One small inch of snow, one giant burden for mankind

By News Staff
November 28, 2006

Photo by Matt Lutton.

Brad Layne Rogers of Seattle helps guide Metro driver Alvirsia Stroughterâ€™s skidding number 74 bus on the Ave. and 41st Street during the height of a rush-hour snowstorm yesterday evening. The bus, which had very little traction coming downhill from 45th Street toward NE Campus Parkway, blocked traffic for more than 45 minutes.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a snow advisory that lasted until 5 a.m. this morning.

The NWS forecasted snow accumulation of around one inch in the Seattle area last night.

The University of Washington never closes due to weather [HTML_REMOVED] labs, residence halls and certain facilities will remain open. However, President Mark Emmert can decide to cancel classes if weather or road and transportation conditions make it dangerous for students to get to campus.

"It usually takes a pretty good snow to get us to cancel classes," said UW spokesman Norm Arkans. "If we don't get anymore snow, I doubt that we would cancel classes."

After the NWS advisory expires, the next chance of snow is Wednesday evening.

For this week's weather predictions, see the [HTML_REMOVED] Weather Underground[HTML_REMOVED].

Comments

#1 matt

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 9:56 a.m.:

perhaps there is only one inch at uw, but there are SEVERAL in south snohomish county. SEVEN inches in snohomish, bothell, mill creek. what about the students who commute from these areas and cant get out of their steep driveways? luckily i graduated last year, but my bother is still a student there.

#2 shane

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 10:14 a.m.:

522 and hwy 9 are both closed in some areas. this means commuters in the north would have to take 1-5 only, causing huge traffic delays. yesterday uw students and employees were stranded on 405 for hours, having to abandon their cars and busses to WALK home.

#3 James

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 10:46 a.m.:

Although there may only be an inch of snow in the U District, there is an abundance in the surrounding areas. I am shocked to witness the University of Washington administration disregard the safety of students who travel to campus. Whether walking a mile or driving 30 miles to campus, ALL students' safety should be considered when making the decision to cancel classes. Since classes will not be cancelled today, it is now difficult for those commuting students (among others, I presume) to make up what they have missed.

#4 Anna

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 11:32 a.m.:

I agree with James' comment. The University of Washington should have closed today. I live fairly close to campus, but after witnessing a bus slide sideways down my street, I decided to stay at home this morning. Not only do many students commute, but faculty and staff commute long distances as well. Shame on President Emmert for not being conscious of our safety.

#5 jon

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 1:57 p.m.:

Yeah, there's no snow this morning...because it's all ICE. Sounds like a great way to commute! You close UW Bothell and Tacoma...UW students DO commute from those cities too. Absurd.

#6 Laura

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 2:50 p.m.:

And what about those of us who have kids? The entire Seattle school district was closed today, so my son was home all day, with no where else to go. What was his suggestion for students like me?

#7 Jodi

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 10:50 p.m.:

I agree with all the comments. I live in N. Snohomish County and was crossing my fingers when reading the cancelled school list. Not so much to get out of Politics, but more so because I was dreading the bus ride down. When Semi trucks have pulled over to the side of the road due to icy road conditions it should be an indicator that the weather might be a bit on the troublesome side. I truly hope the school rethinks its closure policy next time weather conditions prove so difficult.

#8 alex

commented, on
November 28, 2006 at 11:56 p.m.:

i understand why it would make sense to keep classes going for those who are already on campus. however, is it reasonable to disregard those (many) students who do commute from all over the puget sound region? the whole point of a public university is that it encourages different kinds of people to pursue further education. when making the decision whether or not to cancel classes, i believe it incredibly important to consider those who commute just as well as those who happen to have the convenience of living on campus or close to the school. is it not favoritism to disregard students who may not be able to live as close to school for whatever reason? it is most disappointing to learn that it will be increasingly difficult for me to keep up in my classes because the president refuses to cancel classes. furthermore, i do not understand how ice can be seen as less hazardous than actual snow to commuting conditions. how does that make sense?

#9 Stacy

commented, on
November 29, 2006 at 6:50 a.m.:

I find it disheartening that the UW disregards student safety. Not only for those who have to commute, for just for those who need to travel between classes. With temperatures in the 20's and ice everwhere, not only is it unsafe to those who do not live on campus to commute, but for those who live on campus to walk around. Advisories have been issued to stay home, yet the UW disregards these warnings and continues to hold classes. What about non-traditional students? Students who have children who have no place to go because their schools headed the warnings. My employer (a local technical college) which never closes also in adverse weather conditions closed many many hours prior to even the local public school decided to close for the day. I have colleagues who travel from Bellingham for class, and becuase the UW REFUSES to cancel class, and we only meet 3 times a quarter they must travel in this weather, and I must walk 2 miles downhill in the ice to catch the bus, because they don't come close to my house in this weather. All just to graduate in a few weeks.

#10 Michelle

commented, on
November 29, 2006 at 2:41 p.m.:

I definately agree with everybody's comments. The University should take into consideration the people who are affected, those who have to travel, have children or walk. Even today, many of the streets are very icy. I for one refuse to leave my home when the state patrol says to stay home. I think if the police don't want people going out in these conditions, the University should take heed of those warnings too.

#11 mike

commented, on
November 29, 2006 at 11:57 p.m.:

im willing to bet mark emmert didnt even come to school.

#12 Kevin

commented, on
January 12, 2007 at 1:45 p.m.:

Since you guys all seem to agree that he should have cancelled classes, I'll try to present the other side of it.

The university is not some ultra-fair, communist enterprise. It is not Emmert's responsibility to make you succeed, it is yours. Boeing doesn't close when it snows. Microsoft doesn't close. Yet these and many other businesses have thousands of employees who can't make it to work. The goal of the university is to have as many people asa well-educated as possible, and cancelling classes does not help it achieve that goal. The university would rather have some of its students succeed than none of its students succeed.

That said, it would have been really nice if classes were cancelled.

#13 Brock

commented, on
January 16, 2007 at 6:58 a.m.:

Even if half get killed in the process :)