Campus adjusts to icy weather

Students slowly trudge down sidewalks, barely lifting their feet off the ground for fear of slipping. They hang their heads low to protect their faces from the wind.\nThe University is doing its best to keep the streets and sidewalks safe to drive and walk on during the winter season, said IU Physical Plant Assistant Manager Mike Schrader.\nTuesday's skies brought sleet and cold rain on the campus, forcing students to bring out umbrellas and step through slush and ice to make it to their classes. As a result of the inclement conditions, transportation was a challenge for many.\nSophomore Nicole Steriovski said automobile drivers were being cautious as a result of the weather.\n"The buses seem to have slowed down," she said. "They are not as crazy as they usually are."\nSteriovski said the sidewalks were slushy, making her not want to go to class.\nSchrader said there is no budget allocated just for snow removal. All the money needed comes from the general landscaping fund, he said.\nTo get ready for winter, initial planning and prepping takes place when snow is the last thing on most people's minds.\nSchrader said they start preparing for winter in August, ordering 300 tons of icing salt. In early November, they make sure they have enough shovels and snow blowers. They have about 15 small tractors with broom attachments used to sweep the streets. They are the same ones used to mow -- workers just take off the mowing attachment and replace it with a broom.\nSchrader said the physical plant needs extra assistance during severe winter weather. To help during storms, Schrader said people from other departments of the physical plant help the cause.\n"We try to swell numbers to battle the storm," Schrader said. "The janitorial department helps us a lot. They save our life."\nNot only are snow and sleet a problem, but temperature can also be an enemy.\n"The worst scenario is when it starts out warm, rains and then gets cold," he said.\nSchrader said the physical plant takes environmental concerns into consideration while salting the sidewalks.\n"We do not use sand in the mixture because it creates sediment," Schrader said. "Instead, we go with straight salt because it is not as environmentally hazardous."\nDue to the amount of ice and snow, some students have found that it is difficult to get to class.\nFreshman Kathleen Gifford said her 9:30 a.m. class was canceled because of the weather.\n"My friends said that they saw people tripping and falling," she said.\nFreshman Jacob Bryant said the sidewalks have been slippery. He said he saw some people sliding down staircases across campus.\n"I think the campus could be doing better -- there's still a lot of slush and ice," Bryant said.