By Amanda Alfanos, Editor-in-Chief
Nathan Hatcher, The Campus
Water trickled down the walls of a dorm and ceiling tiles fell Tuesday on campus. The northwest corner of Oklahoma United Methodist Hall began flooding starting at about 6:30 p.m.
The emergency sprinkler system located in the attic of the building froze and burst, said John Riggs, dean of students.
Risk Manager Glede Holman said no one was injured.
The dorm’s water system was turned off in order for facilities officials and TRC Extraction Co. to extract water from the facility, he said. Riggs said he does not know when students will be able to next utilize water in the residence hall.
Students of the dorm’s west corner were told it was not safe to sleep there for the night. Residence life officials told students it wasn’t safe to be near the flooding and ushered students out of the portion of the flooded hallways.
Officials don’t want students with any traces of water in their rooms to stay in the dorm for the night, Riggs said.
“There will be fans and dehumidifiers in the building and it will be loud,” he said. “We want students to have a comfortable place to sleep.”
Administrators said they prefer students to stay with friends, but said they would pay for students to stay in hotel rooms for the night if they had no place to stay. Riggs said the university would pay for buses to transport students back to campus for class. There also are 29 rooms available in Walker Residence Hall for women, Riggs said.
Jonathan Triplett, head resident of the dorm, said the flood began in his room.
“My roof caved in and it almost hit me in the head,” he said.
Riggs and residence life staff addressed about 30 students about the issue in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.
Kody Brown was one of the students.
The theater performance sophomore’s room is located underneath Triplett’s room on the first floor.
“I think they should waive a reduced rate on the dorms,” he said. “It’s not right for people to have to pay money for a room and not be able to stay there.
“I also think they should pay for damages and that we shouldn’t have school tomorrow. Some students aren’t able to get their books.”
Miranda Wilson, acting junior, agreed.
“I think officials should be better prepared for acclimate weather,” she said. “I think it could have been avoided.”
Triplett said a similar occasion happened three years ago when the first floor flooded.
Risk Manager Holman said the amount of time for clean up is unknown. He also does not know the cost of the damage.
“In 2008, I want to say it cost just under $100,000 to clean up,” Holman said. “But that was just the first floor.
Shelli Stuzman said she is upset about the flood.
“I understand the reason we have to sleep somewhere for the night is for safety reasons, but it’s still bullshit,” said the freshman entertainment business major who’s room was flooded. “But that’s just me.”
Administrators said students shouldn’t worry about mold in the building.
“Our contractor, TRC, said there is currently no mold in the building and they will continue to assess this,” said Ade Okediji, director of residence life.
Riggs said workers will pull up all affected baseboards.
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