The has assisted first-year students adjusting to college life on campus during Welcome Week and spreading school spirit since the 1940s. One of several , the student volunteers helping out on move-in day has become a signature part of the Orange experience.��

Below, find pictures of the Goon Squad and its memorabilia through the years, all from the Syracuse University Archives, , Syracuse University Libraries.

What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without when you moved from your hometown to the Syracuse University campus?

SU News posed this question to first-year and transfer students as they moved into residence halls during Welcome Week. From the fun to the essentials, find out what some of our new students couldn’t leave behind as they begin their new paths at Syracuse.

Members of the Class of 2029 were encouraged by a seasoned Syracuse University student to step out of their comfort zones during this year’s New Student Convocation, held Aug. 21 in the JMA Wireless Dome. The event marked the official start of the students’ Syracuse University experience.

“Be present in the small moments. They matter. They’re your noodles. Small, simple, seemingly ordinary. But when you’re fully present they become the most powerful parts of your journey,” said Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, the convocation’s student speaker. “These four years, they won’t be perfect and they won’t be the best or the worst years of your life, but they will be some of the most special and transformative ones because they will be yours.”

As part of this annual University tradition, leadership and faculty processed into the JMA Dome in full regalia, and families and friends were among those assembled in support of the new students.

The incoming class includes students from 49 states, including Washington, D.C., Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico; 19 Indigenous nations and 60 countries.

University leaders and student speakers offered words of wisdom and posed thoughtful questions and challenges to the new students embarking on this journey.

Your Moment Is Now

Oates, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and policy studies major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences, told the new students she remembered being in their shoes three years ago.

“I remember what it felt like sitting exactly where you are surrounded by so many strangers, wondering what this new chapter would hold,” Oates said. “College is this wild mix of excitement, new beginnings and possibility. And while that can feel overwhelming at times, it’s also where the magic truly begins.”

Oates shared that in those initial first days, she wanted to be everywhere, try everything and meet everyone. She dove right into her college experience through her academics and extracurricular and social groups, including Hill Communications, Citrus TV, the Black Student Union and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

“Somewhere in the midst of emails, meetings and projects, I had to learn an essential truth. You can be involved without being overwhelmed and you can make your mark without burning yourself out,” Oates said. “The balance comes from being present and every meeting, every hangout, every walk across the Quad, be there because these small moments are the ones you’ll carry forever.”

��‘Come as You Are’

In his remarks, Chancellor Kent Syverud first addressed the families of incoming students. “We know the treasure that you have entrusted to us and all of us here take this responsibility very

seriously,” he said.

He then spoke to the incoming students with two requests.

“Please come as you are to Syracuse University. If you haven’t figured it out yet, you will pretty soon. There is no one way of thinking, there is no one way of dressing. There is no one person who is the normal at Syracuse University. People here are unique and amazing and dazzlingly different. So given that there’s no normal here, why not try just being yourself,” he said.

Chancellor Syverud also asked the students to become more during their time at Syracuse University. “You have a chance that has been denied to so many people in this world, a chance to be part of a great university. So take it,” he said. “Please become more here in your own unique, your own defining way.”

Take Full Advantage of the Next Four Years

Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves shared the podium with a stuffed Otto the Orange, whom he described as a nutritious fruit that prevents scurvy, prompting laughter from the audience.

Groves said that more than 47,000 students applied to become a part of this year’s incoming class. “That should tell you that you should have great confidence in the fact that you earned your place here,” he said.

He reminded students that the undergraduate years are fleeting. “Take full advantage of this gift you have been given to be here for the next few years,” he said. “Think about the kind of community you want to build and be part of at this institution and then act in ways that promote that.”

��‘Countless Ways to Realize Your Potential’

Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, spoke of the range of possibilities open for students as they begin their college journeys.

“Today, you become part of a community of scholars, researchers, artists, innovators and leaders. You gain access to classrooms, libraries, studios, lab spaces and living learning environments right here in Syracuse, across the country and around the world,” she said.

Agnew encouraged students to immerse themselves in scholarly research and creative inquiry and to take advantage of experiential learning opportunities, including in other U.S. cities and abroad. “You can imagine something new and pursue it, and you can make your own unique contributions to our collective body of knowledge,” she said. “Your education doesn’t stop at the doors of the classroom or the borders of this campus.”

To conclude the convocation, the new students recited the charge, which dates back to 1871, and sang the alma mater, following Orange tradition by swaying as the lyrics were sung. The next time those assembled will come together in the JMA Dome will be for Commencement in May 2029.

Welcome Week festivities were held last week, as new members of the Orange community had the chance to explore all Syracuse has to offer.

From moving in to their residence halls to swaying to the alma mater for the first time during New Student Convocation to having an Orange Blast on the Quad and heading downtown for Citrus in the City, we’ve rounded up some of the best photos from events held across the campus. Take a peek—there might be someone you know!

Nearly 4,300 new undergraduate students arrived on campus this week, many of them with families and cars filled to the brim. As families help their children settle into their home away from home, they’re also sharing advice for the year ahead.��Between the boxes and goodbyes, we caught up with families to hear the heartfelt wisdom they’re passing along.

