3-day snow closure makes WU history

By Kari Chrisenberry 

Special to The Johnsonian

A mass snowball fight was organized Monday afternoon in front of the DIGS, giving students the chance to use various objects from home-made sleds. Photos by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.comA wintry mix of snow, ice and sleet helped make Winthrop history when classes were canceled three days in a row.

This was the first time in 21 years classes were canceled for three days straight due to inclement weather, said Frank Ardaiolo, vice president of student life, in a priority e-mail to students.

Students could be heard cheering from Markley’s Food Court on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 7:47 p.m. They just received the text message from Winthrop’s WU Alert stating classes for Monday were canceled. This winter storm deposited four inches of snow across campus, according to the National Weather Service. 

On Monday, a large group of students enjoyed sledding near DiGiorgio Campus Center while other  students engaged in snowball fights, snowman building and making snow angels. 

Junior theater performance major Jaimie Bellah spent the day with her friends.

“First, we played in the snow and went sledding at DIGS. Then we walked to Winthrop Lake and built a snowman and snow angels,” Bellah said.

Nina Vallario, a friend of Bellah, is a junior social work major.

“Our hands and feet were numb with cold,” Vallario said.

Later Monday night, students received another email and (if they had WU Alert) text message stating Winthrop would be closed on Tuesday as well. Sleet fell on top of the snow Winthrop had already received. All of the snow from Monday froze over, making driving and walking dangerous. 

On Tuesday night, Winthrop students received news that classes were cancelled yet again for Wednesday.

“It was ridiculous and slightly unnecessary [for Winthrop to cancel classes again],” Vallario said.

“I honestly think the reason behind the third snow day was the threat of a lawsuit.”

Bellah agrees with Vallario.

“I understood why Winthrop cancelled class on the second day,” she said. “But on the third day, the roads were clear enough that we even went out in my car.”

Morgan McWhite, freshman art education major, thought the snow days were great at first, but quickly lost their appeal.

“Initially, the first day was great! The snow was pretty and we could play in it. When it turned to ice, you are stuck inside,” she said. “We got kind of bored.”

The three snow days offered students a rare three-day break in the beginning of the semester 

(the last time this occurred was _________). (Maybe you could talk to Dr. A. He said in one of those e-mails that he sent out that in the 21 years he’s been here, WU has never been closed for 3 days straight.) Students were grateful for this time off, but the idea of

making up the days has proven unpopular.

McWhite believes students should not have to make up classes at all.

“It’s not our fault,” she said. “You can’t prevent ice from falling. It’s a natural occurrence. The first week of classes is uneventful anyway.”

Vilissa Thompson, a graduate student, also agrees with McWhite that students should not have to make up classes.

“We shouldn’t have to make up the missed days. They have never made us in the past,” she said. 

“In K-12 grades, they have set inclement weather days. They also have teacher work days and other holidays, but in college you do not have the extra days [in the event of bad weather].”

Freshman theater education major Sommer Austin was indifferent to the idea of making up missed classes.

“I really wouldn’t mind. It would be a bit unfair to people who have to make travel plans, but I would rather work harder to make up for the missed days in class,” Austin said.

Winthrop crews had the sidewalks cleared in time for classes on Thursday, but ice and snow is still found across Winthrop’s lawns.laccat.