS and the safety of the campus community. 

Students called for an external review of DPS after the February 2019 assault of three students of color on Ackerman Avenue. A white teenage girl was charged in the assault. Maldonado at the time said he had no objections to a department review.

Syverud also announced an independent review of SU’s Student Experience Function and said he directed Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost John Liu to work with deans and faculty to develop better protocols for handling future protests. 

The university is making progress in multiple areas, Syverud said. SU has identified three students responsible for hateful acts so far, the chancellor said.

“I believe these three steps are needed now for the sake of our students and university,” Syverud said. “There will be more steps to come”

Published on February 24, 2020 at 11:09 am

Contact Sarah: scalessa@syr.edu | @sarahalessan