Holiday spirit arrives with annual tree lighting

Photo credit: Christina Heunermund

Fort Worth, TX

12/3/2007

By: Liz Davis, Daily Skiff


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and TCU is spreading the spirit with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree  on the Sadler lawn.

Mr. and Ms. TCU, senior political science and broadcast journalism major David Spencer and junior Spanish and biology major Lindsay Morgan Taylor, conducted the ceremonies  and included caroling, hot cocoa and candle lighting.

As per tradition, Chancellor Victor Boschini did the honors of lighting the tree, said Natalie Boone, assistant director of Student Government Association.

The Programming Council expanded the TCU holiday celebration this year, said Aaron Wolfe, vice chairman of Programming Council.

"This year, we wanted to make this a bigger deal, along the lines of Howdy Week and Homecoming," Wolfe said.

Programming Council wanted to think of something to get the community involved and has added a new twist to an old tradition, Wolfe said.

After the chancellor turned on the tree, there was a three-minute Christmas light show with carols, ending with the TCU fight song, Wolfe said.

Wolfe said former student Michael McKenzie and his company, the McKenzie Group, put on the light show.

The light show will be on every night from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting every 15 minutes until Dec. 21, said Kristen Chapman, Programming Council chair.

Wolfe said although PC added new things to the tree lighting ceremony, the old traditions are still strong.

"We will still be collecting gifts, and there will be a toy line," Wolfe said. "This has become a tradition for a lot of students."

The Order of Omega, a Greek honors society, sponsors the toy drive every year, Chapman said.

Wolfe said he knows of students who get very excited about giving gifts to kids, and they can't wait to choose one of the children's cards.

"The kids' cards include information on local kids, their names and ages, and a few things they want for Christmas," Wolfe said. "There are usually essentials on the cards, like clothes, but they also ask for toys."

Wolfe said the holiday events are a gift from the Programming Council to the students. They start with coffee, donuts and free music Tuesday and end with a late night breakfast Dec. 11.

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