Dear Orange Friends:
At Syracuse there are many opportunities all year for Orange friends to return to campus. One of the best of these I have seen here—or at any University—is the Coming Back Together reunion, known as CBT.
Once every three years, CBT invites all African American and Latino alumni back to campus to celebrate their accomplishments and learn how the University has advanced and grown. Our current students participate in many events and make lifelong connections with alumni. Created in 1983, CBT was the only reunion of its kind in the nation dedicated to alumni of color. This year’s CBT took place September 14-17.
There were more than 40 events over the course of four days. Some of the highlights included a lecture by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien; an inaugural CBT Celebrity Classic basketball game featuring former SU greats; a Saturday night Dinner Gala that included the presentation of the Chancellor’s Citation to a group of outstanding alumni, a keynote address by Dave Bing ’66, H’06, and the awarding of the Chancellor’s Medal to Carmelo Anthony for his philanthropic efforts. The weekend concluded with a Sunday morning worship service at Hendricks Chapel. Many attendees told me it was the best CBT ever.
There have been 12 CBT reunions. Each has helped strengthen the legacy of Syracuse University as a national leader in inclusion, equity, and diversity. I am deeply grateful.
In just a week, more alumni and friends will be coming back to Syracuse to celebrate Orange Central 2017 October 5-8. Orange Central is an array of dozens of reunions, activities, performances, and events that enables all alumni to reminisce and reconnect, and explore SU’s newest places and programs. On Friday evening, Orange Central will be highlighted by the presentation of the Arents Awards, our highest alumni honors. If you are able, I hope you will participate in some of the many outstanding events next weekend.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Kent Syverud