The library was a quiet as a mouse during the first days of the New Year We found some mice in the library too. New and transfer students were welcomed by the library staff prior to the arrival of returning students and faculty. They met some of the staff and learned about the history of the library and the services we provide them. As I like to say, Sweet Briar is small but our resources are great!
The new students are a diverse group that somewhat reflects the student community as a whole. There are several students who are entering college for the first time. One is from China but has lived in New York for a while. She has already met Sweet Briar’s other students from China. I had two Chinese students in my hiking the Blue Ridge class during the fall and they are vibrant and so much fun to be with. Two of the new students will play varsity sports. One is an ex-Marine and has travelled all over the world in the corp. One is a grandmother who also works a part time job with a local surveyor. She hopes to major in Engineering and was quite amazed by the recent gift of $3 million to the Engineering Department by Margaret “Peggy” Jones Wyllie class of 1945. One of our transfers has attended four colleges to date and is set on making Sweet Briar her final place of matriculation.
Classes started on January 20 and students began to move their belongings back into different study areas of the library – large tables, balcony and third stack monk cells were occupied. Stacks of books and backpacks appear like snowbirds in advance of the next storm. As I write this, we are anticipating a new storm in the middle of our annual Fringe Festival. My band was to play music for the Virginia Reel and Celtic Dancing. I’ve been teaching the Virginia Reel to Amherst County 5th graders for the last ten years as a program for SBC’s Art Day. I was going to do this for the Fringe Fest while the arts & crafts show was going on.
Monday morning update – The new storm did dump 15” in this area. Sweet Briar College closed on Friday and students had an R & R day. From postings on Facebook, some used this free day to reading and research. The library remained open. Others used it to play in the white winter wonderland. Most of the Fringe Festival events were cancelled. We are looking wearily towards the next prediction of sleet and snow. This winter has been an El Niño one at its best!
Categories: Higher-ed, Sweet Briar College