Fewer alumni expected at Homecoming
There are 230,000 Syracuse University alumni living in the United States. Ellen King, of the Office of Alumni Relations, said she’s hoping 1,000 of them will come to this year’s Homecoming.
‘Last year we have 1,800,’ said King, executive director of on-campus programs for Alumni Relations. ‘And we believe that for numerous reasons, including the economy, not as many people have RSVP’d.’
This is only the second year the department has combined reunion activities and Homecoming. The weekend includes specialized reunions, including activities for former cheerleaders, orientation leaders and resident advisors.
On the West Coast, Jennifer Erzen, president of the SU Alumni Club of Southern California, is having difficulty getting members to watch the Homecoming game on television.
‘The time zone is against us,’ Erzen said. ‘No one is interested in coming out at 9 a.m. for the Homecoming game.’
Erzen, who now works in information technology for Fox Entertainment, knows the power of alumni networking.
‘My last three jobs have been through alumni who have known of an opening,’ she said. ‘You don’t know where the next connection will come from.’
Scott Setek, associate director of alumni clubs, said SU has clubs across the country and internationally. There are 44 clubs in the United States, and 34 of those held student send-off events before this academic year, Setek said.
And though the event is a national program, it differs by chapter.
In the Massachusetts region, the event is only for incoming freshmen. In Houston, students of all years are invited. The Houston chapter gives each returning student a $150 gift card to the university bookstore.
‘Each region is different,’ Setek said. ‘In Los Angeles, people prefer to come to events right after work so they don’t have to drive back into the city. In Florida, where most alumni are elderly, the alumni prefer to meet during the day.’
In the past year, New Hampshire opened its first club, and SU’s newest club opened in New York City. That club separated from the Lubin House, an off-campus admissions and faculty building in Manhattan.
The main reason why alumni join such clubs is the networking opportunity, Setek said.
Some undergraduates are already looking forward to that.
‘I want to help students learn about the university,’ said Colleen Brawley, a sophomore in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. ‘And I know it will be good for networking.’
Nephtaly Rivera, a freshman in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, said he is also interested in becoming active in an alumni chapter when he graduates.
‘Although I am only a freshman, I know I will remain faithful to the SU Orange,’ he said. ‘I want to share my experience here with others.’
