Some students outraged, but UNL stands by decision keep class in session during cold snap
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Students at Lincoln Public Schools and in other districts have been staying warm this week while classes have been canceled.
But it’s not the same story for University of Nebraska-Lincoln students.
Many students wrote in to Channel 8 concerned for their safety and upset that the university has not canceled class.
“Me and my roommate woke up, and since Monday, we’ve been checking our emails every morning trying to refresh it, being like, ‘Please be a snow day,’ but obviously we’re still in class,” said Cora Killplack, a freshman at UNL.
The wind chill fell to minus 19 on Wednesday morning, and the Storm Alert Team is forecasting wind chills as low as 40 below on Thursday morning.
While some students braved the cold, others took to social media to voice their concerns.
Many called on the university to prioritize students’ safety and well-being.
“I think that choosing to keep classes in person wasn’t entirely safe for everybody,” said Skyler Grunder, a senior.
SEE ALSO: Lincoln snow removal company puts in long hours plowing residential areas
UNL announced late Wednesday night that its campuses would be opening at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Students said how well they can bear the cold all depends on where they’re from.
“I know there is a lot of out-of-state students, people from warmer states who aren’t really aware of what exactly they need to do to keep warm,” Grunder said. “There are some students who can’t afford to get the equipment to keep warm.”
But people who are used to the cold said they can handle it.
“I live right off campus in an apartment; my longest walk to class is about 20 minutes,” Grunder said. “I’m doing OK. I lived in Nebraska pretty much all my life; I have the right equipment for this.”
SEE ALSO: ‘Prepare now’: Lincoln hardware store says to buy the right ice melt as subzero temps loom
Despite the concerns of students, the university stood by its decision.
UNL said in a statement, “University policy is to continue to function and to hold regularly scheduled classes whenever possible.”
But students hope the university will reconsider the next time temperatures drop this low.
Senior Mallorie Thompson said she understands university officials cannot do anything about the weather, but professors can get prepared by sending out warnings ahead of time.
“If we know that we’re probably going to move on Zoom, being told a day or two ahead of time would be great for me, just knowing what the plan is,” she said.
