College open??

Niamhf

So....secondary schools are closed for an extra week and college is still on....unfair!!
Now I'm not one to complain...usually...but I don't fancy being down in my appartment huddling around a little dimplex heater when I could be at home by a nice log fire!

poisonated

agreed...I don't even know if I will be able to get back to Galway

fredweena

I won't be able to get back either. I presume we won't get penalised for missing labs etc.

LadyMayBelle

Half the the folk on my course are already saying they won't make it down for monday but I guess the course is still going ahead. Had a big report due last Tuesday, we were told 'no excuses' so broke our backs trying to get up to hand it in, and the fe*kers emailed at 4PM to say 'Safety first, you have until next Monday'. Super annoyed with that!!! Not like this weather has happened overnight or anything!

wobbles-grogan

Havent heard anything though i hope it is called off. Gonna be FREEZING down there. It will be some craic tho, imagine the snowball fight in eyre square every night!!!

the-island-man

well college was open all this week so I doubt they'll close next week!

KittyeeTrix

fredweena wrote: »

I won't be able to get back either. I presume we won't get penalised for missing labs etc.

That's excactly what I was wondering about. I can download the notes from blackboard and read over stuff but obviously don't want to miss the marks for labs etc.:mad:

Not sure where I stand!!!

the-island-man

They have spread sand/salt on the roadways around the college but they don't seem to have any gritting around pedestrian areas. The paths around the arts mellenium building and outside the library are very bad.
I'd advise people to try get a pair of ice cleats like these:
http://cozywinters.com/ice-cleats/ice-cleats.html

syncosised

I doubt the college will close, it's not really bad enough around Galway. Come Monday I'm sure they'll have gritted all the walkways around there.

Belmono

If the weather gets even worse over the weekend, then there may have to be some serious thought given to postponing/cancelling lectures. Also, as Niamhf says, people travelling from further afield, or even from rural parts of Galway, may find it nigh on impossible to make it in for classes. Schools being closed til Thursday at least will make the roads a little more manageable in terms of traffic, but we'll see how it pans out!
Due consideration will have to be given for deadlines in first week back (sounds strange, but there are courses with early January deadlines), so watch this space.

PomBear

syncosised wrote: »

I doubt the college will close, it's not really bad enough around Galway. Come Monday I'm sure they'll have gritted all the walkways around there.

Maybe Noel Dempsey, minister for Transport will bring some back from his current holiday in the Algarve because Ireland ain't got none at the mo

Niamhf

Well, if I go to Galway on Sunday and on arrival find that the college is closed you will all hear my screams and various swears in Dublin! =P

christina_x

In Galway atm! Theres no snow, just ice!
College is open and yep - apartments are freezin! Iv got my duvet and hot water bottle atm

nobbo

Coming all the way from Tipperary is going to be fairly dangerous, and if I do end up in Galway and lectures are cancelled I will have the biggest(manly, huhhhh!) hissy fit of the decade!

Niamhf

Oh...forgot to pack my hot water bottle!! Thanks for reminding me!! =D

leeroybrown

College is open as normal and most staff are making it in. It's possible to get in but bloody freezing everywhere - bring a fleece and hat!

joeKel73

They just announced NUIG will remain closed for an extra week: http://tiny.cc/nuigclosure :eek:

cheekay

have been in all week so can't see them closing next week. The city is a bit icy but totally manageable. Houses are very cold though but no reason for college to close. Staff have been in for past week.

joeKel73

16,000 coming from all over the country is reason enough to close imo. People are going to miss lectures and labs.

Belmono

The college will definitely have to make a decision very soon about this, especially if we get the snow that has hit nationally, I mean, in Dublin:D
Students heading back to cold, rented accommodation with no running water might mean that those who turn up on Monday might be heading straight back to the warmth of their home (if they're not from the city, I mean).

joeKel73

I think they should send out an email either way...

Rob!

Coming from where I am in Cork is going to be.....eventful to say the least. It is ridiculously dangerous on some of the roads like. Doubt they'l close though.

Niamhf

I'm snowed in....so much snow falling in Kildare....screw college next week...I'm staying at home to make an igloo!!

Rob!

Niamhf wrote: »

I'm snowed in....so much snow falling in Kildare....screw college next week...I'm staying at home to make an igloo!!

haha im with ya on that one! over the past hour we've gotten buried in snow! so much for applied maths @ 9am monday!

Niamhf

Spanish 11am Monday....well I may not grace you with my presence!! =P

nobbo

Well im leaving now to get there, if they cancel lectures now someone will get the head read off em!

Irishmarinelife

I'm surprised the Gardaí have not liaised with The University to issue a statement with approx. 15,000 people due in on Monday morning.

Students generally travel back on Sunday, but this weekend councils have been directed to conserve grit untill Monday morning. A lot of NUIG students are from Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, counties where in places it is impossible to travel.

