Daylight saving time is a concept that appears rather simple on paper: The clock jumps one hour forward or backward biannually. However, despite its supposed simplicity, the impact of this “springing forward” and “falling back” has led to some controversy.
On the second Sunday of March, the clock jumps forward one hour from 12 to 1 a.m., causing us to lose an hour. On the first Sunday of November, the opposite occurs, jumping back from 1 to 12 a.m., causing a gain of one hour. The reason for this is so the normal daylight hours better align with the average work and sleep schedule of the American people.
However, in modern times, some say that the original purpose of daylight saving no longer applies. Its origin lies in World War I, when the extended daylight hours helped to expend less electricity. The adoption was mainly due to the paramount importance of efficiency, with every small advantage possibly leading to victory or loss. First adopted by the Germans in 1916 and later by the U.S. in 1918, the concept has remained ever since, even after the war's end.
In the eyes of Auburn University students, the same controversy persists.
“I’ve never really noticed it until it’s already happened to me. I’d bet you could easily get rid of it," said Sam Pine, an architectural student.
While most students were either neutral or negative to the concept, one considered the extra daylight hour helpful. During a few of these interviews, a few strong points were made that led to some of the interviewees arguing rather strongly against keeping daylight saving time as a standard in modern America.
One of these students, Francisco Gonzales, who is currently studying mechanical engineering, mentioned the possible human cost to this sudden change in schedule.
“I think it needs to be done away with, because I know for a fact that older people in general struggle with daylight saving when it comes to when it jumps from 12 to one," Gonzales said. "When we cut the day short, it leads to medical issues for a lot of people.”
After doing further research, the facts do seem to substantiate this claim, as a study by Doctor Sarah Spelsberg claims, “Research shows that the risk of heart attacks increases by about 24% on the Monday following the spring transition to daylight saving time.”
Another problem with daylight saving brought up by students was the problem of uniformity with bordering nations.
“I think that it would be best to go back to the way it was before daylight saving, if only to make it so that we are at the same time as our neighbors," said Addie Kriger, an aerospace engineering student.
As Kriger explained, most of Mexico and parts of Canada, both of which border the U.S., do not observe daylight saving, with Mexico abolishing it in 2022. This leads to a difference in time between the U.S. and those directly north and south of it, even when the time zones are supposed to match.
Overall, the idea of daylight saving time remains a contentious topic in Auburn as well as throughout most of America. While some consider it out-of-date, and others actively harmful, daylight saving remains a relic of a bygone era when every minute counted and every advantage mattered no matter how small. As for whether that advantage matters in the modern day or if the downsides outweigh the upsides, only time will tell.
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Foster Mayhall, a freshman currently undeclared in engineering, is from Dothan, Alabama. He has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the spring of 2026.
