VCU to close, campus prepares for a snow storm, closes

UPDATE: VCU will close at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, and remain closed through Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Matt Leonard
Online Content editor

Richmond woke up Monday morning to the buzz of anticipation that normally precedes a snowstorm: the national weather service says Richmond can expect 6 to 10 inches of accumulation tonight.

The front page of The Richmond Times-Dispatch website is dominated by the news of the storm: “could be the biggest snowfall in five years,” one title warns.

The city of Richmond sent out a press release saying that alternate “snow emergency routes” will be in effect beginning at 5 p.m. Monday.

Governor Terry McAuliffe assured his constituents earlier today that the state is ready for the storm with 2,500 crew, additional contractors, 12,000 pieces of snow removal equipment and over 500,000 tons of salt.

“VDOT crews, equipment and resources are ready to go to treat and plow roads,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “Motorists should monitor weather reports and road conditions, and avoid or limit traveling when the storm occurs.”

Around midday Monday, it started to snow.

The fourth floor of Cabell library was just as quiet as it normally is, the line at the fist-floor Starbucks about ten deep, construction crews continue work outside and the Campus Connector keeps making its stops.

On social media students have begun speculation on VCU’s yet-to-be-announced decision to remain open or close classes tomorrow.

“Magic conch, are classes going to be cancelled tomorrow?” an anonymous user on the social media app Yik Yak posted. “[Emoji of conch shell]: no,” the post concludes.

VCU operations groups met at 2 p.m. to assess the weather situation. Before 2 p.m. snow had already begun to stick to the ground.

Leonard Roberson, a junior elementary education major, said he’s hopeful that VCU will decide to cancel classes on Tuesday.

“I hope I get out of class tomorrow,” Roberson said.

If classes aren’t cancelled then he said Starbucks, where he works as a barista, could experience an uptick in customers.

“People want something hot,” he said.