Welcome new students! As you settle into your new home, celebrate —packed with tradition, making connections and pure energy—and explore all that Syracuse University has to offer.

From being greeted by Goon Squad members during move-in to small‑group gatherings, rousing events in the JMA Wireless Dome and a foray into downtown Syracuse, Welcome Week ushers in the start of your Syracuse experience.

Download OrangeNow Mobile App

First off, find all the Welcome Week information at your fingertips by downloading the .

The app, available on the����and��, provides convenient access to your class schedule; campus maps; transit, wellness, dining and Wi-Fi information; event schedules; University news and much more.

Don’t Miss One Moment

Make your schedule and join in the fun. From the required and informative to the uplifting and community-building, Welcome Week events help you navigate campus, learn about University resources and engage with your new community.

Explore the , the , and your —each includes required and optional events tailored to your experience.

For starters, check out these events:

Tuesday, Aug. 19

• (6-8 p.m., Shaw Quad)

Wednesday, Aug. 20

• (4-6 p.m., Panasci Lounge, Schine Student Center)
• (6:15-7:45 p.m., check with your resident advisor for location)
• (8:15-9:45 p.m., JMA Wireless Dome)

Thursday, Aug. 21

• (10-11 a.m., JMA Wireless Dome)
• (11-12:30 p.m., JMA Wireless Dome)
• ��(noon-5 p.m., Einhorn Family Walk)
• (6:30-8:30 p.m., Shaw Quad)
• (9-10 p.m. Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center)

Friday, Aug. 22

• (6:30-9 p.m., Schine Student Center)

Saturday, Aug. 23

• (5-8 p.m., meet at College Place Bus Stop to travel to downtown Syracuse)
• (8:30-9:30 p.m., JMA Wireless Dome)

Sync up your own personal Welcome Week schedule with these steps:

• Set Up Your Calendar: Add your SU Mail or Google Calendar to your mobile device—preferably SU Mail, as it’s used by faculty and staff to connect and schedule meetings with you.
• Add Required Events: Go to your specific school or college’s Welcome Week schedule and add all “Required Events” to your calendar by checking each event’s description.
• Explore and Customize: Browse the full Welcome Week Schedule to discover additional events and personalize your experience.

Outside of scheduled events, campus offices will be available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday (Aug. 18–22), with —including Housing, Meal Plan and I.D. Card Services; Barnes Center; libraries; Registrar; Financial Aid and Information Technology Services—through Aug. 23-24.

Looking for more information about Welcome Week, how to get involved and resources on campus? Try these links:

While students were away from campus having summer adventures, completing internships, studying away or abroad, or just soaking up the sun, Otto the Orange stayed busy with their own jam-packed summer schedule!

From cheering at baseball games and visiting with friends old and new to lounging poolside and working on their golf swing, Otto brought the Orange spirit to every corner of Central New York this summer.

Take a look at how our favorite mascot spent their sunny season! And when you see Otto on campus, make sure you tell them how you spent YOUR summer.

Diane Schenandoah ’11, Honwadiyenawa’sek (“One who helps them”), will host a on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle on Monday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 5 p.m.

The Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering is an event held on campus to welcome all incoming and returning students, faculty and staff for the 2025-26 academic year, and for all to show respect for the Indigenous people on whose ancestral lands Syracuse University now stands. Schenandoah is a citizen of the Oneida Nation and a Wolf Clan Faithkeeper, as well as . The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is comprised of Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora.

This year’s speaker is Chief Spencer Ohsgoñ:da’ Lyons, a traditional Hodinoñhsyoñ:nih (Haudenosaunee) born to the Onondaga Hawk clan and raised in the central fire of the confederacy. In 2019, he was chosen by his clan to serve as Hoyane (chief). Chief Lyons also serves on the Onondaga Nation Council and he is currently working with the Hodinoñhsyoñ:nih Environmental Task Force. He also consults with the Hodinoñhsyoñ:nih External Relations Committee on behalf of the Onondaga Nation Council.

Born and raised within the traditional and cultural life ways of the Hodinoñhsyo:nih, he continues to apply and enact those teachings in his everyday life by gardening, hunting, fishing and gathering with both modern and traditional methods. Lyons also promotes and supports those teachings within his community as well as with those who would be allies to the Great Law of Peace and the Hodinoñhsyoñ:nih Confederacy, always with the next seven generations in mind.

“This land is sacred. We welcome visitors to be part of this sacred place. Part of our teaching is that no one can own the land, so it’s important to remember that Syracuse University is part of a much bigger picture,” says Schenandoah. “It’s important to acknowledge and recognize that there are Indigenous peoples still here and we are standing in the capital of the Haudenosaunee territory.”

At the gathering, speakers and dancers will welcome a new academic year. Hot scones and strawberry drink will be offered. The hot scones are derived from traditional breads and the strawberry drink consists of strawberries, maple syrup and water. “This is significant because strawberries are the leaders of the plants and maples are the leaders of the trees. In this way we honor them,” says Schenandoah.

