Deck the Haven brings cheer in the rain

The added challenge of the weather proved no match for the Hart floor tradition.

Macie Cummings and Isabelle Thompson • December 7, 2018

Photo by Thecla Li/ THE CHIMES

Deck the Haven was back again, this year facing new obstacles brought by the rain in the second year of its outdoor format. The event took place on the Thursday night in a tent on parking lot F.

Guests were given seven interactive room options to go and explore. Rooms included a Tiki lounge, Infinity room, and a challenge to ‘Escape from Santa’s Office’ as the sequel to last year’s ‘Escape from DBC’s Office.’ The event also included musical entertainment, hot chocolate and cookies, a raffle and a hula competition hosted by the Tiki room.

Sophomore journalism major and Haven resident Quinn Gorham participated in the event for the second year in a row.

“As always we really like to prepare for the event,” Gorham said. “The floor just looks like a complete mess going into the event, but it all comes together in the end.”

The rain took a toll on both preparation and attendance. Gorham explained that Haven’s 24-hour time slot was made increasingly difficult due to the challenge of the weather.

“Doing it in the tent is always a challenge so we are not allowed to prepare until the night before it actually happens. We all have 24 hours or less to actually prepare for the event itself,” Gorham said. “This year, in comparison to last year, I think we were more prepared to have it in a tent but the rainy weather definitely took its toll on the crew and it was hard to get everything put together in time.”

Despite the added challenge, people still did not want to miss out on the tradition.

“Honestly I thought the turnout was going to be poor,” said Gabe Licudine, sophomore physical science major and Haven resident. “It’s been great so far, the rain hasn’t done too much damage to attendance. I can’t say the same to the rooms… while we were setting up some of the rooms got damaged but we pulled through.”

Sophomore communications major Billie Padilla loved getting to participate in the Christmas tradition and see all that the floor in Hart Hall had to offer.

“I’m in the Christmas season plus the rain, [it] feels like Christmas,” Padilla said. I’m having a great time. This is a special way to have fun before the semester ends.”

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About the Contributors

Macie Cummings, News Editor (Fall 2018)

Macie Cummings is a senior journalism major on a mission to find the best iced vanilla latte. She is passionate about all things Disney, the Dodgers, and the Office. [email protected] Four years ago, I never would have thought my Biola experience would turn out the way that it did. I am from the small town of Visalia, California, and if you don’t know where that is, just picture cows in the middle of the Central Valley and you’re there. I am the oldest of three girls, and we are incredibly close. However, I was ecstatic about the opportunity to move down to Southern California. The fact that I would only be living nine miles away from Disneyland may have been a key factor when choosing a school. While wrapping up my senior year of high school, I was confident in my decision to become an elementary school teacher. At some point that summer, I had an epiphany: I did not want to be in school for the rest of my life. I decided to take a huge risk and apply for Biola’s film program. After a year of only taking general education courses, I found out I had been accepted, only to go and switch my major yet again. The journalism program sparked my interest, when I realized that film was not for me. I have a passion for creating videos, so I chose an emphasis in broadcast journalism. After a semester of broadcast classes, and a lot of prayer, I decided to switch my emphasis to visual media, which is where I’ve planted myself. I have learned that I thoroughly enjoy many different aspects of the journalism and content creation industry, so this seemed like the best fit. I am looking forward to my year as a news editor for the Chimes, and the opportunity to grow in my writing and storytelling abilities. I know this year will be a year of learning and growth, and I cannot think of a better way to spend my last year at Biola.

Isabelle Thompson, Business Manager

Isabelle Thompson is a senior business marketing major who enjoys gloomy weather, reading and national parks. She is also an advocate for adventure and trying new things. Good literature has always been a source of inspiration for me. Through the years I have become influenced by authors ranging from Jane Austin, Mark Twain and Scott Fitzgerald to more modern writers including Andy Weir and Stephen Chobsky. Each story I have come across has had a role in shaping the way I see the world and who I am today. It was my love of writing and storytelling which drew me to the position of News Editor at The Chimes my sophomore year. Through that experience I learned the skills necessary to produce consistent, factual and engaging stories that informed and documented events that impacted my immediate community. It was a new kind of storytelling for me which came with the responsibility of doing justice to the very real themes and lives portrayed. Coming back to The Chimes as a senior business marketing major, I feel lucky to have the position of business manager. While I will be taking a step back from writing, I am excited to be surrounded by excellent storytellers and support the publication in a way that aligns with my goals for a career in business.