I noticed that the AT complained this week that the university should have been closed on that cold Monday, February 5.
The editorial argued that it was too cold for the poor, little students. Some people, for god's sake, might have to walk outside to get to class. Others might have trouble getting their cars started. It almost made my heart break to think of the hardship.
I didn't know our students were so fragile and tender. I guess that if you are an adult and go to school you are weaker than those who had to go to work on Monday.
I have to get back to work, but first I'll wipe away my tears. . .
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11 comments:
Ouch...
I don't think a lot of jobs involve the same amount of time spent outside as being a student. And besides, some businesses DID close.
I sure didn't go to school that Monday... I didn't go anywhere. If everyone followed my lead, they wouldn't have to worry about a controversial cancellation, we'd do it for them.
It's especially hard on those without the luxury of a parking pass-- a position I only recently got out of myself.
When the public schools close, it is hard on our students who are parents. These students now have to deal with child care. Also, a large proportion of our students are commuters. Cold weather affects car batteries. Consider the dependability of the car you drove as an undergrad (if you even had one!).
I'm glad the U never closes, because I always know, no matter what, that I'm going in to work. I partly agree with Winneblogo...I walk across campus to teach and yes, Mon Feb 5 was far, far too cold to be outside. I survived, however, and those that came to class (> 60%) survived. The students who didn't come were those that commuted, or had kids that weren't going to school...what are these students to do?
What would any of us do, faced with a similar situation?
One of our staff members got frostbite that day. His ear is still flaking off. Sorry if that maybe influenced us a little.
At Iowa State in the early 1970s, there was a terrible late-season blizzard with enormous snowfall, ice, and terrible wind-chills. The university canceled classes because of weather for the first time in its history, as it just wasn't safe to be out.
Yet virtually every dorm floor managed and Greek house to get out to the stores to buy kegs of beer (drinking age of 18 then) for a big party to celebrate the day off ...
Walking across campus, I see a LOT of students who apparently do not understand how to dress for cold weather. No hat when it's below zero? That is just asking for trouble.
As a non-traditional student (married with 4 children and working a full-time job), I made it to class that evening. The OASD was right in canceling school --- our younger children should be held to a different standard.
However, to cancel school for adults is a little drastic. In real life, you have to go to work when it is below zero and in a snowstorm.
If you can't make it in to class, you can't make it -- e-mail the prof. and tell him/her why. However, to say that it is too cold to go to school is a little ridiculous.
I'm in agreement with Lake Winneblogo here. As a student who lives off-campus and walks to class, I found the cold to be merely a minor inconvinience. As for the staff member who got frostbite on his ear...wear a hat!! It's not the university's fault you're an idiot (Ok, well I guess indirectly it is, but ya can't teach common sense). In summary, toughen up!
He did wear a hat. Maybe you should toughen up by signing your name.
What was it, a baseball cap? This isn't the Arctic, temps were not that bad.
And I'll have you know, Steph Bernard (if that IS your real name), Anonymous is my legal birth name.
We are not young children or the elderly. We pay for class hours, and it better take a little more than a little cold weather to take away a chunk of our education.
Be aware that when OASD cancels school due to weather, the school year then goes longer into June. Miss one day in February and you go one day longer in June. That doesn't work very well in a university setting, with graduation on a fixed date.
Doesn't OASD have contingent days off built into the schedule for this?
Anonymous said:
>Doesn't OASD have contingent days off built into the schedule for this?<
Nope. Pretty foolish, I'll admit, given this is Wisconsin, but no. No snow days built into the calendar. They just go longer to make it up.
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