We had every intention to write a positive editorial this week, praising UNK’s administration for canceling classes when the weather was bad.
In fact, we did write that editorial.
With less than 24 hours until our press deadline, we decided we could not run it. We no longer feel the same way.
By remaining open on Tuesday, UNK officials have put students’ safety in jeopardy.
On Feb. 11, UNK’s classes for the following day were canceled shortly after 4 p.m. By doing so, officials showed that they were not afraid to take initiative and understood the severity of the weather conditions. We were grateful for the decision.
Less than a week later, we are doubting the consistency of the UNK administration’s decision-making. Classes were canceled long before the snow had even started last week. This Monday, it was snowing all day and students received an email just before 4 p.m. saying UNK would remain open as scheduled.
Why send out an announcement this early saying that campus will remain open, especially when the forecasted conditions could suggest a closure is unavoidable? Feeling the need to tell students that campus will remain open should be a clear indication that maybe the decision should be reconsidered.
Kearney was placed in an extreme cold warning, with temperatures predicted to reach more than 20 degrees below zero and more snowfall predicted. Saying “Your safety comes first” in an email to students while still remaining open feels blatantly contradictory. No explanation is needed for why these conditions are dangerous.
UNK administration can not tell students to “Stay safe in winter weather” yet keep campus open.
While a student can choose not to go to class if they feel unsafe, they shouldn’t even be put in a situation where they feel like they have to choose between their safety and class.
Some of our staff members reported walking in three to five-inch snow drifts on Monday. While this doesn’t create a huge issue for everyone, it does for some. One member from The Antelope team noticed a Loper using a wheelchair struggling to wheel through snow patches. As long as UNK is open, walkways need to be managed so everyone on campus can get where they need to go.
UNK administration had more options than staying open or closing completely. Many classes can still function over Zoom and allow courses to stay more on schedule. Labs and exams may have to be rescheduled, but that’s better than keeping campus open for fear of putting all classes behind schedule.
Some professors did cancel their classes or moved them online for Tuesday. If professors deem the conditions unsafe, it is clear that students are not complaining just to complain. It is not because we wanted a day off – it is because we want to stay safe.
In the future, officials need to put more consideration into whether or not it is worth it to keep the campus open. We understand that closing campus has its effects, but students’ safety is more important.
