This weather is un-brrr-lievable. So this issue of Gator Chic is focused on important accessories for the winter weather here at Allegheny College. What do Gators think are the most important things to wear to and from classes on a cold, frigid day?

Personally, I think gloves are an important staple for a winter outfit. I run very cold, and my hands, feet and nose are the first things that get cold in this northwestern Pennsylvania weather.

For Nickel Spartz, ’26, an important accessory is any “article of clothing that makes college living more accessible.” During our discussion, we also listed some accessories that are important, with Spartz highlighting things like “snow boots, a heavy winter coat, hats and especially something to cover your face.”

With such frigid weather and strong winds, it’s important to stay warm and cover exposed areas of skin. Not doing so can lead to frostbite, illness and more.

Despite coming from Pittsburgh, Katelyn Ebbert, ’29, thinks the weather in Meadville is more intense.

“I feel like it’s definitely cooler here,” she said.

When discussing an important accessory for winter, Ebbert gave me some awesome suggestions on hats! She told me that she loves a good beret if she’s “feeling fancy” and that wearing a good beanie adds a lot — including good style — to an outfit. Additionally, Ebbert said hats help a lot with the wind and, “if you don’t feel like messing up your hair too much,” recommends using a headband. Those are all great ideas! Depending on the hat, it can be super warm and super striking.

Thinking about how diverse our population is on campus raises the question of how those coming from warm places who are not used to the cold are holding up in this weather.

Akida Nooha, ’27, from Bangladesh, said her most important accessory to wear in Pennsylvania is her boots.

“I can really walk in snow with those,” Nooha said. “Otherwise I slip a lot.”

Do students think Allegheny should provide a resource for this cold? There is not a designated cold-weather closet for first-year students who aren’t ready for this cold weather, Spartz and I discussed. An addition to the Career Closet — which is located in the Office of Sustainability — could prove very helpful for students coming from warm places, unprepared for how cold it actually is! Things like gloves, scarves, hats and possibly boots could be extremely helpful for the campus community.

“We can’t have students walking around in subzero temperatures, especially if we are not cancelling classes,” Spartz said.

We both understand that we are in northwestern Pennsylvania — trust me, I’m from Buffalo, and all we know is snow — but there is a sense of thoughtlessness from the college when it comes to the true conditions we are withstanding every day, slipping on our way to classes. I have had peers seriously injure themselves on campus due to poor salting, ice, thick snow and more. These injuries have ranged from broken elbows to cuts on people’s faces.

Examples like this raise questions of equity.

“If we are going out into the cold, then we need to make sure that we’re prepared to support all students and not just the ones who live in the region and know what to expect,” Spartz said.
I agree. Is the only thing the college can offer us a Gator Success Grant that could take a week to get? Or the Gator Express? I think if Allegheny doesn’t do it, then maybe the students of Allegheny College could band together and create some kind of winter drive that recurs every year before the weather gets bad.

“It would be really cool if we could do some partnerships,” Ebbert said, pointing out that there are places that sell things for very cheap in Meadville. Providing more students with information on where they can get cheap accessories could be tremendously helpful to those under-resourced or international students. Some people are unaware of the proper attire to keep themselves sufficiently warm throughout the harsh winter weather.

For her part, Nooha said that Allegheny could possibly hand out thermal socks, “especially for internationals or low-income people.” Nooha brought up another good idea: making the Gator Express go to Walmart. Nooha finds using the buses very inconvenient.

At the end of the day, Spartz, Ebbert, Nooha and I all agree that there is more than one important winter accessory in this Allegheny weather! And maybe Allegheny can do more to support their students through this obnoxiously cold winter.