Le Moyne College’s annual Dolphy Day celebration took place on April 22, a Wednesday.

The event celebrates the arrival of spring. Most classes get canceled and students enjoy the warm weather, spending the day outside, and main events, like live music, games and food trucks.

Students in a Le Moyne journalism class attempted to capture a campus-wide snapshot of how Dolphy
Day unfolded:

The day before Dolphy Day, Ryan McGoldrick, a senior with an environmental science systems
major and a minor in applied statistics shared some of his plans. He intended to spend lots
of time outside, playing frisbee and enjoying the sun.

McGoldrick emphasized how important Dolphy Day is for the Le Moyne community: “I want to see as
many people as possible.”

Student experiences like McGoldrick’s show the benefits of Dolphy Day: It is a breath of fresh air, a time
to pause, a time to celebrate and a to connect, before the end-of-semester final push.

– Kaiyan Basran

At Le Moyne College nobody quietly waits for Dolphy Day. People are impatiently waiting for it, talking about it, trying to figure out when it’s going to happen because it’s never clearly announced ahead of time.

For Enoch Matami, who’s here from the United Kingdom on an exchange year, that made it even more interesting. He wasn’t used to that kind of build-up for a campus event so when the day finally came it felt like something he had to fully experience.

He didn’t rush into the morning, though. He started slow, grabbed something small to eat and then headed over to the quad once he knew it would actually be busy. By the time he got there the energy was already there with music playing, people everywhere just groups forming naturally.

Matami found his friends quickly, and from there it just became a lot of walking, talking, and laughing, the kind that doesn’t really have a reason but fits the day.

Once Dolphy Day really got going he did not stick to any sort of plan. He moved between things stopping wherever something pulled him. There was a concert with alumni performing, which stood out to him since it showed a different side of the school, people who had already been through it coming back.

He stayed near the stage for a while, not the entire time, just enough to take it in before drifting away again. Food ended up being a big part of his day, more than he probably expected. He had a walking taco in a bag for lunch nice and simple, a little messy, but it was the first time he had one and loved it.

Then he kept going back and forth between the food trucks, especially the doughnut truck. It wasn’t planned; it just kept happening as he ran into different people and went along with whatever they were doing.

By the afternoon things slowed down or at least he did. He ended up sitting with his friends talking about random topics nothing particularly serious, but still meaningful in the moment.

As someone from outside the U.S. he noticed how much the day wasn’t really about any single activity. It was more about the atmosphere, the break from routine, and the shared experience across campus.

By the time he left, he felt tired but in a good way like he had actually taken part in something instead of just observing it. For him Dolphy Day wasn’t just a fun event; it was something that made him feel more connected to the school during his time there even if it only lasted a few hours.
– Dominique Bentley

Le Moyne’s Dolphy Day has become a local tradition over the years, with people who grew up in Central New York looking forward to it as much as the students themselves do. However, in Scotland, it is completely unknown. As such, Munenyasha Sigauke, an exchange student from Glasgow, got the chance to experience the day with fresh eyes.

She got her wristband the week before, as most people did, expecting it to be that Wednesday the week before but when it wasn’t, she felt like some of the hype had died down. As she and her fellow exchange students are classed as seniors, they got the email confirming

Dolphy Day the evening before, so Sigauke and her friends decided to go to the soccer house party that was being held that night, which she felt was a bit of a bust, but she describes the day itself as “actually so much fun, from what I can remember.” Sigauke spent her day with her friends, chatting, taking pictures and generally enjoying the beautiful weather. She ended up talking to a lot of new people, many of whom she greeted later in the dining hall.

“It felt like a genuine moment of connection, not just a one-day event,” she said.

Her only regret was missing out on a Dolphy Day t-shirt, but she mentioned that an event like this wouldn’t be possible at her university back home, where the student population is much larger. For Sigauke, that’s exactly what made her feel part of the community: “It felt special to be a part of it.”
– Mack Suleiman

Le Moyne’s Dolphy Day is the hottest topic in the weeks leading up to the end of the semester. Some love it, some dread it, and not everyone celebrates the same.

Rosalie Vincent, a sprinter on Le Moyne’s track and field team, said, “My Dolphy Day is different compared to others.”

Vincent started Dolphy Day week in a team meeting with her coaches laying down rules of mostly what not to do. Rose doesn’t drink, so following these rules was easier for her more than others.

She was more worried about her upcoming performance in her track meet rather than a day of drinking.

The night before Dolphy Day, or Dolphy Day Eve (Deve!), while much of the campus was partying, Vincent was in bed – she had to be up for 7am practice.

