Information for Schools
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Presentation of the relationship between anxiety and emotional security in children with asthma at MayFest 2007 |
MayFest 2008
Now in its fourth year, MayFest is an official daylong celebration of student creativity and discovery at Syracuse University. The campus-wide celebration features concerts, performances, and exhibitions; academic discussions and presentations; special interactive experiences; and exciting events, such as science "magic" shows, Renaissance encampment, arts demonstrations, and fashion shows. MayFest offers something for everyone and all classes have been cancelled for this unique learning experience. This year, we anticipate hundreds of presentations by Syracuse University and SUNY ESF students. This is an extraordinary opportunity to see what a University does the very best and puts on display the full range of our student's and faculty's creativity, innovation and discovery. Come and see first-hand what excitement lies on campus!
Transportation and Parking
School buses will be able to drive right into the heart of the campus and discharge and pick up students and teachers right at Gate N of the Carrier Dome. The buses with then be provided with satellite campus parking (Henry Street lot) throughout the day (parking staff will be on hand to direct and provide communication and any other assistance and information). Free shuttle bus operates every fifteen minutes between the parking lots and main campus. Additionally, a special evening shuttle bus will operate every ten minutes MayFest evening.
Food and Concessions
Food concessions in the Carrier Dome will be available for all attending MayFest. Concessions will serve breakfast from 8 AM to 10:30, lunch from 11 to 3. Food is also available for visitors in the Schine Student Center and a variety of other locations around the main campus quad. Tents on the quad, in the Dome, and elsewhere will be available for eating and gathering. Attendees can either bring their own lunches or purchase food from the concessions around campus at moderate cost.
Schedule of Events and Planning
Schedules for all the events will be posted as they become available with the complete schedule posted on the website (mayfest.syr.edu) beginning around April 1st. A more detailed description of each of the numerous events will also be available online.
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Presentation of pollen morphology and preferential fertilization in pine at MayFest 2007 |
Campus Tours
Tours of the Syracuse University and SUNY ESF campus, including various departmental open houses, will leave frequently from the main MayFest Headquarters tent throughout the day.
Headquarters and Information
The main MayFest Headquarters tent will be located directly adjacent to the school bus drop off point on the SU Main quad. The HQ tent will hold tables and representatives from all of Syracuse University's Schools and Colleges, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, along with many offices and programs. Information and assistance, especially detailed information about the day's activities, will be available..
Safety
Syracuse University is a safe campus but significant additional safeguards will be in place for MayFest. All events are located in and around the academic building of the main quad. Both SU Public Safety and Syracuse City police officers will be patrolling the festival areas and hundreds of MayFest volunteers will help to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. The MayFest HQ tent on the quad will also serve as a convenient congregating and meeting point for groups visiting for MayFest.
Schools
Schools from as far as Long Island and the Pennsylvania border have attended MayFest. At last year's MayFest, over 1,000 high school students and their teachers from across the state visited and this year's number is expected to be even greater.
MayFest After Dark
MayFest After Dark is a program of entertainment and activities for the whole family from 6 to 9:30 PM. MayFest After Dark features live music, puppetry, storytelling, science "magic" shows, and an international festival. Among the performers are the University's orchestra, wind and brass ensembles, the University Singers, BCCE, women's chorus, and the Open Hand Theater, renowned for its unique puppet and mask traditions. MayFest After Dark showcases numerous offerings at several different main quad venues throughout the evening.
State Learning Standards
There will be MayFest events across the entire spectrum of academic work at the University that focus directly upon topics in the state learning standards. A sample of these events (just a small sample at that) is given below.
Contact and Other Information
Updated information will be continuously posted online at the MayFest website at mayfest.syr.edu. For any additional
information or assistance, please feel free to call
Laura Derr (MayFest organizer) at The Syracuse University Soling Program Office: 315-443-3133
Sample of Events:
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING
- "SciMix" in the Carrier Dome with over 125 posters on student research in biology, chemistry, earth science, exercise science, physics and psychology.
- Chemistry and physics shows and demonstrations (six full shows throughout the day), glassblowing demonstrations, forensic science posters, "How the Earth Works" scale models, and more.
- Engineering, computer and information science research posters, projects and demonstrations, including structure and materials testing, new computer games and simulations, indoor air flowfield laboratory, wind-tunnel demonstrations, student Mars-rover design prototypes, student built cargo airplanes (model aircraft to transport golf balls across the Carrier Dome), living textbook demonstrations, anechoic chamber tour (Skytop), electrical, civil and environmental engineering projects, municipal broadband network projects, biomedical engr. posters, and robotics projects.
SOCIAL STUDIES AND LANGUAGE ARTS
- Global forum and global syndicate presentations, neural networks for stock market prediction, mock business plan competitions, role playing in social work, politics game in a virtual world, Chronos (publication by history majors), history games, and more.
- Poster presentations in the social sciences, including learning communities, public policy and ethnicity, social work, psychopathology ("a day in the life of a person with a specific disorder), communication sciences and disorders, community literacy, and child and family studies.
- Italian Renaissance "Fair", Middle Ages encampment (3 pavilions - including arts, combat and customs), many ethnic dance and music performances (see music and dance), and the London Learning Practicum exhibit.
- Presentation of Moliere play (in French).
MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA, AND VISUAL ARTS
- Music - Performances by the SU Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, Hendricks Chapel Singers, Sweaty Etiquette (original student compositions), University Union student bands, organ recitals, Jazz septet performance, SU ancient fife and drum corps, MENC recital (by music education majors), and the Saxophone ensemble .
- Drama - SU students with the Open Hand Puppet Theater, E5m theater troupe, Young Actors Theater Group (community actors with special needs with SU students), Choreo-poem play "A Tribute to a Black Cowboy", and a stage design showcase.
- Dance - by the Orange Pulse Dancers, Jazz/Hip-Hop Dance, Indian traditional dance performance, West African Dance Workshop, self-defense demonstrations, and the Army ROTC climbing wall.
- Visual Arts - Fashion shows of senior designs, computer art works (designs for "Sacred Visions: Early Paintings from Central Tibet"), exhibition of large scale digital prints and posters, digital fabric design projects, photography exhibitions, pottery demonstration (wheel throwing), exhibition of 2D drawings, yarn production demonstrations, off the wall art exhibit, and student book arts works.
ENGLISH, TEXTUAL STUDIES, WRITING, AND FILM
- Poetry slams, writing program displays, women in African music, poetry and dance.
- Art History Symposium, industrial and interactive design projects, and an archival presentation representing over 100 years of student works, writings, and art works.
- Film screenings including winners of the 2005 Syracuse International Film and Video Festival and samples of films, documentaries and ads produced by Syracuse University students.
- Student magazines, journalism, and advertising research posters, displays and talks.
THESIS AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS
- Thesis presentations from Honors, women's studies, economics, and more.