How embracing memes helped Syracuse University address the mumps

When the mumps outbreak hit Syracuse University, the campus could’ve easily devolved into panic. Instead, initial shock turned into constructive action — and dozens of memes. And SU took that campus culture in stride as it addressed the concerns surrounding the outbreak.

When a campus-wide email confirmed a second mumps case at SU, questions started circulating. Is my classmate out with the mumps? Will classes and activities be canceled? Why weren’t students notified about the cases sooner?

Still, the mumps never outwardly seemed like a pressing concern for SU students, who made jokes about the outbreak on social media and hosted a mumps awareness event heavily influenced by pop culture and the hit sci-fi show “Stranger Things.”

The Daily Orange Editorial Board initially questioned the delay between the first diagnosis of mumps cases at SU and the campus-wide email. But because SU dealt with mumps cases last fall and in January of this year — Ben Domingo, director of Health Services, recently confirmed — and administrators didn’t want to exaggerate the first case, the university’s decision makes sense.

Once the university consulted the Onondaga County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administrators took further action. That calm outlook translated into the campus community, which didn’t exaggerate the severity of the outbreak either.

Although students were more likely to crack jokes about the mumps than spend time worrying about contracting them, SU initiatives encouraged them to take the outbreak seriously. Thousands of students received MMR vaccines at university-run clinics, and SU turned meme culture into awareness with the “Bump the Mumps” event.

It may be too early to measure how effective these efforts were in curbing the outbreak. But the university came together, stayed calm and connected with students along the way.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here.