For 103 years, rising seniors have taken part in Hey Day to commemorate their ascension to senior year. In recent years, the rising seniors have traditionally gathered at high rise field on 40th and Locust streets.
Although the field is now closed off for the construction of New College House West, Penn's record-breaking $163 million new dorm, Class Board leaders say it will not affect the long-standing tradition.
Hey Day is the Penn tradition that symbolizes the transition from junior to senior year. This year, all rising seniors will gather on the field located at 39th and Locust streets, near Rodin College House and the Hillel building, 2020 Class Board President and Wharton and Engineering junior Karim El Sewedy said.
El Sewedy added that all other logistics will remain the same. The event will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 2. The Class of 2020 will gather on the field at 39th and Locust streets, where food will be offered for the entire class. The Class Board will then lead the procession down Locust Walk to College Green, where Penn President Amy Gutmann will declare the Class of 2020 to be seniors.
Undergraduate Assembly President and College junior Natasha Menon said the uncertainty surrounding Hey Day’s starting location was a point of confusion when she was allocating money to the Class Boards earlier this year as UA Treasurer.
“I didn’t know if I needed to increase the budget for Hey Day, because I didn’t know if the construction would affect anything,” Menon said.
The UA president said she spoke with the Office of Student Affairs, who said New College House West construction would not impact the amount of funds required for the event.
The announcement of NCHW's construction was met with skepticism from students who said it would mean the disappearance of another green space on Penn's campus. The dorm is scheduled to open in fall 2021.
El Sewedy said Class Board 2020 was focused on maintaining the tradition of Hey Day despite the construction.
“We wanted to make sure the tradition was the same that it’s been since 1916,” El Sewedy said.
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