SU community walks for brain cancer awareness in wake of former chancellor’s diagnosis

Dozens of Syracuse community members gathered outside of the Schine Student Center Tuesday afternoon to honor and support former Chancellor Kent Syverud following his recent brain cancer diagnosis, announced earlier this month.

The Brain Cancer Awareness Walk, hosted by Syracuse University’s Student Government Association, gave students the opportunity to write a letter or make a poster for Chancellor Syverud, as well as to make a donation to the Brain Tumor Foundation. T-shirts made by SGA were given to donors, adorned with the slogan “Nobody Fights Alone, ”a common phrase of solidarity for those diagnosed with cancer. 

Photo by Gabe Howe

The T-shirts made by SGA that were given to those who donated $15, with the uplifting message of “Nobody Fights Alone”.

Freshman Sara Paredes, recently elected as SGA’s Vice President of Community and Government Affairs, said the event came together quickly.

“This event was put together in under 24 hours immediately after Chancellor Syverud announced his condition,” Paredes said. “SGA executives got together and put everything together and got 55 organizations on deck to show up and show out for us and the cause.”

Incoming SGA president Emily Castillo-Melean said the event was the “largest collaboration in Student Government history”.

Seeing the SU community come together like this left an impression on Paredes, who said the community’s staunch support was “impressive and impactful.”

The event began outside Schine at noon. T-shirts were distributed and posters hung outside the student center doors. By the time the walk began at 2:30 p.m., most of the wall closest to the doors was covered in uplifting messages of support and solidarity. 

Photo by Gabe Howe

Messages of positivity and unity, made by SU students and staff, hung on the outside of Schine Student Center Tuesday in support of Chancellor Syverud’s battle with brain cancer.

Participants in the walk were encouraged to wear gray, a nod to the annual “Go Gray in May” campaign for Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

Castillo-Melean said the event’s goal was to “create a space for awareness, reflection, and community.”

When the walk concluded at Crouse-Hinds Hall, Castillo-Melean and other members of SGA addressed the crowd and thanked them for their participation, noting that the turnout “reflects a commitment to community, compassion and awareness that defines what Syracuse University can be.” 

The closing ceremony ended with a prayer led by the Rev. Devon Bartholomew, a chaplain at Hendricks Chapel, with a moment of silence for all affected by brain cancer or tumors.

Bartholomew praised SGA and the “Orange family” for their supportive response to Syverud’s diagnosis.

“The community responded with conscience and clarity,” he said.

The issue of brain cancer is one very close to Bartholomew, who said he has had two friends recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Every year, more than 1 million Americans are affected by the disease.

In a gesture fit for an event honoring Syverud, Bartholomew invited the crowd to put their arms around one another during the prayer, in the same way students traditionally do while the university alma mater is played, a custom that Syverud was a strong advocate for.

“If we are not connected, then how are we really family?” Bartholomew said.

Brain Tumor Awareness Month will begin in May, with events happening across Syracuse. Chancellor Syverud will continue receiving treatment and care in Michigan.