Cedars, December 2017

December 2017 6 CAMPUS by Hannah Day A s the Christmas season approach- es, the staff at Cedarville University looks back at traditions and celebra- tions of years past. Over the years as the university has grown, many traditions have come and gone. From ice skating on Cedar Lake to the giant slide in the Stevens Student Center, everyone has their favorite memory from Campus Christmas. Many professors are able to offer a per- spective unique to that of the students. “For many years we had an all-school dinner,” said Murray Murdoch, a professor of history at Cedarville for 52 years. “And Dr. White has a nice luncheon for the fac- ulty every year at Christmas and that’s very delightful.” Several of Cedarville’s organizations have also done service-based projects around the holidays. They have held food drives and hosted other exciting events. “We have several times had Santa Claus here to take pictures for different organiza- tions,” said James Phipps, a Cedarville com- munications professor for 50 years. “I got to do that once or twice.” Phipps also mentioned that though the celebrations have varied over the years, with each president adding his own ideas and traditions, there are some things that have remained consistent. “Several of the presidents have, prior to the students leaving, at night, usually around 10:30, read the Christmas story,” he said. “Some have also added the poem ‘The Night Before Christmas.’” Perhaps the memories many hold dearest are those that truly bring everyone together. Whether a member of the faculty or a student, everyone comes to enjoy the Christmas concert each year. This popular event even draws members of the commu- nity. “One of the highlights is always the Christmas program,” Murdoch said. “That’s something to look forward to, because it’s wonderful Christmas music done by the music department that’s really beautifully done. The bands participate and the choirs participate and it’s really a great evening.” Most importantly, Phipps said that Ce- darville University, as well as all of its presi- dents, have done a wonderful job of making sure that the celebrations held on campus point to the birth of Christ as the center of the season. Hannah Day is a freshman forensic science major from Pennsylvania and campus re- porter for Cedars. She enjoys theatre, mu- sic, and correcting people. Christmases Past on Cedarville’s Campus Photo courtesy of CU Digital Commons Ladies from Maddox unit 18 stop to pose during Christmas Open House in 1990. Photo courtesy of CU Digital Commons Dr. James T. Jeremiah, past president of Cedarville University, with students in 1990. Photo courtesy of CU Digital Commons Students enjoy fellowship and worship in 1979.