By Naomi Girson
opinions editor | girsonn@duq.edu

As rain fell across Duquesne’s campus Friday night, the high-pitched chimes and the first riff of Mariah Carey’s hit song “All I want For Christmas is You” filled the ears of attendees at the university’s annual Night of Lights celebration.

Even with the stormy weather, students, staff and their families showed up for the school’s official kick-off to the holiday season.

String lights were draped across windows and railings on the Gormley Student Union and wrapped around trees across campus.

Several pine trees decorated with ornaments and garland bookended a nativity scene on the steps of the union.

Duquesne President David Dausey, Student Government Association President Mwango Kasuba, and children of faculty and staff did the honors of pulling on a large switch that triggered the synchronized illumination.

Aurora Wolkiewicz, an 8-years-old, was in attendance, and got to watch the lights turn on from the front row of the crowd.

“I’ve been to this event a lot of times and one time I got picked to turn the lights on,” she said.

Though this year she was not chosen, she still remembers the exciting moment when she was.

However, the lights weren’t the only draw to the event — many students made their way into the petting zoo set up outside Mellon Hall, which featured puppies, goats, a pig, a kangaroo, a camel and even a zebra.

Senior theater arts and public relations major Ashley Caldwell attended the event for the first time after her friends invited her to join and sing in the Chapel Choir, who performed at the event.

Caldwell said she enjoyed the petting zoo.

“I love animals. When we were sitting there singing, I saw the animals, and I was getting distracted looking at them,” Caldwell said.

Attendees were also encouraged to grab a sparkler, drink hot chocolate and even take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage on Academic Walk.

“I think it’s amazing that Duquesne got so many people to stay here and continue to be here,” Caldwell said. “It’s just a really nice event.”

For those looking to get out of the rain, there were also events inside. In the union, students could head to “Santa’s Workshop,” located in the Spiritan Room, and participate in various activities that were sponsored by clubs on campus. The Duquesne Program Council (DPC) had supplies for snowflake making, and the Evergreen Club was selling succulents and helping people make sugar scrubs.

Sabrina Paules, executive director of DPC, said that as a club that tends to hold events on Fridays — such as Epic Bingo or the Christmas ball — they love to come out for other groups, too.

“I just really appreciate the collaborative work and really making a welcoming environment on campus,” Paules said.

Duquesne also hosted a dinner in the Union Ballroom and had cookie making on the third floor. Guests were greeted by life-like statues from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” including Yukon Cornelius, Hermey, Sam the Snowman and Rudolph himself.

Though the holiday kick-off trailed Halloween by less than a week, freshmen Grace Albright and Natalia Carlone didn’t mind the timing of the celebration.

“It’s a little early, but it’s really nice. I always liked listening to Christmas music during this time, so I like it,” Carlone said.

Attendees stayed long after nightfall to enjoy the endless holiday tunes pumping through the speakers or to sit with their friends and enjoy the hot chocolate.

Kasuba was ecstatic to see so many people in attendance.

“It makes me feel amazing that the Duquesne community is so strong that, even with the weather, people would still show up, listen and be involved in such an experience,” Kasuba said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”