With more than 10,000 students on campus it can be difficult to meet new people. For Tyler Paschall, senior from Memphis, Tenn., his snakes are his conversation starter.

“Once you move off campus, it’s hard to meet people and the snakes are a talking point.” Paschall said. “Most people love seeing them, but there are a good number that give me a wide distance.”

Paschall actually brings his snakes on campus so they can get some fresh air and sunshine and so other students can meet them.

According to Paschall, not everyone is excited to see snakes on campus. Some passerbyers have even called the police about him.

“I never really got in trouble for bringing them, but people have called the cops on me.” Paschall said. “I wasn’t doing anything illegal or against University policies, so there was nothing they could really do, but it hurt that people felt the need to call the cops.”

Though Paschall has liked snakes since he was little, he wasn’t allowed to have one because his dad didn’t like them.

Paschall got his first snake three years ago, a ball python he named Lenny. Aside from the ball python, he also has three corn snakes of different ages named Circe, Xena and Demeter.

“I actually see them as better pets than dogs or cats because they are easier to take care of; they don’t carry diseases like rabies,” says Paschall. “Also they don’t shed on the furniture, or claw anything and if they bite you, they cause a lot less damage.”

When handling the snakes students usually just hold them in their hands and let the snakes curl around their arms and wrists, but some students let them wrap around their shoulders and through their clothes.

Student Andrea Wright, freshman from Broughton, Ill., had a similar experience with one of Paschall’s corn snakes.

“I had a knitted scarf on one day and Circe managed to loop through one of the stitches but was so fat she got stuck halfway and we had to pull her out backwards,” Wright said. “My scarf still has a hole in it.”

Lenny and the other snakes Paschall owns are from people he knew who needed to find new homes for their pets or from snake breeders.

Paschall also loves teaching students about them while on campus. To him, nothing feels better than helping someone conquer their fear of snakes. Allowing the students to meet and handle the snakes helps to change their view towards them.

Due to the cold weather, Paschall hasn’t had the chance to bring the snakes to campus this semester but hopes to bring them back when the weather gets warmer.

“I do plan on bringing them back when it warms up, but the weather isn’t there yet.” Paschall said. “I don’t care if I have a book with me or I’m on a computer; I love when people take an interest (in the snakes).”

Story by Brandon Cash, Staff writer