November 29, 2004

Holidays at the union starts Dec. 6 with tree-raising ceremony

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue will deck the halls of the Great Hall in Purdue Memorial Union at noon Dec. 6 when the freshly cut holiday tree arrives to signal the start of the holiday season on campus.

"By the end of the day, it will be fully decorated with handmade ornaments from various student organizations," said Marjorie C. Tucker, program adviser for Purdue Student Union Board, which sponsors Holidays at the Union. "Visitors can win prizes that have been donated by different shops in the union by guessing how many lights are on the tree."

Guessing forms and a submission box will be located near the tree.

Betty Parker of 2504 Potawatomi Dr., Lafayette, is donating this year's tree, a 25-foot blue spruce, in honor of her late husband, Bernard, who worked as building service manager at Purdue for 25 years.

The Parkers planted the tree in the early1980s. Betty Parker remembers her husband taking their children, who are now grown, to see the tree in the union every year.

Purdue facilities staff will cut down the tree at 8 a.m. Dec. 6 and take it to the Great Hall. The tree will be displayed until Dec. 19.

A community member has donated the tree for the Great Hall every year since 1975. The tree is one of the largest indoor, natural trees in Indiana.

A life-size gingerbread house also will be on display in the Great Hall. Purdue Memorial Union dining services staff is sponsoring the gingerbread house and preparing the gingerbread and candy to cover it under the direction of chef Bruce Haumesser.

Musical performances will add to the festive atmosphere in the Great Hall. Purdue, local schools and community groups and individuals will perform near the tree from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Dec. 7-10. Groups include Purdue Theater, the West Lafayette Junior High Choir, Delphi High School, Rossville Junior and Senior High Schools and Mintonye Elementary School, located in rural Tippecanoe County. Pianist Marla Stanson will also perform with Marla and the Show Kids.

Holidays Around the World will recognize the diverse population that makes up Purdue with international holiday displays by student organizations from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 8 in the union main lounges.

"These displays will give people a basic understanding of how other holiday traditions are celebrated," said Sandeep Nandy, director of cultural events at the union. "A couple of examples most people know about are Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, but we also demonstrate Diwali, which is one of the four main festivals in India.

International campus groups will provide information, presentations, food and music."

Among the groups participating will be Bangladeshi Student Association, Russian Club, I Love Taiwan Club and the Hong Kong Student Association.

Families can enjoy breakfast with Santa from 8-10 a.m. on Dec. 11 in the ground floor of the union. For $1.99, children will get breakfast, a visit with Santa Claus and a small gift.

All events are free and open to the public.

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Sources: Sandeep Nandy, (765) 494-8976, psub-cultural@purdue.edu

Margie Tucker, (765) 494-8907, mctucker@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: For questions about the tree, contact Bret Turner, grounds crew chief, (765) 494-5077. For all other questions, contact Margie Tucker, (765) 494-8907, mctucker@purdue.edu.

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