Winter weather in southwest Kentucky may be short-lived, but the cold doesn’t pull punches this time of year. Whether you walk from the residence halls to the Quad every morning, or you’re a commuter worried about your car, everybody should keep an eye on the forecast and have cold-weather supplies handy.
The campus closed twice before the semester began, and following last week’s cold weather advisory from the National Weather Service, temperatures dipped into the single digits. Nevertheless, in-person classes continued to meet.
Sidda Roche (they/them), junior anthropology major, is one of many students who struggled through last week. They said the frigid temperatures affected them on walks as short as the Curris Center to the Oakley Applied Science building. Even inside the Blackburn Science building, they called their classroom “horrifically cold.”
“I truly think if it reaches a certain level of cold outside, we should do (classes over) Zoom,” Roche said. “If I am in physical pain because of how cold it is outside, I shouldn’t be going to class.”
However, holing up in the residence halls presents its own issues this time of year. Roche lives in Regents Hall where they said there’s no middle ground between a swelteringly hot room— even if the air is turned off— or a freezing one as soon as a window is cracked open.
Kenny Rogers, sophomore wildlife biology major, has experienced heating issues this school year in academic buildings as well. Near the end of the fall 2024 semester, he said the Pride Center in the Oakley Applied Science building got very hot, and now it’s cold enough to keep your coat on indoors.
“Why was the heat on (in Oakley) when it was 50 degrees— why was it blazing in here— and now it feels like it’s off?” Rogers said.
Lennon Mitchell (they/she), senior chemistry premedical major, said they actually enjoy the cold weather. However, when even Mitchell started to feel cold on the way to the Lowry Center, they said that was a bad sign for other students.
The Women’s Center provides donated coats, gloves, hats and scarves to students at no cost, which many on campus have taken advantage of already. Abigail Cox, director of the Women’s Center, said the supply of cold-weather gear is already running low and she is reaching out to collect donations.
If free resources are not available, Roche recommended looking for inexpensive blankets, clothes and hand-warmers at Five Below and the Big Lots going-out-of-business sale. They also said to remember no one is judging your outfit when the weather is harsh, so prioritize comfort over coordination.
Rogers added his own advice on cold-weather clothing: he said to wear easily removable layers so you don’t get overheated in classes.
Mitchell said staying hydrated is even more important when it’s cold out. They also advised people to avoid jumping straight into a hot shower after getting out of the cold because the dramatic shift in temperature can do more harm than good.
“My biggest piece of advice is (to) do what you need to do,” Mitchell said. “You know what your body needs and doesn’t need.”
While it seems to be warming up now, it’s still important to stay prepared for cold weather this winter and stay safe on campus.
