Cold Weather, No Heat

Gray skies, unpredictable weather, and freezing temperatures seem to be the highlight of Frostburg’s autumn climate. October weather in the area can easily be mistaken for December weather in nearly every other part of the state of Maryland by newer students. It is not uncommon to hear forecasts for snow and freezing weather by the middle of the month, a feature many students who live on campus may find frustrating as the heat had not been turned on until yesterday. The Facebook statuses of many dorm residents reflected the irritation the low temperatures seem to bring with them.

Thousands live in the 11 dormitories at Frostburg State University so the lack of heat in the residences affects a large portion of the student body. Asked how she was affected, Ana Perez-Schofield seemed at first confused commenting that, “It’s on now.” Ana, a fourth international student from Santiago de Compostela studying Translation (Foreign Languages and Literature at FSU), did mention that the cold here put her in a bad mood and made her sick. More importantly, she noted, “I don’t feel like going out.” Ana would hardly describe herself as a shut-in, especially on the weekends in Frostburg, and says it takes a lot for her to not want to go out.

Mahogany Persip beamed as she suggested a creative solution for the cold weather: “Sleep with someone, the body heat makes you feel better.”  Her answer belied the tranquil atmosphere of the 2^nd floor of the library and her studious nature as she appeared to be completing an assignment for a political science course. The senior International Studies student from Hyattsville went on to say that it “makes me not want to get out of bed, it makes me lazier.” Cold dorms may have some effect on the study habits of some students, though it doesn’t seem to bother Mahogany.

A former Resident Assistant and Head Resident, Andrea Lynch shared that she knew why the heat may not have been turned on just yet, contradicting Ana’s statement that the heat was operating. “It hasn’t been turned on because there needs to be five consecutive days of low temperatures.” While it may have been below 50° for the last two or three days, it is 60° and the forecast calls for a possibly 70° day tomorrow. The English senior from Baltimore went on to say that by now “I’m used to it. I have a space heater, but it’s not plugged in.” For some, mainly newer attendees, the unseasonable cold has had adverse consequences while others have grown used to it or found solutions to the problem. But at the end of the day, it’s Frostburg and it’s going to be cold sooner than later.

(According to many students in the campus dorms, the heat has not yet been turned on. How does this affect you?)