Spring fever

Students enjoy recent record temperatures to hit the area

If you have difficulty going to class, or are daydreaming about flying a kite and experiencing an excited tingle in your feet, you may be inflicted with an ailment touching many people in Happy Valley this week.

With record-breaking temperatures, and midterms and spring break around the corner, many students may be at high risk of developing spring fever.

But that may not be such a bad thing -- even if class attendance does drop.

"The first real warm spell after winter is usually a cause for celebration," said Bill Syrett, weather station coordinator at the weather observatory.

Not only did yesterday's temperature of 73 degrees break the Feb. 27 record -- the previous record was 62 degrees -- but there has been only one other time in the history of Central Pennsylvanian that a February day was this hot. One day in 1954 reached 73 degrees, Syrett said.

"I haven't been to class in awhile," said Allison Dornan (senior-business logistics), joking about her case of spring fever caused by the weather and the fact that she will be graduating soon.

But Tony Lucadamo (junior-economics), said the nice weather actually motivates him to go to class.

"(The good weather) just makes it easier to do everything," he said, adding that rain and snow in general make things harder.

Although it has not been a harsh winter and people aren't necessarily starved for warmth, spring fever persists, said Pat Farrell, associate professor of recreation and leisure studies.

"The warm weather just invites you to go outside and forget what you're doing," she said.

Pamela Kayatta (freshman-engineering) tried to combine her studies with the sun and breeze yesterday by sitting outside on the steps of Pattee, but she was still affected by the symptoms of spring fever.

"I decided to study outside . . . I know I won't get as much done as if I were in the library, but it's so nice out," she said.

Jamie Okonak (junior-marketing) also sat smiling outside of Pattee yesterday.

"I should be in the library right now," he said, without a hint of worry.

This month has broken several other records as well, Syrett said. 1997 has seen the wettest Feb. 5, and the warmest high and low temperatures for February 21.

"The groundhog was right," Farrell said, pointing out that Pennsylvanians are more able to appreciate good weather when it finally comes, than people in more consistently warm areas.

"I think the human spirit responds to the nice weather," she said. "You just have to treasure it."