Colleges Prepare for Irene with Evacuations, Vigilance

With the threat of Hurricane Irene looming over the New Haven area, local universities adopted different plans to deal with the potential damage as students arrive for the start of the school year.

At the University of New Haven, all students who are able to leave will be evacuated by Saturday, delaying the opening of the school from Monday to at least Wednesday. International students and others with nowhere to go will be staying on campus.

“You will need to vacate your room no later than 10 a.m. on Saturday,” said a notice posted on the school’s website. “You may leave your belongings in your room, but you do so at your own risk. We advise you to take your valuables and electronics home.”

Freshman Dan Traum-Steinberg heard the news on Friday, his first day in college.

“We unpacked and everything and it was just before dinner they called us in and gave us information that the storm is going to hit New Haven in full force,” he said.

Evacuation began as a recommendation, but as the school officials insisted that anyone who can leave must do so. Traum-Steinberg made it back to his home outside New York City. He saw the benefit of leaving.

“I’d rather sleep on my bed than on a cot [in the recreation center].”

Yale University hasn’t changed any freshman activities or the start of school. However, school officials warn students to be cautious and stay indoors

“We have plans in place in case there are power outages and other major disruptions on campus," said an email from the university. "Important services such as police, security, dining and facilities have emergency staffing plans and continuity of operations plans ready to implement."

So far, the only closure at Yale University has been the library on Sunday.

Another New Haven institution of higher learning, Southern Connecticut State University, has announced changes to its schedule.

In a letter posted on its website, Dr. Peter F. Troiano, interim vice president for student and university affairs, said: "I am writing to let you know that all mandatory activities related to Welcome Weekend have been canceled due to the impending storm."

"Given that the height of the storm is expected to occur Sunday, the move-in for upperclassmen has been changed to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check-in for new students on Friday will be held as scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.," Troiano wrote.

"All students will be encouraged to move their belongings into their room and then leave campus, returning on Monday for the first day of classes. Any students who must stay on campus following check-in will be accommodated, but services (meals, activities, etc.) may be limited based on the severity of the storm."

According to John Morgan, of the Quinnipiac University public relations department, freshmen have already started moving in and classes are still scheduled for Monday.

"The University’s Emergency Management Team has been busy meeting to make sure we’re doing everything possible to prepare the university community for the storm," he said in an email.

Do you think the universities are making the right decisions?