January 14–20, 2009, Number 525
Spring Semester Begins
It seemed somewhat odd to me when I reflected on my choice of the title for this article mostly because spring isn’t anywhere in sight here in the Copper Country. The arctic air mass has resulted in frigid temperatures with predictions stating a high of 0 degrees for several days this week. However for many students this cold air isn’t lowering their spirits. The return to school has made many people excited to be back.
The return to campus is marked with the beginning of snow-statue building, IRHC broomball season, and, of course, who can forget classes and homework. Already many students have full plates with their classes getting into full swing, but that doesn’t mean that the fun is completely missing from their days either. Many of the student organizations that pride themselves on having the best month-long snow statue have been taking advantage of the massive quantity of snow that has fallen in the area in the past weeks, to display some awesome views of space in this frigid place…this year’s theme.
One big thing that the University asks is that students are mindful and extremely cautious in any of the winter activities that they are taking part in when the temperatures begin to drop as they are. The really cold temperatures and even colder wind-chill can lead to either frost bite or hypothermia when exposed too long to the sub-zero temperatures. To help with this, I did a little research on things students should be aware of while enjoying the outdoors.
Hypothermia is the result of the body’s core temperature falling below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This can have adverse affects on the brain causing slurred speech, memory lapses, decreased coordination, uncontrollable shivering and drowsiness. Immediate medical attention is required to treat for this condition. Frostbite occurs when the skin is too cold to the point where it actually freezes. The areas most often affected are the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. In both these instances, the biggest factor is exposure. Wearing the proper clothing such as good winter boots or shoes with thick socks, warm jackets, protective gloves and hats will help students avoid the shocks of the cold weather and hopefully prevent these conditions from happening. Students should try to avoid spending too much time outdoors when the temperatures are close to or below zero. There are a lot of great indoor activities that students can enjoy for the time being.
The Winter Wonderland that is currently Michigan Tech’s campus as well as the surrounding towns will turn out to be an amazing place in the weeks to come as the making of the snow statues continues, but I hope that while students enjoy the time outdoors everyone remembers to stay safe. If there are any questions or comments about this article feel free to email me at my personal email address. Any suggestions for any future articles are welcomed.
Until next week,
- Michigan Technological University
- 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295
- 906-487-1885