Due to Inclement weather, Ferris decided to close down the campus on Tuesday, January 21.
A cold weather advisory has been put in place around Michigan, including Big Rapids where temperatures are supposed to reach under 20 degrees below zero in wind chill temperatures.
Temperatures throughout the week reach highs of just single digits, some universities around Michigan, including Ferris have opted for virtual-only classes on Tuesday, January 21 so students would not have to endure the weather.
The Grand Rapids National Weather Service has stated that the daytime temperatures this week will reach the lowest that they have in the last six years.
Students have expressed their feelings that the university should move classes to fully online during this extreme weather.
Sophomore nursing major, Victoria Pryor believes that students shouldn’t have to walk to class in this weather.
“I feel as though the students shouldn’t have to walk to class through the degrees levels if this week is supposed to be two degrees and below all the way to -6 degrees,” Pryor said. “Students could get sick especially those who already have compromised immune systems, these conditions could be dangerous to their health.”
Other universities within an hour of Big Rapids such as Grand Valley State and Aquinas have also moved to all virtual classes.
The Dean of Student Life, Lina Blair sent out an email to the student body with ways to combat the cold weather and explained the risk of hypothermia in the cold weather.
“People exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite and can succumb to hypothermia in a matter of minutes,” Blair said. “Areas most prone to frostbite are uncovered skin and the extremities, such as hands and feet.”
The list included things such as recommending wearing extra layers, wearing mittens, covering your mouth to limit the cold air from your lungs and staying dry and out of the wind.
Students like senior Pre-Med major Donna Williams think that the university isn’t thinking enough about the student body when it comes to these issues.
“I just think they can sometimes not take into consideration all of their students’ situations like commuters and anyone who doesn’t live directly on campus,” Williams said. “I don’t really know how they expect those people to go to class in this weather especially when they can’t even keep the heat on in their buildings”
The closure of both the Big Rapids and Grand Rapids campuses was announced by Ferris Monday night.
Although classes were cancelled, the majority of the essential buildings remained open for students to access.
Williams believes that Ferris cancelling their classes on Tuesday was the right decision.
“I think it was a great call, the temperatures and ice were way too bad to risk students coming onto campus,” Williams said.
The weather will still be below freezing in the coming weeks but will not go under zero degrees like they did on Monday and Tuesday.