Following the Thanksgiving break, as finals week approaches, campus holiday events and celebrations begin. This Friday, Dec.3, from 6 pm-8 pm, HEAT provides free transportation at 5:30 pm for 20 undergraduates to Bushnell Park. To help students through finals, the Harrison Libraries (Mortensen and Allen) will have extended hours during Finals week again this year starting Dec.6.

The University of Hartford’s Office of Diversity and Community Engagement has offered information and resources for multiple holidays, and cultural celebrations held worldwide, including Bodhi Day, Gita Jayanti, Yule/Winter Solstice, Soyal, Christmas Day, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day.

“We encourage the campus community to be mindful and respectful of the many different holidays and cultural celebrations that occur during this time of year, to learn more about holidays and customs outside of their own practice, and to be conscious of how their celebration and decorations may impact people of other faiths and cultures on campus.”

A lit menorah has been reinstalled outside the administration building, and The Mitten Tree donation event returned to Mortensen Library. Hillel is offering multiple Hanukkah events throughout the next week, which are quite popular among students. This Tuesday, the Hillel 2022 student board hosted a Hanukkah candle lighting and served Sufganiyot in Private Dining in Commons. They will also be hosting a candle lighting and networking event at the JCC on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Other events include Hanukkah celebrations and Shabbat dinner with Chabad, Hillel, AEPi, and SAEPi. Greek life is also getting involved with the holiday season. SAEPI is inviting people to send others a special Chanukah gift for only $3 each. Each gift includes gelt (candy) and a dreidel game. As finals approach, these holiday events help to ease the stress and bring the UofHartford community closer.