Seniors only events planned to replace senior week

By Katie Williams
Collegian Editor
March 19, 2008

With the cancellation of senior week, an annual week during which seniors would live together in one dormitory and attend off-and on-campus events together, many students lamented that there would be no opportunity for seniors to get together one last time.

The Student Programming Center, however, heard the seniors’ cries, and picked the most popular senior week events and created a few new ones, to run from now until the end of the school year. These events are all seniors-only, and vary from being free to cheap.

“The Commencement Year Team mostly chose events that were typically well-attended by seniors. These are events that help bring seniors together during their final days at La Salle. There is very little cost to participate, because we recognize the financial position that stereotypically defines a college student,” said Programming Associate Julie Pompizzi, who has helped plan the senior events.

The first of these events will be a free Dave and Buster’s bus trip, which will take place March 27. Students are required to bring an ID to this event, as Dave and Buster’s cards at the door and will not let in under 21-year-olds.

“We wanted to give the seniors a way to get to and from the restaurant without having to worry about finding a driver or parking,” said Pompizzi.

On Saturday, April 5, there will be another bus trip, this time going to Atlantic City for the day. This trip costs seniors $10 to sign up, but all participants will be given $20 back to spend at either the casinos or boardwalk.

“Seniors usually enjoy this trip because, not only are they given 10 bucks, but Atlantic City offers a large variety of options for entertainment — perusing the floors of the casinos, shopping the outlets on the strip, eating lots of sugary goodness on the boardwalk, walking the beach, seeing a show or enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet,” Pompizzi said.

On Friday, May 4, the Sunday after finals week, seniors have the option of attending a Philadelphia Phillies vs. the San Francisco Giants game. This event costs $5.

“Because it is scheduled for the Sunday after everyone has moved out, it will be a great place for seniors to meet up with other members of their class,” said Pompizzi.

For those seniors who feel that $5 is too expensive, Friday, April 18 there is a free Dinner with the Deans. This dinner will feature a choice of Cornish ham or snapper, a wine tasting and Quizzo.

“There will be lots of other prizes,” Pompizzi said.

Dinner with the Deans will replace the 100 Days to Go Dinner, the annual dinner that celebrated the last 100 days that the seniors would be La Salle students. This meal will feature a showing of the Day One video that the class made when they were freshmen. The only main change between Dinner with the Deans and the 100 Days to Go Dinner is that before, all students were invited, this year it is a seniors-only event.

The annual senior retreat, sponsored by the University Ministry and Service, will also run this year. It will be Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7.

Immediately after Baccalaureate, Saturday, May 10, will be a Graduation Gala for seniors, their families, faculty and staff. The event will cost $25 per person, and is billed as a night of “food, music and celebration.”

Information about these events, and all other graduation details, can be found at www.lasalle.edu/commence/, or at the Programming Center, which is in Union 307.

williamsk1@lasalle.edu