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Senior Club Makes a Splash


The class of 2012 kicked off the new Senior Club in style Sept. 29 with an evening of lively conversation and music by an all-faculty band. Organized by students with support from the office of student development, the kickoff was the first in a yearlong series of gatherings that join sociable senior-year students with classmates and faculty members. “It was a great success,” said Marianh Aman '12, a club co-founder who estimates that the event's 350 attendees included roughly 57 percent of the class of 2012.

Jamming professors 

The highlight was a live performance of '70s and '80s pop hits by Cotten Seiler, associate professor of American studies (guitar and vocals); Ed Webb, assistant professor of political science (bass); and Shawn Bender, associate professor of East-Asian studies (drums). Erik Love, associate professor of sociology, also made an appearance as guest-vocalist. “It’s just fun for us to get together every so often and play,” said Webb of the yet-to-be-named band, which made its last public appearance at a Dickinson College Organic Farm party.  [Story continues below.] 


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  • Friends (from left:) Jossie Munoz '12, Lizet Vera '12 and Elizabeth Gamboa '12 catch up at the first Senior Club event.
    Lizet Vera '12
  • Seniors Andrew Guy, Matthew Guariglia and Pat Reiher pose for a group shot.
    Matt Guariglia '12
  • Erik Love, associate professor of sociology, may not look like he belongs in Flock of Segulls, but he sounds like it.
    Erik Love
  • Assistant Professor of Sociology Helene Lee (left), Assistant Professor of Mathematics Sarah Bryant (center) and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jennifer Schaefer chat during the event.
    Sarah Bryant
  • Anthropology major Hillary Molloy '12 (left) and Bradley Roller '12 (center) are engrossed in deep conversation with a classmate.
    Bradley Roller '12
  • President William G. Durden '71 (left) listens attentively.
    President Durden
  • (Onstage, from left:) Guitarist Cotten Seiler, associate professor of American studies; drummer Shawn Bender, assistant professor of East-Asian studies; vocalist Erik Love, assistant professor of sociology; and bassist Ed Webb, assistant professor of political science, perform in an all-faculty band.
    Faculty Band
  • Arielle Schneck '12 and Kim Starfield '12 enjoy the band.
    Arielle Schneck '12
Friends (from left:) Jossie Munoz '12, Lizet Vera '12 and Elizabeth Gamboa '12 catch up at the first Senior Club event.Prev ImageNext Image

When not onstage, Webb and his fellow rockers enjoyed the chance to get to know his students in an informal setting. “I think it's a great initiative from the senior class to get students and faculty socializing together regularly,” he said.

Paving the way 

Aman, one of 12 students who co-organized the event, said that gatherings such as this provide valuable opportunities for senior-year students—many of whom studied abroad last year—to connect, reconnect and relate what they’ve learned thus far.“By our fourth year, we all have experienced so many different opportunities, and it is a nice idea to have this shared experience during our last year,” she explained.

Regularly scheduled social events with classmates and faculty members also encourage busy seniors to take time to reflect on—and swap ideas about—future plans, paving the way for a smoother transition to their post-graduation lives. And while adding a new layer of meaning to the senior-year experience, the Senior Club gatherings also inject a healthy dash of fun to students’ and faculty members’ Thursday nights—especially when faculty members take the stage.

Perhaps most importantly, the events encourage a stronger sense of allegiance to both class and club. This is shown in the growing popularity of the prized Senior Club membership cards, which had been distributed to all senior-year students prior to the kickoff and grant admission to all of the club’s events. “Many seniors don’t leave home without them,” Aman said.

Senior Club events are open to all members of the class of 2012, faculty members and administrators. The club will meet bimonthly, from 7-9 p.m. Upcoming gatherings are slated for Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 3, Nov 17 and Dec. 1. 

By MaryAlice Bitts Jackson
Photos by Kate Farrar ’12