As seniors wrap up their undergraduate careers, the 2012 Class Council planned a variety of activities including RiverFest, GraduRAVEtion and tails events to maximize the last week together before Commencement.
Senior Week is coordinated by the 2012 Class Council executives president John Rutan '12, vice president Briana Perry '12, treasurer Nazar Alexander '12 and secretary Mary Dang '12.
"Dartmouth is a place that really builds off of tradition, and I think a lot of our senior week resembles years past with a few additions or tweaks based on what our class would be excited about," she said.
Perry said expected the most popular event to be RiverFest on Wednesday at the Chieftain Motor Inn, which featured bands, boat rides up the river, kayaks and drinks.
She said another highlight of the week was "Across the State Tails" on Monday night. Venues in downtown Hanover were assigned different geographical regions to allow seniors to meet other '12s and alumni who will be working in the same areas.
The council also worked with Ledyard Canoe Club to organize Pancake Paddle, an event on Wednesday where seniors canoed and ate pancakes.
Other events planned by the Class Council included an outdoor movie screening, bus rides to the Fort in Lebanon after final fraternity and sorority meetings on Wednesday, a candlelight procession to the Bema, breakfast for a buck, senior class formal, a reception with College President Jim Yong Kim, a discount day at the Dartmouth Co-Op and the GraduRAVEtion party at Panarchy undergraduate society.
"[Senior week] is a great way for seniors to come together and really enjoy each other's company one last time before graduation," Perry said. "[We'll be] celebrating the completion of something that we've all worked so hard at for four years. Being able to celebrate it together and sharing that moment with family and friends will be so important."
Dartmouth Outing Club president Gerben Scherpbier '14 said that the DOC led several hikes and trips during Senior Week.
Former Delta Delta Delta sorority president Janie Abernethy '12 said the most meaningful part of the week for her was the Tri-Delt senior banquet, where sorority members' families are invited to enjoy a live band and a photo slideshow of the seniors' Tri-Delt experiences.
"My family hasn't really gotten to meet everyone in my [Tri-Delt] class, so it'll be nice to share some of Tri-Delt with them," she said.
The Dodecaphonics, of which Abernethy is a member, spent a night in a cabin, where the seniors handed down mementos to younger members, she said. On Friday, the group performed in a two-hour show with alumni on the Collis Center porch.
Abernethy's plans for the week also include going to a drive-in movie theater with friends, swimming at the Ledges and attending department dinners.
"I think event-wise the department dinners will be really meaningful because it symbolizes a close to my more intellectual efforts here," she said.
Will Mueller '12 said that the week is essential for seniors to look back on their experiences at Dartmouth, and that he particularly wanted to reflect on his experience as a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, of which he was president, and his time with the rugby team.
Mueller said that Theta Delt social chairs planned parties for seniors during the week, including the annual senior pig roast.
He said he expected the final rugby dinner to be the most important part of the week for him.
"Spending time with the people we care about here is going to be really hard to match," he said.
Abernethy agreed with Mueller's sentiment and said she is looking forward to spending time with friends and family with "no responsibilities and no homework."
"This is the last time we'll all be in the same place, and I don't want to take that for granted," she said. "We're definitely going to spend some time thinking about how hard it is to leave, but we'll mostly just enjoy being together."
