Servo Thanksgiving: A Time for Camaraderie and Gratitude
President Bob Iuliano speaks with students at his first Servo Thanksgiving (Photo courtesy of Gettysburg College)
By Thomas Cassara & Emma Canfora, Staff Writers
Servo Thanksgiving is a Gettysburg College tradition that marks not only Thanksgiving itself, but also the first semester drawing to a close. Starting at 4:30 on Nov. 20, staff and faculty served students dinner, which included array of traditional Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy, with pumpkin pie served for dessert.
Although dinner began in the evening, students started lining up for dinner hours earlier. The Women’s Volleyball, Field Hockey, and Softball Teams had players waiting as early as 6 a.m. The lines began outside the College Union Building and at certain points in the evening reached past Plank Gym. Music played outside and an abundance of smiles could be seen among the student body, making the atmosphere warm and amiable despite the cold weather and long line.
“I really think that Servo Thanksgiving is one of our schools’ best traditions and my personal favorite,” John “Rock” Swartz ’22 said. “I think that it offers our students the much needed opportunity to take a break from their busy schedules to sit down and have a wholesome meal with their friends which they may not be able to do otherwise.”
This tradition provides the Gettysburg College community — faculty, staff, and students alike — with the opportunity to come together and appreciate one another. Early in the evening, students led a round of applause for the servers.
“It’s a great tradition. I love being able to spend time with my friends in that setting. The staff are all super excited about it which is just amazing. It really embodies the reasons why I chose to attend Gettysburg and why I love this school,” Danny Lee ‘22 said.
This Servo Thanksgiving was the first for President Bob Iuliano and his wife, Susan. The pair spent the evening serving and clearing students’ meals and mingling at the tables. “I thought them being there was a really good representation of the school,” Jonathan Beddow ‘23 said. This event was another indication of the couples’ love of Gettysburg College and its traditions.
The Servo Thanksgiving tradition continues to round out the semester with an opportunity for the campus community to join together and reflect with gratitude for special experiences like these offered at Gettysburg.
