I am somewhat of a Moravian cheerleader, I know I am the editor-in-chief of a newspaper that can be a bit critical of the University, but honest to God, I love this campus and this school. That said, however, love is challenging, and it’s something that is fought for, not given to you.

As I ready my creaking, arthritis-ridden bones to walk across a stage and head on to the next stage of my life, I find myself really having to fight for some of that love. 

This is because I feel like we seniors, don’t get the time we deserve to celebrate that we are graduating.. We technically have a senior week, but can we really even call it that when we are still in the midst of crunching for finals? 

Before COVID-19, seniors had a week following finals to hang out and celebrate with their friends before graduation. Now, we graduate literally two days after we finish finals and are shipped back to our families. 

Senior Week is common across many colleges and universities, allowing students to celebrate all their accomplishments without the high-pressure classes, finals, and extracurriculars. 

Senior Weeks are implemented in a variety of ways depending on the institution. For example, Trinity College has a senior week that occurs between finals week and commencement. Students pay a flat fee of $175 for all of the senior week events, and they get the full week to socialize, recharge, and celebrate their achievements over their four years in undergrad.

Additionally, Penn State has a full week of activities for seniors to participate in on their finals week from April 28 through May 2, where they have a variety of events and activities for seniors throughout the entire week. 

Comparatively, Moravian is lacking.

We have wine and cheese, senior gala, and champagne sendoff for our senior events, and that just feels so lacking compared to what other schools do, as well as what Moravian used to do.

Moravian used to have a dedicated week after finals for seniors to celebrate with significantly more programming and activities. Students were expected to be home on Monday and Tuesday after finals, but the three days before graduation had significantly more events and activities for students to partake in. 

In addition to what we have now, there was a carnival similar to MAC’s Fall and Springfest, a photo brunch, and a backward mile walk with a BBQ after. I’m not saying we need to bring ALL of this back, but I think we, as soon-to-be graduates, deserve more of a space to celebrate with our classmates.

For most students, graduating will be the most significant step they have taken in their lives, and I wish we were given one last opportunity to show our school spirit and bond with our classmates before we surrender ourselves to the ever-cruel world of adulthood.

I get that the May term starts the Monday after finals, but I can’t help but feel bitter that I won’t get the time to stop and smell the roses and appreciate my time at Moravian. We are all stressed and panicking during finals week, so I wish we had that extra week so that we no longer have to worry about final projects and grades. 

Additionally, it would give professors much-needed time and space to grade assignments instead of having to crunch less than 48 hours before graduation.

This frustration is born out of a love for this school, and I, as well as many other students, would like the time to slow down and celebrate our time at Moravian before stepping into the real world. This is the last time many of us see each other, and it’s a shame we don’t get the space to properly appreciate each other and this school. 

This school emphasizes the importance of community, so give us the opportunity to appreciate that same community we have come to know and love for the last four years! The week before commencement has senior events, but we are also busy with final exams, papers, and the stress of grades and leaving college. That is a LOT to pack and emotionally unwrap in one week.

Also, while we are at it, bring back holiday storytime with President Grigsby.