To the Editor:
I thought you'd like to know that the Glee Club is not singing at the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony this year. As our director explained to us, the Office of Public Programs does not want the bulk of the offering to be traditional "Christian" Christmas Carols. The Glee Club does not have time to learn a whole new repertoire of secular songs, so the Dodecaphonics will be singing instead.
It is hypocritical of the Administration to sponsor a sacred ceremony such as the Christmas Tree Lighting and then profess an aversion to sacred music. Until they decide to abolish the ceremony altogether, they should do it right: not only with Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but with Away in a Manger and Silent Night as well.
This seems like the first step toward the abolition of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony altogether. The real issue here is whether the college should sponsor a religious ceremony. It sponsors religious groups like the Gospel Choir, and other groups like the Glee Club commonly sing sacred music in their concerts. Religion is a part of our culture; it is impossible to ignore it and foolish to try. Christianity is acknowledged to be the predominant religion in our country, our state and our school. As such, it does not necessarily deserve more recognition than other religions, but there is significant good to be done for the community by celebrating the most important Christian holiday in an informal way.
The College has been sponsoring the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony for years, with a large turnout of children and adults from the community as well as of Dartmouth students. It is a rather informal ceremony, and many say that they enjoy it even if they are not Christian.
This action by the Office of Public Programs will certainly remove most of the significance of the event. It bodes ill for other traditions that are associated with any particular culture or religion. I urge you to write to President Freedman directly with ideas and reasons for saving the ceremony.
