At Syracuse University, the line between a public and private institution has become blurry. Earlier this month, The Chronicle of Higher Education analyzed the chancellorship of Nancy Cantor, who has pushed the university’s benefits past the campus’ walls and into the town of Syracuse. At the university’s expense, it has embarked on many city projects such as refurbishing public areas and offering tuition to local high school graduates under Cantor’s tenure. Although she has encouraged faculty members to focus their research on the town of Syracuse, some professors have blamed Cantor for SU’s sliding reputation and budgetary shortfalls. “The administration will give you a list of things we’ve done to improve research and teaching, but what is the top priority?” Robert Van Gulick, a SU philosophy professor, asked the Chronicle. More…