While students and faculty hoped to return to campus by the end of the week, the icy conditions remain a barrier. In an email sent to the UP community, Vice President of Financial Affairs Eric Barger announced campus will remain closed throughout Friday, Jan. 19 — marking the fourth day of campus closure due to inclement weather.
“It appears likely that the roads - and, more pointedly, the parking lots and sidewalks on campus - will not improve significantly before noon tomorrow,” Barger said.
Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center is expected to open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and the mail center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
The Activities Fair will be postponed to next Friday, Jan. 26, at 4:30 p.m., according to an email by Student Activities.
General Manager of Food Services Matt Talavera says the Bauccio Commons will remain open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mack’s Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. while the Pilot House will remain closed until conditions improve.
“Hopefully students are happy with what we are providing,” Talevera said. “We're doing our best and we appreciate their patience.”
The weather has caused disruption to most people’s schedules beyond university employees.
With dangerous road conditions, and Portland Public Schools (PPS) canceling school as well, faculty were instructed to communicate with students through Moodle in Barger’s email.
Students, on and off campus, are also facing difficulties. Junior Miriam Hamtil says she feels “stressed” as a student employee who depends on their university job to make ends meet.
“With campus being closed, I'm not working there [campus] this week,” she said. “It's definitely a struggle just because I support myself for rent and stuff.”
The university will “continue to monitor the situation over the weekend,” according to Barger.
Kimberly Cortez is the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Editor for The Beacon. They can be reached at cortez25@up.edu.
