The Griffin: volume 56, issue 11 - Dec. 6, 1985

              I v Serving The College Community VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 11 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1985 Storm Fails to Shut Down Campus As the storm grew progressively worse between 9 a.m. and noon, the shuttle bus operators experienced white-outs and icy road conditions while transporting students between the Main Street campus and the Health Science Building and the Koessler Athletic Center. At one point, a shuttle was stuck on the ramp leading to the Student Center. After this, a decision was made by Samuel G. Puma, director of public safety to halt the buses until the winds subsided. "One of the most important things in my mind was that this is the last week of school. If Continuing Studies classes were cancelled, if would have meant that their last class was cancelled," said Fr. Ryan. During the height of Monday's storm, a shuttle bus ascending the ramp to the Student Center skidded off the pavement and became wedged atop the base of the dividing wall. After drivers complained of zero visibility, Public Safety Director Samuel G. Puma decided to suspend shuttle service until the winds subsided. i-h„u, i,y join mi iini n The storm forced the closing of all Buffalo grade schools. The State University of New York at Buffalo and Medaille and Daemen Colleges were among the area's higher learning institutions to shut down. Most downtown businesses closed before 3 p. m. The decision to leave the college open was made by Rev. Edmund G. Ryan, S.J., executive vice-president for academic affairs, in conjunction with several of the school's deans. Fr. Ryan told The Griffin he contacted Dr. Walter G. Sharrow, dean of arts and sciences, and Dr. James S. Valone, dean of the School of Business, early Monday morning to see whether or not the roads in the suburbs, where they reside, were open. At the same time, the school called the Buffalo Police Department to inquire about the condition of roads in the city, and a weather dispatcher in Depew to learn how long the storm would linger in the area. After collecting all the necessary information, it was decided that the school would open. "We were told that most people could get in ... At that time the decision was made to go for school," said Fr. Ryan. Although there was no thought of closing the Day division classes in the middle of the day, Fr. Ryan said that between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. he was contemplating shutting down the Evening and Continuing Studies classes. However at 2 p.m., Fr. Ryan, after consulting with Dr. Charles R. Schmidtke, dean of continuing studies, decided that classes would be held. Despite the area's first major storm of the winter season — a storm that at its peak vented 66 mph winds, white-out conditions and zero visibility — Canisius' doors remained open Monday, one of the few organizations in the city to keep its operations running throughout the day. by Kevin Saville Robert Lowman, director of the physical plant, said most of the plowing was accomplished by the workers on the night shift. The biggest problem, according to Lowman, was that the small amount of snow that fell (3-4 inches) continued to blow back onto areas that had been previously plowed. Overall, however, he said conditions were not that bad. "It wasn't really that bad . . . the parking lots were clear," he said. Some classes in the Day division were not (cont'd on page '21 "It was my decision, but I left it up to the drivers," said Puma. "When they said it was zero visibility, we decided to pull them (the buses) off the road." Holiday Perspective . . . The Christmas Season's 'Deeper Meaning' Santa Claus and members of the Canisius Chorale help spread holiday cheer while carolling in the Student Center on Wednesday. Photo by JOH\ >11 H11X.H "Deeper meaning?" Everyone always talks about a "deeper meaning," but what is this deeper meaning? What is this deeper or special sense that the "I hate these shenanigans; Christmas is so commercial it Yet no matter how dismal the days ahead appear, there was nevertheless a very real sense of electricity which has begun to filter through the campus, a specific excitement which can only be associated with The Christmas Season. Granted, some look forward to the holidays only because they offer a much-needed break from the "pressures" of student life, and a chance to ski and/or party for thirty days and nights. Yet, for most of us, the holidays have a much deeper meaning. by Maria DiVencenzo Twenty-page papers . . . finals . . . lab practicals . . . finals . . . This semester is winding down, and for most of us this signifies an overload of tension, pressure, stress and the inevitable ensuing fatigue. Since we're only about to begin finals week, the next week and two days look anything but promising. makes me sick . . Scrooges miss out year after year? It is in fact a sense which is very difficult to trap, but hardly difficult to see and even less difficult to spread^ It's there as we flip through the entertainment listings, waiting to find out when The Grinch and Rudolph will be shown on T.V. It's there as we wait in lines at shopping malls for over an hour, but still manage to smile and say "Merry Christmas!" to the overburdened salesclerk who thankfully smiles in return. It's there as we open Christmas cards from friends we haven't seen or heard since last year. It's there as we search the house for canisters filled with Christmas cookies that mom carefully baked and hid the night before. It's there as we decorate the tree and wrap presents on Christmas Eve, excitedly waiting for the morning ahead. It's there as we travel to the airport to welcome brothers and sisters, parents or grandparents finally coming home for the holidays. Icont'd on page 4) &w ibH m ,