January 2009
University vigilant for student safety
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The university takes student safety very seriously, and during times of frigid weather and major snowfall monitors conditions around the clock to determine if classes will be held or employees should report to work.Last week was a good example. Purdue administrators monitored the weather forecasts for 72 hours Wednesday through Friday. When advisories indicated that Arctic air and wind chill could cause temperatures to dip to unsafe levels, alerts were e-mailed to students, faculty and staff. The information also was posted on the Purdue Facebook emergency notification site as well as on the Purdue home page. Included were links to the National Weather Service and Weather Channel, as well as advice on how to dress appropriately.
Contingency plans were made to suspend classes. The tipping point was considered to be about 35 degrees below zero, the temperature at which it would be unsafe to walk between classes.
At 4 a.m. Thursday morning, however, the forecast had moderated. Daytime temperatures never reached a level unsafe for those adequately dressed. Classes were held. Friday’s weather also was proved to be less cold than anticipated.
That’s not to say the cold wasn’t a challenge. But it was not unsafe provided individuals dressed appropriately with:
* Several layers of lightweight, warm clothing.
* A hat to prevent body heat loss from your head.
* A mouth covering to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
* Mittens that fit snugly at the wrist, which are better than gloves.
We also urged students to stay dry and out of the wind as much as possible. Underground walkways are available at various campus locations and connect several buildings and five parking garages to campus locations. CityBus, with its runs throughout the cities and frequent loops around campus, also is an excellent option. And it’s free to everyone with a student, faculty or staff identification card.
Some have asked why the university doesn’t set specific conditions under which classes will be cancelled. The challenge is that there are many variables that come into play. For example, in addition to temperature and wind chill, we consider the entire forecast for the day, snow cover, anticipated snowfall, icing, the conditions of roads and parking lots, and our ability to heat buildings and remove snow. We also consider how far people need to walk outdoors, which is greater for students than for faculty and staff, most of whom can park in garages and lots near their buildings.
We encourage all students, faculty and staff to monitor the Purdue home page, the Purdue Facebook emergency notification site and e-mail for information about weather and changes in class or work schedules. Such information also will be shared with local news media.
Carol Shelby, Purdue's senior director for environmental health and public safety.
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