‘It’s kind of early for this’: October snow upsets students

Winter comes early at UMass Amherst

October 28, 2016

AMHERST — Mark the date on your calendar, folks. Snow has officially come to the University of Massachusetts Amherst in what is set to be an “Ice Cold & Snow Filled” winter season, according to the 2017 Farmer’s Almanac.

Students, all bundled up, head to class in the snow. — Students, all bundled up, walk through the UMass campus in the snow.

Let’s be real — it’s Massachusetts. Snow in October is nothing new, or even unexpected. In 2011, the state saw a record-shattering snowstorm. Regardless, most people grimace when the first flakes appear.

So when light flurries rolled in on Thursday morning, blanketing the chilly, 38-degree UMass campus in a cold, slushy blanket, students were upset.

Freshman Jonathon Ingalls waiting for food in the snow at Baby Berk.

“I’m not happy,” said UMass freshman Jonathan Ingalls as he waited in line for food from Baby Berk.

The Wakefield native said he is pretty used to the snow by now — but the timing isn’t ideal.

“It’s kind of early for this,” Ingalls said. “I have a 20-minute walk in between each class and it’s cold.”

A blanket of snow covers the UMass campus during the first snowfall of the year.

Plenty of other students shared that sentiment. October is just too darn early for snow, they said.

“I definitely hate snow in October,” said junior Alyssa Thompson. “It looks like everyone has dandruff and that just makes me sad.”

“I hate when it gets in your eyes!” added junior Kahani Lee.

Lee looked out toward the campus pond.

“I wonder how the geese feel about this,” Lee said.

Juniors Alyssa Thompson and Kahani Lee amidst the snowfall on the UMass campus.

Out of the approximate 28,000 students at UMass Amherst, less than 5,000 of them are out-of-state students. New England states send the most students to UMass, so even fewer students are from places that don’t have sporadic autumn snowfall.

Edwin Murenzi, a third-year doctoral student in molecular and cellular biology, is originally from Rwanda. He can’t stand the snow.

Edwin Murenzi expresses his hatred for the snow with a smile on his face.

“I’m from Africa so I really hate the snow,” said Murenzi. “I’ve been in this country about eight years — and I still hate the snow!”

The wet, slushy UMass campus during the first snowfall of an early winter season.

But for believers in early winter wonderlands, the day wasn’t all that bad.

“I hate the cold,” said sophomore Mark Dunphy. “But I love the snow.”

Email Bridget at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @BridgeHiggins.

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