Too slick for SEMO: Campuses remain closed today

Southeast Missouri State University and its regional campuses are closing for the rest of the week.

The university's main and regional campuses were closed Wednesday. On Thursday, the university announced on its website it would be closed Thursday and today. Southeast classes at the Perryville Higher Education Center were canceled for Thursday and today, although Mineral Area College classes taught at the Perryville Center will be in session as usual, a university news release said.

This marks the first time since 2009 Southeast has been closed for an extended period.

Jeff Harmon, executive director of university communications and marketing, said the decision to shut down involves the president, executive staff, the Department of Public Safety and the grounds crew discussing the situation on a case-by-case basis.

"It's all about safety on campus," Harmon said. "Our grounds crew did a fantastic job getting the sidewalks clear, but the parking lots are very icy." He added this does not represent a shift in the way the university determines whether to close for weather.

"We have 3,000 students on campus," Harmon said, so "many thousands" commute in, plus faculty and staff.

Because the whole region has been affected by the wintry weather, Harmon said, "It's been difficult getting enough sand and salt. The weather hasn't cooperated, either. It's so cold that nothing's melting."

Angela Meyer, director of facilities management, said in an email to the Southeast Missourian her department's grounds, fleet and support service staff have been removing ice from sidewalks and parking lots since Tuesday.

"Sidewalks and stairs are in pretty good shape," Meyer wrote, adding the worst areas are those shaded by buildings or landscaping. "And we have made significant progress on parking lots" Thursday, she added.

Liz Coleman, director of communications and marketing for the Missouri Department of Higher Education, said there is no state law requiring college and university students to be in class for a certain number of hours or days every semester or year.

Steven Hoffman, professor in the department of history and coordinator of the historic preservation program at Southeast, said snow days definitely affect instruction.

Hoffman said some professors have lost a few days, others an entire week. This means professors have to try to squeeze in material or determine whether something can be cut. Hoffman's curriculum is very structured -- he knows what he's going to teach on any given day and tries to focus on one topic a day. With reduced time, Hoffman may have to teach two concepts in one day.

But, overall, Hoffman is philosophical.

"I think come May, all will be right with the world," Hoffman said. "We'll find a way to overcome it, but it is a challenge both for students and faculty."

The last time the main campus in Cape Girardeau was closed three consecutive days was because of an ice storm in 2009, News Bureau director Ann Hayes said in an email to the Southeast Missourian. The regional campuses were closed longer because of the storm's severe effects in the Bootheel, she wrote.

Before that, Hayes wrote, the campus was closed for four straight days when a blizzard hit in February 1979.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 1 University Plaza