Through an increased organizational effort from the 2001 Class Council, graduates were treated to a variety of events over the past week and participated in some traditional activities that date back almost to the College's founding.
Senior Week Committee co-Chairs Gabriela Garcia '01 and Jamison Sadlon '01 began organizing a number of the Senior Week activities during Winter term. "We tried to go into the [planning of Senior Week] with a fresh attitude," said Sadlon, who added that the 2001 Class Council wanted the festivities to be "bigger and better than past Senior Weeks."
The festivities began Tuesday, when seniors had the opportunity to attend a free showing of "Dude, Where's My Car?" at the Nugget. Throughout the week, the '01s took part in such events as Wednesday's Hip Hop Party at Cutter/Shabazz and the popular Champagne Tails, held Thursday at the Top of the Hop.
Also on Thursday, seniors were given the opportunity to spend the afternoon at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. Rodriguez noted that the outing was particularly special, because so many students begin their Dartmouth experience at the Lodge during freshman orientation.
"[Senior Week] is about bringing in all of the experiences we had at Dartmouth," Sadlon said.
Aside from the efforts of the 2001 Class Council, several other organizations including the Programming Board, Alumni Relations and the Office of the President contributed to the week's festivities.
On Friday evening, College President James Wright hosted a reception at his house, while earlier in the day seniors were treated to continental breakfast at the Hood Museum.
Senior week came to an exciting conclusion yesterday, as the entire senior class gathered for the 146th Class Day exercises. Senior class historians Andrew Hoey, Caroline Kovas, James McNicholas and Christopher Pandolfi presented an overview of the past four years of the Class of 2001.
Classics Professor Paul Christesen '88 also addressed those in attendance. According to Class of 2001 Executive Committee President Becky Lee, who was one of several speakers on Class Day, Christesen was selected as the Class Day faculty speaker after the SEC reviewed nominations from the senior class. The same process was used to select yesterday's class orator Anthony R. Luckett '01.
Additionally, selected students and faculty were presented awards.
In keeping with tradition from the first Class Day exercises, seniors sat within a cedar garland at the Bema and were asked to break off a piece and place it on the Lone Pine Stump at the conclusion of the event.
Prior to 1993, graduating seniors smashed clay pipes against the Lone Pine Stump in order to signify the breaking of ties with the College.
Opposition to this tradition from Native Americans students encouraged the switch from the pipes to clay cups in 1993. However, this practice lasted only one year, as shards from the broken cups injured a number of seniors.
Seniors concluded the week with the Graduation Gala at Collis on yesterday evening, which was followed by a candlelight ceremony at the Bema.