By: Jaylen Robinson, Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Lexi Roberts

Last week, schools, businesses, and city buildings across Alabama closed due to record-breaking winter weather, marking a rare and memorable occurrence for the region. The University of South Alabama joined in, swiftly canceling all classes and sending out messages to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. 

In addition to the closures, the university made adjustments to support students living on campus. The dining hall rescheduled meal services to accommodate the weather, ensuring that students could rely on the dining hall and JagMart for food and essentials during the storm.

Amid the snowy excitement, Gamma Residence Hall’s Resident Assistant Lexi Roberts decided to turn the winter wonderland into a fun day by organizing a snowman building contest for Gamma residents at Gamma 8 and 9. The event provided a unique opportunity for community bonding and gave many students a chance to experience snow to the fullest.

“I enjoyed watching my residents in the snow and having fun! Many of them have never seen snow, so it was a new and exciting experience,” said Roberts.

The snowman building contest brought smiles and laughter to the Gamma Hall residents. After a flurry of creativity and competition, Brianna Moreland’s snowman won first place, earning her some sweet candy prizes as a reward.

Reflecting on the day, Roberts said, “I think it was a great experience for community bonding with the residents living on campus. Thankfully, classes were canceled so no one had to worry about traveling in dangerous conditions. Overall, I’d say it was a fantastic snow day.”

The rare snowfall and the spontaneous snowman building contest left students with memories they won’t soon forget, proving that even a weather-induced disruption can lead to moments of joy and togetherness on campus.