Nearly a month ago, Providence received a foot of snow that took more than two weeks and cost the city over $500,000 to clean up. The storm buried College Hill, leaving snow pileups and icy sidewalks across campus.
Now, as another winter storm looms over College Hill with upwards of 20 inches of predicted snow, The Herald spoke to Facilities Management leaders to learn about the preventative measures and snow-clearing efforts that go into making Brown’s campus safe after winter storms.
Michael Guglielmo Jr., vice president of Facilities and Campus Operations, emphasized that each snow response is dependent on the weather and adapts to changing conditions. Facilities Management prepares for winter storms in advance by “monitoring conditions, preparing snow removal equipment and pre-treating surfaces,” Guglielmo wrote.
“During a snow storm, crews are assigned to campus zones and continue operations until conditions stabilize,” he wrote. “After a major event, additional time is dedicated to widening paths, clearing remaining accumulations and hauling snow as needed.”
Paul Armas, assistant vice president of Facilities Operations, highlighted in a previous email to The Herald that preventative measures are an important component of a prompt response.
“For Brown-owned property, our preparation typically begins by monitoring weather forecasts several days in advance,” Armas wrote.
Most of the snow is cleared to the Brown Stadium and left to melt naturally, Armas added.
“The City of Providence Department of Public Works is responsible for clearing city-owned streets, public sidewalks and other municipal properties adjacent to campus,” Guglielmo added.
Many students believe Facilities Management’s preventative measures during last month’s snowstorm have been effective, but some reported safety concerns and inconveniences navigating campus.
Ella Creane ’28, who is from California, said that she “is not used to having to live amidst the snow.” Her time at Brown has brought the new challenge of navigating the winter weather, but she said she finds it easier to commute on campus than around Providence more broadly.
“There’s a certain aspect that’s kind of a winter wonderland that I enjoy, but I am tired of these blocks of snow everywhere that never seem to melt,” Creane said. Sometimes she has to “climb through a snow bank to go to the park.”
Creane has noticed Facilities Management employees working hard to clear the snow, but it is “hard to beat down Mother Nature,” she said.
Rutva Brahmbhatt ’29 said that she disagrees with any criticism of how Facilities Management has handled the snow. “I don’t think campus was unwalkable by any means,” Brahmbhatt said. “Obviously it could have been a little bit better, and it could have been clearer, but there’s just so much you can do.”
Jodi Robinson ’26 also approved of how Facilities Management handled the snow. She noted that the ramp connecting the Sarah Doyle Center for Women and Gender and Stonewall House, where she works, took a long time to be cleared. She added that hilly areas and staircases can be especially difficult to climb in inclement conditions.
But Jason Fu ’28, a student from Canada, reported few to no issues commuting around campus, even once snow began melting and forming ice.
“I see people slip sometimes, so I guess that’s a sign that maybe the road should be salted a little bit more,” Fu said. “But from my perspective, it seems pretty good in terms of accessibility.”
Guglielmo wrote that community members can contact the department if they encounter a location of concern.
Marat Basaria is a senior staff writer covering activism.
