By Heather Monahan
Features Editor
Senior year is usually a time that brings up a mix of emotions. There’s obviously some fear and anxiousness as to what life after Bona’s holds, but excitement and anticipation usually do a good job of masking any negative feelings.
In general, the year is a time to celebrate accomplishments and reminisce with peers. The weekly senior social, a Bonaventure tradition, is a good place to do both of these things while mingling with faculty, staff and fellow seniors.
“The senior social has been going on for as long as I can remember,” said Abby Cohen, associate director of club sports, intramurals and student engagement. “I even asked Rob (DeFazio) if he knew exactly when it started and he said as long as he can remember, so it’s been going on for a long time.”
Cohen said that while the tradition is an old one, the meaning behind it hasn’t changed a bit.
“The main purpose was originally to get the faculty, staff and seniors together on Fridays to obviously wind down, but also to engage in good conversation, get to know students outside the classroom and have it be more of a community atmosphere,” she said.
The idea of togetherness is clearly one that Bonaventure upholds and celebrates regularly.
“Something we pride ourselves on is our sense of community,” Cohen said. “And it’s great to have the opportunity to get everyone together outside the classroom, whether it be talking about graduate school, life after college or other things you don’t have time to talk to your professors about in the middle of class.”
Senior psychology major Taylor Phillips said the socials are a great way for seniors to connect with others in the community before graduation.
“I think one of the best things about Bona’s are the bonds you form during your four years,” Phillips said. “There’s no place like Bonaventure, and we’re all going to share this place in our hearts for a long time. But for now, we’re able to share our mutual love in the same place.”
After spending more than three years learning, living and growing together, the senior social provides students with a time to reflect on their experiences.
“Most of us have been together since freshman year, and this gives us all a place to go socialize and bond as a class along with faculty members as well,” said senior journalism and mass communication major Rebecca Gunning.
While some schools offer events for senior students, it’s rare to see students and faculty come together on a weekly basis.
“Having an opportunity to be at a social event with professors is a unique opportunity,” Phillips said. “As a small university, students really know professors and form lasting relationships that help shape us to become the seniors we are now. Being able to interact with professors outside the classroom in a nice social setting is similar to what we will encounter in the future.”
While seniors this year have voiced their positive feelings towards the events, Cohen said the past few years have seen a decline in attendance at the socials.
“From what I’ve seen the past two years, the seniors get to Senior Week and they’re having events in the Rathskeller, they’re like ‘Why didn’t I come here more?’” Cohen said. “What I’m hoping to do is let students know this is a great place to go throughout the entire year. There doesn’t have to be an event. It doesn’t have to be 50, 100 or 200 days to get the class down there.”
According to Cohen, the Skeller would be open to providing more events for seniors if they wanted to.
“If the senior class wants other events it’s up to them, but I think the senior social is a great place to start,” she said.
This year’s class may provide the turnaround Cohen hopes for.
“I plan on going to senior socials whenever I can,” Gunning said. “I think it’s a good way to get the seniors together outside of the big parties that count down the days to graduation.”
With free food provided by ARAMARK amongst other specials, Gunning, Phillips and other seniors agree that senior social is an event they should take advantage of while they can.
