Oswego Matters

Greetings, Laker family!

It’s safe to say the spring of 2020 didn’t turn out how anyone, including your alma mater, thought it might. Here in the Alumni and Development Office, we made tough decisions to cancel or postpone events, reschedule alumni-student interactions and determine how to best move forward in a “new normal” of social distancing and virtual engagement. Above all, the health and well-being of our campus and alumni communities remained top of mind.

Our staff continues to stand ready to assist you with whatever we can – including providing some uplifting content to read between the often anxiety-inducing news with which we’ve all been inundated. We hope you’ve found respite in the stories here of some of our green-blooded Lakers …

As you’ve read in this “Green” issue, many alumni who were on campus in 1970 remember a car being buried in front of Culkin Hall as one of the classic Oswego memories of their time. But you didn’t have to be here for the first Earth Day to have your own version of a story that sends you into an Oswego flashback – and, in my position, I am lucky enough to hear so many of those recollections. I’ve listened to alumni reminisce about the installation of Splinter Village; groovin’ to Bruce Springsteen in Laker Hall; savoring a brew at Buckland’s on the day they closed their doors; and celebrating the last day of spring classes with the first-ever OzFest. While decades separate those who remember each event, the same Laker spirit and love shines as a unifying trait between all of the narrators.

Some good news? Alumni don’t have to be green with envy of the Lakers who still have an undergrad status ahead of them. You can connect with students throughout the year to share your wisdom (and stories!)—which is a great way to give back to your alma mater through your time and talents, as these green learners begin to blossom. Volunteer for the Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) program to connect and offer advice to students virtually; sign up as an Alumni-Admissions Ambassador to encourage prospective students to commit to attending Oswego; or host students for internships, co-ops or site-visits at your organization to give them some insight on your industry and a foot in the door (literally!).

Of course, you also have the opportunity to compare memories with fellow alumni at events year-round…even while social-distancing! Join alumni and friends for many virtual activities and opportunities – including webinars, the new Oswego Alumni Podcast series, digital celebrations, virtual panels and more. (We’re giving you the green light to “un-mute” yourself and join in on our virtual conversations!)

Only the future will tell what our current students will look back on as their classic Oswego memories. However, we can assuredly say that they’ll each recall the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, and how the “norm” of campus, and the surrounding world, was so drastically altered. Though, while years-worth of experiences divide all of our stories, the Laker pride and support surrounding each is, without a doubt, evergreen (and gold). #TogetherOz