CBC Inclement Weather & Travel Information

College Closure or Delay – It’s that time of year again where any given morning we could wake up to winter weather conditions. Although it’s rare, if you suspect that CBC may be closed, please check one of these resources:

• All local radio stations
• CBC website at http://www.columbiabasin.edu/
• CBC telephone 547-0511. If the campus is closed or delayed, the message will state that CBC is closed or delayed. If there is no message about a closure or delay, the college is open as usual.
• Flash Alert at http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/
• KVEW Television, KEPR Television, and KNDU Television and website http://www.kndu.com/

Information will only be posted or announced if CBC should close. Employees are expected to use reasonable judgment regarding traveling to work in inclement weather/adverse road conditions. If your cell phone and/or personal email account have been subscribed to the CBC Emergency Notification System, you will receive an alert through this system should the college close. If you have not subscribed to the ENS, this would be a good time to take that step. https://www.columbiabasin.edu/ens/

Winter College Travel
Programs and departments are especially encouraged to be aware of winter road conditions and evaluate the need for large group travel, especially with students (i.e. class field trips, ASB club activities, etc). Unless absolutely necessary, it is recommended that large group travel with students be rescheduled to take place during the late spring, summer and early fall months, rather than during winter weather months

Please use the following links for more Winter Weather Driving Tips
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/ (includes mountain pass information)
http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/snow.html

Walk, Don’t Run
Even though CBC’s dedicated grounds, custodial and maintenance staff are up early during snowy or icy conditions deicing the sidewalks and roadways, it is still advised that folks take extra care driving and walking around the campus. Please wear appropriate footwear to help you avoid a slippery fall.

Personal Safety Reminders
We would like to encourage everyone to plan ahead, opt in to the campus ENS and have the Security phone number programmed into your cell phone.

Here are some personal safety reminders:

• Be conscious of your surroundings.
• Notice where you’re parked and what activities are going on around you.
• Have the phone number for Security saved in your cell phone –
  531-4034 Pasco or Richland 539-8167
• Make sure you have your keys in hand when returning to your car.
• Call CBC Security if you feel you need assistance getting to or from your car x2219
• Contact CBC Security, the Health & Safety Committee, or Administration if you have a security or safety concern.

Brady L. Brookes, Executive Assistant
COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE

Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead

Did you get a chance to view the different Day of the Dead displays that were showcased throughout the CBC campus? If you did and know what it is about, I hope you enjoyed the displays and look for them again next year. If you did see them but don’t know their meaning continue reading this blog for more information and maybe next year you can appreciate them a little more.



What is Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead is a ritual that started over 3,000 years ago in Mexico. It used to be celebrated for an entire month in the 9th month of the Aztec calendar, which translates to the beginning of August. When the Spaniards arrived to Mexico and saw the natives celebrating this ritual they thought it barbaric and tried to eliminate it. The Spaniards couldn’t understand why they were embracing death rather than being afraid of it. The Aztec natives believed that death was a continuation of life rather than the end of life.
The Spaniards did their best to end the ritual when they tried to convert the Aztecs to Catholicism, but it just wouldn’t die. The missionaries prohibited traditional ritual events, but the importance was so great they had to make a compromise. So in their attempt to make the ritual more Christian they moved the date to coincide with church observed All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day (November 1st & 2nd), which is when it is celebrated today. And so the two cultures merged.



Symbolism
Day of the Dead is still celebrated in many parts of Mexico, mostly in areas with high indigenous populations and in the United States as a more public event. The ritual has a lot of symbolism and it is meant to celebrate that life continues after death. Día de los Muertos is celebrated with an offering to family members or friends that have passed away. The offering is set up as an altar, which contains different items depending on the region. The altar can display pictures, favorite foods or items, and other personal objects of the deceased. They also have skulls made of sugar or chocolate with the names of the people that have passed away, candles, and pan de muertos, which is bread unique to the event. In some regions, people spend the day at the cemetery decorating the grave site, eating favorite foods of the deceased, and honoring their spirits. Many believe that in doing this, the soul is attracted back to them on earth.

Library Display Honoring Veterans

This month, we set up a display honoring Veterans.
Our thanks to Ryan Washburn and CBC Vet Corps for their help with this display.

Other Resources:

• America's Veterans
• Medal of Honor & U.S. Military
• Women in the Military
• Book list "U.S. Military"

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