The University made a smart and bold choice when spokeswoman Kristine Calongne referred to the large Christmas tree on campus as a "Holiday Tree" during a WBRZ Channel 2 news show Wednesday night. And I wanted to applaud the University's efforts to make this campus more welcoming to people of all creeds.
Although the University later released a statement that said it would refer to the tree as a Christmas tree, it had the right message in mind.
"The important thing to remember is, regardless of what the tree is called, it's what's in people's hearts that is important," the statement said.
And it said it was not meant to "slight Christianity or the holiday of Christmas."
It really needs to be called a "Holiday Tree." We attend a public institution, and as such, we can't have any religious preference. Calling it a Christmas tree isn't honoring the University's necessity to serve as a secular learning instution.
Stuart Green, University law professor, had a good point when he noted that the University should not favor one religion over another.
"For Christians who take their religion seriously, I think those wreaths and those Christmas trees have a significant religious meaning to them," Green told The Daily Reveille on Monday. "State universities - particularly state law schools - ought not to be endorsing or promoting any particular religion."
Although there will be a Hanukkah Menorah, the tree showcased directly in front of Memorial Tower, the postcard building of our University.
Because of its focal setting, the tree should welcome all religions, and it shouldn't just cater to Christians but to all members of the campus community.
I thought the holiday season was about yuletide cheer. Christmas is not just for Christians these days, anyway. It is a cultural celebration that begins the day after Thanksgiving and stretches to Christmas Day.
You're right, I called the holiday Christmas, which it is. But I think the spirit of gift giving and joy transcends one religion, and it should be shared with everyone.
It's definitely nothing to stir a fight.
Television news stations called it a brewing controversy, and I strongly disagree. The only controversial part of it was their coverage. I expected protests in front of the tree after watching the video on Channel 2's Web site. All I found when I visited Thursday afternoon was a solitary Conifer and a crew pressure spraying the side of the tower.
Channel 2 asserted the University has maybe stolen Christmas. I ask Channel 2, has it really? All it did was change the name of a tree.
And to be honest, the debate should not be whether the tree should bear "Christmas" in its official title. There should have never been any Christian symbol promoted by a state-funded institution anyway.
So, I urge people to put down their Bibles and doctrines to allow everyone to enjoy such a beautiful display during the winter months.
At a public institution like ours, I don't want to witness rosary beads or crosses jingling in front our Memorial Tower. All there should be are the tower's bells, jingling all the way.
Happy Holidays, LSU.
---- Contact Justin Fritscher at jfritscher@lsureveille.com
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