User:Cjpolworth/sandbox

Background / Introduction
Modern-day Syracuse is far from what you would consider accepting to foreigners, minorities, and people of lower status. There is no end to the ongoing battle against racism, white supremacy, discrimination, and many more hateful crimes. For 52 years, students and the community of Syracuse have been battling these issues. But, with the perseverance and courage of the black community constantly fighting these battles their resolve has begun to flourish and expand. Starting with the Syracuse eight, the brave nine football players decided to risk their career and future to bring justice to Syracuse University, by ending discrimination and demanding to receive the same resources and education to be on equal footing with their fellow white peers. Along with many other demands to help improve the lives of black footballers and the lives of the black community in Syracuse university. During the events of the Syracuse eight and future events to come a legend was forming and soon to become a tradition in Syracuse university, the tradition of the 44. The number 44 on Syracuse football became iconic when three legends known as Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and Floyd Little all wore the number 44 during their time in Syracuse. These three football legends were the best and reached the peak and dreams of any football players but because they were black, they automatically were stripped of their achievements and discredited. Further oppressing the black community to not seek higher achievements because at the end of the day their race will limit what they would strive for in the future. Although history repeats itself the black community will keep on rising to combat these issues, again and again, no matter the cost and effort they will strive to achieve greater things in life. They no longer will stand by and be controlled and demand action to be taken thus flourishing #NotagainSU in the modern-day. Time after time we see the same conflict and battle against racism, white supremacy, discrimination, and many more evils. This time it is no different, a new protest that began in 2019 against that same battle and the protestors named themselves #NotAgainSU. Like many other protests that have occurred in Syracuse #NotAgainSU picked up the banner, protested against these evils and the persistence from the students was the sole reason their voice would be heard and demands met. 52 years ago, the first major event in Syracuse to create an impact against racism and discrimination was the Syracuse eight. Though some of the demands of the Syracuse eight were met their battle was not over nor will it end even after 52 years. Those same incidents the eight fought for and the three SU football legends are occurring constantly and publicly that the black community in SU could no longer hold themselves and decided to act just like the eight did decades ago. A multistep protest involving marching, taking control of buildings, creating various demands to seek justice and equality.

History
Syracuse University is widely known for their football team. They have brought this school many wins in the past and still do to this day. Syracuse football’s 1st season was in 1889, 132 years ago. This means Syracuse’s football team has gone through a lot in the past such as, Segregation, and the Civil right movements, etc. Back then Syracuse University was not immune to racism, especially when it came to sports. But in 1969-1970 a group called "The Syracuse Eight" stood up to the school’s inequality and helped end racism within sports.

Who Were They
The Syracuse Eight were 8 college football players who advocated for an end to discrimination against African American football players at Syracuse University and for other reforms to the program.

The Demands
The first demand was for equal access to tutors and academic advisors. Black athletes were only allowed to take basic reading, and writing classes, while their white teammates had access to every course within their major. Many Black athletes did not have the classes needed to graduate with the degree they attended the university for, nor did they have any access to tutors like their fellow white athletes had. Their next demand was to get equal treatment from their team physician, Dr. William E. Pelow, who was hesitant to touch Black bodies and only told them to ice and or rest no matter how severe their injuries were. Their third demand was to bring diversity to the coaching staff. Syracuse didn’t have coaches of color in any of their sports. Their head coach would use racist language and show discriminatory behavior, which made them feel like they didn’t belong. Even during practices there was a limit on how many black players who could be on the field at once and which positions they were allowed to play. Their last demand was just about fairness on the team. The coaches would cut them out purposely no matter how well they were playing or call them names that they knew were racial.

Getting Denied
When they got denied these things, they decided to boycott their practices and later got suspended from the team and boycotted the rest of the season in 1970. This got the attention of the university, who created a committee to investigate its athletic department. After a 10-week study, the committee stated in December that “racism in the Syracuse University Athletic Department is real and chronic, largely unintentional, and sustained and complicated unwittingly by many modes of behavior common in American athletics and long-standing at Syracuse University (Syracuse.com)." Syracuse University jumped into action by searching for more minority coaches and started agreeing to the demands of the suspended players. Unfortunately, the players were never allowed back onto the team due to their actions and since most of the white football players threatened to boycott if they did come back.

Apologies
In 2006 the “Syracuse Eight” were invited back to Syracuse University by Chancellor Nancy Cantor to receive a medal called the “Chancellor’s Medal” which is the University’s highest honor, and to collect their Letterman jackets. At this time the university also made an apology to the nine of them and recognized their courage and willingness to speak up when faced with injustice.

Three Legendary Ball Carriers
The three legends of SU football are Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. After a long tradition in the SU football team, the 44 has persevered through racial discrimination and has created itself to be more than just a number, but a culture.

