2008 Woodie Awards
Staff Editorial: Kirkwood snow removal leaves much to be desired
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Opinion
When the snow is pounding down, administrators are faced with a difficult decision that requires much consideration. While the college is supposed to impose delays or cancellations to help catch up with snow removal and make the campus safer for students, both delayed decisions and poor execution on the part of the administration are creating safety hazards for students and staff.
Whether dealing with removal of snow and ice or preparing for a big winter storm, Kirkwood Community College falls short. Before a major ice storm last semester, there was no salt to be found on the ground around campus just hours before the system hit. Dealing with snow and ice on the ground is bad enough when salt is put down in advance but only gets worse when nothing is done to help alleviate the issue as much as possible beforehand.
This lack of preparation, coupled with slow snow removal after every storm, has led to multiple injuries and nasty spills around the school. On the campus itself, one student slipped and fell on a completely ice-covered sidewalk heading to class, suffering a broken leg. Many students have taken less severe spills, as have multiple instructors.
"I remember thinking, how are people with disabilities going to get around in this," said Doug Van Oort, assistant professor in Education and Disability Services. "Next thing I know I'm on my back."
It is somewhat ironic that instead of attempting to prepare for snowfall or even attempt a prompt removal afterward, the college chooses in some instances to just block off sections of stairs and sidewalks with caution tape.
"My main concern is for those people with disabilities," Van Oort, who escaped relatively unharmed from his fall, said. "I see students in my classes on a regular basis with physical disabilities. It's got to be next to impossible for them to get around."
The parking lots on campus and the areas in front of the Kirkwood apartments fair even worse, as seemingly no effort is made at all to make those areas safe. A "wait until it melts" approach seems to be taken and it is needlessly endangering students for longer periods of time than a regular storm should.
"I have personally fallen in the parking lots and I've seen several other people fall there," said Jacob Starks, computer programming major.
The problem here is not one with a complex solution. If Kirkwood simply followed weather reports and salted regularly before every storm, then made a conscious effort to clean walkways before students and teachers arrive for morning classes, the campus would be safer for everyone during the winter months.
Whether dealing with removal of snow and ice or preparing for a big winter storm, Kirkwood Community College falls short. Before a major ice storm last semester, there was no salt to be found on the ground around campus just hours before the system hit. Dealing with snow and ice on the ground is bad enough when salt is put down in advance but only gets worse when nothing is done to help alleviate the issue as much as possible beforehand.
This lack of preparation, coupled with slow snow removal after every storm, has led to multiple injuries and nasty spills around the school. On the campus itself, one student slipped and fell on a completely ice-covered sidewalk heading to class, suffering a broken leg. Many students have taken less severe spills, as have multiple instructors.
"I remember thinking, how are people with disabilities going to get around in this," said Doug Van Oort, assistant professor in Education and Disability Services. "Next thing I know I'm on my back."
It is somewhat ironic that instead of attempting to prepare for snowfall or even attempt a prompt removal afterward, the college chooses in some instances to just block off sections of stairs and sidewalks with caution tape.
"My main concern is for those people with disabilities," Van Oort, who escaped relatively unharmed from his fall, said. "I see students in my classes on a regular basis with physical disabilities. It's got to be next to impossible for them to get around."
The parking lots on campus and the areas in front of the Kirkwood apartments fair even worse, as seemingly no effort is made at all to make those areas safe. A "wait until it melts" approach seems to be taken and it is needlessly endangering students for longer periods of time than a regular storm should.
"I have personally fallen in the parking lots and I've seen several other people fall there," said Jacob Starks, computer programming major.
The problem here is not one with a complex solution. If Kirkwood simply followed weather reports and salted regularly before every storm, then made a conscious effort to clean walkways before students and teachers arrive for morning classes, the campus would be safer for everyone during the winter months.
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