Edna is our newest correspondent, and one of her first posts got absolutely buried yesterday. In fact it got pushed off the first page and I doubt it got seen by many folks. I wanted to invoke a new made-up rule and shift the post to today. Please to, well, you know, in the manner, enjoy:
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Winter has not been kind to us this year Across the Seas. Our location is certainly no stranger to snowfall, but this year it has been a nonstop cycle of accumulation, freezing, melting, and re-accumulation.
Now, having grown up in a place where winters like this were common, I am also no stranger to snow. I am not going to argue that every more-than-dusting requires the university to shut down and provide all of us with hot chocolate. But if adminflakes expect the university to remain open and functional after a big snowfall, competent snow removal should be non-negotiable.
Instead, campus pedestrians get what looks like a cross-section of prairie dog tunnels through the fluff, each path exactly the width of a hand shovel. Stairs are packed with snow and ice, making a good foothold nearly impossible. Roadside sidewalks are often not cleared at all, leaving those on foot to share the road with cars and buses sliding on packed-down sno, since the only pass made with an actual snowplow happened long before the snow was done falling.
Worst of all, the head adminflake’s Twitter feed features gems of advice like:
- Driving slowly is a must in snowy weather!
- Taking smaller steps when walking in the snow will help keep you stable!
- Wear a backpack so your hands are free in case you fall down!
Sometimes people poke fun at the litigiousness of US culture. I used to be one of those people, too. But every time the snow piles up, I wish this place were at least litigious enough to allow all of us to trek across campus on a snowy day without risking our necks.
Actually, I think I've received all of that advice (including the "keep your hands free" silliness; do they have any idea what a backpack full of student papers actually weighs, and what that weight can do to your balance?) from my US university. But they are pretty assiduous in clearing roads and sidewalks (except for one annoying patch of sidewalk just behind my building that must have a pipe or something running under it, because, like bridges, it freezes first. Unfortunately, it lacks the traditional warning sign posted on bridges; I've finally, after a few close calls, learned to avoid it).
ReplyDeleteWhenever I'm in physical danger of being swallowed by a snowdrift, I go home! I'd even use a sick day before I shimmied between shovel-width snowpack. That's insanity.
ReplyDeleteAre "Across the Seas" students actually going to class for you to meet anyway?
Well we did get a legitimate snow day of cancelled classes out of this last storm. (Not that it helped expedite snow removal or anything, but it was a nice gesture in theory.) There were a few e-mails begging me to cancel classes the day after, but there was fairly decent turnout considering the gawdawful travel conditions there must have been in the city.
DeletePart of the perks of working at Across the Seas U is a housing allowance that situates us right next to campus, so for proffies there is practically zero commute. So at least there's that.
In my neck of the woods ice is always a worse enemy than snow. While the university always carefully removes every single flake of snow from the sidewalks, they must think "Salt? What is this 'salt' you speak of?" when it comes to after care.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten to where I'll walk in the snow just to have some traction. Then again, I'm the kind of girl that says "Screw heels! I'm wearing sneakers/snow boots!" when it gets like that.
Edna, all the snow must have gone to your side of the ocean, because we have not had one snow day this year. In fact the students are in shorts because they think 60 degrees in February is a heat wave.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need to live across the ocean for poor snow removal. At my campus, one can often find the grounds and custodial staff members sitting on benches, staring into the distance with glassy eyes. They are fond of simply throwing salt on top of snow, where it doesn't do anything, or if they must shovel, only clearing one side the sidewalks and steps. I guess shoveling them in entirety would take time away from sitting and staring. Good thing they have a union.
ReplyDeleteBison, we must have the same rules here. As of today, anyplace where the snow was properly dealt with the day of the storm is now clear and easily walkable/driveable, but whoever was in charge three feet away must have been sleeping on the shovel handle. It changes from one landing to the next - totally clear or totally iced over. Maddening!
DeleteThanks for the boost, RGM, although I have to admit that I have been enthralled by the stroll through RYS/CM memory lane over the past 48 hours. Quite the history lesson for newbies such as myself!
ReplyDeleteThe RGM just never sleeps. He believes in keeping it real.
DeleteMidwest Mary, it must be a western thing up in the Great White North too. We use tonnes of salt, everywhere, and when we have colleagues from western provinces visiting, they look upon the scene with disdain. Then again, they also have way, way colder winters where salt no longer does any good to melt the snow.
ReplyDeleteSo what WOULD constitute a reasonable reason to close school there?
ReplyDelete