UP students bring Advent Conspiracy to campus, protest materialism of holiday season
By Olga Mosiychuk
Last Friday, millions of people scrambled to their favorite retailers to secure the best deals of the year on everything from laptops to socks. With the Christmas season approaching quickly in this economic recession, shoppers have a limited amount of time and money to spend on that sparkly gift that will make its way under the tree come Christmas morning.
"What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams and shopping lists," states the Advent Conspiracy website.
These are exactly the kind of circumstances the organization strives to eliminate. Advent Conspiracy stems from the work of three Imago Dei pastors three years ago and has since been sweeping the nation.
Sophomore Amanda Garman and senior Brian Spencer have been involved in the Portland branch of this movement for two years, and are two of the UP students who are bringing the ideas of Advent Conspiracy to the University of Portland campus this holiday season.
"Advent Conspiracy is a grassroots movement that is anti-conformity and anti-consumerism," Garman said. "It promotes putting the meaning back into Christmas."
Their Web site asks participants to consider the fact that America spends an average of $450 billion every Christmas and to ask themselves how often they have spent money on Christmas presents for no other reason than obligation. Individuals who take part in Advent Conspiracy learn how to add meaning to gifts, without buying into the consumption-driven empire that the Christmas season has become.
"It's basically the idea of getting away from the consumer culture and materialism as a whole," Spencer said. "The reason for Christmas is the birth of Jesus, and he came from humble beginnings."
Advent Conspiracy is attempting to simplify the message of the holidays, to focus Christmastime on worship and significance rather than material possessions. Their website's home page stresses the four objectives of Advent Conspiracy: worship fully, spend less, give more and love all.
Spencer and Garman have worked to bring this message to the students of the University of Portland and are hosting a DIY gift day where students can make presents for their friends and families for a few dollars. Activities include learning how to crochet and creating gifts from things in a scrap bin.
"Gifts that you make have a lot more meaning," said Garman. "They are environmentally and economically beneficial too."
To those involved in Advent Conspiracy, time is the real gift. They urge individuals to make their gifts, to spend time with their families, to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols, no tedious mall trips required.
Sophomore Erica Havey participated in last year's Advent Conspiracy DIY event when it was held in the Village.
"I learned how to make a tote bag," she said. "It was a good experience, and it is just a nice thought to add value to the things you are making, you feel good when you give them to people."
This year's event will be held in Franz Hall on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 12 to 6 p.m.
