Christmas Comes Early to CIU
In a recent Christmas tradition, CIU student Darren Scott reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in his Irish brogue. (Photos by Nathaniel Rabon)
By Joshua Ford and Bob Holmes
鈥淭was the week before Thanksgiving, and all through the campus,
The CIU students were all stirring, celebrating Christmas too early.鈥澨
Despite Christmas being over a month away, CIU听students celebrated Christmas in mid-November. They would soon be leaving campus for Thanksgiving break, and finishing the semester online because of COVID concerns, an administration decision that was made before the fall semester began.听
Students gathered in The Quad on a chilly night to sing Christmas carols and drink hot chocolate.
鈥淚 think the decision to end the semester early is a wise one,鈥 said sophomore Drew Olson,听a Master of Divinity major. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit weird celebrating Christmas this early but at the same time it makes a lot of sense. I鈥檓 just glad we get to celebrate it.鈥澨
The annual Christmas Chapel also came early as the worship band led in carols and the Ambassador Choir performed acapella style through face coverings. Their voices still came through strong in their renditions of 鈥淛oy to the World鈥 and 鈥淪ilent Night.鈥
Another end-of-semester tradition came early as the Admissions Department served a 10 p.m. breakfast to students who may have been pulling 鈥渁ll-nighters鈥 to finish class projects and prepare for finals.
鈥淓verything this year has just been so different so that it鈥檚 hard to compare anything to any other year,鈥 added Drew Olson. 鈥2020 will definitely be a unique year for the books.鈥澨
听ranks 星空无限传媒 the听,听and CIU is #2 in the state for听Best College Campus.听CIU also consistently ranks听among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Excitement is growing on campus with increased enrollment and new academic programs.听听on enrollment at CIU and听听or call听(800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.听
听
听