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Show The Signpost atur [WednesdayaRecemb Professor delivers annual Anti-Claus lecture By LANCE HANCOCK correspondent | The Signpost To children, Christmas is a time of Santa Claus, reindeer and Christmas trees. Anticipation and excitement fill the air as Christmas Day approaches. Many Weber Stale University students can relate to growing up with the same feelings, but according to L. Kay Gillespie, chairman of the criminal justice department, these common symbols of Christmas are pagan. "There never was, never has been, never existed anywhere a Santa Claus," Gillespie said. "Even though he arrives before Thanksgiving in all the various methods, he does not exist and never did. It is a myth and a lie to believe and teach about Santa Claus." "Anti-Claus" is the name of the program Gillespie puts on every year. His presentation is intended to be humorous, and often his audience is laughing uncontrollably. But at times, he will cut through the humor, and students will find a serious message about the Christmas holiday. "Everybody loves Santa and there seems to be no room for Christ," Gillespie said. The message is just that: Santa Claus takes away from the real meaning of Christmas. During part of Gillespie's presentation, heexplained why there is no Santa Claus. Using mathematics and science to prove his point, he mentioned that Santa's reindeer are female because male reindeer lose their antlers in November Dressed in his finest Christmas attire, L. Kay Gillespie gave his annual "Anti-Ciaus'/ lecture in the Shepherd Union Building on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Gillespie opposes the tradition of Santa Claus because it is not based on truth. while female reindeer keep their antlers until the spring. He said for Santa to reach the 2 billion children in this world, he would have to travel 650 miles per second, 3,000 times the speed of sound, and at that speed, the reindeer and sled would disintegrate in 4.5 seconds. "If Santa ever did exist, he's dead now," Gillespie said. Gillespie's presentation also focused on the differences between Christ and Santa Claus: Christ's color is while representing purity; Santa's is red for sin. Christ represents giving; Santa represents getting. Christ represents honesty, and Gillespie said to even believe in Santa, you have to believe in lies and deception. Christ is spiritual; Santa is fake, materialistic and commercial. With Christ, you give anonymously, but with Santa, you give lo be seen of men. Not all Christmas celebrations and gift giving is done by people who believe in Christ. Christmas has become a national holiday, but Gillespie also has strong feelings about Christmas and who celebrates it. "It's a Christian celebration; if you're not Christian, don't celebrate it," Gillespie said. "For those of you who aren't Christian, celebrate something else." Gillespie also suggested an alternative for those who still want to celebrate Santa Claus. "If you want to do Saint Nicholas, do it on the 5th of December, which is Saint Nicholas' Day, and do ihe gifts and the presents," Gillespie said. "On Christmas time, do what the Europeans do, and that is worship the birth of Christ on Christmas and go to church and do religious things." The students who attended the presentation had mixed feelings at the end, but most of them felt like Gillespie had some good points. "I never believed in Santa," said Leanna House, WSU student. "But I think Dr. Gillespie does a good job arguing against the commercialization of Christmas. I do agree with him. I mean, stores had Christmas stuff out at the beginning of November, and it's too much." To other students, the message will change the way they go about Christmas and Santa Claus. "I agree with him," said WSU student lames Swift. "You should teach your children the truth. It should come from you, but I still am going to do the whole Santa Claus thing and give presents." Other students just thought it was a fun presentation to attend, and that Santa is here to stay. "I think he gave a good speech and he's got a lot of good points," said Zachary Maitineau, WSU pre-dental student. "But I still think that Santa Claus wins out on the whole deal." To some, Gillespie seems too strongly opinionated, but students in the criminal justice program love to have him as a professor. They say he is very funny and good at what he does. "I am not anti-Christmas; I love Christmas," Gillespie said. "I am just anti-Santa Claus." You can leave a message for reporter Lance Hancock b\ calling Avoiding Christinas debt By KRISTA PIETSCHMAN correspondent | The Signpost Christmas should students' minds with memories. fill fond But for some Weber State University students, the happy memories are drowned out by excessive spending and debt. "I remember wanting lo get my boyfriend the best Christmas present and spent over S300 on him," said Kerry Jameson, WSU junior. "It seemed like a good idea at the lime, but then we broke up and I go! my credit card bill." Students should set a budget and shop with a list to avoid impulse spending and buyer's remorse. "I only buy presents for people that I really need lo, like my mom," said WSU junior Chris Haener. "My friends and I don't give each other gifts. It saves me a lot of money." Opening a bank account specifically for holiday expenses and making regular deposits can help ease the budget strain at Christmas time. "Saving money throughout the entire year for the holiday season allows people to spread their costs out over a 12-month period, rather than having all of their expenses come down on them in a one- or two-month time," said David Rusch, local Wells Fargo Bank branch manager. Students should only use credit cards with low interest rates and quickly repay their See Debt page 7 Students can give cheap, Hill Air Force Base supports its own meaningful gifts ByTERI PETERSON correspondent | The Signpost The holiday season can hit the pocketbook hard. Between traveling, entertaining guests and gift giving, things can get quite expensive. Gift giving can become a financial strain while simultaneously creating holiday debt for many. Inexpensive solutions are available. Weber State University students have found ways to beat the expense and give gifts that are heartfelt and meaningful. "I painted a picture once for somebody," said Katie Mason, WSU freshman. "That was pretty cheap." A gift from the heart such as Mason's handpainted picture is inexpensive, but can be priceless to the person receiving the gift. A gift like this can say more than the most expensive item on the market. Gift giving is a way to show people how important they are and how much they mean to the giver, ll may be hard to find the right gift that sends this message. Amy Adams. WSU nursing student, found a creative way to this get this message lo her boyfriend with an inexpensive gift idea that came right from her heart. "I went lo the dollar store and got toys for my boyfriend that reminded me of things we had done together, or that reminded me of him," Adams said. Adams said she wrote a note to go along with each of the toys. Although the toys were only a dollar each, the gift she created had a meaningful message behind it. It also added a personal touch. A gift costing more might not have carried the same meaning. Photos can also be wonderful gifts. They often create memories and give loved ones See Gifts page 7 By BRANDI VIGIL correspondt-rn | 77ie Signpost Many students will be spending quality time with their families enjoying delicious food, watching football games and taking a well-deserved day or two off during this holiday season. Yet, while students are enjoying this lime with their families, thousands of men and women will be spending ibis time separated from their loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. At Hill Air Force Base, between active duty and reserve members, 230 people are deployed who will still be deployed during the holidays. This number may not sound large, but when a loved one is part of this group, it can be a big sacrifice for everybody involved. The 419th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron has troops deployed constantly. tj.i.pt'% : . , First Sgt. Romero (right) from the 419th Security Forces Squadron speaks with Technical Sgt. Wilson (left) and Senior Airman West (middle), both from the 419th Mission Support Flight. The group discussed fundraiser ideas to help send care packages and Christmas gifts to deployed members of the 419th Fighter Wing. Five members from this squadron have been deployed to Afghanistan and are not expected to return until sometime in April. These five members have missed M ' I I I I I ' I I I I I I I I I I the Thanksgiving holiday and will also miss being with their families during the Christmas and New Year holidays, See Base page 8 |