By Rob Metzler
As students at Buffalo State College begin bundling up for the winter months, the administration and services on campus are putting the plans for the season into affect.
One of the most pressing issues everyone faces are energy costs. Gary Phillips, comptroller at BSC, says the college is ahead of the game in this issue.
“When we prepared our budget, we did provide for an additional 30 percent for energy costs,” Phillips said.
The school has the option of choosing natural gas or oil on a monthly basis, depending on what is more efficient, Phillips said. The decision on which to choose from comes down from state officials in Albany, Phillips said. He also said that the campus spends more on air conditioning than heat, since the steam energy plant is “old but efficient.” According to numbers provided by Phillips, energy costs account for 11 percent of the budget at BSC. Instructional Supplies, in comparison, take up seven percent
Plowing services are already set for the winter months, as BSC has its own set of plows. Bill Smock, Maintenance Supervisor, says that the plows are ready to go as soon as the snow falls. BSC has its own fleet of snowplows which means students won’t be at the mercy of contractors. To avoid parking problems with extra snow in the lots, Smock said the all the extra snow will be put in a gravel lot behind the ‘M’ parking lot.
Emergency closing are inevitable in Buffalo weather, and the campus has prepared for that by outlining a plan for getting information out to students and faculty. Students can find information on the following stations about school closings:
Other channels will also have information on school closings. While the faculty does not have to report, essential services, such as the university police, are required to be on campus during these times to maintain safety.
Any questions and comments can be directed to Rob Metzler at Metzrj68@mail.buffalostate.edu
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