SU Celebrates National Orange Day

By Bradley Hoppenstein

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Beginning on Monday this week, Forever Orange Week is typically a week Syracuse alumni circle on their calendars to return to campus. Even with on-campus events on hold this year, SU alumni are still finding ways to give back this week and celebrate today, National Orange Day.

National Orange Day is an annual March 24th tradition marking the anniversary of the University’s founding in 1870. Alumni and students typically wear orange, celebrate the school, and give back to local communities. Just as it was with SU’s 150th birthday last year, its 151st has also had to adapt to the pandemic.

Grace Terry, an Assistant Director in the office of Alumni Engagement, says National Orange Day is always a special day for SU students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Now a year into the pandemic, the Alumni Association has found ways to make the day work safely, without losing its normal spirit.

“This year we’re doing a virtual food drive for our Hendricks Chapel Food Pantry…and we’re asking folks to make a contribution to what’s a staple of our community,” Terry said.

The Alumni Association is also looking to social media to keep the spirit going and connect SU alumni with one another. It is encouraging those taking part this year to use #BeOrange across all social media to maintain the message that even though we continue to be apart, we are still together and connected as fellow Orange.