This is a live webcam showing pedestrian activity in front of a couple buildings. Do not make a judgment call based on this narrow view. Keep in mind the U is gigantic, but is is always fun to see the variety of students and the way they dress or what type of backpack they use. I wish i could share with you when the busy times are, but I don’t know the time of day when most classes are beginning or ending.
http://cse.umn.edu/dashboard/webcam/
Just thought some of you might find it interesting.
@kajon, Thanks. Was last year brutal winter an anomaly?
Last year’s winter was really quite extreme. We had a large number of really cold days and also more snow than average. According to the record books it was pretty bad (look here for example http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/at_or_below_zero_13_14.html). However, as a lifelong Minnesotan, this year’s mild winter seemed more unusual to me.
Another interesting link:
http://images.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/climate/journal/winter_misery_index_14_15.jpg
If you look at the chart, you’ll see that the winter of 1983-1984 was quite a bit worse than 2013-2014. I was a Sophomore living in Territorial Hall in 83-84 … so that’s my perspective.
For those who worry about brutal winters here you need to know that the East Coast was so socked-in with snow, ice and cold that three of my daughter’s colleges actually had to postpone their deadlines because no one could get to the admissions office to receive the applications. One college had so many cancelled days that I was seriously wondering if anyone was going to graduate this year. Classrooms - closed. Libraries - closed. Work/study areas - closed. Dining facilities - closed.
It’s not like New England hasn’t ever had snow or ice before. Or the Mid-Atlantic either.
Prospective enrollees at the U of MN, I have some news: you will be extremely lucky if you have even one cancelled class due to weather during your years here. And not because of some bizarre Norwegian stoicism. It’s because here we actually have the facilities, the resources and the capability to deal with all kinds of weather. Streets and outdoor walkways are plowed and salted. Bus shelters are heated. Parking spaces tend to be indoors. Walking outdoors is actually an OPTION for the most part. Your comfort has been taken into consideration. You will be just fine, and you WILL be expected to get to class in the snow and cold.
By the way, it’s not just U of MN. The skyway system of Minneapolis is a sight to behold.
So - if you are looking to do some serious academic work in a great urban area, come to the U of MN. But . . . if you are looking for a few days off from life due to the realities of weather, then this is NOT the place for you.
