By Brian Ruth
The Scene staff
St. Louis Community College officials spent weeks preparing for a potential reaction to the Michael Brown grand jury decision but ended up closing its campuses instead.
Classes were called off Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25 and 26, giving students, faculty and staff four days off for the Thanksgiving holiday.
STLCC’s decision to close was made during a conference call with campus presidents, the chancellor, three vice chancellors, Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management Mark Potratz, Chief Legal Officer Mary Nelson and Director of Public Information Dan Kimack.
“We made the decision jointly,” said Donna Dare, vice chancellor for academic affairs. “There were so many other closings around the community that concerned us.”
Dare said one concern was the possible need for non-traditional students to stay home with children whose schools had been closed.
“Mark Potratz, our director of public safety, was in contact with campus police at each location, along with local and state officials,” Kimack said. “But ultimately, it’s the chancellor’s decision.
Closing the college is not a board (of trustees) decision.”
St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCullough started his press conference about 8:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, announcing that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the shooting death of Michael Brown,18, who was unarmed.
The college announced its decision to close campuses through its alert system on Twitter at 9:39 p.m.
Forest Park students had mixed reactions.
“I feel like I am behind,” said Marquis Rue, 21, a general transfer student. “I plan ahead, and it threw me for a loop.
“I don’t think it was appropriate (to close campus),” he added. “It took away from student learning. Outside of libraries, there aren’t many places for students to access computers.”
Music major Dennis Williams, 20, thought the closing was necessary.
“You had people in Clayton protesting, and you didn’t know if there was going to be a riot and what could have moved towards the school,” he said.
The grand jury decision touched off two days of protests, fires and looting in the city of Ferguson.
On Nov. 25, Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis sent an email to STLCC students, faculty and staff. He listed unrest in Ferguson, home to the college’s Florissant Valley campus, as the main reason classes were cancelled.
“It is important that we all have time to pause and reflect, begin to understand the incalculable effects of recent violence, start to heal, and determine ways that we can affect positive change,” he wrote.
Michaelis also mentioned concern for the safety of STLCC students, faculty and staff.
“While we do not expect any disruptions on our campuses, we are serious, very serious, in taking the necessary steps to ensure your continued security,” he wrote.
Before the grand jury decision, the college had sent multiple emails to faculty and staff on how to facilitate discussions about Ferguson and handle possible disruptions. The Forest Park courtyard had been designated as a “free speech zone,” where people could protest peacefully.
The college reopened on Monday, Dec. 1, after the Thanksgiving holiday. No protests took place on the courtyard.
“We’ve had nothing to report but a little snow and ice,” Forest Park Chief of Police Richard Banahan said. “It’s always a welcome relief when nothing goes on, but our students are smart. They understand and respect what is going on.”