As around 8 inches of snow fell on LSU’s campus, students bundled up to enjoy the second-largest snowfall in Baton Rouge history.
Though some students still had virtual class or assigned work to complete, many took to the Parade Ground to have snowball fights, build snowmen, make snow angels and enjoy a snow-covered campus. Others walked to the levee to sled, using laundry baskets, cardboard boxes, plastic container lids and even an inflatable boat to coast down the embankment.
Dylan Viguerie, an architecture freshman, was making a block of snow on the Parade Ground. A Baton Rouge native, he said he was surprised it snowed so much. Though he has skied before, he hadn’t had much experience with snow, and was excited about the wintery weather.
“I mean, I like the cold,” he said, “and you get off school.”
Another group of students came to the Parade Ground for a snowball fight. While waiting for their friends, they began to build a snowman. One student, communication studies freshman Hannah Kogul, said she was shocked to get a day off school in Louisiana for snow.
“I’m from Maryland, so I’m used to the snow,” Kogul said, “but I never thought we’d get snow here.”
Kogul explained how nice it was to see so many students out in the snow, and was happy to spend some time with friends.
“It just seemed so wholesome to build a little snowman and see everyone out. You see people you’re not seeing out usually,” Kogul explained. “It’s just really wholesome and fun.”
Sophomore Lucy Fisher, a sports administration major, was also working on the snowman. Having some experience with snow, she said she was skeptical of the weather reports this week.
“When I chose to go to LSU – I’m from Tennessee – I would have never thought we were going to get this much snow,” Fisher said. “When they said there’s going to be six inches of snow, I said, ‘No way.’ I did not believe it.”
Kogul also was in disbelief, saying she thought the predictions were a “hoax.” Both students were unsure if campus would reopen Thursday.
“It depends on how fast it melts,” Fisher said. “You know, we’re not used to the snow here. Nobody has plows or anything, so it’s like everything just shuts down.”
Alex Neswold, a freshman majoring in political science, also thought campus would remain closed Thursday. Being from Chicago, Neswold is used to snowy weather and worries it will be too icy for students and staff to drive to campus.
“It’s all going to freeze over [Wednesday], and there’s no way that it’ll be safe to drive on Thursday,” Neswold said, “and there’s so many off-campus commuters.”
Neswold said it was fun to see people from Louisiana trying to navigate the snow, which she saw as she drove around Baton Rouge Tuesday morning.
“I think it’s so fun because everyone is acting like kids again,” Neswold said. “I love it. I love seeing it.”
