SU to ring in its 135th birthday with National Orange Day

SU to ring in its 135th birthday with National Orange DayMarch 22, 2005Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

On Thursday, March 24, Syracuse University will celebrate its 135th birthday with National Orange Day, an event designed to unite the campus, the community and many of SU’s 200,000-strong family of alumni.

During the day, there will be festivities and service events at SU and across the country; Centro buses serving campus will scroll birthday messages for SU throughout the day, and radio station WJPZ-89.1 will broadcast National Orange Day messages. At night, Syracuse will show its true colors as the Carrier Dome, Crouse Hospital, and Niagara Mohawk Building feature SU-themed lighting. The official celebration of SU’s Founders Day, now in its 12th year, is sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations.

In Central New York, organizers anticipate involvement by alumni, students, faculty, staff and the community, and supporters of the University throughout the region are encouraged to wear orange and show their SU spirit. To reaffirm their commitment to community service, the Central New York Alumni Club will be working with children at Edward Smith Elementary School in Syracuse, and will present a donation to the school’s book fund.

The day’s activities on campus are open to the public, with paid parking available in the Irving and University Avenue garages. Events include: SU’s alma mater and fight song playing on the Crouse Chimes throughout the day; a noontime birthday-cake ceremony in the Schine Student Center atrium with Chancellor Nancy Cantor; Orange Day discounts at the University bookstore, Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center and the Inn Complete; and free skate rentals for all skaters wearing orange at the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion.

Also on March 24, alumni across the country will wear orange as their clubs take part in service projects. In New Jersey, there will be a state proclamation in honor of National Orange Day; the Northern New Jersey club will seek donations to the Interfaith Council for the Homeless of Union County, and the Alumni Club of Central New Jersey will perform community service for Elijah’s Kitchen, in East Brunswick.

Among other activities, Albany’s Alumni Club of the Capital District will volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York; the Arizona Club will serve 700-900 meals to the homeless in downtown Phoenix; the Alumni Club of South Florida will volunteer to cook lunches for the homeless in Boca Raton; the Alumni Club of Fort Myers will complete a day of construction with Habitat for Humanity; The Alumni Club of Seattle will donate food to a local food bank; and New York’s High School for Leadership and Public Service will host a National Orange Day competition to see which students can don the most orange.

For more information, contact Alumni Relations at (315) 443-3249.