By Matthew Clyburn
University officials have cancelled all classes on Monday due to an impending hurricane that meteorologists predict will bring heavy rain and strong winds to Connecticut.
The university has cancelled all weekend activities, including move-in for returning students originally scheduled for Sunday, according to a statement from CCSU Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Mark W. McLaughlin. Though classes will not take place Monday, the campus will be open so that these returning students can move in to residence halls between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Orientation events for first-year students scheduled for Friday will take place as scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., well before weather conditions are expected to worsen.
“The latest forecast for the state is for the weather to become increasingly inclement Saturday evening, with tropical storm force winds expected by Sunday morning,” McLaughlin said in the statement. “The University regrets postponing the events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and the beginning of classes, but the safety of the campus community is our most important concern.”
McLaughlin was in meetings with President Miller Thursday afternoon to discuss weather forecasts and potential safety measures, according to Media Relations Officer Janice Palmer. Palmer indicated that student safety would be the primary objective in any decisions made by the university.
Governor Dannel Malloy signed a Declaration of Emergency Thursday evening that grants special powers to the office in case of catastrophic events. Malloy will be able to order evacuations, direct care for evacuees, and suspend certain statutes that would impede relief efforts, according to the governor’s website.
“The forecast path of Hurricane Irene has convinced me that the signing of this declaration is necessary, and will help us react more quickly and effectively in the event of a serious weather event,” Malloy said in a statement. “I will continue to work with state and local officials and authorities to ensure that our state is as prepared as possible…and can react as efficiently as possible on behalf of our residents.”
McLaughlin echoed Malloy’s comments in his statement. “While much can happen to affect the timing and impact of the storm, we want to be sure that our students – and their parents – and our faculty and staff are not put in harm’s way.”
Dr. Steven Newman of the CCSU Department of Physics and Earth Science posted additional information about the storm on the university Weather Center web page. Newman said long range hurricane forecasting can be uncertain, but Irene will be a large storm nonetheless.
“There will be heavy rain, which will cause some flooding throughout the state,” Newman said. “Anwhere from [five to ten] inches of rain is possible, and, with the ground probably saturated from today’s rainfall, rivers and streams will be quick to overflow their banks as the hurricane moves by.“
The semester will officially begin on Tuesday, August 30, when classes will commence as scheduled.
The Recorder will carry up-to-date information of Hurricane Irene’s affect on campus over the weekend. Please check our website and follow us on Twitter at @The Recorder for breaking news and updates as they become available.