Welcome to the Storage Scholars Spotlight series! Every week, we highlight a different school in our network of college storage locations. This week, we’re talking about Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Read on to learn more about this well-connected institution and why it’s the perfect place for your summer storage needs! 

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About the School

Syracuse University is a private student-focused research university located in the very heart of New York. Its main campus sits on a hill overlooking the city of Syracuse. Does it get any more scenic than that?

Dubbed "the Orange community," "'Cuse," or simply "SU," this well-established school has a vibrant history and has been around for over 150 years. Syracuse is innovative and looks to the future with its academic programs and world-renowned research, yet it has deep ties to its beloved traditions from the past.

Syracuse is a large campus with over 15,000 undergraduate students from 50 states across 126 countries. There is something for everyone at SU, which has an extensive list of majors and concentrations. 

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What is Syracuse University Best Known For?

First and foremost, SU is known for and classified as having a high level of research activity. Not only does the university provide exceptional resources for a wide range of research, but a vast majority of students are conducting that research. 

Syracuse is also very well known for its incredible sports teams and programs. You won't find bigger college sports fans anywhere else. Syracuse Orange, the university's basketball team, has won three National Championships, one NCAA tournament, and its most outstanding achievement: winning 51 consecutive seasons! In addition to basketball, football and lacrosse are popular Syracuse sports that boast large orange crowds.

Why orange? We can't write about Syracuse without sharing its love of orange! Syracuse pride is very well known. Just visit any campus event, and you will likely notice a sea of orange. Orange has been the university's official color since the 1800s when a sporting event encouraged them to choose a color to represent them that was as bold and vibrant as their spirit. To this day, students sport orange year-round, as do the Syracuse community members, but on game days, a wave of orange spirit wear is a guarantee. 

Outside of sports and academics, Syracuse, New York, is well known for its vast yearly snowfall. The city gets an average of 127.8 feet of snow every year, more than any other city in the US! Its cold and humid location makes it ideal for snowfall. 

And one more fun fact about Syracuse? Our current president, Joe Biden, is an alumnus! President Biden earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree there.

Famous Alumni

Where do we even begin? With a history as long as Syracuse University, a campus as diverse, and a sports program as elite, it's no wonder Syracuse has a very long list of notable alumni! In fact, on the list are 3 Nobel Prize laureates, 1 Fields Medalist, 36 Olympic Medalists, numerous professional athletes, 13 Pulitzer Prize recipients, Academy Award winners, Rhodes Scholars, Marshalls Scholars, various members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and one current President of the United States. It's astounding to think about all of the talents that have come right from Syracuse!

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Life On Campus

‍All incoming first and second-year students must live on campus in one of the dorms. Syracuse has many themed dorm options. Similar themed living communities are offered to upperclassmen as well. Themes allow students to live among like-minded peers. They include community themes such as wellness, arts, leadership, STEM, sober living, and many others. 

Greek life plays a significant role at Syracuse University. 30% of all students enrolled participate in one of the 40 Greek organizations on campus. 

Life Off Campus

It's easy to step foot off campus and find something to do. That's because Syracuse is located in the heart of New York. With its location comes all four seasons, so what to do will depend greatly on what time of year you visit. In the warmer weather, take a short drive to the Fingerlakes Region for outdoor fun and to escape the city. A visit to the famous New York State Fair is a must-do in August or September.  

While technically on-campus, a trip to Carrier Dome is another sight to visit while in Syracuse. The unique dome-shaped stadium is the hub for all major Syracuse sporting events, but it also hosts concerts and other fun events throughout the year. It houses 50,000 seats and is absolutely worth the visit!

In the cooler months, a visit to Destiny USA, the largest mall in the state, or the Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology are both great ways to get some hands-on fun for any age. 

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Favorite Traditions

It's not hard to find a wide variety of traditions on campus. As previously mentioned, Orange pride runs deep at Syracuse University, and it all begins with "Home to the Dome" at the beginning of the academic year, where new students learn school chants and songs. "Orange Day" is another fun tradition to celebrate Syracuse's founding day anniversary. "Orange Central" is Syracuse's orange version of college homecoming, beloved by students and alumni who return each year to participate in the fun. It's a weekend full of fun events and activities for all. 

The tradition of number 44 has a strong meaning to the students who attend. It's a number that appears and reappears throughout the years. Perhaps coincidence, perhaps tradition, or maybe its meaning runs even deeper. The fable of 44 has its roots in the Syracuse sports programs. Since the 1950s, 11 players have donned the number 44. Three of those players earned All-American Honors and are considered three of the best college running backs the game has ever seen. The number was officially retired in 2005 to honor those who wore it, and many of those players were in attendance at the retirement ceremony.

In recognition of the famous digits, SU changed its zip code in recent years to 13244, and similarly, all phone numbers tied to the university now begin with 44. Many local businesses even share the love of 44 and its identity and use the number in their business name.

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Storage Scholars and Syracuse University

We are excited that Syracuse University has been a partner with Storage Scholars since 2022. The campus is run by Campus Co-founders Joshua Tapia, Christian Ojuro and Drew Parsekian for a more tailored and personalized experience. Students received complimentary boxes and supplies during their campus distribution days, filled them with their belongings, and then scheduled a time for the Storage Scholars team to come and pick them up and bring them to storage for the summer. When Syracuse students were ready to move back to campus, the team delivered the belongings back to campus during a scheduled day and time of the student's choosing. Students and parents raved about the convenience of Storage Scholars and the efficiency with which the team executed the service. Kudos to all the student movers and Co-founders for a successful first year! To find out more about Storage Scholars and secure your spot for an upcoming campus move and summer storage, visit www.StorageScholars.com.

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Sources:

https://www.syracuse.edu/about/history/traditions/#s:mascot

https://cuse.com/sports/2006/1/18/fb44bios.aspx?path=football

https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-syracuse-university-known-for/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse_University#History

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