Syracuse Suspends 23 Students After Hundreds Attend Party Held On Campus

Syracuse University announced Thursday that 23 students have received interim suspensions after hundreds were caught on video attending an on-campus party.

"Based on last night's events and other related behaviors and actions that were in violation of the Code of Student Conduct and the Stay Safe Pledge, 23 students have received interim suspensions," the university's Chief of Public Safety Bobby Maldonado and Dean of Students Marianne Thomson wrote in a statement.

The suspensions follow the school criticizing many for gathering on campus Wednesday night. Several videos and photos taken during the party show large groups of students gathering on the university's quad and other areas of campus. The students were not following social distancing guidelines or the university's Stay Safe Pledge, which outlines several mitigation efforts students should follow during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, prior to announcing the suspensions, Syracuse University officials warned that the students attending the parties, "may have done damage enough to shut down campus."

According to Thursday's statement, the events the night before began at around 9:45 p.m. local time, when a small group of students arrived on the quad, but by 10 p.m. "the group had grown considerably." Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers were dispatched to the quad at around 10:19 p.m. and were able to clear the area of students by 10:30 p.m.

"This gathering was foolish as it put these individuals, their fellow students and our ability to remain on campus in jeopardy," the statement said. "Syracuse University expects all our students to fully comply with all COVID-19 public health directives, including those related to on- and off-campus parties and social gatherings. There can be no exceptions."

In addition to announcing the suspensions, the school also provided additional disciplinary actions for students to expect if they fail to comply with the school's Stay Safe Pledge. According to the statement, students risk suspension and possible expulsion from the university, if they organize or host a party on or off-campus. Students will also face "substantial disciplinary action" if they attend a gathering or violate any other mitigation guidelines such as not wearing a mask or failing to social distance.

Newsweek reached out to Syracuse University for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

As colleges and universities across the country begin to reopen during the novel coronavirus pandemic, many other schools have faced similar issues.

The University of North Carolina became the first university to shut down, and move to online-only classes, after experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases within the first week of opening. UNC will remain online through the fall semester.

Notre Dame University also moved to online instruction for undergraduate students after seeing a rise in coronavirus cases on its South Bend, Indiana campus. While Notre Dame intended to send students home for the semester, Rev. John Jenkins, the university's president, announced that classes will be virtual for two weeks.