Snow days are universally remembered as some of the happiest days of childhood. We can all remember the feeling of staying up with our eyes glued to the TV waiting for the glorious news of schools closing down for the day. The same sense of childish amusement has not deterred throughout the years; many still hope for a surprise day off. Especially in the throes and stress of college, snow days bring unparalleled joy. However, the university recently announced its plans to eradicate snow days and replace them with virtual learning days. On October 20th, students received word via email that in the case of inclement weather, “unless there are significant or widespread power outages in the region, the University will maintain operations remotely.”
It comes as no surprise that this announcement came with mixed reviews from students. With the rich history and nostalgia that snow days have in our culture, many were upset with this recent news. We reached out to students via social media to understand their perspectives on this implementation.
Out of the 31 students who responded to our survey, none reported any positive initial reactions to the announcement. Several students noted that they didn’t understand why this change was needed, considering the university’s dedication to refraining from virtual learning whatsoever. One respondent noted how, if exposed to Covid-19, students would miss up to two weeks of classes in quarantine with no option for remote learning. If no accommodations are available to these students, why then do students have to attend virtual learning for inclement weather days?
In the survey, the benefits of the replacement of snow days were called into question. 84% of respondents felt that virtual learning days would not be beneficial to them. This could be for a variety of reasons; many students felt that they had not retained information as effectively while in remote classes. Furthermore, students felt that snow days were extremely helpful to them. A majority of respondents found snow days to be beneficial in the long run academically (35.5%), as well as mentally, in terms of reducing stress (65%). This is likely because an overwhelming majority of students who responded to the survey stated they would spend time catching up academically or focussing on self-care if given the opportunity through a snow day.
Snow days aren’t just a chance for students to skip classes. It’s an opportunity for self-care and personal development, something many students rarely ever get the chance to focus on. Snow days provide students with mental health days they never had to ask for. Moreover, they allow students to take a break and destress in a way they don’t have to feel guilty about. With the implementation of these virtual learning days, options for a day off have disappeared, and some students feel as if the university has disregarded their overall wellbeing.
