Following the ever-important forecast from Punxsutawney Phil on whether spring is arriving early or not (jokes on you, general populace, spring is a myth in Maryland), University of Maryland has its own prediction event: Testudo Day. The event isn’t well known by the student body, but to administrative staff over at the Thomas V. Miller Administration building, this day is their Super Bowl.

Every year, exactly a day after Groundhog Day, Testudo’s real-life counterpart, a Diamondback Terrapin aptly named Testudo, emerges from his brumation burrow beneath the administrative building to gaze upon the world. Although Testudo Day has been a campus tradition since the university’s conception, this terrapin has been following the emergence ritual for roughly 35 years, making this particular Testudo the first of his bloodline to witness the horrible downfall of campus with the construction of the Purple Line.

If Testudo were to see his shadow, the current spring semester would have six weeks added onto the end of what would have been finals week, pushing the semester into late June. All professors have painstakingly created backup reserve lesson plans to ensure that if the semester were to be extended, there’d be no escaping it. On the plus side, the outdoor pool at Eppley will be open during the longer semester, providing an illusion of relief for students staying at AC-less hell dorms. If he doesn’t see his shadow, the semester commences as normal, and our lives will be spared.

This year, our hero (or heathen) in a full-shell emerged on a muggy Saturday morning to the sounds of jackhammers and the stench of diesel in the air. Testudo gazed downwards at his shadow, turned around, and ambled back to his burrow to sleep for the rest of the now-extended semester. The entire administrative board whooped and hollered after the event, excited that they can now pry an additional six weeks of tuition from students.

Expect calendar changes and additional tuition billings to take place within the next few weeks. If you had already purchased a plane ticket to fly home in May, postpone it to late June. The terrapin has spoken. Too bad, so sad.

Image Credits: Jesse Martin