What SMU did Thursday was deplorable, it was disrespectful, but worst of all it was outright dangerous.

Students and faculty members put their better judgment aside in an attempt to carry on as usual, but instead most were regaling each other with horror stories of a highway slip and slide, complete with onlookers and gawkers as far as the eye could see.

Classes went on thanks to a lack of decisiveness from President R. Gerald Turner. Those of us who live off campus, and as far away as Allen and McKinney,Texas, were not impressed.

All drivers on major roads leading to SMU seem to be damned to an eternal state of idiocy no matter what, but with an added layer of frost on top, they become Neanderthals on wheels. They attempt to outrun the snow by going at ungodly speeds in service lanes, or go slower than the snow melts. Needless to say, these aren’t the types of people I’d like to deal with when I’m already attempting to get to class.

Coming from Plano, Texas, roughly 16 miles away from SMU, I witnessed on my hour-long journey no less than five fishtailing cars, half a dozen stopped or stalled vehicles, and more brake lights than one man could ever care to bear.

I was happy to be greeted warmly by my professor after arriving to his class 25 minutes late, but more than any personal affinity he may have had for me, it was due to a quarter of the class being tardy anyway.

Rumor has it many professors had hearts a bit softer than those running our great school, and were willing to overlook absences from students intelligent enough to avoid the frost. This should have been the case for everyone, not just the students lucky enough to have understanding teachers.

Safety in these situations should be the number one concern for Southern Methodist University’s administration on days such as this. It makes little sense to put your paying customers and paid faculty in harm’s way just to get in one more day.

For a school that troubles each of us every semester by attempting to force a $1,000 health coverage policy down our throats, it seems to me that one day off in order to prevent mass chaos on the roads surrounding the school would be a no-brainer.

Sadly, that wasn’t the case Thursday, but hopefully all the wrecks, stalls and lack of attendance will help persuade Mr. Turner and company the next time they play with our lives.