The time has come around once more when the campus is buzzing with activity, students between their First and Senior years have come back to campus, finding a great adversary at the gates of Gustavus. Heat. A heat that swelters the parking lots, that creeps in through the doors of the dorms, and the windows that offer a lovely view of life down The Hill. It is all plagued by this heat… and one must ask, how can it be fought off?

With a high of 97 degrees today (which is Sept. 4th) and a humidity of 51%, it’s hard to not be hot outside or inside certain buildings during this transitional period. If you’re looking to beat this plague of warmth that the cruel sun rains down upon us, then it’s a good thing you’ve picked up this paper, flipped to this exact page, and started reading, because I have a veritable list of remedies to this heat that haunts every soul that walks outside. So, until the old north wind blows a mighty breeze through St. Peter, arm yourself with the proper knowledge needed to beat the heat.

One of the easier ways to passively cool yourself off is to wear clothes fit for the weather. Now, this may be obvious to some but for myself, I am terrible at dressing appropriately. I enjoy the long-sleeved shirts that come with fall and winter, the comfy feeling that these shirts give is delightful. But, I must remember that the temperature outside, as well as in some of the buildings across campus, is not meant for my fabulous fashion choices. To stay cool, wear light clothes, both in color and weight. Items like shorts, t-shirts, or athletic wear are best suited for this kind of weather, and by changing your fashion in such a simple way, facing the heat will become so much more bearable outside. 

But what about inside? As I mentioned before, some of the buildings here are not meant to withstand such heat, including some of the dorms. There are a few different ways to beat the heat inside, one of them includes drinking water. The body’s natural way of cooling itself off is by sweating, and when you’re not drinking enough water, this can impede the body’s way of cooling itself off. So, grab a water bottle and make sure to keep it full as you stay in your dorm or as you travel in-between classes. And, as an added tip to get cool water from the dorm water dispensers, I find it helpful to let it cool down for a second or two by letting the water run. You can also add ice cubes from the Evelyn Young Dining Room to ensure a better chill and a drink that’s cold for a longer period. 

For one willing to spend some cash, something that helped me immensely – and still helps me to this day – is buying fans for the room. The one I had was a small desk fan that had three settings and during the hot nights, I would try to aim the fan so that it would cool my body as it rotated around, rather than just sitting in place and constantly hitting my face with the cooler air. Of course, this is not the only option for those looking to stay cool. One can get a fan for the floor, which offers greater cooling and greater coverage of the room. Just ensure that you’re talking with your roommate before investing in one of these cooling angels because while they do cool, the noise of these fans can be quite the headache.

For the last bit of advice I can offer, I am only able to plead with you to get out of your room and find a cool place to study. If you know that the heat in your room is too intense and that dealing with it is keeping you fatigued, find a building that has air conditioning, and do your studying there. It helps not only by keeping you productive but also by tackling the main issue of beating heat. Spending time in these buildings, or just passing through them on a particularly hot day can help immensely when it gets sweltering outside. 

As the year marches forth, ever onwards to its inevitable end and inevitable next beginning, and as the cold does come for us as it does every year, we must take these warm days that are offered to us, and cherish them. But, we must also be mindful of our health, of how we feel as we traverse the sun-stricken landscape that befouls the air. Remember to wear light clothes, drink plenty of cold water, and make sure to hang out in or make cold areas that you can thrive in to fight off this horrid heat that we all face.