College Stays Open Despite Snowstorm

As a major snowstorm battered the Northeast, Harvard College remained one of the only institutions--including schools, businesses and government offices--to stay open, despite weather emergency advisories from the state and city.

The National Weather Service predicted blizzard-like conditions, one to two feet of snow, high winds and difficult visibility in the Cambridge area for late last night and today.

Public schools across the state closed their doors, area hospitals operated on a skeleton crew and Gov. A. Paul Cellucci urged all nonessential state workers to remain at home as heavy flakes blanketed the area and winds of up to 35 miles per hour buffeted trees and houses.

Many of Harvard's graduate schools--including the medical school, dental school and divinity school, canceled all courses for today.

The College will remain open, but some individual professors have chosen not to hold class.

And in a largely unprecedented move, the Registrar's office has decided to push back yesterday's "fifth Monday" deadline for adding or dropping courses to Thursday.

"This was just an exercise in common sense," Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 wrote in an e-mail. "It seemed that some Faculty might not make it in today or tomorrow, making it hard for students to consult with them or to obtain necessary permissions, so after a brief consultation with the Registrar and a few others we decided just to let students turn in their forms a bit late."

The Registrar's office itself closed at 2 p.m. yesterday and will remain closed today. An answering machine message stated the office would not reopen until tomorrow, "due to the storm and concerns for the safe travel of our staff."

An e-mail circulating late last night, purportedly from the Freshman Dean's Office (FDO), announced the cancellation of all Harvard classes, but College administrators said the message was not true.

"It seems to be a hoax, as I have heard nothing of the kind," Lewis wrote. "It also doesn't sound like the FDO's language."

Several of Harvard's organizations have announced scheduling changes due to the storm.

The Institute of Politics cancelled all public forums for yesterday and today, Harvard Hillel closed early yesterday and will not open today, and the Harvard News Office will also remain closed until tomorrow.

Dining halls and libraries will be open today.

University Health Services (UHS) shut down its regular services, canceling all routine appointments for yesterday and today, but will continue to offer emergency care, with a reduced staff.

"We are open on an urgent care basis," said David S. Rosenthal '59, director of UHS.

The storm caused cancellations throughout the city of Cambridge.

Cambridge public schools closed their doors yesterday and today, and the City Council cancelled their weekly meeting, scheduled for last night.

A snow emergency citywide parking ban is also in effect.

MIT closed at 3 p.m. yesterday, but administrators were reserving decision about whether to open today until the early morning.

Harvard administrators said they hoped for a return to their normal routines tomorrow.

"We hope that when the sun rises on Wednesday things will be back to normal," Rosenthal said.