To members of the University community:
A number of you have expressed concern over the University's failure to
notify
the community of closing on Thursday, Oct. 5, following Hurricane Opal.
It is
my responsibility to make the decision and give notification of closing
in the
event of severe weather conditions. I recognize the inconvenience this
caused
many of you, and sincerely apologize for the failure to announce the
decision
earlier. This occured because of a misunderstanding about how the
decision
process was to be initiated, and not out of any lack of concern for the
convenience or well-being of our employees, faculty and students, as some
in
their frustration have suggested.
The problem will be corrected, and in the future closings should be
announced
by 5:30 a.m. on local radio and television stations, as provided for in
our
inclement weather policy. There will often be differences in judgment, of
course, as to whether conditions are sufficiently severe to warrent
closing the
University. But we will do our best in the future to make the right
judgment
and give you timely notification of our decision.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Billy E. Frye
Provost