During the record breaking snowstorms that left 36 inches of snow in their wake, the University performed well in keeping critical services up and running. However, Georgetown’s strong response during the storms was undermined by its bumbled handling of the aftermath.
But, above all, the Georgetown community owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who stayed in hotels near campus during the storms, in order to insure that vital services were not disrupted. Many Department of Public Safety officers, Leo’s, and facilities employees were separated from their families for days at a time.
As the first snow started falling last Friday night, facilities workers were out salting paths and making sure that the most important walkways and buildings were accessible. But after the snow stopped falling, the University was very slow to clear highly trafficked areas like the sidewalk in front of Walsh and the path through Henle, creating dangerous, icy conditions. It even took the intervention of a concerned group of students to clear ramps and make other necessary accommodations for disabled students.
The city-crippling storm put Georgetown and other local universities in a difficult position, forced to take time off, but not wanting students to miss critical material. The short notice given for liberal-leave classes on Monday was unfortunate, especially since many students had travel plans, but understandable given that the University has very few options for make-up days. Losing a Monday is much better than our neighbor George Washington’s solution, where make-up classes will be held on an upcoming Saturday in April. Going forward, the University must be sure to give students advance warning about any make-up days, so that they may adjust their plans in advance.
Georgetown largely weathered the storm of the century successfully and performed significantly better than the rest of the District. We should take a moment to thank those who were away from their families to provide for the community, and hold onto the happy memories of canceled class and fun in the record-breaking snow.
