It’s bad enough that students must lug around heavy backpacks, squeeze into overcrowded rooms, and remain conscious for dreadfully long classes. But for some students, the dropping temperatures even further fulfill the phrase: “hell freezing over.”

The temperature conditions vary from room to room. In the more privileged, non-portable buildings, the worst it can get for students is nothing compared to the portables.

The students of the HT buildings are all too familiar with this. Megan Shimada finds her English class in HT3 uncomfortable.

“It’s always one of either two extremes,” Shimada said. “It’s either way cold or way warm.”

The portable classrooms have a disadvantage. Their ventilation systems only have the options of blowing hot air or cold air. But students of other rooms on campus feel their share of the problem.

The climate circumstances hinder the studies of students all over campus. So why hasn’t there been change? If things like playing music and wearing revealing clothing are considered disruptions in the classroom, why isn’t general classroom discomfort treated with the same concern?

Student Pamela Rodriguez hopes for an adjustment because she cannot focus in her HH6 classroom.

“It’s way too cold!” Rodriguez said, “I’m always complaining of how cold it is but that causes arguments in the classroom.”

Sophomore and student of the same class, Stephen Hayes, feels the same way.

“It negatively affects me and other students because we can’t concentrate,” said Hayes.

Some teachers simply encourage students to wear warmer clothes. Heeding their advice, they still feel uncomfortable and unable to focus in their learning environment. Also, it is a nuisance to have to hold more things than their usual backpack.

“I wear long-sleeves and sweaters,” Rodriguez said. “Most of us bring extra stuff to wear, but that’s annoying because we have to carry other things!”

When the temperature becomes more than a bother, students start to speak up, even though ultimately it seems the teacher is in control.

But students like Hayes have voiced their opinions.

“I said something about the temperature and complained, but as usual that caused tension in the classroom between students and teachers,” Hayes said. “Still, I thought it was my duty to declare our right as students to control the temperature.”

Hayes, who said his class reached 69 degrees at one point, chose to speak on the topic for a speech assignment in English.

“I could tell the chill factor hit a chord with the class when they all were applauding at the end,” Hayes said.

Peer, and a student in the audience, Jerel Abella strongly agreed with Hayes’ speech.

“I was cheering for it from the beginning to the end and I thought it was pretty dope,” Abella said.

While most students are vocal about their discomfort, others are just adapting.

Jackie Zhou is a sophomore in one of the portables. She feels it is easier just to deal.

“My teacher will usually just change the temperature whether she feels warm or cold,” said Zhou, “but I just put a sweater on.”