Through snow and security, students return

Students braved storms and increased airport screening measures in last weekend’s return to school, but many said travel was easier than expected.

Many expected tighter security because of the alleged ‘Christmas Day terrorist’ with possible al-Qaida ties. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was charged with allegedly attempting to ignite explosives on a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight. Still students said they were able to travel uneventfully.

‘It was actually the same,’ College of General Studies sophomore Christina Cook said. ‘I was expecting a longer line at the airport, but it ran pretty smoothly.’

As a result of the Christmas incident, the Transportation Security Administration enhanced security measures for international flights, according to its website, directing the increased use of enhanced screening technologies and mandated threat-based and random screening for the majority of passengers on U.S.-bound international flights.

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Rachelle Rubin, who came from Toronto, said security measures were very different because she was on an international flight.

‘It took way longer because they patted everyone down before entering the plane,’ she said. ‘And you were only allowed to bring a laptop or purse as a carry-on.’

However, TSA’s new security regulations only affected international students. Many other students found it easier traveling back to Boston University than they did leaving for the winter break.

CGS freshman Alexxa Uslan’s winter break flight to Los Angeles was delayed because of the snowstorm, but she said her flight back to school was quicker and less of a hassle.

‘I had to wait three hours longer to get home,’ she said. ‘But it was so easy to get back.’

College of Communication freshman Caroline Patrick experienced a similar situation when she travelled home to Ohio.

‘I was almost delayed three days because of snow,’ she said. ‘But my flight back to BU was not delayed at all.’

During the snowstorm, CNN reported airlines such as JetBlue Airways were allowing passengers to reschedule their flights without penalty fees because of the hundreds of cancelations. But by the beginning of January, the bad weather had calmed down and fewer flights were affected.

Boston, Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts areas saw as much as two feet of snow before the storm moved out to sea, according to Reuters.

Many students also said getting back to BU was easier because the airports were less crowded overall.

‘It seemed before the break everyone was flying back at once,’ COM sophomore Allistair Johnson said. ‘So it was not busy coming back.’
Other students who drove back to BU said the snowstorm in December and snow leftover in January didn’t slow them down.

‘The snow didn’t delay us really,’ School of Hospitality Administration freshman Eleanor Brink, who drove from Connecticut, said. ‘It was the way it always is driving during the winter season.’

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