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Editor's Picks

Gallery: The photos that chronicle Syracuse in 2020

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In a year when it was difficult and even dangerous to step outside of our homes, photographs became an essential way to experience the world around us. Our photographers were eyes for the Syracuse community, documenting protests, the coronavirus pandemic and everything in between.

The Daily Orange’s Photo section has chosen the best and most influential photos of the year. Here are our picks:


See our other section’s lists


Gallery: The photos that chronicle Syracuse in 2020
Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Jan. 16: The ACC Network broadcast team huddles together before the women’s basketball game. For the first time, the network’s broadcast team was comprised entirely of women.
Jan. 16: The ACC Network broadcast team huddles together before the women’s basketball game. For the first time, the network’s broadcast team was comprised entirely of women. Mitchell Bannon | Senior Staff Writer
Jan. 18: Syracuse University students march alongside Syracuse community members in the 2020 Women’s March.
Jan. 18: Syracuse University students march alongside Syracuse community members in the 2020 Women’s March. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Feb. 2: SU finishes construction of the National Veteran’s Resource Center, a building dedicated to supporting the lives of veterans and their families.
Feb. 2: SU finishes construction of the National Veteran’s Resource Center, a building dedicated to supporting the lives of veterans and their families. Corey Henry | Senior Staff Photographer
Feb. 18: Department of Public Safety officer Joe Shanley guards the entrance of Crouse-Hinds Hall while a #NotAgainSU organizer inside holds up a sign that reads “We are starving.” In an attempt to get #NotAgainSU protesters to leave Crouse-Hinds, DPS sealed the building and prevented people from bringing food or resources to the organizers. The movement occupied the building to continue its protest of SU’s response to hate incidents on and near campus.
Feb. 18: Department of Public Safety officer Joe Shanley guards the entrance of Crouse-Hinds Hall while a #NotAgainSU organizer inside holds up a sign that reads “We are starving.” In an attempt to get #NotAgainSU protesters to leave Crouse-Hinds, DPS sealed the building and prevented people from bringing food or resources to the organizers. The movement occupied the building to continue its protest of SU’s response to hate incidents on and near campus. Elizabeth Billman | Senior Staff Photographer
Feb. 22: SU students Ifechukwu Uche-Onyilofor (left), Nafissatou Camara (right), and Louisa Williams (center) walk off the stage hand-in-hand after the African Student Union’s first Miss Africa Pageant. Williams, who represented Ghana and Liberia, won the title of Miss Africa.
Feb. 22: SU students Ifechukwu Uche-Onyilofor (left), Nafissatou Camara (right), and Louisa Williams (center) walk off the stage hand-in-hand after the African Student Union’s first Miss Africa Pageant. Williams, who represented Ghana and Liberia, won the title of Miss Africa. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Feb. 26: Outside of Crouse-Hinds, #NotAgainSU organizers link arms to form an inner and outer circle while calling for the resignation of Chancellor Kent Syverud, DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado, DPS Associate Chief John Sardino and Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience. The organizers remained in the intersection for almost two hours.
Feb. 26: Outside of Crouse-Hinds, #NotAgainSU organizers link arms to form an inner and outer circle while calling for the resignation of Chancellor Kent Syverud, DPS Chief Bobby Maldonado, DPS Associate Chief John Sardino and Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience. The organizers remained in the intersection for almost two hours. Corey Henry | Senior Staff Photographer
March 13: Students leave behind a nearly-empty campus as they depart for spring break and the unforeseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three days later, SU announced it would move classes online for the rest of the semester.
March 13: Students leave behind a nearly-empty campus as they depart for spring break and the unforeseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three days later, SU announced it would move classes online for the rest of the semester. Sarah Lee | Asst. Photo Editor
May 30: Syracuse residents march through the streets of Syracuse to call for an end to systemic racism and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd. Protesters also marched to honor Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all Black lives lost to police and racist violence.
May 30: Syracuse residents march through the streets of Syracuse to call for an end to systemic racism and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd. Protesters also marched to honor Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all Black lives lost to police and racist violence. Madison Brown | Staff Photographer
June 13: Dramar Felton raises his fist and marches in support of Last Chance for Change, a movement in Syracuse that marched for 40 consecutive days to protest racism and police brutality.
June 13: Dramar Felton raises his fist and marches in support of Last Chance for Change, a movement in Syracuse that marched for 40 consecutive days to protest racism and police brutality. Emma Folts | Managing Editor
Aug. 2: Sarah Cawley, an SU freshman, spends her allotted outdoor time sitting in a social distancing circle on the Quad, talking with the students in her pod. Some freshmen arrived on campus in early August to quarantine before the start of the fall semester.
Aug. 2: Sarah Cawley, an SU freshman, spends her allotted outdoor time sitting in a social distancing circle on the Quad, talking with the students in her pod. Some freshmen arrived on campus in early August to quarantine before the start of the fall semester. Young-Bin Lee | Staff Photographer
