Since the clocks were set back this weekend, nighttime now falls around 4:30 p.m. And the days will steadily get shorter until mid-December.
In response to the darkness that settles in Maine around this time of year, two of the College's senior vice presidents got behind a new initiative to set the Quad alight with LED bulbs.
The winter lights are not associated with any holiday. They are, rather, a celebration of º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ's location in the Northern Hemisphere on the . The lights will come down Sunday, March 10, when the clocks spring forward.
Benje Douglas, senior vice president for inclusion and diversity, first suggested adding cheerful lights to the Quad to extend the time students can spend there (as long as they're wearing their parkas and wool hats).
"I wanted the Quad to feel more inviting!" Douglas said. "It’s so beautiful as is, but the extra light might make people who are crossing it cross it a bit more slowly and feel invited to enjoy it, even as it gets darker and colder."
"Building belonging is about everyday acts," he added. "This is about trying to make º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿ÊÒ a little warmer with a little extra light."
Matt Orlando, senior vice president for finance and administration, agreed. "I'm in favor of making the Quad more welcoming during longer, colder days," he said. "Hopefully this will encourage students to gather outside, despite the cold."
