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There are 174 comments on BU to Remain Open All Day

    1. You people have no idea what it’s like to commute. You probably live on campus five minutes away from your classes, so your lives aren’t ever in danger because you’re not behind the wheel. Why don’t you think about those professors giving you that education? If something happens to them in this weather, what will you do? You’ll have to change your schedules and probably end up with a worse teacher. So try thinking about others (specifically your professors) before making selfish comments like that.

      1. I agree. I’m pretty upset they didn’t cancel because it’s extremely dangerous for us drivers commuting from the west right now. Very selfish move considering the snow/mix line is literally at Boston. I don’t have a choice now but to go to class because I have an exam, when it’s going to be snowing 4+ inches an hour. Really fun, can’t wait.

      2. Dear unknown,
        It is unclear what sort of professors you are talking about. If it is the tenured kind, who live in Chestnut Hill, let me inform you that:
        1. I am not very concerned about people who willingly choose to live away from their workplace, in order to flaunt their wealth, and
        2. Even in Chestnut Hill there are buses. You know, those bigger cars, where you have to sit next to por people? You pay 1.50 or 2 dollars, and you are safely in the campus, despite all those poor people carrying their poor-people diseases.
        Trains and buses reach far beyond Chestnut Hill, and none is cancelled.
        If on the other hand, you talk about underpaid part-time instructors and esentially unpaid TA’s, worry not, they already know how Charlie Card works.

        1. please introduce me to these rich professors in Chestnut Hill, I would love to get their advice on salary negotiation! All the while I am concerned about getting to my affordable housing in the suburbs safely as I can’t afford Boston rents.

        2. the most concerning part of the storm is at night, which is when the metropolitan college is running at full speed with night classes. a lot of these professors are part-time and come from other parts of the state and from RI and NH (I know multiple professors in this position).

          And since when are buses safe and viable options during a storm? have you ever waited for one outside of the city? I have, they don’t show up! Why? because it’s dangerous, there’s traffic, they fall behind schedule, etc. Maybe you’re focusing your rant more on day students, but a major portion of students at BU are actually ‘untraditional’ students that come from work to class (which happens to be during the peak of the storm tonight!) and a major portion of professors are NOT tenured rich guys in chestnut hill.

        3. Dear Lol,

          I was mentioning the professors as an example. “I am not very concerned about people who willingly choose to live away from their workplace”. Live away from their workplace? Are you saying that the professors should live on campus? What a joke. That’s not even allowed. And you’re telling me that when you get a job and start working in the real world you’re going to live at your workplace? Think again. There are several people who work in Boston but live outside of the city. Why? Because Boston’s expensive. It’s way cheaper to live in surrounding cities. I know this might surprise you, but not all professors live at Chestnut Hill. Also, have you realized that teachers are not the only ones who commute? There are several students that drive to campus. And I assure you they are not rich. In fact many live off campus to save money, because they can’t afford to spend an extra 10,000 dollars a year. What’s worse is that many of them live in areas of their cities that don’t have any bus stops near them. I have several friends who have to drive just to get to a train station. On top of that many trains are closed today. I’ll only take you seriously when you start commuting.

          1. Thank-you unknown. I work for BU and everyone in my department lives outside of the city because Boston is too expensive not vise versa. Lol, don’t be so ignorant.

        4. I came from the evening class, and had a long chat with neighbors in front of the building. There was no rain, let alone snow.
          @tom: Whatever is your affordable housing, if it is not next to public transportation, it is more expensive that you make it sound, because it forces you to drive. There is no Mass. housing more affordable than in Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, East Boston, where the subway or the buses pass by every 5 minutes. FYI, Chelsea, Quincy, Revere are not in Boston, and are connected by subway. But you may not want to rub with the unwashed.
          @Unknown: Buses are extremely safe during storms and snow. I never read about a bus hurting riders, in any weather. OK, it maybe that riding a bus hurts your pride. If you chose to live somewhere where the buses don’t come as often as they should, you are forced to drive, and therefore claiming your housing is “affordable” is ridiculous.
          My rent in Boston proper is 1500. I have no driver’s licence and no MBTA pass. It takes me 45 minutes to walk to BU, and saves money for gym. Are you seriously saying that your rent + car costs costs you $10,000 less a year? So, you are paying 650 dollars on car and home, are you? Or is it the unwashed that you can’t tolerate?
          I was disappointed by MET students who used the storm as an excuse. Students not coming from Roxbury – that was pathetic. But then, that’s the example set by instructors. When you are paid by the semester, a day off with no pay cut is a blessing.

