At about 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, University of Idaho students in the ISUB plaza welcomed the holidays with “Winter Nights Under Vandal Lights,” a recently formed annual tradition at UI.
The event centers on the 38-foot Vandal Family Holiday Tree, collected by first-year forestry students within the College of Natural Resources. While historically there have been Christmas trees on campus, this is the second year of the tree-lighting tradition.
“This is very similar to the one last year,” said Becca Lunstrum, the assistant director for UI Strategic Events. “We’re trying to see what else we could maybe add to it in the future, but really we’re just focused on making a good space for community here with our Vandal family.”
Free hot chocolate, ornaments and sweets were given to attendees. Several people won gift baskets of merchandise from the Vandal Store. Students milled about in groups, talking with friends and warming up while they waited for the holiday lights spread throughout the ISUB plaza to light.
“[It] definitely seems like there’s a, honestly a strong sense of community,” said Sebastian Barrett, a freshman mechanical engineering major. “People chatting, having fun, sipping hot chocolate… Everyone’s part of just one massive family, and I think that’s pretty cool.”
Immediately before the tree-lighting, UI President Scott Green and ASUI President Seyi Arogundade delivered speeches on natural resources and community building. Green focused on the role of the grand fir — the species that the Vandal Family Holiday Tree belonged to — in Idahoan wood harvests and in forestry, as well as post-holidays plans.
“This tree will stay up until January and then the story will continue on campus,” Green said. “The wood will be used to make holiday ornaments for donors, and in the spring, students in the Working with Wood class will be making a coffee table from the tree that will be a gift to the College of Science.”
“This tree stands as a reminder of the bounty of natural resources Idaho contains,” said Arogundade in her speech. “As a university, we are proud to play a central role in stewarding our state’s forests and other natural resources in a sustainable manner.”
After the tree was lit, students from the Lionel Hampton School of Music broke into Christmas carols. Eventgoers did not immediately disperse; instead, they stayed to admire the lights and take pictures with UI mascot Joe Vandal.
“Everyone can kind of come together and… make their own light,” said Lunstrum. “The sun goes down pretty early. [The event is about] making your own light within your community, lighting up the space together as Vandals to make a happy, warm holiday season together.”
Cal Torres can be reached at [email protected]