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Spartans should expect to be in it for the long haul, according to a January 28 statement by a University spokesperson. Michigan State University’s doors remained open today despite a potential -10°F wind chill, up to six inches of snow, and winds as high as 21 mph.

Not even Beaumont Tower provides much respite from the gray conditions.

Spartans should expect to be in it for the long haul, according to a January 28 statement by a University spokesperson. Michigan State University’s doors remained open today despite a potential -10°F wind chill, up to six inches of snow, and winds as high as 21 mph.

Several Michigan schools closed for today, including Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University, Saginaw Valley State University, and Lansing Community College. Just down the street from the MSU, the State Capitol and all other state government offices are closed due to the snow, and Lansing Mayor Andy Schor has declared a state of emergency.

MSU is historically reluctant to suspend operations because of inclement winter weather. The reticent University has closed down due to snow only six times for a total of eight days, including two half-day closures. The most recent snow days were in 2014, when students had a day and a half off.

According to the statement, the University is “encouraging everyone to prepare for an extended wave of snowy, windy and extremely cold weather.” Factoring into the University’s decisions regarding winter weather closures are “temperature and wind chill forecasts, snowfall levels and road conditions.”

Stay both warm and safe, Spartans.

Read the University’s full statement below.

Michigan State University leadership has been carefully watching the weather and following the forecasts for this week. Student and campus personnel safety is paramount, and we have been sharing information on preparedness and cold weather safety. We are encouraging everyone to prepare for an extended wave of snowy, windy and extremely cold weather. If a decision is made to cancel classes, the msu.edu website will include a red banner on the home page. We will also communicate through other means, including the MSU alert system. At this time, classes are expected to continue through today, Monday, and tomorrow, Tuesday. Decisions for the following days will be announced as they are made, generally late on in the day before a closing. For other special events or activities, please check with the organizer before venturing out. Criteria for determining whether scheduled class cancellation is required or merited include temperature and wind chill forecasts, snowfall levels and road conditions. Should emergency conditions arise, employees (full-time, part-time and student) should follow their unit’s instructions on when or whether to report to work.

Update | 1/30/19: Following the cancellation of Wednesday’s and Thursday’s classes, there have now been seven cancellations for a total of nine days.

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Tyler Silvestri Tyler Silvestri is a third-year law student at MSU who received his bachelor’s degree in Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy from MSU’s James Madison College in 2017. He spent one year as the Assistant Director of ASMSU’s Student Rights Advocates and two years as a Resident Assistant. He is the Chairperson of the University Committee on Academic Governance. He can be reached at Tyler@onthebanksmsu.com. See author's posts