EDITORIAL: Snowmageddon snafu at WKU a pointless occurence

PFT Relocation Program

Herald Staff

The issue: Because of an oversight concerning a nearly five-decades-old cable, the largest dorm on campus went without power for almost two days.

Our stance: This incident is unbelievable, laughable and reprehensible in scale all at the same time. Get it together, WKU.

 

Covering news of Snowmaggedon has felt surreal to say the least. However, things got more real very quickly when the lights went out. This entire incident is a shameful reflection of current university priorities.

Every single one of the hundreds of women in Pearce-Ford Tower had to evacuate in the arctic tundra that was WKU’s campus this week. And it would be completely understandable if they took their tuition money and HRL fees elsewhere after the treatment they received.

The floors of Downing Student Union and a select few rooms in other dorms do not, in any form, compensate. 

So little options were provided to PFT residents, forcing most to cram into two-bed dorms. Even those with cars found that the snow made driving unfit or impossible.

The women living in PFT shell out over $2,000 in housing each year, but this incident led to some spending the extra $50 to $100 per night on a hotel room simply because it was safer than staying in an unlocked campus community center. 

Where is the checklist for this kind of situation? Is there no comprehensive plan of action when it comes to emergencies? Or even an annual validation that all of our parts are up to date and working in the dorm that houses roughly one-fifth of the resident student population? 

This could’ve been prevented. Check the outdated parts. Construct a valid preparation plan for a state of emergency. Learn to value your students more than letting them fend for themselves in minus 20 degree wind chills and icy sidewalks.

It doesn’t matter if that electrical part usually has an average lifespan of 50 years. A winter storm is coming—check it anyway. It’s not a valid argument to say that weather emergencies only happen roughly every decade in this region—have a formidable plan anyway. It isn’t relevant to say that a basic structure for shelter is enough — take responsibility and help your students anyway.