Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Campus News

On Feb. 5, students at UW-Eau Claire woke up to wind chill temperatures of minus 46 degrees. While most schools in the Eau Claire area were closed, university classes went on as scheduled.

Two weeks later, Student Senate debated and passed a resolution Monday regarding extreme and hazardous weather. The resolution will now go to Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich and his staff.

The resolution supported the creation of a regulation that would cancel classes if the wind chill temperature is at or below minus 40 degrees or a similar temperature under the discretion of the chancellor.

According to the resolution, "students were not asking to be the authority regarding the possible cancellation of classes, but they do reserve its privilege under state statue 36.0965."

Under this statute, "students shall have primary responsibility for the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services and interests."

Proponents of the bill said it was an issue that needs to be looked at with the cold weather that comes ever year. Senator Christina Hansen said if a professor is able to make it to class, the students could make the effort too.

"We're adults - we don't get cold days at work," she said. "It's a nice idea; I like it, but it's impractical."

Some senators argued because of the extreme cold weather, it's unsafe for those walking longer distances to get to class.

Senator Tom Holtan said because Eau Claire has a mandatory attendance policy and they're not forcing the Senate above the administration, the bill should have been passed.

Holtan also cited the comparison of college to work.

"I'm paying for my education, at work you get paid," he said. "I'm not getting paid to go to class."

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