When the University of Utah administration made the decision to shut down much of the campus Monday morning, it protected the safety of the university community.

In light of predictions for an additional 10 to 20 inches of snow by that morning, the U gave many of its 35,000 commuters a little flexibility and eased the morning drive for everyone.

But the perilous drive over slushy, slippery roads was not the only consideration.

According to weather predictions, grounds crews would have been unable to keep up with the snowfall in expansive parking lots, like the lot located behind the Merrill Engineering building.

What’s more, the number of parking spaces occupied by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee reached a new high over the weekend, preparing a game of musical parking space for drivers on Monday morning.

Some relief, in the form of light rail, will arrive in mid December?right after finals week, ironically.

The cancellation officially sanctioned the reality many faced. With U students, faculty and staff scattered along the Wasatch Front, it is likely that many would not have made it to campus, even if it had been business as usual.

As one of the top three largest employers in the state, the U did its part to keep the traffic light on Salt Lake Valley’s icy roads.

Though classes and many offices closed, not every aspect of the U shut down yesterday morning, however.

Occupants of the Union Building deserve thanks for braving the weather to provide a haven for those who arrived unaware of the change.

The grounds crew began removing snow soon after it started falling and continued their work into Monday. A walk through the neighborhoods surrounding the U makes one appreciate the grounds crew’s efforts.

This is the first time in the four years that Bernie Machen has served as the U’s president that the U has shut down due to weather. The decision is not one to be made lightly, and in this case, the U handled the situation admirably.