140 candles

When you turn 140, you deserve a good party. 

And Syracuse University served up just that for this year's National Orange Day.

The Office of Alumni Relations and the Traditions Commission put on a carnival-style birthday party March 24 to celebrate SU’s founding in 1870. More than 150 students, faculty, alumni and their families ate cotton candy, posed for caricatures, danced to music from WJPZ Z89 radio and watched Alpha Phi Alpha perform a step routine.

“Why not celebrate SU and do it in a fun atmosphere?” Traditions Commission president Beth Anne Kieft said. “It’s a really good idea for students to come out and meet new people and see what’s going on around campus.”

The organizers decided to do something new this year by holding a birthday celebration, plus a day of events in the Schine atrium.

“It was a nice blend of students and alumni and we even had some people come from the Central New York Alumni Club so we were pretty pleased overall,” said Cristina Swift, assistant director of the Office of Alumni Relations.

Finance junior Rico Setyo attended the events last year and decided to come back for more fun. 

“It was a really great event, a great experience,” Setyo said. “You really get to do fun stuff — little activities that get you away from midterms.”

Guests were asked to bring donations of school supplies and winter clothing to support the Somali Bantu Community Organization of Syracuse.

“It’s another way to build up spirit and to get people excited for being in Syracuse and being a student at Syracuse,” Kieft said.

Swift called the event a success and plans on making it even bigger next year.

“It’s great to bring it all together to celebrate the past, present and future of SU."