By the time she was out of practice on Dolphy Day morning she said, “I was ready to take a nap.” Despite her strict schedule and rules, her Dolphy Day was spent dancing and laughing with friends; there was no need for drinking.
– Lily Capria

For many students at Le Moyne College, Dolphy Day is one of the most anticipated traditions of the entire school year. Junior Kiersten Hines said she was especially excited for this year’s celebration after worrying she would miss it while on a trip to Italy from April 14 to April 21.

“I was getting anxious that I was going to miss Dolphy Day because there were rumors that it was going to happen while I was on my trip,” Hines said.

She explained that after leaving Italy at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, landing at JFK Airport at 10:30 p.m., taking a two-hour train ride, and then driving three more hours home, she arrived back at Le Moyne around 6:30 a.m. the morning of
the event.

Even after the long trip home, Hines said she was determined to make it back in time for the celebration.

After only getting a few hours of sleep, Hines spent the morning catching up with friends and talking about her trip before everyone started getting ready together for Dolphy Day. Around 12:30 p.m., the group went outside to enjoy the warm weather, music, and activities happening on campus.

Students gathered in the grass listening to the DJ, eating walking tacos, and spending time together in the sun. Later in the afternoon, a live band performed for students and played what Hines described as “a lot of good songs.”

Hines said her favorite part of Dolphy Day was being able to relax outside with her friends after a stressful and exhausting travel day. She said the event felt like a celebration of both the end of the semester and the warmer weather finally arriving after months of winter.

“It was just super nice out,” Hines said. “It was good to celebrate the end of the spring semester and the weather finally turning for the better after a long, cold winter.”
– Maya Carpenter

Sophomore psychology student at Le Moyne, Quinn Putney, spent her second Dolphy Day with friends.

She was outside on the quad, listening to the music and playing some outdoor games. Putney took full advantage of all aspects of Dolphy Day.

Putney especially enjoyed seeing everyone she typically does not hangout with. “Dolphy Day brings everyone together, and gives the chance to interact with classmates and friends I typically don’t hang out with, “ she said. Putney also said the live band helped to engage all the students who were participating in Dolphy Day.

Putney didn’t get a chance to try the food trucks, but appreciated the organization in James Commons. She had a hot dog and a walking taco. “Both were very good,” she said.

Putney said she overall enjoyed her time at Dolphy Day, but hopes to have a wider variety for food trucks, and more lawn games next year.

– Grace Faragon

For many Le Moyne students, Dolphy Day is a day to party. This was not the case for Camryn Hubbard, a sophomore English and creative writing major.

Instead of drinking and partying, Hubbard chose to spend her Dolphy Day in a much more relaxed way.

Hubbard and her friends had a little picnic under a tree by the quad. They made friendship bracelets, built a butterfly LEGO set, and chatted.

“I wanted to spend a very chill day out in the sun with my best friend,” said Hubbard.

Just enjoying the nice weather and the cheerful atmosphere on campus, even at a distance
from the activities, was enough to have fun.

“It was a great day.” Hubbard said.

– Mia Lesley-Fox

A long anticipated Dolphy Day was a beautiful day, enjoyed by many. Alana Knapp-Ward, a freshman at Le Moyne, had an eventful day herself. But it didn’t go exactly as she had planned.

Knapp-Ward started her Dolphy Day around 11:30 a.m., where she walked with her friends to Salt City Coffee at the old firehouse on Salt Springs Road to take some pictures. Throughout the day she listened to music, played spike ball, got food in James Commons, rode the bull and “danced a lot.”

Although she had a great time, her expectations of Dolphy Day fell short. She thought Dolphy Day was “overhyped” and not what it was weighed out to be.

Knapp-Ward expressed, “It was dispersed and spread out, and it was hard to find people.” It frustrated her that it didn’t feel like a community; everyone was divided.

If she could make a change it would be to block off certain sections so people were more gathered together. She also would have changed where the set-up for the DJ stage was, as there was not a lot of room to dance.

While it may not have met all her expectations, spending time with friends and having time off of classes was more than enough for a fun time.

– Alana Taylor

What do you do when you find yourself alone on Dolphy Day? Evan Brzostek, a first-year nursing major, came upon that same question himself.

He woke up late, expecting to stay in his dorm because most of his friends were either commuters or partook in what he described as heavy drinking, an activity Brzostek claims “isn’t really [his] scene.”

He chose to wander the events of Dolphy Day regardless, where he met a few strangers through a mutual friend and chose to stick with them for the day. They roamed campus, getting dolphin tattoos, dancing on the quad, and partaking in the refreshments in James Commons. He even played badminton and volleyball, of which he quickly grew tired of playing.