Jim Brown (1953-1957)
Jim Brown first donned the 44 for the Orangemen. Jim Brown received 4 All-American honors in his 4 years of eligibility. Following his career, Jim Brown was voted by ESPN’s college football hall of fame as the best college player of all time. However, Jim Brown was never given the recognition of the Heisman, the most prestigious award in all of college football. It’d be reasonable that the best college player of all time would’ve won a Heisman; however, at the time of Jim Brown’s success the voters of the Heisman trophy would never give it to a black man. The racial tension in college football was so tense in Brown’s time at SU that when playing Alabama in the 1953 Orange Bowl, The Crimson Tide refused for weeks leading up to the game to take the field with a black opposition. Despite all this, Jim Brown paved his way to 4 All-American Honors, the college football hall of fame, and ignited the legacy of 44.

Ernie Davis (1957-1961)
Carrying the torch after Brown was Ernie Davis. Ernie Davis was donned the next great 44 as a true freshman that had never played a snap. Davis had big shoes to fill proceeding the greatest college football player of all time. Yet, he didn’t disappoint. Ernie Davis would finish as the 15th best college football player ever by ESPN’s ranks. Not only that but he’d conquer the feat that Jim Brown was never able to. Ernie Davis became the first black man to be awarded the Heisman trophy. So from 44 being carried from the best college player of all time to the first black player to win the Heisman a tradition embarked in SU that 44 held significance in Syracuse. Sparked by the football team, the SU black community learned it was possible to break racial barriers.

Floyd Little (1961-1965)
And proceeding Davis was Floyd Little’s historic career. He landed himself 52nd of all time by ESPN and finished fifth in Heisman voting in 1965 and 1966. While compared to Brown and Davis his career appears lackluster, however that embodies the greatness of Brown and Davis's time at SU.

Retirement and Revival of the 44 Jersey
In 2005 Syracuse decided to retire 44 and end the tradition. Immediately, fans and alumni missed the tradition of the 44. They felt like the roots of SU’s history had been lost. The community begged to be reminded of the strength that Brown, Davis and Little once gave them.

Donovan Mcnabb
Former Cuse QB Donovan McNabb has stated that he doesn’t support bringing back the 44 to current players. This is because he believes that it’d send the wrong message to college football to “un-retire such history that was so strong”. While the SU community agrees with Mcnabb that the history is so strong, the community also feels it’s more important to keep the flame of the 44 burning rather than to let the 44 collect dust in the rafters.

Background
The name Ernie Davis is a well-known name in Syracuse for the not only the students at Syracuse University, but also the residents. With great pride, he is loved by the city for his accomplishments as a collegiate athlete and his one great accolade. Ernie Davis was the first ever African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, the best college football player in the country. He was the first to break the racial barrier in college football and today is given great recognition for it.

Big Shoes to Fill
As Jim Brown’s successor, Ernie had very, very big shoes to fill, yet he was able to live up to his “next Jim Brown” expectations. Ernie Davis led Syracuse University’s football team to their first and only National Championship in a Cotton Bowl win over the number 2 ranked University of Texas. After Davis’s stellar performance, he was granted the Cotton Bowl MVP Trophy, but once he would accept the trophy, he would be asked to leave the segregated banquet; because of this, Ernie and the rest of the team boycotted the banquet. Black perseverance was put on display by the entire football team following this event; Ernie and his teammates developed a bond that was unprecedented at the time; For a black man to have his, mostly white, team boycott a segregated banquet in the 1960s was outstanding to the community and how Syracuse handled diversity differently than everyone else.

First-Ever
The season after winning the Cotton Bowl was Ernie’s senior season and was the year he won the Heisman Trophy. Though he was a clear favorite, the voting was close and he won by a narrow margin. Prior to Davis, there were only four African-Americans who finished in the top five in voting for their respective year; Jim Brown was one of them. Davis is photographed on the right at the National Football Hall of Fame Dinner meeting with President John F. Kennedy. Presented in front of them is Ernie Davis’s Heisman Trophy. Not only was Ernie Davis the first ever African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, but he was also the first African-American to be drafted first overall in the NFL Draft. Aside from football, Ernie broke through racial barriers on campus on a social level. He joined the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity which was a predominantly Jewish Fraternity. Not only was Davis the first African-American to join this fraternity at the Syracuse Chapter, but he was the first African-American at any Sigma Alpha Mu chapter in the entire nation.

Tragedy
Following the NFL Draft, Ernie was traded to the Cleveland Browns where he could play football alongside Jim Brown. It was set up for the Browns to have the best backfield in the NFL by a large margin, but a tragedy struck shortly after. Davis was diagnosed with a highly toxic form of leukemia. Ernest Davis died on May 18, 1963, at the sad, young age of 23. He never got to play a snap in the NFL.

Davis’s Influence on Campus Continues
Ernie’s legacy at Syracuse lives on as he made unprecedented changes in the direction of diversity. That all being said, Davis was a prominent figure in the growth of black perseverance on the Syracuse University campus and surrounding the football team. On and off the field, Ernie brought power with him and the ability to make change. A great man, teammate, and athlete, Ernie Davis was laid to rest as a man of great influence.

