Weather rarely forces Purdue to close

By Kurt Esposito
Staff Writer

Purdue students that are hoping the University will close down for a day or two due to snow this winter should not count on it.

Wayne Kjonaas, vice president for physical facilities, said only two conditions would cause Purdue to cancel classes - if the roads are declared unfit for travel and the professors cannot make it to campus or if the windchill is so low that it is unsafe for students to walk to class.

"Can we keep the University open? Is it safe for people to stay? It is not just a matter of inconvenience?" said Kjonaas. "We're dealing with adults, a majority of who are in walking distance of class and certainly if the streets are open and we have a busing service. They can either drive over or ride the bus. Since they are adults, they know how to dress; they know what activities are important. They are in a position where they can make a judgment call."

The last time Purdue canceled operations was on Jan. 4, 1999, due to snow and that was during the week before classes began for the spring semester, so no classes were affected. The last time classes were canceled was Jan. 18, 1994, due to windchill.

CityBus will likely be in operation every day that Purdue is because the bus service cancels operations less often than Purdue does. CityBus has only done so once in the past 20 years — in January of 1999 — and the last time before that was in 1977.

"It would take a major snow or major ice storm before we would ever consider closing down for the day," said Martin Sennett, CityBus general manager.

Sennett also said that driving conditions and whether or not their drivers can get to work are important factors. "If you don't have drivers, then you don't have service," said Sennett

"We try our best not to close down. We do everything we can. I know it can be disappointing to students. We do try to meet our schedule no matter what the weather conditions are," said Sennett.

Students may wonder why area public schools close while Purdue remains open but Ed Eiler, superintendent of schools for Lafayette, said the reason is that students attending Purdue are more mature and able to make better decisions about their own safety.

Kjonaas said that even if classes would be canceled, the essential staff would still be required to work; that staff includes people working in the power plant, animal care, food service in the residence halls and the fire and police departments.

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