GSU classes cancelled for four days due to inclement weather. Picture by Maria Villocrota.
With the ice and snow melting, Grambling State University will reopen on Friday at 7:30 a.m., according to GSU Interim President Cynthia Warrick. After four days of cancelled classes, students will not have to make-up any days.
According to Dr. Janet Guyden, the provost and vice president of academic and student affairs, the present academic calendar has a buffer built-in so that even with the missed days, classes will met the necessary contact hours for course credit.
“Students are responsible for the content on the syllabus and hopefully made good use of the time to read ahead and prepare for any missed assignments and assessments during the weather break,” said Warrick.
Wednesday’s snowfall was approximately 2-to-3 inches, according to Kip Franklin, the director of Lincoln Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. He said in the event of inclement weather there are several factors to monitor. The roads must be passable, bridges must be checked for ice and sidewalks must be safe for walking.
Monday and Tuesday were what Franklin called an “ice-event” with freezing rain and sleet. He said due to the weather there were motor vehicle accidents and power outages.
While some students took Warrick’s advice, others took a break and hit the hill at Robinson Stadium for sledding.
On social media, students participated in #GramfamSnowDayFollowTrain. The hashtag allows others to view pictures of GSU students having fun in the snow. Students made snow angels and snow mans and had snow ball fights.
“We enjoyed it,” said Miss GSU Ginia Smith. “Although we were out of school because of the weather last year, we didn’t get snow like this.”
Smith said the best part of the snow was creating a “mini-me snow woman” accessorized in her crown and slash.
“It was great to see the inner child come out of everyone, on and off campus,” she said.
“These snow days have been everything, I have never seen this much snow,” said Roderick Harris, a sophomore from Bossier City.
“I love the snow,” said Pariz Richards, a junior from New Orleans. “I’m not in love with the with the piles of homework I’m about to get from my professors.”
Louisiana Tech is scheduled to reopen today at noon, if everything goes as planned said Franklin.