As you pack your bags in preparation for your return to Syracuse, take a moment to pause and question whether you really need the shorts you are about to throw into your suitcase. You won’t use them and they will sit at the bottom of your bag stinking up your dorm room. And no, you can’t bring your dog either, you will have to settle for your pillow pet. With temperatures dropping on the Hill, The Daily Orange Pulp Staff has compiled a list of things you will need to face the weather and things you will wish you had left at home.

Do bring:

Warm clothes and boots.

Let’s start with the obvious, Syracuse is cold. If you’ve heard it once, you have heard it a hundred times, your eyes will run and icicles will form at the end of your nose so wrap up. Your Ugg boots and designer gloves won’t cut it against the brutal cold. Get some real boots that will stay waterproof like L.L Bean, Timberland or Sorel. Invest in a set of thermal underwear. More fondly known as long johns, you may think you look silly but secret tip, no one will know because everyone will be equally as wrapped up.

Socks.

If we didn’t already hammer it home with the warm clothes section, here we go again: Syracuse is cold. We know those lumpy socks your drunk uncle gave you aren’t high end fashion, but you will be thanking him when you realize that SU doesn’t do snow days and you find yourself trudging through ice and snow between classes.

Hot chocolate.

A delectable dorm delicacy perfect for defrosting frozen humans returning from a day of battling the elements. If you have a fridge in your room, take it all the way and make it with milk, whipped cream, sprinkles, the whole nine yards, your frozen body will thank you. Secret tip number two, the freshmen 15 doesn’t count in Syracuse because all of your layers will hide it.

Textbooks.

If you thought you would never use them again, you were wrong. Many sequential classes use the same textbooks including math and language classes. If you don’t need them again, sell them to someone who will use them. If no one is ever going to take that awful class, bring the book and use it to cushion your fall when you slip on the ice.

Sunglasses.

This one may come as a shock as we just spent ages telling you how cold it is. The sun does occasionally put his hat on and come out to play — even in the winter. It gets bright and the snow reflects the light and makes it more dazzling than Simon Cowell’s teeth. Wearing sunglasses may help you spot that icy patch before it’s too late.

Don’t bring:

Expensive gifts.

You know those hoverboards you saw every time you turned left on campus? Yes, technology is cool and good, but don’t bring yours back to campus. Think about it. Yes, the snow will soften the blow of your fragile elbow on unforgiving pavement. But does anyone really know if you can hover over snow? Leave the expensive holiday gifts at home.

Extra PJs.

Pajamas are critical, and flannel PJs are the icing on the cake. Don’t let people fool you, you can wear pajamas to your 8 a.m. But why bring extras? If you’re going to wear pajamas to class, go all the way. Wear the same one. Plus, you won’t need extras in your dorm because you know you sweat through your cotton T-shirt and shorts because they blast the heat so high.

Space Heater.

Space heaters aren’t allowed in dorms. So don’t bring one. See No. 2 if you need another reason.

Shorts and summer clothes.

Between now and Spring Break, how many times do you think you’ll wear shorts outside the gym? Probably not many. Mother Nature likes to toy with Syracuse, so we might get a couple rare days over 60 degrees, but don’t bet on it. You can exchange your snowpants and winter boots for shorts and sandals over Spring Break.

The bad attitude.

Sure, your parents weren’t too pleased with your subpar GPA last semester. And yeah, those 10 straight weeks of classes without a day off didn’t help anyone. But just like the song goes, “Things can only get better.” So leave the bad attitude at home, pull yourself up by those wooly socks and get ready to tackle the semester.

— compiled by Co-Feature Editor Rachel Gilbert and Asst. Copy Editor Danny Mantooth

Published on January 14, 2016 at 11:25 pm