Autumn in Chicago

By Karissa Martin

Channelle Oleski, 19, who lives downtown, stared longingly out the glass doors in the lobby of Roosevelt University on Thursday. She drummed her fingers on the green tablecloth and crossed and uncrossed her ankles as the sun shone teasingly in her eyes.

The laughter from people across the street seemed almost audible, smiles on their faces and the sun in their hair. But the revolving doors and noisy talk in the lobby made it impossible to completely sail away to the beautiful outdoor scene almost within her grasp.

“It’s really nice outside today. It’s a beautiful day,” said Oleski who was stuck inside Thursday, working as a student ambassador for campus safety.

Because duty called, her enjoyment of the great outdoors could not extend past the sunshiny view from her seat near the ADA or American Disabilities Act door.

Oleski’s temptation on Thursday was a sunny day when the temperature reached a high of 69 warm degrees. According to the National Weather Service, this was significantly lower than the record high of 92 degrees in 1971, but it was right at the average temperature of 69 degrees.

Wednesday’s high temperature marked a 10-degree rise from last year’s recorded high of a mere 59 degrees. The record low for Sept. 30 was 32 degrees in 1974—a temperature Chicago has not yet reached this season, though those bitter cold winter days are approaching.

For Oleski and others, the approaching winter means there are precious few warm days left to enjoy. Oleski made plans to take advantage of these days, even though she did not have the opportunity on Thursday.

“I may go to the park or something,” she said. “I may spend time outside while it’s nice.”

A fellow student at Roosevelt University, Nicole McCoy, 21, of the South Loop, also made plans to enjoy the last bit of summer weather.

“The only thing that I have planned to do is, well, I can’t wait for homecoming to come up and I have a concert,” she said.

McCoy, unlike Oleski, was able to soak up some sun on this warm Thursday. The sun shone brightly on her book and seemed to dance on her skin as she read on a bench across the street from Roosevelt University.

“I do like this weather,” McCoy said. “I do like when it’s hot because I was born in the summer.”

Tommy Stoll, 19, shared the views of his fellow Roosevelt students.

“I like the weather, I guess. It’s sunny, not too hot, not too cold,” Stoll said. “I like that it’s becoming fall, too.”

Stoll did not have plans for the select warm days left. He said he would, “just take them as they come.”    

While forecasters say there still may be time to enjoy the last bit of sweet, summer heat, Oleski, McCoy, and Stoll said they are ready for the bitter cold months ahead for the most part.

“Oh yeah, I’m from Michigan,” said Oleski. “We get cold, cold weather.” She added, “I’m kind of worried because it’s going to be really cold, and I have to walk home in it.”  

McCoy agreed.

“Yes, I’m ready for it. I’m from Wisconsin. I’m always ready for a horrible winter,” McCoy said.

“The weather actually hasn’t been as bad as Iowa,” Stoll commented. “They’ve pretty ridiculous weather extremes.”

But even with the days of warm weather this season dwindling, it was clear on Thursday that at least for some the days of summer are already beyond their grasp.

The sun shone through the windows of Roosevelt University’s Congress Lounge as Stoll replaced his headphones in his ears and watched the sunlight skip across the green, leafy armrest of his chair.