Ruth Santana | Staff Writer
Hurricane season is upon us and as a commuter, it’s time to shed some light on the issues and dangers FIU students face during this distressing time.
Hurricane Miltion is a category 4 hurricane that is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning on Florida’s west coast, effectively causing the closure of campus and the cancellation of both in-person and online classes.
The university has a policy to remain open during inclement weather, unless, during extreme circumstances, the university has the right to determine whether to close campus based on the level of concern for safety and security.
So let’s talk about some of those safety concerns as a student.
The commuter drive to and from the university is dangerous due to flooding, heavy rain and low visibility. This makes it hazardous for students who are trying to get to class on time.
On top of that, the flooding on campus is terrible.
The garages are wet and the puddles that form are practically unavoidable. The buildings on campus are not connected and are a long walk in the rain from each other with no shelter in sight.
So even if you have a one-person umbrella, chances are you’re still getting wet.
There is also the issue of the bus stops. As someone who had classes at the BBC campus, it’s not a fun or dry experience when it rains. There is only one bus shelter at the pick-up location for the Panther Express at the MMC campus and two at the BBC campus.
When it rains, water can leak from the roof due to gaps in the ceiling and onto the seats, making the cramped space even smaller. There have also been times when buses have been delayed up to an hour due to bad weather.
These are all things students face when it rains and it only gets worse the closer we are to hurricane season with the chaos it havocs.
The anxiety of waiting for an email alert from President Kenneth Jessell saying the university is closed is overwhelming. We have to wait day by day to see if commuters will have to endure any more of the harsh weather to get to class.
There should also be consideration given to international students who have never gone through a hurricane and the extent of heavy rain South Florida gets. I can’t even imagine their anxiety towards this hurricane.
And we can’t forget to stay on top of our coursework during these times. Though classes are cancelled it doesn’t mean assignments are. But students shouldn’t have to worry about a test or essay during intense weather that might cause evacuations, power outages and property damage.
Student safety is a top priority and during these times, flexibility and leniency for students are a must. It’s important that we know that our safety will always come first.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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