Thursday's weather forecast calls for snow to arrive in our area at approximately 7 a.m., with snow falling at a moderate rate for 2 or 3 hours before it changes to a brief period of freezing rain and then a changeover to plain rain by early afternoon, ending all together by mid-afternoon. Total snow accumulation is predicted to be 2-3 inches. This will result in hazardous driving conditions.
Due to the storm’s timing and the potential for freezing rain, all in-person day classes on Thursday, February 6, 2025 are cancelled. All scheduled in-person classes beginning before 4 p.m. will transition to being held online or remotely.
Additional information on the virtual format for each class will be provided by the instructor. Any change in the status for Thursday evening's classes beginning at 4 p.m. or later will be announced by 1 p.m. Thursday.
Faculty have been asked to prepare for Online or Remote sessions in the event of in-person meeting cancellations. These options will be determined by the Faculty member and all questions should be directed to the Faculty teaching each course section. Faculty also have been asked to be very understanding and accommodating of the individual situations of their students who may have difficulty managing these alternative online or remote class meetings on short notice.
Please note that only essential employees, as previously determined by their respective department leaders, should report to campus Thursday. All other employees should fulfill the requirements of their role remotely.
Campus operations for residential students, unless otherwise noted, will operate as scheduled, though hours may be modified or changed based on the conditions. Separate messages will be sent from the Peterson Library, the Beckerman Recreation Center, and Dining Services regarding any changes to their normal hours of operation. The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation will remain open Thursday for residential students to use for study space and to participate in online classes.
Residential students should be prepared to move their vehicles, if requested, for snow removal operations.
We will provide updates as warranted. Stay safe.
University News
Based on a true story, "Elephant's Graveyard" explores the themes of justice, morality, and fear – as well as hope. The curtain comes up March 4 to 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Bucknall Theater in Dodds Hall.
February 28, 2020
For Samantha Slaza '20, a theater arts major, playing the tour manager in the University's upcoming production of "Elephant's Graveyard" enabled her to try something new, and to grow as an actor.
"The style of performance is something that isn't done in a lot of school productions," she explains. "It is very engaging. It is performed directly to the audience. It taught me a lot of new techniques that I think every actor should have."
"This show does a fantastic job of conveying the benefits and flaws of various worldviews and social problems – but in very subtle ways."Barry Libowitz '22
That was partly why the University's theater program chose the play, says Margaret Savilonis, Ph.D., associate professor and co-coordinator of the program. Endeavoring to produce a season of contemporary plays – written in the past 15 years – the program wanted to offer students opportunities to work in a wide range of theatrical styles that also speak to contemporary social issues.
Written by George Brant, "Elephant's Graveyard" tells the true story of a circus elephant being hung in a small Tennessee town in 1916. The play explores issues of justice, violence, fear, morality, and spectacle. It is a blend of fiction and fact that includes dialogue that is drawn from primary source material such as newspaper accounts of the incident.
The curtain comes up Wednesday through Saturday, in Bucknall Theater in Dodds Hall.
"One of the things I was drawn to when I first read the play several years ago is its deceptive simplicity," said Savilonis. "The characters speak mainly in monologues, retelling the story of Mary, the ‘killer' elephant, from various perspectives. Despite its somewhat gruesome subject matter, it is often very funny, and I think there is a deep vein of hopefulness that runs through the work."
First produced at the University of Texas at Austin more than a decade ago, the play received the school's Keene Prize for Literature, as well as the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award.
"This show highlights important parts of American history through the retelling of a true story."Rebecca Satzberg '20
Barry Libowitz '22 has enjoyed playing the role of Charlie Sparks, the circus ringmaster.
"This show does a fantastic job of conveying the benefits and flaws of various worldviews and social problems – but in very subtle ways," said Libowitz, a marine biology major. "It's enjoyable to try to note the allusions and callbacks to other works."
Rebecca Satzberg '20, a music and sound recording major, says that although the play is set more than a century ago, it is still very relevant.
"This show highlights important parts of American history through the retelling of a true story," said Satzberg, who is minoring in theater arts and economics. "The show – and the impact of it – will leave the audience with a lot to consider about our current political climate."
The Â鶹AV Blog
A new weather station on the Branford Trolley Trail is upgrading environmental research and data collection, offering real-time insights into the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems.
University News
Henrik Nielsen, a Scandinavian business executive, has significantly increased his original seven-figure gift, enabling the University to support 42 Afghan women seeking to continue their education in the United States.
The Â鶹AV Blog
Beatrice Glaviano ’26 breaks down the science of sugar, the myths, and why donuts still deserve a place in our lives this semester.