Although it is commonly called the spring semester, the weather is usually far from warm. Oswego tends to have a lot of days where it is just flat out freez- ing. Once the prospect of a long, cold winter finally sets in, it feels like it will never get warmer. Luckily, there are some ways to beat the winter blues that come with attending Oswego State.

The first thing that comes to mind when we are all shut in by the harsh winds or driving snow is to bundle up in bed. It is a typical response for the first few days, but what about when winter shows no signs of letting up? Physical activity is a nice way to beat the cold. Swetman Gym and Lee Hall are the two locations on campus where there are courts dedicated to open rec- reation. Pickup basketball is very com- mon, but anyone can rent out pieces of equipment to play with. Campus Recreation also offers numerous intra- mural leagues throughout the semester while in the comfort of the gym. They include indoor soccer, team handball, badminton and volleyball. Any snow- boarders or skiers can take a trip to Bristol Mountain with other students

in late February.
Although the involvement fair is in

the fall, anyone can look on Laker Life to find a club that is right for them. May- be you didn’t have time to join a club because of the workload last semester. Now is the time to jump into something new since it’s early in the semester.

If you are ever feeling adventurous driving around in the elements, take a day trip to Syracuse via 481 South. Just off Exit 12 is the Great Northern Mall, located on route 31. There are other pop- ular stores along the route as well. For a more fast paced experience, take the extra 15 minutes to go to Destiny USA in Syracuse. With a multitude of shops on seven levels and an IMAX movie the- ater, there is no shortage of things to do.

Sometimes the weather is really that bad and going out is probably not the best idea. It’s fine to put on a movie or two, make some hot cocoa and just relax. Start a new book or finish one you have not gotten the chance to. On campus students can rent out board games to play with friends in their res- idence halls. Have friends meet up in a lounge to watch a game on television or stream Netflix.

Handle the cold however you want (Just remember that it can be really hard to say “I’m bored” as the semester rolls on).