Winter has its final siege at Cannon and Barresi Halls
For students living in first-year residence halls, the Feb. 26 snow day and following weekend was the perfect time to build large snow forts and hold a siege against intruders.
“It was necessary to build such a large fort because our freshman class wanted it to be known that no matter how high upperclassmen and jocks think they are, they will not destroy the dreams of artists and engineers,” first-year BFA student Brandon Warren said in an e-mail to the Fiat Lux. “If they do, we will bounce back with something that has a design twice that of before.”
The fort was located between Barresi and Cannon Halls, surrounding a tree, and had walls that were six- to eight-feet tall. The fort lasted until at least spring break, when the sun and warmer weather claimed the fort and turned it back into water.
This fort, however, was actually the second version.
According to Warren, the first fort, standing at about four-feet tall, was built Feb. 26 by students Jack Lancto, Tyler Beaulieu, Wolfgang Corcoran-Mathe and Elliot Severn. That night, the fort was “reduced to rubble” by another group of allegedly drunken students.
Warren, with the help of students Ian Grosskopf, Jason Patrick, the fort’s original builders, passers-by and an Ade Hall worker took nine hours the next day, until 10 p.m., to rebuild the fort, making it taller and adding defensive measures.
“After having rebuilt this fort twice the height and even thicker than the first fort, it became much easier to defend,” Warren said.
One of the original fort builders, Lancto, spent the night in the snow fort, complete with a sleeping bag and alarm clock, “to keep a restful watch on it.”
Fending off jeers and accepting praise from other students walking by the tightly protected snow fort, the group successfully prevented another assault.
“We are all very thankful to those that helped, and we're glad our determination brought people together to produce this snow artwork,” Warren said.
