Icy roads force campus to shut down
Sinclair Community College reopened its doors on Thursday, Jan. 29 after being closed on Jan. 27 and 28 due to snow and ice.
Students react to decision to close
Alex Ruscin is experiencing his first quarter at Sinclair Community College. Ruscin said Thursday’s road conditions were less than ideal, but bearable.
“Pretty much every road but the highway had a decent amount of snow on it,” said Ruscin.
Ruscin, 21, didn’t see a reason for another school cancellation.
Misty Mitchell, a Nursing major, felt that Sinclair could have done a better job closing the school on Tuesday. Mitchell, who lives in Carlisle, said she left her house at 5:45 a.m. so she could drop off her son at the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) in Building 9 at 6:30 a.m.
“I drop [my son] off at 6:30 a.m. and I have to leave straight from [the ECEC] to Miami Valley and I have to be there at 6:45 a.m.,” said Mitchell. “I had been [at Miami Valley] for 20 minutes and [the ECEC] calls and tells me I have to get my son because the school is closing.”
Making the decision to cancel classes
Sinclair President, Steven Johnson said the process of closing the school due to weather conditions is not always easy.
“Ten percent of the time it’s really easy,” said Johnson.
The problem they run into is predicting what the weather will do said Johnson.
“We always try to make a decision before 6 a.m.,” said Johnson.
Johnson realizes that when weather deteriorates during the later morning hours, some students may already be en route to campus. Every effort is made to avoid this scenario.
“It’s a very unique decision each and every time,” said Johnson.
Sinclair officials want campus to stay open whenever possible.
“It comes down to my final decision,” said Johnson.
Questions asked before canceling class
The decision to cancel classes is not as clear-cut as it may seem. Many factors are taken into consideration.
- Are the parking lots plowed?
- Are the sidewalks plowed and clear of ice?
- What are emergency levels in the surrounding area?
- Are the weather conditions getting worse or better?
- Can the grounds staff keep up with clearing snow and ice?
- Has the heating, electrical systems and other facilities systems operational?
Where to check for cancelations:
- www.sinclair.edu is the best source to find out about cancellations.
- Students may also call (937) 512-2888 for updates.
Kamari Stevens and Joseph Stueve contributed to this report.