By Muhammad Sayeed
This past week, a series of snowstorms swept through Massachusetts and led to campus closures at Western New England University. With over a foot of snowfall in some areas combined with hazardous road conditions, the university made the call to cancel classes and activities for two days in the past two weeks. Even though snow days seem like an exciting little break from classes, they raise different concerns for students who live on campus than our commuters.
For students on campus, the snow day served as an opportunity to take a pause from daily academic routines, enabling them to sleep in or relax, enjoy the winter weather with a warm cup of hot cocoa, and even catch up on assignments. Ahmed Elbakri, a sophomore student, stated, “It was a nice break from the usual stressful schedule.” He added, “I spent the day mostly relaxing and studying for a quiz.” This implies that even though it seemed like a day off, it was business as usual, and they were preparing for classes as they resumed the next day.
Just like Elbakri, other students on campus expressed concern over added coursework, “A day off is nice, but one of my professors assigned us double the amount of reading to do.” said “Jack,” a junior majoring in engineering who chose to withhold his name. He was worried about the added stress of more academic work – on top of the ice-cold conditions.
While on campus, students had to worry about some added workloads; commuters had to worry about harsh driving conditions on the roads. Daniel Lonczak, a commuter from Chicopee, said “I commute 25 minutes to campus every day, and driving in this weather was extremely challenging. Lonczak noted that he was concerned about his commute even after the snow had stopped, “My own street is still covered in snow and ice, making it difficult to navigate the narrow road.” Explaining his concerns about the fact that even after the snow stopped, the icy conditions made it extremely difficult to drive on the New England roads and certainly to campus.
Not only does a snowstorm of this level impact college classes, but Angel Revira, a commuter, said, “I couldn’t work because of the snow, as business was slow due to everyone choosing to stay at home.” Describing how the snowstorm disrupted daily life from a different angle – not being able to work and make money.
Additionally, some students described their relief with the news of the snow day. It allowed them to not only catch up on assignments but also get much-needed sleep. Henry Ryczek said, “I found out about the snow day the night before, and I was thankful for the opportunity to catch a break. It allowed me more time on homework and gave me an opportunity to go sledding with my brother.” He added, “I was able to have breakfast with my family, and it was nice being around them as most of my time is spent on campus.” Reflecting on the fact that being an engineering major comes with its fair share of workload and lengthy class schedules and assignments. He welcomed the break.
Despite the severe weather conditions, Western New England University’s essential services remained operational. The university’s facilities team worked diligently to clear walkways, quite literally paving the way to the campus’s dining hall, which provided meals to students on campus throughout the snow days.
The university emphasized safety as its top priority, taking into consideration the well-being of students based on the roads and sidewalks. Many dorms organized small social events, such as hot chocolate gatherings, to give something to the students and try to keep their spirits up while everyone was stuck inside.
With no more winter snowstorms expected in the coming weeks, students are getting ready to go back to normal schedules and getting through the rest of the semester as soon as possible. Most students are patiently awaiting the warmth of the summer and an opportunity to get back outside, onto the beaches, and on to summer break. But you can never be sure about the weather; after all, it is New England.
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