The city of Oswego is no stranger to snowfall, with Lake Ontario being the main culprit behind the copious amounts of lake effect snow that the port city routinely faces throughout the winter months. 

Observing an average water surface temperature of about 35 degrees Fahrenheit in February according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 7,300 square mile lake bordering SUNY Oswego generates both vast quantities of snow and powerful wind gusts when certain weather factors are well-synchronized. 

These physical manifestations, however, pose a very serious threat to general safety for students and staff alike, both on-foot and when commuting. With a notoriously frigid climate and taking into account wind chill factor (which is only exacerbated by the proximity of the campus to Lake Ontario) any forecast of snow falls under heavy scrutiny, with students and instructors anxiously awaiting an early morning email issued by the university notifying them of either virtual learning sessions, or a cancelation of classes altogether. 

While cancellations are immediate and an indisputable sign of inclement weather, virtual classes still carry an air of uncertainty as to whether or not students will have a learning session to attend, as the choice is ultimately at the discretion of the professor. 

Feb. 23 was characterized not necessarily by heavy snowfall, but rather dangerous ice development throughout Oswego and neighboring cities. Often overlooked on the roads, ice may increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents.

In an official declaration, Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale of the university stated “due to icy conditions, SUNY Oswego has declared that early morning classes will be taught remotely… at both the Oswego and Syracuse campuses.” While this announcement cleared any skepticism as to whether or not classes would resume via typical in-person procedure, it did not answer for all instructors as to whether classes would resume at all. The decision to host a virtual class meeting through Zoom or any other application would thus be weighed out by individual professors, and students would be given an answer depending on the potential benefits or drawbacks of continued teaching in an online environment.

Some professors are adamant in their choice to continue classes, finding the curriculum they must teach as limited on time or simply too complex to allow holes in their schedule to form. Others will cancel classes by keeping in mind the various situations some students may find themselves in, which may include a lack of a reliable internet connection. Others may find themselves in situations where in-person teaching is the optimal pathway for lecture, but the threat of missed class time clashes with the last-resort option of remote instruction.

Dr. Thomas Brown, a chemistry professor at SUNY Oswego, explained that “teaching in-person allows me to provide guidance and a more in-depth level of teaching than relying on handouts to be completed the next time we meet.” 

For many students, being able to ask questions in a real-time, face-to-face system is the best method of learning and retaining information that is vital to their academic career, especially with the looming dates of midterm examinations making their way ever so closer to the present day. Regardless of preference, professors are the ones who must decide whether or not classes will continue through whatever medium is given to them when they face a situation where their curriculum will not halt, even if in-person classes do.