The Heat Is Here, But So Is Summer at PCC!

by the PCC Journalism Staff

The heatwave moved in, and so did we.

Students and staff of Project Contemporary Competitiveness battled unprecedented and excruciating temperatures to begin the program’s 51st summer. On July 1st, 2018, over three hundred students with their families descended upon the campus of Stonehill College to move into their temporary home for the next six weeks. Everyone was ready to begin the summer of a lifetime, but Mother Nature threw them a curveball.

With temperatures rising to the mid-90s by the 1pm move-in, students were plugging in their fans as soon as they reached their dorm rooms. According to Accuweather.com, the average temperature for this time of year is 79 degrees, almost fifteen degrees cooler than Sunday’s midday temperature.

While students waited for their parents to bring the cars around to begin to carry in their belongings, they sweltered under the unforgiving sun. “We were all just pools of sweat,” says second year Sophie Nelson. But there was no relief once inside the buildings. Even though out of the direct sun, the dorms--which lack air-conditioning--were too hot to handle. “They were hotter than Hades,” according to Zayn Morrison, a first-year student.

Things were not any better for the proctor staff. Unlike the students, who were given a specific move-in time, the proctors were out in the heat the entire move-in. Whether directing traffic, carrying in luggage, or dancing to Rusted Root’s “Send Me On My Way” (the traditional move-in song), there was no respite from the blistering rays and oppressive humidity.

The activities did not end with move-in; there were tours, hall meetings, and the floor chants. Some relief came during the opening day Olympic Ceremony. This traditional Core Course consists of team-building exercises in the Sally Blair Sports Complex, which was mercifully air-conditioned.

High temperatures are forecast for the entire first week, with temperatures in the 90s and high humidity through Friday.

-with additional reporting by Jack Foley