Late Orange Central to feature sporting events, parade
This year’s Orange Central Homecoming will feature a parade, multiple sporting events, award ceremonies and events run by distinguished alumni.
‘They’re all traditions. We want students to remember the events of this week after they graduate,’ said Cristina Swift, assistant director of alumni relations at Syracuse University.
Orange Central, which takes place this weekend, builds on primarily student-targeted events held during the week. This year’s Homecoming marks a slight departure from previous years because it is being held several weeks later, in mid-November.
Swift said several key factors influenced the change of date.
Coming Back Together, a tri-annual reunion of African-American and Latino alumni that was held Sept. 22-25, pushed back the date of Homecoming because it was scheduled almost two years in advance, Swift said. Holding Homecoming so close to this major event would cause logistical problems, she said.
An estimated 900 to 1,400 alumni are scheduled to attend, she said. There has also been an especially high response from Generation Orange, SU alumni who graduated within the last decade.
A result of this change was a separate weekend for senior alumni, held in early September. The university recognized that senior alumni might have had other commitments and might not want to travel to Syracuse in November, she said. Coupled with the fact that there are only a few home football games, this weekend was the most logical choice.
The later date, however, does have a few upsides.
‘Having the basketball game this weekend makes the draw for alumni even greater,’ Swift said.
The SU football team will host University of South Florida on Friday night at 8 p.m., and the basketball team will play Fordham University at 4 p.m. in the Carrier Dome on Saturday.
Brian Spector, president of the SU Alumni Association, said he has received a positive response from alumni looking to come back this year.
Spector said the variety of events makes Orange Central appealing. Students should take advantage of this large influx of alumni, who are essential to the university, he said.
Alumni can provide contacts in fields students wish to enter, leads on job openings, and college and career advice from those who have already experienced it, he said.
‘I think students have to realize that Orange Central is not just for alumni,’ Spector said. ‘There’s a lot of programming for students, and at the programming for alumni, students should feel comfortable and encouraged to attend.’
Spector said events such as the Orange Circle Awards, an informal ceremony that honors Syracuse community members who do extraordinary things for others, is expected to be a large attraction. The event is part of the larger Orange Central Bash.
Similarly, the George Arents Awards, the highest honor that can be given to an alumnus, will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. This year’s recipients include Joanne Alper, circuit court judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Virginia; Rick Fedrizzi, founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council; Oren Lyons, faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation; and Sean O’Keefe, CEO of EADS North America and former NASA administrator, according to the website.
Other scheduled events include an alumni book signing, greek reunion, and a pep rally and biggest fan competition.
John Marino, a freshman environmental engineering major, only heard about Orange Central from the banners hanging outside of Schine Student Center.
‘I’d imagine there would be a football game, so I’ll probably go to that,’ he said. ‘Other than that, I don’t think I’ll be attending any of the other Homecoming events.’
Rose Zusinas, a junior chemical engineering major and a resident adviser at SU, said she plans to attend a few of the Homecoming events in addition to taking her residents to some.
‘I usually attend the parade,’ she said, ‘and the dance showcase.’dmsegelb@syr.edu
Published on November 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Contact Dylan: dmsegelb@syr.edu | @dylan_segelbaum