Or put another way: how can you tell it’s finally Spring?
Like the coming of a new season, the end of a semester comes with some familiar signs. Here are just a few the ways you can tell it’s the last week of classes here at the U of A:
You’re Sure It’s Not Going to Snow Again
Being east of the Rockies tends to bring with it some cynicism regarding the weather. But the last week of classes is almost always a sure sign that winter is behind us, and we can finally stop checking the forecast for surprise spring snow dumps. (Hopefully, this hasn’t jinxed it.)
Wildlife
The Quad Goose and company must be as attentive to the academic calendar as we are, because as soon as classes are out the animal kingdom seizes the opportunity for a full-fledged campus invasion.
The Elevators Don’t Stop on Every FloorEvery Floor
Unsurprisingly, the elevators around campus tend to have fewer stops once our 30,000+ students start their summer leaves. It’s a sure sign that it’s the last week of classes once the time in our daily vertical commutes has been cut in half.
The Coffee Lines are Reasonable
Similar to the speedy elevators, once classes are out getting your daily caffeine fix is no longer a 30+ minute endeavour.
Frisbee in Quad
The officially unofficial sport of campuses across Canada starts its annual season the day classes end like clockwork. Any seasoned U of A goer will know to keep their head up once the Frisbees start flying in Quad.
It’s Quiet… Too Quiet
It can be easy to get used to the proverbial sound and fury of campus during the school year. When things fall silent, it’s either a sign that it’s the last week of classes or the zombie apocalypse has started and you didn’t get the memo. 50/50 shot, really.