It has been a rough winter for many Maritimers, including students who say a lack of snow clearing on campus has made it both difficult and dangerous for them to walk to class.
“This has been the worst winter yet but there’s always plowing issues because we’re such a widespread campus,” says Sam Boudreau, who attends the Universite de Moncton.
“You see a lot of snowbanks everywhere, lots of ice, not enough salt.”
A brief thaw followed by a cold snap made negotiating the pathways of the Universite de Moncton campus even more difficult.
“There’s a lot of snow all around but the pathways were really wet, they were really hard to walk on, and when the snow started to melt, it was even worse,” says student Madeleine Laturnus.
Students at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B. are also complaining about mobility issues on campus, saying a lack of snow removal has made it difficult for them to get around.
“I’ve fallen many times because they actually don’t plow the sidewalks leaving campus and they don’t plow the actual campus,” says student Samantha Bauer.
“We don’t close, we…honestly, we closed half a day the entire year.”
University officials admit it’s been a hard winter, but say they did their best to keep students safe on campus.
“We are always doing our best to make sure pathways are cleared by 8:30,” says David Stewart, vice-president of administration at Mount Allison.
“It depends on the storm. Oftentimes our grounds crew would be in and working at four in the morning.”
Tyler Nadolny says he had an especially hard time getting around as he spent the winter recovering from a football injury that had him in a brace from his hips down.
“It’s tough to get around on the wooden steps they have, for one, whether you’re able bodied or not,” says Nadolny, who plays football for Mount Allison.
“When it’s hard to get your foot up on to some ice, it makes it a little more difficult.”
No one from the Universite de Moncton was available for comment Tuesday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
