2008 Woodie Awards
Letter from the Chancellor: Weather, class cancelation
Nick Dunagan
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Viewpoints
Dear Pacer:
I read with interest your news story, editorial and column regarding the non-cancellation of classes last Thursday and Friday after a 1-inch snow Wednesday night and the additional 1-inch of snow early Friday morning. These are agonizing decisions that require the careful weighing of the safety of faculty, staff and students against the delivery of educational services that students pay to receive. These decisions are not taken lightly.
In this case, the grounds crew, Tim Nipp, director of the physical plant, and Al Hooten, vice-chancellor for finance and administration, all assessed the situation in the early hours of the days in question, and I approved the recommendation to hold classes. I would make the same decision today. Students, faculty and staff have to assess their individual situation as it relates to the time, distance and condition of the secondary roads they travel. No one should venture out into a situation that is dangerous because of their unique location. Our faculty members do an excellent job of working with students who can't get to class because of road conditions.
The very last thing we want to do is create a dangerous condition. On the other hand, we can't overreact. I recognize that all students, K-16, love to get out of class for snow, ice or any number of reasons. Public Safety reported no car accidents or personal injuries as a result of falls on campus for the days in question. This administration pledges to seriously weigh the safety of our campus community in everything we do as a University. Let's hope that the snow and ice are over for the season, but if either of these conditions comes again and classes are not cancelled, then I urge extreme caution as we carry on our important educational mission.
I read with interest your news story, editorial and column regarding the non-cancellation of classes last Thursday and Friday after a 1-inch snow Wednesday night and the additional 1-inch of snow early Friday morning. These are agonizing decisions that require the careful weighing of the safety of faculty, staff and students against the delivery of educational services that students pay to receive. These decisions are not taken lightly.
In this case, the grounds crew, Tim Nipp, director of the physical plant, and Al Hooten, vice-chancellor for finance and administration, all assessed the situation in the early hours of the days in question, and I approved the recommendation to hold classes. I would make the same decision today. Students, faculty and staff have to assess their individual situation as it relates to the time, distance and condition of the secondary roads they travel. No one should venture out into a situation that is dangerous because of their unique location. Our faculty members do an excellent job of working with students who can't get to class because of road conditions.
The very last thing we want to do is create a dangerous condition. On the other hand, we can't overreact. I recognize that all students, K-16, love to get out of class for snow, ice or any number of reasons. Public Safety reported no car accidents or personal injuries as a result of falls on campus for the days in question. This administration pledges to seriously weigh the safety of our campus community in everything we do as a University. Let's hope that the snow and ice are over for the season, but if either of these conditions comes again and classes are not cancelled, then I urge extreme caution as we carry on our important educational mission.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Concerned Student
posted 2/14/07 @ 10:32 PM CST
Just because there were no injuries reported to public safety doesn't mean that they're weren't any. A friend of mine fell on the icy sidewalks and suffered from a severly bruised tailbone. (Continued…)
Severly Bruised
posted 2/15/07 @ 7:45 PM CST
I don't know if I am the before mentioned bruised tailbone student, but I fell on the ice. I was wearing boots with good tread and was walking slowly and deliberately. (Continued…)
Unhappy
posted 2/15/07 @ 11:05 PM CST
There were, if I am correct, at least four wrecks the night of the first snow. My friend could not get to class from meadowbrook lane because she almost slid off the road coming out of the driveway. (Continued…)
Emily
posted 2/15/07 @ 11:12 PM CST
dito :D
Andrew Michleski
posted 2/16/07 @ 6:35 PM CST
I live in Gibson County, between Rutherford and
Kenton. The road I live on goes in to the bottoms near
the river and when it snows or ice the road is not
passable. (Continued…)
Concerned Student
posted 2/16/07 @ 11:49 PM CST
I also would like to say that this isn't about the fact that we like to get out of school for snow days. I would have had no problem with going to class if the sidewalks had not been dangerously icy. (Continued…)
travis callison
posted 2/17/07 @ 3:11 PM CST
thats bullcrap....i saw an accident on campus...so theyre not reporting anything...not to mention they didnt report a guy sliding across the UC parking lot, over the curb, and almost into the ditch, then made him pay to have a wrecker pull him out instead of someone with a truck for free!
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