Dear students, faculty and staff,
Welcome back to our beloved town and campus. I suppose you were snowed in at some point. You may have noticed bone-breakingly slick sidewalks, puddles larger than children’s swimming pools and an overcast that would put a Londoner in the doldrums. This year, the soupy, frozen mess has started to wear on the group.
We are in South Dakota, God’s country, and a little weather is not enough to faze our gentle dispositions. To misquote Winston Churchill, it is simply something up with which I will not put. Mark Twain once said, ‘Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.’ I intend to.
Regardless of rain, sleet, snow or hail, keep a positive mental attitude. In short, turn those frowns upside down, gang. Highlight the positives. Weather small talk is everywhere. My barber and I have never been chattier. Friends: There is no better reason to spend a day inside with friends than the meteorological circus going on outside. I prefer studying, watching movies and playing ball in the house.
Far be it for me to push my social agenda on others but this is a call to action. USD community, it snows and pours, puddles and freezes. Lock it up and cheer up. We are in South Dakota and, personally, I would not have it any other way. Happy skating.
Candidly,
Frank Depaula
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