SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — For the 13th time in school history, Syracuse University has a new chancellor, as Michael Haynie prepares to step in for Kent Syverud.
Haynie said that he would be a man of the people, eating in dining halls with students and helping freshmen move into dorms.
But students say the first openly gay chancellor in school history has to address students’ concerns first if he wants to truly ingratiate himself with the student body.
But what do the students really want out of a chancellor? Nacho and Maria, students from Puerto Rico, who refused to give their last names for privacy reasons, said they are happy to have a chancellor who seems receptive to knowing his students.
“Um, I just know he’s openly gay,” Nacho said laughing.
“Yeah and I saw an interview and he seems really nice,” Maria said.
Most students don’t know much about the position of chancellor, but they know the office is one of the highest representatives of their interests. Nowhere is that more true than for international students.
As the federal government increases attacks on foreign students in the United States, supporting their needs to study in the United States becomes paramount for them.
Take Kwan and Donald, international students from Taiwan who also refused to give their last names for privacy concerns.
“I’m scared they’re cutting all the support to the international students. If we didn’t get the support I don’t know how I’d make it,” Donald said, “I mean if they close the international centers, I don’t know how I can make my travel signature or get visa support.”
Kwan said he’s less concerned about the identity of the chancellor, so long as he’s supporting his interests.
“I don’t really care about the chancellor’s identity,” Kwan said. “Just be a good chancellor and fund the right things.”
“We need a good ranking right now,” Donald said with a chuckle.
Another major issue for the student body is dorm life and the quality of student living.
“I would definitely say student quality of life definitely. I’d say there’s a big difference in the dorms, so seeing dorm life kind of be improved,” senior Joey Harris said.
Haynie inherits three dorm construction projects totaling over $500 million. All three are set to be completed for fall 2027.
Whether it’s being the first openly gay chancellor in the school’s history, addressing the needs of international students, or fixing student housing, the new chancellor will have a lot to contend with.
However one thing that the chancellor’s already established is where he will live. Haynie has already announced that he will not be moving into the chancellor’s on-campus residence and will be staying in his home in Cazenovia.