A painful time on the Syracuse university campus reminds Chancellor Kent Syverud of an earlier time in his life. He's married to Dr. Ruth Chen, an Asian woman, and raised three mixed race children in the South.

"My kids were threatened,” Syverud said as his voice cracked. “My wife was subjected to many racial epithets. Her car tires were slashed. My kids’ dog was shot. There was little investigation. Those responsible were never found."

He wants to make sure that doesn't happen here. As an educator, Syverud has lived across the country -- from Washington D.C. to Michigan to Tennessee. He wants to make Syracuse -- his current home -- feel like home for everyone.

"That was then. That was the South,” said Syverud.” “It was hard for my wife. It was hard for my kids. But, this is Syracuse. This is 2019. I do not accept this hatred here and now. This is not who Syracuse is at its best and this is not who we can let ourselves become."

Everyone from student protestors to Governor Cuomo have been critical of Syverud's leadership. They are not confident in his investigation.

Syverud says the past few weeks have been a test of his leadership. He says he's not a leader who ignores fact, he doesn't insult those he disagrees with, and he is willing to admit error. In cases of racism, he's experienced it himself can relate to the campus's pain.

"We just cannot let our students of color, our Jewish students, or our Asian students—or any of our students or faculty and staff—be afraid on this campus because of who they are," said Syverud.

Syverud admits there have been deficiencies in how he and the university have handled the racism on campus. SU leaders have already made changes should something like this happen again. Ultimately the university will not be judged on what the hateful people do, but how it responds, Syverud said.