Kate Delenick, Kim Williams
Movie marathons, shoveling out cars and a slight case of cabin fever led many of us towards a feeling of déjà vu? On Wednesday, February 10, students and residents across state lines bared witness to Round Two of what news anchors have called “Snowmaggedon.”
“This is the largest series of storms we have encountered in many years,” stated President Joan Develin Coley. “In some ways it is easier to call school in storms like this than in storms where it is less clear whether people can get around. Heck, this is a no-brainer. One of the best ideas I heard was to buy a bunch of snow shovels and let students help our grounds crew. They are so over worked right now they are ready to drop.”
“The biggest story of the week is actually the work that continued uninterrrupted,” stated the college’s Vice President, Ethan Seidel. ” The continuous snow removal efforts by the grounds and building maintenance staffs, and the efforts of the dining service staff and the housekeepers deserve our wholehearted thanks. Many of these individuals stayed on campus overnight, so that they could continue to insure that students could get around campus and that the dining hall would remain open.
“As for me, most of the “time off” has been spent clearing the sidewalks and driveway,” Seidel added. “But there has been some time freed to catch up on work related reading.”
Tuesday, Feb. 9: 7:00 p.m. – The International House survives via a strict regiment of drinking and Super Mario Brothers Wii. Walking in front of the television during game-play results in banishment into the frozen tundra.— Max Robinson
Tuesday 11:30 p.m. – No school tomorrow, so once again having a massive sleepover in our apartment. Watching Seven, and then Rounders – at least five people are strewn across the queen air mattress that we keep in our huge downstairs closet. I predict tomorrow will be much of the same – movie marathon and half-hearted attempts to catch up on all the homework we’ve pretended does not exist during this little vacation. I have about 150 pages of reading to do if we actually have class on Thursday. –Juliann Guiffre
After receiving the notification to move my car from the Harrison lot, I set out on a treacherous effort to dig my car out of the snow. However, what I failed to anticipate was the extent to which the snow had risen. Despite my efforts, the mountain which covered not only my car but the truck to my car’s left and the station wagon to its right, and with no one else in the lot to help me,I returned to the dorm somewhat defeated.
By the 4:00 o’clock hour, I decided to return for a second round. This time I found other students and plowers attempting the same. More surprising was the truck next to my car was now gone, giving me ample space to dump the excess snow.
By this time a classmate arrived and offered help. Along with two students from North Village and a Physical plant employee named “Bobby” they pushed my car as I stepped on the gas. Finally my car was released from the icy trap, and I was free to evacuate to harrison and to my homework.-Karla Holland
The first night of snowfall, Norman Rockwell would have had plenty of fodder in our neighborhood (which is two blocks from the McDaniel campus). Families played card games, gathered at neighbors’ homes for savory soups and good wine.Today the dogs don’t venture off the porch to pee. Fence lines have disappeared, and the mightiest of snowblowers have cried “Uncle.” – Lisa Breslin
Updates from Home: 2:45 Hanover, PA.; still snowed in at my house. I’m so glad I got out to Wal Mart yesterday even if it was just to get out of this house. I went outside for a bit to check out the snow outside and got buried in snow up to my hips and had snow beating me in the face from the wind. Coverage from Home: 5:30 p.m. –Been shoveling out the cars for the past hour only to have them covered up again by drift. About to enter what seems to be my 40th hour of a movie marathon. -Lauren Miller
3:39 p.m. McDaniel House- I receive the email that school will be canceled February 11th and 12th (Thursday and Friday). We cheer and send out texts. We are starting to forget what day it even is. -Kim Williams
With classes cancelled for Thursday and Friday many students were elated with the news, but with a 100 days party scheduled Thursday night for the graduating seniors many students found the news bittersweet.
“I only have one class scheduled so it’s exciting but I was also looking forward to the 100 days party,” senior Meg Ryan said. “Maybe we can look forward to a 90 days to graduation party?”
“A major thing is going to be worrying about where to keep people who don’t normally stay like Sodexo workers,” said Ken Coffey, a dispatcher for Campus Safety. “There’s some rooms reserved. One of the biggest things is escorting people. It’s white out conditions. Driving conditions are also bad. Thank god we haven’t had any power outages. Things have been going the best they can so far.”
“This week we are trying to award scholarships to the students who applied under our January 15 Regular Decision deadline,” said Director of Admissions Gina King. “We would be crippled without email and laptops, but with those things and our phones we’ve been able to accomplish a lot. Mind you, it’s been much more frustrating and I think folks have some major cramping in their necks and hands!”
“We have been utilizing our information database which we all have on our laptops, exporting information in excel and sharing it via email and conference calling to have open discussion,” King added. “While it may be taking us a bit longer than usual, the show must go on! As soon as we can physically get into our office we will be running the scholarship letters, and as soon as the college opens they will be put in the mail!Wish us luck.”
