Grad Week `99 will kick off Monday with a new event aimed at creating a stronger connection between GW graduates and the Alumni Relations Office.

The Alumni House, which worked closely with the Student Activities Center this year in planning the weeklong celebration, will hold an open house to inform students how to get involved with alumni programs. Graduates will be able to purchase GWorld Alumni Cards at a 50 percent discount at the event.

“We’re trying to work with (Alumni Relations) and work earlier with them to get them involved sooner,” said Amy Feldman, SAC co-coordinator for leadership development and special events.

Other events will include a Senior Social at Mister Days Monday night, a cook-out Wednesday afternoon where graduates will pick up their Grad Week T-shirts, a “Back to Thurston” celebration that night and Monumental Celebration at Union Station.

Students, friends and family members will dance the night away in their formal attire Saturday at Monumental Celebration. Tickets are $45 for graduates and $55 for guests.

While Monday’s open house is the only change from last year’s Grad Week, SAC has coordinated events so it can handle larger crowds than it has in the past.

“Everything last year seemed to work really well,” Feldman said. “We had record attendance last year, so this year we plan to be able to handle better numbers.”

Students seem to be just as enthusiastic about this year’s Grad Week, although the reason for the record turnout at last year’s events is not clear, Feldman said.

The week will center around a theme common to graduates of the Class of 1999 – “Party like it’s 1999” by the artist formerly known as Prince.

“All year we’ve been looking for a chance to use (the theme),” Feldman said.

The Class of `99 will donate a phone booth to the University at Veterans Memorial Park Friday. Students donating funds voted via e-mail to purchase an English-style phone booth as their symbolic gift.

Other donations went to the University general fund, which is used at the discretion of GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg.