Charles River, MED Campuses Closed Today

Blizzard brings dangerous winds, low temps, up to three feet of snow

Boston University Charles River Campus during a snow storm

Both the Charles River and the Medical Campus are closed today as a nor’easter pummels the area. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

January 27, 2015
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Updated, 3:25 p.m.

Boston University is expected to make a decision early Tuesday evening regarding the schedule for Wednesday, pending additional information from city and state officials, including the resumption of public transportation and the lifting of travel and parking bans.

Boston University will be closed today as a powerful nor’easter expected to bring 75 mph winds, frigid temperatures, and up to three feet of heavy wet snow bears down on the city. All normal academic and administrative activities scheduled to take place on the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus have been canceled for today and this evening.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency for the commonwealth yesterday, and a travel ban remains in effect for all nonessential personnel. A parking ban in the city of Boston also remains in effect. The MBTA will be closed all day Tuesday, and  service is not expected to resume until Wednesday morning.

University employees in essential services must report as scheduled. Essential services include, but are not limited to, Boston University Police, Facilities Management & Planning, Dining Services, Mail Services, Student Health Services, Environmental Health & Safety, and Network Services.

FitRec, the George Sherman Union, and all libraries are closed, and all student club-related activities and varsity athletic events are canceled.

Clinics at the School of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine are canceled for Tuesday. For updated information about the Medical Campus, call the weather/emergency hotline at 617-638-6886 or visit the BUMC emergency communications website.

When classes resume, it will be on the regular class schedule. Whether or how canceled classes are to be made up is at the discretion of individual faculty members.

All three residence hall dining halls, at 100 Bay State Road, Warren Towers, and Claflin Hall, remain open today. Breakfast will be served starting at 9 a.m. The residence dining halls will close an hour early this evening, at 8 p.m. A schedule for other local restaurants is available here. Residence Life’s hall/area offices will be staffed during regular business and evening on-call hours.

BU bus service (the BUS) has been suspended and will not resume until Wednesday. Changes to the BUS schedule will be posted on the BU Shuttle website. Shuttle updates are also available on Twitter at @BUShuttle.

Student Health Services is closed today. Students in need of health services should call the emergency line at 617-353-3575. In the event of an emergency, students can also call the BU Police at 353-2121 or dial 911.

All University parking permit holders and departmental vehicles should park inside one of the following covered/garaged facilities:

  • 808 Commonwealth Avenue garage
  • 575 Commonwealth Avenue garage
  • 730 Commonwealth Avenue garage
  • Babcock Street garage

Vehicles left in any surface lot during a city-declared snow emergency will be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense. Garage facilities other than those listed above (e.g., the School of Management, Warren Towers, and Agganis garages) will not be staffed during the blizzard, so access to vehicles may be limited.

Students who find themselves at risk during the blizzard should call the BU Police Department at 617-353-2121.

Students are urged to refrain from using candles in the event of a power outage. Residence halls will have a limited supply of flashlights available for students. Those students living off campus should make sure they have smoke detectors and flashlights and batteries for both. BU’s safety website details the University’s fire regulations and fire safety advice. Students living off campus who experience power outages, leaks, or other weather-related problems are urged to contact the owner of their building or their residential management company. See related story for more information.

Because the wind chill will drop temperatures below zero, students are advised to stay indoors. If it is necessary to go outside, do not walk on roadways and stay off the ice on the Charles River.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning in effect until 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The storm is projected to continue throughout the day Tuesday, with the heaviest snowfall expected to end by midafternoon. Winds gusting up to 75 mph will bring whiteout conditions on Tuesday morning and afternoon.

Greater Boston residents and commuters have been advised to remain at home until the storm subsides. “Travel may become impossible and life-threatening,” according to a National Weather Service forecast discussion reported on the website Weather Underground.

BU Today will continue to provide updates as they become available.

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Charles River, MED Campuses Closed Today

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Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 107 comments on Charles River, MED Campuses Closed Today

          1. Seems more like BU is just waiting until they can say the university is open and are prepared to wait as long as possible for the go-ahead.

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          8. Christine, how very self-depricating of you to admit to such a thing.
            THIS Christine, however, just wants the 1% in our student body to stop being self-important, snarky princes and princesses and just be thankful that some poor people that work for this site actually had to (gasp) WORK TODAY and are just the messengers. Take your complaints to the new right-wing that’s making the decisions from his weather bunker in Framingham and tell him you REALLY need to know if you’ll have to ask mom & dad to pay to store your car in the dry, overnight garage AGAIN. Vent elsewhere and let these people do their jobs.

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          9. Christine, I don’t think anyone is complaining about the BU Today writers. This is entirely directed at BU officials who wait until the last minute to warn faculty and staff, whereas other schools have already made their decisions.

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      2. Geeze. We would just like to know when BU will announce if it’s closing or not. roads are bad, it’s freezing out, snow is up to our hips (for us short people) and it would be nice if we didn’t have to trek out in the weather. It has nothing to do with being a privelege spoiled person. If it’s cold and snowy and the roads are dangerous, who would want to travel to work/school?

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        2. Where do you see that? The CBS school closings page has Boston Public Schools listed as closed, but not Boston University.

          I haven’t yet received email.

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    3. Everybody here needs to take a chill pill! Either there is school tomorrow or there isn’t. Eventually they will let us know. Does it matter when? Not really, it won’t change the outcome.

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      1. It does matter for faculty and staff with kids. Most area schools are closed tomorrow. knowing if BU is going to be open will determine whether those folks need to find childcare or not. Putting off the decision repeatedly is unnecessarily burdensome to parents. Admin need to just make the call one way or another so the hundreds of faculty and staff with school age kids can make appropriate plans. Make a decision already BU!

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        1. my point is complaining about it won’t make them go any faster, BU has always been like that. Two years ago when the hurricane hit NY they kept saying “everything is fine, get to class and be careful there’s flying debris”

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  3. I see no real reason to postpone or cancel classes tomorrow. I live an hour from campus and don’t see myself having any major problems getting to school.

    We choose to go to school in Boston. We know that Boston has winter weather.

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    2. Please understand that you do not represent thousands of students and faculty members. While it’s great that you have no trouble, several others are snowed into their homes with cars buried under several feet of snow. I myself couldn’t even get my car to start, and triple A can’t make it here in a reasonable amount of time. It makes no difference that I’m used to this weather having grown up here. At least if they cancel, others won’t have to either drive in such hazardous conditions or stay home and miss a full day of classes just to become behind in their work.

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    3. Additionally, it’s not necessarily about individual ability, it’s about infrastructure. Are paths clear? Is parking available for staff, commuting students and faculty? Is the MBTA up and running? Many faculty and staff commute long distances on public transit.

      Are Boston schools closed? Will people have to find childcare on short notice? Is childcare even available?

      This not just about one student getting to one class. It would be fantastic if BU was able to be open, and if the infrastructure was READY for the commuters – but fact is that BU is a city within a city. Until Boston is ready, truly ready, BU can’t say it is ready.

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    4. Exactly what anonymous said above. I could probably make it to classes easily tomorrow especially since I live on campus, but you have to understand that for a lot of people it is not that easy. Just because “we know that Boston has winter weather” doesn’t mean we are immune to the troubles that winter weather can impose. It isn’t fair to assume that everyone is in a similar situation to yourself, especially considering the fact that travel could be dangerous for many people.

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    5. Although you may feel confident in your ability to reach the campus, you must consider that those who drive (it took me two hours to get home on Monday night), may not feel safe being on the road with others who do not drive defensively in these conditions. Even in good weather, I find there are far too many people talking on cell phones, texting, etc., while driving. Beyond that, I once had a sheet of ice from the roof of an SUV in front of me sail through my windshield on Rte. 93 on my way home. Accidents are unpredictable, Andrew.

