Students Unhappy with Snow Decision

By Connect2Mason Reporter Lauren Jost

In the wake of the biggest snowstorm northern Virginia has had in three years, many Mason students are disgruntled with the university’s decision to remain open on Monday, despite a delay.

This morning, students were met with the announcement that Mason was to open at 12:30 p.m. due to extreme weather conditions, much to the surprise of students who expected a full closing.

“If you’re going to make us go to school, then the university should be cleaning the sidewalks and plowing the parking lots,” said junior global affairs and Latin American studies major Roxanne Bauland.

George Mason University Policy #2207 regarding inclement weather states that decisions on whether to close the university or to alter its schedule due to weather are based on the condition of campus roads, parking lots, and surrounding roads and main arteries.

The lack of communication and this policy left students puzzled, since Fairfax County and Prince William County closed down schools.

“We’re the only school in the D.C. metropolitan area that had school, doesn’t that say something?” Bauland said.

Once students got to campus, they were surprised with the unplowed parking lots and slick sidewalks.

“I almost fell down multiple times on the ice, thank you George Mason,” said Jamie Pisco, an art history major.

Many off-campus residence students couldn’t make it to campus because of unplowed main and secondary roads, regardless of the university’s decision to delay opening.

"I live 10 minutes from campus and I couldn't get out of my house to even get to class, the roads weren't plowed until 4:30 p.m.," said junior art and visual technology major Charles Church.

Some students disagree with the amount of school closings that the northern Virginia area has.

“I think it's partially the conditioning we receive from living in this area; we expect everything to shut down if it snows,” said Sam Klemz, a senior integrative studies major and commuter student. “People in this area need to learn that life doesn't stop when it snows. Even the president thinks people in this area overreact to snow.”

Klemz’s comment is in reference to the last half-day Mason had, when President Obama said that Washington D.C. needed a little “Chicago toughness.”

The University of Maryland, University of Mary Washington and most other Virginia universities were closed all day because of the snow.