URI Lands, Grounds Department claims ice problem won't melt away until university obtains sufficient equipment

02/04/09 - University of Rhode Island students on their way to class this winter have encountered quite a dilemma-not simply to make it to their 9 a.m. class on time, but to make it without taking a sliding detour down the icy steps and sidewalks. With the recent snowstorms in the past few weeks, and more pending, students have grown concerned over the ice-covered sidewalks and pathways around campus.

"The campus is an entire sheet of ice," senior Gregg Travis said. "I've fallen on campus four times in two weeks."

For students with physical disabilities, however, the walk to class has become even more problematic.

"Accessible entrances have been cleared, but there is no path to them," Krista Simone, president of Students for a More Accessible Campus (SFAMAC,) said.

"The ice has been difficult for everyone - in general though, what is difficult and treacherous for a non-disabled person, becomes impossible or impassable for a person with a disability," Pamela Rohland, director of Disability Services for Students, said.

As a result of the snow and ice accumulation, many students have been injured while attempting to get around campus.

"In the last week, we have taken nine X-rays where the patient had fallen on ice, both on and off campus," said Chad Henderson, director of Health Services, in an e-mail interview. "I believe most, if not all were negative, [meaning] a sprain but no break."

Students are not the only ones struggling to get across the icy campus. Faculty, too, have been affected.

"I have had the very uncomfortable experience of slipping on the icy sidewalks and roads on campus on more than one occasion over the past month," Bahram Nassersharif, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, said.

For some, the consequences have been greater than a simple slip or sprain.

"There was an ambulance response to Green Hall several weeks ago where a staff member had fallen and broken a bone," Henderson said.

While the snowfall has created difficulties for students, it also poses problems to the URI staff working to plow and de-ice the campus.

The Lands and Grounds Department oversees the removal of snow and ice, with the assistance of Facilities Services. Facilities is assigned to cover the dorm walkways and streets.

Before the snow hits, the Lands and Grounds crew apply preventative salt treatments on the sidewalks, and plow through the duration of the storm.

"We prioritize our efforts, because not everything can be cleared at the same time. Roads, walkways and parking lots are the priorities," Brian Boesch of Lands and Grounds said.

"As soon as the snow starts accumulating, we've got people out there," Peter Swanson of Housing and Residential Life, said.

The problem in this procedure, said Boesch, is the cycle of heavy rains following the snow, and the subsequent freezing, creating large amounts of ice.

"So far this snow season, we have almost doubled our normal salt output for an entire winter. The unusual snow, rain, freeze/thaw cycle conditions we have faced this winter have been mightier than the salt in some areas," Boesch said.

"I don't care what kind of equipment you've got, once it turns to ice there's problems," Swanson added.

However, Lands and Grounds has recognized the problems with the snow and ice this semester.

"Conditions this year have pointed out that we need improvements in our snow and ice clearing capabilities, primarily on campus walkways," Boesch said.

Lands and Grounds is currently in the process of acquiring new equipment that will help clear the campus walkways faster.

On the student's behalf, many are sympathetic to the seasonal problems facing the URI staff.

"I think it's just a lack of necessary resources, supplies and staff, not a lack of concern," Simone said.