The 2008 Senior Class Council ‘ which plans the senior picnic, graduation, Bar Crawl, Bearcat Day and other events ‘ held its first meeting Tuesday.

The five members are ‘a diverse group with different interests,’ said President Carrie Gerber, a philosophy, politics and law major. ‘Together we will be able to collaborate on a lot of different things that will appeal to everyone in the senior class.’

The council was not chosen by elections, but through an application process. Student Association President David Bass put out applications for the president two weeks into the school year and then interviewed those who applied.

‘They were all strong applicants,’ Bass said. ‘I felt that Carrie Gerber would do excellent work for the council.’

Once Gerber was selected, she held an application process to fill the rest of the positions on her board. Michael Boykin, a political science major, was chosen as vice president. The remaining positions in the council are vice president of fundraising, filled by Greg Rigano; vice president for public relations, filled by Kelly Lima; treasurer, filled by Brett Einhorn; and secretary, filled by Sheel Patel.

Bass said he thinks they will all work very well together.

‘Carrie was innovative enough to know that she wanted to add an additional position to the council that would head fundraising,’ Bass said. Each council member will have a full plate with all the fundraising they plan to do this year. Gerber wants to start holding events this semester and wants apparel orders to go out right after winter break, Bass said.

‘Everyone is really excited to be on the council and has great ideas,’ Gerber said.

A new event that was first introduced last year is Bearcat Day, and since it is so new the Senior Class Council can really work on it this year, Bass said.

The Senior Class Council plans to be more active this year than in the past. As part of the application process, Bass asked applicants how off-campus students can get more involved in the community. He hopes that by drawing attention to this topic, it will be a new emphasis for the council.