STORRS- -Many UConn students who live on campus in Storrs had to take a do-it-yourself approach to clean up from Tuesday's blizzard.
The university says it's worked non-stop removing snow from its parking lots, but the school still had difficulties removing all the snow.
Many UConn students spent their Wednesday afternoon shoveling out. Students like sophomore Brooke Tornifogill dug out their cars in waist high snow drifts.
"We did not expect the car to get covered, definitely not expecting that," said Tornifogill.
The UConn-Storrs campus opened at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, a few hours later than normal, in order give workers more time to clear sidewalks and parking lots.
Some students felt the campus should not have opened at all, like during Tuesday's blizzard. "I'm surprised they had class Wednesday, because they needed more time to clear out the snow from the parking lots," said Doug Hendrix, a UConn senior.
Hundreds of students had trouble getting cars out, particularly in the parking lot of the on-campus Charter Oak Apartment complex. "The parking lot isn't definitely where shouldn't be at," said Emily Errante, a UConn senior.
In "D Lot," an on-campus parking lot near the Burton Family Football complex, dozens of cars were completely covered in snow.
"It's a frustrating storm," said UConn Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz.
Reitz says crews have been re-treating many areas already cleaned once. Since Monday, around 100 maintenance workers have worked around the clock, but strong wind have been hampered clean up efforts. "One challenge is that blowing snow tended to put snow back where we already removed it, and that's been an issue in some of our parking lots," said Reitz.
The university is allowing students unable to find parking within their assigned permit area to park on any student lot for the remainder of the week – now through Sunday, Feb. 1 – without penalty.
Reitz emphasized the student's need for safety should be the first priority. Reitz added if a student feels truly unsafe coming onto campus, they should notify their professor.
