Despite a statewide shortage of road salt, Bowdoin has been able to acquire the supplies it needs to tackle icy paths.
Still, many students complain of slippery sidewalks around campus.
"I've been seriously considering ice skating to class as a statement," said Kaitlin Hammersley '08.
Ken Akiha '08 also observed that many of the most heavily trafficked sidewalks?including those on the Quad and those by Farley Field House?were very icy.
"I run cross country, and the worst parts of our runs are on campus," he said.
The challenge of keeping sidewalks ice-free has to do with the timing and condition of the snow, according to Grounds Maintenance Manager Tim Carr. Carr said that when wet snow falls during periods of high pedestrian traffic, it gets packed down, eventually turning to ice. He also said that a night snowfall is easier to deal with because grounds crews can shovel in the early morning without having to worry about pedestrians.
The College has purchased 190,000 pounds of salt for this winter, of which it has already used 175,000 pounds Carr said he clears paths and sidewalks with a combination of salted sand and "magic salt," a road salt treated with an ice-melting chemical. He said that the supply of magic salt in Maine is very low, forcing him to order the product from neighboring states. However, Carr said that he is compensating for the lack of magic salt with more salted sand. Though salted sand is better for traction, it is not as good at melting ice.
Most students the Orient spoke with complained of icy sidewalks near campus and along public streets like College Street, Bath Road, Federal Street, and Maine Street. Sarah Luppino '10, who lives in MacMillian House, said the walk from her dorm to campus is treacherous.
Rae Fleming '09 agreed. "There's no shoveling of the sidewalk on Maine Street," she said.
Andrew Maloney '10, who lives in Stowe Inn, said that he has fallen a few times walking between his dorm and campus.
Sidewalks along public roads are under the jurisdiction of the Town of Brunswick. However, if complaints are piling up regarding a certain area not technically on the Bowdoin campus, Carr said he may send a crew out to plow or sand it.
"We try to help each other out," said Carr.
Bowdoin has also begun to maintain certain public sidewalks. The walk along Park Row between Searles and the financial aid office is an area heavily trafficked by students and administrators and is now maintained by Bowdoin. In addition, Bowdoin plows along Federal Street (though the town is responsible for sanding and salting the road).
Nonetheless, Carr said that in order to maintain the sections of public sidewalks heavily used by Bowdoin students, he would need more time, people, equipment, and an increased budget. "It wouldn't be just as easy as saying, 'We'll do it,'" he said.
Many students also blame the weather, not the grounds crews, for the iciness of the paths. Elliot Munn '11 said, "This is a particularly icy winter?even for a Mainer."
"It's a tough job, they're doing the best that they can," he said.