      3. I think you all need to suck it up. If it is “dangerous” for a professor to commute, that professor can use this new technology called “E-mail” and cancel his/her class. Whoops, problem solved. Otherwise, get to class because if you’re not wearing just uggs and a north face, a little snow and rain is not that challenging.

        1. Why don’t you try driving in these conditions. Whoops, not so easy is it? Some people don’t have the luxury of taking the T or living 5 minutes away from their classes.

    2. The fact that you’re all more concerned about missing a few classes than everyone staying safe is odd. You will still be given assignments and take your exams and get a degree, why does it matter if you occasionally have a snow day

    3. I don’t agree with because I live 40 mins away from school, and so do many instructors. There’s already a foot of snow in my town, the streets have bearly been plowed and it’s impossible to walk on the sidewalk. BU should’ve cancelled night class at least and let us make it up on Friday night. I’m really upset about this, my life is worth more than any day worth class.

    4. During my daily commute from my West campus housing assignment to the FitRec facilities I nearly fell 3 times and actually made contact with the snow covered concrete once. Upon arrival I was so sore that I could not complete my elliptical regiment. Classes should have been canceled.

  1. As someone who has a midterm tomorrow, I do not want school to be cancelled as I have studied for an entire week for this (dont want to wait the entire weekend and forget). I am also a commuter and if the weather is bad tomorrow, I should not be OBLIGED to risk my well being to attend my exam. BU really should have some sort of policy where if they do not cancel classes, they should advise teachers to move any exams on those days to a different day, in case commuters cannot make it. Something to think about BU.

    1. Right? I commute and my parents make me stay home every time the weather’s like this because they’re worried about my safety. BU really needs to take commuters into account when making these decisions. I don’t want to get behind on my schoolwork anymore. This is really annoying.

      1. You’re parents make you stay home? Are you in BU middle school? Sounds like your parents are crushing your independence..
        and normal people with jobs never have work cancelled due to snow. They make cjildcare arrangements if the town school closes and then off they go. It might be time to grow up and learn to drive in this weather properly. This isnt the blizzard of 78.. or 2013…

        1. @anon Lol I can see how it might be surprising to someone who doesn’t have parents who aren’t ok with their kids losing their lives over a day of school. It’s ok. Your jealousy is excused.

  2. It’s not even about the amount of snow, but rather the timing of it. If you have 16,000 people running around when the roads are crap, someone’s bound to get hurt….

  3. Sure the campus might not be directly hit until later, but it is extremely unsafe to have Professors and students drive in this dangerous weather to get to/from campus.

  4. It is extremely irresponsible to keep the CRC open. You are actively putting the BU community in an unsafe position as they try and get to campus and back home.

      1. Evening classes are to take place as scheduled, unless there is further notice. Should there be any change, BU Today will provide that information at the top of this story.

        1. I am being told that the roads are perilous. For someone who will need to take the Mass Pike to a 6-9 class this evening, BU not canceling classes is foolish and very dangerous.

  5. Why is BU taking unnecessary risk with peoples lives?

    Northern exposure

    As the powerful storm system pushed up the Eastern Seaboard, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told state agencies to prepare “for an impending nor’easter” and asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

    New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie struck a similar tone.
    “I think what you can anticipate is it might be a day to stay inside and stay warn,” he said. “And not worry about traveling around the roads too much. I want people to stay safe.”
    East Coast travelers: Get ready for a nasty day Thursday

    Deadly toll

    At least 10 deaths have been blamed on the weather, including a 55-year-old man who was killed in a head-on collision in Virginia, authorities said. Two people were killed in Georgia, and two died in North Carolina, they said.
    In Texas, three people died when an ambulance driver lost control on an icy patch of road outside of Carlsbad, the state Department of Public Safety said. A patient, a paramedic and another passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.
    In Mississippi, authorities blamed the storm for two traffic deaths.

