After over a decade as a winter tradition, Rail Jam will not return to SUNY Oswego after university officials cancelled the student-run event, citing safety concerns.

Hosted annually by the Oswego Ski and Snowboarding Club, Rail Jam transforms a part of campus into a temporary snow park for the day. Club members set up ramps, rails and features that allow student skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks in front of a live audience. Participants are typically required to sign waivers before competing and the event draws not only experienced riders but also spectators who gather to enjoy the atmosphere.

The cancellation of Rail Jam came as an abrupt shock for the Ski and Snowboarding Club President, Lowden Pratt.

“There was no indication that the school wanted to shut it down at all,” Pratt said. “I got a call a week from the event [happening] from Dr. Gabe Marshall (Associate Vice President for Student Affairs) that the school’s new lawyer advised against doing the event on campus.”

This came as a gut punch for Pratt, who has helped set up the event for all four years he has attended SUNY Oswego.

“It (the cancellation) was unfortunate, it was frustrating for sure,” Pratt said. “I have been planning the event for the past two months…all of February we have been planning it. It was unfortunate to see all my hard work go down the drain. They did not respond to my emails for a week and then I got the call from Dr. Marshall.”

What was even more frustrating for Pratt was that the school was unwilling to communicate with the club on ways to keep the event on campus.

“The school wasn’t even willing to sit down with us and come up with other options,” Pratt said. “It was just a unilateral decision…the only decisions that were given were ways to move it off campus.”

Amid safety concerns, Pratt stands his ground about how the event is safe for students and the school.

“We have all sorts of safety measures, including waivers,” Pratt said. “We are there in the early mornings, making sure everything is secure…you have to wear helmets… our waivers cover general liability, you waive your right to sue in case of injury, basic waiver stuff.”

Rail Jam goes the extra mile for safety in case of a disaster as they have medical staff on site, but they also have not experienced an injury in the past.

“We have SAVAC on site, we let University Police know as well,” Pratt said. “There has never been an issue in the past with injuries, it is a clean event. No injuries have happened, not even minor, at least to my knowledge.”

Rail Jam is a huge event for the Ski and Snowboarding Club as they do not get to show off their organization on campus except for this event.

“Rail Jam means a lot for us, at least to me and the Ski Club,” Pratt said. “A lot of our stuff happens off campus, this event is the main way we bring recognition to our club on campus. We have a big snow pile and it attracts people on campus… sponsors come in like Monster and they love working with us.”

The event might not be learning-related, but it brings a sense of community to SUNY Oswego.

“The event might not be academic, the music might be too loud on a Friday afternoon, but it is about the student life and you are building that up,” Pratt said. “That to me is what will bring people here (to enroll at SUNY Oswego). You can have a brand new $80 million academic building and that can be amazing, but if the students are not enjoying themselves on campus, the struggles (with enrollment) will continue.”

The event was still popular before it was cancelled, sparking even more confusion.

“The whole situation is unfortunate, even this past year’s turnout has been awesome,” Pratt said. “The previous year we had a lot of snow and it brought a lot of people together, but even in years with no snow we have incredible turnout…after each event I have a ton of people come up to me and say they cannot wait until next year.”

There was so much reaction to the cancellation that it chained across social media.

“I heard a bunch of things, I know people have talked about it on platforms like YikYak and Instagram,” Pratt said. “It was a big thing for students, we might only have about 20 participants but we see tons of people come and join. People walk to class and think it is really cool so it truly is a gut punch to these students.”

Pratt has one message to the students that are upset about the cancellation.

“Your feelings are valid and I am equally disappointed,” Pratt said. “Keep voicing your opinions, do it the proper way, your frustrations are valid and I wish I could do more.”

The Oswegonian reached out to Student Engagement and Leadership and received this response from Vanessa Taylor, the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership at SUNY Oswego. 

“After consultation with the SUNY Office of General Counsel and the Student Association Insurance Company, the decision was made to cancel this year’s event due to concerns for student safety,” Taylor wrote in an email. “We are currently exploring new and exciting opportunities with the Ski and Snowboard Club, including potential collaborations with fellow SUNY and surrounding institutions that have similar clubs to create opportunities for students to participate in events like Rail Jam at local and state ski resorts. We look forward to identifying alternative experiences that prioritize student engagement and safety.”

While university officials say they are exploring alternative options for the club, it remains unclear whether or not Rail Jam will ever return to SUNY Oswego.