Southeast campuses shut down because of ice, campus resources remain open

Southeast Missouri State University will be closed Feb. 6 and 7 because of ice that coated the campus Tuesday afternoon. According to News Bureau director Ann Hayes, this is the first time Southeast has been shut down three consecutive days since 2009.

Approximately one to two inches of sleet and ice fell Tuesday afternoon covering the Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff area. Southeast cancelled classes beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday and extended the cancellations to both the main and regional campuses.

President Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins said in an interview with the KFVS 12 television news station that there was a variety of reasons for the closing.

"We have over 11,000 students and only 3,000 live on campus, so we have probably between 7,000 or 8,000 people coming in every day for classes. Tthe facilities folks have done a great job on the sidewalks, but the parking lots are really treacherous right now," Dobbins said.

Dobbins also said that since there is such a shortage of salt in the area Southeast plans to mix the salt with sand to preserve their supplies.

Although the campus is closed many resources on campus are still available.

The following information was posted by Southeast staff on the Living at Southeast Facebook page Wednesday night.

Brunch on campus will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday at the Towers Complex as well as the University Center, with normal operations after 10 a.m. The River Campus Café and Subway will be closed through Sunday. Rowdy's in Towers and Olive's in Merrick Hall will operate on their normal schedules Thursday through Sunday.

Campus shuttles will not be in operation until Monday. WINGS shuttle service will operate on its normal schedule Friday through Sunday.

Hours at the Student Recreation Center-North and the Student Aquatic Center will be 5:30 a.m.-midnight Thursday and Friday, with normal hours on Saturday and Sunday. The Student Recreation Center--South will be closed through Sunday.

The University City will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Computer labs in Merick Hall and Towers will be open from 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Kent Library will remain open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday.

The Campus Health Clinic will be open from 10 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

The weather has also caused schedule changes with many of the university tests held on-campus.

The WP003, ACT and LSAT exams scheduled for Saturday will continue as scheduled. The MAPP and MOGEA exam scheduled for Thursday and Friday has been cancelled. They are both available for rescheduling on Southeast's testing website.

The Clark Terry Jazz Festival at the River Campus will go on as scheduled on Friday as well as weekend Show Me Center events.

Dr. Bruce Skinner, assistant vice president for student success and director of Residence Life, also said via Facebook that Friday's bi-weekly payroll will be available in employees' accounts for those who have elected direct deposit. Students and temporary employees may pick up paychecks from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday in human resources in Academic Hall.