The winter storm two weeks back caused a school closure on Jan. 23 and a late start on Jan. 26, giving many Seward County Community College students and even some staff and faculty an unexpected break while prioritizing safety. The winter storm changed peoples’ normal routines in different ways. Many stayed indoors because of the cold weather, wore heavier clothing, and spent more time in their rooms. The storm was also met with different reactions from the students, staff, and faculty.

The storm required the college to make careful decisions to protect students and staff, according to SCCC President Brad Bennett. He explained that winter weather is especially challenging because many students and employees commute from outside the local area.

“Anytime we have winter weather, one thing that is unique about our campus is we have a lot of students and employees that commute a long distance,” Bennett said. “You’re not only trying to watch the weather in Liberal, but you’re trying to watch the weather in surrounding areas.”

The president also said the college also had to think about whether to close campus while still providing important services, explaining that “you also have to be able to serve the students food and make sure sidewalks are clear,” which involves “a lot of moving parts.”

Safety was the top priority during the storm, according to Bennett, especially when considering possible accidents on campus.

“You always think about the one-offs,” he said, giving the example of a student slipping on ice while walking alone in the dark.

However, the story didn’t end with Bennett’s final decision to close campus on Jan. 23 and open it late on Jan. 26. Many people had different reactions and experiences with the winter storm once campus closed.

On one hand, this winter storm led to some positive reactions, despite the cold and sometimes even dangerous snowy and icy weather outside. 

For example, many students said their first reaction to the news was happiness and relief. Several students shared with Crusader News that they were happy to have extra time to rest after the first week of school. Miguel Kwiatkowski, a sport medicine major, said the closure felt like a longer weekend and gave him time to recover and relax, while he was doing his work study at Wellness Center. He says he spent his time at home resting, sleeping more, or spending time with friends and family.

Some students also used the time to complete assignments and stay caught up with schoolwork. Some students mentioned doing other activities during the break like hanging out with friends, playing video games like the PS5 or focusing on hobbies such as soccer and going to the gym. 

“One positive thing about the winter storm for me was that we finally had time to rest,” said business major Eytan Miessen. “From Friday to Monday, everything slowed down. Since we are in season right now, it’s really tough mentally and physically, so the break helped my body recover. I also had more free time to study, which is hard to do with tennis, and I was able to spend time with my friends. During the season we usually don’t get that chance, so it was actually really nice.”

Some staff also agreed that closing the school was the right decision and were thankful when the school closed because safety was considered. The weather was very cold, the roads were dangerous, and traveling could have been unsafe for students and staff.

“I was very thankful when I found out the school would be closed,” said academic and online advisor Jamie Francis. “It felt like a blessing, especially since my daughter was also off from school that day.”

While staying at home during the winter storm, people overall spent time indoors and tried to stay warm. Some said they cooked food, like soup, and stayed with their families. 

On the other hand, the winter storm still caused challenges for some even after the campus closure. Not all students had a full break, with a few students saying they still had to work during the closure, including jobs at places like Walmart and the Buena Center. For others, the poor weather in general caused some grief. Not only can the weather simply be physically dangerous, but communication can be harder during bad weather, leading to some students missing messages. Teachers had to change plans and send assignments online so students could keep up with their work.

 “The bad side of the winter storm was that we couldn’t communicate well with our teachers, and we couldn’t go to school,” said sports management major Mina Milivojevic. It was also hard to leave the dorms because there was ice everywhere, and it was unsafe to walk outside. Staying inside all the time was really boring, and being stuck in the dorm made everything feel worse.”

Others even had problems with heating and had to adapt, such as by using space heaters and blankets to stay warm.

“Our heater actually went out during the storm, so we had to buy a bunch of space heaters and use a heated blanket just to stay warm,” said Megan Bryan, the ABPS division coordinator. “It was stressful, and honestly, not fun at all. Being stuck at home during extreme cold made it harder to manage day-to-day things, and it really showed how challenging winter storms can be for families who run into unexpected problems like this. On top of that, traveling becomes dangerous, and I imagine it would make it difficult for students or staff who still need to get to school or work.”

Joao Sequira, a Saints soccer player defender, said that during the winter storm, he missed his home and being with his family and friends in São Pedro, Brazil.

Overall, even with complications arising from the storm itself, many feel the closure was for the best. Looking back, Bennett believes the college handled the storm well by being cautious, saying, “Hindsight’s always 20/20,” but adding, “We usually are on the side of caution.” Many students also agreed that the school made the right decision by closing. Many felt the school did a good job prioritizing safety during the extreme cold and icy conditions. One student said the closure helped everyone stay warm and safe, which showed that student safety is a top priority. Francis shared that sentiment. 

“Knowing that everyone’s safety was the top priority made me feel at ease,” Francis said. “We were able to stay home, spend time together as a family, and stay cozy while the storm passed. Even though it was cold outside, it gave us a chance to relax and not worry about traveling in dangerous conditions.”

To stay informed on any future announcements about campus closures due to weather or other circumstances, students and others should check their SCCC emails and make sure they keep up to date with the RAVE Alert system and any of its notifications.