You might not know the following figure—but you should. In Campus Characters, the Blue & White introduces you to a handful of Columbians who are up to interesting and extraordinary things and whose stories beg to be shared. If you’d like to suggest a Campus Character, send us an email at editors@theblueandwhite.org. Staff writer Liz Jacob profiles Phillip Dupree, SEAS ’11.

For many Columbia students, December 19, 2009 marks a night to remember: the biggest campus-wide snowball fight in recent memory. The man responsible is Phillip Dupree, SEAS ’11. What began as a simple desire to ease finals stress turned into a snow battle of epic proportions—by the early evening on December 19th the Facebook event boasted nearly 600 attendees. Dupree climbed onto Alma Mater as the throngs gathered on Low Plaza. As if parting the Red Sea with his staff, he commanded his followers to vacate a central space and form two teams. To his surprise, they obeyed. And with a “3-2-1 ATTACK!!!,” the battle began. As Dupree’s friend Katie Lupica, CC ’11, describes the snowball fight, “Other than Holi (the annual Hindu festival on Ancel Plaza), it’s pretty much the only campus event I’ve been to that was so genuinely joyful and irony-free. I think that’s pretty descriptive of Phillip as well.”

Whether describing an ornithopter for an engineering project or explaining his interests in Parkour and longboarding, Dupree radiates that irony-free enthusiasm. Take a random day Dupree spent in the city during the summer of his junior year: he had originally planned to check out a music video being shot near the Queensboro Bridge, but he returned home late that night as both a music video star (the original actor never showed up) and the proud owner of a new longboard (won in a competition while waiting for a costume change). Despite the adventurousness of that day, Dupree doesn’t think intrepidity is necessary for a fun time. “You don’t have to search high and low for something crazy to do,” he says, “but you do have to put yourself out there, make tiny, interesting choices, and watch where they lead you.”

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Bwog decrees the 2011 battle has begun. Get your asses out there!

Go get ‘em! Remember, as of right now, classes aren’t canceled, but the University does say that “conditions are subject to change.”

SNOWBALL FIGHT TONIGHT AT 7:30

With thanks to Jon Hill, Elizabeth Jacob, Mahrah Taufique, Derek Arthur, Matthew Martinez, and Michelle Madejski for the photos

For your viewing pleasure, video from last night’s snowball fight, courtesy of Danielle Noujaim:

After the overwhelming success of last night’s snowball fight, more groups are trying to extend the winter joy for another night. After all, tonight’s Primal Scream provides pretty much the perfect war cry for the start of another battle royale. One Facebook group is here, while tipsters tell us there will also be an aerial battle across 114th Street between Ruggles and John Jay. Good luck, warriors.

- Photo by HEH