On January 25, 2026, southeast Ohio was hit by Winter Storm Fern, bringing 4–8 inches of snow, hazardous travel conditions, and a Level 3 Snow Emergency that closed all roadways to non-emergency travel in Athens County. The storm forced Ohio University to close campus on Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27, with classes held virtually on Wednesday, January 28, while dangerously cold wind chills lingered below zero in the days that followed. Despite these conditions, the Athens campus remained occupied by students navigating limited mobility, safety concerns, and access to essential resources. This short documentary photo project explores the research question:
How did Ohio University students adapt their outdoor behavior during the 2026 snowstorm weather emergency?
Ohio University freshmen Andrew Miller and Couper Blind haul a dorm mattress up Jeff Hill during a Level 3 snow emergency in Athens County on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Large crowds of students gathered on the hill to sled throughout the day.
Andrew Miller, Freshmen: 1/25/2026
Reason for being outside: Andrew and his friends went out to sled down Jeff Hill on the first morning of the snowstorm, using a dorm mattress. They decided it was a fun, daring way to make memories together.
Impact of the storm on movement: Andrew said it had been extremely cold and that the week felt slow because of the weather. He expressed concern about being stuck in the dorm and about access to food.
Couper Blind (left), Justin Nadiak, Andrew Miller, and Lucas Schalmo (right), college freshmen, ride a dorm mattress down Jeff Hill during a Level 3 snow emergency at Ohio University on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. After a neighbor moved out, the friends repurposed the spare mattress as a sled, taking turns riding it down the hill multiple times. Despite the extreme cold and slow-moving week caused by the storm, they saw it as a fun, adventurous way to make memories together. “This is the best time to make fools of ourselves and make memories we’ll tell for years,” Miller said.
Ben Pirain (left), a senior and Lyla Williams (right), a freshmen, skis down Jeff Hill during the club’s “Snow Day” event in Athens County on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Snowcats promoted the event through social media, inviting students to sled, ski, and snowboard despite hazardous conditions. Students arrived with traditional sleds and skis as well as improvised options like trash can lids and IKEA bags, until police shut down the gathering around 1 p.m. due to safety concerns.
Ben Pirain, Senior: 1/25/2026
Reason for being outside: Ben, the president of Snowcats, the university’s ski and snowboard club, went out to participate in the club’s “Snow Day” event at Jeff Hill, where students were encouraged to sled, ski, and snowboard for recreation.
Impact of the storm on movement: Ben mentioned that the storm made navigating campus difficult, but he focused on enjoying organized outdoor activities while adapting to mobility challenges.
Olivia Rose, Graduate Student: 1/27/2026
Reason for being outside: Olivia went outside with her roommate to shovel her car out of the snow, which had been blocked since the first day of the storm, along with her roommates’ cars. She wanted to get out of the house and needed to go to the store.
Impact of the storm on movement: Olivia described spending most of her time having fun with friends, sledding, and socializing at the bar, rather than doing schoolwork. The storm disrupted her routine and mobility, so outdoor activity was selective and task-oriented.
Olivia Rose (left) and her roommate, Melanie Kyriacou (right), shovel their college house driveway in Athens, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. After days of being snowed in, the roommates returned outside to dig their cars out so they could run errands and get to work, as heavy snowfall from the storm had repeatedly blocked their vehicles. The storm disrupted Rose's routine and movement, so going outside became more about taking care of what needed to get done.
Magdalena Collier, a senior, walks across campus to Clippinger Laboratories at Ohio University on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. After spending much of the storm indoors with her six roommates, playing games and sledding, Collier decided to brave the cold so she could focus on completing lab assignments that had been inaccessible earlier due to the snow. Wearing extra layers to avoid frostbite, she navigated mostly cleared campus sidewalks while taking extra caution near off-campus areas, where walkways remained poorly maintained.
