OSU students find re-leaf from finals with giant pile jump
STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) — It was an unbe-leaf-able sight at Oklahoma State University. Students took a break from the books during the week before finals to channel their inner child.
It's a quintessential fall in Stillwater. The leaves on the trees are changing colors amid the hustle and bustle of students preparing for finals.
In front of the Edmon Low Library is a giant pile of leaves, with students screaming, laughing, and jumping for joy.
It all started on social media. OSU students requested a re-leaf from studying. Word eventually got back to grounds keepers.
"I knew we could make that happen," said John Lee, the director of Landscaping Services at OSU. "The landscapers pulled this off in three days."
"They put some work into putting this all in here," said a student standing in the pile, with leaves up to his knees.
Groundskeepers took all the leaves from the central campus. The pile was originally about 15 feet high, but it wouldn't last long with the Oklahoma wind.
After spreading it out across the grass, Lee said the result is a 16,000 cubic foot pile of fun, just waiting for students to flip out when they saw it.
"This is the biggest event of the century for sure," said a student, shortly before doing a front flip into the pile.
"We didn't know what to expect," said another student.
"I thought it was going to be up to my ankles, my knees, and it was just completely... It was all over the place," said Zoey Lewis, an OSU senior.
This autumnal outing is a first for cowboy nation. It could possibly be the start of something to look forward to every Fall.
"I hope this does become a tradition," said Lee.
"I might make a trip back just to see the giant leaf pile again," said Lewis. " It was a good way to just get stress relief when we all feel like we're dying."
The director of landscaping said they're wondering if it's a world record. If it's not, they'll probably make it bigger next year.
"This is so much better than writing my essay for a class. Happy dead week. Go pokes!" said a student before jumping in.