    1. You’re forgetting one very important fact… well, two really. 1) The places you mention in your post typically see SIGNIFICANTLY less snowfall during the winter than we do, despite their close proximity. Most of the people that live in those places, don’t really know how to drive in less than ideal conditions. 2) We live in MA. Snow happens. We tend to get lots of it. We know how to drive in it and are usually well prepared with plows and de-icer to combat the worst of the snowfall. If you don’t like having to go to school/work b/c there’s snow on the ground and more coming, you should consider moving somewhere where it snows less. Keep in mind though that wherever you move to has its own extreme weather. Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes. No one is exempt from bad weather, they just get it in a different format.

      1. 1. While some places like Virginia, SC, and NC do receive less snow then Boston, New York and New Jersey absolutely receive AS MUCH snow as Boston.

        2. Boston University is one of the largest employers in Boston, it should have some compassion for its staff and allow them to return home earlier to avoid a dangerous commute as it starts to get dark and the road ice up.

        3. As to your point of MA drivers knowing how to drive in the snow. This is not a typical snowstorm. It is a nor’easter with up to 40-50 MPH gusts. If there were to be 14′ of snow today we would likely close. But I think 6 inches of wet snow, along with ice, and rain is more dangerous and hazardous than an all-snow storm.

        4. Whether it snows a lot or not does not tremendously affect my 10 minute commute to class. I love the snow and am not concerned about it, I grew up through far worse blizzards and I love winter. That being said, I am putting myself in another persons shoes, and having the empathy to realize that asking folks to stay on campus for afternoon and evening classes is not the best option. Classes can always be made up, this is no common storm.

  6. Campus should be closed. But I do still want the benefit of lecture, so it would be good if for snow emergencies BU allowed professors to stream lectures from home or some other location so people could still get the lecture while not having to risk driving into the city or worry about parking.

  7. Speaking as a handicapped student, it is simply impossible for me to get to class in this weather, even in a cab simply getting out and about is physically over-demanding and painful in this weather. Now I will miss class and lose the class time I think I deserve.

    1. Your comment to BU Today was forwarded to me for reply. First, I do understand your concern. Boston is a snowy city, and we are “blessed” with some lovely but older sidewalks and buildings. Not always the best for accessibility.

      Please be assured that snow and ice removal, safety and access are very important to my office. If you have not done so already, I would strongly encourage you to register with us as a student with a disability. We always alert Facilities to where our students commonly travel in a snow situation. We want you to be able to access the Facilities Emergency number in the event you find a route. Finally, we can move classes if a building is not accessible to you or authorize note takers and absences if you really can’t make it to class.

      I copied this to Lorraine Norwich, our Assistant Director, who works with students who have mobility impairments. She would be happy to meet with you individually to discuss your situation. Feel free to contact me directly as well, especially as we are dealing with another snow event today,

      Best regards,

      Dr. Wolf

      Lorraine E. Wolf, Ph.D.
      Director of Disability Services & 504 Compliance
      Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
      Adjunct Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences
      Boston University
      19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor
      Boston, MA 02215
      lwolf@bu.edu (email)
      617-353-3658 (vox)
      617-353-9646 (fax)
      http://www.bu.edu/disability (website)

  8. BU is completely out of line for opening today. Exactly how many people need to get hurt before they care? Assuming I make it in safe, I’ll then file a formal grievance, please follow suit

      1. I’m in-class staff and I commute. If classes run, I have to be there, or students don’t get what they paid for. My commute isn’t too long, but it IS dangerous.

        1. No, the University has not communicated a blanket policy about counting absences. Please communicate with your professor or consult your syllabus for the absence policy for your particular class.

  9. I can’t even see out my window. How am I expected to commute to class? And the heavy snowfalls just started! I assume BU will reconsider this decision and this weather persists.

      1. I’m obviously not the only commuter. There are a lot of people that live off campus, including professors, who are kind of crucial to class being held right??

  10. I’m very dismayed by this decision, especially for the night students who travel from a distance. I come in from west of 495, 40 miles away. The company where I work is closing at 1:00 because it’s bad enough out here. It seems strange to me that a $10 billion dollar business is closing while a school with a large, commuting night time student body isn’t.

    It’s not safe to drive in for 6:00 and even more dangerous to drive home at 9:30 in freezing rain. This is an irresponsible decision in my opinion.

    1. It has nothing to do with being soft, it’s all about public and personal safety. Obviously you’ve never been in a car accident due to weather conditions, your life is disrupted for months. You have huge medical bills, the hassle & expensive of replacing or repairing your car and you still have to get to work/school.

