It’s 4 p.m., and the sun has set. The roads are icy, it’s quiet and you can feel the cold wind piercing through your L.L. Bean-branded fleece. That’s the nature of winters in Brunswick. During the semester, this atmosphere is brightened by friends and classmates. Our community brings a feeling of warmth to the otherwise cold Maine winter.

However, this comforting flurry of activity dissipates during breaks when many students leave campus. Those who do stay are met with a Bowdoin just as cold and dark as before, but quieter and without many of their friends and peers. Over the upcoming winter break, we hope students can spend time in community even if they are far from home.

During the week of Thanksgiving break, students organize a large community-based event in the form of the Howell Thanksgiving Potluck to help ease the winter blues.

But, unlike Thanksgiving vacation, winter break spans almost an entire month. For some Bowdoin students, this may be their first winter break away from home. Others may be used to it by now.

For some, winter break evokes memories of drinking hot chocolate with family in matching pajamas. Many holidays this time of year are traditionally celebrated with loved ones. However, the holiday atmosphere may bring with it complex emotions and feelings of isolation.

While most students will be home for break, a sizable portion of the community will remain on campus, including international students, winter athletes and students staying on campus for any number of reasons. International students comprise 6.5 percent of the student body, and there are about 200 athletes who may find themselves on campus.

The current administration has jeopardized the return of international students to the U.S. if they leave the country. Flights home are often expensive, especially during the busiest travel weeks of the year. This can even be true for domestic students.

Bowdoin may also be the safest place for some students. The place they call home may not feel like a place they can return to.

Staying on campus, students may find themselves holed up in their dorm. No matter how cozy this experience may sound, they should step outside to find connection even amid the chilly weather. Students should also explore winter break events and attend any they can.

This week, the College hosted a winter break information session for students to “learn what resources are available” and “how to make the best of Bowdoin during winter break.” We appreciate that the College has made this effort. At the same time, events are normally posted weeks ahead during the semester, but at publication of this issue, no events scheduled over break have been posted to CampusGroups. With winter break on the horizon, we wish the College would advertise such events.

Winter break is a fantastic time for reflection, rest and renewal whether you are on or off campus. We hope that students on campus are able to take full advantage of this time and enjoy it not simply in isolation but with those around them.

This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of Julia Dickinson, Abdullah Hashimi, Andy Robinson, Alex Stein, Catalina Escobedo and Caitlin Panicker.