Cold temperatures, icy pavement, and frigid winds put students on edge, especially as the single-digit temperatures continue to grace the campus. With the persistence of below-freezing temperatures, Oles seek warm, indoor activities to keep them entertained.
Winter Week, a St. Olaf tradition popular in the 1990s, was “an opportunity to relieve the ‘winter blahs,’” according to Siri MacGregor ’97. MacGregor described Winter Week in the March 3, 1995 edition of the Olaf Messenger — then called the Manitou Messenger).
“Winter Week […] was six days of activities designed to brighten the grays of winter,” MacGregor wrote.
The 1995 Winter Week began with a Sex Talk hosted by the Peer Helper Network. Other events included a visit from a caricature artist, a performance by the Limestones, a comedy set by MTV DJ and comedian Ed Marquez, and a scavenger hunt with a 19 inch color television as the prize.
Perhaps the most intriguing events were the “Velcro wall jumping night” and “human bowling.” The former included “putting on a Velcro-covered suit and attempting to stick to an inflated wall of Velcro.” About 100 students participated, but one was so enthusiastic that he was nicknamed “Velcro Man.” At human bowling night, “participants were put in an American Gladiators-style circular metal cage, where they rolled down a ‘lane’ and tried to knock over as many larger-than-life pins as possible.”
The week concluded with the Campus Band Extravaganza — an event not usually associated with Winter Week. The event featured many bands of various musical genres.
Ole Traditions, the student organization that planned Winter Week, was proud of the event’s outcome. “Winter Week was really successful,” Member Michelle Overtoom ’96 said. “I think people had a lot of fun.”
Jennie Nelson ’97 reiterated her statement. “It was as much fun watching others as it was to actually participate,” Nelson said.
“Whether watching or being a part of last week’s activities, Winter Week provided a much needed break for Oles as they await the arrival of spring,” MacGregor wrote.
Winter Week may no longer be a concrete St. Olaf tradition, but other events continue to keep students entertained during winter. In the past few weeks, various campus organizations have hosted events including a Wordle tournament, Indoor Recess, Grocery Bag Bingo, and campus Olympics.