The Senior Class Gift Committee brought in 60 donations at the 100 Days 'til Graduation Party held last Saturday night, which is about three times as many gifts as the Committee received at last year's dance party, explained committee co-chair Aaron Louison '11 in an interview with the Justice.The Senior Class Gift Committee is raising money this year to be used for University scholarships or for University operations rather than for a tangible object to be placed on campus, said committee co-chair Louison.

The 100 Days 'til Graduation Party was a dance party held at the Stein and organized by the Senior Class Gift Committee to celebrate the fact that graduation would occur in 100 days. According to the Facebook page for the event, DJ Vicious (JV Souffrant '13) provided the entertainment and there was free food.

"We doubled the amount of gifts that we had brought in up to that point in the semester just in that one night [of the dance party]," said Louison.

The Senior Class Gift Committee's goal is to get 75 percent of the senior class to contribute to the Annual Fund, a fund that helps pay for the University's institutional needs as well as student costs.

"We're on a rate this year to hit that goal," said Louison.

Louison explained that so far this year about 15 percent of the senior class has donated, while at this time last year only 11 percent of the senior class had donated.

"We're asking for $20.11 to be the mean gift that we're getting from students and the average right now is a little higher than that; it's probably $25 to $30 dollars per gift," said Louison.

With a donation of about $20, students would be able to attend a cocktail reception with President Frederick Lawrence and various faculty members at the Faculty Club in April, explained Louison.

Louison stated that it is very important for students to participate and make a donation to the Senior Gift Committee.

"Now that we're making that transition toward being alumni we're trying to get out how important it is to give back to the University. ... It's just a spirit of support," he said.


-Andrew Wingens