Editorial : Campus must clear snow from approaching storm quickly

A winter storm warning will go into effect for Onondaga County from midnight Tuesday until 5 p.m. Wednesday, with a predicted accumulation of more than 15 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Though December’s snowstorm hit suddenly and was the first of the season, Syracuse University, the city of Syracuse, students and landlords must clear the roads and sidewalks more efficiently.

In December, plows left snow accumulation on parts of Comstock and University avenues. Driving conditions were even more horrendous on the side streets off Ostrom and Euclid avenues. And if students — with or without snow tires — opted to walk, the sidewalks were in worse shape.

Owning multiple properties may bog down some landlords. Out of common courtesy, students should be shoveling a path in front of their apartments. Living and working on a campus set on a hill makes uncleared sidewalks a serious safety hazard.

Perhaps the most dangerous part of letting snow turn to sludge on the sidewalks is when the temperature drops at night, leaving thick, solid ice the next morning. Students may have been overwhelmed with finals during December’s storm. But given that midterms haven’t hit yet, let’s pick up a shovel this time.

Failure to fully clear the roads on South Campus and on other common SU routes is a serious danger to bus drivers and students. SU cannot justify expecting students to get to classes on time when buses — as they did in December — get hulled up on snow banks or run off schedule.

This university prides itself on handling snow well and makes regional news when it cancels classes. If SU expects its students, faculty and staff to get to classes with zero injuries in 15 inches of snow, they must clear the main arteries of the campus with a sense of urgency.