    2. I am from Montana and I can guarantee that I’m not soft. I have climbed Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and Stok Kangri and I still don’t think school should be open this afternoon. People here don’t know how to drive in this and it puts students at risk of getting hit by a car. On top of that, people are wearing hoods and this reduces their periferal vision and situational awareness.
      The BU Shuttle most definitely should not be running. They have already had a bus get stuck on Buick St.
      BU should not be running busses and they probably shouldn’t have classes right now either.

  11. This is crazy-why isn’t BU considering us commuters! Normally I would just make the decision myself to stay home but I have to be in class is it’s not cancelled for a presentation. Coming from NH is not safe and it is only getting worse.

  12. Here’s a novel and wildly progressive idea; use your best judgment. If you don’t think you can safely commute to class contact and notify the necessary people.

    1. What about classes with midterms today or presentation? No teacher will accept the excuse of “bad weather” to skip either of these. On every BU syllabus it clearly states that unless there’s a severe emergency, you cannot miss an exam or presentation and make it up later. Automatic zero worth at least 20% of your grade. Making a judgement call on lecture is easy..if its bad out don’t go and email your professor. And the “necessary people” you speak of should be our administration. It is there responsibility to take into consideration ALL students with ALL circumstances. I don’t pay the insanely high tuition for my well being not to be considered. Morning classes should resume. After 11/12 pm all classes should be cancelled. All in all, using your “best judgement” doesn’t always work.

      1. I would imagine if there was ever a time that a teacher would actually accept the “bad weather” excuse today would be the day. Please stop complaining, use your best judgment, that doesn’t cost you a dime.

        1. You’re right my best judgement doesn’t cost me anything. In this case, with a midterm today and being a commuter, my best judgement would be to take the exam. That, my friend, could potentially cost me my health and well being. I don’t know about you, but to me, my life is worth a lot. Driving on these roads are unsafe. And by the way, with the classes I’m taking, my professors will laugh in my face if I say I can’t make it to an exam because of the storm. If the entire class can make it (because they live on campus) and only 1 student can’t…the teacher will NOT cancel the exam or accept this excuse. Furthermore, this is a discussion board, if I chose to voice my opinion as a commuter who is jeopardizing my life on the road, I have the same rights as you to speak my mind. That is not the same as complaining. But, if you want to use your obscure definition of a complaint, then why don’t you stop complaining about everyone else’s opinion on the storm.

  13. I am a professor who commutes and teaches night classes. I don’t teach today, but if I did, I would cancel class, and encourage others in the same situation to do so. The conditions are supposed to be very unsafe, and it’s not worth risking your life for a class. You can always schedule a make-up class for your students.

  14. BU is not just made up of students worried about getting to class safely (which is a valid concern), but there are MANY faculty and staff position (outside of professors) who commute into work, like myself. Every time BU does not close in this weather, I have to decide whether to risk my safety and commute in, or use a vacation day. I am now out of vacation days. BU should really consider its entire population before deciding not to close – and should provide some option to those staff who commute so that we do not have to waste our hard earned vacation days just so we can stay safe in this weather. I passed MANY accidents on my way to work this morning. I could easily have been one of them.

  15. BU seems to be less concerned for the safety of their students, professors and administrative staff than losing money by shutting down early. I truly hope no one is hurt, as it is very unsafe to commute in this weather. It will only get worse, and I am appalled by their decision to run a regular schedule today.

  16. This is pretty unbelievable. And again, BU should have thought about its commuters. If things get worse later on then commuting professors and students will be stuck on campus. It’s okay for residents since they can just go back to their dorms/apartments-and it really sucks that you get behind during exam time.

    1. As a commuter I understand your frustration but to say that this is unbelievable is exaggerating. I work at BU and my husband works downtown. Every storm we both know what is going to happen. He is going to be sent home early while I will work a full day. I get that everyone is mad about this but at the same time, you should have seen it coming.

  17. BU is making the wrong decision. The University should be erring on the side of caution. In my four years here, I have never seen afternoon/evening classes. However this is when the worst rush hour occurs and the most accidents. There are many Professors and students who drive to classes especially in the evenings on Thursday. BU should send students and faculty home to give our hardworking facilities workers time to clear walkways and to give city sanitation workers room to do there jobs on the streets.

