A bill that would require New Jersey to permanently remain on daylight saving time passed the state senate on Nov. 10. The three Democratic state senators who sponsored the bill said switching back to standard time after eight months on daylight saving time is an outdated practice.
Although many people assume daylight saving time was created to give farmers more daylight to work, farmers actually opposed the practice when the United States adopted it in 1918. The idea traces back to Benjamin Franklin, who suggested that people could conserve resources by waking up earlier. Robert Allison, a history professor at Suffolk University, told CBS News that the concept was formally adopted during World War I as a way to save fuel and electricity for the war effort.
Currently, Arizona and Hawaii do not observe daylight saving time and remain on standard time year-round. With federal approval, New Jersey could join them.
Some students at Seton Hall expressed support for the change.
“I feel like it’s a little outdated, especially now that our routines don’t revolve around daylight anymore,” Allison Devitt, a junior elementary education major, said. “I know it used to be due to farming, but now everything is so dependent on technology.”
Students said the time change disrupts their routines, from sleep schedules to academic motivation.
Aaliyah Zenelovic, a senior sociology major, said it’s “really hard” for her to fall asleep when the clocks change, adding that it takes time for her sleep schedule to adjust.
Similarly, a sophomore social and behavioral sciences major, who requested anonymity to avoid association with their views, said, "When it gets dark early, it's hard to stay motivated academically.”
Shorter daylight in the fall makes evenings darker earlier, causing some students to feel unsafe and unwilling to spend time outside after school or work.
Marc Manapat, a senior visual and sound media major, said more daylight in the evening would make campus feel more social.
“Now that it gets darker out, you don’t see as many people out,” he said. “ When you don’t see people out, then you feel like you’re not experiencing the full college life.”
Olivia Silva, a junior psychology major, shared a similar view.
“I need more [daylight] in the evening after class,” she said. “If I leave class and it's dark, I hate it.”
State Senate President Nick Scutari told NJ.com, “permanent daylight saving time would bring more consistency, better health outcomes, and safer evenings for families across New Jersey.”
Sen. Shirley Turner said the state has to “lock the clock – one way or the other.”
Gina Burtulato is a writer for The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at gina.burtulato@student.shu.edu.
