Slushy snowstorm no match for romantics

Slick sidewalks, lots of slush and furious winds won't get in the way of Cupid's bow, at least as far as students are concerned.

About three inches of snow hit the Philadelphia area by nightfall Tuesday night, with a mixture of sleet, snow and freezing rain falling on the city sporadically throughout the day yesterday.

Snowplows trying to remove the composite mix from West Philadelphia streets yesterday met their match, leaving piles of slush in their wake.

With the mounds of snow appearing more ashen than pearly white, it was not the winter wonderland one might expect from the typical Nor'easter.

Penn students, nevertheless, said that a little cold and mess wouldn't get in the way of their Valentine's Day plans.

Engineering senior A.J. Kaynatma decided to brave the storm and take his girlfriend out for dinner, all in the name of love.

"The cold actually made me want to go out more because I was determined to warm up my girlfriend on Valentine's Day," he said.

Wharton senior Federica Padilla Sada, who spent the day in the cold selling roses for a Wharton Latino benefit, said the weather wouldn't stop her from enjoying a dinner downtown with her friends.

"Despite the snow and cold, I still love my friends," she said.

But while the snow and slush didn't keep many students in on Valentine's Day, problems started for many waking up for classes yesterday morning.

Many students complained that high snow banks on the streets surrounding campus made them late for class.

For College and Wharton senior Mark Disston, it took one look outside to decide getting to his 11 a.m. class in Huntsman Hall wouldn't be an issue - he would sleep in.

"38th and Spruce is just like a slush pit," he said. "I don't know why they didn't plow anywhere."

When Disston did get up, a trip to Bui's Food Truck at 38th and Walnut streets was certainly in order to warm him up.

"I think when its cold and you go to Bui's and you get a nice hot bacon egg and cheese, it's totally better," he said.

It was a combination of slush and icy streets that made College sophomore Maura Cheeks's morning walk to an Annenberg class tougher than she would have expected.

"It was a pain. They should have plowed the streets earlier," she said, adding that she had to struggle to get to class on time from her house at the corner of 41st and Spruce streets.

But for others bogged down with exams and extracurricular commitments, true love would have to be found in the books.

"It's too cold, [and] I have a midterm," said College sophomore Erin Chang, who planned to spend the slush-filled night studying.

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