Dear Editor,

I just need to send in a complaint about the condescending and inconsiderate tone of the Chancellor’s response to this State of Emergency in which we of the Pioneer Valley have so recently been, and for many, continue to be.  My own situation is thus: having lost power Saturday night, I live still (in the middle of Amherst!) with no power.  My house’s mean temperature seems to rest at a balmy 38-45 degrees Fahrenheit.  I spent all of Sunday and Monday clearing my house of the ruined foodstuffs, clearing my driveway and street of excess debris (with branches often in excess of my own weight).  For the nights of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, I lent my house as a veritable free motel for my friends and family members who yet live homeless for the dilapidated state of their Belchertown residence.  The animals of said house as well needed care and I opened my home to them as well.  Pray, tell me: when was I supposed to work on my psychoanalytic reading of Henry James’ “Beast in the Jungle?” When was I supposed to translate Petronius? This is what galls me to no end — the Chancellor’s decision to open school and continue to forge ahead despite the literal state of emergency sends a very disconcerting message, namely that I was to look upon my homework with more consideration than my own brother’s
lack of water and shelter.  Instead of showing,, a modicum of humane kinship with my fellow friends and cohorts, I was to ignore their pleas and focus on my schoolwork.  This, by the bye, in addition to my job’s demand that I come in to help as most of our product was lost to the outages. I am just… I am amazed.   Why could we not have another day or two to simply put our lives in order? But no, one must assume the Chancellor made his best decision based on the figures he saw; if there is one thing history has taught us, it is that an out-of-touch aristocrat always knows the suffering of those below and is always in the position to judge over their suffering. I’m sure we will survive, Chancellor.  For that matter, why not let us eat cake as well?
– Jesse Putnam

Dear Editor,

Your article was on the money!!! I am the parent of two students at UMass. Both live off campus on different sides of town and both have no power. Our solution was for them to come home and drive 180 miles per day until the power is restored. Leaving home at 5 a.m. and returning at 8 p.m. On Sunday I tried in vain to get information about closing and/or temporary shelter to no avail. I am shocked that the students are not given instructions on how and what to do to get needed info when the electronic options are no longer working.  Didn’t anyone think when the power goes out the internet and cell phones also go out, leaving everyone in the dark in so many ways?

I can’t believe there is no short term housing plan to accommodate students who need it. I called the campus center and they said  they couldn’t sleep there, although I now read reports to the contrary. I seriously believe the university has a responsibility to insure its students’ welfare. Thank god no one has died from carbon monoxide poisoning from ill-advised methods of heating the house or a death caused by a fire from a candle.

I would like to pursue this issue to prevent this from recurring  for any student. I’d like to know what a parent can do. How can I get a message out to the UMass parents, who should we direct our anger at? I don’t need a shiny UMass calendar or a hat but I do need to know I can trust the university’s decision making when it comes to my child’s safety.  When the power goes back on is anyone going to tell the kids to trash the food in their refrigerators?

–          Paul Watson