The College's administrative offices shut down from noon on Monday until noon yesterday as approximately twenty inches of snow blanketed the campus. Professors were instructed to hold class at their own discretion. Only essential workers, include dining services staff and physical plant staff, were required to remain on campus.

Crews from physical plant worked throughout the day and night on Monday to keep the roads and walkways of the College as clear as possible, according to Chief of Campus Police John Carter. "The roadways are in great shape-We're down to the pavement in a lot of places. We're trying to get the operational parts of the campus working first," said Carter. "The grounds crew has been here all night."

According to Director of Human Resources Kathryn Bryne, a number of administrators worked together to decide to close the College, including President Tom Gerety, Treasurer Peter Shea, Director of Physical Plant Jim Brassord and Dean of Faculty Lisa Raskin. "It's rare that we close ... This year has been unusual in terms of snow and cold, and we have closed early once before but most students were not on campus [during Interterm]," said Bryne.

Numerous events were cancelled or postponed, including the Presidential forum and the weekly Amherst Association of Students (AAS) meeting.

Professor of european studies and French Ronald Rosbottom, cancelled his 2 p.m. Monday class, Napoleon's Legends. "We had a quiz, and I gave [my students] a choice-come to class or stay in your jammies," he said. "They voted overwhelmingly for jammies."

UMass was closed all day yesterday. Smith College and Mt. Holyoke College opened at 10 a.m., and Hampshire College opened at noon.