More than 900 students are being asked to find alternative housing on Sunday evening due to an electrical fire in the Griesedieck Complex, according to Dean of Students Scott Smith.
“The captain of the fire department had encouraged us to evacuate the building due to a default in the fire panel,” Smith said. “When we reset the building, it is my understanding that in some places, the power didn’t come back on and the fire panel didn’t come back on. Without that emergency information that the fire panels provides, it puts the community at risk.”
Students were taken up in the building floor by floor accompanied by a staff member to get their overnight bags. The University is encouraging students to go home if they can and to bring a friend as well as search out alternative housing options on campus.
If students are unable to find alternative housing on their own, they are being asked to go to Dubourg Hall 157 to be transported to overnight facilities . The University has set up 150 beds in the Watertower Inn, Manresa and Drury Inn for these students.
“It’s really weird, but I’m glad they told us what was going on,” Griesedieck resident freshman Larissa Mashching said.
Some students felt more upset with this situation.
“I feel like this entire situation has to do with SLU not keeping up with code and not renovating Gries, not making it a priority,” Griesedieck resident freshman Connor Blanquart said.
Smith understands that students are frustrated, but was pleased with the cooperation.
“I feel bad for the students. I know this is an inconvenience, but the students have been very cooperative and we appreciate that they are working with us,” Smith said. “I’m sorry that we had to go through this. We are working to get this corrected.”
Parent of displaced Student • Apr 11, 2011 at 11:09 am
Do you think that the parents of the students should have been notified that their son or daughter had to search out alternative housing options due to this situation?
A student not at this school • Apr 11, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I would hope that your student should have taken the responsibility upon themselves to inform you as to what was happening with having to find somewhere else to go. Plus the university probably had other stuff to be doing like finding places for students to go, and just overall making sure the students were safe.
Freshman Student • Apr 13, 2011 at 9:16 am
The only problem with your thinking is that the university made it our responsibility to find housing, but, if we couldnt find any, they would provide it for us. i think there needs to be a better back up plan in place if something like this happens again