Utilizing the electronic Pier System, the University sent out messages via e-mail, phone calls and Web site updates, notifying students that classes would resume Tuesday.
The school may have been ready, but many students said they weren’t.
Anthropology sophomore Sarah Townsend called her grandfather in New York and asked him to check the UH Web site for her.
"I don’t think that the campus should have been opened on Tuesday because not everyone is able to get to school and it’s a big commuter campus," Townsend said.
With many Houston area homes without power, the information spread sporadically through the radio and phone calls to friends.
Other students agreed the campus should be open, but weren’t willing to go there themselves.
"As far as the University itself, opening up is fine, but leaving each class to the professor was a good idea," said business management junior Dillon Davis.
Davis, who lives in Katy, said he didn’t attend because he only had enough gas to make it "to my house and back."
This week’s classes were optional and UH President Renu Khator said no exams or projects would be given. However, many students said they did not attend classes because they were worried about using gas.
Long gas lines have forced other students who live close to campus to think twice about coming to school.
"I live near Hobby airport, but I’m low on gas," said computer science junior Carlos Lacayo. "The gas line is pretty long."
Lacayo’s friends didn’t come to campus either, he said, because they live far from campus in Humble and Friendswood and didn’t want to waste gas coming to school.
Those who did come said they often found their classes were canceled.
"My instructor said he would teach the same course next week; in the next class we watched a movie and in the third class the teacher cancelled," psychology senior Paul Rovinelli said.
