Weather may put U. on ice for day

Although the biting chill of today's below normal temperatures may be reminiscent of the weather that inspired the two-day closing of the University last week, Executive Vice President Janet Hale was unable to say last night whether the University will be closed today. She said she expected to consult with other University officials between 2 and 4 a.m. this morning and make a decision about whether the University would remain open. She added that it would be "hard" to make a decision about closing the school "until you see what happens and materializes and have a chance to assess the situation." According to the AccuWeather forecast, conditions in the city will include "freezing rain, causing hazardous travel -- a major ice storm." Hale said, though, that the University was not closed last week because of the record-cold alone. Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey's declaration of a State of Emergency coupled with a shortage of salt and power failures motivated University officials to close the University, she said. Even if students do not have to attend class today, University walkways and thoroughfares should be clear of slippery patches of ice, said Physical Plant Executive Director James Wargo. An import of 20,000 pounds of salt yesterday from Binghampton, N.Y., will be used to erode the thick ice which is expected to form, he said. Wargo added that the University will be "laying down grit" -- a mixture of crushed stone -- over the walkways to make walking conditions less slippery. In response to treacherous road conditions, Escort Service closed at 10 p.m. last night. "If we're either endangering the lives of our passengers or our drivers, we have to stop early," Manager of Transportation Services Ronald Ward said last night.