School cancelled due to cold weather
Two cold days were called last week on Jan. 15 and 16 due to low temperatures and wind chills, and some students are questioning whether or not such a decision was necessary when the day did not feel dangerously cold. According to Provost Susan Koch, who helps determine when school will be cancelled, a cold day was called because wind chills were expected to be dangerously low and in such cases, people should not be outside unless it is necessary. “These decisions are a tough call,” she said. According to Koch, the National Weather Service projected the wind chill to be -30 to -40 on Thursday and -40 to -45 on Friday. She said that students are welcome to their own opinions, but she did not feel it safe to have students attend classes. She said, however, that this does not necessarily mean that such a temperature will mandate a cold day in the future because each decision is made individually. “All students, faculty and staff should be familiar with the inclement weather policy and keep in mind that, regardless of any action taken by the university, each individual needs to use reasonable judgment regarding their own safety, particularly when temperatures dip below zero,” Koch said.
– Lucy Hough
Cell phone drive for women’s shelter
Sigma Tau Delta will be holding a cell phone drive from Jan. 23 to Feb. 27 to benefit the local Women’s Center in Marquette. A box will be located in the English Department, on the second floor of Gries Hall, for anyone to donate old cell phones with chargers that will then be donated to the Women’s Center. The cell phone drive will give old cell phones and chargers to women who deal with violent situations at home or elsewhere. Each cell phone is modified to only dial 911 in case of emergency. “Not only will the cell phones go to good use, but the organization that alters the phones’ calling capabilities will make a monetary donation to the Women’s Center for every phone received,” said Ashley Harwood, chairperson of Sigma Tau Delta. Each cell phone provides women with a way to be able to contact the police without having to pay a monthly phone bill. “This is a very easy and effective way for students and faculty to make a difference in the lives of those in need,” Harwood said. “I encourage everyone to participate.” Students and faculty can donate old cell phones and chargers by dropping them in the box located in the English Department.
– Emily Shank
Students challenged to go trayless
Associated Students of NMU (ASNMU) and Housing and Residential Life are pairing together to help reduce the amount of food that is wasted in the Market Place and Wildcat Den with the Trayless Challenge. The hope is that if students are not using trays as they take their meals, they will inevitably take less food. “By only taking what one can carry – one plate, one drink – we think there will be less wasted food. Often, our eyes are bigger than our stomach,” said Hobie Webster, president of ASNMU. According to Webster, a number of universities have stopped using trays in their dining halls, and it has reduced the amount of food being wasted. Though Northern is not getting rid of the option to use trays in the dining halls, the purpose of this challenge is to encourage students to not use trays. When less food is wasted, Dining Services buys less food, and in turn, meal plans end up costing less. Webster also said that there is a moral aspect to eating less that ought to be considered. “Just like when your mom said when you wouldn’t eat your vegetables . when so many people around the world are starving to death, (wasting food) seems like a morally questionable practice,” Webster said.
– Lucy Hough
