Despite the blizzard outside that caused her to cancel classes, Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora said her schedule in the office on Tuesday proceeded normally.
All her meetings continued as planned except a lunch scheduled with freshmen students who canceled on her, she said.
"It surprised me because they are here and I'm here," Gora said Tuesday. "I was willing to walk over to Scotty's [Brewhouse]."
The decision to cancel classes comes from the recommendation of Thomas Kinghorn, vice president of Business Affairs, because he receives all the information on the conditions of the roads, Gora said.
"Although we believe that the roads were passable [Tuesday] morning, we knew that the snow was going to keep up all day long, and that it was projected that there would be 10 inches," she said.
It is especially hard for commuting students and faculty members to come when the weather is so horrible, she said.
University Communications Director Tony Proudfoot said in order to cancel classes again today the weather would have to be similar to what it was Tuesday.
"The biggest factor [Tuesday] was not being able to get the snow cleared," he said, "particularly the on-campus driveways and sidewalks and parking lots. So it's really a case-by-case analysis."
Gora said the storm was supposed to end Tuesday night, and if it did, she did not foresee classes being canceled today.
University offices remained open Tuesday, despite classes being canceled. The university tries to maintain service for students if possible, Proudfoot said.
"The university is a complex operation, and even when we don't have classes we have students that are living on campus and facilities that need to be maintained and taken care of," he said. "Closing down the university is not as simple a task as it sounds."
Faculty and staff who did not report to work Tuesday will count it as one of their days of paid time off, Proudfoot said.
"Generally, first and foremost, we want all of our students and faculty and staff to be safe and make good decisions about their safety," he said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
