UD student: Sub-zero too cold for class

A petition started by "anonymous anonymous" is using the state's decision to cancel classes for public schools due to the extreme cold as grounds to call for the University of Delaware to also cancel classes Friday.

The petition, which was directed to UD President Patrick Harker, Vice President Jeffrey Garland and the school's Department of Public Safety, reads:

Friday's weather is supposed to reach the lowest windchill that Delaware has seen since 1994. This puts the entire student body in danger of frostbite, as many students have over a twenty-minute walk to or across campus. Classes in the surrounding school districts have been cancelled due to temperature, to prevent students from standing at bus stops for dangerously prolonged periods of time - the length of which does not compare to the time that the University of Delaware's students spend outside. The student body would like the university to enable us to succeed academically without endangering ourselves in an attempt to make it to every class. When temperatures (including windchill) drop below 0° Fahrenheit, or are otherwise a liability, we demand that the university make decisions based on the safety of the students, rather than the convenience of the establishment.

As of 11:50 Thursday night, the petition had more than 2,600 supporters. However, among those supporters was Bob Saget who was worried about his "Full House" kids getting to class. The self-proclaimed Saget wrote, "My daughters, Stephanie, Michelle and DJ should not have to walk in this brutal weather!!!!"

Earlier Thursday, the university did post a weather alert telling students about the expected temperatures and that the university "will remain open on its normal schedule, but members of the community are reminded to take special precautions when outside."

The university offered these tips:

• If you are outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.

• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.

• Wear a hat. A hat will prevent loss of body heat.

• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

In the university's personnel policy, it is noted that students are encouraged to make decisions about their own safety and are not expected to take "unnecessary risks" to come to class. The policy, for both faculty and students, reads:

Faculty and students are not expected to take unnecessary risks to meet their teaching and learning obligations due to inclement weather. When classes have not been canceled, it is a matter of personal judgment whether traveling to campus is hazardous. Faculty should notify their departmental offices when weather precludes them from meeting their teaching obligations; similarly, students should notify their professors when inclement weather precludes them from class attendance. In such cases, students should be allowed to make up missed class time and, whenever possible, canceled classes should be rescheduled.

An emailer to The News Journal who said she was the mother of the student who started the petition said she was concerned for her daughter and all the students.

"I believe that [UD President Patrick Harker] is completely ridiculous in taking chances with the students lives and I have attached a petition that my daughter felt the need to make on change.org," the emailer wrote.

She explained her daughter posted the petition anonymously because she was afraid of blow-back from the university.

The emailer went on to write that she thinks Harker should be worried about the "students' health and safety as they have to walk in this weather to classes and wait to catch shuttles to take them to other areas of the campus or to their dorms/apartments."

None of the colleges or universities in the state had announced cancellation of classes as of 11:30 p.m. Thursday.