Aug. 28: Justine Hastings (center), Student Association president, leads SU students in a march against racism and police brutality. SA organized the march and other events in solidarity with the March on Washington.
Aug. 28: Justine Hastings (center), Student Association president, leads SU students in a march against racism and police brutality. SA organized the march and other events in solidarity with the March on Washington. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Sept. 3: Watson Hall residents spell out “F*ck COVID” with Post-it notes. Their window faces Ernie Davis Hall, which SU placed under quarantine that same day after detecting COVID-19 in its wastewater.
Sept. 3: Watson Hall residents spell out “F*ck COVID” with Post-it notes. Their window faces Ernie Davis Hall, which SU placed under quarantine that same day after detecting COVID-19 in its wastewater. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Sept. 12: SU football kicked off its season in the newly renovated Dome.
Sept. 12: SU football kicked off its season in the newly renovated Dome. Will Fudge | Staff Photographer
Sept. 14: Syracuse residents and educators march from Dr. King Elementary School to the Syracuse City School District’s office demanding answers about the district’s plan for reopening schools. Residents criticized the district for its lack of transparency and resources at the start of the school year.
Sept. 14: Syracuse residents and educators march from Dr. King Elementary School to the Syracuse City School District’s office demanding answers about the district’s plan for reopening schools. Residents criticized the district for its lack of transparency and resources at the start of the school year. Michael Sessa | Asst. News Editor
Sept. 22: Megaphone in hand, Felton rallies with other Last Chance for Change organizers outside of Syracuse Police Department headquarters to demand answers after the police shot and killed Steve Smith. The rally was the movement’s third consecutive demonstration following Smith’s killing.
Sept. 22: Megaphone in hand, Felton rallies with other Last Chance for Change organizers outside of Syracuse Police Department headquarters to demand answers after the police shot and killed Steve Smith. The rally was the movement’s third consecutive demonstration following Smith’s killing. Chris Hippensteel | News Editor
Oct. 6: Thirty-five chairs, one for each SU student killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, rest on the grass outside the Hall of Languages. Although most of the annual Remembrance Week ceremonies were cancelled due to COVID-19, SU still set up the chair display in honor of those lost.
Oct. 6: Thirty-five chairs, one for each SU student killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, rest on the grass outside the Hall of Languages. Although most of the annual Remembrance Week ceremonies were cancelled due to COVID-19, SU still set up the chair display in honor of those lost. Corey Henry | Senior Staff Photographer
Oct. 9: The statue of Christopher Columbus towers over Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. Many Indigenous community members and allies petitioned and rallied against the racism and violence that Columbus represents, leading to Mayor Ben Walsh’s decision to remove the statue of Columbus and rename Columbus Circle.
Oct. 9: The statue of Christopher Columbus towers over Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. Many Indigenous community members and allies petitioned and rallied against the racism and violence that Columbus represents, leading to Mayor Ben Walsh’s decision to remove the statue of Columbus and rename Columbus Circle. Sarah Lee | Asst. Photo Editor
Oct. 17: Two memorial plaques honoring Trevor Pierce and Jack Lundin, two SU students who died during the semester, stand in front of Hendricks Chapel. During the fall semester, the SU community mourned the loss of Pierce and Lundin as well as Professor Sherri Taylor and graduate student and staff member Bridget Lawson.
Oct. 17: Two memorial plaques honoring Trevor Pierce and Jack Lundin, two SU students who died during the semester, stand in front of Hendricks Chapel. During the fall semester, the SU community mourned the loss of Pierce and Lundin as well as Professor Sherri Taylor and graduate student and staff member Bridget Lawson. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Nov. 3: Voters line up outside Huntington Hall as they wait for poll workers to fix a broken ballot printer. Thousands of SU and Syracuse community members voted at local polling places in the 2020 presidential election.
Nov. 3: Voters line up outside Huntington Hall as they wait for poll workers to fix a broken ballot printer. Thousands of SU and Syracuse community members voted at local polling places in the 2020 presidential election. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Nov. 8: Outside of her house on Euclid Avenue, Rachel Hayashi holds a sign that reads "Honk for Biden." Students on Hayashi's block played music from their porches to celebrate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' victory.
Nov. 8: Outside of her house on Euclid Avenue, Rachel Hayashi holds a sign that reads "Honk for Biden." Students on Hayashi's block played music from their porches to celebrate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' victory. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor
Nov. 15: Allison Boschetti (left) and her father Drew Boschetti walk back to Dellplain Hall to gather the last of her belongings before returning home for winter break. Students began moving out after SU announced that residential instruction would end on Nov. 12.
Nov. 15: Allison Boschetti (left) and her father Drew Boschetti walk back to Dellplain Hall to gather the last of her belongings before returning home for winter break. Students began moving out after SU announced that residential instruction would end on Nov. 12. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor