As College Dean Edward Ayers said in a speech at the first dinner of the new Second Year Dinner Series, second-year students are just sort of stuck in the middle. They aren't sure what they're going to do with their life, and they are just starting to feel the pressure to figure it all out. They're still taking required courses, but they're also trying to figure out a major. They don't really need to find an internship this summer, but they feel like they need to stop fooling around during those long, sunny days of bliss. It's a difficult time in their college career.
The Class of 2007 Council had a solution to all of these dilemmas. They had a vision: a vision of revelry and merry-making at Alumni Hall, where second-year students could rub elbows with their professors and even share a joke or two. They had a chance to do so at the most recent dinner Tuesday night when English Prof. Jahan Ramazani was the keynote speaker. Because of their hard work and dedication, this vision became a reality.
"We've worked so hard on the dinners, but all the time we've put into them has been worth it since we've gotten such positive responses," Class of 2007 Vice President Blair Reilly said.
When they walk into Alumni Hall, students are greeted by the smiling faces of well-dressed Student Council members. A professor sits at each table, so by choosing their table, students are able to select the professor with whom they wish to bond. Once the students enter the dining area, they are met with a dazzling display of flowers and candles, fine china, crisp tablecloths and napkins. In a few minutes, a delicious aroma greets their nostrils, and their stomachs begin to rumble. Soon, every guest at the dinner partakes in a buffet that is, of course, superior to anything they would dine on at Newcomb or anything they would hazard to make at home.
Dinner conversation may be awkward at first, but as everyone warms up, a titter of laughter and lively conversation fills the air. Each student may find out how many kids their psychology professor has, where their history professor grew up or how their biology professor came to teach and research at the University. Engaging with a professor allows for a broadening of knowledge, opening students' eyes. These professors are not just "supreme beings," meting out grades and determining the fate of students' GPAs. They are real people with interests and hobbies above and beyond the subjects they teach.
"Every second year should come to one of these dinners," second-year Engineering student Martin Akhavan said. "There's nothing better than gourmet food, interesting conversation and a room full of ballers."
The dinners are a horizon-broadening experience. And, according to students, the chocolate cake isn't that bad either.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | 2 days agoWhether talking to a friend, a loved one or a professional, it is so necessary, and human, to need more than you can provide for yourself.
Taking a break at Tangerines Kitchen
By Charley Thomas | 4 days agoWhat the restaurant somewhat lacks in ambiance, it compensates for in tasty dishes and prompt service.
Virginia Policy Lab — a hub for student-led policy action
By Katherine Haden | December 9, 2024Students propose their own projects and collaborate with other members to research their issues of interest, brainstorm solutions and write policy proposals.
