Student Senate passes inclement weather resolution

Truman State University Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution Sunday asking the administration to consider closing the University during future cases of inclement weather.

The resolution was passed at the first Student Senate meeting since icy weather prompted cancellation of some classes on Thursday, Feb. 22. The resolution cited an email from Truman’s Department of Public Safety encouraging students to exercise caution and use good judgment and an online student petition asking for classes to be cancelled for the day. The resolution also asks that absences from classes Feb. 22 not be counted against students’ grades or unexcused absences and that students be allowed to make up work from that day.

Student Senate does not have the authority to close the University or retroactively forgive absences, so the resolution serves as a formal request to University administration.

In a written statement, Janna Stoskopf, vice president for student affairs, said student safety is a top priority for the University and the icy weather revealed some gaps in University policy.

“Discussion began immediately among university administrators regarding the policy and how to address problem areas,” Stoskopf wrote in the statement. “A finalized policy is anticipated to be available to campus very soon, and will incorporate much of the feedback we have received from students, parents and others in regard to what occurred last week.”