My fellow students, I write to you today about the storm on Sunday that dumped about a foot of snow on the ground. This storm eventually led to a cancellation of classes on Monday. However, this cancellation came very late. It came almost 12 hours into the storm and after many of us attempted to get back to campus.

Many of us don’t have a fine understanding of what it takes to cancel classes and the repercussions that such moves will have as far as union contracts, labor and other university business related things. However, much of the student body and faculty have seen what can happen if classes are not cancelled in a timely manner.

However, I agree with the administration’s final decision and have some understanding as to their hesitation to cancel classes.

On Sunday, frankly, this delay was appalling. We saw interstates being closed and the state police asking for the University to make some statement to keep us off the roads. This came only at 9:30 p.m. and the cancellation came at 1:30 a.m. In that time period, students under the impression that classes would still take place on Monday traveled in conditions that no person should feel forced to drive in. These were conditions that did result in accidents and injuries.

This is unacceptable. The first and foremost thought that should reside with the administration is that of our safety — not contracts, not labor problems and not money. I ask students to reach out not only to your student senators, but to the administration asking that they set plans in motion and pave a clear path that can quickly advert another situation like that on Sunday evening. Let us eliminate a future where a student gets stranded or harmed in the effort to get back to school on time. We the students are what make up the University, not our classes — and we above all should be protected.

Christopher Dayton, senior in LAS.