The school generally recoups about $150,000 in donations from visitors and $20,000 to $50,000 from corporate sponsors, but this year the school will conduct a campaign to raise an additional $150,000.

The campaign to defray the expense of the "Lights of Life" will begin soon, said Will Hurst, a university spokesman. Athletic Director Roger Kaiser, who is overseeing the phase-out of competitive athletics, will coordinate the campaign.

The show costs $350,000, and setup begins in September.

Despite intense budget pressure, interim President Michael Schmidt decided to keep the light show after speaking with community leaders.

The university is in cost-cutting mode, following the loss of its chiropractic program accreditation.

But the display brings more visitors to the Marietta campus than any other event, as many as 2 million people in recent years.

The display began humbly 13 years ago, then grew to consume the Marietta campus. It is now believed to be the largest free light show in the state and features a five-story Santa, flying reindeer, toy soldiers and elves.

If donations are few, the university may scale back the size of the light show, Hurst said. But the show will go on in some form.

"We're committed to putting the light show on."