Every spring semester starts off with much anticipation. Students are excited to get back to campus, see their friends again and start up classes, and celebrate UD’s favorite holiday. However, this year, upon returning to campus, students’ sights were set on the first weekend back: a winter storm was projected to bring lots of snow and cold weather to Texas.
Students woke up on Saturday, January 24 to see campus covered in ice and sleet, awakening in them a joy that is only seen once a year (if even that) in Texas. The day and the rest of the weekend was filled with many different activities revolving around the weather: from sledding to walking around and sliding on the ice to dancing in the snow, students found ways to enjoy the un-Texan weather.
Many southern students were delightfully surprised at the weather. Junior English/theology double major Julia Morris is from San Antonio, Texas. The last time her hometown had snow was in February 2021, when all of Texas experienced harsh freezing weather for several days, covering the land in 6-8 inches of snow. Said Morris: “It’s just so much fun to look at and play in. […]This is a rare thing for me and so it’s always a very exciting time.”
Junior economics major Sarah Johnson is from Georgia.Said Johnson: “[I] haven’t seen snow back home for a few years, so this is quite the surprise.”
The excitement didn’t just extend to those who don’t see snow often. Senior business major Emily Jorgensen from Wisconsin said: “I’m loving the snow. It’s a fun reminder of home and a good surprise! When I first decided to move to Texas I never expected snow in general so the amount that we’ve gotten has been exciting.”
Deacon Ryan Sales, Director of Campus Ministry, is originally from Alberta, Canada. He said: “It feels like I’m literally living inside of a meme. Back home in Canada, we used to joke about southern Americans and their response to a dusting of snow and a bit of ‘cold’ weather and now I’m living it. It’s surreal.”
Fr. Thomas Esposito O. Cist., associate professor of theology, said: “I love snow. I grew up in Nebraska, and this makes me feel like I’m back home as a ten year old, eating mouthfuls of the delicious snow! I had a spectacular wipeout on my walk home to Cistercian from UD. Overly confident in my ability to walk on icy snowy ground, I almost did a flip in the air before landing on my butt. Luckily, no bones were broken – only my pride was wounded!”
The weather not only brought ice and snow to Irving, but also a small break at the beginning of the semester Campus closed at 5pm on Friday, January 23 and remained closed on Monday,Tuesday, and Wednesday, resulting in more free time to enjoy the snow.
Said Jorgensen: “Snow has always brought the inner child out in me, but the [inner] children are coming out on a whole new level in native Texans and other southerners. It’s so endearing to watch them all awestruck. It reminds me to not take [it for granted].”
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, many students, faculty and their families with young children brought sleds, toboggans, makeshift trash bag sleds, wood and cardboard to sled down the hill by Clark Hall.
Said Morris: “This seems to have been really great on a community level. A lot of people are hanging out together or groups of people you’ve never seen talking to each other are sledding down the hill at the same time. It just seems to bring out the best in everyone in terms of all of us just wanting to have a good time while also staying safe and not doing anything too stupid.”
Said Sales: “Watching everyone enjoy the snow brings me so much joy. Watching folks use a chunk of cardboard to go sledding, or the sheer joy on people’s faces as they look at our ‘winter wonderland’, that makes me happy!”
Isabel Anderson, senior theology major, said: “It’s great seeing everyone hangout and turn into a little kid.”
In the slow moments of Sunday, half of the student apartments lost power. The power was back on before the evening, but there was a little chaos while students scrambled to find warm places to enjoy their morning breakfasts and coffees.
The outage was a further indicator of the sense of community the snow had brought with it. Students were quick to offer hospitality to those without power, resulting in many small gatherings across the student apartments and condos.
Not only has the snow brought joy and excitement, but it has brought a sense of peace to campus. The calm of snow falling down slowly is a reflection of the slowness that winter brings in.
Yesy Castillo, Campus Minister, said: “During these days, I have been reflecting on peace. A lot of people, unfortunately, have been struggling during this winter storm. I pray they are okay! However, there are several people who are safe and have been invited to embrace peace, something we lack in our fast paced society.”
Castillo continued, saying: “It makes me happy to see that many of them have accepted [the] invitation and are playing in the snow, walking or spending time with their loved ones. Peace lies in the little joys in life.”
Morris said: “It’s also just wonderful for the sense of wonder [the snow] brings: taking the time to sit or walk around in the quiet and tranquility of the snow. It’s beautiful to watch and also something about the experience is just so peaceful and contemplative. It’s wonderful for the community, while also being wonderful for the individual soul.”
The excitement of this past weekend has given the UD community a sense of joy and peace that will spur onwards into this spring semester.