LSSU to have annual Snowman Burning

It was originally scheduled for last Thursday but was postponed due to high winds in the forecast.

This delay is a testament to the relentless grip of winter this year. With 183.7 inches of snowfall so far, and now strong seasonal winds, it seems winter is determined to leave its mark — but Lake State is equally determined to burn away all things winter and welcome spring in fiery style.

This year’s theme, “From Flakes to Flames,” captures both the harshness of the season and the community’s readiness for renewal. “When I first arrived at LSSU, I was unsure about the Burning of the Snowman tradition, but now, after spending my first winter here, one with record snow, I’m wholeheartedly embracing it,” LSSU President Dr. David Travis said, reflecting on the record snow.

The event will feature remarks from Dr. Jamie Zamjahn, interim vice president for enrollment management and student success; performances by Art Club Writing Contest winners; and an announcement by Kiley Hoff, Inter-Greek Council president. The evening culminates with the symbolic burning of the snowman, a tradition started in 1971 by the Unicorn Hunters, a student group that believed the ritual would ward off lingering winter storms. With this winter’s persistence, LSSU is counting on it more than ever.