Dangerous delay
Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: Letters to Editor
Dear Editor,
The announcement of ETSU's closure on Feb. 4 was in some ways counterproductive. Because of the overcrowded parking situation on campus it is necessary to arrive early to find a space. That fact combined with inclement weather demands for slow, cautious driving resulted in already being on campus when I was notified of the closure. These combined factors require that decisions to close the institution must be announced early enough to prevent traveling on dangerous roads.
I routinely watch news on all three major local channels in the morning, and I paid careful attention to the closure listings crawling across the screen, noticing that Johnson City schools were closed. Leaving my home at 6:30 a.m. and listening to WETS, I had already parked on campus before hearing that ETSU canceled day classes. I had to drive back home essentially doubling my chances of having an accident.
As of writing this at 8, I have not received a Goldalert of the closure; I received prior Goldalerts by 6:30 a.m. This neglected use of the system begs the question: How much of the institution's meager resources has ETSU spent on a system that either was not used or failed to function properly?
I understand the importance of considering many factors when making the decision to cancel classes, but administrators have the responsibility to announce that decision before the point that students are already on the road and in harm's way.
The e-mail Goldalert was logged at 10:44 a.m., and the e-mail notice from David Collins was not until 10:51 a.m. Why bother?
-J. Chris Henry
The announcement of ETSU's closure on Feb. 4 was in some ways counterproductive. Because of the overcrowded parking situation on campus it is necessary to arrive early to find a space. That fact combined with inclement weather demands for slow, cautious driving resulted in already being on campus when I was notified of the closure. These combined factors require that decisions to close the institution must be announced early enough to prevent traveling on dangerous roads.
I routinely watch news on all three major local channels in the morning, and I paid careful attention to the closure listings crawling across the screen, noticing that Johnson City schools were closed. Leaving my home at 6:30 a.m. and listening to WETS, I had already parked on campus before hearing that ETSU canceled day classes. I had to drive back home essentially doubling my chances of having an accident.
As of writing this at 8, I have not received a Goldalert of the closure; I received prior Goldalerts by 6:30 a.m. This neglected use of the system begs the question: How much of the institution's meager resources has ETSU spent on a system that either was not used or failed to function properly?
I understand the importance of considering many factors when making the decision to cancel classes, but administrators have the responsibility to announce that decision before the point that students are already on the road and in harm's way.
The e-mail Goldalert was logged at 10:44 a.m., and the e-mail notice from David Collins was not until 10:51 a.m. Why bother?
-J. Chris Henry
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
PAT PADUCH
posted 2/09/09 @ 8:43 PM CST
FOLKS,
THE PARKING PROBLEM AT ETSU SOLUTION IS VERY SIMPLE (I HAVE A BS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING BY THE WAY)...... EVERYBODY FIND A PERSON THAT THEY CAN DOUBLE UP WITH AND THEREBY 1/2 OF THE CAR COUNT DISAPPEARS OVER NIGHT. (Continued…)
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