Anyone tempted by the mild conclusion of the Fall Semester to believe that New England's much bragged-about winters were nothing more than hot air was certainly reminded of both the beauty and ferocity of local winter with this weekend's storm. The howling winds and heavy snowfall wrought by one of the areas worst blizzards also served to give newly returned community members a day off to enjoy the snow and engage in one of the grandest New England traditions: shoveling out.
While shoveling, many students discovered a rare commodity on the hill: positive and friendly interactions with neighbors and community members. Yesterday's snow day dawned with students and local residents alike digging out of their houses and marveling at the massive amount of snow that found its way here. Students and neighbors were both faced with the same task (somehow digging through the snow) and as a result were able to enjoy each other's company.
This cooperation is not just important in terms of clearing one's sidewalk. We need to have more days like yesterday, where students and local residents are brought together by common tasks and achieve mutual understanding that is, like warm winds, often lacking on the hill.
It wasn't only work that made town-gown relations seem a little brighter yesterday. Throughout the day the President's Lawn was filled with local families, many with children enjoying the snow day, sledding, throwing snowballs, and all-in-all appreciating Tufts' beautiful campus. It was refreshing to see not only a day away from work for most students and residents, but such a day enjoyed together.
Perhaps the most inspiring story of the storm, however, belongs to neither the students nor to the local residents, but rather the dining hall staff who went above and beyond the call to make sure snow-hungered students could eat. Most students no doubt noticed that Sunday was not a day to go to work, yet dining services employees stayed overnight on Saturday to ensure that they would be able to feed Tufts. While students often gripe about various dining related concerns, they should pause to appreciate the hard work of TUDS. The dedication evinced by TUDS employees is typical of many who work here at the University: we owe them our sincere gratitude.
Snow days are rarities, especially at Tufts, and as such they should be appreciated by students. What should also be appreciated, however, is the positive non-academic side of the University that everyone saw yesterday. Our mittens may be wet and cold, but at least our relations with neighbors are a bit warmer.
