Dear Alumni,           

In 1971, a group of Syracuse University students built the foundation for something special: an independent newspaper to serve the needs of the campus community. Forty years later, we still serve that need.

There may not be protests stirring up campus, or radical moves for separation from the university, but one thing remains the same between The Daily Orange then and now: a group of students who love writing, reporting and informing.

To celebrate 40 years of independence, we’ll host a weekend-long event Feb. 18 to 20. We’d like as many alumni as possible to attend.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the plans:

• A gathering at good old 744 Ostrom Ave. on Friday night: This is the perfect time to catch up with old friends and meet the current staff. Plus, you’ll get a little history lesson just by looking at the walls.  

• A history of The D.O.: Think pictures and examples of the 1971 Daily Orange and the 2011 Daily Orange. We’re also planning a discussion about what it was like to go independent in 1971 and financially independent in 1991.

• Lessons from alumni in the form of panel discussions and roundtables: What’s the industry like now? How can current staffers prepare? What were some of the most difficult or controversial decisions made during different periods at The Daily Orange?

• Syracuse basketball, of course: Syracuse vs. Rutgers, 4:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. We secured a limited number of group tickets.

• Sunday goodbye breakfast

We’d like to assign all current staffers a D.O. mentor to learn from, one on one. We’ll take a break Saturday for lunch with mentors.

We’ll dedicate this weekend to celebrating 40 years of something amazing. Regardless of the year you worked at The D.O., your former job here or if you still work in the industry, this weekend presents a chance for everyone to cherish one thing we’ll have in common for the rest of our lives: the experiences of this crazy place.

If you’d like to attend, and we really hope you do, please e-mail alumni@dailyorange.com to RSVP. If you’re interested in being a mentor, let us know!

Wecan’t wait to celebrate a fabulous 40th year with you.

Kathleen Ronayne (’12) is the managing editor and a former asst. news editor of The Daily Orange. She’s searching for that one game-changing story that captures the power of this paper. If you’ve got some crazy idea that never ran and is still possible, contact her at editor@dailyorange.com.

Published on February 16, 2011 at 12:00 pm