Due to winter weather, the UW-Platteville campus closed at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. This is the first time campus has closed since 1973.

“At noon, we received word it wasn’t going to stop snowing until 6 p.m.,” Chancellor David Markee said. “If it would have only been snowing, we wouldn’t have closed campus, but the snow drifting forced us to.”

“The wind had kicked up and the drifts were forcing roads to be closed,” Michael Viney, assistant chancellor of student affairs, said. “We were concerned for the safety for those who had driven.”

UW-P has just under 2,700 students who live in the residence halls and an additional 1,200 to 1,500 students within a three-block radius of campus, Viney said. That is a lot of students that have the ability to walk to campus for class. It makes it a real hesitant decision to call off school.

In the event of severe weather, the chancellor has the authority to cancel classes or close the campus to the public, Carol Sue Butts, vice chancellor and provost, said.

“We would always prefer if a student is ever going to be in harm’s way that they stay at home and call in instead,” Butts said. “Even though the policy preference is to remain open, no one should place him or herself at the risk of traveling to or from work or class.”

Non-essential people were sent home, while necessary areas that students would need to access were left open, Viney said. The Pioneer Student Center, Glenview Commons, Pioneer Provisions and recreational facilities were left open.

Essential individuals that stayed on campus included the Campus Police, residence halls’ staff, eating facilities staff and recreational areas, Markee said.

“We close buildings based on priority when we don’t have enough people around,” Markee said. “We usually keep essential employees even if we stop classes. You just can’t totally close campus.”

Some buildings were locked after campus closed because of liability and security reasons, Markee said.

A few students sent in e-mails asking why campus didn’t close in the morning and some concerned employees sent in e-mails asking if it was alright to leave early because of the weather, Markee said. Most people were pleased with closing because it gave them an opportunity to be able to get home before dark.

“We listened to weather reports in the morning that the snow was supposed to stop around noon,” Markee said. “That is why campus wasn’t closed sooner.”