Clarisa Kless
As the Christmas season approaches, Student Life, a department at the Mount including the Student Government Association, Center for Student Involvement and other campus offices are orchestrating Deck the Mount, an initiative including 25 days of on-campus events.
A wide variety of activities are to be expected from this initiative. A full calendar of events, as well as individual flyers, will soon decorate Mount bulletins, but a few to be expected include a Christmas parade, a Christmas formal, Gingerbread House Making, Hot Chocolate Jars and many others. Deck the Mount officially begins on Nov. 19 at 5:30 PM in Patriot Hall with a Thanksgiving dinner. Two hours later will commence a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, also in Patriot.
Upperclassmen may recall the Christmas celebrations of previous years, but this upcoming series of events is expected to be larger and worthy of much excitement. The campus will be decorated extensively to promote holiday spirit, alongside the long list of programs, and Student Life has hopes that more traditions will be formed. Between the approaching season and finals, Deck the Mount aims to offer some balance between work and play.
Comfort is a big element of the upcoming celebrations. Student Life wants students to feel supported and cared for, hoping Deck the Mount will offer some stress relief and remind students that they can still be engaged in the holiday season despite being away from home. Students will be able to take a festive break from finals through participation in activities and memory-making with their friends, aiding in the solidification of the Mount as another home.
Alongside comfort, Deck the Mount wants to encourage giving back to the community through helping and donating to the upcoming charity drives and joining in on the activities aimed at making a positive impact on others. To further cultivate Christmas spirit on campus, students are encouraged to participate in these drives, attend Christmas events, decorate their dorms and let Student Life know their thoughts and ideas.