Classes canceled due to snowstorm

The University closed last night at 11 p.m. because of heavy snowfall, and will remain closed throughout the day today, according to the University website. All classes are canceled, and the closure means students cannot be held responsible for written work due today, Director of Communications Lauren Robinson-Brown '85 said.

It may not have been since a blizzard in the winter of 1979 that the University took such drastic measures in response to a storm and canceled classes, Robinson-Brown said. On occasion — as it did in 2001 and in 1996 — the University has closed, but in the former case, classes continued, and in the latter, students were on break.

"This is the best thing that has happened to me since I got to Princeton," said Erica Southern '05.

The National Weather Service predicts 18-25 inches of accumulation in Princeton from last night and this morning's storm, according to its website.

The Frist Campus Center will operate on regular hours – from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. – director Paul Breitman said. All Frist food services will be open with the possible exception of the Beverage Lab.

The campus center will operate because student workers and employees that live nearby will be able to walk to work, Breitman said.

In addition, "all essential and critical" employees were told to report to work at normal time today, according to the University website.

The University will also lodge some workers in a hotel within walking distance of campus, Breitman said.

"It is not unusual for the University to have what they call essential personnel housed nearby or on campus [during winter weather conditions]," he said.

Frist has never closed due to inclement weather in the three years it has been open, Breitman said.

"We all feel its important to keep the campus center open even if the University isn't open," Breitman said. "It becomes essential for students because you live here and you need a place to go."

The University's facilities department has been well-prepared for winter weather this year, Robinson-Brown said. Once it stops snowing, it will take only a short time for the University to clear walks on campus, she said.