IT’S THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. WHICH MEANS, THE CHICAGO WINTER IS UPON US.
FOR STUDENTS FROM ILLINOIS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE MIDWEST, THIS COMES AS LITTLE SHOCK. BUT FOR THE MANY FROM STATES SUCH AS CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND FLORIDA, THERE’S A LOT TO ADJUST TO. HERE’S SOPHOMORE REPORTER ARI BERNICK WITH FIRST-YEAR MOLLY ZWIEBACH.
[Molly Zwiebach]
THESE CONCERNS ARE JUSTIFIED. WINTER IN CHICAGO OFTEN BEGINS IN EARLY NOVEMBER AND CAN LAST PAST APRIL. SNOW AND OTHER KINDS OF PRECIPITATION ARE COMMON. TEMPERATURES CAN DIP INTO THE NEGATIVES. AND THIS DOESN’T ACCOUNT FOR THE WINDS FROM LAKE MICHIGAN THAT BATTER THE CAMPUS.
[various interviews]
EVEN THOSE WITH BETTER EXPERIENCES OF THE CHICAGO WINTER HAD THEIR GRIPES. HERE’S WEINBERG THIRD-YEAR SETH PIERSON.
[Seth Pierson]
WE”RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE WINTER, AND IT’S ALREADY FEELING TOO LONG…
IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHERE TO START. HERE’S MOLLY:
[Molly Zwiebach]
OTHERS HAVE MORE CONCRETE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO HANDLE THE CHICAGO WINTER:
[interview]
GET A REALLY BIG STRONG COAT.
HERE’S SETH PIERSON AGAIN, WHEN ASKED WHAT ADVICE HE’D GIVE TO FRESHMEN.
[Seth Pierson]
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN’T BE SOLVED BY A GOOD WINTER COAT. STUDENTS FROM WARM REGIONS MIGHT NOT BE PREPARED FOR A FIVE-MONTH WINTER, PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY. THIS LACK OF PREPAREDNESS CAN SPILL OVER INTO ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE, MAKING IT HARDER TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND FOR LOWER-INCOME STUDENTS, A GOOD WINTER COAT MIGHT BE HARDER TO COME BY. SERVICES SUCH AS THE SES WINTER GEAR PROGRAM PROVIDE LOWER-INCOME STUDENTS WITH WINTER GEAR. HOWEVER, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR LOWER-INCOME STUDENTS TO INVEST IN QUALITY AND DURABLE WINTER GEAR.
ENDURING A FIVE-MONTH WINTER IS BOUND TO TAKE A TOLL, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A GOOD COAT. BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, REMEMBER WHO THE REAL ENEMY IS…
REPORTING FOR WNUR NEWS, I’M PAUL O’CONNOR. STAY WARM.
