But not all students from the Quad find the snow a difficulty.

"I like the snow," says Danny B. Yang '98, also a resident of Pforzheimer. "I usually walk. It's usually not bad because it's well shoveled."

Weather-related effects are not the only factors involved with the winter gloom. After all, the gray skies are accompanied by the end-of-semester blues.

"With the fact that winter falls [at a certain time] in the academic year with winter exams, it is quite often a down time for people," says Catlin. "[UHS] sees [its] share of people because of their concerns at exam time.

But some students see advantages to nature's forced confinement.

"I think the finals in a way are complementary to the situation," says Julia A. Hunter '96. "You are forced inside to study."

"It's more depressing in the spring when you look outside and see the good weather while you are stuck inside studying," she says.

In addition to the academic concerns, Catlin points to the passing of the holiday season as a possible factor in winter depression.

"There is a letdown after [the holidays]," he says. "People tend to anticipate [the holidays] with all the hype, and then after it is over with, [there is nothing to take its place]."

Catlin suggests a regular exercise routine and an overall feeling of optimism to help students combat the winter blues and survive their academic and weather-related obstacles.

"The only way is to try to think about what it is in winter which contains opportunities which you don't find in the summer," Catlin says. "People don't always appreciate the changing seasons. It a source of satisfaction to have this type of contrast."