The Nevada Sagebrush

All buildings on campus were closed due to the storm, leaving many students without a place to study or use computer facilities. Photo by Casey Durkin / Nevada Sagebrush

The time it took for the 1000 Strong: Viva la Dead Day 2009 Facebook group to reach 1,000 members.

• 1:45 p.m. 430 membrs
• 3 p.m. 550 members
• 4 p.m. 615 members
• 4:20 p.m. 650 members
• 4:45 p.m. 675 members
• 5:30 p.m. 750 members
• 6pm p.m. 800 members
• 6:30 p.m. 845 members
• 7 p.m. 880 members
• 7:30 p.m. 911 members
• 815 p.m. 950 members
• 915 p.m. 1000 members

After a strong showing of student opposition against cancelled classes meeting Wednesday instead of Monday, university officials said whether or not classes will meet is up to individual professors.

With about eight and a half inches of snow dumped over the University of Nevada, Reno campus and the City of Reno’s 22 snowplows working overtime to keep up with the biggest winter storm in almost five years, Monday’s classes were rescheduled for Wednesday. And while many UNR students spent the day snowboarding, sledding or tossing snowballs, others were worrying about how they would get a last paper done or prepare for their first exam now that the week’s schedule has changed.

“I was planning to study for French all day Wednesday,” Carmen Wright, a 19-year-old creative writing major, said. “I don’t get what I need to study until class (Tuesday), so I couldn’t really use today to make up for that. I guess I’ll be up late Wednesday night but that will probably affect me because my test is at 7:30 (a.m.) on Thursday.”

Chase Daley, a 22-year-old art major with a similar story, decided soon after finding out Monday’s classes moved to Wednesday, to make a Facebook group to see how many people disagreed with the decision like he did and to build support for reversing it. The group, 1000 Strong: Viva la Dead Day 2009, had 1,000 members within 12 hours of its formation.

“It was kind of a social experiment on my part,” Daley said. “But it really shows how many people are upset about losing Dead Day.”

In response to the concern from students about losing the prep day to study for classes and prepare final projects, UNR President Milton Glick said he decided to make Wednesday class optional for professors.

“We’ve heard from students, some of whom were very concerned about missing the last class, which are often review sessions, and others who wanted that time to prepare for exams,” Glick said. “We’re scheduling the rooms but leaving that up to the instructors. It’s all confusing but we’re trying to balance both concerns.”

Geese and ducks huddle up on top of the frozen Manzanita Lake. Photo By Casey Durkin / Nevada Sagebrush

If professors feel students’ time would be “better spent studying than in class,” Glick said they will be allowed to not hold Wednesday’s make-up session. He also said that although many professors may contact their students directly, students may wish to e-mail their instructors to check if the class will be held or not.

Even though her classes may not be held, that still may not be a good enough solution for Dru McPherson. The 20-year-old Spanish major was scheduled to work Wednesday at a job she needs, but gets few hours at.

“I have seven and a half hours this week, three of which I’ll be missing for class,” she said. “That is if I can get my shift covered. I’m sure there’re a lot of other student-workers at the GAP, where I work, that will have the same problem. I have to make a choice between attending class and going to work.”

McPherson said she spent most of Monday writing a paper she had planned to do Wednesday but still feels behind with less of Wednesday open to study.

A special weather statement issued by the National Weather Service office in Reno said that although two more storms are set to hit Reno before finals end next week, neither is expected to produce nearly as much snow as the one that hit Sunday and Monday. Glick said the campus was closed as an emergency measure and would only be closed again if “there is a very unusual turn in the weather.”

Jay Balagna can be reached at jbalagna@nevadasagebrush.com.