As alumni make their way back to their Syracuse University stomping grounds this week, the Traditions Commission members have spent half the year planning for Orange Central, a week-long celebration that invites all former and current students to celebrate school spirit.

The week kicks off on Tuesday and includes a student-only Tie Dye Night at 8 p.m. at the Women’s Building Field. The week will end with the first home football game of the season, according to the Orange Central website.

“With the big Clemson football game coming up at the end of the week, we wanted people to be able to tie-dye themselves some fresh blue and orange to keep that Syracuse pride going throughout the year,” said Cassie Grossman, a junior chemistry major and a member of the Traditions Commission.

Sam Walters, a senior marketing management and accounting major and president of Traditions Commission, said the idea of Tie Dye Night was an attempt at something to bring nostalgia for students, since some of them tie-dyed when they were younger.

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But even traditions evolve, and Tie Dye Night is no different. The Traditions Committee this year plans to provide pillowcases for people to tie dye, Grossman said.

“We started out with the basic T-shirts, and since then we’ve kind of evolved and every year we try and have a special item,” said Grossman. “So we’ve done socks, and this year we’re doing pillowcases.”

Every year, the Traditions Commission donates some of the tie-dyed items to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, said Grossman, and added that this year their hope was to have people come and tie-dye their shirts and pillowcases to brighten up the room in the hospital.

While in previous years the event was held in Schine Student Center, Walters said she hopes the change to an outside location will make an improvement to the event.

For Tie Dye Night, supplies include T-shirts, socks, pillowcases and dye provided by the Traditions Commission. Students can also expect free snacks at the event.

The Traditions Commission spends half the year planning Orange Central, Walters said, but also collaborates with organizations such as Student Association, University Union and Orange After Dark for the week-long events.

Catherine Bannon, a sophomore biology major and a member of Traditions Commission, said that the organization is based in Syracuse University tradition, especially because this year is the university’s 150th anniversary.

“It’s really important to get the school spirit out there throughout the whole campus for everyone, so we’re trying to make this homecoming a great one,” Bannon said.

Matt Shaler, program coordinator in the Office of Student Activities, said the week leading up to Orange Central weekend, the office hosts events to engage students and celebrate a “collective orange pride,” to prepare to welcome alumni back to campus.

“I just would love to see everyone come together as one for this homecoming,” Walters.

ersteinb@syr.edu

Published on September 9, 2019 at 10:14 pm

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