A Truly Ridicules Question

[SAH]

Hello my snow/very cold place dwelling friends!  I have a silly question, but am honestly befuddled and need your help. 

What on earth do you do with coats/hats/etc. when you get to class? 

I mean, your buildings are heated right? 

I keep imagining rows and rows of students, all clad those little knit hats with pompoms on top, diligently taking notes while sweating like they’re running a marathon. 

Maybe there’s a coat rack? 

Is in-class coat shopping covered in your syllabi? "Any student found to be exchanging coats in class is subject to a zero on one assignment and referral to the ethics committee." 

Come to think of it, do you grocery shop in wool coats and scarves?

 

How the Fudge Unicycles Circling Kmart does this work?

 

Thankfully yours,

A Californian 

[haltheincandescent]

Buildings are heated, yes. Coat goes on the back of the chair, gloves go in the coat pockets, scarf and hat usually go in my bag (otherwise I'd probably leave them by accident). Hat sometimes stays on depending on how much it messes up my hair. Some class rooms have coat racks. When shopping, all goes in the cart--unless it's just a quick run in that doesn't need a cart, in which case the coat and such stay on because I'll likely just back outside in the cold in a few minutes anyway.

[EdNeuroGrl]

From Tucson Arizona... this question amuses me. :-) Also from colder climates too, above is true. Hang on your chair, put in your bag, hang on/ put in your cart.

 

Also, don't be a dick and put your stuff on the chair next to you if you have a full classroom. Same goes for public transportation.

[TakeruK]

I'm in California now but I did my Masters in a cold place! As a grad student, I had an office so if you will have an office, it would hopefully have a coat rack/hanger, or you and your officemates can buy something you prefer better. I also purchased a boot tray so that when I got inside, I can take off my boots and wear more comfortable indoor shoes (also had an indoor jacket). The boot tray is good for places with lots of snow/slush so that you don't get it all over your floor. I also like to keep an extra pair of socks in my desk in case I stepped into an unexpectedly deep puddle or otherwise got my socks wet. Because having wet socks all day really really sucks!

[St Andrews Lynx]

When I go shopping in cold weather I usually unzip my coat and any additional internal layers, perhaps put my hat & gloves in a bag or the front rack of the trolley. Maybe just walk around with jacket over arm. Or else I went to the shop in my car, in which case I didn't need to put that many layers on and just sprint from the car park to the warm inside. 

Don't sweat it, my friend! You'll survive the North. 

[fuzzylogician]

Not for nothing, but I just ran into this interesting conundrum: I am teaching a large lecture-based class in a lecture hall on the other side of campus. Getting there involves a 5-minute trek across the not-so-well-plowed streets of the campus, and it's freaking cold so not wearing a coat and using my indoor shoes to get there don't sound like appealing options. So, those of you who've had profs teach courses like this recently, what do they do? Teach in their winter boots? Bring their indoor shoes and change shoes in class? I'm imagining male professors get more slack on this, so specifically what do female instructors do? I am finding this to be a ridiculous question, but also a serious one. 

[bhr]

25 minutes ago, fuzzylogician said:

Not for nothing, but I just ran into this interesting conundrum: I am teaching a large lecture-based class in a lecture hall on the other side of campus. Getting there involves a 5-minute trek across the not-so-well-plowed streets of the campus, and it's freaking cold so not wearing a coat and using my indoor shoes to get there don't sound like appealing options. So, those of you who've had profs teach courses like this recently, what do they do? Teach in their winter boots? Bring their indoor shoes and change shoes in class? I'm imagining male professors get more slack on this, so specifically what do female instructors do? I am finding this to be a ridiculous question, but also a serious one. 

Most folks in that situation carry a small gym bag with shoes/tights/clothing and change in a restroom. I tend to keep my boots on, since the floor becomes slick from everyone tracking in water/salt/slush/dirt and they have better traction, but others do not.

 

For faculty/TAs, it's pretty easy to come in a bit early and either grab a spare chair or stow your stuff out of sight. I have had courses in older buildings with coat hooks or closets, but they are rarely used. I can't recall every hearing of someone stealing a coat out of a class, though I am sure it happens somewhere, but you can always put a policy in your syllabus (and mention judicial punishments for theft).

Considering that most students are toting around $2000+ in electronics between laptops, phones and other devices, I can't see people worrying too much about a $60 coat.

[Need Coffee in an IV]

I would have to say most of my professors have dressed on the casual side but according to them a collared shirt/khakis=dressed up for geology ha. I would have to say I've never noticed my professors shoes before. Except for my mentor, he wears mandals with socks ha. I've seen other professors use an extra chair/table for their winter gear. For myself I either use the back of my chair or if I'm in the science building I go down to my office and put my winter stuff in there.

[bugabooo]

Hi everyone!

