Syracuse University

A new semester has begun at Syracuse University, and Chancellor Kent Syverud’s annual winter message Monday focused on the drama of last semester, when a series of racist and anti-Semitic incidents fueled fear and anger that the university wasn’t doing enough to make a diverse student body feel safe.

Syracuse University student protesters walked out of classes Thursday, demanding the resignations of the chancellor, public safety chief and others. Protesters said they do not have confidence in those officials to carry out the changes they said are needed, after racist graffiti, vandalism and other incidents occurred on campus last month.

Syracuse University is still on edge from a string of racist and anti-Semitic incidents on campus in the last month. As students returned this week from Thanksgiving Break, they gathered with faculty and administrators Wednesday for a community peace vigil.

Benny Callahan didn’t leave her dorm for two straight days this week. The Syracuse University freshman didn’t feel safe, she said, away from home and under siege, it seemed, by day-after-day reports of racism in campus residence and academic halls.