Arts and Culture | Art and Architecture

Buster the Snowman: Meet the minds behind the 13-foot tall sculpture that took campus by (snow)storm

Amid last month’s northeastern blizzard, a ragtag team of Columbia students built the snowman from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.—creating friendship along the way.

By Esmeralda Paredes / Deputy Photo Editor
Members of the over 100-person team that built Buster the Snowman.
By Taylor Graham • March 13, 2026 at 3:14 AM











Photo by Esmeralda Paredes / Deputy Photo Editor
The team used apples and pears from John Jay Dining Hall for Buster’s eyes and buttons, tree branches from Riverside Park for his mouth and arms, and a carrot for his nose.





Photo by Esmeralda Paredes / Deputy Photo Editor
The team and Buster the Snowman’s “signature slant.”











Photo by Esmeralda Paredes / Deputy Photo Editor
Vu, Verdié, and Foisy, in front of Buster the Snowman.
















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