2008 Woodie Awards
Icy Campus Conditions Knock Students Off Their Feet, Schedules
Lora Powell/Muleskinner
Issue date: 1/18/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
I woke up Friday morning and peeked through my curtains to find quite a surprise. What was coming out of the sky wasn't rain or snow, but very heavy sleet. I was worried to an extent. There would be no school Monday, so no matter how bad the storm got, it would be safe for everyone to make it to class Tuesday. I was so very wrong.
By Friday night, there was no getting anywhere. I received news that a former high school classmate and fellow UCM student, Rebekah Maupin, was killed in a car crash on 13 Highway trying to make her way home. After hearing this, I knew the situation was much more serious than I thought.
With each passing day, the weather grew worse. Sleet changed to snow, snow turned to rain, and the whole process would begin again. After sunset Monday, the temperature had dropped to nine degrees, and Warrensburg was covered in a dangerous glaze. I went to bed, hoping against all hope I wouldn't have to walk to class at 7:30 the next morning.
With no cancellation announcement on the television or radio, I got up Tuesday morning to check my email. No luck there. Dressed in two pairs of socks, long underwear, hat, coat and scarf, I bravely made my trek across the frozen parking lot. I had almost made it to the safely cleared street when all of a sudden, my feet went out from under me. I landed sqarely on my backside, but that didn't stop me. I had class at 8 a.m., and I was going to get there. Unfortunately for me, my class had been cancelled.
Although my story was amusing, there were many others that were less fortunate. While standing outside waiting for classes to start Tuesday, I saw many people fall immediately after they walked out the door. The parking lots are so slick that many people are getting their cars stuck trying to get out.
The school had from 2 p.m. Friday until late Monday to clear the campus so students could make it safely to class. There has been some sand tossed around the parking lots and a bit of rock salt sprinkled on some steps, but this will just not do. I propose we spend a little extra money on winter weather cleanup. I'm not willing to risk wrecking my car or breaking a bone in order to get to class on time.
By Friday night, there was no getting anywhere. I received news that a former high school classmate and fellow UCM student, Rebekah Maupin, was killed in a car crash on 13 Highway trying to make her way home. After hearing this, I knew the situation was much more serious than I thought.
With each passing day, the weather grew worse. Sleet changed to snow, snow turned to rain, and the whole process would begin again. After sunset Monday, the temperature had dropped to nine degrees, and Warrensburg was covered in a dangerous glaze. I went to bed, hoping against all hope I wouldn't have to walk to class at 7:30 the next morning.
With no cancellation announcement on the television or radio, I got up Tuesday morning to check my email. No luck there. Dressed in two pairs of socks, long underwear, hat, coat and scarf, I bravely made my trek across the frozen parking lot. I had almost made it to the safely cleared street when all of a sudden, my feet went out from under me. I landed sqarely on my backside, but that didn't stop me. I had class at 8 a.m., and I was going to get there. Unfortunately for me, my class had been cancelled.
Although my story was amusing, there were many others that were less fortunate. While standing outside waiting for classes to start Tuesday, I saw many people fall immediately after they walked out the door. The parking lots are so slick that many people are getting their cars stuck trying to get out.
The school had from 2 p.m. Friday until late Monday to clear the campus so students could make it safely to class. There has been some sand tossed around the parking lots and a bit of rock salt sprinkled on some steps, but this will just not do. I propose we spend a little extra money on winter weather cleanup. I'm not willing to risk wrecking my car or breaking a bone in order to get to class on time.
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