This week’s Orange Central Homecoming celebration will feature a new event just for students.

In addition to the usual attractions, “Camp ‘Cuse,” which is designed to resemble an evening at sleep-away camp, will allow students to take part in campfire staples such as movies, crafts and s’mores. “Camp ‘Cuse” is set to take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center.

Orange Central runs from Oct. 6-12 this year. Outside of the on-campus events aimed at students, about 1,000 SU alumni are expected to return for the weekend festivities, which include Saturday’s home football game against Florida State, said Cristina Swift, the assistant director of the Office of Alumni Engagement.

The Traditions Commission added “Camp ‘Cuse” to the schedule of other Orange Central events, which includes “Slice of Orange Days” in Schine Student Center, trivia night in Hendricks Chapel and a DanceWorks show in Goldstein Auditorium.

Regina King, president of the Traditions Commission and a senior supply chain and finance major, said the planning group was out of ideas for new events to offer until one student made the “camp for a night” suggestion. King said the Traditions Commission embraced the idea of “Camp ‘Cuse.”

Orange Central is about students, both new and old, said Sarah Ross Capella, associate director of the Office of Student Activities. Ross Capella works directly with the Traditions Commission to protect the Homecoming customs of the past while also marketing events to current SU students. Still, she said, the overall goal of Orange Central remains the same.

“We want to instill a sense of pride in the school, a sense of unity for the same thing,” she said. “We’re all here because of Syracuse.”

Orange Central kicked off earlier this week with T-shirts being given away in the Schine Student Center during the “Slice of Orange Days” event on Monday and Tuesday for Saturday’s game against Florida State. In addition, students tested their sports, music and SU knowledge with trivia in Hendricks Chapel on Wednesday evening.

“Camp ‘Cuse” festivities kick off Thursday night, and will be followed by the DanceWorks showcase on Friday, when all the dance groups on campus will come together and perform pieces that follow a common theme. This year’s theme is Syracuse Horror Story.

King said she is very excited to attend DanceWorks, which has been a part of Orange Central for more than 10 years.

“It’s one of my favorite events,” she said. “I’ve been going since freshman year, actually.”

The DanceWorks event will also feature some of SU’s a cappella ensembles, as well as the announcement of Homecoming king and queen.

Cristina Swift, the assistant director of the Office of Alumni Engagement, said alumni will be able to take part in a number of events. The “’Cuse Brew and BBQ,” will take place Friday night on the Quad and will include a live band along with food and drink from Dinosaur BBQ, Gianelli Sausage and local microbreweries.

“It’s a way to celebrate all the great things here in central New York,” Swift said.

Returning SU alumni will also have the opportunity to stargaze in the Holden Observatory, see a concert in the Setnor School of Music and attend various programs in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, she said.

“It’s not just a program that the Office of Alumni Engagement creates,” Swift said. “It’s a university-wide weekend. Everyone on campus gets involved.”

Published on October 9, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Brigid: brkenned@syr.edu