It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…especially at Fairfield University. This year’s Lighting of the Halls brought all residence halls on campus together last Wednesday night, Dec. 5, in a competition of illuminous proportions.
The rules have been changed for this year’s event. Instead of three overall dorm winners, there are three categories that give each dorm an equal chance of collecting a lucrative prize, Best Use of Theme, Participation, and Creativity.
In the battle between Regis, Loyola, Gonzaga, Campion, Dolan, and Kostka/Claver, tensions were high as the yuletide yearning for the $300 award jingled on.
Campion, winner of Best Use of Theme, took on the task of transforming the party palace of Fairfield University into the serene scene of the Nativity. Complete with the three Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, a menagerie of cardboard animals, and an old-fashioned group of carolers, Campion completely fulfilled the thematic requirements to be the surprise winner of the night.
“We just came together and put on a show. We had Burger King Crowns and a pep-band. It was great,” said Paul Duffy, ’05, president of Campion Hall.
Gonzaga took away the second prize of the night for the quad, Creativity, with their theme being “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Using canned snow, they decorated the brick walls and garbage cans of the hall with Christmas-y phrases and Grinchy lines. In vibrant lights, they strung “Merry Christmas” in the windows facing the Quad, perhaps making the most unique use of lights.
Dolan stole the Participation award away from the Quad’s prize sweep. With the judging starting at that point, the majority of Dolan residents gathered outside to support the beginning of the competition, leaving the Quad dorms with serious competition to deal with.
Other themes included Regis’ “Christmas in New York,” complete with a Rockefeller rink and tree and “Rudolph” Guliani. Jouges had a “Rockin’ Christmas” as the Quad Jingle Bell Rocked to some holiday favorites courtesy of the hired DJ. Loyola was coming to town with Santa, partying at his “Village” as Kostka/Claver celebrated with a “Patriotic Christmas.”
“This year was so much fun. The competition was steep but it really got us into the Christmas spirit,” said Jenn Mochi, ’04.
IRHG apparently viewed this year as a success. Lighting of the Halls lit the campus up with holiday cheer. Vice President of RHC Kristen Nilsen also felt that Christmas creativity was lingering through the air.
“A lot more people came out this year,” said Nilsen. “All the halls did a great job decorating.”
Leave a Reply