Commencement may be the big day, but ever since the Class of 2003 revived Senior Week last year, the week leading up to it is becoming just as big of a deal. The Class of 2004 has built on the tradition and unveiled plans for Senior Week 2004 in an e-mail to seniors earlier this week.
After four years of hard work, Senior Week comes as "basically just a week when seniors can let loose and enjoy themselves," Class of 2004 President Simone Chen said.
Between beer and baseball, crab feasts and the senior formal in Ravens' Stadium, Senior Week 2004 will not only bring seniors together for the last time but be a high-flying "goodbye to Baltimore" event as well.
The week opens with a Dorm Night at four clubs at the PowerPlant Live! Thursday, May 13 and ends with an outdoor party on the Levering Terrace the night after graduation, Thursday, May 20.
Chen said that, for the moment, the class officers are simply working "to mass advertise right now to get the buzz going," and tickets will go on sale to seniors late next week. Senior Week announcements were mailed to parents already last week, so that parents could consider Senior Week ticket packages among the graduation gifts for their seniors.
The officers have already created a $100 package deal for six of the events, representing a $250 value. Events will also be priced individually, and tickets include all transportation and often meals and drink tickets as well.
Ticket sales will begin late next week, accompanying the posting of the full list of ticket prices on the Web site. The complete listing of events and preliminary pricings are already posted on the Class of 2004 Web site, http://www.jhu.edu/class2004. The entire week of activities, which is estimated at $70,000, represents an increase of about $15,000 from last year.
The class began fundraising this year with about $14,000, including support from Dean of Students Susan Boswell, a Class of 2002 gift fund and a Senior Week fund from the Class of 2003, which "wanted to give us a nest egg to work with for this year," Class of 2004 Vice-President Jackie Chan said.
Other sponsors include the Alumni Association, which will host the crab feast and President William Brody, who will host the Barbeque. The class now has $22,000 and is working on securing more corporate sponsorship.
Many seniors expressed excitement about the schedule of events, but said they were apprehensive about the cost and feel that some of the events seem overpriced.
"They're cool events, but this is our celebration time," said senior Kevin Philpy. "I figure that if the University really wants us to go out on a high note, that they can do us more of a favor and cut the cost a little more."
Officers began planning Senior Week events already last summer and had solidified plans by Intersession.
The final schedule compiles the most popular events from Senior Week 2003, like tours of Camden Yards and the beer brewery at Brewer's Art, and adds new events and upgraded venues. Events like whitewater rafting were eliminated to make room for a nighttime trip to Atlantic City and a full-service champagne brunch at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel.
The senior formal was moved from the Baltimore Museum of Art to the club level of Ravens' Stadium.
