| RELATED INFO |
| * Purdue Memorial Union |
November 30, 2007
Purdue Student Union Board sponsors 'Holidays at the Union'
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue will usher in the holiday season beginning at noon Monday (Dec. 3) when the freshly cut tree arrives at the Purdue Memorial Union Great Hall."Bringing the tree into the Union is a fun event that helps put the entire campus into the holiday spirit," said Margie Stoltz, program manager at Purdue Memorial Union. "Holidays at the Union is a great way for Purdue and the local community to come together."
The Union has had a large Christmas tree as part of Purdue's holiday celebration since the 1930s. Since 1975 each of the trees has been given by community members.
Harry and Ruth Shedrow of Lafayette donated this year's tree. The 35-foot blue spruce will be one of the largest indoor trees in Indiana. Planted in 1984, the tree is being provided in honor of Ruth, a Purdue sports fan who has Alzheimer's disease.
At 7 p.m. Monday (Dec. 3), members of Purdue Student Union Board will gather to decorate the tree.
Beginning Tuesday (Dec. 4), musical performances will bring sounds of the season to the Great Hall every day through Friday (Dec. 7), typically beginning at 11 a.m. Performances include Purdue Bells, Marla Stanton and Yen Lee Loh, Mintonye Music Masters, Jeris Eikenberry, West Lafayette seventh- and eighth-grade choir, McCutcheon High School Concert Choir, Delphi Community High School Entertainers, Pleasantview Christian School, and Lafayette Christian School's Junior High Concert Choir.
"This is a real treat for our kids," said Ken Goff, Lafayette Christian School choir director. "Acoustically, that space is ideal for choral music. You almost feel like you are singing in an old cathedral in Europe."
Visitors can enter a "Guess the Lights" contest from Tuesday through Dec. 16. The three people who come closest to guessing the number of lights on the tree will win prizes.
On Wednesday (Dec. 5) at 1 p.m. the student union board will celebrate "Holidays Around the World" in the Union North Ballroom. Student organizations will share traditions from various international holidays, including Kwanza, Hanukah and Chinese New Year.
The events will conclude Saturday (Dec. 8) with a holiday favorite, Breakfast with Santa, from 8-10 a.m. in the Union's main lounges and by the Christmas tree in the Greta Hall. Children can meet Santa Claus and parents can take their own photographs or purchase one for $2. Children will receive treats and balloons from Santa. A breakfast of pancakes, sausage and milk or juice is available for $2.25. Visitors to the Union also will get to do holiday crafts from 10 a.m. to noon in Union Room 118.
All events are free and open to the public.Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Marjorie Stoltz, (765) 494-8907, mcstoltz@purdue.edu
Kenn Goff, (765) 447-3052, kgtpt@verizon.net
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
To the News Service home page