As snow closes school, games keep students warm in the cold

The University announced last night that classes would resume today and that there would be a delayed opening for all nonessential personnel.

Though classes were canceled yesterday and the University officially closed because of the worst winter storm to hit Princeton since 1996, life on campus and in the surrounding area trudged on through three-foot snow drifts.

New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey declared a State of Emergency as more than one foot of snow fell in the area.

After closing late Sunday evening, the University requested that all critical and essential personnel arrive on time yesterday, and beginning early in the morning, University Grounds and Building Maintenance staff were hard at work digging out entryway doors and paths so students could exit their dorms.

"The grounds guys are incredible. They do an unreal job. I can't say enough good things about them," said Don Reichling, associate director of Public Safety. "Also," he said, "the Frist Center is an unreal asset to us."

Frist Campus Center was open as usual yesterday, and Dining Services staffed the food gallery and C-Store.

Frist Campus Center director Paul Breitman said, "It's important that Frist remain open even when the University is closed because a lot of students and essential personnel rely on Frist and the services it provides."

The operation and functioning of the building relied heavily upon student employees yesterday, Breitman said.

"The students really pulled through for us today," Breitman said. "They take a lot of pride in working at Frist and they really came through for us today in running the entire building."

In addition to its services in Frist, PUDS kept every dining hall open for normal hours of operation, including the Graduate College and the Center for Jewish Life.

Overnight accommodations are provided for personnel if they need it, Orefice said. Most employees will be able to return home tonight because the conditions of the roads are not as bad as they were Sunday night. For those who must remain on campus, temporary housing will be provided in Frist, he said.

Outside the University gates, Princeton Borough spent the day maintaining the streets through continuing snowfall.

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"We never wait for the snow to stop falling," said Princeton Borough police Lt. John Reading. "The guys at the Borough garage are constantly picking up the snow and salting the roads throughout the day."

A statewide proclamation strongly urged individuals to remain indoors and off the roads in an effort to limit the vehicles on the road to emergency personnel, Reading said. Residents were also prohibited from parking on the side of the road.