Jack Frost must have come back from Spring Break this week. Just two weeks ago, temperatures were on the rise, and unseasonably warm weather provided Ball State University students the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. The cold, and all the hassle that comes with it, has come back with a vengeance.
The cold snap brings more than just winter clothes and drooping flowers to Ball State. Students who live off campus have to worry about heating apartments and homes through this second winter as well. For other Indiana residents, however, entire incomes are at stake.
Farming is a large part of the Indiana economy. As always, weather plays a big role in determining profitability of farms. The recent warm spell teased plants out of the ground, but now that the cold has returned some farmers are worrying about the effects a deep freeze could have.
The plight of Indiana farmers provides and interesting situation for students to consider. Heating an apartment and finding warm clothes to wear might seem like a huge deal to students, but in reality most problems the cold causes are manageable. For farmers, though, the problem of scrounging up a few extra bucks to cover the heating bill is the least of their worries.
Weather usually doesn't dictate what goes on in students lives. The ice storm of 2005 and this year's blizzard are notable exceptions - but even then weather didn't threaten the overall financial security of most students. School was cancelled because of the blizzard and many students lost power during the ice storm, but these problems were relatively manageable.
To get an idea of what other Hoosiers are dealing with, students should think about the potential consequences the cold could cause for Indiana farmers. Imagine if the blizzard had ruined your ability to work and make money instead of making the drive to work a bit harder.
Students should consider themselves lucky that the current cold snap isn't more devastating. Sure, the cold is a major pain, but it's not threatening any lives. Indiana farmers are feeling the real effects of the cold snap - it's not only annoying; it has the potential to cause financial hardships that are almost insurmountable.
When the cold spell breaks in the coming week, you'll throw the shorts and sandals back on - or at least feel more comfortable wearing them - and continue your days. Some Hoosiers, though, won't be so lucky.
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