SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Daily Orange is an award winning student newspaper staffed entirely by Syracuse University students – though they’ve been independent from SU since 1972. In just a month’s time, their staff is going to have to move out of the place the paper has called home for over 30 years.
The staff of the Daily Orange spend a tremendous amount of time at 744 Ostrom – some claiming they spend up to 60 hours a week in the house working on the paper.
“Man, so many hours a week and so many hours a semester,” said Assistant Features Editor Sarah Slavin.
The hours spent together help to create a bond amongst the staff.
“People here you meet them and you’re going to get really close to them because you’re spending so much time with them,” Slavin said.
For many of the staff members, the history of the house is a major factor for why the physical structure is so special. From the archived papers in the attic to the signatures on the walls, D.O. staff members have been leaving their mark on the house since 1983.
“A thing when you walk in right away is the walls and all the history of it,” Sports Editor KJ Edelman said, “this house has been used for many years by people that went on to become great journalists.”
The house isn’t necessarily in the best of shape – from peeling paint to watermarks in the ceiling, it would be a stretch to call the place pretty. But the editor in chief, as they tend to do, had a better word.
“744 Ostrom Avenue has character!” said Haley Robertson, laughing.
So with all the love for the house, why the move? Syracuse University owns the property and will likely be knocking the house down by the end of the year. The university began knocking down properties on the 700 block of Ostrom Avenue earlier this year, though the university has not yet confirmed what they are planning to do with the land.
The Daily Orange will be moving just a few blocks down the street to 230 Euclid Ave., which is also owned by the university. According to Robertson, the rent will be similar to what they are paying now, though they expect it to increase incrementally.
“It’s definitely bitter sweet, but we’re looking forward to the big move,” said Robertson.
Although they’ll be leaving the old house behind, some staff members see the move as a way to make new memories.
“It feels very fun and cool that we get to be the first staff to work in the new house,” said Managing Editor Catherine Leffert.
The D.O. staff will begin moving out of the house in mid-November.
