Today is certainly not "business as usual" around campus. On my way home from class about an hour ago, I saw three very telling events. I watched a group of three people sledding down the stairs on observatory drive. Of course, these steps are meant for walking pedestrians. Continuing down the hill, I watched the 85 bus struggle to free itself from a mound of snow on the street, even though four or five people were shoveling sand at the tires and snow away from them. Upon taking a short cut through the Union to my apartment on Langdon, I noticed that the usually busy Rathskeller was almost completely empty.
Let my comments not be mistaken for criticism towards the university's efforts of street and sidewalk clearing. The reason I mention the state of pedestrian corridors on campus is that the university simply cannot keep up with the excessive amount of snow being dumped on the region.
If it is the case that people cannot move to and from work/class, because doing so risks their personal safety, it is the responsibility of the university to assess the value of keeping classrooms open, against the possible harm that it may cause upon students and staff. Whether it is a student slipping on the snow and ice, or a car sliding through crosswalks, it is only a matter of time until someone gets seriously hurt. If that happens, it will be a terrible day for the university. While we are all here to get an education, the university should not wait to cancel classes until after Madison metro announces a shut down in operations. This is not an appropriate standard. In addition, forcing faculty and staff to use holiday, vacation, or compensation time should they not show up, or leave early today, is irresponsible and shows a lack of respect for the service that those individuals provide to the student population.
I would love to continue into a discussion on how people with disabilities are expected to traverse to class, but I think I would end up getting far too upset to continue.
While the pursuit of truth is a truly honorable goal, if one must sift and winnow through blizzard conditions and impassable roads and sidewalks, one must wonder what harm waiting until tomorrow would do.
