Cold students still the lucky ones

The weather has been the talk of the town for the past week, which is understandable, as it has been unseasonably cold. Moreover, many students were outraged that school was not canceled when the weather took a nosedive below zero.

Yes, I didn’t want to go to class, and yes, I found the email warning students to “cover their mouths with scarves to protect their lungs” to be a little ridiculous.
But I am lucky. I can afford a scarf to cover my lungs. In fact, IU provided me with a token crimson and cream one. I have a jacket that my family refers to as “the toaster” because it keeps me so warm.

Unfortunately, many people in Bloomington are not this lucky. They layer with hoodies and hope they’ll be able to get by. People who are experiencing homelessness do not get a break from the cold. They truly know how it feels to be frozen to the bone.
So instead of complaining about how I had to go to class when it was cold, I should be grateful. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford a college education and never have to worry whether I’ll have a warm place to sleep.

My heart breaks for those without a warm place to stay during these cold nights. Bloomington is bigger than just campus, and not everyone you see wearing a backpack is a student.  

As students, we can volunteer at a shelter, buy coffee for someone who’s cold or help with a coat drive. The possibilities are endless. In the words of Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.”
Be grateful. Help those in need. Give back.

­— Ellen Hallberg, IU Student