Honored guests, dedication mark Newhouse School’s 60th anniversary
Newhouse School celebrates 60th anniversary
SU’s public communications school was named for the media company’s founder in 1964.
The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications celebrated its 60th anniversary Wednesday afternoon with a ceremony and reception that featured speeches from the school’s namesakes and the dedication of the Newhouse Family Plaza.
Newhouse students, faculty and alumni gathered on the steps leading up to the newly named patio — known previously as the “Newhouse Plaza”— to hear remarks delivered by Donald Newhouse, son of Samuel Irving “S.I.” Newhouse, for whom the school was named in 1964 when the Newhouse 1 building first opened.
In his speech, Donald Newhouse recalled a meeting in the late 1950s between his father and former Syracuse University Chancellor William Tolley during which S.I. Newhouse agreed to donate $15 million to fund a communications school at SU. The school was then formally dedicated on Aug. 5, 1964, in a ceremony in which President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered what came to be known as the Gulf of Tonkin Speech regarding the Vietnam War.
Donald Newhouse shared a quote from his father’s 1964 dedication speech about how he hoped the Newhouse School would become a place for “the brightest possible young men and women” in the media industry.
“In the 60 years since the dedication, through unprecedented upheaval in the media field, the Newhouse School has carried out that vision and mission that he [S.I. Newhouse] and the chancellor agreed to,” Donald Newhouse said.
Starting in 1922, the Newhouse family has built its media empire through Advance, which owns newspapers, magazines and media outlets including The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and Condé Nast titles such as GQ, Vanity Fair and Wired.
Wednesday’s ceremony also included a speech from television, radio and film senior Jada Knight about the opportunities the Newhouse School has helped her find, including interning at the Cannes Film Festival and filming a documentary in Paris alongside the World War II Foundation.
“As a Black woman navigating the halls of Newhouse and Syracuse University, I know all too well how easily imposter syndrome can sit in,” Knight said. “But thanks to the countless opportunities Newhouse has afforded me, I’ve learned to take pride in my abilities and my work.”
Reflecting on the 60 years of innovation at the Newhouse School, Knight said she hopes the school will become more inclusive in its recruitment for programs and opportunities. Still, she wishes to create a legacy that empowers other women of color in Newhouse to actively chase the experiences and opportunities available to them.
“Many times, we don’t go for opportunities because we don’t feel qualified enough,” she said.
“But realizing that you’ve earned your spot just like every Newhouse student is important to remember.”
Also during the program, Dean Mark Lodato spoke about the Newhouse School’s legacy and future, pledging to preserve S.I. Newhouse’s commitment to the advancement of journalism education. Some of the school’s new initiatives include an esports communications and management program and a focus on artificial intelligence research.
“The Newhouse family would certainly want us to ensure that we’re cutting edge when it comes to communication, so that means our job is to always keep pressing forward,” Lodato said.
The celebration also included remarks by Donald Newhouse’s son, Steven, and SU Chancellor Kent Syverud, a performance by the SU a cappella group Otto Tunes and a reception including food and drinks for all attendees who joined in the day’s festivities.
