The Last Week
I know the majority of people who read this LJ go to Cornell, and therefore know all about Senior Week, but after talking with some of my housemates (graduate students who did their undergraduate studies elsewhere), I realized that a lot of schools don't have this, so I figured it would be appropriate to begin an entry about Senior Week with an explanation of what it is.
Finals ended this past Friday, and dorms closed for the year on Saturday, so most of the underclassmen are gone for the summer already (hence why I said goodbye to a lot of them last week). But Commencement isn't until this coming Sunday, May 28. The days between the end of finals and the Commencement ceremonies make up Senior Week, one last chance for the graduating seniors to enjoy what Ithaca has to offer and have fun with their Cornell friends.
Some people might wonder why Cornell would condone a period of time that inevitably leads to a number of people getting drunk every day of the week. But there are some practical reasons for the University to delay graduation in the spring (the winter graduation ceremony does take place right after finals, as far fewer people attend and most people aren't permanently moving out).
Personally, I have had a great time so far, and I haven't even gotten to the getting drunk part yet! Our Class Council has planned a number of fun activities throughout the week, including the Senior Week Carnival and Casino Night. I also took a trip to Turning Stone Casino, which was fun (far inferior to the Las Vegas casinos, of course, but so many things are). And above all, it's nice to take the time to appreciate what Cornell has to offer (both in terms of the people there and the things to do) without having to worry about prelims or papers or any of that stuff.
Although now I'm not really sure what the point of this entry was. Um . . . what else do you guys have planned for the rest of Senior Week? I didn't sign up for any other trips, so I really don't have a whole lot of specific things planned.
Finals ended this past Friday, and dorms closed for the year on Saturday, so most of the underclassmen are gone for the summer already (hence why I said goodbye to a lot of them last week). But Commencement isn't until this coming Sunday, May 28. The days between the end of finals and the Commencement ceremonies make up Senior Week, one last chance for the graduating seniors to enjoy what Ithaca has to offer and have fun with their Cornell friends.
Some people might wonder why Cornell would condone a period of time that inevitably leads to a number of people getting drunk every day of the week. But there are some practical reasons for the University to delay graduation in the spring (the winter graduation ceremony does take place right after finals, as far fewer people attend and most people aren't permanently moving out).
- The University will have enough time to figure out if there's any reason a degree should not be conferred, such as failing a class, not paying a bursar bill, keeping overdue library books, etc. In most cases this isn't such a big deal, but for a select few it may spare some embarrassment to get these situations corrected.
- Faculty need a break, too!
- Graduation is, um, kind of a big deal. Hotels and restaurants in the area have all been booked months ago, and traffic during graduation is typically crazy. And this is without underclassmen moving out of their dorms! There needs to be both the time and the room to get everything ready for graduation.
Personally, I have had a great time so far, and I haven't even gotten to the getting drunk part yet! Our Class Council has planned a number of fun activities throughout the week, including the Senior Week Carnival and Casino Night. I also took a trip to Turning Stone Casino, which was fun (far inferior to the Las Vegas casinos, of course, but so many things are). And above all, it's nice to take the time to appreciate what Cornell has to offer (both in terms of the people there and the things to do) without having to worry about prelims or papers or any of that stuff.
Although now I'm not really sure what the point of this entry was. Um . . . what else do you guys have planned for the rest of Senior Week? I didn't sign up for any other trips, so I really don't have a whole lot of specific things planned.