Commuter

Issue date: 2/15/04 Section: News

The College doesn't close as often as it should for snow and ice, says sophomore Culinary Arts major Dana Braunreuther, who's concerned about driving in rough weather.
"Oakland Road is never plowed very well," she said, referring to one of the main roadways leading to the College.
Ice-covered hills and drift-covered roads are especially treacherous for commuter students like him, says sophomore Education major Jordan Hocking.
The weather in Bangor, his hometown, is often worse than in Bethlehem, Hocking says, so he often disagrees with the College's decision to remain open on some snowy or icy days.
Hocking, however, is generally satisfied with how quickly the College decides whether to close. He acknowledges that it's a tricky call to make.
Dean of Students Mardi McGuire-Closson says the College makes the call by 4:30 or 5 a.m. for daytime classes, and by 2 or 3 p.m. for evening classes.
College administrators "try to get as good an indication of what [the weather] will be as they can," History professor Earl Page says.
The College tries to remain open as much as possible, because the administration doesn't want students to lose the "contact time" that they paid for, McGuire-Closson explains.
Deciding to close the college becomes especially difficult when the school already has closed several times that semester, she says.
It is especially tough, she says, when bad weather repeatedly hits classes on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule or Tuesday-Thursday schedule. On one occasion, spring break was canceled because there were so many snow days that semester.
School closings cause other problems.
Freshman Secondary education major Elgin Bailey says closings limit the time students have to use the school's computer labs.
When the College is open on a snowy or icy day, many students don't show up for their classes anyway, Page says.
Northampton Community College professors try to be understanding because most of their students must commute, he says. "A college where a majority of their students are on campus has an easier time because no matter the weather, you can get to class."
Page says that professors don't know how bad the weather conditions are in all areas, so they usually believe students who say that dangerous roads prevented them from driving to the college.
Professors understand when the weather causes student absences, Braunreuther says. "They normally explain the material (later)."
College cancellations do not affect students' grades, says sophomore Business Management major Chris Hallett. "If they close the College, you're not missing much."
Students can compensate for snow days by reviewing class material so they don't forget it, Hallett says.
There's also at least one benefit of having off from classes. Students can catch up on the homework they were slacking on, Braunreuther says.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools