Wednesday, January 14, 2015 // The Statement 3B
All the Pretty Things: The Snow
P
retty things this week: Snow.
I step out of the warm halls
of East Quad and into the chilly
streets on my way to class. I pass
countless faces, each asking the
same question: “Why, why am I
being pelted by sharp, cold daggers
of snow?” I differ from these folks,
my face upturned to the sky and
a smile on my face. Big, fluffy
flakes falling from the sky begin
to create a temporary wonderland
in the Diag. I live for
the snow. Call me
basic, but it seems as
though
something
magical
happens
when
it
snows.
I
am not even talking
about how with snow
comes the jolliness of
the holiday season.
No, snow is its own
event that promises
a
certain
cozy
quietness.
Campus
becomes
a
little
quieter, the students a
little puffier.
Snow
is
the
assurance that, “Yes,
Jackie, you should stay inside
tonight. Don’t go trudging to that
dirty party over on Hill St.” Snow
gives the permission to indulge in
that second caramel brulée latte
because it’s cold. And, I suppose
I would be lying if I claimed
the snow doesn’t conjure up the
excitement of the holidays. It’s
acceptable to listen to Charlie
Brown’s Christmas album and
wear snowflake-covered onesies
to bed. The snow is the key to all
things cozy and all things soft.
So, as I fall up the treacherous
slippery steps at the Michigan
Union in my pursuit of the Queen
of Cozy, Starbucks, I don’t look to
the snow gods and curse them, for
this is only a small token I must
pay for the feeling we all will get
at least once while going to school
in Michigan: the feeling of the first
snow and all that it promises.
ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE MILLER
While there are a range of events and memorials being held
this upcoming Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.,
here are a few ways to spend the other two days of the long
weekend.
THE LIST
2. THE TOLEDO ZOO
While there may not be many wolverines found in this state,
this zoo is one of the best in the country, hosting a wide range
of wildlife and non-Midwestern habitats. And unlike other
zoos, Toledo’s is open year-round. Only an hour outside of
A2, this is a more adventurous option than watching “Brother
Bear” again on Netflix.
GRAND RAPIDS
ARTS MUSEUM
Though Grand Rapids can
seem far (given its West
side/best side status)
this up-and-coming art
museum is worth the two
hour drive, named a 2014
notable small art museum by The Wall Street Journal.
4. WEST LAKE NATURE PRESERVE
Southeastern Michigan can thank the glaciers for its relative
flatness, but hikers still have found spots to break a sweat.
The West Lake Nature Preserve, located in Chelsea, provides
two miles of trails through wetlands, open fields and beautiful
forests. This is the place to have your Cheryl Strayed moment.
BUZZFEED, BUT BETTER
FIVE DAY TRIPS FOR THE LONG
WEEKEND
FRANKENMUTH
Michigan’s Little Bavaria
— also known as the only
Bavaria you will probably
ever actually go to . The town
is only an hour drive from A2
and is great for an afternoon
of old-timey fun.
HURON HILLS GOLF CLUB
Hear us out. While it may not be
the ideal season to golf, one thing
Michigan boasts an abundance
of is snow. And what’s better on
a snowy January Saturday than
sledding? Whether with a trash-can
lid or dining hall tray, sober or under
the influence, all college students
secretly love a good sled ride. Only
ten minutes from campus, Huron
Hills lives up to it’s name, providing
hours of cheap fun.
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3
5
B Y J A C K LY N T H O M A S
T H E T H O U G H T B U B B L E
“Our campus isn’t particularly good … The CO2 emissions that we put out per
student is the highest in the Big 10. I did a project on it last year and that was pretty
eye-opening to show how inefficient we can be at times … If we’re supposed to be
the leaders and best and have all this income to be distributing, I feel like we should
becoming more eco-friendly if we have the means to do so.”
– LSA JUNIOR, DRAKE JOHNSON, MICHIGAN FOOTBALL RUNNING BACK
PHOTO BY LUNA ANNA ARCHEY