Second Year Students Live the Sweet Life at the Dessert & Academic Extravaganza

The Second Year Orientation (2YO) program will host a Dessert & Academic Extravaganza for sophomores from 7 - 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7 in the Hart Center. The event will begin with a series of short talks addressing the specific needs of second year students. Later in the evening students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives of various academic departments and programs, while enjoying a variety of desserts.

2YO encourages students to look beyond the gates of Holy Cross and reflect carefully on the path of their academic careers so that they can make the most of their time at the College. As many opportunities to participate in programs that complement and supplement major areas of studies become available to students in their junior and senior year, 2YO reintroduces students to programs and departments like Study Abroad, semester away, summer internships, community service, prestigious fellowship opportunities, graduate studies and career planning so that they can prepare an integrated, purposeful program of study.

The Dessert & Academic Extravaganza will encourage students to think carefully about the important academic choices they will have to make during their second year. It will familiarize students with resources to help them meet their goals and will challenge them to begin to discern who they are and who (not what) they want to become.

Speakers for the event include Rev. Brian Linnane, S.J., Class of 2007 Dean; Neal Lipsitz, director of the Counseling Center; Rosemary Carbine, professor of religious studies; Christina Chen, director of Academic Services & Learning Resources; and John Winters, director of Career Planning.

The Extravaganza will feature over 50 resources for students. In addition, there will be five dessert stations including cookies and brownies, kettle corn, ice cream and snack bars.

On Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2YO will welcome renowned anthropologist and author Mary Catherine Bateson. Bateson will address second year students in a lecture, titled "Continuity and Change: Visions for the Class of 2007," from 7:30 - 9 p.m. in the Ballroom. After her talk, she will sign copies of her book Peripheral Visions - a collection of essays which sophomores read over the summer.