The squirrels aren’t the only ones coming out to enjoy the May-like weather this month.
There have been more and more students who have been seen swapping their heavy jackets and boots for T-shirts and flip-flops. This surprisingly pleasant weather has prompted students and faculty to start taking up their favorite springtime hobbies a bit earlier this year such as golf, running and even leisurely walks.
“We have an incredibly beautiful campus,” Assistant Professor of Music Robin Liston said. “Walking through the nature is relaxing and seeing the green and hearing the squirrels just lightens my day.”
The weather the surrounding area received this time last year does not match up with what the campus has had recently. During the 2010-2011 winter the entire region was being hit by harsh blizzards, causing Bonner Springs to have its snowiest February on record. On Feb.1 of last year, the temperature was 14.7 degrees. This year, the temperature on the same day was 47.3 degrees lower at 62 degrees.
“A few years ago there was a foot of snow on the ground during February and Baker canceled school for two days,” senior Stacy Yowell said. “I really enjoy the warmer weather. I’m able to be outdoors more and it makes the walk to class much nicer. I’d rather skip winter altogether.”
Although Punxsutawney Phil , the groundhog used for Groundhog Day, may have seen his shadow and indicated that there will be six more weeks of winter, sports teams are taking advantage of the weather while they can. Instead of adapting practice routines to fit to an indoor arena, the baseball and softball players have been out running bases, tennis players can play on actual courts and the track team is allowed to get real workouts in.
“I feel like we rarely practiced outdoors during the past two years,” junior Shayna Mangiaracino, a member of the track and field team, said. “It’s nice to be outside in this strange, nice weather. No one really likes running in the cold. The weather is definitely a good thing for our team so that we can be prepared for the season.”
Even though meteorologists, and Phil the groundhog, say that the shorts and T-shirt weather won’t last for much longer, and this week’s colder weather has proved that, the consensus on campus is to enjoy it until it’s gone.
Some students have different suggestions on how to best benefit from the warmer weather conditions.
“Go outside with your favorite book and just read,” sophomore Nathan Eacker said.
Junior Michael Wilson said people should partake in a more lively activity.
“Just go climb a tree,” Wilson said.
So before students trade in their cold water bottles for hot chocolate, and baseball hats for stocking caps, they all are encouraged to make the most of these unusual conditions that aren’t bound to come back around until the month of May.
