The print., December 09, 1981, Page 4, Image 4

“About life...”
.. .and a creature
was stirring...
By Laura Henkes
I
And it was the night before
Christmas. But it wasn’t a
mouse.
Few things are greeted
with such adverse comments
and sympathy as having a bir­
thday on Christmas Day or
Christmas Eve; it is equated
with having a life-long curse,
with being cheated and
neglected, both materially and
emotionally.
However, being an expert
on the subject, I couldn’t
disagree more. There is not a
better day of the year to have a
birthday, than Christmas Eve.
After all, how many peo­
ple have to work on Christmas
Eve? (Well, one year the day
was spent masquerading as a
lady Santa Claus.) Other peo­
ple waste valuable vacation
time so that special plans can
be made on their special ^ay.
But the best part of all is
the fact that a spirit of celebra­
tion and excitement never fails
to exist. And everyone is
available to participate in it.
The brisk weather, with its chill,
sends everyone quickly scurry­
ing, with their assortment of
packages, to be enveloped by
the warmth of home and kin.
Offerings of food and drink
contribute to the sharing pro­
cess.
Casual conversations
come , and go as guests orient
themselves toward the warmth
of the fire from a couch or a
spot on the carpet. The room is
calmed by the radiance of the
Christmas tree lights and the
flickering of the fire as the
sparks fly out and die,. upon
hitting the slate.
Eventually, a decision is
made to exchange the gifts
which have been carefully ar­
ranged and rearranged by
younger members of the fami­
ly. The birthday is'acknowledg-
ed first, with the traditional
Christmas exchange of gifts
following.
As the evening wears on,
it becomes, a very sensory
experience—the smell of the fir
and wreaths, the myriad of col­
ors throughout the room, the
drowsiness resulting as. the
warmth emanates from the
hearth, and the shadows danc­
ing over the beams high above.
Some eventually rouse
themselves to depart; others
may slumber the night away in
front of the coals.
Christmas Day, which
follows, is a continuing celebra­
tion with an even larger gather­
ing. But I feel the spirit of
Christmas Eve night is very
special and unique. For com­
pany, festivities, food and
drink, sharing, environment,
and excitement, its effect-just
can’t be beat;
Selection criteria, not lottery, blamed for unfairness
nurses. I’d like to think that that some people can talk a
CCC is turning out good good line.”’ .
nurses. They are passing the
The conflict is not with the
lottery, but with the selection
Adams, admissions director state nursing test.” ‘.Jr •'
criteria Adams said. “Whatever
and Bernice Evans, a
Adams said that the com­ criteria is used, there has to be
counselor.
“Just because a student mittee is considering the use of an unbiased way to sort out
gets an'A in chemistry doesn’t grade point /averages, test equally qualified applicants.
mean he can deal with people scores, desire, motivation or a This is where the lottery comes
combination of these factors in in.’r he said.
in a nursing situation,” Evan? improving the selection system.
Lantz said that the current
said. “I think that some C “The problem with a personal selection system tends to be
students make excelleht interview,” Adams said,
less fair when there is a large
(Conf, from page 1)
excess of applicants. “No no guarantee of getting into the
system can be entirely fair, it’s a • program,” Evans said.
“I think Arlene (Jurgens)
psychological thing, when you
are the one excluded by the should be given credit for
selection system; the system is recognizing the problems with
the selection system and trying
not fair,” she said.
Evans said the most unfair to do something about it,”
part of the lottery is . that Evans commented.
.. The committee hopes to
students do not know “until.the
last minute” whether they will make a decision on recomen-
be accepted into the program. dations to improve the selec­
“The nursing program is tion system by the end of the
very demanding,” she added. quarter, Jurgens said. The
“This makes it difficult for those committee will submit their fin­
with families or those suppor­ dings to Lantz, who will present
ting themselves to plan their them to administration for* final
personal affairs when there is approval.
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