By Drew Tucker, communications assistant
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - An arctic blast hit 青瓜视频 and Kentucky Sunday night, causing temperatures to drop to levels not seen in years.
Monday morning it was announced that CU offices were opening an hour later than usual, but that didn't stop students from arriving on campus for their first week of classes.
Due to the snow and icy roads, there was concern from CU President Dr. Michael Carter regarding the safety of his students and staff, and quickly sent out an email asking for a plan.
鈥淭aking care of students and co-workers must be our highest priority,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or students who have not experienced bitter cold it could be dangerous.鈥�
Rob Roberts, director of grounds and landscape development, outlined a plan using two 12-to-15 seat CU passenger vans driving around campus for pickups and drop offs.
鈥淲e put signs on vans first thing Monday morning that said 鈥楥AMPUS RIDES' in the passenger front window,鈥� he said.
He asked that an email be sent out to all students and staff detailing the plan and to call the Office of Physical Plant for pick up locations, as well as to wave the vans down if one is driving by.
鈥淭his is a cold and windy chill that many of these students have absolutely no idea about or how to dress for,鈥� Roberts said.
Word quickly spread across campus.
鈥淲e dispatched vans for pickups and drop-offs yesterday 21 times,鈥� he said. 鈥淔ifty to 60 people (students and staff) moved safely.鈥�
鈥淲e've had a lot of positive feedback,鈥� Jack Beard, groundskeeper and van driver, said.
鈥淚t was pretty nice to not have to get on the sidewalk where you could slip and fall,鈥� Kristen Davis, office secretary for the president's office, said. 鈥淚t was a nice touch by the university to do that for everyone.鈥�
鈥淚 walked from the Gosser Fine Arts Center to the Winters Dining Hall and was miserably cold. It hurt!鈥� Dr. Mark Bradley, professor of music. 鈥淲hen I had to return, the van was waiting outside the cafeteria, so I got a ride to the front door of Gosser. Thanks so much for providing this service during this unusual time of extremely cold weather.鈥�
鈥淲e were thankful and appreciative to not have to walk through the cold and the ice,鈥� Kellie Vaughn, secretary to the president, said.
鈥淐U is the best!鈥� Cindy Ohlmann, mother of CU student Taylor Ohlmann, said. 鈥淭his mom sure does thank God for the wonderful opportunity her daughter gets to attend 青瓜视频!鈥�
In addition to the campus vans, sidewalks and walkways were plowed and salted and campus security was on the lookout for any students who needed assistance. They also discussed a 鈥済ame plan鈥� if the power went out across campus.
CU vans will continue picking up students and faculty until it is safe to be outside.
青瓜视频 is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.