January 30, 2019

Dear Loyola Students,

Due to the continued severe and life-threatening weather conditions, Loyola University Chicago is canceling all classes through Friday, February 1, when classes will resume as scheduled. The Intercampus Shuttle, which has suspended service, will resume at 7 a.m. on Friday, February 1.

The residence halls and Lake Shore Campus dining halls remain open for those on campus. The Damen Student Complex—including the main parking garage, Damen Student Center, Halas Recreation Center, Gentile Arena, and Norville Center for Intercollegiate Athletics—is also open with regular hours of operation. Wellness Center locations on the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses are open and operating during regular hours. All other buildings and facilities (including libraries) are closed.

Students are encouraged to stay at home or in residence halls during the severe weather. Tonight's men's basketball game against the University of Northern Iowa will take place as planned in Gentile Arena at 6 p.m. Thursday's men's volleyball match against UCLA will also take place as planned in Gentile Arena at 7 p.m. Even though the walk to the Damen Student Complex, dining halls, or Gentile Arena may be short, please dress for the weather. Expanded student seating will be available.

Please keep in mind these cold weather tips:

• Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. It is best to avoid cotton; wool offers good protection from extreme cold and moisture. A final layer should be a wind-resistant coat or jacket.
• Limit your time outside and make sure to cover all exposed skin. Wear a hat, gloves (mittens are best), and a scarf, covering exposed skin (especially ears, nose, and chin). Two layers work best: mittens over gloves and a hood over a hat. With a wind chill of -18°F to -35°F, frostbite can occur in 10 to 30 minutes if skin is exposed.
• Stay dry. Wear waterproof and insulated boots, along with two pairs of socks—thin for the inside and thick, wool for the outside. But be sure you are able to move your toes, allowing your blood to circulate.
• Be active and keep moving. Stay fueled with balanced meals and warm beverages or broth. Avoid both alcoholic beverages and caffeine, which interfere with the normal physiological defense against cold and can actually increase heat loss.
• Additionally, help the University protect campus buildings during this cold snap by making sure windows are closed and thermostats are set to at least 65°F. When temperatures dip, cold air can interact with pipes, causing the hot water to expand and either freeze or burst the pipes. Even if your windows are open a crack, the small amount of cold air could cause damage. Please report any issues of insufficient heat to Facilities immediately.

Please contact Campus Safety at 773.508.SAFE if you need emergency transportation. We will continue to monitor the conditions. Visit LUC.edu and check your Loyola e-mail for additional updates.

Stay warm and safe.

Sincerely,

Margaret Faut Callahan, CRNA, PhD, FNAP, FAAN
Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Provost, Health Science Division

Thomas M. Kelly
Sr. Vice President for Administrative Services

Jane Neufeld
Vice President for Student Development