By Sophia Gage, CIU student writer
In the brisk December evening air, colorful lights, bonfires, and tables full of holiday surprises awaited tired students at the annual CIU Christmas on the Quad.
Activities such as decorating Christmas cookies, painting special ornaments, and creating your own snack box provided something for everyone to enjoy while a talented bluegrass band performed for a crowd of eager students. The band, the Millhands, came up from Lexington to share the evening with CIU, and blessed the audience with a bass, a banjo, guitars and a fiddle! Some students even began swing dancing as the band played fun renditions of classic Christmas songs.
Alongside the activities, CIU’s Student Life Recreational team set up a stunning charcuterie board spread, delicious pretzels with dips, and various other snacks to fill personal boxes. On top of all that, a coffee truck made an appearance for all the students to get a free festive drink!
While enjoying the atmosphere beside the fires, students reflected on the special event.
“It’s way larger than I expected. Everyone here is visibly relaxing as they take a moment to forget their finals,” said sophomore David Stone.
It did seem as if time slowed in the middle of the celebrations, and the worries of finals seemed to be left behind for a while, regardless of whether the students realized it or not.
Marcy Scardino, a senior, said that this year’s Christmas on the Quad was “one of the best ones,” an encouragement to Student Life that their hard work is paying off.
Partway through the evening, Santa Claus sauntered onto the Quad to a chorus of cheers. A line formed to take pictures with Santa — who looked suspiciously like Old Testament Professor Dr. John Crutchfield. When asked what Christmas wisdom he has to impart to all who would listen, he said, “Burn all your bridges at the end of each semester so you don’t have incompletes hanging.” Wise words!
As Christmas break approaches, events like these bring the student body closer together and highlight what a special community we have on campus before everyone goes their separate ways. Until next semester!
Merry Christmas!
Above: Students listen to the bluegrass band, the Millhands, at Christmas on the Quad. (Photo by Joel Baumgarten)
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