His day ended around five, when he chose to take care of one of his drunk friends. So, what do you do when you find yourself alone on Dolphy Day? You get out there anyways, make new friends, and have a good time.
– Aydan Piper

Many Le Moyne students were very anxious this year about Dolphy Day because they felt that the event should have happened the week prior. They felt this way because the weather was in the 80s for about three days straight; however, the organizers had other plans.

Two seniors who were experiencing their last Dolphy Day asked for anonymity in response for sharing
their day.

They started their day at around 12 PM. They walked from Mitchell Hall to the quad where they listened to music that the DJ was playing.
After standing in the hot sun, they went into James Commons where the dining hall was serving hot dogs, walking tacos, and water. One said she didn’t like the walking tacos and she would have preferred either burgers on the grill.

They both hung out with the new board of The African Student Union ( ASU) since they will be graduating this year. They got to spend time with some of the members on the board and get to know them better.

When Dolphy Day was over around 5 p.m., they didn’t want to end the day so they decided to go to Margaritas Mexican Cantina downtown to get some tacos.

After finishing the food and talking at the restaurant it was still nice outside and the sun was just going down, so they had the idea to take the Syracuse City bus to Marshall Street since one of the seniors had never taken the bus before.

They got on the bus at the Centro Hub and talked and enjoyed the ride to Marshall Street. Once they arrived they took an Uber back to campus and got ready for classes on Thursday.
– Maya Lemons

Le Moyne College’s annual Dolphy Day offered students a break from classes and a chance to enjoy the warm spring
weather.

As we reflect on the celebration on campus that was Dolphy Day, it is always important to have that conversation with others and be able to share those experiences.

Dolphy Day is an annual tradition and celebration in the spring semester here at Le Moyne College; it dates all the way
back to 1971 as it was made for students to have a day of relaxing. It makes it possible to skip class, and have a day of relaxing while being at one with the community.

While talking to freshman Edgar Cordova, he said he was very excited to talk about his experience on Dolphy Day since it was his first one ever.

He enjoyed how alive the campus felt since he says most of the time “the campus isn’t really used properly,” meaning that to him the campus always feels dead.

He loved the music that was playing and all of the games they all played.

There was a live DJ playing a lot of old classics mixed with new music, people playing  volleyball, eating hot dogs and
tacos, not to mention there was a bull riding machine that Cordova tried while managing to get 5-7 seconds on it.
– Alfa Balde

For many students at Le Moyne College, Dolphy Day is a chance to step away from schoolwork and enjoy time with friends, and junior English major Julianna Caroli made the most of it.

“I spent my Dolphy Day outside with friends,” Caroli said. “We played Spikeball and then sat in a group and talked and enjoyed each other’s company.”

She added that she “had a great time,” highlighting the break from the usual academic routine.

“My favorite part was being able to take a break from the semester and enjoy time outside with my friends,” she said.
– Declan Sommer

A personal reflection from a student, to end our piece:

For my dad, Carmen Spinoso, a proud alumnus of Le Moyne College, this year’s Dolphy Day felt especially meaningful because I invited him back for my last one. He hadn’t stepped foot on campus since his own college days, which he always describes as feeling like a lifetime ago.

When I asked him to come, he didn’t hesitate. “I didn’t realize how much I missed this place until you invited me back,” he told me. As we walked around, you could see the nostalgia hit him; he’d pause, look around, and smile at the energy of students gathering, music playing, and the same excitement he once felt coming back to life.

All day, he stayed with me and my nephew Liam, moving between events and soaking everything in. At one point he started telling one of his favorite stories from when he was a student; the one he’s told me countless times growing up.

“There was this whole thing about ‘the wizard’ deciding when Dolphy Day would happen,” he said, laughing. “So me and my friends decided… why wait?” He went on to explain how they snuck out early and threw toilet paper all over campus, which was the unofficial signal that Dolphy Day had been declared when he was a student.

“Everyone believed it,” he said. “Campus went crazy, people thought ‘the wizard’ had spoken.”

But it hadn’t. It was just him and his friends. “So that year,” he added with a grin, “we ended up having two Dolphy Days.”

He always finishes the story the same way: “The wizard was not happy with me… even though I never figured out it who it was.”

By the time the events on our Dolphy Day started to wind down, he kept saying how glad he was that he came back. We continued his newer tradition by heading to Tully’s Good Times, where he reflected on the day with a mix of nostalgia and appreciation.

We starting this newer tradition when he starting taking me out to dinner at the end of my Dolphy Days to help soak up the fun I’ve had during the day.

“I didn’t think I’d ever come back here,” he said, “but I’m really glad I did, especially for this.”

Sitting there together, it felt like everything had come full circle for him; his stories, his memories, and now being able to share Dolphy Day with me in real time instead of just retelling the past.
– Angelena Spinoso