First Seniors Turn in Theses

Approximately 80 seniors are likely bleary-eyed, exhausted and gloating.

Today the senior History and Literature concentrators become the first members of the class of 1994 to turn in their theses and pick up the champagne flutes.

Because after the 5 p.m. deadline, this lucky few is forever free from musty libraries, annoying advisors and pre-deadline all-nighters.

And make no mistake: they won't miss it.

"I am very happy that the deadline is early," Elizabeth P. Gaither '94 says. "Otherwise I would have just dragged it on."

Alexa Kemeny '94, who wrote her thesis on L. M. Montgomery's public writings, says she also appreciated the early deadline.

"It is absolutely wonderful," Kemeny says. "I am looking forward to a relaxed spring."

And John G. Palfrey '94, whose thesis is "more or less done with," says he doesn't mind the early deadline.

"I'll have to work hard now, but I will have more free time afterwards," he says.

The night before the happy day was no picnic, however.

In fact, a number of seniors called for this story refused comment due to lack of time and surplus of stress.

An employee at Kinko's Copy Center says the Dunster Street branch alone handled over 30 theses yesterday.

"That is about 30 percent more than usual," he says.

And the new veterans' advice to future thesis-writers?

Relax and follow the food, Kemany says.

"Don't stress about it," she says. "Also, find an advisor who buys food for you. Or one who has babies."

Vincent Tompkins, head tutor of the Committee on the Degree in History and Literature, says the purpose of the early deadline is to give students sufficient time to catch up in other classes and prepare for the general exam.

But "it is also partly due to tradition," he says.

History and Literature theses are generally required to be 40 to 60 pages in length, although the department will occasionally grant permission for longer theses.

Since the concentration is honors only, all seniors have to write theses.

"The thesis-writing process is important as a capstone experience to undergraduates in general and History and Literature concentrators in particular," Tompkins says. "It gives them a chance to apply the skills they have acquired in the past two years."

And History and Literature means business. After months of procrastination, students who find themselves unable to meet deadline shouldn't expect any sympathy from History and Literature.

"Extensions will only be granted under dire circumstances," Tompkins says. "A broken computer disk is not a good enough reason."