Snow smothers IU campus

Mother Nature decided to give IU students another excuse to skip classes today. Clouds hurled inch upon inch of thick, heavy snow on Bloomington Sunday, making it difficult for students to maneuver across campus. \nSunday afternoon, few sidewalks or stairwells had been cleared.\nSnow plows, in an attempt to create better driving conditions, formed mountains of snow in the middle of intersections and the side of the roads, forcing students to walk on the edge of the street. In order to utilize the mounds of snow, students used food trays from Wright Food Court as snow toys and snowboards, flinging them against the banks.\nFreshman Kirsten Carrell, a music major, faced a difficult task Sunday afternoon when walking to music practice.\n"I've been reading the weather reports lately, so I kind of expected this," Carrell said. "I expect that there will be even more students not at class tomorrow. As for me, I plan on going."\nFellow freshmen Patrick McCarty, an education major, and Sam Yoder, a business major, also said they expect class sizes to greatly decrease tomorrow.\n"I think students are just gonna blow (class) off," Yoder said. "Unless they get out here and shovel and plow the sidewalks, I don't think anybody will go."\nDespite the snow's effect on other students, both Yoder and McCarty said it would not have a great effect on them.\n"I'm pretty much going to the classes that I need to hand in homework to," McCarty said. "Unless it's totally necessary, I don't think I'm going to go."\nAs for the duration of the snowfall, all three students said they did not expect the snow to continue. \n"I don't think it's really anything to worry about," Carrell said. "With the kind of weather we get here, something like this isn't too serious."\nAccording to www.weatherchannel.com, the temperature will reach up to 44 degrees later in the week, with a mix of rain and snow showers. \nBrenda Stuckey, lead operator in the IU emergency preparedness department, said she does not believe the snow will affect campus activity much at all.\n"We haven't been notified of anything yet," Stuckey said. "Usually the status of classes isn't determined until morning. However, students can check our Web site or call to find out more information."\nStuckey also said instructors sometimes cancel classes on their own, aside from the University's decision. IU President Adam Herbert has the final call for the overall decision, Stuckey said.\nSergeant Don Schmuhl of the IU Police Department said he had seen little effect from the snow yet, but expected it would become dangerous soon.\n"As of 3 p.m. (Sunday), no accidents had been reported," Schmuhl said. "I recommend staying off the roads because they are very hazardous. We are expecting some freezing rain starting Monday, and I think it will just be worse when that hits."\nSchmuhl also said IU is starting to make extra efforts to ensure the snow does not dampen campus activities. He said extra trucks were called in to Assembly Hall to clear some of the snow for the women's basketball game. As for the rest of campus, Schmuhl said it is a combined effort between the town of Bloomington and IU to ensure all streets are cleared efficiently.\n"The city is responsible for most of the streets around here, including the ones that run though campus," Schmuhl said. "IU has some trucks, but we rely mainly on the city for the snow to be cleared."\nStudents curious about the status of their classes can visit the Emergency Preparedness Web site at www.emergency.iub.edu or call 855-9227.