Snow and hurricane winds smacked the East Coast from Florida to Maine during one of the most powerful storms of the century Saturday, putting Massachusetts in a state of emergency and wreaking havoc on campus.

The storm caused chaos in the Quincy House Dining Hall, where a large window shattered at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Stephen R. Vazquez '93, a student who witnessed the incident, said he though no one had been seriously injured.

"I was at the salad bar and I heard this huge crashing noise. I looked to my right and saw a big gaping hole with the curtains flying," said Hyung J. Bak '93. "There was an immediate drop in temperature."

The window, which previously had a large crack in it, had been under surveillance throughout the afternoon because Ridwan Himawan, the supervisor of the Quincy House dining hall, noticed it was shaking.

When the window shattered, "Someone screamed, then more people screamed. People got out of their chairs and started running around," said Livia M. Santiago '95.

The incident sent students running to the opposite end of the dining hall. "People dove from the tables in fear to the salad bar," Marcie L. Rabin '94 said.

However, the commotion did not prevent hungry students from getting their dinners.

"We had to finish dinner downstairs, but they kept serving," Vazquez said.

An empty table was placed in front of the window and the drapes were drawn to minimize the ricochet of glass. The hole, which measured about four by five feet, was boarded up with particle board by 7:30.

Students were able to eat Sunday breakfast in the dining hall, but sat far from the window.

Students Cope With the Snow

Nation-wide, the blizzard that nearly paralyzed the East caused a total of at least 93 deaths. There were more than three million power losses at height of storm, with more than one million remaining without power yesterday.

Although many students stayed in Saturday night, others braved the overflowing snow and harsh winds to meet friends and play in the snow.

"There was loud music, and people played pool, foosball, and poker. Once the storm calmed down, people went outside and played football and built an igloo," said Erika Ellertson '93,

"I was playing football down by the river, and a couple came by," said Todd J. Betzag '95 "They were cross-country skiing."

Several first-years were seen sledding on the steps of Widener Library using trays borrowed from the Union.

"One of my roommates actually played in the snow," said Peter I. Kim '96, "And my roommate still went to a party in the Quad."

Most local businesses closed early due to slow business and increasing snow.

Kinko's Copy Center, normally open 24 hours a day, closed its doors at about 6:30 p.m., and reopened at 11:00 Sunday.

Most restaurants and pizza shops were closed by about 7 p.m. Saturday, with the exception of the ever-popular Pinocchio's and Chef Chow's. Loew's Movie Theater remained open, but business was very slow there, an employee said.

Elie G. Kaunfer and The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.