Starting early this past week, whispers about an incoming snow storm started to circulate the Hollins campus. By Wednesday morning, professors had started issuing pre-emptive warnings about the potential for cancelling their classes due to the weather. Everywhere on campus, students could hear different estimates for snow accumulation: 7 inches, 10 inches, 14 inches, and more. By Wednesday night, the storm had rolled in, and the snow started. After all the rumors, both hopeful and grumbled circulated, Hollins cancelled class, and the students had their first snow day in years.
Over the course of the two-day storm, the Hollins community saw upwards of two feet of snow. In preparation for the snow day, the Hollins Outdoor Program (HOP) left out sleds that were free for student use. Several snowmen popped up on campus, including one who looked distinctly like Frozen‘s Olaf, and the traditional Hollins snow penis in front of the Cocke building made a brief appearance. Students enjoyed sledding during both the day and night, and everyone was happy to discover that Hollins would be granted not one, but two snow days.
The second snow day saw an epic snowball fight between Hollins alumnae and current students, and several adventuresome students built up a jump on the sledding hill behind Tinker Beach. Friday’s temperatures hit the low 50s, and so students took advantage of the rare combination of warm weather and lots and lots of snow.
On a more serious note, the storm kept Hollins’ maintaince staff working hard Wednesday evening through Friday evening. The Hollins adminstration opened up the currently unoccupied Randolph dorm to allow workers to have a place to sleep. Students heard plows running all through the night on Wednesday, and while some were frustrated that the noise had kept them up, all expressed a gratitude towards staff that is rarely outwardly seen.
And all that work didn’t go to waste. By Friday afternoon, campus was more easily navigated, and the pavement could be seen in many places once more. Now students are wondering just how long this snow will stick around.