U. closed three times for snow

Harriton High School '92 Philadelphia, Pa. The University was forced to close an unprecedented three times last semester after heaps of snow blanketed the Philadelphia area in what Executive Vice President Janet Hale called "one of the worst winters of winters we've ever had." He asked businesses and school districts to remain closed for the day, and municipal governments were requested to retain only a "skeletal staff." The state of emergency remained in effect the following day, and the University was closed for a second day in a row. The consecutive University closings were the first Assistant to the President Nicholas Constan said he encountered in his 30 years at the University. The cancellation of classes for two consecutive days forced the University to extend the add period for course registration for two days the following week. Wharton School Associate Director Elizabeth Bennett said she, along with other officials from the four undergraduate schools, recommended the extension because many students did not have the opportunity to attend classes prior to the University's shutdowns. "Classes were often unofficially cancelled," Bennett said. "And advising offices were short of staff." The third University-wide closing came on February 11, following a fresh assault of paralyzing winter weather. Approximately eight to 12 inches of snow settled on the campus and surrounding vicinities. The drop period and pass/fail option for registration -- originally scheduled to end February 11 -- was extended until February 15 at midnight because of the third closing. Registrar Ronald Sanders said the registration deadline was again extended "in the event that there were students who needed to attend one more class or see a professor." Despite the three University-wide closings -- as well as a flurry of late openings and class cancellations -- the semester was not lengthened. Although some students were disturbed by the class cancellations, others enjoyed the West Philadelphia winter wonderland. Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers could be seen shouting and tossing a football on a snowy field in Superblock in January. "It's never too cold to play football," said Wharton freshman Kenneth Hall. "We're animals," said College sophomore Paul Diller, whose lip was bleeding from a football wound. Wharton freshman Parri Spector took advantage of the weather by participating in a mob snowball fight outside the Quadrangle. In the spirit of Frosty and friends, Engineering sophomore Jeremy Morrison decided to build a snowman topped with Cheez Whiz for its eyes and its lips and a Penn hat to shield it from the cold. During the same week, as temperatures dropped bitingly below zero, Arts and Sciences Graduate student Tom Rodney took a solo jog in the nude on College Green. "I did it for cheap thrills," he said. "Streaking is very liberating." But as students enjoyed the arctic temperatures, Philadelphia businesses suffered. Donna Niedosik, an employee at Scott Florist on Frankford Avenue, said in January that the cold weather is killing her flowers. "Our flowers are freezing," she said. "By the time we get them in and out of the delivery trucks, they freeze. And when you finally dethaw them, they die." And Carol Watkins of the Dan Watkins & Son Chimney Service said in January that although weather-related power losses have caused an increase in the need for services to fireplaces and chimneys, chimney sweepers have not been able to get close to the problem spots. "Our problem has been trying to get a ladder up for repair," Watkins said. "They're all iced to the ground."