As the Syracuse University community prepares for the 2015-16 academic year, here are the five stories from the 2014-15 academic year that you need to know heading into this year. All orange text is clickable.

THE General Body sit-in

THE General Body, a coalition of student organizations, staged an 18-day sit-in in Crouse-Hinds Hall from Nov. 3, 2014 to Nov. 20, 2014. The group had a 40-plus page list of grievances and demands which called for changes to the university’s mission and vision statements, divestment, an apology for the closing of the Advocacy Center and changes to the Posse program, among other things.

 

NCAA cracks down on SU Athletics

The NCAA released on March 6 a 94-page report investigating SU, detailing violations committed by the athletic department. The report included sanctions on the university, which include a five-year probation, scholarship reductions, vacation of wins and a nine-game suspension for men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim. SU had previously announced a one-year, self-imposed postseason ban, which did not factor into the NCAA’s final infractions decision.

 

Athletic department shake-up

Daryl Gross stepped down as the Director of Athletics at SU and Jim Boeheim shared his intention to retire as men’s basketball coach in three years in an email sent to the SU community. Gross now serves as vice president and special assistant to the chancellor and will begin teaching as an adjunct professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in the fall. Mark Coyle, the former athletics director at Boise State University, was named the director of athletics at SU in June.

 

SU to require health insurance

SU announced on March 16 that beginning with the 2016–17 academic year, all full-time students will be required to have health insurance. Starting next year, all incoming, newly enrolled full-time students, as well as current and incoming full-time international students, will be required to have health insurance. The cost of the new student health insurance plan will be $1,890 for those without insurance. The announcement was met with some negative feedback, including the Graduate Student Organization discussing the possibility of unionizing.

 

SU goes tobacco-free

SU became a tobacco-free campus on July 1 after announcing its plans to do so in November 2014. Tobacco products or any products simulating tobacco smoking are now banned on campus, including outdoor spaces. All locations owned or leased by SU in the U.S. enforce the policy, with the exception of the Carrier Dome, the Sheraton Hotel, Drumlins and Syracuse Stage. All SU-owned property, including international property, is expected to fully adopt the policy by 2017.

Published on August 26, 2015 at 12:09 am

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306