2008 Woodie Awards
Wintry woes
Students, professor get creative to combat bad-weather blues
Krystel Pakitsos
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: After Hours
With winter winding down and spring around the corner, the feeling of the "winter blues" is becoming stronger for many faculty and students, with some feeling physically affected.
"I wake up, realize I don't want to face the day and then I go back to sleep," said Sara Faught, senior in psychology, of bad-weather days.
Faught says that the frequent bad weather hovering over Southeast Kansas of late makes it difficult for her to function normally.
"Weather affects my mood more than anything else, honestly," Faught said.
Not only is Faught's mood affected, but her academic performance is being harmed as well. She says that on days when the weather is bad, she finds it extremely difficult to attend classes. In turn, when the weather is nice she also misses classes, attempting to get the most of her "happy" days.
To avoid this cycle, Faught says that she often gets together with friends on nasty days.
"I like to surround myself with people and have 'fat night,'" Faught said. "We get a bunch of food and rent movies and play games."
Shirley Drew, professor in communication, has some remedies of her own for winter's chill.
"Being out on a nice day, even if it's rare, helps," Drew said. "Walking my dog, getting fresh air, that helps too."
Drew says she came from northern Ohio, where the winter is mostly gray, with little sunshine. For her, even a sunny day here and there is a weather upgrade.
"I think what works best for me is doing social things - spending time out of the house with my husband or friends to break up the monotony," Drew said.
Her favorite fix is what she calls "cabin weekend."
"I will go with one of my women friends to a cabin in the woods somewhere in Missouri or Arkansas," Drew said. "We combine work and relaxation. It's a sure cure for winter blues."
Some students have refused to let the weather get them down by dreaming up unique forms of entertainment. Kyle Green, junior in advertising, says that he and his friends enjoy "human curling."
"I wake up, realize I don't want to face the day and then I go back to sleep," said Sara Faught, senior in psychology, of bad-weather days.
Faught says that the frequent bad weather hovering over Southeast Kansas of late makes it difficult for her to function normally.
"Weather affects my mood more than anything else, honestly," Faught said.
Not only is Faught's mood affected, but her academic performance is being harmed as well. She says that on days when the weather is bad, she finds it extremely difficult to attend classes. In turn, when the weather is nice she also misses classes, attempting to get the most of her "happy" days.
To avoid this cycle, Faught says that she often gets together with friends on nasty days.
"I like to surround myself with people and have 'fat night,'" Faught said. "We get a bunch of food and rent movies and play games."
Shirley Drew, professor in communication, has some remedies of her own for winter's chill.
"Being out on a nice day, even if it's rare, helps," Drew said. "Walking my dog, getting fresh air, that helps too."
Drew says she came from northern Ohio, where the winter is mostly gray, with little sunshine. For her, even a sunny day here and there is a weather upgrade.
"I think what works best for me is doing social things - spending time out of the house with my husband or friends to break up the monotony," Drew said.
Her favorite fix is what she calls "cabin weekend."
"I will go with one of my women friends to a cabin in the woods somewhere in Missouri or Arkansas," Drew said. "We combine work and relaxation. It's a sure cure for winter blues."
Some students have refused to let the weather get them down by dreaming up unique forms of entertainment. Kyle Green, junior in advertising, says that he and his friends enjoy "human curling."
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