The start of the fall semester at Syracuse University has been marked by a flurry of campus events and community engagement, from student government voter outreach outside the Schine Student Center to a memorial stair climb in the JMA Wireless Dome honoring 9/11 first responders.
Student involvement and campus activities
Students were visible across the university this week encouraging participation in campus life. Jamien Desalvia and Kempton Bohn were photographed outside the Schine Student Center promoting voting in the upcoming Student Government Association elections. The fall Involvement Fair on the Shaw Quad offered opportunities for students to connect with student groups and services; the InclusiveU booth was among those on hand to share resources and programming.
The university libraries also drew traffic during the Libraries Fest, where students browsed items presented by the Special Collections Research Center. And small social gatherings such as the weekly “Take a Break at Bird” sessions provided informal spaces for arts and crafts, board games and conversation — part of ongoing efforts to support student well-being and build community.
- Student Government Association voter outreach outside Schine Student Center.
- Libraries Fest and Special Collections Research Center displays.
- Fall Involvement Fair on the Shaw Quad, including InclusiveU participation.
- Weekly “Take a Break at Bird” drop-in sessions supporting student social life.
Campus traditions, athletics and community remembrance
Fall athletics also featured prominently. The marching band debuted new uniforms before the football team’s home opener, and members of the Syracuse University Bands were photographed with new head men’s basketball coach Gerry McNamara at the Oncenter War Memorial. The football program’s season-opening win over the University of New Hampshire — a 66-3 victory in the JMA Wireless Dome — was noted alongside images of fans enjoying the pregame atmosphere.
"More than 100 individuals participated in the event, which was sponsored by Syracuse University Ambulance."
That memorial stair climb on the JMA Wireless Dome steps drew more than 100 participants in a tribute to New York City first responders who died on Sept. 11, 2001. The event, sponsored by Syracuse University Ambulance, underscored the university’s community-oriented remembrance activities each September.
Community outreach and service
Members of the football staff made on-campus community outreach a visible priority. Head coach Fran Brown was photographed visiting young patients at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, playing a game of Connect 4 and appearing with Otto the Orange to lift spirits. Those visits reflect broader university and athletics department ties to local health and social services.
| Event | Notable detail |
|---|---|
| SGA voter outreach | Jamien Desalvia and Kempton Bohn encouraging votes outside Schine |
| Memorial stair climb | More than 100 participants; sponsored by Syracuse University Ambulance |
| Marching band debut | New uniforms worn before home opener |
| Hospital visits | Coach Fran Brown and Otto the Orange at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital |
Photographs accompanying the university’s fall roundup highlight a range of participants — from faculty and staff at a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day tailgate on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle to community members and pets among the crowd at the Dome before kickoff. These images present a campus balancing college traditions, student programming and engagement with the broader Syracuse community.
As the semester advances, those activities signal continued efforts to encourage student participation in governance and campus life, maintain traditions tied to athletics, and strengthen the university’s civic and service-oriented connections throughout the city.
