Things were different back in 2005, when many of this year's graduating seniors started at Syracuse University. George W. Bush's approval rating continued to sink, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, and moviegoers gushed over Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback Mountain." Now, four years later, President Barack Obama has just wrapped up his first 100 days in office, "Slumdog Millionaire" was the film of the year, and the economic recession is dominating headlines.
As members of the Class of 2009 head off to the "real world," The Daily Orange looks back at the top news and pop culture moments from their freshman and senior years.
2005 - 2006
TV
"Weeds" "The Colbert Report" "Everybody Hates Chris"
"Prison Break" "Bones" "How I Met Your Mother"
Movies
"Rent" "Brokeback Mountain" "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" "Munich"
Music
Kanye West, "Late Registration"
Rihanna, "Music of the Sun"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Plans"
The Fray, "How to Save a Life"
Panic at the Disco, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out"
Mary J. Blige, "The Breakthrough"
National/World News
John Roberts was confirmed as chief justice of the United States Bird flu outbreak caused fear worldwide YouTube was developed Sudoku took the world by storm Facebook began connecting friends across the globe "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" sold 9 million copies in 24 hours
SU News
Cantor shut down HillTV due to controversial television show "Over the Hill" Greg Robinson began his first year as SU football coach Gerry McNamara played his final game for the Orange Former SU student Brian Shaw convicted of murder Dashboard Confessional, Ozomatil and Robert Randolph played Juice Jam Jim Boheim made the Hall of Fame SU took in Tulane University transfers in the wake of Katrina Billy Joel performed at SU
2008 - 2009
TV
"The Tonight Show" and "The Late Night Show" both got new hosts "Fringe"
Tina Fey impersonates Sarah Palin
CNN's election-night hologram
Movies
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Watchmen"
"Milk"
"High School Music 3"
Music
U2, "No Line on the Horizon"
Asher Roth, "Asleep in the Bread Aisle"
Miley Cyrus, "Breakout"
Jonas Brothers, "A Little Bit Longer"
Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion"
National/World News Barack Obama, first black president, inaugurated Economic recession deepened Several daily newspapers ceased publication
Lives are tracked on Twitter Swine flu spread fear
SU News
Chancellor Cantor's contract renewed until 2014
Greg Robinson fired
The Orange became "Marathon Men" in a six-overtime Big East thriller
Life Sciences Complex opened SU remembered 20th anniversary of PanAm flight 103
Bird Library began its 24-hours-a-day schedule
Cantor joined Amethyst Initiative to lower the drinking age
Ra Ra Riot, Talib Kweli and Bloc Party played Juice Jam
Ben Folds and Guster performed at Block Party
--complied by head copy editor Brittney Davies
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