I think by now we all are aware that winter is here. It came in droves, dropping temperatures below-freezing for several days on end, not to mention huge blizzards battering the eastern seaboard. While we have not seen any snow accumulations here in Wichita, the likelihood is that we will.

The Farmer’s Almanac reports several opportunities for snow through the rest of January into February. So, is the university prepared to handle this? That remains to be seen.

Last year, we saw similar conditions of cold temperatures and snow accumulations of less than an inch early in the spring semester. This is something that one would think could be handled easily by WSU when you consider they made over $220,000 on parking violations in 2014, over $1 million on parking permit revenue, and millions more on the simple cost of attendance, according to an article from the Wichita Eagle.

In theory, this would allow them to afford expenditures such as completely salting or scraping every sidewalk and street around campus. But, we learned last year that is not something we can expect. As someone who generally finds himself parking on the outskirts of the campus, I was able to learn all too well just how little the sidewalks and parking lots were cared for.

Two of the largest parking lots across campus were still covered with snow and ice when winter weather struck early in 2015. The parking area along Hillside was very slick, and the one that runs along 21st near the Heskett center was just as bad. That said, now that the latter is strictly Shocker Hall parking, I would like to think it will be more cared for.

I remember a feeling of shock when I saw just how little care was given toward these areas, among others. It’s amazing to me that the university would put themselves in a position of potentially litigious reactions from any injuries incurred. Will there be any difference when winter weather strikes this year? We’ll have to wait and see. But it is undoubtedly in the university’s best interest, for everyone.