Calvin's new president to jump into Sem Pond today

At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 15, Calvin College President Michael Le Roy and a few of his colleagues will join with hundreds of students for this year's Sem Pond Jump--an annual tradition where Calvin folks jump into the icy waters of an on-campus pond near the Calvin Theological Seminary.

For the first time in the history of the Sem Pond jump, the event will be streamed live at http://www.calvin.edu/go/live

Last year, 429 in the Calvin community took the plunge. This year, organizers expect another great turnout, including a group of more than 100 students who are eligible to take home the coveted "golden towel," the prize awarded to any person at Calvin who participates in the Sem Pond Jump for four consecutive years.

"This tradition started 15 years ago as a crazy idea and has grown into one of the biggest events on campus," said Emily Dock, associate director of alumni relations. "Hundreds of students line up to make the plunge into the Seminary Pond--many more participate in spirit from their studies abroad. Attaining the golden towel is fun, yet serious business here."

The Sem Pond jump is just one tradition in a full lineup of activities designed for students during uKnight week, which wraps up on Saturday night with the 29th edition of the lip-syncing contest Airband, and a 90's Throwback Dance.

NOTE TO MEDIA: If you plan on covering the event, please arrive by 5:15 p.m. as the pledge will take place around that time and in previous years the jump has sometimes started a few minutes earlier than scheduled.

Contact Matt Kucinski at 616-307-7429.

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Received on Fri Feb 15 13:53:06 2013