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In an alternate universe, University of Louisville was closed Monday, Sept. 15.
Students, faculty and staff were able to make arrangements for babysitters, replenish food items, check on family members, clean their yards and students were not concerned with their professor’s attendance policy.
But, in reality, U of L was open last Monday with evening classes cancelled or shortened.
Then Tuesday and Wednesday classes started and campus offices opened at 10 a.m.
This is backwards.
In an e-mail, U of L Provost Shirley Willihnganz stated:
“As all of you know, there are no right decisions on weather calls; just as today’s opening inconvenienced some, tomorrow’s reduced schedule will also not be met with universal acclaim. So, I apologize for the inconvenience and we’ll manage as best we can.”
Apology accepted.
“Due to high winds and flying debris, seek shelter in a safe location. If you are not on campus, stay away,” was the emergency message sent out via e-mail, and by cell phone text, on Sunday.
That debris on Monday was still spread across campus  and in some cases dragged under moving cars.
Local kids were out of school, family members’ patience was tested, and right-of-way laws were challenged due to non-working traffic lights.
Just a short TARC bus ride away, Spalding University was closed on the same Monday. They didn’t have power and U of L did.
U of L needs a better system to deal with weather emergencies. With a predominant student commuter base, safety is at risk for all those who try to make it to U of L on these taxing days.
This sounds way too familiar.
During the academic year of 2007-2008, students made the best effort to make it to school during a snow storm one morning. Then, by 11 a.m.,  were told to go home, only to drive on icy roads throughout the city.
During the same time of the year, a few days U of L tried to use the “Delayed Class Schedule for Bad Weather.” For example a 50 minute class that was scheduled for 8:00 to 8:50 was delayed to 10:00-10:35.
After a few days of confusion, U of L decided to delay classes until 10:00 a.m. The classes before 10:00 a.m were cancelled.  This policy is used now for ‘bad weather.’
“U of L plans and programs are designed to prevent emergencies and to mitigate danger to students, staff and faculty in the event of any type of emergency,” their Environmental Health and Safety Web page stated.
Hopefully there is a better plan in the future.
Power was on here and that was great, but for many in the U of L community, power was not on at their homes or in their neighborhoods.
U of L should have considered this last week.
 The delayed schedule and the canceling of evening classes may have helped some, but a day off would have been better.