While Delaware County is still under a state of emergency, Ball State students should realize they have more options then they expected.
Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president for Marketing and Communications, said a Ball State has policy is in place for students to appeal an excused absence if they feel unsafe when traveling to class.
"If a student feels he or she is not getting due consideration, they can talk to the department chair or dean," he said. "If a student's safety is in jeopardy, they can call [University Police Department] first."
Three students reported falling on campus Thursday to UPD. One student fell outside of Studebaker West Complex, however, he did not remember it. When police arrived they found the student with a swollen arm and scrapes on his face.
Another student fell outside of Bracken Library because of the thick build up of ice on the stairs. She hit the side of her head on the steps and was given a ride home by assisting officer Steve Jenningsafter EMS checked on her.
After a fall at Scheidler Apartments, a student appeared to have a fractured wrist. She was seen by EMS, but then transported to Ball Memorial Hospital by a friend.
Students must make their own decisions regarding personal safety, according to a public safety notice sent Monday by Alan Hargrave, chair of the Crisis Management Team.
"If a student feels he or she is in a special circumstance that precludes safely attending class, the student should contact the appropriate faculty members as far in advance as is practical to make special considerations," Hargrave said in the e-mail.
Timothy Pollard, dean of the Telecommunications Department, said while the policy is not new, it is one that is most useful for students.
"There is a policy that if a student feels he or she is uncomfortable coming into class they can send a written explanation to the department chair who can say yes or no [to the excused absence]," he said. "If the student doesn't think the answer is correct then they can appeal to student affairs. First, you talk to the instructor, then the chair and then student affairs."
Five officers were stuck while trying to assist motorists with slide-offs and crashes, according to an email from Sgt. Rod Russell of the Indiana State Police Thursday morning.
Other counties under a state of emergency are Allen, Boone, Brown, Carroll, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Grant, Jasper, Marshall, Newton, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke, Sullivan, Tipton, Warren, Wayne and Whitley.
Click here for winter storm information from Ball State's News Center.
Some tips from the Ball State's winter storm advisory:
- Make sure you have a snow shovel and safety salt.
- Make sure you are familiar with your heating system and its safe operation.
- Consider what to use for emergency heat if the electricity goes out (fireplace, portable space heater, etc.) Pay particular attention to emergency heating safety. It is not safe to use stoves and ovens (designed for kitchen or camping) as indoor heating sources. Do not leave candles or burning lamps unattended. Keep flammable materials away from heating sources.
- Follow good fire-safety practices—keep fire extinguishers on hand and know how to use them.
- Keep extra blankets, warm clothes, and a flashlight readily available so they are easily located in case you have to find them in a power outage.
- Stock up on extra food and water before the storm.
- Learn how to shut off water valves, as a cold house can lead to frozen and burst pipes. Open cabinet doors, especially those on exterior walls, so that heat can surround pipes. Monitor water sources to ensure water is flowing. If temperatures get particularly low around pipes, allow water to run slowly to avoid freezing.
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