In case some of you missed it, it was damn cold out on Wednesday.

According to the news, high temperatures were somewhere around 10 degrees below zero, and with the wind chill factored in, they were closer to 40 below. The WATM-TV meteorologist said it was a day to stay inside.

However, it was not until the government declared a state of emergency and the University was faced with a potential power loss that Penn State administrators decided to close down the University.

Of course, for many of us, closing in the afternoon didn't help any, for we had already trudged our way to campus.

After enduring frigid early morning walks to class of 15 and 20 minutes respectively, the two of us found it hard to write (due to our frozen fingers) and difficult to sit down (because of our frozen legs). After the announcement to close down (which was conveniently made after our classes had finished), we took it upon ourselves to notify University President Joab Thomas of our dissatisfaction.

We went to Old Main and were received by a woman who led us to a side office and invited us to sit down. We obliged, and began to take off our layers of clothing, as we estimated that it was about 75 degress in Old Main. There, we expressed our concern for the health and safety of students and talked of the biting wind and icy sidewalks that confronted us between classes.

She spoke of responsible money management, the University Board of Trustees and the $1.8 million daily University payroll. We spoke of exposed flesh and frostbite, and she took a phone call.

Getting nowhere, we thanked her and left. As we did so, she reminded us to dress warmly, and that ultimately, it was our decision as to whether of not we should go to class. Of course, we responded that professors don't take kindly to absent students, and that there are only so many layers of clothes we can put on before we can no longer bend at the joints. She smiled and said we should be someplace warm.

Well, that's the whole point. On Wednesday, all of us should ahve been someplace warm, not out wandering the campus. Many administrators get up in the morning, walk a few feet to their garages, ride to work in their heated Mercedes', park next to Old Main, and walk a few more steps to their warm, cozy offices -- and we wonder why that woman didn't really understand us.

It's scary to think that the University administration is more concerned with money matters than with the well-being of the students. We both realize that institutions like Penn State have budgets and spending limitations, but they also have a responsibility to students. Maybe in their sheltered day-to-day routine, some of our administrators seem to have forgotten that.

President Thomas' office is located in 201 Old Main. Or you can call him at 865-7611. Let them all know how you feel.

And remember, if the HUB is too crowded or cold, and you need a place to study, eat lunch, thaw yourself out or just hang around, its always warm and cozy in Old Main.