I don’t know how to put this lightly folks, but today was extremely difficult. Today we said goodbye to Mel Stoffel, who has been a dear friend and an invaluable member of The Advocacy Center team. Today was her last day at the University. For anyone who has ever interacted with her, you know that it is nearly impossible to walk away without a smile or laugh.
This all is really happening, and we need to rally around each other, rally around Mel, and show each other the love, respect, and support every person and community deserves. If you need motivation visit the Advocacy Center website (http://advocacycenter.syr.edu/), or look at the photos below…the website has been stripped down, the office is being cleaned out.
Nothing about this is easy, or right, and this certainly won’t be resolved quickly, but I truly, and wholeheartedly, believe that together we can accomplish something special. So keep raising your voices, stay active. The University made these changes on a Friday, in summer, for a reason; they wanted to avoid us speaking out and calling attention to the changes…let’s disappoint them.
We are the “unentitled, scrappy, and engaged students” that Chancellor Syverud wants to come to Syracuse, according to his inauguration address. And if this is truly “a University where, when we are at our best, we are about knowledge, and becoming the best,” as Chancellor Syverud also stated in his inauguration address, then how can we take such a step back?
“As in the past, our University’s direction should be inspired and empowered by the insights of all our people, not dictated by one Chancellor like me. All I can do today is start a dialogue about the direction we might go in.” –Chancellor Kent Syverud, April 11, 2014
We are ready for a dialogue, it’s not too late to begin one.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/222740567936850/
#BringBackTheAC 
I love you all!!!! Thank you for your kindness, love, respect and support. I will remember you always.