A vision in white
An old-school blizzard Jan. 25 set the stage for an epic snowball fight on the Diag. Enjoy these winter scenes from a spontaneous battle royale, as Marcin Szczepanski, lead multimedia storyteller in the College of Engineering, takes you to the heart of the action. Get a glimpse of the snowy frontlines from the comfort of your screen and send us some memories of your own wild and exuberant days on the Diag.
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Ballers
Hundreds of students gathered on the Diag in front of the Hatcher Graduate Library for a giant snowball fight on Wednesday evening, Jan. 25.
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The wall
Before the fight began, a group of students built a snow fort for protection.
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Lay down your arms
This became the center of the battle as newcomers formed an opposing front about 30 feet away.
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Fastball
The fierce battle lasted into the night.
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Stand back
Modes of protection varied widely.
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Grrrrrrl Power
Up to six inches of snow fell in Ann Arbor. That hadn’t happened in a while.
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Meaty, beaty, big, and bouncy
And apparently, the students needed to blow off some steam.
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Reflections
… of the way life used to be. Did you ever get in on this action when you were a student?
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Be true to your school
How do you know who’s on the opposing team if you’re all wearing the Block M?
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Riders on the storm
Interesting choice.
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If you want some, take some
Get it together, baby.
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I can see clearly now
This student is either a strategic genius or a sitting duck.
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Pitch perfect
Let’s hope this apparent pitcher plays for the baseball team.
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Easy rider
Something tells me this isn’t his first snowball fight.
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Eye of the tiger
This cat’s still got a smile despite the signs of battle.
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Girls just wanna have fun
Glee is good.
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Mellow yellow
Even Pikachu joined the fray. But eventually a truce was called and the crowd dispersed. Till next time…
Cheryl McNabb - 1972
In the midst of serious study, play is so important. I will never forget night ‘traying’ on snow in the arboretum. Go Blue!
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Jim Easton - 1976
Oh Cheryl, absolutely!! Hadn’t thought about that in a while. One of my roommates worked in the dorm cafeteria (not saying which dorm Ha!) freshman year. When he was done in the spring, he borrowed (permanently!) a couple of the super big trays they baked those great cookies on. We put them to good use every winter thereafter! Thanks for jogging my great memories!
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Ron Lincoln - 1974, 1976
Epic snowball battles between West & South Quads, with medical tubing “slingshots”.
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Paul Jacokes - 1973`
In January of 1968, I was at an apartment party on State Street near Packard. There was a lot of snow and a snowball fight broke out. It was between people on the street and people in the apartments. People would join in as they passed by. Those in the apartments fought from their balconies. They were at a definite disadvantage as they did not have a lot of snow. One guy managed to get on top of the overhang for the front door of the building. He had a lot of snow, but no protection. We watched him through the glass. He split his pants. It was quite the night. It was the night my wife and I finally got together.
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Christopher Hull - 1976, '80
I wish I was there!
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Deborah Darin - '76
In retrospect, my Ann Arbor winters seem especially snowy, so beautiful and calm. And that frigid and snow-heavy winter in 76-77 will never leave me. A lot of the indelibility comes from having been on foot every day during those 5 winters, not in a car.
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Esteban Miller - 1995,1999,2002
I fondly recall a Wednesday before Thanksgiving break 1994 spontaneous snow ball fight just outside the medical school exit doors (recessed area) from snow that fell while we were in class.
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david lee - 1972
I never forget the fun while “traying” in North Campus. A friend and I borrowed trays from the dorm cafeteria after a beautiful snow fall and headed to the slopes near Bursley Hall. We had a blast!
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Judi Epstein - 1968
2nd semester1965 there was a huge, huge snowstorm that closed every campus in Michigan except the U of M. I’m sure there was over 2′ of snow and because the temperature dropped and the snow was quite wet the top layer was a crust of ice. The challenge of getting to class forced me out of the dorm. I was really surprised at the number of students who showed up for class. Great fun!!
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Skip Gerometra - 1968
Same big snow storm of Jan 1968: My college roommate Vic and I along with our new wives went out at night from North campus married student housing … “Borrowed” some kids’ sleds, and finally, all snow-covered made it back on the campus bus. Great memory of that storm.
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John Lehman - E 1976
Absolutely: traying in the Arb winter of ’75? “Aided” by a bottle of Drambuie!
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Larry Duneske - 76
When we were in A2 in the early / mid-seventies there were many deep snow fun activities prompted on by some consumption of alcohol. The best would be traying in the Arb from the Geddes road entrance. Whoa Nellie!
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John Gillette - 1974
Was there for epic West Quad (my residence) vs. South Quad battles. One time for some reason Fred Holdsworth, a pitcher in Tigers organization, was there humming fastballs at peoples heads. Was glad he was on West Quad team.
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Scott Storey - 1976
I remember that during one of those epic battles between West Quad and South Quad, someone on the top floor of South was blasting Ride of The Valkyries from their window while their neighbor dumped trash cans of snow like hot oil on the invading marauders below.
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Deborah Holdship
Hilarious. So fun!
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Viv Grill - 72
1971 Someone made a huge snowman and put it right in front of our second story apartment door!
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