UW-Milwaukee’s Big Chill

Spring semester at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came to a screeching halt this week after record-breaking low temperatures sent the city into hibernation and the campus community facing a rare streak of canceled classes.

“It is not unusual for us to cancel classes once per winter — we’re in Wisconsin! But it is unusual to cancel for three days, particularly in one week,” said Michelle Johnson, UWM’s senior director of Integrated Marketing & Communications.

In addition to three days of canceled classes, campus was completely closed down from 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Throughout the Polar Vortex, the Milwaukee area saw above-average wind speeds and below-average temperature drops. The lowest recorded temperature was -15 degrees back in 1899, according to the National Weather Service, which seems quite warm compared to the -40 degree temperatures from this past week (however, the way wind chill is calculated changed in 2001).

“I bundle up as if I’m trying to survive an ice age,” said UWM student Sierra Price, who fled the dorms to her home in Chicago to avoid a bout of cabin fever. “I can have a hot cooked meal and spend time with my family and hometown friends.”

Professors said they found a way to make sure students kept up on their learning.

“When you teach, you just need to remain flexible,” said Professor David Allen. “You adjust and try not to let it have too much of an impact on the students and learning.”

During his 18 years as a Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies professor, Allen cannot recall a time in which classes were cancelled so frequently in such a short span of time. The chancellor’s office stated that only essential employees were required to come to work. Essential employees are defined as staff who ensure that facilities aren’t damaged by the weather, workers who ensure research equipment and animals aren’t harmed, those who keep campus safe and remove snow, and staff who work in the residence halls.

Associate Vice Chancellor Geoff Hurtado has worked at UWM for eight years. He cannot remember experiencing three days of classes and activities cancelled in one year, let alone one week.

“This is the first time I can recall such severe weather conditions that we encouraged people to stay away,” Hurtado said. “In prior events, the weather conditions have not been so severe, and we encouraged employees to make safe choices and work with their supervisors.”

Despite the string of cancellations, UWM’s athletic teams were not affected.

“This could have been a rough stretch for us but just fell in a great place schedule-wise,” Chris Zills, the assistant athletic director for Athletic Communications said. “We were very fortunate that we did not have any events scheduled, home or road, during the past few days where the weather was so cold. Safety of student-athletes and fans is considered for any event.”

Historically, Midwestern schools and facilities are fairly equipped for inclement cold, and Zills also cannot recall a stretch of weather-related closings of campus facilities of this scale in his 16 years working for UWM.

While on-campus students don’t have to risk snow-covered roads, windy bus stops, and freezing treks to their classes, the Polar Vortex affected them nonetheless. University Housing staff hosted events every day this week to funnel the residents’ extra time and energy into something positive. From a Pinterest Party, movie nights, and karaoke, residents have had a lot of options to occupy themselves.

“It’s a logistical nightmare,” said Haley Zangl, a Residence Life Coordinator at UWM’s Sandburg Hall. “They can’t go outside, so all their activity can solely happen in the residence halls.”

The very top of the parking garage at UWM was a hazardous place with its painted pavement combined with ice. Students walked like cautious penguins as they trekked across the terrain. The strong winds conspired with the cold like evil villains testing the patience of many in Milwaukee.

UWM Transportation Services reacted to the inevitable this week as the university closed for the safety of students and faculty. The below freezing temperatures proved to be an issue for cars parked on the street or on university property. The numerous cars that adamantly refused to turn over amid the bitter cold were granted immunity from overnight parking restrictions.

“All of the parking lots were open to essential personnel who needed to be on campus,” said Prassana Nanda, the director of transportation services at UWM. “There was no paid parking or citations issued Tuesday night through Thursday night on campus.”

The UWM Community Reacts to the Polar Vortex

Instructors worked to keep students caught up.

“You go from having about 16 weeks to get in so much material to now 14 weeks,” said Michael Mirer, a UWM Sports Media Professor. “We can’t do anything about it. We had Antarctic temperatures which is very risky. Especially for students who commute.”

Even at home, instructors stayed busy.

“As an instructor the biggest challenge is getting students caught up and able to master each concept,” said Dr. Alison Libbey, the Spanish Language Coordinator and Senior Lecturer of UWM’s Spanish and Portuguese Department. “Even though I got to relax at home I spent most of my time answering student emails and reconfiguring classes for all of our 100 and 200 level courses.”

Although the cancellations came with challenges, they also provided chances to catch up – on homework and Netflix.

“UWM made the right call, college isn’t worth risking lives,” said Adrian Lee, a UWM senior and business management major.

“Though this stretch has been boring, I’m glad that it happened at the beginning of the semester rather than the middle when there’s a lot going on,” said Biochemistry student Tyler Holz, who, after completing his homework in the span of a day, found plenty of time to catch up on his binge-watching of House M.D.

For Quinn Gerrits, a freshman business major, the cancelled days offered an opportunity to relax.

“With this time off I’ve been meeting with new friends and binging Netflix shows,” Gerrits said.

Thursday, despite classes being canceled post noon, a change based on colder than expected temperature, people were stirring from their temporary hibernation. Campus showed signs of life, and people, head-to-toe in scarves and gloves meandered to their destinations. It was surprising how nice -20 felt compared to -50. Today, 2/1 things seemed mostly back to normal. The Klotsche center was as busy as normal as people worked off their restless pent up energy, seats are scarce in the library and there was even the odd person wandering around in shorts like they were ill-equipped tourists.

Students didn’t seem to have any complaints about how UWM handled weather-related communications, with one sophomore saying she felt properly informed.

“I stayed inside my dorm for the two days, which got boring, but it was too dangerous to be outside,” said UWM sophomore Aisha Spencer. “I got a thousand emails and messages from UWM saying the same thing on weather updates, so I think there was effective communication.”

This story was written by JAMS 320 student Marla Smith with reporting and writing from the Media Milwaukee student journalists listed below.