EDITORIAL: Staff's heroic efforts should be applauded

 The blizzard of 2010 was an event that we will not soon forget. Feet of snow, much of which remains plowed into mountains on campus, brought us an unprecedented three weather-induced days off in a row.

As expected, the storm caused significant disruptions at Villanova, and even now, a week after the worst of the snow, there is much digging out still to be done. 

The preparations made by the University were not perfect. With the exception of cars on South Campus, there were no plans to have students move their cars to specific areas of the parking lots to free up space, which would have significantly lessened the problems in the aftermath of the storm. This contributed to the chaos on West Campus and in the Main Lot.

But the real story of the snow storm was not the less-than-adaquete planning or the pandemonium after the snow. 

Just as memorable as the mountains of snow littering campus was the incredible dedication and stamina of the Public Safety, Dining Services and custodial staffs in working around the clock to keep the University safe and fed.  

While nearly the entirety of Philadelphia was totally shut down and in their homes, Villanova's essential services were working overtime and staying overnight to battle the effects of the storm. 

These employees, with families to be fed and driveways to be shoveled of their own, found themselves unable to get home. 

Villanova was so concerned about the safety of both its students and employees that it offered to house staff members in the Radnor Hotel overnight during the worst of the storm. When weather conditions rendered even this option impossible, employees even slept on desks and in offices.

Dining Services continued to provide meals throughout the week despite severe personnel and logistical difficulties. Public Safety manned residence halls and guard houses, and the Facilities Management employees and custodial crews fought a heroic battle against snow falling at a rate of inches per hour. 

An inevitable side effect of the three missed class days is a major disruption of the academic calendar. Fortunately, it does not appear that Villanova will be forced to add class days at the end of the semester. 

Midterms, however, are rapidly approaching and the added stress of delayed tests and assignments will make an already stressful time for students all the more difficult. 

This has been an unprecedented event for Villanova, and it's important that both students and faculty are as accomodating to the challenges presented by the blizzard as the University staff has been.

Public Safety, Dining Services, the grounds crew and the custodial staff are sometimes the objects of criticism when issues arise on campus, but they went above and beyond to ensure the safety of students on campus. When you see one of them, give thanks for his or her dedication. They deserve it.