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Syracuse University responded to an open letter from hundreds of community members who expressed their disappointment with SU’s changes to the Lockerbie Scholarship program.

Elisa Macedo Dekaney, associate provost for strategic initiatives, wrote the response letter to elaborate on some of the proposed changes to the program, including a new year-long program at Lockerbie Academy for 10 chosen students that would end with a week-long immersion trip to SU’s campus.

The university responded on Oct. 18, four days after the open letter was sent. The open letter, written by 2011-12 Remembrance Scholar Christopher Jennison and signed by 427 people, included perspectives from Lockerbie Scholars, Remembrance Scholars, SU students and others invested in the Lockerbie program.

Dekaney said the university reviewed the educational component of the scholarship and determined that because Lockerbie Scholars are non-matriculating students, students were focusing more on the social aspect of university life rather than their academics. As non-matriculating students, Lockerbie Scholars cannot transfer SU credits to another college.

“Though that social component is important, it’s not in line with the original goals of this program,” Dekaney wrote.

SU’s initial announcement said the trip would be for 11-12 students and did not mention the year-long program in Lockerbie.

The open letter argued that the proposed changes “significantly diminish” the impact of the program, which has lasted 35 years in memory of the 270 people who died, including 11 Lockerbie residents and 35 SU students, in the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. The letter also highlights the bonds between Syracuse and Lockerbie students developed through the program.

Jennison said he drafted the open letter to allow past scholars to express their feelings. He said the letter serves as a collective response from the Lockerbie and Remembrance community members who he said were not consulted prior to SU’s decision.

“I think very much it was a chance for people to have their voice heard, to have a forum to voice their feelings and frustrations,” Jennison said.

The letter included several anecdotes about friendships between Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars to show the impact Lockerbie students had on the Remembrance program and the broader campus community.

“The Lockerbie Scholar program is a living memorial to the connection between Syracuse University and Lockerbie. During my freshman year in fall of 2003, I became close with a Lockerbie scholar, and that changed my life and opened my eyes to the world,” Stephen Miller, a 2006-07 Remembrance Scholar, wrote in the letter.

In SU’s response, Dekaney recognized the impact of the scholarship program and agreed that it has strengthened the bond between the Syracuse and Lockerbie communities. The response said that moving forward, the program may undergo “reimagining” to allow for more Lockerbie students to participate.

Jennison said he hoped the open letter would encourage SU Chancellor Kent Syverud, the Board of Trustees and other academic leaders to open a discussion forum about the decision. He said this would allow members of the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholarship community to voice their opinions for the university to take into consideration.

In the response, Dekaney said the university’s proposal for future Lockerbie Scholars will be discussed in upcoming meetings with SU’s Lockerbie partners.

Dekaney said in her response that SU will continue to facilitate engagement between Lockerbie Scholars and Remembrance Scholars, university leaders and local officials despite the changes. This will include shared programming opportunities between Lockerbie and SU students who study abroad in London, she said.

Jennison said SU’s Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars are some of the most involved students on campus and remain invested in the Remembrance program even after graduation. Given the opportunity, Jennison said many people would be willing to financially support the program so it could maintain scholars’ presence on campus year-long.

“I understand that things need to evolve, but I would think that with such a profound and lasting and meaningful pair of scholarships that are often capturing some of the most active leaders of the campus that the university would have discussed or foreshadowed in some way with the community,” Jennison said.

Published on October 23, 2024 at 11:14 pm

Contact Kate: kjacks19@syr.edu