SUNY Cortland
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Teacher prep. Not to brag or anything, but we offer certification in pretty much every subject you can think of. On top of that, we have a brand spankin' new education building, complete with a child care center for those of you brave enough to work with the youngins.
- You'll probably need a ticket to the gun show…or, we can help you become part of the gun show. We churn out two gyms' worth of physical education teachers and athletic trainers every year.
- Going green. I'm the first SUNY school to completely switch over to renewable energy.
- Being a great value. I made Kiplinger's list of best values for public colleges.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- A car. Or a friend with a car. I'm one of the only schools around here that allows freshmen to have cars, which is a pretty big deal. Sure, there are bus runs around campus and even around town, but a car means you get to go where you want, when you want. Hell-o, Applebee's.
- A really, really warm coat. Sweatshirts won't cut it. (I'm lookin' at you, Long Island.)
- A good pair of sneaks. The fall and spring seasons in upstate New York are absolutely beautiful, and you might want to get out and enjoy the fresh air by taking a walk or a run. During winter, which lasts a good four or five months, you'll need a good pair of sneakers to a gym membership…so you can work off all of the pasta and hot cocoa you'll be consuming in order to momentarily thaw out your insides. It's rough, but you'll survive.
- A go-to outfit that makes you feel H-O-T. Sure, most students go to class in jeans and a sweatshirt, but when we go out, we dress to impress. Just walk around Main Street on a Friday or Saturday night and you'll see what I mean.
- A map of New York so you can constantly debate the meaning of "upstate."
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- Most people around here know about me due to a little event we call Cortaca, our annual football game against Ithaca College. And by little, I mean it's one of the biggest events of the year. Think t-shirts, body paint, and parties that begin and end in the a.m. Remember how I said we have a minor rivalry with Ithaca? Yeah. I may have been holding back just a tiny bit.
- I currently host the New York Jets camp each summer for about three weeks. People get pretty hyped up about it. If you're here for the summer, I hope you like the color green.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
You can find me hanging out in my dorm with my hall mates or suite mates, having a dance party, or watching a movie and eating D.P. Dough. Sometimes, everyone will attend an event on campus, like a concert or activity sponsored by one of the many student groups.
Other times, I'll get all dolled up for a night on the town or a themed party at a sorority or frat house. Greek houses and downtown Cortland are just a few blocks from campus. There are always lots of choices for fun, so introverts and extroverts can coexist happily.
Favorite Hangouts:
- I love hanging out in my dorm with my door open because I'm single and ready to mingle (with people in my hall). Or, if I'm lucky enough to have snagged a suite, I might host a little get-together at my place.
- Downtown. Meet me at Central City for some wings, Red Jug for some trivia, or Dark Horse for some dancing.
Quirks:
- I've mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning again: All students, including freshmen, can have cars on campus. Sure, freshmen have to park the farthest away, but there's a bus that will take you there. It's also a totally walkable distance if you're up for it.
- One of the coolest clubs I offer is Gospel Choir. There are no auditions, and it's open to community members, as well. We perform all over the state and have even traveled abroad to places like England. Can I get an "amen"?
- Speaking of travel, I'd say I'm a pretty well-traveled guy in general. I offer lots of study abroad programs, which can range from a week or two to a whole semester or even a year. I also have the advantage of being part of the SUNY system, which means that you can also choose to travel abroad via a different SUNY school's program. Trust me, this will all sound so much more wonderful when it's March and the snowflakes are still falling. You'll be sprinting to sign up for a little getaway—er, academic program—somewhere a little closer to the sun.
Famous Alumni:
- Kevin James, the King of Queens himself, went here for a while. He was a member of a fraternity, but he didn't graduate.
- Mick Foley, the wrestler
- Ann E. Dunwoody, the first female four-star general in the history of the U.S. Armed Services
- George Breen, Olympic swimmer and medalist from before the Phelps era
- Ted Demme, director and Emmy Award-winning producer