It's winter for 7-8 months of the year where I am. I HATE cold and snow, unfortunately, so I've learned to do a lot of things to deal with it. Getting to class takes longer in the winter because you can't really cut through parking lots or grassy areas, so you learn to leave for class earlier. Also, I always try to get to class a little earlier so I can peel off my numerous layers of cold protection and settle in. Dress in layers, abandon trendiness and focus on utility. I wear tights under my pants if I know it's going to be below zero while I have to be outside. 

I frequently see faculty teaching in their winter boots, and most just throw their coat/other winter gear on a spare chair near their podium. In one classroom that was unusually cold, my professor wore a puffy-ish, north face type vest. Students wear hats and scarves during class especially if they've just come in from outside, and as long as it's actually cold enough to warrant that, most professors don't mind. I've heard of people having hats or scarves stolen, but nothing like an actual coat being stolen. There are a lot of organizations around that provide cold weather gear for people who can't afford it-- on campus and around the community.

My university doesn't cancel class unless it's -35, so we're all completely used to everyone having lots of cumbersome coats and other winter stuff. That goes for public places as well. I usually stuff my coat and things into my cart when I'm shopping if possible. 

Edited January 16, 2016 by bugabooo
Thought of another point to make

[bhr]

1 hour ago, bugabooo said:

Hi everyone!

It's winter for 7-8 months of the year where I am. I HATE cold and snow, unfortunately, so I've learned to do a lot of things to deal with it. Getting to class takes longer in the winter because you can't really cut through parking lots or grassy areas, so you learn to leave for class earlier. Also, I always try to get to class a little earlier so I can peel off my numerous layers of cold protection and settle in. Dress in layers, abandon trendiness and focus on utility. I wear tights under my pants if I know it's going to be below zero while I have to be outside. 

I frequently see faculty teaching in their winter boots, and most just throw their coat/other winter gear on a spare chair near their podium. In one classroom that was unusually cold, my professor wore a puffy-ish, north face type vest. Students wear hats and scarves during class especially if they've just come in from outside, and as long as it's actually cold enough to warrant that, most professors don't mind. I've heard of people having hats or scarves stolen, but nothing like an actual coat being stolen. There are a lot of organizations around that provide cold weather gear for people who can't afford it-- on campus and around the community.

My university doesn't cancel class unless it's -35, so we're all completely used to everyone having lots of cumbersome coats and other winter stuff. That goes for public places as well. I usually stuff my coat and things into my cart when I'm shopping if possible. 

Tech? I turned down better funding from there just because of the weather.

[bugabooo]

7 hours ago, bhr said:

Tech? I turned down better funding from there just because of the weather.

Nope! You're not too far off, though. They get more snow than I do, actually. Tech is nice, and they do tend to dole out good funding packages especially for females and minorities. They've gotten to be much more diverse, which has been great to see. 

[cwr]

On January 5, 2016 at 8:26 PM, fuzzylogician said:

...So, those of you who've had profs teach courses like this recently, what do they do? Teach in their winter boots? Bring their indoor shoes and change shoes in class?... 

Somehow, until I read your question, I didn't realize (or fully appreciate) that if you wanted to wear shoes besides your winter boots, then you had to bring another pair. I don't know if I thought that boots were meant to be worn over a pair of normal shoes or what, but I had really never given it enough thought to realize how absurd that would be. 

[rising_star]

On 1/5/2016 at 11:26 PM, fuzzylogician said:

Not for nothing, but I just ran into this interesting conundrum: I am teaching a large lecture-based class in a lecture hall on the other side of campus. Getting there involves a 5-minute trek across the not-so-well-plowed streets of the campus, and it's freaking cold so not wearing a coat and using my indoor shoes to get there don't sound like appealing options. So, those of you who've had profs teach courses like this recently, what do they do? Teach in their winter boots? Bring their indoor shoes and change shoes in class? I'm imagining male professors get more slack on this, so specifically what do female instructors do? I am finding this to be a ridiculous question, but also a serious one. 

I know a lot of people who just teach in their winter boots, especially if it's just a 50 minute class. Obviously, this depends on the styling of your boots but it's definitely possible to plan your outfits either around or to coordinate with your boots. I'm thinking of, for example, snow boots like these from Columbia, which could be worn with pants tucked inside for the walk and then untucked for class without looking much different than your normal footwear. But if that won't work for you or you aren't interested in it, you could definitely just bring a second pair of shoes (if female, perhaps ballet flats since those won't take up much space) and just quickly change into those when you arrive. I don't know that I'd change shoes in a bathroom but, if you got there right as the previous class is leaving, you could probably swap shoes pretty easily as part of your class set up. 

