Classes optional, cancelled

Yesterday Assistant Professor of English and American Literature Jesse E. Matz, who teaches English 160: "20th-Century British Novel," wrote an email to his students with three options:

"(1) Come to class as usual; OR (2) View a summary of today's lecture on the web, and submit a short (250 words) response to Prof. Matz before 5:00 today; OR (3) Just blow off Eng 160 today (not recommended)," he wrote.

English 160 was one the many classes that changed its schedule in response to the weather. While some professors canceled their classes on Monday night, many students had to brave the blizzard-like conditions to take exams and attend sections.

Many other local schools were closed today, including Brandeis University.

Although the Graduate School of Education, Harvard Extension School, and Divinity School were all closed for the second day in a row, the College remained open.

"Harvard is a residential college, so it will never completely shut down," said University Spokesperson Joe Wrinn. "Many of the students are there and a lot of the faculty are nearby."

In order to facilitate students going to class, the snow removal effort continued, with rest stations set up in common rooms and dining halls for workers plowing.

"It's very important that those who are driving equipment and plows not get overtired," said Tom E. Vautin, associate vice president for University operations.

Most workers were let off from 5 p.m. to midnight last night, at which point the full staff of 30 plowers came back on to prepare streets and sidewalks for this morning.

Some class cancellations yesterday were only tangentially weather-related. Ec1010b: "Macroeconomic Theory" students were e-mailed 30 minutes before lecture saying that University Museum, containing the Geological Sciences Lecture Hall, was locked and class would not be held, according to Head Teaching Fellow Melvyn Teo.

"HUPD told me they were the only ones who could open it," Teo said.

Some students were upset that their economics class had been cancelled, because there is a midterm tomorrow.

Though the University's museums were closed, the libraries remained open, as did the Registrar's office despite being short-staffed.