Winter and Snow? Fire me up!

Winter has officially come. I, like many other students, am enthralled with winter. I love the cold winter months when I can ski and frolic in the vast snows of Canton, New York.    

Life at St. Lawrence University is really different in the winter. I think most new students are surprised by the sudden change in atmosphere that happens after the first snow. For many, snow is seen as a drag, but here, we welcome it.    

We see the climate of social life at SLU shift during the winter in numerous ways. Whether it be more layers on the walk to the Ticker or maybe some cocoa and schnapps as the drink of choice, everyone changes a little this time of year.    

The cold brings about my favorite change: a better sense of community. As we all prep for finals and our return home, we do it in a cold environment that forces us all to be together inside.    

I remember last year on one of those infamous negative 20-degree nights celebrating Reid Wilson’s ’23 birthday. We were all debating canceling it, but instead, we crammed 100 people into a townhouse and had a blast. I love that aspect. Even in the cold, we still have fun and make it work. That is just our true spirit, Larry Landers.    

I sat down to discuss the beauties of winter life at SLU with my friend, Owen Kotula ’26.    

“Well, uh, I really like the winter. Everyone is all psyched up, ready to ski. Welcoming the snow,” Owen says with grace and elegance. “Campus is pretty. People are skiing right now at 62 Park, hitting rails. Crazy!”   

Indeed, it is crazy. Rails have already been set up around campus. Just the other day, Commons College’s very own Gibbs was blabbing on and on about the rail out behind his house in my intro German class (Gibbs decided recently he will not be taking the optional German final)!    

I wanted to dive deeper, so I asked about how we students respond to this change in environment.    

“We embrace the cold weather. All about it. North country baby,” Kotula said with elegance and grace.    

We all have our favorite winter activities. Mine is personally skiing and snowmobiling. Others might be watching movies, baking, or sitting around an open fire roasting chestnuts.    

Kotula’s is “Being able to run around barefoot in the snow and having each piece of snow come between my individual toes out on the Kirk Quad.”   

Now, that is true, SLU student, if I do say so myself.    

Though our favorite activity might be different, our favorite SLU event is shared.   

“Rail jam. Everyone is all hyped up. Hitting upper deckies, hitting lower deckies. Maybe even middle deckies,” says Kotula with eager anticipation.    

Rail Jam/Titus is, in my opinion, SLU’s most fun social gathering. Between the townhouse darty and the gathering of the entire campus on the Kirk Quad, it just brings everyone together, which, in my mind, is really the point of winter here at SLU.  

We all come together. Between grinding work or grinding ski rails, we embrace this time of year, and we welcome it with open arms.    

Kotula ends his eventful interview with a statement of encouragement for all new SLU students. “Even though I have not even been here for a full winter, I know it is going to be vibes.”  

Vibes, it will be, Owen. Vibes it will be