    The only reason I can see for the University remaining open is to avoid paying administrators and faculty for a full day. If this is the case, it is shameful and The Faculty and Student body deserves better.

    As a side note, one of my own classes has been cancelled, but all of my others were regularly held. As someone paying for a 60k education, I want to be in class. But there is a time when it makes no sense to risk lives and make safety work more difficult. Time to reevaluate BU.

      1. BTW, I buy the inconvenience argument WAY more than I buy the endangering lives argument. Who wants to sit in snow traffic to get home from class/work. No one. But don’t give me endangering lives…its fluffy rain, and we’re pretty used it.

  18. Thank you for not cancelling classes for a few inches of snow. BU is in New England, a region familiar with snow and inclement weather. Anyone living/attending school in the area should be well-prepared to deal with snow. Six inches is a mere dusting around here. Be prepared, go slow and pay attention. I commute in from over 30 miles out, and made it to class today just fine. What’s your excuse?

  19. Same thing happens almost every year here in Boston. I think BU should consider a better snow day policy. I understand that everyone has a different schedule, it makes university hard to re-arrange make-ups if the school is canceled. But it’s better than someone gets hurt. Human life is the top piority, don’t be like North Korea!

  20. The conditions are getting worse and worse, I will admit in the morning the conditions were not all that bad but since the rain/snow has come and the roads and sidewalks have become complete slush it’s dangerous to still have a regular schedule. c’mon BU

  21. What about BU North evening classes? CHelmsford/Lowell is getting hit significantly harder than boston….Are classes still going to happen there/is there any consideration about the storm differences northwest of boston?

  22. Even if the roads are being cleared… I WALK 2 MILES TO CLASS…. The weather is absolutely insane. I have slipped nearly 8 times today. I’m literally dripping right now and have wind burn. This is insane. The BU Shuttle is OVERPACKED and I could not fit into the doors. Please consider the people not only commuting but WALKING to class; we do not have the luxury of sitting in an office all day… I have to commute to and from 4 classes spaced insanely far away…

    1. Evening classes are to take place as scheduled, unless there is further notice. Should there be any change, BU Today will provide that information at the top of this story.

  23. I don’t mind having classes, but it’d be GREAT if BU put salt on the sidewalks and/or shoveled the sidewalks. Walking to class is like walking to your death. I can’t count the amount of times I almost wiped out or saw someone else wipe out.

  24. BU, there is a blizzard out right now. If you look out your window, I am sure you can see it for yourself. I am kindly requesting that we cancel evening activities and afternoon classes if possible- it is especially difficult for students traveling between campuses.

    1. It is terrible outside right now. I have slipped multiple times now trying to outside with all the ice and I am terrified for when it comes time to drive back home.

  25. Having just commuted in from the suburbs, where all the early rain was snow, I can confidently say it is a mistake if campus does not close early. Driving conditions are bad now and quickly deteriorating.

  26. Ok, it is really bad right now, these schools need to get a clue. Complete white out conditions 3 miles from campus. I guess if I can’t make it to my exam today I will just have to drop my class because my professor said no excuses.

  27. Ok afternoon/evening classes should really be called off. I made it in this morning with no problems (I get in at 8am) but I left early because I didn’t want to get stuck in the city. The roads in the city were fine but as soon as I got out they turned pretty bad. It’s unsafe to travel. There’s a large amount if slush everywhere and the more you travel away from Boston the more snow there is on the ground. I’m glad I left early because I’m sure it’s going to be 100X worse for the evening commute, especially at the rate the snow is falling away from the city. Please reconsider this decision. People should go home and worry about shoveling, not be worried about getting home!

  28. This decision made me extremely upset. Why would the university have classes today? It is DANGEROUS outside. This is not a joke there is hail snow and ice apparently even denting cars. Imagine that on someone’s head. Where are our priorities?!?!? Life or going to class. This is truly messed up. God help the kid who falls and cracks his head open due to this god forbid

  29. the snow is going to be coming down this hard for next three hours and streets are already covered in snow. evening classes look unlikely. but thats up to the bosses

  30. I hope the administrators can see through their window how bad it is getting.

    It is not safe for my child to drive to or from school for an afternoon class.

    1. No changes have been made and evening classes are still taking place as scheduled. Should there be any change, BU Today will provide that information at the top of this story as soon as we are notified.

