Heat Wave Hits Freshmen

Champagnat Hall is one of Marist's traditional freshman residence halls that does not have air conditioning. Source: Greta Stuckey '23

With temperatures peaking in the 80s, freshmen are still struggling to cool off during the third week of classes. While most students on campus enjoy the perks of air conditioning, freshmen in traditional residence halls rely on fans and open windows to stop sweating. 

“The first week of school, I couldn’t sleep under any covers at all,” Emily Litke ’26 said. “It’s so uncomfortable. We have four fans running at all times, and it’s still really hot in our Champ dorm room.” 

While freshmen are feeling the greatest campus impact from the recent heat waves, Americans across the country are also struggling to keep cool. In a YouGov poll from the end of April, 47% of Americans said that they have personally felt the effects of climate change. Similarly, 62% of Americans said they think the earth’s average temperature will increase over the next ten years. 

“I don’t think it’s right to not have air conditioning when we live here for so many months out of the year,” Sierra Fisher ’26 said. “Coming in from outside, only for it to be hotter in my room is not a good thing.” 

The temperature over the past few weeks has been warmer than the typical temperature for the Hudson Valley in September. After a hot and dry summer, the heat has persisted weeks into the start of school. According to data from Weather and Climate Information, the past average temperature for Poughkeepsie in September is around 57 degrees. This year, the average temperature currently sits at 76 degrees, almost a 20-degree increase. 

“The first week was definitely the hardest to adjust to the heat,” Christina Diorio ’26 said. “I actually felt sick and nauseous for the first 10 days in the dorm because of how hot it was. It’s still hot, but I have gotten used to it.” 

The Circle reached out to Marist regarding the recent heatwave and asked whether or not the college plans to renovate the freshman residence halls after the conclusion of the $60 million Dyson renovation. At this time, the college suggests freshmen use spaces that are air-conditioned if they need a reprieve from the heat of their dorms. 

“While summer-like temperatures at the very beginning of the fall semester can occur, there are many cool spots around campus, including the Murray Student Center, which is totally air-conditioned and always open,” Marist Media Director Anthony Proia said. 
With a few more weeks until October, freshmen students hope the heat lets up. Until then, they will be blasting their fans, opening windows and heading to other spots on campus with air conditioning.