Snow suspends campus; frees students and personnel

By: Dan Schultz

Edited by: Noah Shepardson

In the midst of a snowstorm throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, Central Michigan University students and personnel alike found relaxation.

“I woke up late and I had three text messages from friends that said we had class canceled until noon,” Emily Brown said. “I did my homework that I didn’t do the night before,” chuckled Brown, a Grand Rapids Junior.

Snow came slowly but steadily overnight, revealing almost a foot of fresh powder in the early morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Students received an e-mail from Steven Smith, Director of Media Relations at Central Michigan University, at 6:36 a.m., notifying them of class cancellations: “The university is closed until 12 noon… but a final decision [to re-open campus] will be made no later than 10 a.m.”

Unfortunately, not everyone got the memo.

“I didn’t have a choice… I had to be here!” Tonia Price joked. Price, a Switchboard Administrator at Central Michigan University had to report to work like any other day – at 7 a.m. Only this particular morning the phone was ringing off the hook with students, faculty, and personnel inquiring about the cancellation.

Bonnie Denman, a Service Maintenance employee at Central Michigan University, agreed with the campus closing. “The snow was so deep that they would freeze to death,” she said. “It was the best decision for the students.”

Denman, a native of Mount Pleasant, spent her free morning shoveling out of her driveway, only to get onto a road that was not plowed.

Snow plows around campus were sent out Monday night, according to Denman. They took a break Tuesday around 4 p.m., were sent out several hours later, and are still working through Wednesday.

“Either they don’t have enough machines, or they were sent out too late,” Debra VanLiew said. VanLiew, a Senior Specialist Clerk for Central Michigan University noticed the plows arrived at Woldt Hall’s parking lot late Wednesday morning. “Took them almost two days to plow us out,” she explained.

The forecast for Wednesday night calls for another 1 to 2 inches of snow, and another 1 to 2 inches through Thursday, according to www.weather.com’s forecast.

Keeping that in mind, students, faculty and personnel at Central Michigan University can call (989) 774-7500 for school closing information.