Class Boards meet to plan semester's events

The Class Boards hope when students think of "class spirit," they will think of them. The four Boards -- Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior -- met together this weekend for the first time in recent history to discuss plans for the upcoming semester and ways to increase spirit on campus. "The Senior Class Boards has changed a bit this year," Class Boards Chairperson Jason Diaz said. "We will be working together with the other boards to increase impact." An example of working together will be the boards' cooperation with the Social Planning and Events Committee to plan this year's Octoberfest Homecoming Festival next month. "It would be great to work with SPEC -- they have the experience and we have lots of new energy," said Diaz, a College senior. Junior Class Boards President and College junior Lenny Chang said the meeting was "a complete success." "It was a great opportunity for all board members from each of the classes to meet each other, which will make planning a lot more easier," Chang said. "Plus, we got some great new ideas that we want to implement." According to Chang, the juniors can look forward to a ski trip this year -- an event which was "very successful" last year. There will also be class competitions during Octoberfest, in which the winning class will take home a trophy. Both new and old ideas were discussed at this past weekend's meeting. Besides Octoberfest, other activities that came out of the brainstorming session are class barbecues, class hats and shirts, class buses to away games and a Class Boards hotline. The hotline will be installed by next week and will be a key source of information for students who want to find out about the upcoming activities being planned by the Boards. According to Diaz, the 898-9999 number -- which will be accessible thru a password -- will connect students to a voice-mail message announcing new events. Students with any questions will also be able to leave a message for the Class Boards. Sophomore Class Boards President Neil Sheth said his class has planned a barbeque in Superblock after the Oct. 8 football game. "There will be bands playing and Penn singing groups performing [during the event]," Sheth said. "The performances will be open to everyone, but the food is for sophomores only." The Class Boards' overall attitude towards this semester's planned events is a positive one. "There are a lot of exciting things that are about to happen," Chang said.