Man on the Street

01 31 2011_Emily McKenna

Winter Storm

Penn State students all across campus are bundling up and preparing to head to class as a massive winter storm is predicted to hit a large area of the country, including State College.

The Weather Channel predicts for Tuesday through Thursday that, “Periods of snow during the morning will transition to a wintry mix in the afternoon, some icing possible”.

Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told CNN, “A storm of this size and scope needs to be taken seriously”.

            The Daily Collegian reports that this winter the Office of Physical Plant workers said that State College has received 42 inches compared to the 50 inches of typical snow accumulation. This winter ranks average among previous winters but the harsh winds and low temperatures fool students like Dani Poole.

            “For some reason I feel like it snowed more this winter than last winter,” said Poole, 19-year-old sophomore Public Relations major at Penn State.

            State College has not received a large amount of snow at any one time, but has seen a consistent wintry mix.

            Penn State sophomore psychology major Kiera Craig said, “I think this winter has been one of the worst. It’s that kind of snow where it’s not bad enough to cancel but bad enough where no one wants to go outside”.

            Even a little bit of snow or ice can complicate the commute for faculty and students.

Brian Brunnet, 20-year-old junior Architectural Engineer major at Penn State recounts, “Last Friday I saw a girl wipe out on Burrowes. It was funny but it had to hurt”.

Many students are hoping that they will see classes cancelled in the wake of this predicted storm, but according to The Daily Collegian, Penn State has not seen a snow day since February 2007.

            “I don’t think people will freak out if classes aren’t cancelled because this is Penn State. People would be more shocked if it actually closed,” said Brunnet.

           

The pending storm has even pushed President Barrack Obama’s visit to Penn State to Thursday according to the Centre Daily Times.

            Sophomore forensic science major Kelsey Sakaida is skeptical about a cancellation but still plans to take a snow day.

“I’d say I would catch up on homework but really I would probably sleep all day,” she said.

Tuesday morning as Penn State comes alive for the first classes of the day everyone will be layered up and cautiously traveling around campus.

Connor Amice, 19 year-old sophomore, said “I just head to class in the morning and hope for the best that I don’t fall down and embarrass myself”.

Rosenblum Stories

The first Rosenblum piece, Unbroken Spirit, is heartwarming to say the least. The first couple of lines are shocking but also informative. If you didn't know what "Osteogenesis imperfecta" was before the opening lines, you immediately knew the technical definition. The rest of the piece is set up to show the reader what it means to live with this disease. He describes the day to day activities of this little girl and her family and as a reader I felt as if I had witnessed all of it myself. I think Rosenblum did a very good job of being the readers eyes. I also liked how there is a number for donation, this isn't just something to raise awareness for this family's troubles, it isn't just and entertaining heart-wrenching article, but it is a way to help this family financially.
In the second Rosenblum piece, even though the title tells you that it is about the Virginia Tech shooting, the opening lead immediately makes me want to keep reading. The anecdote of the mother saying she misses the sound of her sons foot-steps is sad and compelling. I think it would be hard for a anyone to read this and not think about what it would be like to lose a family member, or if your family lost you. I sort of teared up as the article went on, because in the wake of a tragedy there are always loved ones left behind with nothing but questions and memories to cling to. I really enjoyed reading both of these articles and I think that Rosenblum does a great job of not telling a someones story but showing their story.

The Weather

I am always excited at the beginning of Winter because it means the holiday season is coming. I get even more excited for the first snow fall, I just love the way campus looks dusted with pretty, fresh, white snow. After that first snow fall however, I say bring on Spring and Summer! I especially hate when the snow gets old and all muddy from melting and people walking on it. I hate walking to class in the freezing cold, slipping every 5 seconds. I think that there is a general consensus among students all over the country, from graduate students to kindergartners that we only truly enjoy the snow if there is a potential snow day involved.  I mean we don't really want to deal with the snow unless school is canceled. So it is pretty much guaranteed that at the first word of a snow storm, every student is silently hoping and crossing their fingers that they will get the coveted cancellation. Unfortunately here at Penn State you have a better chance of running into Joe Paterno walking to class than you do of getting a snow day. I understand why the campus rarely closes but in the wake of yesterdays ice storm, for the safety of everyone there should have at least been a delay.