{"id":148297,"date":"2022-12-19T14:39:59","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T13:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=148297"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:59:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:59:30","slug":"the-best-and-most-contentious-christmas-decorations-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/12\/19\/the-best-and-most-contentious-christmas-decorations-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"The best and most contentious christmas decorations on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the last week before Christmas break and the holiday season is just around the corner. The Woudestein campus has gotten a more festive look over the past days. That\u2019s why we set out for a campus tour to discover what different Christmas decorations the University has to offer. From the randomly cut Christmas tree in Polak to the most contentious tree on the seventh\u00a0floor of the Bayle building.<\/p>\n

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The 7th floor Bayle building controversy.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThanh Nguyen<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Full of anticipation, photographer Thanh Nguyen and I made our way to discover what kind of Christmas decoration we would find in the various offices. However, since many people are still partly working from home, most offices don\u2019t put up many christmas decorations \u2013 or anything at all. Taking a stroll through the central offices in the Erasmus Building, we were exposed to an entire \u2018christmas decoration free zone\u2019.<\/p>\n

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The AIESEC office in the P-Building<\/span><\/p>

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Initially a bit disappointed, we then found what we were looking for: The probably most christmasy office on campus, the AIESEC office. Already when we entered the P-building we were greeted by the sound of Chris Rea\u2019s Christmas classic Driving Home for Christmas<\/em>. The people working in the office of AIESEC revealed that, after taking down their Halloween decoration, they decided to immediately decorate for Christmas: \u201cAt the beginning of November we were already playing Christmas songs and we decided to just hang up the decoration already. It\u2019s here now for over a month\u201d.<\/p>\n

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The Marketing & Communications tree occupying some space in the Sanders building.<\/span><\/p>

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In the Sanders building we found some versions of Christmas trees standing around printers and office appliances. There we also encountered Master student Nejc Jan\u010dar (Media & Creative Industries, 26) who enjoys the decorations on campus. \u201cI am a student so I can\u2019t afford to decorate my home the way I would like to. But in general, I like to keep my decorations simple. I don\u2019t like the American way of overdoing it.\u201d.<\/p>\n

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The Theil building tree, a bit smaller than in previous years.<\/span><\/p>

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In the main hall of the Theil building, next to the tall Christmas tree with classic red decorations, we met the student Celestine Deleuze (IBEB, 19) who explained, \u201cI think it is really nice that the campus is decorated a bit. Otherwise, it is a bit sad in December\u201d. If it was up to her, it would be even more decorated.<\/p>\n

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The Polak building tree has been cut short.<\/span><\/p>

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Our tour continued to the Polak building where we found another tall tree next to the entrance. Student Maxime Decuypere (IBEB, 19) who\u2019s favourite colour for Christmas decoration is red, told us, \u201cThe tree looks really nice, but the top is cut a bit weird\u201d. Well, we\u2019ll let the picture do the talking.<\/p>\n

For Youssef Mou\u00e2mil (Law, 23) the decorations on campus are of little importance. \u201cI am Muslim so I don\u2019t celebrate Christmas and don\u2019t decorate either. I actually don\u2019t really notice the campus decorations. It can be nice to look at, but I personally can\u2019t relate to it\u201d, he explained.<\/p>\n

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The 7th floor Bayle building controversy.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThanh Nguyen<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Our campus tour concluded on the seventh floor of the Bayle building. According to reliable sources, it was worth checking out the Christmas tree of the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management. Certainly different to most other Christmas trees on campus, the tree is decorated with artificial snow and purple roses and divides opinions. \u201cSuddenly it was here\u2026 We didn\u2019t have a choice\u201d, one of the office workers explained. \u201cEither you love it, or you hate it\u201d, another woman from the office added. A facility manager was quick to put the blame for the controversy externally. \u201cNormally every faculty orders their Christmas tree in May already. However, we made a last-minute order in November and this is what they brought us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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