Many students see a big part of their experience at UTM as social time, whether it’s attending events on campus or hanging out at the bar on the weekends.
UTM, like many other universities, contains students who are big on socializing. However, perhaps some students think that the social parts of UTM this semester have been lacking, maybe because the big party-goers have graduated or because of the extremely cold weather.
Junior Communications major Sam Curtis said that he thinks the weather is a big reason for students not going out and taking part in social activities.
“I think it is much easier and convenient for people to stay inside and [stay] warm, rather than go out in the cold just to socialize. Also, the cold weather sometimes comes with horrible road conditions, and people don’t want to risk their lives just to socialize. I believe people are happier, when it’s warmer outside,” Curtis said.
The owner of Cadillacs and Jack’s Sports Bar Johnny Nanney said that he has seen a decrease in population at the bars.
“I can see a huge decrease in people going out during the week over the last couple of weeks. Wednesdays are college night at Cadillacs, and we have happy hour prices all night long. It used to be a really good night with a lot of people getting out. This semester, Wednesday nights are no different than any other week night. I think the cold has kept some people in, but I don’t think that it is the only reason for the decrease in local night life,” Nanney said.
However, some do not think that social life in Martin has decreased, such as Senior Education major Kristen Riley.
“I don’t believe that the cold weather has hindered students from going to social functions. Although the weather has been treacherous this winter season, students would be bored without going out and relieving stress from school and work,” Riley said.
Even though Riley thinks students are going out just as much as ever, she also thinks students have increased study habits, at the same time.
“I do think students have been studying more. I think it’s finally hitting people that the last step before the workplace is college, and that they need to gain all the information they can so they go out well-equipped,” Riley said.
Senior Health and Human Performance major Katelyn Roberts, on the other hand, thinks that the weather does hinder students from being social.
“I think that the cold weather definitely hinders some students from going to social events that are outside, like parties and university sports games,” Roberts said.
As for whether students are more or less social this semester, students have differing opinions, but many agree that socializing has been limited this semester.
