Life
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Gift of Giving Lighting of the Lawn benefits Hope House
By Molly Berg
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer It’s that time of the year again: The days seem shorter, classes seem longer and finals loom on the horizon. With the waning hours of sunlight, however, comes an enlightening event — the University’s 12th annual Lighting of the Lawn. On Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. the tradition will continue with an estimated crowd of 7,000, comprised of both the University’s student body and the Charlottesville community. About 20 a capella groups will sing an assortment of holiday favorites and other classic hits, and Politics Prof. Larry Sabato and School of Nursing Dean Dorrie Fontaine will read a comical
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poem, recapping highlights of the 2012 school year. The Facilities Management staff assembles more than 4,000 feet of lights, stringing them around the Rotunda, pavilions and columns lining the Lawn. The low-energy LED lights, donated by Dominion Virginia Power four years ago, will turn on every night until Jan. 3. Students look forward to this event all year. “Lighting of the Lawn is one of the Belles’ favorite traditions at U.Va.,” said fourth-year College student Siobhan D o n n e l l y, president of the a capella group Virginia Belles. “It’s a great way to
Finals Finale
And time, which seemed to h, that faint smell in the air. That hard edge on have been speeding along at the corner of your mind. tip-top pace already, now has That growing feeling pushing begun to make a mad dash to down on you when you sit. Yes, the finish. There aren’t nearly we’re all feeling it. Finals are just enough hours to do everything we wish and study as well as we around the corner. Wasn’t it only yesterday that we want, and inevitably all we end were all heading off for our first up doing is attempting to rope class, pink-faced and excited, in time and calm it, dragging our heels and clutching our crying for unopened Reality Check mercy. notebooks and But then I sharpening the must question first pencils if this fruitless of the semesprotest is actuter? Where has ally the best time gone? It’s use of my time. as if October Definitely for and November me, but I’m barely existed; sure for many they only flitothers, finals ted by to wave are a time to back to us, procrastinate shouting “So by any means long, suckers!” possible. I look as they dashed EMILY CHURCHILL at the early to their constudiers, the necting flight for Aruba. And here we are, left chronic over-preparers, and behind in the endless terminal I am envious and impressed. waiting for escape — I’m clearly And then I turn back to Netflix, ready to go on vacation — sigh- where I’ve started a new show ing as we crack open our worn that I just have to get through books to reread chapters we could have sworn we had memoPlease see Churchill, Page A9 rized.
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bring the a capella community all together, and the University community at large, for some good old-fashioned holiday fun.” The event began in 2001 as a way to unite the community after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Since then, the event has become a highlight for students, faculty, and Charlottesville citizens to come together and appreciate all that
they have. Last year, the fourth-year trustees who host the Lighting of the Lawn created a community service aspect to the event, donating to Coalition Assisting Residents in Emergency Situations, a division of the Monticello Area Community Action Agency. This year the Lighting of the Lawn will incorporate community service by seeking donations for a different division of the agency — Hope House. The
organization is a transitional housing program that aims to help homeless Charlottesville families get back on their feet. Hope House provides resources that establish financial literacy on debt, credit, and savings, foster strong relationships with their children through schoolrelated activities and provide a safe, relaxing environment in which families can start fresh. To encourage donations from all parts of the community, the student organization and the Greek organization with the largest contributions get to announce one of the singing groups at Lighting of the Lawn; the First Year Council awards a pre-reception in a Lawn room to the highest Please see Lighting, Page A9
model students
Haley Plotner Class of 2014 Major: CommerceMarketing & IT
How would you describe your personal style? I would describe my general style as sort of boho with a
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What is your favorite item in your closet? I love my army green Joe’s Jeans. I find myself wanting to wear them for every occasion whether I dress them up with heels and a nice top or wear them with my brown combat boots for a more boho look. Who is your style icon?
Roses in December
lright Mary Scott, but probably loved her. Maybe you what’s your favorite?” loved how she always looked “Peach! I think I’ll have like she had just walked out of a to say peach.” “Then peach it is!” magazine, and when you compliMy young and bubbly bartender- mented her, she complimented in-training opened up her note- you right back, finding somebook and carefully wrote down, thing about you that you hadn’t in delicate and curving handwrit- even noticed about yourself. ing, a few peachy drink recipes — Maybe you loved the ease with recipes she would refer to later which she moved through life, how comfortable she that evening when she took up her new Trial and Error could make you feel, like that was how life post behind the bar. was supposed to be — “Well, your shift is simple, good. over, how about All we have now you try one and tell are fragments. I me how it is?” Sipwish I had more. I’m ping the pink consure that those who coction, I nodded loved Casey most, her my approval: “It’s closest friends, her great Casey, really, family, have so many really good.” She fragments that they smiled, “I’m glad.” may not even know What are we supwhere to begin. How posed to do when MARY SCOTT do you begin to build all we have are fragagain, memory upon HARDAWAY ments? What are we memory, until you’ve supposed to do with a confusion of 30-second clips created the beautiful story of the constantly running through our beautiful girl who should still be heads? Why does tragedy look here now, writing her own story, like a still from a movie, where in her delicate and curving handa beaming young girl looks out writing? I think we are all, whether we upon the world, notebook in hand, ready to conquer every- know it or not, writing Casey’s thing before her? Why don’t we story for her, piece by piece, as get to say goodbye? Many of you probably knew Casey Schulman; most of you Please see Hardaway, Page A9
little more edge to it. Recently, however, I’ve started adding a few more preppy items to my wardrobe.
I love Rachel Bilson’s look. She and Blake Lively are two style icons that I think always look classy and trendy but also have a unique look to them. Where are your favorite places to shop? I love Nordstrom’s. I think it has the best overall product offerings. In Georgetown there’s also a vintage store called Annie Creamcheese that I love to visit when I’m home. I can always find unique statement pieces there. What are you wearing in this picture? In this picture I’m wearing more of the preppy items in my collection. This is an “Emma Graham” U.Va. collection dress. I love it because it has the ruffles which lends itself to be a little preppier then I normally dress, but the low back and dark color makes the piece my style. —compiled by Kristin Ulmer
Kristin Ulmer | Cavalier Daily
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black