It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas     By Whitney Gries It’s that time of year—lights, decorations, snow, and mistletoe! With Christmas just around the corner, Morningside is getting festive and working hard to make it a great holiday on campus. Greenery has already been hung around campus, along with lighting the tree in front of Roadman, so in the evening it can be seen twinkling and reminding everyone that yes, it is December. The apartments on campus celebrated the first ever lighting of the courtyard tree in front of Lags, Poppen, and Waitt Halls. On Monday, the tree was lit and everyone was invited to join in the fun with some hot cocoa and start this new tradition. The 59th Annual Hanging of the Greens ceremony took place Wednesday in the Dimmitt formal lounge. This Morningside College tradition was presented by the Residence Hall Association, which invited students and faculty to attend the ceremony and a reception afterward. There were even special appearances by Santa and his elves! “It was great to be able to experience the lighting of the yule log and to see Santa, Santa’s helpers, and of course Rudolph,” said senior Jonalee Jackes. Tarah Sagedahl, senior, added, “I really like how the lighting of the greens puts Morningside students in the Christmas spirit.” Another Morningside tradition is the 13th annual Christmas at Morningside. The concert is a musical gift from the college to the community. This year’s concert is titled “Of Angels and Shepherds,” and it re–tells the Christmas story using music performed by instrumentalists and vocalists. There will also be a special guest appearance by the First Presbyterian Church Choir and the Abu Bekr Shrine Chanters. One of the directors of the concert will be Dr. Timothy Watson, assistant professor of music. The students have been working hard, and Watson has high hopes for the concert. “I hope people who attend Christmas at Morningside get a sense of the community of people that present this concert,” Watson said. “That they are not only warmed by the music and artistic presentation but also by the emotion and effort of the people who work together to make it happen.” This will be Watson’s sixth year directing at Christmas at Morningside. “I really feel privileged to work with Morningside students. I am proud of them,” he said. The concert will be held Friday, December 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Eppley Auditorium. The concert is free and open to all. (Dec. 5)     News Home