Kim Williams
Features Editor
For many, snow evokes childhood memories of days off of school, snow ball fights, and hot cocoa. But this February storm, called “Snowmageddon” by President Obama, sent more snow our way than most would ever have hoped for.
Dr. Ethan Seidel, the college’s Vice President, said “of course, being a college, the greatest impact from the storms was the cancellation of classes. We’ll have to figure out how to compensate for the lost week.”
While many students were pleased by the break from classes, there were problems brought about by the inclement weather that were not enjoyed. Sophomore Shelby Parenteau, whose ankle was fractured during the storm, said that it is “very hard to get around.” Junior Zander Roell also dislocated his shoulder during the storm.
Junior Hannah Elovich described that in the “house I rent with three roommates who are also students here at McDaniel… since the ice and icicles were so heavy, it pulled down the gutter on one side and part of the siding under the gutter.”
Elovich’s house was not the only building to be hit hard. Dr. Seidel said, “There was damage to the gutters at the Garden Apartments. My guess is that until more of the snow clears from the roof, it will be difficult to assess the full extent of the damage.”
The snow was not only an expense as far as the toll on buildings. Dr. Seidel remarked that “we did contract with Thomas, Bennett, and Hunter to aid in snow removal… They possess heavy equipment that was really helpful in clearing roads and parking lots. At this point, it’s still too early to know the cost for this work.”
That is not to say the blizzard had no positive aspects. Senior Jessie Largent said “even though it was horrible and inconvenient, it was the first time I can remember playing out in the snow for over an hour in years which was pretty awesome.”
Michael Webster, Director of Campus Safety, said, “The biggest challenge was obviously moving around the campus. I enjoyed watching my kids play in the snow.”
In spite of the difficulties caused by the incessant snowfall, campus life went on. Mitchell Alexander, Director of College Activities, said that “the biggest challenge concerning events is making sure that all of the parties involved know that the events are still happening…such as the Stuff-a-Buddy.” While keeping events running smoothly during the storm required a lot, activities such as the Stuff-A-Buddy event on Feb. 11th where students gathered to make stuffed animals definitely brought in a crowd.
Furthermore, the exemplary work put in by a multitude of staff cannot go without mention. For instance, Valerie Westbrook, Coordinator of Conference, Camp and Event Scheduling, said “While we were safe in our warm homes [the grounds crew] were going to be out in the snow for endless hours to make the campus safe for all of us.”
In appreciation for this hard work, Westbrook said, “I thought about baking something for them to munch on during their breaks. I then invited other co-worker/friends on campus to join me. The outpouring of generosity was overwhelming. We had everything from canned soups, baked goods to hand warmers.”
While the snow caused many difficulties, the effect of the storm can best be summed up by Westbrook, who said of the donations made to the grounds crew “that I saw the college community come together for a common cause. It warmed my heart. It isn’t until we truly come together that we will see how strong this campus really is.”