University of Michigan keeping Ann Arbor campus open; Dearborn, Flint closed
The University of Michigan has closed its campuses in Flint and Dearborn for the rest of the day and Wednesday, but its main campus in Ann Arbor remains open.
"At this point, we intend to be open (on Wednesday)," said spokesman Rick Fitzgerald. "We'll be reviewing the situation early in the morning."
The two satellite campuses will reopen on Thursday morning, university officials said in a press release.
The main campus rarely closes because most of its students live on campus, university officials have said.
However, some events on the U-M Ann Arbor campus for today have been canceled.
Both Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College announced they will be closed Wednesday.
David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
Monica R-W
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 3:42 a.m.
My daughter is a student at Western Michigan University and at this time, they do not appear to be closing either. Thank God she lives on campus but, as many other posters/commenter's have noted below, what about the students and staff that do not. It is not right to place commuters and off-campus students at a pearl, just to have a class, sorry. University of Michigan should re-think this decision as it is in poor taste. I hope by tomorrow WMU will also.
southyoop
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 3:59 a.m.
Come on, toughen up....do u live in Michigan or Florida? Get your butts to class...
goblue13
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 3:14 a.m.
As a u of m health system employee and a student, I understand that the hospital must remain open, but the university shouldn't make everyone risk their safety just because of that. Keep the essential staff (doctors, hospital employees, dorm kitchen workers), but don't make professors, researchers, and off-campus students drive in--it's just irresponsible. Also, many students live in areas where it's a 20 or 30 minute walk to campus because the further away you get, the cheaper it is. Walking a couple miles in the snow and wind tomorrow will take a long time, and I bet Mary Sue Coleman wouldn't want to trek 2 miles to her office for work
csi junkies
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
MJC just for your information, the University does not have their own Fire department..........It's Ann Arbor City Fire Department. And yes I'm sure they are working tomorrow.
MjC
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
I stand corrected about the Fire Dept... should have just said DPS. Anyway, glad we didn't get hit as predicted. I'd hate to be in Chicago right now.
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 2:18 a.m.
I'm a student at the Ann Arbor campus and I don't live there... what happened to protecting the minority? eh, I'm just a member of a small minority of students who commute daily. We hold no value. That's why this country is a democracy right? Because all we care about is the needs of the many and not the needs of the few, right?.... ... ... It's not a democracy?... it's a republic?.... oh... hmmm... those silly founding fathers.... they don't know what their talking about.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 2:46 a.m.
ummm the U has already stated on several occasions that the Constitution does not apply on it's property. It has also demonstrated this. Lots of examples in this very site. It has a special carve out in the Michigan Constitution just to prove it...
cbirm
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
UM, A2 campus NEVER closes. I worked there from 1966-2007 and the place never shut down. I missed just a couple of days due to weather and one time it was so bad so many folks did not make it in that they did declare it an inclement weather a day later. I made it in and got an extra vacation day out of the deal.
Cash
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 1:30 a.m.
EMU has managed to close before and each department knows the essential staff needing to report. Sorry but sometimes arrogance really displays itself in an evil way...and this is one of those times. Disregard for the safety of the students and staff is just plain evil.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 11:36 p.m.
The U has altready displayed a callous lack of concern for student/ staff/ vsitor safety on numerous other occasions, why should tomorrow be any different.
CLX
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.
The University could distinguish between essential and non-essential personnel but chooses not to do so. As a result, it demands that everyone come to campus on a day that many clearly do not need to do so, or be docked a vacation day. And it is most definitely not true that all departments urge folks to stay home if it is not safe to get to campus. I know many staff people who have felt very pressured over the years to get to work under any circumstance. Many, many professors have already canceled classes and there is no consequence for them doing so. This is clearly not about holding classes. This is about the University being too stingy to come up with a decent snow plan and forcing staff people to show up when most professors will clearly be staying home.
Tami
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 11:11 p.m.
I think the U of M campus in Ann Arbor should be closed if the other two are. Even if the students do live on campus it is still going to be hard for them to get to classes, and hard for the employees to get there as well. Think about safety.
Melissa
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 11 p.m.
Nobody said anything about the hospital closing but as far as still having college classes when everyone else is closed is rediculous. Not every student or professor lives on campus! Some of us have to commute and don't have the luxury of living on campus, it's not worth risking a life.
MjC
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
The UM hospital systems have to remain open; plant and facility operations must be monitored (frozen pipes, water breaks, electrical outages); research labs, student services, campus fire dept and police services... the list goes on. The UM Ann Arbor campus is like a city; it can't just stop. I've never met a supervisor or manager who didn't stress that employees be safe. So be safe, but understand how difficult it is for the UM to "close" for a snow day.
Cash
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 1:27 a.m.
Well....none of that impacts holding classroom and lecture sessions. They do not need to hold classes to perform any of the duties that you mentioned.
a2phiggy
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 10:07 p.m.
Amen, Ignatz. Many students and their families can no longer afford to pay on-campus room and board (choosing bedroom communities or commuting from home), and graduate students commute great distances to complete their degrees while serving communities across Michigan. I look forward to the day when the University administration recognizes this and adjusts policies that reflect the changing demographic of the population it serves (and serves them).
Rmac
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 10 p.m.
Is it really worth putting faculty and staff at risk? Being a University employee myself, I think it says alot that EMU, WCC, and Michigan State are all closed, and UM isnt!! I understand that lots of students live on campus, but what about faculty and staff??
Ignatz
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
Most students live on campus. The vast majority of faculty and staff don't. You need all three to educate.