Schenandoah encourages students, faculty and staff to participate in the Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering. “We are sharing our culture because the Earth is calling to us to pay attention, we require collective healing, and most importantly, we are inviting our community to live in gratitude,” she says.

For more information on this and other Hendricks Chapel programs and services visit .

Syracuse University Libraries’ Fall 2025 regular hours will take effect Aug. 25 and run through Dec. 16. Regular hours, excluding exceptions, are as follows with full details at

• Bird Library:
  • Lower level to 2nd floor: Open 24 hours Monday–Thursday; Friday closes at 10 p.m.; Saturday open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday reopens at 10 a.m.
  • Floors 3 to 5: Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to midnight; Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight
  • 6th Floor, including the Special Collections Research Center, Monday–Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours on Wednesdays to 7 p.m.
  • As a reminder, users must have a valid SU or SUNY-ESF ID to enter the building after 7 p.m.
• Carnegie Library: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
• King + King Architecture Library: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• College of Law Library: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Saturdays and Sundays

The Libraries is participating in several Welcome Week activities as students return to campus, including:

• Family Lounge outside of Bird Library (Einhorn Walk side) and Carnegie Library (Shaw Quadrangle entrance) on��Wednesday, Aug. 20, and Thursday, Aug. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. each day. Students and their families and supporters are invited to take a break from moving into the residence halls to learn about the Libraries. Snacks and beverages will be provided, as well as Libraries information. Library tours will be available by request.
• Pre-Welcome Resource Fair in Bird Library on Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Book Club Meetups in Bird Library on Friday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m.–noon and 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon
• Welcome Fest in Bird Library’s 1st floor on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All students are invited to attend this open house-style event with tables highlighting the many offerings of the Libraries, several partners and other campus departments. Students can stop by to participate in raffles, snacks and a “passport” activity encouraging participants to visit all tables.

Excitement. Nervousness. Optimism. Hope.

Andrea-Rose Oates ’26 can relate to the mix of feelings new students may face as they arrive at Syracuse University for Welcome Week.

It was only three years ago that Oates embarked on her own Orange journey as a dual major studying public relations in the and policy studies in the and the .

On , Oates will address the Class of 2029 inside the JMA Wireless Dome as the New Student Convocation speaker, sharing her insights about being a new student.

“I didn’t know what I was doing. But that’s the beauty of move-in. I was extremely nervous as most new students are, but I was also excited about the possibilities,” Oates says. “You’re about to step into this new chapter of your life and the University is there to help you get started.”

SU News caught up with Oates to learn more about her favorite memories from her first year on campus, her life-changing summer internship with NBCUniversal and her advice to the new students in the Class of 2029.

1. She made close friends on day one.

“I was blessed to live in Sadler Hall and my first year was truly the best year of my life. What makes Syracuse truly great is the people. I was fortunate to meet some of my very best friends on day one of college. I found my people, my Sadler family. We ate dinner together and hung out together and it made me feel at home. I met so many people who were from all different walks of life and that’s something I loved and appreciated.”

2. She found joy in her many Syracuse experiences.

“At the end of my freshman year, I joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. We formed immediate friendships and bonds that made Syracuse feel even more like home. My advice is to find what makes you feel comfortable, what makes you feel like you’re at home. Find your people, your hobbies, your niche. That’s what makes your experience at Syracuse 20 times better because that’s where you find joy and can be the most authentic version of yourself.”

3. She focused on her own journey.

“I learned something new every month on campus, but my big three for when I was a freshman are the following:

1. Don’t compare your college experience to the experience your friends on campus or at other schools are having.
2. It’s OK to be alone. Learn to be comfortable when you have those moments when you’re by yourself on campus.
3. Your friends in college will change. It’s easy to meet friends on the first day and think these are your friends for the next four years. They could be, but we’re here for four years and it’s all about growing and meeting new people.”

4. She tells intentionally impactful stories.

“This is the internship I’ve wished for my whole life. To be at 30 Rock in the position I’m in has been a life-changing experience. I’m working for not only NBC 4 but the national NBC team and I wanted to be very intentional with how I approached this internship. Anytime I’m writing a story I want to make sure I’m not only delivering the most accurate coverage, but that I’m also appealing to the different types of audiences for the stories I’m writing.”

5. She always embraces the small moments.

“My speech will have a lot of life lessons I’ve learned, including meeting new people, putting yourself out there and embracing life’s small moments. That’s something important I had to learn early on. College isn’t about the big moments; it’s about embracing those small moments and always being present, whether it’s dinner in the dining hall, studying in Bird Library with your friends or walking through the Schine [Student Center].”

Welcome Week festivities were held last week, introducing nearly 6,000 new members of the Orange community to all that Syracuse has to offer.

From moving in to their residence halls to swaying to the alma mater during��New Student Convocation to ice cream fun on the Quad and visiting the Barnes Center at The Arch for the first time, the University’s photographers captured so much of the magic that comes with a new school year. Enjoy some of the highlights from this year below!