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Monday, June 15, 1998

Graduates have many ways to celebrate

TRADITION: Fountain dipping, world travel, partying options for students who want to relax

By Rachel Munoz

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

After countless hours of frying their brains with books, many graduating seniors are planing on frying their brains in the sun.

Whether they'll splash in the Inverted Fountain, party like it's 1999 or escape from Los Angeles in their Winnebagos, seniors have plans to unwind and celebrate until the cows come home.

Inverted Fountain:

If it's sunny on Friday, you just might see a few people in either the Inverted Fountain or the fountain in front of Royce - or both.

Then again, even if it's not sunny, you are sure to see people celebrating in both fountains.

As dictated by tradition for many years - though no one seems to know just how many - seniors often celebrate their graduation by taking a dip in the Inverted Fountain.

The fun usually begins on Thursday and Friday of finals week, and generally lasts until people are kicked out.

Ben Hofilena, a fourth-year physiological sciences student, definitely will jump into the fountain.

"As an orientation counselor, I made the freshmen touch the water to symbolize that you go in with water and go out with water," he said.

"I don't want to be a hypocrite," he explained.

Jamil Jaffer, a fourth-year political science and economics student, has heard that people often take beer and champagne to further celebrate the end of finals and graduation.

"I might check it out," said Jonathan Lee, a fifth-year microbiology student. "Usually people booze it up over there."

Then again, there is always the alternative fountain.

"I think it would be cool to start a new tradition and go to Royce Fountain," he continued.

After the Inverted Fountain was turned off last year, as requested by Central Administration, Royce Fountain could be the new destination of graduating seniors.

The Inverted Fountain has actually been turned off during finals week for many years because of the tradition.

Gail Cowlings, the executive officer for facilities, said the fountain is turned off for safety - and cleaning reasons.

However, she acknowledged that that doesn't ever stop anyone.

As far as any possible closures of Royce, Cowlings said that students jumping in the fountain has never been an issue before.

"I'm definitely jumping into the fountain in front of Powell," said Kamran Nahid, a fourth-year political science student.

He distinctly remembers watching seniors jump into that fountain last June, and is ready to do the same this year.

No one seems to know the exact number of years that jumping into the Inverted Fountain has been a tradition at UCLA, but Jaffer says that it was happening about 20 years ago when his father worked at UCLA.

Parties:

After splashing in the fountains, many UCLA graduates will get ready to party.

"I'm going to get together with friends at a barbecue," said Sue Choi, a fourth-year political science student.

And without the ominous specter of school the next day, week or year, seniors are pretty much free to party like they've always wanted.

Jaffer plans to attend a party at a fraternity, while Nahid will spend Friday and Saturday nights before he leaves for Europe going out to parties and clubs.

Other students have scheduled in quality time with their family to celebrate their graduation.

"I'm going to Havasu to party with family for the weekend," said Ben Nadig, a fourth-year political science student.

Travel:

Before graduation parties even begin to draw to a close many graduates will be on an airplane for their vacation destination.

"Graduating seniors have always been our largest group of people traveling to Europe," said Melissa Margraf, manager of Student Travel Agency.

Margraf was quick to acknowledge a trend of more people, including students, traveling to more countries around the world.

"Europe's always been the most popular destination," she said.

According to Nancy Kivlen, regional manager of Council Travel, other hot spots for student travel include Costa Rica and parts of southeast Asia, since these places are relatively cheap but still hold some "exotic" appeal for students.

Margraf also said most students fly into London because it's an inexpensive, English-speaking place to begin their trip.

"I'm leaving for Europe the Monday after graduation," Nahid said.

Margraf attributed the rise in travel to the healthy economy, but also to summer events, such as the World Cup and World's Fair.

Nahid's first stop will be in Paris, where he hopes to catch a World Cup game.

He also plans to travel to Nice, Spain and Greece, where he is looking forward to experiencing life on the islands.

Hofilena, in contrast, will travel to Japan during the summer - and stay there for an entire year.

"(The trip) will give me time to figure out what I want to do and take some time for myself," he said. "I want to try something different."

Other students plan to travel within the states.

"I'm going to take a trip across America," said Jaffar, who plans to travel with his friends to Washington, D.C. - by way of Chicago - in a Winnebago.

With reports by Emi Kojima and J. Sharon Yee, Daily Bruin senior staff.

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