While walking to my 8:30 a.m. class earlier this week, the temperature was zero degrees Fahrenheit. I walked from Vedder Hall to the Elaine Langone Center, leading me to walk through the Cafeteria to exit out of the other side of the building to get to Marts Hall, which connected me to Coleman Hall. Finally I booked it right to Academic West where my class was. That sounds like an elaborate process, because it was, but I promise, my walk to class was never this complicated before. In the fall, I would walk directly from my dorm to my class … but the cold weather has now forced me to devise a path for warmth. I almost view it as warmth tunnels to avoid the biting cold temperatures in the morning. And before you ask, yes, I was covered head to toe– ear muffs, a scarf, gloves and my thick winter jacket, none of which could encourage me to walk to class outside.

Anyone who knows me from high school would be shocked, because this is coming from the girl who would beg her mom to not wear a winter jacket because it was too bulky and would ruin her outfit. Maybe that is part of maturity, but it is more than that– Pennsylvania is much colder than New York, especially this year. Trust me, I am not complaining. I mean, I picked the school– I knew it was cold and I absolutely love it here. With that being said, anyone can attest that it is far colder than it has been in prior years.

On Jan. 28, an email hit students’ inboxes from Moe McGuinness, Vice President for Student Affairs and Fritz Family Dean of Students. She provided a detailed warning to students about the cold temperatures that would be occupying the region for the week and encouraged everyone to take the forecast seriously. She included that brutally cold wind chills can cause frostbite and hypothermia in a matter of minutes, so dressing in warm layers and avoiding extended periods of time outside are recommended. She ended her email by saying “Your safety is our highest priority. Thank you for looking out for one another, and please stay safe and warm.”

This raises the question: should classes have been cancelled, if the conditions really seemed so hazardous? While Bucknell Facilities and PSAFE were diligent and dedicated to keeping the walkways clear and safe, many students questioned why we still had classes even after these concerns. While some students were optimistic in hoping classes would be cancelled for the sake of having a day off, others were genuinely concerned about their safety while trekking to class.

I have to imagine it was a hard decision for the administration to make. While I don’t know exactly what they discussed about this situation, I have some hypothetical conversation ideas. If classes were cancelled, it raises the question of what students would do instead. Maybe the structure of classes would prevent them from being outside and the potential dangers they could run into with all that freedom. Even if classes were cancelled, our dedicated dining service, janitorial and other staff would have to come to campus and if they could come, couldn’t students also go outside? Our campus is also quite small and residential, making it more manageable to get to class than being on a large campus. We must also ask, where is the line? If classes were cancelled one day for cold temperatures and temperatures aren’t rising anytime soon, would this become an expectation? There isn’t more snow, it is just extremely cold– a part of life we all have to deal with. 

I believe that students pay a lot for classes, and in-person learning should be prioritized, so the University made the right decision in making students go to class. They were communicative, kept buildings warm and looked out for our best long-term interest, which is all we can truly ask.