Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor
Faculty from at least ten different VCU schools and departments cancelled class or moved to virtual learning on Thursday as the university reopened after a major snowstorm covered Richmond’s streets in ice.
VCU encouraged students to travel back to their hometowns ahead of the weekend snowstorm, and then asked them to return to campus on Thursday with caution.
“Parking lots, sidewalks and public spaces are largely clear of snow and ice on campus, but there may be varying travel conditions and potential icing due to freeze-thaw cycles on your commute,” the university stated on Wednesday.
Many side streets and walkways in neighborhoods around Richmond are still covered in ice. Clearing it has been mostly a losing battle, according to The Richmonder. City officials said their plows are largely ineffective against the giant sheets of ice.
Salt stops working to melt ice when temperatures drop below 20 degrees, as they have each night throughout the week. Virginia is also on winter storm watch again this weekend.
“The university prioritizes safety and made the decision to open in-person based on current and expected conditions, and after consulting with many subject matter experts,” stated VCU Police spokesperson Jake Burns. “We understand individual circumstances are different and always encourage students who may have difficulty getting to campus to contact their faculty members.”
VCU Police received no weather-related calls for service Thursday morning — beyond one person whose vehicle was plowed in, according to Burns. They did not receive any reports of injury, accidents on property or assisting ambulances on the Monroe Park campus by the mid-afternoon.
VCU Student Health Services did not treat or receive calls from students with injuries, weather-related or otherwise.
The dean of at least one school — business — made the call to go fully virtual on Thursday and Friday. The chair of gender, sexuality and women’s studies let faculty know they may continue teaching online Thursday, and estimated most of them did so.
Some faculty gave their students the option to join in-person class through Zoom or complete alternative course material asynchronously.
The Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research asked faculty to be lenient with absences, according to chair Rebecca Durfee.
Assistant professor of English John Brinegar had some students tell him Thursday they could not make it to campus because of road conditions. Brinegar himself lives outside of the city.
“I will hold class in person if I can get out of my neighborhood, which may be difficult,” Brinegar stated.
English professor Kathleen Graber planned in-advance to meet remotely with students, regardless of the severity of conditions.
“Making a preemptive decision allowed students to plan ahead with adequate foreknowledge, and, as it turns out, this accommodation will keep all of us safely off the roads today,” Graber stated.
Liz Canfield, an associate professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies, decided to move her Friday class online after hearing one of her students was seriously injured while walking to class.
“Nothing is worth getting hurt over,” Canfield said.
Alicia Brown, a second-year photography and film student, lives outside of the city at least 20 minutes from campus. She did not commute to campus Thursday because of the road and walkway conditions, as well as because her car was stuck frozen.
“We could’ve done another virtual day for sure,” Brown said.
Students who do need medical attention can information through University Student Health Services.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed a quote by English professor Kathleen Graber. The story has been updated with correct attribution.