Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snow accumulations expected to range from 9-13 inches, winds gusting 20-30 mph, hazardous road conditions, blizzard-like atmosphere — that’s an equation that equals “snow day” for almost any KU student.
However, the storm some are dubbing “Blizzard of Oz” was not enough to shut down all of campus. While the majority of students, staff and faculty were bundled in blankets at 6 a.m., Kansas Union employees were getting ready for another day at work.
Photo Gallery
Snow Storm
Photos from the snow storm on Tuesday. Classes were canceled and Gov. Sam Brownback signed a State of Disaster Emergency Declaration early Tuesday morning.
“Our staff is considered essential function staff because we have to maintain services to the community and the campus, particularly dining services,” said David Mucci, director of the KU Memorial Unions.
In the emergency alert that the University sent out early Tuesday morning, only weather-essential emergency employees were required to report to work. Mucci said that under the Union weather policy, everybody is an essential employee and expected to come in if they can to help the Union operate. The essential employee policy extends to everyone, from Jaybowl to dining service employees.
While the Union opened as usual, the weather did affect closing hours. Mucci said venues such as Jaybowl and the KU Bookstore closed at noon while places like Pulse Coffee and dining services remained open until 1:30 p.m. The Hawk Shop convenience store was the latest venue to stay open, which shut down operations at 5 p.m.
Mucci said the main reason for staying open is to provide a place on campus for campus staff still on duty, such as facility and operations crews and other emergency employees.
“Traffic is really light but I’ve seen a number of staff coming through to take a break or warm up,” Mucci said.
On a day you would expect many employees to call in sick or simply not be able to make it, Mucci said about 90 percent of the employees made it in as expected. Rose Lynn Chaaban, lead cashier for the KU Bookstore, was one of those dedicated staff.
“My supervisor called and asked me and I said I would be happy to,” Chaaban said. “To be honest I love winter. I wait all year for this weather.”
Chaaban, who was called in to work at the Hawk Shop at 7 a.m., said the roads were pretty clear and getting to work really wasn’t that much of a problem. Almost in her 10th year with the KU Bookstore, Chaaban has been through a severe ice storm and a microburst while at the University, but said this is one of the bigger storms she’s seen. Regardless of the blizzard, that wasn’t stopping Chaaban from getting to work.
“I have never missed a day of work due to weather,” Chaaban said. “It doesn’t bother me to have to be here. I think it’s a good idea to have something open to people and available for people who have to work.”
— Edited by Sarah Gregory
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