Guilford College reopened its campus Wednesday, Jan. 28, after the ice storm that hit Greensboro, becoming one of the first college campuses in the Triad to return to normal operations. The college largely resumed in-person classes and services, bringing both benefits and challenges.
One major concern was the ice covering key walkways around campus. The hill outside the Frank Family Science Center was particularly slippery, with some students—including Inaya Ejaz—slipping and falling on the way to class.
“Overall, the campus was really icy that day,” Ejaz said when asked about her walk to class Thursday, a day after the college reopened.
She said she fell while walking from King Hall to the Frank Family Science Center.
“Because I had my backpack weighing me down, I fell on my knees, and I hurt my thumb and knees a little bit,” Ejaz said.
Ejaz was not the only student who struggled. Icy walkways made it difficult to move quickly and safely between classes.
“I reached my classes later because I took the longer routes with not much ice to get there,” said Guilford student Swapnika Boyapati when asked if she faced challenges walking to class. “I couldn’t even take a single step without sliding.”
Despite the hazards the snowstorm brought, reopening also brought advantages. Remote classes had provided extra time in the day, but many students welcomed the return to normal routines.
Instead of spending time getting ready and walking to class, students attending remotely were able to join sessions from bed, saving time for homework, projects, or hobbies.
However, in-person learning restored access to campus resources. The reopening of Hege Library provided a quiet study environment for students who have trouble focusing at home or in residence halls. Rachel’s café also reopened, giving students access to hot drinks.
Returning to campus also allowed students to reconnect with classmates and professors face-to-face after several days of snow closures—a major benefit for those who struggle with online learning.
“I found it a lot easier to be productive when the college reopened,” said Guilford student Mohna Saroha.
Although waking up early for class was a drawback for some, starting the day with activity often led to greater productivity overall.
The Guilford administration was quick and efficient in all weather-related communication, notifying students of inclement weather updates via email. Professors were also quick to clarify weather concerns via email and in person, with some adjusting their syllabi to accommodate for the challenges the winter weather posed for students.
Guilford was one of the few colleges in Greensboro to remain open from Wednesday, Jan. 28, to Friday, Jan. 30. On the other hand, other colleges such as The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University opened for a few hours on Wednesday, but closed for the remainder of the week due to unsafe weather conditions and potential hazards for students.
Despite the mixed reactions, students were able to balance the challenges of icy conditions with the benefits of returning to in-person instruction and campus life.