Plus, the last time I was around the campus, it was pretty lethal. Lots and lots of ice on the Newcastle side of the campus and zero grit.

I predict lots of people in Hospital next week with fractures and lots of stressed ill informed students wondering if they will be penalised for not attending lectures labs, handing in work etc!

Munsterforever

It would wanna be closed. Alot of poeple have to make 100+Km journeys, and the University well knows that!

They must be stupid if they expect 16,000 poeple to get back on icy, snowy, frozen and poorly gritted roads in very poor visibility.

I suppose the NUI just doesn't care about its students ending up dead or worse trying to get back to Galway!

Supermanscat

Munsterforever wrote: »

I suppose the NUI just doesn't care about its students ending up dead or worse trying to get back to Galway!

Makes sense!

I was in the college wednesday and the paths were very icy however on thursday they had been cleared. Regardless of whether the campus is safe i think the main concern should be about people travelling from home tomorrow day and night, a time at which the worst weather is predicted.

Perhaps closing it until tuesday or Wednesday wouldnt be a bad idea.

I know GMIT are not open until wednesday but unsure if that was just always the case or since the weather!

Salt McMan

Sounds like you slackers don't want the university to be open on Monday. For shame.

Munsterforever

Salt McMan wrote: »

Sounds like you slackers don't want the university to be open on Monday. For shame.

No, I just don't fancy anyone I know ending up in A+E because they have to make the trip when the University could so easily postpone going back until the cold snap is over, or atleast until the Co.co's have enough grit for all the roads. :mad:

KittyeeTrix

Why the need to close the primary and secondary schools but not the colleges??

Carsinian Thau

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

Why the need to close the primary and secondary schools but not the colleges??

Because the schools simply had to be closed. The authority/responsibility to do that rests with the Minister of Education.

The colleges and universities are responsible for their own administration and hence, must make the call themselves.

LadyMayBelle

Was in college today and was very surprised at the amount of cars in the carparks! Especially up near Aras Moyola and Cairnes they were almost full at about 2pm. Plenty of people walking about and the paths while slippy were being used. I cant see them closing considering people have been in last week ( i was in as had deadlines last tuesday wednesday and was again surprised at how many ppl were actually about.

Niamhf

Salt McMan....slacker is quite a harsh word! I'm a hard working arts student I'll have you know!! =P

fredweena

Damn right. slacker and proud of it! Who wouldn't want a few more days off? I broke my heart studying before christmas now i'm going to enjoy the snow. I'm off to play with the dog and get frostbite. Yay!

Niamhf

Back at the apartment....2 heaters not working....I'm freezing!!! I have resorted to making a coat out of hot water bottles!!

poisonated

I can't imagine how cold corrib village is going to be...actualy I just don't want to.I will be bringing plenty of heaters,water bottles and such.

The Wanderer.

The apartment i have in galway is cold at the best of times but in this weather it will be ridiculous! The college needs to put a statement on their website to let students know what is happening because it isn't fair for those who have to travel long distances in such dangerous conditions!

_ZeeK_

Carsinian Thau wrote: »

Because the schools simply had to be closed. The authority/responsibility to do that rests with the Minister of Education.

The colleges and universities are responsible for their own administration and hence, must make the call themselves.

it actually rests with the board of management of the schools also. o'keefe was probably outside of his remit to make the call.
see - http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0109/education.html

"It also raises once again the question as to who is actually responsible for schools. The Minister is not legally the employer in schools, Boards of Management are.
There may now be concern in some quarters as to his right to make such an order."

_ZeeK_

if academic courses have officially commenced, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of lecturers are no 'no shows' for certain classes, depending on where they have to travel from in the morning.

the-island-man

was listening to galway bay fm and about an hour ago they reported that both NUIG & GMIT are open tomorrow and they're the type of station that don't report anything unless they have a reliable source!

leeroybrown

As has already been pointed out in this thread, must University staff have had no problem getting in. Unless someone is on a particularly awkward/hilly road section the roads outside the city are useable. I'm sure that a small minority of lecturing staff might have issues getting in but the car parks were pretty full last week given that it was outside term. It's business as usual so I don't see why the college should be making any formal announcements....

KittyeeTrix

the problem is not in the city but there are problems for people who live outside the city making their way back for term start....
It's not a problem missing any lectures as you can use blackboard or get copies of notes from friends.
The problem is for science students etc who have labs!!!!
What are we meant to do if we can't get in or have to partake a dangerous journey to do so??
I'm not so bad in that my botany lab is not on Monday and the next one I have isn't until Wed and by then hopefully conditions will be more favourable.
I only live in Athenry but I'll be damned if I'm venturing out on these roads at 7am tomorrow morning:mad:
Feel sorry for the people who have had to travel from further

leeroybrown

Actually, you're probably in the worst affected group. The commuters have to find a way to get in early every morning and out late every evening. The returning students just have to find one gap in the weather and slowly make their way to NUIG.

If students can't get in then they should contact their department about labs, etc.