The end of the spring semester sneaks up on us each year. Doesn’t it seem like only a few weeks ago that the wind was whirling outside our dorm rooms, bitter and harsh? Now, the flowers are in bloom and classes are officially over once again. Undergrad students will tearfully say goodbye to their roommates and friends, and seniors will take their last walk over the Unispan, eat their last meals in the Student Center (not necessarily a bad thing) and attend commencement. But as quick as the snow/study days arrived, it’s all over. Just like that.

While it may seem like the norm-finishing classes, having a week of finals and killing time until Sunday’s graduation ceremony-Hofstra lacks dedicating the last part of the spring semester to the almost-graduates. “Senior Week” can be a beach or vacation week for high schoolers, but many universities also provide special events and activities just for seniors. Squeezed in between finals and graduation or wherever it fits, celebrations are taking place on campuses to honor four years of tuition payments, classes and probably partying. It’s a last chance to all be together, but this unity does not exist here at Hofstra.

The Oswego campus of the State University of New York offers a tour of the Alexandria Bay, and New Jersey’s state university, Rutgers, has a “Midnight Madness” dinner cruise on the Hudson River. Seniors at the University of Vermont are participating in bowling, a drive-in movie night and a 5K run/walk.

The festivities don’t end with state schools-so private universities have no excuse. Fordham University and Villanova University have formal dinners and dances near or on the water, field trips to theme parks, picnics and barbeques. Other events involve wine tasting, outdoor games and networking events.

Depending on the size of the school, some events have limited attendance…but Hofstra doesn’t offer any options. Does the administration think no one will want to attend? Maybe this would be true-our school spirit isn’t the greatest, and the football stadium isn’t even full during homecoming. But without asking, they’ll never know.