Campus & Community

Resources and Support for Your Student

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, By News Staff

Dear Orange Families:

We are writing this morning to provide you an update on campus safety and security, and resources and services available to your student. At this time, let us say this unequivocally: there have been no credible or direct threats to our campus community, nor has any student been the victim of a physical altercation. That is why our campus remains fully open and classes continue to be in session.

We know that the recent hate speech events have caused deep pain and anxiety for many of your students, and for many of you. As such, our faculty have been advised to make the appropriate accommodations for students who have expressed concern about attending class and meeting assignment deadlines. If you and your student have made the decision that your student will return home early for the break, they will not be penalized for their absence.

As we continue to focus on providing stepped-up support to our students, here are the steps we have taken to foster a safer campus community:

  • Syracuse Police officers and New York State troopers patrolling on and off campus
  • Department of Public Safety (DPS) has doubled patrols
  • stationed Department of Public Safety vehicles strategically around campus
  • increased walking patrols to all residence halls and campus buildings
  • increased property checks
  • enhanced our safety escort program to include added shuttle and walking escorts; your student can call for a safety escort anytime at 315.443.SAFE (7233)

As a reminder, the following services are always available to your student:

  • The LiveSafe app on your student’s smartphone, which acts as a mobile blue light, allows your student to contact the DPS Emergency Communications Center with the touch of a button and transmit your student’s physical location during the call.
  • There is also a list of safety strategies that we urge you to review and discuss with your student.
  • Additional support resources are available through the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services at 315.443.4018.

We also want to remind you of the ongoing services and support available to your student, as well as the added measures that have been put in place to provide additional assistance:

  • Drop-in counseling services are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Barnes Center at The Arch. The counseling staff is located on the third floor. To meet increased demand, we have added additional licensed professionals available to assist during drop-in hours.
  • The Main Chapel of Hendricks Chapel will be open throughout the day for prayer, meditation and reflection. Chaplains will be available in the Chaplains Suite (lower level of Hendricks Chapel) to provide comfort and care.
  • In addition, students can visit the STOP Bias website to report or receive support for bias-related incidents.

In addition, the following offices are available for drop-ins and small-group discussion throughout the day:

  • Dean of Students Office, 306 Steele Hall
  • Cultural Centers’ Suite, 548 Bird Library (Office of Multicultural Affairs, Disability Cultural Center and LGBT Resource Center)
  • Center for International Services, 310 Walnut Place

As your student returns home for fall break, we encourage you to review these resources and services with them and discuss how they can be connected to the services they may need. If you have additional questions, we urge you to contact our parent call center at 1.877.786.3971.

As parents ourselves, we appreciate and share your concern about the hateful and troubling events that have transpired on our campus over the last several days. We are particularly cognizant that your child’s safety means everything to you. Let us assure you: Your child’s safety and well-being is and will always be our primary concern.

We are available to speak with you directly, as are members of our teams who are interacting with your students on a regular basis.

Sincerely,

Rob Hradsky
Vice President for the Student Experience
Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience

Bobby Maldonado
Chief, Department of Public Safety