Connor Wood welcomed to campus with pomp, circumstance and college advice

Connor Wood always dreamt of finishing his tour at the Schine Student Center. At least, that’s what he told nearly 700 fans last night. Wood, a stand-up comedian and podcaster, was joined by Syracuse alum and comedian Mary Shalaby and his tour opener, Maggie Winters. With fans lining up for the 8 p.m. show as early as 5:15, the excitement in Schine was evident, and further proven by the nearly sold-out auditorium. Custom shirts and a sea of University Union hats filled Goldstein Auditorium, welcoming a regalia-laden Shalaby to the stage.

University Union, colloquially known as UU, put on the show, and the co-directors of the club’s public relations team, Lachlan Sartison and Charlotte Wall, shared with the crowd that they were excited to see the show come together. UU works to put on these shows for students and is completely student-run, from vetting the stars who come to campus, to day-of execution.

Shalaby opened the show with pomp and circumstance, giving the commencement speech she never had the chance to give, thanks to the College of Arts and Sciences choosing someone with academic awards and honors. As all great commencement speakers do, Shalaby thanked those who helped her along the way, including Shalaby’s sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta and Chancellor Kent Syverud. Shalaby concluded her commencement address by stating that she “finna be memorable,” and hopes that her memory of asking Syverud if he’s ticklish lives on.

Winters, who has accompanied Wood on his tour over the past two years, followed Shalaby and recounted her college years over in Illinois. Winters’ time at college was similar to her experience working at an on-campus Subway: both memorable and made better (or worse) by randoms who asked for olives hidden in their sandwiches. Winters’ set also begged an important question: is it breaking the fourth wall if you talk to the ASL interpreter?

After Winters closed out her set, Wood took the stage and was met with applause comparable to when the Beatles first landed in the United States. Wood, who was soft-launching his forehead and new life in New York City, complimented the “step-mom” energy from the crowd. The comic was surprised to discover the wonders of Syracuse, from his Uber driver flexing a serial number-less handgun in the glove box, to the fact that, for some reason, you can’t go 80 miles per hour on icy bridges. Lots of things about the city surprised Wood, like the majority (or at least a loud minority) of the crowd being communications majors, and his grandmother being somehow just as nervous for Wood to visit Syracuse as she was for him to visit Salt Lake City, Utah. Though Wood is a few years out of school, he shared his love of still going home for Christmas break, where Wood has the opportunity to eat his mom’s cookies and see his sister microwave a metal fork.

A group of fans, who had been in line since 6 p.m. and scored second row seats, shared that they had been fans of Wood for years, and devotedly listened to his podcast with fellow comedian Brooke Averick, aptly named “Brooke and Connor Make A Podcast.” If given the chance to ask Wood anything (other than if he and Brooke were destined for each other), they were curious if he’d be joining them for $2 Tuesday at Orange Crate.

Wood ended the show with a dance performance, demonstrating how he once found love under the strobe lights of a middle school Valentine’s Day-Neon-Bollywood themed dance. As “No Hands” played throughout the auditorium, Wood relived his best date ever, the evening spent with a girl with illuminated white teeth.