The bells of Homewood's Gilman Hall clock struck 10 a.m. as a maintenance truck sporting a hood-mounted inflatable reindeer came rolling down the path in Keyser Quad. A crowd of more than 100 stood on Gilman's steps in winter coats with gloved hands, many of them holding a Danish in one and hot coffee or cider in the other. But as the truck pulled up and began to lift its back, the faithful put down their drinks and poised for the attack.

In a tradition now in its 16th year, Friday, Dec. 11, was Plant Operations' annual Gathering of the Greens. Each year the prunings of Homewood's evergreens, including holly and pine branches, are dumped at the foot of Gilman's steps. What comes next is a mad rush, not unlike that frenzy surrounding a department store discount bin, as everyone throws holiday greens into as many hefty bags and boxes as they can carry.

In just minutes the pile was ravaged and people with happy faces left the scene with bags full of house decorations. As one man jokingly yelled out from the middle of the pile, "It's like they're giving it away." And they were.