"The Season of Lights could have been saved"


¡Ora, UTEP!

¡Adelante, DESTINO!

¡Ora, MEChA!



So says Ms. Adriana Gómez Licón -- Editor - in - Chief. In The UTEP Prospector, November 25, 2008.


"This year, UTEP won't greet the arrival of winter holidays with its characteristic annual Season of Lights celebration.

"Alumni Association President Henry Quintana announced in a press release sent Oct. 17 that limited funds had forced the organization to cancel the popular event UTEP offered.

"The cost to install and maintain the lights is between $35,000 and $40,000 said Richard Daniel Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations.

"While the university only paid about $3,000 during the holiday season, the Alumni Association assumed the cost of the installation and maintenance of the lights.

"This year, they decided to withdraw its sponsorship.

"The financial decision has drawn a lot of negative criticism from UTEP alumni and students who didn't want to see his tradition canceled.

"The Season of Lights dates back to the 1960's.

"It consisted of candles in brown bags lining University Avenue and grew to have more than 200,000 lights covering the school's main buildings and trees...."