Syracuse University is joining other colleges waging the “War on Christmas.” The Daily Orange published a letter to the editor on Dec. 10 from freshman Aodhan Doyle asking about the school’s policy on holiday decorations. It’s impossible not to sympathize with Doyle, who just wanted to put up a Christmas tree and decorations in his dorm.
Doyle is quick to call out the school by writing how “there is clear hypocrisy in holiday celebrations at SU.” The residents who wanted the Christmas tree, which Doyle says is a majority, were denied because the RD said it “would not be inclusive” to other religions. Not only was the tree denied, but the one in the dining center, which also contained other decorations, was taken down on Dec. 8, as Doyle explains.
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And, that’s not even where the hypocrisy is most in play.
While a Christmas tree was denied, a menorah was placed in a dorm, with a candle lighting taking place every night of Hanukkah. An e-mail was even sent out which actually encouraged the celebration of a religious holiday from the RD who wrote, “We hope this will be a great way for those celebrating the Jewish holiday to enjoy the tradition together, but the lightings are open to all residents.”
Doyle is not against Hanukah, and neither is this article. But as he says it best:
It’s even more of a shame that one would be denied when Doyle mentions wishes for how “if I were able to put up a Christmas tree in the lounge, my Jewish friends would put a menorah right beside it.” Syracuse is not only engaging in the War on Christmas then, but ruining the holiday hopes of a young man who believes “what the holiday season is all about [is] celebrating together with those around us.”
