2008 Woodie Awards
Where students flock when the weather's hot
Elizabeth Warren
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Perspectives
The soothing sound of crashing waves echoes throughout your mind. You can almost taste the salt of the ocean on your lips. You can practically even feel the grains of salt under your feet and the light, misty wind sweeping over your face. Despite your nagging conscience screaming otherwise, you grab your bathing suit and iPod and ditch bio lab to go to the beach.
Spring has sprung at Sacred Heart University, causing many to exit the caves of their dreary dorm rooms and enter the sunny realm of nature. Though sunlight is proven to elevate moods, in this case it is not entirely beneficial for students to be outdoors.
"They're really cheating themselves if they miss class," said Dr. Brian Stiltner, professor of philosophy and religious studies. "In the highest-minded sense, they are robbing themselves of the opportunity to learn. Students should work their trips to the beach around their class schedules."
Despite the effect skipping could have on their GPAs, some admit that the temptation is just too much to handle. Penfield Beach, located on the coast of Fairfield, Conn., is this spring's most popular alternative to the classroom.
"There aren't many places to lay out on campus now that the quad has been taken over," said sophomore Nikki Carrea, "so I can understand why so many people are going to the beach rather than staying around the dorms."
However, there are other popular spots around campus that compensate for the missing quad that was dear to so many. All that's needed is a blanket and some sunscreen.
"In between classes or on the weekends, I like to lay out in the space between the freshman dorms and the pitt," said freshman Amanda Chasse. "The FLIK patio is also a good spot to eat lunch and hang out with friends outside. As long as I'm somewhere sunny, I'm having a good time."
Professors understand students' desires to be outdoors and as a result will periodically take the classroom outside. Dr. Richard Magee, an nglish professor at Sacred Heart, feels that doing so could actually make students less prone to skipping class.
"If students are set on hitting the beach, even my awesome presence will not keep them on campus," said Magee. "But I do think that having a class that is interesting and where unexpected things can happen might make them more likely to show up."
Despite all of this, if you are still finding it difficult to put down the sunscreen and go to your classes, keep in mind that the week and a half that remains of the year requires an exceptional amount of effort and participation. Although this calls for staying at your desk instead of experiencing the great outdoors, it truly does pay off in the long run.
Spring has sprung at Sacred Heart University, causing many to exit the caves of their dreary dorm rooms and enter the sunny realm of nature. Though sunlight is proven to elevate moods, in this case it is not entirely beneficial for students to be outdoors.
"They're really cheating themselves if they miss class," said Dr. Brian Stiltner, professor of philosophy and religious studies. "In the highest-minded sense, they are robbing themselves of the opportunity to learn. Students should work their trips to the beach around their class schedules."
Despite the effect skipping could have on their GPAs, some admit that the temptation is just too much to handle. Penfield Beach, located on the coast of Fairfield, Conn., is this spring's most popular alternative to the classroom.
"There aren't many places to lay out on campus now that the quad has been taken over," said sophomore Nikki Carrea, "so I can understand why so many people are going to the beach rather than staying around the dorms."
However, there are other popular spots around campus that compensate for the missing quad that was dear to so many. All that's needed is a blanket and some sunscreen.
"In between classes or on the weekends, I like to lay out in the space between the freshman dorms and the pitt," said freshman Amanda Chasse. "The FLIK patio is also a good spot to eat lunch and hang out with friends outside. As long as I'm somewhere sunny, I'm having a good time."
Professors understand students' desires to be outdoors and as a result will periodically take the classroom outside. Dr. Richard Magee, an nglish professor at Sacred Heart, feels that doing so could actually make students less prone to skipping class.
"If students are set on hitting the beach, even my awesome presence will not keep them on campus," said Magee. "But I do think that having a class that is interesting and where unexpected things can happen might make them more likely to show up."
Despite all of this, if you are still finding it difficult to put down the sunscreen and go to your classes, keep in mind that the week and a half that remains of the year requires an exceptional amount of effort and participation. Although this calls for staying at your desk instead of experiencing the great outdoors, it truly does pay off in the long run.
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