Observing the 20th Anniversary of 9.11

Dear Orange Friends:

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93. Some of our students weren’t yet born on Sept. 11, 2001. Many are too young to remember how that day changed how we viewed ourselves, our country and our world. As I do, others will always remember exactly where they were when the attacks happened. I remember watching the towers fall. I remember the fear, the anger and the grief.

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Coming Out of COVID

Dear Orange Friends:

In July I spent a lot of time on the road and in airports, and a lot of time talking with Syracuse folks from all over. Two things have impressed me from this experience: First, it is going to be a fairly long time before we really come out of COVID and all the things it has changed for us as a community. And second, by and large, people at Syracuse were amazing in how they coped and kept going throughout the past 18 months.

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Our Continued Commitment to Access and Inclusion

Dear Orange Friends:

Last fall, I reaffirmed our commitment to embracing the disability community as One University. At that time, I approved adoption of the Phase One recommendations of the Disability External Review Committee. Over the course of the 2020-21 academic year, we began implementation of initiatives designed to ensure that our diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts embrace the disability community that includes our colleagues, students and friends here at Syracuse University.

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Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy

Dear Orange Friends,

So much has changed in the world since we last observed the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. This year, we recognize his impact and celebrate his dream against a backdrop of troubling events. Anti-Black racism continues to divide us. Continue Reading

Reimagining Our Holiday Traditions

Dear Orange Friends:

Like many of you, I look forward to the holiday season every year. It is a time to enjoy our beloved traditions with family and friends and discover new ones. The pandemic has forced us to do everything differently, including how we celebrate this time of year. I am so very proud of our creative faculty, staff and students who are reimagining ways for the Orange family to experience our cherished traditions in the era of social distancing.

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Rising to the Occasion

Dear Orange Friends:

Three weeks of the Fall 2020 semester are now behind us. We have learned so much in those weeks, including about the grit and grace of our Orange community.

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Supporting Our Community

Dear Orange Friends:

The COVID-19 virus does not discriminate by national origin. It is a danger to us all. It is not a Chinese virus or an Iranian virus or an Italian virus or an American virus. It is a deadly virus.

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A Message from Chancellor Kent Syverud

Dear Orange Friends,

As we mark the 150th anniversary of Syracuse University’s founding, we find ourselves facing unprecedented challenges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to share some thoughts with you during this extraordinary time in our history.

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Message from the Chancellor: Coronavirus

Dear Orange Friends and Community:

A global coronavirus pandemic now has us facing a declared public health emergency in our county, state, nation and in many parts of our world. Syracuse University and our community are adapting to this situation, which significantly changes by the day. I encourage each member of our community to do what is needed to protect your own health and the health and safety of our community. To aid in this effort, we are regularly updating Syracuse University guidance and decisions at Syracuse.edu/coronavirus. Visit often for new information and updates.

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Community Service Challenge

Dear Orange Friends,

As we kicked off the academic year and the observation of the University’s 150th anniversary, we committed to a goal of asking our students, faculty and staff to donate 15,000 hours of service to our community. I am proud to say that that goal was met and surpassed during the fall semester. Now, we want to double our impact by logging an additional 15,000 hours this semester.

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