Finding the reason behind the season

To shop or not to shop this holiday season? Naughty or nice throughout the year? What is this so-called holiday spirit? Students keep all of these issues in mind as they approach the stressful end to the semester. \nBeginning with "dead" week, as it is described by some students, next week concludes the 2004 fall semester. With the holiday season approaching, some students struggle to balance schoolwork, customary holiday expectations, social work and personal commitments.\nBurdened with test preparation responsibilities, graduate optometry student Anne Phillip said she hasn't thought about her holiday shopping list at all. \n"I've been nice this year," Phillip said. "In general, I've been nice to people in my attitudes. I try not to be naughty; sometimes it's hard. I guess it's a good time to be giving or considerate to others. I guess I don't get into the whole Christmas spirit until I get done with school and I'm on (holiday) vacation."\nBalancing school projects and papers, graduate student Jeremy Sprague said he hasn't had the time to formulate a holiday shopping list due to schoolwork.\n"I just bought myself an iPod that was on my list," Sprague said. "I'm a selfish grad student. I've been both nice and naughty. I've been playing music pretty well, doing pretty well in school. I probably haven't shown my family enough attention, probably haven't washed my hair as good."\nFinding enough time to accumulate some gifts, graduate student Katy Myers said she is slowly working her way through her holiday shopping list.\n"I would say I've been nice, too busy to be naughty," Myers said. "So far I have given about $100 to charity. I've gotten some really good gifts for my friends -- ones that were appropriate. I haven't ruined anybody's holiday yet."\nTo avoid a paper trail, senior Alissa Brown said she has her holiday shopping list mapped out in her head.\n"I've been very, very nice this year," Brown said. "I'm always nice. I've been active in student groups so I feel like I've contributed to the community in some way. I know I've been naughty -- I don't know if it could go in the paper ... not caring enough about school at times, not respecting my parents." \nCoping with the customary obligations of traditional holiday expectations, Sprague said he prefers seeing his family instead of customary holiday gift giving.\n"The holiday spirit depends on your perspective, whether you celebrate Christmas or some other holiday," Sprague said. "I just like spending time with my family. I think people should be happy around other people, invite a mystery guest to the house. Everybody has a friend that doesn't have somewhere to go."\nAttempting to evade the long lines, disgruntled staff and impatient shoppers common in most retail establishments throughout the holiday season, Myers said she does most of her shopping on-line to dodge the hustle and bustle of holiday sales. But in the end, the money doesn't always wind up stuffing stockings.\n"I've spent more money on alcohol than I've spent on presents," Myers said. "The holiday spirit is as much generosity, love and good feelings as you can stand."\nInterpreting the meaning behind this so-called holiday spirit, Brown said the holiday season should involve a person abiding by the cultural patterns of holiday celebrations.\n"I guess you're raised, at least I was, around Christmas. It's a time for your family to get together," Brown said. "You have these warm and fuzzy feelings, relaxed feelings as a culture. That is the way the holiday was made to be. It's OK to be a grinch; I'm not, but I don't judge those who are."\n-- Contact City & State Editor David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.