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    6. I get that there are reasons the school might NEED to close. I’m just tired of hearing ON CAMPUS students yelling about how the school needs to close for their ambiguous safety concerns which mostly amount to “I don’t feel like getting up for class.”

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      1. I hope that the administration considers those with limited mobility when making a decision. If paths are not actually clear it is impossible for some of us to get to class.

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  4. I live about 45 minutes from BU. My car is currently completely, fully covered in snow. You literally cannot see the actual car. The street outside my house is purely white. So while I see you don’t have concern for your commute, many others have serious concern. I realize we go to school in Boston and we should be prepared for this, I do hope the University has a little bit of sympathy for those of us who live a little further away and who’s means of transportation are buried in a couple feet of snow and counting (it’s still snowing).

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  5. I live 5 minutes from BU and i see myself having a lot of trouble going to school. The roads are icy and it is too cold for me to leave my bed. I don’t think we should have school until it is safe for us students to be walking outside. I slipped multiples times and i am concerned about my fellow students and professor’s safety.

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  6. I live close to BU and today I almost died because of this terrible historic snowstorm. ALMOST DIED! 3 of my friends and my mom were swept away by the snowy wind and we can’t even organize a search party because it’s so bad.

    It would be an ABSOLUTE MADNESS if BU were to have classes tomorrow at any point… MADNESS!
    Please stay safe everyone

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  7. To everyone who is complaining about their cars being buried in snow: what have you been doing all day? I dug out my car and helped some people on my street dig out theirs. Everyone is uncovered and ready to go. Don’t make excuses just because you’re too lazy or hungover to pick up a shovel.

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    1. There are many of us who have been working from home today. I had deadlines that I still had to meet, so I did not have the ability to go outside, though I would have liked to do so. Now, I do not have a car here, so I do not have to dig out, but if I needed to, I would have to go out tonight (instead of doing some more work). If I were sick, disabled, or elderly, this would be a poor decision. Further, for some people, it is not just a matter of clearing a car on a street but rather of clearing the driveway/lot (which is a continuous process with snowplows going by) and getting out of unplowed streets. I grew up on a street that did not get plowed regularly, so we had more difficulty getting out after storms. For people (including many staff and professors) who live farther away, this and many streets that are difficult to drive through are big safety problems – even for hardy New Englanders.

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    2. Great! While you’re at it why don’t you help clean out the highway? And all the icy dangerous roads? If buried cars were the only issue I’m pretty sure no one would have any problem attending tomorrow, but obviously that’s not the case.

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    3. You must not be aware that it has continued to “blizzard” all day long, and it is continuing to fall/blow at a steady rate. After clearing twice, I cannot keep up and can’t work effectively in the dark. Many people live on/near the coast and it won’t let up here until midnight. I’ll be lucky to dig out by noon with snow drifts 4-5 feet high. Because of the wind, as soon as you clear a drift, it’s right back again… Don’t make judgments when you are confused.

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  8. Sick of BU not taking this weather seriously. Last year I remember it was snowing so hard and they didn’t even call for an early release of classes. Professors were pissed because of their commutes in the snow…it’s dangerous! Hoping BU will step up this year and actually recognize that safety concerns are far more important than one day of school….

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    1. Professors can always, always choose to cancel class or end class early themselves if they feel it’s necessary for their own safety or, really, for any other reason. Sick kid, sick themselves, etc.

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      1. Maybe professors can but grad students that are TAs and TFs don’t get to cancel the labs or discussion sections they teach, just FYI, so not everyone has a choice

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  9. Okay BU – even Governor Baker is requiring only essential state employees to report to work tomorrow. Please make the responsible decision about whether to require thousands of commuting students and employees to come in tomorrow.

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  10. Just want to express gratitude to all the folks from Facilities who worked through the night and day to keep the snow manageable on our campus. We appreciate you!

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    1. Seconded – we greatly appreciate all that you do, even more so in clearing the snow! I’mm always glad when I reach the point of the sidewalk where BU’s campus begins, since the sidewalks are typically more cleared and thus safer at that point.

