Students have mixed feelings and complaints about the snow management on campus.
With constant storms this winter, the snow pile up has prevented grounds keepers from using what Keene State College students call “soy sauce” on walkways.
Keene State College Sophomore Morgan Lutz said, “I think the roads are crap and especially the sidewalks and where we walk. There is nowhere to walk since it is all snowy and everyone is falling.”
Lutz also added that she thinks it is President Huot’s job to make sure the campus is clear of snow.
Lutz said she heard from a student representative in student government that President Huot was not in Keene when the snow days occurred.
Jake Coughlin / Administrative Executive Editor
Lutz said she should be here, in Keene, to assess whether campus is clean enough for travel.
Kayla Carta, also a sophomore, has a different opinion.
Carta said that the snow management has been good on campus so far. She also said the conditions are worse this year only because of the constant accumulation.
Carta said, “I think that it is safe for those who live on campus to come to class in these conditions but for those who are commuting and for those professors who live far away it isn’t safe because the roads aren’t good in these types of conditions, especially when it is snowing.”
Both students, Lutz and Carta, mentioned that the “soy sauce” worked better last year on the snow and said they were wondering where it has disappeared to this year.
Assistant Director of Physical Plant and Grounds, Bud Winsor, said he’s doing his best to keep his crew on the snow cleanup.
Winsor said because there has been storm after storm, controlling the snow is a difficult task.
There are ten grounds keepers on Winsor’s crew and they are all assigned to different areas of campus to put down ice melt, shovel and clear off roofs Winsor said. He also added that so far they have hauled out about 50 loads of snow and have begun working as early as two in the morning.
Winsor said that he thinks this is the best his crew has ever responded to a pile up of snow. He explained that when cleaning up snow he and his crew have to be very efficient and communication is key. They meet every three hours to make a plan as to what tools and equipment they are going to use to get the job done.
The snow has not been managed any differently than in the past, there is just more of it this winter, according to Winsor.
Winsor continued to explain the mystery of the “soy sauce.” He said the actual name for the “soy sauce” is Ice Ban. There has simply just been no time to put down the treatment, Winsor said.
However, Winsor added that the salt that has been put down on campus is soaked with Ice Ban and, if you look closely, is actually brown because of it.
The Ice Ban will eventually make its way back to campus sidewalks once the snow slows down, Winsor said.
Winsor, who has been here for 21 years, said this is the heaviest snowfall he’s ever seen. He added that his job is much easier when the snowfall isn’t heavy because when it is there is no downtime for him and his workers.
The toughest part of clearing the snow is working around the cars that never leave lots such as Owls Nest or Winchester lot, Winsor said. He said students need to clean off their cars and find clear spots.
In regards to President Huot’s recent decisions to let students travel along campus during snow storms, Winsor said that she is doing just fine in calling snow days due to the conditions.
He said that she is in the business of education and that is what she is trying to provide for students. Kelly Ricaurte, Media Relations manager, agreed to be met with next week for her comments on the issue.
Savanna Balkun can be contacted at sbalkun@keene-equinox.com
