Mile of lights illuminates campus Christmas scene C oming back to school from Thanksgiving vacation can be a real downer. After all, most of us go all the way home, stay for a week of blissful leisure, then trudge back to school knowing we only have about three weeks before it will be time to go home again. Those short three weeks can be frustrating and somewhat depressing. Why not stay at home from Thanksgiving until after New Years Day? This year the whole experience was changed. Before Thanksgiving break, Student Association President Mark Moore announced plans to decorate and light up the campus for Christmas. A collection was taken from students, as was a donation from Wal-Mart, and more than $1,500 was raised. Once all the lights - all of them white - were hung, Dr. Burks acted as host to hundreds of students and others as they watched him turn the switch that lit up the campus. Red ribbons and bows had also been tied to trees and bushes to add to the festive mood. The spectacle , billed as a "mile of lights," was quite an attraction as Searcians and other visitors drove by the campus to catch a glimpse. "The campus seemed a lot Jason David Pace - Sea rcy, AR Bret T. Paddock - Rifl e, CO Kelli Patricia Page - Russellville, AR Kari Demerris Pahal - Crossett, AR Suzanne M. Painter - LaVergne, TN Dena Denise Pappas - Bentonvill e, AR John M. Paradis - E. Hartfo rd , CT Paula Paige Parker - Senath , MO Wendy Paige Parker - Conye rs, GA Leight Ann Parks - Van Buren , AR Perry Danny Parrish - Roge rs, AR Kristine L. Paskavich - Centra li a, IL Danielle D. Patton - Cli o, Ml Jose Francisco Paz - Honduras 288 People for keeps more 'Christmasy,'" said senior Michele Roder from Lebanon, TN. "It hasn't seemed like that in the past; it made everyone festive and in a good mood." Paula Lakeman, a freshman from Mobile, AL, mirrored Roder's thoughts. "The lights were great. I think we should do it every year because it adds something special to the school and to the community." Jeff Holland, a junior, from Arlington, Texas, said, "After the SA had raised so much money, I was expecting a lot of lights and a lot of color. At first the white lights surprised me, but it was actually kind of elegant." Moore was hailed as being one of the most active S.A. presidents in several years, the Christmas lights project adding to his popularity. Commenting on how this project reflected Moore's attitude, Holland said, "There just aren 't many charismatic people like him around. He's taken more initiative to get things done than any other president we've had since I've been here, and I think the student body as a whole respects him for that. Past presidents were never seen or heard from - Mark is always in the limelight bringing attention to things that are going on, not attention to himself. " Perhaps future S.A. presidents will learn from Moore's example and another Christmas lighting project will follow next year. - Phillip Tucker LIGHTS. SA President Mark Moore started a new tradition on the campus for Christmas: lights. Lisa Massengill, freshman, helps the SA hang the lights on the trees all over campus. -Photo by Sharon Bowles.
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