[fuzzylogician]

24 minutes ago, rising_star said:

I know a lot of people who just teach in their winter boots, especially if it's just a 50 minute class. Obviously, this depends on the styling of your boots but it's definitely possible to plan your outfits either around or to coordinate with your boots. I'm thinking of, for example, snow boots like these from Columbia, which could be worn with pants tucked inside for the walk and then untucked for class without looking much different than your normal footwear. But if that won't work for you or you aren't interested in it, you could definitely just bring a second pair of shoes (if female, perhaps ballet flats since those won't take up much space) and just quickly change into those when you arrive. I don't know that I'd change shoes in a bathroom but, if you got there right as the previous class is leaving, you could probably swap shoes pretty easily as part of your class set up. 

Thanks! Conclusions from the first two weeks for class: The first week I was dressing more formally so I brought nicer shoes and changed right before class. It was alright, but a bit of a pain to carry extra shoes around all day. Later I took the formality down a notch and did the untucking of the pants from the shoes thing, and that worked fine too. My boots tend to get dirty quickly, but as long as I take care of them, I think this will be the solution most of the time. 

 

1 hour ago, cwr said:

Somehow, until I read your question, I didn't realize (or fully appreciate) that if you wanted to wear shoes besides your winter boots, then you had to bring another pair. I don't know if I thought that boots were meant to be worn over a pair of normal shoes or what, but I had really never given it enough thought to realize how absurd that would be. 

I know! as someone who grew up in place with no snow, I'm always surprised by all the things I'd never thought about. Like, it stays on the ground and has to be somewhere, so there is less space on the sidewalk and you can't jaywalk as much because there's snow all along the sidewalk separating it from the street. It's the little things... 

[bugabooo]

13 minutes ago, rising_star said:

...But if that won't work for you or you aren't interested in it, you could definitely just bring a second pair of shoes (if female, perhaps ballet flats since those won't take up much space) and just quickly change into those when you arrive. I don't know that I'd change shoes in a bathroom but, if you got there right as the previous class is leaving, you could probably swap shoes pretty easily as part of your class set up. 

Great points. Reminded me to mention for commuters: I keep extra gloves, a scarf, hand warmers, flashlight, socks, and a pair of dark flats in my car at ALL times during the winter. Plus, since it's cold, I can leave food like a frozen meal in my car for long days on campus. Car/ wardrobe/ emergency kit/ freezer. 

This thread makes me glad I grew up in this weather because I know how to deal with it, but also glad because this is probably my last winter here!

[artsy16]

I never paid attention to what my instructors were wearing, so I'm surprised to see that this is something grad students/instructors are concerned about. And I certainly wouldn't judge am instructor for wearing warm gear indoors.

Anyway...This is hopefully my last winter here as well! Can't stand it, though I'm not heat resistant at all. 

[MarineBluePsy]

1 hour ago, cwr said:

Somehow, until I read your question, I didn't realize (or fully appreciate) that if you wanted to wear shoes besides your winter boots, then you had to bring another pair. I don't know if I thought that boots were meant to be worn over a pair of normal shoes or what, but I had really never given it enough thought to realize how absurd that would be. 

It's not absurd at all and you're not the only one thinking this.  When I watch movies set in super cold places the first thing I notice is how bulky all the coats and boots are.  Well you wear a bulky coat over regular clothing so why would you not wear bulky boots over regular shoes?  I think it's more absurd that boot designers don't agree with us lol.

[TakeruK]

1 hour ago, fuzzylogician said:

I know! as someone who grew up in place with no snow, I'm always surprised by all the things I'd never thought about. Like, it stays on the ground and has to be somewhere, so there is less space on the sidewalk and you can't jaywalk as much because there's snow all along the sidewalk separating it from the street. It's the little things... 

I was surprised to realise this too when I started my MSc!

Also, the jackets-in-shopping-cart thing, it's been almost 4 years since I last lived in a place with snow and I realised I completely forgot what I did with my coat during the 2 years in Ontario. Even after reading the tip to put jackets in carts, I had to think back to my old shopping trips before I realised that yes, that was actually what I did. Shopping baskets just don't work!

[TheMonkeyOnMyBack]

We are issued lockers where we stow our snow gear during class . Which was necessary yesterday with our almost 3 feet of new snow.  

Edited January 20, 2016 by TheMonkeyOnMyBack

[SLPgradstudent]

3 hours ago, TheMonkeyOnMyBack said:

We are issued lockers where we stow our snow gear during class . Which was necessary yesterday with our almost 3 feet of new snow.  

I love it, "almost 3 feet of new snow."  Here in MD, we are currently all panicking and running around in circles because a nor'easter is about to dump 1-2 feet of snow on us over the weekend.  It's not a big deal because it's "a lot" of snow, it's a big deal because the area isn't well equipped to deal with it, and people here (especially when driving) don't know what to do when it snows more than 1/4 inch.  I've lived here my whole life, and I personally look forward to the occasional blizzard.  That is, as long as I don't have to go anywhere!