Cuomo pans Syverud’s leadership, SU board of trustees backs chancellor

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday was critical of how Syracuse University (SU) Chancellor Kent Syverud has handled the recent hate-speech incidents on campus.

“Despite his efforts, I do not believe Chancellor Syverud has handled this matter in a way that instills confidence,” Cuomo said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

Cuomo went on to say that he believes the SU board of trustees should “immediately bring in an experienced monitor with the relevant expertise to effectively investigate these incidents, clearly communicate the facts with the board and to the State Police hate crimes task force and recommend a decisive strategy to address both the specific incidents and behavior.”

Cuomo is also directing the task force to expand its previous investigations to include the recent reports of a white supremacist “manifesto” that was “digitally disseminated” to Syracuse University students.

The “hateful” activities at Syracuse University are “most disturbing,” Cuomo said, not only to the Syracuse University community, but to the greater community of New York.

“They have not been handled in a manner that reflects this state’s aggressive opposition to such odious, reckless, reprehensible behavior. That these actions should happen on the campus of a leading New York university makes this situation even worse,” the governor added.

Cuomo said that “as we have learned repeatedly, these increasing exhibitions of hate and bigotry must be handled strongly, swiftly and justly. That must be both the reality and the perception. Syracuse University and its leadership have failed to do that. It is your obligation to remedy the situation immediately,” referring to the board of trustees.

Board of trustees response

Syracuse University’s board of trustees late Tuesday afternoon responded to Cuomo’s statement by publicly backing Syverud with a statement from Kathy Walters, chair of the board of trustees.

Walters said,  “This is a deeply painful and unsettling time for our students and our whole Orange community. We have been attacked – from inside our home and from the outside world. While it’s easy to spread words of hatred, Chancellor Syverud has been relentlessly focused on the safety of our community, and the well-being of our students, driving action and effecting real change on our campus.

The Board of Trustees stands behind our Chancellor. We stand with our students. And we stand for what’s right.

That commitment and tenacity is reflected in the comprehensive and thorough document the Chancellor delivered to our campus community earlier today. What he and members of his leadership team put forward is a plan with actionable solutions with real timelines, real deliverables, real resources and real accountability.

That’s what our students are asking for, that’s what our students deserve.”.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Updated on Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m.