4-year finale

By 6 p.m. Thursday night, the nearly 700 students from the graduating class of 2005 who attended the Senior Salute, hosted by the IU Alumni Association, had started to dwindle.\nThough the rain forced the gathering inside and reduced attendance from last year, the spirit in the DeVault Alumni Center was not dampened. \nDave and Rae played Billy Joel's "Piano Man" as a group of senior men locked arms in front of them, swaying and singing along to the music.\nThe party was winding down, and the bittersweet emotions of the IU graduating class of 2005 filled the room. It marked the beginning of the end of college life for most seniors, and the beginning of things which, for many, are yet to be determined.\n"I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do," said telecommunications major Gwen Rosenthal. "I guess I'll continue my job search and enjoy life without school."\nRosenthal and friend, Shira Rothberg, attended the Senior Salute as an end to their final day of classes at IU.\n"It's nice for IU to honor us and welcome us into the Alumni Association," said Rosenthal. "It's our last day of classes, so it's sort of a sentimental day."\nRosenthal and Rothberg, who are both from northern Virginia, have been friends since they were seven years old. They both plan on moving back home after graduation.\n"I'll be sad to leave, but I'm not sad to graduate," said Rothberg, who majored in journalism but has not found a job yet. "I'll miss friends the most, because I probably won't get to see a lot of them for a long time."\nNursing student Julia Reiberg said she won't forget the close-knit friends she's made in her nursing classes.\n"I'll miss being able to hang out with anyone and everyone at anytime of the day," said Reiberg, a fifth-year senior. \nReiberg, who will be working at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis after graduation, was glad for the extra time at IU, but she said it has made leaving a little easier.\n"I feel a lot older, so I'm ready to be done," she said. "I can't believe it's here after five years." \nAs representatives from the different IU schools handed out the last of their Frisbees and mugs and cleared out, Dave and Rae continued to play to the handful of seniors who stayed to dance and sing along. \nMark Holtz and Bethany Flesher danced to The Beatles "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," the lyrics "life goes on" ringing particularly true, even for senior who don't have a jobs waiting right after graduation. \n"It's kind of relieving, no more papers or tests," said Flesher, who majored in English and political science. "I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do. I'll probably go home for a year and figure things out."\nFlesher and her boyfriend Holtz, a finance major, will move back home, but it will be tough to leave IU. The crowd of seniors lingering behind, requesting one more song from Dave and Rae, demonstrated it can be tough to leave when you are having fun.\n"I just love Bloomington," said Flesher. "I'll miss the atmosphere."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Megan Hubartt at mhubartt@indiana.edu.