By Colin Ahern — Opinions Editor

With winter’s ragged claws having taken one last swipe at the tender candles keeping us warm, so too came the first droplets of spring. The first of March, midway through reading week, featured mild weather in the form of melting snow and a temperature above freezing. This apparent turning point in conditions provides promise for the final weeks of the winter semester.

While Groundhog Day this year featured a tragic loss, the death of the prognosticator did not herald the six weeks of winter that local pessimists seemed to expect. This tradition, rooted in astronomy (the most celestial branch of science), has a very low success rate in correctly predicting the future. However, it does have a good success rate in raising spirits. This is particularly true in the United States, where there are several groundhogs who operate as local celebrities/oracles. 

For Bishop’s, the arrival of spring offers an opportunity for a revitalization of culture on campus. Better weather heralds an increase in attendance for both indoor and outdoor events. Places like the Quad and Reed Street will likely find themselves in high demand as students emerge from their dorm rooms to bask in some much needed vitamin D. 

This revitalization may find itself in full force with the arrival of Saint Patrick’s Day. Laden in green, students come together every year to celebrate the vivacious aspects of Irish culture (with slightly less fervor on the serpentine aspects of the holiday). This year will be undoubtedly similar, perhaps with a greater intensity as Bishop’s finds itself farther and farther from Covid restrictions.

Spring has oft been thought of as a time of renewal and new opportunities. Bishop’s will be glad to benefit from the return of afternoons rife with frisbee throwing and melting snow. This renewal may also prove to be a boon for students with declining motivation, since it inspires hope that there will, in fact, be a summer at the end of our wretched winters.