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    2. Shout out to Facilities at both SCI and LSE! They are undoubtedly the cream of an amazing crop and wouldn’t have it any other way! No other darn tooting way!

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    6. Hear, hear! And thanks also to the people in Dining Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and other essential employees who work hard under difficult conditions to keep our campus functioning. I imagine it must have been especially challenging to get to work with no MBTA service (I’m guessing some may not have been able to sleep at home Monday night). I’m sure it’s often a thankless job, so, THANK YOU!!

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  11. From the Environmental Health and Safety website:

    I think BU is doing their best to make informed decisions. Please see this notice from the Environmental Health and Safety website:

    Winter Storm Update

    We are continuing to monitor the winter storm that has impacted our region. As more is learned about the storm and state and local recovery efforts, information about Wednesday’s schedule will be announced at approximately 7 p.m. via email, BU Today and on http://www.bu.edu/ehs/comm/

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  12. Agreed! A missed day of classes and work is without question worth the safety of faculty, staff and commuting students. Also, let’s consider the wonderful staff in Facilities who could use a break and/or extra time to sufficiently complete the snow removal and cleanup.

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  13. As a commuter who drives about two hours to school every day… Driving there tomorrow will be near impossible. I live in a middle of nowhere neighborhood that is not plowed as well. Plow trucks that did come have created a 6 foot pile in front blocking my car, and the other 3 there. With a shovel and maybe all day outside I could get out, but I still can’t make it to the main road lol… And I even have an awd car. So. Rip Systems tomorrow, I can’t make it.

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  14. I am the momma of a B.U. student. If I was the mom of all of you, I would say y’all are staying home because I am a really big chicken. I am too chicken to send you. I guess since I am not gainfully employed, I better be quiet.

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  15. When is BU going to give us an update? It is still extremely dangerous out. I’m not usually one to complain, but my entire street still isn’t plowed, and there is no where to put the snow. :-(

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  21. As the parent of a BU student and a Public School teacher,I am appalled that BU has not made a decision on weather to have school on Wed. 01/28/2015 and properly notified the staff and students. Many students live in neighborhoods that aren’t maintained and cleared yet, because they are not main roads and those roads come last. Really, it is 7:30 pm and students have not been told yet!!!!

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  22. Thank you all essential employees for your outstanding coverage and support! Our “kids” are safe, warm, fed and can walk about with safety, You rock!

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  26. You can always call 353-SNOW for updates. This website is the last thing to be updated, for some reason, but it’s true: Wed. the CRC is closed, Med Campus open.

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  27. I totally get the frustration of waiting. I’ve got a 9am meeting tomorrow, and I’m really looking forward to finding out if it will happen. But also please remember a lot of people are working hard to make and communicate the decision. They’re probably as frustrated by the situated as we are!

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  32. So far NBC, CBS and ABC Boston affiliates have listed us as closed.

    Additionally, the BU Snow hotline says the Charles River Campus is closed tomorrow (Wednesday) : (617) 353-SNOW (7669)

    Pretty sure we’re closed. Not sure why it’s not up yet.

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  36. I think it is very inconsiderate to say that there will be an announcement “early evening” and then still not have an announcement at 8:00pm. I would like to know if I need to go to bed now or not.

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    1. Please see the story that was just posted on BU Today. Classes have been canceled on the Charles River campus for Wednesday, and the new story details what is open on campus tomorrow. The Charles River Campus is expected to reopen for business as usual on Thursday morning.

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    1. Please see our new story on BU Today. Classes on the Charles River campus are canceled on Wednesday. Details about what will be open on campus are included in the story. The campus will reopen for business as usual Thursday morning.

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  41. As a resident on south campus, I have to say that BU should send food for those who live far away from dinning halls. Restaurants nearby don’t open. Students live in dorm cannot have a regular meal in storm days. This is a really serious problem for BU to consider. Hopefully, tomorrow BU will take some actions. Thanks.

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