U. opens after two hr. delay

As professors fought treacherous road conditions and public transportation delays yesterday to get to their morning classes on time, administrative personnel were given an extra two hours to get to work. A message on the University's emergency line, 898-MELT, announced that administrative personnel were expected to report to the University two hours later than usual, because of inclement weather yesterday. The two hour delayed opening did not apply to students and professors, though, the message said. "Essential personnel" were also expected to report to the University at regular hours, it said. Interim President Claire Fagin said last night the administrative staff was given an extra two hours to get to work because many staff members "are totally reliant on public transportation." She said she believes this is not the case with most professors. "Most of the professors drive or have other ways of getting to [the University," Fagin said. She explained that "many of the [administrative staff members] come from the Northeast," and would therefore be more apt to use public transportation. Executive Vice President Janet Hale said class remained in session despite the two-hour delayed opening because "it's an issue of wanting to be sure the students are getting an education." She said administrative personnel were given an extra two hours to get to work in order to "give rush hour a chance to unmess." Associate Social Work Professor Louis Carter said he would have preferred it if the late opening had applied to faculty members, as well as administrative personnel. He added that the weather has created obstacles for some of his students, who "come from the Bucks County and King of Prussia areas." Assistant Anthropology Professor Clark Erikson said while he thought the two hour delayed opening for the administrative staff was "a good idea," he thought it was a "double standard," because it did not apply to faculty members. And although Career Planning and Placement Assistant Director Susan Toler is an administrator, she said she reported to work on time. "I found the message [on 898-MELT] confusing," she said.