Well, it's that time of year when the sky is blue, the clouds are white and there is six inches of snow outside.    Yes, it is winter yet again here at Buffalo State College.   You may think you are prepared for it, but are you?   Hats on heads, scarves on necks, gloves on hands, coats on bodies, but how is your traction?  Many students do not expect that on their walk to class that they may possibly slip and slide on ice or fall over huge mounds of snow.

So far, the winter here in Buffalo has not been as bad as expected by the local weather statistics, but for students here at Buff State it has been enough!   Having to set the dreadful alarm that extra hour, scraping snow off your car, then having to drive in slow moving traffic and trying to find a parking space on campus.   Let's not forget that 15 minute walk from the car to class!  By the time you get to class, your pants are soaked from the snow, you're out of breath, your whole body is cold and, by the look on your face, you just want to go home.

Mainly the whole reason for this is because of complaints made by several students of some unsalted and unpaved path ways around campus.  Falling in front of our friends and classmates is a fear a lot of students have.  It is not always a pretty sight to see someone fall or struggle to walk without slipping.    "I hate the plowing here on campus," said Suzie Belz, a junior at Buff State.  "I almost fell four times this morning."

Many students feel as though the plowing on campus could be better.  The paths could be cleared better than they are so they can get to class on time. "I think Buffalo State is doing a satisfactory job with plowing", said Tanjanika Barnes, a senior at Buff State.  "It could be better with salting the main walkways and not just the easy to get to paths."

Many of us who think that Buffalo State is not doing such a great job with getting the walkways cleared have we stopped to think why or how hard it might be to clear the whole campus?  Buffalo State College is a pretty big college and there are a lot of main walkways and small paths that students walk up and down every day.  Most of the time, when it snows, it does not happen till late in the night and with class beginning early in the morning, clearing everything may not be possible.

One of the associate directors of campus services and facilities, Joe Ball, states that the procedures that take place when bad weather occurs are dependent on a number of factors, such as weather forecasts and exactly when a snowfall occurs. For example, when it begins snowing at 6 a.m. it is very unlikely that the entire campus will be completely cleared of snow for the start of 8 a. m. classes. " We recently scheduled a crew in at 2 a.m. because the weather forecast called for icy conditions that morning. Although we were very prepared, the icy conditions never materialized on the campus," Ball said. "On a regular basis we evaluate our snow removal procedures and can always work towards improving our efforts. Suggestions from the campus community are always encouraged," he added .

Well, let's try to look on the bright side, pretty soon the sun will be out, the flowers will be blooming again, winter attire will be put away and we will be complaining how hot and sweaty we all are.  At least we won't be falling down on the ground, right?  Well, that means if your shoes are tied!

For more information on Joe Ball and campus services go to www.buffalostate.edu and if you need to know where they are on campus go to www.buffalostate.edu/tours
For information on your local weather visit  www.buffalo.com