Red was everywhere on Wednesday. From the red and white colored tents, to the gold and red balloons strung up around the Academic Mall, it was hard to miss. The red, however, played a central role in that afternoon’s theme — Stony Brook University’s 50th anniversary.
Wolfie bounced through the crowd, posing with people here and there, and navigating what was probably hundreds of people. There were people bustling from point to point, balancing free food in their hands as they weaved in and out of the crowd.
One of the main attractions of the day was a band called, “Big Shot” — a Billy Joel tribute band, the group’s website said. The band was set up on a stage in front of the Administration building, and their music rang throughout most of the event, shaking the ground. People’s heads bobbed in harmony.
“I don’t know their songs, but they sound cool,” said Carl Wooden, a sophomore at the university.
The first day of classes at Stony Brook University was Sept. 17, 1957, when the university was known as the State University College on Long Island. It was in Oyster Bay. But fifty years later, the main campus of the university sits in Stony Brook, with campuses in Manhattan and Southampton. Though the university technically turned 50 last year, the fete on Wednesday commemorated the university’s half-a-century milestone.
It was an atmosphere of excitement mostly. Volunteers for the event cheerfully handed out bags that said, “It is RED HOT to be GREEN!” One volunteer — Megan Bowald, a junior — was serving free iced treats to anyone passing by and made sure she had a wide grin while she did it.
“We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary and I feel I should be a part of it,” Bowald said as more people approached the cooler for the free treats.
At about 4:50 p.m., the marching band pierced the crowd. It was like the parting of the Red Sea. Everyone moved aside to let the drum-beating, red white and blue pom-pom-shaking parade pass, with Wolfie leading the way.
The group moved through the mall and stopped by the stage where Big Shot was playing and formed a sort of semi-circle. “Go! Fight! Win!” the cheerleaders yelled, shaking their colored pom-poms that glimmered in the sunlight. “SBU! SBU! S-B-U!”
When they settled down, Shirley Strum Kenny, president of the university, addressed the crowd. “Who knows what will happen in the next 50 years? But, I will tell you the university will continue on its fantastic trajectory.” She stood in her red tshirt, red jacket and black sunglasses and said, “[The university] is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary…it has risen from a sea of mud to an ocean of accomplishment. Have a wonderful time, and thank you all.”
Some people were enjoying themselves, like senior Anita Binayifaal. “I feel like it’s been the 50th anniversary for two, three weeks, but this is awesome.” But others, though satisfied with the overall event, did not enjoy the long wait for food.
“It’s okay,” said Stella Milnes, a freshman. “I got a free bag and free water, but no food because the lines are too long.”
Stony Brook University has moved from a college with 148 students to a university with 23,300, and, from what President Kenny has said, does not seem like it will be slowing down.
