Winter is always a difficult time for students.

It’s gloomy, and somehow consistently leads to lower levels of activity and higher levels of procrastination. However, this winter seems to be one of the worst, not only because it’s bitterly cold outside, but also because it seems that Mother Nature continually toys with us.

Two weeks or so ago, I went across campus to eat wearing my normal clothing and only a denim jacket on top of it. While it was a bit chilly in the wind, not once did I lose feeling in any of my extremities. Yet last week it got so ridiculously cold that nothing, I repeat nothing, could prevent it. Leggings under pants, socks under socks under boots, a jacket under a scarf under a coat, hat on, hood up, sunglasses over eyes and you’re fine. Until you take off that glove to send a text message and within ten seconds you can’t feel your fingers.

With wind chills dropping below -12 degrees, this weather is not safe.

I understand that, since we did not get nearly as much snow as other places, it’s difficult for the university to rationalize cancelling classes. Many of our professors live near, or not very far away from campus, and it is easy for them to get here. However, they are more equipped to drive. Students, on the other hand, are not. They have to keep in mind that not every student lives on campus. And those who do are still unlikely to want to leave their dorms under these terrible circumstances.

Since I began attending the university in the Fall of 2012, I have only experienced two snow days. Two. My junior year of high school alone, I had roughly 13. Now I understand that’s a situation where many students were physically unable to get to school due to poor road conditions and mass quantities of snow. Yet regardless of that, ice and plummeting temperatures should be enough of an issue to warrant the university’s action.

Students are at an outrage, and rightfully so.

And yet, because of the outrageous decisions to keep the university fully functioning and continue to deny safe rides, my only advice can be to bundle up and stay indoors. Oh, and try not to skip too many classes.