Syracuse’s Goon Squad

Photos Capture Decades of Move-in Day Help

Explore the beloved University tradition that sees student volunteers hauling boxes, welcoming nervous first years and hyping up families on campus across generations.

Students help others move into dorms in 1974

The Goon Squad has assisted first-year students adjusting to college life on campus during Welcome Week and spreading school spirit since the 1940s. One of several beloved campus traditions, the student volunteers helping out on move-in day has become a signature part of the Orange experience. 

Find pictures of the Goon Squad and its memorabilia through the years, all from the Syracuse University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries.