Here are some Syracuse news stories and announcements you may have missed over the weekend:

 

‘Suspicious event’ suspect arrested and charged

The Department of Public Safety and Syracuse Police Department announced on Friday that a Syracuse resident has been arrested and charged for allegedly approaching women on SU’s campus Thursday and asking them questions that made them uncomfortable.

The suspect has been identified as Dennis Smalley, Jr. DPS issued a Public Safety Notice about the incident Thursday evening.

Smalley has been charged with burglary in the second degree, criminal trespass in the second degree and two counts of forcible touching. The arrest was made following a joint investigation between DPS and the SPD’s Abused Persons Unit. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, according to an SPD press release.

Smalley is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center.

 

University announces next vice president for development

Peter Cronin has been appointed as SU’s vice president for development, the university announced on Thursday.

Cronin has more than 30 years of experience in university fundraising and currently serves as Cornell Law School’s associate dean for alumni affairs and development. He will be responsible for fundraising and development teams in various schools and colleges.

“Peter has a wealth of experience that will not only benefit Syracuse University institutionally, but will also help our gift officers grow professionally and become even more successful fundraisers and University stewards,” said Matt Ter Molen, SU’s senior vice president and chief advancement officer, in an SU News release.

Chancellor Kent Syverud has talked about the university’s need to do more fundraising to increase the endowment. Cronin will begin his position at SU on May 3.

 

Chuck’s to leave current location this month

Hungry Chuck’s, the popular bar, announced it will be leaving its current location along South Crouse Avenue later this month. The bar will host students for the final time at its current spot on April 18.

The bar will likely be open for the 2017-18 academic year, said Steve Theobald, Chuck’s owner. The bar’s location is slated for demolition, with New Jersey-based BLVD Equities planning to construct an eight-story mixed-use complex that will include luxury student apartments.

Chuck’s has been in a legal battle with the developers. Theobald filed a restraining order against the developers last month, preventing them from conducting an asbestos abatement. The bar also filed a lawsuit last month against the developers over Chuck’s lease termination notice.

“We have to balance what is good for the restaurant and what is good for our customers,” Theobald said Friday. “We had to balance what was good for class of 2017 with what will be good for the class of 2018, 2019, and beyond.”

 

Legislature approves ride-hailing services to operate upstate

Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft could be operating in Syracuse within 90 days as New York state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo reached a deal on the fiscal year 2018 budget on Friday.

The deal was reached four days after the state legislature extended the deadline for passing the budget by two months as a result of the legislative body missing the original April 1 budget deadline.

“This Budget continues the progress we have achieved to improve the lives of New Yorkers, and build a stronger, better Empire State that truly lives up to its motto: Excelsior,” Cuomo said in a press release.

Published on April 9, 2017 at 9:46 pm

Contact Sam: sfogozal@syr.edu | @SamOgozalek