UMass Greek Life Hosts ‘Senior’ Prom at Arbors
Article and video by Brendan Jeannetti
It wasn’t your typical Wednesday night at The Arbors Assisted Living at Amherst. There was considerably more glitter and Rat Pack hits wafting through the corridors. Ditching their pajamas and opting for their finest evening wear, The Arbors residents headed to the foyer for an evening of entertainment hosted by UMass fraternity and sorority Alpha Chi Rho and Sigma Delta Tau. Dubbed “The Senior Prom,” the evening featured hors doeuvres, drinks, a substantial amount of smooth dancing moves and classic songs from the 50’s and 60’s jockeyed by Alpha Chi Rho’s Mark Ambrose.
What started out as an ambitious idea came to fruition when AXP President Scott Bocchio and Brother Wesley Albright formed a collaboration with Sigma Delta Tau.
“Once we started working with SDT, the idea of a Senior Prom at Arbors became a reality” said Albright.
The dancing, mingling and fun began as the clock struck 6:30. If it wasn’t already apparent from the residents’ smiling faces or their tutorials on how to do the “Twist” and “Mashed Potato,” Arbors Activity Program Director Judy Jackson affirmed the night was a success. “Residents that typically do not speak too much or make eye contact” become “extremely animated [and danced] the night away,” she said.
While it was a hit for the residents, the Brothers and Sisters of Alpha Chi Rho and Sigma Delta Tau had a great time as well and felt humbled by the experience.
“It felt amazing to bring such a fun and exciting event to the residents,” Maxine Wiesenfeld of SDT said. “[I] truly enjoyed learning about them and asking questions about their lives.”
Alpha Chi Rho, Sigma Delta Tau, and The Arbors Assisted Living at Amherst look forward to doing it again soon.
Brendan Jeannetti is a junior Communications major at UMass, Amherst. When he’s not busy as head of PR at Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, he’s hustling for the iHeart Street Team and the early morning news team at FOX 25.
