Five issues must be addressed before fall

In the last semester, the Syracuse University community has witnessed numerous controversial actions taken by the university administration, the student government and local politicians unfold into substantial, lasting debates.

The issues at the root of these conversations vary widely. Below are five issues that have had significant effects on the campus community and deserve attention during the summer.

SU’s administration must improve how it handles university funding. The Big East exit fee debate, construction of buildings like the football facility and the lack of university housing highlight an absence of fee payment guidelines, improper financial planning before beginning projects and the failure to allocate resources to necessary projects, respectively. These issues must be addressed to ensure SU is in better financial standing and better equipped for students by fall.

Students need to be informed about the chancellor search developments throughout the summer. Candidates for the position will be interviewed in the summer, according to the chancellor search committee’s published timeline. It is the committee’s duty to keep students involved in the process, despite being off campus. Circulating surveys and other methods of feedback collection are possible approaches.

Members of SA’s 57th Session have acted irresponsibly during the spring semester. They must use the summer months to regroup and plan an effective second half of the term. The organization can use the time to fix internal issues and prove its efficiency and dedication to the student body.

With the proposed closure of Fire Station No. 7, campus safety remains a legitimate concern. The station is the closest to SU and Upstate University Hospital. Shutting down the station means a highly populated region of Syracuse will not receive the same rapid response time. Though the closure is unadvisable, Syracuse firefighters from other stations must use the summer months to familiarize themselves with the university layout.

Orientation has been criticized for not effectively transitioning freshmen into college life. To amend this issue, SU officials should make it a priority to revamp the program before summer’s end. More small-scale mandatory events and encouraging student groups to host information sessions during orientation are effective approaches to improve this process. This would allow students to become quickly connected with peers who share interests and would ease the transition process.