Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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CAROL OF LIGHTS Traditional event brings Christmas Keeping with an age-old Tech tradi- tion, the Carol of Lights once again heralded the holiday season and brought Christmas cheer to students and residents of Lubbock. It was time for those worried about finals and grades and the pressures that a holiday season can bring to set aside their cares and revel in the joy that the Carol of Lights provides. At 7 p.m., Dec. 7, the festivity began, and people from all walks of life gath- ered around the Science Quadrangle and Memorial Circle, which were lined with luminarioes donated by Alpha Phi Omega. Some waited in quiet anticipa- tion while others laughed and talked as they prepared for the ceremony. Children were hoisted to the shoul- ders of parents and many Tech stu- dents poured onto the roofs of the Chemistry and Math buildings, each craning his neck to get a better view of the festivities. A quiet gasp went through the crowd as the Saddle Tramps approached the Science building carrying lighted torches. The crowd parted, allowing the Tramps to ascend the steps where the Brass Ensemble, the Tech Choir and members of the Residence Hall Associ- ation already had gathered. An Eternity of Light was the theme of the event and after a short speech by Karla Neely, RHA president and solos by Fred Wilmer of the Tech Choir, the crowd ' s anticipation had built to riotous proportions. Then . . . someone flipped the switch and 28,000 red, yellow and white bulbs brightened the skies, bringing cheers and gasps of joy from those gathered. The crowd joined the choir and Brass Ensemble in carols of the Christmas season and smiles graced the faces of everyone around the quadrangle. After the carols had ended, the crowd dis- persed. Each person seemed refreshed and renewed as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. This was the 20th year Tech had sponsored the seasonal event. Con- ceived by Gene Hemmle and Dorothy Garner, the first Carol of Lights took place in Memorial Circle in 1959 with 5,000 lights donated by former Tech Regent Harold Hinn. Except for a blackout due to the energy crisis in 1973, the Carol of Lights has been a continuous tradition at Tech. In 1974, Tech administrators took over the funding of the festivities that had previously been partially funded by donations from area mer- chants. According to Frederic Wehmeyer, associate vice president of administra- tive services, this year ' s program cost $12,000 for 48,065 new lights to supple- ment last ye r ' s leftovers. Preparations for the Carol of Lights began in October, when work crews I4—Uy,iuama

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with lighting and sound. However, a lack of characterization by the actors and actresses seemed to plague the play and kept the message from being ade- quately conveyed. The rock group KISS made another appearance at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Oct. 3, Halloween night. The appearance of the group was contro- versial because of a Lubbock resident ' s protests that the performance involved Satan worship. Lawrence Goff, a for- mer missionary, spearheaded the efforts against the KISS concert to expose the evil influences that KISS seems to produce. KISS played to a disappointing turnout after a Lubbock appearance in 1979 to a sellout crowd. The Messiah heralded the begin- ning of the Christmas season when the Tech Choir and Orchestra coopera- tively performed Handel ' s work. The crowd was large for the Dec. 2 concert and the performance wa s rated as one of the best in recent years. John Priddy was a featured tenor soloist. The per- formers ended the performance with the Hallelujah Chorus, bringing the crowd to their feet, in a traditional ges- ture. Tech students and area residents enjoyed the performances during the fall semester, but looked forward to the coming spring season in anticipation of bigger and better entertainment oppor- tunities. T i Eddie Rabbit J • Li i ' rruuna — '

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cheer began stringing approximately 47.000 feet of wire and 28,000 lights on seven buildings, including Chemistry, Home Economics, Math, Science, Mass Com- munications, Administration and Hol- den Hall. Each year the event is sponsored by the Residence Halls Association, Sad- dle Tramps and Alpha Phi Omega fra- ternity. Response to the Carol of Lights was reflected elsewhere on campus in Sigma Omega Beta ' s Hymn of Bulbs, a parody. The group used Christmas bulbs to light several windows of sec- ond floor Murdough spelling out NOEL and SOB. The Carol of Lights, a Tech tradi- tion, has received national recognition and has remained a fond and pleasant memory to residents of Lubbock who attend each year, sustaining the Christ- mas spirit not only for them but also for almost all Tech students. ' Vi tpf tm ' wieimi