Many students woke up to the sound of a ringing telephone yesterday to find out from friends that classes were canceled because of the 27 inches of snow dumped on State College.

"My friend called me at 8 o'clock to tell me. I was going to wake up at 8:30 to study for an exam," said Dhaval Desai (sophomore-premedicine) as she built a snowman in front of Old Main.

Although classes were canceled yesterday, the campus was as alive and chaotic as ever. Students were building snowmen and having snowball fights. Many were not concerned enough about spring break travel plans to stop having fun.

"We're hoping to get out of here tomorrow," said Heather Betz (senior-biology) in the midst of a snowball fight with her friends.

University President Joab Thomas said he decided at 5 or 5:30 a.m. yesterday to close the campus. Classes will definitely run on a normal schedule today, he said.

"It's not a matter of inches. Many roads were closed and it was so deep that many workers could not get to campus," Thomas said, adding that officials wanted to keep cars off campus so they could clear the roads.

Snow removal started at 6 p.m. Wednesday, said Phillip Melnick, manager of building trades and solid waste disposal for the Office of Physical Plant. OPP employees worked six- and 12-hour shifts, he added.

"We do have some priorities," Melnick said. "We clear handicap rampways, bus stops and loading docks for food services to bring food first."

Although some students were confident traveling wouldn't be a problem, other students were not so sure.

Kara Jones (sophomore-anthropology and political science) said she doesn't know how she is going to find her car under all of the snow.

"You can see the antenna, that's about it," said her friend Dan Reichart (junior-astronomy, physics and math).

Students weren't the only people affected by the snow. Essential University employees were asked to come into work if possible, but nonessential workers did not have to report, said Bill Mahon, director of public information.

Essential workers include University Police Services, workers that open the dining halls and those who feed the farm animals, he said.

Pattee was also closed, Mahon said, adding that the University would be ready to reopen at midnight.

University Health Services was open yesterday but it provided limited services, said Leanne Driscoll, the head nurse.

"Some of our dedicated workers walked to work today just in case people needed them," she said, adding that six students came in for aid.

All dining halls were open yesterday, but only a few will be open today. "Dinner will be served at Pollock, Waring and Findlay. They are the only ones open," said Lisa Wandel, assistant director of food services. Redifer Commons is closed, she added.

Tomorrow Findlay Commons will serve breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but dinner will not be served, Wandel said.

"If people are here we will feed them, but as of right now we are not planning on it," she said.