THE General Body ends sit-in, plans to continue movement outside Crouse-Hinds

THE General Body ended their sit-in on Thursday afternoon, after spending 17 days in the lobby of Crouse-Hinds Hall.

Colton Jones, a psychology senior who has been active in THE General Body, described the decision as a “strategic move.” The group had never planned to stay in Crouse-Hinds indefinitely, he said.

He added that members had made the decision independent of and before a 1:30 p.m. meeting with Bea Gonzalez, who is dean of University College and Chancellor Kent Syverud’s liaison to THE General Body. Gonzalez’s meeting re-opened conversations between the Syracuse University administration and THE General Body. This dialogue had essentially ended last Wednesday after Syverud offered a final response to the group’s list of demands, which THE General Body did not accept.

THE General Body’s movement now will continue outside of Crouse-Hinds, said psychology senior Mali Golomb-Leavitt, who emphasized that this is not the end of the group nor its demands.

“We’re looking for dialogue, input and commitment from the people who have power,” Golomb-Leavitt said.

“Dialogue does not mean a listening meeting,” she added.

The sit-in began on Monday, Nov. 3, after a Diversity and Transparency Rally on the Quad. Immediately after the rally, members of THE General Body and its supporters carried a 43-page list of demands and grievances to the administrative offices in Crouse-Hinds. This list used the umbrella terms of “diversity” and “transparency” to incorporate a wide variety of campus issues including accessibility, mental health resources, the instatement of the Advocacy Center and the reversal of cuts to the Posse program.

Although negotiations this first week and a half of the sit-in brought an administrative commitment to some issues, THE General Body said Syverud’s final response was ultimately inadequate. They chose to continue the sit-in, saying in a Thursday press conference that members were prepared to maintain their occupation of Crouse-Hinds through Thanksgiving.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Syverud accepted THE General Body’s invitation to another meeting. As he was off-campus Thursday and Friday, Gonzalez’s Thursday meeting was in part intended to arrange this meeting between him and THE General Body.