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”.