The spring semester has begun, and students on the Hilltop have finally seen their shadows. That means six more weeks of winter, folks. For better or for worse (and to finally figure out what is up with that shorts-in-the-winter trend), here’s a handy comparison of winters across the country, brought to you by Bradley students themselves.
Shelby Spring, junior learning behavior specialist major
Hometown: San Diego, California
What are winters like where you’re from? Warm and sunny.
What are the winters like here? I basically have a mental argument with myself every day about whether I should cancel an appointment, or go to class, or hang out with friends, or go to get food because I would do anything to avoid going outside during the winter.
Any preference? San Diego … because … San Diego.
What do you think of the people who wear shorts in the winter? I can’t help but question their sanity and then contemplate whether I should offer to buy them pants, because they clearly must not own any if they aren’t wearing them when it feels like negative 10 degrees outside. Or maybe just some tips on how to do laundry because … college.
Do you think Midwesterners complain too much about winter? If there is one legitimate thing to complain about, it is definitely winters in the Midwest. Complain about winter as much as you want because I would be the first to join you.
Kali Dodez, freshman English major
Hometown: Tyler, Texas
What are winters like where you’re from? Non-existent. Occasionally it’ll drop down below freezing, but never for a substantial amount of time. We never experience snow, but roads would ice over. Most of our trees don’t lose their leaves. Once it gets to 60, it’s coat time. Sweaters cannot be found anywhere.
What are the winters like here? The winters here get worse, but so far I’m just freaking out that there’s so much snow all the time … but I definitely don’t hate it yet.
How do they compare? The only thing I really miss are wildflowers, because the snow kills a lot of that, and that’s really weird to me. I miss green. But not too much, let’s be honest.
What do you think of the people who wear shorts in the winter? There’s a general double standard where guys get to wear whatever they want, no matter what the weather, even if it’s something ridiculous like shorts in winter. I know when the weather was only slightly colder and I wore shorts, people constantly asked me if I should put on more clothes, but when men do it, it’s viewed more as a joke.
Do you think Midwesterners complain too much about winter? So far, it hasn’t seemed too cold. I’m a little tired of every time I say it’s slightly chilly, people say I have “no idea what the cold is, how dare I,” and like, I can still be cold even if you aren’t. People are always saying that I have no idea, but it’s almost February and it’s only snowed twice, so, I don’t know what’s going on.
Kyle Powers, freshman public relations major
Hometown: Morehead, Kentucky
What are winters like where you’re from? Winters are absolutely wild in Kentucky, because they either start as soon as winter is supposed to start, or they’ll just delay and hit us 100 percent. We have a lot of curvy roads, too, so traveling gets very treacherous in Kentucky.
How do they compare? It’s a little warmer [in Kentucky] than Peoria. Rarely ever do we fall to the negatives, but we get a lot of wind, and it’s still pretty chilly for us.
What do you think of the people who wear shorts in the winter? I mean, from a clothing standpoint, wear whatever you want. But I don’t see why you would choose to be cold when you can be warm.
Do you think Midwesterners complain too much about winter? No, it is much worse in the Midwest. But the only thing you guys don’t get to complain about is you guys have much flatter landscapes to travel on, as opposed to where I’m from. You literally have hills and everything. There will be no snow on the main roads, but we’ll have to cancel school because we have so many kids that live up treacherous roads that just can’t get to school.
