Christmas at HPU

Although a heated argument may arise at other schools about decorating the campus in a Christmas fashion, High Point University thrives with their decorative fashion. The argument of whether college campuses should decorate or promote Christmas has been on on-going debate for a long time because some see it as threatening the "seperation of church and state" logic. Naomi Rockler-Gladin wrote in an article in 2006 that as a Jewish woman she truly doesn't see this as being an attack on her beliefs, but rather a secular symbol for happiness, "These symbols bring many students joy and comfort , especially as finals roll along, and they are an important part of American culture." She continues in a seperate article to tell American colleges and people opposed to Christmas decorations need to, "[...] stop being Scrooges".



WOW This Place Looks Amazing!

On High Point University's campus one may think that this is a school for Santa's little helpers instead of a liberal arts college in the middle of North Carolina. The campus has Christmas decorations strewn across its, already beautifully landscaped, campus which one student, Adrienne Sperry, a junior at HPU thinks is, "[...] a little bit excessive, but still pretty. It definetly sets the mood for the holidays". And HPU's director of WOW, Roger Clodfelter, has several ideas of why this use of Christmas decorations is a great way to turn up the volume of the "WOW" factor on campus. WOW is the campus chair to " [...] improve the appearance of campus and suggesting new projects or features that will create a dynamic and progressive atmosphere at High Point University." Roger expressed to me that this decorative process is only to make students truly feel like this is there home and their comfort zone. "We strive to make the HPU campus your home. The Christmas decor is an extension of that philosophy". This idea seems to be reaching the students in the same way as well, at least for Adrienne Sperry, "If anything they (the decorations) help us get through a very stressful time".

Too Much Money?



Another main focus that students have is whether the school spends too much money on decorating and adding beauty to the campus where maybe they should focus more time and energy on scholastics. "I absolutely think the school spends too much money on aesthetics. While Having a pretty campus is great for admissions I think a lot of it is unnecessary", exclaims Adrienne Sperry. Whether it's the larger than life panther statues, or the multitude of fountains across campus one thing can be reassured, "We re-use decorations from year to year so our budget is used in a very effecient manner", Roger Clodfelter reassured me, only with a small addition of decorations to the areas that were not finished this time last year.

Happy Holidays


The majority of campus loves the decorations because of the joy that Christmas decorations bring to so many people. The only question of decorations is why Christmas gets all the focus? Where are the Thanksgiving decorations? We all love a turkey dinner just as much as anything else, so maybe next year WOW could "[...] have giant turkeys strapped to the light poles", as Adrienne Sperry suggested. But until then, there's still a large display outside the Slane Center to represent the "'horn of plenty' in celebration of Thanksgiving"- Roger Clodfelter.


by Chris Thurley