The Griffon News

Something strange has been occurring over this winter here at Missouri Western State University. A day happens when the windswept snow blankets the streets and communication from point A to point B becomes a civic nightmare. Bravo to the administration for calling it a “snow day” last Wednesday. Twice in the last three months the university has been called to make the decision to cancel classes due to extreme weather conditions. That is on top of a record of not cancelling under any normal circumstances. Students used to make jokes that Missouri Western wouldn’t cancel school in a hurricane. Students can now be safe in knowing that the powers that be have far more wisdom than that.
It should be considered that Missouri Western, like many universities these days, is largely composed of non-traditional students who have children that might be staying at home because of St. Joseph Public Schools canceling  their classes. Missouri Western should also consider many of the local students who live outside of city roads in surrounding rural communities, who simply do not have access to drivable roads. Last Wednesday these things were all considered and a good call was made in the decision to cancel classes.

It is understandable that no business wants to close unnecessarily for any amount of time. It is heartening to know that Missouri Western  is more than just a business, it is a university that keeps its staff and students well being close to the heart of the matter. It is not a money driven machine that sees only the numbers that drive it’s bottom line. Missouri Western has shown that it sees the risks that its people would have taken by venturing out on to the roads that cold breezy morning. Missouri Western has shown a soft side of it’s soul. It was a really good call.

There should also be a tip of the hat to Missouri Western’s maintenance staff. Despite the mounting snow and blizzard like conditions, staff and students were able to return to campus in just one day to parking lots that had been fully plowed  and sidewalks cleared of any trace of a slippery hazard. It is nice to know that we have such a capable and hard working maintenance staff. It was another plus to see that they had also managed to even pay attention to the small details, like carving a walk way through the mountains of plowed up snow that separate the two sides of the parking lots.

We at the Griffon News Editorial staff want to give a round of applause to all involved with the decisions that declare a snow day and to all those who still came to work to maintain the roads and walkways on which we amble about on our ways to and fro. Good decisions were made and good work was done. It really does seem like Missouri Western really is just getting better and better.