Make connections at new Orange Central celebration featuring Homecoming + Reunion and week-long roster of student events

Make connections at new Orange Central celebration featuring Homecoming + Reunion and week-long roster of student events July 06, 2009Jaime Winne Alvarez jlwinne@syr.edu

This fall, a new celebration will bring Syracuse University alumni, students, faculty and staff together as never before. A collaboration of the Office of Alumni Relations, the Division of Student Affairs and many other campus units, Orange Central will begin with a week-long roster of student events and culminate with an expanded Homecoming + Reunion, creating the one and only destination for everyone who “bleeds orange.”

Orange Central will be packed with a wonderful mix of traditional activities, once-in-a-lifetime events and the chance to connect with others who share an orange passion. The celebration will begin Sept. 29 with student favorites such as Spirit Week, class get-togethers, community service projects and educational opportunities across campus. The week will culminate with Homecoming + Reunion, Oct. 1-4. The finale weekend will feature an array of special events that will appeal to not only reunion-year alumni from classes ending in “4” and “9,” but also non-reunion-year alumni, current students, faculty, staff and members of the local community.

Special guest co-chairs who share a lifelong love for SU will preside over the weekend’s events. Orange Central 2009 co-chairs are MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer ’96, legendary SU biology professor Marvin Druger and former Syracuse All-American quarterback and Class of 2008 College Football Hall of Famer Don McPherson ’87. Brewer, Druger and McPherson will assist in promoting the festivities, serve as hosts at various events, and meet and greet alumni when they arrive on campus.

“Orange Central is the logical next step in our efforts to continually enhance Homecoming + Reunion,” says Larry Bashe ’66, G’68, president of the SU Alumni Association Board. “When we first combined Homecoming and Reunion two years ago, we gave our alumni the best of both events in one weekend. Now, with Orange Central, we hope to make the celebration even more inclusive, more integrated and more exciting. Alumni will have the opportunity to not only connect with former classmates, but also with the current students, faculty and staff who make SU great.”

For the first time ever, reunions for former staffers of The Daily Orange, University Union and WAER will coincide with University-wide reunion events, providing an outstanding opportunity for returning alumni to meet today’s students. Special group reunions are also scheduled for residence hall advisors, orientation leaders and the University marching band.

“One of the real joys of Homecoming and Reunion is the interaction between our current students and alumni,” says Thomas V. Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “The creation of Orange Central, with a new focus on affinity reunions, will create even more opportunities for alumni with years of lived experience to interact with students in the same fields of interest.”

Among the long list of Orange Central 2009 highlights are the Reunion Gala Luncheon, the presentation of the George Arents Awards, the dedications of Ernie Davis Hall and the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, the LetterWinner of Distinction Dinner and the art exhibition “Winslow Homer’s Empire State: Houghton Farm and Beyond” at the SUArt Galleries.

In addition, a new award designed to recognize the act of philanthropy and its impact will be presented. The philosophy behind the award is to recognize ordinary people who are responsible for doing extraordinary things in their communities. More information on the award is forthcoming. A celebration will be held on Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium in the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center.

Orange Central will also include perennial favorites like the Homecoming parade and showcase, campus decorating, Comedy Night, the ‘Cuse Commotion pep rally and bonfire, and the SU vs. South Florida football game in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Oct. 3, at noon.

For an up-to-the-minute schedule of events and activities, visit http://orangecentral.syr.edu. For questions, call 1-800-SUALUMS (782-5867) or e-mail sualumni@syr.edu.