Shorts, T-shirts, sandals and visors usually dominate Spring Break apparel. But Wednesday sweatpants, sweaters, boots and ski caps took over.
Meteorologist Bruce Katz said a late season cold front and Canadian air caused the cold weather.
Katz said excessive cloud cover added to the cold spell.
Students scampered on campus through temperatures 30 degrees below the average high for the day.
The weather upset many students and stopped some from attending class and voting. Still, Student Government presidential candidates continued their campaigns.
“This is the coldest I have ever seen an April day,” said Jay Buller, SG presidential candidate. “It’s kinda funny, everyone involved in SG elections was praying for no rain, we prayed very hard for no rain all week, and I guess this is God’s way of playing a trick on us; he took away the rain but he put in a biting cold.”
Allen Richey, SG presidential candidate, said the campaigning Wednesday was great, but he would prefer a warmer climate.
“I would love to go inside and sit by a fire,” Richey said. “I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning, and I know that everyone else did not,” Richey said.
While campaigners were out in full force, the number of visible voters paled in comparison to last week’s elections. Cold weather shortened lines, but some students still voted.
Esther Badie, an animal science freshman, bore the cold weather and stood in the short election line.
“It sucks. It was warm and feeling all good. You could dress all cute and stuff and now it’s like freezing. I am dying here,” Badie said.
Students scurried through the Quad instead of lounging in the springtime warmth.
Lauren Sauzer, a secondary education freshman, said the cold weather was ridiculous.
“Next week is Spring Break, and it is not supposed to be cold right now. It is kind of aggravating because all of my cold weather clothes are at home,” Sauzer said.
Lauren Bennett, a pre-occupational therapy major, wishes warm summer temperatures would come back.
“I hate cold weather. I love the humidity and I love the summer. I want it to be summer and hot again,” Bennett said.
Bennett said the weather will not ruin her plans for Spring Break.
“If it’s cold, we will just stay inside and have fun,” Bennett said.
However, some students enjoyed the cold weather.
Matt Monceaux, a history freshman, said the cold weather was pleasant.
“The cold doesn’t really bother me because I like cold weather. It’s going to be hot during the summer, so it’s kind of nice to have one more cold spell,” Monceaux said.
The wind chill factor was 36 degrees at 2 p.m., Katz said. But some students felt shorts and T-shirts were still acceptable.
Jonathan Robker, a religious studies and history senior, waited for a bus outside the Journalism Building wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.
“I prefer it cold. I am a cold-weather guy. I am built for cold weather,” Robker said.
Students with Spring Break plans can breathe a refreshing sigh of relief. The National Weather Service said next week’s temperatures should reach the upper 70s by Sunday afternoon.