Seniors are getting ready to have an O.R.G.Y., that is 'Opening to a Really Great Year,' with Senior O.R.G.Y. week taking place this week and including activities and events planned by the senior class.
"The goal of O.R.G.Y. week is to kick off the senior year with a bang and get as many seniors as possible involved and bring back school spirit full blast," Senior Class President E.J. Stern said.
There are loads of activities planned for the week as well as fundraisers, date auctions, professor auctions and other various student involvement activities with a goal of $50,000, according to Stern.
The kickoff to O.R.G.Y. starts with a showing of "The Matrix: Reloaded" open to everyone on the Quad at 11 p.m. tonight. Tuesday's events include Senior Night at the Four Provinces (4P's) in Cleveland Park where bar specials, free prizes, raffles and even a band will be part of the entertainment.
Wednesday will feature the senior gift kickoff at Chef Geoff's complete with a live D.J. and fresh appetizers where the senior class gift will also be announced. Among the gift options are a facelift of the Letts-Anderson Quad, an Information Technology Center in the Mary Graydon Center, a residence hall lounge renovation or a selection of artwork for the Katzen Art Center Gallery set to open next year.
A donation of $20.04 from each senior will contribute to the senior class gift. Thursday will be spent commemorating 9-11 with a memorial service at AU's Memorial Plaza at noon and a senior class service project to follow. To end out the week, AU seniors will take to M Street with a night in Georgetown.
Many events will be sponsored by organizations such as the Office of Campus Life, Residence Hall Association and Eagle Nights, as well as the classes of '04, '05 and '06, as "to foster a community event," Stern said.
Some seniors believe that O.R.G.Y. week will encourage class spirit.
"I think O.R.G.Y. week is going to be a great time for us to come together as a class," senior Becky Snavely said. "A lot of people went abroad junior year and a lot also live off campus. This is a great way to connect people again."
O.R.G.Y. week has typically been low-key in previous years with minimal student involvement while this year it is being brought back full swing. The Senior O.R.G.Y. week was originally started four years ago by the Class of 2001 to build up school and class spirit.
"We're taking it to the next level this year," Senior Class Vice President Eitan Naftali said. "We've done a whole lot to get everyone involved. We're trying to cover all aspects of people's interests on AU's campus."
This week begins the last year of a senior's time at AU, and may be the last time that many seniors will be together as a class before continuing their lives after college.
"This also brings closure to the last four years we've spent here," Stern said. "This is the last time together as a class, so we want to enjoy it together"
