Classes pushed online while the snow removal process continues

By Maddi Achtyl

Students dug out their cars as the blizzard wind and snowfall had subsided then helped the College clear paths before the school reopened Thursday as the historic storm hit the area.  

Many stopped to help others push cars that got stuck and to assist with shoveling them out.

Around campus, facilities crews were hard at work plowing the main walkways and roads for students.

Lot 17, the main student parking lot where students were advised to move their cars, is still covered in snow, mostly untouched by the plows.

Photo Credit: Maddi Achtyl '26

“For a while, no one could get in or out of Lot 17 due to cars stuck at the entrance. We had to push several cars out ourselves,” said Seina Spadone ‘28.

Students spent hours uncovering their cars with the help of friends, and some even had parents that lived nearby help.

“Nothing about getting the cars out was easy. It took us hours to clear out just a few cars, and the snow was wet and heavy. There hadn’t been much plowing done, so it made it all a lot harder,” said Alexsa Caron ‘28.

Annie Renz '27 had help from a friend and family member to dig out her car (photo credit: Maddi Achtyl '26)

The college was offering to pay students minimum wage for help shoveling the walkways around campus. Junior Elijah Byrd spent eight hours both on Monday and Tuesday helping the College shovel around campus.

“I found out through one of my friends who saw that facilities were looking for volunteers,” said Byrd. He was one of about five students he saw working with facilities.

Overwhelmed by the snow on Monday, the line at the Roche Dining Commons stretched all the way to the registers, where students swipe in to enter. For many students in the line, it was their first time braving the snow and stepping outside.

Line of students for dinner in the commons stretched all the way to the entrance (photo credit: Maddi Achtyl '26)

Senior Lily Geist said, “I have just been eating whatever snacks I had in my dorm today because I didn’t want to leave my building to trek to get food from the commons.”

At the commons on Monday night, one station was open with a handful of options for students. They also had the salad bar and fruit stations open.

By the end of the day Tuesday, more walkways had been cleared, but lots of cars were still buried in snow in Lot 17.

By 2 p.m. on Wednesday, all lots that were closed for snow removal had been reopened to students and faculty.

Peter Ubertaccio, Vice President of Academic Affairs, sent out a message Tuesday morning regarding the blizzard and the makeup of Monday's classes. Originally, this semester includes 10 Mondays, 14 Tuesdays, 14 Wednesdays, 13 Thursdays, and 13 Fridays. May 2 and 3 are listed as reading days on the Spring 2026 academic calendar, but could be used as makeup days for weather-related cancellations if needed.

This is the second Monday students have lost due to snowstorms, so faculty are being told to utilize the off day if they need to.

“Faculty may choose to provide asynchronous assignments, schedule an additional online meeting, adjust course requirements, or use Reading Day on Saturday, May 2, as a make-up session,” Ubertaccio said in his email to students.

A message was sent out around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday announcing that the college would proceed with classes remotely on Wednesday.

“Employees are expected to work from home, and students are expected to attend their classes remotely. Only employees assigned to work in essential service areas will report to work in-person as directed,” the message stated.

The College returned to its normal operations on Thursday.