While last week’s powerful winter storm headed out to sea, Fairfield students walked timidly on the slush and ice, careful not to lose their precarious balance.
Many paths were still without sand, and because they were not shoveled to the pavement level, they remained slippery late into Monday.
Some students sustained injuries from the condition of walkways and there were some accidents on the roads on campus.
The student health center reported only a few of ice and snow related injuries. Many students, however, may not have gone to the health center for treatment of their injuries.
Jenn Cole ’06 said she slipped Friday evening coming back from the Levee after watching the band Seeking Homer perform.
“It was dark and the sidewalks were not cleared at all,” said Cole. “It was hard to tell where there was ice.”
Cole was not able to make it to the health center due to the strong winds and heavy snowfall the next day, but says her shoulder is still sore from her fall.
One difficulty with this most recent storm was the quantity of snow that fell in the area.
“You have to appreciate there was such a heavy abundance of snowfall,” said Stan Kisiel, manager of maintenance operations on campus. “We do the best we can.”
Preparations for snow removal begin well before snow starts to fall, according to Kisiel. The department has 12 people working in snow removal throughout campus.
Prior to a storm, all snow removal vehicles are lined up and tested to be sure they are in good working order.
This includes both plows and sanders. Sand and “ice melt” are also ordered ahead of time.
Kisiel said maintenance begins to work “as soon as [the snow] starts coming down.”
The first priority is to make all building entranceways accessible. The areas around the doors to dorm and academic buildings are cleared so students and faculty are able to enter and exit.
Next, roads and sidewalks are cleared.
“We open roads so we get people on and off of campus,” said Kisiel.
There were also motor vehicle accidents reported.
Security received five reports of traffic accidents between 12 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m., according to Mike Lauzon, assistant director of security.
Maintenance operations uses salt and sand for the roads, and “ice melt” for the sidewalks. In spite of this, many walkways were icy throughout Tuesday’s class hours. It was not uncommon to see students slipping and struggling to keep their balance on many campus paths.
“The stairs by the Loyola door that faces Campion have been icy,” said Anthony Del Aversano ’06.
Del Aversano was fortunate to notice the ice and not be caught off guard.
“I was walking out of Campion and there was a patch of ice,” said Rebecca Valencia ’06. “I slipped and landed on my ankle.”
Valencia had to miss class to go to the health center for treatment of her swollen ankle.
In spite of Kisiel’s statement that door entrances are cleared first, many students were dissatisfied with the quality of snow and ice removal in these areas.
“They should at least clear the snow in front of the dorms,” said Elcid Abkarian ’07. “It is unsafe.”
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