Monika Leininger
Mleinin1@uwyo.edu
As the winter seasons change, the University of Wyoming takes additional measures to ensure the safety of students on campus.
Whether students drive, bike or walk to school; they are affected by the hazards of severe Laramie winters.
Paul Drake, ASUW student senator affiliated with the student outreach and policy committee, listens to opinions and works to ensure safety of UW students. The committee has advocated for regulations of campus areas during winter weather.
“Past instances of ASUW offering our support relating to winter safety include helping provide programs such as SafeRide and legislation such as Resolution #2419 supporting that common pathways on campus be fully developed,” Drake said.
Drake said he believes if a student observes an area needing grounds keeping attention to notify the appropriate department.
“I think it is important that students know they are actually one of the best ways the safety of walkways can be maintained,” Drake said. “Notify Physical Plant with a hazard somewhere on campus, they simply just can’t be everywhere at once.”
Senior English and Creative Writing major Hailey Dungan said she believes the Physical Plant staff meets the needs of students on campus.
“I live in West Laramie, so often I drive and walk a few blocks to school,” Dungan said. “They really do a fine job.”
Other students are dependent upon the UW transit systems to get to and from class. Carolyn Smith, director of Auxiliary Services and department head for Transit and Parking, explains how university buses are impacted by weather change.
“Business as usual, until such time that conditions change, for example, if the University closes than we will shut down our transit system,” Smith said. “With that in mind, our website is kept up to date, we also have Transloc, which will tell users about Transit closures, warnings and delays. Transloc offers apps for your mobile phones and Ipads.”
The University works to ensure the safety of students to the highest extent, Drake said.
“At the end of the day, safety should be the primary goal and achievement for the campus community and environment,” Drake said.
If students would like to stay updated about current delays, weather conditions and closures on campus, like UWYO Transit and Parking services on Facebook and download the Transloc app.
