Spring Break
Editorial: Enough is enough
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
02/04/09 - When school was cancelled in Washington D.C. last week, President Barack Obama's response was, "My children's school was cancelled today because of what? Some ice?"
He later followed up that statement with a sly: "We're going to have to try to apply some flinty Chicago toughness to this town."
Surely this "toughness" has already been applied to Rhode Island schools during these wintry months, or at least in the case of the University of Rhode Island.
Through thick and thin, URI has held its ground, choosing not to cancel classes during yesterday's blustery bout of snow.
But it's not the fact that snow fell on the ground yesterday that should determine a cancelled day of classes - if the university has insufficient resources to deal with snowfall, then it should have cancelled classes for the day to live up to its top priority: the safety of students.
And perhaps more baffling is the fact that last week, when many students watched cars slide from one side to the other because of the nasty rain/ice combination this campus endured, the university should have known it would not be prepared for more New England weather.
While other agencies across the state are also struggling with this issue, most areas in the northern half of the state have received more snow than South County has. But the major problems seem to lie here in Kingston.
Where was the salt and sand on the slick walkways between academic buildings? Where was it on the Quadrangle? Students crossing the Quad walked through the snow to avoid slipping on the icy, carved paths. That in combination with the cars spinning out in Plains Road parking lots and Upper College Road is enough of a danger to raise a red flag.
Health Services has had to accommodate students who have sprained limbs because of the ice.
And here's a news bulletin: yesterday might not turn out to be the worst of the winter season. Facilities Services needs to act swiftly to correct its issues with ice on the campus.
Brian Boesch of Lands and Grounds Services said the snow-rain-ice-thaw cycle has been one of the worst in years, but it's the university's job prepare for the worst - or if they can't prepare for it, they need to take the necessary actions - and yes, that could include canceling classes.
School should not be cancelled for mere inches of snowfall - but when the safety of students is in jeopardy, there should not be a second thought in the process. There not only needs to be a conversation between Facilities Services and URI, but quick decisions made here.
He later followed up that statement with a sly: "We're going to have to try to apply some flinty Chicago toughness to this town."
Surely this "toughness" has already been applied to Rhode Island schools during these wintry months, or at least in the case of the University of Rhode Island.
Through thick and thin, URI has held its ground, choosing not to cancel classes during yesterday's blustery bout of snow.
But it's not the fact that snow fell on the ground yesterday that should determine a cancelled day of classes - if the university has insufficient resources to deal with snowfall, then it should have cancelled classes for the day to live up to its top priority: the safety of students.
And perhaps more baffling is the fact that last week, when many students watched cars slide from one side to the other because of the nasty rain/ice combination this campus endured, the university should have known it would not be prepared for more New England weather.
While other agencies across the state are also struggling with this issue, most areas in the northern half of the state have received more snow than South County has. But the major problems seem to lie here in Kingston.
Where was the salt and sand on the slick walkways between academic buildings? Where was it on the Quadrangle? Students crossing the Quad walked through the snow to avoid slipping on the icy, carved paths. That in combination with the cars spinning out in Plains Road parking lots and Upper College Road is enough of a danger to raise a red flag.
Health Services has had to accommodate students who have sprained limbs because of the ice.
And here's a news bulletin: yesterday might not turn out to be the worst of the winter season. Facilities Services needs to act swiftly to correct its issues with ice on the campus.
Brian Boesch of Lands and Grounds Services said the snow-rain-ice-thaw cycle has been one of the worst in years, but it's the university's job prepare for the worst - or if they can't prepare for it, they need to take the necessary actions - and yes, that could include canceling classes.
School should not be cancelled for mere inches of snowfall - but when the safety of students is in jeopardy, there should not be a second thought in the process. There not only needs to be a conversation between Facilities Services and URI, but quick decisions made here.
