The snowfall from the storm on Feb. 14 may have been substantial, but the disruption it caused could have been avoided with better preparation.

Although the accumulation may have been the worst of the season, the amount was hardly a surprise. Total accumulation fell well under the predicted amount of 18 inches, which makes it that much more perplexing how the snow removal was handled by the university and the borough.

Penn State had posted a two-hour delay for Wednesday classes on Tuesday afternoon, yet the university and the borough inadequately handled the situation everyone knew was coming. And with the storm hitting later than expected, they had that much more time to prepare sufficiently.

Classes for the day wound up being canceled, which was the appropriate move considering the severity of the storm, yet the snow-removal process failed to satisfy the task at hand. Unshoveled sidewalks, particularly downtown, and snow-covered streets were left unattended for hours, even days. Some areas appeared untouched since the early hours of the storm.

While we applaud the efforts of the Office of the Physical Plant employees, who undoubtedly navigated icy roads in the wee hours of the morning, something has to be done to improve the timeliness of snow clean-up. Many areas downtown remain a mess, as are a fair share of on-campus lots.

Even the lots accommodating parking for The Intrafraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, unquestionably Penn State's biggest event of the spring semester, were left with poorly placed snow banks and parking spots covered in a sheet of ice topped with slush.

Granted, abnormally cold temperatures and sleet confounded the situation by making the salt essentially useless, but had proper measures been taken before snow even mounted, removal would not have been a problem.

Sometimes it becomes difficult to differentiate who is responsible for the task, particularly in the borough. Residents and landlords may have an obligation to shovel the sidewalks within 24 hours after downfall ceases, but that policy has to be enforced, as unattended areas become safety hazards.

Given the already frustrating parking situation downtown and on campus, both the university and the borough have an obligation to maintain these lots and roads, as well as the sidewalks for pedestrians.

Should the region be hit by another storm this season, which is likely considering the area's history, one can only hope that those in charge are better prepared to handle the winter's worst.