  31. I really am uncertain of how I will get home please help BU . This has been a crazy winter but don’t let somebody get hurt because we’ve had a few too many snow days thats not fair

    1. No changes have been made and evening classes are still taking place as scheduled. Should there be any change, BU Today will provide that information at the top of this story as soon as we are notified.

          1. Northeastern University, Suffolk University, U Mass Boston, Simmons College, Babson College, Bentley College, Harvard University Extension School all closed.

  32. Guys,

    I’m sitting in Warren Dining Hall, looking out of the window and all I can see is Morse (barely) and SMG is just a shadowy figure. This is bad and BU should not have held class today. I commute from Allston, and am now stuck on campus until the snow somewhat subsides.

    I do appreciate the University taking classes into account, and we just had a snow day a week ago, but come on. This is silly.

    Yours

    jaded Senior 2014.

  33. I had morning class and it wasn’t too bad outside then, but it is terrible out right now. Every single class I have this afternoon/evening had been cancelled by my professors. They both said the conditions were just too dangerous to hold class. BU, you really should consider closing for the afternoon and evening classes. It simply isn’t worth risking the safety of so many students and professors.

  34. I literally just saw 2 cars get in an accident just west of 1019 because the roads were so slick and dangerous, this weather is horrid and presenting a very dangerous situation for travelling and transportation. I honestly don’t know why / how classes are still running but they should be stopped before any further injuries occur. Its not a matter of snow, its a matter of Ice and potential Black Ice which we all know is the most dangerous conditions for travel, BU Today please realize the safety issues at hand and make a common sense decision of stopping classes as a safety issue, Thank You

  35. BU… seriously? Have you looked outside? Your students are out suffering in the snow attempting to get to class. I’ve witnessed multiple car accidents on Comm. Ave. and genuinely think that class should be cancelled.
    Please reconsider your decision to cancel class.

  36. at the top of this page it says the school is monitoring the storm for further changes. What would you call the atrocity of weather outside right now, or does that not count?

  37. It’s crazy out there right now. There is no way we can drive in this condition. Just received an email our HR about cars spinning and colliding.
    BU should at least cancel evening classes now.

  38. The BU shuttle that left Stuvi II at 1:40 slid and got stuck on Buick St. Somebody could have gotten hurt. The university is being foolish and stubborn for not canceling classes.

    1. Yeah seriously. I saw that. Our shuttle after that was delayed because we were stuck behind it. Even the driver of the shuttle said the roads are dangerous. Security guards in the residences are even asking why is there class. I nearly skipped five times. Thanks BU for taking our safety into consideration! If I fall and bust my head I hope you’re going to take care of my medical bills. If it’s this bad now I can’t imagine how bad it will be when I get out of my evening class.

    2. Someone should contact the local papers and let them run a few stories focusing on how BU prides itself on staying open rather than providing a safe space for it’s overall student body. Based on the comments I’m reading on here and if the incident with the BU Bus is in fact true, I’m horrified that BU is open for classes tonight. It seems to me that any campus where commuters comprise a bulk of it’s population, have closed for the day/evening. Based on my understanding of BU’s evening classes, the majority of students enrolled in evening classes do in fact commute to campus.

  39. What is the drop dead time for determining whether evening classes are held? I just don’t want to make my way into the city at 4pm only to find out classes have been cancelled. Thanks!

  40. I cannot believe that BU is still having evening classes. The roads are a complete disaster, and attendance is 25% of my grade. You say that we can speak to our professors, but mine has yet to e-mail me back from over 2 hours ago.

  41. Evening classes will not be cancelled as long as the main campus is open. I’ve had several professors tell me they are not allowed to cancel class if the main campus is open because they will be reprimanded if they do so. I’ve had 1 professor even do so and be contacted by the University and inform his students they have to come in because the University says so, because let’s be serious, who cares about safety?

  42. The BU shuttle, which is supposed to transport students safely, cannot even run properly. I’ve seen one stuck on the street and had to let students out because it couldn’t move, but sure, let’s keep students and staff here because we need to send a message that we value “education” above everything else.

  43. Does any with power at BU even read this? Did management go to sleep after making it’s tough decision this morning? I personally would like more information about the reasons why school is closed today, what factors came into play? When did the danger to student’s safety considered not great enough to close school for a day, or even half a day? I’d rather they cancel classes but I’d be happier if they could at least explain themselves.

