Record-breaking snowfall brought fun and stress

By Julia Ballard

Staff Writer

Due to snowfall and icy conditions on campus, a three-day weekend turned into more than a week off of in-person classes and normally scheduled campus activities for students and staff.

In a recent article reporting on snowfall from The Tennessean, Nashville received 7 1/2 inches of snow in under a week, and due to warmer temperatures following the storm, caused a layer of ice to cover the campus.

The layer of this ice resulted in a prolonged start back to classes.

“Having a week off school was really great and fun, but it was really difficult for me to maintain any routine during snow week,” said Ashtyn Underwood, a junior communication studies major.

Dr. Tom Middendorf, university provost, was the voice for decisions on class meetings and how to navigate the unexpected weather. He expressed that even though the lack of clarity on weather conditions caused anxiety and pressure, there is nothing more important than the safety of students and employees.

Middendorf owes gratitude to all who worked together to keep the campus running even through the week of unknowns.

“I want to say thank you to our students for their understanding and patience in these moments,” said Middendorf. “My hope for our community is to now find that rhythm that is so important as we try to find the right balance to study, develop deep relationships, and have fun. You can still find joy even when things don’t go as planned.”

Even though the responsibilities that Middendorf and many others in charge endured through the unknowns, Middendorf wanted to make sure that gratitude was shown to those in our community who may be overlooked.

“Sodexo employees didn’t miss a beat and came to campus to serve food. Some of the members of our security team slept on campus to ensure that we were protected. Our Plant Operations team sent members to begin clearing roads and sidewalks. Our residential life team takes on more responsibility when the general employee population can’t get to campus. There are many others, but these are all examples of servant leadership,” said Middendorf.

Snow week shifted the Trevecca norms ranging from class schedules to chapel and SGA events. Whether campus happenings were rain-checked, rescheduled or canceled, many had to figure out ways to adjust to the weather circumstances.

“We all had to adjust and adapt to snow shutting things down for way longer than anticipated. We postponed an event for later in the semester so all students could have access to that,” said Natalie Specht, director of student life.

For many, a week-long vacation from daily tasks and responsibilities can be fun and desirable, but for others who may struggle with mental health, it can be daunting.

“Anybody being stuck at home for a long time with limited ways to interact with others don’t really thrive in that sort of situation,” said Crayton Coan, an intern at the counseling center.

Self-care such as going for walks, taking a shower, putting on makeup and eating well is a priority after coming out of an unexpected start to the semester, said Coan.

“Find the things that fuel you,” said Coan. “Finding things that you like to do for yourself and then doing them for the reason that you’re investing in yourself is an important investment along with school and work.”

When it comes to motivation, it’s important to communicate not only with your peers for accountability and relatability, but with your professors as well.

“With the snow happening so early on and throwing people off, having open communication with professors and keeping people aware of where you are if you’re struggling in a class is important,” said Coan.

You can reach out for an appointment by visiting the main Counseling Center SharePoint page and clicking the “schedule an appointment” button, which connects to a form to complete. You may also reach out to Director of Counseling Services Miller Folk at mmfolk@trevecca.edu, or send an email to counselingservices@trevecca.edu.