As another winter storm sweeps across the Northeast and below-freezing temperatures remain, commuter students are faced with a similar dilemma of hazardous travel conditions or losing out on valuable academic time.
This leaves students wondering why the university won’t offer a virtual alternative when dangerous weather strikes to maximize productive education. This is an alternative, according to Encoura, which many schools are already turning to.
On January 18, what initially began as typical snowfall soon formed into a state of emergency when blizzard-like conditions covered streets, sidewalks, and highways, leaving behind a bothersome combination of slushy and icy roads, making all forms of transportation nearly impossible.
Although Seton Hall did offer some relief to its majority commuter population the following Monday, it is three weeks later, and another round of snow threatens to keep these clear and safe roads an unattainable reality.
Haram Virk, a freshman commuter majoring in diplomacy and international relations, said that even after the snowstorm itself, roads remained “slippery” and “rough.” She recalled seeing cars swerving in the icy lanes and just “how terrifying” that was for her as a new driver.
Students like Virk are unfortunately still left to face the intense aftermath of winter storms. From lane closures to slippery patches, these after-effects have given horrendous experiences to students’ commutes.
Sara Mohammed, a freshman commuter majoring in Biology, described her last snowy commute.
“As I was about to take my exit, all the snow on the roof of this huge semi-truck next to me fell on my car, completely covering the windshield and leaving me basically blind in the middle of the highway,” she said.
Mohammed said she decided to “accept her fate.”
Many other commuters found an extreme increase in the time it took to make the trip; some had their commute time doubled.
“The roads and lane closures made my 30-minute commute turn into an hour and 15 minutes,” said Hanna Ibrahim, a sophomore nursing major.
Long commute delays can make students nervous about receiving academic penalties regarding tardiness and attendance.
Besides increasing commute time, students had genuine worries about highway conditions regarding accidents. In Princeton, there were 20 accidents related to the January snowstorm, highlighting the dangers of local streets and major roadways.
Mahraeel Salib, a sophomore majoring in diplomacy, from Newark, said that when she was expected to come to school on Jan. 20, none of her local roads had even been cleaned, and getting out of her driveway felt like a hazard within itself.
These worries left students questioning the university’s priority of student safety. While it is understandable that the university does not want another snow day and lose valuable class time, many students have discussed the idea of a temporary online option.
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided universities across the nation with the infrastructure to have classes fully digital. Even today, there are students actively completing asynchronous classes.
However, online school can never be a full alternative as face-to-face contact between students and lecturers has outweighing benefits where students reported higher engagement, learning, and understanding, according to the National Library of Medicine. Yet, online school remains a good short-term solution for extreme weather cases.
Online classes reduce danger for students and professors, who are not immune to the difficulties of a troubling commute. There are many students and professors who take public transportation; hence, if emergencies happen, traveling becomes something completely out of their realm of control.
Meeting through digital platforms such as Teams can provide teachers and students with the flexibility and accessibility for a productive educational session. It can also improve time management and performance since, without the hassle of commuting, both students and faculty save valuable time. Their energy can be redirected to activities such as studying, grading, and lesson preparation.
Not to mention, the useful digital skills meeting online during extreme weather conditions can help students achieve. We are currently living in a digital age where so many occupations are already turning to a completely remote alternative. Students can learn skills to strengthen their use of virtual platforms, communicate and collaborate remotely, and adapt efficiently to changing circumstances, which can benefit them in the workforce.
Furthermore, many students argue that being placed in such a dilemma is unfair. During periods of severe weather, such as the upcoming snowstorm, offering an online option would be a more efficient way for the university to preserve instructional time while prioritizing student safety from the comfort of their warm homes.
Nihma Abdallah is a writer for The Setonian’s Opinion section. She can be reached at nihma.abdallah@student.shu.edu
