By Ilana Williams

When the weather was getting cold in the fall, the University of Maryland informed students that online classes would still happen despite bad weather. 

However, on the night of Feb. 17, the school released an email to faculty and students canceling in-person and online classes. 

UMD closed the school for the first time this year on Feb. 18 because of a forecast of snow and ice. Leading up to the snow day there was ice and snow that stuck around due to freezing temperatures. 

Grace Milliman, a freshman family science major, was expecting several inches of snow but was disappointed to see just sleet. 

“It was honestly much less fun,” Milliman said. “I literally fell down the steps once, which was embarrassing. Thankfully no one saw.” 

Milliman said it was very icy in the morning, but UMD employees put salt on the stairs and sidewalks a few hours later.  

University Spokeswoman Hafsa Siddiqi said in a statement that the university considered the hardships of working while conditions are icy in making the decision. One consideration was fewer childcare options for faculty and staff with young children, Siddiqi said. 

Milliman was unimpressed by the so-called snow day.

“Honestly I probably would have rather just had online classes,” Milliman said. 

However, for other students like freshman Danielle Betaharon, a snow day is exactly what was needed. 

“This semester has just become really busy all of a sudden,” Betaharon said. “So it was nice to have a day to just relax and catch up on work.” 

For meals, Betaharon usually walks to the Hillel. Fortunately, she lives in Cecil Hall, which is on Maryland’s South Campus.

“They’re constantly salting the [ground] and using [a shovel], which is really nice, but once you get closer to the Hillel that’s where it stopped,” Betaharon said. “It did get difficult because if it was icy I trip and fall.” 

Karen Prestegaard is an associate professor in Geomorphology. Before the university canceled school, she checked the weather reports and decided to change her in-person class to online so students would not have to travel to campus on icy roads. 

“I did not read the email before,” Prestegaard said. “I actually got up to teach my 9:30 class. I was going to be home so I did not see the importance of reading the email.” 

It was not until minutes before she started her class that Prestegaard read her emails. She then recorded her lecture and uploaded it to Panopto Recordings. 

“I think they were looking at what was happening in Texas and across the country where people were losing power,” Prestegaard said. “That might have influenced people’s decisions.” 

In the future, the university will continue to monitor inclement weather forecasts and act accordingly to each scenario, Siddiqi said. 

“They’re probably just trying to work out what works best,” Milliman said. “Especially given COVID as well.”

Featured image: UMD students and faculty got an unexpected snow day on Feb. 18 that was at least partially attributed to concerns over university employee childcare options. Essential personnel did report and roads and sidewalks were eventually cleared. Photo by Ilana Williams.