by Alastair Pearson ’14
Students are divided about Christmas on Campus, according to an anonymous online Eye poll. Although the survey was informal, the split appeared to be concentrated along seniority lines.
Multiple freshmen expressed dissatisfaction with their blanket-making assignment, while students participating in the off-campus service activities at local elementary schools described some organizational issues that did not seem to significantly affect the value of the day.
Freshmen focused their discontent on their service duties, which required hand-producing blankets for eventual distribution to the homeless.
“I think that the experience could have been improved by having the freshman [sic] doing things that are more meaningful than making blankets,” one respondent said. “Perhaps making blankets for the homeless isn’t actually as powerful as actually delivering them to the people who need it most.”
He was echoed by other survey participants who said that the freshmen should be able to do more than “just make blankets” and that the day could be improved “if the freshman [sic] directly served,” while another freshman complained about poor working conditions.
“[It] probably would have been more meaningful for me if [I could] be able to make blankets without sitting on the floor,” he said.
But not all the feedback was negative.
“Overall, I thought it was pretty good,” said another freshman. “If my next three Christmas on Campuses go like the way this one did, I’ll be pretty happy.”
Sophomores and upperclassmen cited boredom among the students they visited and homogenous gifts for donations to the schools as issues they encountered during their service. Other students said the project needed “more organization” and “more fun activities,” although others were less critical.
“I honestly enjoyed all of the Christmas on Campus, and I loved helping out the less fortunate,” one respondent said.
After the day of service itself, the students gathered to watch the annual Senior-Faculty basketball game, in which the seniors escaped with a narrow victory over the faculty in overtime. Matt Ivancic, Dameon Willis, Matt Kobunski and Mr. Masterson all received nominations for MVP, and “half naked Soviet guy [Senior Tim Domzalski]” and Frank Rolfe were recognized for their outstanding costumes.
As the last few days of break wind down and the looming menace of finals week begins to cast its shadow over campus, students delivered a clear consensus that they neither want to return to school nor to crack open their books to study for finals.
Out of 75 respondents, only 10 said that they had started studying. For the other 65, their cramming skills will be tested beginning just nine days after classes resume, with the first day of exams on January 15. For a complete guide to the semester finals schedule, check the Eye website the week of the exams.
