thursday, april 16, 2026
celebrating 122 years
free
O • Recognizing rights
C • Throwback
S • ‘A Syracuse kid’
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Trump v. Barbara treats birthright citizenship as a political issue, but it’s long been settled law, our columnist writes.
Alumni look back at Marshall Street. It was the center of Syracuse University’s social life — packed with bars, restaurants and regulars.
Izzy Lahah was always told she was meant to play at Syracuse. Now, she’s proving those people right as SU’s top defender.
on campus
Haynie takes over after Syverud announces cancer diagnosis By Brenne Sheehan news editor
Syracuse University Chancellor-elect Mike Haynie will assume leadership of SU effective immediately, after outgoing Chancellor Kent Syverud announced he’s been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. Syverud will no longer serve as president of the University of Michigan, the school he was slated to begin at in May, according to a UMich statement. He will, instead, join UMich as a professor of law and special advisor to its Board of Regents. The outgoing chancellor underwent care at Crouse Hospital and is currently under-
going treatment at University of Michigan Medicine, he wrote in a Wednesday campuswide email. “I want you to know that I am ready to meet this challenge. I am approaching this with optimism, with determination, and with full confidence in the people who are caring for me,” Syverud wrote. “I believe in the road ahead, and I intend to walk it with everything I have.” Domenico Grasso, UMich’s interim President, will continue as president until a new one is appointed, according to UMich’s statement. At Wednesday’s in-person University Senate meeting, SU Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois
Agnew commemorated the outgoing chancellor with “a reflection on his legacy,” including his commitment to “steady leadership” and fiscal responsibility amid federal changes. Agnew added that she’ll be working closely with Haynie — who she referred to as “acting chancellor” — in scheduling meetings to “establish extensive dialogue” across the university. “These are uncertain times for higher education, but we’re positioned for success thanks to the strong foundation we’ve received from Kent Syverud, the vision and experience of our new chancellor and the creativity, generosity and resilience of this community,” Agnew said. “In the meantime,
I know that you’ll join me in sending thanks and best wishes to the chancellor.” Others also issued statements about Syverud’s health — including United States Sen. Chuck Schumer and SU Women’s Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack. Haynie was originally set to take office May 11. Syverud will provide updates on his health as he undergoes treatment, he wrote. “Syracuse University is in extraordinary hands, and I look forward to staying connected with this community that means so much to me,” Syverud wrote. brennesheehan@dailyorange.com
‘One of our own’ Joe Biden said SU has been with him “through it all” during portrait unveiling By Brenne Sheehan and Laura Lemgruber the daily orange
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hen former United States President Joe Biden stood in front of hundreds at Syracuse University Tuesday, he made it clear — choosing the law school’s Kossar Reading Room to hang his new portrait was intentional. “Everything I did as an elected official was all an extension of what I’ve learned here at Syracuse, how to use the law, how to affect the values I’ve learned sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, dignity, respect, fairness, equality,” Biden said. “Whatever my legacy may be, I hope it will be said that I never stopped striving because of democracy.” At Dineen Hall’s Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom, Biden joined College of Law leaders in unveiling a portrait painted by Portrait Society of America chairman Michael Shane Neal. For the College of Law’s faculty and students, Biden’s portrait is more than symbolic. Dean Terence Lau said the former president shares a bond with those who will pass it: he once walked the halls of SU. “We’re proud to have this portrait hung in our school and extraordinarily proud to call President Biden one of our own,” Lau said. “Our hope is that this portrait will inspire generations of law students to be a proud reminder to every student who walks through our library doors of what is possible when you combine a Syracuse Law education with the courage to serve something larger than yourself.” The visit marked the former President’s first visit in a decade to his alma mater — where he graduated from SU’s College of Law in 1968. Leaders from across central New York and the state attended in support of the former president, including SU acting Chancellor Mike Haynie, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens and U.S. Rep. John Mannion, among others. From his contributions to legally-binding protections for victims of sexual assault, to his expansion of legislation protecting the LGBTQ+ community, law student leaders like Emery see biden page 6
former president joe biden visited his alma mater for the first time in a decade for the unveiling of his new portrait.
avery magee photo editor