by John Moore
Staff Writer
Before graduating from Bryan, seniors are given a chance at one last hoorah to commemorate their college experience: a senior trip. This year’s seniors are heading to Orlando in May for six days of celebration with classmates to enjoy and remember their days at Bryan College.
As seniors begin to gear up with anticipation for this year’s school-sponsored trip, it has been a point of interest for some to find that this year’s graduating class will not be setting sail aboard a cruise. Due to issues with students drinking alcohol on last year’s cruise, Student Life officials met with class officers to ensure the same issues from last year would not merely repeat themselves.
At an informational meeting Jan. 25, Senior Class President Trent Gay said that by the time resolution had been reached, it was too late to book an affordable cruise that lined up with the dates of graduation. Senior SGA officers were then pushed to consider creative options other than a weeklong cruise.
The cost of this year’s senior trip will be $150 per person and will cover lodging and, most likely, tickets to local events and a water park. Students will be responsible for providing their own transportation. Breakfast and a meal stipend will be provided by the Senior SGA fund. At the Jan. 25 meeting, Gay said Senior SGA was contemplating a formal dinner for students one of the nights with all expenses paid.
According to Dr. Bob Andrews, dean of adult students and Bryan alum, the whole idea of a senior trip was originally designed as a way to get seniors off campus when they had nothing better to do than cause mischief. While all other students are taking their final exams, seniors with their courses completed and grades turned in are simply waiting around to graduate.
Andrews recalls his senior trip in 1967; his class went to a lake in Kentucky where they swam, boated and played golf and tennis. He recalls it being a good time of simply spending the last week of college with classmates. As senior class president, Andrews planned his senior trip; he said some who did not want to go went to Florida.
While serving as dean of men, Andrews later developed what he calls “a philosophy of senior trips.”
He began encouraging students to spend their week going up to one another and saying, “remember when…” and recounting the good times of their college experiences.
He also instructed students to “say the most important things,” which are often held back until the moment of departure.
According to Andrews, senior trip is a time to say “Oh, by the way…” then finish with what you have been thinking but have never said to one another. It is intended to be a good wrap-up for one’s college experience.
Students are required to attend one of four informational meetings concerning the trip and Bryan’s contract for sponsoring students. The next three meetings will be held Feb. 3 at 10 p.m., Feb. 4 at 7 pm. and Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. The first deposit is due on Feb. 19.