Issues raised by the death of Dan Boyer '94 last term prompted a group of senior class leaders to plan a series of events for the Class of 1994 to discuss common post-graduation worries.
The group, called Palaeopitus, will hold a night of activities in February to help seniors deal with the stresses caused by corporate recruiting interviews, medical and law school applications and other after-Dartmouth issues.
Palaeopitus, whose members include delegates from a variety of student organizations, serves in an advisory capacity to Dean of the College Lee Pelton and College President James Freedman.
"The freshmen have an introductory program with their orientation and freshmen trips. We're calling this our exit program," said Kenric Tsethlikai '94, a vice-chair of Palaeopitus. Tsethlikai is in charge of organizing the first evening.
Still in the planning stages, the first event is scheduled for the third week in February. Members of the senior class will receive invitations to attend an evening of speeches, comedy and informal discussion, centered around stress about graduation and beyond.
If the program is a success, additional events will be planned for Spring term, Tsethlikai said.
"This is the biggest project we've undertaken for the benefit of our peers," Tsethlikai said.
Shortly after Boyer took his own life in November, Palaeopitus met with Freedman for lunch and the discussion focused on common pressures felt by graduating seniors. The group's idea for the program stemmed from this discussion.
"A lot of it also came from our surprise that people were under the same stresses," Tsethlikai said. "Everyone is going through the same type of process, whether they're applying to medical school, graduate school or going through corporate recruiting."
The first event will probably begin with a professor or administrator speaking about their own experience graduating from an undergraduate institution, Tsethlikai said.
Palaeopitus members hope to schedule a comedian to address seniors' concerns in a more lighthearted matter. A counselor will also speak before the floor is opened for informal discussion.
"We'd like to get a counselor to reassure everyone that the stresses we're feeling are normal," Tsethlikai said.
The program is the first of its kind and will provide the entire senior class with a means of interaction outside of social functions.
