Orange ya glad it’s almost time for OWN THE DOME?! If you didn’t have the chance to experience this magical event as a high school senior, here’s a crash course on the best night of the year:
Own the Dome is an on-campus event for accepted students to mingle with other students, get to know the Syracuse campus, eat lots of great food, watch stellar student performances and… wait for it… SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE DOME! Whether you are eager to share your love for Syracuse, help admitted students make the best choice to go ORANGE, or get in on all the fun, being a volunteer at this high spirit event is the perfect way to show off your Orange pride. Not sure if you should volunteer? Here are just 5 of the MANY reasons why you (and all your friends) should :
- Spend Time on the Carrier Dome Turf
There is no better way to live out your athletic dreams than by spending a whole night on the field of the Carrier Dome! You won’t even mind picking all the small turf pieces out of your shoes once you have a killer selfie in the end zone and have made a snow angel where you watched your favorite player catch the winning touchdown. While leading admitted students through getting-to-know-you games, you’ll have the chance to share your favorite Syracuse Athletics memories while standing on the spot where it actually happened!
- Food, Food, and more FOOD
If the Ernie Davis Dining Hall hasn’t been hitting the spot and you are tired of spending your hard-earned money down on Marshall Street, volunteering at Own the Dome is a sure way to achieve a happy and full stomach! Previous caterers like Dinosaur BBQ and Tully’s will ensure that you do not go hungry while teaching the next generation of students to Bleed Orange! And don’t forget about the late-night ice cream cart!
- Get To Know Friends – Both New and Old!
The newly admitted students are not the only people making lasting bonds at Own the Dome! With almost 200 student volunteers, this event is the perfect place to meet SU students who love our home on the hill as much as you do! Whether you are leading a small-group with a stranger or throwing a football around with new students and your best friend, the amazing people at this event make Own the Dome magical and you will be making Syracuse memories with the best of them!
- A Free Night of Entertainment
Have you always wanted to see the best Syracuse University talent in one place? Instead of spending all year jumping from show to show, watch them take the stage all at once at the greatest talent show of the year! Past student performance groups have included First Year Players, Black Reign, Otto Tunes and everything in between so boogie and sing along with the admitted students as you cheer on our SU performers. The amazing talent is one of the aspects of this event that made the biggest impact on me as a high school senior and I can’t wait for you to enjoy the show!
- Leave A Lasting Impact on a Future ORANGE!
The college decision process is a stressful one and volunteering at Own the Dome is the perfect way to share why you chose Syracuse with admitted students. As a high school senior, I arrived at Own the Down unsure about where Syracuse stood on my list of future schools and because of the current students who answered my questions, shared their stories, and bled orange throughout the whole event, I flew home to California knowing Syracuse was the school for me.
Whether you volunteer for one shift or stay the whole night, is the greatest decision you can make to pass on your love for Syracuse…while making lasting memories along the way!
By Hannah Butler ’19, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications