2008 Woodie Awards
WSU a Winter Slip and Slide
Brittany Moore
Issue date: 1/4/06 Section: Opinions
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Ohio winters are probably the least favorite season out of the four for everyone who lives in the Buckeye state. Ask anyone who lives here; Ohio winters equal mass amounts of snow, sleet, rain, and wind (not to mention a never-ending dread when faced with heading outside). This causes many problems in and around Wright State University.
One problem, in particular, is the snow removal around the campus. It needs to be done in a more effective and timely manner around stairways, entryways into the buildings, and the pathways around our campus.
I have experienced the deceitfulness that the stairs and sidewalks hold after the freshly fallen snow/sleet/rain is compacted down into a sheet of ice below (usually by nine thirty in the morning). Knock on wood, I have not been one of the unfortunate to fall down, but I do fear that if the problem is not solved soon, I and many others' time will come when we fall too!
After doing some research, I found that determining when and where snow should be cleaned up is the WSU Police Department's responsibility to determine when and if our walkways and stairs need clearing or salting. Why is it up to them to decide when the snow needs removed if it is actually the Physical Plant that gets out there and does the actual removal?
By the time the Physical Plant gets the call, gathers its workers, gets equipment ready, and gets out there, the school day has already started and is in full swing leaving many opportunities for us students and faculty to, well, wipe out. When asked if the cost of removal was a problem, Mike Coyle, manager of Physical Plant, responded, "Budget really isn't a factor..."
I propose that if budget is not a factor, then lets start paying somebody a little overtime to be in by five in the morning and actually get the ball rolling before students and staff start showing up for the day. In addition, let's relieve the WSU Police Dept. of its responsibility of having to call up the Physical Plant on those snowy, snowy days.
They have better things to be doing, I'm sure. Physical Plant is able and efficient enough to determine what needs to be cleared and when. After all, they do work on and all around campus everyday!
This issue affects everyone, not just commuters. Students living in the dorms have to use the walkways, too. Please, take action this winter (whether it be another letter to the editor, or an e-mail to Mr. Coyle) and help save a fellow teacher or student from a sprained ankle or worse!
One problem, in particular, is the snow removal around the campus. It needs to be done in a more effective and timely manner around stairways, entryways into the buildings, and the pathways around our campus.
I have experienced the deceitfulness that the stairs and sidewalks hold after the freshly fallen snow/sleet/rain is compacted down into a sheet of ice below (usually by nine thirty in the morning). Knock on wood, I have not been one of the unfortunate to fall down, but I do fear that if the problem is not solved soon, I and many others' time will come when we fall too!
After doing some research, I found that determining when and where snow should be cleaned up is the WSU Police Department's responsibility to determine when and if our walkways and stairs need clearing or salting. Why is it up to them to decide when the snow needs removed if it is actually the Physical Plant that gets out there and does the actual removal?
By the time the Physical Plant gets the call, gathers its workers, gets equipment ready, and gets out there, the school day has already started and is in full swing leaving many opportunities for us students and faculty to, well, wipe out. When asked if the cost of removal was a problem, Mike Coyle, manager of Physical Plant, responded, "Budget really isn't a factor..."
I propose that if budget is not a factor, then lets start paying somebody a little overtime to be in by five in the morning and actually get the ball rolling before students and staff start showing up for the day. In addition, let's relieve the WSU Police Dept. of its responsibility of having to call up the Physical Plant on those snowy, snowy days.
They have better things to be doing, I'm sure. Physical Plant is able and efficient enough to determine what needs to be cleared and when. After all, they do work on and all around campus everyday!
This issue affects everyone, not just commuters. Students living in the dorms have to use the walkways, too. Please, take action this winter (whether it be another letter to the editor, or an e-mail to Mr. Coyle) and help save a fellow teacher or student from a sprained ankle or worse!
