Students walk to class as a snow truck passes as it snows on Wednesday afternoon. Chanila German | The Montclarion
The gust of wind whistles throughout Montclair State University as small white specks of snow cover the campus entirely. The snow starts to fall at a faster pace as inches of snow start to collect.
Another storm was brewing and slowly it made landfall as many students and professors rushed to their classes either through commuting or walking from their dorms.
Vice President for Facility Services Shawn Connolly also prepares for the next day just like students and professors.
“Every storm is different and we need to monitor the time the storm starts, how intense it will be and the duration,” Connolly said. “Even before the storm begins, we prepare by spraying brine pretreatment on walkways and roadways.”
Montclair State has 20 employees ready to clean up snow. Their equipment ranges from six to eight plows, six smaller plows for sidewalks, three large rotary brooms, two backhoes and 15 snow blowers with lots of shovels.
A majority of the large plows sit in Lot 60. Sunah Choudhry | The Montclarion Photo credit: Sunah Choudhry
Sophomore communication and media arts major Corrine Appel expressed her frustration as she also prepares for the winter weather.
“The last time it snowed, my car would not stop near the Village at a red light,” Appel said. “It was horrifying, and I did not want to go to class after that.”
Appel compares Montclair State’s situation to the school her mother works at, explaining how they receive safe, delayed openings. She finds it serious how students often take a risk in order to come to class.
Students walk through the snow on the way to their classes. Photo courtesy Sunah Choudhry
“I have to hike through icy conditions for an 8:30 a.m. class,” Appel said.
On the other hand, communications professor Scott Hebert also commutes to Montclair State.
“I get to campus by 7:30 a.m. on Monday and Thursday,” Hebert said. “I have found that the roads have been plowed and passable in the five years I have been teaching here.”
Meanwhile, dance major and Montclair State resident Tashae Udo expressed her mixed feelings about snow on campus.
“I like it because when it first starts snowing, it is like steady and pleasing,” Tashae said. “But when it comes to walking in the snow and walking to class, it is difficult.”
Students walk past a truck plowing and spewing salt on the sidewalks of Montclair State. Sunah Choudhry | The Montclarion
However, not everyone is pleased with these arrangements, like commuter journalism major Malinda DiPasquale. She explained her anger toward Montclair State.
“I was fine because I came here before it started,” DiPasquale said. “But, normally I live in a hilly area so going up and down the hills, it would get slippery.”
DiPasquale has braced the snow many times to attend classes but finds the situation less than satisfactory.
“As a commuter school, they should take a commuter into consideration,” DiPasquale said. “I do not really think they do that a lot.”
