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The Rotunda
Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Dear Hurricane Joaquin,

Although you left damage in your path to various areas of North America, here at Longwood University you were more like a five year-old crying about not getting the latest Frozen dress at Wal-Mart for Halloween. Your spittle of cold rain and some-what harsh winds left Oktoberfest at an awkward place.

Even though the bands went on with a small parade of organizations in Willet Hall, the rest of Oktoberfest was moved to October 23rd and Battle of the Bands moved to October 30th. For freshman highly anticipating their first Color Wars and seniors their last, your impact made for a serious downer on the weekend celebrations. Belk was already bought out of stock of their white t-shirts in preparation, and you ruined the occasion. Although the celebrations were cancelled, no one would have probably enjoyed any of the festivities in the cold rain and wind.

With the festivities cancelled there is currently the added pressure of selling all the goods that the organizations had already prepared. Any food that was already bought may have already expired and art goods that were made will need to be sold in a shorter period of time. It all boils down to a shorter turn out, a shorter time period, which means for most booths and organizations less money will be made. You put a real bind on some organizations’ budget for the year, Hurricane Joaquin. For some organizations this was a major source of funding for their philanthropies or for large events within the organizations. Your sputter of a storm put a damper on pretty much the only major series of events for the fall semester.

Thanks, Hurricane Joaquin, for turning an exciting weekend into a slightly less exciting one that was only refreshed by hurricane parties held by various locations.

Hugs and kisses,

Longwood students