In an effort to distance its day of academic activities from the massive Euclid Avenue block party, Syracuse University has a new name for MayFest: SU Showcase.

News of the name change was posted on a university blog written by Corey Driscoll, SU’s community relations associate.

Darya Rotblat, interim director of the Office of Orientation and Off-campus Programs, confirmed the new name.

‘If you think of a festival, you don’t think of academics or showcasing students’ talents,’ she said.

This year, SU Showcase is scheduled for April 21. The day is intended for student-run academic presentations and workshops.

MayFest has only been held in May one time – in 2005, the first year of the event. That’s one reason for the change, Rotblat said. The day of cancelled classes was moved to April in 2006 and gained its party reputation in 2007.

Last year, 36 houses along Euclid Avenue hosted more than 2,500 students. The Department of Public Safety and the Syracuse Police Department patrolled the campus, but didn’t make any arrests.

Rotblat said she doesn’t think the day has developed the best reputation. Planning for the change began this past October, with the goal of bringing the event back to academics.

‘A lot of students are confused of its purpose. Students who have participated in the academic events understand, but other students misunderstand what it’s all about,’ Rotblat said. ‘As a community, we just need to do a better job of putting a calendar out there for students, to let them know of activities.’

Ideas for this year’s event include a breakfast, a showcase for student originations and possibly bringing in a big-name speaker, Rotblat said.

Driscoll, SU’s community relations associate, wrote that she’ll be working with the Student Association to help focus the day on campus activities, rather than the parties on Euclid Avenue.

Robert Enslin, founding director of the event’s communications committee, declined to confirm the name change until its launch, planned for next month.

shmelike@syr.edu

Published on January 25, 2009 at 12:00 pm