About 30 seniors gathered at the Top of the Hop last night to burn rejection letters and talk about the stress of graduation in an event sponsored by Palaeopitus.
Palaeopitus, a group composed of seniors from various student organizations, advises College President James Freedman and Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
Senior Class Dean Teoby Gomez gave an informal talk and comedian Mike Bents performed at the event.
Although this is the first year for the gathering, members of Palaeopitus said they hope it will become a tradition.
"We hope to make it an annual event," said Kenric Tsethlikai '94, vice chair of Palaeopitus. "It's a chance for seniors to come together and talk."
Palaeopitus Chair Randall Dottin '94 said he was glad the event helped seniors who attended to allay some of their stress.
"I hope it was an opportunity to let seniors know that there are a lot of us that are worried about our futures," Dottin said.
Gomez told the seniors last night about their classmates who come to his office to talk to him about their post-graduation plans.
"Twenty-five percent of the seniors I meet with have it together. Their academics are good and they are very focused," Gomez said. "Fifty percent that come to see me look like they know what they are doing but really don't. The other 25 percent don't have it together and admit it."
Gomez also spoke about his own college experience at the University of Illinois. He said he initially wanted to be a veterinarian, then a school teacher and eventually decided to go to graduate school.
"Most people take six to eight months to find a job," he said. "Only 7 percent of the people who find jobs find them through corporate recruiting."
Bents took the stage following Gomez, armed with a host of props that ranged from a plastic infant to a red pen light, which he carefully placed in his nose for his impersonation of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. A gag that involved a fictional cashier who graduated from Dartmouth magna cum laude received the loudest response.
The event ended with students marching up to the fireplace and throwing in their letters of rejection. Cheered on by her classmates, one senior dumped an entire box of letters in the fire.
"They weren't all rejection letters but they were all bad," Susie Lee '94 said.
Melissa Kopff '94 said she was glad to see her letters go up in flames. "I'm really happy to get rid of them. I have so many of them, they were depressing me," she said.
Both Lee and Kopff said they have plans after graduation but nothing final yet.
