Senior appreciation hit by rain

Thursday afternoon, graduating seniors were treated to a little appreciation party and a little bit of rain for their four years of hard work.\nThe IU Alumni Association, the IU Foundation and the IU Student Alumni Association held their sixth annual Senior Send-Off at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center.\nOriginally planned as an outdoor event, the party was moved inside the Alumni Center's banquet hall when a spring shower opened up over Bloomington.\nInside, the hundreds of seniors, alumni and school representatives herded themselves around tables of Buffa Louie's wings and Pizza Express pizza. Free gifts and door prizes of sports balls autographed by IU coaches made the atmosphere more like a carnival.\nKen Beckley, president of the IU Alumni Association, said the event had multiple purposes.\n"It gives the alumni association and the IU Foundation an opportunity to congratulate future alumni," he said. "Our job is to keep all the alumni connected."\nBeckley said the alumni association hopes that by introducing the graduates to the center, they will recognize it as their new after-college IU home.\nThe IU Student Alumni Association volunteered their time to serve as hosts for the event. Junior D'Andre May said the event was designed to make seniors aware of their possible roles as alumni.\n"This event is targeted to get seniors to become giving alumni," he said.\nNormally a tree-planting ceremony takes place for every senior class, but the rain delayed the ceremony. In the meantime, the entertainment -- Bloomington music duo Dave and Rae -- took a corner of the banquet hall and supplied music to go along with the free food. \nGraduating seniors said they enjoyed the food, but the weather could have been better.\nSenior John Terpstra said he enjoyed the event despite having to run indoors.\n"They should have had a plan B (for the rain)," he said. "But it's good what they're doing for the seniors. It's good the school recognizes what you gave it."\nSenior Qiana Miller said she was impressed, despite the weather.\n"It makes you feel like your campus does care," she said. "Now that they're getting rid of you and your money"