  44. Are evening classes going to be canceled? The sidewalks (at least in East Campus) are all in terrible condition, and it truly is unsafe to walk to class. And, if evening classes are to be canceled, what time is considered evening?

  45. What about classes tomorrow? I have been watching this storm out of the window at work, the rain that fell earlier is now turning into ice sheets covered by snow. I am watching people ice skate down comm ave for classes. BU, this is silly! should we all go out and by some cross country snow shoes for the next storm, or will you start considering our safety?

  46. I have worked at BU for awhile, and they usually use sound judgment in regards to weather. I believe with our previous snow days taking class days, their judgment is clouded.

    This morning the commute was a breeze, but the evening commute for those living even a little bit west of the city is going to be hairy. The problem with this sort of storm is there is such variability in short distances. Not everyone takes the T to work (unfortunately) and reports are that road conditions are terrible.

    I believe all non-essential personnel should have been sent home at 3 PM.

  47. We need to reevaluate our idea of what a snow storm is, this is slush. People in this region have gone to work and school in slush for decades with no complaints or trying to get a day off out of it. Hysteria is what makes these conditions dangerous, if everyone would just use common sense and caution none of it would be a big deal. Yes, I do commute, no I don’t have 4wd, and no I didn’t go spiraling out of control…because I was careful. You’re not really “risking your life or safety” in this, you’re being dramatic and making unjustified demands to cease productivity because there’s fluffy stuff on the ground. Get a shovel boots and a hat and get on with it

  48. I worry now that the visible indicators of the ice on the sidewalks, but not the actual ice. I’m concerned for when all the water freezes tonight.

  49. I just tried driving on the pike and turned around. Not happening. I spun out twice and I have snow tires. I haven’t seen the pike that bad ever. Very, very poor handling of this situation.

  50. Just wait until you have a real job and clients count on you not in your direct vicinity who are open. You’ll have to go to work unless MA declares a states of emergency. Welcome to real life people. Buy some boots.

    1. This is hilarious because I have a real 9-5 job, and I wonder if everyone saying “wait until you get into the real world!!” has a “real job” themselves. I went to class, but during my mile-long walk on the uncleared sidewalks, I had a good time thinking about how my “real job” is more accommodating in situations like this than classes I pay for (I was on PTO today, but if I wasn’t, I could have either used that or worked from home).

  51. The knee jerk negative reactions on here seem like overkill. For those of you who have a test scheduled/attendance marks, etc: Do you really think the professor will penalize you if you explain you live out of the city and for safety reasons didn’t commute? I’m not talking about those for whom coming in would be merely uncomfortable/inconvenient (e.g. walkers) but those who need to drive. I suspect most of you are getting worked up over nothing. ASK your professors or let them know in advance through email and go from there. Maybe provide proof of where you live. Whatever you need to do. If you actually live out of the city and your professor penalizes you for not coming in, you can take it up with someone else who is more reasonable (e.g. the Chair of the dept.). Use your own judgement, and hopefully your superiors will use theirs as well.

  52. My professor emailed asking how many students would be able to attend class this evening. He indicated he would base his decision on canceling class based on the university’s decision to close. Since the university did not close, class was on. At 5:30, we received an e-mail from our professor that he understood if students could not make it to class but that he would make every attempt to be there. He was traveling from Central MA and that he wasn’t sure if he would make it. It is now 6:30 and the 11 students that showed up to class have now been sitting here for a half an hour wondering if we should leave or if he will show up. THIS is exactly why the university needs to take the initiative to close. I’m sure there are many situations like this around campus tonight and I now have wasted an evening and risked traveling to campus for nothing. Poor planning BU.

  53. Really disappointed that BU Charles River didn’t cancel evening classes. All of the other Boston-based colleges have cancelled their evening programs. And, it seems strange that you would cancel the BU North classes. Please consider that many graduate school evening students actually live outside of the city, and have to go to the Charles River campus for their electives, even if they live in the Chelmsford region! And – I know that my professor lives north of the city – so, while I opted to miss class (and will be penalized for my absence) she will need to drive home tonight in the snow.

  54. I am appalled that Boston University would not recognize that all commuters are not the same. As a centaur, the conditions of the storm this past Thursday left me up to decide whether I would risk my safety in the snow or take another sick day.

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