Claire Herquet, Editor-in-Chief

PHILADELPHIA – A major snowstorm that buried Philadelphia last week forced La Salle University to shut down on‑campus operations on Jan. 26 and 27. NBC10 reported that “neighbors, mass transit providers, school districts and entire municipalities have been left to dig out and deal with the tons of accumulated snow.”

This was a record-breaking year for Philadelphia; according to 6ABC, the city recorded 9.1 inches of snow between Saturday and Sunday, surpassing the previous snowfall record of 8.5 inches during the winter of 2000.

In response to hazardous travel conditions and limited city services on Monday morning, La Salle University suspended all on‑campus operations on Monday and Tuesday, shifting classes and administrative functions to remote formats where possible. Essential personnel continued to report as scheduled, while non‑essential staff were instructed to work remotely.

The closure aligned with widespread disruptions across the region, as many Philadelphia‑area schools also announced shutdowns or virtual learning days due to the storm’s impact.

Some students were overjoyed to have a break from attending classes, especially our commuter population; however, others missed having the true hands-on guidance of in person classes and the ability to participate in extracurricular activities. Gia Lorenzo, ‘27, expressed her thoughts about the temporary switch, stating, “I honestly thought I would like being remote and it would’ve given me a break, but it threw my entire week off and I felt like I was back in the pandemic again. However, it was very needed for those who commute to school because the conditions outside were so dangerous.”

EmmaGrace McSorley, ‘27, echoed the sentiment, expressing, “I did not like how we held remote classes because it felt like I took a trip down memory lane to March 2020. It is harder for me to learn remotely compared to in person lectures. I am glad that our campus was closed for safety reasons, as I would not have wanted my professors and faculty to be risking their lives on the roads. But, I find that interacting in the classroom is more effective than asking students to turn on their cameras and mics while stuck at home.”

In a message to the entire La Salle community on the morning of Jan. 28, President Daniel J. Allen penned a message extending his gratitude to all campus personnel who endured the snowstorm and its implications for the sake of keeping our campus safe and in line to continue its operations. He shared, “I want to offer special thanks to our colleagues in Public Safety, Facilities, Dining Services, Athletics, and Residence Life. You showed up when conditions were challenging, when travel was difficult, and when staying home would have been the easier choice. This includes our student workers who stepped in to ensure certain buildings and services were open and available to serve their fellow students when professional staff could not get to campus. Your commitment ensured that students who remained on campus were safe, supported, and cared for.”

As temperatures are gradually rising and crews continue clearing Philadelphia’s roads and sidewalks, La Salle is expected to resume normal campus operations for the remainder of the spring semester. The storm served as a reminder of how quickly winter weather can disrupt life in Philadelphia – and how essential personnel coordinated cleanup efforts are for the city moving forward.