Students rejoiced last night after the ‘Blizzard of 2003,’ which dropped over a foot of snow on Boston yesterday, caused Boston University officials to cancel Tuesday classes for the first time since 2000.
BU students welcomed the storm and the news of today’s canceled classes last night when they took advantage of what became a four-day weekend by participating in numerous winter activities, including snowball fights that broke out all across campus.
College of Communication freshman Craig Frymark said he decided against doing work last night, instead heading outside to enjoy the fresh powder.
‘I had a paper I was going to write tonight, but I decided that it would be more fun to play in the snow,’ Frymark said. ‘I didn’t want to miss out on one of the biggest storms in seven years.’
Forecasters said this storm was the largest this year and one of the largest on record of the Boston area. The last time BU canceled classes for snow was on Jan. 25, 2000.
Carrie Wright and Alex Holsheimer, both College of Arts and Sciences freshmen, picked snow out of their hair after partaking in a nighttime snowball fight.
While providing entertainment for students at home, the storm wreaked havoc on state and city snow crews and caused delays and cancellations at Logan Airport. U.S. Airways, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines all suspended service out of and into Logan Airport completely at around 6 p.m. yesterday, according to Logan’s website.
Several other East Coast airports were also closed yesterday because of the weather.
Some students who left campus for the long weekend found themselves stranded at airports across the country. Olivia Gerke, a College of General Studies freshman, said she was stranded in Texas last night after her flight home was canceled.
Gerke said she was supposed to get back to Boston at around 11:30 p.m. Monday night, but found out her flight was canceled when she called mid-day. She said she was hoping to fly back this morning.
Gerke said she was hoping to hear classes were canceled because she had to make up an exam today but did not know if she would be able to get in on time.
‘At first I was worried,’ she said. ‘I have to make up a science exam, but I probably won’t be able to because my flight will be coming in when I am supposed to be taking it.’
Although Gerke was concerned about her test, she said she was glad to have the extra time at home in the warm weather, which she said reached 70 degrees yesterday.
Luckily for Gerke, BU administrators determined early last night that classes would be suspended today, giving her the time she needs to return to campus.
BU spokesman Colin Riley said administrators made the decision to cancel classes based on the danger the storm would pose to BU students and staff. He also said the decision was made after reviewing information from many different sources, including state and city officials.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a state of emergency for the city last night.
Riley also said BU officials made the decision to cancel because many students traveled home for the holiday weekend. University officials did not want students to worry about getting home if their original transportation had been canceled.
Only ‘essential’ employees will be required to report to work today, Riley said, including those who work for the BU Police Department, Physical Plant, Buildings and Grounds, mail services, the switchboard and Student Health Services, Riley said.
The weather disrupted some students’ plans after campus buildings and area shops including the George Sherman Union were closed mid-day Monday due to the incoming weather.
Though COM sophomore Brad Jones said he was disappointed to find Campus Convenience closed yesterday afternoon, it was not a life-or-death situation.
‘We just went over to see if CampCo was open and it wasn’t,’ Jones said. ‘I wanted cigarettes but it wasn’t like a vital ‘I need milk and bread to survive.”
Staff Writer Lee Cleghorn contributed to this report.