A snowman stands about 2 feet tall on the Oval Jan. 27.
Credit: Shelby Lum / Photo editor
Classes at Ohio State’s main campus are canceled Tuesday for the third time since Spring Semester started, but some students might still be called for attendance.
OSU’s Emergency Management sent an alert Monday at about 4:45 p.m. announcing that classes were canceled for Tuesday, though “normal university operations (will) continue” and faculty and staff are expected to report to work as usual unless otherwise directed by their supervisor.
Three weeks ago, OSU called off classes Jan. 6 and 7 because of extreme weather conditions as temperatures fell to roughly minus 7.
Some OSU students said their professors were still planning on teaching class despite the cancellations the last they heard.
“My teacher is having class. We’re having it over Google chats. She was like, ‘We’re not missing another day,’” said Andrew Dempsey, a third-year in biochemistry. “She hasn’t confirmed it but that was her plan … over the weekend.”
The professor did not provide information about her class plans for Tuesday by Monday night.
Other students said they’re glad to be given the day off, but plan to be productive in their extra time.
“It’s really good the university’s doing it … By canceling, the university’s promoting well-being because it is dangerous to be outside,” said Leah Moody, a graduate student in public health. “I’m going to use it personally as a day to just relax, do yoga, catch up on my reading … I’ll be better prepared and probably succeed in my academics more because I won’t be outside freezing. I’ll still keep up with my readings for those classes and correspond with my professors via email.”
Others also said they still have schoolwork to keep up with.
“All my professors guessed that the day was going to be off, so they’re sending their assignments. So, I’m going to stay inside, stay warm and try to keep up,” said Kathryn Hess, a third-year in respiratory therapy.
The Ohio Union, all libraries and all recreational sports facilities are set to be open Tuesday, though an email from Emergency Management said people are “strongly encouraged to limit these activities to only those that are absolutely necessary.”
Student Life’s Student Health Services, the Dentistry Clinic and the Veterinary Medical Center will also be open as usual Tuesday, though the Optometry Clinic will be closed.
The OSU Campus Area Bus Service is set to run its normal weekday hours, which vary from route to route.
OSU’s main campus will not be the only one affected by weather Tuesday – OSU-Newark, OSU-Lima and OSU-Marion are set to be closed, and classes are canceled at OSU-Mansfield and OSU-Wooster, though faculty and staff are expected to report as usual, according to the OSU Emergency Management website.
As of Monday night, the high was expected to be 6 degrees with a low of minus 7 degrees Tuesday in Columbus.
In Newark, temperatures were set to hit a high of 7 degrees and a low of minus 9 Tuesday, and in Mansfield, the forecast predicted a high of 2 degrees and a low of minus 11 for Tuesday.
Wooster was predicted to experience a high of 4 degrees and a low of minus 10, according to the Weather Channel.
Other Columbus colleges were closed or delayed for Tuesday because of the weather as well. Columbus State Community College is set to open at 11 a.m. Tuesday, and Capital University’s Bexley and Law campuses are set to be closed all day Tuesday. Otterbein University canceled Tuesday morning classes, but offices are set to open at 11 a.m., with classes set to resume at 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday is roughly the 11th time OSU has closed since 1978. OSU Administration and Planning spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc said most recently, evening classes were canceled in February 2011 because of snow. The most recent cancellation in January before this year was in 2009, which was because of snow, Komlanc said.
University spokesman Gary Lewis said in an email Monday evening university officials “will continue to monitor the weather over the course of the next 24 hours and evaluate at that time” regarding whether classes will be canceled Wednesday.
