Mizzou students react to attending class in dangerously cold temperatures
An arctic blast met Mizzou students returning for the first day of winter semester classes.
One MU student, Christoper Makowski, who is originally from Chicago, said although it’s really cold, a lot of it has to do with being an adult about it.
“I mean, I guess we’re grown-ups. We can get up and go to class,” Makowski said.
Alexandria Sieckmann, a student at MU, emailed ABC 17 News that her normal means of transportation were canceled, and unfortunately she and other students at her apartment complex could not make it to class.
Christian Basi, MU spokesperson, said students were notified Monday evening via text and email regarding classes being in effect Tuesday.
Basi informed ABC 17 News of an email sent a campus-wide email advising students to bundle up before heading outdoors.
He said crews were working to clear pathways to make certain of their safety but reminded that slick roads may still remain and urged students to pay attention while traveling around campus.
MU Vice Chancellor for Operations Gary Ward shared information from the American Automobile Association with students on how to deal with the frigid weather:
Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. Make certain your tires are properly inflated. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather. Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
MU student Kevin Ward said he owes keeping warm to a lot of coffee.
“We’re adults we consume a lot of coffee to keep warm. So I guess no harm, no foul,” Ward said.
With pathways being cleared by MU’s ground crews, it allowed student on crutches like Zach Koenig to get to his 9:30 a.m. Monday class. Koenig said having knee surgery this winter and these low temperatures make getting to and from with crutches a lot more challenging, but he is handling it the best he can.
