A day of snow? Just more classes, slushy roads

Freshly fallen snow glows orange, reflecting light from Fisher Fine Arts Library, where students within busily studied for midterms. Outside, the snow fell thick and heavy, but the University did not declare a snow day despite poor conditions on roads and

As temperatures rise and snow melts into puddles, University officials can breathe a sigh of relief.

Last week's snowfall created a mess on campus that is now starting to fade away.

It also caused several universities in the Northeast to close for the day - but Penn students and staff trudged along Locust Walk throughout the season's biggest storm thus far.

Only evening College of General Studies classes were cancelled.

Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli said the University only closes under "extraordinary" weather conditions.

Most current Penn students weren't around to see the University's last full snow day, in February 2003.

And while for Penn students a snow day may promise extra sleep, cancelled classes and snowball fights in the Quadrangle, for top Penn administrators like Carnaroli, the white stuff can signal a logistical nightmare.

When inclement weather is expected the next day, Carnaroli said he checks in or participates in a conference call with University Provost Ronald Daniels, Vice President for the Division of Public Safety Maureen Rush and Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer.

The weather watch begins at 3 a.m. the following day.

The Division of Public Safety then spends the wee hours of the morning collecting information from the state and city government on the condition of the roads and public transportation on and surrounding Penn's campus.

At about 5 a.m., Rush confers with Carnaroli, Daniels and Heuer on whether the University should close.

By 6 a.m., they make the call - usually to stay open.

"We have 20,000 students who are in need of services and the education they're paying for," said Carnaroli, who added that, while safety comes first, the University makes every effort to avoid instituting official snow days.

"It's never an easy decision," he said.

The University's status - to stay open or closed - is broadcast on KYW Radio and Penn's snow hotline, 898-MELT.

Sometimes, the city of Philadelphia may step in to call the shots.

Carnaroli said that in emergency weather situations, the city's managing director's office asks the University - Philadelphia's largest private employer - to close.

Other Philadelphia-area universities' snow day policies seem to be in sync with Penn's.

Like Penn, St. Joe's and Temple Universities remained open last week.

In most situations, "we are going to be holding classes," said Ray Betzner, a Temple spokesman.

But out in the suburbs, Villanova University students enjoyed a late opening and early closing last Thursday.

Around the Ivies, students at Cornell University and Dartmouth College enjoyed a day off last Thursday, too.

Still, despite the administrative frustration snow days can wreak, Carnaroli fondly remembers the "magnificent" snow days that peppered his own undergraduate days.

But, he added, snow day-induced euphoria wears off quickly.

"Sitting in your room watching TV and eating pizza gets old after a while," he said.

Comments (2)

How exactly is a Penn snow day a "logistical nightmare" ? I would have liked to read a bit more about why calling a snow day is so difficult - especially if professors and staff don't live within walking distance. I don't think talking to your co-workers is such a pain either, regardless of how early in the day or whatever. If Mr. Carnaroli loves snow days so much, how about sharing the wealth - the Penn car-drivers sure would have appreciated it.

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