The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: Opinions

Media Credit: WAITES LASETER Pipes near Mercury Lounge in downtown Athens were still frozen Tuesday afternoon. [Click to enlarge]

Holding classes irresponsible with icy campus, students and staff in danger

When hundreds or thousands of students are still without power well into the early morning hours of a 20-degree night, the University should alter its priorities from ensuring that midterms go off without a hitch to making sure that its students are safe for the night.

Of those without power, I was one of the lucky ones who had a friend I could stay with for the night. If I didn't, and I had a midterm Tuesday, I do not know what I would've done other than sit in a 30-degree apartment all night studying by candlelight.

Once again, the University has shown that it cares little about the safety of its students.

Matt Berry
Senior, Marietta
Political Science


It wouldn't bother me so much if the University and the city knew how to handle this. I literally jumped off my balcony because my staircase was covered in ice.

I drove to campus fine but then after paying the ridiculous amount of money for a parking spot in the North Deck, I finally found a spot after 20 minutes of driving around. Then the short walk from the North Deck to Gilbert Hall was even worse.

If you are going to have class, throw some salt, some dirt, whatever to at least help thaw the ice and build some traction. Being from Chicago, I managed, but I would have canceled class for those who haven't experienced this weather many times.

Eric Mattes
Junior, Cumming
Political Science


I have a 4-wheel drive Jeep Wrangler, and I still was sliding all over the roads Tuesday morning on my way to class. I honestly think that the roads were safer Monday than they were Tuesday morning because of black ice.

Furthermore, as I walked into the MLC, a huge sheet of ice fell off the roof onto my head, and now I have a welt the size of a melon. But don't worry, I made it to class, because clearly that is much more important than the safety of students.

This is just another example of the University completely disregarding the safety and wellbeing of the students.

Joseph Lawrence
Senior, Lilburn
Biological Sciences


I haven't had Internet or power for the past two days, so I had to call people to find out if we had school.

I fell on the way to school and have seen numerous other people fall. I can understand not wanting to cancel school, but making students choose between their safety and their grades is ridiculous and irresponsible.

Delaying class until noon would have given the ice a chance to melt and would have given the student body the impression that the administration was looking out for our best interest. The University is no better equipped to deal with this than its students - I have seen salt only on the sidewalks in one three-foot patch; in front of the library there is just a bunch of gravel.

I doubt all the students driving buses are comfortable driving in these conditions. I am disappointed in the administration for this decision and hope it is aware of the implications of its choice. I doubt any administrators had to walk to school this morning for an 8 a.m. class.

Caitlin Taber
Junior, Lookout Mountain
International Affairs, German


Even though it was literally freezing outside, I had no choice but to bare the cold due to an 8 a.m. midterm. Realizing that the buses could possibly be running behind, my roommate and I woke up early and got to the bus stop almost an hour before class.

After standing at the Milledge bus stop for almost 20 minutes, we realized we had to either find a ride or walk 1.6 miles to Peabody Hall. Since it was almost impossible to get a car out of the parking lot, we had no choice but to make a dash to Peabody, or else fail our midterm. Twenty-five minutes later, five minutes late to class, we arrived for our midterm, only after slipping and falling on the ice a couple of times. The bruises will probably show up later.

At least now I can relate to my grandparents and say that I walked miles in the snow in order to get to school.

Courtney E. Fennell
Junior, Macon
International Business


To the administration:

1. Tell us you were wrong. You made the wrong decision. You screwed this up. Don't pass the buck, don't spread the blame around. If the buses aren't running at 8 a.m. because they deem it too dangerous to be on the road, how do you expect students to get to school safely?

And when we did come to campus, conditions were as bad as anywhere.

The roads were not safe, end of story. The campus was not safe, end of story. These are not debatable points.

We'd all appreciate it if you would cut the bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo and simply admit you were wrong. You'll look like fools if you don't tell us that up front.

2. Tell us you are sorry. We want an apology. Our backsides are sore. Our wrists and ankles are sprained and broken. Some of our cars have been wrecked. All this compounded with 20,000 residents living without power, phone, Internet or heat.

We're fairly pissed off right now and we'd appreciate a heartfelt apology. You owe us that much.

3. Tell us why this won't happen again. Your administration has endangered students and made an unacceptable decision. You commanded us to come to class on unsafe roads or walk on unsafe streets. We've seen falling ice hurt people, slips on black ice, slips into the street, slips down stairways, cars sliding into ditches and trees and other cars.

Jeremiah Johnson
Senior, Lawrenceville
Economics

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