Don’t Let March Madness Derail the Spring Semester!

Dear Students and Families:

It’s an exciting time for our Orange community as the men’s basketball team plays in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. We share your excitement. But we must remind you, we are still very much in a pandemic. In fact, COVID cases are rising among our students and large gatherings could result in greater spread on our campus.

Now is not the time to let your guard down. We all must remain vigilant and committed to the Stay Safe Pledge and public health protocols for the good of your health and of those around you.

Enjoy the Game, Safely!

As you make your plans for the weekend, we ask you to consider these suggestions:

• Attend the Sweet 16 watch party in the Schine! Orange After Dark will be showing the game in the atrium as well as the Underground, while maintaining social distancing. Don’t forget your masks and Orange gear!
• Watch the game with your roommates or social bubble and order some pizza!
• Remember to always wear a mask, maintain 6 feet of distance and limit gatherings to 10 people or less.

Additional Do’s and Don’ts:

• What to do:
  • It’s safest to spend time with others outside. If outside, do so only in groups of 10 or less.
  • When inside, keep windows open and fans on to circulate air.
  • Celebrate in small groups with members of your social bubble or roommates (if your bubble bursts, COVID-19 disease spreads).
  • Masks on, even inside your social bubble.
  • Avoid mixing bubbles without protection (mask, distance, hand washing).
• What not to do:
  • Don’t gather in large groups and without masks. If a group size increases, break off into a smaller group of your own.
  • Don’t hang out of car windows or fill cars with more people than there are seats for. Stick with your roommates or social bubbles and wear masks.
  • Don’t just follow the crowd. Maintain high standards for yourself and for those around you. And, if you see any concerning behaviors, call 911 if you’re off campus. Or if you’re on campus, call the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 or report tips via the Rave Guardian Safety mobile app.

While the vast majority of our students continue to make the right decisions and do the right things, some in our community have engaged in risky behavior. For those of you who choose to ignore the Stay Safe Pledge, the University Code of Student Conduct, City of Syracuse ordinances and New York State laws, know that you will be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and face conduct charges. The Department of Public Safety and the Syracuse Police Department will be closely monitoring activities this weekend and strictly enforcing rules, codes, laws and ordinances.

The safety and well-being of our students, campus community members and neighbors is our priority, and we appreciate your support in working to prevent potentially harmful behavior. Enjoy the game this weekend! Look out for your fellow community members. And remember, each of you plays an important role in safeguarding the health and wellness of our campus community and neighbors and our ability to finish the spring semester strong.

Sincerely,

Robert D. Hradsky, Ed.D.
Vice President for the Student Experience

Chief Bobby Maldonado
Department of Public Safety