Magdalena Collier, Senior: 1/28/2026
Reason for being outside: Magdalena walked to Clippinger Labs because she couldn’t focus on her work at home with friends around. She had lab assignments due but couldn’t access the labs earlier due to the snow, so she walked across campus in the cold to complete her work.
Impact of the storm on movement: Magdalena noted that she wore extra layers to avoid frostbite during the 15-minute walk. Campus sidewalks were mostly clear, but sidewalks near off-campus housing were poorly maintained, requiring caution. She mentioned feeling behind academically since she hadn’t had in-person classes all week, and anticipated difficulty attending them because of the cold.
Jill Woodruff, Sadie McClinchie, and Olivia Demaree,
Seniors: 1/28/2026
Reason for being outside: This group of three students decided to go outside on Monday afternoon after finding out classes were canceled. They played pong, drank socially, and built a snowman over the next two days.
Impact of the storm on movement: They had no exposure to in-person classes and found it difficult to work academically, so they focused on indoor and nearby social activities. They enjoyed making fun memories and peer bonding despite the cold.
Jill Woodruff (left), Sadie McClinchie (center), and Olivia Demaree (right) add decorations to their snowman in front of their college home in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. After learning that classes were canceled earlier in the week, the roommates spent time outside playing pong, drinking socially, and building a snowman rather than focusing on schoolwork. With no in-person classes to attend, the group returned to the snowman over the next few days, shifting their attention toward nearby social activities and creative memories during the storm.
Emma Patsilevas (right), an upperclassman, walks toward the Charles J. Ping Recreation Center at Ohio University on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. After days cooped up at home and completing her first class of the day online instead of in person, Patsilevas turned to the gym as an outlet for movement and motivation. With sidewalks still hazardous but manageable near her home, she limited her trips outside to necessary and recreational activities during the storm.
Emma Patsilevas, Upperclassman: 1/28/2026
Reason for being outside: Emma went to the university gym, the Charles J. Ping Recreation Center, to be active and get a break after being cooped up in her house during the storm. After finishing her first online class of the day, normally held in person, she needed a change of pace, since the storm conditions had made it too dangerous for students to walk to campus and forced the university to cancel in-person classes.
Impact of the storm on movement: Emma noted that sidewalks were hazardous but manageable since she lived close to the gym. With in-person classes canceled and students moved to virtual learning, she limited her outdoor trips to only necessary or recreational purposes.
Mary Moser, Freshmen: 1/30/2026
Reason for being outside: Mary returned to campus after her parents drove her back from home. She went outside to attend in-person classes and occasionally to move her body, using the gym for exercise.
Impact of the storm on movement: She noted that co-existing with her dorm roommate in close quarters has been challenging, though manageable since their online class schedules differed. Even back in-person, it felt unusual being around her roommate constantly, but they co-existed well. She limited trips outdoors, planning them for meals, exercise, or classes, mostly relying on snacks inside her dorm.
Mary Moser, a freshman, walks across the College Green at Ohio University on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. After being driven back to campus by her parents on Monday and returning to ongoing winter conditions, Moser spent much of her time indoors, coexisting closely with her dorm roommate and limiting trips outside to classes, meals, and occasional exercise. On her first day back to in-person classes, she made her way across campus quickly, only venturing outside when necessary and relying on snacks in her dorm in between.
Conclusion:
The 2026 snowstorm significantly disrupted students’ normal routines, making movement across campus more difficult and academic motivation harder to maintain. Despite safety concerns, extreme cold, and limited mobility, many students still chose to go outside for recreation, social connection, or essential tasks, adapting their behavior based on proximity, necessity, and weather conditions. Rather than prioritizing schoolwork during the closures, students often focused on maintaining social bonds and finding moments of enjoyment, whether through sledding, organized activities, or shared time with roommates and friends. Overall, the storm reshaped how students interacted with their environment, highlighting adaptability, creativity, and the importance of social connection during periods of disruption.
