UMBC opens late … but why?
By: Alex Pyles -

This morning UMBC opened at 10 a.m., presumably due to a dusting of snow overnight.

Anyone reading this in the administration may think that they can’t win, but the only thing I thought when I woke up was “why are we delayed?”

There’s an idea in sports that suggests when a referee or official makes an incorrect call — and realizes they did so after the fact — they later on create a phantom penalty or call for the other team. It’s a make-up call for the previous error.

Is that what UMBC’s delay was today? Was this a response to the occasions last week where it may have been prudent for the university to open late or close early?

I don’t see a problem with staying open when weather conditions create snow and ice. But, if the school is going to stay open, it must properly treat icy walkways.

In UMBC’s defense, walkways were clear and ice-free as I traversed campus this morning, and maybe that wouldn’t have been the case if not for the delay. But if today’s weather was enough to merit a closing, I’m not quite sure how last week’s conditions didn’t receive the same nod.

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Filed under: Opinion | Comments (6)
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Yeah, the same thought occurred to me. Last week, it was worth closing for but today’s was nothing. To make matters even more amusing, today is the start of that Global Warming teach-in thing and they delayed classes 2 hours due to less than an inch of snow.

Yeah - February 4, 2009, 12:02 pm

Also in UMBC’s defense, at least at around 6AM, Hilltop Circle and 195 were an absolute mess with cars sliding all over the place — though I think your analysis is correct.

Greg Fiumara - February 4, 2009, 1:57 pm

Hey…it gives the paper something to write about other than chick-fil-a. God forbid the paper actually write anything…you know…interesting….

diablo - February 5, 2009, 7:37 am

If anyone was awake at 6 am when the delay was enacted, they would clearly understand why the call was placed. At that time, the entire Baltimore metro area was sprinkled with accidents, some more serious than others. One, in Parkville, closed roads and knocked out power for almost 5 hours.
Therefore, at 6 am the safety of the students traveling to campus was the concern. As a result, UMBC gave the student population a consideration that nearly everyone fumed about not receiving last week. It is unfair to judge the administration on a double standard, they are trying to do what they feel is right or best for the school and it’s population.

… - February 5, 2009, 8:48 am

I agree with the above statement. UMBC made a good call due to the many commuters that have to travel far to get to the school and at 6am it was extremely bad in a lot of nearby areas. Stop attacking the school for having a delay. Yes they should have had one last week as well or even closed but this was a good call so stop complaining.

senior - February 5, 2009, 9:43 pm

I didn’t even know that there was a delayed opening today, I just went to my first class (10AM) and had to deal with the 16 degree weather with the 8 degree windchill… I’m glad that there was a delay though, since some people would have had problems getting here otherwise. Still, I agree that there should have been more action taken last week. Perhaps this delay was due to them being much more cautious since there had been so many problems last week?

Moo - February 6, 2009, 12:39 am