Tufts Blogs

President’s Lawn, or Prez Lawn, is the center of the Tufts campus. A rollicking hill filled with lush green grass, with a path dividing down the middle leading up to Ballou Hall, perfect for photoshoots and being in nature. It witnesses all four seasons and chronicles the experiences of all the students here. Let me take you on a journey through Prez Lawn’s four seasons.

Spring has arrived. The fresh new blades of grass work their way through the stubborn patches of snow that remain despite the 50 degree weather. The trees reveal their buds, taking in the breeze, and the laughter of students fills the air, playing sports or out for a run, though it is still a bit too cold to gather out. As the temperature rises, students gather on the lawn with their picnic blankets, some food, and a book, to soak in the sunshine in their short sleeves, forgetting the frigid just a few months ago. Finals pass, students leave, and Prez Lawn becomes host to the seniors saying their bittersweet goodbyes as they depart for their adult lives. We swell into…

Summer’s dog days. Prez Lawn is pretty empty, except for the few students staying on campus pausing to escape the unrelenting heat under the brilliant, verdant foliage. The locals bring their kids or their pets to frolic and bask in the glow of the sun. In the evening, the hill becomes an overlook for sunset-gazing and awaiting a new day. Just watch out for the mosquitoes that awaken during this time and swarm in the grass! One hot day after another, the days start getting shorter, and the students come back, leaping into…

Fall. The beginning of the season is still warm enough to gather on the lawn, with a cozy fall jacket. Watch the trees as they perform a metamorphosis, their leaves blazing into red, yellow, and orange, and each one spirals down from above. The wind scatters them around before they come to their resting place. Days pass and the nights settle in earlier while one by one, students eschew the outdoors for staying in. As early as November, the temperature bites. Frost gathers on the grass, which has lost its verdance, opting for a washed out yellow. It’s a sign of…

Winter. Most days, Prez Lawn’s only inhabitants are chairs. However, you just might wake up one morning to cancelled class and see a frosty white wonderland has blanketed the lawn. Then, students run outside again to partake in a quintessential staple of the season: sledding! Grabbing a sled or some cardboard, racing and tumbling down the lawn, laughing with snow plastered to your skin. A few daredevils may ski down the lawn. It’s a great few moments to relive your childhood. 

What goes around comes around, and soon the cycle starts again. Whatever state Prez Lawn may be in, its beauty never diminishes.