“Campus is open and classes are in session today (3/3/2015). Due to icy conditions please use caution while traveling on and off campus.”
This statement, posted on the Bradley University Facebook and Twitter accounts, served as the university’s single official notification to students about the inclement weather that left campus sidewalks and roads covered in ice on Tuesday.
Many students spent the morning on social media, sharing stories of ice-related incidents, criticizing the university and offering their best sarcasm or wit to satirize the situation.
The university remained silent amidst students modifying the school’s tagline to say, “Go fall, go Bradley,” inviting friends to go skating on the “Hilltop’s new ice rink.”
The university remained silent as students shared concerns about tumbles that landed them or their friends in the hospital with broken bones or, in one case, a head injury.
The university remained silent while students, faculty and staff drove to campus from across the greater Peoria area, resulting in some minor vehicle collisions.
Yet, while the university remained silent, their actions resonated across campus.
Of course, as when any inclement weather strikes campus, administrators are faced with deciphering at what point safety is threatened enough to justify canceling a day of classes.
This time, the wrong decision was made, as admitted by Vice President for Business Affairs Gary Anna to The Scout.
Tuesday’s problem, however, extended beyond the university’s maintenance and decision-making. The key issue was the lack of communication during the day.
In any situation similar to this one, organizations should work to not only address the physical issues presented but also acknowledge concerns from those involved.
Responses to student comments via social media could have assured them the university cares, but no such responses were made.
A campus-wide email could have explained groundskeeping equipment failures, but no attempt to inform students was made.
Even a notification on the home page of the website could have advised the Bradley community of on and off-campus conditions, but no such alert was made.
Anna’s comments as printed in The Scout have been the only public communication from the university to students concerning Tuesday’s icy conditions.
Thankfully, Anna, whose office plays a key role in making these decisions, took full responsibility for the misjudgment, and his honesty is appreciated.
But today’s article acknowledging an error in decision-making does not solve the problems, heal the injuries or repair vehicles from the collisions of Tuesday.
With the extreme simplicity that accompanies the sending of a tweet, Facebook post or even a picture on Instagram, administrators owe it to the students, faculty and staff to maintain clear and consistent communication when opportunities for injury present themselves.
You may not have said anything, Bradley, but we heard you loud and clear.
