Students bask in the rays of the early November sunshine, blissfully ignorant of the harmful truth behind this heat: climate change. Although warm weather is something everyone desires in the summer, in the off-season, it is more something that we should fear. It’s wonderful that we are able to enjoy the nice sunshine that we love during the summer, but deep down we should be aware of what this weather truly means. Our climate is changing rapidly, and if we fail to acknowledge and act on it, it will surely become too late and the damage will be irreversible.
Environmental science students are the first to respond to this unexpected change in temperature in the fall. Rosie Rogers, sophomore environmental studies student, shares her insight on the heat in October:
“The unseasonably warm October weather serves as a constant reminder of the climate crisis and the urgent need for collective action. It’s unsettling to experience firsthand the shifts we study.”
In her classes, Rosie studies the ways that the climate crisis is harmful toward our changing planet. In the real world, Rosie, like the rest of us, are living through these dangerous impacts.
Our science professors are also unsure about this warm weather. Chemistry professor Paul Fazen is surprised at the fact that it was “getting toward late October and is still 80 degrees outside” as he mentioned in lecture. As a science professor, it makes sense that he is also shocked to see how much the climate is changing. The reasoning behind the warm weather shocks these scientists the most because they study the impacts of climate change.
Aside from a scientific standpoint, this warm weather disrupts seasonal expectations for most people. Everyone looks forward to the fall because it means the arrival the different flavors of pumpkin spice and apple crisp. Sophomore Lucy Flanagan shares her distress about the season: “I love pumpkin spice, but with this weather, it just feels unnatural to be drinking it. It makes it difficult to enjoy the flavors that I love with this warm weather.”
Lucy, as well as other people, have already associated the cues of the fall seasons with certain food items and flavors. Fall is known for its distinctive atmosphere and the warm weather feels more like an extension of summer than a delightful change. People traditionally crave the cozy, chilly vibe of autumn, and this warm weather is clearly portraying the opposite of that. The season feels less familiar due to the warm weather, and the sense of traditional fall weather slowly diminishes. Along with it diminishes everyone’s excitement for the season. It is difficult to embrace the mood of the season and enjoy the flavors, like Lucy’s favorite pumpkin spice, when the weather reveals the exact opposite of what people desire.
Surely there are some positives to the sunshine, including spending more time outdoors and savoring the warmth. Friends often sit on the quad, enjoy lunch outside Conn, and stroll around the neighborhoods behind south together on lengthy walks. Behind all these reasons, it is clear that warm weather often acts as a vessel for more socialization. People have more of a reason to get together because the warm weather puts everyone outside, rather than in their dorm rooms.The sunshine unites students in a way that nothing else can, so they make sure to cherish it before it is gone; however, with the way our weather is currently on track for, it seems like it will not be gone for a long time.
This is the scary part of it all, and we must acknowledge that although it is temporarily nice, it is truly disastrous for our planet.
