With many students unprepared for the snowy season at Oswego State, the on-campus community offered some tips and resources in order to stay safe and warm during the harsh climate.  

 As students are waiting for the winter necessities from their parents and loved ones, they seem to be at the mercy of the cold weather. 

Annabella Zocco, an Oswego State freshman, said she is “terrified” of the snowy weather.

 “It is freezing,” Zocco said. “My mom sent me winter gloves.”  

On Tuesday, Oswego was expected to receive “9-10 inches of snow, said Brittney Sparceno, a sophomore broadcasting major and a meteorologist for WTOP-10, the student TV news station at Oswego State.  

“I think they should have one more blue route [bus],” Zocco said. “In order to compensate for the  one blue route running being too full as it gets colder.”

Many students did not expect the winter weather at Oswego State to arrive as early as it did and while it is not the college’s responsibility to clothe students, if people do not have winter gear it could easily become a safety concern.  

“Thrifty Shopper has 25% off on Thursdays,” Natalie Trainor, an intern at the sustainability office said.

She hopes it is a more affordable alternative as students wait for their winter gear to arrive. 

With students, especially freshmen not knowing what to expect, the majority tend to be unprepared. 

“I’m not ready,” freshman Julissa Juarez said. “I didn’t expect it to get this cold in November, so I don’t have a coat. I only have a jacket, so I have to wear a long sleeve and a sweater and a hoodie and like a thin jacket and rain boots.”

As she prepares for winter, Sparceno is not just preparing herself.

 “Make sure you have winter tires on your car and make sure there’s tread as well. Also pick up your windshield wipers so they don’t freeze down on the windshield and make sure you have gas,” Sparceno said.

To help those around him be safer, Michael Jean, a resident assistant at Oneida Hall, hopes to make a difference by making “a winter necessities” list for his residents.  

At Oswego State, another resource that is helpful in case of any winter unpreparedness is The Students Helping Oz Peers project, or most commonly known as SHOP.  

The SHOP program is coordinated by Ariel Gutman-Gates and “is a center of resources for the SUNY Oswego community,” Gutman-Gates said. 

“It is a free, confidential place where people can come and get what they need or want,” Gutman-Gates said. “They sign up for SHOP once and then after that they will receive an ID number that allows them to come back and get whatever they might need or want.”

SHOP has been open since October 2016 and supplies members of campus with non-perishable food, gently used clothing and toiletries. 

“We also do specialty events throughout the year,” Gates said. “We have a free Thanksgiving basket giveaway that is currently going on. Anyone can email SHOP@oswego.edu by the 18th to receive the link to get their very own Thanksgiving basket for free. Each basket has a traditional Thanksgiving meal and a $10 gift card to Price Chopper.”  

SHOP is located in room three in the basement of Penfield Library.

“SHOP is an awesome resource for all students, regardless of what their situation. We are always willing to work with people so they can get what they need or want,” Gates said.