Students are getting a true glimpse of spring this week, as the weather will reach up to 87 degrees. As the seemingly never-arriving warm weather comes to campus, many Seton Hall students face a familiar dilemma: go to class or take advantage of the weather.
Whether it’s sitting on the green, grabbing food with friends, or soaking up the sun, students shared whether warmer weather affects their attendance and if it is worth skipping class.
Change in Behavior?
Several SHU students describe a noticeable change on campus once winter comes to an end.
Vanessa Nazaire, a junior political science major, said students “get a little stir-crazy during the winter, and especially this winter.”
A change in weather brings a change in mood, too, according to Alex Desiderio, a junior education and Italian major.
Desiderio said the transition from a “grey, cold, depressing” winter makes students want to be “outside and happy instead of being locked up in a room.”
Once outside, students are able to take advantage of warm weather activities.
Juston Piscoya, a senior film production major, said the warm weather creates more opportunities “to go to places like the beach, parks, or on the campus green,” noting that “on the first hot day, everyone is outside.”
Mixed Attendance Habits
While the sun can increase the temptation to skip, students respond in various ways.
Students said that attendance sometimes changes as the weather gets warmer.
Thiago Alves, a junior business analytics and marketing major, said he does not skip class due to the weather, but has seen people “usually taking time for a mental reset from the time-consuming and draining routine.”
Other students depicted more direct changes in their own routine.
Desiderio said that sometimes he “may arrive late or miss class occasionally” when the weather improves. This reflects a more subtle shift in attendance.
Meanwhile, some students take advantage of the warm weather.
“[My] attendance may actually improve when conditions are nicer, ” Kaamakshi Wadhwa, a junior criminal justice major.
Is Skipping Justified?
Skipping class just to enjoy the warm weather is relaxing for students.
“Taking a break can help manage stress and return to work with a clear mindset,” Wadhwa said, suggesting that an occasional absence can be acceptable if it supports one’s overall well-being.
Alexandria Hall, a junior political science major, also supported occasional absences.
”Students deserve a day to get out as long as it does not negatively impact their academic performance,” Hall said.
Some students also shared a more cautious perspective.
Piscoya said he does not believe skipping is justified, but understands that many often create their own reasoning to skip.
Similar to Alves, who emphasizes that skipping should not become a habit and that staying consistent with coursework is important.
It’s All About Balance
Balancing academic responsibilities with time outdoors is important to many students.
Nazaire said completing assignments between classes while still enjoying time outside, and Wadhwa agreed.
“Students can integrate both by completing work outside or finishing assignments first before relaxing,” Wadhwa said.
Professors’ expectations also influence attendance decisions. Those with stricter policies may discourage students from skipping; however, those with flexible policies make it easier to miss class.
For some, attendance affects grades. Hall suggests following the absence limits outlined in the course syllabi.
”Think about the class and why you’re in school,” Hall said.
As the spring semester continues, SHU students navigate the dilemma between academic responsibilities and outdoor activities. Although the warmer weather increases the temptation to skip class, it all depends on one's priorities and circumstances.
Rocio Urquia is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at rocio.urquia@student.shu.edu.
