Snow Day!

By SARAH REPP March 10, 2022

Snowfall from the window of a rural home in Union KS., Tuesday, March. 10, 2022. (Photo/Sarah Repp)

LINDSBORG - Bethany students are thrilled to have another snow day however, only a few are excited about the weather. A day off from school is always appreciated especially during midterms but there is some question as to what constitutes a snow day.

Provost Adam Pryor discussed the decision-making process with The Bethany Advocate on Wednesday

“When we have a winter weather forecast, the folks who are part of that conversation are the chief academic officer, the head of student development, the president, and anyone who has ongoing visitors to campus,” said Pryor Then those selected individuals are looking at predicted road conditions, predicted temperature, predicted wind speeds, and total accumulation. The Kansas Department of Transportation guarantees that local municipalities will try to have the roads cleared within 18 hours which also has an effect on the decision-making process.

Students have asked why some snowstorms get school canceled the night before, and other snowstorms are not taken into consideration.

A majority of the answer comes from the local media if it is largely publicized in advance that it will be “snowmageddon” these meetings are likely to take place earlier and a far more proactive approach will be taken.

Other students have asked why Smoky Valley was canceled on Tuesday but Bethany had classes as scheduled.

Pryor states “Just because they cancel the public school doesn't affect us.” “They are running buses on rural roads, there are not a significant majority of students coming in from outside of town,” said Pryor.

The argument then comes for professors.

“They all live off-campus, some driving as far as an hour,” said one concerned student.

Pryor returned “Professors I will always say if you cannot get here safely, cancel your class.”

The answer to determining if a snow day will be a snow day is tricky, there are a lot of moving parts and people at play. At the end of the day, the decision-makers know they have been given a very serious job and they will do their best to make sure that everyone is safe.