The Beginning
Jumping through time and other major events that occurred within 5 decades, #NotAgainSU rose and demanded justice to be properly given and displayed in Syracuse and especially in Syracuse University. Before November of 2019, there were about 20 or more racial incidents that have occurred across campus and Syracuse. These incidents could no longer go unnoticed and the first major action #NotAgainSU took was to hold and camp inside the Barnes Center.

Protests
Taking hold of the Barnes center for a week straight left its mark and provided the leverage needed for #NotagainSU to let Syracuse and its officials know the protestors are serious about their voices being heard. Otherwise, they would continue to remain inside the building until they finally listened. While inside the building #NotagainSU created the first list of demands. Totaling to 19 demands that must be met and accepted.

==== The First 19 Demands ====


 * 1) Accountability for students involved with racist graffiti, incidents in November
 * 2) First-Year seminar reform / taught by a diverse group of students and faculty
 * 3) Mandatory Diversity Training
 * 4) Improve Anti-harassment and hate speed policies - enforce the policy, and those opposing/ignoring policy will face punishments
 * 5) Open forum with Board of Trustees - forum
 * 6) Housing options and multicultural communities
 * 7) More funding for housing offices to implement changes
 * 8) More counselors
 * 9) More space for multicultural offices
 * 10) Funding for scholarships
 * 11) Individual diversity to be considered when admitting students to the university
 * 12) Minimum of 1 million to educate the campus about diversity issues and culture
 * 13) Monthly updates to track the progress of the demands being accepted or reviewed.
 * 14) Equalize multicultural Greek life
 * 15) The administration will respond to any incident within a maximum of 48 hours and send it via email to everyone
 * 16) The mandatory annual \state of the university address to minority communities
 * 17) Expand and invest in more student volunteer opportunities
 * 18) Immunity for Crouse-Hinds Hall sit-in
 * 19) Publicly acknowledge hate crimes and any racial incident on campus - Public statement to be issued to everyone

Barnes Center Sit-in Protest Conclusion
Syracuse university administration and Chancellor Kent agreed to sign 16 out of the 19 demands, rewriting the three remaining demands. But, for the time being the protests came to a conclusion. Although it was not enough to stop future incidents from occurring, a new semester will begin and the same issues will occur once more.

New Year! Same Issues!
A new year began, and the rise of #NotagainSU rose again. The issues going on campus did not end, and more racism and racist graffiti  were being seen on campus. #NotAgainSU began to group up and create new plans and new ways to make their statement fully heard and that was to once again take hold of a building. This time around it was Crouse-Hall that was taken. For a total of 31 days, students remained in the building until their new demands and issues were resolved. Upon the revival of the protest came about numerous protests to go along with the heavy hitter. Marches were going on day in day out no matter the time of day marching occurred and students were ready to protest for what they felt was right and seek justice. Another type of protest #NotagainSU did was to sit and take hold of the intersection. More than 100 students gathered around the intersection and were chanting “No Justice! No peace! No Racist Police!” and many other chants. The reason for the type of protest was to begin negotiations with the administration of Syracuse University and the Board of Trustees to negotiate the situation many students got themselves into such as suspension and to talk about other incidents that have occurred.

Another Successful Conclusion
Students knew they could remain in the building much longer as an ultimatum was given to leave the building peacefully and face minor repercussions or continue staying and face greater punishment. Nonetheless, this may seem like an end to the protests for good it was successful. The school had already accepted most of the demands including the new demands created during the second protests #NotagainSU totaling 34 demands. The results were the Chancellor lifted suspensions, directed staff to stand down to stop protests, agree to almost all of the demands, hire a former U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to review campus police. Any mistake the University administration made, would make their response seem violent and against justice. Actions that made demonstrated the administration was against finding peace were preventing food supply for those protesting leading to starvation, refusing medical and hygiene supplies, denying religious counsel, facial recognition to suspend those involved, charging students for what they’ve done, and many more incidents. Thus leaving the administration one choice to follow what the protestors had to say and treat every student well and respectfully. In the end, it all worked out nevertheless it will never be the end of racism or racial incidents, justice was set and pave way for future students and faculty to address these issues and speak without being afraid.

The Final List of Demands

 * 1) #NotagainSU believes certain people on the administration team should resign because of their negative track record
 * 2) Tuition Freeze - inflation of tuition is not good
 * 3) Disclose identities of that student who committed crime or sex offense relating to these incidents
 * 4) DPS officers will not be armed
 * 5) Housing services for disabled students
 * 6) Formal apology and acknowledgment of the treatment peaceful protestors faced.
 * 7) Suspension expunged from those occupying Crouse-hinds halls
 * 8) Those parts of Crouse hall holding excused from classes
 * 9) Graduate students and faculty immuned from penalization due to labor strike
 * 10) Campus Disruption policy will not apply to peaceful protestors in the future
 * 11) Executive board members create a timeline when they will implement each demand
 * 12) U.S. Attorney General investigate DPS
 * 13) Oversight of administration and their progress
 * 14) First-year seminar to include the history of protest throughout the history of Syracuse
 * 15) Divulge the use of facial recognition software implemented to identify students and faculty to give punishments