Here are some of the biggest news stories from around Syracuse University and central New York that you may have missed this weekend.

DACA webpage launched

Syracuse University announced on Friday that a new webpage has been developed to list resources for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and undocumented students.

The website offers contact information for on- and off-campus support services including admissions, academic advising, counseling, legal support and multicultural student organizations.

An SU ad hoc committee was formed to address the uncertainty surrounding the DACA program after President Donald Trump’s election. That committee spearheaded the creation of the webpage. Committee members focused on the creation of the new resources site throughout the fall 2017 semester, according to an SU News release.

Chancellor Kent Syverud, in an address to the campus community this January, said M. Dolan Evanovich, the university’s senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience, and other ad hoc committee members would be holding one-on-one meetings with students affected by changing federal immigration policy this spring.

Students and other university community members, throughout the spring 2017 semester, called on Syverud to declare SU a “sanctuary campus,” but he declined, citing concerns over federal funding.

Senator leads GOP field

A Syracuse-area senator Friday night moved quickly to capitalize on a prominent GOP politician’s announcement that he was withdrawing from the New York state governor’s race.

Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-DeWitt) has emerged as the Republican Party’s frontrunner for upsetting Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to Syracuse.com. State Assembly Minority Leader, Brian Kolb, dropped out of the governor’s race Friday night to spend more time with his family, according to Syracuse.com.

By 10 p.m. on Friday, DeFrancisco had already secured additional support from nine chairs of county Republican committees, according to Syracuse.com.

“I’ve been on the phone continuously since 9 a.m. trying to pick up support,” DeFrancisco told Syracuse.com on Saturday. Kolb, according to Syracuse.com, had tweeted on Friday that he had the support of GOP committee members who represent 48 percent of the weighted vote statewide.

According to Syracuse.com, under state Republican Party rules a candidate who received “more than 50 percent of the weighted vote at the May convention automatically receives the Republican designation for governor.”

DeFrancisco on Saturday told Syracuse.com he expected more support from GOP committee members, after Kolb’s withdrawal from the race.

Nonprofit to host forum

A local nonprofit called Believe in Syracuse announced on Friday that they will be seeking public comment during a general interest meeting on Feb. 28 to gather ideas on how to promote “positive perceptions” and improving quality of life in the region.

The meeting will be held in the South Side Innovation Center, a center operated by Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

Believe in Syracuse Founder and Executive Director John DeSantis studied at SU, according to Syracuse.com.

Katko endorsed

Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) was endorsed Sunday by the Onondaga County Republican Committee. The committee is the largest Republican Party organization in central New York, according to The Auburn Citizen.

Katko is seeking a third term representing the 24th Congressional District, which includes Syracuse. Multiple Democratic challengers are currently vying for a primary spot to face Katko this fall. One of those Democratic candidates is Dana Balter, a visiting assistant teaching professor in SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Published on February 11, 2018 at 6:57 pm

Contact Sam: sfogozal@syr.edu | @SamOgozalek