Post-'Snowpocalypse', University Plays Safe, Closes School Monday

Battered by snow, George Mason University is erring on the side of safety and will remain closed tomorrow, Feb. 8. Crews will continue clearing snow today and tomorrow.
(Photo taken via camera phone by C2M Executive Editor Kevin Loker)
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Among the thousands of tons of snow, sore backs and freezing temperatures rests one gem of happiness in the aftermath of ‘Snowpocalypse’: George Mason University will be closed on Monday, Feb. 8.

The decision came after a massive snowstorm left the region with up to 40 inches of snow, and Fairfax County the hardest hit area in Virginia, according to WTOP.

“The university is doing their best to keep their walkways, parking lots and passageways safe for everyone on campus,” said Press Secretary Daniel Walsch. The decision, which was made on Sunday afternoon, was due to uncertainty that Mason would be safe enough for people to come. Walsch noted that the university would prefer to err on the side of caution, rather than risk anyone’s safety, both on and off campus. 

According to a Mason supervisor overseeing snow removal, clean-up crews are first working on cleaning up Patriot Circle. From there they will move on to parking lots and then sidewalks. Crews are using snow blowers, trucks and shovels to get Mason ready and safe for classes again.

“I think it is the right decision [to close school] because the roads are really unsafe and with the amount of commuters Mason has, I can only assume the parking lots are a mess,” said Sarah El-Hage, a sophomore communication major who commutes to school. “I was more worried about the parking [lots] more than anything. The lots are so busy to begin with and I know the snow will only make it worse.”

“I think it was necessary that [Mason] closed, and if they hadn’t it would have been ridiculous,” said freshman film and video studies major Ginger Malbrough. “I have been outside [of my dorm] and I was pretty impressed with the clean up, however, nature did some real damage so it’s still really icy and dangerous.”

Others thought the decision would be a no-brainer. 

“I think it would have surprised me if [Mason] didn’t close,” said sophomore communication and religious studies major Noeli Fernandez.  “With every other school closing, I guess it was just a ‘follow the leader’ type thing, not to mention safety. The roads are still pretty bad from what I’ve heard.”