After a mild introduction to the winter season, bitter cold has finally descended-albeit in fits and starts-on campus over the past fortnight. Water from melted snow on the pathways froze over almost immediately, as it is wont to; students leaving their dorms in the mornings confronted what has become for many a treacherous trek to class.

Yet the maintenance of an ice-free walking environment, logically the first rule of campus safety in winter, has left something to be desired. With this weather expected to last till this weekend at least, we think the inconsistent care accorded to ensuring pathways are ice-free represents an immediate concern.

Of course, slippery pathways aren't by any means an original problem. They worry house owners, city planners and certainly, judging by the number of ice ban buckets around, the College's Physical Plant. Reports (and sightings) of students slipping and hurting themselves this winter, however, appear to have surpassed previous years'; bruises, abrasions and even the occasional mild concussion have become students' badges of courage. In fact, a casual poll of The Student's editorial staff revealed that astonishingly, almost everyone on staff has slipped and fallen on various pathways.

We won't presume that this little statistic constitutes empirical proof, but we are worried that there seems to be insufficient de-icing of pathways around campus. The very fact that Physical Plant should by now boast long and extensive experience with this precaution makes the inconsistency now all the more baffling. Perhaps the unseasonal fluctuations in temperature this winter have caused more snowmelt and subsequent freezing-over than usual. Whatever the reason, students require more protection against possible injury.

In fact, the College surely understands that it has a vested interest in students' safety too. If a student-or, God forbid, a professor-should fall awkwardly and suffer long-term injury, the College runs the risk of having to assume liability for the mishap on both moral and legal levels. We really do think as well that students who don't spend half the time trying not to slip stand a higher chance of arriving for class punctually.

But these are secondary concerns from the perspective of a student looking not to break a bone. The measures that need to be taken for increased safety are straightforward: more salt and ban, more frequently, at more places. For instance, consider the strictness with which Campus Police enforces the winter parking ban (enacted for the purposes of quick snow removal from roads).

There is nothing to suggest-least of all Physical Plant's stellar performance in most other aspects-that the corresponding avenues for pedestrians cannot be afforded a similar level of attention.