In a departure from recent years, the Class of 2005 will decide whether they want their orange-and-black class jackets, worn at the annual P-Rade, Commencement and Reunions, to be in the form of a beer jacket or a blazer.
In the last several years, class jackets have been beer jackets, typically lightweight and made of cotton.
"The fit and shape were awkward for many of the previous years' beer jackets. This year, we're able to get the blazer cut and still be within budget," Class of 2005 President Azalea Kim said.
There was originally some confusion over what types of jacket designs were allowed in the competition. An email from Kim announcing the start of the competition on Sept. 29 seemed to indicate a blazer was the only design choice, prompting dozens of seniors to write concerned emails, Kim said.
"I sent Azalea an email saying I preferred a jacket to a blazer and I told her I'd like a jacket template available," Keith Schreer '05 said.
Kim sent out revised guidelines, stating the senior jacket "can be made using the blazer template provided, or a template created for a different design."
"I basically made a mistake calling it a blazer," Kim said. "It's not necessarily a blazer like you would get for your 25th reunion. It's more of a blazer cut."
Some students said they think of beer jackets as part of graduation.
"Beer jackets just seem more traditional," said Mike Addis '05.
Others had more practical concerns.
"I prefer a beer jacket, just because the heat is going to be sweltering," Sherene Awad '05 said. "They're horrendously ugly, but I don't really need a fashionable jacket."
Not everyone agreed that fashion was unimportant. "I'm glad we're able to afford [a blazer], and it just looks nicer," Sean Cameron '05 said. "A blazer would be classier."
The final decision will rest on the vote of the senior class.
"The winning design is only constrained by our budget," Anne Louise Bigliani '05 said, who is responsible for this year's senior jackets.
After a design is chosen, the senior class takes bids from a vendor and adapts the design of the jacket to budget constraints.
The senior jacket is paid for through class fees and is presented during the senior checkout preceding graduation.
In the past, jacket designs have often been a sign of the times. For example, the Class of 2002 had the option of adding a patriotic ribbon to their jackets in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001.
And the Class of 1920 had black armbands to announce the onset of Prohibition.
Alumni classes purchase new jackets from time to time, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Thomas Dunne said.
"The jackets the [senior] class sees in the P-Rade aren't necessarily the original jackets of [the alumni classes]," Dunne said.
The senior jacket design will be decided by the end of this month and seniors can order their jackets by December, added Dunne.
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