molo

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.

I should add - having worked at the U for 27 years - it has NOT closed since then. Staff has had to show up to work - regardless of the weather - ever since.

molo

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.

I remember Winter 1978 very well. We had about 2 feet of snow at East Quad. Sure was glad to live, work, and go to class all in one residence hall! It was very good weather for traying at the Arb, if a bit slippery getting there.

Emily

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.

Actually, that isn't really true. Its been 30 years since UM has closed because of snow. It closed in Winter 95 or 96 with an ice storm.

NooneNowhere

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.

Although U-M may not have officially closed, when I was an undergrad in late December 1997, I remember that many of my classes were called off during a particularly bad snowstorm.

Tim Belcher

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 1:56 p.m.

My freshman year at the U in '78. I remember going to the Arb to "sled" with ...uh..makeshift sleds. We did have a blast. There was alot of snow and no shortage of "extra-curricular activities" from what I recall.

EyeHeartA2

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 1:42 p.m.

"In addition to that, it's obvious the U cares little for the "operations staff", many of whom live significantly away from campus. Critical personnel can get picked up in 4 wheel drive vehicles, but the rest have to fend for themselves." Yep, kinda like everyone else in the world - Stores, Manufacturing Plants, Utilities. But, I am allowed to take vacation tomorrow if I like.

Tom Joad

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 3:57 a.m.

They are projecting 12" for the area but it could reach 20" UM and all of Ann Arbor will be DE FACTO CLOSED Cars won't even move during the rush-hour deluge. The City and County will only concentrate on main thoroughfares. This is deadly serious storm.

a2girl

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.

Opps, sorry for the redundant posting! I didn't see all the others.

a2girl

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.

Ben - Check this out. <a href="http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/blizzard1978.php" rel='nofollow'>http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/blizzard1978.php</a>.

sbbuilder

Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 1:35 a.m.

We packed the arch at West Engin with snow, then flooded it with water. Ahhh, those were the days. The only way to get around was with skis.

AlwaysLate

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.

I like both stories as to why the UM never closes during winter storms... - Sued for lost tuition...typical law student. - If you can get to the party store, you can get to class...typical old fart administration reaction. Heck, stop at the party store on the way to class! No Profs. will be there...party in classs! Oh, sorry, that would be MSU!

mrk

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.

I was a UM student in 2001, and they cancelled classes on 9/11 - that's the only time I know of. Classes weren't cancelled until late morning or early afternoon, of course, and I vaguely recall some of my engineering friends going to class after the announcement and a professor still holding it... Of course I also remember tracking through about a foot of snow, only to discover that another sidewalk had already been plowed...

treetowncartel

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 10:33 p.m.

I remember making huge snow forts in 1978. Maybe, I will get to do the same with my kids on Wednesday.

LindaE

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.

I remember the snow storm of 1978 very well. It dumped 20 inches or more overnight, and the University of Michigan did indeed close. My friend had recently moved here from western Kansas, where they get snow, but it blows away quickly. This was a totally different experience for him to see the mounds and mountains of snow. Since we didn't have to worry about driving anywhere, he was absolutely enchanted and was so glad he had come to UM for grad school. The tiny snow plow which the North Campus Coops owned was stuck in a pile of snow until April.

Edward Vielmetti

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.

Here's the link to the Michigan Daily front page for Jan 27, 1978 <a href="http://goo.gl/0jaK6" rel='nofollow'>http://goo.gl/0jaK6</a> &quot;Rampaging blizzard rakes state; Nat'l Guard called out; 'U' closes&quot;

Edward Vielmetti

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 10:07 p.m.

Here's the National Weather Service story of the Great Blizzard of 1978: <a href="http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/blizzard1978.php" rel='nofollow'>http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/blizzard1978.php</a> &quot;The most extensive and very nearly the most severe blizzard in Michigan history raged throughout Thursday January 26, 1978 and into part of Friday January 27. About 20 people died as a direct or indirect result of the storm, most due to heart attacks or traffic accidents. At least one person died of exposure in a stranded automobile. Many were hospitalized for exposure, mostly from homes that lost power and heat. About 100,000 cars were abandoned on Michigan highways, most of them in the southeast part of the state.&quot;

Cheri

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.

I went to Michigan Tech. They canceled class when I was there due to cold temperatures. (I believe the temp was about -40°F and the windchill was somewhere in the neighborhood of -80 or so.) That was in January of 1994. Superior was frozen over, so the snow pretty much stopped falling. The temperature itself didn't get above 0°F for well over a month. I have never been so cold in my entire life. Rarely do they cancel for snowfall up there, but I have heard of them doing so. If the plows can't drive, they'll cancel classes.

WalkingJoe

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.

My daughter attended Ferris State in Big Rapids where of course they get alot of lake effect snow and they never closed either. She said the popular legend around campus up there was one time they cancelled classed due to snow, then the party stores ran out of beer beause of all the parties. The next time they had a big snow storm the president said if they can get to the party stores they can get to class. Of course my daughter didn't know if this was true or not.

John of Saline

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 9:02 p.m.

It was 23 below zero overnight one night when I was on campus in the 1990s. It was still below zero when I went to class. I actually took my hand towel and tied it like a scarf/bandit's mask to cover most of my face. As it turned out, I wasn't the only one who had to improvise a scarf. My friend had her glasses freeze to her face. At that point, she just went back home.

Ben Connor Barrie

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 8:55 p.m.

Also, any information on how much snow there was when U of M canceled classes in 1978?

Ben Connor Barrie

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.

I plan on borrowing the snow shoes from my lab tonight.

Ignatz

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.

When going to school at the U they never closed, no matter how much snow fell. Once I got to class, though, I found note after note on the classroom doors saying that the faculty member had cancelled class. So, the U can say it reamins open, but just to the door of the class. In addition to that, it's obvious the U cares little for the &quot;operations staff&quot;, many of whom live significantly away from campus. Critical personnel can get picked up in 4 wheel drive vehicles, but the rest have to fend for themselves.

Forever27

Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.

One would be hard pressed to find any of the Regents or President Coleman on campus on Wednesday.