The University waited too long. 

Yesterday, while many students were still traveling back to school during the snowstorm, the University sent out a series of mass emails regarding the weather. The first email, sent by Executive Director of Facilities and Services Jack Dempsey at approximately 7:55 p.m., was to inform students of snow removal procedures and campus accessibility. The second email, sent by Provost Ilesanmi Adesida at approximately 9:15 p.m., warned students of the hazardous conditions on Interstate 57 and discouraged students from making the trip back if they had not already left. The final email, sent by Chancellor Phyllis Wise, announced the cancellation of classes on Monday. Sure, most students were probably jumping with excitement because of the spring break extension. The problem is that the email was sent around 1:25 a.m. — an unreasonable time to cancel classes, considering how heavy the snowfall was already at about 4 p.m. 

What is even more confusing is why the Provost would send out an email telling students that conditions are dangerous and that they shouldn’t attempt to come back to school if they had not already left. If it is not safe for students to be outside, then there should not have been a reason to wait to cancel classes. A decision should have been made immediately following the University being advised by Illinois State Police that it was “extremely hazardous” outside. There have also been numerous accounts of cars in ditches along I-57 and students being stuck in stand-still traffic because of the snow. Some students flying back to campus were stuck at O’Hare airport on Monday. That should be enough to warrant a cancelation of classes. But still, at this point, the administration had not canceled them.

The Champaign Unit 4 School District canceled school by 7:40 p.m. on Sunday night. Keep in mind, these are students who live in the area and are not traveling across the state. Even then, there are faculty and staff that don’t live near campus and also have to travel to campus on the slippery roads. 

In the emails, the University even told employees to make a decision about whether they could make it to work. 

When it gets to the point where some employees and students may doubt their ability to safely arrive on campus, then they shouldn’t try to risk their safety to make it to a 9 a.m. class. And for the students who did make it back to campus, there are thick piles of snow everywhere. Even if the areas around University buildings are cleared, it is still dangerous for students who are traveling from their apartments and dorms to class. 

If the emails say anything about internal University communications, it doesn’t reflect positively. From Adesida’s email, it seemed as if classes would be held, no matter how bad the snow was. Even then, it came after an email sent out by Jim Maskeri, Illinois student senator, to academic senators, calling for the University to cancel classes. 

We are not asking for more snow days just so we don’t have to go to class. We are making a plea for the University to take the safety of its students, faculty and staff more seriously.