[Intro music: Our Fingers Cold by K2]
[Nat Sound: Wind Noises]
THIS PAST WEEK IN EVANSTON, TEMPERATURES HIT AS LOW AS -30 DEGREES WITH WIND CHILL. STUDENTS SHARE HOW THE SHIVERING TEMPERATURES HAVE AFFECTED THEIR MOOD, DAILY ROUTINE, AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING TO STAY WARM.
[EA] It’s been awful, like mentally and physically in the cold. It’s been really hard to focus and go to classes, knowing that it’s so cold outside.
THAT WAS ELLIE ADAMS, A SOPHOMORE IN BIENEN WHO SAYS SHE SPENDS THE MAJORITY OF HER TIME ON SOUTH CAMPUS EITHER IN HER ROOM OR IN CLASS.
[EA] I just don’t leave my house too much when it’s cold, and I mostly like to do work in my room at that point.
SHE SAYS SHE FEELS LAZIER THAN IF IT WAS WARMER OUTSIDE BECAUSE SHE IS NOT WORKING OUT.
[EA] I think because it’s harder to go all the way to SPAC from South Campus when it’s really cold outside, I have less determination to go to the gym.
[EA] I think that I’ve become a lot lazier, and my stamina for working out has gotten significantly smaller because I’ve been unable to run outside or go to the gym to run.
SIMILARLY, FIRST-YEAR JACK HARTFELDER, WHO IS FROM BOSTON, SAYS THERE WERE MOMENTS THIS PAST WEEK WHEN HE WANTED TO WORK OUT AT BLOM BUT WAS DETERRED BY THE COLD.
[JH] Definitely, the cold deterred me a couple of days that I would have gone.
EVEN THOUGH THE COLD IS NOT NEW TO HARTFELDER, HE BELIEVES HIS FIRST WINTER IN EVANSTON IS MORE EXTREME THAN ANYTHING HE HAS EVER EXPERIENCED.
[JH] It’s been colder than I’m used to because usually when it’s this cold, I don’t spend this much time outside.
YET, SOME STUDENTS LIKE FIRST-YEAR JOCELYN TISDALE DON’T THINK THE WEATHER HAS BEEN AS BAD AS EVERYONE HAS MADE IT OUT TO BE.
[JT] Well, I’m from Nebraska, and it gets really cold there. Like last week, it was negative 40 Windchill, so it’s worse there, and I’m just used to it.
SHE ALSO THINKS THAT PEOPLE WRONGLY ASSUME THAT CHICAGO IS COLDER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES, INCLUDING HER HOME STATE OF NEBRASKA.
[JT] Everyone thinks that Chicago is colder than Nebraska, which is not even a common thought that anyone would ever have. But when I’ve talked about it with people, yeah [they think that], but Nebraska is colder than Chicago, so this is not as bad for me.
THE COLD WEATHER HAS ALSO BROUGHT ON UNEXPECTED EXPENSES AS WELL AS A NEW ATTITUDE TOWARDS ADVENTURING TO CLASS.
[JT] I have been making the walk less. You know, like, I’ve been Ubering more, which has really sucked because I don’t want to spend money.
[EA] I try to walk to class. That’s pretty much the extent of my physical activity these days.
BUT TISDALE BELIEVES HER ATTITUDE AND INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS THE COLD MAY BE UNIQUE.
[JT ] I run very warm. So, today, I was walking around, and I lowkey was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a jacket because I was really warm from doing active stuff …But yeah, I don’t get cold that easily.
EVEN THOUGH THE WORST OF THE WEATHER IS BEHIND US FOR NOW, GOING OUTSIDE STILL SEEMS TO BE A STRUGGLE.
[JT] All my classes are south, so like walking that long was torture. It’s really awful. This morning, I was so upset to be alive and walking. It’s awful.
[JH] I’ve had classes up in tech and I live south, so there have been some really bad walks.
THOUGH THEY ALL SAY THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO STAY COZY INSIDE.
[JT] But usually, I eat a lot more hot soup; I really love that. I’ve been on my soup grind lately. I’ve been getting hot drinks at Starbucks, which is new for me.
[JH] I’ve had some movie nights with my friends where I use a blanket. Very cozy.
TISDALE ALSO SAYS THE COLD HAS FORCED HER TO TRY NEW ACTIVITIES INDOORS.
[JT] Recently, I did go rock climbing. It was fun. There was something that I did not do during the fall quarter.
IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE HALFWAY THROUGH JANUARY, STUDENTS ARE ALREADY CLAMORING FOR WARMER WEATHER.
[JT] I’m looking forward to the warmth and not having to wear a coat all the time because I don’t like it. Wearing my parka is not fun or functional. Well, I mean, it is functional for my well-being, but for movement, I don’t like it.
[EA] I’m hoping that it gets warmer.
FOR WNUR NEWS, I’M AMELIA DONHAUSER.
[Nat Sound: Snow Crunching]
[outro music: Our Fingers Cold by K2]
