UPDATE: The University will close today at 1 p.m. according to an email sent by Provost Tom Greene, meaning that classes starting at 12:55 p.m. will not be in session. While the Franz Coffee Stand and The Anchor will close at that time, The Commons will remain open until 6:30 p.m., and the Pilot House and Mack's Market will be open until 8 p.m.
The Beauchamp Center will keep it's regular hours, according to a front desk representative, and the library will be open until 10 p.m.
The National Weather Service's ice storm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
Some community members made the choice not to make the trek to campus at all today due to snow and left over on the roads from last week.
"Driving is hazardous pretty much everywhere that is not cleared and, so far, I've only seen a couple of main streets cleared for my commute," said political science professor Anne Santiago, who chose to stay home Tuesday. "If ice hits today, I would have been stuck on campus and been unable to drive home to Southeast Portland, so it seemed prudent to just stay home and work, especially after hearing from my husband that he spun out of control on his commute and ended up on somebody's lawn."
A representative from Public Safety says the decision about whether campus will be open normal hours tomorrow will be made at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Community members can call Public Safety's inclement weather line at 503-943-7669 Wednesday morning for updates or check the UP website.
UPDATE: As of Tuesday at 8:40 a.m., the University is open, according to the UP website. Discretion is being encouraged in making travel decisions.
An ice storm warning for Portland was released Monday night by the National Weather Service. The release states that the storm warning is in effect for the Portland Metro Area from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday.
"Light freezing rain is expected to develop early Tuesday morning...likely affecting the morning commute. After a lull during the late morning and early afternoon...expect heavier precipitation to move in during the late afternoon and evening. This heavier precipitation will likely fall as freezing rain in the Eastern portions of the metro area," the advisory stated as of 8:36 p.m. Tuesday night.
A representative from UP's Department of Public Safety said the University is planning to make a decision about whether or not the school will be open Tuesday between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Information will then be available on the UP website.
The Beacon will be updating on this situation as it progresses.
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Malika Andrews, Rachel Rippetoe and Rachel Ramirez contributed reporting to this story.
