UWL students wonder with curiosity if the university chancellor will grant any more “snow days” during the remainder of the spring semester. Classes began today at double-digits below zero, not factoring in wind-chill.
On Thursday February
20, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse cancelled classes starting promptly
at noon due to a forecasted hazardous winter storm.
Today, one week later, according to the National Weather Service, "WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY."
* EXPECT BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 35 BELOW ZERO THIS MORNING TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE BY NOON. * WIND CHILLS THIS LOW CAN CAUSE FROSTBITE ON EXPOSED SKIN WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
In previous weeks,
temperatures stooped as low as 50 degrees below zero with wind-chill. Despite
the dangerous weather conditions and numerous k-12 closings, Chancellor Joe Gow
advised students to “to use good judgment” as classes remained in session.
“I don’t
understand why we didn’t have class off then," states sophomore UWL
student, Danielle Smeed. "It seems really inconsistent.” Many students are
expressing this same frustration towards the chancellor due to confusion with
the Inclement Weather policy.
Gow sent out the
official cancellation announcement as of 10:21 pm the previous night to student
and staff, noting to “please take care during this dangerous storm.” The university
did continue to provide the essential services, such as dining and police, to
student and staff on the day of the storm.
The supposed storm
arrived first with heavy rain, eventually crossing over to an icy snow at
around 5:00 pm that Thursday evening.
“It was really
bizarre. I was expecting a total white out, and then it rained. It was kind of
a disappointment,” says Smeed.
According to the UW
System’s Inclement Weather policy, when conditions make travel dangerous or
other events cause serious safety concerns, the
chancellor has the authority to cancel classes, close a campus to the
public, or completely close a campus to the public and employees.
