This past semester, there have been a large amount of snow storms. This is nothing special for Oswego, but the problem lies in the college’s response to the very real hazard that are these snow storms. Oswego State has had to cancel classes a few times this semester and each time they did, the timing was off. 

This past Thursday, classes were canceled after multiple people had already gone to class. Not only did people who live on campus have to traverse in whiteout conditions, but they also waited long enough that people who commute to school, who make up 43% of Oswego State students, according to the college website, may have already made their way to campus. With about 7,000 people going to the school, 43% percent is 3,100 people. Not all 3,100 of them had to drive to campus, but between those who did and the professors, canceling classes after people had already began to commute could have caused some serious accidents. Some professors have strict attendance policies, which makes skipping class due to inclimate weather conditions something that many students fear.

Afternoon classes were canceled later that day. However, what made many students surprised was that the campus decided to cancel classes for Friday as well. The forecast implied that the snow would clear up, but Oswego State decided to take precautions and cancel classes just in case. This, in theory, seems like a good thing. The issue is that if they cancel classes now, when they do not need to, they will be more reluctant to cancel classes in the future, when we actually need it. Of course, the long weekend was helpful to catch up on assignments, but a single day off would have sufficed.

Canceling class is a fine line. On the one hand, lives could be put at risk if they force students to drive or walk to class in horrible weather. On the other hand, if too many classes are canceled, then students are paying to miss class because of the snow. Senselessly canceling classes while the weather might not be that bad is equally problematic. 

The solution to this problem is a simple one. Classes should be canceled in the early morning the day of, before any classes start. No student who looks out their window and sees a blizzard decides not to check their phones, hoping a class is canceled. Cutting it close to class time is unacceptable when taking into account commuters. There is a healthy time to cancel classes and which days to cancel them. Oswego State needs to find that balance while keeping the safety and education of their students in mind. 

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