Ronn Torossian, a public relations executive and associate of Mayor Eric Adams, was arrested at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Syracuse University last weekend. The protest was over the school’s perceived inaction towards student safety issues including violence and antisemitism. Mr. Torossian, who is Jewish and has a child attending Syracuse, confronted a student protester with a sign advocating for Palestine’s freedom. University officials described his behavior as aggressive and he was arrested by campus security for trespassing when he refused to leave.
The arrest came after an off-campus incident where a pro-Palestinian protester, who was not a student of Syracuse University, made a Nazi salute and shouted “Heil Hitler” at a Jewish student before assaulting him. These events highlight the complexities universities face as protests involving both students and non-students continue to occur on campus and nearby locations. Mr. Torossian, who had organized fund-raising events for Mayor Adams, expressed frustration at the university’s lack of action following the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7 and was part of a group of concerned Jewish parents seeking a meeting with the university chancellor.
During the off-campus incident, pro-Palestinian protesters, along with some Syracuse students, marched from a park near the university to the campus encampment. At the park, a protester raised a Nazi salute towards a Jewish fraternity across the street, leading to a physical altercation with some Jewish students. University officials stated that they cannot intervene in off-campus incidents, while Mr. Torossian believed that the university should treat the matter as an act of antisemitism. The campus safety officer had asked fraternity students to turn down their music, but the school clarified that it was to inform them about a city noise ordinance.
The day after the off-campus incident, Mr. Torossian and two other parents sought a meeting with the university chancellor, claiming that for months they had been trying to arrange meetings with him as part of the Syracuse Jewish Parents Council. University officials refuted the group’s official affiliation to the university and stated that they had been in regular communication with parents and families since the October 7 attack. The Hillel chapter for Jewish students hosted a Zoom session for parents to address concerns. Mr. Stoecker expressed frustration with Mr. Torossian for spreading misinformation and inflaming the situation following his arrest.
Mr. Torossian was arrested at the student encampment for disorderly conduct and trespassing after refusing to leave when asked by security officers. He pointed out a man not affiliated with the university who he claimed had a criminal background, questioning why he was allowed on campus. The man was later arrested for trespassing after being seen again at the encampment. Senator Josh Hawley weighed in on the situation, calling for the arrest of lawbreakers and the expulsion of students involved in the protests. The incidents at Syracuse University shed light on the challenges facing administrations when dealing with protests involving both students and external parties and the complexities of ensuring campus safety and freedom of expression.
