Sheets of ice blanketed campus as bitter cold plagued students making their way across walkways. Students navigated slippery paths with a mix of laughter and caution, clutching books and jackets as a winter storm transformed Guilford College’s campus into a frozen maze. For some, the sudden shift between in-person and remote classes was frustrating, while for others it offered a welcome break in the semester.
As the storm ended Sunday evening and Monday morning arrived, it became clear travel would remain risky throughout the week.
Ice and snow covered roads and cars, and despite plowed highways and major roads, ice persisted in shaded areas. In Greensboro, the storm brought between one and two inches of sleet and snow. Freezing temperatures prevented ice from melting, making it difficult for students to commute, particularly as side roads remained icy throughout the week.
In response, Guilford College canceled classes Monday and shifted to remote learning Tuesday before resuming normal operations Wednesday. For many students, however, classes remained online for the rest of the week, creating challenges as schedules continued to change.
Aria Nautiyal, a junior at the Early College, said the transition was difficult.
“I did not enjoy having to rearrange my entire schedule for the next few weeks,” Nautiyal said. “But I also enjoyed having time to recuperate and prepare myself for when we return to school.”
For some students, remote learning provided flexibility, while others found it more demanding than in-person classes.
“Being at home makes teachers assign more asynchronous work,” Nautiyal said.
Once the college resumed its normal schedule, new problems emerged. Despite classes being back in session, icy roads and walkways continued to pose hazards.
Although traffic gradually returned to normal, lingering ice made even short walks across campus dangerous. Many walkways remained covered in ice, particularly near the Frank Family Science Center, where the ground resembled a skating rink. Across campus, students struggled to maintain their balance on the slick terrain.
Nautiyal noted that while she did not have much trouble traveling across campus, many of her friends and classmates struggled to walk between buildings.
Nearby colleges experienced similar issues. At North Carolina A&T, reports of students slipping and falling prompted the university to switch back to remote learning Thursday and Friday.
Unlike North Carolina A&T, Guilford continued in-person classes throughout the week, leading to additional slips and falls across campus.
By Friday, the ice slowly began to loosen its grip. Students traded hurried strides for cautious, shuffling steps, though patches of slick concrete still required attention.
