Hillsdale College students returned to classes Monday after a Feb. 22 ice storm caused power outages and canceled classes two consecutive days last week. 

Kari Coupland, staff nurse at the Ambler Health and Wellness Center, was without power at her home for six days starting the evening of Feb. 22. She lives outside of Jonesville. 

Coupland said the power outage has not affected her work life, aside from the fact she is more tired from loading her wood-burning stove every five hours. She said her family put mattresses in front of the wood burning stove to stay warm throughout the night. 

Vice President for Student Affairs Diane Philipp said the college waited to officially cancel classes until it became clear that power and heat would remain down for a significant amount of time.

“We knew there was a storm coming, but it was predicted to hit north of us,” Philipp said. “It is difficult to realize the outcome of bad weather as the disruption is happening, which is why we wait until we know more before canceling.” 

The college made the decision to cancel classes early on the morning of Feb. 23 because the entire city was without power except buildings with generators, Philipp said. Classes were also canceled Feb. 24 as classroom buildings remained without power early Friday. 

“It is always a challenge for the college to make the decision to cancel, and we do not like to cancel,” Philipp said. “Our purposes are to teach and learn and our faculty prepare carefully for every hour they teach, and it is not easy to make up that precious face-to-face time in the classroom.”

Associate Director of Security and Emergency Management Joe Kellam said the college prioritized the Grewcock Student Union and Christ Chapel with a few generators. Since many students were without power, it was important for them to have a warm place to go, Kellam said. 

“The entire Student Affairs staff, at different points throughout Wednesday night, were on campus checking in with the dorms and the different houses just to make sure that they were inside and they were staying warm enough,” Kellam said. 

Because the outage left dorms and residence halls without heat, the college brought in emergency generators.

“Executive Director of Facilities David Billington made the decision to purchase additional generators as the extent of the disruption of power was more extensive this time and the generators were needed,” Philipp said. 

Junior Anna Bassols said it was very helpful that maintenance installed generators because it made it possible to keep in touch with parents. 

Although class cancellation is a rare practice at Hillsdale, students said they were not surprised the college canceled classes.

“If you asked me Wednesday afternoon if I thought that class would get canceled the next day, I’d say that sounded absurd,” senior Rachel Warren said. “But by around 4 p.m., I could tell the conditions were not good and after the power outage that night, I wasn’t surprised to see the email Thursday morning that class was canceled.”

Because the power outage affected so many across southern Michigan, students knew the likelihood of canceling class was high.

“Everyone was really glad that classes were canceled,” Bassols said. “I know that Hillsdale waits until the last second to cancel classes, but with all the chaos and many professors commuting in from out of town, this was definitely the safest option.”

While the college has canceled class for bad weather in the past, it is rare, and Philipp said this situation was unique.

“Typically the roads and sidewalks are a much bigger issue. This time it was the power lines and ice buildup in the trees, which can be dangerous on our campus where we enjoy so many large trees,” Philipp said. “It can take just seconds for a large limb to fall, which can be very dangerous.” 

Kellam said security realized the danger of the falling limbs even before the power outage, and officers on duty encouraged students who were outside to find shelter.

“But the power outage changed things. We started looking at all the buildings and the facilities to make sure that the students were staying warm,” Kellam said. “From there, we were telling students to go inside.”

Philipp said the college was told a major city transformer blew, which interrupted power extensively across campus and throughout the city. 

The multiple transformers that blew on campus were related to a supply line in Coldwater, Hillsdale’s main supply station, that went down, according to Kellam.

“That power surge then sent a series of transformers being blown all the way into this area,” Kellam said. 

According to Kellam, security communicated with senior college staff throughout the night. 

The ice on the power lines caused a number of poles and power lines to break. Replacing poles takes much longer when the ground is frozen, Kellam said. 

On the night of Feb. 22, the sewer pump at the bottom of the hill by Slayton Arboretum also broke, Philipp said. The city had a crew for two days in that area to avoid a sewer back up at the college.

Students spent the days off in a variety of ways.

Warren said she saw many students remain calm Thursday, treating the day off as a fun snow day. She said her roommate brought out her Keurig so they could make coffee, and they hooked up their Wii and invited friends over to play Mario Kart.

“Noon Mass at St. Anthony’s was also memorable, because although they didn’t have power, Mass went on by candlelight, and it was so quaint and lovely,” Warren said. 

Junior Chris Dick said the Suites had a meat party where everyone brought their meat that would have expired and grilled it outside. 

“Because our off-campus students and Greek houses had no power, and because there were no dining places or grocery stores open the first 24 plus hours, Metz prepared enough food to feed every student,” Philipp said.

Dick said students had access to the cafeteria. He said the food on Thursday was not bad considering the power was lost. 

“It was your average fried food and pizza,” Dick said. “It went quickly, as people who went closer to noon were only able to get burgers.”

Much credit and thanks belongs to the college’s maintenance crew and food service staff as they worked hard for hours keeping students safe, warm, and fed, Philipp said.