Le Moyne College

Campus library

The Noreen Reale Falcone Library was constructed in 1981. It houses about 900,000 materials and maintains its own online public access catalog, which is available from both on- and off-campus computers. The main library collection includes:

Student life

Student-directed activities, athletics, clubs, and service organizations are available to all Le Moyne students. Students are represented by a Student Senate and have formal representation through the senate on most College-wide committees involved in decision making and policy formation.

Approximately 80 percent of students live in residence halls and townhouses on campus. The Residence Hall Councils and the Le Moyne Student Programming Board organize concerts, dances, a weekly film series, student talent programs, and special lectures as well as off-campus trips and skiing excursions. Le Moyne's theater program hosts at least two productions each year, housed in the W. Carroll Coyne Performing Arts Center. The Office of Campus Ministry arranges alternative breaks and service and retreat opportunities, as part of the Jesuit mission of the school. Students participate in Syracuse arts through collaborations with the Syracuse International Film Festival, the Syracuse Symphony, and the Everson Museum of Art.

Le Moyne is home to The Dolphin, a student newspaper founded in 1947. In 2005, a dispute emerged between the administration and the newspaper's staff. The administration, headed by Linda LeMura, who went on to become Le Moyne's president, decided to replace the current advisor. They cited bad layouts, as well as grammatical, spelling and factual errors as reasons for replacing the current advisor. The editorial board protested, collecting over 2,000 student signatures in two days, and refused to publish complete issues. The administration nonetheless went forward with the advisor's replacement.

Le Moyne's student radio station is WLMU. The campus TV studio in Reilly Hall was renovated during the summer of 2009. With six new P2 video cameras and other new equipment available for student use in video broadcasting, the studio helps to support the newly formed Department of Communication and Film Studies.

Le Moyne also hosts a centrally-located cafe-style space ('Kaffe Nuvo') and a student lounge known as The Cove. The Cove offers a variety of entertainment on weekends including concerts and movie screenings, and is a popular spot for first-year students.

Welcoming traditions

Le Moyne College begins every academic year with two rituals: (1)'Moving In Weekend,' when current students help to carry the boxes and suitcases of the new, first-year students into the dormitories; and (2)the Mass of the Holy Spirit, which continues a tradition dating back to the first Jesuit school, established in Messina, Sicily in 1548 (probably preceding this date). The meaning of this Mass is based in Catholic theology; the campus community commits to seeking knowledge as a community of scholars. The song "Stay with Us," composed by Le Moyne alumna M.D. Ridge especially for Le Moyne College, was performed.

Dolphy Day

Another annual tradition at Le Moyne College is "Dolphy Day," dating back to its origins in 1971. Each year, the actual date of the event is kept a secret until the last possible moment, heightening the excitement. Dolphy Day began as a time to skip classes and relax outside on the first beautiful Spring day, listening to music, including Frank Zappa's song, "Eric Dolphy Barbecue." Although Le Moyne's mascot is a dolphin, campus officials say there is no direct relation between the name of this event and this college icon.

Dolphy Day quickly became a symbol of carefree, college fun, a time to be with friends outdoors after a long winter. A key part of the ritual is the fact that, each year, a "Wizard" is chosen (by the preceding Wizard). This person must be a senior; his or her identity remains a secret until the actual event begins. The Wizard works both with Le Moyne's administration and fellow seniors to orchestrate an enjoyable, memorable event. While the administration seeks to diminish the association with alcohol, this association remains. The event begins at about 2am or 3am, often involving fireworks, as the campus quad fills with students. Festivities continue until late afternoon, and include entertainment: live music, a barbecue attended also by staff and administrators, dancing, and sports, including football and Frisbee. The 40th anniversary of Dolphy Day, celebrated April 7, 2010, honored Eric Dolphy with a life-size bronze sculpture and a seminar by musician and Dolphy colleague Gunther Schuller.

Alumni celebrations

Le Moyne College honors its 50-year graduates each May at graduation, and also annually honors all graduates whose parents are alumni at the Baccalaureate Mass which takes place prior to graduation.

Lecture series

Le Moyne College hosts a series of themed, annual lectures: the Berrigan Lecture, Loyola Lecture, and Madden Lecture.

Green initiatives

Environmental sustainability is integrated into Le Moyne College facilities planning and operating processes through measures such as: use of native species in landscaping; storm water controls through swales and detention/retention basins; plans to capture and reuse storm water for irrigation; use of environmentally friendly pesticides and fertilizers; contracting with LEED-accredited professionals for the design and construction of all new structures and major renovations; a lighting pilot program to reduce consumption; use of refrigerants to minimize ozone layer depletion; and other practices which assure energy efficiency in buildings and in boiler operations, pump motors, and washing machines, while curtailing emissions.

In June 2010, the college began construction on a new, 48,000-square-foot (4,500 m²) science facility. The science complex provides teaching and research space for use by faculty and students in the science and health professions. Its environmentally-sound design features include day lighting, solar preheating, and thermal storage, resulting in the award of LEED-Gold certification

Public lectures with environmental themes are hosted by the Center for the Study of Environmental Change. Past lectures have included such noted scientists as climatologist Michael Mann, coastal geologist Orin Pilkey and journalist Carol Kaesek Yoon.

Athletics

The Le Moyne Dolphins are the athletic teams for the college. Le Moyne competes in the NCAA at the Division II level for its 21 varsity teams and offers participation opportunities for over 340 students. Le Moyne competes in Northeast-10 Conference in all sports.

Varsity sports

Le Moyne fields varsity teams in the following sports:

Notable alumni

Faculty and administrators

Among those faculty and/or administrators who serve or have served on the Le Moyne campus are: