On Sunday, about 600 admitted students had a sleepover in the Carrier Dome.

The event, called “Own the Dome Overnight,” brought together admitted students and their parents to get a better feel for Syracuse University before attending a spring reception on Monday. “Own the Dome” included various team-building activities, a student organization showcase, live performances and an hour with master hypnotist Thomas Bresadola.

The approximately 1,000 parents who accompanied their children attended separate presentations at Manley Field House to answer questions and build a network at SU, said Maurice Harris, dean of undergraduate admissions.

Harris said the main purpose of the overnight was to allow the admitted students to really get a feel for the university. Numerous schools allow students to stay overnight with current students, but he said he wanted to create a safe opportunity for many admitted students to come together at one time.

“They can really sample the university in a way that you couldn’t do in the typical visitation of a few hours,” Harris said.

Originally, the event was named “One World Overnight” because it incorporated ideas presented in the One World Concert that was held at SU last fall, Harris said. He explained that the event reflected the Dalai Lama’s message because it brought diverse groups of students together. The students who attended the overnight event represented various ethnicities and places of origin, from East Coast to West Coast.

Nicole Gramlich, a freshman in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, attended the “Common Ground for Peace” panels last fall and said she thinks the overnight is a good idea for admitted students.

“It would have been awesome to connect with people and make friends before moving in,” Gramlich said, adding that she would have attended the overnight as well if she had had the opportunity.

The Dome was divided into sections to help the event run smoothly, Harris said. One end of the Dome was sectioned off as a sleeping area while the other was left open for performances and activities. Team-building activities and performances began at 8 p.m., and afterward, students watched a film on one of the screens in the Dome, according to the event’s website. The schedule of events ends at 1 a.m, according to the website. The spring reception starts Monday at 9 a.m.

Harris said he hopes students enjoyed the night of activities, performances and bonding experiences with other students “in an environment unique among environments.”

He also said he believes the event will help students feel more comfortable with their decision to attend SU.

Said Harris: “Things that produce comfort: I’ve got friends here and I’m eager to come back here because I can see myself fitting in.”

Published on April 22, 2013 at 12:36 am