2008 Woodie Awards
The "Right" Answer: Hurricane Wilma vs. One School Standing
Jami Furo
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: Opinions
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University of Central Florida. Seminole Community College. Valencia. Seminole Country Public Schools. Orange County Public Schools. Brevard County Public Schools. Osceola County Public Schools. Lake County Public Schools. Marion County Public Schools. Polk County Public Schools. Flagler County Public Schools. Volusia County Public Schools. Lake-Sumter Community College. Daytona Beach Community College. Bethune-Cookman College. Full Sail. Barry University. Florida Metropolitan University.
What do all of these central Florida schools, among many others, have in common? They all cancelled class on Monday as a result of Hurricane Wilma.
Almost every school in central Florida closed on Monday, including Lake and Marion county public schools that are further north and more out of danger. One of very few schools that actually stayed open was Rollins College.
The winds were tropical storm force. Tornadoes were everywhere. The federal emergency operations committees were stressing to people to stay off the roads if at all possible.
But it was not possible because we had to get to class.
The strongest winds were between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., which is the time frame when many students would be driving or walking to class.
But still, classes went on.
Traffic lights were out all over the state, including in Orange County. The roads were slick. The wind was fierce. These conditions made it extremely difficult for students, faculty, and staff to drive to school.
But still, classes went on.
One reason cited for keeping the school open is that about 80 percent of the students live on campus and would not be driving to school. Fine. So they will have to walk to class, some from as far as Sutton, Holt, or Strong Halls. They had to walk in tropical storm force winds across a campus that is majestically shaded by hundreds of trees.
While those trees are typically beautiful, they can easily become flying debris in those kinds of winds and hit a student, professor, or staff member.
What do all of these central Florida schools, among many others, have in common? They all cancelled class on Monday as a result of Hurricane Wilma.
Almost every school in central Florida closed on Monday, including Lake and Marion county public schools that are further north and more out of danger. One of very few schools that actually stayed open was Rollins College.
The winds were tropical storm force. Tornadoes were everywhere. The federal emergency operations committees were stressing to people to stay off the roads if at all possible.
But it was not possible because we had to get to class.
The strongest winds were between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., which is the time frame when many students would be driving or walking to class.
But still, classes went on.
Traffic lights were out all over the state, including in Orange County. The roads were slick. The wind was fierce. These conditions made it extremely difficult for students, faculty, and staff to drive to school.
But still, classes went on.
One reason cited for keeping the school open is that about 80 percent of the students live on campus and would not be driving to school. Fine. So they will have to walk to class, some from as far as Sutton, Holt, or Strong Halls. They had to walk in tropical storm force winds across a campus that is majestically shaded by hundreds of trees.
While those trees are typically beautiful, they can easily become flying debris in those kinds of winds and hit a student, professor, or staff member.