The Class of 2020 has been struggling to raise money for their senior week. Although they have been actively fundraising over the past three years, as of this spring, they are still falling short.
According to Associate Director of Student Activities and Leadership Laura Lavoie, classes can raise funds for senior week through different ways: class dues, the sale of wristbands for senior week events and activities for families. Thelmo also offers a contingency to each class.
Lavoie encourages classes to start fundraising freshman year to avoid risks. “If a class comes in too short [with fundraising], there’s only so much money we can ask Thelmo for,” she said.
If money is low, classes may have to cut certain activities from the class’ senior week. Lavoie says the current juniors have a gap of $3000 to $5000 that needs to close to avoid having to do this.
Treasurer Will Mannory ’20 says that the class’ finances are improving. “We’ve made significant progress over the last two semesters,” he says. The council’s executive board hopes to have $130,000 to spend on senior week. The Class of 2018 spent $140,000.
The Class of 2020 Executive Board encourages classes to learn the numbers early. Mannory says he was not aware of the high cost of senior week until mid-semester junior year. “Senior week is so expensive,” Class President Alex Whalen ’20 says. “Fundraise all freshman, sophomore and junior years.”
The majority of costs for senior week go to food and alcohol for every event, Whalen says. Fireworks are also an expensive tradition. Students choosing their favorite meals in Dana all week also add up.
Mannory believes there is a lack of participation of juniors with class council and observes that the majority is not involved. “Over the past three years we had an average of seven people at meetings,” he said, “and meetings only last 20 minutes.”
Class Vice President Elizabeth Gregory ’20 says that a large council is important for planning senior week. “We need a more diverse membership in order to make everyone happy,” she said. Gregory feels that the executive board alone cannot provide what everyone wants without input from the rest of the class.
Whalen says there is little time to fundraise during senior year because the senior week planning process is so long. “It’s like planning a wedding,” she says. “But with even more to do.”
Class council is in charge of organizing all the events. “It’s not on student activities, it’s up to the class councils to decide what they want to do,” Whalen says.
Lavoie says being part of class council and planning senior week is a lot of fun. Students get to design decor for the events and choose the food. “It may not be quite as exciting until senior year, but ultimately you’re the one who gets to make a lot of the decisions,” she says.
The 2020 Class Council Executive Board encourages other classes to try to get as many students involved as possible. “Maintain a large following of non-board members at council meetings,” Mannory says. He also recommends that council members be aware of what they are fundraising for and how expensive it will be.
The Council will also need to work actively with administration. Last year, they accidentally ordered too many shirts without getting proper clearance from the university and were thus unable to cancel the extras.
“Be persistent,” Gregory said. “Make sure you are getting the word out about your fundraisers.” She says students need to be proactive about raising money. “Don’t wait until your junior year.”
Lavoie says the best ways to raise money are through selling apparel. “Think about things that you know are going to be good money makers,” she said. Lavoie also wants students to think strategically about how many items they plan to sell. “It’s better for the demand to be higher than supply,” she says.
Even though it is a lot of work to be part of a class council, members know its importance. “It’s our responsibility to fundraise,” Gregory says. Lavoie says she is happy to talk to students from all classes who want to get involved.
“By representing your class, you gain experience fundraising and event planning,” Whalen says. “Support for your class council goes a long way, and you get to reap all the benefits you sow.”
The Junior Class Council meets Thursdays weekly at 5 p.m. in room 336 of the Student Center.