You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the Jan. 15, 1982, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
MTSU continues to rebound from the effects of Tuesday’s winter storm, which dumped 5 inches of snow on the Murfreesboro area.
The snowstorm, which began around noon, sent many commuter students scurrying home early to outrun slick driving conditions. Residents found numerous opportunities to engage in frivolity, including snowball fights, snow graffiti, sledding and snow-cream making.
A survey of department chairmen found that many commuter students were unable to attend classes on Wednesday and Thursday due to the hazardous driving conditions. In general, the department heads estimated class attendance at 60 percent.
William Grasty, chairman of the department of accounting and information systems, estimated 55% attendance in his classes, which normally experience 90 to 100% attendance.
George Murphy, head of the biology department, estimated attendance in his class at about 75%. He added that the biology classes, in general, experienced attendance of a “little over half.”
James Staley, the director of the physical plant, stated that maintenance personnel arrived at work in the darkened morning hours on Wednesday to begin shoveling snow, blowing snow from walkways, spreading sand in crucial areas and even grading some roadways.
Staley reported continued mechanical difficulties with heating units. He stated that maintenance workers responded to about three times as many work requests than normal.
Hot water was restored to Schardt Hall, according to one resident. The dorm had experienced continual problems with the water-heating system since the first semester.
Many students mentioned having continual trouble with frozen water pipes, many of which later burst.
“It’s been a real hassle without water for half a week,” one student remarked. “You really take this necessity for granted.”
An expected reprieve from the sub-freezing temperatures was postponed as the forecast for today went from an unexpected high in the 40s to a high near 30. Weather prognosticators are predicting another deep cold spell beginning tomorrow.
One student expressed her displeasure with the possibility of snow remaining on the ground.
“I’ve had enough! I just want to be able to go see my boyfriend,” she remarked.
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