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october 3, 2013
t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w spa pe r of s y r acuse , n e w yor k
INSIDE NEWS
High alert DPS released statistics for the previous academic year, showing a decrease in crime. Page 3
INSIDE OPINION
Post here Technology columnist Bram Berkowitz discusses new online commenting policies. Page 4
drew osumi | staff photographer (TOP) MIDGE SCULLY, a junior illustration major, attends the Chalk the Quad event Wednesday evening. The goal of the event was to promote messages of support for Syracuse University’s LBGT community.
INSIDE PULP
The kid’s alright Kid Cudi, Big Sean and Logic performed at Crouse Hinds Theater last night. Page 9
INSIDE SPORTS
Rome is burning Jerome Smith is the unlikely superstar guiding Syracuse into its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Page 20
ONLINE
Shot clock As flu season begins, SU is providing vaccines. See dailyorange.com
Come as A you are
By Maggie Cregan and Ellen Meyers THE DAILY ORANGE
Chalk the Quad event, resources help students express sexuality
utumn Elniski was afraid that her best friend, a “church person,” wouldn’t accept that she was attracted to women. But once Elniski finally decided to come out to her, she was surprised by her friend’s reaction. “I’m like, ‘I like girls’ and she’s like, ‘Finally! I’ve been waiting for you to tell me since high school.’ I’m like,
‘You couldn’t throw a bone my way?’” said Elniski, a senior paper engineering major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Elniski was one of many ESF and Syracuse University students who shared their comingout experiences at Coming Out Stories and Chalk the Quad — an annual event that promotes messages of support for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The university has a high ranking
for LGBT support due to different resources and initiatives. Still, places such as the LGBT Resource Center are working to improve acceptance on campus. Unigo, an online college resource site, ranked SU the fifth best LGBT campus “where there’s pride and no prejudice” for 2013, citing the You Are Not Alone initiative, STOP Bias campaign and minor in LGBT studies. But even with top rankings and campus support resourc-
SEE LGBT PAGE 6
Former student appears Judge dismisses former in court for drug charges professor of gun charge By Alfred Ng ASST. NEWS EDITOR
After posting bail on Tuesday, a former Syracuse University student living in Alpha Chi Rho arrested on drug charges appeared for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. At Patrick Jackson’s hearing, Patricia Campbell, a defense attorney filling in for Jackson’s actual attorney, requested the case be placed on the felony calendar. Jackson’s next court date is scheduled for April 3. Jackson’s mother, Victoria Jackson, was present at the preliminary hearing but declined to comment. Though he was not originally granted bail during his arraignment, Jackson’s attorney, Emil Rossi, had appeared before a higher court on Tuesday to have a bail
set. Jackson was released later Tuesday on $25,000 bail, Campbell said. Police arrested Jackson, 23, on Sept. 26 after seizing 4.23 ounces of cocaine, 15.6 grams of marijuana and $5,560 in cash from his room at AXP. Jackson has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second and third degrees. Both are felonies. He’s also been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree, all of which are misdemeanors. Along with the illegal drugs and cash found in Jackson’s room, police found two digital scales, clear zip-close
SEE JACKSON PAGE 8
By Alfred Ng ASST. NEWS EDITOR
A former Whitman professor arrested last April for bringing his gun to campus has had one of the charges against him dismissed and was given a one-year conditional discharge for the other. Chung Chen, 60, was a professor of managerial statistics in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. He was arrested on the charges of criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds and reckless endangerment in the second degree. On Sept. 10, a city court judge gave Chen a one-year conditional discharge — meaning he cannot get in trouble
with law enforcement for the next year — for the criminal possession of a weapon charge and dismissed the reckless endangerment charge. A handgun discovered in Eggers Hall last April was licensed to Chen under a New York state sportsmans’ permit. He told police he intended to use it at the firing range after work. Although the gun was legally registered, it is a felony for anyone other than a law enforcement officer to bring a gun to a college campus. Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs, said in an email that Chen is no longer employed at SU. alng@syr.edu @alfredwkng