Feature photo by Jason Aparicio
By Jason Aparicio
The second major snowfall of the year swept across multiple states, leaving many people stuck at home with no way to leave their houses safely — including students at William Peace University, who were affected by the inability to attend classes.
In Raleigh and the surrounding areas, students and residents woke up to snow-covered streets and unsafe driving conditions. University officials moved classes online or held them asynchronously or online to reduce the stress and prioritize safety.
Snow covers roads, homes and cars in Raleigh after a winter storm moved through the area, creating hazardous driving conditions and forcing many residents to stay off the roads.
Students who lived on campus also placed themselves in danger of hurting themselves in the hazardous weather.
Amaya Vick, a first-year student with a double major in writing and interdisciplinary arts, said the change in routine hurt her academically.
“I had to do my classwork online, and it’s harder to learn when you’re at home,” said Vick. “My break in routine has impacted me in being prepared.”
Birdie Wells, a junior and a psychology major, found it difficult to balance caring for their family and readjusting to school after missing days due to weather conditions.
“The last two weeks, it’s honestly been pretty hard,” said Wells. “I’ve been taking care of my grandma for the last week and a half, and it’s also been really hard getting back into school right after winter break and having these tiny breaks due to the snow.”
Peace struggled to maintain their usual routines. Classes were disrupted, meetings postponed, and campus events were put on pause.
Professors were quick to give students updates on moving coursework online, and no changes to online classes were made. Administrative offices were open between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with staff working remotely.
Essential personnel, which includes Public Safety officers, Residential Life area coordinators, Dining Hall (Sodexo) staff, and Building & Grounds workers, were on site to support operational needs.
The Belk Dining Hall opened for residential students from 10:30 a.m. to the times of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. each day. During this time, Peace Cafe and Night Bites were closed. The Finch Library remained open between the times of 3 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 and opened earlier the following day between the times of 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Students at Peace will receive a notification about operations for Tuesday, Feb. 3, by noon on Monday, Feb. 2, via Pacer Alert, email, the Peace website, and Peace’s social media accounts.
While unexpected weather begins to disrupt routines and add more responsibilities to students, it highlights the resilience of the Peace community. From the facility at Peace adjusting quickly to essential staff remaining on campus, the university adapted to ensure the safety and support for the students.
Now that the snow has melted away, students and faculty can safely go to school without the fear of not being able to return.